Sandra

Hey Family!!

Our week ended on a serious spiritual high!! Wasn’t the Women's Conference amazing or what?? Wow, I cannot describe how incredibly inspired are our leaders. I loved the videos, songs, and all the talks. It was amazing to think about how the family really is a point Satan is really hitting hard. I am so grateful for my forever family and the blessings that I have seen in my life from the gospel-centered home. In these past months, it has really been an eye-opener how important the family is.

So, we have an investigator named Sandra. Sandra is a mother of four. All four are 19 and older: one son and three daughters like our family. This past Black Friday, her son died in a car accident. Her son’s passing has ripped her life apart. It has been so sad to see how much more it has affected her life without the knowledge that she can be with her son again. 

Waiting for one of the Elders' baptisms to begin.

She has been visited by basically every religion, with all different points of view on where her son is now, and the chance of her being with all of her family again. Since the beginning and still now, we have been teaching her about the plan of salvation. She has so many doubts, but the one thing that I love about Sandra is when all of this happened, she did not once say that it was God's fault. She always has said that God is the answer, He is the peace, and the only one that completely understands her. She tries everyday to come closer and closer to her Savior and Father in Heaven. She knows that it is the only way she can see her son again. I cannot imagine the hurt and heartbreak that she feels. I do know that there is one that understands; he felt the same way. I know that Jesus Christ not only suffered for my sins and hardships but hers, too. I know that Sandra will one day feel better. It may not be this month or year, or even because of our help. Yet, I do know that she has one that is always there to help her feel better. 

The amazing thing with Sandra is we never actually plan to stop by. Literally never but when we do plan to stop by, she doesn't need us. The times that we are prompted are the times when she needs us. It has been an incredible feeling for her to know that whenever she is in her hardest moments, tears, and on her knees that is when the Father sends His servants. I am so grateful for the trust that the Lord has put into my companion and I that we have been the servants to help Sandra. She is always calling us her little angels or her adopted daughters, but really she is teaching us so much more and helping us more than she imagines. 

We were waiting for someone to open the church before the women's conference started.

Sandra always is telling us to tell our Mama's that we have someone that is a good person looking out for us. She says don't worry that she will always make sure that we are safe and have a home away from home. 

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to teach the people here in Ponce of the truth. Also, I am grateful to know for myself that this gospel is the answer to all your problems. I know without a doubt that I can be with my family for all eternity. It makes the days easier with you all so far away! I love you all so, so much and I hope you all know that I am praying for each and everyone of you every day!!

Con Amor Siempre

Hermana Harris

My Companion is amazing and surprised me!

New Experiences

Hey family!!

So new area, new companion, and new experiences!! First of all, my companion is Sister Dominguez. She is from Panama. She is sassy, and an incredible missionary. Already, She has taught me so so much! Before in my different areas, we really weren't doing much teaching on the streets and instead, it was more of the normal sit down lessons. Sister Dominguez has really taught me how to teach a lesson the second that we start talking to them. It has been so amazing to see how well people react when we  start teaching right off the bat. I absolutely love asking people about their beliefs in Christ and ending up telling them all about my beliefs. It is really great to not only be able to talk a tiny bit to everyone but it is a way better feeling to be sharing a little bit of the gospel with every encounter. 

As you may have heard, I live in an apartment without any AC, hot water, a dryer, an oven, and even some of the plugs don't work, and with three latins. It is a little crazy but it is an adventure! Hahaha, it is really great. The cold water is really refreshing when it is always hot here. And in the morning, I am definitely awake after I take a shower! AC doesn't really matter because before we only used it at night so a fan basically does the same job. But hey all these are character builders!! I am loving living with three latins! I have been learning so much spanish in just a short amount of time. My companion speaks the most english out of the three of them which is great so when I don't know a word she is the fastest to help me figure out the meaning. I absolutely love her! We get along great! 

The hardest thing about this area is that we live an hour walk away from civilzation which is super sad. So the street that we live on is an hour walk from our main area. So every single day we walk two hours with no one in our route to and from our area. Great exercise, but not great for use of mission prime proselyting time!! 

This week, we having been working on finding as much as possible! Because all the investigators that the sisters had basically were baptised in the past month. We did a lot of contacting! Honestly, in my last areas that was my least favorite thing to do, but Sister Donminguez is changing my opinion. I have been just watching everything that she does everyday to try to learn much as possible!

One person that has been a golden find is Juan Ramon. We contacted him in the street and just began talking about Christ. He was very into the conversation and we stood there talking for an hour! We set up an appointment for later in the week and gave him a restoration pamplet to read. He called us the next day telling us that he couldn't do that day but the next woud work. He called us three more times after that to make sure that we could still do that time and that we were coming. This is really strange, normally we are the ones doing the calling, and investigators don't ever call us! We taught him our basic beliefs without going into big details. He asked all kinds of questions on to make sure he understood our beliefs and the things that he had heard from other people was not true! It was so amazing to see how much he wanted to learn. He agreed to go with us to an church activity this Friday. I am so excited to see how he progresses!! I have the faith that he will!!

I love you all so so much and am working as hard as I can here to make you and my Father in Heaven proud! 

Con Amor

Hermana Harris

P.S. Sorry! No pictures this week. We are at a members house because with the holiday, all the places with computers are shutdown and the church is not in our area. I will send some next week.