Greenie!

I won't really have time to write a long email today because we're at a library. We went to the temple and it was good but I'm tired now! woke up at 345. I'm grateful to be able to go to the temple and feel peace. Sorry I couldn't warn you that I couldn't email yesterday I didn't even know

This week was kind of stressful. I got Elder Komarek and he is really good. He's from Fillmore, UT and he's 18! So it has been fun teaching him the lessons and everything. I get to drive the car since I'm the senior companion so I feel special and safe haha.

Rebeca's baptism had to be moved from one building to the other because of a scheduling mix up. It was really crazy and I had to let everyone know that it was somewhere else an hour before the baptism but it ended up working out. I gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and I was told that I did a good job! I think I have gotten a lot better at speaking in front of people on my mission. Rebeca's husband got to baptize her which was really awesome. A lot of missionaries taught her so I can't take as much credit for her as I do Tammy but I was really grateful for her decision.

The guy with the flannel and beard is Chris Bartchi a member of the ward that we're helping.

Well I have to go now.

Love you!

Six Months!

Hey Everyone!

This week was kind of interesting. I felt sick as I was emailing last week and I ended up being pretty sick. I stayed in Monday night and then on Tuesday as well. There was a bug going around and I caught it for sure. So on Tuesday night a senior missionary called us to help load a bunch of stuff on Wednesday. We actually got to go to the LA D.I and we loaded SO many bunk beds, dressers, bed boards etc. for all of the new missionaries. I guess they really are coming! We loaded the big 26' truck and then unloaded it at a storage facility. Even though I was still kind of sick and had to blow my nose very frequently it was fun. I used a whole roll of toilet paper on my nose...

So on Wednesday I got a call to be a trainer! One of 23 trainers which is a lot! I'm excited to train a new missionary and I'm going to try my best to be the best trainer I can be. I'm going to pick my "temporary companion" tomorrow which I didn't know until right now. Usually, I would go around 3 to pick up the missionary that I'd be training but since there are so many new missionaries it's going to take President Bubert a lot longer to interview them. So! I'll just be with a new missionary tomorrow but not necessarily my own. That'll be funny. Last week on Friday I got to go to the mission office (which I live very close to) and meet with all of the other trainers and President which was nice. The training schedule is different than the regular schedule so you have more time to study and actually less time to work. 2 extra hours of study. One extra of companion and one hour of Preach My Gospel. That'll be nice.

6 months is a bittersweet milestone to meet. It's sweet because I've been out for 6 months!  But a little bitter because I've only been out for 6 months! Haha I guess that kind of makes sense maybe? Time has gone by fast though and I know that's because I've been working hard. I'm really glad to be trying to help people every day. Mom just asked a good question so I'll answer it on here. I will be training for 2 transfers/3 months. I'm really proud of Dad for being able to baptize Brother Lambert! That's really great that I'm not the only one doing missionary work!

At church yesterday I taught the lesson on sacrifice. It was my first time teaching so I was a little nervous but it turned out really well! The members and Elder Edward said I did a really great job. It was probably divine that I had prepared for that lesson a long time ago for no real reason. Saturday Brother Damm (Dom) called and said he was sick so he couldn't teach and I was ready! He is the Ward Mission Leader.

We have Rebeca's baptism on the 9th and Michael's on the 10th! Rebeca is 100% going to happen and Michael's is dependent on him coming to church next week. He's a good kid! I am giving a talk on the Holy Ghost at the baptism so hopefully that goes well too! I think I'm getting better and better at public speaking. It helps to read my patriarchal blessing where is says I have the gift of teaching.

The pictures are at the Wright's house! They are great and always take care of us! And of Elder Edward and I!

I love you!

Silas

 

Last Week of This Transfer

Hey Everyone!

 

I had a pretty good week even though I feel pretty sick right now. I just have a really runny nose, scratchy throat and I feel kind of weak because I didn't sleep well. How was everyone else's week? Hopefully great. Great news! Rebecca is getting baptized on the 9th! She had her interview and she is all set. It feels good to know that I am doing some good in this area. She seems really excited and her husband is going to baptize her which will be really cool. Baptisms are always a great place to go and feel the Spirit. I will be giving a talk on the Holy Ghost at the baptism.

 

I think I talked about Joey last week and he came to church this week! He only stayed for sacrament because he had to head back to school in San Diego but it was good to have someone say they were coming and actually have them come! We've been working hard with a guy named Stephen to come and he hasn't yet. I'm not giving up though!

 

On Saturday we got to do service at Sailing Pro Shop. It was really fun. We helped load a truck, pack their retail and take down their signs and banners in the shop. One of the accountants is a member so she saw the opportunity for some service! It made me excited to get a job and get to know people where I work and help make good things happen. I fought my slight fear of heights and got up on a big ladder to take down some banners that were really high on the wall. The owner was really nice and got us pizza and gave us some shirts and a hat.

 

We had dinner last night with the Hess family. Sister Hess is so similar to Liz Draper that it's starting to freak me out haha. Pretty much everything about them is the same. They look alike, sound alike, both do hair...haha I just thought it was strange. Kind of weird too but it's true.

 

In Alma 46 it talks about how cunning and flattering words from Amalickiah led many people away from God. In the same chapter it talks about Moroni renting his coat and raising the title of liberty. His character and stand for Christianity led to people literally running to make covenants with God. I thought it was a great contrast and an inspiration to be the type of person that attracts people to do better.

 

In Matt 15 I like when Christ teaches that it's not what goes into a person that defiles a man but it is what comes out. The things we say and do show the intentions and desires of our heart.

 

Well I hope that we all can try and be better people! I love you and hope you all have a great week!

 

Love,

 

Silas

 

 

Sunny California!

Hey!

 

This week was full of amazing weather. I feel like I'm lying when I tell people it's January because to me it feels like the beginning of summer... It's a weird thing to be warm most of the time. It feels like summer, looks like fall and it's actually winter so hopefully I don't walk around with a confused look as I talk to people.

 

One kind of cool thing I got for my bike was a pretty cheap computer that tracks how far/fast I go so I've been having fun with that. Going down a little hill I went 26.4 :) Don't worry I'm safe and I always have a helmet on. I'm pretty proud of that speed though. The other day we rode 12 miles but we still spent time in the car. I'm curious how many miles I rode while I was in the Virginia Ward. Speaking of the Virginia Ward I got a tie from Brother Peckham who gave it to Elder Jacobson who got it to the mission office. It was really nice because in the inside of the tie he wrote that the Virginia ward misses me. I miss them too and I'm glad that I was able to help those people. People here have heard some pretty crazy things about that ward (some of which are true haha) but I liked it a lot. It certainly was an experience though.

 

This week we had dinners at families houses as usual but one thing was kind of funny. It seemed like for every dinner there was someone whose name was one of my siblings. One girl who we're teaching is named Chloe and she is spunky just like Chloe. Then we went to dinner and one of the boys was named Noah. THEN the next day their little girl was named Eden. Weird right? It made me miss you all but it was nice.

 

There are only two weeks left for this transfer which is crazy because it feels like I just got here and this transfer is 7 weeks instead of 6. We are apparently have had the best numbers for the past couple weeks which is good I guess. I wonder who will be leaving and coming to this area.

 

One good experience I had this week was meeting Joey! We contacted his Mom Candy on the street and she said to come back sometime. So we met her son Joey who has a pretty interesting story. He grew up in Long Beach but when he was 14 he was into drugs and bad stuff so his Mom sent him to a foster thing in Utah. He was not too happy about that and for a year he was pretty mad. But he turns 17 on Saturday and he had the change of heart that is talked about in the scriptures. He was introduced to the church and he let it change his life. He wants to be baptized when he turns 18 so we are going to go over there and start teaching him. He has already gone out to teach with missionaries and everything ha. It was just really great to hear and feel how genuine his change was.

 

I think that sums up my week. I'm glad Noah and Mom had a great weekend! I had a good time at that youth conference too! I hope everyone has a great week!

 

Love,

 

Silas

Hi!

Hi Everyone!

 

This week was a very busy week! We have like 15 investigators which gets a little crazy. I'm certainly not complaining about the work though because I would much rather have a lot to do than nothing. Most of them are families where only one spouse is a member and it seems really hard. I hope that we can help everyone come closer to Christ and have a happier family. The plan the God has for us is all about families so it's hard to see part member families kind of split. There are surely happy families where one spouse isn't interested in the church but you can feel that there is something missing. I honestly think that it's being sealed in the temple that brings that togetherness feeling. I count myself as lucky to grow up in a home where that was a normal thing.

 

I really like the Woodruff ward and I'm getting to know more and more of the members. The Smiths fed us yesterday even under short notice which was really nice. I really respect people that will go out of their way to help someone. Being a missionary gives you a look at so many people's homes that you wouldn't get otherwise and I really like that. You feel different things as you go into different peoples home. I hope to learn from what I experience and apply them to my life and to my family.

 

Yesterday we were supposed to have a baptismal interview with that lady Rebeca who some of our ward doesn't really like but President Bubert is actually pretty sick. So we should have it later in the week when he's feeling better. California is a cold place! Not actually but it does feel cold when it's windy and the sun isn't out.

 

I'm sorry for the jumpy letter this week. Next week I'll think of a story to tell or something! I love you all and hope you have a great week.

 

Love

 

Elder Silas Gallagher

2013!

Hi everyone!

 

There are a ton of missionaries waiting to email so hopefully I get an hour still! This week went by quicker than usual and I'm not sure why. I'm getting more and more used to my new area. There are already a lot of people here that I really care about. One is Brent Porter. He's 59 and he's a really funny guy that we're helping getting back to church. We plan on going Bigfoot hunting in Montana when Elder Edward and I get home. He's sure that we'll be able to catch him. Besides all of the funny things he says I really like him because he realizes that he needs to get closer to God. He had a really crazy life and I know that coming to church will help him find some more direction. He's just not totally a fan of changing. We challenged him to read two pages a day from the Book of Mormon.

 

Elder Edward and I are working hard and also having a lot of fun. We get along really well and it has been fun having another companion that is easy to work all day with. I find it really interesting having a companion. The Lord puts you with another missionary to learn from and to teach. That's kind of the way I've looked at it so far. This week we helped another set of missionaries get to their appointments because one of them was sick. I went out twice with Elder Jhorth (pronouced yort) and it was nice to get to know him a little bit. While we were out, this SUPER anti mormon came out and just started yelling at us as we were contacting this pretty nice guy on the street. He started yelling about random unclear and far out topics that general authorities have said in the past. I asked him if he thought that the fruits of the Spirit were long suffering and love and meekness after he told me not to touch him and that I was going to Hell haha. It's confusing to me why people like that think they are really doing a good thing by yelling at people. I don't expect anyone else on my mission to come close to the hatred this man had.

 

We actually have ten people that we are teaching right now but none of them have a baptismal date. Each individual has certain needs and things that they need to be taught and I'm learning to really rely on the Lord to figure that out. One lady has been taught for awhile and in fact Elder Sudbury has taught her before ha (he's getting married in April by the way) She is getting interview for baptism this week which is really great. It is kind of strange because usually we have a date set if someone is going to be interviewed but she doesn't. I hope everything goes well for that so you could probably pray for Rebecca. It's kind of sad and since I just got here I don't really know the whole story but I guess the ward really doesn't like her. Her husband used to be married to another lady in the ward and i'm guessing they went through a bad divorce and I bet they blame it all on her. So it's kind of strange because the people should just be happy that someone is working towards coming closer to Christ but instead it's more about drama. Many scriptures about judging people come to mind.

 

I studied diligence this morning partly because we went back to our apartment early yesterday and the zone leaders knocked on our door and weren't too pleased. I know we should have worked the whole night and I'm just glad that we really do try and work as hard as we can (though there is room for improvement). At first I was worried about what they would think of me and if they would assume that I never go out and work and that I'm just a bad missionary. Then, I realized that I should really care about what the Lord expects of me. I prayed and thought that I should study diligence. My study this morning really helped me understand how I can be more diligent. Diligent comes from the Latin word diligen which means "loving". I thought that that was really interesting because I know that if we really do love something we will do it over and over again. I do love being a missionary and I love helping people even more. In Preach my Gospel it says that a diligent missionary works effectively and efficiently. I came to the conclusion that you don't have to be diligent to be effective but you can not be efficient without diligence. To be effective means to accomplish a goal or purpose. Our purpose as missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ. But to be efficient means to get the most our of what you put in. Each missionary gives two years but it is already obvious that each missionary is effected in diverse ways. I hope and believe that I will get what I need out of my mission. I know that as I am diligent the Lord will enable me to bless other people.

 

Anyways, I hope everyone had a good first week of the year! Is this the kids first day back at school? It is for people out here. I love you all and I have to go! Have a great week.

 

Love

 

Silas

 

 

New Years!

Hello Everyone!

 

It was pretty great being able to talk to you on Christmas and I know that it was special. Oh hey! Sovandy, the man I taught in my last area was baptized on the 29th! Woooo second baptism! Except I wish I could've been there and experienced it. I'm just really happy for him and hopefully his wife gets baptized eventually too.

 

Nothing has really happened this week so hopefully I have more news next week. I'm getting more used to this area and church this week was really good.

 

Here's a picture!