October 27, 2008
Contacting at the University of North Carolina is always interesting. There are all types of people, views, religions and lifestyles all right next to each other. It is never boring!
We were visiting a member of our ward on Tuesday, and were about to read from 3rd Nephi 11 about the Savior's visit to the Americas. It was a really nice, sunny day so we decided to read outside at a picnic table at his apartment complex.
At the table next to us, this really nice guy was having his lunch. We said hi and talked for a minute, then started reading with our member. The guy at the table had to head out, said bye, and left.
The next day, we were contacting and I passed by this nice guy in his mid-twenties and we both sort of smiled and nodded our heads. Only after did I realize it was the guy at the picnic table the day before.
I turned around caught up to him. We started talking about church and our shared belief in Jesus Christ. I told him that I wanted to tell him more about what my belief in Jesus Christ has meant to me and how the Book of Mormon strengthens my faith in Him. We set up an appointment the following morning, which went really well. He is receptive of the message, and is willing to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. We have a return appointment at the Institute building near UNC's campus. We are so excited to have a promising investigator!
After I talked to this man on campus, I saw Elder Milovich talking with Elder Gillins. Elder Milovich loves everything to do with sports, especially baseball, football and basketball. As I rolled up, he said, "Guess who I just saw?" Judging his excitement I guessed "Tyler Hansborough?" the 6 foot 9 center on UNC's Basketball team. Most people say he's the best college basketball player in the country.
"Yeah! Tyler Hansborough, and I didn't even have my camera!" "Did you say anything to him?" "Yeah, I said, ' 'Sup, Tyler?' and he said, 'Not much, buddy, how's it goin'?' and I said, 'Good.' Pretty amazing, huh?"
Elder Johnson talked with Tyler last year and even set up a return appointment with him...which Tyler must have forgotten about.
Thank you all for your letters and support and especially your prayers!
Love,
Elder Walters
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
What Does the Lord Want us to Sacrifice?
October 20, 2008
Elder John Madsen from the first quorum of the Seventy came to tour our mission this week! We got to hear him and Sister Madsen speak on Friday along with President and Sister Wallis. Sister Wallis spoke on faith and President spoke on sacrifice. Sister Madsen talked about William Tyndale, a reformer, and Elder Madsen spoke on the Gospel being the Atonement.
Doctrine and Covenants 97:8 says we must be willing to obey our covenants by sacrifice, every sacrifice the Lord requires. Sometimes the Lord has us give up the things we want more than almost anything else…in exchange for what we do want more than anything else.
I’ve wondered lately how Abraham went as he took Isaac to be sacrificed. The point is that Abraham was willing to do whatever the Lord wanted, no matter if it cost Abraham the greatest blessing he thought he’d never have. I’ve wondered what it is that I ought to give up, sacrifice, so that I can live my covenants more fully.
I love you all and appreciate your prayers and support!
Love,
Elder Walters
Elder John Madsen from the first quorum of the Seventy came to tour our mission this week! We got to hear him and Sister Madsen speak on Friday along with President and Sister Wallis. Sister Wallis spoke on faith and President spoke on sacrifice. Sister Madsen talked about William Tyndale, a reformer, and Elder Madsen spoke on the Gospel being the Atonement.
Doctrine and Covenants 97:8 says we must be willing to obey our covenants by sacrifice, every sacrifice the Lord requires. Sometimes the Lord has us give up the things we want more than almost anything else…in exchange for what we do want more than anything else.
I’ve wondered lately how Abraham went as he took Isaac to be sacrificed. The point is that Abraham was willing to do whatever the Lord wanted, no matter if it cost Abraham the greatest blessing he thought he’d never have. I’ve wondered what it is that I ought to give up, sacrifice, so that I can live my covenants more fully.
I love you all and appreciate your prayers and support!
Love,
Elder Walters
Monday, October 13, 2008
Cayce Speaks in Stake Conference
(Maria, the Elders and Cayce, November 2007)
Elder Gillins' and my new companion, Elder Milovich, is a great, hard-working missionary from Price, Utah! He is three weeks into the field, straight from the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. He loves football and is exited to play today with some other missionaries.
We had Stake Conference yesterday. Cayce, who was baptized in February, spoke at the adult session Saturday night along with President and Sister Wallis! We were there to see and support Cayce, her own conversion in particular. It was so great! She had read the Book of Mormon twice and been to church for about two years and decided she would really like to be baptized.
Sister Wallis spoke on miracles and the importance of recording them. I realized when the scriptures were first written, they were just journals of very inspired people who recognized the Hand of the Lord in their life.
President Wallis spoke on Preach My Gospel. I love and am so thankful for Preach My Gospel! He related to the visual of 1) doctrines, 2) principles and 3) applications. The scriptures contain the doctrines and principles, Preach My Gospel is how we apply them.
I hope all is well with you!
Thanks for your updates on your lives' and families!
Elder Walters
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Reflections From Last Week
We received a letter from Elder Walters a few days ago and I wanted to share a couple of parts.
. . . Maria’s baptism yesterday was great. I realized that her baptism was the three year mark of my receiving my mission call to Brazil. I thanked her and thanked God for allowing me to be involved in her struggle, victory and baptism. Hopefully you’ll get a chance to meet her.
. . . I talked with Brandt last night after rugby practice. He’s a big kid about my age, a really kind, talkative kid. He is so amazed that I am serving and want to serve a mission. He asked if living the Gospel and “the rules” is just too hard at times. I realized and told him that living the Gospel is what makes life easier, it’s what helped me get through my accident. I knew that was true for myself, but it brings it to a whole new level when you tell someone else, especially not of our faith about what we believe.
Love, Bridgette
. . . Maria’s baptism yesterday was great. I realized that her baptism was the three year mark of my receiving my mission call to Brazil. I thanked her and thanked God for allowing me to be involved in her struggle, victory and baptism. Hopefully you’ll get a chance to meet her.
. . . I talked with Brandt last night after rugby practice. He’s a big kid about my age, a really kind, talkative kid. He is so amazed that I am serving and want to serve a mission. He asked if living the Gospel and “the rules” is just too hard at times. I realized and told him that living the Gospel is what makes life easier, it’s what helped me get through my accident. I knew that was true for myself, but it brings it to a whole new level when you tell someone else, especially not of our faith about what we believe.
Love, Bridgette
Monday, October 06, 2008
Maria's Baptism
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Maria is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!
Her baptism yesterday was great. I have never seen or heard of so many people at a baptism! There were tons of members of the ward there along with some of Maria’s friends from school, her uncle and aunt, and the families of two of her friends on missions.
It was neat to have a huge group of people that support her in one room. We used the chapel, because there wasn’t enough room in the Relief Society room!
After her friend’s dad spoke on baptism, Maria, Elder Milovich, Elder Gillins and I headed down to the baptismal font. The Elders helped me down to a plastic chair in the font and Elder Gillins helped stabilize me on the chair. Everyone came into the Relief Society room and Maria came down into the font. The second attempt I got her right elbow totally immersed and she was confirmed by Brother Nichols.
It was a great experience for her and we were all glad to be a part of it!
Thanks for your letters and support and prayers!
Elder Walters
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Thoughts from Missionary Mom
Dear Family and Friends,
A few thoughts from Missionary Mom . . . we have heard from Elder Walters over the past month and wanted to give you a glimpse into his life as a missionary.
A couple of weeks ago, we received a phone call from Lesley Hamilton (see pictures above) inviting us to her baptism. Lesley began taking the missionary discussions in Colorado during the summer. The Elders were at UNC when Lesley approached them and asked if they would teach her the discussions. I’m sure that doesn’t happen very often! We attended her beautiful baptism in the Willow Creek Ward. Marty Isom, a young woman we’ve met several times from the Durham Third Ward, gave an amazing talk and promised the members in Colorado that the members in the Durham Third Ward would take good care of Lesley.
Barry and I have spent more time at Craig Hospital lately and it has brought back many memories of our time there with Elder Walters. We’ve had the opportunity to get to know Josh Pack and his family. Josh is an adorable young man who has an injury similar to Elder Walters. Seeing Josh takes me back to the early days of Elder Walters’ accident. There were so many unanswered questions. Would he be able to be independent enough to take care of himself? Would he be able to attend college? Would he be the missionary he always wanted to be? So many unanswered questions. . . When visiting with Josh and his family we are able to give them hope knowing what Elder Walters has been able to accomplish with the help of his loving Heavenly Father, family and friends. If you would like to learn more about Josh, you can visit his blog at “joshpackupdates.blogspot.com”.
Elder Walters has the opportunity for a second time to be a trainer. We received the following letter from President Wallis (see actual letter above and readable letter below) :-)
Dear Brother and Sister Walters:
It is my great pleasure to notify you that your son, Elder Ryan J. Walters, has been called as a New Missionary Trainer in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission. He will be training his new companion, Elder Nicholas Paul Milovich from Price, Utah with Elder Hunter Gillins from Nibley, Utah.
You can be very proud of him for the fine work he is doing. We have confidence and faith in his ability to magnify his calling in this new and challenging assignment.
As you may well understand, one of the greatest influences on a new missionary is his trainer who is responsible for teaching him how to do the work he came here to do. These trainers must be obedient, exemplary, dependable Christ-like missionaries, and they are carefully and prayerfully selected. We are pleased to have a missionary such as your son to whom we can turn to fill these important responsibilities.
We appreciate his dedicated spirit and capable leadership and know that with your letters of encouragement, he will continue to inspire the missionary with whom he labors.
Hopefully we will receive an email for the blog from Elder Walters very soon. We appreciate your love and support.
Love, Bridgette
A few thoughts from Missionary Mom . . . we have heard from Elder Walters over the past month and wanted to give you a glimpse into his life as a missionary.
A couple of weeks ago, we received a phone call from Lesley Hamilton (see pictures above) inviting us to her baptism. Lesley began taking the missionary discussions in Colorado during the summer. The Elders were at UNC when Lesley approached them and asked if they would teach her the discussions. I’m sure that doesn’t happen very often! We attended her beautiful baptism in the Willow Creek Ward. Marty Isom, a young woman we’ve met several times from the Durham Third Ward, gave an amazing talk and promised the members in Colorado that the members in the Durham Third Ward would take good care of Lesley.
Barry and I have spent more time at Craig Hospital lately and it has brought back many memories of our time there with Elder Walters. We’ve had the opportunity to get to know Josh Pack and his family. Josh is an adorable young man who has an injury similar to Elder Walters. Seeing Josh takes me back to the early days of Elder Walters’ accident. There were so many unanswered questions. Would he be able to be independent enough to take care of himself? Would he be able to attend college? Would he be the missionary he always wanted to be? So many unanswered questions. . . When visiting with Josh and his family we are able to give them hope knowing what Elder Walters has been able to accomplish with the help of his loving Heavenly Father, family and friends. If you would like to learn more about Josh, you can visit his blog at “joshpackupdates.blogspot.com”.
Elder Walters has the opportunity for a second time to be a trainer. We received the following letter from President Wallis (see actual letter above and readable letter below) :-)
Dear Brother and Sister Walters:
It is my great pleasure to notify you that your son, Elder Ryan J. Walters, has been called as a New Missionary Trainer in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission. He will be training his new companion, Elder Nicholas Paul Milovich from Price, Utah with Elder Hunter Gillins from Nibley, Utah.
You can be very proud of him for the fine work he is doing. We have confidence and faith in his ability to magnify his calling in this new and challenging assignment.
As you may well understand, one of the greatest influences on a new missionary is his trainer who is responsible for teaching him how to do the work he came here to do. These trainers must be obedient, exemplary, dependable Christ-like missionaries, and they are carefully and prayerfully selected. We are pleased to have a missionary such as your son to whom we can turn to fill these important responsibilities.
We appreciate his dedicated spirit and capable leadership and know that with your letters of encouragement, he will continue to inspire the missionary with whom he labors.
Hopefully we will receive an email for the blog from Elder Walters very soon. We appreciate your love and support.
Love, Bridgette
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