An Amazing Week!

Dear Family,

This past week was soo, soo amazing and also insane! Monday we got a TON of snow. It snowed even more today!! Kentucky is crippled by snowstorms, so the library was closed Monday and Tuesday. We were so bummed!! We have just a few minutes to email today. 

We have an appointment with T soon. She's getting baptized March 1st with her grandson and E. 

D and L's baptisms went great! Elder Christofferson's conference was amazing. You truly could see that he was an Apostle of God. I think I understand better the scripture "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess" because just shaking his hand you could SEE that he was an apostle. And I can't imagine how it would be to meet Christ. He was a very good speaker. The end was my favorite part. He told us that he wanted each of us to remember that we were there with him in person and that he knows. He bore a powerful testimony of Christ. At the end he gave us all an apostolic blessing and it was one of the most beautiful things I think I've ever heard. I didn't take notes or anything I was just focused on listening. Here is President B's comments on it from an email to us today:

"What a wonderful and great experience we had this week-end to hear from Elder Christofferson and Elder Soares. I hope each of you were lifted and edified as I was. I left the meeting with a renewed determination and desire to ensure I give the Lord all my heart, might, mind and strength as I serve him as his disciple, set apart as an extension of the living 

​A​

postles. I gain great strength in knowing that my family and friends will be blessed as a result of my service as a missionary and that the Lord will not hold back blessings for those I love. Please remember the apostolic blessing Elder Christofferson invoked upon us. He blessed us that we would find joy in our service and that we will each receive peace and a personal confirmation that the Lord is pleased with and accepts our offering of service and sacrifice. He further blessed us with protection, revelation and stated angels, which we may or may not see, will assist us in this great work. His final blessing was that we would be more capable in our missionary service. Wow! I am excited to serve as one of the Lord’s missionaries. What a great blessing it is."

​I wrote a long letter yesterday when we were stuck inside our apartment. ​I'm very, very sad at the thought of leaving my mission. I can't imagine life other than being a missionary.

Have a great week!

LOVE YOU,

​Sister Ashlyn Galloway​

1 Nephi 3:7

GUESS WHAT? GUESS WHAT? GUESS WHAT?

Miracles are everywhere! We have seen some amazing blessings this week in the lives of our investigators. 

I have truly gained a testimony that the commandments are here to make us happy and that Heavenly Father never gives us a commandment without providing a way for us to accomplish it.

One of the biggest miracles this week is D. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, she had a baptismal date for Feb. 14th, and was going to get married. We were sooo excited. BUT THEN, Satan got in the way and her boyfriend decided he didn't want to get married anymore. She was super sad and we were too. She wanted to find a job and earn money to move out, but honestly, she probably won't be able to get a job until this summer, let alone in a week. We prayed really hard for her and I was really confused because I didn't understand why things weren't working out. I knew that Heavenly Father could work a miracle, but it didn't look like that was going to happen. The chances of things working out were pretty much slim to none. I thought of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Old Testament and how they had faith that if it was God's will, he could work a miracle and save their lives from the fiery furnace. However, they also had faith that if He didn't chose to work a miracle in their behalf, that they would still follow through in obeying his commandments and would submit to His will. (Daniel 3:17-18)

We decided to not reset her baptismal date yet and keep praying and exercising faith. We taught her Tuesday night and during the lesson I felt for a moment just how overwhelming Heavenly Father's desire for D's happiness was. It comforted me and helped me know that things would be okay in the long run because He wanted her to be so, so happy and knew how to give her that. Thursday, we got a text from D! She said that her and her boyfriend had talked about it and decided that even though they'd had their ups and downs they wanted to get married! AND, she wants to get married this week so she can be baptized on the 14th!!! We made about a million last-minute phone calls, and she is getting married at the church tonight at 6:30. She is so excited!! Even though her son was SUPER nervous about it, he said that he would baptize her!! And she was so happy. It has been just amazing to see her grow in the Gospel and see how Heavenly Father will move mountains for us if we exercise faith and are obedient.

Also, Linda is getting baptized this Saturday as well!! She has a glow in her eyes that is beautiful. :) She loves church so much! I don't think I've ever met a lady who loves church so much!! She also wasn’t sure if she was going to be baptized because she has a trache in her throat. However, she is ordering a plug and is so excited for Saturday!

Monday night we taught J and M. It was good, except we were late because there was a cow standing in the middle of the road on the way to their house. But we made it!

Tuesday we went with Sister W to teach one of her friends. It was a good lesson as well. Sister W gave us a cupcake and it was the best cupcake I have ever had in my life. (I thought this was an important experience from my week that I needed to mention!!)

The next morning, Sister J, my companion was pretty sick.:( So, she slept all day, and I doused everything in Clorox, read my BOM, got some much needed organizing done and also almost died of boredom. If coming home is anything like that day of boredom, I don't want to come home!! On the plus side, she is feeling much better now!

We also had Zone Conference this week and discussed the role of the Spirit in conversion. The word "understanding" really stuck out to me and I've been thinking a lot about how important it is. We also had Branch Conference this Sunday.

My last zone conference.

I have learned soooo much about faith on my mission. I can't even tell you. And

I was thinking about what I've learned in my areas and if I had to sum it up really  simply I'd say something like this:

Submit to God's will. Love Him. Don't quit.

Well, have a wonderful week!!!

Love always,

Sister Ashlyn Galloway

PS: I found out 2 people I taught earlier on my mission will be in SLC in June to go through the temple. I am so happy! I will HAVE to get there somehow!!

4 More P-days...

Hello!!!

This week has been good. Monday we taught J and M. We had met J while shopping several weeks ago and finally were able to see him and his wife this past week! Getting to their house was quite the adventure (multiple narrow gravel roads, cattle guards, and dark sketchy woods that made me feel like a serial killer was going to pop out!) But they were both really nice and we are excited to teach them again today! One thing we talked about with them was how universal truth is. Many people say that there is no ultimate truth, that everyone can pick and choose the truth that is right for them. However, this isn't correct. Heavenly Father is the source of truth. He never changes and neither does the truth. PMG points out that no one can know of spiritual truth without prayer and I have absolutely found that to be correct. When we pray for truth or confirmation of the truth, our Heavenly Father will answer us and communicate with us. 

Other things that happened this week include going on an exchange in Fairdale and also helping a member move. We also taught D again. She is going through a lot right now, but is staying strong in the Gospel and already considers herself a part of the church! :) We are praying for her and for some difficult situations that she's in right now. So keep her in your prayers :)

This week we also picked up T, an investigator that has a baptismal date. He has been meeting with the Elders in our ward, but moved into our area. She is wonderful, and we are excited to help her reach her date!!

Things I learned this week:

-How to check the oil and change the oil in a car. That was exciting!!

-Contacting is NOT effective during the Superbowl. In fact, that time gave me an excellent opportunity to work on being Christlike and NOT be tempted to want to punch rude people in the face.  

ALSO, you ready for the most exciting thing ever?! Guess who's coming to speak to us on FeBrUaRy 14th?!  

It's an apostle!! Elder D. Todd Christopherson will be here to speak to the GKLM missionaries.   

Isn't that cool?! I am SO excited that I get to hear an apostle speak in person--on my mission!! This will be the best Valentine's Day of my life. Elder Soares from the presidency of the Seventy is coming to the Hurstbourne Stake Center to speak with him as well. Then, they both are speaking at Louisville Stake Conference that weekend -yay!!! :)

I have my last Zone Conference this week. It is tradition for those departing to bear their testimony at the end. So that will be very strange for me. It's weird, but I feel a little nervous for it. It's funny- I feel 100% confident with sharing my testimony to non-members,  but sharing it in Sacrament Meeting or to other missionaries is a little unnerving to me, strangely.  How do I sum up and express everything I've learned and come to know  on my mission in just a few minutes??  I'll just pray I can have the Spirit with me I guess...

We have some really amazing people we are teaching here. I am constantly inspired by their faith and determination to follow Heavenly Father. 

Love,

Sister Ashlyn Galloway

"Why Everyone Needs To Serve a Mission"

Heavenly Father needs more missionaries!!! REALLY. Each missionary really does make a huge difference in his or her mission and in the lives of individuals. Everyone should serve a mission because YOU CAN DO SO MUCH GOOD! And if you're not in a position right now to serve, help the missionaries in YOUR area!! Help make the most of the time and resources Heavenly Father has given to your location and your friends and your neighbors! Set time out of your week to go out with them, look for missionary opportunities in your life, ask them who they're teaching & what your can do to help them. Pray specifically fo those that your missionaries are teaching. Figure out what you can do in your situation now, to help the full-time missionaries & to do your own missionary work. Also, follow the Apostles' advice and "ask the missionaries--they can help you!' Support them, help them to serve & serve more effectively. 

My Old Kentucky Home

For the last 17 months, I've started emails the same, exact way. Today, I am changing it up a bit!

In case you were wondering what Kentucky is like:

People are very religious..

U of K is everywhere!

So, a lot of times Kentuky-ians get confused and make 2-way roads that are only wide enough to be one lane--at least that's what I tell myself. You just have to pull over when another car comes in the opposite direction and pray that another car doesn't come zooming toward you, while you're on a curve or a hill. It's like a video game---except way more scary and less fun. 

Everyone and their mom has a dog. Or five.

Sometimes your companion has to come up with creative ways to not smell like second-hand smoke.

But most of all, Kentucky is just really gorgeous!

This week, we got our first snowfall since the randomly cold week in November. That was exciting and beautiful! 

Speaking of exciting... miracles are happening in S! One of the highlights from this week was D. We have been praying that she will be able to find a way to live the Law Of Chastity by her baptismal date. (We had to move it to the 14th). She has been living with her boyfriend for 8 years and has been engaged for quite a while. She has been trying to find a job so she can move out. BUT, we saw a big miracle this week. Out of the blue and not knowing she was trying to find a job to move out, D's boyfriend told her that he wanted to get married and make it official!!! She was SO excited and we are so happy for her! They are going to talk about a date and have a small, simple ceremony before her baptism. It's amazing to me that when we are trying to keep the commandments of God, Heavenly Father really does provide a way for us to accomplish the thing that he has commanded (1 Nephi 3:7). He will move mountains for us as we pray in faith and do all in our power. 

My district.

After the creepy jail that the Elders  drug  invited us  to tour a couple of weeks ago on P-day.

Have a wonderful week!! :)

Love,

Sister Ashlyn Galloway

Last Transfer!!

Hello!!!

This week has been really good. We have some great things happening in our area right now, and are seeing many blessings!!

Remember my "Starbright" picture? It arrived home in Arizona this week. A gift of the
heart from K!!

This week we taught the W family. We have been praying for the hearts of the other family members to soften to the gospel, and this week one of her sons came to church! He wasn't too excited about it at first, but said that he really enjoyed it and wanted his older brother to come! 

We also taught D the Law of Chastity. She's looking for a job, so that she can move out and make her baptismal date. She's really excited for it and is doing great.

We had FIVE people at church Sunday-yay!!! That included M, who is something else. This is how Sacrament Meeting went:

Speaker: "Wow, there's a lot of people here"

M (yells out): "Pretend we're all dressed like Mickey Mouse!"

Ohhh dear!! Sometimes I feel like being a missionary is like having children you can't control. Hahahaha!! He's awesome though. He has a super strong desire to get baptized and quit smoking.

At the 2014 GKLM Christmas Conference

We also had transfer calls, and found out Sister J and I are both staying here in S--- together. I can't believe my last 6 weeks is already here!! It doesn't seem real -missions fly by!! I'm not trunky--don't worry. I have tons of work to do here. Things are going great and it's going to be an amazing 6 weeks. All of our investigators are so close to baptism! 

I am so incredibly grateful for the past 17 months. Missions are hard, but they really do allow Heavenly Father to change you in ways that otherwise might take him years. Earlier on my mission, I asked a sister I was working with why she chose to serve. She said "Because I don't pass up once in a lifetime opportunities". Serving a mission really has been a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will always, always be so grateful for. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us. I know that there is power in being "anxiously engaged in a good cause" and I know that nothing we do will stop the work of the Lord -we just have to decide if we will choose to allow ourselves to be a part of it. He has a plan for us individually, and as we seek through prayer and study to know how we can help him, he will lead us. And as we follow those promptings and loose our lives in His service, he will refine us and bless us with so much happiness. 

At our New Year's Eve Bonfire

Me on a typical Kentucky road

Have a wonderful week!!!

Love,

Sister Galloway

Skyping with my family!!

Another week on my mission!

Dear Family,

I don't have much time today to email. 

Add caption

This week has been really good. We have seen a lot of blessings!! We had a guy call us randomly and ask us to pray for him. We were able to set up a return appointment and go meet him. That was really cool! Also, we have been teaching the W family. Sister W has been a Less-Active for many years because her husband (who is also a member) is really antagonistic towards the church. They have some issues and it's really sad, but she has a solid testimony and really wants her kids to be baptized. We taught her the 15 step program last Monday night and today makes 1 week since she's smoked!!! :D So that's awesome. It was all her, knowing she needed to quit and wanting to quit. Linda is her mom and she has a trache (hole in her throat she breathes out of and plugs to talk). She is just amazing and has a baptism date of Feb. 14th. We will have to figure out the trache thing so the baptism doesn't mess it up. There is a light in her eyes that's come since she's been learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reading the Book of Mormon. She really feels it and knows it's true. E is Sister W's 12 yr old daughter. E is tall for her age, very thin, and kind of quiet and shy, but really nice and sweet. Last week, L couldn't come because they didn't have any extra oxygen tanks for her to bring and she was SO sad! BUT, this week she was able to come and E came too. L was so excited to come to church that she didn't really sleep Saturday night! She loved church. I went to YW's with E so she would have a friend and know someone. She is really quiet and hard to read/get feedback from. She seemed to really enjoy church! It was so funny being in YW's again. There are 3 YW in the Branch and it was interesting hearing what they talked about. 

"To parents, explaining is back-talking"

"My boyfriend broke up with me on New Year's Eve because I told him my mom didn't like how much he was cussing on FB"

It was fun to go. But... all in all it made me glad that that's all behind me :) 

Sister J, my companion, is doing awesome. In the past 2 weeks, things have really clicked and she is ready to go. If she needed to take over the area again, she could do it. Health-wise she's been just fine, although the Zone Leaders have called us 3 times in about a week and a half to check up on us. I actually think they are mostly concerned with her health. I feel like we're really hitting our stride as a companionship. :) She is really awesome. She  might just be the only person I've ever met who is more stubborn than I am! But she's really turned it into a strength. In my interview with President B, he brought up the point that missions refine you in ways that otherwise it would take the Lord years to do. It is so true. Missions are a refiner's fire, but also full of so much joy. 

Today we are having a district P-day up in Bardstown. We are going to tour a jail (Yeah, I don't know why. Ask the Elders.), probably get food, and play volleyball. Since Sister J has her cosmetology licence, she's taking her scissors and stuff to cut hair.  

Here are my thoughts on Heavenly Father protecting us: Even though we have years of experience and maturity under your belt, it is legitimately only the grace of God that has kept us safe and continues to do so. He trusts us so much with his children as mothers, sharing the gospel as 19 year old missionaries and in so many other capacities we don't really deserve His "trust" in. But, He trusts us anyways, and leads us and keeps us safe. Sometimes we have to trust that others will make wise decisions (whether it's behind a wheel, or in important life decisions) and we need to follow Heavenly Father's example and trust them. Most importantly, trust that He will take care of them because they are HIS children and He loves them more than we ever can.  

Also, if you saw the roads I drive on and have driven on, you would probably have a heart attack and die. Not to scare you but.. if He has taken care of me he will take care of everyone else. Though after all the practice out here, it's going to be an absolute dream driving on roads out west).

Have a GREAT week!

-Sister Ashlyn Galloway

Washing the car on P-day! 

Quotes this week:

Us: "Have you prayed about the Word of Wisdom?"

Investigator: " Yes!!! I've asked God 'okay, so what is up with the whole tea thing?!' But I still don't get it!"

Recent Convert: "I'm not saying you're ugly or anything but I just think girls look so much better without makeup"

WML: "Alright Fine, you stuborn hilltopper. Freeze, for all I care!" 

(Brother D speaks fluent redneck and I am always learning new words/insults that I can't define. I think I need to start keeping a quote book)