Hey Oh, Herded a Cow

Hey beautiful people,

What a week this has been!!

So exciting and sad news. We did have to release a few investigators, but that is okay because it means the Lord is preparing others who are ready. 

One of the amazing blessings that came was Taia!! She is amazing!! She is so open to learning even though she has almost no religious background. She did not know the story of Christ's birth. That was fun to explain. Seriously, I love Jesus Christ. He is the best. If you don't know about Him, please please let me tell you about Him. I will tell you all about Him if you give me the chance :) 

Well the good news with her was we were able to put her on date for October 28th!! We are so excited for her. She was a little hesitant, but she put her faith forward and set the date. It is amazing to watch people put their trust in the Lord. It can be so hard to do so, yet so many do. And I get to be apart of it and help them do so. It is such a blessing to be apart of. I am so happy I have 9 more months of this stuff!! It is the best. 

The only semi down side, which really isn't even a down side is we will have to transition her to the YSA Elders. But, not even a huge bummer, because she is still learning and coming to Christ and that is the important part. 

Other news, I saw today that Maddy Habra is on date for baptism!! I am so excited for that girl. She was one of the girls I was teaching when I left Silva Valley. I love seeing people come closer to Christ. 

Hopefully this email is making sense. 

Funny story for this week! Sister Rowley and I were running home to grab something when all the sudden there was a cow in the road!! We ended up having to herd it home and then run off to a study. It was fun. That cow loves grass, let me tell you. It would not stop eating it. It also ate a huge chunk of a neighbors tree/bush. Opps.. lock up your cows people. 

Okay, also women's conference was amazing.  If you did not watch it, go to LDS.org and watch it!! Also watch general conference this week because that is the best too. 

Another semi funny, made me feel awkward story. We were doing a blitz in another missionaries area, and the four Sisters were together because we carpooled. Go planet Earth. Well, we were sent to this gated apartment complex and two of the Sisters decided to semi hop the fence... imagine Sister Rowley half bent over this fence opening it from the inside.. yeah. Awkward part is we then had the manger come talk to us. Dignity people. We must be dignified...but at least it was a fun story. 

Alright, that's all I have this week.
I love and miss you all. 

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley - selfie?

This is for Dad and Sidney! - LOL!
(Ask Sidney about the "I Voted" sticker! She loves those stickers!

A woman who served her Mission in Rockford, IL! Rockford peeps? Anyone remember the Farley's? She knew them! Addison was either almost here or just barely here. Very cool huh?

Golden Potentials

I love you and your smile is beautiful. Two things I think you all ought to know :)

Well this week has been awesome. We had interviews with our Mission President which is always amazing. With our old president they were only about 7 minutes long, but now they are 10 minutes long!. Those 3 extra minutes is seriously the best, let me tell ya!! I am definitely grateful to be under a Mission President who is definitely following the Spirit in all he does. However, please keep him and his wife in your prayers. President Hymas did lose his Dad this week. How grateful I am for the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. 

Sister Rowley on her bike!

We did both days of Park Your Car Day this week and well, honestly that has not happened for a while. Being up in the boonies sometimes it is hard to make it happen. Well this week my companion was sure to make it happen and Heavenly Father definitely blessed us. This week we were able to hand out about 7 Book of Mormons which is way more than we handed out the week prior. Then, these were two of the great blessings we saw this week!! 

First, we ended up seeing the Sisters from another ward in the same church building as us Sunday night and they told us about what had happened at church that day. Turns out that they had a random woman show up with a friend and let her know, I want to be baptized!! They asked where she lives and it is in Sister Rowley and my area!! We are so excited to see what happens. We know the Lord put her in our path along with the other Sisters. 

The other blessing happened Sunday at dinner!! We were eating with this awesome family and it just so happened that they had a non member friend of their daughter there. She is actually living with them and has attended church with her friend. We shared the dinner message and when we asked a question no one in the family responded, but she piped up and did. We eventually asked her if she would like to learn more and she said yes!! AND SHE ACCEPTED CONDITIONAL BAPTISM. 

I know that we go through hard times, whether in life or on a Mission, but I also know that our Heavenly Father is so aware of each and every one of us. No matter what we have gone through, He loves you and is there for you. He loves you more than you could ever imagine and nothing will or can change that. 

I love and miss each and everyone of you. Continue to come closer to Christ, because I promise, it is the best way to live your life. 

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley enjoying some 'Subway'. 

Photo Credit: This little guy!

8/18th of the way done!!

I love you all!!

Just thought I should throw that out there. Because I do :)

Okay, this one is going to try and be shorter because I have a few more peeps I need to make sure I write. 

This week was amazingly crazy. 

To start I was sick all day Tuesday and that was a complete joy. Loved it so much. Dang it, that was sarcastic. Still working on that. 

Wednesday running around to appointments and doing an awesome service project at this thrift store. We got to put all the Halloween stuff out!! If you know me at all, I LOVE holidays and decorations for them. I was seriously in heaven!! 

Thursday we had a District meeting and two blitzes. A blitz is where all the Missionaries in the Zone of the District go work in one set of missionaries area. Met a nice Jewish lady and a grumpy old man. It was pleasant let me tell ya. Made me joyous. That night we then had more lessons, kick ball with the youth and then drove up to exchanges. 

Friday I got to spend all day with the beautiful Sister Koller. It was seriously the best exchange I think I have been on yet. We were able to find them a couple of potential investigators and we were able to hand out 3 Book of Mormons!! Plus, it was with Sister Koller so that made it that much better.

Saturday we had the lovely weekly planning. For the other missionaries reading this, we don't normally do weekly on Saturday.. we had no other choice this week!! 

But we had dinner at 4 and then headed to the temple with Sam and Kristi for their first time going and doing proxy baptisms!! It was such an incredible experience. I definitely had tears in my eyes the entire time. *cough, thanks mom cough*. The spirit at the Temple is unlike anything else. Please make it a priority to go, seriously!! Some of us only get to go twice a year. 

Alright so yeah that was my week. We are about half way through the transfer which is crazy, but that's how mission life goes, fast!! Speaking of fast, I hit my 8 months today!! One more month and I will be half way done. When did that happen?? 

For those who still read this thing, thanks for hanging on. You're the real MVP. 

I love and miss you all more than you could ever remember. 

And please remember to take a moment and remember those who lost their lives in 9/11. 

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird

Chasing a goat, zone conference and funeral thrift store.

Hey gorgeous human beings, 

Hope your week has been splendid. I would use a bigger word, but that is Sister Rowley's job. By the way, she is amazing and I still love her. She hasn't gotten sick of me yet, so that's good! 

This week, I will try to remember the highlights. I'll start with the heading. 

So we were going to visit someone and we suddenly see a goat on the road. Not a deer or turkey, the usual, but a goat. So naturally we start to follow it. We chased it for a while and eventually helped it find its way back home. Its name was Bernie by the way, Bernie Sanders.. 

Funeral thrift store. Saddest service I have ever done in my life. We show up and they have us start pulling all the blue price tagged items. It became basically a game. We would get so excited when we found one. They were seriously hidden everywhere. I loved it. We filled an entire cart thing they had so full. We were pretty proud of it, let me tell you. We also had some golden finds! We found this awesome statue of Christ, the leaning tower of Pisa and other beautiful glass bowls and things. We then start to wonder, oh where are these going. Well come to find out, they were going to their DEATH. We were collecting the items they were now throwing into the trash. Yeah, that was fun. We also temporarily misplaced our phone in the store.. no worries, we found it!! Some kind soul turned it in to the person at the counter. 

Now, zone conference!! Oh my goodness. It was amazing. Elder and Sister Martinez were a hoot and gave amazing trainings.

Zone Conference with President and Sister Hymas (California Sacramento Mission President)
, and Elder and Sister Martinez (Quorum of Seventy). 

The Drapers and Sister Baird

The whole conference had the theme of obedience. It is so true, the amount of blessings that come as we are as obedient as we possibly can be. Remember you think it could be PAM spray but it could turn out to be bug spray! haha, sorry if that makes no sense. 

Also I got to sing with one of my most amazing families down in Folsom. The Drapers came and played for me while I sang. It was incredibly being able to see a family I love so much. We also got to go to their home for dinner as well! It felt fun to be back in Folsom for a little while. 

Kristi is continuing to be amazing!! Our goal is to get her and Sam to the temple this Saturday with families. It is such a huge blessing to have a temple so close. The temple is an amazing place to be. The spirit there is so strong. Take advantage if it is close and go as often as you can!!

We are still working with Bernadine. Keep her in your prayers. We are doing what we can to help get through her concerns. She;s amazing though. She came to church this Sunday. Other exciting news, we had three less active members at church this Sunday. It is amazing to see people coming back to the fold!! 

Okay, I love and miss you all!! Pictures will come in another email. 

Much Love Always, 

Sister MJ Baird

Sister Baird, Sister Rowley, Sister Koller and her companion
holding a 'Box of Water'. 

Sister Baird and Sister Koller (her MTC companion).

Sister Baird and Sister Rowley

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!