Janene Wolsey Baadsgaard's Blog, page 3

Serving in the Oakland Inner City Ward Brings Me Love, Acceptance, Joy and Pease

My great privilege while living inOakland is attending an inner city ward. I wish all wards in the church werelike Oakland 9th ward. We have members who have been homeless and addictedto drugs, spent the majority of their lives in prison or recently impoverishedimmigrants. They all desire a better life and have found hope and peace byturning to Jesus Christ. Our ward becomes their family where they find love,support and acceptance. Soon, they bring their friends who also feel the lovewe have for them and develop a desire for baptism as well.

 

I've found more love, acceptance andwarmth in the black community than I've felt anywhere else. No one in our wardtries to hide their past lives or their present doubts or struggles. Everyoneis accepted no matter where they are in their personal journey.

I love the connection we haveto the black community here. The president of the Oakland NAACP, CinthiaAdams and her family, were invited to attend the General Conference withthe Brunt's, our Oakland Temple Visitors Center Director and his wife . Theymet with Elder Stevenson and Sister Eubanks and these church leaders simplysaid, "What can we do to help?" Then they listened. This group was also taken to the Humanitarian Center and Welfare Squareas well as to several conference sessions. I love all outreach to all peopleof all faiths. 

This week I attended a bridal showerfor my dear friend in the ward and a baptism for another. Ross led the music andI played the piano. We are basking in the love and see the beauty of eachdaughter or son of God, no matter where we are on our journey. We have beentaught how to love and be loved on a deeper level and we feel God's hand in thelives of His children every day.

There was a short segment about Amos Brown,(the SF Oakland NAACP President and activist from the 60's forracial equality, between conference sessions. He is still a pastor and stilldoing God's work here in his nineties. I know all the news coming out about Oaklandand San Francisco is about the crime and decay of moral values, but thereare millions beloved sons and daughters of God here and the truth is God loves theones committing the crimes as well. 

Listening to October General Conference2023 gave me the reassurance that my family will be restored somedaybecause of Jesus Christ. I found hope in the promise that my personal anguish willbe relieved through the Atonement of my Savior.  I know Christ can changeany nightmare we re experiencing into a blessing.

I love knowing covenants are notcontracts but relationships. I truly desire to submit my will to God and onlywant what He wants.  I know I am a beloved daughter of Heavenly Parentsand Jesus Christ is my Savior. I am daily reviewing my life with adesire to become a better person than I am. I have so far to go butI want to keep trying. The good people in the Oakland 9th ward are my heroes and my living examples of how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can transform each of our lives. 

Meet Elder Day

Meet Elder Day.
 Below you will find a picture of the Oakland 1 zone at our last zone conference in the California Oakland San Francisco Mission. If you don't look carefully, you might miss Elder Day. On the back row in the middle is an Elder with such a big smile that his mouth is wide open. This is Elder Day.


As a mission office couple we are blessed to be around the young missionaries all the time as they come into the office. We are able to talk to and encourage them, hug them and learn to love them. 
Wherever I was around Elder day, he was so happy he literally jumped up and down.  Recently Elder Day was riding his bike home from a teaching appointment and hit a pothole that sent hymn flying. His companion called 911 and the mission president who was then able to arrive in short order.

When President Lash ran up to the scene of the accident, he found Elder Day lying on the road.
When he saw his mission leader standing over him, Elder Day looked up with a smile and said, "Don't worry President. I'm still having my best day so far."
Let me backup so you understand. President Lash so enjoyed a book by George Durrant called "My Best Day So Far" that he took the title and used it for a reply every time some asked him, "How are you doing?"
"I'm having my best day so far" was President Lash's answer every time.
Before long, this phrase became the motto for our mission as he titled his weekly email to the missionaries, "My Best Day So Far".
Elder Day had a broken collar bone and wrist and lots of scrapes and bruises. He recently returned home for surgery and recuperation. Please note the pictures below with his family. Elder Day is Tigger - a bouncy, trouncey ball of energy and happiness. He radiates joy and lifts the spirits of everybody around him.

I want to be more like Elder Day. 
If today is not the best day of our life, then we never get to have the best day of our life. If we get stuck in the regrets of yesterday or the anxiety of tomorrow we lose our only true power . . .  the moment, and our choice to experience gratitude, joy and peace. 
We are the author of our own life story. We don't always get to choose our own plot twists but we do get to choose how we respond. 
Because of Jesus Christ, each of our stories will have a happy ending.
So the next time someone asks you, "How are you doing?" try answering, "I'm having my best day so far." 


Then smile and think of Elder Day.

Adassa Comes to Oakland

I was asked to write an article about an amazing singer who is performing for two nights in October in Oakland California on Temple Hill where I live and serve as a full time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints..
Click on the link below to read all about it.


Adassa is coming to Oakland – TempleHill.org

California has so much natural beauty to offer

We love living in California and enjoying the natural wonders everywhere.

A Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is about LOVE

A mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsis about getting to know people, learning to love them and developing a deep desire to serve them. A mission is also about being taught meaningful life lessons by those you get to know and being loved by your precious new friends.

A Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is all about LOVE

A mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saintsis about getting to know people, learning to love them and developing a deep desire to serve them. A mission is also about being taught meaningful life lessons by those you get to know and being loved by your precious new friends.

Visits From Family While We Serve Our Full-time Mission in Oakland/San Francisco

The only thing better than serving a mission with my sweetheart is having family visit while we are serving our mission.

Celebrating Easter on Temple Hill in Oakland

https://templehill.org/celebrating-ea...

As part of my missionary service I've been asked to write articles for templehill.org
You can read my first article by clicking on this link above to learn about all the Christ centered activities on Temple Hill during the Easter Season this year.

Serving As A Missionary in the California Oakland/San Francisco Mission

https://templehill.org/celebrating-easter-on-temple-hill/
As part of my missionary service I've been asked to write articles for templehill.org
You can read my first article by clicking on this link above to learn about all the Christ centered activities on Temple Hill during the Easter Season this year. [image error][image error]All reactions:231Amy Baadsgaard Andrus, Karen Gull and 229 othersRoss and Janene Baadsgaard 

California Oakland/San Francisco Mission Service

Ross and I love serving in the California Oakland/San Francisco Mission with the rich diversity of people and cultures that surround us. We strive to bring souls to Christ and stand in awe at His great atoning sacrifice for all mankind. We invite all to feel the love of our Heavenly Mother and Father and to know that life has meaning and purpose. There is peace and joy that comes from living and sharing the gospel.