Monday, August 17, 2015

San Cristobal, Week 93: The Last Letter

Well family, 

With so little time, there is a lot still to do. There is a lot still to say. 

Thank you for all your love and support over the last 2 years. It has gone by fast and I still can´t believe that I am heading home. 

Tomorrow is my last day preaching the Gospel of my Savior as a full time, name tag wearing missionary with a companion next to me. It is a very bitter reality. I hope to someday return to this soil and return to the name tag wearing mission. I will miss talking to the people and helping those that are willing. I will miss bearing my testimony as a Representative of Jesus Christ. I will miss promising blessings in His name. I will miss people referring to me as Elder Moore.

I love the mission! I love seeing people change their lives. I miss seeing the "click" in their minds and hearts as they finally realize the hope and the happiness that the Gospel brings. This truly is the only way that there is in order to live with Heavenly Father again. I will miss helping people change their hearts and come to Church! 

I will miss the Argentinean people and their ways and customs and styles. I will try to bring some back with me. I love the people. I love the country. Its a great city. I will miss the members and the wards. All of those that have helped me find and teach and baptize. 

I am very grateful for these last two years. Sure it wasn't easy but that's okay. I had help. From both sides of the veil. 

Thank you so much for your prayers, I have felt them being answered. Thank you for your love and support, I couldn't have done this alone. 

I love you all. Thank you for everything. Words cannot contain my feelings. 

I will see you soon. 

Love, 
for the last time. 

Elder Moore
Argentina, Buenos Aires Norte

San Cristobal, Week 92: The Dust Particle

Well hello family!

Before you all strart sending me individual emails asking me and everything. I will let you know that, I just called President, saying that next monday is my last PDAY. Tuesday is my last day of Proselyting and Wednesday I am in the President's home, and Wednesday afternoon I go straight to the airport in a bus. So that is that. 

Yesterday we did a service project in a museum. We painted white walls even more white. It was great. Apparently the missionaries do it every year. Without fail. When we finished we went to a place called ONCE. I don´t know if you all remember ONCE but its were they sell everything super cheap. Including jerseys. Well I went there with the plan of buying jerseys. Turns out about a year ago the governement started cracking down on fake jerseys and things and they went into this area and cleaned it up. Now its organized and everything and there are NO jerseys! So, to my dismay, I left without jerseys. But we shall see. 

The end of the mission is like someone vacuuming a room, and I am a dust particle. My whole mission I knew that I was going to be discovered at the end of 2 years and was going to get sucked up. And now near the end I can hear the motor and feel the vibrations and its getting closer and closer and there is nothing I can do about that. I am excited to be sucked up because its going to be different and I will be with other dust particles but I also am sad because I like my place here in the carpet. I love it here with the dust particles that still have time. The vacuum is just going to suck me up into the Presidents house, then the Airport, then the Stake Presidents office. its a weird thought. 

On that happy note. 
I had a great miracle. In this service project I say Elder K, a great friend. He told me that he did a baptismal interview with someone in Palermo (my very first area) and when talking about how he met the missionaries the man says, "the first Elders that taught me were Elder N and Elder Moore. Since then, I have been always thinking about the Church". Now, I don´t remember this man very well but it was an incredible miracle knowing that I had planted a seed and that even though I didn't baptize the person, I was still an instrument in the Lord´s hands. The saying comes to mind that you can count the seeds in an apple but you can´t count the apples in a seed. 

Second miracle is that a recently baptized investigator( he got baptized about 4 or 5 weeks ago) just got confirmed after not wanting to. It was a great experience and he is a lot happier. The Spirit exists! And is absolutely necessary! 

Anyways, please pray for me. I can´t die early. President made some jokes on the phone one of them was "You have till next Tuesday to work" then that night, I give you permission to freak out." What a great comforting comment. 

Anyways, I love you all. 
Thank you for the support. 

Love, 
Elder Moore

San Cristobal, Week 91: San Cristobal Elders

My companion Elder H is in the green shirt. Then Elder G and Elder T
 Kind of a weird posture goofy smile but that's okay. I am not perfect. 

San Cristobal, Week 90: The Last Transfer

Alright family, with three weeks left in the mission. I have news about transfers! 

I am now in SAN CRISTOBAL. Its actually near Palermo where I started but I went from Campana (country) to the downtown area. It was a last minute change and the President called me last night to tell me how it was going to go down. I will be here for my last 3 weeks. But thats not even the coolest part.

Turns out. My companion is Elder H, from Las Vegas. Capo. Second, There are 4 Elders in this ward. The other is Elder T, from Arizona. Also a Capo. And the third is the trainer of Elder T whom you will all recognize. ELDER G. ONCE AGAIN IN THE SAME ZONE. And this time, ward. My future roomate is now my fellow companion. He also might be my district leader. So we might do divisions. WHAT A BLESSING. I am so excited. We had lunch together today. 

Anyways, I don´t have much time. I will do a voice recording for you all later with lots of stuff on it. Its going to be an interesting 3 weeks. I can´t believe its passing by so fast. It scares me. 

I love you all! 
Love,
 Elder Moore

Campana, Week 89: Birthdays!

Happy Birthday Dad and Kerri and Uncle Craig and Grandma! 

I cant remember what I said in the recording but it was a very basic week. This week should be more interesting. 

I love you all! 

Love, 
Elder Moore
 Nobody on the bus!
 Voice Recording on the bus
Making a chicken pie

Campana, Week 87: Argentinian Soccer Game


 Anxoius...
 Anxious...
Sad...
 My excited companion during an Argentinian soccer game

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Campana, Week 83: Really Good Week

Alright family, I don`´t have too much time. 

Well as you all know President told me that my release date will be the 19th of August. He said that is hasn´t been approved yet but he is trying to send a group of us home,. That means that my despedida will be the last week of July in just 7 weeks. WOW. Never thought that that day would happen. 

Well, This week was a really good week, we found people and taught and everything. We broke or met almost all our goals. We taught 25 lessons with a member in one week, almost doubling what we did the last week . (not that numbers are important but is sure is nice to see the reflection of effort) We still are looking for those that are going to be baptized this coming transfer and hope to find some progressing investigators this week. My companion is awesome, he keeps me focused and on track! 

Something cool that happened today was that Elder B (the first missionary I trained) thanked me for everything that I taught him and (I didn´t think I did really well, I had no idea what I was doing) he was very sincere. Tonight, he will be going to Mexico, he has been waiting for his VISA this whole time. I am happy to see him in his mission because I know he really wanted to go. I hope he takes some Argentina Buenos Aires North fire with him. He will be a great missionary. 

I don´t really know what is going to bring this next transfer. If I stay, I die here in Campana, which honestly, would be a little hard to stay focused, But if I go from here to learn a new area it would be a great "focuser". So I have mixed feelings about the transfer. 
 
I have slowly started to get rid of things. For example, I gave some pens to my companion and stationary things. Also, a high council member in our ward told us that there is a higher need of missionary clothes in the Bishop's Storehouse because there are a lot of missionaries that are leaving without what is necessary, and so I gave some pants that still have a good 2 years in them. I don´t need 6 pairs of pants I can live with 2 or 3. Also some shirts too. Then some other clothes that were left behind by other missionaries. I felt pretty good giving them away because I know they will be used to keep preaching the Gospel to someone else in another country perhaps. 

Alright, 

That is everything that I have for you all! Next week will be a recording I hope. Love you! 

Love, Elder Moore! 

Campana, Week 82: Pictures!

Elder Moore sent voice recordings again but he also sent pictures! PS. I don't know how to flip the pictures
 Its kind of a funny picture. It a candidate for president here... Who does it remind you of. I can think of a few people... Think 30 rock too. 
 This is of the mission activity. We were in a theater of an international school. It was great.
 This is another picture of my and Elder K. Waiting for the zone. That's my best smile. 
 This is a picture of me and Elder A in San Pedro. Where we were today. 
The other is us playing a game with knives and stretching it was pretty fun, a simple game but it was hilarious. 

Campana, Week 81: Voice Recordings

Elder Moore didn't write this week but sent a ton of recordings!

Campana, Week 80: A Doozy!

Hello Family,

This week was a doozy! 

Monday, we had Pday. Tuesday we had a district meeting that was just really weird and last minute planned but it went somewhat well. Then that day we worked hard and gained little. We also received a message saying that we were going to have a Zone Conference, in the house of the mission. Normally that wouldn´t be a problem but for us here in Zone Zarate we had to go FAR. We woke up at 4am to get ready and leave and we arrive at the house at 9:15am. It was a great conference, we learned a lot but we didn´t get home until about 7:30pm. We were exhausted we did some last minute things and went to bed. In the morning my companion springs up out of bed as I slide off at 6:25am for some reason, I am just dead. Trying hard not to fall asleep during studies and lunch, we work hard, little success. We get home go to bed. At 6:25am my companions springs up out of bed and I slide out, even more exhausted. We go out and work and walk and go everywhere. No success. Members cancel, appointments aren´t there. Saturday, wake up. Exhausted, and confused on why I am so dang tired. I am eating well, exercising, and everything but still nothing. That day. No success. More memberes cancel, more investigators aren´t there. We want to apply the things that we learned in the conference but can´t. We knock some doors talk to people in the street. Absolutely nothing. I was even more bummed because  the Cordoba temple cultural celebration was Saturday and we had to go with an investigator to be able to attend. Our investigator canceled last minute. We couldn´t go. I have never been nor seen one so I was excited to go. But we didn´t go. We went home, and went to bed. The next morning we go with a member to the 9am, dedication session of the Cordoba Argentina temple that they had broadcast in the stake centers. We had to enter with our recommend. They had a cool temple video before that was showing all the temples around the world and the insides before they were dedicated and stuff it was awesome. I didn´t see the Portland temple though but that's okay. 

The dedication was great! It was my first! It was incredibly spiritual and the dedicatory prayer was super specific to Argentina and some cool things were said. It refreshed my spirit, and put things in the grand perspective. 
It was amazing. 

We went home, ate, and then went to a new area of Campana that we hadn´t been in a long time. We have had plans but everytime something has happened to keep us from going. Its a little bit farther and out of the way but when we went. BOOM, a lesson with one member and 5 investigators, two of which (I had met them before they are very polite but they never seemed too interested) were asking tons of questions about the Plan of Salvation and the Book of Mormon, we were there for about an hour just asking questions, it was awesome, they then invited us to come back this Wednesday to eat dinner with them, then after we found two more people to teach that are incredibly nice and prepared. We hope it turns into something. It just goes to show that the Lord knows where we should work and when, I know it to be true! It was a valuable lesson. I love the Lord! We had more success in those 4 hours than we had in 4 days. We have to listen to the Lord on where we should go and where we should be. That is how it works! I have to go now! 



I love you all! 
Love, 
Elder Moore

Campana, Week 79: Mother's Day Call



Well, 

I don´t have anything else to say after the Mother's Day talk. Next time I see you all it will be face to face. Slowly but surely its coming. The time is passing by! Its a bitter sweet feeling. 

This week was pretty uneventful. Long too. I don´t know why. This Wednesday we have Zone conference with the President, I hope to have a few minutes with him to talk about my release date. 

But thats about it! 

I love you all I hope everything is going well. 

Love, 
Elder Moore

Campana, Week 78: Trainer again

Hello family, 

Alright, I don´t have that much time, but here are some asuntos. 

(I edited out the Mother's Day call planning!)

I am still in Campana 1. I got called last night to be a trainer again. So I am in San Fernando waiting to receive my new companion. Wish me luck! 

I am excited to talk to you all. I love you! 

love, 
Elder Moore 

Campana, Week 77: Romina's Baptism

Well Hello family! 

This is a picture of Romina, she got baptized on Saturday, we are with the family Amores that was also at the baptism. It was a great experience! Always a very humbling experience. It went well.

Campana, Week 76: Short!

Well this week was pretty good. This past Sunday, we had one confirmation which is always a great experience and also, Romina, the investigator that I told you about that is a lawyer came to Church, we saw her last Friday and we went through the interview questions and turns out that we needed to teach a little bit better so we all decided to postpone her baptism one week. So hopefully, this week she will get baptized. She has a really hard schedule but she is definitely dedicated in getting baptized. 

(Elder Moore has started sending us emails with voice recordings. Sometimes he will write and sometimes he will attach a voice clip. Since I can't edit out family/private stuff some weeks there will not be a post) I can´t really remember what I said in the voice recording but I hope that it all works out. I hope everyone can hear it. 

Anyways, I don´t really have anything else. I love you all! 
Keep praying for me and what I need to do! The prayers help. 

Love,
Elder Moore

Campana, Week 75: Difficult Week



Hello Family!

I hope this was a GREAT week for everyone! 

This week was super long and difficult for us. The numbers went down even though we worked hard, so this week we want to learn what the Lord wants us to learn and keep going. 

We had a cool experience the other day, we received a call from an investigator, she wanted to know when Conference was. I don´t know who she is but she is a lawyer, 26 years old and lives alone. She was actively investigating the church with the other Elders; had read almost the entire Book of Mormon and had attended church 4 or 5 times. But as she was preparing for her baptism,  She was given an ultimatum. (something like that) her family told her, choose between the Church or your family. Not both. So sadly she chose the family. But then about 4 weeks later she sends us a message asking to know  when Conference is. So we gave her the website. She watched all 4 sessions with her sister and with her family. Then she calls us and asks us to come over. So we go. She talked a little about Conference, then stopped and said, "when its convenient for you two, I want to get baptized." BOOM, music to my ears, I was so happy when I heard that. Now she is going to get baptized this Saturday. Her name is Romina, we haven't seen her in a few days but we still hope she is doing good. She had kept reading the Book of Mormon in her free time when she wasn´t receiving the lessons, but she is almost finished with it! I  hope it goes through! 

Anyways, that pretty much was the most awesome part of the week. The rest was filled with visits, contacts, studies, and planning! 

My companion and I are doing great. The ward is great, small, but great. Actually, its shouldn´t really be a ward. This whole stake should be a district with branches. We had 29 people in the church yesterday. Its pretty disheartening but pretty motivating too. 

We will see how this week goes. 
 I love you all! 

Love, 
Elder Moore

Monday, April 6, 2015

Campana, Week 74: Another Baptism

Hello family! 

Well, it has been a great week! 



We did have a baptism this past week. Her name is Joselyn. She is 9 years old. Her whole family got baptized about 2 months ago but for some reason she never got baptized with them. I don´t know why but hey, that's okay with me. I am always glad to help someone take the first step towards exaltation! 

Anyways, it was a stressful baptismal service but it was worth it. 



The rest of Kyle's letter involved him discussing possible release dates and future plans.  



Well, just to let you all know I am working hard! I am tired. I am getting old. My body just aches. Its a good sign. 

Well, so you know, I have a voice recorder that is super handy so you all might be recieving some voice messages this next week. 

I love you all! Happy Easter. HE IS RISEN! 

Love, 
Elder Moore

Campana, Week 73: New Zone!



Well howdy everybody! 

I loved receiving all of your pictures and stories from the week! Sounds like everyone is being blessed and is super happy. Which makes me happy! 

Well, the Zarate zone is awesome. (SAW.RAW.TE) Due to the fact the it is SO BIG and SO FAR AWAY. We have a special set of rules. Our zone meeting last week started out with the Zone Leaders telling us that the Mission President doesn't send just any type of missionary here. Here things are different so the President has to trust us. A few examples are that every Sunday evening we pack up and we go to an apartment of another Elder set . Yesterday at 6. Elder Lawyer and I packed a backpack and went to the bus station and took a tour bus for about 3 or 4 hours to go to a city called San Pedro which is the farthest area in the mission. To give you the size and distance all 13 zones of the mission can fit into our zone and there is still space. We, as a zone of 6 Sisters and 10 Elders, have an area that is bigger than the other zones put together. From our area in Campana to the offices it takes about 2 hours to get there. The Elders in San Pedro are twice as far. Thats just incredible to me. Anyways we have permission to travel the day before to go to a city to have a P-day as a zone and also we have permission to start our P-days at 8 when we are as a zone and we can do our grocery shopping any other time of the week. Its actually really nice but I have to remember to not get too relaxed with the schedule, after all, I could be moved out of the zone and be in another zone. Also, we eat breakfast and lunch as a zone on P-days and at zone meetings. Its great! San Pedro is a super peaceful little city, has a cool downtown and a lovely valley. We got up and met up with the Sisters and we played soccer in a field and also ultimate Frisbee and then ate and then wandered and left. A good day! 

Being District Leader is alright. Its not that different. Due to the distance I only have two companionships in my district, us and two others in a place called Campana 2 which is about 20 minutes away. At first I had no idea what I was doing. Really just doing whatever. But the revelation has kicked in and things are a little bit smoother. Speaking of revelation, We put a goal as a companionship for 4 baptisms this month. We have one planned for this weekend and it looks pretty solid. Its something we felt super strongly about. And we want to reach it so badly we just don´t know where to begin, but the Lord will guide us. 

I exhort all of you to get ready for conference! We are super excited for this week and I feel like its going to be amazing. It also is my last general conference.

Things are going great. That is all I have this week! 

I love you all. 
Love, 
Elder Moore

Campana, Week 72: Transferred!

Well family. 

I bet you all are just DYING to know where I am, amidst all your fun and games, and work and play, its just nagging at your minds, where in the Buenos Aires Norte Mission is Elder Moore? Well, here we I go. 

I am in a city called Campana which means "bell" in English, I think. In reality its the ward right next to Escobar. Now, "right next to" is also relatively speaking. Its a BIG ward apparently so its not that close but its not that far. I love something new but the first few days are always tough because I have no idea where I am or where I am going. I just follow my companion around. Speaking of my companion, his name is Elder Lawyer. He is from Orem Utah. Has about 7 months on the mission, and this is his 2nd area. He seems pretty cool. Its my 3rd companion from the United States. Speaking of companions from the United States, today I saw Elder Nielsen. He finished his mission and is heading home. Its crazy how fast the time passes by. Things are constantly changing and everyday is a new day! Speaking of change. I also was assigned to be a District Leader. So know I have the privilege of helping other missionaries in their areas with divisions and verification (reports) every night! I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I don´t even know where to start! We shall see. 

This past week was very busy for us in Escobar. We had a trainers meeting for Elder Adams to go to, then the next day we had to go back to the same place (a lot farther though) to have a Doctors appointment for Elder Adams. Long story short, they basically butchered his nose and the specialists aren't very happy with the doctors and it looks like they didn't set his nose right so its causing respiration problems. We shall see what his future holds. 

Well, we don´t have much more time. I am very excited for this transfer and what it brings! Please pray for me! 

I love you all! Enjoy your vacations. 
Love, 
Elder Moore

Escobar, Week 71: Pictures!

 Temaiken the zoo park refuge thing

 The white tiger

 Me on a white tiger

Parrots 

 A friendly stray dog (reminds me of Scout)


Andre's baptism

 Divisions 

My three Argentinean companions

Escobar, Week 71: Another Miracle

Hello Family!


I hope everything that is going on is going well in the states. 
Well after a few short emails I think its time for a LONG email. Enjoy. 

Things here in Escobar are great! We had an awesome week.
Yesterday Andres got baptized! So it was a great day to share with him, and the members. Hardwork pays off! 

As you know, we had the doctors appointment last week. Good news! The doctor said that it looks like a sinus infection that is deep set. Or up higher than usual. So Elder Adams has been taking the drugs and already can smell better. We have a follow up appointment later this week so we will be making the trip again. Actually for me, I didn't go the last time. We found a Priest who didn't have school or anything that could accompany me the whole day so I went on divisions while they left to the doctors. It went great! 

I shall explain another miracle. 

In a neighboorhood far far away, named San Luis. There lives a family of 4. Father, Mother, and two kids. (thing 1 and thing 2-I cant remember their names). Anyways. A member gave us a reference of their cousins. He told us that they aren't married but they were looking for the true church and were wanting to know more about the Mormons. A week later this family came to a ward activity, where my companions and I were actors in a little play. (absolute disaster with the 2 gringos, I didn't even understand half the jokes) Anyways, they said they loved the activity and that they felt super welcome and super relaxed there. So we set an appointment the next day. We went, they had made jello for us which was great and a good sign. We talked about how they had felt in Church and why and we talked about marriage and how its a commandment. They said they will think about it. The next day, they went to church.They asked us to pass by their house that evening so we did. They had a few quiestions, they fell in love with the clases and the talks and the members. We talked even more about marriage and they said they will do it and that they want to be baptized the same day. So the next day we passed by and they started out by telling us that they had already taken out a (turno) a place? a turn? an appointment? or something like that. To get married legally in one month! So, April 10th is their marriage day and also their baptism day. We talked about being sealed and they got even more excited and decided to save up for one year to have a wedding reception for the day of their sealing and just have a family BBQ or lunch thing for their wedding in one month. We visit them about every other day or two, the husband quit smoking  and hasn't smoked in almost a week. They are praying together every day and reading too. So they are receiving answers and everything and strengthening their testimony like crazy. Its great! 

There are people ready for the Gospel! 

We also went to Temaiken. Which was a neat experience. We went and to our surprise the entrance was half off! Which was a great blessing. There were very few people their because school started up again. It was great. So with the money that we didn't spend on the entrance I bought a few reminders. I attached some pictures to the other emails. It was a great day! We got to see everything in the park. The bats in Oregon or small compared to the bats that are here. They are a little smaller than Scout. Or about the size of Cami I think but they are huge. It was pretty cool. I also saw a hippo show which was cool. 

Rest easy family, I am working hard, I am being obedient, and How do I know? Beacuse I am tired. All the time. But somehow the Spirit gives me the strength to keep going. Doctrine and Convenants 24:7-9 was something I came across during my personal study time. Definitely a comfort. 
For thou shalt devote all thy service in Zion; and in this thou shalt have strength. Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; butendure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days. And in temporal labors thou shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling. Attend to thy calling and thou shalt have wherewith to magnify thine office, and to expound all scriptures, and continue in laying on of the hands andconfirming the churches.

What a great promise! I truly believe in it.  I know that the Lord wanted me to come here to learn and grow. To be able to train has been a great blessing. Hard but rewarding. I have become more confident in my obedience, more firm in my faith and stronger in my testimony. My willingness to be obedient isnt just a quiet "sure I will do it" but now a passion to do what the Lord wants me to do despite the sacrifices. Like Nephi said " I will go and do" More firm and unmoveable. Its great. I see things now in a more black and white kind of way. There is no somewhat obedient or somewhat sure its a yes or no.  So I have maybe become more direct in teaching I don't beat around the bush with some people- Now don't get me wrong, I don't just go around telling people super hard and direct things but I have gained the confidence  to say something the way the Lord would say it. Without malice but just straight truth. More simple, less complicated. Now, I am also not saying that I am perfect I have to repent everyday, but thanks to the atonement of Jesus Christ I can do it. We ALL can do it. I hope that made sense. 
Anyways, that is all I have for now! 

I love you all! 

Love, 
Elder Moore

Escobar, Week 70: A short letter and off to the Dr.'s!



Hello Family! 

Well, I hope that everything is okay. 

You are all going to hate me for this. But today is a reduced Pday because we have to go to the doctors office on the other side of the mission for my companions nose. 

He gave me permission to tell the story. 

In his last area, he was preaching and this drunk person came up to him, said a few slurred words and WHAM. Threw a punch into his face. Broke his nose. Since that day about 3 months ago he hasn´t been able to smell or breath very well through his nose and he already had a surgery. So we are going today to have a check up and consultation. 

I have to go! 

Tomorrow we are going to Temaiken which is the Zoo here. You can look it up. I will take a TON of pictures. 
 I love you all! 

Love, 
Elder Moore

Escobar, Week 69: An Interesting Week

Hello Family! 

Just want to say that I love you all! 

This week was very interesting. 

First off, Monday we had p-day but I had to go to the offices to do something for my documents so we actually wasted the day in traveling there and back for basically nothing. So the President gave us permission to do the things we needed on Tuesday. So we bought groceries and then cut our hair and cleaned the apartment. 

Wednesday was an incredible day! Incredible in one sense. Flash Floods. Wednesday we stayed in the house of a member for 3 hours (with permission from our leaders) waiting for a terrible rain storm to pass. Well, it never passed. So we left anyways. The street LITERALLY was a river. I could have gone white water rafting. Immediately we were soaked. We ran to the bus stop and luckily it was already waiting. The bus wasn't affected because the street was concrete and higher up so the water passed. We then were going to go to another area of the ward to see an investigator. We got off the bus and we are walking to the station in about 2 feet of water. Up to our thighs almost. It was incredible. I wish I had my camera in the moment but we didn´t so we didn´t take a picture. I stepped in a pothole which was hidden so I  went in up to my waist. My companions were laughing and then another one did the same thing so it was sweet justice. Probably a tender mercy. It was actually really fun. 

Anyways everywhere was literally a river or a lake. As we are waiting for the buses. Literally all of them start to change their poster sign things in front to "fuera de servicio" which is "out of service" the buses couldn´t leave due to flooding. Its about 7 o clock and we were thinking, 'well, lets go to near our apartment to the house of the mission leader to see how things are going'. We hopped on another bus which was heading towards higher ground. We get in the bus and are in the bus for about 40 minutes and we only went about 3 blocks. We then decided to walk. There was a huge traffic jam. We leave and are walking in the pouring rain, and forging through all the water. (definitely beating the bus) and we head towards the house of our mission leader. We get to his street and there are police blocking of the street because this was just a JET STREAM of water. Easily waist high. All of the water was funneled into this one street. And all the houses there were flooded with about 2 or 3 feet of water. So we forged through that and decided to go to the apartment to check on our stuff. We were afraid that the apartment also was flooded. So we kept walking/ forging/ swimming in the water, absolutely soaked. But having a lot of fun for some reason. The closer we got to the apartment the less water their was and when arrived to the apartment there was not a problem with anything. It was great blessing. Then with permission from the assistants we stayed home. Then the electricity went out. Yay. Then the next day we woke up at 4 to go to San Fernando to the mission offices. 

In San Fernando we had a Seventy visit us. His name is Elder Zeballos. It was a great talk. We saw the numbers of the mission and everything and he talked about the ability and importance to speak English and Spanish. Did you know that if you can speak Spanish and English you can communicate with 80% of the church membership? And if you can speak those two and Portuguese you can speak to 90% of the church membership? He talked about preserving our Spanish and our English so that we can be instruments in the hand of the Lord in the future. It was very interesting. 

Yesterday we had a miracle. It was great. There is an investigator since December that has attended every other week. He is great. He loves reading and listening to the missionaries. We stopped visiting him about 3 weeks ago. Yesterday he attended the church making it 2 Sundays consecutively. We set an appointment with him to talk about his progression the church. And also to drop him as an active investigator. Yesterday I did splits with the Mission Leader and we went to his house. The first 10 minutes were really rusty as I tried to guide the conversation to where we had planned. As we were talking the investigator asked the member what he thought about what we were teaching. The member who also is a convert talked about the First Vision and the Spirit. His testimony had such power that the Spirit immediately took hold of the conversation and started to guide us. I eventually found myself talking about the purpose of the missionaries, and then about the First Vision and then I challenge him to kneel with us in that moment and pray to see if he should be baptized. He did it. And as he finished I asked him how he felt. He said that he doesn´t feel anything different but that he does notice the ABSENCE of his worries. He took that as an answer. Right then and there the member and I invited him to be baptized in 2 weeks and he said Yes! I left the lesson with a testimony that the Spirit is the real teacher. It was a humbling experience. I love the Spirit! 

Anyways, things are going great! I love the mission I love being in a trio, we can divide so much easier. 

Anyways, I love you all! 

Love 
Elder Moore

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Escobar, Week 68: So blessed

Hello Family! 

Everything is going well. This week was incredible. We more than doubled our lessons with a member and everything. We have one investigator thats name is Feliciano. He is a neighbor of a Peruana familia. He is from Peru. Anyways, he loves the church and everything. We have an appointment with him today afterwards and I am super excited! 

We are so blessed in the United States. With our houses, food, clothes, technology, security, and freedom. I grow more and more fond of Argentina and the people, but as I do it, I always remind myself the blessings that I experience that others dont´here. Its something that is ingrained deeper and deeper. I will feel guilty sleeping in my own bed and my own room someday. 

Today we have a zone activity, so we are going to see how that goes. They won't tell us any details but it should be interesting. 

This past week the area had a training from the Area Presidency and apparently it went really well. They talked a lot about the missionaries and missionary work and how it solves all of our problems. So I hope to see a little bit of a difference in the future. Being in an area for so much time is really different. It gets a little bit difficult because I feel like I have used up everything, all my ideas and experiences and ways to find to teach. That's why I am grateful for my 3rd companion, Elder Adams, he adds some different perspectives of the work. Definitely a blessing. 

I am looking to buy a cheap voice recorder in order to be able to do a more detailed journal kind of thing. They aren´t really common anymore but we shall see what comes up! 

I love you all! 

Next week I will attach pictures! 

Love, 
Elder Moore