Thursday, November 21, 2013

Lovin' this missionary!

Did not get the pics he was trying to send :(  Just have to imagine his smile this week!!

Familia! 
Hola Familia! Hey! So, I sent pics. This baptism was Benjamin....I don't remember if I explained him, but his mom is a convert and his dad is an investigator. Benjamin really wanted to be baptized, so we taught him the lessons! It was really special and sweet, and I felt so crazy! It was so cool just seeing his excitement, and being able to say the words for my first time, cheesy things like that! It was so cool for me to feel that, at that time, I was exactly where I needed to be! And I wanted to do so much more! My comp thought it was so funny that I almost said consecrate, not commissioned. because they are close in Spanish, but it was all good!!! No re dos:) 
The other thing, is Senior Comp! Yeah! So my comp is the same, but he is now district leader! So while he is taking care of stuff for district, I help with the plans for our area! Also, when we do divisions, my comp goes to check their area, and I take the menor (new/younger) companion and we work in our area! It is crazy! I'm not ready for that! But with the Lord, all is possible and just know it isn't that big! Don't worry... I'm still in training...haha!
Also, before I forget, I have the letters that I wrote. But the problems is finding a Fed Ex in this area. We haven't found anything, but we are trying and it does take about a month for a letter...I'm sorry! But we are searching!
Ok...well, this week was ok! We have a pilot program in the area, that an investigator has to go to church 5 times before being baptized (sorry for repeated info, please let me know what parts the next week, so I don't do it again),  and we have quite a few who have gone 4 times! It is so awesome! But also, we have been working on finding new investigators...this leads to interesting stories...haha!  One is Ron. Ron is a wonderful man, but he speaks English. This week I realized I don't know how to teach in English…haha!  But really, it has been ok! His wife is Mexican, and she prefers Spanish, but he is from the states. So we teach and translate the whole time! It is really fun! She (the spouse) flipped when I started speaking Spanish too. That is the best look! So they are new and we are helping them, but not much has started. We also found a man named Jose, who lives by chedaui, which is like a Walmart. He doesn't have a house, but as we were walking by, we felt like we should talk to him (the fact was we were in front of a catholic church). He asks, "Are you Jehovah Witnesses?!" And I said.. "Uh...no! We are missionaries…yadayada."  Well he decided he really wanted to change, so we have been teaching him. My comp was blunt with him, and said something like,  "Jose, do you really want to change? Because if you don't we have places to be and things to do.  But if you do, we will stay and talk... your choice." I was impressed! I think my comp was a little upset about a visit that had fallen through...but it worked out. With tears in his eyes, Jose said, "Of course I want to change. But I don't know how." OHHHHHHHHHMAN! What a perfect question. I got to testify we have a perfect way, and that God loves him and is so ready to help. That is another start! 
Also, finally, we got one of our menos-activos (less actives) to church, named Juan Jose! The guy has had some problems in the past, and had been drinking with his buddies at work. But we met him and he said "Hey! You guys should visit." I don't know if he was serious at the time, but we did! And anyway, we have been teaching him, and he wanted to change, starting with church. He talked to his boss for Sundays off, and his boss didn't believe him. So us, being missionaries, had to prove it... and we also got to talk to them about the Gospel! But the best part- JUAN JOSE IS COMING TO CHURCH! 
Anyway, we have had a lot of work, we had supposedly 30 people coming to church, less actives and investigators on Sunday, but they didn't come. In fact, only 4 came. That was rough. But we are gonna fix that.:)
Anyway, that was the week! Really awesome, and full of all kinds of things! But also, I was almost kissed (as a greeting) and I just about peed my pants. That was so scary. And I've realized when I return...I really won't know how to talk to girls. It will be like I'm 12 years old.  And, I got a solo in this huge missionary activity. Whoopee! Shoot me now! Thanks for everything! Hope I answered some questions! The pics took forever! Love ya!
Love,
Elder Lincoln Ellis Goodman

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

One Busy Elder :D

I just have to say what a blessing it is to have a missionary and to hear the experiences of these young men (in my case) bear their genuine testimonies with the love of the Savior.  I know they influence many with their words as well as their actions, both in Mexico and hear at home.  I am feeling so much gratitude for this great 'Plan of Happiness' which continues to bless my life!  Ok, enough from this missionary mom who is probably too emotional! haha……..

Christmas! You don't have to send anything.  I am ok thanks:) Plus don't want you to pay a bum load for it! No worries!!!! But thanks!!!!! I actually do have one thing...a pair of pants...like dress pants! Ok, 2 things- A pair of pants...same size and things...but regular fit if possible.   Also bottle caps and that is about it! And pics if you want! But the pants were something that if possible would be awesome! Thanks for everything! Also, I don't neeeeeeed anything! But like...in the next year that would be sick! Thanks!!! I love you!!!! Sounds really busy! I hope all is well!!! Hope you guys still do a bunch of stuff as a fam....because those are the things I miss most!!!! The most important:) Like watching family home videos or playing games. haha! Anyway, hope all is well! I love the weekly updates! And I hope I respond to questions! If I need to make the letters shorter, longer, more in depth, about other things, I don't know! Let me know! I will share whatever!!! 

Sooooooo... This week! It has been a party. The goal was to get my companion so tired that he couldn't excercise the next day, and mission was accomplished. We have been teaching a bum load, and finding more people!!!! It has been great! Just talking to everyone, lots of funny experiences that way. One part, we were asking for rides and I asked the man politley in Spanish. His reply was, "I don't speak English." My response was, "I know! That is why I am speaking Spanish right now." He said.." I also don't speak Spanish." hahaha! We went on to explain the Gospel to him. Another experience was some fun men who had gotten off of work and decided to party! They were in the street, and one of them needed the Gospel. Don't know which one, but I went and contacted them. They all got really quiet and listened,  and a couple wanted to hear more! So it was all good! But there was like 20 men....so we gave out a bunch of pass a long cards and pamphlets also. They were loving it! And my companion decided I'm a freak. hahaahahaha! 
Also, on the less actives, it has been awesome! We have finally gotten families to understand the Temple, and a lot of them have that goal. When they remember what they believe and why, it is so wonderful! We have helped them come to church with rides, and setting budgets and things. It has really helped! And we always love family home evening!
Investigators have been wonderful! We have a lot of work, and are always teaching. Sometimes they have a problem thinking it isn't just a religion that they want, but that it is the true church and why that is important! It is so cool when the investigators finally gain testimonies and realize how awesome the Gospel really is... or recieve help from God. It is so cool! And I really really love these people. Each is so amazing and sometimes during a lesson it clicks, and I feel like I am teaching a brother or sister of mine, and I just want to go crazy and say "Do you understand who you are?!" haha! But I love it. I love it so much and I am so glad! Jesus is the one with a baby on the way. He is one of my favorites and he is so crazy awesome. He loves his family and has been prepared so well. He is in our gospel priciples class, which is taught by a man who is really enthusiastic but explains things in a difficult way.  Anyway, after the class Jesus asks, " So....we can't have tattoos or donate blood right? I never want to violate my body if it is a temple of God." And we had to explain is was perfectly fine. ahahaha! 
Anyway, this was a testimony to me. That yeah, the Lord wants us to preach the Gospel but it isn't all on us. He has prepared those people, so it is ok if sometimes we mess up! It has been a great week, and really busy! I love the work. If you want to know how it is going, it is always wonderful. The things that bug me or are hard don't matter by now because at the end of the day I take a step back and understand that it is ok! I love this work! I love you guys! And hope all is well!!!! Thanks for all you always do!!!!!! Also....I have baptized a couple people! Didn't know if you wanted pics! But the newest one was just  8 years old...his dad is our other investigator but he wanted to be baptized...so yeah! It was really cool! The other baptisms have been wonderful! Hope all is well!
Love,
Elder Lincoln Ellis Goodman!

Oh, and changes...transfers happened. I'm new senior comp....SHOOT DOG. OUR AREA IS SCREWED. haha


Elder Goodman at the last of interviews by President Wagner
(Yes, Lincoln…we want more pictures!!!) :)
Can't get enough of his smile :)

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Another week :)


Parentheses added for interpretation by this missionary mom…trying to decipher what Lincoln is saying can be super fun! haha  I love this missionary kid of mine!

Hey! Of course I got a what do you call them.....those thinks that crush stuff up?? I forgot...you make smoothies...yeah!  (Lincoln couldn't remember the name of a blender, haha)  Anyway...got one of those! 
The costumes were really sick! D was awesome! And That is awesome about the whole week! Well, this week was a little different. We had to go to the church a lot, which is about a 30 minute ride if you have money for a bus...but if you use a crazy driver that gives you a ride, it can go a little faster! Anyway, we had interviews during the day, and I'm in a missionary choir,  so I decided that meant we would have to go crazy at night trying to contact people....we always got home dead tired! No worries! Well! This week we didn't get to teach Jesus, his wife is having her baby...stinking birth....no excuses for Salvation! hahahaaha! The English girl went to a different area this week...so nothing on her also. But we have a bum load of others we worked with! Saul and Amelia, they are awesome! Amelia gave me a haircut and she is basically my mom here....she is always worried, and she makes sure my tie is straight....haha! They are accepting the lessons really well! Also, a menos activo se llama Juan Jose (less active member)...he got dengue (mesquite disease), so we went to go give him a blessing! We brought the Elders quorum President and it was really good! I gave another blessing...the words aren't perfect, and it is simple, but they help, and I think he was better after! Sometimes I think I get too worried about the language! 
Then we had this awesome new investigator! Her name is Aurora. And she is so stinking ready. We opened up with a prayer, and she just started talking about feelings of peace! Then how she was so glad we were there, and that we had something... and she basically taught that God is our Loving Heavenly Father and we need prophets.....she was so bomb! She also has a restaurante, and she cooked fish! It was super good! 
Well, I think I answered questions ma! Hopefully! My companion doesn't like contacting, and we have to do 10 a day, where we talk, and teach parts of lessons. It is a little different. Or sometimes, I just stand up in a bus and we start teaching everyone! Anyway, one time, we hadn't done much contacting throughout the day, and we had about 30 minutes. I decided to pray about it, because I didn't want to just rush and contact 10 random people.  I wanted 10 people who were ready for the Gospel. So I sat there, and prayed, and my comp thought I was a freak. But after that, we went out and almost every single person we talked to gave us an opprotunity to meet with them again and gave us phone numbers! It was pretty cool! When the Lord helps with things like that, you know you are doing his work! 
Also, I don't know what  people have heard about my comp…the kid is a doof! But he is a good kid! I just wanted you to know he isn't horrible! haha! He works hard.....yeah....ok...and he is really good kid! He is way into technology and is from Columbia! But I just wanted you to know he is a good kid! He has a lot of patience with this 18 year old who is always going at it and being a psycho about the Gospel...haha! I love you! Hope all is well!
Love,
Elder Goodman!
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