That's Why He's The GOAT

Anywho, sorry if this email isn't my best work. This week was good down here in Exeter!

This week was fun because we talked to lots of people! However, it's so hard for some reason to find people to teach. People will talk to us and stuff but aren't interested in anything to do with the gospel. But we've had lots of success with members and less actives.

We went up to Three Rivers in the mountains to clip some goat hooves for a lady we've been teaching, and it was fun! I would grab and wrangle the goat between my legs while the lady, Ashni, clipped the hooves. It was fun until the goat got bored, looked up at you with a blank stare, and tried munching on your shirt. Later, we helped with the chickens, and I got pooped on, of course. I remember when I was younger in school, we went on a field trip to the OKC zoo and had a "zoo snooze." We stayed overnight, and it was hype! Anyways, I remember going into the bird enclosure and getting pooped on by some parrots or macaws, and I started crying.

We spoke at church this week, and don't get me wrong, I like speaking in church. It's just hard when young children are crying and I can't focus. Nevertheless, shout-out to this guy in our ward who is probably the most intense and upbeat listener ever. He nods at everything you say and raises his eyebrows when you drop the most baller line in your talk. It's nice to know some people are trying to listen.

I guess something I can share is we had AP Zone Council (the Assistants to the President come and share a message with us missionaries). Anyways, the topic was always talking positively and good about others, mostly referring to companions. I'm not gonna lie, I struggle with gossip. Sometimes it's a fun source of entertainment, going, "Remember when so-and-so did this?" or "Aw, he's the worst! He doesn't even flush after he's done," etc. Anyways, we were invited to always talk positively about our current and past companions.

Something that came to my mind is the Savior. When we mess up and repent, the Savior "remembers our sin no more." So why pull up bad dirt on people who are trying their best to change or going through something hard? Why only remember someone for who they were and not who they are becoming? How can we help others repent—and ourselves—if we're always bringing up bad things from the past? A good word about others will do just as much good as a bad word will destroy others.

The Savior doesn't gauge our value by who we used to be or even who we are now. He establishes our value on who we can become—someone He can make of us. He didn't die for us just because He loves us and doesn't want us to go to Hell. He died for us because we're an investment. He knows how much we can grow. He wants us to be like Him.

Love y'all!

Elder Berry

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