July 28, 2014

This week we saw some incredible ups and downs. 

We'll start with the bad news. This week we made it a goal to literally talk to every person we saw, and this resulted in us getting kicked out of the university. We had been street contacting the professors on campus, and one of them complained, and on thursday as we were teaching one of our investigators, the security came to us and told us that we can't come on campus anymore. the only way we'll be able to come onto campus is if 1. we take our badges off 2. we don't street contact anyone. 3. if we do teach someone, inside their home, because we can't on the street or in the public buildings, then we can't invite them to join the church. We've found some cool loop holes that I'll explain later on in the email.  Basically we spend 90% of our time at the Uni, so us not being able to go there to find new people to teach leaves us with almost nothing to do. we have no idea how we're going to continue, but we know that heavenly father is preparing his children everywhere. 

despite that disappointing event, we were able to add 10 new investigators to our teaching pool, and we are really exited about most of the people that we have been able to find, and things are looking great for the month of August! this transfer has really flown by.. kind of unreal that this transfer is coming to an end as well. 

So, we were speaking with Barry and David, who spend every day with us, and they were saying that we can't invite people to join the church, but they, as students, can. they've been coming to every teaching appointment we have on campus, and they've been extending the invitation to be baptized! yesterday Elder Costigan and I were able to teach 2 chinese students who have only been in the country for 3 weeks, and have poor english. after we finished teaching the plan of salvation, one of the investigators, Yang, asked Barry and David a question. They continued to speak in chinese for probably around 15 minutes straight. As Barry and David were testifying to these new investigators, the spirit filled the room like crazy. Even though they were speaking in a language that makes absolutely no sense to me, there were times while they were talking that I just felt the spirit so strongly. After we were finished with the lesson, Barry and David started talking again in chinese together as we were walking home. They turned to us and said, "We know why you elders and sisters decide to serve missions, for the first time, we have felt as ammon did when he was teaching King Lamoni, Yang asked us questions that we didn't know we knew the answer to, but as we started to speak we remembered things from the Book of Mormon that we had read, and other videos you have showed us that we remember, and we were able to speak about these things to help him understand better. We can much better understand what it is like to feel the spirit, and what it is like to teach with the spirit." these are our recent converts of under 2 months. the gospel is true! The gift of the holy ghost IS the sweetest and most powerful gift god has given us. I actually cannot explain the joy I've felt seeing our recent converts love the gospel so much. I almost feel like a father watching his son, that might sound weird and prideful, but I am so proud of them! 

We were able to have 7 investigators attend church which was a miracle. They all loved it and they all said they will come next week as well. 

After church yesterday Brother and Sister Kear, who came to our home, had our recent converts over for a meal and it was wonderful. After, Brother Kear shared a great spiritual thought on the Book of Mormon and it was wonderful for them to feel the spirit in the comfort of a members home. 

I love you all so much! please continue to keep me and all of the missionaries around the world in your prayers. There is no better work! obedience = prospering.  AFTER you have reached the promised land ye shall know that I the lord god do visit my people in their time of affliction. or something like that :) take care! 

Elder Sam Harris. 

Baptism Pic

Sam with Ivy Barry & Companion  E Costigan

July 21

It was another great week!

We've been able to finally increase our teaching pool again this week! we're finally teaching loads of people again and it's a happy time for us. 

My favorite miracle this week was to be with our 2 recent converts, Barry, and David, as David laid his hands on Barry's head to confirm him to the Aaronic Preisthood. One of the proudest moments of my life, and I will remember it FOREVER! We have been so blessed with so many Recent converts who are so converted to the gospel. This week David came Street contacting with Elder Costigan, and Barry came with me, so we were able to do double the finding, and they both loved it! David, while Elder Costigan was talking to someone, on his own stopped a student, got her number, and she came to church yesterday! We have been doing a lot of finding through our recent converts and it's been my favorite part of my mission so far to spend so much time with so many people that I love. 

Playing basketball with the post-graduate students has been another excellent way to find new people to teach. This week as we were playing, these 8 Phillipino kids came to play as well, all high school-aged. They were way cool, and we will be teaching all of them this week! there are only about 100 phillipino's in Loughborough, and they are all best friends, so if we were able to befriend all of them, we would be able to see some amazing miracles. 

I got in my first car-crash ever this week! woo hoo! it was very very small. no one was injured. I was pulling out of a T-junction, and the car coming into the same road took a really tight turn at a blind turn in, and we hit each other. everything is ok I'm just bummed I've ruined the perfect record of not getting in a car accident or getting pulled over. oh well! it's because they drive like maniacs in this country! haha just kidding it's actually really quite safe. 

This week we'll have interviews with president Rasmussen, and so we'll spend the entire day on Wednesday attending each districts district meetings. Pray for me to make it through that day. Other than that, I am very optimistic for the future and for everything that is happening in the work. Leicester zone is really doing amazing.. all of our missionaries are so incredibly diligently and they love the work! couldn't ask for better circumstances! 

Have a great pioneer day! enjoy the pool, (I think you catch the hint, I miss the pool) but not near as much as I miss each and every one of you! have a great day :)

Elder Samuel Harris. 

July 14, 2014

Hey family!

So... it's gotten to that point of my mission to where I can't be bothered to email anymore, but because I love you so much, I will still write you every week! 

This week was as they all are, Brilliant! On Monday we got to play football with loads of non-members and got a few return appointments from becoming mates with the people we were playing with. My favorite way to do missionary work is in non-conventional ways! 

On Tuesday we spent all day preparing zone meeting for Wednesday, the zone meeting was great! The Spirit was really strong. We trained on the role of the Holy Ghost in conversion, and the divinity of our calling as missionaries. There are some powerful talks that talk about our potential as members in the church! An outstanding talk from President Eyring called, "Rise to your call," was the foundation and we talked about the things that are possible because of our setting apart. 

This week was a little bit of a humbling week. Our investigator Michael who was scheduled to be baptized this saturday didn't come to church, so he won't be able to make it for this week. Elder Costigan and I made a goal to have a baptism at every service, (they only do services every 2 weeks in Loughborough) so we were a bit disappointed, but we know that there is still so much to look up for! 

I got to go on exchange with Elder Jacob Packer from Lindon, Utah! He is the grandson of the apostle. He is a great missionary and he taught me so much.  

This week I had an incredible/sad experience.  Ivy, our incredible recent convert who feeds us every day and who we've grown so close to, returned to China after finishing her masters degree. let's just say there could have been buckets of water full with all of our tears. It was just one of those weird moments when everyone was crying. As Elder Costigan and I got back in the car and drove to our next appointment, we realized how amazing it was to have her as a part of our lives, and we were reflecting about how grateful we are to be able to be missionaries. Developing lasting relationships with some of the most incredible and special people is indescribable - the most important and special thing I've been able to take part of. One thing that stinks about the mission experience is all of the good bye's. Every new area, every companion, every investigator that leaves, every member we have to say good bye to, it's like a part of us is leaving!

Basically I'm just really grateful to you mom and dad, for giving me the opportunity to be here. I really love it - so much! And I am excited to meet back with these people in the spirit world. What else hit me.. is I only have 8 months left to serve full-time. Some may say that's a long time but holy cow... I can't afford to waste a second and soak in the whole experience! 

I love you so much! have a great week!! enjoy the pool. 

Elder Harris! 

July 7, 2014

July! 

I definitely missed teh 4th of July this week. just a completely normal day for us. but next 4th of July, I'll be with ya :) and I might even go to stadium of fire for the first time. we'll see!! 

This week was great! it was amazing to witness the  baptism and confirmations of Ivy, Barry and Danny. Ivy and Barry are so special. Barry read the book of mormon in less than 2 weeks and just absolutely loved it. his conversion was so sweet. During our first lesson he told us that he wanted so badly to have a faith, but that he wasn't able to, the Book of Mormon resolved every concern he had in life, according to his own words. He's buzzing for the gospel and is telling all of his friends about it! Ivy is the same. This week, Ivy called us twice, because she had friends at her house, and she wanted them to meet us so we could share the gospel with them! 

At the moment the Universities are out for summer break, so we basically have no one to talk to, but we have faith that god will place people into our path that are ready for the restored gospel. 

I was able to baptize Barry, and Elder Costigan baptised Ivy. It was such a sweet sweet service. As soon as Barry hit the water he was smiling ear to ear. He said he wants to be an apostle. we'll see what happens haha.  I was also able to confirm Ivy, and while i was doing so, one of the 4 year old primary children was tugging on my leg and scratching me up and down my body. I had to try SO HARD not to be distracted or laugh. that's one thing I love so much about the church. With 10+ kids constantly screaming and yelling, the spirit is so strong! a place centered on families is the right place for me!! as Barry and Danny were confirmed, he still didn't let go of my leg. It was hilarious. and I'm just grateful that no one seemed to notice! 

I called Jill on Monday night and let her know that I was staying! I asked her if she could email mom so that you would know as well. I'm stoked I'm still in Loughborough with Elder Costigan! it should hopefully be another great transfer! I love what I'm doing.. have I mentioned that before?? 

I also cut my hair again. I'm embracing my bald self! bald can be sexy right?? I'll make it work somehow!! 

This week also consisted of eating a different chinese dish EVERY DAY. Ivy loves cooking so much! and she insisted that we came over to her apartment every single day and eat with her and Barry! honestly, when you guys get to try this food we'll all cry together :) 

Have a sweet week! enjoy the summer, enjoy the pool, enjoy each other! go and serve someone you love :) 

the best quote I heard from last week, 

"I love talking to random strangers on the street, because they are my future best friends." so true. love you all!

Elder Samuel Harris.