The blessing of family!

This week was a short one…but also good to here from him as always!

Well..I'm gonna bookit. So sorry if you have to correct a lot! 

This week has been one of a kind. What week isn't on the mission? Well, I had to travel all day Monday. I had to drop off one of the Assistants in Tepic, and then went to ´Puerto Vallartas. That is where I am, Puerto Vallartas. They have colonies. I have an area of about 4 of the colonies. That is why I hitchhike all the time! We live in Valle Dorado and It is really fun! 

Well, one of the coolest things, we had an awesome week! One of our days, Wednesday, we walked around the whole of Valle Dorado, not teaching one lesson. We visited over 30 people and contacted like 20 people. It was hilarious,  my comp was dying in the sun. He kept saying "I have never worked this hard my whole mission." That was his motto for the week! haha! We have been having a great time. Anyway, that day, we set up like 20 appointments, and then we were booked the rest of the week. So the whole day we were pretty down, but then we figured it out. It was the day of 'set up.'-- haha! Also, we had a baptism! It was a family from Alaska. Pierce needed a testigo (witness).....what is that word in English? Anyway…. yeah- but they decided to feed us and kill us with kindness. They then left to go celebrate in a private room, while me and my comp stuffed ourselves. It was great! Couldn't figure out if it was a night of blessing or cursing, but it was all good! Also, the investigator who speaks English, is coming along great. She is going through some hard times with her family, so Heavenly Father is a blessing to her. 

But my favorite moments this week was Jesus. He is an investigator, with a wife who was baptized, but hasn't gone to church since she was 8 years old. They are seriously one of the sweetest couples. Jesus was traveling all week, so we couldn't teach him, but he came to church for the second time this week. So that was special. He was looking forward to it! He actually texted us....haha! And, he is like 40 btw....just in case. His wife is pregnant also. Anyway, so he comes to church and he just goes crazy! He loves using hermano and hermana siempre (always using 'brother' and 'sister'), and he enjoys everything about it! We got to teach him about the Plan of Salvation, and his face lit up when we talked about eternal marriage and the temple.  Another family, the Romeros, who are inactive, we also had a lesson with them. I got to teach about the temple and how special is was to me....how neat! It was so cool for me! They had set a goal to go to the temple by December to get sealed. I'm so freakin excited. They are amazing.

 Well, not too much-- Sorry! But we have had some big news from president...don't know what it is, but i have to write him more this week! Hope you got the photos! Enjoy Halloween! If you want, send pics! Love you guys with all my heart!

Family... I just wanted to say I am SO happy we get to be together forever. i just wanted to let you know.

Love you!

Elder Goodman!:)

  it poured for days. the water was up to my knees in the streets! So yeah….

 This is one of our less active families! They are kicking butt. and we are cleaning their house...it is a different kind of cleaning in Mexico..

Me and Elder Farmer....We were the demolition squad for many a pieces of furniture.

This is visiting Guadalajara! it was beautiful. hopefully these are right pics...I can't see 

them.

These are my friends the cows...They are camera shy.

 This is the baptism.  I had to go in the water to witness...

So we had a baptism...in the mar... the ocean. It was bomb! But before, the people payed for a beach front buffet.  So we stuff our faces and had a great time!

Working hard, doing well!!

Loving the fact that he doesn't know if he is typing in Spanish or English!! haha

Hey! 

Today, we don't have any time. I had to go to Guadalajara, 6 hour bus drive, and do some stuff, and don't know if I will have the chance tomorrow! I have like 10 minutes, so get ready to get overloaded by a bunch of random stuff.  

Well, first..... I am really happy I know how to work, because I do it at our house, and in the field! It is getting to be better weather! We don't wake up sweating as much! I love it!   Also, I bought a soccer ball and the most expensive cologne they have....Axe.... I don't think it was much! But I'm just letting you know what I bought! 

Our investigators this week were amazing!!!!!!! We have been working hard.....or at least trying, and it is really paying off. We went from having 0 to 5 investigators and menos activos (less active) to 20! That is like a third of the ward....haha! So it might not sound like a lot, but it is really good! My comp always asks when I'm going to run out of energy......haha! It is really funny! The sun seems to wear out a lot of the missionaries! Also, we have some awesome baptisms coming up! Since it was a new area, they are all people we have taught from the beginning, which is so awesome. And they are amazing! Also, we have a rule in the mission, someone has to go to church 5 times before baptism, so it takes a while, but this week has been great! 

Also, all the people in the ward, know me as Elder HombreBueno ('Good Man'),  and it was funny... we received two referrals because the investigators said "I wish I knew a good young man." One of the people in the ward said "Yeah! I know one! That is his name! You should listen to them!" haha! The members just laugh and we have a great time when we eat with them, they are always surprised that I get all the jokes....not like I had a dad that did the same thing or something....:) They are happy I can hold my own and I think it helps when we are getting referrals! I love the mission field! It is so awesome!!!!!!!! The coolest thing is when people change their lives completely for something they start knowing as truth. 

One was, we are teaching a girl and she loves listening, but she speaks English....Btw, forgot how to pray out loud in English and teach, I suck at both languages. What a bomb skill! But as we bore testimony of how the evangelio (the gospel) helped us, and changed my life, it was so cool! She was so ready. And she wants to be baptized! The Lord helps us EVERYDAY. 

I know this week is short, but not much time. Love you! Know the Lord is always there. I was reading in D & C, where it is talking about all the people that went on missions, traveling all the way to England or Canada, or other states by foot. All they wanted to do was teach what they knew! The joy they had! That is what I get to feel everyday! A joy as others change their lives, and we try to be good Representatives of Jesus Christ. I love missionary work!   We have a lot of investigators! The time I told you it was all less actives was only the first week! So just know we do all kinds of work!  Sorry if it is short! Thanks for everything! Love you! Love hearing from you!

Love,

Elder Lincoln Ellis Goodman! 

Pictures next week!

Doing Great! Little Crazy, but great!!

Love reading this kids e-mails!  Although very challenging, I know his faith is strong and that he is in the Lord's care- especially with his last little revelation!  We just pray MORE!! :)

To Who it May Concern:

   I needed to practice my buisness letters for when I get back! Hence the intro. Well, what a week.  Also, hope life is so good for everyone! This week has been awesome! At the beginning, which is like Tuesday, you wake up dead tired. And I think...HOW?! But it is all good. I think it is just because first thing in the morning I'm translating the words my companion is saying. haha! But yeah! So we have been teaching this wonderful family with a boy who has 16 years, name Saul and his mom! They are awesome! It has been so cool, and I think they are really fun! We got chased by dogs this week. I now carry around a sling shot and a packet of dog food. Both have helped me in more than one situation. haha! I love it here!

  Also, Mom and Dad, I have to warn you about virtual kidnapping and regular kidnapping. It has been happing to quite a few missionaries, and both are likely happen to me in the next two years....but don't be scared! Virtual kidnapping, they usually use just the first name on my tag, and they try and get information. They might call or something, and say they have me. But they don't! It is just a scam! So don't answer or worry! Or just hang up. And real kidnapping, you will hear from the President! They haven't had a problem yet...They always end up finding the person! So don't freak! I'm a messanger of the Lord, all is well!

   So, the coolest things! I don't know....Well, this Sunday was amazing. It was testimony meeting, and with many new converts, they were simple and sweet. It was wonderful, seeing how proud they were about what they knew. It was really cool! After, I had to teach a lesson to the Principles of the Gospel class, because the Ward Mission Leader liked that I was actually listening during one of our meetings....haha! This class is for the investigators and recent converts, or less actives! So, I'm teaching about obedience, really fun, and this man had many questions and doubts, and kind of went way off subject.  He then got mad when I answered one of his questions with the scrip from the bible.....Anyway, class was great! Then priesthood, he shows up again, and starts sharing all of these problems he has with the church. Me and my comp had left and we saw him outside, he said he was angry his questions weren't answered. So we started talking, and he actually preferred english, so I spoke to him that way. It was amazing as the Spirit became stronger and stronger.  As we talked, his face changed from angry, to thinking, to listening, to pondering and wanting more. It was wonderful! After, he said he wanted to hear more, and that he understood a lot of his doubts! It was awesome! After, my comp says "Wow, you teach español good, but you teach english really good. I be impressed" (he was speaking english) haha! It was so funny! The kid is a dork, it is so funny! Well, after that, we went to a house where the sisters had contacted about 5 months previous. We got to talk to him, and he had read the pamphlet, and understood. As we taught, he understood, and I loved answering all the questions. It was awesome! I think it was a little different for my comp because it wasn't rehearsed, and I think he has realized how much I like talking to people just because! But yeah, so in the end, we asked him to be baptized, and he said of course! IT was bomb! The Spirit is freaking amazing. And through God, all things are possible. I loved it! Well, those are just a couple things! Thanks for all you do!! You guys are amazing! I pray for you! If you want me to write anything specific, please let me know!

Love,

Elder Goodman!

 "First cute dogs I saw!" 

 "My companion falls asleep during weekly study" (At least he is smiling!)

The Beach!

First from Mexico!!

I am LOVING this kid and his letters!!

I don't know what start with....so we will go with first day. Also, sorry for any grammatical errors...different language on the computer keyboard and I'm in a shack....haha! Ok....so....first day was sick, we went to eat at the Mission President's home...it is like a 2.5 million dollar home....and it was sick! Then went and taught, which was really fun and I got to tell people about General Confrence and the good missionary stuff,  Books of Mormon, contacts, the whole jazz! And then ate these bomb tacos! Then went to the mission office! I forgot my camera this week...so sorry no pics along with the stories!

 Second day, I met my companion, Elder Monsalve! He knew how to count to ten in English....and that is about it! We have been assigned to open a new area, so we have been killing it, but we didn't recieve a map, directions, an area book, or a ward directory. Nothing. We knew one family because they said "hi elders"....that is about it! But later, we recieved an area book, so that helped! An area book has info on who the missionaries teach, investigators, or less-actives, things like that. Oh, and our house is sick! So I made sure to clean it up first (just for Mom) and the next morning, I go to the room where the hose is, or the shower, and about 30 large sewer croaches had climbed up the drain and into the bathroom. That was really cute. But we have nothing, so I smashed every single one (again for Mom) and threw them outside...We have 2 rooms. One is the kitchen and our bedroom! And the shower is in the kitchen! and the toilet is a stinkin' hole in the ground. So, we continue on.

 We have to go shopping, and we have a great time!  I got cookie crisp....just to splurge....and we went to work! They are doing a new pilot here, were you can't knock doors, but you can contact and knock when you feel prompted. It is a lot more of relying on the Lord, and referrals! And we also try to reactivate the less actives- which there are TONS.

 Later in the week, I had been having troubles breathing, and had some problems with asthma...I won't go into detail becaus it isn't important....but my eyes were always swollen shut and I was killin, and I wasn't sure why, because I took my meds! But, we found the answer! A couple cats, had decided they wanted the house, and had kittens. These aren't even slightly cute cats. These things were big and evil. so my companion recorded me beating them out of the house with a broom.....now they just sit outside our house every night...staring at us....haha! but my eyes are a little better!  Also, we bought some cheese....and it was bad....remember that hole in the ground? Yeah...it got a beating! hahahahahaha!:) but it is totally chill!

 Also, the weather! It is about 104 degrees at night, and pretty humid! Lucky enough we have a fan.That is chill, but I guess it never changes...no real winter!

Anyway, that was just the dorky stories.....share them if you want! also...I think pics are on the Guadalajara blog.

But the Spiritual part has been killer amazing. The tender mercies of the Lord are wonderful. As we have tried to contact people, we have been able to get little by little! We understand a lot more now, and it has been amazing! Everyday, you just feel the Spirit and it is always helping. We have a couple investigators. One is Benjamin, who is 8, who is just getting to understand the Gospel, with his less-active parents. The best part is, as we explain the Gospel, in a child's way, and with my crappy simple spanish, the parents I think remember why they were baptized, and want to come to church. Church is hard for people here. There is only one church in Puerto Vallarta and it costs about 200 pesos for a family one way, so it is a sacrifice. But to realize why it is important, and how wonderful it is, has been amazing. We have another, Nicole, who is 14. Her mom is the same. They listen, and they don't always give, I can't speak very good spanish. They just feel. And I think that is what the Gospel is all about! Also, because there are lots of mesquitoes here, there is a disease called Tenge, which is horrible for the people, and so we have had quite a bit of practice with blessings. But that sweet Spirit, not always stressing about what I'm saying, or if the people understand, is so amazing. I love it! We have quite a few other investigators, but I don't think I have time for all of them. But one other is awesome. That is George. We thought we were knocking on a less-active door, but he answered it. We had been a street off! But he says "You guys are missionaries? Well since you have a lesson prepared, you can teach me!" It was probably the sickest thing ever. So he is really a tender mercy for me, because that had been a rougher day. At times, it gets rough, just because people don't have time. And you say "Which is more important? Salvation or wanting to finish the soccer game?" Yeah.... i don't think that is what my companion or those people thought the gringo was going to say....and I felt rude...but they came to church though...so I'm going to count that one as the Spirit.... haha! Things like that. When you know the Spirit is with you, is so crucial and helpful. I love being able to testify everyday about things I know and that bring so much hope to other peoples lives. I got to ask quite a few people to be baptized....we try to in the first lesson...and when they figure out they want to change life, and they look at you like they are ready....it is one of the coolest things ever! Living here might be crazy, but I love life. Thanks for teaching me how to work....my companion was wigged I could clean the house in under and hour...AND IT LOOKED GOOD!  Thanks for everything! Love you, and thanks so much for the pictures! They are so bomb! Again!

 Also...you can send to the mission home....and they say everything makes it here....I had an idea not to put any Virgin Mary stickers on...and don't put elder! The people are smart! also...it takes like a month....anyways, yeah! And one time in my mission, not right now...but sometime...if you could send bottlecaps....the candy...that would be sick....they don't have those here...haha! just like for Christmas of my second year or something...but I didn't want to forget to ask! Thanks! Love you!

Love,

Elder Goodman!

New Companion- Elder Monsalve! 

4 Elders arriving in Guadalajara from the U.S.