Monday, January 28, 2013

January 28, 2013


Dear Brothers and Sisters and Friends,

Wow this week has been nuts!!!!!

Some really big news . . . I am STAYING in this area! I will be training a new missionary!!!!!! Crazy, right?! But it gets crazier. So, right now Lincolnton is divided into two areas with two sets of missionaries. But that will be changing. Elder Lolofie and Youngstrum are being transferred out. For one transfer (6 weeks) there will only be one set of missionaries, then they will move Sister Missionaries in as the second set. So for now I am in charge of two areas!!!!!! I was a little stressed out the night I found out that I would be working two areas and training a new missionary. I was shocked that the Lord would trust me with such a great responsibility. I am working hard to live up to it but I will need lots of prayers and help from y’all.


Other than that this week has been crazy in and of itself. We had an ice storm a few days ago. One of the elders had an allergic reaction to the flu shot so we took him to the hospital. His companion had to go to the doctor’s office in Shelby, and so we went on a temporary exchange. I went to the doctor with the one elder and my companion stayed at the hospital with the other elder. I’m pretty good friends with that temporary companion so we had fun on the way to the doctor’s office. However, that was the day of the big ice storm. It would rain and then freeze to the ground, car and everything! The windshield kept freezing over! We finally got back to the apartment only to get frozen in. Imagine snowed in only with ice. It was a crazy day.

All in all I really love it here in Lincolnton. I would love to labor here all of my days. I am becoming a true Southern backwoodsman. My grammar and vocabulary is diminishing and I have a slight drawl. I think big trucks and camo is kind of cool. This has been a pretty fun transfer. I have made some life long friendships with the other Elders.

The work is starting to pick up here. A few families are becoming interested in the gospel. I have been asking the Lord to bless Lincolnton with His spirit and prepare the hearts of the people here. I testify that the Lord does answer our prayers!! 

Wow, send a shout out to all my friends that are going on missions!!!! Write me!!!

Love y’all!!
Elder Gomm

I have been working really hard! I wore out my shoes in only 6 months.

Monday, January 21, 2013

January 21, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow this week has been great! My mission is starting to come alive! So many miracles are coming to pass! We have been doing a special thing with people at their door, as a new way for people to experience the gospel; it is called the Savior’s Peace and Blessing. The whole mission is doing it and a few other missions as well are doing it. This is not a new thing however; we find it in the scriptures both in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. It is what the Lord’s authorized servants did since Adam.

Alma 10: 5-11 please read the testimony of Amulek of witnessing first hand the power of God through, the missionary Alma.

5 Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.
 6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.
 7 As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house.
 8 And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house—and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God.
 9 And the angel said unto me he is a man; wherefore I know he is a holy man because it was said by an angel of God.
 10 And again, I know that the things whereof he hath testified are true; for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he sent his angel to make these things manifest unto me; and this he has done while this Alma hath dwelt at my house.
 11 For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake.

We introduce ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ, and state that we would like to leave the Savior's Peace and Blessing upon their home. We then take the names of family friends and kin of that person and kneel down and offer a blessing. It is not just a prayer; it is a blessing using the priesthood authority of God. This creates a spiritual environment where the person can feel the Spirit testify of the truths that we share.

This is not all we have been doing. We have been sharing this sacred blessing with members of the church after we eat in their home.

Saturday we knelt down in a home and offered the Savior’s Peace and Blessing and I felt that I should give it. I haven’t given too many of these so I was a bit nervous and doubted myself. I knew however that this family needed this blessing and that I shouldn’t have such selfish thoughts as to limit the power of God through me. I chased those thoughts of doubts away and cleared my mind. I paused for a little bit and then began to speak. I do not remember many of the words I spoke, but I do know that it was a simple blessing. However, I testify that the Holy Ghost was putting the words I needed to say into my mouth because the Spirit was so strong in the room. I began to be warm all over, and felt as though my clothes would catch fire. I finished the blessing and we all continued to kneel not saying anything, marveling in our minds about what had just taken place. I opened my eyes and looked up to see everyone in tears and the head of the house was staring at me. After a few more moments of silence, in a whisper I asked what thoughts and feelings did they feel as we left this blessing upon their home. The head of the house, without hesitation, told me that it was as if the Savior himself was there during the blessing and that His arms were encircling us. We all marveled again together in silence. Then I asked the others and they said that the room felt crowded. That was interesting because the wife works on family history. All in all it was a miraculous experience, and I testify that I know that the Priesthood is real and that men can once again, just like in times of old, call down the powers of Heaven and bless mankind.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and letters. They truly help me!

Love, Elder Gomm

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

January 14, 2013


Dear Family and Friends,

Life is great here on the mission. The other day I was reading in The Book of Mormon about the missionary Ammon (Alma chapter 17). Ammon, a Nephite, leaves to go and preach to the neighboring civilization of Lamanites. Traditionally, the Lamanites were unfriendly towards the Nephites, so Ammon knew he was entering hostile territory. Soon after arriving in the land, he was captured and brought before the Lamanite king.

The king asked Ammon “if it were his desire to dwell in the land among the Lamanites...” Ammon relied yes, “I desire to dwell among this people for a time…perhaps until the day I die.” I really relate with how Ammon felt towards the people. Of course, the people here aren’t hostile, (haha!) but I would truly be happy serving in this area for the rest of my mission. I love it here so much!!! I really love the people!!! The Southern country folk are really wonderful—I love being around them. I am starting to catch a slight drawl. Sometimes I even have dreams where everyone around me is good old country folk. It’s awesome!

George, we got to roast s’mores!!! Thanks for the s’mores fixings. We went over to a family's house (they have a pond) and had a campfire. They have seven kids and huge dog. It is like “The Beast” from The Sandlot. It was a lot of fun!!  

This last week flew by really fast! There were exchanges, interviews, meetings… you name it! The work is going really well though. My companion and I, along with the other Elders serving in this ward, are planning on visiting every single person in the ward. I think we will find a lot of success and bless a lot of lives. The ward is great and they seem to be catching the spirit of missionary work. They are starting to feed us more than just once a week—that is really nice. We did go “finding” in some country areas and we walked down this big driveway and saw the coolest house! There was a rustic old barn with a gazebo on a lake and a spectacular view. After we taught the owner, he invited us to go fishing on his pond! It was fantastic! This week we also met a really great lady who we hope to teach soon. Things are looking up, the work is starting to progress and I am glad!

Well, I love y’all and will write to y’all soon. I am almost done replying to all my letters so bear with me.

Also, my mormon.org profile is almost up-to-date, so check that out. Let me know if any of you create a profile, then I can look y’all up.

url: mormon.org/me/9gzk     or search mormon.org/gomm

Love Elder Gomm
  
Good luck with the baby, Jess!!!!!
Thanks for the package!

Monday, January 7, 2013

January 7, 2013


Dear Family and Friends,

This last week wasn't the busiest week we have had but we are doing well and our spirits are still high.

I love the ward I am in!  I have a feeling I will be here for a long time, but maybe not.  I wouldn’t mind it though.  Everyone here are true Southerner.  Everyone in the ward speaks with a thick drawl.  The South is rubbing off on me.  We went to dinner at my dream house with my dream family.  There is a member named Brother B.  Picture everything about Chuck Norris, except for the red hair and you have Brother B.  His house is a log cabin deep in the back woods with a giant pond out front.  We drove up and they had a campfire.  I was right at home.

I am really enjoying the mission and I have changed so much!  How many of you have been studying chapter one of Preach My Gospel?  Keep it up.

Have y’all had hushpuppies?  They are really good! 

I love and miss y’all!!!

Love,
Elder Gomm

PS  I am excited for Jess! Life is truly amazing!!! I will be praying for ya!!!