20 Years of the Best

Querida familia,

I dont know about you... but I'm feeling 20!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I'm so OLD it's disgusting.

Bueno.  Mom was right.  I got transferred, and now I don't know ANYBODY. Fastastico.  Just like last year.

But so far, it's already been an amazing Bday!  My convert familia, Andy and Jacquelin, called me in the morning (don't even know how they got my number!!) and came to visit me. :D  We ate pizza and mountain dew for breakfast- I told them it was a classic american breakfast.  Plus because everyone that knows Elder Walker knows that the only thing he ever wants is a pizza.  We shared stories and jokes.  They're still active in church and Jacky is still the 2nd counseler in Relief Society.

This month also marks 2 years ago when I got my mission call.  Loco.

Now I'm in the barrio Infantas, Comas stake.  Everyone's new here in the zone, I don't know anyone....  My companion Elder Torrez is from Cochabamba Bolivia (Beni Cochabamba if you know Craig).  He's into the latest hot card game "MAGIC" and enjoys talking to himself.  But I love him to death.  Makes me laugh.  And in other good news, I'm not zone leader anymore!!!!!!  Woohooo!!  "It means no worries, for the rest of your days"!  Honestly surprised me that I'm a junior cheeseburger again.  But I feel very relieved.  I can finally worry about just baptizing familias and do all the things I couldn't do all the time that I was a leader.  I get to my house everynight waiting to call someone- but wow... theres nothing to do.....  I'm going to bed!!  Wahoo!!!  Most sleep I've gotten in my life.

I had a super spiritual experience this week.  Long story short, we were teaching our new investigator, Domingo who has 82 years old.  My companion asks him a question and out of no where Domingo starts to shake and have an epileptic attack.  WHAT?!  WHAT DO WE DO??  haha the CCM never prepared me for this.  My companion runs out to call a taxi while I try to comfort him.  In that moment of helplessness, all I could think to do was to pray.  I cried feeling unworthy and helpless, but I laid my hands on his head and gave him a health blessing through the Melchizedec Priesthood which I hold.  He went limp after I said Amen, and I thought he died.  NO I killed him!!!  I thought hahaha.  But he started to cough, still shaking, and we stuffed him in the taxi to take him to the hospital.  It wasn't immediately that he calmed down, but eventually he did.  We finally arrived and the doctors took him in.  I have never seen anything like this in my life.  But what I do know is that in my moment of weakness and despair, God heard my pray and answered my cries.  Domingo should be dead right now.  Yet by a miracle and God's tender mercies, he's not.  I saw a miracle this week.  I refuse to doubt and say it was a coincidence.  He heard me.

Today I also say goodbye to my convert Freddy.  Early tomorrow he has a flight to Puebla Norte, Mexico, where he'll serve a full time mission and save many more familias!! :D  Hes coming to spend my birthday with me and say goodbye.  He truly is my best friend in all of Peru.  If anything was worth it these 2 years, it was him.  Love you Freddy, return with honor ;)

Sorry I can't bore you all anymore with my stories, I'm getting kicked off by my meddling zone leaders hehehe.  I love you all more than you imagine.  I'll spend this birthday with my friends here in Peru, but will be thinking about you all day.  See you in 4 short months.    I still got work to do.

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

 

On the Road Again June 1st

It's Ryan's 20th birthday on Monday!  If you would like to email him a happy birthday:   ryan.walker@myldsmail.net

Or send him a snail mail card (takes an international stamp) or a package at: 
Elder Ryan Preston Walker
Perú Lima Norte Mision
Ave. Carlos Izaquirre #124
Casilla de Corrello 31-057
Independencia
Lima 28, PERU

Or send via pouch mail (usa regular stamp on a written one sided 8 1/2 x 11, folded in thirds with a piece of clear tape to hold the fold)
Elder Ryan Preston Walker
Perú Lima North Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

Querida familia,

WOW am I glad this week is over.  My companion was soo trunky over nothing, and was so sure that he was going to have a change.  HAHAHAAAA NOOOOO I HAVE A CHANGE!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH  MAÑANA ME VOY!!!!!  After 2 short changes here in zona Tahuantinsuyo (lo llamamos Craphuantinsuyo), I'm out!!  Bueno.  This could be good or bad news.  I could be zone leader in another zone, or finally put back down to a junior cheeseburger, or a 0.000000001% chance of being asistente.  Come what may.  But I've got a bad feeling haha.....

I'll miss all the awesome familias I baptized here in Craphua (por fin me toco ser cosechador!!).  I can't wait till y'all come because I'm definitely taking you guys to see them.  They're awesome and enduring to the end.

Crazy that Elder Katy Perry- I mean Elder L Tom Perry passed away.  The whole mission knew about it the same day.  Don't know if they'll do anything special, I hope they do.  But I've got to update my apostol flashcard now.

Hope you all have a bodacious week and keep spreadin' that good word of the Lord!  Stay tuned for change results next week!! :D

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

Surprise May 23, 2015

Querida familia,

Surprise!  Elder Walker here.  I'm writing today and won't be on Monday because of the MISION PERU LIMA NORTE COPA MUNDIAL 2015!!!  Sgunna be sweeeet.  A huge tournament of every zone; zone against zone.  We also made soccer jerseys as a zone.  I'ts a sick black and lima green polo that says XBOX.  A little trunky, but I'll send a pic next week so you can see how bodacious it looks.

Bueno, not much to write this week.  We have the baptisms scheduled today at 6, the 67 year old sister El Saborrrr and 11 year old Jesus.  Elder Walker the baptist will baptize Jesus to fulfill all justice.  Pictures to come.

We fasted as a zone this week.  I received my witness that fasting can cure almost any problem.  I had lost hope for my zone awhile ago that the breach between a few missionaries would never heal until  the changes.  But I guess it was revelation to teach unity a zone focus and thus last Wednesday we fasted and went wonderful.  The Spirit was there, and the zone is totally focused and united again.  The breach just disappeared.  We fasted as a zone, for the zone, and for the goal of 16 baptisms.  We can do eat!!!

Got your package mom!! :D  Sadly, it got eaten alive by some latinos as soon as they gave it to me.  But I managed to save it and pretended not to see the awesome avenger shirt and decided to wait till my bday.  Or can I open it now??  But I am wearing the awesome fluffy socks ;) my toesyz have never been more cozys. :D  I cant believe I'm going to be 20.....  Goodbye joventud :,(

Love you all and hope you enjoy the cabin... schedule the next one for late October!!!  I hope you are all still looking for missionary moments and keeping the faith.  I enjoy hearing your spiritual stories or missionary moments.  Inspire me.

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

Weel 80

Querida familia,

Hola!  Tudu ben en Peru.  Instead of writing another boring letter this week, Ill just answer moms survey and attach my itinerary.  ENJOY! :D

What do you usually eat for breakfast and where?  Lunch?  Dinner?
Breakfast I buy bread from the panaderia and throw ham on it with maybe some hot sauce.  Lunch,l members.  Dinner, maybe a horse-meat hamburguesa in the street.

Do you take your laundry or is it picked up?

I drop it off at the stake center weekly during the district meeting.

Do you ever take taxis or buses?
Taxis only during changes when we have suitcases.  Buses, all day errday.

How are your feet holding up?
Theyre holding up and putting down great.

Do you still have your pedometer?  How many miles do you walk daily?
Si, its still sitting on my counter for the last 19 months waiting to be used for the first time.  Tomorrow Ill use it....

What is the most unique service you have performed?
Delivering chickens.

If we were to bring an extra suitcase, what do the people mostly need?
An estra suitcase for what?  My stuff I wanna take back?

What do you do all P day?  When do you go back to work?
Usually just eat a yummy lunch like mcdonalds or pizza to make up for all the rice I eat in a week.  Then play football or sleeeep.  Back to work the next day.  JAJA!  nah, 6pm maximo.

Do you look for random ways to serve people?
Si.  Always help grandmas carry their corn up 50 flights of stairs or small stuff for investigators.

What are the different sounds you hear there?
The states are super calm and quiet compared to hear.  This is one thing I wont miss about Peru.  In the morning, theres always cocks crowing or dogs barking.  Theres constantly bus and car noises regardless of the hour of the day.  Even worse is the sound pollution- everyone blasts their terrible regaton /weird salsa mariachi music.  Whether it be your neighbor or a car parked in the street.  Theres always music coming from somewhere.

What is your favorite culture thing different from ours?
Nothing really haha.  I enjoy Xmas and New Years.  They really know how to celebrate those days.

Are you wearing a sweater?  Did you have one made there?
Not yet, only on cold days.  But were already in winter here, muy pronto me llevare.  I do have 4 given to me from latinos.  2 handmade.  1 from macchu picchu.

Take a picture of your shoes.
Yes mom.

What do you wish you had more time to do to help the people?
I wish I had more time to put activitys together in the ward.  Stuff to get the whole ward and investigators excited.  I want everyone to be converted together.

What modern  conveniences have you learned to get along without?
A phone.  Music.  Videogames.  Facebook.  I really was more addicted and wasted alot more time than I realized before.  Lifes alot easier and free without those worries.

Any advice for new missionaries?

Take innitiative.  D&C 58:26-29.  God wants missionaries that work; that are smart.  The glory of God is intelligence (D&C 93:36).  So be intelligent.  Dont wait or depend on anyone else to learn or get the job done.

I forgot last week haha even though I had already made the itinerary.  Here you go:

Monday- see you and cry my face off at the testimony meeting.

Tuesday- You come to the cambios and watch how its done, then Im youre forever! :D  Then we can eat lunch and probably go play football if you want in one of my wards.  Eat dinner then head to the hotel.  Hit the jakuzzi!!!

Wednesday- Macchu Picchu and where ever else youd like to go.

Thursday- Templo, Mall, playa, meusems, souvenirs, Llama farms, Water park, Haunted House.

Friday- Areas.  In this order: Canto Grande, Canto Chico, almuerzo con familia Fuentes.  Then Deseret, and we finish in Progreso playing futbol.

Saturday- IM OUT YO!!!

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

PS  This is Ryan's Mom-I am taking an extra suitcase with supplies for the children and any other needs Ryan mentions.  If you would like to help, contact me.  Thank you!

 

Feliz dia de Mommys

Querida familia,

Happy Mommys Day!!! :D  Hope you had a special day mama.  Sorry my only gift was singing a bad song over skype haha but enjoy!

I.. am... tired.  We have 5 meatings this week!!!  5!!  Rediculous.  I went to bed everynight at 1130 and woke up early 6 everyday.  Tha'ts why I was kind of tired when skyping, but bueno, it was fun.  I'm still loving being a zone leader.  It's a lot of work, but I'm doing a good job and we're having success.  This last month my zone ended with 14 baptisms, just 1 short of the goal of 15.  8 of them were my own baptisms haha.  But this month the goal is 16, and I've already told everybody that if we meet the goal, my daddy is going to invite us to pizza. ;)

Investigators.  After last month, we're kind of dry haha. I have a grandma that can't read and an 11 year old scheduled for baptism the 23rd haha.  Sgunna be siick.

Bueno, that's it.  Today we should be going to the GRAN JAVILLA!!  It's like a mini mini disneyland.  But it also supposably has the world's fattest pig.  Hope ya'll have a beautiful week.  This is your favorite missionary, son, and llama, Elder Walker.

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

PS The answer to last weeks question-  Did Unicorns exist?!  Well, seeing as everyone was stumped by such a hard question no one answered, Im going to leave you all stumped and give you another week to respond. :)

So tell me.  Did unicorns exist?  The answer is in the bible.

The Flavor-May 4

Querida familia,

Buenos Dias.  Como estan?  Muy bien. Han leido sus escritas hoy?  Muy bien.  Que tal sus oraciones?  Han orado mañana Y noche diario? Hoy?  Muy bien.  Sacaron un 20 hoy.  Bueno, vamos a hacer una oracion y hoy dia les voy a compartir un mensaje sobre El Plan de Elder Walker.

This week I complete 5 months remaining.  Seems so far away yet so close.  My body hurts haha.  I could really use a real P day or one of those Korean back massages.  But relax, I'm not trunky!  Honestly the closer it gets, the more energy and animos I'm recuperating.  I want to end my mission 100% ruler.  Not that I'm not a ruler right now, I'm demaciado ruler.  But my last 2 changes, I've already committed myself to be the perfect missionary I've wanted to be my whole mission.  Pero aun faulta....

Highlight of my week- my converts!!  Its hard managing 9 converts from last month and trying to keep baptizing.  But the ward is actually helping.  my happiest moment was sitting in sacrament meeting yesterday and seeing all their smiling faces.  None of them inactive yet.  But the coolest part was watching sister Lurdes and sister Jacquelin stand up ,and for their diligent faith, be called to be the 1st and 2nd counselors of the Relief Society!!!  Subes!!!  WOW!  They're now golden converts.  Almost cried.  Almost.

Our only fecha right now is the sister of Esther, se llama Elsa.  Even though shes 9000 years old, all the kids on the block know her as "El Sabor"  ("The Flavor")  LOL!!  Disgusting.  but hilarious.  She's actually tight!  She jokes around a lot and loves the teaching.  She's my companion's snake haha.  She wants to go to Honduras so bad. xD

One thing I'll miss from the mission is having a companion.  No matter how bad the day goes, we always stay up in bed talking at night and just laugh about everything.

Well that's all folks.  Mom send me the questions from last week again because I lost them haha.  Include them in a separate email porfa.  About Mommy's Day, it should be Sunday like around 3 pm, but I'll call ya'll don't worry.  Tranquilo.  But please all try to be on the same computer, none of this mom from the living room, craig in the kitchen, dad in the shower, etc.  Ruins the connection.  But all friends and family are invited porsercaso ;)  If ya'll wanna see the new and beautiful Elder Walker- talk to my mommy to get on the list!!

Con Amor,

Elder Water

PS.  Answer to last weeks quesh!  Whats the original purpose of the Melchizedek Priesthood?  Bueno, I should have phrased it better- Whats the original purpose of the Melchizedek Priesthood for man?  We already know what it is and what it does, but that's not why it was originally given to man.  2 scriptures to answer your troubles.  John 17:3 first, then D&C 84:19-22. Gods "work and glory" is "to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39).  No one can have eternal life if they're not with God.  John 17:3.  Thus no man could "see the face of God and live" without the Melchizedek priesthood.  That is God's original purpose in giving man the priesthood.

PSS.  Quesh of the week!!  Did unicorns really exist? (such as in Job 39)  Many biblical creatures existed that are nowadays extinct.  

PSSS. To answer Dad's question- what is the condescension of God spoken of is 1 Nepi 11:16?  Well if you could reading, in 11:26-27 it says the answer.  And in Mosiah 15:1-3(-9).  Its basically that God himself came down from Heaven in his perfect state and took upon himself the form of of man, to save man, something worthless, from its lost and fallen state.

Woohoo-April 27

Querida familia,

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo

8/4/2!!!!!! YEA BAYBEEEE!!!!!!! WOH! WOH! WOH! WOH! WOH! WOH! WOH! 

Bueno.  Let's start at the beginning shall we.

Hermano Andy was officially the biggest fallen fecha disappointment of my mission at the beginning of the week.  We already had plans to leave him and move on.  Something told us to give him one more chance, so we decided to wait until Wednesday for his final final interview.  He has questions about all friquin commandments, but His biggest problem was just not working Sundays.  On Tuesday we had a serious lesson and talked man to man with him about the Sabbath Day.  I hate informal lessons, but I feel like because we stopped being missionaries and talked like men, out of all the lessons it was the one he learned the most from. Not sure how, but when he came out of the final final interview on Wednesday, he was crying and just said, "Welp, you got me.  I want to be baptized Saturday....!" ¿Que? WAHT?!!  I LOVE YOU!!  AHHHhhhhhhhhhhahahaha we hugged and danced and ya.  It was a magical moment.

Then came Friday, my family Bruce and Jessica got Married!! :DD  Super beautiful.  I may have danced for 2 seconds..... until the bishop caught me and burnt me.

Pictures to come.  :)

And last was Saturday- the baptisms!  My companion and I were there- super stoked.  Everything beautiful and ready.  The clock hit 6...  nobody.  Que pasa?!  NOO This can't be happening!!  We come outside and look up the street- PHEW.  There's everybody haha.  Peruvian standard time, arrive half an hour late.  Start an hour late.  Little words can really describe the baptism.  I've never seen a baptism so beautiful and big having 2 whole familias.  Familia uno- Bruce, Jessica (just married!) and Esther (Bruce's mom).  Familia dos- Andy, Jacquelin, and Andy Jr.  I baptized Bruce, Jessica, and Jacquelin.  Almost drowned Bruce.  Dunked a little too hard and water hit several of the little kids watching.  LOL.  The best was Andy Jr.  He came out of the water screaming, "WOW, ESO me encantO!!"  (WOW, I LOVED that!!!).  In the end, I played Come Thou Font of Every Blessings while mi gringasa Sister Karratti sang.  Wish you guys were there.  Both familias turned their lives around and witnessed a huge but beautiful change in their lives. Especially Bruce who used to get drunk and do many things, but now none of that. :)

Bueno.  About your questions mom, please send them next week and I promise I'll respond.  'Im out of time because I did a room check on one of my district leaders and found them dead asleep with apostacia haha.  Una buena quemada.  But next week ill have more time to respond.

I love ya'llll and hope you have a bodacious week.

Con Amor,

Elder Walker

PS.  Question of the week!!  A toughy.  Whats the original purpose of the Melchizedek Priesthood?

PSS Thanks for playing along Mom, dad, Cameron and Craig, I guess I'll keep the trivia goin'. :)  My question about Judas was pure speculation, but I still keep my position that it was according to a plan.  Answer to last weeks- Does God have faith?  Sorry mom but Craig and Dad nailed it.  Read these three verses in order: Alma 32:21, Ether 3:19, and Moroni 7:46.  Faith is not having a perfect knowledge.  We believe in a God that knows all things.  God does not have faith because he knows all things.  He knows what has, what is, and what will happen without a doubt.  Therefore faith is part of our progression to become as God.  Those who don't have faith will never become as God, because they will never know all things, but must remain in the dark.  And as it says in Moroni 7:46, "All things must fail."  but "Charity never faileth".  Even faith will fail.  But charity never faileth.

Have a nice week.

Picssss-enjoy  My compy's camera por ser caso