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
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