Feelin' Good!

 Boa noite!  

I wanted to give an update quickly on the last couple weeks here in Tijuca in the Marvelous Rio de Janeiro North Mission! 

As I wrote in my last email, we were working really hard with our friend Pedro to be able to perform his baptism.  Thankfully he was able to overcome all of his trials and addictions to be able to be baptized as a member of the church of Jesus Christ.  The baptism was very special, and it was the first time that Elder Ebberts got to enter the water and baptize someone!  It was really special, and Pedro even invited his family to come at watch as well.  After the baptism we had a small breakfast before our sacrament meeting started and he came up to me and said, in English mind you, "I'm feeling calm, I'm feelin' good."  I smiled really big to him and said, "Just wait until you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Officially he is a member of the true church of Christ, and he has been having some amazing spiritual experiences post baptism.  It really is quite satisfying to see!! He's going to be receiving the priesthood this week!  

We had the amazing privilege on the 25th of May to receive Elder Brent T. Nielson of the Presidency of the 70 to our mission.  I am so blessed to have had so many opportunities to learn and grow from hearing general authorities!  It's been a blessed mission to have received many members of the 70 and two apostles.  

In this meeting, Elder Nielson told us about BECOMING disciples.  He related it to the story of the Anti Nephi Lehites in the Book of Mórmon.  For those who would like to revise the story, it's in Alma 24.  In order to BECOME, they left behind their weapons of war.  They couldn't expect God to truly let them BECOME if they were always lifting their swords up high.  He then asked us, "What are our swords?"  Or in the story where Jesus Christ asks Peter, "lovest thou me more than these?" And then refers to fish.  I mean, I hope that we would all choose Jesus Christ over dead fish.  But what did the fish represent to Peter?  It was his career.  It was his Old Life.  So he needed to give up some things, but that's what helped him truly become the amazing disciple that he was.  

Today was our P day because we went to the temple.  It was my last time that I could be in the Rio temple on my mission. It was a very sacred experience to be sitting in the Celestial room as I remembered working so hard for the temple open house, and here were a group of over 20 missionaries doing the work for their ancestors in those hallowed walls.  I listened to a talk by President Monson this week about temple and if you have one close, GO! Go as often as possible, and even sacrifice to be able to go.  The blessings are real.  

In Tijuca the ward has been able to grow and has been becoming more self-sufficient.  We have been able to take a lot of members on lessons with us!  That's worked really well, especially when we got to know Natacha.  She was a media referral who we tried contacting over 4 times and it wasn't until the 4th time that we finally got in contact.  Through this one contact we have taught her, her 3 kids and 2 friends of her kids.  3 of them even came to church on Sunday.  She was super excited to help us with anything, and thought our message would be very good for youth, so she invited us back tomorrow to teach all the friends of her children!  It's been a giant blessing to teach them.  

In terms on the area, we are working hard and I'm working to help Elder Ebberts get to know the area so he can lead it out next transfer.  I have been working hard and studying and seeing the Lord's hand every day!  I will be returning home on the 24th of this month!  But for now, the restoration continues, let us continue in it!  

Elder Moss

RJ, Brasil