2nd Snail Mail Letter/October 27, 2010: Here is an excerpt

..The MTC is truly a place of love and work.  I have found in these last few days that the Lord has a great design set out for his children in Peru and that I am essential to that plan.  As I follow the rules and continue to practice Spanish, I can feel myself changing.  The prophet Joseph Smith said, “When we find ourselves low, we are being prepared by the Lord to be raised up.”  That is not an exact quote, but the meaning holds the same.  My testimony has taken Great, Great Leaps forward since I have been here.  I thought I was excited before, but it compares to nothing that I feel now.  I have found myself questioning the Lord’s will in the past but I have now come to a greater knowledge.  The Lord knows us so personally, He knows our weaknesses, and strengths.  I know that while I am away the Lord will bless the family in more ways then we will know.

 Thank you so much for all the letters, and packages.  It makes my day every time I have some news. 

Yesterday I received my travel itinerary.  I leave for Peru on November 3^rd.  The time that I have spent here seems so short but I have learned so much.  I have been taking pictures but the photo machine has been broken in the MTC bookstore.  I promise to send some soon.

Most of the missionaries in my district are going to Villa Hermosa Mexico Mission.  We also have two going to the Bolivia Santa Cruz Mission.  Those two leave with Elder Johnson (Jaren’s companion) and I and will be in the Peru MTC with us.  Our personal goals are to all speak Spanish as often as we can.  So no, we don’t speak it all the time but I can already start to feel my mind changing into Spanish mode.  Church on Sundays are all in Spanish.  That means everything including sacrament prayers, hymns, prayers, talks, pretty much everything.

Please tell Grandma (M.) that I love her to death.  The letters that she sends, I love reading them and peeling off the quarters.

I pray for our family every day.  I thank the Lord for providing such loving parents, and three fantastic sisters.

I went to the temple last Thursday and will go again this Thursday.  I know we sing it but it is true, the Temple is a house of God, a place of love and beauty..

                                                                                        Elder Harris

Elder Harris' letter #2

Hola familia,

I just want to start by saying that I really miss all of you and I love you all so much.

The MTC is such a great place; I can feel the spirit everywhere that I am, even the lunch room!!! Learning Spanish is actually really hard but I know that the lord does give us any challenges that he doesn’t already know we can handle. Aubrei, Haleigh, Saydi, Mom, Dad, Grandma Harris, Grandma Murphy, Sister Hatch, and Aunt molly Thank You so much for all the letters and packages it really means so much to me.

Let me start with talking about the food here. The food is not bad actually. I think that it is a step up from being at school, but they pump the food full of vitamins so... you do the math. I have PowerAde with every meal and I eat cereal every morning. Best part of the MTC is that the milk is a limitless supply!!!!!

My companions name is Elder Johnson and he is from Connecticut. We are like polar opposites. He is reserved laid back and quiet, on the opposite end I am really loud and outgoing and I like to talk to everyone that I meet.

Yesterday was our first TRC which means that it was the first time that we got to teach the first discussion. TRC stands for Teaching Resource Center. The first thing that we get to do while we are there is to greet someone in Spanish, we talk to them, ask them how they are doing and teach a little in Spanish about the gospel. Then we ask if we can “come back another day" and teach them more in our native language. He then leaves and comes back about 5 min later and we teach them the first discussion. Elder Johnson and I were so pumped to get in there and start to teach.  We then found out the person that we would be teaching was a twelve year old girl. We pretty much threw out our entire lesson plan because everything that we were going to teach was way too hard for a little girl to understand. We went into the lesson relying totally on faith, and let me tell you the Spirit came through for us. We explained the doctrine in the most simple ways that we could think of and if there were any big words at all, we explained what they meant. Like for example, dispensation, prophet, and ministry. It is an amazing how well the spirit uses you as a tool when you really have no idea what you are going to say.

On Tuesday of this week we had Russell M. Nelson come to speak to the missionaries and it was the best talk that I have ever heard. He basically spoke right to me, telling how to be the very best missionary that I could possibly be. He told us that we as missionaries should be like Lions in the wild that we should be alert and “hunt down our prey". It truly inspired me to really seek after my investigators, and to strive to let the spirit guide me when I am in the field. I learned that the armor of god is not always armor but the very things that I wear every day, like the white hand book is my shield and scripture is my sword. My suit is my breastplate and so on. I loved the talk, that I wrote about 3 full pages of notes on it.

Just a quick word about Spanish, I know that I would always tell how much I hated speaking the language when I was in high school. Well that whole thought process is already way out the door. I can seriously bear my testimony better in Spanish then I can in English, because I only know how to say the most basic things.  It makes my testimony that much more powerful because I can only say exactly what I know. For example I know Christ lives, I know he loves you, I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet.  Also another really funny thing is that I have never been really good at spelling and I can already spell better in Spanish then I can in English. I cannot wait until I am so good at Spanish that I can write a full letter to you without any mistakes. Side note, super cool, I have to write a talk in Spanish for this Sunday on how charity and love should be full.

I love you and will continue to write.  - Jaren

Jaren’s 1st Written Letter – October 21, 2010

Hola Familia!!!

The MTC is Muy Fantastico!  I thought college was EFY on Steroids but it dwarfs in comparison to this great place.  The Lord has blessed me so much while I have been here.  He has found it best that I serve as the District Leader for my district.  There are 10 of us counting me, Elders Johnson, Johnston, Smith, Evans, Udall, Price, White, Mayberry, and Lunt. 

My Companion is Elder Johnson and he is a Stud.  I know that the Lord has brought him into my life for a specific purpose.  We are polar opposites.  I am outgoing, he is a shy guy.  But we both preach with, with a great spirit.

Spanish is a taxing language.  I come home to my residence hall every night with sore chops.  I keep amazing myself of how fast I am learning and I make sure to thank God every day.  Up to this point I can now pray, Bare my Testimony and preach some of the first discussion in Spanish.  I know it doesn’t sound like a lot but trust me it really is.

Side Note: We are not supposed to write letters on any day besides Thursdays (which are my P-Days).

Carson (Jaren’s College Roommate & Best Buddy) and I have seen each other one time.  It was just in passing so I was unable to talk to him.  I did however grab him into a bear hug.  He didn’t recognize me at first.  It was pretty funny (because of my short hair).

To answer the food questions.  Yes, there is a lot of food here and it is just like eating at a school cafeteria, Es no bueno aveces.  Have Haleigh try to translate that. (Haleigh did: It is not always good)  For the most part the Cereal Wall of awesomeness is true.  I eat cereal almost every day.  I mean let’s be honest cereal is the best.

I have some allotted gym time everyday and I usually spend it playing basketball.  Our entire district likes to play together.

Tomorrow a general authority is coming to talk to us at a devotional.  I don’t know who but the rumors are it is going to be an apostle.  I am so excited to hear from one of the Lord’s truest servants.

I love and miss you guys so much, but I know that all is well, and the Lord has blessed me more than I deserve.

God Speed

                                -Jaren

P.S. I am sorry that I haven’t written you all individual letters I promise to do better in the future.  Thank you also so much for the package.  I was hot stuff because I was the first to get food.  Thank you so much.

Jaren begins his missionary journey!

One day left.

I just want to start by first covering the temple trip that I never talked about. The temple truly is a house of god. I could feel his presence there and it was a huge testimony builder. I really,really appreciated the guidance and love I felt from the family that was able to be there. I cannot express to you my sincere gratitude adequately in words. The temple is a place of deep comfort and I know that it is my responsibly to share that feeling with the great country of Peru. I am going to do my best to attend more often.

Yesterday was my last day to watch TV and as I was watching one last episode of the big bang theory I realized that at one point I thought that giving up television was going to be the hardest obstacle for me to overcome. As I sat and pondered I came to the conclusion that I was wrong, the hardest thing for me to give up was spending time with the people that I love most. I love my family, and I feel really blessed to have had the opportunity to be raised by such loving parents.

After I was set apart later that night, this overwhelming feeling of the magnitude of what I had just done hit me, I had to take a huge breath just to keep myself from breaking down and crying. I just keep telling myself that the lord will give me no challenges, no trials, that I cannot handle. Going on a mission for me has been a 19 year long build up of anticipation. Now that it is here I almost feel like I have lost something. Almost like dogs that chase cars, and once they have caught the car realize that the excitement was all in the chase. This is one of those times that I need to lead my life by faith. Learning to place your trust in the lord is extremely tough, but I am comforted in the knowledge that over time that burden will become lighter.

Today we collected all the final supplies that I needed, sowing kit, white tie, and a few other small things. There is a lot of stuff a missionary needs, and I just want to thank grandma for such a awesome suitcase or should I say suit cases. I had to buy another.

My next post will be from the MTC so I look forward to telling you how everything is going.

With nervous excitement,

Jaren

Just a little while longer.

Today was my last day at work. To be honest i am pretty happy about it. I really don't enjoy working manual labor. I did learn a few things, that sometimes i have a very narrow minded view of the world. You cannot judge a person but the way they look. (My Boss) I learned the value of a good education, and that I really need to get one. Overall my job taught me discipline. Work hard and don't complain and you will be done before you know it. My Mom and I starting packing my suit case and realized that it was hard to pack for a two year trip. Usually when I go on a trip, its for about a week and I tend to never pack enough socks. Well, I definitely have enough socks... i made sure.

Haircut Haircut Haircut

Well… Haircuts are not very fun. I tried to think of life lessons I could learn from this and came to the conclusion that though I’m sure there are many lessons; I really don’t want to think of them. As I sat there under the watchful eyes of my family and extended family I couldn’t help but think, “Wow can this building, even hold any more people? Hmmm I wonder if this hair stylist is getting nervous having to perform in front of an audience. What if she cracks under pressure and accidentally shears off my ear? I like having two ears. What would my life be like with only one ear? Hmmm what if I am distantly related to Sampson? Will I now lose my strength? I need my strength. How much longer must I sit in this chair? I have got to leave this chair! Someone save me!” About this time she got done and I was returned to the welcoming arms of my family.