I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

The fourth of July was quite a day. 

We woke up and made eggs, toast, hashbrowns, and bacon. Bacon is definitely not a thing in this country, but we were going full American. 

Lunch: STEAKS AND FRIES! Yup. You betcha we bought steaks to celebrate the fourth. 

And for dinner, we topped it off with some grilled cheese and more bacon. No rice for a full day. YAGA! We also belted America the Beautiful with each other at the top of our lungs (all four verses). It was a good day and I sure do miss the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

The big news of the week was that we had another baptism! Her name is Danaet and she is AWESOME! She really is one of the most consistent investigators I have ever met. Even though her mother passed away only about two weeks ago she was firm enough to know the importance of the gospel and push forward with our baptism. She is really awesome. We hadn't heard from her at all after she heard about the passing of her mother, and then on Tuesday night, she called and simply told us that she would be getting baptized this Sunday! Sounds good to me! It was a great day and even better was the fact that the man who was in jail for 10 years and found the gospel also got baptized! Super cool experience.

This week we also had a chance to meet with our new Mission President and his wife, and have zone conference! It was pretty awesome. I love both President and Sister Lewis. Also, the cool thing is that President Lewis likes to play basketball and actually looks a lot like Steve Kerr. I hope he has his ankle braces on for when we meet together on p - day. HAHA just kidding. 

On a spiritual note, they really are amazing people and I can't wait to follow their counsel and guidance in order to further the work of the Lord in this country. Their slogan is "Another Day in Paradise!" I love living in paradise every day. (Even if it is pouring rain)

We found a lot of new, awesome people this week and we are busy all day teaching lessons! Things are good and I am starting to love my investigators and these people more and more every day.

To close I would like to just share a little personal testimony of why I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Ether 4:11-12 and I noticed something pretty awesome. 

"11 But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good.

12 And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world."

I remembered that whenever I ever had small doubts about the church or whenever I questioned whether this church is true, I always thought back to the amazing things that the church teaches us to do, and the people it teaches us to become. We learn to be good people, to serve others, to follow Christ's example and to live morally clean lives. I know that every single time that I doubted  - my concerns were always answered by the fact that everything that persuadeth to do good comes of God. And if we do good then we will truly feel the influence of the Holy Ghost testifying of the truth in our lives. That is the first reason that I know that the church is true. The second is summed up with one single verse.

"4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

THIS GOSPEL GIVES US HOPE!!!!!!! 

That is all I got for today! Joy in the Journey. Go tell all the old missionaries that are going back to the 801 what up for me. Those are some good guys. The church is true

Love,

Elder Gochnour