Elder Nathan Walker - Utah Logan Mission - 179 East 800 North - Logan, UT 84321
nathan.walker@myldsmail.net

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Week 17 - The A Team

Hey, so not feeling as stressed anymore.  If the subject says that it's because I'm on the computer and I don't know how to change the subject when I'm not using my iPad.

This past week has been pretty good.  I was able to get through another District Meeting and it went pretty well, the spirit was there.  I'm really thankful that my District participates, it helps a lot.  As far as the area goes, the work is pretty slow, as far as finding people goes.  We haven't found anyone as a result of tracting yet, and we've gone through all of our apartment buildings and the unbaptized list...nobody.  All of our investigators are basically miracles that I hope are coming as a blessing for not giving up haha.  We are teaching Mario, he was on date, but he didn't come to church this week so we had to take him off, but we should be able to get him back on date tonight.  We also have a new investigator that just moved into our area and we have him on date as well.  His name is Wendell and he coaches football.  Luckily he has a good fellowship because all of his coaching staff consists of either current bishops, former bishops, and an former stake president.  So yeah, we've got the A-Team when it comes to teaching Wendell.

Anyway, I'm really excited, we should be able to get them baptized next month and I'm really happy to see them progress.  We've tracked everywhere, so we're going to start helping the stake implement some ideas that I got from my previous stake that will help the missionary effort here be more efficient.  President Walker got really excited about all the plans we came up with.  He also thinks I'm related to him for some strange reason....

Thank you guys for all the support you give me, I appreciate it a bunch.  I hope all is well back home and I hope you have a great week.

I love you all,
Elder Walker



Elder (Ariel) Walker at the Pumpkin Walk



The Bishop's family stole my iPad!

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Week 16 - Green Canyon Stake

Hey everyone!  Week two in the Green Canyon Stake is complete!

I'm doing much better now, my stress levels have gone down substantially, but I'm still not very relaxed about my situation yet.  My first District Meeting actually went pretty well.  I had a few Elders come up and tell me that my training was an answer to prayer, so I'll take that as I did alright.  However, I do know that none of that was me, it was basically all the spirit.  The discussion was amazing and we all ended up teaching and edifying one another.  The training was on involving the Lord in finding, and having the courage to act on any spiritual promptings that we receive.  I'm just glad it's over with... Oh wait!  That's right... I have to give another one tomorrow.  Yay me!

Anyways, yeah, I'm doing fine.  We had another baptism this Saturday, it was great.  The turnout was crazy.  We filled the entire relief society room, with no room to spare.  The spirit was super strong, and Sue (the Sister who got baptized) bore a wonderful testimony that made me tear up.  The only downside was that the two guys who gave the talks on baptism and the Holy Ghost that ended up giving an entire account of the early Church history.  It was soooo long!  But the baptism was awesome and I'm super happy for Sue.


Sue's Baptism Day



Saturday afternoon, after the Baptism, we managed to find a new investigator and put him on date to be baptized on the 7th of November.  He's a great guy, his name is Mario.  The only problem is that he lives with his LA girlfriend and so we have to work on getting them married.  I'm excited to teach him, we have an appointment with him tonight.  So pray for us!

We also had interviews with President on Thursday, so that finally happened.  It went really well.  I love President Allred, he is a great man and he definitely has a special mantle about him.  He related things about the gospel, to me playing the violin and it was really interesting.   We also had a Family History training while we were waiting for our turn to interview.  That was pretty cool.  I love family history, I just don't know how much help I would be trying to get any farther back than grandpa has.  So if you have any Family History tips grandpa, let me know.

Anyway, I don't have a lot of time, but I love you all and I want you to know that I pray for you every night before bed.  I hope everything is going good back home.  Stay strong, and always trust in the Savior and in the promptings of the Spirit.

Elder Walker


Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Week 15 - New Companion - Elder Jerdon

Well, I don't have a lot of time today, we don't have a truck anymore so it takes us forever to get anywhere.  Things are going pretty good I guess.  I give my first training tomorrow and interviews with the president are on Thursday.  We're at the church playing speed ball but we're going to have to leave soon if we want to get anything done.

I'm pretty stressed out, I don't know why.  Everyone in my District is pretty great, they're all Star Wars fans so that's a plus.  I tracted into L. Tom Perry's brother a few days ago which was cool.  Then we got a ride home from Chris Heimerdinger, the author of Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites series.

Elder Jerdon's lifelong friend, Ian Weldely served in this mission a few months ago, along with Mitchell Gay.  They're going to USU and they've been feeding us for the past few nights.  They're awesome.  They're taking us to the gym every morning now as well.  I'm starting to get used to the area, so that's good.

Last night we taught one of the Bishop's families and played werewolf with them.  Elder Jerdon plays it different though, it's wierd.  But everyone here is pretty great.  I miss the Wamsley's though.  Anyway, I'll send some pictures of the mountains I took while we were walking.  I hope all of you are doing well, I love y'all.

Oh!  And I got to go to Travin's baptism!!


Elder Jerdon and Friends


Travin's Bapstism 



Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Week 14 - Goodbye Smithfield, Hello Green Canyon Stake

Hey everyone!

Sorry if this week's email is a bit shorter than usual, it's been a stressful week and after Saturday evening and Mission Leader Training yesterday I'm really freaking out.  So, results of transfers...Here we go:

1.  I am not going to be a daddy (trainer)...  But I am going to be a step dad (stressful).
2.  I am leaving Smithfield South and going to the Green Canyon Stake in Logan (transfers are tomorrow).
3.  I got a call Saturday...I'm now a District Leader (very stressful).

So yeah...Not only am I being put into a lot of responsibility and finishing someone's training, they're moving me into a zone where I know absolutely no one, so this should be interesting.  But I guess I'll figure it out...Eventually.

It kinda sucks, we have 3 baptisms this weekend and we've started teaching Levi, and Karis and Ivy's older sister wants to be baptized too, and we have a new nine year old who wants to be baptized, oh, and three boys next to the Wamsley's who finally said okay to us teaching them... And now that all this is happening, I'm gone!  Woohoo!  So great!  Nope, not at all.  Elder Nielsen's new son is going to be so spoiled....  (He's training)

Anyway, I guess I should list some perks to being transferred:

1.  Apparently my new apartment is even nicer than this one and has a ping pong table.
2.  The new area is almost all apartments I've heard (goldmine)
3.  One of the complexes is apparently filled with a ton of cute girls.  (Don't worry grandma I'll be focused on missionary work)
4.  My new step-son is a Stud, from what I've heard, so I'm excited to Baptize the whole area with him!
5.  It's a walking area (I won't get fat!  Or, I mean, I won't get more fat)

So anyway, I love you all, I'll let you know how this week goes.  Wish me luck!

Elder Walker