A Call from a Friend

I was very surprised to receive a phone call from Salt Lake today. The voice on the other endof the phone introduced himself as Brother Wright. He said, "You don't know me, but I just returned home from a trip to West Africa." He told me that he took a flight from Ghana to Sierra Leone with 12 handsome elders. He said that they were just leaving the MTC heading for Sierra Leone. He was with the elders on their flight as well as the 40 minute ferry ride to Freetown. He said he took some pictures of the elders and wanted to get my email so he could send them. The only catch is that he left his camera in Ghana but would be going back in about 3 weeks and he promised to send the pictures. He then told me he wanted to share a story with me. He told me that he was in Sierra Leone/Ghana on business and he also has a home there. He said that he loves to play guitar and sing. He said that he and his partners are in the music business and have produced for some well known people. His partners are not LDS. He said that his partner asked if these elders like to sing like he does. Brother Wright said he then invited these twelve elders to sing "Called to Serve". He said it was amazing. He said that Elder Moss' big booming voice just brought the spirit. He said it brought a tear to their eyes. He said he video taped the song and I can't wait to hear it.

How grateful I am for a world wide church and the kindness of a stranger to this missionary mom. It was a great day!

Our First Email from Liberia

Alright, how do I start. First off, this is definitely the hardest thing I have ever done in my life!!! I don't know how to ever explain it to you guys. This world over here is crazy everyone is just trying to fend for themselves. They don't care about anyone else. I hope that you got some of my letters from the mtc. Sorry this is going to jump around tons. Well the mtc, not my favorite. I would get really homesick. I have found that when I sit around I get homesick. As soon as I stop doing things I think of home. I guess its cause I love you guys so much. I hope all is well there. I probably wont get a package for a month or two. So far I am under 270 now, haha but I guess that's a good thing. I still have things that smell like home and I love it. The temple in Ghana was cool but it is super small. The last time I did a session was with mom so it kinda made me sad but we got to do everything in there, that was cool. So it took me 3 days to get to my first area. Now my place is nice but every where else really stinks. Like 1000 million times worse than the cabin. It is terrible and smells really bad and uh idk it blows, but its the Lord's work. I had to fix the mission car so that we could make it here! Never worked on a Ford in my g's before but it works now. We finally made it. You have no idea how crazy African drivers are. It's so nuts. I think I might die so pray for that reason. My companion is elder Lowe, look up his mom. He is from up north. He is a cool guy and he is stoked cause we have, hands, down the best apartment! I will try to send pics next week. I am running out of time so I am soo sorry if this is short. Bucket showers, not fun I feel so dirty after I get out, eh it's so sick. Oh make sure emails get sent friday cause I will probably come in the mornings which is really early for you . I also have a video of us singing a poor wayfering man of grief. It is so good. We sang it in the mtc. Now we have learned all about the war and it was terrible. Our driver was in the war. He is crazy now. When I stepped off of the plane it was like I was on the other side of heaven. I honestly don't know how anyone could live like this. Sister Randall would literally die. We have lots of baptisms. We just committed people too, 18 or something. Ya i know haha. I need to stay busy but still counting down the days. Now church is hard cause I can't understand anyone so that makes it really hard. So I don't have time to send more emails but I do have time to send one, so sorry riss:( oh forward this to her please :) Thank you for everything that you guys do for me. I know that you pray for me everyday. It's just so hard cause you know how much of a family guy that I am so I miss you guys tons. Letters are the best. I dont think that you can send too many , so you should send them here as well as dear elder. My clothes will for sure get destroyed but I wont be able to stop that. Even though there are pictures on the internet , I don't think that they can even describe this place. It would take me a year to just explain this place to you. I love how that all of missionary work is based on families. The mission is, for sure, hard. I am growing mentally and shrinking physically. Oh well, it's my back up plan. Be one good looking dude in case Sherrissa is not around when I get home. Family is always number one. Never ever forget that. Please read alma 43:47. I think that's my spiritual thought.

Well I love you guys so much. How's every one? letters letters letters :) you cant send too much


I love you guys tons. I am doing my absolute best!! Stay together do everything together and remember me.

Love, Elder Moss

Once a Mechanic, Always a Mechanic!

President Roggia sent us this email:

Elder Moss has arrived safe and sound. He is serving in Liberia He spent the night of his arrival in the mission home with us and headed out to Liberia with a good Lasagne dinner and a breakfast of pancakes to tide him over. His skills as a mechanic came in handy on the rugged road to Liberia. I'm sure he never thought he would us them on his mission!

He has the best missionary apartment in the mission. It was just vacated by a senior couple who went home. All the other missionaries wish they had this apartment!

Sounds like Elder Moss is off to a great start . . . first email tomorrow. Yahoo!

Letter from President Roggia

We received this letter from President Roggia. He mentions a photo of them with Elder Moss but I am technology challenged and couldn't figure out how to post it from their email. As soon as I figure it out, I will post it. For now, here's what he had to say:

Dear Brother and Sister Moss,

Here is a picture of your son as he arrived in the mission home. We thought you might enjoy seeing him with me and my wife. We are pleased to have him here in Sierra Leone.

You can probably expect that he will experience some homesickness as he adjusts to mission life. Not only is there the normal adjustments of leaving behind family, friends, sports, etc. but here there is an adjustment to living in a developing country as well. You should know that English is spoken differently here and often takes time to understand. Many still use their tribal language, which requires an interpreter.

Your son will find the food and living conditions much different. We work diligently to keep all missionaries happy and healthy. There is a water filter in each apartment so they can drink purified water. Most of the time, an apartment will hold 4 missionaries with one companionship per room. They have single beds, a bathroom, table and chairs and not much other furniture. Apartments meet their needs but are not what those from the USA are used to. He will, however, adjist to all of this and come to love his companion and the people as we have learned to love them!

We admire him for choosing to dedicate this time to the Lord. We know He will bless him in this great cause. We look forward to getting to know him better.

Missionaries love to ear from both families and Ward members. We encourage you to write often. It always gives the missionaries a lift to get a letter from home. (He lists all the addresses here on the blog)

Thank you for sharing him with us! We are sure he will be a great missionary! We do love our missionaries. The Lord's hand is on West Africa today. This is a special mission; we know he will come to love it.

Very Sincerely,

President Richard P. Roggia and Sister Cathy Roggia

The MTC

Well, what to say. . . This MTC is an experience unlike anything before. It is, hands down, the hardest thing I have ever done. Not because the work is hard because that is coming along very easy to me. I just really miss you guys. The MTC has big tall electric chain linked barbed wire fences all around it protected by armed guards. It feels like prison here.

Africa is hard!! It is sooooooo hot here and we only have a/c in the classrooms. I sweat all night long. Soon my pants won't fit any more.. Still can't eat fish (especially when it's looking at me)I've lost two belt holes (lookin' good!)

Basketball is fun (except in the rain, way too slick). We play with a basketball that is like 100 years old. It has no tread on it. Oh well. It's better than nothing! The African missionaries love me cuz I'm so big. I've also discovered that I am dang good at soccer. I was rippin' it up. I am also the arm wrestling champ of the MTC, like father like son!

When they said this would be a humbling experience that was an understatement! This place is worse than any of the pictures I saw. Pictures can't even describe it. It is hard for me to understand how people live like this. I realize that I am spoiled. We are very blessed people.

We went to the temple the other day and it was good. It was cool because I got to be an escort and it was a great experience. It was hard because I couldn't understand the worker very well. I'm glad we got to go to the temple.

I love you guys. Can't wait to hear from you.

Love, Elder Moss

FIRST LETTER HOME!

We received our first letter today. Here is some of what Elder Moss had to say:

The plane ride . . . UGH!!! So, so, so, so, so, so long. I had about the 3 worst seats you could possibly have. But on the plane ride from NY to Ghana I got to talk with a lady about the church for hours! We talked about how much I loved my family and how I can be with you guys forever. We talked about how I wanted to do the same with my future family. It was cool. I wish I would have had a Book of Mormon to give her.

When we got here, I stepped of the plane and was instantly sweaty! It was gross! Then we had to wait forever for rest of the elders to get here. After that these guys kept trying to take our money. It was crazy. AFRICA!! It is possibly worse than you think. Super, super hot and no a/c. This place is a dump just like the pictures. It is really bad. But what can you do but just share the gospel. I can't understand anything that anyone says. It kinda stinks but, oh well, I will learn.

Thanks for the pictures. (we had made him a small photo album and put it in his backpack for the flight over). I love them. Thanks for everything. I will write again soon. It makes me feel better. I love you loads.

Love, Elder Moss

PS Send lots and lots of stamps (that's if you want letters!)

ARRIVED AT THE GHANA MTC

OW DI BODI!! Elder Moss will hear that greeting often! Elder Moss arrived at the Ghana MTC on Friday, July 2nd. He was able to call home for a minute, and I mean one minute. He had over 18 hours of flying time. He left St. George July 1st at 6 am and arrived in Ghana at 7:40 am on the 2nd. He said it was a really long flight and it was really hot there. He sounded exhausted but he made it safe and sound. He said his companion is Elder Landon Stott from here in Utah. He was a little disappointed that he wouldn't be able to email from the MTC so we are all going through a little withdrawal. He will get to email from the field ( in about 2 wks) and I will be sure to post his letters here.

We want to thank everyone for their love and support of Elder Moss. You can write him at dearelder.com. Because they take awhile to get there, you should send your letters to the Sierra Leone Freetown Mission and not the Ghana MTC. It is a great way for him to receive letters from all of you and it is FREE!

Again, we are grateful for all the love that has been shown to Elder Moss. We can't wait to hear of his exciting adventures in Africa!