Howdy

Hey Family,

How in the world are you all doing?!? Thanks so much for your e-mails, as always they were amazing! I love hearing about how your lives are all going. Thanks for your praise Dad -- of course you can never overdo it. I really appreciate how much you love and support me, and especially how much you express it. That really means a lot!!

Well, this last week has been interesting. We had transfers on Wednesday, and we found out that Elder Bart and I will be staying together. That is kind of neat, except for the fact that that indicates a good chance of me staying here in the office for at least three more transfers. Well, I guess I'll just take whatever happens with a grin. :) We had a pretty crazy transfer meeting. For the first time in a few years, we opened up a new city: Alexandria -- the one with all the deaf people. Elder Irion, who was the AP, was released and sent there with a really solid companion. We also moved around three Zone Leader companionships to different cities. That probably doesn't mean much to you, but it was a pretty big shock. Two more members of my group (from the MTC) were made Zone Leaders and put as companions with other members of my group. Thus, four of my group members are Zone Leaders and they are all in companionships together. The other 3 are all District Leaders, and four of the seven of them have trained. Pretty crazy!! My group is just the best in the world!

Last Sunday evening we went to eat dinner with the Madsen family. He is the branch president in Sector 1, and they love feeding the missionaries. They had real A&W rootbeer and it was amazing! Nothing as good as mom's cooking though. :) He is in the American embassy here and speaks Romanian really well (for an old American at least). It is hard for him being a branch president in a Romanian branch, though. I think they are looking for a replacement, but there just aren't very many options.

I also spoke in church last Sunday. I spoke on the life and mission of Joseph Smith. I talked about the different lessons we can learn from his example. I especially emphasized taking the initiative in seeking God and keeping his commandments, having courage to stay true to our beliefs and to not deny or minimalize our spiritual experiences, and the importance of LIVING for Christ (that is, of living our lives as disciples and emulators of Him). I think it went over really well, though it was a tad long.

In other news, they will be opening a new chapel here in Bucharest this Sunday. IT is really, really big and nice and should be a big attraction for visitors and investigators to find out more about the church.

I got a call today from Daniel Danis, one of my investigators who was baptized on Thanksgiving last year. It was such an amazing thrill to hear his voice and to hear that he was doing well. He is the one who is an air traffic controller, and he actually commutes to Bucharest every day and works at an airport about 15 minutes away from the office here. He said he will come and visit me in the office sometime in the next couple of weeks. I am really excited about that!! When he called me, he was at the house of a member that we used to help fellowship him. It is really great to see that they still have a relationship so long down the road.

Well, I have to really get going, but I love you all and send you my fondest wishes. Say hi to Doug and Lynner and Addyson for me. (and the dog) I love you all very much.

Much love,
Elder Walker