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

Dear Mom,

Our P-day is packed with lessons. We have basically about 5 lessons today so technically it's not going to be a p-day for us. We are also packed this week full of lessons so bring it on :)

 

On Wednesday we went to the temple, I was supposed to go last month but didn't get the email. So I went to the temple in my 7th month mark and Hironaka on her 13th month mark. The temple was so beautiful and spiritual and relaxing. Mom, we need to do an endowment session when we come back and visit. I would say the Manhattan temple is my 2nd favorite of the celestial kingdom. It was beautiful! They gave us a letter that we wrote the first day we were here in New York so we read it. I wrote my goals and I haven't done it. One of my goals was to read the BOM. I realized I haven't read the BOM for 6 months... Oops... So I got started on that. I am in 2 Nephi and wow it's sooooo good. I love the BOM with all my heart. I am learning something new each day. Hironaka is about to finish reading the BOM for her first time and I am so excited for her.

 

We practiced all week for the Chinese New Year parade and we didn't really have lessons because we were focused on organizing and setting up for the parade. Sister Hironaka teaches dance and I helped out. I also did the drums too.

 

 

 

We had the parade on Saturday and there was a reporter and photographer taking pictures of us.... I will send you pictures. One reporter asked if she could interview me and I said yes. I talked about our church as a missionary. I was really surprised how brave I was to talk about the church to the world. It was so easy for me.

 

 

My body is sore right now from playing the drum and the next day at church I have people giving me back rub and arm rub it was nice. Through sharing my talent, I've learned that I have gained the trust of the people in the ward more than ever. I love them and they love me.

 

 

 

Sister Johnson and Lee came in town to join. It was good to see them and hang out with them again. It was a great experience and I love every single minute of it. I also have come to love the people in my branch more than ever! I love it when they are excited to see me or talk to me. They give me lots of hugs and I am filled with joy to know I am helping them in their life. I was thinking about Brooklyn. I do not want to leave Flushing. I was born here and I don't want to leave here. I may have one more transfer here in Flushing. Sister Johnson and I have a feeling we might me companions again in Brooklyn.... We don't know for sure. But she was happy when we talked about being companions again haha. 

 

We went to Jamaica on Friday for Zone street sweep. Few days ago, we did zone street sweep, I was pondering a lot about how I can be a better missionary. As I was standing singing hymns for the people, a thought appeared into my mind,  It was as if Jesus was saying, "These people are my children, your brothers and sisters. They all each have a stories and they need my gospel." I went out and talked with people, they are so much easier to talk with than Flushing! I was filled with a different emotion at that time. I was filled with joy when they are ready and sadness when they reject. All I have to do is share the gospel knowing the Lord is on my side.

One thing I am really proud of is my recent convert, Li Shu Ling who got baptized on February 1st. She is seriously amazing. She brought a friend to church 2 weeks later which was last Sunday and we are going to be meeting with her soon. She was interested in learning more and her presence has changed as a happier person when she first walked in the church. We met with Li Shu Ling a few days ago to teach her. After finishing teaching her, she walked out with us. She saw a stranger and walked up to him and started talking to him about the gospel and dragged us into it. The man was interested and we exchanged numbers. Tonight we are meeting with him with the elders. Li Shu Ling never ceases to amaze me. I feel she is a better missionary than me and I am happy to help her increase that knowledge. I was filled with joy for her.

 

Faboila! I am sure I talked about her before! She was found by Sister Johnson through a member, Candice. Fabiola met with the Spanish sisters for two months now. She reminds me so much of Traci!!! Fabiola and I are really close and I love her so much. She is my hero. She also does the crazy hairstyle too. Anyway, she asked me to say a prayer for her baptism this Sunday! I am going to say the prayer in Spanish so I am freaking excited. 

I LOVE YOU!!

 

Love,

Sister Moore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Mama,

This week was a good week. 

 

We have been practicing the Chinese New Year's Dance. All the missionaries and a few members will be involved. We are doing Hip-Hop and I love it! We don't have a sound system or speaker (whatever you want to call it) for the parade so we decided to do the big fat Chinese drum. Chen brought the drum and started playing.  I looked at the drum and Chen  handed the stick to me and told me to play and I did. Everyone at practice was so surprised that I could play the drums and that I was on beat. They asked me to play the drum for the parade and I said no... I decided to teach Chen how to play the drum and stay on beat. I would rather mess up in dance rather than mess up on the drum.... So we had ward council yesterday and they volunteered me to play the drum.... Ugh. Yay... We will see what happens tonight at practice. I will practice listening to the music and the beat from the phone and apply it to my hand and the stick.

 

Saturday came along and we were able to go to the temple with Fan for her first time.  I freaking love her. She makes me laugh. She is learning English, she was done first and we both waited in the lobby for the others. She asked me to try and teach her English. So when she said a Chinese word that she wanted to know in English, I taught her. I taught her "Hello" "How are you?" "I'm good" "Church" "I like..." "I love..." She was so funny. There was a man there at the temple, he said hi to us. Fan said, "I'm good" A friend of mine I met at the MTC was at the temple too. He is serving ASL Manhattan mission. She asked him a question, "How are you?" He said, "I am good how are you?" Then she answered, "I like you." It was so funny! I love how she laughed through it. I would've been nervous to speak Chinese for my first time. She is a brave woman.

 

Li  got confirmed yesterday and I am happy. She even brought a friend to church and the friend's name is Yang. She wasn't a huge fan of Sacrament Meeting but then came to Sunday School and Relief Society and loved it! She was so interested to learn more about the restored gospel!

We met with a girl name Iris. Her father is a member but now has a job in Pittsburg. The father would not stop talking to Iris about the Mormon church and Iris had the desire to learn more about the gospel. We met with her Saturday and she is such a fantastic person. Iris is 18 years old and attending college and taking generals.  She is learning English right now. She is very willing to learn about the gospel. We invited her to church on Sunday and she came. She loved church and asked us about the Activities we are doing this week. We told her about the Chinese New Year parade and how we are doing the dance. She asked if she could join and of course we said YES. So she is coming tonight for FHE and dance practice. We are have a jiaozi (potsticker) activity on Wednesday and she is going to come. I love her so much! She is definitely golden!

 

On Wednesday we had sister conference. It's when all the sister missionaries get together in Rego and talk. The topic for the conference was, "If ye love me" Sister Johnson, Lee, Hironaka, and I performed a special musical number....Nearer My God To Me.  I can say it was so powerful. I felt the spirit so strong. We got split up into different groups and I learned so much from each workshop about obedience, faith, the importance of being a daughter of God, putting off your natural man, your body is a temple, and so forth. Afterward we got back together in one room. The program said, "Testimony" I told Sister Eberhand (she is the Spanish sister and we been in Flushing for four whole transfers together) that if I give my testimony she has to come with me. Sister Eberhard said, "It's by invitation" whew I was happy about that. Sister Eberhard and I had to go to the bathroom and the Sister Training Leaders came in the bathroom and asked for me and told me that I am bearing my testimony and they walked away! How did they find me in the bathroom?!? It was powerful when I bore my testimony. I love the spirit so much!

 

I've been sick and I think it's the food. I've been light headed and have stomach problems. I am pushing forward but now I feel like I have no energy. Today the district is getting together for our new district leader, Elder Chung's birthday. I love love love Elder Chung. He is the funniest and most caring elder I have ever met. We are going to eat at a Chinese/Korean/Japanese buffet and its $20.... I'm going to die. Then afterwards we are going to eat with Fan .... I am going to die again. Yippee! 

 

We were definitely protected by God. Our oven and stove went off this past week so we tried to cook without a stove. The Elders found out that our stove wasn't working so they decided to come over and fix it. If elders don't know how to cook how do they know how it works haha. It turns out that our stove was not working because of a plug that was not plugged in... How embarrassing haha. So, while the elders were working on the stove... There was a flammable spray hidden by the stove and the elders grabbed it out of the way. Our whole apartment could've  exploded. Luckily the elders found it and moved it. It's been there for a whole two transfers. 

I was reading from my BOM, I started reading from 1 Nephi 1. I wish to become like Nephi. He was so young but has perfect faith. He has the desire to know of the things which his father saw. He desires the gospel, he desires to know the truth. He was willing to sacrifice everything for Heavenly Father. I really like 1 Nephi 2:19. I hope to return with honor from my mission and life and be worthy enough to be in His presence. I am forever grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ. I have come to rely on it more than anything and I love love love how happy I am because of this gospel.

I still love Sister Hironaka! She still makes me laugh super hard and listens to me and always want to help me!

I am happy for your engagement, Dan is an awesome guy! Are the Facebook photos the engagement photos? I am happy to hear you're happy.

I love you mom!

 

Love,

Sister Moore

We were invited by Fan YongDi. She cooked us the best dinner ever! Then all the sudden she put on Hachi movie in Chinese and brought out the chisp.... Then banana....then peanuts... Pretzels... Then chocolate.....then cookies..... She wouldn't stop bringing food out. I love her!

 

Dear Mom,

 

Sorry I didn't write this morning.... We had a breakfast appointment and a lesson today.

So Sister Wang and I split. My new companion is Sister Hironaka. Can I tell you how much I love her?!? She is pretty amazing!!

 

A few days ago we got a call from Sister Johnson and Sister Lee. They asked Sister Hironaka and me to perform with them at a sister conference on Wednesday. So we went to Brooklyn today to practice the song. I am not singing, I'm signing (thank goodness).  We are performing on Wednesday. Sister Lee and Hironaka said they are bad singers and luckily enough I am there "to save them" and "become a star" and "everyone will forget their bad singing" hmmmm... But I haven't seen Sister Johnson for about two months now and oh how much I freaking love her!!! We talked and talked and hugged and talked and fought (jokingly). I love that girl so much. We teased each other. I felt like our friendship grew sooooo much over the last two month we haven't seen each other. She asked me questions and we just laughed. I love her so much.



 

My Chinese has improved a lot! I force myself to study more and more. Sister Hironaka and I SYL. We try to talk Chinese only. I struggle understanding the language and I hope you will continue to pray for me to be able to understand.
 

We now have a bigger pool of people. Now that there is only two Chinese sisters in Flushing instead of four. We are busy nonstop and I am insanely going tired. I don't have any energy everyday. I love it.



 

Sister Hironaka is actually Japanese and is from Hawaii. She is exactly like Sister Johnson.  She is funny, likes to get up early, super boss with members and teaching. She makes me laugh non-stop!! I freaking freaking love her! I moved into a pad next to the church and its soooo nice and comfortable. My old pad was known as the worst pad ever! Everything is working here in the new apartment!
 

We have about 4 great potential investigators! I feel so good about them!!
 

This Saturday we are taking this amazing woman that Sister Lee and Sister Wang baptized to the temple! Her name is Fan Young Di and she is amazing!!! She went for an interview with the bishop and the bishop came out and talked with us saying he can't find her record. We were freaking out and going all over the place to find her membership record and we did. Whew she passed her interview. We are going to the temple on Valentine's Day!!! She is the most amazing woman ever!!!
 

Looking back... I am a more happier person now. I cannot doubt that the mission does really change a person. Sister Johnson taught me faith and love. Sister Wang taught me patience. Sister Hironaka is teaching me how to be diligenct and be funny!!! Mom! I love every single minute of it here. I love all the sisters here. I have been laughing like crazy and enjoying the mission. I learned a lot about the atonement and its does truly help you learn how to become truly converted to the Lord! I am learning something new each day and how to become more Christlike and be truly happy through hard times and not reaching my expectations. Mom, I finally feel myself changing for the better! I love New York and despise the cold :)
 

What's the plan for Valentine's Day? I am so happy things are great with Dan! Technically I am the only single person in the family! Yippee!!! The coolest single person ever!!!
 

I think that's all for today!

I love you mama!!!
 

Love, 

Sister Moore

 

 

 

 

Dear Mom,

On Saturday, we got the transfer call. We all thought we were going to stay since we had changes last transfer. Apparently that was not the case. We have 6 Chinese speaking sister missionaries and now it has been reduced to 4. Sister Wang and Sister Wang ( both are the only actual Chinese people) have been called out. We all think they are going English so we will find out tomorrow where they are going at transfer meeting. We now have four American Chinese speaking. I wonder what God has planned for us. I am moving out and moving into an apartment right next to the church. My companion would be Sister Hironoka. We are both nervous. We are combining two pools together and it's gonna be big. We both don't know the language very well but we know as long as we got faith in the Lord, everything would be alright. I feel like this coming transfer will be hard but super fun and amazing!!
 

 

On Thursday I was doing exchanges to Freeport and the town is kind of dead but I love it there anyway. I missed Flushing though. My companion was Hermana Maddox and she was really cool. We got to volunteer at the soup kitchen and feed the homeless. It was hard for me to see people homeless and kids too.... There was also a fight there over food I think. But mostly everyone was still happy. They were grateful to be here and what they have in their life. Hermana Maddox taught me a lot about humility and obedience and I really admired her.
 

 

So guess what?!? We had a baptism yesterday! That was a miracle!! Li Shu Ling was interviewed and passed. I hope you can feel my joy. When we met with her, I literally cried when she said she wanted to get baptized. I literally cried when she passed her interview. I literally cried when she was baptized. I also gave a baptismal talk. People said my Chinese has definitely improved a lot! We also skyped Sister Johnson in for the baptism and it was so great to see her after a whole month. We laughed and we had a good time over Skype. She is still amazing as always!
 

So we have a Chinese New Year parade on Feb. 21. All the Chinese missionaries are performing hip-hop. I love it!!! I can't wait for that big day!

 

I love you mama!!
 

Love, 

Sister Moore