Hermana Cuevas, hermana Wood, me, y hermana Morales (did I mention hermana wood and I are in the same apartment?)  Also pictures of Fontera area.

The Christmas choir y el obispo!

 My beautiful bedroom.  I have the top bunk.  We share this temporarily as a foursome.  The other Hermanas will be moving two doors down.

And the kitchen.  Sometimes the rain water decides to come in and we have to get everything up off the floor. Notice we can't drink the tap water so we have a water jug for drinking purposes.  We eat yogurt or cereal every morning and the orange juice is divine!  I don't think I will ever be able to drink American orange juice again.  We have a heating element for cooking and no oven.  This and the bathroom make the sum total of our dwelling.  At least I do have hot water...if I want it.

My Christmas package did not arrive after all.

Feliz Navidad!

Dear Julian: I am so sorry for making fun of your English. I understand now. Sincerely, Elise.

 

¡Hola familia!

So I am in Mexico now, in a little town called Frontera, and it is the weirdest thing! Honestly this has been the strangest week of my life. BUT it is also really awesome and I love it! 

Where to begin, where to begin... I can't even think right now because the computer is telling me all the words I'm typing are wrong. Okay.. how about we start at the beginning? I think that's a very good place to start....

Last Monday we flew all day long. From Salt Lake to Houston, and from Houston to Villahermosa. I met a lovely man in the Houston airport named Branko. He was so cool. I started a conversation by complementing his pink socks. Anyways.. we talked about religion and such for a time, and then he gave me his business card and I gave him a Christmas pass'along card. 

We landed in Villahermosa at about 9 pm local time. Everyone's hair immediately started doing crazy things, and it was hilarious. It is so humid here. SO humid. Anyroad, we made it through customs and baggage and blah blah blah (which was super entertaining with 9 white hermanas who don't know Spanish) and when we got to the other side, there was our Mission president and his family waiting with open arms to greet us. And by open arms, I mean a warm handshake. Obviously the mission president can't hug us. He's a boy. But his wife and daughters gave us hugs and kisses (Yes, mom.. the cheek-kiss thing is real, and I LOVE it. I am an advocate. But it's a little awkward when you go half the day with lip-stick prints near your ear. #mylife). (And sometimes male investigators don't know hermanas can't get that close to them, and that gets real awkward también--also). They then took us to this out-door-ish restaurant with the CHEESIEST American 80s music videos I have ever beheld playing in the background. The president bought us all tacos and horchata, and it was the best thing ever. The food here is delicious, and I haven't had fish yet. But more about that later...

They then took us to the Elder's apartment, because aparently he didn't feel good about putting us in a hotel. It was so sketchy. SO sketchy. I'm talking like no light in our bedroom, and when we woke up we saw blood on the window. I know. And we might have accidentally broken both toilets, the shower, and a sink while we were there. #oops. 

Tuesday we woke up, brushed our teeth without water because we weren't sure what was safe, and walked to the mission office. That's right. 9 American hermanas, mosee-ing down the streets of Villahermosa with our carry-on luggage. It was a sight to behold. And it was raining. haha Good times. 

After paper work and interviews, we got our companions!! I LOVE MY COMPAÑERA! She is wonderful. (and she says hi, by the way). Her name is Hermana Morales, and she is from Vera Cruz and therefore speaks no English. Bless her, she tries... but she knows less English than I know Spanish, so most of her "translations" are her just speaking really slow in Spanish. I do a lot of nodding in agreement, when I really still haven't a blessed idea what she said. Sometimes I forget she can speak fluently, because when she talks to me she sounds just like my other American hermanas when we try to communicate solely in Spanish. Then in a lesson, just when I'm thinking "Oh man, hermana. I have no idea what those words were. How are we going to answer him?" BAM. Rapid Spanish. I'm really glad one of us knows the langauge, because Spanish is real hard. 

Speaking of, I've already had my first breakdown. IT'S FINE. haha Really though, I'm glad it's out of the way. Yesterday we were in a meeting with the ward mission leader and this other guy (I still haven't a clue who he is) when the second guy looks at me suddenly and says, "Hermana Moser, que piense?" Well, I didn't know really what we had been talking about for the last half hour, so I said, "Yo pienso que necesito aprender mas español." As soon as the words left my mouth I was crying. It was so embarrassing. And it didn't stop for a long time because not only did these two kind hermanos try to help me, so did every member of the ward on the way out. (Did I mention how nice the people are here? They are wonderful. I love them a lot. But their kindness was super inconvenient at that point in time). THEN when we got home, Hermana Morales wanted to talk about it. I couldn't explain in Spanish what was wrong, or that the best way to get me to stop was to not talk about it. She started crying, and I was still going strong, and I eventually figured out how to say things... oy. It was difficult. Like late-night math sessions all over again.  But now it's  all good and I KNOW that if I am obedient and if I work really hard, miracles WILL happen. I am already seeing a lot of progress. It's just hard sometimes to focus on the possitive, and not how inadequate I feel. 

Hermana Morales likes to talk about feelings. How I felt in the lesson, how I feel about Spanish, how do I think the investigator felt, how I feel about the mission and mexico and her... Now I don't know if you know this, but I am TERRIBLE with feelings. Turns out, it's even harder in Spanish. So maybe that's why I have been paired with this loving hermana. Someone (ME) needs to learn how to be vulnerable and trusting. (Reminder: Ask me about how the companionships were chosen. It's a great story, but I don't think I can do it justice with my writing skills).

Well, Frontera is just a wonderful little place. The members a wonderful, but there are not many of them. The Bishop is hilarious... from what I can understand. We've eaten at their house twice now. The second time we were talking about whether or not I miss hamburguesas, and I told him that I just miss ice cream. He turned to his daughter and asked her to go get the oreo ice cream out of the freezer. Apparently, my eyes got really big when he said "ice cream" and he just thought it was the funniest thing. I can't help it if I get excited over ice cream, mmk? It's just a natural instinct! hahaha But I thought ya'll--especially dad--would get a kick out of that :)

We are teaching a couple--Agustine and Mayra--and last night I extended the baptismal invitation to Mayra!!! The first one of my whole mission! (She was also the first lesson I was ever a part of in the field. So that's awesome.) She didn't commit, but she knows it's true and I just really hope and pray that whatever doubts she has about a future in the church will be resolved. She hasn't read/prayed about the book of Mormon or Joseph Smith. A testimony of the book of mormon is SO important. We are doing everything we can think of to help her see the importance of reading and praying every day. 

hm... I don't really know what else to say. OH! How about all the weird attention I get here? You{d think these folks have never seen a white girl. Oh wait...

Seriously though, people will straight up stare as they drive past--head turn and all. And one kid my first day in the area came up and asked if he could take a picture. He through his arm around my shoulders all excited, and I thought Hermana Morales was going to have a heart attack! hahah. People will even shout "WHITE GIRL" (in spanish) as I walk by. So weird. 

It's also like the other side of heaven up in here. You know the part where he keeps slapping himself until he can't control his frustration anymore? That{s me. If I come back looking like an elephant, will you still love me? :)

Well, I'm super stoked to talk to ya'll and see your loving faces smiling back at me this week! I've been told my time to skype is around 3 pm local time (2 back home), so just make sure whatever your skyping on is charged and ready. I will call you before I get on. 

(REMINDER: La actividad de navideña) 

Alright. I love you I love you I love you!!!! 

¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!

              Me y Hermana Woodland for the last time! Love her.

                          Our favorite district of Elders in the infamous "hermana Ray pose!"

Un Milagro de Navidad!

Quierdo familia,

Remember how last week I was praying for a Christmas miracle? Pues, this week I sure got it. MY VISA CAME! Oh yeah. And I even got to take a day trip to Las Vegas to get it. THAT was a weird experience, let me just tell you. 

We had to wake up at 4 in the glorious morning to catch the bus that didn't even show up until 5:15. It took us to the SLC airport, where we waited for our flight for the next two hours. Hna. Wood and I went to breakfast at McDonalds, and I got the McGriddle because 1) It reminds me of Dad and 2) It was delicious. They were playing "real" music though, so that was interesting. There are already songs on the radio that I do not know. 

Anyways, as we were waiting for our plane, I struck up a conversation with this Native American woman who had really awesome earrings. (She was headed to Las Vegas for a tribal convention). So we talked about Fort Hall and other things and pretty soon she was just kind of spilling her life to us. Apparently she was born in the church, but because of the insensitivity of a bishop to her culture she has fallen away. She had a lot of questions and a lot of concerns, and I know that we didn't really do a whole lot to help her, but I did bear my testimony of the importance of church and asked her to give her new ward a chance. She was really nice, and it was just really cool to have a mini missionary experience before 8 in the morning! 

Then we flew to Las Vegas. I felt real weird because I have never actually flown without my mothers permission, but apparently I am an adult and a misionera and so it was okay to leave the state without notifying her. Landing in Las Vegas was even MORE weird because--and this might come as a shock to some of you--LV is NOTHING like the MTC. Nope. So much awkward and uncomfortable-ness. No me gusta. A bit of a shock to the system, if you're pickin' up what I'm puttin' down. This service missionary picked us up, took us to Del Taco, and then took us back to the institute there to talk to us for 3 HOURS about nothing. Well, that's not true. He did tell us a lot about Mexico, but according to everyone else we've talked to everything he told us is false. So that's awesome. He told us we could lay our heads down and sleep if we so desired, and I desired so I did, and then he got mad at all of us. It was a wonderful 3 hours with him. Bless his heart. 

Then we went to the Mexican consulate, where we had to get our fingerprints done and take a picture, (mine was awful) and check to make sure all the paperwork was correct. It took probably 20 minutes total for all of us. I didn't have to speak Spanish there, but we did try to translate the insurance commercial that kept playing over.. and over.. and over......

Then the brother in charge of us took us back to the airport, where we had to wait for another 3 hours for our flight home. But 'sta bien, porque I talked to like a thousand people. And by that I mean like 4. We had a conversation with the lovely man at the Cinnabun counter about Sri Lanka and their government (he was from there and was the COOLEST). The woman at Starbucks was from Mexico. When she saw our tags she said, "Oh ya! I have heard of your church. You have really nice commercials." and I said, "We also have an entire website! Maybe you should check it out!" And she said, "I have to go make the smoothie. Good luck in Mexico." So that wasn't really effective... but it was still cool. Then we started a conversation with a woman from Romania and her daughter. They were really nice, but we didn't talk for very long. So really that one was just cool because she was from Romania. 

But the coolest story ever happened on the flight home. Four of us hermanas were sitting in the second to last row of the plane, and directly behind us were four Mexicans (I KNOW) and a member couple. Unfortunately, I was by the window so I couldn't really talk to them.. pero the two hermanas on the aisle were chattin up a storm! Long story short, we ended up giving them a Libro de Mormon and a Restoration pamphlet. And the two members next to them testified of it to. Powerful. It was the coolest thing ever.

Ever since we got our flight plans last week, I've been freaking out. I don't know why. I guess it all just got really real for me in a hurry and all I could think was "I DON'T KNOW SPANISH OR THE GOSPEL AND I AM NOT READY TO ACTUALLY TALK TO THESE PEOPLE." But the Lord knows me, and he gave me this day in Vegas as one gigantic tender mercy. I realized that with the Lord help, anything is possible. And apparently I am already passed the fear of talking to random strangers, so that's probably a good thing. It was so nice to get that firm testimony re-established that the Lord really loves me and really wants me to succeed. And when I'm doing His work His way, how can I fail? 

Also, Hno. Russell reminded us that "Spanish will never be the limiting factor. It is ALWAYS your faith." Humbling, right? What in YOUR lives is keeping you from sharing the gospel? Remember your faith, and the miracles you've seen before. It is always worth it to open your mouth and share the joy that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Anyroad, that was probably the biggest part of my week. Elder Quinten L. Cook came on Tuesday for the devotional, but we were flying home so I didn't get to hear what he said. #Estoyticked.

I'm so glad things are good at home! I LOVE hearing about everything--especially when you narrate exactly what's happening right then. I can just picture it all so perfectly. Good job to mis hermanos y padres por being so super talented. I love all ya'll. :) 

Remember how I called finally receiving my visa my "Christmas miracle"? Well, it was definitely a miracle, and I don't doubt that, but I was reminded this week that ALL miracles are "Christmas miracles." Without Christ--the reason we celebrate Christmas--there would be no miracles available to us. The atonement of Jesus Christ and the ability to return to live with our Heavenly Father and continue to progress with our families for eternity is the REAL Christmas miracle. All the other miracles and tender mercies we experience in our lives are also because of Jesus Christ, and His love for us. Christmas on a mission is awesome. I have never been so focused on the Savior in all of my days. It's just the most wonderful thing. :) 

Well... I'm happy and healthy, and the next time you hear from me via email I will no longer be stateside! AHHHHH!!!! I love you all! FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Con amor, 

Hermana Moser

 I am a missionary with the official missionary name tag.  Meet my companion, Hermana Wood.

Exciting day for me here...my first package... from Makenda!!

#preachtotheworld

My district in front of Provo Temple.

We are all headed South!

In front of another map.

I am ready to rock n roll! Let's do this!

We may or may not draw on the white boards some....

Praying for A Christmas Miracle

Oh hey dehr! (Canadian accent)

How is it going in good ole B-town?! I am sure it is just wonderful, because it always is. Sorry to hear about the power-outage. If that happened here, I think we would all just die. It is seriously so cold. You know what was a bad idea? Packing for Mexico. Apparently light fabrics don't do too well in the snow and ice. haha.. pero esta bien. We can muscle through it. I think there was a reason all the missionaries watched "Ephraim's Rescue" before the snow hit. :) 

My blessed companion is from Arizona, and she had the time of her life when it snowed all day. I kept losing her, only to turn around and find her taking MORE pictures. She just loved it. I told her she would get over it real quick, and she has. She keeps complaining about the "wind." That's when I say, "Hermana, this is not wind. This is the slight breeze that happens when you walk really fast to get out of the cold." Bless her. She's never been in SE Idaho. THAT is wind. 

This week we almost got to hear from another Apostle of the Lord, but the snow kept him (M. Russell Ballard) from making the trip. So Bruce C. Hafen, an emeritus member of the seventy, was called up at 4:30 that afternoon to address us instead. He did a fabulous job teaching us about the purpose behind why we go through the temple before we go on missions. But my favorite part was when he told a story about his good childhood friend, Jeffrey R. Holland. (I know). Apparently, Elder Holland had a hard time trusting the Lord and deciding to serve a mission at all. But he acted on his faith, and his mission was the most powerful experience in his life. (Go watched "Miracle of a Mission" or "Missions are Forever." It's good stuff). His mission changed his life. It just gives me so much hope that if Elder Holland even had struggles, I'm gonna be fine. I dunno. I just find this whole "trust" concept to be very interesting. 

Anyways... Brother Hafen also told us to go watched Elder Ballard's talk from this last General Conference, because that is probably what he would have said to all of us. So, I did. I would recommend for all ya'll to do the same, because it stressed the importance of missionaries and members working TOGETHER to hasten the work. He also gave us a challenge to complete before Christmas. Remember what it was? Anyone? Anyone? Beuhler? He challenged every member of The Church to reach out to a non-member friend and invite them to come closer to Christ by Christmas. If we all seriously took this challenge to heart, MILLIONS could be affected. MILLIONS BY CHRISTMAS!!!! If that doesn't get you pumped for missionary work, I don't know what will. It's a great talk. Probably go read it. Incidentally, it's entitled "Put Your Trust in the Lord." (Are you sensing a theme in my life right now? I am). 

Quick shout out to cousin Amber for being born this week! Feliz Cumplianos! 

Also shout out to Aunt Adie and Uncle Curtis! Thanks for the Christmas card! Loved it!!

So yesterday was a really great day, and not just because it was a certain someone's birthday. (see above). (And if her birthday isn't on the 4th I'm about to be real embarrassed and I apologize). I spoke SOLAMENTE ESPANOL for the entire day. No joke. Actually, I said some English words but that's just because I had no idea how to say them in Spanish. But I tried my very best, and I learned what I need to improve on in the next 10 days before I hit the field. (Wait, WHAT? AHHH). Unfortunately, it is a lot. Like a lot, a lot. But everyone keeps telling me that the focus of the MTC is not the language, it is the language of the Spirit. So that is what I have been trying to focus on. 

Also yesterday I had some lovely box elder bugs thrown on my person by the elders next door. They thought it was hilarious. I screamed really loud. I know.. You are all thinking "Elise? Scream loud? She would never do that. She is not that kind of girl." But I did. And it was embarrassing. I also got hit really hard in the back of the head with a basketball yesterday. Bien venido a mi vida. (MOM! I play basketball during PE! Actually, it's not "basketball," it's lightning.. but I still thought you would be proud of me! I am getting pretty good. I could totes take you down right now). 

Well, the Christmas lights are up about campus, and it's just that wonderful time of the year! It's still weird to think that regular life is continuing without me, but I can't think of a better way to celebrate the birth of the Savior than to share the message of his gospel. Hopefully, I'll be able to do that in Mexico. At this rate, with no word from the Visa office for any of the Villahermosa sisters, it will take a Christmas miracle to get me there on time. Good thing I know this whole experience is directed by someone who knows a lot better than I do what is ahead. 

La Inglesia de JesuCristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es Verdadera! I know it. I live it. I love it. And I love all of you. 

I love you I love you I love you!

con amor, 

Hermana Moser

Feliz dia de accion de gracias!

Hola Familia!

Feliz dia de accion de gracias! (Isn't that a mouthful? I mean.. really). How was everyone's thanksgiving?! I haven't heard anything from any of you yet so... I mean it's fine but I expect some letters real soon. 

Thanksgiving in the MTC is WONDERFUL. I shall walk you through the course of events, since I am positive you are dying to know:

First, we ate breakfast in the cafeteria on West Campus, because that's where we live. I had cinnamon toast crunch and banana bread. 

Second, we hopped aboard a bus to take us to Main, where we had choir practice from 8:00-9:00 am. We sang "Hope of Israel." It was be-awesome.

Third, we had a devotional. Hold on to your seats now... the "special speaker" was Elder Russell M. Nelson! It was so special. The best part is, well.. let me back up. For the last 10-15 minutes before the devotional starts, everyone sings the prelude. So when the general authority, or apostle, in this case, comes through the doors everyone is singing. There is something just so powerful about hundreds of missionaries singing the songs of Zion in unison when an Apostle of the Lord walks through the doors. I admit: a tear was shed. 

He talked to us of the importance of including ward missionary leaders and family history consultants in our work. He told us to begin praying to be led to those whose ancestors are have accepted the gospel and are ready for their work to be done. Is that not the coolest thing you have ever heard? I have never thought about it like that. It makes this work we have to do that much more urgent!!! 

Fourth, we had Thanksgiving dinner. It was DELICIOUS, but the cafeteria was the most crowded thing I have ever seen. It was terrifying to try to find a table, and I am not joking. But we had turkey, and pumpkin pie and that tasty broccoli-bacon salad that I love so much. There were also mashed potatoes, but they were really fake and the Idaho girl in me just isn't about that life. 

Fifth, we had a Thanksgiving program. I was worried because I thought it was just going to be musical number after musical number.. which is fine! Don't misunderstand.. it's just a little rough when you are super sleepy and you have to sit through pretty music for an hour and a half. Boy, were we surprised when President Roach announced the first number as "HEDWIG'S THEME FROM HARRY POTTER." I have no idea how that was allowed, but I have not been so excited to hear that song in all of my life. It is also probably why I had a dream about a Basilisk in our bathroom last night, but that is a story for another time. The program continued with the singing of Christmas carols, a skit about the first thanksgiving complete with costumes, and the testimony of a young man you had strayed from the church in his youth and was brought back to the fold by his commanding officer in Iraq. It was beautiful. 

Sixth, we ate our sack lunch dinners. Which is hilarious, because it's thanksgiving.. but they were actually really good. Me gusta.

Seventh, we participated in the service project which was filling bags of lentils for hungry children in the area. Rumor has it we did 350,000 bags. #missionarypower.

Eighth, we watched "Ephraim's Rescue" in the main gym. They even had boxes of candy for us! It was just wonderful. You know what is almost as good as singing with hundreds of missionaries? Laughing and crying with hundreds of missionaries. It is just so sweet to know we are all there united in purpose and testimony, and then to think the same thing is funny is just icing on the cake. I love that movie. 

And finally, we walked home. Therefore, we did not get home until 10:25. This is breaking the rules, as you are probably aware, but I don't think it really counts as disobedience since we really didn't have a choice. And I was still in bed by 10:40. And with 6 hermanas in one bathroom, that is no small task. 

Thus ended Thanksgiving 2013. 

The rest of my week has been the best one yet! Hermana Wood and I have found our "rhythm," I think, and our lessons have been so good. The spirit has been so strong. And our "investigators" are progressing nicely, I think. Por ejemplo: "Wayne" (the athiest) prayed this morning with us to know if God exists and if He has a plan for his life. Beautiful. 

A new district is "intermediate" because they have taken Spanish before. I think there is a test they have to take? No se. I just know they already know more than us. Esta bien. I ain't even mad.

CCM stands for Centro Capatacion de Misional. It's the Spanish MTC :) 

Thank you for the updates on everyone! They make me laugh and gasp and such nonsense. I'm sure my district just loves hearing about the life of my family back home :) Oh well. They can deal. 

Do you want to hear something profound that someone asked us the other day? They said, "Who was the better missionary: Enos, with his city so righteous they were all translated, or Noah, who was only able to convince his family to repent and board the ark?" The answer is they are both equal in the missionary work, because they were both equal in their effort. This work is not about numbers or about how righteous you can get your area to be. A successful missionary is measured by their effort. People still have the ability to choose. It makes a lot of sense to me. 

Also we talked about repentance this week, and how it is not a "checklist." True repentance is about a constant change of heart. Hermana Haws said, "You may have repentED, but are you repentANT?" Something to think about. And something that I think I definitely need to improve on. Oh there is so much to improve on. 

Thank you for your constant prayers, support, and love! I truly have the best support system known to man. 

I love you I love you I love you!!

Con amor, 

Hermana Moser

Hola mi familia! Comó estan!?

I am doing just fantastic here at the CCM. Actually I feel like there is a lot to say and not a lot to say all at the same time, so my mind is going a billion miles a minute and I am struggling with figuring out how to begin.

How about with this: Remember how everyone knows you get an investigator in the MTC, and how shocked I was when we found out we had to teach MORE than one lesson? Well.. around this time last week, Alfredo stopped seeing the missionaries. What all of the older districts had failed completely to warn us about was that once that first week is over, you get TWO BRAND NEW INVESTIGATORS. One is "Wayne." Bless him. He's a sweet guy. Reminds me of Alfredo. Except for he's atheist, so that's great. When he told us he didn't believe in God hna. Wood and I just exchanged a look of "Ooh no." and "I haven't the slightest clue how to address this in Spanish." Our otra investigadora is "Nancy" and she is very much reserved. She's 18 and only likes to sleep and watch Twilight and is struggling with understanding just how much God loves her. Entonces, needless to say, our new investigators are a handful. Pero esta bien! It's not about our relationship with them, it's about building their relationship with the Savior. We are just there as an instrument in the hands of the Lord. You know what? Missionary work is very humbling.

This second week has been more challenging than the first, and I think it's because we are expected to know more, and I get frustrated when I don't remember absolutely everything we have learned. They keep reminding us what a milagro it is that we can even speak this much Spanish after 14 days, but it's still really irritating for me. So, combine that with other triggers, and I just started crying in coaching the other day. Poor Hna. Haws was so kind to me. I really was fine, but I guess I needed to cry something out because the tears just didn't stop. It was super annoying, but everything is good now. And she taught me how turning to El Libro de Mormon in any situation can be comforting and an answer to prayer. (I recommend 2 Nefi 4. Es muy bonita). (Also, sorry for not using the accents. That would requite me to change the setting of this keyboard, and I'm just really not about that life right now). 

Our Sunday night devotional this week was given by Mary Ellen Edmunds and it was the best devotional every porque she was HILARIOUS. But she said something that I think was meant for me in dealing with things this week. She said, "All you can do is the best you can do." Sweet, right? It's so true. 

ALSO I watched a devo by Elder Holland where he said this:

"He said, 'come to the edge' and we said 'No, we'll fall.

He said, 'Come to the edge,' and we said, 'No, we'll fall.

He said, 'Come to the edge.'

We came. He pushed. 

We flew."

Miracles happen outside your comfort zone. And that is why missions are hard. :)

We got TWO new districts in our zone last night! It's very exciting because now we are not the youngest district! Of course, that doesn't really matter because the other hermanas that have come are intermediate, but I am okay with it. Esta bien. They still don't know where the mailbox is, so I've still got an advantage.

MOM! YES HERMANA HILTON IS IN MY DISTRICT! And she is hilarious and I love her. So you can just go back and hunt down her aunt to tell her that. She is like 7 feet tall and really good at Spanish. 

NATHAN! CONGRATULATIONS MY LITTLE EAGLE SCOUT! Loved those pictures. So wonderful. Me guesta. Actually, me encanta. Pictures are always really great. In any form. So... sending them is a good idea. (hint hint.) PS. NATHAN: You know what eagle scouts do? They write their sisters who are on missions. So, probably get on that. 

Mom and Dad, your emails are the best things in this world. I laugh out loud at them frequently and then have to run and share with the other hermanas. I think they are getting sick of hearing about my family. :) Pero, that sounds like a personal problem porque I LOVE my family! 

Buenos suerte in school and work and the show and everything.

I love you I love you I love you.

I promise to try to send pictures this time :)

con amor,

Hermana Moser

 

 Ps. my card is not working with this computers. So it is looking like I will have to try again next week. I'm sorry :(

It's P-Day! P-Day! Getta Letter on P-Day!

Hola familia! Como le va??

Wow. Crazy. This has been the longest and shortest and weirdest and bestest week of my life. I have only been here for 8 days, yet I have seen so many miracles and tender mercies. 

Por ejemplo, let's just take a gander at the first day, shall we? ...

After I said goodbye and stopped crying, they gave me my name tag (YAY!) and my books (which are like one thousand pounds) and escorted me to my room. (I live on West campus, by the way, not in the main MTC. I'm in the Wyview apartments). Who was my escort when I stepped off the bus, you ask? Hermana Woodland! My roommate from last semester! SO exciting! I almost cried with joy. Except for I didn't because I had just stopped crying, and so that would have been counter-productive. 

Then, after Hna. Woodland gave me the dirt on how things operated at the West Campus, I was swept away to my classroom. The nametag on my desk was written in GREEN marker. This is probably not a big deal, but it really just was. (Her favorite color is green.) I also found out that mi maestra, Hermana Haws, is related to Aunt Sharon! Ella es mi prima! :D I just can't get away from all these Mosers. My goodness. 

The first two hours in the class were spent totally in Spanish. It was hilarious. Nobody knew what was going on. She even took us on a tour of the campus, but that was a funny joke because we didn't understand her. We still get lost all the time when we try to find things. 

My district is all Hermanas! The first one ever in our zone! And I have been called to be the District Sister-Training Leader, which is kind of like a normal District Leader except for I'm not a boy. And I think there are Elder District leaders over us. Our poor branch presidency doesn't really know how to handle an all hermana district. I guess we just have to shake things up a bit :) I love these girls, though. I literally feel like I have known them my entire life. Mi companera's name is Hermana Wood. She's from Arizona and we get along really well. She gets the bottom bunk, I get the top. This is a little bit of a problem in the morning, because we all know how "with it" I am at 6 am, but esta bien. 

Funny story about how long the days are in the CCM:

Last Thursday we were sitting in our classroom, because we are always sitting in our classroom, and we were studying. But actually we were talking and getting to know each other. Then I looked at my watch and said, "Hermanas, we have not even been here for 24 hours yet." And then everyone looked at each other with looks of awe and wonder because it felt like we had been there for at least a week. Those first 4 days are no joke. 

Everyone had been telling us we just had to make it until Sunday and then the days will just fly by so fast it's scary. I did not believe them. Well, now I do. This week has been ridiculously speedy. The Sunday's here are WONDERFUL! We wake up, do our thing, have breakfast, study study yada yada.. and then the sisters get to go to Music and the Spoken Word. It was awesome this week because it was celebrating Veterans Day. It was all patriotic, and I'm all about that life. Then we have Relief Society. AKA a general auxiliary leader comes and talks to all the sisters. This last week we got to hear from the 2nd counselor in the general primary presidency. She's a gem. After that I got to go to meetings, cuz I'm a leader, and the zone leader asked me to give the opening prayer! In Spanish! Bless my heart. But I did it and it was fine. That night we had choir practice, and then a nice evening stroll up to main campus for a devotional. THEN we came back to west campus and watched a devotional Elder Bednar gave called "The Character of Christ." It is the best devotional I have ever heard. And he does an impression of the cookie monster, so I highly recommend it. He talked about how Christ was constantly turning outward, even in situations where you or I would have turned inward. After he suffered beyond what any mortal could imagine in the Garden, he turned outward and healed the guard's ear. He told us that it is NOT about what we want. It isn't about what we want for ourselves or our investigators, it is about what God wants for them. We have to be constantly turned outward in selfless service, or our mission will be a waste. It completely changed my perspective on a lot of things. oh It was so good. 

It was very nice timing too because our lessons with our investigator were not going very well. That's right. LESSONS. In the plural. I assume you have heard new missionaries teach a lesson in their mission language on the 3rd day? What they don't tell you is that keeps happening. So far we have taught "Alfredo" 5 times. But do you know what is awesome? I can understand what he is saying. Do I know how to answer him? Nope. I have to get really creative with how I word things using my limited vocabulary. But what a miracle to know what he is saying and what we need to study in order to answer his questions. Anyway, our first lesson was fine but our second lesson was kind of a disaster. He just kept asking questions that didn't make sense and I was getting really flustered. So on Monday, I just went in there with the mindset of teaching by the spirit, relying on the Lord, and trusting that all would be well with the lesson and it was! It was such a wonderful lesson. Even though he's no a "real" investigator, the spirit was so strong. I was able to combine words in ways that probably have never been combined before in the history of Spanish grammar, and he was able to understand what we were trying to say. The gift of tongues is real! As long as the Spirit is the teacher in the lesson, it doesn't matter that we can't perfectly communicate. It was a really neat lesson to learn so early on in this journey, which is probably why they put us through that kind of torture. Not torture. Just.. it's really scary, that's all I'm' saying. 

Gym time is great. Mostly Hermanas Wood, Sundberg, Hilton, and I just walk around the apartments in the fresh air, but yesterday Hna. Sundberg got a jump rope in the mail. It was like we were 8 years old again. And then Hna. Hilton and I went and played lightning with a bunch of elders and some really impressive sisters. I did not do very well. These people are professionals. But it was really fun. 

Tuesday we had a devotional with Elder L. Tom Perry! It was so wonderful. We were singing when he walked in (they start singing prelude hymns 15 minutes before the meeting here) and I think it made the Spirit just that much stronger. He is hilarious. He taught about companionship and testimony. My favorite part was when he challenged us to "never leave a congregation without bearing your witness of this gospel." Powerful. 

I am so glad to hear all the missionaries in the Philippines have been found and are safe! That was something Elder Perry talked a lot about. He said there were a lot of miracles associated with those missions. I am inclined to agree. 

My days usually go like this:

6:00 wake up because we have one bathroom and 6 girls and this senorita needs to shower

6:45 breakfast

study study study

8:00 teach Alfredo

study study study study study study study

11:20 lunch

CLASE CON HERMANA HAWS

4:20 dinner

study study study study

gymnasio!

study study study 

Plan

Zone prayer / song

journal time / companion prayer

10:30 bed. 

Exhausting, right? We get a little loopy sometimes during those long study session. Por ejemplo: the other day I laughed until I cried because I realized all the pictures in the Spanish pamphlets are different from the English ones. It is hilarious. En serio. Go check it out. 

Good luck on Sunday, Nathan!! Wish I could be there for your Court of Honor! I'm so proud of you!

Thank you for the dearelders. They are seriously the best things ever. I love them. So feel free to send as many as you want and spread the word! :) 

The church is true! I love you I love you I love you!

Hermana Moser

PS:  This morning in the temple I realized that Justin would be 18 right now...the age to serve a mission! Isn't that cool? I am serving on this side of the veil, and he is serving on that side. We're working together for the Kingdom of God! Hurrah for Israel! :)

 November 4, 2013

Just moments before I was set apart a missionary 

by President Robert Jenks. 

This is mi familia.

8 p.m.

November 6, 2013

 Last meal with my family for 18 months at Mimi's in Provo, Utah.

 12 noon.

It is getting serious now...the MTC is one block away.  I can see it.

1:10 p.m. 

One last photo with Madre and Padre before I leave.

1:13 p.m.

 We are greeted by an energetic gentleman who instructs us where to park (Curbside #15) to say our very last goodbye's (whatever we could accomplish in 2 1/2 minutes).  He also informs us that I was one of 631 missionaries entering the Mission Training Center today. 

 Hurrah for Israel!

1:20 p.m.

And So It Begins....My Mission!