November 8, t2014

Hey hey!! 

As I said to dad already, this was easily the busiest week of my life! On Saturday the baptism of Sonia was brilliant! She loved her experience, and the confirmation was very special for her as well. One of the most tender moments I'll remember forever is a prayer that she offered on monday, a prayer of gratitude to have been able to learn about the book of mormon, Joseph Smith, and especially about the atonement. She understands the gospel and gets repentance, it's been incredible to be a part of her teaching process. 

On Sunday we drove to Hereford to drop off Elder Dryden-he's the man! it was fun to spend a day with him, when we got back to Birmingham we spent the rest of the night finishing transfers. It was such a spiritual and uplifting experience to have been a part of transfers.  It was a shock to me how much of an influence Elder Higham and myself had on transfers. 

Monday we had call ins with the zone leaders and spent the rest of the day in the office as usual. Staying up til 2:30 a.m. working on the travel arrangements for the missionaries getting transferred.  Tuesday we woke up and finished the travel arrangements, and then spent the rest of the day with departing missionaries.  The train station is about an 30 minute walk away from the mission office, and so we spent a few hours going to and from the train station picking up departing missionaries. As they had their departing interviews with president, we weighed their luggage to make sure they would be able to get on the flight without the 200£ fee if the luggage is over weight, and then, we participated in what is called, "Trunky night," basically we all go to the mission home and eat an incredble meal, go around the table and talk about mission memories, then we have a testimony meeting that last around an hour, and then they stay up all night reminising on the mission, until 3:00 A.M. when we wake up to get to the air port. Participating in this day with the departing missionaries was a crazy experience. It made me realize a lot of things. 1. There is an end to full-time missionary service. 2. The time we have is SO limited 3. I want to make it to that day, knowing that I gave everything I could to the savior for this short time of 2 years.. 4 months to go, I can't believe it's actually coming to a close in the near future. 

Wednesday we met the new missionaries, helped them, answered their questions for what the mission is going to be like, and gave them some good food. It's weird looking back to the first days of a mission as well, because I was also, very nervous, very afraid of what was going to happen, and aware of how long 2 years was. It's so crazy, because it's said all the time, but the second that we forget ourselves and let this become god's mission everything just seems to work out, we are happier, the work goes better, miracles happen. 

Thursday we had mission leadership council again, it was another great meeting. 

Friday we got to proselyte for the first time, for about 2 hours. The work is going incredibly slow at this point in time, but in the short time we've had to find new people, we've seen some miracles. We're now teaching a lady called Zamdi, she's from South AFrica, she obviously loves Jesus, and after we shared the restoration with her she said, "If this is true than it's the most important message in the world." she hit the nail on the head with that one.  

That's about it for this week. I can't wait to take a nap after I'm finished emailing! thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks which is crazy, and I'm excited for you all to have a wonderful holiday season! please know that I am in good shape out here, trying to soak in every second to set a foundation for the rest of my life to grow upon. LOVE YOU ALL!!! 

Elder Sam Harris.

Nov 1, 2014

Good Morning family!

First off... Marsh gets home on TUESDAYYYY!!! you'll have to go to his homecoming and take some pictures with him. He did it, Marsh has set the example for us to follow, what a beast! 

This week was way solid. We spent all day on monday preparing the reports for the 8 stake presidencies that the mission covers for convert baptisms. The mission covers the Merthyr Tidvill, and Cardiff Wales stakes, and then the Cheltenham, Birmingham, Lichfield, Nottingham, Leicester, and Coventry stakes in England.  

Tuesday was rad. I got to go on exchange with Elder Costigan, another one of my past companions. It was like we never seperated. Our unity while finding and teaching came back just like that!  A member in another ward, referred her friend who lives in the Wylde Green ward, so Elder Costigan and I taught him a first lesson, and the spirit was incredibly strong. He accepted the message and was unusually excited to read the book of mormon- no complaints there.  We taught Sonia in the evening about the priesthood, and she is SO EXCITED for her baptism tonight. We will send pics next week! 

Wednesday I read a talk called the challening and testifying missionary. It changed the way that I think about a lot of things. Go and read it! you can relate it to whatever you want in your life that is important to you. The main theme of the talk is this-- the best time to accomplish our desires is NOW.  It talks about how the second that we know someone is feeling the Holy Ghost, we are supposed to challenge them right there, let them recognize the spirit, and invite them to do something bold, talks about how we don't prepare someone for a challenge, because then it isn't really a challenge. I don't know, it's difficult to explain, but it was something that I am looking to apply for the rest of my mission/ life. 

As a result of this talk, the second that Elder Costigan and I thought that someone was interested, we would invite them to do something pretty crazy-- for example, Elder Costigan invited a former investigator who investigated 1 year ago to be baptised on the 29th of November. She accepted.. now this was on the street! Her name is Julia. Her mother is a Jehovah's Witness, but she made her stop investigating in the past, but now that she is 18, her mom is letting her do whatever she wants, and so now she is pretty adoment about joining the church. Another pretty massive miracle. I know God leads us to people who are ready to accept his message.  

Another one of our new investigators this week is Kati! she is from Hungary, and she is so sweet and nice. The way that she views life is incredible, probably one of the most optimistic people I've ever met. She's been in the U.K. for a week, has no job, a very interesting living situation, but she is so sure and hopeful that everything will work out- I'm sure it will! 

Last night President  Rasmussen called us into his office, and we spent a few hours talking about the new transfer, and changes that we thought would be appropriate. I absolutely love doing things like that! One of my favorite things that I have learned from President is his ability to receive revelation. He just does what it says to do in the scriptures, he ponders, studies, and prays, and ponders, it sounds so simple! I think that is something everyone wants to be better at is understanding exactly how the spirit communicates with us. 

Right after emailing we are going to drive to Hereford, where we will pick up Elder Dryden, Sarah Bowles little brother, he will be on an exchange with us for the next 2 days. should be fun! Life is always good as a missionary, I have no complaints! As much as I miss you all, I believe with all of my heart that this is exactly where I need to be. have a great week! Love you!!!!!!!

Love, 

Elder Sam Harris