Week 15 in Salinas

Family and Friends

This week was a very interesting week for us. 

For this week in why it was so interesting we were out working all week and for some reason no one really wanted to talk to us, but we didn't let that get to us so the best part of our week was the weekend all week no one listened to us and then on Saturday is when almost everything happened!!!! That is when we saw all the milagros from this week. 

But the best Miracle that we saw this weekend was Yesterday!!!! We have been working with this less active family a lot to help them return when I was with Elder Johnson only the dad talked with us but once Elder Morales came for some reason the whole family started to listen to us. So we have been asking them for a while if they will come to church but that is only if we can find them a ride and for the first two weeks we tried and we couldn't find them a ride, when we went to visit them this week they said they were waiting for their ride on Sunday but no one showed up. We felt really bad, so yesterday we had called the mom in the morning but she didn't answer us and we got a little scared, but we had faith and sent the member to pick up this family and to our delight the mom and the 3 kids came to church and enjoyed it a lot, we passed by last night to see how the dad was doing and share a little message with them. While we were there the Parents were talking about how they wanted to watch conference this weekend and also the mom was saying how she wanted to go to an activity for the Relief Society!!!! Also that she wants her Patriarchal Blessing!!!! 

Family thank you for the package I did get it really fast this time, just because we had some special visits from President Boucher this week!!! Yes they were very special the first one was this past Tuesday we started our District meeting and as I was conducting the music I saw someone else walk into the building, when they entered into the Room we were in it was President Boucher, he came to give interviews to the Sisters so of course he came to our district meeting. But after the District meeting we got home and I got a call from President Boucher and he thanked me and then asked me if he could come to Salinas this weekend (Yesterday) he needed to give one more interview to Elder Dubon and he asked me to set up a our normal Correlation meeting that we have with our Branch President because he wanted to meet him so Yesterday we had the wonderful opportunity to have President Boucher with us in this meeting as well. It was a great meeting!!!! 

This week was very different for me to be here in Puerto Rico for Easter its always very interesting to see the traditions here for this time of year!!! Here they have like a reenactment of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and walk up and down the streets!!! It is very different.  

This was our week. We saw the love that our Heavenly Father has for each and every single one of us! 

I am so grateful for the love that our Older Brother Jesus Christ showed to us by suffering for us and dying for us. I know it wasn't easy and I know that he asked for another way but he knew that it had to be done and that he would do the Father's will. I testify to all of you that the Atonement isn't just for those who have sinned but it is also for all of those that want to be like Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven. I am truly grateful for the Atonement in my life and I know that without it I wouldn't be here today and I wouldn't be the person that I am today!!! 

I love you all and miss you tons!!! I can't wait to see you on Skype here shortly. I am so grateful for all the love and Support that you give me!!!!

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Musgo

 

 

Week 14 in Salinas

Family and Friends

This week was a great week for us. We are seeing different little miracles each and everyday. Sadly we aren't doing so good with the members right now but this week that will change. We have lessons that we already have members set up with so we will see how well these go. 

For this week our finding was not as it was last week but it was still a great week for us. The only investigator that we found was an older lady I was with Elder McGary when we found her. She is an older lady and she had her husband pass away just about 2 months. We started to teach her the Plan of Salvation and she loved it so much. She is a great lady we have a return appointment with her for Wednesday and when we were leaving she said she will be waiting for us on Wednesday!!! That is really cool.

We are also working with a Less active family and this family is a family of 5 and they are awesome. They show a desire to come back but they are struggling with no car. 

Family I love you all and miss you tons!!!! I hope you all have a great week!!!!

I am so grateful for all the amazing things I have seen in my mission and all the wonderful things I have learned. 

I wanted to say I am sorry that this is really short and late. We had a full day of service today and I didn't get much time to write I literaly got on late. I can't wait to see you soo soon I miss you tons and I hope you have a great week!!!!!!

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Musgo

 

Excerpt from a letter to Mom...

 

I am really sorry to keep you guys waiting all day. it was not on purpose. we got asked to do a couple of service projects today and then we were last to write and I am the very last one. 

 

Week 13 in Salinas

Family and Friends

This week was a good week for us. We are really seeing a change in the area. I am so grateful to be able to work with Elder Morales he is a great Elder and has really helped me to change my attitude.  I was sad to see Elder Johnson go but I know that he will do great things in Juana Diaz. He was a great companion and will do many amazing things in his mission and in his life.

This week for Elder Morales and myself we got off to a great start and we are finding a lot now. He is really showing me the way to work hard but still have a good time and not be so stressed. We have seen a lot of miracles this week and have found some really cool people to teach. 

First off we found a mother and son. the thing about this was it was a little different. we started to contact this lady and she said she wasn't really interested but then her son walked out to talk to us and said oh please come in. So we asked the mom and she said yes, we entered the house and they offered us food, but then after this we started teaching them and the son asked us what we believe and so we started to explain to him exactly what we believe.everything that we said, the mom had something to say every time. then Mom and son started to argue. but the miracle of all of this is that I shared a scripture from the Book of Mormon and he asked where he could find it in the Bible. we explained that it is a different Book and its not in the Bible and he was even more interested and then we shared how he can get his answer that what we are teaching him is true and he accepted to read the Book of Mormon.  

Another miracle this week was that we were contacting and we found this mother and she started to talk to us and while she was talking to us she started to talk about her daughter who is going through a lot of depression and she asked if there was anything that we could do to help her out so we asked if we could come by on Friday and so we went back on Friday and we taught them the Plan of Salvation and they really liked it. We found out that we have to be a little more direct with the daughter but it was a great lesson.

This last week we had an district activity and it wasn't that big we just decided to go to a beach and we played Soccer and Volleyball I thought it was going to be super boring and no one would have fun but after the activity I was talking with everyone and they said that was the most fun in a while and that this activity was exactly what we all needed to relax and enjoy each others company. It was a successful activity.

This week I learned a lot about who I am as well. I love learning new things out here. 

This new transfer I have to wonderful opportunity to really work on my Spanish. In the house there is Elder Dubon from Honduras, Elder Plasencia from Mexico, Elder Morales from Guatemala, and me from Arizona. So as you can see I will be learning a lot more Spanish this transfer!!!!! 

I love you guys so much, and I miss you so much I really can't wait to see you guys here shortly. I am so grateful for everything that you guys do for me.

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Musgo

 

An excerpt from a letter to mom... 

I am doing great! I am so grateful for everything that you do for me. I am so happy that you had a great week! My new companion is great he is really funny and smart! I am the youngest Elder in the house (time on mission and in age!) I will be learning Spanish better this transfer!!!! 

 

Name tag with the Salinas flag

 

Week 12 in Salinas

Family and Friends

I have been so grateful for this opportunity I had to be here with Elder Johnson I really learned a lot. He has really helped me to grow. I now know 2 really important things from these past 3 months here with him. The first one is that I need to learn how to handle stress and I got really good at it, also with the first one is that I need to learn how to love my companion no matter what, they are trying their best. The second thing was that I need to be more humble in everything I do. I had a lot of time to admire the way that Elder Johnson worked and it was really awesome to learn from him. I now understand the importance of being a humble missionary, because when we are more humble we are easier to teach and more willing to learn.

For our miracles this week there are a couple of them,

First off is that we had an appointment with someone who talked with the missionaries a lot and so we went to the house and sadly she wasn't there but her husband said but I can talk with you guys, so we sat down and asked about him and his family and he said he has 3 sons and one of them was there so he came out and we were able to share with these two. When we finished the lesson we invited them to be baptized and they both said yes. Then we invited them to Church and before I could even say the time they asked me where and when. They told us that they weren't able to make it yesterday but they will be there next week. SO FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!!!

The other one is that we were contacting last night and we were talking to everyone that we found and really trying to find the right person to teach, but we knocked on one door and and the vecino (neighbor) came out because he thought that we were talking to him so we went over and started to talk to him and then we asked if we could share our message with him and he said ok come on in, we started the lesson by singing "I am a Child of God" and he loved it, he could really feel the spirit. He was sharing with us that he just got divorced two years ago and was still hurting but we explained that its ok that we were going to be here to help him through this and then we invited him to be baptized and he said that yes he will be baptized.

I am so grateful for this amazing gospel that we have in our lives.

Family and friends as you can read, I will staying here in Salinas. my new companion will be Elder Morales from Guatemala. He has just a little bit more time than I do here in the mission. To answer your question mom yes I will still be district leader but there has been some changes with that. when I first started as District Leader I had 6 missionaries now I will have 10 missionaries we are putting two Districts together and the Lord has asked me to be the District Leader of all of us here now.

I want you to know I love you all and miss you tons, I am so grateful for all that you do for me. I have learned so much as a missionary and am grateful for all the support that I have from you guys.

I know this gospel to be true and that what I am doing here is what the Lord needs from me now.

I love you all!!!!!!!

Con Mucho Amor
Elder Musgo


Excerpt from a letter to Mom...

Hey mom as you have seen now with my weekly letter Elder Johnson is leaving Salinas and I am staying here also Elder Lopez is leaving!!!! This was a hard change for us in the house we all thought that E. Lopez would be staying here but the Lord had other plans for him! I am doing great always working hard! I have a secret for you!!!! I now weigh with all of my church clothes on 207 pounds! I WILL BE LESS THAN 200 BEFORE I COME HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A new companion and another 6 weeks in Juncos!

Well I did it. I made it through my training and survived my first 12 weeks in the field.

I am happy to announce that I will be staying here in Juncos for another 6 weeks!!!!! I am so happy to have this opportunity to work with the ward and help it grow and really be strong in the gospel.

This week was a difficult week with La Semana Santa. Everyone is out of town and is really busy. So it was hard to find people to share this amazing gospel with. As Easter Sunday just passed I want to quickly share my testimony about that I know that the Savior lives and I know he was resurrected on the third day. I love the Savior and everything he did for us. 

Now on to the Investigators

J: We have not been able to teach him this week because he was with his family. He is still wanting to go to church and still hear from us. He has really changed since talking with us. 

J: Has kind of stopped talking to us, we have tried multiple times to get into his house and talk but he is never there, or he is always busy and has no time. But I know that if he doesn't get baptized with us that he will sometime down the road with other missionaries all we have done is plant a seed in his heart and it is his job to continue to make it grow.

L: is still with us he is a great man who is trying so hard to provide for his family. He has 6 kids and loves them all. His wife is less active and really loves the kids too. They both work and are growing as a couple when we teach them.

M: Now where to begin with this kid. He is 18 and knows a lot about the church already!!! He asked us to come by again. I know that I am supposed to be speaking Spanish but he prefers us to speak in English I love it. He really wants to know if this is true before he gets baptized. He is a blessing to us and we are so grateful to be able to help him.

P: He is another amazing man. He is engaged to a member in our ward and he wants to live up to the girls standards at first we thought that he was just doing this for her and being pressured but as we began to teach him he is really doing this for himself he really wants to change his life around and be a disciple of Christ. 

That is all of our investigators right now but we are going to find more this next transfer.

Oh Elder Boggess is Leaving and will be working in Aguadilla with Elder Grimmer!!!! [Elder Grimmer was Elder Moss's companion in the CCM.] What a coincidence those two are going to get so much done.

What did you guys think about conference???

Boy did I love it!!!! It is so different watching conference as a missionary. Oh and yes I got to watch it in English. When watching you aren't just thinking for yourself but also for the ward, less actives and investigators and how to help everyone. There is one talk that really stood out to me and it was given by Larry M Gibson and if I am right he just got released as a counselor in the General Young Men Presidency. Here's a link to Elder Gibson's Conference Talk

I love you all and I am so grateful to have you apart of my life. I want you to know I pray for you guys everyday and I always see what I can to help you guys grow. I am so grateful for all the support from you guys and I love and miss you guys!!!!

Con Mucho Amor;

 

Elder Musgo!!!!!! 

Still in Juncos, for now!

What a great week we had here. A lot of different investigators are coming out of the wood works!!!!

Transfers will be happening next week!!!! I am honestly nervous for transfers because there is a 50/50 chance that I can be leaving Juncos. I don't want to get transferred I am finally getting closer with the members and gaining more of their trust. 

The members here are really helping us now. We just had a mission activity and we were able to talk and get closer with the members and get to know them better and play a little Volleyball!!!!

 

We have a lot of new investigators that are really progressing this week

(J) who we had to change his baptismal date back one week because we had to take an emergency trip to the hospital on Sunday but it is ok he still wants to come to church and come closer to God. He is such a down to earth young man. He really does want to change his life and I know that we are here to help him with that. He has gotten really close with me especially he can relate a little more to me than to Elder Boggess. 

 (J2) has been a little hard to get a lesson with him but he is still wanting to change his life also he has been busy taking care of his horses but I know that he wants to change his life. I know that he will really help the ward out.

(L) is a husband who is married to a less active and they have 6 kids and he asked us to come and teach him so we have gotten to help him come close to God and be able to see that there is a plan for him. He is really receptive to our message and really wants to be an example for his kids. We are really working with members to help teach him and get him to understand that we are all here for him. 

(P) is a new investigator and was also a reference from a member and he is such a great guy he really loves the gospel and he wants to change his life as well and is looking forward to changing it. He knows this is true and was waiting for us to get to him to teach him.

Yesterday I had an amazing experience to go on another Companion exchange and I got to work in Humacao/Naguabo we got to take the sacrament to a member who is on best rest for the rest of his life. We also got to do some service for him and his wife, I won't go into details at all but I will get to say while I was on my mission that I had to hand bath a 76 year old man (I will leave it at that)

Exchanges Humacao/Naguabo

I love this gospel so much and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve here in Puerto Rico and in Juncos. I know that the Lord has special plans for me and I can't wait to see what he has in store for me.

I love you all and I really miss you and Mom and Dad I will let you know about Mothers day there is a possibility that I will not be in Juncos for it. 

Con Mucho Amor 

Elder Musgo

More things:

It is getting hotter

We went to an amazing missionary activity 

I am excited for General Conference 

I am ready to hear from a modern day prophet!!!!

Questions and Answers:

*Do you need anything from home?

I would love my contacts from home please I have a bad glasses tan line.

*How are your clothes holding up? Shoes? Socks? Shirts? Pants?

All of my clothes are getting too big ;) I keep losing weight but I am ok thank you.

*Is there anything you miss that you'd like me to send?

I am missing my family!!!!! ;) Will you please send me Hilary Weeks Beautiful Heartbreak?

*Are you excited for transfers coming up? Nervous? Do you really think Elder Boggess will be transferred?

I am not excited for transfers. It is really nerve racking knowing that one of us could be leaving!!!

*If you stay in Juncos, what will our Mother's Day conversation look like? Skype? Phone?

If I stay most likely Skype. 

100 Days on my mission

Horse

 

 

 <-- I saw the Ocean

 I saw a cool  basketball arena -->

Another week in Juncos

Lets see where to start??? This week was interesting, we had a lot of set backs but we also had a lot go for us!!!

We are always trying to find new people to teach!!! This last Friday I had another Exchange but this time we worked in Juncos and it was with Elder Blain again, yes the other greenie!!!! He is such an amazing missionary!!!!! He has only been out for 3 weeks and has a strong testimony already!!!! 

On our exchange all of our plans fell through except for an awesome lesson with G!!! We talked about why a mission is so important because she is currently working on her mission papers!!!!! Yes we had a less active become reactivated this last week!!!! Oh and reactivations here count as baptisms!!!! So techincally we had a baptism;)  JKJK she is going to really help the people wherever she serves!!!!

We now have two baptismal dates for April 11th!!!!! Both of these guys look really good and could be baptized that day!!!! 

J is one of them!!! He has come to us and asked to help him come closer to God!!!! He really wants to change his life!!!! I had the amazing opportunity to invite him to be baptized!!!!! I was so happy when he said yes, he is such an amazing young man!!!! He will really change the ward when he is baptized!!! I can see his desire to change his life!!! 

The other baptism date is still J [different J than above] and he sounds like he really wants to be baptized also he is so strong and is really receptive to our message!!! He will really help the ward especially if we can get his family to listen to us as well!!! I know that they will be touched by it!!!!

All of our other investiagtors are basically gone right now J, P, M, A, M, F they either won't answer our phone calls or always are canceling our appointments :( but it is ok sometimes we have to let them fail before they realize that this is what they really want!!! I know it sucks but it is ok and I am not letting it get me down!!!! I know that God has a plan for all of us!!!! 

I am so grateful for all that the gospel has done for my life and how it has blessed my life as well I know that I am here to bless others as well it may not be easy but if it was meant to be easy what would we learn!!!! I know that this is hard but I am learning so much about myself and I am grateful for that!!!! 

Thank you for all the wonderful things that were said about me in that last package they really meant a lot to me and really made my day!!!!

Yo se que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y Redentor, Yo se que Jose Smith fue profeta  y que el restauro el Evangelio verdadero, Yo se que Thomas S Monson es el profeta hoy en dia!!! Yo se que la iglesia es verdadera, yo se que las escrituras son las palabaras de Dios. Yo se que Jesucristo se sacrifico para nosotros. Yo se que la familia es eterna. Me encanta el Evangelio. Yo se que Dios nos ama. En el Nombre de Jesucristo. Amen

[I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that restored the true gospel, I know Thomas S Monson is the prophet today!!! I know the church is true, I know the scriptures are the word of God. I know that Jesus Christ sacrificed for us. I know the family is eternal. I love the gospel. I know God loves us. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen]

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Moss

Questions and answers:

Is it transfer time yet? Anyone being transferred? 

Transfers will be April 7th we find out April 5th who is getting transferred!!!

Are you being fed any more than once every couple of weeks?

We are not being feed very much it is us cooking for ourselves!!! But this friday we have a dinner appointment with a family from Elder Boggess's last area becuase he might get transferred!!!

How's your knee?

My knee is great I don't worry about it at all I let it just be itself I don't want the pain to affect my work!!!

How are your investigators?

Investiagtors that we are teaching are amazing!!!!!

Have you been grocery shopping lately? What did you buy? What kind of meals to you make at your house? Certainly it not only burritos!!!

We go shopping every Monday and we just buy what we really need!!!!

What is something that you learned this last week?

I learned that I have noticed every little thing and that it really helps I have learned that I can really read people which is interesting because I couldn't do either of those back at home!!!

How did Elder Holland's devotional go? I heard he shook everyone's hand.

Elder Hollands devotional was amazing!!!!! He is such an amazing speaker and he really wanted to get in our faces!!! Normally he would pound on the pulpit but instead he was hitting missionaries in the face!!!! He also looked me in the eye while he was talking I was so excited!!!!

When care packages arrive, describe what condition they arrive in, how are they delivered to you? With the last one, what did you think when you got it? What was your favorite thing inside?

Packages that come to me, get to me in great condition and are always amazing to get!!!! Out of this last package my favorite thing would definitly have to be the super long list!!!! But out of the food I would have to say the Peanut butter and Jelly I love Peanut Butter and Jelly so much!!!! I am so grateful for everything and all the love I have recieved from home and all of my family and friends I really could not be doing this without you guys it really means a lot to me!!!!

Elder Moss and I had a little back-and-forth email moment that I'd like to share as well...

Mom (in my weekly letter): Does your current area include Las Piedras? One of the Missionary Mommas has non-member family there. She said you should meet them - that would be cool.

Elder Moss (before responding to anything else in my letter): Hey Mom just a quick question do you know that families name yet?

Mom: The family in Las Piedras? It's Elder Hefner's family (I believe on his moms side, so they probably aren't named Hefner) I just asked Sister Hefner what their name is. I will let you know as soon as she gets back to me. [Elder Hefner is an elder who served with Elder Moss in the CCM]

Elder Moss: Thank you so much that really means a lot to us, when we saw that you said that we jumped up and down so happy!!!! That really made our day!!!! We Love you!!!!!

Mom: Sister Hefner is going to get me an address. I will send it as soon as I get it. 

Elder Moss: Awesome thank you so much!!!!!

I suppose the reason I wanted to include this back-and-forth communication is to let everyone know that you just never know when and where you will have a missionary moment. I sent a referral to my son on his mission 3000 miles away. If you know someone, somewhere, who you think needs the gospel, let the missionaries know. I guarantee they will be just as excited as my son and his companion were when they heard about Sister Hefner's family.

 

Elders Moss, Powell, Smith, and Lopez

Elder Holland and the Puerto San Juan Missionaries