Week 15 Orlando - Conway East

Well this week was a good one...except for that it was bike week D: It still hasn't rained! It's been almost 3 weeks since we've had a good rain storm. Also the temperature is still dropping. It gets about 65 degrees at night which is so nice. It feels just like paradise. I'm starting to understand why everyone likes Florida now.

So even though my companion is a Spanish missionary, I still can't speak it haha. I can understand a basic conversation but that's about it. Most of the time when they say something to me I just nod my head and say, "si, si" haha it's pretty funny. I'm working on being able to say a Prayer in Spanish. And I want to learn to bare my testimony. Elder Gale usually just teaches the entire lesson and I just sit there and smile. But it's all good, I'll get the hang of it.

This week we had a trunk or treat ward social which was amazing! I was one of the judges for who made the best chile (someone cooked one with habeneros so I about burnt my face off). We also had a Halloween dance so I got to dance with a bunch of little kids. After the dance they had us 4 missionaries of the ward come up and have a hula hoop contest in front of everyone. I forgot how hard it is to hula hoop! There was a little kid who kicked my butt at it haha. To top off the whole ward social, we had a family bring a nonmember family, one of the youth brought 2 of his nonmember friends, and 2 less active families come to the social! I was soooo excited to see them come! And they all loved it.

Another highlight of the week is that a less active family that we have been working with FOREVER went to the temple to do baptisms for the 1st time since they were baptized! They said that they can't wait to go again and they have also committed to coming back to church. It was a miracle.

Well we don't have anyone on date for baptism right now but we have a lot of investigators and less actives that we are working with. The people here are so nice! I never really understood what people meant when they told me that you will come to love the people in your mission, but it is so true! I really do love everyone here. They are so unique and would do anything for us!

Yesterday in church they talked about faith. Having faith really is key to everything we do. When we have faith everything seems to fall into place. I really have seen absolute miracles come through faith.  Ether 12:6 tells us that faith is things that are hoped for and not seen. I have really reflected on what I hope to see happen in my mission and in my life. I hope you all never lose faith even when that hope seems to be lost. Love you all and always remember to have faith!

Elder Goff

Pictures are of us at the trunk or treat party. We dressed up by all wearing bow ties. 
From left to right: Elder O'hare, Elder Gale, Elder Rowley and Me

 

Week 14 Orlando - Conway East

This week was great! It didn't even rain at all! Haha that's probably why it's raining so much there. :) It sounds like the deer hunt has been good in Utah.  It reminds me of when Christ saw Peter fishing and asked him to leave his net and be fishers of men. Except for me I have been asked to leave my guns and be hunters of men :) it's cool to know that I am kind of like the prophets haha.

Anyways we had a very productive week! We found an investigator named Gage and committed him to baptism but unfortunately, yesterday we found out that he is moving Tuesday L so we will send the referral to the missionaries who are serving where he lives. Other than that there is not too much else new. Our area is doing really well especially with Elder Gale!

So something cool that happened this week was stake conference for the Orlando stake. It was really good because Elder Hymas, on of the area seventies for our area, came and talked with us. He talked a lot to the members about how everyone should be full-time missionaries. He started his talk by asking, "Would all of the full-time missionaries stand up?" All of the missionaries stood up. Then he said, "No I didn't mean the 24 month missionaries, they aren't here their whole lives. Would all of the FULL-TIME missionaries stand up?" Everyone in the congregation stood up. I thought this was really cool because we are all full-time missionaries and we should all be doing missionary work. President Hymas also quoted, "Gone are the days when we pray that the missionaries will find someone to teach." These are the days when we should, as members of the church, all pray for the opportunity to find people to teach. D&C18:15-17

He also talked a lot on keeping the Sabbath day holy. He said, "If we only knew the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy we would be to church 30 minutes early every Sunday!" This is so true. I remember a talk this last conference on "What Lack I Yet"? An example he gave was of a returned missionary who was overwhelmed with so many things that he just could not find peace. When he asked God, "what lack I yet?" He received the answer to keep the Sabbath day holy. This action brought him peace and comfort. I never realized the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy but when I look back at my life, I realize that my parents did recognize the importance of it and I am great fun for that because it brought me peace.

Elder Goff

Elder Gale and I with our new investigator :)

Week 13 Orlando - Conway East

Another transfer down! Time is flying by! I can't believe that it's already almost time for the deer hunt back home! I feel like Peter, James, and John who gave up hunting deer to be hunters of men :) at least it goes something like that (fishing - hunting = same thing) haha

So there are a lot of things that changed his week! The biggest is ELDER GALE!!!!  He is so awesome! The best part is that he is a Spanish missionary which is going to be an enormous help because there are so many Puerto Ricans here who only speak Spanish! I can't tell you how many times I haven't been able to share the gospel with them because I haven't been able to speak Spanish! It's super frustrating. So I guess now I have to learn Spanish... At least enough to teach a lesson. That's going to be fun. I feel like I can already understand a basic conversation in Spanish. But my goal is to be able to have a basic  conversation in Spanish with someone by the end of this transfer. I'm pretty nervous about that. I think that Elder Gale's going to have to do most of the talking.

So other than trying to learn Spanish, our first week together was amazing! We found 5 new  investigators! I'm so excited for these people to have a desire to put Christ first in their life. I remember one talk given by Richard J. Maynes about living a Christ centered life. He talked about his experience with a potters wheel. When the clay is not completely centered on the wheel, it begins to wobble and it cannot be molded. In order for us to allow God to mold us, Christ must be at the center of our lives. I am finding every day that this is why I am on a mission, to not only center Christ in my life but to help others see how Christ must be the center of their lives.

So this week we had a cool experience. We were able to have a huge stake service project at primrose school for special needs. It was in bad shape and really needed a lot of work done. It was amazing to see the light in these special individual's eyes as they saw us fixing up their school. We really don't recognize what true happiness is until we decide to forget about ourselves and get lost in the service of our God. It was one of the highlights of my mission!

Also while doing this project I found this pineapple growing! I always thought they grew off of trees, but I guess not. It was a cool surprise. Well I love you all and hope the best!
Elder Goff

Picture is of Elder Gubler! We were on the same basketball team in 6th grade! He moved to hurricane just before high school. It's nice to see someone who knows people that I know. :)

We also got to go to the temple again this week. We went with the youth in our ward so we just stayed on the outside of the temple.

Elder Gubler

Week 12 Orlando - Conway East

Well this week was great! It's Elder Hiltons last here in the Conway Ward because he is being transferred tomorrow! It's been a few great months with him and I have learned so much. It will be nice to be done training though! Elder Hilton only has 2 transfers left so he leaves at the end of December.

So we had one of the funniest hints happen to us this week! We were checking up on a member In our ward and it was at night so she told her kid to go get undressed and she would be in to help him get ready for bed in a minute. We continued to talk to the member for about 5 more minutes when her kid came running out in the living room butt naked screaming! It was super funny haha! Our members in our ward are so great! Haha

General Conference was great! There were a lot on keeping the Sabbath day holy, families and becoming Christlike. One of my favorite talks was given by Elder Holland on Mothers. He compared the love of a mother to the love of Christ. He said that there are 2 people who are willing to bare you up, Jesus Christ and our mothers. I am so blessed to have such a great mother! She has been here for me every step of the way, and without her help, who knows where I would be. Elder Holland quoted Moroni 7:45-47 but substituted the word "charity" for "a mothers love". My mother has a love similar to the pure love of Christ.  (Yep I'm crying now. He is such an amazing son, I am so very blessed!)

I also had a cool experience while doing some service. There was a snake hanging out in the bushes that I caught! It was all black so I'm pretty sure it was a Black Mamba ;) haha jk it's a gartner snake. But that's what the picture is. Life here is great!

Another Great talk was given right after on fathers by Bradley D. Foster. He told the fathers out there to teach here children not only to hear but to understand. He said speaking to the fathers, "Don't miss out on teaching truths to your children." I'm glad that I have a dad that taught me truths and set an example for me to follow. It is because of him that I am here serving a mission. He has taught me not only to hear, but to listen also and I am so very grateful for that.

Man this Conference was intense! 3 brand new apostles! Ronald A Rasband, Gary E Stevenson, and Dale G. Renlund. I loved their testimonies also.



Service Project - Fixing a Pipe with Elder Hilton

Elder Hilton, Ralph, Jason, and Me

My District