{Letter #45} Changes are happening!

Hi everyone! I hope you all have been doing well! This has been quite the week! Very very busy. Some of the things that happened: exchanges, mission leadership council (MLC), goodbye devotional, and a new mission president!

First off, exchanges! I got to stay in my area with Elder Pfunder this time around. It was honestly such a blast! We listened to a few really good BYU devotionals and also were able to find a few new people to teach. It was also the same day that the new Preach My Gospel came out. Something from the introduction that I loved, that also brought up some good conversation was:

"Study the chapters repeatedly throughout your mission. Evaluate your work. Set goals and make plans to accomplish them. Missionaries who prepare themselves daily and improve regularly will bless the lives of those they teach and serve. They will also receive blessings in their own lives"

This doesn't just apply to missionaries, but to all people! As we diligently seek to improve each day, set goals, and make plans to do so we will be better able to bless the lives of those around us! And we will be blessed in our own efforts

The next day we had MLC!

It was the Haymond's last one before leaving (today😭). The main this they talked about was making sure that we remain obedient and help other missionaries to remain obedient through the change. When we diligently seek to serve God, no matter what aspect of life, obedience to His commandments will help us see His hand more! He will have more capacity to act in our lives when we strive to obey Him. (Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21)

Just last night we had a departing devotional for the Haymonds. They bore their departing testimonies in essence. It was a very powerful meeting! The Spirit was incredibly strong and we were able to say goodbye to them one last time. Lots of emotions going on there, definitely a little sad, but also some excitement and peace! Ultimately, this is the Lord's work! Not the Haymonds or the Botchways, but the Lord's. The mission president is called and assigned to a certain area to lead missionary endeavors to help hasten the Lord's work! That was a very strong spiritual confirmation that I was able to receive at the time.

Just today the President and Sister Botchway arrived here in Portland! Very excited to be working with them for the rest of my mission!   President Haymond is in the front, the Botchways are in the back. 

This week I wanted to share a verse from Christ's teachings in the ancient Americas. He taught:

"Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened."

I know that is true! When we seek for answers from God He will give them to us! I invite you all to turn to God in prayer for guidance this week! He will direct you for good!

Let me know if there's anything I can do for y'all! Love all of you! Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Goold 

 

 

A glimpse at our family phone call this week:   {Adam in Farmington, OR, Ellie, Spence, and Mom at home, Dad in Saint George at work, Cami, Garrett, and Lucie at home in Alabama, Emma {not pictured} at work}

{Letter #44} Service is a Blast!

 Hi everyone! I hope all of you are doing well! This is going to be a pretty short email, but things are going really well here in Farmington! A couple random things that happened from this week: Stake President's Council, service, more service, and lastly some fun lessons.

First off. Stake president's council! All the missionaries in the zone met with the stake president and we talked about how we can help people gain a deeper conversion to Christ in each of our areas! One of the biggest things that he wanted to emphasize was the importance of regular temple attendance! Making sure that all members are worthy to hold, and do hold an active temple recommend. It was incredible to hear some of the reasons why temples bless our lives! They truly are the house of the Lord! We get closer to him when we attend regularly.

Second. We had a lot of service this week, ranging from wood chopping, moving people, gardening, and cleaning the church.  It was all good. Serving others is a blast!

And lastly, we had a lot of pretty bashy lessons this week! It has been really interesting that this area out in the farm country has a lot more people that want to bash with us than any other area.

My Spiritual thought from this week is the talk by President Nelson called  "Peacemakers Needed". I invite all of you to read it and focus on one thing he invites us to do! Try your best to do it through the coming week! I promise that as you do you will be closer to God, your family, and all people around you!

Let me know if there's anything I can do for you! Love you all! Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Goold

A glimpse at our family phone call today:   Adam in Farmington, Lucie and I on a walk here in Utah, Garrett at home in AL, Cami on her way to work, Spence just finished with his first day at a new job.  Dad was in a meeting at work, Emma was at work, Ellie is at YW Camp at Flaming Gorge.  

{Letter #43} Marriage {and a Baptism} is What Brings Us Together Today

Hi everyone!

I hope all of you are doing well! This has been a crazy week, but so good! A quick summary of what happened: Exchanges, Sacrament meeting talk, and Michael!

First off, this week I was able to go on exchanges with the Elder Endemano. We stayed here in Farmington, which was a bit of a fun time because I've only been here for just over a week. It was really good! We talked a lot about what it means to be a good leader, and how Christ is the perfect leader. He is also a perfect follower. We must be a good follower of Jesus Christ and of God before we can be a good leader.

Next, I gave a talk in sacrament meeting! It is actually time first time that I have been asked to do so on my mission. They gave me about 2 days notice, so it was a fun time prepping for that. It was really insightful to find all the scriptures I did on how we can feel the Spirit more in our life. I was definitely aided by the Spirit in prepping for that talk.

Lastly, our friend Michael came to church! It was actually mine and Elder Cramer's first time meeting him, but he told us that he's getting married to his girlfriend next month! And he wants to be baptized the very next day! It was so exciting that he is that eager to take the necessary steps to come closer to God!

Lastly for my spiritual thought I wanted to share a scripture I used in my talk. Mormon (a prophet from the Book of Mormon) taught:

"And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God."

When we follow Jesus Christ, Repent, and make or keep promises with Him and with God, We will have the Spirit to be with us! We will feel greater joy than ever before as we seek to do this every single day!

Let me know if there's anything I can do for you! Love you all!

Love,
Elder Goold

A glimpse at our family phone call this week:   Adam in Farmington, Ellie and I in Alabama with Cam, Lucie, and Garrett, Spence at home in Utah, Glen in Saint George, Emma (not pictured) at work

{Letter #42} SEARCH AND RESCUE: To Seek and Save

Hey Everyone! I hope all of you are doing well! This week was very busy, but so good! A quick summary: Zone Conference, interviews, exchanges, and the temple!

First off, we went to the temple today! If you haven't been to the temple, or haven't been recently, you should go! It is a place that we learn more about God's plan for us and can feel His love!

Yesterday we went on exchanges! It was really fun actually! I got to ride around on bike for the first time in 2 transfers, so that was nice. We were able to find a couple new people to teach and a few more that were interested, it was a really good exchange. Elder Francom and I also got to talk a lot about goal setting and what we can do to set more effective goals that stretch us, but are still achievable. Ultimately, we decided that the key to doing that is involving Christ in our goal setting. As we do so, we will deepen our conversion to Him and also be more able to help others do the same.

We also had interviews with President Haymond yesterday! We did them in the mission office and just got to talk with Sister Haymond while we waited. It was really good! We got to hear a lot about their story from before their mission. It was a powerful witness that they were called of God to lead the missionaries here! The actual interview was super short. We talked a little bit about how to help other missionaries be more diligent and accountable, ultimately making these things natural and something that pushes us to be better. It was good!

Lastly, zone conference! The theme of this one was Search and Rescue, to Seek and Save.

 It was possibly one of the best ones that I have had since getting out. They talked about how it is our sacred responsibility to be the ones that carry God's children to Christ. We need to seek out the one soul that has strayed from the fold of God. As missionaries, we are called to invite others to come unto Christ. That is everyone's duty who has found Christ in their life! To be a light, a guide, and a support as other people are lost and seeking for truth!

I invite each one of you to find a way to be a light to those around you this week! Show your love for others! Jesus Christ taught:

"Let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

When we shine our light, we will be happier! God will bless us and we will have a stronger relationship with those around us!


I hope y'all have a great week! Love all of you! Let me know if there's anything I can help with!


Love,
Elder Goold