Last Quick Note...

Hey Mom! This email will end up being very short because I don't have a lot of time, but the week went very good. It was weird sending missionaries home and a little sad receiving my ap replacement,  but it was a cool experience! Last night I went to the going home dinner at president's house with everyone else going home, we ate and had a testimony meeting. It was weird saying bye to all the missionaries that were in my MTC district!! I feel like just yesterday we all got here. But, after everything I feel happy knowing I have finished the mission! ...and I feel like I did the best I could during these last two years. Today we will be getting stuff ready for tomorrow and then it's time to come home!! Thanks for everything mom. I am excited to see you. See you Saturday!!:) 
elder baker

Week 101--Elder Baker's Final Email

Hello everyone!! Well, I can not believe the time has actually come to send my last email out to everyone. Starting my last week as a missionary sounds so crazy to me but I am very excited. Every day I get more and more nervous... more and more excited, and more more curious about what it's going to be like once I get back. This mission has been two of the most important and life changing years of my life. 

This week I had my last interview with president and he told me lots of really cool things. He told me about the priorities I need to have as a returned missionary and just some of the things to expect as I get home. Then we talked a lot about the mission and things I've learned, how I've applied it to my life, and how I have felt the power of the Atonement in my life being a missionary. I'll tell you right now that if there is one thing I've grown to love and understand better it is the Atonement. I know that probably 99% of returned missionaries say that same thing about the atonement, but I think I've just come to realize the effect it has in my life and how it can continue to change my life. I am so thankful for this gospel and the opportunity I have had to be a missionary sharing it. It wasn't always easy, at times it was very hard! A quote I have relied on most of my mission is "I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it", and I can now say I know that it was worth it. ...but the most important thing is to understand is that now it is time to come home, and live everything I have learned. These next couple of days I will be visiting lots of people and saying bye! One reason I am happy I will be at the temple trip is I will see EVERYONE!! I have come to love the people here so much, and I'm going to be able to see everyone from my old areas and all of the missionaries. So that is one big advantage to be staying two extra days. 

Tonight I will be having my last baptisms. Brandon and his sister are getting baptized tonight at 6pm. It is going to be really cool. There are lots of people excited for them to get baptized. 

Thanks for everything. Thank you for all of the support you have given me, and thank you for the love I have felt from everyone while I have been gone. Have an amazing week and I will see you all on Saturday!!:) LOVE YOU!!! 

--Elder Baker

Week 100!!!

Hi everyone!!:) Well, let me tell you that this week went by super fast... we did lots of inner changes!! Usually we only do two, but this week president asked us to do three so we went and worked with the zone leaders of Molino, Modelo, and Ahuachapan!! It was cool though!! I got to go to Molino for the last time:) (which is my favorite area from my whole mission) and got to say bye to some people. It was kinda weird saying bye, but it was a cool experience! Some of them still want to go out to eat one more time and some are planning to come to the changes meeting to say bye! haha There are lots of people I am going to miss. But, the cool thing about staying for the temple trip is that that day I will be seeing the entire mission and so I'll be able to say bye to some people there too!! 

As for our area Brandon and his sister are still getting ready for next weekend. They are very excited! ...and then the weekend after they get baptized Brandon is going to be able to go the temple!! Its going to be awesome. What else happened this week?? I got to go work with Elder Peck for the last time this week!! It's weird to think that its been almost two years since we were comps in the MTC!! 

Now for your week... I'm glad everyone is doing good! You all look great! ...and that is cool that Elder Griffin was able to go hang out with you guys for a little bit. I'm way excited to see everyone!! ...and I'm glad Haley's papers are getting all done with and they are going to be sending them out!! I can't wait to find out where she goes. Well I love you all so much!! Miss you and can't wait to see you. Talk to you soon!! Adios.
elder baker 

Week 99

Hi everyone!!:) Well, once again sounds like everyone had an amazing week. That's crazy Jace is now a priest... time is flying and he is growing up so fast!! I love that guy. Thanks for the pictures!! Everyone looks great. 

It seems like everyone is having fun! Every week I think I start to get more and more exited to see everyone. There is still lots to do here... thats for sure! But, I am getting very excited!! Thats cool school is starting up again! 

Summer went by pretty fast huh?? 

That is awesome Haley received her blessing I'm sure she loved that. That will help her lots now that she is preparing to go onto a mission!! 

Thanks for sending the topic for my talk. Now I can start working on that:) ...and good luck this weekend going to the three homecoming talks! I am sure that will be crazy, but it will be cool listening to all of them! 

As for my week, it was good! We started planning a little bit 

more for the temple trip coming up! To answer your question...no, I wasn't able to go visit any of my old areas. But, we did do some iner changes this week! To be honest the week was just kinda a normal week... not too much exciting stuff!! 

We do have two baptisms planned for my last sunday in the mission! Brandon and Yahaira  Orillana. So we are excited for that!! Other than that we are just working hard, finding new people and trying to keep the area in good condition!! 

Thanks for everything! I loved the emails and pictures. 

Have an amazing week and I will talk to you soon. adios!!

elder baker

Week 98

Hello everyone!!:) Well, I can't believe two more of my friends are now home!! Its so weird seeing all of the pictures of everyone together. But, it makes me a little bit excited to see everyone again!!! I love getting all of the pictures and seeing how happy everyone looks. 

This week was very good! We has a district leader council for all of the DLs in the mission... so us and president were the ones talking and teaching! It was really good and everything went well. 

Then I got to go work in Atiquizaya again! haha its funny when the people see me because now all they say is "you are still here!?" hahaha but its always nice to go back and see people again:) ...but whats crazy is that exactly a year ago from today I was in Atiquizaya with Elder Griffin.  

This week I also got to go work in an area called Aldea, and i got to work with another elder that came with me and is leaving this same change so it was cool getting to work with him:) Other than that not too much happened this week! We are just working hard and trying to keep things rolling in the area and in the mission. ...and time keeps flying! This week was another one that just flew... but thanks for everything!! 
I loved all of the pics!! I will talk to and see you all soon. 
love you!!!
elder baker

Week 97

Hello!! Well, sounds like it was a super crazy week!!! haha Lots of crazy stories, parties, injuries, surgery's, and it just looks to me that everyone was having lots of fun!:) Except dad of course... I'm sure that was pretty hard! But, he will be ok. Especially because he got a blessing! Other than that accident it sounded like a pretty fun week:) 

That is awesome that Haley has decided to go on a mission. It's just going to be crazy having to send out another one from the family, but she will love it! I'm very proud of her... and she will do great!! 

As for me I had a good week! The leadership council was great. This week actually went by very very fast!!! I felt like just yesterday I was sitting here writing you all and now I'm here again! ...but its just because we have been doing lots! The meeting and then inter changes on Tuesday and Thursday, so its just been kinda busy but its all fun and time flys!! 

My comp kinda got sick this week so one day we didnt leave to work cuz he said his body was hurting him so bad! So we just stayed in the house... which can be very boring!! But, he is feeling a little better now so thats the good news:)) oh and what is crazy now is that its July!!! I hope everyone has an amazing 4th of July and they have fun! Its crazy that a year ago I was with Elder Griffin in Atiquizaya working in blue pants and red ties!! haha I feel like that was yesterday. Well, everything is great here.  I love you all lots. Have an amazing week, and I'll see and talk to you soon!! adios. 
elder baker

Week 96

Hello!!:) Well it sounds like everyone is doing amazing. So, that makes me happy:) ...and it looks like everyone is having a great summer!! Everything you guys are doing always sounds super fun. Even though I can't be there with everyone, for right now, it makes me happy that everyone is having a good time. These last couple of weeks have been very very stressful and full of lots of stuff to do... with the visit of Elder Alonso last week, changes this week, and the leadership council next week there is always lots to do!! We also starting planning the temple trip which is on August 7th. ...but one thing is for sure and that is that with so much to do time flys!! I can not believe I am in my last change. 

To answer your question mom... yes I will be finishing the mission as an assistant. Which is nice because I will end up finishing with 7 and a half months in this area! Which is great:) 

Anyways, there was a pretty cool experience I had this week...this week I had to go back to Molino (my last area) and while I was there I saw one of my converts and his brother that we activated when we baptized his brother. The one we activated now has his mission call and leaves for Nicaragua in September, and his brother that we baptized is now preparing to leave on his mission!! Oh I was so happy when I saw them and heard all of that. Knowing I was able to help somebody join the church and someone else go back to church and now they are going to go do the same with other people. haha I was very excited for them!! 

Well, other than that everything is going great. 19 missionaries went home this change, and so the mission just keeps changing... but its all good:) I love you all and thanks for everything! I will talk to you soon.    
elder baker