12/27/10

Hola mi amigos y mi familia! Como estan?! Hace muy frio Hoy!! haha just kidding with you all i guess i can type in english but its lame!!
Ok so for all who dont know where i am, i am in Wilmington, Delaware!! I kno right?! Crazy!! i had the option to go to North Philly which is the most dangerous part of the mission or to come here and i guess they threw me in here!! It snowed like crazy last night and there is some intense wind!! Its like 30 degrees out too so its kinda cold but not really cuz im used to it after being in Utah for the past 2 months!! Speaking of which, i almost didnt get out of there because of all the snow!! But thank goodness i did cuz man i couldnt take another day in the MTC. Like serioiusly, after 9 weeks of gas, the same food, and the same thing every day, my ADHD was in overdrive and ready to break away!! hahaa esta loco no?!
 
So i am here now after a very long flight, well a stop in dallas, almost missed the plane to philly, but then that night i ate 2 philly cheese steaks, and they will be my last ones for the rest of my mission hopefully!! But its all good now!! THe mexican food here is really good, and i will be coming home showing all of you how to make REAL mexican food!!
 
SO my companion, Elder Kerouac, is a new member, only been a member for almost 2 1/2 years! Heck he has learned more about the gospel in Spanish than he has in english!! Crazy right?! He is a stud though!! He has been out 15 months and speaks the language pretty well!! I found out as well that i apparently speak really good! Heck the jerk took me the first night on an "appointment" and i was so stoked!! THe girl was receptive but her husband was a Jehovahs Witness thingyy so i was really excited to see what this was gonna all be like! He told me that we are going to teach him the first lesson and that he is going to use me a little here and there, which i said no let me talk i can understand! 
So the lesson goes and goes and its like 40 min in and keep in mind, this is all really super fast spanish this guy is saying, but me being the pro i am :) haha just kidding, but anyways, he flippin starts reciting the Articles of Faith in Spanish! I was like waiiiit, something is not right here, and then he looked at me and said, Que paso elder? Esta bien, Estoy el lider de Elders! I was like youre the elders quorum president?!! You have got to be kidding me!! HAha my companion tricked me on my very first night!! But he and Edgar (the elders quorum/Jehovahs wittness(sometimes :))) said that i did so good!!! Cuz i answered all the questions and everything!! I screwed up twice though and said that i hate my mormon neighbors, and that we worship Joseph Smith hahahahhhaahah but other than that i did Great!! I was stoked to hear that cuz i thought i did really bad!! 
 
But that is that, CHristmas was great and i found out that mexicans LOVE To feed the elders!! We ate 5 meals that day cuz we werent allowed to go out and proselyte so we were in eating at 4 different houses!! Man o man was the food good but i felt like i gained about 20 pounds!! Fyi..Mexicans dont like beans and rice all that much, thats the Puerto Ricans and Dominicans! Mexicans also eat everything with corn tortillas ya know like the little ones..so yeah! 
 
But i have been going all sorts of places so far, but havent had the chance to Use my mode of transportation yet, a bike!!! :))) Now i really wont get fat!!! hahaah there is a bunch of snow from last night now so our plans for this week are kinda shot until the snow melts all off the sidewalks. Man i love Black People!! THere were 2 of them outside yellin about kobe this morning at like 7:30 haah i was laughing so hard cuz they sound so like crazy!! Im not used to it but i will be by the end of the mission for sure!!
 
Church Yesterday was way sweet i saw nyals uncle and get this....like 28 people in sacrament ahahaah we have some work to do! Everyone here is illegal and so they have a hard time trying to decide whether they want to be a member and stay here or just go back to mexico, and its really annoying!! THere are about 30 couples who are active some, the others less active, and they havent been sealed for some reason!! Its ridiculous! ANd most of the men dont have the priesthood which is really frustrating cuz they kinda need it to be sealed and then they need to use it and be active in church before the sealing even becomes a thought. Also all the less actives, oh my heavens there are so many!! And if we can get them active, we could have some baptisms out of it, but i personally dont want to baptize anyones kids their fathers need to get the priesthood and be active first or the children will have no support system at home and just fall away. SO we have some work, but like in Luke 1:37 For With God, All things are Possible!
 
God is on my side for sure and i pray every day for the ability to find the people i need to and to be able to bless the lives of many. I hope that i get the opportunities to learn even more of the language as well more and more comes each and every day and i am so excited to get to the point where i dont need to use english anymore!! :) I love you all so much and am so very grateful for all of your prayers for me. But what i need you to do is to pray that the lord with guide me to the hearts of those that are ready and willing to submit their will to the lords will. ANd also i challenge everyone to read the book of mormon by March 1st this coming year! If you do i know for a fact, that it will bless your life and that you will have a more firm understanding of the knowledge that comes to one when he/she studies it out and really tries to apply what is being said in that book. I am so grateful for the opportunity i had to talk to you family!! Sorry i talked so much but i hoped you enjoyed it! I love being out here and i love being a missionary!! I love spanish and am beginning to become very close with the families already!! Especially the less actives and non members we play soccer with in the church gym on thursday nights. THey are really sweet great people that are just looking for the right direction to go, and i know that through my efforts, prayer, and consistent diligence i can do that for them and the doctrine of Christ will be what they will look up to. I love it. Every Second of it. Heck i super cleaned the apartamento today and i loved it!! And went grocery shopping, and got stamps, and i loved it!! It is so much fun out here and i know without a doubt in my mind that I have been called here by God and that when i am diligent and use my faith always, then he will bless me always, and i have seen those blessings in my life. 
 
I hope you all had a very wonderful christmas and always remember what the true meaning of christmas is. The Savior, Jesucristo. He gave his life for us, and we need to do all we can to give ours to him. He will lead us in the right direction always, and all we have to do is follow his light, la luz de Cristo, and he will never lead us away from it.
 
Pray for a miracle this week, heck every day, and i PROMISE that you will get a miracle. I have recieved a miracle every day out here and i will keep recieving them if i am diligent and always use my faith.
 
This church is true, the Savior and His father live, and the Spirit is real. Never doubt whether a prompting you get to do something was from the spirit or if it was just your mind. If you are following the commandments and heeding to the words of the prophets, and being worthy to take that sacred sacrament every week, those promptings are never you. It is always the spirit. It will never lead you astray, Ever. 
 
I love you all so much, and i am grateful once again for all the support from my family, i love you all idividually, and my friends whom i miss dearly. Keep follwing the straight and narrow path and the lord will always bless you. Have a happy new year, and i love you all and miss you all!! 
 
Vi una columna de luz, mas brillante que el sol. Directamente arriba de mi cabeza, y esta luz gradualmente desendio hasta descansar sobre mi...Al reposar sobre mi la luz, Vi en el aire arriba de mi, a dos personajes. Cuyo fulgor y gloria, no admitten descripcion. Uno de ellos me hablo, llamandome por mi nombre, y dijo, senoladro al otro..Este es mi Hijo Amado! Escuchalo!
 
THe first vision without all the accents that are missing sorry! But i know that this happened. It is because of joseph smith that we are here today! ALways remember that! I love you all!!
 
Elder Gallego

December 24, 2010 - Matthew's Arrival!

Dear Brother and Sister Gallego,  

This week Sister Schaefermeyer and I have had the thrill of welcoming your son to the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission.  He has arrived safely and we have enjoyed becoming acquainted with him.

Yesterday, Elder Gallego was assigned his first companion and trainer, Elder Kerouac.  Below is their address; we invite you to please write or email Elder Gallego weekly with positive, uplifting information and experiences to encourage him in his missionary efforts.  Your expressions of love and interest in him will not only bless his life here in Philadelphia, but will cement relationships of trust forever.  As instructed by the leaders of the Church, we ask that you not telephone or visit Elder Gallego during his mission unless I have been informed in advance.  He will have my permission to call on Mother’s Day and Christmas.  You should feel free to contact Sister Schaefermeyer or me at any time.  Email is my preference, but if the need is urgent call the Church operator in Salt Lake (801-240-1000) and they will know how to contact me.

We know the Lord will bless you as He does all who make the necessary sacrifices to allow their loved ones to serve in these great callings.  If we can ever be of any service or assistance to you or your son, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Thank you for the privilege of serving with Elder Gallego.

Best personal regards,

William A. Schaefermeyer

President, Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission

Schaefermeyer email   rcoachman@gmail.com

Elder Matthew Gallego

86 North Harrison,

Apt. #1

Wilmington, DE 19806-4600

12/15/10 - Last Email in the MTC!!!

Hola Mi familia!! Ok so i leave on tuesday the 21st not monday! Its gay but its whatever i leave at 3 in the morning and ill be able to call home at around 10 your time maybe earlier depending on when the flight gets in so get ready!! :)

My orthodics are amnazing and they work so good!! My feet havent hurt since i got them!! so thank you very much!!

I want a new set of scriptures for christmas!! Either black or green! THe Genuine leather too  not the crappy plastic leather and Have it engraved with Elder Matthew Gallego that would be pretty sweet!1 And i will need a new backpack this one that trevor gave me would work but only as a side bag and i dont like it that way so a new backpack would be sweet as well for christmas! And a new CTR Ring size 9 1/2. The boys know which one it is so have them go with you!

Happy Birthday Chandler!!!! Im stoked that you are finally 16!! Go out and date lil bro!!! :) hahaha i cant even picture him dating it is going to be so weird!! Im sending a package home on monday with his present in it as well as alecs and alyssas so keep an eye out for a package arriving about next thursday or friday!!

Im mad that you still didnt get my big letter i wrote everyone a letter and put it in the same envelope and if it hasnt gotten to you yet then im sure they lost it so that makes me really upset. :(

Well other than that, i will need $100 cash and $100 on my card for when i leave on tuesday so i will take the money out of my acct tomorrow so dad if you could load it up again that would be great then put $100 back on the card that would be great!! THank you so much and i love you!! Remember i get reimbursed for the baggage fees so i wont be spending any money really cuz they put it back in my pocket!! Sweet huh?!

SO this past week has been crazy!! DIligence DIligence Diligence is all that is on my mind!! I am so excited to get out of this place it has been so amazing though for me to learn the things that i have learned here though!! Im so grateful for the many opportunities i have had to grow and learn the spanish language!! I speak it all the time and i love it!!! It is the best thing ever!! Oh i bought leather gloves here for $10 the other day so dont worry about getting me any! It is snowing right now finally it has been so hot this past 2 weeks!!!

THe devotional last night was great and it talked a lot about using our agency to the best of our abiltity and to be smart in the choices that we make. I have a very powerful testimony of this and i know that it is true. Agency is so key in our lives. It is because of Agency that we are here on this earth today! Without adam and eve taking the fruit then we wouldnt be able to live so im so grateful for them and the agency that they used!!

I am so grateful to be a missionary it is the best thing that has ever happened to me and i wouldnt change anything!! I will be coming home with no Regrets!! Sont worry!! I cant wait to speak to others and share my burning testimony with them! I know i will kill it out there and i cant wait to get therer!!! I loove you all, sorry its so short, but thats all i gotta say for this week!! Merry christmas and i will talk to you all in 6 days!! :)

Elder Gallego

12 Days Left!

alright this seriously has been the best week of my life!!!! Dad did you all not get the fat letter i sent home? I sent all the letters in one envelope and i sent it last thursday? so you should have gotten them by now it bothers me that you havent!! Im stoked to see what you all sent me for christmas! I heard that Philly just got hit hard with snow?? Whats the temperature like up there? I am buying little things here and there that are needed for my mission. Like binders and stuff and good study materials. I gotta stock up on the 40% discount while i can!! They only give us $6 a week on the blue card that we have and that normally runs out quick cuz we use the vending machines. But im saving mine the next 2 weeks so that next saturday i can get as much stuff with that card without using my own money. Im going to get 2 more journals cuz they are only $4 here and theyre the nice missionary journals!! Anywho....the Spanish is so BOMB!!! I am basically an almost fluent/not really! haha meaning right now i know so much spanish untili get out to Philly. I am so excited to get out there!! Trevor, i hope your doin better buddy!!! i love you bud! .
 I am going to get my orthodics today at 10 so im really excited for that! Im sorry i have flat feet but thats what dress shoes all day every day do and my feet are really important!! :) THank you mommy and daddy!! ALec, alyssa, and chandler, i am sending you all shirts, so get excited!!! I am also going to be sending a tape from my tape recorder so alyssa hopefully you have yours still form trevors mission?!! London i am sending you one too so go out and get one if you dont have one that way you can listen to it!! :) I need some more ties these ties are getting boring! SO if you see a tie sale, hook it up!! Can you send my black paisley tie? I need that one it is my favorite! :) SO on Fast sunday i got up and bore my testimony for about 8 min all in spanish!! It was so sweet!! The espiritu was so storng!! It was such a great strenghener for me! One of my goals since i have been here and for my whole mission is to never miss an opportunity to bear my testimony and i havent yet!! :) I love this gospel so much and i cant wait to talk to you all on the 20th!! I dont know what time i will call yet until i get my travel plans which will be this week sometime!! :) ill let you know through a letter or next p day! :) Ok so last night we had a speaker from the first quorum of the 70, and it was the best talk i have heard here at the MTC. His main focus was on how we can come to know, personally, our savior Jesus Christ. It was so good i took 5 pages of notes!!!! Him and his wife talked about how theyre 9 year old mentally dissabled son asked them one day if they knew Jesus. WHat a powerfull question!! I put myself in his shoes and thought about how would i answer that question if i was asked it and i thought to myself, I hopwwe can all lean from this and understand how much our savior really wants us to take the time to get to know him and  how can i learn more about him? my computer typer is getting all jacked up right now so im sorry if this email totally is retarded i hit a button and its being retarded!!  I love my heavenly father so much and i know that he lives. I know that if we just take the time to personally know him that we will be blessed and that he will give us opportunities to learn of him. We need to have faith and we need to help others know that he lives. i am so excited for the field. THere is still much for me to know but i kknow that he will bless me with the knowledge that i need to know more about him and his atoning sacrifice for me. THe more i learn about the atonement, the more i want to share his message with others. I finished D&C on sunday so i am going to start reading the new testament now!! I love you all and i cant wati to see you again!! Elder Gallego

19 Days Left in the MTC!

Hola!!

 

Ok so its been snowing all week long and is right now! its so cold outside!! I love it! Everyone thinks im weird cuz i love the snow so much! haha i dont care though i love it!!

 

So it has been a very good week to say the least!! Thanksgiving was amazing! Elder Holland came and spoke with us about being grateful for everything that we have in our lives and how it is so important for us to really make sure we show the people who are most important in our lives how grateful we are!! So Family, i said it las week, but i am so grateful for everything you have sacrificed, done, provided for, and all the love that you constantly show me.  It means so much to me!!

 

Mom, for the christmas package, i could use some cool scarfs?? i love scarfs so that sounds like a fair enough christmas present? I dont know what else i need haha. I do need you to send the missionary books, the jesus the christ, true to the faith, our search for happiness, and our heritage in that box to the mission home! I will need those! but actually, ill just get some in spanish here before i leave theyre like 2 dollars! I pretty much do everything in spanish now so typing this is really hard!!!!

 

Im about to finish the Docttrine and covenants today!! I love it! I have been a reading fool the whole time ive been here!! I have learned so much about the doctrine of christ and how much it impacts my life. I have found that since i have really been studying hard and trying to focus on the teachings and whisperings of the spirit, i am driven to prayer, so that i may understand what my father in heaven is trying to teach me in that very moment! D&C 84:85. I absolutely love this gospel so much and i am so grateful for the things i have learned here. I Got a prayer journal 4 days ago...what an amazing blessing that has been for me!! So before i say my prayers at night, i write what questions i have in black pen, and leave a couple lines under each one. Then as i say my prayers, i ask heavenly father to help me understand and to answer those questions. As i finish, i get a blue pen and answer the questions with the imediate answers that heavenly father has given me! It has worked!! Heavenly Father will answer our prayers if we show him that we have faith! I testify that this is true and that i know that our heavely father lives and loves each and every one of his children here on the earth!!

 

I really havent done a whole lot of new things this past week other than become really close to my companions and the members in my zone!! I have been able to testify to a couple about the importance of using the atonement and how it has impacted my life a lot!! I have seen that too many missionaries have come out here not clean, and its really sad because they have to go through the temptations and the trials of those burdens that have not been lifted off of them and i cant imagine why anyone would come out here and go right back home. It  hasnt happened yet, but there are some missionaries who have talked to me and all i can say is what i know works, and if they use it then good but its just hard to see them here. I know that the atonement is real and im so grateful for it and the way it has blessed my life! it is so amazing that our brother, Jesucristo suffered for our sins, and not only that, he suffered for all the dissapointment, depression, grief, sorrow, happiness, joy every emotion we go through in life, he has sufferd for. I am so grateful for that and for all the blessings that i have recieved through being worthy and showing my Heavenly Father that im all his for the next 2 years!!

 

I love you all my family, i hope you got my letters i sent home, and i hope you understand how much you all individually mean to me!! Mom, i love and miss you more than i can explain!! I cant wait to call you! i dont know if i will have that much time, but ill get at least 20 min im sure. If not ill talk to you 5 days later anyway. Dad, i miss you like no other. I miss cracking jokes, and just being able to talk to my dad. I miss my dad. I am so grateful for you and mom and the drive and the work ethic you helped me build. It is definately paying off!! Boys, keep doing well, and keep writing me!! I miss you two dorks more than ever!! And alyssa and trevor!! I miss you two a lot, keep writing me and alyssa, ask dad if i can get you a shirt money is tight. theyre 7 dollars so let me know!! and granny and the rest of the family, I miss you all so much and love you more than you know!! My friends, derek and dan, i need you two to write me back!!! I need dereks address so write that in my dear elder today please! The orthodics are getting made today and im excited for them! My feet are so flat and they will fit in all my shoes dad! Thank you!!!

 

I love you all so much and miss you all more than you know!!

 

Elder Gallego

Week Number 6!!! Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving mi familia!!!

 

Ok so im sorry i didnt get my email out yesterday it was a long day and i was basically a babysitter all day for an elder who wanted to go home! I went to the temple with him and his companion yesterday morning at 6:45 a.m. It was 10 degrees outside!! so cold!! anyway, we went and did a session and did sealings so we were in the temple for about 4 hours. It was nuts. I told him we werent leaving till he got his answer on what to do and he decided that he needed to go home to prepare himself more. I ended up giving him a blessing and now he is staying!! :)

 

That was one long day yesterday though so im glad they let me email today!! Well, this past week has been a really eventful one! Its really hard for me to speak and type in spanish so im sorry now if there are some words in here you dont recognize!!

 

Padre, if you have any more of those sweet coins can you send them out to me i gave a buddy that just left mine and it changed his life!! Necesito nuevo!!! i need a new one!! por favor! Graciás! Im glad you all like the memory card!! I sure hope you thought it was chistoso cuz i definately miss my family!! Send me some more pictures!! And thanks so much for the package i wasnt even expecting it!!! haha i loved the barbie fruit snacks for sure!! Thanks hermana!!

 

So on sunday, i finished el libro de Mormón!!! en 3 semanas!! It was magnifico!! El libro de mormón es verdadero!! I also finsihed the pearl of great price in uno día and it was so cool!! I am going to finish el Doctrina y coveñios before i leave!! i leave in 25 days!!! Yeahhhhhhh!!!!!

 

So we also got this new district this past week and it was so cool to get some new missionaries in! I have seen aaron and nick so far and they are doing great!! I am so proud of both of them!! Nick is already a district leader!! crazy huh!

 

Elder holland and a member of the first presidency are coming today to speak to us so it should be way sweet!! I will tell you how it went in the letters i send out tomorrow!!

 

And get this, we have a sack dinner...on thanksgiving!!! and im totally fine with that!! I am already so gratefull for so many things!!!!

 

I know this email is so crazy and im sorry!! The watch is for the boys, scripture markers for whoever, and mom that shirt is for you to wear so wear it!! Chandler said he wants to wear it thats fine but somebody wear it!! please!

 

My appt with the Endocrineologist is on Dec. 7th so i will let you know how that goes! Just keep me in your prayer! Alyssa im glad youre doing ok i hope everything goes well and i will keep praying for you!! Dad great job on the tour thats awesome!! I just started working out agian and have lost 6 pounds already! im back down to 157 and hopefully will lose some more of the like maybe 1 inch of fat i have from all this food here it seriously makes me sick!!

 

Anyway, my dear family especially, i really miss you this day. This day never has really had so much effect on me as it does now. Mom and dad, thank you so much for making the decision to become members of this church. I dont know what kind of person i would be if you didnt push me and help me along the way. This work is so amazi9ng and i am so glad that i got my butt out here. It has blessed my life so much and i have had the opportunity to learn so many things!! The lord truly does love me and especially is and will continually bless you two as mi padres and i am so grateful for you two!! I miss you y love you so much!! I cant wait to see you again!! The rest of my family, mi hermanos y mi hermana, you all have blessed mi vida tremendously and i am so grateful to have siblilings like the ones that i have. It truly helps me realize this day how much my family means to me and how much this gospel means to me. I dont know how i would ever doubt this gospel. To all my friends, you all are such great examples to me!! Thank you for everything that you have helped me through i dont know what i would do without your help in my life!!

 

THis church is so true i know it without a doubt in my mind. Something to think about....the lord knows our full potential, so we need to work as hard as we can to show him that we truly love him and show him how grateful we are for him. Pray always, and never doubt the power of god. Go Read Ether 12:27. You will come to find that no matter what, the lord will always answer your prayers and he loves you all individually so much. The power of the priesthood is so real, and i know that it works!! I know without a doubt that the book of mormon is true and that if we study it to the maxx that we will always learn something new every day. Understand that for the lord to help us, we need to always go to him for everything!! Not some things, EVERYTHING!! He will show us the way! He is the way, and we need to do all we can to follow him and show our love for him every day!!

 

I love you all and miss you so much!!!! HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!

 

Elder Gallego

Week number.... I Have No Idea!

Que pasa!!!!

this week has been crazy!! i just got back from the hospital for the second day in a row!! it was so wierd to leave the mtc but i liked it!! its nice being able to talk to people other than missionaries all day every day! im so ready to get out of this place for sure!! i am so stoked for next week cuz that is when we will be taught all day in class en espanol!! it will be solid for sure!! people looked at me in the hospitall like i was some foreign object or something today and i just did the sis. sewell....i smiled and waved!! :) hahaah it was hilarious!! i cracked myself up so hard!! well, when dont i??

ok so i hope you got my package mom!! i sent you some fun stuff and a letter for each person in the family including alyssa, trevor and grandma!! im so glad that everything is going well back at home and i sure do miss you all!! i finally cried this week...it was rugged for sure. I had a great experience with being humble and making sure i focus on my needs but as well focus on what i can do to be a better companion! it is really a trial to be in a tripod (3 companions) and i really am grateful for the many things i have already learned!! My companions and i all bawled for a good hour on saturday night. It was so rugged. I am so glad that we became closer through it. THis week has been so much better than last week. We were really stuggling on felling involved in lessons and being able to each have our turn in speaking. I found that i tend to talk and get deep into the lesson really quick with the TRC lessons that we teach. I know that has always been one of my strengths since being here, but i wasnt being mindful of my companions and that is what started the frustration after the lesson. I have learned that humility isnt just subjecting yourself because you feel like you need to make the other person happy. Its is simply admitting fault, asking what it is you can do better to make the situation never arise again, and putting your arm around them and asking for their forgiveness. I had to do that and it was so humbling for me. I have noticed a change in my character and the spirit is changing the person who i thought i was, into the person the lord would want me to be.

In the devotional last night, a member of the 70 came to speak to us and gave a wonderful talk. i took 3 pages of notes it was so insane. Never have i felt the confirming power of the spirit so present in my life for an hour. Consistently. It is amazing what words filled with the power of the spirit can do to ones inner soul. It really helped me a lot.A couple things i learned...Dont try, Just do it. If you just do it, you have already tried your best. This like hit me in the face. I noticed that too many times i say, okill try harder heavenly father, when really i need to be saying, ok ill do it. That really is all we need to do! The more we spend our time doing, the less time we waste trying!! Just Do It!!

The next thing i learned was...I am no longer Matthew Gallego. I am Elder Gallego. I am no longer a pool cleaner, baseball player, ultimate stuntman.I am a missionary of the lord. What power that has!! It is so amazing how much being a missionary changes lives!! I have been called by God himself, through the prophet,to be a missionary in Philadelphia! To speak Spanish! think about it! The lord called me to go where i am for a reason. That reason is because HE knows that i will not let him down, and i know he would never set me up to fail! Never! THat goes for all of us! THe lord put things in our path so we can overcome trial and temptaion and become stronger! I have a true and powerful testimony of the power of God! It is real!!

Ok, so the ultra sound went good yesterday. I will be going back in today to the doctor here to see what medications i have to take to get rid of the tissue build up. ANd my companions wrist is doing better!! He broke it a week ago playing volleyball!! Got a screw put into his scaphoid and had to get a bone graft!! it was intense!!
I hope that you all know how much i love and miss you all and how gratefell i am for your prayers and testimonies. They truly are felt and they really do mean so much to me! I can feel it everytime i get on my knees to pray and the lord is blessing me and you all for your love and support! Im sorry if this email is like all over the place, im trying to sum up so many thoughts in 30 min. I have ADD too. So that doesnt help! and london, i hope you liked your shirt too!! alyssa i will be sending yours this week so get ready for a package!! thank you for sending the package mom, and i dont know where the black pants are they should be with the suit? check chandlers closet. I love you all so much!!! and the espanol is coming really fast!! better learn some by Dec. 20th so i can habla the espanol with you!! i love you all again so much!!

Elder Gallego

la iglesia de jesucristo de los santos de los Ultimos dias es verdadero y las esctituras es muy importante para nuestras familias y nosotros salvaccion. Jessucristo amoroso y es muy importante por todos las personas!! El libro de mormon es verdadero y fue trasnlated a ayudar la muerte!! Decimos estas cosas, en el nombre de Jesucriosto, Amen.

11/10/10 - Week Number 3 already??

ok, so sorry about wnding the email with elder g last week i sent my email off with 1 sec left!!! i almost had a heartattack!! im glad you got it!

 

The weeks here are starting to blend together so hardcore!! i have so much to talk about!! the spanish is coming so great! i almost have the first vision memorized in spanish and my testimony and prayers are getting even better!! its amazing how the gift of tongues works!! I am loving the MTC here. The food all is tasting the same and it is starting to really make me sick everytime i even look at it! i need something else to eat!! i want Del Taco!!!

 

SO, yesterday my companion left...and it was a lot harder on me than i thought it was going to be. I really miss him and i am so glad that we had to opportunity to be companions for 2 weeks. We became really close and the lord has seriously blessed us both so much!! He will do great in Guatemala for sure! We also lost like 8 other guys. They all went to Chile, and one of them actually went to Philly!! Ill see him in 6 weeks and hopefully we can serve together!! It would be so sweet!!

 

Yesterday it snowed and i hope that it starts to actually stay cold!! It has been kinda hot this whole week but is definately starting to get cold now for sure. Sorry if this email is all over the place i feel like im so ADD right now for some reason!! hahaah

 

SO i told you about my goal to finish the Book of Mormon before i left the mtc...well i have been on a roll the past 3 days!! Im almost done with alma and i just started it on Sunday!! it is so amazing the things the book of mormon has to offer!! I love king benjamins address in mosiah. Chapters 2-6 really are amazing!! Read them i would tell you about them but i dont have enough time!!  Just pay attention to the things that he talks about, most importantly repentance, faith, enduring to the end, baptism, recieving the holy ghost, and always following the spirit!! we have to always have our lives really in tune with the spirit so that we can be guided and directed by everything it tells us!!

 

One of my other goals has been to be diligent and more humble!! And it has worked for Sure!! The lord blesses us in every way shape and form if we just follow his teachings!!

 

It was fast sunday this week and i got up to bear my testimony!! What an amazing spirit that was there, and to listen to all the other elders that were leaving bear theirs in spanish was really cool!! i cant wait till i get the guts to do it in spanish!! i wanted to so bad but i didnt wanna cut it short!! I am so grateful that i am here i was seriously born to do this!!

 

I do need my other suit asap. i can get the pants done here for like a dollar.  It is really cheap here for everything!!

 

Elder bednar came to speak to us last night and he gave a wonderful talk!! Talked about studying the doctrine and making sure that we not only explain it to our investigators, but that the principles that we try to teach arent what investigators learn from. Its when we testify of the pure doctrine of christ that the spirit is really able to hit them hard and they will recieve their own testimony of what is being taught and it will help them understand it a lot better! Thats exactly what i wanted to hear!! THe TRC on saturday was great! We got to the restoration, and talked about the first vision and i felt the spirit so strong!! its amazing because when my companion read that is when the investigator started to really open up to us!! and its because we were teaching the pure doctrine rather than the principles in the doctrine. so that really helped me out a ton!!

 

I love this gospel and i love you all so much!! i cant wait to seriously get out to philly!! it is going to be one heck of an experience and i am starting to love this spanish!! its so hard to talk, write, and its really hard right now to type in spanish!! haah but i am loving it!! I got a blessing on sunday from my branch president because i have been really down all week waiting to hear from mom and grandpa about their situations, and since that blessing, i have no need to worry about it. THe lord is blessing you right now mom, dad, alec, chandler, alyssa, and trevor, and you too grandma pat!! and all the rest of my family!! i know this gospel is true!! the priesthood is REAL!!! i know that jesucristo is the living son of nuestra Padre Celestial. And he loves us more than we know. The word of God is going forward like never before and i am so priveledged to be a part of it. I miss you all and i love you all so much!! and to my friends....Thank you all so much as well for helping me get here!! I have an amazing Nacho Libre accent now and it really is going to be amazing when i get home!! i cant wait to show you all!!

 

Adios!!! Elder Gallego!

November 3, 2010 - 2nd Email Home!

Hola mi familia!!!

So this is my second week and it feels as if it has been just one long day! haha all the days here just blend together bc nothing really different happens! but i will tell you all that i can in the time that i have!!

SO alyssa and mom, i sure hope you all have gotten my letters i have sent 3 home and they have been with a letter to everyone and this most recent one i sent out on mon with pictures and responses to the letters in the package! i loved it! sis maxwell sent me a halloween package as well so i was overloaded on candy! the other elders have helped clear it out though! i still have some more damage to do though!! The davis family sent me some bomb homeade choc. chip cookies and i need their address to write them back! Could you send that out to me?! and dad, my credit card bill is dure the 9th of this month if you could make that minimum payment on it that would be great!! thanks!

So this week there has really been a lot to talk about...# of the elders in my zone left on thursday and it was pretty tough. The whole zone sang god be with you till we meet again in spanish and were screaming it!! i video taped it and i will be sending it home with some other funny videos and more pictures this week so get excited!! they are stinkin hilarious videos!! Another favor, i need you to grab the suit that trevor gave me its in your closet dad, and take it to pomeroys, have them fit the pants to my waist size and have them send it to me i need another suit the winter dress code is in effect and im sick of wearing the same 2 suits. so if you could do that for me that would be great!! also i need to have some clear contacts sent to me before i go to Philly. I will need to wear my sunglasses cuz of the glare and my glasses wont work for that so let me know what you can do!

How are you feeling mom? I have been worried about it all week and i fasted on friday. me and 5 other elders, 3 of who were my zone leaders that left yesterday to bolivia! so that was a bummer too! i feel so close to everyone here like we are all family and it is absolutely amazing how the spirit brings people closer in a matter of weeks!! How is grandpa doing? let me know about that surgery and everything! Dad you took a plane that is awesome!! hope all goes well with you in san fran and i heard the giants won the world series that is sweet! Mom be safe in tucson and let grandma and grandpa know i love and miss them!

so to mission updates...Today i get to go to the temple, my favorite place on earth!! Every P-day we get to go and last week was amazing!! I have never been so struck by the spirit!! The house of the lord is truly an amazing place and i am so glad that i can go every week to remind myself of the blessings and covenants i have made!

Some scriptures that i have learned to love are D&C 135. Read it. Joseph smiths testimony is so very stong!! i am so glad he did what he did bc i wouldnt be here if it werent for his faith and his testimony and his diligence in wanting to know what church was true. I know that he was called of god and that he did all he could to make sure he did what the father had asked him to do. What a great man he was, and i cant wait to meet him!! i know without a doubt this gospel is true!!

This past saturday was my first TRC experience! We get to basically teach lessons to members that are really good at acting like investigators in spanish and my companion and i did amazing!! We basically baptized an already baptized member! The spirit taught through me what i should say and share with the investigator. In spanish a little but mostly in english. This next week hopefully is in all spanish!! The spirit is real, and i have learned to just really not focus on teaching lessons, but teaching investigatores. Adapting to their needs is what gets the spirit to really be in full force!! I have learned to really just go in there, ask questions, and go from there on the answers that they need and slowly move into how it relates to the gospel and how this true church, the only true church on the earth today, has an answer to all questions. Through the spirit and the testifying of my words is how i know i will be successful as a missionary!

M. Russell Ballard came and spoke to us last night and really focused on being in tune with the spirit. About an hour before that i had the opportunity to give one of the sister missionaries in my district a blessing with oil. What an experience that was. I wish i remembered what i said but i know that the power of the priesthood is real. She was healed of her sickness she has had for over a week right when the blessing ended. I testify that when we use the priesthood worthily and have faith, Heavenly Father will bless us. Never be afraid to ask for a blessing. I have realized even more the power that i have as a missionary. The devotional was strickly about being in tune with the spirit and knowing that if we have faith it will always lead us in the right direction, especially in communicating with the people we come in contact to. It was an amazing experience to hear those words after giving the blessing. Definately a great experience for me.

I know without a doubt this church is true. I know that i have been called by god to carry out this great work, and that through my diligencia i will be a very powerful misionerio in the lords work. I love this gospel with all my heart and i cant wait to get to Philly. The people there are waiting for my testimony and i know that i have been called by god to serve there. I love you all my family and friends and i am so greatful for the support, prayers, love, and drive that you give me. it truly strengthens my testimony everyday. Prayer is real, and the power of the priesthood is real. The gospel is true. till we meet again

elder g

October 27, 2010 - First Email Home!

Holy cow i just am having the time of my life up here right now!! It has been snowing since yesterday up here and its been really cold! Please send me the snow gloves in the box that is in my room that you are suppose to send to my mission home mom i will need them already i guess!!

SO i dont really know where to start! I have been getting your letters through DearElder and they have been helping so much!! I love reading about your days! So they only give us 30 min to type up and email so i hope i can share enough with you in that time!! As you know, i have been having a blast and i love my companions! I am the District Leader as of the second day that i got here and that has been a huge blessing for me to learn responsibility early! i will be District leader for 4 1/2 weeks then i will most likely get moved up to be the Zone Leader! im totally stoked for this opportunity to grow in the leadership aspect already!!

SO about gaining weight...im up 8 pounds already! hahahaah it seriously isnt fat though i promise! i have been working hard on the weights and playing a lot of volleyball which i found out i am very good at!! as well as playing soccer!! the gym here is so sweet and its so big! Plus its just kinda wierd to walk around and see so many mormons hahaah really new experience but i love every minute of it!!

I have been so busy everyday! They make sure that we have no idol time at all which is very nice and they give us a daily planner which helps so much! I love planning my day! I study a lot and this week i am really trying to focus on the first lesson in preach my gospel! I have written so many notes here and they have been such a blessing to me every single day! i write down all my spanish phrases and palabaras and everything!! it seriously is so hard to type in english por que yo hablo espanol every day! i am getting the hang of it so well!! My companion and i teach the first lesson on saturday this week so i will have to let you know how that goes!!

(in the glenn voice) Ithss Snowing!! hhaha i just had to say that! i get all geeked up here when it gets cold and stuff and i dont know why!! oh, i have had the worst gas of my lilfe up here like no joke i have gas ALL DAY!! and it smells so bad buut i cant keep it in my stomach or it will eat me alive! the food here isnt bad its just all gas food hahaah! I have seen brant and austin spillsbury yesterday! Austin leaves on monday for orlando! he is so excited!

I seriously love this gospel and i am so glad i have made this decision. I really dont miss the world. I miss my family and my friends, but i dont miss the world at all. It is so full of bad things and i dont know why some people do some of the things they do. The spirit is so strong here and every day i have more spiritual experiences! Last night Elder Richard G. Scott came to the MTC for devotional and gave a great talk! It was centered on how we as missionaries need to strive every day on relying on the lord. I have learned that the more thouroughly i learn the gospel first, the faster i pick up the language. It is amazing how that works but i testify that it is true and it is real. He also taught us that in order to have our prayers answered, we need to make the steps neccessary to recieve answers to our prayers. this has never been more true to me than it is now.

Im sorry this email is so boring but it is time for me to get off now!

A se qúe el libro de mormón es verdadero y la iglesia de Jesucristo es verdadera. A se qué las familias pueden vevir por eternidad. A se qué estoy a misionerio en la Iglesia de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amén.

The church is so true and the book is blue. Estoy amoroso estamos y muy gracedicido por que your support. i love you so much and miss you all!!

Elder Gallego

Pennsylvania, Here Matthew Comes!

Matthew thanks all of you for all of your support and love!  He would not be the person he is today if it was not for all of his great family and friends... We will all miss Matthew very much as he serves the Lord for two years.  The people of Pennsylvania are waiting for him and will be privileged to learn from him.  Matthew we all love you and know that you will do great!  

God be with you until we meet again Elder Matthew Austin Gallego...