July 8, 2009

Olá Família! Portugal is still going awesome! I'm still loving it! It's really cool to be here in Europe. A lot of things are different. But I'm also surprised how many things are exactly the same. American culture has a lot of influence here. Pretty cool. I'm still struggling with the language, as usual. It's really, really hard to understand everyone. Especially the Africans, and the Brazilians. Especially the Brazilians. Brazilian Portuguese is way different than Portugal Portuguese. I heard they are even thinking about making it into 2 different languages. Our new Mission President arrived last week, and I had my first Zone Conference on Monday. As you know mom, his name is President Torgan, and he is from Brazil. He seems really awesome. Before he was called to be mission president here, he was about to be like, Vice Governer of some state in Brazil or something, pretty crazy. And he was also the leader of like 16,000 police or something like that. The reason I say he only seems awesome, is because he made a new rule that at all of the zone and district meetings, it will all be in Portuguese. And as I said, Brazilian Portuguese is way hard to understand for me. So, sadly, I didn't get much out of Zone Conference. But I am doing well with speaking, I think. I feel like I am improving. I just need to be able to understand other people, so that I can actually converse with them. I feel behing, but my companion tells me that I'm not. And he tells me I have a really good Portuguese accent. So I am doing well. Everything else is going great. I'm getting to know the area pretty well. The other day, Elder Markarian had to go give a baptismal interview, so I had to go on divisions with another missionary, who actually came here with us and is as new as I am. But he was already fluent in the language before he left for his mission. We had to go out and proselyte together! It was way scary! And it was my area, so I had to find our way around. But I did really well, and got on all of the right buses and stuff. Crazy. Thanks for the recipe mom! Tuna casserole is actually exactly what I had in mind! And they should have all the ingredients here. They have most of what we have in the states, I think. At least the same food. Not medicine. I am glad I bought all that stuff mom. They don't even have simple things here like ibuprofen, or tums. Crazy. Anyways, another really useful recipe would be Perfect Pancakes. Mmmm! I miss those! The only ingredient we wouldn't have for that, is Mapleine. They don't have maple syrup here! Or mapleine, so I can't even make it. But they have vanilla, so I can make vanilla syrup. Yeah, and any other recipes you can think of mom. Thanks! So my comp has a flea problem, which is crazy, because I haven't seen or felt any at all. Supposedly I was bit once, but didn't feel it, and it never itched. So his mom ended up sending him some flea bombs (they don't have anything for fleas here either.) So hopefully that will stop. That's crazy about Mike and Cam! I had no idea either of them were engaged! Crazy! And I'm way excited for Griffin and Gretchen! I could easily have another niece or nephew by the time I get back, eh? That's awesome you guys are going to Italy! Way soon! We will be using the same money at least. I don't know what else is similar. The socks are great mom. Thanks for sending them. I actually had way too many, so I gave a lot of my old ones away before I got here. I had to give quite a bit of stuff away so my bags wouldn't be too heavy. So far, the work is great here! Elder Markarian is awesome! We have 2 investigators marked for baptism, one on the way, and a few new investigators. Pretty cool. I don't do a whole lot in the lessons, other than testify. I can't exactly teach, and ask questions yet. But things are going good. I'm loving it. Sometimes it's stressful. Just the language usually. And we walk a lot. So I come home pretty exhausted at night. It's good though. I'm getting the best sleep of my life here! I don't have trouble falling asleep at all. Unlike at the MTC, or basically my whole life before the mission. It's awesome. It is a little loud around our house though. We live pretty close to the airport, so there are a lot of planes flying over all the time, and that's way loud. But I have gotten used to it. Also, there are TONS of dogs everywhere. Some stray, but mostly owned. So we here a lot of barking. It's crazy. Most of the dogs are mutts. Rarely do I see purebread. I haven't seen the same kind of dog twice. Crazy. I don't think I really need anything sent. I imagine it's pretty expensive anyway. Oh, by the way. You don't have my address yet. Ok, here's the deal. You can send stuff directly to our apartment, and supposedly the mail is reliable here. It's supposed to be really good. But it's best if you send it directly to the mission office. I will get it at the next transfer/zone conference. I will be in this area for at least another 4 weeks, unless I get transferred to a new area. So if you don't know, it will just be safe to send it to the mission office. If you are going to send a package, send it to the mission office, not the apartment address. Probably get stolen or something, I dunno. So here are my addresses.

This is our APARTMENT:

Rua Miraflores Lt. 496 R/C Dto
Bairro da Fraternidade
2695 São João de Talha
PORTUGAL

This is the OFFICE:

Rua Jorge Barradas 14C
1500-Lisboa
Portugal

I guess that's it. I'm doing great! Hope everyone is there too! Eu amo vocês! Fica fixe! (Stay cool)
Elder Walker

Greg's First Letter From Portugal

Olá Família! I'm finally here in Portugal! It's crazy to finally be here! I've been here a week, and I'm sort of getting the hang of things. My new companion's name is Elder Markarian. He is from Reno, Nevada. He is 21 and has been out here for about 1 year and a half. He is really cool and really good at the language. We live just the two of us in an apartment in an area called São João da Talha. Our proselyting area is Sacavém, which is just north of Lisboa. It's a pretty cool place. And there are tons of Africans! I had no idea! I knew there would be some, because our teachers told us and stuff. They all come from the countries that used to be Portuguese colonies, such as Mozambique, Angola, Guinea, Cape Verde and I think there are others but I can't remember what they are called. All of our investigators that we have taught since I have been here have been African. And more than half of our ward is African, including our Branch President. It's really cool! They are awesome people! Elder Markarian says he loves the Africans, because they are really humble people and always nice, unlike the Portuguese who are supposedly really arrogant. I wouldn't really know, I can hardly understand anyone! The language is hard! The hardest part is understanding. I can speak ok, but everyone talks so fast! Elder Markarian says I am doing well though. He usually has me at least bear my testimony, and I have taught small portions of a couple of lessons. I have also spoken to people at their doors, but I can't say much, so Elder 'M' has to take over. But I'm loving it! Even though I can't understand most of what they are saying, I love the people! I love our investigators, and our members! We are teaching a man named Oscar, and his 'girlfriend' Albertina. They are awesome! They live together, and have a few kids, who actually live in Africa right now. I'm not sure why. Oscar is from São Tomé, which is an island off of the coast of Africa. Elder 'M' and his companion last transfer found him doing street contacts. He is so cool, and he loves the gospel. He is marked to be baptized in August, and he and Albertina are getting married next month. It's really awesome to teach them. We are also teaching a woman named Maria, and her daughters Jú, and Conçeição. They are from Angola. They seem to like the gospel as well, but her two daughters are moving to England soon to live with their dad. Neither of them speak English, so we don't really know what will happen with them. There are others we have been teaching too, some of them inactive members. It's really cool, but I really need to get the language down. It's pretty crazy living here. But not as different as I thought it would be. Supposedly, Portugal is considered a 3rd World Country, because of some of the areas. Our area where we live, and where we proselyte seems really nice. Right now we are and an Internet Shoppe at a mall in Lisboa called Columbo. Supposedly, it's the biggest mall in Western Europe. After this, I think we are going to go bowling, which is cool. They have a lot of the same food here, it seems like. I haven't eaten anything gross yet. But we have only eaten at members houses like, twice. The first time we had chicken and rice. Really good. And the next time we ate this kind of soup-like stuff called Cachupa. It was really good. It had a lot of beans, and meat, and stuff. Tasted pretty good. It's actually food from Cape Verde, because the member's house we ate at are from there. Really good, but it's a tradition that when they make cachupa, that they eat the entire pan, and they made a ton! I ate so much! And then they told us that because it was our first time eating it, we were going to have diarrhea that night. And sure enough, when we got home, Elder 'M' had to go! And then the next morning, I woke up and had to go! Crazy! We have had some crazy days. Especially this morning. I was taking a shower, and suddenly the lights went out and the water went cold. The power went out. And as far as we know, it's still out. It was when we left the house. Then, Elder 'M' was about to take the trash out, and found maggots all over the place! Ahh! Don't worry, our house is really clean. We don't live in a dirty, nasty place or anything. Our house is actually really, really nice. It was our own fault, because we hadn't taken the trash out for awhile. It was crazy though! Then we missed a bus. Crazy morning. Oh yeah, we do a TON of public transportation. That's how we get around. We take the bus everywhere. And we do quite a bit of walking. The weather is really nice here. It really is a lot like So-Cal. Pretty humid, not too hot, not too cold. Really nice. Oh yeah, there are fleas here. Elder 'M' gets bit almost every night. I have only been bit once. It wasn't bad. I guess they don't like my blood or something. I'm not too worried about it. Elder 'M's mom is sending him flea-bombs. I don't really know if it's bad or not. You can't really see them. Oh, mom, guess what cereal they have here... Nesquik cereal! Your favorite! We bought some today! I dunno if it's the same. We haven't tried it yet. I have been eating really well though. Elder 'M' is a really good cook. This next week is supposedly my turn to cook, I don't know what I am goind to cook. Maybe you could send me some simple recipes or something mom. Well, I am really loving it here. I love being here. I love teaching people. I know the language will get better, I just need to keep studying and trying hard. How is everything going there? How was tour mom? Hope it went well. How are the wedding plans coming? How is business going dad? Did you get the gazebo up yet? Did you paint the fireplace mantel? Anyways, hope to hear back from y'all next week. I'm gonna go bowl! (Bowling, in Portugal? What is this?) I still don't know if I am going to be able to send pictures over the internet, or if I can get them developed anywhere. I'm going to try to next week. Paz e amor! Até logo!
Elder Walker

June 5, 2009

Olá Família de Walker! Everything is going great here! I'm still loving it! I hope you are all doing well still. I haven't caught the flu yet luckily! Actually, one of the 7 guys in my district was like, the 2nd person to catch it, and he had to be quarantined for 5 days! Which meant that he had to stay isolated in a room with a few other guys for 5 days. He just barely got out yesterday. It was crazy, because it all happened so suddenly, and now there are something like 40 people in quarantine. Our whole district is taking an anti-flu pill, because one of the Elders in our district caught it. So, I don't think I will catch it, hopefully not. They haven't told us that we will be delayed, but the older districts who were supposed to leave on Monday, and Tuesday have been delayed 2 weeks! I feel way bad for them. But I guess it's meant to be. Yeah, so it has been a crazy week for me. For all of us. It has really thrown of our schedule and our learning, but it all seems back to normal, at least for our district. I feel like I am continually getting better at the language. Although, it's still a big struggle. There are SO MANY grammar principles to learn. We learn a new one everyday, so it's hard to keep on top of things. But I know it will come. I'm glad Grandpa is ok. Did he have the surgery for that herpes thing that he had as well? I hope he is doing well. I am excited for Megan and Spencer and their new home. I still need their new address. So please send that ASAP. I am also glad that work is going well. I'm glad Liz's sealing went well. I am so happy for her. That had to have taken so much faith for her to do that. I'm so proud of her. And I'm way excited for Griffin and Gretchen to be married. I wish I could be there. Obrigado pelo pacote Mai! Eu amo-o! (Thanks for the package mom, I love it!) I always enjoy the candy. It's way nice to come back after class and have candy to eat! And thanks for the letter! Another thing that I will need soon is an inhaler, or multiple inhalers if possible. So I can have them for when I go to Portugal as well. I don't know if you guys can pick up my prescription for me. I use the albuterol. Hopefully you can get that. Don't bother getting me the Singulair pills. They are expensive, and they don't work all that great. I still end up having to use my inhaler almost just as much. And when I run out, my asthma goes crazy for about a week, and then dies down to about exactly what it was while I was taking them. So just send some inhalers, if possible. Thanks! Sorry I keep making you guys send stuff. I finally got to see you on Music and the Spoken Word this Sunday mom! It was way cool. I pointed you out to everyone. I won't get to watch it this Sunday because it's fast sunday. But I should be able to watch it for the rest of my Sundays. I can't believe I only have 2 1/2 weeks left! It really has gone by super fast! I am so excited to get to Portugal! But pretty nervous at the same time. These last few weeks are crunch time! I've got to learn all I can with the language. But I know the Lord will help me. Eu amo a minha família! Eu amo este Evangelho! Eu amo este trabalho! Até logo!!!
Elder Walker

P.S. DON'T CATCH SWINE FLU!

May 28, 2009

Olá Família de Walker! I finally figured out how to type in Portuguese, with all of the accents over the letters and stuff. I'm doing so well! The language is finally starting to come. Yesterday, I taught my first lesson in Portuguese. It was pretty tough, but I know more than I think I do. It went pretty well. I was at least able to get my point across. I am loving it more and more here. Not so much the MTC, but just my mission in general. To be honest, I'm getting pretty tired of the MTC. Especially the food. But I love all the people in my district and zone. It is so awesome. But, I'm really excited to get out of here and to get to Portugal. Only only a litte over 3 more weeks! That is crazy about Bailey! But somehow doesn't surprise me. I have actually had the thought that she might be gone before I get home. Either mom and dad will get rid of her, or something like that would happen to her. I'm glad she's ok though. Today, on my way to the temple, I saw Cameron Crockett. I totally didn't expect it. But it was cool. I guess he works at the MTC, because he said he would try to come visit me. I don't really know. I'm sorry to hear about Grandpa Sheril. He seems to have one problem after the other. I hope he is ok. Dad, I don't really know what my favorite scripture is. But you can give them this scripture to put on it. It's 2 Nephi 26:33. I really like that one. I truly have been having a blast here. I love studying, and learning, and teaching. It's crazy how blessed I feel here, and how strong the spirit is here. That is one thing I will miss about the MTC. Eu sei que o Evangelho de Jesus Cristo é verdadeiro. Eu sei que eu sou muito abençoado estar aqui. Eu amo o Senhor. Eu amo este evangelho. Eu amo a minha família. Eu sou grato por Joseph Smith e seu fé. Eu sou grato estar em a minha missão. Este é o trabalho de Deus! Eu amo vocês! Eu esperanço vocês são bem! Até logo!
Elder Walker

Friday, May 15, 2009

Querida Familia,
Thanks for the email. I am so glad you wrote! It's so nice to hear what is happening. That's so awesome about Griffin and Gretchen! I honestly didn't really know if they were going to. And then when i got here, dad told me they might. I am so excited! Gretchen is so awesome! Tell Griffin congrats for me. For the engagement, and for his work! He is probably so good at it because he was a missionary, eh? I'm so happy for Liz. I told Sonny before he left that she was going to do it. And he was way excited as well. I hope your concert went well mom. I wish I could be there to see it. I have been listening to Motab on cd though. Thanks again for all of the cds and the player! I love them! I am having such a great time here! I love being a missionary. I am so excited to get to Portugal. But really nervous at the same time. I'm mostly just nervous about the language. I don't feel like I know as much as I should. But that's probably how everyone else feels. I don't really know. Plus, I have been sick for the past couple days. I had to get one more immunization shot, and I think that's what caused it. Because that's what happened the last time I got immunizations. So studying has been kind of slow the past two days. But I am still enjoying it so much. I love learning about the gospel everyday. I was nervous before i left because in high school i sometimes hated sitting through class, and I thought it would be the same here. But it's not. Its actually pretty fun in class. I can always pay attention. I love it. It has definitely been the best choice I have ever made. I love this gospel. I really have become best friends with my whole district. I get along with everyone. It is so much fun. I tried again this week to watch Music and the Spoken Word mom, but the place where we watch it is closed for 2 weeks because they are re-doing the floor. So I won't be able to for another 2 weeks or so. I was pretty disappointed. Well, I miss you all. Sometimes I wish I could be home with all of you. I wish I could be at Griffin and Gretchen's wedding, and Matt and Liz's sealing. But I know I am where I am supposed to be. Eu amo voces!!! Ate logo!!!
Elder Walker

Friday, May 8, 2009

Thanks for the email dad. It really helped a lot. You're right. I'm pretty frustrated with the language. It's probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. But I am excited to learn it. And I know that the Lord will help me. That is so awesome to hear about Griffin and Gretchen! Has he proposed yet? I'm way sad that I am going to miss it though.
I still haven't been able to see mom on Music and the Spoken Word. I guess she wasn't there my first week. And last week was fast sunday, so we didn't get to watch it. I hope I will see her this week, and point her out to everyone. That is so awesome to hear about Liz too! I am so excited for her, and Matt. I wish I could be there for that as well. And that is so awesome about Uncle Richard too. Heavenly Father has truly blessed our family. Anyways, I am LOVING it here now! I am having so much fun with my companion, and my district. We have all become best friends. It's so fun to be around them all the time. I know why the Lord wants us preaching two by two. It's amazing. I still see Sonny a lot. Probably every other day. I haven't heard his French. But I'm sure he's doing awesome. He leaves on Monday! It's crazy. I still can't really construct sentences without looking at notes or anything. So maybe someday, you will get to read my fancy Portugese, but not today. I know this is the Lord's work. I feel the presence of His spirit here everyday. I love being here. I almost don't want to leave. I was able to adapt to life here so easily, I know that I receive help from the Lord everyday. I'm so thankful for the gospel in my life, and how much it blesses me. I'm so thankful to have a knowledge of the plan of happiness. And i'm so thankful for the opportunity i will have to find some of God's choice children, and give them the gospel. It has been the best choice I have ever made in my life, and I know i am where God wants me. I am so thankful for the drastic change in my life, from what it was over a year ago now. I am truly happy. I have been so blessed. I'm so thankful for all of you guys and your support. Our whole family is so blessed to have each other and to be so close and to have the gospel. I know that we will all be able to live with each other again for eternity. I miss you all. God bless you! Ate logo!!!

Greg's Second MTC Letter

Tudo Bem?! I just barely set up a new email account here at the MTC. And they only give me a half an hour to check and write emails. And I am only allowed to write to meu familia. I forgot to bring the letter here that you guys sent me, so i can't really remember what questions you had or anything. But I am doing great here. I am having so much fun! It has been really challenging learning this language. I don't really have any experience learning a new language, so it's been pretty tough. Right now I feel pretty stuck with it. I have learned a lot about pronounciation and conjugating verbs and everything, but I am having trouble being able to form sentences and get my point across when I am speaking. It is really hard, because we have already had to learn how to pray, and greet people, and it's hard because I basically have just been memorizing phrases, not really knowing what I am saying. But I know I will be able to learn the language. I know that Heavenly Father will fulfill His promise, and bless me with the gift of tongues in His own time. As I said, my companion's name is Elder Blair, and he is a way cool dude! We have so much in common! He is way funny, and we like to joke around a lot and have a lot of fun. Most of the other guys in my district are the same way too. I love it here. I know this is where I am supposed to be. I have seen Sonny a lot too. I already saw him twice today. It is so awesome seeing him here, but really weird at the same time. Because here it's like a different life, because EVERYTHING is new. And so, to see someone from my "other life" is really weird. But I love talking to him. He seems to be doing awesome. Today was the first time I got to go to the temple. I love it there! It's one of my favorite places to be. And last night, and today while I was at the temple, I have been thinking a lot about Uncle Matt again. And how much I miss him. But at the same time, how glad I am that we are going to be with him again someday. I love this gospel! I love the plan of salvation! It is such a comfort for me to know how much God truly loves us, and how much he blesses us. I know this is God's work. I know that we are here as substitutes for Jesus Christ. And I am so excited to spread the word to people who have no idea. I'm am so excited to spread the joy. So, how is work dad? Are you getting busier? Did Brennan end up working there? I hope its going well. I kind of miss working there already. I didn't see you in Music and the Spoken Word mom. Were you there? I was looking for you. I will look for you again this Sunday. Well I hope everything is going well for all of you. Tell Kaenan hi for me, and that he is a way cool dude. Oh, mom, I want to tell you that the best socks ended up being the acrylic ones. They don't make my feet sweat, and they dont hurt my leg hairs. I could maybe use some brown ones. Also, if you could maybe send me a backpack. Just a really cheap like, 5 dollar one, that would be good. I can't use it after the MTC, so don't go out and buy me a way nice one. And I could also use a few motab cds. I really like the hollywood one, and any other ones you want to send, if you have the time. Also, i don't know if you have any like broadway musical stuff, like Les Mis, or anything like that. That would also be good. Now I see why I would want music. My companion has a cd player, so cds will work. Just whatever. Thanks a bunch. Anyways, you can probably forward this email to other people, like our family. I just can't email to anyone else. Thank you so much! Eu te amo!!! I will write back again next Friday!
Elder Walker

P.S. Thanks for the cookies mom! I haven't tried them yet. But they look good. We get plenty of food in the cafeteria, so I am rarely hungry. I have gained 4 pounds since I have been here! We eat so much! But they will be good midnight snacks, so thanks!