Merry Christmas for real!!!

Merry Christmas everyone and for real this time!! I hope everyone has had a great week getting ready for Christmas. Shout out to one of my best friends Jed for choosing to be baptized and confirmed this week. I think that was the highlight of my week was seeing pictures and hearing all about it. I am super proud of you Jed and love you a lot!!

Well, It is finally (almost) Christmas day and I have loved this Christmas season so much. I've said it before but this time of year is the best as a missionary. This week we did some good stuff to prepare for Christmas day and our special sacrament meeting as well as our branch Christmas party!! We also had some really good finding activities as well as teaching appointments with some amazing people and families. Like always, everyone stares at me no matter where I am or what I am doing so that is always fun. I can feel the love of the people here taking me in as family this Christmas season. So, don't worry mom(even tho I know you still are), I am being taken care of by so many families here. Everyone we meet with has invited us to come to their home and eat biryani with them on the 25th, I honestly feel bad that we have to tell them we already have plans. One member, Brother and Sister Bains already invited us to their home on the 25th like a month ago!! They are serious about their biryani here and want to share as much as possible with the missionaries. Seriously as much as possible. 

We celebrated Christmas together as a branch family this week and it was a really good turnout!! There was so many members and friends there. We watched a video about what our branch did to #LIGHTtheWORLD and then the members performed a skit and it was hilarious! I was actually in it as well so I guess you can say I have a future in Bollywood. And of course the most important part for any function in india is the food. We all had mutton biryani, one of the favorites here in India. How they eat at functions here is a bit different. The tables are lined up and everyone sits in a row. You have your leaf on the table in front of you and then the people come by and just slap a huge mountain of rice on your leaf, then some one else comes and slaps a big scoop of curry or some sort of gravy and meat and then someone else puts on the raita. You can see my picture below to try and understand what it looks like! hahha

This week, I truly felt like Elder "Baker" and I also have never heard more of the "Baker" jokes from people. It was so funny hahhaa. So, I baked some super good chocolate chip cookies and we went and delivered them to some of the people that we are teaching and they loved them so much and then they asked if I made them and I said yes and they say, "ohhhhhh Elder 'Baker'!! I get it. No wonder they are so good!" ahhhh every time! Anyway, they were a good treat and that was one thing I did this week. 

We went roaming around one night looking for stars hanging in front of some houses for Christmas because that means they are Christian and they are celebrating Christmas! Awesome, so I figured it would be super easy to share a message about christmas to these people because they are already celebrating but I was wrong!! Many people didn't want to hear from us, here are a few responses we got one night: 

• "Oh, we are already celebrating Christmas! Thanks though."
• "uhhhhh my husband isn't home so I don't think so."
• "We won't come any closer because of safety reasons, leave your card in the milk box!" *As the couple stands 10 feet away behind two locked gates*
• "Po Po!! Inkiruntu veliyeravum! Po!" Which means get the heck out of here in Tamil.
• and the best one, nice and simple. "hindu!"

Not everyone was like this though!! In fact, we met many people and families that were more than welcome to invite us into their home and share a message. i just thought it was funny some of the responses we got. And apparently we look like real threats... 

I seriously love being a missionary and I am not kidding when I say I am the happiest I have ever been. I know that Jesus Christ is lives today and is our Savior. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church and is ran by Jesus Christ himself today. Though I am away from my family and friends and my beautiful Ellie, I know that I am in the right place and doing the right thing. My testimony has grown so much just in these short 5 months. Thank you so much to everyone that has thought of me and thanks always for the prayers and support. I hope all is well at your home and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas!! 

Love, Elder Baker

Pastor Raja and his crazy kid

Priya

Elder Baker bakes

Cute kid on the train

"SIDE ANNA!!"

Hello everyone!! Yet another great week in the India, Bengaluru Mission. So, all the missionaries that have served or are serving can also say that December is the best. The Light the World program is so much fun as a missionary, and it makes life so much easier as a missionary as well. So, all of the missionaries are trying to share the Light the World with as many people as possible. One day this week, Elder Tolbert and I went walking down one of the main streets and tried to literally contact everyone!! If you remember, us white guys seem to be a pretty big target to look at on the streets here. So with SO many people here on the streets, it makes it really fun to just walk and roam. It also makes it east to contact people and introduce Light the World. As we were walking, we contacted 40 people in just a few hours. We shared about Christmas and gave them all our number. i know that a lot of good will come from this push to share the true meaning about Christmas to the world. 

We have still been doing a lot of service lately and this week was awesome!! So, our branch got together and ordered a LOT of biryani which is everyone's favorite food in India. We then worked together to pack up 130 boxes of food and then went out and started driving. As we would see homeless people on the street, we would yell, "SIDE ANNA!!" which just means to pull over. We would grab a box of food and go give it to these people in need. I have never seen people's faces light up so fast. They were so thankful and grateful that they had food. There was even one guy that tried to pay us!! It sure was a lot of fun. 

I have seriously felt so much joy as I have done service lately. I can see a glimpse of how Jesus Christ must have felt as He ministered to the people one by one. It is such an immense joy that comes by serving others. As Christmas gets closer, I want to invite you all to serve someone else and experience the true joy of giving to others. Another thing to remember is EVERY single person on this Earth is a son or daughter of God and is important. Giving food to a homeless person in India is not any more important than sharing love and making someone smile in America. Both of these things can save their life. You never know what someone is going through. I love being a missionary so much and I am doing my best to try and be a little bit better than the day before. 

Love, Elder Baker

Light your Community

Homeless People

Homeless family with briyani

A lot of briynai

Chennai beach trip

 Giving out food to the homeless (:

 packing the food!.JPG

Love As He Loved

Hey everyone, this week was so awesome and I just want to say that if you want to feel more happier than you ever have, go serve someone else and share the light of Christ with them. I promise seeing someone else so happy will make you happier!! I definitely have been feeling this lately as we are serving people for Light the World this December. Also, my testimony of prayer continually gets stronger and stronger every day while I am here. I know that God is watching over me and answering prayers every single day. I know that the things that happen are not by coincidence and miracles are still happening!! As we align our will with God's will, he will answer our prayers and give us anything we ask for, I know that! 

A miracle happened to my companion Elder Tolbert and I this week. So, last week Elder Tolbert had his wallet and white handbook stolen from his backpack while riding the local train. Considering that the population of Chennai is the same as New York(around 10 million), we figured that he would never get his stuff back. Now this week we were on the train again and Tolbert had been praying to get his white handbook back because it has some very important, irreplaceable things in it. We got on the train and he said he had a feeling he needed to talk to someone on the train so he prayed and asked God to show him who. As we get off the train, we talked to nobody. We were a little disappointed but whatever. I noticed that a guy I was standing next to had got off and had been following us so I said hi! He started talking with us and just asked the normal questions we get every day. But, then he stares at our name tag and says, "That looks really familiar. I found something on the ground and I recognize that church name." He then reaches in his bag and literally pulls out Tolbert's white handbook!!! It was a miracle for us. God directs his children and answers prayers.

So, on Saturday we had a baptism for an awesome young man named Shiva!! He is the happiest, most energetic, crazy, outgoing guy ever and is awesome. Anyway, he doesn't speak a ton of english but loves learning from us. He was baptized on Saturday and afterwards stood to bear his testimony to everyone and he stood there and was smiling HUGE ear to ear for a minute. Then, unexpectedly he starts bawling and couldn't explain how happy he is feeling right now. He brought the spirit very strongly and it really touched me to see the joy that this gospel brings to peoples lives. The next day is when he was going to be confirmed and receive the Holy Ghost in sacrament meeting. Well, Sacrament meeting started and he wasn't there... 20 minutes pass by and he still isn't there. We tried to call him but his phone was shut off. Turns out he got on the train without buying a ticket and as he got off, they checked him for his ticket and he didn't have it so they detained him and was holding him there until he could pay the fine!! We had to have a member hurry and drive to the station and pay and pick him up and bring him to church. He barely made it in time to the end of Sacrament to get confirmed and receive the Holy Ghost. It was a big adventure but Shiva is the newest member and first convert baptism in the Tambaram branch.

To Light The World here in our branch, us missionaries had an awesome idea. There are some members in our branch that don't have the money or house to buy and put up a christmas tree and decorations for the christmas season. So, we chose a few families who didn't have any decorations in their little home and we went and bought a christmas tree and lights. We then bought some arts and crafts stuff and made little decorations out of popsicle sticks and pass along cards and anything else we could find. Yesterday was the day we went to deliver the trees to the houses. We didn't tell them that we were doing this by the way so it is all a surprise!! We got together with a few of the YSA's and a few members that wanted to join and we started traveling to their homes. We went to the first lady, Sister Kanchana and she is the sweetest lady ever. She was soooo happy and couldn't stop smiling. It was so cool to see her surprised and so happy. The next family was Mary Ramesh and her family. Now, she was even more shocked when we all showed up and set up her tree and lights and decorations. I'll never forget her saying, "Elders, I love you!!! Nan romba happy, romba happy!!" as she is crying happy tears. That means, "I am so very happy" in Tamil. It made me so happy to see her and her family so happy.

 This was one of the most fun I have had yet on my mission. Serving others is the way to share and spread the love of Christ this Christmas season. I invite all of you to take part and join in the Light the World initiative this year. I know that by doing so and focusing on the Savior's love for us will make this Christmas awesome. I love you all and if you can't tell already I am so excited!! Until next week everyone! And now for you that just scroll down to see the pictures, here you go, I'm not offended really I understand... (;

Love, Elder Baker

> Joy to the world with Mary Ramesh

                                                             Mary Ramesh Family

                                                        The Branch at Shiva's Baptism

                                                                      Shiva's Baptism

                                                    Sister Kanchana makes the best food!!

                                                                   Sister Kanchana!!!

                                                              Christmas from home!

Merry Christmas!!

I know it isn't quite Christmas yet but it is December so close enough!! If you cant tell already, we as missionaries are super excited for Christmas!! Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving and then got straight to decorating our apartment for Christmas. We traveled to Paris this week(not the one with the Eiffel Tower unfortunately), just a place in Chennai which they call Paris. It is just multiple streets full of shops. It is pretty much the black market I've been told. We got a cute little Christmas tree as well as some lights to hang up around our apartment! It looks nice and festive, I'll send a video. 

We have been planning a lot of activities for the month of December to Light The World. If you haven't looked at the Light The World initiative for this year, please check it out and do it. It is such an awesome time to serve others around us. Christ is the perfect example of how to minister and serve thy neighbor. Take the challenge to Light the World this year and serve as He served, give as He gave, and love as He loved. We are planning a lot of things throughout the month to help people. We are doing things like making food with our branch members and then bringing it to people who don't have any food on the streets. Also, we are buying little Christmas trees and sneaking in and surprising members by decorating their house without them knowing!!! We are singing carols and doing small and simple things as well. I can't wait to serve others especially this month. I know that following the example of Christ and helping others will light our own faith. 

Nothing else too crazy this week, My companion Elder Tolbert hit his 1 year mark so we celebrated just a little bit!! Everything is still going good here in India. I am surviving and love serving people. I have made great friends and can't wait to see them get baptized. We have two baptisms coming up and i am really excited for them and their families. I hope everyone has a great week, I love you all!! 

Love, Elder Baker

                                                               Our Christmas Tree

                                                 Elder Tolbert's 1 year celebration!

                                                    Bishop Watkins look alike!

 The most wonderful time of the year!.MP4

"But, it's THANKSGIVING!"

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Yet another awesome holiday that they don't celebrate here in India. hahah that is okay, because we made the best of it and we sure ate good!! I hope everyone had a lot of good food and thought of how thankful they are this Thanksgiving. I know I am thankful for SO many things. After living here and meeting people that have so little and are so humble and happy has made me think of how thankful I am for the little things that I have had my whole life. I sure took for granted a lot of things back in America. I have met people who don't have more than one room for their whole house and they still are giving us something to eat or drink. The people are so thoughtful and always inviting us into their home. I love the people already. 

Well, now that it is almost December, it is time for Christmas!! I can't wait for Christmas, we have a lot of good plans to Light The World this December. Everyone needs to look up the Light the World initiative for this year, it is awesome. We are working with the members here to Light the World and better the people around us and be more like the Savior. We are going to give as He gave, love as He loved, and serve as He served. Wow, I love Christmas time SO much!! We just need to decorate our apartment now.

We have been teaching this one family ever since I got here to India and they are so awesome, I love going to their home! Other than the fact they grow bananas and give them to us every time, they are learning so much. We met with the father named Pravin and taught him the story of Lehi's Dream. (Read 1 Nephi 8) We read the whole chapter from the Book of Mormon with him and discussed and made sure he understood. He asked really good questions and Pravin wants to be baptized!! So, he has a date to be baptized in December. We are really excited for Pravin and his family when they follow his example and are baptized as well. 

Sooooo, if you remember one of the first weeks I was here in India I told a story about a family that lived in the slums and I was taller than their whole house. We have been trying to get back to their family to teach ever since but they have been cancelling our appointments. Well, the whole family only speaks Tamil and very little English so we decided to show up one evening with a translator from our ward. We could actually communicate with them and the father told our translator that he always has wanted to meet with us and learn more because he recognized that we were sent from God but he just simply couldn't understand everything we said. The language barrier here is definitely the hardest part in teaching here. With the help of our translator, we could effectively bring the spirit into their home and teach better to them. One thing I learned is the spirit can only testify of truth if truth is taught clearly!! I know without a doubt that this is the true church and it is Jesus Christ's church restored back on the earth today but if they don't completely understand what I am teaching them, than it is ineffective. I just wish so bad I could speak Tamil fluently hahahah. 

So, it was the end of a transfer and I thought Elder Tolbert was out of Chennai but I was wrong!! We both stayed and will be together again in Chennai. In fact, all four of us Elders in my apartment are staying! The food we eat is not bad... I'll say that. hahhah The only thing is that we eat the same thing every time anyone feeds us. Oh, and the people here are serious about their food. We call dinner time "the boss fight" because they want to serve you and pile mountains and mountains of rice on your plate. They feed some sort of curry and rice every meal. It is either rice and curry or curry and some bread thing which is more like a tortilla. There are chipatis, parotas, dosa, rhotis, naan. Oh, they could get real fancy and switch it up and make biryani. That is everyone's favorite. Guess what it is!?? Surprise, it's rice! They just cook the rice and the curry together instead of dishing them separate lol. The food is pretty dang good, not gonna lie. I would die for a good ol' double double from In n Out burger though. Ooooh, also I would die for just anything my dad makes. 

I love living here honestly! Everything that happens that is out of the ordinary(which is like everything). We just say, "Well, it's a story". It is a lot of fun being a missionary and meeting some awesome friends. I hope everyone has an awesome week! I love you!

Love, Elder Baker

                                                       Happy Thanksgiving

                                                     Thanksgiving Dinner

Indian Home

American vs Indian Rainstorm 

Transfers

Hey everyone! This week has gone by so fast. I feel like I say that every week but it is so true. Everyone said that your mission flys by super fast and I guess they were right because apparently I have been out more than 100 days now. I still have a while to go but weeks just keep going by super fast. Time works weird on the mission. In fact, this transfer is over already!!! My first transfer in India is over. We are still waiting on transfer calls to hear what the news is. My companion Elder Tolbert has been in Chennai for his whole mission and he has been out almost a year so he might get transferred this week sadly. I hope he stays because we have grown close and are really making strong relationships with the people we are teaching. He is a really good guy so as much as he is ready to leave, I want him to stay! hahaha

This week we had zone conference!! So, President and Sister Mortensen came to the Chennai zone and met with us missionaries. It was a really good zone conference and I loved learning from them as well as all the other missionaries. One thing we talked a lot about is service and ministering and the new Light the World stuff for this Christmas season. But, I don't want to forget about Thanksgiving!! I am so thankful for all of you and your kind words every week. I can feel the prayers and I am so thankful for it. Happy Thanksgiving this week to everyone!!

This week I got to go on an exchange with Elder Gollapolli and it was a really good day. One of our friends that we are teaching named Shiva is really interested in what we do and he actually asked to go with us to learn more about the gospel and what we do. So, we brought him with us missionaries, i hope that is allowed! I don't see why not because it was very beneficial. hahah anyway, we first went to meet a guy named Apoorv Singh who had referred a Book of Mormon. We were so excited because like nobody does that here. We learned about him and learned that he found our church and watched a lot of our videos on youtube and instagram. So he found our website and requested a Book of Mormon and to meet the missionaries. He knew a lot already which was awesome but we taught him and the spirit was very strong!! Then we visited a member family with our other friend Shiva and the members got to bear their testimony to Shiva and it was awesome!! 

We had a random number call us on Saturday night and said that he met us and wanted to come to our church but we couldn't remember how we met this guy at all!! He said he met the "tall white guy" so I guess that was me lol. He asked to meet us in the morning to travel together so we said yes but we couldn't remember who he was!! So, we met him in the morning and came to church with us but we STILL don't know who he is or how he met us and got our number... Interesting but awesome!! God is providing for us. He is answering our prayers!! 

Love, Elder Baker

                                                                   Zone Conference

                                        

                                                                    Basketball?

Happy Diwali!!!

Hello everyone, what a super fun week! We totally celebrated this week, it was awesome. So yeah last week was Halloween but nobody celebrates that here in India. The real holiday that was lit this week was called Diwali. It is pronounced "Deevali" but they say the 'V' sound for their 'W's here. Diwali is some huge Indian holiday/festival thing and it was so much fun! I honestly don't know what they celebrate but we sure celebrated! We danced, ate food, and lit A TON of fireworks. It was a lot of fun. Our work this week was kind of a slow week to be honest, we had a lot of appointments cancel sadly. It was a really good contacting and finding week and I will tell you why here in a little bit. We did have 24 non members at sacrament so that was way awesome!!

Happy Diwali!! We found out there was a big Indian holiday coming up because there was posters all around our apartment for a big party and it was only 100 rupees for unlimited food so just that part caught our attention. 100 rupees is equal to $1.37 soooo SWIPE!! We went and got in contact with the guy in charge and asked if we could get some tickets to come to the party. He was shocked that we wanted to come because we are white or something. He was also in charge of the program for the night and a lot of people were performing to celebrate so he asked if we would do a dance for everyone. It was the day before but we were like yeah sure!!! hahha so we committed ourselves to perform in front of everyone a dance we haven't made up yet. The next day was Diwali so for companionship study, we made up a dance to our favorite Tamil song Orasaadha by 7up Madras Gig. We don't know what the words mean but it is catchy!! haha so we made up a dance in an hour and then preformed it that night for everyone at our apartment!! We wore traditional Indian clothes and everyone absolutely loved it! 

So, the rest of the week like everyone in our apartment came up to us and asked more about us and we met a lot of people because of this!! Even people on our street would ask about our dance or say that their friends told them all about it! It was so much fun and a great finding activity! After the dance, EVERYONE in India was lighting fireworks and firecrackers. They would just light up the whole sky, it was so cool to see from the roof of our apartment building. 

I am still alive here on the mission. Thank you to everyone who talks to me and prays for me, I can definitely feel it while I am out here. I love all of you and miss America a lot but I am sure enjoying India. Thanks for everything, until next week!!

Love, Elder Baker

Elder Tolbert and Elder Baker dance at Diwali!!
                                   

Food and Fireworks

                                                            Introducing ourselves.