Jan 27

Hi Mom,

So the weather this week has been pretty cold.  You could probably verify this fact for us, but rumor has it that here in Ohio, we have been colder than both Antarctica and Alaska when you factor in the windchill.  Last night it sounded like our whole building was definitely coming down.  Hard to sleep through it sometimes, and if we don't want to have to be dug out of our apartment, we have to keep clearing the snow!  Ha!  It is cold, needless to say.  It was really fun shoveling Sister B's driveway.  She is from Utah.  Her husband is one of the six pediatric residents here in our ward, and will be here for probably another two years before they move again. 

We had some really neat experiences this week.  The first was with Jon, Julie and the K family at the Family History Center in Youngstown.  We got them up and going, and Julie started finding generations that an unknown family member must have started putting together.  So many of them need their work done in the temple to boot!  The hopes of that lesson was to help them prepare to take names to the temple to do baptisms for the dead as soon as possible!  Jon is excited about it.  He did feel a bit of pressure though, as he is the first member in his family, which means there is a lot of work that needs to be done.  I know he can live up the responsibility though! 

Another great experience this week was with Sister Olson.  You probably all have yet to forget my control issues... That has been hard for me to overcome as a trainer, but this week I feel like I was able to let go a lot more.  As part of training, missionaries go through a 12-week book that helps trainers to stay on track, and trainees to know what they should be learning.  I have been encouraging Sister Olson to take the lead in more and more things, and she continues to amaze me!  As she lead out our planning session on Thursday evening, we had difficulty deciding what needed to happen in the afternoon.  We had a hard time setting appointments for a huge chunk of time, and there were few things for us to do in the area we were going to be in besides tract.  So despite the cold, that is what we planned for.  While we were eating our lunch, we received a distress call from St. Elizabeth's Hospital, in Youngstown.  A member in our ward's husband had a stroke the night before, and asked for the sisters to come.  We were all the way in Alliance at the time, which is an hour away, just about to head over to Lake Milton (the other direction from Youngstown) to tract.  Fortunately our schedule was open for us to go, and we hurried as fast as we could.  Rocco wasn't doing too good when we got there, so the Elders gave him a blessing.  As we left it was so evident that that was the reason our planning session the night before went the way it did.  I am so grateful to always be lead by the Holy Ghost to do things Heavenly Father wants us to do. 

The last experience we had was with Gia.  I don't remember if I have ever talked about her before to you all.  She is 14, and was invited to hear the missionary discussions by her friend, Ethen.  Her parents allow us to teach her once a month, and she is permitted to attend church once a month, and she cannot be baptized until she is 18.  It makes it hard to help her to progress since she doesn't have the constant interaction with us like we try to have with our other investigators.  So we have been working really hard with Gia to help her gain an answer to the Book of Mormon.  This last week was like a toe in the door, and a huge break through for her.  At our last lesson we encouraged her to recognize how she feels as she reads the Book of Mormon.  She has been seeking a big loud answer, and it has been hard to help her realize it is a still small voice.  Before we even started our lesson we asked how she has been feeling.  She looked almost concerned for a moment, and then a huge peace came into the room as she told us that she has come to the conclusion that if the book is not bad, it must therefore be good (she is very logical for a 14 year-old, she does debate ;) ).  We were so excited!  She seemed confident in her answer.  Sister Olson also took the lead in preparing that lesson, and felt that it was an important day to teach fasting (which originally seemed off from where we thought we would be with her as far as lessons go).  We told her that we could fast for special reasons, and we invited her to fast this next week for something important to her, and that we would join her in her fast.  She wants us to fast for a concrete answer to the Book of Mormon.  I am so excited for her!  I have never met someone her age who is so willing to strive to do the things Heavenly Father wants her to do.  She really is so fun for us to teach!  Definitely keep her in your prayers this week. 

I love Ohio, and being a missionary!  I hope you are all doing well back home!  I love you all! 

Love,

Sister Bakker

The view from Dani's apartment.  The patches of no snow are actually the river.

also, heads up.  Transfers are next week which means preparation day is Tuesday, and there is a good chance I will be leaving....  I hope not, but there is a good possibility.  So my Surrey Lane address probably won't be good to use. 

Jan 21

Mom,

Sister Olson and Olson St in Youngstown, OH

Well, we are still working hard and have lots of great things happening!  I don't know if I have ever told you that I am starting to really gain a strong testimony of Family History while being here, but it is happening.  A few months ago, when Elder Ballard was here, he told President Kirk that people were going to start finding themselves in the Kirtland Area (meaning Northeast Ohio), and not really know how they ended up here, despite other intentions.  He also said that we should help people focus on family history to specifically seek ancestors who were here in Kirtland with the saints.  I learned all of this as we taught with President Kirk to Jon and Julie.  It was amazing as President Kirk testified that that was why Jon and Julie had not gone to Arizona, like they had originally planned, but instead came to The Ohio.  We have been preparing them, and some other families for a class we are putting together in Youngstown on Family History.  We went over and taught a brief lesson on its importance and such, and briefly showed them how to use Family Search.  Jon then proceeded to tell us that we weren't going to be able to find any of his family.  About ten minutes later, with only a name and a death date, we had found more than 5 names for him to begin to work with!  He was literally bending the table in half as he leaned over excitedly seeing the information unfold!  What a great teaching opportunity for us!  I will let you know how the class goes.  The ultimate goal there is to help them prepare names to take for baptisms for the dead as soon as possible.

Alma St in Youngstown, OH

Sunday was also a great day.  Katie came to church, and seemed to have a good time.  The best part, however, came after church.  Here at the Alliance Ward, member baptisms happen after church generally.  So we stayed to witness Annie being baptized.  Her mother bore a powerful testimony, and told a bit of her conversion to the church.  Katie was excited to see a baptism, as she had never seen one, since she had only been to her own baptism.  After we sang I Am a Child of God, and the spirit was so strong.  These kind of moments make the freezing weather and rejection all worth it.  In that moment, we could feel the same spirit testify of the truthfulness of the gospel.  I know that our Heavenly Father loves us so much, and that we have been put into each other's lives for a reason.  We were foreordained to be where we are right now.  At some point in heaven I told Jon, Julie, and Katie that I was going to come down and find them.  We told each other we would help each other make it back one day.  That is what we did as a family.  I know that.  I am grateful for these experiences that help us remember why we are here.  I love you all. 

Love,

Sister Bakker

Dani and Sister Effe R.  

Jan 13

Dear Mom,

Just for the record, we survived the cold.  Some places were recording lows like -22, and such.  If your factor in the wind chill it was way colder!!!  So what do you do when it gets that cold, and you are quarantined into your apartment for 48 hours?  Well, let's just say there is only so much scriptures you can read during that amount of time.  We watched all of the videos in our apartment, which is basically the district, and made some pretty good food.   After that our week returned to normal, and we got back to work.  It felt so good to get outside again!  

We had a really great experience teaching a woman who I really feel a connection with named Sandy.  She is funny, smart, and has a pretty strong testimony.  She just has a hard time going to church.  This week she opened up a lot about some of her questions about the next life, and had some pretty deep questions.  It was a perfect opportunity to introduce her to the concept of patriarchal blessings and encouraged her to work towards hers so she can gain answers she has been seeking.  We actually did the same thing with Judy and Katie this week.  Everyone is getting their patriarchal blessings I guess!  

Our final really cool experience was last night with Julie.  We took her out with us to go teaching, and she did so awesome!  We taught the Plan of Salvation, and she bore her testimony on the power of prayer and how to receive answers.  It was so great to see how on fire she is about the gospel.  I have seen that whole family completely change in the last few months.  All of these little changes, and moments we have had all built up to one big miracle.  I love being here in The Ohio, and getting to see hearts change.  I know that when we have faith and work hard, Heavenly Father will take care of the rest (even when it is -22 outside).  

Luckily Ohio can't decide if it should be hot or cold, and we should be okay to work for the next while.  It is a whopping 45 degrees out there, which means it is warm enough to put the puffy coat away for a few hours.  YES!  I love you all.  Thank you for your support. 

Love,

Sister Bakker

Jan 6

Mom,

Today we have literally no time.  We are actually being quarantined to our apartments for the next couple of days.  The temperature is supposed to hit record lows these next couple of days.  Apparently a few minutes of exposure to the cold can cause serious frostbite.  Welcome to OHIO!  Ha!  It is unfortunate because we had so many great appointments set up for the next few days. 

Jon and Julie's Wedding

So this last week we received a random media referral from a lady.  We stopped by, and it turns out it is a lady who hasn't been to church in about 50 years, but is a member.  She referred herself, and told us it was time to come back to church.  How easy does it get?  She came to church and everything, and there was no need for us to resolve concerns.  Sometimes as a missionary you work your tail off all day, everyday, and see no success from the things you are doing (like going door to door).  As long as you are doing everything you can, the Lord will give you success.  Often times, that success comes in ways that you never thought it would, or expected.  It is a strange concept, but I have seen it time and time again. 

The wedding went  great.  As you know, I was the designated photographer.  Some things never change I guess, missionary or not. The ceremony was really very nice.  President Kirk married them, and Jon's parents came into town for the wedding and the baptism!  It was really nice to meet them, and they seemed to have a great time.  Jon's baptism was incredible!  So many people from the ward came out to support him, and the spirit was really strong.  Sister Olson and I gave an impromptu gospel message after the baptism.  Turns out all that experience from debate is paying off everyday! 

Jon's baptism

Sister Olson has really grown into her role as a missionary, and it showed so much on Saturday night.  I am lucky to have her as a companion.  Jon concluded the evening with a powerful testimony.  Everyone was so impressed by him, and everyone has so many questions on how he is progressing now.  I feel very blessed to be able to have been here for his conversion. 

I know that Heavenly Father loves us so much, and that he wants us to be happy.  I know that true and complete happiness comes from living the gospel.  The night of Jon's baptism, he told Sister Olson and I that he wished he had grown up in the church.  I didn't understand before what I had growing up, but I am so grateful to have been born into a family that loves the church.  I love you all!  Stay warm out in Utah. 

Love,

Sister Bakker

Dec 30

Hi Mom,

Christmas was a big hit for us.  We got to see a lot of people, but mostly it has been great to be so focused on our Savior this time of year.  To be honest, Christmas as a missionary is different but probably one of my favorite experiences so far. 

Lyssa (Dani's sister) sent mustaches for Christmas.

 

This week has been a bit chaotic trying to pull everything together for the baptism and wedding.  We have been working a lot with the ward, and in turn the ward has done so much!  You know how hard it is for me to not try and do everything myself...  Well, I guess you could say I am changing.  The ward has really gone above and beyond in helping prepare for decorations, food, and her dress.  They have done the same for the baptism.  I know that Jon's conversion and the family's return would not be nearly as strong is they didn't feel so much support from the whole ward.  Fellowship is SO important!  Everything I am sure is going to go off perfectly, or close to it.  I will be sure to inform you on all the details.
Guess who is the photographer for the day....  Some things never change.

 

On a different note, we met someone new in the ward this week.  Her name is Allison.  She joined the church about 10 years ago in Santa Rosa, CA.  She has been in Ohio for about 2 years now, and we just found her.  She is very intelligent, and fun to talk to.  She is 29, and it feels like she is my age.  That is probably because we don't get to work with people who are our peers very often.  She came to church yesterday, and had a great time!  Hopefully we will be seeing a lot more of her. 

 

We also met a man named Bob, who is 83.  He was referred to us by a man, who had no interest in the church what so ever, and randomly called us to give us Bob's information.  I felt very inspired to bring Julie along with us to teach.  He is a business man through and through, and reminds me a lot of Grandpa Bakker.  He is very smart, and seems to really like us.  He took a few minutes and was talking about some of his investments that he has been working on recently and was excited to have someone who understood about 5% of what he was talking about as far as his different projects go.  He wants us to help him with his family history.  At the end of our time, he offered Julie a job (which she has been on the hunt for).  The next day, Julie told us how she felt that she had needed to be there, not just for the job, but for Bob.  It was a really amazing experience for everyone who was there.  The Lord knows who, when, where, and why for everything.  I love being a tool for him to work through.

   

All is good in The Ohio.  The weather keeps us on our toes, and the work still continues.  I know that we are meant to be here at this time.  I love you all!

 

Love,

 

Sister Bakker

Dec 23

Hi Mom!

This week was really great!  There was a bunch that happened.  We ended up going to Kirtland with Jon, Julie and Carol.  I got to see The Johnson Farm for the first time, and that was a pretty incredible experience.  We then spent the rest of the day at the Historic Kirtland Village.  We were able to go around to all of the little homes and listen to the testimonies of the early saints.  Jon loved the history, and learning about the church that he has grown to love so much.  In the School of the Prophets, at the top of the Whitney store (also where the Word of Wisdom was reveled), Jon was able to bare his testimony on the power of the spirit and how he came to know the Book of Mormon is true.  Julie then bore her testimony on how it has given more purpose, and Carol even talked about her past experiences with the church and how she knew it was time to come back!  The spirit was so strong there!  So many exciting things are happening for their family right now!  Because of all of the changes, Carol's other daughter, Lora, decided it was time to come back to church also.  So she was there for the first time in years yesterday and brought her daughter Danielle!  That family has brought so much joy to the whole ward, and the changes that we have seen take place are tremendous.  It is just another testimony that this is our Savior's true church.  I know that he guides and directs our church. 

 

I love you all, and am grateful for your prayers and help.  I will talk to you soon! 

 

Love,

 

Sister Bakker