Poco a Poco

Hey all,

Gotta keep it short because I am in a cyber cafe and don’t have much time. Just wanted to tell you all that I made it here safe and that El Salvador is quite possibly the greatest place on earth. We have one sister who is on date to be baptized on October 13, and about 25 or 30 others who we are still working on getting to church. Our branch meets about a 45 minute bus ride away and its very hard for many members to find the 25 cents needed for the bus fare. But we are hopeful and know that God provides a way. Hopefully we can find a way to help these awesome people. I eat pupusas almost everyday and even tho the people here have next to nothing, they feed us non-stop. It’s a blessing and a curse haha. Our branch is small but strong and our area is huge so with a lot of hard work, hopefully we can make the most of the vast potential here in Santiago Texacuangos. One scripture that we like to share while out walking the streets is Helaman 5:12. and I know its true. 

This first week hasn’t been without struggles, and there are more to come, but when we center ourselves on Christ we gon be alright.

As far as the people go, my comp is amazing and our neighbors and investigators are great. They all love English and tease me for my Spanish and we have a good time. People here love to talk, so when I finally learn Spanish I should fit in pretty well.

Love you all! You are in my prayers and thanks for the love and support

-- 

Elder Moulton

Pues, Pues, Pues...? Que Tenemos Aquí?

Hola amigos,

Final week here in the MTC, gotta say we're going out with a bang. This week has been pretty crazy just preparing to leave and packing. Its crazy to think that in less than 48 hours, I'll finally be in El Salvador. There's been a really big push this week amongst all of us just to be 100% ready and hit the ground running. 

Scripture for this week is Mosiah 7:33:

33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage  

Its hard to say right now because we've just been chilling in Provo, Utah for the past 6 weeks, but just looking back and looking forward, when I put my trust in the Lord and simply do his work, things are gonna work out. My Spanish is probably about a D- right now but that’s ok. I know enough to find the bathroom and call someone an old turkey. And I know the Lord is gonna use whatever limited language and knowledge I got. 

Two new districts were added to our Zone this week as well so now we have over 100 missionaries and many of them are headed to the Tijuana mission!

Things that I'm really gonna miss about the MTC:

White Elephant Friday (I received a roof tile), Sweater Tuesday, Linen Day, District 28c, our flip phone, volleyball in the weirdly hot/cold sand, food that makes me hurt at all hours, being duct taped to walls, loud shower conversations, Elder Anderson picking my clothes, Elder Warner being the GOAT, food challenges, constantly calling people out for handbook violations, people breaking their toes on doors, nose surgery in the dorms, and so much more. Its been a fun ride here, been a fun week. Almost everyone has had some kinda medical problem, everyone is anxious to go. 

Thanks for the love and support! 

-- 

Elder Moulton

Es Un Gran Dia Para Ser Un Misionero

Hola everyone,

Another week gone in the MTC. We finished up our practice lessons with Laura this week, and it was sad but we left on a good note. We've also been holding lessons with people around the world over skype so that has been fun. Its pretty funny how everytime we have a lesson with someone, they pray for our Spanish because they probably didn't understand most of our words. But that's alright we're studying hard. Next week will be my last here at the MTC and its pretty crazy to think how this past month has flown by. A week from this Monday I'll be preaching the gospel in El Salvador. 

Scripture this week is one we shared in one of our lessons, with Ricardo. Its found in Alma 34:34

34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.  

This scripture really hit home this week, just thinking about how there is is no time to waste. Life is about improving and growing and we can't put that off until later. 

My companion, Elder Warner, and I were made Zone Leaders this past Sunday and along with the charge of watching over about 70 Elders and Sisters, we got an awesome flip phone. And of course, us being the 18 and 19 year old young men we are, the first thing we did was change the ringtone. So later this week we were sitting in our lesson with Laura, and we had just gotten to a really specific part that she had been struggling with, and boom all the sudden you just hear, "Its a great day to be a missionary" repeated over and over in my voice coming from my pocket. It was super embarasing but she laughed it off and we were able to continue teaching. Other than that this week has been pretty smooth, we accidently broke an elevator, I lost our phone in a bush for a while, and we assigned every day of the week with a little twist (shoutout to ASB for the spirit day ideas) but its a good time here in the MTC. And as we say every morning at the bright, early hour of 6:30, "Es un gran dia para ser un misionero"

Thanks for the love and support, hope all is well,

--

Elder Moulton

Basta Con La Pasta

 Hello amigos!

Hope everything is well, fingers crossed that nothing too crazy is going on out there in the real world. As for my week, not much different. Staying on the grind and loving every minute of it. Mainly just every minute down is one minute closer to El Salvador haha. But no, the MTC is awesome and I'm super happy to be here. Our lessons with Veronica (the very petite woman in the blue) have been going great but she kinda hit us with a curveball Friday and it looks like she will no longer be meeting with us... Cuz she has work. She will continue the lessons with Elders at a different time, and we have high hopes for her baptism. She also left us with a referral (the other woman in the picture) so we have a new friend to teach! Updates to come on that one.

Scripture for this week is DyC 58:3

Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation. 

This week has had some rough spots for sure but I know God has a plan for us, a plan that is usually beyond our understanding. Accepting that isn't easy, pero I have seen already the blessings that come from being ok with the fact that life isn't always going to go the way I, Elder Moulton, want it to go. The other thing I love about this verse is just that everything is gonna be ok. Glory comes after tribulation so just keep pushing through. 

And in case you're worried, my companion is still half-vegan but I have yet to convert. I've eaten bacon wrapped meatballs, hot wings, and mystery meat every day this week.Mi companero trabajaba duro, pero yo trabajo mas duro. Which brings us to Spanish. It truly is the Celestial language but it ain't easy. Although any language with words like trabajaba or phrases like basta con la pasta is a language the world should know. (That’s our self made district saying but still, its fun to say) We play sand volleyball basically everyday, and I'm not tryna brag but those Salvadorenos better watch out cuz Distrito 28c doesn't mess around. The big joke in the district now is that I'm on my way out because I am most likely getting released from being District Leader this week, which is a little bittersweet but I have already been DL a week longer than usual and I think my fellow missionaries are checking their watches ;)

Keep on keepin on people, and thanks for the letters, emails, and support! It really helps.

les quiero mucho,

Elder Moulton

(Elder Moulton is in the striped sweater in the middle)(Thanks Araoz Family!)

Payaso y Prayer

Hola Hola Hola!

Hope you are all having a great week, I know I have. The work of the Lord never stops, and neither does the MTC. We started our first real lessons this week, and my companion and I have had the opportunity to teach three lessons so far to Veronica, a sweet Ecuadorian woman, with zero English background. It is very difficult with our broken, limited Spanish but it's amazing to feel the Spirit that is present at these lecciones. We have learned so much and although it’s been hard, we invited her to be baptized yesterday and she accepted! We were pumped and so excited for her, we fist bumped each other at least 100 times throughout the rest of that day. The Spanish and Scripture/Doctrinal classes have been amazing and we use what little "free time" we have to study more. I have come to realize that I'm not out here to gain anything for myself and that this is a work far greater than me. It's been humbling to see the thousands of missionaries all around me, and to hear the stories and testimonies of teachers, missionaries, and even apostles of Jesus Christ. We got to hear from Elder D. Todd Christofferson and it was amazing! 

My scripture for the week is 3 Nephi 27:16,

16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my 

Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. 

We love this scripture in my District because it reminds us of our calling as missionaries, it reminds us of what we need to do in our lives, and how we can help others return to our Father in heaven.

In other news, I have found out that Utah Spikeball is not even close in comparison to Cali Spikeball and I've also discovered that missionaries are easily entertained. I mean seriously, the stuff we do for fun is repeating funny Spanish words, like payaso

, eating competitions, and "breaking necks" where we shout the name of an elder or sister in the cafeteria and watch them turn around confused. We have a good time. Also, my companion, Elder Warner, wants you all to know that meat is an abomination and that the only acceptable food for missionaries is salad. I disagree.

To explain the other half of my title, I've spent a lot of time on my knees this week, my testimony of prayer has really strengthened and I'm super grateful for the opportunity I have to talk to my Heavenly Father. I'm super happy to be here and I appreciate all of your love and support from back home. 

les amo,

-- 

Elder Moulton

Los Dos

Hola!

I hope you all are well! I appreciate all the love, support, and prayers that you guys have given me, they do not go unnoticed. 

Week one is officially down and I can say without a doubt it has been the longest, shortest, craziest, best week of my life. The missionary life is good. We have a phrase here, “A week is a day, and a day is a week.” Basically the time is wack, but it’s all filled with the best stuff so I'm not complaining. Classes have been great and I really feel like I have been able to grow closer to my Savior. I truly believe that Spanish is a celestial language; there are so many more ways to see the message of Christ and the world in general through the lens of the Spanish language. I am so happy to be here and feel like I learn so much everyday. We have been preparing to give our first real lesson this Wednesday and my companion and I came across a great scripture in Mosiah. In Chapter 4 verses 6-7 it reads,

6 I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—

7 I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world

As we are so fond of saying here, I am super mega agradecido for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the ability I have to become a better person through him. In addition to the amazing spiritual trip this has been, its been a lot of fun too. The quality of food goes up and down, most of our mealtime goes into ranking the food in our mixed array of Spanglish. But our district is very chevere and we are all super tight. 

Plus we get to play Basketball, volleyball, or spikeball everyday and we ball so much I ripped a hole in my shoe already. As you can see from the title, our favorite phrase is, “Los dos,” which basically means both and we use it any time we can. Our Spanish isn't great but we have a good time learning. Pretty soon it will be super bueno and that’s no chiste.

Keep in touch amigos, I'll be here every Saturday.

-- 

Elder Moulton

PS I realize there was an incorrect use of the Spanish Language in the title of my last email, lo siento. I will study harder next time :)

Un Trabajar Grande

Hola Famila y Amigos! 

For those of you who don’t know, I entered the Missionary Training Center on Wednesday of this week. And my short time here has been amazing! I have learned so much and met some great people. Its actually pretty weird writing this much in English because for the past couple of days my only communication has been in Spanish. We work hard here and study the language for about 3 hours a day outside of regular class times ( about 5 hours a day ). Its not easy but we love it and God is definitely helping us out in that arena. "El don de Lenguas" is what we call it, the Gift of Tongues, and even with as poor as my Spanish is right now, I can testify that it is real. Besides language classes we have been holding workshops and meetings daily to study the scriptures and to learn how to invite others to come unto Christ. My testimony of this gospel has strengthened so much and I am SO grateful for my Heavenly Father and my Salvador Jesus Christ. 

On another note, we are split up here into Districts. We have 12 people in District 28c ( 10 Elders y 2 Hermanas ) and I love these missionaries. They are all from all over the country, pero many are from Utah, and are all going around the world to spread Christ's message in Espanol. I was made District Leader on Thursday and have really enjoyed getting to know these awesome missionaries. They are all such incredible examples to me and have amazing stories and relationships with our Heavenly Father. Seriously I think our district might be the GOAT. My companion, Elder Warner is such a stud too. He's sitting right next to me so I gotta be careful what I say but.... He is really such a humble and hard working dude and I am so, so grateful for his example and motivation. I'm also grateful because he's the only thing keeping me from getting fat in here. He is a super healthy dude and inspires me to limit my chocolate milk intake to only 1 gallon a day. Great guy. It was funny on our first day when we found out that the salad bar was converted to an ice cream bar and we had VERY different reactions.

I miss you guys a lot but honestly la CCM, the MTC, has helped me so much to focus on this work. And I love it. I know this is where I'm supposed to be right now, its God's Plan, and I'm so grateful to be here. Keep the emails coming though, they've been great and I can check and read them every day but only respond on Saturdays.

I'll leave you with our District's escriptura favorita,

Y por el poder del Espiritu Santo, podreis conocer la vedad de todas las cosas

-Moroni 10:5

te amo,

-- 

Elder Moulton