Elder Braden Baker: Baptisms, transfers, and tears

Well, this week was crazy!! I started in Kakinada and now I am in Hyderabad. I got a transfer call on Tuesday and President told me I will be going to serve in Madinaguda which is in Hyderabad. So, my flight left on Friday and I've been in Hyderbad the last few days. I really really miss Kakinada. I have never had such amazing members on my mission before. They treated me soooo well. I miss all the people, they're just amazing and like my own family now. I've never felt so much love and appreciation for me for so many reasons.

I planned to leave Kakinada on Thursday night and go to Rajahmundry to stay there because that is where the airport is but my ward members asked me to stay so they could throw a farewell party for me. I didn't really know what to expect but we stayed and went to my farewell party. It was like a legit meeting and everyone got up and bore their testimony and said how much they loved and appreciated me for serving in their ward. Bishop also expressed how much he appreciated me for working hard and serving in his ward. He said that "usually I will ask the missionaries when is the next baptism? But he said with Elder Baker, he would text me before I could even ask him and tell me that we have a baptism this week and the next week!! For Elder Baker, Saturday is baptism day." After everyone, I just bore my testimony and thought about two scriptures. The first one is Doctrine and Covenants 123:17 which says, "cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." And the other one is Ether 12:6, which says "faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." BOTH of these scriptures are so true!! I witnessed both of these here in Kakinada. This area was seriously a life changing and mission changing place. It was absolutely the hardest moments and hardest time of my life and on my mission but in the end, after the trial of my faith and after I cheerfully did everything in my power, I saw God's arm be revealed in my work and bless me SO much. I felt so much joy and happiness. Let me try to explain one event.

The Kuna family. They are amazing for real. I had one of the saddest, sweetest, spiritual experiences of my mission with them. So, when I got my transfer call, I had to go tell the Kuna family, who I found and started teaching and have been teaching for a while, that I will be leaving. I didn't want to because we had become so close and I didn't want to leave them. I went to their house and told them I was leaving to Hyderabad. They all started just crying including the dad. The 15 year old girl Deepthi couldn't hold it in and just started bawling and It made me also cry pretty hard. I have always seen so much potential in this family. I can see them in the future amazing leaders in the church and the future for India. As I was sitting there crying with them, I had a strong feeling we were together in the premortal life and God had a plan for me to come to Kakinada to help them be baptized. I just bore my testimony and now my companions joined us in the crying. The spirit was so strong. Well, I was honored to perform their baptism this week before I left and it was one of the most special baptism services I've ever had. It was a special experience I'll never forget. I've had hard times on my mission but I never guessed I would have hard times like leaving this family. They made the sweetest handmade cards and gave me a watch and a key chain with a 'B' on it and everything.

Well, Hyderabad is a lot different than Kakinada but I'm excited to serve here now! There's a lot more people here and Hyderabad is a huge city. The traffic here is also insane. I'm honestly a little concerned for my life every time I try to cross the street. On P-day we went to a HUGE IKEA. I know you're thinking why would you go to a home furnishing store on a P day but wow. It is huge and there was some really good food. We got mashed potatoes, and cheesecake!! I walked inside and felt like I was back home for a minute. My new companion's name is Elder Gaddala and he is from Mumbai. He is super cool, I'm excited for this transfer with him. I will also be the zone leader with Elder Rogers. He is living in the same apartment as me.

More next week!! I am excited for a new city and a new area. Love you all.

Love, Elder Baker