June 25

Howdy,

It has been another great week in Hutchinson. We literally see
miracles every day, and big miracles at least weekly. I still wonder
why I am so blessed to be able to see the Lord's hand in this work so
apparent. We stopped by a part member family's house because we hadn't
seen them in a week and wanted to see how they were doing. They asked
how the work was going, we said it was well and that we have a few
people who are preparing for baptism. They said they had another to
add to that list. Amazing!! Their 15 year old son, Charles, went to
youth conference in Wichita last week and really wants to be baptized.
He's a big football fan and he told his parents that he would rather
go to Youth Conference than football camp next year. Wow! He's had all
the lessons, we had just been waiting for when Dad would give the
okay. We are planning the baptism for this Saturday. And the
non-member mother wants to give a prayer at the baptism!! Miracles!!

We got a new ward mission leader which we are so excited about! Our
last one was a wonderful brother, but was just always out of town and
wasn't able to help us with the work at all. Our new one moved in 2
weeks ago and is already jumping in. We are so grateful for him and
his family. They are going to be a great addition to the Hutch ward!

I love my companion! She is wonderful! We are working well together.
We are going going going and just trying to stay cool. It is supposed
to be 105* here today. It reminds me of Odessa last summer.

There's a couple that is investigating that we are working with and
through our appointments she has come to know the gospel and church
are true by reading the Book of Mormon. She brought it out at our last
appointment, read a verse from 2 Nephi 30, and then asked, "So, if I
don't unite with your church, I can't go to heaven?" We responded
saying something like "Without those covenants and saving ordinances
by the Priesthood, no one can make it". You could see the Spirit
working in her. I was in awe. She came to church with her husband and
she loved it. They are having us over for dinner tonight. We hope to
see her set a date tonight and that her husband will make that
commitment with her. Miracles everyday!!!!!!!

I love Hutch! I'm excited to see all these people that I've grown to
love make that commitment to Heavenly Father. There really is nothing
better. People keep asking when I'm leaving. I don't know. All I know
is that I am a missionary!! That God lives!! That we have so much to
do in this life and that there is always something better to come!

Yesterday at church we were talking about how we hadn't found any new
investigators this past week. It was weird since we had been finding
up a storm. I had been thinking since Wednesday "we really need to
find". Well, Sunday morning came and I told myself, "if I have the
faith to find, and do what I am asked to do, Heavenly Father will
bless us". Well, before church we were talking to the Relief Society
President and she said she had to go pick up a new sister that just
moved into the area. She has a non-member fiance and that she wanted
to introduce her and him to us. In church only the new sister came,
but she was telling us that in Salina, where they moved from, a friend
in the ward gave her fiance a Book of Mormon, a talk that she wrote,
and bore her testimony to him. A few days later, the fiance comes to
tell the sister "Your church is the true church!!! I have to be
baptized!!!" So, we got a hold of him and the Lord provided that new
investigator for us. Not just a new investigator, but one that will
listen and is sincere. I stand all amazed.

Last Saturday, we went to go see an older couple that has been
investigating for over 2 years. Eternigators.... we get in there and
had planned to basically ask if they would ever see themselves joining
the church because otherwise we weren't going to continue to see them
regularly. We got in there and the Spirit took over. I don't even know
how to explain it... I read a scripture in Alma, asked a question,
they responded, asked another question, etc etc etc. The things that
came out of my mouth were not my own. I could feel the Spirit working
in me and in them. We got out of that appointment, look at my
companion, and say, "what just happened?!" I can't even portray it
well!!! It was amazing! To be an instrument in the hands of the Lord
and to be under the influence of the Spirit like that is incredible!
The gift of the Holy Ghost is so precious... how does one even portray
how incredible that gift is?!

Things are going well here. I'm grateful for this time I have to serve
that Lord with no distractions. I'm grateful for those that support
me. I'm grateful to be a missionary and to serve in the Missouri
Independence Mission. My mission is so sacred to me. God loves His
children. I know this is true.

So my update for the week.... the church is true! What else matters?
I love you. Thank you for your love and support.
Always,
Sister Moore

HAPPY [late] FATHER'S DAY!!!!!

HAPPY [late] FATHER'S DAY!!!!!

Pictures... we found a corn field. had some fun. Epic air, right? :)

It's kind of gross that I only have 2 months to go. but with that
knowledge I have been given a drive to work and have been given
strength. I feel like I have so much more to offer through the
blessings of the Sacrament and the principle of Enduring. The Lord
lives!
It's been a great week!! We are continuing to see the Lord's hand in
our lives and in this work. The ward is super supportive to going out
on team ups with us, feeding us, and giving us rides. I'm grateful for
that. Plus, I have a super awesome companion!!! Life is beautiful. :)

We visited this couple we found on the street last transfer and they
have decided to look into being baptized. While they wouldn't set a
date, they are so great. Walking into their home I felt like they were
active Latter-Day Saints because of the Spirit that was there. I felt
like I already knew them. That happened again as we got a referral
from Salt Lake City on our phone for a single guy. When we get there,
there are 2 families with young kids in the house, all willing to
learn and ready to change. The main guy that referred himself learned
from the missionaries down in Oklahoma 5 years ago, and due to not
being able to kick smoking he couldn't get baptized, but he's back and
on our first visit, he testified to us that he knows this is the
church where he wants to be and that he's not going anywhere. He's
ready to quit and make that commitment. SO AMAZING.

I had some heartbreak this week. One of our recent converts told us
that he doesn't believe he needs to go to church to have God in his
life. To be honest, I got angry when we left. For months he attended
church with his very active and faithful wife and you could see a
change in him. He was happy! He was on the right path! but as soon as
he stopped going, he's blaming the church for his own choices and has
decided to learn away from the only true gospel. I wanted to rebuke
him. I wanted to tell him that he made promises with Heavenly Father.
He let the world in and has decided money is more important than
spiritual peace. We love this brother. I'm heartbroken. But I know we
can't force anyone to do anything. They have their agency and will
make their own choices. We are making a special effort to make sure
that our other investigators can feel the Spirit in every meeting with
us, that a member is always there to be a support, and that they are
reading the Book of Mormon. We're not letting another slip through the
cracks. God loves them. They have to make the choice and come to Him,
otherwise they won't be able to feel of the sweetness of the gospel.
Being a missionary has taught me many things. I've learned to make
good choices. I've learned how to respect others' agency. And I've
also learned the joy as we follow the prophets and the commandments.
Mosiah 2:41.

We did have a baptism!! It was small as many people that committed to
come did not, but the man being baptized was so happy. His wife and 6
year old son came and he just glowed. On Sunday, he was confirmed a
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and received
the Holy Ghost. He also was conferred to receive the Aaronic
Priesthood later that day. he is ready to serve. And we got an
appointment to come see the wife. We are going to see if we can help
them do this together. I can't adequately express my love for this
work. I see so many blessings in store for these people. We are
laboring for their souls. I'm grateful to understand these blessings.

Yesterday, we ate 3 full meals in 3 hours. I don't ever want to eat
again. Many people invited us over for Father's Day celebrations. It
was a great day. Today we are going down to Wichita for zone p-day.
It'll be great!

I know this work is true. I know that the Church's purpose is to
gather the House of Israel. I know that Christ lives. The Book of
Mormon is true and blesses lives! Shall we not go on in so great a
cause?

Always,
Sister Moore

June 11

How is it June already?! Not okay!
it's been another amazing week in Hutch. Sometimes I wonder why it is
going so well here. We found 10 new investigators last week! That's
crazy!
Last P-day we taught Deonna who we have been seeing for quite sometime
now. She's doing really well, but her hold up was working on Sunday.
She's a single mom of 3 and can't ask Sunday off for some reason.
We've been teaching her, and praying for her for something to work
out. Well, last Monday she told us she has no desire to work where
she's at anymore and is looking at a job that gives her the weekends
off. What?! I just love her. She's the coolest lady.

On Tuesday was our Zone Conference. it was incredible. I could feel
the Spirit working within me all day long. We get there after leaving
Hutch at 6:45am and have breakfast. They started the conference out in
the chapel and spoke of an incident that happened in the mission a few
weeks ago. President Keyes gets a lot of phone calls as a mission
president. He got one one day that said two of his missionaries had
been in a automobile accident (I'm getting emotion just thinking about
this story). One was being life flighted to a hospital in Kansas, one
taken by ambulance to a hospital in Independence, MO. He and Sister
Keyes get in the car to go see these elders, praying that they would
somehow end up at the same hospital. Seems like a small thing, but
they needed to be with their missionaries. When they arrived at the
hospital in Independence, they called the other hospital somewhere in
Kansas to ask if a missionary had arrived via life-flight yet. The
nurse said that no missionary had arrived, and none were expected to
come. it turned out, that in mid-flight, they changed course and
brought the other missionary to Independence, to where President Keyes
could see both elders. They were given Priesthood Blessings, and the
Keyes stayed the night. The next day, both elders walked out with a
limp and one in a wheelchair. The doctors were in awe, saying "people
don't just get life flighted in and walk out the next day". The Lord
wanted that to happen. He continues saying that safety is the most
important thing and he and the Church are very concerned about the
safety of the missionaries. It tugged at my heart as you could feel
the love and the Spirit so strongly; it was virtuously tangible. The
rest of conference was great. In the Wichita and Derby zones, there
are only 2 companionships of sisters. So we stood out, haha. I got to
see lots of mission friends and it was so wonderful to be there with
other missionaries. At the end of conference, President Keyes spoke
and talked about 3 Nephi 11. Christ comes and comforts the Nephite
people. once they feel of that love, they cry "Hosanna!" which means
"save us, save us now". What is the next thing that happens? Christ
gives them the authority to baptize. That is our calling as
missionaries. We are to go out, comfort the people, then use the
authority we have been given to save souls. Baptism is so essential to
salvation, and to be responsible for such a great task is overwhelming
at times. But I know, that this is the Lord's work. On a spiritual
high, President then announced that he would like all the missionaries
that this would be their last zone conference to come up and bear
their testimonies. This was my last zone conference. I had already
been weeping all day due to the Spirit and love I had felt. My heart
was about to beat out of my chest; I had to go up. I wait for some
elders to go and follow after them, but they see me and invite me to
go first. I'm thinking to myself, "what in the world do I say right
now....". As I get to the pulpit, and look out over the other 40
missionaries, my mind is blank. I felt numb. The first words out of my
mouth were, "I don't want to be here right now... in front of you..."
And as I struggled, the Spirit helped me, and I bore testimony of what
I know to be true. I know that Christ lives. I know that He restored
the fulness of His gospel through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know
that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. I know the Book of Mormon
is the word of God, and blesses lives. I know the importance of the
family. I know that the work we do as missionaries is true, and that
it is one of the greatest blessings we will have in our lives here. I
don't know what all I said, but when I sat back down, I leaned over,
buried my face in my hands, and wept. The reality of going home soon
is sad. Just the week before, Sister Jones asked me if it was weird
knowing that I was leaving soon. I said very casually that I've
accepted it and that it is inevitable that it will come. But being
faced with me, I really will miss serving the Lord as a full-time
missionary. I was asked to say the closing prayer of the conference,
so I have to get back up there again with puffy red eyes and thank
God. it was powerful. it was a powerful experience for me. I wish I
could portray it better. Afterwards, several other missionaries came
up and thanked me for my testimony and prayer. Their sincerity made
all the difference and all was well instantly. I know that this time
we have is sacred and precious. I will make the most of it. I am
working the best I know how. and I will, until I am told, "well done".

On Wednesday we went out to Turon and watched a wheat harvest!!! And
fellow shipped a part member family. Don't worry, we actually work. I
sent a couple pictures. They let us stand in the middle of the field.
it was so neat. Golden wheat that just went on for miles. Once they
cut it it wasn't very pretty, but I learned a lot. They gave us a
sample of wheat, too. I love it! The rest of the week was just as
great too. We have a baptism this Friday for a guy that called us up
and said, "I want to join the church. How do I do it?" Another guy is
preparing for the 23rd. Same story. Called us up and wanted to join
the church. We have found several other investigators that are
progressing and longing for what the gospel offers them. We are
tremendously blessed. One miracle that happened that I will share this
week was about Debbie.

We found Debbie on the street in front of her house and while she
would always let us come back, she and her husband would never set a
specific return appointment. after an appointment on Thursday, we get
in the car and I had the distinct impression to go see Debbie. We were
not planning on seeing her until the next day. We get there and she's
out watering her plants. We offer to help and she tells us, "I was
wondering when you girls were going to come back. I was talking to
Andy (husband) and I thought 'oh, they're probably going to come
Friday when I'm gone!' and it made me sad". As we continued to talk,
she talks very openly with us and after we ask her how her Book of
Mormon reading is going, she gets emotional and says, "I don't think
I'm worthy". She needs the gospel. We invited her right then and there
to a progressive dinner that the Relief Society was putting on and she
came and loved it. She made connections with the sisters and is
excited to learn about the gospel. if we hadn't have gone at that
time, we wouldn't missed her when she needed the Lord. She left for a
trip the very net morning and is returning sometime this week. I have
a testimony that I know Heavenly Father is so aware of His children.
He uses others to bless them. I am grateful and indebted for the gift
of the Holy Ghost and how we can be used as His hands to bring the
gospel to all honest hearts here in Hutch.

This work is true. Hutch is a miracle area. I wonder what I did to be
so blessed sometimes. To have the knowledge of the beauty of the
gospel and the love that God has for each of us is the greatest
blessing. Please always remember that the Lord loves you. He wants to
bless you. His gospel brings love, peace, joy, and refuge into your
life. I know this, for I am a witness.

Shall we not go on in so great a cause?
Love Always,
Sister Moore

June 4

Hutch is an area of miracles! We see miracles, small and large,
everyday. The elders, after reporting our numbers, are always asking
"what are you sisters doing?!" Haha, we work smart and exercise faith!
This last weekend was the Ramey's baptism, where the older 3 boys were
baptized by their dad. It was so spiritually moving and we even had 2
progressing investigators attend. The baptism was beautiful though.
The boys' grandparents and cousin flew out from California for it, and
both grandparents gave a talk. Brother Ramey, the father, baptized all
3 of his boys. They were just so happy and they glowed! The family
expressed great appreciation for us as the missionaries who taught the
boys but I can't help but think that we had nothing to do with it.
This is the Lord's work. I am to do my part and follow the Spirit and
the rest will fall into place. Their confirmations on Sunday were just
as powerful and brought the most powerful spirit to the meeting. All
of the testimonies borne were heartfelt and melted your heart. The two
oldest boys even got up and bore their testimonies. The oldest
brother's was really funny... he gets up there and with great
enthusiasm says, "getting baptized, receiving the Holy Ghost, and
turning 12 have been a huge slap in the face.... Good, now I have your
attention." hahaha we all laughed. He continued saying, "Now I KNOW
the Holy Ghost will help me for the rest of my life. I KNOW this is
the only true church" Matt got up and bore a very humble testimony as
well, especially thanking us as missionaries, again. I'm realizing
just now much of an impact we make on the youth as missionaries. I
love those boys... I love that family. They have forever changed my
life.

So, it was a great weekend. We got bombarded with referrals on Sunday
from members. We had someone call us last week and said he wanted to
join the church and to continue the lessons. Seriously. This happens
on a weekly basis here. I kid you not. But the work is going well. The
ward is so involved and supports us greatly. We feel very blessed. I
remember sitting in sacrament and being able to feel the love I have
for the people here. They are so strong. Like any ward and any person,
we all have our weaknesses and struggles, but this is a family. They
are committed to the gospel. The Lord is working a marvelous work
here. And I see it everyday.

Tomorrow is Zone Conference down in Wichita. And I am SO excited! It
will be a spiritual feast!! Our car hit 50,000 the other day, so it's
getting switched out tomorrow. I will miss that little guy.

Last Wednesday, a huge, severe thunder storm hit Hutch. We were in the
library with our team up waiting for our investigator when he called
and said he hasn't eaten and wants to meet us at Subway. Ok... so we
start to walk out the door. A man that just came in said, "It's going
to hit us in 6 seconds. You better be quick getting to your car!" We
kind of brushed it off and said, "Oh ok, thanks, we'll be quick!"
Well, literally 6 seconds later we are standing under the overhang and
are drenched. The wind was carried waves of water and the streets were
flooding. It was 6 pm and it was dark already. It was the most intense
thing I've ever seen or been apart of. it was so cool! Sister Jones
and I ran out to the car and quickly shut the doors. We look at each
other and start laughing. It was just so neat! We were told to go in
early after our appointment to let the storm pass. Now I just want to
see a tornado!! Ok, maybe not really, but it would be cool.

We went to go visit one of our investigators the other day and instead
of teaching what we planned about the gospel, she wanted us to talk to
her young daughter about pornography. It was really awkward. We had no
idea what to say because this girl was 9. How does that even happen?!
But as we relied on the Spirit and opened our mouths, it started to
flow. it made me realize just how real the adversary is. I think a lot
of people don't realize that when we don't do what God wants us to do,
we become captive to the devil. it's a scary thought. He wants to take
away our freedom and agency... everything that we fight for! Follow
the gospel and be free.

A thought that really hit me during one of my studies the other day,
too, was "Perfect love casteth out all fear". I know this is truth. As
a missionary, it's scary to talk to random strangers every day. To
just show up on their door step and ask them to let you in to talk
about Christ. it's always scary to stand up to your friend when they
are doing something wrong or to tell them how to feel about something.
When we have perfect love, and strive to do the right thing, we won't
be held back. The Lord is helping me develop charity and I can talk to
anyone I want without fearing their response. I'm learning how to
communicate with companions and trying to bring our companionship into
unity. Also, I read this from Matthew 22:

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Without love, nothing else works.
Remember that next time you approach someone and speak with them in a
manner that shows them you love them. We are all children of God. God
loves us all, who are we to judge?

I know that this is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth
again today. Christ live and has restored His church. It is lead by a
prophet of God today, Thomas S. Monson. The Book of Mormon came forth
by the power of God, and is true. I know in my heart that there is a
plan for our lives, and it is glorious.
Shall we not go on in so great a cause?
Always,
Sister Moore