Monday, December 29, 2014

Money.

Hey.

Merry Christmas everybody. And Happy New Years. :)

Welllllll Hi. So what did I do. Oh yeah.

Well this Christmas was way fun. Best Christmas every. haha. We went out to our first counselor's home, Frere Darguence, and ate lunch. I then got to skype my family! What thugs! Haha that was so fun! I wish I could've talked longer. But that's fine, it's no big deal. Ater skyping, Elder Herdt and I went porting for a solid three hours. We had made a goal to find a family on Christmas! Well... We kind of did. An old couple let us in in the final stretch. It was so awesome. For one, it was nice and warm in their home. Two, they fed us soup. Three, they were a nice, cute couple. :) They have three daughters and like five grandchildren or something like that. But it was a Christmas Miracle. Oh, and it started snowing yesterday! Even though it's after Christmas, it was a miracle. Kind of. I like the snow.... But not as a missionary. It's colder than Santa right now. 

Well on Saturday, we ate at Mario's again. He fed us a mama mountain. I almost died it was so much food. Well, our amie Michelle came over for that. At first, she was kind of quiet, but then she started to talk and laugh and she said she liked it. So that's a good thing. :) Also, the man that Mario took from off the streets, Collins, ate too. He is from Nigeria, and I love that man so much. He is so funny. And he is getting baptized. High five. He is so excited for his baptism too. Haha.

Another thing. A less active moved out here, and then she called us and said that she wants to start coming back to church. Her husband, who is not a member, also wants a blessing for his mother. Who is also not a member. Bow chicka wow wow. That's that.

I love you all. :) 

Peace.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Hello.

I will be a fan of David Archuleta untill the day I die. He is great. Wow that was awesome.

The Conference this Thursday was SO fun. Christmas is definitely the best time of the year. Holy cow. And it's just so fun because... It is. David was super humble. Thank you mom and friends for the packages/mail. I love Christmas.

I love it.

I do.

So this last week, we went playing Santa for the members, giving them a little book of a story Elder Anderson had when he was a missionary. Ehhhh voila. Yesterday, we went and visited Dan Kitambala, because he had to go to the hospital for his foot. We went with his homie, Diogene, and we gave him a blessing. It was the first time Diogene has ever given a blessing, and it was a super spiritual experience. He is 19. He expressed desires to go on a mission, I sure hope he does. He'd be super good. Haha we gave him skittles, because apparently, skittles don't exist here in France.

Michelle is still doing just great. She hasn't been reading the Book of Mormon... But she has been checking out mormon.org and is writing down questions she has for us. So if that is good or bad... Well, I guess we'll see. haha. 

Well my brain is flying out, so peace. 

Love you all. :)

Elder Walker

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Howdy Do Dah Day

Well hi. Rootin' Tootin'!

Here's a story! So I have anointed oil a couple times before, but never given the blessing. Well last night, I had my first opportunity! It was to one of our amies, Michelle. Elle est tombé malade. So we gave her a blessing. I think blessing are one of my favorite things about being a missionary. They are always such spiritual experiences. You just walk into the home, knowing what your purpose is and knowing who you are representing, and you get the chills, and it's always just super cool.

Unfortunately, we didn't teach twenty lessons again this week, but that's okay. We did our best. :) We had to pass lots of members and give them all presents our Mission President asked us to give. SOOOOO that took up a day. 

I'm very grateful that I get to stay in Val de Saone for another transfer. I just don't feel like my work is done here yet. But then again, I don't think I'll ever feel that way about any sector. But staying for 4 in a ville is actually a pretty good amount of time, so obviously there's something I have to do. For example. Haha. So when I was with Elder Nye my first transfer, we contacted a lady named Michelle. (I think I've already told this story, but here it goes again.) WELL somewhere in between two weeks ago and the first contact with her, we contacted her again (This I didn't know until she told us). But she took seeing us over and over as a sign from God that she had to talk with us. So now we are teaching her! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

David Archuleta is coming this Thursday. Those poor sister missionaries. I'm so stoked. He's doing one for the missionaries, and another for the stake... AND we get to go to both! Yay.

Well yippee. Love you all. :)

Elder Walker

Monday, November 24, 2014

HEYO

Well this week was full of miracles I'd like to share.

First, just barely, Elder Herdt and I got a park right next to the office. Free, too. That's pretty cool.

Also, this last Tuesday, we were contacting, and it was like 20 minutes before we had to go in. The roads were pretty dead. But there was one man in the road, and of course we went head hunting and contacted him. Him name is Djamel, he is from Algeria. Well we fixed a rdv with him for the next day, and we taught him the Restoration. He understands and speaks french just fine, but he can't read french. Well we saw him again on Thursday, gave him a Book of Mormon in Arab, and he read a little bit out of the introduction in Arab for us, and he prayed for us in his native language, Kabil! It was crazy, literally so cool. He accpted a soft engagement for baptism. We are planning on fixing a date with him tonight. So that's a miracle, plus he's free all the time! Also, last night we went to go visit a less active. We were going to give her cookies, because Elder Herdt can cook a mean batch of cookies, but she wasn't there. Well we decided to start ringing all the people in her building, and while we were doing that, a lady stopped by and was like "Ring that one for me"! So we did, and then she asked what we were doing in the middle of no where. Well we explained, gave her the cookies, and then she was like, "I live in Villefranche too! Why don't you come over this night when we are doing Christmas things"! Elder Herdt and I were like "Well... I think we can fit time in for that". So that was pretty crazy. Haha. 

We helped Danielle paint her apartment twice this last week with a member named Mario. It was pretty fun, she just loves all the missionaries. We plan on having a "Get down to business" lesson with her this Saturday. I hope it goes good. I'm sure it will. :) We also ate at Mario's one night. Well let me tell you. I almost blew up, he fed us so much. We ate with the Assistants, and it was just crazy. I've never eaten so much in my life. It was literally more than I eat even on Thanksgiving!

Oh yeah!

DAVID ARCHULETA IS COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited haha. It's in like three weeks. I'm so stoked. Also, there is this thing called the He is the Gift initiative. I encourage you all to check it out. Use the thing #SharetheGift because it needs to get big. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I love you all.

Peace

Elder Walker

Monday, November 17, 2014

Yo.

Well Quoi de neuf.

Elder Herdt and I have been going hard in the paint. He is the complete opposite of Elder Swenson. He is young, hip, and full of love. Haha. He is 18 and from Syracuse. He's been out for about 8 months. I've already learned so much from him. It's weird because with my other companions, I didn't get to speak my mind as much, but with him, we talk about 50-50, so that's good. I'm starting to realize what it means to be a successful missionary. It's weird because I'm always just super tired and want a nap, but at the same time, I don't want to get off the roads. It's weird that I'm so happy. Haha I sound like I'm from The District. Haha. "Teach him the Restoration". Kimmie would get a good laugh at that.

I am going to be destroyed when I get transferred. I don't want to leave this place. I love it so much. I love Villefranche and the people and everything! This morning, we met with an old ami of about 7 months. It was weird because we just saw him in the area book, decided to call him, and he was like sure. He has already taken a lot of the lessons, but he says that he wants to get baptized, but because he works for the Catholic church, it's hard for him. We will continue to work with him. Of course. :) And Danielle is going well too. We had a family night at the bishops home last Thursday, and Danielle went too, and she loved it. Her main problem is that she thinks her catholic baptism is valid. But that's okay, we will continue to work with her on that and keep seeing her. I was so excited when she was going to get baptized, but I learned that it doesn't matter what I want, it's the Lord's will that matters. :)

Well hippy hop, I started reading Jesus the Christ again! YAY! I love it. Haha. I have a testimony of this church, and here it is. God lives, and we are his children. He loves us. :) I know that Jesus Christ is out savior. I know he died for us and is resurrected, so that we can be happy and live with God again. :) I know he lives. The Atonement is real, and anybody can be forgiven for whatever they've done. I know that the Book of Mormon is true as well. I've read it, prayed about it, and received my answer. The power of the Priesthood is real as well. We have a living prophet today.

Well. I love you all. Don't forget to pray. :)

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Howdy Do

Hello!

So this week has been pretty exciting. Well, today mostly, because I get a new companion. I haven't met him yet, but he'll be getting here in Lyon in about 2 hours, so that'll be fun. I have been helping out with all the missionaries coming through the Lyon Gare with their suitcases. There is a two hour break right now, so I have time to write emails. This internet cafe is full of missionaries right now. 

So my new companion is named Elder Herdt. I don't really know much about him, but I've heard really good things about him, so I'm really excited.

So here's a story. We were going to eat at Brother Mejeans home this coming thursday, and we invited Danielle to it. She is so excited. In fact, she called Bishop Jubault and said thanks for the invite! Well because we have the best bishop in the world, he played it off like a champ, and instead of eating at Brother Mejeans, we're eating at Brother Jubaults! Bishop and I had a pretty good laugh at that. Haha. 

It's so weird seeing some of these missionaries go home. On Saturday, I went on a mini exchange with Elder Adams. He is my role model. He is such an amazing missionary. I almost cried saying bye to him, because he's going home. He helped me set goals to become a better missionary, and helped motivate me. I'm going to work on being the best missionary I can be!

Well... Loves. 

Bye.

Elder Walker

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Well, it was an adventure. (Nov 3)

What a week y'all.

So I road tripped to Bordeaux this week. It was pretty awesome. The new Elder is named Elder Bleak. He grew up in Kaysville, but lived in Boston the last two years. But anyways, here's a story. So we show up to Bordeaux at like 8, then want to have dinner. So we go to this place called Halal Fried Chicken. Long story short... My bag got stolen with the keys to the car and the apartment and my camera. Sooo now I have no camera. But anyways, they had to send the spare key to the car to Bordeaux in over night shipping, so we stayed in Bordeaux an extra day. Luckily, it was the Elder Kearon conference, so that was cool. We left the next morning, went back to Lyon, the stayed in the Office Elders apartment because there was no spare to our apartment. The next day, we went to Villefranche and had a member help us find a place that could take off our lock and replace it. SO that was an adventure. But no more camera for me. :(

Anyways, Danielle didn't get baptized either. She started having doubts, so we decided to postpone it. But I'm still confident she'll get baptized still. If not this week, then next. But Dan still got baptized, and it was a really cool experience getting to baptize him! I think that the other elders will send pictures to me this week because I don't have a camera, so I can send them next week. :) That was a really cool experience, and it was a good lifter-upper after a really tough week. 

Well, please keep Danielle in your prayers.

Word.

Elder Walker

Oct 27th

Well guess what. Adventure is out there. That's right.

So tomorrow, we had a mangez-vous planned with some members and a lesson with a potential, but guess what. That's not happening. You wanna know why? I'll tell you why. Well there is this Chinese elder arriving tomorrow, and here's the thing. He has to go to Bordeaux. I think that's how you spell it. Anyways, it's across the country. Well usually the AP's would drive him, but they won't be able to, they're already at Bordeaux. And President can't, and so I HAVE TO DRIVE HIM ACROSS THE COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!! Holy cow. That's kind of exciting. 

Also, my first baptism is this week! Danielle is sooo excited to get baptized!!! Well the last rdv with her was super heated actually. She was having doubts getting baptized, and it was super intense. We gave her a blessing, and immediately after, she said she was getting baptized! The power in the priesthood is real. That is now the third blessing I've gave in french. It was such a spiritual experience. And the sister's ami, Dan, is also getting baptized. TWO BAPTISMS FOR ONE WARD on the same day. MMHMM. Well usually we have members baptize and confirm, but Dan wants me to baptize him, which is weird. But I'm still excited. He is a refugee from Congo. Also, his friend, Diogene, was ordained an elder yesterday. He was contacted in the metro with Dan, so that's a pretty cool story. He was actually confirmed a member by Elder Anderson himself. And I got to stand in the circle when he was ordained, so that was super cool. 

Elder Kearon from the 70 is coming on Thursday, so that's exciting.

My hair is growing back.

Speaking of miracles, I'm really starting to notice all the small things the Lord is doing everyday. I am starting a miracle journal. Don't forget to take a moment at the end of the day and think about with the Lord did for you. I promise he did more than you think.

Don't forget to pray for me to stay motivated and do my best please.

Oct. 20th

Hello.

Haha.

Well this last week was pretty baller. I feel like Elder Swenson and I are finally getting work done together. Like serious work. Haha. So I met this guy named Sebastian the first week here, and he was the first person I ever legitly contacted and placed a Livre de Mormon. Well, we met with him forever ago, then haven't seen him since... Untill last week! I saw him in the road, and introduced him to Elder Swenson. He has a dalmation. I want a dalmation. We saw him like three other times in the road within like two days, and apparently he lives like one minute away from us! Well the first time we met him, he said he didn't think drugs were bad, and he basically had every problem that somebody could have. Well, we visited him a few days ago, and he said he wanted to give up drugs because he realized how bad they were! AND yesterday we visited him, and he said that he wants to live a chaste life now! Well, that was a big miracle. I really see the good in him, and I believe we can help him.

Yesterday we were porting, and we met this girl that was interested because she thought we were polygamists and stuff. And so we're meeting with her this week too. Basically, everybody thinks that Mormon's are polygamists if they've heard of Mormon's at all. It's weird.

And also, we found a family to teach! We brought them cookies, and they invited us in and OH it was so good! I'm so excited to teach them!

My hair is starting to grow back, so that's fun.

High five.

Elder Walker

October 13th

Well hi.

So the other day I was giving myself a haircut, and then I made a mistake, so then I had to cut it all super short. I buzzed it to 10 mm, so that's kind of different. I am never cutting my own hair again.

I gave my first blessing in french, and it was insane. It was for a guy from Armenia named Fabrice Ozaga. We had to drive out like half an hour to get to his home, and he lived in a pretty sick part of France. It's always my favorite when I get to drive along the countryside. We visited him because the Stake President asked us too. He was excommunicated because he wanted his name to be removed or something like that, but now he wants to get baptized again, but he feels like he can't do anything for the ward. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I've ever had. 

I'm started to really just love the ward and everybody I meet sooo much, I can't really explain it. Like, the ward is just super nice! There is this guy in our ward named Mario who took this homeless guy from the streets and let him live with him. His name is Collins, and now the Sisters are teaching him. 

Danielle is super prepared for her baptism. She is so excited haha. It's always a good time teaching her because she always gives us something to eat. And it's always super proper and french and I wait till' she starts eating because I have no idea if I know to start from the inside or maybe the bottom or perhaps the left corner of the meal. So that's fun.

Elder Swenson and I changed the tires on our car today. So that's fun.

When it rains here..... It rains. And it hasn't stopped raining for a few days now. It's a good time, contacting in the rain when there's one person on the street. 

I love you all and miss you all. 

Word.

Elder Walker

October 6th

Hey guys. What's up. 

So Danielle is greener than green for her baptism. It's going to be on November 1st. We have taught her with the Bishop, a member of the Stake Presidency, and we watched general conference last night at the Stake President's house with her. OH MAN SHE IS SUPER COOL. She's like 60, and is just super prepared. Haha. It's really built my testimony teaching her that it's the spirit that converts. And it's super essential to bear simple testimony frequently when teaching, because the spirit comes in testimony.

We have the best ward ever here. The members are great. We have this member who invited one of our investigators chez lui, and she stayed at his home for like 5 hours and got to be really good friends! We didn't even know this was happening, so when we found out, our faces were blown away. 

I feel like the french is really coming. The session at President Benesars home was in french, and I could understand it. It was awesome. My favorite speaker was the Jorg dude, with the two dots over the O in his name. It was short, sweet, and to the point. Recently, I have been super obsessed with keeping things simple. Like, keep the truths down to what they are. Like, God lives, he is our father, and we are his children. Jesus Christ is our Savior. I love to keep it like that. I guess that's just my way of teaching. 

Well, my testimony is getting stronger by the day. It's strange to think that only a few months ago, I was chilling with my family, and now I'm here in France, stopping scary looking people in the streets and testifying of Christ... Speaking french. Haha. I love this Gospel lots.

This is God's church.

Elder Walker

Monday, September 29, 2014

What Up

Well... I don't have lots of time to say stuff.

But basically I'll tell ya the good news.

I started driving like two weeks ago. It's pretty stressful driving in the city. But I love the countryside. It's super cool and chill and stuff. Haha. We have this french amie named Danielle. She is like sixty, but we gave her mom a blessing a couple weeks ago to walk. I did the oil. Well, like last week, her mom walked, and she called us and was super excited, and she said she knows our church is true! She's getting baptized onNovember 1st! I am SOOO excited. I'm staying in Val de Saone for the next transfer with Elder Swenson.

I basically feel fluentish in french. It's just that I can't understand 100 percent of the time, and I really have to focus. But I can talk and stuff. Isn't that weird? Haha. 

Love you all. Choose the right.

Elder Walker

Monday, September 22, 2014

9/22/2014 - Hello

So I don't have a lot of time this week to do emails, but basically I'll tell you the biggest juice that cracked down.

Elder Nye got emergency transfered out of town. My companion is now Elder Trenton Swenson. He is from Pleasant Grove, and he dies this November! I hope I get to kill him. Haha. That just means be the companion when he finishes. But he is super cool! I got to go down to Toulouse to pick him up. It was sick. We stopped in Montpellier for an hour, and got to walk around there for an hour. We got a nice kebab for lunch.

I hope that I stay around in Villefranche next transfer. I want to see Danielle and Bernard get baptized! Well, basically I'm like out of time. So love you all and peace.

Elder Walker

Sunday, September 21, 2014

September 15th!

What up yo.

This week was cool. Basically, Elder Nye and I are baller missionaries. We go hard in the paint. All day. Everyday. HAHA

Last Thursday I went on an exchange with Elder Sorenson. He is from Draper, and he has class off the wall. We worked in his ville, St Etienne. We visited this CRAZY less active guy. Like, his little apartment had so much clutter and everything in it. It was stacked up to the roof with just stuff. But it was fun.

So I think our ami, Danielle, really has potential. This last week, we taught a lesson with her with Frere Marco. It went super good. She loved the Plan of Salvation. We weren't able to see Marie Jose this last week. IT'S A BUMMER. But that's fine. We are seeing her on Wednesday, and we are going to Plan of Salut the living lights out of her. Haha. And Soeur Harlette is also accepting the lessons really well and progressing and stuff too. And Bernard. And Rita. And Sebastian. Kind of. We are also having our first lesson with THE ONE AND ONLY MICHAEL JORDAN THIS WEEK! Just kidding. Just a dude that looks like Michael Jordan. HAHA, HIS NAME IS BALARD. Woops, the caps. We also met a lady who met the missionaries 40 years ago, and we have a rdv with her tomorrow! We are really picking the work up. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

I am going to start driving in like two weeks. Isn't that wild? I will be driving in the countryside of FRANCE! haha. I will be driving because Elder Nye isn't legal, but I am. So yeah.

The other day, we have a lesson with a less active family, and I was bearing my testimony, and I started crying (of course). It was so embarassing. I wanted to die. 

I like working in Villefranche more than Lyon. It's just a chill place, and it's fun to contact because we meet the weirdest people haha. Like two days ago, we met this guy from Czech who was just making huge bubbles in the street for all the little kids. And I don't really know what it is, but Elder Nye seems to attract all the middle-aged women with tons of life problems. But I'm fine with that. Haha Elder Nye is always like what the.

Well... Peace.

Elder Walker

This is from September 8th. (sorry -kimber)

Hello! :) How is everybody doing?
I love being out here. It's kind of weird to think about how much my view on everything has changed. It's weird. Haha.
Yesterday, Elder Nye and I taught a lesson in the most french place you can imagine. With the most french people you can imagine. Haha. We had straight up raspberry juice out of a wine glass with ice cream. It was so weird. We read 3rd Nephi 11 with them, and she said she really wants to be baptized. That's exciting, but Elder Nye and I feel like she really needs to have a testimony of everything. That's kind of how it is with our Congo engagee, Marie José as well. But I think Marie José has a good understanding of the importance of scripture study and everything. We also have another baptism engagee. Also from congo. Her name is Soeur Harlette. She has the cutest little boy! Haha.
So I don't know if I told the story of when I was frustrated the first week about not being able to speak french then placing the Book of Mormon... Well we taught him again! His name is Sebastian, and he is a real cool cat. I don't know if he'll accept the Gospel right now, but I have faith in him and believe that he'll accept it one day, hopefully soon.
So our area is kind of new. It's only been open for a few months, so Elder Nye and I have to really build Villefranche up, but we sure are! The people there are super nice, and we are already starting to get great amis!
My favorite thing is eating a baguette with cheese.
Yogurt here is crazy.
Spiders here are crazy big. We named one Aragog.
I went on an exchange last week! With Elder Adams from Texas. He is awesome, it was so much fun!
My testimony has really grown on teaching by the spirit. Yeah, I can actually understand people (for the most part) and I can speak in lessons now in broken french, but we wouldn't have the success we're having if the spirit wasn't there. Love it.
High five.
Elder Walker

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

France pictures!







Hello.

Well... Hi.

So this last week went super well! 

I think my french is getting better and everything is really just starting to go better. It was rough getting into the mode of things, but that's fine.

The other day we gave a sister a blessing. I anointed the oil. It was weird doing it in French. It was a super spiritual experience. I loved being able to be a part of that so much. It was just super cool.

So I don't know if I said this last week or not, but I live in a little town called Villefranche. It's like 30 minutes away from Lyon. We live next to this big apostate Catholic church, and the bells ring every hour. It's pretty cool.

I gave my first baptism invitation the other day. The investigator is named Marie JosĂ©. She's from Congo. The goal is September 27th. I hope she goes through with it. That'd be cool. It's be a cool way to start my mission.

I am so sore everywhere. On Saturday, we played soccer with some amis and other elders in the zone. My body is like broccoli. I just can't handle it. My legs and arm and everything are sore. LOVE IT.

Call traffic the bouchons.
Little rats (legit ones) are real.
Baguettes are a thing.
I met Albert Einstein the other day.
Eat a kebab.

Elder Walker.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Pictures!



Hello World!!!!!

i'm in france. and it's pretty wild. so pretty much i cant type on a french keyboard, but that's all good. it's been unbelievable. so pretty much i'll try and get everything said that i need to, but a lot has happened. but i'll just go for it.

Like half the time, I can understand what people say, and the other half I can't. The true french people talk so fast, and I feel like a noob when I try and talk, but that's okay. I'm already starting to understand a lot more, and it's going super great.

The day leaving the airplane was #2CHAINZ. I was so happy to get out of the MTC at that point. We woke up at 4:30 , then drove to the TRAX place to get to the airport. I sat next to Soeur Wallace on the flight to CHicago. Everybody looked at the army of missionaries funny, just walking through Chicago. My first meal outside of the MTC was stinking McDonald's. Haha. On the ride to London, I sat next to Soeur Baggs, and some German dude, I really wanted to talk to him, but I couldn't. Language barrier. Haha. When we landed in London, we literally had to sprint to catch our flight to Lyon. Everybody in the Heathro airport laughed at all the missionaries running. I was talking in an English accent the whole time. We sat next to this French dude on the flight to Lyon. We had to wait in the Lyon Airport for like 2 hours because our bags were left in LONDON!!!!! Not a single missionary had their bags! Some people were pretty mad haha. We then met President Roney. We got a sack lunch, then went to the mission office. It was weird being in France. We all just chilled for a while there, and got interviewed by president. He polished my shoes, what a nice president. Then we went "contacting". It was SO SCARY. I dind't know what to say the whole time. It was pretty much just for getting the courage to say bonjour. I sat next to this guy on the metro, said bonjour, then another guy came and pointed to my plaque, then they both laughed. What a way to start, right? :) So that night we had dinner at President Roneys, then finally went to a hotel where we were staying for the night. It was like 11 at this time. It had been 35 hours since sleeping.
That next morning, I went to do legality. I had to take my shirt off so they could do some xray things. Wethen went tot hte chapel, and got taught by Pres. Roney and his wife. That's when all the trainers came in, and we found out who our new companions were. My new companion was ELDER BRAD NYE!!!!

BRAD NYE!!!!!

I new him before my mission. How crazy is that? He was a runner for Davis, and was fast. So it's cool we're companions. Our zone is called Val de Saone. It's like half an hour from Lyon. I will put up the pictures.
So we've already taught some lessons and gone contacting and stuff. It's kind of scary to go contacting, but it's nice to have Elder Nye next to me when somebody saays something that I don't know how to respond to.

The Lord loves all of you!

Elder Walker

Because I'm so close to the mission office, It'd be cool to just send letters to the mission office. I don't know what the address is..... so find it. haha. Lyon business centre 59 Rue de l'abondance. in lyon. something like that, look it up haha\

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The Last Week!

Bonjour. Hello. Bonjour.

So I'm finally on the last week in the MTC. In exactly one week, I will be in FRANCE. I leave Monday morning. I go to Chicago, then to London, then to Lyon. Yes (high five).

So this past week was basically just another week in the MTC. Lots of studying, and my french is really coming along. I'm sad that I gotta leave my killer companion, Elder Lythgoe, but that's fine. He's a lil' rat. This week is supposed to be super good, starting tomorrow. Our teachers are finally going to tell us about their missions, we have in field orientation, and we have the departure devotional thingy.

The other day, we gave Soeur Erickson a blessing. The spirit was so thick in there, I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. It was wild. Lately, I've really been getting into Jesus the Christ. I've learned a whole truckload already. It's just like I'm making loads of connections and stuff. Pretty cool.

So Elder Lloyd from my stake is in my building thingy. He is just across the hall from me. He is going to Canada. He is also in the same residence halls place, so that's pretty cool. I also got to see some of my friends this week. Elder McQuivey and Elder Burnett. That was so crazy seeing them. I almost started crying it was so awesome.

Well that's really all I can think of. I really love the MTC, it's a super spiritual place, and my testimony has grown so much here. I went to the temple for the last time in two years today, so that was weird thinking about that. But hey, I'm going away so other people can have that opportunity. Totes worth it. Haha. 

Well, wish me luck in France.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Little Rats

Hello!

So less then two weeks until I'm in France, so that's pretty exciting. I am ready to get out of here. It's a pretty cool place and all... but yeah. I've had enough of the brown walls everyday and the Pit of Despair. But still, I think this week was my favorite one of all. Basically lots of studying, but still.

Everyday I pretty much study until my brain is about to blow up from all the scriptures and French and..... Happiness. :) We've been teaching both our teachers as investigators, and it's really been starting to get so much better.  Elder Lythgoe has really been picking up French so much as well. In the lessons, we can actually speak french decently well, and I understand like ninety percent all the time. We do these things called TRC's where we just go and talk to people who speak french, and that really helps a lot too. But who knows. I bet once I get in France, I'll be in shock about how little I understand.... But that's okay.

My district is so dang cool. We are all best friends. Each week, we draw a paper with a persons name in our district and write them a letter. This week I got Soeur Erickson. I basically just let my brain go. I was just typing whatever came to my head, I didn't really say anything about her for two and a half pages. She was pretty mad about that. I said things like "The dragon of the West eats apple pie summer hummer... Fly the scorpion to the bottom river in the jungle book bear scratching his back... Avatar Aang." 

.......

So she wasn't very happy about that. But it was FUNNY! :) Haha.

This Sunday was the best day at the MTC so far. Since it was fast Sunday, we had a conference thing where all the missionaries in the Provo MTC listen to the MTC Presidency for two hours. I said the opening prayer. I sat up on the stand with them and felt so gnarly. I was so nervous to just say a prayer, but it was still a pretty cool experience. Way to represent the R-Town, eh? Afterwards, people I didn't know told me I said a good prayer, and I was like yeah. I'm famous. Well only like five people did, but still.

Afterwards, I saw..... COOPER CAMPBELL!!!!!!!! MY CHILDHOOD HOMIE FROM DRAPER!!!!!!! We literally shed some tears at that. Oh my gosh the tender mercies!!!! I walked out of the chapel after our Branch's sacrament, and he was just out in the hallway. He asked me what my first name was because he saw my name tag was, so then I told him, then he was like, "Dude. I'm Cooper Campbell!" I dropped my stuff and hugged the sweet living lights out of that boy. I was so happy to see him!!!! AHASKJDF:LSKDJF:OSI I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HAPPENED! So sick.

I had breakfast in the temple this morning. I good break from the MTC. Haha.

"Don't let your life pass you by." -Andy Bernard
"Alright you little rats, shut your snouts." -Me
"Holy cats." -Elder Lythgoe

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Talofa. Bonjour. France (From Tuesday, 7/29)

Bonjour everybody!!!!

So this past week was just basically a week of a lot of studying. But that's okay, because I like that! Each week gets better than the week before. But I also want to get out of here. No more MTC for me! Only 20 more days till France. (high five) 

So I really love learning about the life of Christ. It's my favorite thing to study. I bought Jesus the Christ, and I started reading it. It's bigger than a gorilla. But I love it. I also bought a little light thing. At night, I hide under the blanket and read it, even thought that's technically against the rules. But I LOVE IT AHHAHAHAHALSKDJ:LIEWPOFJVBSXOFHOEFcn   v  vfv 

I have really just been getting into the motion of things. Get up, study and die, eat, study and die, eat study and die, the RUN MY HEART OUT DURING GYM TIME. What a joy. Elder Otteson and I have been running again. Apparantly the mile here is super slow, so we're going to get it tomorrow. Well, that's the goal. 

I'll put up pictures next week because I forgot to bring my camera to the computer lab thingy room.

I still feel like I'm living in Lord of the Rings. Elder Lythgoes #SWAG levels are overloaded. I'm the king of the rock.

Word.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

The Pit of Despair - Week 2

Bonjour!!

I lived another week. Each day the MTC just gets better and better. I LOVE THIS PLACEEEEE AAAHAJSL:DKjdf;lkgnas;ldfknasd;lvjk!!!!

But at the same time... Get me in France. Haha. Days here feel like weeks, but weeks feel like days... It's so weird.

So basically, I blew up from spiritual overload. Haha.

Wednesday, it was kind of cool to see all the new people come in. It was also nice to not be wearing a dork dot. We call our classroom the Pit of Despair because once you're in there, you're never going out. Three sessions a day, four hours each lesson. I engulf my beautiful soul into beautiful french, beautiful doctrine, and beautiful scripture. I am a level 12349817234 Wizard. Spartan 117.

Thursday was just another day. With MAAARRRYYY. Me and Soeur Bell always sing Disney songs every single day. Our favorite is the one from Hercules where it's like "No chance, no way, I won't say it no, no." And we get up and dance (even though dancing is against mission rules). It's so fun! I can't wait to get my camera (mom and dad.......) so you guys can see what it's like in the Pit of Despair.

"Getting jiggy with it." -Will Smith

FUTBOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! That's my lyfe now. Me and Elder Lythgoe are the kings of the soccer field. Well actually, Elder Lythgoe is. He is a soccer fairy. So I haven't been running for the past week. I've just been killing hooligans at soccer.

Friday was A Day To Remember (lol). This was one of the highlights of my whole mission experience so far. I woke up, and had the distinct impression that I would need my oil that night. I made sure I had it. That now, Soeur Nelson was feeling super horrible. I was the only elder in my district who had oil on them. OOOOOH. That was the first blessing I ever gave. I was kind of nervous, but it was such a spiritual experience. I almost cried haha. I can't ever be the prophet because I cry too much.

Sunday is definitely my favorite day of the week. It's just a good day because we don't have classroom time, so my brain kind of gets a break. That night we had a devotional, and all the missionaries from the West Campus went to it too. I say MICHAEL BLUTH!!!! HOLLAAAA!!!!! It was so nice to see my home dawg skillet. I almost cried I was so happy to see him. Oh man, I love life. (fist bump)

Yesterday was Elder Lythgoe's birthday. That was so funny. When Souer Hill (our other french teacher) came in to teach us, we sang him happy birthday. I got him out of his chair and twirled him around. Also that day, I don't really know what happened, but after lunch I was walking to the classroom, and I was thinking about Christ (The MTC sorta has that effect on you). It was super humbling to thing about what He did for me. And I get to have His name on my chest? Like wow. That night in our room, there was much festivities. Elder Lythgoe got a birthday cake, chips and salsa, and some other stuff. It was so fun. I felt like I was in Lord of the Rings. Also, Soeur Bell got Lord of the Rings Legos and a magic 8 ball. So that was fun.

Basically, everybody in my district is awesome. We are all such good friends now. We all love each other.

Every Tuesday morning, we get to go to the temple. I LOVE THE TEMPLE!!!!! So that's kinda cool. I guess.

"You SHALL NOT PASS!!!" -Gandalf

"Mr Kraaaaaabs..... I have an IDEAAAAAAAAAA." -Spongebob

"I'm tired of diggin', Grandpa!!!" "Well that's just too dang bad!!!" -Holes
"I'm tired of studyin', Lythgoe!!!" "Well that's just too dang bad!!!" -Me and Elder Lythgoe

Peace out diggy dawgs

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

The Woman's Bathroom - First E-mail EVER

Talofa! Bonjour!

So hi! My P-Day is on tuesday, so get jiggy with it.

So I guess I'll start from the beginning. 

Wednesday was absolutely insane. I get all my stuff, then my host takes me to what will be my classroom for the next six weeks. Well, five now. I knock on the door, walk in, then BAM! Nothing but solid french for the next three and a half hours. I couldn't stop smiling the whole time because, as it turns out, my four years of french came in handy. I understood basically everything that Frere Pistorius, our awesome teacher, was saying. He kept looking at me when I had my big smile, and always just laughed. I love learning french. It's SO fun. I also wore the greenie sticker. I got "Welcome to the MTC" about 129384712093847 times.

So the companionships in my district are my and Elder Joshua Lythgoe. He's from Heber and played soccer. He used to have long luscious hair, and we are basically best friends now. And the other ones are Elder Hynynen, Elder Boynton, and Elder Otteson. Elder Hynynen is from Toronto. Elder Boynton is from London. I have to try hard not to talk in an accent. Haha. And Elder Otteson is from Seattle. The sisters are Soeur Nelson with Soeur Bell, and Soeur Stevens with Soeur Erickson. Soeur Stevens is basically a replica of Kimmie.

So day two in the MTC was definitely the longest so far, but it was still good. Basically, the major highlight of that night was we met our branch presidency. We all got interviewed. I don't know what went through their heads in choosing this, but I'm the District Leader! And I'm the Senior Companion. Basically, being the DL means I'm the Super Senior Companion over everybody in the district.... And I grab their mail. Haha. I also have to attend meetings with the Branch Presidency on Sundays. But I like it. It's a good time.

So that Friday, we had a service project to start out the morning. Elder Lythgoe and I had to clean bathrooms. I can officially say I've been in the girls bathroom, so you can check that off my bucketlist. I also had to plunge the toilet in the handicap bathroom, so I guess it's a good thing I learned that one time. As it turns out, our district (everybody in my classroom) is like one of the most advanced french groups ever. Elder Lythgoe and Soeur Erickson are the only ones who really struggle, but they're already starting to get the hang of it. We also memorized our missionary objective, and now the First Vision. I'm going to try to memorize one scripture mastery in french every day. What else am I going to do with my eleven hours of study time? Also that night, we had our first gym time. I ran with Elder Otteson because he is also a runner! He walked on at BYU last year, he's pretty fast. And I can overview a quick missionary exchange like that super fast since I'm the DL. We saw Elder Sam Sorenson (A runner from Mountain View who signed to BYU) and his companion, Elder Tanner Driggs (A kid from RHS). It was honestly SO nice to be able to run with them. I won't have to worry about getting fat in the MTC, hallelujah. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've lost weight. Also that night, we taught our first lesson... in french. Elder Lythgoe kind of just sat there while I stumbled through the french I knew, but it was good.

Saturday was also awesome. Nothing really exciting happened that day. The only real highlights were when we taught Stephanie (our investigator), and all the study time. I was worried about whether or not I'd use the study time wisely before my mission, but I actually never want it to end! Everybody always gets way into it. We ran that night with the same group.

Sunday was a real toughie. Usually, it's supposed to be like the day that you get refueled, but I got a cold. I was miserable for the first part of the day. But by the end of the day, I was really starting to feel lots better. The blessings of heaven, yo wiggity wack. Basically, it was attend Sunday meetings. Soeur Erickson asked me if she could get a priesthood blessing, because she was struggling and stressed with the language. Me and Elder Lythgoe talked with her one on one (or two on one, whatever), and basically comforted her, telling her she shouldn't worry. Elder Lythgoe gave the blessing. That was honestly the most spiritual experience of the whole MTC experience so far. All the sisters were in tears. HAHAHA LOL SO FUNNY JK NOT REALLY. I told Elder Lythgoe he gave a super good blessing, but he said, "Thanks Elder Walker, but it wasn't me." OH MAN HE'S SO COOL

Monday was just another day. We taught our last lesson with Stephanie. We only taught three lessons with her because we all found out that she's married to Frere Pistorius, and they want us to take the lessons here as serious as possible. That night, we played soccer for gym. I scored the first goal. After I scored it, I and the rest of the Elders from my district yelled GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!! We should've said BUUUUUUUUUUUT, because that's goal in french, but whatevs.

"Gettin' jiggy with it." -Will Smith