Happy New Year!!

Hello!!!

Happy 2015!!! Where does the time go?? I can think back to last year like it was yesterday! I can honestly say that I think I've learned more in the past year than I have in any other year of my life. Missions are insane and everything in the past year has felt like it's been under a magnifying glass- the happy moments, sad moments, and everything in between. The amazing thing about Heavenly Father is that he really does love us and as we turn to him in every situation, He deepens our capacity to love, to feel joy, and changes us into someone more like Him (Moroni 7:48).

This week has been a pretty good week. New Year's Eve was non-proselyting. We went over to a member's house with a few other families in the ward and had a bonfire. It was a lot of fun. And I think going to bed at 10:30 and getting 8 hours of sleep made it even better! :) Kimberly's wedding sounded amazing. Jami and Chris sound amazing. I am anxious to meet Scott. 

We have been teaching some really amazing people!! Two of our most progressing investigators right now are D and L. D is in her 50's and is just barely coming back to Christianity. She went through some tough stuff and as a result felt like God didn't care about her and became a Wick-an for many years. It's really amazing to see how Heavenly Father has had such a hand in her life and how he has prepared her for the fullness of the Gospel. Her son was baptized a few years ago and all the changes that she has seen in him has made her want to find out more about the church. She has been coming to church and has a date for February!

We also are working with L, who is the mom of a Less-Active. She is SO wonderful and has gotten such a light in her eyes as she's started reading the Book of Mormon. She is on oxygen and has some health challenges that  kept her from coming to church on Sunday. She was SO sad about it! We are all very excited for her to come next week. Her daughter is doing very well and came, even though her mom couldn't, so that was really cool :) 

Another big miracle that we saw this week was with our investigator B. B has expressed a lot of desire to come to church and be baptized, but has been SO hard to get a hold of and hasn't kept any commitments. One of our transfer goals has been to get more investigators to church. Every Sunday morning this Transfer, we've knocked on her door, but she's never been awake. In fact, when we didn't have our car we walked 45 minutes in the freezing cold! So, we were a little bummed and felt like maybe we should stop trying to teach her for now. BUT, even though we can't control other's agency, when we use our agency to it's fullest Heavenly Father blesses us. Sunday morning, right after we started our personal study, she texted us and said that she was ready to get serious about coming closer to Christ and wanted to come to church that morning! It was a miracle and an answer to prayer, for sure. 

I know Elder M!! He was my second District Leader out here. When I was in J-town, he was in that same ward for a transfer. And, last transfer he served in my District as well! He's a good, solid Elder. What a small world! That's funny Grandma & Grandpa know his parents so well. 

Love,

Sister Ashlyn Galloway