Las Naciones Week 3

Hola!

¿Cómo estàn? Thanks for the emails! I love hearing from you and all that is going on at home! It truly is crazy how time passes so quickly! It sounds like everyone is sure busy and preparing for the summer vacation that is around the corner! Can´t believe we will talk in three weeks!!

This week was very exciting...sickness hit the pension and my companion got sick and laid in bed the whole morning on Friday. I took time to study and write some letters haha..it was pretty lame. I started to get some headaches like him, but lucklily it didn´t seem to affect me too bad and we didn`t have to lose too much work time. We ate some "guatita" or cow stomach the day before and he didn´t know what it was until after I told him...maybe that was part of it I don´t know haha.

We found some really prepared investigators this week. One is named Manuel. He has 21 years. He has been reading and praying and wants to do what is right. We felt impressed to teach him the Plan of Salvation, because he didn´t really understand the need for Jesus Christ. We left the pamphlet with him and the next day we went back to meet with him. He had read it all and said. "I want to go the to the Celestial Kingdom" It was pretty special. We then taught the Restoration and shared the Book of Mormon. He read all the testimonies and into 1 Nephi and said that after praying he felt something really powerful and good, the Holy Ghost. He compared himself to Joseph Smith at first, because he was scared, but then he understood that it was an answer. He is very excited to be baptized! However he couldn`t attend church last minute because he had to go visit his Grandma who got sick. We were pretty disappointed, but we aren`t giving up on him.

We had some others who wanted to attend church but last minute didn´t show up either. It is really frustrating at times. I really feel like I am doing all that I can. I know that I must respect the agency of others and do all that is in my power. I have been focussing a lot on "an eye single to the glory of God." I am trying not to let my pride and desires for others approval to be my motivation. I truly desire the happiness and peace of others and it breaks my heart when they don`t accept what I know so dearly to be true. I can`t imagine how the savior felt.

I love the mission I love serving and I love being happy and healthy! Life is a great opportunity to grow! I know that the Lord is in control and that when we are patient and have faith, great things happen! 

Love you all,

Elder Harries

Las Naciones Week 2

Votar should be spell botar...pretty funny I think haha

Huge apple. the fruit here is crazy haha

Hola!!!!!

To answer some of your questions I love this new area! It is hard to be in a new area with new people, but it is also very refreshing. 5 changes, or 7 months is a long time in a tiny sector. This sector is about twice the size of the last one. I am still a district leader, we have two other elders and two hermanas. They are good and hard working, and I am looking forward to being able to serve them! 

It is quite funny because this is the same sector that Elder Palacios was in, and now he is my Zone Leader! The area here is a bit more afluent, and the ward has some members who are on top of things. Our bishop is 29 years old and is a returned missionary. There are about 5 returned missionaries here that want to work...its great. Elder McDermott said that they hardly ever used the members, so we started visiting a lot of them and they are really excited to work. I made a calendar for them to accompany us and this week we will have people coming to help every day. It is really nice to have the whole ward, because we can use everyone.

Elder McDermott is a great missionary. He is from St. George, Utah and is very obedient and hard working. I love the way he is always happy and upbeat. He has a hard time with the language, so I pretty much only speak to him in Spanish, and help him with the grammar (which is key to be able to build a vocabulary). He has progressed a lot in the past week. The dynamic is a little different in the house because we are 4 elders. It is fun, but at times i think I like living on my own a bit better. The others are somewhat disobedient;(

We had some incredible miracles this week!!! We were visiting a house and the person was ocupada "busy"(happens a lot haha) and there was a young man just waiting behind us. We were a bit creeped out, but he came up to us and told us he was a member and wanted to come back to church. Hes 20 years old and wasnt on the records. He came to church this Sunday!!!

Another miracle...We were looking for a house and didn`t know where we were, when a lady with her mom crossed paths with us and said hi. She was a new member that just moved to our sector about a month ago. She lives with her mom, husband and two daughters. Her mom is super catolica, and didnt want anything to with the missionaries..wouldnt even talk to us. We were friendly though, and kept talking with the daughter. We asked if we could visit her, but she said no because her mom wouldn`t let her. We kept on talking and testified a little bit to invite the Spirit, and then the mom all of a sudden said that she wasnt going to be in the house on Saturday, and that we could pass by!!! We did and the whole family came to church on Sunday! One of the little girls is 8 years old and wants to be baptized!! 

I love being a servant of Christ! I know that He is with us and that when we do what he wants and follow the Sprit, miracles happen. I love the Lord and want to be better. The Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith was the Lord`s prophet. The Church of Jesus Christ is His Church. I love you all!!!!!

Con Amor,

Elder Harries

Las Naciones Week 1

Book of Mormon an old lady gave me! From 1952, before the Church arrived in Chile!!!

new companion Elder McDermott

Hola!!!

Well I am in a new sector!!! Las Naciones! What a difference from Ochagavía! I have a new companion elder McDermott from St. George Utah. He just finished training and his spanish is a bit rusty, but we are going to work really hard and I know we will have lots of success! It is quite funny because our companions switched! I hear that the old companion was a good missionary so I feel good leaving the sector and Elder Rivera in his hands! 

Here is the poem from the other week, I´ve done quite a bit of walking so I have lots of time to think about things haahha:

Steps

The steps along the road of life

At times too little to be seen

Converge as two sides of a knife

Chiseling us into being.

It matters not how large the step,

Which way you walk is what counts more.

With faith in Christ and covenants kept,

The Lord´s rich blessings are in store.

The biggest step a man may take,

Taken in the wrong direction

Causes but pain, and grief and ache,

And halts eternal progression.

Each step we take, each choice we make

Becomes a part of who we are:

A stream that flows into a lake--

The light proceeding from a star.

To each and every human Soul

God´s great gift of choice is bestowed.

Our duty is to set the goal,

And in obedience walk the road.

Its a little rusty I think I might change a few things but there ya go.

There are so many things that I want to share but so little time! I hope that I will be able to type fast!!!

General Conference was incredible! I learned so many incredible things. I had a lot of personal revelation and questions answered. One of my questions was how I could come to know better the voice of the Holy Ghost, and during President Monson´s talk I had a distinct impression that I needed to go to the Temple, but we don´t ever go as a mission. I wrote it down however, and today President anounced that we would start going to the temple as a mission! I know that God answered prayers and that when we ask, we will find. I have so many insightst that I would like to share with you, but I think I will just write a letter home!

I really will miss Elder Rivera. He and I have grown really close and I love him like a brother. He was definitely my most difficult companion, but also the one from whom I learned the most. At first I thought that he was going to be "the most special convert" of the sector, but I realized that I was completely wrong...it was me. I learned to love, and be patient, and encourage, and trust and hold back. He is really a great spirit with a lot of potential. I was very impacted about the story of the two missionaries on bikes from conference.

On Tuesday we passed by an investigators house. She was an old lady that said her son was a member. She told us that she had a old book of mormon...and she gave it to me!!! It is in such good condition and from 1952...before the Church arrived here in Chile. I think it is one of the first books to arrive here. I felt really bad for Elder Rivera, and offered it to him, but he wouldn´t accept it. I gave him a really cool wooden plan of salvation puzzle that Elder Kennedy gave to me. I thought it was fiiting since he trained me and I passed it on.

Oh and we had some cats enter our pension through the window. I woke up to Elder Rivera freaking out trying to kick this cat haha I got the thing on film bu the cat got out through the window. It ate some of his food haha.

It was very difficult to say goodbye to Villa Sur II. It had become like home for me. I really love the people there and will miss them a lot! I love the mission and will keep you updated on what is to come!!!

Love you all,

Elder Harries  

Villa Sur II Week 29

Hola!!!!

I want to start off by saying I am so excited to listen to general conference! I cannot wait to view the sessions and recieve personal revelation and guidance! I have been reading all the talks from last conference while I eat breakfast adn they are pumping me up for this weekend! I am also trying to come up with some questions I need answered:) I invite you all to do the same!

Today marks 8 months that I have been here in Chile! One third of my mission! It sure doesn´t feel like it! It seems like just 8 days ago I was sitting in the room of the MTC looking out the window at the cloudy cold sky asking myself "What in the world am I doing?" I remember that moment so clearly, perhaps I´ll never forget it. I can look back and see my progress and I know that I have literally been led by the hand of the Lord. I read a talk today by Elder Nube (I think thats his name) about not looking back, but looking forward to what we have left to do! It was a great reminder to me that I still have much to accomplish! I know that with faith all things are possible! (Moroni 7:33)

Today as I was reflecting, I decided to write a poem about one of the major lessons I have learned...Ill send it to you next week! I love you all so much and and so happy to be a missionary! Sorry that this is short!!! I´ll send more next week!!!!

Love you all,

Elder Harries

Villa Sur II Week 28

Hola!!!!!

Wow loved the letters filled with intense church basketball and March madness!!!! I love this time of year!!! This week was a good one with a lot of exciting and new things happening. I am trying not to wind down as I know that it is my last change here in Villa Sur and only have two weeks left. We are searching and praying for miracles!

This week was a good one in the Chapel. Both Omar and Cony attended with there baby. I think they are going to bless him next week and have asked me to do it for them!!! I felt so honored and am so happy for them. Omar goes back to work this week and ends his vacations. He does a great job with the young men in our ward. Callings are so important for new members.

I had the idea to make invitations for Church this sunday. We passed out about 40 of them promissing frugeles (the super good gummies that Nathan likes). It was really neat to see that as we wrote the names of everyone we could think of to give the invitations, as we were walking throughout the day, we crossed paths with so many of them. I know that when we have a plan and use our own thinking, God will help us and make up the difference. Just like in Ether 3 with the Brother of Jared and the stones.

Yesterday President and Hermana Barreiros held a "reunion especial" or basically a fireside for investigators, new members and less actives. We took a new member from our Ward, Myriam, and she loved it. She reminds me such of mom. Always really busy but makes time for the things that are important. I love her motivation to change her life. She started a night class to get here highschool degree and is very active and involved in the church. The fireside was great and it was powerful to hear the conversion stories of President and Hermana.

I have been thinking a lot about the Love of God. I remember a quote from general conference a few years ago that said "God´s love is not unconditional." That was hard for me to take, but after studdying much about the character of God this week (in PME lesson 1), I realized that it doesn´t mean that God doesn´t love all of His children. He does infinitely. What the quote means is that His love ( or Atonement) is received and the power is felt only through obedience to the Gospel and Covenants we make through the proper Priesthood authority.

In an answer to Mom´s question, we do teach a lot of less active and new members the same lessons we teach those who are investigating the church. In fact principles from those lessons along with principles from the Book of Mormon are practically all that we teach OR study. I love it. Even though it is the same doctrine I already know, I always learn something new. I encourage all of you to study Preach My Gospel, especially chapters 3 and 6. They are os great!!!! Love you all and I am well!!!

Love,

Elder Harries