3rd letter from Leuven, Belgium - Week 14

Hello Family & Friends,

This place is fantastic I love it sooo much!

Lets see, so experiences I've had.  So yesterday we had a man show up at church who we had met on the street for like 30 seconds earlier in the week.  That was super super awesome and we were able to teach him the first lesson about the restoration and he wants to meet with us again.  Miracles like this are so amazing because they truly show how much the Lord loves us and that this is his work, not our own. 

Zone conference for those of you that don't know, this is when multiple districts come together.  In my case all of Belgium, since it's one zone and we hear a devotional from the mission president as well as his wife and some other speakers.  Then we go through some training on how to become better missionaries which is fantastic!, Like I love it.  And it's at a church, one of the church's in our zone.  

President and Sister Bunnell are amazing, like I cannot even tell you how amazing they are.  When they say your mission president and his wife are like you temporary mom and dad it's true.  They are always there for us  and have so much useful advice and just want what's best for this work and for us. 

We got news that we have to wear helmets now, which honestly is whatever.  They are there to keep us safe and stuff so obedience is more important than fashion.  Actually I got given a bike! soooo that's awesome!!  In Leuven we walk every where, like I have not rode a bike once since I've been here, just because it makes it so we can actually have conversations with people on the street and if it will take too long to walk there we just ride the bus.

Okay so our quick castle experience.  We went down to Ghent on Monday and Tuesday was Belgium Independence day, sooo everything was open on Monday.  We got to go tour a couple of old Cathedral's, which was cool, there is a lot of history in them. 

Then we walked around Ghent and got a history tour from a Sister that just got back from her mission, who happened to be born in Ghent, so that was super super cool. 

Anyways the castle was awesome!!  I don't really know how to describe the castle honestly but I have lot's of picture's that I won't send home but when I get home we can all go through and I'll tell you more about them.  But here are a few.  

Also, lets see the scripture for the week is: 3 Nephi, Chapter 9 13-14.  It's awesome and about the atonement:

" O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? 

Yea, Verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life.  Behold mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me. "

I love you all so much and hope you have a fantastic week!

 - Elder Walker

Elders and Zusters

ya know, just another day at my castle‏

The castle is in the middle of the City of Gent

Selfie!

Giant sword (people fought with this thing)‏ 

 

Street Art

2nd letter from Leuven, Belgium - Week 13

Hey Everyone, 

I'm sorry I have almost zero time today.  A quick overview of my time since I've been here.  The plane ride was super ridiculously long, like I can't even tell you it was forever long.  I just read scriptures and listened to the Piano Guys and tried to sleep.  

Then we got off the plane, went through some orientation and legality like stuff and then ate lunch sometime in there.  All of the food is super delicious and then yeah more orientation then we had a fire side, yada yada yada. 

I found out where I was heading and I was kinda nervous because ya know I learned Nederlands not Flams.   But where I'm at it's good, I love it, like Leuven is an amazing town and I absolutely love the people!  

Anyways lets see the best thing I've eaten so far is the pickled herring, it's super good.  The cheese and yogurt are delicious.  Let's see, people eat a lot of potato's over here, like a ton which is fine with me.  The waffles, chocolate, chocolate covered waffles, doner kabab's yeah it's all delicious!  It's definitely a super different culture. 

Our apartment is an apartment nothing special but it's nice, I don't mind it at all.  The doors all have dead bolts over here, like even your interior doors do, so you have a key for every door in the house. It's all very different but familiar. 

Our ward and Bishop are fantastic. Super super awesome Saints over here!!  They are all more than willing to help out in anyway they can. 

uhm yeah I'll have more picture's next week because today we are going to see a castle sooo that will be super freaking cool!

I love all of you. Remember that our Heavenly Father loves you and has a plan for you.  Remember that life is full of beauties and miracles and don't forget to smile!!!

Love,

Elder Walker 

(Picture courtesy of Elder Clukey) Elder Clukey w/ Groentje Elder Walker

1st letter from Leuven, Belgium - Week 12

No "official" blog email this week, but understandable considering he's very busy learning, serving and doing all the things a Groentje (greenie) does!  Here is what Elder Walker had to say about his first week in Belgium.  :-)  

Madre I love you, sorry I don't have a whole lot of time to talk this week.  I promise that next week I will write in more detail but I'll just do a quick overview.

Belgium is awesome period end of story.  The people are amazing, the food is delicious, especially the cheese and yogurt.  American stuff doesn't even taste real.  Chocolate, I will see what I can do (I may have asked him, while he's there, if he could send us some Belgian chocolate! :-) ) and the scenery is just beautiful.

Okay, so the language is good people can understand me and I'm picking it up pretty quickly!  I still have a lot to learn but I know the Lord is helping me.  Elder Clukey is amazing, he is a great missionary and we are working hard and we have seen sooooo many miracles this week it's just awesome awesome awesome!!  Being a missionary is amazing! uhm yes I got your package with meds and stuff thank you very much! (sooo glad it made it to him before he went overseas!)  uhm I dont know of anything I need per say that you could send to me but I'll think about it.  Anyways I love you so much have an amazing week, tell Troy and everyone hi!

Tell my brothers I love them and I'll write a better email next week!

- Elder Walker

Leaving on a jet plane (from Reno to SLC / SLC to Atlanta / Atlanta to Amsterdam)

Welcome to Amsterdam, Netherlands! 

 Here is a little excerpt from Elder Clukey's blog:

Well, this week was a fantastic week!! I said my goodbyes to Elder Besendorfer and then picked up my son in Amsterdam! His name is Elder Walker. He is from Utah and is fantastic! He is such a hard worker and really just wants to do missionary work. His visa actually got delayed so he was in California for a transfer. Based on that information he speaks Incredible Dutch! It is such a blessing to have him as my companion! Things are really going well here. We have done some really hard work and are seeing wonderbare (miracles) here in Leuven.

(Picture courtesy of Elder Clukey)  Elder Clukey & Groentje (Greenie) Elder Walker

He made it!! His first area is Leuven, Belgium!

6th & final update from Portola, CA - Week 11

Hi Everyone!  Unfortunately we didn't get our weekly email update from Elder Walker today because he is on his way to the Netherlands!!  He flew out from the SLC airport this morning to Atlanta, GA and from there he should arrive in Amsterdam at 8:10 am their time, 12:10 am our time. 

These past couple of days I was fortunate enough to get some awesome pictures of Jerrick (excuse me, Elder Walker ;-) ) in Portola for the 4th of July celebration and his last day there.  They were sent to Jason and I by the Bishops wife in Portola.  They just loved having Elder Walker serve there and they will miss him very much.  I'm so grateful to them and the people in Portola for taking care of him for the short time he was there. 

I know he is eager to get to the Netherlands, yet leaving Portola was very bitter sweet.  He loved and spoke very highly of his companion Elder Corry and of the people he met there. 

Please keep him and the other Elders & Sisters in your thoughts and prayers as they make the long flight to the Netherlands!  We should hear from him in a week!  :-) 

(left to right) Portola ward members, Elder Walker & Elder Corry:  His last day in the Reno, NV mission.

Elder Walker & Elder Corry: 4th of July celebrations

haha, that face!  :-)

Not sure what's going on here, but it looks intense!  lol

5th letter from Portola, CA - Week 10

Hey everyone! I hope you've all had an amazing week and are loving life!

This week has been fantastic.  Me and my companion have really focused on finding and it's paid off a ton!  The work has picked up a lot, our lesson's have went smoother and we have found some new potential's.

 

The saying "hard work brings blessings" is 100% true and I'm so grateful for this work. I'm learning soooo much as a missionary it's just amazing! 

 

Whelp the 30th is my Mission President's last day and then we get a new President, which is kinda sad but also exciting.  I'm grateful for being able to know President Hermansen for the short time I knew him, but I also know that our new President will be equally as amazing and will be a blessing to this mission.

 

Let's see, no real new's on the Visa so far. I'll know more by next Monday for sure!!!!! 

 

Portola has been super warm and sunny, sooooooo fantastic!!! You've gotta love sunshine. The ward is starting to get more interested in the work sooo it's awesome.

 

Anyways you are all amazing and I hope you have an amazing week. Remember to look for those small miracle's/blessing's every day because they are there.

 

Thank you for all of the prayer's and support I'm grateful for it!

Veil success,

Elder Walker

4th letter from Portola, CA - Week 9

Hey everyone! 

This week has been awesome! And I'll tell you that I love mission work soooo much and it's great to hear from everyone. Thank you for all the support.

Let's see this week has been super cool, we have had some awesome miracle's, uhm which have lead to some potential investigator's which is cool. 

 

I guess this week I just wanna spend a minute and talk about how amazing the atonement is. It has been so cool to see that as people choose to align their lives with our Savior, the immense impact that it has on their happiness. We have gone over to people's house's where they are off their rocker's, stressed and nothing is going right at all and we have left with them completely at peace.  That isn't us at all that is truly the Holy Ghost and the light of Christ and I am just so grateful to be able to see that every day and experience the great change of heart it has already had on me. 

 

It's just indescribable, I know with all my heart that as we choose to follow the Savior that we will have a greater peace and comfort than with anything else. So I guess if I have any words of wisdom this week,it is to choose to follow the Savior and remember this scripture:  Doctrine and Covenants 112: 33 "Verily I say unto you, behold how great is your calling" (well that's the first part of the verse) and remember that our Heavenly Father loves you and has a purpose for you on this earth.  He has called you to do amazing thing's and has given each of you gift's to bless your lives and the lives of those you come in contact with, so remember that no matter what you're doing, remember!!.. "How great is your calling?"  

 

You are all so amazing and I'm grateful for all of you in my life. This next P-day I wanna do something a little different, sooo everyone email me directly or text my Madre question's you have for me about whatever so I can answer them next week and she will put them on the blog! It should be a good time. Anyways love you all have an amazing week! 

Enjoying some nature on their P-day in beautiful Portola,CA: Elder Walker & Elder Corry

Beautiful Portola, CA

The Casa :-)

Elder Walker & Elder Corry....missionaries at work!

Handsome missionaries, that's for sure.  :-)