You've probably heard of the famous Bella in Berlin. It's one of my favorite blogs to read. If you haven't heard of her go check out her blog. She's super adorable, sweet and has great advice for missionaries.
When I asked Bella to do this I had no idea how much I would relate to her. (The whole Pinterest addition, and the food thing, and so many more little things.) When I was reading her responses to the questions I kept saying over and over, "THAT'S ME."
When I asked Bella to do this I had no idea how much I would relate to her. (The whole Pinterest addition, and the food thing, and so many more little things.) When I was reading her responses to the questions I kept saying over and over, "THAT'S ME."
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Isabelle Diederich Baker!
I am 24 years old and have been married for 8 months.
Prior to marrying my best friend I served my mission in Berlin, Germany.
I love dancing, long boarding and napping. I love everything from John Mayer to Rap music specifically lilwayne. haha.
I love love love cooking and sometimes make two dinners because I'm bored and can't choose between the two options.
I cannot. cannot. bake.. it always ends in a disaster
I am a student at the University of Utah and plan to graduate this fall.
I have a diet coke in my hands at all times no matter what.. my dearest friends and family know that if I'm not buried with one one day i will turn over in my grave.
T rain is my favorite thing in the world.
My husband is my absolute best friend. Together we love cooking. Watching scary movies and going on adventures.
I am addicted to pinterest. I am looking for a support group currently to help my addiction.
I am an executive assistant currently and am very very baby hungry
Hahaha.
My name is Isabelle Diederich Baker!
I am 24 years old and have been married for 8 months.
Prior to marrying my best friend I served my mission in Berlin, Germany.
I love dancing, long boarding and napping. I love everything from John Mayer to Rap music specifically lilwayne. haha.
I love love love cooking and sometimes make two dinners because I'm bored and can't choose between the two options.
I cannot. cannot. bake.. it always ends in a disaster
I am a student at the University of Utah and plan to graduate this fall.
I have a diet coke in my hands at all times no matter what.. my dearest friends and family know that if I'm not buried with one one day i will turn over in my grave.
T rain is my favorite thing in the world.
My husband is my absolute best friend. Together we love cooking. Watching scary movies and going on adventures.
I am addicted to pinterest. I am looking for a support group currently to help my addiction.
I am an executive assistant currently and am very very baby hungry
Hahaha.
What is your favorite movie?
That is a tough one! I have a few. I love love love the Notebook (i know i know..) But not for the whole bird reason and love story. The scenery is my absolute dream.. I love the south and the time period that the film takes place in. And.. i love ryan gosling fine!! Nicholas Sparks is my person. I also love the blind side because you just feel so dang good after. Uhm.. i know theres one more and its probably les miserable I am always that scary person on the freeway BLASSSTING singing every part of the soundtrack. no shame. OH and baby mama.. who can ever forget baby mama.
That is a tough one! I have a few. I love love love the Notebook (i know i know..) But not for the whole bird reason and love story. The scenery is my absolute dream.. I love the south and the time period that the film takes place in. And.. i love ryan gosling fine!! Nicholas Sparks is my person. I also love the blind side because you just feel so dang good after. Uhm.. i know theres one more and its probably les miserable I am always that scary person on the freeway BLASSSTING singing every part of the soundtrack. no shame. OH and baby mama.. who can ever forget baby mama.
What made you decide to go on a mission?
Growing up I loved the church. Up until high school I attended regularly and willingly. I mean LOVED the church! I can't really put my thumb on when it was exactly but there came a time when I lost all desire to go. Yes I didn't fit in, yes the rather perfect to the book seminary council members weren't the kindest but that wasn't at all why I pulled away. I have never been someone to base my emotions and actions off of others so I knew there was a deeper rooted problem. I didn't have any doubts..ever. I knew and have always known the church was true. I just didn't care enough to live it.
College meant new people, new you and I dated people and met new friends that made me compromise my standards without notice. This only made my journey to full activity far more difficult. After soon beginning to believe that my mistakes defined me and that I would never deserve more than the relationship I was in I stuck around.. I gave up hope and just began drifting.
I remember a time where things became so dark and hurtful that I became determined to do anything and I mean anything to get out. I remember that week far too well (which is like a very big miracle seeing as how i can't even remember what i had for breakfast). I remember praying for the first time in years. Like REALLY praying.. speaking with the lord rather than just thanking and asking.. blessing and asking.
This went on for days and I remember coming away with an overwhelming feeling that I needed to begin with the lord, from there everything would fall into place. Sure enough.. 6 months later I had my mission call. I LOVED missionary work.. all along.. I just tried looking for it in all the wrong places.
Dating "project" boyfriends, forming around less than beneficial friendships. After rearranging my priorities and finally putting myself first I was called to serve. I told my family and friends the night before I opened my call. I have never been able to put quite into words why I wanted to serve. I saw what the gospel had done for my life, I knew what life was like with and without it. I knew that if I could make even one person feel the way I did that my purpose on earth would be absolutely filled. My mission was in no way payment for my past, an excuse to get away or something all the cool kids were doing. My mission was all id ever wanted.. it was my calling.
While out on my mission I wrote a particular letter to my cousin who was preparing to serve. President Monsen had just announced the age change and things were getting hectic!! Back when I went on a mission (look at me sounding all old timer) there was limited information for sister's. I mean if you could've seen the pamphlet they provided me with what our options were to wear you would've died a little inside. THERE WERE ROMPERS IN THERE. The particular email of " what i wish i would've known" was shared by my cousin, sent to a few friends, posted on Facebook and from there on its history. I didn't even know i had a blog or what one was nevertheless until I began getting letters, emails and messages from people all around the world..
I served in East Germany. Despite the typical stereotype I did see success in the mission field, many many missionaries there do. I have always refused to define success by the number of baptisms, I find it backwards and at times distracting from what we are sent to do. Don’t get me wrong.. baptisms are incredible and should always be a priority and goal as a missionary. But I noticed in myself and so many missionaries around me, around the world that when we get too caught up in numbers we become discouraged. We are sent to INVITE others to come unto Christ. Save it be ONE soul that you bring unto Christ how great should be your joy. That ONE soul could be a stranger on the street, reactivating a lost soul, a family member at home. Your very own companion or perhaps even yourself... HOW GREAT IS HIS JOY
After returning home and having endured far too many awkward encounters in grocery stores trying to share my testimony in the most awkward of places. Because of that desire I had to keep doing his work my blog has been the biggest blessing in my life. There are no words to hear of the reactivations, baptisms, or desires to go out and serve that have come because of my blog, something i said or a testimony that i'd given that someone had heard. Speaking to youth conferences, young women, and even with the brethren of the church my missionary work has not finished. The true success of a mission is not what you did and accomplished in those two years.. but personally who you are two years after that service.
Blogging my testimony each week has provided me that opportunity. It’s definitely not popular with most people, pin worthy or a source of income. But believing has never been and will never be the "popular" thing to do. My favorite thing to remind others and myself is that.. christ only had 12 followers. 12.. so rather than getting caught up in the world i live in i am choosing to use these new tools the lord has given me and i have and will continue to preach his gospel however that may be.
Its crazy sometimes to sit down and get an email update from a sister who decided to serve because of something I did, something I said. To then thing of the sheep she is finding and bringing unto Christ and so on and so forth. Its overwhelming but so incredibly special to me to see the work that goes on!
Growing up I loved the church. Up until high school I attended regularly and willingly. I mean LOVED the church! I can't really put my thumb on when it was exactly but there came a time when I lost all desire to go. Yes I didn't fit in, yes the rather perfect to the book seminary council members weren't the kindest but that wasn't at all why I pulled away. I have never been someone to base my emotions and actions off of others so I knew there was a deeper rooted problem. I didn't have any doubts..ever. I knew and have always known the church was true. I just didn't care enough to live it.
College meant new people, new you and I dated people and met new friends that made me compromise my standards without notice. This only made my journey to full activity far more difficult. After soon beginning to believe that my mistakes defined me and that I would never deserve more than the relationship I was in I stuck around.. I gave up hope and just began drifting.
I remember a time where things became so dark and hurtful that I became determined to do anything and I mean anything to get out. I remember that week far too well (which is like a very big miracle seeing as how i can't even remember what i had for breakfast). I remember praying for the first time in years. Like REALLY praying.. speaking with the lord rather than just thanking and asking.. blessing and asking.
This went on for days and I remember coming away with an overwhelming feeling that I needed to begin with the lord, from there everything would fall into place. Sure enough.. 6 months later I had my mission call. I LOVED missionary work.. all along.. I just tried looking for it in all the wrong places.
Dating "project" boyfriends, forming around less than beneficial friendships. After rearranging my priorities and finally putting myself first I was called to serve. I told my family and friends the night before I opened my call. I have never been able to put quite into words why I wanted to serve. I saw what the gospel had done for my life, I knew what life was like with and without it. I knew that if I could make even one person feel the way I did that my purpose on earth would be absolutely filled. My mission was in no way payment for my past, an excuse to get away or something all the cool kids were doing. My mission was all id ever wanted.. it was my calling.
While out on my mission I wrote a particular letter to my cousin who was preparing to serve. President Monsen had just announced the age change and things were getting hectic!! Back when I went on a mission (look at me sounding all old timer) there was limited information for sister's. I mean if you could've seen the pamphlet they provided me with what our options were to wear you would've died a little inside. THERE WERE ROMPERS IN THERE. The particular email of " what i wish i would've known" was shared by my cousin, sent to a few friends, posted on Facebook and from there on its history. I didn't even know i had a blog or what one was nevertheless until I began getting letters, emails and messages from people all around the world..
I served in East Germany. Despite the typical stereotype I did see success in the mission field, many many missionaries there do. I have always refused to define success by the number of baptisms, I find it backwards and at times distracting from what we are sent to do. Don’t get me wrong.. baptisms are incredible and should always be a priority and goal as a missionary. But I noticed in myself and so many missionaries around me, around the world that when we get too caught up in numbers we become discouraged. We are sent to INVITE others to come unto Christ. Save it be ONE soul that you bring unto Christ how great should be your joy. That ONE soul could be a stranger on the street, reactivating a lost soul, a family member at home. Your very own companion or perhaps even yourself... HOW GREAT IS HIS JOY
After returning home and having endured far too many awkward encounters in grocery stores trying to share my testimony in the most awkward of places. Because of that desire I had to keep doing his work my blog has been the biggest blessing in my life. There are no words to hear of the reactivations, baptisms, or desires to go out and serve that have come because of my blog, something i said or a testimony that i'd given that someone had heard. Speaking to youth conferences, young women, and even with the brethren of the church my missionary work has not finished. The true success of a mission is not what you did and accomplished in those two years.. but personally who you are two years after that service.
Blogging my testimony each week has provided me that opportunity. It’s definitely not popular with most people, pin worthy or a source of income. But believing has never been and will never be the "popular" thing to do. My favorite thing to remind others and myself is that.. christ only had 12 followers. 12.. so rather than getting caught up in the world i live in i am choosing to use these new tools the lord has given me and i have and will continue to preach his gospel however that may be.
Its crazy sometimes to sit down and get an email update from a sister who decided to serve because of something I did, something I said. To then thing of the sheep she is finding and bringing unto Christ and so on and so forth. Its overwhelming but so incredibly special to me to see the work that goes on!
What is your favorite food?
oh my gosh.. i just love food. IT IS MY LOVE LANGUAGE. I love steak (how cute and feminine am i?) lovelovelove it. Anyone can tell you i have a box of trisects in my car at alllllll times. I love cafe rio pork salads far more than i should for someone who considers working out standing up to find my computer charger in-between netflix series. Uhm.. this is like the most difficult question in the world.. i like am anxious. oh dear. ok ok ok.. hmm I also love salmon. artichokes. california rolls (everything else is just very scary) and quinoa.. haha the last one was a joke. ew.
oh my gosh.. i just love food. IT IS MY LOVE LANGUAGE. I love steak (how cute and feminine am i?) lovelovelove it. Anyone can tell you i have a box of trisects in my car at alllllll times. I love cafe rio pork salads far more than i should for someone who considers working out standing up to find my computer charger in-between netflix series. Uhm.. this is like the most difficult question in the world.. i like am anxious. oh dear. ok ok ok.. hmm I also love salmon. artichokes. california rolls (everything else is just very scary) and quinoa.. haha the last one was a joke. ew.
What inspires you to keep going in life?
The knowledge that god knows me individually. That despite who other's believed me to be, think of me to be or hope to see me become that God is preparing me. TO KNOW that i am being prepared in this moment for something 5 minutes 10.. or 20 years down the road is absolutely incredible. I have come to KNOW that he lives.. I feel thats the most important thing.. KNOWING he lives is the cornerstone. If he lives. he restored his church. if he restored is church joseph smith did in fact see god and his son jesus christ. If all of those things are true then tough days won't appear so rough.. hardships and dark days will come with an as assurety that they too will pass. Coming to personally know my savior jesus christ and achieve a relationship with him where prayer becomes a TWO WAY conversation has changed my life. As my mission president says.. the only way to live is life in CRECENDO. <<<<<
The knowledge that god knows me individually. That despite who other's believed me to be, think of me to be or hope to see me become that God is preparing me. TO KNOW that i am being prepared in this moment for something 5 minutes 10.. or 20 years down the road is absolutely incredible. I have come to KNOW that he lives.. I feel thats the most important thing.. KNOWING he lives is the cornerstone. If he lives. he restored his church. if he restored is church joseph smith did in fact see god and his son jesus christ. If all of those things are true then tough days won't appear so rough.. hardships and dark days will come with an as assurety that they too will pass. Coming to personally know my savior jesus christ and achieve a relationship with him where prayer becomes a TWO WAY conversation has changed my life. As my mission president says.. the only way to live is life in CRECENDO. <<<<<
What is you favorite book in the Book of Mormon or Bible and why?
I love the story of Nephi when he is chained and bound on the ship. His brothers are just absolute pains.. I personally would've just tossed them off the ship and thats absolutely why I am not in the BOM. But after days of turmoil, beatings and being chained and bound Nephi does something remarkable. Despite being probably more sea sick than imaginable, sore beyond belief and completely and utterly heartbroken at the wickedness rather than retaliate, mourn or complain he PRAISES the lord his god. PRAISES HIM.. for delivering him.. PRAISES him to giving him strength to endure that horrible trial.. This has always been an incredible reminder to me on days where I feel like tweeting/venting my problems. Where instead of pointing fingers and complaining to rather get on my knees and THANK my god. It took a lot of practice.. and has provided many hours of incredible scripture study but I have a much deeper and greater understanding of what god wants me to do and who he wants me to be.
Why do you think it is important to marry in the temple?
As a temple worker the temple has become even more important to me. It is an incredibly great blessing to go in regularly, weekly at times to witness the miracles that await us there. Perhaps the most important thing I can and do stress to people is the importance of dating a WORTHY young man. YES you can be an example.. YES you can motivate and inspire.. but YOU can NOT change anyone.. The lord and the LORD only can do that.. You should be equally yoked when it comes to worthiness and spirituality. Otherwise you're facing the struggle we once found on the playground trying to perfectly balance on a teeter totter or swing in unison. its impossible. Marriage is not as simple as swinging in unison.. i would be horrified it it was.
Dating a young man who i know that even if i dropped off the face of the earth and became an absolute bumm that his testimony would not waver and that he would put the lord first is so reassuring as a wife. To be able to kneel across the alter from someone who you did not drag there, who did not drag you but together you walked.. there are no words. The gospel is the rock of our marriage.. its what brings us together when the world and our busy days tear us apart. Its how we begin each morning and end each night.. kneeling one by another. For those of you that believe that if you can juuuuuust get them on a mission or juuuust make it to the temple maybe MAYBE they will change.. im sorry. you're wrong.
A temple marriage is forever.. but that FOREVER relies on YOU and YOUR spouse. I see too often missionaries who come home, go inactive, begin turning back to old patterns and lose that light in their eyes. 2 years.. great.. but its the ENDURING part that they need to focus more on. Ive seen too many brides remove their garments days after have been endowed. Without full understanding of the promises made they take them off and put them on when convenient or when the next temple photo opportunity presents itself.. This is heartbreaking to me. I can't be the G police and i cannot get involved in something so personal as that. But if i can help educate brides to be on WHY it is we wear them.. perhaps.. perhaps that may help. With understanding comes appreciation.. with appreciation comes LOVE. I LOVE MY GARMENT.. YES it is at times uncomfortable YES i feel that every.single.outfit looks slightly less attractive with them on.. but i feel whole and more beautiful with them on than i ever did before. Your garment is an outward example of your inward commitment.
Temple marriages is gods plan for us.. It may be a long road to get there but i promise. it is so. so worth it.
I love the story of Nephi when he is chained and bound on the ship. His brothers are just absolute pains.. I personally would've just tossed them off the ship and thats absolutely why I am not in the BOM. But after days of turmoil, beatings and being chained and bound Nephi does something remarkable. Despite being probably more sea sick than imaginable, sore beyond belief and completely and utterly heartbroken at the wickedness rather than retaliate, mourn or complain he PRAISES the lord his god. PRAISES HIM.. for delivering him.. PRAISES him to giving him strength to endure that horrible trial.. This has always been an incredible reminder to me on days where I feel like tweeting/venting my problems. Where instead of pointing fingers and complaining to rather get on my knees and THANK my god. It took a lot of practice.. and has provided many hours of incredible scripture study but I have a much deeper and greater understanding of what god wants me to do and who he wants me to be.
Why do you think it is important to marry in the temple?
As a temple worker the temple has become even more important to me. It is an incredibly great blessing to go in regularly, weekly at times to witness the miracles that await us there. Perhaps the most important thing I can and do stress to people is the importance of dating a WORTHY young man. YES you can be an example.. YES you can motivate and inspire.. but YOU can NOT change anyone.. The lord and the LORD only can do that.. You should be equally yoked when it comes to worthiness and spirituality. Otherwise you're facing the struggle we once found on the playground trying to perfectly balance on a teeter totter or swing in unison. its impossible. Marriage is not as simple as swinging in unison.. i would be horrified it it was.
Dating a young man who i know that even if i dropped off the face of the earth and became an absolute bumm that his testimony would not waver and that he would put the lord first is so reassuring as a wife. To be able to kneel across the alter from someone who you did not drag there, who did not drag you but together you walked.. there are no words. The gospel is the rock of our marriage.. its what brings us together when the world and our busy days tear us apart. Its how we begin each morning and end each night.. kneeling one by another. For those of you that believe that if you can juuuuuust get them on a mission or juuuust make it to the temple maybe MAYBE they will change.. im sorry. you're wrong.
A temple marriage is forever.. but that FOREVER relies on YOU and YOUR spouse. I see too often missionaries who come home, go inactive, begin turning back to old patterns and lose that light in their eyes. 2 years.. great.. but its the ENDURING part that they need to focus more on. Ive seen too many brides remove their garments days after have been endowed. Without full understanding of the promises made they take them off and put them on when convenient or when the next temple photo opportunity presents itself.. This is heartbreaking to me. I can't be the G police and i cannot get involved in something so personal as that. But if i can help educate brides to be on WHY it is we wear them.. perhaps.. perhaps that may help. With understanding comes appreciation.. with appreciation comes LOVE. I LOVE MY GARMENT.. YES it is at times uncomfortable YES i feel that every.single.outfit looks slightly less attractive with them on.. but i feel whole and more beautiful with them on than i ever did before. Your garment is an outward example of your inward commitment.
Temple marriages is gods plan for us.. It may be a long road to get there but i promise. it is so. so worth it.
What are some ways we as youth can do to prepare for a mission?
I’ll make this one easy:
FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF.. better now than later
Stop dabbling where you know you shouldn't
Go to the temple sooner than later
Achieve a two-way communication with the lord
be obedient
define success for yourself and never get caught up in numbers..
lose yourself in the work
activation is activation.. whether its putting new batteries in or recharging old ones.. work is work.. ( I like this I may put that in a quote one day)
ENJOY YOURSELF.. i remember after a few months into my mission of just busting my butt, fighting through bleeding ulcers and driving
myself to the ground one night it hit me... IS THIS WHAT GOD WANTS!?
Not once before had i stopped to smell the roses.. to really help someone
along the way to that important appt. or ignoring little promptings in search
of something much greater.
Missions are not scary things.
They are not meant to be endured.
There is a difference between having FUN on your mission and finding JOY ( excellent scripture study right there between those two words if you wanna check it out )
last.. remember that your best is enough. not your district leaders.. not your absolutely overbearing ZL.. but YOUR best.. not your numbers.. not your baptisms.. but YOUR BEST is all that the lord asks. He makes up for the rest.
What advise would you give to young women?
D. ALL OF THE ABOVE
Most important.. remember who you are and what you stand for.
Cheesy? Yes.. Probably a sticker somewhere? Yes.. but true?
DEFINITELY.
until you walk alone you may never know what it feels like to truly know that the lord walks besides you. you are enough.
I’ll make this one easy:
FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF.. better now than later
Stop dabbling where you know you shouldn't
Go to the temple sooner than later
Achieve a two-way communication with the lord
be obedient
define success for yourself and never get caught up in numbers..
lose yourself in the work
activation is activation.. whether its putting new batteries in or recharging old ones.. work is work.. ( I like this I may put that in a quote one day)
ENJOY YOURSELF.. i remember after a few months into my mission of just busting my butt, fighting through bleeding ulcers and driving
myself to the ground one night it hit me... IS THIS WHAT GOD WANTS!?
Not once before had i stopped to smell the roses.. to really help someone
along the way to that important appt. or ignoring little promptings in search
of something much greater.
Missions are not scary things.
They are not meant to be endured.
There is a difference between having FUN on your mission and finding JOY ( excellent scripture study right there between those two words if you wanna check it out )
last.. remember that your best is enough. not your district leaders.. not your absolutely overbearing ZL.. but YOUR best.. not your numbers.. not your baptisms.. but YOUR BEST is all that the lord asks. He makes up for the rest.
What advise would you give to young women?
D. ALL OF THE ABOVE
Most important.. remember who you are and what you stand for.
Cheesy? Yes.. Probably a sticker somewhere? Yes.. but true?
DEFINITELY.
until you walk alone you may never know what it feels like to truly know that the lord walks besides you. you are enough.