Always looking to the positives

HEY ALL!

So this week was way better!! Some pretty awesome things happened. I'll save the best for last. :)

First, I had my first ever zone conference!! Oh my gosh, it was AMAZING. It was the strongest I have felt the spirit since I was at the MTC and I loved every single second of it. All of it. I learned more than I ever would have thought I could. Oh I loved it so much. If you are preparing or on a mission, definitely take full advantage of zone conference. It is such a blessing to have.

Another good thing, because there is always so MANY!! We had the most unique experience on Sunday. We were sitting in the Sacrament meeting first hour in the ward with our Chinese recent converts and they were having Chinese translated in front of us. Then in the row behind us we had our investigator having Portuguese translated to him. Chinese in front of us and Portuguese behind us. How amazing is that? Also I guess I'm not meant to teach in English...haha!

Another amazing thing, EXCHANGES! The Sister Training Leaders are amazing and I got to spend almost a full 24 hours with one of them. It was such a cool experience getting out of my area and getting to work with someone else. I loved it. Oh and the pictures of the area, that was from exchanges, so not actually my area. :)

Picture from Eldorado Hills, CA

Sister MJ Baird while on exchanges with the Sister Trainer Leader

Picture from Eldorado Hills, CA
Sister MJ Baird while on exchanges with the Sister Trainer Leader

Picture from Eldorado Hills, CA
Sister MJ Baird while on exchanges with the Sister Trainer Leader

Picture from Eldorado Hills, CA
Sister MJ Baird while on exchanges with the Sister Trainer Leader

Picture from Eldorado Hills, CA
Sister MJ Baird while on exchanges with the Sister Trainer Leader

Folsom Dam in Folsom, CA

Also.. I got bike lights finally!!!

AND for the grand finale...

  

On March 25th I will be having my first baptism!! His name is Luis and he is the one who speaks Portuguese. He is so prepared and ready to come unto Christ. He closed our lesson with a kneeling prayer and it was so incredible. The spirit was so strong. I could not be more proud of him.

I want you all to know that I know this is the true church on the Earth today. I know that it is Christ's church restored to the Earth. He loves us so much.

I love you all so much!!

Much Love Always,

Sister MJ Baird

I wanted to share this amazing 'audio' file with you that Sister MJ Baird allowed us to share. This was recorded 2 weeks ago.  It is Sister MJ Baird and Elder Spencer from her Zone. Enjoy! We truly enjoyed this...we hope you enjoy as much as we did!

What's Your Favorite Color? 8.

Well this week was rough. So I want to focus on the positives.

I will start with the subject line!

We get to volunteer at an old folk's place (sorry not sorry..) and there was the cutest old lady who was sleeping most days we went, but this time she was awake!! I decided to talk to her and ask her favorite color, and she proudly responded with 8. I haven't been able to not laugh about it since.

President Jardine and his wife are in my first ward and I got to hear them speak!!

Sister Baird and Sister Anderson
in front of the California Sacramento Temple

My companion and I spoke in our second ward and President and Sister Jardine actually came and listened to our talks!!

I MADE IT TO SUNDAY. This was a positive.

Members fed us almost everyday.

Sister Baird and Sister Anderson - dinner at the Kolanders' home.
Picture sent to Momma Baird by Sister Kolander. A very pleasant Sunday evening surprise!

AND for the grand finale, after we had to release (yes drop for other missionaries) a minimum of three this week, we 

GAINED THREE NEW INVESTIGATORS!! and we had the most incredible street contact!! Bitter sweetly we had to give him to the Spanish Sisters, but he was the definition of GOLDEN. 

This week was hard. The hardest of my mission so far, but it had positives. It was not all bad at all. The Lord blesses us when we endure. It won't always be easy, but He will help you get through it.

I want to give a sincere apology to all of you as I forgot to wish you A HAPPY VALENTINES DAY last week!!!!!!!

Also shout out to Sinclair and Brody for getting hitched this week!! Congrats!!

Sister Baird uploaded this picture to use, but I don't know the story behind it.
I'll share an update on this picture once I know more.

I love you all so much, please continue to email me, and please include your address!! Even if you think I have it, send it anyway!!

Much Love Always,

Sister MJ Baird

Happy Valentine's Day from Sister MJ Baird

Looking up towards the Angel Moroni on the California Sacramento Temple.

This was a physical letter that was sent to us from Sister Baird.

FamBam,
I know it's nothing like what I usually do, but I couldn't not send a Valentine. I love you all so much. Thank you for your constant support I'm not sure what I would do without you, I wouldn't survive. 

I wanted to share my testimony with you all as well.
 

I know that this is the true Church on the earth today. I know without a doubt in my mind. For the first time in my life, I had questions, but I realized they weren't doubts. We don't have to let the questions we have become doubts. I know most of you know this quote, but "DOUBT YOUR DOUBTS, before YOU DOUBT YOUR FAITH". The Lord and Heavenly Father have given us so much, why do we take one thing and make it or let a cause us to doubt the rest. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know it was translated by the power of God, through Joseph Smith. If you're not currently, I challenge you to read the Book of Mormon for yourself. Ask God yourself if it is true. I promise He will answer you in the way you are supposed to be answered. The great thing about this gospel is you're not supposed to just accept what everyone says and tells you. Go ahead and ask a question, but then be willing to pray with a sincere heart, being willing to accept whatever answer you get. You have to have faith as well. If you don't think you're going to get an answer, then you probably won't. We have to have faith that we will get an answer. I know that Heavenly Father loves us. Each and everyone of us. He knows us personally. He knows you by name. There is a reason it is always "one by one". It will always be that way. We aren't numbered at all. We are His son's and daughter's. We are Christ's brothers and sisters. I know that sending Christ down to earth was one of the hardest things He could go through, but He did it for us. For me. For you. I know that Christ went through what He did for us, out of pure love. He had to experience everything. The pain was so hard to bear that at one point He cried out to have it removed, but it wasn't. He push through and finished so each of us would have a chance to live again and never be alone. He was able to go through what He did because He is the Son of God. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ would never leave us alone, out here without doing all they can. I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today and I know that that man is Thomas S Monson.  I will sustain him every day of my life and every Prophet after that until the day I die. He is a man of God, called to lead and guide us today. I know that no mortal illness can stop him when he is needed as a Prophet of this church. I know that a mission wasn't always in my plans, but I know, without a doubt, that it was ALWAYS in Heavenly Fathers plans for me. I have gained such a desire to share this incredible message. One that I have never had before. This gospel changes lives. I testify of that every day, and I don't plan on stopping. I know that families are forever. I know I was put in the family I was for a reason and I wouldn't change it for the world. I know this Church is true. I know our Heavenly Father is a loving father and I know Jesus is the Christ.

I love you all, so incredibly much. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Happy Valentine's Day, much love always!
Sister MJ Baird 

1/18 of the way done!

Hey all! 

Sister Baird selfie at the California Sacramento Temple on Preparation Day.

I  definitely want to say thank you for all the emails I have gotten since I have been out. Emailing time goes by so fast that it is hard to reply to everyone individually. I make a list, get through my family and group email and the time is basically gone. Isn't it great? Anyway, sorry. For real though, those addresses will SAVE me. Please please get them to me. Especially if you have emailed me, I want to reply to you so badly.
PS... to anyone out of country (ahem Congo and Taiwan, how many stamps to send you letters?) 

Sister Baird and Sister Anderson at the California Sacramento Mission Office.

This week has actually been a little hard. We had to put 3 people on the possible release list and we had one other family that we had to release. It was hard, but my companion promised that blessings do come when we let people go for the time being. It is all about the Lord's timing, not my timing. 

In fun news, I am 1/18th of the way through my mission. Holy molies. I hit my 1 month mark on the 11th of February. Time flies when you are having fun. 

I don't have a lot this week, but I wanted to make sure that I got an email out. I am semi-getting used to buying food on  my own. I have decided to go tortias (yes, I did spell that wrong, and if you love me, you will ignore it) instead of bread. They last longer. :) Also cuties last longer than grapes so there is that. 

I'm sorry that I don't have more time to write. I really wish I did.

Please, please continue sending me emails, and if you do with your address. I am getting all your emails and it definitely helps to keep me going.

I love you all more than you could ever know. 

 

Sister Baird and others at the California Sacramento Temple.
I'll have to add who is in the picture later, she didn't include 

Much Love Always,

Sister MJ Baird

Week two here we go!

Hey all! 

Sorry that I still have no been able to send out a lot of individual emails to everyone. Time is really hard. BUT I love to write letters so send me your address and I can write you a letter a little easier. (Yes, a real snail mail letter!) 

So this week I have three things I wanted to tell you all about.

1. TRAINER AND CHINESE

2. NO CAR

3. MIRACLE

SO when I was getting assigned my trainer, we sat down and the Mission President asked us who had a teaching appointment tonight and my trainer raised her hand.
He then went on to ask if it was in CHINESE.
Yes CHINESE.
So, I am getting 30 minutes a day for language study. Can you believe it?
I can't. But it's not permanent, it's just for this area. I am so grateful for the challenge though, it will be good.

Alright, so I am NOT on a bike for my first area, but actually full car! (Dad injection here - didn't get a chance to clarify this point, but I'm presuming she's meaning that she is not in a 'Car Share' area. Meaning, they have a car to themselves, they do not have to share a car with another set of missionaries.)
Really that is it for that one, but I was excited so I wanted to share :)

The last thing I wanted to share this week was a miracle, well my first mission miracle. 

So there is this part member family (Again, Dad injection here - a part member family is a family in the church that has 1 spouse/parent that is already a member and the other parent/spouse is not a member of the church.) we are talking to, or trying to at least. The husband/father is a less active member who wants to slowly come back and bring his family back with him. 

My missionary name tag and The Book of Mormon!

We were trying to contact them so we decided to stop by. The first time we pulled up to where the house was it was not there. There was no house with the number we were looking for, however, my companion decided to go around the circle where all the houses were and try again. This time we finally saw the house that was not there the first time, we then pulled to the side and when we got out of the car we looked at the driveway and the wife had literally just pulled in.
If we had not driven around one more time we would have found the house, no one would have been home and we would not have seen her and gotten a return appointment. 

It was amazing. 

Sister MJ Baird proudly holding The Book of Mormon

Again, remember to email me your address if you want me to write you a letter!

Much Love Always,  

Sister MJ Baird