I made it!!!

Hi parents, I made it to Orlando safely!!! I traveled with Elder Brady and Elder Allred and about 17 other missionaries. It is pretty crazy to think I'm out in the field now. It was SO GOOD to hear your guys voice today, ahhh I loved talking with you. 

Just to let you know, Monday's are my P-days. I'm sleeping at one of the counselors houses tonight and then I meet my companion and get to work tomorrow. I seriously can't wait to get to work. I am crazy excited and also super nervous. I love you guys do look much. 

Sister Clark had chocolate cake and ice cream and everyone sang happy birthday to me, it was very nice!! 

I love you so much,

Love, Elder Baker

I think I'm going to Disney World!!

Hello family and friends!!

Weeks here at the MTC are starting to really fly by! I can't believe I've been here over two weeks already and what's more crazy is that I leave in three days!! Guess what everybody... I got my flight plans to India last week! I got an email confirming my plane ticket and everything! I was so excited to go straight out to the field and I could not wait. I was assigned to be the "travel leader" and I would be flying with two other Elders from my district! We celebrated to say the least. Yesterday, a surprise came in the mail and said that I have not yet received my visa and I will be temporarily assigned to serve in the Florida, Orlando Mission!!  So, yeah it was a shock and a surprise to me as you can imagine. There was a whole lot of emotions yesterday for sure. So, out of the 8 Elders in my district that are going to India, NONE of them got their visas. Elder Hakanson and Elder Hugie got assigned to serve in Tempe, Arizona until they get their visa. Elder Brady, Elder Allred, and I all got assigned to Orlando, Florida. The other three elders do not have their assignment yet... it's a touchy subject here at night lol they don't like to be teased about it. One of the elders in my district is really sad he got assigned to Orlando just because he was WAY pumped to go straight to India. He told me he is pretty bummed and he is fasting for his visa to come through. I prayed last night and I know that His timing is going to be perfect no matter what happens. Maybe my visa comes through randomly on Monday and I go to India or maybe not, and I'm supposed to go to Orlando. Either way, I trust the Lord and He knows what to do with me. I love it and can't wait.

The days are really starting to get repetitive here and we do the same thing in class every time and it is starting to get annoying. Since I don't have to learn a language, I believe that they have run out of stuff to teach me. It is all good stuff and we are practicing good skills, but after doing it every day it is really redundant. We began to get more rowdy and had a little too much fun in classes until Monday night. The first half was kind of bad, we were not really into the lesson and we were messing around and not taking the role plays seriously and the spirit wasn't there so that is our fault as missionaries. When we took a break halfway through, us Elders went into a separate room and said a prayer all together to really have the spirit with us the next half of the lesson and that it wouldn't be so redundant. When we got back, our teacher is so awesome, she said we were going to go on a field trip to change up class a little bit. Boom, already Heavenly Father answers prayers. We went around the MTC to look at a few of the murals on the walls. Their are a ton of different murals of scripture stories on the walls and they are SO beautiful. It has the picture and then the scripture, a little about the story and usually a question. We looked at the mural together and talked about the story and just felt the spirit really strong as we all shared what it teaches us about missionary work. We looked at a picture of the Sons of Mosiah as they go journey out and start their 14 year mission!!! We all decided that if they can do 14, then we can do 2!! The next mural was of Nephi overlooking Jerusalem before he went in to get the plates from Laban. The scripture was 1 Nephi 4:6 which says, "I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." This scripture was a really good discussion for us missionaries to talk about. As we all go out into the field this week, we don't know what we're going to say or who we will talk to but if we have the Spirit with us, we will be led and know exactly what to do and say. A lot of us told stories and I felt the spirit so strongly this class. It was such a great experience and I realized how much I LOVE the feeling of feeling the spirit. It brings me so much joy to have this Spirit with me and I realized how excited I am to bring this to people in the world that need it. I have something that many people don't have the chance to experience and it makes me so happy that I am about to give that to people.

I might be famous, no big deal. On Tuesday night, Elder Christofferson came to the MTC and him and his wife spoke to us! In fact, the devotional was broadcasted live to six other MTC's around the world and recorded to show to all the other MTC's around the world. I was in the choir again and we sang Joseph Smith's First Prayer and it was SO beautiful and so powerful. That's what I mean by I might be famous. I was in the choir that sung to an Apostle in a devotional that was broadcasted out to all the MTC's. I realize it's a small win, but I'll take it. He talked to us about the correction of the name of our church. We are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was mostly information, but it was really cool to have an apostle come speak to us. His wife told a story of her son who was on his mission and was really struggling to love the people. He was not having a good time and thought he was having no success. He wanted to come home. He was on a bus one night looking out the window but the lights were on inside the bus so all he could see was his reflection. He was looking out but all he was seeing was himself. For some reason, something happened with the lights in the bus at this moment and they turned off right as he was looking out the window. As this happened, he wasn't looking at himself anymore, all he saw were the people outside and he realized what was wrong. He had been looking inward this whole time. We learned how important it is to turn outward and help other people. This mission is for the people and I can't wait to love them!! 

I love you all and miss you!!! Thank you to everyone that has sent me letters and stuff from the outside world, I love you!

Love, Elder Baker

Tuesday night, the India squad all slept together! It was so fun and really funny, I love these guys

The view of the MTC from the top floor.

Such a great scripture I saw on the wall. (Shout out Kellen Jones, love you)

Most of the Snow Canyon friends, sadly we missed a few :/

I'm going to Disney World!!!

Hello family, surprise!! I just got in the mail today this paper that says I don't have my visa yet, so as of now I will be flying to Orlando, Florida on my birthday and serving there until my visa comes through!! I was shocked but now I am really excited. I'll talk to you more tomorrow on my P-Day. I love you guys

I'm going to India on dad's brithday

 I got my travel plans and I fly out of SLC airport on August 28th and go to Amsterdam, Netherlands and then straight to Bangalore!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND I CAN'T WAIT!

Week 2: The MTC is "Incredible"

Hello Family and friends, I love and miss you all!

I feel like it has been SO long since my last P-day and I've got the chance to contact the outside world. I got here at the Provo MTC last Wednesday and I got to email my parents and then my P-day was on friday! So, it came so fast which was so nice but then it just made today feel like so far away!! It's crazy though how time flies here at the MTC. It is honestly so weird that just a little over a week ago, I was home with my family and Ellie. Overall experience here at the MTC so far is very good. I was blessed with an amazing district of other guys also going to India. There are four of us going to the Bengaluru mission and the other four are going to the New Delhi mission. We became so close so fast and that has helped me out A TON being here. Also, something that is very nice and helpful is that two other guys have girlfriends at home so I love being able to talk to them about my girlfriend and being able to relate as well as brag to them about Ellie.

My district's classes have kind of been a roller coaster. So, we have an assigned teacher named Sister Kennedy who is way awesome but she knew she was going to be out of town a lot during the time that we are here so she got a team teacher named Sister Jacobsen. This means that our district gets a new teacher to teach us about every other class. Little did she know, Sister Jacobsen ALSO is gone a lot lol. So, Saturday night there was some miscommunication and no teacher showed up for our class at night which is 3 hours long... SOO, instead of heading back to our residence and going to bed for the night, we sang a hymn and said a prayer and began the discussion all by ourselves. We started out by going over what was supposed to be taught that class but eventually decided to go through our whole district and share what we said in our farewell talk and then tell about our goodbyes. This soon turned into one of the best testimony meetings that I have ever been apart of. All of us missionaries got so close during this and also felt the spirit so strongly. Anyway, word got around the MTC a little bit and I guess you could say that we're the best district here.

Another class we had, where our substitute actually did show up, was amazing!! The substitute teacher was Sister Horvath and we're all kind of in love with her. I didn't think anyone could keep me on the edge of my seat for a three hour class but she did!! Everything she says is like so inspirational and so good! Oh, and she like knows everything about everything. She is crazy smart. We love when she teaches us and it's funny because all the guys try and throw in the word "Incredible" when we make a comment in class and I'll tell you why. Sister Horvath talks SO fast and like doesn't breathe hahahah like all the veins in her neck kind of pop out. And her voice is just identical to the babysitter from the movie The Incredibles. When she talks for a long time really fast, she will end her sentence with "I DON'T KNOW" and it's just like the babysitter from the incredibles, IT'S SO FUNNY. All of the elders totally noticed it and we all said it at the same time and now we love her.

There is one elder in the MTC that all of my district says hi to as we pass him. He stands out to us because he is Indian!! His name is Elder Pryanshu and he is SO COOL. We all wanted to meet him and talk to him so one day all 8 of us kind of just walked up to him.(sounds pretty scary if you were him huh) He was totally cool about it and actually heard about us 8 guys going to India and wanted to talk to us as well! He is from Goa, India which is in my mission and he actually served in Bengaluru before coming to the Provo MTC because he was waiting for his visa! Crazy that he's already served in the field before coming to the MTC! He told us that we will love the mission, the people are totally open and ready for the gospel and that the mision president and his wife are awesome. He said that Sister Mortensen makes amazing cookies for the missionaries and that we will love her and her husband. It got me so excited to get there, I seriously can't wait!!

                                                                       My name tag

                                                         My cousin Maxy and I in class

                                                                               Zach got called up to hold a balloon for an object lesson because the teacher said he looked strong. True.

Elder Hugie and I eating the cinnamon rolls Ellie sent me!! We loved them.

Elder Alfano.  One of my Dad's best friends son. 

   

More pictures

8-10-18

Hey mom!! I hope everything is alright at home. I realized that I don't have any hard pictures of our family and my friends and I was wondering if you could print some family photos please please please and send them to me.

Also, could you send like two pairs of my no show socks? like the grey vans ones in my top drawer would be fine.

Lastly, I wanted to ask if you could make sure I have money in my checking account for my debit card. I had to pay for a visit to the doctor and I have to buy some ear drops... Sadly yesterday my ear was hurting way bad and I like couldn't hear. The doctor said I might have swimmers ear and is having me put ear drops in. He said it is all inflamed and red on the inside. I'll be fine tho!

Okay, thank you so much!! I love you mom!! 

Love, Elder Baker

me in the doctors office

New Delhi bound 

Pictures

8-10-18

Wow, that is crazy about Elder Staheli!! That is too bad. Yes, Brin is right! I have seen Elder Childs, Nowatzke, Seth Smith, Jake Barben, Matt Gotfredson, Parker Finklea, and many more. I just wanted to respond real quick and say I love you so much and I hope everything is doing okay at home! I love you so much and I am about to send my main email, I just wanted to respond to you.

Love, Elder Baker

Week 1: I made it to my first P-Day

8-10-18

Hello family and friends!!

I made it to my first P-Day, woo hoo! Although it has only been two days, we call it a success here at the MTC. I didn't really know what to expect coming into the MTC honestly, everyone tells you certain things. The first night, I was pretty overwhelmed. I just had to say goodbye to my family and girlfriend Ellie and it was really hard but as soon as I couldn't see them anymore I was immediately doing stuff. I went to this table and got my name tag, then they sent me to the next table for my room key and then about 6 other tables after that for more stuff. I felt like a little sheep in a big herd of sheep following the brand new Elder in front of me that also had no idea what they are doing. After I got my important stuff, I was directed to my dorm room. I was the first one there which was nice because I got first choice of which bunk bed to take so I chose the bottom bunk by the window. It seemed like my best option out of the 4. 

Yesterday, my first full day in the MTC was jam packed with all sorts of stuff and my companion Elder Williams and I were totally on top of our schedule and was everywhere we needed to be. So, by about dinner time, we both kind of started feeling a little bit more comfortable with the environment and decided that we could get used to this. Right after dinner, we went with our district and met our Branch President and his counselors and their wives. This is where we found out who the district leader is going to be. After he interviewed all of us, he came back into the room and told everyone that he has called a district leader and it was going to be Elder Brady, who is totally a stud. I felt a little relieved because I had just barely tonight started to feel more comfortable. President then went on to say that he is calling Elder Baker and Elder Williams to be Zone Leaders! Woo hoo! Moral of the story is, don't ever get too comfortable here at the MTC or you'll be the zone leader after 24 hours here. 

I really have enjoyed the spirit here at the MTC. I can see the light of Christ in all the Elders and Sisters around me, It's truly amazing feeling the spirit here. In one of my classes I was really starting to worry about my family and worry about what they will be doing while I am gone for two years. I started to worry about things like their safety and just about everything else. I started to miss them a lot and right as I started having these thoughts, my branch president shared with us D&C 100:1 and D&C 118:3 where the Lord says "your families are well; they are in mine hands, and I will do with them as seemeth me good; for in me there is all power." I felt peace that my family will be blessed while I am away doing the Lord's work.

Love, Elder Baker

This is my companion Elder Williams

Elder Smith and I

This last picture is my district and we are the only ones here going to India.

From left to right: Elder Brady, Elder Jue(pronounced "jew"), Me, Elder Williams, Elder Allred, Elder Wolcott, Elder Hakanson, and Elder Hugie(pronounced "hyoogy")

I made it safe to the MTC!!

8-8-18

Hey mom and dad!! They are giving us a quick minute to let you guys know that I made it safe to the MTC!! I was the first one in my room so that means I got the first choice of which bunk bed I got. So, that is awesome. Elder Graham helped me get settled and then sent me on my way so I haven't see him since. He was a stud.

I haven't met my companion yet, but his name is Elder Williams so I guess I look forward to meeting him. I have met a guy that I played against in basketball and he is going to my same mission! He played at Copper Hills and his name is Elder Hakanson. He seems pretty cool so maybe I see him over in India.

Anyway, my P day is on FRIDAY! Woo hoo!!! So, I guess I will give you another update on friday! I already miss you and love you so much!!! Thanks for everything.

Love, Elder Baker