AP Duties & Real Madrid Soccer

October 26, 2017

[October 17-26]

Well, this week has been pretty crazy. So i got here last Monday and we spent the day going around with the old AP and they were teaching me about what my responsibilities were gonna be. Then that night we had to help drive some people around to their new areas and such so we spent most of the night doing that. 

ENJOYING AP DUTIES

Then on Tuesday we had the meeting with all of the new missionaries that had just come into the field. There were 29 of them. That´s a pretty huge group! So we spent all day with them and then we had the trainers meeting with them. 

REAL MADRID SOCCER

I don´t know if i told you guys Mom and Dad that i had bought tickets with Elder Perez to go to the Real Madrid game that was tonight. Well, they played against Tottenham a team  from England and the game ended 1-1. I got to  see Ronaldo score though so it was worth it for me. (Photos coming soon)

Then on Wednesday we had our first day in our proselyting area. It was really good. We started with district meeting this morning and then we had some lessons this afternoon. As well, we had a noche de hogar tonight with most of the members. It was really great.

On Thursday we had weekly planning which was pretty much planning for the entire transfer, we really don´t have very much time to plan sometimes so we just took advantage of the time we had today to get as much planning for the transfer knocked out as we could. Then  we had some lessons in the afternoon. It was a really good day.

So this morning, Friday, we had a meeting with the Packs to discuss all the plans we have for this upcoming transfer. We ate some really good eggs and biscuits and stuff i really felt like i was at home for a little bit. Then after the meeting with the Packs we had a lunch appointment in a pueblo called Arganda. We ate some really delicious Peruvian food. 

ONE OF THE BEST AFTERNOONS OF MY MISSION

Then we had one of the best afternoons of my mission! We had some pass-bys set up and we were gonna do  them but we both really needed to poop :). (The Lord really does work in mysterious ways.)  So, we decided to change our plans a little bit. We ended up doing some different pass-bys instead and  we found three solid new investigators because of it. It was a great day, just full of a lot of miracles. 

Saturday - Well, this morning we played futbol with a bunch of investigators and members. It was really fun.  Then we ate lunch and got ready for the day. Following that we did studies and then we did some pass-bys. We had quite a few lessons today.

Posted on Elder Harris' Facebook page by Jennifer Pizarro
Clara Nelson,Sister Penner, Elder Raphael Kamber, Elder Mitchell,
Elder Harris, Elder Diego funes, Leyda Galvez,
Jennifer Pizarro, Andres, Daniel, Danae

BEARING TESTIMONY

Sunday - Today was a great day! Church was awesome! B8 is the biggest ward in Madrid with about 200 as the average attendance. I got to share my testimony and tell everybody I´m only going to be here for the next 5 weeks. So, that was fun. Then we ate lunch at the piso. Then we had to do some planning for the upcoming week. So, we actually planned what we were going to be doing for all of the MLC and the zone conferences we are going to have this transfer. This transfer we are going to make a big push on member work and how we have some amazing resources we haven´t really been using yet. Then after that we had two different Noches de hogar that we went to. They were both really great.

Then on Monday which is not normally my P-day anymore, we had an intercambio with the Zone leaders from the Canary islands. We had a really good day working with them and learning from them. I went with Elder Knapp, who was actually in my district in Vigo,  so we knew each other pretty well already.

Tuesday - Well today we had MLC and like i said on Sunday  me and my companion planned for. It went really well and i think our mission is about to take a big step forward working with members and seeing more visual success on a regular basis. Then following the MLC we started intercambios with the Elders that had come down from A Coruña in the north of Spain. I actually got to go with my old companion, Elder Lopez, from Alcorcon. It was really fun working with him again.

Wednesday -  So for the whole day i was with Elder Lopez and we actually had a really awesome day. We taught 5 lessons  and a few of them were to new people. We had a great day!

Thursday - Well today I´m getting a  P-day somewhat. We went to Sol and i got some souvenirs for the kiddos. But yea, that´s about all for this week. I´ll hopefully have some pictures soon.

Love, 

Elder Harris

Leaving B3 - Becoming AP

October 16, 2017

[Week of October 9-16]

So hey. I'll write you guys more later but I'm getting transferred to B8 and I'm going to be the AP for the last 6 weeks of my mission. The original plan was for me to extend and stay until right after Christmas (President Pack requested). But, church offices didn't allow it because I'm already staying longer than normal. But yeah, there's your quick little update. My new companion is Elder Barrales he's from Santiago, Chile. He speaks fluent English though. But, I'll write you more later hopefully.

Love,
Elder Harris

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Well I don't have a ton of time this week but, just wanted to say this past week has been awesome. It was really sad to say goodbye to Elder Perez but we left the area in good shape and we are really hopeful for some cool miracles in B3. 

As well, I am so excited to be with Elder Barrales. He's an amazing missionary and he's super awesome. As well I'm just excited to get to work with President Pack. It's gonna be awesome.

Today I bought my new suit just so you know dad. Man BYU is literally so bad this year. It's sad to see them like that.

I don't know if you guys have seen, but, Vigo is on fire. Like right next to it and the city itself is burning. That makes me super sad.

Well I promise a better letter next week but I really don't have time today. I love you all!

Love,
Elder Harris

TEMPLE Blessings

October 9, 2017

[Week of October 4 - 9]

Wednesday - Well, today we went to the temple. Then after that we had a zone P-day and played volleyball and basketball and sports. It was really fun. Then after P-day was over we went to the church and had English class. Then following English class we did a bunch of online proselyting. I don't know if you guys saw my post on Facebook with the video and such? Well, that's what we did.

Picture of our zone at the temple

Elders Harris & Perez at Madrid Temple

Stephany Flores shared this photo on
Elder Harris' Facebook page

Thursday - This morning we did weekly planning. Then after that we went to visit our good friend, Gaby, at her work. She works at a store called Forecast. It's like a clothing store. Well anyways we visited her and talked a little bit about how she's doing and if she had been reading in the Book of Mormon. She's been doing good and actually her mom had like a really cool miracle because she just had a pretty serious surgery and then she got out the day after and she's been recovering great. After that we went to our piso and made a lot of phone calls.

Friday - This morning we had interviews with President Pack. They were really good today. Then after that we went to piso and worked on some plans for the upcoming week. Then we had English class at 7. After that we had the ward family home evening at 8. Then we played futbol with the young men at the church after that.

Saturday - Today was pretty good. We went to the church and had Correlation at 10 then we've started this new volleyball activity that we do every week at 11. It's a lot of fun. Then we went to piso and ate lunch. Then after that we did our studies and we went to do some pass-bys. Then we made a lot of phone calls.

Sunday - So this morning we had ward council. Then we had church. Then we ate lunch with a member named, Daguimar. She made us this really good chicken and rice. Then we had studies. As well after that we had our noche De hogar with the JAS. It was awesome. We played the game, signs, after we shared the message. It was really fun.

Monday - Today for P-day we went to Parque Sur which is a mall here. Then we ate at this Brazilian grill place. Then we are playing Uno and such until P-day ends.

Well, love you all so much!!!

Love,

Elder Harris 

Franklin Connections & General Conference

October 4, 2017

[Week of September 26 - October 4]

Monday - So today for P-day we went bowling. After P-day we went to visit Inocencia in the hospital. She's actually been recovering really well since her surgery. We had to travel like an hour and a half to get there, but, it was really worth it. She was so happy when we walked in. The update is that she's already out of the hospital and back home. She's really awesome.

Tuesday - So today I went on intercambios with Elder Ward from Parla. We had a really good one. We went to visit Leidy, and then after we met with her we met with Gabi. For lunch we made some really giant homemade cheeseburgers. Then this evening we met with a new investigator named Jose. He's really awesome. We taught the Restoration and he seemed to really enjoy it. Then after that we ended up doing some finding activities and called it a day.

Wednesday - Today we went to Leganés to visit their district meeting. It was really good. Afterwards we went to KFC for lunch as a district. Then we came back and did our studies. Then after our studies we had English class. Then after that we went to piso and got packed for the intercambio we are having with the AP's tomorrow.

FRANKLIN CONNECTION

With Angie Mckee in Madrid

[NOTE: Mom got a Facebook message from Franklin, TN Stake President Grayson's wife (Chris) with this photo attached of Angie McKee with Elder Harris at the ward chapel. Angie is working in Madrid as an au pair as she does study abroad. Her dad was the Nashville Mission President a few years ago, and their whole family lived in Brentwood, TN during their service. We got to know them pretty well -- Mom worked upstairs from them in Brentwood, and Sister McKee played piano for her to sing upon occasion. Sister McKee had some overwhelming health challenges while they were here (stroke, heart attack, etc.) and was a shining example of faith, miracles, and the healing power of prayer! Read about it HERE]

Thursday - Well today I had an intercambio with Elder Barrales. He's from Chile. He's awesome and probably one of my favorite missionaries of all time. We had a really good intercambio and we met some really cool people. Then after the intercambio we went back to our area and had our normal futbol activity.

Friday - Today we had an intercambio with the Elders from B9. Elder Pollard and Elder Johnson. We had a really good one. I went with Elder Pollard and we met some really great people. We taught some really great people named Renzo and Angie. They are gonna get baptized the upcoming month. The work here is really moving forward and we have been seeing a lot of miracles.

GENERAL CONFERENCE

Saturday - This morning we had a leadership meeting in Pavones with all of the Zone leaders. We set the goal to get 24 baptisms in the month of October. We think it's very achievable and realistic. We are excited for what's going to happen. Then we basically spent the rest of the day watching conference and such.

Sunday - Wow, what a spiritual feast we had with this conference! I'm really amazed at the things I was able to learn and the revelation we were able to receive. It's been an amazing weekend with a lot of cool things going on. We are hopeful for the upcoming weeks to be great.

Monday - Well, today we were sick. Both just puky and headaches and it was just a rough day so we slept most of the day.

ANOTHER FRANKLIN CONNECTION

Tuesday - Today we did intercambios with the Elders from Talavera. I went with Elder Jensen who is actually a mutual friend of the Bachrach family (from Franklin, TN). How weird right? Well it was a really good day and we met with one of our friends named Jonny. It was really good.

Wednesday - Today we had the temple. And wow! It was amazing. Then afterwards we played volleyball as a zone and I loved it.

Love,
Elder Harris