22nd Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

One year ago I was set apart as a Full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I never knew what I was getting into. I only knew that I had my bags packed ready to go to Costa Rica. To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to his children here. To help others come unto Christ. This past year I have gained a stronger testimony of His true church. I have understood Gospel principles better and grown spiritually and emotionally. I´ve met people who have changed the prospective of my life forever. These moments I would never trade for anything. I am honored to have this privilege to be a missionary for Christ's church here on Earth. That I have the opportunity to help others live with their family for eternity. 

Although I am sad that I only have one year left to be a full-time missionary I am excited to see what Heavenly Father has planned for me in this next year that comes. I can not wait to see the miracles and the Gospel blessing the lives of others. Especially the atonement.  Through the atonement we have the chance to change and become more like Christ. That we can repent and become better people. I am so very grateful for the atonement in my life. I have been able to use it, live it, and love it and see it change the lives of others here in Costa Rica.

But in all I learned that Christ lives. He atoned for each one of us. That through Him we can have eternal life and live with our families forever. The atonement is REAL. Christ lives. Now we have to find Him and follow His example.

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/collection/easter-videos/because-he-lives

I love you all and hope you have a great week filled with spiritual experiences!!

Elder Moss

P.S. I loved the  hump day surprise and I showed it to others at the district meeting and everyone loved it!!

Guess what day it is?

21st Week San Miguel, San Jose

Richard - our super hero

Family ~

We started this week with a multizona with President Duncan of the seventy! It was awesome to hear and to listen to him be guided by the spirit to help us become better missionaries.

We had a busy week with lots of work here in San Miguel! We had the baptism of Richard. About two months ago we met him at the bus stop and I started asking him about his costume he had and we started talking about the Gospel. He is a great guy who dresses up as a super hero and goes out at night to help others. (It is part of some organization). He was baptized this last week and it was a baptism I will never forget and loved to see the change in him. Then to see him go to church with his white shirt and tie the day after was great! To see a bigger hero, which is a man who has the priesthood and the power of God.

Richard's Baptism

Saturday and Sunday we did divisiones to invite alot of people to church. Sunday morning we woke up early and made breakfast for the members who went out and visited with us! We made french toast and hot chocolate! Then Brother Diaz and I went to a place a little far away to bring two families to church. We got there at about 8 in the morning and left their houses at about 8:15. They were two families with just the moms there. (The dads were working in construction in Guanacaste). As I saw these two families walk together for about an hour to get to church with 8 children in total it really made me realize the sacrifice we need to do to obey the commandments of God. Christ sacrificed His life for us and He asks for very little in return. It was a beautiful morning as we walked to church. Especially to teach these kids the sacrifice that we need to do to be able to assist church and obey Gods commandments.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here in Costa Rica and live the things that I've lived and be here to serve God and His children! I am very blessed to have this Gospel in my life and to be able to have this opportunity!

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

Love Elder Moss

Elders of Israel - setting up the wedding

Gabriel & Geizel Wedding Day

Gabriel & Geizel Baptism Day

20th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

This week we had a wonderful opportunity to go to a BYU Idaho dance show with our investigators. It was great and had beautiful messages about the family and the Gospel. Our investigators loved it and were able to see the importance of the Gospel and families.

Something that I loved about it was the simple truths that they talked about. Such as principles of family, eternal marriage, prayer, love, and service. Each one of the principles we can grow our own testimony and help others do the same.

God established families since the creation. They are here to help us grow and support one another to return to the presence of our Father in Heaven. Without them we wont be able to receive the highest degree of glory, or exaltation. They are essential and we need to create a celestial family here on the Earth.

Building Families (Click "Building Families" to see the video)

"Whether your children are grown or still growing, opportunities to teach them truth will never run out. That fact is brought to life in this sweet and simple story of a dad doing his best to set an example of service, love, and prayer for his young boys. It is a perfect reminder that true success comes to parents who don’t let distractions—no matter how worthwhile—get in the way of living basic gospel principles and teaching their children to do the same."

I have been blessed with the opportunity to have this Gospel in my life. To have a family that has taught me and helped me on the path. That I can be a representative of Jesus Christ and represent His church here in Costa Rica.

I hope we all can find our own testimonies in the simple truths!

LOVE YOU

Elder Moss

19th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

Three new stakes in Costa Rica!

This month in Costa Rica we have gotten three new stakes. With the new stakes yesterday we had a stake conference to divide / establish a new stake. President Duncan of the seventy came and we had the chance to here from him. It was a big event with the church full and even all the rooms full of people to listen!

It's awesome to see the marvelous work here in Costa Rica with the three new stakes and two missions. This small country is growing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is awesome to be apart of it.

Something that I learned this week from President Duncan and the scriptures is how we shouldn't forget the small things. How we should always remember to say our prayers, read the scriptures, and go to church and grow our Faith in the Principles of the Gospel.

In Numbers 21:4-9 Moses and his people are being chastened for disobedience and his people are being bitten by snakes. In this part Moses is commanded to make a brass serpent to heal the Israelites who had been bitten by poisonous snakes in the wilderness. This brass serpent was attached to a pole and “raised up that whosoever would look upon it might live”. The Lord referred to the lifting up of the serpent in the wilderness as a symbol of himself being lifted up on the cross. All they have to do is see the brass snake and everything will be fine. But some lack faith in the Prophet and don't obey and suffer from the snake bite. I love the scripture in 2 Nephi 25:20 "And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved."

I love you all so much and hope we can remember to do the small things that are important and that we continuously call upon our elder brother Jesus Christ.

Elder Moss

18th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

The reason we were laughing in the picture sent to you was because I was posing for the picture and my companion put his umbrella in a way to pour water on me and he soaked me so we started to laugh!

This week we had the opportunity to see a couple get married and baptized. We had 6 Elders help decorate the wedding and it turned out pretty well! It made me feel like I was back in High School with having to decorate a room for Student Council! It was super fun and the couple enjoyed it! As we left the church to go to lunch it started pouring rain and none of us had our umbrellas! I have been getting used to always being wet!

The baptisms went well and the spirit was so strong! They are a young family that is starting with a baby in Nicaragua!

Sunday we had church then we went to the memorial of the missionary who passed away this week. It really showed how we should always love one another and work hard because we don't know when our time is up.

With a new change starting (staying in San Miguel with same companion as he leaves after this transfer) I am excited to find more families that are waiting for this Gospel and to be able to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring them unto His fold. I am blessed to be here and to have the support from everyone at home and I Love you all!  

Elder Moss

17th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

This week we spent alot of time helping two of our investigators getting ready to get married and baptized this next week. It has been crazy trying to get everything done and ready and on time but super great! 

All has been going well and I have learned alot this week on how I can do better and I sure have seen my faults! It was difficult for sure but it helped me rely on the Lord and the promise in 

Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

I was able to start to work on my weaknesses as a human being so that I can apply the atonement in my life and change to become more like Christ. I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn from my mistakes and sometimes it hurts a lot! But God has given us weaknesses that we can remember Him and have Faith in Him. I am so glad for this Gospel and all I have learned on the mission and what I will learn in the future!

Have a great week and remember to pray and read the scriptures!!


Elder Moss

16th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

I have to meet this dog Trelli! I think that every photo I got this week the dog was in it! Ha ha

Costa Rica San Jose East Mission is going awesome! We were able to meet President Hayes 

About President Hayes 

this week and it was great! He is from Idaho and taught at BYUI. He knows the scriptures supppper well so I am excited to learn from him and better my knowledge of the scriptures!

This week was crazy with a lot of time out of my area with meetings, interviews, and service project. We went to help the other Elders in the ward dig a hole. (Couldn´t bring my camera because it is too dangerous). It was about 6 feet deep and 4 feet wide and I was expecting it to be outside! But it was inside and we had to take the floor boards out to dig the hole in the ground. I started taking the floor boards out and throwing the big rocks out when I noticed that two of the elders were not there helping. So about 10 mins later we went to go find them and they were watching the chickens fight. The man we helped dig a hole has chickens that he trains to fight through out Central America! It was cool to see them fighting and a crazy experience! We then got back to work and finished the hole. (The ground is alot softer to dig here than Guanacaste so it was alot easier!)

It has stopped raining super hard here and has been beautiful lately. There weren´t any fireworks here for the 4th of July so I will have to wait to see them but I had a good 4th of July! 

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

Love Elder Moss

15th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family

This week we had a mission conference. The last one before President Wilkinson leaves. It was great to learn from him and have the opportunity to have such a great Mission President that helped me and showed me how I can be better. I am excited to see what will happen next with the mission. It looks like I will be on the East side with President Hayes. I can´t wait to learn from him and see his perspective on missionary work.

 

Elders Branham & Moss

Elder Branham will be in the other mission so we had the opportunity to say goodbye until a year. Now there isn´t two missionaries from Surprise North Stake in the same mission! In the end we all got separated into different missions!

I´ve learned alot this week through all of the difficulties and have been able to see life at a different point of view. I am so glad for this opportunity that I can be out of my comfort zone so that I can learn and grow to be more like Christ and be able to prepare for my future life.

Other than that Costa Rica is treating me well. Gets me a little wet but feeds me a lot of rice. Loving the rice and the creative ways they make rice into drinks and deserts! Going to have to make everyone when I get home the Pinto special with Rice and Milk!

I love you all and can´t wait to hear from you and how 4th of July was at the cabin!


Elder Moss

District from MTC

Hermana Carrera and Hermana Salcedo (Guatemala)

Elder Rios from Panama. Old Zone Leader in Gunacaste

Last Pic before the split

We had a mid Christmas party and gave gifts in our house the 25th of June!

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