1st Week as a Trainer

Sorry for the short email today! This week has been good, but has felt very long!

Tuesday was transfer meeting. We drove to Louisville and I got my new companion! Her name is Sister J from Utah. She is great. One of the struggles we've had in this Branch is getting the members involved in Missionary work. Sister J's grandparents used to live in this Branch, so they all the members just love her! This will be a it will be a good opportunity to get the members more involved. However, I do feel like I am training a celebrity! Training a new missionary is a lot of hard work, but it's fun too. This is an area that needs a lot of building up. We will have to work really, really hard with much diligence. I feel like it is Henderson's  time to bloom. I do feel bad Sister J didn't get assigned to a booming area.  However, in the end it's more valuable for her to learn how to build an area up and work with the Branch. That is probably what the rest of her mission will be like anyway.  Fun Fact: As trainers, we don't let our new missionaries unpack on 1st day in the mission. We just jumped right into missionary work and tried to get as much done by working non-stop on that 1st day. It was great! 

Me and my greenie, Sister J with our Mission President and his wife

Brother H is doing fantastic! It's so cool to see someone read the BoM for the first time. Last week, he got so excited about 1 Nephi 4. He thought Nephi obeying the Spirit and killing Laban was the coolest thing ever. (It is because the BofM rocks!) He has a baptismal date for the end of November. He's solid and I think he will be Henderson Bike's first baptism. Please pray for him & us. 

I got to see and say goodbye to Sister J, my "mom" who is going home! 

We have seen a lot of blessings this week. We got a really exciting referral for a 17 year old girl who is super excited to read the Book of Mormon.  When we are obedient and diligent to the things that the Lord commands, he truly is bound and will bless us -even in ways we may not expect!

Sister J meets her "granddaughter" Sister J, right before she left!

I hope that everyone has a GREAT week!

Love,

Sister Galloway

Transfer News

Sorry if this is short. We have lots of cleaning/packing/getting ready to do today!

Autumn with Sister W and me! I love the fall colors.

Tomorrow is transfer meeting and we found out that Sister W is leaving and I am training here in Henderson! This was kind of a surprise since the last time I'd talked to President B, he was considering closing our area. I'm really excited! I'm getting a greenie!!!!! I am so nervous, too. Do you and Dad have any advice for me this next transfer? I would really appreciate your counsel. I fasted for her yesterday because I really don't know what else I can do. In my heart, I know it will be fine. I've been out for awhile; I know I can do this. I've just never done anything like this before. Heck, I've never even been senior comp and now I'm going to train!? It'll be wonderful! There will be a brand new Elder in our branch, too. So, not only is our area staying open, but there will be a brand new Sister Missionary here! Just pray for that poor, poor sister who will be training here this winter on a bike. I am thrilled I will get to see Sister J at Transfer Meeting tomorrow. (She was my trainer who is returning home to Utah this week.) Yes, if I had to describe her in one word, it would be "spiritual." 

So, earlier this week, I was pretty sick with a cough and my eyeball was really red, like I told you last week. But, this week we have seen a lot of blessings. I told Sister W that my family must be praying for me because of all of it. For instance, we normally get 1 member dinner a week from a recent convert and her recently reactivated husband, who feed both sets of missionaries each week! However, this week we had 4 member meals. And then some of the members were worried about me and bought me Tylenol, Claritin, Robitussin and some allergy eye drops! Then one member let me use her phone to send a picture of my eye to our area medical guy. He told me I have uh... "epicileris" (or something that sounded like eucalyptis and celery, combined)!! Don't quite remember the exact name! So, he  called in an eye drop prescription for me that cost a mere $4. It was great. I told Sister W (as I've told other comps in the past) "I can tell when my mom & family is praying for me because I get a ridiculous amount of good food" and lots of medicine too, this time! :) My cough is now much, much better and doesn't hardly bother me. My eyes are looking a lot better, too. {I told Ashlyn that the Lord needed her to be healthy and well this next week for her to train the new Sister Missionary and that is why she was so blessed!}

This week has been good! We have been teaching Brother H, one of our investigators. He is doing very well and it is such a neat experience to watch him progress in the Gospel. He gets so excited about his Book of Mormon reading and I love hearing his insights. He is really feeling the Spirit work in his life.

It's so hard though to explain what a mission is like. During the first few months of my mission, I remember sitting in Sacrament Meeting daydreaming about home. I was thinking about my family, college life, and other terribly trunky things that I should NOT have been thinking about. Back then, my mission was something nice, some thing good, but temporary. But now, it is my life. It is who I am. Choosing to go on a mission was hard, choosing to stay on a mission was a lot harder, but choosing to BE a missionary was the hardest of all. In fact, It's a choice I have to make every day of my mission! 

Truly, the Gospel blesses families and helps us draw closer to each other and closer to Him. It doesn't matter how far away you are from your family, because when you're close to the Lord, you're close to each other. (You should tell H to post that to her Moroni 10:32 Instagram account. That's very quotable!!)

Love y'all!!

-Sister Galloway

It's Fall, Y'all!!

Hey!!

This week fall is in full swing and I love seeing the different colored leaves everywhere! It's getting cooler too.

Monday turned out a little unexpected! We were getting ready to leave for an appointment and we got a text that there was a tornado warning. Then, tornado sirens started going off! Of course, with both of us being from out west & both from dry, desert areas, Sister W and I didn't know what to do! So, long story short we just chilled in the bathroom for a bit. There were also some severe thunderstorm warnings. We decided going out on our bikes was pushing our luck. So that was an interesting day.

Waiting out the tornado sirens in the bathroom.

This week we taught a new investigator K. He had committed to church this Sunday, but sadly didn't make it. Another investigator we have is R. He is funny. He's Catholic and always emphasizes that to us, but he is so sweet and really needs a big change in his life right now. He is reading the BOM and promised to come to church this next Sunday!

We also have been trying to help out some specific less-active sisters in the branch. We have been working with the RS president and it's neat to see how much progress has already been made. I know that there is no way we could have done that as missionaries alone. Members and missionaries working together really is vital to the success of the work of salvation. When we were meeting with the RS president, there was just such a good feeling in the room. That experience and the progress we've seen already has strengthened my testimony that this is all one work and we all -full time missionaries, ward councils, and members- need to also be unified and help Heavenly Father "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life" of his children whether they're in or out of the church, living or dead.

Sister W and myself! 

 Sister W and I went tracting in the nicer areas of Henderson.  Definitely, we met some great people, but not much success. I have done more tracting here in this area than my other 2 areas. Last night we tracted some old, beautiful Victorian houses. And I met the nicest lady ever! But she wasn't interested. It's fun because we got to ring some sweet, vintage doorbells. Ones that are attached to an actual bell inside the door, and you twist a handle, pull, or lift something. It's really fun. I felt like I was in the Great Gatsby. Cool doorbells= Compensatory blessings?? lol! Sidenote: Of all my areas, I think you would like the town of Henderson the best. It's just a cute little place....with some very interesting people. 

Just to inform you, mom, because I forget that you don't know things. I have a pretty bad cough and the left half of my right eye is red. I don't know. It doesn't hurt--it's just red. Today is day #3 in my glasses--blech. I feel so drabby in glasses. :P  So, I've been sucking down the cough drops and using all the toilet paper on my nose/throat basically. I am bracing myself for winter on a bike.  Now, I'm glad I HAVE to wear a helmet because between biking (on ice, soon) and the flight of metal stairs to our apartment, it makes me feel a little safer! haha!

The longer I'm a Missionary, the more grateful I am to be here. I love the Gospel so much and I know that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and his Son. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the Lord's Prophet today. It is truth and the Spirit will always bear witness of it if we prayerfully ask him. The truth really does set us free.

Love,

Sister Galloway

Rely on God!

He​llo!!

This week has been good. It's always ​hard to​ sit down and​ email because I try and think back over what has all happened that week and so many different things happen each day​.​ ​I​t's difficult to try and accurately represent everything in a short email!

One thing I have learned is how totally and completely dependent we are on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Last week​,​ it felt like NO ONE wanted to hear what we had to say. It was hard because we hadn't changed anything we were doing, just everyone was using that lovely thing we call ​"agency.​"​

​T​his week ​was better and it's made me realize (again!) how much every contact, every investigator, and every lesson is truly a gift from Heavenly Father. Our efforts are insignificant. However, when we do act and become "anxiously engaged" Heavenly Father blesses us. Even when things don't go how we want, just like Lehi promised Jacob, we have the promise that Heavenly Father will "consecrate [our] afflictions for [our] gain".

One example of that, is a man we contacted. We were going to go teach him, but he had given us a fake address. (I'm always impressed with people's abilities to confidently give us fake addresses​!​) Anyway, we went to the address.​ While we were in the parking lot, we contacted a man whose wife was a member and wasn't on the

​ church​ rolls. Also, we knocked on the apartment number he'd given us, and although it was the wrong address, the woman who answered the door, was a former investigator​ whom we'd lost contact with. What are the chances? It's neat that no matter how others choose to use their agency, when we use ours righteously Heavenly Father magnifies our efforts and more good is able to be accomplished, than if we had done nothing, or simply given up.

Missions are incredible​! It's the hardest thing I've ever done. Sis​ter​ W and I were talking about it last night and how there are those few ​times​ on your mission that you realize "​It's me. It is 100% me and I have to change​," ​which is not something ​I realize​d before ​my mission. I have had some really humbling experiences that made me realize how utterly dependent I was on God and not on myself. Sometimes​, we unconsciously give ourselves WAY too much credit. Reminds me of King Benjamin's address "​Of what then, have ye to boast?" I love my mission though. If I knew everything I would experience as a missionary, I'm not sure that I would have had the courage to ​do it, knowing that I didn't have to. But​, now that I know what I know, and have felt what I've felt, I will be so, eternally grateful for this time. I wouldn't give it up for anything. I know my ​Savior so much better than I did 13​+​ months ago and that is worth any "price.​"​

Have a great week!!!

We were about to knock on this door until we realized
it had a tree growing in it! 

​PS: President B told us that our area won't be closed this next transfer, afterall. I have work to do here, so I was thrilled/relieved to hear that.

Note from Mom: Ashlyn reported that during her hour of family history time, she discovered that John Galloway, one of the founders of Henderson, Kentucky, is in our family history line! It's interesting that the Lord has her serving in Henderson where there might be some Galloway kin and that she can testify and teach about the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them! 

Happy Conference Weekend!

Hello Family!

Literally, it was just one of those weeks where you almost just have to laugh and wonder what else could possibly go wrong! I named this week "The week that everything fell apart: Part 2."

 Here are a few examples:

-Within the first 18 minutes of Monday night after Pday: our appointment canceled because he had hurt his ankle (2nd investigator within THREE days to hurt his ankle!)

-Also, the first person I talked to that night was super rude. He interrupted me by yelling "I HAVE A TASER!!" It was kind of funny. From now on, whenever something bad happens I can say "Well, at least I didn't get tased." (Don't freak out, Mom. It's totally fine. The Spirit told me I was totally safe when he said that! :))

-New mission rules that made us adjust to get to district meeting. It almost meant not being able to go anymore.

-Many of our Less Active friends didn't care for us so much this week.

We got this note this week.

-Up until Thursday, we only had ONE new investigator and she called and dropped us.

-25% of the members in our area moved. (That is 1 family out of the 4.)

-Elder Klabingat told me to start eating healthier in General Conference. Sister W and I were not happy about that. Ha ha! We kept reverting to the General Women's meeting when Pres. Uchtdorf told us Heavenly Father didn't care what our dress size was!! ♥♥ {Ashlyn's lost weight on her mission, so not sure what her worry is!} 

But the good thing is that missions change us. It's kind of like the scientific principle "adapt or die." But, it's good :) As a missionary, work has been the solution, at least for me. I remember in Corbin there were times that were very hard, but through prayer and work, I felt the Atonement work in me and in my life. Sister E, one of my companions, told me that one day I would wake up happy on my mission and guess what? It happened--without me even realizing it. And I still wake up happy every morning! 

General Conference was so good. I have so many thoughts from it; I'm not sure where to begin. I loved the Mother Theresa quote Elder Holland used about statistics and love. I heard GC referred to as "the Missionary Superbowl," which is so true! Missionary subculture flourishes around Conference time and it is so great! We had several guessing games going on in our district. They included: What songs will MoTab sing?  Which Apostle will address gay marriage? Who will conduct each session?  

I love my mission. It has been very hard, but I would not give up the last 13+ months for anything. There is joy in sacrificing to God. My mission is so precious to me. I would not give it up for anything in the world. Nothing. This is my life now. I don't love my family, friends, the temple or anything else any less than I did 13 months ago, but all the times I thought my heart was breaking & that I was sacrificing those things and relationships with people I love, Heavenly Father was actually expanding my heart and filling it with so much more love and joy than I ever felt before. If I had a million words, I could not describe it accurately enough. Just know that my mission has been more than worth it for me. I love Heavenly Father so much. Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, are my personal friends.  

This is what we found in the Elder's car when we borrowed it today to run our P-day errands.

With our limited time & resources, we returned the car with a few changes!
(We added "future Sister" to the nametag!) 

Have a great week. I love you all very much! 

Sister Galloway

PS: I just watched David Archuleta's  music video, "Glorious!!"  Wow!!!

Henderson: Week 2

I think if I had to give this week a title, I would call it, "The week that everything fell apart. Literally"

This week, Sister W's bike broke! It was actually a big tender mercy because we had to randomly stop by our apartment in the middle of the day at a time we are NEVER usually home at. And, right as she pulled into the parking lot her back tire stopped spinning. So, long story short, she had to borrow one of the Elder's bike, which was quite the adventure in a skirt! (The closest bike shop is in Evansville.) Also, we had an exchange the next day, so that worked out really nicely. We had interview with Pres. B last week and there is a chance my area might be closed this next transfer. There are some pretty strong reasons for it, unfortunately.  

My companion riding one of the Elder's bike in her skirt! 

Me and a few of my GKLM Sistas! 

Besides progressing investigators getting sprained ankles and a few other hitches, it was still a pretty good week!

And guess what? Heavenly Father hears prayers! I think that's one thing that I've really gained a strong testimony of on my mission. Not that I didn't believe it before, but I think the times I've felt closest to Him on my mission and some of my most treasured times have involved sincere, personal prayer. This week I was -once again- reminded of that by the Spirit. He wants to hear from us, he's our Father!! :) How neat is that?

Henderson is great and it's so beautiful. It's neat because the long side of our area is against the Ohio River, which is absolutely gorgeous.

The beautiful Ohio River! 

I also LOVED the Women's Broadcast. So good, except that Sister Missionaries can't go to the temple, so I felt like we got jipped.  Pres. Uchtdorf is the best. General Conference can't come soon enough!

Mom, I was excited to get your package! Yay, for having conference treats now! Fun Fact: I don't like alfredo! Remember?! I'm the only one in the family who doesn't like it. I'll eat it, but just for future reference--don't send me anything with the word "Alfredo" on it!  I find it amusing that you forgot baha. #stillgetmompointsanyway

Have a great week! Pray! Watch Conference! Love y'all!

Love,

Sister Galloway

Quote of the Week:

Us:"Okay, so what do you have to do to be baptized??"

Investigator: "You have to pray.  And read the Book of Mormon every fifteen minutes."

Uhh.. yeah, We'll go with that! haha.

A New Area...

Hello!!

This week has been crazy!! My new area is Henderson, KY

​

, which is in the Evansville, Indiana district of my mission. I am at the far western edge of the mission now.

​

 

​And ​

I'm on a bike still! I am so, so excited for this new area. I'll probably be purple and frozen to my bike by the end of the winter, but I'm so excited I don't even care! :D

Henderson is like a weird mixture of my previous two areas. It's a small town and everyone is SO nice! I loved Louisville, but it's definitely a nice change.

​This is m

ore my pace

​

,

​

 I think. We are 

​incredibly​

 busy though. 

​W​

e

​ have 

barely ha

​d​

 time to breathe

​--

 there's so much to do here. 

​W​

e barely have time to eat. I think we planned in a meal maybe 3 times this

​ last​

 week. Thankfully

​,​

 things fall through sometimes, but it's just... crazy.

​ ​

 People here are very willing to stop and talk to 

​us,​

 for the most part.

​Here's the info on my new area:

​

-We are in a BRANCH

​!​

 (Sis W drew me out a family tree and literally, all the ward council members

​,​

 except for 2

​,​

 are related)

-We are the only bike missionaries in our district! :(

-The 

​E​

lder

​​

s in our 

​W​

ard have a car and the

​ Branch​

​ members give them a lot of grief

 about it

​

.​

 ha

​ ​

ha

​!​

-We borrow the Elder

​'​

s car for like 2 hours on P

​-​

day to go do laundry

​ & ​

shop

​.​ Below is 

a picture of what we found in their glove 

​box​

. 

-I really like my new ap

​ar​

t

​ment​

! It has a wooden

​-

looking floor in the main room

​ and​

 carpet

​

 in the bedrooms.

-It has good closets <3 <3

Sister W

 is my new companion. She is from Vegas. She came out 1 transfer before me. She​

 is great and we get along very well

​. ​

A biker church.

I love Henderson!! 

​T​

here is some good 

​missionary work ​

going

​ on​

 in this area and I'm excited to build on it! I hope we can keep this energy and work ethic up because I feel like we're just running full force ahead

​,​

 

​​

which is awesome,

​Anyway, you asked about Sister Bl's stitches. ​The mission nurse took them out before district meeting. But, she is kinda old and shaky. It seemed like she was sort of hacking at her face with scissors. So, we both agreed it probably would've been less scary for me to have done it--which says a lot. The scab had to be picked off and that was definitely the grossest part of the whole ordeal. Blech!

Anyways I'd better run

​,​

 but I hope everyone has a great week!

The church is true!!! :)

-Sister Galloway