Faith in a Calling from a Prophet. Week 12

Well well well!
The work is progressing! :) We're talking to a lot of people. There have been at least three times when we were talking to someone and they told us that they felt like we were sent from heaven to help them. It was pretty cool. However, these people are struggling to meet with us. They're so busy, and so are we. It breaks my heart.

We met a man who was totally interested and wanted to hear more, so we asked him for his address, and he said he doesn't have one, because he just lives with a few different families... he just moves from one to the other and never knows where he'll be next. :( That's happened at least twice. Oh man.

The other day we had a lesson with one of these sisters (one who said we came to her at just the right time and she felt like we were sent from God) the other day about baptism, but her aunt was there and she was very Catholic and the aunt's daughter was too, and she was very vocal about her feelings on the subject... >_> We still taught the lesson and tried to bring the Spirit. We're going to meet her again tonight. Hopefully things will go better!

The other day we were trying to meet a sister, but she wasn't home, but this random man was there instead, so we talked to him and invited him to the Battalion. He came with a friend and he LOVED it! We saw him again (we were trying yet again to talk to Irma) and talked to him some more about the gospel and the Battalion and he was just so excited. He agreed to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. I'm still struggling to speak Spanish and understand the people more, but I feel more comfortable with it, at least. :)

My companion is amazing. She's so patient with me. She's really good at just loving people. It's pretty awesome, because before I got out here, I had been praying that I could learn to have that kind of love. Heavenly Father really answers our prayers. Sometimes we still have a hard time communicating, but we're improving. We're also speaking more Spanish around the apartment and on the street, so that's good.

We've set a goal to learn 5 new words each day. We should probably have a better outline of what to learn each week, but we only just made the goal yesterday. I learned cejas, vanidoso, calentador, fosas nasales, y delegad. They're pretty random, I know. The point, though, is that it's a lot of fun learning together. I've been helping her with her pronunciation, and she's been helping me with grammar and such in Spanish. It's perfect! :D I wish all my comps could be native Spanish speakers.

I'm getting better at giving tours at the Battalion. I gave my first solo tour on Sunday, and I only had like...5 really awkward moments. Hahaha! It's fine, though. I think they knew I was just doing my best. Actually, a lady came through yesterday and she told us that she is a theatre teacher, and she thought we were fantastic! So I guess I'm not completely horrible anymore. :) I'm learning. It's a process.

Oh. One of the lines from the script says something like, "Once the men received these straps (they're talking about the ammunition case, bayonet, and the belt, all of which have or are a white strap) their enlistment suddenly became real to them. They were just farmers and craftsmen, with no experience as soldiers. But they were marching with faith in a promise from a prophet of God." Anyway, I realized that that is me! When I received my name tag, my calling suddenly became real to me. I'm just a student/young adult, with no real experience being a missionary. But, I'm driving off in San Diego with faith in a calling from a prophet of God. :)

I am feeling a lot more comfortable with everything. I think I get the area a lot better, and I feel much more comfortable driving. My hip is still hurting me, but it's feeling better in general. We got to buy fruits and vegetables today, so I won't die of scurvy. :) I'm excited to do some cooking once we get back to the apartment today! I feel so much more comfortable with the whole mission idea. I'm still scared and nervous and not sure how to talk to people, but I feel more confident that if I do everything I'm supposed to, the Lord will help me do His work.

We got to attend a baptism the other day. It was so awesome. I just felt such love and peace! I just want to be able to help people have that in their lives more.

We got to work at the temple! Well, outside the temple. We've got a "visitors center" there. It's a canopy with the words "Temporary Visitors Center" across the top. It was so awesome. We met so many prepared people and got to talk about eternal families and Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The San Diego temple is so sweet. :D

We had MTEs the other day. Basically it's a meeting where they teach us how to teach and then we do a lot of role playing. We practiced teaching briefly and powerfully. We can now give the Restoration message in a little over a minute (in English... hahaha). :) It's progress. My companion and I are working on the whole switching often while teaching thing. We have been struggling a little (lies. A lot) with that, so I can really see the progress. :)

Okay one last story. So there's this awesome family that we visited. We went to visit the daughter (18) because we want to have her come out with us for lessons, but her parents were there too, so we talked with all of them. Her parents (her father in specific, but I think it's both) are less active. They're so awesome, though! When we left they gave us some of those Mexican bread things... hmm. I can't remember the word, and my companion just calls it bread. >_> Anyway, they've got the cool design thing on top, with lightly sugared stuff. They're super delicous. I think the name has a ch and a c in it. But... I can't remember. The point here is that it was super delicious!!!

And then when we visited them a second time, they got us pizza!! I haven't had pizza in forever. It was SO GOOD. I've been eating like... protein shakes, pb&js and granola bars for a week (or a little bit of chicken on spaghetti or rice when there's a moment to spare) so it was like heaven. Oh man. Well, basically these people are so giving. They just want to give and give and give. I love being here. I want to be more like them. :)

I felt way more at ease in the ward on Sunday. I still don't know very many people, but that doesn't mean I can give them all hugs! They're all so loving and welcoming. It's wonderful. :) Oh, btw, I've spoken to three people who speak German, and I told them all that my heart was full. :) I hope you appreciate that, dad. I'm afraid my German pronuciation (and English spelling) is horrible at the moment, though. Spanish is taking over! XD Well, I need to go now. I love you all!

--Hermana Harris

Julia's First Day in San Diego Week 10-ish

A transcription of a handwritten letter we got this week. It takes 6 days for mail to go between SD and Layton. Pony Express still?

It was so wonderful to talk to you this morning! The flight went well and now we are here in sunny San Diego! It reminds me so much of Tucson with all the palm trees and the temperature. It's wonderful!

They've fed us well! A real taco salad and actual fresh strawberries cantaloupe and raspberries! Even fresh pineapple! I feel human again.

Tonight the new sisters will be sleeping at the MoBat! I don't know how that is going to work, but there you go. Tomorrow I'll get my new trainer and really start this missionary thing.I'm going to miss my companion! She has been so wonderful, I could not have done it without her!

Today I feel like a princess. The mission home is awesome. Right now I am in this sweet corner bedroom with two cute beds and a window looking out into the green flowery, sunny garden! Me Gusta!

I want to live in San Diego! I love it here! I just feel good! Plus this house smells good.I'm not sure what it is, but it smells great! They are even going to let us take a nap! I am so excited! 3:30 am is a bit early.

Oh did I tell you about this sweet email experience? Well the person emailed us back saying thank you from the bottom of their soul and that they read and reread our email reply and they felt the Spirit and they felt like our message was straight from God! That's all I could ever ask for! That's my whole goal as a missionary- to speak His words to His children the way He would if He were here! I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity.

I just had my first interview with Pres. Clayton's wife. She is such a sweetheart! Very kind and loving. Don't worry Mom, she gives lots of hugs!

Now I just had my first interview with Pres. Clayton! He is a wonderful man. I am so excited to be working with him! I am excited for this. I hope I can make the most of every day and work hard enough!

There are 10 stakes in our mission and almost all of them have MoBat sisters. This will be crazy. BTW on our way into the airport, we ran into sisters leaving the mission. They were so excited for us. When I asked for advice, they just said, "Follow the Spirit."

The Assistants to the President in our meeting today said that right now San Diego has 150 missionaries. By the end of the summer, we'll be at 230!

In the interview, President Clayton said that there will be times when I will be so frustrated. I will be doing all the right things and being obedient and working hard, but that things just won't work out. Our golden investigator will call up and say, "Never come back." But if we step it up a notch instead of giving up, we will have miracles. Heavenly Father knows when things should work out. I want to come home as a different person in a good way. I want to work and watch and pray and labor with the fervent zeal of youth. BTW when I say "yes" and "no" when we sing that song, people give me weird looks. Oh well.

Again I love talking to you, even though you made me cry in the middle of the airport about five times.  Citrus trees. Palm trees. Green hills. Cool breezes. The aroma of sugar cookies baking. A bunch of pillows and the sweet peace of the Spirit. Best first day ever. :)


Hermana Harris

California Here I am! Week 11

Hola!!

It's crazy. You know when they say that the mission is the hardest thing you'll ever do? Well, I believed them, but I didn't understand them. It seriously is rough out here. I mean, even when people are nice and totally open to the message it's hard. XD There's just SO MUCH TO DO, and no time! It's insane. 

Here are the highlights and low lights of my first week here:

First off, my companion is Hermana Salinas. Ella es de Oaxacca, Mexico, y es bien bien chida. XD I think I sent you a picture of her from the battalion. It's been quite the adventure there, but that's another story. Focusing in on my comp. She's super excited about being here in San Diego and has a great positive attitude. She makes me food and encourages me and tells me to wear her earrings (which are super pretty) and she's taking good care of me.

I hurt my hip a bit the other day (Sister Affleck told me that I just pinched a nerve there, so I should massage and stretch it, so I've been doing that and it hurts less now, but I have some bruising there) and she's patient with me and worries about me. It's hard to communicate sometimes because her first language is Spanish and mine obviously is not. Also, she doesn't know how to drive, so that is my official job. D: That was the last thing I wanted to do here, but it's okay so far. By which I mean we haven't died ... yet. But we get lost a lot. It's hard to drive in a new place with super-fast driver and a co-pilot that isn't a natural-English speaker. Buuuut it's okay. We have a Garmin, but neither of us are very good at using it, so we miss our turns and stuff a lot. But... we're getting better at knowing where the places are in the first place so we don't need to rely on the Garmin as much!

The Battalion is way sweet. The sisters are all so welcoming and loving. During lunch breaks (about 2 people can eat at a time max) they all ask me how I'm doing and ask about myself and my family, etc. I kinda just want to eat but oh well. XD We had a super awesome experience the other day at the Battalion. I went out back to gold panning and joined a group talking there with Sister Madsen. (BTW, I saw Rebecca Madsen at the temple. I can't remember if I said that the other day or not.)

Anyway, we talked a lot and I was so afraid to say anything, but after they talked for like half an hour I finally started adding stuff in, and we had a nifty discussion about church and how we don't want them to join our church because we believe it's true, but rather we want them to find out for themselves and to gain their own testimony. Last week when I was in Temple Square, these people asked us to get Books of Mormons and write our testimonies in them so they could give them out, so we did, but the people disappeared, so I kept mine. Anyway, I had it in my bag so I was able to give it to the visitors, and I shared a bit about how it has helped me feel God's love for me, and it was so awesome. I absolutely loved it. Miracles happen at the Battalion!!

Speaking of the Battalion, yesterday I actually went thru a tour with my companion and I did about 40% of the talking! That was a lot. It was my first time helping out in the outfitting room. I was so scared, and didn't do a perfect job, but I said some things, and that was good. I'm still working on the script. There's a lot to memorize! My goal is to be able to do half of it by Wednesday and to take tours by myself by Saturday. We'll see how that goes. The sisters are so nice and willing to help practice with me. It's great. SO many people come to the MoBat! It's insane. We had over 700 people the other day. THAT IS A LOT.

I've been assigned to work in the Logan Heights branch. This branch used to only have 1 pair of sisters, but we're the 2nd pair of them, and there are already 3 companionships of elders there. It's crazy. So we sort of get to whitewash the area. Thankfully Sister O'Neill (Hermana Amendola's trainer) gave us some of her investigators and such. Before we got all of that, though, we went and visited this lady, Maria. She's a less active. She's from Spain, and pretty old, but very sweet. Hehehe... she said she doesn't like gringos. And then she said, except you, and gave me a hug & kissed my forehead. Then later she said, in Spanish of course, "I like gringos... far from me." And then gave me another hug and kissed my forehead. She calls me her gringita. XD

She's a sweet lady. She just had eye surgery and is going through a hard time. She doesn't feel very much love from the branch and that's why she doesn't want to go. She said missionaries are the angels of the church. Anyway, we sat by her in Relief Society on Sunday. I only understand 40-75% of what she says in Spanish, and when she speaks English, I get about 60-80% of it. XD Oh well. My compa can understand it all so that's been super nice. It's kinda awkward though. Cuz... well she's from Mexico, and so all the people we talk to just love her and they give her a huge hug and get all excited, and then if they even notice me they give me a grimace and shake my hand. I've never experienced this before. I guess I just need to be more outgoing.

We had our first official lesson yesterday. We taught the Restoration to this lady. We need to practice the whole taking-turns-talking thing. That comes during comp study I guess. My companion is so good at talking to the people and showing them her love. It's been such a wake up call to see these people and the lives they live and how much faith they have. We called a lady yesterday to set up an appointment, and she said she can't meet with us this Wednesday because her husband just went to jail today and she has to get all the papers to get him out. It's all so crazy.

We went to visit one of Hna O'Neill's old investigators, who lives in an apartment above a car dealership. I mean, this is real life. It's crazy. I feel so overwhelmed with the language and the work and everything. But I know that I will have help. This are already feeling a bit more manageable. I can probably survive with part of my sanity intact. If not, oh well. XD You'll love me anyways, right? :D

Exercising was going pretty well until my hip went all wonky. Because I had been using the ellipticals, my endurance went up a little, so running wasn't too bad. I mean, I'm pretty sure I'm at a way lower altitude because it was pretty easy. It was more of 'my muscles are tired' than 'I can't breathe!!!' so that's good news. :) I'm excited to start running again once my hip muscles stop freaking out.

I'm grateful to be a part of this work. Scared, yes. Nervous, yes. Worried, yes. Excited? Yes! :)

A HANDWRITTEN letter! from last week ;-) and PICS!!

Hermanas Amendola and Harris

Like I sort of said in my email (but ran out of time), I'm in a singing trio with my companion and another Hermana in our district, Hermana Lunt. (No, she looks nothing and sounds nothing like Mr Lunt in Veggie Tales). We've been singing Joseph Smith's First Vision to the tune of Homeward Bound. My voice isn't as trained as theirs,and they're both all vibrato-y and stuff, so I still don't know why I'm singing with them, but apparently it's okay. We sang it in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. It was pretty awesome.

We actually tried out to sing in a large group meeting, but Sister Nally, the lady in charge, has perfect pitch and didn't like the fact that we were accapella. She told us to get a piano. So we needed to find someone who could play with us... by ear... cuz we made up the harmonies & had no sheet music. We were really blessed, though. We literally ran into Elder Mercado minutes after they told us he might be able to help us. He & his companion, Elder Lamb, have been so awesome. Working with our branch presidency's 2^nd counselor, we actually now have sheet music, and it all is just super cool. It's truly a miracle. The lady (Sister Nally) will be sending us a note in the mail if she wants us to try out. So, we'll see.

We had a pretty cool experience at TRC (Training Resource Center”) this week and last week. At TRC we teach volunteers. Last week, we taught a 22 to 28 year old named Benjamin. He served in Bolivia, and three days after he entered the MTC, his mom died. I could not even imagine. So I'm so grateful for my experience so far. I sure love you!!!!!

This week, we taught Santiago. He lived in Wyoming, but now he lives in Provo, obviously. He's in his 50's or 60's, and he works as a book repairman in the BYU library. He is not married. He's a super cool guy. He talked a bit about how the desire of his heart was to see the Lord, face to face, in this life, like Nephi, the brother of Jared, etc. While we were discussing things, the Spirit was super strong. I loved it. Absolutely an incredible experience.

On Sunday, my companion and I went early to Music and the Spoken Word and thus were asked to give the prayers for Relief Society, with all the sisters, including Sister Burton, the General Relief Society President. So that was the beginning of my Sunday. Then we read more scriptures, prepared our talks, went to lunch, worked on talks some more, had district lesson, and then went to Sacrament Meeting. In Sacrament we sang our song, & that was crazy. It was really cool but terrifying. After that, we practiced our song with Elder Mercado playing the piano. We went to dinner and then had choir practice, and that was super cool too.

The devotional we had after choir was amazing. I believe the speaker's name is Richard I Heaton. He taught the difference between success and success. By which I mean he taught that there are two kinds : the 1^st means people accept your invitation to come unto Christ. The 2^nd means that your efforts are acceptable to the Lord. The 1^st is a gift. We can only work with all of our efforts & desire their eternal welfare with all of our hearts, with a complete understanding that all of our efforts can bring no “success” of the 1^st variety. If we do this, we will have success – but only the 2^nd kind.

The 1^st kind is not in our power to bring about. I need to remember to recognize that success #1, whether I get it or not, does not change #2. It was a good devo. Anyways, then we watched the Joseph Smith movie, again. For the 3^rd time here. XD. It always brings me to tears. The sacrifices of those early Saints. I just can't even imagine. I know that soon I will be out there, in the world, with people who will reject us, & persecute us, for His name's sake. 3 Ne 12:10-12 gives hope. I hope & pray that I can submit patiently to all the will of the Father. I'll be looking to the examples of the pioneers. It's going to be exciting & scary & I'm excited to get out there. Thanks for all you have done to prepare me for this. I'm grateful for the way I have been raised & for the experiences I've had growing up. Thank you, thank you, thank you! <3<3<3

Love & Prayers, Hermana Harris

Lift up your heart and SING! Week 9

So this is my last Tuesday in the MTC!! Next Tuesday I'll be out of here! We got our new schedule for the next week. Wednesday we're off to Temple Square, where we will be a guest, to see what we like and what we don't like about how tours are given, so we can do better ourselves. It will be quite exciting! We met our new teacher. She's super awesome. She said something interesting to me. She asked us what we're worried about. I said I was worried because I'm not super outgoing. I tend to be shy. I said I want to work on that. She said to not worry so much about it. She said to try to be the best me that I can be, but that the Lord needs Sister Harris, not Sister Harris trying to be somebody else. That really touched me, and helped me realize I'm not supposed to become this cookie-cutter missionary. The Lord just wants me to be the best Hermana Julia Nicole Harris from Tucson, AZ that I can be. If that means opening up more, then so be it, but I don't have to try to be someone I'm not. :)

Speaking of opening up more. Ahem. So you know how my companion got me to sing with her and another Hermana in our Zone? Well, we tried out the first time acappella, and Sister Nally said she couldn't use us, but she encouraged us to find an accompanist. So...we did. We were miraculously able to literally run into someone who had the talent and the desire to help us arrange a piano part for the song. One miracle after another, we were able to get it all together. We re-tried out, and Sister Nally said we did really well, and said she'd let us know when she wants to use us. So on Friday, we got a note from her in our mail, telling us that we would be singing on Sunday at Mission Conference! That's in front of the entire MTC. EVERYONE. >_> Umm.

So... on Sunday I sang in a trio in front of thousands of missionaries. That was definitely a new experience for me. I prayed and prayed and prayed and just wanted to be an instrument in the Lord's hands. When it was our turn to go up, we walked up, and my heart started beating so hard I could barely breathe, but my mind was completely calm. It was an incredible experience. I felt such peace and joy as I sang. It was super awesome. Since then I've realized that it's not a big deal to talk in front of people. I've found it loads easier to get up in front of the class or zone and bear my testimony or say a prayer or teach a lesson - whatever it is. It's pretty sweet. I guess that'll come in handy with the whole 'giving tours' thing, eh?

Also, it's been a weird experience because everywhere we go, someone will turn to us and say, "Oh, were you the Sisters that sang on Sunday? You did such a great job!" It's kinda freaking me out. People don't usually notice me. So...when random girls in the bathroom or Elders in the lunchroom or hallway or computer lab say "Hey, nice job on Sunday" it's kinda different. (BTW, just a few minutes ago someone said it. XD It's been like... over 50 people.) I'm just glad that people were able to feel it. :)

Alright. So Wednesday afternoon we have tour class and such, and then we go to the referral center for a bit! Thursday we have more classes and referral center, and then another p-day on Friday. Then Saturday we're back to classes, and then Temple Square again Saturday night. Sunday is regular church, Monday is classes/referral center/prep to leave, and we leave Tuesday at 5 in the morning! I can't even believe it!

Something I re-learned today: I need to have my love for the Saviour written in my heart so that no one can take it away. That's also what I need to help the people of San Diego have. I need to help them have that relationship with their Saviour, so that no one can take that away from them!

Well, I'm about out of time. I love you all! Please take care of each other. I trust that the Lord is taking care of you. :) Keep reading together and praying together and loving each other.

--Hermana Harris