- Elder Baird's #BLESSED Mission: WEEK 60 BURNABY: It's All Worth It 🙂

It sometimes surprises me how much and many much miracles God can give. Just the fact that He loves us enough to let us experience and join in, even just the smallest amount, His work. The Joy that comes from participating in His work is something I will forever be grateful for!

This week was just good. I've been really trying to have eyes to see. Even though the work here in Burnaby hasn't been anything crazy, when I look for God, I see him. See him in every interaction, every teaching, every "divine appointment". It's just soooo good!

Wednesday was just an overall normal day of missionary work. DC, studies, finding, member work. Lesson with Charlie about the priesthood, which was super good. And english class. The everything in one day type day :)

Met a Chinese couple who got to Canada 2 months ago on Thursday. It was a super quick interaction, but they seemed interested. So prayers up that they can pull up to church this week. Keep the 'finding not Chinese people' grind. It's been pretty good! Lots of super God-led interactions with people who need it. So that's epic. Had a lesson with Pan先生. We found out that he doesn't want to come to church because he's had pretty bad experiences with other churches and the people there. He's just worried everyone is gonna hate him, and he has nothing to offer to church or God. It was really sad, and we kinda went back and forth. But it's chill, and hopefully we can help him understand the point of coming to church, and really help him utilize the atonement in his life.

Friday we hit some exchanges. I went with Elder Law and it was a lot of fun. A member (I think) bought us some orange juice. $10 FOR A MEDIUM!!!!! It was outrageous! Holy insane! But bro will be blessed for his sacrifice. Only got in one 'bash', more of a friendly argument which was refreshing. But I'm just so grateful for the gospel, because it is so simple and clear. Her whole side of the story was full of so many loopholes. But it makes me very grateful for the spirit world, and that all these people will have the opportunity to accept the truth . We spent the majority of the day finding, which was fun. Met some super cool people, and got taught an important lesson of 'don't judge people', this message is for everyone.

Saturday was the day of days! We went to the temple with Li!!!!! It's only been a few weeks, but it was so good to see him again! And it was just so amazing! I was so happy and filled with Joy.

It's worth it.

Every ounce of work.

I was talking to him after and he told me "I have a feeling the dead are peacefully gathering" So amazing!

So blessed!

ALSO..... FRANKS ON DATE!!! He's locked in and is getting baptized on the 7th!!!

After the temple, we ran back to the church, and taught the post English Christianity 101 class. It was good. The Hunt's also randomly showed up. They were the senior couple here for a long time, when I was here. But recently they've been banished to the far north. So it was good to see them again. Got Vegas Doughnuts (shoutout elder MaiDongLao) Then met up with the ZLs and blitzed the mall food court. We all just split up and talked with everyone, and surprisingly didn't get kicked out .

Sunday was super good. The talks were so incredible. We have a new bishop since I last served here, and he's the goat. He's in his low 30s and served his mission here in BC like 10 years ago. He and his wife (who's a convert) gave talks and they were so good. Played 'listener therapist' for some old friends here, and lowkey made me realize that everyone is going through struggles, and how important the gospel in our lives is. And how much the members look up to missionaries as a beacon of light. We really can bring the spirit into people's life! Attended a baptism for the English elder's friend which was fire! Then went to the library for some social media work, but just ended up talking to this guy who used to go to our church, but hasn't been, and we were able to invite him again, and hopefully he can come.

Shoutout frozen lasagnas .

Monday was good! Weekly planning. Family Home Evening. Ohh and.. I forgot to mention. HFQ came to visit. Huang Qing Fa my king!!! He took us and the sisters out to hot pot. And It just made me so happy. Every time I see him I'm just filled with Joy!

Today was fire, zone p-day with Kahoot, chair soccer, and spike ball.

Ok fine

晚安

The past couple of days I've been studying a lot about the fall of Adam and Eve, and going deep into the doctrine. And it's actually so cool. I've got so many thoughts about it now, and have realized how important it was to God's PoS.

But what I've really come to know is the importance of trials. The importance of mistakes. The importance of heartaches. The importance of everything "negative" in life.

Adam - "Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God."

Eve - "Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient."

Sometimes we just want everything to be good and perfect. But growth comes from making mistakes. Joy comes from sorrow and redemption. If we want to become like God, we have to sin, we have to go through trials, we have to have challenges, and hard times. Because that's how we can see the opposite. That's how we can choose to utilize the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ in our life. Because agency is a gift. And the only way we can choose to follow Jesus Christ, is if there is pain, sorrow, and sickness.

So embrace the suck, and turn to God!