Durham - Week 14

Weekly Update! On Saturday a less active lady wanted a blessing because she saw a young man get shot and killed.  She said she hadn't been able to sleep since.   My companion gave her a blessing and after we talked about the plan of salvation. She said she felt like the feelings she had been feeling,  were draining out of her body,  and she felt peace from her Father in Heaven. It was an amazingly powerful blessing and lesson. After we asked if she knew anyone that could use a message of hope or some service and she said we should knock on her neighbor's door.  We walked next door and as we were walking past her neighbor’s car in the driveway, she rolled down the window and started talking to us. She said she was going through a really hard time and that they had just had a death in the family. She got out of her car and invited us into her apartment. We found out that she had been taught by missionaries before, she believed in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith, and that she had been baptized before into a different church, but she felt like that  wasn't.  We set a baptismal date with her and one of her daughters and talked about the Plan of Salvation, which she said she also believed in.

Yesterday we contacted a media referral. His name is Yojhan and he is incredible. He said he went to church yesterday and he wanted to learn more about what we believed. We talked about how he grew up Catholic, but from the time he was little he felt like it wasn't the correct church and that the repentance process they believe in doesn't make sense. So we talked about prophets, authority, and the correct repentance process.  It was really awesome!

We also had a ward Halloween party that we went to on Thursday. Then Friday we had to be in our apartments by 6 o'clock if we didn't have appointments set.  We didn't have any apppointments and neither did the Spanish Elders and our District Leader and his companion.  We decided to have a halloween party at our apartment.  We played Dew Pong (Beer pong but with Mountain Dew)!

Love,
Elder Harper

Durham - Week 13

This past week was really good.

We were out knocking on doors and found this black lady named Nicole. She has two little boys and she has a super fun personality. When we knocked on her door her two sons Elias and Enzar were looking through the blinds at us, and then she answered the door. We talked to her for just a minute, then she said she had something on the stove and we asked if we could come back the next day,  and she said YES! We stopped by her house the next day, but she wasn't there, so the day after we tried again. She was there and remembered who we were and a little about what we had told her.  There wasn't another male present so we taught her on the doorstep. She seemed genuinely interested and said she would take a copy of The Book of Mormon and read it, then pray about what she read. I will keep you updated on what happens with Nicole and her little family. 

Not much more to report for this week, but life is good and I can't complain. Love you!

Durham - Week 12

Happy Missionary!!!

This week was week six of my second transfer so we had to do deep cleaning in our apartment.  The next day our apartment go inspected. The inspector said he was really impressed with how well we cleaned it (so thank you Mom for teaching me how to clean)!

We met some really nice less active people this week and hopefully they find the desire to come back to church. It is really frustrating sometimes when you know all the blessings that Heavenly Father has for them but first they have to go to church. I wish I could just make people understand the gospel but they have their agency and if they don't want blessings I guess that is their choice.

On Saturday we helped a family move. We were there for almost 5 hours! They had a few things packed, boxed, and ready to go but we got that stuff done and they were still trying to pack things up, so it took forever and they weren't even done when we left. Theyreally are an amazing family and we were so happy to help them.

Love,
Elder Harper

Missionary Bike!

Durham - Week 11

Our District Leader is a Spanish missionary, so whenever we go on exchanges we aren't very helpful in teaching or contacting people.  I went with them to their area for the first time, and we had a dinner that night.  It was with an older member couple and there were 4 Spanish Elders there,  so one of them translated for me, so that I knew what  was going on. With the little Spanish I know, I asked some questions and simple stuff, and at the end I bore my testimony, in Spanish!

It was a really powerful experience for me.  It was a testimony to me that the Lord will fill your mouth if you open it... even if it comes out in a different language!

Then just this last Wednesday we had the wonderful opportunity to go the the Temple. We get to go every time there is General Conference. When I first stepped onto the grounds I had a feeling of peace that I really miss having so close and accessible. We did our session which was incredible and after the session I got to sit in the celestial room and read scriptures for an hour. It was really nice to have a chance to let my spirit "recharge!".  I have a new appreciation for what the Temple does for me and I look forward to going back in 6 months.

Lots of Love from North Carolina,
Elder Drake Harper

Durham - Week 10

Hello,

Last week was a really interesting week, in a way it was disappointing but it wasn't discouraging. We taught a lot of people that have such amazing faith and trust in Christ but they don't accept the Book of Mormon or they don't agree with some of the fine points of the doctrine. Reading and praying about the Book of Mormon is great, but you won't receive a true and lasting confirmation unless you read and pray with real intent.  That is what I have found that a lot of people don't have when it comes to learning about the fullness of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Conference was absolutely incredible! It is very different from how it is back home.  We watch it live and there is a two hour time difference from home so the first sessions started at Noon.

There are a lot of things that really helped me, but the biggest thing I am going to take away from conference is the feeling I got while listening. I might forget some of the lessons that were shared, but I will never forget the confirming witness I felt from the Holy Ghost, that the words that were spoken are true, and that this church is Christ's church and that I am where I am supposed to be and I'm doing what I am supposed to be doing.

Love,
Elder Drake Harper

Durham - Week 9

Dear Family and Friends,

I have been really humbled the last couple days.  On Friday,  we were totally led by the Lord all day.  We found an incredible new investigator and another one that also has a lot of potential, but it might be a little harder to get the process started with her.

A lot of times I feel weird  about contacting people on the street but you never know who is ready to accept the gospel,  so we talk to everyone we can, no matter how awkard.

Yesterday we actually contacted a man who spoke Spanish.  My companion,  Elder Guymon can't say much and didn't really understand anything that he was saying, but I was able to get bits and pieces.

Love,
Elder Drake Harper

Durham - Week 8

Hello Everyone,

Last week was crazy! On Tuesday we biked over 20 miles to contact some people, Wednesday was a little bit slower, Thursday we did service for an investigator, Friday we went out with the Zone Leaders, and Saturday we did a lot of service. We helped a family move in. Their last name was Hurlbut and his aunt and uncle live in Cascade 2nd Ward (my home ward!).   Kinda crazy.

Not much to write this week,

Love,
Elder Drake Harper