Radventures and Happiness.

Hello everyone! Oh yeah I agree, bank holidays suck! But luckily, there is so much love oozing from the computer right now. It sounds like all of you are having some crazy good times, times of growing up, and family connections that just make me smile. I love you all!

So, I don't know what's happening exactly, but there are some serious miracles happening in Southport at the minute. I just...can't even explain it, but I am incredibly happy! Ok let's see if I can focus and share the deets:

We had a radventure up in Rufford. Knocked one street...found 3 new investigators, including a beautiful little family. I think it's been ages since missionaries ever worked this small little farm town, but it turns out, the people there were prepared to receive us and were super friendly. The whole adventure took about 7 hours, including travel time, but it was totally worth it.

We found Gary....the man. Miracle. Ok quick story. Elder Frandsen and picked a street to go knock at like 7:30 in the evening last Thursday, and we seriously knocked one door and all I could think was..."I'm not feeling this. This isn't right". So we bailed from that street, and we were pretty clueless where to go next. So Elder Fransden was like "lets go find towards the Botanic Gardens" and I was like "OK". Started walking. Bam. "I'm not feeling this. This isn't right either". So we turned around, and I felt like we should go try by our investigator Ronny. So spontaneously we walked all the way there, and knocked on his door and Ronny warmly welcomed us in. And there was Gary, sitting on the couch. To make a long story short, Gary is the most prepared and spiritually ready person and eager to learn person I have ever met on my mission. We have seen him and taught him everyday since then, he is reading from the Book of Mormon, he even downloaded the Book of Mormon app, he came to church with us, full suit and everything, met all the members, stayed all three hours, he read through 12 chapters of Gospel Principles already, he is determined to quit smoking and drinking, and he is powerfully recognizing the spirit. Not only that...he is being baptized on the 21 of June. I have literally seen a new light in him. Needless to say, I can't remember the last time that I have been this happy on my mission. Please pray for him.

Other than that, there are just so many little things that are happening here. It feels so good to be a part of another ward family. We were able to go to the wedding of one of the members here which was really cool, we had a mission activity so I got to chill and hang out with all my good friends in normal clothes and eat burgers (mini pre-farewell for President Preston), us and a few of the ward members are putting together a musical fireside that is really coming along, the sisters and Elder Frandsen and I are performing too (we are singing how great thou art, but totally remixed it in an indie folk kind of vibe. completely different melody with different singing parts. should be good), Bishop gave me his guitar to borrow and my fingers and ears are totally happy! Life is good.

So, that's about the life of Elder Goodman for the moment. I can't believe I only have 9 flipping months left. It seems a bit unreal. Even though I now have some seriously deep roots here, I can't wait to see all your faces again. I love you all. Keep up the good times. Peace out!

Elder BA

p.s. I forgot if I told you already, but Elder Frandsen and I felt a little food-venturous.....and we found a little shop that sold bull testicle burritos...and yes we ate them. Super weird, but at least now I can say that I did it. Anyways...we are buying them for the zone leaders next week for lunch. Prank war...continued. Game on

It's Warming up in Southport and it feels good....

Hey what's up home skillets? Life is good here in Southport. It's been really warm lately, with last weekend being the hottest weekend of the year so far. Me gusta. Haha it's kind of funny, we have been doing a lot of service outside with some members, a lot of sun, and my good friend Curt got major heat exhaustion and sun burns. And I was just like..."what's wrong with you? This feels really good". Poor sun-deprived british people. Thank you mom and dad for raising me in the Arizona sun! 

So this week had some crazy ups and downs, but I am happy still, and here are the deets:

Exchange in Liverpool with Elder Mapfumo, aka Blackfumo. Liverpudlians are some of the craziest but nicest people I have ever met. Out of all the people though, my favorite was Matt. He is totally artistic and intellectual and funny, and he just went and saw the Book of Mormon play. After he saw it, he referred himself online, so Elder Blackfumo and I went over and we had an incredible lesson with him, now he's a new investigator. It was one of the most interesting lessons I have ever had, because we simply listened to some of the songs of the play, which are hilarious, and then explained all of the truth and doctrine that the play brushes up on. Thank you writers of Southpark! Anyways, the rest of the exchange was full of traveling, combating serious bible bashers and walking the streets of Liverpool, talking to all the characters in the way.

My heart was pretty destroyed this week. Grant, our best investigator who was on the brink of baptism...fell into the trap of anti-mormon material. He thought we tricked him and betrayed him and now he wont even answer our calls. There is nothing wrong about intellectually challenging the church and studying with logic, but when all faith and memories of miracles are totally put aside, that's when problems arise and the peace crumbles. Sadly, this is where we are at with Grant. We hope and pray that we can see him again. 

Random note, we were walking by the bay in Southport and we saw something totally rad. A man was stand up paddle boarding.....with a full dress suit on! Shirt, tie, jacket, trousers, shoes and everything. This man should win the "Classiest man in Southport" Award.

So like I said earlier, we have been able to do an incredible amount of service lately, both for members and non-members. It has opened so many doors and it has made me so happy to just go lose myself. I love the idea "some churches wear crosses as their symbol, our symbol that we wear is our love and service to others". Amen.

Stake Conference in Liverpool was...interesting haha. So in the middle of it, this lady got up and totally lost her mind and started cursing the Stake President in front of hundreds of people. It was mega awkward, especially with the Mayor of Liverpool attending. She had to be dragged out of there. Never seen that before. Check that one off the list. 

Other than that, this week has been pretty chill. Just missionary work and finding everyday in the sun, and then nerf shoot-outs in the flat during lunch. This week should be good though, we have a mission activity in Chorley, and a wedding in the ward that we are helping out at this weekend. Should be fun. 

Well, I love you all, and I am totally stoked for Hawaii. 9 more months to work hard, change lives, and create the stories that I will tell to my children and my children's children. 

Take care, and peace out!

Elder BA

p.s. next monday is another flippin bank holiday...so look out for my words on tuesday! 

me and the Deids

Elder Mapfumo, aka Blackfumo, aka FantomManx

Pulp Fiction

Liverpool Cathedral. My lens isn't wide enough

Skadoosh!

BA and Fradsen

I now see how rare it is to have a such tight knit family as ours.

Hello again! It was way good to talk to you all yesterday. At first I wanted to punch the computer in the face, but luckily everything worked out brilliantly. God is watching out for us. I love you all! And even though Tanner is tall and got the whole man voice going on, and Brien is all tatted up, and Randi is almost off to Hawaii...it's good to see that you are all still the same family that I love. Especially being in England, I now see how rare it is to have a such tight knit family as ours. Let's just keep it up, forever, simple as that. 

So yesterday pretty much covered the deets of my week, but here are some random brain thoughts:

As far as big cities go....Liverpool is rad

Elder Fransden. So he is from southern California, has been out about 10 months, had some major struggles at the beginning of his mission, but is now getting the hang of himself. Being 18 when he came out and coming from a super wealthy family, he had some major maturity and pride issues. He is still very materialistic, which really grinds my gears, but he is already a lot better from when I first met him. We get along for the most part, and luckily my patience is at a level where I can tolerate mostly anything, especially when he thinks he is the boss. The best way I found to combat that is to just let him take over then wait for him to realize "hey...I need your help". The only way to fight against pride is to win with humility. I hope I can mentor him more and that we can become friends. He is a good kid, still a baby face, but a good missionary. May the adventures continue.

Yesterday after skyping, I talked to Bro. Fullwood about my finger which has been really jammed and swollen and in pain ever since sports day, like a couple months ago. Being a chiropractor, in literally 5 seconds he worked his magic, popped and cracked my finger...now its incredibly better and back to normal. It was fascinating! Wizard. But for real, it really motivated me to follow one of my passions to become a myopracter and help restore people back to proper order. 

Work is a bit slow at the moment right now. But luckily our best investigator Grant just got out of the hospital, so we hope we can get him back on track again. Advice, don't do drugs, and don't get STDs. Bad combo.

The rest of my life has just been filled with basic missionary work, traveling and doodling whenever I get the chance. Southport is really nice and posh, but it can be very boring as well. It feels like my guard is totally let down, because all I have to fear is some old lady running over my foot with her walker or something. There are no dodgy areas here. I can't believe it, but I kinda miss Barrow now. Well, I will do my best this transfer and make the best of it, but I hope I move out soon. Especially with time running out, I want to see and experience and help out as many people as I can all over the mission.

Once again, I love you all. Seriously, one of the greatest changes I have seen in myself over this mission has been my increased love for all of you. I'm not getting all fluffy and mushy, but you know what I mean. Keep on keepin on, and continue on with all your radventures. Till next time, peace out!!

Elder BA

p.s. this library smells like old people and sunscreen. bad combo

"Worry a bit less, and trust in God a whole lot more"

Hello everyone! Wow I am exhausted right now. I spent all morning traveling to and from Liverpool for a zone conference, bank holidays simply throw off all my groove, and I just had to run to this computer before that old man snatched it up. Other than that though, I am happy. 

Since my brain is a bit scrambled right now, here's this last week in quick bullets:

We finally got a serious tradition of P-day football with the neighborhood kids going. Best source of investigators so far.

We found one new investigator who turned out to be homeless. Very clean and kind, but homeless. Turns out, the news spread and now a bunch of homeless people are flocking to us. One lady kissed me on the cheek. Interesting day

I love scousers. Best people in England

I am now on the committee to organize a musical fireside for the ward. I love music, but how the flip do I do this?

Grant has made incredible progress, and so many miracles are surrounding him. Words can't explain.

For the bank holiday yesterday, we went to the temple as a district, which was an amazing experience. What made it even more awesome...I saw Elder Diederich there! We had an epic reunion, and basically I haven't laughed that hard ever since he left Barrow. Still my favorite companion. Good times.

My new Southport family= the Mcmanus'. I love them to death. 

I simply love the people here.

Oh yeah, transfer news! I am staying here, but Elder Bradley is off to Chorley. My new companion is Elder Frandsen from California, I haven't met him yet, but I have heard some interesting things about him. Basically he is really struggling, so this will be another interesting transfer. 

Thank you for the Easter package! It made it here safely, and now it is safely in my stomach. 

Skype on Sunday! I will hopefully be skyping from the Fullwoods at 4, so pray that it works out. I miss your faces. 

My new mission/life motto at the minute, "Worry a bit less, and trust in God a whole lot more". This is a message I have been sharing and living a lot lately, and it was an answer to some questions that I had taking into the temple. It works wonders

Well my family, I love you all. Even though I am deathly tired, I am still on the adventure of my life, and I'm loving it. I can't wait to see all your faces on Sunday! Till then, stay sweet and peace out.

Elder BA