Some photos!

Recent Temple Trip - September

Opening his birthday present!

Literally NINE months behind!!!!

Okay people, I am going to TRY to get this blog up to speed. I can't believe Elder Harris will be home in FOUR months!!! Yay!!

So I will post the most recent updates and work back to December.  Here ya go!!!!

August - September Updates
I am starting with something he said to me that I want everyone to be witness to!!!

Jorvik: haha I know, but out at BYU-I I can at least face time you everyday!:)

Me: Can't believe you guys are coming home just in time to turn around and leave me
Your killin me

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I know I have been called of God to work in this part of His vineyard. I am losing myself. I have grown so much. I am putting the Lord first. He has been my Master and Teacher throughout this mission and will continue to be for the rest of my life. I realize being patient in matters of the heart is important and will be worth it!

It is so hard to put the things I am learning and have learned in to words. This is why I don't share as much as I could - its hard! I learn so much and I have truly developed the habit of deep pondering that I learn so much that I have no idea how to relay what I learn in such a way that it makes sense. So instead I have it in journals and I tend not to type it in emails. 

I am freaking out because I am scared of the future. I trust in the Lord! Famous last words, "I got this."

Love,
Elder Harris

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This is so sad!!!! SHE IS NOT ALLOWED TO GROW UP UNTIL I AM HOME! (I sent him a picture of Halley from her Senior photo shoot)

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Talked to President and he said that he would support me 100% to have me go home 30 days early.

I also love my new companion! He is literally the best! He has only been out for 6 months but we are both super and just love life hahah

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The Zavala family is literally the best family besides ours!!!!

I have developed such good study habits and good habits in general on my mission. I don't want to get home and be at home for 3 months and lose them.

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Yes you guys should! Move to Utah!!! hahaha than we can all be in the Mormon bubble lol. I know! Feels like just a couple years ago we were all still in high school...:( At the end of this new transfer I will be 20... I'm like the crypt keeper!!!!!!:(((

Dad, Move us to Utah!!!!!!:) (I told him that he needed to tell Dad that - not me- haha.) I then told him he was throwing me under the bus and got the following:

oh hahahahahaha man I am good at throwing people under the bus while emailing hahahaha

oh my goodness Jake!!! That old man!!!!! Mike is going to be old too!!!! what is this??? (this is a reply to me regarding his crypt keeper comment. i told him that he was creeping up on Dad and I and that Jake and Mike were having bdays too)

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I need your positivity! I have been struggling with both our areas the YSA and the family ward. Investigators are being dropped and no new ones are being found. I know the Lord is preparing people in Carbon Canyon  but I don't know where they are and it drives me crazy!! 

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Seeing those wedding pictures just makes me so happy!!! Looks like just an incredible day! (referring to his brothers wedding photos!  which I only sent one previous to this and he was like, there must be more! send them all - I want to see)

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!
----------------------------------------
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

--
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


--
Elder Jorvik Ty Harris
Rancho Cucamonga, California