Transfers Uh

So we got our transfer calls this past Saturday and I will be heading to Cowlitz Falls near Centralia (The boons) and my companion will be Elder M! I don't know him but I did talk to him on the phone earlier today and it seems like we will get along! He told me our area is an hour drive wide, and it takes a very long time to go house to house. I'm going to miss everyone here in American Lake, especially my trainers. This next transfer is Elder B's last and Elder M goes home the transfer after. They were really the best trainers I could ask for, they're older brothers to me!

Yesterday we had another baptism but this one was extra special! The dad of the family we baptized last week got confirmed a member and got the Aaronic Priesthood! He had one more daughter who didn't get baptized, and HE got to baptize her!! It was so amazing to witness and it just strengthened my testimony in the blessings that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings into families. Elder Brush and I went to check up on our recent converts J and B (J is the one that makes the funny noises and always says "Amen" or "Thank you Jesus) and their friend R was there. We pretty much sat back and watched them teach and testify to R about baptism and the blessings of living the Gospel, and everything the said was true! J even went to his room to grab his Book of Mormon to share Alma 5:26 and I was just blown away. We told them we were having another baptism and they were so happy, J even threw his hands up and said "OH REJOICE" The Gospel brings happiness to anyone, it's never too late. I love y'all!!!

-Elder Goldsberry

THAT'S A WHOLE LOTTA WHITE UH

Yesterday was very eventful, we had 4 baptisms so that was a whole lotta white! 

We baptized J J, the cousin of our first baptism. He was so excited! He's had a really rough life long story short he's been run over by a truck and he just got out of 17 years in prison, but I have never seen someone with such a burning desire in the gospel! He was making all sorts of funny noises and praises right after the baptism he's such a funny dude. 

The other three were a family from Micronesia and the parents weren't married so we literally had a font side marriage 20 minutes before the baptism!! (They had a ceremony in their home land but it didn't count here for some reason) This family is so great, we got them to stop smoking and we instantly saw blessings fill their lives!!

My companion and I had our first day completely by ourselves because our trainers went on exchanges so that was pretty intense. It was really fun! There wasn't too much else goin on. I love you guys!!!!

-Elder Goldsberry

Side note, they will be getting smart phone soon. So we'll be able to get more pictures. 

APOSTLE IN THE WA-TAC YEAYUH

We had Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the  visit the WA-TAC and it was absolutely AMAZING! He came with Elder Patrick Kieran of the presidency of the Seventy and they were both super spiritual and funny! They definitely gave me some inspiration and I know the whole mission will be blessed because of them coming. We got to shake their hands and that was pretty dang cool. 

The next day was stake conference and we had an area Seventy, Elder Gary Wilde, come and he was super cool! He told me his mother was from Murray so that was cool to have that connection with such a spiritual man! 

We had Zone Conference this past week as well and that went very good! There hasn't been too much other than that going on! We're still finding more and more people and we should have a few baptisms next week! I love the mission and I'm still lovin my companions! Love y'all!!

-Elder Goldsberry

Baptism YEAYUH

WOOOOO WE HAD A BAPTISM YESTERDAY! And guess who did the dunking?? Me! I was so super nervous and it didn't help that Preisdent was there. She was a small older woman so it wasn't hard at all! The font didn't drain so we held Elder H. (our district leader) by the legs and dunked him in and he got soaked in his good clothes and it didn't even work haha!

It was so awesome to see the joy in B's face and her cousin J (who should be getting dunked next week) was so hyped he clapped! He's a funny dude, he loves going around and saying hi to everyone at church, and when we teach him he always says "Amen" or "Thank you Jesus" it's awesome.

So for Halloween we worked til 4 and then we hung out with our zone at our stake president's, President M's house and played ping pong. We got into some sting pong and President M. walked in right when it was my turn to get hit and my shirt was up so that was nice and embarrassing!

We met this one dude named C, he's not very interested but we see him by chance a lot! He's funny, he doesn't roll with a good crowd and they start to yell at us and he stops them and says "Hey. These are men of God treat them with respect as such." He tells us that the area were in is super bad (but we are safe) and if someone messes with us, come to him. He also said if we want to make some money come to him to so that's not sketch at all haha. 

I'm lovin it here and I'm still lovin the companions! 

Love y'all!!

-Elder Goldsberry

Week Two in Washington

Well, I hate to say that not too much went on this week. One thing that stood out to me and has stuck with me is the lunch we had last Friday. Brother F. takes missionaries out to Old Country Buffet all the time, and the reason he does that is to answer our questions. This man is an absolute genius when it comes to the gospel. He increased my thirst for knowledge 200%. He took us to his home afterwards and he has a beautiful place right on the shore of the lake. He has a library that he loves to show off, it has over 1,250 books on our gospel and other religions. He is a wicked smart guy, and he's super funny too. He is a marriage counselor and he told us he is giving us all a pre marriage counselling session, telling us what to look for in relationships. 

Speaking of marriage (don't freak out yet), in the third hour of church we had a whole lesson from Bishop about marriage, and I thought it was super funny to think of our companionship as a marriage, and applying most of the principles we learned, we can probably be more effective missionaries. I'm still loving my trainers, they're both super funny and I'm learning a lot. Well that's it for me this week I love you all!

I got this picture with this sweet message the other night: "Hello Cristy!! Your son just knocked on my door to see if I needed anything! I am actually a former member, and know how much missionary moms love pictures of their missionaries! I was able to get one for you and wanted to let you know he is well! I let him know he's always welcome to come by for a warm meal! Anyways, just wanted to let you know he is well!!"

Frist P-Day. They went fishing