Hey amigos. We meet again.(:
Happy 35th birthday to Mama Jen on Tuesday!
So these past two weeks have been in the blink of an eye so I'll share
some things from my week.

So this was the last week of the transfer so we were all making our
predictions on who was going where. I was 98% convinced I was leaving
so I started packing on Wednesday lol. God showed me he's in charge so
needless to say, I'll be staying in Vigo which makes it at least 6
months here. No complaints here, I'm stoked out of my mind but Elder
Jones is on his way back to Madrid as I write this so it was sad
saying bye to my dad for the past 4 1/2 months. He's a machine and I
am grateful for the time we had together. 


I'm also receiving a nephew
out here as my good ole friend Elder Reese will be training this week.
Him and I will be together this transfer at least, Super excited...my new
companion is from Spain and doesn't speak a lick of English so I'm
stoked and motivated  he doesn't come until Tuesday night so Elder
Reese and I are in a trio with Elder Howard until then. Suuuuuuper
excited.

My 9 year old girlfriend broke up with me  she said "how about I'll
just be your daughter?" And just like that it was over. But it really
released some tension because things were getting heated because she
went inactive for a couple weeks. But I got her to pinky promise to
come every week now lol. Ever taught a less active 9 year old? It's
fun. I told her I was getting transferred on Sunday and she started
bawling. I felt terrible. So I gave her a hug and told her I'll be
here 6 more weeks so she has to come every week. She said she would
  #activated


K my miracle. Remember this woman we found three weeks ago who said
she would be baptized after our first lesson? Remember how she blocked
our number and we haven't seen her since? Well we've been praying
super hard to find her and well... We found her! Hahah it was awesome!
We taught her Thursday and it was crazy! The spirit was sooooo strong
and we taught the plan of salvation and she loved it! It was a
straight up miracle and I know God answers our prayers. We haven't put
a new date on her yet since she was supposed to be baptized last
Saturday but that's not really possible lol. But we'll visit her this
week and talk more. God is good.

Friday was the baptism of Jesús! (no, John didn't baptize him) The
friend of the Hermanas here. We've all gotten close to him and he was
so prepared. Super cool conversion story. Completely 180 twist. He's
the 3rd baptism in the area in the past 2 years so the branch really
rallied around him. It was cool. Hahah we bucketed water out of the
chapel after and that was a riot.

Saturday night we had a big branch activity we've been preaching about
for months. A talent show. It was a huge success! We've had so many
members come up to us and tell us it was the closest they've seen the
branch in years and the funnest activity they've ever had. We put so
much into this show so it was awesome to see the branch come together.
I don't think anyone stopped laughing/crying for the 70 minutes. Us
missionaries did a little skit and it was hilarious, they loved it.
I'm never leaving Vigo! Like seriously, if president transfers me I'm
just dropping off the face of the earth. This place is home.

Yesterday we spent the day saying goodbye to families with elder
jones. It was a little emotional because the members like him and I
the best out of the missionaries here so they were sad to see him
leave. But they're stuck with me which isn't the worst thing because
they'll be feeding us every day because they know I'll eat their food
lol. Yay. But my "daughter" and I played some marbles or something so
that was legit. And this morning our favorite Peruvian invited us over
for breakfast before elder jones train left. At 7. Which is early as
it is...and here in Spain nobody wakes up until like noon. Plus We
packed his bags until 2 am and woke up at 5:30 to eat with her. But
it was delish!

Quick thought/experience:
So Monday night I asked God a question. "Why am I here?" Like don't
get me wrong, I'm not thinking of going home, I know why I came out
here and all that stuff but I just like receiving confirmation
regularly about things yanno? So Tuesday morning during personal study
I came across the talk from April 1983 by (at the time) Elder Thomas
S. Monson called "anonymous." You should read it, it's amazing. A talk
from 33 years ago answered my prayer. I sat back in my chair and had
this overwhelming sensation that paralyzed me for a few moments. Tears
came to my eyes as I received my answer and I heard these words in my
mind, "you're here to love the people." It's been tough here in Vigo.
Three lessons taught this week, 2 last week lol. But that's what Elder
Jones and I did really well together. We both realized our calling
here wasn't to baptize. It was to strengthen the members and activate
less actives and that's what we've been doing and what I'll continue
to do with my new companion. I think that's why this place is so close
to my heart, the relationship with the members is unbelievable. I know
I'll leave to serve the people somewhere else really soon and that'll
be an emotional day for me. Goodbyes suck! Maybe I'll bust my ACL
Schy-Shoe style the last day so I can stay here. Veremos.

Much love.

The Vigo Reign,
Elder Gearig