EXILED FROM THE PROMISED LAND ! ! ! Also, L.W.L.I.L.. (7/18)

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(With the Gallagher Weekly's popularity dwindling, the editors have decided to move towards a far more sensationalized route in order to entice more readers. Enjoy.)

Wandering in the strange foreign land of Ohio our hero, Elder Gallagher. Stripped six months of his first name along with all his worldly possessions and sent on a quest to preach the Gospel instead of doing nothing with his life, he now has naught but memories of his beloved desert homeland of St. George.
Will he return one day to that Promised Land in success, having brought many into the waters of baptism? Or will he fail to change the hearts of any in the desolate flat-lands of Ohio?
Time can only tell...

Well that was dumb. Hope you enjoyed it. Now that you're hooked into the email, let's talk about what's been happening.

First, at District Council last week an Elder from St. George referred to it as "the Promised Land". And you know what? He's darn right! I've thought often about my beautiful home. I was even thinking of cutting my mission short a couple months so I could make it home before Christmas. But you know what? I changed my mind. I think I'm gonna stay here for the full 2 years, however long they tell me to stay. Even though I've thought many times about how much more I should have appreciated St. George, I know I won't truly love it again if I go back earlier than I'm meant to. One day I'll return like my RM brother in the attached picture that I took 4 years ago. (Unless my family moves away like they did when my brother was on his mission...hm...)

A question for you people at home. How is Ministering going? I'm kinda out of the loop over here since I do missionary work all day every day. Does Ministering feel much different from Home Teaching? Is it leading to more success?

I guess I should talk about my new companion! His name is Elder Cichoski. (Pronounced like "Chicago", only with a -ski instead of a -go.) He's from the now-dissolved Cleveland Ohio mission. He's a good guy. His mission did things differently from ours though, so it's been a bit of an adjustment since I've previously relied on my companions to be experts on mission rules and things like that, but I can't do that now. I've really learned that not only is it possible to react to differences/disagreements with love, but it is infinitely better, if not always the easiest. Because Life Without Love Is Lame (L.W.L.I.L.).

And that's my new philosophy! 🎶

Really though, I've thought a lot this past week about how empty, immature, and stupid life is without love...as well as how full, enjoyable, and meaningful life is with love. Choose to love each other, because it's the only thing that will make us truly happy.

That's another thing I understand now: Jesus wants me to be happy. (That's for you and your recently-stuck-in-my-head-for-some-reason song, Jacqueline.)

It's been tough work this past week. We've met lots of people who have not received us warmly at all and do not know the definition of "soliciting". But that's okay. With my new positive attitude nothing is bringing me down. And that's pretty sweet.

Hopefully we will be having a part-member-family baptism coming up early next month. I'll keep you posted.

Love,
Elder Gallagher


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