'I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go!'

Hi Mom, Dad and Jordan,

      Yes, it was good to hear from you guys.  I won’t know if you got the voice message I left on your Skype account but we were in the middle of a powerful electrical/rain storm when the power

cut out and that’s why we lost signal.  It was really incredible.  Just after that we left to drive across town to pick something up from a less active member.  The rain was threatening to turn our car into a boat.  Literally in minutes several places in town flooded with a couple feet of water.  It

was pretty surreal.

      So, the rest of our week was pretty good.  Despite that a lot of people have left town, we have been finding people to teach, especially families.  That family I had mentioned, Mama M’s family, is coming along really well.  They have given themselves to receiving a strong testimony of the restored gospel.  They are very committed to what they have learned to be true, and they are on date to be baptized in late January.  However, we still haven’t met with the father because he has been away for holidays, but will be coming back this week.  We are praying he will see the change and happiness in his family and begin to accept the restored gospel as well.  Pray for him if you will.

      I can feel the time flying.  As far as who to invite for the homecoming, just invite anyone who wishes to attend.  Watch the video "I’ll go where you want me to go,” and apply it to me coming home.  I'll Go Where you Want Me To Go!

Love you all,

       Elder Gold

Editor’s Note:

      Once again Landon has brought light to our world through a skip to his step.  We were thrilled to speak with him on Christmas day through the marvels of modern technology, and see his very pixilated face.  We used an Internet service called Skype and had many problems.  The transmission was rather poor (due to the electrical storm), as we were disconnected many times, but it didn’t lessen the joy of talking with a son who has been gone for so long. 

      We are now down to the countdown in weeks rather than months of when he’ll return home.  The date expected for arrival is February 20^th and we have confirmed his homecoming talk in church to be the following Sunday, on February 23^rd.  All are welcome to come and celebrate his two years of service to the Lord and the African people. 

Transperancy of the Hands of a Missionary - 'A Day in the Life'

Hi Everyone,

      Yep, so I’m back into the running groove.  We are lucky to have elders from Kiberly stay with us every week so I get to run with one Elder Johnson when they are here.  On Christmas morning we are planning to run approximately 7 miles from our place to the Carlile’s so Elder Johnson can Skype his family.  Speaking of which, I have decided to call you guys after Christmas due to all the elders who need to be calling.  I'll probably Skype around 6:00 pm on Thursday night.  It should be Thursday morning for you guys.  I plan to call you guys Christmas morning at 7 or 8 our time to be able to get details about Skype.  That works?

      SO, let me tell you about a blessing from Heavenly Father.  We have been struggling with finding in our area, until this week.  Heavenly father has really led us to a lot of people who are listening to our message.  We have been teaching a mama and her sons the past few weeks.  Her name is 'Mama M'.  About two weeks ago we met her daughter who is visiting from Mpumalanga Province.  She is 25 years old, and I learned a good lesson from her.  Two weeks ago we gave her a Book of Mormon after introducing it to her.  We explained it briefly.  She, like her mom, is very bright and smart.  She has a great desire to learn the truth. We left her to start reading from the beginning.  This last week we came over again for our lesson and she was there.  We asked her how her reading went, and this is what she said:

"I was really excited to read this book and get to know it.  When you guys gave it to me I felt drawn to know what was inside.  I believed you when you said it would help me know Christ better.  I sat down one night and started to read, but nothing was making sense to me.  I normally comprehend very well, so this was unusual.  I prayed and asked God to help me, but nothing.  So I decided I was going to fast the next day.  I fasted the whole day and that night.  I knelt down in prayer and asked God again to help me, to show me the truth of this book and to help me understand.  I felt Light come to me as I started to read.  Everything was coming to me and I understood perfectly.  I know this book is from God, and so are you two.  I know that whatever else you are going to teach my family is true, and I will follow."

      With our jaws on the floor you can only imagine what we were thinking and feeling.  Also, imagine the spirit that permeated and swelled the room.  We are going to find the church for her where she is staying.  They came to church and watched the Christmas devotional and were just filled with light.  It was amazing!  So, that was just one of many other experiences we have had this week. Things are coming up.

      Mom, I did get all the packages (for my birthday and Christmas). :) I opened them last night with my companion because we will be having more missionaries staying with us this week.  I love the chocolate!  Lucky, lucky for me!  Elder Stengile is lactose intolerant so, by default, I get to eat it all.  The pens are very cool too (editors comment: They each got a set of German fine tipped art pens from Santa).  I have actually seen them here in this country but didn’t know they were nice.  Thank you for your thoughtfulness.

      Also, here is an update on my hand.  Went to the doc on Tuesday, he took another x-ray (which I will show you a picture of).  He said it is 100%.  Doesn’t feel so, but I’ll take his word.  However, I’m doing pretty well with it.  I’m able to move all my fingers now.  My thumb and fore finger move about 50 percent for now, but I think it will continue to improve.  No apathy for me.

I’m looking forward to seeing you on Thursday.

Love you,

Elder Gold

A Sneak in the Grass

Hi Mom, Dad and Bug,

      OK, this rhino came very close (or I to it) while another Elder was taking a video.  The rhino got mad and challenged me as he gruffed, and stomped, and got into charge position.  Needless to, I ran!

      So, the hand is a booger, to be honest.  I have some nerve damage on top of my hand causing my middle and pointer knuckle to be numb.  That might prove helpful in case I ever get in a tussle.  The one wire closest to my wrist did a 180-degree twist over the past few days.  They said its normal.  I go in for assessment tomorrow morning.

      Mom, the nativity that I got is cool, but I don’t know if it is the one you want. Its not painted, and there are no shepherd because the guy who painted it read out of Mathew and not Luke.  It’s made out of a nice hard wood.  Is that the one? If not, there is another very beautiful one, which is painted and very brilliant, and I could ask the Swazi Zone leaders to get it.  Let me know.  I should have taken photo but forgot.

      Editor's Insert: Sister Carlile made a birthday cake for Landon (he turned 21 on Saturday).  It is so nice to have a senior couple in Landon's area.  They have been a huge blessing with all the help they've given during his recovery from the surgery.  Landon also had the wonderful privileged of seeing his MTC Mission President and his wife this week, President and Sister Reber.  They were visiting from Johannesburg for a Christmas Conference.  I really feel that my son is surrounded by Angels who have been very instrumental in keeping him in heaven's embrace on this journey.

Now back to Landon's Letter:
      Well, on a spiritual note, Bloemfontein is tough.  It is being a tough area and I have been

thinking a lot about why things are not going the way we want.  Why people drop us, and don’t come to church, and why we can’t find any less actives via the ward, and blah, blah, blah.  I was very frustrated yesterday, and this morning I was studying with my concerns in mind.  WHY am I here in this area?  I read Elder Dube's conference address, and then was rerouted to the scripture found in D&C 58:1-7.  Where I found the answer the Lord had for me.  I am to be obedient and endure, continuing to declare testimony.  I actually misread the last line of verse 6 and thought it read, "that your testimony might be prepared for the things to come.”  I think I misread it for a purpose.  I will keep pushing.

I love you.  I will talk to you next week.

Elder Gold

"Why Would You Cry?"

      On Tuesday morning we received a phone call from Africa.  Hearing Landon's voice on the other end of the line instantly sent the warning signs up that something had happened even before he uttered the words that all is well.  The following post is of the course of events that followed an injury that happened while playing soccer on an outdoor basketball court.  Though the body may be weak, at times, the spirit can be made strong.  Here is the example of such strength.

Hey family,

      I read all your emails just now.  I know mom wants details about my hand. let me give you a rundown of the week.

Tuesday:

      So, I went into surgery this day.  I had a really nice anesthesiologist that put me under.  They did arthroscopic surgery and, by the looks of it, there were four entry points.  They put in two thick steel wires that have anchored my thumb bone to my forefinger bone.  The wires protrude out of my hand and I'll send you some photos.  I remember coming back to consciousness and my hand hurt like a fried booger!  I guess the fact that there are so many nerves in the hand aided in my pain.  I was telling the nurse but had a hard time communicating and hearing since I was only half out of it.  I remember the nurse keep telling me the pain was in my head.  Finally, in frustration, I told her, "the pain isn’t in my head, it's in my hand!"  I thought that was pretty funny.  They ended up giving me 4 pain killers, 3 injections, and 1 oral, none of which took even the edge off.  I guess I have a really high pain tolerance.  I spent the rest of the day sleeping at the Carliles (the senior couple from Utah serving in Bloemfontein).

Wednesday:

      I ended up going home with my companion to sleep in my bed, but couldn't really sleep.  On

Wednesday morning I went back to the Carliles and spent the day there again, sleeping and chatting with Sister Carlile.  We went out in the afternoon for Sister Carlile to teach a piano lesson, then went back home.  I was still in a lot of pain and the ibuprofen they gave me at the hospital didn't do anything, so I was given some loratab.  I think the loratab did me worse than better.  I hardly slept that night, and the few minutes I did, I had some crazy dreams.

      The first dream: The zone was here in Bloemfontein at one of the malls.  It was empty and we were not sure what to do.  In a cloud, President Von Stetten materialized, dressed like General Robert E Lee, or Ulysses S. Grant (basically dressed for the civil war).  He started commanding us and gave us all muskets.  He divided us up into two groups facing each other, then declared war.  Shots started whizzing and elders started falling as we were shooting at each other.  Finally, someone came to their senses and shot Von Stetten and the fighting stopped... Weird eh?

Thursday:

      I spent another day with the Carliles. still not feeling well.  We ran around town preparing for a meeting later that day.  Elder Cook from the area seventy was on a mission tour and came to Bloem for a zone conference (Friday) but had a meeting Thursday with the return missionaries in the stake.  I went to that meeting.  It was  ok.  I didn't pay much attention though.  After a while Elder Carlile took me to the hospital to get my hand checked out.  My hand is basically numb over the top knuckles, and we didn't think that was normal.  They said there were probably nerves damaged during surgery.  They never said if it would heal.  Hope it does.

Friday:

      Didn't sleep again the previous night, so stopped taking the loratab.  We had our Zone Conference this day.  We started with a leadership meeting in the morning with the President, Elder Cook, the Zone Leaders from two zones, and the District Leaders.  Then, we went to the ACTUAL conference itself.  I was worried because I felt that I was not spiritually prepared for it; I was tired, in pain, uncomfortable with the stiffness of my hand.  However, I felt the tender mercies of the Lord as the spirit lifted me up and I was able to take away a lot from the conference.  Afterwards we went home and I slept and rested one more day.

Saturday and Sunday:

      I was back in the area.  The area was impacted due to our absence, and we are going to rework our approach.  Tracting is not working, nor are other related finding methods.  We are implementing (under the direction of President Z., the Stake President, and Elder Cook) 100% correlation of efforts with the ward.  There are also big, big plans for the stake.  Through our very inspired stake president - President Grobler, and also the Area Seventy, they are making plans . . . very big plans!  I can't really do justice to the plan in an email with one hand, but it is big, and feasible.  It’s all coming from the Lord too, and we are at the leading edge of it.  We are going to lay the best foundation we can.
      So, that was my week.  I bought my companion a camera for Christmas, in case you wonder about that transaction.  His broke a month ago and he doesn't have enough to buy a new one.  Anyway, I love you guys.  I am looking forward to this coming week.

Elder Gold 


Editor’s Note: 

Landon's Reply: 
  This is Landon's response to my reaction after seeing photos of his hand after the surgery (I'll spare you all from seeing them).  I said to him, "Oh, this brings tears to my eyes."

Landon:  "Why would you cry?  I'm gaining so much more than I could ever lose from it. I didn't mention the spiritual experiences attached to this challenge but, they are great. Interestingly enough, my heart is swelling with love for those around me, and I’m not sure why.  I had a very tender moment at the chapel on Thursday where I felt love swelling in my heart so much that I felt for a moment it was a glimpse of the love God has for us, a pure unconditional love.  Again, I can't describe it well, but there are many things I am learning.  It is even forcing me to forget more about myself :)  I'll take this challenge any day.

Dad's perspective: 
 This is what Landon's father wrote when he learned about the details of the surgery, referring to the photo above of Landon raising his hand.  The words below parallel Helaman's Stripling Warriors found in Alma 57 in The Book of Mormon.
The picture of him holding his arm up reminds me that he is our Stripling Warrior. Ain’t nothing gonna defeat that kid…

“Yea, and Landon did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea and even according to his faith is was done unto him; and I did remember the words which he said unto me that his mother had taught him… that if he did not doubt, God would deliver him… and behold, to my great joy, he had not fallen to earth; yea, and he had fought as if with the strength of God; yeah never was a man known to have fought with such miraculous strength, and with such mighty power… and it came to pass that he did faint because of loss of blood, and dog bites, and spine problems, and broken bones; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole family and friends, he did not perish even though he did receive many wounds”

Just wind him up and send him back in for the last quarter.

Thanksgiving From Africa

Hi Family,
      I must say, ‘I thoroughly enjoyed your emails this week.’  They gave a nice spiritual boost.  I think I can use your experiences here in the zone.  I also read Patrick’s last letter (his final letter home before he left his mission in Germany).  It sounds like he served a good mission.  I have similar thoughts to what you shared dad, about looking forward to the next two years.  I can really see that my service as a "part" time missionary will prepare me for my service as a "full" time missionary the rest of my life.  I have exhausted a lot of time today responding to an email from a Return Missionary who served way back in 1991 in two of my areas (this was the year before Landon was born).  He was companions with Jean Pierre, and is coming back to this country in February.  He was asking me about a lot of people.  It’s a really small world eh?  He found my Blog via Google, and I guess that is how he contacted me.
      I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to write to you very much today.  I've been here on the computer too long already.  The zone is also here.  I just want to let you know one thing.  It might not make sense, but it does to me, and it revolves around the sacrifice dad spoke about.  So read D&C 97:8-9 Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me.  For I, the Lord, will cause them to bring forth as a very fruitful tree which is planted in a goodly land, by a pure stream, that yieldeth much precious fruit.  
I love you guys so much.  Keep the faith. 

Elder Gold

Editor’s Note:
This week Landon had made several references to what his father had written, so below I’ve included an excerpt from his correspondence.   In Steve’s letter he talks of submitting our lives to God’s will and the importance this sacrifice plays in directing our life’s path.  So often I hear of faithful, and hard working individuals who give and give, yet never feel adequate in their efforts.  I have also included a message passed on to Landon this day of learning what is acceptable to the Lord and what exactly it means to “be perfect.”  The lesson touched me deeply and I shall include it in hopes that someone else reading it may find peace in understanding as I did.    

Steve’s Correspondence: 
     I was reading a book this week and it quoted Neal A. Maxwell.  I was impressed with the quote and wanted to share it with you: 
     “The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s alter.  The many other things we “give”… are actually the things he has already given or loaned to us.  However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him!  It is the only possession which is truly ours to give.” 
       Steve continues . . . I know it’s been a blessing for us to have you serving so faithfully.  I love your letters – they inspire me to be better and to submit my will to God’s will as you have so selfishlessly done.  I hope I was a good example for you while you were growing up – and now I can truly say that, “the student has become the master.”  As these next few months pass and your time to return approaches – I hope you will look back and say, “These were the best two years of my life” and in the same breath say: “And now I’m embarking on two more years that will be even better.”  The foundation you’ve built over these past two-years will steady your entire life and be such a huge blessing for your current family, your future family and all those who have the privilege to cross your path.
      You have a short time left in Africa.  Stay focused on the present moment, because the “present is a gift.”  And your gift to your Father in Heaven is to submit your will to His.
      Love,
            Dadio

Continuation from Mom’s Letter: 
      Today’s lesson in Relief Society was really good.  The lesson was centered around the scripture found in Matthew 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Man, and how the thought of perfection stirs up a hornet’s nest amongst the members.  Sister Jacobson taught the lesson and I really can say that I don't believe a better job could have been done with the subject.  There is such a hidden level of stress among many individuals to live up to standards that they put on themselves, thinking falsely that we must become perfect in all that we do.  Well, I have a quote in my scriptures that helps with this concept of perfection stated by Howard W. Hunter: "We must know Christ better than we know him; we must remember him more often than we remember him; we must serve him more valiantly than we serve him.  Than we will drink water springing up unto eternal life and will eat the bread of life . . . .  What manner of men and women aught we to be?  Even as he is."  The key here is that we always strive to do and be better than we currently are.  This does not mean that we are expected to be perfect, only that we are to continue in the direction and manner that has been laid out for us by Christ (e.g. Having faith in him, repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and 'Enduring to the End').
      The next scripture that was shared was 3 Nephi 12:48 "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."  What is beautiful about this scripture is how the Lord did not describe himself as perfect anywhere in the scriptures until this point . . . after his resurrection.  Ultimately, that is what we are to strive for, exaltation with a resurrected and perfect body.
      This concept was then delved into a little deeper using a mathematical equation to bring the concept to understanding.  She wrote on the board     A + B + C + D + E + F = Exaltation/Perfection (Written with Exaltation being placed over Perfection).  Without exaltation we cannot achieve perfection yet for perfection to take place we cannot achieve this without the Savior's grace upon our attempt to be as he is (falling very short because of our human nature). The A, B, C, D and so forth can be filled in with Service, Compassion, Obedience, Endowments, and so forth.  When I was thinking of what to put importance on I thought about how at the end of our earth life, when we go to the bar of God, the Lord will judge us by our hearts that will be a reflection of the work we have done on ourselves through service and the love for others that we have emphasized in our lives.  It will not matter what we have acquired (status, degrees, awards, etc) but how we have utilized things in life to better the lives of others.... an added benefit for us here and now comes from dedication to some of these things but they do not guarantee a life without hardships (just different challenges if we choose not to work hard to develop the gifts give us).   So, back to the equation:  Now if you parenthesize the equation like this and put a negative factor in front it changes everything...e.g. –X (A + B + C + D + E + F)=?  The opposite of exaltation would be damnation, but instead let us just put 'Unhappiness.'  So, What would -X represent?  We discussed it in class and decided to use the idea of 'Comparison.'   When we compare ourselves to others and continue to feel that we do not live up to our neighbors we can beat ourselves down and feel hopeless about our efforts.  Sweet, dear Sister Bagley (she's got to be in her 80's) stated, "Molly Mormon is Dead."  It's time to write her epitaph and not think we have to do and be all.  Oh, such wisdom, Eh? (Footnote:  Molly Mormon is a term used in our culture symbolizing the perfect women/mother/wife . . . and she really is non-existent.  So why have so many compared themselves to this unattainable persona of perfection?)
      Well, the end result to this lesson was myself, along with many other women who attended the same lesson, walking away with a richer and brighter outlook, not feeling so inferior in our efforts to live up to the requirements of the gospel.  As long as we 'STRIVE' in the right direction, with our sights on the things the Savior wants us to focus on, we will be met with open arms in the end.  I LOVE THAT!
      Why did I share this with you today?   Well, this idea of not living up to or being good enough, I believe does not just live in the minds of women.  Quite frankly, I imagine it is a universal struggle.  Maybe there are missionaries within your zone who need a bit of hope that their efforts ARE good enough as long as they are 'STRIVING' daily to move in the right direction.  It's all about those baby steps.  
I Love you son and LOVE that you continue to strive,
MOM . . . . XOXO . . . . .