Christmas in Texas

Hello all,
So because all of the libraries and what not are closed today (No
idea why) I am typing this on an ipad. Just thought I might as well
say that. Well I had a fabulous Christmas! The Christmas Spirit Was
just aplenty in Texas. The days coming up to Christmas sure didn't
feel like it. Not a lot of people put up lights and what not. It just
felt weird, not to mention it was like 70 on the 23rd. It was weird.
But then Christmas came and BOOM Christmas came. It was so sweet!!
We had an opportunity to go caroling on Christmas eve outside the
Alamo. Besides it being the first time in recent memory where people
were clapping after I had just sung, it truly was an incredible
spiritual moment that brought a great meaning to my calling and to the
calling to every missionary. I am so grateful for the opportunity I
have to be amongst the people of San Antonio and I am so lucky and
blessed to be here and to meet with all of these incredible people. To
be sharing with them something that means everything to me. Then to
find someone who loves that message just as much as you do. There is
nothing that brings me more joy. I'm so grateful.
A lot of people we have been working with were all out of town so
it has been real tough to teach and help those people progress. But we
have had a ton of bright spots and it feels so good to find the Albert
Garzas and la familia Duarte and everyone I speak to for that matter
that makes this work worth all of my heart, might, mind, and strength. I
am grateful for these people and for their spirits and personalities.

Elder Walter

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Nothing beats Christmas! Maybe the NFL draft... Just kidding. I am so grateful to be a missionary this Christmas! It truly is such a privilege to wear Christ's name on my name-tag. It definitely makes me think a lot more about what I really have been given on the day our Savior was born. I couldn't begin to make a list, it is so many. However, I would like to touch on one more valuable than most and that is the miracle of a changed or softened heart. As a missionary this process and the actual magnitude of this miracle has definitely been magnified by 1000. The process of conversion is intricate and delicate. As a missionary my job is to find out my part in the conversion of everyone I speak to. At times that is a simple wave, a testimony, a smile, or a laugh. It truly is one of the most enjoyable things I have ever done. The miracle is, that our Father in Heaven has prepared everyone so carefully and lovingly to receive this. And because of His careful planning, they can be at the right place at the right time to feel the Spirit testify to them that Christ is our Savior and the gospel has been restored to help people receive the fullness of God's love for them. That these can happen and then the person choose to follow those promptings and to receive happiness. I am grateful to be a missionary this Christmas to help others experience what could be their greatest gift. I love these people as I love you all! Take care and have a fantastic Christmas!

Quickly some people that we are working with...

Joey and Vanessa are a young married couple that has shown interest and is excited for baptism.

Jennifer Morgan is super intelligent and really wants to change and is working very hard to do so!!

Margrate is a single mother and she is a great mom! And she knows that this Gospel would help her family.

Sorry I am out of time!!

Elder Walter

More Pictures!

The great San Anotone!

Companions! Elder Walter and Elder Morales

The famous Miss Eunice Jones! (far right)

Tommy's birthday with Trisha and son!

The Hurricane

The lineage (from right to left): Elder Berntson-Grandfather, Elder Walter-Father, Elder Morales-Son

Gotta love that boy!

Elder Walter and Elder Berntson

First door knocked. Rejected politely.

Tommy and Elder Bramhall

Good Week (28th Week!)

Merry Christmas!!,

Well the weather has yet to figure out it is indeed Christmas... It is 70 degrees out right now. But I can't complain ;) This week was a good one! Elder Morales and I are looking to turn the corner now and make a very good start to the new year. We have a bunch of just incredible people right now!! I feel like sometimes I just want to stand back and just be taught from them haha. Leticia Muniz is crawling but moving, I think she is just about to sprint though!! She is just storing her energy then... BOOM! She will run right past me haha. She is sooo sweet!! Then we ran into this other mother!! Her name is Margaret and she just flat out wants to be baptized, good thing Elder Morales was with me otherwise I would have just stood there speechless. Haha he laid down a very spiritual invitation to be baptized and she was very excited in accepting!! Then we are working with Jennifer and Heather Morgan!! They are twins of 23 years old, and their father has always been a member but their mother was just recently baptized. Now the girls do too!! Hahah talk about COOL BEANS!! Man that is such a sweet family. I feel like I learn so much from them as we read the Book of Mormon together!! They are very great!!

Life is going real great! I am so grateful for so many things!! Something I realized today actually is that I am most grateful for my testimony of MySavior Jesus Christ. In Matthew 16, Simon Peter bears His testimony of Christ, to Christ himself. I am grateful everyday to know that I have this testimony and that everyday I can bear my testimony to others. I know that as we ourselves bear our testimony of Our Beloved Savior daily to our family and friends, that when the time comes that we are standing in front of Him, that He will welcome us and it will be then that we will be able to bear testimony that He truly is Our Lord and Redeemer. I know that we can show our love of Jesus Christ by sharing this testimony with others that they too can know of the happiness of that day. Our love is manifest for how well we ourselves love Christ and our brothers and sisters. I couldn't think of a better way to show love to others, than by sharing with them what I am most grateful for. I know Jesus Christ lives. That He is our Savior and that He loves and cares for us. He is the light and the life of the world. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

- Elder Walter

6 Months Down!

This is an email to Tommy's mom but I think we can all enjoy it :)

Mom,

Hope all is well on the Home front just letting you know how transfers went....I am staying here!!!! I was so happy!! It has been great!! I just didn't feel accomplished or finished in this area... One of my biggest struggles in the mission is knowing I have given my all even if the results might not show that. But having said that, I just didn't feel accomplished yet. I hope to after this last transfer here. One of those things is Spanish... I have kind of hit a wall and I can do a pretty good job but I just want to be great! I know that with Elder Morales it can be!! We just need to go on an "English speaking fast" haha. Only Spanish! For the first time on my mission, I taught more lessons in Spanish than English last week!! It was pretty sweet!! So yeah I want y'all to be impressed when I get back ;) I want to be your Mexican son!! hahah!!

Hope all is well for all y'all. I sure am enjoying things over here!! What a fabulous experience!! This work only assures my testimony of the truthfulness of this church! I love this gospel sooo much!!

So I love you all so much!! PS, Do you think you can get me Isaac Wilson's Mongolia mailing address?... Something else cool too!! I am going to be writing a letter to my home ward so it can be read aloud in church. All the missionaries do it the Sunday before Christmas! So if you wanted to walk to church on the 19th at 1:00 PM you are most certainly invited!! I will be calling on Christmas! So just so you know. I don't have any other details other than that... I know I'm super helpful! Sorry!! I will let you know ASAP!!

Love ya,

Elder Tommy Walter