HAPPY THANKSGIVING,and WE ARE PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS!

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS IN THE AIR. AND EVEN THOUGH NO ONE ELSE KNOWS IT, WE KNOW IT (:

so the other day we were contacting at the park.... oh yes, that was on thursday... which also happens to be thanksgiving.... so on the way back before we did our weekly planning session, we stopped at a random place to get some food.... and i asked, hey what is the best thing... and there were like, well our turkey....and i was like, what? come again? and yes, it was turkey.(:

and that was the beginning of our thanksgiving feast miracle!

so after our weekly planning session we met with our less active friend, Andy Wu... and after the awesome lesson we said, happy thanksgiving! and they were like, huh? and afterward Andy asked where we were going... and we said probably just to find a place to go get food and then take it back home and grab a coat because it was suddenly FREEZING COLD! and he was like, i will go with you to that roast duck place... and so then he totally bought us a duck! how sweet! and then we took it home and it was so delicious and then we were really glad and grateful!!! and happy and warm. another thanksgiving miracle!! (: so fun!!

OK. so today we didn't really have any friends so Brother and Sister Chen took our whole district to lunch at NY Bagels.... so good! and then we went to the church and set up the christmas tree!!! it was soooo fun!!! we really are preparing for christmas (: i got to put on the lights (:

SOOOOOO MANY  things happened this week. and ok.... where to start?

1. Brother Ding is doing good, he has really been thinking alot about baptism... we really have learned how to teach him, we just share with him scriptures and bear our testimony, it avoids arguments, and it makes everyone feel good inside (:(: he is still scared of commitment and restrictions, he wants to be perfect. as we all do.... so he is getting down on himself. we are reminding him to do the basic things, just read and pray, hopefully one of these days we can get him to church (:

2. NEW INVESTIGATOR! Brother Feng, super cool, he actually works at Micron! The same company as my dad! His hobbies enjoy shooting air soft guns, and he wants to make it to the olympics. and this is why i really love the mission, you get to meet all of these people and be friends with them and share with them something that is really going to help their lives. and they will still be the same person, with the same job, and same hobbies, and interests, but they will change. it is amazing. 

3.TUESDAY we got to meet with ELDER STEVENSON, the newly ordained apostle!!! so cool, he is here in taiwan to pick up his son in the taizhong mission...... and anyways... it was a great meeting, and i learned so much of the importance of promising blessings and sharing testimony. after the meeting we went on exchanges... i went with sister bain and went to nankan (: my area.... and as we were going back we got on the mrt... and someone called us.. i didn't recognize the number and i answered it and it was sister jex.... and she was like, sister walker i have a surprise for you... and i am like ok.... and she gives the phone over to someone else who is just like, "sister walker, where are you?" and I am just like, "on the mrt" ...... and i am just really confused, and then she says, "sister walker, this is sister murdock"

and I just gasp, and the tears start coming

and she says, "I am here in taipei at the temple" and i say, "you just missed me we are going back to our area now"

and then all the thoughts come through my head..... can we go back, why did we leave so fast? i was going to take the chinese phase 3 test.... we were going to eat lunch in taipei.... why didn't we do all of those things.

because we wanted to get back to the area. 

and then I ask myself, is this God's plan or is this one of those agency things.......

and so i just cry. and we go back. and I tell her I love her and I know I will see her soon (: She said, keep going! you are doing awesome! 

and so we get back to nankan, and we go out finding, and then as we are on the street we meet our new investigator Brother Huang, who is soooo awesome!!! And while we are standing there talking with him, one of our other investigators comes walking down and she has been having a hard time lately, and we get to pray for her, and it was one of those moments that you knew if you weren't in that place right at that moment, we wouldn't have met those people. the miracles are sweet. 

4. We have gotten all of the 4 seasons in one week

5. We had a ward thanksgiving party! Ding Ling was able to come!!! she had so much fun, there was so much food, and mashed potatoes and pie (: and then it was a super intense tournament of chinese checkers. (:

6.attended mission leadership conference on friday!!! So amazing! I learned so much, we really focused on belief and obedience brings blessings, and happiness, and how we need to do good followup! I am so excited to present our trainings in zone training meeting on tuesday (: I will let you know how it goes.....

7. In our ward we have like 3 Filipino members and we have a new investigator Jovy, they are so funny! I love them, they always love when I tell them that my dad went to the Philippines on his mission (: It is so different teaching them than teaching taiwanese, it is so fun though!

8. I HIT MY 18 MONTH MARK ON SATURDAY. wow...... we also got to do a car wash with the young men and young women with our ward, I washed my bike (:
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​I finished the old testament this week!!! Now I have read all the scriptures (:(:

I am so excited, things are going so amazingly, we are really focusing and getting down to business!

LOVE IT, LOVE YOU, LOVE JESUS, LOVE THE GOSPEL.

LOVE SISTER WALKER (:

and for everyone's information I come into the boise airport on december 18th

and my homecoming is on december 27th at 9:00 am I assume (:

hope to see yall there (:

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ONLY Monday, Tuesday morning, Wednesday afternoon, Thursday morning, Friday night, Sunday in NANKAN

OK. so let me tell you what. 2 exchanges, stake conference and temple tours. That is what.

But miracles were seen!!

This week was absolutely busy! Really good though, we are working with our investigators the Ding family! They are doing really well. Sister Ding and her daughter are on track to be baptized on 12/6, we have seen a lot of miracles and their faith is growing everyday! We are working with Brother Ding who is so excited for them to be baptized, but is not quite ready to make the commitment himself. He knows it will be really hard. We shared with them about eternal families and the temple..... Well, when i was on exchanges Sister Cardon and Sister Guo did, and I hear that he really wants to go into the temple. He is just cutting himself short saying that he wont be able to make the qualifications. We visited them on Sunday... yesterday...We kind of played good cop bad cop.... not on purpose... just sort of turned out that way. haha sister cardon telling him that he was prideful and needed more faith and i was just like, lets read a scripture about God's love for us. (: haha, i think the biggest struggle for him right now is overcoming alcohol...... we taught him the word of wisdom and he quit for 2 days.... then he went right back. he is really smart.... he studies really deep buddhist scripture, confucious and laozi..... but he thinks that the book of mormon is the hardest of them all. (: I know that Sister Ding is such a good example, she is praying for him everyday! (: So are we!

Sister Ding (daughter) (her name is Ding Ling) totally sacrificed to go to the church in Shilin..... because she had an activity in taipei, so awesome! she is preparing for her date! She is so excited! ALSO, apparently on exchanges.... they were talking with Sister Ding (mom) about the word of wisdom, and she said that some of Ding Ling's friends were over and hanging out and something about drinking, Ding Ling didn't, and they are doing so good despite getting teased, etc. about keeping to the faith. They know this church is true.(:

On Sunday we got to go over with Sister Ding (mom) and Small Sister Ding (five year old Xuanyi) and cooked with them, because we were talking about the sabbath day and how we don't go out to eat or spend money. It was so fun!! They thought that was pretty cool, and it was just a good time together (:

Update on the Qiu Family.... the member that originally introduced them to the church is going to bring Andy and Fei Fei to church on Sunday!!! yay!!! they are still not answering our phone calls, but we are leaving cards, and texting!

About exchanges:

So, we went on two exchanges this week! That is why this week feels so short/so long. I was able to have an amazing time with Sister Harvey, she is a really great missionary, she has learned so much from her previous companions and area. I encouraged her to make sure that she continues to use the things that she has learned! I know that she and sister ioane will see so many miracles! While with Sister Harvey we were able to see so many things that God had placed in our path specifically. It is cool to see that when we are guided by the spirit we can have confidence in the things that we are doing and know that everything is according to God's will.

I was also able to go on exchange with Sister Kunzler! It was so amazing! She is such a bold, powerful missionary. I felt the spirit so often when we were together. Also I really enjoyed our companion study together. We are the watchmen! We are called to declare it to everyone. And we must! or we will be condemned. We just need to do our part and open our mouths. God is in control.

Stake Conference was soooo good! we went to sit up with Sister Jergensen on the stand to translate for her.... awkward... they already had people doing that.... so we just sat there on the stand..... for the entire saturday night session. President Jergensen called us his "reverent children" (: missionaries.... (:


Nankan is so amazing, there are so many prepared people here. I am so happy. I love being with Sister Cardon, we are seeing so many miracles each day and getting along well together. I hope that I can continue to endure to the end. I feel happy and excited. I know that I will!!!

LOVE EVERYONE!!!! KEEP ON KEEPING (:(:(:

SISTER WALKER

ALSO. I SAW MY TRAINER!!!!!!! SISTER GEORGE IS BACK IN TAIWAN!!!! WOWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE HER (: we weren't orginally scheduled to do temple tours that day... but then they were changed..... I think Heavenly Father knew I needed to see Sister George.... because I think I would have died if she came all the way to taiwan... and I didn't even get to see her!

FAMILY HOME EVENING!!!! (:(: I love these people (: just a few singles/families from the ward

SO YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN TAIWAN. because if you tell someone that you like something... or say that wow, i think that your shoes are really cute..... or anything... they will just give it to you. what a rookie mistake.... i have been pretty good my whole mission. major slip up here. HAHA SISTER DING gave me these sweet shoes (: i really do love them. (: haha and this sweet tupperware!!! so happy. yet i feel so bad. (: 

also PS sister tate and sister sylvester are in zhunan... guess who they are meeting with? Brother Cai, Boots! I hope he gets baptized (:(:

Broken Hearts and Contrite Spirits

HELLO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE SEEING SO MANY MIRACLES IN NANKAN!!!!!!!!!!!! (:(:(:

It was a great first week with my awesome companion Sister Cardon!!! It feels like we have been companions FOREVER.... in a good way! she feels like an old friend (: this is our amazing district!!!! our district leader got us doughnuts from krispy kreme... because he had gone to taipei for a meeting and so before english class we got to plan and eat (: so fun!

So sorry that apparently the picture of the Ding Family didn't go through last week.... but here is Sister Ding (older sister, she is a sophomore in high school) and Sister Ding (younger sister, she is five years old and like the cutest thing ever)

they got to come with us to a baptism on friday! they loved it (: Sister Ding (mom) and Sister Ding (older sister) are getting baptized December 6th! woohoo!!! Brother Ding is going to come and he is so happy that they are being baptized, he is just not quite ready himself, we are praying for him!

We met with Ding Mom this past week and shared Moroni 6:2 about a broken heart and contrite spirit, and it is so amazing to see our investigators prepare for baptism. you really know when they are ready when they are humble, and repentant and have a desire to follow Christ. 

Sister Jergensen shared with us last month about a broken heart is not like your heart is made of glass and it is broken and so it doesn't work... like a mug with a hole in it and is useless...that needs to be fixed.... it is actually more like a horse. when you have a baby horse, before you can ride it, you need to break it. and this means that it yields to its master. This is the kind of broken heart that we need. Another way i like to think about it is that our heart is hard like a stone before and when it is broken it means that it can be expanded. God can make it more. it can become bigger, you can let other things, people, Christ in.
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I think that there is another type of broken heart. The kind that Jesus Christ on the cross ached from when He said Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. 

Last week we were preparing for Sister Qiu and Andy's baptismal interview. We had already discussed everything and she and andy bore a powerful testimony of why they wanted to be baptized. That sunday, they didn't show up, and then we haven't been able to get in contact with them. Sister Qiu sent us a text saying that she is afraid she can't pay tithing, she is sorry and misses us. It has been a week since we have seen them. SO SAD. I just turned to my companion and was just like, 

"Why do they break our heart?"

Sometimes I think, this is probably how Heavenly Father feels about us. 

I got to experience a little bit of that. 

I think my heart is becoming more broken, and my spirit more contrite. And you can't do nothing but thank God for the trials. Because out of trials comes the faith, the miracles, the wisdom, the courage, the power.

WE ARE STILL FULL OF FAITH!!!! We are working with their friends in the ward, and we are loving, waiting with patience, and continue to invite them, to everything (: 

I will make sure to keep everyone updated with the miracles we see (:

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

COME UNTO CHRIST. Prepare yourself with a broken heart and contrite spirit to take the sacrament next week (:

oh and that picture........

HERE IS MY GRAND BABY!!! (: #threegenerations

IM A GRANDMA!

BABIES ARE HAVING BABIES!! my mission daughter sister tate has a baby!! Sister Sylvester (: She is so sweet. This is just so exciting. ill send pictures next week (:

I also cut my hair. for FREEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! (:(: haha, i had promised myself i wouldn't cut my hair on my mission.... well. lets just say it wasn't very healthy. anyway... last week we we missionaring... and we contacted these people, and it was really a good conversation point to talk about the massive tattoo of Jesus he had on his arm. Well, i don't even think he is christian... pop culture.. ughh. but no need to fear! We totally found out that he has met with missionaries before, and his friend hadn't.... so we were able to have a quick share with them and as we were talking.....they were like, your hair is so curly, and then they asked like, how do i do it....etc. etc. they are hair stylists.... and they have this thing at their salon... like a homework to do. and so they offered us a free haircut! and so we just scheduled it for next pday.... (last pday) and we go... they take a picture of us, and then they wash it, and cut it and do it.... and i am just praying the whole time because they are just like, i have never seen/cut anyones hair like this before. woooooh. and i told them i have actually only had one person cut my hair since i was like 14.... ha. anyway,... i think we were all a little nervous. it worked out fine. he only trimmed it, but it looks/feels so much shorter!!!! anyway....... they made it really really poofy. but they liked it. its whatever really. haha, they took an after shot... i wish i had the pictures!!!! anyway..... and that was pday (: i pulled some of it back... but here it is ..........

NO PICTURE CAME>>>>Here is The DING FAMILY! well, just mom and younger daughter xuanyi (: Brother Ding was taking the picture, and other daughter Ding Ling was at school.... (: I love them so much! We are really working with Brother Ding, he is doing really well, and they are all preparing for baptism!!! So exciting!!! (:(:(: I love them! (:

this is Sister Qiu and daughter FeiFei (: so cute! (: they are doing really well!!!

I ALSO HAVE A NEW COMPANION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wow. NUMBER 12. her name is Sister Cardon, this is us with Brother Chi opening his mission call... he is going to the montreal canada mission chinese speaking.. but he goes to the mtc and learns french. crazy, i know he will do well! But, yes Sister Cardon is so great, we really have been having a great couple of past days. She is from Provo Utah and she has been on her mission for the same time as Sister Cutler... and just like Sister Cutler was also born in this area and has come back!!! That did not happen by chance (: 

Sister Sagisi went home this week but she gave me a really good piece of advice... she said for your last transfer you just need to think that you have 2 transfers. (but not like in a your in denial way) just that for your last transfer you have 6 weeks. but you have to do 2 transfers worth of work in only those 6 weeks. 

I AM GOING TO BE SO BUSY! 

it really is exciting tho! I am ready and willing. I know that Christ will make up for my imperfections and I just have to go and do. (: Yesterday at church we were talking about leaders... and how they are just a tool... and how if i am a hammer...... i do not need to fear, i only need faith because I am in God's hands, He directs me. All i need to do is be obedient. He is perfect and will let me do what I am meant to do. I just need to trust in God and what is going on and hold on for the ride (:

And it should be an exciting one. 

LOVE SISTER WALKER

our rc friend jiu just got hers yesterday!!! and we went out to eat with her and we talked about patriarchal blessings.... so cool. it is such an amazing blessing in my life!!!!! so happy (:(: 

we got taken out to dinner because sister cutler was leaving :( but yay!

i got an ear infection... but no worries. i am feeling just like new today (:

well, I'm just happy. and i am sprinting to the end. beginning of last transfer.

OK!!!!!!! first an mtc flashback....... elder love(taidong zone leader), elder okeson(central zone leader), me (taoyuan) and sister belnap (hualian sister training leader). 

US as OLD MISSIONARIES

So updates on this past week:  It was really good. and so crazy!!!

monday wasn't pday.... we went on exchanges.. i went with sister Ioane, we saw so many miracles! we were so diligent, it was so cool, she is the best!! I love sister ioane, she is from tavalu.... a small island next to fiji, she is sooo funny! and such a good missionary.. she has the best experiences too because she is only a convert of like 2 years or something like that.... she told her dad that she was leaving for her mission that day before she got on the plane..... well, she had been telling them and telling them, but they always said no.... really opposed it.... but through the power of the spirit, her dad's heart was softened and he said, if this is what you want, then you can go... and that is what she did.... she left a scholarship that she won't get back..... she can reapply.... but so far she doesn't have it.... and she is being supported by their branch president.... she is such a good example of being ready and then going and doing. her testimony is so powerful and really helped the rc that we were meeting with... ruby... (who had decided that she was only going to go to church like once in two weeks) we were able to help her commit to going and taking the sacrament every single sunday. so good. (:

and then on wednesday.... which was our pday we got to go to taipei 101 for our first times ever!!!! soooooo talll...... hahaa (:(:(: we got to go to the temple and hang out in taibei..... so it kinda felt like we went and partook of the fruit of the tree of life...and then we went to the great and spacious building. weird. haha! there is such a difference. we didn't go inside... we just needed proof to show that yes, we served in the taiwan taipei mission, and yes there is a really tall building. (:

(we randomly were coming home from taipei 101 on the mrt and look who walks in? jessica? rc from jilong!!!) so happy (:

on friday we had mission leadership council.... so good (: we learned so much, we got a lot of training on the sacrament and sabbath day... about having it be a delight. i learned so much! and our zone is doing so well on helping investigators and less actives come to church, so cool, last week we had Sister Cao come... she hasn't been in like a couple years since she has been. she is really getting excited about the gospel again!!! and then yesterday Andy Wu came to church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we have been working with him, so much!! his testimony is so great, there was actually a return missionary that came to taiwan and visited him... and that return missionary is less active... but Andy bore his testimony to him about the gospel. so amazing to see. he came to church and took of the sacrament yesterday for the first time in like 10 years... or something!!! we were so happy. just beaming. wow. wow.

ALSO!!! our Qiu family came to church as well, mom, dad, son (andy) and daughter (fei fei) it was the best thing ever, the bishop stood up and welcomed them, and then it was fast and testimony meeting, and it was the best thing ever, Brother Qiu says he is still not use to it, but he loves his family so much, and we talked about the plan of salvation, and he said that he was willing to sacrifice everything to be with his family in the celestial kingdom forever. i think he will keep coming, (: we are fasting for him to overcoming smoking and chewing binlang...... ick.  but i know he can do it! he has been praying this week, and he said it really helped. 

OK A TAIDONG UPDATE:

That Sister Lin that sister giles and i met and gave the english tract too... got baptized last week!

ALSO!!!! remember Brother Xu??? well, this is what i got from sister komatsu today....

THIS WEEK WAS GREAT!! Guess what?! Miracles all the time - We met Xu dx's wife!! We came over one night and she was there - we taught her the restoration and then she said that our church seems great and she's seen a change in xu dx. And as we taught her we asked him about the book of mormon and how this gospel has blessed him! He bore his testimony, sister! It was the best moment in my entire life! She said she's also consider getting baptized! WHAT?! RIGHT!! Their gonna get baptized! I know it!

YOU NEED FAITH, FOCUS, ENERGY, SKILLS. 加油!!!

LOVE SISTER WALKER (:

hello momma (:(:(:

we are emailing before we go to the temple...... (:(:(: haha, and i can't remember if i told you or not... but i think i have just started getting use to the lack of sleep. etc. haha (:(: in chinese it means that you have gotten in the habit.... but that you adapt to it... and you get use to it... haha, its called xi guan. (: haha and if you change the tones on it... then it means a straw. haha oh i love that (:

ya, so we woke up at 4:40 this morning... but i am feeling pretty good. I GET TO GO TO THE TEMPLE IN A FEW HOURS!!!!!!!!!!!! YAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!! (:(:

and you are just so right... i was thinking also when i go back i will have to speak in english to people about the gospel, weird huh? because chinese is just so much easier... its like i am wearing two badges. the one with christ's name on it. and the other that says, "yes, i am white and i am speaking to you in chinese. yes. God exists. " haha (:

oh so good! i totally forgot about the letters, so glad that they made it (: haha yay!! oh and mom! i found cool pants for you (: no worries..... sorry i ruined the birthday surprise, but yes (:(: i am just excited. they are different, but i think that you will like them (:

and yes that sounds good... just do the classes that you told me a couple weeks ago...and i guess the only thing is that they need to be like 14 credits total for my scholarship or something..... (: yes! that sounds good (: thanks!

there are so many miracles mom. it is so crazy and awesome and i just feel so blessed. this whole area is just so blessed. our district and our zone are all seeing huge miracles. 

So happy for KODY!!!! yay!!!!  that is sooo cool (:(: and thats ok.... we can always photoshop me into the picture... ahha (:(: and i am excited to see you too. so there are going to be 2 other sisters, sister fisher and sister aldous are going to be going home with me to the boise airport, so that'll be fun (:(: it will be a big party. but just so you know... haha (:(: and please i hope you are all preparing yourselves for the biggest hugs in your entire lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (:(: haha and oh man that game sounds so intense.... yes, he needs to be careful!!!! haha, that is just so fun that everyone is so in to it. that is the best. i feel like i am so in to his football games there too!! i am so sad that i will have missed them..... but i am totally going to be there for rugby season!!!! (:(: haha

so happy that everyone is good and happy and healthy and having fun, wow, your zuccini sound awesome, haha (:(: and you need to make some zuchini bread and save some for me (: that sounds so good. (: haha

maggie looks so pretty!!!!! yay, i am so happy that she could wear my dress (:(: she looked so pretty and i am sure she had so much fun!!! yayy!!!! (:(: 

lacey is adorable. i love her (: haha well, i love everyone. but i just can't wait to meet everyone again, i feel like everyone has probably changed so much! i feel like i have changed so much. we are just going to be a big happy family, together (: haha, we are going to have to go slow with the movie watching. haha, i want to watch them with her, but i am a little scared haha (: i haven't seen a movie in a long time (: haha

oh yay, that is so cool about President and Sister Christensen  speaking at stake conference..... they are so sweet, they totally came to my mission farewell! how sweet is that!!! send them my love too (:(:

oh mom, those potatoe pins sound really fun!!! that would be awesome!!! (:(:

love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sister walker (: