Elder Braden Baker: Miracles and Udit's Baptism!!

What up what up, this week was so so good. I am excited to type it all up and try to explain my experience and feelings but it was a sweet week. The spirit is directing our teaching and the work so much.

Last P-day I had the most amazing experience. I taught a brother in Chennai about 7 months ago named Apoorv Singh. We got really close and he really loved everything about the church. Everything was going great in the teaching and then he suddenly moved to his native place in Punjab. We lost contact for awhile until one day he called me and said, "Elder Baker!! I finished the book. The book you gave me, I completed it." That is when we got to catch up with each other and talk. This last week, he emailed me and we talked again. Right then, I was talking to my best friend Elder Brady who is serving in the India, New Delhi Mission. Elder Brady got super close together in the MTC and then we even served together temporarily in the Florida, Orlando Mission. When we were together we always wanted to serve together but we knew we never would because we were going to two different missions. So, my man Apoorv Singh that I taught in Chennai now moved to Punjab which is in Elder Brady's mission. So, I thought I could refer him to Elder Brady because Apoorv was looking for the church there anyway. I had the idea to do a conference video call with Apoorv and Elder Brady so I asked them both and we did it. It was so awesome to see them both and I got to teach with Elder Brady!! Oh, it was the best lesson ever. Elder Brady is a total stud and an awesome missionary. This was an awesome experience for all of us. We invited Apoorv to be baptized over the video call. He committed to read 2 Nephi 31 and pray about it. If he really decides to be baptized then he would have to take an 11 hour train ride to the nearest church we have and be baptized. Pray for him!

The other miracle this week is with Brother Udit Bhalla! This guy is so freaking awesome. Him and his mom came to us and his mom said that she wanted her son to be baptized pretty much. We started going to his home a few weeks ago and started teaching. For awhile it kind of felt like his mom was pushing him to be baptized until one lesson with him. We read the most powerful chapter, 2 Nephi 31 with him and the spirit HIT HIM. After about verse 14, he just shot up and his jaw dropped. He said, "For the first time, I feel that I need to do this because I need to follow Jesus Christ. I want to be baptized for myself, not because anyone else is telling me to." Udit is a really smart kid. He said, "Can I be baptized on Friday?" hahah YES! So, this week we made sure everything was ready and planned everything and then Friday was perfect. We got up early and went to the church to clean the baptismal font because it is on the roof of the church building! It was super dusty but we were inside the font making sure it was nice and clean. The baptismal service was really nice. Udit's family all attended and they really enjoyed it and said it was a really good night and they could "really feel the good vibes." (that's the spirit!!) They felt the spirit present and hopefully it leads to them also wanting to be baptized. It was just the sweetest feeling to baptize Udit. I was very honored that he chose me to perform his baptism. We became real close friends really fast and it is a blessing that I got to teach him. It is also a blessing that I am able to teach people in English here. I can't wait to see his growth throughout the rest of his life.

Well, a lot is happening right now and time is just flying by. We have been so busy lately here in this area. On Sunday, we left the apartment at 8 am and didn't get home until 11 pm.(don't tell my mission president, we got stuck in an appointment!) hahah I am having a great time lately. I've seen so much happiness in others lives as they allow the gospel to change their lives and being apart of that is changing my life. I have learned a lot and grown myself I feel like. We'll see when I get home in about a year.

Everyone have a great week, I love you all! Love, Elder Baker