#sharethegift

OK. SERIOUSLY. GREAT WEEK.

NUMBER ONE PRIORITY:SHARE THE GIFT!

LESSON OF THE WEEK: As you feel the joy that comes from understanding the gospel, you will want to apply what you learn.  Strive to live in harmony with your understanding.  Doing so will strengthen your faith, knowledge, and testimony.  Acting on what you have learned will bring added and enduring understanding (Preach My Gospel. Ch. 2)

This week, we have been working HARD CORE, helping the people understand the Gift. First, if you haven't seen the video, please watch it. Seriously.... "He is the Gift," it can change the way you look at Christmas.  Here on the mission, it has been a powerful tool to really let the people know WHO we really are.

First, for me, we got to see the video and get an official start to this week.  Seriously, just seeing it made me get excited.  IT IS CHRISTMAS SEASON.  THE BEST TIME TO SHARE THE GOSPEL FOR THE PEOPLE HERE AND WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE IT!

So this week, we went straight to work showing the video to anyone who would let us! Investigators, contacts, members,  EVERYONE, and it has been great. 

We had an investigator, C... he is A..'s brother and A... is a recient convert.  He had some questions about God, about if He really exists.   So we showed him the video.  At the end, he told us that he KNEW God loved him because He showed it by His actions.  C... changed, and he said, "Can I share this with someone else?"  We told him, "Of course!"  He posted it on facebook, and shared it with one of his friends, who then accepted the missionaries.

Then, we went to R.., other recent convert.  We showed him the video.  He said it was good, but he was thinking more beyond that.  The next day, he called us, "Elders! I showed it to my friend.  He is in my house right now!  Can you guys please come and teach him?!"  That was a little bit enthusiastic, so we went there after some visits and his friend was waiting.  He said he loved the feelings he got when he saw the video, and when we talked about Christ.  He decided to go to church this week!!!!! 

Last, was a sister in our ward, Sister M...  She had some problems trying to figure out how to share the Gospel with her friends and she was a little bit sad because of being rejected at times.  When we ate dinner with her, we showed her the video.  She  changed her attitude. "Everyone will like this!" she said, and she decided to share it with all her neighbors, friends, and family this last weekend. 

I know these are a bunch of experiences, not about me, sorry....the mission isn't about me. 

BUT!

The thing is this....
These are people from all different backrounds with lots of history, but they can RELATE to this video.  They can remember WHY we have Christmas.  I love it!  Seriously, there are many more things I could share but I think the most important is the message of the video.  I have to understand and apply the Gift in my own life.  I would not be able to share it if I didn't undertstand it.  That has made all the difference.  If you can't tell in the letter, I AM SUPER EXCITED.  This is the time to share!   I am so happy it is my job to share it with everyone and anyone who will listen.  But, if I want to do it well, I have to live it.  I have to be obedient.  I have to strengthen my testimony every day.  I have to live what I preach.  It is the same for everyone of us:)  I hope you guys can share the Gift.  But first, discover it, and accept it.  Then, share it:)  I love you guys so much!  I want you to know one special thing... I know with every fiber of my being, that my Savior lives and I know I can be clean through Him.  It is a fact.  I have done it and continue to do it every week of my life.  I hope you know how important He is for me.  Because He is my gift.  Jesus Christ is the most precious thing I can share with anybody else.  I love you soooooo much!  You are amazing.

Love,

Elder Goodman!

By the Spirit...

This week...SUPER HARD CORE-- WORK HARD, PLAY HARD, PRAY HARDER. That is all. 

We have been working to find anyone and everyone that will listen (like always, but a little bit smarter this week) and we have been focusing on families.

We wanted to "teach when we find, and find when we teach" and seriously, the Lord blesses us SO MUCH.  We have been finding families, and the thing I realized, is that it all had to do with the Spirit.

I have learned something super important, it is something little and I want to share it with you.  It is this... When I started the mission, I was excited, I talked with lots of people, and sometimes I thought my "young" mind wasted a little bit of time were I shouldn't have... decisions of "good, better, and best" right?  But now, we have been trying to find people and there are two ways to do it.  I can find people by my own work and what I think works best, or I can find them by the Spirit.  They are very different.  So I planned to find people by working by the Spirit and this is what I have found.

“When conversion takes place, it is through the power of the Spirit. In order to succeed in missionary work, these three things must occur:  We must feel what an investigator must feel in order to receive conversion. We must understand how a missionary must feel in order to teach with the converting power of the Spirit. And then we must understand how a member must feel to succeed in participating in the conversion experience” (mission presidents’conference, 3 Apr. 1985).

I, Elder Goodman, no matter who I am, or how great or bad I am, it doesn't help me or make it possible for ME to convert anyone.  I CAN'T DO IT.  The Spirit converts, and without the Spirit my time will be a waste of time.

I started the week trying to find a little by myself.  I know....sometimes I have a hard head....but I was trying and we were hitting some roadblocks.  Then, we changed our tactic. We had to do what we were doing by the Spirit.  We found, talked, and acted by the Spirit. Some of the best days of my life...being guided and teaching so strongly by that Spirit that really knows everything I should and can do. 

AND IT WAS SO EXCITING, WE SAW SO MANY MIRACLES-- people that NEEDED the Gospel in the time frame that we found them.  But it wasn't just 1 or 2 or 3 of them.....It was SO MANY MORE.   That was the blessing, to see how many things can happen if we trust in the Lord's time, working by the Spirit.   Seriously!  We ended up working hard this week, and we ended with many blessings.  It is hard to explain, but this much I can say.

When I am here and writing, I can't decribe it perfectly but I will try.  To be led by the Spirit is something I have had to work on, but it is something I have loved.  It makes you excited, it makes you have energy, and I love being able to feel that peace and help when I am teaching others. What happens is this... I think of all things and I have realized, it doesn't have to just be on the mission, but in ALL I DO forever --The Lord wants me to go a certain way, and if I focus on Him and have a good relationship with Him, I will understand His will so much more.  I will change my will to be in line with His will, and in turn, be more like Christ.  I love it.  And I hope everyone that I get to meet will understand that, that they have a chance.  It is through the Spirit that we know how to change, to become like the Master.  And that is what our Heavenly Father wants.  I love it. 

I hope you have a great week! Love you!!!!!

Love,

Elder Goodman!

Nice Ties!!

The value and significance of work

(A little Q&A to get started :D)

1. How are you doing?  MOM....you always ask that question....my answer is almost never going to change.  I am GREAT.  I LOVE IT HERE.  That is NOT a lie.  So don't you worry:) All smiles and love and the Gospel here in Mexico!!!

2. Are you well yet? ...from what?! Mom, I have been well for a long time:)  No worries. Thanks for your help in everything, DON'T WORRY. BE HAPPY. 

 3. What are your plans for Thanksgiving? uh.......teach people, and help them realize how grateful I am for this Gospel.:)  Cheesy, but true.

ok... this week... straight quote, “I have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work!If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the  Spirit, he will touch the heartsof the people and he will be happy.  There will be no homesickness, no worrying about families, for all time and talents and interests are centered on the work of the ministry.  Work, work, work—there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work.”

–President Ezra Taft Benson

This week, we WORKED.  And we worked hard.  We have decided, that we were loosing a little bit of that vision of work, so we went to it.  To tell you the truth, the first few days....didn't go so well, and we learned something much more important.  It is the second part of that quote, to teach by the Spirit.  That is what we had to do, what we had to focus on. There was  a difference and you could see it, between following the Lord's will in the work, or trying to hasten it by myself.  That doesn't mean that the work wasn't good.  The promise is true.  But the thing was, there is a DIFFERENCE.  By those little difference, bring about great changes. 

Recently, we have had a new church building built in our zone, and IT HAS BEEN A GREAT BLESSING.  A really great mercy from the Lord, especially during this season.

So much of our success, was central to that, this new church.  With the new church, we had been inviting everyone and anyone to the "preopen house" and many people were excited. People from all over Colima came to see it, and many members were so proud to show and invite their friends to the new Chapel.  It was really a great blessing and that is what I loved to see.

J... continues to be on fire, inviting anyone he can to come unto Christ, because he REALIZES how important it really is for him.  It is amazing.  Really, he has been working hard and I love seeing that fire of ALL the recent converts in this area.  THEY REALIZE THE BLESSINGS, and they really want to share it with others. 

Lastly, we have been focusing on finding families, and we have been raising the bar in contacting any family that we can come in contact with (in any reasonable way, and when the Lord tells us, of course)  As part of that, we have many new families who are listening and want to understand and recieve the blessings of the message of the Restoration.  That has been a great blessing... to see first, that they ACCEPT us.  Second, that they listen and are willing to act of the things we give them.

I think I am not doing so great at of expressing this very well, but it is the best I can do in this moment.  I worked on this... the Lord will hasten His work, how He wants, when and where He wants.  My actions and my humility, demonstrate what kind of instrument I will be in His hands.  If I really work on being the best I can be, He makes up for it.  Maybe that has been my message like 50 hundred times during the mission, but I hope you and I finally understand it.  The Lord loves you and I for who we are, and He wants ALL of us to get back to Him.  So when he puts you or me in a situation to share the Gospel with someone else, we shouldn't be selfish and worry about sharing it, or trying new ways of doing it.  If the Lord says to do it, do it.  It is a lesson I have still been working on.  I love this Gospel.  I love being part of hastening the work, helping others, feeling what I feel, and getting to help others know their Reedemer in a way they never thought possible.  I love my Savior, and that is why I am out here. I don't want to miss the little opprotunites to work out here, whether it be one person, or a family, or a card, or a pamphlet.  I love you:) 

love,

Elder Goodman!

To change behavior...

MOM. LIFE IS WONDERFUL HERE IN MEXICO. I LOVE IT.

This week, has been great. I will try to update you guys in the best way.

This week, I decided to do something. That is, apply what I learned with Preach my Gospel, our book we use 100xs a day. 

The phrase today:“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.” 

– PRESIDENT BOYD K PACKER PMG cap. 2

I think, finally, our investigators, our recent converts,  our less actives, and of course I, understood this a little better this week.

First, with J.... --He just got baptized and he is learning to apply this quote.  He has had a hard time with all the "rules" (commandments) of the Lord.  But with time he understood the importance of obedience and also, of sharing what he knew.  This week, he brought a friend to church.  He was showing him all the cool things and told him of the standards we live. The friend asked, "Isn't that a lot to worry about?  A lot of commandments?".   J...said,  "I obey the commandments because I want blessings.  More commandments, more obedience, more blessings.  So no,  I think it is something to be GRATEFUL about." (almost direct translation.)  It was great to see him change, and understand how important it was to share the gospel... and LIVE IT.

Another example... we have Sister R....  She is passing through some hard times and struggles with smoking.  We told her about the Word of Wisdom.  She has been trying a long time to change, but this week, she finally realized the WHY.  She understood after a special lesson that it wasn't for her, or for baptism. It was for her daughter and more importantly the Lord.  It was sweet to see her face as she understood that part, and as she gained faith that she COULD change,and that she finally understood the doctrine of WHY.

And then, the members.  SUPER POWERFUL this week.  We have opened a new building this last week, and we had a "pre-open house."  The members of the stake hammered hard core the missionary work in every way they could.  They were inviting taxi drivers, workers, friends, and family. They were so proud and excited to show this church and the happiness it brings to everyone, and they showed it with their actions.  We were giving tours and we saw so many people changing,  seeing the message we really bring and what we really do.   They understood this week, that we are all a family and what that means, that it is worth it to bring one brother or sister to the Gospel. 

The point, was that the study of the Gospel, changes behavior.  And really, in every part of this, I have seen that. For me, of course, it has changed WHO I AM... every day, little by little, and that is the point.  The Gospel works within and when we understand something, and we really apply it,  then we change and become more like Christ. I love that principle.  I love learning line upon line, precept upon precept. And I really know, that THAT is how the Gospel works.  Not jumps and leaps, but little by little, step by step... I love it!   I was excited to see these changes, but I am more excited about the week to come.  I hope you all have a wonderful week.  I love you all so much.  Enjoy every minute of studying the Doctrine of the Gospel this week:)

Love,

Elder Goodman!!!!!!!

Focus on the positive!

MAMMAAAAAAA! 

Life, in Mexico is perfect, let me tell you . You are amazing and really, I will try to update you hard core this week.

We worked LIKE MANIACS THIS WEEK!
We have been running on the daily, to help my comp out, and we go to a bunch of different things.....so yeah....but there are more pics to come, we are having some technical difficulties.

This week was great.  We have been working with quite a few people, but we are really trying to work on finding ALL the people the Lord would have us teach.  So we have been working on talking to EVERYONE. EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME.  There are a lot of people here in Colima.  Let me tell you, we have contacted many people daily, and this week, we were working on really applying it hard core.  The thing was....with more people to talk to, you see two things.  First, more rejection.  Second, more miracles--and that is wonderful to see. This week, I didn't have much time once again.  I AM SO SO SO SO SO SORRY...really... I will make it up.  But I learned one important thing.  The 100 "negative" (for lack of other word) experiences and their memories are destroyed with 1 "positive" experience.   I love that part about life.  We, as human beings, don't LIKE to remember the bad.  The Lord blesses us with the ablity to remember the good, and enjoy it while it lasts.  I love this time- seriously.  We are working hard to make every minute count for the Lord.

I hope you have a great week. SORRY. X2...SERIOUSLY.

love,

Elder Goodman

 P-day fun...you just HAVE to ride a chicken at some point in your life! haha

 Elder Goodman's Zone

Leadership Training

Short but sweet!

Ok mom... so sorry... This is a horrible week/day for time.  This is what happened.

I can't send pics, but next week we are going to go to a different place so we can send pics.  I promise.

This week was amazing.  I have NO TIME to write.  We got stuck hard core in traffic and I can't write almost anything.  Really, forgive me, and I promise I will respond to everything next week :) 

1. J... got baptized!  It was amazing.  He is super intense and bore his testimony yesterday and everyone could feeling the spirit.  It was great to see the members strengthened by his love for the gospel.

2. O... was stoked to get baptized after seeing the baptism of J...

3. J... is super excited about the gospel and invited 8 people to his baptism, all very happy and excited about the church.  HE HAS A FIRE!!  And it is amazing.  He understands really how the Gospel and the Atonement change lives, and he wants others to feel the same hope.

This week, I had to learn to do the Lord's will, not mine.  One of the hardest lessons to learn for me because I am sure, every day, that I will give 110%.  But the question is if I will give 110% doing my work, or the Lord's work.  I know it is cheesy, but I am serious!  And it is something I have had to learn.  The Lord's work, is very different from my work.  And sometimes I don't understand it completely, but the Lord doesn't ask me to understand.  He asks me to just do... with faith.  I love this Gospel.  I have loved seeing the atonement work in MY life and then be able to teach it to others, who have then taught it to even more.  The LORD LOVES US SO MUCH, and I am so grateful to know that.  I love teaching it to others. I love life!

Be happy. Be mormon.:)

Love,

Elder Goodman!

SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY it is so short... promise to make up for it!

These hands...sure have been busy the last 15months!  I love this picture because it reminds me of the work that is so important...hands of service, hands for hope and hands of love.  These hands have been doing a great work!

The WHY...

Hello!! Hi mom... I love you.

To answer some questions: 

1. How was your week?  SUPER HARD CORE TWICK THE TWIRL 110% AWESOME.   

2. What is going well? Ok....little bit harder question mom... seriously? Everything!!  There you go.  We are working hard to find new investigators, and contact anybody who will listen.  We have had some great baptisms that are working to be going to the temple soon, and  WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR THEM.  Really, that is what we are excited about.  I have seen the difference in our point of view.  Like the talk says, to see our investigators not at baptism but at the temple and with their families forever.  That is what we want, that is the goal.  Baptism is just the first step, even for us.  We are excited to see them taking these next steps toward the temple.  And, we have baptisms coming up too.  J... is working hard core and O..., and many others. (for Dailynd, we are teaching like 26-30 investigators, and 10 less actives or people that just got baptized)

3. What is NOT going well? Nothing... to tell  the truth.  We are working hard but sometimes, we don't see the fruits of the work we do.  It is hard to let people choose for themselves, and to see some not get excited or not understand the message we are trying to teach.  To tell you the truth, of about 100 people we talk to every week, only 5-15 want to listen.  It is a little hard, but we are happy to do it and the ones that listen are so worth it:)

4. What are some of your challenges?  We are trying to help people get to church and helping them understand the importance of things after baptism, because we don't ever want them to think that baptism is the LAST STEP.

5. What helps you to keep going? Ok... to tell you the truth, the "why".  Every day, every contact, everything I do, has to have a why and the why of what I am doing.  It changes... why am I contacting this person, why am I teaching this lesson, why am I giving this person a Book of Mormon.  And the thing I have realized, is the 'why' can't ever be for me, at least in part, because it doesn't work out like it should.  It is the Lord's work.  Why do I do what I do?  Because I know it is what the Lord wants.  Here, you can't work for a baptism.  You have to work to help a child of God get back to his Father.  That is the point, and THAT makes the difference.   First, I like to remember the covenants I have made, because that is part of everything we do.  And second, I like to remember that why.  The why, usually has to do with love, or with those two wonderful commandments the Lord has given us, to love Him and our neighbors.  But it is my choice. MOM... OK...THERE ARE WAY TO MANY WHYS AND IT IS WAY TO HARD TO EXPLAIN... but easy.  Because I love my Heavenly Father and I love my Savior.  That is it. 

6. (This question was about something specific for my lessons that I am teaching)  The questions that I really like are "How do I know if I am becoming converted?" --Are you progressing?

7.  "Why is work an important gospel principle?" because God has to work to be God.....

those are my answers.

8.  I know you know about work, but how did you get where you are with regards to work? Work, is the point of this world.  If I don't learn how to work, I  can't progress.  If I can't progress, I won't be able to live with my Father in Heaven again.  That is the spiritual part.  But in everything, I will tell you the truth, the WHY.  The WHY has to be strong enough to get me to do something.  WHY  am I doing it?  And if I change my why, I change my attitude, I change my work ethic.

I love you tons.  Not much time today, but hope that helps.  I don't know how to explain it, but one day, I will explain it well, in person. LOVE YOU ALL TONS...REALLY.

Love,

Elder Goodman!