Letter from Tacoma #23: April 4, 2016

Hey everyone!

I miss you all, too! This was my first General Conference away from home, and I sorely miss watching the sessions on Saturday and Sunday morning. It was always a highlight for me, even if I didn't always pay attention.

Though now I wish I did. Conference was so enjoyable, even when I couldn't quite find a way for some lessons to apply to myself... yet. There was a lot of talks about the roles of a husband and a father, and I'm not there yet, but there's the whole point of the phrase, "You get to choose the parents of your unborn children". I know I've got a lot to improve on if I want to be the man of the house I want to be.

By far, I loved Elder Holland's talk at the end there. I love it when apostles show they do have a sense of humor (mostly because it reminds me that God Himself has a sense of humor as well), as well as an overflowing love for everyone. I know, even out in the mission field, that the world wears down on you as 'tomorrow the T-rex' creeps in. That picture Elder Holland show was so frighteningly accurate to many people out here, especially those without the gospel. In this state of liberals, the most common case I've scene in the ghetto parts of town is that they're fairly happy, all until their own problems catch up to them sooner than tomorrow when the effects of beer and weed start to fade.

There were several times in the past, that during missionary work, knocking from door to door or just talking to somebody taking a drink and a smoke on the curb, that I had to ask, "Are you happy?"

I only did this on rare occasions, but every time that I did, they would never give me a straight answer. They all knew they weren't happy, but they wouldn't let me even share what I believed would help them be happy. All of them in that situation were justifying what they knew to be fun, mostly because that was all they knew. Their cases are sad, but I don't feel bad about them rejecting us. I know they'll have at least one real chance to accept the gospel sometime down the line, and I know that now I'll be sure to appreciate those I am able to teach that much more, for they seek eternal happiness, and not just that of a temporal nature.

haha, sorry if my thoughts or sentences are more disorganized in this letter. We're writing emails at the public library, and there are a bunch of rowdy Middle School here playing games on the computers. They've been pretty distracting. Yeesh, even for a bunch of boys who can't be more than twelve years old, they have some pretty crude language. Just shows that the biggest way kids learn is by example of others.

I love you all! And I miss you a lot, too, Kyler! You're my little buddy, and I'll be sure to play some smash with you when I get back next year!

Have fun on your trip, Mom, Dad, Brandon, Zac, Kelsey, and kids!

And Ryan Moe! I hope you take all the general authorities' advice on dating as you pursue your relationships that are meant to last forever! Say hi to Tia for me! She seems like a nice girl!

Pictures!

1). Weekly Planning in the sunshine! That was a nice day, but way too bright for me after months straight of cloudy overcast.

2.) I decided to try my impersonation of Eric with my companion's glasses. I think I pulled it off well. XD

3.) Cool picture at the Puget Sound in Tacoma! You can see the start of the Federal Way Mission in the background. Over to the left is a little island that's part of the Seattle Mission.

Thanks for reading!

Love you all!

Elder R. Austin Moe