12/25/2017 Week 8: Merry Christmas!

Christmas dinner at the Shuley's

Christmas Day at with the Miller's

12/18/2017 Week 7: I Am In A Big Hurry

So I dont have much time because of my Zone being a distraction so this will be very short. We went to the aquarium today and they had a scuba Santa. We also had our baptism this week (the picture below) Zach the kid next to my companion was baptized. It was  an amazing experience that I wish I could go into detail about. I gave 2 talks this week one at the baptism and one in sacrament. Those were fun. I got a haircut today. Cant wait to see the family on Christmas. Sorry for everyone not participating. Maybe I can in 2 years. We have another dinner appointment today and I feel like the members are doing too well at feeding us. I am super tired, this past week has been full of a lot of things with the baptism and transfers and other things. Yesterday night we had a thing where our stake and 4 other churches come together and celebrate Christmas. It was fun but I have learn I have a bad temper toward things I know are not true so when the preachers for the other churches got up and spake I nearly got up and walked out which wouldnt be good because 1. the missionaries all sat at the stand for everyone to see, 2. President and sister Welch were there in the front row, and 3. bad impressions. I nearly fell asleep also. The only talk that had the spirit was the stake presidents talk for some reason ;). We understand why of course. But there were a lot of cookies so it was good in the end. I got called out during it by the host who is a member. He told everyone I am from Alaska, and lived in Japan. He listed where people were from and he said places like Utah, Idaho, Tennessee, one sister from Canada, California, New York, etc. Then he pointed at me. I did have a lot of fun this week. I feel bad for the ward mission leader because all the work he does. By the way mom and dad message him on facebook to see when I am able to skype you. I have to go bye!!!!  

12/11/2017 Week 6: The Members Are Stuck With Me

Howdy every one. Today was our first snow in Kentucky. I'm really having fun. We didn't by many groceries this last week because of transfers so I was a little hungry when shopping today. I bought so much stuff for $25 its great. The members have been feeding us too well. We have to much leftovers. I got a picture with Santa at the the ward Christmas party on Saturday. It's transfers week and I am still in Highland Heights with my companion. I got a little sick this week from a box of 12 donuts that were a little old, I ate them in 3 days. I also chugged a 1/2 gallon of egg nog so that wasnt great. still like egg nog though. I am really tired for some reason. oh well. We do in fact have a baptism this week so I am excited for that. I will get a picture. My companion and I are doing great. Having lots of fun an I am excited for Christmas. I will never get homesick. This is sadly going by real fast for me. I am excited as well about finishing this email because I have food waiting for me. I love you all. I am sending letters out so expect a letter, and if you dont get one it is not because I dont like you I just may have ran out of letters. Ok sorry for the short email. Love you bye.

12/4/2017 Week 5: Everything is Great

I FORGOT MY CAMERA, NO PICTURES, SO YOU WILL HAVE TO READ MY EMAIL TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED, MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. But it was a good week. We were fed a lot. And are being fed even more this week. We went and visited a member of the ward for a little bit and he gave us 4 bags full of fritters and my stomach hurts. I am happy. I picked up a little bit of sewing and I made an oven mitt out of an old pair of jeans. We have a baptism in 2 weeks for a kid named Zach. Really cool guy and loves the church but he is 17 so we need his mom to sign the papers first. I have officially downloaded every single conference talk to my flash drive. I have listened to about 32 of them in this past week. I am tired though but oh well. And I need to do laundry when I get back to the apartment. We are doing great. The town that our apartment is in is called Fort Thomas and its like completely Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, and a little bit of Mormons. They had a Christmas walk so we passed out a bunch of cards and talked about Light the World with them. They had free food, horse pulled carriages, and then at 8 we went to a members house and watched the Christmas devotional. Thats pretty much everything interesting that happened. Talk to yall next week.

11/27/2017 Week 4: Stress Filled Thanksgiving

This week started wonderfully but was kinda slow. So I had 3 separate contacts with President and Sister Welch this week. 2 good, 1 bad. The first was a zone conference which was fun we got the cupcakes in the pictures below to take home. And Sister Kapp, the 9th General President of the Young Women's program came and spoke to us. I got to meet a bunch of other Elders and Sisters which was amazing. The next day was new missionary training where we went to the mission home and we trained by President and given advise on very important matters. We also got to see, hear from and get to know sister Kapp more. She is amazing and gave letters to each of the 8 people who were there. I am so happy and sad because she is very sweet but I cant read cursive. THEN thanksgiving happened and we get a text from the Hawaii visitor center at 6:00, keep in mind we wake up at 6:30, the text stated, "We have been chatting with an investigator in your area, who we just heard was planning suicide." Exact words. That ruins your day. So we called President for help and advice. We decided the next day to go over and check on him. He is fine, but the missionaries are no longer visiting him because he is a pathological liar, he is unstable, drug addict, and just looking for attention. If you think for a second that I am over exaggerating you haven't seen him for yourself. I wont expose who it was for his safely but if he calls us again we are given the ok to call the police. Please dont go posting this everywhere I dont want to hear about it. Other wise the week was great and thanks giving dinner was amazing. I know that it was just a trial. got to go, love you bye.

11/20/2017 Week 3: Going On Strong

Hey every one. How is it going. Another week gone in the blink of an eye. not many things happened this week. Things are slowing down in the winter months. nobody comes outside so its difficult considering that door to door knocking is the least effective way to teach the gospel. But we wont tell the Jehovah Witnesses that. We have been stopped a lot but not for a good reason. People with typically say that they are thankful that young men are going out and spreading the good word but then they start to try to convert you to their religion and even when we disagree and we share ten scriptures that are against what they believe and they cant give an answer they try to do the same, and what happens is we can backup every scripture they throw at us even with the scripture they try using against us. Then they get really flustered. Its funny but bad because then they start to hate the Mormons. Making them anti and etc. So we usually just leave whenever they try to argue. And it makes us look even better. BOOM the book is blue, the word is true. I love it here. Just had some exchanges so I got to hang out with the district leader for a day and we helped a family move. We got fed so much that day I was so happy. There is a really good greek food place in that area. It was great and so many awesome pizza places, the thing is they cost a lot and are only deliver and we are always out. I took my areas phone on accident to another area so they didnt have anyway of contacting people that day... oops. I am going to crew tower today which is the largest building in Cincinnati, you can go to the very top and take pictures. Not much else has happened. I get going now there is not much else besides the fact that my really nice shoes are completely soaked and havent dried in 3 days now. But otherwise talk to you next week.

I drew a tree... Thats kinda it

That is our freezer with months old salmon and bananas in it

11/13/2017 Week 2: I AM Tired, But Otherwise Geat

This week was great. I was able to teach so many people. It is starting to get a little cold but it isn't worth complaining because my family is in Alaska. My legs hurt but they are getting better. Today was a zone fun day. I love being here but I am not sure if I will type a lot because I have a limited amount of time on the computers. So the computer I am using is a public one in my apartment complex. So that means there are probably 30 different viruses so I am sorry. My companion is great he is doing a great job being a trainer. I learned that my area is getting its first baptism in 2 years so that is exciting. We are meeting with a lot of people. But they dont keep commitments. Other wise it is fun. We went shopping for food. WE ARE GETTING SMART PHONES SOON I HEARD. But that wont be for a few months. We had a lot of service this week. Almost as much service as rain.  Not much has happened this week sadly but we helped someone move and are helping one of our investigators build a nativity set for his church. We played volleyball and ate smores at the fun day. I changed my profile picture to a koala because why not. I love Highland Heights there is nothing bad to say about it. I am looking for scriptures that prove the Book of Mormon to be true in the Old and New testament. I found some but the people here are kinda stubborn and wont change there beliefs even after multiple of the scriptures that they read prove that they are wrong so they ask which one is right. Its complicated but possible. Jesus said it was incredibly difficult to baptize and change a rich man but not impossible. Course he did say it was easier to fit a horse through the eye of a needle. But with that attitude you wont get anywhere. Time in the mission is weird. The weeks go by insanely fast but the days are slow. I wish I had more to say I will answer questions to other emails as well just dont reply to this email. Send a new message. I have not figured out how to have them separated. Right now you all can see what each other write. Talk to a lot of you later.

11/6/2017 Week 1: I'm in Kentucky

Hey every one this week was great. Sorry that I don't have many pictures. Google is dumb. So I love my area but so many people smoke here that I wouldn't be surprised if I had lung cancer by the end of my mission. The weather here is kinda weird. It seems like its just getting hotter. But yesterday we had to be in by 6:30 because of a very bad storm. We got back at 8:00. The people here are extremely supportive of the idea of missionary work. But this is also the hardest area in the mission so thats fun. Everyone here is already religious. Our address is 250 Little round top Apt 318, Fort Thomas, KY 41075 United States. Please send stuff. I do love it here but my area is a walking area and has a radius of about 10 miles. But that is why there are sisters with a car in the same area, we can give the an address of someone far for us to travel and they can go do it. It usually takes us 30 minutes to get into our proselyting area. Also there are a lot of hills. I got my new companion. His name is Elder Christensen. I miss my old companions but he is able to teach and give me advise on things the others couldn't at the time. Its great being in the Celestial kingdom. I have to travel by bus to get to the church and there are a lot of unsavory faces. P-day so far has been pretty good. I am emailing in the church building with some other elders. Right now we are waiting of some other Elders to come so we can go grocery shopping. I did the dishes this morning and it reeked. I am spending my time and money wisely though. Don't want to spend all my money in a week. We you get money 2 times a month. To the other Elders and Sisters that are getting this email how has your week been since leaving the MTC. I realize that some of your emails will be on Tuesday but let me know. My companion has been great he is able to teach me but at the same time reassure me that he is my friend. I love the people here because they all try to look on the bright side of everything. If anyone is having a bad day they will come up to us and ask for advice almost. We usually tell them the reason for their hard time is because it is a way for God to teach and progress. And that even though it is hard sometimes God never gives us anything we cant handle. He does this to show us that he loves and cares about us. And they usually leave with a smile on there face knowing that they are cared about. The problem is we make appointment to meet with us but they don't answer the door. They don't keep the commitments that they make. We teach this one guy and he is ready to be baptized and everything and wants to be baptized but doesn't come to church. The rules are they must come to church 3 times at least to be able to be baptized. On the bright side... (inside joke) we have a baptism scheduled for a kid named Zach. He is a really nice kid reads the BoM every day, has come to church every week since first meeting, and prayed to be baptized and said yes the next meeting. He is being baptized on December 16th. I'll be here for it. He is most likely being baptized by a kid in the ward named Keagan. Keagan is preparing to go on his mission and should be getting his call at anytime. I am excited to see where he goes. I talked with him a little about it yesterday and he is ready and has an amazing testimony. Fasting was kinda hard because for some reasons I have been having pains in my legs and when we where walking to our dinner appointment it was worse then ever. I had Ibuprofen in my bag but I didn't know if it would break my fast so I refused to take it. My companion was yelling at me to take it but I was being stubborn and kept saying no. My companion said we can call someone for a ride because we were going to be late. I said a prayer in my heart asking and pleading for help that the pain would leave and we would make it on time. By 30 min later the pain was gone and we made it with minutes to spare. I have a firm testimony that what President Monson says about being called to the works is completely true. The Lord will bless you in your times of trouble. He as done it for me and for others. I know that he is there, and even if the prophet were to come to me and say that he lied about every thing I would still believe in God because of the experiences in my life and the gratitude that I have shown for Him and His son is beyond anything else. He loves me and everyone that has ever been, or will be. I am a servant of God and I know that the message he has to give is one of joy, love, humility, knowledge, and safety. I'll talk to you all next week. Love and miss you all.

     Sincerely, Elder Moore 

Train from MTC to Airport

Me and my trainer, Elder Christensen

Sunday dinner at the Shuley's

10/30/2017 Our Missionary Has Arrived

Dear Parents,

Your Missionary has arrived! We are so thrilled to receive them. It’s a rainy day in Cincinnati but our hearts are full of sunshine. After a nice meal, a hot shower, and some training tonight, tomorrow we will drive them up to Centerville, OH where they will receive their new companions and areas. They will email you next Monday on P-day with their addresses. Thank you for preparing your lovely daughters and wonderful sons to be here. 

Call or text if you have any questions. If you need the new address to mail winter clothes and haven’t sent them to the office address yet, you can text me (Sister Welch) tomorrow for that information.

Love,

Pres & Sister Welch

Ohio Cincinnati Mission

10/28/2017 It's Been Fun

I have had a truly fantastic week. I have made friends. I have been able to learn so many things. I finished my second week and I leave the MTC next week. I have given and been a part of many blessings. I am now one of the senior english speaking Elders here now. Tuesday Gary E. Stevenson came and gave a talk. A promise from an Apostle is equivalent to them giving an individual blessing. He gave us the promise that everything at home will be taken care of, I will be able to touch the hearts of the investigators I teach, and I will have the power and the strength to accomplish my mission. Every since I got here I have eaten a ton of food, but the food here isn't great. Many of my friends are getting sick from it. I haven't though.  I have taught 4 people who have now felt the spirit, one of them now committed to baptism. I have improved in my teaching 10 fold. I have already given priesthood blessings to people. I consecrated oil on Thursday and had to use it later that day. I appretiate all the emails I have gotten, but now that I have to turn in my IPad today I wont be able to read them whenever. I've written in my journal every day. I'm doing laundry currently. I love being here but I feel it is time I actually go and do work. I haven't felt home sick yet so thats good. Next few days are gonna be busy. I have to follow mission rules so Im going to end this email here if you have any questions give me an email other wise talk to you next week.

My companions and me

My district

10/21/2017 Halfway through the MTC!

This week was amazing and slow at the same time. We finished meetings with our investigators and I’m gonna miss teaching them and hearing how they are doing. Sadly one of the Elders in my district was sent home but I know that he is one of the strongest people I have ever met. When he left, his companion, Elder Higbee, became one of mine and Elder Berrett’s companion. I don’t have a picture of my district yet because the sisters haven’t sent them to me yet. When I get the picture I’ll send it to you to see. I love them all. They became a family to me when we all got here. I found out I go to the airport for Cincinnati on the 30th and leave the MTC at 4:00 in the morning. We had the opportunity for President Eyring to come and dedicate the new building. I was told that the design was suppose to be a combination of a classroom and celestial room. It is amazing how the spirit is present in there. In our lessons we committed one investigator to baptism. The other one we actually sang to him Nearer My God To Thee. I was surprised to find that we sounded really good. I found out that I really like to run, to the point where I found it comforting. In total this week I have ran over 20 miles our exercise time. I ran 10 miles yesterday. I really need to do laundry. It’s always super packed though. I have been having a little trouble with my companions also. Today I had trouble getting to breakfast and the temple. My whole life I have been taught to be quick so we can be on time. The problem is that my companions are slow so we are never on time for anything. I constantly urge them to hurry up but it doesn’t work. They just don’t follow a schedule the same way. But it’s fine. I’m currently doing my laundry so I’m sitting and waiting for it to finish. I have become the pun king in my group. Right now I’m sitting in a circle and we are just sharing things that are happening back home. I don’t know what else to say other than the fact that being here is one of the funnest experiences I’ve had. I’m learning so much about the church and about myself. If I had the opportunity to do anything before I left than I would have probably exercised, because every day, a couple times a day, we walk up and down 3 flights of stairs and no matter what even with all the energy in the world I always start to breathe heavy by the time I get up. So many people have asked where I’m from and each time its something different. Sometimes I say Alaska, sometimes Las Vegas, sometimes everywhere, sometimes the West, and last my favorite one I say “your dreams” just to mess with people. I’ve been writing in my note book every day so I have that going. It’s starting to get kinda cold now in Provo I guess. I had to wear a sweater. I got called to immunizations to get the flu shot but I found out I already got it. So that was good. Thanks to everyone for sending treats and stuff. I appreciate it but it’s starting to pile up and I don’t think I’ll be able to eat it all. Also the orange juice is completely fine to drink my companion has drank it every day since being here and he is fine. Before I finish I would like to relate this experience to Helaman 5:12. This experience has been and opportunity to build my testimony of the gospel on a sure foundation. And this foundation has allow my testimony to stand strong against the ever going storm of Satan. And though some parts may weaken, I am able to build it back stronger than before.

Elder Larson, Elder Hart & Elder Moore
Friends from Misawa in the MTC at the same time

10/14/2017 First Email from MTC

Hey mom, thanks for every thing. I do need an SD drive for my camera before I head out, if you don't know what that is then you can probably ask dad. Tell Holly I said congratulations. Also please tell Sister Ambercrombe I said thank you for the packages they sent me. I love my companion, roommates, and zone because we are all here experiencing the same thing so we basically have become a family. My companion and I went looking for investigators today and the thing is 2% of the investigators you meet are actual investigators. I'm having a lot of fun here and have learned so much about the gospel and my self in just 3 days. I saw Elder Hart and Elder Larson a few times as well. I need to track them down and get their emails and take pictures with them. So on our way to the temple with some sister who are going to Cincinnati as well we saw some deer running through the field. We tried to take picture all together as a zone but the pictures didn't save because there was no memory card. But while I was messing with the camera I saw that I can send pictures from the camera directly to the computer. I would like to have the memory card come as soon as possible. It has been beautiful here in Utah though, it has been sunny everyday but a little chilly. I have already been apart of 2 priesthood blessings and I don't doubt that it won't stop. I just finished an online test for seeing if I had any depression issues due to my medicine but as we know I am completely fine and in tune with the spirit being guided and comforted the entire time. Well I'm going to finish up this email so I can get going. I love you and dad so much. I miss you.

Elder Moore Reports to the MTC October 11, 2017

Cody was set apart and became Elder Cody Moore the night of October 11, 2017. His flight was originally scheduled to leave at 1:20 am on October 11th but was delayed until 2:40. We met with our Stake President, President Chadwick at 12:00, midnight, then headed straight to the airport. With the delayed we were worried with the shortened layover time in Seattle. Thankfully he made it and I got a call from him that morning from the SLC airport while he was waiting for the shuttle to take him to the MTC. Later that day we received an email letting us know he arrived safely, he didn't sleep much on the plane and it's slowing him down, made a friend from Cincinnati Ohio and his p-day will be Saturday!