The Final Epistle of Elder Walker to the USA

What I am supposed to say in my last letter home? I'm not sure. Words cannot do justice to everything I have learned in the last 23 months. The only thing I can do is smile widely, because I´m so close to done, but half-heartedly because I will miss so much here, and say, "It's been great". 

I have a testimony that God is our Heavenly Father who is all powerful and knowing and also loving. I know He hears and answers my prayers. I bear testimony that Christ is His first born in the spirit and only begotten in the flesh. He died for us collectively and for me personally. I have felt His divine help and hand in these last 2 years and have had experiences where the only explanation is Heavenly. Because of those experiences, I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that Joseph Smith is a prophet. 

If I had to sum it up it would be with my testimony of Christ. He lives. I hope I never forget what I've learned here. It interesting how I've known, said, and done these things before my mission, but I had to come out on a mission and live it to be able to write it in my heart. I was thinking about that in consejo de lideres when President was talking, and I could feel the Spirit so strongly. The Spirit is sweet and peaceful and loving and quiet and powerful. I realized that, hey, this is what my mom and dad have always described. I actually think Bro. Johnson shared this exact thought about what the spirit feels like at one point in a lesson, and I felt the Spirit before. But now I recognize the Spirit better. That, and I've changed. I hope it is permanent. I have faith that it is. 

Mom and Dad, I love you both with all of my heart! Have a great Fathers Day Dad! I guess I will just have to give you my gift in person! Love you so much and you have taught me more than you think. 

I love my whole family and ward family and friends! Thank you for all your support. It would be cool to see Aunt Kathy first at the gate. She can show me the way. No, I haven't gotten a package, but maybe before I come home.

Signing out for the last time, 

Elder Walker 

Time. Where has it gone?

Thanks for the great letter, Mom. Interestingly, I have thought about traveling when I get home. I wanted to go to the St. George temple with you alone on my first weekend. Also, I want to drop a small package for a friend here in the mish. Maybe, we could go to the Salt Lake Temple and visit Sear Jasub, haha Elder Lopez. It is a little bit disappointing not to see everyone at the airport, but everything you said makes sense and sounds like a good plan. 

I have two questions. ONE, What day is my homecoming talk? Do I have a subject? Will I speak with Marc? TWO, Has Jason Lyon left on his mission yet? 

My last two weeks in the mission will go like this. Tomorrow I go to Huancayo for consejo de lideres. I will get back late of Wednesday. On Saturday we will have a zone conference. Then, my last Sunday here in Tarapaca, Pday, and next Thursday we have a multi-zone. Next Saturday I go back to Huancayo because I FINISHED MY MISSION. Doesn't seem real yet. It's funny because I don't mention openly how much time I have left to the members here, and because I've been here so long no one asks. So next Monday is the last time I will write you because the following Monday in Huancayo normally the missionaries don't write because we are busy doing end of mission interviews and stuff. 

Love you! Have fun at girls camp!

Elder Walker

Less Time Than I Thought

Well,

I'm not sure if the mission secretary called you like he promised me he would, but he isn't answering my call now so I have to tell you the news with my flight itinerary included. I received a call from President Henderson, and he told me that church policy has changed making it impossible for siblings and twins to go home together. This happened right when the personal secretary tried to do it. In reality it is Marc's missions fault because they waited so long to buy his flight. When the pers sec called Mission Santiago they didn't answer so he called church travel offices and their response was the change in policy. Anyways, I am no longer going home with Marcus. :( I will be returning home with the rest of my group on June 22.

On the bright side like everyone else from my group says, I will be home for the NBA Finals and the Finals of the Copa America. haha. 

Good week. This Sunday is the second and last round of the elections here in Peru, which means Peru will decide who will be the next president and we will not have church services. (No gatherings or church allowed by law on election day.) This also means that I have one more Sunday here in my ward Tarapaca because the next Sunday I will be in Huancayo to meet with President for my final interview. Only one more church service on Tarapaca! It doesn't feel real. 

Inspite of the fact that no one I now find will be able to be baptized, we are searching diligently for new investigators. This week we found 2 families. The highlight of the week, however, was on Thursday when we hiked to the top of the mountain in our area and started contacting. We noticed about 10 moms unloading heavy material from a cargo truck. They were unloading and carrying material to a near by elementrary school that was there in the mountain. So we naturally started helping the moms (their husbands were working) unload materials for an expansion of their small school. It was a blast helping them, and they got a real kick out of the "gringo" helping them and carrying about triple what they were carrying. I will miss those shouts of "Gringo!". haha. 

I love serving! I hope I don't forget the joy that comes from doing it. 

Anyways, love you all. 


Elder Walker
Lunch today with Elder Palomino

The Beginning of the End

Hey!

I just read on lds.org that sisters missionaries can wear pants to prevent disease in mosquito infested missions, which begs the question can I wear a skirt? haha. Sometimes I think skirts look more comfortable. I think it would be so weird though to see sisters walking around in pants. 

Your week. BRAIZE MARRIED!!! Dang that is hard for me to believe and a little sad to think about. I love that guy though, and I'm glad he is happy. Chloe, Joe, Camron, and Tori came home, that must be fun. I bet everyone is going crazy right now with school almost out. It's weird to think that the sophomores when I was in High School are graduating now. Anyways all good. I will talk to the Secretary here to make sure all is a go with the travel plans. I also heard that Cori Molisee is getting married in the LV Temple. That is cool. Lots is going on. Good luck planning girls camp. 

My week. Pretty boring. We are working super hard and have the goal to talk with 50 people throughout the week and find new investigators. We are also walking a lot and climbing up and down the mountain. We found quite a few new people to teach this week which was awesome and had a few go to church. I have just a little over a month left. I'm starting to notice and plan for the lasts. Last transfer, last multizone, last meal in Huanuco. Weird.

On Friday we had a multi-zone. President was able to come. It was cool. President talked last and when he shared his testimony at the end he started to cry, but pulled it together and ended. He often says that he knows each of us personally and that he has an idea of how our Father in Heaven must feel towards us and how He knows us perfectly. He started to cry when he called us his hijos. You could tell that he knows that his mission is coming to an end. Our last conference will be at the end of June, and then it's over. I think we as missionaries sacrifice a lot to be here on the mission, but no one has sacrificed more than President Henderson. 

Here is a pic from our lunch last P Day. Love You!! 

Elder Walker

La Obra

Hi all,

I stayed here in Huanuco in Tarapaca and have a new companion. Elder Yeh went to Satipo, and my new companion is Elder Palomino, who came from Cerro. Elder Palomino is from Lima, is 27 years old, and has been a member since he turned 9. He actually got baptized in Huancayo and moved to Lima afterwards. I met Elder Palomino in 2014 in Cerro when he started his mission there (he started then went back to Cerro to serve there a second time). It is funny to be his comp. He has 19 months on the mission. Strangely, I think he is the perfect comp to keep me motivated and working until the very end. I hope I will be able to speak English though because I’ve been with Latinos for 5-ish months. 

Every thing is great here. There are a few new missionaries here in the zone and it’s funny because two of them who are new were with me in Huancayo. I guess they just can’t get rid of me. Haha. I am excited to help them and everyone here. 

This Friday we will have the first of two Multizones that I get to help plan this transfer. It should be a good time. Other than that everything should be normal this week. 

I liked these verses from Romans 8:35-39 in my personal study this morning. Nothing, unless we allow it to, can separate us from God´s love. I thought of President Eyring’s talk "Where is the Pavilion?" when I read these verses. Anyways love you all. Have a great week!

Elder Walker 

PS Here is a pic of me and my comp that I just took para que vean.

Busy Week

Hey!

We went to a couple of lagoons and just got back to do internet. I will sent photos. This is a moto taxi, and Huanuco is filled with them. Huanuco only has one way roads as you can kind of notice in the picture, which makes driving in the road with a 100 moto taxis interesting. It’s fun though. That is what I tried to explain yesterday. 

Mom, it was wonderful seeing you and everyone else yesterday. I am not sure why but maybe more than ever it was a bitter sweet talk. I was sad to talk to Jason knowing that I won’t see him for 2 years, but I am also extremely happy he’s going back on the mission. Maybe that is the clearest example, but even with other things like Chloe telling me to roll my sleeves down. That isn’t even a rule here in my mission or anything, but I felt guilty about it. With that and talking about my investigators, combined with the realization that I have so little time, the thought popped into my mind that I haven’t done enough. I haven’t helped enough people. Baptized enough. Taught enough. Nor been converted enough. 

What I wanted to ask or say, but didn’t remember. What am I going to eat at college? What is my apartment like? 4 people or 6? Are my classes in the morning or night? The first trip we have planned is the beach right? Do I have time to work in the summer or nada? I refuse to think about a phone, laptop or anything like that Mom. I don’t know why but thinking about that gets me super unfocused. 

Thanks for sending Marc’s letter. It was cool talking to him. 

Also, this last week has been the most busy of my mission. On Monday Elder Bullock, the same one I was with at Christmas and trained as a zone leader in Huancayo, left Huancayo and came to Huanuco to be in my zone. It was kind of hard, like I think I mentioned, that he wasn’t a zone leader anymore and was in my zone. Tuesday he got a call to go to Huancayo immediately to be assistant, so we have been with Elder Turin, his comp, all week. Weird, but cool, that Elder Bullock was just a comp mayor then to assistant, but I like that. I like Elder Bullock too. 

After that we moved Elder Turin’s room. On Thursday we went to Huancayo. On Saturday we moved into another area’s room. (Pretty much the whole zone is moving because we will now pay everyone electronically and some peeps don’t want the Peru IRS to see that). On Saturday we were working, and then because of and impression I had we stopped by the church. By chance Elder Turin was there preparing for his baptism, when we found out that the bap fount was filled with old water and the machine to empty it was broken. So with buckets we emptied it. Then, we went to a baptism in another area in the zone because of some things, and we returned to Elder Turin´s baptism. On Sun. we talked. :) 

Crazy. I also managed to break up a fight on Sat. between two ladies at church. Like my mission president said when people ask how you mission went you just have to smile and say, “It was great,” because no one else can really understand. Maybe you can try, Mom. 

Great week. Transfers are tomorrow like I said. I love you all so much.

Elder Walker

Con mi compi

Tres Amigos--Love these guys!

Moto Taxi

Like Missionaries Do

Thanks for the great letter. I do remember Brian telling me that story, and he always said that he was going to speak in Chinese. Crazy! Tell him that I am excited for him. Tell BRO J that as well. Miss both of those guys!

Well, not much to say. You are spot on when you said that the mission stretches you. Sometimes I can see my progress clearly, but sometimes its not so easy. This week was a little bit harder. We had interviews with president on Monday. On Thursday my comp went to Huancayo to get an MRI. On that same day President interviewed everyone else in the zone. I had to do all of the practices with the missionaries alone and some other things. Afterwards president and his wife took me and 2 other missionaries out to eat, which was sweet. We went to eat at Señor Limon, which is a super good seafood restaurant. I loved it. If I finish here, I will go there to eat on my last P-day, and I will eat ceviche.  

But, yeah, again I didn't work a lot in my area, but we have two investigators progressing which is cool. Just want to keep working. 

Fast week. Nothing much to say. Love you lots.

Elder Walker

Tomayquichua La Perricholi

My companion went to Huancayo out of nowhere on Wednesday to get an MRI. He was there for a day and then came back, and annoyingly he came back without getting the MRI because all of the machines were out of service. He could possibly go back to Huancayo this week.

So, in small part it has been hard to work in our area because I couldn't find someone to do divisions with one day. My companion is in a sort of limbo because he is waiting to find out what happens and his thoughts go to home and the what ifs. He is doing better now but emotionally it is also a lot for him. I hope that he can get answers soon.

Yesterday, we had a stake conference with President Henderson and Elder Costa who is now a general authority. It was fun to listen to them and the stake liders. I enjoyed the priesthood session the most. Elder Costa talked about the power and authority of the priesthood saying the authority for us now is “free," but it is our rsesponsablitly to have the power. I am not sure why, but like it seems to always happen, he called me up in front of everyone and used me as an example of a missionary who wakes up late and doesn't study. He may have the authority and a letter signed by President Monson commissioning him to serve, but he will not have the power.

Later, my favorite example was that of a father with daughters. The daughter may try to leave on the weekend with friends in an inappropriate outfit. The dad in turn has the authority and may scream and degrade. But in that there is no power. If the dad reads his scriptures, keeps the commandments, treats his wife right, then invites the daughter to change into something modest because she is beautiful daughter of God, the power and authority combine harmoniously to change the heart. This is true for anyone who has authority and applies to me here on the mission.

Thanks, Mom, for your message from Elder Holland. I like him understand the scriptures more reading in 2 languages, but never noticed the difference in abide in me.

Tonight, we have interviews with President Henderson. That,s all that is going on.

At what time do you want to Skype? I can do it on google hangouts if you want. If not, I will just see Camron and Chloe in a month anyways, so no biggy. It would be cool to talk to Camron though on his birthday. Let me know. LOVE YOU!

Elder Walker

PS We went to this place called Tomayquichua La Perricholi on P-day. It is a museum in a town about 20 minutes outside of Huanuco. This is me with my old companion, Elder Bullock. He's in my zone again. Awesome guy.

Oye

Fam, 

Thanks for you support and prayers. It has been a completely normal week. It was actually kind of abnormal because we went to church for the 3 hours after 3 weeks of not doing so. Strangely next week is Stake Conference so we will not be in our church building. We are great here. Elder Yeh is hanging in there with his knee. He is doing better. We are working hard in spite of the difficulties and we are teaching a few investigators now and searching for more. 

This Friday we will have interviews with President Henderson. It’s interesting because it will be everyone’s last interview with President Henderson except for those of us who go home in May and in June we will have one more. :) I am looking forward to Friday. 

I hope Anna has a great 13th birthday. Tell her I love her and that I am sad to miss that day. I think it is a day everyone has been dreading. haha. And Camron graduates wow! BYU grad with a job. He will get married soon. Chloe needs to get better now! Love you everyone in the family. 

Mom when do I need to sign up for classes? I’ve heard that I have to do it in May. Also I heard that if I want to take the 16 credit exam in Spanish I have to sign up for Spanish 321 and to take that class I have to take a small exam, and I would have to do that here on my mission. Help! Im staying in Liberty Square right? Where is that? What is it like? Love you Mom. Also be thinking about the Mothers Day call and scheduling that with Marc. 

Thanks for the help. Have a great week!

Elder Walker

Weird Week

FAMILY! 

Camron brought home a girl! You can tell Camron that I’ve received the letter that I’ve been waiting for for 21 months now. :) haha. Good for him!

Interesting hearing about Marcus and his date changing. I have been talking to the mission secretario personal and as of Tuesday when I was in Huancayo for Leadership Council, he said that he hadn't bought the flight ticket but I should get to go with Marc. What happened here is that our church travel department representative of this area retired, so currently we don't have one or have someone else for now. The secretary said that it has made it harder to do it. He also said though that he called Marc’s mission, and he was planning with them. I will talk again though on this end and see what happens. But if it isn't a sure thing, Im going home on the 23rd because it would be terrible to wait a week and still go home alone.

We had a good week; however, it was a week full of doing things other than proselyting. First, we had consejo which was great but we had to travel to Huancayo. In addition to consejo and traveling, I have been in and out of the clinica because of my companion, Elder Yeh, has a knee problem. Our sec de salud told him to go to the doctor and do what we did. I hope what he has done and is doing will help so we can keep working. Other than that we had a zone conference, a service project, and many failed appointments yesterday. Yesterday was the presidential election of Peru, so we didn’t even get to go to church because it is against the law to have formal gatherings on election day. Really this was just a weird week. The highlight of the week was interviewing a family of four taught by the other elders here in Huanuco Central who will be baptized today. We interviewed them on Saturday. They are great people. I want to baptize a family! I know that if I trust in the Lord it will happen, "but if not" I will continue to work hard and trust Him. Have a great week!

Love you all so much!

Elder Walker

This is "Elder" Puentes, who got home about 6 months ago from Marc's mission. Evidently, he knew Marc well in the mission, and it is fun to see him around Huanuco and talk to him about Chile and about Marc.

Conference!

Conference!

Another temple in Lima!!! The people here were so shocked and happy. Even if we are far away from Lima, the people here are ecstatic! Tell Camron that we will have to come back to Peru for the temple dedication. It’s crazy that Camron served there, and it would be unreal to come back with him. I will go to Machu Picchu before I die!

Conference was an absolute blast. I really enjoyed the talks and messages given there. I really liked Elder Renlund, and Holland´s talks. Also, I enjoyed President Uchtdorf´s Sunday morning talk and President Nelson’s talk. I will miss Conference on the mission. Conference on the mission is just so special. 

I stayed here in Tarapaca with Elder Yeh. I’m happy, but at the same time I really did think I was going to go. President in our interview awhile back told me that there are a lot of leaders in my group going home in June and that he wanted to leave experienced leaders for the new mission president. Therefore, he told me that I probably wouldn't keep being a zone leader for much longer. After hearing that 3 months ago, I was happy. It is a lot of work. This last transfer because of what President had said, I thought I was gone. But alas here I am. Sometimes now I just feel tired. I lay down my head at night and am so exhausted. I’ve never been so tired in my whole life. But here I am. I know though that I just have to keep going. Like you said and Elder Holland said, ”Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever.” Love that!

The part that is the most difficult for me is that I feel like I have to keep the peace between missionaries who don’t get along or who have hurt feelings or who are offended, and sometimes it feels like I focus on resolving conflicts more than really helping all the missionaries in my zone or working with the investigators. It is hard, but I can do it. You know me, I don’t like drama. Obviously, I have something more to learn.

All is great here. I really do love my mission, the other missionaries and the people in Peru. Have a great week! I love you all!! 

Elder Walker

P.S. Thanks to Chloe for her email!

Hermana Lily, the best pensionista of my mission!!

Following the Light

Family :) 

No, I do not know whats going to happen in transfers yet. Tomorrow I will know in the afternoon, and so we will all just have to wait. 

We did division with Elder Ayala and Elder Walker this week. Yes, there is another Elder Walker here who is a cool guy from Utah, but I was with Elder Ayala in the divisions. It was fun working with him, but sad because shortly later we found out the the area that they are in is going to close in these transfers. 4 area close in the mission because of lack of missionaries. 

Yesterday, was Easter Sunday, and it was fun to have my easter tie and socks! Also, my pensionista loved the kitchen towels and says thanks. Hna lily is the best pension of my mission, so it was nice to be able to give her something. Easter was great with people who came to church as well. The don’t really celebrate Easter here. They have what is called "La Semana Santa" where the people do reenactments of the crucifixion of Christ, and other than that the people just throw parties and drink. If i say Pascua, they don’t really know what that is. They don’t celebrate anything more on Sunday; it is all the same. 

This morning we woke up at 3:50, and left at 4 to hike the to the top of the mountain overlooking the city to the huge cross that is there. It was interesting because none of us knew the path or had gone before so we started up the mountain blindly, searching for the path with our small flashlights. We couldn't find the path, but we continued climbing. The other missionaries were complaining and said that if we couldn't find the path we’d never make it. We eventually saw a lights up ahead and followed them, hoping those holding the lights up ahead were on the right path. We found out that they were other missionaries! It was a relief to find them, and with them we had a guide a missionary who has hiked that mountain 4 times. We got up the mountain quickly afterwards at about 5:30. It was super fun. 

All of the while climbing I couldn't help but thinking about 1 Nefi 8 and Lehi’s dream and something I had read in the Liahona. We knew more or less where to go, but we didn't know how to get there exactly so we aimlessly were walking until we found a guide. A lot of people are lost and need that guide. Maybe sometimes we do as well. Larry R Lawrence in the Liahona said, "The gift of the Holy Ghost—in addition to the light we were born with—gives us a great advantage. It is one of the greatest gifts we can receive in mortality because it brings more opportunities for obtaining light and truth. Without the Holy Ghost, we are like a person walking slowly home in the dark with only a flashlight as a guide. When we accept the gospel of Jesus Christ and are baptized, we are offered a floodlight and a guide who knows the way. Now we can walk faster and see our way during our homeward journey." 

What a bless to have a guide and a floodlight in our lives! 

I love you all. Have a great week!

Elder Walker

Easter Ties. Thanks, Mom!

Those socks though!

Oscuridad! Starting the hike in the dark.

'Merica!

Selfie from the top :)

The mountain from my area.

I Love My Family

Dear Family,

I LOVE YOU! That’s all I basically want to say today. 

 

Yes, I got the package you sent me, and thanks to Mom, Chloe, and Grandma for helping with that! My companion was also super grateful. I remember when I got my first package in Cerro de Pasco I didn't share hardly anything with my trainer. I’m kind of embarrassed about that. Now, half of it is for my comp and thanks because I would have done that anyways especially with Elder Yeh, and I’ve given away more of it to members and friends here. It is always nice to get something from home, but now I like the reading and sharing what you send more. Interesting how that has changed. 

 

Well, if I learned one thing from what you sent its that it would be about humility and submissiveness. I’ve always thought that those attributes have been some of my strengths before the mission, but now I think they are some of my weaknesses. I liked Elder Maxwell’s talk, which was more like reading a scripture manual with all of the scriptures. Holy cow! But it was such a good talk. Talking of the story of Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, He said that the heart of submissiveness lies in three words, "But if not.” In Daniel we read, 

 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us,from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the  golden image which thou hast set up.

Submissiveness isn’t passive, it’s active. It’s doing everything in our power, but accepting the higher power of the Almighty God. Its saying, "Remove this cup from me if possible but if not I will drink". It’s recognizing that God will make more of us than we can make of ourselves. I thought it was funny when Maxwell said that Peter could have been the president of the local Galilean fishermen’s association, but he was humble enough to drop his nets and follow Christ immediately.  Submitting ourselves to God’s will is real emancipation. That is a difficult concept to understand. 

So I’m gonna keep working on that. Thanks for the message about the Atonement. I will study that this week. We are already in week 5! Last week of this transfer.  

Love you have a great week! Dad, I want you to have a great week, and I hope all goes well with work this week. Love you!

Elder Walker

PS. My shoes ran out faster than my time on the mission. :( Still have one more pair though. 

Just Working

Dear Family,

Chevere! So this week was Dayan Julisa's baptism. We have been working with this family since I got here. The mom is Mayesi, and she is from Colombia. Juan, the dad, is from here in Huanuco. Mayesi got baptized about 2 years ago, and Juan has been a member since he was little. They met about 3 or 4 years ago and got married right before Mayesi got baptized here. Anyways Juan is less active and we are working really hard with him. I wanted super bad for him to baptize Dayan, but it didn't work out and like PMG says we shouldn't wait to baptize someone just so the dad can do it. We should rescue the dad soon though. The baptism turned out great. A lot of people came and the primary did a presentation and it was good experience. For Juan as well. 

That was the biggest event of the week. We had a zone conference on Thursday and Pday after. It was a change of pace having the zone leaders doing everything at zone meeting, but it was fun. After we played soccer for about 4 hours for Pday. Other than that, everything is normal. 

Just gonna keep doing the work over here. Love ya!

Elder Walker

Living the Life

Dear Fam,

So I guess Braize, Kaleb, and Tanner are all getting married! What?! Congrats to my friends, but crazy! Craziness. I got to stay focused though.

Well, my week was pretty uneventful like yours maybe even a little less exciting. On Wednesday we went to Huancayo, which was fun. The big news there is that now we don't do telephone informes on Wednesday or Friday and the informe on Sunday is a LOT shorter. We have 15 indicators in stead of 30. So it is a lot easier now and takes a lot less time. The change comes because of a recommendation from Elder Godoy and help us become our propia agentes. Cool. 

Last Monday we went to a wedding of two less active we are teaching. Gabriel and Linda. Linda is actually from Venezuela. It is super interesting to hear her talk about the crisis that country is going through, and it straight up sounds like the after math of WWII Germany. Cool thought to be at their wedding. Picture as well. 

On Saturday we had our zone meeting and I sent a photo from that. It was two missionaries birthdays, and we ate cake afterwards. We talked about how to start teaching and leaving commitments. 

Today we don't have Pday since we have a multi-zone and Pday on Thursday. It should be fun. The zone leader are actually doing everything now in the conferences and the assistants won’t even come to Huanuco. So it should be a fun time as well. 

That’s all. Ohh yeah, and we are teaching a family and the little girl will get baptized on Saturday. So pray for Dayan Julisa this week and her family. Her Mom is an active member and Dad less active. I want them to go to the temple and everything, but yeah next week I will send you a picture and tell you more. 

Other than that all normal. Still just working hard trying to not think about my time. Thats where I'm at right now. 

MOM, where am I living at BYU again? What’s it called?

Anyways love you and have a great week!

Elder Walker

Teach and Preach and Work

Hi!

We had transfers last Tuesday, and as you can see I have a new companion. His name is Elder Yeh. He is from Chiclayo, Peru. His dad is from Taiwan so that’s why he doesn’t look like all of the Peruvians. I might have sent a foto of me and him when I was in Villa Rica because he was in Oxapampa while I was there. I saw him start his mission. He has a year in the mission now. What else? He is 19. He got baptized when he was 17. He is a great missionary, and I would describe him as straight forward and someone who speaks his mind. He is super obedient, which is great, but I want to help him be able to correct other’s behavior in a more loving way. He is a super great guy.

Tomorrow we have consejo, and we will go to Huancayo. Today we are gonna go to a wedding of two less active members and after that just relax. Nothing else.

Looks like America is focus on the up coming president and I have to say I would rather not choose between Clinton and Trump, but looks like that’s the way it is going. I’m excited for Anna to get here cast off, and ANNA KEEP reading the Book of Mormon. I’m proud of you, and yes I also am looking forward to our week on the beach. As for the Rebs we have to get Rick Patino!!! haha. And I guess Dad will hop on the Steph Curry band wagon now. I liked him first! haha. I want to be there to see him at his best. 

All good. Let me know if you want to know anything else. Elder Yeh is the first companion who is younger than I am. Pretty crazy. I am 20 now. I’m pretty old even though I still feel 18. 

I’m studying the BoM and the New Testament. This week I read Matthew 20, and I think I’ve talked about it before to you, but I read the parable of the laborers. As we know the laborers leave at different times during the day, but at the end of the day receive the same reward. The question the Lord makes to those who complain hit me hard as he asks, 

Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?

 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

Sometimes we are angry and displeased with the success of others, and that’s how I felt after emailing the last couple of times. It’s also like the Other Prodigal son as Jeffrey R. Holland said who after his brother got back," was angry, and would not go in." I also read that. I know that it is absolutely essential that we learn to truly be happy for others. Life is not fair, and we need to just love in order to find our own joy.

Any ways that is what I've been studying. I love you all so much. 

Elder Walker

Weekly Letter!

Mother,

     Thanks a ton for your letter mom. It was a great push. I think that is an extremely difficult commandment to "Be of good cheer". I try but fail often to keep it. I love to read DyC 68: 5-6 (the scripture I chose for my mission plaque).

5 Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants.
6 Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.

This scripture has taken on a new meaning throughout my mission. I remember reading it before and thinking yeah that’s cool. In Cerro de Pasco it was a scripture to help me to get through one of the hardest moments of my life (I focused a lot on the promise that He will stand by me and help me) and now I see that it is a commandment to be of good cheer and not only a promise from the Lord to me His servant. Thank you, Mom. 

Dad thank you for your email as well. Anna actually wrote me today, and I’m gonna write her back. The Lord truly does have a plan for us. Other than that GO REBS. 

Tell my "fav sis" Anna thanks for her letter in my package. 

Everything is great here. I got news from President Henderson that he forwarded my email to the mission secretary asking to go home with Marc. He said that I should be able to do it, but I might be in a trio for my last week. That will be cool though to be with Marc in Atlanta. So the big day is the 30th of June. Right before 4th of July. Sweet! 

Hey BRAIZE GOT ENGAGED! Did you hear that?! I guess he will get married in May! haha. Go figure right?! But Rachelle said that Tanner could get engaged soon as well. Craziness. 

So Mom, I don’t know if you remember but you wrote my about a year ago a super cool email about Gma Sue and Gpa Bob and their reactivation story and the importance of rescuing. Do you think you could resend me that? Maybe with Gpa Bud and Gma Leslie’s church story as well because I don’t really know very well. 

What happened to the cars? Does chloe still have the Corrola?

What is the worst thing that has happened while I’ve been on my mission that you haven’t told me?

How did Clay’s basketball season go?

How does Marc like being a zone leader? 

Anyways that’s all I got along with an internet selfie I literally just took. Love you Guys!!

Elder Walker

I'm On Top of the World, Hey!

First off, I’m sorry. I don't know what happened last week. I was really was tired and had gotten back from a fun p-day. I guess I was having a good day when it seemed that proportionally things were a lot better at home. It’s not fair though to ask the Lord to bless my family and then be bitter when he does. I’ve felt bad all week. I’ve changed a lot on my mission, but in a lot of ways I have less patience. Before when I was submissive or maybe just passive, and now I feel rebellious sometimes and more aggressive. It’s good with disobedient companions not to just keep quite, which I had to learn, but I don’t know sometimes it’s discouraging to go backwards. I can build magnificently and destroy terribly with my words.  What I’m trying to get at in a round about way is to say I really am so sorry. 

About Marc and I flying home together. I was talking to the mission secretary, and he said it would be impossible to do it if our release dates aren’t the same day. I told him he just needs to call the church travel agency and make it happen. But I don’t know if he is going to do anything. I think maybe it would be better to talk to President Henderson and see what he says. If it is possible or not. What do you think?

Yes there is a missionary in the zone who has depression and at first I had know idea what to do. His family doesn't support his mission, and he is worried about going home and a million other things. He might beat mom in worrying. We gave him a blessing, which was a super spiritual exp. and are encouraging him but not sure what else to do. He has talked to president. and is talking to a therapist on the phone. He has sleeping pills and has to do 30 min of cardio in the morning. But I don’t know what else to do. Do you have any suggestions?

Tell Aunt Kathy thanks for the card she sent and wish her a happy b-day for me. 

The most eventful part of the week was listing to Elder Carlos A Godoy from the 70. He talked in the General Conference in Oct. I copied the URL on the bottom so you can remember who he is. He is an excellent leader, speaks with authority, and is very humble. He talked about his conversion story, which was amazing and full of tender mercies from the Lord. Then he shared Alma 26:32, and talked about what we can to bring "thousand unto repentance" and baptism. The formula is simple and is like the scripture says 4 things: he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing

He explained these things in depth. But he best explain Good Works. In this part he opened Preach my Gospel and taught how to help investigators resolve their doubts. He asked to do a practice and feeling confident I raised my hand, and Elder Allred and I taught Elder Godoy in front of everyone. We had to find out why he (the investigator) didn’t want to get baptized. Like we were taught, we asked direct questions about the commandments, and I asked him at one point, "Es fiel a su esposa?" or "Are you faithful to your wife?” It was a funny and great learning experience. It was awesome to listen to him. 

There is a lot more stuff to write but little time. I love you all. Have a great week. 

Elder Walker

Meet Elder Allred. He is from Salt Lake City and 20 years old. He turns 21 on May 5th. He is extremely intellegent and a funny guy. He makes me feel stupid sometimes, but it's fine because I need to be corrected sometimes. He went to OU for a year and studied chemical engineering. He is the oldest of 3 brothers. He is a great guy and we have a lot of fun together. He will probably leave this transfer though which ends in a week and 2 days! Crazy

A hotel called Las Vegas. I thought it was funny. 

My crown and I 

Hmmmmmmm... I'm on top of the world, Hey! 

We climbed to the top.

This is a foto from my b-day with the familia Villanueva. They threw me a party after just having met me for 2 days and bought me a cake in the noche de hogar that we went to. It meant a lot to me. Hermana Silvia, the wife, added you on facebook and sent you a foto of us and Marco. Marco is a funny and goofy guy who reminds me a lot of dad. He is always making jokes, embarrassing himself talking in English, and he spoils the missionaries with food. He also has kinda the same job as Dad. Cool people.