Fort Bragg/Fayetteville - Week 17

Hey y'all!

So we had everything from tornado warnings to super big hail this week.

Wednesday I was on exchange with Elder Conteh down in Pembroke. Right around dinner time we got an emergency warning text about tornadoes. They live in a trailer (not exactly the safest place to be). We were talking, then all this noise started happening that sounded like someone was trying to break the trailer apart.  Turns out it is some large sized hail. Then we got a call telling us that we were supposed to stay in doors until further notice.

The next morning  he wanted to go see a less active part member (not technically married but they have lived together for 7 years). His name is Joe and he was the member and her name is Wanda. Elder Conteh said they had tried to teach her in the past and the Sisters have tried but she hasn't been interested. While we were there she was running around trying to clean and make everything look nice, and keep her son under control. After 15 or so minutes the son was playing in the back room and she was sweeping so we "asked" for the broom.  I swept while Elder Conteh taught her.  When I finished,  I sat down to help teach. She shared with us how she had lost a baby boy about 2 years ago. We testified of eternal families and taught her the steps she needs to take to receive those blessings. She was crying, I was tearing up a little bit, Elder Conteh is British so he was probably fine.

That is really the big highlight of last week. All the craziness was primarily on the exchange. I got pictures though!

Love y'all!

Elder Harper

 

Fort Bragg/Fayetteville - Week 16

Hey ya’all,

This last week was pretty crazy. We had Elder Rose and Elder Hancock living with us for most of the week because Elder Rose had to get a root canal and several other things done. On Tuesday I was with Elder Yeats and Elder Teeples in Sanford. They are a Spanish area so I was mostly lost. They had a member come out with us named Bob Stone. He gives all the missionaries a nickname and I got "wolf."

Then on Thursday Elder Wion and I went out in the morning and found a new investigator. Then we started an exchange with the Assistants and I was with Elder Garn. Then Elder Rose had an appointment and he was on exchange with Elder Nadauld. It ended up being most effective for Elder Nadauld and I to go out and get stuff done.

After exchanges, we went out to dinner with the Blood's. We went to a Japanese place, it is one of those places where they cook your food in front of you on the grill table. Then after dinner Elder Garn and I taught Mark a lesson. Later that evening we had to go on base, but Elder Garn forgot his ID, so I went with Elder Rose to teach a lesson on base. After that we all met back up and Elder Garn got a call from President and he had to do some things that night, so we were all at the church till 10:40 eating taco bell trying to get all that figured out.

It was mostly a whole lot of getting switched around. All in all it was a pretty good week.

Love ya’all,

Elder Harper

 

Fort Bragg/Fayetteville - Week 15

Hey y'all!

Last week was a lot of fun. Spent a good amount of time in the cold, knocking on doors, which was a lot of fun. We used the fact that it was freezing outside to get in a couple doors, which got us a couple new investigators.

Last night was really great. We got done with our coordination meeting with our ward mission leader around 8:15 and we had a feeling to go to an apartment complex. So we went and got started about 8:30. Elder Wion walked straight to a hallway and I followed him.  We knocked on around 8ish doors, and then we knocked on a young couple's door. We told them who we were and that it was really cold and asked if we could come in to witness to them about our Savior Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon.  They let us in and we had a super spiritual restoration lesson with them, and they wanted us to come back on Tuesday. Those experiences are the best.

In my studies this week I learned a lot about hope. I found out I totally misunderstood it. Hope stems from us seeing God's promises/will fulfilled in our lives. I am trying to understand that better.

Y'all look for God's hands in your lives this week and PLEASE email me about it. Sound good?

Love y'all!

LoVe,
ElDeR HaRpEr

P.S. Happy Valentines Day!

Fort Bragg/Fayetteville - Week 14

Hey y'all!

This last week was awesome, pretty crazy but awesome!

We did two exchanges, one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday. I got to do a total of 6 hours of driving, just for commuting purposes. Car rides are a ton of fun when you are with someone who can hold a good conversation. Some of those hours were good, but more of them were pretty quiet.

On Tuesday I was with Elder Lindley he is from a little town just outside Logan, Utah. He is a lot of fun.  Once he is comfortable enough to say something he doesn't stop! :) He LOVES Star Wars, and on his planner he has a Star Wars picture, with one side that was the dark side and one side that was light, with the question "which side will you choose?" and the scripture:

3 Nephi 13:24 - "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon."

It was pretty funny, but also a very good spiritual question. It made me think a lot about Fear and Faith. We can't be fearful and expect the blessings of the faithful. You have to constantly and deliberately choose what side you want to be on, and if you don't choose you fall into the fear category because faith = action. Awesome principle learned from a Star Wars picture this last week.

On Wednesday I was with Elder Islas. He has been in the field a week and is totally a deer in the headlights, but at the same time wants so bad to do so good. It made me reflect a lot on the importance of patience in learning. Lots of lessons this last week.

Then Elder Wion and I found it! Ever since I got to this area at the beginning of November we have been trying to find a large gathering of YSA age non-members. Elder Wion came here from Fayetteville 4th ward which we still technically cover, but just for the YSA people. He knew where a college was across town, so we went there and it was a gold mine. We are pretty excited for that. The only problem is, it was mostly women that said we could come back, but on the other hand we told the Elders Quorum President about it, and he was all for it! He said they need more options in the branch!!! :)

Well hope y'all have a great week! Love y'all!

Love,
Elder Harper

Fort Bragg/Fayetteville - Week 13

Hey y'all! 

We don't have a ton of time this week, but I got a new companion. His name is Elder Wion. He is originally from Liberia but his family is currently living in Las Vegas. 

Have a great week! I will write more next week!

Love y'all!
Elder Harper 

Elder Wion - Elder Harper's New Companion