IN THE FIELD

Hola! I’m finally out in the field now have been for 4 days. It is amazing and it so wonderful. It is everything I thought it would be and so much more. The people here are so nice so. The ward was so warm and accepting. I have the chance to meet only a small number of them but already I feel such a great love from the ward member. I have a great love for this ward and I can just feel the potential it has. I have had a lot of great experiences I will share a few.

First off is the first day, I received my new companion Elder Klappenbach from Argentina. He speaks very little English so I have had to speak Spanish full time now. I love it I’m learning so fast now. It’s amazing to me because I can speak Spanish I can communicate and get stuff done its awesome. We jumped full into the work from day one. A lot of the work here is with less active and part member families and it’s amazing to get to go in and teach and feel that spirit. The days pass so fast here- so fast before I know it its nine o’clock and night it’s amazing. I’m trying my best to be like President Hinckley lose myself and go to work. It’s not easy but it’s possible.

Also something cool that happened was one night we had open time in our plans so we decided to just try and visit a part member family. The family is an elder one. When we passed by the next day and tried to talk with them no one answered but we just stayed and kept trying then next thing we know the sister opens the door and we find out her husband was put in the hospital and is near death. We came in and she talked with us for a long time. It was a cool experience because I know we where an answer to her prayers she needed comfort so the lord sent us to comfort those who stand in need of comfort and lift up the hands that hang down.

Thank you so much for all your love support and prayers truly I feel them I do its amazing. I couldn´t do this without the great support group I have back home. Thank you so much. In case you’re curious this is my address to send mail and packages to and will probably stay this for my whole mission.

Elder Harrison

Mission Chile Santiago south

Casilla 544

Sanbernardo Santiago
Chile

Thanks for all your love all your support I know this is a good work it’s the work of God and I love it.

Much love

-Elder Harrison

Here are me and my comp, me and one of my teachers at the CCM - Hermano Montablan, and lastly a really huge and good burger in Chile..

 

LAST CCM EMAIL

Well this is it. I’m down to my final two days in the CCM. I’m so excited to get out in the field and start living the full mission life. It’s so awesome how much the lord has blessed me in the CCM. There have been moments that have been super hard but like Alma in the Book of Mormon every time those hard times come the Lord saves you when you call upon him and replaces your pain with joy exceeding even as was your pain. I not even sure what all to talk about there is just such great anticipation for the field going though all of our district everyone is just raring to go.

Well I guess I best not leave out the cool stuff that happened. To start we got to go contacting one day over at one of the big parks in Santiago. Me and my companion were nervous at first, but then we found a lady and her mother to talk to. At first she was very cold to us, but as we kept talking she invited us to sit down with her and talk. We did so and she began asking us questions about the church and eventually we brought up the Book of Mormon and me and my companion bore our testimony about the Book of Mormon to her. I felt the spirit very strong. We gave her a Book of Mormon and promised her that if she read and asked God, then God would tell her that the book is true. We finished with her, walked around a bit more did not have a super successful time. As we came back we were on the other side of the park from the first women and as we look over she was reading the book of Mormon right there at the park. Me and my comp. felt so happy in that moment the fact that she was reading and she did care. Well we got back to the CCM and gave her phone number (that she had given us) to one of the teacher so some missionaries could call her and go and teach her and I’m really hoping she accepts the message. She just seems so ready.

Next cool thing this week was that our teacher went and brought one of his friends in from class for us to teach. Me and elder Dirkmat got to teach her and as we did we came to the Book of Mormon again, so we made her the same promise that if she reads and prays about it go will tell her it’s true. 

Well we taught her how to pray then asked her to say the closing prayer and she asked us if she should ask Heavenly Father if the Book of Mormon was true. Elder Dirkmat was about to say no (wanting her to read it first which makes sense) but something inside me just pushed me and I cut him off before he could and told her to yes ask God if the book is true. As she prayed I have never felt so nervous before I was praying as she did that the spirit would testify to her. As she said amen we sat there for a second and I asked her how she felt. She said she felt calm peaceful and tranquil. I testified that it was the spirit telling her that the book was true. She said she knew it was that she felt the spirit it was so amazing as the spirit testified to us all that the Book of Mormon was true.

It has been a fantastic week this week I hope you all have a great week when I email next I will be out in the field

-Elder Harrison

Extra two days

Hello everyone how are you? This week has been a great one here. So much awesome stuff has happened. I will start, though, with the slightly less awesome. So, this is supposed to be my last email from the CCM, but we found out yesterday that due to a meeting for the mission presidents in Argentina we will be kept here an extra two days. So, instead of leaving this next week on Tuesday, we will leave Thursday. Not terrible by any means, but I kinda really want to get out into the field.

Which leads me to my first awesome part. I got to meet and have an interview with my mission president yesterday and it was awesome. He is so nice and so full of the spirit and so full of love every missionary that talked to him came out saying how much love they felt from him. After I talked to him I felt it to. I felt the burning desire to go out and get in the field and spread the message, it was so awesome. I love my mission president.

Also last night Chile won their soccer game to qualify for the world cup and when they did wow did this town go crazy. There where fireworks out by the stadium, people shooting flares, honking their horns and cheering. (fyi this is at 11:00 at night) but was really cool to see. I’m kinda hoping Chile does really well in the world cup.

This week has also been great because our teacher are teaching in almost full Spanish. They only speak English if we are super confused and I’m able to understand it all as well it so awesome. Things are great I’m starting to be so close to my district if feel like I have known them all for years yet it’s only been a month. We all came from such different places but have grown so close.

Until next week have a great one. Remember in times of trouble, turn to the gospel and to your family. They will provide shelter in times of trouble. I know it has been that for me.

-Elder Harrison

General conference!!

 Wow was that not the most amazing general conference ever. I agree with President Monson when he said that it was one of the most inspiring conferences ever. I hope you all took the time to watch it and when it comes out i hope you all read and study them. I went in with some question and got them amazing answered. I know for sure that all those who spoke, spoke the words of God. One of my personal favorites was President Uchdorf in the priesthood session. He talked about rising up. For me it was super special because I know the feeling of being stuck, unable to move or help myself. I would have stayed that way if it was not for the savior extending his hand to me taking me by the hand and saying ¨now you can.´´ I have felt that power the power of the atonement the power to do things I could have never imagined. I feel that a lot in the CCM there is so much to do and learn and when I feel overwhelmed and like I can’t do it I feel the strength of my savior so strong.

Did anyone else notice some strong themes in this conference? If not you should take a second look. I saw them and I know they are not just happen stance that certain things got talked about 3, 4, and 5 times even. Study those things the lord is warning us of things to come and what we need to prepare for.

Other then conference it was a normal week. We had another group leave today and it is kinda sad to see them go but at the same time I am so excited for them to get out in the field. The photo is of one of my latino friends his name is Elder Gonzales he is a great missionary. It’s cool to think that next is my turn. That in two weeks I will be leaving the CCM and be in the field.  I am excited and nervous.

The church is so true, Heavenly Father is there for all of us everyday. The promises he makes are true they all come true. This week has been great as i have seen promises come true and been able to reach to higher heights then ever before.

Have a fantastic week brothers and sisters. Stay strong, lift up the hands that hang down and cheer up the weary hearts

-Elder Harrison

p.s. its a lovely spring here

Hola (I think)

This week was a tough week- kind of-well, hard in some ways but amazing in others. Here in the CCM things are a lot the same everyday- wake up, eat, exercise, the go to class, and then sleep. Ya. That’s the extent of it and while it may be tedious at times, I love all of it. It’s so cool to see how fast learning is with help from the spirit. Spanish is hard. But I can’t even imagine trying to learn it anywhere else. That would be so hard. Here the spirit can be a constant companion and it’s cool to me how the spirit doesn’t just help with spiritual things alone, but every aspect of life. I find myself using a lot of spanglish now. I will know one or two words in Spanish so I will use them and then say the rest in English. I’m starting to be able to talk more in lessons. Me and my companion are at about a 50\50 split now which is really cool to me cause I came in know well basically nothing at all.

Also, I’m finding out not everyone views this work the same way that I do. So, others in my district, especially, seem to view the rules and ways a missionary should act so differently then I do. I’m working on learning to see things though other people eyes while not losing the ground that I have.

Now for a bit of sad news. One of the other elders in my district is being sent back home today. It’s so sad because he had a strong desire to serve and had a lot of gospel knowledge. So remember everyone, never ever sacrifice future blessings for joys of the moment. This elder is a great guy, but because of things he did before he left, he can’t serve any more and is going to have to wait before he gets the chance. Brothers and sisters, stay strong in the gospel. True joy and love and happiness are found here. This gospel is true. It’s all true, I know it and I know I have a Heavenly Father loves me loves you loves us all. I know he is there listening to our prayers. He has given me so many answers its amazing.

Lastly, I’m so excited for general conference and if you’re not you should be! A prophet is going to talk to us. That  is amazing and if you have any questions write them down and I promise they will be answered in one of the sessions so make sure to watch them all. I know I will be and I will be doing the same as you. This gospel amazing I love the opportunity to teach it to the people of Chile.

Sincerly,

Elder Harrison