Pioneers

Hello everyone! And happy late pioneer day! 

This week, with it being pioneer day, I have been able to do some research about my ancestors. Wow! They were amazing people. I love reading about my ancestors and their trek as pioneers. I am so full of love for my family as I read about their many struggles in the early days of their church and their sacrifices that help me be where I am today. I know the spirit of Elijah is present and I can feel my ancestors cheering me on as I do my part in this great gathering of Israel. 

In my mission we have been reading the Book of Mormon "through the eyes of a missionary." It has given me a chance to slow down my reading and see the great examples of the many missionaries and prophets in the Book of Mormon and to follow that example in my own teaching. This week while reading I came across 1 Nephi 19:18 which reads, "And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer." It reminded me that my job is to persuade people to remember God and Jesus Christ! I do the persuading, and the spirit does the converting. It is so important to have the spirit with me, I take it for granted because I have had it since I was 8. As my friends feel the spirit, they can be truly converted unto the Lord! 

I love you all! Keep being amazing

Sister Goodrich 

Just keep going and doing

Hello everyone! It's been another wonderful week. Yes, we are still working from inside our apartment, but we continue to see miracles and feel the spirit nonetheless. 

If I'm completely honest, missionary work in our apartment can be hard. We make many calls and get hung up on many times. But the spirit is with us as we work hard. As we patiently continue working and enduring we can see the success. As president Nelson said, "the Lord loves effort."

The Sons of Mosiah embark on their mission to the Lamanites. This was not an easy thing to do. In Alma 26 they write of their experiences saying "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success. And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God. And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again. And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some. Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us."

Although I may not see the fruits of my labors now, I know that as I diligently and patiently serve I will find many who are waiting to hear the message of the gospel. 

I love you all!! Have a great week. 

Sister Goodrich

Effort

Hello everyone! I hope all is well at home and that you are all staying safe and healthy. 

It's been a good week this week. We have had a chance to call and find a lot of new people this week. I'm excited go get to know them all better and share with them the blessings I have received.

As I have worked this week I have kept in mind something President Nelson said in the last General Conference. "The Lord loves effort." As we give our a and labor diligently, God will help us in our endeavors. But we have to act first and show God our dedication. This is how we can show our love for our Heavenly Father. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week. I love you all a whole lot :) thanks for everything.

Sister Goodrich