Family,
Wow. Truly an
amazing week. We have such an amazing family and that's most important. My
capacity to love four people more than I can explain grows everyday. What a
week to write in the journal for us all. Nate and the warriors ought to be proud
of themselves. I played with those guys and I don't know if I'm the type of
person who ever moves on from that. The greatest sacrifice of my mission has
been sacrificed. Nate I sent you a letter I want you to open. I love you man
and I'm so proud of you! I wore the tie you gave me everyday this week leading
up to the state championship! I love hearing about Nate and Kallan, Coach
Brown, Gabe and Gines, the warriors live on! Onward and upward! Give yourself
the week and then introduce yourself to your new best friend Misi! He'll get
you where you want to be I'm very grateful for him.
Where to begin on my
week that was truly filled with Miracles! I guess the best part of it all was
the baptisms! They got baptized by Brother E. It's best to have members baptize
them. Brother E. is awesome! Picture a mix between John C. Sr and Taylor W.! I
know you think they don't mix but just think about the awesome qualities there
from both of them ha ha! It was so nice to see these kids make covenants and
truly become converted. I wish every 8 year old could have the experience they
had. The baptism went smoothly and the spirit there was undeniable. I watched
Aida, a proud mother cry as her kids got baptized. Truly one of the reasons I'm
here today.
To fill you in on
another miracle that happened for them that day- For months now, Aida's only
car (Van) has been out of commission and they couldn't afford to fix it. This
is just one of the trials they have had to overcome throughout the process of
baptism. Her significant other, (Andy Sr), got back into town and spent three
days straight working on it and trying to fix it. He took apart the engine and
started to fix it til he got stuck. He quit and went and hit the road again
telling us that only a mechanic could fix it. I believed him. He is a pretty
car savvy Puerto Rican. Elder P. insisted though that we give it a shot. So my
companion, with no car knowledge, and I, with even less than none, went to go
take apart the part of the engine he got stuck on
Saturday morning. We worked on it for an hour or two just getting nowhere
really and then after that we were totally out of options, ideas, and strength.
We told Ryan (8) that if he said a prayer and had faith that us two big white
guys could fix his car. So he agreed and we all prayed that we would fix the
car. We worked for a half hour unsuccessful, but then I had an idea to try
something Elder P. had already tried, but just do it harder. Now dad, you
remember how bad I am with machines and my hands, but after I broke about half
their tools I pulled apart the engine replaced the Alternator and me and Elder
P. put it back together and it's good as new. Now that is Divine Intervention
anytime I'm fixing a car more than destroying it. It was awesome and you should
have seen their faces when the engine started.
I have had so many
other cool experiences this week! hmmmm...
OK so one was I
think I told you we ran completely out of copies of the book of Mormon. BOM's
are pretty important out here and we had 0. Elder P. was on exchanges and so I
was holding down the area with Elder A.(hopefully I get to him). So the lord
obviously knew we needed Bom's so when we were praying about our plans for the
next day we decided to go visit this former investigator named Paul B. He's
Been taught all the lessons etc. So we went to meet this guy and he was old(Blind
in one eye, gimp leg from the war) and happy to let us in! So we taught him and
then right as we were about to leave, I saw out of the corner of my eye on his
desk a bunch of restoration pamphlets and Book of Mormons!!! The missionaries
must give him a new Book of Mormon every time they go through their former
Gators file. So, since he's blind, We got the Book of Mormons! Except one. I
know God wanted me to have those Book of Mormons!
So ya Elder A... One
of the new missionaries in our district after transfers. He's from Cape Verde
Africa! He speaks Portuguese, Creole, Spanish, English, and French, in that
order. What a trip! The dudes first name is Elder and literally his favorite
thing to do is read the book of Mormon! Awesome missionary and plus he's black
so bonus points. Doesn't really know how to teach extremely well in English yet
but he definitely has the spirit there always! He was a good exchange! We also
found and taught Debbie our newest serious investigator. She is investigating because
her son married a Mormon and she is really ready for the gospel. She would be
one of those people that would just make a great addition to the ward. Young
for her late forties, nice, interested, etc. The kind of lady that could be a
relief society counselor. We taught her the restoration and she agreed to read
and pray.
Oh, also one of my
favorite things is to bike out to the outskirts of our area to see new places.
Its beautiful in some parts. A lot like I pictured the south being! Every once
in a while you see the confederate flag flying and I love it because it reminds
me of Dixie. Home. Dixie to me just really means home and southern comforts. I
still hate Dixie high with all my heart but you can't be a true country fan and
not appreciate the word Dixie. Not the prejudice of Old Dixie, but the home,
loyalty, family, country, those are the values I love about Old Dixie and my
Dixie back home. Anyways we were out there and knockin around and we found this
lady and she said oh you're not going to have any luck around here across the
street is a preacher, which to me is just a challenge. Elder P. really doesn't
like talking to preachers/ministers and I see why so we don't bash of course.
But it doesn't sit right with me if we just pass their house and don't at least
go bare testimony. So I just walked there and he had to follow me. Sure enough,
just picture like a 6'8 Mr. Bundy on steroids answers the door and he was mad!
I just bore testimony and cleared up some misconceptions and we were there and
he was pretty red faced for about a half hour. He tried to bully us but I didn't
back down. It was a good experience and he let us leave him with a prayer.
Also, later that
night we saw three African Americans playing ball at a park and we challenged
them to 2 on 3 if we won they had to hear a lesson if they won they got
something off the dollar menu. Which technically..... Anyways we won of course
by a lot and it was fun to sweat and have a little pressure on in the church
clothes. I worked hard on D covering two guys and got some blisters from the
church shoes. But we taught them a lesson and got their info and gave them
BOM's. I was amazed when one of them told me he was 18. It was crazy to look at
the different places we are in life and its to no credit of mine. I'm just
grateful mostly to goodly parents who showed me the right way by example. I'm
grateful for little brothers who are the most important thing in the world to
me. I'm grateful for good buddies! We got each other in a lot of trouble, but I
think we kept each other out of a lot of trouble too. I'm thankful for a
girlfriend who was strong and steadfast in her standards. (Ex girlfriend now
haha) Mostly for a God who watched over me in so many ways and put those people
in my life. I love life and I'm so grateful for my mission. I'm grateful for Dad,
Mom, Nate, and Matt. I lucked out to have you guys!!! Thanks for everything you
do and let me know if there is anything I can do for you!!!
Will you also please
give me the addresses for my friends I asked for. Maybe you just couldn't
find them.
Matt! That picture
of you on top of the Red Mountain is so awesome!!! You're havin some good times
right now man! Not much better than a pretty woman on top of the Red Mountain!
Just ask my ex girlfriend hahahaha! haha no but look at you Matt you're a beast!!!
You got a whole swarm of good girls and good friends!!! I love you Big number
54!!! You're the MAN!!! I can't believe you're almost 13!!!! You'll be a man by
the time I get home!!! You should see how my facial hair is coming along! I
shave every day, but I get pretty impressive shadow nowdays! Drink a glass of
whole milk every day while your still young! Let me know if I can do anything
for you man you are such a beast! How is LBJ doing? I hear he is doing pretty
good!!! Sing your mother an old country song for me! Mamas don't let your
babies grow up to be cowboys! or Mama Tried!!! Sing your pops Love without end
Amen by Alan Jackson!
Grandpa! I love you
and I miss you and you're in my prayers! Let me know if there is anything I can
do for you! All the kids in my ward can't pronounce Gottfredson so they just
call me Elder G! I proudly think of you every time and what a great missionary you
were and are! Thanks!
I love you all! Say
your prayers! Kiss your momma!
Elder Gottfredson
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