Staying in Cerro

Hello!

So yeah, I got my new comp on Wednesday: Elder Thatcher! He is super cool. He is from Dallas, Texas, and only has one more transfer than I do. He came from Huanuco and was companions with Elder Cook, that is Huxford’s and Stubb’s Elder Cook. He loves to golf and got 2nd in the entire state of Texas in high school his senior year. He is hard working and happy which is cool and doesn’t complain. He does, however, point out how much Cerro sucks compared to his last area and that is kind of funny because Cerro is all I know. In his last area he ate French Toast, cupcakes, brownies, and way good food. Here we eat Caldo de Gallina every night—and I'm not exaggerating—every night! But he is cool. He tells me his family is super rich. He is kinda of like you mom and all of his brothers are older.

Right now we are still working with Elizabeth and she came to church again and I am really hopeful that she will get baptized not this week but the next Saturday. She is super cool and says that she has already received an answer, and she is super ready. We are working with other families as well. I sent a picture of the Familia M. They have some work. He is an RM, the dad, and the mom is an investigator and they aren’t married, but that little girl Eva is the cutest thing ever. 

Like you said missionary work is like fishing—takes a lot of patience and you don’t always catch anything. It’s been especially hard here because the work has been slow. But yeah I like that about fishing and will think about that this week. One thing that I've realized is that missionary work is hard, but it’s hard because that’s the only way we can develop into the person God wants us to be. There is a story in Ether about the Jaredites crossing the sea. It talks about how the Lord sent them fierce winds and storms and in chapter 6 vs 5, its says that these things pushed them towards the promise land. I love that. Some times our struggles push us where we want to go. Kinda like the scripture you shared with me about experience. I never understood the quote by JFK talking about going to the moon—I think and he says that we do not do these things because they are easy but we do them because they are hard. I understand this now. everything that is worth anything requires hard work. LOVE YOU.

Elder Walker

New companion--Elder Thatcher

Four Months on the Mission!

Hello again,

Elder Contreras is gone and on his way home. I will know who my new companion is tomorrow night, and he will come on Wednesday. Right now I'm with the zone leaders staying with them. I have a ton of pictures!!! But I forgot my camera because I'm with the zl’s. This week has been hard, which fits because my training finished the way it started. This whole week we have been in appointments and stuff, and Elder Contreras would tell them that he was leaving for his mission and then everyone would get sad. And I would be like yeah I'm still gonna be here. haha. Then, on Saturday that was our last real day, and it was super hard. With the investigators like I just said, then Elder Contreras was thinking and talking about home, which made me think about home. And then I realized or remembered that it was Chloe’s birthday. Sunday (Mare's birthday) was hard too, but it was better because we had 2 families come to church and some less actives. I am a little worried though that they just came for Elder Contreras, and I'm worried if I'll be able to teach effectively without him.

Makes so sad that I can’t be there to watch Clay play basketball. I pray for him and all the Pendletons. I pray for Grandma Sue every day because I worry about her so much. I pray for Gpa. Bud and Gma. Leslie. I’ll pray for Camrons midterms this week and for Chloe and whoever the heck she’s dating. I used to pray that Camron and Chloe wouldn’t get married while I was gone. haha. But now I pray they find someone because I want the best for them. I’m proud of Anna and her hard work in school. When I meet girls who are 13 here in Peru I think, oh no, that’s how old my little sister is going to be when I get home, and it scares the heck out of me. You’re at the doctor with grandma. I miss the days when you would take grandma to the doctor and bring home Krispy Kreams. Ahhhhhhh! I love you and dad, and I pray for you every day.

But yeah that's where I am right now. I had my four month mark this week. I Love you all so much.


Elder Walker

Killing off Elder Contreras.
This was just before he got in the car to leave.

Best week

Hello!

Chloe! Dang 22! You’re gonna be old!

I had a good week. Multiple appointments failed, and I walked at least 15 miles as a result but it was a good week nonetheless. Right now we are working with one investigator, whom I am really hopeful for and attended church again this week. She is awesome, and it’s great to see progress in someone here. We are working with others as well but they are not really progressing and acting on our invitations. It is a little ironic that as soon as I get use to and enjoy the work here with Elder Contreras, he has to leave. 

Our investigator is Elizabeth, and she is super cool. Her story is that we were walking around on P Day a couple weeks ago and a lady stopped us and said, “Hey I’m a member.” Then, we set up an appointment with her and when we went we met Elizabeth, Flor´s daughter. She is great.

I just want to thank you again for the packages, and specifically you mom for the letter. It was an awesome letter. What a powerful question at the end to ask, Art thou greater than He? And I believe you that the trails in life have a purpose and that is to give us experience. Awesome.

I want to talk about a talk by Lawrence E. Corbridge called “The Fourth Missionary.” I got it when I entered the mission, but I’ve been really studying it the past few weeks. It talks about 4 different types missionaries you can be. The first one doesn't work and isn’t worthy, and goes home. The second is disobedient but finishes his mission. But I want to talk about the Fourth type of missionary, and you need to read this talk to understand me. But in summary, "The third is a faithful laborer in Christ’s work. The fourth missionary is a disciple of Christ." 

Anyways right now I’m somewhere in between the 3rd and fourth—or better the I’m the 3rd missionary trying to be the 4th missionary. He paraphrases CS lewis and in the Lord’s words he says, ”I want you. All of you.... Hand it all over to me." He also says that "the third missionary gives up doing those things, but the fourth missionary gives them up in his heart as well.” 

In truth, I don't know how to do that. He says earlier in the talk that I am "... The sum total of what I have thought said seen heard and done." Which means I am the result of everything I’ve left at home: family, friends, sports, and that I should but I don’t know how to just "put them in a box on shelf in my closet at home" and forget about the things that have made me who I am. In short I "count the cost" as Corbridge says, but I'm trying not to and trying to be the 4th missionary. The quote I liked the most is, "You cant be happy if you don't want to do the things that lead to happiness even if you do those very things.” Meaning going on a mission doesn't make you happy; you have to want it. I agree that the only intelligent thing to do is to serve as the 4th missionary, but it’s hard. I am slowly changing, I think, and as I have prayed for more love and more pure desires and to be more like Christ, I have had the best week of my mission. Anyway, read the talk; it’s awesome!

Love you all so much,

Elder Walker

I'm Alive

Hello!

First things first, I got my packages!!!!! It was a nice Halloween present, and I was so happy. I have lots of snacks and won’t have to worry about food for a while. But seriously such a relief to get stuff from home. Thanks so much! 
  
This week started off kinda bad and turned into a great week. First yeah, I was sick with a stomach ache from the fish and and cold like I told you about last week. On Wednesday, the day I felt the worst, we were in a lesson with a member teaching a less active family. During the lesson my stomach progressively hurt worse and worse until it was unbearable, almost. But we talked about sacrifice with the familia Sacorius and the importance of going to church and the blessings that will follow. I bore my testimony of how it was a sacrifice to leave my family and be here and speak Spanish then asked the Hermano Manuel to share his testimony. He gave such a powerful testimony of sacrifice and love. He described the death of his wife and other hard things in his life that had happened. He's my hero. After the lesson I walked outside a few steps then threw up. But then none of them came to church. So frustrating! I’ve had to accept what Bro Johnson told me that everyone has their agency and we can’t get down when others choose to exercise theirs.

Then, we had stake conference. It was great Hna. and Prs. Henderson spoke, so that was cool. And then on Sunday night we went to Huanuco for a multi-zona. So that is why we are having P day a day late because yesterday we had a conference. One thing that was cool was that the scripture we were assigned to memorize was DC 68:3-6, which is my plaque scripture, awesome verses. At the conference, I also saw Elder Cook, finally. It was cool, but we only talked for like 5 minutes because we had to rush to get the bus back to Cerro so I didn't get a picture. 

Yeah so thats whats up. Love you all so much.

Elder Walker

Packages!!