Dear Baldwin Family,

We are pleased to inform you that your son, Elder Baldwin has been called to serve as district leader in this mission of District La Villa.  We are confident that he will do well in fulfilling the responsibilities of this important calling.

Our mission is divided into 12 proselyting zones.  Each of the zones consists of two to four districts.  A district is composed of four to eight missionaries.  As a district leader, your son will supervise the missionaries in their work and he will direct the weekly district meeting.  In order to teach and train his fellow missionaries, he will frequently exchange companions and work with each elder in his district.  Another of his sacred responsibilities is to interview candidates from the district for baptism.

Your son will find his new calling as district leader to be challenging and rewarding.  He is a good example of obedience, dignity, and diligence to his fellow missionaries and as he leads his district with enthusiasm and dedication, he will be contributing to the growth of the Lord's Kingdom.

You have a fine son and we appreciate his willingness to serve the Lord here in Guatemala.

Sincerely,

E.J. Caffaro

Mission President

Dear Baldwin Family,

It is with pleasure that we inform you that your son, Elder Baldwin, has accepted a call to serve as a Financial Secretary here in the Guatemala City South Mission. We have implicit confidence in him and trust the Lord will bless and sustain him in his new assignment.

As you are well aware, proselyting is the main focus of our work here, but for the work to progress well, there is a great need for a support team so that the missionaries can focus on their assignments in their areas.  Therefore, your son will work closely with me in coordinating the affairs of the mission.  I place great confidence in your son by extending this call from the Lord.  He will continue to proselyte in the evenings in his assigned area, however the great work he will perform in the office will bring countless blessings to the people of Guatemala.  He will come to realize that all things are spiritual before the Lord, that he will have the same spiritual experiences here in the office as he has had in the field.  Through his example, he will lead and motivate others to ''serve with all their heart, might, mind, and strength''  (D&C 4:2)."

You have raised an obedient young man.  No doubt he will represent the Lord with dignity, love, and devotion as an Executive Secretary in this marvelous work.

Sincerely yours,

E.J. Caffaro

Mission President

Hey Baldwin Family! 

Well this week has been great! it has been full of Very Early mornings and very late nights Planning special transfers for missionaries that finished their missions and we able to go home before the actual transfers that we will be having on the 27 so that they could spend Christmas at a home. We also we involved in 3 days of Multi-zone conferences for our mission. We Ran so much and slept so little but the spirit has been so strong this entire week! I love this time of year and all that we have been given. All this week we also have been visiting with our investigators nyeli, Estella, and Dyrine. They are all doing well and are progressing so well. On

Monday we made special plans and two missionaries came with me and two missionaries went with my companion to another part of our area. We visited Estella and Ericka (a recent Convert) and Dyrine her sister and shared a lesson with them based on the Plan of Salvation. Their spirit was super strong and they had so many inspired questions. The doctrine that God Literally is our Father and not just an abstract thought or an Unknown Mysterious being is something that has really helped them Progress! They really have never thought of having a personal relation with our creator! I am so thankful that we know who our Heavenly Father is and what his great plans and Expectations for us really are! I i will Keep you posted on them:)

I have been doing Great and am loving my area! I am grateful for the Gift of Christ and his love for each of us. Today we slept in a the ^white house^ of our mission and woke up at 230 with misioneros to drive them to the airport! later we had and awesome service project painting a house and then we figured out that there is a Costco in our area so we went and bought hot chocolate and fruit for the holidays! I truly love my mission!

Thanks for the picture! Looks great! I will be calling on skype the 25th at 3:00 Pm Guatemala time!:)

This week has been really great! This past week We have seen so many miracles! Ericka was baptized this last week on Sunday and her baptism is was amazing (although a little cold)! our ward helped her have and amazing experience. She has continued progressing this week! Yesterday we visited her family and taught the atonement! She expressed how thankful she is to be able to know the gospel and we all felt the spirit so strongly! Another Great experience that we had this week was yesterday in the evening! Yesterday, We helped with a training meeting that was given and ended the day very late due to the traffic that clogs the street here during this time of the year. We only had time to make one visit by the time that we arrived to our area. We felt impressed to go visit a recent convert that had dropped off of the map these last few months. We both hesitated to go because he lives way up on the border of our area. After a moment of contemplation, we followed the promptings and took off running though the traffic, dodging cars and playing hopscotch through the streets until we got to his house. We shared a lesson based on Eternal Families and the temple. As we talked, the spirit was so strong, and a little ways into the lesson Caterina (the wife) shared with us that she has been noticing a major change in her husband and children since they have joined the church. She said that she hoped that one day she too would be able to be a member of the true church! She accepted a Baptismal Invitation for Christmas eve and we are working as hard as we can to help here progress! I know that God Blesses us and that when we lack wisdom, we can ask and receive! 

I love you all and hope that you have a great week! 

Elder Baldwin

------------------------

Dad and I sent you a voice recording, it was actually Friday night, last night, not Saturday night.

Loved your voice message, if you can keep them up.

It has been cold here this last week, I jogged in the morning before school and it was 27 degrees, but I was warm. There has been a dusting of snow and snow in the mountains. I love the cold and I am glad for the reprieve of the 100 degree weather. 

Yesterday at my school we had a silent auction. The money raised goes for needy students' families in our school, so sub for Santa's for them. I spent 203.00! I am going to use my purchased items as gifts for the neighbors, visiting/home teaching and Erin's friends for Christmas gifts.

We are having a Christmas program/party on Dec. 17th. Instead of being assigned the names, this year they want us to think of nonmember names we know and them to Brother Everett(ward mission leader) and then we give a treat/bread to them with an invitation to the party. I have thought of 8; I can use the baked goods from the auction to give to them;). I think this is a better idea than trying to give you people you do not know an invite. It was so forced, fake and ungenuine: Every year, only once, to come to the same people's door and say "Yes, it is me again, inviting you to our the Christmas party, see you next year:)."

Speaking of Christmas, I assume we are going to be skyping from the mission home? We will be at Angie's or Grandpa and Grandma Bar lows on Christmas day so that will be fun if we get to skype.

this Christmas no package, but Grandma and grandpa sent me 50.00 and we will send 100.00 so I will let you know when it is in you debit account. It will be in addition to the 200.00 that is normally in your account.

Love, 

Mom xxoxoxoxoxoxo

Hey Baldwin Family!

So this week has been Awesome! We have been working really hard and the Lord has been Blessing us in so many ways! When I Got here in the Villa last week we went to go visit an investigator named Erica! She is an older contact that had come to a General conference session back in October and whose mom was baptized about 20 years ago, but has since fallen away from activity in the Church. She has been progressing super quickly and keeping all of the commitments that we have been leaving with her. She is a young single mom and the gospel has truly been blessing her life and picking her up out of tough situations.When we first visited her we taught the importance of sincere prayer and challenged her to pray. When we visited 2 days later she told us that she had received and answer to her prayers! It was a miracle and since then she and her two sisters have been progressing towards baptism and her mother is starting to become active again in the gospel. Erica is going to be baptized tomorrow evening!  

Working in the office is actually pretty strange adjustment but everything has been working out great! I love It! I know all of the missionaries ( their are 4) and is humbling to see all that goes into seeing how a mission runs. Thanksgiving this week was just another normal day! We didn't have much time to celebrate, but My companion elder Burns and I ordered KFC mashed potatoes in an attempt to celebrate a little! 

Love, 

Elder Baldwin

--------------------------------------------

Thanks giving was great! We had Cole and Emily here at our house. They came Thursday morning, we baked all day ----I brined the turkey, soaking it overnight in spices and salt and then roasted it for 3 1/2 hours, perfect! We have left over for days. During dinner we toasted to things we were thankful for, it was quite comical, we laughed through most of it. The next day Cole, Erin and dad went Elk hunting in Hamblin valley waking up at 3:00am. Emily was going to go, I know crazy/surprisingly but, she has stitches/minor surgery and would not be able to walk around much. The surgery was taking out growths on from her backside to make sure they are benign. Speaking of benign growths, I am scheduled for another biopsy on Dec. 6th for my thyroid, I have more growth on it and the doctor just wants to make sure there is no cancer.

Yesterday, Friday evening all of us went as a family to the temple to do baptisms for the dead! Yeah we went as a family as you commended us to do.  We were able to take some family names from our fan on Grandma Barlow's line. Later we watched 13 hours, the movie on Benghazi with a cool new app called Vid angel--that filters anything you want to filter and for 2.00 and we watch it on apple T.V. We buy the movie through Itunes for 20.00 and then sell it back for 18.00 if we do this within 24 hours, it is only 2.00, cool Hugh?

Were you able to have a Thanksgiving dinner at the mission home on Thursday?

Grant, your letter writing has been great, do not feel pressure about writing or writing longer letters, you are busy, no worries. A paragraph or 2 is great. I love your voice messages, so relax---relajahte! I signed up for dual lingo, and started practicing Spanish. I have students whose parents only speak Spanish, I am so frustrated that I have to have a translator when I have meetings with them or when I want to call them. My goal is to be able to speak basic Spanish with them. You are so blessed to be able to speak fluently on your mission!!!!! what a great life long gift!!!!!

Cara, Erin the missionaries and others went to the visitors center last night also. The missionaries are planning on going to Cara's house on Sunday, tomorrow,  in order to resolve/soften hearts of Jennifer, Cara's mom. Cara is still needing permission to be baptized. Erin and I are going to fast tomorrow that the Persson's hearts will be softened.

Love you!!!!!! It was so great that you were able to talk to dad this week!!!! I am jealous!!! He says you sound great! We will send the drivers info as soon as we receive it.

Love, you! xxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoo

This week has been really good! we have been working really hard. This week we had transfers and so I woke up very early and left Jutiapa around 3 in the morning on Monday! After a few hour bus ride and a taxi ride we got to the chapel in Montufer in Guatemala. After that I got a clip board (which is pretty official) and we organized all the taxis for Our mission for the next day! My new companions name is Elder Burns. He is from Highland Utah and he is A stud! He is my first Companion from the United States and we are really hitting it off! My new area is called the Villa. Its very modern and has a lot of commercial businesses. This week I have been getting to know our area and we have be working hard. We are teaching a young family right now who are doing great! The kids names are Erica, Stella, and Jasmine. They are doing good! We challenged them to be baptized this next week! Things are busy and we are doing great! I love you guys and I hope that you have a great week!

_____________________________

This was sent to us last week:) you are official now. I hope hope you are enjoying your transfer. You sounded a little melancholy; it would be hard to leave your people. Many are close to baptism and you have developed ties with such great people, but you mentioned you might be able to attend their baptisms right?

I am excited to have you in the mission home! From a mother;s perspective, I see my son under the care of many mothers at the mission home, especially around the holidays .

As you mentioned, you will also have access to more advanced computers in order to work on school stuff if time permits. Writing essays down, taking a picture, us editing and pasting and then sending off; I still think will be the best bet for you though.

We have only 2 days of school left and then we have Thanksgiving break. ! We are staying at home for Thanksgiving. I have pre-ordered a 16 pound turkey and I have purchased some secret brine recipe from Cracker Barrell. I even have some pumpkin salt and pepper shakers and a turkey platter, all ordered from of course, Amazon.com. (not the Turkey-but it could be....) Cole and Emily are coming down. Erin and dad will probably go Elk hunting Wednesday. Possibly Cole, dad, Erin and Emily might go Friday! if Emily goes, I might go, we will see. I really want us to go to the temple and do baptisms like you have suggested we do. We still have not gone as a family; it is one of my goals. I went to the temple twice this week. On Wednesday, I met Madlyn Haws. Her and I are achievement day leaders for the 8-11 year old girls.

Love you!!!!!xxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Dear Baldwin Family,

It is with pleasure that we inform you that your son, Elder Baldwin, has accepted a call to serve as a Financial Secretary here in the Guatemala City South Mission. We have implicit confidence in him and trust the Lord will bless and sustain him in his new assignment.

As you are well aware, proselyting is the main focus of our work here, but for the work to progress well, there is a great need for a support team so that the missionaries can focus on their assignments in their areas.  Therefore, your son will work closely with me in coordinating the affairs of the mission.  I place great confidence in your son by extending this call from the Lord.  He will continue to proselyte in the evenings in his assigned area, however the great work he will perform in the office will bring countless blessings to the people of Guatemala.  He will come to realize that all things are spiritual before the Lord, that he will have the same spiritual experiences here in the office as he has had in the field.  Through his example, he will lead and motivate others to ''serve with all their heart, might, mind, and strength''  (D&C 4:2)."

You have raised an obedient young man.  No doubt he will represent the Lord with dignity, love, and devotion as an Executive Secretary in this marvelous work.

 Sincerely yours,

 E.J. Caffaro

Mission President

When I listened to your voicemail (over and over) I am so warmed by your conversion and I am grateful that you asked us to write about our conversion because I have been pondering over it all week. My testimony, my conversion, when did it happen. We sent our testimonies to you at the beginning of your mission, specifically our feelings of the Book of Mormon with our picture of our family. By the way do you still have them? you can put them in your book of Mormon's.

When did I first have a testimony? I really cannot pinpoint it. I feel as President Hunter did when he told of the beginnings of his testimony happened at his mother's knee learning to pray. I started writing in a journal at age 10. I wrote down my feelings about Heavenly Father and Jesus. At age 12 I read the Book of Mormon and felt that it was true. As I went to church, I felt the spirit especially when we sang the hymns, the feelings of the spirit were and are especially strong when I sing hymns. So my simple testimony-trusting faith​​​​​/conviction grew as I struggled through some doubt and conflict into my conversion where I believe I have a now have a solid conviction that Heavenly father lives, I am his daughter, I have a faith in the eternal plan of happiness and that this life is temporary and we can live together with Heavenly father again. This conversion began when I struggled before my mission, on my mission, after my mission, as I went to the temple, as I had you, Cole, and Erin. So it began when I was 18, before then I had a simple testimony.

I loved what President Hunter(this is in the priesthood and relief society manual for this year "Teaching of the Presidents of the church" chapter 21) said about testimony: Thomas was not willing to stand on faith."He wanted positive evidence of the facts. He wanted knowledge, not faith. Knowledge is related to the past because our experiences of the past are those things which give us knowledge, but faith is related to the future-the unknown where we have not yet walked. Thomas had lost his confidence in the future. He looked to the past. He wanted proof of that which was not then visible. Those who lack faith, live in the past-there is loss of hope for the future. To believe is to see." I have faith that there will be a second coming, that the New Jerusalem will be built--I want to be apart of it so I am acting- going to the temple weekly, saying my prayers daily, trying to serve people every day-not complain/murmuring, reading the scriptures,--so my conversion is on going. I do have an abiding faith that I try to put to action.

As I read what Elder Bednar says about testimony and conversion.

Testimony is personal knowledge of spiritual truth obtained by revelation. A testimony is a gift from God and is available to all of His children. Any honest seeker of truth can obtain a testimony by exercising the necessary “particle of faith” in Jesus Christ to “experiment upon” (Alma 32:27) and “try the virtue of the word” (Alma 31:5), to yield “to the enticings of the Holy Spirit” (Mosiah 3:19), and to awaken unto God (see Alma 5:7). Testimony brings increased personal accountability and is a source of purpose, assurance, and joy.

Fundamental components of a testimony are knowing that Heavenly Father lives and loves us, that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and that the fullness of the gospel has been restored to the earth in these latter days. 

 converting and sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost and his obligation to serve faithfully.

       The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and life to accept and conform to the will of God (see Acts 3:19; 3 Nephi 9:20) and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ.  I do not think I am converted yet--I am on the path, but I do not have a permanent change and I am still trying to conform to his will.

Conversion is an enlarging, a deepening, and a broadening of the undergoing base of testimony. It is the result of revelation from God, accompanied by individual repentance, obedience, and diligence. Any honest seeker of truth can become converted by experiencing the mighty change of heart and being spiritually born of God (see Alma 5:12–14). As we honor the ordinances and covenants of salvation and exaltation (see D&C 20:25), “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ” (2 Nephi 31:20), and endure in faith to the end (see D&C 14:7), we become new creatures in Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Conversion is an offering of self, of love, and of loyalty we give to God in gratitude for the gift of testimony.  I am trying to do this. I do not feel I am a new creature, trying to be but not there.

Baldwin Family,

This week has been a great week! We have been very blessed. My companion and I have have been very amazed and all the blessings that we have been receiving and the miracles that we have seen. This week we decided to follow a special initiative in our missio: to focus on finding families to teach. This week we made plans  with some of the members in our ward including the stake president, bishopric and other ward leaders to share a program called nunca voy solo or never go alone. In nunca voy solo we give a list to each family that has room to write 36 names. We ask them to fill the 36 lugares with names of any family member, friend, or acquaintance. We then invite them to put the list on their fridge or in a visible place so that they can see it often. We leave with an invitation to the family that they pray each day to determine whom on the list that the would like to rescue. Once they have received that revelation, we invite them to pass by, present themselves, and to preach the gospel by giving them an invitation to the gospel. This week we found the Famila ramos, the Familia Lopez, the Familia Chacon and several others that are progressing amazingly! They were all able to come to the church this week and we are excited for each of them! This coming week we are working hard to help them become committed to their baptismal dates later in this month. I am doing well and we are so very blessed! Thank you so much for each of you prayers and all that you do for me. Please apply nunca voy solo in our family. Make a list and pray for the people on that list. The lord will reveal those who are prepared and you along with the missionaries can help them! 

I love you all! have a great week!

Elder Baldwin

------------------------------------------
Dear Grant,

We had a great Fast and testimony today, there were people lined up on the stands until the very end to bear their testimonies. I especially enjoyed the 2 children--one was under eight and the other around 8. Their testimonies are so pure. I was going to get up and specifically express my gratitude for the blessing of the commandments and how I know the word of wisdom is from Heavenly Father. Yesterday I took a supplement that was antioxidant, fat burning, and had 180mg of caffeine. When I saw how much daffiness, I knew that I shouldn't have taken it, but did anyway, wanting the benefits of the other ingredients. I paid for it, it made me sick and dizzy the whole day. 

I love the month of November! It is so cozy and peaceful to me. 

I also loved reading a conference talk by Elder Oaks on the 3 simple things all members can do to spread the good news of the gospel. I love this talk and his style of writing. 1 was pray for desire, 2 was keep the commandments and 3 was pray for ways that I can invite others to hear the message of the gospel. I love this; inviting is something I have total control over, it is all up to me, I either do it or not. I can set goals that I can solely achieve independent of anyone else.

I love hearing your voice every week. It is great that you were so tired last week, it is rewarding and it makes the time march along that much more. Hope you enjoy our voice message. We have the missionaries tonight. I thought we all would say-"hi" I especially like our Elder from North Carolina--when he speaks, he reminds me of you in some ways; in the past I would start to get emotional and start to cry, but lately I am holding it together.

Know we pray for you daily and our thoughts and hearts are with you always. Also we can have the ministering of angels, the people that we do work for in the temple, especially our ancestors, they will assist us and you. This is very comforting as I go through and do their work for them.

Did you get to eat some bread from the dead on Halloween last Monday? where in Jutiapia are you exactly near what city? are you on the border of  El Salvador, near the sea, or at the top.

Hey this week has been really great! We have been running and doing all that we can to further serve the lord here in jutiapa. We have been very blessed and I'm sure that i have never been so busy in my entire life! I love it. this week we were introduced by our stake president that are amazing! they are called the familia lopez. I talked more about them I'm my voicemail Please know that i love all of you and i wish you the best this week! I am doing great! they Lord has truly been in each detail of our lives! This church is true. I might be able to send a file to you later on today with pictures of written letters and voice recordings. My shoes are starting to fall apart so I am looking for new ones. Its almost impossible to find shoes here but I can have some made. From what i can find its the best option. I still have shoes right now so don't stress out (mom) but it cost 400 quetzales. I think that's around 50 dollars and I will repair one of my pares that is still salvageable. so just let me know next week what you think!

Elder Baldwin

-------------------------------------

Dear Grant, 

Happy Halloween,

Today I took the day off, took it off in May, knowing that Halloween would be on a Monday. I scheduled a "doctors" appointment. I even arranged a substitute back in May! Later on tonight we are having a community trunk or treat. I entered some chilli into the chilli cook off, not counting on winning. Today before the doctors, I am going to the temple. I go every week, it has been a great blessing, almost a driving force now. I have never gone to a Monday morning session, looking forward to it. I still want to have Erin, dad, and I go do baptisms for the dead together, as you suggested; such a great idea.

Anita is here on her way to England. It is so good to be with her, my best friend. They sold there home in Ferron and Dave is waiting for job offers along the Wasatch front. He is retiring from the police force and going into insurance sales/fraud. So, they are renting in Ferron right now. I know great. Maybe Anita and I can get closer together eventually!

So exciting to hear your voicemails--keep them up, I play them throughout the week! We love to hear your voice. Can you get ours? I changed the format hoping you can listen to them.

Love youxxoxoxoxo,

MOM

Dear People,

This week has been awesome! We have been so richly blessed in Jutiapa. Early this week we decided that as missionaries in our zone we were going to focus on serving the members of our wards and branches. So we committed to serve members for at least and hour each day. We started by helping a family clean the church this past Monday and from there we cut the grass -Guatemalan style with machetes- painted, cleaned dishes, homes, pushed wheelchairs and lifted a thousand heavy things for the relief society. We enjoyed it and the members in our ward got a laugh our of the missionaries cleaning up for everybody. I can honestly say that I Love the people here in our area. They are the best. At some point this week somebody asked us why we were using our time to do chores that seem to have little merit. We responded with smiles that the if we serve with real intent we are serving the Lord. And that there is nothing that has more merit in the world, He paused, thought about is for a moment and then said, "Elders I am lawyer, When you need any help getting people married come and talk with me and we will get it solved, I cant do much to serve physically with my strength - He is elderly- but I can do something! "

WE are working still with Miriam, Yuli, and Gabriel. They each have baptismal date for this coming Saturday!

I hope your all have a great Week. Elder Baldwin

Hi Grant we're at Cole and Emily's apartment right now and Logan it's Sunday and we're getting ready to go to their church it starts at 12 and we're just gonna stay Sacramento and then we're going to head home to St. George. Cole and Emily are going to perform in their choir is probably three people in the choir reducing teach me to walk in the light.Last night Emily, Cole, Jim, dad, Erin and I went to the Wellsville river river bottom corn maze. We actually went to a corn maze and a haunted walk. It was really fun especially the haunted walk it was a good one;  long and really scary. Jim had a a little bit of a hard time, he is out of shape and needs to actually start walking, in my opinion, more. Also, yesterday afternoon we had grandma Baldwin's memorial at the Web Funeral home. Grandma And Grandpa Barlow came which was really nice of them to come. It was really great to see people we haven't seen since Grandpa Baldwin's funeral I'll send you some voice recordings of the service. Later that night we went to Chuck a Rama in  Logan and met with the family again. Again it was great to see everyone. It was a healing time I know there was a lot of feelings of sadness when it came to grandma Joye Baldwin and we learned a lot about her life and her struggles which I think helped understand her more. I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives it was made evident again at the memorial yesterday.

Your investigators sound great and dedicated, living so far away, the sacrifices they make to come to church!!!

xoxxoxoxox,

Let me know if you are able to access the voice mails. I will send them in another email.

MOM

Jim is hairless because he was called to work at the temple on Friday nights as a veil worker.