A FRESH CHANGE

¡Hola! Well this week we had some big changes. It was time for changes and my comp and Elder Hanni got sent away. It’s really different. We had a strong feeling that Elder Ferloni was going to go cause he had so much time here in the ward. The surprise came from Elder Hanni we were all sure that he was going to stay. It was sad to say good bye to Him. I had really gotten to be good friends with him. Now we have got some new people in the ward and its always a good change. My new comps name is Elder Whitmore. He is from Arizona and is super cool. We were actually in the same zone when he started his mission so I had known him and his trainer is from My group. He is super cool. It’s a big change when there is so many people who change out of a ward really brings a fresh new look to the ward. New energy and everything. 

This week We got some sad news. So Familia Amigo was progressing really well for there baptism this Saturday but yesterday we when by the house and The Hermano amigo Had been smoking so sadly we are going to have to wait a few more weeks we are thinking 2 weeks to get him really ready to take this important step. Really he took it well and we did to when people have addictions a refall is normal. He has smoked for over 30 years The fact that he made it as long as he did is a miracle and he is more committed than ever to drop smoking and get to his baptism. Really though I’m impressed with him I have seen him make so many changes in his life. He has done so much to try and get his life the way the lord wants him to live it. His refall is not a loss of hope nor more than our own personal refalls everyday are. Each and every one of us struggles with something some temptation that always gets us. Even Nephi had it he in 2 Nephi talks about how is surrounded but sins which do easily beset him. (I’m trying my best to translate that from Spanish) we have all got them. When we fall (which we all do) the savior does not hold back his hand and tell us we are lost, even more he holds out his hand and ask us to stand. We have the same plan for amigo. hold out our hand get him back on his feet and to his baptism. We are really excited. I’m excited to be with my new comp it’s going to be a fun few months together I love the guy already.

I hope you all have a great week and that we can all stand back up no matter how many times we fall.

-Elder Harrison

A REJUVINATING WEEK

April 15, 2015

¡Hola! This week was a really good week we had some great things happen. First off we visited with Hermano Amigo and his wife this week. So in the first visit we had a really strong meeting talking with him about the need to get an answer from god about these things we then talked about how to recognize the spirit. We left after explaining that and inviting them to read pray and really seek this answer. When we came back we asked them and to our surprise the Hermana began to tell about her experience. (She was the catholic never want to change type) how when she prayed she felt a strong feeling that brought tears to her eyes. She said it was a very special feeling and knew it was an answer from god and that she needs to be baptized. The Hermano amigo also said that he felt a feeling that almost brought him to tears. Which he claims is special cause he never cries never ever. (Using his own words) and it took that big of an effect on them. They are both going strong to their baptism. The hermano amigo still struggles with smoking after that day together he promised to never smoke again so he could get baptized. I’m so amazed at the power the spirit can have. All our talking. All of our trying to convince him did do anything and was left in the dust by one true experience with the spirit. Truly the spirit is the great teacher truly the spirit is the one who brings the conversion. It was amazing to get to watch this process happen.

Also on Sunday I had the privilege to go back to my last ward to baptize Belen. She is the daughter of the Hermana Magarita who was baptized while I was with macedo (if you remember) Well after the mom got baptized we kept working with Belen and she would always say that someday she would get baptized. Well she got things in the right way to get baptized and she requested that I do it. It was an honor to be able to do it. I still remember finding magarita one day just sitting in the park and thinking well lets go try talking to her. Now they are both baptized and on the way to being an eternal family it’s amazing I love that family so much. one of the 2 times I have been able to see a family progress from first contact to baptism it’s amazing.

Also this week Just today we got to go down to The Rio Clario which is a natural reserve place near our mission so our zone rented out a big van and we went as a zone. it was so amazing it was my first time going on a hike in about 19 months it was amazing how much I missed being in nature and how rejuvenating it was to be back out in nature again. The city is great and I have come to see the beauties in it but all that a city has all that man can make is blown away by a few simple hours of nature. it was amazing. 

This week was great it was nice cause honestly the last few week have been a bit hard but this week was better just goes to show that after all hard times good things come I hope you can all have a good week and remember 

``the night is always darkest right before the dawn``

-Elder Harrison 

LIVING PROPHETS

¡Hola! Well this week was a great week. Especially for conference. I hope you all got the chance to watch o listen to conference. I absolutely loved conference. I felt the inspiring power of the messages I love how the lord though general conference answers all the questions we bring to him. I came to conference with a list of questions that I had and help I needed and I felt every single one of them get answered without fail. This week and last week to have kind of been hard weeks. So, I went into conference seeking how to make things go better in the sector and wow was it great. I felt answers pour out upon me. I also felt like this was the fastest conference of my life. The more and more I enjoyed it the faster and faster it went. I remember before the mission it seemed like conference would never end but now that I have learned how to make the most of conference it is not long enough. I find it can be the same even down to our sacrament meetings. When we come with questions or with a willingness to be taught they become enjoyable to us not just supportable. 

There were so many inspired messages so many good things we can learn. I imagine all of you have noticed it this conference was truly focused on the family the family I the most important thing we have in these days. We must defend it with all our heart might mind and strength. 

I’m sorry I haven’t got alot to write about this week truly it was just allot of contacts sadly amigo is not progressing very much anymore. Even with hard weeks we keep going strong with our heads up high and a song in our hearts.

-Elder Harrison

p.s. the photos one is the missionaries of my ward at a service project and the other is where we found my comps bed when we got home one night (we have fun when we can here)

A SERVICE WEEK

¡Hola! How are you all doing? This week has been a good week here down in Chile. Things have been pretty normal we have had big rises and big drops in temperature. 

This week we had some great opportunities to do service. We this week first off got to help the Hermana Reyes who was over her head working on a project had been sleeping 2-4 hours every night trying to get it done and just couldn’t get it done she called us in to help and it 2 hours we almost finished the project (it was the 4 elders in the ward) it was all worth it to see the relief on her face as she saw the work we had done. Came to my mind the scripture ´´if yea are willing to bear the burdens of one another that they may be light´´ (I hope that is what it is I know it better in Spanish) Then as we were walking down the street we saw an elderly lady working out in her yard we asked if we could help and we set up a appointment to come by and help her. We get there (the four of us again) and we spend a morning pulling up and gathering together rocks from her front yard. it seemed almost pointless as she asked us to bury them it seemed really weird but then she told us the reason why is cause people pass by pick up those rocks and throw them at her house. We could also see the relief in her face and then she also agreed to listen to the missionary (she is not a member). Then as we finished that service and We were headed back home a man comes up to us and explains That he is working nearby for a women and that She needs to move this Wednesday (today) so we set up a appointment and this morning we had the chance to go down and help her move it was from 9am-2pm I was long but then at the end to see how grateful she was and how open she was to visit with us again and find out more about the church it made it all worth it. 

Truly service opens hearts and opens doors. Service is the best way I think to share the gospel. People came to Christ cause they knew he could help them. They knew he wasn’t look to get gain or get anything else in return. For that so many came and he could teach so many. he served. Look for chances to serve. If you want to share the gospel serve all you can. Serve those who really need your help never with hold your help. as the well known scripture goes. ´´when yea are in the service of your fellow beings yea are only in the service of your God.´´ or could read´´ when yea withhold your service from your fellow beings yea are only withholding your service from your God.´´ serve and share the gospel there is not a more powerful combination on the planet. It’s what Ammon and Aaron did. If we can serve and share many people will find the truth of the gospel.

As for Amigo, sadly he has fallen hard into alcohol again. We have been trying to help him but we have found him more drunk then sober this week and in that state we can’t help him much. I love the Hermano Amigo but he is unwilling to drop this addiction which makes teaching impossible. We are praying for him that he sees the need to change these things. 

Over all really great I hope you are all doing well as well 

-Elder Harrison