"I think I ate too much cake"

I don't remember if I have shared this, but I had a break through moment a couple weeks ago. It was amazing. I realized the whole purpose of our life on earth and the gospel and everything. ok, here it is................................................................................................................................
So in Moroni 8:25-26 it talks about the gospel, faith, repentance, baptism, holy ghost, endure to the end.
25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;

 26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

And SO OUR LIFE ON EARTH WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP CHRISTLIKE ATTRIBUTES. WE DO THE THINGS TO BECOME THE PERSON. WE BECOME LIKE CHRIST. AND ISN"T THAT THE FINAL GOAL ANYWAY? TO BECOME LIKE HIM? 

also see Moroni 7:48

 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

These attributes are: Faith in Jesus Christ, Hope, Charity and Love, Virtue, Knowledge, Patience, Humility, Diligence, Obedience, etc. 

Therefore, lets go and do. 

haha, I have just been feeling like really passionate lately and really motivated and spiritual. It is very fun, haha, but then when I am not feeling like that I just get ice cream. haha, actually yes, that brings me to my title. Yesterday was the day to celebrate elder matua's birthday. And so Brother Huang bought this cake. pretty good haha, and its not even like cake is my favorite, but afterward I was like, Sister Komatsu, I don't feel so good. And she was like, me neither. And then... we continued on and we got home and tried to do planning but we could just not focus worth anything, and we just talked and talked and talked. well, let me tell you. that was a sugar rush. haha. well, we were really happy. haha. also... whenever I take a selfie i just look like the white glowing angel because the flash always hits me.... ahah.

Sorry, was that too much detail? The moral of the story we set a goal that we could only eat cake once a transfer (: haha. don't worry about us (: We run it off in the mornings. haha.

Anyway!!!! that wasn't the only reason we were having a great day on sunday... we also saw soooo many miracles!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think that I really understand joy. yesterday... it was amazing to sit thereat church. Next to our less active who I haven't seen in weeks, a visiting member and her nonmember friend, and then walks in our other less actives, and the elder's less actives, and our investigator Qiu Yi Wen, and our RCs, and then for the last talk walks in Yuki (she had said that she didn't want to come, and recently she hasn't been progressing). I literally sat there open mouthed. I felt more happy and giddy than I ever have before. It was amazing. I was just sitting there beaming, and smiling, and I looked up at the bishop and you can tell he was trying to hide a grin too. Wow. What makes it so amazing is that the youth in our ward got up and bore there testimonies about being at youth conference last week. SO GREAT! wow! Yesterday was really the best day ever as we saw so many goals accomplished. We worked hard, and put our hearts into it. One of the most amazing lessons that I have ever had was last night as we taught our investigator Yuki about fasting. We laid down the line, and said, look, our purpose as missionaries is to help you and your relationship with God. We invite you to these commitments such as baptism, reading, praying so that you can know the truth from God. In the index we read about the purpose of prayer is not to change the will of God but rather become in harmony with Him. We testified that as she learned her relationship with God, that she is His daughter and He loves her. She will want to pray to Him all the time. She is going to fast with us tomorrow. We are praying that she will know the truthfulness for herself. This is the last thing we can do, she is backed up to the wall of faith and she needs to make a stand. We read Alma 5:44-49 with her. twice. just so she couldn't miss it. We are praying really hard. 

So funny too, we had visited the Yang Family.... Ps. they have 6 kids... here is just one of them. (: 

and our original plan was to do a roleplay with them.... and it would give us a good time to practice teaching lesson #1... the restoration of the gospel of jesus christ. and I asked, who do you want to play? And she was like, I will just be my sister in law...... and I said, well, why don't we just teach it to her. Because she was actually sitting there. haha, and so we taught their sister the restoration and taught about families and how God loves us and wants to help us and direct us. And she accepted the baptismal invite and a book of mormon. Cool! Then invited the Yang Family afterward to boldly talk with their family and friends, because we need new investigators and these people need the gospel! 

So funny, Brother Yang talked in church and totally shared that experience, haha, he was like, Sister Walker is great. And she is right, we need to be more bold. I was just sitting there in the congregation, I think my face turned red. haha.

Some challenges that we have faced is investigators losing interest and time. Our pool is smaller now. But we found a lot people this past week! Super exciting! The challenge that comes along with that is only a few of our investigators are progressing. We need to help these people progress. We just need to do better followup.
That is one of our goals, is to do better followup. It will be hard, i have never been good at that on my mission. But we need to help these people. They need the gospel.
I think this week, well as the first full week with my new companion has been a learning week for both of us. And I think we are starting to figure out how to work a little bit better together. So that is exciting! We really are having a great time, we are in a beautiful place with amazing people, and i have a great companion, can't complain.
I want to be captained by Christ! I have seen many small little miracles of following the spirit that are really motivating to keep going! We are sharing the because he lives video with everyone. It is amazing! It just hit me the other day, that really that is like what we are doing, we are sharing about christ and his atonement and resurrection and everything else is just an appendage to that. I think that was in a conference talk...
We had a good meeting with our leaders in the ward the other day, we hope that now we are a ward that we can better follow the ward mission process. We gave them a copy and invited them to do it. Next ward council is going to be exciting!
I love my mission, and I am just so excited to be here everyday. I think about back when I was in training, or the MTC, i never could have imagined where I am now. It is a miracle. It is amazing. It is the gospel.

Wow. this email is really long! Sorry!!!!!!!!!!!! (:(:(:

haha, love! sister walker (:

Wow!!  time for new running shoes :)

Our home!!

OUr kitchen!!

From our balcony :)

AND FOR 2 DAYS I WAS SISTER WRIGHT

EXPLANATION: So because we live really far away from the mission home/office... when transfers come.... only the people being transferred go up to transfer meeting..... so i got to go up to YULI and stay with sister wright for a few days until our companions came down.... and i totally forgot my tag!!!!!!!!!! this is like the first time it has ever happened!!! and on the day where i just can't go home.... :( haha, any ways so i wore sister wright's english tag and told everyone my chinese name and she wore her chinese tag..... and told everyone her chinese name (:(: so it worked out... haha!! just a funny little experience (: haha

anyway........

MY NEW COMPANION IS: SISTER KOMATSU

ISN'T SHE JUST THE CUTEST THING EVER????

No, she is not taiwanese... she is HAWAIIAN. but she is japanese.... if that makes sense (: haha

I LOVE TAIDONG!!!!!!!!!

​I LOVE BEING IN THIS AREA, and I know that God calls us to specific places. Recently I have been thinking about missions, and how everyone's is so different, and how amazing missionaries we have here. And I was thinking, that as I approach the end of my mission, a lot of people, talking about the future will say that I will be a sister training leader, etc. And I think that while that would be fun, and a great growing experience. I know that Heavenly Father is in charge and I am meant to be wherever I am meant to be. And with who I am meant to be with too. I think about when I was a younger missionary... who my companions were amazing, and they definitely could have been sister training leaders, etc. but they weren't they were my companion and I am so grateful they were! And I was thinking about how much our companions need us! We get to help them more personally. I am just so happy to be here sharing the gospel whatever place the Lord has put me, or position. I think that that took me a while to understand in my mind. But I thought that I would share (:

Another thing that was a big confirmation for me to follow the spirit is that we were riding along and we passed by these white people with backpacks... and we said hi and then we went to go visit our RC and then she ended up not being home so we were riding to our next place and passed by them again.... and said hi again. And then after we passed by I just had this feeling, like you need to go back. And I literally let out a sigh. I usually don't like talking to white people because english is hard. Sometimes, I am just not very good. haha, And so my companion came over and I was like, do you think they need help? and she said I don't know. And so then we had to go back, and follow the spirit. And it turns out they were lost, and didn't speak chinese, and it was hot and no one else could help them.... except for someone who could speak english, and chinese, and we were able to help them find the bread and breakfast place they were staying at. They were from germany and hadn't even heard of us or the church before! So cool, we got to give them an english tract... another miracle that we even had one! And it was something small. But something that was just like, that I know that I can trust the spirit, and when it comes again, it gets easier and easier to recognize. Doesn't mean that it is easier to follow. But I hope that I can continue! I want to be captained by christ... In my personal study I was able to write down all the weaknesses, and things that I want to change, and I am going to work hard and trust that God will help those things to become  strengths! I am excited. 

I love you all!!! I hope you continue to follow the spirit.

RECENTLY I HAVE A GOAL TO BE RIGHTEOUSLY IMPULSIVE. haha, it has been working out well so far, we have been seeing a lot more opportunities to serve and teach and meet people. I GUESS YOU COULD ALSO CALL THAT COMPLETELY OBEDIENT TO EVEN THE SMALLEST WHISPER OF THE SPIRIT. haha

it is very exciting, i hope that i make this a good habit. 

you will be happy and surprised to see the miracles. that otherwise you would just walk past. and never even know.

LOVE SISTER WALKER

my new companion is sister komatsu!! she is from hawaii! she is japanese.. but she doesn't speak japanese... just english and now chinese! she has been in taiwan for only about 4 months!! newbie!!! she is so sweet! haha, when the people see her name some people just start speaking in japanese to her, haha, and she just has to explain the whole story haha....... this is our first picture together... it was after a long day of travel and weekly planning session... and we realized we hadn't taken one.... so here it is. haha yes, we were pretty tired.

this is me and our cute neighbor... she is so old. and so cute. and she can't hear... but she is the joy of the neighborhood for us at least (:(:

​and i totally agree with what you said about learning things and growing and having new companions is just the best. haha!so fun (: i know that we are going to have a great time together! and we have been together for approx. 3 days!! yay! so i think so far its been a good start (: before she was in the middle of taipei.... their area is so small because it is the 2nd most consentrated area in the world!!!!!!! wow!!!! so being here is a little different for her (:

yes! i have been in the area for 7 weeks, one transfer... because of the weird transfer thing where the mission president came in... so i got one more week to prep myself! haha (: but it was so sweet... sister giles had been here for a while and before she left she just said that she had no concerns. she knew that i would take good care of everyone (:(: it was so sweet. (: i will miss her, but what is so cool, is that we can see each other again! its not the end! haha

ya, so our aboriginal clothes was done with sister lin,.... she is a less active that we are working with..... recently she has been coming to church tho (:

oh thanks for the reeses, i am so excited (: haha and some day... those packages will get home... maybe... haha

wow! everyone looks so exhausted!!! keep up the good work everybody!!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! preston!!! wow andrew! that is so exciting. wow. wow. make sure to let me know what happens!

yay for leo club (:(: that is so fun!! haha, yay for being involved! i hope i can go stop by renaissance before i head back to school... i don't know if we will have time.. haha (: but i want to see everyone and talk to mr li!!! haha (: i know he will be so happy (:

love you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(: keep on being an awesome family. familes are the best. recently i have been reading the liahona for the last conference  (:so good! and all about families!! yaya!!!!!!!!!!!

love, sister walker (:

LAME TYPHOON. AND LAI JIEMEI WENT TO THE TEMPLE!

Well, yes. my mom's prayers are the most powerful. There was the biggest typhoon that has hit Taiwan in like 20 years.... and taidong (my area) got some light rain and dark skies.

BUT HERE IS THE UPDATE FOR EVERYONE ELSE FROM THE MISSION PRESIDENT:

"We enjoyed witnessing the typhoon last weekend. We were so amazed with the gale force winds and the torrential  rain on Saturday. In Taipei, huge trees were uprooted. Branches, limbs, and other debris was scattered on the roads. I heard from a member that it was one of the biggest typhoons in 20 years.  Crazy!

We are so excited to report that all missionaries are safe. The only problems I heard were some minor apartment flooding and that two apartments lost electricity. We feel that our mission was greatly blessed and protected.

I received a call early Saturday morning from our In-Field Representative to get an update on you missionaries due to the storm. President Uchtdorf wanted to know if all missionaries were safe in our mission. I told him all missionaries were accounted for and safe. I am grateful for the love and concern from the First Presidency for each of you missionaries."

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!! Sister Lai got to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead!!! WOW!!!!!!!!! This is what sister lindsay sent me: "Since we were in the baptismal font room with her to help out she leans over to me, "I forgot how to do this. I'm too old." Oh man, you really just have to know her personality, but when it was her turn to go up it was custom for everyone to 10 names hahahaha she got to 7 and just told the guy to stop because she was done. hahahaha!"

AND IN OTHER NEWS>>>>>> SISTER GILES IS LEAVING ME :(

WE WENT AND SAW HOT AIR BALLOONS>

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!! sister walker

hello mommy (:(:

and yes, so that "typhoon" was pretty crazy. but did you know that your prayers are the strongest? stronger than the typhoon. there was nothing that happened in taidong!!! this is the extent of the storm. crazy looking sky and a little bit of wind and rain. nothing any more serious than any other rainstorm that we have had before. haha. but they did make us stay inside...... all day. haha, but we were obedient. (:

got to finish my aboriginal clothes... and we read conference talks... and we cleaned a bit, and we went up to our roof and took pictures and popped popcorn and watched a marathon of the district haha (:(: and called our investigators of course too. haha (:(:all of our members were so sweet, they were so concerned for us.... because apparently it was suppose to be really big. but ya, they kept asking if we had enough food. we were good (: haha, lin jm made us yummy bread (:(:

i heard in other places it uprooted trees. etc, but it was pretty ok here. 

week was good (:(:

we got a call on saturday night.... SISTER GILES IS LEAVING ME AND TRAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow. a little tender mercy though, because if she had been leaving but not training... we wouldn't have gotten the call until wednesday and she would have left on thursday... but now we have time to figure things out, help her pack and let her say goodbye to people. so the Lord just really loves us (:(: she is so amazing. and i told her i was sorry because i kept telling president jergensen how amazing she is.... i think that is why she got the call (: haha (:(:

let me just say that i am so happy that i am staying in taidong (:(:

THE MEMBERS HERE ARE THE BEST MEMBERS EVER. really though. i can't even even explain. they really do listen to the spirit. AND THEY ARE BOLD. and i think that is my favorite part. in one lesson... they just invited our investigator to baptism. and i just wanted to stand up and shout "amen! and hallelujah!"

i love you mom!!! i want to be like you when i grow uP (:(:

TELL THE KIDS TO TREASURE THE SUMMER. because some people in the world don't get that. our investigators.... they are brother and sister and they are on summer vacation but they have to wait every night to see if they still have to go to cram school the next day... if they need to relearn things the teacher will call and they have to go the next morning... so it has been impossible to meet with them. the poor things. :( but they are reading and praying! i made lin xing zhao a prayer rock. it was so cute. she was so excited! she was like, it works so weel!!! haha

Day so far has been good... my tire went flat yesterday....but it is such a blessing that we have an awesome member family that lives really close and so we went over this morning and they helped us patch the huge hole in my tire... i don't know how these things happen. ahha (:(:(: and then we studied and then we rode to the internet cafe. (:(:

SISTER ZHANG CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY! she is adorable. (: the ward loves her. and here are our aboriginal clothes and we sewed the bottom beads on ourselves (:(:

i don't think there is anything i need... haha (:(: i am doing great!!! haha, OH NO!!!!!!!! i know what i need. i need reeses. please send some reeses candy. that is the only candy they do not have here in taiwan. (:

i love you!!!!!!!! i am sprinting hard! i pray that my next companion can sprint with me!!! (:(: things are speeding up. only 3 transfers left!! WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love you!!!!!!!!!

 SISTER WALKER :)

WAIT, WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK?

wow. i seriously just felt like i was just here. at the internet cafe yesterday. but ok...... let me break it down....

monday we went on exchanges with the yuli sisters. which was full of miracles!!! they came to work in our area..... so all 4 of us had the night to mission it up! haha, and PDAY WAS AWESOME...... (kody we played rugby!)

tuesday we had interviews with the new mission president. which was so amazing. I TESTIFY THAT MY MISSION PRESIDENT IS CALLED OF GOD AT THIS TIME.

wednesday was district meeting.and well. just read the board and know this is what we have to put up with. ha.... i mean... enjoy.

Monday was a day dedicated to yuki. oh man. we put so much time and effort into her.(: she did my makeup and i felt like mulan. haha

friday we did this language test and met with wang yu ting!!! she is amazing... she said that she prayed the other day because she was scared at work. so amazing!! she wants us to come over 3 times every week!!!!! she is the best. she has such sincere heart and real intent. wow.

saturday we went to Luye to visit Sister Lin and we got to make aboriginal clothes with her! Also while we were there Elder Guan of the seventy showed up to visit them. wow. so cool! how would you feel as a less active to have a seventy come visit you? wow.

sunday. we had Qiu Yi Wen and YUKI at church!!!!(:(: oh man. Qiu Yi Wen. is a member referral and she is sooooo golden (:(: so exciting!!!

OH. one big thing. i hit my 1 year on island mark this week. sunday was especially weird because only 1 year ago was i just sitting there..... not understanding anything. and this sunday. well, lets just say the difference is dramatic. 

Also,... another pair of shoes wore through......oh man!!! i am going through shoes (:(: soon, i will only have one pair left.. the ones i will wear home (:

it is so happy to see that no effort is wasted and everything is worth something, that these people really do have

an impact. and that they will be baptized (:(:

thanks so much for the pictures. that is sooooooo fun!!! i love our family (:(: wow. so fun, and so glad that you are all doing great.....and i am so happy for everyone. i am just happy. 

also.. funny. this morning i was sweeping the apartment... and i was like... who knew before that one day i would be here on a mission....... HEAVENLY FATHER Did and he prepared everything just the way it was supposed to be (:

well, I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!! hope you are having a good day. a good week. 

i love my mission!!! (:(: woohoo!!!!!! so happy!!!!! (:(:

LOVE SISTER WALKER