{Letter #16} It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Hey everyone! I hope that y'all are doing well! This week marked the end of training for me, which also meant that it was transfers! I am staying in Damascus/Boring for another transfer, but I once again got a new companion! It was sad to say bye to Elder Jensen, but Elder Feltner is a super cool guy!

Exchanges took up most of Wednesday, but right after we got back we went to a youth, Mt. Hood Stake, Light the World activity. We basically just helped the youth make Christmas ornaments to give out to people. It was actually a really fun activity!

On Thursday we didn't have a whole ton going on, just introducing Elder Feltner to some of the ward members.

Friday wasn't too exciting either. My companion had MLC though, so I got to go on bike with the Powell Valley Elders for the morning! That was fun and we got to teach a guy named Tom. Tom is a really cool guy, he said he was going to read the Book of Mormon and come to church. Other than that, we had zone council. We were able to set some zone transfer goals. It is AMAZING how much the work is progressing. God is preparing His children to receive the gospel and it is incredible!

On Saturday we helped clean the church first thing in the morning. That wasn't too exciting, only 3-4 other people were there so it took a little while. after we finished that we went to the Anson's and helped them move around a bunch of their furniture. That night I had another mini exchange so Elder Feltner could go to ZLC. We biked through some very heavy winds to get to a lesson that cancelled. unfortunately. It was good though, we invited a ton of our friends to sacrament meeting throughout the day as well.

Sunday was pretty typical. We went to church and just kinda went around to get in touch with people after that. We had dinner with the Lee's that night, but they were sick so we sat outside and had a lesson with them and they gave us food to go. That was a very cold lesson, but they're an a amazing family. They also make some very good food.

It also snowed almost 3 inches while we were at church.

On Monday we had district council, and another exchange! Elder Feltner really wanted to go on bike, but it had to be after dark because he's kinda allergic to the sun.😎 So after dinner we started the exchange and I took Elder Strand with me to Damascus. It was really good. Also the Powell Valley missionaries got a car last night just after the snow, so they won't have to bike around anymore.

My spiritual thought this week is going to be John 14:5-6. In these verses Thomas is asking Christ how we can gain salvation. Verse 6 is Christ's response. They say:

"Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

When I read these verses it reminded me of Helaman 5:12, in which Helaman says:

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall"

When we follow in Christ's footsteps and build our foundation on Him we will receive strength to overcome anything we face. Christ is the perfect example of how to live our life, when we willingly strive to follow Him we are blessed more than we can imagine. My invitation to all of you this week is to look at the Light the World calendar and look for ways that you can follow in Christ's footsteps by lighting the world each day! I know that you will be blessed and strengthened as you do that!

I hope y'all are doing great! Love y'all!

Love,
Elder Goold