Week 1 baybee

Querido Familia,

Who knew that I would actualy miss my family?  Weird.  Feels like its been a year.  I didnt realize how much I missed my family untill I left.  The begining of the week was pretty hard.  I spent too much time wondering what you guys were up too, what Im missing, and whos already forgotten about me haha.  But each day it gets better and I focus more on the work.  Missionary work is actualy kind of fun.  It would be more fun if I could peak spanish.  The mission isnt what I thought itd be, but at the same time its all I ever wanted it to be.

The members of the ward here rock.  They arent near as strong as our ward, but theyre really nice and fun people.  Cant lie, nothing beats the Horizon Ward.  You guys are the best ward there is.

Peru!  Wow, Peru.  Peru is the epitamy of the Telestial Kingdom. Everything is covered in dust, graffiti, or trash.  Or hobos.  Dogs of every breed, color, and shape wonder the streets aimlessly.  Theres a million shops.  Probably 3 for every block.  Some people just live in their shop.  The main streets are covered in buses and anarchy.  USA drivers wouldnt stand a chance on these roads.  They have cute little 3 man taxi cabs everywhere for your convenience.  Just raise your hand and any one will stop for you.  Even if theres already 6 people crammed in them.  A select few of these baby taxis are decked out like race cars.  Im pretty sure they have races at night.  Fast and Furious 7 should be filmed here with these cute little taxis.

My first day was weird.  I had 3 hours of sleep cuz of my latino roomates in the ccm.  I met my zone and they all rock.  My very first lunch was with an inactive family.  She gave us a bowl of soup, which was fine until I saw the 2 giant floating chicken legs.  Were they eddible?  No.  Did I partake?  Of course.  Literally tasted like alien feet.  ugh.  At another house, I thought they had some nice smelling candles.  Turns out they were dessert.  Some kind of melted candy that looked and tasted like candle. I cant remember the last time I had a vegetable.  Everythig here is rice and chicken.  Each day when I wake up, I have an awesome freezing cold shower to look forward to.  I have to get myself pumped and ready just to dive in to it.  I turned on the hot water once, even though my copanion told me not too, and I got electricuted hahaha.  I did it again just cuz.

Speaking of my companion- He rocks!  Hes just a normal guy really, but im glad I didnt get stuck with another freaky companion.  Hes fun and loves to borrow my stuff no matter what I say haha.  But he returns it in one peice unlike the latinos at the CCM so I guess its alright.  The only thing that drives me insane is that he is the LOUDEST snorer in the world.  Every nightI get woken up by snores and sounds Ive never even heard before.  

Anyways I guess thats it.  Thank you all for the letters and package.  I got the package mom :)  Although I thought you said you sent a christmas one...  Ive only recieved one so far.  I got Grammy Nash´s letter too and the primary kids :)  I sent a letter home today, but my zone leader said the chances of letters making it home are alot worse than making it here, so if you gues dont get a letter, Im really sorry.  Thats Peru for you.

Til then, I love you all.  I always appreciate letters or emails :)  The mission is where its at.  See yall in 20 months!!

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

 

Quiriza....

Just to let you know, this is my second to last email, I`ll write one more when Mom and Dad are here.

It`s weird that Ryan´s just starting and I`m finishing. His letter made me laugh and made me think about how I started and it was basically the same. Perú and Bolivia used to be the same country, so he`s basically going to experience a similar mission.

So you guys just have NO IDEA what I`ve been through this past week. And to be honest, I can´t write everything here how I felt and what I experienced, but I loved it. I will send a lot of pictures so you guys get a feel of what Quiriza is.

Quiriza is basically a small farming town where half of them are inactive Mormons. We also cover 5 other towns that we walked to, usually 3 hours to get there just to teach one lesson. We work in jeans and sometimes shirt and tie because we`re always doing service. What have I done of service? We do everything with garlic. I`ve harvested garlic a whole day, carried lots of garlic, cut it, gathered goat milk, fed horses and pigs, shucked corn, made a pizza, and anything else you could possibly imagine from a farm. I don`t think anyone in the United States knows what hard labor without payment is until they get here to Quiriza. I actually feel like I`ve been camping for the past week. We literally sleep in the chapel and since there`s not enough beds, we take a matress and sleep in front of the podium. The good thing is, there is a piano two yards away from the bed!

There`s also a great feeling here in Quiriza that really isn`t found in other parts of the world. I`ve felt so much love, the spirit is soo strong here and the people always have a smile on their faces as they greet the elders. The people have so much faith and there are many miracles that has happened here. There is no internet or cell phone service so the spirit knows that these things could not be published.15 people came to church. And that includes the oldest member in Bolivia. He was confirmed a member by Richard G. Scott (sound familiar) who was then the president of the mission. The people here still talk about and Elder Kimball (sound familiar). Spencer W. Kimball came and dedicated the church building. The church building itself is a miracle.

Oh man, there`s just too much to inlclude here that I really can`t. Have a nice week and I`ll see you Sunday Mom and Dad.

-Elder Walker

Elder Ryan Walker arrives!

Ryan arrived at the Lima Perú Norte Mission!  This must be his new group. 

Here he is with Presidente Erickson and his wife.

?. . . ok

Dear family,

First thing on my mind. My transfer... I know, that`s what I thought ``A transfer for my last 2 weeks of my mission´´. NOOOO! This is the only time in all of my mission that I didn`t want one. But I just got over it. So I`m going to Quiriza to be with Elder Eyer from my group and two other Elders. Quiriza is a small town outside of Tupiza at the bottom of Bolivia in the Potosi Department. Pres Dyer was there when he was on a mission and helped build the chapel, which is the first one in Bolivia. There`re just sending there for a week and a half to play with horses. I`m sure there are more horses, sheep, pigs, and dogs than people. ¡Que desgracia!  I`m seriously going to the middle of nowhere. I really don`t kow what to think. In my head I`m trying to think positive. ``I´ll go where you want me to go dear lord´´ or the Lord probably has something prepared for me there or at least I can ride a horse to my appointments. I`ll be back in Cochabamba the next Saturday the 14th to go to the Temple and then Sunday the 15th to do our plans as normal. So don`t worry about messing up the plans. 

Other cool thing that happened. A Baptism! yay. My companion Elder Ortiz (from Guatemala mom) got to do his first baptism. It was Diego Lazarte, 15 years old. He has been prepared from the Lord and acepted the gospel as we taught him it. Other elders have tried talking to him, but he didn`t really want anything to do with religion. It`s just a matter of good teaching, says Elder Walker humbly. We also have 6 for sure, programed baptisms in December. But now I won`t be able to be there.... que lastima! We had 8 investigatos in church yesterday. I`m kinda bummed and feel like a great seed planter in the Lord`s vine. I left Potosi, 6 of whom I found and taught got baptized. Left Bella Vista, 8! I left Sucre with a Family of 7 who got baptized the next Saturday and 2 other people since. Now, I leave once again. I sometimes feel like Paul who said to the Corithians, ``the Lord did not send me to baptize. I have planted the seeds and Apollos watered them, but the Lord gave the increase.´´ He said something like that. 

I`m still just thinking of the great adventures that I`ll have this week and next. I`ve gotta work until the end! Just think about the last week of Christ`s live. They take up half of the gospels in the Bible. The most exciting stuff happened to him there. Great teachings, greater miracles, questioning by the Pharasies, Sadduccies, Scribes, ect, the last supper, suffering in the garden of Gethsemane, the betrayl, the judgements by rulers and kings, the Roman punishments, dying on the cross, preaching in the spirit world (1 Peter 3:19) and to top in off, the glorious Resurrection. Wow. Now I`m kinda excited for these weeks. Just imagine if He stopped working there. ``yeps, well, its been fun teaching and doing some cool miracles, but now I`m tired. I`ll see you guys later in 2 weeks. I`m going to take a nap.´´ We would never have been saved if He didn`t accomplish His last two weeks and endure to the end. Even after His death, His mission was not over yet until His resurrection and ascension to the Father. And even then, He`s coming again. One has to ask how He does it. I answer, from the LOVE that he has for us. ``And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.´´Jacob of old tells us that if we love things, time will seem faster. It`s like the mission. Some say 2 years is a long time to be gone from Family. But I say, having done it, that it seemed to me only a few days long. That`s because I`ve loved the thing I`ve done.

-Elder Walker

 

Jola

Querido Familia,

 

Man.  I am beat.  The latino district is the kick in the butt I needed.  Not only to chastize me for being bored the last couple of weeks, but to get me moving.

 

When I arrived at the first meeting, I was the only gringo wearing tan pants and alone.  I felt so... white.  Over time things got better, and my district of latinos became familiy!  We all do things together, and they have at everything I say, usually because I dont know what Im saying.  But I cant stand how loud the latinos are.  Theyre constantly talking, moving, or making jokes that usually arent funny haha.  I laugh anyways because they love me.  Latinos keep stealing my stuff too.  Like What the heck haha.  I look across the room, and half of my stuff is being used by another latino.  They claim half my pens as their own haha.  The only thing that really bothers me though is that they dont like to sleep.  They talk untill 12 at night no matter what I tell them, then wake up at 530.  Like how are they alive?  I barely survive off of 8, which I havent gotten since I transferred.  Im going to talk to the president haha.  Ill show them.

 

My new companions name is Elder Hurtado, and looks like Will Smith.  He has a dark past in the military which is kind of cool, and is pretty quiet most of the time.  He´s really loving..  But other times really serious and impatient.  Hes interesting, but Im not complaining.  Ive learned my lesson about companions.

 

A short interesting story (well at least to me), My last roommate was baptized as a kid by American missionaries, and is now serving a mission.  I just think its cool to see the effects of missionary work.  That would make me really happy to see kids I baptize end up serving a mission.

 

Also mom, you should tell Sister Jones that that CTR ring she gave me during the PMG classes, Ive worn this whole time and just gave it away this week to a Peruvian kid who wants to serve a mission.

 

During an investigator lesson, we were talking about repentance, and I guess I asked a woman if she wanted to repent of her fishes.  Pecados= sins  Pescados = fishes

 

Best part of my week was the earthquake!!  Well its called a temblor because it was a baby one, but the whole building shook and I was freaking out!  The latinos started dancing which made me freak out even more because I was either dreaming, or already dead.  But dont be scared mom, turns out they happen all the time down here, and it was thoroughly enjoyable.  Even though I was ready to jump out the window, turns out theyre not even dangerous.

 

Oh another thing I forgot, the apostale Richard M Nelson came and talked to us.  It was about 3 weeks ago.  It was good.  Honestly wasn´t as exciting as I thought Itd be.

 

I also learned about David and Goliath this week.  In Primary, They seemed to have left out the important detail at the end when David smites off Goliaths head.  I honestly never knew that.

 

Sorry, I dont have a spiritual story this week.  Im exhausted from taking care of latinos, and especially speaking spanish.  I never want to learn another language again.  Its been a really good week, and I love my family of latinos here.  I promise I´ll have a spiritual story next week.  Oh wait, I go to the field next week!  Sweet!!  I cant wait!  Well, we´ll see what happens :)  Tune in next time.  Love you guys!

 

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

 

PS these people need to write me!  Im really sad they havent yet...

Savannah

Jesse

Bradley

Abby Creer

Devon Weaver

Alec Fischmann

My birthday and Thanksgiving/pictures of food and families/Pictures of Incachaka (chapari)

Sorry I couldn`t write yesterday. I`ll explain later in my email why.

Well I had a nice, fulfilling week. As a companionship, we completed our weekly goals and passed the standard of excellence for the mission having 10 with baptismal date, 8 in church, 15 lessons with members and 9 others, and finding 15 new investigators. I would call it successful thanks to the HARD work we put in. One thing that helped us was the ward missionaries. The Ward mission leader here doesn`t really do or know how to do his calling. So we just come up with the ideas and then he supports it. At the beginning of the week, I organized the ward missionaries. They weren`t really doing anything. So we met together and I explained their purpose in the work of Salvation and made a schedule, having them companion at least 1 day of the week so we could have a member with us all the time. Besides, most of them are young people and they`re on vacation now (summer vacation is in November-Feb). 

We worked hard all week so that I didn`t have to work as hard on my birthday (not that I didn`t want to). We were jammed packed with appointments Saturday, but they were appointments to come and eat and visit with some families. We were sooooo full that day. We ate 3 birthday cakes, breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, and second dinner with 5 different families. My companion`s sick and has been since Saturday because of all the food and he was inflated. And that`s basically how I spend my birthday....eating. The other elders live with the last family that invited us to second dinner. That had a little surprise waiting for me. It tradition in Bolivia to make a cake out of the birthday boy throwing eggs and flour at him. And that`s exactly what they did to me... It was nasty cleaning up. I sent some pictures. 

Another part of my ``birthday´´ is what we did yesterday. We went to chapari (it`s a jungle) and had fun there, I also will send pictures. It`s funny because for my ``birthday´´ last year, we went to the same place! But that`s the reason that I didn`t write yesterday.

Besides all the fun and hard work that went on this week, I also learned more about the Holy Ghost. In Incachaka (chapari), they were many butterflies that you couldn`t see at first because they blended in well with the environment. As you stepped by them, 10s of them would scatter everywhere. Some of them would even land on me. But with one little movement, it would fly off. The Holy Ghost is the same. It is so delicate that one wrong move and it`ll get offended and go away. I also recognized something else cool. Sometimes while I`m teaching, I noticed I say things that I didn`t know before and teach myself. ``I said what!?´´ That goes in line with Romans 2:21 ``Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?´´This is true, when the Holy Ghost is there, both are edified.

-Elder Walker

Two weeks left and moved up to the Latino group!

FYI-last week's letter I did not post nor FW.  I could tell he was homesick and having culture shock  both physically and mentally.  It happens to all missionaries to some degree but this was sooner than most.  Probably because he never lived away from home and spent so much time at home this past year.  I even felt homesick when I was out 30 years ago and I lived away from home for two and a half years before!  He seems to have adjusted well now.  Plus he is feeling better.  Yeah!-Mama Walker (PS I also corrected some of the spelling errors, don't know if I caught them all).

Querido familia,

Before I begin, I owe everyone an apology.  I've been way too negative in all my letters.  I shouldn't talk so bad about people here or especially my companion.  I do love him, and I need to stop venting my problems to you guys haha.  Being away from home, it's been hard adjusting and remembering who I am when you're in a strange land with strange people who speak a strange language.  I also read my letter from last week and my comment about my president was just weird and rude, I actually meant to delete it, especially cuz hes a really nice guy.  Frankly, I was so pooped last P-day.  I was a little sick and had little sleep and was working all day.  It was the longest day I've had out here.  Nonetheless it's no excuse to say mean things about my companion or president.  So, do you all forgive me?  Thanks guys, I knew you´d understand.

 

ANYWAYS, there´s been some confusion over rooming here at the mish.  But, of course I´ll care for Andrew, and of course, I'll arise above it.  For I know that´s how you'd want me to respond, yes.*  There's been some confusion for you see my roommate is unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe.

Blonde.

 

Sorry for another lame song reference, but this week has been awesome.  GOOD NEWS!!!  good news.... (another lame song reference) I´m moving up to the Latino district!!!  I get a Latino companion for my last two weeks here!  I´ll miss my companion.  Well... ya.  I wouldn't do it again, but I wouldn't trade or forget the experience either.  Who can say if I've been changed for the better?  but... Because I knew you, I have been changed... for good.  Alright I promise I'm done with the song references.  So tomorrow I'll be speaking solely Spanish.  My mind already feels exploded.  I can't tell if that last sentence is grammatically correct.  Spanish is really messing with my head.  I bet I make a lot of spelling errors too but I can't even tell.

 

Another group left this week.  They were my favorite group.  They loved to have fun, and were the group I played games with at night.  We played one last silent library, and of course I was chosen for the first time.  I had to down 2 packs of butter.  Worth it?  yes.  well... no.

I made 4 soles for eating some nasty Peruvian sauce too this week.  In dollars that's about... 1.50$.  Nope wasn't worth it.  But hey it's about friendship right?

 

We had the opportunity to go proselyting this week.  Ironically the area we went to is my mission area, so it was cool to see my mission.  My mission is literally the ghettos of Peru.  Trash everywhere, small, run down houses, some scary looking people; it was scary but exciting at the same time!  So much work for me to do!!  I cant wait! 

I feel as though the Peruvian people here are humble not because they know what they don't have, but because they recognize what they do have.  While proselyting, this sweet lady named Marcella invited us into her home.  She couldn't afford chairs so we gave the lesson to her standing up.  Everything she owned, she spent on her daughters, or medical bills.  She had a hole in her neck and had trouble speaking, but I understood every word she said, even though I don't fully speak Spanish.  We didn´t even have to invite the spirit, because she already had it.  She accepted everything we said, and set a return date with the missionary we were with.  I love her.  I wish I could give everything I had to her, and she wouldn't suffer anymore.  Its people like her that give me 10 times the strength to keep going.  I don't want anything in return, I just want to help these people and know that their lives are better by the time I have to leave.

 

That´s what happened this week.  Who knew a mission would be so amazing.  Till next week, ciou ciou!!1

 

Con Amor

Elder Walker

ps yes I did get your letters, thank you!  Getting mail is the most exciting time of the week here. 

A Race...Happy BIrthday a mí

The little girl beat  me.

You gotta have fun in the work as well..

 

Dear Family,

Yes mom, I got the package, but not the letter nor the card. Unless it was the card/letter in the package, then sì. One recomendation for next time (haha, there won`t be a next time), please don`t send jelly. 2 reasons. 1. there`s jam/jelly/marmelada here. 2. It exploded over everything. It was really sticky. I had to wash everything, which felt weird washing ketchup packets... wait, why were there ketchup packets? I swear you guys just took out some of the old condiments from the food cabnet that you don`t use and sent them here to poor Bolivia.

For my birthday, I just have appointments all day long from people inviting me to eat. Let`s hope I don`t get that fat.

This week, people called my companionship, the crippleds. As you see in the photo I sent, I ankle is bad and my companion`s arm is bad. Everyone thought we got in a fight with each other or on the streets. I`m fine now, but what happened was the same thing that happend in Sucre. I twisted my ankle and the same part was swollen and a little purple. Looks like I won`t play soccer for the rest of my mission (haha 1 month). My companion has tendonitis... yeah, don`t know what that is, but if it doesn`t heal in 3 weeks, there`re going to do surgery.

I had an interview with my president because my temple recommend expired. He made me feel good as he said that any people have respect for me in the mission and that I should be happy. Then he made me sign the recommend and then gave me a lecture for the next 10 min on how I need to change my signature. He showed me the signatures of the apostles and asked me which one I could`t read. Then he asked me which ones didn`t have their middle or first inicial. There are Hundreds of Craig Walkers. I am practicing now, but it made me think of an important doctrine. Jesus Christ is our example. We should do what he does with nothing varying. Many people grow beards and say that Jesus had a beard. But who are the witnesses and those who have seen Christ today? The Prophets and Apostles. None of them have beards. My mission president once said that if we want priesthood power, we need to act and look how the apostles are. Interesting right?

I hope we are all trying to do what the prophet said, we need to ```Rescatar´´ or in English, help people re-activate. It sounds better in Spanish because it also means rescue. This will also help us find new people to teach for the missionaries. One cool experience that we had this week that could help Dad was an invasion. In the Ward council meeting. We talked about an inactive family whose kids are my converts. In that family, it includes the Elders quorum, relief society, young single adults, young men, and the primary. All the leaders of those groups, along with the bishop and the missionary work, went to this family as an invasion. We had a family home evening of about 20 people thursday night. What love, what success! We`re going to continue with this idea going from family to family. 1 by 1. Slowing down, focusing on 1 at a time will help us hasten the Lord`s work.

I`m going to sum up what Cameron said in his first line. The secret to success is ENTHUSIAM

-Elder Walker

 

And the Survey says . . .

Dear family,

Little comments I have from the week: 

I taught that survey idea that I mentioned in my last letter to the zone. They all said that it works like a charm. One Elder even commented how he got in a Jehovah`s witness`s door and that never happens!

I can tell my reading music skills are improving because the primary asked me 10 min before to play piano for their program that happened yesterday. I played all the pieces almost perfect without knowing beforehand.

The weather is really wierd. Last Saturday, Sunday, and Monday it was raining. Tuesday and Wednesday, freaking cold. Thursday, Friday, Saturday: HOTTT, the hottest it has been in 50 years they say. Sunday, windy like no other! Cochabamba just seem to make up its mind.

It`s soo wierd. They call the person who you are training in the mission, your son. My companion is DEFINITELY my son. He is exactly how I was when I started and how I am now. I get along with him well, but I can also see my flaws by seeing his weaknesses. He also copies everything I do. If I don`t do something, he doesn`t either. Let`s say that I wake up at little late at 7. He`ll do the same the next day. I can`t get mad or tell him to not do it because I did it. It`s really helping me be obedient, work hard, and perfect myself even more (a long ways to go).

During a companionship study, we talked about how to find new investigators. We watched the videos from ``The district´´. Ironically, it seemed that they also found golden investigators that want to get baptized. Elder Ortiz said, that only happens every 1 in 100 people. 30 min later, we went to work. The first person we talked to, Juan, we taught him about the Restoration. It wasn`t the best lesson I`ve ever had. I signed to my companion to invite him to be baptized. He did it and Juan said yes and put his own date, on Christmas. He even said that he`ll come to church and seemed very excited. I smirked as I said to my companion as we left, 1 in 100? Well looks like we`re at 1 for 1!! jaja

We`re teaching a lot of solo people, People who want to hear us, but their family doesn`t want anything to do with us. It`s really sad, but that`s when the members come into play, representing the family ward who will support all believers of Christ and His church. Three of them are under the age of 18. 

For one of them, Diego, we got permission from his mom even though she said she doesn`t want anything to do with the church, but it`s fine for her son. 

Other one, Daniel, we teach him at his cousins house because his mom basically kicked us out. Daniel really wants to learn, because we`re still teaching him inspite of his mom`s disagreeance. 

The last one, Jose, was a little funny and sad at the same time. He knows all the lessons and could get baptized tomorrow. His mom is a less-active who we are working with. All we needed was permission from his dad. It was my companion`s turn to learn how to ask the parents for permission. The dad said no and his excuse was that he`s a minor and therefore is not doing it with faith, just like his mom he`ll leave it after he`s baptized, and it`s a sin to be baptized again. We resolved all of his doubts except the first one and he still said no. So my companion surprised me and started giving him WASCA or in English... something along the lines of what Nephi did to his brothers`hardened hearts. (The guilty take it personally). My companion asked how he got baptized (in the catholic church). He asked him if a baby could have faith in that baptism if he really didn`t know what was going on. So why would a baby then get baptized. The dad realized he was in the wrong and shouted, I`m catholic, my son is catholic and that`s final! Then he got up and left us with an awkward silence. 

As missionaries, we don`t have to excuse ourselves, when directed by the spirit. ``What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is THE SAME (D&C 1:38).´´

-Elder Walker

What'll You do with the Time that's left?

pics of our awesome latino roommates.  we made fun of my companion alot in spanish because he couldnt speak it.  Also me and a good latino friend, and a picture of what the brooms and dustpans look like down here.

Querido familia,

Well, I´m sure you all think I´m dead becuase I did´nt write yesterday.  I´d like you to all know I´m ok.  Calm down.  Please stop worrying about me.  It´s not like I was almost deported yesrday or anything...

Jk.  Dad wouldn´t be surprised if I was.  Yesterday was Pday, or as we call it, Play Day.  But when we got back from the temple we had to take a last minute trip to immigration, where we spent the rest of our play day waiting in lines, bus rides, and eating the weirdest Papa John´s pizza I ever had in my life.  They´re like "To make up for you´re lost Pday, were buying you Papa Juans!!"  Yaaaaay!  Grossest Pizza in my life.  It was some olive like vegetables I had never seen before, other chunks of suprise food, and raw hamburger.  Yet I still ate 7 slices.  So I guess it wasn´t that bad... 

But it was a waste because we missed our appointment anyways so we´ll have to do it all over again.  Hopefully on a class day this time.

 

Anyways,  this week was a little rougher for me.  My companion was pushing me over the edge with his blatent disobedience and schytzophrenia.  Everywhere we go he has a new dumb song to sing and asks the most random questions.  Like think of the most random thing you can think of, and he´ll have a fun fact and story about it.  I still love him, but come on.  Everyone treats us like "THAT companionship".  I swear some people ignore me just because they know my companion is right behind me.  It makes me laugh inside.  But still, I´m not sure I want to be THAT companionship.

 

The other thing is that I´ve been hit with a case of Montezuma´s Revenge all week.  Up untill today, the bathroom was pretty much my bedroom.  I would even study in there because It took so much time.

Sorry, that was probably too much info.  But it´s one of the many sacrifices Im making to be a missionary :) 

 

The last thing is that I´ve been slightly homesick inside this week.  Alot of the people here are the weird kind of mormons I would ignore at efy.  We get along but I need more people who are like me.  Plus leaders are kind of frustrating me because I carry the vast majority of the weight in the companionship, and they dont understand that my companion does nothing half the time but talk to himself or sing an opera song.  Gah.

I feel like I gave up everything I ever wanted when I left.  I had many awesome friends who I had the time of my life with.  I had family that was there for me, played with me, and was proud of me.  I had a home that I could be myself in and not be bothered by things and people so much.  But then again I guess that´s the reason I came out, is because there are people who don´t have that, or even know what family feels like.  I really was happy, so I guess I need to remind myself that there are people who suffer, whereas I have peace and a life surrounded by people who care and understand me.  The city here was a big awakening.  Everything is trashy and crammed together.  Theres a bunch of people who just rot on the street (for lack of a better word).  I want to reach out to them.  And I will.  There´s alot of work to do.

 

But on the bright side, there are still fun things that Ill miss about the CCM (MTC).  We have poker night every wednesday and sunday.  Of course I clean them out.  We´re writing a cake rap right now.  We play soccer almost everyday, and its alot more dangerous than it should be.  I had my first hot cup of tea ever.Don´t worry mom, the tea here is Jesus approved.  I happened to pick the flavor "Anís Tea"  I tasted exactly how it sounds.  The only thing Im dissappointed in yet is that I haven´t gotten a latino sister´s email address.  Usually because they cant understand me so I look like an idiot.  Or at least I hope theyre not pretending.  Whatever.  I don´t need them...

 

As always, thank you guys for any letters, I love reading and writing letters so please write me!!  Also send a picture too!

 

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

What`ll you do with the time that`s left?

Dear Family,

I don`t even know where to start. At this point in the game, it really doesn`t matter

My companion is very tired all the time. He had great goals to begin with but the scripture ``don`t run faster than you have strength´´ fits perfectly here. I know think he realizes how hard it is to a get a baptism. We suffer alot, the investigators suffer also, sacrify alot, or have a hard time keeping committments. It`s my job to keep his energy up, help him out when he falls, and teach him correct principles. Sometimes I get frustrated and forget my purpose as a trainer or forget that he`s new and doesn`t know exactly how to work. He is learning fast though. We had a couple trials this week. We dropped a couple investigators, 2 of which had accepted a baptism date. It`s sad when they use they agency and don`t accept the gospel. But it is good experience for my companion on how to handle some situations.

We put a new idea into action this week. This idea is an old one, Una Encuesta (a survery). We knock a door and kindly ask them if they would like to take a short survery about their opinion on some stuff like if a strong family is important to them. We ask to come in to take it. It is 10 questions that will help them more easily accept our message and we get to know their thoughts, beliefs, and desires better. Then, after we complete the survey, we tell them that we have a message that goes along with the survey and we ask them who would they like to say the prayer to begin the lesson. It`s a bold easy move to get into the door and get them talking. If they really thought about the questions they would accept the message more easily. If they reject us at the door, they`re really not rejecting us nor Jesus Christ, but the survey. It usually works.

Saturday, we became even more united as a ward. They planned an outing to go in the mountains in a park type thing. I bet there`s many of those places in Utah. At first we couldn`t go because our leaders didn`t give us permission. So the bishop went to el pez gordo (the big chesse), President Dyer, and got permission. It made me feel good and wanted in the ward. Also, there was about 15 investigators there and many inactives. In all, I`d say about 100 people came to the ward activity. We played soccer, volleyball, I taught them capture the flag (bad idea, the two teams started fighting), we ate a barbaque, and then we started a fast as a ward. The purpose was for the missionary work, or in other words, The Work of Salvation. That was a powerful moment as all the ward (and investigators) stood in a circle as the prayer was said. Imagine, 100 people praying having the same mind and purpose. I felt a huge force come over me as they specifically were praying for us. It felt as if there were angels all around us, supporting us. Then I opened my eyes, and saw my ward.

I`ve been reading Jesus the Christ lately and this week I`ve been in the last chapters where he`s in his last week. The Atonement surely is incomprehensible. And Jesus surely is the Christ. Not a single other human could possible do all that: be betrayed by his ``friend´´, drink the bitter cup that his Father gave him in order to take upon the sins of the world upon himself, have drops of blood come out from every pore, be mocked and humiliated in front of the chief priests, stand with innocent majesty before kings, be tortured in the worst of ways, carry the heavy cross up the hill of Golgatha, be nailed to the cross, be crucified, and Still have the patience and love forgive all of them, break the bonds of death, and crown all of that with the glorious resurrection. He surely was and is a God that has a perfect love for all of us. So why do we struggle to have faith in Him?

We can`t waste any more time,

-Elder Walker

First Real E-mail from Elder Ryan Walker

When I first arrived, there should have been a sign that said, "Welcome to Spirit Prison!".  If there was, it was probably in español.

Just kidding.  This last week was sweet!!!  I must admit, I don´t really miss home.  I miss alot of my friends and family, but that´s about it.  I feel like everyone has already forgotten about me and moved on with their lives haha.    But ya.  I´m learning alot about the Gospel and how to preach it.  A little disspointed that they don´t teach  us Spanish though.  They only teach us The Gospel in Spanish.  I´ll show them. I´ll learn spanish anyways.

 

Alot of the missionaries here still act like high school.  Its kind of lame, I was expecting better.  But at the same time it´s fun.

 

The weather here is fantastico.  I like the jumidity, and it´s always the perfecto tempertaure.  The sky is always musty and I think I saw the sun one time.  I think.  There´s also only one star in the sky at night.  But I think it´s a planet.  que triste.

 

The food is delicioso!!  We always have rice, beans, some foreign meat, and a dessert that is a new adventure to try everytime.  I love the fruits and veges.  Theres one where you have to smash it open, then drink the juices inside.  Its delicious, but it looks like baby fish inside so i couldn´t do it.  And in case youre wondering mamita, I havent had any health problems.  I feel great, look great, poop great, life is great.

 

SO here are some stories.

Our fourth day in, they thought theyd reward us for being good, so they said theyd gave us helado!!!  ayyaaaa por helado!!  (ice cream).  Everyone ran to the cafeteria, only to find  they broke the key to the freezer.  No helado for us.  All we had was a broken key, and broken hearts.

 

One Elder randomly left to talk to the president for 2 hours.  Then he said goodbye.  And we never saw him again.  hmm.

 

We went to town today.  I bought a llama tie.

 

Ya, I don´t have that many great stories.

 

The hardest part of my week was my companion.  I had heard the rumors about crappy companions, but I never thought I´d get stuck with one.  He´s super disobedient, and always does whatever he wants.  And then he gets upset when people don´t like him or talk to him.  He´s super opinionated and is always telling nasty high school jokes even after I tell him not to.  He talks forever too.  He´s like the thing that wouldn´t shut up.  Just kidding.  In the end, I know he still has a heart of gold and cares deeply for people.  He´s really hilarious when he tries not to impress people.  He lacks alot of faith, but I think he´ll come around eventually.  Halfway through the week I prayed 3 times as much and hard for help with obedience on both of our parts.  I began to be 10 times as obedient, and my efforts payed off.  The last few days went much better, and I could actually feel the Sprit.

Oh I forgot!  Danget!!!  I started making a quote book for him hahaha.  When he talks to himself or girls, he says the stupidest things that are hilarious!!  Well, at least to me.  I´ll share some of his quotes next week when I remember my book.  I already have 4 pages lol.  Here´s one I remember:

"The ladies be like daang Elder Andrew why can´t I date you?  I´m like sorry ladies, I´m taken by the Lord." -Elder Andrew

 

Maybe it´s just me haha but I think his quotes are funny.  That whole rumor about that your future wife has a trait from everyone of your campanions?  All lies.  I could never marry someone like my companion.  Unless he can cook.  I dont know yet, but Ill accept that one.

 

 

Welp, thank you all who read this.  I´m finished now.  Go back to your normal boring lives.  And thank you for those who wrote me, Im going to write you next, hopefully I dont run out of time!!  Ill also upload pictures. 

I seriously miss all of you.  Coming out here, the biggest sacrifice was leaving you guys behind.  I love you.  Have a nice life.

 

Con Amor

 

Elder Walker

 

Boo! Still Going Strong!

Dear family,

 

Life is great isn`t it?!

 

Dad - Ward Mission Leader eh? I think that`s perfect and just in time for me to come home jeje, I`m fired up still with some great new ideas

Mom - I`ll be there to help soon

 

So it`s weird that Ryan just left and I won`t see him for 4 years just like Cameron. (It was only a year and a half difference between Marissa and I).

I picked up my kid and my last companion Wednesday. His name is Elder Ortiz from Guatemala (Guatebuena o Guatepeor, he`s heard all the jokes). He`s really awesome and a fireball! He`s the perfect companion to end with. I taught many of my teaching styles (even the ones that I`m learning right now) and he`s implemented them all in action. We teach very good together and he`s a good friend. He`s very mature for a new missionary and has already made a great impression on the members. We set a goal of 20 baptisms before I leave! We also a set a goal of breaking some mission records. I just love the faith of new missionaries, they give a fresh new look at many things.

 

I just now realized this week a question that I`ve always had. ``Why do disobedient missionaries have more success or in other words baptisms than the obedient ones?´´ Doesn`t being obedient bring miracles? This is what I learned: Just like D&C 130:20-21 says, when we are obedient to the laws, we recieve blessings, because not a single blessing comes upon something without first being obedient. So why do disobedient missionaries recieve some blessings. It`s because they are obedient, at least to one thing: The principle or law of baptizing. They may not work as hard or obey all the mission rules, but they do obey the law to baptizing, that is finding, teaching to committment, working with members, being friends with their investigators, and doing other effective things. Surely, they will not recieve the blessings of obeying the mission guidelines (and they are many blessings or miracles for that!), but... For example, it`s like mowing the lawn. Someone could get up early and work diligently all day cutting the grass, being obedient to those rules, but they are cutting the grass with scissors. On the other hand, the other person is lazy, does it for one hour taking breaks in between, but uses a lawn mower. Which will cut more grass? The lawn Mower. I`m not supporting disobedient behavior in any way, just think if that first person was using a lawn mower. Miracles would happen!

 

So this past week and the next week, I can finally and have implemented many ideas into our finding, teaching, working with members, and baptizing in order to be more effective! For example with the members. We eat lunch with them every Saturday and Sunday. Many missionaries just eat and then leave. That`s wrong. What we did this past week which resulted in 10+ referrals from one visit was this: 1. First we talked to them during lunch and basically made friends with them 2. Taught them a cool, spiritual lesson. We talked about love for those around us and cherishing the moments that matter. 3. Then we ``played a game with them´´. They were to think of all the people around them (without committing them to anything);  family, friends, neighbors, work-people, school-people, etc. and write their names down on a paper while we sung a hymn. 4. We finished singing, and they finished writing. 5. We made them put a star next to the family names and double stars around the people who weren`t members. We didn`t even have to ask them for referrals, they just started giving us their names and addresses to contact them. El amor del Salvador abarca todo. More to come on other ideas the next week.

 

As I`m coming to an end, I just hope I learned enough to help me in my life. There`s a ton of things I lack and I`m not perfect. I just don`t talk about nor focus on those things. This sometimes gives people the wrong idea about me. So I just hope I`ve made a good balance in my mission (and soon to be life) between being chill, fun  and being the representative of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that I am.

-Elder Walker

And he arrives!

¡OLE!!!!!!!!!!  Ay que rico soy un misionero!!!

This place is flippin wierd.  All I´ve had to eat today is cereal with what <i thought was milk but turns out was yogurt that tased like nacho cheese.  And the majority of the town is in shambles and small shacks stacked on top of eachother like >Jenga..  Its actually really cool, I love it!  I feel like I´m in a zombie apocalypse.  But I need to spread the word of the Lord to the zombies.  My companion is an Elder Calhoun from the movie The Best Two Years.  He´s alway talking to himself and making weird comments.  I think he´s hilarious, unintentionally.

 

Sorry mom I dont have time to respond to your letters, we were only given 10 minutos. 

 

But guess what!  Ok.  So on the plane ride to Peru, I happened to sit next to another Elder, who I call my first companion, and this nice lady named Kathy (Kati).  I talked some español pretty easily with her and for the first 4 hours of the flight the three of us just hung out and had a fiesta.  But then she fell asleep.  Me and my companion looked at eachother and knew it was time.  We broke out Preach My Gospel and a Libro de Mormon and prepared a small lesson for her on the restoration.  When she woke up, we struck.  SHe was a goldmine!  She took it happily and talked about her faith and love for Jesus Christ, and how she never knew which Church to join.  BAM!  we got her.  She promised to read it and we left our testimonios inside.  I gave my first Book of Mormon before I was even in Peru. 

 

I´m out of time.  Love you guys.  Peru is sweet.  There´s no where else I´d rather be; I´m having the time of my life.

Con Amor

Elder Walker

The Last Stride

Dear Family,

''Lengthen your Stride'' is really put into action as I am now on my last transfer. My companion´s leaving (but not very far, he goes 3 min away to the area of the temple). And it looks like I´m training to finish my mission, so I don´t know who my companion´s going to be. The zone leaders weren´t even sure if I´m training. They just heard where my companion is going and Pres. Dyer forgot to say my name so they just supossed that I´m training. It will be my first time actually training someone new. With my last companion, I just finished training him. Looks like my only begotten son will kill me (in the mission of course).

I know that my companion will be great, a spiritual giant. After a while in the mission, one realizes how God works. This past week, we found many people. But they weren´t just people who we talk to in the streets and then we never see them again. We found people prepared from the Lord. I wondered, why this week? It was clear to me that God prepares people before hand and they are ready when the right person (or in this case Elder) comes along. That´s something that Ryan will figure out as he leaves. God has prepared people specifically for him, and if he´s not worthy at that moment, someone else will come along. 

Here are some of the people this week:

-to start off we had 10 investigators come to church

- Lena and her 3 kids. They are a family that have been prepared. Her husband is almost never there due to his work but he did listen to the Elders before because they have a book of mormon in their house that she makes her kids read to learn how to read. Lena was a reference from a member Rosemary Ortuño. They are both Moms who have kids who go to the same school. Lena sees a great and healthy life in Rosemary and wants the same for her life. After 3 weeks ago, she had a dream about Rosemary. It went something like this; Rosemary had a lot that was very beautiful and Lena asked her if she can get her a lot like that for her family. Rosemary said, sure. She found a beautiful lot with a house and a big garden. That was a about it. It´s obvious that her dream was related to the gospel. They all came to church Sunday and I put a baptism date for my birthday ;). Just goes to show the importance of members and that they are always showing a good example.

- Nelson Salazar. His wife and kid are members of the church. He listened to the missionaries for the last two years and has gone to church as well. He considers himself member, even though he´s not baptized. He says he´s mission revelation. Everyone talks about how they have recieved some type of revelation and he´s waiting for that. But one of his problems is that he´s only praying. If he wants to find an answer, he has to read the book of mormon, the evidence that holds it all together.

-Manuel (the blind guy) and his wife are going to get married in November (for my birthday again ;) ).

- Eularia and Diego. Mother and Son. They have several problems. She´s divorced (very ugly that included the her husband hitting her every day), she has 4 children and doesn´t make very much money. Just enough for food everyday, the monthy rent, and sometimes new clothes. Diego is 15 years old and it´s something very hard for a 15 year old to go through all that. Scars his life. They came to church and I saw them smile for the first time.

I´m still not trunky but I do catch my thoughts drifting to life after the mission, food, having fun, school, etc. I try to focus myself when that happens. But I am working even harder that ever.

I still want to hear (read) specific names who you guys are teaching or have given as a reference to the missionaries. 

-Elder Walker

eres lo maximo

 

Happy Birthday Cameron

Have a great birthday Saturday Cameroncito. Sorry we`re all going to miss it. Eu desejo que eu poderia falar português tão bom quanto você pode ... mas eu estou lendo o Livro de Mórmon em português.

Ryan, you still have 9 days, so you`ll get one more email from me. Just be obedient down there in Perú. The ``gringos´´ usually are the most obedient. Don`t be disappointed by the latino elders, instead help them. Many of them are converts are don`t have the same background that you have. Also, some Elders who have been in my mission live in your mission, Lima norte. I told them to look for an Elder Walker...so don`t be surprised if someone randomly talks to you.

I played Racquetball the first time in 2 years this morning with the bishop. He whooped me 3-1, I`m a little rusty after two years, but it was a good excuse to talk to him about some things in the ward and get some exercise.

I love my area and ward. I feel like here, I can utilize all my talents. I also feel like i`m more than a missionary, an angel. I`m just now fully recognizing and using the Spirit and the power the Lord gives to missionaries. Advice for Ryan - record your setting apart or at least write it down afterwards. That setting apart is REAL. Utilize that power and authority given to you to the max. 

Also, this is one of the few wards in the mission Cochabamba that acts like a family and cares for one another, not only just a salutation on Sunday then strangers during the week. I think I finally learned how to fully gain the trust of people right off the bat and continue in that confidence. I realized what type of Elders people trust and with whom they can share their deep feelings. You`ve gotta be their friend. Joke and play with them. Smile alot and share your personal feelings or scriptures with them. Then ask them questions and of course listen as a true friend does. Be serious in serious moments. And never fake anything, it´s pretty obvious.

My companion and I usally go on splits with many members and work with the leaders wayyy better than I`ve done in my whole mission. (On a side note, I don`t really like when we go on splits because after a whole three hours or more of working, he comes back teaching only 1 or 2 people which is usually taught to little kids age 8 - 12. He likes teaching little kids but is intimidated by adults.) I really do like the change from `Missionary work´ to `The Work of Salvation´ because it puts more emphasis in everyone helping out to save lives which in turn saves us. We can`t be perfect without them and them without us. 

Even though in the streets, many people look at us weird like `what are these bums doing here´, I testify that this is the Lord`s work. I am His instrument to save and improve lives. We will all have to choose one day if we`re on the Lord`s side or not. There is no inbetween.

-Elder Walker

 

Not Trunky

Dear family,

Well this is weird. At the end of my mission, I`m getting more letters than ever! Looks like everyone is trying to make me trunky. Pues, It`s not going to work! I have more energies than ever and I`m doing work. Just ask my companion. hehe. 

Thank you for your prayers! Like Pres. Monson said, you can really feel them. Even when my body feels tired, I get a spiritual boost that pumps up my energies. I know it`s all the prayers around the world. Even when they prayed for the missionaries during the conference, I could feel the spirit inside of me. It was as if someone else was inside. 

About conference. I really like Uckdorf, Nelson, and Bednar`s talk! Exclamation point. Hollands` was nice for the psychology that I`ll get back into. The gospel really has the best psychology! Exclamation point. 

Just like you guys ask me questions and tell me things to write about, I would like to hear from you guys in your letters, Who are you teaching or helping come to Christ? I would like specific names and details please. Just like Elder Ballard said, every member should give AT LEAST one reference to the missionaries before Christmas, or what he meant to say, before Elder Craig Walker comes home.

We did service for Rosario, the woman who I talked about 2 letters ago who would only talk about how blue my eyes were. We used a machete for the service project. No mom, I won`t cut myself with that ``knife´´. We cut thorns, vines, palm trees, grass, but mostly espinas. And we did it all with a machete. I also brought a rake and a shovel to the service but Rosary said, ``we don`t need those, they aren`t machetes. Oh what do I know, Gringos work harder and smarter than us bolivianos.´´ jaja. We ended up using everything. During the service she kept saying things like ``I heard the mormons are really good people´´ ``I did have that dream 3 years ago when God told me it was true´´ and how much she didn`t like her church. She even said she might change, refering to our church. She`s a little crazy and needs a husband, but she`s also a child of God who is looking for the peace in this world.

We got 2 baptisms this week, Felix and Alex, the ones that I talked about from my last letter. This is probably the reason why I`m not getting trunky yet, too much work to do... I`ll send you Photos the next week. Their parents came. I think it might be a step back to activation in the church. Felix wanted his dad to baptize him, but his dad kept saying that he wasn`t worthy. He said he would have to be active in order to baptize (even though that`s not specifically true). But like I said, it`s a step towards Christ because he felt pretty bad about not baptizing his son. We`ll see progress soon.

Well my 6 pack hurts. Too much ab ripper x. Take care, love,

Elder Walker

Hard Teaching September 30, 2013

Dear Family,

Thank you for your letters - emily, thank you for your 5 letters..

This week, my teaching skills were challenged many times. Teaching is not only teaching to their needs, but also being the example of what you teach. That being said, we are always teaching.

Here are the people that made my week a challenge;

Tatiana Prado, age 45, her husband`s a member. She comes to many activites and Church a few times. We taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ and tried putting a baptismal date. She`s very catholic and wouldn`t accept a date. Ok, if Christ were here teaching you, would you do what you says? Yes. How can you know what he wants or His will? Praying. So if God answers your prayer that this is true and the right path to follow will you follow it? No.

?? Why. Just accept a date and you`ll see miracles happen. It was very tense and was an hour long. It was like a bull. I had to watch every move and say the right thing or I would be dead.

Maritza Lara, 33, returned missionary and inactive in the church. She`s had a ROUGH time since she`s been back. One terrible thing that happened to her was that her mom committed suicide and people would tell her that there`s no hope, even the best of friends. She would cry until there were no more tears. It was sad. What could we teach? She wouldn`t even let me talk. Everytime I tried, she would cry or make an evil face. It was also a little scary. We gave her a priesthood blessing and left D&C 121-122 to read.

Mariabel Sabalaga, 55, daughter is member (young women`s stake pres) and her other daughter wants to get baptized but can`t get permission from Mariabel. She has a TON of doubts about the book of mormon and Josè Smith. I would try explaining or having her read but she would just say to me sharply, ``It`s not obligatory!" Then how are you supposed to find out that it`s true if you don`t read the evidence! ``I have asked many people about it and I`m fine". Uhh

Daniella Arze, 23, very religious and active in her church. Sister`s a member. She accepted a lot of things we taught her and we did it using her bible and basically convinced her. Many hard questions as well. As we finished the lesson, I invited her to pray. ``Yeah, I`ll pray, but i`m sure it`s not true!" Even if God says it is? ``I`m positive my church`s true". Way to humble yourself before God!

Ruth, 50, Laura, 29, Mother and Daughter are teachers in the Catholic Church and know the bible in and out. Her other daughter and son are members of the church. They kept making many indirects trying to bash the church. I just shrugged them off and kept my smile. I only made it to the Great Apostasy because of their many comments.

Felix Herrera 15 and Alex Herrera 12, Parents are inactives in the church. These two kids are VERY inteligent. We`ve been teaching them for a long time and I was going to drop them. Alex was ready to get baptized but wanted to do it together with his brother. Felix said he was missing "something". We read Acts 2:37-43 and talked about baptism. He said that he was afraid. 1 John 4 - God is love. v18 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear." Ch.5 v.3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep His comandments." Boom. He accepted! Yea! Let`s see if we get a baptism this week.

-Elder Walker

Women . . . September 23

Dear family,

 

Elder Calderon from the presidency of the area came this week. I learned a couple things that I can apply. Trusting more in the Lord, and working more with members. That`s about it.

 

I learning more in my area about patience. Patience and perseverance make big problems seem small and insignificant. Everyone of our baptisms we`ve had planned have fallen. For many small reasons also like getting married, the desires, etc. We could have like 20 people. But I`m sure that happens in all areas. I`m tired of my leaders in the mission. My district leader just talks about finding new people and if we don`t find the standard of excellence for the mission, 15 new people, he gets angry at us. He mostly focuses on my companion and I. The other 2 elders in his district are his friends and are also in his ward. My zone leaders, uhh, don`t even get me started. They are the other 2 elders in my ward and are making our lives harder here. The assistents came to our house and took away our couch, microwave, and toaster (most of the other houses don`t have that stuff) and put them in their house. I understand that other missionaries don`t have those things, but what bugged me is that they put it in their house. Just hard to follow leaders that are like that.

 

Sorry for the negative and now for the positive :)

 

This woman that we are teaching is named ilsy. She`s come to church many times, but thinks that all churches are good. We taught her about the restoration and the book of Mormon and thinks that its just good also. It wasn`t until we said that it`s the only true church on the earth. That perked her attention because she`s catholic and said ´´well what about the other ones.´´ We had to teach her the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ again, she apparently didn`t understand. We taught her mostly about the authority and power of God, the priesthood. It was quite interesting. After the lesson, we gave her a health blessing because she was a little sick. The next time we came over, she talked about how she was healed quickly because of that blessing and believes even more in our words! It was cool to see how God works in people. I`m sure she had enough faith to be healed and believed even before we gave her the blessing. Miracles follow faith.

We then taught her about the plan of salvation. I don`t think I have ever taught the plan of salvation to a married woman without having them cry. In the past 3 weeks, I`ve had about 10 women cry on me over their husbands, children, mistakes they`ve made, etc. I`m sure it won`t be the last time either...

 

Another woman we found this week is Rosario. She came to the church Sunday night (A week ago) to pray. We just happened to be there that night. We talked to her to see what was up and also gave her a blessing of comfort. All she could do was look into our eyes and say, ``what beautiful eyes´´ ``you guys have a certain light in your eyes´´ ``you guys have no bad in your eyes´´. Yeah, i get it. It just made me laugh. We went to talk to her Wednesday. We taught her about the restoration and families. She told us of a dream she had 3 years ago. She wanted to know which church was true and in her dreams she heard the words ``the Mormon church´´. That caught me off guard. I know she has been prepared to hear this message of comfort and peace, which is what she`s looking for. I wondered why she didn`t join the church earlier but I realized that God wants us to unify the family first. Her son lives with her sister, her parents are dead and her siblings fight all the time, and her ex husband also causes troubles. Looks like we got alot of work to do.

 

Whatever you are, be a good one

-Elder Walker

Received on our way to Thailand, Mas Fotos

Dear family ,

Good news, for the first time in 21 months, I´m officially a legal Boliviano . I got my identification and can now also leave the country. Also received my ''carta tronki'' where it says my due date and my schedule for my last week... 

We have new people coming out from no where; good things are happening in the area. The piano lessons that I started is starting to be a success. The first week, we didn´t have anyone, the next a few more, and this last week we had about 8 come! It´s funny because we´re supposed to teach English at 7 and piano at 7:30, but it just ends up to be only piano as people arrive late (on time for Bolivia ). We had a pretty fun service project as we hiked with machetes high on a hill to get to the house and then cut down some 4 trees (There´s some photos on this email and on one more I´ll send... it won´t let me send more). It was hard but fun work. The woman was scared that the tree would fall down on her house and outside bathroom, so she put a wooden pole on the top of her nature shower. As the big tree came down, it hit the wooden pole as sent it flying in an arch-shaped manner and landed perfectly inside her window  and shattered the glass. Sometimes destiny finds us on the path we choose to prevent it. 

We found this one guy named Luis Alfredo this week. He looks like the typical punk. He has black hair shaved at both sides in this weird looking mohawk and puts it straight up. He also has a couple black piercings in his ears; they´re actually more like nails or sharp points his ears. He has acne all over his face, and looks like he just came out of doing drugs. And let me just say that I love this guy!

His dad died about 6 years ago and his mom is in Santa Cruz and sometimes España. He lives with his 3 brothers and they all look the same. I feel like I knew Luis before. He´s so fun to talk to. He goes to a church, but it doesn´t really like the preacher and thinks he´s a hypocrite because he doesn´t treat his wife and children good. I asked him if he thought he has authority from God. He doesn´t. More and more, he believes in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He just awesome and wants to know the answers to lives questions, which we have. 

I had a little red hen experience sunday. We put on a fireside representing the Missionary work. There are 4 missionaries in the ward and when we went to plan for the activity, the other 3 elders didn´t want to do it and had negative attitudes. The other companionship didn´t show and even my companion was saying no to all my ideas. They were being bums so I decided to do all other it by myself and with the ward mission leader. I´m pretty sure the other 3 elders thought it would be a failure. None of them helped me set everything up; the projector, computer, getting the videos, set up the miny activities, refreshments, etc. So the night came and none of the other elders even wanted to talk, so I had to lead and do the talking. The other companionship even showed up halfway through the fireside ! Well, it was a success. I had three clips about 7 minutes long about missionary work. I showed one, then we did a skit about knocking doors. Watched another one, then did another fun activity. Watched the last one then had a few testimonies, the wrote 3 names and their directions with whom they could share the gospel. Then the bishop gave closing words. Afterwards, everyone was congratulating me as if it were my birthday or after a piano concert. They all loved it and we received more than 20 references!  The other 3 elders got pretty mad (and jealous) that they weren´t included in the program.... Did they help me think of ideas? No. Did they help up me set everything up? No. Did they even want to be there? No. They just wanted the glory from the members. 

Well, besides that, I´m just happy the members are excited to share the gospel with their friends, which will bless the ward greatly.

Lght tomorrow with today!!

Elder Waker 

Have fun in Thailand, with mission prep, in Washington D.C, at BYU, and playing soccer. I`m going to sign off now and play some ultimate frisbee for the first time in bolivia! CHAO
-Eldercito Walker