Last week of February 2011 rec'd Feb 24th

Tyler's email of this week came late, because he has been called to serve in the mission home. Here's what he had to say about it:

Well. I do have some news this week! This past Saturday, we got a call from the assistants saying that President needed to meet with us that day at 5PM in the mission offices, for something that they would be implementing in the zone. We got in a few lessons in the morning, had lunch, and then grabbed a taxi and headed over to the zone 9 in the capital. We walked in and the assistants were in the office, watching some conference talks. We watched a few with them, and then President and Sister Baldwin came in. They said a quick hi, and then President goes into his office and says, "Ok, get in here Elder Moore." We sit down at his desk and he says, "Do you know why you are in here? Its very hard to surprise missionaries on this one. But I will tell you! Im calling you to be my next assistant." And of course, I was stunned for the next twenty minutes. He explained that I would be Elder Davis's companion and a new part of the office staff. He explained that I would be the senior assistant when the new mission president comes in in 4 months, and that I would have to learn everything fast, because the new president depends on his first assistant like a seeing eye dog. He said I would have to re-learn how to drive, and to text on a cell phone.

So that's why Im writing today instead of on Monday! Monday day I went to the offices with Elder Davis, and he showed me the ropes on what we'd have to do at the change meeting, and the meeting with the new missionaries. Tuesday we spent the day at the mission home with the new missionaries, and Wednesday was change meeting, and they did the changing of the assistants, and then we took the old missionaries that would be going home to Oakland Mall, presidents home, dinner, and the CCM guest house for the night. Its all been a whirlwind! But a lot of special memories have come from it. Im excited to tell you all about it someday. I feel not nearlyqualified enough for the job, but know that the Lord will help me doing what he needs me to do.

Anywho! Thats the news from this week! Elder Davis is a bomb companion, its been so much fun already. And, he LOVES Arrested Development! You guys would love him. Right now Im still learning what I need to be doing and everything. Actually right now Im at the offices writing this email. Email day might be a little skewed from now on so dont be too shocked if nothing comes in on Monday. Also, dont feel the need to update any of this on the blog, haha.

Miss you all and cant wait to hear from you soon! Love

Tyler

Last week before changes!

Last week before changes! This change has been an absolute blur. I feel like just yesterday I was writing about last changes! So fast. Not to be thinking baggy, but Elder Deering and Elder Davis and Elder Lowry and all the missionaries two changes ahead of me all just got their plane tickets. So that means...in two changes, Ill be getting my plane tickets. Plane tickets. So weird!!! :)

This week was a good one! Not too much going on, but I love Cerro Grande so much, I feel like every day I have experiences that Ill end up treasuring. Getting to know the members, having FHE's with investigators (Guatemalans LOVE the noches de hogar), the works. Also, my companion got a little sick this week so we went to the doctor, and I got to see a little more of the capital, in the zone 10. So beautiful! I think if I ever did want to live in Guatemala, id live in the zone 10. Its a nice part of town, and its all very developed. Very cool. But I do love my Cerro Grande. Ill be pretty bummed if I have to leave soon!

February's first post (2/7/2011)

Hey !

Yet another week gone by. Its February! Hows the weather doing? Hopefully the cold will be leaving soon. Temps here have been wonderful lately. We've got 2 more months to enjoy, and then rainy season begins! :/

This week we had zone leader council--way fun! I really wish you guys could meet Elder Dodge. He's one of my best mission friends. We started this new thing, where we are gonna trade study notes from the scriptures and write what we are learning in personal study so that the other one can study it. Ok, now that Im writing it out it sounds really lame. Haha but we are excited. I wish I could teach you everything Ive learned from Elder Dodge. He's a master scripture studier :D

Miss you guys more than ever. Till next week!

January 31rst missive

Hey family!

Halfway through this change! I know I always say it and it sounds cliche now, but where is the time going??? For reals it feels like just yesterday I was writing you guys last week. This week flew. And now we're at February! Hard to believe.

This week was a fun one! Wednesday I did divisions with Elder Broomfield in Guajitos, it was way tight. He's an awesome elder, and they have some amazing families that are about to get baptized. We're excited! Friday was zone conference, in Monte Maria. The spirit is always so awesome there, and it was good to see everyone. And then on Sunday, we found a new family to teach! The family Soriana, they are a younger family with two small kids. But they really enjoyed the first lesson, and we hope theyll be able to progress this week!

I think I told you about the family Zepeda. They are one of my favorite families Ive been able to teach in the whole mission. They love every lesson, we've had awesome family home evenings with them, and they love coming to church. It has been such a joy teaching them, and they are a very special family for us in the end. I really hope they can stay strong in the church--we've had really awesome experiences with them. :)

Today we are headed to the Atanasio Tzul mall for some pizza for lunch :) Then tomorrow, we and the zone Mariscal are going to... Panajachel! Im so excited!!! Its like going back home ;) There are a bunch of elders in the zone that have never been before so we are all abuzz, everyone very excited for tomorrow. I plan on talking a LOT with the natives in Mayan, and buying several cans of Dr. Pepper :) Cant wait!

Love you and miss you so much. Happy February! Till the next,

Tyler

Sent Jan 27th, 2011

Hey family!

Another week gone by, and it feels faster than ever. Can you believe January is almost over? Next change is the change when I hit the 18 month mark. I know, right???? Crazy!

This week was an exciting one for us! We found a new family to teach that is awesome--the family Zepeda, they are a referral from the ward. They came to church this week and really enjoyed it. Hopefully they'll be able to progress soon!

Another exciting thing this week--the conference with Elder Ballard! It was absolutely awesome. I dont know how I got so lucky to hear 2 apostles in the mission. Elder Ballard has an incredible presence--his testimony and love of the gospel is so evident, and he's really genuine when he speaks. He shared the story of his grandpa being called as an apostle and the vision he had--I cant do it justice, so youll have to check it out (theres a transcript of it in Our Search for Happiness.) All in all, it was an awesome conference. Elder Ballard really doesnt beat around the bush when he speaks--he knows what his listeners need to hear, and tells it clearly and directly. It was a really cool experience. Also, Elder Christofferson went down to the coast--Elder Dodge told me it was awesome as well. We think he's a lot like Pres. Packer.

Ive been meaning to forever, and I just now added it to the email--here's the Tzutujil book! (dad interjects: I tried attaching it to this post, no luck. I'll email it to anyone who wants to see). The font kind of got messed up when we switched operating systems, but it shouldnt be too bad. Let me know what you think!

Jerm--MG!!!! Woot woot! That is awesome. I wish I could have been there! That is so perfect with you and chase. Congrats!!! Cant wait to see pics!

That stinks about the Jazz losing but sounds like it was a fun trip overall.

Love and miss you guys tons! Congrats again Jerm! Woot woot!

Till the next

Tyler

Tyler a bit jealous that we went to see the Jazz play the Wizards :) Sent Jan 17th

Hey family!

Here again at email! Im very jealous thinking of all of you going to DC and the jazz game, that is awesome. Are you almost there? Be sure to get some starbucks apple spice--I really miss that stuff :) Have fun!

Today is the end of the first week in this new change. Im still here, but I have a new companion! His name is Elder Bejar and he's from Peru. He's pretty tight--Im excited for this change. We have big news for this week--Elder Ballard and Elder Christofferson are coming! They are doing some firesides with the central guatemalan stakes, and are also going to investigate a little bit into Book of Mormon lands. We are way excited! Elder Ballard is coming to speak to the missionaries on Thursday, so we are all abuzz. Cant wait!

Im adding now an excerpt I just wrote to grandma--Sister Baldwin was telling me about the things theyve seen lately down in the coast of Guatemala in Escuintla. There is a stone there that the members call the Lehi stone. Its a big rock, and on it is carved a man with a large jawbone (the word for Jawbone in Hebrew is Lehi), and underneath him are seven sons, which they say are representative of the seven tribes mentioned in the beginning of the book of mormon. Cool, huh? In Santa Lucia there is a large stone that is like a head, but half of it is underground, so you only see the eyes and nose. Elder Hutchings told me its interesting because it doesnt look Mayan, but really looks Egyptian if anything sculpture-wise. The stone is supposed to come from the Olmecs. They say the Olmecs were the Jaredites. Here's where my knowledge comes in--the Tzutujil are also said to have been Olmecs (Jaredites), and the cool thing is, their language is not a very articulate language, and misses lots of words that we have (oranges, coconuts, etc). But. They do have a word for elephants! See also, Ether 9. Very interesting! Anyways, apparently the apostles are coming to check out these stones. Its all very exciting.

Have fun at the game! Miss you guys tons and cant wait to hear from you next week. Love you!

Tyler

Found FIVE new families! Sent Jan 10, 2011

Hey!

Last week of the change, over! The change call comes today. I am 99% I am staying, which is a bonus, but I'm also 99% sure that most of my friends in the zone are leaving. Its lame! But that's the mission I guess. There are always new people to meet, and friends to make.

We had an awesome week this week to finish off the change! We found five new families! It was way exciting. We are still having a tough time getting people to church, but the Mendez family said they can go this week, and hopefully the new ones will as well, as they continue to read the Book of Mormon. We are grateful for the success we've had, and hope these families will grow closer to the waters of baptism. :)

This week was also the Zone Leader Council. SOOOOO awesome! We started out at the mission offices--we had a big meeting and each companionship presented ideas for the new year, what we can improve. It was awesome. And even President and the assistants had presentations to give, but President said he liked the discussion so much, they decided to save them for another day. Afterwards, we went to the mission home. Amazing! Sis. Baldwin made us dinner, and we had an FHE (dad injects FHE = family home evening, mormon tradition) with games and dessert. Way fun. Then we all went back to the CCM! (dad injects CCM = the central america training area for mormon missionaries) Oh goodness it was so cool being back. They had us stay in the guest center. I really loved my time at the CCM and it was cool to reminisce on it. The next day, we went to the temple. I know Dad is the only one who will really appreciate this, but I love the temple. Jerm, Alex, Lanie, Im excited to be able to go with you guys someday. This was the first time I had been since Mom passed away. I really did feel like she was there with me. Im excited for the day we can all go together, when we are all together again. :) Afterwards we got McD's for lunch (I cant remember if I told you. The McDonalds here are AMAZING. They are like 5 star restaurants! For sers.) Then we headed home. But all in all it was a really powerful experience. I learned a lot. And my testimony continues to grow in ways I hadnt expected.

tyler to the following-

Lanie: You know what sometimes makes me sad about Guatemala? Nobody reads, not many people watch movies, and even so, nobody ever discusses them like we do in English. Be grateful to be blessed with such a wonderful language! :)

Jerm--Mr MG! Way cool. Also, this Xbox thing sounds crazy and fun. I cant wait. It sounds like it is best played outside.

Dad--we have sister missionaries??? Ok heres the crazy story. I have a friend that I met at BYU, and she lives in CA, and just got her mission call--to Richmond VA! She could totally serve in our ward! Way cool. We depend so much on members down here--its a blessing to know that you are doing the same up there. :)

Im on my 11th change in the mission now. Weird!

Till the next,

Tyler

2011? It's here! Sent 1/3/2011

Happy new year! 2011! Can you believe it? I feel like this year seemed so far away forever, and next thing we know, we're here! Jacob wrote that him and Nephi and their family felt their lives "pass away, like as it were unto us a dream." I definitely know how that feels! The mission has been a dream.

Hope the rest of the festivities played out good and that everyone has a good first week back at school. This week was a really great week for us. We've found some new families to teach lately, I think you guys would love them. The family Barrios, the family Jimenez, and this way awesome guy named Jorge Ramirez. They are all new to investigating the church, but are very interested, and we hope they can progress soon! Theyre really wonderful people, and Im reminded how humbling the Guatemalan people are for me. :)

This week (tomorrow and Wednesday), me and my comp are way excited for the zone leader council! We have the meeting tomorrow afternoon, and then go to the mission home for dinner and FHE. Then we spend the night in the CCM, and go to the temple the next day! Its the first time I get to go to the temple since the CCM. I cant wait!

For new years we went to the family Osoy's house and there is a dog there that looks a lot like Linus. Its name is Chiripa and I love to tease it but I dont think it likes me very much. Wish Linus could meet him!

... inserted for clarity: in response to jeremy making comments about phone offerings and the kinect game attachment...that is ridiculous about the cell phones, I dont think I can get used to it. You might have to save me a 9 key one to use. All of the missionaries here have been hearing about this Xbox thing and we are so confused! We are definitely technologically... delayed. :)

Till the next--

Tyler

Week following Christmas - Sent Dec 27, 2010

I'm listing Tyler's letter, but will also update some of the things we remember Tyler saying in our phone call with him!

Hey family!

New years week! Its hard to believe Christmas has come and gone so fast. I'll keep this email short this week, but it was so wonderful to hear you guys on the phone. After the phone call we had a zone lunch, and we all got together and were all talking about the phone calls we had with our families. But I have felt every time, I am the luckiest of all. You might not know it, but our family is a wonderful family. We are very lucky :)

Last week we were lunching at Atanasio Tzul, and we decided to get a picture taken with Santa. Im attaching it with this email. You guys would love these elders! This picture is a fan fav. :D

The church is true! Christ really was born in Bethlehem. The angels really did sing, and it really was a big deal. It's the reason I am where I am.

Merry Christmas

Tyler