FAITHFUL SERVANTS

This is our beautiful area

Family and Friends, Aloha!

I've tried really hard not to think about the fact that I go home in 8 weeks, but it has definitely been apparent in the many miraculous things happening (and the fact that I'm more tired than EVER). Our area is still going pretty slow in terms of baptizing, but things are definitely moving along. 





Miracle #1 

So there are more non-members in our area than in any other area of Laie. I think I've mentioned that before. Problem is, our area has a lot of rental vacation homes, so the people are always in and out. Well, Sister Bradley and I decided to go visit our Part-member list, and arrived at this blue house after trying a couple of other houses. There was a young guy from China in the drive way, so we decided to talk with him. He spoke very little English, but we were finally able to communicate the words, "missionaries...Mandarin speaking missionaries available ...Here's their number", while he gave us his number as well. We immediately called Sister Cheng and gave her the referral. She talked with him (in Mandarin) and he said he was interested in learning more and wants to go to church!!! SOOOO awesome!  We just laughed, because we were excited that maybe he lived at that house, and we would have a new investigator, but turns out he just works on the house for his job. BUT, that's alright, because it's all the same work!

Miracle #2

All the Sisters say that before you go home, you'll begin to see the fruits of your labors. I didn't understand that until now. Like last week, I received an amazing e-mail being informed that a woman that came on my tram will be getting baptized. Well, another e-mail came rolling in this week as well, from another woman.  I met her one day after showing the short 3 minute video that we show to visitors.  When it was finished, I saw a family walking out and I went to go speak with them.  But, as I was walking towards them, I walked right past this woman looking up at 'The Family: Proclamation to the World' display. The second I walked past her, the thoughts pierced into my mind and heart, "You need to talk with her." So I stopped and turned around and did. She had many questions that she said preachers have NEVER been able to answer for her. I asked her what some of those questions were, and of course I knew she needed to meet with the missionaries, so I told her that. Well, this was back in June, and I just now got a response from her saying: 

(I've edited some things for privacy purposes)

" Aloha Sister Moyes. I have been contacted by the Missionaries here at home and am learning and studying under the Mormon Faith.  I have found Mormonism represents a lot of what I feel a Church should not only be but, more importantly, what a church should be doing.  My questions are being answered and I am most impressed at the willingness of a Member to say "I don't know"  if he/she really doesn't instead of evading a question. Thank you for greeting and speaking with me at the Temple Visitors Center there in Oahu.  Thank you for placing me on a path I did not see and never would have considered (Mormonism) on my own.  But for you, I would be loved by our Heavenly Father but still adrift in confusion and growing in doubt about Faith and God..." 

I know this gospel is trueeee!

Miracle #3 

Just a typical day in the neighborhood : )

So last but not least. A couple of weeks ago, Sister Bradley and I were asked to teach the 17 and 18 year-olds Sunday School class. Guess what the topic is this month??? Yup, Marriage and Family. Haha. No, it wasn't bad. The sub-topic we focused on was how we can teach our friends about the importance of families and God's plan for his families. Anyway, it was supposed to be just the 17 and 18 year-olds, but turns out the 15/16 year-olds teacher could not make it; so it was combined class. In trying to teach the youth how to bring up families in a gospel related way we played a little game with them.

We ride up this hill every day

We put them into teams, and said a random word like Facebook, or Youtube, or Homework...words that are brought up a lot in their lives. Then first person to come up with a way to relate those topics to the gospel and families would get a point. It was SO fun to see those creative juices working. They did so well. Then, the last word, we decided to have something random: slippers. We said it, and one of the youth raised his hand. He gave this amazing answer of how we need to search, and find the slipper that is the right size, or search and find the TRUE gospel....so the miracle in this is: We invited them to share the gospel about families with their friends and they said, "Well, we did bring a non-member to church with us!"...pointing to the boy who had given the profound answer about the slippers. He was a non-member, searching for truth. He said he had met with missionaries before, but would meet with them again where he lives. AWESOME!! It was truly an inspired lesson. 

Sorry, this is so long.

Almost getting hit by the mailman

It is just so amazing to see the Lord's hand in EVERYTHING. I knowthis is God's church, and Jesus Christ is the head of it. I know that as we are His faithful servants we will be blessed. They say serving a mission is the best 18 months- 2 years of your life. I am truly seeing why. Even when we feel like we are doing everything to serve the Lord, we are blessed in return. Continue to serve others and I know you will feel the same joy. Love you all, have a charitable week!

Love, 
Sister Moyes

BEST MISSSION EVER!!!

ALoha my cousins!

I've definitely been staring at this screen for 2 minutes now, just trying to put into words how amazing this week was!!! There were so many little things that happened, so we'll start with that!

The Adamsons (VC Senior)

• Na'ili went to the temple and did baptisms!!!!!
• President and Sister Warner (our new mission President and wife) came to La'ie to be the speakers of a fireside that was held here at the Visitor Center! It was AMAZING! I already love them so much!

Our L3 ward now has SEVEN missionaries in the mission field!. . .

One of them being the beautiful Alohi Keys (the one in the pictures) that Sister Bradley and I have become super close with. Her mission covers El Salvador and Belize! It just opened up. And she left for the MTC yesterday!!! 

• We can now text : )
• I have the best mission!

Oh, it was just a week full of miracles:






Miracle #1 A&B

A. In our last visitor center training meeting (VCTM) they challenged us to plan lessons for the people who would come into the VC. At first I was a little hesitant towards this challenge, thinking: how do we plan for people we don't even know? Well, let me tell you something...Heavenly Father knows!! DUH! This was one of the coolest experiences of my mission in the Visitor Center.  Well, we got planning. As Sister Bradley and I sat there pondering and taking our thoughts and prayers to heaven to know more about these people, we both were able to visualize what these people looked like, what ages they were, EVERYTHING. It was as if I was looking back at a memory. At this moment I knew there was no denying that God knows each of us and loves His children.

Zone Pictures

One tour that I felt very strongly about planning for was a "with member" tour, meaning there is a member and a non-member present. I could see us taking this family through the "God's Plan" presentation and then inviting the non-member to baptism. I knew it was what we needed to do. We get on shift and the first people to walk in: A grandma and her grandson with his non-member girl friend. We took them through God's plan, bore our testimonies, taught about the importance of the gospel in our lives, and committed her to be baptized! She said yes! Oh, it was the best. There really was nothing like it. The same pattern happened with the other families we planned for. I KNOW that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is helping to bring this truth into His children's lives.

My new VC Bff, Sister Flores

B. So, this was yesterday, and we did the same type of planning for our shift. Sister Bradley said that she could see a girl from India who practices Hinduism with various piercings, and she had an older man with her, maybe her dad or uncle. Well, we were taking a family up around the temple and on our way down we see an Indian girl (so we thought) with ears pierced and nose pierced walking with an older man. I knew I had to say something. They were on their way up to the temple so I asked if they had been inside the VC yet. They admitted that they had not, and so I invited them to after they walked up to the temple, mentioning that the VC had pictures of the inside of the temple! They got really excited when I said that, and said they would.  After our tour we waited for them to come in, and they did! At first the girl came in with another girl of the same age.Turns out that they are from Fiji, practicing Hinduism; the older man being their brother-in-law. We did our tour as planned, and received two self-referrals from the two girls as the brother-in-law had been speaking with other sisters. Ahhh, this gospel is so true it's not even funny. I love it so much, and feel so blessed to share it with everyone.

Miracle #2 

Anthony received the Preisthood!! So Sister Bradley and I were walking down a street in our area, ready to get on our bikes to get to our dinner appointment. We were walking past Anthony's house, and it looked like there were a bunch of people outside, so I had hoped that his mom, who is a non-member would be outside. I had told Sister Bradley that I thought we should stop before heading to dinner, so we did. We walked up to the house as people were loading into cars. We asked if Anthony was there! Next thing we know he's hopping out of the car and has a smile on his face.

All of my Companions still in Laie

Okay, preface. . . the first time we met Anthony, you could tell that the last thing he wanted to do was a. come to church, b. meet with missionaries, c. even think about holding the priesthood, and d. be wearing a white shirt and tie. Well here we were talking with him, and he's talking to us as if we were best friends! It was so cool! He expressed that he was really nervous that he was going to be getting the Priesthood on Sunday!! Our amazing WML (Ward MissionLeader) said he was going to help him get the priesthood, but we didn't realized how soon!! Anthony talked about how he is realizing that it's going to be hard being the example, not only to his friends, but to his family, but that he was ready to accept the responsibility! Ahh, he's so amazing. So on Sunday, they ordained him as a deacon in his tucked in white shirt and tie, and he'll be passing the sacrament this Sunday!!!

Miracle #3 

There had been woman that had come on to my tram back in December. On the tram tour she filled out the guest card leaving behind her e-mail address. Well I had e-mailed her offering her a Finding Faith in Christ dvd, and she accepted. I had sent the DVD, but apparently she had not received it. I remember pondering whether I should go ahead and just send the missionaries to bring it. So I made the decision to just send the missionaries to her home. Well, just a couple weeks later I left for the island of Maui, and then serving in Honolulu, I was not back until the very end of April.

Me, my baby, my grandbaby, and my great-grandbaby
(Translation:  I trained Sister Jones, who trained Sister Kim.
who trained Sister Cheng)

Last night after the VC shift I had this strong desire to check our missionary e-mail. I immediately got changed and ran (literally, haha) to the computers to check what would be waiting. Lo and behold there was an e-mail labled "Sister Moyes from Laie Tram Tour."...it was her =) She was looking for the Sister Moyes that took her on the tram tour!!  She then continued to share the most amazing news!! She continued to inform me (in hopes that I would read it) that ever since I had sent the missionaries to come and teach her, she has been taking the lessons. She THEN let me know that she was going to be getting baptized on August 31st!!! AHHHHHHHHH, I love being a missionary. She finished the e-mail by thanking me for giving her that guest card and how it has forever changed her life. 

So many prayers were answered this week, it was incredible. Every day I am loving my mission, or I should say, the Lord's mission, more and more, and feel so blessed to see just how much God loves his children. I know that these miracles are a witness of God's love for His children. I know that as we pray to be God's hands in this work that He WILL give us opportunities to "hasten the work of salvation." We are all missionaries, each of us has an a area...and that's the world. We have the best mission ever!! Let's help God's children to know how much He loves them. I love you all so much, and I know Heavenly Father does, too. Have a miraculous week!

Love,

Sister Moyes

I'm jumping in!!! (jk)

P.S. Sorry this was so long!

PLEASE GOD

Family and Friends, Aloha!!! 

I love being a missionary. There really is nothing like it! For anyone who reads this who might be preparing for a mission or thinking about it, if the Lord says it is right, you will never EVER regret it. Well, this week has definitely been a challenging yet very rewarding week for so many reasons!! It is so interesting to see the power of Satan striving to destroy this work, but as always our faith in God will help us to overcome. I know that because our faith in God is strong; we saw many miracles this week!

Miracle #1 

When I was serving in the Laie 3rd Ward last July we were working with an LA family that I got SO close with. Well they are now starting to come back to church consistently, and it has been such a blessing to be able to be a part of that growth in their life!! For the past two weeks we have been teaching the family, specifically their son who was getting baptized! He is 8 years old and the cutest thing ever! He was baptized this Saturday, and we're so excited to continue to teach the family towards being sealed in the temple for all eternity!

Baptism with the family : )

Miracle #2 

Somehow I ended up with a 24 hour stomach flu this week, but I am so grateful for all that I learned having it. So I was on shift at the VC and kept telling Sister Bradley how weird I felt. I felt like I was in a daze and my body just felt really heavy. I felt perfectly fine, it was just a weird feeling. As the shift went on my body got weaker and weaker with my stomach beginning to feel uneasy. Sister Bradley told me to go lay down, as well as many other Sisters, but for "whatever" reason I felt strong, in a sense. It was weird, but I just knew that I would be okay to stay on shift. Well, the tram buses came, and there was hardly anyone on them, which never happens on the later tours. When I walked outside to see if anyone from the tram had not come in, I saw a young family of a husband and wife, with their little son and daughter (all non-members except for the  husband). I began talking with them and found out they did not come on the tram, but were actually from Honolulu. I told them I would love to take them on a temple grounds tour! Their daughter was so excited and decided we were going to be best friends =) When we walked up to the temple doors, the spirit was so strong. I felt so impressed to take them inside of the temple, after having explained the great peace and happiness we can feel inside. I had never done this before with anyone my whole mission, but that impression could not have been any stronger. The father stayed out with the little son, but I brought in the mother and daughter into the lobby. As we quietly entered in there was just an overwhelming sense of peace and love that brought us all to tears. After a couple of minutes we came back outside as she expressed that she had never felt like that before. I explained with my usual invitation that she could feel that way all the time, through baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. She said she wanted that. It was a bitter sweet moment when she said she didn't know about having missionaries over quite yet, probably overwhelmed from all that she just felt, but decided we would stay in contact. I know that people are being prepared to receive this gospel, and we cannot let anything get in the way of that; not even when we might feel weak. 

Miracle #3 

There are so many times on my mission I just sit back and smile because I can see all the little things in my life that have prepared me for my mission. Well, as many as you know, football in Hawaii is HUGE! They eat, drink, sleep football. Sister Bradley did not really grow up around sports, whereas when I was at BYU I made sure I was at every basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer game! I love sports! Well, this group of 19-year-olds come in to the Visitor Center, finding out that one of them is a non-member. I was really excited. They wanted to watch the movie "Finding Faith in Christ," so I played it for them. After it was over I went into the theatre to post-set and talk about their thoughts and feelings of the film. I started asking questions with no responses, then I bore my testimony. By the looks on their faces with their eyes looking every which way as I tried to explain the importance of faith in Jesus Christ, I could see I was "boring" them.

Bowling on P-day

Finally I just said, "Alright, do you all play sports?" They said yes. "Do you all play football?" They perked up, all eyes on me, and said yes with more enthusiasm. I said, "What is the purpose of football? They said that it was to get touchdowns, to score, to win!! I just smiled as I could see they wanted to know where this was going. I then explained that God has a plan for us. His plan for us is to win, to make it back to His presence one day. In order to make it to our goal, we must have a quarterback, or a linebacker, or a receiver, right? They agreed. Without them it's impossible. Without faith in Jesus Christ or repentance or baptism, it is impossible to make it back to Heavenly Father's presence. BUT, as we use the tools that we have been given, we can win, we can gain eternal life with our Heavenly Father. We were then able to continue on in teaching them, as well as the non-member who said that the missionaries could contact him. I love that the gospel truly is in everything we do! I feel grateful that I was able to help them understand the importance of God's plan for us in a way that they connected with. Just a really neat little miracle.

I am so grateful for this week. It has been such a great learning experience, and I feel that I am drawing closer to my Heavenly Father each and every day through doing all that I can. This gospel is true, and the only way we will know that is by living it. We MUST put ALL of our trust in God. He ALWAYS has our best interest at heart. ALWAYS. I cannot emphasize that enough. I know that when we are keeping the commandments and being exactly obedient, we will never feel disconnected from God. He is always there, but we must be living our lives in a way that is pleasing to God. I know that if you can say that you are constantly doing whatever it is you may be doing to please God, then you will always feel His presence. I can testify of that because I have experienced it, and there is no greater feeling. Continue to pray to know how you can please God and He will show you the way. Love you all so much! Have a great week full of missionary opportunities!

Love,

Sister Moyes

RIGHTEOUS DESIRES

AloHA Family and Friends!

This week has just flown by so fast. I still cannot even believe it! Seems like every day is getting faster and the work harder! Where to start? 
Well, Sister Bradley and I have been in a trio companionship the whole week, so that's been CRAZY! Sister Mckeever has been serving on the big island, but when she came back to serve in the VC she did not have a companion yet. She is going to be training a new missionary, but she doesn't get in until tonight = we have been covering five wards for a week! YAY! Haha, it's been fun, but we've definitely been all over the place. What can you expect on a transfer week, though, right? 
Alright, let's get to the fun stuff! MIRACLES!!!

Miracle #1 

Last transfer I mentioned how we were able to recreate a baptismal record for a 13-year-old boy in our ward. We'll call him Anthony. I think I mentioned that Anthony has been less-active ever since he has been baptized at the age of 8, so we have been praying to find ways that we can bring him back to church. Whenever Sister Bradley and I go over there to invite him to church he always politely rejects the invitation. We found out that there is a family (members) that he has become really close with that live across the street from him. The second we found that out we gave them a call to see what we could do. They too invite him to church, but for some reason he has not been coming. Well, our prayers had finally been answered. This Sunday Sister More walks up to us and tells us that Anthony came to church with them and planned to stay for all three meetings. We immediately went to go talk to him after Sacrament meeting, and there was just something different about his countenance; not to mention the white shirt and slacks he was wearing! We asked him how he was doing and how he had enjoyed sacrament meeting!....He responded by saying, "Well, I still don't think I'll do the whole tucking my shirt in thing, but I'm thinking about learning how to pass the sacrament!...even though it still freaks me out." We all just laughed together, Sister Bradley and I, full of joy, saw that his heart had been changed. We cannot wait for the day that we will be able to to see him holding the Priesthood and passing the sacred ordinance of the Sacrament!

Miracle #2 

After our VCTM (Visitor Center Training Neeting) on Monday morning we usually just head home and do our studies. Well, our area had just been given brand new bikes, so instead of going straight home, we had to go to the senior couple's pad to pick up the bikes. We walked up to the pad to get them, when we realized that we had no shorts or leggings to wear underneath our skirts to ride the bikes. We stopped by Sister Millett's pad who so kindly gave Sister Bradley some biker shorts, but that was all they had. We knocked on the next pad over and no one was home. Then we knock on the next one, where Sister Yoo and Sister Mark opened the door. I asked them if they had any shorts to spare with Sister Mark responding in a whisper of a voice, "...yes..I have some..." Her voice was GONE. I was shocked and asked Sister Yoo what had happened; she had gotten laryngitis. Then Sister Yoo excitedly asked us, "Ooh! Can you do the tram for us tonight!!?" We said of course, not knowing the miracles that would come from taking those trams. 

      

      Miracle #2a 

• When we get to the PCC we always stand by the entrance of the villages where a worker (usually the Sisters) takes the guest's tickets. We stand there taking the tickets while inviting the guests to ride the tram! Well, when we first got there one of the  PCC tour guides walks up to us handing us a Guest Card (the ones we give to people on the tram), and said that a family from one of his tours gave the card to him. He hold us that the family told him that one of the "tram tour guides". . . aka: Sisters, had given it to them, but they didn't have time to fill it out on the Tram . . . . . Yes, that tour guide was ME!   I was so sad the day I had taught this family, because I knew the chances of the guests actually filling out the Guest Card after the tour, and giving it to their PCC tour guide, was slim to none. Yet, there I was at the perfect place and time to be able to claim this Guest Card with the family that I had been able to teach The Book of Mormon to. .  . . and on the card they mentioned they wanted missionaries to teach them more about the Book of Mormon! I could not believe it! If Sister Bradley and I had not taken the tram shift for Sister Mark and Sister Yoo, I probably would have never seen that card. It would have been given to some other Sisters who had no idea where it came from. Miracle.

       Miracle #2b 

• The same day of being on the tram shift, while taking tickets, I was feeling especially filled with the spirit after getting that Guest Card back, so I made sure to ask everyone where they were from, and then making a point to invite them on to the tram. Usually, we mention it will be a 35 minute tour of driving past the University, the community of Laie, and then stopping at the Mormon temple grounds. "For whatever reason" ---when I was taking the tickets of this one couple the first thing I said after asking them where they were from was, "Well at the bottom of your ticket it mentions a tram tour that takes you to the Mormon temple, every 20 minutes on the hour, and we'd love for you to join us!" I almost slapped myself, because we try to make sure we don't scare people away too badly by only mentioning the temple, but it just came out. Then the wife says," Ooh, honey!! That's where I want to go!" I told them they should definitely come and ride whenever they wanted, never expecting to see them 15 minutes later hopping on our tram! I knew something was up. When we drove up the road that leads to the temple we mention that the temple is used for sacred ceremonies such as marriages, called a sealing ceremony.
  
  The second I mentioned the sealing in the temple, I saw the wife in the second row nudging her husband and saying something to him. All the guests were members, except the one couple, so when we got to the temple grounds we let them walk around as we stayed with this couple. We showed them the narration to the Christus statue and asked about their relationship with Jesus Christ. Sister Bradley and I received responses that we were not expecting. "Well, I was actually baptized into your all's church when I was eight and sealed to my family, but I really haven't been to church much since then." The husband then says, "Yeah, my parents just converted to being Mormon a little later in their lives, but yeah, I guess their Mormon now." If you can imagine, our jaws just dropped. The wife then shows us her CTR (stands for Choose the Right) ring that she still wore on her finger. It was so exciting! After testifying a little more about the gospel, the wife then asks if we could show them the picture of the sealing room. After explaining to the husband what occurs inside the sealing room, the wife says, "See ,Hun, that's what I want...to be married to you forever, not just til death do us part!" The spirit was so strong when he smiled and looked at her. At the end of the tour he self-referred and said that the missionaries could come and teach him! It was the best.

I definitely gained a testimony this week about living righteously. Sometimes we're not going to be given strong huge promptings telling us what to do. As we are doing everything we can to serve others and live the way that God would have us live, then our righteous actions will naturally lead us to seeing miracles. Continue to pray for those opportunities, and pray to know how you can align your will with God's, because I can testify that there is truly no greater joy. I love being a part of this gospel, being a servant and disciple of Christ brings such peace and blessings. Try it, and see if it does not bless your life. I love you all so much!! Have a great week.

Alofa,

Sister Moyes

TRANSFER WEEK #11

Wonderful family and friends, AloHA!

Here we are again at the beginning of another transfer! It looks like this transfer is a transfer of FIRSTS. This will be the first transfer during my whole mission that I will be staying in my area! CRAZY! Not only will I be staying in the ward, but Sister Bradley and I are staying together, as well.  And, for the first time ever, I don't have to move pads (apartments). I'm pretty stoked! It'll be weird not having to start over in a new area with a new companion patterned after the rest of my mission, but I could not be feeling happier. Sister Bradley and I feel like we're finally getting to know the members and just how we can use their help in lighting this Ward on fire! It's going to be AWESOME! 

The new mission President, President Warner is so awesome! I still can't even believe just how fast he has jumped right into everything. It's been such a help and blessing. So there's my house business! Now for some miracles of this past week!

Miracle #1 

When Sister Bradley and I walked in to church on Sunday, we were surprised when Na'ili was not there in our usual spot. We were waiting patiently listening to the prelude music when we finally see her rush and sit in a different pew.  We could tell something was up! Sister Bradley and I immediately grab our stuff and sat down next to her. I gave her a hug and asked her if everything was alright, with her response being, "No...not really." We were able to talk about it after church, and it was just so amazing how much Satan is putting in her way to distract her. She said she wouldn't have been able to withstand or be as strong as she was had it not been for the gift of the Holy Ghost.  She testified of the peace she felt as she did what she knew Heavenly Father wanted her to do. I immediately thought to ask if she had talked to the Bishop yet about getting her temple recommend, and she had not. She said she kept thinking about it, but with everything going on she has not been able to do it. We knew that it was crucial that she got that as soon as possible, because we did not want anymore "distractions" to get in the way. The three of us walked over to the Bishop's office asking if he had a moment to interview Na'ili for her temple recommend! In she went, and ten minutes later she comes out with a paper in her hands!! We were so excited for her!! You could see from the glow she had around her how happy and excited she was. SO, now she can go to the temple!!!

Miracle #2 

AH, this one's so cool. Sister Bradley and I were taking the tram tours at the PCC Friday night. It was 3 o'clock and the tram was getting ready to leave when a young couple comes up and asks if they can ride the tram. The guy had asked if he had time to use the restroom before it left, but we told him it was leaving right now. Sister Bradley suggested that he could wait till the 3:20 tram, but the thought came to me,  I bet he could wait 10 minutes till we get to the VC.  I ask him if he could wait that long and he said that was fine! We give them the tour, and got to know them a little bit. When we get to the VC, and all business is taken care of, we took the couple on a tour. The girl had said that she has seen missionaries all the time, but never really talked to them. It is so interesting, because usually, I can remember everything that we teach on each tour we give, but the spirit was so strong, that I cannot even remember all that we taught them. It was completely guided by the Spirit, it was literally the most amazing experience giving a tour I have ever had. It was truly incredible. I do remember showing them the sealing room where a bride and a groom can be sealed to each other and to their families forever. Then the guy says, "So what do you have to do to make sure that happens?" We taught them both about baptism, and the blessings that come from it, and how it prepares us to one day enter into the temple. We invited them to prepare for baptism that they could one day be sealed inside the temple for time and all eternity. There countenances completely changed as the spirit touched their hearts. The girl responded first and said, "YEAH! I definitely will!" She then turned to the guy and asked what he thought, when he responded, "Yes, I will." It was so amazing. 

What was really neat was that our next tour was with a married LDS couple. We got to know them really well. When I was talking with the husband he told me that before he joined the church he was just a punk doing drugs and drinking all the time when the missionaries found him, and now look at him, he's active and is sealed to his family in the temple. The connection between these two couples is that the younger couple, with the guy, had been explaining to us how he wantsrd to change in his life, because he was doing the drugs and alcohal and he felt like baptism was the right direction for him. It was as if we were able to jump ahead to the future and see the family that they could be in the future, just like the married couple.

Miracle #3 

So, although Leilani (the one whoes door we knocked on) did not come to ward camp, but she gave us a call that day and asked if we could reschedule something!!! There is nothing better than having a potential investigator calling YOU and asking YOU if they can meet. It was such a blessing, and we are SO excited to be able to teach her. 

Sorry, this is a little shorter today. P-day is not short with all of the cleaning we have to do in prep for the new sisters coming in and for our cleaning checks! But I love you all so much. This gospel is true, and I have no doubt about that. I feel so blessed to be serving not only in Hawaii but here at the Visitor Center. We see so many miracles every day, that it is impossible to not know that this work is true. This is God's work, and we can choose whether we want to be a part of it or not. But I know that as we are a part of the work, there is no greater joy. Keep sharing the gospel!!

Love, 

                                                                                      Sister Moyes

MAKING HISTORY

Family and Friends ALoHA!!

What you are about to read is from the journal of my Great great great Uncle, Orin Daniel Allen Sr. who was born March 18, 1854 at Three Mile Creek, Utah.....ENJOY!

"Our son, (1) Orin Daniel Allen Jr. was born November 25, 1878 at Huntsville, Utah. (2) Annie Christine Allen was born May 26, 1880 at Huntsville, Utah. My occupation was farming and working in a stone quarry. That fall I was called to go on a mission to the Hawaiian Islands. (1880). I went to the October conference which was held in Salt Lake City and was set apart. I left Ogden on November 13, 1880 in company with Elder Samuel Gentry of Coalville, Summit County. We both had a sick time in crossing the ocean. We were eight days in crossing. We went to Laie, Oahu, the Church headquarters. We stayed there two weeks.The president sent me out with two native missionaries to learn the language. I was gone about eight weeks. Then I was taken back to headquarters by the president, H. H. Cluff. I worked on the plantation about one month. Then we started to build a new sugar factory. We weren't long in putting the building up. We also put the machinery in. I helped to put all the machinery together. On July 16, 1881, we started the mill to making sugar.... We ran it for about one year and payed off the biggest part of the indebtedness on the mill.... I was put in to look after the cattle until October. At the October conference I was released to come home. I left Honolulu, October 25, 1882 and reached home about the fifth of November, 1882."

Orin Daniel Allen Sr

Miracle #1 

I don't know about you, but I think that counts as my first miracle!!!. I was sitting in the Visitor Center during a night shift, and it was incredibly slow. It was the night before fourth of July, and I could sense that the pace would not get any faster. I was sitting there in the Christus room when I had the STRONGEST desire; almost a craving, to go on to familysearch.org. I have been on the site a few times on my mission, mostly having fun to discover all of my nationalities. Well this time, Sister Eaton, who really likes family history said that if I wanted she would go with me to the back to go do some family history! Our companions stayed together as we went to the back. As we were looking at my family tree, Sister Eaton let me know that you can look at photos, journal entries, stories, etc., on your ancestors! I had NO idea, and had no idea how fun family history could be. Well, we were browsing around, clicking on "random" names, when we clicked on Chastina Hadlock (Allen) because it mentioned she had 1 story. We clicked on the story and saw that it was the journal of her son Orin! We read for a while before coming upon this wonderful passage I posted above. I could not believe what I was seeing!!!! Not only was my Great great great Uncle called to the Hawaiian Islands, but he spent all but 8 weeks of his mission in Laie!!!! WHAT?!? How cool is that?? I had NO idea! But wait, it gets better!!!!.... When we are taking the tram tours from the PCC to the Temple, we drive through the community of Laie and explain the history to our guests. We always explain that, "In 1865 the church leaders bought this property as a gathering place for the church members of the Pacific Islands. They experimented with different crops but decided Sugar cane, the hardest crop to grow in Hawaii, would help them be the most successful. SO they built a sugar can mill.Because of the Sugar cane mill Laie was able to thrive into the community it is today".....That sugar can mill was the same mill that my great great great Uncle built and put up.Then to make it even cooler, his wife and daughter's names are Annie, and he was released in October, just as I will be. It was such a neat experience for me to see that I can be a part of the same work that he started here in Laie. We're making history!

4th of July

Miracle #2 

This past week our Visitor Center Training Meeting was about making sure every guest leaves the Visitor Center with something in their hands. I have made that a goal for myself. Well we get a lot of tour buses that come by; rarely do they actually come in. Well, a woman from Mexico rushed in barely giving me enough time to ask where she was from before she dashed to the restroom! I ran behind the front desk and grabbed a Spanish Book of Mormon, Spanish pamphlets, and Spanish pass along cards, and wrote my name and e-mail address on the inside of The Book of Mormon. As she hurried out of the bathroom I presented The Book of Mormon to her! She seemed puzzled, but I told her it was a gift for coming into the Visitor Center. She thanked me graciously, and then headed on her way. A similar experience happened with three separate groups of guests all visiting from the Czech Republic! All three groups accepting a copy of The Book of Mormon with my name and e-mail =) I may never know what will happen to those books or how it might affect their lives, but I do know that a seed has been planted! And there is such joy in that.

Na'ili took us out for Sis Bradley's Birthday

Miracle #3 

Our area has been really struggling when it comes to finding new investigators. We have many non-members, but they have been tracted into for over 30 years. It can be a little tough sometimes. Well, Sister Bradley and I, still full of faith and energy, have continued to visit house after house. This week for our ward is ward camp (where the whole ward camps down at the Hukilau beach until Friday, doing different activities and Luau's). We decided to invite as many non-members and less-actives as we could. When knocking on a door, we could hear voices inside saying, "Hey [name]!! Who's at the door??" We hear another response, "I don't know! Some blonde chicks! You gonna answer it??" We then hear and see a window open from above when someone says, "Hello?" We look up and see a girl probably about in her early 20's! We told her we wanted to invite her and her family to come to ward camp! She asked if we were Mormons, and of course we said yes. She then replied by saying she couldn't because she is Catholic. Haha, the first thing that came out of my mouth was, "SO?!....you don't have to be Mormon to come!" She responds, "Oh really? Alright, maybe." Sister Bradley then so boldly asked if we could give her our phone number which she said yes, and to call us so we could have her number. We told her we would call her and let her know all the activities going down! It was SUCH a miracle! We had no idea non-members lived in that house, nonetheless, a girl close to Na'ili's age who she would be able to connect with! It was perfect, and we cannot wait to see what happens!

More 4th of July Celebration

I just love the gospel! This week helped me realize that everything we do every day really can affect future generations. Were it not for my ancestors who so faithfully joined and followed the gospel of Christ's true church on the earth, I would not be here following in my great great great uncle's footsteps serving God's children in Hawaii. Not only can we influence our own family tree, but we can help others to be the pioneers of their families, by learning and accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ restored upon the earth today. Joseph Smith was born at a precise time and country. Were it not for the men who fought for the freedom of our country we would not have the freedoms we do today; namely the freedom of practicing religion, which allowed Joseph to restore God's church about the earth. I am so grateful for those who came before us, and grateful for the opportunity we now have to make history. It is our turn to resolve to do better to share the gospel, so that future generations may flood the earth with the truth of God. I love you all so much, and know you will feel the same love for those around you as you discover the impact you could have.

Sending love with all my heart,

Sister Annie Moyes

HE>i (He is greater than I)

Hey family! 
So this week's letter is going to be really short. Basically all the sisters got sick at the Visitor Center including myself, so unfortunately not a lot of work has been able to happen this week. BUT, like always we still saw some miracles!

Miracle #1 

So for the month of June we were striving for 200 baptisms!! One zone was able to get 42 baptisms!! We have truly been blessed to see 180 baptism for the month of June!! So cool, right? The mission is continuing to break records. The Lord is truly blessing us to find those who are prepared for the gospel, and we feel even more blessed to see the joy that the gospel is bringing into those 180 wonderful children of God!

Miracle#1a 

Sister Bradley and I found a 13-year-old boy in our ward boundaries who's parents are not members, but said he was baptized when he was 8. We've been working really closely with our ward and the zone leaders because he was baptized in their ward (because that is the ward that his grandparents attend). Eventually we confirmed that his records were never entered into the church's database, so we were able to re-create his baptismal record and count it for the month of June!! We were so happy for him, and felt so blessed for the many ways Heavenly Father has lead us to find the lost sheep!

Miracle#2 

Saturday was President Dalton's last day in Hawaii as our mission President! We were sad that we wouldn't be able to see him again, but then he called us and let us know that he would be stopping by the VC to say goodbye. We were all pretty stoked on that one. It was so weird seeing him go, being that he has been my Mission President for the past 14 months of my mission, but we're so excited to meet President Warner!! We've heard so many great things about him!

Sorry, I told you it would be short. But every day  I am witnessing God's hand in our lives, not only for myself but for those we are teaching. Keep looking for the ways that Heavenly Father has blessed your life, and you will be overwhelmed with all that He has given us. He loves us so much, and wants us to be happy. We must never forget that He is greater than us, and can make all things possible! 

Love you all so much! Have a great week!

Sister Moyes

p.s. 

Na'ili is doing AMAZING and we love her so much. Hah, when we got to church, she gave us a big hug and said, "Ah I've missed you way too much!" Haha, it had only been four days since we last saw her. She's so great.