Monday, January 25, 2016

Hola from Ochagavia

So I got changed!!! Right now I'm in Ochagavia, which is a little bit more towards the center of Santigao. It is one of the more humble parts of the mission, and it's going to be a great experience for me. I've been here all of 30 minutes so I'll tell you more about it next week. I think that I could end my mission here, and I just have so much faith that there are people that are waiting for me. Here in this sector I have to find them and baptise them. On another note I've trained for 18 months of the mission finding, teaching, baptizing, and now I have the chance to teach others how to do it while being the example. I pray for the faith to fufill my calling. It's kind of overwhelming. I didn't really understand the power and imoprtance of my calling at first but now i konw.

After 7 and a half months in Las Naciones, I was finally transferred. The last few weeks in Las Naciones were such a miracle. We has 6 investigators at church and 4 of them have baptismal dates for February Sofia, Daniel, Paloma and Nayomi. They are special people for me and all of them are teenagers. I feel like I was blessed a ton in my last sector and hope to be able to participate in the baptismal service that they'll have. Thanks so much for the support and love.

Elder Walker

Monday, January 18, 2016

Bye Bye Teenage Years

Hola!

I'm 20!! I'm happy to say that I turned 20 today. I can't help but think about the personal progression that I've gone through the last year and half. It seems that I've become more of a man in past 18 months than in the previous 18 years. Crazy but true. Thanks for all the emails and congratulations. I feel so blessed to have such great family and friends. 


So, I'm still in my same sector, but this next Monday we have changes again like normal. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to leave. Elder Moreira is doing great and has really learned a ton as a missionary in these 3 short months. He's going to be a great leader in the mission for the future. This last week was pretty special and we are preparing one girl that's 15 years old to get baptised. Her name is Sofia she's gone to church two times and already is friends with all the young women. She just needs the permission of her mom. So lots of prayers for the mom so that she softens her heart a little bit. It's hotter than ever here in Santiago. I'm getting more blonde every day and very tan even though I put on suncreen like 3 time every day. haha The work is better than every though. There are so many miracles.


Love you all. Can't wait to see where I am next week!


Elder Walker

Monday, January 11, 2016

Changes

Hi,

This last week was a little bit different, and brought some unexpected changes. President decided to have transfers in the middle of a change. One day was normal and the next day it seems as if most of the mission got moved. Almost everyone was transferred. That and we changed our schedule again back to Mondays as our P days, and we don't have a transfer meeting anymore. I stayed to finish Elder Moreira's training, but my zone is very different now. Things are different, but I think that change helps one thinks a little bit more and my mind focuses a little bit better with change. President is very wise. I think a good example of this is in golf. Sometimes if someone changes clubs, it can help them just because they focus more. It's something that my Dad taught me with putting. When he told me to change clubs, and I did better; however, it can also be a little risky. The point is the the mission is dynamic and change is the only preditable thing. 


I however have not had very many changes, right now I've been in the same sector for the last 7 months. I love it!! My sector is amazing and the people are so great. This week a good friend leaves on his mission. Jaime is a kid that has been visiting people with us for the last few months, and on Thursday he leaves for Argentina. I feel blessed to have been a part of his preparation and happy to see another missionary join the ranks. It's small but meaningful things like that that each day that keep me going during the weeks and months. 


On Sunday we had one investigator that attened!!! Her name is Sofia, and she has 15 years old. Ahh I mean she's 15 years old :) Despite her age she is very mature and has to be one of the most prepared people that I've taught. She reads, prays, and goes to church. What a miracle or no?!? When she first went to church she loved it, and now she has friends in Young Womens. I'm hoping that tomorrow we can put a baptismal date with her so that she can receive the forgivness of her sins to live with God eternally. 


I'm doing great and feeling a little old to be honest. The next time we talk I'll be 20!! That's like a fifth of a century! Haha love you all so much!!


Elder Walker

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

2016

Hi,

Wow it's here! 2016 has arrived! It was a little bitter sweet to say good bye to 2015. 2015 was the year I spent entirely in the service of the Lord. It was my year of learning and of great blessings. I can't help but to feel a little bit old in the mission and in life now that I'm going to turn 20, and I've been on the mission for over 17 months. I can't believe it, time really has gone by fast! Luckily I still have over 6 months left in the mission.

This last week was great, but it also had its ups and downs. To start, we had a special miracle on Wednesday morning. Just so you understand the mornings can be hard with the heat, hunger, and lack of people in their houses, but in our mission the goal is to find a new investigator before lunch. On Wednesday morning we found a less active member named Tatiana who has 2 daugters that aren't members. She was alone so we returned to her house later with a member and had one powerful lesson. She has an incredible desire to return to the church after going through some heartbreaking experiences. She started to cry and said that the night before she asked God for direction in her life to know what to do and that we had answered her prayer. The daughters want to learn more, and we're going to visit them again today. 

There are miracles all the time in the mission, and this is just an example of one. But they happen regularly. I know that God is a God of miracles and results, and if we know Him, stay in the path of righteousness and put our confidence in Him we will see those miracles  (Mormon 9:20). I have half of this year to give everything I have. Thanks so much for the support. I'm doing the best I can.

Elder Walker