Elder Grant and Elder Martinez Zone Leaders

Dear Mom!

So this week has been a crazy week and we have been super Blessed! to start off on Monday we went way off into the jungle with some recent converts and members to a place called Los Apantes. It was great we Ate some exotic food, went fishing with a net, and Enjoyed seeing what probably are the waters of Mormon. We drove out in a jeep and on the way back we had a few hiccups so we got back to the pueblo a little late without much time to write. Later that night I found out our cambios(changes) and we left the next morning at 3 am on a bus to go to changes. I am now serving in an area called Lo De Coy in the Zona 10 de Mixco. It is a Great area and although it is very different from the mountain tops of Ixhuatan I am enjoying it and am very excited to be here. Here the ward is large and we actually have a Church building! Our area has a little bit of everything ranging from fields with simple houses to apartment complexes and Private communities. This is one of the more developed areas in the mission and we are even blessed with Walmart and several malls. My companions name is Elder Martinez and he is from Honduras. He is a great elder and we get along very well! This week we have been meeting with a man named Daniel that is preparing to be baptized this month! He is doing great and He was even able to attend stake conference with us this Sunday. While I was sitting there in the meeting I was overcome with Gratitude for all that I have. We are truly blessed with so much, but this week changing from a place that is very materialistically poor to a place that enjoys the commodities of a developed world, I realized that the only thing with true Eternal Value is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have been thinking a lot about how much we truly have. How blessed we are. This week I want to invite each of us to think about what we have and what is means to us.

How much do we value the blessings in our Lives? How much do we Value the Gospel? What are we willing to do to share these blessings with others? 

I love this gospel and I want to let you all know that I Love you and I pray for you. I hope that you all have a great week! 

Elder Baldwin

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Dear Grant,

We can't wait to hear the report of being a zone leader. I was sad when you were transferred out of the country for 2 reasons 1) Safety- I felt you were safer in the country. 2) It is the country and the people you were serving seemed like they were extra special. But that being said, I am excited for you, the Lord knows what he is doing---obviously not on my time schedule.

It has been HOT here. Right now in Dammeron it is 98 degrees. It has been hot all week, supposedly it is to "cool" off this week. I have been teaching swimming lessons this last week. Erin was meant to teach with me; but alas she is driving home with dad from Salmon. They haven't reported any bear findings, so I assume no bear. They had to postpone their trip from May 17 to May 28th due to the rain and snow. Also Grandma Baldwin had a stroke, last Wednesday so they were able to stop by and see her on their way home today. So she is OK. Cole gave her a blessing Thursday morning. Dr. Beckstead said that he did not expect her to pull out of it, that it was up to Joye, but she is talking and doing much better, according to Cole. She is back at Heritage and hospice has been called in to monitor her. Joe is up there now also.

Today I went to the Schiffmans baby blessing of Jordan's Christian. It was just me, Sacrament meeting was to spiritual. The youth in their ward bore some incredible testimonies specifically one 12-14 year old boy. He was so humble and  he spoke of the power of prayer how he knows his prayers are answered and how he felt the spirit so strong during the blessings and during the sacrament. I was so touched by him, the spirit bore witness very powerfully, I was so grateful to be there and witness that.

Monday June 6th, Erin and I are going to camp in Pioche Nevada, even though i am released, they asked me to come and help because the new leaders cannot go. I think it will be fun. The Masons have a ranch/farm house. So there is a big kitchen, showers, and a room for everyone, polygamists used to live there.:) So we are not really roughing it.

Love you so much!!!! I mailed the object lessons, music including some prelude so you should be getting it around your year mark. Good timing hugh? I hope you can use the object lessons.

Love mom

CHRISTIAN

Dear Baldwin Family,

It is with pleasure that we inform you that your son, Elder Baldwin, has accepted a call to serve as zone leader 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.

Our mission is divided into 12 proselyting zones.  As zone leader, your son will supervise the missionaries in two to four districts, each consisting of four to eight missionaries.  He will teach proselyting skills, encourage them in the work, and he will direct zone meetings and participate in interviews of baptism candidates.  In order to train others, he will frequently exchange companions and work with each elder in his zone, helping them to progress and improve.  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 and his family with dignity, love, and devotion as zone leader in this marvelous work.

Sincerely yours,

E.J. Caffaro

Mission President

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