Summer 2013

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

Caleb is now on staff here at Pahrump Community Church as Associate Pastor. Although he is still intending to become a Village Missionary soon, we are enjoying having him serve with us full-time here for the time being, and the church family loves him!

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!

Last Minute Addition

Katie Ellyn, Justin and Eli joined us in Graeagle, California following our Village Missions gathering in mid-June. We thought you would enjoy this picture:

Keith, Kim, Eli, Caleb, Katie Ellyn & Justin

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