Elder Baird's Something About Socks: WEEK 4 MTC: My mom is low key trying to kill me

Hello one and all! I'm so glad that I could get you to read my random spattering of words for the week! I want to take this opportunity to talk about something that really hit me during conference. It was during Elder Ballard's talk, which mind you was the best talk this conference, but he talked about letting people know you love them while you still can.

So this is me telling all of you that I love you. Each of you. And I am so grateful for all of the love, support, prayers, and packages that have been sent my way. It truly does mean so much more than you will ever know.

But enough about you guys. I know what you guys are all here for.

ME!

So this week. Every single day is basically the same here in the MTC until they are not. Like you have classes and study and it all is basically the same until something different happens. So I'm just going to talk about those different things. I don't want you to get to bored, and I need to make sure that you read all of my email, so I will keep it interesting.

So first things first lets talk about all the people I've met/re-met. Some of you may know these people, but they are all friends of mine.

So I saw Nathan Edgel on Monday, I had no clue he was here and so that was really cool! We were friends a couple years ago till he moved out of my ward.

As well some people from Renaissance Academy that I thought I wouldn't see again are here as well. Namely, Jarom Hyde is here, and he has changed a lot. Joey Garrison, who danced on BYU's youth team and who danced with me in elementary school. And one of my good friends Mason Plaisted, who moved to Texas in the 6th grade and who I thought I would never see again. Turns out he lives on the same floor as me, has for 3 weeks, and we just barely re-met.

It was a tender mercy to these old friends of mine. That may sound weird, but it really was. We got to talk about the past, and then we all kind of just realized that we are all here for the same reason, and that is amazing.

On Wednesday we got to host the new missionaries. Which basically means that as the parents drop their kids off, I got to pick them up! It was a lot of thing.

That evening we got to teach my teacher again. (The same one that I told him that Jesus was a mass murder) and we asked him how his scripture reading was going. To which he responded, good but I have a question. He then asked why Nephi killed a guy because he thought that killing was against our religion. That was not easy to explain in Chinese..... But we got our point across and so that worked out!

Then I got a haircut........................................................ -_-

it's short and difficult to style. but whatever. I'm here for the lord. yah. so. cool. -___-

THEN THERE WAS CONFERENCE

I really don't even know what to say other than wow. Amazing. I could spend the next hour writing about my insights from conference. But then I want everyone to get their own insights. So my thoughts on conference will be limited to this.

I went in to conference with questions. By the end of the first 3 sessions most weren't answered. And so patience is a virtue and the 4th session answered them all. I felt the spirit and I know that we have a prophet of God on this earth today. I wish I had time to say more, but that really isn't feasible.

So I leave this invitation. I invited all of you. And yes I mean all of you. Member or not. I invite you to listen to conference. Because whether or not you believe that these men are called of God, the words that they speak will give you peace and direction in your life. I can guarantee that for anyone. If you listen with an open heart you will hear what you need in your life.

So I invite all of you to listen to it.

As well I invite everyone to start doing "Come Follow Me" with purpose. I wish this was something that I could have done better before I left, so for those of you that still have your family with you, I invite you to take time with them to learn about Christ through this inspired program.

Well that brings me to the piano.

I had the amazing opportunity to play my "Missionary Medley" piece for all 2000 missionaries here at the MTC. I can say that I have never played for that many people before. And I was slightly terrified.

My leg was spasming on the pedal basically the whole time. And while I did make mistakes, I was able to bring the spirit. Something that many people have told me. So I did what I was supposed to and I really think that it went well!

I'm currently writing another song right now that I will hopefully be able to play sometime soon. (I don't get a lot of time to practice around here). But Music can bring the spirit. And I was able to accomplish that which is something I am grateful for.

And now what you have all been waiting for!

Why is my mother trying to kill me?

Well she sent me some fruit snacks and ONE OF THEM WAS POISONED! I swear it had cyanide powder in it or something like that. The picture will hopefully be coming soon. You can see for yourself my own mothers attempt on my life. Luckily she did not do a good job and it was quite obvious that this fruit snack that was supposed to be smiling at me, was filled with a dangerous powdery substance.

Well all of by semi-permissibly-membraned friends, this concludes my email for the week. Pictures will come soon. They are hard to send while you're here. But they will come! Never fear!

As a reminder, if you respond to me on Mondays I can respond until 6 o'clock. So if anyone wants to engage in conversation then feel free!

Again I love you all and look forward to seeing all of your care package.... I mean faces again!

Love,

Elder Baird

Today something about socks:

two things actually.....

One, I talked with my companion and things are going sooooo much better! Charity from God is a real thing. It really is. During conference I had the amazing opportunity to be filled with love for my companion which was amazing.

Second, I don't know how to study Chinese. I've never really studied for anything before. And so I'm learning how to study Chinese. And it is being difficult. But I know that through the Lords power, and advice from people learning languages. Or who have. But yep. It is very difficult. But I will make it through I know!

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Here is a link to my piano performance. The audio and video quality suck because this phone sucks. But I know that some people may want it so here it is. This was the worst time I've played it. But it was fun to be on the TV.

As well it was being projected on two massive projectors so thats cool.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MTBTPkd1c8cGbrjSA