Finally.....Luis got Baptized!

Hola Family! Happy Easter!  How are you all?  This last week was alright but Saturday made it the best...which I'll tell about later. Monday we were in Tarma for P-day and hung out with all the Elders. We ate completos.....Chilean hot dogs.  After we played soccer on a rented turf field for 3 hours.  It's always fun to get together and see everyone! Then I went on splits with Elder Mendoza. We had 2 lessons and had a great time.  He's such a great teacher and I feel like I've become a better teacher because of him.  We stayed in Tarma until Tuesday and then headed back to La Oroya to help Elder Alvarado get packed. He's going home back to Honduras.  We feel so sad for him and we really tried to help and encourage him to stay but he was struggling. So guess who's Elder Campbell's companion?! Elder Ramirez! So on Tuesday we had to wait around for Elder Ramirez to show up so we weren't able to do much. Who ever thought that I'd be here in Peru with a good friend talking Spanish? It was so great to see him again.  The funny thing is when we did the rescue mission we ran into each other and I joked with him that he was going to be serving in Marcavalle and here he is! Wednesday Elder Ramirez and I did a division together and taught 5 good lessons..... it was non stop laughing all day! It's so great to be with a missionary who loves to work. The day goes by really quick when you are working hard. Thursday we also had a couple of good lessons.  Friday less lessons......but that doesn't stop us from working.  This week no one was home because it was Holy Week. They celebrate this instead of Easter.  But the one good lesson we had this week was with Rafael again.  He was telling us how he wanted to read more and find out more about the Resurrection and the BOM. I love this kid! He is 14 and is less-active and he's just in love with the BOM now. He bore his testimony at the end of the lesson and told us how he knows God hasn't left him and that in the last 2 weeks he has felt the spirit more.  He told us how the church is true...it was so cool to hear that! Rafael didn't want anything in the beginning and to see him grow so much is so amazing and such a blessing. Saturday was great.....Luis got baptized!  Some back info about Luis. He was an old investigator that we contacted again.  He was taught by some other Elders but nothing came of it. When I met him I felt an immediate connection with him and challenged him to get baptized. We had some work to do with him.....but he accepted. His baptism was so awesome to see. He showed up in a white shirt and a tie that I gave him. After he was baptized he just had this light. His buddy, Willy, baptized him. Luis bore his testimony at the end. He said he wants his family to have the light that he has now. He also said that he just felt something different with us. I know I was sent to La Oroya for him! Wow it was so cool to see how much he has grown....you could feel the spirit strongly. He's one of my favorite converts! In 6 months he will be getting his mission papers ready! I'm so excited for him. It was so rewarding to have a solid convert after a couple of rough weeks.

Reflection of the week:  The differences we can make in other people as members of the church.  I've seen in my mission the differences I have made among the people.  Also how I have been shaped by others. I hope I have been an influence to others. I've tried to step up and take the initiative to be an example. I hope my example has helped others. Sometimes I feel like I have failed. But I can't control everything.  When I get knocked down, I get back up. If I fail, I keep going. Elder Rasmussen taught me to keep working even when you don't have success.  I'm grateful for that lesson. I hope that I've made a difference somehow with each of my companions. I hope that all of us will try to be example for others and try to be like Christ. We influence people daily. I love the tough times and I'm grateful for the people that have influenced me and made me a better missionary. I love it here and I know this gospel is true. I wouldn't be who I am now without my mission. I am learning things that will sustain me for the rest of my life.  I love you all! #doitforjesus

Love, 

Elder Moss

Luis's Baptism - La Oroya

Service project - Potato Picking

Friends united - Elder Ramirez and Elder Moss

Hard to teach someone that's passed out! FYI...Jake's not losing hair, he got a bad haircut!

Elder Moss is prepared for the pollution from the mines!

Hola From Tarma!

Family.....Another week! Feels like yesterday I was leaving the CCM and getting to HVCA and freaking out! I have grown so much since then.  This week went quick.  I bought a recorder. Lots of the missionaries here have them. I thought it would be fun to get a recorder so you guys can hear my voice. I'm in Tarma today and they have really bad Internet service so I'll have to send a recording next week.

Monday started out bad by getting horrible haircuts.  Elder Campbell had to go to Huancayo so Elder Alvarado, Solorzano and I went to Marcavalle to get our hair cut. Paola usually cuts my hair and I had to go to her after to fix it.  Elder Alvarado is from Honduras and also a one year convert.  He's struggling a bit, but we are really trying to help him.  He spent a couple days with us. We hope he can see that this mission is awesome. Please pray for him.  Elder Campbell returned on Wednesday to La Oroya.  Thursday we had the opportunity to do some awesome service! We went and picked potatoes on a mountain.  It was so much fun to be with the members of Marcavalle and the other Elders.  We were there until Noon.  Afterwards we had a member offer us lunch....which was lamb soup....which we had to eat to be nice.  It was NASTY!  Friday we actually had an awesome lesson with a new guy name Guillermo...he's awesome! He reads everything, understands and asks good questions. We will put him with a baptismal date this Tuesday. He just tells us how he wants to do what God wants him to do. He will be great! We also had a lesson with Rafael and Ronald (his brother). We read 1 Nephi:13 and we read about the Americas and about the Great & Abominable church.  They also had questions about the Incas and how they are descendants of the Lamanites. They were amazed! Saturday we did more service and helped set up for a baby shower. Sunday we went to Tarma for District Conference. Pres & his wife were there and they spoke. After wards they had everyone line up and shake there hands like they were celebrities...haha! I love the Peruvians! They are such kind people. After the conference was over we headed back to La Oroya with the members and then we visited Luis...who is awesome...and gets baptized this Saturday! Finally!! He's doing great and we're so excited for him! I hope Luis will get to the temple! He will probably do that next year in July when I am home! Which will be awesome to talk to him while he is out on his mission that he is so determined to do! He is awesome and has found a new light in his life and I am so happy for him! I love the temple and going in Lima was awesome but it was in Spanish! But i love that temple! I love the temples and it is something that has stregthened my testimony! I love how we can just go and be so close to our Father in Heaven! Hector is great! I love the guy and we just laugh with him and take care of him! I know that God has a special place for him in Heaven. He can't comprehend everything but I know God loves him so much and I tell him that every time we see him and that he will be with God once again cause he's so special. I love the guy to death!

Well, that's it. We will have p-day today in Tarma and hang with all the elders and play soccer.  Not much happened this last week.  La Oroya is tough but I love it and the time is flying!

Reflection of the week: Learning not to judge too quickly.  This week we went out to lunch with President Mejia and his wife. When I first met President Mejia I thought he was different. I've learned that I need to the give people more time before I form an opinion.  It's important to humble yourself and accept what and how it is with something or someone.  I want to do what I can as a missionary and just love them.  We have done some great things in La Oroya and it'll be sad to go and to not see these people again.  I've learned a lot here and I'm grateful for the change, challenges and hardships I've experienced.  I love you all! #doitforjesus

Love,

Elder Moss

The Work in La Oroya Continues...

Hola Familia! I hope that everyone is doing great! Things are good in La Oroya. We were out of town until last Wednesday so that made the week go by really quick.  Sunday we headed down to Tarma and spent the night. We got up at 6 AM and took a bus to La Merced on Monday.  While on the bus we had an interesting experience.  As the bus was turning a corner, our bus driver tried to avoid hitting a drunk guy that was in the road, unfortunately he was hit and we're pretty sure he died.  We had to switch buses real quick as the construction workers showed up to put cones around him and then the police finally showed up. Sad thing and kind of scary. We got to La Merced and stayed in a hotel in San Ramon.....such a cool hotel! The weather was perfect....it was raining but felt amazing! The best part was Elder Solorzano didn't tell me every 5 seconds that it was cold....haha.....but then he started telling me that it was too hot!

Everyone met up at the church.  Some went to a waterfall while we stayed back and played basketball with all the gringos in the rain.  We spent the day there and ate dinner at the hotel. After dinner some Elders and I all went to this place in town where they sell Oreo shakes....that was so good! We woke up Tuesday and we attended the Multi-Zone conference with President Henderson which was great! I'm going to miss him when he leaves in July....he's been awesome! Then we headed back to La Oroya on Tuesday on the hottest bus, it was really bad but at least we didn't hit anyone. Wednesday we had a zone-conference in Tarma and then we headed back home around 5.  

When we got back to our place on Wednesday it was so nice to find that our landlord finally fixed our shower and it's the most amazing shower ever! We jumped right back into work in Pacca and found 2 new investigators and we visited Hector. The Vento family, who were attending the Marcavalle branch, decided to start attending the La Oroya. We are so happy about this because they are the model-Mormon family....I love them! And they came yesterday to church. Thursday we had splits and I went with Elder Campbell, who I always have such a great time with. He's training his companion and his companion wants to go home.  He is struggling with the mission and doesn't want to be here. So Friday I told Campbell that I would do splits with him and see if I could help him in any way. I tried to help this Elder and I gave him some advice and talked to him and tried to give him encouragement....I hope he changes his mind. Saturday we visited Luis and Hector and the 2 new investigators. Luis is getting baptized on the 27th because we have stake conference this weekend. He maybe will be getting baptized with Renzo and Carmen! Carmen is new and has been attending church. Renzo is failing us sometimes. But we're working hard and trying to get them ready! Sunday we had 95 attend the branch.... lots of less actives and investigators. We had 3 lessons on Sunday and visited Luis.  He keeps coming to church and attending seminary at 6 AM. We also visited Lettsy who's preparing to go to the temple in 3 months.  

Reflection of the week: We studied a talk for the multi-zone conference about "pride" and I can't stop thinking about it. The one problem I have seen in some places and with some people in my mission is pride. It prohibits the people from going to church.  As members of the church we shouldn't be this way. We need to be humble examples for all. Love all and treat them as Christ would. I hope all of you at home don't let pride get in your way! I'm trying to teach them to be humble and to follow the example of our Savior. Love you all! Please pray for La Oroya! #doitforjesus

Love,
Elder Moss

Elder Moss & Elder Ramirez - Lima Temple March 2016

Elder Moss & The Elders in Lima East

Back in La Oroya

Hey Family.....How are you all? I'm finally back in La Oroya....so excited. But right now we are in La Merced for Zone Conference. I never thought I would miss La Oryoya but I did. After I wrote you last Monday we went with all the Elders in my "temporary" zone in Lima East and we went and played soccer with another zone.  I actually watched them play because I didn't have any p-day clothes. I sat there sweating while watching them play for four hours...not so fun! They have planned p-days and usually play soccer because there isn't much else to do. Later that night we had FHE. Tuesday I worked with the Lima East missionaries again and said bye to their pension. The pensions family was awesome! On Wednesday all 6 of us Albrecht, Solorzano, Gonzales, Petersen, Ramirez and I all met back up after being split up for four days and we went to the temple before our flight left at 4. I love the temple! Even though it was in Spanish, I enjoyed it and understood it all. Ramirez and I were talking about doing temple days at home once we get back from our missions.  It was so great to see Elder Ramirez. I love him to death and all the guys I was with, especially the 2 missionaries Loundetta and Nunez that I spent 4 days with. You become pretty close when you're sleeping 3 guys on 2 beds...HAHA! After the temple we got picked up to go to the airport to fly to Jaujo.  We show up and employers told Elder Holmes over the phone that we could fly with copies of our passport and driver licenses because that's all we had. Turns outs NO.....as if it couldn't just get any worse! Ramirez, Petersen and Gonzales all flew that day and Albrecht, Solorzano and I stayed and enjoyed Papa Johns in the airport while we waited until someone could pick us up. We did get to see the beach which was really cool! So we headed back to Lima East and chilled in the mission house. Those Elders were not happy that we were back.  We got back to work with them and did splits on Wednesday and slept. They left us in the house on Thursday with nothing to do. We didn't have any food so we had to buy some.  Elder Albrecht and I decided since we didn't have much to do that we'd go to the temple again. Albrecht is awesome...he went to Alta....we had a great time. At 5 we went on splits with the office Elders. I went with Elder Morris to the richest part of Peru.  Holy Cow.....the houses! The General Authorities live there. We visited a rich guy.....I taught a lesson...it was good. We returned around 8 and Elder Holmes had flown in to bring us our original documents. We were so happy to see him! We had a flight at 6 AM so we left at 3 AM Friday for the airport and there we were again.....but this time we got our tickets and Dunkin Donuts!  We flew home to Jauja on a 25 minute flight and headed to Huancayo to President's house where he greeted us with hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls....ahh so nice to be back! We visited and then headed back to La Oroya. What an adventure.....crossing a landslide, making the decisions, going to Lima, the temple, going to the airport twice and coming home after a week! Definitely one to remember. Turns out I did the right thing by going down to Lima because more landslides happened that killed people. Thank you to the spirit!:)

Please keep Renzo and Luis in your prayers. Luis is doing great and attending seminary. He's suppose to get baptized on the 19th.  Renzo has a date for baptism on the 27th. 


Reflection of the week:  How grateful I am for my mission.  I love it! Only things like this happen in the mission.  I love our President, the people and the missionaries here in Huancayo. There is a reason why I'm here and this whole experience gave me a boost of excitement to work hard and enjoy what time I have left.  The life of a missionary is the best.....nothing can beat it! I love serving the Lord and proclaiming the gospel.  I love you all and La Oroya!  #doitforjesus

Questions:

1. Why was Elder Peterson alone?

He went to Lima to do Visa stuff and they sent him alone

2. Where and who was Elder Peterson's companion?

His companion was back in their area

3. Did you get muddy and wet while rescuing Elder Peterson?

No..haha...but I saw it all and it was so cool mom! The coolest thing!

4. What happened on Wednesday at the airport when you tried to get back?

We didn't have the right documents. All we had were copies of our passports and licenses. 

5. What clothes did you wear all week?

The same clothes ( it was gross) and we bought new garments from the temple.

6. Is Elder Holmes and older missionary….senior couple?

No. He is the personal secretary and is my age.

7. What was the plane like flying back to Huancayo?

The quickest plane flight...it was awesome. Got on and got off

8. How many times did you see Elder Ramirez?

I saw him twice and we talked and it was great to see him.

9. Did the members in La Oroya even know that you were gone for a week?

Yep...they knew we were gone. I called them all.