September 7, 2015 - Tuman

Hello Friends and Family,

Wow, so much happened this week. One night this week, I was giving a blessing with the help of my companion of course. It was crazy in the middle of the blessing her body started to shake violently. I felt a really bad spirit coming from her. It was a feeling I can’t explain, it was if her body was rejecting the blessing. My companion looked a little shaken up and he didn't tell me anything so I assume it wasn't good. On the bright side though, I have amazing experiences every day. Last night we ate fish. After the meal I realized every person at the table had a heap of bones on their plate except for me. I feel fine, a blessing from the Lord I guess after eating all those fish bones. In Tuman, lately they have been burning all the sugar farms. Every day black ash and soot from the sky just drenches our white shirts and us. It is always so hot here and it is only in the spring. My companion and I found a gym here in Tuman so that was fun.

I have humbling experiences here every day. A couple days ago, I went in the back "room" to help my pension with the dishes. I quickly realized where she had been cooking for us the last two weeks. There was nothing but some pots and pans on a dirt floor. I held back my tears as I realized how happy she was with absolutely nothing. I am so grateful for this chance I have to serve a mission. I am humbled every day. It reminds me of my savior and how he washed the feet of his apostles. I want to love these people as much as he cares about us. Thanks for all your letters and support. I feel your prayers constantly. 

Love, Elder Goold

August 31, 2015 - First Week in First Area of Pomalca Tuman

Hello Friends and Family,

Wow so many things happened this week. First off, happy birthday dad and Lindsay. My area is Pomalca Tuman area. Tuman is absolutely crazy. There is a big sugar empreza here that employs most of Tuman. Well, some thing went down and many people are out of work. Many people are leaving to find work. There is pretty just much dust, dogs and sugar farms here. We got to listen to Elder Bednar on Saturday. It was so cool. He is amazing. We got to ask him questions and he would respond. I saw Elder Warren, and that was really cool. My companion Elder Lopez es lo maximo!  He has so much patience with my Spanish and me. I feel bad because I'm not able to help him in the lessons very much. Our ward is awesome, and the people here are really nice. I introduced myself in sacrament reunion, and I don't know if I made any sense. My companion often translates my broken Spanish. I'm not going to lie; life here is much harder than in the CCM. It is awesome though; it is lots of hard work everyday. It’s so awesome to be able to help people with their problems. The people here are so nice and humble. Our pensionista is awesome. We have three people with baptismal dates for September; if all goes well. I'm learning so much here. I know I'm changing for the better. This gospel is all about change and coming unto Christ. I love you all and I love this work.

                                    

Love, Elder Goold

Week #2 in the CCM

Hi Friends and Family,

Please tell the grandmas thanks so much for emailing me. I don’t have enough time to send them individual letters back. Missionary life is hard but it is so awesome. I have never laughed so hard in my life. Everyday is a new adventure. Like today, we were waiting for the bus and the dude next to us had to go so he just went right on the street:), it was so funny. I’m glad you guys are having so much fun. That story about grandpa loosing his shorts is so funny.

 My companion is awesome he is constantly making me laugh. Elder Stout is not my companion but he is also going to Chiclayo. He is the funniest person i have ever met. He rode his horse through the school. How are my dogs doing? Oh sorry, siempres or nuncas means it either always coming or its never coming---mission slang. My spanish isn’t so good. The latinos left for their missions so night life in the CCM got a little more boring. I gave Elder Romero my spirit horse shirt, he was so happy. He is going to look like Nacho Libre when he wears it..He was in tears when he left. He gave me a big pep talk that I didn’t understand. He told me he is going to come to America and stay at our house. He is also trying to set me up with his sister. He is something else.

All the Peruvians call me Ken- the Barbie doll. Please let me know where Zac and Audrey are going. The mission has already changed my life and I know it will do the same for them. I have started to develop just a simple pure happiness. I love the mission so much. My district is like my family. I can’t wait to get out of the CCM walls.

Y comparte el evangelio de jesucristo. Me extrano ustedes. Estoy gradacido por todos mi bendiciones. Dios y su hijo es verdadero yo se que con total me corazon. Yo so gracias por esta opurtinidad a servir un mission especialamente a Chiclayo. Gracias para ensename el evangelio. me encanta me familia mucho y yo se que las familias es eternal.

Hasta luego, 

Elder Goold