Monday, December 16, 2013

Last Hola From Texas!

Hola from Texas for the last time! (:
          This week was super crazy busy and flew by! I hope you all had a great week like I did!! We didn't do much except teach and visit people all day long...which I do every day! (: So it was a great week! We had a branch Christmas party on Saturday and so many people came! We also found out that we have more youth in our branch than most of the wards and are starting to form a youth program which is amazing!! I'm really going to miss this little branch and everyone that I have met here, but I'm so excited to leave for Argentina finally!
          I don't know if anyone will get this...but this is my joke for the day. In the movie Santa Clause 2 when they say "The santa-fication process has begun!" I decided that when someone is baptized and they receive the gift of the Holy Ghost it's like "The sanctification process has begun!"...I think it's funny and I'm sure Daddy will laugh too (; haha
          Well, I had two exchanges last week and took over the area, found a lot of new people to teach, and learned a lot of new words in Spanish. Other than that, I am now trying to pack everything and get ready for a long trip on Wednesday. Thank you everyone who has written me or sent packages while I have been here. Thank you for the prayers, I feel them every day! Love you all so much and can't wait to write y'all next week from a different side of the world! Have a great week and always look for the little blessings the Lord gives us each and every day! Have a Merry Christmas and try to give back to the Savior for the gift of eternal life and salvation He has given us<3

Hermana Moberly


Monday, December 9, 2013

Hola! Visa Came Through!

Hola everyone!!!
          Sorry I didn't get to write home last week! I went to the temple and the library was closing in 30 minutes when we came in. But the last two weeks have been so great!! Thanksgiving was amazing and we spent it with two families in the branch! We had no more miles to use the car so biked everywhere for a whole week and we have a HUGE area so it was a little hard. Lots of fun memories though (:
          In church I had to translate and then teach Gospel Principles which was really scary! And my birthday was so awesome! Best birthday ever!! Two other youth in the branch had the same birthday so we went over for cake and they gave me some lotion! And biggest news of all......IM GOING TO ARGENTINA on December 18th! Which is really soon and I'm pretty nervous, but I know it's where the Lord needs me right now and I can't wait to go! I'll get to spend a little less than a year there but am sure will fall in love with that mission just like I have with this one in Texas! Sometimes we don't know why things happen for a reason but I know the Lord always has a hand in our lives. I know that we matter to Him and that He is always listening to us and waiting to answer us too.
          I hope you all had a really great Thanksgiving and were able to remember all of the great blessings Heavenly Father has given us. This last week we have been asking our investigators what gift they could give Christ for Christmas. He has asked us that if we love Him, to keep His commandments. We are all imperfect, which means He wants us to change and continuously try to become better. What will you change in your life to show God you love Him? I am going to try and submit my will to His because I know He always knows better than me.
          I love you all so much and hope you have a great week! Can't wait to email y'all one more time from here in Texas before I leave for Rosario! Have a great week!<3

Hermana Moberly

P.S. Thanks to everyone for all the presents, letters, and packages! I loved them so much and was super happy on my birthday! Also, happy birthday to Kennedi<3  And Hi Justin (:


 

Monday, November 25, 2013

Lake Jackson, TX...Six Months Out and Happy Thanksgiving!

Hola (:

Well, I hit my 6 month mark a few days ago, and am still in shock about how fast time flies here! This last week has been SO cold! Who knew Texas dropped below 70 degrees (; Well, this week I had an exchange with a girl who actually is from Oakhurst, California and I told her we go to that ward all the time when we visit Bass Lake! Crazy, small world! But we had a great time, and I couldn't remember where anyone lived since I just got here. I would have been frustrated and upset because we didn't get to see anyone and it was my fault, but she was so sweet and reminded me to stay positive! (: We just rode bikes up and down the streets talking to everyone we saw for 4 hours, and met some really cool people who really need the gospel in their lives. We also stopped by a home where 2 boys are members but stopped going to church, and the younger sister was never baptized. We read her the scripture in John 3:5 that says we must be born of the water and the spirit to enter into the kingdom of God, and right after she asked us if she could be baptized! (: So her date is December 14th! Also, here in Lake Jackson they have a Festival of Lights every year and so now all the lights are decorated with Christmas lights and it finally feels like Christmas! (: It also helps that it's only 40 degrees.

So, spiritual thought for today is on repentance. In Alma 36 Alma talks about how horrible he felt when he sinned, but compares it to the joy he felt when he repented and changed. He says for 3 days and 3 nights he was racked with torment and then he finally went to the Lord for help and forgiveness. It's the exact same with us. How many of us have experienced the same torment Alma expressed when we sin and disobey God, but how great does it feel when we are forgiven and our sins are remembered no more? Sometimes I think we put off going to the Lord and we willingly stay in torment for 3 days, 3 months, 3 years, whatever it may be. But I know that as soon as we go to the Lord, He has the healing power to give us peace. So don't put off repentance. It is a blessing we have been given, and I know that it works. The Savior is the only one who can save us from sin. One sin, and we can no longer live with Heavenly Father again. I know peace and joy come from repentance! I re-learned this last week at a zone meeting and wanted to share it with you (: Hope you all have a great week, and Thanksgiving! I love you so much and am thankful for your letters, prayers, and examples<3 Don't forget to show your gratitude for Heavenly Father and for the blessings He has given you either!

Hermana Moberly (:
 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Lake Jackson, Nov 18, 2013 6 Months Out


November 18, 2013

Hola todos! <3

         I feel like I just wrote an email...this week flew by! But it was a great and busy one, which are the best (: I was chased by an evil Chihuahua all the way down the street and thought I was doomed. Haha I wish I got a video of it because now it's funny and I'm sure I looked ridiculous (: But we also began teaching English classes and had one student which was one more than we had in my last area!!

Sunday was the best day of the week and we had Branch Conference and had 4 investigators come to church!! Then afterwards, Sorena (15) was baptized. I only got to teach her a few times, but we are already super good friends! Her dad was baptized 3 weeks ago and got to baptize her too!! She was so happy which make everything out here worth it!

Oh! And Friday we had zone conference which is always the best!! I was reminded of how important it is to always do the Lord's will before our own. A lot of the time we think we know best and we forget that we have an All-Knowing Father who really knows better than anyone else. He is always listening and watching out for us, but a lot of the time we forget to include Him in our lives. But remember that He will always have the answers and even when His answers seem scary or impossible, remember that nothing is impossible with God and that He will always know better than ourselves.

There is a ton of work to do down here in Lake Jackson, but every day I come home ready for bed and at least I know I worked my hardest. It's like when Jesus fed the 5,000 and afterwards there were 12 baskets left. When we empty our baskets each day, the next morning when we wake up, there will always be a full basket waiting for us. We don't have to do anything but our best each day, and the Lord will always provide blessings or the ability and strength to get up the next day and do the same again. I hope you all have a great week and know I love and pray for you! Stay faithful and choose the right<3

 
Hermana Moberly

 

 

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Lake Jackson, TX November 2013 **New Address**

Hola todos!!
          
        Well, now I am in Lake Jackson, Texas....no idea where that is on the map! But these last few days have definitely been adventurous! We had transfer meeting on Wednesday and then we were about to leave and Hermana Parra (my new companion from Mexico City) asked me if I could drive. Since I am a visa waiter, I was not allowed to drive, but her license is from Mexico so she can't drive either! So we were in the mission office for 2 hours trying to find my driving record online and then I finally got approval to drive home. We have a Jeep Compass and it's so much fun!! I get to drive everywhere and I love it! (:

My area is called Brazoria North and we have SO much work to do here. Our branch is really small and we need to help build it up as much as we can. I was asked to bear my testimony in church Sunday as well so at least my Spanish is growing too! I love Spanish and am so happy I wasn't called English speaking like I wanted.

Well, Hermano Martinez was baptized last Thursday and it was amazing! He was so happy and they actually had to do it 3 times to make sure it was perfect. After he told us, "Not 1 time, but 3 times! I'm extra clean now!" Haha he's so great! He will receive the priesthood in a few weeks and wants to go to the temple as soon as possible too.

I went to Kemah/Galveston on an exchange on Friday! (: It's really nice down there, a lot like California...minus there are no mountains! But it was fun. But I'm doing great and love my new area and the people here! I know that as I work with all my heart and be obedient, the Lord will use us as His insturments in helping others come unto Him. there is only faith in the future. Love you all so much and hope you have a great week<3

Con amor, Hermana Moberly

New address:
Hermana Moberly
110 Lake Road #612  
Lake Jackson, TX 77566

Monday, November 4, 2013

Transferring, but Staying in Texas Houston South for Now

Hola Everyone! (:

Hope you all had a great week! I had the longest and hardest week of my mission (maybe even my life) so far! But it turned out better and now it's a new week!! (: Hermano Martinez is still going to get baptized this Saturday and Hna. Kennedy and I get to sing "Nearer My God to Thee". We tried to visit formers (people who have been taught before but are now not meeting with missionaries) but NO ONE was home!! We spent most of the week driving all over our area trying to visit people or find news, but no luck. And now I'm getting transferred this week and will get a new companion and new area! But I really feel like I did all I needed to here.

Halloween was pretty fun. We weren't allowed to be outside the house after 7PM so we came home and played Old Maid with Disney cards that the Edwards family sent me (: Thanks! And we made pumpkin empanadas for the ladies in our ward. So I'm glad this week is over, but we were still able to help a lot of people.

Funny story of the week: we met a new family and hna. Kennedy asked the woman how many months she had of being pregnant....but she wasn't pregnant! She had had her baby 10 months before but she really looked pregnant! haha We laughed for so long after we left that appointment!

Hno Martinez played a joke on us this week that was soooo mean!!!! He called us Thursday and said "we need to have a meeting. Just me and you two. It’s all too fast!" and he wouldn't tell us anything else so the rest of the day we were so sad and trying to figure out how we can help him and it was just a really hard and depressing day!!! So then we went over Friday to talk to him and he told us, "Okay all I wanted to talk about is which day I’m going to be baptized because I could do it Saturday, but what about Friday or even Thursday!?" Then he laughed and asked us what we thought when he called us yesterday! He ruined our whole day!!! Goodness! That man is the center of my world right now and we had a huge weight on our shoulders trying to help him haha but he did it on purpose!! So Mean!!

Other than that, nothing is new! I've been thinking about something I heard at a zone conference a few weeks ago, where if you are living a worthy and righteous life, our first thoughts always come from the Lord but the second thoughts are always from Satan. So I have been trying really hard to just act on those first impressions this week. It is so easy to have a thought to visit someone and then quickly after wonder if they are home, if they are busy, etc. So go throughout this week and don't give into those second impressions when the first ones we receive are always from Heavenly Father! Love you all and hope you have a great week!! Pray for me and my future companion...haha (:

Hermana Moberly

 

Monday, October 28, 2013

Hola Mis Amigos, Missouri City October 2013

Hola mis amigos!!!

This week was sooo fast!! I don't know what happened to time...But I was so busy this week that I can't remember much that happened! So I'll just tell you a few highlights.

Monday: P-day was so great and relaxing! We carved a pumpkin and named him Bart the bat (: Then we used the pumpkin guts to make pumpkin empanadas and they were sooo good!! We also played hot lava tag at the park with our district on the jungle gym and couldn't touch the floor. Hermana Kennedy and I hurt so bad the next two days it was so hard to get out of bed...

Tuesday: We had a dinner with Los Martinez and another family who recently came back to church and it was awesome! Hermano Martinez really grew a lot from hearing about the man's change of heart in order to come back to church.

Wednesday: We contacted two people who used to take the lessons and we are going to start teaching them again this week! Hermano Martinez also told us he knows the church is true and he loves the Book of Mormon!!!!!

Thursday: We finally saw Rosalba again and she still wants to be baptized but her boyfriend won't let her. She asked us questions about how to understand the spirit and we shared scriptures with her. It was such a great lesson!

Saturday: We went to a baptism for the other sisters with Los Martinez and on the way home, hermano was reading scriptures on his phone. (: His favorite hymn is "Nearer My God to Thee" which is mine too, and so at the baptism, I played that song during the intermission part and made him cry (:

Sunday: Hermano Rivas came to church and then we taught him with the bishop later that night and he wants to learn more (:

So it was a really great week!! I hope you all had a great one too and were able to see the Lord's hand in your life. He is always there by our side, even when we may feel alone. Don't lose faith! Where there is fear, there is no faith! Remember to say your prayers personally AND with your families (: Love you all so much!! Thanks for your prayers, I can feel them everyday<3

Con Mucho Amor,

Hermana Moberly

                                                       Missouri City District PDay 10-21-13
                                                                        
Cory and Hermana Kennedy PDay 10-21-13

Monday, October 21, 2013

Hola Todos, Missouri City October 2013

Hola mis amigos! (:
            Another great week!! I've been out for 5 months and time is flying by!! ): The work here finally started moving forward again and we had a lot of success with the goals we set this week! We had a lesson with Hermano Martinez this week and he prayed out loud with us for the first time!!! His wife wasn't with us, and that's why he did it. He has a lot of pride and is afraid to show his wife that he knows it is all true, but we are working on that (: Then we saw him again later this week and he told us, "You know, I was thinking. What have I got to lose by being baptized and married in the temple? They are good things and will help me become closer to God." That was his hint to his wife that he wants to be baptized, haha he is so funny. But he is progressing so much and went to a stake activity on Saturday then to church on Sunday!! They drove us to the Saturday activity and he was so worried that we wouldn't get back to the house on time and didn't want us to get in trouble so there may or may have not been one time he sped on the freeway to get around a slow car and went 90 MPH.....haha maybe I shouldn't have told Mom this (: But he is a crazy 60 year old man and I love him!!
            We are also teaching another hermano whose wife is the Young Women's leader and his stepson is Jose (the one going on his mission). He came to church yesterday too!! Okay, one more awesome miracle we saw this week! There is a single mom in the ward who has been praying so hard to find people for us to teach. One night she remembered there was a less active in our area whose husband isn't a member, but she couldn't remember her name. She was praying so hard to remember her name and then went to Walgreen's and found the lady! It was amazing and she called us, crying, to tell us to go over and visit them. So a lot of miracles happened this week to help us remember to never lose faith and continue to work hard. We will have a lot of new investigators this next week and are so excited to be teaching more again! (: Prayer is so real and we can literally ask our Heavenly Father anything, and He will always answer us.
             My scripture theme for this week is Mosiah 28:3 "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thought that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble." Keep being good missionaries and help the Lord find His lost sheep. They are out there and we can help them! I love you and hope you have an amazing week!! Keep smiling<3

 Love,

Hermana Moberly
Cooler weather...finally, windows down in the car!

Splits with Sister Steenblik

Always interesting Texas!
 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Missouri City, October 14, 2013


Hola Y’all!! (:

What a week! It was pretty rough but we were able to meet our goals and do a lot with the members in our area. So unfortunately, all of our investigators but 4 have decided to take a break and they don't want to do anything!! But this week we decided to work with the members to re-gain their trust and serve them like crazy. We also got a list of all the members from the English ward in our area and went to visit a lot of them and asked them if they knew anyone who spoke Spanish or had any Hispanic neighbors because we are desperate! We only have a little section of Hispanics in our area so we don't have very much to work with. But we were able to find three people and are going to teach them this week! So this week should be a lot better with teaching and finding news. Hermana Kennedy and I knew that we would have some type of trial since it was too good to be true that we were still together as companions (: But like Daddy always says, "Don’t get discouraged because that opens the door for Satan to come in. Discouragement is not a feeling from Heavenly Father." This has helped us not lose faith this week and so next week should be really successful!

To top it all off though Hermana Kennedy and I got the stomach flu from one of our less active families that we visited and had to stay home all day Saturday but we are all better now thanks to some "caldo de pollo" (chicken soup) from our abuelitos, Los Martinez <3 We went over there last night and Hermano Martinez has been reading the Book of Mormon every day and is about to pass me in My reading in 2nd Nephi! He loves it and is doing so great! He is our only sense of hope and happiness sometimes, but it's worth all the trials if we can help him come unto Christ.

On Friday, Elder Christoffel Golden Jr. of the Seventy came to a zone conference. Cool fact!! He is from Johannesburg South Africa, served his mission there, and went to school there! But I didn't get to talk to him after and tell him that's where my dad served...oh well! But it was amazing and I learned so much! He really helped us remember that sometimes all we can do is invite people to come unto Christ and that a lot of them will ignore us, but there will be a few who give us the joy of serving our Father in Heaven. So it was a really great week even though it was rough!

Other than that, there is nothing new and I am just trying to work hard and do all I can here! No news on my visa still, but whatever happens is the Lord's will and I will "go and do" like in 1 Nephi 3:7. I hope y'all had a great week and are happy and healthy! Thanks for all of your prayers! I love you!!! Alma 31:34-35<3

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Moberly
                                                       Ice cream makes the bad days better!

                                       Texas "Mountain"...a hill of rocks ;)

Monday, October 7, 2013

Missouri City, TX October 7, 2013

Hey everyone!!

Just wanted to send a quick note today! This week has been the best one so far!!! I did a TON of service this week for Edith because the government is tearing down their house this upcoming week to build her a new one and so we helped her move everything! It was a lot of work and my arms still hurt! Then I mowed a lawn but the wheels didn't work so I had to push it with my arms and stomach to make it go, haha. I think I looked pretty dumb, but good thing I go to the gym every morning and lift 10 pound dumbbells (; haha.

But then the best news happened on Thursday when we had an AMAZING lesson with Hermano Martinez about covenants we have to make in order to live in the Celestial Kingdom. He understood everything and loved it all and so we asked him to prepare to be baptized on November 2nd and he said YES!!!!!!!!!!! I have never been so happy!! He is why I'm here in Houston and I hope I'm still here for the baptism, but at least I could help serve the Lord in the process to this point. I'll for sure come back when they are sealed for time and all eternity next year (:

         And then, of course, General Conference was the best way to end the week!! I have never had such a strong testimony that President Monson and his apostles are mouthpieces for our Heavenly Father. I loved when Pres. Monson told us that Sunday morning was the most inspired meeting he has ever attended! So, obey their counsel and watch it if you haven't already (: I hope y'all have such a great week! Rely on the Lord for everything and keep developing a better relationship with Him through prayer! Prayer is real and He really listens and answers us, even if it is not when we want Him too (: Love you!!! Have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Moberly

Monday, September 30, 2013

First Baptism in Missouri City! Sept 30, 2013

Hola everyone (:

This week was so amazing!! I am so happy that I stayed here in Missouri City!! We had a super busy week and were able to get a lot done! One night we visited a part member family (only the dad isn't a member). The dad (Hermano Rivas) has had the lessons before and is so ready to get baptized, he just doesn't make the time for us. So, he is never is home because he works all the time, but when we stopped by, he was there! We read Alma 34 with him and told him that this life is the time to prepare to meet God. He loved it and is now going to let us come over and re-teach him! His son is the less-active 20 year old that started coming back to church in May and is now about to put his mission papers in next week!!! He calls us Jose's Angels like Charlie's angels (:

Then we saw Hermano Martinez and he keeps talking about this "cambio drastico" (drastic change) meaning his baptism and does the quotation signs in the air as he talks about it (: He is totally going to get baptized soon!! Last night we had our first baptism here, the 9 year old boy named Quique, and it was amazing!! I have never felt so happy (: His whole family has changed so much in these last few weeks and now want us to help them to prepare to be sealed in the temple!!

Both Hermano Rivas and Hermano Martinez went to the baptism last night and said they felt the spirit so strongly! Hermana Kennedy and I sang "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" and everyone was crying! The spirit was so strong!

SO it was an amazing week and I am so excited to keep working with these people to help them come closer to Christ. Oh! And on Saturday I watched the General Relief Society Broadcast (in English!!!) and it was so great!! It's so important to make and keep our covenants because there is no other way for us to progress to become more like our Savior. Covenants help us live higher laws and learn how to better live like Christ wants us to. I hope y'all have a great week and keep choosing the right! Remember the covenants you have made and work hard to serve others and share your testimonies! <3 I love you!!!

Hermana Moberly

OH! and we had Fiestas Patrias on Friday where everyone sets up a table from their country and has food and decorations! It was so awesome!! I had food from El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Guatemala (: Hermana Kennedy and I even borrowed some sombreros and had stick on mustaches (: It was so fun!!




 

Monday, September 23, 2013

4 Months and Staying in Missouri City for Now

Hola mis queridos (:

 
This week was so fun and great! It was really hard too, but a lot of cool things happened! We did a lot of service and helped paint a member's bedroom from black to yellow, we visited our investigator Samantha in the hospital after she just had her baby, Emilio, and I went on an exchange to a bike area in the middle of a tropical storm! I went to Brazos on Friday and it was raining so much!! The streets were flooding but we still went out and one time, a car drove by and splashed a HUGE puddle all over me. People are so nice haha. But we eventually couldn't see anything because it was so dark so we stopped at a women's home/hospital where a member lives and she let us in. So we sat and talked to her drying off with towels until the rain softened up. So it was an adventure and I had a lot of fun! (: Then yesterday we were all having a rough morning because we weren't able to meet some of our weekly goals, and then I saw huge tender mercies and know the Lord loves me!! I was at church, waiting for it to start, and we got a call from Hno. Martinez! He told us he was on his way to the church and would be there in five minutes!! We were soooo happy that we group hugged and started crying, haha we're such girls (; As we were waiting outside for him, one of the elders came out and told me my aunt was inside! What the heck?? I was so surprised so I went in, and Aunt Eileen was there with one of her friends! It was the best surprise ever!! It was so good to see her, and then they stayed for sacrament meeting! I wish I knew more Spanish so that I could translate for them, but the elders did it so that we could focus more on Hno. Martinez being there. It was the best day ever!!! And then this morning, I found out that I get to stay in my area for another transfer and I am so happy!! Unfortunately, Hermana Johnson is leaving, but I am so excited to stay with these people, at least until my visa comes which should be soon!

 
We are having our first baptism on Sunday and I am so happy! He is a 9 year old boy whose family are all members. Rosalba should be baptized on Thursday, but she couldn't get her boyfriend to either marry her or move out and so we are still praying really hard that the Lord will soften his heart and she will be able to be baptized. It will happen...one day (: But I'm done being a trainee, so that's why I have a stick of gum that says "it's a girl" (: It was my graduation gift from Hermana Kennedy haha. So we had a really awesome week and I can't wait to stay here in Missouri City and keep working hard. I know that as we pray in faith, the Lord will answer our prayers and do His part (Mosiah 27:14 and Alma 31:38).

 
One of the things that kept coming up in my studies this week was the importance of family prayer. When Christ came to the Americas, in 3 Nephi 18, He commanded the people to pray in families, and even today prophets have counseled us to study the scriptures and pray together in families. I know that as we are obedient and strengthen our families and homes, the adversary will not be able to dwell within or have control over our hearts. Keep the commandments and always keep your eye on the prophet! I love you and hope you have a great week! Y'all are in my prayers<3

 
xoxo mucho amor,

Hermana Moberly
Aunt Eileen Peterson


Not a trainee anymore



Tropical storm

Peace out, homies...

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

I Love to See the Houston Temple, Mo City Sept 2013

9/17/2013

Hola todos<3

Hope you all had a great week! I did! It was really hard, but it's always good to be a missionary (: This morning I went to the Houston Temple and it is BEAUTIFUL!!! I loved it!!

Not much happened this week...we did  A TON of service because we can't find any new people to teach. We are trying to get people from the members like their friends and neighbors, but it's hard helping them adjust to the work. They will get it eventually (; It's just hard right now because we have less people to teach and sometimes feel like we aren't doing what we came here to do. It's the members’ responsibility to find, and the missionaries job to teach!

We were supposed to have our investigator's (David's) baptism on Sunday but for some reason last week he snapped back to his old ways and is smoking and drinking again. It was so sad to hear that because he was so close! But we have some more work to do with him and I know that the Lord will help us know how to help him.

We had an AMAZING lesson with Hno. Martinez last week and we all cried because the spirit was so strong! I have never felt the spirit so strong as I do when we teach him. I know that there are angels in that room with us and that all of our ancestors are there too, especially Papa. I am convinced that they are best friends, and Papa and my companions' grandpas as well, are all helping him feel the spirit and accept our message. He knows the church is true but is afraid of changing because he has been going to the Catholic Church every Sunday for 55 years. But he will accept it one day and even admitted to us that one day he will be baptized. But I need to be here for it! He is the reason why I'm not in Argentina right now. I have never felt so much love as I do for these people here and I am trying my hardest to be that tool for Heavenly Father so that they can come back to Him.

So it was a really great week, even though there were a lot of hard times. But hard times make us stronger, right!? (: I hope y’all had a great week!! I miss you like crazy and pray for you daily! Thanks for all of your love and support! Don't stop being faithful and look for the Lord's tender mercies each day, because it's so easy to miss them.

 xoxox

Hermana Moberly
 
 
 


 
 

Monday, September 9, 2013

Another Week Here in Houston

Hola Everyone (:

          So I had such a great week and hope y'all did too! We finally were able to see all of the miracles and blessings from the last two hard weeks of trials. But I know that if we endure trials in faith, the Lord blesses us and we come out stronger. I have been praying for trials lately because I really want to become the person that Heavenly Father wants me to be by the end of mission. Be careful what you pray for, though haha because Heavenly Father really does listen to us and answers us (:

The mission has been a lot harder than I ever thought, but so worth it! I was reading in "Preach My Gospel" this last week and I loved what it said. "Obedience to Jesus Christ is a lifelong commitment." It's so simple but so true. I know with all my heart that as long as we are being obedient to the commandments and are striving to become more like Christ every day, we will be rewarded in the life to come.

I have been studying Doctrine and Covenants a lot lately too and learning more about Joseph Smith and all of his sacrifices and trials. I think I have found my new role model. Joseph Smith and so many of the other early saints gave everything they had so that the true Church could be on the earth again. I want to sacrifice like they have done. I want to be willing to literally give my entire life over to Christ and know that if I am consecrating myself and all I have, I will be taken care of and carried through. I found a scripture in D&C 24:8 that says "Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days." SO keep going! This life wasn't meant to be easy, just persevere and eventually, the hard times will become easier to bear (:

No cool stories or pictures this week...We literally just worked all the time and taught a lot which is what we are supposed to do! I think my favorite miracle of this week happened on Wednesday, though. We went over to Los Martinez (abuelitos) and decided to read 1 Nephi 8 about the tree of Life with Hermano. Usually he just listens to us and sits there but this time we asked him if he wanted to read with us, and he quickly said no, so we just read to him. Then after a few verses, he got up, got his glasses, and began to read with us!!! We were all so happy...and yes, I cried ahah. But then it was my turn to read so I had to quickly wipe away my tears and read (: I love him so much!! If he is the only one I can help be converted to the gospel, I will be so happy!! He really reminds me of my farewell talk when I talked about the joy we have when we bring one soul unto Christ. He is that one soul that brings me so much joy. But I love all my other investigators so much too and they are all doing so great! Just keep please praying for them. Love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week!!! Remember, "A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness."- James E. Faust

 Love you<3<3

Hermana Moberly 

P.S. Happy Birthday Emily and Kenzie OxOXoxX (I hope you read that like Nacho Libre says it (; )

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Still In Missouri City TX, Sept 3, 2013


Hola Everyone!

So this week was another hard one, but we worked really hard and it was always busy! SO I'll just go day by day to make sure I remember everything:

Monday: It was P-day and we went to make some visits, but no one was home!!

Tuesday: Hermana Kennedy went on exchanges so it was just Hermana Johnson and I in the area. I was really nervous because we are still both new (she has only been out one more transfer than me). But we had a great day!! We went over and just got to know one of our investigators a lot better. She is the lady we always serve named Edith. She just had us come in and we sat on her bed because that's the only room with air conditioning. We just asked her lots of questions and had a really good time. Then her grandson, Angel came in and we played with him for a little, he is the little boy in the picture! He's super cute and we are going to his birthday party next Saturday! (: Then we taught a lesson to an 8 year old boy in the ward who isn't baptized yet. We taught them the Restoration and then invited their family to have family prayer and scripture study together every night. It was so great that I could bear my testimony on those things and know that they really bless families because we did it growing up! Then we found two new women and shared a message with them about who we are and what we believe. They weren't interested, but they were super nice!

Wednesday: We taught our less active, Jose who is actually now active and putting his mission papers in this month!!!!!!! We were still on bikes all week and as we were leaving his house, Hermana Kennedy fell really bad and cut her knee open. The mission nurse told us to wait and see if it stopped bleeding, but to lay down for the rest of the night. Two hours later it wouldn't stop bleeding and she couldn't walk, so we went to the urgent care and she had to get four stitches!!!!!!! SO we were there for the rest of the night. She still can't bend her knee, but she's okay! They gave us 100 extra miles in the car so we could drive the rest of the week (:

Thursday: We had weekly planning so we were in the house all day, then had dinner with mis abuelitos and taught him about the Restoration. He is so going to get baptized!! I can't wait! I feel like he is one of the main reasons why I was reassigned to Texas. I love them so much! His wife has been a member for 20 years and we are the first missionaries he has ever listened to! He is starting to read the Book of Mormon and knows that if he reads and prays, there is no other way he will find out if these things are true. So just keep praying for him (: Then we visited a less active woman who has such a strong testimony but can't come to church because she takes care of an old lady on Sundays.

Friday: I went on exchanges!!! I went to the Houston West area and was in the city for a day!! It's so different...I definitely like the country. We just walked around apartment complexes and tried to teach some people. We talked to EVERYONE but no one wanted to learn more. We got yelled at a lot and people were just rude. So I think Heavenly Father knew I could only handle nice country people haha. But it was fun and Hermana Carlson was really nice! I just missed my companions...Our car battery almost died right when we were leaving for lessons so before exchanges, we spent the whole morning in Pepboys...our car has so many problems!!

Saturday: We switched back at 2:30 after some studies and then we went to some lessons, an expo on the Book of Mormon held by our ward and one of our investigators went and loved it!! Then we went to a quincenera for a less active girl in the ward. We stayed for a little bit before we had to go home. But it was so fun!! They had a mariachi band and it reminded me of "The Three Amigos" (: It was cool!!

Sunday: Church was amazing and the whole mission had a fast together to help us complete our goal of 1,000 baptisms for the year. We are only at 400 something right now but I decided to make some sacrifices and really work on giving my entire self to the work so that the Lord can bless our investigators. We then went over to our abuelitos again and taught him about the plan of salvation. He believes everything! It's so exciting to teach him because I can see in his eyes that he knows everything is true. He just has a fear of changing.

Monday: So it was a really long week because we didn't have P-day today. But no one was home to teach because it was Labor Day. We did some service for Bishop's wife and then had an FHE with a member family who invited some of their friends. We watched a movie on the Plan of Salvation and it was great! They don't want to change their religion, but they loved the message. Then we went to teach another part member family (we are teaching the non-member husband) and had the corn from "Nacho Libre"!!!!! And it is so good!!! They BBQ corn and then put mayonnaise and cheese and chili on it. I thought it was going to be gross but it's really good!! Who would have thought? (: Haha
 
But it was a great week and this week is going to be even better (: Keep working hard and pray and read the scriptures every day!! I love you so much! John 4:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." <3 Please pray for me to have the gift of tongues and pray that my investigators will be touched by the Spirit and keep progressing! Love you!!!!!

Hermana Moberly<3
 
Hermana Moberly and Angel

Hermana Moberly on Exchanges

Hermana's Garrett, Kennedy, and Moberly at a Quinceanera

Missouri City September 2013