January is almost done?

So this month has flown by really quickly. The last Sunday in January has already gone by. We track our goals on Sundays. So for us, it's already time to work on February goals which is weird because well...I'm going home in February. But either way it's been super crazy. We got pretty close to the Zone goals that we had but we couldn't quite get them. We got really close though. I felt pretty good about my effort and I felt like all that we were really lacking was the commitment and excitement a few of the other missionaries. Some worked super great but some didn't seem too worried about it. But I guess it's like that in life. But things really did go great.
We had a baptism this week and the other Elders in our ward had a family get baptized at the same time. The mom of that family chose me to baptize her and our baptism also chose me.So I got to baptize two people. It was pretty cool. We ended up having 9 people dressed in white that night. It was really great. I am trying to send pictures but this computer doesn't cooperate. Other than that I feel pretty good about everything.
It's really weird that today is my last full p'day cause next week is the leadership council and the following week are the transfers. But I guess time flies. It's also weird cause we had our district meeting today in the morning cause tomorrow I go to Guayaquil for a work training. It's for me to look at my plans for work and school after the mission. Crazy. But we will try and make the most of these last few weeks.
Oh and I got a cold the other day that had me dead. I had a fever and everything but I am pretty much over it know. I just gotta keep drinking plenty of liquids and I'll be fine.



Elder Moore

My new hijo

Well this week I got the news that I would be training again. This time it would be different though. I found out that he would be a gringo. So I'm a ZL that is opening a sector and training a gringo. So lots of stress. But the good thing is that my comp is super smart and he will be great as soon as he starts to understand the people more. He already speaks really well. Way better than I did. He just needs to get the ear for it and he will be super great. I'm not too worried,
But we hit the ground running. The ward mission leader showed us around the sector and then we placed 2 dates for the 13th of September. We even have more opportunities but we just gotta keep working.
Our ward had had really low attendence for a while so they had threatened to make it a branch. They said that if there wasn't 100 people at the ward conference then it would be a branch. And we had... 118! So we got saved. It was the highest attendance since like January. So we just gotta keep working and it will keep going up. But don't worry. I am just glad that the ward is ready to work.
So this week I really got to see how many blessing the Lord gives us if we just put our all into the work. I remember getting to the field and feeling horrible for a while but after just trusting in the Lord, I got to understand the language little by little. But overall its just great to see all that happens to give us success. But either way things are going super great.
We had alot of oportunities to do good this week and we were able to do it. I know that the Lord is with us when we put our effort into the work. I know this is His work and that it depends on us on if we want to receive the blessings. I know that this is His church and that is was restored by a prophet. I know that it is currently lead by a prophet and that it will always be led by a prophet.
I'm excited to see what blessing we can receive this week.


Elder Moore

Transfers

Well, today I got transferred. I guess it wasn't a big transfer but it was a transfer. I had to move my luggage to the other room and clean everything up. President is trying something new of having the zone leaders be split up and training new missionaries. So I am going to be training and a zone leader and I will be going to open up the new sector. Fun stuff right? It will be stressful but i guess it's what needs to be done. But I take this as a sign that this is where I am going to die (finish my mission). 6 months left and I'm training and a ZL? yeah I'll be here for a while.
But I felt kinda bummed out this week cause we didn't get the results we wanted but I know that we are super close. Seriously, I just feel like we need to pick up our game a bit more and we will do great.
Well I don't have much time cause the clock is ticking and my hour is almost up but I'm excited to see what we can do this week in my new sector.


Elder Moore

El Selado

Well I have a little bit to get you caught up on.

Last Saturday I went to the Iguana Park to try and get a good photo of the iguanas climbing on me. But alas we go there just after they finished eating and so we got no photo. I was kinda bummed but it was all good.

Then on Sunday i was able to go do interviews in the other wards. I had served in Prosperina and got to see lots of converts and members and it was great. I even got a picture with a convert and his certificate of getting the Aaronic priesthood.
Then on Wednesday I went and did splits with Elder Serrano the Zone leader and I really enjoyed it. We had to go to Playas to do some interviews and we had two 2 hours bus rides to sit and talk. He is going to come to the US to play football (American) and try and be a doctor. He's super great and speaks English so I said he can crash at my house if he wants.
Then on Thursday, the assistant walked into my room as I studied and he told me that I was getting transferred in the afternoon. So I had to go and get everything ready and then I went to the office. We had a last lunch and President Dennis thanked me for all the work I've done. He was great. And then I went to the Terminal. But I actually just went to find my comp because he is here in Guayaquil. So there I met up with Elder Leiva from Chile. He's super great and I'm excited to work with him. We are Zone Leaders in El Salado. It's a zone that is picking up speed and has lots of potential. I'm super excited to see what we can do.
Today I went to the Iguana Park again cause Elder Leiva didn't know about it. I did get a good photo of one getting on me and it was cool. But I'm really pretty excited to see what I can do in the future here in this zone.
PS: the people here in this sector are crazy but in a funny way. The women are crazy. They try and give me their phone numbers and they say things as I walk by. So great confidence boost right? Either way it's a great story.


Elder Moore

Well, we are in trio again

So this week has had its ups and its downs. But this was a week to remember. First of all I have a new compaion. His name is Elder Mezarina from Lima. Seriously I can not stop getting Peruvian compaions. We are training him. So I now have 3 Peruvian sons and a Peruvian Father. Am I actually Peruvian?
Things are going pretty well here. We have a family that is super excited about the church. It's a mom and her 2 sons. They should get baptized the 15th. We have some other families that are a little bit lukewarm. But I am excited to see what all we can do.
As a zone we had 11 confirmations this week. So we are starting off the month strong. It's good cause we have the goal as a zone to have 40 converts this month. We really are doing well already. We have 6 or 7 more this week and then we need to see how the rest go. I really am excited though. Just everyone pray for us.
I don't know how it happened but I forgot about the Super Bowl until I was going to bed Sunday Night. Crazy right? Nothing like me.
Overall things are going well and I know they will keep getting better. I only have fear that I will not be here in the zone to see us get 40. But who knows these days.
Oh and Elder Waddell is going to come this week to the mission and it should be really cool. I'm thinking puro machete for all of the wicked elders-But not really. I'm hoping to get some great spiritual advice.


Elder Moore

Well, I have a new hijo

Although it surprised me, we got a new companion. His name is Elder Miñan. He is from Peru (I seem to have a bunch of those). He is new. And I mean new. This is his first sector. And we are his first companion. I was not expecting to have the opportunity to train again. It's really weird to be in a trio as ZLs. I means i'ts weird anyway. I like being in a companionship. But I guess I will have to get used to it. It will be interesting.
We had the baptism of Oswaldo this week. It was awesome cause Pres. Dennis gave permission to Elder Moreno to come. He was the elder who found him and the family loves him. He also helped reactive the family to get baptized. We will see what happens. There is the mom, the grandma, and two little girls who all listen when we visit. So I'm super excited.
Other than that there is not too much going on. I mean we are trying to work the best we can with the crazy schedule we have. It was nasty. But we are starting to find more people but like always finding people is the hardest part. Not really but it's the most annoying.
Other than that we had P'day today because we needed to take advantage of the time we have. I think the same will happen next week but who knows.
Overall Chirstmas is here and I'm not trunky. It's too hot to believe that it's Christmas.



Elder Moore

Ending the cold streak

Well the plan was to have 4 baptisms this week. But one by one we had problems and we were super busy all week so weren't able to sit there with them for too much time. It was tough but we were able to get to Saturday with 3. But then one fell in the morning. So One got baptized Saturday and the other one to get baptized Sunday. But then in the night a member went to tell her he will go with her to church and she told him she can't get baptized cause her boyfriend moved in with her and he doesn't want her to go to church. So there are a few reasons that she can't get baptized. It killed me. She was so close and so excited. She was ready to change her life! But this week we are on pace to have a couple. But a few are kinda tough.
Random fact: I am part of the mission chior. How that happened I don't know. I think it has something to do with the fact that we have the keys to the church haha. But I still can't sing that well. But I'm trying. We are going to sing for a catholic church. I want to sing Joseph Smiths First Prayer. But we'll sing Chirstmas songs I guess.
I'm feeling a lot better in my role as zone leader. I have alot more confidence. I'm just trying to figure out what more we can do to motivate these missionaries.
Overall it was a crazy week and will keep being crazy this week. But I'm excited cause this week we are going to the Temple. I don't know when but we are going this week.
Oh and this week we had the ward Talent show. It was really good. The Relief Society did a clown act and it was really funny. The elders did the story of Jonas and it was really cool. The Primary did a christmas dance and it was cool.
Things are going great and I'm excited to keep working.


Elder Moore