Full of joy because someone came closer to Christ!

Hello beautiful people! Isn't it a marvelous day? I will pretend you all respond to that :) 

Well, I am in a really good mood, so this email may be more upbeat than some in the past. Not that I am ever a debbie downer.. anyway! Moving along. 

This week we had two bigger things occur. The not as exciting one, TRANSFERS!! We sadly had to say goodbye to 21 amazing missionaries this week, but were blessed to have 25 amazing missionaries come in! Three of which are in the El Dorado Zone!! Woot, woot!! Don't ask me why, but I seriously just love new missionaries. The news for Sister Rowley and I? We are staying together in the Cameron Park Ward, and I am still driving. Still. I honestly thought it would go to her this transfer, but nope the Lord had other plans. I am sure He had a good laugh watching me get that call. I was pretty confident it was switching.. 

And the other MOST AMAZING NEWS. KRISTI GOT BAPTIZED. My joy was and still is so exceedingly full. She was such a miracle to walk into our lives the way she did, and now she has followed the example of Jesus Christ and was baptized!! She is the most wonderful person. She loves whole-heartedly, and simply wants to come closer to Christ.

Sister Baird and her recent convert, Kristi, at her baptism. 

Sister Baird, Kristi, and Sister Rowley
At Kristi's baptism.

At her baptism, she bore a beautiful testimony and I could not help but have tears in my eyes. This gospel is true, I know it with everything in me. More and more I just wish everyone would see how amazing Jesus Christ and His gospel is. He knows us so perfectly. We are never alone. We never have to fear, because with Christ we can get though anything. I love this gospel. I love the Book of Mormon. I have read it and I know without a shadow of a doubt that it is the word of God. All you have to do to know is ask God. Be willing to accept and act on what He says and HE WILL give you the answer. 

Sorry, well not really, but had to get that out there. Moving along. I honestly cannot remember a lot of what happened besides that. 

We set goals, so that was exciting. I am already seeing a difference as I have focused on mine over the past 24 hours. BE HAPPY PEOPLE. It is such an amazing feeling. 

Sorry there isn't a crazy amount this week, but I would love to hear what makes you smile in life!! Smiling is the best! :D P.S. If you are struggling to smile, read the Book of Mormon and blow some bubbles. :)

#missionlife. Look next to your bed and see 4 Book of Mormons and your quad.

I love and miss you all!! 

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird

PS. Pictures will be coming this week. I know I always say that, but I mean it this time. I apologize for the fact you will get more than one email this week. 

P.P.S. Remember SMILE :D

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley

We have this awesome artist in our ward and she gave us ornaments she designed, so we decided to act them out.

"A recent converts son, HE'S THE CUTEST" - Sister Baird

House on stilts out in the boonies. I love it here!

Illinois people, recognize? He served in Rock 1 and 2. And did the Nativity with us!

We made this awesome jello thing with an Elders sunglasses.
He thought they were missing for a week, it was great.

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley - selfie time?

Sister Baird - enjoying the 'gorgeous sunsets in the boonies'.

Sister Baird - enjoying the 'gorgeous sunsets in the boonies'.

Sister Baird's Zone - last transfer! 

Zone Conference - love these sisters!

SURPRISE, WE HAVE A BAPTISM SATURDAY!

Hello beautiful creatures of the planet Earth!

So I will start with the most exciting news ever!! We had a lesson with Kristi this week and we were talking to her and she was telling us about how she had the devil kind of start placing doubts about being baptized in her mind and she recognized it was him and got them to go away, BUT because of that she said I just feel the need to be baptized sooner, is that possible? We were very excited and said yes!! So we figured it all out and within a few days she was having her interview and was set to go. So. She will be baptized, this Saturday on August 26th! The last Saturday of the transfer! As a companionship, we had set a goal of three baptisms this transfer, and because of this we will actually reach our goal. Three beautiful people have entered, or will enter the waters of baptism in 6 weeks!! The Lord's work is hastening and I am so excited and blessed to be apart of it!

This week Sister Rowley got what I had last week on a more minor scale. I felt bad. But she is a trooper and likes to push through everything. She's amazing that way. She is one of those people who claims to have never been sick. False, you have. But I love her. She is amazing. 

Okay, so two cools experiences that happened today!!

We were out looking at these cute shops with Sister Koller and Moffett and we started talking to this woman running the shop! God came up and we were talking about faith in Christ and ended up accepted a Book of Mormon. We were also able to read her a passage out of the Book of Mormon that she loved! She has the other sisters number and said she would definitely call with questions! 

We then continued where we met this other woman in a shop and she asked if we were apart of the LDS church. We said yes and asked if she was familiar at all and she mentioned she was actually baptized into the church! She has been less active for some time, but when asked the question what she missed she mentioned a few things. We challenged her to go back and she said she needed to, if for no other reason than for herself. She truly missed it!

It is amazing how the Lord puts people in our path so that we can always be sharing the gospel. 

Sister Rowley and I did attempt to watch the eclipse. We did not have the cool glasses, but we did have this paper method we used which was cool. Hopefully you can see what I mean in the picture. The holes were complete circles. 

Cutting in Kindergarten was never a strength! :-)

Well, that is all of the big exciting news this week! This is the last week of the transfer which means we get calls Saturday and P-day is Tuesday! I hope to hear from more of you! Tell me about your life. I'd love to hear. :)

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird

Pictures will come eventually.. :)

Sister Baird sporting a new skirt!

7/18th of the way down!

Well, I made the mistake of saving my group for last so I am almost out of time. I will try to keep this sweet and simple!!

Tuesday I woke up sick!! It was a blast. Sister Rowley took over the "mom" position for a little bit. Made sure I drank water and all that fun stuff. We also had her two week new missionary meeting, during her 4th week..! 

Wednesday was ZONE CONFERENCE! I love zone conference. It is seriously the best. We started reading the Book of Mormon as a mission so I will make sure to send the schedules in my pics email. Please read along with us. And share your insights. I dare you all! Okay, that was childish sorry, but for reals, you should join. It'll be amazing! 

Thursday we had service and I was still sick. It was great. 

Friday I honestly cannot remember what I did. 

But I do remember Saturday!!

MIRACLE.

Let me try to keep this short and simple. 

August first we got a referral with an incomplete address, an email that never responded and a phone number that just ended the call immediately. 

Friday during weekly planning I said lets give it a whirl and try and call one more time. IT WENT THROUGH. But no answer, so we tried to text and WE GOT A RESPONSE FROM THE PERSON SAYING OH YES PLZ to still wanting a Book of Mormon. 

Gave us apartment number, Saturday we go at the time and she is not the one who lives there. Text her and she says sorry that was the wrong address, but she still wnats it. Sets up new time, but still no address, but we know it was the letter D. 

We decide to knock all the letter D apartments. We got through 6 total, including the first one we tried and 4 answered. 3 of the 4 took Book of Mormons! Because we did not know the number we had to knock all the doors, ending up finding so many potentials!! 

Also she accepted conditional baptism. 

Hopefully that made sense. It was amazing. Also Kristi came to church again and was telling people about her baptism!! September 9th, woot woot!! So pumped. Oh, did I mention Saturday we handed out a total of 7 Book of Mormons!! It was amazing!

Okay, well I think that is it for the week. Oh and I hit 7 months! And I got to spend my 7 month mark with my amazing MTC comp Sister Koller! She is the best and I am so glad I got to be with her for the great day!

Have an amazing week and if you're bored or something I'd love to hear from you!

ALSO SHOUT OUT TO MY GRANDPA AND FATHER WHO HAD BIRTHDAYS!!!!!

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird

Sister Baird and Sister Koller (her MTC companion) together at their 7 month mark!

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley (Selfie Time!)

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley (Selfie Time!)

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley (Selfie Time!)

Sister Baird has become friends with these horses. They see them in the mornings when they go for a run.
She has decided that 'she loves them'.

Sister Baird has become friends with these horses. They see them in the mornings when they go for a run.She has decided that 'she loves them'. 

The view is from a members home we ate at last night.

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley Selfie Time

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley Selfie Time

L to R: Sister Rowley, Sister Baird and Sister Wong - Peace out!

A Blur of a Week ending with a Knowing

Hello beautiful people,

So sorry if the title does not make sense right now, but hopefully it will by the end of this. 

This week has by far been one of the fastest weeks on my mission. It has flown by to the point where Sister Rowley and I were in utter shock that it was already Sunday. 

This week has had some incredibly bitter sweet moments. A bitter moment would be the fact that we had to release Barbi. She will always have a special place in my heart, but for now it was not here time. One day it will be, that I know. 

A sweet moment: WE PUT KRISTI ON DATE FOR SEPTEMBER 9TH!! She is such a sweet lady. She has come to church 2 Sundays in a row and has loved it. Did I mention she stayed for ALL THREE HOURS both weeks??? She is awesome. We are the only companionship in the zone with someone on date. Man is that different than I am used to. 

Another sweet moment, we were able to get another three new investigators this week!! The Lord is amazing. When we work hard and do everything the best way we can, he blesses us. Not always in investigators, but always in some way. 

Sunday ended in a pretty bitter moment that I am sure a lot of you already know about. Those who don't, please just keep the Hinckley family and the Chicago Illinois West Mission in your prayers. 

I want you each to know that I know the Plan of Salvation is a gift from our loving Heavenly Father. It is a plan that is perfect and created for each and everyone of us. In times of trial and darkness, it gives us peace and comfort. It does not always make thing easier, but it helps us to continue pressing forward. Heavenly Father lives. Jesus Christ lives. He went through the Atonement so we would never have to be alone. He understands everything we are going through. All of it. Small or large. I know that those we lost early in this life, we WILL see again in the next. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church on the Earth. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. 

My faith in the Plan of Salvation has been tested more than I ever imagine this week, and I can say without a doubt in my heart that it is a very real thing. It is a beautiful blessing. 

I love each and everyone one of you, but more importantly, your Heavenly Father loves you. 

Much Love Always,

Sister MJ Baird

P.S. I will send some pictures in another email shortly. Well soonish. 

Tyler Hinckley, you will be missed greatly.

R to L: Sister Baird, Sister Koller, Sister Rowley, another Sister and an Elder from her mission. She didn't share their names.

This is definitely Sister Baird!