We are as the army of Helaman

Querido familia,

I'm officially tired.  After 2 more baptisms this week, 2 ward activities,a wedding, and... well I can't even remember what else we did this week.  The work of the Lord is amazing.  Besides all of the boring moments or trials that still come your way even if you don't do anything to deserve it, the fruits of the labor pay off.  Tomorrow is my 11th month anniversary (booooo) and I'm now rounding the corner for my year mark.  I can't wait, because I know I'll be super trunky.  Just kidding.  But I do spend a lot of time reflecting on this last year..... but I'll save my boring sob stories for next month.  Just be ready.  :)

There was a lot of weird turbulence in my zone this transfer.  My zone leader, Elder Lopez, is the most hypocritical ZLs a missionary will  ever see.  I say this because he's been on my back this whole transfer and is the reason I've been so stressed haha.(So now you know why all of my letters this transfer have been lame) I've been working harder than anyone in the zone and had more success than any of them, yet he chooses to focus all of his complaints on me and is constantly checking in on our district.  Why am I telling you all this?  I don't know.  I guess I needed someone to cry with me.  Nah I guess I shouldn't be surprised.  They say the mission is preparation for real life so I'll probably get some boss in  the future that does the some.  So I should probably learn now to not pull jokes on him or call him things like a big angry banana.

The most beautiful part of the week, was of course the baptisms.  There was a ward talent show first (don't get mad at me if you find any embarrassing fotos in facebook) and then right after the baptisms of 2 beautiful daughters of Zion.  More to come in another email I'm sending.

Well, enjoy your week, cause I enjoyed mine.  :)  I love you all, miss you all, and am praying for you.

oxXoOx

Con Amor,

Elder Quaker

 

como padre como hijo; mom wanted a foto of us both.....

Selfie, Peruvian Missionary style:-)

 

Mas hijas de Dios

 

Yay for Sister Stefani and Sister Rosmery!

Stefani is the sister of michel (last weeks baptism) and was a little difficult, but after 6 weeks, finally entered the waters of baptism for a quick swim!

Rosmery is a single mom whos kids have been members for a few years.  She never wanted to listen to the missionarys until we caught her in the street playing tag with her kids haha, we were instantly patas and 5 weeks later she became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

Aly aly alejandro

this was actually 3 weeks ago lol... enjoy

 

 

 

 

When September Ends...

Querido familia,

What a beautiful Pday.  I have the same problem as Cameron,  "I do so much all week, but forget everything when it comes to sit down and tell all."  I've done so much this week... I can only remember that today is Pday.  The mission just does this to you.  I cant even remember what day of the week it is anymore.  I just read plans, teach people, sleep, repeat.  I guess that's the sad part of the mission, but the good part is that I really have lost myself in the work. :)  Like really, I'm lost........... lol.

This week was the baptism of Michel de la Cruz.  I feel like I've waited all my mission just to baptize him.  He's not only the coolest chillest investigator, but my bffy!  I decided to buy him a pizza after his baptism I love him so much! :D  It wasn't even a real pizza because the pepperoni was some weird ham chunks and the cheese was goat cheese or something.  But it was the occasion that counts :)  He had really been looking for a chance to change his life and leave his past behind.  He just wants to live a chill life with his family and friends in the church and nothing else.  And now that's what he has. =)  The moment when he came out of the water he had the biggest spiritual smile on his face and gave me a big fat hug.  Ill never forget that.

I know that the work I'm called to do is true.  2 years preaching about Jesus, people would think you're crazy.  Sometimes I am.  But I know that Christ lives.  This is His Church and His gospel, and is the only way families can live together forever.  It is a blessing from a loving Heavenly Father.  And anyone can have it, if they just take the time to look for it.

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

 

Yea

Mi querido familia,

I think I've officially hit half of my potential as a missionary.  I'm at a point where I could relax now and just surf through the rest of the mission because I have enough training to carry me through.  Or I could get EVEN BETTER! :D  Many missionary s hit a certain point where they're comfortable and just stop trying.  That's the biggest mistake any missionary can make; to get complacent.  I'm no complacent.  I was chosen in the furnace of affliction and refined in moments of temptation.  Marissa is right, momentum builds with consistency, so I'm going to consistently get better until being the best is yesterdays option.

Why I say that? I don't know.  Ever since I was called to be a leader and move mountains, I feel like I'm carrying mount Everest and have dropped it several times.  But faith can move mountains.  I learned a lot about faith this week.  Elder Forward changed my life when he gave an example of faith during a lesson.  I put a pencil on your desk.  Now I want you to move that pencil with your faith.  MOVE IT!  BELIEVE!!!  AHHHHHHH!  ....Why didn't the pencil move?  Oh wait, you mean I have to move my hand and pick it up??  Is that still faith?  Yes. Boom.  Mind blown.  Many times we think faith is something you imagine or some magical force that works miracles.  It is magical, but not so much like that.  As Joseph Smith said, ""Faith is the moving cause of all action." -Joseph Smith.   Your faith is what causes you to do anything.  Eat, drink, sleep, talk, get a job, save a life, move mountains, etc.  So if you just do something, just simply DO it, you've exercised your faith.  Thus our physical bodies and spiritual bodies are more connected than we know.  Really, the body would be dead without the Spirit.  Faith is a spiritual force that causes any living thing to do anything.  And we reap what we sow.  And knowing that what we choose brings the reward, what kind of things do you put your faith in?  Does your faith consist of just watching TV, playing video games, sleeping, working, or doing whatever you want?  Or do you test your faith and move mountains?  Do you take time to love others, work hard, clean the house, go the extra mile, get better, go to church, take time in the day to do something for God?  Where is your faith?  As Christ taught, "By their fruits ye shall know them."  Your fruits are shown in your daily achievements and life accomplishments.  What are your fruits?  Do you have any fruits?  If not, plant the seed, water your faith, and start now.  And in the end you'll have a beautiful fruity tree of fruits and fruitiness.  Start now.

I'm out of time, but I give a shout out to my investigators michel (its a guys name lol) and stefani who will be baptized this Saturday.  I love them more than anything in the world and Michel is my best friend here in Peru.  They're ready to change their lives and live life peaceful and happy with their family and keeping the commandments till the end of their lives in the celestial kingdom.

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

MMMM, cow heart + intestines.  enjoy.

anticucho + pachacumba.  prebecho.

Yeayeeeee!  Elder Forward and Elder Quaker

 

I Want to Be . . .

I want to be the very best, Elder there ever was.  To catch them is my real test, to baptize is my cause.  I will travel across Lima, searching far and wide.  For people to understand, the power from above!!

A free chicken and rice dinner to those who can name that tune.

I myself would actually love a chicken and rice dinner, as I haven't eaten a real dinner for 2 weeks.  LOL.  #lifeofamissionary.  This last week has been a lot easier, and I'm not even sure why.  I definitely feel your prayers back home and have had a lot of success this week with investigators.  This last Wednesday we (my district) bought a pizza to celebrate our victory over Satan.  But instead of eating it, we decided to say a prayer that  the pizza would guide us to someone to share it with.  After touching 5 or 6 doors, the pizza was already cold and our hearts were too. :(  But Elder Sanchez remembered one family that they contacted over a week ago and wanted to go to them.  What?  No pasa nada!  Vamos!!  Ok.  We went, and it just happened to be their birthday!!  Wooo!  We shared the cake (pizza) and after had an amazing spiritual lesson with a family ready to receive the restored gospel  of Jesus Christ.  It was a miracle!  The magic pizza showed the way.....  Thank you magic pizza.

I guess we can all learn something from this.  Always bless your food before you eat it.  hahaaaa.  Nah the real lesson, is that God is faithful, and the Holy Ghost will always guide you.  True charity and love, dwell in sacrifices.  And as you sacrifice time, effort, and even a hot juicy pizza on a cold tired winters night, the Spirit is 10 times as strong and 10 times worth the original prize before you sacrificed it.  Really, all blessings are predicated on laws of sacrifice.  Sacrificing our will for the Lords.  The moment we cut off our obedience to his commandments and Will, is when the blessings stop.  But when we dedicate time to the Lord, He'll dedicate time to us.  When we dedicate our efforts to Him, he'll ease our burdens.  When we dedicate our love and possessions to Him, he'll give us more than we could ever want.  That is the promise.  So this week I admonish all of you to sacrifice something.  Share a super yummy sandwich with your friend.  Take time to visit someone lonely.  Turn off the TV and play with your family.  Take the time.  And after ask yourself, was it worth it?  Loving another person, you will never lose the reward.

This love, I feel it teaching these people here in Peru.  Amongst all the burdens, stresses, and things Ive felt, it all come together when I see these families and the warmth their souls bring me.  Next week Ill include more details about my investigators, but of all of them, my favorite right now is Michel (in the photo I sent).  He seems like he'd be a rebel or a hard person, but hes the opposite.  Hes my baby!!!  Somos patas!  He accepts everything we teach him, reads all that we leave, and considers us family.  Yesterday was his birthday and one of the coolest days of my mission.  Mom and Dad, were visiting this family next year when you come lol.

I'm getting kicked off now... my new zone leaders are so cold...  But I love you all!  And hope you all have a great semana!!!  Take the time to love another, and feel the lovvvve.

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

Elder Sanchez.   LOL!  I'm sure Ryan practiced his art work.

My Baby, Michel de la Cruz, one of my all time favorite investigator to be baptized the 13th!!