Just Call Me Bobana

Hey family,

So it has been just a few short days since I have talked to you guys on the phone. I tell you it was good to hear you guy's voices! But I am a little disappointed cause it seems like I did not get to say really anything that I wanted to. And very sorry to Sherissa because the phone was having a rough time so my apologies are to her! Last week was very long and very unproductive. We tried but we really did not get a single thing done. Really, it is hard and our area is really struggling. It is one thing to suffer the things we do but it is another thing to suffer and not have the work going crazy. So I was trying to think of the fun things that have happened. And I think I have told you most about the party and stuff. Christmas has come and gone and I did not even know that it happened. It is a good thing that I had a calendar or I would have for sure missed it. Except maybe the fact that I was counting down to hear your beautiful voices. I feel that I have the need to tell every one thank you for all of the gifts. It is so awesome this time a year as we are all commemorating the birth of our Savior, that we can still remember the other things in this life and how important family is. And I am glad that you did not forget about me on the other side of the planet. Since I am lacking stamps, I better say thank you to Sister Lamb and Brother Lamb for the
gift. I appreciated it. I also need to thank gma k. You are awesome! Thank you for supporting me and loving me. I hope all is well with you and grandpa. I wish you a happy new year to come and year filled with blessings. And I hope that you guys are enjoying yourselves over there. Also, Grandma and Grandpa Moss and Uncle Greg and Aunt Shannon and my other family, the Randalls. You were all so kind and generous. Thank you.

Now, for some reason every one was trying to dodge us on Christmas, which is sad, so we did not have the greatest of days. We got rained on, we were all muddy and one forced appointment. And we walked miles. I tell you. But I did get to sit down and see what a few kids got. You would be amazed to see the look on their faces to see what they got. Some kids, if they got anything, it was a used pair of clothes and the really lucky ones got about 40 leone dollars or 25-30 cents. Wow it was amazing to see how happy they were. And it is because now they have probably 3 pairs of clothes. Kids here will go through their whole childhood with one or two pairs. You may ask what do they do when they wash them. Well you guessed it they don't wear any! But most are not that bad. Most have a couple. But they probably do not like the rain because it means that inside the house gets all wet. Most people have used tin roofs. So they put what ever they can find inside there 8x8 house, just big enough for a bed, to catch water. Then most of those people will use the water that they collected to cook with or drink. So when ever you are down in the dumps thinking you are neglected, be happy that you have a dish to wash, be happy that you have water that you can drink, that you don't have to collect in a bucket. Be happy you get to wash clothes in a washing machine. How I would die right now to tell my dad I would LOVE to mow the lawn. I would LOVE to clean the kitchen. Why? Because I don't have those nice things. In the spirit of Christmas, I have come to realize that you need to be happy with what you have and don't always be looking at what you want. I am excited to see the new year come but it doesn't really matter to me what year it is because a day gone is a day closer to being home. I love this poem:

Another year is dawning,
Dear Father let it be,
In working or in waiting,
Another year with thee.
Another year of progress,
Another year of praise,
Another year of proving
Thy presence all the days.
Another year of mercies,
Of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness,
The glory of thy face.
Another year of leaning
Upon thy loving breast,
Another year of trusting,
Of quiet, happy rest.
Another year of service,
Of witness for thy love,
Another year of training
For holier work above.
Another year is dawning,
Dear Father, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven,
Another year for thee.

What a awesome poem! I really like the end another year for thee. Because that is why we are here, so that we, as sons of our Heavenly Father can go out and share the wonderful message that Jesus Christ lives! He is the son of God. I know that and I want people to know that as well. How could we harness such a great knowledge as latter day saints and not want to just shout it to all. Sweet is the work! The way that our lives are lived is one of the best ways to be missionaries. So kudos to all that are living well. In the gift that Riss sent, she sang the song Be Still My Soul, and because I was listening so intently (because it was her), I really started to understand the song and it became on of my favorites right there. Be still my soul, the Lord is on my side. Enough said in that little statement right there. Music has such power in it. I just wish that I could be a better singer so that I could portray the amazing words written for us to hear. In our program that we had, we had to do a skit so we thought it would be fun to do the first part of the Book Of Mormon and getting the plates from Laban. But we did it modern style. Oh it was so funny. I was laughing like crazy. That is some fun stuff that happened.

So I don't really have a whole lot more to say. Yesterday the church had other churches over and they pretty much had a music show down. It was pretty fun to be able to see some soul music. But…. They would not give us the time of the day which was the soul purpose of inviting them. Afterwards, it was funny they are always astonished at how strong that I am. I lifted half the piano myself while 3 people lifted the other
half. It was nice. Today, mhmmm, was good except I scraped up my knee. We played soccer and dominated. Guess what position I play? Yes, Striker. Why? Because I am Bobana haha. That's my new name and it will be on the back of my truck as a sticker when I get home. It means big man. The internet is slow today so no promises on the pictures. Maybe at the church they have internet. Today I scored 2 goals. I know I am getting good. Riss look out. And I am playing with people that are really good. So I have decided I am slacking on my weight loss. I really need to step it up a notch. I will start running again in the mornings to boost my diet. I guess you could say.

I am so jelous of Caden. It is not fair that he gets to skype and I get a crap phone that I cant hardly hear. But I am happy for him. Just one of the many blessings of Africa. Well I better end and say that patience is a virtue I love each and ever one of you. Thank you for all you do. I love you
guys. Have a great new year! Love ya

Love BOBANA

Patience, Patience, Patience

Sorry everyone ~ with all the excitement of Christmas, it has taken me until now to get to this.  We had a wonderful phone call with Elder Moss yesterday and he is doing well.  He misses the familiarity of Christmas.  He said it was just another day in Africa, not many signs of Christmas there.  It was so great to hear his voice.  We received this letter on Wednesday and should have another one tomorrow.  Sorry for the delay . . . .

Dear family of mine,

This week I received your wonderful love in the mail and I want to say I am deeply grateful for everything. It is amazing how much you treasure things when you no longer have them. It is so great to have a loving family and friends back home with such great support and power.  Something that I learn every blessed day of my mission is that PATIENCE is a virtue.  It's funny how you can learn things that are forced upon you.  I was reading in my journal the other day and read something that President Lyman had said to me the night I was set apart as a missionary.  He said that each companion will teach you, yep, you guessed it, patience. I sure hope he didn't mean EVERY companion.   You know, I am slowly learning.  Nothing, I mean NOTHING can be about Kevin Moss. That is what I am learning.   Just submit to others and all is well in the companionship. Lots of time to ponder and talkless days walking around.  But I really get to reflect on the love that my Savior truly has for me. I mean at least I am alive. Although I may have times of toils and pain, my Heavenly Father will never forsake me. Although the road may be bumpy and rough, I will learn and grow. If it doesn't kill you it will heal you. That is a good thing. 
 
To start out, this week we haven't done alot of missionary work this whole week. We had conference on Monday and Tuesday. Well it was a get together.  We watched a movie, and went and cleaned this nasty school.   I can tell you, if you ever in your life think that our school is semi bad just keep your mouth shut I mean, if you need to go to the bathroom here then that would be the back corner of the classroom. Half of the chairs are broken.  They have 3 legs.  I think that they are hand me down desks from little house on the prairie. Haha Riss'  fam will appreciate that.  Some other things this week is that we went and sang at the hospital in front of hundreds of people.   Guess what they laid on me -  ya, a solo.  Wow, I am not a good singer so I don't know why I have to sing so much.  Also, in the concert last week my solo had some people in tears.  I am not so sure if they were tears of pain or tears of joy.  Speaking of singing good, Sherissa sang on my tape and it was amazing.  I think that I am going to need either a new tape player or another copy of the tape riss sent me.   Can you wear them out?   Cause that might happen!   And Brian, I will be expecting a full refund of the gifts you took over for me.   Just kidding, enjoy.   Christmas in the Liberia,  no it is not the same.  It is soooooo hot. I have been sleeping for a total of about 3 hours max a night. Cause I just sweat like no ones business.  And this rash that is consuming my body is not too pleasant either. But what do you do t.i.a.  
 
So I have been asked if I am from just about every country on the planet.  The one for this week is Ireland. I wish I would have a sweet accent. We decided to do some random contacts and teach cause we have some not so good investigators.  Turns out catholics are super stubborn but if you know your stuff then they don't have a leg to stand on.  There is a religious people here that call themselves chrislums. Oh my they are muslim and christian combination.  I don't know how that works cause they are so contradicting. But what the heck, this is Africa, anything goes here. Also I recently found out that this small boy in my branch spoke his first words and won't shut up.  Guess what he said?  Moss.  And his older brother is not so much older and he walks around asking for Moss the boss.   Cool, at least someone here loves me.
 
Hmmm fun things that happened or that are happening. I hope that you don't watch they news.  If not this might be news to you. Ivory coast has established or is having war. I don't know if you know where that is but it is next door to Liberia.  People here are kind of scared but whatever.  But next year there might be some kind of war here cause of elections.   This guy, he was a rebel and now he is running for president. They are suspecting he might win. Joy right? So all the American missionaries are out of Ivory Coast. I hope that that does not happen here cause that would kill all the work that I have been doing.  Satan always tries to destroy the family like Isaac, Samson, John the baptist, Moses, Samuel, Jesus.  Look them up its cool. Man
family is a great gift from our Heavenly Father.  I testify to you that we are blessed as a family to have each other but even more blessed to know that our Heavenly Father loves us more than anything. Out of all the billions and billions of stars our Heavenly Father decided that this was the place that he needed to go. What a honor and blessing it is to be in this dispensation of the fullness of times.   How great is it to be alive on this earth. Although every single person in my apartment hates America, I love it.  It is a blessed land. How awesome it is to live there.  It's funny that they think that I can't hear them raging on America when I am in the next room.
 
I love all of the gifts that were sent.  I thank you so much for them,  I can't even tell you how much I love them. Every single one.  Pants are great and they are perfect even a little loose.  I put a shirt on yesterday and I fit very nicely in a large.  I will send a pic if I can. I am a master at the cube and I love to listen to Riss, oh she is a angel. The zone leader asked me why I was so happy and I said cause I just listened to an angel of God.  Oh some bad news,  t.i.a.   I don't have an oven.  But you know me, I am creative.  I will make one.   Riss don't worry. Thanks for all the stuff.
 
Something I have learned is that if you don't open you mouth nothing can come out of it. So I am trying to stop complaining. I am going to try to talk to you in Kalukwa so you can't understand me or Krio.   I haven't decided.   JK, I will talk in English.  I will call 7 here or around then which is about 12 there.

I told you I was learning the piano.  Uh I suck, but guess what I PLAYED the piano in sacrament meeting.  WHAT!!!!  I suck but I played just the right hand. Hahaha I don't know why they asked but I did it anyways. And watch out Riss, I am getting so dang good at soccer.  It is insane in the membrane. I am going to do work when I get home. Like nothing. The cds are sweet, well I can tell you about that on the phone. So I have to sing again this week, uh it will be alright.
 
I have been praying like nothing to be able to have eternal eyes and it is really working. How it is to see the big picture and it is so great. Don't trade what you want most for what you want at the moment.  I saw the good timber poem on the Ences program. I sent that to you too, I love that. I hope all is well with the people of St. G and I am doing alright.  Keeping to myself and fighting through the storm. Cause there is always sunshine after a storm.  In the illustrious words of ronald mcdonald (mmmmm McDonald's, that sounds sooooo good) put a smile on.

Riss, family, every one, I love you to death keep on keeping on.  Until Saturday, I love you guys.  Merry Christmas to all!  Enjoy the holidays.

Love, Elder Moss

Ahhhhhh ~ A hamburger

HEY FAMILY

How are you doing this week? I am really struggling with my companion. God really wants me to learn something . . . I just don't know what that is. This week has been very long for me I have been just not really talking to anyone, I just lay in my bed and read and do nothing. For some odd reason, I just don't have much in common with Africans and they don't really care that I am even here because they have each other. It really is starting to frustrate me. But I think I have done enough complaining for the week.

The week started out kind of alright. We had zone meeting and it was fun cause I got to go and chill with my boy, Elder Jenkins. I swear if he wasn't here, I don't know what I would do! He keeps telling me we are going to be the assistants together someday. I laugh because I totally believe that he could be but as for me, I am not even close to good enough to do that. Anyway, at zone meeting we found out that we are going to be putting on this concert for all the people here in Liberia. Turns out that we are singing and giving talks. Uh man, I don't know how well this is going to turn out but we will find out. Oh ya, I guess they determined that I am the best singer here in the zone so, guess what? I have to sing a solo in the concert. A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief. By myself, in front of possible like 100-500 people. I am kind of nervous cause I don't think I am that great at singing, just better than the average African. So I hope that I don't flub up. We are doing this concert thing like 3 times. So that is some news that we got.

So far, no packages yet. I hope that President has them. And Riss not a chance that I am waiting for Christmas to open my package. I hope that I even get them to begin with! I am so stoked for dad's present cause he made so much hype about it.

So this week I had a legit hamburger. It cost me 5 bucks but I don't even care. It was at that golf course that I told you about. It was so sweet! Man I want some people food so bad I can't even tell you! So I wish that I could send you a picture of the new pants that I got. With my boy ej. They are so freakin' ugly I cant even tell you and his are worse than mine but we got them for 140 haha that's 2 dollars. It really shows how much I sweat. And they are nice and tight I think they are 36 or 38. Man, I love elder Jenkins. I better be his comp some day.

Well what else? Oh I was on exchanges and this naked lady (something that is usual to us) started to chase us and yell our names. We were like ahhh lets get the crap out of here. We just took off into the bush. I was like a lightening bolt or something. We just looked at each other and we were like lets get the heck out of here. Which brings me to my next topic. We have a video of us chillin' in the bush. I have been taking so many pictures and videos so I can send them home but I don't think I can't get them home before Christmas. I feel so bad cause I have not done anything for Christmas.

So have you guys been getting all of my stuff? I have nothing else to do anyways besides write and read. No one to talk to, nothing to do except lay in a pool of sweat on my bed, and get massacred by bugs. The only thing that makes me mad is that our area is suffering like crazy. I am praying and trying so hard to straighten it out. I hope this Book of Mormon class helps. I know it will helps me to study it more, that's for sure. This week I have been studying like crazy on testimony because of what Riss said to me last week about sharing testimony. And how sometimes people have a hard time spitting out what they want to say. But you know I did not believe what she was saying I know her testimony is so powerful but how do I know her testimony because I have never heard her say it vocally. And it is because testimony is probably more than 75 percent the way you are and not what you say. People should be able to feel your testimony when you are around them. They should be able to know and feel that you love this gospel without you even having to say a single thing. You should be able to feel the love they have for God and I can feel that when I am with certain people.

That picture of Riss and Sarah is beautiful. This week we had primary program. Africans really can't sing and it was so unorganized. It was ill prepared. They are lazy.

Well we played bball this week and it was fun. For Riss, the area is not going so well and not to many people keep commitments. Everyone will say yeah I will come to church but no one comes. Hadji is doing great. Still giving members a hard time.

I am out of things to say. Know that I love you all so much, every one.

Love ya guys forever!

Love, Elder Moss

I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY!!!!

Hello my family, and friends!

I hope that all is well with the people of stg and the surrounding areas reading this email. One more week and I still have not died so I am looking to the future. I do want to say that PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE and it is one that I am working ever so hard on, I can tell you that much for sure. One thing that I am very excited about is that in like twenty some odd days I will be able to say I am going home next year. Wahoo!! I know it sounds dumb but I am stinkin' stoked, you have no idea.

So a few funny things have happened this week. First off I am considered African now, at least that is what people tell me. As for lessons this week, we had some twenty or so lessons so it was not that great of a week. Kind of so so. For some that might sound awesome. For us, eh not so good. For me, I want to have more. I was a little depressed on Sunday cause we only had like 8 investigators, so we we're slacking a little there as well. We are teaching this guy, his name is Hadji, and he is a stud. He is so funny! He likes to give members a ton of crap. He studies like crazy so he knows a lot so he thinks that he needs to test our members. It makes me laugh! We will ask him a question and he will answer or he will say something like what does she think? Or he will study and write down questions and then he will ask them instead of us. But he is a stud he will be getting baptized here in a couple of weeks and I might do that. My companion doesn't like to baptize people. He likes the branch to do it so I won't be getting in my whites much this transfer. But there is this one guy that I will baptize. I don't know if you remember me telling you about a guy name Regenious, but he was one of the first people that I taught when I got here. Anyway, he is amazing. What happened was he moved and he never got baptized and I was sad but turns out that he is living in Elder Jenkins area and I met up with him. One day and I was walking and he come up to me and jumps on my back and covers my eyes. I was like, oh no, no one is going to jump me! I pulled him off and I am like REGENIOUS what is up. I asked how he was and he said good and he was living around here. To make a long story short, he asked me, yet again, to baptize him. He was one of my favorites so that makes me really happy. We had some regular questions asked like "do you guys dance and play drums". Things like that.

So I am trying to decide if I am supposed to learn patience or solve my covered up anger problem. Back home when I was angry I could leave but really all I was doing was covering up the problem. Now I am learning to deal with it. Something I keep telling myself is that patience is a virtue. Another thing someone told me was to try counting to ten which totally did not work I would get to ten and have flames shooting out my eyes cause I was more mad. But I have decided to spell names in my head. The one that works good for me is Sherissa. I go like this S-H-E-R-I-S-S-A. It sounds really dumb but thebtime I get to the end I can't help but smile. It is so funny but it really works. So many times I have been biting my tongue this week, just cringing cause I was so mad. My comp hard and I don't know what I can I do. Believe it or not, when we walk around we don't talk. There is noooooo talking during the day. Yep, that is hard for me, cause you know me, Mr. Talker. Another thing I have been trying to do is serve him. Let me tell you something . . . his shoes are very shiny cause everytime I get mad, I sit down and grab his shoes and start saying S-H-E-R-I-S-S-A!!! and that's no lie.

So we take these vans and you know how we used to joke about a ford and how the back seats feel like a park bench. Well, I climbed in a Ford van like the Aerostar van, with 24 other people, and literally, PARK BENCHES. Yes, you read that right. I was thinking "please don't crash cause if we
do we are all dead - men, woman, children, goats whatever was in the car. And I am telling the truth when I say that many people are in that van!

Another thing that happened this week - I am really getting sick of people beating their children. I walked up to this lady who was beating her child and I took the switch and I said stop. The little kid was bleeding. I said "what the crap are you doing?" She told me he was annoying her and I said "no duh he is maybe 4 years old what do you expect?" I gave it back to her I asked how many times she had hit him she told me like 5. I said now take that switch and hit me as hard as you can ten times. At first she wouldn't do it. I said you take that and hit me ten times. So she took it and softly hit me once. I said, "no you hit me." So she did. She was trying to stop and I said not
until you are done. When she was done she was in tears. I said what is wrong. You hit me so I should be crying. I asked again and she said I don't ever want to hit a man of God. I said "a man of god? What about God's blessed children?" I said if you ever want to hit a child like that again then you call me and I will take the beating.

This week I saw a car quest hat I thought of the Averetts. I was smiling. You notice a lot of things when you have no one to talk to. Oh my goodness something new this week happened. There was a baby blessing! I got excited cause It was the first one I have seen in Africa. We are standing there and the baby is giving us troubles so what does does the Mom do? Yep, she started to breast feed in the middle of the blessing. Talk about a spirit killer. I am glad I didn't give the blessing. Holy smoke!!

So we are teaching a Book of Mormon class. Also because of Riss taking me to firesides so much I decided to set up a fireside and it is going to be great. Man we are doing some good here. Oh on a sad note, this lady died last night when her motorcycle went off this really narrow bridge that we take everyday. I hate the bike riders here, they suck at driving. I want to just show them how sometimes. So there is a golf course here in Liberia - it is like golfing in the ditch but it is a golf course.

Wow, I have had no water for 3 days. It hasn't been coming. You really appreciate storage when you rely on it. Well I have rambled on and on and on. I think I have said plenty enough for one day. Thanks for the picture. Dang B is getting big. She is so cute. I love you all, the whole fam. Can't wait to talk to you. Love you ~ till next week . . . . Always remember that the sun always shines when the rain stops. The Apostle Paul asks in Ephesians, chapter 4, verse 26 of the Joseph Smith Translation: (these are for me this week) Can ye be angry, and not sin? Let not the sun go down upon your wrath? I ask, is it possible to feel the Spirit of our Heavenly Father when we are angry? I know of no instance where such would be the case.

From 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, we read: There shall be no disputations among you. . . . For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away. To be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice. If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry. I testify that such is possible. It is I who will be happy. I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY!!


Love Big Elder Moss (getting slimmer)
Sorry about the spelling t.i.a.