Monday, September 30, 2013

09.30.13

This ward is legendary and it's so nice to be a missionary here. They just want to help the missionaries and do their best. I've never seen anything like it. Last Tuesday, the ward put together an activity call the Rescue Effort. They went through the ward list during coordination and discussed all the people that have good potential to return to activity. They found 97 addresses/names. Many of those being families. Then, we all met at the church on Tuesday. They split us into companionships where one person had a car, and gave each companionship about 3 names to go see and invite to action. The focus of it all was to invite people to take the missionary discussions again. It was a huge success.  

I had to battle my food arch nemesis again. Fish. We went to a dinner appointment with this way nice South American family and the Mom kept telling us about how she is a near professional cook and her signature dish is enchiladas or burritos. So, we were both all excited cause we thought she had made something like that. . . But no. She made fish. She said it was the first time in her life that she had tried to make this type of fish too. What the heck? haha. Anyway, we suffered through it because they were so nice and her husband is a non member. It's not actually that bad, but theres just something about fish that gets to me every time. We are excited to see them again though.  

Family History finding is still dominant. We met an old guy named Jim outside his house last week. He was cutting his grass, so we asked if we could help. He didn't want any help, so we talked to him about Jesus Christ. He told us he was too set in his ways and in his old church. Then, we talked to him about family history and he lit up. He still claimed that he wasn't interested, so we just left him with a card. When we were walking away he ran into his house and came back out with his family history folder. He told us to come into his house and he was so excited while he explained it all to us. We got to see him again and we brought one of the members the second time. It was way good. He won't commit to come to the center or anything because he doesn't trust the internet, but it's a prime example of why our church is focused on using Family History as a finding tool.  

We had a musical come to our stake that everyone was way excited about. Anyway, we went to it and the whole stake was packed. They got started with their singing and stuff and it was pretty bad. I almost started laughing just thinking about how all my family would be laughing their heads off, but trying to act casual in a situation like this. Reminds me of all those times in church when our family nearly had to get up and walk out because the musical numbers made us laugh. ha! 

Elder Stringer is a champion. We are having a blast serving together and he's a great missionary. We are both going to start an intense morning exercise program so that we can be fit and still eat a bunch. ha! Everyone loves the fact that he is from Texas too.

I better include a missionary thought cause I haven't done that for a couple months. So, the Gospel of John is probably one of my favourite things to read. John 17 is one of my favourite chapters. It's the chapter that talks about the Atonement and the apostles falling asleep. Anyway, in the beginning Jesus asks them (Peter, James and John) to tarry AND watch while they are in the garden with him. They tarry there, but they don't watch, because they keep falling asleep. Likewise, we tarry with him throughout life, but it's pretty easy to fall asleep and not be as diligent as we can - or not watch. Things like skipping church, not reading not praying, etc.  Because they tarried, but didn't watch, they missed witnessing the most amazing miracle of all time. They could have been the only 3 people on earth to witness the atonement, but they fell asleep instead. Jesus didn't punish them or anything, he was just disappointed that they didn't get the blessing that they could have. They still went on to become GREAT people and change the world, but they missed their only chance to see the Atonement. This especially applies to a mission. We can tarry here for 2 years and relax and we will still be rewarded greatly. But, if we tarry and watch the blessings we get will be unimaginable. Same applies to life. Then, if you compare 2 Nephi 19 to John 17, you get to see the huge blessings that came to the Nephite Apostles for tarrying and watching.  

Well, that's the story for the week. Things are great. Companion is great. Ward is awesome. I really do love you all!  

Elder Goodwin

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