June 4th, 2019

Smoke and Dirt

Hi everyone

It finally got up to 100 degrees this week. Now only 30 more degrees to go until it hits the real summer temperatures.

I am incredibly tired right now. I didn't sleep very well these past few nights. We have a lot to do. The people we are teaching are getting closer and closer to their Baptismal dates, and we have to do a lot. We do not have a ward mission leader and no ward missionaries so we are doing pretty much everything by ourselves to prepare these people for Baptism. The ward members know the people and they help us with lessons and in between visits but it has just been crazy and I really really need a p-day.

Luckily that is today.

One lady we are teaching was supposed to get interviewed for her Baptism yesterday but she ended up in the hospital with a horrible allergic reaction to something. We hope she gets better soon.

One challenge that is also somewhat frustrating is the kind of people that live in Needles. People here are not very self reliant... so we have to do everything for them, or make sure that they can do things on their own (ie read the Book of Mormon, go to church regularly, get baptized... ) it is difficult. But they eventually learn how to be self reliant I think. An ironic thing here is that the ward has a self reliance class, but nobody goes to it. But it is because they have to rely on someone else to take them there and then help them with the course.

I guess the moral of my email is to be an agent and not an object. Go do stuff of your own free will and choice. Go do good things without having to be compelled. Be humble and repent rather than be humbled and then repent. In Alma chapter 32, Alma speaks about this idea. Being humble and living the Gospel without being compelled or seeking for signs without trying to believe on your own. It is pretty good. Y'all should read it.

Here is a picture. The ground I am on is Majave village ground. In my hand are three copies of the Book of Mormon. That day (yesterday) we determined to go the Arizona village and give out copies of the Book of Mormon to them. Not only do they love Jesus Christ, but they love their Native traditions and culture. So when we explain that the Book of Mormon is about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father from the perspective of people who lived in the Americas many many years ago, they want it and they want us to return and teach them. It bridges a gap for them, which they appreciate us filling. I was in the California village (same tribe, different state) on Thursday and I gave a copy to one native man who nearly started crying when I explained the Book of Mormon and gave him one. It is honestly the best gift we could give to our friends in the villages. It is my favorite place to work in, personally. The natives are chill and they like what we have to say.

Stay firm in the faith, stay honest, and stay true

-Elder Moore