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

September 23, 2013

As for the mission it was as great week!  We had 2 baptisms on Sunday right after church and we had a great turn out of members.  There weren't enough chairs in the relief society room! there were a bunch of youth that showed up to support Freddy who is 15 and so many people came and gave them both a hug and welcomed them.  It was such a great experience!  We had ward conference as well and the stake president gave a talk on the holy ghost.  It was a great talk helping us to remember how great that gift truly is.  Then during the 2nd hour they had a ward counsel meeting with the stake pres. The bishop invited my comp and I in for that.  It was a great meeting, also talking about the holy ghost and receiving and following revelation.   Our ward is really striving to become member missionaries.  The bishop has taken action and had a fireside with the ward counsel on missionary work.  He had us come and teach them how to role play and invite people to meet with the missionaries and to come to church.   We taught them how to talk about the gospel with their friends and helped them understand that as members you don't need to answer their questions and even if you can you shouldn't because that is not your calling.   You should always try to include the missionaries in every opportunity to answer peoples questions about the church.   Always follow the spirit as for what to say and to help them have a desire to learn.   What a blessing to have direct guidance from our Father in Heaven on everyday matters and most of all the opportunity to invite others unto Christ.

Love Elder Jach-Goates

September 17, 2013

It was a pretty fun week!  We had Elder Robert C Gay of the 70 come through on a mission tour.  It was so great to hear all the advice and direction he had for us.  He had volunteers go up on the stage a few times and he called me up there twice without me volunteering, Ha Ha. I would make a comment or answer a question and he would call me up and say why don't you come help these missionaries figure this out, Ha Ha.  It was a lot of fun!   Then the next day we got to hear from him again and he talked about how important our mission meetings  should be and that everything we talk about in those meetings should be of the utmost importance. Missionary work is a lot more member oriented now, they want us working with members and helping them to succeed in their calling as finders.   It was amazing to see how bold he was when talking about everything.   I'm excited to be apart of this big change that is happening in missionary work.  We have been witnessing a ton of miracles here lately.  We have had a few new investigators move in in different areas that all want to be baptized.  We have 2 baptisms scheduled for Sunday and 1 in another area on Saturday.  Then another 3 the next weekend in another area.  We have a lot of potential for October as well.  Such great work.  There always seems to be so many miracles at the end of the year.  The Lord makes up the rest after we've given all that we can.   We push ourselves to the end then when we think we have nothing left to give he gives us just enough determination to take the next step.  It's so amazing to witness the Lords hand in all things and to be a part of His kingdom.   What a blessing we have as members to participate in gathering His lost children.

Love Elder Jach-Goates

September 9, 2013

It's of coarse been a great week!  We have a few investigators that are progressing toward baptism and they came to church on Sunday so that was awesome.  We should have two baptisms next Saturday the 21st.  They are all progressing really well.  One of our investigators is very nervous about everything but is still so willing to learn and meet with us.   She has a great understanding of everything we teach and always has great questions.   She took notes during church for some questions that she had and says we can go over them this week.   There is a member family that is fellowshipping her and is doing a fantastic job.  I'm super excited to see her progress and to be able to help her feel the spirits guidance!  This gospel is amazing!

Love Elder Jach-Goates

September 4, 2013

I am now serving in Cedar Rapids!   This was my first zone when I came out, sadly Manchester my first area is no longer in this zone.  There were too many missionaries so they split the zone a few months ago.  My companions name is Elder Weiss he's from a small town in Nevada between St George and Vegas.  He's been out for 9 months.  He's a way cool kid and a great missionary.  I feel really old in this zone!   Luckily there is an Elder in my district that is going home in October so I don't feel as bad, but everyone else besides one other sister has been out less than 9 months.  So crazy!!!  It's great serving around so many eager missionaries though.  Keeps me working hard!   We live in a house with 2 other elders its a blast!   One of them just got done being trained by my son Elder Bagshaw and is now training a new missionary going to Brisbane Australia.  My companion was trained by my trainers trainer so in missionary terms I live with my uncle, my grandson and my great grandson, ha pretty sweet!  Love you all!

Love Elder Jach-Goates