12th Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

Familia ~

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!

"Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that all people have numerous opportunities to give the gift of service to their fellowmen and that their motives in serving are all-important: “Numerous scriptures teach that our Heavenly Father knows our thoughts and the intents of our heart. (SeeD&C 6:16; Mosiah 24:12; Alma 18:32.) The prophet [Mormon] taught that if our works are to be credited for good, they must be done for the right reasons. …

“… 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.

1. Some may serve for hope of earthly reward. …
2. Another reason for service— … to obtain good companionship. …
3. Some may serve out of fear of punishment. …
4. Other persons may serve out of a sense of duty or out of loyalty to friends or family or traditions. …
5. One such higher reason for service is the hope of an eternal reward. …
6. … The highest reason of all. … Charity. …

“… It is not enough to serve God with all of our might and strength. He who looks into our hearts and knows our minds demands more than this. In order to stand blameless before God at the last day, we must also serve him with all our heart and mind. Service with all of our heart and mind is a high challenge for all of us. Such service must be free of selfish ambition. It must be motivated only by the pure love of Christ"


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

The house my companion and me help to build.

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

Muerto!

11th Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

Familia ~

One day this week we were walking to an appointment we had set up. But as we walked to the appointment the rain clouds started coming so I was happy to know that we found a place to hide for a little bit while the rain passed by. As we got to the appointment it ended up falling so we didn't have a place to hide while it rained. We started walking to our back-up plan as it started raining with the both of us hiding underneath a small broken umbrella. Luckily the back up plan saw us and they picked us up! A great miracle as it started raining super hard! We got to their house and sat down but ended up hearing water falling from their kitchen. They had a huge leak with water falling down from their roof so we started helping them clean up. More and more water was falling and it was falling from other parts of the roof so I went to go put a bucket down where the water was falling. Then all of the sudden I hear a loud crash and the roof falls down with a ton of water and soaks me. I ran out screaming a little but still got a little soaked. We ended up helping them clean out the water from their house for about 45 minutes. Luckily nothing big or hard hit me just water .

The missionary work is going great! I have learned so much from my companion. We are trying to find alot of new people to teach and to help come unto Christ. But it's been an awesome expereince and a great time to practice our Faith.

I am so very grateful for the the opportunity to be here on Earth and to learn and grow my Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We should all be grateful for what He has given us. I love Him and I know He lives. 

Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Moss

Baptism we had a few weeks ago. Great guy who was prepared by his many friends! 

Family that Elder Toledo and I started teaching in Pococi -
when I first started my mission -
 that were able to be baptized

10th Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

Mom ~

2 and a half weeks and I will be seeing you! crazy to think that it is all coming down to an end! I still can't believe it!

I will write next week a family letter because I don't have too much time today and also don't know what to say either.

I am doing great I am staying very healthy. My cook wants me to teach her how to make no bake cookies since I gave some to her the other day!


I can't wait to see you!  You're going to love it here!  

LOVE YOU THE MOSTEST!!!!

Elder Moss

Zona Toyopan!

9th Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

Hey family! 

I hope everyone is doing great! This week has been an awesome week full of service! We spent about 4 mornings giving service and helping out here in Coronado! Then on Sunday we had a lesson about service and it was awesome to reflect on when I learned to serve in my life. I am thankful for amazing parents who taught me as a young boy that I need to serve others. They taught me by example and helped show me that service is very important to help others and serve God. 

When we serve we can be spiritually uplifted and feel better and I personaly lived that this last week! I hope we all can find ways to help serve our fellow beings and come closer to God!

LOVE YOU ALL

Elder Moss

8th Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

Mom you'll have to prepare for Costa Rica. I went in a taxi the other day and it was the craziest ride that I have ever been on in my life. I thought we were literally going to crash but we got there safely. We will have to rent a truck or suv for sure so that you will feel safer. 

I don't have pictures and my camera broke. Also my companion doesn't have a camera but I will try to have members send you pictures. We will be moving houses soon so I will send pictures of the new house. 

Thank you for all your support and words of encouragement. You've helped me so much learn and grow to become a better person. 

I didn't know that you were all going to the cabin until today! I hope you enjoy it! The other day I was walking by pine trees and heard the wind pass by them and it made me think of the cabin and how nice it would be to be there. 

Love you all and hope you have a great week at the cabin!

Love Elder Moss

service project the other day. Elder Luna and Elder Carcamo helped us 

7th Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

Family ~

My new companion is Elder Irish. He is from Salt Lake and is great! He is ready to learn and work! It makes me smile to think that about two years ago I was starting the mission like him. It's funny to see him do the same things that I did when I started the mission. But his Spanish is great and he is always practicing so it will come quickly! 

  

This week we were very busy with actividades, temple, and having my companion get to know the area. But it was great! We finished almost everynight soaking wet even with our umbrellas.

The work is coming along well! It sure has been one of my hardest areas but I am loving it and we are finding success through hard work and members!

I hope all you can find a way to be a missionary and share this great message with others loved ones and friends. This is important that you can all share this Gospel with others and show your conversion/ strenthen it.

We went to the temple with members in Pococi. The family who we worked with went to do baptisms in the temple and it was a great experience to see them there!

I love you all so much and hope you have a great week!!

LOVE Elder Moss

6th Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

Family ~

The last agenda... Well I took out my last agenda of my mission. My last transfer and my last companion. My old companion left this morning super early at 6:30 in the morning to zona sur. About 7 hours in bus from San Jose. I won't know who my companion is until tomorrow so I'll have to wait until next week until I can send you pictures. 

Last pic of companion Elder Roldan Morales

This last week was hard with many appointments falling and lots of rain. So we had alot of time to be outside in the rain! But it was good for us haha. 

Missionaries are like a magnet for drunk people in the street. They always want to talk to us and chase us down which sometimes is a pain but sometimes it's funny to hear what they have to say to us. This last week a drunk man came up to us and started talking to us. A little bit in the conversation he started hitting on me and tried to give me a hug. I denied him but then he started to try to kiss me. I went running away and he never got to me which was good but a funny story that happened this last week.

I am excited to start this new transfer and be able to learn and grow from my new companion. It is my last one so it should be my best one! 

Yesterday was one of the first days that I got really sick from the food here in Costa Rica. I ate rice with shrimp then passed the afternoon and night vomiting. But it's great that today is Preparation Day so that I could rest. But I am feeling alot better now that everything left my body.

But other than that Costa Rica is great! The same old same old! Working hard and loving every minute of it! I love you all so much and hope you have a great week!

Elder Moss

5th Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

Family ~

Another week has flown by! I am loving it here with the cows and mountain hills!  Coronado is beautiful you should search it in google! It has one of the most famous catholic churches in Costa Rica. And it also produces the majority of the milk for Costa Rica. 

My companion and I have been trying to figure out how to best work in the area and see what we can do to change the ward and help the ward grow. It's been a rough time but we have found some success and we've grown together as well.

Our house is the two floors. it's nice but far away from our area so we have to walk alot.. And we don't have rodents but the other day I was looking for something in my suitcases and I saw two little white balls. i had no idea what they were so I sniffed them and it didn't smell anything. I thought it was moth balls but then I threw one on the ground and it broke. Ha it ended up being an egg of some animal. I think it was a gecko because they are usually friends that come and hang out with us for awhile. My companion decided to take the other and look at it and throw it on the ground too haha so two messes to clean up.

Another story is that we were walking down a mountain the other day messing around with my companion we started playing baseball with little rocks and our umbrellas. I hit one so I started running and celebrating in a diamond. Not until I completed a diamond I noticed that there was someone in a car watching me so my companion and I started laughing and I walked away all red because I looked crazy with my celebration run haha

This last week we have gotten phone calls from distresed men who have found some trials in their life. One night while I was talking to a man on the phone while he was crying to me and talking about how he has had trials in his life and his family is falling apart he told me something that I will never forget. he said, "Elder I am old enough to be your Father, I have 39 years and I need your help. I need you to help me get out of this situation. I know that you can help me because you have the priesthood and you are called by God and have been ordained by Him. Please help me..." 

I was struck by how much this man trusted in me even though I have never met him in person. He helped me strengthen my testimony in really how strong is the priesthood and the power those who worthily work in the priesthood. 

I am happy for this week even though it has been hard. I know that I have been able to help others. Many have trusted in us to help them overcome trials and to help them strengthen their relationship with Christ.

I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love Elder Moss

A family that we were teaching in Guapiles. The dad got baptized this last week

Two families we were working with. The other lady will be baptized next month.
Love these families in Guapiles!

4th Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

No Family Email this week.

This week has been great!  I am loving it here in Coronado. Lots of rain here! A little tired of having wet feet, the other day I had to buy new shoes so i can change everyday in new dry shoes.

Love you the mostest!!!

Can't wait to see you soon and show you around this beautiful country!!

In my area! It's super beautiful in the mountains and nice and cool

This is a letter he wrote to the girls and they read it at camp.

5 things that I didn't think I'd love about serving a mission but do!

1. Walking, I have learned to love to walk and enjoy the time to get to know people in the street and talking with my companion while we are walking to different appointments

2. Read, I have found a love for the scriptures and I don't want to stop reading them.

3. Go to bed early, before the mission I always loved staying up late in the night. But now I can't wait to be able to sleep at 10:30! Sometimes I feel like 10:30 is really late

4. Eating rice! Here in Costa Rica we eat rice everyday! There isn't a meal that doesn't miss rice! But now I love it and can't stop eating rice!

5. Costa Ricans. I never thought I would have a love so strong for these people. I have learned to love them and love this country with all of my heart!

3rd Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

No family email this week - just pictures.

Elder Luna and I writing right now

The area is mountains with a bunch of cows

I have the jacket on to keep warm.

Sunset

It's starting to rain alot here! I had to buy another pair of shoes because the only pair that I have left have to many holes and got soaking wet.

Elder Morales and I waiting for lunch yesterday

2nd Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

Family ~

This week we had the chance to go visit a member who lives a little more up the mountains. He lives on a dairy farm and has lived there for quite awhile. It was awesome to go sit and teach a small lesson on his patio overlooking San Jose! It was quite a joy. They have pictures with Elder Packer, Elder Nielson, and President Faust at their house. They also have a paper that is 11 meters long with their family tree! It was so great to sit down and talk with them and get to know the story of the church here in Costa Rica. The sister works with the church history in Toyopan and has a lot of books in her house.

Walking to a place called "Las Nubes" to a milk ranch where a member lives

At their house Elder Packer dedicated Costa Rica to preach the Gospel. I have a picture that I sent where he did it! It was great to read the prayer when I got here to Costa Rica and wonder where is Coronado and then be able to finish my mission getting to visit the place where the prayer was given. Knowing that all the blessings that were said in that prayer have been fulfilled.

Overlooking San Jose where Elder Packer dedicated Costa Rica to preach the Restored Gospel

It's been a little hard lately in the work! I have never had so many people reject me but that is okay! I just keep on working with a smile on my face! I am loving it here in Coronado even though it's hard getting the missionary work going but the ward is great!

Elder Roland Morales and Moss overlooking into San Jose

I had the opportunity to eat cow stomach soup this past week. It didn't do any damage which is great but I was able to eat it all! I didn't love it but I didn't hate it! So mom and dad when you come out here you will have to try it!

I love you all and I hope you have a great week and can all find joy in the simple things in life! 

Love, Elder Moss

1st Week - Coronado, Coronado Ward

Family ~

My new area is great! It is a ward with an assistance of about 65 people or so but the members are really great! Almost all of them are returned missionaries. But I am getting to know the area a little more! Lots of hills to climb up. My district there are only 1 gringo. He is new his name is Elder Draper. Very quite and doesn't understand anything of Spanish yet. The rest are Latins. My zone leaders are Elder Luna who was with me in San Miguel and Elder Espinoza who will finish right now. My companion is great. He is the only member of his family besides his little brother. He got baptized about 3 years ago and has 3 months in the mission. I will also need to train him more.

 This picture was taken at the church overlooking San Jose

And in the picture it was a mixture of mist and volcano ash

Elder Roldan Morales y Moss

A very tiring hard week! Monday I didn't get into the house after changes until about 7 or so. We left and went to a Family Home Evening then came back. Tuesday we went to the few appointments but they ended up falling so we walked searching for a long time. Wednesday the same with the District meeting. Thursday we had an interview so we almost weren't able to work. Friday we had an activity in the ward so we had to help get it all ready then Saturday we worked normal.

It's been one hard week for missionary work. We weren't able to teach as much as I would like but I love this new ward! The members are great and I am excited to start working with them!

I have come to a conclusion that we will never rest from trials in our lives. When we overcome one another one even harder will come. But I am glad for every trial that I have experienced in my life and especially in my mission. Because through each one I have become a better person and have grown so much! In the mission I have thought that I just need to finish the two years and I won't have any more trials. But I have noticed that the trials just get harder and harder but through these trials we can perfect us in Christ.

I am grateful for this new opportunity to learn and grow and to show my love to my Heavenly Father by serving Him and His children. I hope all of you can find the Hope and Faith in Christ during the trial that you are facing in your life right now.

Love you all!
Elder Moss

Last Week Guapiles, Limon - Pococi Ward

Family ~

Well for those of you who don't know I have changes. I will be heading to Coronado. An area in San Jose. I will be leaving Guapiles where I am so happy to be able to serve. I've met great families and have grown so much here! It's hard to say goodbye to them but I can't wait to go see them again in 3 months with my parents! 

My last zone conference in Guapiles

A very busy week with zone conference on Tuesday, wedding on Friday, Baptism on Sunday and having to pack my bags to come here Sunday night. I came to love Guapiles a lot and especially the people.

Matrimonio de Emanuel y Denia

I am so very grateful to my Heavenly Father that He has given me this chance to be in Guapiles and work in His vineyard there. I learned many things like enduring to the end, how to work better, how to enjoy my time and be happy, how to help others overcome challenges in their lives, and I have understood just a little bit more on the plan of salvation that God has for us.

Bishop with 2nd counseler

1st couseler with my companion

Bishop and Elder Moss

1st Counselor

Family Vargas

I hope you all have a great week and you can find joy in every moment!

LOVE YOU ALL

Elder Moss

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM!!! THANKS FOR BEING THE GREATEST MOM EVER!!!!

Mothers Day Video