{letter #102} Rain in Portland? Unbelievable.

Hi everyone! I hope all of you are doing great! What is something cool that's happened lately?

It's been a great week here in Mt. Hood! Not a lot in the way of eventful things but here's what happened: some lessons, we got rain!, more time in Damascus, and some fun kids!

First off, we had some awesome lessons with our friends this week! Several of our friends are preparing to be baptized soon and are working hard to get to that point. They could all use some extra prayers right now. So if you could keep Lori, Wendy, Ashley, Jen, and Edgar in your prayers that would be great!

We had several instances this last week where we had little kids ask us what we were doing (while knocking at someone's door), after we told them we were missionaries and talk about Jesus they then point us to several houses to visit! All of which invited us back! That is crazy! God works in many ways to lead us to the people who He has prepared, we just need to be willing to be lead.

I got to spend some more time in my first area again. Saw another couple people that I had worked with early on in my mission. It's a really special experience to see how people have continued to learn and grow in the last 18 months.

We got rained on yesterday! It's quite an experience getting rained on while on a bike, but it was actually a lot of fun! For as much rain as we get during certain times of the year, it weirdly doesn't often rain this time of year here in Portland, so it was a fun change.

My spiritual thought for this week is going to be from Moroni's teachings in Ether 12 in The Book of Mormon-Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Moroni taught:

"And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father."

I love how simply this teaches about Christ's love! He loves you enough to lay down His own life for you!

We must have the pure love of Christ in our lives to return to our Father! It's a lifelong process that is made possible through Jesus Christ! As we strive to follow Him we will be filled with that love!

I hope you all have a great week! I am praying for you!

Love,
Elder Goold

Pics from this week: 

Hiked to Latourell Falls today 

Got to ride in a Cybertruck this week!  

A glimpse at our family call this week (me in Mount Hood, Mom, Dad, Ellie, and Denali in Saint George, Spence at home, Cami and Lucie in the car in Birmingham, Emma in Provo) :  

{letter #88} A Baptism and Some Nature!

Hi everyone! How were all of your weeks? What was a highlight? This week has been insane! Mary got baptized!!, transfers, drove to the airport, musical devotional, Mission Leadership Council (MLC), and we went on a hike today!

First thing that happened was transfers! I stayed in Canby and got a new companion Elder Cherry! He goes home even sooner than I do, so this will be a fun next transfer!

The day following transfers we drove Elder Owens to the airport to depart to his original assignment. I didn't think I'd be back to the airport before I was completing my mission, so it was a little weird.

Immediately following that we went to the church for Mary's baptism! The baptism was awesome! Not a ton of people were there, but Mary loved it and was super excited to have the Spirit with her more!  I was also happy that Jim (someone I taught in Tualatin) was baptized this past week as well! 

Sunday we had an awesome musical devotional all about Jesus! Music is a way that invites the Spirit to communicate with us strongly. It's also a way to drive away the Spirit very fast. Listen to uplifting music! It will bless your life!

MLC was Monday. They talked a bunch about integrity. It was also held outdoors. That was fun! Switched things up a bit! Elder Bangerter's talk from general conference was brought up and kept coming to my mind. It's awesome. Go listen to it! You will learn something new!

Lastly, we went to Columbia Gorge as a zone today! That was awesome! We had an almost 5 mile hike and saw lots of pretty views! I have missed being in nature. It is amazing what God has created!

For my spiritual thought this week I wanted to share something Moroni (and lots of other prophets) wrote:

"God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing"

God does not change! He loves us. He performs miracles. He protects us. He guides us. And the list could go on forever! He will always do these things! I invite you to look for what God does in your life! You will see His hand!

I love you all! I hope you have a great week! I am praying for you!

Love,
Elder Goold

Here are a bunch more pics from the hike:  

A glimpse at our family phone call this week:   Me in Canby, Mom and Lucie at home in Alpine, Ellie in Idaho, Emma driving to Alpine, Dad in Saint George.   Cami and Spence were at the gym.