Elder Braden Baker: Miracles on Miracles!!

What up what up!!

We officially have a new Tambaram District and two new elders in my apartment. Last Friday, I picked up my new companion Elder Rajendran and then on last Monday, Elder Beatty arrived and joined the squad. Now it is Elder Rajendran, Beatty, Shurtliff, and I and we are doing great! It is a lot of fun here in Tambaram.

We all visited Sister Kanchana this week and she is a beast. She cooked us up some super good food like always. This time, we had chicken curry and poori and of course rice. Before we start sharing our message, she always likes to start with a hymn even though she doesn't know much English. So, we sang like usual and then we were saying that she was so good that she should sing solo. So guess what she did? Yep, she performed every verse of "I Am a Child of God" for us SOLO. (yes, there is a video below) hahaha It was SO freaking cute. I felt strongly that we are all truly children of God who loves us so much.

We met a new family this week knocking doors and they asked us to come the next day and teach them!! So, we went to their little home and taught them simply who the Godhead is. After teaching them, Elder Rajendran and I got on our bikes and cycled home. We were passing a house of a different family that I am teaching and I had a feeling to just stop and say hello. So, I just slammed on the brakes and knocked on their little gate. One of the sons in the family named Shankar stuck his head out and the biggest smile came across his face and he said, "WONGA!! WONGA WONGA WONGA!!" which means 'Come' in Tamil. Elder Rajendran's mind was blown that I had a feeling to just stop and knock. He kept asking me, "how did you know that they wanted us to come in??" They were all home and just super excited to see us stop by. I know it was something small but God is speaking to us through the Holy Ghost. It is up to us to act on those promptings.

We got a call from a Sister in our branch this week and she said she had met a lady named Yasmine and that she wanted us to come over to her home with her. So, we traveled to meet her so that we could go to Yasmine's home together. We traveled like 20 minutes to meet her just to figure out that Yasmine's home is RIGHT next to my apartment... HAHAH oops. So, we traveled all the way back. Anyway we finally got to her home and talked for awhile about who the Godhead is and how they can all help us. She has been struggling with a lot of different things lately and I wanted to explain to her about Priesthood blessings. I know that the Priesthood is literally God's authority that is on the earth today. It is the same power that Jesus Christ healed people and worked miracles when he lived on the earth. I showed Elder Rajendran how to give a blessing because it was his first one that he gave on his mission. He seemed nervous but I know the spirit was super strong in that little room and the words that he spoke really touched Yasmine!! She was just crying the whole time and when we invited her to church she said, "I will come to your church every week!!" I know God lives.

I know with a surety that if "we keep the commandments of God, we will prosper in the land." It has to say that hundreds of times in the Book of Mormon and it is so true. Over and over we see those that are keeping the commandments and heeding to the word of God are the ones that see the miracles and truly feel joy. Real lasting joy comes from loving our Savior. I have already learned so much on my mission, I am so grateful!! I am super grateful for the people in my life that help me and support me. Especially my family!! I love all of you. I love you Dad, Mom, Bree, Bryson, Brinley, and Ellie!! (; I hope everyone has a great week!! <3

Love, Elder Baker

**Disclaimer: Priya is the girl we are teaching and she is paralyzed from the waist down but she wanted a picture with her standing and without her walker. SO, she leaned against the wall and had to hold my hand to stay up!! Don't freak out mom! Or Ellie!