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