tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74259283783692680112024-03-05T19:44:05.073-08:00Sister Courtney Walker: Maceió Brazil MissionSpreading the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to the wonderful people of Maceió Brazil for 18 months!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07260466375164530000noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-61334634550500852082016-12-13T15:57:00.000-08:002016-12-13T15:57:12.500-08:00December 13, 2016 - This Is The End!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCSZyxLKCR3rK519U6uT9g2OaXhCUTcGWe9Ghf92sFhnliwk71eni4FTRbaDZVH1-7vSY3aSDvg_nxB_0q_fSEEvE4PkVqjhr6Po8oPgD02k4zusSAINir7guExMDcuB5P_nEDeo2CeM/s1600/Farewell+Party+For+Courtney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCSZyxLKCR3rK519U6uT9g2OaXhCUTcGWe9Ghf92sFhnliwk71eni4FTRbaDZVH1-7vSY3aSDvg_nxB_0q_fSEEvE4PkVqjhr6Po8oPgD02k4zusSAINir7guExMDcuB5P_nEDeo2CeM/s400/Farewell+Party+For+Courtney.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Farewell Party For Courtney<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">queridos irmãos e irmãs..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The email that I never in my life thought I would get to, has
arrived.... now I know what the scriptures mean when they say the great and
dreadful day of the Lord is upon us...</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wow what a strange feeling to be writing to you guys knowing I’ll
get to see your real life faces in less than a week now. I’m writing this mass
email and not sending individual ones because I have to write quick and get out
of here and also because I’m kind of at a loss for words right now to explain
what is going on in my head and my heart. So it’s better to just save up the
few words I have to use when I get home. So sorry for the lack of personal
replies this week but I read and loved your emails! I’ve been thinking about
how much my family has sustained me during my mission, that I never had to
worry about if they were okay, if they were writing to me, or if they were going
to church, that in and of itself is a huge blessing that not 20% of the
missionaries here have. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yesterday I got special permission from Presidente to visit Estancia
which was the most amazing experience. I got to see some members and the family
of Magna and Cinval that are all active in the church now and have callings and
are preparing to go to the temple. It was amazing to talk about the stories
about when we contacted them in the street and their son thought we were Jehovah’s
Witnesses and when we would ask them if they prayed and they would give some
excuse that they forgot, it was incredible to hear their side of the story. I
had got there kind of late and the daughter, Gabi that’s 12, was waiting on the
porch when I started down the street with the Elders there, she saw me and ran
inside ´´mom she’s here she really came!!´´ I’ll have to tell you more when I
get home. Wow. Most amazing experience!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I also got to see all of your videos this week at Laleska’s
house. Holy cow you don’t know how much I cried like a big baby. hahaha We were
eating Brasilian treats and hot dogs after a family night there and all of a sudden
I heard Sydney’s voice and I whipped around and her big head was on the
computer screen talking to me in a language I wasn’t understanding and I just
cried and cried to hear your voices. I cried through all the videos even Spencer’s
that was 4.5 seconds long. It’s the thought that counts right? ;) thank you
guys!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But this week I just sucked my tears and nerves up and went to
work. We walked and sweat and taught and testified which is exactly how I wanted
to spend my last week in the field. There are few things better than getting to
an investigators house and asking them if they prayed, if they read the Book of
Mormon, and they say ´´yes, I felt something different just like you said I
would.´´ What I love about a mission is that you don’t have to worry about
yourself, not in one single moment. You get to find yourself and who you are,
serving others and trying to figure out what their needs are instead of
focusing on your own. That is something precious I have learned here. That we
come to truly know the Savior here not just because we´re always talking about
Him, but because we are also sometimes cast out, rejected, mocked, our
intentions questioned, but above all we serve in some partial limited capacity
like He served. I am humbled and grateful to have walked a few measly steps of
the path that He walked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I truly loved my last area. I love the members and my
investigators. They are an imperfect people of course, but you just can’t help
but love them so much. I don’t know if I’ve done a super great job of
bearing my testimony for you guys or the spiritual truths I’ve learned here,
but I want you to know that my testimony is truly the most precious thing I
have gained here. I don’t know everything about the church or the gospel but I know
that I have pleaded and conversed and truly talked with our Father in Heaven
and He has many times given me clear and real guidance and direction. I know He
calls real and living prophets on the earth because I feel the confirmation every
time I hear them speak. I know this gospel to be true, not because my parents
told me, but because I prayed to know, and I have been praying and studying a
year and a half to be sure. He truly knows us and loves us, I can’t explain it
any better than that. If we want to truly follow Him, if we want to truly be
like Him one day, we will follow the example of our dear Savior, in word and in
deed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I feel that I’m coming home half hearted, because I’ll be leaving
the other half here in Brasil. I feel like it has been very little that I have
given back to the Savior after all that He has done for me. I will forever be
in His debt. My mission here in Maceio has come to an end but there is a whole
lifetime of dedicated service I am ready to take on now, with Him by my side.
He is the most important thing in my life, and that is something that I didn’t
know while I was at home. Thank you for all your support, I love you all to the
moon and back! a minha família é maravilhosa, nunca pensei que ia sentir tanto
saudade de um lugar e nunca pensei que ia ser mais difícil para sair do que foi
para chegar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’ll see you all Sunday! :) até domingo!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-74062292757809858522016-12-05T14:01:00.001-08:002016-12-05T14:01:47.118-08:00December 5, 2016 - Endure To The End....The Very End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1eHI-DO-aKO6C44xopCHpbWpqN6nabK1Ed3d9EuAQYZBQDO7U_tT5XawvhXEDxpaa_fETyO8POhk2z0_o1m8QfzvtTI_9lYXV6wuty-o0OCBTCdLDkaJkpt1xU4L7GkLhyvJtsb5Glg/s1600/An+Elders+Birthday+Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1eHI-DO-aKO6C44xopCHpbWpqN6nabK1Ed3d9EuAQYZBQDO7U_tT5XawvhXEDxpaa_fETyO8POhk2z0_o1m8QfzvtTI_9lYXV6wuty-o0OCBTCdLDkaJkpt1xU4L7GkLhyvJtsb5Glg/s400/An+Elders+Birthday+Party.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
At An Elders Birthday Party<br />
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Courtney And Sister Lauder In Itaporanga<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4yJ1d-An9EE15L-16N4v7y2oGjPrRFPp9Q1xn5389l3znEqAZQmf8QcLNf01NSAxjtY-k_AgWSakvRO0LhygjqwdnhVuN3g8ArL8HIxAIeGM9l1x0363X5baphYlTcEyt-EnAmsHClI/s1600/Courtney+%2526+Sis+Lauder+on+Splits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4yJ1d-An9EE15L-16N4v7y2oGjPrRFPp9Q1xn5389l3znEqAZQmf8QcLNf01NSAxjtY-k_AgWSakvRO0LhygjqwdnhVuN3g8ArL8HIxAIeGM9l1x0363X5baphYlTcEyt-EnAmsHClI/s400/Courtney+%2526+Sis+Lauder+on+Splits.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Courtney And Sister Lauder On Splits<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxP1fRDJdKUHiHE0M_lLjBJnQmopUVp1j29xS25pHde3PXWYWT8ujimbiwlfj53zxPMqvmG9z1x4xeqQoZ4saBCumzAnMzaNGdRxjIAGN7Ei7Xm3-I_Sf1DLsiuubDPLBmONlqHxS2rw/s1600/Eliane%2527s+Baptism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxP1fRDJdKUHiHE0M_lLjBJnQmopUVp1j29xS25pHde3PXWYWT8ujimbiwlfj53zxPMqvmG9z1x4xeqQoZ4saBCumzAnMzaNGdRxjIAGN7Ei7Xm3-I_Sf1DLsiuubDPLBmONlqHxS2rw/s400/Eliane%2527s+Baptism.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Eliane's Baptism<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifseDj3eVGphN6SV2m02_i3042XdVyxYmKznm3N1AWo5nxcdFVrGQ35vvSS93bTCNtBCYhQ6DtnUUWKdiwx5we96cCrZSHko-9ZvgVKSDZBjXMbGhXmTE-R0jd3dlZARPThg5Q9-7lhxg/s1600/Zone+in+Eduardo+Gomes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifseDj3eVGphN6SV2m02_i3042XdVyxYmKznm3N1AWo5nxcdFVrGQ35vvSS93bTCNtBCYhQ6DtnUUWKdiwx5we96cCrZSHko-9ZvgVKSDZBjXMbGhXmTE-R0jd3dlZARPThg5Q9-7lhxg/s400/Zone+in+Eduardo+Gomes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Sister Menezes And Courtney With Their Zone<br />
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last two weeks of my mission..... but we are truckin along people don’t you
worry!!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So it was a wild wild week. I have never seen the adversary work
SO hard against someone a whole week long so she wouldn’t be baptized. But we
were with our investigator Eliane every step of the way this week and she was
baptized! It was a really special day for us here. But honestly I have never
seen so many afflictions happen in the same week-just to keep her from being
baptized. One day it was her mom and sisters and family that told her she wasn’t
ready, the next she lost her job, the next her long lost lover came back to ask
her to marry him and tried to buy her love, the next she didn’t feel prepared
enough and was doubting herself. My goodness I was up to my eardrums in
problems this week. But every day we got there and could calm her down and
remember how important this decision was and how she had been prepared by the Lord
for a lot of time before she met the church. How the Lord wants our heart and
our humility and our commitment instead of our knowledge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After her baptism where everything went wrong, from no one
showing up, to the men in the ward forgetting to fill the font, to not having
plates for the cake, all my frustration was washed away when I went up to hug
her and she held me tight and said ´´thank you sister, thank you, thank you so
much, I am so happy´´. That really made it all worth it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I also am kind of freaking out because I won’t take the
sacrament again until Christmas because this Sunday is a stake event and the
next I’ll be traveling... any ideas? Is there a branch that meets in the
afternoon at home?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How blessed and humbled I am to be able to be a small part in
the Saviors work here, that He trusts us enough with all of our errors and
flaws and weaknesses to carry His name. I will be very sad to take His name off
of my chest. I know how much He anxiously waits for each one of His brothers to
come back into the right path. This is His church and there’s not any other one
that can give us that surety! I know that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now just one more email, this is my last week of work in the
field because on the 14th I’ll travel to Maceio to be interviewed with
Presidente Gomes and hang out until my flight on Saturday. So I’ll talk to
you all soon! Love you so much!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ps the pics are of an elders bday party I did here, our baptism
with Eliane and her mom and son, and when I got to go on splits with Sister
Lauder in Itaporanga this week!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-42309105968208619242016-11-28T12:15:00.003-08:002016-11-28T12:15:34.183-08:00November 28, 2016 - Pictures Speak 1000 Words?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSZgUvZWgDU0hO8vOMAVHOSdHhaLMqW4qnSMC-XuZixWzKdCwq-UTTm5SVh8uq3rDowVHCSp137bd77LiDVr4NoT9Vploq7Se8yX8d3S7r-2nYlQCH-SLn4FAB4iev06qPHpWnuTn14U/s1600/Courtney+and+Sis+Menezes+and+member+of+their+ward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSZgUvZWgDU0hO8vOMAVHOSdHhaLMqW4qnSMC-XuZixWzKdCwq-UTTm5SVh8uq3rDowVHCSp137bd77LiDVr4NoT9Vploq7Se8yX8d3S7r-2nYlQCH-SLn4FAB4iev06qPHpWnuTn14U/s400/Courtney+and+Sis+Menezes+and+member+of+their+ward.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Courtney And Sister Menezes With Some Ward Members<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ89ufxAxIZfbBVwvD42FhqCbyTy_tG9XATs4teatlDZoO0_Mx0FOJLUIgnqDMrQwinlZp7OzI2Lk1S1LalkZcD4Xv4XEug2aIx3bf8Py1ce9LE2ykzVG931-MDEunR9dj4eot0QLKCcQ/s1600/Courtney+with+fruit+tree+with+fruit+similar+to+cherries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ89ufxAxIZfbBVwvD42FhqCbyTy_tG9XATs4teatlDZoO0_Mx0FOJLUIgnqDMrQwinlZp7OzI2Lk1S1LalkZcD4Xv4XEug2aIx3bf8Py1ce9LE2ykzVG931-MDEunR9dj4eot0QLKCcQ/s400/Courtney+with+fruit+tree+with+fruit+similar+to+cherries.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Courtney By A Fruit Tree With Fruit Similar To Cherries<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98kf2iFU3jWWcm5OxdcmawnZxbaAg7sUVoh9NW6iwdRtBUYtYFZe2Q-iuqlrqAmSGSBRhyphenhyphenGahTCEbnrTqaSrnBI9jZyvKyAGA9VwHdZyxGc8-UOwwUptrxikfHcUv2GN2KhaVeLeKll4/s1600/Courtney+with+some+holiday+cheer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98kf2iFU3jWWcm5OxdcmawnZxbaAg7sUVoh9NW6iwdRtBUYtYFZe2Q-iuqlrqAmSGSBRhyphenhyphenGahTCEbnrTqaSrnBI9jZyvKyAGA9VwHdZyxGc8-UOwwUptrxikfHcUv2GN2KhaVeLeKll4/s400/Courtney+with+some+holiday+cheer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Holiday Santa/Soccer Cheer<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc02sAl5ngFyngR8yBHKOmQYJk6iKKq95AReSRajGSxqHQKT8K3vzJ6IKAB_Yo8W7wRxeIufXb9gt2BovGaH9oCGe5CM6nimNhhPgGS15uiACPNhfTS_VTYJdO8U-Tvw3zr2aV-Wcm3Y/s1600/Mission+meeting%252C+elders+from+Arapiraca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc02sAl5ngFyngR8yBHKOmQYJk6iKKq95AReSRajGSxqHQKT8K3vzJ6IKAB_Yo8W7wRxeIufXb9gt2BovGaH9oCGe5CM6nimNhhPgGS15uiACPNhfTS_VTYJdO8U-Tvw3zr2aV-Wcm3Y/s400/Mission+meeting%252C+elders+from+Arapiraca.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Sister Menezes, Courtney And Elders From Arapiraca<br />
At A Mission Meeting<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hello good people of America!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here’s the week update: we are going to have the baptism of Irmã
Eliane this Saturday, woohoo! She’s super excited! It is amazing to
hear her testimony. Usually the people we teach know that we have something
different but don’t know really how to recognize it or explain it. But she’s
different. She already has been to so many churches she gave up. She thought
the Mormons were a cult who didn’t believe in Jesus! And now she’s going to be
one! Who knew? She talks about how her life is so much more fulfilling, it has
a purpose and she feels the presence of Jesus Christ in her life after she
started reading the Book of Mormon. That book is the key people! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’m also not embarrassed to say that we may or may not be
getting a lot more people to church just because I use the excuse ´´but I’m going
back to America and I’ll never see you guys again!´´ and then they feel bad for
me and go to church. Hey, every teaching technique is welcome and utilized
here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have also gotten three invites this week to not go back to America
but to stay here and live with people, all three were from children I teach or
ward member’s kids, but still. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Funny story of the week is that we were walking down the street
and there was a little stubby chubby old shirtless man walking down the street obviously
drunk, stumbling all over the place. Then he starts to pull out something black
from his pants and turns out its a huuuuge machete that was somehow hidden away
there. He takes the machete and to himself he’s mumbling ´´I’m gonna rob ya... I’m
gonna rob ya´´ hahaha. I was laughing so hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways I try my best to just think of my work here, if I start
to think of anything else I start to have mini panic attacks. But it’s all
good! The Lord will provide a way, I’ve come to know that. I know His true
church is this one! I may not understand it 100% but I know I feel it inside of
me, and that’s something no one can ever take away from us. I love my mission! And
I love you guys! See you soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-49089036287257949292016-11-21T16:13:00.000-08:002016-11-21T16:13:37.114-08:00November 21, 2016 - "When You Go Back To America, Will You Leave Your Hair Here With Us?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPX-5evoaWPJzaCjCsSQAWhGwBaLCIKtkji0_a2j7BLLlugP6sqSvhhiQNWua0DoIkx4cWN0Z1CfkU5z_4gQC01Mn8BpKSFsot0GbIE8yTtzmo8Dfbb2K0kUAqu5KD0UkWBKAbaS6NCR0/s1600/In+Eduardo+Gomes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPX-5evoaWPJzaCjCsSQAWhGwBaLCIKtkji0_a2j7BLLlugP6sqSvhhiQNWua0DoIkx4cWN0Z1CfkU5z_4gQC01Mn8BpKSFsot0GbIE8yTtzmo8Dfbb2K0kUAqu5KD0UkWBKAbaS6NCR0/s640/In+Eduardo+Gomes.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Courtney On The Street Where She Lives In Eduardo Gomes<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Happy turkey day to everyone in the states!! I officially remembered
that it was this week when I read mom’s email 2 minutes ago. I am thankful for
the Savior, for Brasil, for my companion and for the scriptures. Oh and my
family. And yes that quote is a real life experience from the Sister Walker
diaries during relief society yesterday.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways there are some new occurrences here in the mission and
we have been reduced to use the computers for only 45 minutes so if I don’t
respond to everyone just hold all your questions and thoughts and commentaries
for just a few more weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our week was good here but lots of people gave us back the
pamphlets we had given them.... funny how other weeks when everyone wants to
listen to you and then the next one no one wants to answer their door... haha.
Paulo is hiding from us and avoiding our calls sooo there’s that. On to the
next one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I learned something really special this week, I realized that
something I will never forget is the look in someone’s eyes who thought their
whole life that there isn’t life after death, when we teach them that there
exists a whole lot more than that waiting for them. It’s almost as if their
spirit is inside there jumping for joy to read that, while their human mind is
trying to process how that is possible. We taught a woman named Raimunda who
had taken care of her mom while she was sick and then watched her die by her
side, and the church she was going to taught that our time is now and there isn’t
anything after death. That was a really good lesson.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I also got to give a talk in the ward yesterday on good ole
fashioned missionary work. I may or may not have cried a little at the end. And
it wasn’t even my birthday... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here is a pic of my street, next door we live by a school that
is shaped like a castle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love you all very much! We pray for you, the ward members and
my investigators pray for you as well. até logo! se cuidam!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-23818066594404889332016-11-14T09:04:00.000-08:002016-11-14T09:04:44.597-08:00November 14, 2016 - Trump Time...?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qsWiWT9fUky1jVveEe35Yuls1cp_QJZYEx3LCLtCNvSEYvknrf-5QlDmMuWkbyzLSJg2MLwfay-fPi442Bo8tMT4RDclr2gG3rojOQ0IlYiUkDExDYThbFAztLzLABpDyhu45qxgHCQ/s1600/District+Meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qsWiWT9fUky1jVveEe35Yuls1cp_QJZYEx3LCLtCNvSEYvknrf-5QlDmMuWkbyzLSJg2MLwfay-fPi442Bo8tMT4RDclr2gG3rojOQ0IlYiUkDExDYThbFAztLzLABpDyhu45qxgHCQ/s400/District+Meeting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Courtney's District<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZH2ioOYRABFCIWsjJFPFIK5cqjnpPmQroHB03SdlBxkqUzbXE0nNv8lZvx-rbM06MUE2SHOyL-TS5vZNSQ4XHjukiNdIQXYj-oWl6_KNmA1EjcHBAtz5VI5kqT6sr9nsz127uEXOD9w/s1600/Eating+a+hamburger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZH2ioOYRABFCIWsjJFPFIK5cqjnpPmQroHB03SdlBxkqUzbXE0nNv8lZvx-rbM06MUE2SHOyL-TS5vZNSQ4XHjukiNdIQXYj-oWl6_KNmA1EjcHBAtz5VI5kqT6sr9nsz127uEXOD9w/s400/Eating+a+hamburger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Enjoying A Brasilian Hamburger<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5r5Bpp2-lKSkngk2s_806DpKA-7dehO_hrYchmE8ZvSFij-FmcQVOU6_xcy8ks_BPT3G8dCMwOzPm9CQjL25Xldy0uHrASephs0sTxuLlfk9BI0B7a6jdseb29mM2E1LR4Sqy60CQWc/s1600/Hamburger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5r5Bpp2-lKSkngk2s_806DpKA-7dehO_hrYchmE8ZvSFij-FmcQVOU6_xcy8ks_BPT3G8dCMwOzPm9CQjL25Xldy0uHrASephs0sTxuLlfk9BI0B7a6jdseb29mM2E1LR4Sqy60CQWc/s400/Hamburger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Hamburgers Come With Corn Included<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41ERk19X2WMtiGQWF3T1gGZofA48G372ojfDfyNDAlizQEQKaIMyy2FZjppDfELKlvk5t4xIpJTX0wz7ckB-wrS-6anvrsUzhsESIt3-6j2GNFVg22xt1VHEqtTaAn4YvV0JRTNhSiq8/s1600/Nephi%252C+Moroni%252C+Gabriel+and+Sis+Menezes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg41ERk19X2WMtiGQWF3T1gGZofA48G372ojfDfyNDAlizQEQKaIMyy2FZjppDfELKlvk5t4xIpJTX0wz7ckB-wrS-6anvrsUzhsESIt3-6j2GNFVg22xt1VHEqtTaAn4YvV0JRTNhSiq8/s400/Nephi%252C+Moroni%252C+Gabriel+and+Sis+Menezes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Cute Family Of Boys: Nephi, Moroni and Gabriel<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s get ready to TRUMPle!! </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Okay that’s all for my Donald Trump jokes for now I’m sure the
rest will come with time. (trumpleskilston..?) basically the entire Brasilian
population is now feeling that they have the right to laugh in my face due to
the fact that a horrible corrupt rich robber man is now president of my
country, as has always been the case here in Brasil... it’s a fun turn of
events here getting to hear a new snippet of info every day from someone on the
street or in the ward. Is there really going to be a giant wall dividing Mexico
and the states? How many wives does he have? These are the questions that haunt
me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But on for things that have real eternal significance in our
lives, transfers are in and I’m staying here in my area with Sister Menezes
until I leave for home. That is the only thing that stayed the same in the
mission, literally everyone got mixed up and moved around and it’s a wild
frenzy here right now. I just think ´´I’m not really worried about any of you
fools because in 5 weeks I’ll be in my own house in my pjs watching
Law and Order´´ and that gives me comfort. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But this week was good, we got smart and starting praying to
meet people who didn’t need to wait to be married to be baptized. And it
worked! We met some people who went to church for the first time. The only
horrible thing that happened was in the gospel principles class when we were
studying about the Book of Mormon. A nice and little bit crazy recent convert
decided to start talking about how the Book of Mormon even warns the world
about the catholic church which is the mother of all the abominations and all
of that, forgetting that the vast majority of people who visit the church are
catholic or their entire family is.... I sunk so low in my chair when she said
that and whispered to our investigator, Paulo, that that wasn’t true and she didn’t
know what she was talking about. We´ll see if he wants to come back... but we
met him, who is 18 and his grandma who started talking about how she’s been catholic
since she was born but always felt like there was something missing there. And
all of a sudden she says ´´I think I’m going to change my religion. I think I’m
going to go to this church of yours.´´ ding ding ding we have a winner!!! We´ll
get to teach her more this week to see how it goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other than that I’m excited to start my 1st transfer! Just 5 more
weeks and then I never get to wear my name badge any more... I think that’s going
to be the worst part. But until then I’m trying to just focus on helping my
companion and the area. There is a lot of work to be done! Have a great
week, take care of yourselves and I’ll see you soon! I love you all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-17371127077282782852016-11-07T16:51:00.000-08:002016-11-07T16:51:45.754-08:00November 7, 2016 - Baptism This Week!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdz9DD6klnhXCrjgwv76EhxhqXw94fnVJrmKGNsQe93kdsjZnPQ9Py517J6utarA9OXKtMEmfH86_MT3YFgegQG0XgbjHkcejmJt9vCQWK-NMAOu1Ixg8Fw3cecSKihkgabKAxufaLfZs/s1600/Junior%2527s+Baptism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdz9DD6klnhXCrjgwv76EhxhqXw94fnVJrmKGNsQe93kdsjZnPQ9Py517J6utarA9OXKtMEmfH86_MT3YFgegQG0XgbjHkcejmJt9vCQWK-NMAOu1Ixg8Fw3cecSKihkgabKAxufaLfZs/s640/Junior%2527s+Baptism.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Junior's Baptism<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FKKTcMCbE3D7LKt4SDgAm9qR_BYIgD1R4sBOs4HZqtKQNzhAynRe0bsuhj-dNl_WToJEpgVr__yhnqIEgl7Uxn8k_cQseCVN_bIXmLAO0Rj5EJUYahaKk_6V_R0e3mG3436_d1XFnbI/s1600/Sis+Custodio+%2528Sister+Trainer%2529+and+Courtney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FKKTcMCbE3D7LKt4SDgAm9qR_BYIgD1R4sBOs4HZqtKQNzhAynRe0bsuhj-dNl_WToJEpgVr__yhnqIEgl7Uxn8k_cQseCVN_bIXmLAO0Rj5EJUYahaKk_6V_R0e3mG3436_d1XFnbI/s640/Sis+Custodio+%2528Sister+Trainer%2529+and+Courtney.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Going On Splits With Sister Custodio<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZtrPg0anzkQGODwDatTUwhc7DICj-uVfS2zdiw573YtoXgM9sKxTX_30XQJWuOdFhHdtNohDs8qIuuz2qeqiwt7-J6rY6vpWd7rAngt0mSeygMpr99_PMI_mqF1hymoLgJpfiEYD59g/s1600/Sister+Menezes%252C+Loreina+and+Courtney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZtrPg0anzkQGODwDatTUwhc7DICj-uVfS2zdiw573YtoXgM9sKxTX_30XQJWuOdFhHdtNohDs8qIuuz2qeqiwt7-J6rY6vpWd7rAngt0mSeygMpr99_PMI_mqF1hymoLgJpfiEYD59g/s640/Sister+Menezes%252C+Loreina+and+Courtney.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Sister Menezes, Courtney and Baby Loreina<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wow I am already here writing another email, I can’t believe
that... so what can I say about this week? Oh we had a baptism that is good
news! It was a boy named Junior, he is a nephew of a member who really loves to
go to church but his family is kind of out of the loop so they never really
tried to help him get there. But we worked it out with his aunt and her family
to always take him with them, and they live on the same street so it’s perfect.
He is a really cute kid, he was super nervous for his interview with the elders
haha. He kept repeating the definitions of the word of wisdom and what a
prophet is and all of that so he wouldn’t forget. It was nice to have a lot of
good ward members there too to support him. That’s what I really love about
this ward, no matter how old you are or if you know the person or not, you’re
there to support all of Gods children. The people here are so genuine with
that-really look to serve and uplift and integrate others. Not everyone has
this perspective but since most everyone here is a convert they all know how it’s
like to start off in the church not knowing anyone and feeling overwhelmed. That’s
what I love about working in these areas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Other than that there’s not really anything to report, lots of
our investigators went to church but they all have to get married first... our
investigator progressing the most, her husband is in jail... so there’s that. We
are trying to figure out how to get them legally married while he is locked up.
This is true love people. Oh and I got to go on splits this week, but for the
first time in forever I was the one RECIEVING the instruction and help!! It was
so great. I didn’t have to worry about what to tell her to work on or anything I
just got to teach and meet people like a normal day. What a wonderful world it
is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways that’s all I’ve got folks, I hope you all are praying
not just for the missionaries but being agents and praying so that you can each
be better missionaries! I think a lot about the scripture in Matthew 10:23 I
think, that says if we confess Christ’s name in front of men, He will also
confess ours at the last day. But if we negate His now (aka not talking about
the gospel), He will negate us too at the last day. Just food for thought ;) I love
you all and know you are capable missionaries!! Help someone out this week remember
their true heritage! I love you all até logo!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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ward-Loreina, who I have somewhat adopted as my own child, Juniors baptism with
his mom and sister who we´re also teaching but they have to quit selling meat on
Sundays to be baptized (and his mom has to get married-surprise surprise), and
the splits I went on with Sister Custodio! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-16715160376633486542016-10-31T19:25:00.000-07:002016-10-31T19:25:32.775-07:00October 31, 2016 - Happy Halloweiners!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGXr8gE-1Tp_0COdKrThofYxM1RtxSJVRktDMLIwCUagsxX-ZYU-sbcpMP74vt2K0bQ4JBkgwNL1WCUG4fMf-ii15Ki-U1y2mlNHjcIQkppIK7tNLVOvBcpxfbE6fZnPDYxpUEqQk5X4/s1600/Courtney+and+her+Halloween+Treats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGXr8gE-1Tp_0COdKrThofYxM1RtxSJVRktDMLIwCUagsxX-ZYU-sbcpMP74vt2K0bQ4JBkgwNL1WCUG4fMf-ii15Ki-U1y2mlNHjcIQkppIK7tNLVOvBcpxfbE6fZnPDYxpUEqQk5X4/s640/Courtney+and+her+Halloween+Treats.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Courtney With Her Halloween Treats<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVW2Wmj2FdopOwO6i8oyHyQmcuUnG2P-pV1CORwTZUtddSuu73Vb4WyAjKBrjdCYQoUv3IH8WwVPFtv-vIMifpmr8Di0NlaHdtNHB5bPIKujc-Z9gmbZIzcQ0kOqDpGLLJEJny_3N3FDs/s1600/Courtney+eating+crab+for+the+first+time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVW2Wmj2FdopOwO6i8oyHyQmcuUnG2P-pV1CORwTZUtddSuu73Vb4WyAjKBrjdCYQoUv3IH8WwVPFtv-vIMifpmr8Di0NlaHdtNHB5bPIKujc-Z9gmbZIzcQ0kOqDpGLLJEJny_3N3FDs/s640/Courtney+eating+crab+for+the+first+time.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Eating Crab For The First Time<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf93iZ6d5i5yQmcQqTcYBapQXkxOvhJoqe6kTodu_emexvRV1VY4jtuzfuJZhuLpy-9mHqb7flpAEJ1n3GDVbCOt6ETsfq8qo07PelVwXY9nhlTl1-6EICoZv-ifoNQb0NWSJ5ST0jdK8/s1600/Missionary+Training+Meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf93iZ6d5i5yQmcQqTcYBapQXkxOvhJoqe6kTodu_emexvRV1VY4jtuzfuJZhuLpy-9mHqb7flpAEJ1n3GDVbCOt6ETsfq8qo07PelVwXY9nhlTl1-6EICoZv-ifoNQb0NWSJ5ST0jdK8/s640/Missionary+Training+Meeting.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Missionary Training Meeting<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ux1k8yL4LbdYBUDXBpZJJKNQwEJa8V9eTu7ulOS2EGW7fhw5GYskiniAQYdjGGdDDX4TyOpVC2Ex-2dIERsJFIdhld6ORQm0MEflgda3e31KyI6qrv9wDMgBIBxvNNnVNzWZ75O6ybY/s1600/Pirate+Sis+Menezes+and+Elder+Courtney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ux1k8yL4LbdYBUDXBpZJJKNQwEJa8V9eTu7ulOS2EGW7fhw5GYskiniAQYdjGGdDDX4TyOpVC2Ex-2dIERsJFIdhld6ORQm0MEflgda3e31KyI6qrv9wDMgBIBxvNNnVNzWZ75O6ybY/s640/Pirate+Sis+Menezes+and+Elder+Courtney.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Sister Menezes The Pirate And Elder Courtney Walker On Halloween<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiIbf7eY91iq6txQesScE6mluapAEySPwt_UKD6eIgCO_E7B8mhM_CHlJ8wISJG3CtdUh387fEP7hbfmZFxPqgFPHrKVVzG6t-Wp-3hgCrHzmXiCRSDrvftNznMSbygbkji4UiePPqwA/s1600/Sis+Menezes+and+Courtney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiIbf7eY91iq6txQesScE6mluapAEySPwt_UKD6eIgCO_E7B8mhM_CHlJ8wISJG3CtdUh387fEP7hbfmZFxPqgFPHrKVVzG6t-Wp-3hgCrHzmXiCRSDrvftNznMSbygbkji4UiePPqwA/s640/Sis+Menezes+and+Courtney.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Sister Menezes and Courtney<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh and for Halloween as you can tell by the pictures I was an Elder
for Halloween and Sister Menezes was a pirate. I’m going to see what I can do
to go to a members house or two tonight to try trick or treating.... but they don’t
really do that here so everyone will be super confused why I’m asking for candy
on their doorstep...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways our week here was good, we tried to go to the government
with a couple to get them married but they got scared and ran away so it fell
through. We also had a meeting at the stake center for all the missionaries
training and being trained. Where they put us in 2 separate rooms basically to
interrogate us to see if the newbies would rat us out if we weren’t doing our
jobs right and to see if we were treating the newbies well. I’m glad to say I
passed with flying colors. Obviously... Sister Menezes even told everyone how
humble and patient and hard working I am. Three thumbs up and a pat on the back
from Presidente Gomes. Weiner! Oh and I got my package from mom, thank
you!!! Goldfish and peanut butter have never tasted so good!! Everyone at the
meeting was so intrigued by the beef jerky... <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am sending a bunch of photos hoping they will count for 1000
words here... I am in Siqueira Campos today (a different area in my zone) and
out of time because we had ´´pday with Presidente´´ which is basically code for
we´re not baptizing enough so he had our zone get together and brought us lunch
and told us to get our act together. It was interesting the things he said,
they made me think. He told us that not one act of service or force we make
goes unnoticed by the Lord. That was a good reminder for me after a week where I
felt like our sacrifices were less than valued here by the people we met. But
he talked about how we need to have a lot more faith, believe in the miracles
that the Lord promises are possible. Which is true-sometimes we get so caught
up in the day to day and the routine and talking with people on the street just
to say we talked with 20 or 30 people on the street that day, that we don’t
stop to realize that those are possible baptisms we´re talking to, those are
generations of Gods children waiting to be helped along the right path. It was
a good wake up call for me. It also made me really sad thinking that my time is
almost up here to prove how much I really am willing to serve the Lord. Obviously
we have our whole lives of dedicated service to show Him, but it will be in
other capacities that I’m worried won’t be as fulfilling for me. Its hard that
when I feel like I’m finally really good at something, that I know what I’m
doing, my time is already up. That is a hard feeling. But I’m working on not
thinking about that for now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">s/o to Sydney’s other name that I stumbled upon in Acts 24:24!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love you all very much. I hope you know that!! Have a great
week! até logo!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-20368753393281445772016-10-25T07:47:00.000-07:002016-10-25T07:47:31.250-07:00October 24, 2016 - Sister Orange...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtdOGmVeeJnD-M5aEbjZaxQjLWF2x6wzj3oivBgT12RAiDR0iUYjbp90_SXyy58XcIlVZ9Cnq36POcKgx3SeVOrInxszf0clhOPSF4TwagRBeeBhuW3O6owH-1oBAyv68sjDvbLmtLeU/s1600/Courtney+at+the+beach+in+Aracaju.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtdOGmVeeJnD-M5aEbjZaxQjLWF2x6wzj3oivBgT12RAiDR0iUYjbp90_SXyy58XcIlVZ9Cnq36POcKgx3SeVOrInxszf0clhOPSF4TwagRBeeBhuW3O6owH-1oBAyv68sjDvbLmtLeU/s640/Courtney+at+the+beach+in+Aracaju.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Courtney At The Beach At Aracaju<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKl6Mbq8Jl-EJkYNYzx08eiTg4md2piaSUkfpVgIPmadVIw7SmnlQkKHcZBKUnMsG9DVxE6yfEo6o89_2ntf3jjU4nxpsWKwMDQIoPgot5S4ZAYn2ed5ITYctnGTVcMyM0VmH_V5N2Sg/s1600/Fruit+she+got+at+the+Farmers+Market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKl6Mbq8Jl-EJkYNYzx08eiTg4md2piaSUkfpVgIPmadVIw7SmnlQkKHcZBKUnMsG9DVxE6yfEo6o89_2ntf3jjU4nxpsWKwMDQIoPgot5S4ZAYn2ed5ITYctnGTVcMyM0VmH_V5N2Sg/s640/Fruit+she+got+at+the+Farmers+Market.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
She Is So Happy With Her Fruit From The Farmers Market!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWArgyngODg9KgcC5M2-lBhCU-XQEdL0qfSsZ8Cky4fUBuXenFGVeqxVDND13kbMgQB0HSVO8GZgMP3suZwO4UbBRrLUTXmC2PUuPxNvI_rruZAiqyEoDSqZAbS9yqJPLbVfjqrthPCw0/s1600/Sis+Lauder+%2526+Courtney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWArgyngODg9KgcC5M2-lBhCU-XQEdL0qfSsZ8Cky4fUBuXenFGVeqxVDND13kbMgQB0HSVO8GZgMP3suZwO4UbBRrLUTXmC2PUuPxNvI_rruZAiqyEoDSqZAbS9yqJPLbVfjqrthPCw0/s640/Sis+Lauder+%2526+Courtney.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Sister Lauder And Courtney At Aracaju<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioR-5XlmuVUlOwpjeb-wHCtACWVAlOBO54o4GCpNQFnbUy4tATj5C6KdeE7OhXWCFl7nuwDvAHK5FL9KguR-Uw4VZgW8lAoAsavubA98kf8V-DDhs5W-Xz57MJxnO4I7u8DmWdmlmlS-A/s1600/Sisters+in+her+zone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioR-5XlmuVUlOwpjeb-wHCtACWVAlOBO54o4GCpNQFnbUy4tATj5C6KdeE7OhXWCFl7nuwDvAHK5FL9KguR-Uw4VZgW8lAoAsavubA98kf8V-DDhs5W-Xz57MJxnO4I7u8DmWdmlmlS-A/s640/Sisters+in+her+zone.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
All Of The Sisters In Courtney's Zone<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hey party people! </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The work is trucking along here in Eduardo Gomes. We were having
a hard time finding people to teach so we prayed and prayed and fasted and the
Lord was good to us and gave us people, lots of people to teach. But then I
realized how He has a sense of humor because apparently I forgot to ask only
for people who are legally married... of the 21 new people we began to teach 19
of them aren’t legally married, just are living with someone and that means
their baptism date will be pushed back for at least a month to get it through
the government system here. Awesome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In other news this week it was cool because a woman in the ward
took us to this huge farmers market that just sells fruit. It was cool because
1. She took us in her car so I got to ride in a car, and 2. Because I have
never seen so much fruit in my life. Trucks full of oranges and mountains of
pineapple and watermelon and goiaba and mamão that doesn’t even exist in my
home land. And it’s all super CHEAP. The happiest moment of my life was this
week when I bought 35 oranges for $5 reais which in dollars is like $1.75; that
is right people, I am trading in my coca cola weight for lean mean fruit eating
machine. But the woman we went with thought it was hilarious that I was so
excited just to go buy fruit and oranges because the oranges here are super
good, and now is going around telling everyone in the ward how much I love
oranges. They now have lovingly nicknamed me ´´sister orange´´...
classic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last week on pday we went with the other sisters in our zone to what’s
called the Orla, down in another part of Aracaju. It’s a really touristy place
by the beach where someone asked if we all had the same husband and I was like
barf, please excuse me and I left. But other than that it was fun to see the
beach at least from far away and see the sights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh and great news!! I was talking to an Elder who’s in Estancia
where I served and he said that the family that I taught that was baptized after
I left, Magna and Cival and their 2 kids, now gives lunch to the missionaries!!
She’s on the real life relief society missionary calendar like a real life
member!! I got so happy to hear that. It’s so wonderful to see how all your
little efforts that you thought were useless eventually paid off in the end for
someone, even if it was just that one family. I know that all of our efforts
are noticed by the Lord and are even very miniscule and small compared to
everything we owe to Him. That’s what I think a lot about my mission-a year and
a half is very very little to give back to Him after how indebted I feel to
Him. He just wants us to give our best and remember Him! How simple is that! I love
my mission and I love serving our Father in Heaven! I have never felt such a
real joy or purpose before all of this. But that’s all I’ve got for now, know
how much I love you and miss you guys! Have a great week!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-20179148516559890132016-10-17T20:54:00.000-07:002016-10-17T20:54:05.588-07:00October 17, 2016 - Testimony Slamdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP1C5lJoURYgq2mU2csToWikWr4fOCKfviVDUw_6QP0zgQTgwskUhZMupXa7bwazU0pWu7ikbURwWFgIwZE3cu7_DlU3y8b2kU1CMIBj8iRH8VLkQVuMh6r-P94625BQEpKnxe7ojzMU/s1600/After+V-ball+game+with+Sis+Lauder%252C+Courtney%252C+Sis+Menezes+and+Sis+Carvalho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibP1C5lJoURYgq2mU2csToWikWr4fOCKfviVDUw_6QP0zgQTgwskUhZMupXa7bwazU0pWu7ikbURwWFgIwZE3cu7_DlU3y8b2kU1CMIBj8iRH8VLkQVuMh6r-P94625BQEpKnxe7ojzMU/s640/After+V-ball+game+with+Sis+Lauder%252C+Courtney%252C+Sis+Menezes+and+Sis+Carvalho.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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P-Day Volleyball Game With Sister Lauder, Courtney, Sister Menezes and Sister Carvalho</div>
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Birthday Party For Zone Leader, Elder Andrade<br />
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Eduardo Gomes District<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1u6GumFxMBvqft4E0ON5trkmWaf2SfoF1uIdDXcwPwCGcsPzEN_loOP0acJU24YC2fOmArnvZ8olYXOGRKHnLkf9RD6s6hBn3nUE6GZHe1SAWQka_yeShAKcjI3SnidXRZRmm9aJIjbg/s1600/Sis+Menezes+One+Month+Mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1u6GumFxMBvqft4E0ON5trkmWaf2SfoF1uIdDXcwPwCGcsPzEN_loOP0acJU24YC2fOmArnvZ8olYXOGRKHnLkf9RD6s6hBn3nUE6GZHe1SAWQka_yeShAKcjI3SnidXRZRmm9aJIjbg/s640/Sis+Menezes+One+Month+Mark.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Celebrating Sister Menezes' One Month Mark<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi everybody!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So here’s a quick update on my week. We are getting a little
more settled into the area here. All the members think its a huge area for just
2 sisters but I’m like yeah I’ve had areas three times the size of this one...
the bishop continues to worship at our feet, he basically did everything but
tell us to take a bow in front of everyone at our first Sunday here yesterday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We had our first district meeting and I had found out last
minute it had been our ZLs bday so I went into mom mode and whipped out a
little party for him. When he got there we all yelled surprise and he got so
happy and turned to me and Sister Menezes and said ´thank you sisters!!´´ And I
said ´´´why do you think it was just us who did this?´´ And he said ´´please,
do you really think an Elder is capable of doing all of this?´´ haha. That is
correct sir!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways fast and testimony meeting was... interesting here. It
is always a gambling game when our investigators are visiting for the first
time... its funny to me when testimony meeting turns into people pointing out
what other people are doing wrong in the ward that they think should be
changed. For example: someone got up and started telling a story, as usual. The
next person got up and said ´´I’d like to bear my testimony that I know we aren’t
supposed to tell stories over the pulpit.´´ and then someone else gets up and
says ´´I’d like to bear my testimony that I know we should all worry about our
own lives and not butt into the lives of others.´´ and then when the ward gets
a little rowdy and a man gets up and says ´´I bear my testimony that I know
reverence is a lot more than just being quiet. amen.´´ hahahah I was dying the
whole meeting. But they are a smaller ward so they are still learning. We are
patient with all people and their weaknesses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are getting creative to get referrals here. I like to do an
activity with Noah’s ark. I teach about the story and tell about how there was
room on the ark for all those people, and it was Noah’s job to tell them all to
repent so they wouldn’t die. But if Noah hadn’t done his part announcing that,
those people wouldn’t be guilty if they died, because they didn’t know there was
gonna be a flood! Noah would have been the guilty one because he didn’t
announce it to the people-in the same way our friends and neighbors don’t know
there is a true church with the priesthood and commandments they need to
follow. So if they show up at the last day, they won’t be guilty, it’ll be US
that God will be upset with, because we didn’t announce it to them. So I make
the members write down two people that they would want to be on their ark with
them if there was a flood tomorrow, and we mark to go visit them this week. It
works like a charm!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If that one doesn’t work, there’s always people asking me for
help in English class, whether its kids or adults, so I’ve started trading with
them, I teach them English if they’ll go on visits with us during the week. Sold!
On Sunday the relief society president even got up and said ´the sisters need
people to go with them on visits everyday in the week! Who’s gonna go with them
on Tuesday? Wednesday?´´ and didn’t let anyone leave until we have someone to
go out with us every day this week! She is great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But other than that, things are going good here, we´re working a
lot, getting a good tan, and learning how to be patient and accept things in
the Lords time and not our own. When I think about it, following the Lords orders
and being faithful, optimistic and patient is the most intelligent thing we can
do. We´re saying that we trust in the highest, most powerful, know all tell
all, creator of the universes. I sure do trust in Him. He knows a whole lot
better than us! Don’t forget to pray to know who you can take the sisters to
teach! We gotta stop praying so that THEYLL find people but that we´ll know who
we know that is ready for them. That is what the prophet tells us! I love you
all very very much!! Have a great week!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-70673278076660813312016-10-10T08:31:00.002-07:002016-10-10T08:31:38.099-07:00October 10, 2016 - And Then There Were Two.... Transfers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10Q9rApeUSqbtAM-FcdmKC8cJMZjZxiyLrwWl6D3J4BFyxHn0bUEB8vqSHLF7B5_pOjRk_e7MqotNfB8bSN6p6ObM433giiB_l-2FXujh8nbeJClz2cwl1if3duy94XrrRQZGMLq_-Nc/s1600/Courtney+Leaving+Sao+Miguel+with+Sis+Monteirojpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10Q9rApeUSqbtAM-FcdmKC8cJMZjZxiyLrwWl6D3J4BFyxHn0bUEB8vqSHLF7B5_pOjRk_e7MqotNfB8bSN6p6ObM433giiB_l-2FXujh8nbeJClz2cwl1if3duy94XrrRQZGMLq_-Nc/s640/Courtney+Leaving+Sao+Miguel+with+Sis+Monteirojpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Courtney Leaving Sao Miguel<br />
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Sister Menezes, Courtney and Mayara (twin of Nayara)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8tAjq3Az8YR65ieoAqBVIdGkGT9UZK8DEm0eaHeNmvfooOMb4ZnWjaEYTNJiyZVHTus5DSyNT12kiaERC67icd89FOlksGYz8K0IvdpshRXinNhVlmFiKnVpjIgjsNRJdcFrRS679Pg/s1600/Sis+Monteiro%252C+Nayara+and+Courtney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8tAjq3Az8YR65ieoAqBVIdGkGT9UZK8DEm0eaHeNmvfooOMb4ZnWjaEYTNJiyZVHTus5DSyNT12kiaERC67icd89FOlksGYz8K0IvdpshRXinNhVlmFiKnVpjIgjsNRJdcFrRS679Pg/s640/Sis+Monteiro%252C+Nayara+and+Courtney.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Sister Monteiro, Nayara's Mom, Nayara (twin of Mayara) and Courtney<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hellloooo Federal Way!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Good news and lots of changes here in Eduardo Gomes. Its kind of
fun to get to serve close to Aracaju, the big city here in Sergipe. My area is
about 20 minutes away from the city, but still is bigger and more city like
than my last area. Here they have more paved streets and less horses running
around. The ward here is a little bigger and they LOVE sisters. Seriously love.
The bishop is super cool, has been bishop 12 whole years (now dads counting his
lucky stars he was only there for 5) and is known for only liking sisters
working here. They do everything for us, show us where the members live, pick
us up drop us off, give us cake, they just love us. We are treated like the
princesses we always were destined to be...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh and my companion! Her name is Sister Menezes, she’s 23 and is
from Manaus, Amazonas. Just her and her mom are members in her family, she was
baptized when she was 17. She is really sweet has lots and lots of hope and
faith that mission life is all baptisms and people flocking to learn about the Mormon
Church. I try not to do anything to take that hope away from her. She’s super
excited to be here and just jumps in to everything even if she doesn’t really
know how to do it yet haha. But it’s good. We live just us 2 which is different
for me but still good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Funny story this week, so there is a girl named Nayara in São Miguel
that had told me her twin sister had just gotten back from her mission and
lives in the stake I’m in now but another ward. So one day we were at an
activity and I look up and I see who I think is Nayara from a whole different state
and I got so happy I almost cried and I said ´´Nayara!!´´ And went to hug her
and she said ´´no I’m Mayara, that’s my twin sister!´´ haha and she got super
happy I had met her sister all the way in a different area. It was like Mary Kate
and Ashley except Nayara and Mayara and they don’t have their own hit tv show. But
it was super fun to get to meet her. I’m sending of pic of her to compare the
two.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are kind of starting from zero in this area since the elders
here before didn’t leave any indication of anything or anyone actually with
promise, so it’s a little frustrating sometimes just trying to not get lost in
the city slash also find people who want to be taught. But the members take us
to their neighbors house and their friends house so that’s a huge score. We use
Elders Oaks talk from conference now in all the messages we leave with them to
kick their missionary efforts in gear. booya! I was kind of worried to start
training and be responsible for the whole future of another missionary, but I
know how much the Lord gives us chances to grow and learn. When we were leaving
Maceio to go to Sergipe we had to leave at 5am, and I didn’t know if there would
be a taxi or anyone to get us there where the buses are. I was freaking out thinking
we wouldn’t make it there with all our suitcases and started praying and
praying for help. I was up in an apartment window and I looked down and all of
a sudden one single taxi had appeared outside, 5am, with no one on the avenue.
THAT was a miracle. I know we are qualified when we do all we can to fulfill
His callings. I love my mission!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More to come next week! até logo! amo muito vocês!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-74002944635495757552016-10-03T13:37:00.000-07:002016-10-03T13:37:12.633-07:00October 3, 2016 - The Prophets Drink Coke!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zzF46exnTdGu33NXazfsT7JbiM8_an8ldpUHGyUfeD9Kw31UK3nzHIfYiVHmofQlO1ml4NA3uhD7z-GS556365qfiT9L8jMs_6Xl9c-6YXaP2aTlrzzRS-VTVZsdQvLC24Hl6H2OLZk/s1600/Sis+Monteiro+and+Roommates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zzF46exnTdGu33NXazfsT7JbiM8_an8ldpUHGyUfeD9Kw31UK3nzHIfYiVHmofQlO1ml4NA3uhD7z-GS556365qfiT9L8jMs_6Xl9c-6YXaP2aTlrzzRS-VTVZsdQvLC24Hl6H2OLZk/s640/Sis+Monteiro+and+Roommates.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Sister Monteiro, Other Roommates and Courtney<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nDWzFXAVQR3ywW3E4yKI5YZc_NhsVC4lQH7WyKqb78CJEaNK3j2CQe32SySgc4tqm2STLUIGNxpgY5t1xedhyphenhyphenJGYKEDyffNZTMWBhC6cYfXPk_gE2PTcuM5uBkLn-y9NPI6RlQHpM8s/s1600/Sis+Monteiro+and+ward+members.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nDWzFXAVQR3ywW3E4yKI5YZc_NhsVC4lQH7WyKqb78CJEaNK3j2CQe32SySgc4tqm2STLUIGNxpgY5t1xedhyphenhyphenJGYKEDyffNZTMWBhC6cYfXPk_gE2PTcuM5uBkLn-y9NPI6RlQHpM8s/s640/Sis+Monteiro+and+ward+members.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;"> Sister Monteiro, Sao Miguel Ward Members and Courtney</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxbz_Vit4-kdlaKU1OMlcvgjpngrtd5y5cZCfb5itGH0EHn74iQiI5cFCzWIlrNI1o7uwcimi_T-EtrrfZdzs-y1fYvkqIm15vwBmqqUno9qIwCjbc1e1IRwR6eh6jOHB0th-BmLq1tA/s1600/Sister+Moneiro+and+Roommates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxbz_Vit4-kdlaKU1OMlcvgjpngrtd5y5cZCfb5itGH0EHn74iQiI5cFCzWIlrNI1o7uwcimi_T-EtrrfZdzs-y1fYvkqIm15vwBmqqUno9qIwCjbc1e1IRwR6eh6jOHB0th-BmLq1tA/s640/Sister+Moneiro+and+Roommates.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;"> Sister Monteiro, Courtney and Roommates in Sao Miguel</span><br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi everyone!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well you read the title right, as well as lots of spiritual
guidance and instruction, the whole world was also informed that the latter day
prophets drink coca cola and/or dr. pepper people!! Caffeine is not against the
word of wisdom!! I was right! I was right my whole dang life!! *mini bow*.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways conference is so amazing as a missionary. Also even
greater when all the talks are giving specific and direct revelation from God
to the members of the church on how they need to amp up their game and help us
out more! That really really was an answer to my prayers. I just sit and listen
to all the talks and the time just whizzes by. I see how directly and
specifically the Lord answers our prayers if we really open our minds and
hearts up to ask specifically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As for news here, I am being transferred as I suspected, I’m
going back to Sergipe where I’ll be serving in Aracajú, in an area called
Eduardo Gomes. But before that I’ll be going to Maceio to pick up the new
sister that I’m going to train! I didn’t think that I’d spend my last 2
transfers training but it’ll be a fun new experience! The other sister I
trained went home with problems, in her foot so now I’ll have a legacy here! haha.
Sergipe is kind of far away from everything but it’ll be fun to serve in a
city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well I’m busy today saying goodbye to the members and
investigators I’ll leave behind here, people that I really really just love so
much but will have to leave behind. Funny that I never really loved the members
so much in an area like I do here. But they will always be in my heart! Cheesey
but true. You learn to love the people despite their flaws and awkward things
they say, despite their lack of understanding on certain gospel topics or focus
on the more important things in life. In a lot of ways it’s just like our Savior
chooses to love us despite all of the reasons we give Him not to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I can tell you all that my mission is without a doubt the best
and most wonderful thing I have ever experienced. Never has the Spirit been
with me so constantly, never have I felt more close to my Savior and feel like I’ve
walked just a few steps of the path He walked on. The saddest part to me is
that we learn and are edified and feel the spirit and know what we need to do
better, and then lots of times we leave the chapel and our lives continue the
exact same way. Please please don’t let all of that instruction go to waste we
just got! Think and pray about what you can do to help the sisters, pray to
know who is ready to learn more about God and not the church, who would like to
read the Book of Mormon to increase their faith, please think about how much it
will mean to the future generations of the people we know down the line. Don’t
let all the counsel of the prophets go to waste. I know my family is wonderful,
they will have the courage to become wonderful missionaries as well! I love you
all! I don’t have a doubt in my mind about our role in the Lords work, He has called
us and He needs us. He has a true church that was reestablished on the earth
through Joseph Smith and a tangible proof of that is the Book of Mormon. Lots
of people still don’t know about that. If they did, that would make all the
difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Have a great week full of new experiences and sincere prayers
for help!! I love you all more than I can say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-77082749707396006792016-09-26T16:36:00.000-07:002016-09-26T16:36:16.789-07:00September 26, 2016 - Ups And Downs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFa2QRBHMPvy_8olW3Cp8aDtY4Mu-m2V6e8qAAYZWMiJRMYkrrtqUtjK0uMOex-ENAzNxR9vSC6DUljurjcLR8IlpUcfRDV8vQJ7ECjGey0TsPOcUcGqHX0MzoWeKp1d776RgVTD_-cY/s1600/Meal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFa2QRBHMPvy_8olW3Cp8aDtY4Mu-m2V6e8qAAYZWMiJRMYkrrtqUtjK0uMOex-ENAzNxR9vSC6DUljurjcLR8IlpUcfRDV8vQJ7ECjGey0TsPOcUcGqHX0MzoWeKp1d776RgVTD_-cY/s640/Meal2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Courtney's Average Meal in Brazil<br />
Rice and Beans, Salad, Steamed Vegetable, Meat and Chicken<br />
There are usually 4-5 items on her plate - She loves it!<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hey everybody!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I remember one day
this week saying to my companion, ´´don’t you think it’s weird that everything
is going so well? Like somehow something really bad is going to happen soon? I
feel like something’s going to happen when we least expect it...´´ boy was I
right. I feel like somehow my life here is like a reality tv show for you guys
back home, waiting on the next episode to see what happens next... so plot
twist from last week’s happiness and hope for the future, our investigators Irmã
Maria José and Gessiara didn’t end up getting baptized. They actually dropped
us like 2 days before their baptisms. It’s a long story, but the short version
is that Irmã Maria counted up all of her expenses to care for her, her 2
granddaughters, her son and her son’s wife, and realized the money to pay her
tithing wouldn’t leave anything to spare. So instead of trusting in the
blessings we promised her from obedience like she had already seen with the
other commandments, she got nervous that she wouldn’t have enough money to pay
for things like food and water if she paid her tithing, got scared and told us
not to come back. Free agency really is a divine principle we need to
understand better. But it is truly devastating to see the happiness and
salvation of someone you love so dearly just crumble in between your fingers
without you being able to do anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the hardest
parts is that you’re not technically allowed as a missionary to feel sad or let
people know how you’re feeling inside, so you just kinda have to leave awkwardly
from the house that you just felt like dropped down on top of you, and have to
hurry to your next appointment and act like nothing happened and you’re not
secretly having a mental breakdown inside. And then your other poor
investigators wonder why you’re crying while bearing your testimony on the word
of wisdom....<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At least we had the
women’s conference to help get my mind off of things. I love how they taught
about spiritual preparation, how the world isn’t very good right now and by the
scriptures, its only gonna get worse. I like how they teach us that we need to
have a new personal level of conversion, it doesn’t do it anymore just to
memorize the scripture mastery and go to church on Sunday. We need to be
literal defenders of Israel. I also loved President Uchtdorfs talk on faith,
who knows how that man has so many inspirations. I’ve been thinking my whole
mission on what faith means, and he kind of summed it up. Its trust! Trust in
the one thing you know to be true, not because you saw it or heard about it,
but because you know deep down that you felt it, and that’s not something
anyone can take away. That when all goes right, you know who’s really at the
head of the wheel and you know of His promises that will be fulfilled one day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But this next week
is full of new surprises and second chances. It’s the last week in the transfer
and we´ll see what’s in store for me. I’m hoping to get a fresh start somewhere
else but we´ll just wait and see! Oh and here are some pics of the food I eat
every day, I realized I had never sent a pic for you guys. Here we have the
classic and beloved rice and beans, some steamed vegetables, salad (which is
composed of lettuce and tomatoes just like on SpongeBob), meat from a cow I
think, chicken, and that’s it I think. There’s always about 4 or 5 things on
your plate at a time. It’s the best!! I love you all have a wonderful week! I’ll
be thinking of you watching conference!!! Don’t fall asleep!! (that means you,
my entire family)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-8825389181744943972016-09-19T21:13:00.000-07:002016-09-19T21:13:51.976-07:00September 19, 2016 - The Best 18 Months!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf3Hgf-YqILTC5rbl6MjXS4-GDALpAua7eoiWtoIPvRTfvoIW8IuPY5KWM2kTCIKG8GPGSLx7A8qalH4KolBVnTTnUcFrU05Z_o9QflYkVymWnuyVOUz-2-012qiHP7Tk9S_H0d8ftKQ/s1600/Baptism+of+Rayane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf3Hgf-YqILTC5rbl6MjXS4-GDALpAua7eoiWtoIPvRTfvoIW8IuPY5KWM2kTCIKG8GPGSLx7A8qalH4KolBVnTTnUcFrU05Z_o9QflYkVymWnuyVOUz-2-012qiHP7Tk9S_H0d8ftKQ/s640/Baptism+of+Rayane.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Rayane's Baptism<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgtVYcrfMOtnATXh6xNnGGDPo9paFHwSWK047QHR-LqpaGLKLSus9eukFXMBlVqwxYldfsYxflAH0LAYIPKVgjX6SkHiTZz8LG6ttWmnPVmYviE9co0Ap8gjWjuP_KqfmVqSA4F44HJc/s1600/Sis+Monteiro%252C+Irma+Zeze+%2526+Court.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgtVYcrfMOtnATXh6xNnGGDPo9paFHwSWK047QHR-LqpaGLKLSus9eukFXMBlVqwxYldfsYxflAH0LAYIPKVgjX6SkHiTZz8LG6ttWmnPVmYviE9co0Ap8gjWjuP_KqfmVqSA4F44HJc/s640/Sis+Monteiro%252C+Irma+Zeze+%2526+Court.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Sister Monteiro, Irma Zeze and Courtney<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KHgY_Rk2pzkV_srcQQC_BQFrsXO2hiX6WPgLiTc-dNBAs5uLkBmo6xuHFXEobkmIrAuPuWY2hbu23PWozJhdllJdTgRfte1OJHm0wgQC73wRZ4c1zOm28Jl67I4obWoh7RqceNWPuCk/s1600/Valley+of+Sao+Miguel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KHgY_Rk2pzkV_srcQQC_BQFrsXO2hiX6WPgLiTc-dNBAs5uLkBmo6xuHFXEobkmIrAuPuWY2hbu23PWozJhdllJdTgRfte1OJHm0wgQC73wRZ4c1zOm28Jl67I4obWoh7RqceNWPuCk/s640/Valley+of+Sao+Miguel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Courtney and the Sao Miguel Valley<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi everybody!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Things are rolling
strong here, we had Rayane’s baptism this Sunday morning which started late as
usual and the man who baptized her, his white jumpsuit popped open showing his
garments because of his pot belly, but it was yet another soul saved at the end
of the day! She is 12 and has been going to church with her aunts and uncles
who all live on the same street, since she was a little kid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As for Irmã Maria José
and Gessiara, they are progressing perfectly, got on the bus early Sunday morning
and came down to the chapel all by themselves. They started spreading it all
around for everyone to hear that their baptisms will be this Saturday! Irmã José
tells everyone she sees that her life has been changed ever since her ´´two
angels´´ (me, obviously, and my companion) have come into her life. She tells
about all these great things that are happening that never did before. She told
us the story of her life, how she had her own cell at the jail and drank and
smoke like no other, how she was always in street fights, and lots of other
things. She said that ever since she went to our church all of that anger and
hatred inside of her melted away and she doesn’t know how it’s possible. It is
amazing to me how merciful the Lord is and how simple it is-the exact moment we
decide to stop doing what’s wrong and start being obedient, the blessings
automatically flow. It’s simple!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our other miracle
was with a young couple we´re teaching, Alda and Neto who are friends of
members. They went to church and we marked to teach them. As we taught the
restoration and invited them to pray to know if the church is true, Alda said
´´I don’t feel like I need to pray. I’ve never felt such a peace like I feel
inside of that church. I feel like I’m in a different world, like all of my
cares just melt away when I’m there.´´ The spirit flicked me in the head
because the same church meeting that I had been spacing out and waiting for it
to end, was the same one that someone had received the personal witness that
Christ has a restored church here on the earth. I learn here that we really do
so little to help in the work of the Lord, that He has been preparing these
people a lot longer than we have been here and will guide them a lot after we
leave. They are a really special couple!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What I love about
my mission is that I finally feel like my life has a real purpose- I feel like I’ve
found my real purpose on the earth, and I only came to find that when I stopped
thinking about myself and if I was hungry or sleepy or hot or grumpy, and
started thinking about others. These people teach me so much-this week was
about generosity. I have never seen the kind of generosity these people show
us. I learned that generosity isn’t just give when you’ve had enough, or give
whatever is left over, generosity is giving to others when you don’t have
enough for yourself, and not thinking twice. You just gotta imagine the look on
Irmã José’s face when we accept the food she offers us- a little old woman who
takes care of her son and 2 granddaughters financially, who live in a one room
and one bedroom house, offering everything that’s inside of her refrigerator
with a door that comes completely off its hinges every time you open it. Some
things I see here are so special to me, it just doesn’t do it justice to try
and explain it over email. Whether its oranges, bananas, eggs, bread, whatever
she has she is more than happy to give it to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I know I would not
be able to have these same experiences or gain this knowledge that I have if I
had stayed at home. I love my mission! And I love you guys! Be good
missionaries this week-be nice to the investigators the sisters bring, it was a
triumph for them to get people in the church and it’s our job to help keep them
there! You can do it! vocês conseguem!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ate a próxima semana! Beijos!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-30160780318934927422016-09-12T19:59:00.000-07:002016-09-12T19:59:07.721-07:00September 12, 2016 - Rollin In The River<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRey7VyzQ4i4h_-gk165xZMH15-s1cxwNT7TlROHk_I4KCCqfBXscLX0SZSR8A9qgV98l8yd_K-A8WRgtvIpGcUcIOX1GksqT4XXkJ05IZr7K1Nvq5Vwie3iTxUEtG-7oF9Cz9etaPX8/s1600/2+districts+in+Zona+Litoral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRey7VyzQ4i4h_-gk165xZMH15-s1cxwNT7TlROHk_I4KCCqfBXscLX0SZSR8A9qgV98l8yd_K-A8WRgtvIpGcUcIOX1GksqT4XXkJ05IZr7K1Nvq5Vwie3iTxUEtG-7oF9Cz9etaPX8/s640/2+districts+in+Zona+Litoral.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
2 Districts In Their Zona Litoral<br />
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Courtney, Sister Monteiro And Rubia<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWfBvVZIjhBEyDntSvuwfzcvWgAk6uvMp3VX3Zd1x14kRNqM8UAM53FbCA4a9sqxz1JXd98wwg2S0SvcGGrZ5_RU1bThIq_w5j3mLRPJqThRmdRLPKjB_fb8wBKMt7vqnW0HxMkDMNhw/s1600/Drinking+from+a+coconut+with+Sis+Moneiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWfBvVZIjhBEyDntSvuwfzcvWgAk6uvMp3VX3Zd1x14kRNqM8UAM53FbCA4a9sqxz1JXd98wwg2S0SvcGGrZ5_RU1bThIq_w5j3mLRPJqThRmdRLPKjB_fb8wBKMt7vqnW0HxMkDMNhw/s640/Drinking+from+a+coconut+with+Sis+Moneiro.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Courtney And Sister Monteiro<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hello to the good
people of Federal Way!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wow I can’t believe
we´re already in September. We had a zone conference this week with all the
missionaries in Alagoas, and it was so weird talking with the elders I got here
with that all were saying ´´wow Sister Walker the time is ticking! You’re
already getting on your flight home!´´ I said: can it you weirdos I still have
a whole lot of time here thank you very much! I can’t really process coming
home yet because I 1. Don’t know where I will be living or studying or 2. If I
know how to do real life stuff anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This week was
really great, we had been praying and fasting that we would find people to
teach, but not just any people, but people prepared to be baptized. And the
Lord heard our prayers! It is amazing what a difference sincere prayer makes in
our life. They can be repetitive and boring and your life will become so, but
if you take the time to really talk to Heavenly Father you can have your eyes
opened to how much you were missing before. Anyways we found a great little
family, there’s the grandma Maria Jose who is known as the angriest crabbiest old
lady on the street, her son Vagner who is a little lost in life, and his
daughter Gessiara who’s the sweetest and most spiritual 9 year old you’ve ever
met, that all live together. If we weren’t friends with them, I would be very
scared of Irmã Maria Jose tbh. She tells about how much hate and anger she has
inside her heart that she can’t seem to get rid of. And she’s never liked any
sort of church. But in one lesson she felt so alleviated when we came to her house,
she felt like we had something different that all the other churches that came
to her door never had. We said that’s because our church is true! And she said
´´for the first time in my life I want to go to a church!´´ and they went! It
was great. We actually had 8 investigators there yesterday which was a
blessing. But Maria Jose said during sacrament ´´now THIS is a church! Are we
gonna get baptized today or is it next week?´´ haha; slow and steady missy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We´re also teaching
the niece of a big family in the ward, Rayane, whose dad finallyyy will let her
be baptized this Sunday! She is so sweet, she started crying in the closing
prayer when she told us he let her be baptized. And at the end of the prayer
she ended it ´´in the name of Jesus Christ... of latter day saints amen!´´
hahaha. So cute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another funny story
about prayer, we were teaching a big group of people and at the end we always
have one of them give the closing prayer. I picked one guy and he said he didn’t
know how to pray so I showed him in the pamphlet the steps to pray, where it explains
how. But what I didn’t know is that his prayer would be literally reading the
steps out loud... haha. It went like this *everyone with their eyes closed and
head down* ´´address your Father in Heaven. Express the feelings in your heart
and your gratitude and ask things you are in need of. End by saying in the name
of Jesus Christ amen.´´ Prayer is important people!! Got to start somewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I also got some
very nice letters in the mail this week from my nice family! It’s funny, the
other missionaries saw all the papers and I said yeah all my siblings wrote to
me and they say ´´wow I wish my siblings all wrote to me...´´ and I say ´´yeah
its actually my mom that forces them to but it’s the thought that counts´´ and
they say ´´man I wish my mom would force people to write to me...´´ lol. Go
mummer!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I hope you all know
how much I love you and appreciate you! I can’t think of anywhere else I am
meant to be right now but here, forgetting about myself for a short period of
time to just focus on the needs of others. That’s where the real magic starts. I
know that the Lord is with us as we choose to follow in His footsteps, that He knows
and loves us. An infinite power is waiting for us if we choose to ask for it. The
church is true! I love you all!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And here’s a pic of
2 districts in my zone, Zona Litoral, a less active girl Rubia that put dread
braids in my companions hair, and us enjoying an ice cold drink from a coconut
on the side of the road!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-39065019297673480182016-09-05T16:07:00.002-07:002016-09-05T16:07:23.952-07:00September 5, 2016 - 14 Month Mark!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrBuXYtbJEZvgScAmD2UJYg0z2olcSp_RUv-tF7rFjYKkiC_w32XJvH03QWndFzo5XKbbFoV9ju4RtC7-oMyKNnDDw_2AHuG740FmMEX0kWwfgEGwzVzBEsRldQA0v2LsaSUlMptKc18/s1600/Pres+%2526+Sis+Gomes%252C+-+Sis+Estela%252C+Courtney+and+Sis+Monteiro+in+Maceio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrBuXYtbJEZvgScAmD2UJYg0z2olcSp_RUv-tF7rFjYKkiC_w32XJvH03QWndFzo5XKbbFoV9ju4RtC7-oMyKNnDDw_2AHuG740FmMEX0kWwfgEGwzVzBEsRldQA0v2LsaSUlMptKc18/s640/Pres+%2526+Sis+Gomes%252C+-+Sis+Estela%252C+Courtney+and+Sis+Monteiro+in+Maceio.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
President & Sister Gomes, Sisters Steele, Estela, Courtney and Sister Monteiro<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: blue;">Hi guys!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What a fast week, I
feel like I don’t even remember anything that happened it was all just a
blur... I guess I should start taking more time to reflect on it all but there
just aren’t enough hours in the day. I also can’t stand still for more than 6
minutes anymore which also doesn’t help. haha<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This week I was on
splits 2 days, one of which I got to stay in the area called Farol, which is
where the mission office is and everything-one of the real city life areas in Maceió.
(mahh-say-ohh). I had been thinking about how cool it would be to serve in an
area like that, I got so incredibly excited to see tall buildings and paved
roads with lots of cars, lots of shops and places to go, I had forgotten that
all existed. I thought ´´wow how cool it would be to teach real people (not
that my investigators aren’t real people oops...) but a different level of
people´´. Then I went and tried to help the sister there do contacting on the
street and teach their investigators and I got a whole lot of hand in the face
that day. We went to teach a 22 yr old rich girl who is already a lawyer or
something and I got super nervous teaching and was stumbling over my own
words... then I went back to São Miguel the next day and felt a renewed love
for my area, for the members here, for my investigators. They might not be rich
and they might all breast feed in front of me, but they know the real essence
of the gospel. They don’t question everything, they listen first and then ask
God if it’s true and they are humble so they are much more in tune with the
spirit and can recognize an answer a lot easier. I thought I was a city girl...
I don’t stink so!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In other news, there’s
a little boy in the ward who’s 6 named Thomas who has glasses and refuses to
talk with anyone who is over the age of 12. My goal since I got here was to make
friends with him and get him to talk to me. And this Sunday after church he ran
over to me, pushed a piece of paper in my hands and ran away. I opened it up
and it was a picture he had drawn for me with the chapel and a sun and a missionary.
Wiener!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I found out my
address to tell dad to look up on google maps if you can find it, its rua jose
claazans n. 43, centro, são miguel dos campos, alagos brasil 5724000. You can
walk in my footsteps woohoo!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But really I feel
so happy to be with these people, testimony meeting was great yesterday here. I
see how much faith they have, because when trials and tribulations come to
them, their first reaction isn’t to blame God or doubt their faith, it’s to
cling tight to the things they know are true. Their first reaction isn’t to
give up, it’s to push through. That is a real lesson for me. Because I know a
lot of times I ask ´´why me?´´ or I become doubtful. They teach me that real
faith means that you trust in God and continue to do all the right things, not
just when it’s easy but when everything is falling apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And thank you for
helping the sister’s investigator who lived with a gang in Phili, he has been waiting
his whole life to come to know what he knew in the preexistence, and you guys
will help give him the stability to stay at the church and feel welcome! That
is the best help you can give!! I love you all, more than I can say!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Boa semana a todos e sejam missionários excelentes! eu amo vocês!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-76942852163614208222016-08-29T19:50:00.000-07:002016-08-29T19:50:10.821-07:00August 29, 2016 - Buckets Of Fun...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Q4gUNPHfK9seudw2d4zzI842iko42ZOvj_ilvE1__2zCoNHWaDjRea031dK1Rh3RZNis5r2btMs32Kpgb-rUOaGW_Odt43dpyKCrp-tUClewxvQ1QM5TcnDg4ud_hAi0BpQk58YLd9o/s1600/Baptism+of+Maycom%252C+Mayse+and+Maxwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Q4gUNPHfK9seudw2d4zzI842iko42ZOvj_ilvE1__2zCoNHWaDjRea031dK1Rh3RZNis5r2btMs32Kpgb-rUOaGW_Odt43dpyKCrp-tUClewxvQ1QM5TcnDg4ud_hAi0BpQk58YLd9o/s640/Baptism+of+Maycom%252C+Mayse+and+Maxwell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Baptism of Mayse, Maycom and Maxwell</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFPQulqzMK-C28Vm40D1bxvDUdNdCyni7TLTvxIN1byqMCNzSNPc5AXlAdHRPdJQgLKd3rYTMvnkoU-dih7Nf2tj_GO6EfHzo9ZsD65ASHVyiypRA0WrhS3TXOW72yKtDPloVI-TyaqE/s1600/The+missionaries+and+Irma+Nayara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFPQulqzMK-C28Vm40D1bxvDUdNdCyni7TLTvxIN1byqMCNzSNPc5AXlAdHRPdJQgLKd3rYTMvnkoU-dih7Nf2tj_GO6EfHzo9ZsD65ASHVyiypRA0WrhS3TXOW72yKtDPloVI-TyaqE/s640/The+missionaries+and+Irma+Nayara.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sister Missionaries and Irma Nayara</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJlfmBB8dDPGEdHC1l6v_mnFPR6XpilfwI0OfqDwo-MRRjitbLMDKGVYwEFRhC_yDcnMF1ZhB28vWqSiJRKyvbzCHk6-2URon8fYle8XfWOf9dIlK0qw-WVGIaCQ-kNwT1XzMTHOEsmM/s1600/Courtney+draining+the+font.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJlfmBB8dDPGEdHC1l6v_mnFPR6XpilfwI0OfqDwo-MRRjitbLMDKGVYwEFRhC_yDcnMF1ZhB28vWqSiJRKyvbzCHk6-2URon8fYle8XfWOf9dIlK0qw-WVGIaCQ-kNwT1XzMTHOEsmM/s640/Courtney+draining+the+font.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Courtney Draining The Baptismal Font<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hi family!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">So this week was a
fast one because we were running running so that some of our investigators
could get baptized this week. After lots of bumps in the road, people who got
scared or wanted to wait more time, or moms who were mad at their kids for
being obnoxious, we got 3 of our amazing investigators baptized, Maycom, Maysa
and Maxwell! The others will shortly follow. But it was a great week! I felt
like I could finally catch my breath a little bit finally, that our work was
finally showing its fruits. The baptisms were great; I have never seen people
SO Excited to be baptized!! They were all nervous and antsy saying ´´is there
gonna be a lot of people there? Do they all know our names and who were are
already? Am I gonna have to give my testimony in the front on Sunday? Are we already
members of our church?´´ They are really great. It was also a great opportunity
to finally get their parents to step foot inside the church, and now we are
working on getting them married and at the church on Sunday!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">The high of this
week was that we went to fill up the baptismal font Saturday morning. We had
heard it might be filled since the last baptism which was a few weeks ago but
we went just to try and drain it ourselves. Turns out ´´draining´´ this font doesn’t
mean just pressing the little button, it means you get to take out all of the
dirty smelly stinky water full of bugs and new species of bacteria unknown to
science, bucket by bucket. haha. It’s funny now that I write it out but it was
not so funny in the moment! lol. We spent about 3 hours throwing buckets of
sick water out the window or down the toilet just to be able to fill it back up
again. Adventure is out there! Am I right?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">This week I also
noticed that the bishop here, when the people are going over their time limit
as dad would say during their talks, the bishop raises the pulpit up and down a
little as a secret signal haha. Classic Bishop Henrique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let me also just
make it publically known how much I enjoy Jared’s weekly life updates now,
seriously he puts in a recap of pretty much every day of his week which makes
me feel like I’m right in the moment with him haha. #jerryshoutout<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">But other than that
things are pretty laid back here in São Miguel. The city elections here started
so it’s a whirlwind of campaigning and shallow promises and sad music jingles
that will never come close to ´´vote me maybe´´. I don’t know how another week already
passed by. I feel like the world works in weeks now and not days, the time
passes so quickly. All I know is that I love this work! I love feeling so close
to the spirit and knowing more about my Savior every day. I feel closer to Him
than I ever have, and that’s not despite the hard moments but exactly because
of them. I know He has a real and living church here on the earth! And when
others find out about that they will understand why we are the way we are! A
nice and peculiar people.... work hard to share something about the gospel with
someone this week! We don’t understand how much others are searching for the
missing puzzle pieces we have. I am glad to have gained my real testimony here
on my mission, a place and time that I will never get back after December 27! I
love you guys so much! Have a wonderful week! se cuidam!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt;">Ps.
here are pics of the baptisms this week, one picture of all of us with Irma Nayara
who’s our friend in the ward, and us with the nice brother in the ward who
helped us clear out the sick nasty water in the font with buckets!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-91776266307188116882016-08-24T17:21:00.000-07:002016-08-24T17:21:58.722-07:00August 22, 2016 - Dearly Blub Blubber...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnwWJY1nchdVFhzqJIf9FsQDqo07T0vw-IHeOO1usmLaKREhBFl7HpCDh_00hfXJQhL7Pls3AkjfujulKW0cYh9ai_-IGVpwSVf6PrEIhtd0rdGbISV7JOhhDOGuTIIX4aDSeoFcb420/s1600/unnamed+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnwWJY1nchdVFhzqJIf9FsQDqo07T0vw-IHeOO1usmLaKREhBFl7HpCDh_00hfXJQhL7Pls3AkjfujulKW0cYh9ai_-IGVpwSVf6PrEIhtd0rdGbISV7JOhhDOGuTIIX4aDSeoFcb420/s320/unnamed+%25283%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E7nHa9QAmxwEbfktmxYJKJrYr0mDSwGjdJOAOjYOIiJBSHRfx4x4Yi8XnSp6kKI113Qz54eRBj25-bM3ZDhjDyskP_YW2doHGtGCw087FSoxVigiNSFUmpkZMiPJT7CzqFCLwNyim3E/s1600/unnamed+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0E7nHa9QAmxwEbfktmxYJKJrYr0mDSwGjdJOAOjYOIiJBSHRfx4x4Yi8XnSp6kKI113Qz54eRBj25-bM3ZDhjDyskP_YW2doHGtGCw087FSoxVigiNSFUmpkZMiPJT7CzqFCLwNyim3E/s320/unnamed+%25286%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMEoWL2cxr3XU0k2_KzdYi6rud7HRZe_59bo_2vUAHpLo2oCPcEfyeWwQ2hxOsvJpMTMP_-8MZq8Y8OatIE5yfSXMaeQRNFQxG9vYxzp3seHN_FVqx2EtrfrWO5N1y-1Bj1pMnv4CKa0/s1600/unnamed+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMEoWL2cxr3XU0k2_KzdYi6rud7HRZe_59bo_2vUAHpLo2oCPcEfyeWwQ2hxOsvJpMTMP_-8MZq8Y8OatIE5yfSXMaeQRNFQxG9vYxzp3seHN_FVqx2EtrfrWO5N1y-1Bj1pMnv4CKa0/s320/unnamed+%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Look who got hitched
this week woohooo!! Thank you to the people who sent me pics of the event and
not just pics of barrels and burlap bows. Very much appreciated. Congrats to Syd
and Austin Corry!!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I don’t have a
lot to say... (name that movie) because transfers are in and I’m staying in São
Miguel with Sister Monteiro another transfer woohoo! We helped the sister we
were living with get off to Maceio today to go home tomorrow, which was a
whirlwind of work I had forgotten about. But luckily I planned it well enough
that I got to spend some time with Sister Estela before she leaves tomorrow. Not
sure if it was a good idea or a bad one to surprise her in her apartment
because she started crying when I walked in haha. It was a hard moment for my
fragile heart this week but I’m glad I got to see her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways who else
heard that Brasil won the big gold one in the Olympic soccer game?! woohooo I
was so pumped!! It was the worst thing ever trying to teach during the Olympics
when literally everyone was watching, but this week when Brasil won, everyone
in the city started cheering and went out on the streets yelling (including me)
and it was great. Viva Brasil!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hey who has ideas
on where I can live at BYU this January?? Any ideas will be welcomed thank
you... I’m thinking Liberty Square but who knows if I’ll even have money to pay
for that place. Is it too early for Sydney and Austin to have a house pet?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways I’m doing
really good in this area, our teaching group is falling and restarting as usual
but that family that went to church went again and we´re trying to work faster
than the adversary to get them firm for their baptism on September 11. I really
see clearly now how the little actions in our life make such a difference, or
represent how converted we are to the gospel, just by our attitudes or how we
react to a situation. I never perceived how the people in my own ward have
varying levels of conversion, and that helps you understand why they do the
things they do. Interesting all the things the spirit will help you understand
if you just listen. Anyways that’s all. Sorry my letter is so short, but have a
great week, happy last week of summer!! I love you all lots!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-86764526825721968432016-08-24T17:15:00.000-07:002016-08-24T17:15:02.616-07:00August 15, 2016 - "Why Can't I Be A Prophet?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILbrryPahsIakj9XkD2dHXC0QtBz-iF4MZ70xWBYmpW6oVJQJBufW8V6unNQ3RUfHHy3J96bwoUxJrSaXauiarGo_3A282hwRmV8op6G8w4uFgRDNfehZQDNYq6s2EfIkXwYYN4fe3ys/s1600/Going+Away+Party+for+a+sister+and+elder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILbrryPahsIakj9XkD2dHXC0QtBz-iF4MZ70xWBYmpW6oVJQJBufW8V6unNQ3RUfHHy3J96bwoUxJrSaXauiarGo_3A282hwRmV8op6G8w4uFgRDNfehZQDNYq6s2EfIkXwYYN4fe3ys/s320/Going+Away+Party+for+a+sister+and+elder.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Funeral Program For Missionaries Leaving<br />
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Going Away Party For 2 Missionaries<br />
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The Socorro Family Attending A Baptism<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">JARED HAS OFFICIALLY
WRITTEN TO ME ONE TIME ON MY MISSION PEOPLE, LETS ALL TAKE A MINUTE TO
RECOGNIZE THAT. YAY JERRY!!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways this week
was so amazing and crazy busy. I went on splits with 2 different sisters and
they were both new on the mish, and I forget that I’m not anymore... I remember
when the sisters told me they had been on their missions a year and I felt like
a big noob... now I have one year but have yet to shake the feeling of still
being a noob. We´ll see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well the going away
party for the missionaries was a success. They were all surprised, and we made
a special lunch for them at the church. We planned it all like it was a funeral
for them and we all bore our testimonies and it was great. I had even made up a
program with their pictures on it that said ´´in loving memory of... Elder
Zeron and Sister Domingues´´ with lots of scriptures about death and all that. We
killed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The family that
went to church last week went again this week. We are trying to get the elders
in Maceio to go visit the oldest sister so she can be baptized with her
brothers when she comes back home this weekend. But elders aren’t super
reliable unfortunately. All the elders are a little scared to get a phone call
from me here. We also were teaching a man and his wife who basically was
meeting with the sisters before us just to say he already knew everything about
the Mormon Church. I didn’t teach anything else I just told him he had to ask
god specifically if Joseph Smith was a prophet to take away his doubts about
the church. And he said ´´I’m not gonna ask god, I already believe he was! He
talked to god, received revelation, and was a prophet. I too, talk with god and
receive revelation, so I too am a prophet, just like you and you and all of
us!´´ So then came the long conversation of why he can’t be a prophet because
he doesn’t have the priesthood or the ability to receive revelation for the
whole world, and he kept saying ´´but a prophet prophesizes, and I receive
revelation!! Why cant I too be a prophet??´´ So we kinda just left him on that
one..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And this week is
gonna be a special one because Sydney’s getting hitched everybody!! I will throw
my own bouquet up into the air just to feel like I am there in the action. Wait
does this mean that in 2 years I have to get married in August too, because it
seems like it’s a Walker family tradition by now... to be continued.. But this
is the last week in this transfer so we´ll see if I stay here with Sister Monteiro
or if I leave. But I love it here! I’d be sad to go. Anyways just know how much
I love you all and am so grateful to know my sister will be getting married in
the temple this week. That is a true gift in and of itself to have my family on
the right path. I am so grateful to know that the lord loves us enough that he
gives us the choice to choose the right rather than just forcing us to do that.
He trusts in us SO MUCH that he knows we are capable of doing what’s right
without being forced. I am so grateful to know that and know our Father in
Heaven has a perfect plan for us. This church is true and His gospel is true
and perfect. My doubts are taken away every time I have the courage and humility
to ask about it! I love you all, make sure to put my head on a stick and put it
on lots of pics!! parabéns para o casal do ano!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-18148288656094226312016-08-08T09:56:00.000-07:002016-09-05T16:14:57.137-07:00August 8, 2016 - The Lucky 13!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDZhqENIvCIrp8rqHW7Z4T6fpQ17b3dlRRZbEYL9riKPMc7V56V9cdCMiMkDW2xL_nonCFtP5Gak567jz6edYXA1rPk7Si2Eos92qqrvTr1wifXQW7CGyZR81pUorZfk6c-I17656mAI/s1600/Investigators+at+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDZhqENIvCIrp8rqHW7Z4T6fpQ17b3dlRRZbEYL9riKPMc7V56V9cdCMiMkDW2xL_nonCFtP5Gak567jz6edYXA1rPk7Si2Eos92qqrvTr1wifXQW7CGyZR81pUorZfk6c-I17656mAI/s1600/Investigators+at+church.jpg" /></a></div>
Courtney & Sister Monteiro With A Family<br />
Of Investigators At Church<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">Helllooo from the other side! That is
an Adele reference for all you old folk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">What a great week holy cow!! We were
working every second of every day and I didn’t even see the week go by. We met
an amazing new family that all went to church with us. They live with the 8
kids and the mom, but the only one that works is a daughter who’s 22 and she
works as a maid in someone’s house over in Maceio and only comes home for 2
days and then stays there 15 days. This family is amazing people, you have no
idea. I’m sending a pic of them to prove it. So our area is kinda far away from
the chapel which makes it hard for people to go to church but they usually pay
50 cents to take a van down and back up afterwards. But this family doesn’t
exactly have that to spend. So we went and picked them up Sunday morning and
they all (the youngest being 8 and the oldest 22) walked with us the 40 minute
walk completely downhill to the church, and then at noon in the hot hot sun
walked more than an hour back up hill to get home. THAT IS REAL FAITH PEOPLE. I
was so amazed, they didn’t even complain or anything, they said ´´it’s really
good to go to church, let’s go see what this one is like´´ and went! They are
amazing! The youngest is Maxwell and he was the only one that had remembered to
pray and ask god if the church was true. We asked how his prayer went and he said
´´it’s true. Its true what you guys said;´´ and we said ´´how do you know?´´
and he said ´´well I prayed before I went to bed and said ´´Jesus, is it true
what the ladies said about this church?´´ and then I had a dream that night
where Jesus was coming out of heaven on a stairway made of clouds and he told
me it was the right church. That’s how I know. ´´ When he told us I just sat in
awe and hugged him trying not to cry. These people are amazing and there are so
many of them waiting for the gospel to clear up so many questions and doubt
about religion and gods plan for us!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">And in Relief Society this week they
taught about family night and how it should be held and the purpose. I couldn’t
help remember how most of my fondest memories of all of us together where
during family night-whether it was going to west fenwick park, or to play bball
at the church, or playing jenga or when it turned into wrestle mania and mom
always got mad. And let’s not forget the beloved moment when mom and dad played
just dance and danced to that Rihanna song... but I realized in such a simple
act how much a family can be strengthened, that most of the things I learned
about the gospel, or the questions I had, weren’t answered at church but at
home with my parents and my siblings, even Spencer putting his feet in my hair.
I am really grateful for those memories mom and dad supplied (forced) us to
make. How smart is the church? I was thinking about the devotional they had
here in Rio de Janeiro that was about personal progress and duty to god-I
thought about how much personal progress showed me I was capable to do hard
things, that I could and should break out of my comfort zone. Because one day
we will all be accountable for not just the things we did here but the person
that we became, and personal progress helped me in that effort.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">I guess that really
it for this week! The super Christian families are alright, one we found out is
a super famous pastor and the other went to church with us this week! He
already knows the church is true he just doesn’t want to admit it yet. But we
will keep trying with them!! I love you all. Have a wonderful week in good ole Utah!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d;">Sister Walker</span></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-8816914594390456562016-08-01T15:56:00.002-07:002016-08-01T15:56:59.718-07:00August 1, 2016 -- Its Already August??<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2KhRwwSk18yVcjE1qreHEiEU5wiI3x0cF_3j4wuD0ujtA63TrZFTKSMWVZCuc2ycK7ItUpSDyUpwPWwxiSJnnfGbXEF0j0s-KK5KGop0zit-PXJ-mVADYhrp29kBpAUK3qroCbwPDsk/s1600/Courtney+and+Pedrinho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2KhRwwSk18yVcjE1qreHEiEU5wiI3x0cF_3j4wuD0ujtA63TrZFTKSMWVZCuc2ycK7ItUpSDyUpwPWwxiSJnnfGbXEF0j0s-KK5KGop0zit-PXJ-mVADYhrp29kBpAUK3qroCbwPDsk/s320/Courtney+and+Pedrinho.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Courtney Getting Her "Baby Fix" With Pedrinho<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcvt_tYIZqUSbRlwUwP36-sPaIhg6lmTeM-ojFGo4x6T2URqIW4beltqDxBV-_u5isxY1EJIQ2Q2GcAm3HapuWNJvtexfzaOAOCFzOS7tJdsd09MB1ITOcKjRR-weh9hxNXdDTy_2dAE/s1600/Courtney+and+Sis+Monteiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcvt_tYIZqUSbRlwUwP36-sPaIhg6lmTeM-ojFGo4x6T2URqIW4beltqDxBV-_u5isxY1EJIQ2Q2GcAm3HapuWNJvtexfzaOAOCFzOS7tJdsd09MB1ITOcKjRR-weh9hxNXdDTy_2dAE/s320/Courtney+and+Sis+Monteiro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sister Monteiro & Courtney<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi everybody!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wow I feel like I
was just here telling you what I did and that I didn’t actually do anything
note worthy this week but here goes nothing. This week was really cool, the
other sisters had a baptism of a guy who’s wife was less active but they helped
her come back to church and now he’s baptized too! It was really a miracle, his
story, because I remember when I came here on splits a few months ago and his
wife was talking about him, how it was impossible to baptize him, that he hated
the missionaries, wouldn’t even look at them when he got home. But slowly and
surely the gospel went touching his heart. He finally gave in and decided to
pray and find out if it was actually true and felt the spirit! Everyone in this
ward got to see a real life miracle this week, it was great. Speaking of recent
converts, have you had the new families over for dinner yet? Who remembers all
of their names? Give yourselves a big flick in the head if you don’t. This is
crucial timing for them now!! Right when they’re baptized the adversary works
super hard to pull them out of their little gospel bubble and back to their
comfort zone. They need FRIENDS people. Please help the sisters out!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways we met some
really cool families this week, that surprisingly all are part of the same
religion but go to different churches. Turns out they are all some sort of
leaders in their churches, like almost pastors but not that high up yet. It’s
like an extremely Christian church, idk how to explain it. But it’s hard to
find time to teach them because they go to church 2 times a week, and the other
family is working all week for the church. So it was a little intimidating to
teach someone who actually has read the bible cover to cover and knows a whole
lot more about Ezekiel than I do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But what was really
cool is that as we were teaching one of the families, we taught the
restoration. And we taught that after Christ, the 12 apostles all died, there wasn’t
anyone left on the earth with the authority of god. That no one had the power
to baptize or have a real valid church. And that is right in the moment that
usually people freak out because we basically say that their church doesn’t
have real authority, but this woman we were teaching named Socorro said ´´wow
your right! Wow I never thought about that before, you’re really right! And
where did that authority go? And who got it back?´´ And I was so relieved!! I
was SO happy because we teach that a million times a week and basically no one
understands that literally NO ONE on the earth had the priesthood until Joseph
Smith, and she understood it!! It is amazing when you find someone who you thought
would never accept it, but they just need to be given the chance to find out
for themselves! It was such a wonderful feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The other family
was a little less focused and at the end they were super excited to say the
prayer, but little did we know, they asked us to stand up, and when Sister Monteiro
started saying the prayer, each of them began to say their own prayer really
loud and with various ´´amens´´ and ´´hallelujahs´´ and ´´god blesses”.... I
had to hold it together to keep from laughing during the 3 prayers happening at
the same time. But they will learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways I’m going
to go take a nap now so see you guys soon!! I love my family very very much. You
are the most important people to me after the savior!! boa semana!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-22976835896470388362016-07-25T13:05:00.000-07:002016-07-25T13:05:58.326-07:00July 25, 2016 - 5 Months Until Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lG7JDMu90Oq5pJX6O3IQ2su7MCLRiVE7eoSjRrs2qyOdgauvuLvlUnRsAM4BN4SrdMQCwZS6pWaQ9URnkKq_qCEQbI5iLavD0ZtC4eP25AhUI9kJQ1ea9H5zqsDtb0_Dd36h7y9Ngpk/s1600/District+in+Sao+Miguel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lG7JDMu90Oq5pJX6O3IQ2su7MCLRiVE7eoSjRrs2qyOdgauvuLvlUnRsAM4BN4SrdMQCwZS6pWaQ9URnkKq_qCEQbI5iLavD0ZtC4eP25AhUI9kJQ1ea9H5zqsDtb0_Dd36h7y9Ngpk/s320/District+in+Sao+Miguel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
District In Sao Miguel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevL89rNv-UzCgTob9GbvzntZij4Sk9w2TXcEx64Omgeoesn8T94f1SYHvFDkLRcJ8SO6-NmzjhZOu0Sja_iAT6lzwPFf2o0ASJFH-GCQnK8baUq8_-44Kge5cHIVsr_5pxLCsKVjJbkk/s1600/In+a+members+big+hamock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevL89rNv-UzCgTob9GbvzntZij4Sk9w2TXcEx64Omgeoesn8T94f1SYHvFDkLRcJ8SO6-NmzjhZOu0Sja_iAT6lzwPFf2o0ASJFH-GCQnK8baUq8_-44Kge5cHIVsr_5pxLCsKVjJbkk/s320/In+a+members+big+hamock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Courtney Chillin In A Hammock<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hi everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sorry my time will
be short today because we have a million things to type up and send to our ZLs
and Presidente Gomes but here are the updates in São Miguel.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are teaching a
nice woman named Eleneice, a neighbor of a member here. Well we were teaching
her and her husband, and then one day we stopped by and she told us her husband
had picked up and left with another woman... after being married (LEGALLY
married people-that is a big feat) 33 years he left. So now we are trying to
help her see that sometimes the Lord takes things out of our lives that don’t
help us grow spiritually, even when we like those things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here they are
starting back up a one time a week activity at the ward. It’s sad to me when
very few people show up and the leaders have worked to plan it all out and have
it all ready. I had the haunting words of dads voice come into my head when I
would complain that I didn’t want to go to mutual every week: ´´we support our
leaders and our activities´´. I didn’t ever know what that meant-but now I do! When
we go to the things they plan you’re showing you actually support and
appreciate their efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One funny moment
this week was that a lady from the church department in Sao Paulo called our
phone to talk to the American sister I live with. This woman doesn’t speak Portuguese
and was asking some questions in English to me-what I didn’t realize is that I
was responding in Portuguese and she wasn’t understanding... at one point she
said ´´</span>Ok<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I’ll call back later when someone is there who speaks English´´ and I
said ´´oh okay. Oh wait I speak English!!´´ Keepin it classy over here with my
Americanized Portuguese.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But anyways things
are going really good here! I get along good with Sister Monteiro, it’s funny,
we´re the tall companions with straight hair and the girls we live with are
both short with curly hair. But I really love this area. I feel such a drive to
work every day even if my body doesn’t feel the same way- I don’t have patience
or time anymore to sit around doing nothing because I feel like I have the
personal responsibility to help all these people know the truth! Just think
about how unique and powerful our message is! There are people waiting for it
even if they don’t know it yet! We are part of the true and restored church of
Jesus Christ, with a prophet, 12 apostles and the priesthood here on earth. How
special is that message!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-MX" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-MX; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amo muito vocês se cuidam!! </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Love you so much. Take care of yourselves)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ps the pics are of
a great hammock at a members house and my new district-the elders are super
stoked they can use hats and sunglasses now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">BIG NEWS</span></u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">MOST WONDERFUL NEWS IN THE WORLD: SISTER
BARBOSA EMAILED ME, WHICH IS GREAT NEWS BUT SHE TOLD ME (idk why it was in caps I
was just really excited) she got a message on FB from a young man. We´d taught
him and his mom and dad and sister all the way back in Estancia before we were
transferred. He told her that his mom and sister had been baptized, and that he
had got to baptize his dad!!!! He thanked us a lot for our work, and said ´´I
will never forget when you knocked on my door and asked if our neighbors were
home (we were looking for the ward members that live in front of them) because
of that, today I know about the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I will never
forget Sister Barbosa and Sister Walker´´. Such a precious moment for me-THAT
is why I’m here. That’s why we serve missions. So that after all of the tiring
and hard moments you go through you get to plant the seed so that a family one
day will start on their journey back to our Father in Heaven. Wow! I can’t even
believe that happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-48169324807855359562016-07-18T12:01:00.000-07:002016-07-18T12:01:37.280-07:00July 18, 2016 - Struttin In São Miguel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAFtspo1p4i7KRr78nvaUzC5Vb1LjWiVdnL2L5kYVo7PW1f5YsCG5HUiFKVxlfPnK3JCvBYQq1z3w4wVnF3-HqXfTmr2UfHQJBRnz-0vh86kOPkWyzf2agDIPXoBr2on9hw8a95ucuJw/s1600/Roommates-Sis+Domingues%252C+Steele%252C+Courtney+and+Monteiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAFtspo1p4i7KRr78nvaUzC5Vb1LjWiVdnL2L5kYVo7PW1f5YsCG5HUiFKVxlfPnK3JCvBYQq1z3w4wVnF3-HqXfTmr2UfHQJBRnz-0vh86kOPkWyzf2agDIPXoBr2on9hw8a95ucuJw/s320/Roommates-Sis+Domingues%252C+Steele%252C+Courtney+and+Monteiro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Roommates: Sisters Domingues, Steele, Courtney and Monteiro<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp1jGlkcwbVDba12UAMb-DfkpYZWoRx3Jl7iI8UX-9ilZ6ekYWfNht8zOKAq8jKde92oi_ZtYuNQwgSEAUL0ROo4wHIK7H_JkdwExRZKYehAZgZ0sb56NmojLEdJ8_e2hphu_aR2BoA4/s1600/Sao+Joao+Party+with+Sis+Monteiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp1jGlkcwbVDba12UAMb-DfkpYZWoRx3Jl7iI8UX-9ilZ6ekYWfNht8zOKAq8jKde92oi_ZtYuNQwgSEAUL0ROo4wHIK7H_JkdwExRZKYehAZgZ0sb56NmojLEdJ8_e2hphu_aR2BoA4/s320/Sao+Joao+Party+with+Sis+Monteiro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Sao Joao Party with Sister Monteiro<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTOf03cFgz8gRdFMoWq4-Ehk6j5t9W4sMQI498-yCHALsOrnrD7ti-MITonIAUfp47R_U7XNGWcgeTREqiFesF7f8_Rsz7JHa8Cedaq19r7zfs4y2N552VmV18don2Z1lmnTHpbJNO6Y/s1600/Sao+Joao+Party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTOf03cFgz8gRdFMoWq4-Ehk6j5t9W4sMQI498-yCHALsOrnrD7ti-MITonIAUfp47R_U7XNGWcgeTREqiFesF7f8_Rsz7JHa8Cedaq19r7zfs4y2N552VmV18don2Z1lmnTHpbJNO6Y/s320/Sao+Joao+Party.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Courtney at Sao Joao Celebration<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Yce0-i09zQDJIPe7Gxf5cRs_17NhF8-GZhjEGoKgPTXH7LClO_UApiofQYIG0gBwc5Fpc9L497kWjUYEenwJ8QqI1gCoWZcPokbZIjxt3IBLKzqJV9xr875T9_aYVSgmSMBUOk8tfMg/s1600/View+of+Sao+Miguel+from+apartment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Yce0-i09zQDJIPe7Gxf5cRs_17NhF8-GZhjEGoKgPTXH7LClO_UApiofQYIG0gBwc5Fpc9L497kWjUYEenwJ8QqI1gCoWZcPokbZIjxt3IBLKzqJV9xr875T9_aYVSgmSMBUOk8tfMg/s320/View+of+Sao+Miguel+from+apartment.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
View Of Sao Miguel From Their Apartment<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Helllooo!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Well my first week
in my new area was SO GREAT. I love this area. Wow I have never felt a spirit
so good about an area and a ward. The ward here is small but strong-they are
really amazing people. They have 3 or 4 people that served missions here and
the rest think that we´re all angels sent from above (which I can’t completely
deny). We went to a São João party they had here and we didn’t know anyone and
one lady came up to us and said ´´I love you two. You are the reason that I
came to know about the gospel of Jesus Christ 6 years ago. Thank you´´. That
just melted my heart!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Oh and bday
shoutout to Spencerrrr-I like Spencer because he has good fashion sense and he
taught me how to change a tire, and because he let me hang out on his couch in Provo
and he’s a good listener and a good example to me. Happy 30th bday!! oops...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But my area is
decent sized, actually here there are 2 sets of missionaries and we live all
together. The area I’m at is the part above, because the whole city is divided
by this huuuge hill. Literally it’s huge. We have to take a van to get up to
our area every day which is like 30 minutes with all the stops, and then we
have to come down every night too. But it’s alright; our area has tons of
people and lots of members that live close by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I got to give a
talk yesterday about missionary work (surprise surprise) and it’s so funny to
see when a missionary gets up to speak about preaching the gospel everyone
basically conks out haha. So you gotta throw a joke in there to wake everyone
up. But I like to give talks when I get to a new area so I can avoid all the awkward
questions that everyone asks to my companion like ´´does she speak Portuguese?´´.
It’s also funny how when everyone finds out you’re American, they start talking
to you about Obama-I pretty much always am up to date with everything he is
doing or saying because everyone thinks that is my number one priority for some
reason..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We got to teach a lot
this week which was great. We had tons of references from the members who took
us to their families houses who aren’t members, or their neighbors and we make
friends with them easy and teach them and mark dates for their baptisms! It’s
that simple people! I’ve been thinking a lot about our true identity as
children of god. If all of us really understood and really knew how precious we
are to god, if we really understood all that is waiting for us on the other
side, all the treasures and happiness and love, it wouldn’t be hard to keep the
commandments, it wouldn’t be hard to get up and go to church or read our
scriptures, we wouldn’t be scared to talk with people about the church, because
WE know how important it is for these people to know. That is what the
difference is about knowing who we really are. We are princesses and princes
preparing for our eternal destiny! I am very thankful to know that is true. Our
decisions really do determine our destiny. I love you guys so much! Have a
wonderful week!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-37258586485474484162016-07-11T14:35:00.000-07:002016-07-11T14:35:28.236-07:00July 11, 2016 - UM ANO!! (ONE YEAR)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEges2BbGoo1W7WGAM7ZFex9VsKEOoUrBM8fywK-ToH_Lq8DqqkAAffhZMGX0oCYe59QBpgSQFvvXarRy2QHSscqzVIG5MUi3D9qCXhlfZ7q8Oz6dV6LmTIrvL6r8Pc9RixvQxYmRGLv1XE/s1600/Farewell+Sister+Barbosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEges2BbGoo1W7WGAM7ZFex9VsKEOoUrBM8fywK-ToH_Lq8DqqkAAffhZMGX0oCYe59QBpgSQFvvXarRy2QHSscqzVIG5MUi3D9qCXhlfZ7q8Oz6dV6LmTIrvL6r8Pc9RixvQxYmRGLv1XE/s320/Farewell+Sister+Barbosa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Farewell Sister Barbosa!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUu_m5s0dDTWQJcvCJx7vjHf68ckjtAMbFpF5FLWvU4wLEQn0xTZlflvFJnpkOVh-B_49g8utjUfDnxE70z9NxwK19BVrNZwfoQnr2bT0_x0ad0CmBNdPHRb2GHm3eEUy8_cucTXM1gQ/s1600/One+year+mark+-+eggs+and+flour+on+her+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHUu_m5s0dDTWQJcvCJx7vjHf68ckjtAMbFpF5FLWvU4wLEQn0xTZlflvFJnpkOVh-B_49g8utjUfDnxE70z9NxwK19BVrNZwfoQnr2bT0_x0ad0CmBNdPHRb2GHm3eEUy8_cucTXM1gQ/s320/One+year+mark+-+eggs+and+flour+on+her+head.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
One Year Mark - Gets Eggs & Flour Smashed On Her Head<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCu7IJoQ9EH7uRv6WgaMG8F-yTgGhLXm2rRUbR89uEzDlxRWYlBPVCFv2xUWO4AgsTLe3OkdqUsp7ss38-DTqjBi6i1GBnQs9FxX1Bz_Dn0Dq5pS5-hycEqQhJo1A_7F2ddGNNer5Wpho/s1600/Party+for+Sister+Barbosa+with+their+ward+-+Araracaju.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCu7IJoQ9EH7uRv6WgaMG8F-yTgGhLXm2rRUbR89uEzDlxRWYlBPVCFv2xUWO4AgsTLe3OkdqUsp7ss38-DTqjBi6i1GBnQs9FxX1Bz_Dn0Dq5pS5-hycEqQhJo1A_7F2ddGNNer5Wpho/s320/Party+for+Sister+Barbosa+with+their+ward+-+Araracaju.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Church Openhouse - Araracaju <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZobMf_gzfE-CnSG9mLgT2CdRY-GQHSHePreLUKIG9mGrpoxpzwJGJESGTYmqbYa8mcYKKN2gXadIYiG2bc7yYDlEGiTzFSOx5WSZ-Ou6thoI61PoCb1mkcSS-azUfUvcOTvrqulqD8g/s1600/Surprise+Party+for+Sis+Barbosa+at+District+Meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZobMf_gzfE-CnSG9mLgT2CdRY-GQHSHePreLUKIG9mGrpoxpzwJGJESGTYmqbYa8mcYKKN2gXadIYiG2bc7yYDlEGiTzFSOx5WSZ-Ou6thoI61PoCb1mkcSS-azUfUvcOTvrqulqD8g/s320/Surprise+Party+for+Sis+Barbosa+at+District+Meeting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Surprise Party For Sister Barbosa With Their District<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hey party people! What
a wild week to end a wild transfer. Seriously longest transfer ever. But I
survived!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So what’s the big
secret? (let Jared fill you in on that one) I will now be transferred once
again back to the state of Alagoas, Brasil, to a little town close to Maceio
called São Miguel. I’m gonna be companions with a very tall very sassy and very
funny sister from Cabo Verde (thats in Africa people) named Sister Monteiro. I’m
leaving tonight at midnight on a bus that will take all the missionaries that
are being transferred to the other state-which means I won’t sleep at all tonight,
score! In other news I’ll have to say goodbye to Santos Dummont which is a very
cutesy area I love. But I knew I would never stay because it would be too easy
to send Sister Walker to a ward that is fully functioning in a real city. I’ve
learned that missions are a little bitter that way, you meet such amazing
people that change your life, and then one day you have to say goodbye to all
of them and continue on. That happened with Sister Barbosa this week when I
sent her off to her bus. I’ve realized I am really terrible with goodbyes, I
always have all these nice things planned out to say and then I get up there to
say goodbye and I just start crying.... then it gets awkward and I have to
excuse myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways this week I
didn’t even work in my area, I had a meeting in Maceio where I got to see my
favorite Sister Estela woohooo!! It really is the little things that make your
mission great-I was so happy to get to see and talk to her again. But then when
I got back we spent all the other days helping at the new chapel open house
that opened up about 10 minutes from our area. The chapel there was in
construction for about a year and just opened up! I took my rightful position
outside the gates calling people from off the streets to come in and take a
looksie. I was surprised how many people stopped what they were doing to come
inside for a tour with some nice members or missionaries and only a few people
explaining too much about baptisms for the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s all I really
have got for your guys this week. Now I get to scramble back to my area to get
all my stuff together and head out! I really love my mission. I can’t think of
any other place or event or way I could become the person I want to be and
Heavenly Father wants me to be, without going on a mission. It has changed
every aspect of my life, how I think, how I view the people around me, what I
want to do with my life. I love being a missionary! When we truly understand
how indebted we are to the savior and all He gave to us, the problems and
challenges don’t seem so overwhelming. I know that that is true! Hope you guys
have another wonderful week of summer!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">amo vocês!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-47567246037497018562016-07-04T15:14:00.000-07:002016-07-04T15:14:19.168-07:00July 4, 2016 - 4th Of July/The Last Supper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDPT3BGAEwY7XaAuPUsVKA8fwFkwzycBT1peAGwBMi23m0BjOKU9Dl1F71daGY3EWoOM1gWiQpa_UIsPRTL_qye05XuY0m8_-anHVZiwKBEBkekCZfzdE0aAAadlpGRmsVUiLvp4ttaU/s1600/Courtney+in+Sao+Joao+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDPT3BGAEwY7XaAuPUsVKA8fwFkwzycBT1peAGwBMi23m0BjOKU9Dl1F71daGY3EWoOM1gWiQpa_UIsPRTL_qye05XuY0m8_-anHVZiwKBEBkekCZfzdE0aAAadlpGRmsVUiLvp4ttaU/s320/Courtney+in+Sao+Joao+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Courtney in Sao Joao<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2RzyLqx5we79rSSm4WO-tcfVky44YBiE95sxaabzIegpPT6u7HYnuy9paf54VjiT7axETRsQDqaSHV7SsxXz2oZNJw1rW8JVMGm2QBCQAuA8ihgwIPpFJI6cym-bxb1fRroLpmN79_k/s1600/Courtney+in+Sao+Joao+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2RzyLqx5we79rSSm4WO-tcfVky44YBiE95sxaabzIegpPT6u7HYnuy9paf54VjiT7axETRsQDqaSHV7SsxXz2oZNJw1rW8JVMGm2QBCQAuA8ihgwIPpFJI6cym-bxb1fRroLpmN79_k/s320/Courtney+in+Sao+Joao+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Courtney in Sao Joao Marketplace<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHdcl1PLGhXxy_D-nRKPHWR2e05ZJALLcyvTfpc2PC76L_K6gLXBQm4kp55yfeND2HNSaVoy4Q2nlnZxTYS6Od-0BXCxEt2dhV_liixSLrlwNKxYMwloXfrDWvNoDYerd93qQ71rHIV0/s1600/Surprise+Party+for+Sister+Steele.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLHdcl1PLGhXxy_D-nRKPHWR2e05ZJALLcyvTfpc2PC76L_K6gLXBQm4kp55yfeND2HNSaVoy4Q2nlnZxTYS6Od-0BXCxEt2dhV_liixSLrlwNKxYMwloXfrDWvNoDYerd93qQ71rHIV0/s320/Surprise+Party+for+Sister+Steele.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Surprise Party for Sister Steele's 9 Month Mark<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hey Family!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I’m thinking I
can never get just a regular week in this transfer, for some reason I’ve gotta
keep myself on my toes for all the craziness going on. This week me and Sister
Barbosa got traded companions, so we each got put with one of the sisters who
was already in the area. So I got to work with Sister Steele, from Chicago. She
is a nice sweet sister who likes Parks and Rec and just hit her 9 month mark!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We had interviews
with Presidente Gomes this week and he traded the companions because he thought
it would be good for the other sisters to get a different view on the work. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt;">Anyways my
interviews with Presidente are funny, they’re not really interviews, it’s more
like ´´are you good Sister Walker(the question mark button is missing on this
keyboard so imagine it instead...)´´ ´´yeah I’m good Presidente´´ ´´Ok great. So
this and this and this is happening in the areas you went through to make them
actually productive. Now I’m going to need you to do this and this for me´´ ´´Okay
Presidente´´ haha and that’s about it! But I think he knows that when I’m not
okay or when he really needs to know about certain things, I’ll give him the
411.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In other news this
is Sister Barbosa’s last week in the field, she leaves Sunday for Maceio and Tuesday
morning for São Paulo. Many sad feelings are going on inside of me right now, I
think I am more nervous for her than she is. It’s funny that I feel that
horrible sinking feeling like when I left home, knowing I’ll have to say
goodbye to my best friend I made on my mission. But we try to make the best of
it and not talk about it-instead we eat lots of icecream and sometimes I buy a
bowl of ice cream and a milkshake at the same time and then she tells all the
members and they make fun of me... some things never change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyways I am busy
planning 2 surprise going away parties for her and trying to make her last
moments here as least stressful as I can! Next week I’ll be transferred out of
this area and I’m pretty sure I’ll go to a close area called Soccorro, but
we´ll see. I have a leaders meeting in Maceio this week too so maybe I’ll get
the info ahead of time. Anyways that’s all I’ve got for now. I hope you all
know how much I love you all! I really really do. Wishing you all a happy 4th
of July and everyone in the streets is already tired of hearing me sing God Bless
America!! até a proxima!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">xoxOOXOxxoxo<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7425928378369268011.post-25041831854030736312016-06-27T10:41:00.000-07:002016-06-27T10:41:09.254-07:00June 27, 2016 - Surprise Transfer!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDydSM3uDwHqY0o0GhJLtIKUF-pWDuhHaNVeYQ9ba6Gw5jHzAPJ6WUfgQpg9RNAoYowf340bsFk_LvcKIXAtB3_4NHGdlh_mHvVoX1oAunTOrtTP6mrfu7ZgjvHRKhY388U5yrH0ldWQ/s1600/With+Sister+Barbosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDydSM3uDwHqY0o0GhJLtIKUF-pWDuhHaNVeYQ9ba6Gw5jHzAPJ6WUfgQpg9RNAoYowf340bsFk_LvcKIXAtB3_4NHGdlh_mHvVoX1oAunTOrtTP6mrfu7ZgjvHRKhY388U5yrH0ldWQ/s320/With+Sister+Barbosa.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Courtney and Sister Barbosa<br />
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hey party people!</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So yes the title
speaks the truth, I was emergency transferred last Monday afternoon for a new
area, Santos Dummont which is in the capital of Sergipe calledAaracaju.
Presidente Gomes called us last week and said ´´the mission is needing of your
help´´ and this isn’t our first time around the block so we said ´´where are we
being transferred President?´´ So turns out the reinforcements we gave to our
beloved area in Lagarto were a no go so the area got shut down and we were
thrown lovingly into other areas for 2 more weeks until the real transfer. My
new area is the smallest area in the mission and now it has 2 pairs of
missionaries working it... the members are more than confused. But it has a
good ward and an almost well functioning committee meeting-the best I’ve seen
on my mission so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I always had heard
that the end of your mission isn’t easy for anyone, you always pass through a
lot of trials, but no one ever talks about how it’s also hard for the companion
of the person going home. We are learning to persevere. I’m also pretty sure
that Presidente Gomes put us in this cushy area to throw us a bone after all we
had to deal with in the other area. But I don’t mind! Now I live with 2 other Americans
and it is surprisingly strange and difficult for me to live with just Americans...
I don’t know how to act or if I can eat their food or what they’re thinking, I
feel out of my comfort zone. But hey it’s only 2 weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This week I have
been thinking a lot about the Book of Mormon because I’m in Mormon right now. I
learned that if we don’t ponder and study and put ourselves in the positions of
the people in the Book of Mormon and understand what they went through and
everything they sacrificed so that we can have that book, we really aren’t
doing it justice. I like to think about all the wars like a movie in my head
and it makes it easier to remember the context and everything. I really love
the Book of Mormon. My favorite scripture right now is 1 Nephi 21:16. I
learn so much more about Christ than I thought I could-I’m learning now how
important it is to remember Him in everything. He looks at the marks in His
hands everyday and thinks of us, the least we can do is remember Him in our
words and our deeds. I love that book! And if other people haven’t heard about
it yet I sure am excited to tell em. I love you all so much! And happy late father’s
day to the best pdaddy out there! Love you dad! até mais.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sister Walker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
JoAnn Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01369928755619619262noreply@blogger.com0