But don't worry, I'm staying in shape.
Kind of
It's hard to get a full workout it with the allotted time.
But I try my best
:)
Wednesday highlight was? Ya. Food. Lots of food. Member meal from an awesome couple with the cutest kids ever. So it was pretty epic. They were like the most Utah family ever, but aren't from Utah which was lowkey kinda trippy. But I worked it all after with basketball. I'm becoming a baller. Now I just gotta grow like 6 inches, then I'm ready for the big leagues.
Thursday we went to Steve's baptism, whos just such a goated dude. He even gave me a bracelet that he gives all his "borthers". Hes so flippin awesome. I got to talk to him after the baptism, I asked him about one of his necklaces and he said his friend gave it to him before he took his own life. Then he said that is was so cool, cus he felt his friend in the font with him. And told me how excited he was to baptize him in the temple. And that just was such a huge testimony builder, because at least for me, I take my baptism for granted. But it truly is such an amazing thing that I got when I was young. But seeing his testimony and faith was so cool. It's moments like this that truly make this work double cool epic.
Had a couple lessons on friday which are always good. And played more basketball. Because it's time to invade the sunset community centre youth basketball group. It has begun. And no one can stop us.
Saturday we had an english class training. Apparently we being trained for the big leagues english class. So what better way to do that then getting taught spanish. New spanish elder in the making right here :). It was an hour of learning how to introcude ourselves in spanish, then played a game. So I can offically count to 14 in spanish. How epic is that? Then went and hungout with colin and went to this super big art showcase thing, and we met Colin's friend whos a proffesional photographer. So it was fun to talk with him. You're better dad, don't worry. Ohh and we a member bought a bunch of us pizza, so that was pretty epic. Quite blessed i'd say. Then went and toured waterfront which was super fun. But new finding idea? Public Piano? Could be fun...
Sunday was so awesome sauce. I actually love sundays here. Splitting two wards is soooooo fun. I get to meet double the people and it's just so great. We had a lesson with Selina today, and lemme tell you, the Plan of Salvation Pamphlets are so clutch. It teaches is so much better than i ever could in chinese haha. Also, guess what? We had another member meal... and watched hockey..... yeaaaa it's pretty epic.
Also cool miracle. Some of the sisters brought a friend to church and when he walked in I was like, wait, why are they with Sam. And I talked to him. His names Kevin. Then I was talking with the sisters and I was like yo, this dude is just like Sam. Looks exaclty like him, talks like him, and has the same manorizms. Then they were like he has a brother. So we asked him, and turns out they're identical twins! But they aren't in contact with eachother, and might have some beef. But they both live here, and both signed up from our facebook adds. Coincidence? I think not. I don't know whats gonna happend, but God definitely has a plan for the both of them.
Peter's birthday!!! Peter is the coolest guy ever. (I think I say that about everyone, but like, they're all just so cool). Hes a super recent convert, and he always just wants to have lessons with us. And we're like bro, you already know everything. So at this point we teach him some random stuff, then just have him teach us the lessons. He's so epic. But we tuaght him a lesson then he took us out to lunch. And then as every monday, it's FHE, something I def did all throughout my life.... But today we just played board games. So it was pretty dope.
Then today. P-day. It's lowkey so crazy how fast time flys here. But we got to go to the temple, again. I'm actually so blessed to be able to go all the time. Bought my christmas gift. Shoutout Santa, and parents. Got some basketball shoes so I could cook even more. And they're Curry's, so my 3 game about to go crazy. Also shoutout to mom again who got me christmas decorations. Aren't moms just the best! Love ya ;) But had institutde just barely, which obviously means more free food. Yeeeesss. Then epic gospel class. So I'd say life is going pretty great.
Something I love about being a missionary is all the different types of people I get to talk to and hangout with. Something I've come to learn is that people are just epic. They're all so cool. You def grow up in a bubble in school and stuff. So this is a nice change.
I also gave a talk on Sunday, so I'll throw that in here if ya'll wanna read it. I'd say it's pretty good. Would recommend. But don't judge, I wrote it on a phone, and that was just the draft. But the idea is there.
Have a fun Thanksgiving. Rip Canada. No Thanksgiving here, so eat some extra mashed potatoes for me. Please. and. thank you
Peace My Friends
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Talk:
Good Afternoon Brothers and Sisters, my name is Elder Baird, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to give a talk today. When I found out I was serving in the YSA, I was so hyped. Because that’s exactly where I wanted to go. A little about myself. Im from Lehi Utah back in the states. Ya i know, im as basic as you can get. Im the youngest of a family of five, and my parents couldn't have been more excited to get me out of the house. Jk. I just startred my second transfer. I bet President got a good kick out of it when he decided to put the two greenies together speaking mandarin. But it’s been good. I’ve absolutely loved it here in Canada, and I love the work I’m apart of.
Today I wanted to talk about the principle of Enduring to the end. In the gospel of Jesus Christ, we teach five main points. Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end. As a kid, I always thought the concept of enduring to the end was a little weird, because I thought it was just saying to suck it up when your going through hard times. Just wait for the trail to be over. But the older I’ve gotten, and the more I ready the scriptures, Endruing to the End has a completely new definition for me.
I’m an athlete. I love pretty much all sports, but I focused on Lacrosse in high school. One of my lacrosse coaches has taught me what enduring to the end is, and showed me the two different parts of enduring to the end. The first, enduring to the end through the trails and challenges of life. and The second, enduring to the end through the joyful and good times of life. Growing up enduring to the end always had a negative connotation to me. It seemed life a miserable process. But the more I’ve learned, the more I realize that enduring to the end is a joyful thing.
J. Ty Hopkins gave a BYU devotional titled “Lessons on Endurance” which I think sums it up perfectly. In his talk he gives a story about him preparing for one of the hardest and longest bike races in the world called the Tour Divide. During one of his practice races he talks about how it was brutal, exhausting, and overwhelming. He had a really awful mindset and was ready to give up. He went to bed that night in the middle of nowhere, and when he woke up. He found himself surrounded by a beautiful meadow of flowers. In that moment he realized that he was only focusing on the negative and how hard it was, without focusing on the beautiful scenery around him. He was only focusing on the imposibility of reaching that finish line. After he saw the flowers, his mindset shifted and he was able to finish the race.
After this experience he gave this quote. It says: “No longer did I think there was just one ingredient to endurance: work. I no longer held onto the idea that endurance was just grinding it out and surviving to the finish line. Endurance wasn’t a necessary evil that needed to be survived in order to get a prize. Instead of focusing on going through the finish tape with hands up, my focus became the ride—the process. There were so many sights, sounds, and feelings that I had missed during day one of that Colorado Trail Race. I realized that these sensations and feelings could have affected me in a profound way, much like the experience of waking up in that beautiful mountain meadow. Endurance is that process: the process of learning and growing during a sustained effort and of seeing good in hard circumstances. It is a process that leads to refinement and growth.”
For me, that’s what endurance is. Enduring to the end doesn’t mean get to the finish line. It means to live the process. To learn and grow through every step of the way. It’s seeing the flowers. Especially when times are hard. That’s when seeing the flowers becomes so important. Seeing the blessings and miracles God puts in each one of our lives every day.
This principle also is included when we think we’re living the best life possible. Sometimes we are living in an endless meadow of flowers, and nothing seems to be going wrong.
In 4th Nephi, it’s talking about the after Jesus visited the people of Nephi. And in verse 16 it says: “16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.” The reason they were the happiest people ever created was because their love of God.
But years past at in verses 23 and 24 it says: “23 And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all the face of the land, and that they had become exceedingly rich, because of their prosperity in Christ.
24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.”
They had everything, and yet they still turned to wickedness. Why? Because they didn’t endure to the end. They lived in that meadow of flowers, and decided to take it for granted and threw it all away. And you see that so many times through the Book of Mormon. The people turn to Christ, then fall away into wickedness.
And that’s what enduring to the end is. It’s a principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ because it’s something we have to do everyday. It’s the process we live and find joy in everyday. It’s the process of learning and growing through the hard times. It’s giving God all your love and all your gratitude everyday with everything you have. Its living thr gospel of Jesus Christ through the bad and the good. Giving our all to God. It’s always seeing the flowers for what they are, no matter how many you’re surrounded by.
And the best part about it, is that we have a best friend who makes Endrance easy, and possible. Jesus Christ is that best frined. Jesus Christ has walked every step of each of our lives. And will help us. Through the good and the bad. He will give us the flowers. He will help us recognize the flowers. He will help us Endure to the end, and give us everlasting life.
I want to finish with my testimony, I know that this Church is true. Jesus Christ is my best friend. He has helped me endure the good and the bad, and I’m eternally grateful for it. This is the Church of Joy meant for everyone. I’m so grateful that I have this opportunity to be on a mission and help people find joy through Jesus Christ. Because He is the reason the flowers exist in the first place.
And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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| I love the rain... |
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| I think y'all get the point. I may or may not like Christmas |
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| Spanish class be like |
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| This will be the only time in my life that I'm up early enough to watch the sunrises |
!!!
. It's nice to say hi, or even smile to someone, and them returning the gesture. 
