Elder Ballard, my friend from high school

Hola Mama,

So on Wednesday I was given a coat, a big fat puffy coat.  It was a nice looking coat.  Also a very amazing surprise.  One of the members saw how thin my coat was for a New York winter and she decided to go buy me one.  It was really nice of her to do that.  It was the nicest thing someone could do for me.  I was touched, that showed Christlike love and service.  Yesterday I went and talked with Sister Li and Sister Lai.  They are the ones that gave me the coat!  I kept thanking them.  I love them too much.  Sister Lai speaks really good English.  A few weeks ago she told me I wouldn't learn much Chinese in this area as much as in Brooklyn because in Flushing most Chinese people speak enough English and want to practice English.   She said in Brooklyn they don't speak English at all.  I told Sister Lai to stop talking to me in English and start talking in Chinese.  Here was the deal between me and her.  She speaks Chinese to me and I will teach her sign language.  I am understanding her a lot now.  She helps me a lot with my Chinese and makes me feel good about myself when trying to learn.  She is a fast learner in learning ASL.

On Wednesday we were on the bus and I sat next to Elder Wutrich, he is really good at speaking Chinese.  He looked at me and since Sister Johnson was sitting across from me he said, "Go sit by Sister Johnson, turn around and talk to the girl with the binder."  I was so nervous but it was now or never so I did what he asked and talked to her.  She is a super happy high schooler and I loved talking with her.  She was so excited about everything and I really liked her a lot.  I didn't catch her name or phone number because we had to get off immediately soon after I met her.  I really hope to see her again.  She is super awesome.

We are suppose to go to the Brooklyn Bridge next Monday with the Brooklyn Chinese Sisters.  I am excited to finally go.  Sister Johnson is an amazing trainer and I do love her.  If I had a choice to stay the whole time with her on the mission I would accept.  But she really wants to go to Brooklyn and I really do hope she goes to Brooklyn the next transfer because that will make her happy.

This past week we had a man show up from Utah.  He is part of the language department for the missionaries.  He chose Sister Johnson and me as one of his projects.  He watches us do language study and interviews us and everything. 

Things have been a little hard.  So I went to the Spanish and English branch and interpreted for that little deaf girl Arianna.  That girl can change my day within a second.  She has a true beautiful gift.  Her smile brightens the room.  Her eyes really do show love.  I noticed she is starting to become receptive to sign language.  She is learning little by little.  I just love her.  One funny thing that happened was, I was signing to her the closing prayer (that girl is smart) she grabs my hand and puts my arms in a folding (prayer) position.  I started signing again and she grabbed my hand and put me in a prayer position again.  The primary teacher invited Sister Johnson and me over for dinner.  She and I talked.  She was telling me about how before I showed up Arianna wasn't a happy girl and she wasn't confident about herself and was always shy around her mom.  I explained to her about my background with deafness.  It's not easy being around people or to have self confidence when you know you have a problem.  I told her the story about preschool and how one teacher stood up to the school board and told them what I CAN do.  I said, "Arianna needs someone to believe in her besides her mom."  A person believing in her can make her more confident and capable.  I told the primary teacher to believe in her and encourage her to do great things.  I showed Arianna that I love her and I believe in her.  She was more outgoing in primary and now made a friend in her class and I am so happy.  I know that Arianna is capable of doing something wonderful.

In Relief Society, the RS president asked if we had plans for thanksgiving and we said no.  The bishop's wife heard it and invited us over for thanksgiving.  This Saturday we have a Chinese Thanksgiving so Chinese food :) and we are going to watch 17 Miracles.  I'm excited!!

Wow, that's really cool about the New Era thing!  I did not see that coming.  It was funny because I was just thinking about my EFY experience and then that led into the New Era interview and then you sent me that email!  How insane is that ?!?  That was like two years ago.  It was Heather Layton that gave us that challenge.  She challenged all of us in Laurels to look in the mirror and say one good thing about yourself each day and that changed my perspective and I became more happier.  Man, I had an awesome teacher!

New York is bipolar, one day it's super hot, the other day is super cold.  It's unexpected.  There was a day where it was really cold for me to be outside and I literally almost died.  My hands completely froze because I had to keep taking my gloves off to check the address on the iPad and text/call people on the phone.  I might freeze to death eventually haha.  Don't worry, I'll live through the coldness since I have the spirit to keep me warm. 

My first bubble tea.  Only it's not really tea!

I was wondering if possible if you can send me the lyrics of "Hero" and "Hold Your Light Up", "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" and, "Modern Day Samson".  They are on our mix CD.  See if you can find something you think it's gospel related.  I don't know the band/singer.

I am excited for the Christmas box, but one thing I'm looking forward to is seeing you and everyone online on Christmas Day!!!!  I can't wait to see you!!!!  I love you so much !!!!!!!!

Love your favorite daughter,
Sister Moore

Dear Mamasita,

I traveled the world!

This past week has been better. We worked a whole lot harder.   We went to Rego Park to meet with the President. He grabs my hand and shook it and held it. He was like a father to me. I sat across from the big desk from him and he just smiled and looks at me. He asked, "How are you doing? What are your struggles? What's your thoughts?" I told him I was feeling rushed and overwhelmed with the phone call situation. I could tell he was listening to every word I was saying. He then opened a scripture for me to read Mosiah 4:27: And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.

He asked me to slow down and take one step at a time. He asked about my hearing. He told me to control my stress by eating properly, sleeping properly, exercising, and relaxing. He said that stress and fear are overcoming my faith to hear and that's why I haven't been hearing good lately.

I asked him if he could give me a priesthood blessing and his response was, "I've been waiting for you to say that. You helped me develop my faith!"  He asked what I want in the blessing, I said "to develop my faith in hearing and not let fear overcome my faith and have the gift of tongues." He asked who I want to sit  in for the blessing, I said Sister Johnson. She knows me more than anyone in this mission except for President Calderwood and Heavenly Father/Jesus Christ. He asked Sister Johnson since she has been my trainer what I need in my life that he could say in the blessing. We sat in silence for a long time, she said, "Honestly she is doing really good..... Maybe the gift of hearing and interpretation." President asked if my health was good if I need to be anointed or not, I didn't need it. So he blessed me and then walked in front of me and said the blessing so I can read his lips. He stopped after saying 10 words of the blessing and said, " I feel a strong prompting to anoint you, I need to follow that." He went to his bag and got the anointing oil and anointed me and said the blessing. He gave a really spiritual blessing. In the blessing he said that I would  receive the gift of interpretation, the gift of tongues, the gift of faith, and have understanding of the Chinese culture according to my faith and faithfulness. He also said in the blessing to have the gift of hearing and not have fear replace my faith. I felt the spirit so powerful, I need to take an action of my faith to have the Lord help me walk every step of the way and in developing those gifts. I love being with president. After the blessing, Sister Johnson actually gave me hug. Sister Johnson explained to me that she honestly didn't know what I really needed because she thought I was doing really good. I really love having those two people in my life in this mission.

After the blessing I have prayed everyday to develop the gifts that president said I would receive. I prayed to not let fear overcome my thoughts and actions. I noticed that if I put my trust and faith in Christ my hearing increases, my ability to speak the language increases, and my gift of interpretation increases. I was absolutely letting fear take over by saying negative things and what if. I am doing a little better with the phone situation calling, leaving voice messages, but not at a point of Chinese conversation yet. That's ok, I will accomplish that one day.

I went on a companion exchange and came back to find this on my desk...Sorry Spider-Man, I am on a mission!

Sister Johnson and I were on exchange. I went to Little Neck with Sister Baker and I honestly love her. Honestly I missed having Sister Johnson as my companion, in fact I really missed her haha. As a zone we had to do Bishop Storehouse and so Sister Johnson and I saw each other. She kept talking with me and asking me for help and said "I am glad you're here." When I was with Sister Baker we went all over, we went to Flushing, Rego, Little Neck, and Lynbrook. We had to go to Lynbrook for a leadership training meeting. Sister Baker had to translate from English to Spanish. She was called to translate in the young women organization. The young women stake president spoke and at the end she looks at me and asked me to give a spiritual thought. Since it was young women I told all the leaders that I've been part of young women and stake girls camp organization. Young women has become a part of me. I told the leaders that they need to love all the girls as if they were their child, no matter how many mistakes they did, or how big their struggle are. The girls need us and we need them. The girls need someone to believe in them, they need love and so forth. Young women is my favorite organization in the church. I have such huge love for young women. I looked around the room; people were shedding tears. The young women stake president came up to me and said I felt the prompting to ask you to give a message and thank you. I am still receiving revelation that I was to be like Sister Elaine Dalton, it's insane. The girls  need someone who loves  and cares for them no matter what.  They are at a time where they are lost and confused, popular or not, trying to fit in a group of friends, they are at a time where they don't know who they are and it's our responsibility to help them, and be their friend and love them with all of our heart. I have such a huge testimony of young women!

A few days ago we had a miracle happen. One of our investigators we were going to drop texted us and said she had a friend who wanted a belief and that investigator chose our church. One of our less actives said she wanted to bring her friend to church. It's insane that our less active and a nonmember are bringing a friend to church. Another cool thing was, on Saturday (I was on exchange) Sister Johnson told me we had a new investigator. Her name was K and I was filled with joy because I knew her for two months because she comes to every English class. Sister Johnson told me that she tried teaching her the gospel and it didn't really happen so K went up to her and said she wanted to learn more about the gospel. Also we had an investigator come to church again on Sunday. She never comes to Sunday School and Relief Society. She never wanted to. So I was sitting by a member, L and told her that I was going to sit by our investigator. She asked if she could come and I said yes. We went and sat by our investigator. L and I wrote back and forth to each other in Chinese character about the investigator. I told her to invite her to come to class and relief society. She did come! Members are the key in this great missionary work. Afterward, I talked with that investigator about how she likes church. She really likes it. She doesn't speak English so we spoke 100% Chinese and I understood everything she was saying and words just came out of my mouth. The gift of tongues is real.

Thank you for the gift! Sister Johnson and I loved it. Sister Johnson actually admitted to me that she has never made pancakes before so I am excited to teach her.

About Facebook, you can comment or like a lot, no boundary really. I can comment and like other photos if 1) it's accomplishing my missionary purpose 2) I can look through Facebook newsfeed on Mondays and stalk everyone ;). With family and friends I can chat on Facebook on Mondays. But other than that my main focus is chatting with investigators, less actives, and members on Facebook. We post spiritual thoughts 3 times a week or more.

I stopped taking the MMF to see if I noticed a difference and noticed that my back and shoulder were in pain again.  I was in bad pain for 3 days. So I decided to take the MMF again and I am feeling better.  I love the MMF.  It is really helping me. 

Crystal, Me, Sister Johnson and Wang Fei

We are chilling out today in Flushing with the Brooklyn Chinese district. We haven't gone to the Statue of Liberty yet. We might latter this transfer I heard.  Last week p-day we went to Rego met up with president and ate out at Olive Garden for lunch and came back and relaxed.  Two week ago p-day Sister Johnson and I went to the science museum and it was a blast.  It's quite interesting.

I didn't do the little speech to missionaries. Elder Johnson asked me to give it this week instead of last week since he has something to say. So tomorrow I am giving a little workshop.

Mom, I can feel your prayers so strongly! Thank you for praying every hour. Sister Johnson and I needed it. I love you so much! I am glad things are going good. I understand about the same cycle thing.... Hopefully you can do something fun soon! You deserve it!!!

Our pumpkin says "Choose the Right" in Simple Chinese

Hey Mama,

I am happy to here about the MMF Grand Launch!! The Lord is blessing you!  I have two MMF packs left and I would like some more. 

The apartment is still hot and the weather is getting colder! I am sleeping better now.   Oh I forgot to tell you this.... Our bathtub broke...... We can take a shower but the drain doesn't work anymore... We have to take the bowl and take the water our and pour it down the sink. When you're showering the bathtub gets fulled pretty fast. Yup....

Oh an new elder is joining the district today.... I am so excited because I know him from the MTC. He is amazing!  

We already have an iPad! I keep it till the end of the mission. I also don't get Facebook till next week... Wait patiently :)

Halloween sounds like so much fun! It's so cute about Harper, that girl makes me laugh so hard and that girl is the light to my life. She just makes me super happy! I love her!  I am glad the Stewarts are doing good!! That's awesome about Weston and his xylophone, is he loving it? Can't wait to meet Baby Cash!!!

So this week has been difficult, my listening has been suffering. I can't understand people even when they are speaking English. It's hard for me because the people are getting frustrated. I asked the Elders to give me a blessing yesterday and they did. I felt peace and comfort and an overwhelming feeling  knowing that everything will be okay. Please continue to pray for me that my hearing will improve!

After the blessing we went to church I met a girl who was like 4 from the English/Spanish branch. She was running all over the place but from the corner from my eyes I saw a cochlear implant. I started talking with her and her older sister. The little girl doesn't know sign but the older sister is learning American Sign Language. The little girl was skipping all over the place, smiling, giggling, she was full of joy. That girl touched my heart through her simple smile and she didn't let her deafness define her sounds like someone I know haha but I needed a reminder of who I am. She is the sweetest thing ever and she was the answer to my prayer.

On Halloween, so Sister Johnson wanted to be a princess so she bought a crown. She then said, "You need to have a costume too!" So she went through my closet and laid out an outfit for me and I became a hipster. Yeah.... Peace, tree lover, hello sunshine.

The hipster and the princess

We were asked to be home by 6 on Halloween so Sister Johnson and I decided to deep clean and rearrange our apartment. It now looks like a home. We then ate pizzas and ice cream and talked about our life... That girl is super smart and has been through a lot. I just love her.

On Saturday we had a Halloween party and we dressed up again but the Chinese people did not want me to just be a hipster which means..... They had to paint my face. So they painted my face. The party was a lot of fun. We had games, food, and the missionaries performed. One crazy thing that  happened was the idea of a kissing booth.  One of our members Brian dressed up as a vampire.... He actually looked like a vampire!  So he gets placed in the room and one person wears a blind fold and walks in and sits down. Brian would ask  a question and then he said I'm gonna kiss you and the person blindfolded freaks out and he gets the the candy kiss and put it on their lips and tells them to open their eyes. They laugh since they actually thought he kissed them. It was weird!

The ward members wanted to paint my face

Almost everyday we help out a lady with yard work.  She was baptized in Taiwan when she was 17 and went to church for a year and became inactive. She is about 60. She started coming to English class and so we started teaching her and helping her pull weeds and place stones and porch in the backyard. Her father just passed away and she blames it on the home care lady because the home care lady was feeding her father too fast and the father choked and died. She is very bitter about it and said that God should have punished that lady. I really like this lady because she is so selfless and gave all her time to take care of her parents and never was married. She speaks good things and smiles often but when it comes to her father's death and home care she becomes bitter and upset. We are in a process of helping her trying to forgive so she can feel peace and love. She told us she had a dream that her dad is not happy where he is at. It bothers her. We really want to help her. We want to help her come to church and go through the temple so she can help her dad and mom with temple work and they can be in a better place. Please pray for her  that she will find peace.

On Wednesday we had dinner with a lady. She doesn't seem happy with her life right at the moment but she kept squeezing my cheek and complimenting how sister Johnson and I have a baby face haha. She kept putting more and more food on my plate, so honestly I ate clam and jellyfish.... It was interesting but I will never have it again if I have the option to choose haha.

It's so hard for me to see the people struggling and how they don't think the gospel can help them. I know it can help them. I know that THIS gospel is so true! I KNOW this is where I am meant to be so I can help them find that joy in their life. I am happy when they realize how the gospel can help them as well. My heart is filled with joy and peace knowing that they know this. Yup it's been an emotional week, man.... I have a deep connection with people! I know that when we change our perspective to the way God sees them...... Our thoughts on other people changes to children of God. They are not the people shopping in the store..... Or a lady sitting on the steps.... Or a man serving food. They are all our brothers and sisters, they are children of God! It's crazy how your love for them can increase significantly once you start to think that. They all have a story.  I love this gospel so much and the field is so white and ready to harvest!

I love you mom!  You're my super hero!

Love,

Sister Moore