Sister Lauren Moon: February 3, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

I am in California!!!! I didn't have time to write last week so I've got a lot to talk about. Let's get started.

My last week in the Missionary Training Center was packed full of exciting new things. I even sang in the choir, which was crazy because I cannot sing! The Spirit and the message made it so worth it though. We sang "Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer" (from the Hymn Book), but it was a different version of it and it was amazing. If you Google "Precious Savior Dear Redeemer Utah State Morningside" or something like that I'm sure you'd find the version we sang. It's wonderful.

On a different note, my companion got sick so I had to miss several hours of In-Field Orientation. I was there for the boring stuff, but I missed the games and the skit. It was unfortunate, but hey this patience thing is getting better.

We also had two investigators in the MTC: Patty and Leah. Patty was our golden investigator. We committed her to baptism on February 12th, and taught her the first 3 lessons. Leah on the other hand, she's crazy. She is a real non-member and she doesn't really want to hear our message. She has no interest in the Book of Mormon. We kept teaching her doctrine from the Bible and the Book of Mormon hoping that she will have a desire to read it. Don't knock it till you've tried it.

We also heard from some amazing speakers. I'll share a few of my favorite quotes:

"If we find ourselves away from God, who moved?...Not God" - Brother Brown

The power of grace allows us to be extraordinary in the ordinary things we do" - Gerald Causse

"Quit trying to be your own Savior, stop carrying that cross. He [Christ] already paid that price" - Stephen B. Allen

"If we wait until we have some amazing revelation to act...we are being acted upon and that's not what we're here to do" - David A. Bednar (video recording)

In the Bible we hear about how Christ was sleeping on the ship and his disciples came, during a storm, and said, "Carest Thou not that we perish?". Rosemary M. Wixom said, "Out of everyone in the world, Christ is the only one who really actually cares...A few months later He laid down His life to show us how much He really actually cares".

So that was how my last week in the MTC went. Then on January 28th I arrived in California. The first day everyone was so tired (we got up at 3:00AM). We had a ton of interviews and meetings. President and Sister Hobbs are my "parents" for the next 18 months and they are really nice but kind of strict as well...

I met my new companion on Wednesday, Sister S. She's from the Philippines and has been out 4 months. She is awesome and we have been staying busy. WE are in the A Ward in H which is the desert which means it's really cold and windy (since it's winter). I thought it would be warm but no it's not...at all. We have 3-4 lessons everyday and we have also been knocking on doors and finding new investigators. Right now we have about 8 potential investigators so this week we will meet with them and see how things go. My companion is a little shy so I've been leading discussion and talking to people when we knock on doors. It's been a little hard, but it's becoming a little more bearable.

I do not have a bike because I'm in the desert and it is too hilly. I am also driving because my companion does not have an American license. California has some crazy drivers. Not as bad as Provo but still...

The day I will be coming back is July 28th, 2015 (I'm not sure why the two weeks in the MTC doesn't count but oh well)!!!! "No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done" -The Standard of Truth. Love,

Sister Moon

Here are some photos!