David's Baptism

HI! We had the awesome privilege to be part of David’s baptism on Saturday. He was introduced to the church by his girlfriend, Beth, a member of the singles ward, our ward. Elder Kennah, Elder Johnson and I began to teach David about a month ago and he accepted an invitation to be baptized about three weeks ago, but I wanted to wait until it happened to write about it!

He is awesome, he’s super nice and outgoing, and really absorbed the Gospel well. He seems to really understand elements of the Gospel and sees how obedience to them truly will benefit his life. We shared our testimonies and feelings about the Gospel, and it was an awesome experience teaching him. It just felt so right. David asked me if I would speak on the Holy Ghost at his baptism, and said, “I love it when you talk.”

The three of us were really excited as we made arrangements for the baptism. David had asked Elder Kennah to baptize him and Elder Johnson to speak on the 4th Article of Faith. There was great support from the ward, about 40 people, and we were really excited (and nervous) to hear that President and Sister Wallis would be coming as well!

David wanted to share some of his own thoughts before he was baptized. He talked about how thankful he was, for Beth’s role in introducing him to the church, our role in teaching him the Gospel, and the ward’s role in becoming his family and supporting him. He said that the Gospel and his decision to be baptized just felt right. The baptism was awesome. A few years ago David was hit by a car, and now has a really messed up knee, so it was difficult for him to lean back into the water. A stingy baptismal witness, Elder Walters, noticed a hydrophobic elbow and made Elder Kennah baptize David again….and again. The third time was a charm, and it was so good to see the happy look on David’s face as he came up.

After David came back, I spoke on the Holy Ghost and the roles that He can take in our lives. I talked about how the Spirit bares witness of truth through our thoughts and feelings, like how Joseph Smith felt, when he read “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” and when David felt the Spirit softly as we bore our testimonies to him. I also talked about the Holy Ghost’s role as the Comforter, described by Christ in John 14:26-27 and about a moment when I felt that peace shortly after I realized I was paralyzed a year and a half ago, at a time when I would likely have felt anything but peace. I love preparing for talks, as I have a chance to focus and reflect on one aspect of the Gospel. After the baptism, David shook my hand firmly, nodded, and said quietly, “Thank you, sir.” That was probably my favorite part. I know that the Gospel has and will continue to bless his life as he continues to live it, just as it will continue to bless our live as we strive to live the things that we know are true.

Love,
Elder Walters

Elder Dunn Visits Raleigh NC Mission

September 17, 2007

Hi! We had another BUSY week! On Thursday, we had a visit from Elder Dunn of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy. It was great! We all met him and shook his hand. Then we heard really great talks from President and Sister Wallis and a few missionaries. Elder Dunn then spoke for about forty-five minutes or so. It was really good and he spoke a lot about the importance of worthiness.

I met him afterwards, and we talked about my service as a missionary. He asked if there was anything he could help me out with. He also gave great suggestions and really helped me realize how I could better accomplish my goals. He asked how the work had been going, and I was open in telling him that it had been difficult so far. He said missionary work is always difficult even without extra challenges to master and factors to consider. I told him that I believed missionary work was 1. hard and 2. worth it. He counseled and encouraged me and offered to give me a blessing. I really appreciated that. The blessing was simple and sweet and amazing. I really felt the love that Heavenly Father has for me as Elder Dunn put his hands on my head and spoke as the spirit directed. Mostly, I remember these powerful feelings but he also blessed me with three special things: great strength in my body, the ability to use my disability to my advantage as I preach the Gospel, and the counsel that I should communicate openly and often with my companions and President Wallis.

We also had the opportunity to teach a great message last night about the restoration. It was awesome feeling the spirit direct us on what to say. We were about to start the lesson and invited a young man speaking with our investigator and her friend to hear our message. He really added to the lesson, sharing his testimony of Christ and of God’s love for us. We’re teaching both of them tomorrow, and I’m so excited! I agree with Elder Dunn that teaching is the best part of missionary work, finding is the hardest and baptism will be like the dessert.
Missionary work IS hard, and I know from the blessings that the Gospel has given my life, that it IS worth it.

Love,

Elder Walters

This Really Is The Lord's Work

We've been really busy in Chapel Hill! Sorry about not emailing last week! I was sick last P-day and wasn't able to email. I'm learning a lot out here, both from fun and not-so-fun experiences. This really is the Lord's work. It is not mine. He directs me on what to do and how to do it, and then I just do my best.

I've been really overwhelmed lately, but I'm starting to figure out how I can best help people here come closer to Jesus Christ. It was really hard at first, trying to get to know the ward, and trying to get everyone to like me and trust me.

I have reverted back to one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in the last two years...just smile! At everybody! Whether they're smiling at you, frowning at you or telling you to 'go away, there's no soliciting in this neighborhood.' I imagine Jesus Christ responding to all situations with quiet dignity, just smiling kindly at people and respecting their free agency, while doing His best to teach clearly and powerfully. The message we share, His message, is the most important thing anyone can know, yet we must do our best to also respect others' agency and allow the Lord to work with people in His way.

I had a very special experience in realizing the Lord's hand directing His work about a week ago. On Tuesday the 4th, I had a doctor's appointment that I had felt guilty about going to, in that an Elder would need to go with me, and some time would be lost which could have been used some other way. I had hoped to be at the institute or with the Elders, working, doing something I thought I was supposed to be doing. Elder Cannon and I were just headed out of the hospital after an appointment, when a lady saw us, and came up to us. I am so sorry to say this, but I was thinking about the next activity we had planned, that we needed to meet back up with the other missionaries soon, that I needed to stop wasting time at the hospital and get back to work.

I felt so horrible when she said her husband was in the hospital and would really like a priesthood blessing. We got her name, number and hospital room number and asked if we could come by that afternoon and administer a blessing. We learned that the couple had converted about ten years ago, after reluctantly inviting the Elders into their home. She kept saying how thankful she was for them and that she would never forget their names. We talked with them for a while and administered the blessing and left.

The rest of that day, and many times since, I've been thinking about how the Lord's work is just that, HIS work. It is not mine. I do my best to do as He directs.

Love,
Elder Walters

Institute of Religion

The Institute of Religion for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the University of North Carolina was a clubhouse with a swimming pool before the church purchased it. The pool has since been filled in. There are approximately ten acres of grassy area with plenty of room for volleyball and other games. The Institute is about a quarter of a mile from campus and is surrounded by trees. It is very quiet and serene and a great place for students to take a break from their college classes and take an institute class.

Parking and ramped entrance for Ryan into the Institute.

A view of the deck and grassy area from the Chapel.

The Chapel for the Single Adult Ward at UNC.

Barbecue and deck area

Pool table and more seating

Game Area

Classroom for Institute and Sunday School.

Gathering area at the Institute.

When we arrived in North Carolina, Brother Nichols had printed the picture above with Ryan's cousins Madeline, Nathan and Parker Davis and taped it outside of Ryan's institute office. This picture was taken during Ryan's first week at the MTC. Ryan slept in his dorm room each night and spent the day at the MTC. The Davis family was kind enough to help Ryan with some last minute missionary clothing details. THANK YOU!

Elder Walters' office at the Institute of Religion. He has large windows that look over the grassy area behind the Institute.

Shadowood Apartments

I don't know if I've ever taken a picture in the bathroom before but this deserves special attention. Art Quinn, Shadowood's manager, and the assistant manager, Michael, in Ryan's completed bathroom. There is a pedestal sink, a roll-in shower and lots of drawers for storage. Art agreed to completely remodel the bathroom per Barry's plans. Art worked really hard to make sure Ryan had everything he needed. THANK YOU . . . it turned out amazing!

The living room with a woodburning fireplace.

A sneak peak at the washer and dryer (my personal favorite) and the kitchen with the lowered counter top for Ryan. This is not Ryan's actual apartment. Management decided to remodel a different apartment and put in new flooring everywhere, vinyl in the kitchen, a low pile carpet similar to Budge Hall in the living room and bedrooms and tile in Ryan's bathroom.

The Elder's apartment is by the second set of stairs.

The sign outside the office at Shadowood reads, "The place for serious minded students." It is very quiet on the apartment grounds, maybe its the dense trees that surround the complex and maybe its because many of the students were home for summer break.

Behind The Scenes

Behind every great mission, are service missionary couples. Pictures above are Brother and Sister Gunnell on the left and Brother Nichols on the right. The Gunnells coordinate approximately 70 apartment leases, coordinate moves and maintain 60 cars for the 150 to 170 missionaries serving in the Raleigh North Carolina Mission. Brother Nichols is the Institute Director as well as working with early morning seminary classes in the area. Gunnells helped us get settled into Ryan's apartment with the other two Elders. They are wonderful, hardworking people!