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 

Pushing Against Rocks and House Hunting

Hello family and friends!

You guys look like you're having a blast and a half! I miss you all like crazy! It's cooling down a bit here! My companion, Sister Bahtishi, is from Arizona. She's been wearing what I constitute as a winter jacket for weeks already! ...I'm still in t-shirts. Haha!

 

These week we've been traveling to surrounding cities a lot! We've been Halloween house hunting along the way! We love seeing all of the decorations! We've been meeting with less active members a lot lately and trying to emphasize the importance of home and visiting teaching! If you have an assignment... do it! And be sincere about it! Watch the new Mormon message, "Reaching Out With Love" I think it's my new favourite! But the point is to try harder and keep going.

"Latter-Day Saints Keep on Trying" was a general conference talk a little while back and it totally applies to reaching out to those around us! Someone spoke about it on Sunday at church and they gave a story about a man who encountered a rock on his path, when he inquired of the Lord what to do, he was told to push with all his might! He pushed and pushed everyday for years and the rock never budged. The man fell to his knees in agony and confusion and asked God what the point of pushing was when the boulder never moved! Heavenly Father told him that he was never asked to move the boulder, only to push against it. He told the man that now he was strong. He had muscles and he was prepared for future obstacles! I love this story! I can think of so many times when I've pushed and not recognized the outward results, but the results were really personal, preparing me for future things to come!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/latter-day-saints-keep-on-trying?lang=eng

 I also had the opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting this past Sunday! My first talk on the mission! It was based off of an article from the 2005 General Conference from Elder Bednar entitled "Becoming a Missionary". How ironic, haha! But.... we should all be working to become a better missionary. It is an obligation, it is what the Saviour expects!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/becoming-a-missionary?lang=eng

 

I'm excited for Halloween! We carved pumpkins in FHE and it was a blast!

 That's about all I have for the week! Love and miss you all!


 Sister Baker

Ready For a Change?

Hello friends and family!

Well this past week was so full of meetings and such! On Tuesday we played football for p-day (preparation day) and I got a touchdown... Just saying. Haha! Anyways, Wednesday we had a zone conference where we switched zones. It was different, with so many people I haven't met. They talked about some awesome things and gave some great insights on how to be more effective as a missionary. We were encouraged to find some things to "put on the alter of sacrifice" or give up. Some of my things I need to give up are being judgmental, not being Rudy on time, and using the words "shut up" and "suck". What are some things that you can give up to become more obedient and Christ like?

Then I went on exchanges (where missionaries change their companions for a day or two to work in other areas) and left my area for the first time! It felt so weird to be in a family ward!  There were older people and kids and you have to teach them all! It takes a lot of patience, that's for sure! I had a blast with sister Rush though. We all live together anyways so I don't really need to worry about not seeing her much. Ahaha! ...but it was an awesome 24 hours with her.

We have been getting busy! There are a lot of less active members that we've been reaching out too. Parents are always trying to get their kids back on track with us, it's so nice to see their love and concern, that they really care about their kids.

We had a YSA (Young Single Adult group 18 - 30 yrs group) meeting yesterday with all the other YSA missionaries. This age is such a crucial decision making time in everyone's life so it's cool to be a part of it.

I'm giving a talk in church next week, so that's crazy! Anddd ....hmm what else... Ooo! We've been getting more meals, so that's appreciated! We ran out of money on our allotment cards for the month already so it's been nice! The ward is so awesome at being involved! Don't forget to invite people you know! You are the biggest source of investigators! Talk to everyone and invite people to meet with the missionaries! You never know who's ready for change!

Love you all!

Sorry I don't have pictures this week!

Sister Baker

Gratitude For Dinosaurs

Hello Friends and family!

 

I've already been emailing for a while so I'll keep it brief!

This past week we said good bye to some amazing Elders! Elder Song went back to Vancouver and Elder Nemeth went to Manchester, England... I don't have the pictures from his goodbye.

 

Then we had a district meeting in a new district! BAH, Sister Neal and I have been in the same district since the MTC! But now we have Mandarin Elders in our district. Elder Nemeth's companion got ANOTHER Brit ahaha so 100% of his companions are British. That day we also met a new investigator... Yes, he is a dinosaur... everyone needs the Gospel.  Haha!

Sunday Night we went to Bishop's and a bunch of his wife's family was over! It was crazy but great! So we did get turkey dinner! Yum! Yum! We then challenged them to write a thank you card for someone they appreciated and gave them the materials to do it! It was so sweet!

 

I challenge you to write a thank you note to someone you appreciate this week!

On Thanksgiving we had a gratitude booth set up on a busy intersection downtown with a bunch of the Elders... We had someone playing the piano and we gave out free hot chocolate, and a few Books of Mormon! It was soo successful! We'll do it again for sure! That night our house went out for dinner at Red Robins... good burgers and endless yam fries.  What more could you want?!

 

 

Well my time is just about up for this week!

Have a  fantastic week!

Love you all!

Sister Baker