Elder Marshall Goodrich's "Tarheel" Mission

1-31-11 To Mom & Dad:
Ya but Thank you - I'll always go back to you and mom and the good job yall did raising us kids:) That ("born again") is such a confusing topic haha jk but for people out here it is. We run into so many Baptists it's ridiculous, I'm so glad I was raised in this church and now that I've been on my mission I can see how much the world is confused about the scriptures and how they see them and they're just so close minded and won't even give the truth a shot but ya, born again is something we get asked about a lot and talk about with other people cuz they always ask us. Ya without the atonement we're nothing and it means the world to me cuz I mess up a lot and always need to be doing better. So what's your calling in the ward now? Our stake has 17 units right? So are they making another stake? How many are there in the TriCities area? Was the garage still pretty messy from the move? That's how it always was at our old house. haha That's sweet that you got to fix John's computer. Sounds like your job is going great. Ya there is a ton of peeps that have such nice houses out here. Yall will have to check them out sometime haha. Ya repentance is the best and most people probably fear it cuz they always mess up and all that we run into less active people and they won't come to church cuz they're doing things but they won't come til they stop what they're doing. I've learned a ton about the gospel and repentance and all that so far and I'm still learning a lot. Wow that's crazy that Braden is coming home. Are yall going to his homecoming talk? Time flies - it's so crazy. That's sweet for Miles. I'm way excited for him:) When does he have his interviews? Well this week was aight. It started out good. We taught the Stock family and they're totally gunna get baptized:) But then we have teams cancel, my chain broke, people that were legit and ready for the gospel wouldn't let us come back and to top it off, we got mooned haha. but then it ended really well. We found some good peeps - this fam, she's from WA and her husband was drafted by the Diamondbacks so I thought that was way sweet. We're teaching some really cool people right now so it's going pretty good - lovin it:) That's sweet that you signed up to volunteer at the prison. i read an Ensign article about churches in prison and how it helps bring hope into their lives. It's so cool what the atonement can do for us. When would you find out if you get to go teach there or not or volunteer there? Well thanx for everything. Sounds like yall are doing great. Well, hey mom sounds like school and work is going all good for you. I think I did fine in school. I wasn't the most motivated kid but I still did my work. Ya it's probably good that you weren't pushy like your mom cuz I know it was rough for you and you didn't want us to be like that so I'm glad you just nudged every now and then;) Wow our stake is way huge. I've never heard of one that big. Does Miles go to the singles ward there? Wow you're still doing a ton of laundry - sounds like things haven't changed too much haha jk. That would be good to get the crosstrainer in the house. Since I've been on my mish exercising has helped me so much to wake up in the morning - it's crazy. Well something pretty sweet - I'm now down to 231 so I've lost close to 30 pounds now. I got up to around 260 - that was ridiculous, but I'm doing good. Thanx for sending me the letter and the other stuff. So is the house still pretty crazy? How's Jordan doing? Shayanna wrote and she finds out in a week about the baby. I hope it's a boy:)
I've been loving my mission and the experience I've gained. We bashed with a few peeps this week. People kinda tick me off when they think we're totally wrong and they think they know everything about our religion but I stuck them back in their place jk. My testimony strengthens everytime people start talking about stuff like that cuz it helps me realize how confused and off they are but I do my best to help them with the restored gospel. And all we can do most times is put the ball in their court and thay have to chose but like you told me one time, dad, one of the only things we can do is bear our testimony. Well hope yall have a great week. luv yall so much
elder goodrich