Last Pday In October

Hello!

Thank you for getting my classes! I was praying all Friday that things would work out and I'd get classes. I laughed a little when I saw Self Defence and Personal Finance :] And fingers are crossed for the Zumba :] hehe thank you. To add to the list of appointments I already have at home, could I add a hair appointment? I haven't gotten a trim or a cut since before the MTC and think it's about time. I have also been thinking about dying my hair dark again, what would you think?

As much as I'm trying not to think about home, people around me don't let me not think about it. Yesterday at church and our eating appointment after everyone was joking about getting a wedding announcement from me soon. The bets going around the Ward range from 3 weeks after getting home will I be engaged to 6 months. Nothing longer than that. I told then all to be prepared to be disappointed because Josh Groban first has to be baptized then we would need to wait a year before going to the Temple. Sister Piteck is trying to help things go quickly, her bet is by my birthday in March, so she is making me a tool to use. For investigators we have the "Teaching Record" to record what we teach when, how we found them, what commitments they are keeping, etc... Well, Sister Piteck is making a "Dating Record" for me to use when I get home. To record how we met, if he opens doors for me, if he makes me laugh, and also red flags to keep an eye out for. Very funny Sister Piteck...

I swear, the way you hear people talk about me it's like I fly home tomorrow.

But to the maybe slight disappointment of some, I do not. I still am a missionary. And this week we worked hard to find new investigators. For some reason that's been hard for us. And most of our investigators are men whom we "gave" to the Elders. But we found 2 new ones this week! (both men again.)

Here are our adventures from Tuesday:

We took dinner to our Ward Mission Leader becasue his wife finally had her baby and after wards we decided to chalk mormon.org again. While doing it, we talked to a man who turned out to be a referral from a less active member and we are now teaching him! His name is Hans. A little bit after talking to Hans, we kept chalking and a man on a bike stopped to talk to us and it turns out he is an old investigator who wanted to get back into contact with the missionaries! It was a good example of being in the right place at the right time. We had debated whether or not we'd actually do the chalk idea but it turned out for good!

Stanley is doing alright, the Word of Wisdom is a little hard but we're working on it.

Also we had an open house time when we open the Churhc for tours to the public. Most open houses no one comes in but Bishop wants us to have them so we do, We normally have members there and at least have a member lesson or schedule investigator lessons in the church there so we have something to do. On this day, we had a lesosn with Stanley planned and Sister Dittrich was supposed to come. She was a little late, which was fine, but then more and more people started coming! Including a less active member and Hans from the chalk adventure! Sister Piteck and I had to split up to help everyone which we're not suppoed to do (we stayed within hearing but she was with the English group, me with the German) and called the Elders for back-up. The Elders finally got there and took over the German group so I could go with my compie. That was pretty cool. We told the Ward about it and now more people want to help out with Open House!

After that adventure, we had choir practice. The choir is not happy that I will not be coming back for the Christmas concert on the 8th of December. A few of them want to call Bishop Wilkinson and ask to push my homecoming talk a week later. The choir director almost cried when she found out and had a mini panic attack that the sopranos won't be able to sing their part as I'm the only soprano that can hit the high notes. I told them everything will work out and that God will help them with this missionary activity and guess what? The relief society president brought a friend with her to choir practice who is a good soprano! Yay for not-yet-members singing in choir! :]  I am still sad that I won't sing with them though. Does the Los Flores ward have a Christmas Concert I can sing in?

Naja.

The rest of the week was good too. We fed the elephants again at the Zoo for PDay last week.

 I'm glad Mom is feeling better and that things are getting back to Normal. Congrats (don't know if I can say that about a calling but whatever) Cam and Cole and Kade on your callings! You will all do wonderfully and I'm proud of you all :] you are great examples to me.

I love you all and have a great day!

Love,

Sister Walker

Happy Pday

Hello Family!

Here are some possitives from this week:

Stanley- For a few days we lost contact with Stanley and were nervous that he was avoiding us. But we got back in touch with him, had a wonderful lesson with him where we set again a date for his baptism, and then he came to church! Another positive that happened there was Br. Graf, who was the man that Sister Neukomm and I found and who was baptized while I was in Hamburg, received the priesthood! Stanley was there to watch the ordination and it was go good. Br. Graf was crying, those ordaining him had tears in their eyes and after wards Stanley said, "Watching that I felt good. I want that. Don't worry, I'll get there someday too." Yay Stanley! Also, he noticed that none of the male members wore earrings so he took his two out without us ever mentioning it. He's doing great!

Ward Council- We had a great Ward Council this past week! The best one I've ever had in this ward. The different Presidencies were working together, Bishop was getting others excited for missionary work, and we got the help we needed! The Stake has a goal to have members present at 60% of all missionary activities and we made goals how our ward can reach that! The only sad part was our Ward Mission Leader was not there. But it was a good reason not to be there, his wife was in the hospital because her water broke and they thought the baby was coming. It didn't come yet though. We're all still waiting. It's kind of cute to see the entire ward worry about it and nervously wait for it. You'd think more than one baby is expected, but nope, just one. Cute little Family Ward.

Ram-  The cute little old Russian man has not come to Church for the past few weeks and we were worried about him. With Members help we found his address and went to find him. The Elders and we taught him a lesson together. We didn't have very many Russian material for teaching but in my old apartment the Elders found an envelope that was left behind in the move with so many Russian things in it! There were puzzels in Russian for the plan of Salvation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ and pamphlets in the language and even a poster with scriptures on it that also has his name on it! We felt like angels prepared this envelope for him and we get to use it to help him.

It was a pretty good week. This picture is of a teepee I made in our bedroom. That was fun to study in.

I hope you all have a great week! I love you!

Liebe Grüße,

Sister Walker

 

My Extra Transfer

Hello Family! 

The day of transfer calls has come and gone and guess what? I'm staying in Cottbus. I've been here so long that they decided to change the spelling of the city. It is now Kottbus. :] (see picture below) hehe :]

I'm trying hard to see the changes of Cottbus since I've been here, but then I realized that was being selfish. I started looking for the changes Cottbus has had on me and I was amazed. Yes parts of me have not changed, I still hate waking up early, I still sleep with a teddy bear, I still think I am a 5 year old princess at times, but I have changed too. My testimony has become deeper, counting blessings is easier, opening my mouth to bear tesitmony and helping others smiles has become a hobby, and learning how to be still and give things to the Lord has made progress.  I'm not scared of future things anymore or scared of things I can't fully understand. I know my Father will help me through dark nights and storms.

I'm glad to be staying in Cottbus, I love the people here and want to help them a little while longer. We saw a less active at church yesterday that I have been working with since week one of  Cottbus in August 2012 and it was her first time at church in 10 years! We both cried a little when she walked in because we were so happy. I was so happy to see her choosing to come back and choosing to come home. Bishop bore his testimony in church and thanked the missionaries for what we do after he spent 15 minutes at a street stand with us. There still are more miracles to be seen and people to find. I hope I can fulfill my calling.

These are my extra 6 weeks. I am the last Sister to have the extended time because of fast tracking the MTC, I better use them wisely. I am the last Sister in the mission that had President Pimentel, still need to represent him well too. But this is not my last transfer ever. I am planning on serving more missions after this one. And even if I never get another name badge, being a mommy is a great mission. Mom and Dad, you are wonderful. all of your sons are bearers of the Priesthood, your oldest daughter is sealed to her family and I am a set apart missionary. You two are serving your parental mission well I would say. Thank you for all you do and the sacrifices you make for us.

And your German Deli looks pretty real! And they have my favorite German food!! Dad, in the picture you sent of mom, there is a boxed food in the background that says ,,Knödel" I love that stuff! I was planning on packing my suitcase with boxes of it to bring home but now that I know it's there, I can have more space to bring my clothes home :] or maybe chocolate. Probably chocolate. Can we eat there when I get home? Thanks :] I'll probably cry a lot so be warned. Mom, thanks for taking care of my classes for me. It was stressing me out but now that I know you can take care of it I feel better. Thank you.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Have fun in Utah and tell everyone hi! I love you!

Liebe Grüße,

 Sister Walker 

Hello

Hello Family!

You only get 7 more emails from me. Is that funny or what? On that trunky note- Mom, how is the BYU work coming? Do I need to do anything else? Is the Net ID on byu.edu all figured out?

For the Net ID I emailed them and they said I have two accounts that need to be combined. So you know, I am telling them to give you permission to do that. The Net ID will be KPW22 password Kalpaige2 which is what you told me already.

List to do when I get home:

-get a hair trim

-find apartment

-find job

- get clothes from Alyssa's house (maybe she can bring some down when she comes down?) ((or did I leave my clothes at your house?)) I can't even remember.

This week was OK. The end with General Conference was great though! My favorite talks were from Sister Stephen and Elder Caussé. No Hanna did not come, she said she had no time to meet with us for the next little while. But Stanley, Melvin and a Russian man named Ram came for one session! That was cool. Stanley and Melvin are both African and they heard Elder Dube talk and loved him! His was a great talk :]

I have been a little unmotivated this past week, which Iknow is bad I lecture myself on that, but I've been in Cottbus for forever it seems. The same problems are here, I've tried it seems all my ideas out with no success, I want to change Cottbus and teach everyone, but I don't know if I have enough faith to do it and that makes me sad. I'm working on it, I really am. Transfer calls are this saturday. I don't want to stay becasue I am becoming complacent and comfortable which is bad and I'm sure someone can do a better job, but I don't want to leave. If I leave again, I'll feel that I didn't do my job here after 2 chances, and that I failed and starting over when I know I'll leave the next city in 6 weeks seems like a dumb idea. I'll do whatever President Kosak tells me to do becasue I know it's from God. I just need to go on His strength now becasue mine is almost gone.
Maybe that's what makes older missionaries wiser, they learned to lean on Him. Let's see if I've really learned that now or if I just think I did.

I have been meaning to tell you my new address. It is

Kirche Jesu Christi

Dresdener Strasse 88

03050 Cottbus

I hope you all have a wonderful week! I'm sorry for the downer letter, I'm not down or trunky I promise. Just trying to work hard and finish strong. I love you!

Liebe Grüße,
Sister Walker