Elder Moser's Letter to Bishop Jorgensen

Dear Bishop,

            It has been just over 2 months on our mission.  Things started out very cold in Utah.  We looked at the weather map and discovered that Budapest, Hungary was about 15 degrees warmer.  We thought this was our answers to our prayers about making a very nice transition from Scottsdale to a cold climate.

            Our first day in the city of Miskolc, where we have been assigned, was an eye opener.  Our water pipes had frozen.  At 9:30 pm we got a phone call from the landlord, the water pipes were now working, but the water heater was broken, but we could use her home’s bathroom to take a shower!  So our first night in Miskolc was in a hotel with heated bathroom floors!

            A couple of weeks later it got down to -25 below!  But Jane’s Eddie Bauer thermal  coat kept her warm.  Did I mention, I didn’t have a thermal coat?

            Two days later it snowed almost 24 inches!  The comforting statement given by all people, “This is the coldest and snowiest it has been in 10 years!”  Thanks, why not the warmest?

            We love the people.  We love the work.  Every other Sunday we travel about 1 ½ hours to a town called Eger to help with the church in that city.  The good news is that Eger is called the most beautiful place in Hungary.  The bad news, we can’t see it due to the fog that has been there every time we visit!  But spring is upon us and next Sunday we go again and hope for views!

            We have made it to Budapest (2 ½ hours away) almost every week for either church meetings or meetings with NGOs that are our partners.  We traveled to the south end of Hungary last week to a city called Szeged.  It is about 5 miles north of Serbia and the “fence”, which keeps the refugees out of Hungary.  We learned about a project where families will raise chickens which gives them food and money if they sell the eggs.  We saw two sites for abused children.  Poverty and alcohol are very deadly for children.

            We then visited a school where 7 teenagers lived. They are from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Gambia, and Egypt. Here without parents and family, trying to learn Hungarian so that they can stay.  All left their countries for fear of being killed.  It is humbling to see poverty, abuse, scared children and know that our grandchildren are not being subjected to these trials.  We thank the Lord for the opportunity he has given us to lend what little help two untrained people can do to give comfort and aid.  If we do this for the least of his children, we hope that our grandchildren will have others to help in their time of needs.

            Hungary, compared to Romania, Serbia, Albania, Slovakia is a first-class country.  We are blessed to be in Hungary.  The LDS couples in those countries have greater poverty and humanitarian needs that they are dealing with.  Our prayers go out to them nightly.

            About 40% of our time is spent on helping reach out to the inactive members of the church.  Miskolc back in 1987/1990’s was one of the hot spots for conversions.  They have a very nice beautiful church building.  But due to inactivity, we average about 50 to 55 members a week.  We have a very young 28-year branch president who joined the church about 4 years ago.  I am his only counselor.  Being on time and showing up for appointments is my biggest challenge with him.  But his heart is in the right place and I must go slow in teaching the proper leadership skills.  “Free agency and how to enforce it” is an often thought that I must push to the back of my mind!

            I wish I could say that we miss Scottsdale, but truthfully, we are too busy to think much about life as it used to be.  After the first three weeks of culture (or temperature) shock, and finally being moved into a new house that does not have black mold from the frozen water pipes and scolding/ice cold showers, life is wonderful.  (Thank you, Ikea, - Budapest!!!!) (Ate Swedish meatball there.)

            The message I would like you to tell the older members of the church (55 or older) is this:

The church is in dire need of senior missionary couples.  We had no idea how much the growth of the church has been stymied due to lack of missionary couples.  Going on a mission for us was a fulfillment of a promise and a desire to go on one as a goal just after we got married (for me, but Jane agreed after 40 years of begging.).  So what I am saying is not “Hey look at us, we are great.”  We may have come for reasons other than what all “senior couples” should consider.  In other words, we look at each other and count it as luck that we asked the right question in prayer, “Should we go on a mission?”

            In countries, such as the Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Albania, Serbia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the need of senior missionaries is great.  The need for the knowledge of the language is minimal.  But leadership knowledge is extremely needed.  Branch Presidents, young adult advisors, MLS (work in reactivation efforts) is greatly needed.  The growth of the church is being held back simply because we have very few senior missionaries.  One couple, the mission home office couple are here for the third time.  A majority of the couples we have met in the MTC and since are on at least their second mission.  Once they see the need for experienced High Priests and experienced Relief Society, Primary and Young Women teachers/advisor, they realize as Jane and I are coming to the realization that staying home after retirement and living the good life, may become a hindrance to our eternal progression.

            I shudder to think how I would answer the Savior to the question, “Jon, what did you do to expand the church after you were so greatly bless in your occupation and then retired?”  I had no clue as to what bullet Jane and I dodged in coming on a mission.  I exhort all couples who are in reasonable health to reflect on the promises you make in the temple and consider committing just 18 short months to the Lord to help expand his kingdom here on earth.  It will take less than two weeks to be humbled when you realize how much the Lord needs you and the thought comes to you how close you came to not answering the call to feed his sheep.  Then you will get on your knees and thank him for opening up the opportunity to serve him as a senior missionary couple.

            I hope this doesn’t come across as a “Hey, look how great we are!” letter.  I have written it humbly after awakening to the fact, once out here, how much the Savior needs senior couples and how close we came to not listening to his plea for help.  We hope that through this letter, all couples in the ward and the stake can reconsider going on missions and being able to harken to the plea for needed help by all mission presidents.  If you don’t believe me, write and ask President Rizley if he needs senior couples!

            We testify that Jesus Christ is the head of this Church.  We testify that the Church is going forth throughout all nations and that the elect of God are listening for his messengers.  We testify that if we remain actively involved in His work, that we and our families will be blessed while we are doing His work, we so testify in his Holy name.

Moser Elder and Moser Növér