Fall Leaves

October 21, 2013

Things are going well.   We are currently trying to get some new investigators but that's a normal thing.  We had a new potential come to church yesterday with some of our recent converts.  We have an appointment to teach her tomorrow, so I'm excited for that.   We have a couple exchanges this week and interviews on Friday so I'm looking forward to that too.  We got to see a member from my last area at church yesterday as this is their old ward so that was awesome.  This work is an amazing thing and to have a small part in it means so much!  What trust our Father in Heaven has with each of us to trust us with special tasks and to give us prompting from the spirit.   I love this work!

Love Elder Jach-Goates

October 14, 2013

It was transfers last week and I stayed in Cedar Rapids for my last one.  It's a great area and a great ward. We have a lot of support from our bishop and ward counsel so things are moving along nicely.  We have 3 sets of elders in the ward to help with all the member work so its great.   We're running a little low on investigators as we spent a lot of time working with members and helping them become what Pres Jensen calls  FFT (finder, fellowshipper, and testifier) but the members are starting to get involved so its working great.  Now to focus a little more time on finding new people to teach.  It's weird thinking this is my last transfer, it doesn't seem real.   Makes me reflect a lot on my mission and things I want to do better before coming home.  My departing temple trip is on halloween so that will be fun to be able to go to the temple and be with some great friends.

Love Elder Jach-Goates

October 7, 2013

This transfer ends this week.  I'm staying in cedar rapids and with my companion.  General conference was amazing!  There was so much direction and guidance given with such boldness this time that no one can be confused on where the church stands.   It's pretty scary to think that the country that was formed on religious freedom is now pondering taking that freedom away.  I'm thankful for the love that our Father in heaven has for each of us, for the roles that we all have in this life and the next.  I'm grateful for the gift of eternal families and the nature and purpose for earthly families.  What a great time we have to live in and an amazing opportunity that God has trusted us enough to be here in this day with all that is happening in the world. I know that as we hold strong to what we have been taught that we will not go astray and that Father will give us what we need exactly when we need it.   Never doubt the testimony you have received and never doubt that God can answer our questions and turn our weaknesses into strength!

Love Elder Jach-Goates

September 30, 2013

We got to go on specialized training with the mission president on Wednesday.  We were able to go to a members house for a dinner appointment and go to our recent converts home as well.   Alfred the dad was so excited and so honored to have the mission president in his home.   In his closing prayer he mentioned how honored he was like 3 different times!   It was fun to get to know Pres Jensen a little better as well.   I went on exchanges with the district leader on Thursday (he is a Spanish missionary) so we had a bunch of lessons in Spanish so I pretty much just sat there and smiled the whole time, Ha Ha it was great!   It was really cool to be able to feel the spirit at different times even though I couldn't even understand what they were saying.  It's funny to think that I am an in states missionary and I've been able to teach lessons to Spanish, Chinese, African, Burmese, Brazilian, Muslim, and American people.  I wanted to go foreign and that's definitely what Father in Heaven gave me.  Just with a lot more benefits, Ha Ha! Heavenly Father really does give us exactly what we need!

Love Elder Jach-Goates