Buenas Tardes!

Mi familia :) Como estan? Estoy muy bien pero estoy un poco enfermo... I think I have allergies or something. But besides that I am good :) Today was the calls for transfers... we didnt get one so I think I am safe and am staying here one more transfer :) Elder Dyorich is leaving as well as Sister Mitchell though :( And it is Elder Robles last day today :( He is at the temple and heads home tomorrow! Crazy!!!!!!! Sometimes I feel like that day will never come but then I look back and think thats its crazy that I have almost been gone for 6 months... haha. You would think I knew Spanish by now or something pero todavia no... 

This week was good! It started off with visiting with Luis Monday night. He showed us his awesome dance skills. It was hilarious! He was like shimmying (I dont know if thats how you spell that) like crazy! we were dying laughing! On tuesday we had an awesome district meeting this week. Elder Robles told us that in order to have more success as a district we need to change. We are not going to have success if we arent willing to change for the Lord. I am so sad Elder Robles is going home. He is such a good missionary and taught me so much! 

We went to a dinner with Ben and Tom this week. They live down the street from us and when we had the ice storm they had ropes and a big truck and got all the cars unstuck so thats where we met them. We went over with the ASL sisters and had hamburgers and they were SO nice! They asked all about us and why we decided to go on missions. They are super religious themselves but seem interested in the Book of Mormon. We started talking about the zoo and how we wanted to go but didnt know how much it was and he reached in his wallet and pulled out enough money for all 4 of us to go. He is the most generous man I have ever met! So I think today at 3 we are going to go to the zoo with them!

This week we set a date with Darius! He came to church this week too!!!!!!!!! We helped an investigator move out this last week. She had a LOT of stuff. There were probably 10 missionaries there for a couple hours. As we were moving stuff out I found this dress bag that I was stuffing with clothes and pillows and one of the Elders walked by and thought there was a person in the bag. We thought it would be funny so I took the pillows out and got in the they zipped me up and carried me out through the room with all the other missionaries and into the moving truck. It was funny :) Sis. peterson got a picture but she doesnt have her camera with her right now. I will have to send it next week.

Cool story. This week we were driving down the street and there was a car that had broken down on the side of the road. Sis. Peterson said we should stop and help them! So we pulled over and went up and talked to him and he said he thinks he was out of gas but he wasnt sure. The car was really old. We asked if we could say a prayer with him and he said of course! We said the prayer and he tried to start the car twice more and it wasnt working and then he tried it a 3rd time and it worked! Prayer is real and it works! God really does answer our prayers and I know that! 

Alejandro Robles made us some yummy pizza this week :) We also made brownies with Madelyn and had a good time at their house talking about the Bible and answering her questions. We taught Whitney and Cassius this week with the Pinnacle Mountain sisters and set a date for their baptism for the 5th with Darius. They still have to come to church one more time so we are going to pray real hard! They both know it is true and Whitney even talked to someone at her work about the church and told her about her experience with praying about going to church and how she KNEW she had to go and she knew it was true. They are so cool and I hope they are able to come to church next week because they are so ready! 

We had exchanges this week. I stayed here and Sis. Miller came here. It was a bit scary because I was the only one speaking Spanish but it worked out alright. Sister Foster came out with us to a couple lessons and then Mark Ford came out with us to a few lessons as well. We went to La Perla (a mexican store) and met this cool guy there who had been taught by Elders before and said that he wanted to read in he Book of Mormon and wanted to have us stop by again. 

This week we had permission to go to Russelville (sis. Petersons last area) because there were 3 people getting baptized that she taught. We drove to Conway to try to visit some less actives and referrals and left our car at the church where we were able to get a ride from a member up to russelville. Elder Reed and Elder Dalton also were in the area and we were able to say hi to them! It was good to see them :) It is weird how Elder Reed and I are in the same mission. Elder Reed as in Brandon Reed from my high school. I played piano for the baptism and also sang a duet with Elder Meyers. And guess what??????? I tried menudo!!!!!! Cow stomach! It was interesting... I dont think I will ever eat it again. After the baptism and dinner we played soccer in Russelville with the branch. I want to get that going down here but I dont know if it would work out as well as it does up there. 

LUIS TAUGHT THE LESSON THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so exciting! He has changed SO much! He was always way scared because he says he doesnt know as much as we do but we asked if he would teach a couple days before and he said yes and he did SO awesome!!!!!!! Dora also got baptized this week, one of the Elders investigator. And the branch went to the temple this week! The robles and arroyos got sealed!!!!!!!! And alfredo got his endowments. These people are seriously amazing. I love them! 

Well that is about it for this week. Love you all! 

Hermana Goudie

Last District photo with Elder Robles, Dyorich, and Sister Mitchell :(

Our lovely cars we get to drive. :)

Saying goodbye to Elder Davis (our Zone Leaders)

Soccer Group in Russelville. So fun to see the missionaries up there and see Diana
and her parents get baptized! 

Una mas foto con los misioneros en russelville!

Shnickm it has your name on it! This is with Ben (his dad is who gave
us the money to go to the zoo) and Sis. Christianson.

More at the Zoo! (P.S. There were 4 baby tigers ar the zoo and they were adorable!)

Elder Dyorich is leaving. :(

Cleaning out the house! We found lots of cool things!

Loverlies

In the body bag!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

So this week was good. It started off with a wonderful specialized training meeting which I always love :) Thats with all the missionaries in our zone and President and Sister Petersen and the AP's and its basically like an elongated zone meeting. But this one was extra special. Because us and the ASL sisters brought a special guest. Sis. Richardson was asked to put a musical number together the last specialized training and she asked me and Sis. Peterson and her companion to sing a song with her. We werent sure what we were going to do up until the day before. We went over to Darius' house to visit with him and his dad was there and he answered with an electric guitar in hand. I said "do you play?" He said "course I play!" And then I said will you play for us? we went in and he started playing and singing and we started singing with him and we asked if he knew amazing grace and sure enough he did! It was SO much fun! it reminded me of grandmas house each week and how we have our jam out harmony singing sessions with all the cousins. It was awesome! so then I was like hey, we should have him be our accompanist tomorrow at specialized training for the musical number that we have to do since we still dont have anything planned. we asked if he was busy and he said that he would love to come play and sing with us! we didnt know if her was being for real or not but we sure were. we gave him the address and the time and sure enough he showed up! He walked in with guitar and amp and us of course and all the missionaries seemed a little confused... but we went up and sang and he forgot his capo so he wasnt able to play guitar the whole time but he sang with us and afterwards all the missionaries said it was awesome! His voice is amazing! President was also able to talk to him a little bit and it was a great experience. His name is Wil and he is the dad of Darius and Cassius (2 of the miracle 3). One day this family is going to get baptized!

On the way home I found out that my great grandpa had passed away. It made me really sad but I was able to feel of Gods comfort so that I can keep preaching His gospel. I just want to say that I love him so much and miss him so much but know that He is in a better place and that one day I will see him again. I have so many great memories of him that I will never forget. He was such a great example to me!

So we were biking and decided to stop by the Herreras and we walked in and she was making food and it smelled delicious! I told her it smelled really good and she said she was just about done cooking. I said jokingly thats great because we havent eaten yet ;) and then she said yeah of course you are going to stay and the Elders are coming over right now in about 5 minutes. Rule here... we arent allowed to eat with the Elders anymore. Anyways then I was like, we better leave I dont want to make things awkward and then a couple minutes later the Elders walk in and we were saying we were just about to leave but Hna. Herrera said she wanted us to stay and we told her we couldnt eat together but she said that us sisters could eat first and then the Elders and that way we werent eating together. It was delicious! But very spicy. I loved it though! 

We have been going to the gym in the mornings and I have been running a lot. So thats good. I ran 2 miles the other day and I was very proud (dont make fun-I hate running). sis. peterson is a great personal trainer ;)

This week we were able to go visit Hermana Bowen's friend in Conway. She speaks Spanish and is from the Dominican Republic and her daugher is deaf and her husband is African American and doesnt speak any Spanish. He met her in the Dominican Republic and while they were living there the mom didnt know any sign language and so she had no way of communicating with her daughter. They moved here about 6 years ago and about a couple years ago Aleris (the daugher) was able to get into a deaf school so that she can learn how to sign but now her mom doesnt know how to sign and it is still a little bit difficult for the mom and daughter to know exactly how the other is feeling. I just thought it was really cool that somehow us spanish Sisters live with the American Sign Language sisters. God has a plan and knows exactly where people need to be. We went up on Friday with Hermana Bowen and the ASL sisters and had a good lesson. We were able to get to know them and while we were teaching the mom in Spanish the ASL sisters were teaching the daughter in sign and it was SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!! They said they were going to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it and come to church. Unfortunately they didnt make it to church but next week I think they will come. Maria (the mom) has been taught before by other missionaries and almost got baptized but she had just gotten married to her husband and she didnt want to go through with it then. I really am excited to keep working with her and its so cool how no matter what the language is the Spirit is the the one that testifies and seeing that lesson with 3 (we did have a English sis. training leader with us that only speaks English) different languages was a testament to me that it really just depends on if the Spirit is there. 

And... MADELYN GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!! So exciting!!!!!!!!!!! I love her so much and seeing her get baptized was so emotionally exciting! Alejandro (her boyfriend) baptized her and I know that he was a really great example to her. Her parents were able to come to the baptism and the confirmation and I know that her prayers affected their decision to come and that through her prayers and ours, her parents hearts were softened. They were very happy for her and respected her decision. Prayer is real. After the baptism they had the mormon prom and so we helped her get ready for the dance and she looked beautiful. I will send pics! The Robles took us out to dinner afterwards. I love them so much and learn so much Spanish from them. I was just thinking this week that when I have to leave this area I will be so sad... I am making some really great friendships here and seeing the gospel bless these families lives is the best thing I could be doing in my life right now. The Robles are going to get sealed in the temple this week as well as the Arroyo family and ALFREDO is getting his endowments. I LOVE THAT MAN!!!!!!! I love this branch so much and I never want to leave! ;) Except to see my own family ;)

We had gumbo at the Franklins this week and it was delicious! We also got the 2014 Fusion to drive for the week :) It is beautiful. And it has blue tooth so that when we make calls in the car we can both hear and talk. Its fancy. We went and saw Luis and he is so awesome. He has changed so much and he is so happy. He showed us a dance that they do in Nicaragua and it was awesome! You like move your shoulder blade back and forth really fast while like vibrating your body and it is so cool. It is called punta or cumbia. I love Luis. We also met the Angeles family this week. We had a really awesome lesson with Junior, his mom Maria, and her nephew Gorge yesterday about the Book of Mormon. They are so cool and are going to get baptized! Junior prayed for us and started crying up a little bit. They said they would read the Book of Mormon and we are about to go see them tonight and talk about it with them. 

Sorry this email was super long. Love you all!

Hermana Goudie

LOVE my new skirt!

Us sisters on the way to the church!

Behind the scenes...

Madelyn! :) She got baptized!

Got her ready for the dance!

Ready for church!

Twinner Socks!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Esta Semana

Buenas tardes. como estan? this week was pretty great. slow. and interesting. and lots of amazing things happened. and dangerous. it all started with hielo (ice).

So... the south hermanas had to sleepover at our house two nights in a row because our hill up to our apartment had so much ice on it that cars couldnt get up or down. Sin embargo, it didnt stop people from trying... there were probably like 20 cars that tried to go up and down and got stuck and crashed into other cars and went off the hill and got stuck in the woods. It was crazy. Tuesday morning we went and watched the cars try to attempt this hill and it was hilarious. We tried to warn as many as possible not to do it but everyone has their agency... but by tuesday night the ice was eventually gone and the asl sister successfully got the south hermanas car down. 

We were able to go up to Hermana Hernandez's house this week and she made us the most delicious food. She always does. I love her and her family so much! She told me her story and it is crazy how much these people go through. I have so much respect for her. 

And... we got a gym membership. I dont know if I mentioned last week but I am getting fat as you might be able to tell in my pictures because my cheeks are huge so we go and work out at a gym down the street from our apartment in the mornings with the Elders. Hopefully that will help so I dont gain any more weight and hopefully am able to lose some of the chubbiness in my cheeks ;) 

We went to the Herreras this week and were able to talk to them about the temple and I just want them to get there someday SO bad! They are such a cool family. I love them so much and I dont know how to get it to their heads that they need to come to church! ;) They took us and the North Elders out to Cici's pizza though and it was very kind of them. But they didnt come to church :( We even asked them for a ride.... I shoudnt lose faith though. I know some day they will come around. They have come twice since I have been here because they gave us rides to church. I love seeing them there I just wish they would come more! 

This week we have been praying for Madelyn a lot for her to be able to talk to her parents about her baptism. We fasted for her and her mom agreed to have us and the Elders come over and be taught and have her questions answered. She was extremely nice and very open to what we were teaching. She gave her permission for Madelyn to be baptized and is going to come to the baptism!!!!!! Adivina que mas? Guess what else????? She came to church yesterday with madelyn! so cool :) Madelyn is getting baptized on Saturday and I am so excited for her :) She was able to be interviewed and she is so ready. Alejandro (her boyfriend) is going to baptize her. The Robles family is so cool and we could not have done this without their help. Having members involved helps SO much in this work. 

Next cool thing. Guess who finished the Book of Mormon in 2 and a half weeks? Yep. LUIS!!!!!!!!!! He is such a boss! And he didnt have a ride on Sunday to church so Alejandro Robles was willing to go pick him up for us and Luis came to church and also RECIEVED THE PRIESTHOOD!!!!!! he is so humble and kept telling us he didnt have the capacity to have the priesthood because he wasnt as smart as us (although he knows scripture stories WAY better than I do) but Pres. Barrientos talked to him and Sundayafter church he got the Priesthood! I am so happy for that guy. He is the coolest. Oh andon Sunday we also taught the Gospel Principles class about prayer and it went really well :) 

This week we are on bikes and it is supposed to be really nice weather so thats good :) I feel like we are always able to find people better when we are on bikes. We met some really cool hispanics last night and I am excited to keep teaching them. I love you all and we will talk to you next week. The gospel is true! 

P.S. I might have a lesson at Presidents house tonight depending on if Whitney and Cassuis call us back or not... :( they have been real busy with work this last week. Pray for them! 

Haha! This is a camaro that got stuck on our hill. And the license plays
says 'Eat Dust'... so funny!

We found this cute place on our way to teach Mario. A way cool investigator in Jacksonville!

My Package!!! Love you mom!!

Getting People to Church...

So I don't about other missionaries but getting people to church is really hard. Sundays are a bit stressful because so many people say they are going to come... and then we call... and then we text... and then we go to their house... and then we wait... and no one comes. BUT! This week was awesome! We had such a cool experience!

So. The miracle 3. They are still the coolest people ever and are still getting baptized. I have faith. But this week Satan has been really working hard to get into their heads. Satan is real. But so is God. And the gospel is TRUE! Anyways... we went over and taught them a couple times this week. Oh quick story. We went over with the Zone Leaders earlier this week to teach them and they asked Whitney how she felt when we first came over and she told me that she could see the light of Christ in my eyes and knew that we had something special to share. I love her SO much and she is such a great example to me and makes me feel like I really am doing the Lords work here and he is changing me each day and that people can see that. It made me feel good :) They told us also that night that they were moving. So we helped them move into their new apartment on Saturday and get everything all settled in on so that on Sunday they could make it to church. All week the 3 of them have been saying they are going to come but Whitney has been a little bit hesitant because she was raised Baptist and she says this is all so new and different. But before we would leave each night she would tell us that she was going to come to church. Their tags on the cars are expired so they said they didn't a ride. President Petersen said that he could pick them up as well so we set everything up for that. So we got a text Saturday night at 11 from Cassius saying that we are going to fast for Whitney and they need to get there thoughts together so they arent going to make it to church "#takinitslow" in his words. So Sunday morning we let President Petersen know the situation but that we are going to head over to their house and get them to come to church. He said he would just wait for the text and would go pick them up if they decided to come. So we text them Sunday morning saying that Satan is dumb and that we are on our way over and Cassius responds as we arrive at his house, "Yea he is but we are un-able to move around chief. Cant go nower yal just go on to church" and we just knew that we still had to knock on their door. So we did. And we got in and started talking about why they didnt want to go to church. I wanted them to come SO bad because I know that they wanted to deep down and that they knew it was right and true. I started crying as I was telling them that God loves them and wants them to come and that we love them so much and thats why we want them to come to church because we know the blessings it would bring and that they could feel the Spirit and get answers at church. Whitney just kept saying that she didnt know and that she would just come next week. She said she was going to go to church at her sisters church today because she didnt know if she was supposed to go to ours. I said "okay. God knows all. Lets pray right now and Whitney, ask God if he wants you to come to our church today with us." So she started praying and started crying and the Spirit was really strong and then she started bawling and looked up at us and said, "I know this feeling all to well. I know it is true." It was SO cool! I know that God answers prayers and that through the Holy Ghost we can recognize and know the truth of all things. So I texted Pres. and asked them to come pick them up. After that Whitney said that she is just going to take this week to herself and just come to church with us next time. I was like NO! You just got your answer! You know you need to come. We were discussing it back and forth for awhile and then there was a knock on the door. We said well... thats your ride. It was President Petersen. They let him in and President was like "Are ya'll ready to come to church?" It seriously could not have been better timing. Whitney said, well, I guess we will have to get ready real quick. Moral of the story... THEY CAME TO CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fasting and prayers bring miracles. It was so cool! And now... we are teaching them tonight.... AT PRESIDENTS HOUSE!!!!!!!!!! scary... but really cool. but really scary. We are going over tonight and eating dinner and teaching them. It will be such a great experience I am sure :) 

Sorry that was a bit long... but... also Madelyn is still planning on getting baptized on the 15th so we are excited about that! She is such a cute girl and I am so proud of her for deciding to go through with it this time :) 

We were able to go out to Hermana Hernandez's house this week for dinner (Oscars mom) and she is my favorite. I love them so much! We had a great conversation about temples and how we can live with our families forever. Oscar got the priesthood 2 weeks ago and passed the Sacrament this week and went to do baptisms on saturday with the youth. I love him! 

Last night there was a crazy ice/snow storm. We were at the Fosters for dinner (I love their food! They made us the best enchiladas, guacamole and salsa) with the South hermanas and I drove like 20 miles an hour all the way home because the roads were really slippery. But we made it safe to the uhaul down the hill of our apartment. The hill was impossible to get up so we walked up in the middle of an ice downpour. It was fun :) The south hermanas car was up at the top because we drove together to the Fosters and they left it there earlier in the night before it started icing but it was going to be impossible for them to drive down the hill to get home (last time there was a snow day a car went rolling down the hill and hit head on into a tree off the hill). So pres. gave them permission to sleep over with us :) So we had 6 sisters in our apartment. It was a partayyy that ended at 10:30 ;) Oh the life of a missionary. 

Well. It has been a busy crazy slow and fast week and I am excited to see what happens this next week. Love you all!

Hermana Goudie

We drove past the Old Mill while we were in North Little Rock this last week
visiting less actives and we had to stop and take a pic!

No... we did not go to a movie. We just were really craving movie theater popcorn. So we went into
the mall and bought some with extra butter just like we get at home!

Walking up the hill last night in the ice ctorm!

This is from zone conference. Some of the Spanish Missionaries. I love them!

At the hike.

Close up of me and Dallis at the hike!

We got stuck behind a train for a little while and took pictures!

At the Old Mill.

The snow on the ground in our apartment parking lot!