October 30th, 2017

Blessings and Cursings

Hello family and friends

I have had a strange week.  The first story happened right after my emails from last week....

We were playing Basketball in the stake centers gym with the other missionaries. It was fun and we were having a good time.  Well, one person threw the ball way high, and I decided to go catch it.  What ended up happening is my elbow connected with one of the Sister missionaries heads in the process.  And then she ran to the restroom and threw up.  And then she passed out. And then we called an ambulance. The good news is she's perfectly fine.  She had a ct scan and she has 0 brain damage.  I felt so bad though.  It was a rough day. 

The next day the President called me and told me that everything was fine and that I was fine, and all was well.  It was a strange day.  Since then, we had to go to some doctors appointments for my companion involving some weird stomach issues he's been having for a while.  This doctors office was in Vegas itself not too far from the strip.  I had a guy ask us if we were Mormons. We said yes.  And then he asked for a urine sample (test)......because he wasn't clean. 

Sooo then after that we went on with our week.  One day we had a church tour set up and roughly 6 lessons planned in that day, and literally everything got cancelled. Right after, we were biking from a ward correlation meeting (with the ward mission leader)  and my bike tire was flat.  So we have to pick up another tire sometime today...its torn on the seam unfortunately beyond repair. 

In between all of this we had the trunk or treats for the wards we work in.  We got sent home with 30 corn-dogs....which is too much corn-dogs.  We had one lesson yesterday with an investigator who's getting dunked on the 11 of November.  He's awesome.  His faith has skyrocketed since he's started going to church and reading and praying and stuff.  This week had a lot going on.  Sorry for not sending more pictures.  There isn't much to send honestly.  I'll find one or two from the trunk or treats and send them later today.

All that being said, we have managed to keep our spirits up.  Its' kinda funny that all this nonsense happens, but one little text from an investigator saying how thankful they are for us can make it all better.  The Lord works through people.  This is definitely true.

Today is the end of Transfer number 1.  Elder Bybee and I are sticking around Henderson for the next 6 weeks, so no moving for us.

OH!  By the way! Our mission is getting Facebook!  That's kinda neat. It's strange...using Facebook for missionary work.  I have to get it again.  It will be an adjustment.  But this area needs it.  We keep having people yell at us for being in apartment complexes, even though we aren't soliciting (we don't tract.  We go to appointments already set up).  It can be frustrating but these people are very private.  Most of the neighbors don't even know who lives around them, unless they are members.

So Facebook will open up those doors that people will actually open.  It'll be cool because I can actually use it the whole mission and even when I come home, so I could potentially stay connected with investigators even afterwards.  So that's something new.

On Halloween, we have to be indoors by 6 unless we have lessons.  That's about it.  So many members want to feed us on Thanksgiving.  Some have been actually fighting over it apparently.  We might have multiple meals on Thanksgiving.  That'll be a nice birthday present!

That's about it.  The work has been slow this past week because of a million other things that have come up.  However, I have a good feeling about this coming transfer.  We have some awesome investigators set up who are on their way...And chances are high that I will be here for them.

Thanks for everything!  Live Long and Conquer.  God Speed.

-Elder Moore

October 23rd, 2017

Death to Tyrants

Hello!

Some of you have asked me specific questions, which I will now answer.

Favorite candy bar? Kit Kats
Favorite costume? Cereal killer.  I had a trench coat and a giant spoon with cereal boxes glued to it.
Favorite book in the Book of Mormon?  Alma. Or 3rd Nephi
Favorite book in the Bible? Either...Judges or anything with John the Baptist.
Super power?  The power to eat as much bacon as I want and not get heart disease or fat.
Color? Black.
12 week training?  Consists of reading specific things out of Preach my Gospel, watching district videos and talking about them, and setting goals to talk and lead teaching or street contacts, etc.

How am I?
I'm doing pretty good.  I'm tired.  I keep having dreams.  The other night I woke my companion up because I was giving a lesson in my sleep.  It woke me up too. I remember it dealt with blessing someones life.  We have some lessons to give tonight.  We get to go to 2 trunk or treats.  We've been inviting people to them.  We also got invited to judge the chili in one of them.

The members have been eager to get involved with our teaching.  It has been very good and useful.  I had an investigator almost cry.  That was neat.  He told me that when I bore my testimony he thought God himself was speaking to him.  I almost cried myself.  It was a well needed pick me up because the spirit was so strong.  Many a bosoms were burned.  That sounds strange out of context.

My first transfer is coming to a close.  Which means... unless I get transferred halfway through training nothing.  A transfer is 6 weeks and usually ends with someone getting transferred out of a companionship, but that doesn't always happen.

There isn't much else to say on the broad note.  Things are movin' along.  We're basically rebuilding the area from the ground up, but we're getting there.

Love ya family!
Good luck friends!

-Elder Moore

October 17th, 2017

Elder Moore sent individual emails rather than the group one this time.  Here are some excerpts!

Hey Mom!  Supposing now that I have yet to actually explain my labors...

I wake up at 6:30 every day.  Weekends too!  No sleeping in for us.  From 8:30 on is when the work begins.  We bike most everywhere, so we don't usually exercise in the mornings.  My legs are somewhat sore at the end of every week because we live downhill from the wards...so biking up hill is the norm.  We've had to fix something on my bike 3 times now including a flat tire.  It's in working order now though and hasn't given me trouble since.

Anyways, we have our studies in the morning and then after lunch at 12 we are either doing 12 week (training studies)or we are out for the rest of the day.  Depending on who we meet that day usually dictates where we go.  We usually talk with members part member families, less actives, and non members in a decent array of variety.  We have had some new investigators lately that we've had lessons with.  At 5 we have dinner.  The members feed us every night.  I am admittedly acquiring a taste for Mexican food and salads.  We've had tacos, burritos and such every night this past week.  I...have enjoyed them.  Salads too.  

The prime proselyting hours are after dinner from 6 to 9 for us.  So nights are more successful as far as finding goes.  We have many apartment complexes in our area.  We've been kicked out of about 3 now.  So those are more successful in the evenings when the workers are gone.  At 9 we have to be home.  And then bedtime is at 10:30 (unless you want to go to bed sooner). We study, find, and teach every day.  Sunday are the busiest for us because of coordinating who's going to church, for which ward, and which members will help out. The members are eager to help out.  This area has had many last-transfer missionaries.  They get lazy and don't work nearly as hard.  So in my first area, my companion and I are rebuilding it up again. We had almost nothing to work with when we started but now we are picking up speed.  So the members are excited...because we've been working.  We had to give 5 minute talks in one of our wards too.  In the other ward we had an investigator there.  So yesterday was a long day.  Very busy.

But I enjoy it.  The work is tough but the blessings are greater.

Here's a funny story.  A guy kissed my companion.  We've been telling him that if he keeps working at praying and reading that he'll see blessings in his life.  He's got some brain damaged because of a motorcycle accident many years ago.  Needless to say he had some blessings occur in his life.  I never have seen a grown man jump for joy that high before.  He hugged both of us, and kissed my companion on the cheek...I was too tall for him to do that thankfully.  He's a funny guy.

I love you mom!

Thanks for all the support!

-Elder Moore

JEALOUS BUT OPTIMISTIC

That's awesome that you have a job from home now!  That sounds nice. My current "job" hardly takes place in my apartment.  We're constantly on the move from one appointment or location to another. It can be tiring, but at least that means you get good nights sleep.

I'm actually super jealous of the cold.  Coldest it has been was in the 70s.  They say that the winter is coming and it will get colder around here.  If you consider 65 cold.  

I'm super excited for the progress of Miles and Maddox even if I'm not there to see it for myself.  I miss the little guys.  Miles is probably smarter than all of my fellow missionaries combined!  And Maddox is probably too, honestly...

Thanks for all the support!  I love you Bergen!

-Elder Moore

October 9th, 2017

BLOOD AND IRON

This time around I realized that some of the new emails I got were not added so some of you might be late in hearing from me...my apologies. But now you can!

Also, if you want to reply to me through email and don't want everyone on this email list to see it...you'll have to send it to just me.
Anyways...

Hello!

This last week went by super fast.  Like a blur.  I thought p-day was yesterday, but that was a week ago...

This week has been good though!  The people here are pretty cool.  Also diverse.  We've met people from: Saudi Arabia, India, Israel, Brazil, Mexico, Hawaii, Indonesia, Africa, and the Philippines. Seriously, people in Vegas are from everywhere.  I may not be in a foreign mission but it is incredibly diverse.

I admit that this email is difficult to write.  Why? Well I'd be repeating myself a lot.  There isn't a whole lot to share.  I could go on and on about the mission numbers and how many people are getting baptized or whatever, but I feel compelled to not do that.  Mostly for reasons of it feels personal and sacred...not just to me, but for the people.  I am but an instrument.  That sort of thing.

One of my favorite analogies for trials is the forge.  Like strikes of a hammer forging metal into an instrument so do our trials shape us.  I've been thinking about the people we meet and discuss with, and their trials. A practice I've tried to take on is to imagine them getting baptized and making sacred covenants.  Imagine them in the Gospel light.  I know I've vaguely mentioned trials in my testimonies to my fellow missionaries at the mtc, and my parents definitely know of the difficulties that I had back in the day but looking back...they were almost necessary for me to truly recognize the joys of the Gospel.

2 Nephi 2
25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

Quite simply, we go through difficulties, are sad, are angry, etc... in order to feel Joy.We just have to do our part for God in order for him to bless us.

The other day I got a letter from my old Bishop back home.  He said a simple phrase that I appreciated.  Paraphrased, he said "It does not matter in what capacity we serve- but how we serve that counts."

Sorry about the shorter letter.  I don't have much to say.  We saw miracles and great things happen.  Our Heavenly Father is ready to bless us if we will but remember him and endure faithfully in our trials.

Here is one more quote for you.

"We need the iron qualities that go with true manhood [and true womanhood].  We need the positive virtues of resolution, of indomitable will, of power to do without shirking the rough work that must always be done"
-Theodore Roosevelet

God Speed, friends and family
Never forget the God that gave you breath, and never shirk the rough work that must always be done.

-Elder Moore

October 2nd, 2017

Macho Madness

Hello friends and family!

The days have flown by.  I feel like the last p-day was yesterday.  I bought more than just a gallon of milk this time.  I bought 2!  This week was good, as most weeks are. Of course there are challenges and difficulties, but none of them are unconquerable. We've been good at finding people to teach but it's been difficult actually teaching them.  People don't answer their doors here very often.  We've been keeping in contact with a less active family, so that's been good.  Watching people revitalize their faith is the coolest thing to witness.  The Lord works with those who sincerely work to find the absolute truth for themselves.

I've been reading the Book of Mormon a lot lately.  It's inspiring to read the words of Prophets who say things that you yourself have been thinking.  I read Alma 29 last night and it gave me chills.  Very glorious.

It was sad to hear about Frazier (my dog for those who don't know). He will be missed.  I remember the day we got him.  I was on the verge of getting hospitalized because of that sickness but then we got him and I got better the next day.  He was a funny dog.  Barked like crazy but was timid and gentle.  I'll miss him.

So y'all probably heard about the shooting in Vegas.  I heard about it this morning.  We got a text from our Zone Leaders to make sure we were indoors on time.  It was on the strip, so out of our range, but still...crazy stuff. Seems like as soon as we got out here that the world got even more crazy.  I come from a more sheltered place, so maybe this is how it's always been.  Either way, we should not fear.  Fear is the opposite of Faith.

It hit 90 degrees the other day.  The weeks get hotter and then they dip down to the 70s at the beginning.  Supposedly it gets windy here in the fall.  I have yet to feel such winds.

Sorry if I haven't been responding to everybody.  I read all of the emails I get, and I appreciate hearing from all of you.  It makes my day.  P days are kinda boring because we aren't on the go as much these days.  Not until evenings anyways.

Being a Missionary has helped me recognize the role that the Lord plays in my life a lot better.  He's always ready to bless and guide us, so long as we heed his words.

General Conference was awesome of course.  This is the first time in my life that I took notes on all of the speakers (even if they were brief notes).  I found myself pondering the needs of the investigators more than myself during the talks.  I wrote one particular quote really big and underlined it in my journal.
OPPOSITION STRENGTHENS OUR FAITH.
Eyring said it.

We have a lot of opposition in our day.  It is a glorious battle that we constantly wage against the adversary and against sin.  In every aspect of opposition, we should be strengthened in our faith, and not give in to fear.  We read in Ether 12:6 that witness comes after the trial of our faith.  So never give in, and never surrender.  After all, we did not come to Earth to Lose.

D&C 63:47
47  He that is faithful and endureth shall overcome the world.

3 Nephi 9
9 Behold, I am the law, and the light.  Look unto me, and endure do the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life

Keep Fighting the Good Fight!
God Speed

-Elder Moore

Safety Update (10/2/2017)

For those who have asked, Porter is serving in South Las Vegas currently.  We received this message on his missions Facebook page--

Dear Parents and Priesthood Leaders,

In an effort to keep you informed regarding the tragic and sad shooting that occurred last evening on the Las Vegas Strip, we can report that all missionaries are safe and accounted for.  Since early the morning we were able to confirm that they were all safe and now going about their normal preparation day activities.

As a matter of information for future reference, the Las Vegas Strip is considered to be an "off-limits" area for all missionaries.

We would ask that you please join us in remembering all those that were affected by this tragedy in your personal and family prayers.  We are so grateful for each of you and the constant words of encouragement, support, and love you provide to your missionary.

We love them dearly as well.

May the Lord continue to bless you in all that you do.

With great respect,

Richard and Kathy Youngblood

Nevada Las Vegas Mission