From Elder S. Goff - "Hey Fam"

  Well I'm not going to write too much today but I want to share something with yall. Everyone knows that I love the green bay packers and well with that goes loving Vince Lambardi. He once was talking about his team and said (teamwork is what the green bay packers were all about they didn’t do it for they individual glory, they did it cause they loved one another) I shared that quote with my zone and told them that we need to love the members and work with them to be able to achieve the goals that we’ve put we need to love one another as well cause if you don’t get along with your comp, you will get absolutely nothing done. We were really close to achieve our zone goal this last change and well we did turn out having the best change out of all the other zones :) most success in numbers that is. In the letter from my mission president today he told me that he wishes that he could somehow keep me here another year till him and his wife finish up so I can continue to work. He told me that he is happy with what I have been able to do and the progress I have made. It was a really cool letter to receive.

  Also this week me and my comp were talking a lot about what we are going to do after the mish and things like that and one day of study we both ran into scriptures that put us in our places. My comp was reading in 3 Nephi 13 and me in san Lucas 12 and we both were told to look first for the glory of god and later the worldly things will fall into place. It was kind of a smack in the face telling me that I haven’t completed what I have been called to do yet and that later I can worry about those things but now I need to worry about the things I’m here to do. I’m excited for this week. I think it will be a lot better than this last week cause we had a couple baptisms fall threw for different reasons but we will keep at it. :) I love you all

Elder Sawyer Goff

Current Area: Mante, Mexico

Current Companion: Elder Dominguez

From Elder S. Goff - "Hey Fam"

"Baptism #1 of this change Jose Manuel"

 

  So today is change day but me and comp are staying the same so we were just trying to get everything in order for our zone and get everyone sent off in the right buses this morning and put other elders together to wait for their comps to get here. It’s been a good day but a little hectic. Its always nice on p day when I don’t have changes cause that means I get a longer p day.:) We wont have district meeting today cause of changes so our p day is extended till 6 in place of 3 30. wooo whooo. I'm really excited to stay with my comp another change. We will be able to get a lot done I think and then my last change I think I’ll just be a normal missionary somewhere without responsibilities as a leader.

  Me and my comp have been working really hard to have a baptism every week here in our ward and it’s been going really great.. it’s been awesome to tell the truth. Yesterday was the forth week consecutive that we have had a baptism. We had a goal to have 5 this change and we had 6 so it’s been really awesome and I’m super excited to have another change with Elder Dominguez. We work really well together.

  Yesterday for my birthday what we did was the baptism of Angel. At our food the hna had a cake and we ate that with her and her son so that was really nice but other than that we didn’t do anything. We had fun and it was a good day but nothing too special. There is a guy from our ward who was going to take us fishing today for my birthday but he ended up not calling us yesterday to put everything together so oh well.. I guess maybe another day but it doesn’t matter.

  Everything is going great here. I love you all and hope all is well

Love Elder Sawyer Goff

"Baptism #2 Giel baptism by his grandfather the patriarch of our stake"

"Baptism #3, 4, and 5 Elder Goff, Fidel, Jose Aviles, Karen, and Elder Dominguez (1st time in white with one of my comps)"

"Baptism #6 Elder Goff, Angel, And Elder Dominguez (in white the day of my 21st birthday)"

"Us with mama mague for breakfast before doing service"

"José Aviles with us after cleaning the church and getting things set up for the baptism of angel the next day"

Our new comps :)

Current Area: Mante, Mexico

Current Companion: Elder Dominguez

From Elder S. Goff - "almost done with another change the start of week 6"

"Our last district meeting this change"

This was actually a great week. Last Monday me and my comp both went out on divisions to a city that is in our zone a little town an hour out of mante. We went out there with 2 other elders to help them out a little bit because they told us that they have been having a hard time. On the way out there idk why but I wasn’t feeling too great at all. I hadn’t eaten all day and the bus ride wasn’t too great so when we got there we get there at the time to get in the house and well I was hungry so my and elder Dominguez went out searching for something to eat before ending the night. We ended up buying some eggs and some sausage to eat with beans and tortillas like any real Mexican would do :) and well I felt great afterwards. In the room where me and my comp were going to sleep didn’t have light so I got on my comps back to take a bulb out of one room and put it in ours it was really funny. One of the other elders has pictures and I'll for sure send those later. We had a good night and a good study in the morning my comp challenged me to wrestling and well we already had the mattresses on the ground so we went for it. It was a lot of fun just messing around. I think the other 2 elders were thinking that we are crazy but we told them ya gotta get along with your comp in order to have success. Elder Dominguez and I are always having a great time and enjoying ourselves. Our day there working with them was really good we each went with one of the other elders and all together we were able to find 7 new INV and put 3 different dates for baptism it made the other 2 elders really happy and excited to keep that going and we hope that’s what they do. We had to end the divisions early because my comp got really sick and was throwing up and didn’t feel good at all. We think it was from the eggs we ate or something but we aren’t completely sure about that.

My comp ended up being in bed for a long time this week cause he was sick but then when he felt good I felt like crap so that wasn’t to great but the most important thing that happened this week is that we were able to have 3 baptisms on Sunday. It made the week so much better we are fulfilling our goal that we set to have a baptism every week. It’s been awesome. When we went to the church on Sunday to get the font ready and filled up all the doors to get in the fount were locked and well me being the James bond wanna be I am came up with the great idea of going threw the roof to get in and turn on the water and open the door from the inside. Clearly everyone we called people to asked for key but we couldn’t get a hold of our bishop and no one else had any so we have to do something. Our church has the ceilings like at schools and big buildings where you can get up inside at what ever part you want and so I did. My comp boosted me up and I climbed over and opened up the ceiling above the baptismal fount and jumped down opened the door and we started filling it up. It was quite an experience. I scrapped up my forearm pretty good along with my chest but all for this great work right.

This week we find out changes and we are really hoping that nothing is going to happen to us and that well stay the same another change. We are going great together and loving the work.  Well peeps I love yall but I gotta go have a great week and we'll talk to ya next time.

Love, Elder Sawyer Garrett Goff

"My comp trying to wrestle me"

"UTAH!  That's for you Jason... We wore these ties together to a meeting with the Stake President because he studied at BYU haha"

"Me and Elder Alveres with my bike that we broke because we weigh so much"

 "Under the sunset"

 "Beside Rio Mante"

"Check out my pants and shirt.. I ate it doing a wheely down the street"

Current Area: Mante, Mexico

Current Companion: Elder Dominguez

From Elder S. Goff - "Hey Peeps"

  Well I’m not going to send pictures this week either I lent my converter thing for my memory card to someone from our ward and they still haven’t gave it back. This week went really good though. We had another baptism yesterday and it was really awesome. dad told me that Daiton got baptized this weekend as well that’s way cool I’m glad that Austin was able to do that and I hope to get some pics of it soon along with some when Austin got off the plane. That’d be cool.

  We had a meeting in Tampico this week with all the zone leaders and it was a little different then normal but it was awesome. We got to the institute building of Friday morning and we went in the room we always go to for the meetings put our stuff down and started to study a little bit all the zone leaders got there along with president and his wife. Then they told all of us to pass over to the other room when we walked in everything was set up for the sacrament. We sat down started out with a devotional like always then we all took part of the sacrament and president call was the one who passed it to all of us. It was a really great experience. We they took turns going up to the pulpit and sharing our testimonies or an experience that we have had. I talked about a man we are teaching and how he really is someone who was prepared to receive the gospel in his life. He was in jail for 4 years has 7 kids with 5 different people tattoos, piercings and long hair. I explain how we should never judge someone from the way they look because this man was just waiting for us to talk to him and help him find the road he should be on. I talked about him and shared my testimony about the gospel in my life. Once we had done that for a little bit we all went over to the other room where we usually are and talked about how we are going to make this mission better. We came to the conclusion that the thing we need to work on now is using the members to our advantage. President call is just about to get 2 years in the mission and he and his wife talked a little bit about the change that we have taken. They are really happy with how the mission is doing now and want us all to leave our own legacies behind. I had never seen my mission president cry until Friday as he was talking to us about how much we mean to him. He made us all feel really great I think he told us that the group of 20 elders that were present that if he had to only pick 20 to work here he would pick us. He was thanking us for the things we have been doing and encouraged us to continue to do the same. It really was quite the experience and I loved it.

  We are started week 5 of the change already and I can’t believe it because time has gone by so fast. I love my comp and we are really getting things done but having a blast doing it. We have got baptisms lined up for the fallowing 6 weeks. Things are going great.

  I love you all and hope things are going good back home

Love Elder Sawyer Garrett Goff

Here are some pics that my mission president’s wife sent to me.  Love you.

Current Area: Mante, Mexico

Current Companion: Elder Dominguez

From Elder S. Goff - "Half way through the Change"

  Yesterday me and my companion were able to have a baptism of a kid we have been working with since I got here. It went really good and the kid asked me to do the ordinance for him. It was really cool but he didn’t want to go all the way under the water the first time I tried and he wasn’t going to the 2nd time I told him hey bud you got to go all the way under to the 2nd time I forced him into the water so I wouldn’t have to do it again. Afterwards he was telling everyone I was trying to drown him but I just didn’t want to take forever to get him in so I got the job done. We were going to have 2 baptisms but one didn’t go threw because the ladies kid got sick and she spent the weekend at the hospital. We are going to work with her some more and see when we can get her in the water as well.

  We are teaching this lady named Karen. She has listened to missionaries for the passed 3 years and well never accepted the gospel into her life till now. She is getting wet on the 11th of June and is really excited for it. We have taught her in the most basic way possible and its turning out really well. We are also teaching her mom perla. Perla has listened to the missionaries for about 20 years now. We were talking to her and I was like hna what is keep you from accepting this into your life and she said nothing then I was well what needs to happen for you to accept it. And she sat there thinking and said well a miracle. We were like well that’s what we are here for is to do miracles. She told us if she can see the change in her daughter and in her family she will accept it into her life. We are going to work really hard with her and are excited for it.

  We have been doing really well together me and elder Dominguez. I would love to be with him until I'm done with the mission but that would be a long time with one comp so we will see what happens.

  In our church building there are a bunch of books that no one ever uses so yesterday me and my comp took all the books that we wanted and think will come in handy. We took like seminary student books along with a few from different prophets of our dispensation. if I’m not able to read it all here in the mish I might be carrying a few home with me but they weigh a ton so who knows.

  This week me and my comp are taking a trip to Tampico for a zone leader council and are going to be missing out 2 days on work in our area so we are going to need to put everything we've got in the few days that we do have to work. Things are going great and I love it.

Love Elder Sawyer Garrett Goff

Current Area: Mante, Mexico

Current Companion: Elder Dominguez

From Elder S. Goff - "What a Week"

Well everyone this week I think was one of the most intense week of my whole mission and one of the weeks most effective as well. Me and my comp now have bike and are able to move around a lot faster then before. We were able to find 13 new people to teach this week along with putting 10 baptism dates. We have baptisms planned for the next 6 weeks and are super excited for it. How our area is set up its a little weird. It goes from one side of the city to the other side but its only 5 streets wide. So it’s really long but super skinny. The bikes are helping out a lot we talk to pres call and she gave us permission to use them so that’s what we have been doing.

We had zone conference this week in witch me and my comp got to teach a little bit and address our zone about what we have planned this change it was really good. Sister call did a little presentation about how we need to have our houses clean to be able to have the spirit with us there. And well she had taken pictures of certain houses that her and pres call had inspected and well guess what our house was the high light of the video it was almost all pics of our house. Certainly it was before I got there :) but it was super gross and our whole zone knew it was our house and were laughing about us but we have been cleaning it step for step and it’s getting a lot better. Today we are even moving the house we found another little apartment and are moving later today everything over then going to finish cleaning the old house really good as well.

There is this man named José Aviles we call him José (amen) cause he used to go to a Christian church so when were talking out of no where he will yell AMEN!!!! He is a great guy he was living up in the states for a long time and was sent back here due to DUIs that he had. He has really changed and I really excited about the church. He came on Sunday and loved and participated in the classes and it was great. We found him cause every time we go by his house he would always yell things in English at me like hey white boy... or even hey nigger (I think I’m getting tan but not that dark yet) hey would yell something every time but I just yell something back and keep on walking finally one time i turned around and went to the door and started talking to him we taught him the first lesson and accepted a baptism date the first day. He really wants to church and understands that baptism with the authority of god is the things most important to help him change. We are really excited for him. He has his date for the 11th of June to get in the water.

Things are going really well here in mante just loving life and sweating like no other I love you all.

Take Care

Elder Sawyer Garrett Goff

Current Area: Mante, Mexico

Current Companion: Elder Dominguez

From Elder S. Goff - "Zone of the Change!!!!"

  What a week!! Things have been going great here in mante with my new comp with the amazingly hot weather and just being a missionary. This week all the zone leaders of the mission went to Tampico for a meeting with president call and his assistants. It was great in the meeting we talked about things going on this change and everything and things that happened last change as well. Here in mante we were named the zone of the change for the work we were able to get done. I was super excited and well we have planned to get named the zone of this change as well. We have started off really great. We had the most baptisms in week one and we are planning on keeping that going. I'm really excited. A lot of people in the mish have been scared to come to this zone because before no one had baptisms here but now we have turned that around and things are going great. The stake and wards are growing.

  When we went to the meeting in Tampico we went down there on Thursday night and the meeting was on Friday. We stayed the night at the office elder’s house and in the house they have a washer and a dryer so me and my comp took all our dirty clothes all the way to Tampico to wash them. It turned out great though. Clothes are so much softer when they come out of the dryer. It had been along time since I used one of those so it was cool.

  Yesterday in church things didn’t turn out to well. we were gone to Tampico for about 2 days so we didn’t get to much done here and well we only had 2 people in church this week when the past week we had 8. Well all the members figured that me and elder Dominguez don’t know what we are doing or something. All the members were giving us counsel of what we need to do. Scriptures that we should share with people and how to go about doing the work it kind of bothered me but oh well. We are working super hard though we found 9 new investigators this past week taught a bunch of lessons and well Sunday just didn’t turn out that great. We are working super hard and things are going well but we still need to improve. Me and my comp work a lot the same. Super hard but we have fun doing it so I feel like we will be able to do a lot.

  My comp is a convert of 5 years the only member in his family. His family didn’t and doesn’t want him to be here on the mish but he is here. He is from Sonora auga prieta just below Arizona. Like 3 hour away from glen so I think ill be visiting him someday. He has 15 months in the mish and is in his prime. I love the kid he is super good at playing the guitar and singing that’s what he did to get money to come on the mish he played in bars at night and made pretty good money doing it.

  well our week was really good but this one should be even better we have zone conference and well we are going to get these elders even more excited to get stuff done.

I love you all and hope things are going well. oh and I got my first letter of death this week which asked where I’m flying to and ill be getting home the 15th of September.

Love Elder Sawyer Garrett Goff

We found a drunk guy this week out riding his mo ped and we asked if we could use it and he lent it to us for a little bit. haha:)

Current Area: Mante, Mexico

Current Companion: Elder Dominguez

From Elder S. Goff - "CHANGES"

last pic with elder botello

  Well this week has gone by fast. It was great talking to the whole fam last night. I was up waiting for Glen to call and finally got into bed thinking he wasn’t going to call but he did and I was happy to hear from him along with Garrett. He sounds like a little punk from what Glen says but says he is a ton of fun as well. It was great talking to everyone and it will be the last time that I talk over the phone in the mish. I really can’t believe that the time has past so fast.

  My comp just got here into town and I'm really excited for this change I get along really well with him and we are going to get a lot done I think. My comps name is elder Dominguez. He is from sanora México and has 15 months is the mish and he says he is still just a baby in the mish.

  This past week we had a baptism of lupita she was golden and is ready to help this place grow even more. She bore her testimony after she got out of the water and it was really special. We are hoping to find a few more just like her this week. Well fam I love you guys but idk what to say because I talked to yall yesterday but i love you and to take care.

Love Elder Sawyer Garrett Goff

A talent that no one knew I had

Me with a future missionary

 The newest member of Barrio Monterry

la zona mante 

lucha libre

los vatos

Current Area: Mante, Mexico

Current Companion: Elder Botello to Elder Dominguez

From Elder S. Goff - "I love being a missionary :)"

Hey fam,

   Well I'm glad to hear that my bro Austin made it home alright. I’m sure you guys all enjoyed being together and seeing him I bet it’s a pretty great feel I’m pretty excited to see the kid as well.

   To start out, for a couple of weeks now I have been praying for something in particular. A while back mi compa was talking about the gifts that are promised in the P blessing and well I got to thinking well what are mine because my P blessing doesn’t say anything and I have been praying a lot trying to figure out what I have. The first one I found is well that I have the gift of the Holy Ghost :) that’s a huge blessing right. the other day in a lesson with a girl that getting baptized on Saturday told me that I have the ability of making people happy when they are down and to help people feel better about themselves. I thought well that’s great maybe that can be one of my gifts. they one more I was able to come across is that mi compa told me that I’m a great leader and I should never be scared to show people how to do it cause they will fallow me for the kind of person I am. That made me feel good and made me think about my P blessing because it says I will be a leader in many way but I didn’t realize that maybe its saying that that’s one of my gifts I have. its been cool studying about it and searching to find what they are I’m reading the articles of fe by James Talmage and its helping me as well thing of things and open my mind more.

  This week here in the stake I’m in they had a missionary activity with the jovenes and me and my comp were invited to give them a little bit of training. We talking to them about effective study and the importance that it has in being a good missionary. It was a lot of fun I love working with kids from the Aaronic priesthood. It went really well. one day we went to talk with them and a couple of kids came with me and mi compa to hit some doors and that day just happened to be the hottest day we ever had here so far it got up to 49 degree C not sure what it is in F but I think like 115 but it was hot and the kids enjoy themselves still so I was happy.

  The 30th of abril here is the day of kids and well we had a fiesta here in the ward and it was a lot of fun. There were dances that some kids in the ward put on and some people that sung including me. I really didn’t want to do it but mi compa was playing the flauta and a sister was going to sing and well then made me do it as well not cool at all. Everyone was telling I looked like a tomato because I got so red and just laughed at the gringo oh well though.

  we have an INV that’s name is lupìta that is getting baptized this Saturday and well yesterday in church I got up to share my testimony then my comp fallowed me then lupita fallow him. She got up and told everyone why she is getting baptized and invited all the members out to the baptism. She is super excited. When we first found her she said she was never going to stop praying to the virgin and los Santos but now she is thinking completely different... she only prays to god now and knows it’s true.

  Me and elder botello started our fast on Saturday and well the last thing we ate were hot cakes. I just want to recommend to everyone that that is a horrible idea and to never do it. Start a fast after a good meal hot cakes feel you up but only for a little whole. We were super full at 2 in the afternoon but by 5.30 or 6 we were dying of hunger. It was quite the experience and we had fun with it.

  Well ill be talking to you will this week and I’m excited to hear how my bros talk goes in church. I love you all take care.

Love Elder Sawyer Garrett Goff

Returned with Honor

Elder Austin Gene Goff

Montana Billings Mission

April 22, 2009 - April 28, 2011

Matthew 25:21 "His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant"

2 Years Ago!

Bunkerville saying good-bye to Elder A. Goff for 2 years

Austin and Sawyer saying good-bye at the Provo MTC

Dad and Mom saying good-bye at the Provo MTC

 Missionary Name Badge

Mom putting on his "Elder Goff" tag

Saying good-bye to my lil bro for 2 years

Elder Austin Gene Goff arriving at the Provo MTC

Jason, Tiff, Soyboy, Elder Goff, Mom, Dad, Joli, and Grandma Goff

(Glen and Garrett couldn't be there)

Elder Goff, Sawyer, & Jason carrying missionary luggage

Austin's good-bye with Glen and Garrett

Austin and Sawyer with Great Grandma Leavitt

From Elder A. Goff - I will not with ink and pen write unto thee

Hey Family,

I’ll see you on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at the St. George Airport at approximately 12:30 PM.  Please be prepared to hug me.

I know this e-mail is short and maybe not what you expected, but I hope these scriptures will explain my reasons well enough.

2 John 1:12  Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.

3 John 1:13-14 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

And last of all…Advice to girls…

Proverbs 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Love, Elder Austin Gene Goff

Current Area: Billings, Montana

Current Companion: Elder Adams

From Elder S. Goff - "Time Flies"

  So I really can’t believe that it was over 2 years ago when we went and dropped Austin off at the MTC. I was thinking about that this passed week cause that date that I entered the temple passed by as well. I really can’t believe how time just goes by like that but I sure have enjoyed myself. It has been super tough at times but ill tell ya what the good times can’t get any better I love it all.

  I was wondering if someone could help me out I would really love to get some family stories about conversions and about pioneers to read and learn about my relatives I think it'd be awesome. And also a family tree to have for a few generations.

  This week was good. Its getting super hot outside but we don’t let that stop us. Last week I put the title of my letter as pingo and I didn’t even explain why. In this town where I am at they have their slang and how they talk and pingo in the slang is like satan. And well we have a lady we are teaching right now and she has a tree year old son that is absolutely crazy always swearing and hitting people and just causing troubles. Well the mom always calls him pingo because of how crazy the little guy is and I think it’s awesome that she calls he own child satan. I know that me and Austin were just little angles and didn’t do any kind of mischief so you’re a lucky lady mom :)

  This week we had divisions with the assistant and it went well. My comp went to Tampico and the elder swensen came here with me the 2 assistants are from my gen one gringo and the other Mexican. Swensen came with me here and it was really awesome we worked really hard all day in the awesome sun while my comp went to Tampico to be at the beach for semana santa. Haha jk it was good though and elder swensen were able to find 3 new INV and teach 5 lessons so we did well. We are really hoping of getting some people in the water this week and next week as well. We have a couple planned for this week but well see what happens.

  Well I hope you all enjoy your week tell Austin I love him when he gets of the plan and make sure you guys send me pics of him and everything when he gets there with you guys I'm really excited that he is getting done. I brag about him all the time haha

  Love you guys and Miss Yall.

Take care.

Elder Sawyer Garrett Goff

Current Area: Mante, Mexico

Current Companion: Elder Botello

From Elder A. Goff - "One More"

Hey there Fam.

It’s me, Elder Austin Gene Goff.  I have been serving a mission in Montana and Wyoming for 2 years in 4 days from now.  So I would like everyone to think of the day 2 years ago.  Let me refresh your memory, the date was Wednesday, April 22, 2009.  We sat in a large room at the M.T.C. when they still actually let you inside.  Watch a video and cried, hugged and off went Elder Goff on his 2 year mission adventure.  The MTC was quite the experience.  Meeting Elder Ryan Patrick Moore and all the other Elders and Sisters going to Montana with me.   Eating chicken sandwiches everyday with French fries and a bowl of fry sauce.  Learning how to teach the lessons and believing that we were actually good at them by the time we left.  Then realizing when we got to Montana that we were pretty awful at it.  Doing so many new things and being both scared and excited about it all. 

   I have experienced so many things on my mission; I have sat in Dog pee on a couch in Helena.  I went to a sun dance and watched people pierce their skin with bones and rip through their flesh in Hardin.  I administered fresh gauze to my companion’s appendix wound in Worland.  I hiked to Popo Agie falls in Lander and found beauty all around.  I traveled around our mission for the last 4 ½ months teaching and meeting people being taught the gospel.  And so many other things.  I wish I could have carried a camera with me for the two years on “Record” so everyone could truly see the things I have experienced.  Good and bad it had been an amazing ride.  As you all know I will be home in 10 days.  No I am not counting. I’m just not really bad at math.  In your last month all you have to know is the date and you will know how long you have left.  The only way you can’t know is if you are really bad at math.  I hope everyone is excited to have me home.  I have been pretty nervous.  I try not to think about it, but it’s really hard when you spend a lot of time in a car.  There is only so much advice people can give to a returning missionary.  It all ends up being the same but in different words.  I have a lot of goals now.  I have a lot of things I want to accomplish.  I have Satan bugging me all the time trying to make me think that things won’t be like I want them to be when I come home.  I all ready know things aren’t perfect at home, and that’s ok.  It’s not going to stop me from being who I have become and achieving the goals I want to.  I will admit that fear is an overriding factor at this point.  I don’t know why Satan is trying so hard.  The fear is making me want to stay on a mission and teach the gospel forever.  Maybe he knows something I don’t about me going home.  Maybe I have a lot more to do off a mission than I now realize.  So many thought go through my head as I think about the time I have spent as a missionary and how that time as a full-time missionary is coming to an end shortly.

   We have had a good week once again.  We have finished our meetings and this week is transfer week.  I will get to have a bunch of “lasts” this week.  I will have my last transfer calls, planning for a new route and all that jazz.  My replacement will even be in here by about Thursday at the latest.  That will be strange.  I’ll have to train him on what to do for transfers and stuff.  Most of what he will learn is learned pretty quickly, and the rest will be learned throughout the transfer.   One more p-day.  One more E-mail as a missionary.  One more haircut as a missionary.  One more…blah blah blah.  I sure do love you all.  See you…VERY…Very soon.  One more time signing an e-mail as Elder Goff.

   I'm glad that I'm not the only one who feels like coming home in ten days is unreal.  I know I go home in ten days but it sure as heck don't feel like it.  I'm not sure what I want to do as far as a luncheon goes.  I'm not too picky.  I would guess that more people will come to my talk than the first week I am home.   So it’s up to you.  I wouldn't even mind if we didn't do anything.  I don't want everyone to spend money on my behalf.  I sure do love you all.

Love, Elder Austin Gene Goff

Current Area: Billings, Montana

Current Companion: Elder Adams

From Elder S. Goff - "El Pingo"

  This week went well. I have a lot of people who tell me I look like some guy off of the movie called universal soldier but I have never seen the movies so idk who it is and other have told me I look like the Russian off of rocky 4 and I take that as a complement cause that guy is cut.

  We had interviews this week. Pres came up here to Mante in the morning and all the elders in our zone had our interviews then in the night we had a junta with pres call and the stake president here from Mante and all the bishops. Me and my comp were the only missionaries there. In the afternoon between the interviews and the meeting in the night pres call and mama call came with us to work. It was the first time in the mission that pres has been with me during the day working and it was a great experience. He really knows what he is doing. He teaches with love but direct as well go right to the point and it work we and elder botello are trying to do the same. He was with us for a few hours and we visited some families and we have in teaching right now it went good and I love mama call. She is so funny. we were waiting outside one of our investigators houses and a drunk lady came up and started talking to us like she knew us and we had never seen her and mama call thought it was our INV and gave her a hug and looked and me and asked in ingles is she the Inv I was like no hna call and she like cracked up. She is a lady full and love and shows it to everyone. The day went good though. The meeting we had in the might as well went good we talking about how the members here are sleeping and we need to wake them up and we made a plan to wake them up. I just hope that all the bishops do what they said they are going to do. Some are kinda lazy at times.

  there is a kid from the ward I am in that leaves for the mish this Wednesday and well he is a way cool kid and I have become friends with him and I was talking to him about the things he has and what more he needs to buy before he goes and I was like you have a camera right and he was like no. I was like what are you going to do and he told me that he didn’t know so what I did was gave him my camera so now I don’t have one but my buddy pino does. Haha idk what I'm going to do. I feel like when a thought comes to my head to give something to someone and I don’t do it I’m being selfish so when I thought about it I then had to do it. I think I’m going to just go and buy a cheep one from like a pawn shop that will work till I get home nothing fancy but something that does take pics. I know he was really happy that I did that. He brought it to church yesterday and was taking pics of everyone to remember them. I feel good that I did it.

  well I’m sorry everyone I never have enough time to say everything I want to but that’s why I try to keep my journal up to date so later ill have everything there but I love you all be safe say your prayer and read them scriptures

Love Elder Goff #2 

Current Area: Mante, Mexico

Current Companion: Elder Botello

From Elder A. Goff - "I'm going to say it....HOLY CRAP."

Two and a half weeks.  I have never had butterflies so much in my life.  I try so hard not to think about it, but it's impossible.  I promise I am still working hard and doing what I'm supposed to, but it’s just hard not to think about it.  I have really felt every feeling in the world this transfer, as I explained in my most recent blog post. www.elderagoff.blogspot.com   that will explain how I have been feeling...well kind of.  I can't explain the feelings I've had.  I am scared, I am excited, I am ready, I'm not ready, I want to stay forever, and I feel like I will be doing this forever.  It won’t sink in until I get on the plane I don't think.  In a lot of ways it breaks my heart.  I am excited to see my family!  That will be awesome.  I love being a missionary though.  Can you even believe that I ever thought of not coming on a mission?  Crazy.

   We had a good week this week though.  Elder Adams and I drove to Powell, Wyoming for our Wyoming north Zone Training.  It went well and after we went on team ups with the Zone leaders.  I got to go on team ups with Elder Child for the last time.  Once again...Noticing lasts.  Which can get pretty lame after a while.  Then we went to Riverton for the Wyoming South Zone Training and after that I got to go to Lander and see a few people.  I love Lander!  It was great to be back there.  I always feel like I never left when I go to an old area.  The next morning we went to Worland for team ups and got to see a few others too.  It's been a pretty uneventful week.  Not a lot has happened other than more traveling.  I still haven't found out my track for BYU-I yet.  So Mom and Pops!  If you get anything from BYU-I in the mail...OPEN IT! And let me know if it's my track.  I have been waiting for weeks and weeks to find out, then in dawned on me...well maybe it gets sent to my house address.  So if you get it please let me know. 

   Funny story...I made my last planner and put a picture of a plane on it and lost it a couple weeks later.  Made a new planner and accidently washed it with my whites last night...Sad day.  I have never lost a planner on my mission.  Now I have lost one and washed the other in the same transfer.  So I'm trying to decide if I even want to make another one for the last couple of weeks.  I'll send a picture of how I'm deciding. :)  I sure do love you all.  Can't believe it's so close.  See you soon.

Love, Elder Goff

I almost forgot.  I tried and failed to eat a one pound burger from Fuddruckers a couple weeks back.  So when we didn't have a dinner on Saturday we went to Fudd's with Elder Ika and Elder Krambeck, so I could attempt the one pounder again.  With much pain and even less enjoyment I was able to accomplish an item I have had on my bucket list since the day I was born.  I finished the One pound burger.  It was rad.  I woke up the next morning and felt like I got hit by a train!  Totally worth it, and I'll never have to do it again.

   And second, I was able to take a bath in a massive tub in Worland at the Cannons, where the Elders live now.  So I wanted to include explanation for my shenanigans. :) love ya!

Current Area: Billings, Montana

Current Companion: Elder Adams