HOLAAAAA!
This has been a crazy week it feels like, and maybe not in the best ways :(
First of all, I have officially completed my 9 month mark so I now have completed more time that I have left to serve! My companion asked me a million times "How do you feel? How do you feel?" But I don't feel the time really. It's crazy to think I have accomplished so much, but I still feel like I have a lot left to do. I'm happy about it though, because there are so many awesome things about being a missionary.
The reason I saw this week as hard, is because we ran into a lot of difficult people. Honestly, they tested my faith a little! One family we went to because they were a reference from a less active and, dang! To start, we got there and the wife asked what we wanted because she said she already knew everything we believed. I told her we wanted to share how we know we have a living day prophet. Haha, that was a mistake, because she began to tell us how SHE is a prophet, and her husband is a pastor of a church. They did let us in and they were honestly super nice, but everything I shared with them they had an argument for. It was frustrating because I don't know the bible super well, or Spanish perfectly, and was alone because my companion still can't understand/speak much... I could tell that it probably wouldn't have mattered much because they were VERY into their religion. Their family only believes in TV for watching church movies, and I'm pretty sure all they read is the bible. While we were talking to the parents the son was reading the bible and praying the whole hour or so we were there. Anyway, I feel like that was a fail. Their daughter was a ray of hope though, because she accepted our Book of Mormon. All things happen for a reason right?
A bunch of the other families we went to this week were SO awesome, just really happy and content with their religion. It really makes me wonder sometimes why they are so content when they don't know/have everything we do. It comes down to how well we teach our first lesson with them. After this week my companion and I have been thinking really hard of what we can teach right at the beginning to get them to understand and have that desire to know more.
Today in district meeting I felt like I got a lot of answers to all of those kinds of questions I had. It made me feel a lot better about this week. One thing I'm realizing is I need to have more confidence! Sometimes when I get there I doubt my testimony, if what we have really will make them happier, but honestly, I know it, so I have to act more like it!
On Sunday, one of the members spoke about afflictions and I really liked what he had to say. He hasn't been home from his mission for long, but he said lately he's prayed a lot for patience and humility and things like that. He says it's funny because when he asks for those things, he always gets answered with some kind of trial that day that teaches him that attribute he asked for. I got thinking about it, and I've been asking for stronger faith and I really believe this week God has been trying to help me out with that. What better way to learn faith than to be put in front of people who have one different than you? And not just a little different, but wayyy different! It’s true that every test we face is to make us better and stronger. Without trials and tests of our faith, we never get a chance to really know what we believe.
I know that I belong to the same church that Jesus Christ organized when he was on the earth. I know the Book of Mormon is an inspired book meant for us today to help keep us headed in the right direction. I know that there are things we must do to be able to return to live with God and that baptism is one of them. I know that the Holy Ghost exists and brings us peace and comfort and teaches and guides us, even if we don't realize it all the time.
I'm really glad for all my trials, no matter how little they have been, because I've learned a lot by going through them. And I’m thankful for you guys reading this: Don't get discouraged by your trials. God loves you, so he blesses you with trials. In Elder Bednar's talk last conference, he talked about the truck that got stuck, and only made it out by adding extra weights. Trials we get through now, are what help us survive trials later, they are our extra weights. We just have to choose to grow from them!
Love you all,
Hermana Harper
Monday, August 25, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Brisas - Week 14
Hola!
I hope you guys didn't get too worried about me not writing yesterday! They switched our schedule on us again. At least this time they asked for our parents emails so no parents would freak out. Haha I imagine a lot did the last time they switched things.
Today we had a multi-zone meeting in Centro, so yesterday was a normal work day. We had to wake up a little early because they had breakfast for us, but it was worth it! It's always SO fun seeing all the missionaries and all my old companions. I live for those meetings! Today was especially good because the president, his 3 assistants, and his 4 sister training leaders all did workshops about stress in the mission. I'm glad they are finally talking to us about this topic, because just about every missionary hits a point in their mission where they want to give up and go home. The mission president's attitude up until now has been, "forget your self and go to work." Which isn't bad advice, but there's also a lot of missionaries who just need to be told it's normal to be stressed and feel depressed sometimes. I've seen, with training especially, how much all the new missionaries struggle and need someone besides their trainer to tell them they're normal.
One thing I really liked that the president told us is that to really know joy, you have to know how it feels to suffer. He used the example of Adam and Eve, and it's so true. The more you suffer, the more appreciative who you are too, I think. That was a really great reminder because there are a lot of tough days in the mission. What's tough for me is when I start feeling like we're wasting our time here.
The bigger part of our lessons are usually with people who aren't really listening and aren't genuine with their desire to find out if what we're saying is true. They tell us "they're good with their religion." It takes SO much patience to teach tons of first lessons and hope one of them will value what you're saying and want to hear more.
There are so many other pressures they put on you as a missionary too. Sometimes I get stressed out because our numbers one day aren't very good, but then I frustrate myself because it shouldn't be about numbers. It is a reality of the mission though. They expect you to teach so many lessons, get so many references, be obedient, spend your money wisely, always be upbeat and happy... It can feel like a lot!
That's why I felt the conference was so excellent. It was good to see that EVERYONE struggles. It surprised me how many missionaries almost went home at one point in their mission or another. Yet we're still all here, and with time and patience, the mission molds you into a lot better person, I think.
Today after the conference, I took my companion to the zoo since it was open! We went with my old companion (Hermana Pinguelo) too so that was really fun. Zoos here really aren't super amazing, but its fun doing something out of the ordinary and being with the other hermanas!
Love to you all,
Hermana Harper
I hope you guys didn't get too worried about me not writing yesterday! They switched our schedule on us again. At least this time they asked for our parents emails so no parents would freak out. Haha I imagine a lot did the last time they switched things.
Today we had a multi-zone meeting in Centro, so yesterday was a normal work day. We had to wake up a little early because they had breakfast for us, but it was worth it! It's always SO fun seeing all the missionaries and all my old companions. I live for those meetings! Today was especially good because the president, his 3 assistants, and his 4 sister training leaders all did workshops about stress in the mission. I'm glad they are finally talking to us about this topic, because just about every missionary hits a point in their mission where they want to give up and go home. The mission president's attitude up until now has been, "forget your self and go to work." Which isn't bad advice, but there's also a lot of missionaries who just need to be told it's normal to be stressed and feel depressed sometimes. I've seen, with training especially, how much all the new missionaries struggle and need someone besides their trainer to tell them they're normal.
One thing I really liked that the president told us is that to really know joy, you have to know how it feels to suffer. He used the example of Adam and Eve, and it's so true. The more you suffer, the more appreciative who you are too, I think. That was a really great reminder because there are a lot of tough days in the mission. What's tough for me is when I start feeling like we're wasting our time here.
The bigger part of our lessons are usually with people who aren't really listening and aren't genuine with their desire to find out if what we're saying is true. They tell us "they're good with their religion." It takes SO much patience to teach tons of first lessons and hope one of them will value what you're saying and want to hear more.
There are so many other pressures they put on you as a missionary too. Sometimes I get stressed out because our numbers one day aren't very good, but then I frustrate myself because it shouldn't be about numbers. It is a reality of the mission though. They expect you to teach so many lessons, get so many references, be obedient, spend your money wisely, always be upbeat and happy... It can feel like a lot!
That's why I felt the conference was so excellent. It was good to see that EVERYONE struggles. It surprised me how many missionaries almost went home at one point in their mission or another. Yet we're still all here, and with time and patience, the mission molds you into a lot better person, I think.
Today after the conference, I took my companion to the zoo since it was open! We went with my old companion (Hermana Pinguelo) too so that was really fun. Zoos here really aren't super amazing, but its fun doing something out of the ordinary and being with the other hermanas!
Love to you all,
Hermana Harper
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| I love me some Cotton Candy!!! |
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| Hermanas together again! We all used to be in the same ward together!!! |
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| One of my favorite ward families! |
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| Hermana Harper with Roberto and his Mom! |
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| With a little assistance... |
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| Hats are the bomb! |
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| I caught a frog in the rain! |
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| I Love this cat! It belongs to a member family! |
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| Cat had kittens! Ah! |
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| Yummy Food! |
Monday, August 11, 2014
Brisas - Week 13
Hola!
So I received my new companion on Tuesday, fresh from the MTC! Her name is Hermana Huff and she is from Pleasant Grove, Utah. It's a really different experience this time around because Hermana Huff doesn't hardly speak Spanish or understand yet. It's been really tough this week for her :(
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| My new companion (Left) Hermana Huff |
There are so many changes when you first get here and it can be super overwhelming. Hermana Huff tries SO hard to have a good attitude though, which I admire. I feel like during training this time around we're both going to learn a ton!
On top of all the things my companion is trying to learn, I'm trying to keep everything else under control. Haha, my strong point has never been directions, but now I'm having to learn to master that. Also, teaching is tricky. I always have to be super focused to be able to understand everything and know where to take the lesson and involve my companion. Ah, it's definitely been a push, but we're doing it. Sometimes it really amazes me. Goes to show how God helps his missionaries!!!
This week Victor was our only investigator at church. I've worried about him a lot, if he has been grasping everything. He wanted to push his baptismal date back, so this Sunday we talked more about baptism, and I think it really helped him. I asked him after how he felt about his new date, August 30, and he said he still felt like he had a lot to learn, but I told him that he didn't have to know everything before he was baptized, and that seemed to help ease his mind. He agreed to the 30th again, so we're hoping he doesn't change his mind! :) Victor has changed a lot since we've taught him, which is fun to see. Maybe part of it is that he's more comfortable with us, but he just is happier. Even members have said that to us.
This week Hermana Huff and I found 2 new investigators that seem pretty hopeful. Their names are Josefina and Jenny. We talked to Josefina's husband first on the street, and he said we could go talk to his wife, so we did and she wanted our advice on all kinds of things, especially her relationship with her neighbor girlfriends. She seemed really interested in Relief Society, so we're hoping to get her with that first. We've only had one little lesson with her, but she seemed different than our usual first-visits, so I'm excited!
Jenny is another lady we met on the street. Originally, she just wanted us to come and teach her 2 little girls in English so they'd learn, and we were a little apprehensive because that's not what we do, but we agreed anyway as a foot in the door. She told us that her mom that lives with her is a member, but hasn't been to church in 20 years, and 2 of her siblings are members, so we were excited to go especially for that reason. We got there and tried to do part in English/part Spanish, but the little girls just got distracted and we ended up finishing in Spanish. Jenny surprisingly had a lot of good questions and turned out to be pretty interested. After, she invited us to eat dinner with them too, so that was pretty fun. We had quesadillas too, which I've surprisingly never eaten here yet! But they were yummy:)
Well, I think that's the most exciting as far as teaching goes for this week.
Ohhh, something that's not that great of news...I have to speak on Sunday. So far I've stayed off of the radar, but I made the comment to the 1st counselor that I've never spoken, and got myself into speaking. Hopefully that goes okay!
Well, until next week.
Love Hermana Harper
Monday, August 4, 2014
Brisas - Week 12
¡Buenos Días!
So last night we got told about our transfers, I'm staying in Brisas and training again! I'm going to have another baby! I'm excited because I like training for the most part. I think it completely depends on the person you train whether its easy or not though...just like any other companionship really.
Today I'm staying with another American sister for the day and we're doing our normal P-day stuff and have a training meeting at 2pm. Then tomorrow we receive our new companions. I met a few of the new missionaries today and it is so fun to see where everyone is from. Of the four I met, 3 are from different parts of Mexico and one from Chile. I know there will be a bunch of American sisters this transfer too because I saw the paper in the offices last week. I think 4 are from Pleasant Grove too, haha.
Transfers were probably the most exciting thing I have to say for this week! Sunday we spent with only members because we knew one of us would get switched out. We also went to the farewell of an elder that's leaving from our ward to serve a mission in Mexico City. He has accompanied us with appointments a bunch, so it was fun to be at his farewell and wish him well on his mission. Since it was Fast Sunday, they did the farewell in the evening which worked well. I've never heard of a farewell not being in sacrament until yesterday though! At church we had 2 investigators. I was disappointed because we were almost positive 3 more would be there and a less active, but they didn't come :( Why is it so hard to go to church on Sundays???
This week the other sisters in the ward had a baptism, so we brought an investigator to show him what he would be working towards. He liked it a lot, so hopefully he can stop smoking so it is possible!
Things have been going good in Brisas. Lots of lessons, lots of sun, looots of sweat! And I still feel like every day I'm learning a lot about the people here and how I can teach better to help them understand the gospel.
One random thing I learned from a member we ate with on Saturday was about that number in the bible that the Jehovah's witnesses think is the number of people who will be saved. I never understood what the number meant, but this member explained to us that with the priesthood there are quorums, and once it reaches a certain number, you have to make a new quorum. With the priesthood office "seventy" the max is seven times seventy in a quorum and I guess the number in Apocalipis is from that. Haha that's something I never even thought about, about the priesthood...all those technicalities. Goes to show just how perfect God's church is though!
Until next week,
Hermana Harper
So last night we got told about our transfers, I'm staying in Brisas and training again! I'm going to have another baby! I'm excited because I like training for the most part. I think it completely depends on the person you train whether its easy or not though...just like any other companionship really.
Today I'm staying with another American sister for the day and we're doing our normal P-day stuff and have a training meeting at 2pm. Then tomorrow we receive our new companions. I met a few of the new missionaries today and it is so fun to see where everyone is from. Of the four I met, 3 are from different parts of Mexico and one from Chile. I know there will be a bunch of American sisters this transfer too because I saw the paper in the offices last week. I think 4 are from Pleasant Grove too, haha.
Transfers were probably the most exciting thing I have to say for this week! Sunday we spent with only members because we knew one of us would get switched out. We also went to the farewell of an elder that's leaving from our ward to serve a mission in Mexico City. He has accompanied us with appointments a bunch, so it was fun to be at his farewell and wish him well on his mission. Since it was Fast Sunday, they did the farewell in the evening which worked well. I've never heard of a farewell not being in sacrament until yesterday though! At church we had 2 investigators. I was disappointed because we were almost positive 3 more would be there and a less active, but they didn't come :( Why is it so hard to go to church on Sundays???
This week the other sisters in the ward had a baptism, so we brought an investigator to show him what he would be working towards. He liked it a lot, so hopefully he can stop smoking so it is possible!
Things have been going good in Brisas. Lots of lessons, lots of sun, looots of sweat! And I still feel like every day I'm learning a lot about the people here and how I can teach better to help them understand the gospel.
One random thing I learned from a member we ate with on Saturday was about that number in the bible that the Jehovah's witnesses think is the number of people who will be saved. I never understood what the number meant, but this member explained to us that with the priesthood there are quorums, and once it reaches a certain number, you have to make a new quorum. With the priesthood office "seventy" the max is seven times seventy in a quorum and I guess the number in Apocalipis is from that. Haha that's something I never even thought about, about the priesthood...all those technicalities. Goes to show just how perfect God's church is though!
Until next week,
Hermana Harper
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