"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

Red Light or Red Sea

I want to share a super fun spiritual experience this week because I think that you will enjoy it. We were running late. At about 3:30 we were still in a lesson with an investigator that we starting teaching at 2. We were trying really hard to get out of there but it is sort of difficult to rush the spirit. Well we left and had to quickly run off to our investigator that we had planned for 3:00. We arrived and taught a lesson that lasted until 4:30, and had to run off to another investigator that we were suppose to meet at 4:00, as you can tell this was a large source of frustration. Anyway we had a super important baptismal interview at 5:30. We left the 4:30 appointment at 5:25 ran to dinner, ate at 300 mph, and then zoomed off to find the keys to the church. (All baptismal interviews are held in the church) well by the time that we got to the keys it was 5:50. The President of the stake had the keys and his house is like 4 blocks from the church. We just decided that we had to run or our investigator… a military man… A.K.A. super on time.  We began to run, shortly after we reached the first block, we realized that we had to get though the impossibly busy main street that always has billions of motor cycles and is super duper dangerous.  As we were running we could gradually see the monster coming closer and closer. That’s when something crazy happened. Just as we were running, without having to slow down at all, (because at this time we were running at full on sprint) the light changed. Literally it was a miracle. I have been on that street many times and many times I have tried to cross at that intersection, and many times... I have waited forever for the light to change. We crossed that street and ran the rest of the way to the church arriving at 6:08. The Zone leaders and the investigator were there waiting… and best part, Kendi, the investigator, had a class that night that he had to go to at 6:30. It takes almost all of 10 minutes to travel to his class from the church. If we were any later he would have had to leave. Needless to say we gave the interview, he passed, and we baptized him the next day. BAM!

            Mom, I am super happy that you asked me that question (questions about church)  because I have been meaning to tell you about it. I have given 5 talks now in a foreign language. I thought giving talks in English was hard; imagine what it is like to give a talk in a foreign tongue. Something cool happened with the last talk that I gave. The first four talks that I gave, I had completely written down everything that I wanted to say and I would have my companions look over them to correct the errors. Lots of laughs from Elder Paiz… but this last time I just winged it. I read a conference talk that was in Spanish before hand and then just went up to the pulpit and talked about what I felt and thought. It was awesome, I did really well and my Spanish was really good. I had a lot of people come tell me that my Spanish was improving. That was nice.

Elder Paiz and I have two wards so we have 6 hours of church every Sunday and we bless the sacrament in each meeting and sometimes teach classes. It´s fun.

The three pictures are of two baptisms... Kendi the really tall guy, and Julisa the really short girl.lol and the other is a picture of the pole houses in my area. Elder Paiz took the picture with his camera because that area is really dangerous to take out my camera. I will do a better explanation of the baptisms in next week’s letter. 

Con Amor, Elder Harris

It was a power out baptism miracle!

Well Hello from the mighty jungles of Peru!

It seems like the weeks really are flying by at an impossibly fast rate.

It is exciting that Aubrei is having a good time with John judging by Dad´s letter. Funny story.. So I was talking to one of my investigators, now convert, about my face book. He went and found it.  He looked at my friends/ family. While He was looking at my family, He found Aubrei and her profile. He then proceeded to tell me that Aubrei has a picture of John and her for her profile picture. He was so upset because one, He thinks that Aubrei is very attractive and two, he thinks that John is really ugly. Its silly how this convert thinks that John is unattractive, I want to see the picture because I am sure that it must be lies… hahahahahahaha

Well we had a baptism this week. We baptized Jhayner. He is a young and very little 18 year old rascal. I think that he is great. I was thinking just the other day about the first visit that we had with him. He lives in one of the pole houses at the bottom of Belen. He received all of the discussions in the house of Johnny (a member) because his family doesn’t want him to be a member. He actually was 17 when he received the lessons, and had to have a permission slip signed in order to be baptized. His mother told him flat out no and basically that she would not support him if he decided to be Mormon. She is a super evangelical and thinks that the Mormons worship Satan.. WELL I BEG TO DIFFER. So anyway we just waited until he was 18 and he told us that he wanted to be baptized. He came to church enough times and now he is a full on member. Yeah! This is one of the more spiritual baptisms that I have had because the best part is that an hour before the baptism the power went out. The baptism was at 7 o clock p.m. and well it was really dark in the church. We were really worried because if it is too dark to see we couldn’t baptize him. There has to be witnesses at a Baptism. Well everyone arrived including Jhayner and the power came back on. We quickly changed our clothing, performed the baptism, and changed back. Seconds before we sat down the power went out again. It was a power out baptism miracle. We laughed because all the pictures that we took with my camera we took in the dark but they look like they are in perfect light because of the flash. I really have a strong testimony of the power that can be felt at a baptism. When we descended into the water I just knew in my heart that this was the right thing to do. That he was making a powerful covenant with the Lord. I know that a baptism (by immersion) in the true form that Jesus Christ taught is our way to enter into the kingdom of God. All must receive this ordinance if you want to be saved. It is amazing Mom how many people just choose not to listen, truly this is a great source of sadness for me. I think that is why a baptism is so happy. There must be opposition in all things.

Explanation of the pictures:

Top of Page: The other picture is Elder Paiz  and I on the top of a member’s house where we were eating lunch. All that land in the background behind us is my area, and the Amazon River, cool. 

The three people are Jhayner, Elder Paiz and me at Jhayner’s baptism.

A p-day activity. Right in the middle of the jungle is a giant soccer stadium.. Latinos and their soccer. (Right now I am shaking my head). All of the Mission Zones came to play soccer together. It was really hot and I wasn´t feeling too good that day. I am in the center of the picture so all is good.

Just working hard to bring more people to the Lord

Family Hola and hello!

We were given permission to send three photos, I don’t know why but COOL BEANS!  It has been illegal to send photos in this mission for two years. President just decided to change the rules today. yaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this week has been really normal, just working with some new investigators and all that jazz. I have been a little sick this week too. Seems like this is the time of year to get sick in all the parts of the world (All the Harris family has been under the weather!).

I have put together a small package that I will be sending off today it has a few letters in it and a few other things that I picked up for you guys. Also it contains a cd with more pictures and movies which should be fun for you to see.

Well I was thinking that it would be nice to give you an update on things. First is first, I can, for the most part, speak Spanish. I understand and have the ability to speak back. I was thinking the other day that I should be at this point anyway because I have 5 months in my mission.

Amazing how five months have passed by already.  It feels like just yesterday that I was sitting in the house with my iPod in my hand, just working construction and waiting to be here. Silly fast!!...Time really is when you are not paying too much attention.  

Answer to Mom’s question: I did receive the valentine’s package three days ago. (Mom: Yeah! only a month late J)

Time here in Iquitos is really slow. Almost like Iquitos is 15 years in the past, pretty nuts.

Well a little about the weather, HOT with a slight chance of GETTING HOTTER.  All the clothing is holding up just fine, I have a seamstress that loves me and she has repaired a few of my pants but otherwise all is well.  

The ward here is great, really humble and really fun. They love missionaries here, we really are like walking celebrities, and everyone here has listened to the missionaries or knows about them. We are treated with a lot of respect.

We just got a change of Zone leaders and they are Fantastic. They are really cool guys and they work really hard and neither of them is at the end of their missions so neither of them is trunky.

Well as you can see from my picture, yes, I met with the president recently.

I hope you know that I love every single one of you with all of my being, and I hope that all of you are feeling better.

I have been studying in the Book of Mormon.  My plan is to study every single page with a new religious zeal. I will keep you updated at where I am. Right now I am in chapter 10 of first Nephi. Loving it cause I really like Chapter ten...it is the beginning of the vision that Nephi has with the angel. Good stuff. Read; think, pray.

Sincerely from Peru this week, just plain old normal me, just working hard to bring more people to the Lord, Elder Harris

A message from a friend in Peru..

Hello brother, I am your sons friend.  I’ m learning English with himmmmmm. You have a good son, brother.  We love himmm.  Bye, Elder Pedroza (from Colombia)

Elder Harris and his Mission President

Jaren finally feels tall

Monkey's x 4