Aug 5 & 12

Aug 12

Hey mom,

sounds like all is well at home, but kinda strange with the family being reduced to 4. I hope all is well with that. On the bright side there is no where I'd rather be and I'm sure Dani will feel the same shortly. So don't worry much about us!

So the luau is for the time being off... There was a lot of bad communication with the bishops and branch president and they decided to just cancel it. So that was quite disappointing. I really feel as though it was led by the spirit and that was what the lord wanted me to do while

 I was here to boost missionary activity in the area, But I guess perhaps it was led by the spirit so that all might learn some valuable lessons. Its all still up in the air, I’m trying to save it but who knows, its in the Lord's hands now.

Robert is going to be baptized the 24th, unfortunately President Irion is not going to let me go down for it. He did say, however, that if it were moved to the 31st (which doesn’t work for Robert) I would be a lot closer. I guess that means I am most likely being transferred again the 28th... so we will see what happens. I did get to go down to Knoxville earlier this week for a leadership conference. Elder Kopiske of the 70 spoke to us, which was awesome I really learned a lot from the spirit. Also I got to see the P family while I was down there! They are on fire! Can’t wait to get to the temple to be sealed in a year. So solid. Well the lord has a plan for each one of us and if we do our part all will work out. I love you.

Elder Bakker

Jackson, Andrew, Brother P

Sister P, Andrew, Brother P

Kingsport Zone Meeting

Kingsport Zone training

Aug 5

Marion Marion Marion, Marion is an interesting place haha always a bounty of strange people and interesting situations. This week Elder Hart and I have been moving a family.   We have spent 9.5 hours as well as several hours of the branch members time and its about 1/2 done. so more this week! but that’s ok the Lord will bless us for helping some folks in need.

The Luau is really starting to take off! Its on Friday the 23rd of Aug, and the members are really catching the vision. We found a pig like 200lbs for 150$! which is way good and also a propane cooker that we have a member funding so we are going to pull off a luau for 200+ people on roughly 180$... thats right haha the lord provides a way! haha so thats pretty good. The P family baptism was on Wednesday this week! I was supposed to go down and baptize Jackson their 14 year old son but due to some complications I wasn't able to attend. Typically you aren't supposed to travel for baptisms but President knows what they mean for me and is willing to work with me. Robert's baptism is scheduled for Alyssa's birthday the 24th! I hope to be able to attend that! I really have been blessed through my mission with great success and I hope to be able to keep up strong.

The Marion building is under construction so we are currently meeting for the next 3 months or so in the Marion life saving crew building. Its the building that the ambulances and stuff deploy from. so thats interesting! 

When the Lord decides to test us and we endure it well he will bless us. I feel that the work Elder Hart and I are doing here is really more of an "Elias" type role, or a fore-runner. Preparing the area for great success and more than likely the need for another set of missionaries! well I gotta jet but I love you all and thank you for the prayers! 

Love Elder Bakker