{Letter #77} We're Going

 

Hi everyone! This week was super good--lots of fun things happening, including Mission Leadership Council (MLC), Stake President's Council (SPC), Just Serve meeting, zone council, and baptism.

First off,  Hunter, who I talked about last week, got baptized this weekend! I wasn't able to go because he lives pretty far away, but he said it was really great! Hunter is very very prepared to come closer to Christ and continue to do so now that he has been baptized.

Between MLC, SPC, zone council and the JustServe meeting, we had a lot of meetings this week.   Most of them were planned, except for the JustServe one which we got pulled into right as it started.

Here are a couple of the big takeaways from these meetings:

-this is the Lord's work, not ours
-as such, we should be anxious to account to the Lord for what He has trusted us with
-we are partners in this work with all people who have made covenants with God (i.e. people who have been baptized or been through the temple)
-serving in the community is also an important way to do the Lord's work
-Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice are central to everything we do

All in all, having so many meetings was fun and inspiring, but definitely a little tiring as well.

My spiritual thought for this week is going to come from Abinadi's teachings in The Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Abinadi, quoting Isaiah, taught:

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Mosiah, 14:3-5)

Jesus Christ knows all that we go through! He can heal us from all our troubles and pains if we choose to turn to Him!

I love you all! let me know if I can do anything for you all! I hope you have the best week!

Make it count!

Love,
Elder Goold

PS  I got a new nephew this week!   Oliver Glen Bourne was born yesterday and is very, very cute.

PS #2   Here's a glimpse at our family phone call this week.   Ellie in Arizona, Mom at home, Me in Tualatin, Dad in Saint George, Spence at home, Cami, Garrett, and Oliver in Alabama, Emma in her car on the way to the temple.