WEEK 45:

Hello, family and friends!

 

This e-mail is a rather short one since my e-mail time is just about up. I just wanted to let you all know that I am on the move again. My journey has continued and I am now in Dixon serving with Elder Merrill--I am going back to teaching people in English. Although my time in Winters was short lived it was not in vain. I am grateful for the people that I was able to talk to and teach; for the chance I had to have brushed up on my Spanish a little bit; for the amazing members in the area of Winters who not only have great stories to tell about themselves but also about the history of the church in Winters which went from being in a small space around the 1970s to an actual chapel that is expecting an expansion in the near future; to even the ostrich I saw. :)

 

Well I look forward to having more time to share more stories with you all next week. Take good care. I love you all!

WEEK 44:

Heeelllllooooooo, everybody!

 

I apologize for the absence of e-mails. The library usually opens at 12 PM and we tend to e-mail at around 4 but situations such as last week where we get to the library at around 4:30 and with a few obligatory e-mails to send out, I'm left with no time to write all of you with the happenings of the past week. However, with school starting back up the library now opens earlier. So what's happened in the past two weeks? I've had a birthday (^_^), which by the way I thank you all for the cards, e-mails, and love; Elder Bittner and I have had the opportunity to teach some great people; we got a food storage of potato chips going in our apartment (thank you to you know who); and (roughly typed) 'Ejercisio bendice la vida de nosotros' or 'Exercise blesses our lives.' ¿Que?

 

Well the last bit was what my companion claims were my exact words as we were speaking to a guy in a new set of complexes nearby. Rather than the gospel (evangelio) blesses our lives and our family, I came off telling him how exercise brings blessings. Despite my blooper and thanks to his knowledge of English, we got to carry a more fluid conversation with him and he did invite us to come by another day, which is good. Aside from that blemish and a couple bad Spanish speaking habits I have, such as using the word 'siempre/always' as a filler word (another story for another time), my Spanish has been improving and is coming along well. I do not know how long I will be here though since next Monday is transfers. I will find out if my Spanish call will go on an extra six weeks or if there's a more permanent place awaiting me in Northern California.

 

In regards to my birthday there is not much to write about. Yes, it was neat that the bishop of the Winters ward and his family signed up for the 12th not knowing it was my birthday but he found out after coming out with us to an appointment the night before, which unfortunately fell through. They made us a big meal and even made me a homemade cake which I'll have to send pictures of sometime soon. I know that I haven't been sending out pictures as much as I would like but I do look forward to sending some soon.

 

Before I sign off I will share with you one lesson that we've had in the last week with Jose. Jose is a member of the church but he hasn't come for about a year now. We even went by one Sunday to help wake him up and do whatever we can to help but his sister answered and then we heard them talking and then she came back and told us that he was sleeping. V_V So we taught him the importance of the Sabbath day and towards the end he said he knows what he needs to do and said that he would come to church when God wanted him to. My companion told him plainly that if there was a reason why he wouldn't have been expected to attend last week which he gave no answer to. Unfortunately, he did not make it to church again this past Sunday, but we're still hoping for the best with him. He's a very admirable guy and he even gave us a piece of cactus to take home and cook. I passed on trying it but my companion says that it's delicious, needle-free of course.

 

Well I'm down to 40 seconds. This e-mail cannot fill you all in with all of the events of the past two weeks but I look forward to share more next week!

ANTHONY WON THE CONTEST FOR BEST RECORD KEEPER

WEEK 41

Hello, everyone!

 

It is the first of August and I can definitely feel it in the air. Yes, I have arrived safe and sound to the town of Winters, population: circa 6000.The temperature for yesterday at around 7 PM was around 87 degrees. I'm left to assume that the town is named after one Winter family rather than the usual weather here, especially since Winters is said to grow good oranges and it has many rice fields. It is definitely the hottest city I have served in thus far. I am excited for the chance to help the Hispanic families in the community and to work with them.

 

The Peterson Lane area of Santa Rosa was definitely enjoyable although short. Not a whole lot has happend during the last week. My first church service in Peterson Lane was one which had few people in attendance. While we figured that a lot of people were out on vacation being that it is summer and school resumes in two to three weeks, we decided to check up on people within our boundary to see if there is any way we can help them or be of service to them.

 

We had another great lesson with Brian where we taught him about tithing.Just like our lesson the week prior Brian had a lot of questions and as we answered them he was simply receiving confirmation that he's on the right path and he is always willing to commit to do the things necessary to help strengthen his relationship with God and with his fellow man. Brian is a great guy, he did not show up to a baptism service put on for someone else this past Saturday and he didn't make it to church on Sunday but he is excited for his baptism.

 

We also visited with Doyle, a short and bashful guy who the missionaries have visitied with for a few years now. He loves movies and we decided to watch a video with him about the life of Jesus. He loved the film and continues to come to church every week. He always invites us in when we stop by and we're just continuing to reach out to him and help him any and every way we can.

 

These are just two of the few people I was able to work with in Peterson Lane. I look forward to having an extended stay in Winters. I look forward to giving you all a full report next week. My time is just about up. I wish you all the best!

 

With love,

Elder Gallegos