Monday, July 4, 2016

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 






Monday, June 27, 2016

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




Monday, June 20, 2016

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

Monday, June 13, 2016

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!

Monday, June 6, 2016

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!




Monday, May 30, 2016

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

Monday, May 23, 2016

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


Monday, May 16, 2016

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


Monday, May 9, 2016

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!!!!



Monday, May 2, 2016

29th Week Guapiles, Limon - Pococi Ward

Family ~

Families can be together forever!

One of the beautiful truths that we received with the restoration of the Gospel is that families can be together forever. That we can be sealed for time and all eternity with our loved ones.
I have come to love this! To know that I will be able to live and be with my family forever! To be able to receive the new and everlasting covenant that God promised to those who obey His laws and make covenants with Him.

I have been able to work with and see families here in Costa Rica take the steps to be able to receive an eternal family. I have seen the blessings of God upon many families as they work together to become an eternal family.

This Sunday in sunday school we talked about the covenant making people of our Heavenly Father. Since the creation of the world God has set standards that we can choose to obey or not if we want. These are called covenants (or promises between man and God). In the end we are more blessed than  anything if we complete these covenants.

A brother during the class gave an example that I loved. He has two sons and he told them that they had to do a few chores before they could go to the movies. One of the sons completed the chores and the other didn't. Both of the sons went to him and asked if they could have money to go to the movies. After seeing that one of the sons didn't do his chores like he was asked he felt sad that only one son could go to the movies. So he made an exception and let both sons go to the movie and receive the reward. However, God doesn't work that way. He has set precepts and doesn't make exceptions. If we complete with our part here on Earth God will bless us. However, if we don't do our part we can't receive that blessing. Even though Heavenly Father loves us, we too must show our love for Him. 

I know that when we make covenants with our Heavenly Father we will be eternally blessed. I am glad to see Jacob and Mikaela as they make these covenants and begin to start their eternal family. I know that they will be rewarded with many blessings and they will show their humbleness towards God by doing so. I know that all of this is true because I have received a spiritual confirmation from God and I can't deny it. 

I love you all and hope you have a great week!!! See you on Skype Sunday Night!!!

Elder Moss
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