WEEK 59 MUZHA: So how big of a sin is lying...? Cause I may or may not of committed that sin.... But it wasn't on purpose you know? So.... Ignorance is bliss. And sinning in ignorance is.... Still sinning... That didn't rhyme. Oh well.

Welcome back to the crib. I'm currently eating breakfast. Chocolate. P-day breakfast is kinda like that. We get to watch a devotional from Elder Renlund today so that is way cool!

So this might be a little shorter. Also just not a ton happened this week. 

I feel like whenever I say it's gonna be short I still somehow find a way to keep blabbing until it's just really long and unreadable. So yah. 

Let's start on Monday. If you've been following along at home then you know that in my last email you heard that Elder Baird was confused about what was going on in his life and then he found out he was getting a trainee. 

And that's when the lie comes in. 

That evening as I had hit the send button on my email I also texted our mission head quarters asking for a new desk. 

Because we were going to get a new companion and that would make us 3 people and we only had 2 desks so obviously we were going to need a new desk. 

Duh. 

Well.... 

After I sent that text my companion looks up (he was in the group chat so he saw what I had sent because that's what you do as companions) and says "you might want to unsend that.... We aren't going to need a new desk..." 

And that's when my life crumbled. 

So turns out I'm getting emergency transfered. Once our new companion gets out of quarantine (a week from right now) 

I will be leaving to who knows where. 

So yah. That was pretty wild. And so this whole week has been helping my companion get ready to Grey wash the area. He's got less than 2 weeks to get as much info about this place as possible. 

So next time you hear from me I will be in.... Well who knows where I will be. President says that he doesn't know either. So that is quite odd. But hopefully by next Monday they will tell me where I'm going. Maybe I'll just be a hobo missionary. Who knows. 

Anyways, the whole week was speant biking around everywhere showing Elder Zhao the whole area because we aren't going to have a lot of time next week... Sad times. 

However.... 

Our Friend got baptized this week!!!!! How exciting! After 5 months and dozens of lessons Jian Yuan has now entered into Covenant with God to always remember Jesus Christ to keep his commandments and to stand as a witness of him. 

I had the opportunity to speak at his baptism. And I was just able to look into the importance of baptism and the Holy Ghost just a little deeper. 

And guys! How amazing is it that for just keeping some commandments that would bless our lives regardless, God gives us a personal messanger that can always be with us and always direct us. The gift of the Holy Ghost is amazing. 

And to my knowledge, I may be wrong seeing as how I am not religion scholar, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only Church that believes on the laying on of hands to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. To have the opportunity to have the presence of a member of the God head at all times. 

This is literally taught in the Bible and yet it is not practiced today except in God's one and only true and living church. The original church of Jesus Christ that has been restored in our days. 

And oh how we should be so happy for this opportunity! To keep this Covenant that we make at baptism and always have this gift. And if we haven't made this covenant yet? Come and learn! See for yourself why we claim to be the one and only true and living church! Come and learn! Throw away your pride and see for yourself. You have your agency of course, but oh the joy that awaits you if only you try. 

And if you are currently not keeping these covenants? Come back! We need you! I need you! And most importantly, your Father in Heaven, our God, the creator of the universe and director of the stars, loves you and needs you. Make the changes that need to be made. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be saved! So come back! Feel the cleansing and purifying affect of the Holy Ghost again! Come and feast on the love of God which is more delicious and desirable above all else in this life! Come today. 

It's true. 

That's about all I am able to say about it! 

Anyways, Yall will hear from me next week! I'll just be in another part of Taiwan, but you can hear about it all right here from me! The Elder Baird

Love you all! 

Elder Baird

Something about socks (the one from last week that I didn't have time to do!) (Also this week's cause I'm just gonna use it for here) 

OOOOOOHHHHKKKAAAAYYYYY

Do we have a prophet or what?

Yah I don't have time to finish this....

You'll just have to wait till next week! 

Pictures! 

Stacking king. Young and free only 19.

If I had two cats I would also name them this. 

Hot cars

Baptism! 

Frisbee with the bois

Meme

WEEK 58 MUZHA: The one with a new friend* *a human one. Not a duck. Or a lizard. But a human.

What's up guys it's the husky here back with a new exciting episode of BRONZE LEAGUE EMAILLLLLLSSSSSSS

So this week has been quite the adventure.

Mostly in the fact that I have a new companion. 

Other than that it's been pretty chill.

After going to the zoo on Monday, Tuesday happened. Said bye to all my friends that were leaving.

Then Monday happened. I mean Wednesday. Honestly I should probably just go back and edit that, but since when have I ever edited my emails!

So then Wednesday we did stuff. Like give cards to people cause Elder Sun was leaving. And after a great English group we went home for the last night of the reign of Elder Sun. And thus was the 14th day of the 10th month of the 2020th year of the time according to the reign of the companions.

And thus on the 15th day of the 10th month of the 2020th year of the reign of the companions. During the reign of Elder Sun. The companion seat was given to Elder Zhao. With commandment to protect the ward and the friends we are teaching. 

And this in the 15th day of the 10th month of the 2020th year in the reign of the companions, the reign of Elder Zhao began.

And guys Elder Zhao is awesome! He's super old, both mission-wise and age-wise, and he is just wise in general. He loves the work and he loves being obedient.

And so things have been going pretty great! 

But that doesn't mean that it's not the process. We picked him up Thursday afternoon and so began the new transfer. And things were going really well, but that doesn't mean that change wasn't hard. 

That afternoon I just had to take some time alone. So I went to the bathroom and just sort of started to panic. Not sure why, but change is indeed hard.

And as I sat there panicking the Holy ghost was like pray. Duh, I thought. And started to pray. Then as I was praying for help the Holy Ghost was like "no you're doing it wrong...Gratitude." 

So I started a gratitude prayer and I started to feel a lot better. 

Gratitude is important my doods. 

Then Friday and Saturday happened. I'm sure stuff happened on those days. Maybe it was a dream... Not sure.... 

Then Sunday happened and we got a new bishop! That was a shock. But our pour old bishop was 76 years old and really needed a break! And I love our new bishop. We then had a great coordination meeting that went awesome. I'm excited for this new ward spectrum. 

Anyways then Sunday ended and Monday happened.

Got up and talked to the fam. Went to choir practice. Practiced the piano cause I'm playing in a fireside in two weeks (more on that next week 吧）

Then after lunch we went out to Costco as all good missionaries do. And as we are walking around my companion just decides to let me know that we're training and our new trainee just got here 

So yah. I now have two companions. 

Granted one of them is currently in quarantine for the next two weeks. But after that we are living in a trio. With a brand new companion.

Needless to say I'm a little shocked because nobody decided to tell me this. I guess they thought that as long as my companion knew I didn't need to. Oh well. 

At least I do now.

And then we went home and I wrote this letter. 

Yah that's pretty much my week my bois. I love you guys a lot and stuff. So yah! 

Love, 

Elder Baird 

Something about socks 1

So. Last Monday our bishopric 1st counsler took us out to dinner. And this was the story he told us.

5 years ago he was less active. 

Be hadn't been to church for over 25 years. 

But he wanted to lose weight.

Sooooo he said a prayer went to bed and when we woke up he had lost 50 lbs

Lol Jk. 

He started to run. And run. And run. And he found out he loved running! So he started 5ks. Too easy. 10 ks. Toooo easy. So he tried a marathon. Still too easy. So he decided he wanted to do an extreme marathon. 

Now this isn't like a normal marathon. 

No this man got on a plane and flew to the Sahara Desert. And ran a 7 day 150 mile race. 

He had never prepped for this kind of race before and he had brought the wrong shoes... 

So by the end of the first day all of his toenails had peeled off. Everyone thought he would quit. And so did he. 

He woke up the next day and did something he hadn't done for 25 years. 

He prayed. 

He prayed that the pain would be relieved so he could get to the ext checkpoint and then give up. 

He then ran to the checkpoint and was about to give up when he heard a runner next to him, a professional, say he was giving up. So he asks him, "Can I have your shoes?" 

And this guy just gives him his shoes and they fit perfectly. 

This man then runs the rest of day two. When he gets to his tent at night and one of his tent mates says, "I don't believe in your God, but he is helping you." 

That's when he realized all the miracles that had happened that day. 

He then went on to finish the whole entire race becoming one of the oldest people (50) to ever finish the race. 

He then got back to Taiwan where two days later he was called by the temple president and asked to become an ordinance worker. The temple president had no clue who he was, just that his phone number was on his desk. 

He accepted. 

And from that time he has been active in the church. 

Now as I listened to this story I was just shocked the whole time. But I learned a couple things. 

First, when we pray to relieve pain, God will give us new shoes. We don't always get the answer we want, but we always get the one we need. 

I also learned that God doesn't ever leave us. For 25 years this man had not prayed. And in the middle of the Sahara Desert when he was finally humble enough to pray, God heard his prayer. and answered it. 

I thought that this was amazing. 

Sometimes it feels like God waits until we are in the middle of the desert with 5 grueling days ahead of us of straight running before he answers us. But this man said that in all the times before that, he was never humble enough to pray or to have faith to receive an answer. And sometimes this is what happens. It is in the middle of our deserts that we get help because it isn't until those deserts that we are humble enough to ask for it and really mean it. 

I don't know. 

I thought it was an awesome story! 

Something About Socks 2

Sorry I don't have enough time to write this. Next week maybe! 

Pictures

This light fixture though

We aren't having a coin shortage in Taiwan! 

Tacooooooossssss (a member gave us refried beans!!! It was my comps first time having them) 

Yum

This is a picture that my companion made for me. It is beautiful. And I wish I was that 帥。

Christmas lights in Costco! 

Attacked by the mice

This advent Callander though

Chair Pic. (based on how old you are in the mission) 

I didn't get the memo 

This English translation though 

WEEK 57 MUZHA: Frankly I'm scared of clowns... And get togethers get me down... But when you talk it's like... Wow

I'm not crazy. 

I promise. 

(I just had to do an AJR reference because someone else did and so peer pressure you know (but to whoever the other person was that did an AJR reference about a week ago, you should work on your spelling. The song name is "I'm not Famous" not "I'm not famou" gotta remember your S's cause S stands for Spencer)) 

I promise I'm not crazy. 

But you know what is crazy??? 

GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!! 

A week later and I was finally able to watch it and let me just say the Church is true and the book is blue. My mind was enlightened sooo many times and the peace I felt while watching was just unreal. So 10/10 would recommend. Like. Right now. This is the one thing more important than reading my email right now. Watching general conference. So go.

Now! 

I'll be here when you get back I promise. I'm not going anywhere for at least 6 weeks. 

Oh yah! I'm staying in Muzha for at least the next 6 weeks. Probably 3 months. However, we will be saying goodbye to Elder Sun and saying Hello to Elder Zhao! So that will be something new. 

So....... Other than General Conference, this week was pretty basic. Nothing super exciting. Nothing super not exciting. You can't ask for a lot more than that can you in missionary work?

Speaking of missionary work. This next section is dedicated to those of you who are about to go into the field (My Boi Elder Reger) those who are in the MTC (my cuz Sister Sorenson) and those who are about to go into the MTC (my gurl Kara) 

Yall are about to embark on the craziest thing ever. And it is going to be so incredibly hard. Harder than anything you've done. There are going to be times you want to quit, and there will be times where you do quit. You will stop working hard because it just seems impossible. And in those times the only thing that will allow you to get out of those times is to "let God prevail." You will have two choices. Turn to Christ and keep going, or just give in. 

And it is going to be so incredibly hard. Satan is going to be pounding you relentlessly. But if you turn to Christ you will make it through. 

And honestly. That's just life. When I was sent home for three months it was the exact same thing. I thought life would get easier when I got off the mission, but to be honest it was harder. 

So you've got the next period of time to learn. Learn how to trust Christ in all of your doings. Learn that only through exact obedience will you be able to receive his help. Obedience is a choice. There is a difference between getting up at 6:30 and 6:31. The difference is your trust in God. 

Now it will be hard. But make sure to have fun. I see so many missionaries who just forget to be happy! Happiness is a choice! If you don't believe it, you didn't listen to conference. Go and listen to Elder Oak's talk in women's session. Be of good cheer is a commandment. Not a suggestion. And God makes it possible to accomplish all of his commandments. 

A lot of your problems will all come from your pride. Pride is of the devil. And has been the greatest stumbling block on my mission. When we choose not to be obedient, we are being prideful and putting our will above God's. The sooner you swallow your pride, the sooner the light of Christ will swallow you. 

Most pride problems are going to come in the form of the person that you are attached to. Your companion. You do not choose your companion. You do not choose your area. In fact the companion you get might not even be someone you like. 

But you choose if you love them. YOU make that choice. And it is hard. All companionship problems stem from pride. Be willing to swallow your pride, and if they aren't willing to swallow theirs, you have done your part. And now you just love them. 

Joy comes from work. Not from success. I still don't fully understand this principle. But I know that it is true! 

And basically, be worthy to have the Spirit. That means you are willing to follow the Spirit. You are called of God. Act that way. Become the disciple that Christ wants you to be. 

That won't happen on your mission. But you sure can start the process. 

Love God. Love your companion. And love the people. 

And if you find it hard. Then pray. And study. Learn to love the scriptures and their teachings. Find Joy and peace in their words and in the teachings of the Spirit. All Christlike attributes come through prayer. So make sure your prayers are real. 

I love you guys! You're gonna kill it out there. Grind for God and let him PREVAIL! 

(For those of you who thought that was only for missionaries. I'd go read it again XD. These are life principles. I'm trying to work on them too! So I invite you all to work on them with me!)

I love you all so much! That's about all for this week. Go read conference. Go get closer to God. And go read about the promised blessing of Covenant Israel. 

Till next week my friends! 

Elder 'Passionfruit' Baird

SOMETHING ABOUT SOCKS! 

Well that was fun! Now onto fruit flies! And sin! 

How are these two related? Well, let me tell you a story. 

About 3 weeks ago I was in the shower and found a little fly-e guy. I was like cool. A friend. So I would like spray water at him but I was too lazy to kill him and I thought  that he would just die off soon. 

I went back in about 3 days ago and too my surprise there were about 20* little fly-e guys floating through the air, sitting on the mirror, and on the walls. So I got started with my fly massacre. 

So I killed a bunch. Took my shower. Good times. 

Till I went back in the next day and there was like 30* flying around!!!!!!!!!!!! So I killed a bunch and went on with life. 

Then yesterday there's like 40*!!!!!!!!!!!! So I start killing them and I'm just like wow. What would this have been like if I had just killed the first one. 

And then today I go in and there's still just a ton more. Not only just in the bathroom, but in the hallways and stuff!!!!! 

So Sin. 

Remember the beginning? It only started with one. If I had killed the one at the very beginning all of this would have been non existent. 

Sin is the same way. If you don't believe me then I will explain it to you. 

Elder Soares Sunday Morning session conference talk. 

There you go. There's my explication. Go read it and you will understand. 

Stop it at the beginning and it will just be so much easier for you. 

*these numbers are purely for reference only and may not be completely accurate. But it was a lot. Let me tell you. I just really like multiples of 10s.

Pictures!

This steak was a little big... 

For the record it was his form that was off 

Yum

I went to the zoo today and my mom told me to take a picture of the ugliest animal I saw. 

We went to a place that missionaries havent been to in about 8 months so that was kinda cool! Like opening a new area! 

Pday board games!

Make more surprise guys! 

Peace on earth my guys. Just like Elder oaks said. Pray for our government leaders!

Videos! 

This is bryant 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qowFTnP91Qa7e3DA9

After I typed this all up the photos all switched place. But I'll let you guys but which is which together! Cause I'm lazy. 

WEEK 56 MUZHA: The week that Taiwan lit all their meat on fire

Ohkay, let's be honest. Not a ton happened this week aside from all the normal things. Which is good for you guys because less to read. Good for me because less to write. Sad for you guys because less of me. So you know. Gives and takes. 

Now

I have not watched General Conference yet. I am no privileged like the rest of yall. And I will not be watching it until next week. Or I guess this week. I guess it's only  5 days away. I don't know. 

I learned a new thing though. You know how a human generally only uses like 7% of their brain? Well I found out that the other 93% is where everything goes when you go on a mission. Cause your brain just gets fried on the mission. And your body. But it's worth it. Gotta go feed them sheep and stuff! 

So let's start of with AP exchanges. As you all know or all don't know or some know and some don't the APs are like the top of the missionary food chain. They the boss. Other than the one boss who is the mission president. And then other boss that's the area president. And then the other other boss that's the Prophet. And then of course the other other other boss that is God. 

But other than those bosses, the APs are the boss. So I was a little scared to go on exchanges cause I had no clue why we were doing it. And then the exchange happened and I realized that they are just regular missionaries and they don't know what they're doing just like the rest of us. 

So that was fun. 

But! Their apartment has a BENCH Press!!!! That was very much fun. 

Anyways, moving on. Other stuff happened that I'm sure was important but I'm not sure what it was. So we will just not worry about it for now. 

Yah, I kind of can't think of.... 

Oh wait XD the email title!

So yah, you know how we just had a holiday. Well we just had another one as well. And we have one next week. Taiwan likes to celebrate. 

But this past week was the lunar festival! So you eat moon cakes and watch the moon and stuff cause that is what you do. But, another important part of the moon festival in Taiwan is BBQ. 

And no. It is not American at all. 

But everyone has been out grilling the past couple days and the streets just smell like BBQ. Of course Taiwanese style, but cooking meet is cooking meet sooooooo. That's been fun. 

We did get invited to a members BBQ and it was pretty good. At least my mouth thought that it was. My stomach had a different opinion. But that is life I would guess. 

In fact I think it's just like our spirit and our body. I listened to a talk about the Sermon on the Mount the other day and the guys just talked about how the whole purpose of the Sermon is to just try to help us to put our Spirits in front of our Body. Giving them control. 

Just like Elder Ballard's October 2019 General Conference talk. Definitely go listen to that. 

But that is why we are here on earth. When we are born we are given bodily instincts. These are important. But in time these can start to cloud our spiritual instincts. So all the things that Jesus wants to improve on and talks about in the Sermon are all ways to improve those spiritual instincts. So take a look at that folks. 

Love you muchly folks! Have a good week! Eat some tortilla chips for me. We don't have those here.... 

Elder Baird

Something about Socks

Doctrine and Covenants 19

You'll thank me later. 

Pictures