{Letter #52} The Sky is Falling, The Sky is Falling!

 Okay, okay.  The sky isn't actually falling, but it has just been a crazy crazy week. A lot has happened, and the sky falling is kinda what it feels like currently. Here's a summary of all the stuff: Elder Dahl finished his mission, serving with Hazeldale Elders, training(!!!!), transfers, temple, and lots of interviews/meetings.

I'll start with the temple. President & Sister Botchway gave us some Tongan ancestor's names to take through the temple. That was awesome. The temple is an amazing place! You should go. It is a house of peace, learning, and the House of the Lord!

My previous companion, Elder Dahl, completed his mission! He had to pack a bunch, so Wednesday and Thursday were pretty full of that. We dropped him off at the mission office Thursday afternoon, then I went with the Hazeldale Elders until transfers the next day.

I have lived with one of those Elders {Elder Partridge} for 6/9 transfers on my mission, but those ~24 hours were the first time that I've been his companion *technically*. We had a total of 3 lessons during that time, all were pretty good. Teaching in a trio is definitely a unique experience.

On Friday night I got to pick up my brand new missionary! His name is Elder Thatcher! He's awesome. He's going through a lot of things that new missionaries often do with the adjustment period. He's a very solid teacher and has a strong testimony of Jesus Christ! I'm looking forward to the next few weeks of this transfer.  In the picture below, Elder Thatcher is the one right behind me in the blue suit.

There have been so many interviews and meetings since the transfer began. We have driven to the mission office almost every day. They have all been good, a collection of meetings to help trainers, trainees, and also just interviews with President Botchway.

In addition to all this, as of today it has been 1 year since I began my mission! Time has flown by. It has been a great year! Lots of amazing people, both missionaries, members, and friends that have made my mission what it is to me today!

Also, it has been about 105 degrees out the last couple days and the houses here don't have central air conditioning, so that's fun.

My spiritual thought for this week is going to come from Chapter 5 of "Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ"

In preparation for district council on Monday, we all read the section: The Book of Mormon Testifies of Christ. after we had studied that section we answered these questions at the end of the section:


-What have you learned about Jesus Christ from your study of the Book of Mormon?


-How has your study of the Book of Mormon influenced your testimony of Jesus Christ?


I invite all of you to ponder on those questions! Write them down somewhere! I testify that the Book of Mormon is the greatest witness we have of Jesus Christ as our living Savior! If you don't have a testimony of that, I invite you to study ponder and pray about the Book of Mormon.

It will change your life! It will make Christ a part of your every day life! You will be happier! You will have peace!

Love y'all (my mom was right about this part). Let me know if there's anything I can do for you! I'm praying for all of you!

Love,
Elder Goold

A glimpse at our family phone call this week:  (Emma, Garrett, and Spence were at work)

And another little tidbit he shared with me this week...his current ward gives the missionaries a lot of food, which means he's had very little to buy since he's been here.