Post-script by Mom

The End of the Best Two Years....

It all began on October 7th. I received a surprise phone call from my son, Elder Brandon Moore. It was a surprise since he is only suppose to call home on Mother's Day and Christmas while serving his mission. As it turns out, he had a physical problem and was letting me know he would probably returning home sooner than his December 2010 release date. The following evening, the mission president's wife called to tell me basically the same thing. I spent the weekend wondering what exactly would be the consensus as to when he would fly back to Utah. Monday afternoon the mission president called to let me know I could pick my son up the next evening at the Salt Lake airport.I flew into action.

First of all, I was sure the mission president didn't know that I had moved to Southern Utah. I had to prepare to make the trip up there, see if I could arrange for him to have his homecoming the following Sunday in our old ward, and figure out how to get Brooklyn out of school on finals week without it hurting her grades too much. Also, I did not have Brandon's room prepared for him. Oh well, some things would have to wait.

That Tuesday we headed up to Salt Lake. I don't know who was more nervous, me or his girlfriend Amber who had been waiting for him for two years. We were lucky enough to have two of our friends who have airline ties sneak up to the gate and give us a play-by-play as he walked out of the gate and began his trek to baggage claim. I must admit, as I saw him coming down the escalator, I was shreiking with joy, jumping up and down clapping and excited that I could finally hug and kiss my baby boy. It was a wonderful moment.



After leaving the airport we headed to the Stake President's office to have him released. President Dibble did the honors. It was heartbreaking watching Elder Moore remove his missionary tag...the same one I had placed on him 22 months earlier at the mtc.



We followed up that meeting with a family dinner at Chili's. It was impossible for me to keep my eyes off of him. I loved watching him interact with Amber, I loved listening to his voice. I loved just having him back in my world.



We stayed the next 6 days at Brett, Cheryl and Brynlee Bishop's home They were so kind to us. They decorated the yard with posters and balloons, left notes and candy on our pillows, and encouraged us to have an Open House after his Homecoming talk.



That Sunday he gave a wonderful homecoming talk, testifying of Jesus Christ. He taught so many things I had never thought about before. It is a marvelous experience to be taught the gospel by your children.

We returned to La Verkin. I was anxious and excited to show Brandon the new home I had purchased and remodeled. I hoped he would like it, and even though he would only be staying temporarily, that he could feel like it was home to him.

We spent the next week fighting to get his medical records faxed from Nebraska to the surgeon here. We didn't want him to have to go through the same testing he had already had done there. They finally arrived and his surgery was scheduled for October 27.

Because Brandon had a few days before the surgery he asked to borrow my car and head up to Logan to spend a few days with Amber. I was carless for about 4 days, but since I am a homebody, and the grocery store and church are within walking distance, I knew I would survive. I spent my homebound weekend studying for my BYU Humanities final...which I passed, barely :)

Brandon arrived back in time to celebrate his birthday on October 26th. He is now 21. Ginger and her kiddos and Grandma and Papa joined us for the cupcake festivities. It was low key, but right up our alley considering we didn't have much time to prepare and Brandon wasn't feeling all that great. He had lost 20 lbs. in the previous 6 weeks due to his illness, so he didn't have that much of an appetite.



The next day we headed out to Dixie Regional Medical Center for the surgery. The actual surgery only lasted 1 hour, but the before and after lasted a total of six. We returned home to begin the recovery.



For the last week Brandon has gained 7 lbs., moved around a wee bit, but mostly just camped out on the couch. He sleeps there, he watches tv there, he texts there, he plays on the computer there, he takes pictures from there. It is really quite comical although it is also quite necessary. His recovery is a 4 week recovery. He is hoping he can return to Salt Lake at the end of the month to begin working and spending more time with Amber.



It has been a whirlwind of activity, but I have treasured it. There is nothing like having your son gone for two years and then having him in your presence and all to your self 24/7 for 4 weeks. Blessings can always be found if we take the time to look for them.

October 12, 2010

Well this will be the last email I send to all ya all.

Thank you for all of your support. This has been an incredible 22 months. I have absolutely loved my mission. It all seems like a dream still that I will be home today. I'm just waiting to wake up.... but I haven't yet, and I'm not sure when I will.

It finally set in today though that I would be leaving. I slept a little less than 2 hours last night just thinking about everything and trying to comprehend it. I got up at 6:30 and took a shower and just started to cry as it set in that this is it. I never realized how hard it would be to leave this wonderful work. I know that I will continue to be a missionary when I get home... but it's different. The experiences that I have had on my mission are things that will stay with me forever.

Last night it was fun just reminissing with Elder Curisinche about stuff we've done together. The mission has made me a better person and has really strengthened my testimony. I will be forever grateful for the time I have spent here in the best mission in the world. I have really learned to love people and see them the way God sees them. I know that even though I am having to come home early, and as hard as this is for me, it's part of God's plan and I shouldn't ask why is this happening to me, but rather, what does God want me to learn from this?

I know that this church is true. I kow that Christ lives. And if we believe in him, he will lead us and show us what he would have us do. I'm so glad that God loved us enough to call another prophet. Our message is a message of hope. And because of the prayer of Joseph Smith, there is hope. We can know that through Christ we can receive the divine help neccesary to return and live with God again.

I love you all! And I will see you all tonight!

Love,
Elder Moore

October 4, 2010

Well hello!!

This email will be a short one. Not much happened this week.

I painted the outside of a house. Ha, and accidentally stepped in the paint tray. I would.... Anyways, I'm probably going to need new shoes when I come home. These ones have been used for like 3 years now and they have a hole and paint on them and many other things. I think I can survive on the clothes I have for now. If you want to throw in a cool green tie though that would be nice. :) Maybe like a green Paisley tie. But other than that.... I have 2 suits, one I haven't dry cleaned since the MTC. But I'll be good. For my bday.... Mmmmm I don't think there is much I need. :) And plus I'll be home 6 weeks after my bday anyway. Then we can celebrate it. :) But My clothes are definitely getting hobo-ish. I think that is why the mission is just 2 years.... that's how long the clothes last. :)

Also we went fishing and caught some sweet bass.

Conference was great!! I really enjoyed it!!! There was some amazing talks and I love seeing the prophet speak because he is the one that we are out telling the world about. When he comes on, it's like.... Kobe Bryant walking onto the court. I just wanna cheer ya know!? But I went to conference with some questions in mind and had them answered so that was great!!

Also, I forgot to mention... last week when Elder Ellis was here from the 70, I was just sitting in zone conference minding my own business, when all of the sudden, he said... "We will now have a talk by Elder Brandon D. Moore on the power of the spirit in conversion." So yup, had to give a talk on that. It was neat.

What else.... well we are working with Mario and Olivia's kids now, working on getting them baptized. We invited them to be baptized and they said that they would think about it. Their parents said that they have talked a lot about it and think that it is something that they will do. Also Natalie Sandoval's baptism is coming up and then I am hoping that that family will go be sealed in the temple in November.

I can't believe it's already October! It's crazy! But I love it!

I also can't believe that BYU lost to Utah State. What in the world..... Ah well. Glad that I don't have to worry about that stuff right now.

Well that is pretty much it for this past week. This next week will be a tough one. Tuesday-Friday I have leadership meetings that go from 8-3. Not looking foward to that. Also next week my pday will be on Tuesday. Just an FYI.

Well I hope all goes well this week. Pray for me that I won't need this surgery done. :( Cause I don't want it. I just wanna be able to finish strong!!

The church is true. Thomas S. Monson is a prophet called of God. Christ does actively lead and guide this church.

I love you too mom!! I'll keep hanging in there. I've done it for 22 months, I can make it 2 more.... yup yesterday was 22 months in the mission!!! ;) Be good and say hi to my favorite little sister for me! Love you!!!


Love,
Elder Moore

September 27, 2010 September - A Month to Remember

Wow, what an incredible month. 9 baptisms in the month of September. Finally, Orlando, Jocylyn, Argenis, And Kim Loeza, Guillermo Tapia, Mario and Olivia Pacheco, and Lori Beckner, all baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the month of September. It has been the most wonderful thing to watch all of these people put there in faith in Jesus Christ and be baptized. They are going to make great memebers. And Mario and Olivia have 3 kids of baptism age, and 2 of which are becoming really interested. President Kunz did their baptism interviews on Thursday and I was able to sit in and translate for him and he talked so boldly with them about working with their children and making sure that they are baptized next. And so far it's been going really well. We have been working with them and teaching them quite a bit.

So as for other baptisms... Natalie Sandoval is looking great for her date on the 15th of October and Jorge and Fabiola are looking fantastic for the 13th of November. They have a meeting with the divorce lawyer tomorrow to get that started. So things are going great!

Nancy on the other hand.... She isn't doing much and we have had to move her date and we will probably end up dropping her this week for a while. Oh well... it's a bummer but she just isn't keeping any of the commitments we leave.

So this week was so cool!!! We had Elder Ellis a member of the 70 and his wife come. That was one of the most incredible meetings I've ever been in. He talked about how God has a plan. His plan is better than our plan, and we need to do all that we can to make our plan his plan. To try and elevate ourselves and put ourselves en acuerdo with him. His wife also spoke and she said something really awesome! She said... "Sacrifice isn't loss, it's merely preparation for something better. " I loved that!!! And she is right, it's true. But sometimes I think that at the time of the sacrifice we don't think about what's to come, or we don't see things getting better, but that's only cause we see the small picture. We see what's here and what's now. But if we are patient and dilligent we do see it.

After the meeting it was really neat to be able to have a leadership meeting and receive more training and instruction from Elder Ellis. He taught us from the scriptures on how we can be a better leader. He used John 10 and talked about the Good Pastor, and the attributes of the Good Pastor. How he knows his sheep and his sheep know him, how he would give his life for the sheep and protect them. He then taught us from Matthew and the parobol of the talents. He said that God has given each of us talents and he expects us to use them and multiply them. It was really cool because the man that had 5 talents and made them 10 talents, received the same reward as the man that was given 2 talents and made them 4 talents. He says, it doesn't matter the calling that you have, as long as you magnify it well, the Lord will reward you. He said that you don't have to be a prophet or an apostle to be exalted, but that with whatever calling is given to you, that you give it your all for the Lord. So there was some great instruction given in those meetings.

Haha, so the most akward thing of my life happened this week. Just so ya know. Really it was the most akward moment ever. But.... I'll leave it at that. ;) But just so you know... I'm seeing a doctor about what happened this week. Hahaha.... ya.

So I attached some pictures of the baptisms we had. The first 2 are Lori's baptism, the next 2 are of the Pacheco's baptism, and then of the Loezas baptism! So I hope that you enjoy them!!

Well that is very exciting news about Justin!!! Can ya believe it!?!?! He is off to Nicaragua this week. He is going to love the mission! He will have a great time! Nicaragua awaits him! Tell him I love him and I'm so proud of him for making the decision to serve a mission. I also can't believe that it is going to be October this week. Totally nuts! Love it!!! I hope Justin got the tie I mailed him last week. I loved that tie. :) It's crazy how many missionaries have been asking me for ties. I'm running out almost. ;) Because this last transfer was weird. Some of my close friends got sent out west or to Sioux City so I won't see them again cause I only have one transfer left after this and odds of them getting transfered back are slim. So all of them were like hey could I get a tie signed by you so I could remember ya. Haha, so I couldn't say no. :)

Oh yeah.... weird moment this week. We were teaching a guy named Jose and we were just about to invite him to be baptized when a car pulled up and he said... Well there is my ride to the grocery store, gotta go see ya later. And he just stood up, walked into the kitchen, and left out the back door. So we were just sitting there like.... what the crap?! So we showed ourselves the door and left.

Also yesterday I had the BEST meal I've ever had!!! They call it "Discada." It's like 6 kinds of meets all cooked together in a big pot over the fire on the grill. It was so so soooooo good!!!!

Also this week we are painting the outside of a house. I've never done that before so that should be cool.

Well I hope that all is going well out there for you!!! Love you all!!

Love,
Elder Moore

Please send this to Justin, Adam, Eric and Dano,
Hey what's up my ninja turtle brothers! Long time no see.... for obvious reasons. I love getting all you alls emails and reading about the awesome experiences you are having on your missions!
It's been a lot of fun getting to know you dudes and hanging out with you! Remember when we used to play predator and monster child? Or Mario Kart and Halo? Or go to Janbo and the Philly? Or have water gun fights? Or play basketball together?
I've had so much fun growing up with you guys!!! I couldn't have asked for better friends! Thanks for being so awesome!! We have grown up having fun together, and now we are all serving the Lord together! And before ya know it... we'll be back at it playing halo and drinking cokes together. I love you all and hope that you are having a great time on your missions!! Thanks for always being people I could rely on and for being friends that always helped me to be the best person that I could be.
Love,
Elder Moore the first. the handsomer one.

September 20, 2010 Best Phone Call EVER!!!!!

Ok so before I tell anything else.... I got the best phone call I've ever received on Saturday. So we were at the Loeza's eating dinner and I saw that Kanesville was calling. Kanesville was the area that I served in while in Council Bluffs. So I decided to take it thinking that they had some good news for me.... Which they did!!! Elder Johnson said.... Hey Elder Moore do you remember Lori? Which of course I did. Lori is a 50 year old woman who I really got close to and we became really good friends. So I said yes. He said, well she is getting baptized on September 25th (this saturday) And I was so so SO excited!!!! Then he said, she wants you to baptize her. I just about started crying. Really. I was so full of happiness. Like you can't even imagine it. So of course I said I would. So I called Lori later that night and she said, Did the elders tell you> And I said of course they did! And she said, I remember when I was at the play with you and I looked over and said when I get baptized I want you to do it. And she said, you looked at me and said that nothing would make you happier than to do that for me. And then she told me that she knew that I was the one that was supposed to baptize her. :) I am so excited!!!

And also this Saturday Mario and Olivia are going to be getting baptized!!! Two baptism servies in 2 days!!!!!! This weekend is going to be awesome!!! So many baptisms. We truly are being blessed by the Lord right now.

We have what's called the Standard of Excellence here as I've mentioned before. And this week, me and Elder Thorpe CRUSHED it. We have 6 people set for baptism right now (yup we set 4 people this week. ;) ) Natalie Sandoval, the Sandovals' oldest daughter is going to be baptized on October 15th. We set her for baptism yesterday. We are so excited for her and for their family!!! It is going to truly be amazing to see Tony baptize her.

Also we set Jorge and Fabiola for baptism on November 13th. It's kinda far away but it needs to be then because we are working on getting him divorced from his wife in Colorado and that proccess will take a month. Then we need to get them married, and then afterwards baptized. But we taught them a great lesson and we invited them to be baptized on that date and it went silent and Fabiola (who has told us she knows the church is true) just stared at Jorge. And he said yes. Then she just got this huge smile on her face and she said that when he says yes he means it. And yesterday they drove us to the Stake Conference and we were able to have a good conversation with them.

By the way.... Stake conference was INCREDIBLE!!! We had Stanley G. Ellis of the 70 here and he gave an AMAZING talk!! And tomorrow we have a meeting with him, following which there is a leardership meeting with him, so I'm really looking forward to being able to be instructed by him and taught more by him because there was so much power in his words yesterday and the spirit was so strong.

Mario came and said that he loved it and said that that man had a very strong spirit about him. He also said he knew that he was called of God. The Robles family has helped us out so much with Mario and Olivia, they have given them rides to church, answered their questions, resolved their concerns. Yesterday Mario said that he still had some doubts, so Caleb Robles sat down with him in the Robles home and just taught him from the scriptures and then afterwards Mario said that he knew it was true. So we have had some amazing help with this family. They are going to make great converts. The joy that I've experienced in this area has been unlike any other joy I've experienced on my mission. With the Loeza family and now Mario and Olivia. The work is going great. It is a strong finish to an amazing journey.

For the month of September, by the end, I would have been a part of bringing 9 people unto Christ. Because Orlando and Franky are set for baptism up in the North and we are working with them too. So with the Loeza kids, Guillermo, Mario, Olivia, and Lori, September will definitely be a month to remember! And October with Natalie and Nancy set. Should be a great way to follow up to September.

Well funny story for you.... last night I couldn't sleep. And Elder Thorpe when he sleeps makes lots of weird noises. One in particular though that stands out above the rest. So I laid there on the couch trying to figure out how in the world he makes that noise. And after about 45 minutes..... I figured it out. Somehow when he sleeps his tounge clicks on a part of the roof of the mouth. But it has to hit a certain spot. That's why it took me so long to figure it out. But just in case you cared, I did figure it out, and I did fall asleep satisfied.

Story number 2. Expired butter + expired pasta= bad idea! I don't think I need to say more. Let's just say... I wasnt feeling too great after I'd eaten that meal I made.

So me and Elder Thorpe are doing just fine when we are working and teaching. But it's when we are in the car or at home when I feel like hitting him in the throat with a wooden spoon. But we'll survive. The work is going great!!

That is so cool that Brooklyn went to a dance with that boy! Go Brooklyn!! I'm glad that she had a great time with him! She looked really happy. I miss that girl. Hahaha she wanted to wear some converse like me and Amber eh? Haha well she has some good role models then when it comes to having fun. ;)

Mom the house looks amazing!!! It really does look incredible!! I was actually shocked and in unbelief when I saw it! It looks fantastic!

When I get back to the Sandy, you should just give the Forest Ridge house to me and I'll turn it into a bachelor pad for all my returned missionary buddies and Greg. ;) What do ya think? I like it!

That is so cool that you'll be able to talk with Justin in just a week!!! Good stuff. Also..... I've learned a trick. It's hard to send things down to Central America without them being stolen. So what you need to do is get a bunch of Jesus and Virgin Mary stickers and put them on the box and no one will mess with it. FYI. ;)I'm way excited for Justin! I have a letter and a tie I am going to send him today. So he should get it this week! That is so exciting that he is about to get out into the field and really start enjoying the work!

Yeah lots of good things are happening here in this area. And we are seeing so many blessings come from it. So we are hoping and putting our faith in Christ that all will go well and all these people will be baptized. Well as you can see. This area is on fire. We got the best numbers in the mission this past week!!!! Woot woot!!! Love it!!! And I love you all!!! Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Moore

September 13, 2010 Que Onda Familia

Good Morning to everyone!

First off.... Grandma Happy Birthday this week!!!!!!!! I know it can be hard turning 40... but we'll get through this together. ;)

Ok.... so last Tuesday was sweet! My first night in the south. Elder Thorpe and Elder Finnerty had been teaching this family and they said that they were an amazing family but wouldn't set a baptismal date becaue they didn't feel prepared. They had challenged them to be baptized on the 25th of September but they didn't think that they could be ready. So there is some background on them. Well I got there Tuesday and we started talking and immediately just got along great. And we talked with them about baptism, prayer, and how God answers our prayers through the power of the Holy Ghost. So I said... let's have a prayer and ask God if he thinks that you should be baptized on the 25th. SO they said ok. So we all knelt together and they asked me to say the prayer because they wanted to just listen for an answer. So I began to pray, and I asked God if they should be baptized on the 25th, and I paused. And there was almost 2 minutes of silence as we knelt and listened. And then I closed the prayer. And as I did, I looked up at Mario and Olivia and asked how they felt. She looked and me and said, I can't believe it, that was amazing. And Mario said... I felt something that started at the top of my head and ran all the way down my body. So we explained to them that this is the Spirit testifying to you of God's love for you and that he knows that you will be ready. And then I invited them to be baptized on the 25th and they accepted!!! So we had them both at church yesterday and that was awesome! We actually had 5 people at church!!! Woot woot!

So we are also working with Fabiola and Jorge. I met Fabiola when I was here last year. But she wasn't to interested then. Well now... she is! Her and Jorge both are. They were both at church yesterday as well. She is almost 19, he is 20 and they have a 3 year old daughter. Yup. Well, he got married before when he was in Colorado, so that is the only thing keeping them from getting baptized right now. We are working on getting him divorced... which the proccess will take a month once we get it started, then they will get married and baptized. They both know it's true and really enjoyed church yesterday. So the work really picked up this past week.

We also went to jail and talked to an investigator. He got pulled over for speeding but had a previous on his record and no papers, so they put him in jail. It was cool. We talked to him through a phone and we saw eachother through t.v.'s. It was sweet! I've never done that before.

So we went to knock on someone's door and as we were leaving... I saw something on my foot, and I looked away thinking it was my shoe lace, but then instantly I thought... that is to thick to my shoe lace. It was a SNAKE!!! I hate snakes. I ran away.

Also President Kunz gave me another responsibility. He put me in charge of the Spanish meeting where all the spanish missionaries come here to Omaha and we have trainings. So I have no idea what I"m going to do for that yet. He just said in my interview I want you to put together a meeting, telling me when it will be and what you'll be doing for it. Have fun. Haha, yup didn't really give me a whole lot to work off there. :)

So I got sick this week. I had a sore throat. I've actually been sick for almost 2 weeks now. But this week it got worse. So I climbed out of bed at 6:40 am and went into the bathroom, and still was out of it. Drank some medicine out of a bottle in there before checking what it was. It was nighttime. Yup I took night time medicine at 6:40 in the morning. That day was a bad day. I was so tired the entire day! Not good.

Also this week Sebastian Rivera got baptized. It was neat! There was a lot of people there. Members and non-members! My comp and I taught a first lesson to all of them. Honestly... I was so nervous. There was a bout 50 people there I would say. It went really well though. The biggest group of people I've ever taught a discussion too that's for sure. So the work here is going really good. The only thing that keeps me sane is working hard right now.

Also I met some less actives in our ward from Nicaragua! Her brother still lives there and is the Bishop. Bishop Cortez! So I wrote Justin a note that I'll send today telling him to keep an eye out for Bishop Cortez in Mannagua. She said that she is going to call her brother and let him know that Justin is coming. ;)

Haha by the way that first paragraph of Dano's letter.... I totally remember when Eric threw that dry piece of poo at me! Hahaha! Good times when we were kids. I loved it! As a matter of fact, there is a good chance he was still throwing poo at me right before we left on our missions..... I remember when Adam was eating a brownie with frosting on it and I shook it out of his hand and ran away and he picked up the brownie and threw it at me and the frosting side of it hit me in the butt and I had frosting all over my pants. Darn him.

Anyways... glad that you were able to go up to Sandy and have a good time! I'm looking forward to that too. :) Here in less than 3 months now.... Crazy Eh?!?!
Well hope you all have a great week!!! I love you!!! Talk to ya soon! And c-ya soon!

Love,
Elder Moore

September 7, 2010

Hello everyone!!! Can ya believe that we are one week into September. I can't believe how fast time is flying! And the weather has already changed here. September hit and it got cold. But from what we've heard it's supposed to get back up into the 90's this week. Anyways.. I'm sure you don't read these emails to get the weather report... But this week has been so crazy. One of the craziest of my mission. Some stuff I can talk about... some I can't. But we'll start off with the GREAT STUFF!!!

So Friday night was probably one of the best nights of my entire life. No joke. Argenis, Jocylyn, and Kimberly Loeza, as well as Guillermo Tapia were baptized and Sunday they were confirmed members of the church and received the Holy Ghost! It was really the most spiritual baptism that I've been a part of on my mission. I can't even begin to explain the feeling that was there that night. And to see the parents there with tears in their eyes seeing their children get baptized was an experience unlike any other. We talked a lot with Brother and Sister Loeza this week and they said that the church has become the most important thing in their life these past few weeks and that he even asked for Sundays off now so that he has absolutely nothing going on so that he and his family can come to church. This is such an amazing family! I'll attach some pictures of the baptism.







So Crazy news. I got a call Sunday night and I am being transfered a week and a half early down back to South Omaha. There is a new missionary who has been here 6 weeks and his comp goes home today. So I will be taking his place down in the good ol' part of South Omaha. It's funny. Just retracing my steps. Going back and serving in all my old areas. So my new comp is Elder Thorpe, he is from Arizona and speaks 0 spanish. I gotta tell ya I loved being in a threesome with Elder Starkey and Elder Curisinche because both of them speak spanish really well and we all just got along so good. But I guess we accomplished what the Lord wanted us too by baptizing those people. My new address is:

5802 S. 14th st. #5
Omaha, NE 68107




So funny story about our little threesome! So the other night I was laying on my couch and Curisinche was in his bed and the light was on. Well common sense would say... ok last person in their bed turns off the light. That is just how it is. Well Elder Starkey was lacking common sense this night. And he gets in his bed and leaves the light on. And so we say Starkey turn the light off and he says I'm in bed already. So I said well I'm not getting up. And then Chinche said neither am I. So I was like ok whatever... I can sleep with it on, and they all agreed. So we laid there. Then Chinche said Starkey turn it off and he said no. Then I said, I'm not doing it. So for like 5 minutes we argued about who would turn off the light. And it was probably about 5 feet from all of us. So we started throwing things at the light switch trying to hit it. No luck.... So then Chince threw a shoe at it and it hit the lamp (it's a tall lamp, not one that sits on a table or anything) and it fell down on my couch where I was sleeping. Almost hit me in the head, I had to dodge it. So I flipped the switch on the lamp and pushed it onto the ground. And the light was off. I have to tell ya we all started laughing so hard. It was ridiculous.




So yesterday night we went to a haunted park with the Loeza Family. It was sweet! A girl was actually murdered there... not sweet. But people say they hear screams coming from that park. And they have these stairs and you go up and you count them, and you come down and it's a different number. You can't count them the same going up and coming down. It's crazy! I'll attach a picture of the stairs too.




So my clothes are all starting to fall apart. Just 3 more months left. ;) But my shirts pockets are starting to fall off and my pants are gettin worn. Guess that is what happens when ya where the same clothes everyday. But I think they should hold up for the next little bit. My suit pants have been on the fritz lately. So on one of my suit pants it's hard to explain, but the bottom came undone and fell out. So I got some scotch tape and taped it back on.... Yeah I know. Not the brightest of ideas. So I taped it back and it fell out, and Sister Loeza was istting next to me and she said Elder Moore is that tape on your pants... and I said yes. And she just laughed and said bring them over tomorrow and I'll sew them up for ya. Ha, they are really awesome! She said if you don't have a dinner appointment call me 30 minutes before so I have time to make something for you and you can eat here. There are 9 people in this family and she is offering to cook for them and then the 4 of us missionaries. They are going to be so blessed!

The other day their son got sick and he walked up to me and said my mom wants to talk to you. So I went and talked to her... and she said Reuben is to shy to ask... (he is like 4) But he said that he wants you to give him a blessing to feel better. The faith of this family is amazing! We also went fishing with them and caught like 30 fish. Then had a fish fry and ate carne asada Sunday. Ha yeah we are with this family quite a bit.




Oh yeah I forgot to tell you my expensive cup of lemonade story. So I have made it a goal of mine to buy lemonade from all the kids' lemonade stands I see. I don't know why... just makes me feel good. :) So this week we were driving and there was a lemonade stand with these two 7 year old hispanic girls running it. So I told Starkey to pull over so we could buy some. So we walked up to their little table and they had a huge thing of lemonade and two cups. A glass cup and a plastic cup. No paper cups or anything. And they said...Do you want some lemonade and I said of course! And they said.. well we only have these two cups. we don't have enough money to buy plastic cups yet but we are going to try too so hopefully people will buy our lemonade. And I looked in my wallet... and as poor as I am I pulled out some money and sent them across the street to buy some cups. And these girls faces just lit up. And they said thank you thank you thank you! And one of them even hugged me. It was the best money I have ever spent to see these girls so happy. So it was quite a pricey cup of lemonade but I didn't care. It made me feel good. ;)


Well that is it for this week crazy great week!!!!
I love you all very much!! Have fun this week!!!
Love,
Elder Moore
I will attach the pictures now. ;)

August 30, 2010 Oracion, escrituras, y iglesia = Testimonio‏

Hey Hey Hey!!! Well.... another crazy week. It's amazing how some things can go SO good and others.... not so good.

We did have the Loeza family at church this week which was awesome!! As of right now only 3 of them are set for baptism because Orlando has not been keeping his commitments and we know he will not be ready. But Argenis, Joselyn, and Kimberly are so excited for there baptisms and are looking great for this Friday. We couldn't be more excited for them. Joselyn is liking the Book of Mormon so much that she took it to school to read it there... and by so doing, got in trouble and sent to the principals office! Atta girl. But they are making amazing progress.
Sad thing is though, that the dad will not be able to baptize them. We found out that he drinks and this past weekend came home drunk. We had a good sit down with him and his wife and sent all the kids off so that we could just talk to them. It was an amazing lesson we had with them. The spirit was so strong! By the end of the lesson they were asking themselves the questions that we had planned to ask, like..."Why did we even get baptized if we were just going to fall back into our old habbits," and "What kind of examples are we setting for our kids?" It was sooo cool. So Sunday we went to their house at 11:30 and they were all ready to go to church! So we talked with them, and 12:30 rolled around and they were like, welp time to go don't want to be late! So this week is going to be amazing!

And on top of that... Guillermo is getting baptized Friday as well!! 4 baptisms!!! :) He is still in Kansas but will be back tomorrow night. Earlier this week I reviewed the baptism questions with him and he is so ready! He has been reading daily from the Book of Mormon and praying everyday. Even sharing the gospel with co-workers down there. Ha funny story about him... So every morning when the alarm goes off I think to my self... no way is it 6:30 already. It can't be... but it ALWAYS is. So Wednesday the "alarm" goes off and I think to myself.... no way is it 6:30 already (ya know my morning ritual) and sure enough, it was 5:31. Guillermo texted us and said I am so excited to get baptized in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. So I was ok with having to get up at 5:31 because of that. ;) So just know come Friday... there will be 4 baptisms here in the great Omaha Spanish North!

So this week was also kinda rough.... I found out that Veronica and Tony Sandoval are having marriage problems. Which is really sad because they are 2 weeks away from being able to go into the temple and be sealed! 2 weeks!!!! Ah. Stupid satan. Bumbhead. So I have been working with them and texting Veronica quite a bit beacuse she is looking for help and advice. I don't know why... but I always seem to be helping people with marriage/relationship problems. This is like the 5th time. So yesterday, I taught the Gospel Principles class on families and the responsibilities that Father and Mother have. Also talked about the fathers and the priesthood, on how we have the authority but not always the power, and then taught about mothers and nurturing. It went really well. I think the reason it went so well was because I started off with a soccer analogy. Hispanics love their soccer, so that automatically got there attention. Plus the Loezas were in there as well. And we went and saw them last night and they said that they want to start having family home evenings, so tomorrow night we are going to go over there and teach them how. Woohoo!!! I love that family and their strong desire to change. The parents are totally on board now!

So it was kind of a downer week with finding out about Brother Loeza not being able to baptize his kids, and the Sandovals problems, but hopefully all will get better. But it's been a great week too with the kids all coming to church and looking great for baptism! So no complaints.

Also this week we had some awesome trainings about how we can help our investigators gain a testimony so that they will then be ready and willing to keep commandments. We learned that a strong testimony comes from prayer, reading from the Book of Mormon and church attendance. When these things are done consistantly, investigators and members gain testimonies and then keep commandments. Also the bishopric gave a bomb class about prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. These things are become more and more important by the day. Doing these things is what gives us that constant protection needed against the threats of the world. So much of what we do as missionaries and members of the church right now is being evolved around the family.

Well... that was our week. I love you all!!!! Glad to hear that things are picking up down there in La Verkin. Can't wait to come check out the house.

Love you!
Love,
Elder Moore

August 23, 2010 From Fantastic....to horrible.

( Here I am right before going to email you today!)

Well this week couldn't have started off better, and couldn't have ended worse. So to explain, I'll take you through the list of events that took place.

So right after I finished emailing you all last week I got a call from Orlando Loeza. He is the father of the kids that we will be baptizing in less than 2 weeks now. Well Sunday night we had given his daughter a blessing who has been really really sick with the flu. Monday they had an appointment with the doctor. So Monday afternoon we get a call saying that he had taken his daughter to the doctor and she was perfectly fine. He thanked us for healing his daughter and knew that it was only the priesthood that could have done that. I'm glad that he was able to see the priesthood in action and hopefully he will recieve the Melchizedek preisthood soon. But that really built my testimony on the power of the priesthood.

Then we went to the Old Market, it is such a cool place! Just an outdoor store place downtown. And this guy walked up to us who was a member and gave us 20 dollars and told us to go get some ice cream. So we did of course. Haha, by the way that is the first time that that has happened to me on my mission. Kinda... one time a woman gave me her onion rings.

Then on Wednesday I got fat. I've never eaten so dang much!! We went out to eat and I ate a huarrache, a sope, had some coke and orchata, then later that night it was Sister Riveras b-day so we showed up on her porch with a sign, party hats and Mole and Cake with flan. So I ate some mole and flan cake right afterwards. I had planned on fasting the next morning because I was so dang full....but, I ate. ;) What can I say I like food.

Then Thursday we went with Sister Rivera to visit the Loeza family. They are so cool!! But there are 9 of them so getting them to sit and be quiet is impossible. So needless to say everytime we go over there it is a party!

So Saturday we got a text from President Kunz asking us to all fast for the next 24 hours for the people that are set for baptism. This will come into play later.... So we started our fast.

Saturday was so so SO awesome!!!! We went to the trail center with..... 17 people!!! We brought 17 people there! Incredible eh? I would say so! The people at the trail center couldn't believe how many people were walking in with us.
We had all 9 of the Loeza family, plus one of their girlfriends, and their uncle. Then we had Roxana and Manuel and their 2 kids. And then the bishop came and brought his daughter. So we looked at Reflections of Christ pictures, watched the Joseph Smith movie (which they loved!) And then took a tour of the trail center. It was so awesome!!!! They had such a good time.


(Our trail center group!)


Well We ended our fast at 12 the next day and went and ate lunch with Roxana and Manuel. Holy dang I ate like 8 tacos. Not even kidding. And then they were going to come to church. And the Loezas were going to come for just sacrament meeting because it was Argenis' bday. So we were cool with that. So we had worked so so hard to get the standard this week. Last week we missed it my one lesson with a member. So we were really wanting to hit it this week. So we had taught all the lessons we needed too, found the new investigators, contacted referals. We'd done it all.....And not one person came to church, and to hit the standard requires 2 people at church. So that was pretty much the disappointment of the century. Knowing that we had done everything possible, to hit the standard and to help people come closer to Christ, and we had no fruits to show for it. Sacrament meeting is kinda like the big game. Everything you do during the week is focused on getting people to church. Getting them to come there and feel the spirit and take the sacrament. And when know one comes... it's just heartbreaking. Especially when 7 investigators said they would come. We were all pretty bummed. So this leads me to my fasting comment.

I hate fasting, I dont like not eating, so that one I obey because I have too. I'm not quite at the point that I do it because I love too. So I have fasted 3 times on my mission for people to come to church.... and 3 times... they haven't come. I'm not saying I've lost my testimony about fasting... I'm just saying....Anyways.
That was our week.

I'm glad to hear that Justin is doing great and is having a good time. That kid is a goober! He ridiculous!!! And by the way Ladron means thug or gangster and sometimes boss. That kid has to remember that there is more than just one spanish speaker in the fam. ;) I'm actually writing him a letter right now just giving him some advice. But I'll definitely include a tie in there when I send it. :) That's a good idea.


(Rebel)



Well I love you!!!! We just keep working away out here. And hopefully this week will be a better one. Enjoy La Verkin! I hope everything shapes up in the house.

Love,
Elder Moore


(Take a good hard look at what I'm holding :) hehehe! Found that. It grows in Iowa...it's called ditch weed.)

August 16, 2010 Guess what I got?

Ok, so lets start off with something crazy that happened this week.... I got my first set of "trunky" papers. I need to feel these bad boys out so that they can start making my travel arrangements. I will be getting home December 10. It was so crazy getting those!!! It made me realize that time is running out. But it's ok, cause I have been working my butt off. This week we went from one person set for baptism, to 5 people set for baptism, and we had 5 people at church so it was flippin sweet!!!!

We set the kids of the Loeza family. The parents were baptized 12 years ago and have since gone inactive. But they were found again here in Omaha, and we started teaching them, and set 4 of their kids for baptism. The dad also really wants to baptize his kids, and that is what we want also, so he is doing everything he can to become worthy of that. So this should be an awesome experience for the whole family. We are also working really hard with the uncle of that family. So hopefully we can just get this whole family baptized. That would be so sweet!

So this week we had an ok week. I mean we were totally stoked about the 5 sets, but we had so many appointments cancel on us and 3 dinner appointments cancel also. That was a major bummer! But oh well... I'm still alive and kickin and that is the important part.

So the work is really picking up here, and we have a few more potential people that we are working with that could be set soon for baptism. We should be baptizing this area right out of existence. ;)

We also had a sweet soccer game with some mexicans this past week. Us american missionaries vs. some mexicans. Ha, yeah... totally won that game 5-2. It was legit! But so dang hot. It's been like 100 here with tons of humidity. The humidity is so crazy.

Man that is such a crazy story to hear about that boy dying. That is really sad! A guy that I taught when I was in South Omaha, a 19 year old, was shot 3 times and killed. There is so much killing going on here right now it's crazy. We saw in the paper that Omaha is home to 74 gangs right now and there are shootings pretty much everyday. It's ridiculous.

Yeah I wouldn't mind staying on verizon. I like it. So you don't need to cancel Justin's phone, I'll take that when I get home. And if I want to change later I will. :) Ha it's crazy to be talking about that kinda stuff.

Well I'm glad that everything went well your first Sunday in church, and don't ya worry when I come back that house will be a party house!! ;) I hope everything is going well with the kiddos. Say hi to them and tell 'em I love them!!! Cause I do!
And yes I did get my tag back and right as I opened your envelope I put that one back on. ;)

Well take care and I love you tons!!! Keep your head up!
Love,
Elder Moore

August 9, 2010

Hey hey HEY!!!
Well I did get transfered.... but I'll tell you where in just a second. You won't believe it. So I get a call from President Kunz Wednesday morning and he says... Elder Moore to you miss spanish? And I said Yes. Then he said, "Well... I almost sent you out to Kearny as a zone leader, but I knew how much you love spanish, and how you would rather be there, so you are going back." So ya know where I am?..... Omaha North! Again. Haha! But it's ok, I was so so so excited to come back to Omaha! It was like coming home in a way. Since I spent the first year here, why not spend a little more time here ya know. :) So I am in the north, my mission birthplace, and I am a district leader here. And I have 2 companions, Elder Curisinche and Elder Starkey. President told me the 2 comps I would get are struggling some so to help them out. And so far we have done great! There is 7 elders and 2 sisters in my district. Oh yeah, and there are only 2 beds in our apartment, so of course I am sleeping on the couch. :) Since you all know how much I love the couch. ;)

So when I got here, they were teaching only one person. So not a whole lot going on here. But Elder Curisince had served here before also, so he knew some people and I know some people so now we are teaching a butt load of people. We went out and recontacted some of the people that we used to teach. So as of right now, we have a family of 4 that could be baptized, a family where the parents are members and the 5 kids of baptismal age are not, and Roxana and Manuel. So there is a possibility of many baptisms right now. I am so excited!!!! I am really looking forward to this transfer! There is a possibility for so much good work to be done here!

So yesterday on the way to church I got a call asking if I could teach the Gospel Principles lesson. Haha, I hadn't read it, and I haven't spoke spanish in like 10 weeks. So I got a little nervous, but it was on Repentance, so easy enough. It went really well and there was 5 investigators in the class. So that was cool. I am so happy to be back in spanish!!! You have no idea.

Also, since I stayed close, I was able to go back for Stella Mattox's baptism. That was great seeing her get baptized!!! That is the oldest person I have baptized on my mission. 71.

My new address is:
Elder Brandon Moore
605 S. 37th st #4
Omaha, NE 68105

So there ya have it. I am really looking forward to all the great things that are going to happen this transfer.

I am also glad to hear that Justin is doing great!! He is going to be a great missionary.

Good to know that the move is going just fine. And that Brooklyn was able to meeet some 'Hot' guys. Gosh she is funny!!

Please drive safe! 24 hours is a long drive! It's sad that Granny passed away, but she has the celestial kingdom written all over her. She was a great woman!! I love you!!!

Love,
Elder Moore

August 2, 2010

Hahahahaha Justin talks about how he isn't going to write long emails and look at that first one....GINORMOUS!!!!

Well before I get started I want to say hi to a few people.... Hi to the Pillings! And the Sohms!! And the Morgans! And Aunt Diane! :) And of course to my friends on their missions that read this! And hello Amber. :)

Well this past week was a good one. And this week is transfers. I cannot belive it. We had exchanges with the assistants on Saturday night, and I was given warning.... I'm going leadership somewhere. He told me that he hopes I am ready for this because it's going to be a big change for me with lots of responsibility. So we'll see what happens. But whatever it is, I'm excited for it!!

So we got a referral for 2 jamaican guys this week! Totally awesome and legit!! It was one of the most powerful conversations I've ever had! The guy said to us that he felt some sort of energy running through his body that he had never felt before and that he knew that what we were saying was true. He told us that we were ripped (and it's funny because this guy was really strong so that was funny) but he said that we had spiritually strong muscles and that he knew that what we were saying was true! And we taught him a lesson and he understood it all and was repeating back what me and Elder Butler were teaching him. It was just a really really cool experience. These guys are totally getting baptized soon. And he has a wife and a son that are going to be baptized too. We have another appointment with them tomorrow.

So this week I did something AWESOME!! I picked corn for the first time. We were picking and husking corn for like 3 hours. I'm sure to those that do it all the time it isn't fun. But for us.... ah man it was the best time ever!! Ok, over exaggeration there. But it was still good. And we found a frog and Tanner was holding it and he put it close to my face and it jumped on my face. It was freaky! But kinda funny at the same time.

So I'm glad to hear that Justin is having a fantastic time in the MTC. He is going to make such a great missionary. I love that kid!!!

It is weird to think about.... only 4 months left. But I'm looknig forward to them. I am having such a good time right now.

Sister Mattox is getting baptized on Saturday. She is so so so ready!!! I can't wait for that. I won't be here, but that's fine. She is still getting baptized and that is the most important part. Yesterday Taylor blessed the sacrament for the first time and bore his testiomony. That was aweosme!!! All 3 of us bore our testimonies too and after that the meal calendar was full. Funny how that works... But it worked.
We also saw a really good play on Saturday called "Come Home to Kanesville." It was a really good play!! It was actually a musical about the pioneers. So that was basically our week. It's been a lot of fun. And a lot of really good stuff is happening here.

Yeah I did read that part about granny. That is so sad but she lived a good life! She is a great woman with celestial kingdom written all over her!! Also a woman I taught a lot in Omaha died this past week..... this was just a kinda sad week for that kind of stuff. I sure am going to miss granny though!

And youc an send me my tag when I get my new address that will be fine. I'm glad that you put it to good use. I love you. And thank you for the pictures!!

I hope all is going well there and I hope the move is going great! I love you!!! Have fun and take care!

Love,
Elder Moore

July 26, 2010 My "Black Sheep" Moment ;)

Alright so to start off...... I will start with one of the funniest awesomest things that has ever happened in my life. If you have seen the movie Black Sheep there is a scene where Chris Farley and David Spade are trying to get a bat out of the cabin. Yup, you guessed it. A guy we are teaching a few doors down called us and said there was a bat in his house. So we immedeiately siezed the opportunity and ran down there. I grabbed a snow shovel just in case. ;) Which I am glad I did... it came in handy.

So we walked in and David, 75 years old, is standing there with a broom and he told us that it was upstairs. So we all walked up there, I went first and I was totally trippin, I was scared, and saw the bat up in the corner. So we devised a plan to hit it with a broom and have it fly downstairs and out the door, didn't work out quite that way... but we'll get to that. So I had the broom and the other 3 went downstairs to wait for it. Ah man at this point I was really trippin. And I opened up the bathroom door so that I could hit it then shut the door and let it fly away. Well the plan failed, I would poke it and hide in the bathroom and scream like a girl. And they were all downstairs shouting, "What's going on up there? Did ya get it?"

So then Elder Warby who is a little taller than me came up with a different tool and I was standing on the stairs so I could tell him where it was so he could hit it. Well the second he put the brush up on the wall it came flying off and right at me. Ah you bet I took off running down the stairs and screaming like a girl. Hate to say it.... but it's true, I was. We all were. And it was flying around in the stair case, then it made it's way down to the living room and we were circling it and laughing so hard and screaming everytime it got close to us. Well Elder Butler hit it with the snow shovel and it flew into the wall and fell down. So then we found it and it was crawiling around, really creepy lookin, and we got him into a drawer and took him outside and took the blanket off the drawer and it flew away. Ah man, it was the coolest thing ever! This bat was huge too!! It would have made a sweet youtube video. All of us screaming and laughing, and David holding up a blanket in the air trying to catch it. He says there is one more bigger bat in the house and we couldn't find it, so we might have another chance to fight bats again. Anyways.... that was the cool thing that happened last night.

So....onto something more spiritual.... Taylor got baptized on Saturday!!!! Woohoo!!! And he got the priesthood on Sunday! It was sweeeeeeeeeet sauce!!! He is such a good convert and now he is going to prepare to go on a mission. So we are way happy for him.

There was something really cool said in a talk yesterday by President Beck, a member of the stake presidency. He said.... If Joseph Smith didn't have a testimony that God lived and answered prayers, he would have never been a prophet. I really liked that.

Well we had a miracle happen this week. Our car has been in the shop for a while now and finally we got a call Friday that it was done, after 2 weeks of walking. We were so excited! Well we needed to pick it up by 6 and it was like 5:15. And if we didn't get it then we wouldn't get it til Monday. So we were making phone calls and no one could take us. Then we get a random call from a Idaho number and it's a guy named Jared. And he says, "Hey I am in town for the week and was wondering if I could go out on team ups with you and help you out with anytyhing"...... Crazy!!! And we said yeah, we actually need a ride to our car, and he said sure where do ya live I'll be there in a few minutes. Totally sweet blessing! Random call from a guy that takes us to get out car. Then Saturday me and him went out for 3 hours and taught some people and went to lunch. So this week was really good. Had a lot of fun and a baptism.

Well I am so proud of Justin, he is going to make a awesome missonary!! President Kunz gave me some cool advice on how I can help Justin out on his mission, so I will need his MTC address asap. ;) Thanks!! I love that kid though! He is a great kid. I am really excited for him! And kinda jealous that he had his arm around Amber in one of those pictures. ;) Haha.

You are very welcome for the bday gift mom. I thought you would like putting an Elder Moore tag on. :) That tag means a lot to me so I was glad that I was able to put it to better use. :) You can send it to me this week and it will make it to me in time. That would be great.

Well I love you all!!!! Can't believe you go to La Verkin this week!!! Blows my mind. It will be good. Remember that.

Love,
Elder Moore

July 19, 2010

Happy birthday Mom today!!!! And Happy birthday Dad on Thursday!!!

So for starters.... our companionship had the best numbers in the mission this week!!! We worked our butts off. And without a car because it is in the body shop getting repaired. It has spent the week there and will spend part of this week there as well. But in our mission we have what is called the standard of excellence. It is certain numbers we have to hit, and we hit them all! So we got a text this morning saying we did the best in the mission. We were way excited! I haven't hit the standard of excellence since February of 2009. And we were the only companionship in the mission to do it in over 3 months. So we were really excited.

So this week has been a hot hot HOT one. 110 deegrees and 95 % humidity. We were always drenched in sweat out walking around. We even had a heat wave warning for 2 days this past week. It was nuts. Also.... our neighbors upstairs moved out at 4 in the morning without saying anything. When they left they turned off the gas and air conditioning. So we had no hot water for 2 days and no air conditioning. Wendesday night it was 92 degrees in our apartment. Yeah.... we didn't sleep well that night.

This week we had 4 people at church and we have 4 people set for baptism right now so the work is going great! I won't be around to see much of the baptisms since most are set for the 7th and I should be out of here on the 5th, but I'm way excited they are getting baptized. We do have Taylor getting baptized this Saturday though so that will be awesome!!! Baptizing is so much fun! It really brings me so much happiness and it's like filling up your gas tank when ya get a baptism, gives you more desire to go out and work harder!

Well, we had a cool experience yesterday. We were working with the Andrade family for a bit, but they weren't progressing so we haven't seen them in about 2 weeks. So we have planned to see them for the past 4 days, and never have made it over there. Well yesterday we finally did and it couldn't have been at a better time....
She said that that morning she had been praying, cause her son Ryan had gotten in trouble and their house got shot at and she was just wondering if God even loved her and if he did, to show her a sign.... well that night we showed up again for the first time in 2 weeks and she said that we were the answer to her prayer. So hopefully now after that testimony builder she will have more desires to do what we ask her to do and keep her commitments so that her and her sons can get bpatized. So that was a cool experience.

Also we had some sweet trainings this week about asking questions and stuff like that... so that night we went and taught a guy named David. And it was sooooo sweet! The spirit totally guided that lesson and then we started asking him questions and then we set him for baptism on the 7th of August. It was awesome! Asking questions is such a good way to teach.

Well we are having a great time and we are having plenty of success out here. We also have Stella Mattox and Joe Lett set for baptism, so this area is on fire.

I'm glad to hear that Justin had fun at the temple!!! It's a way cool place to go and the spirit there is so strong! He is going to be a great missioanry!
So please do record his farewell talk and good luck bro!!!! I love you!!
I love you all! I'm glad to hear that all is going well.... and I can't believe you are moving. That just blows my mind. Have a great week!!!

Love,
Elder Moore

July 12, 2010 Crazy Fun Week !!!

Well it has been another really frustrating and tough week, but along with that came some pretty good laughs. So in this email I will stray away from the frustrations of missionary work and focus on the instances that got me to laugh so hard I was crying and couldn't talk.

So first off.... we were trying to look for some less actives, and we saw a name on the list in the area that we were at. Her name was Laura Christo. So we went to find her house and it turns out that she lives in an assisted living facility...... but that's not the only thing it was...I'll get to that. So we go in, and the first thing I did was help an old lady escape. Haha. But not really.... But we walked in the doors and there is a woman there in her wheelchair and she asked for a push over the hump, so my comps opened the door and I pushed her over the hump and outside. So I think was probably an accomplice in her escape. Oh well...So we get through the doors and there are like 12 old people looking like they are literally ready to kick the bucket just sitting there in their wheelchairs. It was pretty creepy. And one of the old women says..."hey it's the 3 muskateers!" Haha, that was funny. So we find Laura's room, its on the second floor, and we take the elevator up, and the doors open and there is 12 more old people just chillin in their wheelchairs. But this is the handicap old folks floor. Ha, so we go to Laura's door and knock on it and someone answered and said they were just putting Laura in bed and would be out in a minute. So from the door across the hall wheels out on her wheelchair Doloris Clark. Funniest, meaniest, craziest woman. She made me laugh so hard I was crying. She says "Hey what are you doing?" I said we are here to visit Laura, then she says "What?" And I said we are visiting our friend Laura, then she says... "I don't know." And rolls away, then comes rolling back and we have the exact same conversation. And then she says, "Well I don't want you in my room," and I said ok we won't come in there, and she "Goes good cause this is my room with my stuff," and rolls in and shuts the door.

Then we get in to visit Laura and she has a major disability, can't move her body or talk, so we were there for like 3 mintues, said a prayer and left. And there is Doloris. Asking us what we were doing. But this time she has a list in her hands, and she is asking us questions about what car we drive and if we had a El Camino, we think it was her escape list. She had a gps tracker on her ankle, so we think she has tried to escape before. So anyways, we run into Orville who tells us he used to date Laura, weird. Then there it was.... we saw it..... the 90 year old boob. A woman just sitting there with her shirt unbuttoned. Ew. Then we left.

Second funny story:
Jamie is a less active member and she is always drunk! Always. But the past 3 weeks she was sober, and it has been great. So we went to visit her and her and her friend are there just totally wasted. We walked in and her drunk friend gives us hugs.... weird and creepy. And we go in to sit down and Elder Warby sits on this couch, and the drunk woman's dog was hogging the other part of the couch, so me and Elder Butler sat on a different couch. And this woman sat down next to Elder Warby.
So these 2 woman are like your typical drunk women. Can't stand up straight or walk for the life of them. So we start reading the Book of Mormon and Jamie is like, why are they in the wilderness and her friend is like you guys are so great, and just making the most ridiculous funny comments. And I start laughing, and I cover my face with the Book of Mormon so that they can't see, then Elder Butler starts laughing, and we are laughing so hard we're crying. And it's my turn to read and I can't do it, I get through like 4 words and manage to squeak out in between giggles, "Elder Warby can you read please?" I just couldn't do it cause I couldn't stop laughing. Then Jamie is like I don't even know where we are, and Elder Warby starts laughing and he is like me. It was hilarious! I have never laughed so hard. SO then this woman is like showing us her nasty stomach and is wearing short shorts that are like falling off of her, and we got out of there because it was just ridiculous, but we didn't leave without another long hug and awkward hand shake. Wow, it was... unexplainable how funny that was.

ALright, next story-
Yesterday in sacrament meeting a guy gave a talk, where in it he said he was picturing everyone in there underwear, then he said he has lost so much weight he was worried his pants would fall down and he would moon the stake president (who was on the stand) and the bishopric. It was weird. This ward is weird. My best friend in the ward is 45 his name is Brad. He has down syndrome. Funniest guy ever. And there is another kid name TJ who also has down syndrome and they were going at it in priesthood yesterday. Brad is hilarious. And in priesthood excercises a guy told everyone that he saw one of the 3 nephites. That was weird. So lots of funny crazy thing happened this week.

But good things.... We took Joe and his memeber wife Jessica to the trail center this week and to see the Reflections of Christ pictures. It was awesome. Jessica wants him to get married so bad so that they can go to the temple together. We invited him to be baptized and he is praying about it.

Well that is it I am running short on time. But I love you all!!!! Hope everything goes well this week and at camp with the girls!!!

Love,
Elder Moore

And I'm way excited for Justin!!! He is such a stud!!!

July 6, 2010

A week of Suicide threats, domestic abuse, and a 911 call. So do I have your attention? I sure hope so.

We have been teaching a woman named Jackie for a while now, she is set for baptism on the 24th and has been super solid, coming to church and having us over every other day, and keeping her commitments. She has just been an incredible person. But she has had a rough past full of drugs, meth, crack, and alcohol. She has left all that behind and has started new. The only thing that she has struggled with is smoking, and it's only a cigarette or 2 a day. So nothing too serious. Conisidering I've taught people that smoke 3 packs a day.

Well she is the aunt of a very less active member, basically the only one that still loves her and that she has a good relationship with. Well she got in a fight with him and his wife, and they said not to talk to them anymore. So she felt like she had no friends. We went over to see her Friday night after we got a call from her crying and we were there til 10. So my spanish really came in handy that night. I had no idea she spoke spanish, but she does. She was on the phone while we were there and she said to the guy on the phone in spanish that that was her last day, and that she was going to kill herself. So when she got off I talked to her in spanish and told her it wasn't her last day, and that she would be alright. And it totally shocked her. She hadn't told us yet that she was planning on suicide. So we talked with her about the love of God, and then we gave her a blessing, and in it, I expressed God's love for her and talked with her about the atonement. Well we left that night, thinking she had no more intentions to commit suicide.

We got a call from her at 1 in the morning, and she said that she had taken a bunch of pills and that she just wanted to say good bye. So we called 911, and sent them to her house, but she wasn't there. Turns out she was in South Omaha and didn't know where she was. It was a very frustrating night.

So we called her nephew and his niece answered the phone, and said that the fight that they had gotten in with Jackie was over her getting beat by her nephew. So she told us that her husband was beating her. So we were up from 1 to 4 in the morning on phone calls. Luckily the next day we got to sleep in or else we would have been dead. So we didn't know what happend to Jackie, and Sunday she called us and told us she was home and doing a lot better. So I don't know what happened, we are seeing her tonight. But it was just crazy.

Basically the point of me telling this story is so that we can all realize how lucky we are to have the gospel in our lives. It truly does bless us. Especially if we live it! That is the most important part. It's not enough to just know about it, but we must live it and apply it to ourselves.

I read a really cool talk yesterday by President Monson from the conference in October, where he talked about doing something good daily for someone. He said that we are the Lord's hands here on the earth, and that it is up to us to help God's children. So I would challenge you to do something good for someone everyday, and then at dinner that night, share what you did. ;) I promise it will bless you.

Yesterday, I got up and made my comps some omelettes and toast, and that made me feel really good the rest of the day. So I promise you it does work. And you really do notice a change in your day.

I have taught so much Spanish people this week it's been awesome!!! I have been loving it. It is just so much more natural. I hadn't taught a serious lesson in spanish for a few weeks, and now once or twice a day I get to teach someone in spanish. It has been great. So we still have 5 people set for baptism on July 24th who are looking pretty good, with the exception of Jackie, but she'll bounce back she is a great person.

So that was the extent of my week. Crazy stuff was happening!!!! Glad to hear that the move is going well and that Justin is set and ready to go! He is going to have such a great time!!!! The misson is a really great experience! I love it! As hard and crazy as it may be sometimes.... the spirit is so strong, and the knowledge obtained will bless you for the rest of your life. I've really noticed how powerful it is to be a set apart representative of the Lord. We can go into horrible situations, where there is beer and drugs, and the spirit usually would leave, and teach a lesson with the spirit and be able to feel the influence of the spirit always. It's an amazing feeling.

I do love this work. I do love my mission! And I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and his healing power.

I love you all and miss you! And don't worry, I will be working my hardest these last few months. I'm honestly not trunky at all. Doesn't mean I still don't look forward to seeing everyone when I get back. ;)

Love,
Elder Moore

June 28, 2010

Well not much changed in my life this transfer. I am still here in Kanesville. I was actually pretty mad about that. About not going back to full spanish, since now I am the oldest spanish missionary in the mission, plus I speak it the best, even better than a native from Peru. He is always asking me questions. So I wasn't to happy. President Kunz called me and said that he knew I would be dissapointed, which I was, but he knew that there was more for me to do here. The Lord does work in mysterious ways... and sometimes I don't like his ways... but gotta accept that He knows better than me.

Well, instead of being mad for a while, I decided to just go work. And we talked to a hispanic guy on his porch and we started talking about the gospel, then his wife came out and we started talking to her, she is american and her two kids both speak english too, but his english is very limited, well, the 3 of them are now set for baptism on July 24th. So I guess that there was a little more for me to accomplish here. It is an english area, but I am in charge of the spanish work here. I am also helping my friends in the Omaha ward contact some less actives out here. So I use my spanish sometimes, but not as much as I want too. But President Kunz did say I would be back in full spanish next transfer. So this transfer better fly by. But right now in our area we do have 5 people set for baptism on the 24th of July. So it is going to be a way awesome day!!!

Also yesterday we had 6 people at church that are investigators! So the work is going really good right now. It does suck though, because we are doing it all without the members. They have no desire to do anything. Our ward mission leader said to us yesterday "It's amazing that you still baptize even without our help."
So we had a meeting yesterday with some of the ward council, and most of them were complaining about having to be there in the meeting, and they weren't doing any of the assignments that L. Tom Perry gave to them to do. So I said, "Hey, an apostle of the Lord came here, to this mission, and told us how to do missionary work, why are we not doing it?" And none of them could say anything. So I hope that that gets them going and contacting the people they need too.

Yeah I am in a 3some still. With Elder Butler and Elder Warby, me and Elder Butler have served around each other since the day he got here. So I know him really well.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention, yesterday for lunch, we ate at the Edwards mansion! President Edwards pretty much owns Council Bluffs, he owns some dealerships here and oh man..... it was cool, and this morning we went out on his property, which is also huge, and fished for 3 hours. It was awesome!!! I haven't fished in like 2 years. It was fun. And he gave us 200 dollars to take the missionaries out for lunch today. This place isn't soooo bad. It's definitly no sweet spanish area though. ;)

That is basically how the work is going here! I"m glad that the Vassars gave you that hug for me. ;) They are awesome! It was great to see them!

Don't worry Momma I will finish off the mission strong. I am doing really good right now. I would much rather be in full spanish, but I'll make do with what I have now. ;) Obviously there is more for me to do here, and I'll do it.

I'm glad that the house is all coming together! Can't wait to see it, you are right, just 5 months. By the way my pday next week will be July 6th, tuesday, just a heads up. :)



I love you!!!!! Have fun!

Love,
Elder Moore

June 21, 2010

Well hello hello hello!! Shout out to the Adamsons...... Go Lakers!! ;)

This past week I had a really nice treat! Rick Vassar gave me a call. They were here in Nebraska, so I was able to see him and his family. It was really cool. They are a great family! And Victoria has grown up so much!

This week was a packed one. We had zone conference, interviews, and the temple. So not a whole lot of work got done. But work still did get done.

I had a really really cool spiritual experience this past week. There is a woman from our ward in the hospital with heart problems. She was really having a hard time and freaking out and crying. We went and visited her to give her a blessing. I gave the blessing and the spirit was there stronger than I have ever felt it at any other time in my life. I won't give much detail about what happend, but let's just say.... the priesthood is very real, and the spirit is very very real.

This week we have had some of the most crazy of crazy storms. Non stop lightning and thunder. This last storm started yesterday at 8 at night and ended today at 9:30 today. It was a huge storm!

Well it sounds like Brooklyn has had a crazy start to summer with her trip, birthday, and youth conference. But sounds like a great one! That is Awesome that Matt Farr got his mission call!!!! Good for him. I'll barely miss him by a month. But that's alright, we'll meet again. ;) I"m really excited for him! I can't believe everyone that is leaving on missions. It's crazy!! I love it. The mission is a great expereince. ;)

Well I don't have to much to say about this week, besides that it has been busy. Transfers are on Thursday. So I'm looking forward to that. Besides that, life is good. I"m really enjoying the mission.

So these past 2 weeks I have been studying a lot about the Holy Ghost and Personal revelation and it has been incredible and I've really felt the spirit helping me know what to say and do. The spirit gives so many great gifts! I started a study this past week based off of one scripture that will take a lifetime to study, but it's been amazing. It's based off the scripture in Matthew 16:15. Jesus asks his apostles "whom say ye that I am?" So I've been studying ensign talks and conference talks and the scriptures and learning more about Christ. It has been amaazing and I have learned so much about him. He truly is the son of God, and Savior and Redemer of the world. I also learned something really cool the other day, through this study. In 1 Nephi 3:7 Nephi says that the Lord always prepares a way for us to accomplish what he has given us. And in this study about Christ, Christ says, I am the way. The way that has been prepared for us is Jesus Christ. I had never related those 2 sciptures before. So that was really cool!!

No I didn't get a chance to see the Lakers game. ;( But next year. ;) It sounds like it was a really good one! That's right Celtics!!!!! I'm so happy the Lakers won it!! 2 peat!! I'll be around for when they win it next year.

Haha Brooklyn is such an awesome girl!!!!! I love my brother and sister. We have a sweet awesome sauce family!!! Well I love you!!! Thanks for everything!!!

Love,
Elder Moore

June 14, 2010

Well this week was pretty good! We had a baptism on Saturday. Micky was baptized. So that was a lot of fun seeing her start her journey on the way to eternal life. She is a bit of a cooc, but she is funny.

We had some pretty cool moments this week. But before I get to that.... Last Saturday, we got in a car accident. That brings my toll up to 3 on the mission. A guy ran a stop sign and we hit him. So it smashed up the front of our car. Haha, man, 0 accidents before the mission. #\3 while on it. Crazy sauce eh?

So ha, we had a weird, powerful, scary type lesson this week. We talked to a guy on the street named Darwin. He is a paper guy. LIke 60 years old, long hair, beard. He said that he had read the Book of Mormon and invited us over to his house. Well... we went to his house and he was waiting outside for us and took us around back. We went in through this door and up these stairs and into a hallway, and it was like we were in a scary movie or one of those Saw movies. Everything just felt really eery. Then we walked through his kitchen, which had nothing in it, and into the front room that had only a chair. With a rope tied to some wood and leading to the front door across the ceiling. It just felt really scary. And from talking to him we found out he goes to a psychaitrist every once in a while... But we stareted to teach him and had a way powerful lesson with him where the spirit was strong and he was understanding everything and as we were about to finsish he said.... Wow, I feel really good right now. I want you to leave. Lets stop the lesson there, and you can leave now. Haha, it was the weirdest thing ever!

So I went and had dinner with the Sandovals this past week. That was great. I love that family! We were going to be down in Bellvue so I called Veronica and asked her if we could come over for dinner. And she said of course we could! So it was fun seeing some of my old friends.

Well the work here in Iowa is going great! Here, I talk to a lot of hispanic people and teach them the first lesson sometimes, but then I have to turn them over to the Spanish Omaha South missionaries because that is part of their area. So that's a bummer but I did find them like 9 people this past week. And I was able to team up with them and teach a lesson. So that was a lot of fun since pretty much all the teaching we do here is in English but I am hoping that I will go back to full spanish next week when we have transfers.

I know that President Kunz put me here for a reason. I got a long with every missionary in the mission but one. Elder Gann. Who is my comp? Elder Gann. And Elder Warby. And now me and Elder Gann are way good friends. We have a lot in common and are always talking about stuff we both like and quoting movies and stuff. So it's been good.

Well I'm glad to hear that Brooklyn had a great birthday!!! Sorry I missed it. ;) And that she had a lot of fun in Taiwan! That must have been a really neat experience for her. I love that girl!

And Justin's date to enter the MTC is coming up fast! Woohoo!! He is going to flippin love his mission.

Well I hope all is well... I"m sure there is much more to say... but I can't remember all of it right now. But I'm pretty sure I covered the highlights with the baptism and all.

I love you!!! Thanks for your testimony mom. I really appreciate it. And I have really appreciated your love and support!

Take care.
Love,
Elder Moore