RAIN

This week was bien bacan.

Last Monday for p-day we filled up like 500 water balloons and played volleyball... could it get any better? :) We had a good time :) 

Later in the night we were visiting our buddy, Jose. He was baptized about 2 months ago, and he's going back to some of his old habits. Anyways, Elder Urpeque and I shared our stories about how it's possible to change and it touched Jose and we made goals together – to go one step at a time... one day at a time.   We walked straight to the Bishops house and they were able to have an interview.  As of now, he’s doing really good. Twice this week we walked into his house and he was laying on his bed reading the scriptures... and he came with us on visits a ton this week. Love that guy. MIRACLE.

We also found a great family... the dad of the family is a member of the church but hasn’t attended in over 20 years. His wife, Karen, and his 4 kids aren’t members.  We got talking and we asked him how he felt about his life at this point and it got really silent, he put his head down and said ¨I’m missing something¨.  We waited and as the spirit sunk into the room I asked him, you know what it is, right?  Yes, he replied.  He began to open up and tell us that he was ready to get back on the straight and narrow path, but this time, with his family.  they attended church yesterday, and were even there EARLY! Haha it was amazing to see him, and his whole family :) MIRACLE.

Tuesday it rained. MIRACLE!!!!!!!!! OKAY for real though it rained a lot and PIURA IS FLOODED!!! It’s super sad though, a ton of peoples houses got destroyed and we’ve done A TON of service helping all the members and people here scoop buckets of water out of their house. 

My companion and I were walking down the street when we passed this house with a little girl outside.... I felt an impression that we needed to turn back and talk to that family.  I look at my companion and tell him hey let’s go back and knock that door.  A 24-year old college student named Daniel comes house and HE’S AMAZING! We truly were guided by the spirit to find him. MIRACLE.

Luz.  Her son Darwin who was a member of the church died about 2 months ago... he drown in a lake during an activity of the church. She was about to get baptized with her husband but they blamed everything on the church for the death of her 16 year old son, and decided not to. Anyways, we found her this week and started to talk to her... apparently she’s been having dreams about her son, Darwin, and that he is telling her that she needs to get baptized.  She had a complete 180 degree change of heart and now her and her husband want to get baptized again. MIRACLE.

Wednesday I had a work visit with Elder Simarron. He’s from a tribe in Ecuador .... he only speaks his tribal language which is Chapilin or something like that.  We had a good time though..  we walked and walked and sweated and walked :)

Thursday we put a baptismal date for our buddy Alonso.  He’s 18 and told us he wants to be a missionary like us.  He’s a baller and he’s gonna get baptized on March 26th. We’re working like crazy here.  I think we have 13 people with baptismal dates for March!

Friday we had a ward missionary activity.... we brought like 8 or 9 investigators and how many members showed up?? like 10.  We were a little embarrassed but the activity was super fun and the investigators had a good time so I guess that’s all that counts. :) 

Saturday was NUTS.  We woke up super early, cleaned church, changed, 3 visits in the morning, changed clothes, built a roof for a member, ate lunch, returned to our room at 2:50 and we left at 3PM, returning home at 9:30 PM. 

Sunday all of Piura was flooded so there weren’t a ton of people that came to church. 

Anyways, I can’t believe the week is already over, it feels like it just started and just yesterday I was writing you.  I hope all is well at home.  I love you guys and I’ll see you soon!

-Elder Harris

"THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FELT"

Okay..... this week was amazing :)

Last Monday we visited this family and they were super shook up because their mom is about to die and they needed help. We talked about the plan of God and that sometimes we don’t understand it, but we know that it’s perfect.  I think it really helped them....

Tuesday we had a multi zone meeting... the spirit was so strong. I was filled :) We talked about having a good attitude.... if we didn’t have commandments, would we still strive to become like God? It made me think a lot and do a personal inventory. I think it was good for me :)

Later that day we found 3 teenagers... they literally opened the door and were like hey, we want to be baptized, what do we have to do? It was great, we entered in their house and put a baptismal date for March 19th.  

Wednesday we helped Roberto move dirt again. We worked all morning in the hot sun with very little water... it was brutal. but we did it smiling. :)  Plus, shoveling is my specialty :)

We had a lesson with Guillermina ... she’s amazing ha she’s attended the last 4 Sundays in a row, every Sunday since I’ve been here in San Bernardo.  We’ve talked and talked about baptism but she just won't commit just yet.. but in time. :) Her brother is a member in Chimbote and he said he would come up here to see her for the baptism.  When she does finally get baptized, she’s gonna be the strongest member in the ward, te lo seguro. :) 

Okay so this is a funny story... we have a less active member named Telesforo. Apparently he’s a soccer coach and he calls us telling us to come over because he has "a ton of references for us"... that his whole team wanted to listen to the missionaries. We were pumped, thinking we were gonna find some great people... we get to his house, and slowly starts rolling in his team to hear us.... best part, THEY WERE 5 YEARS OLD!!! We were like what in the world are we suppose to do with 10, 5 year olds? Anyways, he preached to us for about 20 minutes, then left and played soccer.  Pretty sure we only got about 10 words out, but he came to church last Sunday so things aren’t too bad :)

Thursday we had an awesome lesson with Isabel and Cani. We just barely found them about a week and a half ago and we left them with the invitation to pray and ask God if Joseph Smith was a prophet.  When we returned on Thursday and asked them how it went, Isabel was a little confused, but said that she felt happy, peace, and she wasn’t sure if that was her answer.  We helped her understand how the Spirit manifests and it was great, she was like "THAT'S EXACTLY HOW I FELT".  After, we turn to her daughter, Cani, who is like 26 years old and we asked her the same question but her response was very different.  "I received my answer", she says confidently.  She continues to tell us the story that she knelt down 2 days ago and asked God.  The house was silent, her baby was sleeping, and she explained to us that a love she had never felt before came over her shoulders.... at the end of her story she said, "I know its true".  We invited them to be baptized and they accepted the date for March 19th.  They also came to church yesterday :) 

Friday morning we helped Hermano Wilmer build a roof... in 41 degree weather... I’ll send pics. It was brutal. We were there from 8:30 AM until 2:30 PM... ALL DAY!! But he was super grateful for us because at least now he has a place to live with his family.

Saturday we had a huge zone activity in the area of the sisters... Ramon Castilla. We all got to together and for 3 hours, we knocked doors and tried to find new people. They split us up and I went with Elder Sinche.... MI PATA!! We knocked on this door, and this lady opens up and immediately starts to cry.  She told us that when she opened the door, she thought that I was her son that had passed away a couple years back... that she saw him in me.  It was a little strange, but we assured her that she would be able to see her son again.  Hope.

Sunday was great... a ton of our investigators went to church. We were super happy and I’m really praying I don’t leave this transfer because we have 8 people planning on getting baptized next transfer, but I’ll do whatever the Lord wants. :)  

Sunday was also the festival of Juntsa... I’ll explain a little more when I get home what that is. :)  I’ll just say that Peruvians are crazy.

It’s been a great week.  I love my mission, and I don’t wanna come home, please don’t send me home, okay maybe just to get away from this sun.

I love you guys, miss you... see you soon!

Read some scriptures.

-Elder Harris :)