Hey everyone! Things here are so great! I love my companions and
the work couldn't be going any better! There are 12 people in District 24-B.
Elder Harris, Elder Price, Elder Davidson, Elder Alder, Elder Parkinson, and
Elder stokes are the Elders. And Sister Redd, Sister Morgan, Sister Bennion,
Sister Chandler, Sister Dyches, and Sister Holmoe are the sisters. My companion
is Elder Price. He just graduated from high school this year so he is a
youngin, but I love him to death! His testimony is so strong and he is finally
coming out of his shell and opening up to everyone!
A lot has happened in the 5 days that I've been here. It seems
like I've been in here forever but I've only been here for 5 days counting
today. But good news! I board Delta Air Lines Flight number 4769 next Monday
morning at 5:30! I'm not extremely happy about the time cause that means only
like 4 hours of sleep for the whole next day but I'm super excited to get out
into the field. Elder Price and I have been asked to be Zone Leaders. It is actually
really simple and we get to know all of the Elders really well. We hug all the
Elders in our district and are examples in everything that we do. It is such a
good learning experience.
I've been studying a lot more than I ever have before. We have
about 3 hours a day of person and companion study. Studying with a purpose is
so much more useful and important than just reading the scriptures cause I have
to. I read D&C 4:4, "For behold the field is white already to harvest;
and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in
store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul;" If you
think of the scriptures as your sickle, it puts an entirely new direction to studying!
You cant just read the scriptures and expect to get something out of it, you
have to go into it with a question or seeking spiritual guidance. And I have
been doing just that. Also as a district of Elders, we are studying all of Alma
and trying to get through the whole thing before we go home. I'm on Alma 9 out
of like 40 or 60 or something. But I have gotten more out of those 9 chapters
than I have out of all the other studying I have done on my own before.
My purpose as a missionary is to "Invite others to
come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through Faith in
Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the gift of the
Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." We have had to memorize this as well
as the words spoken by Joseph Smith describing the First Vision. We have
already taught a brother named Henphey Magee. He is just our teacher pretending
to be an investigator but it is simply amazing how well role playing works! I
have learned how to recognize the Spirit and how to help others feel that
Spirit too! The hardest part is planning for what he needs next. Most of the
time that we go in with a plan, we don't teach what we prepared, but the lesson
we taught turns out to be ten times better than the lesson we prepared
because it fits him better. We are taught to "Teach people, not
lessons." In other words, we don't just go in there and every lesson onto
the table, but we teach what the person needs to hear. And we know what that
person needs by following the Spirit.
You hear that the mission is hard and everyone is always tired.
And its true! But its not physically hard at all. It is mentally tiring! There
is a section in D&C where Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon had a vision and
afterwards, Sidney fell on his bed exhausted. Joseph said that it was because
the Spirit is very mentally tiring and its so hard to stay awake in my
meetings. The food here isn't too bad but we eat dinner at 4 every day so when
we go to bed, we are all starving! But we don't have microwaves or fridges so
don't worry about sending me anything! If you would like to send me a photo
album before next Monday, I would love to show you off to my district!
I really miss home and I really miss you guys. I pray for you
every night and I can't wait to come home again in 2 years!
I miss you all so much. I know that you support me and
love me. If there is anything that I can help you with or if someone needs
prayers, let me know and I will ask my district to pray for them as well. I
love you so much and can't wait to here from you!
Much Love,
~Elder
Harris
