Saving the Best for Last!

Hola Otra Vez!!

Well, here we go! My last email as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This last year and a half has been the hardest, most challenging, fruitful, beautiful, and memorable time of my whole life. And I know that it was the best decision I have ever made to be a servant for my Savior Jesus Christ. I think that we all think in the moment we have strong testimonies in Him, but when we decide to change and do something that will help us grow, we recognize that our testimony before was so small. I hope that my whole life continues to help my testimony grow and be more solid in Him. As we set goals and are obedient, we will always grow closer to God. He will show us our weaknesses, He will give us trials, and He will carry us through until the very end until we become who He wants us to be. I know that this life really is the time for us to prepare to meet God. I know that this life is not the end of His plan. I know that families are eternal and that as we do the things that help us stay on the path that returns to out heavenly home, we will find greater strength, protection, and guidance. 

Something that has helped me these last 18 months is to completely confide and trust in my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I know that when we put them first, when we use the Atonement to help us change and become clean and more purified, and when we do our part, everything works out perfectly. And maybe that perfection is not what we expected or wanted, but it will be perfect for what we need to be successful and return home. 

I am so grateful for the people I have met and served; for the companions that served alongside me; for the trials and triumphs. I know that I wasn't even close to being a perfect missionary, that none of us can serve the Lord perfectly in the way that He wants us to, but I do know that if we are constantly trying to serve with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength, He will help enable us to become a little closer to the perfection we are expected to reach. 

This last week was really crazy! I had to go to Rosario with Hermana Fairbanks for tramites...I don’t know what that is in english. It's something for the visa and being legal in the country. The elders in the office told me that I am illegal and so I have to go back this Friday so that they can pay the ticket so that I can leave and come home. Haha. And then on Monday I go back to the mission home for interviews and dinner with President. Then on Tuesday I get to go to the Buenos Aires temple!!! I have missed the temple so much!!!! I am really excited (: 

We did have a lot of success this week!! Hugo Alvarado is progressing so much! Our last lesson with him last week, we promised him that if he prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true, he would receive an answer. He took that challenge and prayed every night to know. He told us that he didn't think he was receiving an answer until Thursday night he told God he was tired and would go to bed, but asked that He would answer his prayer in a dream. He told us that that night he dreamed and all he heard was ''Nefi, Nefi, Nefi'' haha. He was so excited when he told us that that was his answer and he knows it is true! He also accepted to go to church, which before he was really against going! So Sunday he went to church!! We invited him to baptism for the 22nd and his answer was, ''Put me down for 4 PM!'' haha he is really awesome! He has 66 years. 

We also finally saw Carolina, Luciana's friend, again! We taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ and she also accepted a baptismal date for the 16th!!! She couldn't go to church yesterday, so she needs to go next week, and then can be baptized! But we also don't want to rush her, so if she is not ready, we will wait, but it would be so awesome to see her baptized right before I leave! But I know that baptism is a big covenant to make, and I would rather her be truly converted than rush her into it. So I guess I'll tell you the news about all of this when I get home! 

But I really have loved being a missionary for Christ's church. I can't wait now to have a different calling and be able to continue working in His kingdom upon the earth. Thanks for all of your letters and sending your love each week! I have really grown from all of your testimonies. Just remember to be faithful until the end and the reward we will receive is eternal life and complete happiness in the presence of our Heavenly Father. I know that He is our loving father and that Christ is central to His plan. I know that the church was restored through Joseph Smith and that we have the authority upon the earth once again to help us all receive the ordinances of salvation so that we can live in heaven once again. I know that this is the Lord's work and it is hastening. If we all work together, we can bring more of God's children unto Him. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Con amor,

Hermana Moberly

Milking Alfajores

Awesome Tan Lines 

My Temperature Last Week

The Purification Process

Hola (:

I don't have much time today because I have to email my Mission President. He asked me to write a letter to the other missionaries about what has been of the greatest worth to me in my mission. It was really hard to write because I wanted to share everything I have learned, but over these last two weeks I have finally put something together! 

I talked about the purification process. Not just here in the mission, but throughout our lives. In Moroni 7 it talks a lot about how we need faith, hope, and charity to be able to one day stand in front of the Savior and not only recognize who he is, but be similar to Him as well. I have really learned a lot about my Savior on the mission. I feel like I can say I really know Him. I have sacrificed, prayed, desired, and strived to develop attributes that He has so that I could be a better disciple and representative of His. It was definitely not easy, and I know I still have a LONG way to go, but where I am right now, I can say I know who He is and can see a difference in the person I was when I started my mission. I know that each of us needs to strive every day to become more like Him. How sad would it be if when He comes again, we did not recognize Him? I want to be prepared for that day. If we read our scriptures, pray, go to church, love one another and serve one another, remember the covenants we have made with God, and endure through our trials with faith I know that we will become purified like Christ is pure in the process.

This week was a crazy one. The weather finally cooled off and we have had rainstorms the last few days. On Wednesday I was sick in bed all day with a 103.7 degree fever and a stomach infection, but it only lasted one day. I literally slept alllll day and alll night and then on Thursday we could go out and work again. I was just a little weak from it all, but I'm all better now! (:

Well, we are finding a ton of new investigators and inviting them all to baptism. But this week we will see the fruits of our labors (: Sorry this is so short! I love you all and hope you have a great week! Focus on what you need to do, change, or sacrifice to become more pure like our Savior Jesus Christ.

Love you!

Hermana Moberly

It is Impossible to Fail

Hola Familia y Amigos (: 

This week I wanted to start with a quote I found from Elder Ballard. ''It is impossible to fail when you do your best when you are on the Lord's errand.'' I love this! If we always put our heart into our callings and when doing the Lord's will, it is impossible to fail. Maybe we won't have success in our own eyes, but as long as we do our part, we can be confident that the Lord completed His part as well. Success in His eyes is a lot grander than it is in ours. 

Well, we had a really full and busy week. On Monday I went on divisions with Hna. Condori (Hna Rasband's comp in the other half of Paraná) so I got to visit Sebastian and Elin and Evelyn again! (: They are doing really well. Evelyn told us she is thinking a lot about serving the mission! She is the only member in her family, but it will really help them all and she'll make the best decision of her life! (;

In our zone meeting on Wednesday, I had to give my farewell testimony! ): I just talked a lot about the process of a mission. You can't expect to know what to do in the beginning, but as you grow and fall and grow and fall, you notice that the whole time, you just keep growing. It's hard to explain in english haha, but hopefully you get the idea. I just feel that my whole mission has been a progressing process and I recently read a talk that counsels returned missionaries to not discontinue this progression. 

We got another new companion this week!! Her name is Hermana Fairbanks from Washington. She just started the mission and so we are training her. It's a little crazy. We didn't have time before and now we are adding another extra hour of companionship study and a whole hour of language study. But we are figuring things out. She is really great and understands spanish pretty well already. If only I could have understood spanish in the beginning (; 

News on our investigators:

We finally found a friend of Brenda's, Cynthia. We taught her about 2 months ago and finally saw her again! She has been reading the Book of Mormon every night!!!! No one ever does that! We taught her the Restoration and invited her to be baptized! She accepted a date for Nov. 15th so we are trying to work with her so that she is prepared. We are also teaching Juan, Juan, and Juan, and Eva hahaha. Juan padre is the one who accepted a baptismal date a few weeks ago, but now doesn’t want to be baptized. But we are also teaching Juan hijo who is less active and the other Juan hijo who is with Eva. Juan and Eva accepted baptismal dates too, but they have to get married first. But they are really receptive and have strong desires to change! We just contacted a lot and are trying to find new people and invite everyone to be baptized. If they don't show interest, then we know they are not prepared for baptism right now. But so far we have a few with great potential and are going to teach them this week. When we introduce the Book of Mormon we try to make it really interesting and catch their attention. President Zanni taught us this: Ask them if they know the Bible and the prophets like Adam, Noah, Abraham, etc. If they say yes, then we ask them ''Have you ever heard of Captain Moroni?'' They will say no obviously and then we continue, ''No!? He was a captain of a strong army here in the Americas! He led a group of people and fought for their rights and liberties...'' It's really fun and we do it with Alma, Ammon, Nephi, etc. Super fun and the people then are more interested!

For divisions this week I went to La Paz. It's beautiful! It's really green and a tourist city. It reminded me a little of Jamaica. Right on the river. But this whole week has been soooooo hot and humid. I can't even sleep well during the nights. But that's okay, there are people to meet and share the gospel with (:

The whole mission right now is focusing on increasing our faith. Miracles have not ceased, baptisms have not ceased, and it is all according to our faith that the Lord performs miracles and baptisms. I know that we are going to be seeing a lot of success in the entire mission. Just like the quote above says, when we work our hardest, nothing is impossible. I hope you all have a really great week and can focus on doing the Lord's will. Do your best, and you will be blessed (rhyme) (: Love you all!!!!!

Con amor,

Hermana Moberly

17 Months!

Welcome Hermana Fairbanks!

La Paz 

Parana

Parana Sunset

Sunburn

Yummy Pionono

Buen Dia!

Buen dìa!!

This last week flew by! I don't think I have very much to tell you either. This last week we have been focusing a lot on visiting our families of rescue (I don't know how to translate it correctly into english). But we have 5 less active families who we are focusing on. We visited with 3 this week and they all seem to be progressing a lot more! One is a 70 year old man, Cayetano. We are having a Family Home Evening with him tonight in the bishop's house and he hasn't come to church still, but I think he will soon! We also are visiting the familia Farìas. Hermana Farìas was the only one home but said the Lord blesses her family so much, that she knows if she doesn`t come back to church the blessings will stop, and she won`t be able to show her gratitude to the Lord. If we love the Lord, we are obedient to His commandments. She has 2 kids, but one of them is married to a girl who isn't a member of the church, so Wednesday they invited us over to lunch and we will start teaching her! (: Then there is the Ludovico family. Hno Ludovico is from Brasil and last night he told us that when he thinks of his converts from the mission being active in the church, and one being a member of the 70 (Elder Castro), it makes him really sad. He wants us to be patient with his family and that when the spirit tells them they need to come back to church, they will return. So we are going to continue helping these people have spiritual experiences. We cannot force people to accept the gospel or complete commitments, only the spirit can teach them. So we are going to work with the spirit just like we always do with everyone!

On Wednesday we went to Rosario for Leadership Council. It's literally like Christmas getting to hear from Pres Zanni and the assistants! We talked about the sickness in the mission about missionaries thinking this isn't a baptizing mission. It really is sad, I've seen it. Many missionaries have heard from others that we don't baptize here, so they lose their faith and then they can't have success. So as leaders, we are going to teach and ''heal'' the mission from this ''sickness'' and complete the Lord's work. I went on divisions with an Hermana from Utah this week and she is really new. We were talking about what she thinks is possible for our mission, and she said she is tired of hearing people always say, ''We are just planting seeds''. She said she knows it is important to sembrar seeds, but it also says all over Doctrine and Convenios that the field is white and ready to harvest. There are people who are prepared, we just have to get to work and do what the Lord wants from us in his vineyard, I loved that! We just need to have the faith to see. And then get to work.

I was attacked by grillos (crickets and grasshoppers) this week!! On Tuesday night Hna Rasband and her comp slept over because we had to wake up at 2:30 to go to Rosario and we live closer to the terminal. But the last 2 hours of sleeping there was about 4 crickets that wouldn’t stop chirping! Then on divisions, I slept on the top bunk bed and they have SO many crickets and grasshoppers in their apartment. I heard one on the ceiling and then a minute later it fell on my forehead!! I screamed and Hna Egbert ran to turn on the lights and it was on my pillow so we flicked it off and killed it. We killed 8 more that night. I hate grillos. There is one in the cyber right now too. They never go away!!

We didn't have very much money left and for one day we only had eggs and water haha. But don't worry mom, we got money today and have food again haha. We just called members to feed us. 

We had a really great week, just full of traveling and finding new investigators. We have the goal of having 2 baptisms before I go home so we have a lot of work to do. But like I always say, everything is posible con the Lord!! 

I hope you all have a really great week! Trust in the Lord. He only does what is best for us. Even when it doesn't seem right to us, He has an eternal perspective and will never lead us astray! I know that this is Christ's work. As missionaries, we are His representatives, but as members of His church, we still wear His name upon us. That was our baptismal covenant. Do as He would do. Love and serve as He would love and serve. Love you all so much!!<3

Con amor,

Hermana Moberly

sorry no pics this week...the computer won't let me load them! More to come next week (:

Invitation to Salvation

Hola! (:

Are you surprised to hear that this last week was so amazing?? I´ll start from the beginning. I don´t have very much time because it´s a holiday and everything is closed so we are all sharing one computer in the church. But here it goes...

Tuesday: for Pday we played soccer for 3 hours straight and I´m still sore haha. But we went over to Soledad´s house and she was having a really bad day. She had a migraine and her kids were screaming and running around. So we called a member who lived by and him and his wife came over immediately. The hermano had been working in the campo all day and was already asleep, but he answered our call and came anyways. His wife (the relief society pres) took care of the twin babies and the hermano gave Soledad a blessing. The spirit was so strong and Soledad just wept. It was amazing. I think what I loved the most, was seeing the members respond to our call even though they were asleep and tired. It didn’t matter to them. They responded to the call and served. This week I have been studying the New Testament again and reading all about the miracles Jesus performed. He went to the sick and afflicted and the weary. According to their faith they were healed. It can still happen now. I witnessed it this week. As members of Christ´s church, we also need to serve and bless the sick and afflicted and weary. When we were baptized, we took upon ourselves the name of Christ and that means act as He did. When we do so, we are fulfilling our covenants. It was an amazing experience and I will never forget it!

Wednesday: Hna Castañeda came!!!! I already knew her from Sunchales, but she is super sweet and loves to work! I am so happy we get to spend these next few weeks together working hard and serving the people here in Paraná!! Hna Rasband forgot to tell me she didn't pay the light bill, so this night, they shut off our light and we lived with matches and one flashlight and a candle haha.

Thursday: We paid the light bill and now we have no money haha but we will be fine. We will get the money back next week. It´s just funny and we all blame Hna Rasband for forgetting to tell us haha. 

Saturday: I read a talk about a man who in his mission did a 40 day fast so that he could be purified and receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. I made a list of things to fast from that keep me from having the spirit with me and teaching with power and authority and luckily I had 40 days left on my mission from this day! So I started that and am really excited to see what happens until the end of my mission and how I can have the spirit with me more completely and constantly!!

These are the big highlights from the week! We are working hard and loving the mission. I know that when we make sacrifices, the lives of those around us can be blessed. We are in this life to become purified and more like our Savior and father. Love you all so much and hope you have a great week!!! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Moberly

Hermana Castaneda and Me

Me and the Argentina Flag

Me in a Carnival Hat

Sunrise from our Apartment

Awesome Catholic Cathedral