Elder Goss---W:91 Training Transfer (Jun 1, 2021)

 Hola todos! como estan? bien, bien. Pues, you tambien! Well, this week has been a very interesting chance of pace, getting a greenie missionary and all! At first, it was a bit rough. If Elder Bullock didn't know what to do, he would just hover over you and watch what you were doing. He's pretty clueless. He's getting better at finding stuff to do, in between activities. He's never exercised seriously before, so the morning routine has been really good for him. He enjoys it, which is great. 

His spanish isn't as poor as I would have guessed, and is much better than mine was when I started. We've taken to learning spanish songs for some fun language study. Spanish hymns, the Coco movie songs, and even a couple from the Spanish version of Tarzan. It's been fun. 

I am now the oldest Missionary in our 4-man apartment. In fact, I have more time out than all 3 Elders combined. That's pretty wild to think about. I dare say that 75% of all missionaries out right now attended the MTC in their own homes. That is so crazy to me! I wonder if in the future, they'll keep home MTC an option for certain missionaries. It wouldn't surprise me. 

Elder Bullock and I have also been semi-toutoring another Elder while he's in his home MTC here. We'll take him to some lessons that we have, and it is probably a good thing, becuase he needs a lot of practice with Espanol. It is a bit wack teaching a lesson with 2 complete gringos who begin each sentence with "yo se que..." (just kidding, they're better than that). 

Anyhow, I hope you've all had a great week! keep up the good work! 

Elder Goss

Elder Goss---W:92 (Jun 8, 2021)

Hi everyone. Welcome back to another weekly report of San Diego!  

This week, we had a really fun English class! Three people showed up, along with some members. This week was the first class we've ever done, so that was relieving. The Sister missionaries and us plan to switch off every week teaching, so next week, Elder Bullock and I will be the teachers. We'll review the alphabet, and then learn some basic phrases.  

Additionally, we stopped by some of local latin markets, and handed out a surprising number of family history pamphlets and English lesson invitations. Hopefully, next week, we'll have even more friends! 

I don't have too much else to say today. If you want an excellent spiritual boost, give Mosiah 24 a read. It is amazing.  

Take care! I love you all.

Elder Goss--W:90 2nd last Transfer (May 25, 2021)

Well, transfers greet us once again! And there is some exciting news. I am staying here, and I am training a new Missionary! His name is Elder Bullock, and he's from Utah. Elder Searle has gone to an area that I once was in. The other two Elders who live with us haven't changed.  

So it will be my first time training! It is kinda interesting, because I've never dealt with someone who was so clueless. I anticipate that it will be fun, but also exhausting. I'll have to be sure he's doing all the new Missionary studies, and activities, and programs, and stuff. Hm. We'll see how it goes. 

My phone is super slow, so I might not type a lot right now. But this past week, we were able to visit with some members we really hadn't met before, so that was cool. We also had some frozen yogurt with one family, and that was really nice.  

We have been trying to find a lot on walks, and yesterday we had a guy call us over, only to cuss at us. It is so sad how angry some people are. I am reminded that regardless of how much you disagree with someone, you cannot justify hostility, ridicule, or conflict. If you leave feeling further apart, no amount of correctness will vindicate your behavior. If you truly stand for truth and light, you will leave any confrontation feeling peace and love. And if not, you still have some learning or adjusting to do in your own life.  

I love you all! Enjoy your days, and plan for the future! Don't waste a second. 

 Elder Goss

Elder Goss---W:89 San Diego let's go (May 18, 2021)

 

I really couldn't think of an interesting title. But San Diego rocks, so it played out nicely. 

Well, this week, we didn't have the sacrament! I bet at first that sounds surprising. Is Elder Goss disobedient? Did they run out of bread? Nope. Instead, we had our Stake Conference! It was great. The last speaker had an incredible message about following the prophet. 

However, just as the first half of the paragraph above was written out-of-context, which led to confusion or concern, so can other truths! Information can be easily equivocated when details are left out. Don't take any news or "special new thing" for its face value. Remember that, kids! Don't try this at home.  

For P-day today, we went to an Ice-skating rink! But we didn't ice-skate. Just kidding, of course we did. It was lots of fun, and there were a surprising number of Missionaries who were really fire on the ice. I fell down a couple times, but no bruises (surprisingly). And this actually leads me to my spiritual thought. 

While there were many proficient ice-skaters, there were also a couple newbies. They were very unfamiliar with the sensation of locomotion on a slippery surface. Sorry, I'm lapsing into fancy language. I remember when I struggled on my first times roller-skating. It's embarrassing. Especially, when all your peers surpass your level by a mile. It is in human nature to enjoy things we are good at, and equally so to dislike and loath activities where we aren't talented. I was very impressed with the few Missionaries who stuck at it, slowly sliding around the rink with a firm grip on the rail. They were laughing and smiling, even as their friends whizzed past.  

And I found myself wondering why. I know that for myself, on a bad day, I would have just sat on the sidelines and found something else to do. I really don't enjoy pretending to like something I'm not good at, or enduring the well-meant-but-slightly-condescending encouragement that newbies often get. I also just don't want to have to struggle, especially not openly.  

I want to encourage everyone who reads this to feel okay. It is okay to not be the best. It is okay to be the worst. As I skated past those missionaries, I wanted to tell them that every one of us, even the professional skaters, started at that level. The only difference is, they just happened to start later. There is no shame in taking the first baby steps towards mastery, even if you need training wheels. And even if they never end up gaining adequate experience to become a master, they had something that many others in that rink didn't have: the ability to enjoy oneself even in the most alien and embarassing of places. Their satisfaction didn't come from competence. Those missionaries decided (most likely a long time ago), that they would be happy regardless of where they were, what they were doing, or how good they were at it.  

Follow their footsteps! Even if you need training wheels! You got this.  

I miss you all!

Elder Goss

 

Elder Goss---W:86 (Apr 27, 2021)

Hi everyone! This week was nice. And short. We went on a lot of walks along the beach. There are a lot of people with very bold opinions! Ha ha. There were also some nice people too. Our friends (investigators) once again have been busy, so we're looking for ways we can teach them across the phone. 

This P-day we did a lot! Played whiffle ball, soccer, and hiking along the coast, and shopping. Pretty full. 

Our mission President asked us to read a talk given this last year called Waiting on the Lord by Elder Holland, and for my spiritual thought, I'd like all of you to read it as well. There are many applicable insights and truths within. Enjoy! And if you are REALLY feeling up to the challenge, try praying before and after. I promise you'll find something amazing!

Thanks so much! Take care. Bye! 

Elder Goss---W:84 Howdie everyone! (Apr 13, 2021)

How are you all doing this Tuesday? This week has been pretty good for us.

First, I was finally able to go to my first in-person Sacrament meeting inside the chapel since last spring! That was pretty fun. Elder Searle and myself blessed the sacrament. There were maybe 4 families that came! Tiny Spanish Branch. Unfortunately, none of our friends (investigators) came. 

We had a lesson with one of our friends, named Hermalindo, which turned out great. It is very hard to get in contact with him, but sometimes he'll randomly call us in the evening and expect us to spontaneously meet with him. But we oblige. Anyhow, near the end, we asked what we could do to help him, and he said, that he wanted to stop drinking. Oh, cool! How can we do that? 

"Well, meeting with you guys really makes me want to stop drinking. So I guess just meeting with you more would be great." Needless to say, it was awesome to hear that. Of course, we haven't met with him since, and sometimes it's just all talk, but hopefully this turns out good. 

Anyhow. I miss all of you! Please keep me in your prayers! I love you. Bye!

 --

Aaron Hyrum Goss

Elder Goss---W:83 Follow-Up (Apr 6, 2021)

 SOOOO, it's been pretty fun this week. General Conference was pretty amazing. I loved the first session so much! I watched the last session in Spanish, and I'm going to have to go back over and read it, because I unfortunately didn't understand everything. But I plan to do that anyways. 

Well, I have something exciting to ask you!!! Get ready! It's kinda weird, so be prepared; How are your New Year resolutions coming??? Remember how most people forget their yearly goals a few months in? Well, how are you doing? Do you need a reminder? How might you change your goals? Hm. Give that some thought. For me, I've basically forgotten everything. So I had to review it all myself. 

Next Sunday, we are going to have in-person church!!! YAY!! I haven't had in-person church inside the actual building since the quarantine began last year. So I am really hyped! Alright, thanks so much. That's all for right now. 

Here is a pic of Elder Poulson. I'll try sending one of Elder Searle and myself next week!

Thanks