We got to talk to Tyler on the phone this week

We talked by phone with Tyler this week, so the email's (above) is a bit short.

This is Tyler's dad. Missionaries are allowed to call home on two important days, Christmas and Mother's Day. We had a nice Mother's day call last Sunday and I thought I'd share some of the things that we talked about.

We had a bit of a mix up on timing, I knew that Guatemala is in the central time zone, but didn't realize they don't observe daylight savings time so my calculations were off. Eventually, we were able to make the call work.

Once we got connected, Tyler moved to the top of his appartment for a better signal and gently bragged that the sun was setting behind a volcano as part of the vista (we are hoping for pics soon). Looking the other direction he had view of lake Atitlan. In other directions a couple more volcano's are visible.

We were all excited to ask about his new clothes. In this area (Santiago) most people wear traditional clothing, so the missionaries wear "scoffs". His are white with vertical stripes. Orange stripes on each side, other stripes are teal. His sash/belt is red and purple, … I think they can be reversed. He's getting another made and it will have orange and green (orange will match the side stripes). They are made to individual preference for colors (both the main cloth and the stripes), He's promised to get Jeremy and me a pair, Sizing is pretty loose, as they fall "mid calf". We hope to get pictures of this as well. Sandals complete the ensemble.

Guatemala will be getting a new mission (fifth one) which will end up shuffling elders and areas … not much known but the rumors a rampant amongst the missionaries. There's a possibility that Tyler could be moved into the new mission, but it seems unlikely.

He's isolated … He asked about the movies Avatar and Harry potter 7 (when's it coming out?) and video games Harry potter lego's, Star Craft 2 and what Call of Duty that is current. People talk a bit about these things, but he doesn't really know anything and was curious.

We heard him speak spanish … too cool! And tzutuil … to weird!!!

We asked about how his day went… they wake up at 6:30 and spend 3 hours to study, eat, shower (I hope :), plan, etc. They end up taking a lunch break, and they have a nightly 2 hour class learning tzutuil, and the rest of their day is spent sharing the gospel.

This language is spoken exclusively in the outer lying areas of Santiago, so learning it is a must!!! Other areas have other native tongues, but the people there are usually bilingual to some extent, no such luxury here. He's said before that he never thought he'd be WANTING to be spoken to in spanish.

But knowing how to speak tzutuil will surely come in handy, he's estimated that 50,000 people speak it world wide :o

He says their music is pretty funny.

He met a lady who spoke english, tzutuil and spanish, and mixed them all up. Apparently there are some things that they don't have good words for … numbers, some colors, even the color of the sky (they call it clear).

He wanted to thank everyone who has been writing … the time they are allotted to respond is short and he doesn't get to respond much, but he holds those letters dear.

I asked him about the decision to stay rather than come home for the funeral, and whether he had any regrets. He mentioned that some important things happened during that time and that he was sure it was the right decision.

I wished I had taken notes, I'm sure I've forgotten a thing or two. These are the things the kids and I could recount. But the conversation was precious, if felt like he was home again, catching up … if only for a bit.

Lanie described it this way … I just liked talking to him.

Only district in the mission actually using email today :)

Hey family!

So something happened that Ive never seen before and may never see again--NONE of our district had changes! We are all here together again, six more weeks. So we had district meeting and internet today! Very unique. I think we may be the only district in the mission actually using email today :) it does kinda stink that we wont be at the change meeting to see everyone, but apparently Hutchings and Vahai are staying again, and most of my other friends in the zone are staying. We'll see everyone at zone council friday. cant wait!

Cant wait to get the packages from the ward! Thatll be awesome.

Love you guys bazillions.

Tiksaj Achoq'a

Tyler

Last week of this change

Last week of this change! It is crazy, I can barely believe it. This has been the longest and the slowest change all at once. Anyways it means that next week I might be writing on Wednesday, it depends on if anyone leaves in the district. Just keep that in mind!

This week was good, a little hard, but still good. I do wish I had more to keep you posted on in the field but the work is kinda slow at the moment :/ Everyone's doing well, but this week we found out that Faustino's mom wont let him get baptized :/ Im so bummed! We re going to keep working with him though, please pray for him!

Hope everyone is doing well.
Love you guys so much.
Tyler

Entered by Tylers oldest sister, Alex

One more week in Santiago!

One more week in Santiago! Today starts week 5, and after that there is only one more week in the change! It is crazy how the time has gone. All at once it has been the longest and shortest month of my whole life. We'll see how it keeps on :) So far, we are pretty sure Johnson and I are staying together at least one more change (so I can learn the language), and then from there..who knows? The common gossip is that Ill be here for at least 9 months, maybe even for Christmas. We'll see!

This week...we've kept on going! Pday on Tuesday was at Panajachel, I found a pretty sweet bag that Ill have to show you later. Thursday we had Zone Conference, and that was awesome. I always love getting to see the zone, and our president always makes them very exciting and very spiritual. And they are catered :) Also, this week, we found a family! Walter and Alva, they are a young couple that is looking to go to a church. They are, as we say, very pilas, and Im excited for them! Hopefully all works out. :)

Hoping everything went well this week! Sounds like it did.

Love you guys so much, thanks always for writing. Ill see you next week.

Tyler

Entered by Alex, Tyler's oldest sister

One more week in santiago

One more week in santiago! :) (note beforehand, the shift key on this keyboard is outrageously stiff! im going to avoid using it. :) everythings been good this week, weve kept pushing onward, and next week is zone conference. as we say in spanish, "todo esta bien en zion!" :)

Hope everything is going well back home--i didnt realize this was spring break! sounds like it was awesome. reading your email actually got me nostalgic for those old car ride trips up and down the east coast playing pokemon in the back seat--who knew? :)

The work in Santiago has been going well--we've been teaching three people lately, diego, rosario, and faustino, all very close to baptism! hopefully this week we'll be able to put baptismal dates. apart from that, weve been contacting like crazy--santiago needs a lot of help right now! but im so stoked and ready to do it--i know the Lords chosen people are here ready to hear the word--weve just got to get out there and gather them!

fun facts from tzutuil this week! :)

1. to say im doing good, you say "my chest is sweet." weird!

2. to say you know someone, you say "i know his eyes." to say how are you doing, you say "how are your eyes?" :)

3. they have a weird phrase/insult/joke here when people put on sunglasses, they say "Mahon ru ka", which means "I dont have change." they are making fun of you that you look like a blind person :)

Hahaha. anyways thats whats up from this week. i should be getting the scoff i ordered tonight :) dear elders have also been a lot faster lately, so be sure to tell people they can always use that to save postage. my companion is way good at tzutuil! its good to have him, i dont think wed be able to teach without him.

till next week--

tyler

Entered by Alex, Tyler's oldest sister

Tyler's Monday email

Please be sure to thank everyone back home millions and millions for all their support. It has been and will be tough, but we can get to the point together, as President Monson said, "When grief turns to gratitude." We'll see Mom again, I think even before we are reunited, as we see more and more of her influence emerge day by day. She was awesome :)
Hoping everyone liked conference! I think this one was very special for us. My favorites were President Monson, Elder Hallstrom, Elder Eyring, Elder Uchtdorf, and a long list of others. Do you remember seeing Elder Martino's talk? He is the area counselor (with Elder Clark and Farabella, also in the 70) over the central american missions! We get to see him pretty often. His talk was way awesome. Really I loved all the talks. And the music was great too :)

I love you all tons and tons, and miss you very much. Till next week,

Tyler

Entered by Tyler's dad, Kenneth

A Tragic week

This is Tyler's dad. Many already know that Tyler and family were devastated by the passing of his dear sweet angelic mom, Samantha. We received his email last Monday, (March 29th) and Samantha immediately posted new information here. She passed away late that evening. I called Tyler the next day with the heart rending news. Tyler decided against returning home, opting to instead do what he knew his mother would desire most ... staying on his mission to continue to serve. I received an email with a message to be read at Sam's funeral, it was lovely. It was inspired. It follows.

"Ive been searching a long time for the right words to say. This is a letter I had never hoped to write, but I do pray for the Lord's guidance today that I might be able to express to you my deepest emotions, and purest feelings.

I wish more than anything that I could explain exactly how much I love my mother. Those who knew her will remember as loving, gentle, smart, funny, a mathematician, a BYU football fan, "Aunt Sam," a pool-goer, a reader, a muffin-head master, a piano player, and, I think most of all, a best friend. To her children, she was perfection, to her parents, she was brilliance, to my father, she was radiance, and to the Lord, she was a devoted servant, of irrevocable testimony, and matchless light. I miss her terribly.

In the MTC, we were asked many questions, two most of all--Where are you from, and where are you going? I always loved the transcendent parallel, as these are the questions we are asked most by investigators in the field. Where am I from, and where am I going? In the past 24 hours I have thought more about these questions with regards to my mom than anything else. Id like to share with you a little bit of what the answers are.

My mother was born to heavenly parents sometime before the creation of this earth, in a place of heavenly rest and paradise. There she grew in intelligence, waxing strong in the things of the Spirit, and becoming a delightful servant in thepresence of God. In the Council in Heaven, she chose, like us, to follow Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. (I am so proud to say that we did that together). And many years later, on August 17th, 1966, Samantha Eastman entered the world to my grandparents, Eric and Lucile. In other words, my mother came from a noble heritage, both temporal and spiritual. Our family has a beautiful history of mothers--intelligent, strongwilled, friendly, spiritual, loving, piano-playing mothers--Mom was no exception! You will remember her love of children, and I can testify that this extended most especially to her own. She loved us! She laughed with us, cried with us, studied with us, sung with us, walked with us, smiled with us--I think in all my years I shall never forget that smile. She loved us and we love her. Saying goodbye as I left for Guatemala was one of the harder things I have ever done. Saying goodbye again now might be the hardest.

Today my mother finds herself in spiritual paradise, with peace and rest, reunited again with the mothers, and others in our family who have passed on. There she waits until that millenial day of rejoicing, when we all shall be reunited and resurrected, and live together again. There she will ascend with my father fo that exalted throne, a Queen and a Priestess of our God, forever without end.

I ask that until that day, we help immortalize her here! Think of her every time you go to the pool, everytime you are trying to remember a phone number, everytime you read Jane Eyre, everytime you walk by the primary. Think of her words and deeds, of her clever spirit, and devoted friendship. Think of her when you see my family--please pray for them and watch over them. Dad, Jeremy, Alex, Lanie--I love you and miss you. Know that I love Mom a lot. Im already counting the days until we can be together again.

Thank you for everything youve done and for coming to remember my beloved mother today. I close with the words of one of her favorite songs, another piece of the maternal legacy in our family--

I often go walking, in meadows of clover

And I gather armfuls, of blossoms of blue

I gather the flowers the whole meadow over

Dear mother, all flowers remind me of you.

Please leave an extra flower with my mother for me today. She was my best friend. Mom, I miss you beyond words; may the Lord bless you and keep you till we meet again. Until that day, adieu, adieu, adieu.

Ever your son,

Tyler "

At his request, his grandmother delivered that message, reading it as part of the service held last Friday. Friday Evening Tyler called and spoke with family members and we were able to share our experiences with him.

When I compose myself a bit better, I'll update our family blog page (http://moorethanyoucanhandle.blogspot.com/) with more information about her passing, including the funeral. I'll not post more information here, preferring to keep the focus of this blog on Elder Moore, on his life as a missionary.

Lastly, as his dad, I can't thank everyone enough for the many thoughts and prayers offered for his well being.

Entered by Kenneth, Tyler's dad