Last Week of the Transfer

Hey,

 

This week was pretty good. I always say that. I guess Mom and Dad know that being a missionary is kind of repetitive but it's always good. So this upcoming week is the last week that I'll be training Elder Komarek and it has really flown by! I've really liked training and I would like to do it again. We'll see though. I could be moving to another area next Tuesday but I'll know and let you know on Monday.

 

So this week I helped a lady pack up her house to move to somewhere in northern California. The house was really dusty and full of dog hair. It was really full of dog hair. So we worked for six hours to pack up the house and load the truck. The man packing the house flew down out of his own pocket to help the lady who he had never met before. I think he knew one of her friends? Anyways I was talking to him about that because it takes a lot of charity to pay to go and do a lot of work and help someone. I do like helping people even when you sneeze a lot because of the dog hair. Did I say there was a ton of dog hair?

 

Michael wasn't ready to get baptized this weekend which is unfortunate because he wants to get baptized but he's not really sure if Joseph Smith was a prophet. But I know that as he reads and prays about the Book of Mormon he'll get an answer. I really like that about the church that I think a lot of people either look over or don't take seriously. You can actually read and pray and get an answer from God that something is true. All it takes is an experiment. I like the simplicity of the Gospel that can be broken down into very complex doctrines.

 

Elder Komarek and I are getting along well. He's a good guy and he's really funny too. We really like having fun with the other Elders in our district..it's the four of us, then all sisters.

 

I ran into a missionary that served in our ward (Elder Richards) the other day and it was really awesome to see someone I know. It was really crazy too because the chances of that happening were extremely slim. He just happened to have driven past where we were biking. He doesn't live here he was just here for a wedding. Super awesome.

 

I hope you all have a great week and I can't wait to talk to you next week!

 

Silas

 

 

April 8th

Hey Everyone,

 

I had a pretty good week this week. I always feel like talking about the weather because it seriously won't change. I still feel like it's August and I just got here which is good I guess! This week we did service for two members in the ward. I'm getting pretty good at doing yardwork. I like helping people a lot and it seems to almost become selfish when you're asking people if you can help them ha.

 

Michael, the 12 year old boy we've been teaching since Jan is going to get baptized on Sunday! We've had a lot of other times where we have planned on him getting baptized but this time I'm almost sure it will happen. He's really a great kid who I've gotten to know pretty well. Michael plays football and baseball and he is a beast. He's half black half samoan so he already has a six pack. He hits at least one homerun a game and he's a friendly guy. He's also pretty shy so it's been hard helping him want to meet the other boys at church but I think that will come with time. A few weeks ago he told me that I'm like a brother now which really means a lot. I think about where I would be and the people that I wouldn't have met if I hadn't made the choice to come here. It's a scary thought now because I know I wouldn't be where I am now.

 

The reason for that is sometimes hard to explain. Before my mission I knew that going on a mission was "good" but I don't think I understood exactly why. It's obviously good for other people because I'm helping people change their lives, live good morals and come closer to God. But personally I feel like I've already become a much better person. I understand a lot more about life and people. I'm not afraid to talk to anyone about anything. I actually read the scriptures everyday and for some reason I can't get enough now. I've learned a lot more about Christ. The most effect that being on a mission has had on me is probably my desire to be more like Him. It's too easy to get caught up in stupid things that make someone lose their focus on the goal of becoming a better person. When it comes down to it, everything you should do should make you better. And we have that great gift of choice which sometimes really stinks. It seems a lot better to do nothing or to do the wrong thing than do the right thing. But if we do the small things like pray and be charitable to the people around us it gets a little easier every time. Going on a misson has also helped me understand how much I need to improve. That's part of life though.

 

That's my rant for this week. General Conference was really good! I liked President Monson's talk about setting the field on fire with his friend. He makes the best faces. I hope everyone's week went well. Haha I hope you like the pictures of me on my new bike. It's a little hard to ride.

 

Love

 

Silas

 

 

 

Happy Easter!

Hey everyone,

 

Sorry I didn't get to write a long email last week. There really isn't a good reason for that besides laziness. Happy Easter! Thanks for the package Mom and Dad it was awesome! I found the eggs that you put in there so I would almost say I hunted for Easter eggs this year. Our dinner cancelled on us actually so that was kind of lame. I called Brent Porter, a funny guy that is less-active so we ended up eating with him. He told us more about his life and he's had a crazier life than anyone I have ever met. We watched some Bible videos which are really good so you should go on Mormon Channel and watch them. It was really amazing to hear stories from this man's life and realize that Christ can take away every single one of those mistakes. The Atonement really is more powerful than we can comprehend.

 

I read a talk by Hugh Nibley called the Atonement of Jesus Christ and it was really insightful. I like how he goes over the meaning and translations of the word atonement, reconciliation, salvation etc. He talks about Zion and how we can accept the Atonement in our lives. I'm also reading a talk called A Stange Thing in the Land: Return of the Book of Enoch by Hugh Nibley and in the 11th part he talks about Zion again. He does a good job explaining the law of consecration.

 

This week I studied the last week of Christ's life and it made my Easter a lot more meaningful to me. I loved reading all of the Gospel accounts of that week. I really wish I could have been with the Apostles and seen the Teacher curse the Pharisees and heal and teach.

 

I don't have too much time left but I do want to tell you about an experience I had this week. It was 8:30 and we didn't know who to go by. (No one really loves you going by at 8:30) We decided to start heading home and just contact people on the street. There really wasn't anyone outside but I really prayed and asked if we could be led to just one person we need to talk to. All of a sudden I just got the impression to go down a road that wasn't the way home. Within a minute there was a man named Larry walking his dog that we had talked to the week before. We got to talk to him for a minute and give him our number. To me that was an answer to my prayer and a witness that we need to follow promptings from the Spirit. It was amazing to go down a random road, see someone and know the person. Always follow your promptings..especially to do good.

 

The pictures are during companion study ha.

 

Love you have a great week!

 

-Silas

 

 

 

Bits of news from my emails with Silas (no general letter)

Stake conference is always good! I'm excited for General Conference too. I can't believe it's already time for General Conference again!

I've been studying the Savior's last week and that's been really awesome

My best experience was probably doing service. We did a lot of service this week. We picked the best oranges ever off of a man named Joe's trees. He's not a member but his sister who lives out of state is. He had cancer and now can't eat them so he asked us to come take them. It always feels good to help people and to talk to them. I pretty much taught him about the restoration and the plan of salvation as we talked.

We did get to eat them! But there were hundreds so we brought them to church ha. We are only teaching probably like 5 people and they're all at certain stages. I really want to find new investigators and just teach them from the beginning. It's hard when missionaries before don't write what they teach so you don't know where to go. We're going back to lesson 1 with a few people.


I'm sorry but I haven't been writing a big email :/ so there probably won't be one by the time I leave but I did send pictures!

We ate dinner at a member's house in the other elder's ward and it was literally on the beach... Promise I didn't touch the sand!

Thanks! Love you, bye!

Elder Gallagher

My Week

Hey everyone,

 

This week was the first week that Elder Komarek and I were just on bikes. We bike around 16 miles a day and I think one day we did 20. I'll just say that I'm sleeping like a log ha. This Sunday was Woodruff Ward Conference and it was nice to hear the Bishop and Stake President give talks. We biked to church so we had the sisters who also serve in our ward drive our suits to church so we could change. As we were changing in the bathroom the stake president came in so we got to meet him haha. It was an interesting way to meet the stake president. How is the Danbury Ward?

 

Well I'm still reading the Old Testament and right now I'm in Psalms. Rach's letter had a psalm reference on it and I was actually about to read it so that was cool. The Old Testament has been really good to read. The people back then had a lot more faith than people do now. I also just started reading Acts again. I love how the Apostles and Disciples teach. The people that they teach felt the truthfulness of their message by the power of the Holy Ghost and asked them to be baptized. The Bishop talked about being converted and I would say that Peter was absolutely converted as he healed the sick and raised the dead in the name of Jesus Christ. Learning more about the time right after Christ left has been really interesting.

 

This week was a little slow for the work but Elder Komarek and I are still working hard. Last night our 8pm plans fell through and we pretty much had to walk around and try and find someone to talk to because I don't like knocking at 8pm. We talked to a really nice older man named Larry who talked to us for awhile. He wasn't very interested but he really liked talking to us. Elder Komarek still isn't used to talking to people and leading the conversation but it comes with time. There are a lot more people here than he's used to in Fillmore.

I'm really grateful for the Book of Mormon. It's so wonderful that it comes with a promise in Moroni 10:3-5. If you read it sincerely with real intent than God will give you a witness of the truth. It's pretty simple and I know that that's true. I'm lucky to be a missionary and even when times are slow I'm glad that I can be His servant.

 

Love you!

 

Silas

 

 

 

Hello!

Hey Everyone!

 

Yesterday was the departing fireside for missionaries that go home this Tuesday and it was sad because I know two that are going home and they are great missionaries. Both of them served in the Virginia ward with another companion while I was there. First is Elder Walker, who trained Elder Jacobson, and then Elder Carter. They bore very powerful testimonies of the Gospel and Elder Carter is just amazing and getting me to want to become better in everything. It is always kind of weird to see the missionaries going home because I always put myself in their shoes. Elder Carter shared some stories and said now let me tell you what is going to happen on Tuesday. I'm going to get home, hug my Mom first (cause that's what she said in the email) haha and hug my Dad and then tell them thank you. Thank you for teaching me and telling me that through the Atonement anyone can change. It definitely made me think about what I would say to you. How I would thank you too and how crazy that is going to be eventually.

 

So this week starts a new transfer. This transfer was a week short but it still doesn't feel like I've been with Elder Komarek for over a month. We're getting closer and he's getting better and better. I think a few of the stories from his friends that came out with him helped him appreciate me more ha. One trainer went home on his own accord and another had to get transferred so if he didn't think I was good before he does now! Sadly, We are losing our car which stinks! I don't know what time next week I'll be able to email. It'll be weird being only on bike again. I guess it's for a reason though.

I went on exchanges with a new Elder Mann from Texas. He's really good and their area is even nicer haha! They have Seal beach and those are pictures of the beach! 

 

Love,

 

Elder Gallagher

 

 

Hello!

Hey Family,

This week we had Zone Conference and it was nice to sit back and hear how we can improve ourselves. It is so funny how many hours I spend in church meetings and studying. Right now because of the 12 week training program we study for three hours every morning! So on Sundays we go to church then study for as long as we were at church. I think that that's crazy. I figured out that I've studied for over 24 hours per month. I've spent an entire week studying the scriptures...No wonder why I've been happy even though I'm away from all of you.

Yesterday during the gospel principles class we talked about charity and an experience that I had my third transfer popped into my head that I'm not sure I shared with you. The teacher asked for examples of charity that we would like to share and I didn't get a chance to share it but it made me really happy. For Thanksgiving we ate at the Adduru's and they gave us a ton of leftover food. The other Elders in our ward dropped us off right outside our apartment. There is a burger place right near it and we looked over and a very homeless looking lady was stumbling like she was about to fall walking towards us. I think for most people your first reaction is ah quick let's get away from this dirty, strange looking person. Honestly I felt that at first. I wanted to dash into our gate and just go to bed because I was full and tired. But I looked at her and realized that we were there with a ton of food for a reason and that this person probably didn't even know it was Thanksgiving. We sat her down outside of the burger place and got her water and food. She hardly had any energy to walk over to the table but she was grateful for the food and the water. We left her with all of the food and the next morning she was gone and so was the big bag of food.

Today we had a funny and spiritually uplifting experience. We do laundry in the morning on Mondays and for some reason the change receiver on the washer got stuck. Elder Smith and Elder Mann live right next to us and Elder Smith was about to pull the thing out and get it to work. So later the other Elders were doing their laundry and it got stuck again but they couldn't get it unstuck. We were going to be late for studies if it didn't get unstuck so we stood there and said a prayer and the next pull made the washer start. It was really awesome and we were just laughing but it is really incredible how much God does care about the little things in each of our lives.

Training Elder Komarek has been good for me. It has helped me try and do my best to be a good missionary and to really think about what I can do to help him be the best he can be. It is really easy to sleep at night because I've been pretty tired! The work is going pretty well. Not awesome but not dead. Michael is working towards baptism on the 17th and we committed Sam (a former) for the 30th.

I hope everyone is still doing well! Great job to Mom, Dad and Noah for doing P90X. Tell Grammie and Grandma I said hi! I miss them!

Love,

Silas