QUESTIONS:
Did you get a package from me this week?
yes, lots of candy, I was much delighted to see. I think I have 1 skittles packet left. The hershey's were quickest to go. it did not taste like poop 
(did the emoticon thing work?)
I also send Elder Gallagher a little something in the mail…has it come yet?
yes, it had PEZ. He was very happy to get it. it was very funny. Good "Magic" pun too. he has been eating from his pez dispenser ever since.
Did you get something from the Arcadia Ward Primary? I heard they sent some stuff.
hmmm. I feel like I've gotten something from them in them in the last 3 months or so. definitely in this area. Not in the last few weeks though. I think Griffin's little note had a card that asked something like "how many red sox fans have you met?" That's probably not what you're thinking of though.
Have you heard about the terrible hurricane in the Philippians?
no, not at all. I know a foreign exchanged student, staying with a non-member family who feds us every week who is from the Philippines. Also I know someone serving there as a missionary.
You roofed someone’s garage last week…how did that go?
it went, and it went and it went. It was fun and different though. I learned something new. During priesthood our EQP kept calling it a "little project" and "short" etc because it was just a garage. Elder Gallagher and I, being somewhat naive, having never done this before, marked in our planners that we would be there to help from 9-11AM, thinking that's how long it would take. We got there at 9 and didn't leave until after 4! (kind of embarrassing miscalculation). At first it is kind of uncomfortable and uneasy being on the roof, but by the end it was like regular. at first there were 5 of us there, with also the older guy who owned the place and his brother helping from the ground, then after about 2 hours one person left, leaving 4 people on the roof (2 people on each side hammering away), and then a bit after that another person left, leaving just us 2 missionaries and the EQP up on the roof. It was too bad, we actually had to cancel some things we had scheduled to do, but we couldn't just leave him there alone. It was kind of fun though, something new. Kind of cold at first, but you warmed up with the work. They fed us pizza. He had to dash over to Home Depot once to by more roofing stuff. In the end it was successfully finished and he was very grateful. That day the branch also had youth baptisms for the dead (the reason one of the people had to leave the roofing) and was assigned to send 5 people to help at the bishop's storehouse, so Greenfield Branch gave lots of service that day. 
we did some other service last week as well (actually I think it was the week before), helping on the church grounds. An old lady who takes care of it (think self appointedly) asked us to come help her and another member (brother Shulda). There were "invasive trees" (they are ugly and grow to fast or something. Mostly we just did what we were told) that were growing up by the entrance she wanted taken out. The Bro Shulda took them down with a chain saw (they are small for trees) and we dragged them away to where were were told. It was quick and easy, and left time for bro shulda to take us to some local place he loves to get ice cream
This is Elder Gallagher's last full week, which is weird. There's a couple interesting things happening this week as well. We have cone conference (really half mission conference this time) with Elder Gifford Nielson of the 70, who spoke in general conference. we are looking forward to it. Also, a youth in our branch was put somewhat in charge of a youth missionary related fireside thing this week. He told us about how he was excited because he emailed president Packard, who is going to come speak. We told him we could come help too if he would like. I liked the idea, and gave us part of the program. He asked us to come and talk a bit about our missions and preparing for them for 10-15 mins and then do some sort of demonstration and role play about member missionary work for another 10-15 mins, it can be about how to make gospel conversations or something. We are excited and I'm kind fo nervous about that, since it's a big group of people, and our instructions were pretty vague. We'll make sure to plan it out well before saturday.
Happy birthday to Christopher! sounds like it was a pretty big day over there. I bet the coaching bit was interesting. Maybe he should just forget about computer stuff and go into that. He can do the hacking class first though, that sounds fun.
Also we saw snow last friday. just little flakes in the morning. Sounds like I still have the warmest weather of all the non-Californians, which I think is consistent with my time here.
Go Rams.
One thing I've thought a bit about, that President Clayton Christensen talked about a bit ago was how it is always fun to be on the winning team. He played basketball for byu as a freshman, they always lost (including when they were down by 1 and he got fouled in the closing seconds and he missed both shots) but later played in Europe on a very good team. It was way more fun when he was on the team that always won. In the gospel we can always be on the winning team. Sometimes it doesn't feel that way, when its hard or there's unfair trails or whatever else, but we know what "team" will always win, what is the best way to live. There's lots of verses in the bible that make reference to suffering as a christian, or for christs sake, or being a joint sufferer with him,. and sometimes thats what it takes. One of my favortie few verses (especially when applied to missionary work) are D&C 68:5-6. It applies when times are good and bad.
that's all! I love you.
Here's president Packard's email, not about veterens day, and kind of sad. Advice I'll make sure to keep
When I was serving my mission in California, my companion and I were riding our bikes all over town. (We were actually in a car area, but because of mileage limitations, we seemed to be on our bikes more than we were in the car.) We were somewhat frustrated that it took so much longer to get anywhere on our bikes, so we decided that we were going to ride as fast as we possibly could go to make sure that we did not waste any of the Lord’s time. One day, we were at a stoplight when someone we didn’t recognize rolled down his window and asked if he could talk to us. We pulled over and he said, “People are talking about you Elders all over town. You are going too fast, darting in and out of cars and riding those bikes like there is no tomorrow. All of us are scared that we are going to hit one of you, and we would never forgive ourselves if we did.” Then he said something that I never forgot: “I know that God protects you guys, but can’t you use a little common sense and do your part to be safe?” I walked away from that conversation knowing that the man was right on all counts, and we really did slow down and try to take care of ourselves better.
Elders and Sisters, Sister Packard and I worry about your safety – especially now that the winter is upon us. It seems like every month, we are hearing reports that another missionary has been killed – 12 so far this year. We have already had two accidents that have resulted in surgeries, but things could have been much worse. We have had several incidents where we have been miraculously preserved through what easily could have been a life-threatening car or bicycle accident. We would love to put more of you in cars, but we don’t have any more cars or miles to distribute, so we are going to have to find a way to safely make do with what we have. Please do not compromise your safety in the name of increasing productivity. Please explain your situation to the ward council and come up with a plan that allows members to provide transportation for you in times when riding your bikes or walking is unsafe. For those who do have cars, please be careful when you drive, and for those on foot, please watch where you are going and make sure that you do not place yourselves in a dangerous situation.
We also hope that you protect yourself from sickness. Please get a flu shot. If you can’t afford one, call the office. If you are sick and need to be in bed for more than a day, please call Sister Paskett or Dr. Aldous and follow their advice.
We love you and pray for you every day. Our love includes a concern for your health and safety so please take care of yourselves.
Love,
President and Sister Packard
P.S. We're excited about this week! It's really important that you're early for the meetings. It's not uncommon for a general authority to start 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Please be seated and quietly reading scriptures at least 30 minutes ahead of time.
Here's president Packard's email, not about veterens day, and kind of sad. Advice I'll make sure to keep
President Packard
Dear Elders and Sisters,When I was serving my mission in California, my companion and I were riding our bikes all over town. (We were actually in a car area, but because of mileage limitations, we seemed to be on our bikes more than we were in the car.) We were somewhat frustrated that it took so much longer to get anywhere on our bikes, so we decided that we were going to ride as fast as we possibly could go to make sure that we did not waste any of the Lord’s time. One day, we were at a stoplight when someone we didn’t recognize rolled down his window and asked if he could talk to us. We pulled over and he said, “People are talking about you Elders all over town. You are going too fast, darting in and out of cars and riding those bikes like there is no tomorrow. All of us are scared that we are going to hit one of you, and we would never forgive ourselves if we did.” Then he said something that I never forgot: “I know that God protects you guys, but can’t you use a little common sense and do your part to be safe?” I walked away from that conversation knowing that the man was right on all counts, and we really did slow down and try to take care of ourselves better.
Elders and Sisters, Sister Packard and I worry about your safety – especially now that the winter is upon us. It seems like every month, we are hearing reports that another missionary has been killed – 12 so far this year. We have already had two accidents that have resulted in surgeries, but things could have been much worse. We have had several incidents where we have been miraculously preserved through what easily could have been a life-threatening car or bicycle accident. We would love to put more of you in cars, but we don’t have any more cars or miles to distribute, so we are going to have to find a way to safely make do with what we have. Please do not compromise your safety in the name of increasing productivity. Please explain your situation to the ward council and come up with a plan that allows members to provide transportation for you in times when riding your bikes or walking is unsafe. For those who do have cars, please be careful when you drive, and for those on foot, please watch where you are going and make sure that you do not place yourselves in a dangerous situation.
We also hope that you protect yourself from sickness. Please get a flu shot. If you can’t afford one, call the office. If you are sick and need to be in bed for more than a day, please call Sister Paskett or Dr. Aldous and follow their advice.
We love you and pray for you every day. Our love includes a concern for your health and safety so please take care of yourselves.
Love,
President and Sister Packard
P.S. We're excited about this week! It's really important that you're early for the meetings. It's not uncommon for a general authority to start 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Please be seated and quietly reading scriptures at least 30 minutes ahead of time.
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