We’ve had an interesting week with most of the students going home for Christmas break. We’ve spent a lot of time tracting apartment complexes and helping out the family ward Elders. We ran into a couple of Spanish speakers on Saturday and I got to practice un poquito Espanol! One lady, a Jehovah’s Witness, said she was really glad to see what we were doing and said she was happy where she was at in her life. I talked a little about the Book of Mormon; it seemed a lot easier to teach in Spanish for me for some reason. I think I’m going to spend some time studying the Restoration pamphlet in Spanish, in order to teach better. That way, we can teach almost anyone we come in contact with!
Brother Nichols invited us over for Christmas Eve dinner with Sister Nichols and his three daughters. It was a lot of fun as we shared our favorite scriptures and what they meant to us. I don’t think I have a favorite scripture, but I like Mosiah 4:30, which says;
30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.
I love the common advice in the Book of Mormon to remember. I also like the sequence outlined in this verse. Thoughts become words which become deeds. If we want to have good deeds then we have to think good thoughts! You can usually tell a lot about the thoughts of others based in how they speak and act.
You can also control a lot of your deeds by simply thinking and speaking positively! In the hospital, my mom encouraged me to follow a past patient’s advice of “fake it ‘til you make it,” just being positive in a hard situation, hoping that things will work out for the better. I tried to apply this, and it really did make my situation a lot easier! The last two years have really brought me closer to Heavenly Father than I’ve ever been, and I’ve grown to appreciate and understand the Atonement just a little bit more.
I am very excited to make a few New Year’s resolutions! What a cool time of year! We get to evaluate our lives and try to improve!
Thank you so much for all of the Christmas gifts! I had a very happy Christmas with Elder Johnson and Elder Roseman, and it was great to try to focus on others this year.
I hope you are all doing well! I hope you had a great Christmas and I hope you have a successful and Happy New Year!
Elder Walters
Monday, December 31, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas Eve!
December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas Eve! I love this time of year! Brother Nichols asked the missionaries to participate in his ward Christmas program yesterday. It was really fun! Elder Binkard spoke about Christ's birth, then the Prmary had a musical number. It was really fun seeing the little kids sing, it's something you definitely don't see in a single's ward! Elder Stewart spoke about keeping the spirit of Christmas year-round, then Elder Roseman played a piano solo, “The First Noel”. Then I spoke on how we can keep focused on Christ during Christmas.
I had planned on speaking for about 10 minutes, but ended up having about 20! It gave me the opportunity to talk a lot about my favorite Christmas, two years ago. I spoke specifically about all the Christ like acts of service that family and friends gave me. The period after my accident could have been a really dark time, but because of these Christ like acts I was given an opportunity to become happy and strengthen my testimony! Because others showed me the spirit of Christ, the two years since my accident have been perhaps my happiest years! It made me realize that I still had everything in life that truly mattered! And I was far more grateful for those things than I ever had been before!
After sacrament meeting, I met Marlone. He's this huge, about 6’8” black guy with the deepest voice who used to fight in the UFC, Ultimate Fighting Championship. Elder Carson and Elder Jensen are teaching him. Marlone has been shot in the face twice, and Elder Carson and Elder Jensen claimed he can't be killed. He's like a big teddy bear, though. He's just as friendly a person as you would ever meet! He says he loves the way that he feels when he comes to church. He really thanked me for my testimony. He got kind of emotional, and said he could just tell that what I was saying was true. We had a great lesson on Joseph Smith after Sacrament Meeting, and he talked about how much he enjoyed it. It was really funny as Elder Jensen asked him how his reading and praying were going. Some define the priesthood as the power and authority of God. I think that knowing I hold the priesthood is the only way I would feel comfortable asking someone as big as Marlone if he was keeping His commandments!
Earlier this week we went to a nursing home and sang Christmas carols. It was really fun to see how much they all appreciated us coming by. A lot of them seemed really lonely and were so happy as we sang!
I think that we can find happiness especially at Christmastime through service. Whether we’re the ones giving or receiving, we can come closer to Christ by doing as He did! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!
Love,
Elder Walters
Merry Christmas Eve! I love this time of year! Brother Nichols asked the missionaries to participate in his ward Christmas program yesterday. It was really fun! Elder Binkard spoke about Christ's birth, then the Prmary had a musical number. It was really fun seeing the little kids sing, it's something you definitely don't see in a single's ward! Elder Stewart spoke about keeping the spirit of Christmas year-round, then Elder Roseman played a piano solo, “The First Noel”. Then I spoke on how we can keep focused on Christ during Christmas.
I had planned on speaking for about 10 minutes, but ended up having about 20! It gave me the opportunity to talk a lot about my favorite Christmas, two years ago. I spoke specifically about all the Christ like acts of service that family and friends gave me. The period after my accident could have been a really dark time, but because of these Christ like acts I was given an opportunity to become happy and strengthen my testimony! Because others showed me the spirit of Christ, the two years since my accident have been perhaps my happiest years! It made me realize that I still had everything in life that truly mattered! And I was far more grateful for those things than I ever had been before!
After sacrament meeting, I met Marlone. He's this huge, about 6’8” black guy with the deepest voice who used to fight in the UFC, Ultimate Fighting Championship. Elder Carson and Elder Jensen are teaching him. Marlone has been shot in the face twice, and Elder Carson and Elder Jensen claimed he can't be killed. He's like a big teddy bear, though. He's just as friendly a person as you would ever meet! He says he loves the way that he feels when he comes to church. He really thanked me for my testimony. He got kind of emotional, and said he could just tell that what I was saying was true. We had a great lesson on Joseph Smith after Sacrament Meeting, and he talked about how much he enjoyed it. It was really funny as Elder Jensen asked him how his reading and praying were going. Some define the priesthood as the power and authority of God. I think that knowing I hold the priesthood is the only way I would feel comfortable asking someone as big as Marlone if he was keeping His commandments!
Earlier this week we went to a nursing home and sang Christmas carols. It was really fun to see how much they all appreciated us coming by. A lot of them seemed really lonely and were so happy as we sang!
I think that we can find happiness especially at Christmastime through service. Whether we’re the ones giving or receiving, we can come closer to Christ by doing as He did! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!
Love,
Elder Walters
Monday, December 17, 2007
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
December 17, 2007
Merry Christmas!
I really love the Durham Third Young Single Adult Ward! That has gotten a lot more apparent over the last week as a lot of the students have already gone home, and most of them will be gone in a week and won’t come back until a week into 2008! We’ll probably spend some time helping out the family wards by knocking doors and going on exchanges with other Elders in Chapel Hill.
We had a great Christmas Party at Bishop Condie’s house on Friday, the 7th. It was really fun to talk with ward members, especially now that I know most people’s names!
On Sunday, the 9th, we had an amazing Christmas musical fireside, Joy to the World. We have so much musical talent in our ward and a lot of the members brought non-member friends. It was a great opportunity to ‘talk of Christ’ ‘rejoice in Christ’ and ‘preach of Christ’ with our friends. Hopefully it will open people’s hearts to the message of the Restoration of our Savior’s Gospel. So many people have the misconception of Mormons not believing in Christ. I couldn’t imagine a simpler, kinder or more powerful way of dispelling that than sharing our talents and testimonies of the Savior!
I’ve been teaching a mission preparation class this semester to four UNC freshmen, but I was sick with a fever and headache the first part of last week and I missed seeing them give their final teaching of the Restoration of the Gospel. It will be good to write them when they go out to serve soon!!!
I’ve been playing wheelchair rugby with the Raleigh Sidewinders since August. It’s been a lot of fun and a really good workout. We had a tournament this weekend in Raleigh, so I was able to participate. I was feeling sick with a headache and fever again the night before and the day of the tournament, so I didn’t get much rest before the tournament.
I was able to borrow a rugby chair that we me rigged-up so it would work for me using three straps, a cushion and a lot of duct tape. It came apart once as I was playing, but with a little more duct tape, I was ready to go again! It was so much fun! I didn’t play my best, but considering that it was my first time playing, I was sick, using a chair I’d never even seen before, I had a FANTASTIC time!!!
The best part was that some people came to watch! Our Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Wallis were cheering in the stands as the Sidewinders battled the East Coast Cripplers. Afterwards, President and Sister Wallis tried out the rugby chairs. I think my favorite part of the day was seeing this sweet couple I’ve only seen in spiritual settings, ram each other in big ‘tankish’ wheelchairs. Holly and Jessica came from our ward, with a “Go Elder Walters!” poster and a “Go! Fight! Win!” poster. They too tried out a couple of chairs and everyone had a fun time. It was really great to have their support, and the Sidewinders ended up winning the Championship game, getting first place of the four teams that attended!
Thank you for everyone’s Christmas cards and packages and letters! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!
Elder Walters
Merry Christmas!
I really love the Durham Third Young Single Adult Ward! That has gotten a lot more apparent over the last week as a lot of the students have already gone home, and most of them will be gone in a week and won’t come back until a week into 2008! We’ll probably spend some time helping out the family wards by knocking doors and going on exchanges with other Elders in Chapel Hill.
We had a great Christmas Party at Bishop Condie’s house on Friday, the 7th. It was really fun to talk with ward members, especially now that I know most people’s names!
On Sunday, the 9th, we had an amazing Christmas musical fireside, Joy to the World. We have so much musical talent in our ward and a lot of the members brought non-member friends. It was a great opportunity to ‘talk of Christ’ ‘rejoice in Christ’ and ‘preach of Christ’ with our friends. Hopefully it will open people’s hearts to the message of the Restoration of our Savior’s Gospel. So many people have the misconception of Mormons not believing in Christ. I couldn’t imagine a simpler, kinder or more powerful way of dispelling that than sharing our talents and testimonies of the Savior!
I’ve been teaching a mission preparation class this semester to four UNC freshmen, but I was sick with a fever and headache the first part of last week and I missed seeing them give their final teaching of the Restoration of the Gospel. It will be good to write them when they go out to serve soon!!!
I’ve been playing wheelchair rugby with the Raleigh Sidewinders since August. It’s been a lot of fun and a really good workout. We had a tournament this weekend in Raleigh, so I was able to participate. I was feeling sick with a headache and fever again the night before and the day of the tournament, so I didn’t get much rest before the tournament.
I was able to borrow a rugby chair that we me rigged-up so it would work for me using three straps, a cushion and a lot of duct tape. It came apart once as I was playing, but with a little more duct tape, I was ready to go again! It was so much fun! I didn’t play my best, but considering that it was my first time playing, I was sick, using a chair I’d never even seen before, I had a FANTASTIC time!!!
The best part was that some people came to watch! Our Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Wallis were cheering in the stands as the Sidewinders battled the East Coast Cripplers. Afterwards, President and Sister Wallis tried out the rugby chairs. I think my favorite part of the day was seeing this sweet couple I’ve only seen in spiritual settings, ram each other in big ‘tankish’ wheelchairs. Holly and Jessica came from our ward, with a “Go Elder Walters!” poster and a “Go! Fight! Win!” poster. They too tried out a couple of chairs and everyone had a fun time. It was really great to have their support, and the Sidewinders ended up winning the Championship game, getting first place of the four teams that attended!
Thank you for everyone’s Christmas cards and packages and letters! I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!
Elder Walters
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Elder Cannon Supports Elder Walters
Elder Walters caption read, "We are all going to miss Elder Cannon's sense of humor!"Feeling Better
Elder Walters has been sick with a cold and another possible UTI. Sister Wallis called us Tuesday night to let us know he has been sick. Elder Walters felt really bad he wasn't able to teach his last missionary prep class at the Institute on Tuesday night. Sister Wallis also called Wednesday morning to tell us she had talked with Ryan and he was feeling much better.
The picture above is of Elder Walters and Elder Cannon. We met Elder Cannon when we took Elder Walters to North Carolina this summer. He was covered with bed bug bites and I must say he looks much better in this picture than he did this summer! He is a great missionary!
I'll post as soon as we hear from Elder Walters again.
The picture above is of Elder Walters and Elder Cannon. We met Elder Cannon when we took Elder Walters to North Carolina this summer. He was covered with bed bug bites and I must say he looks much better in this picture than he did this summer! He is a great missionary!
I'll post as soon as we hear from Elder Walters again.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Great Successes and Tough Times, Too
December 3, 2007
Hello! We had a great week, with some great successes and tough times, too. Maria had set her baptism for the First of December, this past Saturday, but wasn’t able to go through with it. Over Thanksgiving break, her parents asked her to stop investigating the Church, meaning to stop going to any Church activities and cut all ties with members.
The past year of investigating the Church has been so hard for her, but I’m sure that one day she will join the Church. She’s said so many times that she just knows it’s true, including a really powerful testimony she gave a few months ago. We have to just continue to do our best to support her.
Cayce has decided to be baptized on the 12th of January! My mom wrote to her and told her a little about her own conversion story and the benefits that she’s enjoyed as a member. I think it really helped Cayce see how much her decision will benefit her now and her future family.
She has been investigating for 3 years, and will be baptized and confirmed by her boyfriend, who is leaving on a mission in the Spring. It is so neat to be a part of her making this decision that was years in the making! There have been so many members who have influenced her, including Brother Nichols, the Chapel Hill Institute Director.
Erik has also decided to be baptized, probably on the 29th of December! Erik is also a student at UNC, as are Cayce and Maria, and has a member girlfriend about an hour south of Chapel Hill. He is so fun to teach and talk to. He really seems to understand the Gospel.
The other day, we read from Alma 34 and Alma 7:11-12, about how Christ took upon Himself not only our sins, but our pains and sorrows and sicknesses. It was amazing when he said something like, “I never knew that’s what the Atonement meant,” and said, “it is really powerful.” When he said that, it was probably my favorite part of my week, the Spirit was so strong. As I testify of the Gospel, it increases my testimony, but if I hide it, when I’m too scared to open my mouth, my testimony doesn’t increase, and I may lose what I already have.
I loved the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night! Something that stuck out to me was the admonition to use Christmas time as a reminder to become more Christ like.
Thanks so much for all of your support and letters!
Elder Walters
Hello! We had a great week, with some great successes and tough times, too. Maria had set her baptism for the First of December, this past Saturday, but wasn’t able to go through with it. Over Thanksgiving break, her parents asked her to stop investigating the Church, meaning to stop going to any Church activities and cut all ties with members.
The past year of investigating the Church has been so hard for her, but I’m sure that one day she will join the Church. She’s said so many times that she just knows it’s true, including a really powerful testimony she gave a few months ago. We have to just continue to do our best to support her.
Cayce has decided to be baptized on the 12th of January! My mom wrote to her and told her a little about her own conversion story and the benefits that she’s enjoyed as a member. I think it really helped Cayce see how much her decision will benefit her now and her future family.
She has been investigating for 3 years, and will be baptized and confirmed by her boyfriend, who is leaving on a mission in the Spring. It is so neat to be a part of her making this decision that was years in the making! There have been so many members who have influenced her, including Brother Nichols, the Chapel Hill Institute Director.
Erik has also decided to be baptized, probably on the 29th of December! Erik is also a student at UNC, as are Cayce and Maria, and has a member girlfriend about an hour south of Chapel Hill. He is so fun to teach and talk to. He really seems to understand the Gospel.
The other day, we read from Alma 34 and Alma 7:11-12, about how Christ took upon Himself not only our sins, but our pains and sorrows and sicknesses. It was amazing when he said something like, “I never knew that’s what the Atonement meant,” and said, “it is really powerful.” When he said that, it was probably my favorite part of my week, the Spirit was so strong. As I testify of the Gospel, it increases my testimony, but if I hide it, when I’m too scared to open my mouth, my testimony doesn’t increase, and I may lose what I already have.
I loved the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night! Something that stuck out to me was the admonition to use Christmas time as a reminder to become more Christ like.
Thanks so much for all of your support and letters!
Elder Walters
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