An amazing hike we went on yesterday!

31 March 2015

2x PHO

23 March 2015

Despite finally getting a hang of this area, Wednesday was kinda a rough go. 

THE PARTICULARS:

• numerous cancellations
• too many miles driven
• difficult time coordinating with members. 

Dinner cancelled as well, and we needed a pick me up.  So I asked Sister McGraw if she wanted an adventure, and she complied.  So we went and had pho, which is a Vietnamese soup, and one of my favorite foods.  Man.  that was a blessing.  I knew it would be fun, but I didn't know how much it really lifted my spirits.  The way to a Galli's heart truly is through her stomach.  We left in a great mood and the rest of the night went A-OKAY.

THURSDAY PARTICULARS:

• numerous cancellations
• too many miles driven
• difficult time coordinating with members. 

Dinner found us at the Christensen's for dinner.  She is a cute little laotion woman (as opposed to lotion) and she said: "I think we have something maybe you have not tried for dinner!"  I walked over to the table and was amazed to see: 

basil   sprouts   chopsticks   soup spoons    lime    sriracha     oyster sauce    soy sauce

the tell-tale signs. 

 I turned to sister Christiansen and said......"are we having pho?????" 

she about died. 

"you know pho??? oh my goodness! yes!!!" 

there was joy and great laughter all around, especially when we told her that we had eaten that yesterday and that it was one of my favorite foods. 

It was such a funny and obvious sign from heavenly father that we were watched over. 

But heavenly father was not done with doubles.

we were going to sing to a less active family to encourage them to come to church.  Our whole district came.  We tried them but they weren't there.  But there was a wonderful black man takin a smoke about 30 feet away.  dew rag, big black shirt, the works. I yelled at him and asked him if he wanted to hear us sing.  his reply: "I can hear you fine right where I'm at!"  so we sang, and he ambled over he ended up telling us he wanted to come to a church that could accept him and integrate back into society.  his name was Terry.

At church we anxiously waited for him, and in walked:     dew rag, big black shirt, the works.  aaaaand.  it wasn't him.  I swear it was his twin.  a friend of one of the members and his first time at church.  he had a great time, and agreed to listen to the lessons. 

So its been a great week of doubles!!!

Love you! 

look for miracles :) you'll find them :)

Sister G

Inlet's View

16 March 2015

The good thing about the refiner's fire, is it gets a little easier over time.  Grace is for real! 

Inlet view is great.  Still high expectations and overly stressed, but easier, ya know?  I know the area better, know the members better, and we had only really one goal.  More member presents this week than last.  And we did.  So you know what?  we rejoiced.  Lots of other mistakes, but rejoicing.

Heavenly Father sees a lot more than we do. remember when we met Samantha in Fairbanks, because we started talking about Mosquitos?  Then we taught her the restoration while walking around the block 10 times?  remember how she moved to anchorage to move in with an ex boyfriend and that was a bummer x10?? well....

guess who we are teaching right now.  :)

She is in a different place in her life.  She really trusts us.  Not quite ready to make the amazing covenant of baptism, but now I know more than ever that Heavenly father is mindful of her.  She is being watched. 

We also put two people on date this week!  SO exciting!!! its truly great :) they are planned for april! will tell you more about them next week. 

As for now I will tell you that my companion is so wonderful.  She is quiet by nature, was homeschooled, is crazy smart about history and the scriptures, and even though its the hardest thing ever for her to go up and talk to random people, she does.  She's a champ. 

some of the firsts that sister McGraw has already experienced on her mission:

• first time eating falafel. 
• first time driving in a city
• first time eating salmon salad
• or smoked salmon in general
• first time seeing a moose
• first time flying
• first time seeing dog sleds
• first time being away from home for more than a week
• first time using a self check out

its awesome.  And so much fun!!  :) well, have a stellar week

Sister G

Things I Could Have (but didn't) Get Killed By This Week:

9 March 2015

1.  I didn't get killed by stress.  (nearly did).  I am grateful I didn't know that I was being transferred to the busiest area in the mission beforehand.   A little about Inlet View that explains why its ridiculous?  we have the greatest population in our area of the whole mission.  There is 1/7 of Alaska's population.  that makes for some adventures!  Also, this mission is hyper intensive.   The members expect more than any other area I've ever ever been to.  its hyper complicated here too.  The first 4 days we were here we were so busy that we didn't even get to eat lunch, just grab something and one night, I FINNALY got a second to write in my journal and managed to write "I have never been busier in my entire..." then we got another phone call.  so that tells you something ;).  Ho boy. the area is organized into districts, and each district has an area supervisor, and an elders quorum member assigned to it, and a bishopric member. we report to those people what is happening in their district.  That's just too much to keep track of!  aint nobody got time for that!    they not only count member presents here, they count LAMPS (members coming to less active visits) and we have to text the ward council every night with exactly what we did all day. the missionaries are so scrutinized that it pretty much put me in a frenzie.  I am getting a hang of it but it was a ROUGH start.  we share the ward with the zone leaders and its been great to watch them.  They are in a frenzie too.

2.  We DIDN'T get assaulted!  We went to look for this lady, and when we got to her apartment, this guy leaned over his balcony and said: "i'll talk to you ladies, come one up!"(red flag)  I was immediately on my guard, but since it was an outdoor staircase went up. We told him we had an appointment but we would love to come back and bring someone else with us!  haha.  He said: "i talk better to ladies".  (red flag) then as he handed us his number he called us beautiful.  (red flag.  three strikes you're out) so we said goodbye and got us hence.  We couldn't find the lady's apartment so she called us, and where she heard where we were she said: "Get out of there!  I got assaulted in that place! "  as we walked with a purpose back to the car, the guy leaned over his rail and beckoned for us to hurridely come back.  (i ran out of red flags) .  when we met the lady at a hostel downtown, turns out, the guy we met had physically attacked her one night!  So.... Guardian angels are real.  Don't be worried, the lord takes care of his messengers.  

3.  We didn't die by cold!  we helped out at the Iditarod, and it was awesome!  saw some of my musher friends.  they had to bring in snow, (gosh dang that global warming) and it was melting as we were standing there with frozen rain on our backs and frozen water coming into my tennis shoes.  Stood that way for about 3.5 hours.  rough go.  but it was fun!

4.  We didn't die by emotion!  training is, at best,  a roller coaster.  Sister McGraw is Anne of green Gables. she is really really great.  she has been SUCH a trouper pushing through her shyness and talking to people!  its great!  She and i have been having a lot of fun.  We really enjoy studying and working together.  As you can tell we went through some emotionally trying things.  Gotta love how nobody bothered to inform us that the newest investigator in our area, (he's SO great.  and looks entirely put together)  is a recovering alcoholic, who has done amazing things in putting his life back together and getting off the streets.  We figured out pretty soon though, when he called us drunk.  that has thrust us into a spiral of craziness, trying to help him not lose everything he's worked for.

So, there's a little insight into the missionary work here.  Its been a forced- growing experience, but i am so grateful.  Its taught me to work harder than i ever have. 

I love this mission!  It is so powerful and amazing.  There is a lot of strange opposition in this area which means that there will be miracles here.

Love you all!

Sister Galli

Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats...

2 March 2015

Its that time again, folks!  And NOW... the NEWS you have all been waiting for.

I am whitewashing a new area!!!!!! (meaning both missionaries there are leaving and me and my companion will both be new to the area)  I am goin Big City (haha big means actually tiny in my book) to Anchorage, Inlet View ward! I have Never been to Anchorage before and i can't WAIT. 

and now for the twist....

I'M TRAINING!!!  BAHHh i pretty much haven't slept a WINK since i found out my call on thursday.  I DON'T know who she is yet but i find out bright and early TOMORROW!!!! :)

bahahaha life is delicious!  I know it will be harder than i EVER imagine (nothing is ever as dramatic, emotional, or challenging as your first few weeks in the field) but its just so dang exciting!!!!! I am ready for a new frontier.  Joy to the World.

well... since i have ABSOLUTELY no idea anything about her or the area, this could be interesting.  So, it may be an ultimate cluster cuss.  But we shall see ;)

I love Colony. I am so grateful for the time i have spent here.  They really take care of their missionaries here, and i love them for it.   I had a tearful sunday last week.

Also, i will say there is almost nothing crazier than being in a trio, but theres also nothing more fun.  its like you take the emotions of a regular companionship, and just triple it!!! Last week was the hard week, this week was the fun week.  We really made it fun despite (and truly because) of our differences.  How i love the mission, its just such a roller coaster.

Love you!

Sister G