Busy, Can't Stop, Too much to DO!

TOO MUCH MISSIONARY WORK TO DO, CAN'T STOP.

My short bit of advice is to read 1st Nephi Chapter 16.  Pay attention to what Nephi does when an unpredictable event happens in his life.  I'd like to draw your attention to how Nephi, rather than murmuring about his loss, went to work, doing all he could to try and solve his problems.  After doing all he could, he turned to the Lord.  Upon receiving his answer he acted upon it and did as the Lord commanded.  That pattern of doing all we can, then asking the Lord with real intent, is present in many stories in the Book of Mormon.

Anyways, I really am out of time, this week has been crazy hectic.  But I love all of you and hope you have a great week.  I'll be sure to make a better post next week.

Home Sweet Home

Happy Thanksgiving 

I am grateful for many things, My Savior, My Family...but right now at the end of the day I am most grateful for a place to call home and a bed to sleep in!!

Now I lay me down to SLEEP....

Love, Elder Gailey

PS. My bed is the smaller ONE!

Rain, Sleet, or Snow - Out One Month

Aaaaand it's snowing in Fonda, New York. 

...yay...

Don't get me wrong, I love the snow.  It's pretty, it's fluffy, and it means that the two biggest meals of the year are just around the corner.  But let me be perfectly clear and rather bold for just a moment in saying that snow kinda sucks.  The mission is still great and I can bear with the cold, but now there's all this cold white stuff on the ground that just takes all the fun out of things.  Gone are the days that I can sit down on a park bench after knocking on doors for an hour.  And I knew that when I left for the MTC that my mission would be a proverbial 'trial by fire' for me to see what I'm made of physically and spiritually.  But the term 'trial by fire' almost sounds welcoming when I'm faced with walking in the snow all day.  

Fonda is pretty small...hence the stupidest stoplight in the world.   

Oh and I received my Thanksgiving package...The hand warmers are going to come in might handy - thanks MOM!

But on to the spiritual side of things.  In all of my lessons there are two things that are always brought up without fail.  And I find them to be the two things that bring about the most change in ourselves if they are done consistently in our lives. 

Number One: Jesus Christ.  Not a lesson goes by that we don't look to our Savior for an example.  He is the perfect example of how we should live and act.  As much as I dislike common sayings, the question 'What would Jesus do?' can really change the decisions we make.  If we try to think like Christ, then we will love, act, and serve like Christ.  And though that is a goal we can't obtain, it shouldn't stop us from trying. 

Number Two: Find things out for yourself.  Elder Ayre and I tell everyone we teach to study out the principles we've taught and pray to Heavenly Father for guidance.  We could drag them by the hand to the baptismal font if we wanted to.  But how would that benefit the people we teach?  The people we teach need to know for themselves that what we teach is true, Elder Ayre and I already know the truth of what we teach, and we received our knowledge by studying the scriptures and prayer.  So why should our investigators, or anyone else, find out differently? 

There's a scripture that I read this morning in my personal study in 3rd Nephi that combines these two things perfectly.  The scripture is in 3rd Nephi 17:2-3 which reads:

 2. I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.

 3. Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.

Jesus Christ himself councils that we should ponder the messages from his life.  What more of a reason should we need to do so? 

I know that through consistent study and prayer we can gain knowledge and wisdom.  Out here in the mission field I study in the scriptures for at least an hour each day, and it has blessed me with greater clarity of thought and understanding of life and our purpose here.  

I challenge everyone else to do so as well.  

Have a great week!  

--Elder Gailey

Tango - India - Richie - Echo - Delta (Tired)

SLEEP

John learned to love sleep in many different places!

This week I think I'm going to talk about something near and dear to my heart: sleep.  I love sleep, it's great.  It used to be the favorite part of my day, and now much of it has been taken away from me.  I don't have time to nap or hit the snooze button on my alarm.  I get up at 6:30 in the morning and I go until 10:30 at night.

But I always seem to have just enough energy throughout the day.  A promise has been fulfilled to me from Section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

18. And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to thecommandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19. And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

20. And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

So far in my month on a mission I have found wisdom and great treasures of knowledge in my studies, and now I am beginning to understand the promise of not being weary.  I have had the necessary strength throughout the day and I'm normally not aware of my tiredness until the job is finished and my day is done.  I find that when 10:30 rolls around each night I'm suddenly overcome by lethargy that wasn't there before.
To those that read this, there is power that comes from obedience.  But there is power unto miracles with strict obedience.  If you have known me, then you know for a fact that I am not the person that can work from 6:30 AM to 10:30 PM with a smile on my face.  But through the incredible blessings of strength I've been the recipient of, I know that the promises in the above scriptures hold true.  And if they hold true for me, they will assuredly hold true for you.

It's a miracle to me that I can keep on this missionary schedule.  It may be a mini-miracle to some, but to me it is a miracle unto moving a mountain.  I may love sleep a lot, but this work requires sacrifice.  Thankfully the Lord makes up the rest.

Now I lay me down to sleep...zzzzzzzz

Elder Gailey

Arrival in New York!

Hello Internet,  I'm now in Fonda, New York.  It's cold, send sweaters and cocoa please.  

Okay, it's not that bad, and it's not snowing yet, but it's probably going to do that this week.  I've been assigned to an area North-East of Albany called Fonda.  It covers three towns and a lot of farms, normally owned by the Amish.  The towns I cover are Fonda, Canojoharie (Canjo), and Fort Plain.  They're small towns, but the people are nice and the scenery is beautiful.  I wish I could have been here a few weeks ago, I'm just catching the tail-end of the leaves changing colors, so now most things are brown. 

President and Sister Wirthlin With Elder Ayre and Elder Gailey

My companion in Fonda is Elder Ayre.  He's a fun guy and super hard working, we're busy from the time we leave home until it's time for us to go back home and sleep.  Sleep isn't my favorite part of the day anymore, but it's still up there.  I don't know how I have all the energy to make it through the day, the Lord provides I suppose.  Anyways, Elder Ayre is from South Jordan Utah, and is basically Elder Superman in looks and work ethic.  Maybe not as big as Clark Kent, but you get the picture. 

Elder Ayre and I have a little companion in our car called Tiwi (Tee-whee).  He's a cute little black box with lights and his name written on him.  He greets us every morning by telling us we're going too fast and that we need to watch our speed.  He's rather monotone, and interrupts our conversations, but we're grateful to have him along for the ride; he is just looking after us of course.  Tiwi is our --sometimes-- silent companion that makes sure we drive safely.  It's best not to anger Tiwi, as I've come to find out.  

Goodbye for now Internet, I'll have more for you next week!

Feel free to write me a letter I accept any and all notes, cards, letters or packages!!
Elder John Gailey
PO Box 149
Whitesboro, New York   13492-0149

Or Email     john.gailey@myldsmail.net