Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Elder Baird's First Letter Home :)


Oi familia!
     Como vai? How is everyone? I hope all is well in the family! I got your Dear Elders yesterday and I loved reading them. Pookie also sent me a package of bubbles, grandma´s rolls and a honey bear! I also got a package from all my work friends at the Candy Counter.Which was awesome seeing that the food here is terrible! I don´t think my body will ever forgive me for the food I will eat here! Luckily it is killing everyone and not just me. I also got my new glasses from Uncle Brian
     So far I have seen Sister Megan Butterfield, Sister Senaka Atkinson, Elder Tatum Nielson, and many more other friends that you dont know of from college! It has been weird seeing them and not giving them hugs except for Tatum Nielson! I also saw Scott Henderson at the temple this morning which was SO awesome!
So what to tell you about the MTC? I love my district they are absolutley amazing! There is 8 elders and 4 sisters. I love my companion Elder Forsyth! We get along great and are very similar. He was actually up at BYU Idaho before his mission and he loved it!! I was made district leader on Thursday which has been an amazing experience! The Spirit really helps those within stewardship of others. When at night I am praying for my district, it amazes me how the spirit prompts me to pray for things I had no idea the missionary needed. But being district leader does come with more meetings and a greater responsibility to do what is right. I love my branch president, President Hodges. Spitting image of President Wagner in all aspects. He has more rules on top of the rules the MTC sets but by following them exact obedience truly brings miracles. The Portuguese language is coming along well! We are already teaching lessons!! Which is really scary and stressful but so helpful. I have already learned more Portuguese then I ever did Spanish but that is because I have the Spirit with me to help learn the language!! So with the lessons there was one cool experience. The last lesson that we taught was last night on the First Vision and the Book of Mormon. I taught on the First Vision and Elder F. taught on the Book of Mormon. Before we went to teach we prayed together which was amazing! The Spirit was definetly with us after we prayed, so I thought for sure the Spirit would be with us when I would recite the First Vision scriptures, which I had been stressing out over all day, trying to memorize something in an other language is hard!! Well in our lesson we got to the part where I was to recite JSH 1 16-17, and when I recited it there was not an over whelming Spirit that I thought there was going to be so we continued on. But the Lord always has His plan and knows how and when the Spirit will work. I knew the Spirit was going to be felt in this lesson, I just thought wrong on the time. While I was simply testifying that the Book of Mormon was true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet the Spirit came and testified. For the first time I felt the Spirit through Portuguese which was magnificent. Testifying brings in the Spirit faster than anything else!
Well I got to go get my laundry but the church is true. The Lord is truly hastening the work so we got to make sure we are ready! I love you all! Send me questions to answer!
Love
Elder Zachary Baird

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Zach Goes into the MTC

Zach reported to the MTC today! Grandma and Grandpa Roberts dropped him off! My mom has only been crying for the past 24 hours! :) 

Monday, March 18, 2013

A Letter Better Than Hogwarts

October 6th, 2012 was a day that I will forever remember for many reasons! But one major reasons is the announcement from President Monson at the beginning of the Saturday Morning session.


Every time I watch this video I get excited for my mission to Curitiba, Brazil. I have been waiting to go on my mission for 19 years now I only had to wait 18 years and 11 months (Believe me when I say that that  month does make a difference when it comes to waiting at home). Once this major announcement was made I knew I would go as soon as possible. What astounds me the most was the timing of this missionary change, many of my girl friends were in much confusion. Some wanted to serve a mission but knew that they could easily be married by 21. Others future plans were shattered and they did not know what they were going to do so they gave into the will of the Lord and what He had in store for them. Many of these people were praying only a week or so before the announcement was made. There prayers were answered in a miraculous way.

Well that very day of the announcement I called my bishop and the executive secretary to set up an appointment. I had my mission papers completed in less then a month and had my papers submitted on November 1st. And only 13 days later the letter of a lifetime finally came (Truly better then Hogwarts, except I would have liked it delivered by owl). The worst part was I had to wait like 6 hours to open when it finally came because I had classes and work. I was finally able to open my call that night on November 14th.


You probably cannot understand most of the video because of the tears which I was not totally expecting. But never has something felt so right, I knew that Curitiba Brazil is where I need to be and go for my mission. Is there people that I need to specifically find? Maybe. Is there people that are there that will specifically help me? Most definitely. I am so excited whether I end up in Brazil for most of it, or, because of visa issues, only am there for a month. A mission is not about where you serve its about who and how you serve.   

For those who are thinking about serving a mission my advice to you is to prepare now and always and find a sure testimony in the gospel. For those that are not members of the church, know that it is all true. I know it is and will always know it is. 

Love,
Elder Baird 

Ps. During these pictures look at grandma's face :)