Email 28 Jan 2007

Excerpts from Sister Welker's email:
how are you guys doing this week: i am actually really well: i am a lot stroner this week: the news just kind of shocked me last week and i didnt have the time to digest it: but i am okay now: i have been praying a lot for bobby and there are a few other people praying for him as well: i was really shakin up last week so i asked one of our members in our sector to give me a blessing: it really helped: i calmed down right away: they fasted with us (their idea) on tuesday: the family is the b's: i know i have already talked about them: they are absolutely amazing: they are so strong: brother b. told us the next day that it was really hard to see me upset because he feels like i am one of his kids: it was really nice of him to say that: they really look out for us: so you dont need to worry: sister b. is amazing as well: they are just great people: i will never forget them: i told them if they ever make it to america they can stay with me: i hope maybe one day: that would be fun: we actually had a really good week: it was probably my best week of work here in boulouparis: we have been working really hard with the members and really starting to see a change in the sector: it is a great feeling: after four months of being here it is changing: the lord has really blessed us: my companion is absolutely fantastic: she is very patient and caring: especially with what happened: she was with me every step of the way: and she prays for bob in every prayer: it is amazing: you would all just love her: i am hoping she will be my last companion: i started my mission with an awesome companion and i am hoping to finish with one too: she has taught me a lot:. . . we had a lot of excitement this week: we went and did some cultural thing the other day so we would be able to preach the gospel in this tribe: all we had to do was give a sarong and ten dollars: it was easy: we have a lot of tribes in our sector: in these tribes there are only melanesians: people from here: they havent accepted it yet but hopefully soon: well we almost got attacked twice this week once by a dog and once by a guy: i am not telling you this to scare you but to just show you how much the lord protects his missionaries: i will tell you the stories: we went to go pick up a member to go work with her the other day and she has these really mean evil dogs: one of them has some mental promblems so that is why he is mean: we started walking in and we were almost to the door when he came running out of no where barking like crazy: snarling snapping his teeth: he was so ready to bite us he came like five feet from us: we were standing there trying to be brave yelling stop until we realized he wont understand english so we said the word in french: he backed up a little bit and then finally the member came out and saved us: our hearts were just pounding: we were shaking so bad: but i felt the lords protection it was almost like there was a big bubble around us: okay second story: saturday night we had to go to the store it was about seven oclock: we thought it would be okay because our car is right next to our apartment and the store is not too far away: well we get out by our car and a man who was with some other people who were parked right next to our car came up to us: he asked us if he could wish me a happy new year i said sure i stuck out my hand: well he said no we give the two cheek kisses here: i told him we didnt do that because we were sister missionaries but he kept insisting saying it was the custom there: but i stayed firm and sayed no: but he just kept moving closer we kept moving back: he was totally drunk: he started getting a little mad a little more forceful: he tried to come close again and my companion grabbed my arm and pulled me behind her to protect me: she is five eight and half so she is quit a bit taller than me and just a little smaller than the guy: he finally got the clue to leave: he shook our hand and we left as fast as we could: we didnt want to go back to our apartment right away because he could see it so we just drove over to the store to see that there was tons of people there probably drunk as well so we just drove around the block a minute and then went back home: the lord was really watching out for us: i felt like if we hadnt been missionaries something else would have happened: i dont want you guys to worry about me because of those stories: i do not feel threatned at all here: i feel the lord is watching out for us and keeping us safe: we know now not to go out the weekend nights: and to go in our car to the members house: i am doing really well: as happy as i can be: i love you all and miss you all so much: