Elder Kellin Walker

ALMOST HOME!!!

2010-09-02T18:34:00.000-07:00

The countdown is on!!! Elder Walker will be home in 35 days!!!

~Tess

5/31

2010-05-31T13:39:00.000-07:00

Hey Happy Anniversary,

My week was good, kinda frusterating, because Sister Alberta stopped listening to us!!! Not on her own free will though. It was her freaking daughter in law. Oh my gosh if i had a nickle for every time some dang family member stopped the progression of a great investigator. We haven't gotten to talk to her all week, because her daughter in law is the freakin devils right hand man i think. I hate Satan by the way. I wish i had one chance to see him, i'd punch him square in the mouth. So maybe you can pray that Sister Alberta will come around again.

Well i did get a text from Nanay Bantog, she loved the temple, she texted me and told me she was crying and loved the beauty. She is such a wonderful woman. I saw dayday the other day. I gave her a ride in our van around the block, she loved it! haha. About Elder McKendrick and the dentist. Well he is in the Legazpi Zone. Which has the best dentist, its just walk in appointments, it's in the mall. He is a dentist who studied in america so he is legit. It's only 800 pesos too. But the bad news is, Elder McKendrick is going to be transfered on tuesday. He will be in a zone with no dentist. But he can request from President to go to Legazpi to the dentist. But yes, don't worry the philippines does have dentists i promise.

Did you go to the Gila Valley Temple when you saw chris and sherry? You should of!

So this week was transfer planning week. It was fun i love the inspiration we have during it.

Well about my plans when i get home. Marriage is definitly in mind. But i doubt it happens very soon. I think that decision is a lot easier in my head than in real life. I don't have any girls in mind. I've been watching all these little babies and kids here. It makes me really want kids. But then i realize i have to get married before that can happen, then i figure that babies take a while to make, then i start thinking about school and money. So i probably will get married when I'm like 30+ beings how all the girls i bring home think you hate them, and babies take too long to make and wives cost a lot of money.

For now i'll just focus on my mission and let that stuff take care of itself. There is alot of time to get married. But not much time to find people to convert.
Well i love you mom, and family.
talk to you next week.
PS. i found a new pearl dealer. They have neckalaces that are three colors of pearls. Huge pearls. Pearls with cool stuff ... and it's really cheap. So i'll get some more before i go home. I'm also going to get a suit made soon too.

5/10

2010-05-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

hello Family,
Well i wont lie, i shed a tear when i found out dad sold the 71. That sucks. But oh well you can use the money to pay off something. Or better yet, to paint your dang kitchen cabinets!!!!
i havent written Bryson but i will do it today. Just print out the letter and give it to him ok?
Well this week was awesome.
Sister Alberta came to church and brought 8 of her grandchildren with her!. It was so cool to have them sit by us at church.
But let me back up to the first of the week. We went to see sister Alberta, i don't know if i told you this but she Broke her dang arm!. Some kid was running and bumped into her and she fell and broke it. I almost cried when she told me the story in her soft little voice. I wanted to go find that punk kid and break his arm, he's lucky i don't know him. She already broke her elbow last year now her wrist is broken and she can't wash her own clothes or cook anymore. But she came to Church, she accepts every doctrine we teach her. We taught her about baptism and at first she didn't agree that children didn't have sin. Then we came back and explained it and she was like " oh i know they don't i read it in the Book of Mormon." She is super cool she loves the Book of Mormon.
We also taught alot of lessons this week to other people, Brother Hubert said "thank you for sending your messengers to help us find the truth we are looking for" That was cool, not every day do people tell you they are looking for truth.
All around a great week. Other than the psycho lady we taught last night, but Tessa can tell you that story. That lady was freaking crazy. When i left it was hard for me to not think "Bahala ka na sa kaligtasan mo"!, I don't know really how to say that in english so if you have a translator you can try it out. haha.
Well mom, i withdrew 2000 pesos on saturday. but for good reason. I sent Nanay Bantog (remember my convert Mother from Pili) I sent her to the temple to get endowed. She has been a memeber for a year now and was eligible to go. So i told her to go with the next temple trip and i would pay for her fare because she has no money to pay for it. I hope your not mad at me. I probably wasn't gonna use that money for anything else though so i thought i'd give it to her. She came to the mission office last night for her interview and gave me a hug! I know i'm not allowed to hug women but she is literally my mother here so i hugged her. I'll repent later.

Well if you really want to get me something special for my 21st b-day. you can put some money in my account, i'll try not to send someone to the temple with it this time. I want to get a custom suit made before i come home. They are cheaper than in america and its tailor made. So if you really want to do something you could put like 200 dollars in my account. IF and only IF you want to. Other than that mom, don't send me anything. 21 is just a number. You'll probably feel even wierder when i get home and get married haha.
Well mom, i gotta go. I love you
Elder Walker

5/3

2010-05-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

Man Those shingles don't seem to be lasting. Are you replacing them as they blow off? I wonder what we could do to stop them from doing that.
Yes i've met Elder Mckendrick, he is brand new. But he looks like he will be a fantastic missionary. His companion was in the hospital for a couple of days. His companion has a colostomy bag because of something he had when he was born. Anyways his stomach started hurting him and he started throwing up, and he is not supposed to throw up so they put him in a hospital. Poor Elder Mckendrick had to sleep in the hospital with his trainer te first week of his mission. haha i felt bad, but i bet it was a journal writing experience. No i have not ever served in Guinobatan, but i was the Zone Leader for Legazpi zone and i went there alot.

Did Amanda ever come by? How is she doing? Did she like the things I sent?
Well I really hope the trickeys don't move away. Sister Lambson and I always talk about Kim, oh man i miss that family. I'd die if they moved away!!!!

Well the plans for the call are probably the same as last time. I'll call you at about 5 oclock your time on your sunday. Ok? Just be waiting by the computer. Please sit at the table again so that i can see you all and not only one at a time.

I had a good week this week just a lot of zone conferences. After the zone cons. we finally got to get out and work. It was amazing. i miss the feeling of tracting. It is sooooo much fun. Nothing can compare to it. not even football.
Well Family I love you and i miss you, But i'll talk to you next week. Mom i hope you can sleep on saturday night, your gonna be like a little kid on christmas probably! haha jk.
Ok love you
Elder Walker

4/26

2010-05-31T13:30:00.000-07:00

Hey WOW my packages are awesome. I finally opened them!!! You guys suprised me soooo good. I got Drawn!!!! HOLY COW. I knew i'd get blessing from serving a mission.!!! Well i'm glad you liked your pearls. You'll have to put another order for stuff in before i come home. I'll bring alot. Well tell Grandma i said hello. Tell her also i look forward to getting to know her better. I regret not ever getting to know her. I bet she has a bunch of cool stories to tell. Ask her if she remembers when me and her figured out we read magazines the same way (back to front) haha wierd.
Well This week was definitly stressful. But it was fun. I liked the sense of accomplishment i had after all the transfers were done.
Yes i have changed things already. Instead of spending all of our time in the office. I decided to take about a week and get everything we need done in the office done. So then we can just be normal missionaries and go back to doing what we love.

It is crazy how Satan works. I love to work i know i love to work. But every time i'm about to go work i feel and hear soemthing telling me i don't like it, or that it's hot and i don't need to. Oh man he tries hard on missionaries to get them not to work. Because if he can stop missionaries from working he can stop the work from progressing and that's his main goal.
You should ask Grandma if she wuold like to listen to the missionaries. Just to better understand you and our family!!! Will you do that? Will you ask her to take the lessons? Pray about it! Pray for help!

I think the notebooks your refering to are my old planners. We get one of those every transfer. I love them. I bet there is alot of cool info in them. If You liked reading those you will definitly like reading my journals. I just finished my 3rd one the other night. I'm on my 4th and final one for my mission. But it has become a habit, and i can't sleep without writing in it. So when i get home it will continue.

Well it seems my decision to not become a nurse has paid off. I think that if i want job security the military is the best place to be, after all there is always a war going on. Well Family i have to go get prepared for the upcoming week full of zone conferences. I love you all. I hope you have a great week!!!! Thanks for the packages. C
Can you let me know what hunt i have and when it is. Thanks. I hope Dad can take time off to go camping with me.
Love
Elder Walker

April 12

2010-05-30T21:04:00.000-07:00

Hey mom,
Well this week was great.
Did you watch Conference? Please tell me yes, if not, please do so! It was amazing. Such good talks! I love the boost i get from watching conference. I rememeber when i used to think that conference meant a time for hunting or fishing. Wow how wrong i was. I missed out on some great talks and advice in those years.
Well still no package either, maybe next week. Man i hope you get yours soon.
Well i have a pretty cool story.
After conference on saturday we went out working. We went to the home of one of our investigators and he wasn't home so we asked his next door neighbor if she knew where he was. She didn't but told us she knew someone who wanted to hear our message. She said her son! We though great, until we figured out he was 7. But then we asked if we could share with her and her son. She agreed. We only shared about familes but she loved it. She told us that her family is her biggest blessing and her life, without them she would be nothing, she said. So on Sunday we went back and taught her the entire 1st lesson about the restoration. She cried during the first vision. Afterward we asked her what she was feeling, she said she felt, "light". I love that description of the way the Holy Ghost makes you feel, it's so true He makes you feel like you have no worries, so you feel so light. He shares truth with you, which is also light. All truth is Light. Such a good description.
I asked her to pray about Joseph Smith, she said " i dont think i will". I was shocked, I asked why. She said with tear filled eyes, "I can feel it's true, i don't need to ask i know.", we still encouraged her to ask. She promised she would. She is such a choice person. I love teaching to her. Her little 1 year old son is such a doll, she walks around the entire time giving us high fives and jabbering on. And when we leave he starts crying and runs after us. For some reason he really took a likin to us. I love that family. I know they will be baptized.
I love moments like that in my mission. I love knowing God has a plan for us. And that plan involves other people, if we don't do what we need to do we take that other persons chance away to know of God's plan. We can't think our lives are only ours. Everything we do in someway effects someone else. I've learned that here.
Well Family i love you all. Tell Nell i'll be praying for her!

April 5

2010-05-30T21:03:00.000-07:00

Hello family,
1st, let me wish the best mom, and most wonderful woman in the world a happy birthday. I love you Mom, your wonderful, the most perfect mother anyone could ask for. Your the glue that kept our family going. I'll admit it, i'm a momma's boy, thats proabably no secret though. And yes it is a date mom, we do Have to go to the San Diego and Salt Lake Temples when i get back.
Well you dont have to worry about me running into the NPA. They are mostly down south and in the mountains. Although i do go there often, i'm only driving i rarely get out of the van.
Well that was pretty much the only interesting news i had from this week. We didnt get to teach much other than yesterday and tuesday. YEsterday we taught this hilarious Couple, they are in their 50's but treat each other like they are 18. The brother told us they were going swimming in the ocean, he joked his wife that she was gonna wear a 2-piece. Then he says, if she wears a two piece i'm wearing a NO Piece!!! haha i almost died laughing. They are wonderful.
Well I really have no other news to tell you. My week was good, i was sick for a bit but i'm ok now. I'm really excited about these packages. Is there any letters in it? The belt i'm wearing in my pictures is made from elephant ivory. Cool huh.
Well Family i'm sorry this is short. I love you All!!!
Elder Walker

2010-05-30T20:58:00.001-07:00

Wow thats a funny story!!! Sounds like dads deer fighting one.
Well i had something else you could put in my box but i forgot.
So i decided you need to get a Gmail email account, so i can send you pictures. Apparently your inbox is too full for me to send you pictures. So you need to get an inbox with more storage space. I sent you a bunch. Including a picture of me in a coconut tree. I only made it half way, because they are nearly impossibel to climb unless your a limber 120 pound filipino with feet made of cow hide leather!!! For soem reason you have to climb them barefoot. It makes no since to me, but it sure hurts.
Well we finally finished off all the zone conferences, this week we will be going to Masbate to do apartment checks. We are traveling witht he lambsons. Should be fun, he has a temper. But no with me, he blows up on alot of people. But not with me, i think he likes me more.
Well Please tell me about Stevens Funeral. I'd like to know. Please tell Kelly i love her and her boys.
Well Family i have to be going now. I love you all
Elder Walker

March 22

2010-05-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

Wow that is one seriously cool story!!!

I have nothing like that. But i did try and climb a coconut tree on saturday. Which is alot harder than the way awesome filipinos make it look. You have to do it barefoot for some reason and it has no limbs so you just shimmy your way up. They are so fast, i made it about half way and couldnt make it any farther. I plan on doing it before the mission is over though!!!
I told Dad the story of our service project on saturday. Man i love to work like that, i dont think i'll ever be able to be a doctor or anything in an office or anything that doesnt involve me working and sweating and feeling accomplished. I'm thinking i'll end up being in construction, which is fine with me. I love it. Nothing else makes me feel so good. Besides football, and thats not really a career i'm qualified for.
Well we had a lot of zone conferences this week. We didnt really get to work in our area, becuase we were staying over in other areas and zones. But we did have 5 investigators come to church, and slowly but surely we are winning the respect of the Bishop. I honestly cant wait to become the lead AP. The way my comp does things just doens make since in my head, mostly because it revolves around what other people think and see in him. I'm not a very fond person of vanity. I'm not saying i dont like him, because i love him. I'm just saying its getting hard to tolerate doing things so other people can see us, instead of doing things because they need to be done!

Anyways i'll try and send that package today. I hope i can i might need like 30 more dollars in my account. Apparently they are 5000 pesos to send. Thats like asking for my right arm! anyways family i love you. I'm so happy bryson in going on a mission. He is going to love it! I'm happy you went to the temple too! I miss it sooo bad. And yes i hope you can come back here with me next year too!
love you all
Elder Walker

Mar 8

2010-05-30T20:45:00.000-07:00

Hello,
First off, WOW i had no idea we were Cherokee, i can officially say i am Indian, i always knew i could tell the time by looking at the sun, and could smell deer from 3 miles. But i never knew it was because i was part Indian!!!
I think you should defintitly get this DNA test. I wanna know who our ancestors are.

Well i took out 2000 pesos today, preparing to send this package i've been telling you all about for a year! haha i'm such a slacker. But seriously, i'm going to a place called cagsawa tommorrow to buy your other little nicknacks then i'll send it on monday. Or maybe sooner.
I'll be on the road this entire week, going to zone conferences. It should be fun, but tiring at the same time, I miss sleeping in my own bed when we do road trips.
Hey are we going on a vacation when i get home? The bantog family wants me to come back here and baptize Dayday in july. We went to their house for dinner. Dayday knows how to speak tagalog now. She used to only speak Bicol. And Nanay still calls me her son. When i got out of the van, the first thing she says is "AYYYYY ANAK KO!!!!" or in english, "AYYYYY MY SON"!!!! haha she is soo cool. She cooked me my favorite dish, adobo with pineapples. Which is a big sacrafice for them, because they have no money at all anymore. Sometimes they can't make it to church because they have no money. So them killing one of their chickens to make me adobo is a big thing!!! I'm sooo grateful for them! Such amazing people. I might have to steal dayday when i go home.

Here is something interesting, did you know they can induce rain by putting salt in the clouds? They call it cloud seeding. They did it here the other day. Because we are in an El Ninyo, or in other words, Really big drought. It wont be over till july, so everyones rice crops are dying. So they are putting salt in the air to make it rain. Crazy huh, look it up its true i promise.

Well i gotta go, i love you. And am very proud that your still reading your BoM. I played basketball today, and was pretty sure my lungs and heart were going to burst, i havent played sports in a really long time, Im not gonna be able to feel my legs tomorrow, or worse, i'll be able to feel all the soreness.
I love you all
nagmamahal,
ELder Walker

letters from Feb, catching up

2010-05-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

Hey mom, i got robbed last night. They took my cell phone and my flash drive. So do you think you could put like 100 bucks in my account so i can buy a new flash drive and maybe send this package home to you? They didnt steal your pearls or any of that stuff. so i'll still send that package this week.
Well gotta go...
Elder Walker

Hey, thanks so much for the money. I was home when it happened. The guy came in our room and took my cell phone from by my head. Thats a little creepy. But they didnt take my wallet or my camera cuz i left them at the mission office. I cant thank you enough for the money it was much needed. I love you so much. Please give me details why tell is home? that broke my heart. I love that kid with my entire soul!!!
Elder Walker

Hey,
Well i dont think justin is home yet, i think he comes home this week. Thats nuts i cant believe all my friends are home except for me. Crazy!
Thank you soooooooo much for the money you all have put in. It was much needed. The robber didnt take much, just my brand new cell phone and my flash drive and watch. And my keys.
Its been a crazy week for crime. The church got broken into and also the stake president got robbed. All in all the church or people from the church have gotten robbed 5 times this week. Crazy huh?

Well we had some crazy cool teaching this week. Yesterday especially, it really felt like the Lord guided our work. We taught alot of lessons and in each one i felt the investigator really learned from it. Yesterday was a really cool day, Elder Teh and Elder Augustin came from Manila, they are General Authorites they reorganized our stake yesterday. It was way cool because i got to see teh Bantog family, Do you remember them? From pili... Day Day was there it was soooooooooooooo coool i loved it. I took some pictures. It seriously made my heart swell knowing they were all still active. Jona is a mia maid president, and Nanay is a ward missionary. Her husband lost her job but she still goes to church, even though they have no money. They are so amazing. I also saw a family who i found when i was in Pili, they ended up getting baptized after i left! teh Sanchez family!!! that was cool too. It is awesome i love this work with all my heart! It is the best thing i've ever done in my life. I really dont want these next 7 months to go by fast. I hope they take another year!!!!

Well i gotta go. I love you and i am sooooo thankful i have such an amazing family. Dont worry about me. I love you
Elder Walker

2010-05-30T20:00:00.000-07:00

Pictures

2010-05-30T19:55:00.000-07:00

2010-05-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

2010-05-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

Pictures

2010-04-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

2010-02-28T18:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents of our Foreign Missionaries,
At 6:00am this morning (Sunday Morning in the Philippines) we received a text warning of possible costal flooding along the eastern shores of the Philippines possibly triggered by the massive earthquake that hit Chile. We were attending a District Conference on the Island of Masbate at the time. It’s now late Sunday night and we are just arriving back in Naga after a pretty long day. The only effect that we have been able to learn of was delays to some of the boat schedules. Own boat off the Island was delayed for about 3 hours as a precaution this afternoon.
None of the missionaries live on or near beach- front areas that were in the caution areas. Everyone is safe. All is well.
President Gordon C. Smith
Philippines Naga Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
39 Panganiban Road; PO Box 8847
Naga City

2010-02-28T18:45:00.000-08:00

2010-02-28T18:35:00.000-08:00

2010-02-28T17:56:00.000-08:00

Hey,
Well i dont think Justin is home yet, i think he comes home this week. Thats nuts i cant believe all my friends are home except for me. Crazy!
Thank you soooooooo much for the money you all have put in. It was much needed. The robber didnt take much, just my brand new cell phone and my flash drive and watch. And my keys.
Its been a crazy week for crime. The church got broken into and also the stake president got robbed. All in all the church or people from the church have gotten robbed 5 times this week. Crazy huh?

Well we had some crazy cool teaching this week. Yesterday especially, it really felt like the Lord guided our work. We taught alot of lessons and in each one i felt the investigator really learned from it. Yesterday was a really cool day, Elder Teh and Elder Augustin came from Manila, they are General Authorities they reorganized our stake yesterday. It was way cool because i got to see teh Bantog family, Do you remember them? From pili... Day Day was there it was soooooooooooooo coool i loved it. I took some pictures. It seriously made my heart swell knowing they were all still active. Jona is a mia maid president, and Nanay is a ward missionary. Her husband lost her job but she still goes to church, even though they have no money. They are so amazing. I also saw a family who i found when i was in Pili, they ended up getting baptized after i left! teh Sanchez family!!! that was cool too. It is awesome i love this work with all my heart! It is the best thing i've ever done in my life. I really dont want these next 7 months to go by fast. I hope they take another year!!!!

Well i gotta go. I love you and i am sooooo thankful i have such an amazing family. Dont worry about me. I love you
Elder

2010-02-28T17:37:00.000-08:00

Hello,
Well that was a really cool letter to read, i loved it for some reason. Probably because it mentioned me getting to hunt in less that 10 months. I better get drawn. Dad you should put me in for The Archery hunt 1st choice, and muzzleloader 2nd choice, unit 1. the 3rd and 4th choices are yours, as long as i get drawn i'll be happy, so try and make sure that happens hahaa..

Well this last week i traveled a bunch, like everyday i was traveling. And on monday we went to Naga for ZLC, well i got sick and threw up for the first time in my mission. I think it was just a 24 hour flu though. It sucked though, i couldnt enjoy all of the amazing food there.
We now have 3 areas we are working in, i dont know if you know how much that is but its alot!. Its really hard, but cool at the same time. I have got to meet alot of new people. It's just hard coordinating with 3 different wards and trying to get people to work with us.

Well i love you gotta go... Elder Walker

Finally updating... starting in January (sorry)

2010-02-28T17:34:00.000-08:00

Hey mom, and family,
Well this week was cool i loved talkin to you all. It was awesome.

Well this week we went to Masbate we took a big boat, not a canoe. Its a different island, not the canoe island. But i found a place that looks just like America, it has rolling hills with the horses grazing. and the grass is brown. Wierd huh. i was homesick while i split there because it looked so much like home. But then when we were on our way home they canceled the boat because it was new years eve. So we had to take a boat that takes 4 hours to get back to the mainland. So we ended up on the mainland at 6pm then they had no jeeps or vans going to Legazpi where i live. So we had to take a tiny tricylce and pay 100 pesos each (thats alot) there were 7 of us on the tricycle so it took 2 more hours to get home. On top of that i forgot a razor for 5 days so i looked like Grizzly Adams when i finally got home! Wow it was a really awesome trip.
Tell the Hamblins i said hello, i love them.
Well sorry this is short but i have to go to Naga today. I love you all and miss you. Have a great week.
Elder Walker

Update on Mayon

2009-12-23T09:23:00.001-08:00

Internet communication being what it is today we understand that what is said to one parent probably reaches all parents but with distortion. In order to keep the message consistent and clear we are sending the following to all parents of Naga missionaries.

This is to advise you that due to an increased threat of ash and SO2 (sulfur dioxide) emissions from the Mayon Volcano, we have this morning initiated a level 1 evacuation plan to move missionaries in the immediate area of the Mayon to safer areas upwind of the mountain. Puffs of ash emissions were observed late yesterday and last night. Scientists warn that the a threat of increasing ash emissions exist. Some magma flow continues to emit from the volcano’s crater but this does not appear to pose any immediate threat to members or missionaries. Those living in the “no man’s land” close to the Mayon have already been evacuated. We have no missionaries serving living or working within the “no mans land”. The major risk is from fine ash particulates should the volcano experience a major blow. Yesterday we issued surgical type dust masks to all missionaries around the Mayon Volcano or serving in areas that could potentially become downwind of the mountain. Presently we feel we are doing what is necessary to protect the health and safety of all missionaries in the area of the Mayon. Thanks for your faith and prayers in behalf of our missionaries, members and investigators.
All of the missionaries are safe. We saw the ones in the south of the mission yesterday and will see the ones in the north today at our Christmas Zone Conferences. They all look Great. If they have not done so already they should speak with you by phone during the Christmas holidays. We encourage you to keep those calls short and encourage them to remain focused on their purpose.

President Gordon C. Smith

Philippines Naga Mission

I always knew he was nuts!

2009-12-21T07:27:00.000-08:00

Hey mom, Well first things first, I'm still alive and havent been evacuated. But some of the Elders in my zone have, because they can literally throw a rock and hit the top of mayon. Its freakin awesome! im loving it. We all sit on the balcony at night and watch it explode. I have my hammock set up perfect for lava watching. Well the lava has reached the bottom of the mountain now, in my area. I think we might go and see how close we can get on thursday. I'm pretty sure you cant get that close to lava. But we will find out....
Anyways here is more exciting news than an erupting volcano. We gave the Buncares family baptismal dates, they are scheduled for January, The cool thing is their daughter and son in law just came off the island of masbate, they are the ones who refered their parents. and they came to church on sunday. Its a pretty cool story, remind me to tell you when i call. Oh yea i do know Elder Boyes. he is in my zone. Cool kid.
I now have 2 more elders living in my apartment with us, they opened up an area here. Acutally they just took over half of our area, which sucked cuz they took all of our investiagators so we are finding again.

I have been taking pictures nightly of the Valcano, i'm sure there are better ones on the internet though. But just so you know what it looks like from my apartment i'll send these.
Anyways oh yes,,, i need money, can you put maybe like 50 bucks or so in my account today? i need it. i'm gonna buy my companion some new shoes. He has quarter sized holes in his, and refuses to buy new ones. So he needs some. Anyways.. I love you guys... talk to you on Christmas. Hey make sure your on at like 4-10pm because i'm not sure what time i'll be calling. ... OK love you ... Elder Walker

pictures from Elder Walker

2009-12-18T14:13:00.000-08:00

Kellin sent these pictures to us recently...they posted in the wrong order but i can't get them to move.

Update on Mt. Mayon Volcano

2009-12-18T14:05:00.000-08:00

We got this email from Elder Walker's mission president...

Dear Parents,

I want to belay any concerns you might have for your missionary. It is Wednesday morning in the Philippines and all is safe here.

CNN is reporting that the Mayon volcano, which is located in the middle of the Naga Mission, has erupted and that thousands have been evacuated. Reports we have seen seem a bit overstated.

The Mayon volcano has had ash and magma eruptions in the list two days. Local authorities have raised the mountain to a level 3 alert which means evacuation of those living within 6 to 8 kilometers from the mountain. The local news is reporting that 22,000 people have been evacuated. We do not have missionaries living inside the immediate danger zone. We are carefully monitoring the situation and are prepared to evacuate missionaries from any areas that may be in any danger.

The eruptions began on Monday night then settled down during the day and resumed again last night. So far the eruptions have consisted of localized vertical ash clouds and magma flow on the side of the mountain. It a great photo opportunity if nothing else.

Yesterday (Tuesday in the Philippines) was our transfer day. Many of our missionaries were transferred to new areas or received new companions or new assignments. We don’t like to transfer missionaries this close to Christmas but felt we had no choice because we have a very large group of new missionaries (17) arriving tomorrow. We had some concerns early in the day that travel around the Mayon volcano might be restricted. Fortunately even with the eruptions going on the transfer went off without a hitch. All of the missionaries are now in their new areas except for our trainers who will be at the mission home tonight. The Mission Home is more than 40 Kilometers from the Mayon.

We will continue to monitor the situation and should it become necessary to move missionaries we will do so immediately. We will notify you individually if your missionary is impacted. If you have specific concerns I invite your email. Please be aware that it may take me a day or two for me to respond.

If any of you have access to mission parents web sites/blogs please post this message on that site.

President Gordon C. Smith

2009-11-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

Hey, no still havent gotten the debit card. But i did receive the package. The jam is awesome. About Christmas. Umm i really don't need or want anything. Please don't spend alot of money to send a giant package. A Christmas card with a little note from all of you would be sufficient and perfect. Thanks love you . Well this week we taught a lady named Judy, we had taught her once before. Just a tracting lesson. We left her with a assignment in a pamphlet. When we returned she let us know she had read all of it. And read it again. She even showed it to her husband, who read it and loved it. They both decided they wanted to come to church. So we set it up for them to come with us next week. This is a story that never happens. I was the most grateful/lucky missionary in the world on Sunday. It was so awesome to see her testify to me that she believed Joseph Smith was true, before we had even told her who Joseph Smith was. SO wonderful! The lord really places people in your way when you try. Sister Julie Aise came to church Sunday too. Totally unexpected! But she has really been opening up to us now that my old comp. is out of here. My new comp is Elder Domagsang. Pretty quiet dude. But really really nice. I love him. We have a zone conference tomorrow. Umm other than that... I love this Gospel and this work. I cant believe its halfway over. I don't want it to end. But at the same time i want to see you so i guess it has to. Well i guess i better get going. I love you all. I cant wait to hear from you next week. Sorry if i forgot to answer some of your questions. didn't mean to.... Love you .. Elder Walker

2009-11-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

haha i think I'm gonna start threatening my investigators! you finally wrote about your reading! Maybe my investigators will start reading if i yell at them! haha jk.... Well I'm not transferred, my companion just went home so ill be here for a while. The work is weak cuz my last comp was trunky. But i'll fix that this transfer. I haven't yet received this debit card. But please take off the restricitons tomorrow. So i can withdraw some money. Well. Ganon needs to be safe! although that is a hilarious story and i can totally see him doing that. he needs to be safe! haha. i cant wait to go on the mountain with that little guy! Well this week was the end of the Ibalong Festival. They had a HUGE parade of native dances! i videoed some, they aren't the best ones. But i thought i should show you some culture. They also had all saints day, Nov. 1. it was crazy! the cemetery was filled with people. Not rowdy people just peaceful people. Over Every grave there was a canopy or tent and candles and flowers and the people just mingle and talk about past loved ones. It is such a cool holiday. I thought there would be alot of drinking, but i hardly saw any. This week was way cool for culture things. But don't worry i took pictures and i keep a good journal so when i get home you can hear and see. This place is so awesome. I have been in a threesome companionship this week. With Elder Yambao. he is the Filipino version of Brady Finch. I haven't stopped laughing this entire week. He is hilarious!. I love this guy. I was hoping i would be his next companion. But it didn't happen. He is teaching me to cook too! So when i get home i can cook you some Filipino dishes. Your gonna have to learn to eat pork with the fat skin and hair still on it though. haha. ...Well anyways im so happy to hear your Book of Mormon reading! Even 5 minutes a day is amazing! its hard to find time sometimes. But it is sooooo worth it. Im so happy right now. Thanks so much for your reading. Keep it up. Let me know if you find some cool things in there. I would love to hear about it. When i get home we are gonna start having Family Home evening, and family prayer! ok? sound good? Even if i have to say every prayer or lead every FHE we are gonna do it. That Is one regret i have. I think back on my life. and realize i put the wrong things in the wrong places. I put my friends before you guys. Im very sorry for that. If i could i would change that. But there is no use in crying over spilled milk. So ill just change the future, ok? I promise to be a better son and brother in the upcoming years. I love you guys, and am so thankful i have such an amazing family. Your so supportive and loving its amazing. I'm truly blessed. Anyways Family i love you and i hope all is well. I gotta run. xenxa n mdyo iksi un slat q sna mas mhaba next time. haha that's how you text in Tagalog. haha anyways. family.. gotta go... Peace.... Elder Walker

2009-10-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

Yea i guess some moms called and were worried. I knew you didn't. Or at least hoped... ha ha... Well I'm glad to here that Tell is about to leave. I think Evan is in the MTC now. Cool. I'm so proud of my friends. They've been probably the biggest influence in my life. Ha ha that's the funniest thing I've heard about Gan. Oh man he better not be getting a big head already! ha ha That a boy, i knew he'd be a chick magnet! I've taught him well! ha ha.... He really had no chance, having the uncles he does.... Well this week was OK.. we didn't work for half of it, because my comp has a cold. Lousy excuse..... But yea he is bout to go home. I kinda feel for him, i think he is nervous... I know i will be.. Talk about awkward.... Well nothing big this week. Except the Scottish man i almost fought turned out to be a really nice man. Our land lord took him to court, and filed a complaint for us so we had to go settle that. I just talked to him calmly and settled everything fine. He called me a Pleasant young man ha ha. The next day we took him cookies, and he invited us to dinner! crazy huh... He is getting sued for 100,000 pesos though and getting kicked out of his apartment for what he did to the Landlord. just goes to show you anger gets you no where and ruins everything! ...Yea i took out 54 dollars the other day cuz i had to buy jaces and dads Water buffalo horn belts... I got them both size 40 hope they fit... I am looking for a cool gift for Gan. What is he interested in right now besides football? cuz they have no football stuff here.I'll probably get him some native stuff... anyways family,,, i hope all is going well i hope that your reading your scriptures. I'm now in Alma again i love the Book of Mormon its amazing! Everyday i pray that what i'll read i'll be able to share with someone. So far its worked about every time. I got to share Alma 36:3 with a girl who got pregnant out of wedlock yesterday. It was awesome, i could see the shame and regret in her eyes. And i knew that scripture could help her. Because its helped me so much in times of trials. When she read it she couldn't finish it because she was crying. Its a really good scripture. I knew she didn't need to hear that what she had done was a sin, that she needed to repent. She needed the comfort that God still loved her and always will love her. I think or hope she felt that yesterday.... Well fam. thats a short story for you all. I love you and hope your doing well... Elder Walker

2009-10-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

Stop worrying I'm ok.. i told dad, the only thing that happened to me when the typhoon hit was my laundry got wet on the clothes line. It made me mad, but that's it..... I still have the same comp. Ill let you know when that changes. haha.... Um I actually did not know that they had moved. Cool though. I hope it makes them happier! funny they moved into your ward again. They followed the Smiths haha.... Well This morning i have a story... I almost fought a Scottish man. We were playing some church music on our CD player and it really wasn't loud at all. But he came over screaming the F bomb and this and that. Kicking our gate. Until i finally came down from upstairs wondering what all the commotion was. When i met a red faced Scott at the door. I couldn't help but laugh at him. I was just smiling ear to ear dying laughing. Which wasn't the best idea. I was very angry on the inside, for him accusing us instead of politely asking to turn it down. but i remembered the counsel President Monson gave yesterday. SO i just laughed it off.... Tonight we plan on taking him a gift of some sort. Then giving him a Book of Mormon. Its really the only thing that can bring a person of that kind of anger to peace. ...This week i went to an island and went on splits I had to give a baptismal Interview to a man. He was 27 and married, When i asked him if he had had a homosexual relationship he told me yes. I was dumbfounded. I didn't know how to respond. Talk about awkward. Cuz he had a really strong testimony. He was also the most honest person I've met. Turns out he is able to get baptized anyway cuz it was in high school and president approved it. But yea my mission is full of awkward experiences like the time i asked the hugely pregnant lady how far along she was, and she replied she wasn't prego. She just had a big tummy. .... awkward. Needless to say i didn't go back to that house. haha... well those are my stories for the day.. I hope you all watched General Conference. It was amazing. Especially Elder Hollands talk. I found alot of inspiration in all of it... Well i love you all .... hope your ok... Elder Walker

Oct.4th

2009-10-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

hey all is well here. Nothing major. No flooding in our area.... It sucked on Thursday though, a girl in our Zone is from Samoa and she found out here Grandmother died of a sickness the other day. We went and gave her a blessing of comfort. Then right afterwards the mission president texted us and told us to tell her he country had just been hit by a Tsunami. She was a wreck after that. Talk about bad timing. She didn't really show her sadness though she tried her hardest to keep smiling. So if you could include her in your prayers that'd be cool. Well I just hit the year mark. Didn't feel like i thought it would feel. nothing extraordinary happened. Just a normal day. We found some good investigators the other day. I found out a good way to get my companion to work. I just invite the ward missionaries over at the time we are supposed to work. So when he sees them it compels him to work! its finally turning out to be an ok transfer. Well this morning we smelled something awful in our bathroom, it turns out the two rats we have been trying to catch both got caught on our sticky pad and died in our attic. Which was awful. But that's about all the exciting news i have for you. I know two dead rats isn't that exciting or spiritual but its all i got. sorry.... Oh I've started reading the BoM again. We have a challenge to finish before the year is over, it will be easy. We are marking every time it mentions Christs name or a reference to him. And things like that its really awesome! i recommend it to you all. I sent some letters to Gan and Adi. And bishop. hopefully you'll get them soon. Well fam i love you Thanks for your prayers and support. Elder Walker

New pictures from Legazpi

2009-09-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

The Hernandez Family

New area with an active volcano

Elder Walker and Elder Yoro

Mt Mayon

Brother Hernandez baptism

2009-09-20T21:46:00.000-07:00

Hello Fam.Well the new area is a city. Legazpi. It is a huge area, it used to be 2 areas but we are running out of missionaries so the closed one part of it. So we have to cover it. But its ok. We have a great Nanay (mother) in this area. Sister Morga, she has alot of family in Utah, She feeds us whenever we want. Sometimes we just drop by and she feeds us. She is awesome. she is gonna teach me how to make and sew neck ties! she is a seamstress. But yea, her son is our ward missionary. The only one that works with us. So we are slowly but surely learning the area and teaching lessons. My Companion is Filipino. Elder Alabanza, he is 28 years old. But about 4 foot high. He is cool i guess. He likes to find the weak spots of people and pick at them. Good thing i can dominate him, so he doesn't really try and annoy me haha. I think he is afraid. He goes home in November, so he is pretty trunky. He doesn't like to do the things I like to do. Such as companion study and leaving the house on time. Ha ha pretty important things. But its ok. Im just trying to help him focus on the work and go out with a bang. We have a couple new investigators. We found a gorgeous area the other day. Overlooking the city and The volcano. Oh yea I'm a rocks throw away form Mt. Mayon. A huge active volcano. Which has smoke coming out the top constantly. Its at level 2 alert right now. If it hits level 3 we are evacuated. ha ha I only told you all that to worry mom. I'm bored and need some excitement. haha I'm terrible i know. But yea i will definitly write Evan what is his address there? in the mtc? i need to know please get it for me!. Send him packages He is a great kid. you should take half the money you use to send me packages and use it for him. Speaking of packages i need retainer cleanser, razor heads and shaving cream. I need more cereal also haha. Please don't send salt water Taffy. It melts on the plane over here and is a mess in the box. I love it. But its messy. Thanks. Anyways That is such a blessing that your job will be closing in December and you got this new one. Holy cow. I hope you thanked H.F. for that one. Its amazing the blessings we get when we live righteously. Its awesome. I love you all I love what your all doing. Keep up the good work. Please please please keep reading the BoM at least a little bit a day. I finished it for the 2nd time on my mission the other day. Its amazing the spiritual strength it brings. It truly is written for our day. Please reap the blessings that await you in that amazing book. I love you all i miss you and hope you have a great weekend. mahal ko po kayong lahat. Or in Bicol mahal ko kamong gabos! haha yea thats right i can speak three languages. haha to bad Bicol is only spoken here. haha....

2009-09-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

Well I had the best day of my life on Sat. I went back to Pili for the baptism of Bro. Hernandez. I would send pictures but my computer is being dumb. Ill try next week. But yes it was amazing. So special. He was so happy to see me, and i him. The family gave me a really nice printed out letter expressing their appreciation. I dont think they will ever realize how much they changed my life. I had the opportunity to baptise a little boy too. He belongs to the Verano family, i dont know if you remember them. But they used to be inactive for 8 years. But we got them active again!!! Man that area is amazing. The wedding didnt go through becuase they had a fight! it was crazy, its just part of the trials people experience before baptism. Satan doesnt want people to get baptized so he works hard on them. Anyways we had Family home evening the night of the baptism. It was a blast. And i got to go to church there the next day. It was fast and testimony meeting because last week was stake conference. So i bore my testimony, it was awesome. The whole church was full! when i first came we only had a few people that came to church. Alot of people didnt know i was transfered, they all wrote me letters on napkins they had in their purses and gave them to me. I love that ward so much. They are all gonna be at the airport when i fly home. And hopefully the Hernandez family is in Manila so i can be a witness for their sealing! anyways that was the most exciteing part of my week. other than that it sucked. My comp isnt a really hard worker. And me on the other hand love to work and be outside of the house. Well needless to say it sucks. We have an open area. Meaning we have no investigators and no help from anybody. We have to start from scratch. But yea. Being zone leader isnt any different from any other missionary. I just have a cell phone. Other than that. This week was ok. Im glad to hear Ganon is fearless! that is awesome! i hope he stays like that! he better! i HOpe your all going to the temple and reading your scriptures. I love Joshes name for his baby! that is awesome! i heard a name i liked the other day. Husly... But i like it for a dog name. haha. anyways i hope all is well at home. I love you and miss you all. Elder Walker

2009-09-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

Wow that game sounds intense!!! Tell Coach Semore I said congrats and I'm bragging him up all the way around the world! Well I have news. I was Emergency Transferred yesterday from my favorite area. I'm now a Zone Leader. I'm in Legazpi city. we are opening an area. I'm not sure what all happened for the transfer i didn't ask. It wasn't my position to ask. I'm just going with what the Lord has planned ya know. But it kinda sucks because I didn't get to say goodbye to my favorite families. But the good news is i asked President to let me go back to that area this Saturday to baptize brother Hernandez, ya know my best friend. And he agreed, because when I found out I was transferred we were at Stake conference and Bro Hernandez was there. So I introduced him to Pres. He was in tears asking him to let me stay. That I was his favorite and he loved me. He was so so so sweet, all of his family and I were crying. I am so happy President likes me and I can go back to baptize him. This is one person I will be definitely introducing to you in the Celestial kingdom if you can't come pick me up here. He is simply amazing. There is no other word in the English or Tagalog vocabulary to describe that family. Anyways I'm now here as ZL . It's scary I didn't expect it. I was expecting another 2 weeks training my kid. I got to say bye to Dayday and her family at conference but just short. They all are coming to the airport when I go home. The Hernandez family wants me to be one of their witnesses in the Temple when I am in Manila. They have it all planned out. I really really hope the Lord lets that happen. That would be the best day ever! I hope your having fun in the nice cool mountains. ha ha while I suffer in this furnace! just kidding I love it.. Seriously though have fun camping. I hope that all is well with the fam.... I love you all.... peace... Elder walker

2009-08-26T21:08:00.000-07:00

This week was ok. I got to go on splits with Elder Farmer and go to Legazpi to get fingerprinted to update my visa. I also taught to a platoon of soldiers while they were target practicing. It was freaking awesome! They loved it. Especially one named Charlie Chavez. He said of course him being a soldier he was spiritual, relying on God. But he didn't know what was true. It was fun teaching to all of them. They were crazy though they just set up some targets about 400 yards aways next to some houses. And then started shooting. I was like holy crap. I know we are in a 3rd world country but this seems a little dangerous. I took a picture with 3 of them. And I'll take a picture of where they were shooting from. Its funny and scary and the same time. We had 4 people come to church. Brother Hernandez came. His faith is so strong. A man who cant walk hardly has came to church twice in a row. I love it!!! I love him and his family. They are gonna kill a chicken for us this week. Which is a pretty big deal. At least to me cuz I love fresh chicken. But anyways I hope the family is all doing good. Gan, sounds like he is having fun. I cant wait to see his glasses. He is gonna be a stud! Anyways tell everyone I said hi.. I miss them... only one more year to go... Oh yea.... I'm buying Jace and Dad belts made of water buffalo horn. I can either get horn or bone. The bone is like 20 bucks the horn is like 15. But they are sick I love them. I need one for myself also... and i can get rings made out of it too. if you girls or Ganon wants... I can make him a belt too.... anyways ... I love you so much thanks for your support and for your prayers!!!! Elder Walker

2009-08-16T20:37:00.000-07:00

Kamusta kayo? Well this week was good, kinda hectic. Anyways I got a new comp, Elder Yoro. from Manila. He is cool, he plays the drums. I wont lie I miss my last companion. We had so much fun. He had my same personality so it just worked. Anyways. Brother Hernandez is great! he came to church yesterday. He could only last about 3/4 of sacrament then went to lay down in the nursery, cuz his legs hurt him. But he is so awesome. He woke his wife up at 4am on Sunday to remind her they had to go to church. We gave him a baptismal date for Sep. 12 he is so excited! He is awesome. That whole family is. They feed us twice every time we visit them, before the lesson they feed us a "snack" which is usually like a meal. Then afterwards they feed us a meal. Its awesome. They love us. I love them. Anyways. The Roldan family is the people getting married and baptized the same time. The mom couldn't come to church yesterday because she had school. But they are still getting baptized. Man I cant believe I'm almost a year. I have to go get fingerprints on Wednesday to update my Visa! crazy huh. Anyways that lady your working for sounds awesome. I never realized how cool old people can be. I love visiting with them. its amazing the stories they have. Like the other day i met the oldest Eagle scout in the Philippines. He is a member and used to be a Temple worker. I don't know why he doesn't come to church. But he is awesome. He was telling us stories about the war. He hates Japanese people! with a passion. he was telling use they used to beat the Japanese that would steal their rice to death. Its crazy. he is awesome. But yea. anyways this week was cool. We had a good week, we accomplished our goals. even though the week was kinda crazy. I got to spend the night with Elder Farmer and Elder Reed and my batch on Wednesday, because we had trainers training. It was awesome, I loved chillin with them. But other than that no stories. Just kinda chillin, about to hit 1 year. Just working hard... I'm sorry this letter is short. Ohhhhh yea thanks for the JAM! I loved it! I loved the package it had everything I needed. Thanks for the insoles! my feet feel so much better. I walk a ton every day so I needed them. I have a reputation about being a hard walker. it must be the name... ha ha anyways family thanks again . I love you all keep up your good work. .... gotta go... peace

2009-08-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

Yes its almost time for a transfer. I'm not looking forward to that at all. I love my companion. I don't want to get transferred. Especially since last night we gave a family baptismal dates for august 29th. there will be 5 maybe 7 getting baptised that day. And right before the baptism hopefully we have a wedding. That's the way we want it to go. I really want it to happen. I am so pumped, things are finally going right here. We are working so hard. We got a referral to teach a man Alfredo Hernandez. His whole family is members except him. They are all active. He used to not want to become a member, but last January he got hit by a truck on his motorcycle and it caused brain damage, he cant walk but goes to therapy every week and prays every night to be able to walk. His wife told him that he wouldn't be able to have his kids in the next life unless he became a member. So now we are teaching him. Oh my gosh guys, i cant explain how nice this family is. While we teach this man we have to teach really really simply because his thoughts are like a child's, but as we teach you can look in his eyes and see his want, and the most humbling and touching thing to see is the wife when she looks at him and talks to him. She is sooooooo loving, she loves her husband and family so much I cant describe it. Brother Hernandez brought me and my companion to tears with his humble simple prayer the other day, he asked God to bless us first of all , then his family then asked to be able to walk again. He thanked Heavenly Father for his life then closed it. Oh my, I cant describe in words the way this family is. They are so so so strong, so close they love each other and support each other in everything. Whenever someone has something to do the other will stay home with the dad, every Sunday one of the family members is away from church staying with the father. Every time we teach they wont let us leave, or i should say HE wont let us leave until we eat something and have juice. We gave him a blessing the other day because his legs were in pain. he cant straighten one of them. But every time he sits up it puts him in pain. But every time it hurts he just laughs and says ouch it hurts. Ive never heard him say he can't handle it though. He is so strong, and funny, I
love him so much. I love that family. We have been tracting a lot out by where they live and have found a lot of good investigators. Our ward mission leader lives there so everyone is progressing. Oh man guys the work is so good. This church is true. Its amazing the blessings that come from missionary work. I cant imagine being somewhere else right now. I cant picture having this much fun or loving something like this. Anyways I have really no other stories for you guys. Except please be reading your scriptures. And saying your prayers. Anyways guys I love you so much, I hope you know like I do. this church is true. I know without a doubt Joseph Smith was called of God and the Book of Mormon is true! I love you so much, all of your support and prayers are much appreciated and welcome! take care! I love you! Elder Walker Mahal ko kayo ingat lagi!

7/19/2009

2009-07-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

Well the baptisms were awesome.. We baptized a 19 year old named Belando Belga. He is a friend of the Bantog family. He is an amazing kid. He used to have alot of addictions but because of the example of the Bantog family and the lessons he stopped and was baptized. He has had one of the hardest lives I've ever heard of. His dad left him when he was a little boy. He never met him till last year. He lives with his grandma cuz his mom has a new husband and they don't really like him. His grandma actually left him this past week because of his decision to be baptized. She said church is only for people who have sins. But he is one of the happiest people I've ever met. He constantly smiles. He includes in his prayers everytime. That he will get to spend one day with both his mom and dad together at the same time. He said that's all he wants in life. He is such a nice guy. The other two baptisms were the nieces of the family I sent to the temple. They are cute too. They have had rough lives also. But the gospel really cheers people up. Filipinos are the most amazing people even though they have nothing they continue to smile. It amazes me at how greedy and spoiled I am how prideful and inconsiderate I am. Anyways this week was amazing my companion and I pushed ourselves so hard. We got the most lessons I've gotten in a week since I've been here. We also got 16 new investigators! and had the family that hasn't been to church in 8 years come to church! I told there little kids to tell there mom they wanted to come to church and the next day everyone was their. It was truly a wonderful sight. i Sat in the back of the chapel and smiled and thanked God for the blessings in my life. As I watched the less active families we have been working with, the investigators and the recent converts all sitting in Sacrament. It was so amazing
I cant describe my feelings as I watched the fruits of my labor before my eyes. It made me feel as though I truly am an instrument in Gods hands to make lives better. Such an amazing week. Anyways Dayday's birthday was cake and Ibought her some new sandals cuz that's what she wanted. She was crying cuz she thought I wasn't coming. cuz we were a little late. But when I showed up with cake and sandals she was happy again. She fell asleep on my lap haha it was awesome. The little girl in the pic is The Borras' families niece. She loves me she calls me her boyfriend. When you ask her her name she says Venus Walker! haha its hilarious. I cant believe Tell is going to Panama! holy cow! man all my friends speak Spanish. I'm gonna have to live in California with all the Filipinos! I could use more jam. I don't need sandals, I could just use money in my account to have shirts made. That's about it... and I could use insole's for my shoes. Good ones. ... anyways thanks family... Oh yea the family finally got sealed!!! they came home yesterday! its soo cool!!! anyways love you guys so much. I really hope your reading your Book of Mormon. Please be reading. Its the simple things that count! don't forget em!!!! anyways love ya!!! Kapayapaan sa labas!!!!!--- Elder Walker

A few new pics

2009-07-17T18:05:00.000-07:00

Turtle and turtle eggs! Mmmmm!

Building bridges

another little girl friend

baptisms on 7/5/09

In the jungle

7/12/09

2009-07-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

DR. BIGHAM MOVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO seriously!!!!!!!!! freak that sucks... You have to get his address for me!!!!! I love that man seriously with everything in me i love him!!!!! I'm so happy on the other hand that G-ma has no cancer. Ive been praying for her and you. We had 3 baptisms on Saturday. It was cool i think i might of forgotten to tell you that we had some coming up. But it was cool Elder Fairbrother got his 1st baptisms with me. I was way happy. We also gave 2 more people a baptismal date. A married couple. For august 15. The couple that went to get sealed left last night. I gave them 3000 pesos. I just flat out gave it to them. But yea they were very happy. Um yea but things are going good. Ive been working my new comp hard. He is big. But he has already lost weight. He can now move his belt up one hole! he was so excited! so was I. We walk alot. And I walk fast. so its going good. But yea, we have already became really close companions. I'm so jealous your in Colorado right now. We got soaked today. Because rain comes fast here. We thought it was a clear day until about 100 yards down the road when we became soaked immediately. But its cool cuz its p-day. We have a lesson with my hardest investigator of my mission later tonight. He is very smart in the bible, he is interested. So hopefully it goes great. Oh yea so i have some stories, we got on a pudyak. Its the 3 wheeled bike. And we obviously don't fit in it. so i just stood on the back and helped the poor Filipino push two big Americans. When all of a sudden the bike did a wheely because of the weight throwing me off the back and about launching the driver to the moon. He was so afraid. And this all happened in front of about 30 more Filipinos who all lost it. They were dying laughing. The cool thing is Elder was holding a cake for Daydays birthday and he didn't crush it!!! But yea speaking of which thank you so much for the package and the Rubik's cube! i love it! i loved the candy its amazing!!! i like the Listerine stuff too. Anyways another story. Elder Fairbrother, on like his 3rd day broke or shattered a bamboo chair. We were in a progressing investigators house and we both sat down on this bamboo couch. And we heard a crack, and we both looked at each other. Then all of a sudden it broke and we both went tumbling to the ground. Everyone was laughing. But its OK cuz the bamboo was just old ha ha. But yea he has had an interesting first week. One I'm sure he wont forget. Me either. But that's about it. Ill try and send some pictures. But i don't know. I'm not making any promises. Anyways love you guys. Hope Colorado was fun!! Elder Walker

2009-06-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

Yea I gave Day Day a CTR ring! she hasnt taken it off in like 2 months!!! she loves it!! I love her so much i dont know what i'll do without Day Day to brighten my day! I cant help but have fun and laugh with her! no matter what problem comes into my day she cheers me up instantly!!! i didnt know Bro Lambsons dad was in a war or that he was an author. Ive been praying for your work schedule mom i hope it lightens up. But i guess you can look at it as a blessing. ALot of people are losing there jobs and your gettting more!! Is grandma alright! she needs to drink more water!!! anyways the jam is amazing!!!! i love it.. and my sheets are too! So I think I am gonna use the money you put into my account for my birthday to send a copuple to Manila and get sealed. ask Des the story i told it to her. They are an amzing couple and my best friends in my area. They had the money, but they have spent it all because they took in two families to live with them in there one room house. So there is like 20 people in this little tiny tiny house. And they are way to shy to ask for money, and i know that i have enough to send them cuz its cheap. So i was wondering if you would be mad if i used my birthday money to have them become sealed! Let me know please. Because they wanted to go in July but had to cancel. SO hopefully their dream and desire can come true...But im gonna try and give it to them without them knowing who it was. Anyways this week i taught a simply amazing lesson about repentance to a in acive family. I shouldnt say i taught it. I was an instrument! the holy ghost was so amazingly present! The mother is ex-communicated for something she did. And the entire family has been inactive ever since. The dad wants to come back to church so bad but he has a hard time finding time off from the airport on sundays. When we taught this lesson he and she started crying. The dad is the most sweet and loveing person ever. He wants to bad to return! The mother looks sad all the time. But when we taught that lesson, she looked as if she knew what was right and knew everything could be ok! it was awesome. I left that lesson almost in tears i was so happy. Afterwards we gave the dad a blessing becuase he has been sick. We also taught another lady who didnt even know who Jesus Christ, Moses, or Noah were. She got married at 14 and has 8 kids and 1 grand kid. She is only about 30+. She read the pamphlet we gave her and described to us her feelings in our next visit. She said that everyting that has been worrying her and bothering her left when she read. She forgot how to pray so we taught her again. THe only thing is she has so many kids and lives in a bamboo shanty far away so she probably wont be baptised because they have no money to travel. But at least we have started a foundation of faith. She can build on in this life or the next. Anyways those are two lessons taht have stuck out this week i thought i would share with you guys. I love my job! its amazing. Im giving a workshop on Effective Hometeaching to the church in a few weeks. Ive never realized how important each calling is. And how taking your calling seriously is so so so important. I never realized how much the church needs young men and young women to help the work. I never realized how much of a help i could of been as a home teacher. How much i could have helped peoples lives. I have found a new love for people. I Only want the best for them. I Hope i can inspire some people to realize there duty and privilage of serving God. Not only here in my mission but after my mission as well. I dont think we realize what a blessing and privelage it is to serve the Almighty. We dont look at our callings with the right attitude. We often think that our callings are burdens. They are such blessings!!! We dont grow until we are pushed to our limits! Im so happy to have now realized that! i hope i can keep that thought in my mind my entire life. I know there will always be moments of doubt. Its human nature. But i hope i can always look forward with a faith and hope i have right now.... anyways this is long. I hope you all are reading at least a little out of the BOM every day. Even a verse a day is Great!!! will you all do taht for me? i hope so its not just a book its THE book, I love it.. I love you , I hope you all have a great week. Keep a prayer in your heart and a smile on your face!!!~ Kell

DayDay singing

2009-05-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

This is the link to see the videos of the little kids in the Phillippines better I tried to put them on the side but you can't see all of it. Anyway this little girl is five, they call her DayDay its a nickname for little girls. Kellin loves her, he says she is crazy and reminds him of Ganon! She doesn't speak English she just knows this song!
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=57550507

2009-05-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

So things sound good back home. we had transfers last thursday, i got word that i was goin to be a trainer on monday. I was not a happy person. I was so nervous it was scary, i didnt think i was ready to become a trainer let alone a senior. But now im here and things are great. i am training Elder Abonita, he is a stake missionary from Sorsogon. he is way talented and diligent. Im thankful for all of your prayers and support they were much needed. We ran out of money last week though because the church hadnt yet given my comp his support. and i had just finished paying bills so i had no money. and the atms were down in our town so i had to bust out my ten peso coin jar. Because i dont spend 10 peso coins i just collect them. and it turns out to be a blessing. because we had no money to come to Naga today without it! haha Anyways we have a dinner appointment back in Pili today with some cool members later on today. So im excited for that. Um Im still in Naga and will be here for 3 more months because my comp will go home cuz he is only short time. and i'll have to get another comp and show him the area. But thats about it for this week guys.. thanks again for the package. Im gonna send a package i'll try and get something in it for everybody... im not sure if ill be able too though.. anyways gotta go love you Kell

2009-05-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hey mom. The baptism was great. I wasnt quite sure about this one. because i didnt know if he really had a testimony or if he was just doing it because his mom was just baptised. So before i baptised him i was nervous but afterwards he bore his testimony the fear left me! I knew he had a testimony and that he was going to be fine!. His mom Evelynn, was my first baptism, she gave the talk about baptism at her sons. She was nervous as ever! her little lip was trembling and she was scared. But she gave a wonderful talk! she hit all the needs. She is so funny i love her to death. I dont konw what ill do if i get transfered thursday. Ive grown to love that family as my own! I hope to always keep in touch with them.. Anyways mom i hope your mothers day was great. I hope you find time to get back in the gym. It truly does make you feel better all around. I hope you have time to go the the "spiritual gym" or temple... Haha like that analogy? anyways mom i hope dad is working towards the temple and des too! i hope to go as a family when i get back.. anyways i better go .. i dont need anything else i can think ok.. Jerky!!!! i do need jerky!! anyways i love you Kell

2009-04-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

Haha loren. she is funny. Claire is hilarious too. We all used to watch out for Claire at high school. Im pretty sure no one wanted to be mean to her with all of us on her side. Anyways yea that kid in art was real cool i loved him. For some reason the art teacher always sat me by him. Anyways yea those spiders are huge we had two in our house. One still lives there but is a fugitive i havnent fond him yet. But tell ganon that the monkey was someones pet. and you can buy them here for about 20 bucks. some of them are meaner than heck though. like when you get by them they try and bite you! its nuts.... My comp has settled down now taht he realizes ill kill him if he is stupid or that ill tell on him if he does anything dumb. so things are going good right now. I miss Brother Smith. I love how you call him kyle. He would never be kyle to me... always brother smith... He is a big part of me being on a mission now i love him. Anyways i wish i was there to see adi and gan. Especially to be with gan when he starts ball. That will be the funnest thing of his life. I miss those two. I was looking at pictrues last night and was like man i miss those kids. For now i have to settle for pilipinos. Im gonna probably cry when i leave this area. I love my converts and their daughter. freak she is a girl version of ganon. Wherever we go she is always holding my hand and asking me questions. and when we pass stores asking for candy. whenever her mom tells me to spank her im like she is still a kid. her mom thinks im so nice cuz im nice to her daughters. The mission has definitly changed my outlook on little kids. I used to get impatient real quick. But im patient now with people. Thanks des for your prayers i appreciete them so much i love you guys so so so much. i miss you and hope your doing alrgith. Just remember however much you make in a month is more than the average family makes here in ayear.... i love you and miss you kell

4-13-09

2009-04-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Huge Spider!

Polynesian Dress

First Baptism

YEs i loved conference. It was Amazing... There were some pretty stern warning given. Especially the one at the end by President Monson himself. About Pornography. He is so right. Porn does destroy the soul. Its not a maybe it might destroy the soul, but the definite WILL DESTROY YOUR SOUL. Ive seen it happen many times on my mission now. Porn is sold at every dvd shop here. RIght now i have a very close friend in the mission struggling with it. It breaks my heart that a messenger of the lord could give in to such a temptation and ive seen it ruin his mission so far. It is such a dangerous habit and ruins lives i hate it!!!! anyways My companion didnt get sent home. President thought he would give them a second chance. i dont agree with his decision but i accept it and uphold it. But i have another story for you... so the day of transfers we came back.and i was expecting to work hard so i took my companion to all the people i knew. When we came home at night there was someone in our apartment. It turned out to be other missionaries. they told us they were sleeping over. but the next morning my companion and one of the other elders woke me up at 5 and told me they were leaving and left me with the other comp. Well the other comp decided he wanted to skip areas and go somewhere else. But i wasnt having any of it. I told him off, but he left without me. So i sat there contemplating what i should do. i prayed about it and decided to go text the Assistants to the Pres. so i texted and eventually the lambsons came and picked me up. I ended up staying at the mission home ( which wasnt bad cuz they have hot water and amazing food) but anyways the next day all 3 showed up and we had interviews with president. because they all went and visited there girlfriends. yea it really makes me wonder what the freak people come on missions for! i mean honestly. why would you come on a mission if you just want the same things as before your mission. I mean honestly the reason i came here was to never do the things i did before. and to serve teh Lord...... anyways im very thankful for the strength i receive from my family and from the Lord. Without it i couldnt take it here. Anyways mom thanks for the journal it was perfect and teh scriptures too. i probably wont use them though i dont think cuz i already have my other ones marked how i like them. but thanks so much... i loved the candy!!! it was amazing!!! i hope you all get better and get rid of your cold. I didnt think that i would ever get a cold here becasue its so hot. but then i realized that colds are a sickness not because of the weather... yea im an idiot.... But the other day i had a cool expeirence we were teaching out recent converts and it was a black out. and out of the darkness came a 28 year old man. he asked if he could join. he was way good with the questions and at the end of the lesson asked if he could be baptised. haha it was cool. of course he has to come to church 4 times and learn the lessons. but he is way cool. he just got out of jail for smoking weed. But really wants to change his life... so if we can help that will be awesome.... anyways fam i gotta go i love you all. Thank you so much for your prayers they are much needed.. i miss you all.... gotta run... Elder Walker... love you

First Baptism!

2009-04-06T11:36:00.000-07:00

First off sorry mom, that i idnt write you i dont konw what i was thinkin! im sorry but Happy Birthday, i love you and your beautiful! anyways as for me and my life here. THis week was CRAZY. first off my companion and his poly friinds decided to go on a road trip to sorsogon a far away part of the mission. anyways they all got caught but instead of giving up , they decided tehy were mad at the people who caught them, the Assistants to the President, so they went on a search for them to try and beat them up, they were fugitives for 4 days. until finally they gave themselves up and went to the missoin home. they even threatended the Mission President himself... anyways while all this was happeing i was baptising souls... so on saturday.. i woke up to no electrictyand couldnt iron my shirt, and we had the baptism at 10 so i was freaking out cuz i had no good shirts they were all wrinkly so i was stressed, but then i learned that the entire philippines was having like a no electricity day! so i stopped stressing and accepted it... then wehen we went to the church everyone was siting out front of the gate. the bishop wasnt there he was sick and we couldnt get in, so we tracted and found the key, we finally got in to realize we couldnt turn the water on because it works on an electiric pump! so we were bummed, then we got an idea to go the the CWC, its a wakeboarding park with swimming pools! so we all agreed on it and got baptismal clothes and headed to the CWC. Now normally the CWC is off limits to missionaries, for the obvious reasons of evilness and temptations. But the bishop agreed, so we arrived and payed to get in. We held the opening excercises in a tree house, filled with grafiti, but no one payed attention to it... after that i baptised Jona and Evelyn Bantog in the swimming pool right underneath the old water slide.. haha it was amazing! sister Bantog came up squeezing my hand and crying out of the water. She said she had been praying to know if the church was really really true. And she said that when she came out of the water that she saw a White light behind me and that she in her mind knew it was the answer she was looking for. She was so so so so happy. If only all of us could have the happiness she felt at that time. She bore her testimony afterwards to us and i almost started crying. She loves the church and her family so so much . Anyways they were confirmed in church sunday. Because conference, is a week late here. So we are all going to Naga so they can listen to a prophet speak... im so pumped... ill try and send pictures but it takes along time on the internet... so probably just in the mail... i printed some out today... but yes my weekend was crazy. my first baptism was nuts but turned out perfect. i wouldnt change it for the world... i love being here. this is the Lords work, and with prayer and faith we can overcome any obstacle. Like their baptism was full of things that could of stopped the baptism from happening. But the Lord provided a way. Anyways family, i love you all and have to go ... thanks so much for the easter candy and my atm card.. i need the pin number though... and does the Credit union need to konw ill be using it out of country? i plan on buying a few things so i need it. but anyways i love you all and have to go thanks for your support and prayers i love you and keep you in my prayers too!... Kapayapaan sa labas! (peace out)

3-15-09

2009-03-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Well family, i got emergency transfer out of my Threesome. I guess an Elder hurt his knee getting into a jeepney and cant work anymore so i took his spot. President Smith Interviewed me to see if i wanted to go Ligit senior companion, but i think he sensed my nervousness and is waiting,, phhhew, so right now my companiion is a HUGE Tongan. He is from New Zealand his name is Elder Finau he is really cool. But he breaks the rules alot.And i didnt come here to break rules so things are gonna have to change. But he loves to lift and my new house has a gym right by it so we lifted the first day i arrived in my New area, Pili, by the way. But wow im sore right now. We did chest and i got 205 for 5 without a spotter so it hasnt left me completely yet, im alright strong still. But yea he is ok, im really kinda depressed though because i was just gettting to love my last area and the people and my companions, it was the coolest companionship. I miss it. But yea, other than that nothing new, just a new companion and area. But things are looking up we had an investigator come to church and she says she wants to be baptised. But yea family nothing real great here. Tell Jace i said happy birthday, i have a hammock for him, only i havent sent it to him. and tell everyone i said hi i love them. i was playing rugby with my comp and some other poly's today. Umm it is hot season right now, so its just really really hot now. haha but it still rains sometimes. Anyways hope all is well at home. I Love you all and miss you. Oh yea if you can will you try and get ahold of Emily Sanchezes email for me, she is my friend from college if you dont remember. Anyways thanks a ton. all is well here. I love you Elder Walker

3-1-09

2009-03-02T16:04:00.001-08:00

First off let me tell you about my transfer. Im in Bato. on the mainland. Nathan Adair served in this same area. I met a family he baptized and talked to them alot. Im in a threesome. Meaning i have two companions. One is Elder Johnson from idaho, he is going home in a month and a half. The other is Elder Gless from Mesa az. He has only been here a month and a half. Anyways the older one elder johnson is actually companions with a member in our branch so me and elder Gless the new guy are companions. I am the senior companion. Meaning i teach the lessons and find the people. Because elder Gless is like every brand new missionary he cant speak, and is afraid. Im not really sure what President smith was thinking when he decided this. But im called of god to be where im at. anyways it will be an interesting transfer. But its already been a blast. I love teaching. Its so fun. And i love my new companions. The lord blessed me with my last companion. Forcing me to learn the language. so now i can speak comfortably. Anyways, have the figured out what is the matter with desirae? that is scary!.... ummm. dad thanks for the letter. i love hearing from you. its my favorite. But im glad the truck is fixed, ill need something to drive when i get back. SO your working mom and tess to the bone huh? its good i love being sore, it means something is happening. anyways how is work? its good here. I love my new area. Tell nathan adairs dad i met some of his converts. And he was supposably a great missinary... Anyways parents. mom if you give me the measurments ill be glad to get some pants for that guy. and tell me the color too. Oh yea and i need some things too. First i need a new journal, like they have at the bookstore. Perferably green and its the big one i like the big ones cuz i write alot. I havent missed a day yet of my mission. SO you guys can hear all about it. and 2nd from the bookstore, could you send me a triple combination, (NOT A QUAD) only the BoM and the PoGP and D&C. i want the compact ones with the indexing. and perferably black. So dont forget. the small one with indexing and black. write me if you dont understand. and umm and a small hymn book if you can. I know its alot to ask. If you dont have the money dont worry about it please. just wait. But if you can i would love that. Umm i love you guys and i hope des gets better. I am proud of all of your goals, mom and tess stick to the walking and working out! Dad im proud of your goal for the temple, and des too! im so happy to have the family i have. i love you all. Ill let you know how my next week is next monday... Oh yea my new comps like to email at night. so if you want to chat with me you will have to get on at about 3 in the morning there. maybe like 6 in the morning i might be on too! sorry but i love you Elder Walker

New Pictures

2009-02-15T19:35:00.001-08:00

Cily peppers HOT!!

Junells "pet" check out his shoulder! YUCK!

Dare devil!

2009-02-01T20:31:00.000-08:00

Marc- a member that goes out with Kell and his comp

Elder Walker and the Crew :)

Elder Hardy (transfered now) Kellin and their buddies

Companion on splits

Kellin's Island

Twin Rocks Resort Kell visited for P-day

Gotta love the name of the Jeepney!

Pumping Water for a Memeber

Real Men Wear Pink :)

Kell's little friend Junell

A Tricey- he usually sits on the engine!

F.H.E at an investigators house

Beautiful Babies!

Paradise!

2009-02-01T19:34:00.000-08:00

Hey family let me tell you my stories for the week. So on wednesday we were tracting and we found one lady and started to teach her, My comp was like only give the first 2 priniciples and we will leave. But as we started we kept going with the entire lesson, but i gave the first vision. And i was nervous out of my mind i wanted to make it perfect. As i started the Nanay started staring in my eyes and i was staring back. it felt different than other times. After the lesson we asked if she had any questions. She told us that as i told her the story of Joseph Smith and the First vision, she felt different, the entire time she was rubbing her arms cuz she had goosebumps. she told me in Tagalog " parang jesucristo kayong dalawa, iba iba mga naramdam ko, salamat salamat" which in english is " its like you two are Jesus Christ, my feelings are very very different thank you thank you." she said alot of missionaries form different religions had visited her but no one made her feel the way we did. She stood up and shook my hand with both of hers with tears in her eyes saying thank you thank you so much. its like your Jesus. she kept repeating it. Anyways we are going back to teach her soon. we couldnt sooner because i was in Bagamanoc, which brings me to my next story. On thursday we had a district meeting and the Zone leader asked if i wanted to go to "jurassic park" i was like freak you know it!!! so i had no change of clothes no toothbrush no nothing, but my camera and BoM. anyways so we start our journey here in Virac. We are riding atop a Jeepney called MR. Suave lol its awesome. This jeepney is beefed up like kinda lifted and big tires and uglier than sin. Ill send a picture, our seat is a water tank like 50 gallons and it has a hose running from it to the radiator because the radiator has a leak, and instead of fixing it or getting a new one they just have this huge water tank on top to keep refilling the radiator lol freak i was worried. anyways its about a 4 hour trip that turned into 6 because we have to trek through the jungle and we get stuck 3 times in knee deep mud, but the trip is beautiful beyond all description. anyways i got sunburned like there is no tommorow. Anyways we worked in Bagamonoc for friday and saturday but we got stranded there because there was no bus or jeepney or boat till sunday maybe monday. so my one day trip turned to four. We finally got a ride atop mr.suave again last night about 6 and went through the most horrible ride of my life sitting on top of coconuts and coconuts sitting on top of me ( coconuts are heavy as all get out too) anyways we got stuck again 3 times this time they asked me to help pull them out they gave us a rope, like a roping rope and tied it to the axle and were like pull! i was like freak thats heavy im not a winch but an hour later we got out of one of our perdicaments. anyways long story short we arrived at Virac at 2 in the morning. Only to realize we didnt have a key to the apartment, so we had to pay 200 pisos to go to san andreas and our driver was all over the road cuz he was so sleepy anyways ya thats my stories of the week. I hope that the roof went on smoothly sorry i wasnt there to help. what color is it. ?i love you and im sending pics to you now i hope your saving them ill send a cd of them soon too. love you guys keep up the strong work elder walker

Jan 25,2009

2009-01-25T20:16:00.000-08:00

.Hey dad ,,, yea i teach alot of lessons a week... and yea i eat sea food like everyday too... but its not sea food like you know.. yesterday i ate snails from the ocean. you boil them then suck the hole of the shell and they come out in your mouth.. haha sounds gross but it was really good. The thing i dont really like is called tuyo. its dried fish they cook in oil it smells like death but doesnt taste bad. The bones are the only thing that bother me but yea everything here is eaten with rice, its called an ULAM its just something you put on your plate with rice... anyways dad no baptism yet hopefully soon. but yea But yea thats cool mom is gunna put in... DO you think the roof will last until i get home or does it need it bad?anyways i gotta go dad i love you....

Last letter from Cantanduanes

2009-01-15T10:57:00.000-08:00

Hey mom yea the resort was tight. only us 8 missionaries were there. the only ones on the island. and i would love to go there on my honeymoon haha depends on my wife i guess.. You shouldnt be afraid of speakin to people. i konw its your biggest fear but its something you can get over. in dads letter i told of how i had to lead the area. Ive always been afraid of being a leader, but yet ive always been called to leadership positions in sports or church. somehow people pick me. But prayer is the biggest part of my life when i feel scared or inadequete i know that Jesus felt the same feeling that im feeling at that very moment and he is more than willing to help us get over it. all we have to do is ask in faith knowing he will be there to lift us up at our times of need. Dont be embarassed i bet they were suprised at how much you knew. and if you dont get the job oh well. its not the end of the world. i love that you tried though mom it makes me so happy to know you did that. you better get used to public speaking cuz when i come back i guarantee you have to speak at least to the high council. haha but youll be fine... anyways thats so cool tess is getting her patriarchal blessing. i know it will make her happy. and she will find out all she needs. she will be able to get married whether in this life or the next she will have the opportuinty... dads sounds like he has been real tired.... But the work here is good , im getting transfereed to a differnt area so i wont be on my little island anymore. it broke my heart to hear i was leaving. I love the people ive come to know here. The member families we visited about every day i grew to love they helped me so much in the language and were always so nice. I hope ive helped someones life here. O on saturday we went to the little family i told you about in my very first letter the Deletorre family. He had alot of questions about the church and especially how he could know it was true. He was kinda skeptical about the Holy Ghost. It was my turn to teach about the Holy Ghost and i wasnt prepared i had never taught it before in Tagalog so i was nervous as all get out. But i prayed for help. and to know what to say. As soon as i started i stuttered over my words and was like FREAK but i got the prompting to bear my testimony on the spirit. So i did, i have never felt the spirit as i did right then. it was so strong i couldnt hold back tears and i knew that Rolle, the dad, felt it too. When i finished he said "wow you really know this is true dont you, you really have read and prayed about it huh?" i knew then that instead of teaching him about what the holy ghost was i was the tool to let him feel what it was. It was an amazing experience. I want that family to join the church more than anything and it broke my heart to know i wouldnt get the chance to teach them again.but hopefully i was able to plant a seed, or rather hopefully i was a tool in the lords hand to someday bring them to the full knowledge of the Gospel. anyways yes this week has been full of great experience. from leading the area for the first time, to testifying of the truthfullness of this gospel. IT was all around a good week. One that i can store in my mind for those tough weeks to come... Anyways mom and family i love you and hope your doing well. all is well here in San Andreas.... i love you and miss you.... ill try and send pics if i can.... i have some with my little friend Junell he is 6 and the kid that teaching me the language lol... i freakin love him.... anyways ill write you from my new area on monday i love you -Elder Walker

2009-01-15T10:53:00.000-08:00

hey mom sorry i wasnt on earlier.. we went to a resort for our p-day activity! it was amazing! it only cost like 10 bucks... we had a bamboo hut out on this white sand beach, the beach itself is in a cove with mountains surrounding it . its freaking amazingly beautiful! i loved it. we had a blast, we cant swim that sucked cuz the water was bluer than blue it was gorgeous. The resort is called Twin rocks. It has these two huge sets of rocks out in the middle of the cove . huge waves crash against them at high tide it was freakin sweet. they have a diving board off this like 7 foot cliff into the ocean it was sweet. only we couldnt use it... we just played games on the beach and sat around talking and one of the elders played the guitar and sang. way cool! i loved it. The resort has huts for rent to sleep in and stuff and a huge nice nice swimming pool it was sweet.... anyways.... yea thats why i wasnt on the internet earlier i was enjoying missionary life here on Catanduanes.... This week was new years and we had fireworks right above our house cuz they launched them off from the building behind ours... one went off too early and hit our roof! it was sweet cuz we watched them from the roof. anyways yea those are my stories for the week. nothing much else... My comp might get transfrered next week so ill probbly be with a philipino. but who knows... anyways i hope you guys are going to the temple. but yea i gotta go mom. nothing much to write this week about the work except its tiring... i love you guys and i miss you i hope you are having a good new year... tell cowan i said whats up and lana too.. he sounds amazing.... i gotta go mom i love you --- Elder walker

pics from Kell

2008-12-21T20:33:00.000-08:00

Hi! This is Tess. Mom and I were able to instant message with Elder Walker tonight. It was a lot of fun. He sent these pictures and we just wanted to share.

The pigs are Kell's next door neighbors. :)

view from the roof of Kell's house.

Tracting

an area they walk by to go tracting

2008-12-15T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hey mom. yes i got the box and loved it... im on like day five now or so... but im not at my house on my island im on the mainland now. cuz we have zone conference so ill have to open the rest of my presents on saturday. umm elder kimball is on the very most south side of the naga misson i dont know what its called... and no ill have pants made here mom. dont send clothes or shoes cuz i can get them here for about 8 bucks for some sweet stuff so dont buy stuff like that ok... but thanks so much for offering. also thanks for the box of stuff it brought tears to my eyes i loved loved loved it! i kinda wish i could be home for christmas but after this one only one more! haha.... anyways ask dad about the families we found i wrote him a letter about them. so so so humble, one of them is cooking for us this weekend, coconuts rice and shells i think, crazy they are cooking for us and arnt even members we barly met them the other night... they live in the mountains kinda.... but the other family, the deletorre family , oh my favorite. just because they are my first family and they are so stinking cute. they have a adorable little girl and they are only like mid 20s or so so soso humble i love them...... im so happy dads likein church. that makes my day, especially cuz the dads on my island are all inactive but 2 and all the dads in general all drink or have problems. Because there isnt much to do on the island. they have to drink, but anyways about calling on christmas, im thinking about using the internet like a webcam so you guys can see me. there is something called skipe or skype on the internet, elder hardy is telling me about that is cheap or free. so look into that and let me know ok? it probably wont be christmas day but sometime/ Or do you have along distance plan ? if you do i can just give you the number of a member and have you call her. but we have to arrange a time and im not sure how to do that. ill ask elder hardy and let you know next monday. i hope your not to worried about me mom you sound worried, im OK everything is fine and going smooth. im on the Lords errand and he wont let anything happen to me. I keep having dreams of being home and huntin with dad. i pray everyday that nothing will happen to any of you cuz i cant wait to be back with my family again. But dont worry mom im fine. Another feeling i had was to tell you to get to work on the 2 year supply and food storage. it was weird just a feeling . but i think it would be a smart idea. so if you have an opporunity to get a little here and there Do It ok? ..... Um dont worry about putting to much money in my account. like 10 every once in a while is good mom. OK? thanks ! i hope the pic. your putting up is the cool one by the way!. anyways mom thanks for the package and i look forward to the next one.. ill try and send pics tommorrow cuz we have nothing else to do so maybe.... anyways. ok mom i love you tell the girls i said hi. thanks so much for the package it was amazing! Mahal Kita - elder walker

First Letter from Cantanduanes

2008-12-08T08:56:00.001-08:00

Hey dad! that story is awesome, i wish i could of been there so bad. I miss hunting. I arrived in naga on thursday morning we had breakfast at the Miss. Pres. house. it was really good. Then we had interviews and got our assignments. My new area is The island of Cantanduanes. Its about 2 hours off mainland Philipines, by boat. Its more expensive out here but beautiful. I dont know when i can send pictures, hopefully next monday. You guys are probably sleeping right now. and its only sunday for you i think. But yea its beautiful, but so so so poor. No one lives in a nice home. I mean NO ONE most most homes are bamboo with palm leaf roofs. We are lucky we live on the second floor of a concrete house. But most people live horribly. Its very very saddening. at the same time it makes me miss home. i cant speak the lanuage as well as i would have hoped for , but i am startin to pick up on being able to understand natives. The MTC does not prepare you for this i can say that much. They speak really fast, and slur alot of words together. My new companion is Elder Hardy from Sandy Utah. he is a genius he got a 35 on the ACT, so yea i think the language came pretty easy for him. Im just havin trouble knowing what to study and stuff... but ill get it. um we eat rice every day , and stuff on top called an Ulam, which just means a topping of rice. Like sardines or dried fish or pork or adobo, stuff like that..... Anyways. yesterday at church they asked me to bear my testimony and tell a little about myself. it was easy though . cuz there is only 8 people in our branch ha. we meet in this meetin house real small hard to describe. but when we go work we walk or take a Tricy or Jeepny, to where we are goin then walk back. ITs crazy how many people they fit on a Honda trail 70 motorcycle. 7 at least if they are going far, because they have to make the trip worth their while yea its crazy. ill take a pic and send it. But last night we went to a place about 5 KM away and taught a few people, one Guy committed to go to church it was cool. ITs sad here though, there isnt anythin for people to do so the Dads are always drink thats pretty much all they can do so they never want to go to church. but everyone for the most part is nice... While you walk down the streets people yell out HEy Joe , or Hey man or stuff like that. they are just bein kinda rude cuz we are american and they think we ahve more than them.... Oh yea me and Elder Hardy are the only two americans on my island! so everyone stares at us like we are 8 foot tall monsters or somthin. haha.... But anyways family. How is everyone doin. It feels wierd bein here i wont lie. i miss home and america. its hard. but it will be worth it. Tell tess congrats again i wish i could have been there. tell des to keep goin to church and thinkin about the temple. i miss you guys and cant wait to hear from you. write me alot ok! oh and if you can send like a thousand boxes of macoroni and cheese they dont have it here.and send like snacks like you did when i was in the mtc to i NEED SOME haha... but if it costs to much dont do it i can manage. but anyways im sitin in an internet cafe cost me 40 pesos for an hour so like 90 cents. haha thats another thing, i get 6700 pesos a month to live off of. so like 134 bucks a month haha... but it apparently works out.... but there arent any shops to buy clothes on Cantanduanes so i have to wait until next transfer. for pants and stuff... but oh well. i did my laundry today by hand haha you would be proud mom. oh ya i take bucket showers , WOW its cold but kind of refreshing. It gets dark here at like 530 so pretty much i have to wander around the jungle in the dark till 9 good thing my comp knows his way around..... Oh yea the day i met my Mission president he said he was puttin me on the island cuz he could feel my leadership skills and knows i am going to be a great leader, i dont understand how people see this stuff ive always been in my eyes and ordinary person. but i guess if people think this stuff its because i was raised right and had amazin parents, and a dad who knew how to treat and teach a son. , ive realized over the past 2 months how much i have learned from you dad and how much you have taught me, ive learned everythin i have ever needed to know from you. its makes me so happy to know how wonderful my family is. and i cant wait to get back and share my stories with them. .... anyways family i need to go.. i love you all and miss you... i think i only et like 45 minutes to talk on christmas and i dont konw how im gonna make the plans for that but ill let you know.... Magandang hapon and kita kits mamaya

11/27/08

2008-11-29T15:11:00.000-08:00

Des,
Thanks for the card and the money. It was much needed. How is your family? Same ol same ol here. Let me tell you about an experience i had,I was a proxy for a sealing in the temple, meaning I knelt at the alter for a dead child and was sealed to his parents for him or a lot of kids. This was AMAZING! It was so cool knowing that these families would be together forever because of the ordinances in the temple. I couldn't help but smile the entire time because I can't wait to be sealed to my wife for Eternity!! I'm so thankful that my Heavenly Father has a plan for me and part of that plan is Happiness. He wants nothing more than than our happiness! I'm so grateful I'm sealed to you and Tess and Mom and Dad for Eternity. I love you guys and can't think of a better family to spend forever with. Anyway Des just think of your Heavenly Fathers plan for you. Invite your missionaries over for dinner and let them give you a short lesson on the plan of salvation. I promise it will make you happy. You will learn things you never knew before. I know I learn something new about it everyday! But anyways I love you! This one is for Ganon

Gan-
Thanks for the book buddy!! I loved it, it was cool! Have you done anything crazy lately? What have you been up to, what do you do at school? You're good at writing and drawing! I love you buddy!

Kita Kits- Uncle Kell

Tyson and Kellin

2008-11-28T20:17:00.000-08:00

I was organizing my pictures and I ran across these of Tyson and Kellin when they were, I dunno like 10! They were so stinkin cute! I don't remember Kellin much at this age but I think it is because he basically lived with the Petersons. Tyson and Kellin have been the best of friends for as long as I can remember, and if you ask Coni she would tell you some great stories about how retarded these two were together! I have a great picture of my mom and Coni at the boys graduation, but I didn't think it would be nice to post it they both have red eyes :( They thought graduation was hard...now both of their babies are on the other side of the world! What great guys these two grew up to be!!!

2008-11-24T21:55:00.000-08:00

Letter 11/19/08

2008-11-21T08:58:00.000-08:00

Hey Jace and Des, Kamusta!
How is everything going? Good I hope. Its P-day and I just got done chatting with mom. (emailing back and forth) Anyway sorry I haven't written more. But ya I took more pics I'll send them to Amanda-but ya the New Zeland miss. Ngaluafej is funny he played semi pro rugby before he came, cool huh. When does Jace go to Philly- he better still write me!
So Lance went to court huh? I hope it helps him get things together, I love him. How are all my friends doing like Willie, Evan, Tell, Brady? None of them write so I don't know how they are.
But ya tell mom I fly with my district so no worries. I get my flight plans this week, crazy huh. Pretty soon my letters will take a month to get to you cuz I will be half way around the world!

No all of the missionaries here go to different missions, there are like 10 going to mine. But no they all pretty much go around the world!

District leader is tough, Its like dealing with High School drama all over again. It's not bad though I love my district- I have to teach them Sunday school every week that stinks but I love getting scriptures from you guys- keep it up! Mom said Ganon wrote me a story I can't wait! K I gotta go

Mahal Ko Kayo!!
Elder Walker

PS I just read this and my handwriting is horrible, sorry! :(

All the Elders in his district

2008-11-20T10:20:00.000-08:00

His companion, Elder Kimball is to the left of Kellin in both pictures

Erharts 1st letter

2008-11-20T08:56:00.000-08:00

Kamusta!
Hey Erharts, Just wanted to write and say whats up. Thanks for the letters before I came in, really inspiring! Thanks for the letter when you got home too. Anyway not much going on here, ask mom and dad what I write them so I don't have to write everything 17 times k.
The language is rough but I'm getting it I guess. One of the Elders in my district is neighbors with Joseph Wirthlin and he said that Elder Wirthlin told him to learn the language and the Gospel will come later. So I'm stickin to that ha ha. Anyways how are Ganon and Adi? I was surprised when I got here the first day they expected us to memorize 25 words and 5 phrases in Tagalog. By the time we leave we have to know 500 phrases and 2500 words!! AHH! Anyways I have more letters to write- much love- Elder Walker

Taking Kellin to the MTC Oct 1 2008

2008-11-20T08:36:00.000-08:00

Kellin was called to the Naga Philippines mission and our Family took Kellin to the MTC in Utah October 1, 2008. Conference was that weekend but we weren't able to stay that long! We did get to go walk around the Salt Lake Temple,take a tour of the Conference Center and watch a movie at the visitor center. My mom did alot better at goodbye than any of us expected! It was very emotional and a very long drive home, but we know he is where he should be and we are all very proud of him!