Sunday, April 26, 2015

First Week in Nauvoo - Happenings

Hi Everyone!

I can hardly believe I've only been here 8 days! In some ways it has flown by, and yet it seems I have been here a long time.

My companion is still Sister Darlene Reber, and I love her. This is her third mission to Nauvoo, so she knows how to find everything, which is nice for me.

We got moved in last weekend. Our house is really nice. We each have our own bedroom and bathroom, and I even have a piano so I can practice the shows that I will be playing for.

We had a wonderful orientation on Monday and Tuesday. I just love the mission president and his wife - Pres & Sis Larry Gibbons. They are very caring and inspiring.

Wednesday I started working at the sites. This week I gave tours at the Cultural Hall and the Log Schoolhouse. You can see me ringing the bell to start school! I love sharing messages with each person who comes, tailored to their needs and interests. It's a great way to radiate the gospel!

One highlight of the week was a visit from my brother Mark, Cynthia, Jake and Jon. Jake will enter the MTC in 2 1/2 weeks, and he is already on fire!

Yesterday for Preparation Day (P Day) we drove to Keokuk across the Mississippi River and watched the reenactment of a battle from the Civil War. It was fascinating to watch.

Hope you have had a great week. I just love sharing with others the things that are the most precious to me. I am so happy! I love you!!!

Sister Claudia Goodman

First week in Nauvoo







Sunday, April 19, 2015

Here I Am in Nauvoo Continued

I don't know what is happening to my blog posts. I imagine I'm just on a learning curve. Somehow my pictures seem to make a lot of the text disappear. I'll figure it out eventually. Anyway, Paul and I stayed in Iowa City Thursday night with Shawn. He fixed us a fabulous barbequed steak dinner and introduced us to Peggy and Lauren. We had a great time!

Friday morning we arrived in Nauvoo about 10:30. I received a very warm welcome and got settled into a cute house at the edge of the city with Sister Reber. I'm having such a wonderful time already! I even have a piano in my home to practice for accompanying the shows.

I hope you are all doing well. I love you!

Sister Goodman


HERE I AM IN NAUVOO!!!



It was actually Wednesday, not Thursday, that we traveled the sunlit roads. We were far enough ahead of schedule that we stopped at Winter Quarters near the Iowa border and took a brief tour. We were able to locate the grave sight of Lucy Gunn Morley, Isaac Morley's wife, which overlooks the LDS temple located there. Paul is standing on it.

The Sunlit Path

Back in Salt Lake City:




On the road:

A Pathway Lit By Sunlight

My last post to this blog got splinched! Only one caption and none of the text came through, so you are probably wondering why that dirty car picture is there. Well here's the story!

I was scheduled to leave the MTC Wednesday, April 15, but I kept feeling like I needed to leave Tuesday after classes finished. My son Paul was flying in from Flagstaff to be my travel companion. However, a monster storm blew in, wreaking havoc. Paul's plane was cancelled due to high winds. Fortunately, he was able to get on a later flight.

The high winds resulted in a big pile up of semis and a death. After a huge dust storm it rained mud, which you could see in the picture of my car - mud that refused to be washed off. I braved a blinding snowstorm to drive to the airport to pick up Paul. We debated whether to stay in Salt Lake and leave Thursday morning or try to get through the mountain passes that night.

We felt we should go for it, so we headed up Parley's Canyon east of Salt Lake City. The front of the storm had passed, and there was only a skiff of snow over the highest mountain passes. We made it to Rock Springs, Wyoming by midnight and slept well.

Thursday morning we were up at 6:00, because all warnings said a heavy snow storm and high winds would begin by 6:00 am. We traveled all the way to Omaha with no winds or snow and with sunshine! We beat the storm! We discovered later that there was over a foot of snow in Salt Lake and that chains were required at Parley's Canyon. Those who left Rock Springs at 8:00 am instead of 6:00 encountered heavy snow and wind all the way to Cheyenne. Those who tried I-70 had to wait a day because of a huge 23-car/truck pile up.

Paul and I both marveled at the quiet way the Lord literally opened a beautiful sunlit pathway for us - all the way to Nauvoo!

Thursday, April 16, 2015

On My Way!!!

Saying goodbye to the senior missionary director, Elder Taylor, at the MTC with my companion Sister Reber

Sunday, April 12, 2015

Week #1 at the MTC

I can't believe it has already been a week since I was set apart as a missionary. It truly has been one of the most joyous weeks of my life! I just love being a missionary.!

My companion is Sister Reber from Las Vegas. This is her third mission to Nauvoo and her fourth mission. I love her and am learning so much.

One of the most powerful things I have learned is how to be bold in inviting (not pressuring) people to come unto Christ and be baptized by one holding His priesthood authority.

"Preach My Gospel" is so amazing! Bresciana, David, Christina, Alex, Katelyn, and Christoff - to you especially as the oldest grandchildren, I challenge you to start reading it now and memorizing the scriptures you will need. I hope everyone of you grandchildren get to serve missions.

I have been amazed with the young returned missionaries who have been our teachers and with the young elders and sisters who are here at the MTC. They truly are the strength of the Church and the Lord's army in our day whom He has called to lead the way in proclaiming the gospel. To you my grandchildren, I love you and rejoice in the day when you will be able to join them. I'm sure you will love the MTC as much as I do!

Congratulations, Karlie, on being the newest member of the Church in our family!

This coming week I get to observe the Temple Square missionaries in Salt Lakeu and learn to work at visitors' centers, which I will be doing in Nauvoo. Then on Wednesday I drive to Nauvoo, arriving on Friday. Paul will be my travel companion and I am looking forward to that time with him and also spending some time with Shawn in Iowa City on the way.

To my family and friends, I love you all and appreciate your support. Have a wonderful week!

Sister Goodman

Monday, April 6, 2015

Welcome to the MTC!!!

Hello from the glorious MTC!!!  I can't believe I'm really here. It's even more wonderful than I imagined!  I'm so happy!!!

One very important thing I didn't have time to do before I left was give you my contact info. So here it is. 

The best way to find out what I am doing is to read my blog. I will be updating it at least weekly, so you can follow my latest experiences:


I will list other ways to contact me, but in case they get confusing, you can always come back to the one I just gave you. 

The second way you can contact me is on my LDS email account:

The third way is by using my personal email:

For urgent matters you can text or call me at:
435-680-5778

My MTC mail address, where I will be until April 15 is:
Sister Claudia Dayton Goodman
Illinois Nauvoo Mission
Provo Missionary Training Center
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84602

For paper letters to Nauvoo use:
Sister Claudia Goodman
Illinois Nauvoo Mission
PO Box 215
Nauvoo‎ IL‎ 62354-0215
United States

For packages to Nauvoo use:
Sister Claudia Goodman
Illinois Nauvoo Mission 
975 Young St
Nauvoo‎ IL‎ 62354-0215
United States

To contribute money to my mission, send the donation to my bishop in order to get tax credit for a charitable donation. He will ensure that the money gets to me.  On the donation slip under "Other" specify:  "Missionary - Claudia Goodman."   

Bishop W Scott Lohner
Oak Hills 5th Ward
1596 N 1550 E
Provo, UT 84604

Thanks for your wonderful support in countless ways!



Friday, April 3, 2015

3 More Days!!!

I'm so excited!  In 3 days I will enter the MTC.  At last it is my turn to serve the Lord as I have always dreamed of doing!  I am eager to share my experiences with you as my mission unfolds. 

I also want to express my deepest appreciation to you for all you have contributed to make this mission possible.  You are a very special part of my life, and I love you.

Take care, and have a happy day!

Claudia - Sister Goodman