Feliz Navidad!, September 29, 2011

Hola Familia, y si, dije Feliz Navidad, porque Hoy es Navidad! (Espero que si...)  Recibiremos nuestros planes de "travel"!  Les voy a email cuando yo los reciba.

Gracias a Dad, Mom, Luke, Will, Katie Shrek, Audrey (just the little one), Grandparents Davis, y Spencer.  Keep sending letters!

Este semana fue muy rapido!  Santa vaca!  First, When I got the letter about the garage door and the cruise in the same sentence, two things went through my mind:  I think dad's going through a mid-life crisis, and also, I wasn't even invited.  Todd is in the Bishopric!  Hopefully that will keep them in Chicago until I get back.  Although, selfishly, I wouldn't mind having them in utah when I'm at school.... :P  Luke!  the wordoodle is so cool!!!   Thanks so much for that and your note.  Congrats on Travel Soccer!  Thanks Mom for the words of encouragement, Great Harvest (!!!!!), and the Pres. Uchtdorf quotes.  A few hours after I picked up the mail, i realized that the last part of what you sent me was exactly what our "investigator" Ellie needed.  So I quickly translated it into spanish (well, i tried) and read it to her.  It was absolutely perfect.  It's good to remember that no matter what, no matter how we're feeling, Our Father in Heaven, God, hasn't forgotten us.  And he actually loves us with an infinite love.  Perfect.  Also, mom, thanks for the music, too.

Speaking of Music.... Yesterday i accompanied Elder Spurlock (in my zone) singing "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" at the new missionary devotional/orientation thing.  It went really well.  And just a few minutes ago, I auditioned singing "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" to Kolob Melody, Peter MacArthur accompanying me.  It went really well adn She liked it and is going to try really hard to fit us in the next week and a half.  I'm excited!  I recorded it on my camera, too, so I'll send that Memory Card home before I go to Chile.  I just can't wait to get to Chile.

SPENCER!!!!!!!!!! please please please feel better.  You're definitely in my prayers.  Dad was right--It is a great time to be worthy to hold the priesthood.  I got your DearElder about your leg hurting and being infected, but then Dad emailed me last night and i just read about your... temporary housing on a bed with IV's and doctors and all that.  i'm worried about you!  but you're a strong kid, you can get through it-- you can get through anything.  (also congrats on the Personal Best mile time and fun campout!)  HAYDEN.  congrats on scoring a goal!! I think i can honestly say that on my 3 years on varsity, i never actually scored... so congrats!

I have a goal to finish the New TEstament before I leave for Chile.  i'm a little bit behind at the moment, but hopefully i'll get back on track and finish it.  the devotional on Tuesday was really really Good.  4 things to be a great missionary:  Follow the SPirit, Search (not read) the scriptures, be obedient, and apply what we learn (PMG vii).  and all his stories and quotes were awesome.  i'll try to include more of that In my handwritten letter.

I don't have any more time, but I love you and Miss you and am praying for all of you, individually!

Love and stuff,

Elder Cole Moffat

Otro Cambio... September 22, 2011

Hola Familia!

Gracias a Emily, Hayden, Mom, Dad, Demarie, Kenz, and Grandma Moffat por las cartas y cajas!  Me encanta todas!

PUES. busy week, and I hope I have time to type everything I want to!  This might be choppy, but here it goes.

Watch "Sanctify Yourselves" and "Moments that Matter Most" videos on LDS.org.  so powerful! especially the Moments that Matter Most one.  Also, we moved AGAIN (hence the subject "Otro Cambio").  But we're in the best building on campus, 3M.  a few feet from the cafeteria in 1M, and a few feet on the otherside of the building from 2M, which has the mailroom, health clinic, travel office, barbershop, dry cleaning, and starting Monday, the bookstore.  It's far from our classroom, but it's close to everything else.  and the rest of our zone is in 3M so it's okay.  Because we've moved 2 more times than most people (which is 0), I think I understand more about the moving process.  3 suitcases no es bueno.  So I think I'm going to send my carry-on size home (if I can), and i would love for you guys to send me a backpack that is sturdy and roomy.  It doesn't even have to have padded straps because I'll only use it once every few months when traveling.  The one I have now is bulky and really doesn't have a lot of room in it.  No laptop section or sleeve or padding because it takes too much space.  2 suitcases and a backpack works much better than 3 rolly suitcases on and off public transportation (i'd imagine).

Mosiah 3:19 is the scripture of the week.  As a room, we stayed up one night and just talked about how we all need to improve on every aspect of this scripture, and it's our goal to be as perfect as we can in all apsects of this scripture-- which will take more than a lifetime to actually perfect, but we're all working on it.  Sunday we had some great talks.  2 quotes from Pres. Stephens:  "Work will win when wishy-washy wishing won't."  and "Repentence is a total personal upgrade."  I like that.  The talks throughout the whole day were about Attitude and Obedience and Repentence and stuff.  My atttitude has been better this week, and Honestly, I think my spanish is improving more beacuse of the attitude I have.  BE HAPPY!

Russel M Nelson came on Tuesday and talked about the Book of Mormon the whole time-- See the Oct. Ensign.  It's awesome.  He's such a funny apostle!  I didn't realize how funny they were until they crack jokes during their talks at the MTC.  it's awesome.

MADDI MOFFAT!!! she entered the MTC yesterday, and she wasn't here 5 minutes before I saw her!  Hopefully we'll get to see eachother a lot.  So cool!  I was really excited.  She looked happy (and a little deer in the headlights) and excited to be here.  YAY!

I played Piano 2 weeks ago for the Departing Devotional for the missionaries leaving (I don't know if I mentioned that) and this past sunday in Sacrament Meeting I accompanied Elder Krantz (now in Guatamala MTC) singing "Consider the Lilies."  One of the best classical Voices I've heard in a long time.  Not opratic, just beautiful.  what a priveledge to accompany someone like him.  Next Thursday i'll audition for the "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" hymn, and Peter MacArthur is going to play for me!  I love knowing people here :)

Hopefully I'll get my travel plans today.... and if not, within the next week.  Elder Bell's Sister handmade me a friggin SICK tie.  I'll send pictures.

I love you and Miss you guys!  and I'm 2 minutes over time, so I have to go.

Con Amor,

Elder Cole Moffat

5 Full Weeks Down, September 15, 2011

Gracias a Los Eyres, Holbrooks, Madre, Abuelos Davis, Los Whittles, Hna. Dawson, y mi Familia de Michigan!  Me gustan las cartas y cajas!  Continuen a enviarmelos!

Congrats, Hayden on Voicemale!!  Please write me and tell me all about it.  and the rest of your life.  And for the people who asked, yes, we go to the temple weekly.  It's a great experience.  Congrats to Landon Eyre;  he recently recieved a mission call to Bolivia! (which mission?)  What a perfect day to leave, too!  I'm realizing that Spanish is such a beautiful Language.

So, This past sunday was September 11th.  The Fireside that night was a memorial for 9/11/01.  It was wonderful.  MTC President Brown showed a Commemorative video that showed real footage from that morning.  It was really sad, but I never felt so Patriotic in my life.  The only thing that really really got me was at the end when it showed little kids crossing themselves and praying to their God.  So Powerful.  Then President Brown showed us the Music and the Spoken Word from this past Sunday Morning, a 10-year anniversary Mormon Tabernacle Choir Memorial.  That was really really awesome as well!  God Bless America!

I also taught a Gospel Doctrine Lesson on Sunday again, this time on our purpose.  We focused on Faith and Repentence, Faith vs. Belief, how we show our faith, all that good stuff.  Very insightful lesson from the discussion that happened, not from what I actually prepared.

Elder M. Russell Ballard came and spoke in the Tuesday Devotional!  "No matter what... round up your shoulders and bear it"  Was the essence of the first half of his message.  the second half was all about his advice to us as missionaries.  Keep it simple.  Exercise as strongly as you can your faith in Jesus Chirst.  Pray with Faith and Determination.  Get yourself prepared to share any aspect of the Gospel at any time (in Spanish).  "Be Wise, and Don't Compromise."  and his parting words, "Trust, SErve, Pray, Dedicate, and Commit." Great words from an Apostle.

In our lessons we've been doing really well.  Between Elder Gehring and I, we can usually answer most questions Sonya or Vichenzo have.  It's hard, but we find a way to communicate our answers and thoughts, whether their questions be doctrinal, logistics, whatever.  It's a great feeling, but we both have so much more work to do to be ready for Chile!

No tengo mas tiempo para escribir.  Pero yo sé que esta es la obra del Señor, y que el Evangelio de Jesucristo puede traer felicidad a todas personas y familias en el mundo.  Yo sé que podemos regresar a nuestro Padre Celestial en el futuro, y que nos ama mucho y quiere que volvamos con él otra vez.

Siempre Con Amor,

Elder Moffat.

Just about half way through the MTC, Sept. 8, 2011

Thanks for the letters/ packages Mom, Dad, DR, and will!  Keep 'em coming!

Michigan sounds like fun!  I'm so happy the Myers got to go with you, too!  what a blast!  (too bad there weren't any "strawberry's" though :)  And I'm glad that Lulu and Will are all settled in and adapting to college life.  and I would imagine having a bus buddy, Lucy, is very helpful.  It also sounds like School is going well for everyone in VH.  I bet it's getting busy with soccer starting up and everything!

Wow! I've been here for almost a month! kind of wierd to realize that.  News for the week- we had to move buildingsbecause they're renovating the building we were in!  We moved this morning, but it was a real hassle.  The rest of our zone is in building 3M, but we got moved from 14M to 16M!  So we're not even with the rest of our zone/ branch.  and we might have to move again in a few weeks to 3M.  Ugh so frustrating!  but it's okay.  The Building location is actually better.   Closer to the main part of theMTC where we have class, meals, church, gym, laundry, etc. But the other people on our floor..... we'll see.

So We've been teaching "Sonya" this week (our teaching being someone she taught on her mission) and everything has been going really well!  Our spanish is improving and getting quicker, but obviously everyone needs to keep practicing and studying the language.  Our district tends to have a hard time (in general) focusing inside and outside of class, which is not a good thing for the MTC.  But we're working on that. Anyway, Sonya is doing well, and is starting to open up to us, particularly about the poor relationship she has with her husband.  Proverbs 3:5-6 and Psalms 18:1-3 are good scriptures for her-- and just great scriptures in general.  Good reminders to keep trusting in the Lord and relying on Him.

This past weekend was mission conference!  We had a lot of great instruction from a lot of very insightful people.  A lot of it focused on how to teach better, obedience, faith, repentence.  "Man's extremity is God's opportunity."  Obedience is the price we pay for Faith.  Obedience isn't a matter of understanding, but of conversion.  Faith unto obedience is what gives you power.  "Obedience is the best indicator for our love for God" (PMG 72).  Repentence is Faith in Prayer when we aren't as obedience as we should be.  Keep your focus on Christ, or else we'll start sinking like Peter started to.  Then, Sis. Fugal (wife of a counselor in our branch presidency) taught an epic lesson that showed the history of the Earth and how God always knows what's going on and he had a plan.  It totally explains the need for a restoration.    and Again, the devotional was on how to teach people better.  Teach people, not lessons.  Best quote from Tuesday Devo: "Decisions Do Determine Destiny."

Well, I'm out of time.  So, until next time, I miss you and love you guys!  Be happy!

Love,

Elder Cole Moffat

3 Weeks, Down! Sept. 1, 2011

Hola Familia!  Feliz principio de Escuela!

Thanks for your letters, Kenz, Will, Dad, Mom, and Lauren H.  I really appreciate all that you guys have to say!

Dad, yes you did tell me the blue pajama story, and I love it :)  I hope spencer is not drugged up anymore, and glad to hear you're happy!  I want to hear all about the michigan place next week!  Also, can you find the same black leather Moleskine notebook that Nancy got me?  It is the best thing ever!  I'm not close to running out of pages, but once I get to Chile, I'll probably have filled it all up, and I want one for when I'm in Chile.  So start looking, please, and send it to the address in Chile in October, please!  Also, Mom, are you keeping all the DearElders you send me?  Becuase I love them and want to keep them, but I don't want to truck them around.  Thanks for the package with the ties, mom!  they're beautiful!  This guy in our zone has the same exact purple paisley stafford one lol and it's perfect because we have purple tie tuesdays and our district has started parte martes (part your hair and comb it over tuesdays).  Oh the fun we have at the MTC.  Also, I used the little Macbook thing you sent in my lesson with "Sonya" yesterday.  It was really helpful to show investigators my family while talking about how much I love them, and the picture of us in front of the SLC temple is awesome when talking about eternal families!  thankyouthankyouthankyou!  The Guatamalans in our district left for the Guatamalan MTC on Tuesday, so Elder McMasters didn't get the package you sent him.... I did :)  As to your flashdrive question, yes, sounds like a great idea.  some 8-12+ GB memory stick would be great!  and I can't send you pictures from the MTC, becuase there's no way to access "My Computer" and see what's plugged in... Sorry :(  Shoes are working out great!  I've decided to try and completely wear out the old ones I brought, because then i'll only have to take 2 pairs to Chile (saves weight) and they'll last a few months longer.  Thanks for sending me the music!!!  So excited to play stuff!  and last business item, if you could get a Van Heusen 16/16.5 32-33 long sleeve, i'd really appreciate it.  Elder Gehring only has 3 short sleeve, and I only have a few long sleeve.  and I don't really need more than 6 of each, I've realized.  silly me.

ALRIGHTY.  So highlight of the Week:  ELDER HOLLAND.  First of All, one of my favorite apostles to hear/see speak, and one of my favorite speakers ever.  No notes, no nothin.  40 Minute "Introduction:" "I don't know what we'd do without you."  I'll handwrite a little more about that, cuz There's a lot.  and Time is ticking.  Then he went into a Q&A session.  People had already written a bunch of questions beforehand and He took 6 of them.  1)  What is the #1 thing Christ wants us to know right now?  His answer, very simply: That He told the truth.  Interesting way to put it, in my opinion.  We know that what He said and his message and his gospel is true.  But the fact that he told the truth points to his divinity and perfection.  Elder Holland mentioned that it implies a lot of things, one of the most important being repentence, and he talked about that for a while.  Man, he knows his scriptures.  No notes, and he could flip to the best scriptures to validate what he was saying.  I only have a little time left, so I'll go to the last question.  The most basic of all the questions, the one many of us already know (intellectually).  But never have I really felt the answer as strong as I did on Tuesday night.  "6) Why does God love us?"  Elder Holland is a passionate speaker.  But I don't recall a time when he has been so passionate, so emotional, and so steadfast and immoveable when expressing the love that he, Elder Holland, and imperfect mortal, has for his children.  "I would die for them," he said, and I don't doubt that.  So how much more does a Perfect, all-powerful Father in Heaven have for his Children?  I began to actually comprehend it.  He gave his only perfect for his billions of imperfects.  He loved us so much that he gave up someone who could literally love us to death.  Wow.  What a great message.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus was suffering, what did he say?  Abba, which is not a noble title for diety.  the closest English translation is "Daddy" or "Papa."  I love the relationship we have with Father!!

So that was pretty awesome.  Some good quotes from the Sunday Fireside with Pres McIff (MTC Presidency).  "don't give and Inch" (from battle of Gettysberg).  "You catch more fish when your line is in the water."  That's what I have, now that I'm over time.

Also, as a Please keep the Bently family in your prayers.  Elder Holland was pretty emotional about that whole thing.  Just look at DeseretNews.com and search for Vanessa Bently if you don't know what I'm talking about...

Anyway- remember:  "Love is the Motive, Obedience is the Price, Faith is the Power, the Spirit is the Gift, and Christ is the Reason for all that you do." -Sister Zivic, Wife of Elder Claudio Zivic of the Seventy.

Love you and Miss you all!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Moffat