Dear Family!


This past week has been a week of miracles and blessings! I have felt the lords love in every moment and I feel humble that we have been blessed so richly. This past Monday we traveled to the capital and visited the Family of Thelma Endicott (she is a friend of Dad). Their family kindly gave us lunch and we ate some really tasty traditional Guatemalan food called Pepian and Revolcado. That evening we went and stayed in one of my old areas and I was able to visit recent converts and members to say goodbye! It was a great day!

The next day we woke up early and went to a conference where we were blessed to meet and listened to Elder Renlund of the quorum of the 12, His wife, and elder Alonzo of the 70 and his wife.

After several other meetings on Tuesday we made the 4 hour trip to our area in asuncion mita and we got to work. This week we focused on the Family of heribeto, Carolina, and Ruth. Heriberto dropped his work and rest and spare time and made a 3 day trip to El Salvador this week to obtain the paperwork to be married on Saturday. They were married on Saturday evening and after attending church yesterday almost all of our branch gathered for their baptism. It was a spiritual experience and we are so excited for them and their goal to be sealed in the temple as a family in one year!

Elder Renlund said ¨Even more than know about Jesus Christ... I have grown to know His personality... He is kind, loving,Patient, wise, firm, and more than anything He loves to heal.. He loves to take that which is broken and dysfunctional and to repair and to succor so that is may become whole.¨

During my mission I have witnessed the healing power of the Atonement. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He loves us. I know that each and every one of us is worthy of divine rescue and healing. It is a choice to allow our lives to be strengthened by the enabling power of the atonement. We can choose to accept it and we can choose to help and guide others so that they might choose happiness. I know that as we loose ourselves serving others we find true joy. We honor the Savior not only in word but in the way we live.

Although it is very hard to end the mission I know that these past two years have been the best two years for my life. I Love each of you and I am so very grateful for all of your prayers and support. I am Excited to see you this week!

Love,

Elder Baldwin

Well... this is very strange to think this is the last time I will write you as a missionary en la Guatemala. These two years will be a treasure for you to look back on throughout your life. You have learned a lot about who you are and who you want to be. You've gone through some incredibly tough times when you've missed the people, places, and things you grew up loving. You've gone through physical challenges that you never imagined a couple of years ago. You've mastered a foreign language and all of the challenges associated with that. You've lived most of these 2 years with companions from many different countries and overcome all of the associated cultural differences, yet managed to work together to focus on the things you had in common. You've dealt with some pretty major health challenges that seemed like would go on forever. You've learned a lot about leadership and seen first hand how all of your preparation as a deacon, teacher, and priest have prepared you as an Elder You've learned a lot about what you are capable of achieving and what you are capable of overcoming. In short,you've learned who you are and who you want to become. Now you have the confidence to conquer the world. Just think about the time you spent in the office and all of the interactions you had with officials. Additionally, think about the habits you have established. 

More than anything, think about the people you have come to know, come to love, and seen transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You have witnessed first hand some of the most important work being done on the earth! How incredible is it to think about the number of people you have come to love and serve. You can only imagine how much they cherish the message the you brought to them and how long would they have had to wait had you not chosen to serve??
Well done elder Baldwin. Well done. 

Know that mom and I are so very proud of you. We can't wait to see you in a few days. We love you. Dad.  

Dear family!

This week has been great! I will try to write all that I can but as usual I am in a race against time!

This past week was great! i was able to visit ixhuatan last week to say goodbye to converts and Friends! It was a great experience! One of the highlights was that I was able to see the chapel that they are building. I have had the blessing to see the área progress from a simple two hour meeting on sunday with around 10 poeple to a branch with almost all the organizations full of callings to new members of the church!

This week we also have been running around like crazy in our area to get to all of our appointments. I truly love this work! A few weeks ago I knocked a door and contacted a man named Eddy Berto. At first when I saw his reaction I was skeptical but he invited us in and we began to talk about the plan of salvation with him. He then told us that he is member of the church and after the lesson we planned to return and visit his wife and daughter as well. Their names are Carolina and Ruth.

Since then we have visited the family regularly and they are progressing very quickly! Yesterday we felt inspired to visit them when we had not placed an appointment. During the lesson we invited them to be married and baptized this weekend and They accepted. Today Eddy went to El Salvador to get the paperwork necessary and we made planes to help them get married on Saturday and baptize them this coming Sunday! We are hoping and praying that everything goes well!

Today we are going to travel to the capital and stay the night because we have a conference with Elder Dale G Renlund tomorrow morning! Its going to be a busy week and we are very excited to be able to work until the last hour!

I love this work! I am thankful for our Savior. I Know that He lives and that through his atonement we can change to become what Heavenly Father wants us to become. It requires a recognition of our nothingness, of Gods greatness and our best effort.

We can honor Him in the way we live!

Love

Elder Baldwin

I was able to teach the Relief Society lesson today on Eternal Marriage, which tied in with the Gospel Doctrine lesson on the Plan of Salvation. Did you have the same lessons? Here is a quote from President Packer that I love: 

President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve:

“There are three parts to the plan. You are in the second or the middle part, the one in which you will be tested by temptation, by trials, perhaps by tragedy. …

“Remember this! The line ‘And they all lived happily ever after’ is never written into the second act [of a play]. That line belongs in the third act, when the mysteries are solved and everything is put right. …

“Until you have a broad perspective of the eternal nature of [the plan], you won’t make much sense out of the inequities in life. Some are born with so little and others with so much. Some are born in poverty, with handicaps, with pain, with suffering. Some experience premature death, even innocent children. There are the brutal, unforgiving forces of nature and the brutality of man to man. We have seen a lot of that recently.

“Do not suppose that God willfully causes that which, for His own purposes, he permits. When you know the plan and the purpose of it all, even these things will manifest a loving Father in Heaven” (The Play and the Plan [satellite broadcast, 7 May 1995], 1–2).

This is our last 3 days of school:)

YEah!!!!

Thursday I am having a Colonscopy because I am 50---It is a routine exam and everything turns out ok I think I have to have one every 10 years. 

Erin and I went to see Nathan Pacheco Friday night in Cedar. It was a last minute thing. Friday morning Dad told me that Nathan P was going to be in Cedar soon. So when I got to work, I looked him up online and his concert was that night! There were seats available, dad couldn't go, but Erin and I were able to so sit four rows from the front. It was the BEST concert. The stage was so intimate and close. It was in the Heritage center so like a small capital theater. I loved every minute of it. Pacheco had a pianist and a cellist. So his instrumental was live for about 90 percent of the time. Nathan Pacheco served a mission in Brazil and also studied Italian. He sings pop and Italian/opera. I normally do not seek opera, but when Nathan sings it, it is amazing. The concert was clean, fun and not loud, perfect sound.

Saturday we had a BBQ that was fun. I invited the Talbots, Cindy Garn and Frank Max field; both of their spouses died this year, the Littels, and Jan and Bill Adams on.  The Adamson's moved into the Just's old home last June

Next week for memorial Day, dad invited his staff from work to come and join us for a BBq. I invited Daniel Pina, who used to live in the house that a girl named Corrina lived.Daniel is not a member, but I have seen him in his yard when I go on a walk on Sundays. I had the thought to "ask Daniel if he wants to come" So I did and he said yes.

Xxoxoxoxo

mom

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Family!

this week has been a great week and we have been greatly blessed! I spoke with Thelma and i will contact her sister this week to be able to know how we can plan to meet up. 

We have been seeing miracles in the work here in our area in Asuncion mita. I love this work. 

While thinking about what we can to in our effort to reactivate recent converts that are in our area we decided to follow the example of our family and whip up a BBQ. So my companion and I planned a family home evening and grilled up some meat under a mango tree for 2 large families this past week and afterwords the families told us their concerns. We have since been able to teach according to their needs and I am happy to share that everyone of them was able to join us in church this past Sunday!

We are finding many new people to teach and many investigators are progressing. Today I visited Ixhuatan ( an old area) and saw the chapel that is being build along with recent converts that will enter into the temple this year. I am more than happy and this week we are determined to continue working hard and preparing all those possible to make covenants with Heavenly Father! 

I love each of you. I pray for you and I am thankful for all that you do for me
have a great week!

Today is Sunday. Today when 'Erin and I were getting out of the car 5 min before church, I noticed I had my slip on and not my skirt-that was a first! Fortunately I made it back in time for the sacrament. I had told Erin to save me a spot in the back. So when I went in after the sacrament, she was on the front row. One of the speakers was a return missionary, Clay he served in New Jersey, he came home in November . He gave an excellent talk on keeping the Sabbath day holy. How we need to offer up our sacraments and remember it is a sign between us and Heavenly Father. He also encouraged us to read Doctrine and Covenants 59:There are wonderful promises for keeping the Sabbath day- we will be provided for so he used this with his investigators with great success.

   I had a Colonscopy Thursday. Erin took me in at 7:00 am while I was being prepped, I was talking with the nurses and anastegiologist about the beauty of the drug that I will be put under and wake up an hour and half later. I told them I needed to get the drug to use at Lake Powell so I can sleep at night. So I have an appointment on Thursday; I am going to see if I can get some strong sleeping pills. So everything went great with the procedure, I have a clean bill of health. It was funny though, Erin told me that when I was waking up, I told the nurses that Grant Baldwin was picking me up:) I do not remember that conversation.

    I sent a Nathan Pacheco picture because ERin and I went to his concert last Friday in Cedar! It was so wonderful, intimate and amazing! He sings Italian also, he went to Brazil on his mission and now sings, he is like a David Archuelleta, but older like 30 years old.

 We are having a BBQ tomorrow, dad has invited his staff from work, I invited a nonmember I met when I was walking, so I also invited the Stewarts because Mike Stewart is now the Elders quorem president, the goal is to fellowship him. There are pictures of the pool, we put up new lights. 

Last night was Alyssa Staheli's wedding, They were married in the Stahleis back yard. Very pretty, Erin went and helped decorate.Great food, dad was mad at me today because I ate all of the mints that we brought home. They were in the middle console of the car. I didn't think he really even liked the mints. I think we should get him a year supply for Father's Day and call it good:) By the way you are scheduled to speak on Father's day, June 18th at 9:00am, I hope that is OK.

Jordan and Camilla came up tonight because Jordan needed Dad to give him a blessing. Jordan is going to Flagstaff tomorrow to begin the Police Academy program! so yes they are moving. It is sad, we will not see them again until December, they will be up for a couple of days.

How are Marcotulio and Everilda?

Love, xxixoxoxoxo
Mom

Jerrika had her 8th birthday yesterday. Her baptism is next Saturday. We were wiggle racing at Veyo, it is a lot safer than roller skating, speaking of clumsy, Grandma Barlow fell over a cabinet yesterday and landed on her face mostly. She is black and blue, lost a tooth, and another tooth is loose! but no broken bones:).

Dear Family!

This week has been amazing! We have been enjoying the work in Asuncion Mita. We have been blessed with so many miracles. To start off we found our that a full branch Presidency had been called! We are know working according to our full capacity. We also started Weekly activities as missionaries to reactivate our some members that have strayed and to learn and grow as a branch. This week we are going to Teach the book of mormon in our chapel and watch the testaments afterwords. Turns out Popcorn is a big deal in Guatamala too!

We have been teaching a Father and his daughter named Marcotulio and Everilda these past two weeks. They are very friendly poeple that recently moverd to mita from a small village that is about an hours travel above our pueblo, They are very excited about the gospel! Everilda is a single mother and it is amazing to see the changes that she is already experiencing in here life by following the gospel! 

We found a new investigator this week whose name is Jilda. She has been attending church with us for Quite some time without us knowing that she wasnt a member and We finally were able to teach her this week. She has all the desire to follow Heavenly Fathers plan for her. She works as a maid for one of the members of our branch and told us that she wants the happiness that she has seen in the lives our the member family!

The rainy season has continued and we love it! Anything that can take away the heat and the sun for a moment inn our area is a welcome blessing from heaven. 

I love the savior and all that He does for me. I am grateful for the invitation that he has extended to us to follow him and  I know that if we do so our live can chagne in every aspect. We assimilate attributes from of His light. I love his work! I invite you to search ways to share his love with others this coming week! 

Love,

Elder Baldwin

May 21 (8 days ago)

Grant Baldwin

May 6, 2017

This has been an Amazing week! In our mission the transfer cycle ended on Tuesday so we traveled to Julapata to say goodbye to the missionaries that were leaving our Zone and to spend a moment together as missionaries. This week we focused on developing a new part of our area and we found a lot of great new people. The rainy season is starting once again and during the heavy afternoon showers, people seem to have mercy on them on the missionaries out in the street. It's incredible to see people that literally have almost nothing invite us in  and offer us the only plastic chair or any chair / bench so that we can visit them. Many times they want to sit on the floor or stand no matter how much we insist they use the chair.

We found one man named Victor Manuel, who is elderly and lives alone, he is  a farmer who is planting corn right now to make his living. We contacted him while he was sitting on a tree stump in front of his house, he told us that we were the first visit that he has had in years and he has he was very grateful for our visit. He is preparing for baptism during the second weekend in June.

Thursday we got up at 2 a.m. and got on the bus to go to the capital for an immigration appointment for my companion traveling in Guatemala. You never know quite what you're going to see on the buses. This time it  seemed as if we had boarded a Mobile Zoo, the other passengers were mostly small animals, little chickens, and dogs. Sunday we also got up early to travel to the neighboring Department of Guatemala Palapa for our Stake conference. The bus that was contacted for our Branch filled up quickly and we decided to stay behind with the branch president to find another way to arrive. The brother of the branch president had his car and we were also able to make it in time for the conference. During the conference I saw a man that I baptized last fall in Jultapa named  Victor and sustain him to receive the Melchezidek Preisthood.

 Pedro Sanchez, an investigator, was also able to attend the conference with us he's preparing to be baptized this Saturday he's doing great and was a little awe struck when he realized that the church is much larger than he originally thought. His lifestyle has changed dramatically in the last few weeks we have been visiting him. At the conference he had tears in his eyes. He told us afterwards he told us that he too wants to serve the Lord we are very excited for him!

I am doing well and I am learning so much from my mission and all of the many people that we meet and visit I love this work I love I hope you all have a great week see you Sunday love , Elder Baldwin

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

May 7

Hello Familia!

This week has been very good! Pedro sanchez se bautizo yesterday and we are very grateful to see his progression! He is a very humble man who has a desire to serve the lord. Yesterday he shared his testimony during our priesthood class and is was a simple and powerful moment that really strengthened my testimony. It was fulfilling to see his change! It was great to be able to see and speak with you yesterday! Thanks for sending the information that i asked you for! send if for Cole as well if you can! This week we have a goal to help Leslie, Kimberly, and Everilda progress. They are all investigators that we have been teaching for a few weeks! they came to church yesterday and we are excited for their progression! 

We have been studying the life of Christ in the Book of Mormon and as we do so I feel that is is easier to see others as he does. As who they can become.

I love my mission!

 

I love each of you and hope that you have a great week!

Elder Baldwin

On Sun, May 7, 2017 at 9:23 PM, Stephen Baldwin <BaldwinSD@ldschurch.org> wrote:

Greetings Elder. Well it's been a busy week. I have been spending a lot of time trying to find a vehicle for you to drive. I know you haven't thought of it at this point, but hopefully we will have something by the time you get home.
Sounds like you had a great week last week. The Lord is great! Glad to hear the work is going forward. It is so strange that your two years are almost over. It has gone by so fast. I hope before you leave, over the next 6 weeks, that you take an opportunity to stop and look around and really let it sink in how great of an opportunity and blessing these two years have been. You have touched many lives and many people have touched yours. Think about the things you have experienced, seen, and learned. Think about the lessons that came from the really tough times. Think about the special moments when families were baptized, people first felt the spirit or received the message of hope that you brought to them.

You will draw from those experiences for the rest of your life. If you haven't recorded those memories, please do while they are fresh because, if not, you likely will forget the details.

Things here are good. We are truly blessed. The Lord has showered blessings upon us beyond our dreams. No doubt due to your service.

Well, son, may the Lord bless you this week with great success. Tell your companion hello and that we love him. Know that we are so very proud of you and we love you.

Love, Dad

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Who knew desert plants grew flowers! I would love to show you the areas where I have served. This country is and eternal spring! its beautiful.

I love my mission and treasure each moment! I have kept journals and taken lots of pictures. Dad, I am sprinting to the finishline! I am físicamente cansado. Pero Dormimos temprano y estamos disfrutando los dias. Amo a mi mision! 

No te precupes a cerca del auto si es algo que puede esperar. Estoy agradecido por el trabajo que estas haciendo para mi. 

Espero que tenga una buena semana!

Elder Baldwi
















Dear Grant, 

So great that Maricio and Isabel were baptized, it looked like they had a marriage celebration also?

Yesterday Erin, dad, the Talbots and I went on a rv trip from our house to Pine valley and ate at the Brandon Iron Stake house. As you can see from the pictures we had a little problem. Just as we left across the highway by the mailboxes we became imobile in some mud. Kyle and Lori pulled as out and we were on our way within 5 min. That was our only mishap.

Sunnie was not so lucky Saturday night she rolled over on a side by side on a young adult activity. She is going to school in Oregon, you knew that right? She got a scholarship with Big Ben for basketball and has been playing there this year. Anyway she broke her collar bone and her hip is hurting her. She is in the hospital; Angie flew up this morning. Sunnie was given a priesthood blessing before the ambulance arrived. So she doesn't have a concussion and no brain damage.

So grateful for the Priesthood power and all blessings that I enjoy which are innumerable.

Baptism of  Mauricio and Isabel!

That is an amazing story! Revelation is real! Sacrifice is necessary, I am healthy! This week we saw many miracles and baptized the family of mauricio and isabel!

We will be able to skype! next week I will send the details. I love you! 

Elder Baldwin

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

Today in Gospel Doctrine the lesson was on keeping the Sabboth day holy and offering up our sacrifices, the story of Peter Neilson was given Peter Neilson, one of those little-noted and now-forgotten Saints of whom we have been speaking. He lived in St. George and had been called to go there:

In the course of constructing that tabernacle, the local brethren ordered the glass for the windows from New York and had it shipped around the cape to California. But a bill of $800 was due and payable before the panes could be picked up and delivered to St. George. Brother David H. Cannon, later to preside over the St. George Temple being built at the same time, was charged with the responsibility of raising the needed funds. After painstaking effort, the entire community, giving virtually everything they had to these two monumental building projects, had been able to come up with only $200 cash. On sheer faith Brother Cannon committed a team of freighters to prepare to leave for California to get the glass. He continued to pray that the enormous balance of $600 would somehow be forthcoming before their departure.

Living in nearby Washington, Utah, was Peter Neilson, a Danish immigrant who had been saving for years to add on to his modest two-room adobe home. On the eve of the freighters’ departure for California, Peter spent a sleepless night in that tiny little house. He thought of his conversion in far-off Denmark and his subsequent gathering with the Saints in America. After coming west he had settled and struggled to make a living in Sanpete. And then, just as some prosperity seemed imminent there, he answered the call to uproot and go to the Cotton Mission, bolstering the pathetic and sagging efforts of the alkali-soiled, malaria-plagued, flood-bedeviled settlers of Dixie. As he lay in bed that night contemplating his years in the Church, he weighed the sacrifices asked of him against the wonderful blessings he had received. Somewhere in those private hours he made a decision.

Some say it was a dream, others say an impression, still others simply a call to duty. However the direction came, Peter Neilson arose before dawn on the morning the teams were to leave for California. With only a candle and the light of the gospel to aid him, Peter brought out of a secret hiding place $600 in gold coins—half eagles, eagles, and double eagles. His wife, Karen, aroused by the predawn bustling, asked why he was up so early. He said only that he had to walk quickly the seven miles to St. George.

As the first light of morning fell on the beautiful red cliffs of southern Utah, a knock came at David H. Cannon’s door. There stood Peter Neilson, holding a red bandanna which sagged under the weight it carried. “Good morning, David,” said Peter. “I hope I am not too late. You will know what to do with this money.”

With that he turned on his heel and retraced his steps back to Washington, back to a faithful and unquestioning wife, and back to a small two-room adobe house that remained just two rooms for the rest of his life. 

This experience struck me because I would have thought the Lord would have blessed him with a new/grander home because of his sacrifice, but he wasn't. He remained in his 2 roomed adobe house the rest of his life. It reminds me of the people you are in the midst of. As I was looking at the pictures you sent, the humble circumstances your people live in and they are happy. Remember when we watched "A dollar a Day" before you left on your mission? We were commenting how incredible it is that they have nothing materialistically, but are so happy, it is all relative isn't it? 

Love you hope you have a great week.!!!!!  

Hey Dad!

That's great that went well, the opining of the DI! I am sure that all that back to back work was tiring but well worth it. At least you got to hear from a general authority!

This week has been good and have been running as usual! we went to the capital and i took advantage to go to doctors office to get rid of  a few bugs and have them yank my toenail off again. I Don't have many things. Most of my clothes have reached their last stand so I'm not really planning on bringing much home! So I have a ton of room in my bags!

This week we have planned a marriage and a baptismal service for Saturday! we are praying for Isabel and Muaricio! Amy,Kimberly and their husbands are also doing well! The Husband of Kimberly (david) is excited to prepare to receive the higher priesthood and we are excited for him and his desire! all is going well and we are working harder than ever! I love you and i hope that your back feels better! have a great week!

Elder Baldwin

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Hey Family!

This week has been great! On Tuesday we got up bright and early at 3 AM and took off in a bus to go a Multi zone Conference in the capital. We learned about conversion and becoming more like Christ. My favorite part was learning more about our divine responsibility to change! True conversion is to change our nature, and not only change our behavior. 

in our area we have also been very blessed this week! We are teaching so many people that have shown a true desire to change! our investigators Isabel and Mauricio attended church yesterday and we felt the strong impression to visit them after church although it was not part of our daily plans. We visited them and had an awesome lesson that was guided completely by the spirit. We challenged them to be married and Baptized this weekend and they agreed! We are Praying for them and their progression and we are very excited for their desire!

We also starting having weekly activities this week in our branch this week called noche de mandamiento. Our branch is getting excited about missionary work and we love getting to spend time with the members in our area learn from them! I truly love my mission!

 

I hope that you are all doing well and that you have a great week!

Love Elder Baldwin 

streets Of guate!

Last Monday Erin and I went to Zion, we hiked the Canyon observation trail. It was easy, short ,and had awesome views. I have been taking advantage of Zion being so close and it has been amazing to hike and see.

I went to the temple this week with Jordan and Camilla. I was able to do family names and gave some from us for them to do also. It has been a year and half now that I have been accomplishing the goal of going to the temple at least once a week and to have family names that I have researched. So far, so good. There are a ton of male names for you to do if you want--you will never run out;) 

Also in April's visiting teaching message, Sister Burton has a challenge to memorize the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood: Doctrine and Covenants 84: 33-44. I have accepted the challenge, I want to take a verse a day. I will report next week on my progress. Sister Burton promised that if we memorized the verses. "the Holy Ghost will expand your understanding of the priesthood and inspire and uplift us in wonderful ways."

How are Amy and Kimberly coming along?

I found the song I sang with the Fellers in sacrament meeting it was Janell, me, Claude West, Steve Jennings, and Russ Feller. 

Hey Family! 

This week has been great! In guatemala they celebrate this last week as the Semana Santa (the holy week). All week long people go on vacation to the beach or to rivers to swim and to visit family. The local catholic churches also do processions in the street which is when they carry big floats with scenes from the Crucifixión of Christ down the street. There is music and Also huge¨carpets¨ of sand and colored wood chips in the street.

Many of our investigators and members were not in town this week so we took advantage to search for new investigators! We had and Activity with all the members on wednesday and watched a movie about the ressurrection of Jesus Christ

During the Activity we got to know 2 new investigators named Amy and Kimberly. They are the wives of less Active members. We were able to visit them Later during the week and Both were able to come to church with us yesterday!Yesterday in the evening we visited Amy and she told us that she felt peace and calmness in church that she had been searching for the past few months as their family has been passing through very significant trials. She loves the hymns of the church and told us she wants to learn piano to be able to play it in sacrament meeting (it is very rare to have somebody who can play the keyboard during sacrament meeting in our branch.) As we finished the lesson with her yesterday we invited here to say the prayer. She hesitated and after a moment of silence her inactive husband whispered to her and encouraged her and she was able to say a sincere and beautiful prayer.The spirit was burning in the room and  Afterwards her husband told us that he will be coming to church next week! 

This week we also traveled to the capital twice for councils and trainings. We will be leaving again tomorrow morning at 4 oclock for another. We are doing great and have been greatly blessed! I hope that You all have a great week!

Love Elder Baldwin

------------------- 4/17/2017

It was wonderful to hear your voice!!! I especially loved hearing about the Mango tree incident when you were talking about signs to to your investigator, so perfect!

I hope you had a especially great Easter Sunday. We did; I am sending you a clip of the closing remarks from dad from 3 Nephi. I was able to sing in a quintet, how this came about was that only 4 people showed up to choir practice last week, so they made us into a quartette: Claude West, Janel and Russ Feller. They added Steve Jennings in for another bass. I recorded it for you but then somehow I deleted it. We sang "I needed thee every hour." I love that song, I have a testimony of Jesus Christ, that he is our Savior and Redeemer. I love Heavenly Father and I am grateful for the Christ's Atonement and Resurrection.

Later today we went to Duana's for a potluck. It was good to see some family: Aysha and her boyfriend, Ayllssa and Max, Patrick and his girl friend Kaysha and we invited Camilla and Jordan, and Christian. Patty and Kurt were at Lake Powell. 

Love MOM

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Val, Lucy and I went to Zion Saturday. Val gave me a late birthday present-staying a new Hotel in Hurricane Saturday night. She drove down Friday night with Lucy, slept over at our house and then we 3 got up early, headed for Zion. We dropped my car off at the hotel on the way so we would only need to take 1 car, we have a pass remember? So, the first hike we went on was a 6 hour, 8 mile hike to Observation point, it was a "3"  advanced on the map. The grade was similar to Angels, so most of the way up I was sweating and my heart rate was up. It is comparable to Zions but better. There were periods of flat the the scenery changed more than Angels, and it was less crowded.There is  a slot canyon section that is so fun! At the top you can look down and overlook Angel's. I highly recommend this hike, the best hike I have been on yet in Zion. It was so grateful and healed that Valerie planned this trip. Our relationship is now healed I feel. 

How are the marriage plans coming for your investigators? Sounds like you have quite a pool coming. 

Today I had a temple recommend interview with President Wilding, and it felt good to say "yes" to all of the questions.

President Ivy, who was made Bishop of the Veyo ward last October died Saturday morning in a truck accident, he was driving south near the Volcano bend by the church and swerved into the other lane into an oncoming semi. The semi truck driver said that it looked like Pres. Ivy had slumped over because the semi driver could not  see a driver when the semi driver was slammed into Pres. Ivy. The funeral is next Saturday, the 15th. So grateful that we have the plan of salvation!

Love, Mom