Villa Sur II Week 8

Hola!

This week has been a great one! I don´t even know where to start....it felt like everthing just got away from me haha. I´ll start with the best news first!

Omar and Coni got baptized this Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! I am so happy for them! It was incredible to see the change in their life! They were beaming! However it almost didn´t happen! We told them to meet us at the Capilla early for their baptism that started at 6. It was 5:55 and they still hadn´t arrived, so I called Coni. She said that she was "ocupada" and would call me back in a few minutes. Elder Kennedy and I decided to run to their house.

It turned out that Omar and Coni had an argument about some small thing (which is really strange because I have never seen nor heard of them even speak rudely to each other), and Omar said that he didn´t want to go to the baptism. He still wanted to get baptized but another time. When we arrived we were able to sort things out, and he really did want to get baptized, he was just frustrated. It is crazy how hard Satan works to stop people (esecially the strong ones) from doing things that will bless their lives forever. I baptized Omar, and Elder Kennedy baptized Coni. We swapped for the confirmations. After the service, which was beautiful, they were both beaming and holding hands again:) I felt the Spirit so strongly. During fast and testimony meeting yesterday there were around four testimonies on the temple! I cannot wait for them to be sealed! They are so great!

On a less fun note, I had diarreah for the entire week...yes 7 days straight. It just went away yesterday. I must have got a bug or something because Elder Brooks, one of the Elders in our ward but a different sector, had pretty much the same thing. I didn´t stay in the pension though. I was very fortunate to always find somewhere to "go" when i needed to. This is nothing short of a miracle because public toilets do not exist in this part of chile hahaha.

We had a lesson with this inactive old man that we found on Friday. He was of the very nature/health/spirtual type. He is from Argentina and hasnt attended in 20 years. It was really sad to see how twisted some of his beliefs had become. However, it was really cool, because he immediately noticed my scoliosis, and did some weird chiropractic(sp) stuff on me that actually helped. He also read Elder Kennedy´s and my personalities within like 3 minutes of talking. It was really cool, but I dont see him progressing so I dont think we´ll pass by for a while.

We found an inactive lady named Soledad and her family this week. It turns out that they own the biggest gas company around. Elder Kennedy and I keep joking that we are going to baptized the rest of the family and get free gas for ever! Hahaha but all jokes aside they are incredible and we hoped to have them all come to church, but there was a death in the family. They should attend this week! Soledad is really friendly and excited about coming back! She has some friends from the ward from when she was younger, so we are going to try and do a noche de hogar with them together! Cant wait to see how it turns out!

Today was crazy! We were supposed to cut our hair for Elder Nelson, and as Elder Kennedy was cutting mine, my razor broke. The voltage is too strong even with a transformer it just blew out..oops haha. so I walked around with a half shaved head until I got the rest cut off in a shop. Hahah it was pretty funny, but stinks about the razor. I am doing great and love it here in Chile. I think its a bit different from the resort Mom and Dad are staying in, but the people are the same:) I love my Savior and know He lives. Fasting and prayers of faith bring miracles. Love you all!!!

Your Missionary,

Elder Harries

Villa Sur II Week 7

Bishop Yanez and wife. He is from Spain:)

Hola!

What a week! Where do I begin! Can I start by saying that God is a God of miracles and love! He is so aware of our needs and never gives us more than we can handle! This week has been another very exciting and fulfilling time to be a servant in the Lord´s vineyard!

The weather this week was extremely hot! 32 degrees celcius and more....close to 90 if my mental math is correct....been a while since I´ve thought about school haha. The pure temperature is not that bad, the Sun is the problem! I have never felt such a strong Sun! It literally pierces the skin and feels like a hot iron...a tangible electromagnetic wave you could say. Haha yes mom, I have been using lots of sunscreen, although I am still pretty burnt. This week is supposed to be a lot cooler.

Omar and Coni got married on Friday!!! I am so happy for them! They had the wedding in the house and it was so packed! Probably 60 people...all relatives and friends. Elder Kennedy and I only stayed for the actually ceremony. We were standing outside of the house waiting for it to start, when Coni´s aunt came and dragged us right into the house behind Omar and Coni! Lets just say Elder Kennedy and I are in all of the pictures...Im sure most of the family is not happy, but I thought it was really neat and symbolic:P  We are really excited for their baptism this Saturday!

We had probably the strangest and funniest experience last Thursday. We were at the home of the Moralez Gonzalez Family (Family of 5 investigating the church) for "once"(small dinner) and a lesson. We had the lesson, and just sat down for once. Brother Gonzalez is definitely Chilean...which means he love to talk. It´s actually quite common here. People will go on talking for 10 straight minutes changing topics....all without breathing or pausing for your input. Well, he was on one of his monologues, and Elder Kennedy and I were looking at our watches and sweating  (we have a rule to be in the pension by 9:30). It was 9:18 and we live about a 8 minute walks away. I said a quick prayer to help us be obedient....

then I had the thought to cough. Haha so I did! It sounded so real! It competely stunned Brother Gonzalez, and took him out of his trance. I kept on having a quite realistic cough attack. Elder Kennedy was able to change subjects and we got up and left! I still don´t know how it worked! We ran home and made it just in time. 1 Nephi 3:7 is so true! 

7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Elder Kennedy and I died laughing. The look on the Brother´s face was priceless.

We are still having trouble getting some people to church. Sunday mornings are the time for one of the Ferrias....a huge market that runs the length of the street. We left during one of the classes yesterday to find and bring some people to church. We found Maria Soledad (recen convert) in the Ferria and brought her to church! The Sabbath Day is a real struggle for some people here! We are trying to show pure love and help them understand the importance of taking the Sacrament! I love this work! I love the mission! I love my Savior and know that all people can change! Repentance is real!

Love you all,

Elder Harries

Villa Sur II Week 5

Hola!

What a week! I feel like things are really starting to get in a rhythm. I am really beginning to love the mission and it is becoming second nature to speak in Spanish! I love these people...even those that hate missionaries;) I really wish some people would just give us a chance sometimes though! We just want to help, but fortunately, everyone has agency, the ability to choose. I can´t imagine how the Lord feels when people reject Him.

I have loved hearing from Mom and Dad about teaching seminary on Doctrine and Covenants. I love those scriptures!! I studdied D&C 112 this week! What a powerful message to all of us! I love these verses:

 10 Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.

19 Wherefore, whithersoever they shall send you, go ye, and I willbe with you; and in whatsoever place ye shall proclaim my namean effectual door shall be opened unto you, that they may receive my word.

I have had such enriching personal studies this week! The pattern of morning studies is defintely something I could not go without!

Something pretty hilarious happened at Zone Conference! We were having an incredible conference! Presidente and Hermana Barreiros are so inspiring! So we had divided for smaller classes with the Assistents, and they were talking about Ward Councils. They had a powerpoint, and BOOM! Up popped a picture with mom and Ryan Smith in it! I about died!!!! It was so fun to see her beautiful face! I went up to the assitents and asked where they got the picture and they said it was from Google haha! Your famous mom! I am pretty sure it was the one from the Ensign!

I have been studying a lot about faith and prayer lately. I realized that faith is something that is always difficult. Before the mission I thought it would be a lot easier to have faith because I was a missionary. To the contrary! The more we use this muscle, the more the Lord trusts us to grow it! I have found that as we pray and act, we find more ways to use the faith we already have, thus growing it. We then recieve a witness of the faith (Ether 12:6). It is a sort of upward spiral!

I have also realized the importance of viewing people with Christlike love, Charity. As we look at others as they can become, not as who they are, we along with them begin to change and grow together! I love my companion Elder Kennedy! He is such an incredible example of hard work and courage! I learn from him every day! It will be a sad day when we separate.

I know that this work is true. Jesus Christ is leading this Church. The Book of Mormon is true. As we strive diligently to become more like Christ, we change. We then are in a position to help others change as well. This mission has taught me so much about my Savior. I am happier than I have ever been! I love you all!

Con Amor,

Elder Harries

Villa Sur II Week Four

General Conference in the Gringo room! Felt like America!

Crammed micro

Hola!!

What a week! We were able to watch all of the General Conference in English...besides the native Spanish speakers:) Wasn´t that incredible for the speakers to be able to speak in their native language?!? I learned so much!! I´ll get to that in a moment, but first the weekly review.

I forgot to mention a very special experience that we had last week! Omar and Coni, our investigators took the challenge to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith and the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Coni said that as she sat on her knees waiting for an answer, she had a vision/dream of Elder Kennedy and me. She saw our faces and they were shining very brightly. "illuminado" is the word she used in spanish. It was so powerful and they have been so faithful in reading the Book of Mormon together every night. They are such an inspiration to me!

I have noticed that genuine service is a very easy way to build confidence with people who don´t know you or your message. We have had great success with people by simply offering them service and helping with small things. Jesus Christ is our perfect example in this area!

It has surprised me how little members of the Church, recent converts and active members alike, understand about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is the center of our entire message, and yet it is hardly understood at all. Elder Kennedy and I have been working very hard to teach in a simple yet profound way the incredible Gift of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It makes me think back to the comment by Elder Callister in the autographed book I have of his. "I hope this book allows you to teach the Atonement with power and clarity on the mission!"

Ok! Now to General Conference! I had so many personal questions going in to the conference, and I was amazed as it felt like all of the speakers were speaking directly to me! All of my questions were answered within the first hour of the first session! I am so pumped to go out and put these answers to use! I realized that I had been slacking in my personal development, and was not taking enough intiative. We have this great gift from God, agency--the ability to act. We need to use it often and wisely! I absolutely loved the talk by Elder Robbins about who do you face? It was exactly what I needed! I also loved Elder Christofferson and Elder Uchtdorf´s talks!!! Every talk was awesome for that matter!!! 

In short I saw three major themes this conference:

1. Take personal responsibilty and act. Determine who you are going to be and who you are going to serve, and do it.

2. Use often the right to personal revelation.

3. Follow the Prophet.

I love you all and hope you are all doing well! You are in my prayers!!!

Love,

Elder Harries

Villa Sur II Week Three

Hola!

Time truly does fly when you are on the mission! Today marks two months since I left home! That blows my mind! It makes every moment so precious, and I don't want to waste a minute! This week has been so incredible! I learned so much about myself and others! The Lord has blessed us with many miracles!!

Elder Kenedy and I helped our first investigators decide to be baptized! Their names are Omar and Coni and they have so much faith! They already have plans to get married on the 24th, so we will be holding the baptismal service on the 1 of November! They came to church on Sunday and really enjoyed it! I am so happy for the faith they are developing!

Members are so crucial to the work! Elder Kenedy and I were walking in a small pasaje when all of a sudden we hear "Elders!" It was a man who had just been baptized 16 months ago! He was with his work partner outside her house! He had been sharing with her all about the change in his life since he joined the church. She had us in and we taught her with her work partner. She is very interested, and now has a great support system. She has a large family that has a lot of faith!

I have learned so much about life in these short weeks. I thought that I knew everything and that the mission wouldn't be too challenging for me. How wrong I was. I have been deeply humbled as I have sought the Lord's guidance and counsel every minute of every day. I know that each mission is uniquely designed for every person. Every challenge and person I have met have taught me what I need to change in order to more fully follow Christ's example. The Lord sometimes brings us to our knew in order to lift us onto higher ground! I don't know everything, but I know that the Lord loves me and is with me in every step of the way!

Matthew 16:25 is so true! When we lose our life for the Lord, we find out who we are and what our potential is! I love you all! Thanks for all the prayers! You are in mine!

With Love,

Elder Harries

Villa Sur II Week 2

Our Chapel. The nicest building in town surrounded by a 20 foot high green fence and barbed wire:)

 Cueca (national dance)

 Ward activity with less active:)

Hola!

What a week! Where do I begin?...

This week was a very festive one! Chile's National independence day is the 18th of September, so everyone had work off from Wednesday to Sunday. I thought this would be perfect to get into people's homes! However, it was a little harder than I thought. Chileans work super hard, and when they have their days off, which is hardly ever, they take full advantage of them....especially where I live:)

I would say that one in every five people on the street was either drunk, high, or both. It is so sad to see the poor decisions of some people! They have so much potential, but the environment, their choices, and the choices of others makes it so hard for some of these people to have success. It has made me realize that we have so many incredible opportunities to take advantage of at home in America!

We had a really fun Ward Activity on the 18th! We got to go and watch some national dances, listen to some songs and have a good time with the members. We have a moderately strong ward here in Villa Sur. We draw an average of 75 members to church each sunday. It is really frustrating because we could do so much more! President has started this thing where one companionship leaves church and goes to look for investigators and less actives. We left and knocked about 10 doors, but "no one was home"

We had an incredible miracle this week. The Zone leaders challenged us to find a family of five on Friday. We had worked all day without any success. at 8:30, right before heading in, I asked Elder Kennedy if we could offer a prayer to find a family. We did, and then no more than 10 minutes later we knocked on a door and I asked how many people were is his family. Cinco:) He let us in an we taught his wife and he. This work is real. The Lord lives and is directing it. When we lose ourselves in the work our live change. I love my Savior. He has carried me this week! Love and pray for you all at home!!

Con amor,

Elder Harries

Villa Sur II Week 1

mission home area ...Oh and that pic I sent home was an accident last week. That was Elder Williams, the friend of Kevin Colton that I got along with.

Our street. One of the nicer ones:)

Hola!

I´ll start off by saying this has by far been the most trying, yet fulfilling week of my life! I am in the Ochogavia Zone, and my sector is Villa Sur II...we are in the Ghetto.

Elder Kenedy is great! He is the District Leader for our district. He speaks the language very well and is friendly! We get along very well. Our personalities are both relatively mild so we haven´t had the least bit of contention this week. As a trainer, it is his responsiblity to take the lead in everything we do, however he is extremely good at including me and asking for my opinions. There hasn´t been a time in which I have sugested something that he completely shut me down. Usually we end up doing what I suggest--he´s just chill about everything haha. He is from San Diego, California and is the youngest of five siblings. He has about 6 months remaining in the mission, which means that we will most likely be together for 6 months here in Villa Sur II. At least that is what he thinks.

The pension we have is pretty average. It is just the two of us together. We have warm showers which is a nice addition. The shower floor doubles as the bathroom floor, and the drain smells and doesn´t drain quickly, but besides that we are several levels above camping:) The electricity goes out whenever you use more than two appliances, but it hasnt really been too bad of a problem. I can´t complain at all though, it is much nicer than most of the homes in which I have been.

Elder Kenedy and I are both new to our sector (white-wash), so our first few days were slow. We also weren´t able to leave the pension at all on Thursday, because aparently the 11 of Sept is a dangerous holiday here. Last year they burnt micros(buses) and crazy stuff like that. We had a lot of fun just the two of us in a 20 by 20 foot space haha. But besides that we have seen some great progess. We have been doing a lot of contacting in our mile by mile (if that) area. I pretty much know my way around. 

We found 5 new investigators this week, and taught 18 lessons. This is an ok week according to mission standards, but we were white washed and in the middle of transfers so we should see some more progress next week. We are one of four missions in the world that is on Pilot Plan. Basically it is a simplified mission work system that helps with reactivation. It seems to have had a lot of success here.

I have had many incredibly spriritual experiences already! All of our new investigators were out of our way, but I saw the house and had the thought to go contact it. It is incredible how the Lord works. Be obedient, work hard and the Lord will put people in your path.

My first lesson on my first full day was very powerful for me. It was with a recent convert named Maria soledad. As I testified of the Book of Mormon I had the most powerful and incredible feeling fill my heart! I began to cry. I knew more in that moment, than I have ever in my life that this book is true. I am here for a reason. I am going to work as hard as I can to bring souls to Christ. He lives. This work is not mine, but His. I am so happy!!

Love,

Elder Harries