Hello Family!

Mack and I both feel that during this next transfer we need to do a lot of member work. THere are 635 members in the Mesa ward, about 100 people attend.. if that. It's pretty rough. We are trying to really figure out how to be the best help though. The relief society president invited us to a BBQ on friday at her place with her counslors.. hopefully we can figure some things out.

So remember how Shelby wanted to hook me up with that kid DJ?? Mom, I showed you him on Facebook. Anyways, I was at his moms house the other night planning our ward activity and I told her that people thought I was going to marry her son. She laughed way hard. Small world!!!!

So ------, I talked about him last time. We didn't get to meet with him this week, but he came to church and I think he really enjoyed it. He was saying a prayer during sacrament and I could tell he was really listening to all the testimonies. I really hope he continues to progress in the Gospel.

We met this down syndrome couple the other day while tracting. They are SOOO CUTE!!! Her name is paula and his name is patrick and they are married. At the door Patrick answered and told us his name was Mr. Burmingham and paula swung the door open further and told us she was Mrs. Burmingham and then they both said, and we are married.. with huge smiles on their faces! SO cute! During our return appointment, they showed us their wedding album.. and it was the cutest wedding ever. They made my week.

We have been meeting with a member in our ward who is a convert of 4 years. She is amazing.  We have been teaching her about her divine nature, and that she truly is a daughter of God. We taught her that she needs to really live by the fact that she is a daughter of God, and not just know that she is.. Ya know? Teaching her about her role in life, made me think about how I need to truly start to realize who I am to, and live by that. We told her to write down 50 things that she loves about herself to see how great she is. I'm going to take up the same challenge to try to see what Heavenly Father has really blessed me with.

Cool story, this week we met with a woman who is less active.  SHe hasn't been to church in months.  Well, after meeting with her saturday, she showed up to church sunday and bore an amazing testimony. She looked completely different and I'm so excited to see her get activated again!!! Our ward is growing little by little, but it's great to see the progress.

Something that sucks out here is the way we have to eat. Everyone feeds us so much, and so much dessert. I've gained like 4lbs, and my skirts are tight. I HATE IT! I'm trying to lose weight, but it's so hard. The Smiths have us over like every day for dessert, and so it's hard to not gain weight. I get upset over it, but then I figure it's not that much, and just keep trying to lose weight. Mack and I have only been buying fruits and veggies pretty much. We make salads, stir fry, really healthy cereal and we are trying to watch our serving sizes. It's rough. Hahah. But i'm getting used to eating better. It's just refusing treats at members homes that is the hard part. Hahah.

Thank you for saying I can buy new shoes. Love you guys, that means a lot. In my prayers every night I thank Heavenly Father for having a family like you guys, and for having the support from you guys that I have. I truly miss you guys and love you so much. I'm so grateful for all you do.

I'll try to find some less expensive shoes, but the stores out here are hard to find shoes for cheap. I'll do my best.

Love you all.
Have a good week.

I know this Gospel is true. I love it with all my heart. It changes lives. I read an ensign talk the other day and I loved what it said. It was talking about a bishop but I cahgned the words to missionary. It said, You be the missionary. Let the Lord be their savior.

So true. We just need to work through the Lord, and all will work out.

Thanks for everything you do. Can't tell you enough how much I love being in this family and how much I talk about you guys to Mack. She can't wait to meet you all. Hahahh

-Sister Baker

Hello Everyone :)

How are you all?! I hope so good. Today, I'm in a super good mood. This past week was kind of rough. Sister Mack and I weren't getting along all that well, and emotions were running high. We are pretty good at talking out our feelings to each other, so it wasn't like we were mad at each other, we just both had a lot on our mind. Saturday night, her and I were talking and I purposed that we fasted together on Sunday. We fasted for 3 things:

1- To have more energy, to be motivated, and to be amazing missionaries. (I guess that was three in number one, but I just count it as one :))
2- For the Boyd's daughter Aspen, because she is kind of investigating the church.
3- For one of our new investigators, Ingred.


I've never really had a testimony of fasting, but I just felt like it was something we should do. Sunday was the longest day. I was starving, but I knew I needed to sacrifice in order to gain answers to my fast, and to also gain a testimony of fasting. When I broke my fast I prayed to really gain a testimony of fasting and to have my fast/prayers answered. Heavenly Father truly works miracles. Monday morning I woke up so refreshed and ready for the day. Sister Mack and I had an amazing day yesterday, and we worked really well together. I was so happy that my prayers were answered. I'm grateful for the testimony that I have and that my faith can continue to be strengthened. Mack and I are getting along fine now! I really do love her. Living with someone is hard work! Haha.

So this week, some great things happened beyond the fatigue that I was feeling. Saturday, the Boyd's went to the TEMPLE!!!! And we got to go with them! Terrance couldn't go though since he is only 11, but Robin and Ruby went and did baptisms. Sister Mack and I didn't do baptisms, but we did confirmations and just soaked up the spirit that you can feel in the Temple. It was amazing to see them at the Temple. Crazy that they were just baptized and now already at the Temple. They LOVED doing baptisms. After they were baptized they came and sat down by us waiting to do confirmations. Ruby started to cry and said something along the lines that she was so happy to save souls. Amazing how much they already love the work. Ruby also said to us that the church is so amazing because she has been marries to Robin for 30+ years and she could of never expected to see a huge, wonderful change in him after so long. She said the church has changed him and her home for the better. Awesome right?! We had a Recent Convert Fireside on Sunday and they spoke at it. Their testimonies are amazing. Terrance is someone who I want to have a testimony like. He is 11 years old, with the strongest testimony. When he got up and bore his testimony he said that he has attended a lot of churches with his family but none were like the LDS church. He started to cry and said that at this church he actually has friends, something he hasn't really had before. He looked at Mack and I and said that ever since he met us, he has been happy. And then he just started to weep. I love that kid. His testimony is simple and pure. He knows that the church is so true. Best feeling ever hearing them bear their testimonies and include us in them.

Also, at the Recent Convert Fireside, a new convert named Brittany bore her testimony. she is soooo awesome! She is 18 years old, and has made huge changes in her life. Her parents don't like the fact that she is baptized. Her testimony was amazing and she spoke about the fact that she wished her parents would be more supportive becasue she is so happy. Brittany comes out with Mack and I every p-day because she has lost a lot of friends from being baptized and what friends she did keep, she has been bringing into the church. She brought her 17 year old brother Frank to the Fireside. After the fireside Mack and I went up to Frank and asked how he felt. He said the church is a lot different than he expected and that he felt "warm" I told him that that was the spirit telling him it was true and we invited him to learn more. Last night, we had a lesson with him. The lesson started out a little bit rough. Brittany and her boyfriend, who was also just baptized were there for the lesson for Frank, and Britt and Franks dad also was in the room, but watching T.V. At first the TV was distracting, but as we started to get into the lesson, the spirit really took over. Britt and Franks dad was even listening. The spirit was soo strong and just had an amazing lesson. I invited him to be baptized on the 17th on June. he said he didn't know. I then explained why baptism is key. He said that he would try to work for the date and that he wants the void that he feels inside of him to be filled. We told the him that the Gospel will do just that. We are sooo excited to continue teaching him. I know that family is going to see miracles as they all listen in on the lessons. Brittany is amazing for sharing the Gospel with her family even though they don't approve.

Then we are teaching a guy named Dale. We met him tracting. Really cool experience. Mack and I were super discouraged one day and I was praying so hard that we would find the golden person that day tracting. Mack later told me that she was praying for the same thing. 2 houses after I started to pray, we met Dale. He is looking for the right religion and has a date set for the 17th as well. He is an awesome guy. In his 60's, and super nice. So we look forward to teaching him more as well.

Transfers are tomorrow, that's why P-Day is today. We are getting a new zone leader, but that's about all that is changing. I can't beleive I've hit my 2 month mark. Time is flying by. It's hard work, but truly rewarding.

Funny story. We went to dinner at a less actives house on Sunday with the Elders. She gave us bags of food for each companionship. After leaving her house, each companionship had doughnuts in their bags of goodies from her. While going down pueblo blvd, we had a doughnut fight... SO FUNNY. We had "tiwi's" in our car, they monitor our driving, and from the doughnut fight i got an "aggressive driving" alert. I didn't even care, because it was hilarious throwing doughnuts all over the place. I really love this area. I love the elders I serve with and I love that the ward is starting to recognize us and let us help. Mack and I are putting on a ward activity on June 22. We are so excited to plan it. I'll keep you updated on it.


Love you all :)
MIss you all so much!!
Have an amazing week.

-Sister Baker

Britny did send pics, but I couldn't open them.

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

It's been a while since I posted, but here's the latest....

Hi family!

My week was kind of crazy! I have been so tired lately. I can't even handle it. Sister Mack and I talked to our mission president about ways to make us feel better and they said that we are probably dehydrated and that we need to make sure our bodies are getting enough iron. It's super hot here in pueblo and my allergies are insane! But luckily we have a car so i'm trying to make the best of it. Mack and I had to take a couple naps this week because we honestly couldn't press on. It was hard to even walk. I don't feel like I do much walking out here, but being a missionary is such hard work. It literally drains you. Being filled with the spirit is tiring stuff!

So as of now.. We don't really have any investigators besides -----. She is the one who came to church. THe other night we taught her the word of wisdom lesson and it went okay. I took her cigs and taped them up and then wrote on them "Pray, and call the sisters" haha. That way every time she wanted a cig she would pray. During our lesson I was bearing testimony and she just looked at me and goes.. " You are just such a beautiful person" I love that she always says stuff like that to me because I know she truly feels the spirit when I speak to her. Hopefully we can get her crazy self baptized one of these days. haha.

This weekend we did service on Saturday, like all day. It was nice to go help out in people's yards.  It's hard for me to have charity, but after I do charity I feel a lot more love for the people.

SO GUESS WHAT. I colored my hair today and cut it. I have blonder hair with STRAIGHT ACROSS BANGS. Crazy. I really like it though. It's cute. A lady in the ward does our hair for free. :) It's great.


Well, that's all the updates. I know this Gospel is true and that going to church strengthens our testimony and helps achieve our ultimate goal of having eternal life with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The atonement is real. I can't believe that Christ suffered the way he did for us. I can't imagine his joy everytime one of us gets on our knees and uses the gift that he gave us of being able to repent. I love being a missionary. I love it out here. I love you all. :)

Have a good week!

Sister Baker


P.S. P-day last week.. We played basketball at the slabs and sister mackenzie got the grossest blister on her foot. I had to take care of her. It was the size of 2 quarters. I almost died. We played at the slabs with the Elders and some guys that were there played with us too. P-day is fun getting together with our district and playing sports!


Miss and love you guys.

Got a letter in the mail last week with a few funny comments:


So, my zone leader, Elder Rios, I'm pretty much in love with him. Hahahaha.  He's so hot, has a hot testimony, and he's super funny.  Good thing he leaves next transfer. Haha.  I mean you should see this guy mom.


( I have never heard anyone describe a testimony as being hot.  Only Sister Baker! HAhaha )

A dramatic letter this week:

 I was really tired this week. My body isn't fully used to the new schedule and I honestly think I might have a dairy allergy.

This week we also had a night where we didn't get to do nightly planning.... wanna know why? Well simply because our house was COVERED IN MOTHS. WE killed 50+. It was disgusting. I wanted to die. I was screaming the whole time. Guts are all over our walls. We finally taped up our vents and it's helped the problem a little bit. We also had another cockroach. GROSS! This week we ran out of miles, so that sucked. We had to walk quite a bit. One appointment we had wasn't even home after we walked for like 30 minutes just to get there! We also did service this week. We painted the house of a less active. It was fun. We did it with our zone leaders and we just really had a good time doing it. We had a lot of dinners this week, too. Everyone loves to feed us spaghetti. It's gross. My compainion likes making it so I have to eat more too. Hahaha. Terrible. I truly love it out here. It's so hard. But it's not supposed to be easy. I love my comapinion too! She's so awesome! We get along soooo good. We laugh like non-stop, and we are good at teaching together and by the spirit. I'm really happy with where I am at. And I love the elders in our ward. They are awesome and really attractive. So that's good hahahha. IT WAS SO EXCITING TO SEE NICOLE AND ELIZABETH! ahhh. I loved it!!! I love that family. They are all so nice. And it made my whole week to see them! I love knowing they are so close and so caring!

So there is a family we are teaching.  THey are getting baptized on the 12th.  They are a poor family. They were completely prepared by Heavenly Father to hear our message though. Lessons with them are amazing. They have such faith and accept the Gospel with such ease. We tell them a commandment and they say, Okay. They don't need to fully understand because they just know it's right. They are such a humble, faithful, kind, friendly family. I love them so much! Meeting with them makes my day. They have been searching for years for the true church, and they finally found it. It's amazing to see their faith and to see how much they feel Christs love through us. Their prayers always include how grateful they are for us, and how they are so grateful that the Lord allows us to speak in ways that they can understand. The work is truly amazing out here.

 Have a good week.

THE MOTHS!

with Nicole Hamler

with comp.  Sis Mackenzie

It's all good!

I wonder why the vacuum won't work?
 Oh, it must be this giant hairball!

1st e-mail from Colorado!

So, you heard correctly, I am in the Pueblo Mesa ward. It's a WHOLE NEW WORLD DOWN HERE. My companion is named Sister Mackenzie. But I'll call her Sister Mack for short in the letter. SHE IS AWESOME! She only has 3 transfers left, so she's pretty experienced. I will be spending the next two transfers with her here in Pueblo because they do 12 week trainings. We live in the most ghetto apartment. You have to like drive down an ally to get to where we live. We don't have a dining room table or anything. We have a front room with couches and we both have a desk. We then have the kitchen, and it's so oldschool. You should see the inside of our fridge. It has this little door you open for the tiniest freezer, and the fridge is pretty little too. Haha. Then we have two bedrooms. One room doesn't have beds, just a closet and dresser and mirror and its where i keep my stuff. THe other room we sleep in and Sis Mack gets ready in there. Our bathroom is so old school too. Like it's unreal. There's also moths EVERYWHERE. I tripped over the toilet the other day trying to kill one but it ended up just scaring me to death. We also get cockroaches. It's disgusting. We had one the other night and we both just stood still. We don't have bug killer so instead we grabbed the hairspray and shout and tried to spray it to death. Unfortunatly that didn't work and the roach started running everywhere. SO SCARY! There was shout all over our wood floors in the kitchen hahah. Finally my comp just the killed the sucker. Then it took like five minutes to clean it up. It was pretty funny. We were laughing way hard. We live on the north side of Pueble and our Zone leaders are in our ward. THey just live up the street and there apartment is way nicer. But whatever! We cover north, east, south and county of Pueblo. It's crazy the amount of poverty everyone lives in down here. THe East side is unreal. It's so sad. Everyone is poor. Everyone has health issues. The church is far away and no one wants to drive that far because they don't have the money. Lots of people are on drugs. Like I said, a whole new world and very humbling. I was so blessed to grow up the way I did and in the home that we have.

Our goal is to really help this ward  have more active people to help us teach people. Over the last couple days, the relief society president(she's awesome) gave us like a five page list of women who are inactive or less active. We've been going to all the houses and trying to visit with them and seeing why they haven't been coming. So many of the houses don't exist anymore. Lots of the people have moved. Some have died. While we are out finding people we do tracting as well. Knocking of doors is rough. So many people don't want to talk.

We are teaching a family right now. THey have a baptismal date for the 12 of May! They are an awesome family. It's a mom, dad, and son. So we are so excited for them. We are also teaching this lady named Maria! Our lesson on prayer with her was awesome. I bore my testimony on overcoming struggles and she just looked at me and said, " who are you?!"  She has never been to church but we got her to come Sunday! :) 

It's been an awesome week so far. It's really challening. I'm tired all the time but the Lord gives us strength when we are really doing hard work! I love this Gospel. I love bearing testimony of the truths. I love letting people know that they have a Savior, and that life can be better! I know I need to be in Pueblo. My comp and I get along so good! She is from Canada, and she's just hilarious. We laugh all the time, yet still work hard. She teaches amazing and has great love for people so we have been doing pretty good at teaching together! I'm excited to serve with her for the next 12 weeks!!


Once agan. Love you.

-Sister Baker

Britny is serving in Pueblo.  We haven't heard from her since she arrived, but we will keep you "posted!"