July 21, 2014

"Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success."

- David O. McKay

Just an update... today is my 11 months... WHAT?! Where has the time gone? I sometimes think about it and can't believe that I have been away from home that long, and then there are times when I look back at the beginning and think.. "Umm, ya. It's been THAT long!" Haha Missionary time is way weird! 

Beautiful flowers in a member's front yard in Dublin

Everything has been going great this week. It was Girl's Camp for our ward, so it was not fun having all the young women gone. But, there was so much to do this week that we really couldn't have had them out with us that much. 

A cute letter to Sis. Gale from one of the primary girls in the Dublin ward

We had interviews this week with our new mission president, President Daines. That whole day was stressful because we were helping a family move (we have a lot of that happening here in Dublin), and then we had to go home, get ready super fast, and then meet with our mission president for 15 minutes. Afterwards, we went to our dinner appointment, then came back to the church to pick up Sister Daines (MP's wife), and then she went out with us for the rest of the evening. Now why was that so stressful? Well, the interview went over time which caused us to move around some other appointments. When we found out that Sister Daines had "requested" to go out with us, all our appointments with investigators had cancelled for that evening, so we made more back-up appointments on top of our back-ups. It was really great though! President Daines is awesome! Completely different than President Nilsen, but he is going to bring a different kind of work to the Great OCM... and the kind of work that we need. Sister Daines is awesome as well. She carries such a great spirit about her and is so ready to jump in and share her testimony! I really hope that she comes out with us again!

Sis. Gale and Sis. McIntyre dressed up for the Zone talent show.

We also went around and met all our new move-ins. Dublin ward is a turn-around ward. There are a lot of doctors that come through for residency and then leave, and when they leave, others move in. So we constantly are getting to know new people. It is really funny because a lot of the new move-ins are impressed that we know where everyone lives... We quickly inform them that we have both been here for 6 months, and then they become impressed that we have not only been here for that long, but that we have been together for that long as a companionship. It is great to see their expressions! 

The missionaries with the new Mission President and his wife, President and Sis. Daines.

I also went to the doctor this week, and all is well. I just needed to get a check-up, and everything came back normal. The only thing that we are waiting to hear about is my sugar levels. Hopefully that comes back normal as well.

Yesterday, Sunday, was amazing! We had been helping one of the youth in our ward with his talk that he was asked to give about sharing the gospel, and he was super excited about it. Well, he got to church and decided that he didn’t want to do it, so as a substitute, they asked Kacie to give a talk about her experience at Girl's Camp. She isn’t even a member, and she talked in sacrament meeting! So many people came up to her and told her that she did a great job! One member said that they thought she was a member! She quickly responded, "Not yet!" It was amazing, and the Spirit was so strong! You probably thought that she was going to be baptized this last Saturday... we thought so as well, but her mother had a couple of meetings come up that postponed the baptism. We are working with Kacie on talking to her mom about meeting with us. Hopefully we can get that meeting in the near future... maybe even begin teaching her whole family! That would be great!!! :)

All of the Sister missionaries in Sis. Gale's zone at a Zone picnic

My time is coming to an end, but I want to say that I am so proud of my brother, Brandon, aka (Elder Gale)! He left this week for his mission. I am so glad to know that he is out sharing the word of God with people and helping them recognize the restored gospel. I love it so much, and I am so grateful that I get to wake-up every morning and go out and meet people and testify to them of the gospel and that it has been restored! Sister McIntyre and I were given the opportunity here in the library to invite someone to church. We are hoping to begin teaching him. It is truly everywhere. "People are kept from the truth because they know not where to find it." Invite people to hear and find it because it is that great! 

I love you all so much, and I love my job!

-- Sister Gale