last email MERRY X-MAS.....

Dear World,

I write to you with a heavy heart, but contrite spirit.  I could write about how crazy life still is as a missionary and all the funny stories and miracles we witness each day, but rather I am going to bear testimony of what I know to be true and some things I´ve learned.  I cannot believe this amazing journey I have embarked in over the past year has come to a close.  I have learned soooo much!!!  First of all I have learned the importance of becoming a "Preach My Gospel" missionary.  It works!  I hope to continue putting what I have learned into practice.  As this chapter of my life comes to a close I just want to say thank you everyone for your love and support.  Most of all I am grateful for the love of my Savior.  I know he lives, loves me, and watches over me in every footstep.  I have learned the most about my Savior out here and what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  How interesting that he, like us, had to learn and understand who he was, and about His purpose as He progressed in life.  Through the scriptures, His gifts, determination, and abilities, He learned of His role as the Savior.  In order to qualify as our Savior he had to go through everything we went through and more.  Through my life and mission I have tried to catch a glimpse of understanding His life and Atonement, but will never fully comprehend it.  What I do know and understand is His love for me.  What a great opportunity it´s been to show my love back by serving as His representative for the past year and a half.  I trust Him, and for that I have been blessed.  I have felt His love in my life and much more as I have shared it with others.  I have gone from having a testimony to a rock solid testimony.  One that cannot be shaken.  What is a testimony?  Something you KNOW.  I know the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lifes because I have seen it change my life for the better.  As I have sacrificed worldly things, possesions, and activities to follow Christ, I have learned what is truly important to me.  This experience was the best preparation I needed for my future and my Heavenly Father knew that.  My understanding, appreciation and desire to read the scriptures has grown tramendously.  After several times of reading the Book of Mormon over the course of my mission it becomes more apparent how important this book is, how true it is, and how it can miraculously change ones life.  I now try to imagine what it would be like being there, especially when Christ came.  How would I have approached him, what would I have said to him, what would He have said to me?  I imagine Him pleading to the Father in my case.  I hope He is proud of the job I´ve done out here in Barcelona España.  I don´t know if you´ve seen the movie "Mr. Kruegar´s Christmas" when he´s at the foot of baby Jesus´s craddle talking and pleading with Him?  Well that´s about how I feel right now at this point with all the emotion and thoughts running through my head.  I LOVE my Savior!  He is my Lord and King.  We need to use this time wisely to prepare for His coming, because I know He will come and I know we will see miracles in the process if we choose to follow Him.  I love this church, I love everything about it and KNOW it to be true.  I know Joseph Smith restored the church of Jesus Christ back to the earth.  The way I have gained that testimony is throught the Book of Mormon and Bible.  I know them both to be true books, both testaments of Christ that work hand in hand.  I know that the Priesthood authority (permission straight from God) to baptize was also restored back to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith.  What a key role He played in this dispensation so that we could know the truth and follow our Savior with full purpose of heart and finally understand through such confusing times.  I love the Lord and know that He died for us so that we can live with Him and the Father again in their Kingdom.  How do I KNOW these things to be true?  I have read, prayed about it, and applied Christ´s doctrine in my life.  I close my mission saying that I know Christ LIVES!  In the name of our Savior, Lord, and King AMEN.

Sincerly,
with love for the last time,
HERMANA WALKER

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

* see ya´ll soon! *http://www.lds.org/?lang=eng
--

Hermana Caminadora, Spain Barcelona Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

 

Toma mi mano

Dear familia,

First things first. Christmas. I think it´s better to skype. I have already found many, but they might change my area this next week so we´ll see about that. But the plan right now is skype at 10 your time 2 my time. If that changes I´ll let you know.

Right now, I feel a bit grateful for the thing I have. And for the letters that you guys write. It really does help. I was just talking to a new Elder (Van Horn). He is from Seattle and is a new convert from about a year and a half ago. None of his family are members and really don´t support him. In all of his 12 weeks, he hasn´t recieved one letter and to top it off, he´s having a terrible time with his companion. I feel for him but I also know that it will make him stronger and into someone that God wants him to be.

The Christmas Season is now starting everywhere. When it rains here, it snows in the mountains right above us. I hear christmas music every so often. Yesterday, all the members (and investigadors) in Cochabamba and a few from La Paz and Santa Cruz came to the temple. We heard about 10 choirs sing while the missionaries work hard passing out stuff, talking, greeting, getting references, and basically doing missionary work all around. I felt like I was listening to middle school choirs the whole time. I was really funny when the tried singing songs in Engrish. Ok, I would say the last choir moved up to High School level when the sang Halleluia by Handel.

``Don´t you know that Leapords don´t change their spots?´´
``Don´t you know that I don´t work with leapords, I work with humans and they change everyday.´´
Remember the words of President Monson that people can change. We have to help them, but before we can, we ourselves have to be helped. Yellow and yellow don´t make green, but yellow and blue.

Chau chau
-Elder Walker

This is me singing Phil Collins at the top of my lungs this morning.
``Como me apena al verte llorar, toma mi mano siéntela. Yo te protejo de cualquir cosa. No lloras mas aqui estoy.
En mi corazón, tu vivirás. Desde hoy será y para siempre amor. En mi corazòn, no importa que dirán. Dentro de mi corazòn estarás, siempre.´´

merry christmas darling...

Dear Family,
All the lights are up and WOW What a crazy week.  It seems like missionaries are always on the go...on the go on the go..onthe go.  And just from that to the colder weather and all the millions of eating citas we have had WE GOT SICK!!!!!  yes first my compy and the day later me.  3 days in bed no work!  It was miserable.  bueno better now then in 2 weeks i guess.  we received a blessing from the elders...thank goodness for the Priesthood!!!  So much for training as well.  I was supposed to train again, but at this rate with none of the Hermanas getting their visas and me going home...my guess is it ain´t happinin!!  ha.  Also so much for music....my i-POD got fried from the voltage here in Spain.  After a good year and a half it just couldn´t take the conversion of the voltage and went crazy one day ruffley the next and now it doesnt even turn on...sad. In the next couple of months we are doubling and the sister will be training 2 at once!!!  AHHH!!!!  so glad i won´t be here.  Also we randomly ran into Americans from utah that are members and they treated us to lunch!  First time in my whole mission....they were hilarious!  they just got off their cruise.

Anyway, President sent me this poem this week with a couple other remarks and I thought you all would enjoy it!!!  It explains a little of what I am going through....

President Pace

Sister Walker,

You are terrific! Thanks for your kind letter and kind words. I think you are right about Hna Johnson. I have never heard her say anything bad about anyone or anything. Really a remarkable attitude.

You are a choice daughter of our Heavenly Father. You are a wonderful missionary. You are a great worker and have blessed so many other missionaries and investigators. I am attaching below a poem that I have enjoyed. You don't having any problem with "hoeing to the end of the row", but I thought you might enjoy it also.

Sister Pace and I love you so much and will always be grateful for the privilege of knowing you and serving with you. You are going to do great things in the service of the Master throughout your life.

Pte Pace


Hoe to the End of the Row!

Bill Brown made a million,
Bill Brown, think of that.
That boy you remember,
As poor as a rat.

He hoed for the neighbors,
Did jobs by the day.
And Bill made a million,
Or near it they say.

He worked for my father,
You’ll maybe recall.
He wasn’t a wonder,
Not that, not at all.

He couldn’t out-hoe me,
Or cover more ground,
Or hoe any faster,
Or beat me around.

In fact, I was better
In one way that I know.
One toot from the kitchen
And home I would go.

But Bill Brown always hoed
To the end of the row.

We used to get hungry
Out there in the corn.
You talk about music,
What equals a horn?

A horn yellin’ dinner,
And tomatoes and beans,
And pork and potatoes,
And gravy and greens.

I ain’t blamin’ no one
For quittin’ on time.
To quit with the whistle,
That ain’t any crime.

But as for the million,
Well, this much I know.
Bill Brown always hoed
To the end of the row.

- Anonymous


FIGHT THE WAR TO THE END BABY!!!!!!


--

Hermana Caminadora, Spain Barcelona Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

up down turn around

Dear family,

I really don´t have much on my mind to write about especially in comparison to the last couple weeks. But thanks for your prayers, help, and other stuff you guys do for me. It really does help the work along.

There was a holiday (or something like that) this week here in Bolivia. It was called ``dia de peaton´´. I really liked it. Cars, trucks, taxis, etc., are forbidded in Cochamba for one day. There were blockades throughout all the streets so no one could drive. It meant that everyone was on bikes (some on their motorbikes which i didn´t like) or walked. It was cool seeing everyone on the streets. Very peaceful. I also got on camera. The T.V. station filmed my companion and I walking. But it´s not like it´s anything new for us.

In Marissa´s final days of the mission, she´s probably feeling a little bit on the trunky side. How do i know? Because I´m sitting next to some Elders that are going home in December or January (it´s seems like everyone I know in the mission are going home and i don´t know anyone) and they are trunkier than the fattest tree in the world. All they talk about is going home. And it really doesn´t help that they´re playing techno music in the backround of this internet place. I just hope I´m not like that in a year. Marissa, finish it off strong!

You know what´s weird, the more I share the gospel, the more desires I have to do it. The less I share it, the less. Maybe it does make sense. But the thing is, when I just start talking to people in the streets, buses, houses, etc., I want to just share it with everyone. Then there are some days when I don´t really feel like it, and thats when I start losing the desires that I once had. Sounds pretty simple, but at the same time, it´s really deep if you ask me. It´s like light and truth. We gain light and truth by being obedient and applying the things we learn in our life. Everyday, we´re gaining and losing the light and truth by doing or not doing the things of God. Think about. Re-examine your life to see if everything you do is in harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And that´s the way the cooking crumbles

Elder Walker

Random lunch date . . .

We are members from Utah and we ran into your daughter in Barcelona and invited 
her to lunch. Here is a picture of her.  She is doing great! 
 
Butch Johnson 

Sapo Verde to me

Hey all you people, hey all you people, hey all you people why´dn´t 
you listen to me, 
 
I liked what Marissa said, ``happy thanks-Craigy day´´. But I would 
just like to add that it wasn´t only a day, but a week! So it´s really 
funny that Cameron said, ``...I hope you are content with the kind of 
birthday you had because, news flash, birthdays aren't celebrated once 
you are 20.´´ Perhaps; but for me, I feel like the whole mission 
celebrated it! Let me explain. 
Monday (after emailing you guys that sad week) - Letters and packages 
arrived just in time for my birthday. Those are some of the best gifts 
in the mission. 
Tuesday - Some more letters came, and even my pensionista from Potosi 
sent me a package :). Also, I´ve mentioned in the past that we haven´t 
had a house phone for over 4 months, and I need to call my district! 
Well, the mission gave me a cell phone that day. They´re experimenting 
with the Elders and me with cell phones. It´s quite ironic because my 
trainer had a cell phone, but it was breaking the rules. Now I have 
one and it is allowed. It´s like commandments given by God. Sometimes 
we just need to be obedient. 
Wednesday - It was the census day. We had to stay in our house 24 
hours so that we could have the census given to us. That was a nice 
day full of peace 
Thursday - Normal, but we put 2 baptism dates for december and I feel 
like that is a present from my investigators. 
Friday - My actual b-day. I woke up taking a nice icy cold shower 
because it exploded on my companion the day before (I´m surprised he´s 
still alive...). But it was funny cause I was singing to my self, 
``happy birthday to me, my shower is icy....´´ while slowly getting 
myself wet little by little. But the rest of the day went pretty well. 
At my pensionista´s house, the husband that isn´t a member bought me 
cake (we made the brownies the next day) and pizza (yea!). American 
style! I sent pictures of the tradition here to smash the person´s 
face in the cake. 
Saturday - I saw you guys´ video. I also saw your ``cut-out´´ or your 
first try and then the retake. You got my pensionista´s family 
laughing. They probably think we´re a bit...odd. By the way, I was 
singing that song ``happy birthday, blahhh´´ during my b-day and 
nobody knew what was going on until after they saw the video. Also at 
the end, mom was singing a different song while dad was talking in 
spanish and cameron was singing in Portegues. Please, one at a time. 
But it was a nice surprise 
Then today, Monday - We went on a mini vacation. Let me explain. In 
the month of Oct, there was a competition amongst the missionaries in 
each zone. The President said that the zone that gets the most 
baptisms per missionary wins and gets to go to Chapari and eat trucha. 
Well, we won. Chapari is in the jungle about 4 hours outside of 
Cochabamba. It was sweet, I´ll send you cool pics in another email. 
Trucha is a type of jungle fish. Hermana Dyer took a pic of me kissing 
the fried fish.... yeah. 
 
So I got to thinking this week about expectations because all this 
stuff, I didn´t really expect. I was just expecting.... just about 
nothing. But I guess it goes in line with what Jeffery R. Holland said 
about that about two conferences ago, ``Surely the thing God enjoys 
most about being God is the thrill of being merciful especially to 
those who don´t expect it and often feel they don´t deserve it.´´ 
That´s how I probably felt and I know that God has been merciful with 
me in the past many times even though I probably didn´t deserve it. 
But also, then again, to expect or to hope is also a good thing, when 
it is used for the right things like an expectation/hope for a better 
life, world, etc. 
 
Well, that´s about it for the Birthday week. Keep on praying for me 
and the other missionaries. I can definitely feel it. For example, I 
feel like this week there was more people thinking and praying for me 
because the work went alot smoother. Usually it takes quite an effort 
to find people, set baptism dates, teach people great lessons; 
however, this week was like a breeze and I konw it was because of your 
prayers. Thank you, 
 
-Elder Walker

Fotos de Chapari

Cool no, I got more pics if you want to see them. There was some cool 
fog happenin in the jungle

. 

 Other random photos

I know I know, a lot of photos. But alot of things happend these past few weeks.

I am grateful....

Dear family,

I love you, but must keep this short, for my time here in Spain is short.  I´m glad to hear you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving.  As for me Thanksgiving was a new experience.  We fasted, yep without for for 24 hours, 2 meals.  Why?  As our goal for this mission is to reach 600 baptisms for the year of 2012 President had asked that starting this month we do a 40 day fast.  Of course it landed in the Hospitalet Hermanas lap to fast Thanksgiving day. So the four of us had an opportunity to be spiritually aware of what we are truly grateful for...one of them being food of course jaja.  We then ended our fast the next day on all the many leftovers members have sent our way.  I have never been fed so much food in my whole mission!  Lately the members have been giving and giving.  Very nice of them, even though some don´t have very much.  Such a difference in South American food verses Spaniard food.   

What a miraculous week!  We finally got some to church!  I don´t know why it´s been such a struggle for us, but it has.  Daisy, an investigator who said she couldn´t come due to other committments suprised us and showed up to church.  It was perfect because it was the Primary Program.  We took Hermana Paces advise and brought her front and center so everyone knew we had someone important.  She was deeply touched and loved that the church is like a family.  I truly think it was a huge step in her conversion. 

I was deeply impacted and learned many things this week from Elder and Sister Richards, a General Authority who came to our mission this week.  Something I loved the most that he said was, "We need to answer the question they should have asked."I have noticed this week it works and they respect you.

As for my dear companion Hermana Johnson.  I have learned a lot from her in just 2 weeks.  She is slow to anger, loving so very loving, sincere, funny, hard-working, contacts, listens, smiles, you can just tell that she is and has been an effective missionary.  How grateful I am for this opportunity to learn from her. 

Hope you all have a fantastic week as you put up those Christmas lights and start up the Christmas music!!!!!!

Sincerely,
Hermana Walker

HAPPY THANKS-CRAIGY DAY!!!!!!!!!

Dear Family,

I don´t think I´ve ever worked so hard in my whole mission or with any other companion!!!  We seemed to always be go go go this week and I like it like that!  I just have such a desire to really and I really give it my all with such little time left on the Lord´s errand.  I love the mission and will miss it so I don´t won´t to regret my last moments out here.  Hermana Johnson and I are just working our tails off!  I love her work pace!  It just seems to work with mine.  I so happy to have her as my last companion in the mission.  What a great way to end.  She is from San Diego, California and goes to BYU too. What I love most about her is her attitude.  What more can we do?...always her attitude.  Something I also respect about her is she never talks negative about anyone or anything.  She just laughs if there is a sticky situation and then I can´t help but laugh!  We laugh and laugh...but I mean we just DO WORK (as Elder Tirado always says-zone leader).  Seriously, I don´t think I´ve ever worked as hard as we have worked this week in my whole mission or with any other companion.  I´m exhausted, but so content!  We just work, work, work!!!  Great way to end my mission!!!  FIGHT THE WAR!!!!!!!!

President came to our ward this week and gave a talk, he´s wonderful!!!!  First of all it was dramatic when last minute the Priests realized there wasn´t any bread and used crackers instead last minute.  Anyway, we share the ward with the zone leaders, so anyway so he gets up and talks about each one of our successes and strengths as missionaries to the whole ward.  This man has an incredible memory!  I was touched.  My companion gave a talk and made me cry....I think I´m just getting more emotional the closer it gets to the end of this great journey...I DON´T WANT TO LEAVE YET!!!!!  We were also fed sooooo much this week!!!!!

We saw so many miracles this week.  One I would like to specify was a Spaniard who is Athiest.  We had had one lesson before with him, but hadn´t passed by in over 3 weeks.  We were fired on so decided to pass by.  He read over 50 pages of the BOM!!!  We asked him if he would say a prayer that night to ask God if he was there and is real.  He said out of curiousity yes he would.  As we testified to him the spirit was so strong!!  We felt it and we knew as we looked into his eyes he felt it.  It was the best lesson ever!  He excepted a visit back, we are really excited to teach him tonight and invite him to be baptized.   Afterwards Hermana Johnson got in the elevator and just gave me this huge hug and then we said a prayer of thanks. 

It was such a great and fun week!!!  I just want to testify that the power of God, the spirit is real.  It testifies to our heart the truth of all things.  We must learn to submit ourselves to it to feel it´s power work in our lives.  Then submit our will to the will of the Father.  I love you all, HAPPY THANKSGIVING, CRAIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY, hope you are all enjoying this time of the holidays with family.  GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT THIS WEEK AND FIGHT THE WAR FOLKS!!!!!!

-Hermana Walker

600 baptisms for 2012!!!  FIGHT THE WAR!!!!!

I just don´t know

Dear family, 
 
Good news, I磎 still here. And it磗 my birthday this week. I guess 
I磍l be celebrating big 20 by contacting people, visiting my 
investigators and members. I磍l finish it off with some brownies that 
I磍l make with my pensionista that mom sent. They磛e been staring at 
me tooo long. 
 
My companion is wierd. but a pretty cool guy at the same time.... I 
guess what I磎 trying to say is that he磗 a nerd. We walk alot. Every 
time we walk for more than 10 min (which is everywhere) he tells me a 
scary stories that he says are real (he磗 serious) and loves to write 
them as well. Every time he talks, he talks in a scary voice. 
Sometimes we walk for an hour at night to go home. I don磘 like scary 
stories or movies. My mind ponders things too much. Also, when he 
hears a song that he knows, he starts dancing his own style, 
especially when we磖e in public. Every stares at us. ( hmmm, maybe I 
should start charging people to watch my companion dance..) I often 
ask myself, ``why do I always get the companions that love to sing, 
but can磘?创 Sounds kind of mean; but just please hit the note, you磖e 
almost there, but just.. I don磘 know. 
 
But if people are like a mirror, or in other words, if we see in 
people the things that we are self-concious about, Am I like that!? 
nah 
 
I really just don磘 know, this week I磛e been pretty low and it磗 
probably because I was sick and I still have a little cold. My loads 
just too heavy. And I磎 weary. You guys should give me something 
motivational or something cool. I feel like Zac Efron, I just need to 
get me head in the game. I mean, I know what I have to do because I磛e 
been doing it in the past months. But everytime I feel like giving up, 
there磗 a place within myself that I feel saying, ``when you磛e given 
your all but it磗 not enough, when the journey is long and road is 
rough; there is still hope if you only see that there磗 a light at the 
end of this endless road, filled with love strong enough to lift any 
load. And it磗 so easily done for you, why磗 it so hard for you, to 
believe.创 
Maybe I磍l feel better next week after my birthday :) 
 
-Elder Walker 

mission tour Itinerary.....

Spain Barcelona mission tour Itinerary 2012!  (rough draft)

Lunes

10 arrival

Greetings/Hugs/pictures/emotion/JOY

11-3  Las Ramblas, beach, boardwalk

3 Medio dia- sack lunch provided by hermana Walker

4-6 Hermana Walker´s exit interview with Presidente (this is where you can do whatever)

7-8 FHE (noche de hogar) con Gladys

8-10 Las Fuentes en Plaza de España

11:30 Bed

MaRtes

7:30 Arise missionary style

9-12 Plaza de España Bull Ring, palace, olympic stadium

12:30-2 Montjuic Castle look out

2-4 Medio Dia lunch  con  miembros o CR

After lunch Sagrada Familia, las ramblas, shop, look, etc.

5:00 Dinner/testimony meeting

8:00 Cantando con los Angeles-Plaza Catalunya

Return to bed and breakfast?

11:30 Bed

Miercoles

7:30 Arise missionary style

Parque Guells

Eat

Mount Tibibago

Eat with member/CR

Leave to Zaragoza??

Stay with Abel y Maria Jesus

11:30 Bed

Jueves

7:30 Arise missionary style

Arrive in Zaragoza??

Pilar

Nativity, shops, cathedral

Medio dia lunch with Carla and Ignacio

Puerta de Carmen walk-visit recent converts, members

Roman Remains

Eat with the Churches (dinner)

Visit members, recent converts

11:30 Bed

Viernes

7:30 Arise missionary style

Chapel, last minute park, algo más que queremos ver, extra cositas

Train to Pamplona

Medio dia – eat with member, CR

Running with the Bulls tour

Beatriz

Visit Tamar´s shop

Casco Viejo Walk

Stay with Las Cuevas y converso reciente

11:30 Bed

Sabado

7:30 Arise missionary style

Castle Walk

Zoo/Park

Bull Tour

Medio Dia with the Lerminez family

Carcel Hike

Visit more member, CR

Stay with Las Cuevas or train ride back to Barc.

11:30 Bed

Domingo

Church in Pamplona or  Hospitalet-not sure yet?? 

Lunch with Jackeline and family

Area walk, visit recent converts, members

Noche de Hogar con mis tres familias favoritas en la casa de Geanine.

Not sure if you want to get a hotel or stay with a member....let me know soon!

11:30 Bed

Lunes

HOME IN TIME TO SEE SANTA and OUR LORD AND SAVIOR BORN!!!!!!

LOVE YOU!!!!

Hermana Walker