Hello everyone!! I'm glad to hear that everyone sounds like
they are doing great! It's crazy that I'm going to the same mission as Louis,
at least for a little bit! Exciting stuff.
I have been feeling a little sick the past morning or two.
Just my throat, so nothing too major. But I really don't want to start my
actual mission sick, so I would appreciate a prayer or two. I'm fine, I just
don't want it to get worse. Thanks!!
I had a really good last week. We finished up teaching our
"investigators" a few days ago, and that was kinda sad. Especially
since both of them agreed to be baptized and we never got to do it!! Haha. But
even though they weren't really investigators, we still grew to love them. So
it was a good experience, and we learned a lot.
I am going to miss my teachers and district so much!! They
have helped to make my MTC experience amazing. I absolutely love our teachers.
One day, Irmao Sears talked to us about what it means to be a successful
missionary. In Preach My Gospel, it says a successful missionary is one who is
committed to finding, teaching and baptizing, as well as helping others become
more faithful members and enjoy the presence of the spirit. Or something like
that. Through tears he told us that we had helped him to feel and enjoy the
presence of the Spirit more in his life, so we have already been successful
missionaries. He thanked us so much, even though he did more for us. That
really touched me and stood out to me, and I love him like crazy. He also did a
little exit interview with each of us yesterday, and he said some super nice
things about me and helped us with advice and such.
We hosted again this week, which was fun again. A nice break
from the normal, every day monotony. Our district was also chosen to help with
this thing on the first night for new missionaries. Basically there are like 50
missionaries in a room with an investigator. We meet the investigator and just
get to know them, get their background and try to lead into a discussion kinda
thing, like any first visit would be. Then we leave and the new missionaries
have to team-teach them. When we did it our first day, we were horrible haha.
But it was fun. We really just had to get to know the person. Our teacher
recommended us for it because she thinks we are the best haha.
That night, we got our reassignments. We all opened them
together and people freaked out a little bit and it was pretty funny haha. It
was a neat experience. I was proud of my district because no one seemed too
upset about not getting their visa, and everyone had a good attitude.
Thursday was infield orientation. Basically there are just
lots of small workshop things where we learn how to do better contacts, how to
work with members, and other things. It was good, but so long! We started at
like 8:00 in the morning, had a lunch break, and ended around 5:15. It was a
long day...
Friday was skyped Brazilians for TRC again. It was super
fun. The guy we skyped this time knew English really well. We could ask him how
to say specific words we didn't know, and once he responded to our question in
all English because it was really important to him and he wanted us to understand
all of it. It was kinda nice, but also threw me off a bit. He was a returned
missionary and basically seemed like he is super strong in the gospel and knew
everything, so he basically taught us.
Sunday we had mission conference, which is basically stake
conference. We have them every fast Sunday here. It was really long, but really
good too. The devotionals and everything here are super good! I wish I could go
to more!! We are hoping for an apostle our last night here tho! Except there
are only 3 people from our district left, so the others who have already left
would be SO mad haha.
Also on Sunday I had a departure interview with President
Jackson, the branch president. I love him a lot. Everyone here is awesome! In
the interview, he told me some really nice things and expressed great faith in
my ability to be a great missionary. I'm
not so sure yet. I have a lot to learn, but I'm going to do my best to live up
to what everyone thinks I can become. We also had our last District Meeting
Sunday, where we basically had a small testimony meeting. We did kinda the same
thing again last night with our teacher. I just love all the people in my
district, I can't imagine what the MTC would have been like without them.
Anyway, I'm excited for the next step of my mission. I'm so
pumped to get to Oregon and get right to work. I love the MTC, but I'm also
ready to leave haha. I want everyone to know that I am not sad in the slightest
that I haven't received my visa yet. I know that where ever I am asked to be,
that is where the Lord needs me. And where ever I am, I will work my hardest
and do my best to bring people closer to Christ. The place doesn't matter.
I love you all, and wish you a great week!!!
Elder Baldridge
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