Sandor’s Desert Sojourn

  • Serving on the Streets of Katowice

    Every Tuesday night in Katowice, we have a service night where we do some kind of service project for the people here. We’ve made blankets for the homeless, we’ve sung carols on the street and in nursing homes, and this Tuesday we decided to hand out food on the street! It was fantastic!! We had…

  • Wszystkiego dobrego!!! (Happy New Year!!!)

    What a wonderful week!!!  We went to Ola’s Babcia’s house for Wigilia (Christmas eve), and it couldn’t have been better!  Her whole extended family was there (her grandparents, mom, sister, aunt, uncle, and cousins) and we had such a good time together!  Before dinner, we started out with a Polish tradition, in which you “exchange…

  • Family Photo – Christmas 2018

  • MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! WESOŁYCH ŚWIĄT!!!

    This week was a total whirlwind of service and preparation for the best holiday, CHRISTMAS!  A couple of my favorite things that happened:  On Wednesday, we taught Gosia how to make cinnamon rolls. Over 6 months ago, the missionaries were teaching Gosia, but she got really busy and couldn’t take lessons for a while. BUT,…

  • Falling in love (with Poland!)

    First off this week, Congratulations to my beautiful cousin Desirae on getting married!!!  I wish you and Paul the very best!! This week Siostra Harmon introduced me to the cutest little café in Katowice and I got to have real polish hot chocolate for the first time. It was SO GOOD. It’s literally just straight…

  • Beneath the Gaze of Mickiewicz

    It feels like a MILLION amazing things happen every week and I never know where to start!!  Here we go!!! 🙂 This week: We had EXCHANGES!! During exchanges, basically my companion and I travel to a different city and “exchange” companions with another sister duo. You are able to spend the day in a new…

  • When the World Came to Katowice

    This week has been incredible!! I don’t even know where to start!!! Some highlights include: – A United Nations global climate conference happening in Katowice the next 2 weeks!! Over 55,000 people representing 200 countries are coming to Katowice for this conference, so we’ve had the opportunity to meet amazing people from all over the…

  • To Warsaw & Beyond

    On Monday morning, my Polish district (8 Elders and 4 sisters) left the MTC and headed to the Salt Lake airport. We had a 10 hr flight to Amsterdam that afternoon, a sweet 2 hr layover, and then a 2 hour flight to Warsaw. The flights were both really good!!! As soon as we got…

  • DO ZOBACZENIA (Goodbye) MTC!!!

    Our Polish district finally received our flight plans and we’ll be flying to Warsaw this Monday (Nov 19!!!). Since this is my last week in the MTC, I wanted to take the time to list out a few things I’ve been MOST GRATEFUL for during my time here 🙂 My Companion!!! It’s just AMAZING that…

  • HE is with us!!!

    Hello friends and family 🙂 Well, it’s been another awesome week at the MTC!! Hope everyone had a great Halloween!! This week on the language: -We’re still out here working on our Polish!!! This week we learned our sixth case (cases are a sets of grammar rules that change the endings of certain words depending…

  • Serving on the Streets of Katowice

    Every Tuesday night in Katowice, we have a service night where we do some kind of service project for the people here. We’ve made blankets for the homeless, we’ve sung carols on the street and in nursing homes, and this Tuesday we decided to hand out food on the street! It was fantastic!! We had…

    img_1698 cut cut

    Every Tuesday night in Katowice, we have a service night where we do some kind of service project for the people here. We’ve made blankets for the homeless, we’ve sung carols on the street and in nursing homes, and this Tuesday we decided to hand out food on the street!

    It was fantastic!! We had people donate all kinds of canned / dried food and we ended up making a HUGE bowl of spaghetti. We set up a table near a huge mall and people just kept coming!!! We had some amazing conversations and met some great people. This service night was by far one of my favorites! 🙂

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    And, in keeping with my theme on prayer I started last week, I found a new favorite scripture this week: D&C 10:5!

    “Pray always, that ye may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan”

    If we always have a prayer in our heart, we can find strength to overcome our struggles and our challenges. By ourselves, we can’t overcome all the challenges life will bring us, but with the Lord, we can! Prayer is SO powerful!! I testify of this!

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    Hope you have a wonderful week!

    Kocham was!!!

    Siostra Baldwin

    elizabethinpoland.wordpress.com

    letters/packages:Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135
    02-952 Warszawa Poland

  • Wszystkiego dobrego!!! (Happy New Year!!!)

    What a wonderful week!!!  We went to Ola’s Babcia’s house for Wigilia (Christmas eve), and it couldn’t have been better!  Her whole extended family was there (her grandparents, mom, sister, aunt, uncle, and cousins) and we had such a good time together!  Before dinner, we started out with a Polish tradition, in which you “exchange…

    DSC00425

    What a wonderful week!!! 

    We went to Ola’s Babcia’s house for Wigilia (Christmas eve), and it couldn’t have been better!  Her whole extended family was there (her grandparents, mom, sister, aunt, uncle, and cousins) and we had such a good time together!  Before dinner, we started out with a Polish tradition, in which you “exchange wishes.”  Everyone has a wafer (like a really big thin cracker) and you go up to everyone individually, take their hand, and tell them all the good things you wish for them for the coming year. You wish them health, happiness, success, wealth, love, and anything you want for them.  Then you break off a piece of the other person’s wafer and eat it!  It was such a beautiful moment to be there with Ola’s family.  Everyone was crying and you could feel the love.  It was an absolutely unforgettable experience.  My heart is SO FULL!!

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    Dinner was amazing!  As is tradition, we had 12 dishes to celebrate the 12 upcoming months of the year. We had several different kinds of pierogi, potatoes, soups (my favorite was barszcz, a beet soup with dumplings.  SO GOOD!), and carp!  In Poland, you don’t eat meat on Wigilia.  Instead, you eat fish and the Polish tradition is to eat carp.  I had never tried carp before, but it was spiced pretty well, and I’m glad I got to try it! 🙂

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    Also this week we visited our friend who has been in a psychiatric hospital for the last several weeks. Siostra Harmon and I took a train out to Toszek, a little town about an hour away from Katowice.  It wasn’t until we got there that we realized the bus schedules online were wrong and the buses weren’t running, so we decided to walk to the hospital!  We were able to find the hospital and find our friend and visit her for a little while.  While she has been in the hospital, she has been learning English by reading a book in English and looking up every word she doesn’t know!  She has been wanting more books in English, and I happened to have an English Book of Mormon with me so we were able to give it to her and she was so happy!!!

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    This week I have been learning a ton about prayer! In the bible dictionary, it says: “The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them.”  I love this quote! Sometimes I forget how POWERFUL prayer is.  So many times in the scriptures the Lord has commanded us to pray to Him.  We don’t pray to the Lord because he needs to hear us to know what we’re thinking – He already knows us perfectly!  Instead, the process of praying to Him, allows us to better align our will with His will.  What a great blessing! 

     I am so grateful for prayer!  I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here in Poland, and for the opportunity to represent the Savior.  I love this Gospel!  I hope you all have a very Happy New Year!!!

    Kocham was!!!! 

    Siostra Baldwin
    elizabethinpoland.wordpress.com
      

    Letters/packages:

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135
    02-952 Warszawa Poland  

  • Family Photo – Christmas 2018

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  • MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! WESOŁYCH ŚWIĄT!!!

    This week was a total whirlwind of service and preparation for the best holiday, CHRISTMAS!  A couple of my favorite things that happened:  On Wednesday, we taught Gosia how to make cinnamon rolls. Over 6 months ago, the missionaries were teaching Gosia, but she got really busy and couldn’t take lessons for a while. BUT,…

    DSC00366.JPGThis week was a total whirlwind of service and preparation for the best holiday, CHRISTMAS! 

    A couple of my favorite things that happened: 

    On Wednesday, we taught Gosia how to make cinnamon rolls. Over 6 months ago, the missionaries were teaching Gosia, but she got really busy and couldn’t take lessons for a while. BUT, she came to our Christmas party last week, loved the food, and asked to teach her how to make American cinnamon rolls! The cinnamon rolls turned out really well, and afterward we got to read some scriptures together and talk about Jesus Christ. It was such a good time!

    We got to go to a dom pomocy (a senior assisted living home) with our service group and sing for the older people that live there! We sang Polish Christmas carols and it was so beautiful! It was really one of those moments where you’re just serving someone else and you totally forget yourself- and you realize this (serving others and sharing the light of Christ!) is what it’s all about. Then we individually gave Christmas cards that we had made at another service night. The sweet older people who lived there were SO GRATEFUL and happy! One lady, Marysza, couldn’t stop telling us how much she loved us!! 

    One more great experience: the Katowice area includes the small surrounding towns, so yesterday we got to take a train to Zabrze and visit Anna. Anna is a sweet older lady who was baptized a few years ago and she loves the church, but she has Parkinsons and has been sick the last few months so she hasn’t been able to come to church. Siostra Harmon and I went with 2 other sisters in our branch to bring her some presents and to wish Anna and her son a Merry Christmas. Anna was so happy we came, and we were so happy we got to see her 🙂

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    On Sunday I spoke in Church! I spoke about the prophecies of Christ before His birth, the fulfillment of those prophecies, and His invitation to us to love and serve the people around us. Christmas time is the perfect time to recommit to serve others as Christ did!!! I love the way President Monson put it- “It is good to remember that he who gives money gives much, he who gives time gives more, but he who gives of himself gives all.”  And I believe that’s so true!! 

    I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!! Don’t forget that CHRIST is the reason!! Kocham was!!! 

    Siostra Baldwin 

    elizabethinpoland.wordpress.com  

    Letters/packages: 

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135
    02-952 Warszawa Poland  

  • Falling in love (with Poland!)

    First off this week, Congratulations to my beautiful cousin Desirae on getting married!!!  I wish you and Paul the very best!! This week Siostra Harmon introduced me to the cutest little café in Katowice and I got to have real polish hot chocolate for the first time. It was SO GOOD. It’s literally just straight…

    IMG_1440First off this week, Congratulations to my beautiful cousin Desirae on getting married!!!  I wish you and Paul the very best!!

    DFC Wedding

    This week Siostra Harmon introduced me to the cutest little café in Katowice and I got to have real polish hot chocolate for the first time. It was SO GOOD. It’s literally just straight melted chocolate so it’s thick and chocolatey and rich and just amazingly good!!! I would definitely recommend coming to Poland just for the chocolate 😉

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    We had Zone Conference with Elder Massimo De Feo on Wednesday and it was amazing! (He spoke in General Conference a couple conferences ago and said, “To me, it is all about love”.)  I absolutely loved his conference talk then so it was such a privilege to get to hear him speak to us!!!

    A few points I loved:

    -Always have the courage to change when the Spirit tells you to!

    – Christ can change our very nature!

    Our Savior, Jesus Christ knows us so personally. He knows every struggle and trial and temptation we will ever go through. And because He is the only one who knows us so perfectly, He is the one that can change our very nature if we let Him!

    Like it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17,

    ” Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

    In Polish, to be baptized is “zostać ochrzczony”. The literal English translation is “to BECOME baptized.”  When we are baptized, we promise to remember Christ and keep His commandments- and through that process, and through Christ, we can literally become new people!!

    For service night, we went caroling and it was a blast!!  We  practiced a bunch of traditional Polish Christmas carols together and then went out to the street to spread a little Christmas cheer!  It was pretty cold but several people on the street stopped to listen to us sing and take pictures.  We even had a drunk man come up to us and start singing along! It was awesome (and SO funny!!)

    AND this week we got to go to Ola’s Babcia’s (grandmas!) house and have delicious dinner and then she taught us how to make and decorate traditional polish gingerbread cookies called pierniki!!

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    This week I am so full of gratitude!! I’m so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the opportunity to share His gospel in Poland.  I’m grateful for a Savior who knows us each individually, and who helps us to become better!

    I hope you all have a wonderful week! Kocham was and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

    Siostra Baldwin

    Check out the blog!!! 🙂

    elizabethinpoland.wordpress.com

    Christmas letters or packages?! Send them here!! 🙂

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135
    02-952 Warszawa Poland

    pics:

    1. Our daily wait at the tram stop!
    2. BEST HOT CHOCOLATE
    3. Ania 🙂
  • Beneath the Gaze of Mickiewicz

    It feels like a MILLION amazing things happen every week and I never know where to start!!  Here we go!!! 🙂 This week: We had EXCHANGES!! During exchanges, basically my companion and I travel to a different city and “exchange” companions with another sister duo. You are able to spend the day in a new…

    It feels like a MILLION amazing things happen every week and I never know where to start!!  Here we go!!! 🙂
    This week:
    We had EXCHANGES!!
    During exchanges, basically my companion and I travel to a different city and “exchange” companions with another sister duo. You are able to spend the day in a new city and learn a ton from another companion!! We spent an AMAZING day in Krakow!! This was my first time in Poland’s ancient capital city.  The architecture is stunning!!! I spent the entire day with Sister Godfrey from Mesa, AZ. She’s SO COOL and we have a ton in common – she went to BYU and she plays the harp!IMG_1523
    District Conference!!
    AND this week we had District Conference!! Here in Poland, every 6 months all the members in branches in the same area meet together and have a conference where you hear inspiring messages from area authorities and then have a big meal together. It was so awesome to see everyone, including some of my MTC group I arrived with 3 weeks ago!!
    EABG Krakow District Conference dec 2018 cut
    Greg!!
    Two nights ago, Siostra Harmon and I were talking to people at the tram stop while we waited for our tram.  We struck up a conversation with a man named Greg who immediately recognized our name tags and had some really awesome questions about missionary work, the Bible, and the Book of Mormon!  We talked for the entire tram ride and then since we exited the tram at the same stop, we continued talking for over half an hour!!  Eventually we had to go, but we invited him to district conference the next day, and he ended up coming and staying for the whole thing!!! Such a miracle!!
    Hope you all have a great week!! 🙂
    Kocham was!!!
    Siostra Baldwin
    Christmas letters or packages?! Send them here!! 🙂
    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135
    02-952 Warszawa Poland
    pics:
    1. Exchanges in Krakow.  Sister Godfrey and I are pictured at Main Market Square in Old Town Krakow next to the statue of Adam Mickiewicz — He is considered Poland’s greatest poet as his poetry inspired a nation to understand its identity and fight for its freedom.
    2. District conference!!
    3. Dystrykt Rodzina REUNITEDIMG_1554
  • When the World Came to Katowice

    This week has been incredible!! I don’t even know where to start!!! Some highlights include: – A United Nations global climate conference happening in Katowice the next 2 weeks!! Over 55,000 people representing 200 countries are coming to Katowice for this conference, so we’ve had the opportunity to meet amazing people from all over the…

    IMG_1470

    This week has been incredible!! I don’t even know where to start!!! Some highlights include:

    – A United Nations global climate conference happening in Katowice the next 2 weeks!! Over 55,000 people representing 200 countries are coming to Katowice for this conference, so we’ve had the opportunity to meet amazing people from all over the world!!! 🙂

    https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-accord/emphasis-on-urgency-as-climate-talks-begin-in-coal-city-katowice-idUSKBN1O10H5

    – A world-wide service day on December 1st called Light the World.  Our goal for the day was to share the light of Christ through service!!!  In downtown Katowice, we set up tables outside and worked with other volunteers to make fleece tie blankets to donate to a foundation that helps needy families!!  It was awesome to see people coming together to do service for people they didn’t even know!!  That’s the true spirit of Christmas!!

    My favorite scripture this week is 1 Nephi 7:12!!!

    “Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.”

    One of our purposes as missionaries is to find people to teach.  A common method we use is street contacting, but finding people can also come in unexpected ways.  We have faith that the Lord will direct us to people ready to hear our message.  As Sister Harmon and I were preparing for the service-day Light the World activity, we visited several fabric stores looking for fleece we could use to make the blankets.  We walked into an Alta Moda, which turned out to be a high-end Italian fashion store with luxurious fabric used to make custom clothes.  There, we found cashmere (at $150 per meter!), Versace silk (also expensive), and other very nice fabric.  Obviously too much for our tiny budget!  But in the process of searching for fleece, we met the store owner Viola and had a nice conversation with her.  She was very kind to us and treated us to some herbal tea and chocolate wafers and talked with us about the purpose of life.  She said her son might be interested in helping us teach our twice weekly English class so we left the store having met a nice family with an invitation to meet again.

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    Faith is the first principle of the gospel, and it is ESSENTIAL. Even when it’s hard, if we put our trust in the Lord, we can see miracles happen!! I am a firm believer that there are no such things as coincidences—the Lord has a plan for EVERY SINGLE one of us, and He has great things in store for us!

    I love you all!!! Hope this week is the best!!!

    Kocham was!!!

    Siostra Baldwin

    Here’s my address for letters or packages to be sent!! 🙂

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich
    ul. Wiernicza 135

    02-952 Warszawa Poland

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    1st Picture: Siostra Harmon and I with Sandra our Relief Society President

    2nd Picture: Ola!!! We love her!

    3rd Picture: BEST churros EVER

     

     

  • To Warsaw & Beyond

    On Monday morning, my Polish district (8 Elders and 4 sisters) left the MTC and headed to the Salt Lake airport. We had a 10 hr flight to Amsterdam that afternoon, a sweet 2 hr layover, and then a 2 hour flight to Warsaw. The flights were both really good!!! As soon as we got…

    SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURESOn Monday morning, my Polish district (8 Elders and 4 sisters) left the MTC and headed to the Salt Lake airport. We had a 10 hr flight to Amsterdam that afternoon, a sweet 2 hr layover, and then a 2 hour flight to Warsaw. The flights were both really good!!!

    2018_11_20_arriving group

    As soon as we got to Warsaw, we met the Mission president and his wife, President and Sister Turek. They’re both AMAZING and they made us feel right at home!!!! We stayed in the mission home Tuesday night, and then Wednesday morning we met our trainers and found out what city we were going to. I’m in……

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    KATOWICE, which is in the far south of Poland!!! And I LOVE my trainer, Sister Harmon!!!!She’s from Nephi, Utah and she’s been in Poland a year. She speaks really good polish, and I’ve already learned a TON from her!!! She is also very very spiritual and she has a really powerful testimony!!! On my second day I went to buy something at a cash register and I couldn’t understand everything the cashier said to me.  I was slightly flustered but I used what Polish I did know and was able to make the transaction! Then I realized Sister Harmon had been right behind me ready to help if I needed it, but she let me do it all by myself!  Although I still am working on understanding everything, I am much more confident when I need to buy things.

    We live in a really nice apartment right across from a HUGE mall!!! The mall has a huge grocery store, a ton of clothing stores, and convenience stores. In Poland these huge malls are everywhere, it’s the best!!!

    IMG_1372And the food here is AMAZING!!! Pierogis (dumplings with different kinds of fillings like meat or potato) are so so good!!!

    Scripture I loved this week: Mosiah 26:18

    “18 Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in my name shall they be called; and they are mine.”

    Missionaries literally bear the name of Christ, but here he is talking to all the members of the church!! When we are baptized, we take the name of Christ upon ourselves!! And because of that, we are His. I think that’s so beautiful!!!!!

    I love you all!!! Hope this week is wonderful!!!

    Kocham was!!!

    Siostra Baldwin

    And here’s my new address for letters or packages to be sent!!

    Kościół Jezusa Chrystusa świętych w Dniach Ostatnich

    ul. Wiernicza 135

    02-952 Warszawa Poland

  • DO ZOBACZENIA (Goodbye) MTC!!!

    Our Polish district finally received our flight plans and we’ll be flying to Warsaw this Monday (Nov 19!!!). Since this is my last week in the MTC, I wanted to take the time to list out a few things I’ve been MOST GRATEFUL for during my time here 🙂 My Companion!!! It’s just AMAZING that…

    Our Polish district finally received our flight plans and we’ll be flying to Warsaw this Monday (Nov 19!!!).

    Since this is my last week in the MTC, I wanted to take the time to list out a few things I’ve been MOST GRATEFUL for during my time here 🙂

    1. My Companion!!!

    It’s just AMAZING that the Lord knew exactly who I needed to be with these last 9 weeks!! I’m SO grateful for Siostra Sjodin and her amazing example to me!!!

    1. Morning Runs

    Siostra Aramaki and I go on the BEST runs during our morning exercise time- yesterday we broke our MTC distance record AGAIN and managed to get 4.5 miles in :))) literally one of the best parts of my day!!!

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    1. AMAZING nauczycielki (teachers!!!)

    I don’t even have the words to say how grateful I am for my teachers here. Not only have they taught me Polish, but they’ve helped me grow so much spiritually :))

    EABG w MTC Teachers cut

    1. MTC friends

    Little known perk of being at the MTC 9 weeks: you get to become best friends with the staff!!!

    1. Dystrykt rodzina (District family)

    This won’t be the first or the last time I say it, but I LOVE my district family!!! They’re some of the most spiritual people I’ve ever met and I’m so grateful for everything they’ve taught me!!

    EABG Final MTC district temple

    1. Devotionals

    This week we got to hear from an Apostle AGAIN. Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the 12 came to speak to us, and I learned a ton about goal setting and our “Missionary Survival kit”- which includes the scriptures, Preach my Gospel, and the missionary handbook!! The spirit was so strong the INSTANT he walked through the door. One cool thing I learned was that President Nelson carries a Missionary Handbook(the white handbook) everywhere he goes!!!

    Every devotional here has given me the opportunity to learn something new!!

    1. Choir

    Prettiest hymns + best gospel stories = one of the best parts of the MTC!!! I always leave choir SO spiritually uplifted!!!

    1. Księga Mormona (The Book of Mormon)

    The Book of Mormon is true!!! I don’t even know where I’d be without this amazing book 🙂 God’s love for His children is so apparent on every single page!!!

    1. TRC

    We had another great skype TRC this week with Filip, the sweetest older man. We got to talk about charity, the pure love of Christ! I just can’t wait to teach these lessons in person!!!

    1. My Family and Friends

    Thank YOU for all your love and support!! I’ve loved every single letter, package and email I’ve received. You mean the world to me!!!

    1. My Savior, Jesus Christ!!!

    I am so grateful for this opportunity I’ve had to be here at the MTC. Over and over I’ve been reminded that the Lord knows every one of us individually, and He has a plan for us. I love this gospel, and I love my Savior, Jesus Christ and I can’t wait to get to Poland in 4 DAYS to share this love with the people of Poland!!!

    Hope you have the best week,

    Kocham was,

    Siostra Baldwin

  • HE is with us!!!

    Hello friends and family 🙂 Well, it’s been another awesome week at the MTC!! Hope everyone had a great Halloween!! This week on the language: -We’re still out here working on our Polish!!! This week we learned our sixth case (cases are a sets of grammar rules that change the endings of certain words depending…

    DSC00098.JPG

    Hello friends and family 🙂 Well, it’s been another awesome week at the MTC!! Hope everyone had a great Halloween!!

    This week on the language:

    -We’re still out here working on our Polish!!! This week we learned our sixth case (cases are a sets of grammar rules that change the endings of certain words depending on the intention of the word.) Step by step we’re getting more confident in the language!!

    -Our first Polish skype TRC is TOMORROW and we couldn’t be more excited 🙂 more to come on that next week!

    Spiritual experience of the week

    One of my absolute favorite parts of the MTC is choir practice. Every Sunday and Tuesday afternoon, anyone who wants to goes to choir, and MAN, let me tell you, it’s awesome!!! This week the spiritual thought hit me especially hard. Our choir director, Brother Eggett said something that really stuck with me-  Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ is like handing out FREE GOLD!! We have an amazing life- changing message to share with the world, and we should never be afraid to share the message for any reason 🙂

    Scripture of the week: 

    D&C 84:88- This week I read this scripture another time and it impacted me greatly!

    ” And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up. ”

    Being at the MTC has allowed me to gain such a strong testimony that the Lord will be with us EVERY step of the way when we are facing something challenging. No matter whether our struggles, when we rely on the Lord we can gain strength!! I know this is true!

    Hope you all have a great week!!!

    Love,

    Siostra Baldwin

    I love getting mail!!! Please send it to:

    Sister Elizabeth A. Baldwin
    NOV20  POL-WAR
    2005 N 900 E Unit  14
    Provo UT 84602

  • Hola a todos!

    This week went very well. Happy Mother’s Day Week!

    My Mother is the light of my life. I am where I am because of her love and encouragement! She has taught me what it means to put God first in my life. I love you Mami!!!

    Words of Wisdom about Motherhood:

    Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling…it is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in. It is what God gave you time for.” Elder Neil L. Anderson

    “Few of us will reach our potential without the nurturing of both the mother who bore us and the mothers who bear with us.” Sheri Dew

    “What Mothers do is an essential element of Christ’s work.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

    “There is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of Motherhood.” Elder M. Russell Ballard

    “There is no limit to what a woman with a Mother’s heart can accomplish.” Julie B. Beck

    I don’t know where I would be without the knowledge that families are forever. This goal begins with the Mother who brings children into this world and teaches them right from wrong, to always put God first, and to serve those in need. Mothers are the most important part of a family. They are the ones who nurture and help the family grow into becoming the family Heavenly Father wants them to be. 

    We are preparing this week for a baptism. This will be the first baptism I will attend in person on my mission! Zoom is not the same! 😊 What an experience it will be to see the joy of this young friend to experience what it’s like to have the Holy Ghost with him always. In 3rd Nephi 11:33 it says “And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.” This scripture is so true! If we want to return to our Heavenly Father, then we must take the first step which is to get baptized.

    I encourage and invite each of you to reach out to the missionaries where you live and take lessons from them because what we teach is something so cool and so powerful that it will change your life forever!

    I like the quote by Marcus Aurelius: “What we do now echoes in eternity.” Now is the time, my friends, to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy it brings into our lives. Share the good news that Jesus is the Christ!

    Thanks for everything that has been done for me while I have been out here serving! I love all of you and hope this week is a blast! STAY SAFE OUT THERE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!  Buena Suerte tambien! ❤

    May the good Lord bless you all! ✌🙏✨❤ Until next week!

    Elder Baldwin

    Mothers are Important

  • HOLA A TODOS! What a week it has been! Am I right? A lot of changes happened this week in this part of the vineyard.

    Change #1: To begin with, this week I hit my 7th month in the mission field! Isn’t that Crazy? I have been out for 7 months already and I have been able to see and experience much. I have sweet memories of people, places, and situations that remind me of what I am about and who I am becoming.

    Change #2: On transfer day, Tuesday April 26th, I saw my companion, Elder Walton leave for his new assigned area. We spent 3 months together seeking out people to teach, visiting those who called upon us to receive a blessing, praying with those whom we visit regularly and who feed us, and discovering new places during our P-Day (preparation day). I enjoyed his leadership as a District Leader, and his friendship. As I saw him leaving I became a bit sad. 😥 I didn’t know that these two transfers would teach me so much about love and how to care for someone else. Thank you “Compa”!

    Change #3: I was also excited to receive a new companion. His name is Elder McBride and he has been out in the mission field for 20 months. I am impressed with the language skills he has gained while serving out here. A mission can do a lot for one person. It’s Crazy!!! I am grateful for the chance to have a companion who has been out here 14 months longer than I have. He comes with a lot of experience and because of it I have already learned so much from him!

    Change #4: With this new transfer I may get to drive now because I know the area. I will enjoy this very much.

    Change #5: One thing I have learned while out here is to become a hard worker. My perception of hard work has definitely changed! Hard workers earn joy and happiness and that is what I have today because of the choice I made to serve a Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I like to call it the BEST TWO YEARS because it is true, these are the best two years of my life! My life continues to change everyday as I serve. I am grateful to my sister Elizabeth, who served her mission in Poland, for her example of hard work. She just recently achieved a high ranking status at BYU Provo Utah, where she was picked to be on the BYU EMT (Emergency Medical Team). Isn’t that so cool? At least I think it is. She works very hard and is achieving her dreams. She continues to save lives—as a lifeguard in her youth, and now as an EMT. She is one of my heroes! Just like my older sister, I am also saving lives here in the mission, spiritually speaking.

    It’s so much easier to make the right choices when you are doing good for other people, so I invite you to do good for other people and find joy and happiness. Change your lives for good, change your heart, change your perspective, and turn to the Lord. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

    I love you all and please please please send me emails, letters, stickers you name it! 💗 love you all and hope this week is a blast!

    STAY SAFE OUT THERE FRIENDS AND FAMILY!✌

    “The Only Constant in Life is Change”

  • Hello y’all! From the dusty, desert streets of Scottsdale, Arizona!

    This past week was our last week before missionary transfers—#5!

    To finish off this past transfer, I gave my first talk in Spanish in the Camelback Spanish Branch. I was quite stressed about it because it required much more preparation than talks I had given before.  I was surprised that my speaking assignment was a minimum of 10 minutes. I took 12. I practiced it in Spanish, and it seems to me that the talk went very well.  A few members came up to me afterwards and thanked me for my efforts and the message. All the members here are super kind and sweet to us.  I have felt at home ever since I started serving here.  My assigned topic was: “Member/Missionary Team Work,” which is the best work there is!  I spoke about how members can assist missionaries in the work of the Lord.

    Some of the ideas I shared include:

    1. We need everyone to help!
    2. We can’t do this on our own.
    3. Members are a key element in the processes of conversion and retention.
    4. Members and Missionaries make a powerful team.
    5. Members/Missionaries (together) can reach out, give service, invite and share.
    6. The Spirit speaks to us in many instances.
    7. Feeling overwhelmed is natural but remember what Elder Uchtdorf said: “The Lord has never required expert, flawless missionary efforts.  Instead, “The Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind.” I also quoted President Thomas S. Monson: “Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him”

    I know that if we work together, the Lord can work with us to bring many more souls unto Jesus Christ.  I encourage each one of you to reach out to the missionaries in your area and go on visits together.  I know we can make this happen.  I have a strong Testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know it can change lives. I know that President Nelson is a true prophet of God.  I know The Book of Mormon is true and testifies about how we can find peace and happiness through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  As a missionary, I want to better myself and become even a greater disciple of Jesus Christ.

    We have also continued teaching and our young friend says he is ready for the next big step!  HE IS READY TO BE BAPTIZED; MAY 7TH IS HIS SET DATE!!! We have also continued talking to Jr’s mother. And she wants him to get baptized on the same day as his friend. Isn’t that just so exciting!! This week we will be working on preparing for those baptisms.

    I am so grateful for the time I have spent on the mission so far. I have learned many different things.  This week my mom taught me to make Green Mexican Salsa!  Also, my companions have been great teachers to me. For example, my last companion helped me expand my understanding on how to communicate with members more effectively.

    It has now become my turn to lead this area! It’s kind of nerve racking! All the work we have put in has to continue on to reach out to those who are interested in learning about Jesus Christ. I am grateful again for the service and love you all have provided for me. You are all in my prayers 🙏❤.  Thanks for being Awesome! and have a good Week!

    Love you all and Buene Suerte!

    (Good luck)

    Elder Baldwin

    Tasty Green Salsa & My 12-Minute Spanish Talk 🌶

  • This past week was a long week. We have continued teaching those who are seeking to learn more about the Gospel. Our young friends are always excited for our next visit. That’s how we should feel about Jesus Christ when He comes again.

    This world is in turmoil right now and it needs all the love and support it can get. Easter Sunday brings that love. We had a wonderful Easter here in the Camelback Spanish Branch. Everyone who attended was so happy to get back together and celebrate. The joy I feel when I am around the members of the Branch is immeasurable. Some of the children ran up to my companion and me and were like ” Oh!! The Elders Are Here!” That made me feel very welcomed. I can truly see that I have made a big difference in the lives of these members of the branch, and they have made a difference in mine. I honestly feel at home.

    I have continued to learn a lot while I have been out here. Patience has been on my list all this week.  Daily situations demand patience. Not easy, but necessary. Some experiences cannot be readily shared but I am grateful that we have President Smith to help us navigate our mission.

    As we celebrate THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST, let us remember that it is because of Him that we can find peace and joy in this life. I really like the scripture (John 11:25.) “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”  This scripture promises that death is not the end. It encourages me to become a better person and teach those who would like to be taught the same principle I am learning.

    Thanks to all of you for the love, care and support! I would not be out here with out the encouragement I received and will continue to receive! I LOVE AND CARE FOR YOU ALL! ❤💙💜

    BUENE SUERTE!

    ELDER BALDWIN 

    EASTER THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL!

  • Family and friends!

    What a week it has been! Learning and growing to become a better person is well worth it!  We recently had one of the Twelve apostles, Elder Neil L. Andersen, speak to us in person here in the Arizona Scottsdale Mission. It was a mission-wide gathering. All the missionaries from the Mountains and the missionaries in the Valley got together to hear one of God’s chosen apostles.

    What he taught was very meaningful to me.  He thought that staying in an area for awhile is good sometimes up to 6-8 months because it will help us get to know the members very well. When you get to know the members well, you develop relationships of trust, and you can serve better because you learn about their real needs. He also taught us that learning the names of all the young men and women we serve is important because we are helping mentor them, and hopefully—through our example– encourage them in the right direction and even to serve a mission.

    Recently I heard that we are going to receive the visit of another apostle of the Lord. We do not know who it is though. I hope is President Nelson! Wouldn’t that be a cool story to share? Indeed! I think it would. If he comes this will be my second time to be in close proximity to the Prophet of God!!! So exiting!

    My cousin – Jared and I walking into the Conference at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas

    The first time I saw the Prophet—President Nelson– was back in November 2018.  He came and spoke at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Sister Wendy Nelson, his wife, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, and Elder Adrian Ochoa, a General authority Seventy and his wife were also present. We traveled from Dallas to San Antonio and attended this meeting with family and cousins. The youth were allowed to sit very close to the podium and my cousin Jared and I were seated on the third row.  When the meeting finished, President Nelson walked next to where we were sitting and literally, he was like two feet away from me! I remember him shaking the hand of a child who was seated in front of us, and I wanted to shake his hand too. What an eventful experience that was for me! I was so excited to see him so close to us!

    When I was in the Primary, I used to sing the song “Follow the Prophet”.

    “Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, follow the prophet; don’t go astray.

    Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, follow the prophet; he knows the way.  

    My testimony is that by following the Prophet, we too can win spiritual, physical, and mental victories against the adversary.  I know the Lord calls prophets, and when we listen to their words and act upon what they ask us to do, we are blessed.

    Elder Walton and I have continued teaching Bro. Gonzalez. Learning the principles of the Gospel is important.  Before anyone can be baptized, we always make sure they understand the first principles and ordinances of the gospel which are: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, and Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  We plan to review them again this week with him. His baptism is planned for April 16 the day before Easter. I think that is a perfect time to be baptized, so family can invite friends and relatives to witness this ordinance and partake of the Spirit of the Lord.

    Thanks for all the love and support you all have shown me. If you would like to write any personal emails to me my email, send them to: Joshua.baldwin@missionary.org For letters send them to:

    Elder Joshua S. Baldwin

    Arizona Scottsdale Mission

    6265 N. 82nd Street

    Scottsdale, AZ 85250

    THANKS SO MUCH Y’ALL AND HAVE A BLESSED WEEK! 🙌🙏💕 

    An Apostle Visits our Mission

  • This week was quite interesting. We had General Conference, we met a lady in the laundromat, and we found our apartment door wide open.

    General Conference: This past weekend we enjoyed listening to the General authorities of the church. It was awesome. For me, the general theme was: “Continue to preach the Gospel.” I really liked President Nelson’s talks: “Preaching the Gospel of Peace, The Power of Spiritual Momentum, and Now is the Time. In his Sunday morning talk, President Nelson focused on encouraging the youth to serve missions because the mission field is a learning ground.

    The talk from Elder Dallin Oaks was also very interesting as he spoke about the family and the stance of the church on marriage: “we affirm that the family proclamation, founded on irrevocable doctrine, defines the kind of family relationships where the most important part of our eternal development can occur.”  I find great comfort in knowing that this doctrine will never change.

    These talks taught me a lot. What did you learn from General Conference?

    Lady at the laundromat:  We began talking to her and she asked us about our teaching.  We shared with her the Book of Mormon and she rejected it immediately. I find that many people will flatly say: “The Book of Mormon is all a lie” without haven’t ever read it.  I wish people would take the challenge to read it, as I have done it and ask God if it’s true.  The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. Moroni, a prophet from The Book of  Mormon invited all to read, ponder and pray.

     “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (The Book of Mormon, Moroni 10:3-5)

    The invitation is for all of us. You too can find out as you read, ponder and pray if the book is true.

    Finding our apartment door wide open:  Upon returning from one of our regular days, we found the door of our apartment wide open.  My first thought was to check if anything was missing.  Luckily everything was there.  I was concerned mainly about our bikes because they were just right there leaning against the wall.  I was also worried because one of the Sister’s bikes was stolen recently. I feel the Lord protected our place, and I am grateful for that.

    The mission has taught me to work with others and it has shown me that not everyone you meet will want to talk to you. A mission is a tough time, but in the long run blessings will be given to you and your friends, and family for serving. Also, the mission has taught me how important the family is.  I feel I love my family a lot more. Being away from the family for 6 months has given me a different appreciation for all my family members.  I am planning to spend more time with family when I return home.  I am looking forward to enjoying family relationships more. I know I am going to be a different person.  I am planning on spending my time engaging more on activities.

    We have continued teaching our young friends and are still working with Jr to get him baptized. His mom works all week so it makes it difficult for us to set a baptism date for him. He does sound like he is interested though.

     I love being a missionary. The lessons learned out here are valuable. I am grateful for what I have learned. Thanks for all you guys do and continue to do your best.

    Choose the right! There is peace in righteous doing.

    Choose the right! There’s safety for the soul.

    Choose the right in all labors you’re pursuing;

    Let God and heaven be your goal.

    (Choose the Right. LDS hymn #239)

    Buena suerte amigos.

    Elder D. Todd Christofferson is my Mom’s favorite Apostle!

    🕶 Mission Possible 🕶

  • “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. (The Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 31:20)

    Hello family and friends,

    This week was a very great experience in the mission. Although It’s been hard being out here away from family and friends, I have been able to find many reasons to feel happy. It’s been a wild ride these past 6 months learning and growing and meeting new people.  I have learned so much!  It takes a brave young soul to decide to go and step away from his/her family for two full years and decide to serve.  Because I have been out here, I have seen numerous blessings for my family and friends.

    I would like to share with you some of the things I am learning:

    📜 Talking to people more openly

    📜 Asking for help when needed

    📜 Experiencing the joy of serving others around me

    📜 Making good friends for a lifetime

    📜 Understanding that not everyone will want to listen to you

    📜 Knowing that missionaries are truly Christ-like people

    📜 Gaining comfort with being on my own for long periods of time

    📜 Speaking Spanish more regularly

    📜 Knowing that God loves me and that He works on His own timing and not mine

    📜 I HAVE THE BEST PARENTS IN THE WHOLE WORLD, WHO GOT ME TO THIS SWEET POINT IN MY LIFE

    Many great things happened this week. We have continued to teach our 9 yr old friend.  We had scheduled his baptism on April 2nd not realizing that General Conference was that weekend, so we pushed it back a week. We have planned his baptism for April 9th. So exciting! The lesson we taught him this past week was on Temples, and obtaining a Temple Recommend (permission card that Church members use to access the Temple and its accompanying blessings. The card is given to those who demonstrate their faithfulness and commit to honoring their covenants with God). He asked us: “How can I get one of those?” We sadly told him he has to wait until he turns 12 years old, but I’m sure he will continue preparing for that special day.  We also have continued to try to teach other people, but they worked all week long and it’s been hard.  This week we plan to involve more members of the branch to help with these families.

    WHO IS LOOKING FORWARD TO GENERAL CONFERENCE WEEKEND???? because I sure am! Come join me in watching the Prophet of our day speak about how you can find peace and happiness in this HARSH world we live in!

    I am grateful for the Mission experience I have been able to have, and the friends I have made. 6 months is a big step in this stage of my life. I sometimes wonder what would have been like, if I had not chosen to serve a mission. I am grateful for the positive impact my parents and family have had on me. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE NEXT 6 MONTHS! And the joy and happiness they will bring to me, my friends, and my family!

    Thanks again for all the love and support ❤ I love you all and wish a blessing of protection as I am out here serving at this time. 

    P.S. GENERAL Conference Here we Come!! 🥳🎉🎊

    BUENA SUERTE!!

    PRESSING FORWARD!

  • I am finally out of my Teen years! I have waited so long for this to happen!! I had a great birthday thanks to all of you who wished me a happy birthday. Thank you for the cards, the gifts, the food, the cake and all your love.  My mom told me this would be a special birthday for many reasons, and she was right!  Having a birthday in the mission field is different, but great!  I enjoyed the day thoroughly!!!!!!

    This week I was able to ride my bike more and I enjoy that.  I had my bike shipped from home and I feel great.  Also, this week we had a lesson with our young 9-year-old friend. This kid is promising. He is super excited to continue learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy and happiness it brings. 

    My thoughts about death and the resurrection have continued to linger in my mind, and I am grateful to know that after we die, we go to the spirit world where we wait until it is time to be judged according to our desires and service here on Earth. Our family members that have passed on are there in the Spirit world learning about the gospel and waiting for us to join them. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:18-19). Missionary work is organized in the Spirit world.  Everyone is learning about faith, love, covenants, baptism and more.  This knowledge brings great joy into my life.

    I am grateful for each one of you and for the knowledge that I am loved while being out here during this difficult time in our world today. The world is an interesting place! I had some experiences this past week while we were out riding our bikes that show what I am trying to say.

    🚗 A car drives up to the apartment complex where we were at, and a guy rolls down his window and asks my companion and I if we have any candy.  I said, “no we don’t.” Then I thought about the CTR rings, and I thought that it would have been hilarious 🤣😆 to give him a ring as candy! (CTR rings are commonly worn in our religious culture as a reminder to ‘Choose The Right.’)

    🚙 Another guy gets out of the car and walks up to us and starts saying, “man, I love you guys. I don’t believe what you are teaching is true, but I call you guys my “brothas” in the gospel. Then he says “Hey,  that name tag you guys are wearing does not mean a thing! Take it off.” I am there watching him and he continues to say “they are brainwashing you guys.” He continues talking to us and points to me and says “I’m older than you and you’re older than him.” In my mind I think: “Wow! this Dude got it right.” He then talks about the Book of John and I ask, “you mean the Book Of Mormon?” and he says “no, the Book of John”. He gets super close to my face and I think “OK, please God make this fast. If he punches me make it quick.” Luckily he did not. Five seconds later he says “ugh” and walks off into the distance of the apartment buildings. Truly, this experience tested my ability to stay calm in an unpredictable situation, but I was reminded that Heavenly Father watches out for us.

    My foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ is firm. I now know for sure that this Church is true, that the prophet is truly a prophet of God, and that he is our friend here on earth.  I encourage and invite all the family to take time out of your day to read at least a chapter or two out of The Book of Mormon, and you will feel the joy and happiness it brings into your lives. I LOVE ❤ YOU ALL! and THANK YOU again for the BIRTHDAY CARDS, LOVE, and SUPPORT!

    P.s A big shout out to my Mom And Dad for all they have done for me and the love and support I have received from them!  ❤💙💜

    BUENE SUERTE ESTA SEMANA!!!

    My 1ST BIRTHDAY in the Mission Field!

  • “LIFE is good when you find happiness in all things.” – Elder Baldwin 

    What’s up y’all!

    This week has been a great week. This is the end of my 3rd Transfer! I am literally coming up on 6 months of my mission. It’s surprising to see how fast time flies when you are in the work of the Lord for the right reason. During this week we visited and taught a few people. We had the two boys we are teaching, and their families came to Church again this past Sunday. It was a blessing to see them and their families learning about the Restored Gospel. Isn’t it wonderful to invite friends to come and partake of the Sacrament each Sunday? I am grateful to have that opportunity. We had exchanges this week and as usual, we had interesting experiences. So, we are riding our bikes and a guy sees us and yells: “LDS GANG!!! YEA!!!!”  I started to laugh. 😅 It made my day hearing him say that.

    Every week in the mission has its own special experiences.  This week back home my family attended the funeral services for my dear Uncle Gene.  He was special to me.  He supported me in my Boy Scout journey by helping me fulfill the requirements to earn merit badges. He shared with me his love for trains, he taught me how to refinish wood, and he was a great example of determination.  He experienced many hardships while serving our country in the Navy, and he was one of the few who traveled to the North Pole in a submarine.  I love Uncle Gene and will miss him. 

    As I expressed my condolences to my Tia Elia, I felt impressed to share the scriptures found in The Book of Mormon in Alma chapter 40. In this chapter, the prophet Alma wrote about “Christ bringing to pass the resurrection of all men—The righteous dead go to paradise and the wicked to outer darkness to await the day of their resurrection—All things will be restored to their proper and perfect frame in the Resurrection.” I am grateful for this knowledge and the hope that brings to my soul.  To know that death is not the end, brings me peace.  I will see my Uncle again one day thanks to Jesus Christ our Savior.

    As I shared my love with my Auntie Elia I quoted the following “there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works” (Alma 40:21).  I was able to bear my testimony that I know this is true and that Uncle at this time is in good company with my Abuelito Salva and Grandma Betty who passed away a few years ago and Achilles—my cousins’ dog, whom I loved so much.  I reminded my Tia Elia that now Uncle is free of physical pain. 

    I am grateful for the Fowlks family, for giving me the opportunity to share my love. 🙏❤. My thoughts and prayers go out to them at his time. It is of most importance to always know that we are not here on this earth forever. We are sent here to learn and grow and complete a purpose which is to become more like God the Father and his son Jesus Christ.

    I wish I were there to support the family, but this is not the time. I am about to hit my 6 months mark this March 27th. Can y’all believe that! I remember just barely getting off the plane to meet my Mission President and his wife.  I am grateful for the time I have had to be out here. This experience is shaping me into the person I would like to become.  Life in the mission is hard but the friends you meet and people you talk to help you grow and achieve greater things in life. Thanks for being the best and continue to do so. I love you all and talk to you soon 💛

    Striving without Shrinking

  • Hola a todos!!!!! This week was awesome because I had an up-close-and-personal encounter with Heavenly Father’s and Jesus Christ’s creations.  Yesterday on P-Day (Preparation Day), we went to the Phoenix Zoo, which is the largest privately owned, non-profit zoo in the United States. It was amazing to see all the awe-inspiring animals our Father and Christ have made. One of my favorites was the Bobcat. It’s mind-blowing to me to see how each animal has its own personality. I enjoyed my visit tremendously and left the zoo feeling grateful for this opportunity to enjoy myself.

    We have continued teaching a few kids.  Last week we taught The Plan of Salvation lesson to a small family too. As I finished talking about the three kingdoms of glory, I asked Damion, the kid we are teaching the following: “So is Baptism something you want to work towards?” He said “YES” with great excitement! In my whole entire life, so far, I have never seen such an excited child want to have the blessings and be baptized to become a follower of Jesus Christ. Every time we share with him the principles of the gospel, he explains to us that he loves Church, and that he learns a lot as well. I am so happy for him because he is having the opportunity to enjoy the company of the Holy Ghost constantly as he continues to learn how to pray, read the scriptures and obey the commandments. 

    We are all in many ways just like Him, we are children of our Heavenly Father learning about prayer, scriptures, commandments, and all His creations. The Mission is a great experience to have because it gives you the opportunity to remember who you are and share this knowledge. Also, the mission field is a place where you learn how to steer clear of negative things, feelings, thoughts and actions as you focus on serving and sharing the pearl of great price: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matthew 13:45-46). I invite you to CHOOSE to come out and SERVE those who have not had a chance to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

    I am grateful for and pray for each one of you! It’s so good to get letters from family members and emails as well. It brings me great joy to know that there truly is a loving Heavenly Father and that He has given us the blessing to return to Him through the merits of Christ our Lord.  Thanks for the love and support ❤

    BUENE SUERTE MI FAMILIA!

    Finding Joy in God’s Creations