Past the 24-month mark and going strong!

Hey Guys!

My mental and Physical Health is doing pretty well. Knowing how close the end is, is a very weird sensation. Because you feel as if you could just keep going---that it couldn't possible end. As you guys may have noticed, yesterday was, in fact, my two-year mark! so as you guys could probably guess, every time someone asks me about how long I've been on my mission I have to reply "about 24 months," and they all have about the same reaction.  

I can't help but understand what other missionaries have told me about the fact that it is way easier to leave your family than to finish your mission. You become so used to living your life completely focused on helping people follow Christ. As a missionary you have the objective of helping others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel, so at all times you can think, "is this helping me bring someone to Christ?" Then you alter your efforts as to be in alignment with that objective. 

But after the mission it seems as though there are so many different objectives, and yet so many distractions that I see how some missionaries have trouble staying focused after their missions. 

This weekend we had a weekend-long Stake activity focused on missionary work. We had a large number of investigators attend these fire sides and other activities, It helped our investigators get to know the Bishop and their counsellors families. We had some investigators who wouldn't stop talking about how much they loved one of the activities when the temple president came and did a question and answer thingy and taught a bunch about the restoration. Then afterward, we all ate together and did sketches. All the bishoprics and the stake leaders did sketches with the investigators in their ward boundaries, they all said it was super funny. 

We were able to fix another baptism for December with one of our investigators. He has taken the lessons for many years and has been living in co-habitation with a member. Thanks to the help of the ward, the Spirit and our crazy dope bishop, they will be getting married and he will be baptized In December. I promised him that I will attend over Skype or something. 

We also have three kids who are preparing for baptism the Saturday before I leave. That'll be a great way to finish. Our zone is doing super well right now. This stake was pretty far behind the other stakes in the mission in finding and teaching those interested in the Gospel, but in the last two weeks we have had six baptisms and we consistently will be having baptisms until December. We should end the year by doubling the total baptisms from the first nine months in the last three months of the year. All Victory and Glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, Faithfulness, and prayers of Faith. (Doctrine and Covenants 103:36).

I realize that I didn't talk a lot about how our reunions went with Elder Ardern of the Quorum of the 70. (He is from New Zealand). Our reunion with him Sunday afternoon with all the zone leaders and STL's in the mission was really great. We talked a lot about our responsibility in the mission. We talked a lot about the teaching in Preach my Gospel and we had a great discussion about being a true disciple of Christ and how that can affect our ability to teach is Gospel effectively.

On Tuesday we had a multi-zone conference with him as well, It was very long, and we talked about so many things it was very hard to focus on one teaching as to apply it. It all seemed a little bit over whelming because it all seemed so important yet there isn't enough mental space to apply all at once. But I did manage to pick out a few key point to try and apply in my life and in our zone. 

In other news Being inspired by the story of Ricky (our last chicken), we may or may not have adopted a little chick (baby chicken). His name is Liquintavius. They are actually super easy to take care of. Especially when we have four Elders in the house to take care of him. He has totally gotten used to us now and follows us around the house. He walks around and eats the bugs and other things so it has actually helped us to keep the house clean. When we are not home we just put him in his cardboard box home that is literally a mansion for him. and he chills and eats the massive amounts of food we give him. When we got him, he had just hatched not many days before so he's just a little guy. But he is starting to grow feathers now. I know understand at least to the slightest degree a little bit of the joy of parenthood. 

That's pretty much it. We had a very good week this week; we taught a lot of really great lessons and have been working a lot with the members. Heavenly Father isn't really giving an opportunity to be "trunky" with how busy we have been. But he did give us just enough time to adopt a chick. 🐤

Love you guys!

Elder Goodwin

Liquintavius the chicken