The Final Season

 So, it's crazy to write the title of this email and to inform you all that I have started my last transfer here on my mission.  The time has flown in a way I never thought possible but I'm doing my best to enjoy and take advantage of every minute of the time that I have!  

During these last two weeks we were able to see a lot of small blessings that came from our desire to really work in a lot of different areas!  Me and Elder Ebberts have had a lot of conversations about good work, and how we can be constantly focused on our missionary purposes!  Because of that, we have been working with less active members, recent converts and trying to have lessons with members participating.  It seems that every time we have focused on a new person, that person has made steps to come closer to Jesus Christ and his gospel!  Even if it's small steps, they are steps nonetheless.  

However this last Sunday our friend Margareth did a big step to enter the waters of baptism!!  She is an amazing woman, and she has a LOT of faith.  Like, if I were to sit down and describe all of the hardships and trials that she has been through, your heart would become very heavy.  But during all of these trials, she didn't become bitter.  She didn't feel like God didn't love her, but she instead recognized that the reason she was standing and being able to function was because of God.  We sent her a talk from this most recent conference that talks about The Fourth Day!  It talks about how Jesus Christ waited until the 4th day to resurrect Lazarus, and that this is a sign that at times we need to wait until our 4th day.  She loved the talk and said that she will continue to wait until her Fourth day!  But yesterday was so special and she cried a lot when she received the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  I was very happy because now I know that she will have a constant companion for when she needs it.  

We also had a cool little miracle this last week as we were doing weekly planning in the park.  A random man came up to us and asked if we were 7th Day Adventists (it's really common here because the names in Portuguese are similar).  We responded with the name of the church and he said "Oh I have your video here!"  He showed us his phone and his screen was on one of the Church YouTube Videos.  He proceeded to explain that he lived 48 years of his life without believing in God, and only believing in science and logic.  But he said that as he watched one of our church's Bible videos, he felt something he had never felt before and then gained a testimony that God exists.  From ONE VIDEO!!  He said he came to thank us for the video and for his conversion.  He thanked us for helping him convert him!  It was very special, and we marked to talk with him more this week!  We are very excited!  

I have been really happy with the progress of Elder Ebberts!  It's cool how we return back to members houses and they are already commenting how he is speaking better and being more open!  We've been doing some practices, but he's getting better with his Portuguese!  Also I've made the goal to only speak in Portuguese with him during proselytizing hours.  It's been going well I would say! 

This last P day, I got to see my good friend Elder Reis finish his mission.  It was a fun moment to go out to lunch with him and with two of our recent converts from Jardim Botanico, Natasha and Arthur.  It was weird to see him go after being companions with him for such a long time, but I was also happy for the next step in his life! 

In other news, we are working with Pedro for his baptism this Sunday! We had a lot of our recent converts come to church this last Sunday, and we are working to help the 2 sons of Carolina and Margareth to progress and be baptized! There are miracles that happen every single day! Don't forget to thank God for every single one of them! 

I wanted to leave this email with a quote from "After the Fourth Day" by Elder Bassett in the April 2023 conference! 

"Sometimes it may seem like He doesn’t come to us until the figurative fourth day, after all hope seems lost. But why so late? President Thomas S. Monson taught, “Our Heavenly Father, who gives us so much to delight in, also knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass.”

I testify the truth of that statement!! 

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers.  They are felt and recognized! 

Elder Moss

RJ, Brasil