The Church is TRUE

October 16, 2017
Good week!! Except for it is starting to get colder and I haven't let myself wear tights yet.. I just don't want to except it. Last week for pday we went to a corn maze! Usually it is not open on Monday's but we got lucky because it was Canadian Thanksgiving! 

So our mission has the goal of 204 baptisms in the year 2017 and the year is winding down so we are trying to do everything we can to reach that goal! We were going through our area books to find former investigators that we could try teaching again and we found a few people! We went and stopped by one of them and unfortunately they had moved.. but we still talked to the guy that lived there! He said we could probably come back. Then he texted us the next day and said he really liked the pamplet and wanted to learn more! Unfortunately he lives in a town that we only have enough miles to go to once a week so we havent been able to meet with him yet but hopefully soon!! 

We also started teaching a lady who is super cool! Her son just started school at U of U. We invited her to be baptized and she said she would work towards it.. Then the next day she texted us and said she wasn't ready for such a big commitment. She will change her mind though when she realizes the church is TRUE!!:) 

One of the members of the branch took us out to lunch this week at this pretty nice restaurant. It was really good and I ate way too much!! Then the next evening a part member couple took us out to the same restaurant.. so I ate a lot again:( It was really good though!!!

We tracted into a lot of older people this week. I like older people because they let us in without realizing who we are.. Then they  tell us that they have their own religion, but at least they let us in! Especially when it is freezing! 

We had a lot of appointments fall through so that was a bummer. Hopefully this week will be better though! Overall it was a pretty good week though! 

Favorite scripture of the week: John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 

There is no need for us to walk in darkness when we have Christ to follow!! Love you all!

Is your dad named Bruce?

October 9th 2017

Hey everyone!! This week was pretty good! It has been a little weird trying to get used to a new companion. Sister Stokes and I were very used to each others routines/teaching styles so it'll be different to get used to someone else! Sister Knight and I have gotten along great so far though. She is a lot quieter and more reserved than Sister Stokes but she is super nice and down to earth! Plus she has a lot of experience since she has been out for over a year! I am super excited to be able to learn from her.. and she loves to run so she will whip me into shape:) Pretty soon I will be ready for the 2019 marathon;) Shout out to my amazing family for all running it this weekend! And especially my super star mom for making it 20 years and getting into the Hall of Fame. I am so proud!

Not a lot of teaching this week, I had kinda a crazy experience though!.. We knocked on this house and inside was a younger couple. They let us in and were super nice and friendly and open to listening. We talked a little bit about the Book of Mormon and the guy told us about how he had been a drug addict from when he was 16 until he was 23. Finally he was able to quit and get married and have a family. It was cool to hear his story. He has been clean for 4 years! He said someone gave him a book of mormon when he was in jail once but he didnt read too much of it. They were very curious about missions and such but not super interested in reading the book of mormon and having us come back to teach them:( They said that they wouldnt change because their families would look at them weird if they did. Maybe that will change though! So anyway, we were in the middle of talking about what we as missionaries do and the guy looks at me and says, "Is your dad's name Bruce?" I was shocked and said, "Yeah! Do you know my dad?!" (Thinking he has looked at my name tag or something and recognized the last name. Then he told me how some guy that was doing sort of the same thing as us stayed at his house in Roseau, Minnesota when he was a teenager. His name was Bruce and I guess he looks just like me. What are the chances?! I though that was pretty crazy!!! I told him that my dad went on a mission when he was my age but he wouldnt have been in minnesota. It was so weird. Maybe it was the spirit?! 

Sister Stokes was telling me about this cool analogy this week. She said how our lives are like a piano. We have white keys and black keys, (good and bad days or times), but all of the keys make music. And when you combine the white and black keys you have a beautiful song! So even though we have trials in our lives, those trials still can make beautiful music. We are are able to learn so much from those hard times even though they aren't always fun! Remember we are NEVER alone! Christ is always inviting us and reaching out his arms. We just have to take that step to Him. He knows how we feel! Love you all and hope you have an awesome week:) 

Staying in the States

October 2, 2017

Nothing too exciting happened this week.. We got transfer calls today and I will be staying here in Warroad for another 6 weeks at least! I am excited, but very very nervous to be the only one who knows the people and the area. My new companion will be Sister Knight from Smithfield!! Super cool! I'm excited for what this next transfer will bring. 

Tuesday we went to district meeting in International Falls. After the meeting we rode on a boat to a little island that this lady lived on. She fed us lunch! It was super cool. Usually missionaries are not allowed to ride on boats but we got permission! It was cool! 

We helped a lady in our apartment move. Her daughter is actually a convert to the church and so is her nephew. Her nephew was taught by Dayson Chamber's brother-in-law. I guess he opened Warroad! Super crazy connection. Small world!! 

We went to find a less-active the other day. We knocked on his door and he let us in. He was an older man living in an assisted living/elderly apartment building. We started talking to him and asking questions so we could get to know him a little bit and hear his story. He proceeded to tell us that he is not religious and never has been. He told us that he got baptized when he was in the navy once but it was just for something to do. And he was DEFINITELY NOT baptized mormon.... Hmmm. We were confused, and I think he was too:) Not sure what to do in that situation! 

General conference was AWESOME!! So many good talks! One of my favorites was Elder Stevenson's about spiritual eclipse.Some of my favorite things he said were.. "Small and insignificant matters can block the light of hte gospel when drawn too close. Don't let life's distractions eclipse spiritual light."  

What did you guys learn? Any favorites!? I would love to hear!! I am super excited to be able to read and study them over again over the next couple months and I hope that you do too!! Love you all. Have an awesome week:) 

Frank's eyes are closed. That's the best picture we got:( 

The little boy is names after Tayli's boyfriend's brother in law who opened warroad! We played with those balloons for a while. He just kept rubbing my head trying to make them staticy and stick to the wall

Frank Got Baptized!

September 25, 2017

Frank got baptized!! We were nervous all week that he would change his mind but he didn't!! That was super cool to see him baptized and confirmed. Now on to the temple:) The last lesson we had with him before his baptism we asked why he changed his mind because 2 weeks ago he told us he would never get baptized. His response was, "something just kept poking me and telling me to pursue this. Then when you guys kept telling me to pray about it I finally asked God and He gave me the go ahead." I think that was so COOL! President Craig even drove down for the baptism so that was super awesome too! 

We also watched the women's conference on Saturday which was great! On Wednesday we cleaned the ditches next to the highway and then ate chili after for a branch activity. I had chili for the first time ever! It was alright. I have decided that since coming on my mission I have been blessed with taste buds and a stomach that can eat just about anything... I have eaten a lot of meals that I would have never touched when I was home. I think that is a miracle:) 

Sunday we were teaching a family that had 3 huge dogs. They were all over me! One of them was licking and trying to bite my hand for the longest time. Then he sneezed in my face. That was great haha;) We got out and our clothes had dog hair all over them! The family is super cool though.. not very interested but they keep inviting us back so hopefully we can change their hearts just like Franks! Even if it means we smell like dog:) 

Sunday the gospel doctrine teacher had to go home early because she has been super sick the past week so we taught the lesson. It was very nerve racking! The lesson was really good though! We talked about all the people in history who have been led to a promised land and how we are being led to our own promised land too! One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Nephi 2:20. Our promised land in the Celestial Kingdom..living eternally with our Heavenly Father. It is something to look forward to and something we should all be striving for! It is possible!! 

Hope you all have a wonderful week:) Sorry no pics again, the library computers are being funny. 

This week we went to stop by a part member family. We walked up to the door and there were a bunch of lights on and a window right next to the door. No one was answering so we looked over into the window that was wide open and right next to the door and saw the husband sitting on the toilet. We quickly ran away and hoped that he didnt see us.. scarred for life hahaha. I am nervous to see him at chruch next week. Pray that he didnt see us!

Good Week

Sept 18, 2017

This week was lots of driving and lots of meetings... But I was able to learn so much!!! 

Our investigator Frank is getting baptized this week! Well if everything goes as planned, I'm not too worried! This week we called him and out of the blue he was like, "I would ask you girls to marry me but since it is way past my time will you be my grand-daughters?" We laughed and agreed that we could be his granddaughters. We then asked him how old he was because we werent exactly sure. I was thinking probably late 60s or early 70s... Turn out he is actually almost 80!!! That just goes to show that it's never too late for someone to accept the gospel:) 

We had a Tri-Zone conference and Elder Wilford W Andersen of the 70 came to speak to us with his wife. It was SO great!! And I got to see my companions and some of the elders from the MTC I came out with. I also saw Sister Knight from Smithfield so that was cool!!! After zone conference we had district conference (Stake conference for branches) and rode with some members to Fort Francis, Ontario for that. Elder and Sister Andersen and President and SIster Craig also came to that! We were definitely spiritually fed this weekend! Overall we had 10 hours of driving and 10 hours of meetings in 3 days! Very exhausting but worth it in my eyes:)

Elder Andersen gave a talk on Saturday evening that was really good! He talked about perspective in regards to art and applied it to ourselves. He talked about how when something is portrayed to be far away it is painted small and when it is close it is painted big. He counselled to look at our life as a portrait. Evaluate what you have painted big vs. small. The gospel is something that should be painted BIG while materialistic things of the world or things that are temporary should be painted small or not at all in our portrait. It made me think about my portrait and the things that I can/should be painted big vs. small. 

I know that this gospel is true and I know Heavenly Father loves me and all of His children. I am so grateful Christ and His Atonement. It can be a powerful force in our lives if we let it. Love you guys! Have an awesome week:) 

Love, Sister Godderidge

Pics: Me and sister knight, a driveway with a bunch of smashed pop cans, a member took us out for lunch one day!

More pics.. Not sure the order but one is my and my companion with the coffee/coffee maker that Frank gave us after we talk him the word of wisdom! This is the train we "raced".. It was coming and we didnt want to wait for it so we ran to get across the tracks:) Dont worry it was pretty far so we were just taking precautions:) Me and my Sister Training Leader on exchanges last week. A senior couple in the mission from Idaho Falls. We stayed at their house for district conference this past weekend. THey are awesome! This is their second mission and their second time serving in the winnipeg mission. What are the chances?! 

Miracles and Math

Sept 11, 2017

This week was crazy but really good. We got to drive into International Falls, Minnesota for District Meeting on Tuesday.. That's the one other Minnesota area in our mission so now I have been to both:) We got to talk to some actual real life missionaries. We don't get that often being in an outlying area so that was exciting! 

Wednesday/Thursday we had exchanges in Winnipeg! I got to go with Sister Jimenez from Peru. She has been on her mission for 1 year. I learned a lot from her.. when I could understand her;) Just kidding, she is awesome! We did actually have a spanish lesson so my high school spanish came in handy.. I could understand bits and pieces! While we were there I had to drive because she doesnt have a license so that was a bit stressful. We got lost a lot and almost ran out of gas but we survived. We went tracting for a lot of the time and knocked on this guys door who didnt have any pants on... It was very awkward. 

Friday we were back in Warroad and one of the coolest things happened! We were in the middle of weekly planning when we realized we had a missed call/voicemail from a number we did not recognize. It was a guy who was wondering when/where our services were because he was moving to the area. We called him back and after a few minutes of talking to him came to find out that he is 17 years old and him and his mom are moving to the area from Washington within the next couple of weeks. They are not members but a friend told them about the church and they found our number on lds.org SO COOL!!!! I am really looking forward to meeting/teaching them:) It almost sounds too good to be true.. Hopefully it wasnt a joke!! Miracles do happen!!

We also set another baptismal date with our investigator Frank after church yesterday. Hopefully he keeps to it this time!!! We will definitely need hep from heaven! 

As a missionary you hear a lot that we are to teach repentance and baptize converts. I've decided that repentance/life is like a math problem. You will never end up with the right answer unless you go back and fix your mistakes... and it's completely normal to make mistakes so you know for sure that you have the right answer. (As long as you don't make them on purpose right?) 

The Savior, and repentance, along with taking the sacrament each week are our erasers in our math problem. We just have to be willing to turn our pencils (lives) around and change so that we will be able to get the right answers in the end:) 

Alma 34:32-33

"For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed." 

Hope you all have a great week!!!  Sorry no pictures this week. The computer at the library is being funny.

Love, Sister Godderidge

Fishers of Men

Sept 4, 2017

This week was pretty long but I made it! It is starting to get colder:( It's not too bad but today has been pretty cold. We got to have interviews with President Craig this week. It was right at a time when I needed it the most so I was very grateful! We had one day where we didn't have very set plans and my companion was worried about what we were going to do for dinner because we would be far from our apartment or and food restaurants. She should not have worried because God always provides! Even for something as silly as food. That day we had met with two less-actives and they both gave us bags of vegetables and food, then a member took us out to dinner last minute, then we got more food from some other sisters who were staying at our apartment for the night. We were definitely taken care of so there was no need to worry!

So everyday as missionaries we go "fishing for men" right? Today we went fishing for fish:) One of the less-actives in our branch offered to take us and they even sacrificed and stayed on the dock since we aren't allowed to go on boats. I got 3 fish I think! It was so cool. We got back to their house and saw white stuff on the ground.. It was hail:( Winter is coming already!!! I am very nervous. Hopefully I won't freeze to death!  

I read a quote this week from Elder Holland that was really good. It was about missionary work but I think it can be applied to just life in general!

"I am convinced that missionary work (or life) is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never easy for him?" Life is not supposed to be easy! We can do anything through Jesus Christ! 

 Hope you all have a wonderful week!! 

Pics: we helped delores with her corn, one of the members at dinner, one of the fish I caught!!