WEEK 32 RICHMOND: Holiness To The Lord, The House Of The Lord

Got to go to the temple twice in one week???

I'd say that's quite blessed!

This week all around was pretty flippin' amazing!

Wednesday we hit up exchanges. I went to Burnaby with Elder Meyer. Colin (he's a YSA member from Van that always hung out with us) visited us and got us each Cadbury Eggs! Shoutout my King! Found a deaf guy. It was pretty cool. Unfortunately I had completely forgotten everything I learned in my one year of ASL. Except Banana. But phones are pretty epic, so it's chill.

Thursday was the big day! After exchanges, we went to a friend's house. They are some people Elder Barnes used to teach, but they made us super good dumpling and wantons. Then it was time. After 3 hours of filling up the font and sitting at church, the moment arrived... 范弟兄 got baptized!!! It was so amazing. It's moments like this that just make this work so worth it. This message truly is a message of joy. Sang happy birthday to Him and it was complete. My boy is a new man. A new brotha in Christ. Shoutout another King! 

Finished the night off with some friendly Bible Bashing

Had interviews with Pres. on Friday. Hit up lunch with some other elders. Gotta love it. Had a lesson with Anne and Han弟兄, both are great, and it's great teaching them.

Saturday morning was temple sesh #1. We went with Brother Chen and Vivi. They were both receiving their own endowments, and it was so amazing. The temple is great. Covenants are great. It's all just so great. Had a lesson with Li, and our member brought up W.O.W and bore fire testimony about it. Then had a recent convert lesson with our boi Victor.

Then Sunday. It's kinda crazy how many blessed days you can have in a week. But Visited Chen 妈妈, she's super amazing and still alive! Lets gooooo! Had church, and got a bunch of friends to it. They all loving it! Then the sisters had a bap right after church, so that was amazing. After it, I talked to Li, and he said he wants to be baptized!!! It's set for next Tuesday, but we gonna need to push it back a lil, so we can make sure we can get everything taught. But it's so amazing, since it was fast Sunday and we talked about it the day before, bro said ya, I'm fasting, and am gonna try and stop drinking some stuff. So amazing and a huge miracle! God is working double time on him, and he's changed so much. Then had an epic member meal with a family!

I may use this word a lot...

But it's True...

Blessed!

Monday was a great day. Minus the start...saw a car crash. But everyone was chill. I can add that to the list now. Seen a real life car crash... but uhh.. the rest of the day was just lots of planning. Did math with Annie and Caroline, thank goodness they weren't lil demons. And had a lesson with Wong Guo Ming!!!!!! He's the goat. We finna go to the temple with him here soon.

Tuesday! Temple rd. 2! Lesss Gooooo! It was epic. Also played Ticket to Ride. So no complaining here. Pros hour consisted of lesson, crazy member lore drama drop. and English class.

So

I guess you could say:

It was a pretty flippin' awesome sauce week!

General Conference was fire!

So let me drop a lil.

This comes from Sister Porters talk.

5 loaves and 2 fishes

It's a story that everyone knows pretty well.

And it's a story that applies to every single person here.

Let's pretend everyone has 5 loaves, and 2 fishes. Now theres a couple thing you can do with said loaves and fishes. Eat them, or try your best to feed a couple out of the 5000+. It's good, you tried your best to help out.

But what did this boy do. He didn't bury his talents. He didn't take it for himself, he didn't even share it with others at the start. Instead, he saw a man. A man he believed in. A man he had faith in. The kid probably had heard the stories, maybe even see it with his own eyes, but he knew this man was a Miracle Worker. So what did he do, he took his 5 loaves and 2 fishes and took them to the miracle worker. He brought them to Jesus. 

In the eyes of the the boy, it's nothing compared to the 5000+ hungry people. It's a spec of dust on the ground.

But it's what he had, it's what he'd been given.

So he took it to the Miracle Worker.

And in the eyes of the Miracle Worker. In the eyes of Jesus. It was everything. It's exactly what He needed. It's what He needed to work a miracle.

So now there's a third option. One that surpasses the other 2. With a little faith and belief, we can take our 5 loaves and 2 fishes to the Miracle Worker...and feed the multitude!

God has given us each individual talents and gifts. To us, it may look like a meager offering; heck, it might seem like half a loaf and a 2 week old rotten potato. But in the eyes of the Miracle Worker, it's everything.

Give yourself to the Lord, and because of your faith, because of your effort in trying to help those around you and bless the lives of others, the 5000+ will be fed. (With leftovers included) And you can be a miracle worker to those in need.

Ok Fine 晚安.

 he's turned from 先生 to 弟兄

Holiness to the Lord The House of the Lord

So blessed

WEEK 31 RICHMOND: 🎵It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Easter🎵

Take a look at the empty tomb

Well you can't get much better than Easer and General Conference!

So much Jesus and it's awesome sauce!

I keep saying this every week, but yes, it was another amazing week. Kinda funny how that works. It's almost like we are blessed and find joy when we serve the Lord.

Pretty neat I'd say.

After de-thawing from my trip in the frozen river..... we had an amazing lesson with 范先生 Wednesday morning. We taught commandments and laws. Went super good, bro was good with all of them, and was like, ya, I'll stop drinking tea. Had DC. Hit up T&T with the district. Chinese food *chef kiss', then had a lesson with Li. Then hung out with one of our members at McDonalds. Les go!

On Thursday, we had a surprise lesson with our new friend Judy. She's super cool and is super interested in learning. So humble and willing. God truly does prepare.

And God provides, lemme tell ya.

Some of you may remember a sweet old man named Huang Qi Fa. I've been taken out by him a couple times my mission. He's so cool. He had a stroke when he was like 40 and completely lost speaking capabilities, and some motor function. But he's improved a lot, and ever since he found the church, he's just the happiest guy in the world. Him and Elder Barnes are like best friends. So he treated us nice. Bro took us out to one of the nicest restaurants ever. I'm not even joking, like bro, the bill was over $1000. He let us invite 3 people, so we picked this one member and her two kids who are just the coolest people ever. So it was just so amazing. And the food was divine. Eternally grateful for that man and the Lord. Like incredibly BLESSED! He just always be smiling and laughing.

That evening we had a super spirit-led trip to the mall, where our friend David showed up and was like what's up, and we got to talk to him. Played mafia in the evening for English class.

Friday, we literally became doctors. We were at the church from 2-9. It was insane. At two we had a lesson with Li, he had such a cool experience, we invited him to go pray in the chapel by himself, and like 30 minutes later he came back and was like, "I heard God talking to me and telling me the everything is going to be fine." At the start of the lesson, he was super anxious and all over the place. When he came back, his demeanor was completely different, super peaceful. I just love being a missionary. That  lesson was like 2 hours. Then we had a  lesson at 4 online with some Colorado missionaries who needed help translating. Then our friend Han 弟兄 pulled up, had a pretty crazy lesson, but at the end bro was like, ohhh I finally get it. That lesson went over, and we have our next friend in the "waiting room", Han left, next person in. Had a great lesson with Anne. Then she went a lil over. Opened the door, she left, next friend came in. 范先生, did mock bap interview with him. Then finally we were finished and got invited to the English ward barbecue. So blessed.

Insane day, I love it.

Then general conference!!!! So good!!! Li and Han came in the morning. Both loved it. Cleaned the church in between sessions. Anne came to the second session. Went to the library for 'language study', but ran into a Burnaby member, so just talked to her the whole time. She served in Taiwan the same time as me brother. Then got Thai food, shoutout Mom (love you)! Goated tradition!

Finally, no more mold! That night we grinded out that bathroom. Wahooo!

Happy Easter Ya'll

Sunday was so amazing. The morning session was miracle loaded. We had so many friends pull up. They just kept coming in. And they all loved it. Li even brought a notebook and took notes. So lit. David came to which was actually a huge miracle. 范pulled up for both. The prophet is goated. The good word of God is being spread. 感谢主! In between sessions the Vincents had us over for lunch and said bring your friends, so Wesley and LI came with us. So good.

Monday was also amazing. Sunday, 范先生 actually told us he couldn't be baptized because of family issues that came up, and he was leaving Vancouver for 3 weeks. We woke up to a text saying 我的旅游取消了. It got canceled. It was such a miracle. So set your calendar everyone. April 9th! The rest of the day was weekly planning. And a quick math session for one of our members two little girls. They are insanely crazy, but it's so much fun.

Today was chill. Went to big Buddhist temple, and played pickleball. Had 范's baptismal interview. Les go! Then had English class. 

All in all...

Epicness

Thanks for reading.

On Christmas day we started a challenge. The BOM challenge. It was to finish the Book of Mormon from Christmas to Easter day. And we marked blue every name of Christ in it, and highlighted things we liked in red.

Did I fall behind?

Yes.

But we have the atonement.

So it's chilly.

But I just want to say how truly amazing this book we have is. It is the Word of God meant for each and every one of us today. This book has power, and blessings in store for those that read it. So I'd like ya'll to do the same. Read this book. It will change your life. If you've already read it, read it again. And it will continue to change your life and bring you closer to your Savior. 

(Also drop some fav parts from conference if you'd like to share)

He is Risen 

All my kings in one place

#frozenelderalert

Home decor at its finest

This is why we can't have nice things

WEEK 30 RICHMOND: Pov: Your Pre-Frontal Cortex Isn't Fully Developed

We back with another week of "The Daily Life of Elder Baird", where we see how this kid still sometimes acts his age. Rip. 

No worries though! The work is working, and I'm working on the work. So I guess you could say, it's working!

This week has been epic though. Holy, so much goodness. Wednesday we had a lesson with Li, and it was goated! Bro is staring to realize how the gospel can change his life, and he's already seeing so many blessings. God is truly working on him rn, and it's so amazing. He's had some problems, and he told us that he listened to hymns before bed, and he's never been able to fall asleep without extra help. But the hymms put him right to sleep. It's so epic.

Thursday, rise of the morning sun, three little birds, sit by my doorstep, singing sweet songs!  美好的天气, couldn't ask for more. Had a convo about aliens with a new member, pretty lit. Then at English class, had two friends pull up, and the "spiritual thought" turned into a "2 hour spiritual debate?'" But they said 慢慢来 at the end. So I guess they want to learn more. No complaints. After a 5pm lunch, we had a lesson with 范先生. Brotha is goated as always. Soaking up the gospel like me in these sun rays. Bro is goated. Then had English class part two, and I just sat with my lil' 熊猫! Goated

Had a member meal Friday morning with President Yi. Bro made some grubbin' food, always appreciate it. Then had a lesson with Anne, and dropped off a quick thank you poster to a member. We made stickers of every Chinese zone missionary and slapped it on a poster. Quite exquisite. Vivi's the goat though, she always be helping us out with everything.

Had a bright and early lesson with a new friend, James. Taught temple prep lessons to a member. Had another lesson with Li, yessss! My King!! So amazing, bros got some goated ball knowledge. Finished the night with some 三国杀, lowkey the new meta. So much fun.

Shoutout to Jesus for being resurrected in the most epic way!

He's Risen

He Lives

Jesus is King

Palm Sunday was epic. (Mostly).  But epic nonetheless. Church was amazing. We had a bunch of friends show up, and they loved it. Then there was a baptism right after in English ward, so we had all of our friends pull up, and our 4 most progressing friends, were like, yup, now this is epic. Had a lesson with 范 too, and I keep saying this, but bro is the goat. It just makes sense to him. It's so cool to see how God has prepared so many people to recieve His gospel. Went to Chen 妈妈's again to give the sacrament, she's great. Then had the most epic 复活节晚会 ever. We did a church wide egg hunt, and all the old Chinese people loved it. Shared a fire spiritual message about easter week, then had Potluck! Chinese potluck is sooooo goooooood! You never ask, "What am I eating?" No. Just eat it cus it tastes good 

I got a parking ticket 

#brokelife

#ripbankaccount 

#takemebacktoUtahwheretheynevergivetickets,Ilowkeyamsodonewithcanadiantransportationeverything,whyaretheyalwaystryingtotakemymoney,it'ssosad

#itwasstilldefinitelymyfault.....

Monday was planning. Gotta love it. Also got to teach math to Annie and Caroline. They're these two little girls, and their mom has the missionaries help them with their math homework. 5th grade math is flippin crazy. Or maybe I just haven't schooled in 9 months. But we ball nonetheless. The spirit brings to our rememberance. So it's all chilly

Now today...

We decided to go on a hike. 

It was beautiful, it was snowy, and very, very icy. Obviously, I know how to hike, so not much of a problem there. Unfortuently, I sometimes don't know how to smart. But the hike was lovely, super fun, super funny, and nice to finally touch some snow.

Then Elder Baird walks by a river.

It's frozen.

He knows it's chill to walk on it.

So he does.

Then he hears "jump on it."

So he does.

Goes right through it.

He knew it wasn't too deep.

But then again, it's a frozen lake.

And that is me being "don't know how to smart."

I had to hike the rest of the day in soggy jeans, socks, and shoes.

Gotta love it.

Then got some doughnuts. Straight fuego!!!

Finished the evening off with shopping, lesson, and again, English class.

Chillin fr!

Believing in Christ is amazing and wonderful and yes, do it.

But can we also Believe Christ?

One of my new favorite names of Jesus Christ is the "Fulfiller."

I think it's super simple. Christ fulfills allll of His promises. Everything He has ever said, everything the prohpets have prophecied. They have been, or will all be fulfilled.

So when God says "I love you". Or when Jesus says "I know you". Can we believe that? Yes, Yes we can. Because everything They say are true.

When Jesus atoned for everyone, it means "EVERYONE". When He says "I will forgive you 70 times 7". He will forgive you "Every Single Time". No one can escape His love. When we are promised that we will live again, and have a perfect resurrected body. Believe that we will. Because we will. He has fulfilled everything, even death. He is the fulfiller!

So

Believe Him

Believe Christ 

I see the light

Welcome to dog mountain

Quite bonita 

What I would give to be in bros car

Believe Christ 

WEEK 29 RICHMOND: Moldy House: 1 - The Elders: 0

No matter how hard we try, sometimes, it's never enough.

That is the case with this house.

The disease has gotten the best of us....

But anyways!

There ain't really anything to complain about. I got a bed. Food..... (well we are out of that, and may be broke) ((no msf )) but we live :) As long as we spreading the joy of the gospel, we livin' litty!

This week was great though, so lemme tell ya about it.

Had a baller DC on Wednesday. Our distict is only the Richmond Chinese missionaries. So we about to lock in on this Chinese group. This place will become Zion, One Heart, One People. All living with the Love of God in their hearts. It finna be epic. After DC, we hit up Mickeydeez. It was pretty good. Had a music practice back in WR, miss that place, and apparently I'm forced to sing in ZC. But that evening is when everything went downhill. Not feeling too great...

Thrusday morning, woke up, my voice was coooooked. But had Zone Conference. Easter themed #HeIsRisen! Jesus is King. It was such a good zone conference, super spirit filled, and learned a lot. Being a missionary is a continous grind of learning and becoming better everyday. Pretty epic. Sang with BanBan, and two other sisters. My voice was an octave deeper than usual. Rip but we ball. We keep livin'. After ZC, we went for language study, and Elder Barnes got robbed by a group of 13 year olds. Lowkey got outplayed. They had that down to a system. Quite funny, but sad cus is was Elder Barnes "magic bag". He's lost it like 3 times, and always finds it again. So he was bummed. Had to fill out a whole police report thingy. Then had English class. It was so much fun. We played Clue IRL, so lit.

Friday morning was lowkey crazy. We were getting an oil change in the morning, and we got a call. Aparantely a random guy found the contents of Elders Barnes's bag all over the floor of his apartment complex. He found bro's temple recommend and knew he was a missionary, so came and dropped it off at the mission office. Elder Barnes ended up getting everything back but a BOM and some coins. (Crazy conversion story about to happen, trust) Had two epic lessons, with some even more epic friends. Also went to the library, and it was infested with Roblox Kids, constantly yelling at each other. This generation is cooked 

Taught a temple prep class Saturday morning. Got a refferal of a friend named Li. We gave him a chapel tour, and bro is sooooo prepared. Bros a refugee and has some crazy experiences, and has found God himself. Now it's time for him to find the truth, and bro was like, yup, I need this. He's so awesome, and I'm so excited to help him open his eyes to how Jesus can change his life. Did an English class stand, and Charles pulled up! He was a friend that got baptized in Vancouver. So we just hung out with him, and advertised English class. It was pretty epic, and so much fun. Then hit up Badmiton. Fuego!!!

Sunday was epic. Even though me and Elder Barnes were cooked, we still balled. We had friends bringing friends to church. Our friends came to church. Church was church, and church was amazing. Our friends loved it, and it was awesome sauce. A member pulled our friend aside and talked to him for like an hour after sacrament meeting. And told him to get baptzied. The member literally was like "I move next month, I want you to be baptized before then" and our friend, Wes, was like, ok. I'm interested. So that was a huge 奇迹. Watched some March Madness with a random guy sitting next to us. Rip Flordia.

Also pause...

Rip BYU frrrrrrr. Holy sad. But it's chilly, they balled out. Hopefully by the time I get home, I'll get to watch two natty's

Ok, continue...

Monday. Elder Barnes was truly gone. It has gotten the best of us. We leave the house to get T&T, 5 minutes later bro looks at me and goes, "Can we do language study at home?" So we leave. Bro crashes. I study. I crash. We both are cooked. Then after a lovely 2 hour nap, we continue the work. Go to the church for weekly planning, it was actually super awesome. Then we made it out in public for the last part. So we livin'. Pray for our goal of getting 19 friends to church this week 

Today we hit up the malls, had a movie watch party. It's out! Then had an amazing member meal. Sooooo blessed. Love it.

And that's it.

I'm alive.

Livin' off of egos, rice, and cereal.

And as happy as can be!

Life couldn't be better! Epecially during this time of year.

WE GET TO CELEBRATE JESUS!!!!! WOOOOO!!!! JESUS IS SOOOOO COOOL!!

And ya

谢谢大家

"Be a Testifying Fool" - My Father

(second best quote bros dropped)

As I've been out on my mission, I've realized the bigger purpose of life. In high school, my thing was just have fun. Live life to the fullest. Just have fun. Do everything. And guess what, it was a lot of fun. My life has been sooooo blessed, and I've had so much fun and have had so much joy. 

But there's more to life than that. And it's been a lot more fun and a lot more joyful. And that's being a "Testifying Fool". As I've read the Book of Mormon, I've just seen that so much of my purpose in life is to preach His word. To help people know Christ, to give my heart and soul do His work and glory. Even if it's just a infidecimal part, it's still a part. When I go home from my mission, I'll still have fun, but I think as members of the church, we could all be a little bit better about being Testifying Fools. Be known for our faith. Don't hide it, don't dampen it, don't bury it. Let everyone know. Our testimonies are an incredible gift, and we are supposed to use it to help others.

So?

Be A Testifying Fool

麦当劳

My King!!!!

Everywhere is pink and pretty