Unto the Renewal of Their Bodies‏

Hello All!

This week has been one of ups and downs and overall just a lot of work and effort. We were able to get a lot more done than last week, and use our time more efficiently. That was one big blessing of the Lord. 

However, this week also came with many trials and a lot of stress from some harsh rejections and members with problems that missionaries really just can't solve... So, I've been taking a lot of comfort in the scriptures. Memorizing good verses, and reading over parts of the Book of Mormon in english for the first time since being a missionary (I just study in spanish pretty much all the time). I testify to all of you that if we study with humility, going to God to receive from Him what we cannot find that the scriptures will be opened unto us and we will find in the words of the ancient prophets the aid we need. I love the word of God in all of its completeness. I love His word in the mouths of modern prophets and apostles and testify of the truth and validity of their ministry. I love the beauty of the voices that cry out from the dust and declare the glad tidings of the Christ in our ears.

In the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood, it says that he that is faithful unto the obtaining of those two priesthoods shall be sanctified by the Holy Spirit unto the renewal of their bodies, and I testify of that. The more I magnify this calling I am given, the stronger I grow and the more prepared to face another day without tire or care.

So, just some spiritual thoughts for the week. Make sure to read General Conference talks! Or listen to them! You guys have that luxury!

Other than that, we have my new comp.: Elder Merrell.

He is a huge nerd and that's pretty awesome. He lived just thirty minutes outside of Seattle, Washington before the mission, and he's really new out in the field. His Spanish is coming along and we're working in it super hard. He's a diligent, obedient missionary who is willing to learn and teach freely. Though I am the senior comp, I am often astonished at how much of an example he is to me at times, and he boosts my confidence in our ability to manage this area.

As far as the work goes.... Well, we're searching for progressing investigators. Wish us luck! Someone needs to get baptized this change! I'm probably going to leave and we need at least SOMETHING more to leave behind!

I love you all. Thank you for all of your support and encouragement. Keep the faith where you are and continue on fighting the war at home.

Love,

Elder Harris

Short‏

This week, unfortunately, has to be incredibly short, because I have absolutely no more time left.....

You see, in Paraguay, we have to use businesses that have computers in order to use a computer, and, well, we tried three different ones all of which were closed, and then found two open, but had people using all the computers. We didn't get into one until just now, so I'm writing now to all of you a very short email of this week.

This week was incredibly difficult. I had to say goodbye to Elder Brown, from whom I learned so much and with whom I developed an awesome friendship. He was a great missionary and will be sorely missed in Paraguay.

Furthermore, I am now the senior companion in the area, and I am District Leader, two things I have neither done. Being senior comp right now means I have to decide what to teach, when to teach, where, and what to do when plans fall through. With all the pressure.... I didn't do quite so well this week.

However, something that really helped me was reading about David's story when he conquered Goliath, in Samuel 17. David was a mere shepherd boy, and despised for his inexperience, but nevertheless, the last thing he said to Goliath as the giant spat in the face of the faithful youth's defiance is "de Jehová es la batalla." The battled is the Lord's. So it is with myself, and I know that if I am firm, I can overcome the many faced Goliath who is currently staring me down. I have a lot of worries, but slowly, I'm becoming less worried about them. I'm growing to realize that patience and patient love works better and brings more growth than constant worry and frustration at mistakes (even when we're making LOTS of mistakes). 

Well, I have some pictures of my new companion: Elder Merrell.

As well as our Buddhist Temple Trip: :)

Enjoy.

That's this week! I hope you've all been well! I love you all!

Sincerely,

Elder Harris

 

Changes week!!

Hey folks!

Unfortunately, because my companion got into his final interview an hour late, I have five minutes to write this in!!! But yes, my companion leaves for America on Wednesday and arrives at eleven o'clock on Thursday night. That's a fun series of flights. His leaving makes me think a lot, especially since I saw him writing his final report, and it asks all these crazy questions about marriage and after the mission, and how you look at the mission you've had. I want to be able to write a crazy good final report!!!

But, since Elder Brown goes, that must mean CHANGES! Yes, that wonderful time that comes every six weeks. And, as we all may have guessed, I am staying here in Zeballos Cuè A, but there's one really really important change that's going on.....

I'm DISTRICT LEADER! 

Yay!!!!

My new comp will be named Elder Merril and he has been out in the field for only three months. I'm super excited to lead and help the mission move forward in that way. This will be a great opportunity to help out the other missionaries in the district. I just feel young and unprepared, but it's going to be great and I'm really excited! Wish me luck!

I think there's a best two years quote (I never saw the movie): "Junior Comp, to District Leader!" (said in triumph). Yeah!

But, I wish all of you well. Thank you for the birthday wishes and all of the prayers and efforts for Sofìa. I love you all!

Elder Harris

Birthtism‏

Thank you all for your wonderful birthday wishes! Your love, support, and encouragement are always incredibly appreciated. I'm now twenty years old! The mark of a decade! Whoa.... I'm old.

I was going to hold off on the big news, but I just couldn't. Sofìa Ortiz has been baptized!!! It was a full-on miracle, but it happened! The date of her rebirth was the very same day that I was born twenty years back, which means that yes, we ate lots of cake and I made some delicious from scratch brownies (which actually just turned out mostly like cake). Also, Sofìa is just the coolest investigator- I mean Recent Convert! -ever, because she bought me a new shirt and a birthday card AND called me at like 7:50 in the morning to sing me happy birthday. It was super nice and we celebrated super well. I'm happy.

Lets tell the story of this though!

So, Sunday, she says no to baptism, but we stay firm, hopeful, and faithful, and hold the date.

Our next lesson is on Wednesday, and she was worse!!! We couldn't even bring the Spirit into the lesson for such a long time! But finally, we whittled down her defenses again with the Spirit and kept the date. It was just kind of a repeat of Sunday actually.

Thursday: I have to go to another area for the day so that Elder Jimenez, our District Leader, can give her the baptismal interview (keep in mind that she still says she's not ready for baptism, can't do it that Saturday).

Well, I didn't find out until Friday, but apparently Elder Jimenez was strongly Catholic as well before joining the church when he was like 16 years old. It was a tough decision for him too, and his parents still haven't followed his lead. But, he helped Sofìa so much. Hearing Elder Brown describe how it went was so strange, she sounded like a different person.

Friday: I'm back for the final lesson before the baptism, and lo and behold, a new person answered the door when we rang the doorbell (she's chuchi and actually has a doorbell). The Spirit had given her a mighty change of heart, and that because of her faith and willingness, and our fervent, desperate prayers to the Lord that He would grant her the strength she needed to make the decision to be baptized. She said amazing things that night, like that she couldn't say no, she couldn't resist the pull of the Spirit. While we explained further, she began to fidget even and she said it felt like she was on fire. We explained that this was simply fulfilling the promise God gave Oliver Cowdery in D&C 9, that his bosom would burn as a fire to confirm his decision if it were right. God confirmed her decision, and I could not deny it.

Just as things climaxed, she received a phone call from someone she pretty much hates, and had to have a twenty minute long conversation. Spirit dead. But, we ended things well, pointed out that Satan was trying to stop her, and kept on.

She was baptized the next day.

Friends and Family, God answers our prayers. I prayed harder than I ever have that this would happen, I worked for it, I held up every scripture promise I could find that might help to this woman joining the true church of God, and God heard my pleas. She was batpized by Elder Brown, and I was able to witness a true miracle. I testify that Moroni and his father Mormon did not lie, that God is a God of miracles, and that, because we still had faith, a miracle was performed this week. I bear witness that our efforts are meaningful; we can have hope. We can have faith. God will not leave us alone.

I bear this witness with so much joy! Thank you all for your prayers, for your faith and contributions! I love you all so much and know that your faith helped move this mountain and I thank you deeply. Have a wonderful week.

Elder Harris