Week 87 - Preston for Another Transfer!

Hey everyone, so I don't have too much time today, but I'll give you as good an update as I can.

So good news! I'm staying here in Preston! I'm really happy about that, I was worried they would move me out, but I haven't felt like my work here is done. They combined a few areas in our zone, so we have 2 less companionships now, which will allow us to help the other companionships out more. So we are pretty excited about this transfer! It also means I'll get to help dehorn and brand cattle! I was afraid I was going to miss that.

As far as this week goes, we went up to check on things in Mink Creek and the Ward mission leader told us that our investigator's husband (the one that fell off the roof) was getting his cast off that day (Thursday) and that he was determined to drive himself to the basketball game that night. He figured that was a really bad idea because he was all hopped up on pain medication and would basically be drunk driving. The Ward mission leader was super sick, otherwise he would have taken him, so he asked us to go offer to give him a lift to the game. We went up there and he was super appreciative, and his wife was amazed that we would offer to do that for him. So yeah, they love us even more now and we got to see the basketball game, so win win. Oh, it was Preston vs. Blackfoot, Mom! Just thought you'd like to know. My mom graduated from Blackfoot, for those of you who are a bit confused haha.

Let's see, we got to help out with some more flooding this week, we ended up staying in one basement till one in the morning, getting the water under control. (Yes, we got permission from President)

Elder Remfrey also got to baptize someone from his previous area! It was a great baptism, and the spirit was super strong! She roped us into singing a special musical number, and it didn't turn out too bad. It was a country song, "Changed" by Rascal Flatts, so we had to get a piano arrangement and tone it down a bit. I think someone took a video, so I'll send it and y'all can make fun of us if you want.

Anyway, I gotta get going, but thank you all for your help and support. I wouldn't be out here if it wasn't for all of you! I want you to know I have a testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and that I

wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now than serving him. I've had my faith increased in so many ways, and I know that through Christ we can do all things. So keep being the great people you are and continue to be examples of true Christians!

I love you all!

Elder Walker

Week 86 - Preston Life

Hey everyone!

Sorry I didn't write last week, I have repented and will now try to do better! We have been able to see a lot of awesome miracles this week, hopefully I don't leave any of them out.

So Valentine's Day was pretty awesome. For dinner we went down to Smithfield on our way to Hyde Park and ate dinner with a family that Elder Remfrey had taught. They were awesome and they cooked crawfish for us. It was my first time eating crawfish, but it turned out to be pretty good, it was more interesting than anything haha. Afterwards, we did a blitz for the Hyde Park sister's area because they have been struggling with finding new people to teach. So Elder Remfrey and I

had a list of people that they wanted us to contact. First door we knocked on, there was a family that was working on reactivating, the mom was not a member and she told us that she wanted to be baptized. That was a really cool miracle and the sisters were super happy! Oh, also, I got to stop by and visit the Wamsleys, my first senior couple on the mission! It was awesome, they are doing well and they are going to take us out to lunch sometime so that we can catch up more.

This week we also were able to go with the Wards to teach their investigator Anthony. The lesson that we taught was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a great lesson, and the spirit was so strong. We

didn't know Anthony, but we were able to follow the spirit and discern a lot of his needs and concerns, which allowed us to help resolve them. At the end of the lesson we invited him to be baptized on the 11th of March and he accepted! We are excited for him, and also for the Wards. It was cool because it was yet another testimony builder that the spirit really is the teacher, not us!

Thursday was a sad day. It was Elder Sloan's last day in the mission, so we took him out to lunch at New York Deli. I'm going to miss that guy, he helped a lot of people out here in the Logan Mission. Now he's back in Medicine Hat, Alberta Canada. Later that day, we went and did a blitz for the Preston South Stake Elders, they have also been struggling with finding people to teach. Elder Remfrey and I didn't end up finding anybody on our list, but we found a dog that was massive and his head was bigger than mine. Of course Elder Remfrey made me take a picture with my head right next to it. The blitz was a success though! Two companionships were able to find the South Elders

a few people to work with, so it ended up being a great night. Oh, I also nailed a deer with a paintball slingshot while we were driving out to Mink Creek, but that's not really important haha.

Friday we had exchanges with the Smithfield Central Elders. I took Elder Hansen with me and we worked the Preston 3rd Ward, which is our focus ward. We had a few cool miracles in the trailer Court while we were knocking doors. First, we ran into a really nice guy who wasn't a member, his name is Joe. We talked with him for a bit, and he said that we could come back this week, so that's what we are going to do. We are hoping that it goes well and that he wants to hear more.

Second, after that, we ran into a non-member that wasn't so nice. He was actually pretty rude to us, but we asked him if we could do anything and he said we could shovel his backyard. So we went out back and got to work. After about 45 min he came out and apologized and said that we really didn't need to, he just asked us to because every other set of missionaries that ever stopped by always offered to help, but they never would and so he just thought that we would be the same way. So he softened up quite a bit and we were able to talk to him about his family. He has 7 kids and it turned out that he is originally from Oregon. He and his family aren't members and long story short, he is talking with his wife to see if she'd be alright with us coming over to teach them! The blessings of doing service!

On Saturday, we got to go down to Smithfield and witness the baptism of a girl that Elder Remfrey had taught while he was there. It was a very well attended baptism and the service was amazing. Elder Remfrey was super excited. Afterwards we ate dinner and then we dropped in on the Wests, who are from my home ward. It was super good to see them and I was glad to find out that brother West was in fact not dead (long story) which was awesome! Then we drove out to Mink Creek and

jump started our investigator's truck.

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to speak in the Clifton 2nd Ward, and we enjoyed it a lot. After sacrament meeting, a woman came up to me and asked where in Oregon I was from. I told her Amity and she got excited. She went on to tell me that she was a convert and that some of her non-member relatives lived in Amity. I asked who and it turned out to be the Davis family. Their son Dallin was one of my friends throughout high school and for a while I spent a good bit of time trying to get him to take the missionary discussions. She said she was going to contact them and tell them about me, so hopefully that opens some new opportunities for them!

We also found out yesterday that Ashley Willard got her call to Brazil for her mission! The Willard family will now have two missionaries out at the same time! Please pray for them :) They are an awesome family and they have helped Elder Remfrey and I feel at home while serving here in Preston (I know, not as crazy as Brazil). Anyway, congrats Ashley!

So yeah, that is what happened this week, it's been a good one! Thank you all for your support and prayers. I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Elder Walker

Week 85 - No Email

Week 84 - Jesus Christ is the Center of Everything

Hey guys! I decided to start my email earlier today so I could write a longer and more in-depth account of the week.

So as far as the 3 children that we were supposed to meet with last week, their grandpa is sick and about to die, so they left town for a few weeks and we will not be able to meet with them until they get back. So that's a bummer but it's definitely understandable.

Last night we heard from the Wards (our senior couple) that they found yet another family to teach, and they will be going over on Wednesday to do that. Things are going well as far as finding is concerned here in Preston.

We had a cool miracle out in Mink Creek earlier this week. We drove out there to correlate with the Ward Mission Leader and he told us that Brother Olson (the guy who fell off the ladder) would be coming home this week, and that in three weeks he would have all of his casts off and all of his pins out and starting to be back to normal. That's a miracle! When he first was admitted to the hospital, he was told that he would be there for at least 12 weeks. It will be half of that in three weeks, and he should be able to baptize his wife at the end of the month! I love the power of Priesthood blessings!

As we were leaving, he told us to drop by a non-member on our way back. When we got there, Strawberry (the non member) answered the door and was very nice to us. Instead of our normal door approach, we felt prompted to immediately offer to shovel all of the ice off of her walkway and driveway. She gladly accepted the help and as we worked, you could tell that it touched her. When we were done, she brought us hot chocolate and we talked with her and got to know her a lot better.

Long story short, she loves us and we are going over for dinner on Tuesday and she wants to hear the lessons!

Anyway, that was pretty much it for the week. We saw a ton of deer and turkeys out in Mink Creek, Elder Remfrey almost managed to rope a turkey, it was pretty awesome. I'll see if I can send the video.

I just want you all to know that I have a testimony of this gospel, and of our Savior Jesus Christ. He is the center of everything. Without him, nothing would have purpose. I love being a missionary,

and I am truly grateful to everyone that has helped me be out here serving the Lord. It's crazy that this transfer is already half over, I only have three left after this. I'm going to do the best I can with

the time that I have left. I hope all is well back home, I pray for you every day. Keep being member missionaries!

I love you all!

Elder Walker

Elder Walker, Sister Lowder, Elder Remfrey