Hey y'all!
We had a great week! They are white washing our area meaning, Elder Brown and I are both getting transferred. They want our area to be a Spanish area to help develop a Spanish branch in the Raleigh South Stake. And of course this last week was our best week in the area. We found a couple of people that want to get baptized and now we are leaving. It's only natural, right? Haha, but they have some great people to work with so that will be good. I will be going to Jacksonville which is right near a Marine Base, so that will be exciting.
First highlight: We met a woman named Daisju, she is 24 and has 3 kids. I couldn't seem to find my words the whole lesson, but at the end she broke into tears and it was all the Spirit. I know it was nothing we did. It is amazing what the Spirit can do. D&C 35:13 "Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit."(ME) My favorite quote from her in the lesson was, "I feel like this weight has been lifted off my shoulders."
Second highlight: Saturday night a little after 8 o'clock Elder Brown and I got the inkling to knock on some doors, so we went to an apartment complex and got to work. As we started, we prayed one of the most sincere prayers I have ever heard when going tracting, and like all sincere prayers it was answered. On our 9th door we met Louis. He is really struggling with his faith in God and the purpose of his life. We explained some things to him and told him that he needed to be at church the next morning... and HE CAME! Elder Brown and I were shocked! We called him just before it started and asked if he was coming and he said "I'm here." We looked around and we told him we didn't see him. Turns out he was at the Baptist church across the street, Haha, but we got him to the right place.
Love y'all!
Elder Harper
Monday, April 25, 2016
Monday, April 18, 2016
Garner - Week 6
Hey y'all! I think I'm pickin' up a bit of an accent.... I was listening to myself talk and it didn't sound like it's supposed to.
Anyway, last week was nuts. We did two exchanges and we had a Zone Conference. I got to go with Elder Lindley and Elder Strong the next day. With Elder Strong we found this great family and the mom said we could come back on Friday. We exchanged back, and when Elder Strong and Elder Bleckner went back on Friday, the dad was outside waiting for them and yelled at them and told them to never come back.... so that was pretty sa,d but we all laughed about it. In the end all we can do is keep going and enduring and keep trying.
A quote that I have enjoyed lately is "The foundation of your happiness depends on how you make sense of the world." Because it is true! When bad things happen and we decide that means we have to be sad or stay where that put us, then we will be sad or we will be unhappy with where we are. So we need to choose to be happy and choose to love those around us and choose to change our lives and those around us for the better.
Then Thursday we got to go to Duke Gardens with a ton of missionaries. It was pretty fun to look at flowers and stuff. I made friends with a caterpillar. Just thought I would share.
Love y'all! Have a great week!
Elder Harper
Anyway, last week was nuts. We did two exchanges and we had a Zone Conference. I got to go with Elder Lindley and Elder Strong the next day. With Elder Strong we found this great family and the mom said we could come back on Friday. We exchanged back, and when Elder Strong and Elder Bleckner went back on Friday, the dad was outside waiting for them and yelled at them and told them to never come back.... so that was pretty sa,d but we all laughed about it. In the end all we can do is keep going and enduring and keep trying.
A quote that I have enjoyed lately is "The foundation of your happiness depends on how you make sense of the world." Because it is true! When bad things happen and we decide that means we have to be sad or stay where that put us, then we will be sad or we will be unhappy with where we are. So we need to choose to be happy and choose to love those around us and choose to change our lives and those around us for the better.
Then Thursday we got to go to Duke Gardens with a ton of missionaries. It was pretty fun to look at flowers and stuff. I made friends with a caterpillar. Just thought I would share.
Love y'all! Have a great week!
Elder Harper
Monday, April 11, 2016
Garner - Week 5
Hey Y'all!
Last week was pretty long... the last couple weeks have been really long just because there has been so much going on. Last week we had a zone training meeting. It was all based on poems that related to different topics. My favorite was "The Touch of the Master's hand."
’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile:
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three—” But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,
And going, and gone!” said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand
What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of a master’s hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game—and he travels on.
He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s “going” and almost “gone.”
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.
Then on Thursday we had the Director of Proselyting from the Church's Missionary Department come to visit and instruct us, which meant a 7 hour meeting, but it was awesome! I wish he would have come like a year ago, but it was great none the less. He basically taught us how to be really, really good missionaries.
Over the last couple days we have had powerful experiences applying what he taught us. So tying back into the poem, even I, who have been a missionary for... awhile, I can still change and grow and become better and so can everyone we meet on the street, at their door, in a restaurant, etc. Everyone is a child of God and can experience the Atonement in their lives if we are willing to share it with them.
Another Talk that seriously impacted Elder Brown and I this past week, "Following Christ to Victory" by Hartman Recktor Jr. He gives 5 steps to seeing miracles in your life. In the talk he relates it to missionary work but it can be applied in a lot of ways.
1) believe in yourself
2) look to the lord for your blessing
3) make the sacrifice
4) expect a miracle
5) receive the miracle with great humility.
This led us to an awesome experience on Tuesday. This was my favorite part of the week fo' sho'. Like a month ago we met a lady named Gennia. We set a return appointment but it never worked out, so we stopped by last week to see her and she said we could come back on Tuesday night. We took Brother Daughenbaugh with us, who is our ward mission leader and a convert of about 4 years. Gennia has a special needs son Ethan and another son Gavin, 8 (He loves to play basketball and loves that Elder Brown and I can dunk on his hoop (it is only like 7 and a half feet)). We shared the Restoration with Gennia and her boys and her friend Ches. The Spirit was great and at the end Gennia said, "We have to get going but we really want to continue this conversation." So we are going back tonight. Then after we finished we helped move her couches out so she could get new ones. While we were waiting for the guys to load the couches into the truck Gavin wanted to play basket ball. And while we were playing basketball Ches was talking to brother Daughenbaugh about how good she felt while we were teaching and he explained that it was the Spirit telling her what we said is true. It was a great tender mercy / miracle.
Love y'all!
Last week was pretty long... the last couple weeks have been really long just because there has been so much going on. Last week we had a zone training meeting. It was all based on poems that related to different topics. My favorite was "The Touch of the Master's hand."
’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile:
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,
“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”
“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three—” But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”
And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,
And going, and gone!” said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
“We do not quite understand
What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:
“The touch of a master’s hand.”
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,
A game—and he travels on.
He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,
He’s “going” and almost “gone.”
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand.
Then on Thursday we had the Director of Proselyting from the Church's Missionary Department come to visit and instruct us, which meant a 7 hour meeting, but it was awesome! I wish he would have come like a year ago, but it was great none the less. He basically taught us how to be really, really good missionaries.
Over the last couple days we have had powerful experiences applying what he taught us. So tying back into the poem, even I, who have been a missionary for... awhile, I can still change and grow and become better and so can everyone we meet on the street, at their door, in a restaurant, etc. Everyone is a child of God and can experience the Atonement in their lives if we are willing to share it with them.
Another Talk that seriously impacted Elder Brown and I this past week, "Following Christ to Victory" by Hartman Recktor Jr. He gives 5 steps to seeing miracles in your life. In the talk he relates it to missionary work but it can be applied in a lot of ways.
1) believe in yourself
2) look to the lord for your blessing
3) make the sacrifice
4) expect a miracle
5) receive the miracle with great humility.
This led us to an awesome experience on Tuesday. This was my favorite part of the week fo' sho'. Like a month ago we met a lady named Gennia. We set a return appointment but it never worked out, so we stopped by last week to see her and she said we could come back on Tuesday night. We took Brother Daughenbaugh with us, who is our ward mission leader and a convert of about 4 years. Gennia has a special needs son Ethan and another son Gavin, 8 (He loves to play basketball and loves that Elder Brown and I can dunk on his hoop (it is only like 7 and a half feet)). We shared the Restoration with Gennia and her boys and her friend Ches. The Spirit was great and at the end Gennia said, "We have to get going but we really want to continue this conversation." So we are going back tonight. Then after we finished we helped move her couches out so she could get new ones. While we were waiting for the guys to load the couches into the truck Gavin wanted to play basket ball. And while we were playing basketball Ches was talking to brother Daughenbaugh about how good she felt while we were teaching and he explained that it was the Spirit telling her what we said is true. It was a great tender mercy / miracle.
Love y'all!
Elder Harper
Monday, April 4, 2016
Garner - Week 4
Hey y'all!
Hope y'all had a wonderful conference weekend and found answers to your questions.
This last week was very long actually. We were able to go to the temple this last Wednesday and I LOVED it! I miss not being able to go to the temple all the time. Temples are such a blessing and bring so much peace.
I have had one scripture keep coming to mind Gal. 6:9 "... let us not be weary in well doing..." This last week is summed up in that simple phrase. We should never get tired of doing good. No one likes to be miserable or alone and especially unloved, not even Satan, but he can't have a fullness of joy so he seeks to take away everyone's happiness.
Last week we did a lot of knocking and it was awesome to see the joy and the peace that the Book of Mormon brought to people. When we started talking to people they would say, "Sorry guys I'm really not interested." and we would respond with our testimonies of the joy and peace that the Book of Mormon can bring and suddenly they had a desire to learn more.
The power of the Spirit is amazing. He will testify of truth. He will carry us through our sorrows. He will unfold the joys and beauties of the gospel before us according to our desires to have them. So be happy and share that joy with others that have either lost it, are losing it, or haven't had a chance to discover it.
I love you all.
Elder Harper
Hope y'all had a wonderful conference weekend and found answers to your questions.
This last week was very long actually. We were able to go to the temple this last Wednesday and I LOVED it! I miss not being able to go to the temple all the time. Temples are such a blessing and bring so much peace.
I have had one scripture keep coming to mind Gal. 6:9 "... let us not be weary in well doing..." This last week is summed up in that simple phrase. We should never get tired of doing good. No one likes to be miserable or alone and especially unloved, not even Satan, but he can't have a fullness of joy so he seeks to take away everyone's happiness.
Last week we did a lot of knocking and it was awesome to see the joy and the peace that the Book of Mormon brought to people. When we started talking to people they would say, "Sorry guys I'm really not interested." and we would respond with our testimonies of the joy and peace that the Book of Mormon can bring and suddenly they had a desire to learn more.
The power of the Spirit is amazing. He will testify of truth. He will carry us through our sorrows. He will unfold the joys and beauties of the gospel before us according to our desires to have them. So be happy and share that joy with others that have either lost it, are losing it, or haven't had a chance to discover it.
I love you all.
Elder Harper
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