"The Immigration Adventure"

September 8, 2014

Thanks for writing me!

..Got lots to read, so this will probably be a short-ish email. Too bad, because a lot happened this week.

First of all, this is like magic-investigator land or something because the people here are AMAZING! I am in love with all of them. They´re just like "YES you can come to my house and leave me compromisos that I will fulfill." And "YES I would like to be baptized as soon as possible, please." It is the beesst.

Por ejemplo: We are teaching this family that has TRIPLETS. (No, you did not read that wrong. There are three babies). The hermano is menos activo since he was like 9 years old, and his... the hermana is investigating. She is perfect. Her answers and her questions are always exactly right. It is like clockwork teaching her. It is such a miracle that she even understands us since, well.. We are both very much American. Bless our hearts. But I love that family so much!!

We also have another investigator that is paralyzed from the waist down because he had a nasty fall of about 3 stories. The lessons with him are SO powerful. Yesterday we read Enos with him, and he loved it. He was applying it to his life like a pro. Afterwards, we prayed there with him. (That was funny, because we said we.. meaning Hermana Pasley and I... were going to kneel down, and he just looked at us like "Hermanas. I can't kneel down"."And looked at his legs all pointedly. He is hilarious). We prayed, and after he said he felt something like indescribable joy and peace in his heart. We asked him what he thought it was, and he just said, The Spirit, right? YES! It was amazing. He wants to get baptized soo bad, but the doctors say that if he bends like that it could make the damage permanent. We are all praying for a miracle.

I suppose you are now wondering about the Great Immigration Adventure of 2014. I think you[ll have to wait til Christmas for all the details... But I will tell you that I spent Saturday in immigration detention and President and Sister Morales had to come rescue me. And by me I mean us, because Hermana Cabrera was a superhero and came with me. I DO NOT want you to worry. It was just a Little mix up with my papers. Everything is fine now, and it will be a great story. "Remember that time they took me to Tenosique...?" haha.. Good times.

Pues... I love you I love you I love you!

Remember who you are and what you stand for!

Enos 1:8

Con amor,

Hermana Moser 

HE CAMBIADO!

September 1, 2014
Hellooooooo!

Once upon a time, everyone´s favorite Mexican missionary was sitting in nightly planning with her beloved companion. Suddenly, the phone rang. "Asistente 1," it read. "WHAT?!" The bewildered sisters exclaimed. "The cambios are done already?!" 

"Hermana Ayala?" El Elder said. "Are you ready for the cambios?"

"Yes Elder. Tell me," she replied. In Spanish. Because they both speak Spanish.

"Your compañera has cambios, Hermana. Your compañera has cambios." 

What is the moral of this little story? YOU BET YOUR LIFE I HAVE HAD TRANSFERS! Así es, mi querido familia. Now I am in some place named Emilio Zapata with Hermana Pasley. That doesn´t sound like a very Mexican name, you say? Ya got that right. My lovely companion is from St. George Utah, and I can already tell that we are going to be best friends. Apart from the fact that I´m compañera mayor in a new place with an American companion and that I am freaking out, I am REALLY excited for this cambio! 

Zapata is a little more like Frontera. No Walmart. No... well... much of anything. 

It´s all hills, so that´s awesome, and our house is ant-free. #itsamiracle. I mean, I prefer ants over cockroaches, but if there are neither then that would be the best. 

Also my ex-compañera hermana Martinez is here in the branch! apparently there are 8 missionaries here. 

Saying good-bye in Deportiva was the worst, though. I am not joking. Nancy came to the bus station this morning, and sat with me for the whole 2.5 hours I was there, just so that she could see me off. She is the best. I cried. Everyone we saw yesterday was just so nice! I felt SO much love from the members and from the investigatores. And the other missionaries. I did NOT want to leave Hermana Ayala, Weaver, and Perez. They are so wonderful, and I had SO MUCH FUN living with them.  I feel like I´m leaving home all over again every time we have cambios. Ugh. 

This weekend was stake conference and it was amazing. Elder Lester Johnson, an area seventy, came to speak to us. The Saturday night session was amazing for two reasons: #1: Hermano Gustavo, an hermano we have been working with that was baptized in March, said the opening prayer. And it was beautiful. It is so fun to see their progression after baptism!!! and #2: The entire meeting was on the work of salvation. It was awesome! They talked about member missionary work, retention, activation, family history, and temple work. I think every person there walked out feeling more responsible for the obra (work) of salvation.

 O sea, Moses 1:39. "For behold this is MY WORK and MY GLORY, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

Do you know why being a missionary is so great? Because for 1.5-2 years of your life, you get to have the EXACT same work and glory as our Heavenly Father. No wonder we feel so close to Him when we participate in this great work! It is the most humbling, satisfying, and spiritually edifying thing one could ever be a part of. It is de beeeehhhsst. I am so blessed. 

Welll... I´ll try to go send pictures. 

Please don´t forget about me. 

I love you I love you I love you!

Hermana Monser.

PS: MASSIVE congratulations to BFF Karissa y su marido Cody. It´s so weird, but I´m happy for you! 

Real- Life Nancy se bautizó!

Helloooooo dearies!

This week was another rollercoaster of a week, but it is FINE because all ended up perfect and also we went on another field-trip. 

Last, what was it? Wednesday? We went to visit our beloved Nancy, who is a young woman that we have been teaching for about 6 weeks. She had already pushed back her baptism date a week because she didn´t feel 100% prepared, but on Sunday she said the 23rd was the day she wanted to be baptized. Perfect. We will not push anyone into the waters of baptism. And she was right... She hadn´t been taught everything she needed to know. So we changed the date to the 23rd. 

Anyroad, on Wednesday we went to her house for a lesson and her dad was there. He kept saying that it is her decision and he will support her, but he had a LOT of questions about the church, and he was trying to get her to post-pone her date again. I wanted to be like, "YO. Dad. Stop, please." The awesome part was that Nancy was totally defending the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and the Church.. everything. She was bearing her testimony without even knowing what she was doing. But, in the end, she did ask if we could postpone her baptism further. We decided to simply bear testimony, and pray right there with her about her decision. She felt she did not get an answer. We did not know what to do and I felt like the worst missionary in the whole world. We ended with her saying that she would still go to the interview we had scheduled for that night, and she would make her decision then. 

I do not know what happened in the interview. It was the longest interview ever, and I was stressing out the whole time. But she came out saying that she would be ready for Saturday. HALLELUJAH! It was a miracle. I was so so so so happy! 

I still was a little stressed out until Saturday when everyone arrived and all was set up and it was beautiful. Nancy was gorgeous, and her mom came to support her... Something that we did not think was going to happen. We had 2 adultas solteras speak on baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. They were perfect. The spirit was SO strong. Nancy just cried the whole time. She´s a little like me that way. :) We also had all the young adults women sing "Conmigo Quedate Señor", which is Nancy´s favorite hymn. It was beautiful. I just really can´t get over how perfect the whole thing was. Ah. #Estoycontenta.

Today we went on another field trip! To Yunkä! It was AWESOME! I saw and ELEPHANT! and also manatees and tigres and monkeys. But I think the most exotic creature they had on the reserve was the white-tailed deer. That´s right. They have deer here as part of the zoological landscape. Hilarious. All the Americans were like, "Really? We have those in the backyard. Literally. They eat all our plants." 

I took pictures of all this.. but, wouldn´tcha know it.. I can´t figure out how to work this computer. My memory card isn´t showing up in the equipo section like it should. So.. Sorry. 

I hope that all goes well on your trip! Temples are the best. Also, Thank you for your prayers. We sure need them here in the mission field. 

I love you I love you i love you!

Hermana Moser

My companion is in the red pants on top.

 

SPECIAL CONF FUN

August 18, 2014

Dearest, Darlingest Momsie and Popsicle:

This week we have had just a GRAND ole time, because we got to go on a field trip! (I would love to send photos.. but I´m telling you now.. I don´t think that´s gonna happen). We went to the capilla (chapel) en Espejo. They told us to be there at 8, and we thought that was because they were going to make us a fancy breakfast or something, but they really just wanted us to make zone banners. Ours was awesome. I am not joking. You have to see it to believe it. (Again, sorry about the pictures. Someday. Just imagine the sweetest banner you´ve ever seen of a giant stone head, and that is what it looked like).  (And by all of that I mean that I just figured out this dumb computer and NOW WE HAVE PHOTO ACCESS!! #pedidyrecibereis). (ask and receive) 

This is the banner. Told you.

 

After the banner-making, we had a training. It was a special training where we needed to invite a member to help us practice teaching to members using a special model. We invited my favorite menos activa, Alma Rosa, to help us out. We started by talking about the restoration and the story of Joseph Smith. We sang the first verse of "Oh How Lovely Was the Morning" (is that what it´s called? I don´t remember) and then shared the first vision. She told us in that moment that she knew that everything we were saying was true. Her nephew has been taking her to the New Generation church, and she has been really confused about which church is really the true church of Christ. She has been so confused, but right then she got her answer. She also gave us a reference to her good friend Eva, and accompanied us to teach her. The restoration is SO POWERFUL! It is the coolest! There is nothing on earth like it, and we have the chance to share it all day, every day! I love being a missionary!

After the training, we went to a kids discovery center. I am not joking you, I think all the workers thought we were crazy. They had giant bubbles, and sand things, and a giant piano.. It was a blast. The only part I did not enjoy was when they dissected an eyeball. And by dissected, I mean they just poked a hole in it and squeezed all the stuff out. #nope.

 

GIaNT not functioning PIANO! WHOO!

Theeen we went to a deportiva, where we played basketball and volleyball to our hearts content! Even President and sister Morales played! President got really into it, too. He was a little offended when his team took him out of the game because he kept missing the ball... haha.

They also fed us pizza, which was awesome because pizza is delicious.

I love you all so much! Literally cannot describe in words how grateful I am for the life and the people I have been blessed with. It is too much. A full-time mission is a ridiculously small price to pay for all of the blessings that my Father in Heaven has given and continues to give me. I am so grateful!

I love you guys. Praying for yous. Peace and blessings.

I love you I love you I love you

Hermana Monster

Remember when you asked me for a cute photo for my plaque? Well, if this picture with a sombrero isn´t just the cutest thing you have ever seen then I don´t know what you want. haha... It was a gift from Matilde y Leudy. They are worried about my delicate complexion in this sun-stricken land. Bless them.

 

I made macaroni and cheese! Tasted a little funky cuz the milk here is not normal.. but I still loved it. Next up: BROWNIES!

Mis hermanas y yo :) My companion is not there. I think she took the picture, actually. haha

 

It was the BEST DAYY EVERR!!

'Ello mates!

Just thought I´d shake up the greeting a little bit. How is everyone doing? Sounds like er´rything is going just great! I am very proud of my family and the good things that ya´ll are doing. I just can´t get over how wonderful you guys are!!

My week was FABULOUS! I am not joking. There were no pig heads or eyeballs in sight. haha.. That´s not why my week was fabulous though. It started on Tuesday after District class where I tried REALLY hard not to get excited about the mail because there is usually nothing for us. And then good old Elder intheofficesthatisAmericanbutwithanameIcan´tpronounce handed me TWO DEARELDERS! AND THEY WERE AWESOME! So thanks, Ma, for being a champ. :) 

Continuing on through the week where I got to go to Parrilla on exchanges to work with Hermana Segundo and where we made tamalles in Relief Society and Hermana Weaver and I taught our first English class. Saturday was the day that I felt like a real live geunine successful missionary. (Somedays you feel like you can take on the world and be the most powerful missionary out there, and some days you just don´t. This mission thing is a real emotional rollercoaster, let me tell you). We taught this joven (young) named Alejandro who is awesome and has a thousand questions. He is like a Joseph Smith in his desire to know the truth. He is only 16. He has prayed about the Book of Mormon with the missionaries before, like a year ago, and he felt he received an answer... but he said his dad won´t let him get baptized. We do not know his dad, nor really anything about this family and their needs, but Alejandro came to sacrament meeting and we are SO excited for him! 

Then we went to visit Nelly, who is 71 years old and has the coolest voice and we love her. I do not know how much I have told you about her... She was awesome the first and second times we went to her house, and the third time she told us that she was too old to change. She can´t start believing in people named Nefi and Lehi when she´s 71.. she just can´t! But actually, she can. We read the scriptures in Alma that compare the word to a seed. There´s one verse that talks about denying the truth, and when she got to that part she just paused and said all horrified "That´s what I´m doing, isn´t it?" and went on. She accepted to keep listening to us, and we are slowly gaining her trust. This week she admitted some things that have been weighing her down for the last 40 years. She cried and we cried with her. I could feel her anguish and her fear...We talked about the atonement, and then we gave her the pamphlet of the gospel of Christ. When we came back, due to some of her other things that she told us, we were talking about the Plan of Salvation. When we wrote the word "baptism" as part of the life on Earth, she got all excited and said, "That´s what I´m missing!!" She now has a date set, and we love her and I am SO excited. 

Then we went to talk to Lucas and Daniela. They are currently living together, and a few weeks ago Lucas (who is a little.. or a lot.. What´s the word? Wants to fight me) {I think she means "contentious"} asked us how we felt about that. So we gave him a ley de castidad (Law of Chastity) pamphlet and said we would be back to talk about it. We went back Saturday fully expecting him to start a bible bash or something, and he did bring up polygamy at the beginning, but that boy was quiet as anything the whole lesson. When we asked for his thoughts he just said, "You´re right." Sooooo... Now they´re getting married. #Huzzah!

Those were some of the highlights of my week. I have felt the guidance of the spirit SO STRONGLY in these days.. I cannot even describe. Thank you so much for your prayers and support! Please know I am praying for you too. Give my love to Julia. Can´t imagine what she must be going through. 

I love you I love you I love you!!!

Hermana Monser.

9 MONTHS BABAAYY

August 4, 2014
Dearest family,

I have this problem called "I have no idea what to say in this email right now." And thus: I apologize if it is lame, boring, or another adjective that I can´t currently think of in my native tongue.

OH! Hey, that just gave me a story to tell you. Boy oh boy, are you going to laugh. Ready? This week we were eating with the lovely familia. Love them. Their food is always really good, but the setting is 100% sketchy. I am not joking. They sell tacos in the night, and they prepare in the morning. SO MUCH MEAT is being chopped on this one wooden table with all these flies and other body parts of the pig... Sometimes I feel nauseous. This last week, bless them, they were peeling the meat off of a PIG HEAD. THE WHOLE HEAD OF A PIG. Eye balls, brain, cheek... you name it. Even the tongue. Gross. It was then that I told them that I had never eaten tongue... just part of a "taco de lenguaje." Do you know what "lenguaje" means? It means language. "Lengua" means tongue. It was an honest mistake that anyone could have made, but OH how the spanish-speakers laughed. 

Last week in zone conference we learned how to teach members and ask for references by actually doing a practice with members right there in the conference. We invited dear old Gustavo, who has been a member since March. Great guy. In the lesson, we were practicing how to invite the member to pray right there with us about who they know that is ready to receive the gospel of Christ. (PRAYER is the most powerful tool we have. I have never been more convinced of this in all of my days). He gave us 5 names, but none of them live in our area and he didn´t have the exact address for a single one of them. So that was a little disappointing, but it´s fine. THEN that afternoon as we were making the 1000 mile trek back from Cura Hueso, we saw him crossing the street. He asked if we wanted to come in for a drink of water and we said no because 1) he is a single man and that is against the rules and 2) he had a giant coke in his hands and that is also against the rules. Then he said, "It´s cuz I want to present you to my mom." YES WE CAN COME IN FOR A DRINK!. And so then we entered, met his mother who we are now teaching, and drank us some gaterade. I LOVE MEMBER REFERALS!!

The member that the other companionship invited to the conference gave them 2 references that are in our area! So he came with us on Friday and we went and found all of them. There is serious potential for baptism, and we are very excited!!! It was also a giant bonus because we got more lessons with members the last week than we have had in my whole time in Deportiva. QUE bendición! Members are so important. If the members aren´t involved, nothing happens. Missionaries can work and work and work and work until they are sunburned and cramping and nothing will come of it if the investigadores don´t feel the love and support of the people they will be around for forever after their baptism. Hey family: When was the last time you went out with the missionaries? 

I am so glad that you all had the time of your life at the reunion!! Love the pictures, and I am sure I will love the music video even more! (I asked permission.. don´t worry. And it doesn´t open to youtube.. so we is good). 

Thank you for your love and support and prayers! It means the WORLD to have a family that is so loving and supportive and wonderful. I count my many blessings every day. 

I love you I love you I love you!!

MUUUCHO amor, 

Hermana Monser

p.s.  What do you think of me extending?

HAPPY PIONEER DAY!

July 28, 2014
Hey family!

Do you know another awesome holiday that apparently doesn´t exist in Mexico? Pioneer Day. I was severely bummed by the lack of parades and community plays that happens here on the 24th. That being said, Saturday they did make me steak and mashed potatoes (first mashed taters since leaving the states.. I almost cried)  sooooo... I guess I´ll live. :) 

We have found a lot of new people the past couple of weeks, and we have been told that 9 times out of 10 we should start with the message of the Restauracion. Hence, we have been talking a lot about the apostasy, Joseph Smith, The Book of Mormon, etc. When we talk about the first vision, we always talk about the background of the experience, o sea, the religion tension, the questions the Joseph Smith had, and, most importantly, the scripture that he read in James 1:5. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not and it shall be given him." 

What do you think of when you hear that scripture? This week I have realized that throughout my life I have really only applied that scripture to this specific situation. Like, "If you have a question about which church is true, or about the Book of Mormon, you can ask God and he will tell you that it´s true." Without a doubt, God answers this question quickly and strongly... the evidence of which I have seen and experienced more times than I could ever count in my time as one of the Lord's missionaries. However, the scripture does not specify what kind of question or "lack of wisdom" that God will help you with. He is our Father, and as such is eager and willing to answer ALL of our questions. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you." There is nothing we can do as individuals that is more important than prayer. We need that open communication with Deity to receive the wisdom we need in EVERY situation. I have read and heard and seen so many evidences of that this week that I am in awe. 

So anyroad.. I invite all of you to rely more fully on the Lord. Promise it will make you a lot happier.

 What else happened this week... Oh! This morning Hermana Ayala and I decided to go to Plaza Altabrisa, because we always pass it on the way to Cura Hueso and, well, we wanted to see it on the inside. It is SO NICE. I am not joking. Like Prada and Steve Madden and Ralph Lauren nice. I felt very very very out of place. It was more like a museum than a store. We went to a cheap little place kind of like Claire´s to buy ourselves rings to help us remember to as for references. We´re really bad at that. :) haha oops. 

GOOD LUCK TODD!!! How exciting to have another cousin join the ranks! I know he will do great things! I am so lucky to be a part of the Moser/ Browning clan! I will be forever grateful for the examples I have in my parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Ya´ll are the best. 

I know it might be hard to enjoy the Browning reunion this year without... well, without me.. but try really hard to have fun, okay? I promise that I´ll be there next year to liven the party. :) HAHA Joking. Have a lot of fun and take lots of pictures, porfa! 

i love you I love you i love you!

Hermana Moser

Hey dad.. remember when you asked if I didn´t talk about the lizards and bugs because there aren´t any? GET A LOAD OF THIS PART OF MY AREA. There are definitely lizards and bugs.. and they are a thousand times bigger.

This is me making tamales. (Does that mean you´ll let me come home? haha)

This is Yolanda (RC) and Nancy (I) below at church the Sunday that could have been our last Sunday. Love them! :)

Hermana Weaver and I celebrating the birth of the USA. (Don´t be fooled... those are empty cans of rootbeer.)