tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82049101371539325512024-03-14T00:22:53.325-07:00Elder Adam GoffElder Goff was called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission, from August 13, 2013 to July 30, 2015.
The following posts are his letters home, usually not posted the same day they were received. For convince, at the very end of each post, there is a link to all posts of the similar proselyting area.
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Adam's brother in Peru: <a href="http://elderryangoff.blogspot.com/">elderryangoff.blogspot.com</a>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-87231628529337782212015-08-17T13:43:00.000-07:002016-01-29T12:49:07.704-08:00July 20, 2015- Feeling really grateful....<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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This week was an interesting one. There are a lot of delays
in the progress of our investigators, and for now at least, no one is progressing.
Gastón´s got caught in some kind of rut that he can´t figure out. He knows he
should be baptized, he wants to be baptized, he has permission to be baptized,
he knows that Heavenly Father wants him to be baptized, but he just couldn´t
take the leap of faith. I love that kid, and I´m praying my heart out for him.
But I´m trying to keep the bigger perspective and remember the need to work in
the area until the end. The work in Derqui 1´s not going to end just because I
do, so I´m not going to stop working until I´m forced to.</div>
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I can´t get a hold of the Bravo Family to know if they have
an appointment for their sealing, and I can´t even get a hold of the
missionaries in Liniers. The offices told me that if I can´t get a hold of them
today, I´ll have to come home on the 30th. Neither one is answering. I think
the fight to extend the mission is over. See you all on July 30th. :´)</div>
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President called me on the phone this morning to talk about
some stuff with the zone and paused at the end of the call. He said. ¨Wow.
Elder, are you really at this point?¨ I quietly muttered ¨yeah.¨ ¨I can´t
believe it,¨ he replied. I can´t believe it either, President. I´ve been
denying it for a long time. But it´s sinking in now, and it´s as bitter-sweet
as a WarHead.</div>
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I have to tell you all that your emails and support have
been an incredible blessing. I´m going to be straight up and just say that I
don´t want to end. Everyone in the mission knows that. But you guys, Heavenly
Father, and even me- deep down- all know that I have to come home and start the
next part of the Lord´s work. The miracles that I´ve seen on the mission are
too many to count, but the miracles that I´ve read in <i>your</i> letters
remind me that God is the same God back in Highland, Utah as He is here in la
Gran Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Norte. He´ll still love
Brother Goff as much as He does ÉlderGoff. And both of us will be
forever grateful for this incredible opportunity to serve the God of Israel.
¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
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-Élder Goff</div>
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P.S. Pictures<br />
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0343 and 0345- Even at this point in my mission, the humility of these people astounds me. We were teaching a lesson with a really humble family in what they call the kitchen (lean-to shack, lacking a wall, with a tarp as a roof with a campfire in the middle of the floor, no refrigerator, no pantry, and a small, little stove.) At the end of the lesson, the mom stood up and shyly told us that she wanted to share a dinner that she made for us, and gave us a deliciously bland <i>guiso</i>. I will never forget the meekness on her face, and Elder Cunningham and I couldn´t stop telling her how good her plain food was.</div>
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0348- I´ve been pretty much the only fan of San Lorenzo my
whole mission. Today we showed up to play soccer with the zone, and what do you
know? Three San Lorenzo fans! Woohoo!</div>
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Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-46323061316392883072015-08-17T13:42:00.004-07:002016-01-29T12:45:58.647-08:00July 18, 2015- Paseo por Buenos Aires<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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Here I am in Capital, after a great day of
President-approved sight-seeing and souvenior shopping. This is gonna be a
quick one, because I´ve only got about 15 minutes before the train here leaves
back to Derqui.</div>
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This was a pretty great week. That stud Alexis was confirmed
this Sunday. His whole family was going to go and support him, but then at the
last minute decided to stay home- even those who have been taking him to Church
in the past. He woke up by himself two hours early, went to his neighbors who
are members to be taken to Church. After he recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost,
he gave a big handshake to everyone in the circle, and a big hug to Elder
Cunningham and I. When we sat back down, I asked him how he felt. He gave me a
faint smile, and said simply enough, ¨¡Feliz!¨ I love that. That´s how the Holy
Ghost feels for me too.</div>
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AHH!! The train left! Sorry the letter´s so short, but I
can´t be on the computer anymore (It´s technically not P-day anymore). I didn´t
even I have time to read your letters. I love you all!</div>
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I´m going to talk again to the mission office about the time
I´m coming home. August 7th is the most probable right now.</div>
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Pictures!<br />
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206- Walking on the newly paved roads in Derqui. Pretty soon it won´t be <i>Barrolandia</i> anymore! :O</div>
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251- Remember Kid History? ¨BUT! If you want TWO completos, it´s only two dollars. BUT! If you want THREE completos, it´s only three dollars!¨Well this is what they´re talking about. Thanks to the chilean hermana in our ward.</div>
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254- The classic Buenos Aires Obelisk.</div>
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262- Capital in all its craziness. Lemme tell you, I´m no city slicker.</div>
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269- We ate lunch in the Villa 1114! Finally I´ve been to all three of the big three villas in Buenos Aires. Elder Cunningham and I agree. After the mission, we´re moving back to Buenos Aires for a year.</div>
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282- The San Lorenzo Stadium! This little kid is adorable. I
don´t even know him, but he took a picture with us anyway. :)</div>
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Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-59553392425834164232015-08-17T13:41:00.005-07:002016-01-29T12:42:29.093-08:00July 6, 2015- Awesome week<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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I´m running out of creative subject lines. But this was a
really good week. We were able to go to the Temple as a zone, and I´m amazed at
how profoundly deep the Spirit is in there. It´s been way too long since we´ve
been able to go, and I´m so grateful for the House of the Lord!</div>
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To get there from Derqui, we gotta take two busses, a train,
and another bus. We REALLY underestimated how long it would take us to get
there, and the train was going slower than 15 year-old me with a driver´s
permit in the Excursion and Mom in the passenger´s seat saying ¨Go faster, or
I´m gonna get out and push!¨ I said a prayer that we could somehow make it to
the Temple for our scheduled session, even though it was a longshot. I had
barely said Amén, when the train doors opened, and 10,000 people entered. I was
about two inches away from Elder Guy´s face, and pinned from the shoulders
down. I heard someone say that the train wasn´t going to stop for 8 stations
until Liniers (our stop). We walked into the Temple, got changed, and sat down
with the rest of our zone right in time for the session to start. It was a
little strange, but I´m so grateful that the Lord provided a miraculous way for
me to go back to my favorite place on earth!</div>
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There´s been a lot of opposition against our investigators
on their path to baptism, but despite it all, Alexis, was able to make his first
eternal covenant on Sunday. I love that kid. His aunt is now in a similar
situation as Maxi, and we´re going to keep working with his uncle.</div>
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President Ayre has challenged us as a mission to read the
entire Book of Mormon in 24 days, ending on Pioneer Day. In Spanish, that´s
about 26 pages everyday. Phew, it´s rough with all the extra assignments that
Elder Cunningham and I have, but I love what it´s doing to my testimony. The
Book of Mormon is the most incredible book on Earth. I´m so grateful to the Lord
for it´s miraculous coming about.</div>
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This last Sunday, at lunch, the Casco family surprised us,
and their other lunch appointment (a group of old friends) by scheduling both
of our lunches at the same time. The friends tried to act nice, but weren´t
interested in us at all and kept to themselves for the most part. So Hermana
Casco, thinking fast, but on <i>Meet the Mormons</i> probably knowing
that eventually they´ll soften up and start asking questions. I went to the
bathroom right before the Missionary Mom, and when I came out, everyone was
fixed on the TV, and the Spirit hit me so strong. We had a sweet little lesson
as the friends faintly smiled, and we all bore testimonies about the purpose of
missionary work. High five, Hermana Casco!</div>
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I love you all so much! Thanks for all that you´re doing! <span lang="ES">¡Hurra por Israel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES">-Élder Goff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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48- Service. I don´t know why, but lately a lot of people have been asking us to rip out trees. We´re getting pretty good at it, and it gives us a good excuse to play with machetes. :)</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">67- Zona Austral at the Temple. (Except two Elders who were deathly ill. They´re better now. :) )</span></div>
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99- Alexis´ baptism</div>
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Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-31113100485715344252015-08-17T13:41:00.000-07:002016-01-29T12:39:18.177-08:00June 29, 2015- It´s rainy season again.<div class="MsoNormal">
You know how many people came to Church on Sunday? 33. In a
ward that normally has 100 or so attendance, you could look at that synically
like ¨What, do the members think that after baptism, they should never get wet
at Church again?¨ or like Elder Guy said, ¨Wow, what a miracle that 33 faithful
members came to renew their covenants in such terrible weather.¨ I´ll try to
look at things as positively as that from now on. Also I made a promise that I
will never make an excuse to renew my covenants on Sunday, even if it means
walking in puddles to Church knee deep, wondering if the leaky roof back home
is going to collapse and flood the house. (´Cuz that´s what I thought on
Sunday.)</div>
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It´s been wet. But we saw miracles anyway. We have three
investigators progressing well towards baptism: Gastón, Alexis, and Tamara.
They are awesome, and in their prayers always ask that ¨the missionaries can
come and teach us more.¨ I feel so loved. :´) We sometimes play a game to see
who will say the prayer that goes like this: We go around in a circle naming
bodies of water (ocean, river, waterfall, etc.) the idea is to go until one of
the investigators who is usually too shy to pray says <i>lago</i> (the
word for lake, but also a pun for <i>la hago</i>, or ¨I´ll say it¨ [the prayer]).
When that happens, Elder Cunningham, and I say ¨oh, okay, great!¨ And bow our
heads while all the kids snicker. Well we were playing that, and I thought
Elder Cunningham said ¨Seattle¨ as if it were a body of water. Remembering how
rainy it was when we lived there, I about died laughing. Hahaha</div>
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Maxi´s parents haven´t budged in their stubborness, and when
we tried to talk to them, they refused and left us out in the rain. I sincerely
pray for Maxi, but there´s not anything we can do at this time to help him get
baptized. We´re still going to give him a CD with the Book of Mormon in Audio,
and hope that time will soften his parents´ hearts.</div>
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Heavenly Father loves us. He really does. I testify to you
all the most sincerely that I can through this lifeless, digital, text that our
Father in Heaven, and His glorified Son Jesus Christ, are anxiously awaiting
for us to apply the Atonement and come unto them. I know that this Church is
true. It´s the greatest honor I´ve ever had to be a representative of it, and
invite people to enjoy the fullness of the restored Gospel. <span lang="ES">I love you all. Hasta la próxima semana. ¡Hurra
por Israel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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-Élder Goff</div>
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Pictures:<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">0099- Damaris (she was confirmed a few weeks ago, and is one of the super faithful members who came soaking wet to Church) made us a pie that was delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">0100- Luz, the girl who also recently got confirmed. We´re helping her learn how to read, and she has successfully read the front cover, and two short verses! What a stud.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">0102- Omygosh! Sister Ayre, President´s Wife, brought some medicine for my companion the other day. Do you know what else she brought? Sunshine and happiness wrapped in chocolate: REESE´S! FROM AMERICA! :)</span></div>
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0109- Elder Gutierrez (from Chile) with his ¨cake¨ made out of Chilean Ding-dongs</div>
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0111- La familia Casco. They give us dinner every Sunday.
They´re getting sealed in a couple of weeks. They´re awesome!</div>
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Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-1768948871250549752015-08-17T13:40:00.002-07:002016-01-29T12:35:08.683-08:00June 22, 2015- May we rejoice in the great cause of our Redeemer and our God<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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I don´t like being negative in my letters home, but I have
to get something off my chest: I hate Argentine winters. What´s the point of it
being cold if there´s no snow? My nose is running a marathon. Hahaha, alright,
it´s all smiles, sunshine, and lollipops from this point of the letter, on.</div>
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Tita was baptized and confirmed this weekend, and there was
great support by her family and the ward. She came out very happy. If I were
her, I´d want to go home and get warm, but she stayed after to make homemade
alfajores with the Relief Society, wet hair and all. She amazes me with the
sincerity and simplicity of her testimony, and her willingness to participate
in all the Church activities. I pray that Tita is here to stay.</div>
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You know whose sense of humor I admire more than anyone´s?
Maxi´s. Not only does he have the world´s greatest one liner jokes, but he
really knows how to look past, and even enjoy his disability. After Church the
other day, he came up to us laughing his head off, saying, ¨Elder, do you know
how I got this mark on my head? I just ran into a wall!¨ I felt so bad, but his
laugh was contagious. When life gets dark, and we can´t see the obstacles, we
can either scream in pain, wonder why we can´t have the same privilages as
everyone else, or we can just laugh it off. Maxi is incredible. We haven´t been
able to teach him for a while because his Mom decided to stop supporting his
decision to be baptized, but he still comes to Church, and even to Tita´s
baptism! Before we filled the font, he wanted to just stand inside and imagine
there being water in it. Thinking about his sincere desire to be baptized makes
me choke up a little. I wanna fight for this kid. Continue to pray that his
Mom´s heart will be softened.</div>
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Last week I had the opportunity to give a surprise talk in
Sacrament Meeting. I fumbled through my scriptures as I remembered that the
Bishop warned me a few weeks ago that something like this might happen, and
that if it did, he´d like me to speak about not becoming offended. I shared a
few thoughts about how if someone offends us in Church, we shouldn´t take it
out on our Father in Heaven. A great Book of Mormon example of looking past
offensive remarks in order to focuse on a more important cause is that of
Pahoran. Captain Moroni in the chapter before accused him of treason, neglect,
and a ton of other stuff he didn´t do. But here´s Pahoran´s response (Alma
61:9):</div>
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¨And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it
mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart.
I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I
may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in
that liberty in the which God hath made us free.¨</div>
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I love that. I hope I can always keep a perspective like
Pahoran. We´re fighting for a great cause, and we don´t have time to cause
smaller contentions amongst ourselves because our pride was hurt. I love you
all so much. If I´ve ever offended you because of a careless word or action,
and ask your forgiveness so that we can focus on our main cause: ¨Let us resist
evil... that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great
privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God.¨ (Alma
61:14)</div>
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<span lang="ES">Love you guys.
Hasta la próxima semana. ¡Hurra por Israel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES">-Élder Goff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES">P.S. Pictures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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0076- Tita´s baptism</div>
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0082- Elder Cunningham and I with two studs. I have my arm around Maxi, and Maxi has Lucas (his member best friend. in a headlock. Did you know that blind people can wrestle really well? Maxi never ceases to amaze me.</div>
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0090- The Derqui Elders with the newly set apart Ward Mission Leader</div>
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0091- Elder Gutierrez with Marco, the Bishop´s son. We
couldn´t help but have a quick Nerf war after lunch on Sunday.</div>
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Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-31551652543217085172015-08-17T13:39:00.002-07:002016-01-29T12:32:31.845-08:00June 16, 2015- Six more weeks in Derqui<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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Transfers came. I get six more weeks in Derqui! Elder
Bassett left, and Elder Gutierrez from Chile is the newbie in the pension; it
will be good to get this English-speaking apostasy out of there. I´ve realized
that my accent evolves depending on who I´m around most often, and I´ve been
around good old Yankees for too long. I can´t really play the whole ¨guess
where I´m from¨ game anymore. Poor old Elder Gutierrez though. My prankster
natural man convinced us to ambush him as he arrived to the apartment with
Aerosol Artificial Snow that they sell here for Carnaval. (I took a video,
but it´s too big to send.) Luckily he was a good sport, and we helped him soak
his companion.</div>
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Elder Cunningham and I were analyzing the last transfer: 0
baptisms, and 6 confirmations. How does that happen? We couldn´t help but
laugh. Satan worked hard to postpone the baptisms, so we found the people who
were baptized, but didn´t have the gift of the Holy Ghost, and confirmed them.
Basically we slapped Satan in the side of the head while he wasn´t looking and
ran off with some of the people he thought he´d lured off. As far as we know,
the baptized-but-not-confirmed crisis in Derqui has been taken care of.
Heavenly Father has been good to us.</div>
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This last week was slowish. We´ve met some good people, and
are in the proccess of filtering through those who God gave to us to plant a
seed, and those who are truely prepared to accept the Gospel. Nothing breaks my
heart more than dropping an investigator, but I know that Heavenly Father
constantly has all of His children in mind, and if we act faithfully and follow
the Spirit, we will do His will and find those He needs us to. Luckily Maxi,
Tita, and a few others who are stuck in a rut on their way to baptism are still
coming to Church, reading the scriptures, and praying. I´m praying hard for
this transfer to be their time.</div>
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I´m starting to come to terms with it, and I think I´ll
admit it. Yes, this is my final transfer. (Plus the little few day extension
bonus for the Bravo family sealing.) But just because I´m admitting it now,
please no count-downs. I´m still fragile. :) Last night I made the renewed
resolve to be 100% obedient. I´ve never been what you might call ¨disobedient¨,
but this time I´m throwing all the possible excuses away, and exact obedience
is going to be my number one priority. (Okay, Moroni says it should be number
2. Moroni 7:46) But I want this last transfer to be a gift to my Beloved Father
in Heaven to show Him my infinite gratitude for my favorite two years of the
life He´s given me.</div>
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I love you all so much. Thanks for your love, support, and
patience with my spiritual growth. I hope this week is spectaular for all of
you. ¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
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P.S. I got a new Camera! It´s a Kodak, so I hope it´s built
to last.</div>
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0051- All the food people gave me from the Despedida. I´m
really grateful, but this is getting ridiculous.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdmDpxaEBmK0aQjaHcHAYvVkDPcGzevOs51r4nvV_N0wcbnhvI3UQmCiGoFN6WJe-fQ_FwKFUT298bZ-ufSxW-8w_bAxaUgKQG49szXeN3BOjizJVYNzEPsPzN3uVUp586FKei8uuIDU/s1600/421_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdmDpxaEBmK0aQjaHcHAYvVkDPcGzevOs51r4nvV_N0wcbnhvI3UQmCiGoFN6WJe-fQ_FwKFUT298bZ-ufSxW-8w_bAxaUgKQG49szXeN3BOjizJVYNzEPsPzN3uVUp586FKei8uuIDU/s320/421_0032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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0032- Rodrigo, one of the kids we helped get confirmed. He´s
crazy, but worthy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBr3RC3FhwcBxdOQnQtbv7msmIPOcp-ySQperbkV7k4Zxg1XkLeBiFOP69p9SRU0ZjFfD_QZUevVk8r-PVAMRsK4U1lTAIUsUlNGfkZ202EMRq1EsdGyhyT6PlBL_MVZO4vkS9NXjqFE/s1600/421_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBr3RC3FhwcBxdOQnQtbv7msmIPOcp-ySQperbkV7k4Zxg1XkLeBiFOP69p9SRU0ZjFfD_QZUevVk8r-PVAMRsK4U1lTAIUsUlNGfkZ202EMRq1EsdGyhyT6PlBL_MVZO4vkS9NXjqFE/s320/421_0033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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0033- Alfredo, a stud I taught in the Villa 31. He´s since
been baptized, recieved the Priesthood, and continues to be active. I love this
guy.</div>
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0036- Mini reunion with Elder Ortega, and Máxima and Selena from
Virreyes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJHq1hRNxTV7AeIbBubMKlopvX9md6SVNVU4yX38ERmas2BpveM2p6GcMMS3pCvH9G74q8kb1C1zd6GEKWLLsKW379a_txskmcF9CtIzhntXBilOsdYmfOVv8hTA8JtGYKpcHNfr6u08/s1600/421_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJHq1hRNxTV7AeIbBubMKlopvX9md6SVNVU4yX38ERmas2BpveM2p6GcMMS3pCvH9G74q8kb1C1zd6GEKWLLsKW379a_txskmcF9CtIzhntXBilOsdYmfOVv8hTA8JtGYKpcHNfr6u08/s320/421_0037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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0037- Consuelo wanted to take a picture with me and
President.</div>
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0039- Elder Zollinger ends today. :/ I´ve shared a ward with
this guy for half the mission. He goes back to West Point right before I get
home, so I probably won´t be seeing him again. Good luck, buddy.</div>
</div>
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0048- Elder Sanderson and I were buddies in High School. He
ends today too, poor guy. (Someone called me right as we were taking the
picture.)</div>
</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-82425973978232736272015-08-17T13:39:00.000-07:002015-08-17T13:45:29.505-07:00June 8, 2015- Maxi: ¿Cómo le llama un vaquero a su hija? ¡Hiii-jaaa!<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week was even awesomer than the last! So awesome, that
it makes me forget the little English grammar that I remember! The less awesomer
part of it all was that we traveled a LOT. Derqui´s a little out-of-the-way, so
we have to wake up early when we want to go anywhere. But on one of these
occasions, after a Zone Conference, President Ayre pulled Elder Cunningham and
I aside. We asked him what was up, and he simply said. ¨Nothing, I just wanted
to know if I could come to your area for the day.¨ The first thing I thought
was ¨oh no. Did I make my bed this morning?¨ Joking, I always make my bed.
*Ahem*. President was so hilarious, but at the same time, incredibly focused on
the work. I was impressed how while we were talking, several times he could
answer a phone call, solve a problem with a missionary in a matter of minutes,
hang up, and pick up the conversation immediately without even asking what we
were talking about. President Ayre is the most incredible multi-tasker ever,
but he also knows how to hone in on each person he talks, and make them feel
like the center of the universe. More than anything, I learned from his
humility. The members acted as if he was the greatest celebrety of all time,
and by the end of the night, he looked at us and meekly said ¨it makes you feel
really small when people treat you so big.¨ He always throws out little golden
one-liners like that.</div>
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All of the bus drivers in Córdoba went on strike, and left
poor Tita stranded. So her baptism has been postponed a week. Pray that the
stress won´t make the temptation to smoke any greater. Maxi´s Mom needs a
little clarification on the doctrine of baptism, because she suddenly changed
her mind about him getting baptized. Please also pray with me that her heart
will soften and be receptive. Maxi wants to be baptized so bad.</div>
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Quick funny story about Maxi: We were teaching him the 10
commandments, right? We have hand signals that make them easier to remember,
but that wouldn´t really help at all in this situation, since he´s blind. But
Maxi´s member best friend didn´t make that connection, and said ¨show him the
hand signals!¨ Thanks for the awkward moment, Fede. :P Luckily Maxi´s the
greatest sport I´ve ever met, and shook it off.</div>
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One of those people that were stuck in between baptism and
confirmation was baptized this last week. Luz struggles a little bit because
she can´t read at all, and is often teased about it. Once I had a strange
prompting to teach her the basic sounds of each letter for about an hour with
the Book of Mormon, but when we ended she was so excited that she read the
front cover, and a couple of practice words, including the long word ¨<i>extremadamente</i>¨.
She´s a great example of perserverance.</div>
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I wish I could explain how happy I am out here, but even
with 1 1/2 languages, I still can´t find the words. You´re all amazing. I love
you so much. ¡Hasta la próxima semana! ¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
-Élder Goff</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. Today´s the day. I´m getting a new camera, or
resurrecting the old one. I promise.</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-36967614758212169492015-08-17T13:38:00.001-07:002015-08-17T13:45:29.491-07:00June 1, 2015- Children of God are amazing.<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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<br /></div>
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This week was humbling. We had some good success, but I was
amazed by the kind of people we met. The other day we met the deaf brother of
the first counselor in the Bishopric, Matias. He´s a humble guy, and hilarious.
He was patient with our pathetic attempts at communicating with our
uncoordinated hand movements, and helped us say in Spanish Sign Language ¨We
are from the Church of Jesus Christ. Will you come to Church with us?¨ He
doesn´t live in our area, but he was pumped about the pamphlet we gave him. He
might be one of the few people who won´t take it for granted.</div>
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We have another incredible investigator named Maxi. We met
him infront of the house of his member-friend while they were writing a song
for their favorite soccer team, Boca Juniors. Maxi was playing on the guitar--
blind. This kid has the most positive attitude that I´ve ever met, and
immediately won us over with his countless and hilarious bad jokes. (My
favorite one only works in Spanish, so this is for you Cole and
Ry-Guy: ¨<i>¿Qué se pone Superman desques de que se bañe? Superfume.</i>¨) He´s
teaching me how to read and write Braille, and so far I can read both the lower
case AND upper case of the letters A, B, C, and D. Impressive, eh? Four whole
letters. Hahaha it´s a work in progress. But it´s so fun to watch him read. (We
looked into the Book of Mormon in Braille. It´s gigantic. Like six feet high in
eight boxes. For now, an audio disc seems to make more sense.) Yet the most
incredible thing about Maxi is his love for learning the Gospel. He remembers
key points of the lesson that lots of people have trouble comprehending, he
remembers the names of missionaries and members who present themselves to him
just by hearing their voices, and he´s the most focused person in Sacrament
Meeting. He told his friend the other day that after saying the closing prayer
to our lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he felt warm, peaceful, and
secure. He told him that he wants to get baptized more than anything. Please pray
with us that his family will continue supporting him.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most magnificent
teaching, healing, and unifying force that I´ve ever seen. I´m so grateful to
be directly involved in the preaching of it to ¨every nation, kindred, tongue,
and people.¨ What a sacred calling it is to be a full-time participant of this
uncomparably noble work.</div>
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What a blessing you all are, family. I love you so much and
for your great examples, and service in your own ways. Despite the struggles
and trials, I love you all each so much. I pray for charity and understanding,
but I know that everything will work out if each of us just does our part. <span lang="ES">Glory to God, and ¡Hurra por Israel! Los
amo con toda mi vida.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Élder Goff</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. No news on the camera. I don´t have any money to fix
it. :P</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-38100052975812277892015-08-17T13:37:00.001-07:002015-08-17T13:45:29.494-07:00May 26, 2015- La Gran Misión Buenos Aires Norte<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">¡FAMILIA!</span><br />
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<span class="il">Really</span> <span class="il">quick</span> <span class="il">Bike</span> <span class="il">update</span>: I got a new chain, but now the seat comes off entirely. Pfffft! At least I can get around. And the kids get a good laugh when I make it look like it´s talking by moving the seat up and down. Note to self: you can use anything around you to make a good contact- including rusty, muddy, broken down mission bikes.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<br /></div>
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I don´t know what it is about this area, but there´s a bad reputation for people not getting confirmed after they get baptized, even if they still come to Church. There´s a ton of ´em in Derqui 1, and we´ve asked President Ayre for direction in what actions we should take. Most of the problems come from poor coordination and inexperienced leaders. But this Sunday three were confirmed, and we´re working on the others. I wish every member could understand the importance of the confirmation. That Priesthood Ordinance is not just a formality; as I learned in my Personal Study, every other Gospel principle or ordinance is in preparation for, maitenance of, or has the purpose of increasing the power of the Gift of the Holy Ghost. There is absolutely no way to have a personal relationship with God without the active involvement of our incredible Spirit Brother, the Holy Ghost- who voluntairily gave up, atleast for now, the oportunity to obtain a body so that we could get to know our Heavenly Father even when not in His phyiscal presence. His constant companionship is essential to our salvation, and one of the first steps we make towards our Exhaltation. Elders, I like to baptize too, but stop drawing baptism signs all over the apartment furniture, and confirm your investigators. (Sorry for the indirect ¨dropping of the cane¨. I don´t <span class="il">really</span> talk like that, I just had to rant for a sec.) :)</div>
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This Monday, we had an awesome mission activity for the 25th of May (a major Argentine Holiday). We played a mission-wide soccer tournament, zone against zone. (15 zones, but a particularly big zone split in two to make it work.) Our zone has some great soccer players, but due to a lucky shot and short amount of time, we lost in the first round. Dang it. So we played Ultimate the rest of the time. Thank you Mom for sending me those frisbees!!! Elder Ortega´s zone ended up taking first. I taught him everything he knows. :P Then we saw <i>Meet The Mormons</i> in Spanish. Lemme just say that the Candy Bomber is my hero. But my favorite part of the whole activity was when we as a whole mission stood up and sang the cheezy Mission Hymn together. President Ayre came up and put his arm around me, and I got a <span class="il">really</span> sentimental feeling. The mission means everything to me. How dare time go by so fast. I´m going to put so much more effort into my Missionary Work, and instead of getting annoyed everytime someone makes a joke about how close I am to finishing, I´ll just smile, brush it off, and talk to the guy standing next to me about the Restored Gospel. <img class="CToWUd" goomoji="ezweb_ne_jp.814" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/ezweb_ne_jp/814" style="margin: 0px 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" /> <i>La Gran Misión Buenos Aires Norte, te extrañaréeee-eee. </i><img class="CToWUd" goomoji="ezweb_ne_jp.814" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/ezweb_ne_jp/814" style="margin: 0px 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" /></div>
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Hasta la próxima semana. Los amo a todos ustedes. ¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
-Élder Goff</div>
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P.S. Camera´s still dead. I´m trying to find time to fix it. :P</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-60576582199650406232015-08-17T13:34:00.001-07:002015-08-17T13:45:29.502-07:00May 18, 2015- 146 Temples and Counting<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
You gotta love Internet Cafe´s in Provincia. But it´s one of those<br />
¨tough-love¨ kinda things. Tobacco smoke in the air, sounds police<br />
sirens from video games like Grand Theft Auto and Need for Speed,<br />
terrible Reggaeton music, and stray dogs stroking your legs and<br />
barking at you. Five stars!<br />
<br />
Anyways, Derqui´s still the bomb. Except the bikes. The bike seat<br />
twists backwards to a 120 degree angle, the handlebars come loose<br />
sometimes, and the bike chain comes off every five blocks. Oh how I<br />
wish that was an exaggeration. It´s so bad that when the older Elders<br />
of the area left it unattended, a theif stole the helmet and the<br />
chain, but didn´t even bother with that old piece of rusted aluminum.<br />
I´ll have to send you a picture once I get my camera fixed (that´s<br />
right. It´s back in a coma.).<br />
<br />
But Tita is doing awesome. She´s really opened up to us, and still<br />
accepts everything we teach her. She´s excited to be baptized and<br />
confirmed a member of the Church. She came to the Córdoba Temple<br />
Dedication Cultural Event with her friend. Thanks for praying for her.<br />
:)<br />
<br />
The Córdoba Temple Dedication was so incredible. I admit that I wanted<br />
to cry so hard watching the excitement and rejoicing of those faithful<br />
saints of my second favorite country in the world, but I manned up and<br />
held those tears back. I felt the Spirit so strongly, and I prayed<br />
intensely that my Heavenly Father would forgive me of my faults so<br />
that I could live worthily to participate in this glorious work for<br />
all of eternity. One of my favorite parts was when President Uctdorf<br />
called for the children to come forward and help seal the cornerstone.<br />
Two little boys ran through the gardens, ducked underneath the<br />
guiderail, and popped up right next to President Uctdorf, while all<br />
the others took the long way around on the sidewalk. President Uctdorf<br />
laughed and sayed ¨Well it looks like these two found a shortcut!¨ I<br />
hope I´m always that eager to follow the call of all my Priesthood<br />
Leaders. It doesn´t matter how simple our calling, it´s all part of<br />
the Lord´s work. What a couple of little studs.<br />
<br />
I love you all so much. A lot of you asked me to pray for various<br />
reasons. Believe me that I will. I have faith that all will be well.<br />
Please continue to pray for me, that the work of Salvation will<br />
increase and the success will be more rapid. Time´s running out, and<br />
our brothers and sisters need our help. May our Heavenly Father bless<br />
you all.<br />
<br />
¡Hurra por Israel!<br />
<br />
-Élder Goff<br />
<br />
P.S. No pictures. Sorry. Stupid cameras. :P #NeverBuyIndustriaArgentina</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-30813107870414034332015-08-17T13:32:00.002-07:002016-01-29T12:27:08.686-08:00May 11, 2015- Derqui is the bomb<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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Derqui is the bomb. Elder Cunningham is the bomb. The Gospel
is the bomb. I wish I had more time to tell you guys why, but I don´t. :( But
here are a few reasons.</div>
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Reason number one: We have bikes. Well we had bikes. Mine
fell apart from underneath me several times this week, and right now is in the
shop until tomorrow. Two: The members are awesome. I´ve already made a ton of
new friends, and they bring their friends to Church without us asking. Three:
There is mud everywhere. It´s a five year-old me´s dream. But the bad thing is
we have white shirts. I guess that´s what P-day´s for.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We have an awesome investigator named Tita. She has been
prepared to a degree that I can´t believe to accept the Gospel. She´s very
kind, actively does missionary work, accepts, and keeps her commitments, and
really wants to change. We got nervous when she offered coffee to us, but when
we taught her the Word of Wisdom, she described how about a year ago she felt
guilty for some reason drinking so much coffee, and decided to drop it for
good. Other than maté cocido, no hot drinks for Tita. She´s incredible.</div>
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I´ve been in Provincia before in the mission, but Derqui has
reminded me about how humble people in Argentina live. Even the villas that
I´ve served in are better living conditions then some sectors of our
proselyting area. To beautify the area here, people get creative with old
tires, and try to make a humble attempt at a garden fence. It´s better than a
mess of mud in front of their lean-to shelter, but it still shocks me. It
really makes me grateful for what I have, and helps me stay focused on what´s
really important.</div>
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I love you all! Have a great week! <span lang="ES">¡Hurra por Israel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES">-Élder Goff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES">Pictures:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgI-ji00X2gYZXgx0d6o9JilbcO9W9iI5U11sIVkCZkUQMwdQG0RlLEVP9SkhqyYt26EUzP_m6cRjyIOttdu0-KZdSMV1kjKNT5XFNWp7ZH3BkDmmlI7kWCnp609Uhe5_xRkm6bAmhQg/s1600/418_2145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgI-ji00X2gYZXgx0d6o9JilbcO9W9iI5U11sIVkCZkUQMwdQG0RlLEVP9SkhqyYt26EUzP_m6cRjyIOttdu0-KZdSMV1kjKNT5XFNWp7ZH3BkDmmlI7kWCnp609Uhe5_xRkm6bAmhQg/s320/418_2145.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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2145 We played soccer with another zone next to us, and I
asked one of the Elders to take some cool soccer pictures of me. The thing is, for
him to do that, that would require me to actually be good at soccer. Oh well.
Next time I´ll just photoshop my face onto Messi.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dV_PE3dbcdODsBAJtHz3tL7GkPwItTw631iZeRiAiYOkqrj4N2so3qLUxyl3VncVGQV8nw-RDP13f1FSqk_cxDEeGbpOzzRCzcr-MUXNnb3Uzd53ow8SKUdO3GbRskvk6pCt2o-un9A/s1600/418_2133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dV_PE3dbcdODsBAJtHz3tL7GkPwItTw631iZeRiAiYOkqrj4N2so3qLUxyl3VncVGQV8nw-RDP13f1FSqk_cxDEeGbpOzzRCzcr-MUXNnb3Uzd53ow8SKUdO3GbRskvk6pCt2o-un9A/s320/418_2133.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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2133 The Elders of Zona Austral. (Missing two other Elders,
due to a family emergency. :/ )</div>
</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-8869484376944367672015-08-17T13:31:00.002-07:002016-01-29T12:24:42.911-08:00May 5, 2015- Cinco de Mayo y el verdadero Día de la Madre<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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<br /></div>
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If you would have told me before the mission that I was
going to be in South America during Cinco de Mayo, I would have pictured
burritos, piñatas, maracas, and muscaches. Hahaha what a little racist,
Elder Goff. This day isn´t anything special outside of Mexico and Mexican
restaraunts in the U.S.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Transfers just ended, and a lot changed really fast.
Yesterday afternoon, we were teaching a lesson when I got a call from
President. I was in the middle of the 12 week training program with Elder Rios,
so we weren´t expecting anything to change this time around. President told me
that he knew we were in the middle of training, but he recieved an impression
to extend a new assignment as a Zone Leader in the Austral zone. I´m not really
sure how to be one of those, but luckily my studly new companion, Elder
Cunningham is happy to teach me how to do everything, including finances, zone
meetings, and riding a bike. (I finally have a bike! If that´s what you want to
call it. It might fall apart from underneath me.) Please pray for me, but pray
even more for Elder Rios, he was pretty sad about the sudden change. But he´ll
do great with his new companion. I love you Virreyes!<br />
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My new area is called Derqui, (or affectionately
called <i>¨Barrolandia¨</i> (Mud-land) by the missionaries who have
served there.) Elder Cunningham is from Seattle Washington, and is incredible.
I look up to him as if I was five years old again. I´m excited to work in this
ward. Judging by the few members I´ve already met, it´s going to be an awesome
transfer. There´s a lot of work, but a lot of excitement and willpower amongst
the missionaries and the members. As both the First Presidency and President
Ayre say, that´s the golden combination. I love the work of Salvation.</div>
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I want to echo the words of my brother
Elder Goff about the importance of change. Leaving an area as beloved
as Virreyes is rough. I´ve come to love the investigators and members of that
ward as if they had become my own family members, but I know that God has a
plan for us. We never go through something that is so hard that it is
impossible to overcome. Change is good because as Ry-guy said, it helps us
change the bad in ourselves and become more Christlike. There´s something I
gotta do in Derqui to help certain people come unto Christ, and there´s
something I´ve got to change about myself that I´ll only be able to do in
Derqui. So I´m thankful for the inspiration President Ayre received to send me
here. And I know the changes you guys are going through will eventually make us
better people. See you on Mother´s Day.</div>
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Love you! ¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
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P.S. Pictures:<br />
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2108 and 2109- The first of May is the Argentine Labor Day, so the ward made a traditional Argentine stew called <i>Locro</i>. It takes over six hours to cook, and two or three hours of preparation. It has everything from beans, to pigs feet, to cow guts in it. And it´s delicious.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3HGCtq4rkoLwlrKzUikiVG0EHZK74fqD1CT5KKkUlDKGnkj_duxXWib6VD8td8FDuh_-QbmI9JFgK0xf0UNtB01BWNQ6yDqXR1X_L-wT3fOJEQBsN0VN6fe3dIh8N7orMIA2Hmv41r4/s1600/418_2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3HGCtq4rkoLwlrKzUikiVG0EHZK74fqD1CT5KKkUlDKGnkj_duxXWib6VD8td8FDuh_-QbmI9JFgK0xf0UNtB01BWNQ6yDqXR1X_L-wT3fOJEQBsN0VN6fe3dIh8N7orMIA2Hmv41r4/s320/418_2114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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2115- I couldn´t go to the Despedida this time, but here´s me eating the food that the Bravo family gave me, slightly sad that I couldn´t see them this time. They´re so awesome.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHg7uz0kOaUSGoGXKmmdKk3NzVlwg0iBdmEsfhAapUg-9eZlRQ_yYagPgKKJ11Tk2PZfcldTPNXAcKNPoTsNiH5SqvTqoWhJIA2AzaS5EKDTtS3CacVZjLnY9foXWmFzzzbkhrrWdVI8/s1600/418_2125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHg7uz0kOaUSGoGXKmmdKk3NzVlwg0iBdmEsfhAapUg-9eZlRQ_yYagPgKKJ11Tk2PZfcldTPNXAcKNPoTsNiH5SqvTqoWhJIA2AzaS5EKDTtS3CacVZjLnY9foXWmFzzzbkhrrWdVI8/s320/418_2125.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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2125- Some of the most incredible members from Virreyes, and
my Argentine Grandma.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh534JzEvw2qF6AohCYlDELjT2_tCQbIGNgFWMz71c_5Q_E7qnZxjgXWrX9JA8d6Zs5wNN_jyGppND58hs6OQksmDphQBOwSToj0_h-qIdWrujZWSdQ5-lX2K7PiOBEU5kK0TJWERFtps4/s1600/418_2131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh534JzEvw2qF6AohCYlDELjT2_tCQbIGNgFWMz71c_5Q_E7qnZxjgXWrX9JA8d6Zs5wNN_jyGppND58hs6OQksmDphQBOwSToj0_h-qIdWrujZWSdQ5-lX2K7PiOBEU5kK0TJWERFtps4/s320/418_2131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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2131- The Elders of Derqui: Elder Guy from every state in
the U.S., Elder Bassett from South Africa, Elder Cunningham from Seattle
Washington, and Me from boring old Utah. :) I love Utah.</div>
</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-80829883103725051782015-08-17T13:30:00.002-07:002016-01-29T12:20:40.690-08:00April 27, 2015- And suddenly, it was Monday again.<div class="MsoNormal">
Huh? Oh! ¡FAMILIA!</div>
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<br /></div>
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But, didn´t I just talk to you guys like, yesterday? It was
a fast week. ¨See that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and
strength,¨ because missions go by dang fast, and you can´t do anything to slow
them down.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It was a fast week, but a rough one. Like a speed bump when
you´re riding in the back of a bus going way too fast. And it seems like it was
pretty rough for you guys too. But I still love you all so much! You´re an
incedible inspiration to me! Especially my dear mother, who forwarded me the
inspired advice from Elder Kent W. Pearson of the Seventy (or one of the
¨mini-apostles¨ as I explain to my investigators): ¨Prayer is less about
changing our circumstances and more about changing us.¨</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ayelen, the young woman who has been ready for baptism since
the day we met her, was so close this week. We passed by her house before
Church to make sure that everything was all good to go, and were greeted by her
older brothers who all night had basically been thouroughly studying the Word
of Wisdom just to know how to break it even further. Needless to say, it was
useless trying to get them to call her sister, and after a good 15 minutes or
so, we had to leave or we would miss the Sacrament, so we left, not really
knowing what happened to Ayelen. After Church was over, she came to church with
her only sober brother, sorry because she had overslept and we couldn´t get her
brothers to wake her up, so we set up a new date for the following Sunday.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I know that Jesus Christ lived, died, and lived again so
that all of our pains and suffering- whether it comes from our own sins, the
sins of others, or out of the clear blue sky without any explanation- will come
to an end. Christ suffered, so that we can stop suffering. I know that´s true,
and that not only relief from suffering, but exhaltation comes from obedience
and fidelity to the Priesthood ordinances and sacred covenants made in Christ´s
Church today. I love you all. Read your scriptures, pray, and go to Church like
good primary kids.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES">¡Hurra por
Israel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES">-Élder Goff<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="ES"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="ES">P.S. Pictures</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDqMil9oN8Zs4J918Ajpq8FjgJpg1m1JhFP24p9WYXxJFvyNObkh-YkX0Q0JjL0BnXmwaLIyTB3FkjSMd5fo__W4DBNZj5VBaVp3HxzNR9Dap3Vy4Q-kXG4A0xPDpf2n1P6FVhOYtw4I/s1600/418_2104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDqMil9oN8Zs4J918Ajpq8FjgJpg1m1JhFP24p9WYXxJFvyNObkh-YkX0Q0JjL0BnXmwaLIyTB3FkjSMd5fo__W4DBNZj5VBaVp3HxzNR9Dap3Vy4Q-kXG4A0xPDpf2n1P6FVhOYtw4I/s320/418_2104.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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2104 New Members show their faith and conversion to the
Gospel of Jesus Christ by their good works. What better good works are there
than cooking Apple Cobbler for the missionaries? Máxima and Selena, you guys
are awesome. :)</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2103 ¨Boca Juniors¨ is a huge Soccer club down
here, that has a ton of fan support. </span><span lang="ES" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This player looks <i>exactly</i> like the
Bishop of Virreyes.</span></div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-81965460314704553712015-08-17T13:29:00.002-07:002016-01-29T12:17:22.704-08:00April 20, 2015- More tears than the first time I watched ¨Charlie¨ <div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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This week was insane. I don´t know if this P-day will do
more good for my feet or my tear ducts. I´m gonna man up and confess that I
cried a lot this week. Because of joy, because I felt the Spirit, and sometimes
in a terrible pain for the suffering of others.</div>
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We´ll get the worst out of the way. There is an incredible
couple in this ward that has been working for months to get married so they can
get baptized, but are getting slammed with paperwork, deferrals, and
frustration. But in the meantime, they´ve stayed positive, and active in the
Church. They are beloved by the ward members, and regularly give us lunch. At
the beginning of last week, we left their house stuffed, and happy, giving
their three adorable kids high fives. A few days later, we were told that the
three year-old, Bastian, had died after being run over and dragged by a
motorcycle. We sang the hymn ¨O My Father¨ through the phone to the sobbing
mother. I felt the Spirit so powerfully as we sang the fourth verse:<br />
<br />
<i>When I leave this frail existence,</i></div>
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<i>When I lay this mortal by,</i></div>
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<i>Father, Mother, may I meet you</i></div>
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<i>In your royal courts on high?</i></div>
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<i>Then, at length, when I've completed</i></div>
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<i>All you sent me forth to do,</i></div>
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<i>With your mutual approbation</i></div>
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<i>Let me come and dwell with you.<br />
</i><br />
Rest in Peace, Bastian. D&C 137:10</div>
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Also, please give my condolences to Sister Prince. I loved
Brother Prince as my own grandfather. I pray that he will rest well in Spirit
Paradise and prepare for his eternal marriage with Sister Prince in the
Celestial Kingdom.</div>
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Mom, you also made me cry a lot. Your letter to Noemí (with
back pain) was incredible. When we brought the translated copy to her, the
whole atmosphere of the house felt wrong. There was more smoke than oxygen, the
girls were crying, and Noemí had eyes redder than I have ever seen. She told us
that she didn´t want to see us, and she didn´t want her daughter to investigate
anymore, so I started babbling something about how much we loved her, and
awkwardly gave her the note. There was silence for several minutes. She must
have read it ten times. She faintly smiled and humbly thanked us. When we left,
her eyes were as clear as someone who hadn´t smoked in years.<br />
<br />
The next day we came back, Noemí told us of a dream that she had. Mom, you were
standing next to her in bed, free of pain, encouraging Noemí to endure the
pain. I showed her a picture of our family that I always carry with me, and she
pointed directly to you, and said ¨That´s her. I never thought in my whole life
that someone would love me enough to send a letter from a country so far away.
I need that letter in English. I know I won´t be able to understand it, but I
need that letter before my surgery.¨ I promised her that I would bring a copy
of the original, and told her through tears how happy my Mom would be that she
could help someone even though she herself was confined to a bed.</div>
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This work is incredible. The Plan of Salvation still blows
my mind. How great is the mercy of our Heavenly Father. I know that God´s work
is to bring about the greatest happiness to every human family for all
eternity. I´m so grateful to be a minister of the very Gospel that will make
that possible.</div>
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I love you all so much. <span lang="ES">Hasta la próxima semana. ¡Hurra por Israel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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-Élder Goff</div>
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P.S. Pictures:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZ-ySK0q52_Vy2xEB3naUNXNUG5bIz6M4P5K-CdWnI571drJCikSxhquvembqVEMWwQNtfyFPdq2-YZbAYQjw5dOcWeE8i33IOVKvDun0_ebvaH7SEa47U9kAdfvV3k_q3kdCCfvpF3g/s1600/418_2093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZ-ySK0q52_Vy2xEB3naUNXNUG5bIz6M4P5K-CdWnI571drJCikSxhquvembqVEMWwQNtfyFPdq2-YZbAYQjw5dOcWeE8i33IOVKvDun0_ebvaH7SEa47U9kAdfvV3k_q3kdCCfvpF3g/s320/418_2093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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2093- Probably the only time that I´ll ever have everyone in
the District at a District Meeting at once.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyMZ4hmOGIdaRxGDy2W1vl53qAsvn7gC81ecwpKN7LY24pCPpWnCLNBnWadSwjO3MoqAm6Bly5jyRekB6yzroctT3rv_cbrpjnqAp0tu7Wgkd8nXGDOofP7VbhZT67K0wXvpmCC0y3VU/s1600/418_2094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyMZ4hmOGIdaRxGDy2W1vl53qAsvn7gC81ecwpKN7LY24pCPpWnCLNBnWadSwjO3MoqAm6Bly5jyRekB6yzroctT3rv_cbrpjnqAp0tu7Wgkd8nXGDOofP7VbhZT67K0wXvpmCC0y3VU/s320/418_2094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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2094- I have no idea where this frame came from. But it made
for a cute little family picture. :P</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-11483825709360008482015-08-17T13:28:00.001-07:002016-01-29T12:14:59.047-08:00April 13, 2015- Who´s training who?<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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This was such a good week. Just like always, filled to the
brim, with challenges, laughing, and blessings <i>a ful.</i> I feel
so blessed, it´s hard to describe the mission avoiding all the cliché sayings.
But here we go... these are the best two years of my life.</div>
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Did I tell you that my Stake President here in the Argentina
Buenos Aires Litoral Stake was called as a General Authority? Elder
Jose M. Batalla. I may have left out that important detail from my
thoughts on General Conferece. Also Elder Juan C. Avila, who was recently
released, was an area 70 in my ward in Liniers.</div>
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Let´s start out the week with my interview with President. I
have had incredibly loving Church Leaders nearly all my life. I will be forever
grateful for the way that they have helped me become who I am today, and for
their unconditional love. But President Ayre is an outstandingly inspired man,
and I feel as if he were my second father. All he did was thank me for what I
was doing, then sit in silence looking at me through tears. I´m amazed that he
can transmit so much love in such a short interview.</div>
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The most obvious highlight from the week would be Máxima and
Selena´s baptisms this Sunday. This mother and daughter are special people.
Máxima is a single mom struggling with her handicapped son, and her oldest son
who got mixed up in some bad <i>Umbanda</i> (don´t look that up. Just
imagine the bad guy on Disney´s <i>The Princess and the Frog</i>) and
suffers from mental and emotional side-effects. We´ve had extremely spiritual
experiences with her as we´ve talked about Priesthood authority, given
Priesthood blessings, etc. Both have a strong testimony that The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only Church that has the authority of God to
directly bless their family. May God bless them on their journey to endure to
the end, and may He bless me in helping them do so.</div>
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Elder Rios continues to teach me a lot. This Sunday, while
going to bring our investigators to Church, I was getting frustrated with how
many people who had committed to come to Church fell through. I was visibly
annoyed as I was thinking of everyone who had rejected us, and the stupid dog
that bit me the night before. >:( Then
I called Máxima and Selena, to make sure everything was all clear so that they
could make it to Church before sacrament meeting, and they were already on
their way. Elder Rios literally jumped in the streets with a fist pump that
reached above my head and shouted ¨Victory is ours!¨ I couldn´t help but bust
up laughing, realizing that I was getting too caught up in what I told him we
shouldn´t get caught up. We just invite everyone to come unto Christ. Their
agency is their own, but we should never let frustration over how many people
don´t choose the right overshadow our joy over those who do come unto Christ.
Who´s training who? I ask myself that sometimes.</div>
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I love you all so much. Have a great week. ¡Hurra por
Israel!</div>
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<br /></div>
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-Élder Goff</div>
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P.S. Pictures:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUSYpCrEUqhf1s407yGRh9grUWXsE0QuRrZe9iiuS9crLq5VoMYLyaZGtoNZV51O0ezSbqtkvnsmvYVMYb0FODA9_Uwpi7KoE-GIM8Pq-zSkNjUKOMFIEapLj46Y-fX4FSWsrn2IrvFc/s1600/418_2070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWUSYpCrEUqhf1s407yGRh9grUWXsE0QuRrZe9iiuS9crLq5VoMYLyaZGtoNZV51O0ezSbqtkvnsmvYVMYb0FODA9_Uwpi7KoE-GIM8Pq-zSkNjUKOMFIEapLj46Y-fX4FSWsrn2IrvFc/s320/418_2070.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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2070- Elder Rios´ first <i>Arrozchaufa</i> (classic Peruvian food with rice, meat, soy sauce, and other good stuff). Now he always wants to go eat Peruvian food. As we say in Spanish ¨De tal palo, tal astilla.¨ (A chip off the old block)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEER0Wadv1KB9azVH_6zyaAi-g41T_tcOEPw1qDpOJPf7tkUQjBsnHyO4hyphenhyphenzPBLQxpgVsNijBi_atHOi4ReL51BI5ODKfC0aC3GpHKKe_W20ukj30rT6EXS6tklot8OQdzBORosXIB8c/s1600/418_2075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEER0Wadv1KB9azVH_6zyaAi-g41T_tcOEPw1qDpOJPf7tkUQjBsnHyO4hyphenhyphenzPBLQxpgVsNijBi_atHOi4ReL51BI5ODKfC0aC3GpHKKe_W20ukj30rT6EXS6tklot8OQdzBORosXIB8c/s320/418_2075.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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2075- Máxima and Selena on their baptism day. Elder Bonilla likes to take pictures ¨up close and personal¨, but it´s all good. These two are really special.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2hGMpvtfMoNmxa2X6WZC9In1gaEQEf68ZFg9H9TApqS1NOcdFnNcZLBBj9ZBiCa9mhvMS5NGwVJ1nSH-gR1Mt73bzgRGTZBuUT9Q-58PInOCQj5V-cg3y3YYovenhqK0nsL8HbM1C0U/s1600/418_2081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn2hGMpvtfMoNmxa2X6WZC9In1gaEQEf68ZFg9H9TApqS1NOcdFnNcZLBBj9ZBiCa9mhvMS5NGwVJ1nSH-gR1Mt73bzgRGTZBuUT9Q-58PInOCQj5V-cg3y3YYovenhqK0nsL8HbM1C0U/s320/418_2081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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2081- Elder Rios after his first baptism. What a champion.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIHFOSTF9f570pfrysuvcLuEoPH6N65tg7tozz4kcoMZDr_MjhzMlZs98n9Phv1GLasxsTT0Tmt3zZFvVB-dTOeH6gNPBrTlO1sKpU5nMtPhUqfUdZ5BFyRD-5MOMLR9OVAGPON284sc/s1600/418_2090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoIHFOSTF9f570pfrysuvcLuEoPH6N65tg7tozz4kcoMZDr_MjhzMlZs98n9Phv1GLasxsTT0Tmt3zZFvVB-dTOeH6gNPBrTlO1sKpU5nMtPhUqfUdZ5BFyRD-5MOMLR9OVAGPON284sc/s320/418_2090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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2090- Sunset on the edge of Virreyes. They tell me that on
the far ends of Provincia, Buenos Aires starts to get really pretty. This might
be as close as I´ll get.</div>
</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-45069752331506300102015-08-17T13:27:00.000-07:002016-01-29T12:00:51.049-08:00April 6, 2015- The Most Sacred Birthday of All<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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First and foremost, I´d like to recognize the most sacred
birthday of all, that of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, exactly 2015 years
ago. (D&C 20:1, D&C 21:3, <i>Jesus The Christ</i> chapter 3).
I´m so grateful for everything that He´s done, and though normally during this
time, we acknowledge His unmatchably remarkable Resurrection from the dead, I
too want to recognize His birth on the actual day that it happened. Also, the
Church turned 185 years old today. :)</div>
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What a week, huh? I wish I could tell you everything that
has happened, but not even a World Wide Web has enough space to describe how
happy I feel on the mission.</div>
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First of all, you all know how incredible General Conference
was. As for my favorite talks, I couldn´t choose just one. I received precious
revelation from my Father in Heaven everytime a prophet, apostle, or one of the
inspired general authorities opened their mouth. But let´s be honest, everyone
back home is probably talking about Elder Holland´s talk. I´ve never sweat so
hard while listening to a Conference talk. How grateful I am for both my
younger brother who would save me from certain death (international shoutout,
bro), and for my Older Brother who really did, in a much more miraculous and
sacred way. I thank my God for prophets and apostles in these latter-days.</div>
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A highlight from the proselyting week was the Pereira
family. The oldest daughter has been incredibly receptive, and hasn´t taken off
her young woman´s necklace since the day they gave it to her on her first
Mutual activity. She´s attended seminary more faithfully than Utah high school
students, and was practically dressed in white for her baptism since the day we
met her. The mother was progressing well also, until she received some private,
tragic news about her son that made her want to close off all commitment with
the world. We tried to show as much love as possible to shake her out of her
depression, but we finally decided to give her her space.</div>
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Then one night, we felt impressed that we should stop by our
recent convert Alisia to see how she was doing. When we arrived, we saw this
mother in pain, clinging her back. She was sweating heavily, and complained
about her waist. We called the ambulance just as the pain made her pass out. I
don´t need to explain again about the atrociously slow ambulances here, but
let´s just say that this is the second time that it took it 45 minutes to arrive
when we had an investigator blacking out and having convulsions. She´s in the
hospital now, recovering well, and I´m recovering steadily from my frustration
with the local emergency services. She sent us a few humble texts expressing
her gratitude, and we expressed more love and offered our literal or spiritual
help whenever it was needed. Pray for the Pereiras.</div>
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You are incredible each one of you. Thanks for all that
you´re doing and your spiritual experiences. I pray for all of you, that your
trials will be lightened, and that you will come out of them better people. May
we all remember what our Dear Redeemer did for us last week, nearly 2000 years
ago. Because of that great sacrificial affliction, we can overcome <i>all</i> of
our much smaller ones. I testify that Jesus Christ lives, and that He will come
again to commence His next great mission of resurrecting each one of us so that
the faithful can share of His and His Father´s glory, in His sacred name, Amen.</div>
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¡Hurra por Israel!<br />
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-Élder Goff</div>
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P.S.<br />
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Speaking of Resurrection, my blasted camera finally was
resurrected. Here´s a few pictures of our lame April Fool´s prank on Elder
Bonilla and Elder Roberts. Later I told Elder Rios that we had to begin a fast,
but because of the heat, we weren´t allowed to fast the normal way without food
and water, so we would be giving up sleep. He was so sad, poor little guy. At
10:28 I told him it was a joke and that he had 2 minutes to get into bed.
Hahaha! Luckily he´s a good sport. Maybe I couldn´t get you guys this year, but
I got the three that I´m living with down here. :)</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-8384910340401226122015-08-17T13:26:00.003-07:002016-01-29T11:56:20.746-08:00March 30, 2015- Because He lives, we will also all live again.<div class="MsoNormal">
FAMILIA!</div>
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I´ll be honest, I was planning on pulling another April
Fool´s Joke, but reading your letters, I´m not really in the mood anymore. I´m
still happy in the mission, but I´m pretty sad to hear that Brother Ott passed
away this past Friday. He was one of my greatest heroes, and I looked forward
to home teaching him every month. I will never forget that even after over 60
years of marriage, he and Sister Ott still loved each other enough to awkwardly
flirt in front of their uncomfortable 14 year-old home teacher. I love you
Brother and Sister Ott. See you soon in the Celestial Kingdom. :´)</div>
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This week was awesome. Elder Rios, is a stud. I can´t
believe how lucky I am to train three superstars in a row. Elder Rios is from
El Paso, Texas. Born 100% ´Murican, but with pure Mexican blood in his
ancestory. He´s the epitome of a Spanglish speaking Tex-Mex, and I love him to
death. Sometimes I look at him standing there at 5 feet tall, and I just have
to hug him for no reason other than he´s just so dang studly. We´ve been
working hard, and bless his heart, he´s a bit surprised by Missionary Life.
During one lunch that we practically ran to, he had a distant look on his sweating
face. Suddenly he looked at me, and said in his adorable chicano accent ¨Oh,
wow, Elder. This is going to be like a two year workout.¨ That it will be,
Elder. And you better enjoy every second of it, because it goes by way too
fast.</div>
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This weekend Alisia was confirmed a member of the only true
Church of Jesus Christ. I have had a lot of fun teaching Alisia, because she is
so humble, and sits reverently listening to us with a faint smile. Every now
and then we stop talking and ask if she´s understanding, to which she basically
tells us, ¨not a word, but I feel really good.¨ Both ordinances of her baptism
and confirmation were beautiful, and now that she has the gift of the Holy
Ghost, He will be able to add understanding of the Gospel to her great Faith in
Jesus Christ.</div>
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I love the mission so much. I really do. I feel so distant
sometimes from you guys back home, but I´m so grateful to be here serving in
the Lord´s great work of Salvation. I know that everything will be okay back
home, and I´m praying with all of my heart that our dear Savior will be with
you in every moment. During the good, the bad, and the in between.
#BecauseHeLives. I give my humble testimony that He lives, and the divine power
of His Atonement will overcome every trial that His faithful disciples have
when they call upon Him.</div>
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Happy Easter. Tell the ¨Jesus-bunny¨ I say thank you for the
easter eggs, or I might cry as bitterly as 4 year-old Ry-guy a
decade-and-a-half ago. ¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
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-Élder Goff</div>
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Pictures: The only one I have, because my camera is still in
Physical Therapy. It´s kind of a Drama Queen, but the guy at the camera shop
said it should get over itself by Monday.<br />
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Elder Rios and Me on his first day.</div>
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Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-12971306066043413512015-08-17T13:25:00.003-07:002016-01-29T11:53:48.014-08:00March 24, 2015- Your Third Grandson...<div class="MsoNormal">
FAMILIA!</div>
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How are you all! Today is another holiday in Argentina, so
that means no Internet Cafes. But we found a way to talk. So its all good.</div>
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CAMBIOS! Guess what happened to my good buddy Elder Ortega.
He is off to be a Zone Leader. President wanted to talk to me to ask me what I
thought, and I happily recommended him. President was incredibly kind and told
me about all the trust he had in me. Thats why he called me to what he
considers the most important leadership position in the mission. Im gonna be a
Dad again! WOOOO!!! I cant tell you how excited I am to train for the third
time.</div>
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This last week with Elder Ortega was incredible. Im so
grateful to have been his companion. He has taught me so much, and we saw so
many miracles together. This last week, Alisia was baptized, and Joel and Sofia
were confirmed. It was great to see them taking these important steps toward
their Savior. Joel is especially progressing well, as he is faithfully trying
to follow the promptings of the Spirit that he has been receiving. He has
officially stopped attending his old Church, and recieved the Aaronic
Priesthood. He is going to be an awesome leader in the Church.</div>
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I got your package! Thank you so much! You are the best. I
have been playing frisbee in the morning, and I cant tell you how happý it has
been making me.</div>
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I just want to let you guys know how much I love you. Thanks
for all that you are doing. I wish I could talk more about the amazing things
that are happening in the mission. Keep praying for me, and I will keep praying
for you guys. ¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
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Pictures<br />
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0002- Alisias baptism</div>
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4385- TOOTSIE ROLLS! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! GIVE THE
DEFRIEZ FAMILY THE BIGGEST HUG OF ALL TIME!!! :)</div>
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4388- I about cried when I saw these babies in the bag.</div>
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4391- :) The package you guys sent me.</div>
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4440- My two older brothers are leaving the mission. :/ RIP
Elder Critchlow and Elder Bobadilla.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwV86Nzc2-ZAQIrbO5Uk2fJ1NkNhiNLYMXcgAMEdyfxUyuQN3yZDJnVqcXHeTwYNFQYJ3jFkSCkDaRXp5kYpRIJucrkII04yfgN6b4GgGmcPX5m6NnRxomg9r_twfp4y8v5q_bCuVqGMs/s1600/SAM_4451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwV86Nzc2-ZAQIrbO5Uk2fJ1NkNhiNLYMXcgAMEdyfxUyuQN3yZDJnVqcXHeTwYNFQYJ3jFkSCkDaRXp5kYpRIJucrkII04yfgN6b4GgGmcPX5m6NnRxomg9r_twfp4y8v5q_bCuVqGMs/s320/SAM_4451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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4451- The Bravo and Capararo Family brought me a RIDICULOUS
amount of food at the Despedida.</div>
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4455 and 4456- The Tigre Zone T-shirts. <span lang="ES">La Gran Misión Buenos AYREs Norte. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-43966816948342102682015-08-17T13:25:00.000-07:002016-01-29T12:49:21.596-08:00March 16, 2015- The train killed my P-Day<div class="MsoNormal">
I hate trains. They´re stupidly slow. They remind me of me
when I had my driver´s permit, and Mom would tell me. ¨Speed up. I´m gonna get
out and push!¨</div>
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Anyways... FAMILIA! Hola! How´s it going? I don´t have a lot
of time, so I´m going to focus on my Family letter. I read all your letters
though, thanks, and I love you! This week was insane. (BY THE WAY! Next P-day
will be TUESDAY due to transfers.)</div>
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Alisia backtracked a little bit, but she accepted a
baptismal date for this next Sunday. For reals this time, I promise. She´s a
special daughter of God, and the whole ward knows her now, even if just as ¨the
lady who passed out in Sacrament Meeting that one time.¨ But they love her all
the same. :) Joel and Sofia were baptized this Sunday along with Alejandro, and
Gregoria from the other areas in Virreyes. Every area baptized this week! It
was really cool, although Satan turned the water off, and we had to fill the
font the old fashioned bucket-hose style. I got a little sick of the jokes from
the returned missionaries: ¨That´s how I had to do it in my mission.¨ But I was
grateful for how many members and investigators attended.</div>
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Joel had a rough week leading up to the baptism. He´s been
really excited to be baptized, because he thought that his ex-fiancé would see
the changes that he´s making in his life, and be able to fix his family
situation, but the day before his baptism- his birthday- they fought. Really
bad. He called my companion (I was on splits) sobbing, to tell him that he
wouldn´t get baptized the next day, The Spirit must have dropped a giant cane,
because 20 mintues later, he called back saying that he prayed and felt like he
had to get baptized. He was really humbled, but you could see the joy amidst
the heart-break. He assured us that he won´t let the Devil get him. Hahaha,
Joel is awesome. Pray for him though, because we feel like he´ll probably still
have a few more trials before his confirmation.</div>
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Like I said, the Assistants are in my district. They are
machines. I did quite a few splits with them to get all of the baptismal
interviews done. They were really spiritual experiences, and I was really
grateful to represent Jesus Christ in this great privlege. Elder Wade and Elder
Pereira are great examples of how to be leaders with great love. They told me
at the end of the mission that I was the kind of missionary who is ¨meek and
humble, but powerful, and makes his moves with confidence.¨ It was a huge
compliment, and I was impressed by<i>their </i>humility and power.</div>
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I love you all so much! I wish that I could tell you all of
the amazing things that happened this week, but being out here on the mission
has taught me more about the scripture John 21:25. There´s really no way to
adequately describe the miracles that occur in the work of salvation. But it´s
truely a miracle, and I´m eternally grateful for my call to serve. My our
Heavenly Father bless you all. ¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
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Pictures:</div>
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Joel and Sofía´s baptisms. I´ll have to send you a cooler
picture next week of all the people who were baptized together. <i>¡Aguante
Virreyes!</i></div>
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Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-65612448242515744492015-08-17T13:24:00.000-07:002016-01-29T11:44:27.286-08:00March 9, 2015- Good things to Come<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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It was a really good week. My companion and I continue to
work well with each other. I love that Spaniard. He makes me laugh so hard.</div>
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This week, while planning for Alisia´s baptism, she started
getting really nervous. She started telling us that she just wasn´t ready and
felt flooded with doubts. My companion and I talked and agreed that it would be
best to wait one more week so that she could get to know the ward better. The
members flooded her with fellowshipping and now she feels much better. She´s
looking forward to baptism with a sincere desire to join the fold of the Good
Shepherd. She´ll be baptized with Sofía, and Joel this next week. I´ll have to
save their stories for the next week.</div>
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I feel prompted to talk a little bit about Improving. Let´s
be honest, the Church has a LOT of meetings. I think sometimes we misunderstand
why, thinking that we just go to find out how many things that we aren´t doing,
and what we have to repent of. That´s not the point. The point is to remind us
of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. His Gospel was preached, and is being
preached, to perfect us, but we will NEVER reach perfection in this life. That
comes afterwards depending on how dedicated we are to being perfected. The
greatest part about the Atonement, isn´t just that He who preformed it was
perfect in everyway, but that it allows us with an infinite amount of
opportunities to become like He who preformed it. Remember that all other
organizations prepare us for the Telestial or Terrestial Kingdoms, but only
active membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prepares
us for Exhaltation in the Celestial Kingdom.</div>
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I love you guys so much! Thanks for all that you´re doing to
live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that it is the only way to live truely
happy! ¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
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-Élder Goff</div>
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2047 Just to make Ry-guy jealous. Arrozchaufa and Ceviche.
That´s right. We can eat it here. Aguante Argentina! :)</div>
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4322- Daily verifications are much more entertaining on the
roof. (Although it may look like I´m sucking my thumb, I am in fact, on the
phone. :P)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIBvMTLMWpevEKCnWwmF50eUoahzYohLe8dJSdufhRrkkbUDPZXABoQjZvxuuUQKXRl-NAG0UMSgVk5u01WPUUWu-u4dMeK1IpUrHvFP1F5HGAtju2Zg6OoqnA4xxYAN_VvNAytWOaLc/s1600/SAM_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpIBvMTLMWpevEKCnWwmF50eUoahzYohLe8dJSdufhRrkkbUDPZXABoQjZvxuuUQKXRl-NAG0UMSgVk5u01WPUUWu-u4dMeK1IpUrHvFP1F5HGAtju2Zg6OoqnA4xxYAN_VvNAytWOaLc/s320/SAM_0002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
0002- Nico is such a stud. This kid has a testimony like I
can´t believe, and speaks English perfectly. Impressive.</div>
</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-30999030105472324702015-08-17T13:23:00.001-07:002016-01-29T11:36:53.728-08:00March 2, 2015- The camera woke up from the coma<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While walking with an investigator to Church, we saw an old
man in a warm up suit practicing his karate, and round-house kicking trees. I´m
so glad that Virreyes is finally about to be freed of the Plaza Tree Menace.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This was a great week. Alisia came to Church again, and
didn´t have any convulsions. She´s progressing well, and I don´t want to jynx
her baptismal date that she has for this week, so I won´t say anything else
about it. María got sick again, so the baptismal font was dry for another week.
:/ <i>so close!</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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But we found a cool new investigator named Sofía. Almost all
of her family was baptized 11 years ago, before she was born, but is now
inactive. While walking in the street, her cousin called out to us, because he
remembered when the missionaries used to visit the family when he was <i>four
years old</i>. (Impressive memory, eh?) She´s super excited about Church, and
really smart. Once during the week, when we passed by to teach her, she yelled
from the second story window that she was locked in, and that her mom had left
to go buy something. But she insisted that we teach her by yelling in the
street. So we did. So we had a great lesson about prayer with her, and anyone
with eardrums in that block.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This week was a mission tour by Elder Jorge Zeballos, a
member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He was so awesome. President and
Hermana Ayre, as well as Hermana Zeballos gave great talks as well. Elder
Zeballos has an incredible testimony of the First Vision, and pled that we
never ¨get used¨ to telling the story of the Restoration. We should always tell
it with as much feeling and conviction as we can, so that the Spìrit can
testify of the truthfulness of it to whomever we talk to. Then he quoted ¨I saw
a pillar of light...¨ and sincerely began to weep in front of us. It was so
powerful.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Also, he encouraged us to keep up our Spanish, or English
depending on what we´re learning in the mission. Someone who speaks both
languages can communicate with 80% of the members of the Church! That´s pretty
awesome. He also assured the new missionaires this: and I quote ¨Don´t worry,
new missionaires, soon you will be speaking Spanish just like all of the
Argentines- very bad.¨ Hahaha, oh Chileans. Chileans poke fun at the way
Argentines speak, and Argentines at the way Chileans write.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Thanks for your prayers family! I´m still loving the
mission, and working as hard as I can every single day! ¡Hasta la próxima
semana! ¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Élder Goff</div>
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P.S. My camera came out of the coma! ... for $450 (don´t
worry, pesos. Not dollars. The sign is the same.) But I only have one
picture.<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbyf792OFBEgCZjUz7igrQ3CdrPeb3J3ZqxuT8TUM4W8UNCpN5mSXc3pHNvtaEtyWUWBXibpfKiHuGo7vsaMwUQTuDGAMGG1iL2tiIoPD8vj3qcfkJ1b34sUjcV1CMj2VPSOqsna9leQ/s1600/SAM_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbyf792OFBEgCZjUz7igrQ3CdrPeb3J3ZqxuT8TUM4W8UNCpN5mSXc3pHNvtaEtyWUWBXibpfKiHuGo7vsaMwUQTuDGAMGG1iL2tiIoPD8vj3qcfkJ1b34sUjcV1CMj2VPSOqsna9leQ/s320/SAM_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
1. The assistants and us. The assistants are in my district,
and always chastize me for not chastizing them more often. Elder Wade (to the
right) looks exactly like my buddy Grey Anderson serving in Mexico, Elder
Pereira is the brother-in-law of a Lone Peak graduate, even though he´s from
Uruguay, and I played soccer with Elder Engebretsen´s cousin. We´re all related
in some way or another.</div>
</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-61872392204210595512015-08-17T13:22:00.004-07:002016-01-29T11:34:29.919-08:00February 23, 2015- Buena Semana<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was a really good week. There's nothing like kneeling
down Sunday night (the end of the proselyting week), and feeling like you've
worked hard, that things are starting to get better, and recieve revelation for
things that you can improve. Virreyes 3 is progressing, and I'm so proud of it.
*Gently wipes away tear.*</div>
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<br /></div>
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Elder Ortega is still as studly as ever, and is teaching me
something new everyday. I really admire his desire to talk to everyone. We're
not a tracting mission, and it's drilled into our heads that we should work
through the members, but he doesn't let that become an excuse for not talking
to the people that the Lord puts into our path each day.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The bad news is, Satan is trying to kill our investigators.
María (who I found out is a great-great-grandmother!!) was deathly ill a few
weeks ago, but after giving her a blessing while she was recovering, she told
us that she had never felt so calm. She fell and hurt her knee. But, bless her
heart, when she got back up, she bravely told us that she wasn't going to miss
Church for anything. If everything goes well, she should be baptized this
Sunday.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Another investigator that came to Church suddenly started
having some kind of convulsions in the middle of the meeting. A few members
starting treating her for shock, while we called the Ambulance. Freaking
Argentine Paramedics take FOREVER. Emergency services didn't even answer us the
first few times we called. We called over one Ambulance that drove by and told
them the situation, but they told us that they "don't do that kind of
work". By the time the Ambulance finally came, the First Counselor had
everything under control, and Alissia was conscious, and seated by the open
window and doing much better. It was all pretty dramatic, but it was quite the
fellowshipping activity. Now everyone knows her. :)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Thanks for all that you guys are doing. I love you so much.
Thanks for your prayers too. I'm seeing miracles here, and I'm so grateful for
a ward that is so focused on Missionary Work. I testify that there is something
for all of us to do, and that the Lord's Work only works if misisonaries and
members are working together. Have a great week.</div>
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¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
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-Élder Goff</div>
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<br /></div>
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P.S. The camera's still in a coma, but here's some pictures
I took from other people's cameras.<br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEvShJlKLI3xWjGKhwL2zyu-s9NIfShDz2vWcYbqX4J3uh00WnMnHyDIV-I93-xgHKWgmYR-THWQfSrkcnOO2X0ZrnUzMCOwxQHdZ1p75ELC8hqutYS8aUOtljJCbGI99No-FD-eu2uA/s1600/DSCN1380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEvShJlKLI3xWjGKhwL2zyu-s9NIfShDz2vWcYbqX4J3uh00WnMnHyDIV-I93-xgHKWgmYR-THWQfSrkcnOO2X0ZrnUzMCOwxQHdZ1p75ELC8hqutYS8aUOtljJCbGI99No-FD-eu2uA/s320/DSCN1380.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
1380- Elder Ortega and I in Tigre before playing soccer. A
little kid wearing the same shirt as me yelled super excited, pointing to me
"Mom! He's a fan of San Lorenzo!" and gave me a high five.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEpHgqA8FvRbZZtLS_tvubYZ-PGMvbcnCEGPM3ksmQPPcttb7rOVc75AurOW6t2YuTXJ8PARdPZYJjt38dgqUQn5kS4r8rFtoCezl0Xw286Sq15ifH_-qPA6qARs7CL5IECmNFZ57cuk/s1600/DSCN1370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEpHgqA8FvRbZZtLS_tvubYZ-PGMvbcnCEGPM3ksmQPPcttb7rOVc75AurOW6t2YuTXJ8PARdPZYJjt38dgqUQn5kS4r8rFtoCezl0Xw286Sq15ifH_-qPA6qARs7CL5IECmNFZ57cuk/s320/DSCN1370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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1370- The Virreyes chapel. This is HUGE for chapel standards
down here. </div>
</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-83902015895324143672015-08-17T13:22:00.001-07:002015-08-17T13:44:51.127-07:00February 16, 2015- Élder Ortega is a Powerhouse<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How´s it going!? I hope everything´s well. This was quite
the week. I think my new companion is a direct decendant of Ammon or something,
because he´s probably one of the biggest studs I´ve ever met. Right up there
with you, Ry-guy. I´m excited for the rest of the transfer.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So technically I can´t call myself his ¨dad¨ because he´s
already been trained, so we´ve decided to call each other godfather and godson.
Why? Well, aparently here in South America, you get godparents at your baptism.
When you´re baptized, you´re ¨born-again¨. Also, a godfather really doesn´t do
anything other than call himself your godfather, and I´m not really training
Elder Ortega, because he remembers almost everything. Therefore, we´re <i>ahijado</i>and <i>padrino</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We slammed into proselyting as hard as we could this week.
And we saw miracles! And then Satan slammed into resistance, and we´re a little
dazed now. But Faith + Perserverance = Success, so we´re heading into round 2.
Joel talked to his Pastor about leaving his church, and the pastor exploded,
which made Joel start to doubt his decision. But we´re going to have a power
lesson about Priesthood keys. Pray that he´ll feel the Spirit. María was in the
hospital all week, but recently left. Pray also that her stomach won´t rebel
again this week.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I love you guys so much! I wish there was more I could say.
But like Jarom said in Jarom 1:2- ¨For what more could I write than (I have
already) written?¨ I´m as happy as ever, and I know that this Church is true. I
don´t care what kind of trial Satan throws, because with the Lord we can handle
it all. Keep the faith, and never lose hope. You guys are the best.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="ES">¡Hurra por
Israel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES">-Élder Goff</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="ES"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. My camera went into a coma. No pictures until I can
figure out how to wake it up. :P</div>
Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-55312325705953527692015-08-17T13:20:00.003-07:002016-01-29T11:31:58.747-08:00February 10, 2015- The Greatest Despedida of My Life<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did you ever see that weird movie called <i>It's Time</i> with
Justin Timberlake that has the amount of time someone has to live written on
their forearm? Well Elder Micanquer's reads two days. Poor little guy. But he
served well, and has a bright future ahead of him. Now give me my new son! :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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So President excitedly talked to me after a meeting, and
told me what's going down this transfer: My new companion's name is Elder
Ortega from Spain. He served in this mission a while back, but had a personal
family problem, and had to leave. He recently got permission to come back, and
so I'll be helping him refresh. Then all week long the office missionaries, the
assistants, and President and Sister Ayre have been telling me about how
excited they are that wer're gonna be companions. My son is famous, and I
haven't even met him yet! But we're going to explode Virreyes 3. Our prayers
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This week was the Despedida (Farewell) for the missionaries
ending their missions, and I saw so many people there. The Bravo Family from
Liniers saw me at the beginning, and beckoned me to sit next to them for the
program. They are doing so well. They're extremely active and they are excited
to get sealed in the temple in about six month's time. I'm forever grateful to
God for the opportunity to have taught them. William from Matheau came and told
me about how Leticia, who was baptized when I was there but I thought had gone
inactive, went to EFY and is doing well. I also saw a brother and sister,
Leandro and Yanella, from la Villa 31 who I had been teaching. They recently
got baptized finally, and have good friends in the Church. I love activities
like this that give us the opportunity to take a step back and see the fruits
of the Lord's Work. ¡Me encanta la Obra Misional!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This last Sunday, two investigators came to Church. One a
cute little old lady named María who we don't know very well yet. We'll be
talking more in the week to come. The other, a guy named Joel. He's a stud.
Yesterday we were walking to a Family Home Evening with a member family, and a
car honked and pulled over with its driver in a shirt and tie. Joel told us
that it was one of the "hermanos de la Iglesia" (HIS iglesia). They
only talked for a minute or two, and when he came back, I asked him if he got
yelled at for being with the Mormons. He said yeah, but it doesn't matter because
his friend's just a Jehovah's Witness, and we're Evangelists. We capitalized on
the moment to stop and remind him that we're not Evangelists. We're not a
branch of the same general religions known here in Argentina. We are the Church
of Jesus Christ. HE established the Church, and directs the church. Not the
local pastor, not a commitee of the oldest members, but HIM. Joel seemed
excited about that. Later he told us that he was determined to be baptized in
the Church, but he wants to leave his current church little by little so he
doesn't offend the pastora. Pray with me that he'll have the courage to do
what's right in the time of the Lord.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love you all! Have a great week, and thank you so much for
all that you're doing back home! You all blow my mind. ¡Hurra por Israel!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Élder Goff</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
P.S. Pictures<br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">2008- You're looking at the only American Basketball merchandise in existence in all of Buenos Aires that is not the Chicago Bulls or the Lakers. And you know what team it is? That's right. The Jazz.</span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaqtCi1NKC3XbqBex3N2hQz7EDQWhEllzQ4KdEWgROG7kOnNTsibuvAux1QCz2UtWgX1UwX_qxz5Tny2cUHAKF_6D0hnQeCyihUAx0J9aZsFUJ0TnQItj5q3VJLlOe8SSDOVkWVWDC8I/s1600/100_2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaqtCi1NKC3XbqBex3N2hQz7EDQWhEllzQ4KdEWgROG7kOnNTsibuvAux1QCz2UtWgX1UwX_qxz5Tny2cUHAKF_6D0hnQeCyihUAx0J9aZsFUJ0TnQItj5q3VJLlOe8SSDOVkWVWDC8I/s320/100_2010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">2010- Elder Chriss gave me real pancake mix from his family, because he's going to eat it soon at home. That's right, Ry-guy. With real syrup and everything. They're delicious. I wish I could send you some.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmm82Cx8YEZ6p4ndMCD6bGeYMCTjcW9GPQiA7iBpyYkaZ_GW6GorpMYx7b_JdFO3A4j2nnK2ttZvUGuZqODQOFGeCx4Hezf-UlvjqeNsid0XPwEqdK3SQ_2dwTbhvaGbhUT9zdWfy1M4/s1600/100_2024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmm82Cx8YEZ6p4ndMCD6bGeYMCTjcW9GPQiA7iBpyYkaZ_GW6GorpMYx7b_JdFO3A4j2nnK2ttZvUGuZqODQOFGeCx4Hezf-UlvjqeNsid0XPwEqdK3SQ_2dwTbhvaGbhUT9zdWfy1M4/s320/100_2024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">2024- Elder Pirez came to visit the mission! I kept walking to member's houses during the week, and would see him sitting on their couch playing Grand Theft Auto V. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">2025- La Familia Bravo.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY0dqARHqdD8iF09UZ_Z18dxG_VSyiZUORddRwPxWJYQTLMZLe7Wi5BPFXoGzGZ0AR8X2OLiVhiUuQIeLDPy92PAypgLYFA9DP212yQVlLg-NYin8nSldurX_0nAl7nXI8zecXacSibU/s1600/100_2036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY0dqARHqdD8iF09UZ_Z18dxG_VSyiZUORddRwPxWJYQTLMZLe7Wi5BPFXoGzGZ0AR8X2OLiVhiUuQIeLDPy92PAypgLYFA9DP212yQVlLg-NYin8nSldurX_0nAl7nXI8zecXacSibU/s320/100_2036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">2036- Family night with Joel, on Elder Micanquer's last day.</span></div>
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2065- View from the missionary's apartment in a very touristy
place called Tigre. It's incredible.</div>
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Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204910137153932551.post-11206961635849356882015-08-17T13:19:00.006-07:002016-01-29T11:28:50.142-08:00February 2, 2015- Last P-day of Elder Micanquer<div class="MsoNormal">
¡FAMILIA!</div>
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It's super weird being around so many old people in the
mission. I'm so sick of talking about what they're going to do after the
mission. Stay focused people.</div>
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Virreyes was a ghost town this last week. ALL of the young
men and women went to PFJ (EFY) this week, and a ton of the young single adults
too, so lessons with members went llllooooowww... but it was incredible to see
their testimonies afterwards. I loved EFY and I'm a witness to what it does for
the youth, but I could not believe how much it meant to these kids. They are
going to be super missionaries. But still, I couldn't help but laugh when they
came up to me and said, "Elder, I got to see what the mission will be like
for a week!" PFFFTT!!! Yeah, with good food, fliriting with girls, and
dance parties. Exactly like the mission.</div>
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But they're awesome. A kid named Diego went, and had a great
time. When I got here, he was less active, but he's started to accompany us,
and return to Church. Yesterday, we met his Dad, who said that Diego has been
trying to bring him to church, and we set up an appointment for later in the
week. Atta boy Diego!</div>
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After Interviews with President (so AWESOME! President Ayre
for President!), my companion took his dreaded English test at President's
house. I'm sure he did great. That kid speaks English incredibly well. But he
was so nervous, that he lied in a response and said that he had two daughters.
HAHAHA! While he was taking the test, I had some quality time with Hermana
Ayre. This lady is the second most amazing lady I've ever met. (Number One, you
know who you are. And just to avoid any awkward situations, it's you, Mom.) She
made me two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (!!!) while we chatted about
everything from Garbage Disposals, to Ragnar. And then she gave me the greatest
pump up talk about my area ever. Virreyes 3 is going to be the translated one
day. Mark my words. And please pray that the success needed to do so will come soon.
And that I'll have the faith necessary to do it.</div>
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You're all the bomb. Love you!</div>
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Pictures:</div>
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1979- Last P-day was too hot to do anything. So I just sat inbetween three fans and drank water. :P</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1jqDchirPW1PV4vScRvd6sA-nbFsEEHQ6AuYTLolYcHl5UvvIcZ8oO7TU9M4fEGg-I-umthlIdCypdJEBB_7h4S6YPOzw5Fw7zq7FVRVu9ngICa00RduNYwK0Q66-gnqGVyg3efqAKg/s1600/100_1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1jqDchirPW1PV4vScRvd6sA-nbFsEEHQ6AuYTLolYcHl5UvvIcZ8oO7TU9M4fEGg-I-umthlIdCypdJEBB_7h4S6YPOzw5Fw7zq7FVRVu9ngICa00RduNYwK0Q66-gnqGVyg3efqAKg/s320/100_1986.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">1986- This P-day, we went to La Boca with President's permission. The famous "Caminito" in La Boca with awkward tango dancers that try to put props on you and make sketchy poses for tourist pictures. Excuse me, but I'm a missionary. ¡Aléjate de mi, Satanás!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">1997- The stadium of Boca Juniors. Now I only need to see the stadium of San Lorenzo.</span><br />
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2000- Mariano, Ezekial and I in La Boca. These kids are
incredible, and I absolutely love their conversion stories. Short version:
Mariano was so excited the first time he heard the Gospel, that he accompanied
the Elders in the rain for the rest of the day to tell more people about it. He
shared it with his cousin, Alan, who read the Book of Mormon, prayed about it,
and the first thing he told the missionaries when he saw them was that he
wanted to be baptized. Ezekial has made some incredible changes to get
baptized, and after EFY, is firmly set on serving a mission like the other two.</div>
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Elder Adam Goffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301378371065421081noreply@blogger.com0