Hello and blessings on your summer!!
Welcome to the new Blogger version of the Walkers’ Update.
Looking back in our files, we were surprised to find that
the last Update was July 2012. They say the older we get, the faster time goes.
Obviously, we are getting older….
On the Home Front
Sad news includes the fact Zachary was deployed on the USS
Stennis in September.
In November, while Daddy was deployed, Timothy Ryan Walker
was born and came home with Mommy (Brenda) and met his two sisters, Emily and
Clara.
Timothy Ryan Walker
In December, we celebrated Christmas after the 25th in
Redding with Katie Ellyn, Justin and Elijah. Since Brenda and her three were
visiting her family, all of us except Zachary had a belated Christmas together.
Caleb, Lauri, Katie Ellyn, Zachary, Kim & Keith
Fast forward to April of 2013. We were thrilled to travel to
San Diego along with all our kids and grandkids to welcome Zachary home after
eight long months at sea. Praise the Lord for his safe return and reunion with
his girls and meeting his five-month old son. We also got to celebrate Elijah's
first birthday while we were all in San Diego.
Clara, Brenda, Zachary, Timothy & Emily
together at last!
Saying goodbye to the USS Stennis.
Siblings: Caleb, Lauri, Katie Ellyn & Zachary
Eli on his first birthday.
Our reunion went south when we took Granddad (Don Walker) to
the hospital in San Diego to find out he had suffered a stroke. He spent three
very long days in the hospital before Keith drove his parents back to Phoenix. We
covet your prayers for them as Granddad continues to try to figure out how to
adjust to the challenges the Lord has allowed.
Kim’s mom, Chris Ellis, has made two trips to the ER here in
Pahrump and had a three day hospital stay dealing with high blood pressure and
related difficulties this past month. We are currently working to raise the
pressure back up through changes in medication. It is a challenging time, but
we continue to lean heavily on the Lord's provision.
On the Ministry Front
Lauri & "Pastor" Caleb around Christmas.
Two little girls greeted Kim one morning after church asking
if they could be "bath-tized". We talked a few minutes and she said she
would get back to them on that. They very diligently reminded her weekly about
getting baptized and we finally had our baptism.
Kim has a children's baptism class during Sunday School hour
when the need arises. While visiting with three little girls one Sunday,
interest in baptism increased to include two fifth-grade boys as well. As the
Lord would have it, one of the boys had an uncle who was interested in getting
baptized. It turns out the uncle had been in the local jail and was ministered
to by the ladies in our church who have run a Prison Ministry. When we finally
were able to set up a meeting, both uncle and boy prayed to receive Christ!! What
a blessing.
During this same time, another family contacted Keith about
getting baptized. (Coincidence? I don't think so….) After a lengthy discussion,
the dad and 11-year old son prayed to give their lives to Jesus.
God is soooo good! In the midst of the confusion and chaos
surrounding our parents being hospitalized with various difficulties, we were
delighted to see four people come to the Lord in about two-weeks' time.
So, the first Sunday of June, we baptized six people during
church. Then, we held another baptism after church that same day. The desire of
the family was to allow his elderly mother (who had recently undergone serious surgery)
to come without being overwhelmed by the church crowd. Though we were a bit
averse to this idea, we chose to accommodate them anyway. What a blessing to us
to have over fifty of our church family show up on Sunday afternoon to witness and
support this baptism. Ten people were baptized in our church, and we are
encouraged!
Keith, Kim, Eli, Caleb, Katie Ellyn & Justin
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