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
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
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