Updates, Updates, and more updates!!! oh.. and pics!

12/7/15

Good morning!!!

So first week down in my new area in Upland was awesome! This week we had this festival at our church called the Creshe which is a nativity festival where people enter their nativity scenes and pictures and there is singing throughout the day. It was a great way to involve the whole community, and a great way to talk to people. We had a missionary stand where people just came up and took pamphlets, copies of the Book of Mormon, and dvd's. It was amazing and great way for people to see our building. We are told there were more nonmembers than members the whole time. Just incredible.

Besides that our area is small enough we just walk everyday. My shoes are so worn down. I can't wait until Christmas to get new shoes hahaha. We picked up a new investigator last night and she is so solid. I can not wait to teach her! We also have an awesome potential that we gave a Book of Mormon to and have a return appointment this week!

My companion is from St. Cloud, Florida. He is a convert of 2 years and was baptized while attending FSU. He is amazing! There hasn't been a day yet where we haven't just laughed our heads off about something. He is incredible with a great desire to wanting to teach everyone the gospel. I can see him going AP pretty soon so I am grateful to learn from him.

Everything is going great! I love being a missionary!

Love you all so much!! Have a great and safe week!

Elder Harris

--
Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

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11/30/15

Hey, Good afternoon!

So this week was transfers and I am now back down the hill in the Upland 2nd ward!!! And I am still on bike hahaha:) It was hard to leave Adelanto because that was where I finally got the footwork to missionary work and I put my all in and now having to leave all my investigators will be hard, but I am so excited to be here in Upland and see what can be done. That is all the excitement in the mission field haha.

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11/16/15

Good Afternoon my lovely parents,

How has your week been??

My week was great! Hahaha I have had a blast training my new missionary haha. I have learned so much! I am going through the Book of Mormon but going through every single footnote which I only get through a column a day in personal study but it has brought so much more meaning to a single scripture verse and I am able to expound a little more on it as we read with investigators. I just pray I am a good example to my companion because I told him that I want him to be a better missionary than I am lol. The work in Adelanto is great, but Elder Waters and I know we can do better, so we are going to put an emphasis on finding this week! We have two of our investigators so close to baptism and several more on the way which is super exciting!:) There are only two more weeks in the transfer and I am praying I don't leave lol. I will be very sad though I will go where the Lord wants me.
Also sorry about the Student Manual thing.. Yeah totally forgot to check but thank you
--
Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California
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11/9/15

So funny story this week:

We were freezing cold since now it is dipping down to 30's at night and so we decided to build a fire in our fire place at our house. Little did we think to open the vent in the chimney.... We smoked out the whole house hahahaha!:)

Freezing cold!!!!
it has been 60's and then sun goes down at 5:30 and then dips down to 30's
yes we are getting fed!

I learned how to tailor shirts and pants and jackets so I have tailored my grey suit hahaha

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11/2/15

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11/2/15

First two pics are us just having fun in comp study
next one is a pic of my favorite investigator family
the rest are of me participating in fear factor at the ward Halloween party in which I had oyster in ink sauce but I won:)

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10/26/15

Good Afternoon mi padres:)

I am good! This week flew by, and I have found a couple things I want to work on during this transfer.

My investigators are well. We were planning on a baptism on Halloween, but he got called to work down the hill so we have to move it back a week. Had a new investigator come to church, and a family whom we have been teaching in which I have had the most spiritual and heart touching lessons with.

We got to wake up at 5 in the morning so we could volunteer and pick up trash in the desert. Luckily breakfast and lunch and a free shirt was provided so it was worth it hahaha.:)

Our district and zone is very small and all my companions have been the very best...

I will never be in car and the bike is doing just fine... so far hahahaha:)
Love you guys so much and miss you heaps!

Love,
Elder Harris

Several posts - UPDATES!!!

Hi all,

I want to start this post by saying, "I'm sorry I'm behind!"  I really have two excuses. 1) Life is insanely busy and 2) I miss him so much that some days this is hard to do.  With that said, I am going to post all of the updates in this one post.  So here ya go!:

10/19/2015

Good afternoon! I am still staying in Adelanto to finish training my new missionary! :)

This is Dale and Debbie. Debbie is less active and Dale is a non member. They have us come over every Saturday and they feed us. Dale is from Arkansas but lived in Iowa for a little bit but can make anything taste amazing on his grill. They are the best people ever and make me feel like I am at home. We got to carve pumpkins with them this past Saturday! 

my pumpkin is the one on the right, and yes I like the camera because now I can email pics from it lol. (His first camera got broken in a bike wreck!  we were finally able to replace it)

10/5/2015

Good afternoon mi amigos:)

So upon contemplating what I was going to email you today my mind has gone blank. So I will just go through the week.:

We were able to get Ether on a baptismal date and also his brother who are both looking forward to being baptized. Another kid we contacted on the street told us he would read a chapter a day out of the Book of Mormon!!!

Conference was amazing. Learning more to become more converted to the Lord is always needed. I think ponderizing is a genius and something I definitely want to do! I got to have the privilege of crashing on my bike again, luckily only a couple cuts and bruises. Anyways, I honestly can't think right now so sorry this is a poor email but I hope you all have a great week! Stay safe! Love and miss you!  

9/21/2015

I've been really good! Adelanto has been amazing for missionary work. We set a high goal of teaching 13 investigator lessons this week. We tracted this road and got two golden investigator and another for the Spanish Elders. One of the investigators we met with on Saturday and he is so prepared of the Lord. I had to fight back tears during the lesson. The spirit was so strong. It is those times that makes me proud to be a missionary and it feels like hard work is paying off!

Gots to go!

Love you a bunch!

9/17/2015  - spoiler alert - I get chastised a small bit for email the President (#mommaprobs)

Yes I am back from not emailing. Last week was transfers and also Labor day so libraries were closed. We were authorized to email on Tuesday, but I had to go back down the hill to pick up the new missionary that I am training. His name is Elder Waters from Cedar City Utah. By the time we got back from Rancho it was 6:30 and had to go grocery shopping so didn't have time to email. So here I am on temple/ preparation day. 

Yes Sandi I know you emailed President. I got a phone call from him, and a phone call from brother Hivner my ward mission leader. I am not mad at all, but if I haven't emailed there is a reason and you shouldn't be worried enough to email President. He has enough on his hands especially with a general authority doing a mission tour this past week in our mission.

Training has been very hard and not like I thought it would be like. I notice having more weaknesses that I need to work on. I sometimes just don't think I am doing a great job, but I hope so. The temple trip was so needed. After 8 months of accumulating knowledge I was excited to learn more stuff in the temple and being able to recharge my missionary batteries was much needed as well.

Sounds like everything is going well! I love you all so much! I will email on Monday! That way I can write some things down to email you because my mind is traveling fast and just don't know where to begin on how my last two weeks have been. Stay safe!

Elder Jorvik Ty Harris

Rancho Cucamonga, California

My week in a nutshell.... spoiler alter - VERY POWERFUL!

This week was unbelievable! At the beginning of the week we set a goal of teaching 8 investigator lessons. And we did it!!! 2 Member Presents, 6 other lessons, and 5 less-actives/ recent converts. We also found 3 more new investigators, and have another already attending church, and now wants to be baptized... piece of cake!:)

I think Elder Haueter and I have hit a groove and now reaping the benefits of having exact obedience and working hard with one goal in mind: to invite others to come unto Christ.

This week I also went on exchanges to the Victorville Samoan ward. Which was so much fun! Met a family from Brisbane, Australia and another family from New Zealand. It was pretty much a vacation that day. Haha but met one of their potentials and he is only 21, and already saying he is prepared to be baptized and wants to go on a mission! Like what??? Where can I get one of those in my ward boundaries???? hahaha.

FYI: My ankle is doing much better just still bruised and a little swollen still, but nonetheless still trucking along, and no I didn't play basketball earlier today;)

So over the course of the transfer Elder Haueter and I have been working hard to teach better because in this area it is easy to find investigators but difficult to get them to progress. We have changed our teaching and now have 3 progressing and hopefully more this next week. But there is so much more I have to work on. I have noticed how important the spirit is in lessons. Some of the new investigators we picked up don't have time for a 30-45 minute lesson, so Elder Haueter and I have been practicing, practicing, and practicing on short powerful statements, short testimony, and looking for inspired questions. Well we came to the mutual agreement that we have to put it to the test. So last night we taught A (who has come to church twice now!) and some of her family. We taught the Plan of Salvation in 15-20 minutes and it was amazing. Elder Haueter and I work great with one another and the spirit was there! This ward is bomb! Don't tell anyone but I love it more than Chino! So yesterday was awesome. Jared Grahm got home from his mission in Chile so he gave his homecoming talk, and Ben Metcalf gove his farewell talk as he leaves to Denver, Colorado. We have been taking Jard out with us, and he is super awesome! And he is teaching us a little Spanish. I have never got this in my whole life, but everyone that we come in contact with think I am Latino hahahaha.

SHARING TIME
So lately at nights Elder Haueter and I have been reflecting on how we even got here. Just looking back and seeing the Lord protecting me so that I may be out here. Why? I am just a 18 year old kid who has only been out for 7 months and still have no idea what I am doing. I talk to everyone, everywhere, at all times but I am still scared to death. As you know I have been studying Joseph Smith, who is amazing, but we all start off somewhere. I remember reading something but this is all I remember but it starts off like:

You may think, "But my life and earthly destiny will never be like that of Joseph Smith." That is probably true. But it is also true that your lives matter to God, and your eternal potential and that of every soul you will meet is no less grand and significant than that of the Prophet Joseph himself. Thus, just like our beloved Joseph, you MUST NEVER give up, give in, or give out when life in general gets utterly painful, confusing, or dull. Rather as Paul teaches, you must see that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose" ( Romans 8:28). Just as He did with young Joseph Smith, God is shaping you and directing you  every single day to ends more glorious than you can know!
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So you ask me for what insights I have on the mission and honestly everyday I have studies therefore receiving insight every single day and I have them written down in study journals, but I guess the most useful thing for us all to know God's miracles are not happening just in my life, or in a land far away. Look around you! In the recent General Conference talk Neil L. Andersen said,"As you keep the commandments and pray in faith to see the Lord's hand in your life, I promise you that He will open your spiritual eyes even wider, and you will see more clearly that you ARE NOT ALONE!"
So before I left on my mission dad told me he can't wait to hear what my prayers sound like when I get home. I was thrown off by that statement because I thought my prayers were going to, for the most part, stay the same. Now days I am so honest with Heavenly Father I feel His presence more. I remember one day I was feeling particularly exhausted when 6:30 rolled around. I got out of bed and onto my knees and said, "LOrd, I am miserable...." And sure enough I had that sweet feeling of the Holy Ghost assuring me I will be just fine. Everyday is like that, but having that knowledge of how prayer is so powerful I enjoy waking up and kneeling, I enjoy praying at every chance I have because I recharge. The mind and heart open. And just like the followers of King Benjamin, my door is facing Him. If you can always invite the spirit of the Lord everyday in your life you can jump over any obstacle. But remember it has to be sincere and takes effort "all the energies of the heart." It is such a small insight, but leads to mighty changes.

Well that's all the fun I have to report right now! I am doing swell and loving my mission which is going by too fast! Can't believe we are already in week 5 of transfers. It honestly feels like yesterday I just got to this area. Time goes fast when you are having fun I guess hahaha. Glad to hear you all are well! I pray for you all all the time! Love you guys so much! Have a great week!

Elder Harris

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Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Keep Calm and Pray On~

Good afternoon!!!

Sorry this is late, but we went hiking in Wrightwood today in abandoned mine shafts. I will send pics next week but the view from on top of the mountain looks like a screen saver. Anyways Elder Haueter and I set a goal to teach 9 investigator lessons and we only got 8. But I saw the importance of setting high goals for us that are do able, as you know, plans never go the way we want lol. It really stretched us. We set a goal this week for 12 investigator lessons which will be fun to strive to reach. I have been studying a lot in Alma 18-23 lately and have found so much insight into how to improve my teaching. At the beginning of my mission I felt overwhelmed because I thought I was inadequate to teach, and I thought later on I would be fine. But honestly if you are true with yourself you will always feel inadequate. That is why the way to teach is with the Spirit because there literally is no other way.

Dad- I am so sorry, but I have been so busy this transfer that I have not been thinking about home at all. Now don't think I don't miss you guys because I do, but I haven't had time to think about it. And yesterday after Stake Conference we were invited to go support ,now Elder Metcalf, in our ward get set apart. I realized that it is your birthday... So again I am so sorry and when I get more stamps I will send you a late birthday card!!! Please still love me;)

This is week 6! This transfer has gone by so fast! I will be very upset if either Elder Haueter or I get transferred out, but we will see.

I am sorry this is to everyone, but right now I am so tired and exhausted that I don't have the patience to type up a email to everyone individually. I love you all, and miss you guys tremendously. Keep calm and pray on.

Elder Harris:)

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Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

I am loving this mission!

Good afternoon!

My week has been great, until this morning playing basketball. I went up for a rebound and landed on someone's shoe and bruised/sprained my ankle... Can't wait to bike tonight!

I am loving this mission. I love waking up and just excited to go out and bike and do missionary work. Though this week we have had a heat advisory and has been 106-110 degrees all week. Just goes to show you how much the Lord's hand is in this work. Being able to wake up every morning at 6:25 and work out then go do missionary work has been a miracle, and if I did not have this sacred calling I probably could not physically do it.

As you know we picked up 3 investigators last week and we got another 4 this week, and we just got a referral today for someone who is already wanting to be baptized just needs to take missionary lessons.

So our problem has been to get our investigators to progress. Well Elder Haueter and I have assumed it is us not conforming the lessons to the individual person. So we have decided to actually use the amazing district videos and apply Preach My Gospel "Teaching Skills" and see what happens. Every companion study we plan our lessons out and what scriptures to read, transition sentences to go back and forth, testifying right after one of us says something, and letting the investigator read the scriptures. This week we met with L and we had the lesson, and never have I ever been in a lesson where the spirit was felt so strongly. She is now reading the Book of Mormon. Another investigator we have, A, finally came to church and in Gospel Principle class we had a lesson over the Word Of Wisdom. We had no idea about the lesson plan because we do not teach it, but smokes and drinks. Well we met with her after church and said she just ran out of cigs and she is going to try and quit!!!!:)

I think I was taught the most powerful lesson on humility this week. Since we are in a heat advisory all last week we went to a park to sit down and cool off. A homeless guy came up to us and offered us ice cold water. Like what??? we of course said no, but sat down with him and talked to him. He is one of the nicest guys ever, and so we taught him the Restoration and left him a Book of Mormon to read. Miracles everywhere.

So this week I have been doing serious studying and pondering on Mosiah chapters 3-5 and Alma chapters 17-23. King Benjamin and Ammon and Aaron. I have been studying their teaching tactics and how they taught. King Benjamin covers all the "how to begin teaching" bullet points in PMG 176 which is exactly what we like to start off with. Ammon started teaching by providing service. Aaron started just preaching from synagogue to synagogue. Until he was cast into prison and sent before King Lamoni's father. Where he offers service, but the king was troubled in mind and wanted answers.

15 And they went forth again to declare the word, and thus they were delivered for the first time out of prison; and thus they had suffered.

For the first time... They went forth being persistent and constant. That is my goal. I find myself saying if they don't pick up the first time than we should try next week because I don't want to annoy them. This is Eternal Life! I am now being persistent and constant.

Another thing I am doing with Elder Haueter is taking the commitments that we should have them do and conform that into the lesson so they can see the importance of it also the relevance! Everyday I am excited to go out and preach and it has been a true blessing to be here in Adelanto! I have grown so much (not in a prideful way) but this is the missionary I wanted to be right when I got into the mission field. Our goal this week is to teach at the minimum 8 lessons to investigators but stretching for 13. It is so exciting, even though, I will be going on exchanges at least twice this week to the Samoan area which will also be exciting!

Anyways, that is my week in a nutshell. Now Halley driving????? oh boy..... hahaha just kidding Sister! I love you and thank you for the letter! When I get more stamps sometime in the future I will send you back a letter!

Cameron!!! Finally I get to hear from you! Hope all is well! Stay safe over there in Bulgaria! Love you bro!

Love you! Miss you tons!
Elder Harris


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Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Crunch time & Service

Hey!  It's crunch time!

We got to provide service and help move someone this morning!  We just had a lesson on service in Gospel principels yesterday so this seemed like a fitting way to spend our preparation day.  Granted, I would have enjoyed having my email time. I have to go but just know I am alive and well also picked up 3 new investigators so it's all good. lots of love!

Elder Harris

 

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So no message that he is starving this week...that's good.  Or it means he didn't have time to tell me about it.  Ugh.  It seems fitting to add something here about the importance of service.  So here goes:

 

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God."  Mosiah 2:17

 

Jesus Christ said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). This doesn't mean we have to die to show our love for our friends. We lay down our lives every time we put someone else's needs before our own. (And the "friends" mentioned in the scripture above can be understood to be everyone we meet, since Jesus also commanded us to "love one another.")

We lay down our lives through service. Church members have many opportunities to serve. We can do small acts of kindness for our neighbors, take part in community service, fulfill responsibilities within our local congregations or contribute to the Church's large-scale humanitarian efforts. These actions, whether great or small, let us feel the happiness of connecting with our brothers and sisters and remind us that God often allows us to be the answer to someone else’s prayers.

Helping Others

Trials and Tribulations: Honest Truth About Missions

I am in Adelanto and we bike on an average of 20 miles a day. Since we are in the high desert it is hot and I have never sweat so much in my life.

Most of our plans fell through this week which resulted to us tracting for several hours with no success. We have 8 investigators and we are just dropping people left and right because no one has the desire to progress. I have no idea what to do. I am being the most obedient I have been thus far on the mission, and I know there are promised blessings of which may not be golden investigators but it is hard.

I did some study this week about Emma and Joseph Smith, in particular about Emma Smith and what happened before and after the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith and during all the hard trials. The faith and devotion Joseph had to the people of the church, his wife, and ultimately to the Lord is amazing. It got me to look through the whole Book of Mormon and I studied the relationships the prophets had with fellow men and to the Lord. In the end result everyone of them went through hardships and trials. And I know hardships are  to try our faith and patience, but it has been 6 months and still going through the mission not finding a golden investigator. I don't know what I am doing wrong.

Anyway, members don't feed us here. We have 3 dinner appointments this whole month, so I am learning how to cook now. I didn't know that so this past week I had like no food..

So jealous you guys got to go to the temple. The 7 months I will be out I have yet to go to the temple.:(

 

Glad to here everything is going well!

Hope you have a great week! Love you all!

 

Elder Harris

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That was a hard email to get.  Made this momma worry. I was praying that he would have some renewed energy in his new area.  I am going to hold out hope that things will improve.  In thinking about his experiences and searching online for some guidance, I found this blog called Sand and Sunshine.  Here is one of the posts from that blog:

 

The Honest Truth About Missions

 "So are you getting paid to do this?"

"Nope"

"Are you getting some kind of school credit?"

"No"

"What about church promotion?"

"Nope"

"Well how about community recognition?"

"Definitely not"
 "Then why would you EVER choose to do what you're doing??"

 He had a point. I'd been talking to one of our investigators about missions and how we work as missionaries, and his final question wasn't foreign in my mind. I'd asked myself that question many times. 

You asked for honest. Here's honest.

I believe many--my pre-mission self included--have a warped opinion of what it's like to be a missionary. Before I put on the tag, I had only a vague idea of what it was really like to actually be in those shoes.

I thought they were perfect.
I thought they were always happy.
I thought they loved every minute of their service.
I thought they were invincible.
I thought they didn't have a care in the world.
I thought it was probably hard work, but easy to love.
I thought they were almost always successful.
I thought that it was easy for them to sacrifice.

It seems like a lifetime away since I lived life not as a missionary. In the time that's followed--now 14 months into my mission--I've come to see missionaries and missions in a completely different light.

"Sister Parker, missions are 98% hard work, struggle, disappointment, difficulty, sorrow, and even pain. 2%.......2% is pure joy," my mission president told me during one of our first interviews together. 
He was right. SO right.

Here's the honest truth: missionaries hide a lot. Sometimes it's behind a smile as someone slams the door in our face after cussing us out. Other times it's behind closed doors when we fall to our knees, sobbing and begging for the help of The Lord to carry us through. And at other times, it's only disclosed in a simple journal entry reading, "Why aren't we seeing more success?" or "Why is this so hard??" Investigators don't see the tears we cry the night they've told us they're no longer interested in meeting with us. The strangers on the street don't see our hearts sink when they refuse to listen and instead call us names. The family members back home don't see the long sleepless nights when we can't think of anything but the faces of those we miss. The members don't see our pain when ten minutes before church, an investigator calls to say he won't be able make it. And even our companions don't always see our exhaustion after a long and difficult day. 


Let's get raw:

I'm not perfect.
I'm not always happy.
I don't always love every minute of it.
I'm not invincible.
I struggle.
It's hard back-breaking work, and not always easy to love.
I'm not always successful.


And it is HARD to sacrifice.

I've missed the weddings of two siblings.

I’ve missed the farewell of a brother leaving to serve in Russia and

I’ll soon miss the farewell of another brother leaving to serve in Portland, Oregon.
I've had more medical problems on the mission than I have my entire life.
I've been called every name in the book, and been harassed for what I believe.
I've struggled with difficult companions, areas, and people.
I've spent long and lonely nights, aching for help and comfort.
I miss home and family every. single. day.

I’ve cried more tears in the last 14 months than I have in the last 14 years.
I question my ability to succeed often.
I feel completely inadequate to meet the needs of those around me.

I often feel weak, lonely, exhausted, frustrated, disappointed, and homesick.

And yet…….my mission president continued, “Sister Parker, missions are 98% hard work, struggle, disappointment, difficulty, sorrow, and even pain. 2%.......2% is pure joy…….  
And somehow that 2% makes it ALL WORTH IT.
I don’t even know how it’s possible. Serving as a missionary is THE hardest thing I have ever done. By far. It’s more demanding, challenging, and draining than anything I’ve ever experienced.

And somehow…..somehow……it is all worth it.

Yes…I struggle.

Yes…I fall.

Yes...I long for home and family.

Yes…I miss the comforts I gave up.

Yes…I often wish people understood how much we sacrifice just to bring them the gospel and make their lives better.

Yes…I’m FAR from perfect.

Yes…I’m weak and inadequate.

 

And YES…..my mission has transformed me and others into people we wouldn’t have been without it. Therefore, YES…..it is worth it.

That pure joy—PURE JOY—that President told me about……I had no idea what that was like until I became a missionary and have seen the gospel change lives, including mine. Most of the time, the joy we experience as missionaries isn’t even our own. It’s the joy we feel seeing others experience the joy of the gospel……Yes, it doesn’t come often. It takes HARD work to get. But it is PURE. It’s a joy I’ve never felt before in my entire life. And I believe it is a type of joy that few will ever feel. And it comes only to those who are willing to sacrifice everything for the Lord in order to receive it.

So yes….. I’ve often thought and often been asked: "Why would I EVER choose to do what I do??"

It IS hard. It doesn’t even make since to the outside world why young missionaries like me would go out for 18-24 months, paying thousands of dollars to go, abide by such strict rules, live such a rigorous schedule, have such limited communication with family and friends, and all just to share a message about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.

I do it because IT’S TRUE. I would not be here….doing this, sacrificing like this….if I didn’t know with all my heart that it is true. It has changed my life, and I continue to see it change others’ lives.

 That is undeniable.

I can’t even begin to describe to someone why, specifically, being a missionary is so incredibly difficult. 
It’s much harder than I’ll ever be able to express. But while, I don’t believe my mission will ever be easy…..nor that sacrifice or conversion will ever be easy…….I KNOW that with the help of God, it’s worth it.

Now go hug a missionary ……... they need it:)

 

 

Transfers!

Hello Everyone! Hope all is well! So yes the news is out, and I have no idea about the Instagram pictures but hope they were good! They were the greatest family, and I can't wait to visit them after the mission. 

So I have been transferred out into the high desert. I am in Adelanto still biking but the area is small. I live in a mission house with the zone leaders who have a truck and are our ward mates. My new comp. is Elder Hauter. Everyone says Adelanto is one of the promise lands to go to so I am excited to be here.

So my last week with Elder Pritchard was fun! The Stake Pioneer activity was a blast and we got to play volleyball which was fun.

The mission is such a blast. I have been so happy and have felt so much comfort in being here.

We went over to a home, and the member was sad because his aunt was on vacation and had one of her kidneys fail, and it is $20,000 to medivac her back to California and he had been praying for something and then we showed up. Obviously we don't have $20,000 but he was saying, "the sense of peace he gets when we are there. He knows and can feel Heavenly Fathers presence when we come." I just thought how awesome it is to be able to have the spirit to bring to people if they let us. And sadly sometimes I take it for grant it.

Love you Guys! And Elder Packham I will talk to you next week just right now we are running short on time!

Miss you all!


Elder Harris


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Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Buenos Dias Mi Familia!

Buenos Dias Mi Familia!
(I have no idea if that is correct haha sorry Elder Packham hahaha)

This week has been interesting. Nothing but scorching hot, so hot in fact the cajon pass which is the 15 that you take to get out into the desert. We even got a warning for a dust storm! and then the past two days it has been raining with flash flood warnings!!! So beautiful except for the fact it is now super humid. One of our members was saying this is usually weather you see before an earthquake, but we'll see. It has been super crazy weather though. I think Heavenly Father is mad about the passing of the new law and is giving us a piece of His mind haha.

So life has been good. This is the start of week 6, so this Saturday we will see if I get transferred or not. So this week it felt like we accomplished nothing until I started to fill out our weekly progress report before missionary correlation meeting and saw how many families we went to go see and it was pretty impressive.

Sounds like everyone is busy this summer! Can't believe summer is almost over though... Sorry to bring that up Halley hahaha.

My shoulder is doing just fine!

Miss you all and hope you have a good and safe week!

Love you!
Elder Harris--

Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

In the Second Coming, Southern California is the first to go...... (hahahaha)

This missionary work is hard.

This past week I pleaded with the Lord like none other, and I got reassurance that He understands my hard work. But it truly is the hardest thing to face. I had this incredible study but I forgot my study journal so I don't remember some of it, but I want to share it with you! Next week.

Also cool story, When I was with Elder Plymell I read the talk from President Eyring entitled "Mountains to Climb" and I prayed for a lesson of patience. Well I got it. My bike crash was still bothering me this past week, and the night I called Sister Hobbs I popped my shoulder back in. And now I have been told I bruised a bone which there is nothing I can do but ice and apply heat at nights. It takes 6 weeks to heal than I can do exercise that will strengthen my shoulder. But no one has time to wait. I think that day I got the news I went and moved a few couches.. hahaha Missionary work and service waits for nothing! haha but patience is a virtue I must learn. The Lord is in my life. I feel Him everyday. I realized in my prayers I just need to be straight up with Him. If I am feeling miserable I just tell Him I feel miserable. I think He appreciates that a lot more than the normal "thank the for this day...."

Well that wraps my week up! Also President Palmer emailed me this week! Can I just say I have the best Stake President ever, he is a boss.

Thank you for the words of encouragement!

ohhh another cool story than I give you permission to move on with the day!:)

So in zone meeting this past week we were trying to set a baptismal goal for this next 6 months of the year, and somehow I get elected to pray for us all to receive inspiration. I have never been answered from a prayer as quick as I did in that prayer. I got it in the middle of the prayer I wanted to stop the prayer and just tell the zone leaders what the number was, but don't worry I finished my prayer and told them. Then other missionaries started speaking up saying the same number I said. The Lord is so good!

The power of prayer is so real and I am saddened seeing people walk around totally oblivious to this power which is available to everyone.


Have a great week!

“Work without vision is drudgery. Vision without work is dreaming. Work plus vision-this is destiny.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley
 --

Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Combating Satan's Influences

Hey - thank you for the pictures lol.  Reminds me that I actually have a family lol. And that is so awesome to hear about Aunt Kim!!!

 

I am reading in the war chapters in Alma, and I notice both the Lamanites and Nephites make fortifications and preparations for war. But as you read Alma chapter 55, Moroni sets up a plan to give wine to the Lamanites and then take the city without bloodshed. The next morning the Lamanites awoke and had no idea what was going on.

 

So what does that do with us?

 

Well a couple things stick out.

1.) We all have weaknesses 

- That is why we continue to read our scriptures and pray for strength. We are at war with the adversary every day. He watches us. He knows our weaknesses, our insecurities, our strengths. 

And much like Moroni knowing the city of Gid was highly fortified. He needed a new plan of attack, so he went for the Lamanites weakness.

 

2.) Outside influences 

-It is amazing to me that the Lamanite army that was stationed in the city of Gid, ALL were in a drunken state. I bet some of them knew that drinking wine and getting drunk was a bad idea especially when the Nephite army was right at the borders.

-Peer pressure is real, and is one of Satan's tools to get us in a snare.

 

So what can we do to combat Satan's influences?

We must prepare for our war- read scriptures, go to church, temple attendance

 Make Fortifications- Strengthen testimony and deepen our conversion.

Always remember the grace of the Lord can strengthen us in times of need. Through the beauty of the gospel all our weaknesses can be made strong.

 

Our influences that we have around us is solely up to us!

 

We can not walk uprightly before God while holding hands with Satan.

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Love ya! 

Elder Harris

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Sleep Deprivation

Hey everyone! sorry for the lack of individual emails but I am falling asleep while writing this so it will be a quick e-mail.
 
So this week it has been humid and 100 degrees staying cool is a joke haha but we are staying hydrated while we bike our 15+ miles a day:) The sad thing about the sun you don't really how much it takes out of you until you get home and fall asleep and the struggle to get up at 6:30 is so real. So Elder Pritchard and I are physically exhausted right now. But I think the Lord is blessing us for our diligence for we have found another new investigator. His name is XXX and his life is a straight mess right now, but we are here to help that change..... hopefully!

 

I can't believe it is almost July already! Super crazy! Time is flying by so fast! Being a missionary is super awesome and I don't want to be anything else for the rest of my life.. Might as well due to the Supreme Court ruling! The Lord is coming soon! LOL.

 

Sorry the email is short, and boring but that is a quick update on my week. 

A miracle happened this week though! So last week we fasted with the Muslim community for rain in this drought and a couple days it sprinkled ever so slightly but it was enough confirmation that Heavenly Father is watching over us. Probably why I haven't fallen over dead yet hahaha. 

 

Love you guys! We get to do a training this week, so wish us luck! Be safe, and look for missionary opportunities including service!

Elder Harris

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Elder Jorvik Ty Harris

Rancho Cucamonga, California

The Spirit is so amazing!

This week has been amazing!

I have learned the most valuable lesson: Follow the spirit

It sounds so easy, but to actually apply it has been different because with Elder Plymell we were in a routine everyday. But since I am leading I had no idea what to do. I went on exchanges last week before transfers, and my temporary companion had us plan to go out and act like we don't know what we are doing because that is when you just are humble enough to listen to the spirit because you have nothing planned. Not saying to go out with nothing, but to actively seek for those unplanned activities.

So Tuesday we were just biking down a random street and a woman called at us and we just stopped to talk and she invited us back. We taught two lessons with her this week. Then yesterday again had nothing planned, so we prayed for guidance and we walked and ran into a potential which we went through the restoration. He will be out of town this upcoming week so hopefully we can see him next week. But I have never taught so many lessons in a week, and it was awesome!

Sorry dad, I sent my card out late, so Happy Late Father's Day!!!!

So lately what I have been studying is Going forward with faith and taking Elder Bednar's talk and applying it to "hush my fears" because we did great this week, but next week I want us to stretch even farther and I am scared out of my mind because doubts creep in, but I know if we do what we are suppose and remember the Lords hand in this work we will be just fine!

Glad everyone is doing well! Hope you guys are enjoying the summer heat because I am certainly not. Biking in proselyting clothes when it is 100 degrees outside is not ideal but more blessings I tell myself haha.

Love you guys! miss you a ton!!


Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Elder Harris sent this last week.  He is the one that is painting the blue ocean on the map!!!!

Importance of being a team player.....

My week was rough. One of those were every thing you plan falls through. Transfers just got done with. My trainer finally left me after 4 months to be a zone leader in Apple Valley. I am still in Chino, so get my first quarter of my mission in Chino!!! My new companion is Elder Pritchard from Utah.

I hope this week will be good! we have 3 potential investigator lessons set up this week and another 2 potentials still trying to set up. Also a less active family that we have been working with showed up to church!!!!

Got to see the other missionaries that came out with me at transfer meeting! Elder Mickelson is now in my zone, Elder Vance is now in a biking area in Mojave River area which sucks especially now that it is summer haha. And Sister Brentlinger is off to Hisperia which is in the high dessert.

So studies this week I have been studying hope. For this month we are in chapter 6 of PMG. I need more hope in things. Hope is a desire accompanied with an expectation. Hope and Faith intermingle. I notice I sometimes lack the Faith of expecting to receive promised blessings after I have done what we are told to do.

So glad I get to lead the area for a little bit. I am going to work so hard. I got to do weekly planning by myself last week because Elder Plymell was going home and it took me 20 minutes haha instead of 3 hours. I should just weekly plan by myself all the time haha jk that wouldn't be right. I notice how the mission prepares you for marriage. One of the Elders went home today because he finished and so we were talking about it last week. I think if I didn't serve this mission I would have a tough time being married. It truly teaches you on being a team player haha.

Anyways, I wish I could share everything I learn but guess you'll just have to read all my study journals when I get home hahaha. I have notice all the insight missionaries receive due to studying for investigators. The Spirit is so amazing!
Glad to hear your week is well!

--
Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Charity and Gratitude

Glad to hear everyone is good! How's the weather in Iowa?

This week has been a very exhausting week. We helped a few people move this week and I could probably sleep all day if I could. We also found a new investigator this past week, and a couple potentials who seems very interested have set up appointments this week, so hope to have a few more investigators this week as well.

This past week I also got to prepare for our zone fast we had this past fast and testimony Sunday. We decided as a zone to fast for Charity and Gratitude. I felt that was a little too broad and wanted to specify what I wanted to fast for to help people. So I studied a lot on Gratitude and Charity. And came up two things that I fasted for:

1) Quick to remember and praying in gratitude.
2) More exact obedience out of my love for the Savior

I pray now that I may continue to apply it as I continue throughout my mission.

We had companionship inventory a couple days ago at the end of weekly planning, and we had a good conversation about leadership and examples. Since Elder Plymell is the district leader we talked about his job to help his district. One thing that he pointed out was me not trusting enough. So I have mapped out my studies for the rest of this month about understanding the role of my Savior and His Spirit, Humility, and faith+hope for things. The hardest thing to do is apply the principles I am learning. I have been blessed with a lot of insight as I read my scriptures that it seems to be a lot I need to apply in my life.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell once taught us:
"Sometimes we get so busy discussing the doctrines that talking about them almost becomes a substitute for applying them. One cannot improve, therefore, upon the instructive words of King Benjamin: "Now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them" (Mosiah 4:10).
Nephi's "I will go and do" leads to action and brings results. Its counterpart, "I will stay here and moodily contemplate my navel," stirs no souls, indicative of those who are willing to serve the Lord but only in an advisory capacity."

Transfers are coming up! We get the call on Saturday. I hope I stay in this area for at least one more transfer, but I guess we will what the Lord wants on Saturday.

We had the opportunity to teach High Priest on the First Presidency Message on Families can Be Together Forever. It gave me an opportunity to contemplate and reflect back on my life with us as a family and what we did and what we could have done better as -no one is perfect so don't feel bad- but I feel peace when I think about us. We hear from members about their kids who have moved out that are not active anymore and listening to them beat themselves up about what they could have done better. When really it is up to ourselves individually which master to serve. I am glad our house has chosen to serve the Lord. I pray all of us will continue to have the desire to pick up the scriptures and read daily. To be single-minded to the Lord. I am very blessed to have this opportunity to change while on the mission, and I see the miracles of my choice to serve everyday. I love you guys a bunch! And miss you guys so much! Have a wonderful week!

Elder Harris

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Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

My Companion Is Changing Me.....

This is what I get spending 4 months with a companion from Wyoming

--
Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Miracles & Gratitude

June 1st

Hey padres!!

Sounds like everyone is having a great week!

My week has been full of miracles and I am full of gratitude.

As you know we have had struggled with people to teach, so one day we had a list of less actives and potential investigators and we had no idea where to start. So I said a prayer for me and my companion, and we both had one name stand out- The Hathaway Family- so off we went and we found them all home. The parents had a flip flop day and had the day off hmm. Coincidence? I think not! hahaha.

Also we have been using the potential investigator list in our area book, and now have 2 potential investigators who scheduled us to come over this week.

This is the first week where we worked so hard and we hit all of our goals! The gratitude of everything that has happened this past week is just overwhelming.

We have a zone fast this upcoming fast Sunday, and we are emphasizing the gift of Charity and a gratitude fast so I am very excited!

This week in studies I have also been in the book of Alma. Where Ammon is converting King Lamoni. I have noticed how amazing the grand design the Lord has for everyone. If you notice in Alma chapter 19 the Lamanite women Abish was converted years before seeing King Lamoni and the servants and everyone fallen. If she hadn't believed and went to tell everyone the Lamanites still would have been following their old foolish traditions. All because Abish realized what was going on and believed years before hand learning. Wow how amazing?!?

I am also sad to hear of Elder Perry's passing. Like our bishop said yesterday, having those apostles influencing our lives when they pass away it is like losing a family member. What a good and faithful servant of God.

I was reading a hymn this week. Humbly and meekly now page 185, I think, but read the lyrics and look up the scripture D&C 45:3-5. It gives a better perspective of how much our Savior loves us.

Elder Plymell at the beginning of his mission bought the whole set of Teachings of the Presidents, and he just bought the set again so he gave me the old set and I have just been soaking in information.

Currently I am reading John Taylor who is so amazing, and truly a deep thinker.

Glad you guys got my letters!

Also with the weather heating up I am in need of short sleeve shirts, but if that is out of the budget it is okay don't worry about it!

I love you guys! hope you all are healthy and safe! miss you guys a bunch!

Love,
The son in sunny California Elder Harris

--
Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Mosiah and the Importance of Families

May 26th

Hey!! Sounds like everything is going great for everyone! This past week has been awesome! My companion ran into a bus stop sign which slit his thumb wide open. Don't text while riding a bike. I had my first aid kit with me so while administering to his wound he squirts blood at me and got on my tie and shirt, so I now have my companions blood on a tie and white shirt hahaha.

Anyways besides that we found a huge new housing complex that has all these brand new homes that young couples are moving into. It is so new it doesn't show up on google maps yet haha. but we are going to tract the area and we are hopeful! Also got a great referral that we are going to try today!

So this month in our mission we are studying chapter 5, Book of Mormon. And for one of our assignment we had to write a short testimony on a favorite scripture story so here is mine: My favorite story in the Book of Mormon is found in Mosiah Chapter 27. The conversion story of Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah. I love his story because it is one I can relate to in my life. No I was not going around seeking to destroy the church, but life hasn't always been the easiest of times. I love when the angel appears and testifies this church is true and testifying that the Lord hears prayers. It is comforting to think our Savior knows us and is right by us even if we fall or try to handle life on our own. I find another aspect of this story easy to relate too. If you look at Alma the father, he was a loving father who did not force the gospel on him for he knew his son needed to know the truthfulness himself. Aren't our parents like that? They love us unconditionally, through thick and thin. I think this part of the story gets over-looked. The importance of families. And the final part of the story when Alma the younger has his strength again and bids everyone to be of good comfort, and him now having the desire to preach and teach the gospel so others can repent and have a hope for things because that is why we have true joy and happiness we have the spirit of God in us.

I love this gospel, and the more time I am out here the more grateful I am to be serving the Lord. No I wasn't planning to serve a mission, and no I did not have an angel come down. But the people I have met, the examples they showed are the angels I needed to have. The Lord has a grand design for all of us, and is never far away. I know He loves us more than we know. Alma the younger is a perfect example of someone being converted and deepening his conversion. He served people the rest of his life and never loosing faith even through the trials in the city Ammonihah. I pray that now I know my purpose, I know I have a Heavenly Father watching over me, and angels all around me that I will never loose my faith just like Alma the younger.

I hope everyone is reading at least something out of the Book of Mormon each and everyday, and study it out in your mind during the day. I love you! Miss you!

Elder Harris

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Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

A couple of my own thoughts.... when I joined the church at 16 one of the things that really appealed to me was how important families were.  My own upbringing did not allow me to have the most ideal family life and perhaps that is why it appealed to me.  I do not really know... I just know that the idea of families being together forever in the eternities made my heart fill with joy and happiness.

Why are families important to Mormons?
Our families provide a setting for much of the growth we experience in life.

In our families we love, serve, teach, and learn from each other. We share our joys and our sorrows. Family ties may bring us difficult challenges, but they also give us strength and some of our greatest happiness.

The family is central to God’s plan for His children. It is also the central unit of society and the means for bringing children into the world where they can be loved, provided for, and taught truth and righteousness (see “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”).

While we cannot choose the conditions of our birth, we can choose each day to make our families stronger and happier. It is possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

What do Mormons believe about family?
In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”many Mormon beliefs about families are outlined. One of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ core beliefs is that family relationships can last forever—not just for this life.

Just as some of life’s sweetest joys can come through family associations, the loss of a beloved family member can be a source of our deepest sorrows.

But death does not need to be the end of our relationships with cherished loved ones. The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the “same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there [in eternity], only it will be coupled with eternal glory” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:2).

Family members who accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ and follow His example can be together forever through sacred ordinances performed in God’s holy temples. Jesus gave to Peter the power to have things sealed on earth and sealed in heaven (Matthew 16:19). This same sealing power was restored to Joseph Smith. Mormon’s believe that they can be “sealed” or bound together through His power enabling them to live together in eternity.

This Week Has Been Awesome!

This week has been awesome! we moved to an apartment with missionaries. Except it is in their area so we have to bike in suits to the church building which is 5 miles away. Nothing like nice warm up 5 miles to wake ya up. hahaha.

Other than that it has been a chill week. We are still trying to find people. My luck we have been talking to all these people that go to Calvary chapel which is the definition of great and spacious building. It is so hard  when all their preacher fills their mind with hateful things toward our church. It is honestly so sad and I feel sorrowful for them.

On other news I watched the face to face with Elder Bednar. I love his first answer talking about Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-neggo and how not only did they survived the fire, but had no smell of fire. And if you think about it, when you go camping what is the first thing you smell? Campfire. So how do go throughout this world not only avoiding temptations, but not even have the thoughts? So my challenge to you is study Daniel Chapter 3, and find a scripture story in the Book of Mormon that is just like the story in Daniel. Find what they did that helped them stay away from negative thoughts.

We had to teach Elders quorum this week in church over "flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon" by Ezra Taft Benson. I hope you are continuing to read the Book of Mormon each and everyday. You wouldn't want to go into war without your weapon and Armour on. Same thing applies to reading the Book of Mormon and going out into the world where the adversary has a great hold on people's heart.

We were talking to a member who is the definition of missionary after the mission. He has like 10 referrals every time we head over. Most of them are not in our ward go figure hahaha. But he was telling us about this book he is reading about the war in heaven. He said this creepy and scary part was when Satan was cast down into the earth he warned everyone," you won't remember me, but I will remember you!" It is so true, he knows that we didn't follow him so he is ever so desperately
whispering in our ears to do wrong.

I am glad you guys liked the letters! With rooming with Elders who have been here a while and are actually going home everyone in the apartment writes letters, so at nights after we are done with nightly planning and before 10:30 bed time I have decided to write letters. I actually have another letter sending off today!

Love you guys so much! Hope you guys are safe. Sandi you left your story with dad and the paramedics. It would be nice to know what exactly happened, and dad if you are okay. Don't need to be scaring me!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Elder Harris
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Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Mother's Day Phone Call

So our Mother's Day phone call with Elder Harris was totally awesome!!!  We had Skyped his brother, Elder Packham, serving in Mexico, on Saturday so it was nice that they each had a different day to talk with us.

My heart was SO full of joy when  I saw him!! He looks so great and his spirit was amazing!!! He shared so much goodness with us and I just couldn't be more proud.   He bore a tremendous testimony of the Book of Mormon, the Plan of Salvation and his Savior.

Here are some pics from our phone call: