[4 weeks to go!]

Hey!

This week I got sick which doesn't happen usually so that slowed my week down a little bit. I got up to go run and my head was really dizzy and the room was spinning. I still tried to run but ended up walking and going back to bed. I got a blessing that helped a lot and I'm pretty much back to 100%. It is amazing how tired you can get but go run and be awake the rest of the week. 

Joey asked me to confirm him a member of the church and give him the gift of the Holy Ghost which was special. If nothing else I've realized lately what a great mission the Lord has given me. I really can't think of anything that I wish would've happened or wouldn't have happened. I went on another exchange this week and after Elder Taylor and I got to work to the end of the night. We went by a member who we were asked to go visit and we weren't sure what his apartment number was. So we went up to a door that was open and met Robia. We asked if Bevon was home and she said she grew up with Bevon and that he lived upstairs. Bevon was recently baptized so we talked to her about that and asked if he had talked to her about it at all. We invited her to come upstairs with us and talk to Bevon with us!

So we went up there and he wasn't home but there were some chairs there and we ended up teaching her a very powerful lesson about the restoration. She practically taught herself as we asked good questions and followed the Spirit. I think teaching is one of my favorite things about being a missionary. 

This week I also had to give two trainings at leadership meeting and mission leadership council. One of the topics I talked about was bringing someone to church each week. I talked about ways the leaders in the mission can help their missionaries bring people to church. We read the words of Hymn #185 which for me explain why we go to church. At MLC Elder Taylor and I taught about teaching simply. It's kind of difficult having to give talks all of the time but I learn so much as I prepare for them. 

I read a talk this week about timing. Elder Oaks talked about how he planned his life and how different it was. It's important to just put the Lord first and keep the commandments and everything else will work out when it's time.

Love you! 

Elder Gallagher

I have run out of subject lines...

This week went really well. It's stressful being the senior assistant but I love Elder Taylor so everything works out. We got to pick up the new missionaries on Tuesday which was great! It is awesome to see the excitement they have!

Joey got baptized yesterday! It was a great day and tonight he's coming out to go teach with us. We're also teaching a guy named Brad who came to both church and the baptism yesterday and loved it! He's a funny guy. He's a pagan/mystic but loves the Book of Mormon and I think he likes to say that for the scare factor. He felt really welcome at the ward. He said, "I didn't know a place like this existed!" We have a lot of good people here.

I met a returned sister missionary who was visiting with her friend that knew Thomas Fischetti! Small world. 

Here's a good series of articles about why religion matters. There have been a lot of people that I've talked to that wonder about that question. Most people today claim spirituality but don't associate with a "religion":

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/why-religion-matters-making-selves-out-of-others

Shouldn't I be more motivated to write since I only have to do this five more times? Haha somehow that is not the case. Love you!

Elder Gallagher

 

Six More Weeks!?

Hey Everyone!

That is pretty scary to think! My mission doesn't feel like it should be coming to a close but it is whether I like it or not! Sometimes I like it sometimes I don't haha. This week was busy as predicted! Some highlights were the dinner at President Tew's house for all of the departing missionaries. Yesterday I was able to conduct the departing missionary fireside where over 200 people came. It's becoming pretty natural for me to speak in front of many people. That has been something that I have definitely had to develop. Now I am the senior assistant so I pretty much have to know everything haha. It'll be a great transfer and I'm looking forward being companions with Elder Taylor. 

Sunday the 22nd, Joey should be getting baptized! We're really excited for that. It's pretty cool because Elder Taylor was actually one of the missionaries that initially knocked on his door. Pray that everything goes well for that!

​ Here's a picture of Elder Jacobson and I! We were companions my 3rd transfer. So November 2012. He's headed home! I love President and sister Tew's front door it looks like a temple's door.

This pretty much sums up Elder Sturgell and I's companionship. We had a great couple of transfers together. He's going to the cambodian ward for the last two weeks of his mission then he's headed back to tennessee. Thank you for the birthday wishes. Sorry my email is shorter than I had planned. A few different things came up that took my time. 

Love you all!

Elder Gallagher

Our friend has a Lambo... He gives the missionaries going home a ride before they go so he gave E. Sturgell a ride. 

Transers!

Hi Everyone!

This past week has been a great week! Do I say that every week? That doesn't mean I'm never discouraged or stressed or really tired but it does mean that what really matters was really great! For some reason this week I've been so so tired at 6:30 but luckily the 20 minute run really helps me wake up. It feels like I've woken up at 6:30 everyday for two years....oh wait. 

This week is going to be very busy for me. We are still working on transfers and we need to have everything done on Thursday. Every six weeks there is a transfer. President Tew, Elder Sturgell and I pray and figure out who needs to go to another area, with what companion and it takes quite a bit of time to figure out. Elder Sturgell goes home a little early (July 1st) for West Point so he will be released and I am getting a new companion! My last companion! His name is Elder Taylor but he has no idea that he's coming to the office yet. He'll find out on thursday. In my setting apart it said to love my companions, for I shall have many. That has come true. I think he'll be my 17th companion which is more than usual. 

Right now I am teaching two really great people! Brad and Joey. They were actually friends in high school and we didn't know that until we introduced them to each other. Brad is the brother of a return missionary in the ward. He said he was pagan but was interested in the Book of Mormon so we read Alma 32 with him. He loved the comparison of the word and a seed. The next time we came back he had read the first few chapters and now wants to be baptized. He's a really cool guy I like him a lot.

Joey is doing really well. He is getting baptized on the 22nd of this month. He is excited! Possibly more excited than anyone I've ever taught. He has changed the most of of anyone I've taught to. He had to quit his job, quit smoking and drinking coffee and tea. It's been great to see the Gospel really change his life and help bring some peace. His father died when he was twelve and he was told that because his dad wasn't baptized he wasn't in a great place to put it nicely.

There is a speech that was given at BYU by one of the church leaders that has really helped me to work hard and understand when I am feeling down. http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=869

President Tew taught the new missionaries this month about being others oriented. Being selfless and forgetting about yourself. He shared that Jesus taught the plan of happiness in 12 words. John 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. It's only when I've applied what I've learned in my life that I have felt good. This life is hard and I see too many missionaries and people who struggle because of mental illness or depression. I know that no matter anyone's situation they will be blessed as they follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Love

Elder Gallagher

June!

I had a great week this week!

We just picked up a new missionary today who came back after a year of being home. He's happy to be back! It's great to be on a mission. It's so strange to me that it's June and in July I go home. Luckily it's at the end of July. I am excited to come home but It's very foreign to me. It's really interesting to think about possible goals for school and work. I hope to keep the good habits I've started on my mission. I know I need to keep waking up early. Luckily I have a little bit of time to figure that out! I'm glad I can see Chloe, Eden and Noah in their play!

On Saturday we had Elder Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles here! It was amazing to see all of the missionaries in this mission in one chapel. Normally we don't get everyone together so It was the first time I saw everyone. I really love the missionaries here. I was sitting on the stand with President and Sister Tew when Elder Ballard, Elder Schwitzer and Elder Acosta came in they came through a door onto the stand. Elder Ballard walked up to me and asked if we were the assistants and I got to be the first one to shake his hand. He's a funny and powerful man. We all stood and shook everyone's hand. I had never shook over 200 people's hands in a row...your hand gets pretty tired. I felt the Spirit very strong as he testified of Christ and answered some of the questions we had. One missionary told him that he had always been put with strong companions and he felt like he was worthless and not able to really pull his weight. Elder Ballard told him that he was worth just as much as his companion. That he is a son of God. He answered a lot of great questions. I thought it was funny when he said that they're doing all they can to get members to do missionary work. He said, "I've given my last two conference talks to talk about missionary work!" One of the things he said that I really liked was "you've got a message and you've got a mission!" After the meeting I went on a date.....haha President and Sister Tew were going on a date and sister Tew asked if we had dinner and then invited us to eat with them. We went to a tiny little place that makes Pupusas. I had never had any before but they were really good!

We taught Joey at President Tew's house this week. It is such a blessing to be able to teach someone at my mission president's house. Especially Joey! He is becoming so converted to the Gospel. He loves the Book of Mormon and church. That's what happens when you actually read it and experiment upon the word. Everyone I've taught that has really tried to read the Book of Mormon has been baptized. It was a great lesson. President answered a lot of his questions and he's not working on quitting smoking. 

Happy almost birthday Mom! The rest of your birthdays I'll be able to give you a hug and a present! One thing Elder Ballard said really seemed like he was talking to me. He said think about how many months you have left and give 100% of it to God. Thank you for supporting me with all the things I have been doing.

Love

Elder Gallagher