4-25-16

Hey everyone,

How is it going?  I am doing pretty good. Not much to complain about, besides the rain, and the gunshots through out the night, and the traffic, and the fact the because of the people living upstairs our entire apartment smells like pot or hooka or whatever. But other than that I am doing pretty good.

 Just doing missionary work I have three people getting baptized this Saturday that I helped teach. It is so awesome! One of them is in the Deaf Branch the other two are in my last hearing ward. I am so pumped for it. Mike Cooper is the one for the Deaf Branch he is the north Elder's investigator but we have been helping to teach him and I taught him a little bit before I went English. Other than that we have several new investigators. Which is unusual for ASL. Apparently things are looking up as several of them are actually pretty solid. So other things coming up. We (The four ASL Missionaries) are speaking on Mother's day about our Mothers to the Branch and then on the fifth Sunday we are teaching a lesson about integrity. Our lesson plan for that looks pretty good so far. We will see how it goes.

I was reading about Alma and Amulek this morning. Chapter 13 of Alma and it was just after the bap people had taken all of their (Alma and Amulek's) recent converts and had burnd them and then this conversation transpired

10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.

 11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of theinnocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

 12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also.

 13 And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not...

"Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not" I take this to mean as Joseph Smith once said something to the effect of 'The work of God is not frustrated, only the work of man."  Let us remember this as we are doing his work, not ours, what happens is what he wants to happen. he has a plan. Let's follow it.

Elder Galloway

 

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps. 

4-18-16

Hey everyone,

How are all y'all?  I am doing pretty well, considering today was Zone Sports day. We played some kickball. It was pretty good. My team lost if we were keeping score which we weren't so that means my team wins right?

So highlights of this week. I have been doing a lot better on my journal it is up to date as of yesterday.

Saturday we got like 10 hours of service as we were helping someone move but didn't have big enough trucks or trailers. It was pretty fun. We might start teaching some of the people that were there. One in particular looks pretty promising we have a lesson sometime this week before so we will see how that turns out.

I got to go up to Bellingham again this week. It was a long drive but the lesson we had there with ASL North's investigator was worth it. She is pretty prepared for ASL. Man, it'll be nice to see that happen. Their other investigator kind of fell off and has gone astray which totally blows. But we are still working with him and hoping.

God will bless us for our efforts so we just keep on trying hard.

We went to DI last week and found some pretty cool things which we bought have not been let down. I won't tell you what it is but it is pretty awesome! I think that is all for this week! Love you all! Keep up the good work! Later!

Elder Galloway! 

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps. 

 

4-11-16

Hey everyone!

So here am I, back in ASL. Interesting enough with three months pause on my ASL coming back several people have commented on how much my sign has improved. Knowing I haven't use it in forever, my opinion is that it isn't my sign that has improved but more so my personality. I tend to be much more open and outward-ish. Again being in ASL my English vocab slows down once in a while. Sometimes it is easier to say things in ASL than English now. I suspect that is a good thing.

Being back in the ASL program we have come up with a few problems that have arisen while we were gone and have set in motion actions and a plan to fix them and it is looking promising.

Oh man, I remember how much driving we do now. It is very much slower then the English program. But the North Elders do have a on date for a investigator soon. He is a long time one and is super solid. We are looking forward to that.

To remind some of you (mother), Elder Taylor my companion now is the same one as the my first companionship with I started my mission. He is super cool and hearing but avid signer. I learn a lot from him. Other than that I think this week went pretty good. I enjoyed it. See you next time.

Elder Galloway!

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps.  

4-4-16

Hey everyone!

 

So transfers happened last week and as predicted I was moved back to ASL, we have reopened ASL south and that is where I am with my mission father Elder Taylor. Fun times. I have missed ASL and am glad to be back here. i will miss English now. That was a good ward.

 

This weekend was General Conference and the words we heard were very inspiring. I took a lot away from it. I quite enjoyed it.

 

The area I am in now is once again a little bit slow as it was just opened but I look forward to tomorrow, as it is just another chance to do a little bit better than today.

 

I don't think I have any words of wisdom this week other than to encourage you all to read and reread what was said in the last two days and it will help you for the rest of your life. I find it interesting that every time I listen to the General Authorities speak they always just say things we already know. Which in turn show us that we already know what we need to do, we just simply need to do it.

 

We need to stop worrying about tomorrow and we need to make tomorrow. The future for some part is what we make it. We have the counsel of the Prophet. Now we need to get up and do something about it. We were made to be doers of the word, not just hears or teachers but doers. I think that is my bit for this week!

Elder Galloway!

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps. 

3-28-16

Hey everyone!

 

So this week had several things happened, First off it was Easter, which just isn't the same away from home. I didn't even get to nic Eggs. I did try through. But also this week, for Easter, in Sacrament meeting the Ward Mission did a musical number and since my skills are not in the musical section, yet, then I was asked to sign it while the others sang... Which I was okay with. I did a pretty good job and the members seemed to enjoy it. They let me stay for the rest of the meeting so that was nice.

 

So this area, Meridian, is actually the area with the most Sacrament attending investigators in the Zone if not the mission. We had seven investigators we are working with come to sacrament meeting and one of them even brought a friend who is now interested. It is pretty sweet, they call this area Meridian Gold mine. ( I like to think after being here for 3 months I had something to do with that. You never know. But last Saturday I had my first baptism! It was so awesome! I got to confirm her the next day in Sacrament meeting. it was so amazing to see that!

 

And last but not least this week is also transfers. So we all know what that means, I have been working on my Spanish trying to get transferred to Spanish, but I think I will most likely go back to ASL as they are opening up South again and there are only four ASL missionaries in the mission right now. So yeah, that was my week.

 

I am also leaving two people on date for next month for the Elders that move in after me. There you go... It was a pretty good week, we actually mt almost all of our weekly goals. Super high numbers.

Man oh man.

Elder Galloway!

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps. 

3-21-16

Hey Everyone!

You know what this week end is? Easter! What else? MY FIRST BAPTISM! I am so hyped for it! It is a woman by the name of Khouanta, she is from Lao. Her husband is a member but up until recently was less active. He is now active. So She doesn't speak a whole lot of English so our lessons are us talking and him translating. It is pretty cool. Lao is hard to pick up. I wish I could speak it.

We also have another on date for next month the 23rd. Another woman named Patty. She is awesome, her husband is not a member nor is he interested but we are working on that and I think he might become interested very soon. We are hoping and praying for that.

Other than that we have a bunch of other new investigators we are working with a few of are solid, one lives up in Canada but is moving down soon to live with her husband, who is a member, and we teach her on the weekends she is down. She is pretty cool.

Transfers are next week as this is a 7 week transfer to line up with the MTC again, as they are switching back to a three week stay for English.  Man, I don't want to leave this area, but if the Lord calls right? We will see what happens next Sunday night. Cross your fingers for me! 

I love you all!

Elder Galloway!

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps.

So as you can see some pretty awesome things are happening. I am excited! 

3-14-16

Hey Everyone!

So good news! We still have an on date for next week! The 26th. AAAAHHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAAAAHAHHHHHHH I am so excited. We have a bunch of other people who are so close as well. Including a referral from a member. Can I just say referrals are the best ever? Give missionaries referrals! So something cool that happened this week. Let me think... Hmm.

Well, we do meet a lot of Filipinos, so my Tagalog is getting better slowly. That is awesome. I now know other things than how to compliment myself and a few pickup lines. I can actually have a few small conversations in it and that actually helps sometimes when we meet Filipinos. So that is cool. My Spanish is still pretty terrible. And my signing is still pretty alright, I haven't really lost any of it since I got transferred English. I can't wait to go back ASL. 

I also wanted to share my testimony this week. I just wanted to let you all know that I know that this mission is where I am supposed to be. I have and will meet people here only I can help. I love it here. I love the gospel. I know that what it teaches is true. While, I do not have all the experience of going to all the other churches in the world, I do, by the power of the Holy Ghost, know that this Church is the true church. "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord". I would not accept anything in exchange for being on a mission. I love serving and bringing souls to Christ. Do not ever doubt the Lord. Ever. He is there and he cares. I promise that.

Elder Brenden T. Galloway.

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps.  

3-7-16

Hey everyone!

Guess what I just got this week?! AN ON DATE!  Qwanta (from Lao) is preparing for March 26th to be baptized. AAAAHHHHH! I am so excited! We also found Jonathon who is a super cool investigator. We want to set him on date this week! We will see how that goes.

So today is actually Zone sports day. We played volleyball today because it was raining pretty hard. We usually play soccer. I got cleats so I was so mad! Just kidding. I love Zone sports day. It is the best.

This week, I also got to use my Tagalog and this time it actually helped with the lesson. It was pretty cool. I can also now write my name in Arabic. Which is super cool. I like it.

Hmmm. Well, I think that is it! Love you all!

Elder Galloway!

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps. 

2-29-16

Everyone! It is Leap day! How cool is that? It only happens like every four years.. Which you know... But this is why I like being born in February. Because we get extra days every once in a while. 

As for mission stuff. The area is doing alright, we had to drop a few more investigators. But some of the others started progressing again. So we still have plenty of people to teach. We are looking forward to putting some of them on date this week and helping them get ready for baptism. That is exciting!

I don't really know what else to talk about.. What would you all like to hear? I have a story.. 

We were walking down this alley at like 2 in the afternoon. And there comes up to us a homeless guy, asking for money to buy a subway sandwich. And I have no money on me and I tell him this. and then my companion is like, "We don't have any money, But my companion (Me) has a gift card to Burger King with some money on it..." And so now I have to hand over my Burger King gift card... But it was pretty funny after the guy left.. 

I am doing great! Love you all! Elder Galloway!

2-22-16

Hey Everyone! It is a great day to be a missionary! Why? Because everyday is great to be a missionary! This week was alright, numbers were down, I had a birthday which I was sick in bed all day for. Meaning I woke up with a fever of 102 degrees. So, yeah that kind of stinks. But I did get to rest all day. I slept for like 7 hours. I enjoyed it. But, I wouldn't want to do it again.

Other than that our investigator made me carrot cake. Which was awesome!

Well, this week was better than last week. Slowly improving right? Our investigators are okay, we had to drop a few of them due to no progression, but we found a few more so it all evens out. I think things are looking up!

Hmm, what else, my companion and I are doing well. Not much to say there. He is a little bit cleaner than I am. By a little I mean really cleaner. Like I am not a messy person but, apparently I am not nearly as clean as a really clean person. So our apartment looks great now. Other than that. I don't think there is much to say. Kind of a slow week. 

Elder Galloway 

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps. 

2-15-16

Hey everyone! How are you? I am doing good! I am guessing most of your p-days got moved to tomorrow which is understandable! Mine However, did not. It is today!

Seattle is doing great so far, still standing that is always a good sign. My area of it is slowly improving. Little by little. I am working on that. 

As for me I am doing well, not much to complain about if any. My companion: Elder Bunderson is a good missionary. He is from Idaho Falls. This first week with him wasn't too bad. We got a lot of work done and the next six weeks are going to be long ones. I look forward to seeing what they bring. Hopefully it will be good! I trust it will be.
Our investigators are doing alright, still slowly improving as well. Very slowly. None of them have made it to baptism yet. But we are still working on that. We have found a few more new ones so we will see how that turns out. We do have car now. Which is nice and different. Lots more time each day to do work. Rather than taking the bus all the time. 

Oh! It is my birthday soon! This Friday! Crazy right? I have been an adult for almost a whole year now. That is just straight luck in and of itself. First time having a Birthday away from home. Scary I guess. I'll probably be fine.  And as it was pointed out to me this is my "Golden Birthday" Meaning it is on the 19th and I turn 19. So I guess that means I am just that much more special on that day.
My Valentines day was good. We had a candle light dinner with a member family, which was interesting. I liked the food. It was pretty good.

I think that is it for this week. I hope you all had a good one as well. 

Elder Galloway.

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps. 

2-8-16

Hey Everyone! How are you all? Feel free to answer that...

So transfer week. Pretty Interesting right? So turns out they got rid of the actual TRANSFER MEETING. Now you just go get a letter and then go to your new area. Kind of lame but whatever. 

As for me. I will stay in Meridian, but my companion, my English dad, is moving. I get a new one. I don't know who yet and he was the District leader so now we need a new one, calls about that are tonight.  I am happy with these results.

So the area is doing okay, no baptisms yet. Both our people fell off date. Which sucks. A lot. But, I am not disappointed. Okay, maybe a little. 

But we did get to go to the Temple! Which was awesome, the member we took it being her first time started jumping up and down when she saw the baptismal font. It was pretty funny! It felt so good to be there again. More so with some one we helped to get there.

This next week will be interesting with my new companion. We'll see who I get and if one of us is a District leader, maybe I finally will get to be senior companion. I have no idea what would happen then.

Well, that is all for this week! Elder Galloway! Love you all!

PS: 'Member to smile. It helps.