"Faith in every footstep"

There is Sunshine in My "Sole" Today

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings"  Isaiah 52:7

I heard once that the Lord likes worn out shoes

I even think it makes Him smile 

For the wear and tear that come

Conversion takes place of style

So if you only knew my story

Why I look the way I do

I think you'd change your view about me

'Bout being "just an old nasty pair of shoes."

For I was once black and shiny

And I looked pretty sharp with a suit

But I've been through a bit since then

And now these dress shoes have turned into boots

I know the life of a missionary

And even better the life of his shoes

Because I am the shoes of a missionary

And we've been about everywhere declaring the good news

I got to see most of the lessons

When the family only had a dirt floor

But when they had cement or tile

I was left listening at the door

And listening was just terrible at first

I remember his language when I first heard him try

But I saw his tongue get loosed 

As the miles and miles went by

My sole continued to wear daily

And the holes have grown so fast 

This mission has passed so quickly

I don't know where the time has passed

They arrive in the field quite the same

Missionaries and their shoes so new

Both fresh, both clean, both ready to go

But neither knowing what they're about to through

Yes it's true missionaries and their shoes arrive the same

But they go home quite different you'll find

One's battered and beaten and torn to shreds

While the other goes home refined

And though battered and beaten are the soles of these shoes

And I feel bad that he can feel the rocks with his toes

I know the thinner and thinner my sole gets

The more my missionary's soul grows

So yes I think the Lord likes worn out shoes

I think it makes Him smile

For with the wear and tear that comes

Conversion takes place of style.

Elder Welker's Homecoming!!

Mom:  What a day to remember!!  We were all so excited when Justin's plane touched down in St George on June 8th at 12:13pm.  We were so anxious to see him again after 2 LONG years! I made sure that I got the first hug! Justin looked so thin! He had lost 60lbs! He had not only changed physically, but his whole demeanor was different. He was so grown up and mature and it was so fun to see this change in him.  Jake and Justin had been away from each other for 3 years now and watching them come together again made me cry.  Justin met Ellie for the first time and Michaela surprised Justin with the news that baby #3 was on the way. It was a very special day for all of our family to be together again.

After collecting Justin's bags,we all headed over to President Bundy's office so that Justin could be released as a missionary.  President Bundy is a great man and the spirit was very strong in the room as he talked about Justin's mission and the impact he had on the people in Uruguay.  Lots of tear were shed as Justin bore his testimony and prayed in Spanish.

After his release, Justin's first request was to go to In and Out burger.  We met all the cousins there and had a great meal.  When we got to our house, we had a "Welcome Home" sign on the front lawn.  The very first thing Justin saw when he walked into the house was his life-sized "Captain America" figures along with his own photo we used for Jake and Ellie's wedding.  Then Justin saw carpet and threw himself down on the floor to enjoy the softness of it.  After that, he went from room to room discovering new things we had done to the house while he was gone. He was so happy to be home!  He ran downstairs and got all of his guns out of his gun cabinet and was holding them like a baby.  Then he opened his closet door and found things he had missed while he was gone like his Captain America hat, his light saber that Jake gave him etc.  Then he looked in the fridge and saw whipped cream in the can and opened his mouth and started just pouring it in!  We were all just laughing at him!  It was so fun to see him enjoying the simplest things.  Justin hung out with his missionary friend, Joe Cary, who had come to welcome Justin home.  They found their way to the X-box pretty fast and spent the rest of the night playing games.

We had a nice open house the next day and many friends, neighbors and ward members came to see Justin.

Justin reported his mission in our ward on Sunday, June 10th. Justin's trainer, Cody Harkness was there.  Michaela and Ellie performed a musical number "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul."  Micheala sang in spanish and Ellie played the viola while Heather Little played the piano.  It was so beautiful and Justin cried the whole way through along with the rest of us.  He had no idea they were going to sing his favorite song.  It was so amazing! Justin's talk was amazing as well. He wasn't nervous at all and told some great stories and bore his testimony in Spanish. It was such a nice meeting and having family and friends from his mission there made the day extra special.