15 August

This week has been interesting to say the least! I don't remember much that has gone on. Last Sunday we had an investigator at church who was just eating up the gospel. having spiritual experiences left and right at church and in the scriptures, and wanted to get baptized soon! We were so excited! Then... she ran out of minutes on her phone and we have no way to contact her. One reason why I really don't like technology sometimes. We are praying that she calls us because she has our number. Dang... it's rough sometimes. But, we did have an investigator set a date for baptism. That was a HUGE step for him. We're fasting and praying for him. We know how much this will bless his life.

Things at home have been crazy form what I hear. People getting married (Congratulations Brother and Sister Anderson!!!! :), people getting pregnant, people serving missions, people graduating school, people getting jobs, people partying,... okay so I ran out of cool things to say. Partying is always fun. If you're not having fun in life you're doing it wrong. ;) It's great to hear from everyone.

Funny story... we had a dinner appointment last night who have 4 kids from ages 12 to 5. The oldest almost choked on chocolate syrup, and the youngest got his tooth kicked out by his sister all in 20 minutes. They are so funny! I love that family! They act like what we would define "an old married couple". I will never forget when Elder Seppi said that about me and a good friend 3.5 years ago. SO FUNNY! What ever happened to Seppi? Anyone know? And Mr. Huppi... you owe me correspondence. Don't make me disown you. ;)

We were out tracting and knocking doors and we ran into this RLDS lady. She was telling us she doesn't believe that women can hold the priesthood (YEAH!) and how she really appreciates what we do. We ended up talking to her about the sacrament and covenants. Who knows what might come out of that. We meet some of the most random, awesome people out here. The world is full of amazing people and we are missing golden opportunities in learning from them.

Scary thought... my release date is a year from today. Where in the world is my mission going...

And because I'm always good for a thought about my studies, I will share what I have been thinking about this past week. I have been trying to study deeper into the Sacrament and then even more about Eternal life, exaltation, spirit world, etc. As I pondered on these matters, I made a lot of parallels in life to the gospel. Which makes perfect sense. I know some of you are going to be going "Duh, Sister Moore." As I read about the Judgment Day, it tells that we will be judged according to our works and the desires of our hearts. In Relevations it tells that we will be judged out of the books, both on earth and in heaven. Cool to think we have our life recorded in heaven. Also, in Romans 2:15, it describes how we will be stand as our own witness, able to recite and describe everything we did in this life from memory. I thought of something... and this is not doctrine, just my own thoughts... but they say that we only use 10% of our brains, for whatever reason. Maybe the other 90% is the memory of our life that we will one day stand accountable for in front of Christ? I think that's so cool! Take it for what it's worth... I also read that in the Spirit World (which is all around us according to latter-day revelation) that the church is organized and that Priesthood holders will go right to work after they pass over. That... is cool.

God is a god of order. Everything must be done in order for otherwise there would be chaos. That is what I think the Christian world forgets. Think about it in our everyday lives. Our country has a President. A Vice President. Other areas of leadership and laws so we can be safe and successful as a nation and in our communities. In marriage, it is not valid until it is legally documented and signed by one having authority. Everything in this world witnesses that there is a God. We have laws in our lives that we must follow otherwise there are consequences. Why would God be any different? These traditions have been passed down by our ancestors because they work. They got it from God. The church was organized when Christ came. Like I shared in marriage, it's not valid unless signed by someone with that proper authority. We are asked to follow Jesus Christ to be blessed and rewarded spiritually, including living with our families together forever. We can't have those things until we do those things we are asked to. Like baptism... by proper authority. Or being sealed as a husband and wife and family... by proper authority. We don't get tax benefits from marriage until it's official. ;)

Yes, God is merciful. But He is also a God of order and justice. If justice was not served, God's words (Bible, Book of Mormon, prophets, etc) wouldn't be valid. We aren't just going to be rewarded for being God's children. We have to act on it. We have to receive ordinances by the proper authority of God... found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, because the keys were restored to the prophet Joseph Smith.

Through the blessings and sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost, I know that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of our living God. That Jesus Christ restored His church through the prophet to bless our lives now. I know that the priesthood is real and that the work we do, the ordinances that we perform, are valid and please our Father in Heaven.

I LOVE my mission. I LOVE Missouri. The skies go on forever out here. Here's a couple pictures from this past week. I know that I am apart of God's true and living church. I know that I am helping in His work. I know I'm where I'm supposed to be.

Always,
Sister Moore

Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

August 8

So, I made a Mormon.org profile! I can do that as a missionary! :) it's still a work in progress.
http://mormon.org/me/4WWZ/Vicki

Things have been crazy. Transfers was last Thursday and Sister Larson left us. It's just Sister Tafradzhieva and myself here in Odessa. It was pretty overwhelming at first, but the ward has been supporting us and the Lord has been blessing us. Especially with referrals and people to teach.

Last Sunday, the 31st, we received a phone call from a LA member who won't even let missionaries in the house. Her husband was investigating at one point but that was a while ago. Anyway, this lady calls and says, "My husband is interested in taking the discussion and possibly being baptized. Would that be possible?"

??!!!?!?! Of course it would be possible! We ended up seeing them and they are a really awesome young couple. Another phone call came Monday evening, the 1st, from a member who is just getting back on his feet. His girlfriend was interested in learning more. So we go down there and start talking. She's been raised Seven-Day Adventist, had a lot of questions or concerns that she hasn't been able to find answers to. However, the member told her that he will only get married in the temple, which sparked her interest. She loved the idea of families being sealed forever. When we got there, she told us how she rented a Book of Mormon from the library and read 30 pages or so before we got there. We shared the first discussion with her and she loved everything we shared with her. Before we could invite her to read from the Book of Mormon, she asked for reading assignments... and she kept asking. We ended up giving her several of our favorite chapters and left. She asked us to come back 2 days later where we find out she had read EVERYTHING we gave her and then some, taking notes in a notebook and markings in the actual scriptures. She shared what seemed like a dozen favorite scriptures and why she could relate to them. Discussed lesson 2 about the Plan of Salvation and about the Word of Wisdom. She loved it. Asked about church, said she'd go find church clothes, and showed up to church yesterday 1/5 hours early. She is just unreal and I just LOVE her!

We found this guy who's next door neighbors to our EQ president. He has some awesome Italian last name and he's a real family man. He wasn't way interested at first, but as we started telling him about the application of the gospel in the Book of Mormon and how Nephi is in the wilderness, his bow breaks, and he has to follow his faith and the spirit to find a solution, he sparked right up! That was AWESOME just seeing that interest appear in his eyes. The Holy Ghost making contact with his spirit... best thing ever!!

On Sunday our Bishop spoke.. again... but this time in a combined meeting. It was hard to take notes... again. He felt that this was something that needed to be addressed. he spoke about Priesthood. The Priesthood is inseparably connected with the family. I liked what he said next... Women are the power behind the priesthood. I have the influence on the priesthood holders around me. I am the influence for them to progress. if I am neglected, the priesthood will lose great power. A wife is to support her husband is his duty in the Kingdom of God. And if husband's don't treat their wives with the respect and love they deserve, the priesthood is taken from them. There would be no power. He just went on to talk to the Fathers that they have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect their families. All that stands between the adversary's mischief and us is the Priesthood. The priesthood is important and here for our benefit. Use it. Understand it. If ever in doubt of "abusing" that power, heir on the side of generosity. It was something that I really enjoyed and have been studying about for a while now.

It finally cooled down in Missouri! There was a storm that came through and blew down a ton of branches throughout the neighborhoods. Last weekend there was something called "Puddle Jumper Days" which was basically the Fall Festival for Odessa. We walked through it on our way to a potential and saw some other potentials! One got a job with the local police and I'm so grateful that we saw him again because we didn't really have any information. The Lord will provide a way and he will find the gospel when it is his time. I'm really being tested to trust the Lord lately. It's something that takes a lot of faith. But I'm grateful for my trials. I'm grateful for the person Heavenly Father is shaping me into. I'm grateful to be a missionary.

The Lord is very aware of his people. He is aware of the covenants that we make and he will bless us for our faithfulness. I'm grateful to be apart of the Lord's true and living church where these blessings and understanding is secure.

Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

Love Always,
Sister Moore

August 1

HOLA.

The library is packed today and so I'm not sure if I'll get my whole hour on the computer or not... But things have been going well! Today is our zone P-day down in Warrensburg. We're going to meet all of the Elders there and sneakily call them to come outside when we arrive... I'm so excited to finally use these silly water guns! Pictures to come, I'm sure.

This ward is a lot of fun. I was thinking about it... because this area is so wide we rely on the members for help in a lot of areas. Back in Independence that didn't always happen. We have a sister driving us down to Warrensburg today and then a different sister coming to pick us up... and she even offered to feed us as our regular dinner appointment fell through. They are just so awesome! Transfers are on Thursday... we get transfer calls tomorrow night.... President Keyes had told us that they wouldn't have us in a trio. I guess that's not exactly "for sure" but I'm secretly kind of hoping. I LOVE my companions, but being in a trio as a missionary is very difficult. However, just like Nephi said, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded me".

Sister Larson, our RS president, and I sang "The Olive Tree" in Sacrament yesterday. It was a missionary themed day. Our Ward Mission Leader spoke and it was AWESOME, and then our Bishop spoke and it was AWESOME. Bishop's talk was so riveting that I couldn't even take notes! I couldn't keep my eyes off of what he was saying! I told that to one of my Zone Leaders and he replied, "Oh no! I spoke in church today and everyone was taking notes!" ;)

in Bishop's talk he relived his mission days over in The Netherlands. He talked about this little women coming out of the doors of the Catholic church all frustrated and angry. The Elders approved her and found out that she had a lot of questions that this church couldn't answer. The Bishop goes on to say "I've never been more excited to see someone angry!" Seriously... as missionaries we want people to ask us questions. It's the best thing ever. After meeting with this women, she was baptized and the Elders started teaching her daughter. After a while, the daughter still wore a Catholic cross around her neck that had been a family heirloom for generations and was confused about what church is the true church of Christ. The Elder asks, "Did Jesus Christ set up apostles when he was on the earth?" ..."Yes" .... "Did he give them authority?" ... "Yes" ... The Elder then asked this inspired question: "Where are the apostles today? Where is the authority?" 

Bishop then testified of how at that moment she hung her head, took a deep breath, and was silent for a few minutes. Then, she took off her beloved family heirloom and then said "I know this is Christ's true church today". At that moment, it wasn't anything the Elders had said or did. The only thing that testified to this women was the spirit working in her. The only way one can know of the truthfulness of the gospel is through the Holy Ghost. I thought that was so powerful. The entire Sacrament meeting was very, very strong.

I also read a talk that Brad Wilcox just gave at BYU on July 12, 2011 (KYLE!! Did you hear this talk in person?!). It's titled "His Grace is Sufficient". It explains grace. There are a lot of people nowadays that believe that as logn as they have accepted Jesus as their Savior they are saved. I know I get asked that question a lot... "Have you been saved?" The way Brother Wilcox describes grace is incredible. The Atonement wasn't performed to fill the gap to where we don't measure up, but rather it is to help us change and to learn heaven. This gospel of repentance is not to save us. We will all be resurrected, but the question is what glory of body will you receive and where will you be? It's an incredible talk that I would invite any and all to go read or listen to. It's powerful and perfectly defines grace. There is a difference between grace and mercy. It only took me this long to find it.

Things are good. Still hot. And I'm out of time. But I know this church is true. Christ stands at the head of this church and he's always here for us. We are to use his atonement to change, to become better, to inherit the Celestial Kingdom. We aren't earning our way to heaven, we are learning heaven.

Always,
Sister Moore

It's Scorchin' out here!

First off... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I called one of the Assistants this morning for something and the first thing he says to me is "IT'S STORCHIN' OUT HERE!" hahahahah. True story! There is a heat advisory in affect from yesterday to Thursday... the car is reading 105* and that does not include the humidity factor. So... it's really hot here. And unfortunately because of it, no one is outside to talk to us! Everyone is out of town or working in AC buildings or... I don't know. However, we met the coolest 13 year old boys last week! Not exactly what you were expecting, eh?

So, these boys are awesome. Last Sunday (week and a day ago) we met this 17 year old boy on the street. He was working on his truck so we taught a lesson and he said we could come back. Sweet. Went back last Thursday and found these two other boys in his house, and they stayed. They didn't just stay, one said to the other, "Go grab our bibles!" and so they did. Then, one of them offered the opening prayer and in that sad prayer he said, "please bless that my mom will go to church with me". So... they're awesome. We have permission to teach them and everything. Have a love for Christ and think we're all just the coolest things ever. We're missionaries... of course we are! We then ran into them at Wal-Mart and continued to build a relationship. We'll see them again on Thursday. Woot!

Before this excessive heat came into play we were out tracting on foot and went into the local Casey's (gas station) for some water. One of the women that work there came up to us and starting talking to us like we were long lost friends. Apparently Sister Browning and her companion back then worked with this family a while back and they just love the missionaries. We're not sure how receptive the husband is after meeting with them the other day, but needless to say, the Lord is blessing us despite the heat.

Today we are going into Independence with a member, her non-member daughter-in-law and her two girls, and then will meet her non-member husband and non-member son for a late lunch. So, we're giving up a little of P-day, but look at this awesome family we get to go spend time with and fellowship! They are just so nice and caring, too. it's pretty cool. This member is a convert as is her daughter. Her daughter is on a mission in Santiago Chili right now. They are just so cool!! I really like this family... we're going to be friends forever.

I apologize for not writing more last week, too. I planned my time poorly and then got kicked off. Didn't expect that! I don't really remember much of what I was going to write... haha. A couple weeks ago I talked about the mosquitoes on steroids. I found out from a member that I had a couple dozen chigger bites on me... ICK. I invested in Chiggerex and it's the best thing ever! I took a picture of my legs when they were looking like a buffet table. haha. Life of a missionary... seriously. I do remember saying something about passion. So, I'll expound on that. (illegal segway?)

The word "passion" came from Christian scholars. It means "suffer". It must be pure and willing. However, when we are passionate about something is generally relates to being on a path. "Path-" is a suffix meaning "suffering from". Think of doctors called pathologists and what they study. Also, think of the word "sacrifice". "Sacra" means "sacred" in latin, and "fice" means "perform". Passion is a sacred suffering. And suffering is life defining; a very sacred event. If we are willing to suffer a little for a cause, we become a victor. When we know what we are willing to pay a price for, we find our mission in life. I guess what I took from all of this was this: be willing to suffer for what you love. No matter who or what you love, think if you are passionate about it. Blessings come to us that are passionate about righteous things. Christ suffered an incomprehensible amount. Who are we to say we don't need to suffer a little to understand?

I also had many, many prayers answered this week. I was thinking about expectations. Is it good to have expectations? yes. Expectations are spiritually, or divinely, driven. Do not have restrictions on yourself. You will fall but we just get right back up. The Atonement is a gift to every one of us. It is up to us to accept it. Chelsie wrote me and said this and I just LOVE it. She taught me this: You were placed in this life because you're the only one strong enough to live it. She's so profound... I'm glad to call her my friend.

Sister Hawkes wrote me.... I'm so blissful right now. She's having amazing wonderful spiritual experiences in the MTC right now and will go into the field on Wednesday. She's going to be doing wonderful, wonderful things.

Okay, and one funny thought before I close this. Every Friday is district meeting, right? Well, Sister Larson had this idea to buy bandanas, water guns, and aviator glasses and bombard the Elders after the meeting. We took pictures in preparation. However, the spirit restrained us. So... we're going to do it next Monday as a part of our Zone P-day instead. August 4th is transfers again! Already! Where is my mission going?!?! Regardless... I'm sending pictures of our epic war pictures. You can grow and still be a kid at heart on a mission... ;)

Thank you everyone for your updates and support through letters, prayers, and deeds. I'm so grateful to each and every one of you and I can feel you right here with me! Like I've said before, I have the biggest, and BEST, family supporting me and my own family back home. Thank you from the depths of my heart.

I know this gospel is true. As I read through the Book of Mormon and see how God has affected the lives of those people through His son, Jesus Christ, and the miracles and growth in them, I can't help but have that desire grow deep within me. I think of Mosiah 28:3 often. There is so much to do and so many people who need to know about this! This isn't just another church or another religion. This is God reaching out to us and inviting us to find everlasting happiness. Who could deny such a blessing? I know the work I am doing is real. The Lord walks beside us everyday and we are growing. Prayer is real. Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. He's there just to listen if we need someone to, and he's here, waiting, to bless us. I exhort you to turn to the Lord. Ask the missionaries what they have to share, and ask God yourself if it's true. You will receive an answer. I know this to be true. And I share this with you in the holy and sacred name of our Lord, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

Love,
Sister Moore
http://mormon.org

Hot tamales!!!‏

It's hot out in the Midwest! But, it was a good week. We have found lots of new people and the Lord is blessing us with people to share a message with and with the unity of having the members work with us in teaching. It's actually pretty amazing.

Tonight I get to go back to the VC!!!! We have an investigator who wants to learn more about the history of the church and the restoration, so we're going to go back the new Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration movie. We might even get a chance to go through the new God's Plan for His Family... it's all about eternal marriage.

And I just found out we don't have time to type this email... a few thoughts then. 

Our Ward Mission Leader read to us out of the book Aspire by Kevin Hall about the work "passion". You hear the word passion a lot, how people are passionate. And I don't have my notes in front of me but I do know that passion means in latin, "suffer". Food for thought. When one is passionate about something, they are willing to suffer. Think to yourselves... how does that relate to Jesus Christ?

Well bummer. I will write more next week to make up for lost time. I know that the church is true. I know that Heavenly Father lives and hears each and every one of our prayers. I know Christ lives. He loves us. He is passionate for us...

Always,
Sister Moore

July 11

Well. This has been a crazy busy week, I'll tell you what. I have a lot I want to write home and share. We'll see how much I type out.

First of all, this church is true. This is the only true and living church as it is guided and lead by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know this because I've lived it.

 

Last week was a lot of fun. We had some up days and some down days. I prayed a lot to my Father in Heaven. We had Zone Conference last Friday and that was an amazing experience. I had been looking for answers to prayers for a while. My zone is the Warrensburg Zone, and Warrensburg went to combine with the Independence Zone out in Independence. I got to see a lot of the sisters and a few of the senior couples that I served with in the VC. That was a huge tender mercy!  I didn't hardly sleep the night before because I was so excited!! I had received a call from the Sister Leaders a couple nights before and got some updates on my recent converts and parts of the Independence 2nd ward. That was amazing! One RC has an unsupportive husband which is heartbreaking. She can't even make it to church. I know I am so grateful for my own family and their support in letting me live my faith. Thank you...

 

Because we have our new mission president and his wife in now, we had interviews with them during zone conference. Sister Keyes is so cute! She keeps saying how she has no idea what's doing but keeps on working. It's amazing, and she does a wonderful, wonderful job. She asked all about my family so I shared a ton about my family and the Claridges. Plus, I bragged about how awesome my home ward is and my support group out in Rexburg. I have the biggest family ever, ha! President Keyes used to be a 70. He served as a 70 for 6.5 years, was released for a week, and then called to the Missouri Independence Mission as a mission president. He served here 40 years ago, too. They shared stories of their lives and how they had an opportunity to eat dinner with President Monson. They shared how they could all go sit down and they would bring the meal. However, onesome has recognized President Monson and started chatting with him. Instead of responding, "Oh thank you, it was great to see you" and contonue eating, President Monson would get up, have a real conversation with them, wish them well, and then sit down. That happened again and again. President Keyes shared with us how he didn't think President Monson ever even got to eat! What a man. What an example. President Keyes is bringing some new expectations, if you will, to the mission. Only 3 things. they were 1. Christ centered. We are to serve for Christ. 2. Love your companion. and 3. Go to work. What more do we need? It's sad to see the Van Komen's gone but the Keyes' have some incredible ideas in store to continue to have the work progress!

 

The Assistants to the President always give a training. One gave a heartfelt testimony and training about going to work. There was an elder in the mission that was going home. He was at the mission home the night before he flew out and he turned to the AP and said, "I'm miserable. I'm not going to spend the last few hours of my mission here". So they hijacked the mission van, trailer full of luggage still attached, and when tracting for the final few hours. The AP shared another experience like that with a different Elder going home just last transfer. As he took the missionaries to the airport, he embraced one Elder that he really loved and that Elder whispered something in his ear because turning around, not to be seen for a time. He said, "Finish strong". What better advice could one give. The second AP talked about tender mercies. In 1 Ne 1:20, Ether 6:12, and 1 Ne 8:8, it all mentions the words "tender mercies" of the Lord. However, they also describe something else. What exactly is a tender mercy? Is it different than a blessing? This is my interpretation of the scriptures. Take it for what it's worth. In 1 Ne 1:20, Nephi tells how his father, Lehi, has his life in danger. Then testifies of the tender mercies of the Lord. In Ether, the people had been in these boats at sea for who knows how many days. They they reached land they exclaimed joy for the tender mercies of the Lord. In 1 Ne 8, it tells that they traveled in darkness before they received a tender mercy. See the pattern? We need to learn from and watch for patterns. The Lord gives us tender mercies when times are rough. To me, a tender mercy is something given to us from Heavenly Father telling us that he is very aware of our situation and that we are not forgotten. That, is a tender mercy of itself. Our Father in Heaven is very aware of us. Always.

 

Anyway, the zone conference was amazing. President Keyes and I bonded over small town living. They are from Uintah, UT, about... 2,000 people? And I am of course from our beloved Scappoose. He thought that was neat. Sweet. :)

 

The heat is getting ridiculous. The other day, it was 103* with 100% humidity. We had planned to go tracting, but we decided we wanted to live. Because of that, we did end up visiting a less-active family. They are just so great! We walked into their mansion and they made us feel so much as home. She had just made homemade apple pie. Good timing? I think so! He had baptized her when they were young adults, about 18-21, and got married 3-4 years after. That's a really sweet story. :)

 

Before it got 103*, (it was more like 95*) we were tracting the other day, walking up this street in Oak Grove. Sister Tafradzhieva really likes cats. This huge cat runs out of a bush about 100 feet ahead of us and she exclaims, "Fat cat!! Follow the fat cat!!" in her awesome Bulgarian accent. We did, and found a new investigator out of it! Miracles! Random, but miracles!

 

So... I need to somehow hear from Sister Hawkes! She's in the MTC now, right? Mom, can you forward this email to her? I don't have her mission email though... I could guess. She should be in the field around the 27th of this month... then we'll be really close and she can experience this crazy heat and humidity with me! Awesome! I'm so proud of her.... I could write novels on how great Sister Hawkes is.

 

I was looking back through my journals the other day. It's getting full... however, there are so many wonderful hidden treasures in there from speakers out at BYU-Idaho (BTW, when I was still at the VC a bus tour from BYU-Idaho came through and I knew one of the girls from over a year ago. We had taken a class on Pakistan together! How cool, eh?) and I realized I need to go back and study those notes. I'm making my way through the Book of Mormon very nicely. I've never read it all the way through, cover to cover (the true comes out...).

 

Ok, so the mosquitos out here in Missouri are on steroids or something. I have 19 bites on my calves and feet, and they are BIG. I have not experienced chiggars yet (knock on wood), but if anyone ever comes and visits, beware. They are worse than the northwest, if you can believe it. As I write this I keep bending over to itch my feet... haha. Life of a missionary!

We give church tours out here. I have never heard of them before my mission, but this is a way to introduce investigators to the church for those that may be uneasy about going to church with hundreds of people. We also give them to members for practice and to help build their own testimonies. We gave our ward mission leader and his family a tour and they acted as investigators. The boy went by the name "Yuki"... haha. At the end, we were supposed to go to the font and talk about baptism, etc. Well, all these workers came in (the Odessa building is being extended) and we couldn't get to the font. Our WML is hiliarous and amazing... he starts talking to the workers and asked them point blakn and boldly that they need to be baptized. Oh man, it was powerful! Turns out a couple of them are not members so we gave them a couple Book of Mormons and we should see them again. I just love the WML and his family. They have gone through a lot and his conversation story is amazing. He was born into the church.

And! My 3 year anniversary of my baptism is on Thursday, 14 July. My confirmation date is on next Wednesday, 20 July. I'm going to party! or work. What better way to celebrate as a missionary? If you want to help me out, send awesome journals. I need them. :)

I've typed a lot. Must be making up for lost words from last week. Did I talk this much before my mission? I can't remember! ha! I know this church is true. I know that the organization, order, and priesthood restored through the prophet Joseph Smith is real, powerful, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know he leads this church through a living prophet: Thomas S. Monson. I know the power of the Book of Mormon and I know that it is true. The lives of these prophets and people of old teach us so much about the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness. I know God lives and that He is my loving Heavenly Father. I know I am a daughter of God and that through His son, Jesus Christ, we can return to live with Him again. Just as the Apostle Joseph B. Wirthlin taught, "Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won't, as he sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming". With Christ, we can do anything. We have so much in store for us... what are we waiting for? Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

Always,
Sister Moore

5th of July

HI!

I don't really have a weekly email this week. I don't have a ton of time. Well, okay I'll write a quick one.

We have had a CRAZY week. A lot of heartbreak this past week and testing of faith. We had this family taking the lessons and really enjoying them. We invited them on a church tour and things were going really well. When we were at the baptismal font, the spirit changed quickly as the head of the household made a comment that really threw us for a loop. He had been asking us questions about things he read when he googled Mormonism. Red flag right there... we're afraid he read some anti material and now won't even give this gospel a shot. Won't open the Book of Mormon, won't come to a church service... and what's even more heartbreaking was that his grandkids wanted to come to church. There's a sister visiting this ward this week that served here when she was on her mission. She had asked me what my favorite part of the mission is. The cliche and honest answer is seeing people change by studying the gospel. Awesome. She also asked what my least favorite part of the mission is. I responded, "seeing people progress and then seeing them not accept the gospel". There is absolutely nothing more heartbreaking. However, we have another investigator, part of a part-member family, who is just on fire. On Sunday he came and for the first time, he CHOSE to stay for all 3 hours. He's never done that before. He comes up to me to tell me what he read in the Book of Mormon. He made a comment that during all of the testimonies, he was really moved. He said he finally felt the spirit. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) So, in one week (more like a couple days now that I think about it...), I experienced the best and hardest part of being a missionary.

On July 1st, there was a birthday celebration for a young man who passed away a year ago. His family has gone through a lot, and yet are still one of the strongest, happiness, most hopeful families I have met. They put out this birthday idea through facebook and text, and had a huge turnout. For those of you that have seen Tangled, there are floating lanterns. We lit and set off floating lanterns. They are big! As soon as it turned dark, we had to leave... haha, but as we were driving away, we saw dozens and dozens of floating lanterns going up into the night sky with people scattered throughout the park singing "Happy Birthday". What's even more touching was that this young man that passed away, his brother and his wife were pregnant due the 6th. The baby was born on July 1st, healthy and happy. They named him after the decreased brother. I never had a chance to meet this young man, but he and his family had changed my view on life. Heavenly Father's plan is perfect. We know exactly where our loved ones go after they leave this earth. They are still here with us. They are cheering us on. They support us in our righteous doings. I know where my grandfather and cousin are. I know where my classmate is. I know where my friends are.

For the 4th, we had a BBQ at the home of a part-member family. We chatted with that visiting sister missionary and her friends and met several amazing people. No matter where we go, their are amazing individuals that you knew before here. The fact that these people look familiar testifies of that to me.

I'm sorry I don't have more to share. I didn't write yesterday because all the public libraries were closed on the 4th. Because today is still a proselyting day I don't have time to write my little heart out, haha. :) Please know that I love each and every one of you. I know that you love me and I am so grateful for that. I need it. I pray for you every night and I know you are right along with me in this work. 

Never forget who you are. Never forget you are a child of God.

1 John 4:19

Love Always,
Sister Moore

Shall we not go on in so great a cause?