14th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

¨Esposas¨ In Spanish means two different things. The first is husband and wife and the other is handcuffs. It made me laugh to learn that the same word for husband and wife means handcuffs. I asked my companion why and he said that it´s because they are a pair and always holding on to the other!

Elder Moss & Sub, Bro. Diaz

It made me think of how a married couple should work and how they should be together to help one another and strengthen each other. Like our hands when they are used together they become stronger. Even though they are complete opposites!

Yesterday was a crazy day! Woke up and it was raining and it kept raining the entire day. I guess I just had good or bad luck but two people crashed their motorcycles in front of me. The first ran into a gate and went flying off and rolled like 3 times but was fine and we helped him up. The second was a couple that slammed into the back of a car. They were fine too then suddenly the woman fell in the street. We went to help them and she was fine just fainted but the man had a bloody hand and it was getting everywhere. I was able to use the tissues that the young women sent me awhile ago for his hand because there was nothing else. Definitely crazy that it all happened in the same day but I was glad to be there to help them. 

This next week we have mission conference where I bet we will hear more about the mission being split and Thursday I will be getting my residence to be a Costa Rican so I am pretty excited for that ha ha!

The work here is going great and many people are receiving the restored Gospel. Everyday makes me grow my testimony more and more as I teach others about the plan that God has for them and the restored Gospel.

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

Love Elder Moss

PS..... I was called as District Leader over 5 companionships.  Jacob could you send me some great ideas for district meetings?

Last meeting of the Costa Rica San Jose Mission.
The mission splits into West and East now.
Photo courtesy of Wilkonson's

13th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

Jacob told me that my letters are starting to become more like his so I have to change them up a little so that it´s more interesting ha ha!

This week was definitely interesting! There are 2 new companions living in the house. Elder Sub (Guatemala) and Elder Mejia (Honduras). Elder Mejia is new and fresh from the MTC and Elder Sub who is my companion will be finishing in 3 months. 

The other day we had another Elder staying in the house with us and he is from El Salvador. We were able to make and try pupusas which is the traditional food from El Salvador! It turned out well even though we didn't have all of the ingredients and I will have to make some for you all when I get home! 

We did a service project the other day and it was to cut down a papaya tree with a machete. I was cutting the tree by the base and did a big stroke and a bunch of water shot out. It was like a fire house of water that shot out of the tree for about 5 seconds! It was an amazing thing and I wished I had it on video! 

I was able to buy a new umbrella that is big but a problem I have is that when it rains super hard and is windy from my knees down I am soaking wet. I've learned to keep an extra pair of socks in my bag for when that happens and I can change into the other socks. Learning from the past is great and we can do the same in our lives. Just like I learned to keep an extra pair of socks in my bag I also learned from all of my mistakes whether it was my fault or just natural. We can apply the atonement in our lives to live more happily and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I hope we all can learn from our trials and become better children of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Moss

12th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

This week has been a crazy week for sure! First Elder Luna has changes so my new companion is Elder Sub from Guatemala! He will be finishing his mission in 3 months so I am excited to work with him and learn lots!

So just with the changes we´ve been running around trying to get everything done. Then we had also a baptism of a daughter of a member. It was awesome to see them come back to church after a long time and see them grow in testimony of the Gospel.  

The other day it began to rain supppperr hard! I had my umbrella but still got soaked from my pants down! I was walking around the day for about 2 hours with soaking wet shoes and pants until we got cold and tired of being wet and had to return to change! Definitely fun time here during the rainy season and can´t wait for the bigger storms to come! 

Living in a city is a bit different. I´ve learned how to cross a street with cars coming for you. The public buses are always a fun experience! Never will forget riding in the buses here. The other day I was in the bus the woman right next to me passed out and fell down. Scared me because I wasn´t watching and her boyfriend started to scream ```my love`. She got up and said ``Estoy bien! Pura Vida!`` made me smile because Pura Vida is the word for everything. 

But other than that all has been great! I am loving it here in San Jose and have really grown spiritually here! I am excited to see what this new change has in store for me!

Love you all
Elder Moss

11th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

What it is like to be a missionary:

For those of you that don´t know what it is like! I want to share somewhat of how it is for a missionary.

First you wake up at 6:30 in the morning. Reasonable time and you had 8 hours of sleep but still feel tired. Until you do your exercises to get your blood pumping! Get ready for the day and eat breakfast and by 8 you are studying. One of my favorite times of the day where I can sit down and study the scriptures. 

Leave the house at 11 to start working. By 12 you start to feel the hunger come so you go to lunch! Eat a quick lunch and have to leave again to go back to work. From 1-9 you are outside talking to people, teaching God´s children the restored Gospel, and serving others. Not being affected by the tiredness or hunger because all of your thoughts are about the people you will help and what you can do to help them. 

Seeing miracles and feeling the spirit testify through you. Seeing lives change and how this Gospel blesses families. Being speechless by all the miracles of the day you return to the house. Plan for the next day. Eat a little dinner and recount the day in your journal and a prayer with your Father in Heaven. Tired as can be you crash in your bed ready for the next day.

It gets hard, but it is so worth it. To be able to serve the Lord and His children. See the things you see and feel the things you feel. How this Gospel changes lives. I am so glad to be able to be a missionary and have this opportunity. To have the spirit testify through me and help others come unto Christ. I can´t express how amazing it is to be a full-time missionary and be able to dedicate all of my time and strength to others. 

Sorry I couldn´t send pics. Forgot the cable to attach! Next weeks letter will be better!

Thank you for the package! It was great!

I Love you all

Elder Moss

10th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

Many of you know this and some don´t, but a mission is not the easiest thing I have done in my life. Actually it is one of the hardest!

This week has been a little difficult then others but it really has helped me for the better.
I have never loved to read but this week I just had to. I was bothered by so many things that I found that the only way to get my thoughts away and to find peace was listen to church music and read the scriptures.

As I was reading the scriptures this week I found two that I loved and want to share with you! Both are in the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma

1 Now we will return in our record to Amalickiah and those who had fled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he had taken those who went with him, and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites.
2 And it came to pass that when the proclamation had gone forth among them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they feared to displease the king, and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites lest they should lose their lives. And it came to pass that they would not, or the more part of them would not, obey the commandments of the king.
3 And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them to arms.
4 Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites.
5 And now he had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who were in favor of the king; and he sought to gain favor of those who were not obedient; therefore he went forward to the place which was called Onidah, for thither had all the Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming, and, supposing that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to Onidah, to the place of arms.
6 And they had appointed a man to be a king and a leader over them, being fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would not be subjected to go against the Nephites.
7 And it came to pass that they had gathered themselves together upon the top of the mount which was called Antipas, in preparation to battle.
8 Now it was not Amalickiah’s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom.
9 And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas.
10 And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him.
11 And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time.
12 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him.
13 And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army.
14 And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti.
15 And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they pled with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired.
16 And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king.
17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader.
18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.
19 Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander.

I love this story because it shows that the hardest battles that we will fight is inside of us. A little evil will try to always creep into our lives and can destroy us so easily. This battle that we have within ourselves we must win. And it is only through the power of God that we will win every battle.

59 For what shepherd is there among you having many sheep doth not watch over them, that the wolves enter not and devour his flock? And behold, if a wolf enter his flockdoth he not drive him out? Yea, and at the last, if he can, he will destroy him.
60 And now I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep; and he commandeth you that ye suffer no ravenous wolf to enter among you, that ye may not be destroyed.

If there is evil within us we need to drive it out just like the shepard drives out the wolves. We have the opportunity to change ourselves and become more like Christ everyday and get rid of the bad that dwells inside of us. This bad or evil can kill us spiritually and WILL kill us spiritually if we let it. But by always obeying the commandments of God we can drive out all the evil in our lives. I was very grateful to learn about this and put it into practice to turn my frown upside down

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

Love,
Elder Moss

Beds in our apt

Elder Ruiz from Guatemala

9th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

Who is Christ? What did He do for us?

Something that I have always been puzzled about and wanted to know more about it the Atonement of Jesús Christ. The only begotten son of God. Who came to the Earth to complete a misión and to fulfill God´s purpose. I can´t imagine what he really went through for us. To come and atone for every one of our sins. EVERYONEs that includes mine, yours, and every man whether he be King or man stuck in prison. Christ came here and went through pains and affliciones suffering for every one of our sins. Giving a gift that we can forever use. An eternal gift. 

How great does that sound? An eternal gift that will give us Eternal Life. I will forever be grateful for what He did for me. I don´t think I will truly understand how and what kind of pain he went through for me but I know that He did it. He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane sweating drops of blood. Then was betrayed by one of His apostles and was crucified. He was resurrected a perfect being and we have this gift and resurrection. 

As I try to understand and apply the atonement daily I cannot express the love I have for Christ for what He did for us. That we can have this eternal gift. There are lots of scriptures about atonement but one of my favorites is in Alma 7

 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

We all are or have been in a prison of sins. That´s just a true fact for being man. Christ suffered for us and gave us a key to open up this prison and become free of sin. All we have to is take the key open the door and walk outside. It is simple and we all can have it through the steps of repentance.

I bear testimony that I know Christ lives. That he suffered for everyone of us and that we have this gift of eternal life. I am so very grateful for all that I have been given and for this love. In the name of Jesús Christ, Amen

Love, Elder Moss

8th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

It was great to see you all yesterday and to be able to talk with the entire Moss family! What a blessing to have technology in our lives like Skype that we could talk from Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Arizona, and Utah!

Skype with Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, AZ and UT.

Yesterday was Mothers day and I want to share a story about mothers and how great mothers and grandmothers are in our lives! Especially mine!
In the Book of Mormon there is a story about 2,000 stripling warriors. Who were brave and had a great Faith in God whom obeyed all the commandments with exactness. These young warriors were taught by their mothers.

1. Two thousand stripling warriors, young men of power and might

Responded to the battle cry; O who will stand and fight?

Behold, our God is with us! We serve at His command.

They did not fear to give their lives but boldly took a stand.

Baptisms in our ward.

2. This willing band of brothers were by their mothers taught

To trust in God continually, be true in deed and thought.

For God would then protect them; their faith He would reward.

They did not doubt their mothers knew; they trusted in the Lord.

3. With Helaman, their leader, this valiant brotherhood

United in exceeding faith, and fearlessly they stood.

With no desire for bloodshed but wanting to be free,

They fought for life and liberty, for God and family

4. Two thousand stripling warriors, courageous for their cause,

Went forth as with the strength of God, and not one soul was lost.

Their faith had made them mighty; their strength was multiplied.

They fought with power beyond their own, for God was on their side.

Alma 56

46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.

47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

I am so grateful for a mom who taught me how to be a great man. That she taught me to keep on the iron rod and always obey the covenants I made with God. She set an example to me to follow through with the things I´ve started and how to give the love of service to others. From staying up all night with me as a baby, teaching me how to tie my shoes, taking me to soccer practice, keeping up with the headache I gave her as a teenager, and supporting me as I leave on a mission to serve God and His children. Moms make this world beautiful and have love and I am so very grateful for having the best mom ever!

I love you all so much!

Happy Mothers day! (Yesterday)

Elder Moss

Cooking corn at a members house

Bus ride with comp Elder Luna and Clay White's cousin
Elder Shoemaker

Cooking pot pie for some investigators

Pot Pie

7th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

Another week has flown by and I do not know what happened with the time! It feels as if just an hour ago I was writing you all again!

It´s funny how quickly a place becomes my home. When I started here in Costa Rica it was hard to adjust and become accustomed too. Then I adjusted to the apartment I was in and soon found it to be my home that I felt homesick when I wasn´t staying the night there. I lived there for more than 6 months then had changes that moved me to San Miguel where the house is a lot smaller, dirtier, and nothing like the first area. It took me awhile to adjust to it but now I call it home. It isn´t the biggest or the prettiest but it´s where the spirit dwells and where I can go to for safety and where I learn many things. One thing that has helped me so much is the members and the church in every area. That is something that will never change! In every part of the world are loving Latter-Day Saints who are so welcoming and the church becomes a home.

I remember one night in High School when I was just having a rough time. I don´t really remember what it was but I do remember that my uncle took me on a car ride. He drove me around telling me a story of when he was young and an experience he had as a youth. He soon came to a stop and pulled the car over and I looked up to see we were in the parking lot of the church. I never will forget that moment and what I felt as I saw the church. The church is a place of refuge just like the home. It´s where we can always go to when we have problems. And where we should always go to renew our covenants with our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful to be a member of HIS church. Where no matter where I go in the world I can find devout Saints and a church building to call my home.

I am so grateful for all of the experiences I´ve had and for the wonderful family who has helped me become who I´ve become. Not only my family but also my church family!

I love you all and will see your faces in less than a week!

Elder Moss

Photos courtesy of Lore Benavente.
Thank you

6th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

Well today starts the first day of rainy season! As we left to go write it started pouring and coming down super hard! We were waiting under a bus stop for the rain to go when all of a sudden I see a flash and a hear a huge crack! It was a lightning bolt and I sincerely felt it in my body ha ha but it was like 30 yards away! Definitely a great moment in my life! Right when we got to Internet Cafe the power went out and I walked in and everyone looked at me. I stopped walking and just stared because for a moment I thought it was my fault that all the computers stopped working ha ha

It's going great here in San Miguel and I can't wait to see how everything goes these next few months. The other week we were walking down the street when we decided to talk to a family. It ends up that part of the family are members and have been inactive for a little over a year and they have twins who still haven't been baptized! It was a great miracle because the mother was in time of trouble and whenever life just doesn't go right the missionaries show up at her door!

 

The twins are super funny and asked me to baptize them this week! It was great to see the family come back to church and be able to have the joy of the Gospel in there life!

One of my favorite pictures is when Jesus was ministering to the little children. In the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 17 it talks about this picture.

21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.
22 And when he had done this he wept again;
23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.
24 And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.
25 And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.

I love this story because it just shows how much love Christ has for everyone of God's children here. He went one by one and blessed and prayed for the Children and wept for them. This is one of my favorite parts of the ministry of Jesus Christ among the Nephites.

I also love the analogy of how we should be born again and become as little children. They are so pure and innocent and so willing to do the Will of the Father. Children are such a great example to me and I love being able to hear prayers of children because they just make my day!

I love you all

Elder Moss

5th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS!!!!!!!!! A LA MEJOR MAMA EN TODO EL MUNDO!!!!!!

This week has been an awesome week! I´ve met some great people here and the work has been going super well! Loving it more and more everyday!  

San Jose Nightline.

This week I tried to focus on serving others and it was amazing how it changed my week! From cleaning a house to washing a car to building a wall! I´ve never had so much fun doing chores! But it was great and I really felt the love for each person/family that I was able to serve! I was able to apply the scripture Mosiah 2:17 and really see how it was to serve others/the Lord.

Miracles from this week were amazing but I want to tell you about one of them. Elder Ruiz and I. (new Elder that lives in my little cottage). We went out to go talk to some people and try to contact someone. Well we went and we talked to a man and gave him a card. We didn´t talk long because he had to go pick up his kid from school so we went our ways then about 10 minutes later a car was honking at me and waving so I went to go see what happened and it was that same man. He chased us down and said that he was grateful for the opportunity to meet us because he has problems with his family and marriage and he doesn´t know what to do. And it ends up that we gave him a card that said ¨How can I have a happy marriage?¨ and it was a great miracle to see how the Lord works so that people can be able to hear the message of the restoration that brings peace and happiness into their lives!

Nightlife with Elder Moss

I am so grateful for this opportunity to be a missionary and to serve others and be a messenger of truth. I know that if we serve others we will find a deeper love. A love of Christ for them. That we can be changed by service and that there are still Miracles here on Earth. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week full of service!

Love Elder Moss

PS Jacob ~ Have some regrets because you broke your knee on your mission. 

(To our family this was hilarious and most definitely Jeremy humor.  Jacob would sign his emails home "No Regrets" every single week.  We just found out that he has to have surgery on his knee and the injury could have formed from the Turkey Bowl - Football Game while on his mission.)

(Jacob's response - What an idiot!!)

Thank you YW for the pillowcase.

Can´t see it to well but a kid put a Honda sign on these bikes. Thought it was super funny because everyone here has honda civics