7-29-13

MONDAY, JULY 29^TH 2013

I love PDAY!!!  We are e-mailing at the Twin Falls Public library today because where we usually e-mail (the family history center) is filled with annoying Elders:)  haha.  But seriously, it is so peaceful here I love it.

We had a training meeting where all the newbies and trainers got together to talk about how things are going, and it was like a big family reunion!! 

All of my family from the MTC was there and it was magical!  Sister Wright like attacked me.  She is on bikes in her area and she loves it.  She wrecked the other day and is covered in scratches haha so funny.  We don't see President a lot so it was good to hear from him and Sister Curtis who I ADORE!!  She reminds me of Ruth Ann Daley. 

We did a lot of service this week.  I didn't realize before that service was such a great missionary tool.  We helped a family pack up and move their house for a few days, we cleaned a ladies house (Whitney my slave work I did for you has payed off:)), (Slave driver and family pictured below. Your welcome Idaho)

and we help garden.  Which BTW I am going to grow a garden when I get back.  Everyone has a garden here and they feed us fresh produce.  So mom, please make a square of land in the back for some stuff:)  And have a dog back there when I get home.

This Sunday we had our row FILLED with our investigaters and I can't explain the joy it is to see people I love progressing in the gospel.  No one will progress if they don't go to church.  Sundays are kind of hard because we have 3 wards we are over.  We go to all the Sacraments, all the ward council and missionary coorilation meetings, and then our other meetings. But that also means we get to renew our covenants 3 times:)  Trust me, I need it!

We went to the Shoshone Falls last pday and it was beautiful!! 

We hiked around and saw a bunch of families swimming, and we I did a handstand on a floating dock.  Sweet huh!!!  haha the weather is always beautiful.  Nights are perfect, like in the 70's and in the day its in the 90's.  Which honestly I love.  I love the heat and everyone always complains here.  When I tell people I'm from Arizona, EVERY SINGLE PERSON talks about how hot it is there.  Then they ask me if I've seen snow, and then I change the subject cause I'm annoyed:) haha

I wear my seat belt everyday.  That is progress for me.  You are more happy on a mission the more you follow rules, even what seem to be silly rules, like wearing a seat belt.  I guess that is only a silly rule to me because I hate seat belts. 

I can't remember if I shared this story last time but I'll tell it again because it cracks me up.  There is a whole plethora of Napoly's out here(its like a tiny tiny poly) and we teach a lot of them.  You walk in their house and it looks like you walk into a persons home from India.  They have a very strong culture and they wear those skirts and always have Indian music on.  So one day we were teaching Sanju (he is getting baptized Aug 31) and we were about to leave when the mom says "you have juice".  They don't have very good English.  I was like "Sister Hamilton what juice?"  She told me in their culture, they always give people juice when they come visit, its just what they do.  So, on a side note, I was SO FULL from DINNER!!  The members feed us so much its a blessing.  So I was like dang it I can't drink this!!  She brought out this super super thick mango juice.  So I, hearing horror stories of the people getting mad when you don't eat their food they give you, started chugging this juice and like crying inside because I was so full!  When we were about to leave, I noticed Sister Hamilton didn't drink like any of her drink, and I was like "Hamilton!!!  you are going to offend them!!!"  And she said " Walker, this is not like the 1900's," haha so dumb, I forgot I'm in Idaho. 

I found that when I get frustrated, I just do a role play and act like a super mean and grouchy investigator.  Haha my companions get scared of me because I am so mean, but it helps me get out all of my frustration:)  Maybe deep down inside I"m a mean person, who knows.

I'll send a picture of the Atkins that look like mom and dad. (Where is the rotate button on blogger???-Whitney)

IT is super funny and I still call them mom and dad.  There is a family here named the Fish's and they are one of my favorite families.  He is the Ward Mission leader and he is just a great example of what I want in a family.  All the kids are happy and adorable and Brother fish is the best ward mission leader. 

I have been so grateful since being out here on my mission.  I am grateful for the smallest things.  When people ask if we need rides, when they give us food, when someone gives me a compliment, just little things I get so stinking grateful.  I love it.  I love my Savior more and more everyday.  My testimony grew in the atonement this week.  My weaknesses and strengths are just laid out on a table out here in the mission and there is no escaping my weaknesses.  We will have weaknesses until the day we die, unless we use the Saviors atonement.  Also repentance is so important every single day.  Not just for big sins, it is needed for little sins that take away the spirit.  I challenge you all to repent every night and ask Heavenly Father that we can be clean before the next day so we can wake up with a the spirit in full force.  This is so important to do before we get stuck behind a million tiny sins that can stop our progression.  Thank you for the e-mails and letters.  I will never not be excited to get them.  I love you all so much and am thankful for you prayers.  Turn to the Lord in all you do.  LOVE YOU!!

Sister Walker

 So the kids are the ones who we live with and they call us Misshamaries. 

they are our joy to come home to every day.  The ladies are our grandmas in the nursing home who we sing to every week.

  And that is me jumping for joy because i got a package:)

FIRST WEEK IN IDAHO

Hello Ya'll!!!! Mommy, Pops, Family, Friends. 

I am in Idaho. Idaho Idaho Idaho. 






I am assigned to Twin Falls South right now and let me tell you, everyone here are total hicks!! haha it is so great. Everyone, and I mean everyone has dogs, everyone smokes, and everyone is so super nice.

So the first day we got here, we went tracting which is weird because we are not a tracting mission. They just wanted us to be miserable:) We got partnered up with a random trainer and went out for the day. It was miserable. haha it was hot and I had no idea what I was doing. One guy was drunk and one old lady was like, (in an old lady grouchy voice) "What do ya'll want?!?" oh gosh. 

  We slept at the mission home that night and it is seriously like a mansion. Sister Curtis , the presidents wife, took such great care of us. She cooked us so much food made sure we were all comfy.

The next day was when we got our companions. It was almost as bad as waiting to see where I was going on my mission. We were going to find out who our companions were and where in our mission we were going. It was scary. Me and Sister Wright were the only 2 Sisters there speaking English so there were only 2 companionship's we could go to, and they were both a threesome. It was so weird, the night before I had a strong impression that I was going to be with a certain companionship, and so I guess I kind of already knew who I was going with. I found out later that my companions knew they were going to be with me too. They are sister Hamilton (she is my trainer) and Sister Denkers (She has only been out 3 weeks). Can I just tell you how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sister Hamilton and that she is the perfect trainer for me. HOLY COW.. She is half Samoan half Tongan and she is the most amazing missionary I have ever seen. She teaches me so much and she is just like a mother. She is so funny too!!! What a blessing it is for me to have her. She always tells me to be myself because I am so shy out here. She never talks negative about anyone or any situation and it helps me not get so down all of the time. 

   We live with members from our ward, but its ok because we have our own kitchen and bathroom and everything. They are so awesome. They have a dog named Miles who I play with everyday. There daughter lives there 2 and she has 2 kids (4 and2) who are ADORABLE!!! EVERY time we leave the house they say, "Why are you leaving again???" And then we always say, "because we have to go teach people about Jesus!!!". Sometimes they say, "Why do you have to teach so many people about Jesus?" hahahhah its an everyday occurrence. 

  The first week here was honestly one of the worst weeks of my life! haha that might be dramatic but it was bad. I just had no idea what the heck I was doing, I didn't know where I was going, and I was just so lost and uncomfortable. BUT, yesterday was a turning point for me. I finally felt peaceful. I think my attitude changed. Being a missionary means forgetting yourself completely and that is what I am working on right now. I didn't realize how selfish I was!!:) 

  Yesterday we taught primary, CTR 4, and we taught them about missionary work. It was sooo funny!!! We made them all little missionary name tags. Then we had them tract in!! haha I would go outside with a little girl, we were companions, we would knock on the door, and then a little boy would answer the door. Then the little girl would hand him a Book of Mormon and say "will you read this?" Then the boy would say, "yes" haha then the girl would say, "will you be baptized?" and the boy would say, "yes" hahahahahah then we would all clap and cheer and they all thought it was the greatest thing ever! 

   Missionary work is so gun ho around here. The stake president is on FIRE with missionary work. We taught 30 lessons this week. We set 2 baptismal dates for Aug 16 and we have like 3 investigators that will probably get baptized soon. It is so crazy here. So many people are ready for the gospel here. I hope the work is always like this. I cannot even tell you how much Heavenly Father is helping us. Just like the scripture, we are nothing without God.

I have been praying for my family and friends. My companion shared with me something so great. She said that I am helping my friends and family so much more by being on a mission, than I would by being there. I believe that to be true. As much as I want to be home sometimes, I just know that I will bless my loved ones so much more by being out here. 

   I think for now the most effective way to send letters is to the mission home, the address that you have. They forward it to our houses. I don't know our address and I will probably be leaving in 6 weeks anyways so I don't want to confuse you.

I love you all and I love my Savior! Our Father in Heaven knows each and everyone of us and has sent us to this scary earth ONLY for the purpose of our happiness. 

Sister Walker

FIRST LETTER FROM SISTER WALKER!!!!!

 HELLO PEOPLE OF WHOM I LOVE!!!

I HAVE BEEN WAITING SO LONG TO WRITE THIS LETTER AND TO READ MY E-MAIL YOU HAVE NO IDEA!  Everyone decided to e-mail me so I was the only sister who didn't get regular mail.  Every time someone would get mail and I didn't I would go give them a choke hold (literally) and told them how mad I was:)  haha it happened everyday so finally a sister decided to write me a little note and act like I got mail.  It was adorable, but I am grateful for all of my e-mails so thank you so much!!!!  Everyday here is literally a week in real time.  So I've been here approximately 7 weeks:)  This is probably going to be really long because I just want to tell you everything! 

I would just like to start off my saying that I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  This is the hardest thing I have ever done and I am only in the MTC.  The first day was so fun because we were all soooo excited to be there and everything was new!  When we arrived there were like 100 missionaries waiting outside yelling and cheering, just like EFY.  When they gave us our name tags to put on, I was so giddy it was embarrassing haha.  It was like the power of a missionary that i was waiting for!  I felt legit when I put that on and it is now my favorite accessory.  OH!!!!! GILBERT PEOPLE!!!!  I am in a zone of about 20 missionaries that are headed to Gilbert Arizona!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And the girls in my district are all going to gilbert Arizona except me and my companion.  I am commanding you to look for these missionaries and to take care of them like the people of Idaho are taking care of me.  I'll send pictures of them so you can find them.  The ones you need to find are Sister Carroll, Sister Marz, Sister Bennett, and Sister Stanley.  They are like my best friends here.  PLEASE FIND THEM!!!! 
I don't mind if you find the boys because they are all pychos. :)  hahaha but SERIOUSLY!  18 year old boys are nuts.  The Elders going to Idaho are sweet though, so sorry about that.  It is really nice to see the little boys (Elders) use their priesthood.  One of our sisters got sick last night and was dry heaving and the Elders pulled themselves together and were very respectful while giving her a blessing.  It was adorable and powerful. 

So my companion....Sister Wright....She is really cool.

She makes me laugh all the time because she is so loud.  She was in the Navy and wrestled in high school and curls 30 pounds.  SHES A BEAST!!

Lets just say I have never worked out as hard as I do at the MTC.  She is not aloud to go anywhere without me...obviously...so I have to run with her and do everything she does.  She is like my personally trainer.  Yesterday we ran like 5 WHOLE LAPS around the campus...then we did abs...then she made me do 10 sprints!!  We usually leave lunch early or wake up earlier so we can work out for longer.  I did not expect to be in boot camp and the MTC.  It is good for me though considering all the brownies and cookies I eat at lunch.  Imagine the biggest buffet in the whole world and then double it.  Then picture satan being there tempting you to eat everything.  Thats how it feels and i love it!! haha I'm grateful she makes me work out.  We have had a few problems because she is so loud and according to my teacher I am shy. HA.  Our teacher had to pull us out and pretty much tell sister Wright to not talk so much.  He then pulled me into a room and told me to have confidence because he thinks I am a great teacher and I need to lead more of the lesson.  I think I am going to struggle with my companions because it is hard to be with someone 24/7 AND have the spirit.  I feel sorry for everyone that is married:) HAHA kidding...but kind of serious. 

I would just like to say this without any one feeling sorry for me, just to let you feel what the MTC is like.  I have cried from frustration and inadequacy every single day I have been here except for the first day.  Everyday I feel like the dirt of the earth and then that same day I will feel like I am the best missionary in the whole world.  IT IS CRAZY!!  We have already taught a few MTC investigators and I get hives every time I am about to knock on the door.  It is scary!!!  I usually cry after the lesson because I just want to do really well and if even one thing goes wrong I feel terrible.  Anyways sorry that was depressing but I just want to say how hard this work is so any of you trying to do missionary work just know that Heavenly Father does not set anybody up to fail!

On a lighter note, I ran into my lovely friend Mallory Marsh!!!

It took a few days to find her but I finally did!!!  I was sitting outside studying with my companion and this girls says..."OH...MY...GOSH....".  Then I look up and see this face that was literally like an angel!  We hugged for about 10 mins and then i gave her more hugs from like Rissa and Kip and Sethers..so it was like 20 minutes:)  Our companions hated us at that point because we did not want to leave each other.  The funniest thing ever happened though.  She was walking away still talking to me, and right when she turned around she face planted it RIGHT into a pole!! HAHAHA  It was so great to see her and for her to be the same Marsh as always.  She walked back like 5 mins later and showed be a HUGE gash in her forehead that was still bleeding.  it was literally the funniest thing ever.   I've also seen 4 Elders from Thatcher High school so that has been fun. 

Something cool is that me and Sister Wright were called to be the Sister Training Leaders for our Zone the day after we arrived.  Its like the zone leaders but for the girls.  Heavenly Father knew I needed this responsibility because before I had been feeling so horrible and like I couldn't do this.  I literally had thoughts that I should go home because I couldn't do it.  And then I was called to be a Sister Training Leader.  It made me feel that Heavenly Father did trust in my abilities and that I could do this.  So that has been a little stressful.  I have been to tons of meetings and have to give a orientation to the new missionaries coming tomorrow. 

I have been so tired here!  Most of us almost fall asleep during class everyday.  This one kid actually does fall asleep haha.  I was getting so fed up with it that 2 nights ago I prayed with all of my strength that I at least would not do the head bob in class.  Then yesterday was the first time I did not head bob and feel like I wanted to die!!  That is just a little experience with the power of prayer.  I know that my prayers are answered.

I am going to finish my laundry and then send ya'll some pics of my adventures!!!  I LOVE YOU ALL AND ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!!!!!