Women's Conference

Hey family!!

It is finally official, I am really 21 because I have received all of my packages! Hahaha! Thank you all so, so much and I loved everything. I am super grateful for the time, money, and effort you all spent to making a poor missionary’s day special.

This week was amazing. First of all, I met Jesus! Just kidding! He is a less-active that we found for the first time this week. Wow, he is so ready. When God makes promises to send people that are ready, he fulfills them to the fullest!! Jesus has had a very difficult last couple of years. About 7 years ago, he was lending his house to a dear friend and her two children. Then her crazy ex-husband came and killed the wife, two children, and himself. It just happens that Jesus went home that night to find  the horrific event in his house! He says that he has never been the same since. He has fallen into depression every year around the date of the incident. He was overjoyed to see us walk up his drive though. He said that to congregate with a church and come close to Christ is exactly what he needs right now. It was so amazing to see the change from just talking to us. When we got there he was more sad and a little depressed but when we left he was almost beaming with joy. Those are the little things that will make going up the huge hill to his house worth it!

The  next amazing thing of our week was Women’s Conference! My advice to all that haven't seen it: get on the computer right now and watch it!! It was so inspired and powerful. It has me on my toes waiting for General Conference to come! I can't believe that we will have three new apostles! Well not to spoil it all but the few things that impacted me the most were:

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom

"There are two important days in a woman’s life: one, the day she was born and the second, the day she knows why."

Linda S. Reeves

"This life is but the time to prepare to meet God, not time to recieve all the blessings."

Video

"A good friend is someone who sees your good qualities and forget your weak qualities."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"There is enough in life that can bring us into pessimism but we can focus on the happier blessings."

I just loved that happiness was the key for me in this conference. As a missionary, the happiness of everyone is my goal. We are not only bringing the gospel into peoples lives but we are bringing eternal blessings.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and I love you all a ton!!

Con Amor Siempre,

Hermana Harris

Attributes of Christ

Hey Family!!

This week was definitely a little crazy! First of all, the packages that I actually recieved were Saydi’s, and Grandma Harris'. But the Sister Trainers are going to the office tomorrow and if the packages are there they will bring them to me. But I did have an amazing Birthday!! Literally, I owe everything to my companion. She really tried to go all out to make my day special! I can admit that I ate way to much food though! Cheesecake, chocolate cake, fried bread, soda, and broccoli. It was a day that I think I am still trying to work off. 

Hermana Melgar has had serious pain in her foot for the past week, so we scheduled an appointment and got her in to see a doctor. Sad to say that there isn't much she can do about it. She is retaining liquid in her foot. The only thing the doctor told us was that she needed to eat less and not eat fried, salty, or sugary food. It has been probably the healthiest week of my mission. We have been eating lots of veggies, fruits, and tuna. But hey if it will help her foot and us get into shape not problem with me!

Wednesday was the best day of the week! It was Zone Conference! It is seriously my favorite time of the month. We get to be filled with new work ideas, spiritual uplift, and get to hear the inspiring words of our President. This conference had a couple of different themes. First, the Sister Trainers and the Zone Leaders taught us about chapter 8 of Preach my Gospel. It was amazing. They told us if we aren't finding people or aren't seeing the results we want then we need change something, especially our planning. It was great to see the way that the little things that we do each day can change everything. My companion and I really set that as our new goal. Thursday morning, we had our weekly planning and focused more on how in our everyday actions, we can be more “Preach My Gospel” like missionaries and help our investigators progress in a more effective way. Literally, it was the best planning session I have had in all of my mission! I cannot wait to see the fruits of the new planning come alive!

Also in the conference, Sister Boucher talked about the attributes of Christ. She did an amazing job. She started by asking us all a question: “Why should I as a missionary/member desire to develop Christ-like Attributes?” She talked to us about how the more and more we strengthen ourselves here and forget ourselves in the mission, it will not only bless us in our missions but we will recieve the blessings in our future, too. She explained also that it is not only to be, but to do. If we do one without the other we are not becoming like Christ but if we strive to do them together that is where we will see the change. I loved it.

Opening Saydi's Package! Had to Break out the keys to get into it...

President and Sister Boucher challenged each of us to try to develop one Christ-like attribute by Christmas and to memorize The Living Christ! I am so exciting to see how much I can change my attitude and my faith by coming more unto Christ by this Christmas. I challenge each of you to do this with me. Try to focus on one quality that Christ has that you need or could develop by Christmas. I can't wait to see and hear about how it is going!

I love you all from here to the moon. Hope you all have a splendid week. Please pray for my companion that she can get better!! :)

Con Amor Siempre,

Hermana Harris

Walked & Walked & Walked

Hey family!!!

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes. So scary to think I am actually 21. I left for my mission at 19 and now close to the end, I am 21. Where did the time go?? Now I am legal to buy things that I was never in my life planning to buy. Hahaha! Life of a Mormon at 21 is the same as life as a 20 year-old! But its one great life!!

This week was a walking week. We went to an area called Guayabal 3 times! It is a huge hill and you have to go up, down and back up it The hill takes about an hour. The people made the trip very worth it though. I can definitely say that it was a tiring week!!

First picture being 21! Sneaky companion tried to take a sleeping pic!

One of the days that we were over there, we were searching like maniacs for a reference the Elders gave us. We thought they were crazy. Still, we went up, up, up and up I believe to be the biggest hill I have ever walked in my life searching for this lady. Sadly too no-avail, but one amazing blessing was only part way up the hill. With the crazy drawn map we had from the Elders, we had to stop and to ask for directions. We talked to a lady named Magiale. She was super, super sweet asking about what we were doing there and what was our purpose as missionaries. That is one of the greatest things about looking like a weirdo walking up a big hill in a skirt with a nametag on... people ask questions! I loved that we were able to talk to her for a little bit and feel her spirit. I can't wait to go up that horrible hill again to see if we can help her come unto Christ!

Another day this week that we went to Gualabal, we had that chance to visit the lovely Jose Cruz! He continues to amaze me. Every time we get the chance to visit him, he thanks us for finding him and bringing him back. It was amazing when he started to explain all the Sisters and Elders that have passed through his home but have never completely touched his heart for a desire to come back! He told us that if it wasn't for Hermana Melgar and I, then he doesn't know if he would have ever come back. He also said, with tears in his eyes, that there is a reason that my companion and I are the ones that came to his door. That is what makes my job as a missionary totally worth it. I know there are people that need each of the missionaries that come into the field. It is crazy to think that one simple inspirational decision to serve a mission is a decision that changes lives, and not just my own.

I know that this because it is the Lord's work and will. I know that without the Spirit with us everyday there is no way that we could ever accomplish this work. I am so grateful for the Savior and the guidance He has given me each day.

Thank you all again for the packages that I hope to get Wednesday at the Zone Conference, and I hope you all have a great day!! I love you dearly!!

Con Amor Siempre,

Hermana Harris

Unplanned Opportunities

Hey family!!!

We recovered from the hurricane... and hit the work hard!! It was literally a week full of miracles again! One after the other! We were able to find so many people and teach so many that are already ready to receive us. It was such an amazing feeling!

We had decided this week to go to part of our area that we have always just passed by to get to others.  But then chapter nine in Preach My Gospel hit our hearts hard.  

"While the Prophet Joseph Smith was traveling with a group of missionaries on the Missouri River, the Lord revealed, ‘It is not needful for… mine elders to be moving swiftly… whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief” (D&C 61:3). As you move swiftly to planned activities, pray for the ability to see unplanned opportunities to serve and teach those who may be ‘perishing in unbelief.’ Pray for the spiritual sensitivity to recognize opportunities. You will find that God will place in your path His children who are being prepared to receive the restored gospel.”

So our goal was to hit up this new area. Literally, it was gold! We found families, couples, and even individuals just looking for the gospel! It was so amazing! Well let’s just say that my testimony in Preach My Gospel has been strengthened. I definitely know now that Preach My Gospel really is an inspired book for all.Tere

We also had exchanges the week with the sister trainers. They both came to our area and we divided for the day to conquer. We were able to see really were our efforts need to  improve on the little things. I learned a lot from my ‘Intercambio’ about being stronger. Sister Portillo was very strong on explaining that if they ask their pastor about the Book of Mormon, then they probably aren't going anywhere with it. You have to ask God, of course. I loved the way she did it though with complete respect but it also was in a way that the investigator couldn't mistake that they were wrong on that aspect.

We also had the blessing of having three less-actives in church this week and a reactivation! It literally was amazing to see Jose Cruz so happy to be in church and know that this is where he should have been all along! Our other two were Carmen Eddie and Mickey. They are the sweetest mother and son that I have ever met.  Carmen is a little old lady that has been left without a ride to church since her daughter started working on Sundays. Mickey is her son that has mental disabilities. They were so happy to see that the ward was there with open arms to accept them back into the fold. All in all it was a fantastic week!

I love you all! Can't wait to spend time in Rexburg at the temple with all of you!

 Hugs and kisses to all! Have a great weekend together!

Con Amor Siempre,

Hermana Harris