2/17/14

Hola familia!

It's official. As I have said before, the weeks I cannot email for two
weeks are definitely the busiest! There was a mix up and we were under
the impression that it was Presidents Day last week, so that's why it
is another combination email. So I am sorry if this email drags on,
but I will do the best I can to keep you up to date and not bore you
to death. There are a lot of fun things that happened these last
couple weeks, though, so it shouldn't be too anti-climatic.

Eyewear. I finally got my new glasses! After a couple months of having
my glasses fall off my face, I now have a new pair. I don't think I
ever explained that story, so for those who don't know, a couple of
weeks ago, I was playing dodgeball with my zone, and my father (Elder
Andersen), being his typical not-thinking self (haha) decided to throw
a dodgeball as hard and fast as he could right at my face. Needless to
say, my glasses shattered on my face and left a gash on my eyelid. All
is well, though, I've been repaired. Super glue just didn't seem to
work... What do you think? And yes, of course, they are still Ray
Bans. :)

I know, I know, I need to shave! I forgot to shave this morning as we
hurried out the door to get started on time to get everything done. No
worries, though, I will shave before we get out in public. My bad.

Now the reason I was able to edit that picture the way I did is the
next big news...wait for it...we are now iPad missionaries. Woo! Kind
of. There is a LOT of work to be done to get these things going. So,
once again, as many times it has seemed to happen in my mission, we
are the guinea pigs to get it started. Ha So I hope the missionaries
that come after us are grateful to their iPad pioneers. ;) That's what
I get for being out here for "the wave", but I wouldn't have it any
other way. We have to put our whole Area Book into the iPad, so it's a
lot of monotonous work for an hour a day, but we can already see how
it is going to help the Lord's work hasten. It is such a great
blessing to have what we have. The rumors were just those, rumors. We
don't actually get to keep the iPads - they get passed down...darn.
Luckily, with the iPads now, we don't have to worry about libraries
closing anymore. And taking all the pictures is fun.

Ay Caray! Because we have been very busy these last two weeks. I enjoy
being busy, though because these last two weeks have been busy weeks
of baptisms. :) There is no greater feeling than the joy of watching
someone you have come to love enter the waters of baptism. It is such
a blessing to be a part of it.

Last week was the baptism of the Regalado family (4 children) and
Jaqueline Menjivar. Then this week was the baptism of Elvia Chavez and
the Gomez family. It was a powerful experience to watch as another
part-member couple have been united to progress towards being an
eternal family. Hno Chavez was so excited, and although it took a few
times for him to perform the ordinance correctly (it happens ;)), we
were so happy to see them enter the water together and him baptize his
wife that he will soon enough be able to be with for forever. After
the baptism, Hno Badillo went up and explained that he was going to
give her a hug for us because we can't, and she straight up said,
"forget that," and then gave us both the biggest hug. It was
hilarious...and awkward. I'm going to be so awkward when I get
home...it's inevitable. She was so happy, she just couldn't contain
it. :) I can't wait to return for their sealing for time and all
eternity in the temple not long after the Sanchez's. This ward really
has become my home, and I am so grateful for the chance I have had to
spend so much time here and be a tool in the Lord's hands here. The
Gomez family was a district effort - as they have been investigating
for quite some time and have circled through missionaries and passed
through difficult times. They are a wonderful family, and it was a my
privilege that their oldest daughter Erika asked me to baptize her. It
has been a great past couple of Sundays and has been a great way to
start out the year. This ward is growing! There are yet many more
souls to save.

I hope I don't leave something out...the first time I sent this email,
as you could tell, it only sent half, so now I am retyping, and it
just doesn't seem the same. Oh well! It works. :)

Also within the last couple weeks, we had transfers. Because there are
still 6 more weeks of Elder Silvester's training, I am, of course,
staying, as anticipated, to finish. (Wordy...) I'm excited because
it's been a great learning experience for me, too. I love him and I
enjoy being his father very much. These transfer calls were a little
different, though. Instead of having a phone call late last Saturday
night from Grandpa (Elder Andersen) on the updates for transfers, we
ended up saying goodbye to him at transfers. :( Kansas City, Missouri
now has another great prospective Ward Mission Leader! Grandpa is
dead. I feel old. -_- keeping my mind off it!

Along with transfers, Elder Dehlin, too, followed his father, spread
his wings, and flew away for his first time. He left to Garden Grove
and I have officially outlasted 7 companions in this area. The members
find it hilarious ha. I call it my lucky number, because it ends here!
Ha Elder Urrutia was called to train and picked up his hijo fresh from
the Mexico MTC Tuesday afternoon. It was surreal to think that it was
6 weeks ago I did the same thing! Time's flying too fast. My son's
throwing up too fast! (Catch that?) His name is Elder Nixon from
Colorado Springs. He is a great elder, and I can tell he's going to do
great.

Please always continue to keep all missionaries in your prayers.
Crazily enough, on his 5th day in the field, Saturday night, Elder
Nixon got hit by a car. Luckily, he is alright and is just a little
sore from being thrown a few feet into the street, and it really now
just turned into a great story, but I know he was safe because of all
your prayers towards our protection. Of course, it is all still the
will of God, but had he been in that spot any earlier, he could have
been seriously injured or thrown into traffic. I know there are many
beings that try to keep this work from progressing, but the power of
prayers will always be stronger. :)

I love you all so much, and I am so grateful for all the support. Seen
and unseen, heard and unheard, spoken and unspoken. I hope you all had
a great Valentine's Day! I loved the packages. I love you all very
much and I love this mission. It's been hard being away from so many
loved ones, but, as I've said before, I wouldn't have it any other
way. We will be reunited soon enough, and I can't wait to exchange
stories of the best two years of my life. Sorry if I talk your ears
off. Okay, I'll stop rambling now. Miss you all and pray for you
often. Thank you for everything. Take care!

-Elder Gallego

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person
to be loved." President Thomas S. Monson

P.S. Downside of the iPads - can't send pics from my camera from here.
I'll try to figure it out for next week and send the pics of this
email. Stay tuned!