Updates from Hermana Goudie: 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