More Baptisms!

We had another baptism in our stake Saturday. He is slightly autistic, but he loves the water. Missionaries have been working with him for about 2 years and he is finally baptized. His father was the one who baptized him. He was baptized about 2 years ago and last week he received the aaronic priesthood. He has been working so hard for that. He had to be baptized 6 times before Kayden went all the way under the water. I think his Dad was nervous about everything. Kayden loved it. He would come up. Look at his Dad and his Dad would look at the witnesses and they would say do it again. Lots of practice makes perfect.

After in the changing room Kayden said that that was the coolest bath tub he has ever seen. He loved it. When we were teaching Kayden we were wondering if he really was accountable because he would act completely different, but on the interview day he became really calm and answered the questions so much better then when we were practicing them. I believe that it was God helping Kayden. That was a really cool miracle. He has a really hard time sitting still as well so I was a little worried about his baptism and if he could sit that whole time. He did wonderfully. The Lord continues to bless everyone that follows him.

After he was baptized we had no investigators that were on date or no progressing investigators. So, last week we did lots of tracting. Probably more then I ever have done in my entire mission. We found some potentials, but no new investigators. I actually like tracting. You meet so many interesting people, but this Sunday we had a girl come with the Relief Society President to Church. She was a former investigator that dropped my companion before I was in the area. She said that she would like to meet again. So yesterday, at 4:30 we had an appointment and she is now on date for baptism on September 7! I am excited. we have been having good success in this area. The only problem is that we are baptizing all the investigators that we find so we have no one to teach.

Right before the baptism there was a crazy rain storm. It came in really fast and rained really hard. That was so much fun I love the rain. then it started to hail so we stopped and knocked on a random door so that we could be protected a little. No luck on the door but we did not get bruised from the hail. I have heard a saying for Utah. If you don't like the weather you wait 5 minutes. that is the most true saying I have ever heard describe Utah. The weather changes so fast. Last year it snowed 2 feet in June. Crazy.

Also happy birthday to you Mom. I am really bad at remembering the birthday of people as well. That is one of the reasons that I liked the newsletter. So I can remember when my family's birthdays are. I know that Monica is now rolling her eyes at me because I don't remember all of my family's birthdays. O well.

We also had a zone conference last week. I wrote a letter to Ben describing it. I can't describe it all in the time I have on the computer, but know that I learned a lot from it. I am glad I am not a Zone leader or district leader because I am still learning and I don't want to be the one teaching yet. Ben I am glad there are missionaries out there that like talks as much as you do. I really still don't like talks even if I am getting better at them. They don't scare me as much as they used to, but if I was asked to give a talk with out any forewarning I would tell the congregation that I am going to read lots of scriptures to them and just explain it. That is all that they would get out of me. If they wanted a better talk then they better give me more time to prepare it. Maybe I will change my attitude later in my mission, but for now that is what I am sticking to. I would read a really deep doctrine verse and discuss that verse for 15 min and then I would be done. Ex: I would talk about 2 Nephi 31:20 that would be my whole talk.  I would also talk very slow (unless there was an investigator there then I would talk about the importance of being baptized and would read 3 Nephi 11:33-34) just kidding. You have to read the verse to get my joke.

Ben the most I have ever ridden in a car in my whole mission is when I was on an exchange with the Tongan Elders and they cover the whole mission I was probably in the car for a whole 40 min once. and that was across my whole mission.

Robert I sent your letter today. Just still love me even with what I said OK! I also wrote you a letter Monica, but it was a lot shorter then the one that Robert got. Sorry Robert's letter is 2 pages long and took me an hour and a half to write it. I was tired after that. Sorry Monica.

Baptisms and Scriptures

About the fence. I have completely rebuilt a fence for a service project and it was a lot of fun. We did it for a nonmember. Since you share the fence with the neighbors I would suggest to ask the missionaries to come over and help rebuild the fence. The only problem will be when they are able to do it because they can't do it on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, and in the evening is when most of the appointments are. So it would have to be on a Friday when Dad is home so he can direct them. Then afterwards, have a BBQ and invite the neighbors and the missionaries so they can know who helped build their fence. This is a great way to invite the missionaries to meet with someone. This is one of the best things in missionary work. Service is a great way for people to feel comfortable around missionaries and let them know that they are regular people too. Extra bonus they do service for you as well. It helps build your trust in them as well as our neighbors trust in them. (By your fruits ye shall know them) Matt 7:15-20 also somewhere in 3 Nephi. This is how the people will recognize us as missionaries of Jesus Christ. That is also why we are always dressed up in church clothing.

Question when does my plaque say I will be getting home? On my ministerial certificate it says I will start in year 2013 Jan and end in 2014 Dec 31 if you only look at the years it looks like I will only be out for a year. I thought that was kinda cool.

We had a baptism this week for Olivia. It was very spiritual baptism. She is really shy. (Which I did not know until her baptism because she is definitely not shy in her house where we teach her.) When she was confirmed (they do it at Sacrament Meeting) she was so scared she had her head down the whole time, but I know that she loved it any way even if she was scared.

We have had the most Russians that Elder Kolpakov has ever taught on his mission. One of then was texting Dad. We had a Russian baptism kinda she was taught here. (she was here for vacation for about 2 months because her husband is working for the Church and had to come down here for work) She was baptized in Nauvoo when she went on the pageant. They have there. I have never talked to her, (because I can't speak Russian) but I could feel the spirit in the lessons. I think I sent a picture home of her. That was cool. She is now back in Russia.

I have heard a lot about the new movie in the temple. I can't wait to see it. Strange that they are having so many changes in the Church lately.

D&C 84:14 The stakes in Zion must be strengthened. This is what needs to happen. a quick activity that you could do in FHE tonight: write down all the things that the church has been doing to help strengthen Zion. Then write down what you can do to help the Lord in this work as well. Then execute the ideas. To help get some Ideas watch the video hastening the work of salvation (I Will Go Where You Want Me To Go). It is on this website you just watch the video that is 5 min and 45 sec then pray about things you can do for people in everyone's life. As missionaries we do this. We have every one write down all the non-members that they know and then they will pray about which one of the names will be receptive and then finally put a star next to the ones you feel inspired to do. We ask people not to talk during it so they do not get distracted and then at the end you will probably have some of the same people as stars on each of the papers. This is just an idea that came from a general authority that did a tour though our area.

Well I hope that you will have a great day and remember if the Lord stopped blessing you, you would stop breathing (Mosiah 2:21). Always remember that the Lord will never stop blessing you. You just have to remember that all blessings are based on obedience (D&C 130:20-21). I don't know what law I am being obedient that I am able to breath. So the more obedient you are the more blessings you will get. I thought this was kinda funny. You have to read the scripture. It goes on Mosiah 2:21-24

I hope all of this makes sense. It makes sense in my head so hopefully you will understand it.

A huge spider (for utah) that we found in our apartment

My bike popped 4 times this week. This was the second to the last time.

Unusual P-Day

We have a mission tour on Monday then transfers on Tuesday so our p-day has to be today. we had a good week we found 2 new investigators. This is the first family that I have ever taught that is not a part member family and is actually accepting of the gospel!

These are people who were recently baptized. One of them was a Russian that I could not say a word to her. Second picture is that one.

We have an elder in our district that wants to go home. He is way funny and is a good missionary but doesn't feel like he can do the work. He has only been out for he has already made up his mind that he will go home on Tuesday (transfer day). This makes me sad. I know that if he were to stay a little longer that he would see the excitement of missionary work.

Have I ever told you that I don't like transfers? lol I really don't, but I have to trust the Lord and our mission president that the right choice will be made and that I will grow from the experiences.

I don't know what else to say so I love you family

Elder Walker

p.s. Mom you will be proud of me. I am starting to play the piano again. A little bit. We have a keyboard in our home and when my companion is doing language study. I will be playing hymns on the keyboard. Problem is that is if one of us gets transferred we will have no language study time so I will not have any time to practice any more. :(

Children and Tithing

I have the new scripture mastery card and they are all new ones. It is cool. Thanks for answers for my question. I did know that it was easier for people to repent here on earth with those conflicts that we have to deal with, but what I don't understand is what if you never received the gospel here on earth. So you never received a testimony of Christ in the flesh? Then what? I understand that God is fair, but the scriptures don't lie.

I talked to my district leader about intelligences. He believes that we have first an intelligence than a spirit and then a body. So we still have intelligence but we also have a spirit and a body, each one makes it so we can progress more and more. I will read the D&C scripture thanks Ben.

We had a baptism this week for A. She is 9 years old. She was very excited but her attention span is about 5 min so she was crawling on the floor after the baptism when there were talks. It was kinda funny to see the adults try to deal with her. I have learned how to deal with those kids. You just have to have patience. Also would you thank the Chapman kids for me. I have learned so much better how to have kids enjoy experiences and enjoy your presence. (Some missionaries don't know how to deal with them in a fun way. They just get frustrated when they do not cling to every word.) I have learned this by babysitting the Chapmans. I have learned a valuable skill that I am so glad that I have. I think it will help me throughout my life. I have a much greater love for children. Other ways that this helps. 1) the parents trust you a lot more when their kids like you. The kids are a lot easier to gain trust than the parents 2) the kids listen to you so much better when you make it fun for them.

Question for you Ben.

How do you teach the law of chastity to kids?

What we do is:

"Don't think about (point at your head), don't look at (point at your eyes), don't talk about (point at your mouth) and don't touch (put your hands out) anything that is under the swimsuit. and that is about it. If you have any questions talk to your parents."

We call it the swimsuit rule.

This is how I was taught by my trainer and how every one in the whole mission does it, but if that was me I would be confused as a 9 year old. I think that there are better ways but I cant figure it out. What does your mission do?

I love teaching about tithing.

I use Leviticus ch 27 v 30: And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land,or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord.

So every thing is the Lord's anyway. Then we read Malachi 3:8-10

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Then, if they are worried about not being able to pay it I use the story of Elijah:

8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah. (1 Kings 17:8-16).

Why would a prophet of God be so inconsiderate of the women and her child? Why must he be feed first? How would you feel? You have one meal left and a man of God says to her, feed me. Then if you feed me then you meal will not waste. so relating that to tithing. you can't make the payments now and you say. How does the Lord expect me to pay him tithing and I can't even pay tithing now?  That seems like a bad God. (Then they say something like I will pay it when I can) now back to the story. The woman knew she could not live much longer (can't pay the rent) and she is supposed to now feed someone else as well (pay tithing) how does that work? the Lord works by miracles if we have the faith that he will help us in our time of need.

Then we get extra blessings. Later her son dies.

17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. (1 Kings 17:17).

So Elijah raises him from the dead.

22 And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth. (1 Kings 17:22-23).

So many blessing come from tithing. It is one of the coolest commandments because you can see first hand the blessings it provides.

Quick story I sometimes tell you look at you fireplace and say, "When you give me heat I will give you wood." And then the fireplace tells you, "When you give me wood I will give you heat."

This is a huge commandment of faith.

I hope that all makes sense. I don't really have any time to check if it does. It is a lot easier to teach it then to write it all down.  :)

Also watch: "Lessons I Learned as a Boy" this was taken in my area really close to our bishop. If you look close you can see faded houses in the distance that is most of my area. I thought that was cool. I have ridden on that dirt rode with my bike that they show in the movie.