Naranjal - Week 16

Pedir Referencias

So just a quick story, we were searching in our area for part member families one day and we knocked on a door of a less active family that we thought had family members that weren't members, the mom of the family came out and greeted us. She told us her family would arrive at night, we made an appointment and before leaving we asked her if any of her neighbors would be interested in hearing from us. She pointed out a house that had a tienda (here in Peru on every block there are 2 or 3 tiendas, like little stores that sell basic foods) we knocked on the door and the husband came out, from the look on his face we could tell he didn't want to listen to us. He was telling us that they were too busy and didn't have time, but then his wife came out and said, "Hermanos! Thank you for coming." And she opened the door and let us in. The husband was a little baffled but he was kind of forced to sit down and listen to us. With a little bit of time his heart softened as we taught them the Restoration. And we also were able to put a goal with them to get married.

I'm really excited for General Conference next week! Thanks everyone.

Elder Harris

Naranjal - Week 15

Mil Milagros

We had a cool experience yesterday.

First, none of our investigators came to church. It was pretty disappointing actually, but a member had brought one of his cousins that was a nonmember. We went to visit them after church and the cousin said that she was going to live permanently there with her cousin (she was from Huaraz) and she also wanted to be baptized, so that was a huge blessing.

Teaching investigators is seriously the best. A lot of the times it's difficult, but the blessings come after. There's nothing that gives me more joy than when we are able to see someone apply and live the gospel in their own life.

Sunday at 9:20 pm, (our curfew is 10 pm) Elder Arevalo called and we reported our numbers. We remembered that a family of former investigators we had talked to earlier had said they were going to be arriving at 9 pm, so we decided to pass by before heading to our apartment. They opened the door to let us in and it was a married family of 5. We taught them quickly a few things about the Book of Mormon and left to arrive home on time, as we were leaving the wife gave us a bag of bread from Huaraz to eat for dinner (which was the last miracle because we had NOTHING in our apartment).

When were got back home, I was looking at the bread the sister had given us and I remembered the Lords Prayer when he says give us this day our daily bread. Our dinner was a blessing from God, but not only the physical bread, but all the other miracles we had seen that day. In that moment I felt grateful. Blessed. Dependent. Humble. I got down on my knees and I thanked Him for the success and the blessings that we had received that day. I felt a lot like when Alma said I know that I am nothing. But it's not a sad nothing, it's a happy nothing.

On Wednesday our whole mission piled on buses to go back to the Lima MTC in La Molina (2 hours away). It was a tri-mission conference. Lima North and Lima Central were also there. We were instructed by Elder Montoya (from the area presidency) President Godfrey, President Larson, and President Stauffer (the three mission presidents) Bishop Causee (the presiding bishop) Elder Robbins (from the presidency of the 70) and last but not least Elder Dallin H Oaks from the 12. There were 550 missionaries there in total...so cool. It was seriously one of the coolest experiences I've had on my mission. Elder Robbins talked in Spanish, but Bishop Causee and Elder Oaks had a translater. Elder Oaks talked about Real Intent. And his wife talked about applying the baptismal interview questions to ourselves. 

 A combined family home evening with 3 people we have baptized. (I didn't realize in the moment of taking the picture that my companion was in the bathroom, so thats why he is not there haha)

Naranjal - Week 14

El dulce gozo

One of the best parts of this week was when one of our investigators got married and they invited us to eat Pollo a la Brasa with them to celebrate their marriage. Then his baptism was on Saturday and I had the privilege to baptize him. We have been working with him for more than 2 months, and I'm glad that he was able to make this step in his life. His wife is already a member, so now we are going to help them with their next goal: temple sealing. But Fredy is awesome, I'm pretty sure he will be a bishop or stake president someday.

One goal that I have made for this transfer is to read Jesus the Christ, and it's pretty great, I'm learning lots of stuff I never knew and it has strengthened my testimony a ton.

This week I have been thinking about repentance and the role that godly sorrow plays in repentance. I think sometimes our natural man doesn't want to go through the process of feeling bad or sorrow because of our actions, and sometimes that is what prevents us from repenting, the fear of feeling bad or appearing weak. But it's so important not to let that fear prevent us from going through the process, because like Alma said:

"Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy."

The joy that comes after repentance is great.

Thanks everyone love you all

Elder Harris

Baptism of Fredy! (with his wife (member) and their two little girls)

FHE with the Tineo family!

Naranjal - Week 13

Algo Cortito

Okay well this week Mattheo was baptized and he is the best.  We met him about a month ago, his conversion was really fast.

It's really cold here.

Tomorrow I think the trio will end sadly.

This week we had a training with Elder Gonzalez from the Seventy and he talked about the spirit in conversion.

Until next week,

Elder Harris