April 17, 2017 - Area #7 in Campilonico in the Latina Zone

 Dear Family and Friends,

What a crazy week. First off, we got stuck in a mudslide again. On our way to Chiclayo our bus driver decided to go four-wheeling. It was awesome. On the down side, it took forever to get the bus unstuck. We finally pulled the bus out with a big tractor. It was an experience I will never forget.

t was sad to leave Chacha but I am adjusting well in Chiclayo. My companion is from Santa Cruz, Bolivia. His name is Elder Arredondo. We are getting along fine. We both go home the same time, which is interesting. We have a district of eight people here in Latina. Everyone has 20 months or more on the mission, wow! I forgot how hot Chiclayo is. I really like our pension. She has two small boys that I am training to be the first national champion Peruvian wrestlers. I want to take them home with me.

It is so nice to be in a ward. I have been serving in a branch for the last year of my mission. Frequently, I felt so overwhelmed trying to run these small branches. Here in this ward of Campodonico, we have so many leaders. It’s so nice just to worry about being a missionary and not a branch president. We have an amazing ward mission leader and ward missionaries. Three of them are expecting mission calls in the upcoming weeks. I'm happy to be here to serve and serve a little more.    

Elder Goold

April 10, 2017

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was a little bitter-sweet. We had a zone meeting in Jaen, which was excellent. We also had TWO baptisms! I am so happy! Nicol and Joel both got baptized this week. They are so amazing and have great testimonies of the gospel. It took us two days trying to heat up the baptismal font with boiling water. It never did work too well, but the baptism still was a success. We had lots of people show up to support the new converts of the church.

While we were in the church cleaning up, President Williams called me. We talked for a little bit and he personally let me know that I had a change. I felt honored to be called personally by President Williams about changes because that doesn't happen to often. He expressed how happy he was with the work we have done here in Chacha. He also let me know that it was my time to go. It was heart breaking to leave my small mountain town of Chachapoyas. The people and members I will remember for the rest of my life. It was six months of so much personal growth for me. I love the people so much. Leaving Sunday, I was just speechless. I hope someday in the future, I might be able to go back to my small Chachapoyas town.

Today, I am in Jaen and will be traveling to Chiclayo this afternoon. I will be going to Campilonico in the Latina Zone. This will be my last area of my mission! That is so crazy, it has gone by way to fast. Saying goodbye to Elder Johnson is going to be hard today. I would say we are closer to being brothers than just good friends. I know this work is truly the work of salvation. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. I invite everyone to watch the new pascua(Easter) video. I can feel the spirit so strong every time I watch it. I can't wait to work hard in my new area. I pray that God might bless me just a little bit more, so I can go home wet:)  

              

Love Elder Goold