Batismo!! Ou não....

Bom dia meu povo!!!

Então, eu quero tentar de novo em só português, desculpe! Mas boa sorte! 

Primeiramente, Feliz dia do trabalho EU (estadas unidos)!! Espero que todos vocês têm um dia maravilhosa!!!

Esta semana foi um pouco difícil novamente ... Temos dificuldades em encontrar pessoas para ensinar. Ninguém quer falar conosco. É irritante! Mas esta semana foi melhor do que a semana passada. Tivemos um batismo para o sábado, caiu ... observado por Domingo antes da reunião, caiu ... voltou a marcar depois da reunião, caiu... super frustrante. Ela é muito boa, mas ela está realmente assustada de ser batizada e fazer coisas erradas. Entendo, mas essas coisas são normais, ninguém é perfeito. Todos pecamos. Mas, iremos lá esta semana e tentamos ajudá-la a se sentir mais à vontade com essa decisão.

Também, temos dificuldades com nossa recém conversos. Eles não querem ir por igreja, e sempre têm desculpas. E também eu acho que 2 são bebendo novamente. É tá muito triste... Eu não sei como ajudar eles, eu me sento inútil..

Mas eu tó bem! Aprendendo muito aqui. Essa semana eu tentei traduzir minha benção patriarcal, é realmente ajudar a aprender a gramática e coisas assim. E é tá super legal para ver e ler em português.

Mas só isso esta semana.

Oh, também eu presto meu testemunho pra vocês. Gente, eu sei com todo meu o coração que essa é a igreja veredeira e é a igreja de Jesus Cristo. Que Ele sofreu tanto para cada um de nos. E por causa Dele todos temos um oportunidade superar todos de nossas pecados. Sua expiação é infinita em todos os sentidos, amor, profundidade e tempo. Nenhum dos nossos pecados será ignorado ou esquecido. Ele expiou todos eles. Eu amo Ele com todo meu ser. Eu sei que com Cristo podemos superar qualquer coisa. Ele é nossa Salvador, e Ele é sempre conosco.

Amo vocês muito!!

Com amor,

Sister Moss

Here's the Google Translate (English) version...

Baptism!! Or not....

Good morning, my people !!! 

So I want to try again in Portuguese only, sorry! But good luck! 

First, Happy Labor Day US (Stays Together) !! I hope you all have a wonderful day !!! 

This week has been a bit difficult again ... We have a hard time finding people to teach. Nobody wants to talk to us. It's annoying! But this week was better than last week. We had a baptism for Saturday, fell ... watched by Sunday before the meeting, fell ... re-scored after the meeting, fell ... super frustrating. She is very good, but she is really scared of being baptized and doing the wrong things. I understand, but these things are normal, nobody is perfect. We all sin. But we'll go there this week and try to help her feel more comfortable with that decision. 

Also, we have difficulties with our recent converts. They do not want to go to church, and they always have excuses. And I also think 2 are drinking again. It's very sad ... I do not know how to help them, I feel useless .. 

But I'm good! Learning a lot here. This week I tried to translate my patriarchal blessing, it really helps to learn grammar and things like that. And it's really cool to see and read in Portuguese.

But only this week. 

Oh, I too bear my testimony to you. Guys, I know with all my heart that this is the church, and it's the church of Jesus Christ. That He suffered so much for each one of us. And because of Him we all have an opportunity to overcome all of our sins. His atonement is infinite in every way, love, depth, and time. None of our sins will be ignored or forgotten. He atoned for them all. I love Him with all my being. I know that with Christ we can overcome anything. He is our Savior, and He is always with us.

I love you very much!! 

With love,

Sister Moss

Excerpts from other letters home...

~You know, it's funny you mention having to forgive people, we watched a movie yesterday and it spoke about the same thing. I don't feel like I haven't forgiven people. but I will for sure focus on that this week. 

~It's super cool that you guys are studying with the seminary students! I have learned to love the BOM so much already! most the time i don't really understand at first because i read in Portuguese, but it's super cool when I do understand. I'm truly learning the power the Book of Mormon holds. right now I'm studying in Mosias (yes still) I love reading about Alma and his courage to teach even though the King was seeking to take his life. It's inspiring and helps me know that I can teach through any difficulties. 

~So last week wasnt exactly a BBQ, we had American breakfast for lunch. but it was so good!! I love breakfast foods in the states!! we had pancakes, eggs, toast, juice, and fruit. It was soooooo good!!! Had lots of fun with the district!! 

~Church was good yesterday, it's frustrating when we have like 6 people tell us they'll go to church and then don't show. and even more frustrating when we have a baptism planned and she decides to go to the beach instead... (i guess I found the people i need to forgive). But it was really good. our investigators are being cut or cutting us left and right. It's like every week we start over with completely new people. it's like every week we reopen our area.

I don't remember English...or Portuguese???

Oí gente!

Então meu Presidente me desafiou falar em só português, não inglês. Boa sorte!! 

Mas, essa semana foi um pouco difícil para mim com na idioma. Não com compreensão mas para falar. Duas vezes eu esqueci completamente tudo! Durante lições eu lutava para falar e lembrar qualquer palavras. Muito difícil para mim. Foi doloroso... e também foi muito difícil para encontrar pessoas em casa.. Foi difícil essa semana. 

Mas faz parte de missão né?  

Mas eu continuarei avançado, sabe? 

Essa semana a gente tem 3 batismos e um casamento! Uma família!! Muito animada! Eles sabem muito e são tão fortes na igreja já. É incrível!

O resto da nossa pesquisadores são boas! Progredindo muito, e finalmente visitando igreja conosco!

Eu não tenho muito para dizer a vocês, mas eu tenho um testemunho sobre esse obra. Eu sei com todo de meu o coração que este é a obra do Senhor! Mesmo que seja difícil, eu sei que vale a pena cada desafio. Que eu tó nunca sozinha. Sei que meu Salvador me-chamou para servir aqui com esses missionários e para servir essas pessoas com todo de meu o coração. Este é exatamente onde Ele me precisa. Eu sei que este é a igreja de Cristo, que Ele estabeleceu a igreja aqui na Terra para nos. Que Ele é nossa Salvador e Ele nos-deu um dom muito especial, a Expiação! E ele quer que usemos esse presente todos os dias. Ele sofreu para cada um de nos, e por causa dele temos a oportunidade a viver com Ele e Deus novamente! Amo Ele com todo o que eu sou.

Amo vocês com todo de meu o coração!

Boa Semana pra vocês!

Com amor,

 

Sister Moss

OH! Parabéns Parker e Jordan!! Muito feliz para vocês! <3

 

Here's the Google Translate (English) version of Sister Moss's email...

 

Hi people!

 

So my President challenged me to speak only Portuguese, not English. Good luck!!

 

But, this week was a bit difficult for me with the language. Not with understanding but to speak. Twice I completely forgot everything! For lessons I struggled to speak and remember any words. Too hard for me. It was painful ... and it was also very difficult to find people at home .. It was difficult this week. 

 

But it's part of a mission right? 

 

But I'll keep going, you know?

 

This week we have 3 baptisms and a wedding! A family!! Very excited! They know a lot and are so strong in the church already. It's incredible! 

 

The rest of our researchers are good! Making progress, and finally visiting church with us!

 

I do not have much to tell you, but I have a testimony about this work. I know with all my heart that this is the work of the Lord! Even if it's difficult, I know it's worth every challenge. That I'm never alone. I know that my Savior has called me to serve here with these missionaries and to serve these people with all my heart. This is exactly where He needs me. I know this is the church of Christ, that He established the church here on earth for us. That He is our Savior and He has given us a very special gift, the Atonement! And he wants us to use this gift every day. He suffered for each one of us, and because of him we have the opportunity to live with Him and God again! I love Him with all that I am.

 

I love you with all my heart!  

 

Good week to you!

 

With love, 

 

Sister Moss 

 

OH! Congratulations Parker and Jordan !! Very happy for you! <3 

GUYS I REALLY AM A VAMPIRE!!!!

Haha, so I'm sure the subject line is a bit confusing for some. If you want to know the full story ask my parents or siblings. Haha.

But no, seriously. You know how in Twilight when one of the vampires exposes their skin to the sun and they sparkle? Yeah, well that's how I look after 10 minutes walking around here in Mossoró. I literally glisten with sweat it's honestly so gross! 

Okay, so this week has been really tough for me. I think, minus saying goodbye to people at the CTM, this is the first time I've actually cried. I struggle a lot with understanding people still, I know it's only been 2 weeks, but it's still really discouraging. And I can feel Sister Udagawa growing impatient with me. Some days are better than others but still. On maybe Wednesday or Thursday, we were doing companionship study and she asked me a question, I had no clue what she said and had her repeat it 3 or 4 times. Still didn't get it, then she rephrased, still didn't get it. eventually she just gave up and got down on her knees to end companionship study.. 

and then it was fast Sunday, which usually isn't too hard. but going 24 hours with no water and walking around in the heat here is killer. I felt like i was going to pass out after only an hour into our fast. it was so rough!!! 

then in 2 of our lessons this week, I was teaching the Restoration and the first vision. I've never had a problem teaching this but both times the investigators said they didn't understand a word I said and had sister Udagawa reteach the whole thing... again, really discouraging... Missionary work is really hard guys, I knew that before but I'm really noticing it now. 

Other than that stuff it's been a good week. Our investigators are progressing well. J, one of the people we have a baptism date for, is really struggling with smoking, he's getting better but has a really hard time giving up those last few.. Sister Udagawa says that if he doesn't progress this week we have to drop him. apparently after 4 weeks if they're not progressing you kind of just move on. We had 6-8 marks show up to church on Sunday, it was really cool to see them all come in. The work here is really good guys, we find like 3 new investigators every day. Some more prepared and ready than others, but still. 

I love this work regardless of how hard it is. It's not supposed to be easy. But i know that it will be worth it for me and for those i have the chance to teach and love. 

Oh and happy anniversary Mom and Dad!!! I love you both so much and am so blessed to call you my parents and my friends. you guys have taught me so much and there aren't enough words in the world to express my love and gratitude for all you guys do for me!! 

Love you all and wish you all a super awesome week!!! 

With love,

Sister Moss

 

 

Saying goodbye at the CTM

 

Week One in the Mission Field!

Okay! So, unfortunately, my companion didn't tell me we were emailing right now, so I don't have my camera on me. I'm so sorry!!!!!!! But I´m here and alive. <Mom note: Pictures from Sister Moss's last day in the CTM are posted below!>

So, my first area is Mossoró (Urick Graff ward), super awesome here! From the mission home it was a 5 hour bus ride, so I'm beyond ready to get to work. But the first week here in Natal has easily been the most difficult week of my life. I hardly understand people - if I understand at all. I'm the only American here in Mossoró - at least it seems like it, but it's been good. Sister Udagawa is my companion and she's incredible! She's so fun, so spiritual and so so patient with my lack of ability to understand her. She's very understanding that learning a new language is very hard and helps as much as she can. She has some of the coolest ways of explaining things to people. she's so sweet and so patient with me. I've been so blessed to have her as my trainer. I'm the only American in my district and there are only 6 of us. 4 sisters and 2 elders. The elders seem really cool so far, I've only been around them once so... but I absolutely love the sisters!! The area is so cool, the people are amazing and so ready for the gospel.

As soon as I got assigned here to Mossoró everyone told me that this is where a lot of the work happens and where everyone is most ready for the gospel. That's definitely proven to be true. Since being here for all of like 5 days we've committed 3 people to baptism. A mother and daughter, and a sweet 11 year old girl. They're all so amazing. The work here is great!

Church was good...I think...I didn't really understand all that much...There were, maybe, a good 70-ish people there, which was a lot more than I thought. But it was really good, everyone is so friendly and they all try and speak English with me. It's great!

We walk A TON. It's hard but super fun. The area is really big, and I'm usually always lost as to where we are. It seems like all the roads connect somehow but I cant figure it out. The weather here is really hot!!! But it's rained 3 of the 5 days I've been here so that's been great.

We eat lunch with the members because lunch is their big meal of the day. IT'S SO GOOD!!!!! I have yet to find something I don't like. The people here eat cough drops as if they were candy, it's kind of odd but I love it here!!

Yes, my stuff got stolen.... it sucks... it was my official second day and I've already lost ALL of my money, my bag, my Portuguese bible and a sweet key chain for Kade's mission... I'm a little sad about it but the blessing is that neither one of us got hurt. Apparently people have been getting assaulted so it could have been much worse. But were okay! Don't worry!!!

Congratulations Parker and Jordan! So happy for you guys!!! Shannon drive safe please, and give the kiddos hugs and kisses for me. Mom and dad, I love you so much and am so grateful to not only call you my parents but my friends. Thank you for, literally, everything!!

I'm so sorry I didn't send pictures, I wish she would have told me to grab my camera... NEXT WEEK FOR SURE!!!!!! I love you all so much and miss you tons!

Sister Moss <3

Week Five - Last Week in the CTM!

What's up everyone!!

Alright, so this is my last week in the CTM! I leave for Natal on Tuesday and I'm so beyond nervous! So beyond excited, and soooo ready to be outside more! I loved my CTM experience but I'm ready to not be locked in a building all day.

The language is getting easier day by day. I still really struggle with understanding people, which really sucks beacuse people in Natal talk much much faster. Hence the worried feelings! I'm speaking a lot better (at least I think so). Teaching comes a lot easier when you know more words haha! But it's going great!

I'm so not ready to say goodbye to the amazing people I've met here, let alone say goodbye to Sister Moss. Definitely is going to be a rough day. And maybe rough first few weeks... But I know that the Lord will watch out for us both and make sure we are okay.

The days here really just kind of run together, lots of classes, lectures and tons of studying! Easter in the CTM was awesome, it was actually kind of cool to forget all the worldy parts of Easter and just focus solely on the Savior and all the amazing things he did for us. Guys, I want you all to know, that I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. That he suffered, bled and died so that each of us would have the opportunity to live with him in heaven again. I know that he rose again, that he has been ressurected and lives today! HE LIVES!!!!! There's no doubt about it. And because of him, all of us, willl have the same privilege to be ressurected. I love my Savior and all that he has done for me. Without him, sacrificing his life for the world, I would not be here. I know he lived, died and rose again. How awesome is that!!

Um, we went proselyting on Saturday, and it went waaaaay better than it did the first time! Not to brag or anything, but Sister Barney and I gave out 9 Books of Mormon!!!!! It was so cool to see the progress from the last time. I love this work and know with all my heart that it is the work of the Lord. That all those people who accepted Books of Mormon are ready and willing to hear of this restored gospel.

I love you all so so much, and miss you tons!! My next real email will be from Natal and will contain tons of pictures! Be ready!!

Till then, much love!

Sister Moss

My new home

Week Two - CTM - Blessing

Oi Everyone!!!

Okay so I'm so sorry I didn't get to finish telling you about last week. Basically, Sundays are the greatest days ever!! With sacrament, class, and devotionals it's so insanely spiritual. I was super sad to see some really awesome Sisters leave this week, but I know they're going to be amazing! They've been like the big sisters of the CTM for me! It's crazy how close you can come to some people in just a super short amount of time.

I have restarted reading the Book of Mormon, I'm determined to read it front to back in both English and Portuguese (an apostle once promised that if you read the Book of Mormon front to back in English and mission language you will become fluent in the language. So I thought I'd give it a try.) Um, this week has been kind of stressful and difficult. I feel like after p-day we all kind of were unfocused. I've struggled a lot with understanding the language. I know that if I knew what they were saying I'd be able to respond.

But I got a blessing yesterday from Elder Kozlowski. He's incredible, and he said something that really stuck out to me. He said that I need to be patient with the gift of tongues and that through my faith it will work out. I really needed to hear that. I'm glad to have such amazing elders in my district that are so in tune with the spirit that they can tell me everything I need to hear.

Other than that its really just been the same stuff. Classes all day. Lots of studying. I really love the Book of Mormon. It's such an amazing book.

Eu sei que o livro de mormon es verdade. eu sei que Joseph Smith es o profeta de Deus.

It's short and sweet but I know this is the true church. There are so many things in my life that prove that to be true. I love Brazil and I miss you all so much!

Until next week.... much love everyone!

Sister Moss

PS. Temple was great - we went to Sao Paulo today. It's absolutely gorgeous!!!
 

Week One - CTM

Okay so I'm going to type really super fast so, Mom, if things are typed wrong please fix them before you post it ;) oh and everything is from what I write in my notes at night. <Mom Note...I think Sister Moss forgot how to use capital letters! Even with her typing so fast to get everything in, I still only needed to fix her capitalization trouble! Oh and a few apostrophes!>

Tuesday- Today was such a good, but really long day. We technically threw 2 days together and just called it 1. Flew out of PHX to Atlanta and then took a 9 hour flight to São Paulo. We arrived early this morning and were welcomed by a bunch of elders speaking Portuguese at us. Kind of intimidating. I share a room with Sister Barney, Sister Goodrich, and Sister Kearns. They're all incredible, I love them so much already. We kind of had a chill day, other missionaries told us to take advantage of the free time we had so I took a nap!! Then we had choir and I kind of sang to A Child's Prayer. It's way harder to sing in Portuguese. But after singing it a few times I feel like I caught on to the words. It's so cool to hear so many praising God through song in a whole new language. We had a really good devotional too! (but looking at my notes I didn't write a whole lot down, oops).

Wednesday- we started all our classes today and needless to say, it was super stressful. We had orientation and President Snyder said something that was in my patriarchal blessing, super cool! We had our first "investigator" today, it was so cool, we shared the time with Kadie's district and it was so spiritual. Portuguese is intimidating when you first hear it, try to speak it, read it, or write it. Actually all the time. Slowly but surely getting better. 

Thursday- most of our day was spent learning and throwing ourself into the language..which isn't bad, just super stressful and exhausting. We had service and got to help in the laundry room for bedding and stuff. We had so much fun! And then we had physical activity, we played volleyball (we, as in my district and Kadie's district). We really don't have the most athletic group but it was still super fun to bond with them all. Honestly they're all so fun and cool people. We had our first real lesson today, all in Portuguese, waaaay hard. I can teach in English, I know the doctrine. but when I need to change the language it's sooo much harder. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be though. Maybe because Sister Barney was there. She's so much better with the language than I am. She basically answers all the questions. But I can give a very simple prayer, bear a very simple testimony. So at least I'm progressing. 

Friday- I was so done today. My brain didn't work at all today. We studied all day and I feel like I didn't figure anything out and nothing was sinking in. I feel so far behind in the language compared to my district... I'm studying every day and every night, I don't know why I'm not getting it. Not much else happened today. 

Saturday- Elder Barraza is our district leader and is spiritually strong. He shared a devotional (we do one every night) and he shared about how he came to know that this is where the Lord needs him. He shared some scriptures D&C 18:10, 15-16 I really love these verses. They helped me to know my purpose here, and made me even more excited to get out into the field. 

Sunday- (I have 5 mins left, I'll try and hurry) but Sundays are definitely my favorite day in the CTM. Sacrament meeting was in English, minus the speakers who decided to practice their Portuguese more, but I understood some of what they were saying. I met some really awesome sisters,S ister Kapp, Sister Driggs, Sister Colton, and Sister Westover (unfortunately went home for health issues) but they are so incredible.Sister Westover taught relief society and spoke about the priesthood, I already knew the priesthood was amazing but I think I kind of took it for granted and didn't take advantage of it as much as I should/could have. I'm sorry! But it was so good! 

I'm out of time but I'll be sure to write about the rest of my week next time. It's truly so spiritual here all the time and I love it so much. Brazil is gorgeous and I'm already in love with it. I love you all and miss you tons!!!! 

My District

Elder Barraza

Elder Goodwin

Elder Bates

Elder Kozlowski

Sister Kearns

Sister Barney

Sister Goodrich

Sister Southwick

Sister Skelton

LOVE THEM!!!!