Las Alamos - Week 1

Que es un alamo? Ya soy padre fech...

Well hello everyone, it's been a crazy week.  We had two new zones created in our mission and it mixed a lot of things up.  Now there are 12 zones, and one of the new zones is Pachacutec.  The other is called Miramar.  

And so my transfer is that I'm training a new missionary in Los Alamos in the Ventanilla Stake.   And that means I'm also whitewashing this area.   I don't know anyone haha so it's been fun. But yeah, I'm in the same zone which is kind of rare, I think, but my old area is no longer in my zone.  

My companions name is Elder Viera, he comes from Uruguay.  He has an accent haha and sometimes he is hard to understand, but all is good.  They asked us to speak in church this last Sunday to introduce ourselves to the ward, it was great.  The ward is really strong and we will have a lot of support from the members.  The area here is really cool, it's basically pushed up in this little cove surrounded by hills.  Los Alamos is the old area of the Ventanilla zone leaders.  From lots of points in my area I can see Pachacutec and parts of my old area up on the hill.

One thing that I've been thinking about a lot this week, and something that I've felt personally, and something that I've tried to help my companion understand is the concept of trust in the Lord. The problem with a lot of missionaries is they only have confidence in themselves.  Sometimes we only think about our own capabilities and whether or not our capabilities are good enough. Some missionaries are satisfied with their own abilities and start to get prideful when they confide in their own capabilities. Other missionaries look at their own abilities and feel weak.  Their self confidence goes down because they think that their abilities aren't good enough.  But I think the problem with these two types of missionaries really is the same.  They are trusting more in themselves than in the Lord.  Because when we forget ourselves and just trust in the Lord, it doesn't matter what our abilities are.  We just have to trust that the Spirit will direct us to do what we need to do.  Nothing else.

One time we were contacting in the street and a lot of people were rejecting us and I felt a little disanimated.  But I saw a guy walking up the street in front of us quickly, and I knew that he was coming home from work and if I contacted him we would be able to teach him.  So I started walking fast, almost to the point of running to catch up with him and do salvation in 60 seconds.  And he let us in! I feel like the Lord likes to test us like that.  He waits until we are at the point where we want to give up, and if we put forth an extra effort in finding, we will find the elect.

I feel humbled to be able to train, I'm learning a lot from my companion.

Haste la proxima,

Elder Harris

My Comp Elder Viera!

My District!

Pachacutec - Week 24

Mi plato favorito es la escaveche

Well it's been a solid last-week-of-the-transfer here in Pachacutec.  We had interviews with President and we've done a lot of service this week.  It seems like everyone is re-doing their drainage haha and they need the elders help.

So my companion calls me Elder Jarras sometimes to joke around because it means Elder Pitcher, and I guess when you call someone "pitcher" here it means they like to drink alcohol.  It makes me laugh sometimes.

One experience that really touched my heart this week is when I was talking to Santos.  He was my first baptism in this area, but right now he is not attending church because he's been listening to some Adventist pastor, but I'm not worried, he will come back, we just have to work with him a little more. But yesterday we were talking with him and I told him that it was really probable that I'm going to leave this area on Tuesday.  He got this devestated kind of look on his face and said Nooo!  You can't leave!  I told him that there would be other Elders that would come, but he said no they aren't the same.  He told me that he sometimes has dreams about me, and if I leave he really isn't going to return to the church.  At this point I started tearing up a little bit because it reminded me of a conversation I had with Elder Poma; he told me, Elder Harris, you have to learn to love the people of Peru, and when you really have loved them and you have shown that you love them through your actions, something wonderful will happen, they will start to love you.  And when the people of Peru start to love you, that's when you know you have done your part as a missionary....in that instant with Santos I was with the member who baptized him, Guillermo, and I explained to Santos that although the missionaries will leave, the person who baptized him will always be here. Guillermo.  And that he should trust in Guillermo and that they should be the best of friends.  Missionary work would not work without the efforts of members.

They should be calling in a few hours to tell us if I have transfers or not.  If I do, I feel satisfied with the work we have done here in Cedros.  The branch is growing and it's going to be a ward soon.  I love the members and the people here, I really will never forget this place.  The place I learned Spanish.  The place I learned how to be a missionary.  The place I drastically increased my testimony.  And the place where I was able to help several people repent and be baptized.  I love this work.

Reallmente quiero mas pachamanco,

Elder Harris

My pensionista, Sister Teresa.

Pachacutec - Week 23

Pique a lo macho

Fun week, we listened to Elder Quintin L Cook together with the Lima North mission. It's weird to see another mission, there were a few of them that I recognized from the MTC. But Elder Cook and Elder Falabella from the 70 were there, which is kind of cool, because if I remember right Elder Falabella set apart President Swanson as Stake President. 

Elder Cook doesn't speak Spanish, he had a translator, which made it even better because I got to listen to everything he said twice, so it made it more powerful.  He shared a lot experiences from his mission in England, like how he was mission companions with Jeffrey R Holland and stuff like that.  He talked about following the spirit and working with members.  Elder Falabella counseled us to teach the Atonement with the Sabbath Day to our investigators in the second visit.  But to teach it in the chapel and testify of the importance of the sacrament in connection to the Atonement.  It was a cool meeting.  They had it in a building in the Lima North Mission.  I think it's called the Lima North Institute or something like that.

We also had the annual world missionary training with Elder Oaks, Bednar, Nelson, and a few other general authorities. They made a few changes to the key indicators and the missionary schedule.  The changes are great, it's going to help us a ton.

Love you guys, 

Elder Harris

We found these guys walking around with a llama taking pictures of people with their llama, so we took a picture. The first llama I've seen in Peru.

For P-Day last week we went walking down to see something different, and we found this cool place by the beach. Our jumping picture kind of failed.

Pachacutec - Week 22

Tienes que quitar las piedras de tropieza de tu vida

I feel really satisfied with the things that happened this week. The thing that pulls my attention the most is the success of an elder in my district, Elder Sanabria.  This week we had stake conference in Ventanilla, and the stake president told us missionaries (there are 26 of us) that if we brought our investigators to the stake center he would save the first 4 rows for them, so that they can have a good spiritual experience, because Pres Stauffer came to the conference to speak as well.  And it was going to be a challenge for us because we are like 20 minutes away from Ventanilla.  But Elder Sanabria rented a van and brought like 16 people to the chapel in Ventanilla.  Haha he was almost in tears it was crazy.  As a zone we had over 50 investigators in the stake conference, it was very full.  And our mission president talked to them all afterwards and greeted them.

We also had a miracle this week.  We were working in a part of our area that is really far from anything, where not a lot of missionaries have worked, and a lady called Buenas Tardes Elderes, and we went to talk to her, she told us she had assisted in the church in Argentina for 3 years, and now that she moved back to Peru she lost contact with the church and never was baptized.  So we are working with her! She's a great lady and has her baptismal date in February.

Missionary work is hard, but it's the best.

Love you all

Elder Cook is going to talk to our mission tomorrow!

until next time

Elder Harris

Pics at the Temple

Pachacutec - Week 21

Six Months, One for Every Spire on the Temple

It was kind of coincidence, but we went to the temple on Thursday, the day of my six month mark.  The reason we went is because we completed an initiative of our Mission President that if we baptized and confirmed 4 people and completed 10 INL steps (which are progressing steps to the temple for new converts) in the months of November and December, then we could go to the temple.  So we went, and it was pretty cool to go back.  We had the session in Spanish and it was amazing.  I could understand it all.

Friday we had a really good district meeting. I don't know why, but I left that meeting feeling so animated to work.  You know you have a good leader when they animate you to work and not just criticize you for all the things you do wrong.

Sunday morning at 7 am we had the Baptism of Berta and Alejandra (the mom and the grandma of our recent convert Patricia).  We had it Sunday morning so that Patricia could be there because she was working Saturday night.  And then they were confirmed right after in Sacrament Meeting at 8 am.  Sister Berta is really, really converted.  She bore her testimony after her confirmation and there were tears in her eyes.  She has had a lot of changes in her life and she is still in the process of repentence for some things, but I just feel so grateful for the loving gift of peace and forgiveness that Christ undeniably gives to every one of us.  His love is great, and a lot of times it's the only thing we have to be able to press forward.  I know Him.  He knows me.  And I will serve Him with all my might for these short remaining 18 months.

Cuidense mucho,

Elder Harris

Pachacutec - Week 20

Una Otra Semana

Hey family, we had a great week this week with the baptism of Blanca!  We found her back in September but after all this time she finally made this important step of baptism.  She's the best, a really good friend of ours.  

This time of the year is the best for missionary work, because it's summer vacation here in Peru.  The months of January and February are the hottest months of the year and it's when the kids have time off, so its super easy to find new investigators.  The people here in Pachacutec are so humble and most will listen to us.  From what I've heard this area of Pachacutec is one of the most humble areas in my mission, so I'm taking advantage of being in such a great area.  After 5 months living here it kind of feels like home.  

Today for P-day we went to Ventanilla to the cachina (which is like a giant garage sell by the market) and we found some cool old Peruvian coins that an old lady was selling. Coin collecting is a pretty big deal down here, I kind of wish I would have brought some quarters and dimes to give to my companions and kids.  I'm starting to really like the Gospel Principles class, we as missionaries teach the class when the teacher doesn't show up, which is quite often.  And this last Sunday there were probably 25 people in the class which was great.  Things are great down here, we are working to have the mom and the grandmother of one of our converts baptized this Saturday.

This week my testimony has really been strengthened.  I remember sitting in Priesthood on Sunday listening to the Elders Quorum president teach, sitting next to one of my investigators, and I just had a strong feeling come over me that my calling as a missionary was something really powerful, and that I had the capability to work miracles and change a lot of peoples lives if I rely on the help of God and give everything I have to Him.  I know that God lives and that his church is restored on the earth today.

Que tenga buenisima semana. No se caigan en las piedras que estan en el camino.

Sigan EL ESPIRITU!!!

Elder Harris (el tigre)

Bautismo de Blanca Eufemia Marin Araujo

La encontramos a Blanca al tocar una puerta inspirada en Septiembre, pero con paciencia y suficiente tiempo para prepararse, ella se bautiso.  Ella es lo maximo!  Cuida a su mama de 95 años, y su niñeto de 5 años.

Pachacutec - Week 19

Agrarrar la llanta

Hello everyone it's been a solid holiday week down here in Pachacutec (yes I'm staying here for another transfer with Elder Poma (the powerful)).  To celebrate New Years down here the people light up fireworks and burn these mannequin things that look like scarecrows at midnight.  Kind of a cool, crazy tradition. This week we found an awesome family that accepted a baptismal date on the first lesson.  We are also working with the families of our converts, and there are a lot who are interested and progressing towards baptism.  It's amazing the amount of impact one person can have on the rest of their family when they start to make decisions.

Elder Sanabria is training a new missionary, Elder Hyde from Snow Canyon.  It's been fun this week with a new one in the district and teaching him Spanish and stuff.

Until next week.

Elder Harris the Peruvian

Zone P day in Ventanilla Alta. We rented this full sized soccer turf field to play on.