Elder Braden Baker: Five baptisms in one day!

What a week here in Kakinada with Elder Datla! Oh, it was awesome. Saturday was a day to remember and a very special day for lots of people. On Saturday, we had five baptisms in our ward and they were all confirmed the next day in sacrament meeting at church. It was definitely a day to remember on my mission and especially a day to remember for Harshitha, Olivia, Vanya Sri, Bhuvana, and Nagaraju as they were all baptized. Also on Saturday night right after the baptism service, Priyanka had her baptism interview and passed!! Last P-day we went to the beach and had a good time and got some good pics. We went to a famous and historical restaurant in Kakainada for a members birthday. And of course, the kids are amazing like always! We have been praying for their parents to listen to us also and this week we had a lesson with them!! Woo hoo.

We had a big scare this week with Priyanka. She got a call from her parents and they said she needs to move home right away. They live in a far away village with no church there. We were shocked and devastated because she came to Kakinada to get a job and not only did she get a good job but she also found the true church as well and found so much happiness and hope in her life! She was so sad and couldn't stop crying. She wanted to stay because of the church. She said she couldn't leave the church. We had a powerful, super spiritual lesson that night and I also teared up a little bit because it hurt me to see her leave all of this she has been experiencing. Elder Datla and I had a different plan that night but we felt instead to go see Priyanka and it was at the exact time she needed us. God led us there to help her. We bore strong testimonies of the restored gospel and she just cried more. After a few days, she told us that she had talked with her parents and told them that she is staying in Kakinada for at least another year and she is being baptized. Priyanka knows what is right and wants to be the example for her family! So, this Saturday Priyanka passed her baptism interview and was so excited. She was super nervous to have the interview because apparently she didn't know that our district leader would conduct the interview. She thought I was going to be the one interviewing her. Hahah she was nervous but she said as soon as she started talking, it was good! So, she will be baptized this next Saturday. After the baptism service she told me, "I am so happy and can't wait for next Saturday, thank you soooo much!!"

The children are still progressing and all of those cute little girls came to church and yes we walked the whole way holding hands. I think I'm in love! (; haha Well, we have actually really been praying for all of their parents hearts to be softened and to listen to our message. FINALLY, this week one set of parents sat with us for a lesson as we taught the restoration and it went really well!! Then on Saturday, the parents took all of the kids and came to our baptism service. It was awesome because one of the girls getting baptized was one of the girls friends from primary. So, the kids saw their friend get baptized and also saw that it is correct to baptized starting at age eight. During our appointment with the parents, Subha Varshini grabbed my picture book and opened up to the one of a little girl getting baptized and showed her mom and said, "Mommy!! Mommy! Naku kavali" which is Telugu for "I want".

Saturday night and Sunday was just amazing! 5 members were baptized and it was such an amazing experience to be a part of it. These families have started on the covenant path that leads to eternal life. I already talked about the Rayudu family and how the mom and son have been members for over 4 years. Well, this week the son Chandra baptized his sister and his dad and it was powerful. The mother came up afterwards and just thanked me so much for helping to teach her family. But immediately after thanking me she said, "Next step... temple!" They have their sights set on the temple. They have righteous goals and even though India doesn't have a temple yet, God will help provide a way for them to be sealed together forever! (1 Nephi 3:7)

I am grateful for my family and I love all of them so much! I am also so grateful I am serving a full time mission. No matter what trials or hard times or homesickness or sadness I have, I always find joy in missionary work. There is nothing better than helping someone find the restored gospel and bringing it into their lives and witnessing how the person has literally changed from before they knew to after. It's amazing what the church and gospel can do for you if you allow it to happen.

That's the main things that happened this week, if you'd like to talk more with me about it, you can email me or message me on Facebook! I love you guys.

Love, Elder Baker

All of the baptisms Saturday night!

The Rayudu family being baptized.

This is all of the missionaries in my district and I am the only American.

Here is my leaf from the super famous restaurant in Kakinada with rice and biryani and a whole bunch of curries and sweets. I loved the waiter here. He kept coming to our table and saying, "emi kavala? chappandi!!" Which means "what do you want? Tell me!!" because it was an unlimited place. If you ask for anything, they'll give it to you.