A fabulous old-fashioned letter through the mail . . . Par Avion Air!
Elder Keaton fact: He is tight with his money! This must have pained him to no end to spend $2.40 to mail a letter! For future reference, anyone receiving a snail mail letter from this boy will know they are special. :)
Monday, April 15, 2013
Dear Wonderful Mom, Dad, Nolan, Landon, and India!
All is well here in beautiful NZ! We are planning to baptize and entire family this weekend! Imagine that, my very first convert baptism is going to be a family. We can't take any credit for this though, the Lord has worked so many miracles for this to be happening. When we first got here the dad told us straight up that he wasn't going to be baptized and that he only went to church for his kids. But since then we have seen the spirit slowly but surely working on him till the point now where he is going to get married to his partner and baptized this Saturday. In order for this to actually happen we are going to need a few more miracles though, which I have faith that the Lord will bless us with. It was a miracle that the partner even agreed to get married and then another miracle for the dad, Manu, to let the kids get baptized while they are still young. {Other miracles also occurred that were more personal for their family.} Now, we need another incredibly mighty miracle for him to quit smoking before Saturday since he has been smoking since he was a little kid and probably smokes 20-30ish a day and he has a very difficult time giving it up. But, the Lord can do all things and surely after all He has done He will continue to help Manu. We also need one more miracle for the Nan to let the three cousins be baptized because she is now saying they are too young. The Nan is a less-active member herself, but she still is not willing to let the three cousins, who are in her custody, get baptized. She doesn't think they are ready, but we know they are definitely more than ready. If the Lord wants this family to get baptized this Saturday then it will happen because we are doing absolutely everything we can to make it happen.
It is amazing how much this Gospel is blessing this family's lives. The difference between where the kids would be in five years and where they now will be is absolutely incredible. This Gospel truly does bless families.
On another note, as of yesterday I have been in the field for a full month now! Pretty cool, huh? Yep, it sure is. And, I have already gotten to fix three flat tires on my bike. And, I can do 75 push ups as opposed to 35. All that change in just one month!
As for a funny story, during the Sunday morning session of Conference a man's chair broke underneath him because it couldn't take the weight of so many big people any more. Although that's the first time I have actually seen a chair break it is not the first broken chair I have seen. I made up a joke too!
Q: "What do you call a celebrity under the sea??" A: "A Star Fish!" Haha I bet nobody saw that one coming. hahaha
I hope you are having a wonderful time back in Texas, especially with that new boat! I'm having a great time here in NZ. I love you so much and am grateful for all of your amazing examples. Also . . . I'm proud of y'all! Y'all are all amazingly fantastic!
I love y'all all the mostest!
Love, the mostest,
Elder Moore
P.S. Letters cost $2.40 to send each! Absolutely ridiculous, I know.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Little food, no money and a great attitude!
Monday, April 15, 2013
Satan definitely will be working overtime this week, as he always does, but if you think about it is he really a match for the Lord who has a body and created all things? I read in 2 Nephi today between chapters 6-9 and at one point the Lord says, "Who will contend with me?" and I thought He might have been meaning something like, "Are you kidding me? Why are you afraid, do you really think there is anyone or anything that I MYSELF created that can take Me on? Let's be realistic here. Have a little faith, do your best, and then when life gets hard just stand behind Me. All will be well." Life is hard. Being a missionary is hard. But we are on the Lord's team and have nothing to fear. As I've already proven, even weed can't do anything to those who stand behind the Lord. I imagine He might have even laughed when that guy ignorantly thought he could actually get servants of the Lord high with "space cakes." And, I'm sure they'll have a fun conversation about that on Judgement Day. Just kidding, he'll probably repent and be baptized by then. Especially after this mission splits {The New Zealand Auckland Mission will be divided into two missions on July 1, 2013} and this mission gets back up to 250 missionaries then many wards are going to have two sets of missionaries covering them. Surely our ward won't have that though because the boundaries are SO tiny, but I could be wrong.
Satan has definitely been working his tricks on our family this past week, but the Lord has come through with much more powerful miracles. I wrote a letter to you this morning as well and I included more details about our set family in it and I wouldn't want to spoil the letter by rewriting that letter in this email. We fasted both Saturday and Sunday as well as last Sunday (and every Sunday since I've been here) for this family and I truly believe that the miracles we have been seeing have come through our fasting and prayers. It's a huge miracle in itself that they are even set for baptism. Another huge miracle is that Manu and his partner, Rema, are getting married on Saturday before the baptism. The next massive miracle we need for Manu is for him to quit smoking in time, and he smokes heaps a day. But the Lord can do all things. Three of the kids are actually cousins who live with their Nan, who has custody of them. The Nan is actually a less active member. Unfortunately, the adversary has come in and the Nan is not currently letting the three girls get baptized. She thinks they are too young and don't want it enough. But they are SO ready! We have a family home evening with all of them at a member's home tonight and are really hoping Heavenly Father will soften the Nan's heart enough that after tonight that she will agree to let the three girls be baptized. The names of all those being baptized are as follows, but the spelling may be wrong: Manu, John, Lyneerah, Janice, Mahia, and Ngahoia. I have faith that they will all be baptized this Saturday, but I also know that we are going to have to work as hard as we can until then.
General Conference was AMAZING! I got so much out of it and stayed awake through the whole thing, as I'm sure dad did too. ;) I got much more out of this conference than I ever have and that is because I went seeking, and then I sat up and took notes through every talk. I loved conference and can't wait to have it again in six months. I could feel a strong feeling of peace as I listened and came to realize that it was the Spirit. It made me just want to stay there listening all day. And I think it is important to note that with the priesthood session being at 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning I had to get up at 5:30 a.m. But I still stayed awake. "And that should show you how important it was." (Said like Cal when he didn't turn off the light in the movie "Everything You Want")
Last Pday after emailing and shopping we went back to our locked up bikes only to find that I had ANOTHER flat tire. I have had a flat tire for every week I have been in the field, I find that to be quite impressive since many missionaries haven't even had enough flat tires to equal the number of months they have been out. Patches here are really cheap at the Chinese shops, which are like the cheap version of a dollar store. You probably didn't think you could get any cheaper than a dollar store, I didn't either, but you can. Unfortunately, the patches aren't very good. Well, they work just fine. They're just a pain to use. You have to glue them onto the tube and I think sometimes they might still fall off with time. So I've discovered what I need! I would love it if you sent me some more of those quick patches from REI in my next package because they work so easily and well. :) But don't rush to get them to me. I don't actually need them, they're just for convenience, it's not like I'm not capable of gluing on patches here.
Mailing is expensive too. You have to take your letter to the post shop, pay for the stamps (a regular stamp and an air mail stamp) and then go put it in the box thing. Each letter cost $2.40 $NZ to send! You're probably all saying, "WOOOW, how do you even afford it Elder Moore??" And the answer is to pay it like you should pay tithing. You mail your letters and then you buy your food. We actually have plenty of money to survive. We each get $130 every two weeks. So we buy a bag of apples, lots of refrigerator meat pies, bread, cheese, peanut butter and jelly and the off brand of Nutella (I know, it's like I'm living the dream over here!) and Raroe! I always have to have my Raroe. I think the water is gross and I'm just so used to drinking Raroe that I think it tastes pretty amazing. I'll send you some one day whenever I can. It's really a lot like Kool-aid or Crystal Light, but it's better because it's from New Zealand. We always buy the small air-filled bags of the cheap brand New Zealand chips. And, we buy eggs which are amazing if cooked in my Sister Pittman Skillet, which has a magical ability to turn a poor man meal into something gourmet. But, unfortunately we didn't realize that we weren't going to get paid today and we are totally broke and we are running out of food and Raroe. So, I don't know what we are going to do this week, but it's going to be fun! Haha We are so dumb for not saving money. I would save money, like I have always done, but we share all our money and my companion doesn't like to save and thought I was dumb before for wanting to save. But from now on I will definitely at least secretly save money for times like this. Oh well.
I love you so much and am excited for this weekend! It's also great to hear about all of my friends on missions and that they are doing so well. Keep enjoying the boat! Haha That's so funny that dad, "Still has it!" {His dad can still ski on one ski and that called for some serious bragging! ;) } It hasn't been too cold here yet. But, according to my wonderful alarm clock it's always below 70 degrees in our flat and usually around 60 or below when we wake up. It doesn't always feel that cold though, maybe I'm just getting used to it. I love you! Have a great week!
Ofa 'atu
Love Elder Moore
Satan definitely will be working overtime this week, as he always does, but if you think about it is he really a match for the Lord who has a body and created all things? I read in 2 Nephi today between chapters 6-9 and at one point the Lord says, "Who will contend with me?" and I thought He might have been meaning something like, "Are you kidding me? Why are you afraid, do you really think there is anyone or anything that I MYSELF created that can take Me on? Let's be realistic here. Have a little faith, do your best, and then when life gets hard just stand behind Me. All will be well." Life is hard. Being a missionary is hard. But we are on the Lord's team and have nothing to fear. As I've already proven, even weed can't do anything to those who stand behind the Lord. I imagine He might have even laughed when that guy ignorantly thought he could actually get servants of the Lord high with "space cakes." And, I'm sure they'll have a fun conversation about that on Judgement Day. Just kidding, he'll probably repent and be baptized by then. Especially after this mission splits {The New Zealand Auckland Mission will be divided into two missions on July 1, 2013} and this mission gets back up to 250 missionaries then many wards are going to have two sets of missionaries covering them. Surely our ward won't have that though because the boundaries are SO tiny, but I could be wrong.
Satan has definitely been working his tricks on our family this past week, but the Lord has come through with much more powerful miracles. I wrote a letter to you this morning as well and I included more details about our set family in it and I wouldn't want to spoil the letter by rewriting that letter in this email. We fasted both Saturday and Sunday as well as last Sunday (and every Sunday since I've been here) for this family and I truly believe that the miracles we have been seeing have come through our fasting and prayers. It's a huge miracle in itself that they are even set for baptism. Another huge miracle is that Manu and his partner, Rema, are getting married on Saturday before the baptism. The next massive miracle we need for Manu is for him to quit smoking in time, and he smokes heaps a day. But the Lord can do all things. Three of the kids are actually cousins who live with their Nan, who has custody of them. The Nan is actually a less active member. Unfortunately, the adversary has come in and the Nan is not currently letting the three girls get baptized. She thinks they are too young and don't want it enough. But they are SO ready! We have a family home evening with all of them at a member's home tonight and are really hoping Heavenly Father will soften the Nan's heart enough that after tonight that she will agree to let the three girls be baptized. The names of all those being baptized are as follows, but the spelling may be wrong: Manu, John, Lyneerah, Janice, Mahia, and Ngahoia. I have faith that they will all be baptized this Saturday, but I also know that we are going to have to work as hard as we can until then.
General Conference was AMAZING! I got so much out of it and stayed awake through the whole thing, as I'm sure dad did too. ;) I got much more out of this conference than I ever have and that is because I went seeking, and then I sat up and took notes through every talk. I loved conference and can't wait to have it again in six months. I could feel a strong feeling of peace as I listened and came to realize that it was the Spirit. It made me just want to stay there listening all day. And I think it is important to note that with the priesthood session being at 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning I had to get up at 5:30 a.m. But I still stayed awake. "And that should show you how important it was." (Said like Cal when he didn't turn off the light in the movie "Everything You Want")
Last Pday after emailing and shopping we went back to our locked up bikes only to find that I had ANOTHER flat tire. I have had a flat tire for every week I have been in the field, I find that to be quite impressive since many missionaries haven't even had enough flat tires to equal the number of months they have been out. Patches here are really cheap at the Chinese shops, which are like the cheap version of a dollar store. You probably didn't think you could get any cheaper than a dollar store, I didn't either, but you can. Unfortunately, the patches aren't very good. Well, they work just fine. They're just a pain to use. You have to glue them onto the tube and I think sometimes they might still fall off with time. So I've discovered what I need! I would love it if you sent me some more of those quick patches from REI in my next package because they work so easily and well. :) But don't rush to get them to me. I don't actually need them, they're just for convenience, it's not like I'm not capable of gluing on patches here.
Mailing is expensive too. You have to take your letter to the post shop, pay for the stamps (a regular stamp and an air mail stamp) and then go put it in the box thing. Each letter cost $2.40 $NZ to send! You're probably all saying, "WOOOW, how do you even afford it Elder Moore??" And the answer is to pay it like you should pay tithing. You mail your letters and then you buy your food. We actually have plenty of money to survive. We each get $130 every two weeks. So we buy a bag of apples, lots of refrigerator meat pies, bread, cheese, peanut butter and jelly and the off brand of Nutella (I know, it's like I'm living the dream over here!) and Raroe! I always have to have my Raroe. I think the water is gross and I'm just so used to drinking Raroe that I think it tastes pretty amazing. I'll send you some one day whenever I can. It's really a lot like Kool-aid or Crystal Light, but it's better because it's from New Zealand. We always buy the small air-filled bags of the cheap brand New Zealand chips. And, we buy eggs which are amazing if cooked in my Sister Pittman Skillet, which has a magical ability to turn a poor man meal into something gourmet. But, unfortunately we didn't realize that we weren't going to get paid today and we are totally broke and we are running out of food and Raroe. So, I don't know what we are going to do this week, but it's going to be fun! Haha We are so dumb for not saving money. I would save money, like I have always done, but we share all our money and my companion doesn't like to save and thought I was dumb before for wanting to save. But from now on I will definitely at least secretly save money for times like this. Oh well.
I love you so much and am excited for this weekend! It's also great to hear about all of my friends on missions and that they are doing so well. Keep enjoying the boat! Haha That's so funny that dad, "Still has it!" {His dad can still ski on one ski and that called for some serious bragging! ;) } It hasn't been too cold here yet. But, according to my wonderful alarm clock it's always below 70 degrees in our flat and usually around 60 or below when we wake up. It doesn't always feel that cold though, maybe I'm just getting used to it. I love you! Have a great week!
Ofa 'atu
Love Elder Moore
Keeping it real AND eating a Texas Hamburger
April 7, 2013
I can't believe y'all got a boat without me!!! Haha That's so awesome and I loved hearing about all the adventures going on back home! I miss all of those crazy projects and adventures. I miss working like that! A member here was redoing his kitchen and was laying tile and I wanted to go help so bad, but my companion didn't really want to. I think you might like to hear our mission vision here in the NZAM. "In the NZAM we talk with everyone! Strive to become Preach My Gospel missionaries! And seek to be obedient with exactness! Why? To save souls weekly!" Saving souls weekly means having four baptisms a month (four weeks in a month). There doesn't have to be one baptism each week, just four within the month for our goal. Our goal since I've gotten here is just to save souls weekly and we have fasted and prayed very much for it, I really want to save souls weekly in my first transfer, that'd be crazy! This would be my companion's first time to save souls weekly as well. And guess what! It's happening! Remember that family I mentioned before? At least I think I mentioned them. Either way, the dad has really been the only thing holding the kids back and we haven't been able to set any of them ourselves up to this point. {set - refers to scheduling baptism dates} BUT we brought our AMAZING ward mission leader with us on Saturday and he set Manu! (the dad) He basically told him, "you're getting baptized on the 20th" and he said, "Okay." It wasn't that bold but it wasn't a soft invitation either. So after Bro. Soo Choon set him, we issued the invitation again to make it was solid and he said yes. He isn't married unfortunately, but Bro. Soo Choon talked to Manu yesterday and we are now planning to have a wedding and baptism on the 20th! {He was living with his girlfriend and needed to marry her. A person doesn't have to be married to get baptized! Just FYI Haha} If everything goes the way we hope then we'll be baptizing Manu and 5 kids on April 20th, it's so exciting! Only one of the kids is officially set because he doesn't actually encourage his kids to get baptized, he lets them choose for themselves, but he almost discourages them from doing it. But, we're sending the big guns (Bro. Soo Choon) to go talk to Manu sometime during the day today and get all of the kids set as well. It's going to be a white April!
We really want this baptism to happen on the 20th because transfers are on the 24th and we really want both of us to be here for this baptism. Transfers are normally on Thursday here but this time they will be on Wednesday. You're probably thinking, "Hmmm, why are they on Wednesday, Elder Moore?" Well, I'll tell you . . . because that's the day Elder Oaks is coming! {Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles} The entire mission will be there for transfers this time, it's going to be crazy. And, it's really going to be rough for all of the missionaries down in Gisborne since that's an 8 hour drive one way for them.
As for General Conference, that's a good question. That's awesome that y'all already got to watch it. Here, we wait until the following weekend and then everyone goes to the chapel to watch a recorded broadcast. And, we only get a one hour break between sessions. And, it's going to be rough on Sunday because the priesthood session is at 7 in the morning, then the first session is at 10 and the last one at 1, but it's going to be awesome! Especially since you said there were a lot of talks about missionary work.
The good thing about serving in this mission and talking with everyone is that if you actually do it like you are supposed to then for the rest of your life you will never be afraid to approach and talk to anyone ever again. The bad thing is that it is hard. I'm definitely not a good missionary yet, but I'm trying. Something that makes things difficult is that I never was good at talking about issues and things that frustrated me when they arose, and even when it did come time to talk about them I just put up a wall instead of communicate everything and try to resolve it. This makes it difficult sometimes for my companion and I to be unified and would be a good skill for Landon to learn. I don't feel like I do anything very good because nobody ever tells me what I do good. Even after a lesson where I felt like I did really good my companion tells me what I should have done and how we weren't unified because of me, etc. This can be discouraging. That's how some missionaries, like my companion, think it has to be. They think criticizing is necessary. But the most amazing missionaries like Sadlier and Hoffman didn't do it that way and they were so much more successful. Sometimes it just gets so frustrating. Being humble can be so hard, so that's a good thing to learn now. The other day I even found myself looking at a picture of Elder Sadlier and saying in frustration, "Why can't I be like you!?" It's frustrating when you know what you want to do and be like but you still can't do it. Really though, what it comes down to is being humble, positive, and willing to compliment and praise others. So that's what I've been working on. After a lesson, I try to tell Elder D. how well he did. I'm tired of being the "greeny" but I also don't want to be the leader. Last week we went on two 24-hour trade off's {change companions for 24 hours} and for the first one I was left to lead our area with a missionary who isn't always exactly obedient. It was exhausting to be the senior companion, but it was also a good learning experience.
Maybe I'll get to train Aunt Jill's friend though {my sister has a friend who was recently called to the same mission} and I'll turn him into a superstar missionary! I'm so excited for him to get to come here to the land of the long white cloud. However, I might not even be in this mission by then. Give him my email address and tell him he can email and ask me questions about NZ or being a missionary here and I'd be happy to answer them.
I'm not really sure what I need right now. I have been eating heaps ever since I got to NZ. In the MTC I always ate all of my food, which was quite a bit, and here in the field I eat heaps every chance I get. My companion thinks I'm crazy because I'm always hungry (he's practically never hungry unless we fast) but I just get hungry so I always go hard when it comes time to eat. And, I haven't gained any weight yet that I can notice. Maybe I'll just grow a couple of inches in height instead. :)
It's gotten cold here too. In our flat all morning it's about 60 degrees or below according to my clock, but outside in the sun it gets warmer than that. Yesterday it was cold though and I got to bust out a big coat for about an hour. You can tell Landon that I have also gotten quite strong. When I was on trade off with Elder Brown the Samoan last week I beat him in a push up contest and I feel like I can do more now than I did last week. I'm pretty much the hulk now I guess.
Oh, last week after emailing we went to Subway for lunch! Can you guess what I had? That's right, a Moroccan Lamb footlong! Only in New Zealand! {In the past he ordered the meatball sub!}
{Responding to my questions:} Letters are always fun to get, but I don't know that I need anything at the moment. I have debated for a while whether or not to try sending my carry on suitcase home or getting rid of it somehow. I really hated having it in the beginning because nobody else brought as much stuff as me, everyone else only had two bags, both smaller than mine, and it was embarrassing. But nobody else brought everything they needed either. It seems that everyone else in the mission just plans on buying what they need here, whereas I shouldn't need to buy any shirts, pants, or suits for two years. Everyone also thinks it is so funny that I brought a skillet, but it's pretty sweet to have it whenever the one in your flat sticks so bad that you wonder if someone didn't coat it in fly paper. I've made some pretty mean eggs and grilled cheese sandwiches in my skillet from Sis. Pittman. Another bit of good news is that last week they changed the weird suit coat policy. Now, we only have to wear our suit coats after 5 p.m. during the four winter months of May-August, and other than that we only have to wear them to meetings. So we pretty much never have to wear our suit jackets now which is awesome. And want to know what's also crazy? Up until less than a year ago missionaries here could go to the beach! They couldn't swim but they could still go on the beach, but unfortunately that rule has been changed. I'm going to go get my first haircut since the MTC right after this, exciting right? And we're going to go to McDonalds for the first time so I can have a burger and chips! It's pretty exciting. I love you guys so much and am grateful for your examples. I always remember it's the hard that makes it great, and we do hard. Remember, have fun and be happy! Heavenly Father didn't mean for life to always be hard, he wants us to have joy along the journey as well.
P.S. I heard a good joke for Nolan. I've been trying to tell my companion jokes but he has a weird sense of humor and seems to only laugh for investigators. But, I laugh at my own jokes instead and he thinks that's funny. :) This is a joke I heard from an investigator. (you also need to know that they call apartments flats here)
"Why did the armadillo cross the road? To go see his Flat-Mate!" Haha I thought that one was pretty funny. I love you guys! Bybsactw and go hard when you do hard!
Love,
Elder Moore
Bybsactw - "Be your best self and change the world" I tell my children this everyday and every time they walk out the door. I also constantly remind them and myself, "It's the hard that makes it great! And we do hard."
One of many flat tires . . .
McDonald's was a success! Who knew they served Texan burgers in New Zealand? My missionary loves his hamburgers!
I love the entire hamburger picture series! I raised him right - he knows to take tons of pictures.
This picture was tagged as "delivering missionary suits" and I have no idea what that means but he certainly is a happy delivery missionary!
I can't believe y'all got a boat without me!!! Haha That's so awesome and I loved hearing about all the adventures going on back home! I miss all of those crazy projects and adventures. I miss working like that! A member here was redoing his kitchen and was laying tile and I wanted to go help so bad, but my companion didn't really want to. I think you might like to hear our mission vision here in the NZAM. "In the NZAM we talk with everyone! Strive to become Preach My Gospel missionaries! And seek to be obedient with exactness! Why? To save souls weekly!" Saving souls weekly means having four baptisms a month (four weeks in a month). There doesn't have to be one baptism each week, just four within the month for our goal. Our goal since I've gotten here is just to save souls weekly and we have fasted and prayed very much for it, I really want to save souls weekly in my first transfer, that'd be crazy! This would be my companion's first time to save souls weekly as well. And guess what! It's happening! Remember that family I mentioned before? At least I think I mentioned them. Either way, the dad has really been the only thing holding the kids back and we haven't been able to set any of them ourselves up to this point. {set - refers to scheduling baptism dates} BUT we brought our AMAZING ward mission leader with us on Saturday and he set Manu! (the dad) He basically told him, "you're getting baptized on the 20th" and he said, "Okay." It wasn't that bold but it wasn't a soft invitation either. So after Bro. Soo Choon set him, we issued the invitation again to make it was solid and he said yes. He isn't married unfortunately, but Bro. Soo Choon talked to Manu yesterday and we are now planning to have a wedding and baptism on the 20th! {He was living with his girlfriend and needed to marry her. A person doesn't have to be married to get baptized! Just FYI Haha} If everything goes the way we hope then we'll be baptizing Manu and 5 kids on April 20th, it's so exciting! Only one of the kids is officially set because he doesn't actually encourage his kids to get baptized, he lets them choose for themselves, but he almost discourages them from doing it. But, we're sending the big guns (Bro. Soo Choon) to go talk to Manu sometime during the day today and get all of the kids set as well. It's going to be a white April!
We really want this baptism to happen on the 20th because transfers are on the 24th and we really want both of us to be here for this baptism. Transfers are normally on Thursday here but this time they will be on Wednesday. You're probably thinking, "Hmmm, why are they on Wednesday, Elder Moore?" Well, I'll tell you . . . because that's the day Elder Oaks is coming! {Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles} The entire mission will be there for transfers this time, it's going to be crazy. And, it's really going to be rough for all of the missionaries down in Gisborne since that's an 8 hour drive one way for them.
As for General Conference, that's a good question. That's awesome that y'all already got to watch it. Here, we wait until the following weekend and then everyone goes to the chapel to watch a recorded broadcast. And, we only get a one hour break between sessions. And, it's going to be rough on Sunday because the priesthood session is at 7 in the morning, then the first session is at 10 and the last one at 1, but it's going to be awesome! Especially since you said there were a lot of talks about missionary work.
The good thing about serving in this mission and talking with everyone is that if you actually do it like you are supposed to then for the rest of your life you will never be afraid to approach and talk to anyone ever again. The bad thing is that it is hard. I'm definitely not a good missionary yet, but I'm trying. Something that makes things difficult is that I never was good at talking about issues and things that frustrated me when they arose, and even when it did come time to talk about them I just put up a wall instead of communicate everything and try to resolve it. This makes it difficult sometimes for my companion and I to be unified and would be a good skill for Landon to learn. I don't feel like I do anything very good because nobody ever tells me what I do good. Even after a lesson where I felt like I did really good my companion tells me what I should have done and how we weren't unified because of me, etc. This can be discouraging. That's how some missionaries, like my companion, think it has to be. They think criticizing is necessary. But the most amazing missionaries like Sadlier and Hoffman didn't do it that way and they were so much more successful. Sometimes it just gets so frustrating. Being humble can be so hard, so that's a good thing to learn now. The other day I even found myself looking at a picture of Elder Sadlier and saying in frustration, "Why can't I be like you!?" It's frustrating when you know what you want to do and be like but you still can't do it. Really though, what it comes down to is being humble, positive, and willing to compliment and praise others. So that's what I've been working on. After a lesson, I try to tell Elder D. how well he did. I'm tired of being the "greeny" but I also don't want to be the leader. Last week we went on two 24-hour trade off's {change companions for 24 hours} and for the first one I was left to lead our area with a missionary who isn't always exactly obedient. It was exhausting to be the senior companion, but it was also a good learning experience.
Maybe I'll get to train Aunt Jill's friend though {my sister has a friend who was recently called to the same mission} and I'll turn him into a superstar missionary! I'm so excited for him to get to come here to the land of the long white cloud. However, I might not even be in this mission by then. Give him my email address and tell him he can email and ask me questions about NZ or being a missionary here and I'd be happy to answer them.
I'm not really sure what I need right now. I have been eating heaps ever since I got to NZ. In the MTC I always ate all of my food, which was quite a bit, and here in the field I eat heaps every chance I get. My companion thinks I'm crazy because I'm always hungry (he's practically never hungry unless we fast) but I just get hungry so I always go hard when it comes time to eat. And, I haven't gained any weight yet that I can notice. Maybe I'll just grow a couple of inches in height instead. :)
It's gotten cold here too. In our flat all morning it's about 60 degrees or below according to my clock, but outside in the sun it gets warmer than that. Yesterday it was cold though and I got to bust out a big coat for about an hour. You can tell Landon that I have also gotten quite strong. When I was on trade off with Elder Brown the Samoan last week I beat him in a push up contest and I feel like I can do more now than I did last week. I'm pretty much the hulk now I guess.
Oh, last week after emailing we went to Subway for lunch! Can you guess what I had? That's right, a Moroccan Lamb footlong! Only in New Zealand! {In the past he ordered the meatball sub!}
{Responding to my questions:} Letters are always fun to get, but I don't know that I need anything at the moment. I have debated for a while whether or not to try sending my carry on suitcase home or getting rid of it somehow. I really hated having it in the beginning because nobody else brought as much stuff as me, everyone else only had two bags, both smaller than mine, and it was embarrassing. But nobody else brought everything they needed either. It seems that everyone else in the mission just plans on buying what they need here, whereas I shouldn't need to buy any shirts, pants, or suits for two years. Everyone also thinks it is so funny that I brought a skillet, but it's pretty sweet to have it whenever the one in your flat sticks so bad that you wonder if someone didn't coat it in fly paper. I've made some pretty mean eggs and grilled cheese sandwiches in my skillet from Sis. Pittman. Another bit of good news is that last week they changed the weird suit coat policy. Now, we only have to wear our suit coats after 5 p.m. during the four winter months of May-August, and other than that we only have to wear them to meetings. So we pretty much never have to wear our suit jackets now which is awesome. And want to know what's also crazy? Up until less than a year ago missionaries here could go to the beach! They couldn't swim but they could still go on the beach, but unfortunately that rule has been changed. I'm going to go get my first haircut since the MTC right after this, exciting right? And we're going to go to McDonalds for the first time so I can have a burger and chips! It's pretty exciting. I love you guys so much and am grateful for your examples. I always remember it's the hard that makes it great, and we do hard. Remember, have fun and be happy! Heavenly Father didn't mean for life to always be hard, he wants us to have joy along the journey as well.
P.S. I heard a good joke for Nolan. I've been trying to tell my companion jokes but he has a weird sense of humor and seems to only laugh for investigators. But, I laugh at my own jokes instead and he thinks that's funny. :) This is a joke I heard from an investigator. (you also need to know that they call apartments flats here)
"Why did the armadillo cross the road? To go see his Flat-Mate!" Haha I thought that one was pretty funny. I love you guys! Bybsactw and go hard when you do hard!
Love,
Elder Moore
Bybsactw - "Be your best self and change the world" I tell my children this everyday and every time they walk out the door. I also constantly remind them and myself, "It's the hard that makes it great! And we do hard."
One of many flat tires . . .
I love the entire hamburger picture series! I raised him right - he knows to take tons of pictures.
Farewell: My missionary's love for his Papa
Summer has arrived and it has all been a haze. Elder Keaton is serving with all his heart and loves his mission. We have exciting news on the horizon for Landon. However, our hearts are still sad and slightly broken. My dear father, Papa to the grandchildren, passed away.
He had a heart attack on May 30 and was hospitalized. Originally, the doctors did not expect him to survive and we gathered the family. We later received good news that he was recovering. The following two weeks were a roller coaster of hopes and fears but through it all we felt loved. We felt loved by one another, our friends, and particularly by my daddy. More than anything we felt loved by our Savior. His plans are always better than mine and I always like them when I stop crying. :)
One incredible blessing came during the two weeks we were given to say our farewells for this life. We contacted Elder Keaton's mission president and discussed options for Elder Keaton to also express his love. A phone call would have been so hard for all of us! The final decision will be a cherished blessing for generations. Elder Keaton emailed his Papa. It is the most beautiful letter and I was able to read it to my daddy at his bedside. My dad recorded a message in return. Elder Keaton cherishes those words of advice and love and they continue to inspire him on the other side of the world.
My sweet missionary was running fever when he received the news that his grandfather had passed away but he told us it only made him want to work harder. He bundled up and faced the cold weather to share his love and testimony of Jesus Christ.
Elder Keaton's letter embodies his vibrant personality and love for his papa. It is also the best representation of my father for all those who did not know him. I was privileged to speak at my father's funeral and also share Elder Keaton's letter through a strength beyond my own. Families are forever and with a family like mine it already feels like heaven.
Dear Papa,
Hey Papa, it's me, your favorite grandson on a mission! Keaton! I got a call from my mission president telling me about your situation and he gave me special permission to come write you a letter. I guess that means you are his favorite out of all my relatives. ;) Anyway, I just wanted to say, "Welcome to the work!" For three days after this life the Savior went and did missionary work in the Spirit World, and I know that work is still being continued there today. So, I wanted to be the first to welcome you into the field where we sow seeds and harvest fruit nonstop through every season. And might I add that the pay is infinite and eternal :) and you don't even have to pay taxes on it! It is the best work there is. It is hard, it is fun, it makes you both happy and sad, it is rewarding . . . I guess to sum it all up the work is love. It is charity. I can't wait for you to continue to be a part of it soon, whether that means recovering and assisting the ward or furthering the work in the Spirit World. Wherever you'll be serving next just remember that I'm here doing the work with you.
I'm striving to be diligent, obedient, and faithful just like you. I'm not a spiritual giant, I'm actually quite weak and make big mistakes often, but despite all of this our Heavenly Father has blessed me with a much greater testimony of the Plan of Salvation. I have come to understand it a little bit more since coming on a mission and teaching it. And, despite it being one of the hardest lessons to teach, it has become my favorite. I know it is true. It blows my mind to think that some people only think we are born, we live, then we die. If only they knew how small those threes steps are. If only they knew what Heavenly Father has planned. But, even if they don't understand it, at least we do! The Lord gives us this knowledge because He trusts us to share it with others. So, like I said before, welcome to Heavenly Father's elite workforce. :) I'm sure you'll find the benefits of working for Him quite "eye opening." :)
You'll also be pleased to hear that we should be having three more baptisms here next week. These baptisms wouldn't be possible if you hadn't joined the Gospel and raised my mom in it so that she could raise me in it. In other words you, without you making that right choice I wouldn't have gotten to come share the gospel with them. So thank you for that. How great shall be your joy in the Father's Kingdom for being the means for so many souls to be saved. :)
You're such a great example and I hope to be able to be like you one day! Have you noticed how much you shaped me? I remember when you first asked me to come on a speaking assignment with you to the Jennings Branch. I didn't want to go! I was terrified! But you made me go and I am so grateful for that. You helped me learn to speak, and now I get to use that talent to bless others for the rest of my life. You told me how good I was at speaking before I even became good at it, you encouraged me! You made me feel special and gave me hope that one day I could become good at speaking. Look at me now! Look how much I have become because of what you did for me. I know I'm not a perfect speaker or teacher, and I'm definitely not full of complete confidence yet, but I can do it now and that is enough. It's more than enough, it's wonderful. :)
I also remember my last times spent with you before I left. I remember you showing me your car one night, before most of the family even knew you had it. You told my dad and I all about the car and I was a little more than star struck as I sat in that beautiful red car. Then you surprised me when you turned to my dad and asked him if he would take me for a ride in it right then. Riding in your car was so much fun, I loved it, and I am grateful for that experience. But what I am more grateful for is the lesson you taught me that night. You taught me kindness and generosity. When you willingly shared what I esteemed to be your favorite worldly possession with me, even if it was just for a few minutes, I felt pretty special. I felt that you cared about me because you acted as though you didn't care about the car. You acted as though you simply wanted to USE the car to bring joy to me. That taught me a valuable lesson that I will remember long after the car is gone.
Then, shortly after that I remember how you ever so proudly sent me off on my mission. :) I now seek to be as charitable as you and share all that I have, and especially share myself, with others. I seek to love people more than things just like you do. I love you Papa. I'm sorry I can't be there to tell you that right now, but I do know that we are both where the Lord would have us be right now. I know this gospel is true. And it doesn't end here, not yet. So let's work together with smiles on our faces until the time comes that our Heavenly Father calls us in and says that the work is finished. If we do this then I know the Savior will fulfill His promises to us and we shall receive the ultimate reward together. I love you so much. Thank you for always remembering me. I haven't forgotten you either.
Papa, guess what . . . I am so proud of you :) always remember that. And also remember this, I love you. :)
With All of My Love, Your Grandson,
Elder Keaton Moore
My dynamic duo chose to work on their separate Eagle Scout projects at the same time. They also insisted on a joint Court of Honor. My dad was a Veteran and we were so honored when he presented each of the boys a US flag that had flown over the US Capital Building . . . of course on the same day. These boys cherish those special flags and largely because of the hero that presented them.
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