March, 16, 2015

"Don't shine so others can see you. Shine so that, through you, other can see Him."

- Anonymous 

Eight months here in Chile have already gone by! I can’t believe that I have been here for so long! I’m really sorry that I am sending this so late tonight, but we had lessons before we got here and we are late so I don’t have much time to write.

Eight months… I feel old here in the mission field. I have had so many experiences, and I have had the pleasure to work with so many of my spiritual brothers and sisters. I feel so privileged to learn from the missionaries all around me. I feel like I have been able to learn so much more here than if I had stayed home. I made a good decision. We can really only see the effects of our decisions after a little ways down the road. I am able to read from the scriptures every day. I can learn from the experiences of those in the scriptures, so I can continually make better decisions and have to worry about making the same decisions because I can already see the consequences.

I love the mission. We are working with so many people here! I can see them growing in their desire to follow God and be baptized. If the people here really desire something, they will do that which is necessary to obtain it. Those things are able to be found by reading the scriptures, attending church as frequently as possible, and praying to our Father in heaven. I have been able to see that one CAN NOT do the big things in life if they have never done the little things first. One cannot come to a knowledge of God unless they have done the three previously mentioned things, and I, as a missionary, can truly be with people through the process as they begin and as they grow.

I can honestly say from the bottom of my heart that these 8 months have been the best of my life. I have nothing else in my life that I would trade this for. I would love to be with my family, I’d love to be with my friends, I’d love to further my life and go to school, but I am doing so I can go back home in many more years. I am growing and progressing in my life so much faster than before. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be out here. I know this is short, but I love you all. I truly hope that I haven’t misspelled anything too bad. Thank you for all the support from back home.

Elder Gale