Keep Calm and Carry On

 Good Evening Earthlings!! 

Had to come up with a more creative way of starting my email! Hope you enjoyed it. |

So just a few quick things for this week!

To start I had amazing exchanges with the beautiful Sister Leavitt. She is training after 12 weeks and is doing an amazing job. She was able to be such an example to me in even just the short amount of time we had together. I can't wait to continue to get to know her. 

Then we had zone conference!!

Overall the theme of zone conference was to "Keep Calm and Carry On".

We were able to really talk about controlling what we 'can control' and not worrying about the rest of it. So many times we spend time worrying about things that we have no control over which results in wasted stress. I most definitely have spent a huge chunk of my life having 'wasted stress'. It is so nice to be able to go through and realize, I can't control it, so I am going to let it go. We were also able to focus on 'buoying each other up'. We had a 'Sisters breakout' and I loved it! We hadn't had one since my first Zone Conference and we were definitely in need of one. It was neat hearing everyone help each other out. On a final note, well actually two more things. One, Sister Kearl gave her departing testimony so that was a little sad, but I loved seeing someone I have gotten to know and love get up and bear their testimony of the Savior and truly see how much they have grown over their mission. Now the final note, I got to see Sister Wong and Sister Simpson at Zone Conference. I had 3 of my 4 babies there. I was one proud mama - that is for sure. 

Sis Simpson, Sis Baird, Sis Wong and Sis Tenney at Zone Conference
Sis Baird's 'babies' - Sisters that she helped train in the mission field.

Sis. Baird - enjoying herself at Zone Conference

Sis Kearl, Sis Tenney, Sis Payne (Ward member) and Sis Baird at Zone Conference

Rancho Cordova Zone - Zone Conference

Zone P-Day

Zone P-Day

I love you all and hope you have the best week of your life. 

Sister MJ Baird

Spanish Life

Hola! 

I figured since I was in Spanish work for half the week it was a great way to start off this wonderful email. 

Not a crazy amount of things happened this week, so this is going to be pretty short, but I will still give you a bit. 

So after our emailing time last week we got a call from our Mission President letting us know that I would be going with one of the Hermana's in our apartment until her new companion arrived Monday (today). So, starting Thursday morning through about 10:20 this morning I had the privilege of being an Hermana! If you are wondering, yes, I still have zero Spanish skills. I have learned a few random words, but English and ASL are still my thing. I will let the other do the Spanish life. Heavenly Father definitely knew better than sending me Spanish speaking. A few funnies from my adventures in the Spanish life. 

First, the Hermanas are teaching this man from Bolivia and for some reason my brain kept pairing that with Europe not South America. Well, we were in the car and talking about how she one day wants to have something to do with Hispanics and of course, the so intelligent me says, well Bolivian could do! She dies laughing and then lets me know Bolivian is Hispanic.. at least I know now!

Then, every door we would go up to I would just stand, smile and nod along with whatever was being said and as we were saying good-bye the people at the door would look at her and say good bye in Spanish and look at me and say good-bye in English. They totally knew. It was great.

And my final story. Last night we had dinner with a woman who only spoke Spanish. She gave us these plates of food and it was really yummy. Only problem, I am the biggest wimp you'll meet in your entire life. Well I ate the whole thing while downing an entire water bottle. By the end I was most definitely rationing out what water I had left in order to make it last the rest of my plate. We get in the car and Hermana Barrera starts telling me that the woman asked if we thought it was spicy and that she had said no. The woman replied by saying 'wow, you are Mexican!' Hahaha, I just died because I told her, nope I was dying the entire meal. Like I said I'm a wimp. 

Well, I am sure you thought my stories were hilarious, just kidding. I am an awful story teller but hopefully it at least gave you one of those half smirky smiles on your face!

I love and miss you all, oh and yes I am back in my most loved trio! I missed those sisters!!!

Sis Tenney, Sis Baird and Sis Kearl

Much Love Always,

Sister MJ Baird

On Wednesday, January 17, we had the opportunity to be apart of the 'activity days' girls activity. It was so fun!

2/3 of the way done, orrrrr 1 year!!

Hey oh you beautiful people!!

Well, I hit 1 year this week and that was exciting!! 

Part of me thought to end the email right then and there, but then I imagined my Mother's face and thought to do otherwise. 

Oh what a week!!

Honestly, it has been a bit crazy, but so good!! 

Far left - Sister Koller, then Sister Brown, then Sister Baird
Those three were in the MTC together!

The week started by having to attend some meetings and that was amazing!  I got to see both Sisters Brown and Sister Koller, the two other sisters who I was in the MTC district with. Shout out to Krista who is out there living life and being amazing. 

We then stopped in Folsom to plan and use the wifi and I got to see my wonderful old comp Sister Rowley. It was so good seeing her. She is doing amazing if you were wondering. They won't brag, so I will for her. When I saw them, in a week and a half they had gotten 12 new investigators. Wow!!

We then had some fun service and more meetings on Wednesday! wait service was Thursday opps... 

Well Thursday we had an amazing district meeting. We are focusing on the Christlike attributes this next several months and currently we are focused on Charity. I love it!!

Friday I got to go on exchanges with Sister Lund and Sister Tenney stayed with us. It was so much fun and we definitely saw miracles. 

Saturday we did a seeking Saturday bike blitz. It was fun to just get on our bikes as a trio of us. 

Sunday was stake conference and we got to sing with the youth choir, oh the spirit was so so very strong! Sister Kearl ended up being pretty sick Sunday and through Monday so that was how the past two days went. 

Now it is Tuesday and last week we were able to find 3 new investigators. We love being in a trio and love working hard. This is the Lord's work and I love being a part of it. 

Much Love Always,

Sister MJ Baird

Meetings!

If you were wondering if I was still weird, yes. No, I did not actually lick the shoe.

Clearly, I have a pretty biking face!

My most beautiful companions.

Taking our miracle video and Sister Kearl put a snail on my umbrella.

District Picture

Rancho Cordova Zone

Rancho Cordova Zone

Rancho Cordova Zone

Laughing for Days!

Hello and good day!!!

Can you believe it has already been a week?

This week has felt both long and short but it has been amazing. Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need and Sisters Kearl and Tenney were exactly what I needed, and I did not even know it! Though, now I do!! We are seriously laughing all the time and it is the best. Laughing is something we should do all the time.

L to R: Sister Tenney, Sister Baird and Sister Kearl

L to R: Sister Baird, Sister Kearl and Sister Tenney

Life in Rancho has been a blast! We had quite a few meetings this week, but all has been going well! Even with all the meetings, we still managed to find a new investigator and have several appointments - almost every day! With new time changes, the Sisters are having to get used to 6 hours of church every Sunday, but thanks to the good ole' Folsom area, I was already kind of used to it since I did that for 6 months in Folsom :)

Some of the exciting news!!! Garry Bailey was baptized this week and it was probably the most spirit filled baptism I have been to on my mission. There was not a dry eye in the room. You could tell how much he loved what he was doing and knew that this is where God led him. We so grateful for his example. He now has Sister Simpson and Sister Wong to help him along the rest of his journey! 

We started Seeking Saturday here in Rancho (Rancho Cordova) so I am excited to see how that goes this transfer!! 

Not a crazy amount of new information, but it was definitely an amazing week! 

Update on preparation day next week. Due to the holiday and better finding times, our preparation day will be on Tuesday, January 16. Also, I will be hitting my 1 year this week!!  What, what!!

I love and miss you all. 

Before I go, I also just want to bear my testimony that I know Thomas S. Monson was a prophet of God and although his passing is sad, I know that this is Christ's church on the Earth and that it will continue to be led by a prophet of God. I know that God will never leave us behind. I know that He loves us. 

Much Love Always,

Sister MJ Baird

Last Day with Sister Simpson as my companion!

Rancho Cordova Zone P-Day

Rancho Cordova Zone P-Day

Rancho Cordova Zone P-Day

Adopting Daughter #4

Hey all!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Hard to believe we have already hit 2018!! Time to make this year better than ever!

So, I am out of time, but I wanted to make you aware of two major things for the week. Transfers and Garry Bailey!

First Garry Bailey!! He came to church this Sunday and he will be getting baptized this Saturday!! I am so excited for him and it has been such an incredible experience getting to work with him and getting him to this point. He was completely prepared!!

And transfers. I will be leaving the dear Elk Grove and heading down to the Mather and Anatolia Wards in Rancho Cordova!! I will be serving in a trio with the lovely Sister Kearl and Sister Tenney! Sister Tenney has only been out 6 weeks, so, I will assist in finishing up her training. Sister Kearl is in her last 6 weeks, so it will be quite the transfer!!

I am so excited for this new adventure ahead of me. 

I want you all to know how much I love and miss you. 

Missions are the best and I am honored I get to serve one. 

I love my Heavenly Father and He loves you!!

Much Love Always,

Sister MJ Baird