May 22nd, 2018

I HAVE THE POWER (it's a He-man reference)

Hey Friends and Family!

This last week was interesting and...awesome actually.

Last week, I started off being sick.  Then I went to the Temple.  And then, that night, I threw up one last time, and then passed out in my bed.  By morning I was better though.  So we went to work.  Finding people to teach was a bit of a challenge this week for some reason, but the people we have been working with...it has been great!  One family we are working with, which is a part-member family, have been progressing very well and the lesson with them was great apparently (I was not there we went on exchanges).  This other family we are working with has had a good portion of the lessons so far but they have not been able to make it to church in the past... 3 months.  We've been trying to get them to go, and finally we decided to sit down and ask all the questions that would help them coordinate getting to church on Sunday.  When we showed up and he sent all of his kids off to bed, turned off the TV and then told us how he is finally committing for real to go to church this Sunday.  He ended up answering all of our questions we had planned on asking without us needing to ask them.  So long story short,  they finally came to church this last Sunday and they loved it!  We're excited to keep teaching them and help them progress in the Gospel!

So now, the third family...this family has known missionaries for a while, for about 9 months before I got here actually...And then they decided to come to church and take the Lessons after I got here.  They've been a lot of fun to teach, but last week at the end of church, while getting a ride home, I got the overwhelming feeling that next lesson...We needed to invite them to be baptized.  I told my companion, and he said, "Okay, if that's what you feel, then we should do it."  So ...We did!  And they said yes!  We told the Ward Council, and the ward got super hyped basically...so cool.  Oh!  Here is something interesting about the dad.  He was born in Chile!  In Rancagua!  Where my bother served his mission!  Anyways, I thought that was cool.  So that's how the work is going, when we aren't tracting or pestering people on the streets hahaha

Today I am also going to go drop off my tablet to get it fixed.  A few weeks ago it fell down a mountain, so hopefully it will be fixed before transfers...which is in a week!!! AAAAHHHH

The other day I was studying the Book of Mormon and why the peoples in it recorded their prophecies, history, and stories.  It was interesting to read.  Some of the Prophets did it to have a record for their children to remember the Lord their God.  Others did it to help out the Lamanite people receive the Gospel, either in their day, or in the future (now) and some of them recorded things for a future day when they simply knew that this record would be useful.  Which...it is.  Its so cool to see the fingerprints of the Lord strewn throughout the Book of Mormon for our modern day.  The Book of Mormon prophet...Mormon, saw fit to add the records of the wars and contentions of his people into it because he didn't want to put anything not of worth into the record.  Well...We live in a day that the world is constantly at war with everyone it seems, so it would only make sense to include things pertaining to war, to help people understand what is righteous and right, even in times of war.  Or for example, the Nephites wanted to bring the Gospel to their brethren the Lamanites.  Well, they hoped that their writings would come to them even if it was in the future.  Well...the descendants of those Lamanite tribes ARE receiving the restored gospel.  Their descendants are among the Native Americans, and that would Include South America as well, I would guess.  The church is almost as strong, if not stronger, in South America these days.  But ultimately the thing to remember I suppose, is that most importantly, we have the Book of Mormon as a 2nd witness of Jesus Christ, that He Lives ans is Active in the salvation of us.  I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God for us in these Last Days.  And I would exhort everyone to read, study, ponder, and pray over the Book of Mormon.  Because it is true.  And a Witness of this comes from the Holy Spirit.  I know that the Holy Ghost will testify the truth of it to you if you let Him.

2 Nephi
26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

Have a  Great Week everyone!

-Elder Moore

P.S. Sorry for the wall of text

May 15th, 2018

Plague

I got to talk to my family on Sunday, so they probably aren't expecting much else for me to say.  Well...A lot can happen in 24 hours.

I got some sort of virus.  Achy bones, rampaging headache, and I couldn't even keep water down.  I was so surprised.  I got up Monday morning, did my usual routine of planning and studying...and then as soon as 10 o clock hit, my stomach started feeling queasy.  Then I threw up about half an hour after that.

And then threw up periodically throughout the day.  Luckily for us, we had no appointments and our dinner was going to deliver the food to us anyways, so I took a sick day after calling the mission nurse.  It was the longest day on the mission yet.  Tossing and turning, always running to the toilet, and then trying to get comfortable.  It was bad.  I was especially upset because if I don't feel better the next day (today) then I will have to go to some urgent care place as opposed to the Temple.

So last night, I called up the district leader and requested a Priesthood Blessing.  Somehow the bed got just comfy enough for me to finally sleep.  Then I woke up at 2 AM and was hungry.  I was so relieved.  I think I'll be able to go to the Temple today.  Whether the virus only lasted 24 hours or it was the priesthood blessing, I don't really care, but now my face has color again and I want food.

Well...What else.  I don't know.  Here are some random pictures I took recently.  A wooden wizard, a broken chair I fixed with duct tape, the weather, some chew on the side of the road, and my companion burning stuff in the backyard.

-Elder Moore

Mother's Day 2018 Skype Session

May 8th, 2018

Triple Digits

Hey
Whats up

I'm feeling more chillax right now.  The highs lately have been in the triple digits.  We're gonna break 100 degrees soon.  I've never been in such a blaze before so consistently.   Truly... fire from the sky.

I have a few more things to talk about this time around.  The other day we helped a new family in the ward move into their new home.  It took 5 hours.  A few days prior we helped move an investigators stuff into a Uhaul storage unit.  It took about 4 hours.  Then between those two things we moved furniture for a member in our ward up their stairs into their new home.  We moved a lot of stuff.  It was in the 90's as far as heat goes.  I sweat a ton.  I'm staying well hydrated though.  Some members bought us water flasks that keep the water cold for us out in the heat.

I've been exhausted this week.  Emotionally, physically, spiritually....we had interviews and zone conference this last week, so it makes me spiritually hung over (not sure if that is the appropriate way to say that, but it sounds right).  I've been delving more into "Preach My Gospel"  as well as using the Book of Mormon, as per the council of the Mission President in personal interviews.  Funny enough, after the long weeks of service, I came across Mosiah 2:17 in my studies.  I'll let y'all read that for yourself.  It was very reassuring, because I tend to get down when I'm tired, especially emotionally and spiritually.  It was a good pick me up at the time.

I'm drafting this email the night before p-day.  Tonight we went over to the family's house that we are teaching, and we gave the dad a priesthood blessing.  It was his first ever.  He had gotten very sick, and their kids saw my oil vial on my belt and asked what it was.  Then, the wife asked if we would give a blessing to her husband.  So we did.  He was on the verge of tears.  The spirit was strong.  It felt good to be able to help bless the family.   They have been a work in progress, and they are coming along bit by bit.  It's awesome to see.

Last week, I went on a little hike with my district.  I saw genuine petroglyphs and stuff.  Like...Native American rock drawings.  They were neat.  I would send pictures, but I decided to climb up the rocks...nearly to the top.  And they request that we keep our tablets with us, because they can track us.  And mine fell out of my pocket.  And rolled down the mountain.  It still works, but the screen and the touch screen part got wrecked.  I will hopefully get it fixed soon, but that's not the point.  The point is...I love hiking and climbing up sharp stones.  I have honestly been itching to do more of that.  Maybe I'll get transferred somewhere where the terrain is more my style, but who knows.

Here are some pictures.  One is rain from a week ago.  One is me and my comp at church.  Another is me and other missionaries helping move stuff.  I'm on the bottom left getting crushed by my district leader.  One is me on my companions beach cruiser.  Another is a CD we found in our place that is full of gangsta rap songs that are incredibly inappropriate and swore a lot, so I smashed it.  And the last picture is of my tablet, and what it looks like now.  This has actually been my last two weeks, but ...eh...here's pics.  Why not.

-Elder Moore

May 1st, 2018

Metal and Flame

Hello friends and family

I had a good week
It's starting to warm up, but now it's cooling down.  It was up to about 96 degrees... and now it's down to like 75ish degrees.  This weather is warm all the time.  It's not even summer yet.

Let's see...what did we do...I did a lot of service since last time.  I helped clean out a garage, clean out another garage and yard, picked up water balloons for members who had a water balloon fight... oh and while waiting for dinner to be cooked, a member let me use his forge.  Like...a Blacksmithing forge.  It's a lot of fun.  Metal and fire and hammers... I started making a knife out of an old horseshoe.

We've been working with the same people.  It slowed waaay down since last time for some reason.  We've been teaching this family the lessons finally, and they've been coming to church.  They have a ton of questions, and there is a good chance we will invite them to be baptized soon.  They've been a work in progress (missionaries have been in contact for roughly 9 months).

I've been reading the Book of Mormon still.  That book is so true.  We as missionaries get these pamphlets that talk about lessons like the restoration,  the plan of salvation, or the gospel of Jesus Chris.  Well, typically we give those out because they are simple and quite frankly, easy to give out.  Well, I've been giving out copies of the Book of Mormon instead lately.  The feeling is way better.  The spirit of giving those out is special and it helps me feel more accomplished.  Plus, the pamphlets just point to the Bible and the Book of Mormon anyways.  Most people have a Bible, so now they just need the Book of Mormon.

We've been using our smart phones to send spiritual message and scriptures to our investigators.  It is a good way to stay in touch and help invite the spirit into their lives, even if we cannot see them face to face every single day.  Especially when we send something that pertains to their needs and what we are teaching them next or feel inspired to send.  It helps fill those gaps when they need a spiritual uplifting in their day.

At the end of our proselyting day I rode my companions tiny bike.  My feet could touch the ground, so I could walk while sitting on the bike.  I looked really goofy, but it was funny.

Here is one of my favorite scriptures....
Alma 34
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

I hope you all have a good week!  Thanks for all the love, support, emails, letters, and especially food!

The Book of Mormon is True and the Word of God!

-Elder Moore


Pictures of me, and then met with a toilet.... And then an ironic door.