Week 43 - May 21, 2018 (Planeta Rica - Week 13)

So last Monday night we get a call from our district leader saying they are right outside our door, and that all 4 of the missionaries from Montelibano are there. They had just picked up a new missionary in Monteria and were heading back to Montelibano (Planeta Rica is right between the two cities). It was a dark country road that they were traveling on. The little bus/minivan they were riding in had an accident with a tree that was in the middle of the road,. They didn't crash into the tree, but it got messed up by all the branches. The missionaries were all fine and they didn't get hurt. When they got out and started to look around there were other vehicles that had already crashed into the tree. They started helping move vehicles and help a motorcyclist when two more cars came flying in and crashed into the tree. They saw a bunch of miracles, because trucks were rolled over and smashed, but the people inside were hardly hurt. The motorcycle was just in pieces but the driver wasn't in to bad of shape. They were definitely watched over and protected.

Tuesday we had a fun activity with our members and investigators. We also played a big game of soccer. No body wanted to play goalie, so I ended up playing a lot of goalie. I also made a bunch of pancakes this week. I have become a pro at making pancakes. I learned the perfect mixture, temperature, and amount to pour into pan. In the afternoon we did a lot of sitting, usually we do a lot of walking, but we ended up teaching a lot of lessons so we sat a lot. We went and taught Jose, and then he wanted to come with us to teach Nicklaus. He ended up changing his baptism from Sunday to Saturday.

Wednesday was a tough day. My companion has been sick, and it was raining really hard so we decided to stay in and wait for the rain to stop. We waited, but it didn't stop and we had some appointments we had to get to so we went out in the rain. The lessons didn't go as good as we hoped, and then we came back home all wet.

Thursday was a good day! So let me talk about Joel and Jose. We started teaching Jose, then when we were teaching him he introduced us to Joel. Now we are teaching both of them. We taught Joel and read Mosiah 18 about change, and then he wanted to go with us in the afternoon. He showed up at our apartment really early so we did scripture study with him. Then we went and taught family Soto and a few other lessons we had planned. As we were walking around Joel was like wait some of my friends live here, lets go talk to them. So we stopped and talked a little with his friends, and he setup an appointment to teach them tomorrow. He is not even a member yet, but he is awesome.

Friday we went to Monteria for a meeting, and then we had exchanges since the zone leader needed to come to do the baptismal interview with Nicklaus. We went with Joel and taught his sister, and his two friends. It was a good lesson and they had a bunch of questions. One thing we talked with Joel about is that when you are serving others it is when your testimony is strengthen the most.

Saturday was a fabulous day, just fabulous. My feet, knees, legs, pretty much everything hurt, but it felt so good. It was a great day and we again went with Joel to teach his friends. Then we had Nicklaus' baptism, and it was the most spiritual baptism that I have been at. It was awesome because we had some investigators there. Later that evening we were walking with Joel and he said he did receive and answer to his prayers. He said it was an indescribable feeling.

On Sunday we had 8 investigators at church, which made it a good day. We had 38 people at church and 8 of them were our investigators. Then we ended up having two lunches, so we sacrificed and went to both. We didn't know until we received a call that one of the members had prepared lunch for us, and we had already been invited to another members house. So we didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings and went and ate at both. Then in evening we stopped by Family Soto, and had a lesson with them. They have been meeting with the missionaries for a long time. They are the family that previous missionaries always ask about if they served here. Well, finally the mom and daughter agreed to a baptismal date. I am so excited for them!

This week I loved studying Mosiah chapter 4, what a great chapter. What a great sermon by King Benjamin which teaches us a ton about repentance, receiving a remission of our sins, and the atonement. That we need to believe in God, that he created all things, has all power, and has all wisdom.

What an awesome week,
Love you all,

Elder Moore

I am a Pro pancake maker

A little fish for lunch

Nicklaus' Baptism

Baptism of Nicklaus

Week 42 - May 14, 2018 (Planeta Rica - Week 12)

Happy Mothers Day! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Happy Mother's Day mom, I just wanted to first tell my mother how much I love her, and how much I really appreciate how much she does for me. I have realized now that my parents told me no that I couldn't do things because they really loved me, that the were trying to protect me and keep me safe. I am so grateful for them, and especially my mom for all that she has done for me. She is always watching out for me even now as I am on a mission, she tries to make sure I am eating well and am talking all the medicines she sent me with. It was so awesome to see and talk to you all, I miss you all a lot, but I know this is where I am supposed to be. I loved laughing and having fun on the call, time flew by and now I have to wait to Christmas to see you all again.

So this week was a tiring week, and we have been a little sick, so we slept a lot on our P-day. It also has been raining a lot here so we decided to stay in and clean and rest. My companion is on his last transfer, so we have to keep pushing ourselves. He is a super humble guy, I love him, he has taught me a lot. I need to figure out what I can do to make things super fun his last transfer here on the mission. I also need to really work with him to teach him English, so he will know a ton before he goes home.

Let me tell you about our friend Joel who we have been teaching. I love this kid, he makes me smile every time we see him. Last week when he came to church, he had cut his hair real short, and I asked him about the haircut and he said he was preparing himself to be like us and be a missionary. We had this awesome lesson, we were all hyped and his mom was all excited, she was like my favorite gringo is here. She made like this huge thing for mango for us, and she was so excited for us to teach them. We had an powerful lesson about faith, repentance and baptism. They loved it and it was a great night. Oh I forgot to mention, he had invited about 7 of his friends to listen to us. It was so cool to sit around and talk to them and hear what they felt. It made me miss hanging out with my friends before the mission. It was awesome though that he wanted to already share with his friends the things that he has been learning. Later in the week we took him and some of his friends to the branch activity, it was a really good activity. Family Soto came by themselves to the activity, so I was super happy that they are doing well. The activity was about the Armor of God, and keeping ourselves protected. We watched this old video about Nephite soldiers at the lake with some of them having their armor on and some had taken it off to get in the water (The Whole Armor of God). It was a really good activity, especially with Joel and his friends being there.

On Saturday we went out and bought a bunch of flowers and some chocolates for the women in the church for mothers day. We went and delivered them and it was great to see their expressions. It was a fun day. Then I got to talk to all of you, one of the best days of the mission.

On Sunday we had 6 investigators at church, which was good. It is cool to see them progressing and growing. We have some baptism lined up, so hopefully all continues to go and they will be ready. It was Mother's day, so it was good, the talks and lessons were good. Later we went and taught Joel and his friends, and he was like begging us to go out with us to teach people. So Tuesday he is going to spend the day with us.

Love you all, especially you Mom!!

Elder Moore

Talking with Elder Moore for Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, I love you Mom!