HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love missionary work!!! This past week has been a VERY different week in Boulder City. We have had a constant stream of progressing investigators since the first month I was here BUT we have had SO many baptisms lately that we have recently run into a shortage of people to teach. SO this past week we did a TON of finding! It has been a BLAST! Sister Matthew is SO incredible! She has literally kept me running from person to person! We also ran out of miles on our car so we walked all weekend and we taught SO MANY other lessons! We did a little bit of tracting but mostly just street contacts... that's what's nice about the warmer weather, people are actually out and about!
Cool experience... we were driving up a street on Monday night and over in a drainage ditch I saw a guy sitting there, I turned the car around and jumped out (Sis. Matthew had no idea what was going on but she followed). I went up to the guy, he had a half empty bottle of beer by his feet and he was smoking a cigarette! I knew something was up so I said, "Hello, are you OK?" He said, "No." I of course was curious (I've become quite a nosy person) so I said, "What's up?" He told us that he had just been attacked by a drunk guy and was having a VERY BAD day. I could tell. I told him that we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and that we could help make his day better. He looked at me like I was some sort of maniac but I kept going. I told him that Heavenly Father was very aware of his situation and that through the Atonement he could have comfort in his life. At this point he stood up and came over to talk to us. He said, "I've only got one question... Where did you come from? People have walked by all night and you are the first ones to stop and talk to me." I felt like a good Samaritan!!! We gave him a Finding Faith in Christ DVD card and set up a time to go and talk to him the next day. We went to his house the next day and he told us that he thought we were angles (I'm sure that had something to do with the half empty bottle of beer)!!!! Hahaha! We taught him the Plan of Salvation and watched Finding Faith in Christ. At the end of the movie all he said was "Wow!" That's how I felt too! He still has quite a way to go... like not drinking while we are at his house. But I think Eddie had his prayers answered that night!
Kelsey's baptism didn't go through on Saturday. Her dad called us on Friday and said, "Kelsey will not be getting baptized until she is 18... that is in 4 weeks and if she wants it that bad then she can wait." I told him that was fine... so now we are planning a baptism for March 27! Kelsey also handled it very well. I called her right up after talking to her dad and told her to keep it cool with her parents and that they would come around eventually and that it would be just fine to wait for a month. So, all is good!
I am SO in LOVE with Boulder City. I'm quite seriously considering moving back here! I have had a TON of job offers from members and one member even offered to buy me a house!!!
I get to go through the temple on Saturday with Maria May!!!! I’m so excited! One of MY recent converts is going through the temple and I get to be there!!!!!!!! Woohoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that is just about all the exciting news! I love you all SO MUCH! Make good choices, don't do drugs, be happy and LOVE JESUS!
Love, ME!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Elder Walker 2-22-2010
Hello everyone,
This week has been quite the eventful week. We got a call on Tuesday night that our 75 year old investigator, Robert, had a heart attack and was taken to the Rexburg hospital. Robert Terrell is the one that is going to be baptized on the 6th of March. We immediately canceled our appointments for the night and rushed down to Rexburg. We found him in the ER just as they were strapping him up to take him to Idaho Falls to a heart specialist. When we got there his wife Rose said that we got there at a perfect time because they were just about to go. We asked brother Terrell if he would like a blessing and he replied that he would. We gave him a blessing of comfort and council. I don't remember what was said in the blessing except that the phrase, "everything in your life has prepared you for this moment", has stuck with me since that time. Well they found out that his heart had sped up to about 250 bpm which sparked the heart attack. He now has a pace maker and defibrillator to keep his heart on track. When we got to the hospital his first concern was if he was going to make it to his baptism. We told him that it didn't matter if he did or if his father in heaven called him home that we would take care of his baptism either way. We stopped by to see him yesterday after church and he is doing well. He told us that we are to plan for him to be baptized on the 6th of March unless his doctor tells him otherwise; I'm thinking we are going to have to postpone it...
That event has made me really stop and reflect on the authority that I hold to stand in place of my Heavenly Father and use his power to bless his child. I'm sure that it was hard for Heavenly Father to watch one of his children experience the pain that Brother Terrell went through but to know that I can stand in his place to do what he himself would do is such a humbling experience. I told you last week about Trevon's baptism and how that experience is my most memorable so far on the mission. From the first time I met him he said that he wanted to be baptized so he could have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Trevon asked me to confirm him and give him that gift that he so desired. That event and the event of Brother Terrell have made me really respect and understand the significance of the priesthood. Think about it, how great is it that we have the priesthood on this earth to be able to give the gift of a God. How great it is to bless someone with comfort and counsel literally from our Father in Heaven. I know that Joseph Smith restored that priesthood to this earth from Peter, James, and John; Christ's original Apostles. I know that our Father in Heaven has blessed us with this power so we can be blessed. I will forever honor and cherish this authority that I hold.
I had the strangest dream last night. I had a dream that Iver Johnson was called to the Idaho Pocatello Mission and that he was assigned to St. Anthony and I served him as his trainer. Weird. Maybe it'll happen...
Well that's all the exciting news here in St. Anthony Idaho. I hope you all are having great experiences too. Remember that we can always expect miracles.
peace and love,
Elder Walker
This week has been quite the eventful week. We got a call on Tuesday night that our 75 year old investigator, Robert, had a heart attack and was taken to the Rexburg hospital. Robert Terrell is the one that is going to be baptized on the 6th of March. We immediately canceled our appointments for the night and rushed down to Rexburg. We found him in the ER just as they were strapping him up to take him to Idaho Falls to a heart specialist. When we got there his wife Rose said that we got there at a perfect time because they were just about to go. We asked brother Terrell if he would like a blessing and he replied that he would. We gave him a blessing of comfort and council. I don't remember what was said in the blessing except that the phrase, "everything in your life has prepared you for this moment", has stuck with me since that time. Well they found out that his heart had sped up to about 250 bpm which sparked the heart attack. He now has a pace maker and defibrillator to keep his heart on track. When we got to the hospital his first concern was if he was going to make it to his baptism. We told him that it didn't matter if he did or if his father in heaven called him home that we would take care of his baptism either way. We stopped by to see him yesterday after church and he is doing well. He told us that we are to plan for him to be baptized on the 6th of March unless his doctor tells him otherwise; I'm thinking we are going to have to postpone it...
That event has made me really stop and reflect on the authority that I hold to stand in place of my Heavenly Father and use his power to bless his child. I'm sure that it was hard for Heavenly Father to watch one of his children experience the pain that Brother Terrell went through but to know that I can stand in his place to do what he himself would do is such a humbling experience. I told you last week about Trevon's baptism and how that experience is my most memorable so far on the mission. From the first time I met him he said that he wanted to be baptized so he could have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Trevon asked me to confirm him and give him that gift that he so desired. That event and the event of Brother Terrell have made me really respect and understand the significance of the priesthood. Think about it, how great is it that we have the priesthood on this earth to be able to give the gift of a God. How great it is to bless someone with comfort and counsel literally from our Father in Heaven. I know that Joseph Smith restored that priesthood to this earth from Peter, James, and John; Christ's original Apostles. I know that our Father in Heaven has blessed us with this power so we can be blessed. I will forever honor and cherish this authority that I hold.
I had the strangest dream last night. I had a dream that Iver Johnson was called to the Idaho Pocatello Mission and that he was assigned to St. Anthony and I served him as his trainer. Weird. Maybe it'll happen...
Well that's all the exciting news here in St. Anthony Idaho. I hope you all are having great experiences too. Remember that we can always expect miracles.
peace and love,
Elder Walker
Friday, February 19, 2010
Note From Me
Well - I just spent the last hour updating this blog and Tyson's Mission blog. That meant that I've had a chance to re-read every letter that Sis. Walker and Elder Walker have emailed home the last month! Wow!
I am so grateful for two of the best missionary children ever! Their testimony is so strong. Their zeal is evident. Their desire to serve is heartwarming!
Tyson recently wrote home and told us that he and his companion recently spoke at a Bishop's Fireside. He said he told the kids that less than 6 months ago he was in their shoes... senior in high school, actively involved at school and with friends, and now... look where he is. That really hit me... In less than six months Tyson has gone from being 'Tyson' to becoming 'Elder Walker'
And... now in just six weeks, Sister Walker will be returning home!
Wow!
When did my kids grow up???
I am so grateful for two of the best missionary children ever! Their testimony is so strong. Their zeal is evident. Their desire to serve is heartwarming!
Tyson recently wrote home and told us that he and his companion recently spoke at a Bishop's Fireside. He said he told the kids that less than 6 months ago he was in their shoes... senior in high school, actively involved at school and with friends, and now... look where he is. That really hit me... In less than six months Tyson has gone from being 'Tyson' to becoming 'Elder Walker'
And... now in just six weeks, Sister Walker will be returning home!
Wow!
When did my kids grow up???
Sister Walker Stays in Boulder City
Hello!!!!
So let me explain a little something called transfers to you... in our mission it works like this:
- if you and your companion are getting double transferred out of an area you get a call the Saturday night before transfers.-
- if you are getting sent to Elko you get a call the Saturday night before transfers so that you can get ready to go Monday morning.-
- if you are training you get a call the Sunday night before transfers.-
- if you are getting transferred you find out on Monday early afternoon.-
- if you or your companion are getting transferred you go to Transfer conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Ok, now that I have explained all of that you can somewhat understand how stressful the weekend before transfers can be. Many thoughts run through a missionaries head such as, "Am I getting transferred, or am I staying here..." "Am I getting a new companion, what if they are lazy..." "Is the work going to continue if I'm gone..." STRESSFUL!!!
Well, lets start my story off here... Every transfer I have found out at least a week ahead of time if I was staying or not... President knows me too well... and I'm a bit sneaky! BUT... Last week, I had NO CLUE what was going to happen. I was SO STRESSED all weekend. I had no idea what was going to happen for my last transfer. As you all know, I really, really wanted to stay in Boulder City but in the back of my mind I was preparing myself to head out.
Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
On Sunday night I received a phone call from the Assistants and of course I knew this meant a training call because this was the 3rd time I had received the "Sunday night call." I'm not going to lie, I was hoping to have an experienced companion for my last transfer because I was getting a bit worn out from training... but of course, I was willing to do whatever the Lord asked of me!!! I asked the Elder if that meant that I was staying in Boulder City and he said he could not tell me! YIKES! I had another slight freak out session then went to bed. I couldn't sleep all night because I was so stressed out. WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!!! So........ I thought for sure I was getting transferred UNTIL I got a call Monday morning from President. He called and made me promise him I would stay focused because......... I would be STAYING in Boulder City for another 6 weeks!
I'm pretty sure I squealed! I'm creating quite the habit of squealing a lot! He also made me cry. He told me that he knew right away that I needed to train my last transfer. He told me that he had full confidence in me and he told me that if this were his daughter coming into the mission he would want me to be her trainer. He told me that he wanted my legacy to live on in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission and that it was through training this transfer that that would happen. I told him that I promise to make him proud and I WILL!!!!!!!!!!!
Well Folks, lets just say it's a good thing I am in LOVE with Boulder City because at the end of this transfer I will have spent half of my mission here! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE MY COMPANION!!! Her name is Sister Matthew and she is from the Martial Islands... but most recently Honolulu! She is the greatest, most excited, hardest working companion I have had my entire mission. In a trainers meeting that we had on Tuesday morning President told us trainers that the transfer that we spend training should be the most exhausting transfer next to our last transfer. I am the only Trainer going home at the end of this transfer so I said, "ok President, then I'll be double exhausted for you!..." and let me tell ya, after yesterday I am exhausted and SO EXCITED for this transfer! We literally ran from person to person, house to house yesterday to tell EVERYONE we saw about the Restoration of the gospel!
I am so grateful to be serving with Sister Matthew because she is just what I need to go out with a bang! She has the most powerful testimony I have ever seen!!! She is the BEST!!!!!!!!! The Lord does work in mysterious ways!!! He knows that Sister Matthew is the PERFECT companion for my last transfer!
Cami's baptism was perfect! She bore her testimony and simply said, "I know that this church is true. When I went into the water... I felt it. Amen." As she said those simple but truly heartfelt words, her eyes filled with tears and I knew that the Spirit had touched everyone in the room at that moment. And dang, it hit me like a ton of bricks, I couldn't hold back the tears!
Kelsey had her interview for baptism last night and it went great! She is so ready for baptism!!!!!! I am so happy for the decision she has made and that she has stuck to it even without her parents support! I am constantly amazed at the things people go through to be members of the True Church. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!!!!!
Ok, I think that's about all I've got to tell you this week! I love this work so much and I am so blessed to be serving the Lord!
Remember that I love you! Make good choices, don't do drugs, and go spread the gospel! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, ME!
Elder Walker 2-15-10
St Anthony is going to get Translated
Hello everyone,
So this week wasn't as exciting as last week due to the fact that we didn't have any Apostles come speak to us. We have had a great week though. Saturday concluded baptism number nine. Trevon E was finally baptized after lots of prayer and fasting for his parents to soften their hearts. Trevon asked me to confirm him a member of the church which, if you knew him, was a huge honor. Treven was more prepared for his baptism than anyone else that has been baptized since I've been here. I will never forget the first time I met treven nearly 12 weeks ago and I asked him why he wanted to be baptized, his response was more profound than I think he realized at the time; he told me that the reason he wanted to be baptized was so that he could have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost to protect him. Keep in mind that answer came from a 10 year old.
We've been teaching this man who is 75 named Robert Terrell from Colorado. He just recently moved here to get married to his 4th wife after loosing the past 3 to cancer and sicknesses. He has been so prepared throughout his life to receive the restored gospel. I can't even describe to you the experiences that he has had that have led up to this point of him meeting with us. He has experienced more heart ache and more sorrow than any one person I have ever met, yet he has keep looking forward to see how he can make the future better. The reason he married his current wife was so that he could give her a better life than the one she has had with the death of her husband due to illness. That goes to show the kind of man Robert Terrell is. Well we met with him two days ago to teach him for the 3rd time. While teaching him we got on a conversation about how the world is today. He spoke up and said, "it's going to be up to the Mormons to save this world from corruption and I'm ready to join them." That was way cool to experience someone recognizing the power of the church. We have set up to go to Idaho Falls with Robert and his wife Rose to the temple visitor center. He said I'll agree to go on one condition; I get to take you out to dinner at Chuck-a-rama. Anyone who knows me knows that I am so excited for that! I would always have my birthday dinners there when I lived in Utah every year until I moved to Colorado.
We also set another baptism date with Aaron Boots. This is the first time he has committed to a date since he started meeting with the missionaries three years ago. He will be baptized on the 27th of this month. He was super emotional when he accepted the date. Aaron is going to be such a diligent member of the church.
I love this work. I know that I am on the Lord's errand. I am the Lord's missionary and will bring the world his truth.
Peace and Love,
Elder Walker
p.s. this stake has seen 9 baptisms in 10 weeks... That is remarkable
Hello everyone,
So this week wasn't as exciting as last week due to the fact that we didn't have any Apostles come speak to us. We have had a great week though. Saturday concluded baptism number nine. Trevon E was finally baptized after lots of prayer and fasting for his parents to soften their hearts. Trevon asked me to confirm him a member of the church which, if you knew him, was a huge honor. Treven was more prepared for his baptism than anyone else that has been baptized since I've been here. I will never forget the first time I met treven nearly 12 weeks ago and I asked him why he wanted to be baptized, his response was more profound than I think he realized at the time; he told me that the reason he wanted to be baptized was so that he could have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost to protect him. Keep in mind that answer came from a 10 year old.
We've been teaching this man who is 75 named Robert Terrell from Colorado. He just recently moved here to get married to his 4th wife after loosing the past 3 to cancer and sicknesses. He has been so prepared throughout his life to receive the restored gospel. I can't even describe to you the experiences that he has had that have led up to this point of him meeting with us. He has experienced more heart ache and more sorrow than any one person I have ever met, yet he has keep looking forward to see how he can make the future better. The reason he married his current wife was so that he could give her a better life than the one she has had with the death of her husband due to illness. That goes to show the kind of man Robert Terrell is. Well we met with him two days ago to teach him for the 3rd time. While teaching him we got on a conversation about how the world is today. He spoke up and said, "it's going to be up to the Mormons to save this world from corruption and I'm ready to join them." That was way cool to experience someone recognizing the power of the church. We have set up to go to Idaho Falls with Robert and his wife Rose to the temple visitor center. He said I'll agree to go on one condition; I get to take you out to dinner at Chuck-a-rama. Anyone who knows me knows that I am so excited for that! I would always have my birthday dinners there when I lived in Utah every year until I moved to Colorado.
We also set another baptism date with Aaron Boots. This is the first time he has committed to a date since he started meeting with the missionaries three years ago. He will be baptized on the 27th of this month. He was super emotional when he accepted the date. Aaron is going to be such a diligent member of the church.
I love this work. I know that I am on the Lord's errand. I am the Lord's missionary and will bring the world his truth.
Peace and Love,
Elder Walker
p.s. this stake has seen 9 baptisms in 10 weeks... That is remarkable
Sis Walker 2-11-10
I LOVE MY MISSION!
That's really all I have to say!
So this morning I was starting a fire in our gas burning fireplace and I was starting it with some pocket matches... well, I had the gas up to high so when I stuck the match in there it went... POOF... I only singed a good chunk of hair so I gave myself a little trim and now you cant even tell!!!! My comp. told me I am no longer allowed to start fires! I agree!
Last week I discovered a new recipe! I bought myself some frozen chicken but I didn't have anything flavoring for it so I went on a hunt... in my search I saw the otterpops in the freezer and thought I would try that. I placed 5 pieces of chicken in a cake pan, cut up the otter pops, two orange and 1 pink, and placed it on the chicken and then cooked for an hour at 375... YUM! Who woulda thought??? It was almost as good as mom's orange juice chicken! I'm so creative!!! Haha!
Earlier this week we left our condo only to realize that I had locked the keys inside... Yes, the condo keys and the car keys. Oh and it was raining like crazy outside and probably only 40 degrees. We called our landlord's three different numbers... no answer... so we decided we best get walking because the Lord's work isn't going to get done by standing around waiting for a phone call! An hour later our Landlord's wife called... they were at the hospital... but they had received our message and they were sending a key with one of their daughters down to their other daughters house! We finally got the key a couple hours and a lot of laughs later!!!!!! We were happy to get inside and get dry clothes on!!!!
Um... what else! We have Cami's baptism this weekend! We only have 20 pages to go before we meet our goal in the B of M!!! Kelsey's parents both gave her permission to be baptized so she is FOR SURE getting baptized on the 20th.
Transfers are on Tuesday and again, I am praying like crazy that I don't get transferred but I'll do whatever the Lord wants me to do!
I LOVE THIS WORK!!!!!!! Make good choices, don't do drugs, be happy and LOVE LIFE!!!!!!
Love, ME!
That's really all I have to say!
So this morning I was starting a fire in our gas burning fireplace and I was starting it with some pocket matches... well, I had the gas up to high so when I stuck the match in there it went... POOF... I only singed a good chunk of hair so I gave myself a little trim and now you cant even tell!!!! My comp. told me I am no longer allowed to start fires! I agree!
Last week I discovered a new recipe! I bought myself some frozen chicken but I didn't have anything flavoring for it so I went on a hunt... in my search I saw the otterpops in the freezer and thought I would try that. I placed 5 pieces of chicken in a cake pan, cut up the otter pops, two orange and 1 pink, and placed it on the chicken and then cooked for an hour at 375... YUM! Who woulda thought??? It was almost as good as mom's orange juice chicken! I'm so creative!!! Haha!
Earlier this week we left our condo only to realize that I had locked the keys inside... Yes, the condo keys and the car keys. Oh and it was raining like crazy outside and probably only 40 degrees. We called our landlord's three different numbers... no answer... so we decided we best get walking because the Lord's work isn't going to get done by standing around waiting for a phone call! An hour later our Landlord's wife called... they were at the hospital... but they had received our message and they were sending a key with one of their daughters down to their other daughters house! We finally got the key a couple hours and a lot of laughs later!!!!!! We were happy to get inside and get dry clothes on!!!!
Um... what else! We have Cami's baptism this weekend! We only have 20 pages to go before we meet our goal in the B of M!!! Kelsey's parents both gave her permission to be baptized so she is FOR SURE getting baptized on the 20th.
Transfers are on Tuesday and again, I am praying like crazy that I don't get transferred but I'll do whatever the Lord wants me to do!
I LOVE THIS WORK!!!!!!! Make good choices, don't do drugs, be happy and LOVE LIFE!!!!!!
Love, ME!
Elder Scott - Tyson's Mission Conference Experience
Elder Scott
Hello everyone,
It is now official, the St. Anthony stake has now been redone and is starting new. We sustained 5 new bishops, lost 4 ward mission leaders, got a new ward, and now have new ward boundries for 9 of the 11 wards... pretty much the most exciting thing that has happened around here since the Teton Dam broke in '76. This change had been the topic of discussion in every house we have gone to. We were told what the boundries were going to be before they announced it to the stake due to our investigators and their fellowshippers. So now that the word is out we have been trying to re-pair our investigators with families that can take them to church and such. Pretty much chaos.
Saturday was definately on the top 5 of my most spiritual experiences. Elder Richard G. Scott is an amazing man. We left for Idaho Falls on Friday night to stay with some Elders down there so the drive would be shorter for us in the morning. We got up around 5 to get ready and to drive the rest of the way to Pocatello to be seated and spiritually preparing at 7. We had the whole mission in the Alameda Stake center in Pocatello, roughly 190 missionaries. It was quite funny actually because we would look down to our scriptues to read a few verses then look up to see if Elder Scott had come in yet, then down to read some more verses. Finally Elder Scott came in around ten to 8:00. The whole mission just stood up in silence as Elder Scott walked with Elder Snow and Elder Hammond to the stand with President and Sister Colton. Elder Scott asked us to shake hands at the start so he could get out quickly to a meeting at noon. He asked us to tell him our name and where we were from. I learned something about Elder Scott that day. Number one he is shorter than I thought, and number two he has more qenuine love than any other person I have ever shook hands with. We all sat back down anxiously awaiting his message. To be honest, I didn't care too much for what he had to tell us. Not to make that sound like I was disregarding the message of a Prophet, its just that he was talking about marriage and getting married in the temple and such. My thoughts are that I have 21 months left before I need to think and/or worry about that. During his talk he brought up one of the Sisters who is learning English. He asked her a few questions and then said,"as an Apostle of Jesus Christ I bestow upon you the gift on tongues." My favorite part was the last 10 minutes when he bore his witness of the Savior. He said, "Elders and Sisters, I have been talking to you as Elder Scott, I am now going to talk to you as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ one of the 15 who holds all keys of the priesthood in the Kingdom of God. Me as Richard G. Scott doesn't mean anything, I am nothing, but what I represent and testify of means everything." at that point the Spirit just filled to room, He, the spirit, was preparing us for a testimony of our Savior given by Elder Scott. I don't remember everything that was said other than his last sentence that I will never forget. He said, "I bear solemn witness that he lives... I know Him." I will never forget those words that were spoken by an Apostle of the Lord.
So let me just tell you transfer information with a little story of how I found out about transfers... Our zone leaders called us last night around 9:45 which is weird because they never call to give us transfer information, they usually just send it out in a voicemail. So Elder Dangerfield says, "well Elder Walker and Elder Call, I have bad news." We were thinking alright well one of us is getting transfered, that's cool. Then he proceeds to tell us that President has seen it fit to white wash St. Anthony or to transfer us both out. I was like yeah right, you're joking, why did you call us. He then said that we wished he was joking and that we are number 3 and 4 in the baggage line. Oh at that point I lost it. I was like are you kidding me! We just got new ward boundries and all of our investigators don't have fellowshippers yet, I am calling president, there is no way they can take us both out of here! Finally after getting me heated for 5 minutes Elder Lagazo our other zone leader gets on to tell us that they were joking, they just wanted to see how we would react to that. Let me just tell you something, I have been in theatre for a very long time and I have not seen/heard anyone be as convincing as Elder Dangerfield was last night. I still get heated thinking about that mean joke. Long story short, Elder Call and I are staying in St. Anthony for another transfer. I am very excited and thankful for this opportunity. I know that there is still work for me to do here and I am ready to get it done.
well I love you all so much. I hope you know how much I really appreciate you. I am loving each day more and more as a missionary. This is such a great opportunity to stay here once again. I look forward to telling you about the growth that will happen in the next 6 weeks here.
peace and love,
Elder Walker
Hello everyone,
It is now official, the St. Anthony stake has now been redone and is starting new. We sustained 5 new bishops, lost 4 ward mission leaders, got a new ward, and now have new ward boundries for 9 of the 11 wards... pretty much the most exciting thing that has happened around here since the Teton Dam broke in '76. This change had been the topic of discussion in every house we have gone to. We were told what the boundries were going to be before they announced it to the stake due to our investigators and their fellowshippers. So now that the word is out we have been trying to re-pair our investigators with families that can take them to church and such. Pretty much chaos.
Saturday was definately on the top 5 of my most spiritual experiences. Elder Richard G. Scott is an amazing man. We left for Idaho Falls on Friday night to stay with some Elders down there so the drive would be shorter for us in the morning. We got up around 5 to get ready and to drive the rest of the way to Pocatello to be seated and spiritually preparing at 7. We had the whole mission in the Alameda Stake center in Pocatello, roughly 190 missionaries. It was quite funny actually because we would look down to our scriptues to read a few verses then look up to see if Elder Scott had come in yet, then down to read some more verses. Finally Elder Scott came in around ten to 8:00. The whole mission just stood up in silence as Elder Scott walked with Elder Snow and Elder Hammond to the stand with President and Sister Colton. Elder Scott asked us to shake hands at the start so he could get out quickly to a meeting at noon. He asked us to tell him our name and where we were from. I learned something about Elder Scott that day. Number one he is shorter than I thought, and number two he has more qenuine love than any other person I have ever shook hands with. We all sat back down anxiously awaiting his message. To be honest, I didn't care too much for what he had to tell us. Not to make that sound like I was disregarding the message of a Prophet, its just that he was talking about marriage and getting married in the temple and such. My thoughts are that I have 21 months left before I need to think and/or worry about that. During his talk he brought up one of the Sisters who is learning English. He asked her a few questions and then said,"as an Apostle of Jesus Christ I bestow upon you the gift on tongues." My favorite part was the last 10 minutes when he bore his witness of the Savior. He said, "Elders and Sisters, I have been talking to you as Elder Scott, I am now going to talk to you as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ one of the 15 who holds all keys of the priesthood in the Kingdom of God. Me as Richard G. Scott doesn't mean anything, I am nothing, but what I represent and testify of means everything." at that point the Spirit just filled to room, He, the spirit, was preparing us for a testimony of our Savior given by Elder Scott. I don't remember everything that was said other than his last sentence that I will never forget. He said, "I bear solemn witness that he lives... I know Him." I will never forget those words that were spoken by an Apostle of the Lord.
So let me just tell you transfer information with a little story of how I found out about transfers... Our zone leaders called us last night around 9:45 which is weird because they never call to give us transfer information, they usually just send it out in a voicemail. So Elder Dangerfield says, "well Elder Walker and Elder Call, I have bad news." We were thinking alright well one of us is getting transfered, that's cool. Then he proceeds to tell us that President has seen it fit to white wash St. Anthony or to transfer us both out. I was like yeah right, you're joking, why did you call us. He then said that we wished he was joking and that we are number 3 and 4 in the baggage line. Oh at that point I lost it. I was like are you kidding me! We just got new ward boundries and all of our investigators don't have fellowshippers yet, I am calling president, there is no way they can take us both out of here! Finally after getting me heated for 5 minutes Elder Lagazo our other zone leader gets on to tell us that they were joking, they just wanted to see how we would react to that. Let me just tell you something, I have been in theatre for a very long time and I have not seen/heard anyone be as convincing as Elder Dangerfield was last night. I still get heated thinking about that mean joke. Long story short, Elder Call and I are staying in St. Anthony for another transfer. I am very excited and thankful for this opportunity. I know that there is still work for me to do here and I am ready to get it done.
well I love you all so much. I hope you know how much I really appreciate you. I am loving each day more and more as a missionary. This is such a great opportunity to stay here once again. I look forward to telling you about the growth that will happen in the next 6 weeks here.
peace and love,
Elder Walker
Sis Walker Feb 4
Hello Family!!!!!
This week has been a great week! Phil’s baptism was incredible! There was a great turnout! Jammie, Phil’s recently baptized wife gave a combined talk on Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost… lets just say, she is ready to speak in Stake Conference. The talk was phenomenal!!!! They are so excited to go to the temple in a year and I can’t wait to be here for that!
We have an investigator, Kelsey, who really wants to get baptized on the 20th of this month but she is only 17 and her parents aren’t too keen on the idea. But get this, before we even taught her about fasting, she asked us if we would join her in a fast for her parent’s hearts to be softened. I guess she had learned about fasting in Seminary… at any rate, we had a fast yesterday and I really feel as though things are going to work out! Kelsey is another one of those really mature teenagers whom I feel so privileged to be teaching. I feel like she teaches me more than I teach her!!! I love it!
We are getting so close to our goal in the Book of Mormon with Cami!!! We are almost done with Mosiah! I have noticed a couple of things as we have read, 1. her understanding of the gospel has increased, 2. her family is growing closer together as we read together 3. her reading skills are picking up quite a bit! I just love the Book of Mormon!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cami’s dad is now sitting in as we read and contributing quite a bit!!! We are getting Cami to enjoy primary and she even attended the Activity Day’s activity this past Tuesday!!! This girl has come a LONG way and she is doing so great! We are excited for her baptism next weekend!
The Carranza family, the family with 6 daughters, is doing great! We have had some really fun lessons the past few weeks and they are also coming a long way! Tomorrow we are going over to teach them about the Wise Man and the Foolish Man and we are going to do a little object lesson… lets just say it includes lots of sand, a rock, water and a popsicle stick house, or two!!!! A family in the ward invited them over for FHE this past Monday and they had a blast! They are getting so close to baptism!!!
We are teaching a girl, Tamika, who just moved here from Chicago a few months ago! I LOVE HER!!! She is as black as black gets and I’m pretty sure she had some Baptist upbringing! She is great to teach. I’m not sure how committed she is yet but she does her reading assignments and asks really great questions in lessons… we’ve just got to get her to church!!
I LOVE BOULDER CITY!!! I would love to finish off my mission here but of course, I will go wherever the Lord needs me! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!! I love the happiness I feel at the end of every day! I love the strength my testimony has received. I love having the Spirit with me at all times! I love meeting new people! I love serving others! I love seeing families accept the gospel and work toward the temple together! I love baptisms! I LOVE THIS WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for all of you love, prayers and support!
Make good choices, don’t do drugs, be happy and go out and baptize someone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, ME!
This week has been a great week! Phil’s baptism was incredible! There was a great turnout! Jammie, Phil’s recently baptized wife gave a combined talk on Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost… lets just say, she is ready to speak in Stake Conference. The talk was phenomenal!!!! They are so excited to go to the temple in a year and I can’t wait to be here for that!
We have an investigator, Kelsey, who really wants to get baptized on the 20th of this month but she is only 17 and her parents aren’t too keen on the idea. But get this, before we even taught her about fasting, she asked us if we would join her in a fast for her parent’s hearts to be softened. I guess she had learned about fasting in Seminary… at any rate, we had a fast yesterday and I really feel as though things are going to work out! Kelsey is another one of those really mature teenagers whom I feel so privileged to be teaching. I feel like she teaches me more than I teach her!!! I love it!
We are getting so close to our goal in the Book of Mormon with Cami!!! We are almost done with Mosiah! I have noticed a couple of things as we have read, 1. her understanding of the gospel has increased, 2. her family is growing closer together as we read together 3. her reading skills are picking up quite a bit! I just love the Book of Mormon!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cami’s dad is now sitting in as we read and contributing quite a bit!!! We are getting Cami to enjoy primary and she even attended the Activity Day’s activity this past Tuesday!!! This girl has come a LONG way and she is doing so great! We are excited for her baptism next weekend!
The Carranza family, the family with 6 daughters, is doing great! We have had some really fun lessons the past few weeks and they are also coming a long way! Tomorrow we are going over to teach them about the Wise Man and the Foolish Man and we are going to do a little object lesson… lets just say it includes lots of sand, a rock, water and a popsicle stick house, or two!!!! A family in the ward invited them over for FHE this past Monday and they had a blast! They are getting so close to baptism!!!
We are teaching a girl, Tamika, who just moved here from Chicago a few months ago! I LOVE HER!!! She is as black as black gets and I’m pretty sure she had some Baptist upbringing! She is great to teach. I’m not sure how committed she is yet but she does her reading assignments and asks really great questions in lessons… we’ve just got to get her to church!!
I LOVE BOULDER CITY!!! I would love to finish off my mission here but of course, I will go wherever the Lord needs me! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!! I love the happiness I feel at the end of every day! I love the strength my testimony has received. I love having the Spirit with me at all times! I love meeting new people! I love serving others! I love seeing families accept the gospel and work toward the temple together! I love baptisms! I LOVE THIS WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for all of you love, prayers and support!
Make good choices, don’t do drugs, be happy and go out and baptize someone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, ME!
Elder Walker Feb 1
Family,
I just passed up my three month mark a few days ago, my second transfer is almost over, and we just concluded our 8th baptism in the St. Anthony Stake in two months. Where has the time gone? Like I said in the last e-mail, every week seems to go faster and faster.
We just got an e-mail from President Colton telling us that Elder Richard G. Scott of the quorum of the twelve and Elder Steven E. Snow of the presidency of the seventy are going to be at our mission conference this Saturday. Elder Call and I are going to drive down to Idaho Falls on Friday night and stay with some Elders there in Iona then we'll go with them to Pocatello Saturday morning for the conference. I'm really excited for this conference; it'll be one that I will always remember.
Saturday night when we were talking with President Crapo (in the Stake Presidency and who we live with) he said to us that they are going to make a big change in the stake that will give us some work to do. We tried to get the information out of him but he wouldn't tell us; he said that they would be announcing it in church the next day. So the big news is that the St. Anthony stake has called a stake meeting this Saturday night for all 10 wards in which they will be changing all of the ward boundries and adding a new ward. They will be releasing 4 bishops and calling 5 new ones (one for the new ward). When we saw President Walker (the stake president) we asked him, jokingly, when are you going to update our area book for us? We are going to have to take a three inch binder that is full of teaching records and ward information and move them all to their appropriate wards. That is going to be super fun...
Well this past week was super slow in teaching. We didn't teach too many lessons but we did set another baptism date! There is this boy who has been taking the lessons for quite a few months. He has such a desire to recieve the Holy Ghost and to be baptized. It's been really hard to see this 10 year old with such a desire to come unto the Savior but that his parents wouldn't let him. At one point Trevon's Mom mocked Elder Call's testimony. We have prayed and prayed for their hearts to be softened. We dropped by last Monday night to pick up some CDs that I left when we knocked on the door Jenine (Trevon's Mom) answered and said, "so we've decided that we want Trevon to get baptized on the 13th of Feb". We are so excited for him and for his parents to have realized the importance of this day. Trevon has asked me to give the talk on the Holy Ghost at his baptism and to confirm him in church the next day. So family, please pray that I don't get transfered because I would hate to have to tell him that I wont be at his baptism now that he finally has a day.
Mom: Happy Birthday on Wednesday!!!
Have a great week everyone!
peace and love,
Elder Walker
I just passed up my three month mark a few days ago, my second transfer is almost over, and we just concluded our 8th baptism in the St. Anthony Stake in two months. Where has the time gone? Like I said in the last e-mail, every week seems to go faster and faster.
We just got an e-mail from President Colton telling us that Elder Richard G. Scott of the quorum of the twelve and Elder Steven E. Snow of the presidency of the seventy are going to be at our mission conference this Saturday. Elder Call and I are going to drive down to Idaho Falls on Friday night and stay with some Elders there in Iona then we'll go with them to Pocatello Saturday morning for the conference. I'm really excited for this conference; it'll be one that I will always remember.
Saturday night when we were talking with President Crapo (in the Stake Presidency and who we live with) he said to us that they are going to make a big change in the stake that will give us some work to do. We tried to get the information out of him but he wouldn't tell us; he said that they would be announcing it in church the next day. So the big news is that the St. Anthony stake has called a stake meeting this Saturday night for all 10 wards in which they will be changing all of the ward boundries and adding a new ward. They will be releasing 4 bishops and calling 5 new ones (one for the new ward). When we saw President Walker (the stake president) we asked him, jokingly, when are you going to update our area book for us? We are going to have to take a three inch binder that is full of teaching records and ward information and move them all to their appropriate wards. That is going to be super fun...
Well this past week was super slow in teaching. We didn't teach too many lessons but we did set another baptism date! There is this boy who has been taking the lessons for quite a few months. He has such a desire to recieve the Holy Ghost and to be baptized. It's been really hard to see this 10 year old with such a desire to come unto the Savior but that his parents wouldn't let him. At one point Trevon's Mom mocked Elder Call's testimony. We have prayed and prayed for their hearts to be softened. We dropped by last Monday night to pick up some CDs that I left when we knocked on the door Jenine (Trevon's Mom) answered and said, "so we've decided that we want Trevon to get baptized on the 13th of Feb". We are so excited for him and for his parents to have realized the importance of this day. Trevon has asked me to give the talk on the Holy Ghost at his baptism and to confirm him in church the next day. So family, please pray that I don't get transfered because I would hate to have to tell him that I wont be at his baptism now that he finally has a day.
Mom: Happy Birthday on Wednesday!!!
Have a great week everyone!
peace and love,
Elder Walker
Sister Walker 1-28-10
Hello my favorite People!!!
Boulder City is still 100% incredible! On Friday evening we went over to have a lesson with our investigator, Phil, who had just got home for a week and a half road-trip through the mid-west, including Nauvoo. Anyway, after telling us about their trip, Jammie, his wife, said, "So, Phil do you have something you would like to tell them..." After a minute of hesitation, Phil said, "Well, I have decided I am going to be baptized." WE HADN'T EVEN CHALLENGED HIM FOR BAPTISM YET. I squeeled, of course!!!! So then we said, "Ok, how does Feb. 13th sound?" and he said, "Wait, why do I have to wait so long, why cant we do it next Saturday?" I am pretty sure that it was at that point that my eyes filled up with tears. So, Phil is getting baptized on Saturday! YAY!!!!! And that my friends is what we call the power of members.
Phil is really good friends with a lot of members and they have been there for him every step of the way, answering questions, being there to study when we could be there, etc. I LOVE MEMBERS!!!
We are in Mosiah with Cami. We have to get to page 265 by the 13th. AND... We received a phone call the other day from a man, Jason, who is a recovering heroine addict whose wife is a member and kicked him out a few months ago because he relapsed. She told him that he needs to be reading the Book of Mormon every day and so he decided that he was going to do that. SO, he reads a chapter every day and then calls us every evening and explains what he read and then we add our 2 cents! We are also meeting with him every couple of days to have a lesson!!! OH BOY, I am REALLY going to get to know the Book of Mormon in the next couple of weeks! I LOVE IT!!!
We have anther new investigator, Kelsey, who is 17. She is attending the Las Vegas Arts Academy where she is friends with a lot of LDS kids. She has been attending seminary up there for the past year and just decided that she wanted to take the lessons. Her fellowshipper is a great kid who is preparing to leave on his mission in March. Anyway, when we had our first lesson on Monday, she told us that she has already read the entire Book of Mormon and she knows it is true. So, we are going to set her for baptism on Saturday... then quickly go through the lessons... that was easy!
Did I tell you that Maria May got her mission call to Ft. Lauderdale???? Dad, you will have to fill her up with referrals!!! She goes into the MTC the day that I fly home. Anyway, she is receiving her edwoment next month and President just told me that I will be able to go!!!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a treat! That is what this work is all about! Teach, Baptize, Temple!!! Yay!!!
Well, I think that is just about it with the exciting news!!! Oh, so it keeps raining. Last week we had CRAZY rain. I'm sure you saw some of it on the news. It was a pretty big deal! We had floods all over the place! I loved it! Lots and lots and lots of puddle jumping... and wet, pruny feet!!!
I LOVE THIS WORK!!!
I love you all so much! Make good choices, don't do drugs, be happy and remember that Sister Chelsee Walker LOVES YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!
Love, ME!
Boulder City is still 100% incredible! On Friday evening we went over to have a lesson with our investigator, Phil, who had just got home for a week and a half road-trip through the mid-west, including Nauvoo. Anyway, after telling us about their trip, Jammie, his wife, said, "So, Phil do you have something you would like to tell them..." After a minute of hesitation, Phil said, "Well, I have decided I am going to be baptized." WE HADN'T EVEN CHALLENGED HIM FOR BAPTISM YET. I squeeled, of course!!!! So then we said, "Ok, how does Feb. 13th sound?" and he said, "Wait, why do I have to wait so long, why cant we do it next Saturday?" I am pretty sure that it was at that point that my eyes filled up with tears. So, Phil is getting baptized on Saturday! YAY!!!!! And that my friends is what we call the power of members.
Phil is really good friends with a lot of members and they have been there for him every step of the way, answering questions, being there to study when we could be there, etc. I LOVE MEMBERS!!!
We are in Mosiah with Cami. We have to get to page 265 by the 13th. AND... We received a phone call the other day from a man, Jason, who is a recovering heroine addict whose wife is a member and kicked him out a few months ago because he relapsed. She told him that he needs to be reading the Book of Mormon every day and so he decided that he was going to do that. SO, he reads a chapter every day and then calls us every evening and explains what he read and then we add our 2 cents! We are also meeting with him every couple of days to have a lesson!!! OH BOY, I am REALLY going to get to know the Book of Mormon in the next couple of weeks! I LOVE IT!!!
We have anther new investigator, Kelsey, who is 17. She is attending the Las Vegas Arts Academy where she is friends with a lot of LDS kids. She has been attending seminary up there for the past year and just decided that she wanted to take the lessons. Her fellowshipper is a great kid who is preparing to leave on his mission in March. Anyway, when we had our first lesson on Monday, she told us that she has already read the entire Book of Mormon and she knows it is true. So, we are going to set her for baptism on Saturday... then quickly go through the lessons... that was easy!
Did I tell you that Maria May got her mission call to Ft. Lauderdale???? Dad, you will have to fill her up with referrals!!! She goes into the MTC the day that I fly home. Anyway, she is receiving her edwoment next month and President just told me that I will be able to go!!!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a treat! That is what this work is all about! Teach, Baptize, Temple!!! Yay!!!
Well, I think that is just about it with the exciting news!!! Oh, so it keeps raining. Last week we had CRAZY rain. I'm sure you saw some of it on the news. It was a pretty big deal! We had floods all over the place! I loved it! Lots and lots and lots of puddle jumping... and wet, pruny feet!!!
I LOVE THIS WORK!!!
I love you all so much! Make good choices, don't do drugs, be happy and remember that Sister Chelsee Walker LOVES YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!
Love, ME!
Elder Walker Week 13
Hello there,
So it seems to me that the weeks are just speeding by. I can't even believe that this transfer is now more than half way through and that I've been out nearly 3 months. Every week seems to go faster and faster.
I loved seeing the pictures of the baby! Elder Call didn't think it was appropriate to have a picture of Estee on the table naked but I just laughed. It's just who she is. So has the name finally been decided? Briggan Samuel Harrop? You better make your mind up soon or this kid is going to be confused! I'm already confused as to what to tell people my new nephew's name is.
On Feb. 6th we are having a mission conference with an Apostle and a member of the presidency of the Seventy down in Pocatello. We wont know who they are going to be yet but President Colton told us that he will know by next week. How cool is that though? Apparently Elder Bednar came in May so probably not him but if it is I will make a connection with him through Adam. I'll tell him, "hey you know my brother-in-law." That way we can talk more than just saying hello. Oh p.s. a lot of people know Adam here. Just the other day I was talking with a lady whose husband works at BYU. She said that she lived in Decatur so I asked her if she knew Adam's parents she did and then went on to say, "I think their son was student body pres when he was 17." I was like yeah he's a pretty cool guy. She then asked how I knew him. I said well he married my sister. She was so excited to hear about Adam again and says congrats on the baby.
I had a very spiritual lesson this last week. I've told you about our investigator Aaron and how missionaries have been teaching him for 3 years now. Well we were on exchanges this week with the Spanish Elders which was the same day that we were going to teach Aaron. Elder Hernandez and I went with the ward mission leader and taught from Luke 15:1-7 about the "ninety and nine" and "the one". Aaron is definitely "the one". We told him that the Savior is still trying to bring him back to the fold and that he is only continuing to loose himself. The scripture says that Heavenly Father's joy is greater for the one that repents and joins the fold then it is for the ones that are doing the right thing. Finally, speaking from the Spirit, I said, "Aaron, look at your daughter, do you love her?" He said through tears, "yes". Then I said, "If you truly love her you will do anything in your power to keep her for ever." The Spirit was so strong in that lesson. Aaron knows the church is true, he knows the Book of Mormon is true, and he knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet. Aaron then proceeded to ask, "what do I need to do to get baptized?" I was about to stand up and shout the Hallelujah Chorus! Aaron Boots wants to get baptized! This investigator who has met with missionaries for 3 years has now developed the desire to be baptized! Aaron is definitely one of the people I was sent to St. Anthony to find. It's cool to see experiences like that and how the Spirit is the one that converts, not missionaries.
Last night at our dinner appointment there was a boy in the family named Tyson. I was so confused last night! When ever they would talk to him or tell him something I would think they were talking to me. One time they got upset with him and I got offended inside because I thought I was getting in trouble! I haven't been out long enough for that name not to register with me yet so there were several times when I would start to respond to this family but then realize that they weren't talking to me. Weird!
Well I love this work. I love the Gospel. I love my family. I love my friends. I hope you all have a great week and will continue to be awesome.
Peace and Love
Elder Tyson Rigby Walker
So it seems to me that the weeks are just speeding by. I can't even believe that this transfer is now more than half way through and that I've been out nearly 3 months. Every week seems to go faster and faster.
I loved seeing the pictures of the baby! Elder Call didn't think it was appropriate to have a picture of Estee on the table naked but I just laughed. It's just who she is. So has the name finally been decided? Briggan Samuel Harrop? You better make your mind up soon or this kid is going to be confused! I'm already confused as to what to tell people my new nephew's name is.
On Feb. 6th we are having a mission conference with an Apostle and a member of the presidency of the Seventy down in Pocatello. We wont know who they are going to be yet but President Colton told us that he will know by next week. How cool is that though? Apparently Elder Bednar came in May so probably not him but if it is I will make a connection with him through Adam. I'll tell him, "hey you know my brother-in-law." That way we can talk more than just saying hello. Oh p.s. a lot of people know Adam here. Just the other day I was talking with a lady whose husband works at BYU. She said that she lived in Decatur so I asked her if she knew Adam's parents she did and then went on to say, "I think their son was student body pres when he was 17." I was like yeah he's a pretty cool guy. She then asked how I knew him. I said well he married my sister. She was so excited to hear about Adam again and says congrats on the baby.
I had a very spiritual lesson this last week. I've told you about our investigator Aaron and how missionaries have been teaching him for 3 years now. Well we were on exchanges this week with the Spanish Elders which was the same day that we were going to teach Aaron. Elder Hernandez and I went with the ward mission leader and taught from Luke 15:1-7 about the "ninety and nine" and "the one". Aaron is definitely "the one". We told him that the Savior is still trying to bring him back to the fold and that he is only continuing to loose himself. The scripture says that Heavenly Father's joy is greater for the one that repents and joins the fold then it is for the ones that are doing the right thing. Finally, speaking from the Spirit, I said, "Aaron, look at your daughter, do you love her?" He said through tears, "yes". Then I said, "If you truly love her you will do anything in your power to keep her for ever." The Spirit was so strong in that lesson. Aaron knows the church is true, he knows the Book of Mormon is true, and he knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet. Aaron then proceeded to ask, "what do I need to do to get baptized?" I was about to stand up and shout the Hallelujah Chorus! Aaron Boots wants to get baptized! This investigator who has met with missionaries for 3 years has now developed the desire to be baptized! Aaron is definitely one of the people I was sent to St. Anthony to find. It's cool to see experiences like that and how the Spirit is the one that converts, not missionaries.
Last night at our dinner appointment there was a boy in the family named Tyson. I was so confused last night! When ever they would talk to him or tell him something I would think they were talking to me. One time they got upset with him and I got offended inside because I thought I was getting in trouble! I haven't been out long enough for that name not to register with me yet so there were several times when I would start to respond to this family but then realize that they weren't talking to me. Weird!
Well I love this work. I love the Gospel. I love my family. I love my friends. I hope you all have a great week and will continue to be awesome.
Peace and Love
Elder Tyson Rigby Walker
MORE RAIN - January 21
My most dearest family in the whole entire world!!!! Hello!
It is SO WET here! Oh my goodness, I have NEVER seen this much rain in Nevada! Lets just say that there is a dry lake bed in Boulder City that isn't so dry anymore!!!! The streets are completely flooded! Needless to say, my feet have been prunes for the past 3 days. Literally non-stop rain for 3 days now. I can't believe my eyes! I have quite enjoyed splashing in the puddles, the only problem is that I am constantly WET! I love it!
We are still truggin' along with Cami reading the Book of Mormon every night. We are now on 2 Nephi 28. LOTS of reading! It has been a blast! Slowly yet surely the more and more members of the family are sitting in as we read! We've just got to get her dad in on it! As we were reading the other day we came across the word fatigue and Coty the 9-year-old was reading. He said the word correctly, of course, because he is a genius... it reminded me of Tys though when he was about that same age and we were reading as a family and he came across the word fatigue and read it as fat-i-goo! I had to giggle inside! I love our Rigs!
So, other than being really wet and reading the Book of Mormon like crazy people... nothing too new is going on since last week! We are hoping to set Phil (Jaimee's husband) for baptism tomorrow. I am SO excited for him. Oh get this, they had to go out to Michigan for a funeral this past week and they drove out there and then decided to take the southern route home so of course they just had to stop in Nauvoo!!! They said that there was an ice storm so Nauvoo was all shut down. However, they ran into a Senior couple who took them around and showed them some sights. Can you say GOLDEN!!! Oh yeah and he went to church on Sunday in Michigan! I love them!
We seem to meet a lot of drunk people lately! They are so stinkin fun to talk to! We can get all sorts of info out of them and they aren't afraid to give out their phone numbers! Then when we call back they have no clue who we are! Hahaha! Oh yeah, and of course I have Sis. Burgess talk to them! I get some great giggles in!
I LOVE MY LIFE! Oh, I am sitting next to one of the other Sisters, Sister Done and I asked her what else I should tell you and she said to say, "I love Sister Done!!!" It's true! I have wanted to serve with Sis. Done my whole mission but seeing as how this is her last transfer and we haven't served together yet... well, I suppose that just isn't going to happen! Sad day. However, she just got transfered into my zone so at least I get to see her a couple of times a week now! We have come to realize why we have never served together... we are just too good of friends and we would probably drive people crazy because we just have too much fun around each other! I am trying to convert her to BYU-I so that we can live together but she just isn't buying it! Ha! I'll keep trying! She is going to go to LDSBC though so at least we can play on the weekends!!!!
Ok, I really don't know what else to talk about so I am going to sign off now! I love you all more that the desert loves rain!
Remember who you are, remember that I love you!
Make good choices, don't do drugs and be the best missionaries you can be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, ME!!!
Oh P.S. my new baby is SO CUTE!!!!! OK, maybe a little squished out of shape but still cute!!! I need more pictures!
It is SO WET here! Oh my goodness, I have NEVER seen this much rain in Nevada! Lets just say that there is a dry lake bed in Boulder City that isn't so dry anymore!!!! The streets are completely flooded! Needless to say, my feet have been prunes for the past 3 days. Literally non-stop rain for 3 days now. I can't believe my eyes! I have quite enjoyed splashing in the puddles, the only problem is that I am constantly WET! I love it!
We are still truggin' along with Cami reading the Book of Mormon every night. We are now on 2 Nephi 28. LOTS of reading! It has been a blast! Slowly yet surely the more and more members of the family are sitting in as we read! We've just got to get her dad in on it! As we were reading the other day we came across the word fatigue and Coty the 9-year-old was reading. He said the word correctly, of course, because he is a genius... it reminded me of Tys though when he was about that same age and we were reading as a family and he came across the word fatigue and read it as fat-i-goo! I had to giggle inside! I love our Rigs!
So, other than being really wet and reading the Book of Mormon like crazy people... nothing too new is going on since last week! We are hoping to set Phil (Jaimee's husband) for baptism tomorrow. I am SO excited for him. Oh get this, they had to go out to Michigan for a funeral this past week and they drove out there and then decided to take the southern route home so of course they just had to stop in Nauvoo!!! They said that there was an ice storm so Nauvoo was all shut down. However, they ran into a Senior couple who took them around and showed them some sights. Can you say GOLDEN!!! Oh yeah and he went to church on Sunday in Michigan! I love them!
We seem to meet a lot of drunk people lately! They are so stinkin fun to talk to! We can get all sorts of info out of them and they aren't afraid to give out their phone numbers! Then when we call back they have no clue who we are! Hahaha! Oh yeah, and of course I have Sis. Burgess talk to them! I get some great giggles in!
I LOVE MY LIFE! Oh, I am sitting next to one of the other Sisters, Sister Done and I asked her what else I should tell you and she said to say, "I love Sister Done!!!" It's true! I have wanted to serve with Sis. Done my whole mission but seeing as how this is her last transfer and we haven't served together yet... well, I suppose that just isn't going to happen! Sad day. However, she just got transfered into my zone so at least I get to see her a couple of times a week now! We have come to realize why we have never served together... we are just too good of friends and we would probably drive people crazy because we just have too much fun around each other! I am trying to convert her to BYU-I so that we can live together but she just isn't buying it! Ha! I'll keep trying! She is going to go to LDSBC though so at least we can play on the weekends!!!!
Ok, I really don't know what else to talk about so I am going to sign off now! I love you all more that the desert loves rain!
Remember who you are, remember that I love you!
Make good choices, don't do drugs and be the best missionaries you can be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, ME!!!
Oh P.S. my new baby is SO CUTE!!!!! OK, maybe a little squished out of shape but still cute!!! I need more pictures!
Rain - Letter from Sis Walker Jan 14
This week has been a great week! Not anything too exciting but it has surely been good! It rained yesterday and that made me smile!!! I of course had to pull over the car and jump out and dance in it!!! Luckily we were in the middle of nowhere so I could get away with it!!!
I love Sister Burgess! She is SO Green!!!!! I love it! She keeps me on my toes! She is very shy but she is totally coming out of her shell!!!! I just have to remember to shut my yapper so that I can allow her to shine!
We have done about 2 hours of tracting this past week… which I HATE, because tracting is the biggest waste of time in the world… but, I have had to humble myself because it has been SO GOOD for Sister Burgess to come out of her shell. In fact, yesterday while tracting, we knocked on a door of a woman who wasn’t interested, she said she was Born Again (which in my opinion is just another way of saying we only go to church on Easter and Christmas because we have been saved and don’t need a church) and that she didn’t want us to waste our literature on her. As we were leaving her doorstep, before she closed the door, Sister Burgess said, “Wait I really feel like I need to leave this with you…” and handed her a Proclamation pamphlet. Then we went on to the next house. As we were going back down the street that same woman was sitting in her garage smoking and we said “Hi” then kept walking. THEN all of the sudden Sister Burgess then turned around a b-lined over to this woman and said (actually more like blurted out), “So what if I told you that the same church that Jesus Christ set up while on the earth has been restored and that we have a Prophet who leads that church today?” The woman was a bit dumbfounded and said, “Well what do you mean by restored…” Then Sister Burgess explained. The whole time I was just standing there with my jaw hanging down to my knees because I was NOT EXPECTING THAT! I wish I had a picture of my face. I didn’t even know what to say to the woman… so I just let Sis. Burgess talk… then I shared my testimony with her. We gave her a restoration pamphlet and told her she didn’t need to even look at it but that at least she had it! She said, “thank you” and we headed off on our way. It is amazing how when shy people decide they are going to talk… they just talk!!! Anyway, that is one of the MANY reasons I love Sister Burgess!
I have come to realize this transfer that having a companion that is COMPLETELY opposite from you is an amazing thing because we both have our strengths but just in totally different ways and we are able to use those strengths together to do amazing things! It’s like Batman and Robin! Haha! I love it! I have learned so many new things in the past week with Sister Burgess. It is fun having an Asian Studies Major for a companion. I have learned all about the Asian culture, cinema, ANIME, and many other things that I could have cared less about a week ago but I have learned to appreciate them because that is Sister Burgess’ passion! Totally different experience than training Sister Johnson. This is a great prep for when I have kids and they all come out completely different. You just learn to enjoy what they enjoy!
We re-set Cami for baptism last night. She is now set for Feb. 13th. She told us that she is okay with that date but that she wanted to read at least half the Book of Mormon before getting baptized and she was only on page 22. So told her that we would come over to her house everyday and read for 30 minutes with her. We have to read 8.1 pages day to meet her goal!!! Exciting!!! How many 10 year-olds do you know that want to read the Book of Mormon for that long every day????? Haha!
Well, that is just about it! Everything else is going so great! I love you all! Make good choices, don’t do drugs, be happy and go out there and spread the gospel!
Love, ME!
I love Sister Burgess! She is SO Green!!!!! I love it! She keeps me on my toes! She is very shy but she is totally coming out of her shell!!!! I just have to remember to shut my yapper so that I can allow her to shine!
We have done about 2 hours of tracting this past week… which I HATE, because tracting is the biggest waste of time in the world… but, I have had to humble myself because it has been SO GOOD for Sister Burgess to come out of her shell. In fact, yesterday while tracting, we knocked on a door of a woman who wasn’t interested, she said she was Born Again (which in my opinion is just another way of saying we only go to church on Easter and Christmas because we have been saved and don’t need a church) and that she didn’t want us to waste our literature on her. As we were leaving her doorstep, before she closed the door, Sister Burgess said, “Wait I really feel like I need to leave this with you…” and handed her a Proclamation pamphlet. Then we went on to the next house. As we were going back down the street that same woman was sitting in her garage smoking and we said “Hi” then kept walking. THEN all of the sudden Sister Burgess then turned around a b-lined over to this woman and said (actually more like blurted out), “So what if I told you that the same church that Jesus Christ set up while on the earth has been restored and that we have a Prophet who leads that church today?” The woman was a bit dumbfounded and said, “Well what do you mean by restored…” Then Sister Burgess explained. The whole time I was just standing there with my jaw hanging down to my knees because I was NOT EXPECTING THAT! I wish I had a picture of my face. I didn’t even know what to say to the woman… so I just let Sis. Burgess talk… then I shared my testimony with her. We gave her a restoration pamphlet and told her she didn’t need to even look at it but that at least she had it! She said, “thank you” and we headed off on our way. It is amazing how when shy people decide they are going to talk… they just talk!!! Anyway, that is one of the MANY reasons I love Sister Burgess!
I have come to realize this transfer that having a companion that is COMPLETELY opposite from you is an amazing thing because we both have our strengths but just in totally different ways and we are able to use those strengths together to do amazing things! It’s like Batman and Robin! Haha! I love it! I have learned so many new things in the past week with Sister Burgess. It is fun having an Asian Studies Major for a companion. I have learned all about the Asian culture, cinema, ANIME, and many other things that I could have cared less about a week ago but I have learned to appreciate them because that is Sister Burgess’ passion! Totally different experience than training Sister Johnson. This is a great prep for when I have kids and they all come out completely different. You just learn to enjoy what they enjoy!
We re-set Cami for baptism last night. She is now set for Feb. 13th. She told us that she is okay with that date but that she wanted to read at least half the Book of Mormon before getting baptized and she was only on page 22. So told her that we would come over to her house everyday and read for 30 minutes with her. We have to read 8.1 pages day to meet her goal!!! Exciting!!! How many 10 year-olds do you know that want to read the Book of Mormon for that long every day????? Haha!
Well, that is just about it! Everything else is going so great! I love you all! Make good choices, don’t do drugs, be happy and go out there and spread the gospel!
Love, ME!
Missionary Work in Idaho Jan 18
Well hello there family and friends,
Due to the success in December we are now a little slow in January. We have not had much interest from people and it seems like the possible baptisms keep falling through. It's sad because I was so used to the baptisms we were having in Dec. that not having a baptism every Saturday is really a tough thing. I continue loving to work here in St. Anthony and hope I don't get transferred.
We have a family that has to wait until March to get baptized, due to approval from the First Presidency, so I told President Colton that means I'm staying in St. Anthony at least two more transfers to see that happen... don't think that's going to happen. President Walker, the stake president in St. Anthony, called President Colton for something the other day and mentioned to him that the English Elders are to finish out their mission in this stake... I don't think he succeeded either.
I got a phone call from the mission office around 1:00 PM on Friday telling me that I have a new Nephew! Sister Parkins said she would sing me a lullaby but I probably wouldn't like it. I'm so glad that Britnee and the Baby (Samuel or Briggin) are doing well. I need some help from everyone to make sure some of his first words are "uncle tys", that means that Devin is not allowed to be around that baby until I can be there to help him understand who his real favorite uncle is. I'm not to worried about Estee because she already knows that I'm favorite, but the new baby wont see the light for 21 more months.
This week of missionary work... The coolest story for this week... the missionaries have been working with this guy named Aaron for a long time. In fact his three year anniversary with missionaries was yesterday. We taught him on Friday and showed him "Between Heaven and Earth", a video about temples and family. During the video Elder Holland says "I can't imagine not being sealed to my wife in heaven because it wouldn't be heaven if I didn't have her forever." That sentence really struck Aaron and now we think he is going to be making some serious changes. We had a powerful lesson after that about eternal families. Aaron loves his family but has something that is holding him up. His wife gets emotional every time we go over to teach because she wants more than anything for their family to be sealed together in the temple. When we bore testimony of eternal families and the power of the temple Aaron was in tears. He understands what he needs to do and how to get there, he just has something that is holding him back. I love being able to testify of family and the temple because then my own testimony strengthens and I realize everyday the importance of keeping your family close to your heart.
Well all is well here in Idaho. We are now back on our cycle of meat and potatoes for dinner appointments though. It seems to be a month of meat and potatoes and then a few days of pizza, a month of meat and potatoes and then a few days of pizza, etc. I'm pretty sure I have gravy in my blood stream all the time. I am working out a lot though because there is no way I am going to gain 40lbs like the average missionary in this mission does.
I've learned something the last few months of being here and that is that I really don't like sending e-mails; it's not very personal on my part. If you send me an e-mail, I will most likely write you back through snail mail. If you have the time or the desire I would highly encourage you to write to me through snail mail too because then I will be able to keep your letter forever. I know that's a lot to ask for in this day and age because of how easy it is to shoot off a quick e-mail, but that way I will have letters forever.
I hope all is well for everyone and life is great.
Peace and Love,
Elder Walker
p.s. Happy anniversary to Devin and Lianne a long time ago!
Due to the success in December we are now a little slow in January. We have not had much interest from people and it seems like the possible baptisms keep falling through. It's sad because I was so used to the baptisms we were having in Dec. that not having a baptism every Saturday is really a tough thing. I continue loving to work here in St. Anthony and hope I don't get transferred.
We have a family that has to wait until March to get baptized, due to approval from the First Presidency, so I told President Colton that means I'm staying in St. Anthony at least two more transfers to see that happen... don't think that's going to happen. President Walker, the stake president in St. Anthony, called President Colton for something the other day and mentioned to him that the English Elders are to finish out their mission in this stake... I don't think he succeeded either.
I got a phone call from the mission office around 1:00 PM on Friday telling me that I have a new Nephew! Sister Parkins said she would sing me a lullaby but I probably wouldn't like it. I'm so glad that Britnee and the Baby (Samuel or Briggin) are doing well. I need some help from everyone to make sure some of his first words are "uncle tys", that means that Devin is not allowed to be around that baby until I can be there to help him understand who his real favorite uncle is. I'm not to worried about Estee because she already knows that I'm favorite, but the new baby wont see the light for 21 more months.
This week of missionary work... The coolest story for this week... the missionaries have been working with this guy named Aaron for a long time. In fact his three year anniversary with missionaries was yesterday. We taught him on Friday and showed him "Between Heaven and Earth", a video about temples and family. During the video Elder Holland says "I can't imagine not being sealed to my wife in heaven because it wouldn't be heaven if I didn't have her forever." That sentence really struck Aaron and now we think he is going to be making some serious changes. We had a powerful lesson after that about eternal families. Aaron loves his family but has something that is holding him up. His wife gets emotional every time we go over to teach because she wants more than anything for their family to be sealed together in the temple. When we bore testimony of eternal families and the power of the temple Aaron was in tears. He understands what he needs to do and how to get there, he just has something that is holding him back. I love being able to testify of family and the temple because then my own testimony strengthens and I realize everyday the importance of keeping your family close to your heart.
Well all is well here in Idaho. We are now back on our cycle of meat and potatoes for dinner appointments though. It seems to be a month of meat and potatoes and then a few days of pizza, a month of meat and potatoes and then a few days of pizza, etc. I'm pretty sure I have gravy in my blood stream all the time. I am working out a lot though because there is no way I am going to gain 40lbs like the average missionary in this mission does.
I've learned something the last few months of being here and that is that I really don't like sending e-mails; it's not very personal on my part. If you send me an e-mail, I will most likely write you back through snail mail. If you have the time or the desire I would highly encourage you to write to me through snail mail too because then I will be able to keep your letter forever. I know that's a lot to ask for in this day and age because of how easy it is to shoot off a quick e-mail, but that way I will have letters forever.
I hope all is well for everyone and life is great.
Peace and Love,
Elder Walker
p.s. Happy anniversary to Devin and Lianne a long time ago!
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