February 26, 2014

I don’t know if you all have heard the news but I have been transferred. I was called to train and be doubled-in and open a new area here in Dublin. The people here are very wealthy and are quite content with where they are in life. This has put baptisms at a low, but there is still work that can be done! The Elders in this area are great and so willing to work together to get this area up and moving. We have made plans to get things moving especially with the members of the ward. I found out that the retention has been slim, so we met with the Ward mission leader to implement some strategies that we used in New Albany. Also, the ward doesn’t have a mission plan, so I got the New Albany one. Hopefully with an outline we can put one together that will best fit this area. 

My new companion is Sister McIntyre. She is from Utah and super nice. We are still working on teaching together and getting the hang of things so there will be more updates next week. 

We also had the opportunity to teach a lady named Cynthia. She is wonderful and has been investigating for some time. The Elders asked us to go teaching with them so that they could hand her over to us. We were able to put her on-date that night for March 8th. She didn’t come to church so we went over there last night and talked to her about different things. We are going to implement some plans to help her out. I am really excited to see her progress and enter the waters of baptism, hopefully in the next few weeks. 

Where we live, there is a part-member family that lives right across the street from us. On our first day here they offered to feed us dinner that night. We asked if we could teach them the Restoration because we hadn’t taught together yet as a companionship. They agreed and the husband (who is the non-member) said that he would be asking a lot of questions.( I guess he is known to do that). Well after we taught, he was left speechless, in a good way. The spirit was so strong and since then, he has been super nice to us and willing to help us. We are hoping to go there later this week to talk to them some more!

So to finish our exciting week, we woke-up this morning to go running and before we left I figured I would start my laundry. Well the washer began to leak... Our apartment was flooding! I put towels in front of the stove and fridge to make sure that the water didn’t go under there and we started filling buckets with water. We called the elders because we didn’t know what to do. They came with some more mops and called one of the office elders to come and help out. The whole time we were cleaning I was just imagining how funny it would be to just see all of us missionaries in a tiny kitchen trying to get the entire floor dry. Luckily we were able to keep in on the tile! We got everything fixed and got the laundry started. Well it came time to put the clothes in the dryer and our dryer was broken. So the office Elders got to come back with a new dryer to help us out. Oh what a morning! I felt bad because we woke up the Elders... I started the wash at 545 this morning... they were shocked that we were willing to wake up that early haha. We are going to have to do something nice for them for sure!

Well it’s about time for me to go but I just wanted to finish by saying that I know this work is so true! I am so grateful for the trust and responsibility that Christ and God have given me to "go out and tell the world of Jesus Christ, the Lord". The Book of Mormon is the truest book on the Earth today, and I am so grateful that I can open it every day and read and learn from it. I am grateful for this gospel and for the peace it brings to my life! There is true power in prayer and true joy in this journey! I love you all and I love my job!

--Sister Gale

March 02, 2015

"There is no real ending. It's just the place where you stop the story."

- Frank Herbert

Shoot Dang! 18 months have flown by! I can’t believe that this is the last week… it has been amazing! I will NEVER forget or regret my time here in the Great OCM!

I will be honest… serving a mission has been the MOST difficult thing I have EVER done. There were moments where I felt hopeless. Moments where I questioned the message I was sharing or the testimony that I have. There were moments where I cried myself to sleep. Moments, at the beginning, where we tracted and tracted and tracted, and no one would listen. There were times when I woke up, and my first thought was, “Here we go again.” There were moments when we got yelled at, and all I wanted to do was yell right back at them. Then there were moments when I felt completely alone and also moments when I simply just wanted to be. There was many times where I felt incompetent and moments where I knew I was not good enough. There were moments when I just wanted to be with my family at home.

The funny thing about all these hard moments is that I remember them as if it happened yesterday, but each time I look back on them, I can’t remember the feelings associated with each experience. The one thing that I do remember though is when I felt my Savior’s love and was reminded that I CAN DO THIS!

Because of that reminder, I've been blessed to remember all the happy moments and the feelings that are associated with each memory. I remember meeting my district at the MTC and having so many laughs with them. I remember seeing my mission president and his wife and wanting to just hug them! I remember finding my first investigator, Theresa, and seeing her be baptized. I remember the peace, love, and joy that came from each child of God I taught, enter into the waters of baptism. 

I remember the powerful zone conferences and the super spiritual Mission Leadership Councils. I remember the crazy experiences my companions and I witnessed as we knocked doors or visited members. I remember when I was blessed with the gift of tongues to talk to one of our deaf investigators. 

I remember the moments where my companions and I would laugh and laugh! I remember feelings I have felt as investigators, less-actives, members, and myself witnessed and experienced the cleansing power of the Atonement and allowed that to bring us all closer to our Father in Heaven.

Each of these moments and memories have caused me to truly understand how this is the Lord’s work, and by Him, through Him, and with Him, all things are possible. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know He has walked with me and has carried me many times! Because of Him, my testimony has grown more than I ever imagined! I was always told that your mission will be the most selfless service you will ever give and do. Well, I feel like everyone is wrong; I've been given much more than anyone and anything.

I have been able to see and witness the power of prayer. It is a way to communicate with God, and I know that He hears and answers our prayers! I have been able to see the power behind the words of God, the scriptures. I know that they were written for us to help us and guide us. We are able to liken them to ourselves and use them as tools to help us in any situation we may be in. I have read the stories many times, but never before have I been able to relate to the people like I have out here on my mission. I have been able to be bold like Abinadi, strong like Nephi, dependent like The Brother of Jared, and courageous like Ammon. (I still have a long ways to go though). I have been able to see the reality of eternal families and know that is what I want some day. I have gained a firmer testimony of family history and understand now more than ever that there are many people waiting for us to do their work so they can rejoice and return to live with our Heavenly Father and theirs (Hearts Bound Together, President Eyring). I have come to know the power of the Holy Ghost and how he is truly a member of the Godhead that abides with us as we remain worthy! It is real and is given to us to help keep our end of the covenant that we made at baptism. I love the temple, and I know that it is God’s house on earth. That is the goal for everyone! Get there! I know that serving others is truly serving our God. He will help us with anything as we have our minds and hearts turned to Him and do all things with our eye single to His glory. I know that we are given companions to help us; I have learned so much about myself from my companions and have been able to learn from them in more ways than one.

I know that my friends have been truly wonderful and have helped me in more ways than one. I am so grateful for my family who has been there to support me every step of the way. I know that I would not and could not be here without you! I am grateful for every single one of you, and I look forward to seeing you and hugging you soon! (Especially you mom!!!)

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom on the earth again. I know that our Father in Heaven loves us so much that He sent His Son to atone for our sins so that we could live with our Father again. He set the perfect example for us to follow. I know that as we pattern our lives after His, we will inherit the kingdom of God. I know that He pours out His love upon us by calling prophets. I know that Joseph Smith was called to restore the church back to the earth. He translated The Book of Mormon through the power of God. It is another testament of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know it, and I will forever live because I absolutely love it! I love this gospel! I love this work, and I have loved my job!

-- Sister Gale

February 23, 2015

"When things look like they are coming to an end, remember that not everything is as it appears. To a caterpillar, life is over, but to the butterfly, life is just beginning."

- Stephen C. Hogan

Well, the end is in sight and coming to a quick end. I know that it has to come to an end at some point, but it has come a lot faster than I ever would have anticipated.

This week has been FREEZING!!!! I can’t even begin to explain how cold it has been. Saturday, it snowed all day; we got 8 inches! Due to the snow, all the mission cars were parked. Sister Ogletree and I had a great day planned, but it involved us driving to the top of our area and also to the library, places that if we walked, it would have taken a good chunk of the day. We sat in our study chairs and thought hard about what to do; we then received a text from one of our members asking if we could come shovel their driveway. We, of course, jumped on that and walked to their house. Shoveling went super fast as there were the two of us and three boys plus the dad and daughter helping. Once we finished, the youngest says, "Let's go do the neighbor's house." That is when all the fun began. Each house we went to, they asked us to go and do another house. We ended up shoveling twelve driveways and getting many referrals from that and also meeting a lot of people. 

After lunch, we were meeting up with the Malone's to help them with some things around their house. Bro. Malone has a snow blower, and I have always wanted to try one of those things. So we go out to the front to snow blow their driveway. Bro. Malone then thought of his two neighbors that could use some help. After those two driveways we ended up doing four more. Sunday, I was sore.

It has been a great week! I love helping the ward members with their family history and seeing their eyes light up when they realize that they found another ancestor that they can take to the temple and help them receive all the blessings that can happen there. I love the temple. I love how we have the opportunity to help people on this side of the veil and the other. I know that it is a tremendous blessing to be in the service of God, to help Him in His work as He directs us to those that He is and has been preparing. I am so grateful that I get to take part in one of His daughter's making the decision to follow His example and be baptized. I love this great and marvelous work! I know that this is God's church on the earth today. I know that it is led, guided, and directed by a living prophet who has been called of God to help all of us return to live in His presence. I am so blessed to know that families are eternal, that we can all live together forever and that nothing can separate us. I love my family so much! I absolutely love this work, and I love my job!

-- Sister Gale

February 16, 2015

"Believe in miracles. I have seen so many."

- Jeffery R. Holland

There are so many great things that I can share that happened this week but I just want to focus on 2 wonderful examples: Mom, you'll love this first story...

So we are on our way to the temple to do baptisms for the dead with Matthew, a convert who was baptized in November. There were a lot of things that got in the way of him going earlier, but I wanted to make sure that he went before I left. We were able to go this past Friday and the drive is about an hour long. We brought a USB that we could listen to that had great music in the hopes that he would love the music and desire to have it so he could listen to wholesome music. Well, our plan worked. While we were driving up there, I was thinking about some of the lessons that we still needed to teach Matthew and how we could more specifically help him remember some of the commandments. As he was flipping through the songs, I saw the wonderful title of 'Sons of Provo.' So what do I do? "MATTHEW! I have the perfect boy band that you should listen to, and it will help you remember to keep the commandments." He looks at us skeptically and flips to it and puts on Word of Wizzum. It was the funniest thing, and he LOVED the music! We just laughed and sang the whole way to the temple! The best part was in the song it says, "...Mountain Dew. Tasty, but no good for you..." and Matthew holds up his mountain dew sitting in the front seat. We died laughing!
The temple experience itself was absolutely wonderful! Matthew was able to baptize his great grandfather and also do baptisms for Keith Malone. Keith also asked me to do some names for him and specifically asked me to be baptized on behalf of his great grandmother. It was a super spiritual experience!

This week, we were able to witness a miracle. We had dinner with the Homers, a part-member family that we have been working with. When Sister Hansen was here, we extended baptism for February 7th, but that didn't end up working out. I was beginning to think that she wasn't going to be baptized before I left because she has been sick and we didn't want to push her. Well, dinner happened and we could not get the conversation focused on any of the lessons. Soon, Sister Homer was up showing Sister Ogletree all their pictures, and Bro. Homer had his laptop out showing me all his family history. I began to lose hope that we were going to get a lesson in, but all of the sudden, I asked Bro. Homer about a picture that was under his name. He said that it was his son who is in the army. About that time, Sisters Homer and Ogletree started making their way back to the table. Sister Homer said, "Ya he comes home in the summer of 2016, and we are thinking about getting sealed in the summer." She says things like that all the time, so I just didn't make any comments. Then Bro. Homer comes in and says, "Well, someone has to get baptized before that can happen." To which she responded, "I know, I have made a deadline of March 5th for myself." I then turned around in my chair with my jaw dropped and just looked at her. Looking at me, she said, "I've been thinking about it for the past couple of weeks, and I think that I want to get baptized the weekend before that so the 28th." I just smiled and said, "We can do that!" Saturday, we made the program, and Sunday she made all the calls to the people that will be praying and speaking at her baptism! It was a miracle, and it was great to see the Lord work with Sister Homer and confirm that this is the right choice for her.

This week I have been blessed to experience many miracles, and I know that they all occurred because God is a God of miracles. This is His great and marvelous work. By faith and good works, great things come to pass. I know that, and I am so grateful for this wonderful experience to be a part of her first steps on this spiritual journey. I absolutely love this work, and I love my job!!!

-- Sister Gale

January 26, 2015

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God."

- William Carey

Well, I thought that I would be the first one to let you all know, but the word has gotten out before I have even had the chance to email home. I am staying in Xenia for my last transfer, and I am serving with Sister Ogletree. In mission terms, she is my great granddaughter! She is super fun, and we have so many stories to share about New Albany and the changes that have taken place since I have served there a year ago! CRAAZY!!!!! There were so many exciting things that happened this weekend that I thought I would share with you all:

1) The Malone's went to the temple again to do baptisms for the dead, and it was a tremendous experience. They both didn’t want to actually get in the water because Sister Malone was scared and Bro. Malone's back was hurting. They asked if Sister Ogletree and I would do some names for them, and we did. There were some other recent converts there as well that did some names for them too. In total, 54 names we completed for their family. While we were sitting there, the Malone's were deciding what family members to have done, and I got caught in the moment thinking about everything when Keith came up to me and tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to do the baptisms for both of his grandmothers. It was such a tender experience. I was super honored! The best part about it all was that we knew that many of them accepted the work that was completed.

While I was there, I just started tearing up. Sister Malone looked at me and asked what was wrong. It hit me that each of these recent converts were doing family names. Each of those deceased family members have been waiting for the gospel, and now they are receiving it so much quicker because each of those individuals have joined the gospel. It was a great eye opening experience and a testimony to me of the importance of family history work!

2) Yesterday we had the wonderful opportunity to go to New Albany and hear an apostle, D. Todd Christofferson, speak to all recent converts and those investigating the church. He talked so boldly yet very lovingly about why baptism is important—it is to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Even the apostles of old, after 3 years of following and learning from Christ himself, were commanded that they should not teach until they had received the Holy Ghost. I learned very quickly last night what the power and reality of this gift is. We are given the Holy Ghost—a free gift from Heavenly Father—to help us fulfill the promises that we commit to make at baptism. How amazing is that? He freely gives this gift to all, but a freely given gift must be freely received. It cannot be forced, and people cannot be persuaded. It’s an individual, free choice. I love that, and I am grateful for the knowledge that I was able to gain last night on the importance of the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I know that His church is true and that it can truly change lives. I have seen people change and they have freely chosen that. I know that baptism is the first step on the path to eternal life. I know that as we enter in this path, our Heavenly Father will guide us, protect us, and help us to be able to live in His presence again. I am so grateful for His love and His willingness to help us every day of our lives. There is power in prayer, there is happiness in repentance, and there is life in Christ! I know that now more than ever! I love this work, and I love my job!

-- Sister Gale

January 21, 2015

"If I live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you." 

- A. A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Well, I can’t write that much because the time is scarce, and it has been a hard week. So many miracles happened, so there is nothing wrong with that. The only thing that is really hard is that my companion has reached the conclusion of her mission. It is one of the hardest things that has happened to me on my mission, seeing my best friend leave. I could go on and on about all the things that she taught me, but for the sake of time and space, I wanted to bare my testimony that I know that this church is true. I know that Heavenly Father is so aware of us and that He loves us! I know that the Book of Mormon is here for us in our day for our time to learn from and to read from. I know that there is a prophet on the earth today who is the voice of the Lord to us. I know that I was called to Ohio by my Father. and I will forever be grateful for the friends that He has given me, the trials that He has sent me, and the happiness that He provided for me. This is the work of the Lord, and I absolutely love it!

-- Sister Gale

January 12, 2015

"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply."

- Hudson Taylor

Well, there is never enough time to write, and I kind of failed in taking pictures this week. But, nonetheless, it was a great one! Included are some pictures at the temple... 

Temple Trip with the Malone's

The Malone's were able to go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead, and Keith was able to complete 200 temple names. Well, he was only able to baptize 15 of his ancestors, and Helen was able to do 2 of her ancestors. It was a great time, and the Spirit was so strong as they were able to take part in giving their ancestors the opportunity to accept the gospel on the other side of the veil.

Dinner after the Temple Trip

We also were able to teach Sis. Homer this week and extended a baptismal date of February 7th to her. She said that she would think about it, but it is a HUGE likelihood that she will accept that date and be baptized as a member of the church. 

There are so many other things that I could write about, but like I said, there just never is enough time. But one thing that Sis. Homer said to me on Sunday has been stuck in my head for awhile... she was saying how she just feels right about this church. She hasn’t been to her church in a couple of weeks now and doesn’t even feel bad about it, but she just feels right whenever she comes to ours. We started talking about journeys and how we all have our own journey, but Heavenly Father is always there to accompany us. Well, in each of our journeys He helps us to return to live with Him, but we have to be willing to follow Him on this journey. I know that the reason why she feels ready is because in this journey she is on, Heavenly Father has presented her with a choice (like He does with each of us), and all we need to do is follow the Spirit and make the right choice. 

I know that we are all blessed with that spirit to make the right choice, and I am so grateful to be able to teach people about the Spirit and how they can make the right choice and follow their Heavenly Father and the wonderful plan that He made for each of us. I am so grateful for the mission and all the things that I have learned. I hope that we all take the time to listen to the Spirit and know what it is that our loving Heavenly Father wants us to do. I love this work, and I love my job.

-- Sister Gale