April 11th

Hey Y’all!

   This week has been a good one for us. Nothing too crazy happened though. The weather has been amazing and we aren't complaining one bit! Except for this weekend. It got stormy! But before I get to that, we found this lady who is super cool! Her name is Debra and she lives pretty close to our place. She was out in her yard so we stopped to talk to her and she invited us back! We went back on Saturday night and had a great lesson with her! Her husband was in the house runnin around doin stuff but he said that when we come back he wants to join in with us! So cool!

   Things with the Moreno family are going good. We had an awesome lesson with them at the church and they seemed to love it! They are still on track for April 30th and we are soooooo excited for them!!

   So the highlight of the week. First off, I want to talk about our stake president here in the OKC stake. His name is President Tom Gray. He is the CEO of an extremely successful oil company but if you didn't know that, you'd never be able to guess! He is one of the most humble men I have ever met in my entire life. He is such a good example and is such a righteous leader. I have had the chance to serve around him now for over a year! I have been in this stake since April 1st, 2015 and have loved every second of it! But anyhow, yesterday we had our Stake General Priesthood meeting. We got to hear from several brethren and then the stake presidency. Listening to President Gray speak is like listening to an apostle speak! I am glued to him the whole time! Last night He spoke about being men of Valor and how we as priesthood holders have a wonderful and powerful calling.

   Meanwhile, during this meeting, there was a really bad thunderstorm that was happening. There was lots of thunder and lightning but kind of in the distance. It was pretty cool cuz I love thunderstorms! So at the beginning of President Gray's talk, he defined what valor meant. Basically meaning, powerful and courageous. Then he looked out at everyone and with so much power he said, "We are men of Valor." As soon as he finished that sentence, there was a huge clap of thunder that literally shook the entire building. Holy smokes. I don't know if him and God had some sort of deal goin on or what but that was probably the most powerful statement I have ever heard made. The thunder definitely helped out there! It was amazing!

   Then he talked about how as priesthood holders we need to do things every day to sanctify ourselves (Sanctify means to make holy) He said that the opposite of sanctify is dishonor. Then he said, " If there is anything that you are doing to dishonor your priesthood, Stop it. " Followed by another huge clap of thunder. The spirit testified to me of the power of the priesthood and the power that this man has. He has been such a huge influence to me and I am so thankful for the chance that I've had to serve around him! I hope someday to have the power that he has! That power comes from strict obedience to the commandments and also heeding the promptings of the spirit. It is possible!!

I love y’all and hope that you have a great week!!

Elder Walker   

April 4th

Hey Y’all!!

   This week was awesome! With a warm and breezy 80 degrees all week we have nothing to complain about. General Conference is always amazing as a missionary! Its probably equal to the super bowl for everyone else. And when Holland gets up there, there is definitely chanting going on! What an amazing conference we had this weekend!! To hear from the Prophets and Apostles is such a blessing!!
   As we were goin about our work this week, we were really focusing on teaching about prophets and Christ's original organization of the Church He established. It was really eye opening for me to teach these people about prophets. As someone born into the church, I have always known that we have a prophet here in the earth. As we taught and testified to the people of Oklahoma, It really strengthened my testimony of the divinity of our Prophet! There are so many people who don't have the knowledge of this! I am so thankful for President Thomas S. Monson who leads and guides us!
   Also this week we had the chance to go to the temple with Jay Hardy and Johnt'a Mitchell who have been recently baptized. Jay had done some family history work for his brother who passed away about 4 years ago from a rare form of cancer. He completed the record and was baptized as proxy for his brother! That was such a special experience! And to put the cherry on top, I was lucky enough to be the one to baptize him! It was such a special experience! The spirit was so strong there!
   Over all this week was amazing and we are so blessed! I have a testimony of Modern Day prophets and apostles and the words they speak!! I have a testimony of temples and the work that is done within their walls. I know that our Father in Heaven loves us and wants us all to be happy! He has given us the way through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know these things to be true and I will be eternally thankful for them!! Love y’all and have a great week!

Elder Walker

March 28th

Hey Y’all!

   This week has been an awesome one! Things haven't been as fast paced as they were the last few weeks but things are still goin good! I haven't don't a weather update in a while but this week has been gorgeous!! In the mid 70's and sunny! I’m not complaining.

   Anyhow, this week we went on 2 exchanges. One with the Elders that we share the ward with and then also the Spanish Elders! 2 days in a row! I feel like I don't even know my companion anymore! But this week we only have 1 so that'll be nice.

   So nothing too crazy happened this week. While I was on exchanges with Elder Quijada (Key-hada) we were down in the south part of area. It’s a little more sketchy than the rest of our area but still not too bad. We were walking down this road and these Hispanic guys were in their front yard with a whole case of corona. They all got up and walked over to us and were talking to Elder Quijada in Spanish. I had an idea of what they were saying but I wasn't quite sure. Elder Quijada kept saying no, no, no! Then one of them turned to me and said in broken English, wanna beer? I laughed and said no! I think that it made the guy mad that I laughed! Then he started yelling at Elder Quijada! Elder Quijada said we gotta go! Then he reached out to shake his hand so the guy grabbed it and pulled him in close and tried forcing him to take the beer. I was thinking, great, someone’s about to get shot or stabbed or something... Then this big huge Mexican guy came out of nowhere and told them to knock it off so they settled down pretty quick. He looked at us and said, "I respect your religion for not drinking but you should go!" Don't have to tell us twice! We were out of there! Saved by the big Mexican! So was about the wildest thing that happened this week.

   We got a call Sunday morning from Jay Hardy. The guy who got baptized a few months back. He said "Elders I’m bringin someone to church with me." We were like what?? WHO!! This guy is baptized and a few weeks later is already doin more missionary work than most members!! He said, " A young lady I met at the store the other day! She's already a Mormon but she doesn't go like she should so I figured I'd help her out." Dang Jay. ON FIRE!!!  

   Also This week, we get to go to the temple with a few recent converts. Jay already did some family history work and got his brother’s name ready for the temple. His brother passed away from cancer about 4 yrs ago. He is super excited to do his brothers work! I am so happy for him! It has been so amazing to see Jay progress so quickly in the Gospel! He is truly converted! Anyhow, we've got lots to look forward to this week! I’m so excited! Things are great here. I’m stayin well fed and happy! I hope that y’all had a great Easter! Love y’all and have a great week!

Elder Walker

Here’s us at lake Heffner and we also decorated some Easter eggs too!

3-21-16

Hey Y’all! 

   This week was a wild one! We have been struggling to find new people to teach, and this week it all ended! We found 6 new investigators! It was such a blessing because we were getting kinda discouraged! Last week on exchanges Elder Haws and Elder Barker tracted into this house and there was a 13-year-old girl who answered and told them to come back later. So we went back and as we pulled up, we noticed that there was an LDS painting of Christ on their wall we could see through the front window. As we were walking up to the house, a guy pulled up into the driveway and asked if we were looking for his sister! We said I guess so. So then we asked if he knew who we were and he said that he was a Mormon, and his sister too! So during our appointment on Saturday, we found out that there were 4 kids in the family who aren’t baptized! WOOHOO!! We had a lesson with all of them together and they all want to be baptized! The kid’s names are Marissa (13) Mariana (11) Alex (10) and Mario (8). Their mom, Ashley, is a less active member who wants to come back to church! We are so blessed to have found them! The other Investigators were found tracting and also a member referral!

We also got to go to Choctaw OK this weekend for a baptism for someone who Elder Haws taught a while ago. But things are going great here!

I hate to cut this short but we have a big Zone P-day here in a bit but I hope that y’all have a wonderful week! 

OH! Before I go, I want to give a big shout out to and congratulate my wonderful girlfriend Anna Jensen who received her mission call to the California Redlands Mission this week!! She will report to the MTC on April 27th! She’s gonna be the best missionary out there!! So Exciting!!  

Elder Shane Walker

My comp got new boots that he wanted to show off haha. And here is a beautiful Choctaw Sunset! 

3-14-16

Hey y'all!!

   This week was awesome! I don't have as much time as I'd like this week so I apologize now. 

We had a successful week with lots of miracles! We went on exchanges with the AP's (Assistants to the President) and with the Village South Elders. Elder Barney and Barker. We went finding because our area needs new investigators! We brought both of them to our area for the day and got to work! Between the 4 of us, we found 10 potential investigators and 1 part member/Less active family that we didn't know existed! It was so awesome! The Lord poured out his blessings on us this week! It was an important reminder that we have to do our part so that He can bless us.

I know that when we are doing what we can, He is much more willing to help us out! I know that goes for anything! I greatly appreciate all your prayers and support as I go about this amazing work! The Work is going forth!! 

Always be looking for opportunities around you because I promise that they are everywhere! 

Love y'all and have a great week!

Elder Shane Walker   

3-7-16

Hey Y’all! 

   What a week it’s been! Missionary work wise it was slow but we were working hard still. We have really been focusing on finding new people to teach. They aren’t coming as easy as they usually do. I know that things will eventually pick up though. It’s all in the Lords timing! 

   Saturday was an amazing day for us. Elder Haws worked with a family in his last area named the Boltons. Chad Bolton was baptized a little over a year ago and had prepared himself to go to the temple along with his wife and kids! So they all came to the temple and Him and His wife received their Endowments and with their children they were sealed for Time and All Eternity!! It was so amazing to be able to witness that happen and see the happiness in them and their families!

  The temple is such a great place and I am so thankful for the blessings offered there! During the course of the day at the temple, we were able to witness or take part of every single ordinance offered in the House of The Lord! What a blessing! We left there on top of the world! The spirit was so strong and it felt so good to spend time in the service of the Lord.

  Then for the rest of the day, we were able to do service with Bro. Conlee and help him pull some more fence posts with the Cherry picker (: That was too much fun! We taught Elder Haws how to swing an axe too! We had a great day and it made up for the rest of the week being slow! What a blessing to see an amazing family become an eternal family! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so real and the highest blessings of the Gospel its self are found within the family unit! Families are so amazing to support us, love us, teach us, have fun with us, and many more things. I love my family and I am so thankful for them! I am so happy that I get to be with them forever! Love y’all and have a great week! 

Elder Walker 

Here is the Bolton Family that went to the temple, a sweet place up in Arcadia OK called pops( where I got my transmission fluid flavored soda that tastes like transmission fluid haha) And some amazing food from this awesome restaurant called Nic's grill!

2-22-16

Hey Y’all! 

   This week has been a crazy one! Things have probably never been as stressful as they have been this week. The weather was nice, in the 70s and 80s all week. We had some interviews and a Leadership Training Meeting this week and that was what really stressed me out. We haven’t had enough time to work in our own area!! We hardly got to do anything this week! It stinks! But we're onto a new week now (: 

    On Saturday we all got up at 3:45 am and headed to the church to load up on a bus at 5:30 and ship off to Tulsa Oklahoma!! We got there about 7:10ish and went into the stake center. I don’t know if I have said this but Elder Gonzales and I were asked to perform a musical number there at the conference. We performed an arrangement of I stand All Amazed. There were 400 missionaries from both the Oklahoma City Mission and the Bentonville Arkansas Mission. There was D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy, and Elder Michael L. Southward of the Seventy. I got to shake all their hands too! (Elder Christofferson's twice (: ) It was such an amazing experience! I loved every second of it! Me and Elder Gonzales got to sit on the stand with them haha. That was fun! We sat not far from him at all! The conference was really good. They all talked about mostly missionary stuff so it would probably bore you but if you'd like to hear some of it I guess I could let you know. 

   When we performed the musical number, I was super nervous. They announced it and my heart started pounding. I sat down at the piano and the spirit let my hands I can tell you that much. Playing the piano for an apostle is scary! It went super well. I only messed up once and it didn’t sound that bad. It was amazing! I was very pleased with how it went! After the conference was over, we all stood up as Elder Christofferson walked off the stand and he walked over to us. I’m pretty sure my heart stopped! He shook Elder Gonzales's hand and said, “You have an angelic voice." Then he shook mine and said “You are a beautiful pianist” AHHHHHHHH I thought I was going to die!!!!!! Then Elder Gonzales took a picture with him. But for my credit, I took it!!!! So I'll attach it. That was for sure the highlight of the week! Then we came home, ate lunch and took a nap! It was very much needed! 

   One of the things that He talked about was not procrastinating the day of our repentance. He read the scripture Alma 32:33-35. He shared He said that since we have had many witnesses from the spirit, that we should repent faster than ever! He said to repent rapidly and often! Rebuked by an apostle!! It was so amazing. The spirit was so strong and it was an amazing experience!  

   Hope that y’all have a wonderful week and stay out of trouble!! 

Elder Walker