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

Elder Goss---W:82 Emergency Transfers are so FUN!!! (Mar 30, 2021)

Sorry, but that's a bit sarcastic. Last Sunday, we were in a lesson, and President Gimenez called us. So afterwards we called him back, and he informed us that Elder Poulson (my companion) was getting emergency-transferred to a new area, because there were some Elders leaving, and he's filling in the vacancy. Normally, transfers would be happening in 2 weeks from now. But that's the joy of ET's. 

So today, we dropped off Elder Poulson, and picked up Elder Searle! (kinda like "swirl", but without

the w). He has been serving about 7 months, and is the first originally-called-to-San-Diego-missionary I've had since last summer. Wow! He is from Texas. He loves futbol. 

So, now I get to recalibrate my routine and adapt to yet another Companion! Not the funnest job, but who's to say he isn't going to be the best companion ever?!? Encinitas is a pretty fun place, so I really can't complain. 

We haven't met with Renee or Jime this week, sadly. But we've had some bomb lessons with members. If any of you want to watch a really awesome testimony in Spanish, we recorded an amazing sister here bear her witness of Jesus Christ. If you go to Facebook, and search Venir a Cristo en San Diego page, her video should pop up here soon. Also, while you're at it (again in Spanish), there's another bomb video about "The School of Life" that Elder Poulson and I made. You are all welcome to like and share the page, even if you aren't from San Diego. 

I love you all! Take care!--

Aaron Hyrum Goss

Elder Goss --- W 81 (Mar 23, 2021)

Dear friends and family, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, brothers and sisters, hombres y mujeres, dogs and cats, and ALL things which are above and beneath heaven and earth....

Hi. 

Here is your weekly report from Elder Goss here in San Diego: whether is nice. Although it is almost always super cloudy in the mornings, it becomes clearer in the day. For California, surprisingly cold, sometimes beneath 40°. And always windy. But I'm sure that is because we are so close to the coast.

 We didn't have as many lessons this week as we wanted to, but we DID have a great lesson with Renee, Jimy, y Roberto. We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. We went over faith, and repentance, and after that baptism and the Holy Ghost, and finally endure to the end. Throughout the lesson, they we nodding their heads, agreeing how important it is that we have faith and repent daily and be baptized, etc. And when we were wrapping up, we asked them if they would consider being baptized in the future. It was almost funny to see their whole disposition change. They went from completely agreeing with how important all this stuff is, to shocked realization that we were actually asking them to APPLY it. They understood the theoretical aspect of Gospel stuff, but they never gave it much real-world thought. It was scary and intimidating. They nervously chuckled and gave a tentative "maybe," and we gave them something easier to do. But it was good to put it in the back of their minds, and help them recognize and FEEL the Gospel is real. 

The Gospel isn't just theoretical, abstract explanations that you believe or not. It truly is the rules by which the universe functions by. Science just hasn't caught up yet. But the more we discover, the more we find that the principles of the Gospel are slowly, one by one, being backed by science. Science isn't the standard of truth, but it will (if given enough time) support the Gospel principles. 

God has never been wrong, in theory OR principle. Trust God this week! If you hear or read something that leaves you disturbed, and questioning what you know, just relax. Take a breath. Whether you know some detail or not doesn't change the Truth. Misinformation and unclear context is real. Don't be scared. One day, EVERYTHING will be explained. So trust and study. 

Thanks so much! Take care.  

--

Aaron Hyrum Goss

Elder Goss---W:80 Loading... loading.... (Mar 16, 2021)

Well, this week wasn't too brilliant. We set up a lot of appointments, but most of them fell through. Elder Poulson and I are thinking we ought to do more finding, in order to just start talking with more people. Hopefully, we'll find more people to teach. 

For P-day today, we went shopping through some thrift stores, and that was fun. I missed having plaid shirts, so I bought one! I look forward to wearing it next P-day or service project. 

For a spiritual thought, we were listening to a Devotional, and something stuck out at me. You know the question "how do I know what is a prompting compared to my own personal feelings?" It is a very genuine question. God speaks to different children in different ways. How does God talk to me? What way(s) do I hear him personally? The answer found here in James 1:4

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth ot; and it shall be given him."

 

Why don't you just ask him? Have you ever prayed to God, asking him in what ways he answers you? Give it a shot! Find out for yourself. 

Thanks everyone. Take care!

--

Aaron Hyrum Goss