Weaknesses Changing to Strengths

this week... i am working everyday to listen to the spirit guide me and my companion in where we need to go, who we need to talk to, and what i need to say to help these people understand and accept the gospel.. this week was a good one. we had splits 2 times this week, one with the STL

the first splits i was with Sister Dos Santos. she is awesome and we got along great and we had great lessons, we had a great experience too. we got to the investigators house and she told us of all her problems have been having a lot of problems in her home, but we showed up and she welcomed us in, we were there and started to teach, i felt the spirit so strong, i am finally saying the 1st vision in portugues without reading!!! it helps a lot to feel the spirit more, but anyway, we finished and i had asked her how she felt, she instantly said happy and peaceful, i was more than happy for her, because i know we showed up in her life at just the right moment!! then i had a prompting to say "i know we are just young adults, but i want you to know we truly love you and are here for you in all things" she just started to cry, i know that its what she needed to hear - and me as well.. its great to know how much our Savior loves us...
 

 

and then one splits just with our house to help in my area. the first splits i was with Sister Dos Santos. she is awesome and we got along great and had great lessons, the second i was with Sister Poulsen, we walked about 2 hours to the other side of the earth for one lesson that we didn't even get to teach, but that's okay. we talked with the investigator and he is super excited to hear our lessons. we met him in our English class!! its so cool.. other than that we are having a hard time contacting new investigators we talk to everyone but no one cares for us to return, so its sad!!! but we will keep trying!

 

i know this is exactly where i need to be, and what i need to be doing. i know i have my weaknesses but i do see them changing to strengths everyday, and i am grateful for the love our Savior has for me and everyone there. i can see a glimpse of how much he loves me by the way i love the people of Brazil. i know that this will continue to be hard but i know that its worth every moment. i love my mission and i am so happy to be serving our Lord!!

i love you with all my heart and i am grateful for everyone that has played a role in my life..

com todo meu coração 

Eu te Amo<3

Sister Moss

Ether 12:27

This week has been different I'm having a hard time learning the area because it's so much bigger than El Dorado, but it's good...

this week i have been studying in the Book of Mormon too, as a mission we started again this past transfer and we need to read up to Alma 14 before this transfer is over. i am in Mosiah 7 but i read a scripture this week and it stood out for me more than normal, the scripture was Ether 12:27 but the first part stood out "and if men come unto me i will show them their weakness" this week I've seen EVERY weakness that i have - either i realized one or someone pointed it out. i have a lot of work to do to become the person the Lord needs me to be and i know everyday i try my very best to learn and grow more... 

<Mom note: In his letter to Sister Moss, her dad made it clear that she was missing one really important part of that scripture (it's always easier for us to see the "negative" first, isn't it?) Here is his response to her: 

...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. Ether 12:27 

Highlights from his first paragraph... I have never had to worry about you... incredible person... biggest heart... care about people - and about what the Lord thinks and wants... The Lord has blessed you with so many strengths... natural leader... every coach that watched you play told me so; they said they wished that everyone on the team had your heart, your kindness, your willingness to listen and to learn.

Here's his complete second paragraph: Sis, listen to me now - they Lord is ready to show forth his power in you, today is the day that you start believing that Jesus Christ can make more out of you than you can ever make of yourself. All you need to do is get out of the way and watch the miracles happen. Everyday I notice my weaknesses as a husband, father, brother, son, friend and bishop. But then every single moment I notice that Jesus Christ is taking over, giving me EVERYTHING I need to the person he needs me to be. That is not the perfect person, just an instrument in His hands that day to accomplish what He needs.

It is time to stop worrying about what you cannot do and see what Christ can do with you. 

End of Dad's response.>

The language is becoming easier but I still struggle everyday, as well. everyone says 6 months is where it makes sense and you should be good, so i am hoping within the next 3 weeks i will finally get it!! i have faith!

we have only 2 investigators they are progressing very well, only thing they need to do is come to church, it's so frustrating when they don't come because we will have to cut them soon, and i don't want to do that because then they wont care to keep learning and growing. i am loving the mission and the sisters i live with help me so much! my companion tries really really hard to stop me from speaking any kind of English!! i don't speak it a whole lot, just when i forget a word or out of habit to say an English word... hahahah

i love you all so so much and i hope you all know that i miss you and pray for you all everyday <3

com todo meu coração eu amo tu <3

Sister Moss

Sister Moss did not send pictures this week, so here's our family's message to all of you...

Sister Moss has received this same message!

Learning My New Area

This week has been a super fast but slow week. i cant believe its already Monday again but slow because I'm learning a new area where i don't know anything and it's difficult!!! but I'm doing GREAT!! 

Matão is so beautiful!! so many green trees and pretty flowers and soccer fields on every corner!! right now in the mission (6 months) is when normally Americans finally "get" the language and it's pretty much true, it's still difficult to understand everything but it's is so so so much better now!!  i still have a long way to go but i am so happy where i am at!! if anyone who speaks (Brazil) Portuguese i would love advice to learn congerações much faster this is my one thing i struggle with most!! 

this week we have been looking for the less active members because there are so many, the ward here has about 300 people but only about 60 come to church each week! crazy right, so us missionaries are going to be focusing on the members a lot to help strengthen the ward.. 

my new companion, she is great. she is super funny! i have learned that she loves to bite people and is the only girl in her family, she didn't really want to serve a mission but she felt she needed to so she is here.. she is 21 and has about 4 months left in the mission, i live with 3 sisters that are all trunky one is Sister Poulsen she is the most trunky because she only has 5 weeks left:( :) and then Sister Dias and Sister Diniz have the same amount of time. its pretty funny!! 

oh on the way to church the bishop stopped us in the road and asked me (30 minutes) before church started to give a 10 minute talk... my heart dropped. i had no time to plan and write what i wanted to say i was close to saying no because i am not comfortable with my Portuguese enough to do this but i didn't. i said yes i would, he smiled then left me to panic about this!! hahah we arrived in church and i looked for scriptures and i started thinking about about what to say and i was kind of freaking out, but he got up to conduct the meeting and he didn't announce my name to talk, he had decided to speak himself... oh my heart was so happy!!! but at the same time i was sad i didn't get the chance to speak. weird right.. i was sad i didn't need to but more than excited too!! 

But i love you all so much and miss you all everyday!! have a great week!! 

com todo meu coração 

 

Eu Amo Você <3

 

Sister Moss

 

 

Yes, I was Transferred

yes i was transfered and it was super sad to be leaving El Dorado, but it's a good thing to!!!

 

i am now in Matâo! i do know one sister here SISTER POULSEN!!!! hahhah i am so excited, my new companion is sister Diniz she is Brazilian and that's all i know other than she was companions with Sister Munson too! hahah i receive all Sister Munson's companions!

 

Yesterday we had a family home evening with A and E (recent converts) i love them, at the end they wanted to give a speech about me and it was super sweet then they wanted me to say something and you know me a big baby i cried but so did everyone else there - other members and missionaries, it was sweet and i will miss them so much! i am glad A has posted pictures!! 

 

i have been on the bus all day... we left Rio Preto at 7am and arrived in RB at 11 then waited for an hour there for another bus to (another city i cant spell) arrived there at 2:30 then waited until 4 for our last bus to Matâo which was another hour away!!! very long day on the buses!!! so today all i had planned was to sit on the bus!

 

i am glad you got my letters. i love to send them. it's fun <3

 

i love you all so much and i am looking forward to a new week in a new area! by the way everyone i talk to about Matâo says i will die here because so so so so so many hills we walk!! i hope to lose more weight!

 

have a great week everyone <3

 

Sister Moss