December 27th Letters

December 27, 2010

Familia de espirito:

Don’t ask me what that means, but I’m starting to get bored of coming up with new addresses for these emails that I’m writing. But, it was AWESOME to talk to all of you on Christmas. Man o man it was awesome. Wasn't that weird like I thought it would be, but all of you sound the same as you have before so not much has changed. It seems like everyone back at home keeps saying that they can tell that I’ve changed a lot which I don't know what that’s supposed to mean, but, I guess it’s for the better. I keep wondering what I will be like in a year and a half. Oh well, it’s not important. But this email probably won't be too long since I told you practically everything on Christmas. But again, thank you for all the gifts that you gave me they are very well used and they will be for a long time.

I can't wait to get all the letters from the whole family. I think in every conversation I had with everyone I told them to repent and write me more letters. I was very excited when dad told me that g-ma went through with my idea of having a Christmas party with Uncle Brian’s family and having all of them write to me, so I will be excited to write them. I even told Scott to have Karyn write me. So, I guess I will be having a lot of letters to write in the next coming weeks.

After I talked with all of you guys on Christmas we went to our bishop’s house and ate there and then we got to play games with all of the kids. Me and the bishop went at it in ping pong and after much trial I beat him. It was the first time that he had lost in 15 years he said, and all the kids were saying we have hope now, he actually lost!!! So I gave them a message of hope this Christmas season, haha, probably not in the best missionary way, but it was Christmas. And on Christmas night, when a member that was at the bishops house to dropped us off at our apartment, we were helping him unload things at his house first and so I was in the back and his little girl just looked at me held out her arms and she just started falling expecting me to catch her good thing I acted fast because she was seriously just going to fall if I didn't catch her. So I caught her and put her on the ground she was a cute little girl but it was pretty funny the member saw me and he started giving me a hard time about it all, but at least I saved a little girl from getting hurt, so the spirit of the law right???????

But other than that, that’s all I got. I love you guys so much, and I will be trying to send out as many letters as I can to everyone.

Happy New Year!!!

Love,

Elder John Moore


Hey Papa,

Well I promised you that I would respond to your email when I got them so here I am. That’s so sweet that G-ma went thru with my idea, it will be so sweet to get letters from everyone. I’m shaking right now because of the excitement. But it was so awesome to talk to you all on Christmas. It wasn't as weird as I thought it was going to be. I’m glad I was able to talk to everyone. Elder Deardeuff has 12 siblings and so he got permission to talk with his whole family for an hour and a half, and he still didn't get a chance to talk with everyone. I don't think that he did the speaker phone like we did. But it wasn't as distracting as I thought it was going to be, which I guess that’s good because it’s not meant to be distracting. It was pretty normal I thought you guys all sound the same and seem to be doing awesome. How’s the weight loss going????

Oh, don't worry about me getting lazy, but, my companion right now has been pretty tough. He sleeps in a lot, until like 9, and we have to get out of there at 10. So, we pretty much don't have comp study because he isn't there with me, he is getting ready. But I still get up at 6:30, kick him and tell him to get up, work out, and study until we leave. It’s tough when comps aren't there to support you in being obedient. Even when they don't think that they are hindering you, it really does, and more important the work is hindered. So, that’s why I’m guessing it hasn't been going so well in our area. But, I’m trying to find new ideas to work it all out. Maybe you can send me some ideas too.

I’m glad you guys had a chance to watch the Last Airbender. That’s so funny. A member up here told me that it was actually a pretty good movie so I can’t wait. But, sounds like work is going good. Scott told me that you got him a laptop and so we were talking about how you must've gotten a raise from being a seminary teacher, and I told Scott that he better start paying his tithing so that you could get more raises. Haha, not true about the raises probably at all, but, I thought that it would help him choose to do something for a purpose. But, good luck with work and with tennis. I love you so much and thanks for all the Christmas presents.

Love your son,

Elder Moore

December Letters - December 20th, 13th, and 6th

December 20^th, 2010

Dear Mother,

The reason I tried to take more money then in the account, because I tried to pay for my emergency room visit.........it was a $75.00 co-pay and I still didn't have enough money so I had to use some of my missionary funds "sigh".  Looks like food will be in a shortage for the coming up weeks ‘til January.  And, I had to buy Elder Jensen’s bike for about 50 something dollars.  He just had me buy a sweatshirt for him and that was the payment so I’m sorry if it seems that I’m running thru the money.  It’s going for righteous causes and I promise I’m not trying to waste it.

Hey just a heads up I will only be talking to you for like 2-3 minutes Christmas Eve just to say hey I’m calling at this time and then say nothing else.  So that’s about all I know right now.

Hey mom, I will have longer than 30 minutes that’s for sure.  Our mission president has said to make sure we call our parents, and if we can't talk to everyone, if we still have time then we can call brothers, sisters and grandparents.  At this moment in time I know that we are at an hour.  So, if some people can't get in on the Christmas call I will still be able to talk with them.  Psssh, prepaid calling card I feel bad for Chase and Andrew.  And I got some bills that I will be sending you guys.  I’m not sure if I’m supposed to send them to the insurance or not, so I hope you know what to do with them.

December 13^th, 2010

Hey Family,

Well the last couple of weeks have been crazy with 3 people, but after 2 years Elder Jensen has now gone home to Utah.  I bought his bike from him we had a deal where I would buy him a sweater and he would give me the bike.  So 50 dollars at Pac Sun and I got a brand new bike.  It’s awesome, it’s a trek and it has a lot of fancy gadgets on it.  But I’m gonna miss the guy.  He was a good man, but he was really, really trunky the last couple of days he was here.  When we were in a appointment he wouldn't say a word.  He was just mute.  We would ask him what was up and he would just say I’m going home in 2 days arrrrg!!! I kept telling him that nobody cared just focus on the work you are doing now, not what you will be doing when you get home but it only went so far.  I think the work will start to pick back up with me and Elder Deardeuff.  We both have a strong desire even though Elder Deardeuff has been really sick the last couple of weeks.  We have to stay inside when that happens, so I get really bored after I study for about 4 extra hours I would work on the area book see who we could go see and all this stuff.  I started going a little crazy towards the end of the day when I cleaned the whole apartment.  I started scaring my companions, but, who knew that I would be so impatient for not doing any missionary work.

Elder Deardeuff is a pretty unique character, it will be a fun next 4 weeks, and a tough 4 weeks…. He is wickedly smart, and seems to know everything.  Even when you think he doesn't know it, he does.  I have this pocketbook dictionary, and I keep quizzing him on words but he knows them all.  Well, at least most of them.  I’ve gotten him with a couple of words.  But, I’m glad to be the one in charge up here in Mishawaka.  Whew I pretty much own this area.  I know where everything is and I know everyone in the ward.  A lot of the ward members feed us dinner, so we have tons of dinner appointments.  The potentials and investigators and less actives all seem to know me already, so I still have a lot of work left to do here.  I hope that I get to stay for another 3 months or so.  I'd rather be here then in a place that was a small town and not a lot of people so I’m tracting the same streets twice.  But other then that everything has been good in the mission field.

We have been doing service lately at the American Cancer Society which was a good choice to do service because all the people there love us missionaries.  One of the people that work there came up to us and said alright what exactly do you do?  That day we had the zone leaders with us so we had 5 people helping, so it was all 5 of us ganging up on this lady.  But, she just kept asking more and more questions.  She was surprised with all the answers that we had, so we would have a tag team.  When we would answer a question, she would bring up something else. and then we would say alright Elder Cubit you got this one, and we all testified of everything that we taught her, and it was sweet.  She felt the spirit, and she wants to know more.  So, every time we do service, we teach her and that’s twice a week.  So in the coming weeks we will try to invite her to church and see what she thinks.

Well mom and dad I think that I have discovered a new allergy since being out here in Indiana.  I'll just say that I think this place is the cat capitol of the world.  A couple of our investigators have tons of cats and I just start sneezing and runny nose when the cats come up to me.  I’m not a big fan of cats so it goes well with each other.

There have been a lot of sweet people that we have run into that were on the potentials list for a long time and missionaries in the past couldn't get in contact with.  We met with this lady last night and she started to get emotional and she said thanks for not giving up on me.  I really need what you have, you seem so happy and I long for that happiness.  I want to do whatever it takes to be as close as I can with God.  It started bringing a tear to my eye to continue to see the difference that we can make in peoples lives as long as we are working as hard as we possibly can to find those that want our help.

Hey do you know the Robertson family from the ward we were in back in Oregon?  There is an Elder Robertson that just got out here and he was in the Gladstone ward he grew up there his whole life.  He knew Jacob Graham and the whole family and a bunch of other people so since I had no idea who he was, maybe you guys would.

So, about the diabetes control.  Man it hasn't seemed to level off anywhere.  I have been taking really good records and everything too.  I've been checking it a lot to see if its stable and it differs on different days.  The last two nights my blood sugar was 156 right before I went to bed, I hadn't had any Humalog for at least 4 hours, so I gave myself 17.5 units of Lantus and went to sleep.  I didn't check at 2:30 like I have been but in the morning it was 179 so just from common sense I need for Lantus, right?  But not too much, so, last night I raised it up to 19 units of Lantus my blood sugar was 170 right before bed.  I took 1.5 units of Humalog and 19 of Lantus and I woke up at 2:30 to see where it was at and it was 98. So, it had been 4 hours since I have given myself any insulin and it should’ve stayed pretty stable so this morning it was 156 it increased more this time then 2 days ago even when I had more insulin.  It’s been like this the last week since my seizure.  I’m still working on balancing it out maybe you can give me some more advice mom.  Have you heard of this thing called insulin stacking.  This doctor that our mission presidents wife saw said that insulin (humalog) doesn't get out of your system until 4 hours after you have given it to yourself.  I always thought it was 2 hours and from times past of recording my blood sugars that’s what it has always appeared like.  But, I don’t know maybe you can figure something out for me right now.  For Lantus I give 25 in the morning and as of last night, I don't know how much to give at night but 25 seems to work for me.  And then, I was thinking of getting a diabetes bracelet for my necklace is so worn down I can barely read it so let me know what you think and get back to me. 

There was this guy that heard my companions and I talk about diabetes when we ate at this restaurant and he came up to me.  He was kinda scary and said “hey I have had 8 heart failure problems, I can't feel my hands or my feet, I can barely hear, and by this time next year I won't be able to hear, make sure you take really good care of yourself, take good care of yourself, take good care of yourself,” and he just kept repeating himself over and over again.  It was really sad to meet him but it puts things in perspective for me.

Well, Christmas is next week.  The mission president told us that we call on Christmas Eve and see when we should call you on Christmas Day.  So I guess expect a short call from me Christmas Eve.   I plan on sending a present out to you guys and letters to the family.  Why hasn't anyone written me???  Besides you mom and dad you've been faithful.   I just want to tell you guys that I love you so much.  I’m so thankful for being out here on a mission and see more and more of the love that you both have for me.  I'm sorry for how much of a punk I was back at home, how selfish and disrespectful I was at times.  The importance of families and my testimony of them has greatly increased especially how it’s an eternal step to take to bring in the world God’s children through God’s power is how we got here.  And, by that same power is how the family should be run.  I’m grateful that that’s how it was focused on in our family and I’m sorry that I couldn't have given more service and shown my love for you guys then I have.  But I know you know that I love you very much.  I'm learning so much out here and its giving me a headache, since I can't remember everything.  The church is true, God is our loving Eternal Father, Jesus Christ came to this earth to redeem us so that we could live with our Father again, and so that we could have eternal happiness.  I hope that people in the world can focus on that in their lives. Focus on doing everything that God expects out of you so that you can be a better person then who you are.  We should never be content with the person we are now, but we should never look down on ourselves either as long as we see where we need to go and we are taking steps in the right direction.  Happiness comes in each step forward, sorrow and misery comes from each step backwards and from the things that keep us from moving us forward even when we think that we are happy with the lives we are living right now and we don't think that we are doing anything morally or spiritually wrong we need to look at our lives and begin to see ourselves from a perspective of eternity, and to not be continually blinded by this mortal state that we all live in.

I love everyone and I can't wait to talk to you at Christmas time.

Love your son forever,

Elder John Michael Moore

December 6^th, 2010

Hello Familia:

Well this will be a different email for a change, especially since I just talked to mom a couple of days ago, but it more or less felt like I was talking to “Doctor mom” then “Mom mom”, so that was the purpose of it all too.  Well I’m sorry to have called you on such bad news, a seizure is definitely not the news you want to hear.  I’ve been in contact with doctors all weekend and the mission president’s wife wants me to go down to Indy and get an appointment with a really good endo doctor.  It’s still giving me grief, but I am bound and determined not to go home because of my diabetes.  I can't go home so it’s pretty much just physically impossible for me to do so anyways.

But, I do have to tell you some stories about my ER experience.  It was the first time that I've ridden in an ambulance I think.  I don't really remember it all but I was trying to convert the paramedics.  I shared the complete first vision while I was still blacking in and out so the only mistake I made was that I didn't ask for a return appointment.  Hmmm, it was too bad, but my companions kept telling me that I was saying some pretty embarrassing things.

In the ER when I was blacking in and out I started mentioning this girl and how much I missed her and I was ranting off about her.  I didn't believe them, I thought they were just trying to mess with me since I was so vulnerable, but it turns out that they told me who exactly the girl was, where she lived, how I knew her, and why I liked her so much.   My face went red and I kinda got really mad because I didn't want to be thinking about no girl because I’m on my mission right now.  This to me is my break from all of that, but I guess you can’t control what you say when your blood sugar is low, and you are out of it.  But overall I’m doing better.  I don't have a headache any more, the dent in the stove that I hit from the seizure isn't so bad, I just have to eventually get it under radar and its going to take a lot of measurements.

My companions, I am in a threesome right now until Elder Jensen goes for home next week, so, my new companion is Elder DearDeuff from Missouri.  This kid is a genius, he graduated high school at 14 and has done college classes since, but didn't know what he wanted to do with life so he just has tons and tons of credit.  He has pretty much every scripture memorized.  He said when he got his IQ tested at age 17 it was 144, so I don't know sounds a little fishy but he is      definitely up there in the ranks of smart people.  It will be a treat to work with him, maybe I will learn something, ha ha.

Well this week was pretty much not to exciting except for that incident of diabetes.  My studies have been going crazy though.  I’m reading Jesus the Christ, while reading the gospels and the prophecies of Jesus Christ in the BOM and my mind is blown.  It’s so crazy all the things you didn't know back home but when you actually study it gets you.  I definitely don’t want to come back home and watch TV anymore since being out here.  There is so much more things to fill with your time.  One of the things right now I’m reading about is the need for a Redeemer.  In Dr. Talmage’s book its pretty intense.

We are still trying to look for new people to teach in our area its been difficult since it is winter.  You think people would get in the Christmas spirit and open more doors but the cold weather makes them say hey go back home and come out when it’s warmer.  Haha I start laughing at the some people’s comments, but what are you going to do.  All you have to do is put people in a situation where they have to hear the message of the restored gospel like in an ambulance and ER room, haha, but there are definitely better places to do it at.

If you all have any suggestions for me I would love to hear them.  I'm not sure what you want to hear but I love ya all.  Dad, congrats on winning first place in the tournament.  See if you control yourself in the long run you will be blessed.  That’s sweet to hear about Federer.  Finally he gets something after this year.

Merry Christmas.

Love,

Elder Moore

November Letters - November 29th, 22nd, 15th, 8th, and 1st

November 29, 2010

Hello Family,

Well mom it was Bro. Kline that you talked to on the phone, and heads up dad it wasn't me.  I even told him I didn't even want to hear my mothers voice because I knew she would answer.  I gave him our home number like 2 months ago, because he wanted to call you guys sometime when I wasn't there, but unfortunately he still had it saved to his phone and called in the middle of dinner.  I did tell him I didn't want him to call.  But he did it anyways, so I apologize for all of that.  I know how important it is to be single- minded on this work and you’re right dad on the fact that you can't if you’re not following all of the rules.  But as the work keeps going forth, I keep learning and learning more and more from mistakes and from experiences.

Thanksgiving was a pretty boring day though, we weren't allowed to go outside and do anything so we just sat and read scriptures and conference talks.  But, we did get to play football like I said and it was the perfect weather.  It was like lower 40's and really, really foggy, the ground was nice and muddy.  So, I was quarterback, haha, and it went really well. I had a bunch of touchdown throws and of course some interceptions.  Some kid in our ward thought he could do a better job then me and he lost the game, but I had a lot of fun.  Elder Jensen and I were way, way sore the next couple of days.   It was pretty tough, but funny too, because we would just make weird noises when we would get out of our chairs or beds in the mornings.  Elder Jensen is leaving in 2 weeks from today tsk, tsk, tsk.  I thought I was going to get away from his trunkyness but at least we still get along really well.

If it’s not one thing I learned on my mission it’s another.  You just have to roll with the punches that are thrown at ya and keep getting up.  We are going to transfers this Wednesday to pick up another companion, so I guess we will find out who it is.  I hope that he will be pretty cool.  But, I guess I will still be here for another 6 weeks I’ll celebrate Christmas in Mishawaka, good times, good times.

The work is starting to slow down so your prayers for it to start picking back up would be appreciated.  We went on exchanges with the assistants Friday and I learned a lot.  I still got a lot to improve on, but, at least I’m improving not declining.  Missionary work is hard work, very hard work.  The hardest I have ever done ever at anytime in my life.  For something to be so spiritually and mentally straining is the worst.  The physical stuff I can get over easy, that’s not even an obstacle for me.  But all the other stuff is hard.  You get confused, you get lost, disappointed, astonished, baffled, distracted, frustrated, perplexed, puzzled, and all within an hour of teaching someone.  To get used to it is a tricky situation.  Our investigators that we are working with right now are doing a lot better.  A couple have promised that they will never miss church again and have kept their promises and they aren't even baptized yet.  Their accountability isn’t the strongest, so we just got to go slowly over the gospel with them.  I think one important thing that I have realized again this week is IAACOG ( I am a child of god).  That’s compliments of our new gospel principles teacher who is the professor of political science at Notre Dame.  He is a genius, pretty famous I think too.  His name is Dave Campbell.  Maybe you can Google him.  But being a child of god and knowing it are 2 phrases that kinda perplex me if you think of them deeply.   I read the King Follett discourses during studies and man o man the relationship that we need with god to know him is so important.  I’m glad I am where I am and I hope I can bring other people with me so I have a lot more work to be doing here in Mishawaka.  Ummm, but other than that nothing new has happened lately.  A missionary that we serve with in our district is going home today his 2 years are up and that’s pretty sad to see him go.  You get teary when people bare their testimony of this work especially since they have done it all.  Well I think that’s it from Indiana.  I’ll try to write more next week.  Yes, I save all your letters mom :)

Love You,

Elder Moore

November 22, 2010

Yep, transfers are next week on the first, but Elder Jensen is leaving on the 13th and since the work is going so well out here I will stay and get a new companion and we will either be in a 3-some or elder Jensen will get moved.  I could just be here for another 4 1/2 more months  :)

November 15, 2020

Hola,

Well as everyone in my emails has so reluctantly shared, yes, Utah lost to Notre Dame terribly.  It was a horrible night for many reasons.  Utah lost, all the Notre Dame fans(the whole city of South Bend, and Mishawaka) we're all drunk and partying, it was raining, and I got made fun of at church.  Oh well, teams do need to be humbled every once in a while to achieve greatness.

This last week was pretty good.  Mariah and Chase got interviewed for baptism and they passed, so it will be this Saturday at 5 pm eastern time.  Keep them in your prayers and us teaching them cause man o man have I not gone through so much craziness.  And Mariah and Chase are both crazy, so is their uncle.  They are really hyper children and every time they act up their uncle threatens them to beat them, paddle them, or something, so if you can imagine them trying to jump all over us during lessons trying to sit on our laps and their uncle yelling out threats during an hour lesson you can kinda imagine what we have been going through.  But, still they are ready for baptism even when they don't listen to us that they can't jump on missionaries or sit on their laps they think we just make it up.  It’s like what are you supposed to do when little girls come up to hug you even when you told them that they aren't supposed too.  Oh well, I guess I just don't know what its like to be 9 again.  Was I pretty weird when I was 9 years old?  Mom and dad I like to think that I was some what normal but then again..... Maybe Paul can give some feedback on that question.  He had to put up with me more than you guys did I think.

One of our investigators, Adam, came and picked us up for his lesson and on the way to the church to teach him, we saw this guy with his car in a ditch, so Adam and us decide to go help him out with Adam’s truck.  The guy was being such a baby just crying about everything, whining, yelling at everyone.  We just asked “hey do you want us to tow you out?” and he just said “if you want to?” which pissed Adam off pretty bad.  But, it didn't stop us from helping, so we get some tow rope attach his car to the hitch and us missionaries are lifting from the front of the car in the ditch and as were doing this I just hear the guy whose car it is yell out “why does God hate me so much?”  It gave me a good chuckle being a missionary I thought maybe he just might get struck by lightning right now, haha.  He couldn't even notice the people, called of God helping him out.  But, he was just so focused on the negative.  But, I guess its ironic since he just got out of church when his car went into the ditch which he drove into.  Not too smart of a guy.  But Adam was saying after we got the car out and were on our way we didn't even get a thank you just a bunch of complaints.  Adam made a comment and said I really hope he left his car in neutral and it rolls right back into that ditch.  Adam is a pretty funny character and he has been through a lot, so he loves meeting with us. That was that.

I almost got hit by 2 cars on our bikes this week it was so close about 2-3 feet from one and 3-4 feet from the other.  You'd think people were out trying to get us but I give people the benefit of the doubt and they sneezed right before they saw us and their hands jerked the wheel and their right foot instead of hitting the brake accidentally hit the gas, I mean hey it could happen and at least I didn't get hit.

We had a sweet time at church yesterday we had 7 gators (investigators) there and it was fast and testimony meeting since we had stake conference last week and one of our investigators bore her testimony… Oh man it was scary, I was nervous to see what she would say because you never know, and she is just going off her knowledge of who she has seen gone up.  But, it was so sweet.  I haven't heard such a heart felt testimony in a while from a gator.  She bore witness of all the truths she has been taught about the church, missionaries, members being nice,  the gospel and she sure didn't talk about the bunny that got ran over which was some how related to the deer in someone’s backyard which all was related to the circle of life.  You hear some pretty weird things out here, but, altogether it was so awesome.  It inspired the rest of the ward and we went a little over time because there was such a long line of people wanting to bear their testimonies.  So, it was a light to me to take seriously my testimony and always try to build it up.  Every time I share it, speak from the heart and love the people you are trying to bear testimony to with the spirit.  That’s what we are looking for.  Other than that no more good stories.

I thought that I wrote Paul back a letter, I swear I did.  But, let me know if I haven’t so I can write him back.  How is Paul recovering? Is he doing anything fun like riding around in a wheelchair or just sitting and chillin’ on the couch? Has he read the BOM yet???  That’s so sweet that your seminary students are praying for me dad.  I love the feeling of realizing how many people out there in the world are truly praying for us to succeed. Maybe next time tell them to pray the people here in Indiana will soften their hearts and try not to run over the missionaries!!! Haha.  Well I love you all.  It sounds like dad is doing good at tennis.  It’s so cool to hear about Maryanne.  If you ever see Coach Mac you should have her write me.  Bro. Snelson in the ward here is way good at tennis.  He is the best around I've heard.  He is like a top 5.0 player.  He doesn't play in a lot of tournaments though he just helps out at the club around here.  But anyhow, again I love you, I hope the family is staying close and everyone is happy.

Yours truly,

Elder Moore  

November 8^th, 2010

Hey family,

Hey, well I haven't gained any weight out here mom, so I guess the camera adds 10 pounds, but thanks for making me self-conscious.  I’m gonna have to be watching myself and continue to exercise in the morning.  That’s probably the hardest thing that we do is waking up in the morning and trying to work out first thing.  Sometimes I think I’m stretching then I kinda just roll around, try to go over Lehi’s dream if you know what I mean.  You get tired being a missionary alright, its exhausting.

Well I do have some news for you guys. We got permission from our mission president to go to the Utah vs. Notre Dame football game, how sweet is that? Now its just up to making sure we actually have tickets.  We have asked ward members and investigators, but we will see.  We have a lot of people looking for us so it will all work out in the end if we were supposed to go or not.  But I did hear about the crushing loss they had to TCU man that was a heart breaker lost by 40 points or something.  Not what I was proud of and are you serious about them changing their name?  That is so dumb.  I was just telling Elder Jensen that if they start changing around the whole program I might just have to go to Utah State for my pre-med and play football for them, because that is just dumb.  They better not change their colors or anything like that.

But just so I remember, if you guys could send that GPS out to me that would work miracles.  It does help finding houses and such but if you could update it with the current maps and stuff that would help out too. But ya, I think that I’m going to buy my comps bike.  It should only be about 50 dollars, so we will see.  It’s a really nice bike I thought that he would sell it for a lot more he bought it new when he was out here and it cost him about 600-700 dollars so that’s a blessing and its nice being with a companion that’s about to leave because you get all the stuff that he can’t bring with him for flying home so I’m getting clippers and all this stuff which is sweet.  A negative though is that the trunkyness issue is there. Elder Jensen is excited to go home and here I am thinking hey I got 18 months left, can we just not talk about it.  I don’t really want to go home but what will be cool I remembered that I get to talk to you guys on Christmas how sweet huh? That should be weird or cool I wouldn’t know what to say since I write everything down in my emails.  I got a present for you guys by the way for Christmas I’ll send it off in about a month I think you’ll be surprised.

But what’s happened in the mission so far?  Nothing new really.  We are planning on our baptism for November 20^th with Mariah and Chase. They are the 9 yr olds.  It should go sweet I can’t wait.  I think that I’m baptizing them so that will be an experience, first time on the mission.  We have a lot of sweet investigators that we are trying to set baptism dates with.  They are really solid when they get over a couple of issues that they have.  Joe is the one guy I mentioned a month or two ago.  He is just borderline on getting baptized.  He knows that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph smith was a true prophet, so you would think that that’s all he would need.  But, the adversary is at work and is confusing the heart of men out there taking away virtue, confidence, love, sincerity, knowledge, all this stuff and its hard to fight.  But, if you keep at it you will always win, always.

I’m not sure if I mentioned this to you guys or not but Elder Jensen and I came up with a sweet new idea of rake tracting.  We just go up to peoples houses and ask them if we can rake their yards.  A lot of people are shocked that we will actually do it for free and people tell us off at first, that they don't want to hear what we have to say and all that junk, but we just persist and say well can we just rake your yard.  This one guy which was a miracle he answered the door and went over his whole story… how God doesn't exist its common sense all the hoopla, but we just say well can we rake your yard he thought we were politicians and that we were trying to "rake in the votes".  Haha catchy but not our idea so he gets shocked, and says sure, so we start raking and he is just standing there and says well can I at least talk with you guys while you’re raking.  We look at each other and say we would love that so we get to know him and pretty soon we find out that he met with the missionaries 20 years ago and was really close to joining the church but went down the wrong path.  Surprisingly, he remembered the rest of the Book of Mormon and all.  We talk about God and how he truly does exist and that we feel the spirit all the time.  He agreed and wanted to know more so we taught him about apostles and stuff and we were about to leave and he asks us for a Book of Mormon........He asked us man I wish that happened every time but I guess that I can testify the rake tracting truly does work and that people will be more open to you when you serve them in a way that they think you are serving them.  So, the gospel is important to everyone.

That’s tough to hear about Paul.  Man what dumb friends, but he probably doesn't blame it on them.  Tell him that I told him that he has permission from me to stop walking off one story doors.  Surgery, huh?  Man that doesn't happen too often in our family.  Well except for mom and scooter, but, tell Paul that since he will have so much extra time that he can be able to write me too.  Tell him I keep him in my prayers which I keep the whole family in my prayers too.

What do I want for Christmas?  I don't really know.  Kinda like dad said not really anything expensive you’re already spending a lot. I got some ties out here from comps and from investigators.  I did mess up a few though so maybe a tie or two would be nice, but other than that I can't think of too much.  I don't need shirts or G's, but, the pants that I tore up from Missionary Mall I never got back. I got the belt but I never got the pants so I’ve been having to wear the same pants for 3-4 weeks its not pretty.  They are almost worn out too.  My shoes are close, I will have to take a picture of them soon, but, other than that I’m good.  If I do need something I usually buy it from Walmart, but nothing out of the ordinary just gloves or something.

That’s all from Indiana.  Thanks for the emails Mom and Dad I love them and I hope to continue to hear from you guys.

Love always,

Elder John Michael Moore

P.S. Mom I will never be a Cougar fan

P.P.S. How come you never told me Ryan Shepard got his mission call.  That’s awesome. That’s the same mission as Bradley.

November 1, 2010

Dear Familia,

Hey, hey, hey, how’s everything going back at home.  Man, I have a lot of questions. Haha, like why did Grandpa Moore come up??? I was super shocked to get a letter from him since I only remember seeing him once and that was in Oregon I think, but it wasn't for long.  But it was way nice to get a letter from him, it made my day.  I've gotten all my grandparents to write me now that I've been out on my mission.

Well last week Elder Jensen and I took a walk around Notre Dame campus it was so sweet. I was pretty shocked at some of the stuff I learned.  Do you know that they only have 8,000 undergraduate students and 3,000 graduate students.  Talk about a small campus life.  You hear how big Notre Dame is, but there really aren't that many people going there.  It was sweet to get pictures there and all.  Elder Jensen and I had a good time.  We went to the College football hall of fame after, and we just sat around and chilled because we didn't want to pay to go inside.  They have football field in the back of it that we are planning to go and play on.  We went running for the first time in about 4 months for me it felt good.  We just did a 10-15 minute run just a mile or so it was good to get the good ole legs going.  Biking has been terrible lately my bike is possessed or something it keeps breaking, then I've had like 5 flat tires in the last 2 weeks.  That’s just unheard of.  I don't like it at all, we have had to walk everywhere.  One day we walked for a hour and a half just to get to a doctors appt for Elder Jensen.  Elder Jensen is way sweet he went to USU and is going back next semester.  He is a living miracle of cancer and stuff he has glaucoma now, the eye disease, and we get along really well.  We tried playing soccer this morning with a bowling ball it wasn't pretty, haha.  I almost tripped and fell.  We've had some pretty funny experiences this last week besides my bike breaking down on the way.  By the way I might just buy Elder Jensen’s bike from him when he leaves he wants like 50-60 bucks for it, and he bought it when he got out.  It’s a way nice bike too, so it'll be a lot better than mine.

We went and tried some families last Thursday and we got a call from this lady to see her husband.  So we go over to see him.  His name is Pat and we knock and there is no answer, and we knock and there is no answer, but we heard the TV on so we were worried because maybe something happened to him, he is diabetic so you never know.  So Elder Jensen asked should we open the door and see if he is alright and I just told him “well, if that’s what the spirit is telling you then ya it'll be sweet we could save his life.  But secretly I didn't want to open the door just in case something bad was going to happen.  So Elder Jensen opens the door, then Pat jumps around the corner and scares the crap out of Elder Jensen. I just start laughing really hard.  Pat was just clueless and Elder Jensen was freaking out.  But, we found out he was ok and that he was just in the bathroom so we called the wife back to tell her, so, that was one story that happened.

A couple of things that I learned this week well at least one thing was LOVE.  Man do you need it, or you can’t work with out it.  It’s probably the biggest, most important part of this work.  To truly love the lord and try your hardest, to know of the love He has for you even though we will never truly comprehend it all.  To love all the people deeply, it’s one thing to say that you love someone and you think you love them, but, it’s a whole different thing in its whole when you show it, and when you feel it is one thing that I learned just from reading the scriptures about Jesus Christ and his life, and about the Book of Mormon and the references that it has on it.  Man, Moroni 7:45-to end of chapter talks about it pretty well if you don't have it your pretty much nothing.  I've tried to realize that love for myself in the last week and man has it made a huge difference in how much the spirit is there in lessons with people and they want the spirit more in their lives, and they know that they need to be at church.  It’s so sweet to see the difference in them, from the difference that is in me, because these are people that we have been working with for a couple weeks or months.

We have a baptism coming up the 20th of November.  It’s with Mariah and Chase the 9 year old twins I think I sent their picture to you guys.  That one will be awesome, I can't wait.  They are some kids that have probably been through more things then people endure in their whole lives.  I have seen some things out here on my mission that I would have never of thought could be real.  The cruelty that lies in the real world is disheartening and sad at the same time.  My perspective on my faith in Jesus Christ and faith in general has changed enormously.  It is the thing that is the center of our lives, without it we are truly dead to ourselves for we can never experience the happiness that we can with the knowledge that he loves us.  No matter how much of worldly possessions that we have money or anything we truly can't know the happiness that we can have through our faith on Jesus Christ, his Atonement, and God's Plan of Happiness and the only way we can know this in its fullness is through the restoration of the gospel we can and will be more happy through the restoration of the fulness of Christ’s gospel than anything on this earth.  That is my testimony on those things and love is at the center of it.  Man, oh man, it’s just crazy how much the spirit can hit you when you are doing what you are supposed to be doing.  I hope I can live more righteously starting now, and that I can overcome any trial that sets me to not reach as high as I am supposed to for the natural man is a enemy to god,  and has been from the fall of Adam and will be forever and ever.  And he will be ok with all the things of the world and will love them and think more of himself then of others.  It’s my goal to strip myself of pride and of things that hold my self back from building my relationship with my Heavenly Father.

Well mom, I don't want you to take offense to this, but Elder Jensen keeps telling me that he doesn't like you, haha.  He is about to go home and is trying to lose weight and he keeps telling me Elder your moms cookies are too good.  How am I supposed to lose weight when I keep eating all of mine and your cookies?  So, he doesn't hate you in a bad way mom he is just bitter because your cookies are awesome.  Thank you so much for the package and letters I always enjoy them but what about my UTES??? Haha.  It’s good to see the progression of you guys back home and how life is going.  What’s going on with Scott and where is he living at?  Has his girlfriend dumped him yet? Ha, just kidding!  Tell him to write me.  Where does Paul have a job at?  What has he been up to lately?  He must be losing weight for how much he has been running.  He will have to run some marathons before I get home.  And mom, what happened to that half marathon that you were going to run???  Where is Jessie in all the jumble of people moving and staying and the whole family being in Park City?  You guys seem to be getting closer since I left hmmm........I finally got the picture of the family it was a good day I put it in a frame and everything.  Thanks for the San Diego picture, and the picture of you and dad it was nice to get them I remember what my family actually looks like now.  To answer  your questions I do have plenty of time to read those inspiring articles and the ones with the Utah scores on the "Wink, Wink"  The couple that came because of Glen Beck were way solid, but they started going back to this Catholic church and said that the religion is true, they pretty much were just more comfortable with their own beliefs and didn't want to change.  They didn't really have a reason not to continue to come to church because they didn't have anything against what we taught them, but they didn't quite want to live the commandments either like WOW (Word of Wisdom) and stuff, so it was sad to see them choose that path, but maybe we planted a seed.

Daniel the other guy we were meeting with tsk, tsk, tsk, he hasn't gotten in touch with us in ages.  We have called and texted and knocked and one time we thought he was home so I knocked on the door and said "Delivery I got a complimentary jumbo supreme pizza for a Daniel”, but that didn't work either.  You start coming up with crazy ideas as a missionary just so people will answer doors, but, what if he answered and was expecting a pizza it could've gotten ugly.  We could've just said the pizza guy just left and we just happened to show up at the same time....... I’m not driving now I’m still the junior comp, maybe next transfer and mom I don't have any of those records I didn't have copies of the blood work that I sent to you so you might have to make copies and send them back.  But I think that’s about everything this week.  I’ll let you know how everything goes.

I love you all ,

Elder John Michael Moore 

August 16, 2010 - 5 Burgers At One Meal

August 16, 2010
Mishawaka, IN

Alright, so what the Bones is going on back home????? Scott’s moving??? What’s Jessie gonna do? When is Scott moving? Where did this girl pop up from? I haven't heard anything from Scooter. Flagstaff though..... doesn't sound too exciting. I guess Scott must really like this girl. Or, maybe he just wasn't thinking it through, what’s up? I just read the letters and was like what the..... when did this all happen? Hopefully she is a nice girl and she doesn't get Scott too aggravated. Someone tell him that if she is a keeper, don't screw it up, ha ha. And tell him to write me about it all, and have his little girl friend write me too. That would be sweet. So is Jessie just being left in the dust then? Well, she can always go to college, that’s what I think would be fun. Well, the letters were great though. Thanks for them. I finally got a letter from Paul, ha ha. It was awesome! I’m gonna be honest I struggled trying to read all your letters, even Dad's, ha ha. I had to have my companion help me out on words. He started to give up, so I eventually worked it out until the sentences made sense. If somebody can, I'm going to try and write Grandma Whitney but I don't have her address, so if someone back home could snag that for me that would be great. Well how is everything else going? Is the house sold yet??? When does school start for dad? Am I ever gonna get a picture of the family?? Oh and I haven't gotten the packages with the test stripes yet mom, or the freestyle lite meters. So I dunno if I’m supposed to get those later or something???

The Mission is going crazy. I got a lot of rebuking, my self-experiences. During lessons with investigators, every time the spirit would come in the room I would seem to always screw it up. Just by being my normal self, I would start talking about things that had nothing to do with the lesson and I would tell stories that were pointless. If the person started straying from the lesson, that’s exactly what I would do and I wouldn't bring it back. My comp and I have being trying to work on it a lot, finding solutions that will help both of us out. You start realizing when you’re out here that if you’re disobedient, if you’re taking the spirit away the investigators don't progress because of your actions. It’s all on your head. I mean of course people have their choice and if they get offended they get offended or stuff like that. But if they don't feel the spirit when they were willing to listen to it, because you yourself and your companion didn't fully bring it in, it’s probably the worst guilty feeling you could go through, especially when you realize it. When things start going into perspective greater and greater it throws me off. I’m so thankful for the atonement. Without that I would be nothing (well and so would be everyone else). But you have to depend on that. If you use it and you want to keep improving it is never at all easy in any sense but the thing that is, it is worth it. I’ve had to rely on it so much out here. The spirit is so strong, it brings a feeling of peace and comfort and everything is going to be ok. Happiness is a big word. Even when you know you messed up big time with someone or even with obedience it comes into play so much, I mean, man, I can't even explain it. I wish I could just write everything down but I can't. You can get the gist of it when you read my journal ‘cause that’s where I write everything down. I have already written 120 pages in less than 3 months.... I don't think I could keep that up. I did the math and if I write the same amount I have been, for the rest of my mission then I'll have over 1200 pages when I’m done ha ha. I probably wouldn't ever read them ‘cause they are so long, but that’s not the right attitude. Dave and Bev are still going good, except for taking the spirit away from the lessons. But, their daughter was super sick on Sunday, so they weren't at church. I experienced some godly sorrow I think during sacrament yesterday. They didn't show up to church and when an investigator doesn't show up to church and they have been improving so well I think it’s pretty much hell for every missionary and that’s what it was for me. At first I was thinking why they weren't there. Then I blamed myself, then I was just way concerned for them that if they actually knew the true reason for everything we were teaching them and how important it really is. Then I just started thinking that oh they probably got in an accident and now they are in the hospital, ha, way to think positive I know but it’s hard. Everyone in your area, every single person you are responsible for. If you don't try to talk to someone, don't cross the street when you see a person on the other side and if they would've accepted the gospel and you didn't give them that chance you will be held accountable. Deep stuff, it’s scary and it’s a motivation builder at the same time. That’s why the spirit is so important. But anyways not a lot of things happened last week that were too exciting, so I don't really know what to tell ya. Well, actually I broke a record at a member’s house the other day. They cook hamburgers for the missionaries every so often and they are like 1/2 pd hamburgers and the record for a missionary was 3 and that was Elder Williams. So I was like ‘Please, way too easy’. So I ate 5 hamburgers and I would've eaten I think one more, but they ran out of hamburgers. I totally just swept the record, ha ha. It was a piece of cake. I kept eating too after I had the 5 hamburgers, like chips and stuff. The family was impressed they were like ‘no way this guy eats this much and isn't 250 lbs’. I guess I just have a talent, but that’s all there is for exciting news. Actually my companion and I sang for this guy "I am a child of God" and in turn he sang us a song, ha ha. He sang "This little light of mine", it was way funny. We recorded it so maybe I’ll send it out to you guys, but that’s pretty much it for the mission. If you guys want to know anything else just let me know. I love you all.

Oh, and dad my study in the scriptures has been crazy ever since you talked about Elder Bednar and how he studies (which I still don't know how he does it so you could shed some light on that). I have been trying to improve mine so I have this study journal that I bought and any scripture I like I write it down and write my feelings about it. Then I look up the cross references and try to figure out the main message from it and how I can apply it to myself as a missionary and how I can use it for the people we teach out here. It’s way hard. I struggle with it sometimes but let me know what you think or any study tools or ways to study that could help me improve I've been trying to figure the best way for me to remember everything, it’s hard. I struggle with remembering people’s names even and that never helps, ha ha. I love the thoughts you send out keep sending them. They always do me good. I liked the last email you sent about D & C 100:4. Tell me stuff that you want me to shed light on at all. I don't really know what all to write. Tennis sounds good. Thanks for the updates. It all seems pretty tight between everyone in the pros and sounds like you’re doing good with leagues and tournaments. You still got to win one though. I love you Dad,

Elder John Michael Moore

P.S. - I love you too Mom, Scott, Paul, and Jessie

August 8, 2010 - Second Letter from Mishawaka

August 8, 2010


Hey Everyone:

Hey, I did hear about the Notre Dame player. I actually met him. His name is Chris Badger, he is going to Ecuador or something like that. He went to Timpview High School. He is a way cool guy. He was way excited to leave. He opened up his call letter with the whole Notre Dame football team, so he told a way cool missionary experience with that. Elder Williams does know about diabetic first aid mother. I told him the first night we were settled in. Don't worry I’m responsible, ha ha, well kinda. I'll try to get an appointment set up with a diabetes doctor and what I all need to do.

But I bet you wanna know how the last week went down. Well it was an up and down week that’s for sure. I remember one of dad’s fellow seminary teachers telling dad or something when Chase, mom and I went to the seminary after we went to the Bountiful temple that I was ready to be a missionary, or I was prepared or something. Ha ha, what an understatement. Whether or not I was, I was humbled this week. I just wasn’t able to figure anything out. I went through a big swing of things. We met up with a couple of investigators. I’m not sure if I told you guys about Dave and Bev, but they are the coolest people ever. They are about your guy's age, 50's area in life and they were a referral from Glen Beck (Just goes to show anyone can be doing missionary work), and they are in love with Glen Beck and found out that he was Mormon. So, not yesterday, but a week ago they just decided to show up to church by themselves, not knowing anybody, and the whole ward fellowshipped them in. They were looking confused in the parking lot and a member asked them if they needed help and she brought them into testimony meeting and they have loved church since. We talked about baptism yesterday with them and when we go by later this week we will set up a baptismal date. It’s so amazing the progression they have made. The first Sunday that they came they went to gospel principles class and learned about the word of wisdom, and both of them haven't drunk coffee since. They just all the sudden went cold turkey......How awesome is that? I still can’t believe it. It’s like a dream. The miracles of people that you encounter and when you share your testimony even if you stumble with it how much it impacts them, it’s so amazing I just can't even express how it is. I feel like I’m not worthy because of what I’m actually helping them accomplish in the eternal aspect of everything. It’s so crazy I’m so excited for them. They both run marathons and half marathons, so I told them to do the Ogden marathon, and that we should do it all together when I get off my mission. Maybe if they invite us to do a 5k on p-day we will be able to. I haven't run as much out here in Mishawaka. But, weird enough I haven't gained a pound. We ate at another Samoan's house again. We had ribs and we ate til we were stuffed, and I mean I ate a lot. As much as I could until I just couldn't swallow any more. Those Samoan's like to eat man!!! We have lately talked a lot with people about temples and temple marriage. It’s so great people just light up when you talk about it with them and you can see that that’s something they want to do and that’s what we are there for. We are going to the college football hall of fame in South Bend today for p-day it'll be sweet, ha ha. Maybe one day my picture will be in there, ha ha, just playin. Missionary work is dang exhausting but totally worth it at the same time. I read my Patriarchal blessing yesterday and that helps a ton. It helps guide me in my mission.

Hey Dad, what ever happened to tennis Districts? Sectionals?? and all that jazz? Don't tell me you blew it for the team!! Ha. There is this guy in the ward up here that played tennis for BYU and plays in tournaments all around. He wants to hit with me sometime on a p-day, but it won't happen cause my companion won't put up with tennis jazz, he doesn't even like to run what a bum. The thing that I try to do out here is forget about the world things that are going on and stuff that will happen when I get home, like sports, especially college football, with all the Notre Dame fans. The thing that helps the most is when I think of family. When I get distracted I think of our family back at home supporting me and how much you guys want me to succeed and to work as hard as i can. It helps so much. I think of friends, ward members, and everyone that has impacted me in life and it’s something that relieves you from stress out here because everyone wants you to do good things out here and when you think of them you don't want to let them down. Well, at least I don't want to let them down, and I won't and I don't, so thanks Mom, Dad, Paul, Scott, and Jessie for your guy’s prayers. Even if you’re not praying for me I know you guys are thinking of me, and it helps me and of course I’m always thinking of you.

Sorry to say nothing too funny happened this week except we biked in the rain and cars splashed us with water. So, if you can imagine me just telling people thank you with a weird looking smile on my face when they splashed us, well, there you go. This guy we tracted into might call mom and dad. He is going out to Ogden and he wanted to get your guy's number so he could meet up with you. I wasn't sure what number to give him so if you want to meet this sweet catholic guy that loves us than tell me what number you guys want me to give him when he gets out there. I was surprised he even asked me. He just said he wanted to get in contact with you guys when he was out there. So, who knows. I found out that Mario is getting baptized the 21st. He was the guy in my last area. It’s awesome. I hope I can see a bunch of people progress out here in Mishawaka.

The people that play for Notre Dame football get 4 free tickets to each home game and they said if we wanted they would give them to us if we brought investigators with us which would be the only way to go anyways because a investigator has to be there but its ok'd by the president as long we bring 2 investigators, so maybe I could be able to see the Notre Dame vs. Utah game. It would be awesome, ha ha. Hey, you should send me out a schedule of the Utah football season. I bought a red tie to wear each day that they play so that would be sweet to have. I’m not sure what else to write, except yes mom our apartment is separated into sections, and the river is way cool to see in our back yard.

We are going to play B-ball with some investigators today other than Dave and Bev and this week we’re going to invite them to baptism. It’s so cool to see people progress and how the gospel changes their life for the better. It’s a big difference that you can see. They feel the spirit which only inviteth to do good so it’s always a humbling experience out here. I'll keep ya guys posted on anything else. Tell me if my letters are too long. Sometimes I think they are but I dunno. If I forgot anything let me know also.

Love you all,

Elder John Michael Moore

August 2, 2010 - Now in Mishawaka

August 2, 2010
Hey Familia,

Salamat for your email mom its great (salamat means thank you in tagalog). Mario taught us some tagalog before I left Logansport. I know how to hit on woman in a different language now so that will be cool to try out when I get home and all. Well I bet your wondering where I’m at now. I got sent to Mishawaka, Indiana which is right next to South Bend and below Michigan actually some of our area covers Michigan and South Bend. It’s not really that different just a way smaller area and we only have a car every other week so we ride bikes a lot. I’m starting to lose weight now and I’m pretty sure I’m not supposed to but I’m still eating a ton. The members up here in Mishawaka are way nice. There are a lot of Samoans in the ward and we ate at one of their house's on Thursday and they won't take ‘Hey I’m full’ for an answer. You’re not full until all the food is gone so they got the kinda appetite that I like, ha ha. We are going for ribs this Wednesday and my comp says they make a ton so it will be awesome to have some home cooking. My companion now is Elder Williams. He has been out for about 9 months, he is from Thatcher, Arizona and he is way cool. We hit it off pretty well. He is a way obedient missionary so we don't have any problems. It’s crazy that obedience is the most important thing out here. I have definitely learned a lot of different views about obedience and perseverance versus doing something you love and persevering in it. It’s a whole different learning experience. Elder Williams played QB in high school and will be playing safety in college when he goes back home, so on P-day you know we will be throwing the ball around, it will be fun. Well we go to the stake center up in South Bend which is a way nice building, pretty much like one back home but it’s nice for the people here. I met Manti Te'o which is the middle linebacker for Notre Dame. He is a member and he is a big deal in college football. He is a homie though. We saw him at church and talked with him for a bit, he actually brings people from the team to church with him and the players seem to like it a lot, so he is doing a lot of missionary work which is cool. We tracted a lot the first couple of days we ran into this reverend out here who is supposedly famous his name is John Dye you guys will have to google him and tell me about him and stuff. He was not going to read the Book of Mormon though no matter what we told him. He told us that he was greater than Jesus Christ. I started laughing which wasn't the best thing but he said "what?" I told him, ‘well are you perfect?’ and it got him thinking, but he has written a book and been on TV shows and he models and stuff he was way into himself, so kinda prideful. But, he just kept saying that church wasn't important. We rebuked him a little, in a nice way of course, but he wasn't changing for anyone. He was just to set in his way, which is how a lot of people are out here. A lot of people are just set and won't listen to you at all, so what we do is bring up Notre Dame football at first to ease the transition everyone loves Notre Dame out here. They are huge diehard fans so they can talk forever, but we slowly start talking about Mormons and then the Book of Mormon, and then people actually are like ‘Alright, I’ll read it’, which is way cool. I think it’s more of the fact that they are comfortable with us so it’s easier to talk about religion when someone is really comfortable and nice to talk to. It’s always fun to talk about football too. We bring up Manti sometimes and be like ‘ya, he is Mormon’ and people turn their heads for a second and start wanting to learn more about Mormons. A lot of people also have the wrong idea about Mormons too. And there is no way you can change their minds. It’s kinda funny because how can you expect to continue to follow Christ and become a better person, if you’re not willing to have an open heart. People are just set in their ways though and there's nothing you can do about that. We have an investigator who is way into the BOM. He told us last time we came over he was just like LEHI is, No Joke man, and his Boy Nephi is my Man. It was way funny but he told us straight up that he knew that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God so now we just have to act on it and tell him what he needs to do because he knows the BOM is true, that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. So it will be awesome to see him progress. There are still a lot of loopy people out here that are just hammered when they answer the door but don't really know what they are talking about. We try to get out of there as quick as we can because even if we do teach them they won't remember anything. We tell them so we get some interesting scenarios with them one guy kept laughing at us and then he would be mad then just complete serious and start crying, what are you gonna do though. Well I don't really know what else to write, everything else is awesome so no worries. Don't worry mom, I told him about diabetic first aid the first night. My address now is

Elder John Moore
318 Lincoln Way East Apt #2
Mishawaka, In 46544

Love you all still and I’m still working as hard as I can and I have about 250 strips left. I actually counted. That paper that I sent with you with the passport is the invitation Nathan made for his baptism. I was going to send pictures but I ran out of time. I’ll send them today though I’m not sure that I’ll send anything out to you guys. I have enough room in my bags and all. I did have to buy new running shoes cause basketball tore up my Nikes. I tried to buy the cheapest ones though, sorry about that. Well it’s always good to get mail, so I’ll be looking forward to either emails or letters.

Love,

Elder John Michael Moore

July 27, 2010 - Last Letter From Logansport

July 27, 2010
Hey Everyone,


Well good news. I’m still loving the mission, so I haven't gone apostate yet. I’m not really planning on it either, but I got a phone call this morning from the mission president and I’m getting transferred tomorrow. I have no idea where yet but I was way disappointed, ha ha. I wanted to stay here in Logansport just because of how much has happened and about how much is going on right now. The baptism for Nathan was so awesome, just the spirit there was so clear. I didn't realize it, but it was the first baptism that I've gone to since mine I think, so it’s been a while. Nathan had a lot of his family there to support him since most of them don't go to church at all. So it was nice and the ward came and supported him. He goes to a different ward then Logansport because his aunt comes and picks him up each Sunday and takes him to Warsaw. And since he is only 12, we can't complain about him coming to our ward so it was alright with us, even though he is in the Logansport boundaries. But, people in the Logansport and Warsaw wards were both there to support him. There are a lot of nice people out here. Anyways, his uncle baptized him and since his family came so far to see him get baptized he was just confirmed right after. The stake president okayed it and all, so he asked me and Elder Banner to be in the circle and WOW was it a experience. We all stood there and while the confirming was going on the spirit was so, so strong it was like a force I don't really know how to describe it even. It was the most peaceful, protecting feeling I'm bold enough to say that I've ever felt. It was so unreal, but at the same time you knew that it was there. It wasn't more or less a feeling but an actual something around you. I have no idea if that makes sense at all, but I know for sure that it was the spirit of God. And, by everyone who confirmed Nathan we all had the power and authority to give him that gift of the Holy Ghost to have as a constant companion. Nathan was the most excited. I've never seen him so excited before. It was good to see that expression in him that he knew what he felt and the importance of doing it. I took pictures of it so I’ll have to send some. We were taken out by his family to Golden Corral and man did I love that. All you can eat and more, ha ha . His whole family loves us since I’m going I won’t be able to see him again, or his family. But we’re planning on working with Nathan’s sister next and get her baptized and to church because there are girls her age at church and her cousin who is the same age goes to church. So hopefully, Elder Banner can impact her and impact the rest of the family to get to church and know the importance of it. To help other people out, and to take the sacrament to renew your baptismal covenants, and there are more reasons than that, but I just can't remember them, ha ha. Well the baptism was a success. We gave Nathan a Book of Mormon that is kinda old school. It’s a hard back, but it’s not blue. We had some at our house so we wanted to give him something to remember us by. We wrote our testimonies in it.

We went tracting the other night in a storm ( don’t worry mom it wasn't a huge tornado or lightning storm, I’m not foolish ok) ha ha. But we got soaking wet. We would talk to people on their doorsteps and they would just send us right back out into the storm no sympathy at all. Tsk, tsk, tsk. It was fun though. We jumped in puddles, and rivers that were flowing down the streets, just because there was no way we could get any more wet. It started getting bad with lightning so we went to the car and drove to a less actives, because the power went out and we don't want to be creepy to people while talking to them with the lights out. Well we were driving on the main roads and we see the side streets flooded with water so we pull over and take a picture of cars just up to their bumpers with water. It was cool. I’ll send the pictures, don't worry. We saw Mario yesterday and we taught the first half of the plan of salvation. about that tagalog book (or whatever way the language is spelled), he doesn't want to read tagalog at all. All he wants to read is English. He reads Twilight and other books and all that stuff. He says that he wants to just speak English so he can learn faster, so our lesson went good making sure he understood everything with us. He is comfortable with us to ask questions about words he doesn't know or if he is saying a sentence right. And if he doesn't understand a concept so, its kinda hard to simplify everything, but we were getting the hang of it. We are actually going to play Basketball with him today, because he likes watching it and he doesn't get out of the house much, since his wife is the only one who can work and she has the car so he just sits at home and reads. So, he is reading the BOM and pamphlets we give him which is awesome. He wants to get baptized, so it will be hard to leave here and not get to see him do that because he is a way sweet guy. He loves us over there, so it’s good. I think he just needs friends, so that’s what we are trying to do. He and his wife, move in a month to Kokomo which is just the next biggest town south of Logansport. So he wants to get baptized before they move so he and his wife can go to church every Sunday in Kokomo . It’s awesome to see his desire to know more. We met with these 2 investigators, Mike and Pam, they're husband and wife and they are just the most humble people. They truly want to know more of what we tell them. Even if they get proven wrong they don't get offended. We tell them why something is and read scriptures, and they will just be like ‘oh man have I been wrong’ and when we come back they will just say ‘I studied about prophets and the bible does say Christ's church does need prophets’ and Mike will say ‘Ya I was wrong.’ You don't get that a lot, but they are looking for the truth and that’s exactly what we have, the truth of God’s gospel. It’s so cool to teach people and a privilege to be out here and given the opportunity to teach God’s word because of how much happiness it can truly give people. I definitely know that it brings happiness because I have seen it in my life and I have seen it in the lives of other people and how much the more you know, the more comfortable you are with yourself. And life just seems so clear in a way. I don't mean that in a boring way but it’s just clear view of everything and you’re so much happier when you see it that way. I still have fun all the time, but I’m not sure how to explain teaching the gospel in words, it’s just an awesome humbling experience. Everything else is going good though. Diabetes is going well, we bike a lot and walk. I better tell you this now P-day is getting changed to Monday now. The new president is changing things up. He is a way nice guy. Way into making sure everyone is doing good and working hard. Haven't really had a chance to talk with him for a long time, just interviews and stuff. Well the first transfer was such a slap in the face learning experience. I’m still learning and still remembering everything that I knew before. I am more comfortable talking to people and just being me and my personality which is kinda awkward I figured out. But people don’t seem to mind. I love everyone. I hope everyone is doing well. I miss you especially mom and dad and Scott, Paul, and Jessie. I hope you guys are doing good and getting by in life. I hope the house sells, so you and dad can spend more time with each other. Thanks a bunch for those overviews of THE LAST AIRBENDER they were sweet. I loved reading them. Well, I’ll write you next week to tell about where I’m serving at. So take care.

Love always,

ELDER JOHN MICHAEL MOORE