Chels is Senior Companion!

Sister Walker's is now the Senior Companion! Here's some highlights from this week's letter:

Hand is good!!! Oh the life of Sister Walker! The work is going great! We set Krystal for baptism for March 28th!!! I am SO EXCITED!!!

I have a new companion now, her name is Sister Jernigan and she is from North Carolina near Charlotte. She has been out 6 weeks longer than me but I am the Senior Companion... How did that happen! Yikes… I don’t know! I was really scared at first but now I’m ok with the whole thing!

Sister LuPeni got off ok and now I hope that she is still doing ok because I have heard that they are having a Tsunami in Tonga right now….hmmm… She cried lots and lots when she left. She was having some super comp separation anxiety problems when I dropped her off at the airport and she had to be by herself! It was sad to see her go (mostly because I am going to miss having a Polynesian Companion who goes to lots of Polynesian things) but I look forward to once again learning from a new companion!

This area is growing up very well! I’m so proud of it! Haha! We went to the temple today and it was glorious as usual!!!

I will let you know… IN DETAIL… how the doctor goes nest week so that you won’t have to call Sister Christensen! Ha!!! I love you all SO much!

Make good choices, don’t do drugs, be happy and continue sharing the gospel!Love, ME!!!

Sister Walker's Letter Update

We received a very touching and powerful letter this week. Here are a few key portions that I think you might enjoy...

In response to Gyle sharing with Sister Walker that Richelle, one of Chelsee's Colorado friends, will be returning home from her mission the end of the month, Chelsee wrote:

Dad, time flies by WAY TOO FAST! A couple of weeks ago I was starting to feel discouraged because I was doing SO much in Kingman and then I came up here and we had 2 investigators and only 8 potentials... we did have Maria's baptism but that was all. I didn't know what to do with myself... I was feeling like I wasn't at my full potential. And on top of that I was put with a trunky companion... Time flies by WAY too fast to be tracting all day every day and have no results. So, I called President one night and asked if I could come in and visit with him so that he could give me some advice. I was able to go in and tell him everything that was on my mind... I want to be the best missionary I can be and I didn't feel like I was able to do that at that time. I felt like I had emptied out my bucket on these people and it wasn't getting re-filled. He was so incredible. He helped me resolve some of my concerns and gave me some excellent advice. He told me that for the next couple of weeks all he wanted me to study was the life of the Savior and write an Easter talk on the atonement. He also gave me a blessing and he blessed me to realize the impact that I am making in others lives. In the blessing he said that I will be having a Huge change next transfer and that I would have a lot more responsibility... that kinda made me nervous because I think I might be training... He said that this time is preparing me for future companionships. And he blessed me to recognize the love that the Savior has for me!! I felt 100 times better after that. He has placed a lot of trust in me by putting me in this area that hasn’t had much, if any, progress in the past year. I am supposed to be one of the ones to turn this zone around… Yikes!!! He told me that if there was anything that I needed to do better, he would tell me and there is nothing that he would change about me. That really lifted me up!!! He has so much love for all of us and of course some extra love for me because I am a fellow Coloradoan!!! Haha! Anyway, the moral to that story is that time needs to slow down. I think that by the time I get a hang of this, I will be boarding an airplane to come home. Everyday is an amazing learning experience and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world!!!!

The Elders serving in our ward asked Gyle if any of the many baptisms that Sis. Walker had slated in Kingman when she left, ever materialized.

You can tell the Elders that yes, the baptisms are ALL going through. Patricia, the new wife of the ex-communicated bishop/ newly baptized member… was baptized with her husband on Feb. 14th. Jennifer Hepner, Aaron Hepner’s step-mom was baptized on the 21st and her baby was blessed on the 22nd. The Schuelers (Dad and two boys… LA now Active Mom) are getting baptized next weekend. The Farnsworths (Mom and Son are still working towards their baptism. The Schoeneman kids (3) are ready for baptism and are waiting for their dad to be ready… I am going to call Sis. Little this afternoon and find out if there is anything else going on. I am SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO Happy for them!!!!!!!!! It just makes me want to work even harder in this area! Woohoo!!!

Can't believe that Sister Walker has been serving for over six months - time does fly by WAY TOO FAST!

Oh - and Chelsee will go back to the doctor in one week to find out if the cast is working or if she will end up needing surgery for her broken hand.

Sister Walker This Week

Here are some highlights from Chelsee's letter to me this week...

I really am doing Amazingly well!!!! It is just what President Benson says, "I have often said that one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. Work, work, work—there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work." I just keep working and the Spirit keeps me going and keeps me SO happy!!!

I went back to the doctor today and he says everything is looking good... we still think I can be ok without surgery BUT, I go back in 2 weeks and they will remove the cast to see if there is anything the x-rays aren't showing... then they will re-cast it.

President has been keeping a pretty close eye on me too... he calls about every 2 days!!! Hahaha! We are becoming quite the buddies! Ha!!

Thank you for your love and concern... Know that I am doing VERY well!!!! I can’t think of a better place or time to have broken a bone and still be able to keep my
spirits up!!! I love serving in the Lords Army!!! Onward Christian Soldiers!!!!!

Sister Walker's Broken Hand

Sis. Walker thought she'd break her hand on Friday the 13th - Here is a copy of the letter Chelsee sent this week explaining about her broken hand. She included a photo of her X-Ray as well as a photo of Sis. Walker and her companion - it is a classic "Chels," sporting lovely yellow sunglasses that I'm sure are considered conservative for missionaries???? (giggle)

I will be talking with her doctor this week and will keep you posted on any updates... This is just such a Chelsee kind of thing. (smile)

Yes folks I broke my right hand on Friday the 13th (go figure!!!) and I have a
freaking AWESOME green cast!!!! I'm doing great! The work must go on
and hey... it softens people’s hearts when you show up on their doorstep with
your arm in a sling!!!!

Ok, you are probably wondering how I did it... but it shouldn't surprise you that I am very talented at being accident prone...... I broke it when I was reaching for my mousse in my cupboard and the mousse fell on the ground... on my way from point A to point B I ran into point A 1/2!!!

Sis. Christensen (the mission Mom) laughed pretty hard when I called her and told her what happened. The bone broke in half and I had to go in on Tuesday and get it set...OUCH! Very, very, very painful but super cool how they did it!!!! I wish I had a picture of sister Lupeni’s face!!! Priceless! I go back in next Thursday to
make sure I don’t need surgery!

I am SOOOOO excited for Maria’s baptism on Saturday!!!! She is so incredible! We have had so much fun planning her baptism and we have also had many many spiritual experiences while planning too!

We went to a Samoan fireside last Sunday with an investigator. A Samoan choir from St. George sang at it! So good… even though I didn’t understand a thing they were saying! The chapel was full of Samoans from the Vegas area!!! Sis. Lupeni
loved it because there were a lot of Tongans there too! Yummy food
afterward!!!! Delish!

Well friends, I am LOVING LIFE!!!!!!!! I have written this whole thing with one hand and it sure is getting tired! Make good choices, don’t do drugs, be
happy and watch out for those crazy counters!!!!

LOVE,
ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Have The Bestest Family Ever!!!

Well, you've seen some of the fun created by my family for my birthday! I just have to tell you that even though I dislike getting older every year - this birthday was great! I thought I would have been fine just letting my day slip by - but instead I enjoyed every minute of it! (Actually a couple of days worth of fun!)

On Sunday we had a great meal, my favorite cake and that's when I got to open my books!

On Tuesday (my actual birthday) I woke up to find a "Happy Birthday" banner taped to my mirror and the cutest darn Mary Poppins card that actually sang to me!


I just had to post a quick note to tell my family how much I love each and every one of them!!! The published memory books are so tender and incredible!!! From Tyson's insistence on going above and beyond with balloons and my "Birthday Princess" badge (and I wore it the whole day!) and my beautiful yellow roses and red tulip bouquet! (breathtaking!!!) Wow! I am spoiled!

Anyway - I just had to thank my husband and kids publicly for being so awesome!!! Love you all!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUZI!

Yes, mom had another birthday! We celebrated on Sunday night, since dad was going to be gone on her birthday, which was Tuesday. We had her favorite, angel food cake and bbq pork chops! Britnee has been working for weeks now at getting two books published for mom. One of a bunch of her baby pictures that, some, she didn't even know existed. And another of pictures of her mom as a baby and child, that again, she had no idea even existed! What a treasure!!

Then on Tuesday, Tyson sent her to work with a big, bright pink ribbon with all the disney princess on it that said she was the birthday princess that she wore. He also got her a birthday card with Mary Poppins on it, again, a favorite of hers. She came home to a dozen bright yellow baloons decorating the house, and Dad bought her some BEAUTIFUL flowers!

Happy Birthday Mom! WE LOVE YOU!!!

PS. Contact Britnee if you would like to publish your own book! www.capturingyou.com

Fishing Trip???

So, Chelsee's letter home today was titled "Still On My Fishing Trip!!!!" At first I giggled, and then I thought about the meaning behind it... She is being a "Fisher of Men" (And a darn good one at that!)



Here's some highlights from today's letter...

• So this transfer is coming to a close pretty soon, February 3rd (yup, mom's birthday!), and as that end gets closer I have realized how immensely I have grown as a missionary. It has for sure been a challenging transfer… new companion, new investigators, no baptisms…etc… but it has been SO worth it!


• One of the most challenging parts for me is that I really feel like the senior companion most of the time… I have had to step up to the plate and take on a LOT more responsibility. I know the people here and I know the area and I have had to teach Sister Little SO MUCH. However, I have realized that she is one Powerful teacher and I am learning a ton from her too! So last night as we were talking about this we decided that I am the senior companion over the area and she is the senior companion over the teaching!!! It works out great for both of us!


• I love Sister Little! She is a fabulous missionary and I learn from her everyday!


• We have had quite a bit of success in our teaching as we now have 4 investigators set for baptism next transfer and 3 or more that we plan on setting within the next week. I have seen the hand of our Father in Heaven so prominently in my life and the lives of our investigators these past few weeks.


• One baptism that I am SO excited for is the baptism of our investigators Belinda and Holden. They are a part member family, Belinda is the soon to be wife of a less active member and Holden is her 8 year old son. We found this family on a potentials list and we started teaching them right away. They are amazing! I have loved seeing them keep commitments and grow stronger as a family. The gospel has changed their lives so much! It is incredible!


• Know that I am doing well, I am healthy and SO HAPPY!!!! I couldn’t be in a better place doing anything better than this work!