Hey family,

How are things this week? Here in Bo, they are the norm - nothing to new to talk about. I am going to do my best to give the details of what might be interesting. So this week started off a little rough. To make a long story short, I think I broke my hand. Luckily, it was on the punching bag and not on a wall or a table or someone. After I relieved my frustration on the bag, my hand hurt but I went back to work and all is well. So in the wonderful words of the prophet, choose to be happy.

On a more positive note, the work is pressing forward here in the small village of Bo. Lots of people are ready for the gospel and lots of people are really, really naïve. I have come to find that here I spend so much time just trying to get people to understand the concept that there is only one true church on this earth and not all churches are going to get you back to heaven. So many people here love the church and they just think that the church is wonderful but they think that the church that they are in is good enough. Which honestly blows my mind because I don’t know how people can believe that God is two faced and he doesn’t care what we do here as long as we call his name and go to church. People are blinded by the ways of the world. Satan has such a tight grasp on the hearts of the people that it is truly sad and yikes, the things that people believe. Every mission has their own challenges and I know that one of the ones here is that the people completely disregard the law of chastity. And it is terrible. I would say that probably the average age to be a mother here is 15 years old, maybe 16. The problem is because of the societies and the traditions of their forefathers. People completely forget about the Lord's commandments and do whatever they think is right. And when they are living in sin, they wonder why they are also living in poverty. When the light of knowledge comes to you and you completely reject it, that is his condemnation. People are digging their own graves. They wonder why they live in trial but they neglect to do the things that the Lord requires of us. So remember, remember always follow the commandments and reap the blessings from heaven.

Well the week continued on and as usual, we have been focusing on teaching families because it is the best thing to do. The problem with that is that families here don't live together. People just sleep wherever there is shelter from the world. Some homes are filled with people from different tribes and countries. So what we do is call the people living in that house a family. Anyway. we have been working with brother Patrick and his family. He is doing great and I love talking with him. He and his son will be baptized on this Saturday. Hopefully, his wife will follow shortly.

We did lots of contacting this week but I am getting tired of these crafty people always leaving me hanging. We found some good people. Unfortunately, our turn out at church was not that great. We only had 4 investigators on Sunday. So we will see what we can do to get that turned around.

So we also had interviews with president. Which went well. I was supposed to get a new temple recommend but he forgot his book so it will have to wait. I don’t ever want to not have it. I always want to be ready to go even if I don’t have a temple. Can you believe it has been two years since I got my recommend ~ man that’s crazy. Anyway, he talked to me about splitting the branch because the building doesn’t have a big enough capacity. Uh, so that makes lots of work for us. He wants us to draw up some new boundaries and look for people that could be leaders and yadda yadda yadda. Overall, the interview was great. He gave me some good info and I think that he doesn’t really want me to play football and I don't know what is up with that. I want to play football so I guess I will take his advice for what it's worth - what is it worth?

But anyways mission is good. After the interview we got a freezer!!! Ya ~ so sweet ~ no, not really! It is a nice storage unit because we have no power to turn it on unless we use the generator and we use that for important stuff. I guess beggars can't be choosers.

So after interviews, me and my companion wanted to get some food so we went to, what used to be, one of our favorite places. Cheap and good. Until this particular day, when we found some kind of animal teeth in our food! Luckily, I didn’t find it in my mouth but my companion did. So I think since we found bush meat in our food, we are going to limit our eating there.

My week was good so if you have questions feel free to ask. Love ya all!

Love Elder Kev

PS Caden, Justin and Cody ~ love ya too! Keep the faith

Dear family,

How is life? Things here are still going great except I think that I am getting fat again. Unfortunately I am around 230. But I think that I am gaining my weight because I am getting pretty strong again. I am lifting boku!!! (That means a lot) I am thinking about just going on a orange diet because I have really come to love oranges. It isa food that I can buy most anywhere and it is relatively cheap. I can get three for just 1000 leones. It is nice and economic.

So the work here is pretty great, nothing to really complain about. The actual work is so awesome. It is the living conditions that takes a toll on your life. It's no wonder that people don’t live to be very old here. It is because of what they do to themselves just to live. But the work is so sweet. Strict obedience brings forth the blessings of heaven. It really does. I would admonish all missionaries to check themselves and see if they themselves are worthy of the blessings of heaven. If we are not doing our part then we cant expect others to do theirs.Something that I have learned this week is not to fear that we are inadequate but rather that we should be powerful beyondmeasure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. The Lord gives us power to overcome any obstacle. This week in my studies I was reminded of something that Nephi saw. It is so cool because most people only describe how the Holy Ghost feels but Nephi describes how he looks. I think he is the only one to describe seeing him. That is in 1 Nephi 11:11. It is interesting. You should go look.

This week at church was great for investigators. My district blew the doors off the charts - not really - but for six people we had 50 plus investigators at church. We are really trying. We are making it a point to be the best. The motto that we have had or that I have carried around in my mission is to work smart. I always tell missionaries to work smart. I love when people catch on and they start to see success. My other motto (thanks dad) is "People honestly don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care". It is one of the truest statements that I know. This week we met the Misale family. There is this old guy, his name is Patrick and he is a stud. I think that we will baptize his whole family here soon. Every time I turn around, there is another child that he has. The count now is like 6. I don’t talk about people much because I leave people out and then I feel bad or it is just personal, but this guy is awesome so I thought I would let you know about him. He is a retired military man and his wife is a cook, and defintely one of the best herb/ plant cookers I have ever eaten from. They say that by their meals you shall know them. The problem with teaching lots of people and becoming good friends with them is that the food becomes very abundant and that is not good for my diet. It’s a sacrifice I will make for the work! I bet the food would not be to bad for you here because it is all plants but the problem is that it is soaked in oil. When I come home I am going to have a heart attack because of the good food, but like I said before, it will be a happy sickness.

I don’t know what really to say and it seems as if you have heard it all before so if anyone has questions please ask me and I will do my best to answer. Sorry I haven't written as often but I am in the bush and it is hard to send mail. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you (maybe I shouldn't tell you) but this week when I was brushing I got bit by some bug or something because I developed this gnarly infection on my leg. But don’t worry dad taught me well. I took alcohol and a scrub brush and even bleach. Wow, it reminded me of laying on the counter while dad scrubbed the stones out of my back. But don’t worry it is clearing up now so no problems and no worries. I have had survived so many life threatening diseases while being here - it is quite the accomplishment! I can say I had malaria twice and typhoid and some other crazy diseases. Ya I am proud of it. When my football pals complain about joint pain or anything else I will just say hahaha try having malaria and typhoid then tell me you feel sick. Anyway, I am healthy and strong and working hard. Sorry for rambling on and on. Have a great week!

Love Elder Moss

Hey Family,

Another day, another dollar. Here, even another transfer! Can you believe just 2 more transfers after this one and I will be finished. It is crazy to think about it. I feel like now I need to push even harder! When I get home, I don't want to feel like I didn't do enough. I hear missionaries complain once they are home that they did not try their hardest and that they wished they could have changed something. I don't want to say that when I get home. I want to be able to say that I gave everything that I had. So I guess what I need to do is work. Something that I have found that helps me is to write everyday at the top of my planner to push harder or do better. That reminds me that whatever I am doing right now, I can probably do it better.

This week was productive. As for the repairs part of the week, it feels like I am Mr. Fix-it. I swear I can fix anything with a leatherman. Down to even repairing the top end of a generator. This week I was fortunate to get to do a ring set on our high quality China made generator. It was burning oil like crazy and it was bogging down like crazy every time I would turn on anything. So I figured it was rings. I was right. Anyway, it runs like a champ now thanks to my pair of pliers and a little "can do" attitude. I even ventured in to fixing up our water system. If you didn't know, all the water that we use has to be run through a triple filter. The thing was giving us a headache because our pump would not work. Everyone is too lazy to fill up the water tank and I was tired of filling it. So, once again, I decided to go Dan Moss on the thing. I came up with this system to run the water from our main tank outside into the pump so we can pump. All they have to do is turn on the tap and pump. I might say it is pretty genius. Now the problem is that they forget to turn off the water after they pump it. And when they do that our tank runs empty and guess who gets to fill it up. You guessed it, me. But it's not bad. I love water so I will do it. No probs. Today was also very productive. I had the dad cleaning rampage in me, haha. I started cleaning today and everytime I turned around something else was dirty. So needless to say, I cleaned the entire house - bathrooms and all. Man. I threw away so much crap. Like 3 years of lazy missionaries garbage. I feel bad for some peoples future wives. I don't think missionaries know what cleaning is. I have become very clean. I don't like disarray.

Something crazy happened this week. Do you remember an Elder Michael emailing me before mission? Come to find out that Mark Walton was his bishop in his singles ward in San Jose. Anyway, he has been home for some time now, but he came back and he saw me walking down the road and took me out to dinner. What a small world. Dad will have to talk to Mark about it. The week was good we had a fair amount of people to church. I am really starting to see some progress. I am getting a new companion Elder Addo. Kind of weird because he was training and now he is back to my junior companion. President wants me to go somewhere next transfer. He is preparing Elder Addo to take my place, so we will see what happens. But for now, I am here working my tail off. Trying to finish out strong.

This week I ruined my nicest shirt. My pride killed it, haha. Someone told me that an African said that I (an American) couldn't climb a coconut tree. I proved them wrong! I climbed this huge tree and got a coconut, climbed back down successfully, without even getting my shirt dirty. They were impressed but the part that ruined my shirt was when I used my manliness to break open the coconut with my fist, which I want to say is a bad idea! It hurts your hand like crazy but I got it. The problem is that it splashed coconut juice all over my shirt and made stains. The stains won't come out! It's ok though, I have too many shirts and I am trying to get rid of some of them before I go. Thanks to dad, I have learned to really take care of my things so I really haven't gone through my clothes, except my shoes.

I ventured to cook some of the cookies you sent me. Unfortunately, I did not have anything to cook on (like cookie sheets). Luckily we have metal pots and lids. Yep, I cooked cookies on a lid of a pot in the oven, and the better part of it is that I did not even burn any of the cookies.

So I guess that's my week. Oh yeah, before I forget, this Americana place opened here. These crazy people from Colorado opened it. I don't care how crazy they are - they can cook REAL HAMBURGERS. Honestly, I didn't think that was possible here but they managed to do it! I love going there but it burns my money like crazy. Needless to say, I might be putting weight back on. But it's happy weight to say the least. No, just kidding I am too poor to eat there regularly. Well, I have rambled too much. I hope that everyone is having a great time at home. I love you guys so much. Have a great week.

Love Elder Kev

Testimony

Wow another week has come and gone, it's crazy! Before we know it, I am going to be home. Things here are starting to turn around. Last Sunday we had 13 investigators at church. I think that is the most investigators that this branch has ever seen. We have been working really hard to get things going. I am not the type of person that likes to waste time. Me and my companion are doing well, sometimes we have our differences (well, lots of the time but you know it's better to just let him win). I have come to learn that the harder you throw a ball at the wall, the faster it comes back at you. So sometimes it is just better to leave things alone then to fight back.

This week the only really interesting thing was that I got my white handbook stolen from me, out of my room at night! But it's ok . I found it on the path alongside of our house. Crazy kids think I have money. Little do they know missionaries are poor.

Ok I guess more exciting things did happen last week. Elder Curtis from the 70 was here and he gave us a good instruction on the Book of Mormon. Man, I love that book! This year we are reading it again. I think I will be able to finish it again before I go home. I have been working on the Doctrine and Covenants forever. For like 5 months now and I am not done with it yet. When I finish I will try to hit the Book of Mormon for my 10^th time on my mish. But we will see, I have lots I need to do before I go home.

This week I have been thinking a lot about my own testimony since mom gave her talk. We are always working on strengthening others but our own we never really talk about. I guess Caden really said it well. what hasn't changed about my testimony! I think my testimony sometimes is hidden by the complaints of my living conditions or my frustrations with my companions but my testimony has changed so much since I have been here. I never really talked much about it at home but I really learned that the church is true when dad broke his back. I remember when dad was lying on the ground and Brian and Uncle Robert left to wait for mom. I remember sitting on my knees just waiting for someone to come and help. Even though I was young, I decided to pray. I remember as I prayed, I just knew that everything was going to be ok. I knew that Heavenly Father had heard my prayer. Really, from that point on, I had never questioned the church to be true or anything about it for that matter. Then I met Riss and I started to think about my testimony. I started to think "is my testimony a rock or is it pretty flimsy". I knew I was leaving on mission and I knew I needed to change. So, once again, I prayed. I prayed to know what to do. I prayed to help me become better. Once again, I got the confirmation that everything was going to be ok. Just try your hardest, do your best. So I am here now, working away. Every day we take for granted the power of prayer. We take for granted our testimonies and pretty much everything about the church. My motto for my mission is to become better. Every day I ask myself "did I do my best today? Did I strive to become better than I was before?" As I have asked myself this, I have seen myself change. I have noticed that I really love this church. I can look any person dead in the face and tell them that I KNOW CHRIST LIVES, I KNOW HIM!! I have really learned what love is and I know what it means to love someone. As I have said before, I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The decision has been made I have stepped up. I am done with low living, dwarfed goals and colorless dreams. I don't need to be first, right, recognized, regarded, praised or rewarded. I will not slow down, sit down or give up. I walk by faith and labor with power. The Lord is on my side and he is there to guide me. Sometimes, the road is narrow and people are there to tempt us. Never, ever give in to the adversary. Always keep the faith. Never lose faith in our Savior. He loves you and He loves me! Love in this life is key. I would admonish everyone to seek love. When you know what it means to love then everything bad no longer exists. You will always do what is right. I can't say it better than the scriptures "perfect love casteth out all fear". I feel bad that so many people use love just as a causal passive word. They don't understand what it means. But let me tell you love means you are willing to do anything. You will go where He wants you to go and do the very thing He would have you do. My father is a good example of this to me. He has taught me to always protect and love your family. To always be your best for them and that is what I will do. This mission is an experience that one can never forget. Missionary work is for everyone. It teaches you so much. I am grateful to know that I am called of God. It's amazing to know that my authority is above that of the kings of the earth. To know that I am a disciple of Christ. How much greater than that does it get. Missionary work is not easy, no doubt about that, but no pain or trial that we experience is wasted. If we take each one with humility, then we will grow from it, we will become better. For all those who are contemplating going on mission, I say to them something Justin's dad would always say, "MAN UP" . Go and do the things that the Lord commands and let the windows of heaven shower down upon you. There is nothing thus far in my life that has given me greater experience than my mission. Always remember that the strongest metal comes from the hottest fire. So to sum it all up: I LOVE GOD! I LOVE CHRIST! I LOVE MY FAMILY! Simply, I will do whatever it takes to be the best I can be!! Thank you to everyone who has helped to make me who I am today. Godspeed

Love Elder Moss (the missionary from the jungle)

Happy New Year!

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.

    - Frances R. Havergal.

 

It is official - I am coming home THIS YEAR! I  can't believe it - it is so crazy to think about.  People here are making me more trunky than I am even making myself.  The work here is starting to pick up. I think that the last elders here might have been sleeping (I am not sure.) The Lord has a work for me to do and that is to start getting converts to this church.  Man, it breaks my heart when we put so much effort into the week and then the outcome at church is bad.   But this week was good.  We had an awesome new family at church on Sunday and also 9 investigators.  Quite a change from the previous week of 2 investigators. It's funny to sit and see that most of the congregation is investigators. The people that we find are really the people who are going to be the leaders of the church here in the very near future.

 

This week kind of was a drag and also very fast.  It is funny how that works.   When you look back, it is fast but then when you are in it, it is slow. So this week the interesting thing was some pastors we taught. Man. they think they are so so smart but in reality they are so dumb. There is this one church here that is called Fresh Hope.  It is pretty dominate here.  Anyway, I happened to run into the leaders  (unfortunately, the sad part is my cap kind of popped) and I just started to rock him with doctrine. Which totally did not help because he didn't understand.   I can testify to you that when you just listen to the spirit, that is when you can truly teach. Toward the end, when I finally started to cool down,  I started to say the things that I needed to say. And when I did that, he was touched. I know that he will never leave his church but at least I know now that he knows what he is doing is wrong.

 

I really don't have much to say for this week except things are going great. I have been really working hard to get the district turned around and to have us all be working hard to become more Christ-like.  That is my new personal theme.   I just love to work on them.  It makes me feel good when I work on them. This week I have been working on undoing about 2 years of missionary laziness.   Every missionary that comes here says "eh, I don't need to clean.  I am leaving here".   So that means it gets really really dirty.  I cannot believe they have been living in such filth.  It makes me sick to think about.  Luckily, now it is clean!  I was scrubbing the shower and he says "I think you scrubbing the paint off"  and I said, "NO it is not brown paint it is WHITE!!!"  He says "oh -  thanks!  Good job" and then leaves!  If you want it done then just do it!  My future wife is lucky that I have become quite the clean freak. I don't like being dirty and I am also getting good at living with nothing.

 

Nothing much else has really been going on here, just lots of rebuilding and training, same old same old. Not much to talk about. I have learned that I love to study and I love to pray, but the coolest thing I think I have learned is that I can be close to God but I can still be Kevin.   I know I have changed a lot but I am still Kev and that's the best part. I am trying to show missionaries that you have to have fun.  That you have to be happy.  If you are not happy then you won't be a good teacher. People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care. Sometimes the best lesson you can teach someone is not one that you will pray and talk doctrine but one that you go and laugh and get to know each other. When they know who you are, then they will open up. Thank you everyone for the support. Thank you for the Christmas. I wish I could write and thank each of you individually but postage is rare and mail is slow.  I can't wait to meet those of you that are supporting me that I have not even met.  Thank you. Much love to you all.

 

Love, Elder Kev

SLFM

 

PS  Tell bang train "what up - long time no talk".  Also J Dawg Ence mafia and Caden man I miss and love you guys and need I forget Hintze -man, that guy, he is going to be bigger than me haha but I will whip him still!