I was hugged by a man...twice.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL YOU GALS AND GHOULS!! 
No idea if I said that correctly, but I went for it. Can you tell I am excited for the holidays??????? Sister Simpson and I walked up and down every Christmas isle in Walmart today. I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT. 

If you have not guessed, or don't know me well enough by now, I love holidays. I don't know why, but I do. They make me so happy and we are coming up on the whole long row of them!! One right after the other. Let me show you what I mean..

HALLOWEEN

THANKSGIVING
CHRISTMAS

NEW YEARS
VALENTINES DAY
ST. PATRICKS DAY
EASTER

MAY DAY
MOTHER'S DAY

So many for so long and I am so pumped. Want to know a weird thought though? 

That last holiday on that list, Mother's Day!  It will be about a little over a month before I come home. Yay! Weird. Time is about to fly.....like the wind.

Maybe I should get to real talk now. I just got so excited. This week has been amazing!!  Something I have learned from Sister Simpson is that I get excited and amused REALLY easily. I guess it just doesn't take much to make me laugh. What can I say?! Smiling is the best. 

On Saturday, we were on exchanges and I got to go with the amazing Sister Searle. She recently entered the Mission field at the same time as Sister Simpson, so she is still pretty new. It was pretty fun. We were able to get them 2 return appointments!! We are praying that they don't fall through (AKA...not happen). During our exchanges on Saturday, we also had a blitz!! We had the 3 sets of Missionaries from District who were able to work in Sister Simpson and my area. From this blitz, we were able to find 1 new investigator who said yes to baptism and 2 new potentials, one of which said yes to baptism!! It was a day of wonderful blessings. 

To explain the subject line...on a mission, I am not allowed to hug anyone of the opposite sex. For safety rules and precautions and all the fun reasons. So while on this blitz, this man - yes the New Investigator who said yes to baptism, gets so excited to see Sisters, he hugs us!! Then, before we leave, he hugs us again!! Oh my goodness, I felt pretty awkward. It's been awhile since I had a full hug from a man. Oh, and let me make it better...he was 56. Haha, I am so excited to teach him though. Please pray he can come to his lesson on Friday. 

That was the exciting news for the week. We got to also teach Gospel Principles this week and finally got on our bikes. It has been a week of adventures for sure, but a good week nonetheless!!

Love and miss you all!!

Much Love Always and Happy Halloween!!

Elk Grove Zone Conference

Sister MJ Baird

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson
Those smiles are contagious!

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson....
Smiling?! Oh that smile from Sister Baird!

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson
Taken while they had been feeling a tad under the weather!

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson
Sunglasses and...funny faces!

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson
Sunglasses and Smiling!

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson...
They are so happy to be companions!

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson
Well, being Sister Baird and Sister Simpson!

The "Elk Grove District' "Sisters"!
Sister Searle - Back row far left
Sister Baird - Back Row 2nd from left
Sister Simpson - Back row - center
Sister McDonald - Back row - 2nd from right
Sister Root - far right
Sister Thomas - front and center - taking picture.

Smiling is the best!

Hello wonderful humans, 

I need to get more creative with my intro line, but I am over it. So, guess what! Life is happy and it is wonderful and everyone should SMILE ALL THE TIME because smiling is seriously the best. this transfer has probably been one of the best of my mission. 

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson
This picture was from the first night in their apartment in Elk Grove Ward.
Sister Simpson was brand new!

Sister Simpson is amazing. I freaked her out a little this week by letting her know that I would be training her in the way of having her fully trained and basically a full blown missionary, no training wheels, by 6 weeks! It is going to be a blast. She is awesome and ready for the challenge. 

This week we had zone conference which is always amazing.
I was brave and got the flu shot. Did not cry! Improving, Mom be proud!! :D The Mission Dr. highly recommended receiving it, I then prayed about it and felt chastised and that I need to get it. Heavenly Father has quite the sense of humor. This zone conference was my first on the other half of the mission. Strange. It was the first time that I had been companions with one of the departing missionaries that gave their testimony. That was strange as well. Mind you, we were only companions for 2 weeks, but companions nonetheless. Time is very odd on a mission. 

The work in the Elk Grove area is booming!! Our first two weeks in the area, we have found 6 new investigators and we are working with several others!! So excited!! I have never had so much work going on in my area my whole mission! I did however, hear that Folsom 4th had a baptism this week, woot woot!!! So happy for them, the drought is over!!! 

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson
Elk Grove Ward Halloween Party

Sister Simpson and I have been sick the past few weeks, but are getting over it luckily, well mostly. 

We were able to attend our ward's trunk or treat and it was so much fun. I have never seen a ward go this all out before. We even handed out those large life savor gummies, and had saying that said "The gospel is a..." and then an arrow towards the life savor word. Cheesy and cute, I know.

Happy Dreams!!

Something, probably only my family and a few others will understand, but Sister Simpson and I have started doing happy dreams again! First time on my mission. I did not realize how much I missed it. She is awesome for putting up with me. Alright, you're probably getting warn out of reading this so I shall sign off for the week.

I love and miss you all, did you know that? Hope all is going well in the life of you!

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson at church building.

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson at a members home eating dinner.

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson
This was Sister Baird's 'Wave' to Mom for her birthday.

Thanks for sharing Sister Baird's Blog:
http://preparetoserve.com/california-sacramento-mission

Carving a pumpkin, eating a donut, flipping a bottle and emptying a tissue box

Well hello beautiful people of planet Earth, 

So what do all those thing happen to have in common? Simply a zone activity. It was fun, and today about 2 hours ago. Flipped a bottle for the first time. Only took about 50 or so tries.. 

This week has been so good!! Working with Sister Simpson is amazing!! She is so similar to me, it can be pretty funny at times. 

So a few things from this week, well more like people from this week!!

Thao family! They are so amazing. Their father is already and a member and when we met with them they each said they want to be baptized!! We are going to work on getting them on date this week. Pray that it goes well. Bringing families together is truly the best!!

Cameron! We met with Cameron this morning and he is amazing. He also accepted baptism and believes that modern day revelation is a thing. Even asked the question, if the prophet was for the world or just our church. For those who do not know, he is for the world, whether or not they accept him. Similar to Jesus Christ being the Savior of the world. Whether people accept Him or not, He is still the Savior of the world who did what He did for everyone. So excited to also try and get him on date this week!! 

Logan!! Logan met with the missionaries down in the Roseville mission for about 6 months and was actively going to church. Due to some road blocks, he is not able to be baptized right away, but has agreed to be once those road blocks are out of the way. We are so excited for him! 

Elk Grove is definitely nothing like where I have served before, but I know it is exactly where Heavenly Father needs me now. I love this work. I love being able to give everything I have to the Lord and help others come closer to Him every single day. 

Other exciting news, Sister Simpson gave out her first Book of Mormon this week and it was through a car window. The Lord is preparing people all around us, we just have to open our mouths. 

I love and miss you all!!

Shoutout to the BEST MOTHER ON THE PLANET who had her birthday on the 13thh!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY!! 

Oh!! Also a favor, Sister Simpson is celebrating her golden birthday on the 20th. If you could send her an email, please please do!! abigail.simpson@myldsmail.net

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird <3

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson

Sister Baird and Sister Searle - on splits.

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson being...well being Sister Baird!

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson were surprised with some beautiful flowers from Mom and Dad Baird!

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson

Sister Baird and Sister Simpson

1/2 of the way there and trusting in the Lord like never before!

Hey all, 

What a week. I will start with transfer calls. Heavenly Father is quite the comedian. Thursday I got a call from the wonderful President Hymas. He then informed me that I would be training AGAIN, and that I would be shotgun training, AGAIN. So yes, for the third time in a row, this girl is a proud Mama.(In the Mission world, the term 'Mama' refers to 'becoming a trainer to a new Missionary straight out of the MTC'. Its kinda like having a 'kid', hence the term.)
Also, Sister Rowley found out that she was being transferred and they sent her down to Folsom 4th and Silva Valley Wards. My old wards! They are going to love her. My new area is the Elk Grove Ward in the Elk Grove Stake. I found out yesterday that it is full bike!! It is going to be a blast. 

My new companion is Sister Simpson and she is super sweet. She is from Utah and so excited to be on a Mission. She loves holidays, singing, no pulp orange juice and likes to be warm. I swear we are of the same soul. We are going to have fun this transfer. Something crazy, for the first time in my mission I am also living in an apartment. No more members. Most don't go that long living with members, but I guess Heavenly Father knew I needed it. 

The work in Cameron Park was going fairly well. We had a pretty bomb week set up for Sister Rowley and her new comp and when we found the Elders would be taking over it was quite the shock. Hopefully they don't mess it up. I'm praying. It isn't easy having your area shotgunned. (Term implies when both current missionaries get transferred out and the area is replaced by two net new missionaries that have never worked in that area.) Just means I am going to work that much harder not to mess this one up!! 

Cool little fact, exactly a year ago today, I opened my mission call at the Laie Hawaii Temple in Laie, Hawaii. My how time flies!! AND...tomorrow is my 9 month mark, or my half way!! Hence the title of this weeks email/blog!! 

Sorry this week does not have much information on people, but I am looking forward to being able to tell you more about the work this coming week. 

If you are not reading the Book of Mormon daily, do it!! I promise it will change your life. It changed mine and I have seen it changed the people I am around as well. 

I love and miss you all. Enjoy the beautiful fall, best season ever!!

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley
Rice Egg Tacos?

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley
Us being us!

The Meinzers (Ward Members) and Sister Baird

L to R: Sister Rowley, Sister Conover (Ward Member) and Sister Baird

L to R: Sister Rowley, Sister Mies (Ward Member) and Sister Baird

Sister Baird and Sam, a convert and her family!

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley - End of Transfer 2 together.

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley
First preparation day together.

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley - Last pic together.

Sister Baird and Sydney the dog. Not to be confused with Sidney her beautiful Sister!

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley with Brother Ashton

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley with their recent convert, Kristi!

The Cambridges (from their Ward) and Sister Baird and Sister Rowley. 

L to R: Sister Rowley, Sister Goff (Ward Member) and Sister Baird

The Whites (Ward Members) and Sister Baird

I got asked on a double date!!

I love you all <3

Well, I guess I should probably explain the subject line, before I forget to! 

Our Zone has been making an extra effort in doing what is called "Car contacts" in order to truly try and talk with everyone. Well we were driving down the road and saw these two boys, so I pulled over and Sister Rowley ran over to talk to them. Neither excepted a Book of Mormon, but she did get one of their Facebooks. They mentioned that they had a friend who would like to hear about God. So, we messaged him and asked about the friend. He then proceeded to ask us on a double date for Sushi where we could talk about God. When we mentioned two other missionaries who could go meet them for Sushi and talk about God, he then asked maybe just the Sushi?Hahaha, considering I have only ever been on one real date, I thought it was pretty funny. Oh! Forgot to mention, he was from Russia. The other friend on the street was from Chile!

Now about Taia! She is doing amazing! We were able to go and do a Temple tour with her this week and have her actually go inside and sit in the waiting room. The Spirit there is seriously so beautiful! If you have a chance to go to the Temple, DO IT. Take advantage of it, because it is the best place on Earth. It is my favorite place on Earth. 

Conference was also AMAZING. I truly love each and every message we were given. There is something for everyone. No matter who you are or what questions you have, there is something for you. If you did not get a chance to watch it, go and watch it! It is worth, that I promise you. 

Today, we had fun and were able to have a combined preparation day with the North Sacramento Zone and the El Dorado Zone. It was fun to be able to hang out with a Zone that we do not usual get to spend time around. I loved it. We played some fun games, and just had a good time! 

Well, sorry this week is a bit dry, but so is life. Remember, the Lord loves you and is always aware of you. ALWAYS. He loves you and that is never going to change. Ever. Trust in Him and rely on Him. Always. 

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird

How fun to wake up to a GROSS bug on your ceiling.
This also is a tiny picture of it. It was nasty and huge.
Dad comment "We all know how much Sister Baird likes bugs!!"

Missionary parking; backing isn't fun for anyone!

When you both can't be "IN" the church at the same time. Rules.

Brooke - she leaves for her Mission

Alana! I just love her! 

We made ALOT of rice for the Zone lunch in between conference.
They managed to eat a bit over half!

When you get to Church and an Elder is wearing your sunglasses

Sunset!

Morning Glory for the win!

Sunsets in Cameron Park