December 31, 2012

Hi Everybody,

I am loving it here in my second area!  The ward is great and I really love it!  We have the car for two weeks and then we are on bikes for a week.  The work has been a little slow this week all over this area, but our faith is still strong and hopes are bright!  Please pray for this area, that we can find those who have been prepared.  "The prayers of the righteous availeth much." 

I cut my own hair!  Yeah, it was really scary!!!!!!  I said a prayer that I wouldn’t butcher it too bad and Heavenly Father hears our prayers.  It didn’t turn out too bad.  A couple of nicks here and there and there’s a good line right above my neck in the back, but it is pretty good.  Elder Scott gave me a nice clipper set for Christmas, before he left.

Elder Child (my new companion), the two other missionaries, and I get along great!  We are a great team and we have lots of fun while we work in this ward.  It is nice the have the support of other missionaries.

Christmas Packages

Christmas was great!!!  We had so many meals it was amazing!  I thought I was going to pop!  I did get to call my parents and have a very spiritual experience with them.  I am grateful for their love and support!  I hung up the phone and got right back to work.

Thanks Mom, Dad, and everyone else for the great Christmas gifts!

Congrats to those who have received their mission calls!!!  (My mom keeps me up to date.)  The field really is white!  For all of you that are preparing to serve a mission or have received your mission call, and to all the other members of the Church, please read the first chapter of Preach My Gospel.  And then start now to understand your purpose and the Doctrine of Christ.  Not only understand it, but live it.  Learn it with all you might and love it.  It will be what makes you a missionary.  It is the secret to missionary work and success, when you understand that it will strengthen you, purify you, and give you a special ability to "desire the salvation of souls."  You are promised to have the Holy Ghost to be your constant companion; it will give you happiness and peace in your life.  

For the first time in my life I am at total peace!  It is because I am living my purpose and the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  I have been purified and sanctified through the amazing power and love of the Savior.  We ALL NEED to strive to understand this simple, circular, doctrine of: having faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and then enduring to the end.  That is the only doctrine that Christ himself taught, and when we live this and share this, we will all stand spotless before Him at the last day.  I testify of these things in the name of the beloved Son of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love,

Elder Gomm

Please write!

Christmas Eve 2012

December 24, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow what a crazy week!!!!!!   I am now in my second area!!!!!!! 

It is a country town with a town square and lots of churches! It is a lot different than my last area, but I love it!!!! 

It is a town a lot like Placerville and about that size. There are two sets of missionaries in this area.  This is really fun! One is Samoan and he and I are best buds.  He came out from the MTC with me and he is now training a new missionary.  The new missionary saw me at the gym in Rexburg, Idaho where he was a gymnast and I was always there at the rock climbing wall.

My new companion is pretty cool.  We don’t have anything in common but we get along great. Interesting how that works.

The work is really slow here at the moment and hopefully my new blood will help out.

Baptism Day for Vincent

The baptism last Saturday was amazing!!!  I was able to baptize Vincent in my last area before I moved. He and I stayed in the font for a few moments and we had one of the most spiritual experiences ever.  He said that he felt like things were just dripping off him and that he wanted to stay under water forever.  I watched as that wonderful saving ordinance, preformed by the priesthood took hold of him.  And then he started to tremble and I watched the joy fill his soul. When I felt the power and virtue as Christ talked about come out of me, it was a witness to me that I am a worthy conduit of the priesthood and the Spirit.  It was quite amazing. 

Please read the Christmas story with your families.  Remember the greatest gift that God gave us, His son.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Love,

Elder Gomm

Thanks for your prayers, letters and packages.

If you would like my new address please email my Mom.

December 15, 2012

Hey Guys, 

My Last Days in my first area

Wow this last week has been quite the whirlwind!!!

I am being transferred!!!! I don't know where yet but I know it will be great. Transfers are on Monday.  I will get a letter out with my new address. So please no more packages or letters until y’all find out my new address.

Today we are having a White Christmas!! It’s not snowing, even though it is pretty cold. We are having a baptism. We call it a White Christmas because we wear white when we are baptized.

Mom, I can’t keep it from you any longer, Vincent asked me to baptize him.  So, yes, I am baptizing him. I am really excited!!!!! I was going to keep it a surprise and then mail you a picture and of us together in white.

Elder Scott and I have had quite a bit of fun together and have had lots of success. Today he has been out for 2 years so Tuesday he will be going home. With me being transferred to a new area this means that two new elders will be transferred into this area. In missionary lingo this translates into 'being white washed'.  Being transferred is really hard.  I will miss all those whom I have gotten really close to! I know that the Lord will help them and strengthen them. (My Mom has to remove their names from my letter for the blog, but they know who they are).

To all of you who have written me letters, I am trying to write back but it has just been really crazy lately!

I love you!!!! Mom, Jess, and Teresa I am sending y’all Christmas packages so be watching for them :)

My President has been talking a lot about the Christmas phone call.  He would like us to talk about the Doctrine of Christ. You can find it and study it in 2 Nephi 31, and 3 Nephi 11.

Love y’all!!!!  Merry Christmas!!!!

Love,
Elder Gomm

Off to My Second House on Monday

December 10, 2012

Hey Family and Friends,

Well, this week was good. The crazy stuff is over, but I was sick this last week, maybe it was all the stress and stuff. 

But that doesn't matter! Vincent IS getting baptized this weekend!!!!!!! On Saturday!!!!! I will send you pictures.

As far as transfers, I will most likely be staying here because my companion has completed his mission and will be going home and I know the area. I will find out Thursday and on Saturday it will be our P-day because transfers are on Monday this time.

That's really it; just a short note this week.

Happy Birthday Brayden!!!!!! And Happy Birthday Mom!!! I will be sending out some packages here soon!

I have a lot of letters to reply to. Thanks to y’all that have been sending letters out to me. It has gotten me through. I got Teresa's package and Mom’s packages. Thank You!!!!

The pictures are of us mountain biking last P-Day. We both got flats at the same spot so that’s why I was carrying my bike.

Love Elder Gomm

I will email y’all again on Saturday!!!!

December 3, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

This last week has been crazy. Tuesday I was on exchange with one of the Zone Leaders and we had a lot of fun working and finding new people. Wednesday was a crazy day we had Zone Conference in Kernersville and that lasted all day.  We received a lot of training. Thursday was a great day; we had a few great lessons with some people and with Vincent who will be baptized on the 15th!!!!! He is really excited and loves the Gospel.

That night is when things really hit the fan. We had some very challenging experiences.  We were being persecuted.  I became very discouraged.  As senior companion I felt the weight of responsibility for the area on my shoulders with all decisions and knowledge in my end of the court alone because my companion is so new to the area.

I knelt down in prayer and asked my Heavenly Father to help me, to give me strength, to send me a miracle. An overwhelming feeling of peace came over me and I felt love for those who were trying to stop our success. I also quickly forgave them. The next morning I was sick because I was so discouraged. We were not able to really get things done, the spirit just wasn't there, so we cleaned and did all we could to make the apartment feel better.

That night I got a phone call from a member of the ward, my favorite guy in the whole world. He said he would like to bring some cookies over that his family made. He came over and told me what a great missionary I am. He told me how much he looks up to me and what a fantastic job I have been doing. I told him about the struggles the work has been going through the last two weeks and he told me that this is an experience that I will cherish the rest of my life. He gave me a drawing from his son and one from his daughter. He left after a big hug and a few more encouraging words. I was feeling better about the work then.

I went to my desk and looked at the picture of a dinosaur that his son had colored. I flipped it over and read the one simple sentence that this 7 year old had written,

"I want to be just like Elder Gomm"

"I Lov you!"

Tears filled my eyes and I began to weep.  I knelt down and prayed with thanksgiving that my prayers had been answered, that my Father in Heaven had heard my humble prayer and that He blessed me with a miracle. This little boy had no idea what I was going through, neither did his father.

I am sooooooo grateful for the example that the children are to me and how truly in tune with the spirit they are. Because of a 7 year old boy..... I didn’t give up. I will be forever in his debt for the love that he showed to me and how he lifted me up in my darkest hour.

I am back in action now and am living up to my full potential, because I want to be a good example for everyone. I am grateful for the encouragement and the examples of my fantastic nephews and nieces.  Thank you everyone for your prayers, pictures and letters, they really have gotten me through a difficult time.

Sunday was fantastic many of the people we have been teaching came to Church and felt the spirit of it. I bore my testimony and watched Vincent's excitement as they announced his baptism.

Despite even the hardest of times the work moves on, the Gospel is true, and the Savior does love us. I bear my solemn testimony, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that He really does love us, in His name. Amen.

Love, Elder Gomm

PS  I saw the former Elder Hatley at Zone Conference. He served in my mission back home in California and has now returned home to North Carolina.  It was so good to see him!!!

I am trying my best to write all of you who have written me lately, I am kind of backed up but I will be working on it today!

I love all ya’ll!!!

Oh and we got an award because our apartment is so clean!!! It’s a big trophy!!! We even cleaned the light bulbs. Yeah I am not the same guy I used to be. 

Elder Scott is also teaching me some P90X the workout thing and my arms are not that skinny any more, I will just say that, hahaha. We are going mountain biking today.

Oh and check out mormon.org/christmas I will talk about that next week.

Merry Christmas!!!

November 26, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you for the letters and notes I received this week. I needed them. This week was the hardest week of my mission.

My companion is no longer with me. Tuesday we got a phone call from President Craven. My companion was to go home. He was just having a hard time on the mission and wasn't really enjoying it. We went to the airport and I gave him a hug goodbye. President Craven came up to me and thanked me for helping him. I had worked him hard; he told president he had never been so tired or obedient. So, Tuesday I had no companion. I was in a state of awful confusion and worry, having the load of the whole area on my shoulders. I spent the day with the Zone Leaders and that was fun. Wednesday I got a new missionary companion from a neighboring area, Elder Scott. We were already good friends and so we are having a lot of fun together! It’s great; he has been helping me when I get to the breaking point.

The second part of my hard week is that one of our investigator we have been teaching for a while, is back in jail. It was a hard blow and he and his girlfriend are no longer progressing with our lessons so I had to make the decision to pull back. It is hard for some investigators to make eternal life changing decisions. Many times I have had to let Heavenly Father take over because it is just too much..... But, the Lord calls us in our weakness to help great things come to pass.

Vincent, who we have been working with for a long time, will be baptized on the 15th!!!!!! Vincent is 20 years old and he and I are best buds!!! Please keep him in your prayers. He has such a strong testimony and is doing everything in his power to keep God’s commandments.

The work is going well!!!! I am grateful for all the prayers and letters that got me through this week.

Thanksgiving was great!!! We didn't have much to do because everyone didn't want to be interrupted. So we went to our dinner and that was fun!!!  After dinner Elder Scott and I went back to the apartment feeling full of the Christmas Spirit.  We both love Christmas so we decorated the apartment.  I made the cutouts and Elder Scott made the paper chain (all 125 ft). Yeah, it’s long! Later that evening we went out and tried to work but Black Friday had started and the roads and stores were crazy. We walked into Wal-Mart not knowing what was going on. People looked like they were going to kill each other over vacuums and pillows!!!!!! We got out of there as fast as we could!!!! Since when does BLACK FRIDAY start on THURSDAY?!?!

Thanks for the warm wishes Gommstrumballs. I sure miss ya’ll! Love ya’ll!!!

Love,

Elder Gomm

November 19, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

This last week was a looooooong week. There is a lot of pressure on me now because my companion doesn't talk, at all. I have to teach all the lessons by myself, but I am grateful because I have become a more confident missionary. The Lord has heard my many prayers. I will be sharing a few stories that may have a common theme.

Monday: We went to an investigators house who we have been working with for months. As we were teaching she asked a question about baptism and what if people didn't get the opportunity to be baptized. I tried to give her a general answer and tried to move on with the planned lesson. I noticed she was still really concerned with the question. In Preach My Gospel we learn to teach people and not just to give lessons. To do this we are to listen to the investigator with the Spirit. The Spirit prompted me to start talking about the Priesthood. The Spirit and I worked together and we taught a fantastic lesson. Things really made sense to her. I paused and waited to let the Holy Ghost put something into my head. After a very long 30 seconds or so, I began to speak. I had no idea as to what I was going to say but the words flowed out of my mouth like water. "Kathy, will you follow the Savior’s example and be baptized by someone holding the same priesthood and power as John the Baptist and Jesus Christ?” The spirit was so thick in the room, you could almost taste it. After about a minute she said, “Yes I will.” Later, she said a wonderful prayer and as she was praying she said something that caught my ear. She said, “I am grateful for the feeling that I have and I haven’t felt it at any time before.” Following the prayer I asked her about what she had said.  And she said, “Yeah, I have never felt this way until today.” I helped her recognize it was an answer to her prayer because the spirit is a witness of Jesus Christ and a witness of truth. I said, “This is the answer to your prayers and . . . you know it!” She burst into tears and I thought the room was going to explode because the spirit was so strong. Nothing is impossible when we are worthy of having the Holy Ghost as our companion. And when we let the Spirit take over . . .  that is when conversion happens and truth is recognized.

Thursday: We went to a leadership training meeting in Charlotte. That was fun and long. Two men were there from the Missionary Department of Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City. They gave us excellent training on how to be good leaders and better missionaries. We also learned how to invite people to church. After we practiced this for a while (I practiced with one of the men from Salt Lake) we were all sitting listening to President Craven when out of the blue he said,"Elder Gomm . . . will you come up here and invite me to church." I slowly walked up and sat down, just me and the mission president, in front of 70 other missionaries. I said one sentence and then I started talking about the Sacrament and how it was one of the last things the Savior implemented. I said a few more things directed by the Spirit. The room was silent and I invited him to church. Then in tears I testified of how important the Sacrament is to me and that I let nothing stand in my way of partaking of that sacred ordinance. I stood up and walked back to my chair (shaking like a leaf) and the room still silent. President Craven stood up and talked about using the Spirit. He said that he felt the Spirit very strong when I spoke about the Sacrament.

Sunday: Vincent came to church and will be baptized very soon!!!!!! He stood up in front of everyone in Priesthood meeting and said how much he loves the Book of Mormon and being here at church. He mentioned how excited he is to be baptized!!!!! I am so proud of him!!!!! :) He is 20 years old and he and I are like best friends!! Please pray for him.

Those are just a few of many miracles that happened this week! I testify the Holy Ghost is real, and that when we learn to rely and become one with him, nothing is impossible. I may not have much confidence in myself, but I have confidence in the Holy Ghost.

There you go that was a really nice long one!!!! I love it out here and I finally feel like a missionary!

I love ya’ll!!!

Love Elder Gomm

Oh and Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I sure miss you all!!!!

November 12, 2012

Hey Everyone!!!

I am so overjoyed right now!!! Being a missionary is so awesome!!! I feel like Ammon, my favorite hero from the Book of Mormon, must have felt. He was so overjoyed in the work of bringing souls closer to Christ that his eternal joy exceeded his strength and he fell to the earth. I am almost in tears because I am so happy. The work is still the hardest thing I have ever done in my life but I am just so happy to be out here!

For all of you that are sad or depressed, for any reason, remember to put ALL your trust in the Lord and He will get you through your toughest times. I am telling you this from experience. The prayers of the righteous will bless us. As long as we keep the commandments of God, we shall prosper in the land. Look to the Prophet and your Savior for strength.

My new companion is great! A little quiet but we are having fun. We taught a ton of lessons last week and I have been working him hard, poor guy, but it is worth it. I miss my trainer :( I went through a few days of depression. 

Cool experience of the week: we have been teaching this young man who is really close to getting baptized. I gave his girlfriend a Book of Mormon a few months ago and she has been reading it. She said she can’t put it down and that she wants to be baptized with him!!!!! We haven't even taught her yet!!!!!!! It just strengthens my testimony that the Book of Mormon is true! And, that the Holy Spirit combined with the Book of Mormon is the most powerful converting tool. 

Another great story; Elder Christensen and I have been working with a blind man who has been away from the Church for awhile.  (I mentioned him in my letter last week.)  We have reactivated him. Yesterday he blessed the sacrament. I was in tears!!!!! I can’t wait until the resurrection because then he will be able to see both of us and we will weep together because of all that we have done for each other. I was so sad that Elder Christensen wasn't there to witness it.  It is amazing to take a step back and just watch the spirit work. This work, the Book of Mormon, and the Church is true, in the name of Jesus Christ. amen.

I challenge all of you members to make a mormon.org profile. Ya’ll can find me on there. (Can you tell I’m sort’a getting an accent?)

I will be writing each and every one of you that are preparing to go on a mission. I am tired of waiting for you to write me. There has been quite the famine of mail lately.

Love ya’ll!!!!!

Write me! Please!

Love,

Elder Gomm

Some pictures of Elder Christensen and me  with our friends before he was transferred

 

November 5, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

I am NOT getting transferred. Elder Christensen, my trainer and good friend, will now be a Zone Leader and is being transferred. 

Elder Christensen and Me

I am now the senior companion, which doesn't happen that often right after a new missionary finishes training. I am staying in the same area, Winston-Salem.  My address is the same.  If you need my address just email my mom at argomm@sbcglobal.net

Superstorm Sandy did not hit us. It was cloudy and there was a strong breeze but that was it. I really have no idea what really happened but people say it was bad. My heart goes out to the storm victims.

Things have been going really rough for one of the people we are teaching. When people come closer to God, the devil does everything in his power to stop it and make life miserable for that person.  I have seen it happen so many times now!

Cool story of the week. I was at Church yesterday and during Sacrament meeting two people stood up to bear their testimony. The first was a blind man that we have brought back to church after being absent for 15 years. He bore his testimony of how the missionaries, Elder Christensen and I, spent 2 days with him in the hospital and gave him a blessing and healed him from and illness. He expressed his love for the Church and us and how he knows that this is the true church of Christ. The next person was an investigator who bore a simple testimony that he knows that what we have taught is true and that the Book of Mormon is a true book. Both of us were in tears as we watched them bear testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel.  They know that we are messengers from the Lord that helped to change their lives forever.

Halloween was interesting. We were the Chili Cook-Off Judges.  After 23 different chilies we wanted to throw up it was so nasty. Some members were just experimenting on us. There was chili in a tiny pot that we saved for last. We both took a spoonful of it and 5 seconds later I thought my mouth was bleeding. It was so hot!!!!! My tongue was about to fall off. Apparently there were 6 habanero chili peppers and some other hot peppers concentrated in a tiny bowl. It messed us up for a few days. We were CIA agents for Halloween. It was simple just add shades.

I hope the following will write me a letter: Hannah, Mickey, Maggie, Jake, Spencer P., Spencer H., Bryce H., and anyone else that is thinking about going on a mission. I have some tips for you on how I wish I had prepared.

Love,

Elder Gomm

A picture of the Winston-Salem Zone - October 2012

October 29, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

This week has been great! I am trying to respond to all the letters and things ya’ll have sent me.

I will just send one experience I had this week.

For a while now, we have been teaching a man—the “loin cloth man”—on his front porch. This last Friday we read the Introduction of the Book of Mormon including the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith with him. Here is an excerpt from what we shared:

“He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindred, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.

 “He said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from whence they sprang. He also said that the fullness of the everlasting Gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the Savior to the ancient inhabitants.”

As we were reading I felt impressed to read Revelations 14:6–7.

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

When I compared these two passages, it was a witness to me that the Book of Mormon really is true and that the Angel Moroni was that angel that declared the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It was amazing—although I had not known what to say before hand, with the help of the spirit, I was able to share my thoughts as I was realizing them myself.

The eyes of the man we were teaching lit up as he understood the gravity of what I was testifying. The Bible really does foretell of the coming of the Book of Mormon! The last living, John the Revelator, saw it and wrote about it as a revelation that would come in the last days. This is a revelation and prophecy fulfilled.

Please, I challenge all of you to read it for yourselves:

Introduction to the Book of Mormon & Testimony of Joseph Smith

I know that this is The Gospel of Jesus Christ and that it has been restored in its entirety for all of us living in these great and last days before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I know it! I know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God called on the earth to restore Christ’s original church and "one faith." The evidence of this is found in the Book of Mormon.

I am so glad to be a missionary and to share these glad tidings of great joy! I say this as a representative of Jesus Christ. In His holy name, amen.

Love,

Elder Gomm

Pre-missionaries: write me ASAP

Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration

October 22, 2012

Dear Family and Friends,

My birthday was great!  Thank you all for your great letters and packages.  It really made my birthday special. It’s weird to be 20, but that’s ok.

Life is going well.  The work is really starting to progress, and things are really picking up.  

Miracles are happening.  This last week we gave several priesthood blessings to some members of our ward who were sick.  I laid my hands upon this boy’s head and when I started to speak I felt something powerful and overwhelming come over me.  It was as if fire was all around me and my chest was burning as if I was in an oven.  It was spectacular to witness the power of God searing from me to this boy.  I am not much for words, as ya’ll know, but it wasn't the words I spoke that mattered.  It was the power of God flowing through me as I gave this boy a blessing.

Jesus Christ had the power to act in God's name to heal the sick, cause the blind to see, and the lame to walk.  He could command the winds and seas to obey him.  The power he had was the priesthood.  He gave this same power to his apostles and called them to preach the Gospel to the world.  When Christ and his Apostles died, this priesthood power was lost.  No longer was there anyone on earth who had the priesthood authority given by Jesus Christ.

In 1829, Peter, James, and John, under the direction of Jesus Christ, conferred the Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.  It has now been passed down even to me.  I know that I hold that same priesthood and that I have felt its power to bless the lives of God’s children here on earth.

Those of you that are going on a mission, please write me!  I really hope to hear from you.  That goes for you sisters as well.

That’s it for this week.

Love,

Elder Gomm

P.S.  We went to old Salem, NC today. I got a Confederate hat!!!! haha  

Love Ya’ll!  Please write to me! I am doing my best to write back as soon as I can.

Happy Birthday Elder Gomm

Whenever one of our kids has a birthday we spend the day thinking about all of the joy they have brought into our life. We see in our minds many images of the past and hope for the future. So, today we would like to share a picture from the past of one cute little 4 year old boy who always dreamed of serving a mission. We are apart this year because that dream has now come true. We are so proud of you!

HAPPY 20th BIRTHDAY ELDER GOMM

Love, Mom & Dad

October 15, 2012

Dear Everyone,

This week has been pretty good.  I had many spiritual experiences.  I will tell you about a really cool experience.

Elder Christensen and I were going to an appointment on the bad side of town, the really hood area. That is usually where we are at.  This was on Friday.  We were peddling on our bikes really fast to get there.  I stared to have this weird feeling; kind of a sad, dark, heavy feeling.  I started to pray to get this feeling off of me.  I felt like I did something wrong.  The feeling changed however, to a feeling and thought of warning.  I went through a light but my companion didn't make it.  I looked up and down the street in front of me and I heard the word "STOP!" in my head.  I slammed on my brakes and waited until my companion caught up with me, then we continued on to our appointment.  We went in and the feeling left and we taught a great lesson.  We walked outside and both of us felt it again!  We got on our bikes; we looked at each other and knew we needed to get out of here and home immediately.  As we were ridding back to our apartment, strange things were going on all around us.  There were drag races, marijuana smoke, guys walking with big sticks, crazy drivers trying to run us off the road, just weird stuff.  It felt like we were being attacked or chased.  We were trying to get out of there as fast as we could.  We passed under an overpass and the dark feeling left.  We felt peace again.  When we arrived back to the apartment things were good. 

Challenge for everyone that reads this is to make a mormon.org account!!!  I saw Maggie on there and that made me happy.  Maggie you are the best!!!!  I also would like all the people who are thinking of are going on a mission to write me.  I would like to share with each what would help you prepare for your mission. 

That’s it for this week here in North Carolina.

Love ya’ll,

Elder Gomm

October 8, 2012

Hello One and All,

This week was fantastic!!!!!!  First off, Conference was amazing!!!!  For a missionary it is like Disneyland or a midnight showing of the coolest movie in history!!!  I loved Priesthood Session and especially the talks from the First Presidency.  Being spiritually in tune as a missionary made that the whole time my chest was burning, and it felt like electricity was surrounding me!!!!  This was an exceptional conference to hear from the Prophet and the Apostles!!  Wow!!!

So spiritual story of the week!  We invited one of our investigators, who is just fantastic and whose heart has truly been prepared by the Lord, to conference.  He came to the Saturday Morning Session at our chapel.  He sat down just as the Prophet stood up to give his historic announcement. I leaned over to him and whispered, "That’s the Prophet."  He pointed and said, "There's something about that man… I don’t know what it is… it’s like Jesus is speaking through him…" Tears began to run down his face. He was like a little kid, seeing the Prophet for the first time. As I turned and gazed into the eyes of President Monson, I too saw what he was seeing.  Thomas S. Monson really is a prophet, and yes Jesus speaks through him!  There really are prophets again on the earth today!!!  And we had the fantastic opportunity to hear his words.

Oh, and I met Elder Bowen, who spoke Saturday afternoon at our Mission Tour a few weeks ago.

Funny and cool stories of the week:

We taught a guy in a loin cloth. Yep. We are knocking on doors on this really weird street.  This man was wearing nothing but these shorts that were shredded up to the belt, and a loin cloth.  He was soaking up the sun, listening to Briana and drinking Cherry Dr. Pepper.  It was awesome!!!! We have been teaching him all week.

Our car is fantastic!!!! The president called me and gave me special driving privileges for a meeting that my companion would be going to and I would be staying in my area with the car.  I am the youngest missionary to ever have driving privileges in this mission.  (Oh yeah!)  It was great.  I made history.

Went to Goodwill for fun today, and I almost bought a teal suit jacket but decided not to.  We went down this one isle and people we franticly loading their carts up with shoes.  Fights were breaking out. My companion and I looked at each other, and looked back at this odd display before us, with bewilderment.  It was like Black Friday or something.  So we left.

Now a special note to you young men and women: SERVE A MISSION.  Young men, I would ask you when you should start preparing for a mission?  The answer is NOW!!!!!!!!!!  May I speak boldly to you as a missionary who represents the Lord and Savior.  You are needed!!!!!  The 2000 stripling warriors need the reinforcements!!!!  Prepare NOW!!!!!  All you young men, in the Green Valley Ward, PREPARE NOW!!!

Young Women: I expect you all to take the challenge and serve missions.  The time is now!  I was discussing this with the Elders in my district; all of them want to marry a spiritually prepared and mature young daughter of God.  I know of no better way that you can become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, than by teaching faith, repentance, baptism by water and of the spirit, and enduring to the end.  Within my first 3 weeks, just at the MTC, I became converted.  I had my own Alma the Younger experience and I had a mighty change of heart.  I am not that Chris Gomm you all knew before I left to serve.  I predict that the Church will be strengthened because of the young women of this great church!  You will become better wives, mothers, daughters, and disciples as you go out to serve the Lord.  We NEED you!!!!  I exhort you, to ponder it in your hearts, and ask God the Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ if you need to serve a mission.  The battle is waging with the adversary, I do not doubt, my mother knew it.  I am Elder Gomm.  I am a warrior.  I am a missionary.

With Love,

Elder Gomm

PS  I used up all my time.  I love you all!!  Happy Birthday Jess!!! Yes, I did get the coat, thanks.  Love you!!  Keep up the good work.

New Age Requirements for Missionary Service

October 1, 2012

Hi Everybody,

Sorry not much time again hahaha :)

Pretty good week this week.  We are gonna have a car this week.  Its been raining a bunch and that was fun on a bike.

There is a awesome member of the ward.  I want to be like him when I grow up. He is the most fun and enthusiastic person I have ever met.  We asked him to take an investigator to church and he told the following story in a letter to my Mom and Dad:

Two Sundays ago, Elder Christensen and your son were expecting my wife and I and our kids to pick up an investigator and bring her to Church. We were very excited because we knew the missionaries were counting on us, and we had already began creating a great friendship with this person. Therefore, it was to our complete dismay when, after getting the kids in the car ready to go pick up our new friend, we realized I had accidentally locked our car keys inside our house. With no way to get in our home, and no time to arrange a back-up plan, there was only one thing to do (and it was my wife’s idea!!!): Break through the backdoor. We did, and our friend made it to church! The pictures show the aftermath.

I wish there were more people like him and his family.

My companion and I are getting along great!  We are great friends and are really hard at work. That is all for now. I will look for some fun stories this coming week. 

Love,

Elder Gomm

Oh and one of our investigators will probably be getting baptized this month.

September 24, 2012

Hi Everybody,

Well this is going be a very short one this week, sorry. We are crunched for time.

I am doing better I am not sick anymore, so no worries. This week was kind of slow but we taught two of our investigators the quit smoking program and things are looking promising.

I am not being transferred. Elder Christensen is now the new District leader. And WE GET A CAR!!!!!!! So things are good here. I am hard at work and pumped! Keep up the good work everyone!! Keep sending me stuff and letters it helps me more than you think!!! Next week will be a little longer I promise.

Love, Elder Gomm

PS. I went on an exchange with the Spanish missionaries and I had a cow tongue burrito. It was really good!!! Oh, and I never did get Chris Watkins’ letter.

September 17, 2012

Hello everyone,

This one is going be kind of short.  Not much happened this week.  I went on an exchange with the Spanish missionaries. It was so much fun, even if I did only understand half of what was going on. We then had Zone Conference which was awesome!  I got to see many of the missionaries, including my MTC companion, that came out with me! We told our dog stories and stuff about our investigators. The next day Elder Christensen and I got sick. We have been in our beds most of this week only going to our scheduled appointments. We just have no energy. It would be different if we had a car, but our mission president, President Craven, doesn’t want us getting people sick. Sister Craven said that about half the mission is sick.  Please pray for the mission, it is a nasty little virus.

The lessons that we did have were spectacular!  Our investigators are doing great!!! (I have decided to leave the names of our investigators out for privacy reasons. If you want to know what’s going on with everyone ask my mom or write me a private letter.)  We will have 2 or 3 ready for baptism by October. Last night we had 3 of our strongest investigators at church.  We then had an awesome dinner with the Alemn Family.  Brother Alemn has been an answer to my prayers.  He is so excited about missionary work.  He is just is really fun and a good person for the people we are inviting to the fold to be friends with.  Just think of the coolest guy you know, that’s him.  At his house, with his little family, we watched the Restoration DVD with our investigators.  It was cool because we sat back and watched these investigators testifying to one another that they know this is true and that Joseph Smith really was a prophet!  As missionaries we really do nothing because in the end the Spirit of God is the one teaching.  It is truly amazing!!!

How are the commitments going??? Please write me so I can follow up on your progression as a ward.

I love ya’ll!  Sorry there are no pictures this week; I forgot my camera in the apartment. :/ the only picture I was going send was of Elder Christensen standing next to his bike, with his 10th flat tire of his mission.  It’s pretty funny.

Love,

Elder Gomm

The Church is true!  Oh and ya’ll can send me food again if you want haha

And tell me about your missionary opportunities.

September 10, 2012

Hello everyone,

This letter is to the members of the Green Valley Ward, and to all the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I challenge all of you to read and know by heart the Ward Mission Plan. It is the duty of every member to be a missionary.

"There is neither man nor woman in this Church who is not on a mission. That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good, to promote righteousness, to teach the principals of truth, and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles that they may obtain eternal life."    President Brigham Young.

It is up to you to do the missionary work.  The full time missionaries are here to help you fulfill your missionary work.

Things for you to do:

·         Pray to be able to find the people the Lord has prepared.

·         Don’t be afraid to open your mouth and share what you know.

·         Serve those around you.

·         Invite neighbors and friends to family home evening and church.

Read Alma 16: 16-17 as a family and discuss how you can share the gospel with someone.

When we were baptized, we made covenants to represent Jesus Christ and to always remember him. In the temple we have also made covenants. With baptism and temple covenants we have promised to dedicate our time and efforts to building up the Kingdom and to share the gospel and be an example to those who are in need of the truth.

I ask you now, Brothers and Sisters, to go up to the missionaries and ask them, “What can we do to help you?  What can we do to share the gospel with others?” You are essential to missionary work, every last one of you!  I love you all. The ward I am in lacks this enthusiasm and I have been losing sleep over it.  So, please, do your part to declare the Restored Gospel to the earth.  I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

The work is going well. That’s pretty much it.

Happy Birthday Katelyn!!!!
Happy Birthday Teresa!!!!!!!

Congrats Jess!!!!!  A boy, that’s awesome!!!!!!!

Thanks for the CDs I love them, but I still kind of need some more.  I like "Lower Lights"

Love ya’ll!!!

Love ya mom!!!!

PS  We are going to Bojangles in the back of a truck after moving someone.

September 3, 2012

Hello everyone,

Kudzu - Green stuff that grows EVERYWHERE

This week’s update might be a tad shorter. I am running out of time.

This week was awesome!!!!!!  I am way pumped and not as depressed. It is due to all the letters and packages and words of encouragement. I hope you all enjoyed the pictures and videos! I have been working out a bunch! I am not the skinny kid like ya’ll remember. My bike is officially Teancum, (Jason Borne of the Book of Mormon).

This week was great as far as teaching.

Two investigators came to church and found an apartment! Yeah!!!!

Awesome dinner with a family, you would think they are all members!! Best cookout (BBQ) burgers of my life!!!! We then taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ; they are so close to accepting baptism. I used Dad’s mustard seed in this lesson, and told them they need to have faith in Jesus Christ like Peter did to walk on water. I love that family so much. Please write me letters about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. They both work on Sunday.

A sister, who has been less active and hasn’t been to church in 20 years, came to church and loved it!!!!! We are going to get her some scriptures, so if someone could send some scripture markers for her, that would be awesome!

That’s pretty much it.

Things to send me:

- No more food please!!!  Ya’ll have no idea how much junk food we have in the apartment!  Although, I could never have enough cinnamon rolls, ya’ll know that!  This is just for a week or so because I am trying to catch up.

- Ties are money for a missionary; I am kind of poor at the moment.

- CDs; there is no Dessert Book store here. We can listen to anything as long as it helps us feel the Spirit. So, I will let ya’ll use your judgment on that.

- Letters and pictures of course, tell me how ya’ll are doing!

Well, time to go. I bear testimony that we are all missionaries! As a full-time missionary, it is my job, to help the members of the ward do their job.

Kudzu

My challenge for ya’ll, is to call the missionaries and ask them if you can help them or take them to their appointment, ask what you can do to fellowship. Talk to everyone you can about the Restored Gospel. Trust the Lord. He will guide you on what to say.

Love ya’ll,

Elder Gomm