The Month where Everything Changed

Hey all!  

I know, there may be some people who are wondering if I have deleted you off of my blog list based on the fact that I haven't sent an email here in a long time.  But!  That is only because the last month has been completely busy and I´ve been swamped by everything that has been happening.  It's sad because there is probably going to be a lot of smaller details that will be lost in this email, but if you have questions or want to know more, just send me a follow-up email!

Okay, so first thing is first!  We have finished the Temple Open House here in Rio de Janerio!  Such a bittersweet moment, because it means we have lost this amazing tool of bringing people off the street into the doors of the temple, but at the same time, I appreciate the time to actually work in my area and get a full night's sleep.  The final week we were working at the temple practically every single day.  It seems like just when we finished our planning, our stake or mission president would send us a text that would flip everything upside down.  But we did everything from serving at the temple, to going on buses with touristic adults, to high school students.  And the thing I loved was just seeing peoples reactions.  

One of the hard realizations about the mission work is the fact that not everyone is ready for the message.  That everyone's heart isn't all in the place to accept the gospel, or they just reject it.  However, the statistics, and the faith in God both say that with enough contacting, eventually the Lord will provide a way with his Chosen.  So out of day with 50 contacts, we will have 10 who are interested, and another 3 that will fulfill invites, and then 1 or 2 baptisms.  

But the beauty of the temple was we were consistently bringing in groups of 46-50 people every time.  So I could see the people in the group that were always super touched.  That were prepared by the Lord to enter the temple. The people that asked super good questions and picked up and started reading a Book of Mormon at the end of the tour. That was a huge blessing.  Every group we took, I always saw those people.  They may have been small, but as we worked, I saw the prophecy of Nephi being fulfilled in the Book of Mormon.  

1 Nephi 14:12-14

12 And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth;...14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

As we ended the open house of the temple, we began to start the end of the transfer.  It was so fun to be in a normal missionary situation again with Elder Johnson.  We began to really hit the ground running after that, contacting a lot of people who went to the temple and enjoyed it.  And then we went on a short exchange and I went to Niteroi, and then we got the transfer call....

So I was transferred, I've been here in my new area for about four days now.  I got transferred to the area Jardim Botanico, which basically encompasses two gigantic favelas, and Copacabana and Ipanema beach.  So I'm literally street contacting on the street across from the world famous Copacabana beach!  I was called to serve as the Assistant to the President in the mission here with my new companion, Elder Oliveria, who has been an Assistant since January.  I'm really excited to work with him.  Being an assistant means I have got a lot of stuff added to my plate, but I'm excited for the challenge and praying to Heavenly Father every single day for the strength and intelligence to plan everything I need to plan.  But I love the areas, and there is sooooo much to do.  

But before the transfer happened, we had our smattering of meetings!  First was on Saturday at the chapel across from the temple.  There was our mission and two others in attendance.  You know who else!  Elder Stevenson of the Quorum of the 12 and Elder Carlos Godoy of the 70!!!  Woah!!!  It was so cool to hear Elder Godoy speak in his native language to us.  He talked a lot about being unenthused and having a hard time with the work here.  It spoke very clearly to me, because I have heard a lot of the same problems that he addressed his talk.  But he also talked about the amazing opportunity we have to change all the problems, and we can change our thoughts and mentalities about the work.  It was really powerful, and everyone left being quite excited.  

Then Elder Stevenson! He did a training really about the power of teaching in shorter times, but teaching more often.  He did it with an example on the restoration that was perfect.  I mean, if you have never been taught Lesson 1: The Restoration of the Gospel by a literal apostle of the Lord, let me tell ya, you are missing out.  It was very powerful at the end to hear his promise.  He gave an apostolic promise in the name of Jesus Christ, that any kind of burden, anxiety or problem that we have, would be lighter.  It wouldn't be lifted, but it would be lighter and we would have more capacity to bear it.  It was exactly what I needed to hear.  

Sunday was the temple dedication!  It was a unique Sunday, where I didn't have to try and get everyone to church, and rather it was just me and Elder Johnson. The ceremony was lovely and Elder Stevenson did the dedicatory prayer which was so special. The part that really struck me was the end, when we sang, "The Spirit of God" all together.  For those who don't know, this was the same hymn that was sung at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple (1st) and the Salt Lake Temple.  It was a symbol of the connection to our pioneer ancestors and the idea and promise that the spirit of god will reside in the house!!!  I can't wait to go inside again!!!  

Sunday night we had a family night, where we talked about mothers and celebrated mothers day, and the spirit was so strong.  It turned out in the worst way on a missionary standpoint.  Only one person we invited showed up, only members from the other ward, and it wasn't a big turnout and the plan completely fell through.  We had a big family night planned with games and all that, but as we saw a smaller group come in with a different feeling, I had a prompting that we should change it.  And that we did, and I'm grateful for my mother.  I'm grateful for the example that she is to me, and how she taught me the great example of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm grateful for my grandmother, and for all the mother figures.  And for my Heavenly Mother!

Monday was our leadership council at the house of president!  It was so much more animated and excitable than the last two that I visited.  I loved being with all the leaders of the mission and feel their spirit.  

In other news, my trainer here in Brazil, Elder MacDonald is staying at our house, and he was prepping for his flight home yesterday, when he tested positive for Covid 3 times.  So....me and Elder Oliveria were out getting lunch when we got the text that we have to come home or to the mission office, one or the other until further notice.  So now we are in quarantine in the mission office, mission home, or our house.  But Elder MacDonald had everything pushed back!  I feel so bad for him. He's going to get another test here on Monday and hopefully can get home soon.  I'm praying for him. 

 

That's basically been my week in a nutshell.  I have a lot more of specific things about the new area that I will be more faithful in writing next week  Thank you for all the love and support!  I hope you can all be the light of Christ wherever you are in the world!!  

Elder Moss