Signing off and heading home.

Well hey there. 

This is the final Monday I have in the field, so not much to update on. Just wanted to make sure everyone had the information they needed for if they wanted to come to my Homecoming talk! It is where I will give a talk in the first hour of church for about 20 minutes. I will talk to about a topic I have been given, but also will be able to share some experiences from my mission. The meeting begins at 9 AM. Hope to see you there!

The Book of Mormon

I want you all to know that these past 18 months have been incredible. I have loved serving the Lord with all of my heart, might, mind and strength. I am however, excited to be able to move forward and see what else the Lord has in store for me. I trust His plan and will do whatever I can to follow it. 

Stay close to the Lord, and remember I am sending you love, always.

Sister MJ Baird

California Sacramento Mission

January 2017 - June 2018

Sis Baird and the Morgan Family

Mike (recent convert) and his lovely wife!

One Step at a Time

Happy Day everyone!

Well it seems that this is the first day of my last full week in the mission field. I will be released as a missionary on June 20, 2018 after returning home.

Before my mission, I had a blog I'd write in and it was named "One Step at a Time". If I have learned anything on my mission, it is that I must take one step at a time. There is so much going on around us that we can easily get lost, however, when we take a step back, focus on Christ, and take it one step at a time, life becomes more manageable. We can start to see the joy and miracles that constantly surround us. 

For those who have followed along through this entire journey, thank you! The update for the week is that we were able to find two new friends and I was able to do my last two exchanges while on my mission. First, with Sister Searle and the final one was with Sister Lund. I love both of those sisters very much. 

Sis Searle and Sis Baird on exchanges!

Sis Baird and SIs Lund - the final exchange of my mission!

Sis Baird and Sis Lund

I want you all to know how much I have loved my mission. If you have heard my story, you know that I had no intention of and did not want to serve a full time mission. In fact, it was nowhere near the top of my lists of things to do. 

18 months later, it has been the single best decision I have ever made in my entire life. I've learned to love my Savior in a way I never thought was imaginable. I have learned that I can rely on Him for everything. I have learned that every person I come in contact with, I have the ability to love. I have learned that every single member I have met and gotten to know, every single missionary, and every single person I've met while serving my mission I've  met for a reason. I know that each and every person I've spoken to has influenced my mission in some way. 

Representing Jesus Christ is the greatest way I could have spent the last 18 months of my life and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I am grateful for the support that each of you have given me. I would not have made it to this point with out it. 

I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I love serving the Lord every day. I love being a missionary. I love that even though I am finishing my journey as a full time missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, that moving forward I can continue to represent my Savior every day. I promised to do this when I made the decision to be baptized at 8 years old and I will always strive to fulfill that promise. 

Luis. Madi. Sam. Annie. Kristi. Maddy. Garry. Kelley. Mike. Kristen. Thank you for letting me be a part of your journey. 

Sending my love always, 

Sister MJ Baird

California Sacramento Mission

I got punched in the face by a water balloon!

Well it seems that for the first time in my whole mission I missed sending a weekly last week!! 

The reason why? 

Well, the subject line explains. We were having a Zone activity last preparation day (p-day) and part of it included fun with water balloons! Well, long story short, I ended up getting a water balloon straight to the eyes.  As a result, I had one eye freaking out and not dilating correctly and with my vision and eye history, we decided we'd better take me straight into an eye doctor. Fortunately, it turned out to simply be a sluggish pupil and that it should heal in time. If,  after time it wasn't 'going back to normal' after a year or so, it would be permanent. Well, the good news - I can see wonderful again (well, wonderful considering my normal awful eye sight)!  Additionally, my eye has now returned to normal. So yep. That was fun! 

This week was a blast. It went quick, but also slow. We struggled a bit with finding people and our investigators are simply going MIA (missing in action), but we have faith that we will continue to find the elect who are ready and willing!! 

On Thursday, I also had my last Zone Conference. It was such a bitter sweet moment. I loved seeing all those missionaries that are serving in the mission, but let me tell you, giving your departing testimony is not an easy task. I am grateful that the last thing my beloved fellow Sisters and Elders got to hear from me was my testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ. 

Zone Conference - Sis Baird getting to direct music one last time!

Sis Baird and Sis Tenney at Zone Conference

Sis Baird selfie - with the one, the only, the infamous Patrick Twomey!

I also got to go on an amazing team up with Sister Mitchell. She is such a sweet heart and has grown so much since the last time I served with her. We were able to find 2 new investigators in our short time together!! 

Sis Baird and Sis Mitchell

I love this gospel. I love getting to wear my Savior's name on my chest every single day. I am grateful that I have 16 more wonderful days left to do so, because it is an honor and privilege to do so. 

I love and miss you all. You've got two Mondays left to email. Hop on it ;) 

Much Love Always,

Sister MJ Baird

Sis Baird and Sis Ellsworth

Sis Baird and Sis Ellsworth

Sis Baird and Sis Ellsworth - sipping a beverage!