The Man in the Spirit-Proof Mask (9/16/2019)

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Dear friends and family,

Another week where we're plodding along, trying to do our best, but waiting for stuff to really get moving.

Learning more and more...about how hard it is to improve. I feel like I understand, cognitively, what I ought to do to be a better man but I don't understand how to actually DO it. Feels like God hasn't told me that. Maybe He won't tell me that... Hoping I'll figure it out eventually.

So we are teaching (or attempting to) a guy named Billy. Billy is an interesting fellow. He's extremely devoted to one thing at a time, pretty much, and what he's devoted to at the moment is remodeling a house. It's a personal project so it's just him and maybe a couple of friends or something and he's making crazy progress. He put in some new kitchen counters where previously there was nothing and they're super slick, like, better than our kitchen haha. His work ethic is amazing, only problem is he seems to have to commit to one thing at a time. We sat down the other week and had a conversation about Jesus Christ's church and authority and he rattled off some of his personal thoughts which made us say, "Wow! Yes! That's exactly what the Book of Mormon is about!" So we'd try to testify to him, but it was interesting how you could just watch our words like a little dart fly through the air, plink against his forehead and bounce off. The Spirit just isn't getting to him yet. We have exactly what he's looking for and he doesn't realize it. So strange how we can know something like that and yet not be able to communicate it to some people.

Anyway, I'm excited for when he finishes the house because then, if he dives into the gospel, he's gonna do the same thing and go whole hog and it's gonna be awesome.

A first for my mission happened a couple days ago. I got challenged by a black guy about the priesthood restriction. (Technically someone texted us about it once before but we never figured out who it even was and he never replied to our response so I don't really count that.) Now this guy was really nice, we just started talking to him on his lawn, he seemed like a gentleman. He said he was already part of a church but talked with us a bit about what we do. Then he asked if he could ask a question, and he said, "Why did your church wait until 1972 to baptize black people?" Haha. Close, very close, but that's not quite accurate. So we talked about it, got him up to speed about the facts, and I think for being completely unprepared for it we did pretty good. He wasn't unreasonable or hostile or anything, just wanted to know "Why my people?" I honestly would be in the same position if it had affected me, so I don't blame him, and I really wish I knew the answer too. I ultimately directed him to the Gospel Topics Essay "Race and the Priesthood" which is really good and you should read it if you haven't already, by the way. We left on good terms. I just really hope he reads that essay.

Some parts of this week were kinda rough but hey, we got to watch a Face to Face yesterday which was cool. I am staying strong no matter what comes.

Love,
Elder Gallagher

PIC: District photo. Framed myself pretty well, eh?
 
 

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