starting again in Macaçéu

Bom dia!  Yes, it has been quite a while since I have written, and there have been a lot of changes!  I'm quite excited to update you all on what has been going on here in the Maravilhosa Mission.  

So first off was transfers, and for the first time in 9 months, I packed up my bags oficially and went off to a new area.  It was very releiving and sad to leave Jardim Botanico all at the same time.  Because I spent so much time there, I did get really connected with all of the amazing ward members and the people that we were teaching.  I would say that area held the most growth for me as a missionary and as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Also I had to say goodbye to my very good friend Elder Reis, who I had been with for the last 6 months.   I thank my stars that I had the time to serve there to be able to help plenty of people learn more about Jesus Christ and get to know such an iconic part of Rio de Janerio.  

So when transfer news came, it seems that I was sent to the opposite side of the mission to explore the more calm part of the mission.  I am here in the Macae Zone!  I'm literally based in the city of Macae, and me and my new companion Elder Luke are helping to head up the wonderful zone of missionaries here.  It's gonna be a party.  This is the dream zone for a lot of the missionaries here, and so every day I am seeing more and more of why that is.  So, let me tell you about these last few weeks!   

Alright, so first things first, we had our Zone Council on the first monday that we got here.  It's a more informal meeting where we set up trainings and get the zone hyped up for the rest of the transfer.  Me and Elder Luke had this great idea to have our zone feel like a relay race of the gospel.  Like, the baton gets passed from Jesus Christ, to the prophets and apostles, and then finally to us.  We created like a literal relay race in cultural hall, and then had some of the missionaries run through it.  Let's say that the practice ended with an Elder having an accident, resulting in 3 stiches in his head.  But at least we can thank Elder Galbraith for making this a Zone Council that no one will forget in their entire missions.  

After that, we went to the streets, which was a diffucult move because Elder Luke informed me that the area had one person who they were teaching.  Before this transfer it was one big area, but then it split and left us with the half that they never worked on.  So off we went with faith!  

BOOM!  First contact is a guy in front of the chapel who wants to know about family history, and he was waiting in front of the locked chapel for who knows how long to get to know someone.  Miracle!  He then brought his wife to english class and church, and we taught then the plan of Salvation on a chalkboard.  

After that me and Elder Luke worked and worked and worked.  It was one of the most exhausting weeks of my mission, but I felt very satisfied at the end of each day.  Now after 2 weeks, we have a solid teaching group and some amazing miracles that I will continue to share.

BOOM 

A drunk man stops us in the street and calls out "The Mormons" and because we don't have anyone to visit, we got his address and visited him.  It turns out he is the nephew of a ward member in the neighborhing ward and he already went to the Rio temple open house.  He accepted a baptism date, is studying the Book of Mormon, and has stopped drinking and now we are helping him to stop smoking!!  Pray for Leonardo!  

I finally had an exchange with Elder Serafim!!  I've been waiting 11 months to work with him.  They were tireful days, full of more miracles!!  We marked a baptismal date and spent the whole day with members!!  It was one of the funnest exhanges of my whole mission, and I can't wait to go back.    

Two days ago we went out to a members house to pick up some lunch money, and he had his housemate who was there also.  We marked a lesson and went to meet Moses!  Yes, his name is Moses.  We taught him about the Restoration of the Gospel, and when we got to the part of the first vision of Joseph Smith, I felt like I should ask him to close his eyes and imagine what was happening as I said the words.  I recounted the words of the prophet Joseph, and as he opened his eyes, I showed him the image that we have in the pamphlet.  His eyes got wide and he said "That's exactly what I had in my mind.  This exact image."  He said that he felt a manifestation of the spirit in that moment testifying that what we said was true.  We immediately invited him to baptism, and he accepted for the 18th of Feburary.  Please keep Moses in your prayers as well.  

 The ward members here in Macae are the best members I have ever seen. They are so proactive and helpful in everything, and we have seen so many blessings as we have involved them in our work.  I am overcome to see the blessings that have been manifested here in the last two weeks.  

Now for a spiritual thought.  Over the last 10 months I have challenged myself to listen to every single General Conference address of President Russell M. Nelson, from 1984 to present day.  It was something that I started as a general interest, but it quickly grew into an obessions to listen to while getting ready for the day, or to sleep.  As I listened to his words, I could see how the Lord was preparing him to be His servant.  I could also see how the world was preparing for the time that President Nelson would be the person needed to lead the church in our time.  I can testify with all my heart that President Nelson is and was divinely chosen for this time, for us, for the church at this period.  He is the Lords prophet.  He is a prophet, seer, and revelator.  If we follow his words, I know that we will be blessed.  Please, follow his words.  As we do, we will follow the will of Christ.  

I would like to end this email with some of his words.  I look forward to the time in April when we can receive the revelation we are needing.  I hope we can all be spiritually prepared for that moment.  But untiil then, I would invite you to think about this apostolic promise that has been bestowed upon us.  

"I call upon you, my dear brothers and sisters, to become this righteous people. Cherish and honor your covenants above all other commitments. As you let God prevail in your life, I promise you greater peace, confidence, joy, and yes, rest. With the power of the holy apostleship vested in me, I bless you in your quest to overcome this world. I bless you to increase your faith in Jesus Christ and learn better how to draw upon His power. I bless you to be able to discern truth from error. I bless you to care more about the things of God than the things of this world. I bless you to see the needs of those around you and strengthen those you love. Because Jesus Christ overcame this world, you can too. I so testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I love you all!  I love my Lord and Savior and His Church!!  

Elder Moss

RJ-Brasil