The Peak‏

Hello Everyone,

The day arrived! Today was my final interview with President McMullin, and it's been a wild ride to review together. I can't say that I've officially finished until Thursday when I get released, but looking over what it's been so far, I can honestly say that I've absolutely loved it. While there are many imperfections in my service and I know that I am far from perfect, I have no regrets about what I've done here. I have worked hard and strived to keep myself worthy. I have learned so much and gained so much love for the people here. I never expected that the hardest thing about finishing the mission would be how much I'm going to miss these people and these places. I thought I'd just miss being a missionary, or that thoughts of home would distract me in my last week, but neither of those things have been on my mind. What is on my mind is the sorrow at imagining that I'll not be seeing these people or places, that these have really become my family away from home and they've come to mean so very much to me. I didn't expect that. But I do love them. I'll miss them a lot.

But, at the end of the mission, I feel like I'm standing at the peak of my first big mountain. I can look out over the whole trail I've walked on the way up here and I can see the higher peaks and the paths that will be getting me to them as I keep hiking. I'm so happy at all that I've been a part of. All of the people whose lives God used me to change will always remain in my memory and my heart. I can't believe how kind He's been to have blessed me to find and strengthen His children here. I'm so happy to have contacted Sofía, Ismael and Victor. They stand out it my mind as the people who, start to finish, God was guiding us to strengthen. Then I also keep Araceli Gonzalez in mind, who is now active and continues faithfully. I wasn't there to find her, but God helped me as we got her to baptism. I think of all the members I've tried to strengthen and the families we've blessed in little ways. There's no way to measure the good that I and my companions have done as we've served, but the return we feel has filled our hearts until it pours over the edges. This mission has been a beautiful blessing and I'm so thankful to God for it.

This week was a roller coaster, but I survived and we worked hard until the very last. I even have a couple of lessons planned for tomorrow, so the missionary work just keeps going until the very end. ;)

I'm so excited to see you all and hope that you have a wonderful week. I'll see many of you on Thursday, more on Sunday, and so many more on Facebook. ;)

I just want to send this last email as a reminder to keep the faith and to endure to the end. Keep on fighting and I know that the Lord will bless you above what you know. He asks us to persevere even through the hardest times, but He promises us that He'll be there, and that in the end, it'll all be worth it. I give you my promise that it's all worth it in the end. I promise that it'll be so much better and more bearable if we serve people along the way and lose ourselves in strengthening and supporting those around us.

And that's all for this week.

Love,

Elder Harris

Keeping The Faith‏

Hello Everyone!

This week has been full of more great blessings. We have been able to continue finding a little bit, but the best part of the week was the great number of second and third lessons we were having with investigators that we'd found previously. Two different people accepted baptismal dates and it went well. Sadly, it wasn't reflected on Sunday, when none of our inactives, investigators, and only half of our recent converts attended Church.

But there's more good news. We had a really good lesson with Nancy, Ismael's aunt, and she really got firm in her decision to follow the answer that God gives her, even by being baptized. She seems a little hesitant about the idea of learning all the commandments and changing her life, but at the same time she seems willing. I believe strongly in the deep power of the Book of Mormon and the Holy Ghost to help her change her heart and become converted. I know that it can take people who see no need to repent and humble them low, bringing them down as it says in Mosiah 3:19 and helping them to submit to whatsoever the Lord seeth fit to impose upon them. I know that as she reads and prays, she'll feel a change.

Other good news: Ismael was sustained yesterday to receive the Aaronic Priesthood! He'll be ordained next week and attending the temple shortly! It's so awesome to see this guy progress! I love him so much!

It's funny too, because I've had to start planning some little farewells within the Ward and with other people throughout Asunción for next week, and we were talking about doing a big family home evening with Ismael and his family next week on Monday, and he said that that'd be great, because that's his birthday. I was dumbfounded! And then, I was talking with Sofía Ortiz to have lunch with her next week, and she told me that that would be so excellent, because that day is her birthday!!! How is it that two of the greatest people I've met and taught, from contacting them at the doorstep until the waters of baptism and beyond, were born on the very same date (even if in different years)? That was just an odd coincidence.

But I'm so grateful for these past few weeks. I title this keeping the faith, because I've not lost my faith that there's still sooooo much good I can do and there's soooo much work to be done in this area. That faith has been answered, and I have no idea why the Lord's timing has been such, but this has been one of the most successful times I've experienced. I love this work and I know that if we do our best to acheive what God would have us acheive, then He will not fail to answer our efforts, even if it takes a while.

I love you all. I'm still hanging in here and working hard! Keep praying for me to fight strong to the finish!

Thanks for all that you do for me.

Love,

Elder Harris

P.S. I'm including pictures from last week's Cathedral trip.
And awesome pictures with Elder DuFort!

Blessings at the Lord's Hand‏

Hello Folks!

I'm so happy about this week! I feel like I have a lot to tell you all about! But it's all about missionary work, so I hope that's what you were hoping for!

So, in this area, we've had a tough time finding new investigators. It's always been like you find one once in a blue moon and they're usually not actually that interested in following Jesus Christ even unto baptism. This week, we found somewhere around seven new investigators, a number of whom we were able to get second visits with and set baptismal dates. How did we find these investigators? Almost all of them were through tracting. I love the hope that that brings. I believe in the power of it so much! Just get out and open your mouth and it will be filled!

One of them was a young man, about 19 years old, who, when we contacted him, voiced that he wouldn't like to meet with us and really know more, and that he has very different opinions and he doesn't like listening to others. But, we saw a bit of curiosity, and so we bore really sincere testimony and left him with a Book of Mormon. Fast forward three weeks later (this last Friday), and we return to the house even though we've been rejected several times throughout the weeks by his mother, and he let us in first thing and listened attently. He accepted the baptismal invitation and we have an appointment set up for tomorrow. I love the power of God as He works through us. Our words, combined with the converting power of the Book of Mormon, softened his heart to be able and willing to listen.

Another one was a family I'd contacted with Elder Requelme, but who'd never received us. We found them with a little bit of extra time, and they let us in. They're a little more closed off because of deep Catholic roots, but they were equally willing to listen and very curious. We found the mom again yesterday and she accepted a baptismal date for August 29th.

And there were a couple of other people in there who just let us in from tracting them right there in the moment, and beautiful contacts with people who just wanted to know more about what we do as missionaries.

The biggest and most important new investigator is Ismael's aunt, Nancy. She received us on Thursday, after having seen Meet the Mormons as I'd said in last week's email, and that lesson went so well. She received the message of the Restoration with such gladness; it was beautiful. We visited her again yesterday, and she accepted a baptismal date for August 29th as well! She seems so sure about her desire to know more, to know if this is the right path for her, to know truth instead of opinion. I know that God will hear her and answer her prayers. I've felt it in my own life and seen it happen so many times.

There was a moment in the lesson when she just started to talk about the change that she's seen in Ismael, and I started to realize that he's not merely changed his life, he's literally a different person. When I first met him, he was CRAZY shy. He didn't really talk. He had a different air about him. Now, he interrupts me, makes friends in Church, jokes, and is open to life. He has his own initiative instead of being acted on, and he continually makes the decision to work for his good and future. I love this guy so much. I seriously cannot describe how much joy it brings to me to contemplate the blessings God has given him, and the fact that I got to participate. This work is amazing.

Last week, I had an interview with President McMullin so that my Temple Recommend doesn't expire before I leave, and we started talking about these last weeks, Of course, I plan on keeping more focused and working harder and just keeping strong, but he added something to it that I never thought about. He said that no one you teach ever forgets the missionary that gave them their first lesson. Even if he wasn't there to see them baptized, the missionary that gives them their first lesson always sticks out in their minds. I've actually been able to see that in other people in other areas with my companions.

Well, that was this week. I'm doing well and trying to work hard. I always note my own weaknesses, but I'm trying.

I love you all and hope that this message finds you well.

Sincerely,

Elder Harris

3 Gen. Fichero!

Receive, Accept, Listen to, and Adjust to Becoming Part of (And Meet): The Mormons‏

Good Morning Everyone!

This week has been really interesting, and it's had some great blessings. I would like to thank, first of all, my District Leader, Elder Nyberg, who has lent us his copy of the movie "Meet the Mormons" to use as widely as we can throughout the week this week. We have definitely put it to work!

We found a family of four (Momma bear and three teenage children) on Tuesday and had an odd lesson with them, and then on Friday we taught them about the Book of Mormon and they started to pick up some interest, and then on Saturday, we watched the movie with them and that's where they took on strong potential. So, we asked them if we could swing by Sunday morning to take them to Church, and they accepted. What's more, they came! I'm not sure how they received the meetings, it seemed to overwhelm them a little bit, but it was still awesome that they came!

We watched the movie at a family movie night on Friday with Ismael and a few members. His remarks afterwards were "Can I just get out on a mission already?" :) 

This guy makes my heart happy.

We also used it in the baptism on Saturday night, just showing the story of the Fighter while people changed clothes (the other missionaries had a baptism).

Finally, we used it again last night at Ismael's house with one of his aunts, who was before unwilling to set a date to share with us during the weekdays, but who has now set an appointment with us for Thursday. I have a lot of faith in her as an investigator.

That was our use of the video this week! It's been really cool and really inspiring to see it so many times. It always brings into mind a call to be just what we really are: Mormons. People who know Jesus Christ for who He really is and have allowed that knowledge to influence in their whole lives. I hope that we can all live worthily to "be an example of the believers." Those people whom we saw weren't all that extraordinary, but by ever pushing forward to have the Spirit, follow His impressions, and live the Gospel, many of them are making extraordinary things happen. 

We also had a really good Zone Training Meeting on Wednesday. We got to minister some more with the Book of Mormon, which, no matter how many times we practice it, still teaches me more. Also, President McMullin's son, Preston McMullin, who had finished his mission three days prior to the meeting, was present and was the investigator whom we taught in the practices (he alongside his little sister, Erin McMullin). It was super cool to meet him, after serving in the office and seeing so many pictures of him and reading his stories. I've officially met the entire familia McMullin!

Elder DuFort received his birthday package on Wednesday, because on Friday he turned the big 19 years old! I was still at the university when I was his age........ It makes me feel old. He makes me feel old in general. But it's definitely fun to chow through his candy. ;)

I'm surprised at how fast the time is flying by. A lot of my mission has seemed really long, and not in a bad way, but this week feels like a blink of an eye.

But, everyone, I love being a missionary. I love preaching the Gospel and doing contacts. I love being in stressful lessons and relying on God to show me what to say and do. I enjoy praying fervently for those with whom we work, worrying about the Ward and the strength of the members, and fighting this war on the frontlines. I love seeing all the little miracles that shows that God is behind this work and He's doing something bigger than what we will ever realize. I love having the surety that very small, very simple acts and little details bring about miraculous things. 

I gave a talk on Sunday about why we share the Gospel, and how understanding the "why" changes how we share it. I invite everyone to pray sincerely about why they should share the Gospel, about what they can do to invite all to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through faith, repentance, baptism, the reception of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. That is your purpose as much as it is mine.

Love,

Elder Harris

Ripples In The Water‏

Hello Everyone!

I hope that my water reference told everyone what has happened this weekend! Roque Ismael Ramirez Fleitas was baptized on July 11th, 2015 and confirmed on July 12th, 2015! He's so happy and so changed. This really has been one of the most powerful baptisms I've every had. He's not only left behind so much, and he's not merely been baptized in order to join this Church, but really in his heart he was baptized to change his path and to make the Restored Gospel his entire life, and that's the greatest blessing to have seen. He has direction and clarity and we've helped him to know the reason of his existence here and what he must do to fulfill it. I'm so grateful to God that He granted me the chance to be there and help this, His son, come unto Christ.

There will be pictures. :)

But the baptismal service went super well! We have a new Ward Mission Leader, who had a tough time directing the service last time, so we created a guide and practiced with him to prep him, and he did so well! We got there early and Elder DuFort cleaned out the font super well (I more or less helped....) and then made some seriously American brownies. I kid you not, those brownies were just like my great aunt Betty Crocker used to make them, only these were from scratch. It was delicious.

So, before the baptism, our recent convert, Diego Montiel, gave a short talk on baptism. The baptism was done by Ismael's older brother, Iván, and after the baptism, the other Elders in the Ward shared about the purpose of baptism and the story of Adam's baptism in the Pearl of Great Price. After that, Elder DuFort and I sang an acapella duet of "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go," which turned out pretty well. A lot of testimonies and talks followed, and Ismael himself bore testimony. His family was all there, except for his father. And then everyone loved the brownies at the end. It seriously interested a lot of his relatives, and so we're trying to make some follow-up visits to see if we can't find an investigator amongst them. 

It's also helping the Ward get more excited and energized about the work, the fact that there've been back-to-back baptisms these past two weeks. There've actually been a lot of things going on:

Diego Montiel, our Recent Convert, was a witness in the baptism and blessed the Sacrament just this last Sunday for the first time. Along with that, they're really excited, now that Diego is using the Priesthood, to plan out their boy, Matías', baptism. That'll be really good for them. 

Yesterday, we visited Ismael to give him a big congrats and teach him his first lesson as Recent Convert, and then he came out with us to work for an hour preaching the Gospel! He loved it.

Elder Walters had a baptism the week before of a Priesthood-aged man also.

They have a couple of baptisms lined up for this weekend.

All of these things are like rocks falling in the water. They create ripples that in return interact with the other things sitting in the pool. All of this activity is having an effect on the members, helping them wake up. It's also helping me feel the ripples bounce off and return, making me realize the good that we're doing. I'm also working to help build up my companion, see the good that he does and strengthen him in all that I can, and that too creates a ripple effect. I guess all of the good that we do towards other people makes ripples, because even the efforts that seem wasted often disturb something else in the pool, and our good keeps giving in ways that we don't realize. We're trying to do all we can to keep our pool moving and keep the Lord's work active. All of you have your own "pools" your spheres of influence that the Lord has trusted you with. I invite you all to disturb the waters: make ripples by helping and building up those around you. When you do good, don't seek glory, but help others see the good that you're producing. Or better yet, find ways to help them benefit from the good that you do to others. It leads to brighter circumstances and more powerful hope.

Those are the most important developments this week! Enjoy the pictures!

I love you all.

With great sincerity,

Elder Harris

The Cool Part of The Action Movie Where Two Heroes Fight Back to Back‏

Everyone!

This week has been awesome! I'm just really happy about how this last change is going to go. We had the first five days with my new companion in the same area, and it's just really enjoyable. So, who is my new companion???

His selfie is included below. I dunno if he'd like me to send it, but sent it I have!

Elder DuFort, from Roseville, Sacramento, California! He comes into the mission with a whopping 10 months in the field and 6' 1". He's been progressing well and it looks like he's ready to take the next steps forward as a missionary. He's been thrown into this area that he'll get to make his own as he works through here. We've been enjoying our time together a bunch! 

One of the biggest things that I've noticed is the unity. Unity is a crowning principle that we too often ignore in our lives. We get focused on ourselves and lose sight of working with those around us. It's so difficult to acheive though, because it means that everyone's humble, everyone has the same desires for what's best and accepts the same criteria. They don't always have to agree to start with, but as they go along with that meekness, they seek God's will and take unanimous decisions, supporting one another when one gets the right impression first. It's essential in missionary work and the degree of unity or harmony that we have determines a lot of the quality of the work, and the Spirit's ability to work through us (a good scripture that reminds us "If you are not one, you are not mine."). Elder DuFort and I aren't perfectly united, but we are working with much more unity, and that brings so much peace to my heart. There are things I'm going to learn from him, and he has a lot to learn as he's heading into the midpoint of his mission, but I'm confident that we'll both leave this change a lot stronger and more capable to face the challenges that present themselves in the hereafter.

The rant about unity also describes the subject line: that's what lessons feel like now. 

So, I'm feeling great!

The work is moving along. We witnessed a baptism this Saturday. Hector is one of Elder Walters' investigators and he was baptized at 6:00 Saturday. It was nice, but few people attended. He's got a wonderful start in the Church though.

Ismael is so getting baptized this Saturday! It's going to be soooooo great! I'm excited for it. He's worked really hard for it too. He's started to invite people and we're preparing a good program for it, so hopefully you guys get to hear about the best baptism yet!

We're striving to find new families still, as always, and there are some potential people, but I'll write about those who remain next week. The hope is that we have a marriage baptism before I'm done here!

The work is beautiful and wonderful and seeing the change that people bring in their lives with the Gospel is the most satisfying thing I've ever experienced. I'm so grateful for those who've fulfilled that role in my life. It's funny how all I'm doing is really paying it forward. Other people built me up, helped me gain my own testimony, helped me be strong enough to get out in the field and let the Gospel change my life. Other people showed me how and walked with me along the way. All I'm doing is trying to do and be what they were for me for others who really need it. This is something I want to ask everyone to do. Think of the great examples in your lives. Think of the people who changed your lives and what they did to change them (for the better of course), and then go and do it for someone who needs that.

I love you all and hope that this week goes well for every single one of you.

Love,

Elder Harris

Sweet, Sanctifying Tracting

Hello Everyone!

I hope this week's been great for all of you. Mine has gone well, and has humbled me in a couple of ways.

The best news goes first though:

Ismael Ramirez was in Church again on Sunday and is doing super well! We've been learning a lot about how to "Start with the end in mind" with investigators and others, helping them to acheive a vision of not merely getting to baptism or activity, but also enduring to the end and receiving those key temple ordinances and really just preparing people to come unto Christ and stay with Him. We've been applying it like crazy with Ismael, and it's sticking really well. He's not just getting ready to get baptized or leaving behind bad habits. He's changing the entire course of his life, consciously and with specific goals in mind. He's excited to serve a mission in the coming year and is eager to get baptized so that he can continue on in the path. It's really exciting to teach him and strengthen his testimony.

That's the super good news. We had lunch with him and his mom yesterday, but she wasn't down for receiving the missionaries (though she's very grateful for all that we're doing for Ismael). We'll see what happens though when she sees her son get baptized. ;)

Other than that.... Oh, I guess I should mention that we also had a really successful Ward Night activity on Wednesday. It was really last-minute organized, but I set a commitment with the Bishop to organize solid Ward Night activities every other week, and so we had to come through. And we came through! It was just a game night that helped people get to know each other a lot better.

The week was difficult in one aspect because all of our plans were falling through and so we just had to get out and contact, which is normal. I've actually been doing a lot more tracting in this area than normal. The difference this week is that no one was letting us in. However, we were still able to do something, and I know that no missionary effort is wasted. There's something special about just keeping on and giving every single contact all that you can. It purifies you and just humbles you to accept God's will and the agency of others. If we keep on faithfully instead of just trying to bear through another difficult day, the contacting becomes purposeful and we're reminded why we're doing it in the first place. And that was a blessing the Lord gave us this week.

One thing that I forgot to mention from last week was that we had a super awesome conference with Elder Gonzalez of the 70! I loved it, and I'll send a picture from it.

But, that's all I can think to write for now!

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Harris

Our Prayers Are Heard‏

Good Afternoon Everyone Out There!

I think I'll jump right to the point without further delay:

Ismael Ramirez came to Church yesterday! He was well-dressed and just ready to go, and it was so good to see him there. He fit in so well with the members, he participated in the classes, he looked just so happy. I was so happy also. So! As long as he keeps up his progress, he'll be baptized two weeks from Saturday!

I say that our prayers are heard because a lot of you have written me this week saying that you've been praying for Ismael, and I'm so grateful for it. Your prayers have blessed him and strenghtened him and God has heard them. Thank you!

Ismael is still definitely the strong point of this week. Other than him, we're still really struggling to find new investigators. I'm wanting to try some changes in the work to see if we can't involve the members a little better, though we do work with members (it's just not turning up many results....). We did have a random miracle happen this week though:

We were walking in the street just going about our day, heading to a plan we had, when a random woman just stops us and says, "I have someone I need you to visit that said she wants to receive the missionaries." I'd never seen this woman before, and when we asked, she told us that she's an inactive member from the other Ward (that lies in the South Mission), but her friend lives here within our boundaries. So, we went to visit her. It turned out to be a 19 year-old girl, so we're for sure taking male, adult members with us to avoid any possible awkward situations, but she turned out to be someone who's genuinely interested and feels a need to grow closer to Christ in this moment. Sadly, we haven't been able to find her again due to the fact that her sister is in the hospital and they go there very frequently to visit her. But I have faith! I think she'll be the next Ismael.

The Lord is very merciful. with us and He knows better than any other what we need. We're going into the last week before changes and I'm just preparing to do whatever He asks me to do. This is His work and His mission, and I'm just a piece in it. I know that if I serve my best in the circumstance He's put me in, that there will be results.

Today was a good day to get together with some other Elders and play some hardcore soccer. And eat super delicious lunch. 

I guess that's all for this week. Keep the faith!

I love you all.

Sincerely,

Elder Harris

Saving By Degrees‏

Hello Everyone!

This week has been a solid work week with no interruption! Actually, I guess there was one interruption, but it wasn't that big and was pretty productive. But I like getting out to work a lot. :)

I can't wait to tell you all about Ismael Ramirez! He's progressed beautifully this week! He just didn't go to Church. :(

We've had a few lessons, and he's been reading the Book of Mormon and all of the pamphlets. He learns very well, but he's a really humble learner, and that's what I love the most about teaching him. I've been trying to ask him lots of questions when we verify the commitments we extend, because he'd been pretty shy with us, but he's opened up so much this week. On Saturday, when we visited him, I asked him how he feels about his preparation for his baptismal date (which was the 4th of July but is now changed to be the 11th). He told us out of nowhere that since he started to share with us, he's quit drugs, alcohol, and is almost done quitting cigarettes (he's down to one a day instead of a pack a day). We didn't even know he had problems with any of those things! That was so cool! At the end of that lesson, we were walking out, and he asked us if he'd be eligible to someday serve a mission (he's 19 years old). We told him yes and explained the process of becoming a missionary, and he's excited for it! This guy is soooo great!

He wasn't in Church for something exceptional. But he says he will be there for certain next Sunday.

Other than that, we're still on the hunt for new investigators and looking out for unexpected inactive members. We've kept much more unified this week as a companionship and though we still hit turbulence every once in a while, we're doing a lot better. I think that my companion is feeling stronger now.

We had our first big Ward Night Activity on Wednesday this week! I called up some contacts I have from the office days and we scrambled together some popcorn and juice and had a movie night! We had a big projector and got someone in the Ward to bring 17 Miracles (which I had never seen before). We had a good turn out for a first time deal, and there were two investigators present (from the other side of the Ward), so it was a good success. I love that movie so much! It really is so sad and just rends your soul at some points, but has a wonderful message and ends really beautifully. I recommend it to everyone. Just watch it trying to get something out of it though, and you will. 

So, the week was a success in most respects. There's still so much to learn though, and I know that up until my very last day on the mission, I'll still have more to learn about how to find, teach, baptize, reactivate, and retain people. The beauty of this work is in the constant progress we give.

I was thinking about that, and I realized that even when I feel good about myself, I still view my situation or my area as dire in many ways, and that's pretty much always been true. I started to think about why and what I feel I could change about my outside circumstances to feel better about things and not feel like I'm hanging on a precipice, and I realized that so much is out of my control. I think the key to having a right perspective about our lives and situations is a work of salvation by degrees. Little by little, as we study the scirptures, the words of living prophets, as we pray and look to other resources our Father has given us, we adjust our perspective, and we humbly change. Little by little, we also take hold of our situation and change the things that we can. If we work with faith, never desparing, we'll see and be sure that what we have is not a desperate situation, but rather a blessing and an opportunity, that God planned out our success and progress in it and through it and over it.  I'm grateful for the challenges I experience, but I must recognize that I'm not in dire straits nor failing, but that there is work to be done, responsibility to assume, and blessings to be poured out upon those around me. If there were no pressure, no capacity to fail, none of those things would come to fruition. I cannot let my fear of failure chase me into corners or dead-ends in the laberynth of daily decision making, and that's something that I've been changing bit by bit. I love this Gospel because it teaches me how to learn these lessons.

Thank you all for your wonderful emails! You uplift and strengthen me. Pray for Ismael!

I love you so much!

Sincerely.

Elder Harris

A Matter of Choice‏

Bom Dia meus amigos!

That's Portuguese, for no reason! This week has been eventful, and I feel good about it after all that's been going on.

I think that the biggest even on which I can comment is the quarterly interview/zone training meeting, that lasted WAY TOO LONG! We got there at 11:30 am and left at 7:30. It's normally supposed to last like three hours, but interviews never take that short of time, so it was kind of inevitable. But I think that there were a lot of missionaries that were needing some strengthening. I hope that last week I didn't cause you all to worry about the difficulties that I've been facing. Life just needs to be difficult sometimes, but I'm going to write more about that later on. I wanted to tell you all now that those difficulties and discouragements are passed, and that my companion and I are working together with a great deal more harmony and peace. It was all a matter of choice really, and thanks to our wonderful Mission President, my companion was able to make a choice that has resulted incredibly profitable for his spiritual and general well-being.

We continue in our hunt for investigators! Until now, we have two, but a bunch of possibilities. One of the two that we have used to have a baptismal date for June 27th, but that fell because she didn't attend Church yesterday. She's Luciana Cristaldo de Guzmán. She's gone through a lot, and used to attend an evangelical church called CFA. Her husband has a degenerative disease called Multiple Sclerosis and is mostly confined to a special bed, and she lost one of her 22 year-old sons a few years back. But, she has lots of faith in God, and we weren't sure if she was really actually interested, because we couldn't find her all of last week. All of the sudden, two nights ago, we had a lesson with her, and she'd read in the Book of Momon! She understands well and now understands why pray about it. We're excited to teach her the Plan of Salvation today and see if it doesn't give her more incentive to attend church and keep up with us.

The other we just had our second lesson with last night. His name is Ismael Ramirez, who's young, and has an older brother that lives in a different city who is a firm member of our Church. He (Ismael) wants to change his life, and he read the pamphlet that we gave him like ten times. It was so cool to teach him and see his understanding. He's just a little nervous when we're there, so we hope that he can relax and we can talk a little better.

In my interview with President, we mostly just talked about how to strengthen my companion and what I need to do to build him up. But I did share one thing. I talked about how emotionally unstable I often am. One day I'll feel great, but the next I'll get depressed. I always come back up, but I've always felt that there must be a way to not dip down so much or so frequently. And the answer is as it always has been: it's a matter of choice. I have realized so many times that happiness, true and lasting, should not depend on anything external. It doesn't matter what's going on around me, what all of the results of all my efforts are, or how my companion (or in the future, friends and family) are doing or treating me. My happiness must depend solely upon my decisions to follow the Savior and give my best. In reality, it should be centered on Him, who does never change. Therefore, in any given moment, we can be happy, or at least stable emotionally, because if we are doing something that isn't in accordance with our own happiness, then we can choose to change that and be happy knowing that through sincere repentance we will be forgiven. All of how we feel and react to the world around us is a matter of choice. It's this internal self-sufficiency. This isn't to be confused with indifference. We cannot just not care about what goes on. But we cannot let external things affect internal attributes. We must keep the external on the outside, and the internal where it should be. The Savior told us to weep with those that weep and mourn with those that mourn, not fall into the same despair that they might be feeling or give up as they may have. We can react and have the full array of emotions without compromising our own eternal hope and faith. That is the lesson that I've been learning, and it's something I hope we can all achieve. Have the Fount of Living Water within ourselves and not seek any other.

I love you all! I hope that this week goes wonderfully for everyone!

Love,

Elder Harris

Faith Through It All‏

Good Afternoon Everyone!

The Paraguayan Fall continues! We're supposed to be developing into Winter this month, but I have my doubts. Last year, the Winter was much warmer than Fall.

Proselyting this week:

Was a rough one. This is the part where one trial gets stacked up on top of another. We read in the Book of Mormon about how often the Lord is merciful to His people, but we sometimes overlook HOW MUCH they suffered before they were delivered. On one division this week, I was with our Zone leader, and when we clapped outside of the house of one of our only investigators, her husband walked out with the Book of Mormon and all of the pamphlets in hand. He handed them back to me, and very politely, with lots of love and friendship, told us that he and his family cannot continue receiving the missionaries, and that while he respects our beliefs, he differs on several accounts, especially that of baptism. That was a difficult one to take.

Then another one fell. She even told us that she'd love to continue and even follow Jesus Christ unto baptism, but that she cannot continue progressing in the Gospel path for now due to various circumstances in her life at this moment. We tried to help her see that those things are just obstacles and that she must overcome them, but it was in vain. So, we've had to leave her there.

And then we're having to drop Celia Mereles just because she doesn't progress well.

So we still have one investigator hanging in there, but we're needing to go and find a bunch more. This week was tough finding as well, not a lot of people were so interested.

But through it all, I know that it's just another week. I feel such great desires and such great frustration that I haven't baptized in six months, but I know that if I keep looking up and working with faith, trying to find things to improve and actually going out and improving them, God will grant us with His blessings. I've been thinking about it a lot. I feel like He does have success planned. I feel like there are baptisms to be had in the area, but I feel even more deeply that even if not, I will continue with just as much force, faith, and diligence. I love the words of Shadrac, Meshac, and Abed-nego who told king Nebuchadnezzar that God would deliver them, but that even if He did not, they would not bow down. That's how I feel. I feel that God will deliver us out of this difficult time, but even if there is no deliverance, it is worth it to serve Him and love His children.

On happier things, my companion and I are working better together. I don't feel any anxiety about that or depression ensuing. I feel calm and strong. Just anxious to have some success here.

I'd also like to include in the e-mail a reminder to remember the recently passed Elder Perry, and look up his biography on line. May he rest in peace.

I love you all! I hope that you're keeping strong and finding your own ways to have faith through it all.

Love,

Elder Harris

I'd Call It First Week of Changes But.....‏

Hello all!

This week was the first week of the new change, but I feel like the word change is just losing meaning to me, because nothing actually changed. I'm in the same area, with the same companion, on the other side of the Ward, the same two other missionaries, etc. The only news is that I'm now in a tiny District. We're just the Del Maestro Crew! Lote Guasu uprising! Elder Walters, a very young missionary, is the District Leader, and he's doing really swell. He's a great guy and a wonderful missionary.

The work this week is stabilizing as I'm getting more stable internally. This are still rough in the companionship, but I realized that I need to be emotionally stable and strong for myself. I've been focused on keeping obedient for myself and keeping myself worthy, but I finally realized that I can also be happy or at least at peace for my own self, that that is not something that I can place on a circumstance or person outside of my control. I realized that last Monday doing some extra studies with P-day time, and the result let me to an understanding that the true peace, happiness, and emotional stability that we seek in our lives doesn't merely come from living the Gospel in the big outward facets. Living the Gospel in the big and important ways gives us security, often improves our situations, and lets us know where our future lay, but I had all of those things and yet could feel distress, sorrow, angst, or anxiety. Studying it out, I realized that the peace of mind and heart that the Gospel brings comes from having the Holy Spirit as our constant companion. There are some really wonderful talks about how to invite that Spirit into every second of our lives, and reviewing those, I was able to make some changes. The result has been fairly dramatic, and mainly resulted that I'm much less dramatic. I love this work and love the Lord. He is so kind and merciful and, though we cannot force the Spirit to be with us, He will always be there to guide us as we bring our thoughts, desires, and actions into His divine will. I love it so much.

Speaking of the work, we've continued to find people who seem quite prepared. Especially one family that we taught where the Mom of the family was really interested in what we had to share and is really Christian. We'll be seeing what'll happen with them this week. I have hopes!

The Montiel Orrego family is still coming to Church and they're ready to take the next step up to do vicarious work in the temple. I'm so grateful to God that He blessed us to help that family come back into activity. The Gospel is beautiful and when others come to see it for the second time, it rings deep within them. 

I feel a lot of hope for this change. Nothing is concrete so far, but I feel like this week we're going to have some solid baptismal dates and investigators.

Today, we had an awesome zone activity with crazy games. It was kind of a minute to win it obstacle course. Five stations, and two teams of five people. The first team to get everyone through every station wins. Station one: thread a needle (more people got stuck on that than you'd think....... It was by far the longest). Station two: pull a coin out of flour with your mouth. Station three: Eat two fruits as fast as you can (choose from a selection of bananas, pears, apples) Station four: Drink a bottle of soda as fast as you can. Station five: Blow a balloon, tie it, and sit on it.

The last man has to eat and drink everything the others left. I was the last man. I never ate two apples and one pear so fast in my life.... I finished off the apples in only three bites.....

It was great fun! I love zone activities and love spending time with good friends in the mission.

One thing I've missed in the Mission is cooking pizza from scratch, but tonight we have a gigantic Family Home Evening, and so I made pizza dough early this morning! It still turns out well. :)

That's this week! I hope that you area all doing well and can have an enjoyable week! Have lots of faith in God and keep worthy and inviting to His Spirit!

I love you all!

Sincerely,

Elder Harris

Another Change In Retrospect

Hello Everyone!

I hope that you have all had great weeks and that you feel happy with what you're doing. This week was the last week of the change for me, so I'll be finding out tomorrow what's going to become of me. I'm looking at the week and the change, and I feel pretty good about things. There are some obvious flaws, and it's been a roller coaster, but I feel good about my own efforts and the things that I've been trying to learn in my time here. I have so much to learn and lack so much growth, but I know that the Lord is with me, and He will not put me in a situation where happiness and peace are out of reach.

This week was a little crazy because we did two divisions in the same week again. But it was really good to do them. They definitely helped me to feel more confident and refocus my mind in good ways. The first was with Elder Àlvarez, who is one of my Zone leaders, and who is from Chile. It was really great, especially because we were in Capiatà again! But the other side of the Ward that wasn't my area.

During that division, we went to visit Hermana Adorno, who was Relief Society President when I was in the Ward (she isn't anymore). She and her sister were so distressed by a sickness that had come upon their nephew. We were able to bring the Spirit there and help them to feel that consolation, and then, when their nephew arrived, they invited us to give him a blessing of health. Elder Alvarez blessed him, and it was a moment of incredible power and Spirit. I was really glad that I was able to be there to participate in that blessing.

As far as the work goes in the area, Familia Montiel Orrego, the recent converts who'd gone inactive, came back to for the third Sunday! That makes them  active members now! That, and the fact that they're doing the other things, like reading their scriptures, praying, Family Home Evening, and just progressing spiritually. It's been a great blessing to help them return and grow in their testimonies, and we hope to continue seeing that progress and they put down deeper roots.

Other than that, the work is still somewhat stalled here in the area. I get frustrated a lot, but I'm excited to see what happens with changes, and if it's me and the same companion in the same area, I'll be excited to set some new goals and see some real growth here.

I love the Lord and know that He blesses us in afflictions and in good times. I hope that everyone is able to grow and to see their personal progress in this week and remember that you are all in my prayers.

I love you all!

Love,

Elder Harris

A For Effort!‏

Good Morning All!

This is an email about another crazy week on the mission. So much stuff happens with so many different people that it's hard to keep up with all the time. When I think about it on a week to week basis or on a long-term scale, it really seems incredible that we get through it all or that we do all the things that we do. It's here that I'm learning a lot about how to plan for the future and live in the present in such a way to acheive what you've  planned, but really just focus and worry and feel anxiety for the bite-sized chunk of life we usually call a day (sometimes less). The mission has taught me a simple art form of pleading with the Lord the strength to do what He wants me to do just enough for that day, and sometimes just enough for the next couple of hours or the next task. The miracle is this: it works.

In talking about the work, it's been interesting. I'm really trying to unify with my companion more, because we don't really share a vision for the work or what we should be doing or even being here in the area. There have been some good successes in this week. Other things still need to improve.

Celia Mereles was finally there for another visit on Wednesday, which went super long, was super great, but in the end, we weren't able to find her again and she didn't come to Church! It's frustrating.... When we can't teach someone, and they can't find the will to take the invitations that we make them to be able to come unto Christ and rejoice in a firm and fruitful repentance, we have to start looking at the option of leaving them. I don't want to leave Celia, because I know that she needs help, but I feel that she might not be letting us help her.

The only people we visited in the week who in the end came to Church on Sunday were the couple: Diego and Rossana Montiel Orrego. They're doing quite well! They had their first ever family home evening last week and are progressing in the Gospel. Their testimonies are growing and they're finding themselves strengthened by the Book of Mormon. It's not perfect, but it's good progress.

It was also so wonderful to get to talk with the family on Saturday! That always brings strength and consolation and brings the sights higher to remember that what I'm doing here has longer lasting repurcussions than what's in the field.

We've been looking for new people this week, and we've had some good first lessons, but nothing really solid so far. We're going to follow-up with those whom we've visited this week, but we need to keep searching for more new investigators. There must be some way to find them, and I have that faith that there are people prepared to receive us.

I love this work and know it's true! I hope that you all have a wonderful week and can feel your own testimonies grow!

Love,

Elder Harris

Never A Dull Moment‏

Good Morning Everyone!

I'm finally writing a little earlier today! It's been a crazy week, as ever, and had a lot of random, unexpected highlights. In the work however, it's been a little slow..... Almost feels like it's not moving.

The best thing that happened was that I FINALLY GOT TO SEE MEET THE MORMONS! Everyone has written me about the movie, when I was in the office, I regularly watched the trailer in anticipation, and I've just been anxious to see it, and the chance finally came. As I've said before, President McMullin has a special copy, and so he and the Stake organized an activity for missionaries and members that if they would bring a friend or other nonmember, they could come see it in the Stake Center. We weren't going to have anyone come. We'd made some sincere efforts, but our investigator, Celia Mereles, couldn't come, and then no one else could. But we had an ace in the hole, and it was a member family that we visit every week to talk about participating in missionary work, and they came through! So, we got to go.

It's a great movie, and even though I had to see it in Spanish, I was impressed by many parts of it. No one talked about it like a documentary, so I didn't think that it'd be done documentary style, so that was a surprise. But nevertheless, it was captivating and well done.

As you can see in the pictures, we also did some unexpected service this week at the Elders Quorum's President's house, which went well and helped us gain his confidence. We actually have a family home evening tonight with them, so lets hope that they'll have some good references ready. ;)

But I can now definitively say that I'm ready for a job in construction work, as long as we're using South American techniques and there are no power tools involved...

The other picture is of our house yesterday morning. There was a half-inch of water all over the house, because it rained BIG TIME Saturday night. The water you see there is literally what came spouting up out of the ground over that part of the house. So, rainy day. That brought with it the real Paraguayan fall-winter, which is always cool. So today we're enjoying the weather, with a nice sun and refreshing breeze.

As for me, I'm moving forward. I talked last week about how I've been lacking a bit of charity, and it was funny because it's not something that I was able to study well or really look into during the week (except for reading the epic talk "The Merciful Obtain Mercy" By President Uchtdorf), and then Sunday, in Gospel Principles, I had to teach the class. About charity. You know the scripture that talks about how when we teach by the Spirit, both the teacher and the student are equally edified? That described the moment perfectly. Gospel Principles gives four ways to develop charity:

Study Christs life, because He is the supreme example.

Ask for charity in fervent prayer.

Love yourself. Understand that you have inherent value as a child of God. Loving yourself means that you will be obedient because you see yourself as being worth the effort necessary to gain eternal life. You see Christ's sacrifice as a gift and instead of feeling ashamed for making him pay for you, you feel grateful and understand that if He says you  were worth it, then you really must be.

And finally avoid thinking that you are better than anyone. When we receive a blessing or improve, we become grateful to God instead of proud in ourselves.

These were things that I needed to hear. I've made some changes, and God has blessed me more than I could have imagined, and so I feel much better in these last two days than I have in a while. I'm so far from perfect, and I want to badly to be a perfect missionary, but I can be patient and I know that the Lord is pleased with what we're doing in the area. Because of how I felt, my companion, who is going through a difficult time on his mission, was suffering and falling into self-doubt and questioning his presence here in the field. But as soon as I humbled myself, prayed fervently, tried to love my own self more, and the Lord granted me greater charity, I could see a change in him as well. We bless others so much more when we are okay with ourselves. We almost always have to repent of something or other in order to be okay with ourselves, but if we can retain that feeling, we can be a great strength to everyone around us.

I know this is all true! I hope that you all have a wonderful week, and a happy Mother's Day!

Love,

Elder Harris

Shortest Week Ever‏

I'm so sorry everyone!!!! There's only an hour this week and on top of that I lost like almost thirty minutes of time to a survey. But! Some amazing things have been going on this week!

The big, awesome things that are going on are the following:

Yesterday, we had a total of 12 less-active members in Church. That was amazing. One family is a couple of recent converts who were baptized in September but haven't come to Church since early January. They came yesterday and we have such great hopes for them! It was after a lot of striving and visits, but this week they just up and started to keep the commitments we extended them throughout the week, and then came to Church on Sunday.

There was a new Less-active man who came and was very sincere. It was Ward Conference, so the Stake President was very involved in all of the meetings, and he pulled forward this middle-aged man (named Eudelio) who sincerely confessed that he feels empty as he's not been in Church for so long, and that he came that day to be filled. It was beautiful to hear without eloquence but with so much sincerity.

I was able to play piano for a youth choir that sang during Sacrament meeting, and it went very well. We were happy.

This week has been good, as I said, but I find that I've been losing slowly the Charity that I was learning to obtain. Negativity has a way of finding footholds and creeping into our minds and hearts, and I think I've been kind of hard on my companion for lack of the merciful perspective that we take when we love sincerely. So, this week's focus is on being kind, merciful, and have a pure love and charity in my heart.

And that's the invitation for everyone! It's a busy time of year for anyone who's studying, but I hope that everyone can find some way to serve those around them this week.

Also! To the family:

The Mother's Day call is next week! I can do it Friday May 8th, Saturday May 9th, or Sunday May 10th. I think that Saturday or Sunday would be best for all of you guys, but let me know what you think! I'll take all responses privately and write next Monday to let you all know the day and the time that I'll be logged in to see everyone and wish you all my love!

With Love,

Elder Harris

Work, And Hopefully Diligence

Good Afternoon All!

Paraguay is going nuts with the weather here. It's sometimes cool and nice, then the temperature drops and it gets way rainy, and then the sun jumps out and it's hot and humid. The result is a lot of carrying an umbrella when there's absolutely no apparent need for one, and then immense gratitude that I brought an umbrella a couple of hours later when it's raining cats and dogs. ;)

This week has been good. It's been the first week since I've been out in the field with substantial uninterrupted work (although there were still a couple of interruptions). The only things that stood in the way were the Tuesday Zone Temple Trip!!!! It was so great! Also, awesome to get to go to the temple twice in five days. I have such a testimony of the temple and what we do there. It's absolutely straight from Heaven and I know that those are real covenants and ordinances of the Gospel that we do there. After the temple, we had a beautiful testimony meeting, where some Nivaclé youth who will be leaving on missions soon bore testimonies. Oh yeah, remember me emailing about Nivaclé youth? Those same youth have had their calls for a while and will be heading to the Buenos Aires MTC in early May. So cool! 

After the testimony meeting, we ate pizza and watched the success video and a video that Elder Milton made about house maintenance. It was funny to see these things and not have had anything to do with them. Nice work Elder Milton. :)

And then there was the work. :)

We were able to find a couple of new investigators this week! One of them had a really good, spiritual experience with the video: "Because He Lives" and we shared quite a bit about baptism and the Restoration. She accepted everything wonderfully. Her only real trial is that she's now with a man who does not like religion at all. But she's married to another man with whom she's separated but never divorced, so things there will probably have to end anyways..... We'll see. That's something to worry about AFTER she has a firm testimiony of the Restored Gospel.

There's one family of incorrigibly inactive recent converts who never have a reason to not go and always seem desirous to change and come into activity when we visit. I don't know what we're doing wrong to not be able to gain their confidence. One night, when we didn't have time to share anything, but I had all the ingredients to make some good ol' American holiday hot chocolate (just means it's flavored up with nutmeg and cloves and other deliciousness), we even sat down and made them all cocoa and then just up and left. Result: they love us to death, and respect us a lot as missionaries, but still don't trust us enough to tell us what impedes them from coming to Church. I'm puzzled.

However, the parents of the mom are starting to listen to us, and there's hope that if we can get the WHOLE FAMILY to start coming, they'll all stay active.... But, we'll be praying and fighting a lot for that to happen, and proceeding with caution.

As a missionary, we try and work a lot, but I often feel a little self-conscious about how much I'm able to work. I'm always looking at how much we could work and comparing it to how much we do, or even how effective and strong the work we put out is. It's so easy to see imperfections and weaknesses, and I personally have a tendency to view these mistakes as sins. But I was reminded to read an article in the April Liahona (Ensign) about the difference between weakness and sin, and understanding how to overcome weaknesses helps me not to be so hard on myself for not serving perfectly. I know that we all have weaknesses and that we all choose incorrectly at times, but I know that God's grace uplifts us and strengthens us to overcome. It often doesn't come as we think it would. I always thought that God would help me and make eating difficult foods easy for me, but I still feel the exact same amount of anxiety as I used to when someone puts a plate in front of me. God more often than not strengthens us to be able to overcome the weakness instead of taking it away. So, I'm hoping for greater diligence this week, and praying for even more results.

I love this work though! This is a wonderful place with wonderful people and we're starting to scratch the surface! I hope that everyone can participate in the glory of this work and enjoy it thoroughly.

I love you all!

Sincerely,

Elder Harris

P.S. There was a wedding in the Ward, and we got permission to stay out a little later to see it. :)

The first picure is of the ceremony (only ever done by a judge, oddly enough).

The second is of Gustavo Cantero, the coolest Recent Convert ever (alongside Sofía) who worked the night as proffessional bussboy (I think that's how it's spelled.....).

Possibly the Greatest Week of My Mission‏

Good Afternoon Everyone!

Che Avy'a!

Means I'm happy.

Why?

This week was what might very well be the single greatest week in my entire mission. There have been so many incredible blessings that have occurred in this week that I cannot contain my joy when I think about it. I think I'll go in order of greatest in joy and incredibility.

First: 

Temple trip.

With Sofía Ortiz.

To Receive her endowments.

And Elder Brown and his entire family were there!

I couldn't believe that it actually happened! This internet shop here is being weird and not letting me send pictures wel, but I have a wonderful picture. Elder Brown has been off of his mission a whole year now, so I guess at some point I'll have to start referring to him as Caiden, but we'll see about that...... In any case, it was the most spiritual experience I have ever had. The happiest I've ever felt in one single moment up until now in my life. Being with Sofía in the Celestial Room of the temple was so amazing. And then being there with her and with Elder Brown.... It kind of just felt like being in Heaven and bumping into all of these amazing people who've changed my life and whom I've been able to help. I loved that moment.

Second:

I have a new companion! I'm still here in Del Maestro A, but now my companion is Elder Requelme, from Cajamarca, Perú! That's way up in the mountains. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to serve with him, because he's really excited to get out and work and wants to learn so many things. So, we're working hard and trying to do what's right out here in the Ward.

Third:

We have had some small Retention success with one family: The Familia Cantero. They are solid in the Church, but the mom of the family was going through some difficulties with her testimony. She hadn't read in The Book of Mormon since her baptism about seven months ago, and so she was starting to fall away into not really believing in the Book at all. So, we invited her to start reading again and to really seek revelation in General Conference, and she's now halfway through Second Nephi. She just sought out the time to read when there's peace and quiet in the house, and when she reads like that and really understands what she's reading, it fills her with the Spirit and enlightens her mind. She knows the doctrine so much better and feels invigorated with the Gospel every day that she gets a solid chunk of time to read. I loved hearing that so much and I testify to everyone out there, be they missionary or parent or teacher in the Gospel, that the invitations that you extend to help people repent and be firmer in the Gospel are valuable and do a lot to bless the lives of those you teach. It was a beatiful blessing.

Other than that, we're looking for people to teach and trying to do things well. We have a lot of faith and a lot of prayers, and so I know that the Lord will guide us to those people who will be ready to receive this Gospel and come unto the waters of Baptism or the light of activity.

I love this work and testify of its fruits. There is no greater joy than in this Gospel, and that joy is manifest when our love for another helps them come closer to God by making covenants. That is why missionary work is so special and so unique. It is all our work.

I love you all, and wish you a great week also!

Love, 

Elder Harris

By the way, today was a biz Zone Activity. The first picture is of my companion, the the others show what we were up to today. ;)

All Is Well‏

I love the words of that hymn. It really is an indication that if we keep ourselves engaged in the Work, keep ourselves willing and dedicated to accept God's will whatever it may be, and if we seek the good of our brethren here, then all really is well and we've nothing to fear, nor doubt, nor despair.

This week has been a good one. I did two back-to-back divisions on Wednesday, Thursday, and a good half of Friday as well. One was with Elder Fortney in Kokueré (Elder Fortney is my District Leader). It was good, and was a nice experience to grow together. And then the other was with ELDER DAY! a good friend (and my current Zone Leader), in his area, CAPIATÁ B! So, I just got to tour the old area for a day and a half. It was really nice, although it was on Thursday, when every living soul in the cities go and visit their grandmas out in the country, so all the plans were falling through and it was kind of difficult. On Friday, we got up and went out to give service in the old Asentamiento, the poor part. A group called "Techo para mi país" (a roof for my country) came by to build a member's house and another person's house. The houses come build, and so you just kind of have to assemble (think Ikea but on a bigger scale). So, without machines, we had to carry heavy walls across some odd 200 meters of hill, full of obstacles, trench-like dirt gutters, and sand. That was nuts. But, we helped them move and assemble the house for the people we'd never met, and looked at the clock, and realized that we had to go before even being able to help the members out. So, we got the other people up from the break that they'd done, did all the heavy lifting part of the work, and skipped town. It was very nice though.

Another nice thing about this week:

Chipa.

Chipa is a traditional paraguayan food that I don't like from the street, but I love it when it's doen either professionally or home made. I LOVE it in those cases. It's also Paraguay's Holy Week tradition to get together and make it as a family, so I have eaten enough chipa this week to last me the rest of my life!!!! Which is miraculous, because it's also just crazy unhealthy (I'm pretty sure it contains straight pig fat at some point in the creation process).

So, that made it a good week.

What made it a great week was

GENERAL CONFERENCE!

I loved this Gen Con. I felt so strengthened by their words, and the more I study and listen, the more I'm starting to feel the truth of all of this. The testimony I have resonates so powerfully with what they communicate to us, and it serves as a powerful assurance that keeps me firm in what I'm doing. I hope that I can keep strong in the faith and continue growing more humble and more constant in the faith.

Because of these things, I wasn't really able to work much in my area. No investigators or anyone came to Conference, although I did get to see Elder Monzón's parents! They are really great people, and his dad is actually the first or second counselor in our mission presidency, so it was nice to get to chat with him again.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful week and that everyone can review the conference and set those personal goals to be able to live the Gospel so much more fully in the next six months. We have some wonderful opportunities with the talks that were given.

I love you all.

Sincerely,

Elder Harris

P.S. I have some pictures to send! One of myself and my companion on our first day together and another one just of me in the new house. Just to prove that I'm still alive and am actually the person writing you all. ;)

Changes and Humility

Good Afternoon Everyone!!!

This week has been pretty crazy! I've gotten to know the area so much better and there are a lot of great people around here. I'd love to show you guys some pictures of my companion and all, but it'll have to wait until next week. I think that I'll be staying here for the rest of my mission furthermore! We'll see though.

There are some cool members that help us out as missionaries, and a lot of solid, active, sealed families. Like: Familia García and then the Bishop, some recent converts who are working on getting into the temple (Familia Cantero), and then there's Famlia Dominguez who actually also has a son on his mission in Perú! It's great.

We're working with some less-actives right now, and one family did attend Church yesterday!!! César and María Galeano! It was nice to see them and I hope that they will be able to progress. I might need some ideas though. César can't read, and they don't have any sort of CD player, so we need a dependable way in which he can independently study and gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon..... I'm open to suggestions.

As far as I'm doing: well. This has been somewhat a trying point on my mission to see if I'll handle something I've never actually gone up against. So as to not mar anyone's image, I'll refrain from saying why it's been a trial, but I can say that the strength I gained in the office and the words of Prophets and Apostles, ancient and modern, can really give us refuge when we are totally alone. I testify of President Monson's call for us to be brave and to stand up for what it right, while I also testify of our need to be loving, understanding, and to reserve judgement. It's a difficult balance to achieve, but it's worth a lifetime of peace if you can achieve it.

I've been studying a lot about how to have a love that is truly Christlike, and I realized that all too often we fall in the trap of becoming bitter by the disappointment that we receive from others. But, I have learned some great lessons from the talks "Remember which way you face," in this last conference and "The Merciful Will Obtain Mercy" from April of 2012, as well as a beautiful scripture in Ephesians 4 that commands us to remove from ourselves all bitterness, all anger, and then invites us to be merciful with our fellowmen.

I know that having a Christlike love is possible in spite of our imperfections. I know that it is difficult when there are so many who do not want to forgive or who seek to harm and destroy us, but I know that with God, we can receive a mighty change in our hearts and grow humble and be filled with Christ's pure love. I testify of that as HIs representative.

I'm grateful to all of you for all that you do for me in your emails and I hope that you have a wonderful week. This week should be full of work and other activities, and then next week will already be change week again! How crazy!

Love,

Elder Harris

Changes

Everyone!

I have less than five minutes to write all of this!

I'm now serving in Barrio Del Maestro, Capiatà Stake again! I'm with a Bolivian Elder named Elder Huarachi! I absolutely love being a missionary and serving the Lord and that's exactly what I'm doing a lot more of! However, there are some difficult situations in this Ward and this area that have caused this place to be struggling. But! I've been praying hard and God is granting strength. I'm so thankful for all of your emails and support and I'll tell you all so much more about it next week! 

I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Harris