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