Happy PDay

Hello Family!

It is now getting cold in Germany. But the changing of the colours of the leaves makes up for the horrible cold wind. This picture is of the field behind our Church building. It just looks like a postcard. 

I wanted to share to stories that happened this week.

1- Hanna.

On Wednesday Sister Piteck were on a wild goose chace trying to find Sandro. (he was an investigator my first time here who had a baptism date then disappeared) Our Ward Missio Leader saw him and we went looking. We didn't find him. While looking, we were doing a survey of people on the street and asked them Trey's questions. -If you could ask God a question right now, what would it be? and -if we were to give you a book that answered this question, would you read it? The first lady that said yes to taking our survey is named Hanna. Her question that she would ask God was "Should I go on a mission?" What?! We were not expecting that at all but went on. She said she already reads the Bible everyday looking for an answer but would rather it come through answer to prayer in her heart not from a book. Wow. We got to talking more and she is so cool! She has served 4 humanitarian missions and 1 teaching mission with the Baptist Church already and wants to go again. She is 26 years old and is in harge of the youth in her congregation. She was impressed that we also believed on and love God so much that we left our families for 18 months. She took a pamphlet of the restoration but nothing else and we didn't get her information but she invited us to a church activity that's in a few weeks. When we stopped talking to her we were amazed. She is awesome! We were a little sad we didn't get an appointmetn or anything but we both felt that what we did was good.

Then on Friday we planned to go by a less active family in a dorf (villiage) outside of Cottbus called Kolkwitz. We got lost becasue the bus didn't drive the entire route and kicked us off early. We had to walk through 2 woods and along some big roads to get there without the bus. At first we weren't going to go anymore, but try again a different day but we felt we should go on. So we did. We finally got to their house and they weren't home. Dang. I was writting them a note to leave in the mail box when someone said hello to Sister Piteck. I turned around and it was Hanna! She was taking her dog, Dusty, for a walk and saw us and came over. It turns out she lives on the same street as our less actives! She invited us in and we were able to talk more about the Book of Mormon and bear testimony of it and the Church. She had good questions and took a copy of the Book of Mormon! We also will be meeting with her more and she said she will try to come to the Relief Society conference on Saturday! (we see it later here) After an amazing time with her we had to walk back through the 2 woods, back across the big streets to get to a different bus stop to come back home. The whole time we were walking, we literally sang songs of Praises to God. We couldn't do anything else! We were so thankful that he had our paths cross that we could find Hanna again. Our God is wonderful! I felt so blessed to see this example of His being in control and knowing where His children are.

2- Michael

After getting home from talking with Hanna, we got a text from Michael saying that he'd come to church on Sunday! He is the one who was baptized last year when i was with Sister Neukomm and went inactive about a month after his baptism. We were so excited for him to come to Church!

But he didn't show up. During Sunday School hour we tried to text him and call him but he didn't answer calls and he sent us kind of a mean text back telling us to stop bothering him and to just let him sleep. So we left him alone for most of the day. in the evening, I sent a text appologizing for annoying him and explaining that we were just trying to help him do what he said he would do. He textd back (he doesn't like to talk on the phone becasue he has a bad stutter) and we were going back and forth for about an hour. Things were not very good. He kept getting mad and making excusses. But he always texted back so I would reply. He was telling me how he doesn't think God or Church are important and that he will not be a part of us anymore. I tried to go by the Spirit with what to say and to bear testimony often but it didn't help and it got to the point where Sister Piteck and I felt like we shouldn't respond anymore. I was so sad for him. I know he has had a witness it is true. He made covenants with God. He is lost and confused and won't let us help him. I was having a pretty hard time with it. When I was told I was coming back to Cottbus and prayed to know why, one reason I got in an answer was to help him. I felt like I did a bad job, then I felt bad that I was sad for myself at all when all the sad should be for Michael. Sister Piteck and I prayed together and ate some chocolate and read scriptures, our District Leader offered to go to Michael's city that night to try to help him then read some scriptures over the phone with us, and then he told President we were sad and President called to cheer me up. (Dad, you and him said the same things pretty much about worry and other people's agencey.)The funny thing is though, that even though I was so sad, I still wanted to sing Praises to God. So we did. We were crying but singing to Him. I know that He has Michael in His care just as much as He has Hanna. He loves Michael no matter what and is waiting for Him to come back. He is sad too but instead of having that stop Him, He goes on with His work and is ever caring.

I did not like this second experiance, but the feeling of always singing praises goes with my scripture Rejoice Evermore! I'm still working on that :]

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Pa, I'm glad you're doing a bit better! I'm praying for you. And Cole, happy birthday! Thanks for inviting me to your party :]

I love you all!

Liebe Grüße,

Sister Walker

Happy Pday!

Hello Family!

Question Catch Up time-

Dad's Questions-

Chi-yu and Ameen are currently not investigatiing anymore. Chi-Yu is in Tiwan till October and we are hoping he takls to his family about it. They are a little against Christianity and he feels the pull of traditions holding him back. But he comes to church and reads and meets with us when he is here. The ward loves him. Ameen is actually not allowed to be taught. The rules just got strickter for teaching Muslims because of the dangers with it. He is from Syria which is not very possitive right now in general. We still invite him to activities and are friendly to him but can't do much more than that. Semyon is not doing so well, he has cancer and is starting to lose his memory too. We saw him a little while ago and was so happy but we've found no more time to meet because he's sick always. Melvin is now being taught by the Elders and doing great from what we hear. He has not been to church for a while though so I havn't seen him. We have a new investigator named Stanley who we contacted on the street when the Elders were late and he's doing great! He wants to be baptized but would like his family to be there and right now that's not possible. We're working on it. We are also working hard to find new people. President Kosak promised the mission can have 150 baptisms more by the end of the year. We want 6 in Cottbus. :] We pray for that and work for that. We will get it with the Lord's help. The ward needs softer hearts though. That will come too.

Tausches are going well. We have them 4 times a transfer and change around which Sisters are which weeks. Last week I was up in Lankwitz again and saw some old members who were excited to see me. That was nice.

My back is doing fine. I feel like I'm falling apart though. When my back feels good, then my feet hurt real bad. (you know that bump by my baby toe? It's gotten so big and owwie from all the walking. Only one pair of my shoes fit it and it's getting too cold to wear those.) Or when they feel OK then my shoulder hurts. But naja. I figure wear and tear would happen from being out all day for 16 months.

Mom's Questions-

I'm feeling tired. I can't sleep very well so I don't have too much energy but I need it. But when I need it though, I do feel the strength from God. While in lessons or talking on the streets or on Tausch I'm not tired at all because He needs me to be awake. But come meal times, I fall aleep in the middle of my sandwitch. But it's good.

Teaching is going well. I love teaching. I want to be a teacher when I grow up. So when everything gets worked out with BYU you can even let them know that I decided: Major- German Teaching, Minor: English Teaching. Then no more changing my majors. I just need to finish school already.

and No, no one has signed up for my last Sunday yet.

"Are you Happy?" is a funny question. I'm a missionary for the Almighty God, how can I not be happy? Being able to bear testimony every day is great. Sometimes I get a little down from stress or worry. Like I've been in Cottbus in my 12th month here and I don't see much change from my first week and I feel like I havn't done what was expected of me. Or I see investigators progress and know they've had spiritual experiences and answers and then they say no. Somethings are just hard. I don't mean not to sound happy. I just can see how small and insignificant I am. But I know I'm working hard. Bishop Wilkinson wrote me a letter and said something I liked, something like "the cost of dispipline is better to pay than the price of regrets." When I know that I'm doing what I can do then I should be happy. There is also a little stress with knowing I'm coming home soon. 9 weeks left now. My grades are bad, I'm not excited to date again, I don't have a job, I've gained weight..... So I try not to think about it. It will all be OK, sometimes I lose that focus.

A scripture that has helped this past week was 1 Nephi 4:3 "wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go up." This is Nephi talking to Laman and Lemuel. They saw an angel and were doubting that God could help them do seemingly impossible things. I havent seen an angel but I have felt the Holy Ghost testify. And The Holy Ghost is more powerful and convincing than an angel. How can I doubt that God knows what he is doing keeping me in Cottbus for so long? How can I doubt that He will help me work things out when I get home? How can I doubt that I will be able to get married and have a good life? I can't. So yes, I am happy!

I think that's all the questions.

This week was busy. I actually wasn't  in Cottbus all week except for last PDay. Tuesday and Wednesday I was in Lankwitz for Tausch, Thursday was Dresden for Zone Conference, Friday was Hoyerswerda for finding new people to teach, Saturday was Görlitz for a Family Fest, then Sunday was church. Fun week though. This week is in Cottbus though. It will be good. I'm glad we have Elders here now, that someone works in Cottbus :]

How is Pa doing? Why did he need surgery? I'm glad you are all safe and survived the busy week. Hope this next week is great! I love you!

Love,
Sister Walker

PS- Mom I like your MTC teaching idea, could you possibly look into that for me? Thanks.

Pday 10

Hello Family.

Do you realize I have 10 weeks left? I'm not getting trunky, don't worry, I just think that's a little funny. My last Sunday is already on the Eating Chart hanging in the Ward building. Dad, I have also thought about the coming home just for a visit thing. But President won't let me. So I will just offer to be a joint teach for the Elders in your Ward while I wait to go to BYU. But with the Marriage Liat idea, I'd be game. Maybe give me your top 3 boys and I'll pick from there. I Trust your judgement too. Arrainged Marriages have worked since Adam and Eve, they would totally still work today. My three requirements though are 1-Current Temple Recommend 2-loves his family and 3-has goals in life. Number 4 is he is taller than me when I wear heels. That is also good. Have fun making your list! :] hehe

This week was good. Stanley did come to church again! He is reading the Book of Mormon every day and loving it. Finding new investigators is not going so well at the moment but we keep trying and we'll find some. But it gives us more time to work with the Members which is the new mission focus. To watch the braod cast with members and help them do their missionary work. It's going well!

I hope oyu have a great week!

Love,

Sister Walker

PS- Mom, about the Jessi and Nadir, the Germans asking to come over, I emailed them (because they emailed me) saying that you may be out of town since it is the boys school holiday, that I would be at school so I couldn't translate, and that you were a little uncomfortable with them not being married. So I took care of it.

Pday again

Hello Family,

This letter will probably be short. I Have been trying to get onto the BYU website to see about registration and it did not work. Mom the information you gave me did not work. Can you try to go on and see if it works for you? I am just getting a little frustrated. Maybe I'll just wait till I get home and go up to Utah the Monday after Thanksgiving and sort it all out in Person. Why did President tell me to do it now? It's just stressing me out.

This week was alright not too much went on. Transfer calls came and I am staying in Cottbus, president said probably stay till November. But Sister Babbitt is transfered to Chemnitz. One of the CHemnitz STLs, Sister Piteck, is coming here. They just swapped.

Our Elders get to Cottbus on Tuesday (tomorrow) and we are moving appartments today. The SIsters get a nice and new appartment and the Elders get our gorgeous old appartment. It will be weird not being there, I've only been in that appartment for like 10 months.

Fun thing about Transfers, Sister McCandless is in my Tausch group now! I get to tausch with someone I trained! How fun! This last week I Tausched with the sister Sister Peine Trained and her trainee. (My grand daughter and great grand daughter in old missionary lingo) that was kind of fun!

Have a great week! Love you!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Love, 
Sister Walker