Michael's Good Experience: Rockin Roller Coaster

Dear Family,

Well this week has been all over the place. Ups, downs, good times, hard times, it's been everywhere. We got transfer calls this week and my transfer call is that I'm staying here! And Elder Moa, one of the elders in my district is going to be my new companion. He is switching from the 2 man apartment into my 4 man apartment and they are closing his 2 man. So now it's just the apartment I've been in my whole time in Tokorozawa. So that's the big news! But other than that this week was pretty slow.

I was on splits on Wednesday when we went to go visit a less active member named Eduardo, who surprisingly answered his door and agreed to meet with us on Thursday, meaning this upcoming Thursday, and play some ping pong and talk about the lessons and things, so that was really cool, especially since it took forever to get to his house, it was all sorts of hill filled roads. And it was incredibly hot that day, as just about every day has been. Elder Nichalson and I then went to a park (I was on splits with him) and we were looking for people to talk to and we saw a huge group of 14 year old kids playing soccer so we said hello and asked to play and they let us and we got a big game going with these kids. They were way better than us, but we still did pretty well, I scored a couple goals and that was sweet! And hopefully from now they will remember when they met us and when they are older will talk to the missionaries! Felt like a Brazilian missionary for a bit! So that was really cool. That night during eikaiwa is when I got dads email about grandpa. I didn't read it in full at the time but I knew what it was. So we taught, and we got home and I wrote in my journal and read the email.

It was difficult that night for sure, but having just barely that day told people that families are eternal and about the plan of salvation really helped. I didn't fall asleep until about 1:00 or so, and apparently I slept way restlessly because I kept shooting up in my sleep and shouting things in the room apparently... So enjoy that mental image of me just freaking out in my futon in the middle of the night in my sleep. Thursday we fasted, and during the fast we saw some miracles like one of our dropped appointments from last week called us up and made a new one and we got a lesson with Azuma set up. Not to mention the fast really helped me to be able to work through it all. Friday we taught Yamamoto and had a talent show for game night. It was interesting, mostly just missionaries but it was good. Yamamoto asks really general questions but is always looking for a really specific answer so it was a long lesson but he is still just as interested. So that's a good thing. I played the piano in the talent show to fill in time, and it went pretty well. Then we taught Azuma on Saturday, and taught him about the plan of salvation. Coincidence? I think not. So now he really likes the plan of salvation and is thinking a little more seriously about baptism. Next time we should have a member with us so it will be good. Then on Sunday we sang in sacrament meeting "God be with you till we meet again." Coincidence? I think not. Lots of those moments came up. But it definitely felt good to sing that song on the same day, if you are counting the date line, as grandpas funeral. Then last night coming home from a returning missionary testimony meeting in Kichijoji there was a train crash and subsequent fire that made our hour journey home take almost 3 hours. It was a long night but we got to bed sometime around 11:30. So anyways that was my week.

I am really grateful for all the emails and all the help. The pictures of the funeral were great, I wish I could have been there to see it all and help you guys. I forgot for a little bit about the soldiers funeral parts, like the flag and taps. That was incredible to see. I'm glad the prayers and the service went well. It looks like everyone is doing well with it all too, smiles in pictures, and everyone knowing that he's not suffering anymore. It's good to see and it helps me. Feel free to send those pictures mom. I'm lucky to be a part of such a great family, I love you all and I can't wait till I can see you all again, but for now I'll keep working as hard as I can out here, do my best to keep up my "always smiling" reputation I have in the mission, and hopefully keep helping people. Have an amazing week!

Love,
Elder Gailey

Colen Thomas Gailey

February 20, 1926 - August 5, 2015