Mele Kalikimaka - Facetime with Elder

December 25th - Facetime with Family on Christmas Day.

We had a wonderful visit with testimony sharing, laughing, singing.  We were able to say Merry Christmas to Sister Flinder and her daughter, and to talk to Elder's companion for a short bit.  A big blessing on Christmas Day.

Almost Christmas!

(Excerpts from Elder's email: December 23rd, 2013)

l'll give you a call before hand! I'll be at the Flinders at 7.00  in the morning, but we will probably call at like 9.00 or 10.00 am and set things up! I'm still sick but I'm doing okay. There Is no way you can get warm in this weather!! NO WAY!!! im still waitng for Aunty Julie's box! I wrote Gran and Granddad last week so hopefully they got my letter. Can you guys take pictures of Christmas so I can see it ??

J. is doing good. We are now going to set up baptism dates with his whole family, so well see how things are going to work out.  What is the update with Maika? I'm going to baptize him if he comes to Wisconsin.  He will be in the Madison area. :) We have a lot of potential here and I am so excited to see the outcome with regards to the work.  KEEP YOUR PHONE ON !!! I'll be calling soon !!! Love you Mum and give my love to Aunty Julie and also Grandma , Grandma Sese , Papa , Gran and Granddad. :)

Love you

Elder Mcmoore

Negative 5 Degrees

(Excerpts from Elder's email dated: December 16th, 2013)

 

My week has been alright. I have been just freezing cold. I am am sick right now and my body is just soar. It is -5 degrees right now,with wind chill of -17 degrees.

 

The situation with A. is not going well. He's never home we haven't gotten a chance to talk with him. It is frustrating.  As of this week we were able to have another baptism set up. His name is J. D. We are going over today to teach the restoration to his whole family. The other day we were able to give him and his daughter C. a blessing.  We have to both pray and fast at this point for his whole family but,  he is really excited to be baptized on the 17th of January.

 

I am really come to turns with myself. I just love being a missionary, even though we get cussed at and rebuked by the people constantly. I am getting to know who I really am every single day and it is eye opening. This will be my first missionary Christmas and it is going to be fun. We get to knock on doors and talk of the Christ:) SWEET!!

 

I have been really thinking about how grateful I am for the atonement and how it plays such a big role in our lives. I really had NO knowledge of the atonement until now entering into the battlefield of good and evil.  Wisconsin is a special place and I realize humbly that no ordinary missionary serves in this state.

 

Love,

Your Missionary

 

 

I LOVE TO TRACT!!!!!

(Excerpts from Elder's email: December 9th, 2013)

So happy. The work has been good this week. The Lord works in mysterious ways.  I bought more gloves because this week my finger were freezing.  They were really sore!!!!  I love you guys, but I'm starting not to miss home.  I'm starting to really settle and love my home here in Rapids.  The people here are truly my second family.  I love them so much and it's going to break my heart when I have to transfer somewhere else.

I'm losing my color by the second.  I am starting to look pale.  We have been told not to worry about the different religions of the people in Wisconsin, but just to give them a Book of Mormon.  I'm loving my missionary life so much.  I LOVE TO TRACT!!!  We were put down by a pastor this week but after talking to him for 10 minutes or so he accepted a Book of Mormon.

I feel like I haven't seen anything green in a while because everything is white and after awhile outside it starts to hurt your eyes.  We are hitting the negative degrees every day weather wise.  It is colder when the wind blows.  I love and miss you all so much, but I'm just having the time of my life right now.

Your missionary.

This is what missionary living is!

Pictures of our apartment

Bedroom

 View from behind apartment 

Kitchen

This is what an Elder's freezer looks like. 
A little empty, but note the hot pockets and mauna loa chocolates!

We eat so much deer here.

(Excerpts from Email sent: December 2, 2013)

"My week went by so slow, but it was still a great week."

Q: How is A. who committed to be baptized? Is he holding firm?

A: A. is doing good, but we are still teaching him the restoration. He's a really great guy.

Q: Did you receive your care package from Grandma?

A:  Yes, thank you so much!  My companion and I downed the macadamia nut chocolate and cookies in 20 minutes. MAN!!! MY COMP AND I WERE SO GRATEFUL!!!!

Q:  Share a spiritual experience that happened this week.

A: This week my companion shared with me how we all have spiritual gifts and I wanted to know what mine where.  I fasted and prayed and I received an answer from the scriptures which my companion read the following day.  He said that he felt prompted to share it and I realized that one spiritual gift I have is to think positive.  It was neat receiving personal revelation through the scriptures!

Q:  Who fed you on Thanksgiving?  I received a text with pictures from someone named Stacy.

A:  Sister P. took those pictures and text them to you.  We had pie at her house, it was great! She is feeding us all again tonight.  She is great.

Q:  The missionary sisters in some of your pictures, are they in the same ward?

A:  Yes, Sister Olsen and Sister Hansen are in the same ward as us.  They are driven missionaries and are such power houses! We are fed together some nights.  We eat so much deer here.

Q:  So, what is it like to live in the snow?

A: I DON'T LIKE SNOW!  It's so cold and everything is just white and it gives me a headache.  I miss color and the sun.

Q:  Do you have a mission car?  Do you drive?

A:  Yes, we have a mission car and no I don't drive because I don't want to crash on the roads.  The roads here are frozen with ice and I don't want to take the chance, but in the summer I can! :)

"How is Ipo, Isaiah and Taylin?  I love you guys.  Until next week."

Your Missionary.

 One of our members catch after hunting deer

Elder McMoore, Elder Gautavai,

 Elder Andrews and Elder Iongi

Flinder Family and Greenie Meal

(Email sent: November 10th, 2013)

Hello Gautavai, McMoore, Hansen and Olsen Families!!

We are privileged to have your son or daughter serving in our ward.  Thanks for preparing them to serve a mission, for we appreciate their efforts and love the missionaries serving in our ward.  They are a great example to us, to our children and to the youth.  You can be very proud of them.

 

Since Elder McMoore and Sister Olsen are both fresh from the MTC, we decided to have a special greenie meal for them tonight.  It took them by surprise and we had a great time making dinner.  Just about everything that we could make green was green.  We made homemade green buns for sloppy joes (couldn't figure how to make tomato sauce green though), green beans, green salad with green ranch dressing, green apple sauce, green gatorade and green lemon pudding.  

 

 

Afterwords, we had a wonderful message that all the missionaries participated with.  The message was about personal revelation.  It was inspiring to our entire family.  The Spirit was present and we were well taught.

Thanks again for preparing such wonderful missionaries.  We will help take care of them while they are on the Lord's errand and away from you.

 

Love,

 

Craig, Karalee, Nathan, Jennie, Cameron, and Emme Flinders (and our dog Fletcher)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

(Text: November 28th, 2013)

"Happy Thanksgiving, from the warm state of Wisconsin.  We are trying to not let your son freeze!"

Here are some Thanksgiving pictures for you.  Enjoy.

- Stacy

 Elder Gautavai, Elder McMoore,

Sister Olsen, Sister Hansen

Wisconsin Rapids Ward

(Excerpts from Elder's email: November 25th, 2013)

My week was sooo much better!  Guess what???  WE HAVE A BAPTISM ON THE 21st OF DECEMBER.  YESS!!!  A.  has gone through so much. I love him for the way he is towards us.

(Questions for the Elder)

Q: Are you living in a house?  With members?  OR in an apartment with your companion or with another set of missionaries?

A:  It is just me and my companion and we live in an apartment.  It's pretty roomy.  It's clean because we are always cleaning it.

Q:  How many lessons were you able to share this week?

A:  We taught 11 lessons this week.

Q:  What is the name of your Ward?

A: The ward that I am serving in is called Wisconsin Rapids ward.  We have 80 active members that attend church.  It's small but the people are soooo loving.  I love them.

Q:  Who is the Bishop in your ward and what is he like?

A: Our Bishop is Bishop Black.  He's a really nice man and funny! LOL

Q:  Share one experience that you had this week that strengthened your testimony.

A: One experience that impacted me this week was when A. accepted the invite to be baptized.  I've never felt the spirit shoot the whole room as fast as it did that night.  I knew that moment that the Lord was preparing A. for the gospel and that he was ready to receive it.

"I have 23 fast Sundays left!"

Love,

Your Missionary

 This is the Ingrams who I really love.

My soa and I, Sisters Hansen and Olsen.

Recent converts Brother Hetzell and Sister Kraus.

Service

(Excerpts from Elder's Email: November 18th, 2013)

My week has been so depressing.  We knock on doors, get yelled at or laughed at and then slammed on.  We have taught about 13 lessons this week.  The people's hearts are so hardened unto the gospel.  Elder Gautavai and I are being fed well.  We do service and it brings peace.  I feel like I can change it to a missionary moment at any time.  My testimony has been tested this week and sure has been bruised.  I feel for Alma and the four sons of Mosiah, but in some ways my testimony has been strengthened.

Your missionary.

First Week in the Field

(Excerpts from Elder's mail: November 11th, 2013)

It is way cold here.  Way colder than Utah!!!  The people here are nice.  I miss you guys soooo much.  My companion and I workout every morning.  We run in the CRAZY COLD.  My mission is going smoothly so far.  My companion, Elder Gautavai is from Bountiful, Utah.  He's a good guy.

I miss everyone so bad, but I know why I'm here.  I have a job to do so I'm trying my best.  I get to Skype you all on Christmas :) LOL.
I love you.
I'll be fine. 
The Lord has his eyes on me.

Your Missionary.

Wisconsin Rapids!

Elder McMoore and Elder Gautavai, are serving in Wisconsin Rapids.

We're so happy to have your son in the Wisconsin Milwaukee Mission!

Sister Cutler posts pictures and news on a mission blog that you might like to look at from time to time. The link to the blog is http://wisconsinmilwaukeemission.blogspot.com

Thank you for sending Elder McMoore to serve the Lord in Wisconsin.

President & Sister Cutler

Elder McMoore & His trainer Elder Gautavai

SNOW!!

(Received email: Nov 4th, 2013)

 

I am Sister Bales and my husband and I are at the MTC this week for our training as a Senior Missionary couple. We were walking to Missionary Conference this morning and it began to snow! We saw your son and he was so excited and told us he had never seen snow. I took a couple of pictures and told him I would send them to you. He is a delightful young man and his  excitement was so fun to watch.  He is doing well and looks healthy and happy! What a great missionary he will be!

 

Yours Truly,

 

Bonnie Bales

 Snow!

 

MTC Letter

(Excerpts from Elder's Letter)

MTC is a bit of a change!  It's pretty intense, but the food is great.  My companion is Elder Forsyth and he is from Colorado.  He's pretty cool.  My testimony has grown so much.  Tomorrow my companion and I teach Sister Haley Meza.  We met her on our way back from the Provo temple.  I struck up a conversation with her and we were able to teach her our first lesson yesterday.  She said that she had been waiting for this message her entire life!!!  She's so sweet.  I'm with my brother Isaac (Elder Moa) breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I've never prayed so hard in my life.  I am tired spiritually, mentally and physically.  Missionary work isn't easy.  I get to call home before I fly out to Milwaukee on Monday.  Love and Miss you guys!

Your Missionary.

 Elder with fellow MTC Elders

 Elder Moa (Serving in Italy) at Lunch (Above)

Elder Ragragola (Serving in Baguio, Philippines) (Below)

Provo M.T.C.

The day has finally arrived.  Suitcases packed and we are heading to Provo M.T.C. around 11 am.  Check in is at 1 pm, but we grind down at Chuck a rama before heading in.  We had excitement while heading out.  All my important documents like, I.D. wallet, money, patriarchal blessing, immunization shot record, scriptures etc... was in my side satchel.  Dad put the bag on the roof of the car, and forgot about it.  We were driving onto the free way when Uncle said he saw something fly off the roof rack.  We had to back track driving backwards on the shoulder lane until we saw it on the freeway.  It was hecka close!! Saying goodbye was a big teary with my parents, but it was all good.  Moving on like a soldier in Helaman's Army!!

 This is the day I head to M.T.C.

 Momma

 Dad

Elder at the M.T.C. helping me with my bags!

Salt Lake City

Arrived into Salt Lake City and felt the burrrr!  Spent wonderful time with my family and parents and loved every moment of it.  Report date and time for the Provo M.T.C. is Wednesday, October 23rd, 2013 at 1 pm.  Excited!! 

 Family

 Family

 Love my family

 Aunty Lolohea and mean grinds!

 Family Home Evening @ Church Museum and Temple Square

 Me & Tavita

 Holiness to the Lord

 Provo Temple with Dad and Uncle

My parents!

Missionary Farewell

 

 

 

 

 

Elias McMoore's farewell was held at the Makakilo Stake Center.  Family and friends came to hear him give his farewell talk and to sing Aloha Oe to him.

 

 

 Family from Laie came from Elias's Farewell

Elias and Isaiah Mo'o after Farewell.