Hump Day in the MTC!

Dear Mama,

I am happy that I am over half way!!! I am so excited! I can't wait to get to New York!!!!  The MTC still doesn't feel like home to me, but that's ok, I am getting use to this. Today I said, "I think I'm gonna pack today for New York." I almost started packing and the girls had to convince me not to pack haha. It was funny! So guess what? I lost my grayish blackish pencil skirt.... I am really sad, that was my favorite. But that's ok, I will buy New York's hottest style of missionary clothes in the winter and I will feel like an awesome Mormon girl model!

  

Nap Time!  Sister Hughes and I are always soooo tired.

This week has been a roller coaster. Wanna know why..... I slept a lot.  Most of the girls in our zone got sick and missed classes. I got sick starting Tuesday with a really bad headache which led to dizziness and lightheadedness. On Tuesday I took a 1 hour nap after dinner before the devotional. On Wednesday class doesn't starts till 9 so I slept in till 8:30. On Thursday class doesn't starts till 10:20 so I slept in till 10. I felt so much better on Friday and then Sister Strong got so sick that she couldn't focus in class and couldn't eat at all so I had to convince her to go back to the residence and sleep. She went to sleep and I decided to catch up on my studies and while I was studying I fell asleep and woke up with my face on my scriptures. I slept for a full two hours while Sister Strong slept for a full 3 hours. She is now better.

Last Week Sister Hughes was very very sick.  We sometimes do companion exchanges where I stay and take care of Sister Hughes while her companion Sister Brown and Sister Strong can do things they need to do.  One thing I was grateful for was that Sister Hughes needed to get medicine from the doctor at a clinic so we walked down by BYU to a clinic. I felt free. It was amazing to see cars, and buildings, and actual people ;). Sister Hughes has been sick for a week and feared that she might be sent home and she didn't want to go home so I decided to fast for Sister Hughes last Tuesday and she is now fully healed. Fasting is a miracle!

  

A sister I hosted wanted a picture with me.  That was so sweet.

I was able to host again! How awesome is that??? The girls from last week would always come over and talk to me and I would go talk to them. Whew guess I wasn't a bad host. So this past week hosting, I hosted 7 girls and it was easier. I actually knew where I was going and what I was doing. A man told me that I needed to leave the MTC to bring a girl into the MTC because she had a big family. So once again, I left the MTC.  It  felt great haha. It was heartbreaking to see her say goodbye to her family. So I jumped in to do my missionary duty and said, "What an amazing opportunity it is to serve the gospel and you are officially a missionary" and everyone screamed joyfully for their daughter serving. I loved their excitement. The picture I sent of a tall girl and me in front of the temple, that's her :) I then was able to host my friend from college, Maddy Hayward! What the heck. We talked the whole time and it was hard to call her by her last name. It was awesome. I felt better this time about hosting hehe!

Here is an explanation of our District and where they are going. Elder Taylor is going to Taiwan, Elder Gibbson is going to Scotland, Elder Harris and Elder Curtis are going to England, and Elder Pearce, Elder Geilman, and Elder Lloyd are going to Singapore. It's cool that we are all so different.

Our Zone before....

...and our Zone now!

So we have 22 new missionaries that entered our zone and 8 of them are sisters! How awesome is that!!

Stephan B. Allen spoke to us last night. He said what I needed to hear. He said that the Mission is going to be really hard. Satan will make sure you are feeling discouraged and that God has forgotten you and that's why people are leaving the church or going home from their mission. It is so easy to listen to Satan. But God has never ever ever forsaken us! He loves us too much and he wants us to go back to him. He created a plan for us and it is our choice to accept it or not and we chose to accept it. He gave us trials because he knew we could handle it, he did not send us to fail and be filled with sorrow. He sends us here to learn and grow in our mortal body and receive that plan of happiness.

I have a lot of testimony about Priesthood Power. I know I talk a lot about that. It's because I lived some parts of my life without the priesthood in our home and it was scary. I had a very difficult time and decided to ask for a blessing. President Teng gave me the blessing and it was really powerful and all my burdens were lifted and I was able to move forward with strong faith. If you're struggling, priesthood blessings can help. I didn't think I needed one till Sister Price told me that I should get one and it helped me soooo much. It's was so powerful that I cried. 

My Chinese has been improving, my tones and pronunciation too. I know that The Lord is helping me a lot. I know that I'm going to do great in the mission field. I can feel it. It'll be hard but amazing.

I learned how to do a handstand.  I have been increasing the muscles in my head with all the Chinese I am learning.

Work out time with Sister Hughes

 I learned a lot about faith in my personal studies. I learned when you plant a seed in your heart you have to nurture it. If you have a  negative attitude and bad thoughts and feelings, you cannot expect the seed to grow in your heart. But if you're filled with love and gratitude and watering that seed in your heart, you will come closer to Christ and He will fill us with Charity and happiness. When the seed grows and the roots spread, you will be firm in the gospel and it will be harder to go on the wrong path. It'll be easier to make the right choice and easier to love.

Have you ever heard of a plank prayer?  One of the girls in my residence prays this way...hahaha!

 I have been thinking a lot about miracles with our families and ward. I love how kind our ward was to the man who walked into sacrament meeting and prayed kneeling on the floor in front of the pulpit. I think about that a lot. What a good Samaritan Matt is. One of my favorite stories to hear. I am happy for Morgan Winder's baby. I am glad she's ok. The sweet family is being blessed. We have received so many miracles. They may seem small to us but really they mean something big!

 

These Elders always had trouble  staying together, so they tied themselves to each other! 

I can't wait to hear where Jacob is going..... He can't leave me hanging!!! I am excited for him. Tell everyone I said hi. Things are  tough here but not too tough for me because I have The Lord with me. I am glad Andrea Stackhouse's wedding reception was beautiful and awesome.I am so excited to received the box.

Tell all the girls in YW that I love them very much! I think about them everyday! Dream Big! You are a great leader and teacher and the girls love you so much.

 

        ASL Missionaries

      I love them so much!

Thank you for sending me that bad news. One of the Elders in our district received a newspaper in his package because it was wrapped around fragile stuff and we were so excited to read the news.... mostly the sports section haha because that is all he had. Thank you for sending me the other missionaries' email. I love it! It helps a ton!

I also sent you a handwritten letter too! You should be able to get it soon!

Love you Mama! 

Sister Moore