Christmas in Lincolnia

Hi everyone! So most of my area is made up of African people and so this week we got fed a whole lot of African food.  It's like I spend a little bit of Christmas in Africa haha. We got fed African food Christmas eve and Christmas day and wow it's so good, but kind of spicy haha. Christmas morning my companion and I tried to made a good breakfast, it kind if backfired but we ate it anyway. One night this weekend my companion and I decided my hair needed a trim, them we cut off more than that Haha it was so fun.  One of our friends came to church this Sunday, she's so cute. We've done lots of tracting. Besides that it's just been another regular week in Lincolnia ! 

Also! I'm going to be honest, being a missionary is scary. I've had a lot of doubts this week about how I will ever be the great missionary I want to be. I care so much about this gospel and the people I'm teaching but I dont k ow how to do it. My companion has taught me that this isn't about me. It's about the people here. I am trying my best to overcome my fears and have faith in jesus christ that as I try to do my best I can touch the lives of those people who need me. I know this is where God wants me to be and I know there are people out there waiting for me to knock on their door, they just dont know it yet ;)

Thank you all so much for your love and support! Love you all

Sister Goodrich

Week #1

Hello everyone! This week has really been a blur if I'm completely honest.

On Monday morning I got on an airplane and flew here to Virginia! We met president and sister caplin and had our interviews. During mine president just looked at me and said "I know exactly who your companion needs to be" and that was crazy. 

I am companions with sister Clark! She is the best. She is so fun and an amazing teacher and missionary. And she's so funny. I love her.

In our area we are teaching lots of people from Africa. They are so nice but I have a hard time understanding what they are saying a lot of the time Haha. But everyone is actually away nice here. 

It's so cold by the way. Mostly because the wind blows and it just cuts through. So yeah wearing lots of layers haha 

I'm sorry this email is short Haha I honestly can't remember a lot about this week because I was kind of just trying to survive haha 

I love you all so much!! Thank you for all your love, support, and prayers :)

Sister Goodrich

The Famous Sister Mittens

Sister Goodrich and the famous Sister Mittens!  Macie was so thrilled to finally meet her!

Hello everyone :) this week has been pretty decent actually. Not quite as many sad stories Haha so that's good. 

So Sunday was an interesting day. My companion and I basically did everything in church. I led the music and she played the piano. Then we did a special musical number and we taught relief society. Honestly the musical number wasn't very good but I think the lesson went really well. I really felt the spirit as everyone was sharing their experiences.  For our devotional that night we got to watch the first presidency Christmas devotional and it was AMAZING! If you haven't watched it I highly reccomend you do. 

The rest of the week has kind of dragged on. Just class everyday all day.  BUT I got a package on Tuesday and I was so happy. I got some more mountain dew (enough for me to have one every day until I leave the MTC). I also got a letter and that was amazing. A handwritten note really means a lot haha. 

Oh and for our Tuesday night devotional M. Russell Ballard AND Dallin H. Oaks were there speaking to us.  It was amazing. It's crazy how just being in the same room as an apostle can really bring the spirit, especially as they speak. 

On Wednesday my district all got together because we had some free time on our schedule and it was so fun.  Everyone was teasing me because I'm so bad at games and even later that week they kept teasing me in class. It was so fun honestly. 

Everyone in my district is sick in some way. On Thursday there were only like 3 companionships in class. Luckily I'm one of like the 3 people who haven't gotten sick yet *knock on wood.* hopefully I can remain healthy until I leave. I don't want to start out sick in the mission field. 

Ok one last thing. It's a super funny story I promise.  We found out the other day that one of our TRC investigators is dating out roommates teacher!! It was crazy. When we told chi Bloomfield and chi Van Cott they were dying and totally mentioned if to him in class. That night I got an email from our investigator with a screenshot of a conversation she had with her boyfriend about the sisters in his district asking about her haha.  It was actually so funny we were dying. Oh also I ate spaghettios for like the first time in 10 years. It was awesome. 

So overall a really good last week here in the MTC :)

And for anyone wondering, I leave on monday!! So wish me luck out there in DC 

Love you all

Sister Goodrich

Leaving SLC!!

Sister Goodrich and the Caplins!!
She made it!

Ups and Downs

Hello everyone!! This week has had so many ups and downs so buckle up. 

So Sunday was my first fast Sunday in the MTC. Let me just say I was so hungry all day and life was hard because my companion has a medical condition so she can't fast so all day I just had to watch her eating good treats like cookies and fruit snacks and granola bars.  But it's okay I lived and i actually felt the spirit with me so strongly as I fasted and prayed.  

Sunday night one of the sisters had another medical emergency exactly a week after the first time. This time we were all in class and it was pretty scary.  Some of the elders were so shaken and having a really hard time. I wished there was something I could have done to help the sister and everyone else who had to watch and worry.  We said multiple prayers and yeah it was tough.

On Monday I finally got a package from my family with... you guessed it, MOUNTAIN DEW!! that was a great day. I got my treats and stuff. It honestly was the highlight of my week. So thanks to my mom and dad for figuring out how to get it to me because I loved it. 

Tuesday night the same sister had another medical emergency. We were in our rooms after a devotional and I think this was the scariest one yet. We called EMS and they ended up taking her to the hospital. It was a late night for all of us. My companion and I are in the same room as the sister training leaders so we were all up pretty late figuring things out. 

On Wednesday the same sister from before had another medical emergency. This one wasn't as bad but it was not good. We all felt for her and she was just so sad. 

On Thursday that sister was told she would have to go home to figure some stuff out. It wasn't what she wanted to hear and we were all so heartbroken because she has been fighting so hard to get to stay.  But she and some of the other sisters and I de ided to make the most of our last night together and we walked around just goofing off and laughing so hard. We took lots of fun pictures with the Christmas light and just tried to have a good time. 

On Friday she had to leave the MTC. It was so hard to say goodbye. I love her so much and our district has grown so close it was like saying goodbye to our family.  But I know that she wouldn't be going through this hard time is God didnt think she could.  As she continues to endure and fight she will receive many blessings for her willingness to serve the lord.  

To everyone preparing to serve a mission, know that it's not always easy.  But if you have the spirit with you and continue on, trying to be the best you can, the lord will be with you and you will feel his love for you.  When times get tough don't forget to pray.  I invite you all this week to think about your prayers and try your best to make them sincere and personal. I promise as you do you will feel God's love for you and you can receive help and guidance as well as strength and comfort. I know this is true because as I've prayed I feel the strength to keep going and to help bring others closer to christ.  

I love you all. Thank you so much for your love and support.  

Sister Goodrich

Thanksgiving Week

Temple Day! and a few snowballs for this St. George Girl! Macie said they can't throw snowballs on the MTC campus, So..... a few might have been thrown on the way to the temple!

This week started pretty crazy. Sunday was great but then that evening one of the girls in my district started experience a medical emergency (I can't say for privacy reasons haha) and for a minute I was really scared she would stop breathing and having a pulse and we would have to start CPR or something. But she became responsive and everything was okay.  We all ended up staying up pretty late as a result and the next day was terrible. Focusing in class was nearly impossible. BUT Tuesday was like a great day. I felt so good and I was way happy and I'm pretty sure my district hated me but oh well haha. Wednesday was boring and normal Haha except I was pretty hyper. Oh and all the other sisters were complaining to me about each other. Yay. On Thanksgiving I went to choir with sister collett. It was very fun. I loved it. And we got to sing at the devotional where Neil L Anderson spoke. It was awesome. Then yummy cafeteria Thanksgiving dinner hahaha. The rest of the afternoon we watched a movie, did a service project (which left us smelling like garlic powder) and had 2 more devotionals. Friday was just a regular day. I was pretty exhausted so not a lot going on. We tried to find the music room after dinner and we did but it was closed so we will have to go back next week. It's been lots of fun stuff and overall a pretty good week. But I really miss my mountain dew hehe so yeah. So if you really love me you know what to send to me here in the MTC ;)
Love you all!
Sister Goodrich

Christmas Lights!

Macie's awesome district headed to the temple.  She loves them!!