3/3/14

Hola familia!

His week was a week of miracles. I can't even get over how amazing it
was. I am so blessed to be a part of this gospel and such an amazing
work. I just love it!

For starters, it rained so hard this week! That was my first big
testimony builder of fasting this week. Bringing back what I talked
about a little while ago, the First Presidency issued an invite to all
the members here in California to fast and pray for rain, and sure
enough, these last three days was more rain combined than all of last
year. I had to check my location! I thought I was in Arizona. It was
raining SO hard at some points. I was driving and literally could not
go faster than 20 mph with the windshield wipers on full blast. It was
awesome! I loved it, and I'm so sad that it is gone now... Hopefully
it happens again soon. Definitely the hardest I have ever seen it rain
here, and it was more than enough to get California out of the biggest
drought ever recorded. Prayer and fasting works. Miracle #1.

Now for Miracle #2. The Sunday before last, I had the privilege to
confirm Elvia a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints and give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a blessing it is
to watch this family take steps towards being an eternal family. :) I
have never done a confirmation before, but I believe it went well.
They have a lot ahead if them, and I am amazed at the miracle that has
happened in that family for her to go from wanting nothing to do with
the Church to accepting the invitation and receiving a testimony of
her own. It's incredible, and I a, so happy that Hno Chavez now has
the ability to be with his companion for all eternity.

Miracle #3. This was another one of those moments when I can't really
even describe in words the feelings I felt. To give a little
foreshadowing, this moment was very similar to that of Roberto and
Elvia. However, this miracle may have been one of (if not THE)
greatest turning points in my testimony and certainly in my mission.
Claudia Chavez. I, personally, have been trying to work with her for
just about 9 months now, and at the beginning, she didn't even want to
listen to us. Over time, she relaxed a little more and we didn't find
ourselves in gospel debates anymore. Little by little, she actually
started to understand that we are here to help solve doubts rather
than add to her confusion. We've recently been meeting with her
regularly. She started to show a lot more interest as her mom did as
well. After a few weeks, her Mom pulled ahead a little more because
she was having trouble juggling all that was going on in her life-
school, work, etc. Elvia was baptized, as you know, and it's been an
excellent example to Claudia. Claudia had so many doubts and little by
little we are resolving them. Now the main miracle took place
yesterday, and I literally get chills thinking about it. There's not
doubt that God is there listening.

Saturday night we had an extra special lesson with her. We talked to
her about recognizing the Spirit because we have pretty much taught
her everything besides the 10 commandments, which she definitely
already knows, so we had reached a barrier. She needed her answer to
continue. We got through the lesson and after a really spiritual
discussion and answering even more of her doubts, I was impressed to
promise her that the next day she would receive her answer. Not going
to lie...it was a little nerve-racking! Don't get me wrong, I had
complete faith that she would, but the words coming out of my mouth
even caught me off guard along with everyone else in the room. It was
a very strong promise to make. She has been telling us that she has
been waiting for so long now for that sure answer. So the promise was
extended, and we talked about how it will be fast Sunday so we will
all be fasting and praying for her, and she said she would do the
same. The next day, she came to Church and we started the day with the
Spirit of Revelation video by Elder Bednar. It really set the mood, so
we went to testimony meeting. Through testimony meeting, they were so
well focused towards doubts that she had. It was really good! Then
they closed with her favorite song "Nearer, My God, to Thee." During
Gospel Principles, another doubt of her's was answered about the
Creation. She had to leave early, but she said before she left. "I'm
starting to be convinced." We could tell the Spirit was really working
in her. Sorry this story is going to be really long. It was just all
so great! And since I don't write in my journal....this will have to
do. Ha

Now this should be the climax of the story (hope it's not
anti-climatic...). We had a lesson planned for her for Thursday, but
we knew we couldn't wait until Thursday to visit her after a day as
important as yesterday, so we asked if we could stop by last night to
see how the day felt and invited her to thinking about what she has
felt and was feeling. We stopped by last night and talked to her about
how her day went. It was a good lesson and she shared her thoughts on
it all and again, the Spirit was so strong. We could feel she was so
close to receiving her answer. After another wonderful lesson with her
dad, we got back to the barrier again. She didn't feel she had really
received her answer yet, so we were wrapping it up and inviting her to
pray about it all, and right in the middle of that invite, she stopped
us.

She picked up her Bible and read a scripture in Ephesians 4, and
retread it a few times. She looked at us, and said, "dice 'la
verdad.'" "It says, 'the truth.'" She had the biggest smile on her
face, and explained that just then she was flipping through her
scriptures and praying in her heart that He would give her an answer.
She felt prompted to stop and read, and that's when she read about
changing her life to be on the path of The Lord- the oath if the
truth. The Spirit was so intense as she said, "I've received my
answer." As she said that, her dad, Hno Chavez, buried his face in his
hands and just started to bawl. It was so touching to see as she went
to comfort him, and we was just so happy that she finally received her
answer. He has been waiting for this day for a LONG time. He knew his
wife would join eventually, but he knew it would be so hard with
Claudia because she had always been so stubborn to listen. After all,
she finally received her answer. God had heard the prayers and
accepted the fasts of all us that were praying and fasting for her to
receive it. At the very end of the night, she got it, turned to us and
told us she knows now. She explained how she knew her answer would
come through the Bible. Not that she didn't believe in the other
scriptures- she just loves the Bible and knew that God knew that. It
was such an amazing experience, and I just wish that everyone could be
there for it. Her faith his so strong, and I know without a doubt that
God heard our prayers and accepting our offering of fasting to Him. We
were impressed to invite her to be baptized this next Sunday, and
after a little bit of discussing and planning, she accepted. She will
be baptized this Sunday.

My heart is filled with joy today as I think back over all that family
has been through. He had made such remarkable changes in his life 5
years ago, and he never left it. He has always been that amazing
example. His wife now is with him, and his daughter, too, is following
the Savior to be with her family for forever. I know without a doubt
that God hears our prayers. I have an even stronger testimony now of
the power of fasting. I needed this moment to change my own heart, and
for that reason, I am grateful to God for the chance I have had to be
a part of it. Their loves are changing, and as they do, so is mine. I
am so grateful for this mission. It has changed my life. I feel like
Ammon from the Book of Mormon right now. As I boast to everyone about
these amazing experiences that are happening, I do not boast in my own
strength or my own efforts, because I know that I cannot do it alone,
but rather I boast in the power and miracles of God, who has made
these blessings possible to His children. This work cannot NOT be
true. The miracles that I have seen just strengthen more and more my
certainty that this is the Church of Jesus Christ restored again to
the earth with His perfect doctrine. As we drove home last night, she
sent us a message thanking us for caring for her family and helping
them back to God. The mission can change your life. If you're even
questioning it, don't. Just do it, and you will never regret it.

Please continue to keep Claudia in your prayers that all goes well
this week as we prepare for her baptism. Sorry this is so long, but I
hope it's not too boring. Love you all so much and hope you find the
same joy I do in this marvelous work and a wonder. Take care, you're
always in my prayers. This Church is true. If you haven't already, put
it to the test, and God will answer you. I am a witness of that, and I
testify of it in the name if Jesus Christ, amen.

-Elder Gallego

"Knowing that God knows each individual personally is like a light
that illuminates one's life and gives it meaning." Bishop Gerald
Causse

P.S. Some pics from last week. Couldn't figure out how to get the pics
from my personal camera into here, so I took them off the screen of my
camera. Ha sorry for the poor quality!