5 MONTHS!

Hi friends!

Firstly, I just wanted to say that I love and sustain the new prophet, Russel M Nelson and his two counselors, Dallin H Oaks and Henry B Eyring. I am excited for them to serve as the new First Presidency of the church. President Uchtdorf has always been my favorite and now I am just hoping that this increases the chances of him getting assigned to visit my mission haha. I am so grateful for all the service that all the general authorites give to fulfill their callings.

WE SET A BAPTISMAL DATE FOR AMELIA! I am seriously so so excited for her. She is just ready and it is amazing. She is always telling her husband Benjamin that they are going to church or not drinkin coffee anymore or he needs to stop drinking and gambling and its really funny to watch. Before we even asked them specifically, she told us she wanted to be baptized and then when we started talking about when she would feel ready she immediately said "February 14th!" She already knew! She had been thinking about it and had picked that day and I am so happy for her. So we are having a valentines day baptism!! The transfer is on February 6th though and I will most likely have to leave Santa Rosa so I am already begging President Wright to let me come back and he just keeps saying "Hermana Galli, if you get transferred, we will have to discuss it then." Which isnt the answer I want but Sister Wright said she would try to convince him for me so I am hopeful haha.

Yesterday was kind of a rough day because we had been working so hard and we have 4 investigators with solid baptismal dates and had really good lessons with them this past week and had some really good lessons with other investigators and lots of commitments to come to church and then absolutely nobody came. And it was really sad and really hard. So me and Hermana Derr were listening to some things and talking about them to try to get our spirits back up and particularly Elder Hollands talk "missionary work and the atonement" was helpful and we had a kind of cool realization. Basically we realized that Jesus Christ came here to establish His church and teach people and bring people happiness and perform miracles and He was a better missionary than any of us could ever be. But then he was rejected! He was spat on! He was literally crucified by the very people that he came to save. He, himself cried out, asking for an easier way but still submitted to the will of the Father. What we do here as missionaries is only a sliver in comparison to what he did but it is still that. Just a sliver comparable. Heavenly Father allows us to experience just a glimpse off what Jesus Christ went through. He sends us on missions to teach the gospel and bring people happiness and we get rejected over and over again and thats okay. When it comes down to it, if me or hermana Derr werent here, the people we find and teach and help prepare for baptism would likely be found, taught, and prepared for baptism by somebody else because that is the will of the Father and their desire. But it is a PRIVELEDGE that God lets us be the ones to do it. That price we pay to come that much closer to our Savior by trying to do what he did, is a priviledge. We are so lucky that we have this opportunity. 

Last random thought: THE BOOK OF MORMON IS REALLY REALLY COOL! I cant even explain how being diligent about consistently reading it changes everything. I honestly just crave it. Sometimes I start my personal study in the morning doing something else and I get distracted so easily because I just want to not do that and read more of the book of mormon. It brings so much happiness. Please read it.

im going to the beach today (celebrating 5 months wahoo) and im PUMPED! I love you all and I hope you have a fantastic week!

love,
Hermana Galli
3840 Martina Ave. #103
Santa Rosa, CA 95407

scripture of the week: 3 Nephi 18:24 Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.