December 23, 2014

"My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others."

- Bob Hope

Time is really flying by, and I can’t believe how fast all the time goes! I hit my 16 months on Sunday. It was one of the weirdest things ever! Time is flying by, and Sister Hansen and I don’t like to talk about it.

Anyways, we had so many miracles happen this week. I want to share them all, but I have to have something to talk about with my parents on Christmas so I can’t write them all right now. One of the greatest things that I want to share is that the Malone's both decided to get baptized this Saturday!!! We are so excited for them, and we know that this is the best decision that they can both make.

Last Sunday, they had their interview. Since then, they have been posting all over Facebook that they are going to be getting baptized. The ward is so happy for them and super supportive. Even though it is so close to Christmas, a lot of people are still going to make it.

I just chuckle at the thought that this is going to be two Christmas' in a row where I get the opportunity to witness the true meaning of Christmas as someone decides to enter in the waters of baptism!!! There is nothing better than that!

We have had a lot of meetings lately, but yesterday we were able to gather as an entire mission to have our Christmas Devotional. It was absolutely wonderful!!! We did a new thing this year where the last hour was open to members and investigators so that they could listen to the story of our Savior all in song and through Mormon Messages. It was absolutely beautiful and brought in the Spirit so strong!

This morning we had some wonderful members drop by our house and gave us a big stocking for the each of us. The ward members went out and bought gifts for all of us missionaries!!! It was so thoughtful, and we were shocked by the selflessness of our members to make our Christmas that much more special! There are so many things that I want to share about this week, but I can’t go on because I want to tell my family all about it in person.

Family- Sister Hansen and I want to talk with you together so that we can tell you all about the experiences that we have been having together! It sounds better coming from two people. Also, did you get my flash drive in the mail? I sure hope so! I am sooooo excited to talk to you on Christmas! Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mamma Hansen- I want to thank you so much for your daughter! She is my best friend and basically my sister. I am so grateful that she came out on a mission and that we have been able to be companions. I also wanted to thank you for taking the time to type up all your stories so that she can tell them to me for our bedtime stories! I can’t wait to come and get to know you! We have been talking about a cabin trip. If she hasn’t told you already then we will talk on Thursday about it! Love you!!!!

I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to spend this Christmas as a missionary. It is the greatest time to spread the gospel to the entire world and to let them know about our Savior and how He was born and has risen again. I love that we are able to know for ourselves that the Church that He established is back on the earth again. I love how we are able to know that and how it shows God's love for all His children. He is not done speaking to us, and He is not done guiding us so that we can get back to live in His presence.

I love that there are many that are waiting to find that truth and that we are simply the instruments in helping further His work. The field indeed is white and ready to harvest. Shall we not go on in so great a cause? We totally should go on in this great cause!!!! I love this work so much, and I love my job!!!

-- Sister Gale

December 16, 2014

"I will prepare, and someday my chance will come."

- Abraham Lincoln

So to give an account of last Monday to Thursday, Sister Hansen and I got really sick... We would go out for a couple of hours here and there, and in between the times that we weren’t out working, we were sleeping. I don’t really know what happened; Sister Hansen got a really bad cold, and then I got the stomach flu/food poisoning. We were out! And it was horrible. We told stories, watched the testaments, and slept... We both were taking care of each other, and we were quite pathetic!

But things got better! On Friday, we were able to get up and work after weekly planning, and we also had our Ward Christmas Party which was a huge success! Saturday was an awesome day! We took it really easy and slow because we were both just barely getting better, but we went over to the Malone's to do some service for them. While we were doing service, Sis. Malone told us that she was thinking about getting baptized after Christmas. We were all in shock, including her husband. She had not talked to him about it, and she said that she thought it would be great timing because all of her family would be in town and they could see it and support her in it. We thought that was a great idea and left it at that.

Then Sunday came around, and that was a crazy day! We were asked to speak in sacrament meeting because one of the speakers had to stay home with her sick kids, so we were naturally asked to talk for 5 minutes each. The topic was keeping Christ in Christmas, and we were asked if we could share a story from our missions. Well, I instantly thought of last Christmas (it being my first time away from home), and I had a wonderful gift given to me—meeting a dear friend, Theresa and witnessing her baptism. In sacrament I told the story of how we met and how she was my Christmas gift and how she reminded me the true meaning and reason for the season. It was great!

That evening, we had a dinner and a lesson planned with the Malone's and some members in our ward. It went so great! We talked about the Creation, and then Sis. Malone said that she was thinking about getting baptized—she brought it up all on her own. It was fantastic! We thought about it and laid out what all has to happen because she decided that she wanted to get baptized on the 27th of December. We are now going to be working on her baptismal date!! It is another Christmas miracle!

Yesterday we had a mission tour with Elder Perkins... I don’t really know what a mission tour is because it was more like a specialized training with an area 70. But anyways... it was pretty crazy how it all worked out. We learned a lot about obedience, Preach My Gospel, and treasuring up the doctrine of Jesus Christ. It was a really great meeting, but the crowning point was role playing. I wanted to share this story for Christmas, but I can’t help it. I will just share the minor details:

So we were asked to come prepared to this meeting with a 3 minute talk and a 10 minute lesson plan for the Restoration and The Plan of Salvation. Out of the 100+ missionaries that were there, only 2 companionships were picked, and of course Sister Hansen and I were one of them. I always get picked, so I knew it was coming. Also, Elder Perkins' sister lives in Sister Hansen's homeward, so she no longer was flying under the radar. It was pretty hilarious! So we both knew that it was coming, and when we got called up, we were told to teach the Restoration in 10 minutes. I cannot tell you how amazing that lesson was. We both thought that we had been sitting up there for an entire hour, but it was only 10 minutes. The Spirit was so strong, and as we taught one of the senior couples that we had never before met, we had this abundance of love for them that was indescribable. I absolutely felt the Spirit testify through us. I also was able to receive a confirming witness, yet again, that this is the true church on the Earth today.

We have been extremely blessed to have with us a member of the Godhead to lead us, guide us, and testify through us for the benefit of those who want to know that truthfulness of the restored gospel. I know that this unique message that I am called to spread here in Ohio is true, and we have evidence that we can hold in our hands to know for ourselves. It is the Book of Mormon, an additional witness to the Bible to tell us that Jesus Christ lives and loves us so, so much. We have the authority of God on the Earth today known as the priesthood. I can’t wait for the day when all truth shall be known and every nation, kindred, tongue, and people will profess to know the Living and Loving Christ. I love you all so much, and it is my prayer that you all will look for the opportunity to share the gift of Christ with all those that you love and cherish! I love this work, and I love my job!

-- Sister Gale

December 13, 2014

"Being busy is better than being bored. Bored left a long time ago. Busy is always around for me."

- Tabitha Robin

This week was super fun and also super crazy!!! I love being super busy because there is never a dull moment where we ask each other "now what?!" We are always on the go, and I love being that way and being productive. The best part about it is most of our events that take place are unplanned. Who would have thought that I would ever be okay with varying off of what is scheduled and planned? But I am, and that is because I have come to know that it is all about what the Lord wants versus what I want or plan. Sometimes things get in the way, but I know that we can make any moment a gospel/teaching moment!

Now, before I get carried away I want to mention something amazing that the Church is doing this Christmas season. There is a new Christmas message that the church made and launched Thanksgiving Day called 'He is the Gift'. All you have to do is log onto christmas.mormon.org to see this wonderful short message and be reminded about what the true reason for this season is and also to be reminded what the greatest gift we all have been given. I truly love the video! 

The Church is also putting up billboards in places such as Time Square so that many people can be reminded. It is incredible, so I want you all to go and look at the clip RIGHT NOW! Also, in your Ensign this month, 9 pass-a-long cards are going to be provided so that we can hand them out to our friends and family that will act and watch this message. It is used to invite people to be reminded about the true reason for the season and also to see if they are interested in the church. It is an amazing thing that the Church is doing, and it will only be successful if EVERYONE is involved in this great initiative!

Ok, so can you all believe that we are already in the month of December?! Yeah I can’t either, and it is crazy because it is like 64 degrees here!!! HECK YES!!!!!!

Anyways, Thanksgiving was incredible! We were able to spend it with an amazing family and get to know a lot of people. We also were able to go around and take treats to families and show them the Christmas video. So, funny story about the treats... They are the pretzel, Hershey, M&M treats, and I burnt the first batch. Sister Hansen, who never made these treats before, ended up making them after we went to the store to buy some more Hershey kisses. It was so funny and such a memorable experience! We experienced a lot of Thanksgiving... one with Lesbians, another with a few drunks, and one that was so peaceful and loving. It was an unforgettable experience.

Then on Friday, we came up with this amazing idea!!! There are going to be so many people out shopping on Black Friday that it would be a great time to go contacting and tell people about the new Christmas video. WELL, We were wrong! In 2 hours we were only able to give out 1 pass-a-long card. There were so many people that would not take a card and also a majority of people who would not stop to even talk or look at you in the face. We determined that it was completely unsuccessful.

We also had wonderful teaching experiences this week! We are learning a lot about God and why Christ is often referred to as God in the Bible. I have really come to know that truth can only be discovered by prayer. It is so hard for some of the people that we are teaching to grasp this concept, but I am so grateful that I have such a firm testimony of it. Without it, I don’t know what I would do.

We also had a crazy experience last night. We were in a lesson with some members and our investigators, and as we were getting in our car to leave, I looked at the phone and it was blown up with missed calls: 1 from Sister Daines, 2 from the Assistants, 2 from the Dayton YSA sisters, and 3 text messages and 2 voicemails. I looked at the phone and didn’t even know where to start. After a few seconds I started making some phone calls, and we got things squared away. The Dayton YSA sisters stayed with us last night because they have a neighbor that was creeping on them. There are now changing apartments today, and we are going to help them do that! I love always having things to do.

I want to testify real quick that I know that Christ is truly a gift that our loving Heavenly Father gave us so that we could return to live with Him again. I know that He is the way, the truth, and the light. Because of Him, there is such thing as new beginnings, second changes, and hope. I know that He is my brother. Because of this knowledge, I am fearless in sharing the love that I feel from Him with others. I can’t wait for the day when we will see Him and just thank Him for all that He did and does for us. I love you all so much, and I completely love my job!

--Sister Gale

December 12, 2014

"Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone."

- Charles M. Schulz

On the first day of Christmas my mission gave to me, moving sisters in an apartment that smelled like weed! 

On the second day of Christmas my mission gave to me, Mission Leadership Council for an entire day! 

On the third day of Christmas my mission gave to me, an opportunity to do an all-day training!

On the fourth day of Christmas my mission gave to me, exchanges with some sister missionaries!

On the fifth day of Christmas my mission gave to me, a yummy dinner with 2 non-members families!

On the sixth day of Christmas my mission gave to me, a funeral and a call from the mission presidente!

On the seventh day of Christmas my mission gave to me, Sunday service in a different building!

On the eightieth day of Christmas my mission gave to me, another sick companion...

As you all can see, this Christmas season is going to be one heck of a ride for Sister Hansen and I! There is a lot that happened this week that is definitely note worthy, but to save the time and to spare you from reading for hours I figured I would relate to you all the highlights of this week: 

We were able to have a terrific dinner with a family in our ward that has 2 friends that she runs with. She wanted to have them meet us, and this Friday presented a wonderful opportunity for her to do so. She invited us over to have homemade pizza and to make some gingerbread houses with all the kids that would be there. We were told to keep it casual because one of the friends has been going through a hard time with her church that she is currently attending, so we kept it really low key and answered whatever questions they had. Before we left, we shared the new Christmas video with them and talked about Christ and how He is the reason for the season. They really loved the video and appreciated us coming and helping them out with their kids. Even after we left, they asked questions and said that they really liked us! :)

Later that night we were able to get in with a recent convert who our Relief Society President asked us to go and see. We were able to present to her the new and returning member sheet and asked her if we could begin teaching her. She said that she would love that and that she would like us to come every Friday AND that she wanted to start coming to church every Sunday. We told her that that was a great step for her to take! Things were working out great! :)

We also were able to have dinner with a part member family this week, and that turned out great! We told the less-active member that we wanted to start coming by to teach him about the lessons to refresh his memory. He said that he would love that, and his wife (who isn’t the member) said that she would be fine with that also. She was also able to come to church on Sunday. She already signed up to feed us again, and it is terrific to see the change in her as she has been meeting with us regularly!

I absolutely love it out here, and I am grateful for the day to day events that have been happening. I love how much closer I have gotten with the Lord and for the guidance and direction that He provides for me as I talk with His children. I know that there are many great things to come and to happen as Sister Hansen and I go about His work. I love you all so much, and I love my job!

--Sister Gale

P.S. Transfers are this week... Pray that Sister Hansen and I will get to stay together again! :)