I know I am bad at expressing my feelings and thoughts but I want to take time out to write one last email regarding my mission.
I am looking back on all of the experiences I have had. From walking down a hot dusty road in the afternoon just praying that someone will let me into their house to being able to see people I have come to love make covenants with our Father in Heaven.
My mission all started out before I even entered my mission papers. I have always had a desire to serve the Lord and be a missionary. Before the mission the reasons for wanting to go were more about me more than anything. I wanted to learn new experiences and gain a testimony for myself about this Gospel that I love. I always saw it in others that they knew the Church is True. But I wanted to know 100% for myself. I knew the mission would give me the opportunity to have this conviction in my heart. With missionary preparations I was able to grow my testimony little by little like it talks in Alma 32 about how the seed grows little by little.
The next step was to enter into the MTC. Looking back the MTC was a great place to learn and grow spiritually. Even though it was hard on me I grew as a person and was able to receive many strong answers to my prayers that I will never forget.
My first area was San Roque in Guanacaste! I will always love that place forever! It was a culture shock to get there and I had many challenges learning the language and missionary life. But it helped me in the future and I was able to overcome all challenges that were placed in front of me through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. From this area I will always remember walking up a dirt street with huge dust storms blowing dirt into my face and finishing the day burnt and dirty. I will always remember how amazing the people are here. They are literally "Pura Vida"! They love life and have little worries. I was able to serve and spend 6 months of my life with the Guanacastecos
My second area was San Miguel. I was put in the city which was another culture shock for me. I had to pay attention when I crossed the street so that a bus wouldn't hit me. I also had to be a little careful where I was walking because it was a little dangerous too. The ward here was great! A strong ward that I loved to work with them. That's where I learned how to better work with members, I also bettered my Spanish a lot here since I served and lived with 3 Latinos. I was able to spend about 7 and 1/2 months here. I was able to start to become a better instrument in the Lord's hand and I could feel more and more that I was working for Him. That I would be in His place saying and doing what He himself would say and do. I was able to witness many lives change. I was sad to leave here as I didn't think I would leave when I did. But I knew there was something waiting for me in my next area.
My third area was a big trial of my Faith. I was assigned to Pococi Ward in a city called Guapiles. I got there excited and ready to work. I kept up the good attitude but things just didn't go the way I hoped at first. I had two of my favorite companions here who will be good friends for the rest of my life. They helped me enjoy being here and going through these trials. I learned here that scripture study will save your spiritual life. I cannot express how much the scriptures helped me during this period of time. Although I thought I was going to be in this area for a short time I was there for 7 and 1/2 months. I honestly came to love this area and now it is one of my preferred. I love the people I was able to teach here and I am so glad to finally see the fruits of the labor at the end of all the work. I learned like it says in Ether 12:6 "that you receive no witness until after the trial of your Faith". God left me in this area until I came to love it and my transfer there was my absolute favorite and I didn't want to leave.
My last area was for a very short time. It was less than 3 months. I am grateful to be able to finish here in Coronado. It has helped me learn the principle of enduring to the end. I was put with companions who were new in the mission and it was a blast to see them learn and grow and be able to teach them the little I know of missionary work. It was for sure the hardest area I worked in but I am happy to say I tried my best and gave it my all. We were blessed to see people make covenants and grow closer to Christ.
It has been two of the hardest years of my life, it has been two of the most rewarding years of my life also. I will never regret serving a mission. After all I am eternally grateful for this opportunity to serve my fellow beings here in Costa Rica. I learned a great lesson the other day in my studies. I came across a quote about our real intent. Like I said before, I wanted to come on my mission to gain a testimony. I gained it little by little and I continue growing it. But I would like to share the real reason why I am here serving this amazing people in this beautiful country!
“… Scriptures make clear that in order to purify our service in the Church and to our fellowmen, it is necessary to consider not only how we serve, but also why we serve.
“People serve one another for different reasons, and some reasons are better than others. … We should all strive to serve for the reasons that are highest and best. “… By way of illustration, and without pretending to be exhaustive, I will suggest six reasons. I will discuss these in ascending order from the lesser to the greater reasons for service.
- Some may serve for hope of earthly reward. …
- Another reason for service— … to obtain good companionship. …
- Some may serve out of fear of punishment. …
- Other persons may serve out of a sense of duty or out of loyalty to friends or family or traditions. …
- One such higher reason for service is the hope of an eternal reward. …
- … The highest reason of all. … Charity. …
I didn't serve a perfect mission. I wasn't the best missionary. I didn't baptize thousands of people. But I tried to serve with all my heart, mind, might, and strength. I now understand the atonement of Jesus Christ just a little more. I want to serve Him, because I love Him and His children. I want to serve Him for the rest of my life with Charity, the pure love of Christ. Through my service here in Costa Rica I have learned how to serve others with Charity.
I would like to finish with my testimony that I know that God lives. He is real and He loves us. Jesus Christ is our Saviour and Redeemer. He came to save us and show us the way back to our Father in Heaven. Through His atonement we can overcome anything that comes in our way. I know that this is Christ's Church here on Earth. He guides it through Prophet and Apostles. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true Prophet, seer and revelator. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I love the scriptures so much and I know that they are the word of God. I know that through covenants we can take steps to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. Families can be together forever! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
LOVE YOU ALL
Elder Moss
Costa Rica San Jose East Mission 2014 2016
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| The house my companion and me help to build. |
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| Last sunday with members from Coronado. The one on the right served in Peru and the one on the left will be going to Mexico this month |
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| Muerto! |
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