Well That is the scoop!!!

Hey!!
This week has been a great week! There are alot of things going on... I learned alot about personal sanctification this week. It is something that has been on my mind all while i've been out here. We had a missionary meeting in Gridley and President talked alot about sanctification. Really everything that we do out here and the results that come from those things depend on our personal purity. It sounds pretty basic but it goes much deeper than it appears. It's one of those layered gospel topics. Purity and perfection are very closely intertwined. Perfection is more long term and building purity is what gets us there. Of course there is that aspect that with a purer vessel the Holy Ghost is more frequent and stronger within it.... I don't know there is a lot that i've learned about it but it is hard to put it onto this email. I'll have to find a good way to express it and then get back to you. Sooooo that is what I learned this week. Elder Hiatt and I are getting along great! He's learned a lot and it is nice learning from him. He looks a lot like richard. I'll have to send you a pic of him. The work is going great as well. I'll tell you what I got a reminder of how much I have to depend on the Lord this week. I've been working on praying more earnestly and meaningfully. As I've put it into practice I can tell the blessings that come to each person as I pray for and serve them. There is such power in prayer and fasting. I can tell you that I know that. I know it by and through the Holy ghost after the practice of faith. I love the things that I am privileged to learn out here. I feel so undeserving for the many blessings and lessons that I receive out here. It seems the harder I try to improve myself the more imperfections I see within myself. But Heavenly Father knows that. He helps me overcome them. We are having tons of fun. The snow up here is fun! I missed it. The rain is killer too. Luckily we are in a car. muahahaha. Well That is the scoop!!! I love you all and thank you for everything!!!

A picture is worth a thousand words... I guess?

So this week, Drewbee didn't send us an email, but he did send us two pictures and two videos.

Apparent elation at the sight of snow.

The elation continues as he hops around. You'd think he'd never been exposed to the white freezing fluffiness.

There are a couple videos that I'm going to put on here, it's just not working at the moment.

God's image and countenance is imprinted on our souls.

Hey Fam!
Sorry very short on time! as usual. But here is something sweet I learned this week. So Jesus tells a bunch of Pharisees off in a response to a question regarding taxes given to Caesar. Remember that one? Well He responds saying render unto Cesar what is his and render unto God what is His. So in observation one can notice that the coin presented Jesus had Caesar’s image on it. So it is also with our souls. God's image and countenance is imprinted on our souls. Not only does Christ expand on the relationship of church and state but also He tells us what we should render to Him and God. And that is our whole souls. Neat. I'm sorry I have short time. I enjoyed all of your emails. Ky nice hit holmes. Alexis and Matt have fun on the drive. That is so crazy how close you will be. Mom and Dad I'm so happy that you had fun. Mexico! I went on splits with the Spanish missionaries and came the closest that I'll ever come to having the gift of tongues. It was sweet! I love you all and I'm doing good... I do have a favor to ask of one of you. One of the elders is having a birthday and he always talks about how he was stuck in the friend zone with girls so I was thinking about getting him a shirt that says chicks dig my friendship. but there are no shirt shops around here. I don't know if that would cost a lot to get a shirt with that but if you could check in on that for me that would be great. His b-day is on the 22nd of this month. anywho Love you all so much!!!

Your lovable um... guy

Hey family!

So we had to do a bunch of stuff prior to this so I don't have much time. But I've been reading in the great Jesus the Christ by Talmage and have been thinking alot about miracles. It's very worthy to note that the miracle was ALWAYS preceded by a comment or action of faith. This is very important to all of our lives. Before Jesus raised Lazerus from the grave He was among Mary and Martha and some others and while He was with them He gave some pretty sweet hidden lessons. He asked questions like where is he laid? and asked for them to take Him to Lazerous. And other questions that I cannot think of right now. These questions he asked were not for His knowlege because He knew excactly where he was laid. Rather these questions were presented for the purpose of inviting them to use there agency to do all they could before the miracle happened. He also asked, when they arrived at the grave, for the people to pull away the rock in front of the grave. After the people could do no more, then Christ showed forth the wonderful, miraculous and divine power that He had received from God. So it is with all of us. We need to do everything in our power to help fulfill the purposes of God. Then will He show forth His power. I was also reading President Monson's talk in the past conference and he addressed us all as the Royal Priesthood. It dawned on me how much of an honor that was. Anyway I hope everything is going good back there. I love you all!!!!!

your lovable um... guy

Elder BDrew being... Drew.


His comp?

Hey Family!
As far as the week goes it was a great one! Yesterday we had the high councilmen speak in church. One of the talks was on personal revelation. It was a great talk. I have received a strong burning testimony of the importance of personal revelation in all of our lives. I am so grateful for the chance that we have to have Heavenly Father Himself speak to us. What an incredible blessing. Of course we cannot forget the importance of the Holy Ghost in conveying the messages that God wants to tell us. yesterday we had a lesson with a less-active member in the ward and we got on the subject of personal revelation. As I was able to explain what it is and even now as I type this email I can feel the Holy Ghost witnessing to me that revelation is a gift from God. I enjoy always telling people about the First Vision and its significance in telling us that God does speak. From the mouth of the beloved apostle of the Lord, Elder Holland says (quoting scripture) that, "He speaketh not spake!" I have found that the promise from Joseph Smith is true... It is vain to minister without [revelation]. There are so many profound things that Heavenly Father wants us to know and His willingness to give is predicated upon our willingness to ask, seek, and knock. I am eternally grateful for the lines and precepts that I receive from my loving Heavenly Father and from our Lord as well. As far as the work, it is rolling on. There are many great things that President Pendleton has presented to us and our wards. I'm excited for the new things happening. We are trying to bridge the gap between the ward members and the full-time missionary efforts. The gap has been there ever since missionary work has been established in this dispensation and probably in prior dispensations as well. But that gap is closing and with the progress being made there are many sweeeeet things on the horizon. Exciting for sure. So crazy stuff happening at home. Alexis movin, scubaing, stuff. One of the missionaries that I new just went home before Christmas and he came back with his fam and I saw him last night. It was so weird seeing him normal haha. Well thank you all! I love you!
Elder Baum.

Good ol' auburn.

Hey fam!
Super short email. So story time. We were tracting a street where the houses were super set back on their properties so the driveways were long. So we park and go tract. anywho we get done with the street and we are about a mile from the car and we start walking back. A cop pulls up and rolls down his window and asks us if we're parked in someone's driveway. We told him no and then we head back to the car. The cop ends up telling us that this lady called the cops on us because she thought that we sat in front of her house and watched her for an hour. haha talk about paranoia. Good ol' auburn. Sorry thats all I got time for but I love you all!!!

It was kind of a JEEZ moment...

Hey Fam,

Feliz dia mi familia. This week has been a good one. I'm getting use to the area and everything. It is much slower than Roseville. I think I got spoiled there. So I ate dinner over at this family's house where they had a twelve year old and I thought to myself woah, Ky is that age. I'll get back just in time for the pimary pimple poppin' haha. It was kind of a JEEZ moment. I am so happy right now. I say that alot don't I. Every once in a while Heavenly Father gives me blips of divine perspective on the world. It is hard here in many ways to progress the work. It is just a more rural area. I'm sinking on time but I can't tell you How much I appreciate the support and also how much I appreciate my Heavenly Father. I thank you all for helping me realize that I am a son of God. That priceless piece of info would be enough to get me through many things. I love you all and have a great week!