This week we have been super blessed. This Tuesday we went to an area called Santa Fe to work for an afternoon. It is a really good area. It right next to the airport! it was interesting to see because i remember flying into Guate for the first time and seeing the buildings! I remember thinking.. wow! What am i doing. the buildings are made out of tin. It is so different to walk in the street afterwords! I love my mission. I love this work. I know that this church is true and that only through this organization we can receive the saving ordinances and a fullness of Joy! in moroni 7 it says-   31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfill and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.

 32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.

This is our Ministry as members of the Church of Jesus Christ. I am doing great! I hope that you each have a great week! 

Love you guys.

7/14/2016

This week has been an awesome week! We have been super blessed. To start off, we had changed (transfers) ! Elder Martinez and I were a little sad to have changes. We got along really great and had an awesome time together. I knew companions name is Elder ES CO be AR. He is from El Salvador. He has 19 months in the mission. We get along really well. We are excited to be together and we feel that this is going to be and awesome change or transfer cycle. This week we had some awesome experiences as well. On Tuesday, we moved in our area, dropped off my companions things and we went to work. That evening we were able to find a great new part member family. The Familia day Alberto and Andrea. Alberto was baptized about 10 years ago and he has since fallen away from the church. Two weeks ago he had an accident in the street and right now he has a broken neck and arms. It was a surprising and and life-changing event for him and he told us that he has been praying for help. We are working hard to help him and his family become eternal.

This week we also were able to meet with a young investigator named "elder "I know it's weird, but it is A common name here in Guatemala. He was planning to be baptized several weeks ago, but due to some family problems he is baptism was extended.  Circumstances have changed he is now preparing to be baptized this month on 30 July. I love being a servant of the Lord! To be we have some long days that are hard they push our patients and our physical and mental capacities to the max. But there is nothing compared to the change that I have experienced in my life. I love this gospel I know it is true!
       This week I found a quote that I really liked. It says "there is no such thing as a lack of time. Only a lack of interest. "As we have interest in something we will create the time necessary to make that thing part of our life. As we make the gospel a priority in our life we will find the time necessary to grow in our faith and come to know our Savior Jesus Christ! Love you guys!

        ◦       Elder Baldwin

                                      Elder Martinez and Elder Baldwin with special family

Dear mom hey mom I hope that all is well at home and that this letter finds you in good spirits

Things have been going very well in my area. It's a little different here. World of improvement! We love the people here, but there are always these common contacts that end negatively with a "No!"  or "I already have my Bible or "My pastor told me I am not allowed to speak with you ."At the beginning of my mission I would cringe a little when people rejected  our message as missionaries or persecuted us or the church members. It was easier to get upset or have wave them off and move onto the next person that was waiting down the street or move over to the next door. I would move on to the next  with the attitude of oh well… Your loss señorita/ Señor.Now when that happens it means something entirely different for me. It's harder in a different way. It's hard to let them walk away because no matter what they say, I know what a difference the Gospel can bring to the life of somebody that wanders off the straight and narrow path. You begin to feel sorry for them, that they have chosen not to follow Christ or  his example in that moment and that they will have to wait even more.

      On the contrary when somebody says yes and you can see their desire, it is very fulfilling. Yesterday we met with a woman named Maria that was baptized about three years ago. We had a super spiritual experience teaching her. She is very positive and keeps saying, "I'm going where the Lord wants me to go, but first he needs to tell me! " We are excited for her right now she is preparing to be baptized in the beginning of August.

I hope all is well and that you got this when were able to go to the slip inside and fill up on the good old American food. We are thinking about having a barbecue to celebrate with all of the gringos.

Alma said, "For I know that God granteth unto man according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life. Yeah, I know that he alotteth unto man according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or into destruction...He that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience." Alma 29:4-5.
As missionaries we are always searching for those who are searching for truth and honest at heart but at as  sons and daughters of God we must know that what we consistently desire over time is what we will become.

I love you and I want you to know that I am doing great! I learned so much every day and I know that this is where I want to be. I love and support our family and I am especially for all that you do for me my mission has changed my desires. I feel closer to my heavenly father, I hope you have a great week!
Love elder Baldwin,

Sun Cristobol, Guatemala

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This week has been a great week! We have been working hard and loving the opportunities that we have to be on the Lords errand.

This is also the first time I've had 4 July outside of United States. It has been interesting and pretty normal. For some reason, there are more American flags here in Guatemala than I have ever seen in the United States.I think it's mostly because people make American clothing and sell it super cheap in the street markets. To follow qualify to be American clothing, it just has to have a flag.

Other than that this week has been awesome! We decided last week that we were going to do some restructuring in our area, so we remodeled the work and have been working hard to try to reach the potential that this area has. There are many good people and we our pumped to be able to help them know more about the gospel.

This week we have been teaching a young woman named Amelia, she lives with her aunt and is awesome! She loves this church she told us that she wants to be baptized as soon as possible! She is young, but she reads consistently and always has awesome questions. She is honestly seeking the truth. She will be baptized on August 2.

This past week I was studying about overcoming the natural Matt and I found a quote by CS Lewis:

“Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self---in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.”

 The purpose of our life is to change,​

Elder Baldwin

4th of July celebrations/Lake powell here in Utah

                                               4th of July Party at Grandpa Barlow's home

                                             

Dear Elder Grant!

    Happy fourth of July!!!! It is so great that you have your PDay on this day! Hopefully you can have a moment of silence and mediation with the other Americans in your zone. We had a BBQ last night at Grandpa Barlow's house with Cole/Emily, Martinez family, Cathy/Barry, It was really fun, we played hertz and Grandma had Jackson read the Declaration of Independence, much to his resistance but he did a great job. Grandpa also told us about a poll a news reported had completed on some university students. The reporter asked them why we had the 4th of July and he had dismal feedback, they didn't know any of the founding fathers and with which country we fought with. Sad, I am so grateful and indebted for the sacrifices made for us. It was a messy long war, like all wars. 

Saturday we had the Barlow slide reunion. It was good to see the relatives. Grandpa Barlow remembered his parents, had pictures, and wanted to relay the importance of remembering people and what they stood for and their sacrifices. I am glad he did this not just slide down the slide and eat. It was helpful for people  to remember Grandma and Grandpa (fire engine) and teach the young great and great grand kids what they didn't know about them.

Today we are going to the Kaysville parade, Autumn is in, you know she is a cheerleader:)

Erin and I will head up to Preston tomorrow and stay with Jody. Hopefully we will float the river while we are up there and go to the temple. We were able to go to the Salt Lake Temple Saturday afternoon. Erin had never been, so her and Autumn did baptisms and Cole, Emily, Grandma, Grandpa and I did initiatory. 

We had fun at lake Powell, the only thing that was hard for me is that I did not sleep well at night because of the heat, but what else is new? Dad spent a lot of time fishing from the aluminum boat.

Dad has to work tomorrow so he did not come up with us.

I loved your last email, I love all of them but what a testimony of tenacity, fasting and faith---what a miracle to have that many baptisms in one week! You are at your year mark this week!!! Friday will be a year, can you believe it? This last year will go by so fast, it is overwhelming. Keep going strong and focus on each day, make the most of each day. You are strong and humble thank you for your example!

I will try to send pictures before you email today. Grandpa's computer is having issues.

Xoxoxoxox

This week we have been super blessed! This week we worked hard as a zone to be prepare for a "white-night" baptism together as a zone! to begin the week there were 15 people preparing to be baptized. On Wednesday and all in one night we received 4 phone calls in a row and we found out that every person that was preparing to be baptized had decided that they weren't able to be able to baptized for different reasons. Needless to say it was a little discouraging. Later that night we decided to have a conference call with all of the missionaries in our zone. We Prayed together and decided that we were going to fast as a zone for each of those people that were planning to be baptized that weekend. So we made plans and carried out the fast and worked hard to help throughout the week to help those investigators to overcome their problems. As we did so we began to see miracles pass in our zone. The hand of the lord was shown in each of our lives and many of those people were able receive answers to their prayers and have a change of heart. On Saturday we held the baptismal service and it was so spiritual! 10 people were able to enter into the waters of baptism! I know that the Lord answers Prayers and That he knows us! We are blessed with miracles each day. I want to invite each of you to look for the blessings and miracles that are in your daily lives! There are so many! I hope that all is well and that you each have a great week!

Elder Baldwinl

6/25/2016

Hello Elder Grant,

Another week has flown by! Erin and McCali are getting ready to go to Cole Mayoros's farewell, he leaves July 13th. I wouldn't mind Erin and Cole M seeing if they would pursue a relationship when he comes home......Erin has a talk in sacrament meeting today on the insights she learned at Youth Conference. I will record it for you.

There has been a fire raging the last week in the Pine Valley area--it is on the east side of the mountain. It is very serious and threatening the homes of the area. The camp ground is closed and only local traffic is allowed. The red cross is setting up in Central. The stake President has asked for prayers to temper the elements. There has been no rain with wind and hot temps--100 degrees up here in Dammeron. So, I decided to fast, not just pray, even though I had some chips right when I woke up today, I can still start my fast now, it is the only thing I can do--. I can smell the smoke from our house, I hung out clothes to dry last night and they smell like camp fire....so pray for our stake.

Erin and I went to Tuachann Monday, this time we saw Peter Pan which was great, we have one more show to go in August, Hunch Back. Dad does has not interest what so ever to go, sadly.

Dad is at Lake Powell with the Schiffmans, Kurt, and the boys and Camilla went down Friday. Patty, Erin and I are leaving this afternoon. I am so happy because I can go to church and take the sacrament.

I have had a goal to go to the temple with names I have researched on family search from our descendants and since January I have been doing it. It has been addicting getting on family search and utilizing all of the search engines. I love it! Yesterday I wen to do baptisms for the dead for some of our line on Grandma Barlow's side. Erin did the confirmations because she just got her hair done and she didn't want the chlorine to damage her hair, she had just had Patty color her hair. Next week we have the Barlow Slip and Slide Reunion on the first of July. Cole and Emily are coming to Bountiful to stay for a couple of days, later on that Saturday we are going to the Bountiful temple to do initiatories for the people I did baptisms for. 

Thank you for the pictures...you look great! Keep up the great work!

Love you

XXOOxoxoxo

MOM