Sister's Conference

Dear Mom,

This past week was a very rewarding week. There were a lot of miracles and blessings happening all around. I love the people of Flushing soooo much. I must admit that last transfer I didn't want to be in Flushing because I felt like there was nothing I can do. Flushing was dead, no one was willing to do anything to change. But that meant that I was there for the wrong reason. 

 

I was on exchange to Little Neck. That day will forever change my life. We  had five lessons that day. 

 

Lesson 1- We got invited to eat lunch at a lady's house with 6 other ladies and they are all moms. I've been exchanged to Little Neck so many times that all the ladies remember me and the tiny details about me. One recent convert I met once and haven't seen for 3 months said, "I was just thinking about you yesterday." We shared a video, "You Never Know" Sister Blonquist and I bore our testimony. They all cried because they each have struggles and they could feel God's love helping them through. It was great!

 

Lesson 2- We then met another sister. I met her once before in October. She was a less active at the time. But now she is attending church. She pulled out her family history book and we started working on it. She prepared some names and she is worthy enough to go to the temple. She chose to go to the temple April 24. We shared a video about temple work. We also taught her about patriarchal blessings. She cried through it all. She is excited to help her family know the fullness of the gospel.

 

Lesson 3- We met with a Spanish lady. She was sick few months ago but then all the sudden she couldn't walk. So now she is in the rehab center to learn how to walk again. She didn't know a lot of English. I tried to communicate the best I can with few Spanish words I knew. She and I could feel each other's love even when we couldn't understand each other a lot. She cried because God's love was there and I felt it. She is struggling at the rehab because the workers treat her terribly. 

As we were leaving we saw a man playing the piano for the elderly people. Sister Blonquist decided to volunteer to play the piano. She did and she played good. She didn't think she did and she was frustrated. I told her that she sacrificed her time to the Lord by sharing her talent. I immediately started to see different ways of teaching people and showing the love of God through not only lessons but actions, smiles, words, and etc.

 

Lesson 4- We went to a lady's house for a BOM study group. They just started and it's their first time trying. We had a lady, Sandy come. We shared our testimony abut the experience. I felt the spirit so strong. Afterward Sandy said, "Please come back to Little Neck soon." I love Little Neck.

 

Lesson 5 (my favorite) -  Sister Blonquist admitted to me that she and her companion were teaching a Chinese person. They talked to each other through Google translate and she is learning English. Sister Blonquist looked at me and said, "I feel like we need to visit her." So we both followed the prompting of the spirit. We knocked on her door, she let us in, and she started crying. She said she just prayed for missionaries to come over. Right after she said her prayer, we showed up. She cried knowing God answered her prayer. We shared with her a message. She cried. Her family was engaged in the lesson. What was really cool was that, we were all talking in full blown Chinese. I understood her, she understood me. She and I got along great. Sister Blonquist after the lesson said, "The spirit was so strong. You're Chinese is good. You guys got along great." The missionaries passed this family to us so we will be teaching them. I am so excited!

 

So while I was in Little Neck, my heart yearned for Flushing. I missed Flushing. I missed the people, I missed speaking the language. After the Little Neck experience I started to recognize the people's needs and struggles. They are screaming for help inside. I talked with many of them in lessons and following the prompting of the spirit. They all cried. These experiences that people are going through caused me to humble myself even more. These people need help, and we missionaries are helping them recognize the blessings of God and helping them overcome their personal struggles.

 

We met with C, her testimony changed, she has the desire to do better. We met with another sister over Skype. She is less active, she is learning sign and has few deaf friends, we shared a message relating with ASL/Deaf. She is now slowly developing RA. It's when the joints of your hands and feet don't work properly. She was positive about it and she was still mindful of her blessings. We skyped with Lynn. She is a member in Dkyer and is learning sign and asked us to skype with her almost everyday. Something happened in her life and she is going through a hard time, she thinks she might go on a mission. Whenever we ask her, "Are you going on a mission?" Or "When are you going on a mission?" She answers so cute, she said-"Everyday" we can be missionaries when we don't have our tag on.

 

Saturday we went to a funeral in Brooklyn. A sweet faithful member passed away on March 17. She was 97 years old. She travelled to Dkyer and Flushing for church. She has a super strong testimony and always yells it in English and Chinese. I bet she is excited to see Joseph Smith. He is her hero. She will be missed.

 

Yesterday was filled of miracles. We have had a bunch of members ask us to eat with them this week. We have few investigators who came in and said they want to learn the gospel. Two less actives we've been working with ever since the day I came into Flushing. They never wanted to come to church. I remember teaching one LA who never want to do anything with the church. One day she walked into our lesson and listened. I felt prompted to asked her to say a prayer. She said her prayer and cried. We see her all the time in the street and she will give us hugs and talk to us. Her Countance has changed a lot. They were so happy to be at the church... "莫姐妹， 我们想要跟你可以一个图片” (Sister Moore can we have a picture with you?" That's a miracle.)

 

A member's mom who is not a member didn't like me at first. I think she was hesitant to talk with me. I would always go to her and say 你好 or talk with her. Her daughter wasn't sure she wanted to meet with the missionaries yet. Yesterday she came to me and gave me a hug. She looked down at my worn shoes and said in Chinese, "I want to buy you new shoes what size are you?" She was so sweet.

 

Another miracle. Elder Ng, Hendrickson, Sister Lee, and I went and passed out fliers after church. It was successful. I think it was the sun and warmth. A few people said they are coming to FHE tonight, hopefully that will happen. We have 3 phone contacts and they were so interested in the gospel. We are so excited to work with them. We have had interesting stories with each of these people.

Sister Lee closed her eyes at a convert's house.
The lady thought she was asleep so she put a blanket on her...hahaha!

 

One funny thing that happened,  Sister Lee got pooped on by a pigeon on her head. Elder Ng and I jumped back laughing. Poor Elder Hendrickson had to help get the poop out of her hair.

 

The English sisters told us they had a dinner appointment with a Chinese person who walked in at the church. They asked us to go with them since she didn't speak English. We found out she was a member in Manhattan but lives in Flushing.  She cried when we taught her and she cried when she prayed. She said she felt like she needed to go to the church in Flushing and a God had sent me and Sister Lee to help her daughter who is 15. Hopefully.  We will be working with her daughter little by little.

 

We worked super hard this past week. We have had 18 lessons. That's the highest ever! So we celebrated with a movie night... We took our bed off the bunk bed and put them together and watched the New Testament while eating popcorn.... Holla!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I really love Sister Lee a lot. She is amazing. You would have love her and she can seriously make people the happiest people on earth. Her ASL has improved a lot. Now I don't really need to talk to her, I can just sign to her.

 

Thanks for everything mom!  

 

 I love you!!!

        My missionary grandparents, they are my favorite people ever!  They leave for Taiwan tonight.

Hey Mom,

This past week was a good week. I had to say goodbye to Sister Hironaka! Our last night together was bad... Sister Hironaka started packing and the guy downstairs came up in his tank top and underwear and started yelling at us and acted like he wanted to come in and kill us. He was so close to our face. Sister Lee told us that when she lived at that pad the guy would tell them he injured missionaries and so our super-attendant told us to call the cops the next time it happened. It was crazy!

 

Sister Hironaka made these cakes for someone's birthday.  Aren't they cute?

 

 

Transfer meeting came along, they read the program out loud, "Sister Moore will conduct for us." What the?? I never got a phone call or anything like that. Sister Hironaka looked at me and laughed. Sister Johnson and Sister Lee looked at me and then laughed. President Calderwood and Sister Calderwood's faces were red and they giggled as soon as they saw my expression. I went up there without the mission hymn song and just led.... Then it turned out that I had to lead  Called to Serve in English and Spanish?! The whole congregation just laughed at my awkwardness... Crazy but grateful for that experience.

  

 President was teaching us the importance of missionary work but also he was saying about how we need to take care of our phone, iPad, and home. He then said, "Sisters, you can dedicate your home, iPad, and important things through the prayer of faith.  Before doing so, remove anything that distracts and doesn't help us improve."

 

Afterward, we split up. Sister Hironaka and I hugged for a long time. I am going to miss that girl like crazy. She will always be my Hiroshima haha.

 

 

 

 

                                     The Globe and Science Museum on our last day together

 

Sister Lee and I got put together and I really really love her. She is so funny and so sweet. I am grateful that she is my companion. It's crazy to think that she only has 11 weeks left of her mission. Me and Sister Lee are on a diet and we are doing Isagenix. We may need more shakes.  We also run every morning. I felt so bad for Sister Lee on the first day when we were together. With Sister Hironaka she gets up normally at 6 so my body wakes up at that time. So I woke Sister Lee up thinking it was 6:30 but was actually 6. 

 

We do really well teaching lessons together. We work hard together and we can never see each other arguing or having disagreements. Our mind is basically the same. We think the same thing at the same time and spill them out at the same time. It's funny.

 

 

                                                            Crystal and Me                                     Dinner with RM Cardoza

 

 

Sister Lee is now learning ASL and she is having a conversation with me in ASL. I am teaching her the song "Let it go" by Frozen. It's so much fun being with her. Honestly before she came Flushing was kind of dead but she is bringing it back to life and she is teaching me how to have so much joy in missionary work! This past week I have noticed people in the area love me more than ever. They hug me from behind, grab my hands and rub them, smile and stare at each other, hug a long time, and I never felt that kind of love from them before. I am really grateful to stay another transfer in Flushing. It's time to bring Flushing some fireworks. Ever since Sister Lee and I got put together, I immediately started to understand Chinese. I am picking it up fast and members just look at me like, "What just happened?" haha. I've improved a lot.

 

One of our investigators, who is supposed to get baptized next week, it was decided that we need to change her baptism day to April 19. We felt she needed more preparation, she was a little sad but understands why. The other investigator  is still doing good. We have  many new investigators so we are excited to work with them.

 

I know the church is true! I love this gospel! It's the only way to happiness! 

 

Wow!  I am so jealous you went to the recital! I am proud of Laynie, I think she got her attitude and faces from me haha ;) I love that girl!

 

Glad everyone is doing good!

 

Turns out there wasn't a Skype lesson. It didn't work out. But I am glad my skype works now haha! Thank you so much!

 

I love you mom!!!

 

Love Sister Moore

Dear Mama,

This morning was transfer call. Again it was surprising.... I am staying in Flushing again and my companion, Sister Hironaka is going back to Dkyer to be Sister Johnson's companion. Sister Lee will be my companion!  I  love Sister Hironaka and I will miss her a lot! She is pretty much my hero and I look up to her a lot.   We decided to spend the day at the science museum and it was epic. We had a great time.

We have had members and investigators feed us dinner every night till Thursday this past week. So I was up to 140 lbs.... That's ok, I ate more healthy and exercised hardcore during the weekend. I lost 6 lbs. It's amazing how easy you can gain from Chinese food. When you visit New York bring your extra extra big pants. Chinese people show their love by providing you food. So if they love me they will love you more! Whenever people ask about my parents, I talk about you and how awesome you are. I told them I will bring you back to New York with me. They started to think about what kind of meal and food they can provide you haha. I seriously love them.

 

 

We have worked with two of our amazing youth investigators. Sister Hironaka and I dearly love them! They are strong in their faith and have the desire to learn and grow. Yesterday both of them came to church. We introduced them and they were inseparable during church. They already love each other haha. One is still set for March 29, she is really excited. She already knows the church is true. She called us this past week about the stress she has in school and she trusted us as missionaries and as a friend. She really loves us as much as we love her. Remember that she lives about 1.5 hours away in Lidenhurst... She has a lot of faith coming all the way to Flushing to attend church at 9. We are working on finding a church in Lidenhurst for her. We are also going to try and borrow a car from the mission office to drive to Lidenhurst for her baptismal interview so she doesn't have to come all the way here.... Roadtrip yeah!!  The other one is great. She knows this church is true. She is a great person and she invited us over for dinner and made hot pot. It was fantastic. 

 

I have a strong testimony about inviting others to come unto Christ. Lately our mission has asked less active to become our member presence for lessons, or members without the strong testimony of the gospel to become member presence as well. It's amazing to see how much impact and influence it has on the person when they realize how much the church and the gospel really truly bless their lives. I would like to invite all of you to think of someone who is less active or someone without a strong testimony or someone who is interested in the church to do service with you or Family Home Evening or anything relating to gospel purpose 

On Friday we had IPad conference and got new iPads. President Calderwood talked to us.  President Calderwood's talk had slapped me in the face. He said, "You need to forget yourself and go to work. Stop worrying about what you need, stop worrying about what's going on at home with your family and friends, stop thinking about your own problems. If you're thinking that right now, then you don't love The Lord. If you really love the Lord then you would serve Him with all your might, mind, and strength. You only have 18 months to 2 years to do this. Cause when you serve Him with all your might, mind, and strength, He will bless you and give you a tremendous joy for the rest of your mission and your life." He was right.

 

 I did my personal study on the Book Of Mormon 2 Nephi 5. Nephi separated himself from the world. He hearkened unto the voice of God telling him to depart from his brothers who sought to take away his life. His brothers murmured and complained against Nephi. Nephi never let them destroy his faith or change his personality to meet their expectations. He knew what kind of blessings God would have given him. Therefore he took "all those who would go with me were those who believed in warnings and the revelations of God" I know I didn't have torture or near death experience for believing in God, but I have been mocked and pulled away. Our Mission shows the importance of keeping our faith stable by, ""unfriend" and "block" any individual who is only interested in arguing with you, destroying your faith, or undermining the progress of investigators." Nephi was willing to leave everything in Jerusalem and now leaving his brothers in order to gain blessings and "manner of happiness" from God! I, too, must do the same.

I love you mom! I am happy for you and Danny.  I am really glad it was papa's and my fault. Papa and I work together as a great team don't we? I am excited for you. I am grateful to do this mission. It is super hard when you love the people and it becomes a roller coaster but I am still grateful!

 

I love you will all my heart,

Sister Moore

 

Mom,

Last week we did a lot of traveling. We went to Brooklyn. We went to Bushwick and it was full of Jewish people. Everyone was wearing the cap and were wearing dark clothing. We got some pizzas and it was the best pizza ever!! Love that place! Then we went to the chocolate store. Everyone was smiling until they looked at the missionary tag and made a serious face. Interesting experience there.

 

We learned how there are so many ways how to share and teach a lesson about the gospel. Since it's cold and snowy, we taught lessons over the phone and email. It was epic. It's good for my listening practice since my listening skills haven't been so good lately. I have not said, "What" this many times before! Gotta improve...

 

We had a week full of miracles. We taught one girl and we asked her if she ever prayed to be baptized. She said yes and wanted to get baptized on May 9. She wants to cook for us on Friday and said her aunt was interested in learning about the gospel so YES!! I am so excited!

 

M has such a strong faith. She is set for March 29. She lives about an hour away from our Chinese branch and it's starts at 9. But she is willing to sacrifice her sleep and everything to come to church. She is 17 years old and I wish I could  have her strong faith. I know she will get baptized!!

 

One of the other missionaries was pretty down on me this past week and it made me feel like I just felt weak and lazy here so I asked for a priesthood blessing. One of the elders just started the blessing without asking what my concern or problem was. He was very deep in thought and tried to receive inspiration from Heavenly Father. It was short but powerful and I was grateful for that.

 

My relationship with Sister Hironaka got stronger. I really really love her. She is funny and relieves my stress all the time. She always cares for me and she never once thought about herself. 

 

This is the last week of transfer. I don't know what will happen. I think I will stay in Flushing one more transfer and then move to Brooklyn. Flushing is really hard but I love it. I love how Flushing is teaching me a lot of things! Flushing challenges me a lot!

 

Sorry I had a busy day, but I love you!

 

Love, 

Sister Moore

 

 

 

 

At the temple with Fan YongDi

Dear Mom,

This week went by good. 

We have a super solid investigator! She is 18 years old and currently attending college. She is pure in heart. She wants to get baptized but wants to pray about it first. She also wants to finish the Book of Mormon first too and she is almost done. It's insane, we gave her the BOM two weeks ago and she is almost done.... Crazy! Please pray for her to have the desire to get baptized and enter the covenant with God.

We had another miracle happen, Sister Hironaka was Facebook friends with a girl. They talked on Facebook but she didn't seem interested in coming to church so Sister Hironaka decided to stop writing her. Yesterday she randomly showed up to church for her first time. We taught her and she accepted baptism for March 29! She is 17 and just came to America a month ago by herself. She is awesome and I love her. 

I have witnessed a lot of gift of tongues this past week. I am starting to actually pick up what others are saying. I feel comfortable asking others questions and listening to their responses. I can say that my Chinese is improving a lot. I am really grateful for this miracle. I am full of thanks!

On Friday we received a care package from Missouri. We received two different letters from two young girls Elaina and Melia. They are ten and they shared their testimony and asked us questions and it was super sweet. The primary leaders also wrote us to thank our parents for organizing this. Thank you mama! We are so grateful for this wonderful care package from Missouri. Sister Hironaka was filled with this joy too!

Flushing is starting to become scary! This past week I have witnessed a lot of fighting, yelling, and a thief. Our church is not safe now. In October a Spanish man (he is a son of a Spanish member but turns out to be homeless now) stole Elder Chung's IPad and disappeared for 2 months. He came back and then yesterday he came to the baptism dinner and then stole Elder Johnson's IPad and took off. We were not happy about this. Now our church is "technically" not safe....

 

Last week there was a man who kind of yelled at me but didn't know what he said but I knew it wasn't good and Elder Wutrich said something to the man and the man ganged up on him and yelled at him and wanted to beat him up.... People + Winter = Bad News. Sister Hironaka said to me, "I feel a lot safer in Brooklyn. Flushing, not really." Please continue to pray for our safety 

Yesterday was Fabiola's baptism. It was so spiritual! The missionaries were crying, she was crying, I had teary eyes, her non-member father came in from Mexico was crying, her best friend was crying, people on Skype were crying. You could definitely feel the spirit strongly there. I am so happy she took this step. In May, she will be moving back to Mexico :( I am so grateful that I have met her. I didn't do language study this past week because of the busy schedule so I never said a prayer in Spanish :(


 

Yes, our mission is doing a Facebook Fast for two months. We are getting new IPads this week. I am not sure if the Bishop got the email about the iPad situation.... I have to pay for the new iPad. All the mission got together on Friday and we had Elder Stephan B. Allen and Elder David F. Evans from general authorities come speak to us. They talked to us about technology uses and how to teach online. They also talked about the importance of following the rules. They said that if we have sins in the past, we need to immediately repent. It's not impossible to change! No matter how big or how small the sins is, we can change through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I just love that.

Before the mission conference, Sister Johnson ran up to me and said, "You might double train!" Another Chinese speaking sister is coming in August. She is from Riverton, Utah. Sister Johnson could not stop laughing because I will be training soon. "It's your turn" She feels like she will help me train first transfer and then she goes home, "I can't wait to watch you train and I will sit back and eat my popcorn." Oh Sister Johnson....We will see.  I also saw Sister Wang.... I really love her haha! She can make me smile. That girl is super crazy!
 

               Oh the Sister Wangs!
 

Today we are going to Brooklyn! Yay!! Sister Hironaka is going to show me around her first area where she served, Bushwood (not sure how to spell it) then we will go to Dyker-Heights to meet with the Chinese missionaries there to celebrate Elder Finch's birthday, and then we are going to Downtown Brooklyn and going shopping!!!! Wahoo!!! It's gonna be fun!
 

Being crazy with Sandra

We made cookies for our people...I think we got a little carried away!

 

Sister Hironaka is seriously amazing! She is always funny and always has the desire to help me. She always listens to me and does really care. She is funny and makes me laugh. She is just the goofiest person. She looks like a cartoon character... If I had to choose a character for her, she would be one of the girl in Despicable Me. The middle girl. Haha.

Message of the day:

I was learning about our loving Heavenly Father. I learned that I cannot teach without knowing who He really is and I wanted to get to know Him more. My favorite scripture I read was Alma 30:44. Gospel Principles said, "We can look up at the sky and see what Alma meant. There are millions of stars and planets all in perfect order. They did not get there by chance. We can see the work of God in the heaven or on the earth. The many beautiful plants, the many kinds of animals, the mountains, the rivers, the clouds that brings rain and snow- all these testify to us that there is a God!" I felt like during that study I was talking with God. Because I wasn't feeling the spirit lately. I realized.... Maybe I haven't expressed my gratitude to Heavenly Father. Maybe that will help me recognize all the blessings He has given me. When doing that... I did notice that the spirits come in many different forms.... I saw all the blessings He has given me. I decided that it's time for me to write a "Book of Gratitude." 

 

I love you so very much!

 

Your Sweet Daughter in Zion,

Sister Moore