29th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

Monday we started with a monthly check up with my companion. It was great to sit back and look at this last month in what we have done good and what we can do better. Also to have a BBQ!!! Tuesday we had a district meeting and I went to a different area to do interviews. Then Wednesday we went to the temple and rented a small bus to go as a zone! That was so great because we didn't have to wait for the public buses! Thursday we did divisiones with the zone leaders so they can do interviews in our area and Friday we worked to invite everyone to General Conference.

Eating between conference

Oh how I love General Conference and the opportunity to learn from God's Prophet and Apostles. We were taught sooo much and filled with the spirit.

I hope we were all able to ask, "What can I do to change? How can I improve? or What weakness needs strengthening?" We have been guided on how we can better ourselves. For the Gospel is for bad men to be good and good men to be better. 

"If spiritual growth is not a priority in our lives, if we are not on a course of steady improvement, we will miss out on the important experiences that God wants to give us." - Elder Larry. Lawrence

We are here to on Earth to improve. Let's try to make the best out of it and become the best possible.

I hope we all were able to learn something from General Conference that we can apply in our lives. That we can become more like Christ everyday.

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

Love Elder Moss

28th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

What can you do in a year? In a month? In a day? We are here on earth that we can receive a body and learn and grow. That we can repent. And through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be perfected.

Trainers / Newbies at monthly checkup

Alot has changed this last year. Tomorrow I will complete a year in Costa Rica and I have learned so much. I have learned that I need to humble myself and rely on the Lord. That I need to repent everyday and become a better man. That families are central to the purpose of God that we MUST create a family that loves one another and helps one another in God's camino (path or journey).

In Alma 34:32 says, 

"For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors"

What labors can you do today to change your life? Pick up the scriptures and read them with your family? Get on your knees and pray to our Father in Heaven? Serve someone and humble ourselves that we may apply the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives.

I have tasted of the sweetness of the fruit of the atonement. Now I want to share it with all of my loved ones. Although it has been the hardest year here of my life in Costa Rica I wouldn't trade it for anything. Because of this time I have had I KNOW that Christ lives. That God loves us and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's Kingdom here on earth. His church which He guides through living Prophets and Apostles. I KNOW that the Book of Mormon is true. With all my heart and all my body I can bear testimony of these things because of the change that needed to take place in my life. 

I love you all and hope we can all apply the atonement everyday!

Love

Elder Moss

Elders Rivanderia and Moss

27th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

A family we are teaching that have plans to get baptized next month.

The four Elders and a brother. We have on ties from the islands of Panama where they do hand made designs.

I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD and want to let you know that I am doing great and I am healthy and loving it here!

You both are always in my prayers at night!

Love Elder Moss

26th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

A week full of wonderful miracles!

We are teaching 4 families that are progressing very well and every single one of them are planning on getting married. So it will be a very stressful month or two with trying to help plan 4 weddings but I hope all goes well! 

Members dressed as clowns for the kids

We had a lesson with one of the families who committed to be baptized when he knew these things were true. At the end we finished with a prayer and he offered it. At the end of his prayer we asked him how he felt and he started tearing up and said he felt something that he has never felt before like a relief from all of his world problems. 

Elder Moss & Rivanderia - San Jose behind us

Another family amazes me because I feel like they are already members. Their kids go to mutual and institute and participate in all of the activities and are understanding so well. It shows how by the spirit we can understand so much better because sometimes I don't even know how they understand my Spanish.

Mom asked for pic with jacket covering part of costume

A week full of interviews! I had to do an interview in a different area with an Elder. It was in an area just a little dangerous and it was raining all that day. So the ground was covered in mud and we were slipping everywhere. We walked up these stairs and with houses on both sides. Got to the top super tired and was able to see San Jose in the night time! It was a crazy experience and I love going in to this area because every time it gives me great experience that I will never forget! And the feeling of safety during the mission is awesome. I have never felt so safe in my life. I feel as if I can go into any place and I will be safe and guided. (So don't worry about me at home). Being a missionary I have received so many blessings with safety and health that it just shows me everyday how the church is true!!

Our area is behind the green hill to the right.

I LOVE YOU ALL

Elder Moss

I don't have too much time but I just want you to know that I LOVE YOU Dad and hope that you have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 

Mom asked me to write you a letter. I never got around to it. I haven't even written in my journal the last 4 months I've been so busy. But I want you to know that I love you and I hope you have a great BIRTHDAY! 

Please take care of my truck so that it will be in good shape when I get home! 

LOVE YOU DAD

25th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~ 

This week was super crazy with changes and everything! I don´t have too much time (because he was chatting with his brother). But my new companion is Elder Rivanderia from Panama. He is great and I´ve learned a lot from him.

Meeting new companion

We´ve been teaching a family who just moved here into our area! It´s great because they all come and listen to the messages and they are understanding really well. They change houses because they had problems with a few neighbors before and they have some crazy stories too! 

La Paz Zone P-Day Hike

The rain here hasn´t been too strong but rainy season is starting to get in its heaviest time so we will see how it all goes!

Jungle Hike

It´s going great here and i´ve learned so much on how change myself to better situations when they become difficult. To change my attitude to see things at a better point of view and to always enjoy hard moments! 

I love you all!!

Elder Moss

Zone Hike

24th Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

Changes this week and my companion goes home! He finished his mission and will go back to Guatemala! I don't know who will be my new companion until Wednesday morning!  I will be training a new companion and still District Leader.  I have no idea what to think right now and feel the stress as the responsibility of training a new missionary comes my way.  I've asked Jacob for some ideas and they have helped.

Obedience to the Ten Commandments

Miracles still happen ....... I received an email with a pic of a family that got baptized from the West Mission.  It said thank you so much for your testimony and planting the seed with this family.  I love that this family will gain more blessings than they can comprehend.

I don't have a lot of time but hope you have a great week and I love you all!!!!

Love Elder Moss

P.S.  Thank you for the much needed shoes, I was tired of water coming in from the bottom holes.

23rd Week San Miguel, San Jose

Family ~

Elder ?, Ruiz, Sub & Moss

One thing that I've learned alot on the mission and have had the chance to practice is to recognize the whisperings of the spirit. It's something that is hard to be able to be "in-tune" to the spirit and follow the still small voice.

An amazing experience this week happened Saturday. We went on divisiones with members in the ward and I went with a brother to a mountain area. As we came back we passed by a woman and I said hello to her but kept walking. I felt as if I needed to talk to her but ignored it and kept walking. I felt it again but thought no she is too far away now. Then the third time I knew that I had to talk to her. So I turned around and saw that she was about 75 meters away. So I started running and caught up to her. I had no idea what to say so I just introduced myself and said I felt as if I had to talk to her. And when I said that she started crying. I explained to her that God has a plan for her and that He loves her. As tears fell from her face I felt the spirit so strong. I knew that God knows her personally and wants the best for her.

Watch this great video - The Joseph Millett Story

God has a plan for each and everyone of us. We just need to listen to the whisperings of the spirit and obey them. Through scriptures we can know what we need to do to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

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

Elder Moss

BYUI Dance Show with Investigator

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