And Waiting . . .

Howdy everyone!

Elder Winkle and I had a pretty good week!

So on Tuesday, we had a dinner with the Shigihiro family in Chaparral. They're not members, but one of their daughters has been going to church for a really long time, and even went to EFY this year, and graduated from seminary! They've had a lot of close contact with members of the church, and have recently been getting to know missionaries. They got really close with Elder Weidner, the missionary before us, and so this was a goodbye dinner for him because he just went home. So I went with Elder Weidner to dinner, and it was great! They made us some real Japanese food, and then we all gathered around the piano and got to sing songs and stuff. We had a great time! They're a great family, and we'll be seeing more of them for sure. 

Elder Weidner

On Wednesday Nathaniel called us and asked us to come over. I think I wrote about him last week. He's been less active for a long time, but after a visit to Nauvoo with his family, he really felt the spirit, and knew that he needed to be coming back to church. He just showed up last Sunday where we got to meet him, and then we saw him a couple of times this week. He's going through a pretty rough time, and has realized that he needs Heavenly Father in his life again. He's been reading the Book of Mormon, so we got to read some with him, and the second time we went over this week, he had been watching General Conference all day! We're so excited for him to start coming back to church and to feel of the spirit again in his life!

We had youth ball on Thursday, and the youth have started to invite more of their non-member friends! There were two non-members there, and they both really enjoyed it. From the sounds of it, they've both been going through some difficult trials recently, and we got to share a message about how our Heavenly Father loves us and is always there for us. They're good friends with one of the young women in our ward, and she's been great about sharing the gospel with them and trying to help them out.

On Friday we had a lesson with the Obriens. They're a great family, and have been semi active for a while. The wife is a convert, and doesn't have any support from her side of the family. But our lesson with them was great! We talked about the importance of the sacrament and of church, and they expressed their desire to become more active than they are right now. They've recognized that they need Christ in their lives, and that there are some things that they just can't do without him. They have a goal of getting back to the temple, and we're excited to see them take those steps that are necessary to do that! Sister Obrien was at church on Sunday! We're so happy for them!

We had a lesson with Ben on Saturday and it was great! He's still doing just as good as ever. He helped bless the Sacrament on Sunday, and he gave a talk! We weren't able to go because it was in the YSA ward and we had other meetings during that time, but everyone said that he did an awesome job!

On Sunday Sister Pawluk came to church! She's also been less active for a long time, but has always felt something pulling her back to the church. She made the decision to read the Book of Mormon for the first time, and to start coming back to church and see how she felt. She seemed to have a great time at sacrament! And we had a linger longer after with some delicious pulled pork sandwiches that I'm sure helped haha. But really she's taken some big steps in her life recently. We know she's on the right path, and are excited to see her testimony begin to grow!

For my spiritual thought this week I want to talk about the Book of Mormon. There's a verse in 3 Nephi 26 that says

9. And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.

This verse is talking about the Book of Mormon. It's the first thing that we have to receive. If we gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon, then greater things shall be made known unto us. Gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon is great because it also means that you gain a testimony that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and that His gospel was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. It answers all of our questions, and should be where we start if we are looking to gain a testimony or to strengthen our testimony. I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon, and for the testimony that I have of it. It has blessed my life, and is the reason that I'm here serving a mission. I've come to learn just how pivotal that Book is in peoples conversion. And I promise that as you read it, your faith will be strengthened.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Love,

Elder Moffitt

The Only Constant is Chenge

Afternoon my wonderful friends and family!

I've got some sad news for this week. The tripanionship is no more. The Tripling Warriors have been disbanded. The God Squad has ceased to exist.

Sadly, Elder Chen has left us😥. President needed him in another area. Just as quickly as he came, he left. We're going to miss that sweaty Chinese man quite a lot. He was a great companion, and dearly loved by many.

Really though it was sad to see him go. However, we know he'll do great things in his new area!

Losing Elder Chen also means that we lost our personal photographer, so I'll do my best to take some more pictures, but don't hate if my emails just aren't the same.

This week we spent a lot of time finding, and got to meet a lot of people. We found a lot of potential investigators and less actives who might want to start meeting, so If all goes well, I'll have more to wright about in my upcoming emails.

We had mini zone conference this week, and that was great! It was a very spiritual meeting, and we talked about what we can do as missionaries to find more people to teach, and to teach those people more effectively. This is something that we're really focusing on in our mission. One of the reoccurring themes in the meeting, was the need to trust in the Lord. A lot of times as missionaries we try to think of creative ways to find and to share the gospel, and that's not a bad thing, but we need to realize the the Lord knows who is prepared to receive the gospel, and he know's what they need to hear. That means that all we have to do is be obedient and follow the spirit. If we do that, then we'll be successful. Missionary work doesn't have to be complicated. Really there is only one step to missionary work. Follow the spirit. If we can learn this one thing, then the Lord will be able to work through us.

We also had a lesson with Ben this week! Ben is so solid, it's awesome. Last Sunday we got to see him get the Priesthood and be ordained a priest, and that was such a cool experience. He's still doing really well, and our lesson with him was great! We really focused on the love that our Heavenly Father has for him.

We also had a lesson with Andre. He lives with his grandparents, and he's been baptized, but he never received the priesthood, and just started coming back to church about a month or two ago. We've had a few lessons with him, and this week he got the priesthood too! He was ordained a teacher, so he got to help pass the sacrament! It was really neat to see him there in his new white shirt passing the sacrament to the congregation. He seems to be doing really well, and want's to keep progressing.

We had a lesson with the Bruce's too. They're a less active couple, but they're super sweet. Brother Bruce is an amazing photographer, and they've been basically everywhere. We're going to try to help them see the importance of coming to church!

We had some other lessons too, with former investigators and stuff, and we're praying that we'll find the people that the Lord has prepared!

Alright so my spiritual though is from Romans 8:35-39

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the daylong; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerorsthrough him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, norangels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Lord loves us so much!

Love you guys!

Love,


Elder Moffitt

Rain Rain Go Away

Afternoon everyone!

So not too much to report this week, but we'll go ahead and run the highlight reel.

So first off, it's been way too cold for the month of August. It hangs out around 12-20 degrees Celsius, which is not very warm. I even had to break out my sweaters this week! Nevertheless, we carried on with the Lord's work.

We even set some goals and made some plans this week! But one of the high points of the week was getting to eat with President Craig. He's our Stake President and invited us over so Elder Chen could make him some Chinese food (which was very good by the way). We love president Craig! He's the best guy ever. And he showed us his extensive book collection, and inspired me to be a better educated man when I get home.

We also had some weekly planning this week, and Elder Winkle was less than enthused.

But at least it was productive!

As we were strolling along in our area one day, we ran into this guy who was a little crazy, but really nice. He just goes around all day telling people about Jesus Christ just like we do! He does yell it a little louder than us though, maybe we should take some notes from him! He also had this hockey stick taped to a lacrosse stick and somehow used it in his preaching. It was all quite confusing, but oh well.  

We also found out that Elder Winkle likes to haunt people in his free time. What a hobby, eh?

He's actually quite good.

And one of the best parts of the week, we found a new investigator! His name is Brent, and we actually tracted into him a while back. We taught him about the Book of Mormon, and about prayer. He read the first 15 or so chapters of the Book of Mormon since our first lesson with him which is awesome! We're praying that he's able to feel the spirit as he reads and that he'll be able to come to know that the gospel is true!

Spiritual thought!

This comes from a talk by Richard G. Scott titled, "He Lives! All Glory to His Name!"

There is an imperative need for each of us to strengthen our understanding of the significance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ so that it will become an unshakable foundation upon which to build our lives. As the world becomes more devoid of foundational standards and as honor, virtue, and purity are increasingly cast aside in the pursuit of appetite, our understanding of and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ will provide strength and capacity needed for a successful life. It will also bring confidence in times of trial and peace in moments of turmoil.

I know that as we focus more on Christ's Atonement and strive to learn more of it and apply it to our lives, we will be prepared to go forth into the world and face whatever the adversary may try to throw at us. I encourage you guys to take a look at this talk. In it Elder Scott lays out some of the things that we need to do in order to strengthen our faith in the Atonement.

Love you guys!

Love,

Elder Moffitt

Banff!

Happy Wednesday everyone!

So I know it's really abnormal for me to be emailing ya'll on a Wednesday, but we weren't able to on Monday because some members from our ward took us to Banff! It was amazing! We got to see Lake Louise and do a hike there, and then walk around in Banff for a bit too! So when I first got my call to Calgary Canada, I really had no idea where that was. But when I looked at the map of my mission I did recognize one place, and that was Banff! So naturally I thought that my whole mission would look just like the pictures of Banff that I'd seen. Turns out that wasn't the case. It only took me 13 months, but I finally got to see that beautiful part of the Rockies! I can successfully check that off of my bucket list.

Other than that, we got to see some pretty awesome things this week!

The first was meeting Jacqueline. She was a referral that we received from a lady in Okotoks. She had requested a Book of Mormon, and it just so happened that we had a few on hand, so we decided to stop by! She was excited to see us, and told us that she would read the Book of Mormon! She has studied a lot of other religions, but said that she had never read the Book of Mormon before. We're really excited to see the spirit in that book touch her life!

Next we got to see Sister Pawluk. She's a lady that has been really less active for a long time. Funny thing is, she likes having the missionaries over, and loves her home teachers, and loves the gospel, but for some reason refused to be active. However, her awesome home teacher just challenged her to read the Book of Mormon for the first time, and she accepted! She's really excited to read it and find out for herself if it's true or not. While we were there, we were also able to help resolve some of her other concerns about the church. We know that if she reads that book with real intent that she can come to know that the church is true for herself.

Another fun adventure we had was biking to Chaparral again. We were on exchanges, and very much out of Kilometers for the month, so we had the pleasure of riding our bikes. Elder Lee and I were exhausted by the end of that day, but we were able to get a lot done!

Spiritual thought for the week! This is from Doctrine and Covenants 33:8-9

8. Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness.
9. Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you.

If we want to help bless someones life, all we have to do is open our mouth, and the Lord will be able to work through us! The gospel blesses lives, but it can't bless someones life if they haven't heard of it. That's why it's our job to help people come unto Christ! Don't be afraid to open your mouths, the Lord is on our side!

Love you guys!

Love,


Elder Moffitt

Lake Louise!

The view on our way up to Saddleback

Another Classic Lake Louise pic

More assorted pics from our adventures!

Okay last one! We got to act out the story of Alma the Younger in Primary! It was a blast, I love Primary!