This week has been something totally different! I have gotten out to work significantly less because of some stresses here in the office, but the work does move along, though the breaks got slammed this week.
So, then I have officially done some things that I never imagined myself having done this week. I think I do that almost every week here..... Maybe twice some...... I dunno what to think though.
This week's?
Number one:
In one Presidential Project, I was asked to change our system for Missionary statistics and reporting that is unique to our mission. It was built by the mission's last President, Presidente Madariaga, who read very thoroughly the instructions and help sections of Microsoft Access and could therefore build the whole system using it. It's a brilliant things that works really well for us. Well, I was asked to make some changes to our reports. The request was made casually, almost just shrugging it off. The thought I had when the request was made was "Oh..... I was planning on going out and proselyting today....." But what slipped from my mouth was an enthusiastic, "No problem!"
So, we tried at it several times and made some progress, but just failed to see the results that we wanted, and so we did something that's never been done since I've been here. Instead of just trying to change the matrix ourselves, we made a phone call to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and spoke to he who wrote the matrix. The craftsman of the black box which we mostly just refuse to open and when we do open it it mostly just defeats us confused and frustrated. From BA, he was able to look at our system, download all of the necessary components, and hold onto it for a few days to fix it up like we need it. That was awesome, and he is such a kind, wonderful human being.
Number two:
We went to the rescue! I won't go into the details because it's a somewhat sensitive situation, but President was many hours away doing his monthly Zone Conferences with the whole mission (it just so happened to be this week that he had to go to the really far away parts this week), and Hermana McMullin called us at like 11:00 when we should've been asleep (we weren't. We totally broke the rules that night and ordered a whole bunch of pizza. I'm sorry, I feel guilty. It's one difficulty of being with six other Elders in the same house), to tell us that there was a sister missionary about 45 minutes away that we needed to help RIGHT NOW. So, she had the van, came down to our house, I and two other Elders came with her to take care of everything that needed to be done. We drove out to a place called Benjamín Aceval and got there at like 12:20. by the time we had finished all that needed to be done, it was actually 2:00 at night. That was so crazy, however, the crazy part has nothing to do with me nor my companions. We, indeed, did little to push the rescue along. I admire so much the dedication and love that the Hermana McMullin has towards the missionaries here. She was there in every moment with those Sisters and it was such a humbling, beautiful moment to see her strengthen them.
This was how Hermana McMullin showed me in part what Thomas S. Monson means when he speaks of running to the rescue of our fellow man. She still had to take the kids to school the next day and face a new day of challenges, but that didn't matter. She didn't complain, nor was she stern. It just seemed like the lack of sleep didn't have any effect at all, and that's what's even more impressive. While I was sitting here almost nodding off at times or later talking about how tired I was, there was such a better example right there with me.
So, those are two crazy experiences this week. I don't really have time for any more, but just know that the office shouldn't suck anyone in too much and that we can do more than we think. Also, I testify that it's super beneficial to try and notice the goodness of others and be anonymous in our service. That's something I need to be a lot better about, but the office is a perfect place to start doing it.
I love you all, I want to remind you of the love your Father in Heaven has for you. He is personally your Father. He personally wants to know, to talk with, to be with, and to speak to you. Blessedly, He will not force you to do so, but He will give you so many chances and reminders of how you can have this divine interaction. Just listen to His messages and follow them, and you will feel it. Your life will cease to be guided by your own unsteady hands, but the current of the Gospel will carry your righteous actions higher and farther than you had ever looked to see possible. He is Great. He is Loving. He is Ours, and we are His.
Love,
Elder Harris
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