Missionary Down!

On Monday (preparation day) a group of missionaries took a little field trip to Monserrat, a national park not far from Barcelona. Coming down a trail high on the mountain in the afternoon, Elder Gallegos slipped on wet step, and fell immobilized with broken leg! Paramedics came with a stretcher, but the trail was too narrow and too wet, and they ultimately called in a helicopter to evacuate the wounded elder. He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital where they did x-rays and put him in a cast up to his waist.

At the beginning of the day the missionaries had expressed hopes for a real adventure on Montserrat. They got more than they bargained for!

It was a very nasty and painful break. We got him back to the mission home about 1:30 a.m. and made him as comfortable as possible.

 Elder Gallegos preparing to board the plane for Madrid...

Thanks to a priesthood blessing and good medical care, Elder Gallegos is doing fine, but he will be out of the work for about six months. We got him on an airplane Thursday morning. He will live with his sister in Madrid who will care for him (his mother passed away several years ago). He is an enthusiastic and diligent missionary, and we miss him! We hope he heals quickly and comes back to us soon!