Elder Braden Baker: Sandeep's baptism!!

Other than the fact Elder McGuire and I both got sick this week, it was pretty good!! We had another baptism this Saturday for Sandeep and it was awesome. We taught a really spiritual lesson to a Hindu lady and she started crying. We started teaching a new family and they performed a dance for us in their home. I spoke in sacrament meeting and spoke in Telugu and the people loved it. Oh yeah, also it was Christmas day this week and we made sugar cookies!! Even though it is winter time in India, it is still pretty hot during the day. At night time and in the morning though, it gets like a little less hot. I wouldn't say cold, but it's a level below day time haha.

Sandeep's baptism!! Let me tell you a little history about Sandeep. His parents died when he was at a young age. He has grown up with his aunt. His aunt served a mission back in 1984 and served in the Philippines. She is an awesome member. Sandeep didn't grow up coming to church. He never came and never wanted to until about 4 months ago. He got in a bad motorcycle accident and the doctor said that he should've died. He got 15+ stitches in his head and lost memory and balance and even his sight is now blurry. He is still suffering from this accident. I met Sandeep maybe 2 months ago and started teaching him. He progressed super fast and just felt a connection with God closer than he has ever felt before. He recognized that God gave him a new life and he wants to give back to God and serve a mission. He was baptized on Saturday and I got the chance to confirm him on Sunday. It was a special weekend for him. I know God definitely needed him on this earth a little longer to change other people's lives. He has a huge missionary spirit right now. He brought two different friends to our lessons last week and four more friends came to his baptism! He is happy and wants to share with others. He will be a good missionary.

There is a little girl that comes to church and she is so sweet. Her dad is a member but her mom is Hindu and not interested in the church or even her husband. It was an arranged marriage so they don't even really like each other and it's causing problems sadly. The daughter really loves our church and participates in everything. She wants to be baptized and also her dad wants her to be baptized but her mom doesn't want it to happen. We have pretty much taught her mom everything and Elders have been coming to her home for years. She is nice to have us Elders inside her home and she will let us share a message and teach but she just rolls her eyes and bobs her head the whole time like Indians do. This time was different. We felt prompted to show a bible video of Jesus Christ being whipped and scourged before he gets nailed to the cross and crucified. It is pretty graphic and honestly hard to watch. We taught and testified of how much love Heavenly Father must have for us if he sent his son Jesus Christ willingly to suffer these things for us. I started crying as I shared my testimony of this subject. Our translator also started crying and finally the mother also started crying. She felt the spirit. It was powerful and a big success for God to see this lady feel the spirit. It was such a big stepping stone.

Christmas was pretty fun!! We ate a lot of chicken biryani and then we also made some sugar cookies and frosted them and decorated them with sprinkles also thanks to my mom for sending a package. Even across the whole world, she is still keeping me involved with the Christmas traditions. She is awesome. I also got to call and talk with my family on Christmas and it was so nice to spend some time with them and see them. It was crazy to think that this was my last Christmas in India! I will be home next Christmas. Also, I cant believe 2019 is over. 2019 was my blackout year which means every single day in 2019 I have been on my mission in India. 2020 is going to be a big year!! I'll be coming home this year which is really exciting but I'll also be really sad to leave India and finish my mission.

Saturday night, the bishopric asked me if I could speak in sacrament the next day. So, Sunday morning I wrote a talk and finished it during the sacrament. It went pretty good! Most of my ward members don't really know English so I made sure to speak in Telugu for them. It was awesome. I did an introduction and also bore my testimony in Telugu. The members just loved it, haha I had so many people tell me it was good and how much they loved to see me speak Telugu. The young women even said that it was cute!! Hahah woo hoo.

Well, this is my last email in 2019. It has been such a wonderful year. I have grown so much in so many different aspects of my life. I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything. I've gone through a lot in the last year. I've had some of the worst experiences of my life and also some of the best experiences of my life. I've had the hardest and lowest times but also the highest and happiest times in my life. No matter what we go through, we can be happy if the focus of our lives is on the savior Jesus Christ. In the last year, I have seen and felt things that have changed my life. I'm excited for this next year to see what comes and to see what I can learn and how I can grow. I love you all and wish you a very happy new year!!

Love, Elder Baker