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!

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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

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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

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Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California