"the fastest way to show love is through service"

Well hello from Peru,

Funny how fast time really is flying here. All of my days are based off of preparation days. In reality I feel like I just was barely here in from of the computer telling you about stuff… when I return to the computer again and there goes another week. Well this week was pretty nice, there is a lot a rain here. Well, that is an understatement because it rains here every single day of the week. Or it will rain three or four times a day or a combination of the two. I really love the rain because it is a welcome relief from the heat. Holy poop I saw that picture of you guys (we sent pictures of us in Mexico) and wow you are all looking a little different. I think by the time that I get back I won’t know who you all are!!!! I just have to say holy smokes dad is looking super thin.

I was thinking about the purpose of the missionary work this week and I had a few revelations. The first point being, we, missionaries of God, are destroyers of false faith. We as missionaries enter in the houses of people that have believed what they have believed all of their lives and basically shake their faith. Now their faith is tall and large but is founded upon weak foundation. All we as missionaries do is ask inspired questions and their entire foundation of beliefs comes crashing down like the great and spacious building. We are harbingers of the Truth and nothing has the power to stop this “snow balling” work.

Another thing that I was thinking about is our relationship with the people that we meet. Missionaries are Salesmen of the Gospel. We offer peace, love, and blessings in exchange for service, dedication and sacrifice. President Thomas S. Monson said that ¨missionary work is the life blood of the church.” We as members of the church are responsible for the success or failure of this righteous cause. Missionaries are not responsible for finding people to teach, we are just responsible for teaching that which we have been called to teach. In reality for a missionary to have success in the mission it depends on the members of the wards that the missionaries are in. I think that many times the people in the ward become too preoccupied with the social part of the church… the drama of the church.  They forget one of the most fundamental elements, which is to fellowship others or fellowshipping. We as members of the church are blessed… and once we arrive at this point of blessedness we fall into the pride cycle. Blinded by what we have, our temporal wealth, we forget to bring people to gospel. Our own pride stops us from reaching out to the humble and the poor of heart. If we as members of the church were true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ then we would spread the joy that we have as saints with every single person that is possible. True love for Christ is as he has told us, “If ye love me keep my commandments,” in other words how do we increase our love for others. I have found that one of the most powerful and often times the fastest way to show love is through service. Service is no always a planned activity, don’t get me wrong activities work, but we can have more success on smaller levels. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a style of life, it is not something that we can just do for one moment and then throw to the way side. We cannot arrive to become luke warm in the mouth of the Lord, lest he spit us out. I want o challenge you family to give a reference to the missionaries. Ponder and pray as a family and help the missionaries to have a baptism.  I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, your individual joy will be beyond the capacity for your soul to feel. I know firsthand that the joy of a baptism is more than any television show or music song or any movie can ever give. I love you and I hope that you will do this as a family.

Elder Harris

The same street before and during the Rainy Season!

So powerful was the blessing…

From Peru this week

Yesterday, I had a super spiritual experience. Yesterday we have a missionary activity where all of the missionaries in my Zone came to my ward. We printed off a list of the less active members and we spent the entire afternoon visiting them. It was really fun because there are tons of less-actives in my ward. All of the missionaries paired off with members of the ward so that we could visit more people in a shorter amount of time. Just as a matter of luck (?) I happened to get paired off with the bishop. Well we quickly visited all the people on our list and had some time left over, so the bishop suggested that we visit this lady that he knows. So we did… I arrived at the house to find out that she was an 80 year old lady and was very sick.  So sick in fact that she cannot leave her bed. So ill that they took one of the hospital beds that inclines from the hospital so that she can sit up occasionally. She has some kind of progressive disease, they named it, but I don’t know what it is in English.  Anyway the bishop decided that we should give her a blessing… so we did. So powerful was the blessing… it was incredible.  It felt almost like electricity was in the air. In what I would guess was the climax of the prayer… he blessed her that well… basically… she would pass away. I have never been in a blessing where the Lord thinks that you have lived long enough, that the best way to relieve you from pain is to let you go. I didn’t know what to say afterwards. I was in shock… we thanked her daughter for letting us enter in the house and left… we walked back to the church almost not saying anything. We arrived at the church and gave each other a big hug.  I thanked him for letting me be a part of that experience. He smiled at me and said that it wasn’t him that wanted me there. I am so happy for the Plan of Salvation. I really do know that after this life God has a plan. We are loved by our father in heaven… he would not just let our souls wander around or come back to the earth a second time to go through pain and suffering. This is our one shot to prove our worth. Sometimes I think as human beings we take for granted that which we have. Thank the Lord; thank him for your blessings. If you cannot think of any blessings… OPEN UP YOUR EYES. I love you guys so much and I pray for you continually.

Elder Harris

By the way, side note, I have 6 months in the mission… that is 25%, one fourth… in reality I don’t want to be egotistical or anything like that but I speak Spanish. I can speak Spanish and understand Spanish at about 95% now. I am just expanding my vocabulary and working on little grammar things. I can read the scriptures in Spanish.

About the lunches… yesterday I had alligator… two days ago I had some fruit that literally has the consistence of boogers, and is super sour. A few days back I almost died trying to eat this nasty green pudding that they love eating here. All in all, ya, lunches are pretty fun. I like them… they are kind of an adventure.

Well family I had a great week!

Well today I feel like being really honest with you. Conferences in the past have just been “dang it, I have to listen to another conference.” I don’t know this week there was quite the change. I went into conference very excited to hear what our apostles and prophets had to say and I was not disappointed.

The Main message of conference is that of the Family, how to unify, cultivate, and strengthen it. Even though the message at this time in my life is not directly applicable I found many insightful jewels of knowledge.

The message that I found most impacting was actually during the priesthood session of conference.  The Prophet spoke to all the priesthood very plainly and bluntly about our responsibilities in the home, and our role as the head of the house hold.  He also counseled all of the young men to stop putting off the day of marriage and commit to an eternal covenant. I realize that an eternal marriage is my next step and that as a worthy priesthood holder, I need to use the promise “seek and ye shall find” into a more physical sense. Don’t worry I am not looking now. 

I received a few personal revelations during the conference that I felt and still do feel are interesting. I don’t know what to make of them all, but that’s why we receive them… to later apply our faith and diligently look for answers. 

Another of the more impacting talks was given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He spoke of the "phenomenon" that conference really and how amazing it is to study the words of the living prophets. I was thinking of how you can do that at and home, and I realized this is one of the blessing of technology. I testify that when we read the words of the living prophets we open the doors for personal revelation and usher in the blessings of exaltation.

I have done some serious pondering as to what my personal behavior and personality characteristics were like before I began my mission. I realize that an apology is in order. I have not always been the exceptional son, brother, or friend for that matter. I am deeply sad at how much time I have in reality lost. I desire to express my humble apology for the disobedience of my younger years. I apologize for the people that I have offended in our family. You are my deepest and most understanding friends. I honestly hope and pray for the very best of happiness in your lives. I have faith that God does answer my prayers.

This is not an obligation but more of advice humbly given …please watch conference. I know that it will feel your spiritual tanks and give you a greater understanding of our God´s great love for each of us individually. I know that what the Prophet speaks is true; the Holy Ghost has testified this to my heart. I love you and I know that God loves you.

                Elder Harris

Yes, this is me eating a giant worm called Suri (jungle fruit worm).  Yes, I did eat it... about half before I vomited it.

Excited to hear what our Apostles and Prophets had to Say!

Well family I had a great week!

Well today I feel like being really honest with you. Conferences in the past have just been “dang it, I have to listen to another conference.” I don’t know this week there was quite the change. I went into conference very excited to hear what our apostles and prophets had to say and I was not disappointed.

The Main message of conference is that of the Family, how to unify, cultivate, and strengthen it. Even though the message at this time in my life is not directly applicable I found many insightful jewels of knowledge.

The message that I found most impacting was actually during the priesthood session of conference.  The Prophet spoke to all the priesthood very plainly and bluntly about our responsibilities in the home, and our role as the head of the house hold.  He also counseled all of the young men to stop putting off the day of marriage and commit to an eternal covenant. I realize that an eternal marriage is my next step and that as a worthy priesthood holder, I need to use the promise “seek and ye shall find” into a more physical sense. Don’t worry I am not looking now. 

I received a few personal revelations during the conference that I felt and still do feel are interesting. I don’t know what to make of them all, but that’s why we receive them… to later apply our faith and diligently look for answers. 

Another of the more impacting talks was given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He spoke of the "phenomenon" that conference really and how amazing it is to study the words of the living prophets. I was thinking of how you can do that at and home, and I realized this is one of the blessing of technology. I testify that when we read the words of the living prophets we open the doors for personal revelation and usher in the blessings of exaltation.

I have done some serious pondering as to what my personal behavior and personality characteristics were like before I began my mission. I realize that an apology is in order. I have not always been the exceptional son, brother, or friend for that matter. I am deeply sad at how much time I have in reality lost. I desire to express my humble apology for the disobedience of my younger years. I apologize for the people that I have offended in our family. You are my deepest and most understanding friends. I honestly hope and pray for the very best of happiness in your lives. I have faith that God does answer my prayers.

This is not an obligation but more of advice humbly given …please watch conference. I know that it will feel your spiritual tanks and give you a greater understanding of our God´s great love for each of us individually. I know that what the Prophet speaks is true; the Holy Ghost has testified this to my heart. I love you and I know that God loves you.

                Elder Harris