I'm a "Father"

Well hey Family!   A lot of things have changed here.  I'll get to those changes in a bit. Monday Elder Cornilles and I cleaned the room. Because there is so much cement, it creates a lot of dust.  The landlord still needs to finish the house.  The bathroom still needs a window and a door.  We have a shower curtain for a door.  The water has been annoying and it will randomly shut off because the landlord is using it below.  Monday we went around the center and bought things. As a zone we went to someones pension and she made this awesome Ravioli.  I had three plates....it was the greatest thing in the world! I had to enjoy it since food options are limited here.  On Tuesday Elder Cornilles and I were studying and the phone rings and its Pres. Henderson.  I answered and he wanted to talk to Cornilles. After he was done talking he handed the phone to me and Pres. said. "Elder Moss do you want the bad news or the good news?" I told him the bad news....why not.  The bad news is that you have to train and the good news is you get rid of Cornilles...haha! Elder Cornilles is going to the office to be the financial clerk.  We decided to go get haircuts before transfers.....bad idea!  We went to a new place I told the lady to barely trim the top. She wanted to charge me 7 soles.  I told her 5 soles since you're only doing a trim. I think that made her mad and she decided to butcher the top. Good thing hair grows back! Wednesday we headed to the mission office for transfers and training.  Pres. Henderson talked to all the missionaries who would be training and told us that this is a big responsibility. I feel like I'm up for the challenge of teaching.  My new companion is Elder Gonzales.  He is 23 years old and is from Cochabamba, Bolivia.  I'm excited for the opportunity to train him. His teaching is good and he wants to work hard and isn't afraid.  He's really quiet.  I hope I can get him to laugh and have some fun while he's with me. Thursday we taught a good lesson to Jose and Elva on the Sabbath Day. They finally understood. You could really feel the spirit when we read from the BOM.  We also had district meeting on Thursday. Friday we had a multi-zone with President Henderson. It was so fun to see everyone. President talked about sickness here. There are a lot of health myths here. Peruvians think if you drink milk and eat an orange or something with citrus you're going to get sick. If you drink something hot and then something cold you'll get sick.  President completely defied it all. My pension will tell me all the time not to do things because I'll get sick.  Lots of weird myths here. Saturday we had to do some planning and also started working on the 12 week training that Elder Gonzales will go through. Sunday Jose came to church....so great!  Ryumi, her sister Cory and Jose came to church also. Izumi didn't come. I think he might fall through.  We taught him a lesson about tithing and he accepted it and said he would pay tithing. But he struggles with drinking with his friends.  He says he doesn't even like it but he does it because his friends drink. There baptisms keep getting pushed back.  Sunday we had 130 people attend church.  

A lot of knocking on doors and lots of slammed doors this last week. That won't stop me from working hard...I have this strong desire to find new people.  I know that I have to keep going.  I think we had 2 good contacts out of the 50 doors we knocked on. Please pray for this area.  We had a good meeting with the members on Sunday.  We asked for there help with references.  Pray that the members will be able to give us referrals.  

Reflection of the week:  Mosiah 2:34 " I say unto you, that there are not any among you, except it be your little children that have not been taught concerning these things, but what knoweth that ye are eternally indebted to your heavenly Father, to render to him all that you have and are...."
We truly are indebted to our Heavenly Father. We owe him all. I love him and his son, Jesus Christ, and his work.  It's so great to be out here dedicating my time. I'm so happy and I testify that doing what God wants us to do brings us unlimited blessings.  I love you all so much! #doitforjesus

Love,
Elder Moss

Elder Moss & Elder Gonzales

Elder Cornilles, Oscar (good friend and member who served a mission in Mexico), Elder Moss

Son of Jakes Pension....Jake says he reminds him of Riley (his cousin)

Multi-zone conference....Jake looks like a giant! 

Elder Ramirez and Elder Moss

Only ONE more Mother's Day!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to the best mom in the world! Mom I love you so much and I wish I had time to thank your for everything.  But the one thing I am so grateful for is how you taught me to be happy.....that I had so many reason to be happy.  You told me to look for that within myself and I found it and I'm so thankful for your example and help. I love you mom so much!

Hola Family!  We played soccer.....again....for P-day.  I really wish we could play basketball. I miss playing it a lot! On Monday we also taught a cool investigator named Mariella.  She is a wife of a less active who lived in Utah.  She is awesome and asked some great questions while we were teaching her about the Restoration. While I was teaching her I felt the spirit so strongly and the Spirit helped me answer her questions and testify to her that this is Christ's church. Please pray for Mariella that she will come to church.  Tuesday we had district meeting and I gave a training to the missionaries on "Trusting in the Spirit and relying on the Lord".  In the training I shared a great scripture in D&C 31:11. It reads  " Go your way withersoever I will, and it shall be given you by the Comforter what you shall do and whither you shall go".  If we rely and trust in the comforter, it will help give us direction in our lives. 

Elder Cornilles and I had a good time this week as we were trying to get rid of his old, infested bed bug mattress.  We had put it up onto the roof to get it out of our apartment. It was way too heavy to carry it down the stairs so we might have just pushed it off the roof! Dragged it over to the junkyard and someone took it. That was fun! 

Kind of a slow week. We had zone conference on Saturday and then we had to help out with a baptism. But it was a good week of lessons and we taught Izumi and Ryumi who are doing good. They need to come to church and that's the big challenge with them right now. We've been working with Jorge and he is my favorite less active! He showed us his amazing garden and he has some really cool plants. He told us funny stories and then we taught him the law of chastity which was hilarious because he's like 78 years old! He's such a stud! 

Sunday came and we had a good lesson on the priesthood and how it is connected to the heavens. It was great. Then the discussion with the members started about the authority of the priesthood and we explained that it is the same for every worthy man. Everyone here thinks the Elders are more powerful so they call us instead of their own husbands or fathers...ha ha! So we taught them that this is not true and that they can call on priesthood holders in their own home. 

And then, I got to talk to you all, my family! I could talk to them for hours. It was a blast. This time, no tears. I love them all!

Reflection of the Week: Elder Cornilles and I were talking about how we realized the important things in life. How we've forgotten the things of the world that don't matter. Stuff like your on-line profile, your Facebook page and making yourself look all spiffy and great. We are humans and how we are is how we are. We should remember our values and what is really going to matter in life. Our knowledge, our family, the gospel and who we are as a person is what is really important. I believe our Instagrams and iPhones and money will not matter in the end. I am really glad I've realized that those things are not important. I love the mission and how much I have grown up. It is unreal what I have learned. I love you all so much! The scripture John 18:36 sums this up really well..."Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."  

Love,

Elder Moss

Meet Jorge and his garden

Jake thinks this is a dachshund....we're not quite sure on that....definitely not a pure bred dog!

Outside of Jake's apartment

High On a Mountain Top!

Hi Family! How are you all? Things are great in Mantaro! I love it here and time is really flying. This was a good week.  Monday we went and climbed to Huaytupallana Glacier.....it was so amazing! You start out at 14,500 ft and get to like 16,500 ft.  We took a bus from Huancayo to the little village up there and hiked all the way up! It was a beautiful day and I was able to take some incredible pictures. Two zones went on the hike and we were all really tired after that! The weather is changing here. It doesn't rain....so that's a plus! It's cold in the mornings and hot during the day and night.  A lot different than my other areas.  Elder Cornilles and I are doing good. Tuesday he got sick again..haha! So I read all day. I've been really focusing on the BOM and WOW....I love this book! It reminds me of the the truth of Christ and his life. I know that Joseph Smith truly translated this work of God.  We were able to get in 2 visits on Tuesday even though Cornilles wasn't feeling well. We visited my favorite less active, Jorge.  He's awesome and is almost rescued. We talked about enduring to the end and he told us that he's never going to give up on the church again! Wednesday we visited an old investigator Kory...she's been a long-time investigator and knows a lot of Elders. But she knows a lot about the church and should be a member. From there we visited Heli and his two sons. It was awesome! We showed them two videos on Christ and then told them our gospel is about Christ and his love for them. It really invited the spirit to talk about the Restoration. We hope they progress because they are golden. Heli said there should only one true church and we agreed! Thursday I did divisions with Elder Islas...he's the happiest Elder. We had a good day and he taught me some good things about how to contact people better. Friday we taught a cool less active named John and his wife. John worked in Idaho for five years and has visited seven temples including the SL temple. He has the Melchizedek priesthood but he can't come to church on Sunday's because he works. But we taught his wife, who isn't a member. So we are really excited about them! Saturday wasn't the greatest but full of laughs. Sunday we had a good Fast Sunday and taught four new people. The area is getting better slowly but I'm determined to find more people to teach. We knocked a good amount of doors this week. Numbers are improving and we are finding new people. Friday Islas and I went running for what we intended to be 20 minutes but 10 minutes into the run Islas was tired so we stopped and went back home! Ha ha! He's my favorite Elder...he's from Mexico. 

I've been reading The Challenge book that Dad sent to me by Alvin Dyer and it has been pushing me to have the confidence to testify and put myself out there and really trust in the Lord. Because this is the Lord's work and we are his instruments to carry out the work. We just have to trust in him. So that is what I have been learning and I will put it to work this week. 

Reflection of the Week: I found a great scripture in Jacob as I was looking back in the Book of Mormon. In Jacob 1:19 it tells us how we should magnify our calling and if we don't the sins or transgressions of others is on our head. I like that scripture because it makes me think back on the day or the week and I ask myself:

"Did I magnify my calling as an Elder?"
"Did I talk to as many people as I could have?"
"Did I testify with conviction and the spirit to that person?"

I think all of us can magnify our calling in the church or as a member. We should always look back and ask ourselves if we are magnifying our calling.  Love you all! #doitforjesus


Elder Moss

A Meal at The Pensionista's House

Laguna Cochagrande

Huaytapallana  Glacier - 16,500 Feet

Huaytapallana  Glacier - 16,500 Feet

Running From The Big Dogs in Huancayo

Hey Family! How are you all? Things are going well......I'm happy and time is flying! This week was tough. We had a lot of knocking and failed appts....but that's OK. I'm determined to find new people. So our goal for this week is to contact a lot! Monday was a good day. We played soccer with all the Elders. We also taught a lady named Elva who only wants to get baptized if her son does too.....but there's a problem...her son works on Sundays. So we are trying to work that out.  Tuesday we had district meeting and I gave my first training.....good stuff haha! I taught how we need to be more thoughtful in our prayers and think of it as a conversation with our Heavenly Father. Because it is and that is one of the reasons I love praying so much.  Our Heavenly Father LISTENS and LOVES each one of us.  The format of district meeting is we have a song, training out of the missionary white handbook or Preach My Gospel, we talk about investigators and then we usually have an activity or game with the other districts. All of the districts in our zone meet in the same ward building so it's pretty fun. We also taught Jorge. He's my favorite less active. He is 78 and loves to talk. He tells us stories and then we get to teach him.  He has come to church 2 weeks in a row and is progressing a lot. We are very happy for him.  He always comes in his suit and white hat...haha! Wednesday Elder Cornilles was sick.  We worked as much as he could.  Thursday I did divisions with Elder Camacho from Bolivia. He's such a hard worker.  We went running on Friday....which is always fun! Then we had planning and a lot of failed appts.  That didn't stop us from trying to find people and we found a few people which was great.  Elder Brown, who is Elder Camacho's companion apparently has bed bugs...which is a bad deal. So I brought my sleeping bag and even though I was sweating to death at night I slept in my sleeping bag because I do NOT want bed bugs! Saturday we had to help with a members daughter's baptism. We had to fill the font because no one has the assignment apparently. The heater is broken on the font and if something isn't 1,000 times harder then you're not in Peru! So we had to rig this heater thing to get it ready for the baptism. We also had mission night on Saturday with the members. Sunday was good. We had ward council first thing and in church we taught gospel principles class. Izumi and Ryumi came to church....so awesome to see that. It truly made my week. After church we had several appts that failed us. That was tough, but we stayed out and searched for people.  The one lesson we did have was with Ernesto and Carmen. Ernesto's dad is a recent convert. They live out in the farmland of Huancayo by the mountains.  They have a really nice house.  We talked about there desires to be baptized and follow Christ. We talked about changing their schedules so they can attend church. The spirit was there while teaching and they are going to ask for Sundays off. Please pray for them!

We were headed back to our apartment at 7:45 and we had to cross this yard where a dog was. This dog is huge and hates us! We pick up our rocks/boulders and ran and threw the rocks at the dog. It is the scariest thing. The dog is huge! All of his buddies chase us. 

Reflection of the week:  This week was really tough and I found myself down on my knees a lot. But what I learned is not to give up.  I also realized that I got to testify a lot of Christ. That our Savior lives and he loves and knows each and everyone of us. I know that he loves me and I know God made this week tough to test me. I am excited to bring about the work here in El Tambo. I love it here and I love how the mission has shaped me for life and has made my testimony of this gospel stronger and my relationship with my Savior even stronger. He is our loving brother and it's my purpose to share with the people in Peru that he lives and loves them. He only wants the best for them. The highlight of my week is teaching people and testifying that Jesus Christ lives. Love you all! #doitforjesus

Love,

Elder Moss

The Dog

Elder Moss - El Tambo, Huancayo - April 2016

Elder Cornilles - El Tambo, Huancayo - April 2016

Huancayo, Peru - April 2016

Jake's Apartment - Huancayo, Peru

Jake's Apartment - Huancayo, Peru

Transferred! Now in El Tambo in Huancayo...

Hey family! What's up. Well, all is good in Huancayo! I left La Oroya last week. So here is the run-down of the week. P-Day we went to Tarma. We did a scavenger hunt and spent like $15 in money doing a scavenger hunt that was sponsored by the mission. It wasn't that great but whatever. Then, that night, we had zone conference and then we headed back to La Oroya on Tuesday. We slept in the car and woke up and we showed up to Marcavalle to help with building the shower for the Elders there. Tuesday was an okay day. I did exercises at night and went to bed tranquillo and all! Wednesday, I was getting dressed and got a phone call from Elder Mendoza and he said in his usual funny way "Elder Moss, you are being transferred to El Tambo in Huancayo to be with Elder Cornilles". So I packed up as quickly as I could and left around 10:30 on Wednesday. Elder Molina and I are switching companions and so Elder Molina is with Elder Solorzano and I am with Elder Cornilles. My new comp is from Provo and he's a great kid! My zone leaders are Elder Hilton and Elder Carrasca. Elder Carrasca is from Chile. I got here and they told me I am the District Leader. We have a district of eight Elders and two Sisters. Our room is unfinished and our pension is great. And this is my first REAL ward! I am so excited you guys because they have a fully-functioning ward! I have been in branches the whole time and now this is my first ward and it is great to see how many members attend a ward. I've never seen that many people in church here before and I was in shock! This area is great and I am having a great time here so far. 

Elder Cornilles has been here for about six months. He's been out on his mission about a month longer than me. We set some new goals for the area and I am excited to be here! My Spanish is great and we are now working for new investigators and trying to find new people. I had my first run of taking numbers for the district as the District Leader and that was a little interesting. One of the people we are working with is Izumi and he is really cool and he is a way rich guy here and we like him. He studied in Japan and Russia and kind of knows how to speak English. But yeah we speak in Spanish because I can't teach the lessons in English to save my life! My teaching skills have grown and my power to testify is awesome. We taught him about baptism and he accepted a date to be baptized with his daughter Ryumi on May 14th. He came to church last week and did great. His mom is a member. We are helping him out and he's progressing so please pray for him. So I love it here in Huancayo...about to spend lots of money here because they have it all! My area is a real neighborhood and it is cool. Pray that I can get to know this area quick because I don't know how long Elder Cornilles will be here to show me the ropes. 

Today I was reading about Joseph Smith and about all the problems and persecutions that he had to deal with and the spirit testified to me that all that he died for and all that he did for us is true. He sealed his testimony with his death. This church is so true and we ought to spread it. Stay strong and be proud. I love you all lots!

Reflection of the week:  What I have learned on the mission is to just trust the Lord and the people above you like President. La Oroya was a tough area but the Lord knew I needed to be there and I'm glad I just pushed forward. I've learned to be okay with what happens and with the direction of the Lord because he always knows what is best for us. Thank you for all of your love and support!

Love,

Elder Moss

Elder Moss - El Tambo, Huancayo - April 2016

Bad Internet, Good Letter

Jake was unable to upload or send much to us today. He said that the internet service in Tarma is really poor. We are lucky we got what we did.

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I love it here on my mission. We are chillin in Tarma today.  Tarma is close to the jungle and the weather is perfect.  This week we worked really hard.....we cranked out 28 lessons. Tuesday and Wednesday we taught lessons and we visited Hector.  Friday was my favorite lesson.  We taught Guillermo about the Plan of Salvation. He had a great question about if we really had an identity while we were spirits? And we were not just spirits that filled bodies?  I shared the scripture Jeremiah 1:5 with him. I asked him how would the Lord know Jeremiah before if he didn't have an identity.....how could that be possible? His face lit up and his eyes got wide and he was so excited. The spirit was there and we testified to him that God knows and loves him and that he has a purpose here on earth. I know that Guillermo will get baptized one day.  We are working really hard with him. He is awesome and we are hoping to put a date on him soon. Saturday we did some service and worked. We didn't have church on Sunday because it is election time for a President and they were voting on Sunday and everything else just shuts down.  So we had district meeting.  

I love the district and I just love this gospel.  The mission has been tough at times but it's teaching me a lot about myself.  I feel like I just get happier and happier and my testimony is growing so much. I thought that I was going to be transferred this last transfer but it didn't happen. I know that God wants us in different places at different times. I know I am here for a reason to learn and to progress.  

Reflection of the week: I love the scripture Mark 7:15. This scripture explains that nothing can do us harm unless we allow it.  We have control over ourselves and through our Savior we can be saved and helped. The world that we live in is so wrong and messed up.  We are so blessed to have the everlasting gospel to help and guide us in our lives. I love telling this to the people I'm teaching.  I'm glad that I'm making a difference here in La Oroya. Time is really starting to fly.  Thank you for all of your love and support. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Moss

Questions:

1. Have you heard anything about the new mission president you'll be getting in July?

yes a tad bit, he knows Huancayo really well and the people love him!! so that will be a plus for us.

2.  Who are your top investigators right now and how are they progressing?

Guillermo is the one progressing. No one wants to listen to us so we push with recent converts and less actives.

3. Is Guillermo married and how did you find him?

i think he is.. we walked into a store and talked to him after buying stuff... haha 

4. What is the weather like now?

It is raining still but starting to clear up which is nice.  So I can wear what I want.  I haven't touched the short sleeve shirts in a while.

Another General Conference Weekend!

MOM HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love you lots!!! You are my favorite mom and the opportunity you are giving me to serve is incredible. I love it here and I love your testimony and what you have done for me mom :) I love you lots and you have helped me through so much. You mean the world to me and I hope dad treats you to a good birthday. Your birthday present is my mission...haha. I love it here and I'm trying to make you guys and the Lord proud. This church is true and I love it here mom. 

We are in Tarma today for conference and P-Day. We came here on Friday so we could watch conference in English.  Today we're going to play soccer and eat hamburgers. It's been nice because it's been like a four day break. Last Monday we went fishing and used a net that we made to catch the fish.  That was really fun.  Later that night we went and cooked a fish dinner with a member.  Tuesday we had district meeting. We took a combi (a bus type of thing) around for fifty cents.  We taught four lessons in Paccha....one to Hector, Kevin a less active and a new investigator, Eloy.  We need him to come to church so we can baptize him. Wednesday was transfers and then we visited a guy named Guillermo and his son and brother Carlos. We told him we have a prophet that is speaking this weekend and they were surprised. We told them that we have living apostles and prophets and they were really into it. They asked questions about what if the Bishop is a bad person or we don't like him. We told them that we go to church for the Lord and not because we have friends there. We are working hard it is just a tough area and sad but most of all Guillermo pushes me to work hard. We teach him in his store and it is sometimes hard because people are going in and out all day. Friday we helped the Marcavalle missionaries move to a new place. And we are helping them build a new shower like ours. We have the best showers in our mission here!

I just love testifying of the Book of Mormon. It is so cool! I love it lots and wow I can just testify with power and it is unreal and I love it! But I have been reading and I read in Alma 42 about the plan of Salvation and how Adam had to fall and wow God just has a plan for us and it is so cool. I think the more you go through your mission the more you realize and learn and the more your desire grows to tell people about the truth! I think that is the coolest part! My testimony and knowledge are just growing and the Challenging & Testifying Missionary book that Dad sent me has helped me to be more bold and out there!

Funny story...we went to Marcavalle to a baby shower for the Branch President's family. They had a big old spread of food at the church and then they had a clown visit to entertain us! It was kind of strange but hey, we're in Peru!

My favorite talk in conference was from Elder Cook. He talked about opposition and about the plan and how we have to fail. Opposition is part of the plan. We have to fail as people. If there wasn't opposition we wouldn't learn. I love how he said that if there's opposition there is a God and he can help us. I loved Elder Christofferson and his talk on the role of fathers.

Reflection of the Week: How I've grown as a missionary in testifying.  I've learned to testify with power but with a voice that is soft enough to invite the spirit. It sounds weird but when you testify with a softness but boldly it's different. I love testifying of the BOM. It's a book that helps us to understand more about God.  We have a prophet on the earth. He may not be able to speak much to us right now but he is the prophet and he has the apostles to help him guide us. The church had to be restored. It was lost! We have the lineage of the priesthood and the temples. I love the temple! We need to go to the temples often. These last few months have been tough but its going good. It is fun being with all the Elders here in my zone. Our zone is mostly Elders and it is really cool because I have good friends like Ramirez and Campbell. I love you all !

Love,

Elder Moss

Elder Moss & Elder Ramirez - La Oroya, April 2016