Monday, February 24, 2014

Hello!

This week I stayed in the same area but moved where I lived and got two new companions! So that was exciting. It's a town home with one bedroom and a washer/dryer unit which is super nice! I've had a great time with Elder Mann and Elder Sarver this week. We all have known each
other for a while so there was no kind of awkward time of getting to know each other. There have been a lot of laughs and jokes. We've also taught quite a bit as well. We live at the end of the mission which is the Santa Ana river so we ran down the trail next to it this morning. I've started to workout pretty consistently so I'm in good shape when I get home. 

Only Buddy came to church this Sunday but it was still good because he's doing well. He's not getting baptized this Saturday but he is making good progress. We're going to continue to help him as he searches and I know he'll find an answer. 

Anyways! That's all I got this week. Love you!

Elder Gallagher 




Monday, February 17, 2014

Howdy

Hey!

Transfers are tomorrow! So I lucked out and I'll be staying for another six weeks! I really like everything about my area right now. I love the people and the work that has been going on. I am getting two new companions which isn't very normal but sometimes that's what happens. Elder Mann is the other zone leader and I served around him when I trained Elder Komarek. He was trained at the same time by Elder Smith. So we're excited to be comps. He's a convert from Texas and loves bball and he's pretty funny. My other comp is Elder Sarver and we came out together. I think he may be with us because he's struggled a little bit but he really is a great missionary. Also, with transfers they combined the two zones in the stake so now my zone have 27 people in it. It's the biggest zone in the mission so that'll be fun!

 I'll update you on the Smiths. Sadly, they haven't been to church in the past few weeks. Sis Smith has lost most of her desire to learn right now but Bro Smith still wants to be baptized. It has been SO hard to meet with them lately. Please pray that we can. We are also teaching one other family in the Cordata Park ward. The man hadn't been to church in 25+ years but we invited him to and he came! The next week his wife who had never been to the church came and really liked it. She has a baptismal date for the 8th. They did not make it to church though which stinks. Hopefully we'll see them tomorrow. 

In the YSA ward we are teaching Buddy! He is still great and came to all three hours of church yesterday and really loved it. The third hour lesson was on the Plan of Salvation and it was a great discussion. During the lesson he said, "didn't Adam fall that men might be?" Haha already quoting scripture. His baptismal date is for this saturday and we'll see if he feels ready. Yesterday I gave a talk in the YSA ward which I was a little nervous for because friday and Saturday I had a cold that made me a little foggy. I talked about cultivating natural missionary work. I feel like a lot of the time we think missionary work is super awkward but you really just have to be nice and friendly to people. So I shared three things you can do everyday that I know can help. 

1. Pray everyday for missionary opportunities (Matt 7...ask and ye shall receive)
2. Seek to love and serve
3. Talk with everyone

People said they liked my talk so that was nice. Public speaking has not come naturally for me but I am getting better at it

 Elder George has ADEM which is an auto immune disease. He was supposed to fly home on friday but as far as I've heard he hasn't been well enough to fly home yet. The missionary who has been throwing up every day for about four months has finally gone home. He was a hard working missionary! He waited for President to make the call on whether he should stay or go. It is really too bad that the very skilled doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong. Some Elders just told me that he had a parasite and he'll rest for 2 months then come back out. I don't think I've talked about an different elder in my zone but he is struggling with clinical depression and it is really tough. His mind just doesn't think about things logically. I cant figure out if things are because he's homesick or what exactly makes him so sad. He says he questions his testimony but still works. Luckily he's getting more help from people much more qualified than me. 
Well I hope you all have a great week!

Love

Elder Gallagher


Monday, February 10, 2014

I can't help but remind you how warm it still is here ;)

Hey,


I forgot that last week we (members in CA) fasted for rain. We are in serious need of some rain. That night on Sunday we were out driving around and visiting people and all of a sudden it started to pour! It was so great to have so many people praying and fasting for rain and it raining that very same night. I'm reminded of Alma 5 when Alma, who had seen an angel, attributes his knowledge of gospel truths to much fasting and prayer. I know fasting is powerful and it's real. 
This week we taught a lot! We had about double the amount of lessons that we've taught here ever since I've been here. A lot of that has to do with the volume of people we're teaching. Right now I really love teaching Buddy. He's such a genuine guy and has great questions. He reads and comes to church and I really respect that he is actively searching for the truth. Transfers are next week and I know even if I end up staying that we are moving out of the Monsons. They have been SO good to me and I'll never forget them. I really love them like family. Great people live here. People I will be friends with my whole life. Well...I'm off to play dodgeball but I promise to repent and write more next week. Love you!

Elder Gallagher



Elder Loutensock and I

Monday, February 3, 2014

I'm wearing a sweatshirt cause its cold (68 degrees) ;)

Brrrrr,

This week one of the sick missionaries went home and now I am in a trio again. Sadly we were told that he was diagnosed with some form of cancer and that he started chemo yesterday. Also, Elder George is in the hospital with what they thought was viral meningitis. Now they're thinking it's some sort of brain lesions. I heard his parents came out to see him. The latest news I got sounded pretty positive though. So keep them in your thoughts. It is honestly crazy how many medical things are going on. There are at least two missionaries depressed in the zone and the one that is still throwing up is still working so hard. They're great people.

Things are going pretty well in or area! We are teaching and finding very regularly. We are still teaching the Smiths and they are still looking to be baptized on the 15th but we'll see. Sis Smith hasn't been for three weeks now. Bro and the kids came yesterday. We are teaching an awesome guy in his 20's. His name is Buddy. He meets with us regularly and he asks such great questions. 

One thing real quick before I have to go is something that dawned on me while we were teaching this eccentric girl in the chapel of the church. She didn't have shoes on and I happened to look and think about how dirty and honestly gross they looked. I thought of John 13 where Christ washes His apostles feet. I know He is our perfect example of love and service. I got up yesterday and bore my testimony of the happiness I have felt as I've served others. It doesn't make sense logically but the more I give of myself and think more about others, the happier I am. 

Read your scriptures! Don't forget to pray! I'm still having a great time and I love and miss you! 

Elder Gallagher