The Only Two People in the Room that had been to the Temple

To the Family that I love so very, very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well here is the super quick response to all of your questions. Life is great… the work is slow. We are teaching some families but we are having a hard time with them progressing, I should have two more baptisms by the end of this month. I am sending you pictures of my families. The next zone conference is not until next month so I guess we will see if I will stay here or go.

Just because I am thinking about it right now…I have been very worried about all of the birthdays coming up… and sending stuff from Peru and all. Basically it is really expensive to send stuff and to be honest I have been spending way too much money so I am just going to keep it with me… sorry, know that I love you the same. 

Today for prep day we are going to play soccer again. I am getting really good with my feet.

In answer to Mom’s question of stray dogs in Iquitos there aren´t that many stray dogs here. Well there is a lot but not a ton.

I am sending pictures of the wedding that we had this week.  The wedding was really strange for me because I had many thoughts running through my brain. First thought was of how the wedding was held in a large ware house. It was not sponsored by the church… so there was a lot of alcohol present, but our couple didn’t drink. It was really hard for him because before we started to teach him he was basically an alcoholic. He was really tough, and made it through the entire night… we have his baptism set for the 28^th of this month. We will continue to teach him until then. So what was thought provoking was, my companion and I were the only two missionaries in this sea of about 300 people, I realized that as we were standing there in the middle of them all that my companion and I were the only two people in the room that had been to the temple. The only two people in the room that had had that spiritual experience, been privileged to enter into the Lord´s House. I really could feel the sadness that I know that God feels this week. All of those 300 people are his children. All of them were with him as spirits, accepted the plan and came to earth.  How great is the sorrow of God for he knows from the beginning that not all of his children would return again. I am really starting to understand that many are called but few are chosen. The second part was that I was trying to imagine what Aubrei´s wedding is going to be like in comparison to the wedding that I went to. Strange it was for me to imagine such a life changing event of my sister. The temple, the spirit, all the white, the reception, a large card board cut out of me!  I want lots of photos when the time comes.  I think that it might be your turn to send me a cd. I know that every moment will be captured by mom… so I am not too worried.

(We asked Jaren on Mother’s Day to tell us some of the unusual foods he has tried.  We asked him to make a list and describe what it tasted like.)

The list

Alligator:  Sort of like chicken, a white meat, but saltier. It is tougher too kind of like the difference between a buck and a doe. Doe is to buck as chicken is to Alligator.

Suri  (A plump worm): Feels like chewing on pure grisly fat. Tastes like someone vomited chewed up cream corn in a worm and then tossed in some juices from the sewer.

Siquisapa (Gaint ant): Big flying ant... you only eat the big ball that it has for a butt. It’s kind of like chewing on a sweet tart but a lot more… powerful.

Cau- Cau: This is the cow intestines. Super chewy like a fresh piece of double bubble. Mine still had all of the little intestine hairs on it. It was gross.

Charichuelo: Looks like a lemon but has little snot covered seeds in it, that are like eating 300 ZOURS all at the same time. Super sour but I really like it. The juices that you can get from it are yellow and they stain things permanently yellow. I love this fruit.

Camu- Camu: This is a little pink fruit that tastes like pure pink lemonade better than any you have ever tasted. A.K.A. DA BOMB

Boqichico : This is a fish that I are once at a members house. the whole entire fish was presented to me the head and all and the lady said that I had to eat the whole thing because it was expensive. Ya lots of little tiny bones. Not too bad the flavor just really fishy!!!!!!

Life is great!  Con Amor, Elder Harris

"I Love My Mom"

Hello!

So I ran out of time on the phone which sort of stinks. I cannot even remember what we were talking about now. I hope that you had a really great mother’s day Mom and that it wasn´t too stressful. I really like it when you send me pictures because I can really see the change in everyone so much more. I am already starting to feel like I won’t really know you strange people when I get back. I also wanted to talk to the girls but I ran out of time. I really wanted to talk to Haleigh a little… but I didn’t get the chance. This Christmas however I will try to be better. I will try to get better at writing with more details in my letters. I think that it is really funny that you are going to make a card board cut out of me for the wedding. I want the picture of me next to the one of Elder Michelson, which will be super silly. My plan for this week is to write down a list of all the super crazy things that I have eaten and how it tasted so that you can know. That will be fun. Dad, it would be nice to receive an update on everything if you get a chance. What I mean is movies, music, games, and anything cool or fun that is coming out soon. I was thinking that it would be fun to have John write me a letter in Spanish because I want to talk to him… yes, I think that is everything on my mind right now.

Mother’s day in Peru is just like mother’s day at home, same day and everything, just there is a lot more mothers at younger ages here. That is a little bit about what I would like to talk about today. I was really thinking about all of the sacrifices that a mother has to make. In this case I was actually thinking of my own mother… you Mom. Amazing how much time you have spent on me that I have never real expressed my sincere gratitude for. Not because I am not grateful, more or less but because I have never taken the time just to sit back and think about all that you have done for me Mom. In others words.. Let’s just remember a little. Remember all the projects that we worked on together, the big poster boards, the glue and many dragons. (Clay and paper) Remember all those baseball games when I was all tired and sad if we lost… but I knew that mom was there to pick me up and make me feel better. Remember all the summers of chores (or trying to get us to do chores) and going to the pool after summer music, so grateful I am for that. Or maybe you remember the time that we were driving home from Disney land in the snow and it was all crazy scary.  I remember because I knew it was bad when Mom thought it was bad. I remember the many times being asked if my chores were done and if I had finished my homework, and the many more times that I was then kicked off the TV screen when I didn’t have them done. Remember those times when we were all at the CMR football and basketball games when you came to watch me play… because our team really stunk? There were some other times when we watched the Great falls White Sock play baseball when they were the Dodgers. Or do you remember that time that I was practicing the Wizard of Oz and annoying everyone around me (except Mom)? Or do you remember those few camping trips that we had at Tolman’s ranch all dirty and nasty and grimy? I remember a few times when we went out to lunch just you and me, and how we talked about all kinds of good stuff. Do you remember those times when I was really young and we used to make the slip and slide in the front yard? I remember that first time I landed a back flip on the trampoline and that look on your face of love and pride mixed with a little worry. Do you remember that one time when I broke a glass on my hand and we rushed off to that clinic over by Albertsons?  Can you remember the times when I gave you a big hug, and told you that I love you. If I could I would give you a big hug right now… but I can´t. I can tell you that I LOVE YOU. I love you Mom and I miss you so much. Happy mother´s day!

The pictures for this week I was in the house of a member. She brought out a live boa… a wild one that would bite me and all that fun stuff, so I am sending you a few pictures of that.

officially nothing really new

Hola,

So…

From the fantastical land of Peru today… there is officially nothing really new. I know that it seems like I have something special to talk about every week but in reality there will be weeks where the work is well… work. We are working hard to contact a ton of people in my area because right now we are not doing so hot. I really don’t think it is our fault. We haven’t had much success with baptisms and finding new investigators. That’s alright because it will be like this from time to time.

Interesting side note Saturday of this last week was the 200^th day of the mission.  I know that I comment on this all the time but HOLY POOP the time goes so quickly. Not too much longer and it is going to be my day of birth. CRAZY SAUSE!!!!

So I was looking at those pictures that you sent me and I noticed two things. 1. Haleigh is lookin´ so dang… women like. Your face is starting to change. COOL BEANS. And 2. Saydi let me just say it this way “what a stinking cutie pie”… or in others words “ she’s a maniac… maniac… on the floor.” I think that by the time that I get back I am not going to be able to recognize my very own sisters. (Jaren’s older sister is engaged) That’s so stinking exciting with Aubrei… I have a question though are they engaged? I don’t know because no one tells me ANYTHING, Just kidding.

Ya so we are making our pre-call today I will be calling at around 6:00 my time so in other words… here is the plan… in the phone call I need the answer to this question do you want me to pay for the phone call here with calling cards or do you want me to use the international phone number thing. If you want the international number then please give me the numbers to use for that when I call.

Con Amore, Elder Harris

photos

The first is a picture of ser post the place where I send you stuff.

The second a cool shot of one of the areas I was teaching the gospel in.

The third is me buying some of the best churros in the world.