August 13, 2014

"Well, we all make mistakes, dear, so just put it behind you. We should regret our mistakes and learn from them, but never carry them forward into the future with us."

- L. M. Montgomery

Ok, so the subject line is a funny story that happened today and a blessing as well. But first I have to tell you that I got transferred to Mansfield, Ohio (also known as the country). It is such a crazy difference from New Albany or Dublin, so I am still in the process of adjusting. My new address is:

Sister Erin Tiffany Gale 

1578 Sassafras Dr. 

Mansfield, Oh 44905

Personally I think the address fits me well, but that’s just me. :)

So the story now... We have to budget our miles a lot more than I have ever done in the past because we have one of the biggest areas in the mission, and there is a lot of territory for us to cover; we only have so many miles that we can use. So we figured that it would be better to go grocery shopping before we went to the library. So that is what we did this morning, and I was looking at certain kinds of seasonings. While I was doing that, we got a text. I was trying to figure out a ride for our meeting this Wednesday, and after I did that, I put the phone back in my bag. We finished shopping and headed out to the car, and our phone beeped again. When I went to look at the phone, I saw one of the seasonings in my bag. I quickly pulled out my receipt and noticed that I hadn’t paid for that. Man! I can’t even make it a week in Mansfield, and I'm already shop lifting. I quickly ran inside to return it, and while I was doing that, a man came up to my companion and told her that he was watching us and was very proud of my decision to return that. I thought that was awesome that someone saw that, but it was also very interesting to see how many people are watching us without us knowing. 

After 6 months in Dublin with Sister McIntyre, I was transferred into the country. My companion's name is Sister Dana, and she is from California. She has been out for 10 months, and I think we are going to have a great time getting this area up and running. Get this... I get to drive a Jeep! I love it here already, and I love talking to people. They are so much more receptive here than the people in the city! We have found some investigators already but not as many as we could have. The reason being is that we got doubled into Mansfield, and the previous missionaries hadn’t really kept accurate records of people. Out of all 50+ names written on their board, we had about 4 addresses and phone numbers. Out of all the teaching records (there are a total of 7), only 3 were completely filled out. So I would venture to say we basically are opening a new area. We had a lot of plans to go out and find people, but I can’t stand coming home to a messy apartment. I think that many people have a different standard of "clean" than I do, and it wasn’t up to my standard. Sooo, we spent the first day and a half cleaning the apartment. Yes, it was necessary. 

There has been a lot of trust issues between the ward and the missionaries here, so there has been a lot of work going on in gaining that trust back. I think we have done a great job so far, and we are just working with as many people as we can. There are a total of 3 sets of missionaries here in Mansfield, and we are all working together to make the work go forward here. I love the members we have talked to, and so far they are on board with helping us out. :) 

We have already met with one investigator who is awesome! We have taught him the restoration already, and he said that that brought him so much peace. He is only 21 years old, but he knows that he needs religion in his life and is so grateful that we came knocking on his door. We have another appointment with him in a couple of days, and I hope that we can teach his girlfriend as well! 

Other than that, there is a lot of work to get done. OH! I forgot to mention that 70% of the mission was changed during this last transfer, and we were told that the Mission President is making some more changes next transfer. It’s pretty crazy, but we know that he is called of God. He has a vision, and he will do what he needs to do to make that happen. I am so grateful for his service and for all that President Daines does for us.

I know that this is the work of the Lord. I see how much the mission has changed in just a short couple of months, but it is moving forward as he asks us to partake in this "great and marvelous work." There will be a time when the gospel is shared with everyone on this Earth. Who better to share it than us ourselves? I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I love it and the teachings that are taught in it. I love giving it to people because they can feel of its truth as they read and pray about the good word! I know that this gospel is true with all my heart! I love this work, and I love my job!!!

-- Sister Gale