Fourth Week Lesson

The 4th Sunday lesson is President Packer's talk. "These Things I Know." Jessica Lewis gave the lesson. She first read the poem read by President Packer's about what he has learned as he has aged. One sister said she noticed that it was not until he was 88 did he understand who the Lord is. Sister Davis said she noticed is that we appreciate what we have learned as we grow older. Emily Campbell says she is now able to see things in a deeper way because of the trials she is going through. Also noticed is. His emphasis on his family and his relationship with the Lord. Some of the lessons he learned, we will not always be safe and we need to protect our fledglings. We find safety by honoring our covenants and being obedient. That family is the most important gospel principle.sister Craig quoted someone else saying we may not have wards and stakes in heaven, but we will have families.sister Bahr said no matter how they get there, if nestlings are in your nest, they are yours. Another thing President Packer knows is the power of the priesthood and a father's role. Women need to know that it is our job to encourage the men to want the responsibilities of the priesthood and treat them. He said that faith is a real power, especially the faithful prayer of a mother has power. Faith is the way we live and is the foundation. Sister Hickman said her son Brent found he had a brain tumor after he was made bishop and a professor and he said he had been given all these things so he could get through this trial and God would provide. One sister said it was the prayers of her mother that she eventually made it to where she is. Sister Lee said she was told that the goal of mothers and the foal of the Lord is the same for his children, even if a mother is not your mother.

This week in Atahualpa with Elder Galloway

Andrew's email address is: andrew.galloway@myldsmail.net.  Looks like you can write him directly now.  (JG) 22 Apr 2013 This Week in Atahualpa That´s quite the experience from Elder Hugh Bates... I haven´t been hit or abused by any way for my religion while here in Ecuador, I think the people are very nice, although it is frustrating when people don´t really want to hear anything but they agree to a return appointment and... aren´t there for the appointment. I´m glad that your play is going well, Dad. Theater or fine music isn´t appreciated here nearly as much as it is back home, so take advantage of it when you can. E-mail rules have changed, yes: we can receive/send messages to nearly anyone back home, missionary friends (in other missions), and converts if our same gender. Speaking of which, Andrés C, from Ibarra, wrote me! He is doing super well, has gone to the temple, and enjoys being with the YSA. He says he´s looking for an "eternal companion" and hasn´t found one yet. The girl he likes is... waiting for her mission papers. The work goes forward, but not without inconveniences, right? Haha. Sure, pass my email address along. I´d love to receive communication. I think the rules have changed because soooo many young, new missionaries will be coming in, and the forbidden is more likely to be a temptation, in my opinion. Elder Rodriguez (Andrew's current companion - JG) is the only member of the church in his family. His father is a leader of a Catholic cell, "Juan XXIII," but supports him in his decision to serve a mission. That´s good. Elder Bramall is not in the gringo room photo because he came here from Zona Quito the day after the conference. For your information the elders (and sister) in the gringo room are, from left to right: Elder Brunner (Las Vegas), Sister Harris (Lindon), Elder McKay (Utah Valley), Elder Maughn (SLC?), me, and Elder Murphy (California). Hooray: I always knew my mom had super powers! Happenings of the Week: Gmail launched a new message-writing format. It will take some time to get used to. No, really, this week was a pretty good week, and kind of slow. We are super happy for the baptism of Agusto P on Friday; his mom came to support him. He was baptized with an 8-year-old boy from the ward, and it was a nice service. Many of the ward members were in attendance. Finally we had a piano lesson! I´ve been offering piano classes to ward members since a little while after I got here, and we finally got a time to jive! The Familia D (who gives us lunch on Tuesdays) came down on Saturday at 4:00, and I printed out a few pages from the church´s learn-the-piano book and started them on how to read the notes. Here they use solfeg, so we´re learning do-re-mi, etc. I gave them homework and I hope they practice on the little harmonium pianos they have from when they were in school. I hope to have more students this next Saturday. It was great fun. The ward is all abuzz because this Thursday night they embark on a voyage to the temple in Guayaquil. This time around about 70 people are going! They rented two buses and half are going to stay in the temple´s accommodations, and the other half is going to have to find a hotel close. It´s even more special because there are about 5 families that will be sealed, including the daughter of the bishop, and the Familia B. Sealings of the Week: The whole ward is pitching in for the wedding of Gaby B -- Sister Tigre is helping with the cake, Sister Menendez is making the dress, etc. Everyone is excited. In the same vein, we visited the Familia B yesterday, becuase they have a son that is less-active. The mother of this family is incredible, Marisol. She has been a member for more than 20 years, and has been true and faithful all along. She raised her 5 children in the Church, and managed to send her oldest daughter on a mission to Guayaquil (Maribel, she´s cool). Even though her older sons had drifted off when they grew up, she always kept them in line, and her second son, Bolívar, has returned and is now a counselor in the Elders´ quorum. They are all so dedicated. Recently (I don´t know how recently), her husband got baptized. He had always been in the street, drinking, neglecting his family. But something noble about him is that when they had their first child, they promised each other that he started his life with her, and she with him, and they were never going to separate. They achieved this goal, the father got baptized, and this most recent stake conference, received the Melchezidek Priesthood. He´s a serious guy, and is dedicated to his promises. Now they are going to get sealed as a family this Friday morning. What a special day. As Maribel said, "We have fought so long for this moment." It´s true. They wanted to include the less-active son, too. He knows what he needs to do, and, if he goes, it will be the jolt he needs to return to full activity. They bought his seat on the bus, reserved his bunk in the hotel, and have planned to include him so much, even though he can´t actually be in the sealing. I really hope he goes. It would mean so much to this family to have all their children there. They are an inspiration for me. Thoughts of the Week: All this talk of the family, of sealings, and of the temple, turns my thoughts to YOU, my wonderful, wonderful parents. I remember, even though I didn´t understand the impressiveness of that moment, when we were sealed as a family to Grandpa and Grandma Galloway. How simple yet how profound the sealing ceremony is. I will always remember that moment. Thank you for waiting until I was big enough to be included in that act. That memory will always be associated with a sacred feeling. What a miracle are our temples: beautiful places where sacred things are performed. Aaaaaand that just makes me want to tell you how much I love you. I love our family. It´s small, but it´s LOVING! Doing things with you, playing the piano with you, making New Year´s hats, playing Scrabble, reading from the Pearl of Great Price around the kitchen table. I couldn´t wish for a better family. We talked with the Bs about how God knows each of us and the place, time, and family we need to be with to grow and learn. Each of us has a different world-view, a different attitude, and different gifts, and God knows how to mix up all those things into loving and caring families. Really, the members of our family should be the absolutely MOST important thing in the world to us, because that´s who we´re going to spend eternity with. I can´t thank my Heavenly Father enough for sending me to you two. New Member and Investigator Updates of the Week: Well, the bishop has taken Elder Cornish´s theme, "He who serves grows" to heart, and called Luis E, who got baptized three weeks ago, as our new Gospel Principles teacher. It´s kind of a risk, because he´s a reserved and timid man, and, being a new convert himself, it might be hard to teach other members; but he has a loving wife who has been a member forever and who attended seminary and institute, and is willing to help and support him. We gave him a copy of "Teaching: No Greater Call," that should help him develop his teaching style, with activities and interest. We help in the lessons when he needs it, too. The other Sunday I came in on Martha Q faithfully paying her tithing. She hasn´t missed a Sunday since we met her, and I know she has a grand future ahead of her in the Church. Karen, too; she wants to be a missionary :). Ivette came by herself to church this week, which made us so happy. Her sister was visiting from Esmeraldas, so that could have been an excuse not to come, but she came WITH HER! What a wonderful missionary she is already. She´s passed some difficult moments recently, but I know she´s finding happiness in the Gospel. The Familia A met with us, agreed to get married (they aren´t married) and baptized, and came on a tour of the chapel with the Familia Tigre. How great THAT was -- the Tigres basically directed the entire tour. We missionaries got to sit back a bit and enjoy the moment. I love the Tigres. Mayra is going to the temple with the ward this week -- Diego has to work. But they are steadily preparing for their own sealing in August! Teaching Experience of the Week: We had contacted a family last week, with whom we arranged an appointment. We went to the appointment, but they weren´t there. We called them and arranged another one Sunday. I didn´t have too high of expectations. When we got there, the dad was working on his taxi, because he works every other day of the week, from 4am-10pm (or so he says). The mother works with him, somehow? So.. it didn´t look to promising. He was working, but let us in his house. He called his wife, a kind of unsmiling lady, and kids down. She had been sleeping, watching a movie. Her other kids were watching a movie separately. It was raining, and the whole atmosphere was kind of blah. We talked about Elder Perry´s talk "Becoming Good Parents," and talked about how important the family was -- time in the family, worship in the family, love in the family. The father... didn´t really pay attention. But something miraculous happened with the mother. At the end of the lesson, she was smiling! She liked what she heard! She looked actually happy! But, even though they weren´t willing to fix a follow-up appointment, we´ll try to call them, or drop in on them. I know a seed has been planted. I hope it grows. This is what I like to talk about as "the Gospel glow," the change and hope that comes across a person´s face when they hear, digest, and apply the gospel. It comes from a perspective a whole lot bigger then the one they had. I love this work. We´re saving families. I wrote in my conference notes, from Elder Cook´s talk, "World peace happens one home at a time." That´s what we try to do. That this week brings you many opportunities to spread peace! Love, Elder Galloway Reply Forward

Lesson for April 21 search Me Oh, God, and Know My Heart

Sister Amy Fehlberg gave the lesson, "Search Me, Oh God, and Know My Heart." we need to establish a character before God that will stand in good stead in times of trouble. She read the story The Three Little Pigs to illustrate how we each act differently in hard times and to build our houses strong enough to withstand Satan and his attacks. Which little pig are we?Throughout his life, President Snow wanted his heart to be right before the Lord, and he also encouraged the Saints to examine their own worthiness. He spoke with "a view of riveting more forcibly upon our understanding" the need to establish "a proper character, as Latter-day Saints, before God our Father." Sister Fehlberg said that her father told her that you either progressing or degreasing, not standing still. Right now we are building our resumes to give to God. In Psalms 129:43 David said, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" Lorenzo Snow said, I have reason to believe that many of the Latter-day Saints, during a great portion of their lives, could approach the Lord in all confidence and make this same prayer--"Search me, O God, and know my heart, and see if there be any wicked way in me;" but if we, as a people, could live so as to be able at all times to bow before the Lord and offer up a prayer like this, what a delightful thing it would be, what an attainment we should have acquired in righteousness and good works! … I would recommend that [every person] adopt this prayer of David, and see how near he can live according to the light that he has, so as to make it in all sincerity part of his devotions to God. Many fail in coming up to this standard of excellence because they do things in secret where mortal eye cannot penetrate, that have a direct tendency to alienate them from the Almighty and to grieve away the Spirit of God. Such persons cannot in their private closet use this prayer; they could not unless they had repented of their sins and repaired the wrong they may have committed, and determined to do better in the future than they had done in the past, and to establish a character before God that could be relied upon in the hour of trial, and that would fit them to associate with holy beings and with the Father himself when they shall have passed into the spirit world." Sister Fehlberg said what we do when we are alone is what we are. Others mentioned the importance of forgiveness and kindness. people who are kind have a glow about them. Being humble and to listen and become better is important. sister Cantrell said to be yourself and try to live the gospel rather than worrying about what others think of us. Sister Fehlberg asked Us what our heart is. Sister Lyman said that what is in us is often what we notice in others. Lorenzo Snow said, that people who do things joyfully can be more joyful and serve better. Some mentioned Nephi as being someone who served cheerfully. Knowing in oiur hear ts that things will be OK even if things are horrible. Sister Fehlberg mentioned Saul who became Paul who was broken and became an amazing God. Our hHeavenly Father does not judge us if we repent. What matters is what we are going to do. If we have a true desire to do something, we will. So if we Have a true desire to draw near to God we will.

Lesson for April 14, Faithfulness in Trials

Sister Maggie gave the lesson. She told of the hard circumstances experienced by the early saints at Mt. Pisgah. They experienced sickness and death. But Lorenzo Snow helped the saints in their trials, but also to have good cheer. In addition to helping the Saints work together, Lorenzo encouraged them to nourish themselves spiritually and to enjoy wholesome entertainment. "During the long winter months," he said, "I sought to keep up the spirits and courage of the Saints in Pisgah, not only by inaugurating meetings for religious worship and exercises, in different parts of the settlement, but also by making provisions for, and encouraging proper amusements of various kinds." sister Bahr told about trusting the Lord.sister Corbett talked about how our trials help us know what we are made of and how Job chose God. Maggie said we often don't know why we have to suffer, but that we can adapt to our circumstances, how much better to know that God knows us and can help us. We need to show that we love God more th an the things of the world. Bonnie Byrne said the ultimate goal is to get back to Heavenly Father. Sister Lewis learned that God walkls with her and weeps with her in the hardest times of our lives. Sister Trewartha said we come to know the Lord through our trials. We have every reason to rejoice and to be full of joy and satisfaction, notwithstanding the difficulties that surround us. And how far have we advanced, how much knowledge have we obtained and how much more are we able to bear now than one, two or five years ago, and are we able to stand more now than a few years ago? The Lord has strengthened us and increased us in our growth. Like the infant, when it grows up it knows not how it received gradual strength and the manner in which it increased in stature. It is larger this year than last. So in regard to our spiritual advancement. We feel stronger today than we did a year ago." A sister read a talk by Elder Maxwell about his trials. Elder Bednar said he was able to face his final cancer with strength because of his trials earlier. Our trials will help us and give us strength for the future. Sister Campbell said her granddaughter Tori understands the plan of salvation and knows how she fits in. Sister Cantrell knows that Satan knows what we are going through and tries to make us feel pain. But God knows, too. Sister Byrne said we sometimes increase the pain by fighting against God. sister Bahr said we knew that there would be opposition in all things and we cannot know the joy without knowing the pain. We are not alone. Sister Gibson said that she felt Strengthened by knowing she knew in the spirit world that Heavenly Father prepared us to come here and get through our trials. Maggie said that we must know that God will help usAll that is required of us to make us perfectly safe under all circumstances of trouble or persecution, is to do the will of God, to be honest, faithful and to keep ourselves devoted to the principles that we have received; do right one by another; trespass upon no man's rights; live by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God and his Holy Spirit will aid and assist us under all circumstances, and we will come out of the midst of it all abundantly blessed in our houses, in our families, in our flocks, in our fields--and in every way God will bless us. He will give us knowledge upon knowledge, intelligence upon intelligence, wisdom upon wisdom. A sister said that the only real sin is not moving forward and progressing as long as we do what we are supposed to do. "every man and woman who serves the Lord, no matter how faithful they may be, have their dark hours; but if they have lived faithfully, light will burst upon them and relief will be furnished. "

Tuesday, April 16 humanitarian activity

Come with yous scissors and willingness to help make capes for the 5k run that will benefit the Campbells. We will meet at the chapel. If you can cut fabric, we need you.