Dear mom, papa, and family!
So this week, wow, it's been great. And hard, and wonderful. I think hard and wonderful always accompany each other. So I am grateful for the hard, because I want the wonderful. So yeah, since Thursday (when I last emailed - and I emailed because the library was closed on the Wednesday...to answer your question, mom) lots and lots has happened. I’ve been trying to be an extra good missionary, because I’m training, and it's a very serious thing. But we are having tons of fun, and loving it. So Thursday, it was good. And Friday was great.
Every Friday morning, we do our "weekly planning" for 3 hours. THREE HOURS of planning. I thought it was a joke when I first got on the mission, but nope. It’s not. And poor Sister Baker found out that it's not a joke. The poor girl didn't know what was going on. I tried to explain as well as I could, but there's only so much she can help with when she doesn't know any of the people that we are planning for. But it was good. I’ve realized I’ve forgotten a bit of what it's like to be a greenie. This way of life really grows on you. But it ended up ok. She was alright, and helped where she could. Good sport. Next’s planning will be easier for her, I think.
Saturday, oh, it was a glorious day! We started out finding for two hours. President Ogden has promised the mission that if we find for two hours a day, we WILL be able to reach standard of excellence. So I’m taking his word for it. I like promises. Oh, another promise he made. Well, you see, I haven't yet taken my practical driving test to get my license. And I just hit my year mark of being in England. So I had to stop driving, so Sister Baker is driving every day. And that's hard at the beginning of the mission before you get used to the wrong side of the road and the wrong side of the car. but president called and told me that if I’m obedient, and I don't drive past my year mark, I’ll pass my test. I’m taking him up on that, and I’m not driving. And Sister Baker is doing great at it. She’s only turned into the wrong lane a few times. I feel like you must have, mom, when we started driving. Clutching the handle of the door, and such. But tis alright. She’s my "daughter", and so I am good with her. But anyways, my driving test is on the 24th of this month. PLEASE pray for me. PLLLLLLEEEASSEE. I need it. Not that I’m not a good driver here. But they are so picky on tests, and Birmingham is such a crazy place to drive in. I just really want to pass. So yeah. The 24th. Don’t forget! But anyways, on to the rest of Saturday. We had a good finding session. During it, I tried to help her memorize Doctrine and Covenants 4, because we recite it every morning along with "our purpose". She’s doing great. After that we had some lessons, and they were great, but I want to get onto the baptism. Oh my word, the baptism was INCREDIBLE. Maybe the best baptism I’ve had on my mission, just because it all worked out so well. I was a little nervous that nobody would come, but SO many of the ward came. And Daniel (Yan Haoxuan) baptized Biyu, and it was awesome. One of my favorite parts was when Peter and I played the musical number. It’s a Handel Aria, mom, you'd know it. But that's all I know. But it was sooo good. And peter loved the baptism. So much. Afterward, we talked about it, and about how our performance went. And he said that he was really nervous when we got up to play. But then he pictured Christ, being baptized in the Jordan River, and he grew calm, and felt the spirit as he played. That’s pretty cool! And another of our investigators - Marcela - was there with her friend and family, and she cried during the musical number because she felt the spirit. Everyone who was there, stayed after for treats, and everyone really welcomed our investigators, and both Peter and Marcela commented on how the ward is just like a big family, and how they are so happy and loving together. It was awesome!
After the baptism, we went to Marcela's home, to teach her. Marcela is from Slovakia, so there is a bit of a language barrier. But it's cool, because my dear companion just happens to know some Russian, and Marcela also speaks Russian. So Sister Baker prayed in Russian, and explained some things in Russian. And Marcela really felt the spirit. So we invited her to be baptized, and we set a date of July 9th! Miracles! It was amazing, and the spirit was so strong.
It was a good Saturday.
Sunday, it was great! Church was great, and Biyu was confirmed, and it was wonderful. And we got to know the ward even better. It’s fun because Sister Baker and I are similar in the fact that we love people, and are good at showing that. So people are warming up to us as a companionship really fast. And it's really fun. And by Sunday night, we got standard of excellence! That means in the last six weeks (transfer) we got 5 out of the six weeks as standard of excellence! And one of our returning members (he's 12) passed the sacrament yesterday. So cool! Things are progressing here, and the work is going so well. We continue to work hard, and this week is already looking good. I am learning so much here. It takes such a different part of me to train. I want to be the trainer I wish I had, and I am praying for guidance. But I am so grateful for this opportunity. I love LOVE love being a missionary. It’s cool. Something I have found this week, is those that are truly progressing, is reading the Book of Mormon every day. There is something really wonderful in that book. It’s the promise. Moroni promised that if we read the Book with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he WILL manifest the truth of it unto us by the power of the Holy Ghost. Put Moroni’s promise to the test! Try it out.
I know that this gospel is true. I am very grateful for my chance to strengthen my testimony. I am grateful for the change I see in others lives, because of the gospel. This gospel is real. It’s true. And it does bring real, true happiness. I love it! And I love you!
Love,
Annie
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