Monday, August 11, 2014

New Area, new experiences

Hola!!
 
I'm glad that you guys had a great week! Sounds like everything went well. Sorry to hear about the tournament results, but that's okay. There's always more chances and maybe some other teams needed a chance to win. ;) haha just go kick butt at the Strikers Cup!! 
 
That sounds like it was a super cool combined activity this last week. Those kinds of adventures will definitely give you some great teaching topics and experiences. Haha that's super cool.
 
This week was pretty crazy. On Wednesday we were able to move into our apartment in Wauchula, however there was no electricity until the night. And we didn't get the refrigerator working until Friday. :) it was good though. It's a nice apartment. Some members own it and they haven't rented it out in forever because people just kept ruining it, but they rented it out for us. It is super small, probably the smallest apartment in the mission. We have a kitchen and a bedroom. We study in the kitchen. It's fun. :) haha so far I love it here! The people are amazing! It is super small. There is literally nothing. There is, however, a walmart, which is crazy. Haha that is by far the biggest thing around. It's been fun. :) we ride our bikes around. We also cover Bowling Green and Zolfo Springs which are cities right around us. They are even smaller than Wauchula. Haha there are a lot of Hispanics around and a lot of Rednecks. And I don't find saying that offensive because they keep calling themselves that. Haha I'm probably going to come home saying y'all. :P Right now all of the major branch positions are filled. Some presidencies don't have callings, but we aren't in any of those positions. Right now we are kind of "extended counselors" for the branch president. We basically help him and his counselors reach out a little more. And we teach gospel principles and translate and some other stuff. :P  it's been fun. Oh yeah, it is an English branch, with Spanish translation. It used to be an only Spanish branch, but there were English people who were inactive because the closest English branch is 30 miles away. So they combined it. It's about 50/50 so that is good. :) right now it is me and Elder Jaime and there is a set of sisters as well. Hermana Lauricella has been here since October and Sister Yoshikawa has been here for about a month. They are getting transferred this transfer, well, Hermana Lauricella is going home and Sister Yoshikawa is getting transferred. So we are white washing, but we get to work together for a couple weeks so they can pass stuff off to us. It has actually been really nice not having to start from scratch completely. It's been good. We do not have a branch mission leader though, so we are working with President Parker on that. There are only 2 high priests in the branch. President Parker and his clerk, Brother Cash, because Brother Cash has been a Branch President and Bishop before. The Priesthood definitely needs some help, but so far things are going well. :) also, I am back in the Sarasota zone. Haha so if I am here for Stake Conference I will get to see everybody from Bradenton again! That would be awesome!! So that is basically the update for the area. :)
 
:) I did get my package. Thank you!! I love the plaque. It is on my desk. :) that's a really good quote. 
 
Spiritual experience is probably this new investigator that we found. He is Catholic, but hasn't been baptized and believes some things different than the Catholics do. Well, those differences are the things that make us different than the Catholic Church. So that has been awesome!! He believes in baptizing people who aren't infants because as a baby you don't know what you are doing, nor are you prepared for it. So we told him that's what we do. Haha things like that. It has been really good and we have already taught him several times. Hopefully things keep going well!!
 
The scripture this week is going to be from the talk that you sent me! Haha it is Joshua 14: 11-12. I love these scriptures. Sometimes, life sucks. Let's be honest, it sucks, and things can be almost unbearable. But it is possible to get through every single one of our trials because God is with us. If you read in the scriptures almost everything is very drastic. Moving mountains, parting seas, fire coming down, angels appearing, God and Jesus Christ visiting the people. Why don't we see that as often as we read it? We have these extreme examples in the scriptures to show us what God can do. But why would that be necessary all the time? We know what he can do, but he doesn't need to always do that. If He can do those extreme things, then He can obviously do the little things as well. He understands perfectly what we are going through and He knows what is going to help us learn and grow. So why should we fear when another trial is upon us? Has God not proven to us numerous times that He knows best and He will take care of us? "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for The Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1: 9) He is your Father. He will never leave you. So take heart! Bring on the challenges! He will get us through them, and they will benefit us more than they will discourage us. 
 
Have an amazing week! I love you all so much!! Keep working hard and God will provide. 
 
Love,
Elder Moyes 

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