Happy 21st Birthday Elder A. Goff!

Elder A. Goff with his Billings Montana cake on the night before entering the MTC

Happy Happy Birthday Austin Dear!  Happy days will come to you all year!  If I had a wish then it would be, A HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU FROM ME!!!

We love you so much and miss you like crazy.  Wish we could call to tell you Happy Birthday!  We can't wait to talk with you on Mother's Day!  LOVE YOU LOTS!!!  Happy 21st!

From Elder S. Goff - "Senior Comp"

Soccer Time!

Wow so I can’t believe that about dad and his work that is so tough and makes me very sad. I really hope that he can find another one soon or that dent can help him out really fast. That scares me really bad. Tell him happy birthday and I love him a whole bunch.

I’m in my new area in Tampico now. I am now senior comp and with a guy that has over twice as much time with me in the mish. He seems cool but he doesn’t really like to be obedient but I don’t like to break rules so we’ll see how it goes because I’m now in charge.

This past week was good and me and Tovar kept on working till the end. I’m really going to miss that guy because we fell really well together but he is getting a kid now and I will still see him because I’m really not too far away.

I saw a lot of people today at the bus station which was really cool. Elder Jacobs is headed into Altamira now and I just got out of there but we might get to do something on some p day together so I’m excited.

All is good here I love you all and I will let ya'll know how this week goes in my new area and with my new comp. have a good week.

Elder S. Goff

Current Area: Down Town Tampico, Mexico - Unidad
Current Companion: Elder Alderete
 

From Elder A. Goff - "Hey Family!!!"

Elder A. Goff at Sinks Cliff Hanger

Hey there you people you,
It's me Elder G. I first wanted to ask about the letter that President Gardner sent to Mom and Pops! What in the world did he say? I forgot to ask when you mentioned it. So let an Elder know what his Pres has said. :D

So last P-Day We had a pretty good time. Some of you may have heard of a wonderful place God has created for the people here in Lander, Wyoming called Sinks Canyon. Everyone always talks about it and asks us if we have gone there. However there has been too much snow up there so we haven't had the chance to go yet, but it had mostly melted last week. So A member of our ward took Elder Ika and I and the 2 other elders to Sinks. Now let me explain in case you haven't heard of it and don't know what it is. I'm no expert on the subject, but I think I can explain it ok. So there are 2 parts to the place we went. The rise and the Sinks. This river sinks into the mountain and comes out about half a mile down the road. It's pretty neat. And there are a lot of caves. Apparently during the winter you can go hike down in the caves. When the snow starts melting it gets much too high. We got some sweet pictures. Elder Leslie and I were all over the place. Got stuck in the snow that hasn't melted. Loads of fun.

When we were done there we went to the park and threw a football around and some boomerangs!!! I sucked at throwing the Boomerang! I got one stuck in a tree though so that was pretty cool. Super Dooper.

I got to take Elder Ika to the Rez for the first time on Wednesday. I decided we should take our bikes. Elder Ika borrowed a bike from Bishop Sutton from Lander. It was a pretty warm day. About 65 I would guess. So we didn't take coats or anything. We got a ride to our first appointment and the next one was about 1/4 of a mile down the road. So after our first one we got on and rode to the next one and by the time we got there 2 minutes later my front tire was flat!!! LAME!!! haha. So we called a member and they came to get us so we didn't have to walk our bikes 6 miles into town. Tried to air it up and it just went flat again. So they took us to the church on the rez to wait for an appointment. After that we went to dinner and back to the church for another appointment. When we were at dinner it started to rain. When we got to the church it started Hailing!!! So I am convinced that my father in heaven saved Elder Ika and I from being destroyed by the huge hail!!! :D

Thursday it rained...Friday it really rained!!! What a week. Saturday it was beautiful. Then Sunday we were on the Rez for church and it started SNOWING!! haha holy Snow!

If you don't like the weather in Wyoming just wait 5 minutes. If you don't like the weather in Mesquite...MOVE!!! It’s always the same :D

I got a package from Sister Mangum for my Birthday. However, I am not allowed to open the gifts until my BIG 21! Haha I think if I did she would drive to Lander and "HIT" me. (Inside joke) sorry family. I'll explain it someday. Ask me about it on mother’s day or something.

The work goes on. This week we had more lessons than I have ever had in a week here. So things are looking good. Riding bikes is keeping my stomach from bulging. I do have a special request though. I love candy and all, but I have made up my mind to have my abs look like they did when I left by the time I come home. Therefore no more junk food. :D I am going on a "strict" diet of whatever I want except junk food. Good plan? I think so. Plus riding bikes is going to help.

Happy Birthday Pops. I love you and you are in my prayers. I'm sorry to hear about your job. You will find another one. I hope you have a good one. JoliAnn sent me a short E-mail that basically said happy birthday and we are going out to eat on your birthday to celebrate. Wish you could be here!?! haha I thought that was just special! :D Funny little sister. I should take a picture of the huge Brick of pictures I have that Tiff has sent me of all the fun you guys have without me!!! ;) I love showing off all my pictures you guys send me. :D I love you Pops. You are my hero. Never Forget it. Keep working hard and I will too. If you talk to Gramps tell him I say happy Birthday too.

Am I forgetting anything?! I didn't write much down to write about this week. Elder ika is still a Stud. We get along great and he will be assistant before he can blink.

Love Elder Austin Gene Goff

P.S. I got a hair cut :D But I had too many pictures I wanted to send. Next week I'll empty my card and send all of them to you. I have a lot of good ones. :)

Da Eldas!

Got stuck in the snow!

Bikes.. Like my safety goggles?  :)

Current Area: Lander, Wyoming

Current Companion: Elder Ika

From Elder S. Goff - "Exchanges!"

Hey,
I just found out exchanges.  I'm pretty sad I'm not going to get sent to the other mish cause I wanted to be able to go places that Danny Allen had been but its ok.  I am going to be senior comp now and I'm stoked!!!  My new comp's name is Elder Alderete.  He has one more exchange than my comp right now and I guess he is pretty dead but I'm still going to work hard I'm so excited!  It should be pretty great!  I love you all!!!!
Elder S. Goff

Current Area: Monte Alto - Altamira, Mexico
Current Companion: Elder Alderete

One year ago from today...

Elder Austin Gene Goff

Entered the MTC on April 22, 2009

He has officially been out for one whole year!

We are so proud of him and miss him dearly!

Elder Goff outside the MTC on April 22, 2009

Mom putting on his missionary name badge "Elder Goff"

The family sending him off...

From Elder S. Goff - "Any guesses about transfers??"

Elder Goff... being himself :)

Hey Peeps!
Tiff so Kennady drew me some pics awhile back and sent me and I just drew a couple for her do you think she would like if I sent her a couple? They are of Mickey Mouse.

So, think week has been filled with TJs all over. I have been learning a little more about like what they believe and stuff and it helps me to know what to say. I don’t bible bash or anything but just tell them what we believe and yeah. But we contacted an area this week that was just full of them.

This week in Altamira the news was kinda crazy. This week there were 2 police officers hung from a bride in town and 2 others that were curb stomped to death in Centro. There are gangs that have been fighting in and around here lately and things get kinda crazy some days but I’m fine. I’m not scared or anything cause I’m a missionary.

This week we dropped a lot of investigators we have been working with but weren’t improving any and did a lot of looking for new people. Its going ok and this week we will work extra hard. Its week 6 of the change and I’m pretty sure I’ll be leaving next Monday to who knows where. Hopefully down south right Danny? :) I think that would be awesome to be where he was but where ever I go I’ll be fine with it.

Yesterday I was very board Wolfe was dying in bed and my comp had a talk in church and Wolfe and his comp too. So I went over stayed with Wolfe and my comp talked in both wards and I baby sat Wolfe. He was throwing up and stuff and I just read. I love Wolfe he is a great guy and really smart I wish I had some brains like him his Spanish is amazing but it’s ok. My comp sat me down and talk to me about Spanish and stuff this week we have a game plan and now I just gotta do it. I want to speak Spanish but it’s just not that easy but its coming.

I love you all have a great week and I’ll let you guys know where I end up going this next week or maybe on Saturday when we get them cause we have to go to the computer to receive them and I’ll try to tell ya'll where I’m headed.

Lotta love S.GOFF

Oh, and grandma Goff thinks I’m in Tijuana lol Let her know where I am and tell her I love her and thanks for her e mails

Current Area: Monte Alto - Altamira, Mexico
Current Companion: Elder Tovar

From Elder A. Goff - "Got Another Greenie and had a good week"

Elder Goff and his new companion, Elder Ika

Family Friends and Loved ones alike,
Today I would like to present to you......Drum roll Please......Elder Ika from St. George, Utah. My newest Greenie. (Pronounced EEKA) I met him on Wednesday afternoon when the transfer van came through Worland to pick me up and drop off the other Elder's companion that I was with from Sunday until that point. Elder Vroom, one of the Elders I came out with is now in the office at the mission home so Wednesday morning he called me and said that "the egg had left the nest". So I was able to know that his name was Elder Ika and he was as close to a black companion as I would get. He is Half Tongan. He is a good size dude. Shorter than I am, but he is a big boy. Incredibly Chill though. We get along great. He is 24 and was inactive for a long time, but he kinda turned things around and came on a mission. He is willing to learn and to follow my lead. He is going to be assistant. I can see it now....All up in lights above the mission home. "ELDER IKA THE ASSISTANT RESIDES HERE" His story is a lot like mine. So I feel like we have that connection.

Last transfer I felt like Elder Kuck and I did a lot of great things, but there were times that I felt like we were just wandering around pointlessly. Tracting in a town as small as Lander is pretty pointless as well. It's been tracted over and over by tons of Elders and Sisters. So year after year we are knocking on the same doors and getting the same answer...NO! So Elder Ika and I are taking a different approach. We are putting the ward list in order by streets. Then we are contacting everyone on the list. When I say everyone I mean EVERYONE. We will keep trying until we find them home and either get an appointment or them asking us not to come back. We did this with about 4 streets in Lander and contacted a bunch of people we didn't know. We set up 3 appointments and ended the day with 4 lessons. I would highly recommend it to missionaries who feel as though they do too much pointless wandering. It gives you something to do and also helps you to locate part member families, less active and inactive members. Then when you teach them and try to get them back to church they are bound to have loads of non-member friends. So this is the new approach we are taking in staying busy and finding new people to teach. It's already working and I'm very excited about it if you can’t tell.

Oh yes..Also. While I was in Worland with Elder Liljenquist we went to the local dollar store and bought some sweet fake mustaches and I have been playing with them ever since. I will attach some pictures for you. When the van came to Worland We met them in a grocery store parking lot and we had our mustaches on. My line was, (in a western accent) hey there, my name is Elder Goff and I want you to know that I grew this myself. Then picture me pointing at my ridiculous mustache. I also would like you to know that I did not do this to anyone except missionaries. I mean come on...I have Christ's name on my chest. :D

Elder Newman got transferred from Helena. I'm not sure where he went, but I'm guessing one of the Billings zones or Glendive. I'll find out sooner or later I'm sure. Elder Child is still in Havre. Elder Heywood is actually going to Lewistown and will be Elder Child's District leader. Everything is going well. I got an email from Both JoliAnn and Grandma Goff. I really enjoyed both of them. I got one from Tiff too of course. She never fails to at least send an E-mail. Thank you! :D I also got a year mark package from Tiff and Jason. 2 more sweet ties. I got the package on Friday. I wore the sweet yellow one on Saturday and Sunday I liked it so much. :D Lots' of food in the package as well. Can’t go wrong with food. :D The candy will take me a while to eat. I don't really eat a whole lot of junk food. Occasionally I will.

I can’t believe my Hump Day is almost here. MY YEAR MARK!!! Its gone fast I have to say. All the Elders my first day out here at the mission home were saying just wait...It goes by so fast. And I thought to myself..."TWO YEARS..I'm pretty sure it's going to feel like 2 years. One year hasn't felt like a year. It's gone way faster than that. I've heard the 2nd year goes even faster. I guess we will see. JoliAnn has reminded me that I turn 21 next week too! Wowzers. :D I would also like to give a shout out to Momma Mangum. She is turning the ripe old age of 29. :D Jessica Mangum as well. I'm waiting for her to write back so I'll just ask Momma Mangum to tell her Happy Birthday. :D

I love you all thanks for the prayers. All is well, All is well.
Love, Elder G

The Elders wearing their weird mustaches

Current Area: Lander, Wyoming

Current Companion: Elder Ika

From Elder S. Goff - "3 Nephi 3:5"

Elder S. Goff in Mexico

Sorry I don’t have much time so I didn’t get to read your e mail but you and Garrett look good together.

So this morning on our way into town I got contacted by some jw they were from Oregon and didn’t speak Spanish but wanted to invite me to a talk this next Sunday I was really nice about it and took what he gave me but when he was done I tried to talk about what we do and he didn’t like that at all he wouldn’t even take the pamphlet I tried to give to him oh well though I tried.

Tuesday of this week Tampico was shut down no one could enter and no one could leave it was because of some gang stuff that has been going on. Yesterday and Saturday there was supposedly a 12 noon curfew but nothing was really going on where we are so we just went out and worked anyhow.

So this week I also got a call from another elder here in my zone and he was asking me questions of what I was doing the day before and it was kind of weird but come to find out it was because some people in his ward were saying they say me making out with someone in there ward. So he was checking what was up with me. I talk him I was with my comp working all day so it could not have been me. He told me that he was going to talk to the members and make it so they wouldn’t think that anymore and hopefully not tell anyone more. It was pretty ridiculous though.

I found out this week that I hate mangos. Everyone here loves them and they are all over the place now but I think they are so gross. Everyone always gives them to us and I just put them in my bag and give them to my comp when we get home.

I think that thinks have worked out exactly how they were supposed to. Me and Wolfe were talking and I love that guy now he is a great guy we were talking about how we were in the mtc and now how we are and things have a way of working themselves out I think that everything right now has all happened for a reason.

lotta love ELDER SAWYER GOFF

P.S.  More stuff I wanted to ask...

I need a usb memory card converter next time you send something please

Did you put all my pics on discs and put them somewhere safe? And did you put and wrestling one on the thing you’re sending me? And I really need dad to send me a pic of him and his semi.

3 Nephi 5:3 I like this scripture cause it’s about me :)

love ya sis thanks

Current Area: Monte Alto - Altamira, Mexico
Current Companion: Elder Tovar 
 

Rain in Mexico

From Elder A. Goff - "Baptisms and Snowmen"

Elder A. Goff in Montana

Hey Family,

This week was a good and interesting one. I'll start off by saying in snowed again on April 6th and on April 7th we tried to clear the drive of the members we live with and once again the snow blower wouldn't work because the snow was too wet. So we built a 13 foot tall snowman! The balls were so huge we had to call the other elders to come help us at lunch. We made it happen though and it was huge. I'll attach a picture on here.

On the 8th we had the baptisms for the 3 Trospers. It was a little scary. Their car broke down right before the baptism. We had to find them a ride last second. When they got there the oldest daughter decided she wanted to wait to be baptized. So only the Mom and younger daughter got dressed in the white clothes. Then she changed her mind and got dressed too. Ugh..Then the guy that was going to baptize them showed up half an hour late. So we had the branch president getting dressed to baptize them instead. Then right as President Larsen got dressed the guy showed up. So after all of that it finally happened. It was an amazing service once it got started.

On the 10th Tiema and Adrianna got baptized. Everything for them went really smooth. It was a great service. They were smiling the whole time. :D We had members of the branch do basically everything. Elder Kuck and I planned it pretty much, but we asked those being baptized to think of people in the branch they would like to participate. So Members did the talks, the baptisms, the confirmations..pretty much everything. I think that's how it should be in most cases. Missionaries move on. Members will stay there to keep them active. :D It was awesome though.

Next thing. TRANSFERS!!! We got the call on Friday. I kinda had the feeling I would be staying. but....When the call came I found out I am STAYING!!! haha Elder Kuck left Yesterday. He is going to Townsend, Montana. Where I served for a transfer the first time I trained. As soon as I found out Elder Kuck was leaving I had this thought come to me saying Elder Goff...You are training again. Half an hour later I got the call from President Gardner asking me to train again. I can’t believe I'm training again. It's going to be fun. I really enjoy training. I haven't even hit a year yet and I have been asked to train for the 3rd time. Not many Elders train 3 times in this mission.

When I was out 4 1/2 months I was asked to train and we were doubled into Townsend and Helena. I was with Elder Child for 3 months when I was asked to train for the second time. Then I was with Elder Newman (#2) for 3 months as well. Then I was transferred to Lander where I was put with an elder who had only been out for 6 weeks. And now I have been asked to train again. I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever have a companion that knows what he is doing. ;) The best part about training is seeing the Elder change. Going for being awkward and nervous the first week to being confident and teaching with the spirit by the end of the first transfer.

So since Elder Kuck is gone you may wonder who I am with. I got on the Transfer van with Elder Kuck and came to Worland Wyoming to be with the Zone Leader. We are both waiting for our new companions who will be here on Wednesday. Transfers take about 4 days because our mission is so big. Plus this time it's a huge transfer. 54 missionaries are being moved. Crazy right?

So that was my week. I don't know my new companion's name. You pretty much never do if you are training until the moment he is standing in front of you.

Joli, Thank you for your e-mail. It's always nice to hear from you. I'm still waiting for a letter from you! I hope you are all doing well. I'm surviving.

Love Elder Austin Gene Goff

P.S. Could someone get Bishop Brotherson's address for me?

Current Area: Lander, Wyoming
Current Companion: Elder ???

Snow in Montana

From Elder S. Goff - "Amazing Conference!!!!"

So, not too much went on this week just an amazing conference!!!! First off I want to give a shout out to aunt B. you were looking good B and I let all the people I was sitting with know that you are my famous aunt :). All the gringos watched the conference in a different room then the rest of our stake so we could watch in English. I enjoyed it a ton!!!! There were a ton of talks that I liked a lot but the one that I think was for me was dieter F utchdorf. He talked on patience and that’s what I need to have right now. I have been getting down on myself about me Spanish and he helped me out a little bit. The lord will provide. The talk by l tom Perry was great too. His was on family and was amazing.
We just hit week 4 of this transfer and I think after this one I'll be moving. Not too much else happened this week but it was a good week I love you all

And tiff if you could print some off first then send me that’d be cool I love you thanks so much

Current Area: Monte Alto - Altamira, Mexico
Current Companion: Elder Tovar

From Elder A. Goff - "What a week"

Family,

I have a lot to write about this week. First of all I would like to talk about something Tiff brought up a few e-mails ago. She said she likes to honk and wave at the Elders when she sees them walking down the street. She also said that they probably think she is crazy. I'll tell you what I think when people honk and wave frantically as they drive by. I think, “Wow another Mormon driving by as we walk in the snow....Fantastic. I wonder if they ever think of asking if we need a ride?" haha That's what I think. :D

Heavenly Father played a couple of April fools jokes on Elder Kuck and I. First of all we woke up on what we had hoped to be a beautiful day on April 1, 2010. The first joke he played on us was when we looked out the window to snow falling. We had about 6 inches. brand new snow. Good one God...Good one. :D Then later we took some time to clear brother and Sister Alexander's drive where we stay. It's a big one so we tried to use the snow blower, but it was too wet. It kept getting clogged. So we decided to build a couple of snowmen. (I forgot my camera again so I can’t send pictures until next week.) One was about 7 feet tall while the other was about Elder Kuck's size. In the process of doing this our white shirts turned brown. So when we were done we went upstairs and changed to get ready to go to dinner. We took off our dirty shirts and decided we had better spray them with shout and get them in the washer before we left to dinner. So we did so. 2 P-Days ago Elder kuck and I had bought a brand new gallon of Liquid laundry detergent, and it sits on top of our stack washer and dryer. Which means that our dryer is on top of our washer and about 7 feet tall. We left top dinner and came back to the house to use the rest room before an appointment. We walked upstairs and Elder Kuck says, " it smells like laundry detergent up here." So we walked to the bathroom where the laundry stuff is and found the Second joke Heavenly Father played on us. The gallon of Liquid detergent had fallen from on top of our stack and Broke. Liquid Detergent everywhere!!!! haha Bummer right? So next step...We try to figure out how in the world we were going to clean up the mess. We felt it wasn't wise to use towels because if we did that we would need to put them in the washer. Then it would overflow with bubbles. So then we decided to use some pass-along card to scoop it. Not effective. Then I said wow...I wish we had a squeegee. So we got in the car and went to the brand new Safeway that opened days prior and bought a Squeegee and a dust pan and that is how we cleaned it up. God-2 Elders-0.

Our last mission President was made an area seventy during conference. That was pretty cool to hear. Craig G. Fisher. I really loved Elder Oaks talk during Priesthood. Talking about giving blessings to heal. It always makes me think of when I was in Helena. When Diane was so sick. I wanted nothing more but to heal her. Bishop gave me a talk he has used at funerals. It helped a lot. However, I still sometimes wish I could have done more. Then this talk made me think. It was God's will that she passed at that time. I was there for a reason and Elder Child too. I think it happened when It should have. When a couple of Dorks like Elder Child and I were there to still put a smile on Jim's face. I sure miss that place sometimes. I learned a lot there. President apologized one day for doubling me in training when I was only out 4 1/2 months. I told him don't be sorry. I learned more in the first 6 weeks of being there than I have learned my entire mission prior. :D

I also Liked Ronald H. Rasband. He talked about mission calls. I definitely know this is where I was supposed to come. No doubt it my little brain. Or heart for that matter. God places us where he needs us. I also liked Bradley D. Foster's talk. The part I remember is when he talked about never giving up on those that fall away. You never know how or when a person's heart may be changed. I liked that a lot. I love working with less active members. I figure if I help a few of them along the way maybe someone will be able the help my family as well. Who knows? I just always try to keep a prayer in my heart for my family and also for the people I am able to teach.

This week we have 5 baptisms happening!!! WOO HOO!!! We have 3 on Thursday and 2 On Saturday. The Trospers on Thursday. I'm very excited to be a part of this. And Teima and Adrianna on Saturday. Transfers are on Friday. Pray I will be ok with whatever happens. I hate transfers. I just need to know that whatever happens is what needs to happen. I love you all and thank you for your prayers. Love your favorite Elder in The Montana, Billings Mission.

Elder Austin Gene Goff

Current Area: Lander, Wyoming
Current Companion: Elder Kuck