6th letter from Nijmegen, Netherlands - Week 35

Merry Christmas Everyone! 

I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful time of the year, its truly a blessing to be on a mission during this time.  Yes I'm far away from my family and all of you amazing people that I love dearly, but my heart is warm and at peace and not far away from home.  

There is so much love from the people over here and being a missionary around this time of year has allowed me to focus truly on what Christmas is all about, and why it is such a joyous warm time of the year.   The answer is simple, it's our Savior Jesus Christ.  It's a time of the year where everyone opens there hearts up a little bit more, they give a little bit more, spend more time with those who they love and cherish, and this is because we let the light of Christ into our hearts, so yeah I will keep this short but I just want to challenge you all to find out what the actual meaning of Christmas for you is. 

Whether that be remembering Jesus Christ, serving others, remembering what is good in the world, spending time with family, whatever it is just find it and hold onto it this Christmas season and I promise that by doing so you will have the warmest Christmas yet. 

I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he is our Savior.  That he can and is willing to heal every scar, broken heart, and beaten down spirit.  That he brings peace, forgiveness, joy, light, love hope and so many other things into this world and he can bring them into our lives, all we have to do is let him. 

Merry Christmas!  With love from the Netherlands.

- Elder Walker

Elder Walker and Elder Hill's Christmas photo shoot.  haha  :-D  

 

 

 

 

5th letter from Nijmegen, Netherlands - Week 34

There was no official blog email today and Jerrick didn't mention anything about transfers, so it's safe to say that he is more than likely staying in Nijmegen for another transfer!  He will be getting a new companion though, as Elder Hill will be leaving, which always seems sad because these Elders and Sisters get to know their companions and build friendships with them and then they have to leave.  But I am grateful that they get to meet so many great people throughout their mission, as companions and out in the field!  :-)  

Also he did mention that he will make it a priority to send a Christmas email next week for us all.  Please keep him and the other missionaries in your prayers!  He did have this to say though:

oh P.S. you've gotta go to the new Christmas website! it's
www.Christmas.mormon.org it's amazing just check it out and watch the video's!

 

- Elder Walker

 

Antwerpen and Eindhoven Zones, in Antwerpen for Zone Conference (can you spot Elder Walker in the back?)

Christmas packages for the two zones at the mission office ready to be delivered

I think I spot Elder Walker's package!  (which he did get...yay!!) :-) 

All the packages getting delivered to the Zone Conferences

The Senior missionaries and President & Zuster Bunnell take great care of the missionaries.  They are very blessed.

 

4th letter from Nijmegen, Netherlands - Week 33

A short and sweet update this week :-) 

Hey Madre, bad news I am not going to have enough time for the blog sorry. uhm transfers are next Wednesday, I have noooo idea where I will be, I'm thinking I will stay, but you never know for sure.

This week was really awesome though we have seen a ton of miracles with finding and the work in the district is just picking up every week its amazing to see. 

Have a great week madre and tell everyone hi for me!!! loves!

 

- Elder Walker

 

(Thanks to Elder Hill's mom for the pictures!)  

Beautiful Sunrise in Nijmegen

St. Stephens church tower

Chalk street art

Sinterklaas Gifts. They got a Chocolate Letter "E"
(The Dutch celebrate Sinterklaas (the name is a contraction of Sint Nikolaas) on Dec. 5 and 6. The holiday, consisting of St. Nicholas Eve and St. Nicholas's Day, honors the life of St. Nicholas)

Dutch Vending machines w/stuff like potatoes, eggs, onions,etc.

A little backwards...4 Santa's and 1 reindeer

Elder Walker and Elder Hill helped a member set up their tree

Christmas night life

3rd letter from Nijmegen, Netherlands - Week 32

Elder Hill & Elder Walker after an evening of contacting in the pouring rain. Dedication brings miracles :-)

Hey everyone! 

Sorry I have been slacking on the whole blog email, haha but this last week was a pretty awesome week. Me and Elder Hill just focused on finding more people to teach this week which was great. It actually snowed a bit! haha, and we met some really cool people we were able to give out some book of Mormons to, which is always awesome. 

Thursday we had a Thanksgiving dinner with some members here in Nedeland which was awesome and super nice of them to make us a traditional thanksgiving dinner. We also have one investigator who is progressing right now and he is awesome! Just a super solid guy who just truly wants to learn how he can follow Jesus Christ which is always cool to see. 

uhm but lets see the biggest miracle for the week happened yesterday evening actually and it was super cool. So after church me and Elder Hill had planned on going and knocking some doors in a neighboring city, which we did and man was it a rough day! haha Lots of doors slammed in our face and it was cold and windy, so in other words a perfect day for missionary work.  So yeah, we just kept working in this city up until dinner, after dinner we decided to go to the City Centrum in Nijmegen to do some contacting the rest of the night, and this is where things just get awesome.  So as soon as we got out of the train and on our way to the Centrum a torrential down pour happened, like seriously it was a wall of water coming out of the sky.  

So we just continued trudging through the swimming pool of rain with smiles on our faces while people were running left and right dodging into buildings and under any sort of protection they could find and we kept trying to talk to people but they weren't feeling the whole dancing in the rain thing I guess. 

But finally a man stopped to talk with us.  It was super awesome as he talked to us in the rain he revealed that he was an atheist and had tried to find God before, but couldn't and that honestly ever since he was little he has just wanted to have something to believe in.  Because as of now he believes there is nothing after death just nothing and he said it honestly scared him, so we proceeded to tell him that there was something after this life and that we share a way people could find that relationship with their Heavenly Father.  He wasn't really interested in meeting with us at that moment in his life but we challenged him to say a prayer, he said that he would and thanked us for inspiring him to start searching for an answer again.  He walked off in the rain with a pass along card and honestly I have no idea if we will ever see him again or not, but honestly I hope we do.

Now some of you might say okay... that's not really a miracle, but for us it definitely was. It was a testament to me that God has a plan for everyone and that he puts people in our paths so that we can help them on there way back to him.

I'm grateful that I could be a part of that process. The Lord knows how much we can handle and when we can handle it.  I love the peace that it brings knowing that he does have a plan and as long as we are doing our small part then that is enough, he will take care of the rest.

But anyways, I hope you all have an amazing week. haha, maybe enjoy the snow and a bit of Christmas music and most importantly remember that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you deeply and has a plan for you. 

Love,

- Elder Walker

2nd letter from Nijmegen, Netherlands - Week 31

Here is what Elder Walker had to say about this past week.  Short and sweet.  :-)  

This week has been awesome!  I have like zero time to email, but to answer your questions this city is awesome.  There is a Branch here that is super great. 

There is a Dutch member who is going to cook us a Thanksgiving dinner and also we had our Turkey bowl today with the other Zones, that was super fun.  Life is great, we are all safe here and the work is going awesome.  I just want to say I love you and tell everyone hi for me and to have a Happy Thanksgiving! haha sorry this is so short but it is filled with love haha have a great week!! 

- Elder Walker 

Elder Walker, Elder Hill & Jesus  :-) 

Jerrick teaching Elder Hill how to make pizza.  Courtesy of his training from Big Daddy's pizza

Looks like it turned out pretty tasty!

More of Elder Walker and Elder Hill

I'm not sure what's going on here.  haha!  Who says missionaries don't deserve facials?!  :-D

1st letter from Nijmegen, Netherlands - Week 30

No official blog update to everyone today, but I did want to share w/you all some things Elder Walker shared with me.  I am always amazed at his strong spirit and outlook on things, especially as a Missionary.  His words have really brought comfort to me in the wake of this past week. I am one proud mom and my heart is full.  :-)

So I am now in the oldest city in Nederland, like it's super old but a lot was destroyed in World War II.  It's definitely different than any of the other area's I have served in, but I love it and Elder Hill is awesome! haha he was Elder Leigh's companion in the MTC and he is from Roy.   He's pretty much a boss so yeah the area is good! 

As a missionary I've learned that honestly the opposition of those against the church is a testament to the truthfulness of this church.  If the church wasn't true Satan wouldn't be working so hard to tear it down. And yeah of course there are people every day that do everything they can to discourage us and to tell us that we are wrong or dumb but there are those people out there that we are meant to find and that's what is important.  

 

Besides any small discomfort us missionaries face is nothing compared to what the person we represent went through.  And yet I can promise you that our Savior is right here with us missionaries out here every single day and because of that I know that all things are possible. 

 

Mom I love this Gospel so much and I am so grateful for the testimony that I have gained out here on my mission.  I have come to truly realize what it means to lean on the atonement and to trust in the Savior, because I am no where near perfect or honestly capable of doing this work I have been called to do, but the Savior truly does make weak things become strong and it is through him we can do all things.  

 

So I want to make you a promise and a challenge if you truly want to understand fully why the church makes policies that they do, ask our Heavenly Father.  James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not".   

 

I promise that if you ask him sincerely in Faith and read in the scriptures and search for the answer that he will bring peace unto your soul as well as understanding.

I want you to know that I am safe and there is no need for you to be worried about me out here.  The Lord is on our side and he will protect us, this work is far too important to be stopped so we will just keep working our hardest and trust in the Lord to protect us.

I love you mom, I hope you have an amazing week, and please tell everyone hi for me!

 

-Elder Walker

6th & final letter from Maastricht, Netherlands - Week 29

District Meeting

Hey everyone,

I'm getting transferred to Nijmegen Netherlands to be a district leader this week sooo, it's pretty much hectic right now.  But I love it, I'm safe, happy and just grateful for my Savior.  I do want to share a talk with you this week on selfless sacrifice that touched my heart. 

- Elder Walker

 Selfless Sacrifice
Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood. 

Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder's children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy. After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines. 

They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works. When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you." 

All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, "No ...no ...no ...no." Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. 

He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look ... look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother ... for me it is too late." 

More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office. One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. 

He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands." The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one - no one - - ever makes it alone!