Week 13 Corpus Christi, Texas

Mom,

I am glad to hear that everything with Deb's funeral worked out. I imagine it was very good. I emailed Braden today so we'll see when he gets it. I kept it short, and to the point. I imagine he is getting a lot of emails and a lot of people asking him how he is doing. 
This week was pretty normal and uneventful. Not much happened. It was just the usual preaching the gospel thing that missionaries do sometimes. We are working with a lot of people who are on the edge of baptism but they haven't quite committed to it yet.  Church was good today. The talks were about sharing what we learn in our gospel studies with non-members so that they can learn about the church, and how to grow and continually develop our testimony, the talks were really good. 
Today has been super hectic because we have been out and about in McAllen as a whole mission. I'll talk more about that next week. I have to say, even though I can't speak a whole lot of Spanish here and sometimes the people are weird because us white people tend to be that way sometimes it is still good. The ward here is really cool. In fact the young women put together a 12 days of Christmas gift thing for us. Each day we get to open a gift. So far they have been really good, we have gotten cereal, socks, laundry detergent, shaving cream, and a mini tree. 
I'm still trying to think of stuff that happened this past week but I can't think of anything. It was just the usual. As you already know we have our Christmas Conference today and tomorrow. It should be super fun. We will be playing sports all day today and then Tuesday we will talk about the meaning of Christmas, also Monday night we will be near McAllen talking to people. I finally get to talk to Latinos in Spanish, I am a happy Elder.
The announcement with the youth and age advancement was very interesting. I read it when it first came out on Thursday or whatever day it was that it first got released. I think it is a good change. This eliminates a lot of not being with friends and kids your age problems which will be good. It just shows that the Lord is requiring more and more from us, especially the younger generation.
Anyway, I don't have a lot of time today because they have kept us super busy all day.  I'll make sure to talk more next week.  Have a great week.

Love, Elder Goodbaudy 

Week 12 Corpus Christi, Texas

 Mom,

Yeah, I heard about Aunt Deb. (Deb was my kids' bonus aunt) That is super sad. That's also crazy to think that I knew her and now she isn't there. I have to say when I read the Facebook post from Uncle Dave on Thursday morning, I was in shock. I didn't know what to think. I had read the other posts and saw that she had been in the hospital and it had taken a turn for the worse but I didn't expect anything super bad to happen.  I can't imagine what it was like being there when all of it was happening. I'm keeping everyone in my prayers. 
This week was pretty usual. Everything was normal. Thursday was different. As I already said I found out that morning that Aunt Deb had passed away and the rest of the day I was kind of quiet and in shock. I just didn't know what to think, it just sank in. 
Thursday night we had coordination with our ward mission leader Brother King. We show up to his house at around 7:30 and he is on the phone. He told us that at about 6 his wife and daughter were robbed at gunpoint as they were walking out of Burlington and getting into their car. So that was crazy. We waited while he cancelled debit cards and got everything sorted out. Then we went with him to Burlington to pick up his wife and daughter. They were not hurt, just a little shook. So we went and picked them up and they talked to the police for a bit while Elder Huff and I just kind of stood there. We came back to their house and called it a night. That was crazy. Thursday was a weird day.
Friday we had our ward Christmas party. It was at an event center type place and it was pretty cool. We had food catered from a place that does Mediterranean style food, the meal package thing we got was called "taste of Bethlehem" it was good. Santa came and visited with the kids for a bit. Huff and I also got talked into singing a duet of the first verse of Silent Night. So we did that, it turned out okay, I think.  Saturday and Sunday were pretty normal. Not much has been happening. On Sunday night we got transfer calls. Huff and I are staying together in Flour Bluff for another 6 weeks. It should be fun. We are super excited. 
For the past few days I have been studying 'why bad things happen to good people?' It seemed pretty fitting that I study that with what happened with Aunt Deb and also with the Kimg family, along with countless other examples of people that I have heard about while having been on my mission. I read a few conference talks and a few scriptures. I also watched a mormon message called 'refiners fire' that really meant a lot because it was fitting. Also on Sunday we read a talk in elders quorum from this past October conference called Wounded by Elder Andersen. That talk really answered the question.  (I followed Elder  Goodbaudy's example and read the talk Wounded" it is an excellent talk if anyone is asking the question, why do bad things happen to good people.) Anyway. That was pretty much it. This week has been crazy. It has been long.  Elder Huff wears a medium. (Elder Goodbaudy's companion has to have Christmas Eve jammies too. 😊) I'm excited for Christmas, it is coming up quick.  Anyway, that has been the week.  Hope you guys have a great week.
Love, Elder Goodbaudy 

Week 11 Corpus Christi, Texas

Mom,
Wow. That is crazy to hear about work. (I had told Jaden that the plant where I work is closing its doors the end of this year.)  I guess it is good though that all is working our for you and that you are at peace with it. 
Sounds like all is going well at home, besides the work stuff. Good to hear that the kids are staying busy and doing stuff. 
I think funeral potatoes are a thing. (I was making these for Brother Burge's funeral and that is how this subject came up) I haven't had any yet, granted I have been in Spanish wards so maybe they are an English thing. I don't know. 
I hope Deb gets out of the hospital soon. It is good to hear that she is doing better. 
The water heater stopped working. That's good, not. Did it end up getting fixed and start working, or is it still not working? (Our water heater passed away unexpectedly on a Saturday night. Who knew the life span of a water heater is only 10 years? Ours was 13 years old so apparently it was living on borrowed time.)
The weather is going back and forth between cool and warm. One week it will be in the 70's and the next week it will be in the low 60's. Texas just can't make up its mind.
Teaching is going good. We have a lot of people that we will teach one or two lessons to and then they will just not really be interested or willing to do things like read, pray and go to church. Sometimes I wish I could just transfer the knowledge of the truthfulness of the gospel to people to help them understand, however it doesn't work that way.
Food has been good. It has all been pretty good in general. The food is really normal up here compared to some wacky stuff I ate when I was in Spanish wards. The wacky food was good, but this is just more normal. 
Transfers are next Tuesday. Chances are I am staying and so is Huff. I think we are pretty safe this time around. If anything does happen we will find out on Sunday. 
Anyway, the week has been good. Nothing much is new.
Oh also you got that I need a new journal. This will probably be the last one I need. It should last me for the rest of my mission. 
Our ward Christmas party is on Friday so that should be fun. Other than that everything has been the same old same old.
I hope you have a great week and I will talk to you next week.
Love, Elder Goodbaudy   

Week 10 Corpus Christi, Texas

Hey mom,

Yeah, Thanksgiving was good. We had 2 meal appointments but it was good becuase we didn't want to get super stuffed. 

It sounds like all is for the most part well at the home front. That is sad to hear about Brother Burge (a long time member of our ward passed away on Thanksgiving).And Aunt Deb as well. Hope all gets well with her. (Honorary aunt got super sick and landed in the hospital.)

Ours was fairly small, both Huff and I blessed the sacrament. So it was fairly small. We also didn't have anyone in gospel principles so we just hung out 2nd hour. 

Reading the Old Testament was a struggle, it was so long and at some times it was super boring. The institute manual really helped though to understand it and get the meaning behind all of the prophecies and hidden meanings behind everything. It was crazy to see how similar the church is today compared to the ancient church. It is very interesting to see the similarities. Next on my list is the New Testament with the institute manual, so it should be good. 

Texas can't decide if it wants to be cold or hot. Today is in the 60's but yesterday was in the 70's. It can't make up its mind. 

Teaching this week was good. We found a few different people and taught them various lessons. We found this one lady who actually used to be a member of the church and she asked us all of these questions about dealings and how that will all work in heaven. However she has to first decide whether or not the church is true because if it isn't, dealings will be the least of her concerns. So we told her that and basically said she has to decide if she will commit or not, that was interesting. 

Not much else is new. Christmas is coming and that is super cool. Also, we start December the end if this week, that is insane. 

Hope all has been going well at home. 

Hope you have a great week.

Love, 

Elder Goodbaudy 

President Torres has been super happy since President Nelson came to the devotional at the Alamo Dome and he shook the hands of all the mission presidents. So President Torres sent us this photo.

 A very thoughtful Elder Goodbaudy.

Elder Goodbaudy at a waterside gazebo thing.

Week 9 Corpus Christi, Texas

Hey Mom,

That is so cool to hear about Matt and Sean, that sounds like it was super nice. (Matt ordained Sean to be a Deacon.)

Good to hear that everything has been doing well. It is that time of year again when the holidays roll around. 

I don't know where we will have Thanksgiving at but a few members have invited us, so we will see.

Don't have a whole lot of time this week, everything has been the same old same old. 

My big accomplishment was finishing reading the Old Testament along with the institute student manual, that took almost 6 months. I learned a lot but some parts were a struggle to understand what they were talking about. 

We are teaching quite a few more people, which has been good. Things are starting to pick up for us, that has been nice. 

We didn't do much at church yesterday. All we had was Sacrament meeting because President Nelson spoke at the Alamodome so everyone went there. The missionaries in our mission weren't allowed to go but we got to listen to it so that was cool.

The weather warmed up slightly this weekend but it is going to be cooling down again pretty soon.

Other than that everything has been going good. We have been doing the usual. 

I know you are probably going to ask me what I want for my Christmas box. I am going to need a new journal, this should be the last one I need. The one I have now will last me to about January, so I just need one to last until October.

Another thing like I said is last time is books, Gospel books are super nice to read. 

I think that is pretty much it. 

Good to hear all is good at home. Hope you have a great week and and a Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Elder Goodbaudy

Week 8 Corpus Christi, Texas

Hey Mom,

Yep, this week was normal. Weather has dropped into the 60's with some heavy wind and rain, feels like I am in Oregon again. 

Yeah Capitan has to do with language study. If you meet certain requirements (like workbook exercises, days of only speaking Spanish and things like that) it helps you 'measure' more or less how you are doing at learning Spanish.

How did you hear we will all be in McAllen? They haven't even told us that yet. Oh well, that would be cool.

(Missionary Moms are always in the know. 😊)

Teaching has been good. We have found quite a few people but a lot of them still don't quite understand the gravity of what we are telling them. Oh well, we will have to do better at helping them realize the magnitude of what we are saying. 

Its crazy how fast everyone is growing up, it's unreal. 

Training is going good. Sometimes it feels like you are dragging around a bag of rocks but it's alright. Transfers are December 11th. So about 3 weeks left. 

Really anything, the food has been super good. 

No, we didn't help in church but we did ask everyone for people that we could go teach. So that was good. 

Not a lot is new. I also don't have much more time today. Hope all is going well at home. 

Talk to you next week.

Love,

Elder Goodbaudy

Elder Goodbaudy receiving his "Capitan" certificate with Sister Torres.

Elder Goodbaudy receiving his "Capitan" certificate with Ron Hunsaker.

Week 7 Corpus Christi, Texas

Hey Mom,

This week was good. It was pretty long, but there was a lot that happened. 

Sending Christensen off was good, we had a good time together and I enjoyed it but his time had come to an end.

This next transfer goes to December 11th and the next transfer will be until January 28th or something like that. 

Weather has been pretty mild. It has been varying between the high 70's and low 60's so it has been nice. 

We met quite a few new people this week and taught them some good lessons where we just got to know them and got a better idea of where they were coming from. 

We also helped a member in our ward on Sunday to put all the stuff for his smoker away (he used it to smoke meat for our ward lunch BBQ we had on saturday)

Tuesday was transfers so we drove down to McAllen and I saw a whole bunch of people there that I hadn't seen for a while. It was really cool. I also met my greenie, his name is Elder Huff and he is from St. George Utah. He will probably only be here for 6 weeks though because he is here waiting on his visa so he can go to Ecuador. 

Thursday we found out that we had a 2 day Mission leadership conference (MLC) so Thursday morning we drove down to McAllen again to go to that. The MLC was super good, President Torres talked a lot about being a leader and how as leaders we need to be examples to those around us. Thursday we spent the night with some other missionaries who live near McAllen so we could be ready to go for tomorrow. 

Friday morning we all played dodgeball which was super cool. We then listened to more of President Torres talking about leadership and some goals that we have as a mission. 

We came back up to Corpus Friday afternoon and then we got back to work. 

For the rest of the week we just did the usual missionary stuff. 

On Saturday our ward had a lunch BBQ get together thing so that was cool. We are some delicious food and we had the opportunity to talk to a lot of members. 

Sunday was pretty much as normal. Church was good, fast and testimony meeting wasn't too weird. It was pretty normal. We had a pretty full gospel principles class which was good because we had quite a few people come. 

Today we went to the aquarium as a zone activity. It was pretty cool. We are getting ready to go play some sports at the church so that should be good. 

Anyway that is pretty much it.

I know you will probably ask, so I can't think of anything I want for my Christmas box. I guess if you find some more books that look good you could send them. That Habits of Holy Men book was super good and I learned quite a bit from it.

But that's pretty much all for this week. 

Have a great week, love you!

Love,

Elder Goodbaudy 

Week 6 Corpus Christi, Texas

Hey Mom,

Don't have a whole lot of time today so this one will be pretty short. 

Last night we got transfer calls. I will be staying in Corpus Christi for another 6 weeks and I will be training a new missionary again! Christensen will be heading back home to Montana. 

Good to hear that all is well on the home front. 

Not much happened this week. We had dinner with the Fayol family yesterday. (They are the French Hawaiian family in our ward) We had rice with pork and some macaroni salad. It was super good. 

Anyway not much is new for us. It is the same old same old.

I will have more news and more time next week.

Favorite scripture is not necessarily a single scripture but I looked up obedience and the commandments in the topical guide and that was pretty cool. I was asked to give a talk on it so I used that to get some information. The topical guide is super helpful. 

Anyway hope you have a great week.

Love,

Elder Goodbaudy 

Week 5 Corpus Christi, Texas

Hey Mom,

This week was good. Pretty much the same old same old. I saw that the boys are doing good. It was sad to hear about Paul Allen though, he was a good guy. I hope we play good this season for him.

Yeah transfer calls are next Sunday. It is basically guaranteed that I will be staying since Elder Christensen is leaving. My thought is I will probably  be here until January, but who knows. 

We have been trying to work with this lady who is the wife of one of the members in our ward. She just moved here from the Philippines about a month ago so we are trying to help her and her husband out. 

Yeah we ended up getting the video finished. It turned out pretty good. I don't know if I will he able to send it because it it pretty long. I might try sharing it over Google. We will see. 

Inspirational thing this week.... Ummm, President Torres had a mission wide conference with us and we watched it over Facebook. It was super good. President Torres is such an inspired guy and is so real about everything. He talked about how we need to step up our game and take everything to the next level. 

Most difficult is just the fact that right now we aren't teaching a lot of people which makes for some long days. However we are trying to remedy that situation. Just need to find some people who are interested. 

Food has been super good, as usual. Actually yesterday we ate with the French guy in our ward. He is super awesome. What is cool too is that his wife is from Hawaii so that is a very interesting couple. They are super cool though. We had some delicious pot roast. 

The thought for this week... I was reading in that book you sent me and I really like how it talked about being Christlike means just doing the basic things, like being kind to everyone, having charity, studying the gospel, keeping the commandments and things like that. It isn't rocket science which I think makes sense because we know that the doctrine of Jesus Christ is a simple one. 

Anyway that is pretty much all that is new, nothing much has been happening, besides the usual missionary work. The week was good and next week should be pretty interesting to see who replaces Elder Christensen.

Oh also since Wednesday was my year mark I burnt a shirt, included are pictures of that and a video I will share with you as well. Also we found this bench beside a lake one day while we were walking down the street so we did a mini photo-shoot in front of it. 

That's pretty much it. Hope all is going well with you guys back at home. 

Have a great week

Love

Elder Goodbaudy 

 Elder Goodbaudy's Missionary Model pose

 Reflection by Elder Goodbaudy

The traditional burning of the shirt at the 1 year mark

Week 4 Corpus Christi, Texas (1 year mark)

Mom,

Church was pretty good yesterday for us too. It was stake conference. We were able to go to the adult session and the theme for that was all about ministering. The talks were really well done and focused on the idea that we never know how the person next to us is doing or what they have been through until we care about them enough to not only ask, but then act as well.

The Sunday morning session was really good as well. The theme was pretty much focused on having the spirit more in our homes and making the home a holier place. President and Sister Torres spoke, they gave excellent talks. Also the stake President spoke and he gave a very good talk as well.

The weather hasn't changed a whole lot because of hurricane Michael. The water is up a bit higher than usual on the coast but that is pretty much it. We do have a cold front this week. Temperatures will be in the 60's for the rest of the week. We had some rain this morning and some strong winds while we played soccer with some missionaries in our zone. We were soaking wet but it was fun.

Actually the box came today. We were at brother Robins house. (The member who's house the box was shipped to) and just a little bit ago there was a knock at the door and there it was. Thanks for the shirt. Also the book looks super good, I can't wait to read it.

It really is crazy that Wednesday  (October 17th) will mark a year. Time has really flown by.

I wouldn't say I have had any golden contacts. People have seemed super good and then kind of fallen off but everyone learns in a different way and with different experiences. 

We didn't teach a whole lot this week. We are really on the finding grind right now. Just trying to find new ways to contact people and find those who are interested.

Our zone leaders also asked Elder Christensen and I to make a video about working with members and building a relationship with them. The video should be pretty good, we are finishing it up today. If I can I will send it to you in next week's email.

We did some service for Brother Robins. On Saturday we layed down some weed blocking cloth stuff and then we put down a border around the new grass that they got the other week.

One scripture that I have really come to like is Ether 12:6. Our lives truly are trials of our faith, and when the trial (our life) is over on this Earth, we will receive that witness. The witness that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ and our Savior and Redeemer. 

I do love all of the examples of faith there are in the scriptures, knowing that people have made it through their trials, gives you the courage to continue through yours.

Yeah, the Swedish meatballs were good, even though they weren't homemade meatballs they were still good.

The French speaker in our ward seems super cool. I haven't had a very long conversation with him but we will be eating dinner with them on Sunday, that should be really fun.

Not really sure what all is in store for this next week. Elder Christensen is finishing up his mission in 2 more weeks so we are trying to end on a high note. Knowing us we will find something to do to keep us productive and out of trouble.

Hope all has been continuing to go well at home. 

Have a great week

Love

Elder Goodbaudy 

P.S. Haven't been taking a whole lot of pictures but here is one that Christensen and I took while we were goofing around before shooting a part of the member and missionary video.

                 Elder Christensen and Elder Goodbaudy 

Week 3 Corpus Christi, Texas

Hey Mom,

Yes conference was super good. We watched it at a members house here in our ward. It was all really awesome. Yes January will be a very exciting time. Also 12 new Temples! Craziness.

It sounds like all is going well at home. That is good that Matt is being a social butterfly. That is also good to hear that ProAmpac likes to be involved in the communities that they are in.

Sounds like life is busy but still good for you guys. Good to hear. 

I'm trying to think about what happened this week. Not a whole lot. Just mainly Conference and how cool that was. I really liked the talk by Elder Gong and also the one by Elder Stevenson. Yes of course Holland's talks are always favorites. 

Like I think the sister missionaries don't hate me, so I guess that is good. Honestly there isn't a whole lot that I do. I just have to make sure everything happens the way it should. Really being district leader doesn't change the fact that you are still a missionary called to preach the gospel.

Lessons taught, not a whole bunch. We are kind of on the finding grind right now. Finding is definitely different up here in Corpus but it is cool to adapt to new things. 

Favorite scripture for this week..... I can't really think of any. Ummm mind of tying in with President Ballards talk about the spirit world I think that section of the Doctrine and Covenants is super cool. Speaking of Ballard's talk I thought his was super good because of how in that moment it directly applied to his situation and that it was important for him in that moment that he will see his wife again.

Food was good this week, for Conference on Sunday for lunch the member in our ward made us Swedish meatballs. They weren't the super authentic kind that Catharina taught us but they were still super delicious. All in all the food has been good up here. 

Also I keep forgetting to mention that there is a guy in our ward who grew up in France and knows French. I haven't talked with him a whole lot but we are eating with him later this month and I will have to see if I remember any French from high school. What is also cool is this guy served his mission in Tahiti, I believe. So he wears a skirt to church, it is so cool.

Best thing this week was General Conference. The hardest thing this week was waiting for General Conference to finally get here at the end of the week. It felt like I had to wait forever. Nothing service wise this week. 

What should be pretty cool is that foe our stake next Sunday is stake conference so we will have to see what they say about General Conference during that meeting. 

Yeah we will have to see what happens weather wise.

Also I know you didn't ask but I still can't really think of anything for a hump day box. Just make sure that it isn't packed full of candy because I never am able to eat it all. If you have already sent it, don't worry about it.

Also speaking of sending boxes I may need to send one home with some stuff pretty soon. Just a lot of junk that I want to keep but I don't want to haul around with me. I don't know, we will see.

Anyway I think that is pretty much it for the week.

Hope all is going well with you guys. Tell everyone I say hi.

Love,

Elder Goodbaudy 

Week 2 Corpus Christi, Texas

Hey Mom, 

That is good that the weather is cooling off. It is for us too which has been super nice. We have had some good rain storms as well which has cooled it down, but it has also brought mosquitos, which are not fun here. 

Being a DL is good, not much changes. You just have more responsibility, and you get more hear when things don't go the way they should, which is why I try to avoid messing up.

Well that's good that I was cute, probably got me out of a lot of trouble when I was younger. 

Testimony meeting was good. Everyone was pretty good about sharing real testimonies and not going on and on.

Church was good. I ended up sharing the first vision in a primary class so that was cool. Also 3rd hour was 5th Sunday so we talked about emergency preparedness, which I thought was pretty cool and pretty applicable considering the hurricane that happened last year.

I have been trying to talk in Spanish and study in Spanish as much as I can so that I can keep it up.

No favorite scripture this week, but I was reading some general conference talks back in 1979, I was also reading Neal A. Maxwell's last tall before he passed away in 2004. Those were super good, definitely should read conference talks. Especially with conference next week.

There are only sisters in the district so no splits. I am a DL over 4 sisters. However this week I did go on a split with one of our zone leaders which was a lot of fun.

Hump day package... I can't think of anything. Maybe a gospel book to read, I don't know. 

Favorite meal, was yesterday. We ate with a family in the ward, and we had cafe Rio inspired, pork salad which was delicious. It was cool too because they live on the military base here in Corpus so we got to go onto the base. 

I think our ward primary program is in 3 weeks. I'm not sure. 

Cool experience this week was that Saturday while on an exchange with one of our zone leaders we had a meal appointment where a lady in their ward made us a huge thanksgiving lunch, we don't know why but she did. So that was super good.

We also ended up eating at an Asian restaurant with a member who was visiting here from Boston. However she was born in Israel, that was cool. She was traveling from Boston where she lives and she wanted to meet with us missionaries so she took us to eat at that restaurant. So we talked to her about life in Israel which was super cool to hear about. 

Favorite hymn in Spanish.... hmmm. I don't know. All the hymns sound really cool in Spanish. 

I just have to prepare meetings every Tuesday, just something that we can learn about, like a missionary skill or something like that. It isn't super difficult. 

I think that is pretty much it for the week.

Hope you guys have a great week and I will talk to you in seven days.

Also for sending my package let me double check what address to send it to since I am so far away from McAllen. So I will let you know next week where to send it. 

Love,

Elder Goodbaudy 

Week 1 Corpus Christi, Texas

Hey Mom,

First week in Corpus Christi was super good. First week as a district leader was also good, not much that is new, you have to prepare meetings every Tuesday So far so good. 

That is good that you enjoyed your getaway. Sounds like you had a good time. 

We will either watch General Conference with members or at the church, we aren't sure yet. 

My companion is Elder Christensen, he is super cool. He is actually on his last transfer so I will be his last companion before he heads for home. What's funny is Elder Christensen is like 6'7 and so we are just 2 big white boys wandering the streets of Flour Bluff.

The ward is super good, it is nice because all the members are returned missionaries that at some point have lived in Utah so they know how the church is supposed to work. Which makes our job really easy. 

Yeah Saints is super good. Also if you've downloaded it on Gospel library you don't need internet to read it. 

The weather here is a bit cooler. In part because summer is coming to an end but also because we are right on the ocean so we have a nice breeze all the time. 

The ward is actually an English ward. There is only a Spanish branch here in Corpus and other missionaries cover that. The ward is super good, like I said, a bunch if Utah Mormons, they know how a ward should function. 

The food is still super good. Not quite authentic Mexican food but the food is a lot more like what we would normally eat back home. 

We found a couch for a family in our ward and so we brought it to them, that was pretty cool. 

Favorite scripture for the week is D&C 98:3. All things we pass through are for our good. 

Ummm things for my year box....... I can't think of anything. But I will let you know if I think if anything before you send it. 

That is pretty much it for this week. Tell everyone I say hi.

Have a great week.

Love,

Elder Goodbaudy 

Corpus Christi, Texas

Hey Mom,

So we had transfer calls last night. Crazy news!! I am leaving San Benito and going up North to Corpus Christi, serving basically on North Padre island. I will also be District Leader so it should be interesting. I am super excited. I am sad I only got to spend 6 weeks in San Benito but it was a really good time. 

We thought we would be getting a hurricane but it looks like we won't. The weather has cooled down nicely. It has still been humid thanks to the rainshowers we have gotten but at least it has cooled down. 

The week was pretty good. Not much new happened. 

Church was good. There were only 75 people there though because Saturday was Mexico's  Independence Day. There was also a big boxing match between a Hispanic guy and a Filipino guy, the fight started at like 11:00 pm so everybody was up late partying. 

We helped out at church by teaching the young men during 3rd hour. I also helped out our Branch President with some stuff after church. 

Food was really good this week. It usually is, so no complaints. 

We had a good lesson with a lady who said she was Catholic and fine with where she was but she kept asking us questions and so we ended up having a good lesson with her. 

Most inspirational thing this week was a zone meeting we had reflecting on what we learned from the General Authorities. It was super good.

Most difficult was biking, as per usual. However up in Corpus we will have a car so no more of that for the foreseeable future.

Favorite scripture for this week isn't a scripture. They released the book Saints and it is available on Gospel library. It is so good. If you haven't started reading it then start. It is so good.

After having 2 companions that speak Spanish I feel pretty good about my abilities. I can understand pretty much everything people say. Speaking wise I'm not awful but practice always helps. 

That is pretty much all the news for the week. Hope all goes well at home and that you guys have a good week.

Sorry no pictures. Definitely will be some next week though. 

Love,

Elder Goodbaudy

Week 6 San Benito, Texas - One Last Time

Hey Mom,

This week was super good.

We don't know why Casillas was transferred, but we are told all is well.

I am glad that it seems like all is going well for the most part with the kids starting school. 

This week was super good. On Friday we had a branch activity called Noche en Blanco (Night in white) we talked about Temples and baptism. President Torres came and spoke, it was really good.

Yesterday we had Elder Pieper and Elder McKay from the 70 come and visit our mission. We had a really cool interactive question and answer session about agency and better meeting people's needs. It was super good.

Other than that this week was pretty normal. 

It has cooled down just slightly it has also started to rain a bit more. Rumor has it that a hurricane might be on the way, within the next few weeks, but we will see. 

Food has been delicious as usual, no complaints. 

In church we taught the young men about making our own choices as to whether or not we will do what we are commanded to do. We also talked about the Word of Wisdom because there is a lot of confusion down here as to what is against the Word of Wisdom and what isn't. 

Favorite scripture this week relates to something that Elder McKay said to us yesterday. He talked about faith as a principle of action. He talked about how in 1 Nephi 3:7 Nephi says he will go AND do. We have to go and do our part of the deal for the Lord go do the rest. 

Anyway, that is pretty much it for this week. Next week is transfers so we will see what happens. I am probably staying in San Benito so I am super excited. 

Can't think of anything for a hump day box as of yet. 

Hope you guys have a great week!

Love,

Elder Goodbaudy 

Week 5 San Benito, Texas

Hey Mom,

This week was pretty long. Not much time today so this email will be pretty short. 

All has been good. We did get some sad news when on Tuesday we found out Casillas was being emergency transferred to a different area. So Wednesday morning Casillas left and I got my new comp Elder Acosta. He is from Baja California, Mexico. He doesn't know very much English. We are still having a good time. 

It is still really hot outside, no end to our summer yet. 

Testimony meeting was good. Church started a little late so not many people had time to go up. It was still good though. 

In church we taught Sunday school to the youth about the commandments. We also taught the young men during 3rd hour about the importance of the Temple and paying tithing. 

Meals this week have been good. We get fed every day, the food is always super delicious. 

Best thing this week has been talking to people. Just the crazy things that happen when you find people outside to talk to. 

Favorite scripture for this week is....

Mormon 9:10-11

10 And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles.

11 But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.

Miracles still happen, so go out and look for them.

Got to go but I love you guys and I will talk to you next week. Have a great week!

Love

Elder Goodbaudy 

Week 4 San Benito, Texas

Hey Mom,

Man, it is crazy hearing about everyone leave on missions. (Our friend's daughter, Reagan leaves on 9/4 for San Jose, CA via the CCM. Reagan is 4 days younger than Jaden and because of my friendship with Reagan's mom Jaden and Reagan spent a fair amount of time together until Reagan's family moved when the kids were about 5.) Good to hear though, the mission does you a lot of good. 

The week wasn't too bad. Yes it is still hot. Luckily at around 6 it starts to cool down ever so slightly, so all we have to do is endure until the evening. 

Oh the end of summer. Everyone down here went back to school today, so the kids here are a little disappointed. 

It sounds like all continues to go well at home, that is good to hear. 

Yeah, there are definitely days when it is hot, and biking is tiring, but we do what we need to do. (Autumn, Sean and I were discussing the theme of Girls Camp Autumn had recently returned from; the theme was "Strength beyond my own". I told them I was sure the were many times as Jaden rode his bike through the streets of Southern Texas in 100+ degree heat he felt strength

Food was good as always. Yes we get fed every day, so that is nice. 

In church we taught Sunday school to the youth about the importance of marrying in the Temple. Then we taught aaronic priesthood about the restoration. 

A cool experience this week was that we went by this family and talked to the mom. We taught her about the restoration and then she told us this story of a time when she had a heart attack. She told us that she was pronounced dead and while she was dead she saw a vision. She saw a straight and narrow path, a great and spacious building and a bright tree. She heard a voice say to her that she wouldn't be taken from this earth yet because she has to return to this straight and narrow path. So we pulled out the Book of Mormon and opened up to Lehi's vision. We invited her to read it and told her that this explained what she saw. So we will go back to visit her and see how it went. 

So that was the cool miracle for the week. 

Favorite scripture for this week? Hmmm. Probably James 2:17 in the New Testament. Without works, our Faith is dead. We show our Faith and trust in God by our works. We must show our Faith by our works. 

Didn't have any service this week but we are constantly asking people if we can do anything to help. Eventually someone will say yes. 

Can't think of anything I need right now. But I will think about it during the week. (I had asked Jaden what he wanted/needed for his "Hump Day" package. Hard to believe we are already talking about that,  it seems like he just left. October 17th is his 1 year mark.)

That is all for this week. Hope this next week goes good for you guys and that you enjoy the cooler weather. 

Love,

Elder Goodbaudy

 Elder Goodbaudy in front of a mural in San Benito, Texas

Elder Casillas and Elder Goodbaudy in front of a mural in San Benito, Texas

Elder Goodbaudy in front of a mural in San Benito, Texas

sans suit coat.