August 12, 2014

"Prayer is the passport to peace."

- Thomas S. Monson

The Chilean temple next to Elder Gale. He gets to see it every day!

Time flies, and there is NEVER enough time to email everyone. I sure love everyone back in Arizona and all the missionaries worldwide. 

Elder Gale's mission name tag.

Well, this is it. I am the most senior group here, and I get to go out and do street contacts now! The time flies here, and I can't believe it has already been a month here! It doesn't even feel like a different country, let alone across the equator!! The only thing that's different is the food a bit and just how no one really understands English... oh well. I still love it here! 

Elder Gale with his companion and two of the best roommates in the CCM.

I have a triple combination and a Santa Bibilia en Español, and I pretty much only read from those now. The language has come so easily, and I cant believe how well it has come because i know absolutely nothing without the power of the Holy Ghost helping me. Our teachers only speak Spanish to us, and I can pick it all up really easily. I love how well it is going because if it wasn't going well, it would be much harder! All of those of you that are reading this, know that prayer works! I know it, and I can tell you over and over. But Ii know it works and that it is not just talking to yourself in your head; you are speaking with Dios, nuestro Padre Celestial (God, our Heavenly Father). quien nos ama y quiere para nosotros a volver con Él (who loves us and wants us to return to Him). 

Elder Gale with the Chilean flag.

I have no more to say other than, esta iglesia es verdadera. este Evangelio de Jesucristo puede cambiar vidas y es el más importante cosa en mi vida. Mi familia y yo podemos estar con nosotros para tiempoy por las eternidads (This church is true. The Gospel of Jesus Christ can change lives and it is the most important thing in my life. Myfamily and I can be together for eternity).

Much love to everyone,

Elder Gale

Elder Gale with Sister Kami Severtson right before she flew back home.

Questions and Answers with Elder Gale



1. How is your Spanish coming? How is your English?



Well, I can talk in lessons and get my point across in almost unbroken Spanish. I love how the teachers only teach in Español and that I can get almost everything that they are saying. It is coming along really Mwell! my English... well, it’s good, but I have moments where I can’t remember how to say a word to my companion in either English or Español. It is still in my head...at least for now...

 


2. Do they have any American restaurants in your area such as McDonalds?



We actually have a McDonalds about half a mile to a mile away. On P-days we get one hour to write home and 2 hours to go to the streets. We have been to the McDonalds, but I didn’t get anything from there. I don’t want to get sick with “it” here, if you know what I mean...




3. Do you have a gym at the MTC? What do you do for a workout?


We actually do not have a gym in our MTC. After breakfast, we go for about a half mile jog to a park where we play soccer.. I mean fútbol, and there is another park that has these workout things where you use your body weight. It is really interesting how it works, but I use it every now and then.




4. How are you doing?



I am doing really well, I love every moment here, and I can’t wait to be in the field and doing the real work!




5. How big is the MTC, and how many missionaries are there right now? 



The CCM (se-se-M-A) is really small, at most it can hold 90 missionaries. There are actually 2 places where we sleep. I sleep here on the grounds, and the other place is about 15 minutes away. We are right next to the temple. I love being right by it and being able to see it every morning!




6. Do you feel like you are being successful?



I really do feel like I am being successful. I have two "baptisms," meaning that during a lesson with our teacher as the investigator, they said they would be baptized. Everyday I learn something new from the scriptures and the language, so I do think I am being successful.




7. Have you had any authentic Chilean food?



We have a cafeteria here, so yes. I’m not sure if it is really authentic until it is made within someone´s home.




8. How are the members in your area? Do you go to church at the MTC or with other members at a church? 



I actually have not really met any members. We go to church as an MTC group, but since we walk past the members at the temple all the time, they always want a picture with a big, white, American missionary. 




9. We heard you saw Elder Matthew Taylor at the temple. How was your temple experience, and describe the Chile Temple?



I saw him, and it was really cool to see a missionary who I know out in the field and to see how far he has come! The Chile temple is not really tall or big. It is actually really small. I’ll send a picture in a second :)




10. How are you and your companion doing? 



He is doing better. He is getting the language. He just is having a hard time, and I try to help him all I can.