December 26, 2016

Merry Christmas from Peru!

I sure hope you like these pictures. Today, we went to Huancas. It was so beautiful. It reminded me of home.

We were actually able to see the Gocta falls in the distance.

Today was the best pday I have had so far in the mission.

December 5, 2016

Hello Friends and Family,

Well, this week was one for the record books. We went down to Jaen this week and we received some crazy news from President Williams. This mission is no longer teaching less active members! I have no clue what I'm going to do because that is all I have done for my entire mission. He wants us to focus on investigators and baptizing more. He also gave us the news that each month we will have a multi zone meeting in Chiclayo. That means for us here in Chacha, we will be making a 10 hour trip to Chiclayo each month! We will be spending a lot of time on the road. 

This week was a little sad for me because my awesome companion Elder Flores and my best bud Elder Stout had changes. They are both headed back down to Chiclayo. Elder Sanchez and I will be alone in Chachapoyas for a couple of days waiting for our new companions to get here. Elder Sanchez will be with Elder Hannet from Australia. I will be training a gringo named Elder Johnson. I don't know anything about him yet. He will get here on Tuesday. I am also the new district leader. I am a little nervous to be district leader here in Chacha because we have our own district fund and I have to get us down to Chiclayo every month. I'm excited for the new change and I'm also excited to speak English. I haven't had a gringo comp in over a year! 

This week, we had two new investigators come to church. We are progressing rapidly here in Chacha. We always work hard and then God always blesses us. I am so happy. I would be so happy to stay here for the rest of my mission.    

Love,

Elder Goold

P.S. Please, Please, pray that I will be able to find a new chapel for our growing Chachapoyas branch:)

November 28, 2016

Hello Friends and Family,

This week was a amazing adventure. It rained hard here. It was really the first time in 16 months that I have seen so much rain. We went exploring to a new part of Chachapoyas and it is so beautiful. Big mountains and valleys. I talk with people from all over the world here. Today we were talking to a nice lady from Russia that had a super nice KTM bike that Elder Stout and I wanted to buy - haha. 

Sunday was the primary program that I loved so much. It felt like I was in my home ward listening to all the kids sing. Here in Chacha, we often give talks and teach class without warning or preparation. It's actually really fun! 

This week, we had a powerful lesson with Luis. He is a policeman and he got in a bad accident this week. His eye was really swollen and he had to get stitches. During the lesson, I kept getting the strongest impression that I needed to give him a blessing.I kept fighting the impression justifying that he had pills and doctors helping him daily. At the end of the lesson, we were walking out the door and the spirit was so strong that I couldn't deny it anymore. I asked Luis if he would like a blessing. He replied yes and I gave him a priesthood blessing. The spirit was so strong. I saw some big tears roll down his cheeks from under his big dark sunglasses. The wrestler in me tried to stay strong but the spirit is the toughest opponent I have ever had to wrestle. I made a pledge (again) to always listen to the spirit and to quit wrestling for excuses to not do what the Lord wants me to do. I hope the Lord is gaining more faith in me as I do my best to follow the promptings he gives me.

Love,

Elder Goold

November 7, 2016

Hello Friends & Family,

This week was so fun and crazy. We were on the road traveling the entire week. It was fun to be able to see lots of new interesting places of Peru. We had an amazing multi-zone meeting in Chiclayo. The theme was on the family. We were able to watch several videos of missionaries parents testify of the importance of family. Hermana Williams gave a strong testimony of the family and shared a few stories of her family with us. We were all trying to hold back tears. 

This week we found an amazing investigator named Luis. He is a policeman and he is really interested in the church. We were able to talk about guns for awhile and we connected very well:)

Our pensionista doesn't want to cook any more, so we have been looking for a new pensionista which is always hard. We also have to find a new room because the owners of our room want to raise the price. I'm not too sad about that. Our room isn't the best. As far as Chacha goes; I absolutely love it. Our area is big and we have so much to do and lots of people to help. Here in Chacha, the people have a really thick jungle accent. Its really cool.  I'm starting to get used to it. I love this work so much and I just feel so blessed to be here where I am sharing the good news with everyone. This week we will be here in Chacha the entire week, so we will be able to get a lot more work done. Nothing brings more happiness than to help someone understand a simple principle of the gospel. Where do we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going after we die? I know it all baby!

Love,

Elder Goold

October 31, 2016 - Area #6 in Chachapoyas

Hello Friends and Family,

This week has been full of buses and taxi rides. Today I'm in Jaen and we will be traveling to Chiclayo in the afternoon for a multizone conference. This week, I will be in Jaen and Chiclayo for the entire week so I will not be able to see much of Chachapoyas. From what I have seen of Chacha is absolutely amazing. Its about 8,000 feet above sea level and it is filled with trees, hills and amazing people. It honestly reminds me of Park City. I have seen lots of american and european tourists. The price of living is also a lot more expensive here. The climate is perfect, not to hot and not to cold either. Our pension is really nice and cooks well. My companions name is Elder Flores from Chosika, Peru. We get along so well. I feel like he has been my favorite companion so far. We go running in the mornings and it is so refreshing to see the beautiful mountains and greenery. The branch here in Chacha is small but strong.

I gave a sacrament talk and I feel like the Lord helped me speak what the people needed to hear. I feel it was the best church talk I have ever given. I feel so blessed to be in my area. Not to many missionaries here get to see Chachapoyas. Elder Stout is our district leader and we get along too well. haha. He is a cowboy that lives down near Kanab, Utah. He is also from my CCM group. We didn't get much teaching time in this week because we have been traveling so much. From Chiclayo to Jaen is 6 hours. From Jaen to Chachapoyas is another 4 hours. We are 10 hours away from the mission home. Life is so good right now and sometimes I have to fight back tears because I feel so so blessed. I promise I will send lots of pictures next week.             

                                                                           

Love,

Elder Goold