Man this week has been interesting!

This week as I was awaiting Elder Harris' email, I just kept praying that the adversary was leaving him alone.  His email this week was an answer to my prayers and helped to calm my worry. Sometimes it is so frustrating to have Satan attack those we love the most.

I am counting down the days until the Mother's Day phone call.  I am so excited!!!  I am grateful that we given twice a year to talk to our missionaries.

Here is Jorvik....aka Elder Harris's email for the week: 

Man this week has been interesting!

Sorry about the call from Elder Calvert, that was my second migraine of the week and I honestly thought I was going to die.

This past weekend we had stake conference and seriously all my questions and concerns were answered and my fears were hushed. Talked to Sister Hobbs and gave me a list of vitamins I can buy that will help with preventing headaches so I'm going to try it. She also suggested to actually work out in the mornings. The one thing I have realized in the mission, I am not a morning person at all. I am literally a zombie until personal study rolls around, but I need to make the effort.

Today for P-day we have a zone activity which is just all of us getting together playing ultimate Frisbee or something like that. Last transfer we played capture the flag with Nerf guns, and that by far has been the funnest zone activity.

Yesterday after Stake Conference we went to Diamnondbar to a members home to have his famous chocolate pancakes which are sooooooo good, but had a great talk with him and his wife about the Plan of Salvation, and the blessing of the knowledge of the gospel in our lives. They are the coolest people ever! If we ever come back to visit my mission I want to introduce them to you guys!

So this week we still are working on our 2 progressing investigators and our recent converts. It is crazy how our list span the spectrum of desire. Our one recent convert who just got baptized last transfer is constantly hounding us about teaching him more and wanting a temple recommend which is super awesome. One of our progressing investigator finally is beginning to pray!!!!! Our other progressing investigator agreed to the baptismal invitation, but she doesn't come to church which we are working on. We are eating dinner with her this week, and we are praying to get her husband interested in the gospel:) We saw our other investigator who is literally an eternal investigator at stake conference which was awesome. His wife and kids are members or technically the kids are to young to be members, but they go to church and C ( the husband) is the non-member. He is super awesome. And we also saw the family we are working with which are less active, so all in all a good weekend.

Miss you guys! thank you for the emails! Love you guys a bunch and am very grateful for the important roles we all have together. A lot of the talks in Stake conference were directed towards families, and how important FHE and scripture study is. And I can say and testify that it is soooo important. The adversary is so real and tearing families apart. I see it everywhere. So I am so grateful for us and our testimonies! Stay golden! Love you guys!

Elder Harris

--
Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

How about you go crazy.....

So this week when I wrote to Elder Harris, I said:

Hola!!! Welcome to p-day!!!! How about you go crazy today and hit reply and answer my questions?!?! Just a crazy thought!  And in case you are going to take me up on it....here goes:

Do you need anything?
Are you happy, healthy and well?
What are your investigators names and who can we pray for besides you and your companion?
Did you get your package?
Have you written any letters?
What is the best thing that happened to you this week?

He kindly obliged me with the following:

Okay,
1.I think I am good and don't need anything.
2.I am happy, getting to healthy, and trying to be well. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be serving a mission.
3. No one
4. Yes I got my package thank you for the tie!
5. No I haven't written any letters, have no one to write them to, and have no stamps.
6. Just met with a couple less actives this week and had lessons with them which was unexpeected but awesome. Went on exchanges with the zone leaders. The morning we went out, and the first person I started a conversation with is now a potential investigator, we'll see this week if it goes anywhere.

But anyways, I am still here set apart to be the Lord's servant so I'm just going to work harder. I love you! miss you guys a lot!

Elder Harris

I also have a couple of pictures of my handsome elder to share!!!

The Prodigal Son (Free Agency Is A Killer...LOL)

Hey padres!

Gosh, so much happened this week I don't even know where to begin! But yes, General Conference was amazing and definitely needed. We made sure to watch it with our recent converts. One of the great talks was talking about the prodigal son and how you just love them and watch and wait for their return. I couldn't help but think of you guys and me. And I am so grateful for you guys not giving up on me, and loving me all the same. Without you guys I don't think I would be here right now.

Also I gave the invitation and got another investigator on baptismal date, and peaked her husbands interest so maybe we'll get him!

This week is going to be nuts. We scheduled out all 39 names plus our investigators, and we are going to be busy but wouldn't want it any other way!

Also this week I have been sick and I had a huge migraine on Tuesday,  so we've been getting home a little earlier than usual because I am just wiped, but lately I have been reading the New Testament and reading Jesus the Christ right along with it, and oh my gosh I have had so many answers to my questions. It just makes me think why don't people just join our church because even if you look at it logically it is the only one that makes sense haha but free agency is a killer lol.

Also I started the challenge Elder Bednar gave about start reading the Book of Mormon with a question written down, and when you finish write the answer.

Anyways, I have been good and love being here though we run across a lot of "interesting" people haha.

Oh, and Sandi, I actually printed that talk out last week haha and have been reading it! It is a good one!

I miss you guys! Love you!

Elder Harris

--
Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California

I have to admit that Jorvik's email brought tears to my eyes. I love him so much and I would never, ever give up on him.  EVER!  But here's the thing....as Jorvik said, Free Agency Is A Killer. haha.  You can't force anyone to do anything.  Everyone has free agency and the ability to make their own choices.  Yes, I have encouraged and loved him and everything else... but when it comes to his testimony... that is all him.  He is on his own path to conversion and he is working all the time to be converted to the Lord. He is amazing!!!  The light just radiates from him and he is so full of goodness.  Below are two things I want to share with you.  One is a video on the Prodigal Son and the other is on free agency.  Enjoy!  and let me know if you  have questions!