Gift of Tongues

Hey family!!

It was an amazing experience to see all of your beautiful faces on Christmas!! I am so happy that I got the chance to hear how you all are doing too.

We had one of the most amazing lessons yet as companions this week!! We were visiting this amazing couple that lives down the hill from our house. We have stopped by a few times to say hi but never really had the chance to teach them a lesson. Honestly, we were at the point of contacting with no luck when my companion and I just looked at each other, you know that look that you get when you are totally lost, yeah that one. We instantly bowed our heads and offered a prayer. It was one of those horrible moments that when you lift your head, your hope is so high to receive the instant thought of what to do, but that didn’t happen. Heavenly Father decided to teach me a lesson. My mind was still blank. We decided to start walking until something came to mind. As we kept going Mother Nature decided to hit; yes, I'm talking about the bathroom. I have learned here in Puerto Rico you don't just go and use any old bathroom. So I went through, in my head, everyone I knew that lived close and felt that the closest was Jorge and Carmen.

When we got there, we were super set to get through the first lesson! The Spirit was so strong in the lesson. Another thing that I have learned to love in my mission is to start with a song. It really does bring a huge peace and spirit to set the tone for a lesson. We started with Joseph's First Prayer. This song has become on of my favorite hymns. It just gives one of the most beautiful descriptions to the most amazing experience a youth has ever had.

Anyways, in this lesson, I was so amazed because I saw the gift of tongues beam through Sister Taylor. She had the confidence we had been praying so hard for. It was so extraordinary to see the smile that went from ear to ear as she shared each of her parts of the lesson! It was one of the most incredible things ever. It was just a moment that you know from now on it will be easier for her. It is one of best feelings on the mission to see that even though my time is coming to an end that Sister Taylor will have the confidence to go and help all the people that still need the gospel here in Juana Diaz! It was a proud mom moment!

For Mama’s questions:

Where did you spend Christmas Day after we spoke with you?

--We spent it sharing some Christmas cheer to all around! 

Do Puerto Ricans have any special traditions different from ours?

--Other than Three Kings Day most are the same. But at 5 am Christmas day, they light off fireworks! That was super different, Hahaha! 

What do you do on New Years Day?

--Honestly, I don’t know yet probably will be going to a member’s house or celebrating indoors safe and sound with the Sisters I live with!

I love you all so much. Hope you all have an amazing New Year!! Guess what? I can’t wait to see you all next year! Hahaha!

Con Amor Siempre,

Hermana Harris

Not Enough Time!

Hey family!!

Because I was writing everyone the entire time, I really don’t have much time left. I just want to say that I love your guys’ faces. I miss you and I cant wait to see you all on Christmas Day!!!! I can’t wait to talk to each of you!!! I love the Christmas season... you each will have a letter in the mail coming to you if you send me your addresses! Pretty please! I need it from Aubrei & Aaron, Saydi, and Jaren & Hannah! Sorry, super sorry, but pressed for time. I love y’all!

Con Amor Siempre,

Hermana Harris

Goals & Talents

Hey family!!

We had a couple of incredible moments this week! Not to say the others weren't great too but these were just better!

First, we had interviews with our Mission President! He is the most amazing man on this island. He is so guided by the Spirit that it is unbelievable! He told us exactly what we needed to hear to not only make it though the week but to finish out the month. He challenged me to finish my mission with a baptism and a reactivation. I sincerely accepted and we hit the streets to accomplish the goal! One of the most amazing things is that we had a reactivation already this Sunday! Micdalia came to church for the third week in a row! Part of his reactivation included her forming/helping us with a musical number for sacrament. She is remarkably, musically talented. It was so amazing to see her face so joyous as we played and sang “Silent Night” Sunday. A shocker for everyone, in this musical number I played an instrument! It was kind of my fault getting stuck doing this because I didn't understand exactly what she was saying to me at one point. She had asked me if I knew how to play el flota dulce or sweet flute. I thought that maybe that meant the piccolo. Yeah no… the sweet flute is a fancy name for the recorder! So I got to play “Silent Night” on the recorder Sunday. In doing so, I discovered a talent I haven't practice since like third grade when we learned the recorder in music class. Hahaha! But I'm a missionary and we put are whole heart and soul into our less-actives! So I played that recorder and I played it proudly!

Next incredible thing is our investigator named Madeline. On Saturday, I just had a feeling that we needed to visit her. I honestly love her to death but she is to the point that if she doesn't start progressing she will just become a forever investigator that knows everything but is not a member. Anyways, we went to her house Saturday and talked to her. It was seriously the most powerful lesson I have ever had with her. We shared the message from 1 Nephi 11 about Christ and the birth of Christ. It was amazing! We testified of Christ and everything that He does for us. She agreed with us and told us about her faith in Him. We ended the lesson by inviting her to be baptized. She agreed then as we went to say the closing prayer, I asked her if there was anything in specific that she would like us to pray for. This was when she turned to us and her face dropped. She began to explain that she had been talking this morning to her Heavenly Father about all thing hard things that she has been going through. She felt that prayer didn't seem to be making any difference. Then my companion turns to Madeline and asks, “why do you think that we are here? Sister Harris told me today that she just had a feeling we needed to visit you. Madeline, Heavenly Father answered your prayer. He sent us here to help you.” We go on to tell her that we are here to truly get her out of her hard times. That we truly had a message that would change her life and help her. It was so amazing and the Spirit so strong. We left her with the solid knowledge that her Heavenly Father really loves her and is watching over her.

It truly is incredible how just in the little things can be a prompting of the Spirit. It’s honestly something I love about being a missionary because those little thoughts and promptings aren't for me but others. They aren't for my benefit at all. It is someone else's life that Heavenly Father is trying to help. I fully agreed this week with a quote by President Boyd K. Packer that says, “It is important for a … missionary … to know that the Holy Ghost can work through the Light of Christ. A teacher of gospel truths is not planting something foreign or even new into an adult or a child. Rather, the missionary or teacher is making contact with the Spirit of Christ already there. The gospel will have a familiar ‘ring’ to them.”

Everyday we are working harder to reach that Spirit of Christ in everyone. I know that it is true, because time and time again my mission has shown me the truth of this statement. I love you all so much and can't wait to see you guys for Christmas!!

Ponderize scripture is Proverbs 4:2 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. I am going to hit this last transfer with all I got!

Con Amor Siempre

Hermana Harris

Happiest People Ever

Hey Family!!

To be completely honest, this week was extermely hard. I will not lie. I was super frustrated with absolutely everything. It was like one of those weeks that you truly come to understand the Atonement! We had been feeling like we had just been walking and walking with no success. It’s like walking on a path with no end in sight. We really needed to eat some humble pie and find where we stand, remember who we represent, and realize how we can make changes!

For Weekly Planning, we spent a long time going through Preach My Gospel on finding investigators. We made goals on how we could do better and what we needed to focus on.

It was later that day when we stopped by at an old investigator house that something hit be hard. She was talking to us for a while when she mentioned something I really loved! She was talking to us about how great our calling is and how we truly should be the happiest people ever because of the work that we are doing! It really hit me hard. It doesn't matter if the people reject us, if we are tired, or if we are feeling sad because we really are only walking a few steps in His example. It was an amazing eye opener. Just like it says in the Living Christ:

"He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. ‘All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.’ Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good”, yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.''

I can continue each day going around doing good but if I don't put on a smile and endure the tough times. I will never fully come to understand what our Savior went through. I know that my Savior lives and that He truly understands each of our trials. I know that when He looks at His own hands that He remembers each one of us. I know that through the Atonement I truly can be made whole and clean each Sunday with the Sacrament! I know that without a single doubt in my mind that this Church is true. That Christ did restore his Church though a modern-day prophet, and that to this day, we have prophets leading and guiding us. I know that my family is forever, which brings the greatest joy to my heart. I am so happy to wish the most wonderful parents in the world a 

HAPPY 28^th ANNIVERSARY!!

I am so glad that through the love you both have for each other that you were able to raise three of the most amazing siblings and friends, I have in this world. I am so happy to always have your example of the love you have one for another. I hope that some day I can find a love like yours! I love you all so, so much and love hearing from you guys!

Con Amor Siempre

Hermana Harris