This week I was the only one that won the battle of our old broken bicycles. Elder McGuire got taken down by a dog on his bicycle and Elder Bhandari did a full front flip over his bicycle because his brakes got jammed. I was driving and a street dog jumped out of the way of my bike and it ran right under Elder McGuire's tire and he literally ran right over the back of it and it caused his bike tire to slide out sideways and the dog ran away fine but Elder McGuire crashed and ate sand. Lucky for him, we were on a soft sand road, Elder Bhandari wasn't that lucky. Elder Bhandari didn't really know how to ride a bike when he first got here so he has been in about 6 accidents but this week was the worst. We were riding and he tried to speed up fast for the first time and then he couldn't hit his brakes in time and he hit the back of my bike and literally got air and flew over his handle bars and ate asphalt. I was freaking out. His glasses flew and his water bottle was rolling down the road. Every Indian nearby ran over and is staring at the white boy that just caused this accident. As I watched him flip and fly through the air and land on the asphalt, knowing his athletic ability, I thought he was dead. I looked at him with his glasses hanging by one ear and he just looks at me and smiles and laughs!! Hahah he was so optimistic about it. He was saying how happy he was to fly through the air like superman. How it was such an awesome opportunity for him to have his first accident on his mission. I was shocked. Luckily, he wasn't hurt bad.(we were wearing our helmet) Just a few scratches on his hand that he keeps showing me and saying, "revenge" hahahah he is awesome.
We had an exchange this week so Elder McGuire left to Rajahmundry and I was companions with Elder Bhandari and Elder Sumarajan. Elder Sumarajan grew up in the church and in his home they spoke English. He is the smartest, most prepared missionary I have ever met here in India. I'm impressed with his gospel knowledge and understanding of the gospel. Also, he is pretty much American. He grew up watching the NBA and NFL on ESPN and TV shows like The Office, Friends, New Girl, and English movies. It's so weird to talk with him because he knows like all about american culture and the shows and movies and stuff. It was really good.
While we were on exchange, we went to teach the Kuna family. Every time I go to the Kuna family home and teach them, I just feel so happy and so much love. They are an amazing family. It is one of the few families I have seen in India where they all have such a big love for each other. A lot of times I see with arranged marriages the parents don't even like each other and don't care too much about the family. It is really really sad. We taught them this week and talked about Joseph Smith's testimony and what he did after he saw the first vision. After so much persecution to him and his family, he says, "I knew it, and I knew that God knew it." He was determined to do what's right no matter what. They were inspired and decided it's time to be baptized!! So, we came the next day and did their baptism interview because they have been prepared. The two kids will be baptized this week and I couldn't be more happy for them. The mom really is amazing and has a strong faith. She has a job that works every Sunday or she would be coming to church. She is working on changing her job timing on Sunday or figure something out to come to church and then be baptized. The son and daughter both want to serve a mission and the family is looking forward to and excited about going to the temple to be sealed as a family. They're amazing. I love them for real. It's going to be soo hard to leave them when I transfer.
Sandeep Vadlapaty, the one who was recently baptized has introduced us to so many of his friends and family to start teaching. He is pumped about the gospel right now and isn't shy to share about it. Since he was baptized, he has brought 8 friends to church, and this week introduced us to 4 different families. We were at one family and they are Hindu. It was the moms birthday. We were singing happy birthday and cutting cake. The mom's son died about one year ago so she cut a piece of cake and put it in front of his picture for him. She started crying, it was pretty sad. Sandeep gives her a hug and starts saying, "hey, don't worry!! We are going to teach you about the spirit world and how you can go to the temple to be sealed together for all eternity and live with your son again." She is Hindu and doesn't even really know about Jesus Christ but Sandeep is hitting her with straight facts about the restored gospel, I loved it!!
The last small miracle this week came just from me waving and smiling the past 5 months. Every day as we walk or ride our bicycles home, I pass this one house and the cutest little girl stands on her balcony and waits for me to come by so she can wave and say, "Hi annayya!!" (Hi brother) She is so sweet and so cute to wait for us and say hi. I always said hi and waved really nicely but we never stopped. So, this Sunday we were at church and we were starving and we tried to get a lunch appointment but no members invited us for lunch so we were trying to plan what we will do for lunch. Finally, we decided to just go home and see what we had in the fridge. As we are riding our bikes home, sure enough this cute little girl is on her balcony, "Annayya!! Annayya, come!!" So, I stopped and felt like I need to talk to this girl and meet her. She invited us upstairs into her home and we met her whole family. Then, they said they made lunch for us and really wanted us to stay there and eat lunch!! So we stayed and ate lunch with them, and had a good time. They were literally so nice. This is one of the reasons why serving in India is the best, the people are literally TOO nice. They gave us everything. The little girl is eight years old and she was too cute. I said I wanted to get a picture so she went and changed and put on a new dress!! See what happens when we are happy and smile to other people. Small and simple things bring great things to pass. In this instance the small thing was my smile, the great thing was lunch when we were in need and of course meeting a wonderful family.
Well, I am waiting for transfer calls tomorrow to see if I'll be leaving and where I will go next. President said that I will probably be transferring but he didn't tell me where so the suspense is killing me!! I'll let you know next week what the big news is. Well, I love you guys!! Have a great week.
Love, Elder Baker
This is Santhi Priya! She is Sandeep's cousin and we started teaching her this week. She wanted a selfie.
This is a beast member, he is our executive secretary. His name is literally ISAAC NEWTON. I met him.
At dinner with bishops family. He literally is one of the best men I've ever met and an amazing leader. He is very Christlike.
The cute little girl in the front in the cute dress is the little girl that waves and says hi. Her family gave us lunch. They were too nice.
Poori from a street shop. It is sooooo good, I pray it doesn't wreck my stomach.
Elder McGuire and I in a serious conversation it looks like hahaha a member took this picture.
Riding to the church on P day on our bicycles
This is the best district, we have some stud Elders.
The lady cutting her cake for her birthday
The birthday party Sandeep brought us to.
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