The Happiest I've Been in My Life

February 13, 2017

Dear Mom, Dad & Sam:

[Week of February 6 - 12]

Monday - Well today we played Padel for like 3 hours, and we wrote emails. Other than that we just have a chill day. I really like our new schedule that we have as missionaries because it allows for so much more free time and less stress on making sure you get everything done within 7 and a half hours. We contacted after pday but there weren't any real fruits.

Tuesday - Friday - Well I had migraines again all of these days. But, cool thing about Friday is that we had a branch movie night and we watched “The Other Side of Heaven.” It basically turned into a jas activity because no one else came but we did have two investigators come and they had a great time and loved the movie.

JAS Movie Night "The Other Side of Heaven"

HELPING THE SYRIAN PEOPLE

Other cool experience is that on Thursday night even though I had a rocking headache we helped get some blankets that they are collecting at a local radio station. When I say some blankets I mean like 500+. It's super cool to see how much the people are helping here to send help to the Syrian people. We will be collecting through the 18th of February and we are expecting another 2000ish blankets. Here is their URL with pictures of us http://www.happyfmfuerteventura.es/category/noticias/canarias/. You'll probably have to scroll down a little to find it but we are on there.

Saturday - Today we did weekly planning in the morning. Then it was my companions turn to have some bad health and so he was exploding both ways into the toilet all day. It was a rough week for us as a companionship health wise. Tonight we had a really good lesson with Patricia. The last couple of weeks she has been struggling and feeling like since she got baptized life has only gotten harder and that she felt like maybe she made a wrong decision. We taught her and asked her if she had been reading and praying everyday. She said the first week after her baptism yes she did and that it was one of the best weeks of her life that she can remember. Then since then she has just gotten kind of lazy about it. As we explained that by doing those basic things we make ourselves stronger and better equipped to fight temptation, she had an 'aha moment.' She's still planning on going to the temple in 2 weeks and has gotten her schedule changed at work so that she can. She told me that she really appreciates me because throughout my time here I have been able to explain to her a little bit about my life story and how I'm no "cookie cutter Mormon." She really appreciates the fact that I can be an example of making changes and how the gospel really works. This is the happiest I've been in my life and it's really cool for me to be to able to help her. I feel like that's why I came to this area, she needed someone like me who has been through relatively a lot and I'm pretty open about it and I think that helps her. I'm not saying I revealed all of my transgressions but I've been very real with her, and now I see the fruit of being that way.

Sunday - Today church was really good, we had good talks during sacrament meeting. Then second hour was good as well. Patricia came to church and looked immensely happier than the past two weeks. She said it's because she read last night and felt the spirit. Then we ate lunch at Zenon's house. It was a very good week even though the elements seemed bad. John is doing good but we are going to have to move back his baptism because he has missed church the past two weeks. He's doing well, don't really know what the problem is, but we are working on it.

Monday - Today we got haircuts. We are going to play Padel as well. And it's gonna be a pretty chill day.

Love you guys all,

Elder Harris

DyC 4:3

Searching for People to Teach

February 6, 2017

[Week of January 30  - February 5]

Dear Mom, Dad and Sam:

Monday - Today was a pretty good day. We did everything we had to get done in the morning so that the rest of the day we would have time to do whatever we wanted. For lunch we made salchipapas and drank soda. Haha! Then at 4 we played Padel with Fran. It is a very fun game. It's like racquet ball, tennis and squash all in one. I love It! Then we did some proselytizing until the end of the day.

Playing Padel (with Elder Boyd)

Tuesday - This morning we did a lot of different finding  methods such as door knocking and contacting. Then we had studies in the afternoon. We had English class at 6 and then we taught a lesson to John. He is on Fecha for the 18th of February. He's progressing super good and he's a great kid.

Wednesday - This morning again we were doing a lot of 'finding' activities. We had  quite a few investigators but recently they haven't been to great, so we are looking for new people. Then from 5-7 we worked a collection that our stake is putting on right now for collecting items for Syrian refugees. Then we had the Institute class that we are helping to teach here. Then right after that we played ping pong which is a hit right now because all of the JAS come right after Institute.

Thursday - This morning we did weekly planning. Then this afternoon my companion was feeling really sick so we ended up staying in Piso the whole day. He's feeling better now though.

Friday - This morning we had district meeting. It went really well and it was good to see the other Elders on Skype. Then we did studies during the afternoon. After that we worked the collection again. Then we contacted and that was our day.

Saturday - Today was transfer day. NOTHING changed in our district, so we are excited to all be together one more. Elder Boyd will go home next transfer on March 21. He's kind of 'dying' already but we'll see what we can do to help him stay working.

Sunday - Today was really good. Church went really well and I learned some new things about the fall of Adam and Eve. As well for lunch we ate with President Garcia and his family. Then we had Correlation with Zenon. Then we ate dinner with Yolanda and that was our day.

Monday - It was a normal pday. We did compras. Then we went to the Chapel and got emails. Then we played Padel for three hours just the 4 of us. And now I'm writing emails. Should be a good day.

Trying on leather pants...

That's crazy that Joe (Critchlow) signed with BYU. That’s so awesome!

GO TOM BRADY!!! [SuperBowl: New England Patriots pulled off a miraculous victory over the Atlanta Falcons 34-28, overcoming a 25-point lead, in the first EVER SuperBowl overtime. Okay, even Mom was impressed.] 

Love you all so much,

Love,

Elder Harris

Lots of Training Going On

January 30, 2017

[Week of January 23-29]

Dear Mom, Dad & Sam:

Monday - Today was a fun day. Like I said last week, we went bowling with a couple people. Their names were Yuber and Howard. Elder Boyd is actually really good at it! He scored upwards of 150 both games.

Tuesday - So today was a pretty cool day. This morning we had a specialized "Training for the Trainers" and the new missionaries. It was good. After that Elder Boyd and I did an intercambio. We went to the south of the island, otherwise known as we took a two hour bus ride to the South. By the end of the bus ride we were both feeling pretty car sick. But, we went to a town called Morro Jable. We visited with some members there, and, it was the first time this family had been visited in 7 years. They come to church almost every week but, because they live so far away no one ever goes to visit. They made us chicken wings and Rosquetes and cake. It was super good. I ate like 30 chicken wings. They were super Good! As well we taught a lesson to Elder Boyd's investigator named Nelido, he is getting baptized on Saturday. He's doing super good, and he's progressing very well.

Wednesday - Today the Elders from Lanzarote came over to do intercambios as well as watch the worldwide mission broadcast. I went on intercambios with Elder Douglas from my group. (Angus) We had a really good day, did some contacting and taught a couple lessons. We put John on date for the 18 of February. He's super excited for his date. He's a super prepared young guy. 

The Worldwide Training was AWESOME! I don't know if you guys have seen but the schedule for missionaries has changed. (READ DETAILS ABOUT CHANGES HERE)

We now have 10 hours on pday to do what we want. As well the overall schedule has changed every day. They have eliminated 5 out of the 9 old key indicators. We now only count 1) investigators baptized and confirmed 2) investigators on date 3) investigators at church 4) new investigators. The purpose I believe is to make us focus on the things that really matter, not just teaching a bunch of lessons every week. We also played ping pong tonight and we had like 5 jas come to play with us.

Thursday - This morning we did weekly planning and then we said goodbye to Elder Douglas and Elder Pulotu who headed out to Lanzarote this afternoon. Then my companion and I went to eat with Paco and Nati they made really good chicken fried steak. Then we were supposed to have Consejo but it failed so we cleaned the Chapel.

Friday - Well today I was feeling puky so we didn't leave the Piso a whole bunch. I played chess against my companion like 10 times and he beat me every time. He's pretty good at it.

Saturday - This morning we played fútbol. It was really fun. Then this afternoon we had time to do some contacting. Then the other companionship here had a BAPTISM! It was super awesome and John was actually able to come and watch, which we hope was a good experience for him.

Nelido's Baptism!

Sunday - Today was good. Church was good. Afterwards we had lunch with Zenon. Then we had Correlation and finally we ate with Yolanda to finish the day.

Monday - So today with our new 10-hour pday we played Risk. As well we are getting ready to go play Paddle which is similar to tennis and racquetball. I'm excited, it should be really fun. 

Learning to Teach Repentance

January 23, 2017

[Week of January 16-22]

Dear Mom, Dad and Sam:

Monday - So today for P-day we didn't really do anything too crazy. We cleaned the piso did compras and then went back to the piso and played Risk. After p-day we contacted and then had a lesson with John. It was a chill day.

Exercise....NOT

Tuesday - This morning we had a lesson with Patricia. Right now we are teaching her the new member lessons or better yet, she's teaching us the lessons. She taught us lesson 1 and she did a really good job. Then after her, we did some contacting and some pass-bys. For lunch we ate with Abinadi and his family. They are probably going to start feeding us every Tuesday now. I love their family and eating with them because the food is always really good.

Wednesday - This morning the Elders from Lanzarote came over for intercambios. I went with my friend and past companion Elder Pulotu. I seriously love that guy! We contacted for most of the afternoon and then we had a lesson with John tonight. We taught him about Tithing and fast offerings. He's super willing to pay it. He just doesn't get any money right now so he can't. As well we had a lesson with a member named Puri, basically it was us working together to try and make some plans as to how we are going to help her reactivate her two inactive sons. It was a really fun day. We had Tanquito for dinner.

Thursday - Today was fun. This morning Elder Monks and I flew to Gran Canaria for the  Zone Conference we are going to have tomorrow. Today when we got to Las Palmas we had interviews with President. Every time I meet with him or hear him speak I know that he is my mission President and that I'm supposed to be here working with him. I went on an intercambio with an Elder named Elder Hollist. He's from Georgia, and I actually knew him before I left, he's one of the few left like that. We had a really good intercambio and we actually got to teach a couple of lessons. He's a really good missionary.

Elders Boyd, Harris, & Monks

Friday - Today we had Zone conference. The Packs spoke about teaching repentance as a mission and how we need to do a better job of inviting others to repent. As well, they taught that for us to have any spiritual power when we invite others we must first be repenting on our end. We can't call people to repent of things when we ourselves aren't clean. The conference was really good. Afterwards I continued with my intercambio with Elder Hollist and then my companion and I flew home to Fuerteventura.

Saturday - This morning we did weekly planning. Afterwards we did some contacting. Afterwards we went to the chapel to start some preparations for the meetings on Sunday. We cleaned the chapel and it was actually pretty fun with the four of us there.

Sunday - Today was really awesome. This morning at church I gave a talk about Faith. Then we had some really good meetings and we also had a new man come to church who is progressing really well. He is the other Missionaries investigator. Then we went to Zenon's house for lunch. After that we had correlation. Then we did some more planning because this week we have to introduce some new plans for our branch. Then we went to Yolanda's house, and we ate meatballs similar to Dan's casserole. It was a really good day.

On the way home from Zenon's house

Monday - Today we went bowling and it was really fun. Elder Boyd is really good. And he scored upwards of 150 both games we played. Other than that it has been a pretty tranquilo p-day.

From front going left:
Elder Monks, Hollist, Boyd, YUVER, and Harris

Elders Boyd & Harris

Mom, I talked to President Pack about your work situation a while back and he said if things don't work out with whatever you are looking at doing right now, shoot him an email and he's got some hookups you could look into. Just a thought.

Dad, Well everything is fine with me and my companion. My ankle is fine now as well. The other companionship is going to have a baptism on Saturday so that is really exciting! And, I want you to cheer for the patriots of course. I'm a huge Tom Brady fan! 6 rings! So John is progressing pretty well. His dad is already a member and has been for a while. Our pdays have been fun recently. We've been trying to get out and about more. You only get so much time on an island paradise, am I right?

I love you all so much!

Elder Harris

Pres. Raulio Deniz & Salt Factories

January 16, 2017

Dear Mom, Dad & Sam:

[Week of January 9-15]

Monday - Today was really fun. We went on a pday excursion with our friend Jose Balaños. We went to Las Salinas and had a great time looking at the "salt factory." [In the south of the island of La Palma you will discover these curious salt fields, which have been declared an Official Site of Scientific Interest owing to the fact that many migratory birds use the site to rest. One of the most visited parts of all La Palma, here the earth, air and water join forces to form the salt fields of Fuencaliente, a hugely valuable human landscape where the contrasts of the white of the salt, the blue of the sea and the black of the volcanic earth paint a picture of immense beauty. Nature’s colour palette paints the salt fields in a spectacular manner.]

Salt Factory

Then we went to Gran Tarajal like I said before. It was really fun. The murals there are really cool! Then afterwards, we met with John. We taught him about the priesthood. He's a really awesome young guy. We still don't have a date for his baptism but he is really excited for it.

Some of the murals in Gran Tarajal

So beautiful!

Tuesday - This morning was really cool. We did some contacting all morning. Then we ate pizza for lunch. As well we did language study, and prepared for the afternoon. We had a lesson with Juan Avalos this afternoon. As well, we had a meeting with a young guy named Yuver for setting up the ward list. After that we had a noche de hogar with a member named Maria Parra, we ate some delicious empanadas for dinner.

Wednesday - This morning we had district meeting through Skype. Then we ate sandwiches for lunch. We did some contacting in the afternoon. Then we had a lesson with Patricia about the priesthood and callings. As well, we played ping pong and are trying to establish the weekly activity.

Thursday - This morning we did some more service with Zenon. We helped move a huge truck like those Lays trucks that aren't semis. He hadn't driven it in like 10 years so it was dug into the ground. We had to pull it with ropes and battering ram it with his car. Let's just say we broke some headlights and as well some blisters, but it's all good. We ate lunch with Paco and Nati and as well Diana and Ergual. Then tonight we had consejo. It was really good and we made good plans for the upcoming two weeks.

Elder Monks during Correlation

Friday - This morning we did weekly planning. Then for lunch we ate sandwiches. Then after medio Día we had a lesson with John. He's so awesome! Then we had English class and then we did some contacting.

Saturday - This morning we played Futbol. It was really good and we had two investigators there. Then because I rolled my ankle playing I stayed in the piso the rest of the day! Hahaha! Except not kidding.

Sunday - This morning we had church and the Stake President visited from Gran Canaria. He's awesome, his name is Raulio Deniz. He's a boss! He came and gave our branch a good kick in the rear to get it moving and to help the missionaries more. As well afterwards we ate with Zenon. Then we had correlation. After that we had time to do our daily training studies together. Then we ate dinner with Yolanda, she made something very similar to "chicka chicka saw." It was super good.

Today for Pday we chilled. I bought a Gran Canaria jersey for Christmas for myself with the Christmas money. It was 30€. See attached photo. 

Me & Elder Monks

Next week we are probably going to play mini golf or something. Yes, I received the letters. Thanks a ton!

I'm so sorry to hear about Aunt Corinne, I'll be praying for her.

I love you all,

Love, Elder Harris

Bike Chair Miracle!

Elders Harris & Monks

January 9, 2017

[Week of January 2-9, 2017]

Monday - So today was a relatively chill. We went to do shopping and bought groceries. Afterwards we chilled and played Phase 10. Then we wrote home and that was the end of p-day

Tuesday - Well, today was pretty fun actually. We did a ton of contacting today. As well we ate these amazing sandwiches that we made for ourselves for lunch.

Wednesday - Today was cool. We had District Meeting in the morning. Then for lunch we got food from the Garcia family. They brought us some really good pasta and apples. Afterwards we had language study and my companion has been getting sick because of the change in temperature. But overall we had a really good day.

Thursday - This morning was really cool. We found new investigators this morning named Sebastian and Isabel. They are an older couple from Andalucía. They are super cool and have a ton of desire to learn more about our church. Then we had weekly planning. After that we ate with the family of Abinadi and Libia. We had Chinese food and I ate wayyy toooo much. Then in the afternoon we met with a lady named Rosario who is a menos activo. It was good. Other than that we did a lot of contacting. We are currently in search of new investigators.

BIKE CHAIR MIRACLE

Friday - This morning we had a really cool service opportunity to help a family in our branch move, and it was really fun. Then we ate with the same family. After medio Día we went to start contacting. Then, there was literally no one on the street and so we decided to take a break on these bike chairs for a second. A young man came up to us and said, "hey are you guys Mormons?" We of course responded, yes. His name is John. He's 17 and he's trying to get a job on our island working for the military. His dad is a member in Switzerland and he was just there with his dad, taking the lessons from the missionaries. So he said, "Hey, I want to be baptized the beginning of February!" So that was a pretty awesome miracle! Had we chosen to just keep walking or go a different route we would have missed him. So thank goodness for random bike chairs in the world for helping missionary work.

Saturday - Today was really good. This morning we did some contacting the, we ate lunch with a member. His wife made us arroz al horno. (Rice of the oven) It was delicious. I loved it! Then we had a lesson planned but it failed so basically the rest of the day we contacted.

Sunday - Today we had church and it was really good. Patricia got confirmed and it was great. Then we got a new branch mission leader as well. Zenon, our friendly neighborhood baker, was called to do the job. We are pumped cause he's a super good guy and he works really hard.

Monday - Today for p-day we went on an excursion with a member named Jose Balaños to a place called las Salinas and Gran Tarajal. It was really fun, afterwards he bought us gelato. It was a good week. 

Elder Harris, Jose Balanos, Elder Douglas, and Elder Monks

I love you all so much,

Love,

Elder Harris

New Year, New Companion

January 2, 2017

Dear Mom, Dad and Sam:

[Week of December 26 - January 1] 

Monday - Well today was a pretty chill day. We cleaned the piso. Then we wrote emails. Then we hopped on a bus to Corralejo. After that we jumped on a boat to Lanzarote and then on another bus to the city of Arrecife. Then we chilled at the other Elders piso and helped Elder Pérez and Fernández finish packing. Then we stayed up until like 2 in the morning talking. 

Tuesday - Well, today was cool. I worked with Elder Douglas the whole day. Then at 9:30 at night we picked up Elder Pulotu. We ate SALCHIPAPAS! 

Salchipapas -- One of Dad's favorites, too!

Wednesday - Today we trio-ed it up in Lanzarote. It was a good day. It was fun seeing Elder Pulotu again and getting to work with him. 

Thursday - This morning the other Elders came in from Madrid. Elder Boyd came down and he is also training. My companion is Elder Monks from Meridian, Idaho. He actually speaks great Spanish. We got back to Puerto del Rosario and then we had a meeting with President Pack and President Deniz the stake president here. We have a goal that in three months this branch will almost be a ward. We're excited to see the miracles that are coming here in this area. 

Friday - This morning we went and visited an investigator named Sebastian to give his wife a blessing. Then we taught the Christmas message. Afterwards we went and ate lunch with a member named Jose Balaños. Then we built the new bunk beds that the office missionaries ordered for us. Then we had English class. After that we had a lesson with Patricia. She is super prepared for her baptism. 

Saturday - This morning we did weekly planning. Then we ate pizza for lunch. Then we taught a lesson to Juan Avalos. After that we did some contacting but, because it was New Year's Eve no one was outside. Then for our celebrations we stayed up until 12 and ate the 12 grapes. (Spanish culture) It was great! Haha! 

Elders Harris, Monks & Douglas eating "12 New Years Grapes"

GREAT WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR:

Sunday - Well today we had church. The four Elders spoke for Sacrament meeting. Then we had our introduction lesson for Doctrine and Covenants in Sunday school. Then the big event of the day was that we had PATRICIA'S Baptism! Yay! It was super spiritual and we had a great experience. 

Elders Douglas & Boyd, PATRICIA, Elders Harris & Monks at Patricia's Baptism!

Love you all so much,

Elder Harris