No Longer a Teenager!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.... I am not a teenager anymore! 

Ahhhhh! 

So for my twentieth birthday today, I believe we are making cookie castles and snowmen.... I promise I'm not two!

Anyways, lots of exciting things happening this week! I got my "daughter "(Daughter is a nickname the sister missionaries give to someone straight out from the MTC - Missionary Training Centre) on Wednesday, which is weird.  I just finished being trained and now I'm training! Anyways, her name is Sister Gambler and she is also from Arizona, off the Navajo reservation near Flagstaff and she is a boss! I love her so much already. She is an incredible example of perseverance and patience to me!  It's incredible!  Watching her learn and grow really helps me to learn and grow!

We were talking about loving people and I was telling her that you really get attached to those you teach and your capacity to love increases so much. Then a few days later we just had a lesson after another where the Spirit was so incredibly strong and the members were telling us it was a message that they really needed. She even told a family that she loved them just by talking to them once and that she's never said that to a stranger before. I love how in the Gospel, in Heavenly Father's eyes, no one is a stranger.  We are all capable of incredible things and our divine nature and potential is incomparable!

We've been talking to a lot of people about courage lately; about Esther and women power, I suppose. But there's an article called "Living the Gospel Joyful" that I'd love everyone to read! The last section is by far my favourite... You are loved, no matter what!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/living-the-gospel-joyful?lang=eng

Saturday, we were given the opportunity to work at a ranch wrapping presents for underprivileged children.  It was so much fun! This Saturday, we'll be there again to help with the Christmas party where they are fitting kids for winter accessories, giving out the presents, sharing food, and having a petting zoo!  I am so excited!

Well, the snow came and it looks like it's here to stay... just in time for my birthday, as per usual! The roads out here get pretty slippery and no one's cleared them yet, so that's fun and exciting!  It's so pretty though! I didn't realize that I missed the snow!

That's just about all I have for this week, unfortunately. Hope you all have an awesome week and stay warm!

Love you lots,

Sister Jessica Baker


Me and Sister Gambler, my new "daughter".

I'm Going to Be a Mom!

Hello friends and family!

I am going to be a mom!

Woo!

See, transfer calls were Monday and I was asked to train a brand new sister straight from the MTC starting tomorrow! (Being called a "mom" means you are training a new Sister straight from the MTC - Missionary Training Centre) I don't even know her name yet! It's super crazy because I am just finishing my training myself! I am so excited for this opportunity though! I am in an incredible ward and I am going to have a blast!

It'll be sad to see Sister Bahtishi go but she's not going far. In fact, she'll still be in my stake and zone! Being out here is such an incredible experience that I don't even have the words to describe!

That's the most exciting news I have for the week I guess!

We went to a really amazing Remembrance day assembly on the university of Alberta campus! Then we got a bit lost trying to find our way back to the LRT station haha! But it was a ton of fun!

Lots of love,

Sister Baker


Group Selfies!

Christmas is coming a little bit early to the apartment!

First Snow and Extending Commitments

Hello Friends and Family!

 

This week was jam packed with meetings but I suppose I saw a few great things!

First off, in two weeks I'll have been out for 3 months! Crazy how time flies!

 

My companion found a real life Canadian maple leaf!  Haha!

 

We had a zone meeting where we talked about extending commitments. Without  making commitments, progression is not possible! The same topic came up in a Stake Mission meeting with members later on in the week! There are so many ways to help those around us feel the Spirit.  If we are living righteously then others can see the Spirit within us.  They notice the difference and will become naturally curious. When that happens invite them! So I challenge you to invite someone to something this week.  It could be big like reading the Book of Mormon or coming to church, or something smaller like coming to dinner with the missionaries, or a ward event!

Don't ever be afraid to open your mouth and testify simply. Faith overcomes fear. Always.

 

Elder Moeller is from Ontario... he's the shorter one.  Maybe someone remembers him!?

The Edmonton temple

Also, IT SNOWED! On November 1st! And it has been on and off since then! Nothing has stuck yet though, so that's a blessing! But it is cooling off.  My companion from Arizona isn't too thrilled! Haha!

 

 

On a different note I suppose, a bunch of us missionaries are planning on doing another hot chocolate booth for Remembrance Day! I'll let you all know how that goes next week!

We've volunteered at Habitat for Humanity's warehouse and the food bank now.  That's fun!

 

 

Hmm... I guess I'll end by inviting you to help out the missionaries by giving people rides to church on Sunday or church events. It is so hard to find rides over here sometimes. The missionaries NEED YOU! Don't be fooled!

 

Went with Tagalog to a lesson and the family gave us these rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves. I think they're called "suban" or like it! It's yummy warn with sugar and syrup though!

 

Sending my best from Edmonton,

Love,

Sister Baker

Cute Temples and Empathizing with Snakes!

Hello friends and family! 

 

I'm sorry it will be an incredibly short post today...

 

We went to the temple this morning. The Edmonton temple is so cute! It's such an incredible spiritual boost no matter what temple you enter. :) 

 

 

 

Halloween was a blast! Hope everyone got lots of candy! We had a little post Halloween party at FHE (Family Home Evening) last night.  Multiple investigators and less active members attended so I say it was a success! 

 

 

Nothing else too exciting happened this week.  I love being here on a mission though.  I have never ever been able to feel so much Christ-like love for so many people!  I find that I just want to be the best for everyone and my ability to empathize has been multiplying like crazy! 

 

Sorry it's so short! Have a great week! 

 

Love you all, always! 

 

Sister Baker