Week Sixty-Four: Monterrico

Hey fam!

Congrats HAM!! The first to graduate college! Hai Estamos!! 

We had the Christmas conference and it went really well. First, a few missionaries gave some talks, then we heard from the president and his wife, then we heard the testimonies of the missionaries that are finishing their missions this transfer. So I got to see Elder Lemus give his testimony, which was cool. 

I have some good news and bad news. The first is that as I was talking with Elder Lemus he said that I have a package in the offices. He said it's a big bag. I asked if there was also a box (I imagine the first you guys sent was a box) and he said he wasn't sure. But there is one! The bad news is that I don't have it lol. The assistants thought the zone leaders were going to bring the packages and the zone leaders thought the assistants were going to bring them so no one brought them lol. But it's all good. I'll get it in a little bit! We had the gift exchange and this time everyone left with a gift lol. I got a cup for mate so it was a success. The song went well. I was nervous as crap though, even though there was only one other zone there. I have never done anything close to a duo before so I was nervous. But I got a few compliments afterwards. That stuff is nerve racking! I don't know how you do it Katie! 

Jorge understands the importance of not chewing coca. Coca is still in the form of a leaf so it isn't as strong and pure as cocaine. It doesn't have the same affects but none the less it's a problem. The many years of drinking nonstop has had an affect on his mind and we have to explain things very simply so he understands. So we are waiting until he really understands everything before he gets baptized. 

This Sunday there wasn't any bread for the sacrament so we used cookies! We broke and blessed them like normal and it seemed like the members enjoyed them lol. It was pretty interesting to use cookies instead of bread so that is going the history books. 

I'm keeping the letter a little short because we are going to talk this week! I love you guys! Kiss the puppies for me! I'll see you soon! 

When Elder Moore started his mission and when he will end.

Week Sixty-Three: Monterrico

Hey fam!

Man it sounds like ED was a job and a half! But thankfully you guys don't have to worry about that stress of setting everything up anymore! But I bet everyone is freaking out because without the Moores everything is going to be a lot different. Man, Cam and Hails are graduating?! That's nuts! What are their plans now? When do the kids come? Lol. 

This week Jorge was not able to be baptized because he was still chewing coca. So we have to push it back another week and see how it goes. But the lesson we had when we found out he was chewing coca still was actually really spiritual. He was actually chewing it when we showed up and I really didn't know what I should say. So as my comp was saying the prayer to start the lesson I was saying another one to have the help of the Spirit. And long story short... GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS! It was another experience where I can't tell you what I said because they weren't my words. I can only tell you that the Spirit in that lesson was hard to miss. As we were teaching I felt the impression to give him a blessing to help him with this problem. We gave him a blessing after the closing prayer and we left. We came back for our next appointment and I never saw him so excited and happy before. He was talking more than before and you could tell that the Spirit had touched his heart. He has another date for this Saturday, the 17th. The interview is planned, we just need to make sure he stays busy and doesn't fall into temptation. 

We also had a good Sunday. There were a lot of people, more than I have seen before. We prepared the sacrament like we always do and it turns out that we ran out of water. We had to prepare more and bless it. It was awesome! The branch president leaned over to us and said, "There are a lot of people here, good work elders!" That thought never even entered my mind that we were the cause of the amount of people that were there. I looked around the room and realized everyone that was there were people and families that we were teaching and helping come back to the church. But there is no way I can take the credit, everyone has their time whether it's to accept the gospel for the first time or to come back to it. We as missionaries are not the turning point for these people. Rather we are the mouth piece of the Spirit. It's the Spirit that turns lives around, never us. I just do what I can do to have the Spirit with me and then He takes the reigns. 

Also I gave a talk in sacrament meeting about being the light of the world and how we can and should always share this great message we have with everyone we know. With the experiences and stories I shared, it was hard not to get a little emotional through the Spirit. 

This week we have the Christmas conference with the president so I will let you guys know how the song went lol. I think that's about it for my week but I hope you guys have a great week! I'll talk to you guys soon! Kiss the puppies for me!!

Week Sixty-Two: Monterrico

Hey fam!

Man it sounds like everyone has been crazy busy! But the Christmas season is always super busy right? But it sounds like you guys are kicking some major butt setting everything up and just doing everything! That's one of the problems being a Moore, we are just so awesome so everyone needs and wants our help lol. I got the video of Grace and Katie singing! WOW!! They sound incredible!! Seriously!! I am very impressed! I have no idea what is going on with the mailing system here. But please don't worry about anything! You already sent two packages and I don't know if they are lost or not. I don't want you guys to have to spend so much money. I think it will be best to wait a little bit to see if i get the packages and if more rules change. Please don't worry about me, I am and will be fine. I know you guys are bending over backwards to do everything at home and make sure I have a good Christmas too. The fact that you guys have already sent two packages means a lot to me! 

So now I'll tell you about my week. The weather is getting pretty warm but we are entering the rainy season, so it's hot for a few days then it rains a lot and repeats that process. Jorge is still going good. He actually has a baptism date for this Saturday. There are just a few things we have to check for before he can be baptized. But there is a possibility that he will be able to be baptized this week, unless he isn't too ready. I would much rather have him understand everything and be sure that the drinking isn't a problem before he is baptized. Yesterday in church his wife, who is a member, bore her testimony. She is really shy so everyone was pretty surprised. She started out normal then she started to talk about her husband, Jorge. She said that for years and years he has been an alcoholic and has never been able to quit, and basically how bad of a man and husband he has been over the years. But then she said every since he has been talking with the missionaries everything has changed. He hasn't drank in over a month and now he is changing completely and trying to repent. Then she looked at us and thanked us for helping her husband to change. Honestly it felt nice to be thanked like that and know that we are making a difference in his life, but I really didn't feel worthy of such high praise. I don't think of myself as anything special or able to make such a big difference in someone's life. I feel that this is really his time and we have been blessed to help him find the faith and hope to change. 

Also this week we started to practice singing a few Christmas songs as a zone for when we have the Christmas conference with the president and other zones in the mission. We were singing a song when they decided they wanted to do something a little different. They wanted to add a solo and well, they picked me to do it. It's not a solo of an entire song but just the first few lines and then we sing the chorus together. But I kind of chickened out and now its a duo. I was just a little too nervous to do a solo! I don't remember what the song is called but it's the one where you sing "gloria" for the majority of the chorus. I don't know how you do it Katie, but that is some nerve racking stuff lol. I think that's about it for my week! I love you guys! Kiss the puppies for me! I'll talk to you soon!

Week Sixty-One: Monterrico

Hey fam!

I'm glad to hear that you guys were able to have some fun this week! Hollywood sign is always a lot of fun! Sounds like Thanksgiving dinner was a success! Our Thanksgiving was a lot simpler. I sent a video but because it was longer it had to be sent a different way, so tell me if it works. But actually I had completely forgotten that it was Thanksgiving until one of the sisters in my district sent a message to the whole district wishing them a happy Thanksgiving lol. So my comp and I made some last minute plans. We bought some sandwiches, apple flavored soda, and candles lol. So we were able to enjoy Thanksgiving here in Argentina too! It was actually really fun, I really enjoyed it. I felt like we were really celebrating Thanksgiving. 

This week our district meeting was a little different. The assistants came to be a part of my district meeting. Why? I'm not really sure but it was nice to see Elder Lemus and because I know him pretty well I wasn't nervous or stressed so that was nice. After the meeting Elder Lemus and one of the zone leaders came to our area to do exchanges. I was with Elder Lemus for the afternoon so that was pretty fun teaching and working with him. He also served in Monterrico so he already knows the area and the members. Really the only difference was that now I am able to talk a little more in the lesson compared to when I was with him about a year ago lol. We are able to teach a good amount of people each week but I think one of our main difficulties is finding new investigators. Yes, we are finding each week but not that much. The fact that I feel like I have talked with just about everyone here doesn't help either so I am letting my comp guide us to which house we should knock. 

About the new video, we just got it in Spanish on Friday. We have cards to hand out, we talk with people, and also we are giving some to members so they can share them with friends and family. I just saw it like 10 minutes ago and it's awesome!! Man, the church knows how to make great videos! 

Things are going good with my comp and the district. The sisters are hard workers so my job is a lot easier, but there are still a few small things that we can improve on. Tomorrow we have interviews with the president so I'll try to see if he has some info about the packages. I think that's about it for my week! I love you guys! Have a great week! Kiss my puppies for me!!