Thanksgiving!

Hey Everyone,

This week was a pretty good week! It was nice to have Thanksgiving but kind of weird to be a missionary during the holidays. I'm emailing everyone a lot individually today so I think this might be a short email this week. Elder Jacobson and I are doing pretty well. We're both really new missionaries so it's been fun. I can now see that Elder Sudbury trained me really well. I'm pretty comfortable contacting people now and I think I'm getting better and better at teaching.

We actually found people this week! One was a referral and two we found from the area book. They were on a list of potential investigators from earlier this year. We commited that couple to be baptized on the 8th so we're hoping that'll work out! They didn't come to church so we might have to push it back. You know church is at 8am? I'm thankful that we only had church at 9, hah. Our other investigator is pretty hard to get a hold of. It is really nice to have people to go by though. We have been contacting a ton of people on the street trying to reach our goal of talking to 125 random people a week. We've done pretty well!

On Thanksgiving we went to two dinners so I was very full. The two families we ate with are very great families. One of them, the Adduru's are Phillipino so we had a pig too. They're really nice people and I'm glad they invited us over.

This transfer is only 5 weeks instead of 6 because of where Christmas falls on the calender with everything. We also get to go to the temple this transfer which will be really nice. So one of these weeks I'll email Wednesday instead of Monday. As soon as I find out I'll let you know. Hopefully I'll find out a week in advance but if I don't email that's why. Don't worry!

I'm still really liking studying my scriptures. That is something that I wish I had done regularly. Reading brings peace and happiness. I love learning about the scriptures too. I wish we could read any church book but missionaries are only supposed to read the canon and a few other books. I want to read One Eternal Round pretty bad. There is so much to learn and I'm just excited to learn as much as I can about God and everything basically.

I am thankful for everyone's support and the love that I feel everyday from and for you. I'm sorry it took me leaving on a mission to really think about how my relationships with you are the most important part of my life. I love my family! I hope everyone gets better if they are sick and stay better. Does that make sense?

Love you,

Silas

New Companion

Hey everyone,

How is everyone doing? Did Dad end up going to LA in the beginning of Nov? Is it pretty cold? I had a pretty good week even though we don't have any real investigators. Elder Porter, a member of the 70 came to our mission and spoke on the Atonement. It was a very powerful talk and I really enjoyed it. He talked about the Savior suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross for us. Without the Atonement there would be no way for us to progress and be saved. It is so important to try and understand what Christ really did for each of us personally.

This week was my first week with Elder Jacobson. We're both getting along pretty well and working hard. It was kind of sad saying goodbye to Elder Sudbury. I probably didn't appreciate how much we got along and became friends. He was really good at teaching me how to teach people and he's already back in the area so I might see him today.

One thing that I have learned on my mission that I will bring home is the ability to control my attitude. Doing this much work is not exactly "hard" but if you are discouraged or mad the days seem double in length. I'm appreciating the outlook I have on each day as I see some missionaries having a rough day. Each day really is a gift and an opportunity we have to serve the people around us. In Elder Ballard's talk from general conference he talked about serving others. He said that we should pray everyday for the chance to help someone. It is really powerful to recognize the spirit guiding my efforts as I pray to find people who are ready to follow Jesus.

The other night, Elder Jacobson and I were riding around (still always on bike) and we see a lot of people and a lot of the times we pass them. We passed a bus stop and I could kind of see from the back that there was a person in there. I really felt like we should go talk to him so I made Elder Jacobson turn around and we went back. The person was actually a man named Jeff who I had already talked to and we had called last week to see how he was doing. He told us that he decided that God wasn't real because of all of the trials that he went through in the past ten years. He thought that God turned his back on Jeff. It was sad to see him at that point in his life but I knew that the spirit prompted me to go and talk to him. I was able to tell Jeff that God really was there and that He was putting us in his path to bring him closer. Ultimately he still didn't want to hear about the message but it was still powerful for me. Sometimes it is really hard to feel the spirit but I know that as we live worthily and pray for that guidance we can experience it. Of course, after you are baptized you have that gift of being able to have the presence of the Holy Ghost always. He has really brought me peace when I'm stressed or sad. I just know that everything is going to turn out alright.

I hope everyone at home is doing well! Did Noah get my card?

Love you! I have to go...

Silas

Hi!

Everyone,

This week has been really really great. Elder Sudbury is going home tomorrow and it has been interesting having a comp who's going home. We've become really good friends and I'm sad to see him go. There are also times when I start thinking about what it's going to be like when I go home. Then I try and stop thinking about it because I've got a long ways to go! He gave a talk yesterday and it was really powerful. He's sad to go home and probably pretty nervous too. He has a girl waiting for him so I bet he's excited and nervous about that too :). I definitely learned a lot from him and I think we both grew over these three months.

This week we didn't find any investigators but it was really good because Elder Sudbury had members he baptized or knew take us out to lunch. I've been so full for a week straight but it was so worth it. Of course I didn't gain any weight... What was really fulfilling was seeing all of the lives that he had the chance to change while he was here. I hope people love me as much as they love him when I get ready to come home. I really love the people we get to know. There's a woman who has been cigarette free for two weeks now and she says it wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for us :) That has been the biggest success I've seen so far. She really relied on God to strengthen her and He did. 

Tomorrow I get a new companion! I actually know him already so I'm really excited. His name is Elder Jacobson. He served in the other area of my ward! So now he's moving over to the other side but same ward. A lot of Elders where surprised because he has only been on his mission 6 weeks longer than me. Usually we would both be paired up with more experienced companions. I think we are really going to learn from each other and work hard. President has enough faith in us to work hard and that's what we're going to do. I don't know if Dad or Mom had this in their missions but we call our trainer our Dad and the followup trainer our Mom. Elder Sudbury is my Dad and Elder Jacobson is my mom. It's funny though because Jacobson was with his trainer for an extra transfer so I guess I'm his mom too. I thought that was funny. 

The Virginia Ward is a very interesting ward still. We had a pretty nice lady come to church who had never been to church before and luckily I picked up on that and we found out that she wasn't a member and she lived in another ward. She seemed to be interested after church and gospel principles. We gave her a Book of Mormon and I hope she really reads it. I like that there are people out there who will go to another church to see what it's like.

Our mission has a fireside for the departing missionaries. They get to go up and bear their testimonies and there are musical numbers too. Going to that was a really great experience. I actually got to give the prayer and that was nice. Right now I'm reading in first couple of chapters of Mosiah. This week everyone should read King Benjamin's sermon to his people. I think it starts on chapter 2. Reading it will help you have a better week! I'm also working my way through the Old Testament. A lot of missionaries get by somehow by not even reading the Bible at all and I'm making sure I read all of it. I'm in Numbers right now and it is really apparent in the Old Testament so far that the theme is following God for blessings. It really is as simple as that. The temple is also so important in the Bible. I'm so thankful for the opportunity we have to go to temples today. I can't wait to start my family in the sacred house of the Lord.

Well I hope you read those chapters in the Book of Mormon and maybe you can talk to me about your favorite part next week. I really love you all and I hope you have a great, productive week! 

Love,

Elder Silas Gallagher 

Day 97 (Mom thinks)

Hey Everyone!

This week is my last week with Elder Sudbury because he's going home! I'm really happy for him and I'm glad that I got a really great and fun trainer. Last week was mostly full of dropping all of the investigators we found the week before which was kind of sad. BUT! This week was probably the best in the sense that I really helped someone change their life. Nicole is a less active lady who lives in Carmelitos and she really needed/wanted to quit smoking and we helped her quit. I gave her a blessing and we even fasted with her. She had tried to quit many times before but because of the power of faith and fasting and prayer, she has been doing amazing. She smoked 12 a day and for the past week she has only smoked around 4. The past two days she hasnt smoked at all. I love helping people who really want to change because it happens. If you really want something, you can have it. She's even seen the blessings already and she hasnt even stopped that long. She has a daughter(5)and theyre getting along a lot better.

I actually had a pretty strange experience at church yesterday. I had to tell someone that they couldnt be at church because he had something wrong with him. I won't go into too much detail but it helped me feel grateful to have the gift on the Holy Ghost. I felt the spirit comfort me and I ended up having a pretty good day.

It's kind of really hard to get some members to help people out. It made me realize that Dad is always going out and helping people through elders quorum and I realized how great Dad is. Thanks for being great Dad! Also Mom! You've always been going to activities and helping people too. I still remember when you were relief society president and we got all of those toys for the 9/11 kids.

I'm excited and nervous to change missionary companions. I will almost certainly stay in the same area because Elder Sudbury is leaving. I hope that we can find some people who want to follow Jesus Christ this week! What else should I talk about? This week was a little stressful because I worried a lot about everyone at home. I knew you were okay but I was still thinkning about everyone a lot more than usual.

What does Noah want me to send him? I'll send him a card! If he wants a shirt let me know please! How is Eden's play going? How does Chloe like going to school and being 6!? How's Ella? I miss and love you all!

Love you!

Silas

Hey!

Hey everyone!

This week has been pretty good! We have found a lot of new investigators which has been really great since we have lessons. So are you ready for the big storm that's coming in? From the sounds of Dad's email it's coming in right now. Good luck! I'm praying for you all a lot and I really miss you. This week went by a lot faster than last week because I had more going on. In one of the training's an AP gave he said that if you're feeling down you should invite people to be baptized! I guess that means that if we're down we need to really focus on what matters and work hard. I'm thinking a lot about Rach's friend passing away in a car accident. I'm really sorry that life is full of sorrow and sometimes heartache. I know that whatever we go through in life, if we do the things that God has commanded us to do, we will have joy in the end. When we go through tough times in life we need to stick together. I love you all so much. How's Sandy doing? I bet she's barking a lot at the storm! How's six year old Chloe! I miss my siblings a whole lot. Noah I miss playing games with you and talking about life with you. I hope that I can still give you advice from here. I wish I had longer to write than I do. 

Dad asked if people talk about Mitt Romney: SOO many people talk about Mitt Romney! Oh and I got my absentee ballot by the way! It feels like I'm voting for a high school class president again haha except the names on the ballot are Obama and Romney. Anyways, when we knock on people's doors a lot of them just say, "oh don't worry I'm already voting for your guy Mitt!" I think it's really funny and kind of scary that people may think that I'm walking around trying to get people to vote for Mitt haha. We have to tell at least one person a day that we don't have a stand on politics. A lot of people I've talked to have actually really been excited to vote for Mitt. I think that's pretty interesting since I'm in a pretty liberal state. I'm excited to see what happens.

A man that Elder Sudbury and I found got baptized yesterday in the Spanish ward woo! It stinks that I couldn't teach him and baptize him but it really is amazing to see make such great decisions in life!

I'm still on bike and I actually really like it. Has it gotten a lot colder yet? It's been "cold" in the morning and the evening but right now it's really warm. I wonder if it's going to slow down time because I think it's summer all of the time. I really like my apartment that I'm staying in. I'm almost certain that I'll be in the same area for my third transfer. Elder Sudbury is going home on the 13th and President probably won't make two other elders go into an area that we're in. So ill get a new companion on the 13th! Speaking of the 13th! The 12th is close to that and that's Noah's birthday! Noah what do you want for your birthday!? I can get you a Long beach shirt! Let me know in an email next week so I can get it and send it. Rach's is on the 25th of november! So get something for her! Haha shout out.

The picture is kind of stupid but It's of me and Elder Sudbury is in the back! To get a good idea of the people we find and teach look up "Carry me home" by Gloworm on youtube. Talked to that guy last week. It's a 90's hit song apparently. Another interesting characteristic of the area I'm in is the constant smell of weed. It's really interesting because I guess it's kind of legal here. There are stores but sometimes the cops are there and it just seems strange.

I still have time to write so I'll keep writing but here is most of my letter

Love you all,

Elder Silas Gallagher... I still haven't figured out how to sign my family emails.

(he had more time to write):

How is Eden doing? Does she like her play? How is the Ward? Thanks for the great emails about life. I know sometimes it seems like we're all really busy. What's most important is our personal relationship with God. He really can help us with anything that we need in life and I've found that out in my life. Everyone needs to go through their own conversion and spiritual experiences. Don't feel bad if you're not sure if something isn't true. Just go out and find out for yourself and ask God. My prayers have become a lot more meaningful since my mission. I was never very great at creating habits that had to do with praying or reading my scriptures but now those might be the two most uplifting things I do. I don't really know whether it's because I'm a missionary or what but studying and learning has gotten so much more great. I'm really excited to keep that a part of my life.

This is what my letter to president Bubert looks like:

"This week we have found a lot of investigators. The favorite times of my mission are always in the middle of very powerful lessons. I can't deny the presence of the Spirit touching the hearts of the investigators we teach. I am just looking for a way that may influence people to keep their commitments. We have powerful lessons and the investigators commit to doing something but then I feel like their lives get in the way. I may try and emphasize the power of commitment with them. I am excited to experience the process of a person's full conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. "

That seems to be the theme of my mission so far in this area. I'm looking for ways to get people to do things that will help them haha. Thank you all so much for your support. It feels like I really can't do it without all of your thoughts, emails, letters and prayers. I feel like I always sound beat up or depressed but I really am having such a great time. I'm being safe and I'm working hard!

Love you!

Hi

Hey everyone!

I'm doing really well, everyone. I'm learning so much every week. I finished the New Testament minus Revelation and it was really great. I just started reading the Old Testament and I'm in the middle of the story of Joseph. That's my favorite story in the Old Testament so far. There are some really interesting stories in that book haha. Joseph is my favorite because the people around him were blessed because of how great he was. I want to be able to bless the people around me by being obedient and hard-working. Dad and Mom have really been good examples to us. Thanks!

We have around 20 potentials that we've been trying to meet with. Most of our appointments fall through honestly. The other day we had an appointment, a church tour and another appointment and everyone bailed haha. It stinks that people aren't honest with us all of the time. I'm not down about it because I can't control that. I've been working very very hard to know the scriptures better and knowing the doctrine in the lessons.

So please tell Grandma that I just got her letter this week. It got lost in another elders papers so please tell her that I'm writing her back as soon as possible! There are three weeks left for this transfer! Time is an interesting thing because sometimes it feels so quick and then so slow. 

HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY CHLOE! I hope she's loving being six! Not much happened this week. We had "tune up" on tuesday. It's a meeting for the missionaries at their first two transfers. He's a really nice guy and I like him. The meeting itself was really great too. We had trainings from the AP's and the president about asking people to be baptized.

Me and Elder Sudbury at the Los Angeles Temple

 

The view from my apartment

My faith in Jesus Christ has grown so much. I've always believed in Christ and known that He is important but studying and pondering about what he did personally for me has been life changing. I think a lot of what held me back from studying this hard and thinking about God was my mind set. I thought that I was a pretty busy person before my mission but now I really see that what I was doing didn't really matter. I want you to really look at what fills your day and take the things that don't matter out. The purpose of life is to become a better person and to do that by loving God and keeping his commandments. Make sure that where you live is where you are closest with God. We dedicated someone's home the other day and if you haven't done that you should. Pray and ask that the spirit can reside where you live. I really miss all of you!

I'm so thankful for all of your support. I love letters! If there are any questions you have about the gospel ask me and I'll look!

Love you all!

Elder Gallagher

Hey!

Hello there,

This week has been pretty good. We've been knocking a lot of doors which is not the most fun of finding ideas but it tends to work out. It doesn't work in the sense that the people we knock into want to learn but it works because it puts us in the right place at the right time to meet someone on the street.

I finished the Book of Mormon for the 90 day challenge President Bubert gave us. It's been about 50 something days so I read it a little fast. Each time I read it I get more and more out of it! Thank you Mom and Dad for getting me such nice scriptures. One of my favorite parts of the end of the Book of Mormon is Moroni 7. There's a lot of meat in there. If I remember right it talks so much about faith, hope and charity. I hope that everyone who reads this spends some time today to read from the Book of Mormon. I'm also still reading in The New Testament. I'm in Peter right now so I just finished James. I likes James because it talks about good works. Yesterday we were talking to a guy and some random person came walking up to us telling us that it's not about works guys! I find it funny that people think that we think that we're trying to work our way into heaven. There's nothing we could do to live again. Only by Jesus Christ's selfless act will we live again. They don't understand that we show our faith by our works and that by following God's commandments we can receive a greater glory. Anyways, I'm just rambling. But I've been really loving my hour of personal study each day. I'll be done with the Bible in no time! haha.

I got your letters the other day and they were great! Everyone drew me something which was nice and I have them up on my desk. Noah how did your contest go? I'm not supposed to read anything other than a few church books but maybe you could send me the first chapter in pieces if you want.

I'm happy to hear from Eden! I'm sad that I can't see her in her play though!

Dad being in LA will be pretty funny. My companion is going home in a month and he's starting to get really excited. You know that I'll be freaking out! I'm so thankful to be here and serving people and God everyday while I can. That's pretty funny that you guys called Sister Bubert the other day. I'll try and put one or two with this email. If not don't worry I'll send them home or to Rach or something. I'm not fat yet! I think it's all of the biking and running I do. Okay so I just looked for a usb to plug into this computer and it doesn't have one. I'm at a library in Cerritos. It's because the family history center is closed today and that's where we always go. I PROMISE you will have pictures next week. I do know how to do it I just tried to put too many last time. I'm doing really well and you all have nothing to worry about. I'm having a hardworking/ great time. I'd say that time has gone by relatively quickly and I've only had one companion. They say each transfer goes by faster and faster.

We're finding a lot of people when we go out but we're having a difficult time getting people to commit to anything, even another lesson. The people I meet and talk to have been fairly nice even if they are crazy. I really feel God's love for each person.

Everyone keep trying to be the best they can be!

Love,

Elder Gallagher