Saturday, February 19, 2011
Catch-Up
Wow- it's been quite some time since I have updated this blog... mostly because I wasn't able to access it for some time - and of course, the usual excuse of TIME! Please watch for updates coming soon!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Precious Notes from Sister Walker
In response to her dad's final letter:
Gee Dad, now I'm sitting in the middle of the library with tears streaming down my face and on to the key board... luckily I'm in corner where not too many people can see me! THIS ISN'T EASY! NOT ONE BIT! Man, I don't want to leave but I know that I have to. My heart is being torn to pieces! I guess that just means that I have been a successful missionary otherwise I would have no problem with this. I HAVE fought my hardest and I know that the battle must come to an end.... I just wish it
could last forever... and I know it will, just not full time. I do look forward to, and I am excited to see my family and friends again. I am excited to get back up to Rexburg but darn it all, I'm not ready to no longer be a full-time missionary. I have put my whole heart and soul into the past 18 months and.... well, you know how I feel! I love you SO MUCH and I am excited to see you on Tuesday! Just be prepared for the tears!!! HAHAHAHA!
Cute note to her mom in response to a letter about housing at BYU-I for Spring Semester:
Phew... actually, I wasn't worried about that at all... in fact housing hadn't even crossed my mind since the last time we talked about it! haha! It sounds WONDERFUL! I think I've been in there before... maybe... I think some of my friends use to live there! I'm excited for you to come with me... no cheating and trying to see your son though (well maybe we will have to accidentally buy him a box of goodies and accidentally come across his living quarters and accidentally drop it off on his porch)!!! Hahahaha!! I love you MOSTEST! Thanks for getting that all set up!
In response to a letter from her mom - an analogy from Mary Poppins... even though the end has come, "It's as it should be" So - Let's Go Fly A Kite!
Thanks Mom, I needed that... today is hard and I do just need to go fly a kite! Read my response to Dad! I love you SO MUCH! Thanks for all your love, support, encouragement and most of all thanks for being MY mom! Love you MOST!!!!
Final Letter from Sister Walker as a Full Time Missionary
Hello Family!!!!
Today, I just want to keep this simple today and share my testimony with you!
Over the past 18 months 2 weeks and 2 days I have come to realize even more than ever that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lords church on the earth today. This IS the ONLY church that contains the fullness of the gospel. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father he loves us so much that he sent us away out of his presence for a time so that we could learn and grow for ourselves and learn to become more like him. He has given us families on the earth so that we can learn from one another and work towards eternal life together! I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today and I know that as we follow him we will be lead back to our Father in Heaven! I know that through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ we will be saved so long as we repent and come unto him! I know that the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ and that it changes lives every day! I know that the CHURCH IS TRUE!
I love you all so much and if I haven’t told you already…. I am so grateful for all of your prayers, love, encouraging words…. EVERYTHING! I could have NEVER done this without ALL of you!
I have fought the fight and THIS battle is ending… but a new one is just about to begin… BRING IT ON!
I am excited to see you and give you all LOTS AND LOTS of hugs and kisses!
For the last time from SISTER Chelsee Walker… Make good choices, don’t do drugs, be happy and remember that you are a child of God and we WILL live together with him someday!
Love, Sister Chelsee Walker
Today, I just want to keep this simple today and share my testimony with you!
Over the past 18 months 2 weeks and 2 days I have come to realize even more than ever that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lords church on the earth today. This IS the ONLY church that contains the fullness of the gospel. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father he loves us so much that he sent us away out of his presence for a time so that we could learn and grow for ourselves and learn to become more like him. He has given us families on the earth so that we can learn from one another and work towards eternal life together! I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today and I know that as we follow him we will be lead back to our Father in Heaven! I know that through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ we will be saved so long as we repent and come unto him! I know that the Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ and that it changes lives every day! I know that the CHURCH IS TRUE!
I love you all so much and if I haven’t told you already…. I am so grateful for all of your prayers, love, encouraging words…. EVERYTHING! I could have NEVER done this without ALL of you!
I have fought the fight and THIS battle is ending… but a new one is just about to begin… BRING IT ON!
I am excited to see you and give you all LOTS AND LOTS of hugs and kisses!
For the last time from SISTER Chelsee Walker… Make good choices, don’t do drugs, be happy and remember that you are a child of God and we WILL live together with him someday!
Love, Sister Chelsee Walker
Monday, March 22, 2010
Cute Briggan - 2 months old
Just had to share these darling photos of Briggan. He's two months old and absolutely darling! Big, bright blue eyes! Makes you want to snuggle with him, huh?
Sis. Walker - March 18, 2010
HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my EVER LIVIN... this is your second to last e-mail from your favorite Sister Chelsee Walker! CRAZY!!!!!!!
First of all... happy St. Pats Day yesterday... yes, it is my favorite holiday and YES I did tell everyone that... I had corned beef and cabbage 2 times this week... I'm not so sure I want any more corned beef for about a year! I liked it but twice in one week is getting a little overboard! Ha!
We had another Sister Exchange on Tuesday and once again, I went Spanish for the day... yes, another 24 hours of nothing but Spanish. My brain didn't hurt as much as it did the last time I did it because I understood about a 3rd of the words this time! It was fun. I was with Hermana Hernandez from Mexico. Hna Hernandez has only been out 2 months so it was fun sharing some insight with her. I had something reaffirmed to me this time... it doesn't matter what language you speak, we all have one common language and that is the Spirit. I could feel the spirit so strong when she shared the first vision with a new investigator. It doesn't matter what language the first vision is told in... it is a true event, Joseph DID see God the Father and His son Jesus Christ.
Cool experience.... The other night I was feeling super sad because one of our investigators who we had set for baptism for this weekend told us that he wasn't ready to be baptized and wanted to wait for a couple of weeks. Well, I was being super selfish and my thought process was... "well if he waits for a couple of weeks I wont be here and there is a possibility of not having a baptism this transfer because we aren't sure if Kelsey is getting baptized on the 27th anymore..." I was super bummed. I went down and laid on my bed and I kept thinking, "this is going to haunt me for the rest of my life... You didn't have a baptism your last transfer, what a failure..." And then the tears came... then after a minute I thought..." WAIT, I AM NOT A FAILURE... Sister Walker, this is Satan trying to make you sad so that you don't feel like working as hard as you can to have a baptism this transfer..." as soon as I had that thought I felt a TON of peace and the second thought came to mind... "Not THY will but MINE.... HELLO SISTER WALKER... If the Lord wants Kelsey to get baptized on the 27 then she will get baptized on the 27th. If it is not His will then it wont happen. AND you are NOT a failure... look at all the other success stories you have had on your mission... sheesh Sister Walker, this is the LORDS work... HIS WILL!" Then I got down on my knees and thanked the Lord for comforting my heart. I wish you could have been inside my head because it would have been quite the comedy show! I feel 100% better now and I am working as hard as I can... we have a lot of people set for baptism for next transfer and I know that my hard work will pay off!
I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, I have got to get running now. I only have 6 minutes and I need to send my Presidents letter! I love you all more than anything!
Make good choices, don't do drugs, be happy and love Jesus!
See you real soon baboon!
Love, ME!
Oh my EVER LIVIN... this is your second to last e-mail from your favorite Sister Chelsee Walker! CRAZY!!!!!!!
First of all... happy St. Pats Day yesterday... yes, it is my favorite holiday and YES I did tell everyone that... I had corned beef and cabbage 2 times this week... I'm not so sure I want any more corned beef for about a year! I liked it but twice in one week is getting a little overboard! Ha!
We had another Sister Exchange on Tuesday and once again, I went Spanish for the day... yes, another 24 hours of nothing but Spanish. My brain didn't hurt as much as it did the last time I did it because I understood about a 3rd of the words this time! It was fun. I was with Hermana Hernandez from Mexico. Hna Hernandez has only been out 2 months so it was fun sharing some insight with her. I had something reaffirmed to me this time... it doesn't matter what language you speak, we all have one common language and that is the Spirit. I could feel the spirit so strong when she shared the first vision with a new investigator. It doesn't matter what language the first vision is told in... it is a true event, Joseph DID see God the Father and His son Jesus Christ.
Cool experience.... The other night I was feeling super sad because one of our investigators who we had set for baptism for this weekend told us that he wasn't ready to be baptized and wanted to wait for a couple of weeks. Well, I was being super selfish and my thought process was... "well if he waits for a couple of weeks I wont be here and there is a possibility of not having a baptism this transfer because we aren't sure if Kelsey is getting baptized on the 27th anymore..." I was super bummed. I went down and laid on my bed and I kept thinking, "this is going to haunt me for the rest of my life... You didn't have a baptism your last transfer, what a failure..." And then the tears came... then after a minute I thought..." WAIT, I AM NOT A FAILURE... Sister Walker, this is Satan trying to make you sad so that you don't feel like working as hard as you can to have a baptism this transfer..." as soon as I had that thought I felt a TON of peace and the second thought came to mind... "Not THY will but MINE.... HELLO SISTER WALKER... If the Lord wants Kelsey to get baptized on the 27 then she will get baptized on the 27th. If it is not His will then it wont happen. AND you are NOT a failure... look at all the other success stories you have had on your mission... sheesh Sister Walker, this is the LORDS work... HIS WILL!" Then I got down on my knees and thanked the Lord for comforting my heart. I wish you could have been inside my head because it would have been quite the comedy show! I feel 100% better now and I am working as hard as I can... we have a lot of people set for baptism for next transfer and I know that my hard work will pay off!
I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, I have got to get running now. I only have 6 minutes and I need to send my Presidents letter! I love you all more than anything!
Make good choices, don't do drugs, be happy and love Jesus!
See you real soon baboon!
Love, ME!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Elder Walker March 15, 2010
Hello everyone,
Well I asked President about seeing Chelsee when she comes up here. He said I can! That makes me very excited. He told me I can do what ever I want, I can go to the temple, go to lunch, maybe both... He told me to give her a big hug (not in front of a lot of people) and then tell her I'll see her in two years. I'm very very excited that I can see my sister when she gets home.
Transfers are coming up not this week but the next. I asked President Colton about transfers and he told me that this mission is only getting 4 new missionaries; he wants to keep this transfer as invisible as possible. I said so does that mean that I will be staying in St. Anthony with Elder Call again? He said that most likely we will. I told him that means I am the only missionary that came out with my group that is still with my trainer and will be with him for 6 months. He then responded and said, "well if you didn't baptize 11 people in 2 1/2 transfers then I would consider splitting you up. I do like Elder Call, and I love St. Anthony but things are getting a bit monotonous. I think it's weird to be with your trainer for 4 transfers. Elder Call told me the other day that if we do stay together again then that is cheating me of some learning experiences from other missionaries. He said that he learned the most from his second companion anyways. Who knows though, President told me that before they even decided anything.
Well we still don't have any baptism dates set yet but we are trying really hard. We have a couple that are getting close but are afraid to commit because of word of wisdom problems. I hope to see a difference here this next transfer if I stay again.
I never thought that the temperature getting to the 30s would be warm, but let me tell you, we are getting toasty here in the 30s. When the temperature gets that high we like to park the car and walk because it's warm enough to be outside without coats.
We look forward to general conference because then we can take off our suit coats and just wear white shirts. I wish we could go out in jeans but that is just wishful thinking...
We are going to take Robert Terrill to the Idaho Falls temple visitor center on Tuesday to see the Joseph Smith film and Legacy. It's great to have a visitors center close to take investigators and recent converts to see films and paintings.
I love you all very much. I hope all is well and life is great.
Peace and Love,
Elder Walker
Well I asked President about seeing Chelsee when she comes up here. He said I can! That makes me very excited. He told me I can do what ever I want, I can go to the temple, go to lunch, maybe both... He told me to give her a big hug (not in front of a lot of people) and then tell her I'll see her in two years. I'm very very excited that I can see my sister when she gets home.
Transfers are coming up not this week but the next. I asked President Colton about transfers and he told me that this mission is only getting 4 new missionaries; he wants to keep this transfer as invisible as possible. I said so does that mean that I will be staying in St. Anthony with Elder Call again? He said that most likely we will. I told him that means I am the only missionary that came out with my group that is still with my trainer and will be with him for 6 months. He then responded and said, "well if you didn't baptize 11 people in 2 1/2 transfers then I would consider splitting you up. I do like Elder Call, and I love St. Anthony but things are getting a bit monotonous. I think it's weird to be with your trainer for 4 transfers. Elder Call told me the other day that if we do stay together again then that is cheating me of some learning experiences from other missionaries. He said that he learned the most from his second companion anyways. Who knows though, President told me that before they even decided anything.
Well we still don't have any baptism dates set yet but we are trying really hard. We have a couple that are getting close but are afraid to commit because of word of wisdom problems. I hope to see a difference here this next transfer if I stay again.
I never thought that the temperature getting to the 30s would be warm, but let me tell you, we are getting toasty here in the 30s. When the temperature gets that high we like to park the car and walk because it's warm enough to be outside without coats.
We look forward to general conference because then we can take off our suit coats and just wear white shirts. I wish we could go out in jeans but that is just wishful thinking...
We are going to take Robert Terrill to the Idaho Falls temple visitor center on Tuesday to see the Joseph Smith film and Legacy. It's great to have a visitors center close to take investigators and recent converts to see films and paintings.
I love you all very much. I hope all is well and life is great.
Peace and Love,
Elder Walker
Friday, March 12, 2010
Sis Walker March 11
Happy 18 months and 1 day to me!!!!!! Oh my EVER LIVIN, I cannot BELIEVE that I have been on my mission for 18 months officially! I almost don't want to believe it! I wish I could slow time down but I have come to terms with the fact that I cannot and I'm just going to have to make the best of it! This has been the greatest 18 months and 1 day of my life and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity I have had to be a full-time servant of the Lord! I have thought a lot about the past 18 months... and one day... and all the changes that have taken place in me and I tell you what... WOW! I feel like a new person! Don't worry though, I'm still as quirky and blond as ever... I'm just a bit more in tune with my spiritual side! Haha!
Can I just say that I LOVE Sister Matthew! She keeps me laughing constantly. Yesterday we were doing some tracting and out of the blue she turns to me and says, "Sister Walker, my body is a temple, not a visitors center." Yeah, I have no idea where that came from but it was right at the perfect moment because I was getting a little grumpy from tracting... In case you didn't know... I don't like tracting... AT ALL! She is so on top of things and knows how to cheer me up right at the right moment! I LOVE HER! She even bought me lunch yesterday to celebrate my 18 months!!! I wish I could bring her with me in a couple of weeks and set her on my shelf and have her cheer me up when I am piled in homework! I'll just have to find a replacement Marshaleese person until she is done with her mission!!! Ha!
I of course am in love with this work. Things have been a little slower this transfer as far as LTM's and baptisms go but we are still trudging forward! I have been a little nervous because we only have 1 person set for baptism this transfer (a couple more for next) and she is having major problems with her family. But I have faith that all will be well and that she will get baptized. We are still doing a lot of finding and being quite successful... still slow but successful!
So, the sun can't make up it's mind, it is standing on the sidelines and the clouds keep taking the stage! Yesterday the weather was like Colorado. Beautiful and sunny in the morning, cold and raining from noon to 4, sunny and warm till 5, then snow at 5 (yes snow... just flurries... nothing stuck), cleared up by 7... sheesh! Maybe it is just trying to prepare me!
We went to the temple this morning! I LOVE THE TEMPLE!!!!! I love the Las Vegas temple! Do you know what is weird???... The next time I go to the temple Mom and Dad will be there! CRAZY!
Ok, I've got to get running now! I love you all SO MUCH!!!!!!!! Make good choices, don't do drugs, be happy and baptize someone!
Love, ME!
Can I just say that I LOVE Sister Matthew! She keeps me laughing constantly. Yesterday we were doing some tracting and out of the blue she turns to me and says, "Sister Walker, my body is a temple, not a visitors center." Yeah, I have no idea where that came from but it was right at the perfect moment because I was getting a little grumpy from tracting... In case you didn't know... I don't like tracting... AT ALL! She is so on top of things and knows how to cheer me up right at the right moment! I LOVE HER! She even bought me lunch yesterday to celebrate my 18 months!!! I wish I could bring her with me in a couple of weeks and set her on my shelf and have her cheer me up when I am piled in homework! I'll just have to find a replacement Marshaleese person until she is done with her mission!!! Ha!
I of course am in love with this work. Things have been a little slower this transfer as far as LTM's and baptisms go but we are still trudging forward! I have been a little nervous because we only have 1 person set for baptism this transfer (a couple more for next) and she is having major problems with her family. But I have faith that all will be well and that she will get baptized. We are still doing a lot of finding and being quite successful... still slow but successful!
So, the sun can't make up it's mind, it is standing on the sidelines and the clouds keep taking the stage! Yesterday the weather was like Colorado. Beautiful and sunny in the morning, cold and raining from noon to 4, sunny and warm till 5, then snow at 5 (yes snow... just flurries... nothing stuck), cleared up by 7... sheesh! Maybe it is just trying to prepare me!
We went to the temple this morning! I LOVE THE TEMPLE!!!!! I love the Las Vegas temple! Do you know what is weird???... The next time I go to the temple Mom and Dad will be there! CRAZY!
Ok, I've got to get running now! I love you all SO MUCH!!!!!!!! Make good choices, don't do drugs, be happy and baptize someone!
Love, ME!
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