{Letter #7} I Don't Think We're in Kansas Anymore

Hola hola!!

Okay this week was insane, but so fun!
I said goodbye to most of my district on Tuesday which was so sad.

We sent Hermana Clegg off to Ecuador 😭

I will not miss the cold or the food but I am going miss my mtc friends ♡

And then we just had 5 of us left which was actually so funny and weird

Tuesday night we had one more devotional...

Our first apostle of the MTC was about 6-7 hours before we left! Literally such a miracle
It was elder cook! I was dying -- he and his wife are so precious. 
He talked about three types of love in the mission
Love for people
Love for your mission president
Love for your companions
It brought a lot of peace right before the chaotic entrance into the field.

Wednesday
Me and Hermana Dick woke up at 3am 🥲  and were out of the MTC for the first time in over a month!!

Within 2 hours of arriving we were teaching lessons and proselytizing!!
We went out with temporary comps because it was still the day before transfers.

My Spanish is getting better every day because none of our friends or members speak any English.

I have a friend Sister Brown, who is about to leave on her mission to Bolivia, who lives 10 mins from the mission office! So she came by the mission office,  which was SO FUN! I was so surprised and it was so good to see a familiar friend.

Thursday
Hermana Dick and I officially got sent like an hour away from each other but I'm hoping for the day in a few months when we're comps again 🙏
I got my first area!!  It's called Oxnard!  Oxnard is SO cute I'm obsessed.

Everyone speaks Spanish. The weather is pretty good.  My trainer's name is Hermana Vanderbilt.  She's so awesome.  She's been out for 4 months so she just finished her training but she's knows the area well!

We are biking!!!  MY BIKE IS BLUE!   

shut up it's so cute

I LOVE biking but there has definitely been a learning curve.

The first night was honestly comical.  I was doing okay even though I haven't biked In months, and it was pouring rain and dark but then alas right after a lesson with a friend at like 8:50.
We were unlocking our bikes when, I get catcalled by a car full of guys and then they start to PULL OVER, which made me so nervous cause there was no one outside besides us and them and it was my first day on a bike. So I was nervous and trying to follow my comp who sped off and I ran straight into a parked car.  The car was 100% okay, as were I and Holly (my bike). I have improved at biking now, so  don't even worry.

Friday
Our area is pretty slow right now so we get to do a lot of contacting and knocking right to try to find friends.  Also I am already have a sun burn and freckles which is crazy cause it's been raining and 60 degrees and I've only been here a few days.

Saturday
We taught English class and I got to meet a few members.  I love our ward members they are so incredible.  Our students at english class were juanito and edwardo :)
Juanito is a new member and he is so cool.

Edwardo is 25 and he's hoping to serve a mission soon.
 

The members feed us every Saturday and Sunday. I don't know if it's just because I've been eating mtc food for a month, but they have the best food ever here!

Sunday
Was so fun we went to church I got to sit next to one of our friends whose name was Rosa and her cute daughter Luz who is 1.   ahhh
Then we had a bunch of meetings  This week was crazy just because there are so many new things and we're always going, going, going,  but I love it!

D&C 18:10  "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;" 

I love this scripture so much! We cannot sink out of the reach of God's love. He truly is our loving Heavenly Father! We always have worth and there is nothing we or anyone else can do that can change our divine worth in God's eyes.
 
Us with Rufino and Jaden

My district is so awesome they've all been here a while and are great at Spanish and what not, so I'm so excited to get to know them all better. I adore the Rodriguezes (my mission leaders).  They are incredible!

I love you all ♡God loves you! I hope you're having a great week!!
Let me know if I can ever do anything for you
-Hermana Goold

our family phone call this week was a little chaotic with a bad connection on Ellie's end 

(Adam outside walking in Provo, Cam and Mom in Alabama, Spence at home, Emma in Provo, me in Oxnard)

{Letter #5} The Days are Slow, but the Weeks are Fast!

 Hello!!!
The other day I found myself advising a new arrival to the MTC. He was quite worried about the 6 weeks he had here. I found myself saying the words of an MTC old expert, "The days are slow but the weeks are fast!"

It was insane for me because I still feel like I got here yesterday!

This is my last pday in the MTC and I am so sad about it. My district, companions, and teachers have all had such an impact my life in just one month. I am so so excited to get to California though! Me and Hermana Dick have seen some pics and each time we hear something new I get more excited! Spanish is good.  We're in the last week which means it is time for "Speak Your Language" which basically means that we only speak in Spanish unless we have an activity with people who do not speak Spanish. It is hard but helpful.

This week was crazy busy so you might notice most of my photos were taken yesterday because we forgot for a bit

Stories of my week:
* We made a new friend this week her name is Millie she works in the MTC cafeteria and she is the sweetest soul. One of the elders told her she has a light about her to which she responded "I'm taken, I have a husband" and a couple seconds and laughs later she looked at him and said, "and look at your tag!  you're taken too you're a missionary!"

It made me smile.

* I got told I look like Nicole Kidman. Which was funny and random to me. I didn't even fully remember who that was but that is okay.

* We had a devotional by Steven Lund and sister ( I don't remember her name) Lund and it was incredible.   They talked about the scripture D&C 6:36:  

"Look unto God in every thought doubt not fear not." 

This scripture is one of my all time favorites.  Life is scary sometimes. Missions are scary sometimes. But faith is powerful! I know that as we try, even when we fail. God sees our effort and he is proud! That brings me comfort because I have so many things to work on the be a better missionary and a better person. Keep trying and look unto him he will be there!

Mis compañeras



Don't ask me



Last pday but my district is the BEST



pov the Hermanas



we study spanish cada Dia 🥱


At our last devo together


I love your, emails ,letters and every thing
I love you all ♡
Chow until next time in CALIFORNIA!!!
-Hermana Goold 🫡
2005 N. 900 E., Unit #246
Provo, UT 84602


Our family phone call in 3 different mini-sessions:   (me at the MTC, mom, dad, and Spence at home, Adam walking home from class at BYU, and Emma at work.   A conversation had happened earlier with Cam and fam)

{Letter #4} I Love You All!

 Hello hello!!
How are you all doing this week?   I love love each week here!!
I'm going to try my best to remember this week.

Today we went to the temple again! I love the temple.  I feel nervous a lot, but in the temple I feel so at peace. It is seriously one of my favorite places to be.

I taught a lesson in Spanish and I actually feel like it went pretty well!

I've officially been a missionary for a month which is hard to believe because it has gone by so fast.

This week something fun is that I've been teaching the elders cartwheels and headstands. A few have actually been successful so basically email me and I can teach you too.

Never have I seen so many sunrises they are so pretty and I love that Iḿ consistently awake and out for both sunrise and sunsets.

This week we have been learning about the plan of salvation. We had like 5 lessons on it this week, one taught by us. This scripture kept popping up this week and it brought me a lot of joy . So I thought I would share it with all of you!

2 Nephi 9 13!

13 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.

In this life my body is not perfect. I have had epilepsy since the time I was 5 but I have a very strong testimony that God has a plan for me and that my epilepsy is a part of it. And I know that I will one day have the opportunity to have a perfect body that can do all things, even drive!

Me and comps with a lovely senior sister!

my cute comps

Seriously I love them

Yes, we were very cold

I love you all.
Jesus loves you!
Email me anything I love hearing from you!
LOS VAMOS
'HERMANA GOOLD

We really struggled with the family screenshot today, but combine them all together and you should get the idea:  (me at the MTC, mom, dad, and Spence at home, Adam at his apartment in Provo, Emma at work in Orem, Cam and fam at home in Alabama)

{Letter #3} Con Dios Usted Puede

Hello hello!!

This week was so lovely! Spanish can be challenging at times, the days are getting a bit repetitive, the food is still questionable but, the spirit is so strong here! I see miracles literally every single day.

My district is so funny we have nicknames for everyone haha. Mine are Hermana Gooldilocks and Hermana Polama (dont ask) 🐦‍⬛




Our district is all over when it comes to Spanish abilities, we have 3 who are fluent, 3 who have never taken any Spanish, and the rest of us who know Spanish pretty well! I think our teachers our struggling with how to teach to all the different levels, but everyone is making progress!

I get so discouraged about my own inadequacies sometimes. The main lesson I've learned since being here at the MTC is that when we stop looking around or down at the world in embarrassment or shame and we start looking up to God for guidance, miracles do happen. As I have spent less time pondering my weaknesses I've been able to see God work through me more!

A quote I love!
"This young man finally stopped looking down in shame or looking sideways for excuses and rationalizations. He looked up for divine help, and he found it. Damon said: “ These days I spend a lot less time hating myself for what I have done and a lot more time loving Jesus for what He has done.”

God has a plan for you! He will keep each of his promises! Ask him for help and trust his answers:)

I love you all! I'm grateful for you prayers and emails! Email me about something that made you smile this week!
Love, Hermana Gooldilocks 🫶






it is so cold.
I keep forgetting my jacket




The most ready for Cali atm🤸‍♀️







Kitchen duty with the district






Temple tripssss




A concert by Nashville Tribute Band!!! So good love love 🤌





Our family phone call this week. Ellie  at the MTC, Mom, Dad, and Spencer (stepped away for a moment) at home, and Cam and Oliver in Alabama.  It was a late and somewhat short phone call this week.   Ellie mentioned that one of the worst parts about her week was running out of gum and not being able to get any at the MTC.  😂










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