Sister Galli Goes to Washington: From Africa to Annapolis ⛵️

A week ago, last Monday night, my companion and I got a call from our mission president saying that I'd be leaving the area as I was told a few weeks ago, but contrary to what I expected, I'm not back in the VC and rather, I am stationed for my second "out-bound" transfer up a little farther north in an area called Ft. Meade. The name comes from the fact that just under half the area is a large multi-branch military post. My companion is also Sister Hadley (she's the one that actually raised me my first transfer).

So that means I'm whitewashing for my fourth time.... FOUR TIMES. I do have to say though, you get better at it the more times you do it. (At this point in my mission, I'm wondering if I'll ever have a normal transfer.)

So I packed up and shipped off, but not before meeting with Suzannah again on Tuesday night. Two really amazing things happened; 1, she made me a birthday cake from scratch that was a chocolate cake with raspberry center and white frosting and sprinkles. It was awesome. 2, we put her on baptismal date for May 13 😃🎉 She is so excited, and I got permission to go back and be there for that :) What's actually funny is that her boyfriend (the less-active member) is in the army and sometimes they come up to Ft. Meade, so I gave them my new number and told them to shoot us a text if they're ever in the area. She was thrilled that I was going up to this area because A) it's close and B) she told us she knows a lot of people who live up here that could use the gospel. Let the referrals flow. 😁

For all of those that have white washed before (when you jump into an area and both companions are new), Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were primarily spent planning, contacting investigators, making maps, and meeting members. The other sisters' most progressing investigator is named Mario and he's a hoot. He likes to ask the deep questions (my favorite to help answer) and he likes to talk a lot too. He's slowly coming to the conclusion that the Book of Mormon is true but has expressed concerns with the Word of Wisdom. We're pretty sure he already knows that he's going to be baptized one day. He's cool :)

Getting on post for the first time was pretty scary because there's a lot of NSA and DISA offices, and civilians like us would get kicked out, arrested, or shot if we go down a wrong road--no pressure or anything. However, we're pros by now and know where the off-limit areas are.

SATURDAY WAS MY BIRTHDAY!!! 🎉🎁🎉🎈🎉 It was also the 🌸 Cherry Blossom 🌸Festival in Downtown DC that all the missionaries in this mission got to help volunteer at, so I got a parade for my birthday. Beat that.

But as much as I like parades, the best part was that I got to see and chat with all the sisters in the mission which is awesome, because it's hard being full-pros and not seeing all your favorites every day.

This upcoming week, enjoy the egg hunts and the chocolate and the Easter Bunny, but just remember that the true meaning of Easter comes from something that gives you more joy and more peace than any Easter activity ever could, and that is the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Remember Him. Love Him. Obey Him. He wants nothing more than for you to return to His presence and that comes from two things: His Grace and Your Obedience to His Commandments. Who knew that eternal bliss requires oh so little of us--we just have to Follow Him!

I love you all and I love my Savior. He will always beckon for us--we just need the faith to listen.

~Sister Galli