Post Script by Mom

That night we unloaded the souveniers and what few pieces of clothing he had brought back. He worked hard and most of his clothing was left behind because it was so well worn. These shoes made it home as proof of a lot of walking!

He also wore home his threadbare pants!

The next morning Elder Moore was released as a missionary for the
Church of Jesus Christ. He served honorably and well. President Blake left him with some words of counsel for his future. It was a spirit filled meeting.

The following Sunday he gave his release report to the members of the Stake Presidency and the High Council of the Draper Eastridge Stake. He was able to share this experience with a couple of his also return missionary buddies, Paul Willis and Nate Dukatz.

Elder Moore gave his first homecoming talk in the La Verkin 4th Ward, where I now live and attend church. Afterwards, Grandmas prepared a wonderful Mexican fiesta complete with a pinata. It was wonderful to have so many friends and family come to La Verkin for this homecoming.

Then we were off to Sandy for the Eastridge 2nd Ward Homecoming. We stayed at the Farr's and had the homecoming meal at the Morgans. It was wonderful to be back with so many that have loved, supported and strengthened us over the last several years.

The celebrations were fun, but the best part of the homecoming is seeing how much the missionary has grown. Elder Moore's testimony increased, he had a quiet confidence, he had changed. His love for the people of Nicaragua was evident in the way he spoke of them and the stories and memories he shared.

I am so grateful for the mission Justin served. He worked three jobs in the months prior to serving his mission so that he could earn the $10,000 required. This was a blessing to him and to me as his mother. I am so proud of him.

Elder Moore, the last two years were invaluable to you, to me, and to the people you were able to teach. May your testimony always burn bright. And may your time in Nicaragua serving the Savior stand as a foundation and a testament that will guide you throughout your life. I love you son!

Awesome August...The Arrival (by Mom)

We arrived at the airport. I wanted to be in a good spot to see him coming. There was airport construction going on so he would descend the escalator far back and walk down a corridor before coming out into the open area. The arrival times were posted in the same area. I think I checked them about every 2 or 3 minutes. He was arriving from DFW on flight 1925 at 8:45 pm.

We tried to keep positioning ourselves closer and closer to where he would come out. There were two other families there welcoming home their missionaries as well. One of the families was that of Elder Boyce Weber from Justin's mission. The other was a missionary that had served in Europe. Their sign said "Welcome home Elder Hairball." I am pretty sure that was a joke and not his real name! I could feel the excitement and the energy from all around. There were signs and balloons. There were excited parents and siblings. There were eyes darting here and there saying, "Is that him? Is that him?" I felt the same way!


The plane landed and the wait began. There were numerous people in suits coming...but none of them was my son. I was standing but not still. Moving back and forth, back and forth. Looking desperately. I couldn't wait to get my hands on that boy of mine.


And then I saw him. And he saw this. People, his people, behind a sign. And he stopped. He didn't know what to do. And I began jumping. Up and down, up and down. Jumping and squealing.

I couldn't keep my feet on the floor. Here he was. Back safe and sound. Back to me.

He had done it. We had done it. He was home.

The cheering and the hugs began. Elder Moore was home!

It was wonderful to have him in my arms again. I loved seeing the brothers together....after almost 4 years. He was surprised at how his little sister was now all grown up.

Justin's other brothers were there too...Adam Lee and Daniel Lym. Now if I could only see them all play basketball together again my life would be complete!

I got just what I wanted...all my kids together...and Elder Moore got what he wanted...well, except for the masseuse!

July 31, 2012 Last Letter from the Mission Field

Alright. Well now I finally have time to write back. Sorry I did not have anytime whatsoever yesterday. I was visiting all day yesterday in Chinandega and all day Sunday in Managua. But now I am here safely back in Matagalpa for my last day. So yes I have been able to meet some people's parents. I was with Weber and his parents for like two days. It was so legit. They picked me up and we went and visited some people that we knew. It was awesome cause we also got to stay at a way nice place called Selva Negra and I took the best hot shower that I have taken in two years. It was awesome. We also saw congo monkeys and we also ate dinner and breakfast together. It was awesome. I also had the opotunity to meet Webster's mom and brother. So it has been awesome. In 2 days I will tell you all about a lot of stuff. How my visiting went and all that so just hold out and be patient and I will tell you all.

I want you to know that I love you a ton and am excited to see you. I have a lot of mixed feelings right now. I don't know how to feel. I feel sad cause I have to leave this beautiful country but happy cause I will see the fam. Sad cause I feel like my whole life is here, that all my friends are here, I feel like this is my life. I dunno, I don't want to leave. It is going to be hard but knowing that I have to leave just makes me so anxious to be there. I dunno how to explain it. I just wish I was like Hannah Montana. Iwant the both worlds. But I just can't have them.

I just want to finish by writing my testimony.

That I know with out doubt that this is the Church of Jesus Christ. I know that He is our Saviour and Redeemer. I know that we as members of the church are building and edifying the kingdom of God on earth. I know that Thomas S. Monson is called of God and that he is a perfect guide that will lead us back to our Father in Heaven. I know that through Joseph Smith the Church was restored. I have a strong testimony of prayer. I know that God listens and that if we listen God will respond. We are never alone in this life. I know that I will forever be able to represent my Saviour Jesus Christ even though I don't have a name tag. I know with every fiber of my being that Christ lives and that we belong to his Kingdom. We are his saints. We are the light and truth of the world. I know these things.

Well I will see you shortly. I am really nervious, I don't know what I am going to do. I was nervious meetings Weber's parents and Webster's parents, I don't even know what I am going to do meeting my own family. Freek sketchy super scary, but I'll do it. I have a ton of stuff. A ton of stuff that I am taking up so hopefully they don't charge me too much for the second suitcase. Do you know how much it is?

Love you to the max mother you are the best. See you shortly.

Love, Elder Moore

July 23, 2012

I just barely got here. Just getting back from Managua. I had my last interview today. It was such a crazy great day, spent the day hitchiking with Webster, so legit ja ja.

Well today me and Webster hitchhiked with a police officer from Matagalpa to Managua. Hitch hiking is so awesome. It's so easy, so fun, so fast, and so free ha ha. We got to Managua and returned safely and on the way we contacted probably 15 people. It was a great experience. I feel like we helped many people to understand more about our beliefs and help them feel the spirit. It was great working and traveling with Webster today. Don't worry, I took pics and video so in like 8 days you can see it. Time is flying by so fast it is insane. Next week I will be with you.

I am happy to hear that you received the gifts that I sent you. I was wondering the whole week if you had gotten the gifts. That makes me happy. I hope you had an amazing birthday. You mean the world to me and I wanted to try and do something special for you even though I am thousands of miles away.

So one thing I can tell you is that one of my converts from San Ramon is now the first couseler in the Branch Presidency.

Another thing is that this week we went and hiked to a mine with a family that we are teaching and we went and ate lunch up there and it was awesome. The whole view. And hearing monkeys scream, or howl or whatever monkeys do. I hear monkeys all the time screaming. They ain't the little chimpanzees either. They are congos. They yell like gorillas ha ha. You can hear them from way far away.

Umm well to be exact on what is left, according to my countdown electronic thing that the office of the mission sent me, it says I have 9 days and 4 hours left.

But ya Wendy writes me a lot. She really is a great person. Are we going to be staying with her or at Brandon's when I come home?

Ryan's testimony was so funny on that letter he wrote. Ryan is awesome. I miss that kid a lot. I know he has grown a lot on his mission and I know he will continue to grow and be a strong leader in the church and help many.

Umm I am not sure exactly what I want to do with the traveling. I will see what rolls out, but I am sure I won't have a problem with going down to La Verkin during the week or with you on Sunday if I need to. I will just hith hike from Sandy to La Verkin. I am sure it is easy ha ha.

The people here are really nice and loving especially with us cause they all love God, just by words, not so much by accions. But they are always nice to the missionaries, well almost always.

Alright mommy, well next week I don't know what time I am going to be writing at because I will be going to visit my converts in Chinandega. But I'll see when I can write you.

So mother just want you to know that I love you and miss you a ton and will shortly be in your presence.

Another thing, I have a bunch of stuff to give to our bishop and stake president but it is for the bishop and stake president from La Verkin not Sandy. I also have a thing for you and I also have my certificate that I served honorable just so you know so you can be happy ha ha. And I also have a machete that I bought and a big knife and I am happy. Love you.

Elder Moore

July 16, 2012

To me it was a miracle. I truly do understand why I was in this area for so long. It has been rough but it has definitely been worth it. After months and months of fighting for Henry we finally got it done. It was an amazing experience. I can definitely see the change in him. He will be a great member that will do a lot of good for San Ramon.

Henry y Carmen got married on Saturday in the morning and shortly after baptized, then the next day confirmed members of the church. It truly was a miracle. I know that this is God's work, not mine, and I know that God is a God of miracles and always will be. He will never cease to have a part in this great work.

This week we also had a branch conference and it is because we changed the branch president. We were preparing a man to be our branch president for a couple of months but he had to get the melquisedec priesthood. So our new branch president is Axakal Leclair. We eat in his house every day. He is 26 and way awesome and has a lot of potencial. His wife was the first member baptized in San Ramon about 7 years ago and Axakal has been a member for like a year and half.

Something else that happened this week, on Tuesday we went to go visit Henry and Carmen to talk to them about putting a baptismal date. So we went to their house and that is when hell broke out. Like 5 minutes after being there Carmen's grandson threw a rock through their neighbor's window cause he was all drugged out. Now this kid is 15 and then this other kid started chasing down Carmen's grandson and before we knew it they were throwing rocks at the house we were at. So we had to go hide in this room of the house and freak it got crazy. Carmen's grandson was chasing the other kid down with a knife. He had a knife out wanting to attack and the whole neighborhood was watching what was going down. But we got out safe and alive. But it is crazy how many kids walk around here with a knife. And with weapons. It's insane.

My comp is Elder Chub. He is chapin. That means he is from Guatemala. I think he will stay here when I leave.

Well mommy I don't want to share everything because I will shortly be with you and want to tell you things in person not just over email. So I think that is about all I will write.

So it is almost your birthday, what have you got planned?

Well mommy, love you a ton only. 17 days left or something like that. I love you and miss you a ton. You be the bees knees. Love you so much.

Love, Elder Moore

July 9, 2012

So mommy, it's so hard to write with such little time left. There is a ton to tell you but I just want to tell you face to face. But I kid you not there is a lot to tell you. So after buggin pres and callin him up a lot during these couple of weeks trying to figure out what we were going to do with H, we finally came to a conclusion. This week Elder Lopez from the Quorum of the Seventy came to the Matagalpa district. We had a district conference. And so pres called me up and told me that he was going to interview H and talk to him after the conference. And well H showed up to the the conference with his white shirt and tie and had the interview and then after the interview pres talked to me and well all good. We now have permission to baptize him and get him married so all good to go. To me this is a miracle and now I understand why I have been here for so long. I fought for him, I have fought for him a lot. We still need to put a date for their marriage and baptism but now we got the green light so we can git r done. I feel like I could have told you this story in a much cooler way but I am kinda gettin lazy to write.

Other thing about the conference, the district wanted us to take 60 people to the conference. Well we upped that. We took 62, but it was way super hard cause it was pouring rain the whole morning but what ev we still left and worked the whole morning and with the sacrifice we saw the blessings. It was amazing. Not only that but we took 12 of 15 converts to the conference.

Other thing, in the conference there was some random drunk guy that walked in and just fell asleep on a chair and half way through the conference he fell of the chair and smacked his head on another chair and got a huge goose bump. So he was laying there and everyone was staring at him wondering if he was dead. The good thing is that we were way in the back on the chairs so we stuck him on a chair and hauled him out and a lot of people followed us. So after that we went and hid him in a room where we just kicked it with him, me with the zl. We didn't know exactly what to do with him. But ya on his fall his dentures fell out and everything it was bad ja ja. We took pictures with him for the memory not the best thing to do but ya it was interesting. So when he finally woke up like 3 hours after the fall, he bounced and left his dentures there in the church. He is probably angry now cause I am sure dentures aren't the the cheapest things.

So after the conference I went to Jinotega with the branch and the elders cause Presidente Guzman invited me to his daughter's baptism. So I went and directed the baptismal service and participated in the confirmation. And then after ate ice cream with them. Then after that we hitch hiked from Jinotega to Matagalpa and then from Matagalpa to San Ramon. It was a day full of awesomeness and traveling.

So this week I believe that we are actually going to get a real branch president. We have been preparing someone and this week he got the Melquisedec Priesthood and this week they are going to head up to San Ramon to make it official. We also prepared 2 others to recieve the Melquesidece Priesthood. Both were converts of mine. So we are definitely making progress there in San Ramon. I just hope everything goes good this week and that all goes according to plan.

So ya only 23 days left. Freak it's crazy time is flying by. Well I will end this letter here so that we can chat back and forth cause I like that better.

Love you mommy,

Elder Moore

July 2, 2012

Ha ha freak that was a long letter alright! To start off with all the beginning stuff, yes I will be home in one month from today ha ha. 31 days and no I am not ready at all. I don't want to leave. I wish I could kick it with ya all and see ya all but I dont know if I am ready to go home and leave all the great people I have met here. There are many frustrating things that happen in the mission. There are many things that I am not going to miss but the mission, I am going to miss a ton. The mission is my life. The elders are my best friends and it will be very hard not being with them when I bounce.

So talking about my luggage, yes I am going to leave a bunch of stuff behind. I already have that planned out, but I always want to buy a lot of souveniours and stuff a lot so we will see what we do with that. I am guessing I will just take like one shirt home and a pair of pants.

But thanks for hittin me up with my itinerary. I was wondering when I was going to get home. Yeah try to get me set apart the day I get home. I feel like that will be better. But instead of hittin up IHOP we can hit up Denny´s with the whole crew. Try to convince the stake presidency that we should do it the day I get home. That is what I want even though I want to be a missionary for life. I feel like it will be better that way.

So what are my lay overs like? Are they just like the ones I had when I came? I will do what I can do to call you up but we do have to remember that the day I fly home, I will be with you the same day so we don't need to talk too much on the phone. Just pacience even tho I know it will be really hard. I can already feel it. It's crazy.

I don't even know how I am going to get around places. I don't have a car so ya that is something I will have to figure out when I get back. And I always want to find a job kinda fast when I get back too. Any ideas about those two things? I aint saying I want to work right as I get home. Like a month off will be fine, but I do want to work. Working was a pain before but now I kinda like it. And I love lending service now. It is something that I have grown to love. Something that I learned here on the mission. Ya if you could talk to Skip it would be awesome to see if I could get a job, but I want to go to school and study business managemant and put my own business. I'll explain more about it when I get home. But to start off I want a job so I can keep putting money in my account. I don't want to see my money going down, I want to see it going up.

So make sure you hit me up with pics from the parade that Brooklyn is in especially in the ROCKCRAWLER. That will be legit ha ha. And I totally remembered that it was Brandon's 1 year anniversary. I watched his video on his anniversary. I still got it but it's kinda scratched up. I have seen it a ton. I can't wait to be back with all of you. I hope to see you all at the airport and if you want to invite Adam and Dano and them to the airport it's cool too. They be part of the family too right ha ha.

So let me tell you something that happened today before I forget. Today we saw a sign that said "free haircuts" and well I needed a haircut anyways so we went in and there was a girl practicing and had never cut hair before. I was her first client so well she cut my hair and it sucks so bad ha ha. There were 3 of us that went in and so the other 2 elders well I pretty much pulled them down with me and they got their haircuts too. And well the haircut is horrible, but it's so funny. Totally something I am going to write down in my journal. I have like a shaved head with long hair in the front ha ha it gave us a good laugh.

So today me and Cordova planned another activity. We planned a scavenger hunt. We had a list of 20 things and had an hour and half to find all the things on the list. So it was tight. I'll send you some of the pics that we took.

So now the visiting teachers are officially organized in our branch. We have progressed a ton. Um what else can I tell you? O well, I had the most sacrificial fast I have had in my life. I probably walked like 14 kilometro in this fast, climbing mountains and walking a ton. I thought I was going to give up and drink water but I kept pushing through and well we did take 2 familias to church this week. The most out of the zone but it was rough but a sacrifice is a sacrifice. Jesus fasted for 40 days and he was walking a whole lot so well me being a respresentative of him and carrying his name every where I go, why couldnt I do it too.

I am getting so many mixed feelings I dunno what to feel. It's rough coming down to the end of the mission. Only 3 more times in cyber after this week. I really don't know what to write. So many things running through my head. I am sure that this email is confusing.

Thanks mom for being so awesome. I always tell other missionaries that you are like my best friend and that we are way tight and we kick it. They all know that you are tight. We are like best friends. Ha ha i love kickin it with you mommy. Love you so much.

Love, Elder Moore