4/25/2016

Hey mom! this week has been Great.We have been very busy! My new companion is Elder Rodriguez( yes he is a different elder) from El Salvador. He is a great missionary and we are having a great time here in our beloved ixhuatan. Our district is great! there are 10 missionaries and they are all awesome! for mothers day we still have not received any information but we will be calling. unfortunately today we do not have much time but I promise that next week we will have more time to write. 
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Dad! Thanks for all of your Support! it is an amazing opportunity to serve other the other missionaries here in our mission. My new companion is also named Elder Rodriguez! he is from El Salvador. He is a stud and A really Great missionary. This week has been busy! we have left our area every day except for yesterday. That means that we get up at 4:15 am every day and take an early bus. one day we were able to travel to an area called nueva santa rosa and translate for a catholic medical mission from the US. It was a great experience to help people and really see in more detail how truly humble the people here are and how little they really have. We are so blessed to live were we do. There are not words to describe how valuable it is to be educated and to houses that are secure and basic medical care. Our area is doing well. When i came here we were dreaming of the day that a branch could be created in Ixhuatan and  yesterday My president told me that he had submitted papers to create a branch in our area. it is still not official but I am so excited to see the miracles that the lord has worked for the people here in the mountains of Guatemala. 

mom says that you guys made a surprise in the house this week. You should probably tell me whats up though because is sounds like you guys will be moving to preston soon anyway right? 

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Congratulations on becoming a DL. You'll be great. This is when all of your priesthood leadership experience kicks in. From the time you were a deacon until you left you were being prepared.
Who is your new comp? I know you guys will do well together. I am thrilled with the way the Lord is blessing your companionships with great opportunities and miracles. It is all based on obedience and faith.
Shawn Knutson texted me out of the blue this weekend. He says they miss us and they have decided that we are supposed to move into Brent Perry's home. I talked to Jim last night. He says hi. He's working on getting the model A going. Repainting it and rebuilt the brakes. Ive been doing some painting at our place too.
Well,  I can't wait to hear about your week. Have a great week and be safe. Listen to the spirit in all you do. We love you. Dad
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You have had almost a week as a district leader, I hope you are feeling the love and peace and enabling power of the atonement in this new calling. The Lord qualifies whom he calls right? You have an amazing spirit and love for this calling. You were going to tell us some details of your new companion and now district, can't wait to hear it.

This week has been a busy one here at home. We had a major project to work on the last 3 days and dad is such a hard worker. He did an amazing job and worked nonstop. Erin wants it to be a surprise for when you get home in a year so I will not tell you what the project is. Erin and I helped with this project too, but dad took 3 days off and was working around the clock on it. 

Dad can do anything, from mechanics, carpentry, electronics, plumbing ( ha,Ha,ha) I am so fortunate I married a jack of all trades, plus being spiritual, fun, athletic and humble. You are the same way----you are an amazing catch.

Grandma asked me the weirdest question in her text a couple of days ago, she asked, "Are all of the people he teaches short?" We love the pictures, I wish we could talk to your people. I assume Carlos and Carlitos are still going strong!? It is so exciting you get to stay in the country in this place you have been since October/November right?

Next week in Young womens I am giving the lesson on the the importance of living prophets. Elder Bednar's talk on "Chosen to bear testimony of  My Name" is a great talk I emailed it to through LDS.org

On May 8th, in 2 weeks, we get to talk again, do you think we will be able to skype again?

Jackson's birthday was the 23rd and Kelly's is the 29th of April.

We love you! 

MOM

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 Oratorio.  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

4/18/2016

  This week has been wild! We have had so much help from our Heavenly father here in our area. This past week I have truly felt and seen the hand of the Lord in the details of my life, and I am so grateful for the blessing of strength and comfort that comes through knowing that after all we can do, after we submit ourselves to the will of God, we can be lifted up by his grace and overcome our trials.

     This past week we visited Carlos and Carlitos to help them prepare for their baptism on Sunday. It was tough for them this week to find support from their family and friends in making the decision to be baptized. This is really hard for them because Carlos is a single parent who lives alone with his son. All of their family lives next door to him in a small community. They all have followed the tradition of their parents and grandparents in being members of the Catholic church, which really made it interesting and to progress with them we knew we had to make plans to visit with Carlos and Carlitos daily in order to give them support leading up to their baptism. Friday I was on splits with an Elder from another area and we were able to visit Carlos and his family and shared the message of the Restoration with them, and answered their questions. It was awesome to see the spirit soften their hearts; they even supported Carlos in his decision to be baptized. Seeing this change in the lives of others strengthens my testimony every day. That is one of the greatest blessings of missionary work!

    Lawrence E Corbridge said "The Central purpose of life is to change. To be changed, to be more like Jesus"...This process of evolving and becoming is the object of the gospel."

Carlos and Carlitos were baptized yesterday! After attending our church meetings, we made the hour long trip to Cujlopa(?) and had an amazing baptismal service. They are doing great!

This wee we are having transfers, my companion, Elder Rodriguez has transfers and I will be staying here for 6 weeks more! This was a surprise for each of us and it is  a little sad to part ways; we get along well. I will be receiving a new companion tomorrow in the morning. So I will fill you in next week.

I testify of the power of change and conversion that comes through faith, repentance, baptism and the redemptive change that comes through the Holy Ghost. I invite you to extend your hand to others. I invite them to experience this divine change through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Elder Grant Baldwin

4/17/2016

It has been very windy here in Dammeron, but that is nothing new :). 

Cole and Emily came down for the weekend to see Indie, Brittany's new baby. They came for dinner Saturday night. Cole is now an insurance agent working for Farm Bureau;He was hooked up by a girl in his ward. 

Cool about Sunnie Hugh? She is happy and at peace with her decision to play ball for a 2 year college in Washington. The other girl in the picture is her best friend and they are going to room together....!!! So cool!!!

Erin and I went on a hike to Red Cliff's yesterday with the Stake young women. It was a lot of fun, great hike, it is not that long, have you been on that hike?

Erin, Auria and Alix

How is the teaching Valdomero and Kenny respectively? This is so exciting to hear. You have had such amazing experiences in Ixahuatn(sp?) It will be a bitter sweet if you are transferred tomorrow. Most of me really wants you to stay put, you have be safe (to our knowledge) and blessed with amazing, strong, humble people! However, The Lord is omniscient, 

The scripture I have been ponderizing is in 1 Nephi 13:40 And the angel spake unto me saying: These last records which thou hast sen among the gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first which are of the 12 apostles of the Lamb and shall make known the plain and precious parts which have been taken away form them and shall make known to all kindreds tongues and people, that the lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him or they cannot be saved.

Love MOMxoxoxoxoxo

This is my companion and i with Edna, Diana, and Oscar Suarez. He baptized them! also here we are fishing( my comp looks like a class A tourist way way off in the mountains of guate). Also us on a full bus. THis week I wrote a letter but sadly it is on paper andI haven't taken a picture of it. Next week I'll be sure to include this letter with the new one! Tell Curtis felicidades. Oklahoma is exactly where he needs to serve. There are people waiting there to meet him. He will be a great missionary! Wow Erin is going to missionary prep already. That is a little crazy... Is she planning on serving a mission? if not change her mind. This week was full of miracles and we have been uplifted and blessed constantly. We found a new investigator and his son named valdomero and Kenny respectively. We found them on Friday and they came to church on Sunday. Afterwords they asked us what they needed to do to be baptized. That is every missionaries dream. They accepted a fecha for the 15 of may and are super excited about the church.
Also I want to share with you a talk that i have been reading. It talks about our potential. I am so grateful for the agency that God has given us. He Truly wants us to become the best that we can. He will facilitate our correct decisions but he will not force us to choose his will. We choose who we will become and if we will assimilate attributes of Christ. I Know through God´s plan we will become tabernacles of light and eventually be able to help others achieve their potential as well. Please read this segment and think about the great gift Agency that We have received and how you can use it to Progress.

 Love elder Baldwin

   

You are right now the sum total of what you
have thought, said, seen, heard and done. What you
think, say, do, hear and see, cause you to change; to
change for good or evil; to become either stronger or
weaker; to either internalize the qualities of light or
the qualities of darkness. You are responsible for who
you are and you are responsible
for who you will become.
Do you know what kind of person you want
to become? Do you see in your mind who you want
to be? Do you know?
What manner of men ought ye to be?
Jesus asked a similar question. He said: "What manner
of men ought ye to be?" On this particular
occasion he was speaking to his Nephite disciples and so he spoke in the male gender, but the question
applies to us all, and so, He asks of you: "What
 manner of men and women ought ye to be?" Then
answering His own question he said, "Even as I am."
Jesus Christ not only came to atone for our sins; He
also came to show us the way. He is the
Way. You not only may become like Him; everything
is stacked in your favor to become like Him.
Think of this life as a path on which you never
stand still. As you move forward, you incorporate
into your being the characteristics and qualities of God. As you move backward you assimilate the
qualities of Satan.
Every challenge you face, every hard thing you confront
, every bad thing that happens to you,
every unfairness, every conflict, every sadness, tragedy,
 every disappointment and heartache, every
temptation and every opposition happens for one purpose
only: to give you opportunity to respond by
applying in your life the teachings of Jesus. As yo
u do so you are changed to become more like Him.
If you were never presented with some advantage
e to be gained by dishonesty, such as
recognition, or money, or a better grade on a test
or avoidance of punishment or embarrassment, you
could never develop integrity. If no
one ever offended you, you could never
 learn to forgive or internalize
mercy. Were you never wearied by the
annoying behavior of another or the repeated failures of someone
else you could never become patient
. Were you never subjected to
the appetites and passions of the
physical body for food, for water and for sexual fulfillment
you could not develop self mastery. Without
opposition the plan would be frustrated, you could
 not progress and the purpose of life would be
unachievable.
In short when you choose to follow Christ you move
 forward and assimilate attributes of light;
when you do not, you move backward and acquire attributes of darkness.
Can you see, have you seen, who you want to be?
What will happen if you don't plan. What will
happen if you have no vision
of who you want to become?
There are two ways of evolving: deliberately an
d accidentally. You can either decide who you
want to become and deliberately work toward that
end, or you can just go with the flow and become
whatever life makes of you. In that
event, you will become whatever
the fickle circumstances and forces
of life and society will make of you; whatever is currently
 considered to be popular or in; whatever is
easiest. But, whatever you become accidentally
 it will not be nearly the full measure of our potential. You
will become just someone, somewhere in the middle.
Page 4

4/10/2016, Sunday

This has been a great week for moisture! we have been blessed. As part of my fast, I had it be a thankful fast for the moisture and prosperity:) Also part of the fast for for you and missionary work:). Today in ward counsel Sister Stephens shared part of your report last week about Elder Uckdorf, she draws strength from your experiences and testimony, you buoy her and others up every week, do you realize this!!!!

    Britney Rounds Adams had her baby yesterday, 6 lbs. her name is Indie( I know so funny indi puppy) Blayne Adams.

    I Loved hearing about Edna and Diana and her family and their baptism, I hope they are doing well and you had a great week with them and your investigators.

Did you hear Curtis Rounds has been called to the Oklahoma mission, English speaking?

You are making videos do you prefer DVD's or can you only access flash drives?

Erin went to missionary prep tonight, they are starting a new 6 week cycle, I know weird/surreal it seems like you were just there....

I am excited for my work schedule next year, I do not have to teach an 8th grade pull out English class! yeah....It is a stressful class to teach; full of behavior problems, the students learn and behave so much better in a mixed classroom of all abilities. So I am staying put yet another year at Snow Canyon, I am not putting in for any transfers.

Love you,

MOM

4/4/2016

This week was incredible! Elder Rodriguez and I have been so richly blessed in our area. I would like to start off by saying thanks for all of the letters and notes that I have been receiving. They mean so much to me! I love to hear from you about your experiences and about how you are doing. 

This past week was jam packed full of awesome and sacred spiritual experiences. Unfortunately I do not think that I will be able to share them all due to the time, But I would like I would like to share a little bit about one of our investigators named Edna. As she was preparing for her baptism this week, we were able to meet with her and her family. On Tuesday we went to visit her, but when we arrived, her sister came out the back door further down along the alley and invited us through the back door, Her name is Fernanda. Before we entered and she welcomed us warmly into the house/backyard/patio she explained that  the family of Edna had come in a surprise visit. We were thrilled !more people to visit. The catch was that the family wasn't aware that Edna had been investigating the church and they were worried what the reaction of the family members might be.   This is a very common occurrence for us and can become a hard circumstance and obstacle for investigators, but we were optimistic. A few minutes later we were able to sit down with them and have an amazing lesson. We were able to resolve some of their concerns and doubts and have a small testimony meeting. It was so powerful . It was so powerful to hear the testimony of Edna and Diana born and shared with their family. They then invited them to attend their baptism and general conference with them on Sunday. It was such a special night. Edna's example to me is huge. Especially  in demonstrating that our commitment to the Lord is not part time. It is part of who we are.

This past Sunday morning we got up early to gather all of the members and investigators into a couple of cars and a bus that we rented to head out to the district center in Cuilapato to watch General Conference. We left early to get good seats. Prior in the week we were really focused teaching about living profits. We were blessed to see our work pay off , 41 people were able to attend with us, that's the highest attendance that we had ever had in any church meeting in Ixhuatan! 

 I am so grateful for living profits ! I am so grateful for the divinely inspired words that we received as the body of the church of our Savior. This priesthood line of communication is such an important very inspired, answers to inspired questions. I am grateful that we learned more about repentance, our divine nature, and identity. That we are as children of a loving how many father, and the power of ordinances that prepare us for eternity.

In between sessions on Sunday we all gathered around the font de baptismo and Edna and her daughter Diana entered into the waters of baptism. The service was special for me to see because I have seen the gospel heal the family. The family members of Edna were also able to attend and witness the baptism as well as the second session of General conference.

We are now working with them and sharing the message of the gospel with their family!

I am so grateful for the words of Dieter F Uckdorf when he shared this. Conference "God sees us as we really are",  worthy of Divine rescue. I invite each of you this week to pay attention to those lost sheep that are around you. Demonstrate the "pure love of Christ" and reach out to them. Be a friend and an example. Through his servants and disciples, the Lord rescues those lost sheep. I know and testify that as you do this you will grow and help others to grow. I hope you all have a great week! 

Love elder Baldwin

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Hey Dad! 

I just wanted to shoot you an Email and let you know How things are going. I am happy to see that all is well at home and that you are continuing the legacy of making bouin and other Baldwin family Classics. This week we have seen so many miracles here in my area. The lights have been going out commonly and we got to travel quite a bit to be able to watch the general conference. We go to a place called Cuilapa where they have computers and semi reliable Internet. the hard part is that is is super hot right now and we cooked watching the reports. It's an experience that i will never forget. I Especially liked the talks given and directed towards the family and  fatherhood. 

I know that i am far away and that my focus is centered on the work of the Lord here, as it needs to be. But I want to let you know that i want to help our family more. Please let me know in the ways that i can support.I have especially been thinking in Erin recently. How is she doing? does she have Support? Are you able to spend time with her? and most importantly what can i do to help her?

I want to let you how much I love you and how much I am thankful for your example and your support for me.You have taught me of my responsibility and of Gods law. While i love to go hunting and be outdoors but  things that I remember are the quality time an conversations that we have had doing those things.

I am Proud of you!

-Elder Baldwin

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Did the baptism go through for Edna and Marlon P.? How is the Solurez family doing? We love your reports on their progress, they help strengthen our resolve to live the gospel.

John 14:16 I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide in with you for ever.  This Scripture is the one that I have been ponderizing and will continue to ponderize this week- I feel the subject of the Holy Ghost was one of the major themes of conference, recognizing and acting on the promptings. I acted on promptings/ideas in regards to my calling as Young Women's president. I asked the Laurels yesterday if they wanted to go on a hike for fun. No one took me up on it, but they thanked me for asking. I just keep on inviting people to do things; ward party, community events, etc. 

All of the talks were amazing, in particular: Elder Bednar, Elder Oaks,  Elder Kearon of the 70's was especially powerful on the refugee situation, emphasis on the temple- choosing to listen then act. Dad and I were watching together today, Sunday. Erin was watching conference with Alix and her family at their ranch near Zions. Yesterday, Saturday dad had to work late. I spent the day  watching conference and then went on a jog/hike. It was a great/perfect day weather wise- 70 degrees. Today was another perfect day. It has been a good spring. We have cooled down during the last month without getting too hot. This week it will hit the 80s again, but then rain and cool down again at the end of the week.

Love you!!!!! I hope you were able to have a peaceful and great Sabbath with conference and the baptisms

Love Mom

Jordan had his baby on Tuesday March 29th, Cole's Birthday! So funny Hugh? His name is Christian Robert

3/28/2016

 Well, it has been a great week for us here in Santa Maria! It was "LA semana santa" or the Holy Week. that made things really interesting! It was a little tough because everybody closes up shop and leaves town to go to the beach. Ixtuantan is not that big, so this week it was more like a ghost town than anything else! Even though we could not meet with all of our investigators we were able to find a lot of new people to teach! Most of them were referrals that we had received and hadn't had the time to contact them in the past. Yesterday, we had an awesome experience meeting with the Solurez family. They are the ants and uncles of the missionary which recently left Ixtuantan to serve in Honduras. Their family is awesome! They always invite us over to eat in the back the small store that they own.(They always give us weird, exotic Mayan food....its very interesting!) Sunday was our first opportunity to actually share a message with them. They have very strong ties to another church and they hadn't wanted to talk about our church with us, only give us food. We shared the message of the restoration with them and had an amazing lesson! We testified of families with them to start the charla and immediately their hearts were opened and their countenances changed. The entire lesson and environment was filled with the spirit. They had inspired questions and were able to accept the commandments. I am so grateful for the power of testimony. It can change everything and distill all doubt and contention that may exist. This new family is amazing and we love them. I feel that they are just now taking their first steps into the path of eternal happiness.

     Yesterday we were also able to meet with Edna and her family. We shared the plan of salvation with them and it was an amazing lesson! At the end of the lesson we asked Edna to pray about the plan of salvation and she paused for a moment and then with tears in her eyes, shared with us her testimony about prayer and that she has come to feel that the church is true and that her life has changed because of the gospel. My companion and I were a little stunned. Those were the things that every missionary dreams to hear! She is preparing to be baptized next Sunday in-between the sessions of general conference! Also Marlon P. is planning to be baptized with her! We are so excited!

      This week I have been thinking about our Savior and his sacrifice and resurrection. Truly all that he does comes from the unconditional love that he feels for us and for our Father in Heaven. His example for us is perfect. There is a quote on my desk that says, "As you and I walked the pathway Jesus walked we will discover he is more than a babe in Bethlehem, more that a carpenter's son, more than the greatest teacher to ever live. We will come to know him as the Son of God, our Savior and Redeemer. When to him comes the call of Duty. He answered "Father, thy will be done, and the Glory Be thine forever." As we follow his example and truly surrender our will to his, as we truly give our hearts to our Savior, our worldly desires will be changed and swallowed up by the paramount desire to serve the Lord. To know him and to allow ourselves to feel his love in our lives. I know he lives and I know that he was resurrected and that HE reigns from on high, directing his work this very moment. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share this with all that I can. This week share your testimony with those around you! Help others to know where they too can obtain this hope and happiness. I promise that you will be blessed and strengthened  by the and of the Lord as you do so.

Elder Baldwin

Jerrica, Caleb and Erin Easter-3/27/2016

3/27/2016

  What a wonderful day! I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and the Plan of Happiness, that we can have the opportunity to live with Heavenly Father again, so grateful for the atonement. 

   Today in sacrament meeting we are having some musical numbers along with Sister Eardley's homecoming...remember when she left on her mission? Russ Eardly is her dad. Sister Michelle Eardley is no longer coming to church, doesn't have a testimony of the restored church and it has been hard on the family, anyway I hope her coming home will have an effect on the entire family and they can be united again in their faith. Their new house over by Camp House drive is almost complete and ready to move in again. They have been living in Diamond--they even had their church records moved to Diamond while they were building.(Just came home from sacrament meeting---Wonderful report from Kalie-she went to Panama. Stephanie is putting in her papers! 

   Anyway, I am singing in a a Octet with Brother Allen, Sister Roberts, Christine, Josh, and Emily France, Austin and Brother Hansen. It is a really beautiful song- It is called "In A Coming Day" by Bruce R. McConkie- it was from his final testimony- In 1989 while on my mission at the mission home we were gathered as missionaries and we were able to view this, I remember how strong I felt the spirit, I knew that he knew the Savior. Here is part of his testimony; "And now as pertaining to this perfect Atonement, I testify that it took place at Gethsemane and at Golgotha. And as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God who was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person. I am one of his Witnesses. And in the coming day I will feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears. But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God's almighty Son and he is our Savior and Redeemer and that Salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way." 

  I made it through the song without crying!--Erin recorded it for you, let us know if you can access the audio file.

How are Edna and her daughters? Is the baptism coming up this week?

We are going over to Duana's later on today for dinner, dad spent most of the day making  Boudin of your  using some of your elk, pork loin, rice, onions from our garden-we have some sprouting from the fall, I helped him stuff last night, and he smoked some last night and this morning. He is going to fine tuning the recipe and make more with Brett and who ever else wants to spend a day making it.

Love you!

Mom