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