Monday, July 27, 2015

It's about family...

Okie doke a'ma,
It has been amazing... Seriously. 
Ok. so, some hard and fast updates.
First, this week has been awesome.
(questions from me....)
1.  How are you? I am amazing! Seriously.   
2. How is Elder Goodman doing? I am doing SUPER WONDERFUL.  We are working really hard.... like.....'all your heart might mind and strenth'....and let me tell you.....it is the best:)  
3.  How is your new Mission President?  He is awesome.  They are pure love.
4.  Lots of differences/changes?  Not yet, maybe in the future.

OK. This week, seriously, has been awesome.
Just do let you know, the first lesson we teach, is based on 2 things. 
1. That God loves us.
2. That the Gospel, He has given us, blesses FAMILIES.
One of the best things, one of the things we focus on as missionaries, you know are families:)
We have seen that this week!
We have a FAMILY, M... and J...  When we found M..., I think I told you about that,  she was by herself.  After listening to the first lesson, she decided to not go through a "seperation or divorce" process and decided to go back to her husband.  He then decided to listen, because of a friend that told him what we did, and decided to ask his wife (M...) if she wanted to listen too. Of course, they found out that each was listening to our message, and they asked us to teach them together.  It has been so great.  They have been listening and they went to church this week.  What has been so great is that they were really a family, that many would label "dysfunctional."  But in these last days, peolpe have asked them what they have changed because they are different.  They normally respond, "We decided to listen to God."
Then there is M... and her husband L....  They decided to also listen.  Although M... had listened for awhile, she had never decided to go to church until her husband listened, and decided to go.  When they went, it was great to see. (L... is a hard core construction worker....and he lookes like a boss)  When they went there to visit, to see them feel the spirit, to listen, and live happily, it was one of the best things ever.  They, by the small things, are also transforming.
It is a principle I love, but that I wanted to share.  The GOSPEL IS MEANT FOR FAMILIES. :) hahahahahaha! 
Thank you for all YOU have done so that my family can be Gospel Centered, and that my life, has been so blessed.   To be a home centered on Christ and not on something else.  I love you so much.  And no, I am not getting trunky... EVER.  If you don't believe me pray about it;)
But I am thankful, and I will always be happy to see those changes as we all use the atonement. I love you each so much.
Love,
Elder Goodman.

Sorry kids.... I didn't write any body today, only you guys, and I still didn't have much time for some technical difficutlies BUT....
Faye... I love you.  Thank you so much for all you share and your trust. I am always praying for you.  Whether you are ok or not:)  And Know that I will ALWAYS love you, always.  Have a great week.
Ash... Work hard broskies.  Do awesome.  Read Preach My Gospel chap. 6:)
Dai... I love you.  You are going to have to reteach me how to swim buddy:)
Liz.... I LOVE YOU. BIIIIIIGGGGGGGG HUGS!!!!!
Dad... Thanks for all you do. 
Hope you guys have a great week. Much more said and explained later;)
Love,
Elder Goodman :)


That fish was cool...we got to touch got to touch monkey, birds and things!  This bird wanted to eat my hand..... :D

 This fish tried to bite me, but there was glass :)  I have decided when I have some money, I want an aquarium/hall like this....


 Last picture as a threesome/trio :)

 "Virtud" is "Virtue"--- I LOVE IT!!


Not our will, not our time...

Oh my goodness!!!!!!! Thank you soooooo much for all you do! I love you all SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!! This week has been so awesome!!!!!
So this week, the Lord has been teaching me, and it has really been such a miracle:)  I love seeing how the Lord hastens His OWN work.  I know maybe I have said that like 5 billion times, but it is something that He changes, and He works in ways I might never understand, but we just have to have the faith:)
This week we have been talking with an investigator, M.... She has been going to church for about a month and a half.  She was going to get baptized a while ago, but she backed out because of some doubts and problems she was having.  She wasn't sure about a lot of things, and her family was a little mad because she was going to be "Mormon".  Well, we have been working with her these last weeks.  She has been changing, little by little.
BUT, the miracles come after the trial of our faith:)  As she was between the days we were visiting her, she asked the Lord what she should do and He answered.  Not just one time, but MANY times, in ways WE never would have been able to.  When we visited M..., we were ready to ask, to help, and to strengthen once again.  But after we finished the prayer she said "Elder, I want to get baptized."  We just stood there in shock.  We didn't know why, we didn't know how, but she decided.  Then  she added, "The sooner the better."  She decided to get baptized this last week on Saturday:)  On Sunday she bore her testimony and she said, "I'm not just Mormon, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, and if someone has a problem with that, they can go right ahead and have a problem with that."  It was one of the sweetest testimonies I have ever heard and it touched my heart.  So many people don't understand, it isn't about the missionaries.  It isn't about a church.  It is about our loving Heavenly Father who has a plan and who wants us to live with him again. We take upon us the name of Christ and that changes everything.
I know this is short. But I want you to know how much I love you. I KNOW THIS IS THE LORD'S WORK, AND HE HASTENS IT IN HIS TIME. 
I love you all so much:)
Love,
Elder Goodman!

 It has been a little rainy :)

 We taught the primary kids about missionary work!  Best class ever!


Friday, July 10, 2015

Simple things that cause significant change :)

Mom! Thanks so much for everything you do!

This week has been a little different. We are in a trio.... or a threesome. (that is why the pic has 3 people.)
We now have a bigger area, but we are working hard and we have seen quite a few miracles this week.
First, was J.... He is 10 years old and his parents have been inactive for quite awhile.  Well, Jose decided to change that.  We passed by (in the street) and he told us, "Hey, can you visit our family?"  Well of course:)  We started visiting.  J... wants to get baptized and he is super excited, so he said he will start being an example.  He prays, and is going to church with his family again.  But the part I loved the most, is what we saw this past Saturday.  He told us he had been reading.  And although he didn't understand everything, he felt good.  WE felt good.  It was a powerful testimony for me, to know that the Book of Mormon, in and of itself, is powerful.  Anyone can read or listen to it.  When they do it, they feel good.  What a BLESSING! Seriously! It was wonderful!!!!
Another experience...C...and E....(a couple) E... is inactive, and C... is investigating.  They have been together for 5 years.  Well, we were able to visit them for the first time this week. They told us they wanted changes.  If you want a change in results, you have to change the formula:) --and that is what we told them.  They have started reading, they went to church, and they loved it.  But something great was this... we went to visit E... the other day, and when we asked her before the opening prayer, if she would like us to pray for anything special.  She said, "Pray that my husband can get baptized soon"  That is when we truly realized that they weren't in it just because it was interesting or fun, or that they wanted a different social group.  They were in it for their family and they are giving 100%.  That is what the Lord asks. And those are the ones He searches for. :)
I feel like that is what the Lord has once again taught me this week.  We teach three
"Celestial Habits" 
1. Pray. 
2. Read the Book of Mormon. 
3. Go to church. 
(primary answers.) But as we do them, we get better at them, and change the WAY we do them...THEN it is amazing.  These two families are proof of it.  As we do celestial things, we become Celestial people.  I love you so so much:)  Please say "hi" to the Acors for me!  Give Cason A HUGE HUG! And let him know how happy I am for him:)
Thanks for everything!!!
Love
Elder Goodman!




We must be willing to give...

Thank you sooooooo much Mom!!!  For everything!!!!!
I really am so grateful for all you and dad have done, all your sacrifice and help.
This week has been wonderful:)
If I haven't told you, we have a plan as an area of Mexico.  It is in Spanish but I will be trying to share a part with you!!!!!
So, this plan is from the Area Presidency and we have been sharing it with everyone so that they can know what the Lord wants from us, as members here in Mexico!!!!
AND LET ME TELL YOU, IT HAS BEEN AMAZING!!!
The plan has a sentence that I love.  It says we will need to increase our faith, our sacrifice, and our faithfulness   We as missionaries have had to do it, as well as the members.  With more faith, really, it means more miracles:)
And that is what we have seen... I know....I am like repeating the same thing...sorry.  I will move forward.  
Anyway, there are three points of emphasis in this plan.
1. Pay a generous fast offering and a full tithe.
2. Help one person every day recieve the ordinaces that will bring them back to their Heavenly Father
3. Look for the names of our ancestors and help them receive the ordinances in the temple.
And then there is a promise that is wonderful.
It includes opening the windows of heaven, having profound family relationships, and being able to be protected from the lashings of the world.... just to name a few.
Well seriously, that is what we have seen.  If you want to increase your faith, you have to increase your action.  We as missionaries have to ask more people, talked more, prepared better, we have been MORE obedient.  We have studied harder and paid more attention to the Holy Ghost.  Members find ways to sacrifice as well, and as they sacrifice, they see miracles.  There is a less active member, named A....  She has a daughter that is 19 and not baptized.  When she heard about this plan, the plan of our mission, she decided to get to it!  She is going to church, and preparing to go to the temple.  As she begun and has started to sacrifice, and her daughter has started listening to the Gospel.  Now the daughter is deciding to change, and wants to get baptized!
There is another family, and their child struggles with the ways of the world.  They didn't know how to help him, but as they have put the Lord first, the Lord has touched their son's heart, and he has started to change.  He wants to return to church, and he has continued to change.
There is another family, that is trying to share the Gospel every day!  They have a couple that they know.  They talked with them, and now that couple is listening.  They also want to join the Church, so they can be closer to the Lord.
The point is, this plan is wonderful.  If they are less active members, or only part of the family is member, or the family is active, the Lord has asked for more sacrifice.  And we are giving it all we've got:)
I think the best thing about it is the testimony the experience gives each person willing to give more, willing to sacrifice.  God STILL loves us.  He STILL talks to us.  He is STILL aware of everything that is going on.  And HE will hasten HIS work in HIS time.  We just have to have faith, and sacrifice a little more:)
I just wanted to share that with you.  It has been great to see, and teach, and feel. 
I love you, and I am thankful, mom and dad, for the sacrifices you made so that our family could have the relationships we have today.
I LOVE YOU!!
Love,
Elder Goodman!!!