I miss Suz.
BUT, lots of great experiences this week, ups and downs and some tears, but that's just how the mission goes! That is the wonderful thing about a mission- best Real Life Prep EVER. As Elder Holland would say, "This is the realest life you are ever going to get."
For starters, a miracle to share- I have FINALLY received the package that mom sent me when I was in the CCM. Merry Christmas to ME, I honestly don't know if I was more excited about the post it notes or my favorite pens, yeah I am SO weird. But it was wonderful, smooshed, and full of love and drawings from little girls, a beautiful moment.
One of our investigators, Benjamin, was having some trouble with his prayers. He would pray when we asked him to in the lessons, but other than that, no. I invited him to make a goal to pray every night before going to bed, and to make it more of a conversation with a loving parent than the general idea of what is a "prayer." He told us that he wanted to, but that he didn't think he would be able to remember at night when he is tired and just wants to go to bed. So I told him that, if he wanted, we would call him at 10:00 every night for the next two weeks to remind him, until it is a habit.
THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY. Silly excuses don't work with Hermana Harkins. We have been calling him every night since Thursday :) Woooohooooo!
My fellow Hermanas in the pension have started addressing me as "gringa linda." Which I am ok with. "Rubia" is also very common between the four of us. I just love love.
Ok, an absolutely hilarious and slightly blush worthy story- this Tuesday, we were on splits with the Hermana Leaders. When this happens, it is basically an evaluation of how well we are working in our sector and our personal and companionship progression. It is a tad important. So we are all splits and go to visit Alex and Fransisco, to teach the law of chastity. I know, cringe, right? I wasn't expecting there to be any problems- in the first, blunt lesson, they both asked the church's stand on being a virgin before marriage, if we think that is good or bad, because they both have this crazy opinion that that is something you should save for marriage.
I know. They're golden.
So I wasn't expecting difficulties. And the lesson was going great when Alex said "I have one question." He is the more blunt and crazy of the two, so I was bracing myself, but I couldn't have possibly, adequately prepared myself for his question. "So, do you believe that you can do this for enjoyment, or is it just, "Ok, lets go procreate"?" For real. That happened. Vamos procrear. I couldn't handle it. And with the Hermana Leader and all. I mean, WOW! Adventura cada dia!
Another lovely heart lifting story- we stopped by Francisco's house on Saturday, didn't have an appointment just felt we should stop by and say hi maybe share a scripture, and it turns out that he was having a hard time, just lots of little things that built up to an all out, classic bad day. So we sat and listened to all of his little stories and reasons as to the suckiness, shared a scripture, simple stuff. But he told us afterward that he truly felt better after our visit, that he had prayed for something good and happy to happen, and 20 minutes later, we are at his door. Just one of those things that reminds you why you are here doing what you dooooo.
All in all, the week was good and uneventful (except for the vamos procrear moment)...and then, Friday night came, and along with that, one of those experiences that can make you or break you as a newbie missionary like me.
Alex called to tell us that he doesn't want to be baptized on December 22nd.
He told us that he still wants to be baptized, still wants to take the lessons (sounds like a breakup, right? bleh), but that he just doesn't feel ready to stop smoking right now.
Ouch...my heart.
I know that this probably happens a lot, but it was the first time for me. And when you teach someone about the gospel and see spiritual change in them and they are excited to learn more and invite you into their home and you invest so much TIME into studying for them, pondering how to teach lessons and scriptures and find answers to their questions and have true happiness is guiding them to Christ, and one day Hermana Velazquez and I walked down an especially messy street to find an unbent cigarette box and we decorated it with pictures of Jesus and wrote scriptures for overcoming addiction and comfort and rolled them up to fit perfectly and when he is tempted to go for OUR cigarette box, not his box of camels, and you acquire a small portion of Gods love for them, you truly come to LOVE them, when you do all this and it doesn't...work...
Ouch...my heart.
I had a little cry fest that night in the middle of daily planning. Thank goodness for Hermana Velazquez, I truly adore my companion, she was so sweet and understanding and tender in comforting me to know that there was nothing more we could do for him; that at some point, he would have to put in some real physical effort on his part to stop smoking, to do this ONE LAST THING to make himself worthy to be baptized, and he is not ready. Now.
That is the beautiful thing, the ray of light in this sad story- he truly wants to be clean. He wants to be baptized, and he knows the church is true. We haven't lost him, he just isn't progressing as smoothly as we would have liked him to. But patience is a Christ like attribute, and I am here to become more Christ like.
Another nice story...as we were leaving the lesson with Alex after finding out his news, so Saturday, Hermana Velazquez told me that my Spanish is perfect when I am testifying and inviting people to do something- to pray, to repent, to read the Book of Mormon, any of these things. In the lesson with Alex, we were gentle but direct, and I invited him to put in a little more effort. That we want to help him, we will do whatever we can to help him, but we need his help in this as well. And Hermana Velazquez told me that the spirit was strongest in that moment. Thank you, gift of tongues, appreciate the help :)
Aaaaaand I spoke in church on Sunday.
WHAT?! Ashlynne spoke in Sacrament meeting for 15 minutes in Spanish?! Without her companion there to help her in times of need? Whaaaat?
Yeah, that happened :) Bishop Calderon asked us to talk about the mission work (that's bad grammar, but I can't remember how to translate la obra misional into English) I talked about The Book of Mormon (because I can actually talk about that for 15 minutes) and how we can better study and apply it in our lives. It is my favorite thing to talk about right now. Also, this morning I finished reading it in Spanish for the first time! The first of many :)
Well, I am signing off for today. thank you all for your love and excitement for my little stories, this really is the best experience of my life, and I love sharing it with as many people as I can. One favor...please pray for Alex and Fransisco this week. Fransisco is really nervous about his baptism on Sunday, and Alex just needs strength right now. Por favor? A Christmas present for Hermana Harkins, your prayers for my investigators? I would really appreciate it :)
Stay rad, be bold, love y'all :)
Hermana Harkins
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
I was offered cherries 6 times this week in the houses of members and investigators and every time I internally thanked Camilla Starks for inspiring me to be a big girl and JUST EAT THEM
So thank you, Camilla :)
I have come to the conclusion that these posts do not need organization...that it is ok to just blurt out all the random little stories and experiences from the week in no particular order and it will be ok. Hope y'all are ok with that :) (that y'all was for Steve, btdubs)
This Tuesday we had a Zone Conference with three different zones in the mission, for meetings and training and such. I was able share my testimony once again through singing with a group of five other Hermanas- I know that my Redeemer Lives. And in English! It was wonderful! And the conference was great, lots of good advice and ideas for reactivating members. We also talked a little bit about the Christmas meeting we are going to have on the 19th as a whole mission, and one of the things we are going to do is give a gift to Christ, similar to the stocking that we have in our house for Christ, where you write something you want to give Christ and put it in the stocking and then read it the next year. Ya see, that's why we need a mission president and his WIFE, because they are the ones that think of this cuteness for us homesick missionaries!
Every Thursday we have a three hour planning session for the whole week, and one part of it is that you talk, as a companionship, about the things you like about your comp and things, if any, that you would like to work on or change. I have noticed a trend in my two months now in the field...always in this part of the planning, my comp starts out with "Hermana Harkins, you're crazy...but its a good crazy...like, you just want to talk to everyone about how much you love the church."
:) yup! that's pretty much 100% ACCURATE.
By now, you all know about our two golden investigators, Alex and Francisco. They are still going strong, I will talk about them in a bit. But I wanted to share another experience about Francisco; this week, we contacted his younger brother. We know his house, but always teach at Alex's house, so we don't know Francisco's family. We were walking to another appointment and saw his brother leaning against the gate, texting. (What? What's texting? I don't remember...) They look JUST so much alike. So we talked to him, gave him a pass along, and he brought up that his brother is taking the discussions from two Hermanas. So we laughed about that and said yes, that's us, and does he talk about the gospel or the Book of Mormon at all with his family. He said a little, but that the most noticeable change has taken place in Francisco- he said that in the past three weeks, his brother has become happier and more outgoing- "A brand new Francisco" is what he said.
:) YAY!
We are reading the Book of Mormon straight through with an almost active again member, Hermana Violeni. She is fabulous and a little insane, I adore her. We were reading 1st Nephi 3 where Nephi kills Laban and- mind you, she has been a member for 7 years and this is the first time that she is reading the Book of Mormon- and she is gasping and adjusting her glasses and her mouth is gaping open and she is just aghast! She said "This is better than a soap opera!" I never thought I would hear that about the Book of Mormon...but what can I say? I have adventures every day. Adventura cada dia :)
Awesome experience from this week- we got to take Alex and Francisco to Santiago for a grounds tour of the temple! Just like in Salt Lake, there are sister missionaries in the east mission who are trained to give tours of the temple, and it was amazing. They were so attentive and captivated by the message. The best part was when they were sitting in a front foyer of the temple that people on tours can be in (that's a new bit of info for me, I thought it was amazing that they could be in the temple), and the spirit just hit us like a wall. As we were walking out, Francisco was especially hesitant to leave. When we asked him why, he said that he felt something so strong when he was sitting there, and didn't want to leave because he knew that it was something special about the temple.
:) YAY YAY YAY!!!!
And to close...I would like to share my testimony about fasting today. On Saturday, Hermana Velezquez and I decided to fast for our investigators, especially Alex. He is having a tough time trying to stop smoking, and we want so badly to help him, just didn't know exactly how. So, we fasted. When God says that he will pour out blessings, he doesn't say it because the words sound pretty together. He MEANS it. The blessings were literally poured out for us! We invited another one of our investigators to be baptized, we found two new people to teach, and a member offered us a ride home, simply because she saw us walking alone, at night, it was cold, and she just felt it was a good thing to do. I wish I had more time to eloquently and more accurately bear my testimony of this, but take my word for it- there is great power in fasting!
Church is true, folks. Be Bold, drink some hot chocolate with cinnamon for me, sing Baby its Cold Outside and think of Hermana Harkins in the 90 degree weather of Chile and be HAPPY with your white Christmas! Ciau!
Hermana Harkins
I have come to the conclusion that these posts do not need organization...that it is ok to just blurt out all the random little stories and experiences from the week in no particular order and it will be ok. Hope y'all are ok with that :) (that y'all was for Steve, btdubs)
This Tuesday we had a Zone Conference with three different zones in the mission, for meetings and training and such. I was able share my testimony once again through singing with a group of five other Hermanas- I know that my Redeemer Lives. And in English! It was wonderful! And the conference was great, lots of good advice and ideas for reactivating members. We also talked a little bit about the Christmas meeting we are going to have on the 19th as a whole mission, and one of the things we are going to do is give a gift to Christ, similar to the stocking that we have in our house for Christ, where you write something you want to give Christ and put it in the stocking and then read it the next year. Ya see, that's why we need a mission president and his WIFE, because they are the ones that think of this cuteness for us homesick missionaries!
Every Thursday we have a three hour planning session for the whole week, and one part of it is that you talk, as a companionship, about the things you like about your comp and things, if any, that you would like to work on or change. I have noticed a trend in my two months now in the field...always in this part of the planning, my comp starts out with "Hermana Harkins, you're crazy...but its a good crazy...like, you just want to talk to everyone about how much you love the church."
:) yup! that's pretty much 100% ACCURATE.
By now, you all know about our two golden investigators, Alex and Francisco. They are still going strong, I will talk about them in a bit. But I wanted to share another experience about Francisco; this week, we contacted his younger brother. We know his house, but always teach at Alex's house, so we don't know Francisco's family. We were walking to another appointment and saw his brother leaning against the gate, texting. (What? What's texting? I don't remember...) They look JUST so much alike. So we talked to him, gave him a pass along, and he brought up that his brother is taking the discussions from two Hermanas. So we laughed about that and said yes, that's us, and does he talk about the gospel or the Book of Mormon at all with his family. He said a little, but that the most noticeable change has taken place in Francisco- he said that in the past three weeks, his brother has become happier and more outgoing- "A brand new Francisco" is what he said.
:) YAY!
We are reading the Book of Mormon straight through with an almost active again member, Hermana Violeni. She is fabulous and a little insane, I adore her. We were reading 1st Nephi 3 where Nephi kills Laban and- mind you, she has been a member for 7 years and this is the first time that she is reading the Book of Mormon- and she is gasping and adjusting her glasses and her mouth is gaping open and she is just aghast! She said "This is better than a soap opera!" I never thought I would hear that about the Book of Mormon...but what can I say? I have adventures every day. Adventura cada dia :)
Awesome experience from this week- we got to take Alex and Francisco to Santiago for a grounds tour of the temple! Just like in Salt Lake, there are sister missionaries in the east mission who are trained to give tours of the temple, and it was amazing. They were so attentive and captivated by the message. The best part was when they were sitting in a front foyer of the temple that people on tours can be in (that's a new bit of info for me, I thought it was amazing that they could be in the temple), and the spirit just hit us like a wall. As we were walking out, Francisco was especially hesitant to leave. When we asked him why, he said that he felt something so strong when he was sitting there, and didn't want to leave because he knew that it was something special about the temple.
:) YAY YAY YAY!!!!
And to close...I would like to share my testimony about fasting today. On Saturday, Hermana Velezquez and I decided to fast for our investigators, especially Alex. He is having a tough time trying to stop smoking, and we want so badly to help him, just didn't know exactly how. So, we fasted. When God says that he will pour out blessings, he doesn't say it because the words sound pretty together. He MEANS it. The blessings were literally poured out for us! We invited another one of our investigators to be baptized, we found two new people to teach, and a member offered us a ride home, simply because she saw us walking alone, at night, it was cold, and she just felt it was a good thing to do. I wish I had more time to eloquently and more accurately bear my testimony of this, but take my word for it- there is great power in fasting!
Church is true, folks. Be Bold, drink some hot chocolate with cinnamon for me, sing Baby its Cold Outside and think of Hermana Harkins in the 90 degree weather of Chile and be HAPPY with your white Christmas! Ciau!
Hermana Harkins
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Bienvenido a Chile, Diciembre!
Guys. It is SO HOT.
But the work is progressing beautifully here in beautiful Chile! For this week, I don't have any huge stories, just lots of little experiences that I want to share.
We invited Alejandro, the spouse of a member in the ward, to be baptized on January 2nd and he accepted! THREE investigators with baptismal dates! It is so beautiful!
Alexander and Francisco, our golden investigators, are quickly progressing and are excited for their baptismal date, which is in 20 days. WHAAAAAAT. This week, they came to a ward activity and to all three hours of church on Sunday. When we asked them afterward how they felt in the chapel, and especially during the sacrament, they both answered with "peace." They also commented on how they liked how organized our church is. They also told us that they have a goal to finish reading the B.O.M. before they get baptized, because they feel it will make them more ready. Francisco told us when we were giving a tour of the church building that since the first lesson, he has felt that this is right, and that he wants to be a part of it. Then yesterday, he asked how long after baptism someone has to wait to be able to serve a mission. He said that he wants to do what we do, and share his happiness of the gospel with others, like we share our happiness and testimony.
I really did not stop smiling for about an hour after he said that. That's probably the number one thing a missionary could hear from her investigator. What a gem!
Another great experience with a chapel tour- we have an investigator, Pedro, who was completely convinced that he has no faith. We have been working with him, little by little, and this last week, Hna. V had the idea to invite him to the chapel, to feel the spirit of the building. It was truly amazing! The spirit was just TANGIBLE, and every couple of minutes he shared his feelings with us, of being overwhelmed by this feeling of love. We ended at the baptismal font, and invited him to be baptized. No specific date, just if he feels that this is the Lord's church, will he be baptized. And he said YES.
The church is true, the holy ghost is real.
I had a delightful plan to have McDonald's for dinner on Thanksgiving, but ran out of money making copies of papers for ward council meetings. My comp was sweet enough to buy me some ice cream, but it just wasn't the same. BUT! A beautiful tender mercy! The family we had lunch with on Friday heard that it was El Dia de Gracia this Thursday, and knowing that the North American Hermana would be coming over, they made turkey, mashed potatoes and corn for lunch. A Thanksgiving lunch Chile style. It was so sweet and delicious :)
And it is officially Christmas time, which means...neeewww traditions for Hermana Harkins! Everyone knows that Christmas is my favorite time of year, and that this year, it's necessary for me to take the lead, make some new traditions, and spread some Christmas cheer Ashlynne Rose Harkins style! We have a little tree that we will be decorating tonight, we are doing a secret Santa gift exchange between the four of us in the pension, I wear my Filthy Animal shirt to bed because that is obviously necessary, and most importantly, I have my little white nativity scene set up on my desk. And Christmas music playing every morning when we get ready. Still waiting the Christmas feelings to really kick in, but we will get there!
As I was sitting in sacrament yesterday, watching the priests break the bread for the Sacrament, I noticed that one was singing the hymn and one was not. And it got me thinking...I LOVE that he was singing! I think that, more than anyone else, it is so important for those two priests to be feeling the spirit in that moment than anyone else. What an honor it is for them, to prepare the sacrament for everyone in the ward to renew their baptismal covenants and start a new. They NEED to feel the spirit, and it is so easy to feel it when we are singing the hymns. It made me happy that he was putting in the effort, being a good example.
Side note, LOVE my ward. They are delightful and I feel truly that I am a member of this ward family. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!
Today in the zone activity, our zone leaders paid for mine and Hna. Vs lunch, because we have more investigators progressing and with baptismal dates than any other companionship in the zone. Not that its a competition, but I got a free strawberry salad today. Blessings, people. Blessings.
Yesterday after church, Hna Violeni, an inactive member that we are working on getting back to church, told us that she needed our service to help decorate her house for Christmas, all six of us missionaries. More of a service from her to us! She had Christmas hymns playing, Chilean Christmas spice bread, and let us all decorate her tree together. She knows; she knows we are all dying for home and for Christmas. So she let us come and have some of those homey feelings together, disguised as "I need some help, can you come and do some service at my house this afternoon?" That's how you know they love you :)
And the last story, a funny one for the road! Hna. V and I were walking down the sidewalk one afternoon, and she was complaining about a huge zit she had acquired on her cheek that morning. The woes of a sister missionary. I was assuring her that it isn't important, that she is still lovely and beautiful. Right as I was saying this, a man rode by on his bike and called out, "Ustedes es bonita!" "You two are beautiful!" We get hit on in this manner a substantial amount, but the timing was beautiful and we were laughing for a good 10 minutes.
That's it for this week; know that I am happy, every day I am noticing blessings and tender mercies in my life, and there is nothing that I would rather do right now than be here, in Chile, as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love who I am, and I want to share my happiness with everyone! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! Stay Bold, y'all :)
Hermana Harkins
But the work is progressing beautifully here in beautiful Chile! For this week, I don't have any huge stories, just lots of little experiences that I want to share.
We invited Alejandro, the spouse of a member in the ward, to be baptized on January 2nd and he accepted! THREE investigators with baptismal dates! It is so beautiful!
Alexander and Francisco, our golden investigators, are quickly progressing and are excited for their baptismal date, which is in 20 days. WHAAAAAAT. This week, they came to a ward activity and to all three hours of church on Sunday. When we asked them afterward how they felt in the chapel, and especially during the sacrament, they both answered with "peace." They also commented on how they liked how organized our church is. They also told us that they have a goal to finish reading the B.O.M. before they get baptized, because they feel it will make them more ready. Francisco told us when we were giving a tour of the church building that since the first lesson, he has felt that this is right, and that he wants to be a part of it. Then yesterday, he asked how long after baptism someone has to wait to be able to serve a mission. He said that he wants to do what we do, and share his happiness of the gospel with others, like we share our happiness and testimony.
I really did not stop smiling for about an hour after he said that. That's probably the number one thing a missionary could hear from her investigator. What a gem!
Another great experience with a chapel tour- we have an investigator, Pedro, who was completely convinced that he has no faith. We have been working with him, little by little, and this last week, Hna. V had the idea to invite him to the chapel, to feel the spirit of the building. It was truly amazing! The spirit was just TANGIBLE, and every couple of minutes he shared his feelings with us, of being overwhelmed by this feeling of love. We ended at the baptismal font, and invited him to be baptized. No specific date, just if he feels that this is the Lord's church, will he be baptized. And he said YES.
The church is true, the holy ghost is real.
I had a delightful plan to have McDonald's for dinner on Thanksgiving, but ran out of money making copies of papers for ward council meetings. My comp was sweet enough to buy me some ice cream, but it just wasn't the same. BUT! A beautiful tender mercy! The family we had lunch with on Friday heard that it was El Dia de Gracia this Thursday, and knowing that the North American Hermana would be coming over, they made turkey, mashed potatoes and corn for lunch. A Thanksgiving lunch Chile style. It was so sweet and delicious :)
And it is officially Christmas time, which means...neeewww traditions for Hermana Harkins! Everyone knows that Christmas is my favorite time of year, and that this year, it's necessary for me to take the lead, make some new traditions, and spread some Christmas cheer Ashlynne Rose Harkins style! We have a little tree that we will be decorating tonight, we are doing a secret Santa gift exchange between the four of us in the pension, I wear my Filthy Animal shirt to bed because that is obviously necessary, and most importantly, I have my little white nativity scene set up on my desk. And Christmas music playing every morning when we get ready. Still waiting the Christmas feelings to really kick in, but we will get there!
As I was sitting in sacrament yesterday, watching the priests break the bread for the Sacrament, I noticed that one was singing the hymn and one was not. And it got me thinking...I LOVE that he was singing! I think that, more than anyone else, it is so important for those two priests to be feeling the spirit in that moment than anyone else. What an honor it is for them, to prepare the sacrament for everyone in the ward to renew their baptismal covenants and start a new. They NEED to feel the spirit, and it is so easy to feel it when we are singing the hymns. It made me happy that he was putting in the effort, being a good example.
Side note, LOVE my ward. They are delightful and I feel truly that I am a member of this ward family. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!
Today in the zone activity, our zone leaders paid for mine and Hna. Vs lunch, because we have more investigators progressing and with baptismal dates than any other companionship in the zone. Not that its a competition, but I got a free strawberry salad today. Blessings, people. Blessings.
Yesterday after church, Hna Violeni, an inactive member that we are working on getting back to church, told us that she needed our service to help decorate her house for Christmas, all six of us missionaries. More of a service from her to us! She had Christmas hymns playing, Chilean Christmas spice bread, and let us all decorate her tree together. She knows; she knows we are all dying for home and for Christmas. So she let us come and have some of those homey feelings together, disguised as "I need some help, can you come and do some service at my house this afternoon?" That's how you know they love you :)
And the last story, a funny one for the road! Hna. V and I were walking down the sidewalk one afternoon, and she was complaining about a huge zit she had acquired on her cheek that morning. The woes of a sister missionary. I was assuring her that it isn't important, that she is still lovely and beautiful. Right as I was saying this, a man rode by on his bike and called out, "Ustedes es bonita!" "You two are beautiful!" We get hit on in this manner a substantial amount, but the timing was beautiful and we were laughing for a good 10 minutes.
That's it for this week; know that I am happy, every day I am noticing blessings and tender mercies in my life, and there is nothing that I would rather do right now than be here, in Chile, as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love who I am, and I want to share my happiness with everyone! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! Stay Bold, y'all :)
Hermana Harkins
Monday, November 25, 2013
Buenos Dias de Chile y este FABULOSA MISIONERA!
I know, I'm so humble...Anyways, fun Chile fact, little fruit about the size of a grape grows on tons of the trees, in all sorts of different flavors, and when your AWESOME NEW COMP knows which ones are safe and delicious, you can pick them off and have a little snack as you walk. The best ones are the color of a Fuji apple and are super sweet. I just adore Chile!
So yeah. This week. IT ROCKED. Seriously, I had been so nervous for my first companion change in the field and about adjusting to a whole new person and would she be kind or would she be lazy and all sorts of things that could be wrong or difficult with a companion...but Hermana Velazquez is AMAZING! We have all sorts of things in common (like how every week, we have a goal to be more Christ like and we pick one attribute from Chap.6 in PMG to focus on), we are both crazy about contacting (it is so fun to me!), and in this last week, I have worked harder than I have in my whole mission. Which is only 7 weeks of proselyting, but STILL, it has been amazing! Get this- in these last six days, we have gotten four new investigators, five of our investigators are now progressing, and we have TWO with a set baptismal date! And those two we contacted on Wednesday! That is the story I want to share first- the story of Alexander and Fransisco.
We were contacting in the street, which usually isn't extremely effective, but you feel good afterward because you are leaving little impressions on their heart, and eventually some missionary will be super happy because they made an appointment with a street contact. Well, we were walking down the sidewalk and past these two guys sitting on the ground talking. After a moment, I realized they were talking in English.
Whaaaaaat. Backtrack. Contact. Appointment made (!). But I didn't get my hopes up, these kind of things usually don't have success...the address doesn't exist or they aren't there or any other silly reason. But we got to Alexander's house on Friday and they were totally ready with juice and cookies and all! It was a very unique experience, because we went in ready to teach them Lesson One about The Restoration, but they had LOTS of questions. They had done a little research on the Internet (ugh) and had lots of facts that were just a little tweaked and needed a little straightening. Seriously though, with all these questions, we found out that we had two golden investigators sitting before us. They asked about smoking, drinking, chastity, personal revelation, and tithing. Tithing! And after each question they expressed how they had corresponding opinions with all of our commandments. I mean..really...two 25 year old boys. And they speak English. And they were ready for our visit. We also had my Marisole with us as our MAC (because its always better to have a member present and we needed one more girl), and when it came time to teach the lesson, it just flowed. It wasn't a lesson, it was a conversation, and that's how you know that you are doing it right.
When it came time to invite them to read the Book of Mormon, their answer was "Well, obviously we want to read it!" WHAT!!!!
In the next visit, which was the next DAY because they were so excited to hear more, was when the real magic happened. We taught them about The Plan of Salvation, which for some reason makes me nervous, I dunno, it is a big concept and especially in Spanish is difficult. But they were so excited for it, especially Francisco- he had lots of questions about life after death, and this lesson answers it all! In the middle of the lesson, in the part about the Atonement...I just, I don't know how to explain it, I was speaking and using words that I didn't know the definition of, but somehow, in that moment, it was all making sense...I can say that I truly have been an instrument in the Lords hands, that he was about to use me to connect with these two boys, and they were able to feel his spirit. That is what I am HERE for! It was amazing!
Also, they are both getting baptized on the 22nd of December :)
WWWWHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Yeah, so that's that story :)
A beautifully hilarious story from this week- the six of us missionaries in the ward were looking for people to give chapel tours to on Saturday, something we try and do to get investigators and people coming to church to see what we are all about. Hermana Velazquez and I ended up talking to this, just, crazy individual for 20 minutes. She was full of animation and opinions about how very bad we Mormons are, and at one point, she held her arms up toward the chapel and said, in reference to our beliefs and what she doesn't like, "Todos estes cosas!" "All those things!" And the first thing I thought of was the video of Emmy in the car talking about Politics. (Mom, have Dad post that video on the blog with this email. The world deserves to see it.) I was biting my lip so hard to keep from laughing! Even with no success, it is possible to be happy and have a good time trying to spread the gospel.
We had a meeting with our Bishop this week to get references of people to visit, inactive members and potential investigators. I couldn't help but think about the first time I had a meeting with him, with Hna. Ortiz. I understood absolutely nothing! I remember feeling so overwhelmed and honestly a little useless. It's honestly amazing to me that not only could I understand what was being said, but I was contributing to the conversation, telling him about members we visit and what I have found that they needed in my time with Hna. Ortiz. I still have a ways to go with the language, but I am seeing my accomplishments and they give me strength to keep going, to keep trying, to keep being a missionary!
And this week, I felt like a true MISSIONARY. I worked hard, I talked to so many people, and I was BOLD and invited people to come unto Christ, through the book of Mormon, through attending church, through baptism, through repentance...I did real missionary work this week. We are going going going all day and I LOVE IT. It is what I am here to do! I am so happy today with the work that we have done, and am anxious to get back out there and continue this work and continue to bring others to Christ, to be an instrument in the hands of God. This church is true, I know it with all of my heart. I am a missionary, and I am happy! Stay Bold, everyone!
Con Amor,
Hermana Harkins
So yeah. This week. IT ROCKED. Seriously, I had been so nervous for my first companion change in the field and about adjusting to a whole new person and would she be kind or would she be lazy and all sorts of things that could be wrong or difficult with a companion...but Hermana Velazquez is AMAZING! We have all sorts of things in common (like how every week, we have a goal to be more Christ like and we pick one attribute from Chap.6 in PMG to focus on), we are both crazy about contacting (it is so fun to me!), and in this last week, I have worked harder than I have in my whole mission. Which is only 7 weeks of proselyting, but STILL, it has been amazing! Get this- in these last six days, we have gotten four new investigators, five of our investigators are now progressing, and we have TWO with a set baptismal date! And those two we contacted on Wednesday! That is the story I want to share first- the story of Alexander and Fransisco.
We were contacting in the street, which usually isn't extremely effective, but you feel good afterward because you are leaving little impressions on their heart, and eventually some missionary will be super happy because they made an appointment with a street contact. Well, we were walking down the sidewalk and past these two guys sitting on the ground talking. After a moment, I realized they were talking in English.
Whaaaaaat. Backtrack. Contact. Appointment made (!). But I didn't get my hopes up, these kind of things usually don't have success...the address doesn't exist or they aren't there or any other silly reason. But we got to Alexander's house on Friday and they were totally ready with juice and cookies and all! It was a very unique experience, because we went in ready to teach them Lesson One about The Restoration, but they had LOTS of questions. They had done a little research on the Internet (ugh) and had lots of facts that were just a little tweaked and needed a little straightening. Seriously though, with all these questions, we found out that we had two golden investigators sitting before us. They asked about smoking, drinking, chastity, personal revelation, and tithing. Tithing! And after each question they expressed how they had corresponding opinions with all of our commandments. I mean..really...two 25 year old boys. And they speak English. And they were ready for our visit. We also had my Marisole with us as our MAC (because its always better to have a member present and we needed one more girl), and when it came time to teach the lesson, it just flowed. It wasn't a lesson, it was a conversation, and that's how you know that you are doing it right.
When it came time to invite them to read the Book of Mormon, their answer was "Well, obviously we want to read it!" WHAT!!!!
In the next visit, which was the next DAY because they were so excited to hear more, was when the real magic happened. We taught them about The Plan of Salvation, which for some reason makes me nervous, I dunno, it is a big concept and especially in Spanish is difficult. But they were so excited for it, especially Francisco- he had lots of questions about life after death, and this lesson answers it all! In the middle of the lesson, in the part about the Atonement...I just, I don't know how to explain it, I was speaking and using words that I didn't know the definition of, but somehow, in that moment, it was all making sense...I can say that I truly have been an instrument in the Lords hands, that he was about to use me to connect with these two boys, and they were able to feel his spirit. That is what I am HERE for! It was amazing!
Also, they are both getting baptized on the 22nd of December :)
WWWWHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Yeah, so that's that story :)
A beautifully hilarious story from this week- the six of us missionaries in the ward were looking for people to give chapel tours to on Saturday, something we try and do to get investigators and people coming to church to see what we are all about. Hermana Velazquez and I ended up talking to this, just, crazy individual for 20 minutes. She was full of animation and opinions about how very bad we Mormons are, and at one point, she held her arms up toward the chapel and said, in reference to our beliefs and what she doesn't like, "Todos estes cosas!" "All those things!" And the first thing I thought of was the video of Emmy in the car talking about Politics. (Mom, have Dad post that video on the blog with this email. The world deserves to see it.) I was biting my lip so hard to keep from laughing! Even with no success, it is possible to be happy and have a good time trying to spread the gospel.
We had a meeting with our Bishop this week to get references of people to visit, inactive members and potential investigators. I couldn't help but think about the first time I had a meeting with him, with Hna. Ortiz. I understood absolutely nothing! I remember feeling so overwhelmed and honestly a little useless. It's honestly amazing to me that not only could I understand what was being said, but I was contributing to the conversation, telling him about members we visit and what I have found that they needed in my time with Hna. Ortiz. I still have a ways to go with the language, but I am seeing my accomplishments and they give me strength to keep going, to keep trying, to keep being a missionary!
And this week, I felt like a true MISSIONARY. I worked hard, I talked to so many people, and I was BOLD and invited people to come unto Christ, through the book of Mormon, through attending church, through baptism, through repentance...I did real missionary work this week. We are going going going all day and I LOVE IT. It is what I am here to do! I am so happy today with the work that we have done, and am anxious to get back out there and continue this work and continue to bring others to Christ, to be an instrument in the hands of God. This church is true, I know it with all of my heart. I am a missionary, and I am happy! Stay Bold, everyone!
Con Amor,
Hermana Harkins
Monday, November 18, 2013
I cannot feel my little toes, and that is progress!
I have a ridiculous amount of things that I want to share this week! I hope I have enough time! Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. Ha. I am a NERD and I miss musicals, so I incorporate them into emails and everyday conversations. Woohoo!
SO Tuesday was the big day! The Jeffery R Holland conference! Oh my GOODNESS it was seriously amazing. We woke up at 5:00 and left at 6:00 so that we could have good seats close up, and we were sitting in the first few rows of the overflow, which turned out to be great because there were people in classrooms and sitting in the hallways. It was so fun seeing all my friends from the CCM who are in other missions, and because we were there three hours prior to, we had lots of time to chat and catch up.
And Elder Holland gave an amazing address. We decided on the train ride afterward that it was like all of his best talks all wrapped up into one, when it comes to missionary work. The very first thing he said was "I am so pumped up. I am ready to roll. You are all lucky I'm on bouncing off the walls and ripping up the curtains." That's how you know its going to be good :) He said tons of great things, but for times sake, I am only going to share my favorite. He told us to stop wondering why missions are hard, why LIFE is hard. This is our eternal progression, this life is our proving ground to the Lord, and it was not meant to be easy. It was meant to be worth it! He also said that the road to Salvation always goes through Gethsemane, and we will all have to spend some time there getting to know Christ, and THAT is when we change. In those times, we grow and improve and become better. But it can only happen in Gethsemane. I just LOVE HIM.
I got told 3 times this week that I look French, and in one instance, a man just started talking to me in French, assuming I was from France. I was SO confused. It was like...ok, I must be really sucking at Spanish, because that doesn't even sound FAMILIAR. French with a Chilean accent...yeah. Adventura todo dia.
On Wednesday, Hermana Ortiz told me that I was in charge of the phone for the day. Which really intimidates me, I don't know why when I walk up to people I don't know to talk about Jesus, but the phone just scared me. But I did it! In that moment it was truly significant, to be able to call someone and ask them questions and understand immediately, with the bad connection and all, was really great!
One evening, I looked at my bare feet and the first thing I thought of was a paint sampler, with the progressing, darkening gradients.
On Thursday, Hermana Ortiz lost her plaque, which is debatably the most important thing to a missionary, so we were a tad distressed. We knew it was in the house, but literally had torn apart our room and it was no where to be found. We started searching the bedroom when I had the thought to pray. I felt a little silly suggesting we kneel down and ask God to reveal to us the hiding place of the rascally name tag, but I did. It was a simple prayer, but it did the trick. As soon as I stood up, I looked to my left, and it was sitting there on the bookshelf. And the first thing I thought of was Emmy Creason, and that made me heart so happy!
Hermana Ortiz and I splurged a bit and bought strawberries in the fair this week. I was floored when the lady told me they were 700 pesos, $1.40 in American money. The bag was bulging, I had the same amount as a large box from Costco. I love Chile. I have had strawberries for breakfast every morning since. That makes for a happy missionary.
This week, I had 2 instances where I noticed how my Spanish has improved, and I felt so fabulous after both of them. The first was when we were visiting an inactive member. She was confiding in us about her worries of how the world is such a dangerous place. I simply shared a scripture and told her to focus on her own progression in this life and to put her trust in God, and in the moment, it wasn't huge. But I was thinking about it the next morning, and that is something that I have been saying that I want in my mission, just to help comfort people. That when that happens, that's when I know I'm doing my job. When I can understand what people are saying and respond immediately, then that's how I know I'm doing well. And it happened so naturally that I didn't even notice it until the next day when I found a scripture to share with her. The second time was when I was testifying of the Book of Mormon, and I was getting really bold and into it, and when I was finished I just said "yeah po, yo hablo en español!" And we all laughed and they said they would read it! I KNOW that the Lord is with me, helping me progress, and it is little things like that that make me happy, when I see my progress and know that it was with Him that it was made possible.
Another great experience from this week. We have a family that we visit often who is inactive, and this week the husband was feeling very sick. When we called to ask if we could visit he told us as much, and we asked if he wanted a blessing. He said yes, we set it up with the Elders, and it turned out to be just what we needed. It was one of those blessings that came at just the right time...I am tripping over myself in my thoughts right now, I wish I knew how to describe it, but he received more than just a blessing of health. I have such a testimony of the power of the priesthood. I know that it is the power of God, and I am so blessed to have so many worthy priesthood holders in my life, and especially in my mission. This brother was so touched by the blessing, and the spirit was so evident in that moment. He said the closing prayer after our message, and he was choked up during it and thanked God for the Elders who administered to him. Also, they came to church on Sunday. AAH I JUST LOVE THE GOSPEL AND IT IS SO TRUE!
And last but not least...I have a new companion! I know, crazy! Usually. you have the same comp for two changes when your a greenie so that you can finish your training and become acquainted with your area before changing or introducing another missionary to it. But Hermana Ortiz was transferred and I have a new comp! Her name is Hermana Valasquez, she is from Argentina, she is 21 years old, and I met her 2.5 hours ago! AND I am the only missionary that knows this area because it was a white wash when Hermana Ortiz and I got here.
SO! Adventura! I am SO excited to take on this responsibility. I will admit that at first I was a little freaked out, a little intimidated. I am still just a baby missionary, but I am leading the area and teaching my comp about white washes and our investigators?! What is this?! But still, I have a lot of excitement. I know that President trusts me in this, that the Lord trusts me in this, and that I CAN DO THIS! SI SE PEUDO!
I just need to have love and faith (thank you Katie Miller) and Be bold, as always :) Thank you all for your love and support, te amo con mi todo corozone!
Hermana Harkins
SO Tuesday was the big day! The Jeffery R Holland conference! Oh my GOODNESS it was seriously amazing. We woke up at 5:00 and left at 6:00 so that we could have good seats close up, and we were sitting in the first few rows of the overflow, which turned out to be great because there were people in classrooms and sitting in the hallways. It was so fun seeing all my friends from the CCM who are in other missions, and because we were there three hours prior to, we had lots of time to chat and catch up.
And Elder Holland gave an amazing address. We decided on the train ride afterward that it was like all of his best talks all wrapped up into one, when it comes to missionary work. The very first thing he said was "I am so pumped up. I am ready to roll. You are all lucky I'm on bouncing off the walls and ripping up the curtains." That's how you know its going to be good :) He said tons of great things, but for times sake, I am only going to share my favorite. He told us to stop wondering why missions are hard, why LIFE is hard. This is our eternal progression, this life is our proving ground to the Lord, and it was not meant to be easy. It was meant to be worth it! He also said that the road to Salvation always goes through Gethsemane, and we will all have to spend some time there getting to know Christ, and THAT is when we change. In those times, we grow and improve and become better. But it can only happen in Gethsemane. I just LOVE HIM.
I got told 3 times this week that I look French, and in one instance, a man just started talking to me in French, assuming I was from France. I was SO confused. It was like...ok, I must be really sucking at Spanish, because that doesn't even sound FAMILIAR. French with a Chilean accent...yeah. Adventura todo dia.
On Wednesday, Hermana Ortiz told me that I was in charge of the phone for the day. Which really intimidates me, I don't know why when I walk up to people I don't know to talk about Jesus, but the phone just scared me. But I did it! In that moment it was truly significant, to be able to call someone and ask them questions and understand immediately, with the bad connection and all, was really great!
One evening, I looked at my bare feet and the first thing I thought of was a paint sampler, with the progressing, darkening gradients.
On Thursday, Hermana Ortiz lost her plaque, which is debatably the most important thing to a missionary, so we were a tad distressed. We knew it was in the house, but literally had torn apart our room and it was no where to be found. We started searching the bedroom when I had the thought to pray. I felt a little silly suggesting we kneel down and ask God to reveal to us the hiding place of the rascally name tag, but I did. It was a simple prayer, but it did the trick. As soon as I stood up, I looked to my left, and it was sitting there on the bookshelf. And the first thing I thought of was Emmy Creason, and that made me heart so happy!
Hermana Ortiz and I splurged a bit and bought strawberries in the fair this week. I was floored when the lady told me they were 700 pesos, $1.40 in American money. The bag was bulging, I had the same amount as a large box from Costco. I love Chile. I have had strawberries for breakfast every morning since. That makes for a happy missionary.
This week, I had 2 instances where I noticed how my Spanish has improved, and I felt so fabulous after both of them. The first was when we were visiting an inactive member. She was confiding in us about her worries of how the world is such a dangerous place. I simply shared a scripture and told her to focus on her own progression in this life and to put her trust in God, and in the moment, it wasn't huge. But I was thinking about it the next morning, and that is something that I have been saying that I want in my mission, just to help comfort people. That when that happens, that's when I know I'm doing my job. When I can understand what people are saying and respond immediately, then that's how I know I'm doing well. And it happened so naturally that I didn't even notice it until the next day when I found a scripture to share with her. The second time was when I was testifying of the Book of Mormon, and I was getting really bold and into it, and when I was finished I just said "yeah po, yo hablo en español!" And we all laughed and they said they would read it! I KNOW that the Lord is with me, helping me progress, and it is little things like that that make me happy, when I see my progress and know that it was with Him that it was made possible.
Another great experience from this week. We have a family that we visit often who is inactive, and this week the husband was feeling very sick. When we called to ask if we could visit he told us as much, and we asked if he wanted a blessing. He said yes, we set it up with the Elders, and it turned out to be just what we needed. It was one of those blessings that came at just the right time...I am tripping over myself in my thoughts right now, I wish I knew how to describe it, but he received more than just a blessing of health. I have such a testimony of the power of the priesthood. I know that it is the power of God, and I am so blessed to have so many worthy priesthood holders in my life, and especially in my mission. This brother was so touched by the blessing, and the spirit was so evident in that moment. He said the closing prayer after our message, and he was choked up during it and thanked God for the Elders who administered to him. Also, they came to church on Sunday. AAH I JUST LOVE THE GOSPEL AND IT IS SO TRUE!
And last but not least...I have a new companion! I know, crazy! Usually. you have the same comp for two changes when your a greenie so that you can finish your training and become acquainted with your area before changing or introducing another missionary to it. But Hermana Ortiz was transferred and I have a new comp! Her name is Hermana Valasquez, she is from Argentina, she is 21 years old, and I met her 2.5 hours ago! AND I am the only missionary that knows this area because it was a white wash when Hermana Ortiz and I got here.
SO! Adventura! I am SO excited to take on this responsibility. I will admit that at first I was a little freaked out, a little intimidated. I am still just a baby missionary, but I am leading the area and teaching my comp about white washes and our investigators?! What is this?! But still, I have a lot of excitement. I know that President trusts me in this, that the Lord trusts me in this, and that I CAN DO THIS! SI SE PEUDO!
I just need to have love and faith (thank you Katie Miller) and Be bold, as always :) Thank you all for your love and support, te amo con mi todo corozone!
Hermana Harkins
Monday, November 11, 2013
I ate Lemon Cream Pie for breakfast this morning which obviously made my day perfect!
Fun Chile fact. There are people who, as their occupation, literally push people onto the micro, which is basically the subway. That's right, folks. I am in the China of South America. So many people! And they all need the gospel! And that's what I am here to do! Thank you bus pushers, for impressing upon me my calling :)
So this week was awesome. As per usual. I am after all a missionary ;) Nothing too big and exciting, just lots of little fun stories. Which are the best in my opinion, so here we go.
I started my week with a visit to the CCM again; Hna Ortiz had a follow-up appointment with the doctor. Afterward, we were able to talk to the missionaries who are in the CCM right now getting ready to go out. It feels surreal to think that basically a month ago, that was me! I remember when I was there and proselyting missionaries would come, and when they talked to us, I remembered thinking how cool they were, how learned and knowledgeable they seemed to me. And now, I am (apparently) that cool, learned, knowledgeable missionary! I was giving all sorts of advice and comfort to those missionaries, and it felt great.
I have said every single day, multiple times, since I have been here, that I am on an adventure. Everyone knows that Hermana Harkins' catch phrase is "adventura todo dia!" Well this Tuesday, we (being the 6 of us missionaries in our ward) were taking the bus to a member's house, and I was the last one to get off in our group. As I started getting off, the doors started closing, and I don't know how else to explain this dire situation than to say that the bus system here is terrifying haha they drive too fast and never brake when going around corners, and once the door is closed, your off. So this was scary. But I ran and jumped through the doors, barely landing on my feet, and the bus was gone before I hit the ground. Everyone was staring at me like "is she ok?" and I broke into the Indiana Jones theme song. Woohoo I am the nerd sister missionary! Adventura todo dia!
Speaking of my ward missionaries, I wanted to include how much I LOVE that we work with other missionaries so often. I really have come to have lots of little families here in my mission. My CCM families, the four of us Hermanas in our pension, my zone of crazy Elders and only us two Hermanas to keep them in line, and then the 6 of us in the Los Errazuris 3rd ward. We work with them more than anyone, and we have more little jokes and good times than any other group of missionaries, I am convinced of it. The comradery that instantly forms when you are with others serving the Lord is truly beautiful.
There is a 19 year old girl in my ward named Marisole. I LOVE Marisol! She is sweet and Christlike and always comes with us when we need a member present in our lessons. She is just permeating with love for people and for the gospel. She is the one that gave me earrings to match my birdcage necklace, and we have the same style. Which doesn't sound like much, but we instantly clicked, and she is patient with my Spanish. Truly an angel. And this week, she got her mission call! She opened it at 10:00 at night because her dad works late, so we couldn't be there (curfew for us is 10), but she called us immediately after. She is going to BRAZIL! I feel like I am sending a little sister off, we have gotten so close to her. My excitement for missionary work continues to grow, I didn't know that that was even possible!
Something great that happened this week was that I got to have an interview with my mission president. He is just the perfect example of a pres to me, so spiritual, but so fatherly and funny at the same time. I really feel like I can tell him anything, and he will have the solution. I know, that sounds simple, but it really means so much. He told me that my Spanish has improved, that he has heard wonderful things about me from my comp and my district leader, and that I am doing well. And when he said the closing prayer, he prayed for me, but also for my family, that they will be safe and will be blessed by my service. I think that sometimes as a missionary, we forget that we are not only blessing our lives, but the lives of our families and future families. His prayer was a reminder of the potential that I have to be something great for them. He prayed for me to have happiness and smiles- this has been my new goal. To smile! So simple, but really, it can mean so much to someone. Beautiful stuff, beautiful stuff.
A great spiritual experience from this week...we were teaching Gloria, our toughest investigator, simply because it seems that she is determined to stay angry and miserable with her situation in life. We have tried so many different ways to try and touch her heart, but it seems that she has worked very hard at hardening it. So we are teaching her about thanking God for our blessings. I have a hard time understanding her, because she has the classic Chilean Spanish- very fast and very grammatically incorrect. So I am trying so hard to just understand what she is saying, then suddenly she looks at me and kind of smirks then says to my comp (and this I did understand) I'm sure you cant wait to get a new companion, she's not much of a help to you."
Oooooh...ouch...of course THAT had to be the part that I understood, right? WOW that just really hurt! But I stuck it through to the end, bore my testimony to her, and after the prayer, asked to use the bathroom. And it was in the bathroom that I promptly knelt down and poured out my soul a little bit- my frustration with this sister, the helplessness I felt, and to please help me to love her. Because in that moment, I honestly felt that she was a lost cause.
When I came out of the bathroom, I saw her holding one of her grandchildren that she tends to, and I saw her happiness. And I just...I don't know how to explain it, that moment helped me to see that it is possible! She can have happiness, and we can help her have it, and we need to do it by focusing our lessons on families. It was like a light switch, and immediately MY heart was softened for her, and despite the fact that she thinks I am no help at all, I am determined to help her. The power of prayer is real, people!
Yesterday was Hermana Lyniss' birthday; she is one of the other Hermanas that lives in our pension. We had a grand time blowing up an obscene amount of balloons late Saturday night after she went to sleep, baking her a cake, and decorating our humble abode for her. It turned out that we didn't need to bake her a cake, because she got SIX from members of her ward! SIX CAKES, PEOPLE! It is crazy, we have so many tupperware containers in our fridge, there's more cake than yogurt, which is saying something for a house with 4 girls in it. I had lemon pie for breakfast this morning, which really just brings my heart so much happiness. I am coming to love holidays in the mission- you celebrate them differently, but it's still special and still a total blast! I wish I could explain it better, but I am losing my English, so we will just have to settle with that haha
Well, my friends, it is time for me to close this week's email. Alma 26:12 and Phillipeans 1:18-20. Two of my favorite scriptures. You guys...this church is so true. I know it with my whole heart! Yo se este es verdad, con mi todo corozone! Be Bold, Ser atrevido, I love you all, te amo mucho, till next week, ciau!
Hermana Harkins
So this week was awesome. As per usual. I am after all a missionary ;) Nothing too big and exciting, just lots of little fun stories. Which are the best in my opinion, so here we go.
I started my week with a visit to the CCM again; Hna Ortiz had a follow-up appointment with the doctor. Afterward, we were able to talk to the missionaries who are in the CCM right now getting ready to go out. It feels surreal to think that basically a month ago, that was me! I remember when I was there and proselyting missionaries would come, and when they talked to us, I remembered thinking how cool they were, how learned and knowledgeable they seemed to me. And now, I am (apparently) that cool, learned, knowledgeable missionary! I was giving all sorts of advice and comfort to those missionaries, and it felt great.
I have said every single day, multiple times, since I have been here, that I am on an adventure. Everyone knows that Hermana Harkins' catch phrase is "adventura todo dia!" Well this Tuesday, we (being the 6 of us missionaries in our ward) were taking the bus to a member's house, and I was the last one to get off in our group. As I started getting off, the doors started closing, and I don't know how else to explain this dire situation than to say that the bus system here is terrifying haha they drive too fast and never brake when going around corners, and once the door is closed, your off. So this was scary. But I ran and jumped through the doors, barely landing on my feet, and the bus was gone before I hit the ground. Everyone was staring at me like "is she ok?" and I broke into the Indiana Jones theme song. Woohoo I am the nerd sister missionary! Adventura todo dia!
Speaking of my ward missionaries, I wanted to include how much I LOVE that we work with other missionaries so often. I really have come to have lots of little families here in my mission. My CCM families, the four of us Hermanas in our pension, my zone of crazy Elders and only us two Hermanas to keep them in line, and then the 6 of us in the Los Errazuris 3rd ward. We work with them more than anyone, and we have more little jokes and good times than any other group of missionaries, I am convinced of it. The comradery that instantly forms when you are with others serving the Lord is truly beautiful.
There is a 19 year old girl in my ward named Marisole. I LOVE Marisol! She is sweet and Christlike and always comes with us when we need a member present in our lessons. She is just permeating with love for people and for the gospel. She is the one that gave me earrings to match my birdcage necklace, and we have the same style. Which doesn't sound like much, but we instantly clicked, and she is patient with my Spanish. Truly an angel. And this week, she got her mission call! She opened it at 10:00 at night because her dad works late, so we couldn't be there (curfew for us is 10), but she called us immediately after. She is going to BRAZIL! I feel like I am sending a little sister off, we have gotten so close to her. My excitement for missionary work continues to grow, I didn't know that that was even possible!
Something great that happened this week was that I got to have an interview with my mission president. He is just the perfect example of a pres to me, so spiritual, but so fatherly and funny at the same time. I really feel like I can tell him anything, and he will have the solution. I know, that sounds simple, but it really means so much. He told me that my Spanish has improved, that he has heard wonderful things about me from my comp and my district leader, and that I am doing well. And when he said the closing prayer, he prayed for me, but also for my family, that they will be safe and will be blessed by my service. I think that sometimes as a missionary, we forget that we are not only blessing our lives, but the lives of our families and future families. His prayer was a reminder of the potential that I have to be something great for them. He prayed for me to have happiness and smiles- this has been my new goal. To smile! So simple, but really, it can mean so much to someone. Beautiful stuff, beautiful stuff.
A great spiritual experience from this week...we were teaching Gloria, our toughest investigator, simply because it seems that she is determined to stay angry and miserable with her situation in life. We have tried so many different ways to try and touch her heart, but it seems that she has worked very hard at hardening it. So we are teaching her about thanking God for our blessings. I have a hard time understanding her, because she has the classic Chilean Spanish- very fast and very grammatically incorrect. So I am trying so hard to just understand what she is saying, then suddenly she looks at me and kind of smirks then says to my comp (and this I did understand) I'm sure you cant wait to get a new companion, she's not much of a help to you."
Oooooh...ouch...of course THAT had to be the part that I understood, right? WOW that just really hurt! But I stuck it through to the end, bore my testimony to her, and after the prayer, asked to use the bathroom. And it was in the bathroom that I promptly knelt down and poured out my soul a little bit- my frustration with this sister, the helplessness I felt, and to please help me to love her. Because in that moment, I honestly felt that she was a lost cause.
When I came out of the bathroom, I saw her holding one of her grandchildren that she tends to, and I saw her happiness. And I just...I don't know how to explain it, that moment helped me to see that it is possible! She can have happiness, and we can help her have it, and we need to do it by focusing our lessons on families. It was like a light switch, and immediately MY heart was softened for her, and despite the fact that she thinks I am no help at all, I am determined to help her. The power of prayer is real, people!
Yesterday was Hermana Lyniss' birthday; she is one of the other Hermanas that lives in our pension. We had a grand time blowing up an obscene amount of balloons late Saturday night after she went to sleep, baking her a cake, and decorating our humble abode for her. It turned out that we didn't need to bake her a cake, because she got SIX from members of her ward! SIX CAKES, PEOPLE! It is crazy, we have so many tupperware containers in our fridge, there's more cake than yogurt, which is saying something for a house with 4 girls in it. I had lemon pie for breakfast this morning, which really just brings my heart so much happiness. I am coming to love holidays in the mission- you celebrate them differently, but it's still special and still a total blast! I wish I could explain it better, but I am losing my English, so we will just have to settle with that haha
Well, my friends, it is time for me to close this week's email. Alma 26:12 and Phillipeans 1:18-20. Two of my favorite scriptures. You guys...this church is so true. I know it with my whole heart! Yo se este es verdad, con mi todo corozone! Be Bold, Ser atrevido, I love you all, te amo mucho, till next week, ciau!
Hermana Harkins
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
I have a tan line from my glasses and I dream in Spanish
Thaaaaats riiiiiiight :) I call that progress.
Fun Chile fact! At Lider, which is Wal Mart, they have a special area in the parking lot designated for taxis, and they are there for the people who walked to Lider and cannot walk home with all their groceries. Because everyone walks and few have vehicles. Crazy different stuff! I must be in Chile!
So this week. IT ROCKED.
I will start with the two great stories about two of our investigators (We have TEN!). The first is about Estephania. She is a 15 year old girl from Haiti who moved here with her family three years ago and learned Spanish solely from experience, no studying. So she speaks slowly, unlike everyone else who speaks SUPER fast, so you know what that means...I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE IS SAYING! And it is a beautiful thing because that means that I can say things BACK, and even though my Spanish is low and imperfect, she understands it! Its great!
So her dad was a street contact of the elders, and we knocked on their door, he wasn't home but she was, and invited us in to talk to her. We gave her the first lesson, and at the end invited her to read the B.O.M., pray about it, and if she receives an answer of its truth, to be baptized. And she said YES. Whoa. Talk about golden investigator! We haven't gotten to the point of setting up an actual date, but taught her the Plan of Salvation and she is planning on coming to church with us this next Sunday. I was so giddy and excited as we walked away from the first lesson, I was literally dancing in the street.
The second story is about Doris, our investigator who said that she didn't want to be crucified. We have been trying to figure out a way to teach her the restoration so that she would remember it and feel the spirit; the regular way was not working out with her. We had the idea to share a movie with her about the first vision, and at first she was just as distracted as ever, and I was starting to lose hope, that after FOUR times trying to teach her, that it just wouldn't work.
But then, it got to the part in the movie (the spirit is literally tangible for me as I type this) when Joseph is walking into the grove, and Joseph Smith's first prayer is playing quietly in the background, and he kneels down and offers up the desires of his heart, and then when God and Christ appear, I look at Doris, and she is silently crying. In that moment, the spirit was so strong. Everyone was feeling it, it was beautiful. I nearly shed a tear at my absolute joy in my testimony of the Restoration. That is literally where my testimony started! With a film on the restoration! And here I am in Chile helping this daughter of God gain a testimony of it as well. Once the movie was over, we invited her to pray about being baptized. But she already knew that it was what she wanted.
She has a date set for a baptism on December first.
I repeat.
Investigator with a baptismal date.
:) yay :)
Now! This week was HALLOWEEN! Hna Ortiz and I sang Thriller intermittently throughout the day. I sang the high notes, naturally ;) Dulces o travesura instead of Trick or Treat, but it's basically the same as in the U.S. Remember that one year when Marcy and I were sister missionaries for Halloween? And dad made us name tags on photoshop so that we wouldn't have to use our dads elder plaques? My dad. He is a gem. But yeah, it made me smile as I walked down the street with the monsters and princesses as a real like missionary, just as I had dressed up to be when I was 8 or 9. Speaking of Marcy...I GOT TWO LETTERS FROM MARCY THIS WEEK!!! Oh Marcy, you delight me so. You are such a peach. Thank you for sacrificing sketchbook paper and paycheck money on stamps to write me. It made me so giddy!
So this last Monday, Hna Ortiz and I went on an adventure to the CCM! She has a problem with her back and the doctor needed to look at it. So I got to act as translator, since the doctor doesn't speak Spanish very well. Halfway through, he asked me how much time I had in the field, and I told him 3 weeks. He told me my Spanish was very good for 3 weeks, the fact that I could translate for a doctor appointment meant I was doing well. Yay :) Also, we got to stop in at the distribution center to get some essentials, and I got an English hymnal for 1mil, or $2. It is now my new favorite thing to study! It is marked up like scriptures! I LOVE THE HYMNS! I do have a question...what is the definition of fetter? It is in a few hymns, and is not defined in the bible dictionary, which is the only English dictionary I have. HA. Please and thank you :)
Also this week, I made Peruvian food with my comp for a family we are working with. The mom is a member, but her husband and two kids are not. We thought about trying to teach them the lessons, but decided that it would be better to be friends before trying to talk about the gospel. So we made them a delicious meal (which yes, I did help with! Who would have thought, right? Peruvian food!), shared a little thought, and this week are going to help paint their house. Not all of missionary work is teaching lessons and baptizing people ya know!
Funny story. We were at a lunch appointment at a member's house with the other 4 Elders in our ward, who we work with a lot so we are all pretty good pals after this one month. The members were poking fun at us greenies about being young, since both the Elder greenies are 18. I said that I am 20, but I was trying to be funny and contribute to the joke, since I could actually understand it (ha), and they all started laughing, which, ya know, is good. Then E. Baumman imitates me: "Yo tengo viente añoooooos!" I kid you not, it was exactly the same as the "I'm almost ninteeeeeeeeen" moment with Shyla. I. Was. Dying. Beautiful moments, really.
This week, I want to bear my testimony; I know that after the difficult moments come the amazing, heart lifting moments. I had a tough 10 minutes after lunch this Sunday. The frustration of not understanding and difficulty of communication got to me, and a few tears were shed. I told Hna Ortiz that I felt like a bad comp, like a waste of space in Chile (which, when you think about it, the fact that I could say THAT in Spanish should have turned my mood around, but none the less, this is how the story went). She comforted me, and suggested we go visit a member we know is in need of comfort. Really, all i wanted to do was go back home. BUT, I am a missionary, and missionaries work, and they keep going, even after crying in the street!
So we went and visited this sister, and Hna Ortiz prompted me to give the scripture and spiritual thought. So I shared Mosiah 24:14-15, and shared a story about how it helped me in the CCM. This seems small, but it was a scripture and story that I had never shared in Spanish, I was going totally off of what I was feeling that this dear sister needed the most. And I was able to do it all in Spanish.
Then, this morning, we had personal study together as a zone, something we do every pday. We all share something about our reading after the hour of study, and again, I shared it completely in Spanish, and a scripture I had never shared before. I know! These are small things! But with these small things, I am given strength to keep going, to keep trying, to keep doing my best to be a good missionary. Because I am HERE, right now in Chile, and I am Hermana Harkins, and I have a testimony that I have just gotta share with everyone! I know that after the bad comes the good, comes the testimony builders. I know this church is TRUE! I love you all, stay Bold, till next week!
Hermana Harkins
Fun Chile fact! At Lider, which is Wal Mart, they have a special area in the parking lot designated for taxis, and they are there for the people who walked to Lider and cannot walk home with all their groceries. Because everyone walks and few have vehicles. Crazy different stuff! I must be in Chile!
So this week. IT ROCKED.
I will start with the two great stories about two of our investigators (We have TEN!). The first is about Estephania. She is a 15 year old girl from Haiti who moved here with her family three years ago and learned Spanish solely from experience, no studying. So she speaks slowly, unlike everyone else who speaks SUPER fast, so you know what that means...I CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE IS SAYING! And it is a beautiful thing because that means that I can say things BACK, and even though my Spanish is low and imperfect, she understands it! Its great!
So her dad was a street contact of the elders, and we knocked on their door, he wasn't home but she was, and invited us in to talk to her. We gave her the first lesson, and at the end invited her to read the B.O.M., pray about it, and if she receives an answer of its truth, to be baptized. And she said YES. Whoa. Talk about golden investigator! We haven't gotten to the point of setting up an actual date, but taught her the Plan of Salvation and she is planning on coming to church with us this next Sunday. I was so giddy and excited as we walked away from the first lesson, I was literally dancing in the street.
The second story is about Doris, our investigator who said that she didn't want to be crucified. We have been trying to figure out a way to teach her the restoration so that she would remember it and feel the spirit; the regular way was not working out with her. We had the idea to share a movie with her about the first vision, and at first she was just as distracted as ever, and I was starting to lose hope, that after FOUR times trying to teach her, that it just wouldn't work.
But then, it got to the part in the movie (the spirit is literally tangible for me as I type this) when Joseph is walking into the grove, and Joseph Smith's first prayer is playing quietly in the background, and he kneels down and offers up the desires of his heart, and then when God and Christ appear, I look at Doris, and she is silently crying. In that moment, the spirit was so strong. Everyone was feeling it, it was beautiful. I nearly shed a tear at my absolute joy in my testimony of the Restoration. That is literally where my testimony started! With a film on the restoration! And here I am in Chile helping this daughter of God gain a testimony of it as well. Once the movie was over, we invited her to pray about being baptized. But she already knew that it was what she wanted.
She has a date set for a baptism on December first.
I repeat.
Investigator with a baptismal date.
:) yay :)
Now! This week was HALLOWEEN! Hna Ortiz and I sang Thriller intermittently throughout the day. I sang the high notes, naturally ;) Dulces o travesura instead of Trick or Treat, but it's basically the same as in the U.S. Remember that one year when Marcy and I were sister missionaries for Halloween? And dad made us name tags on photoshop so that we wouldn't have to use our dads elder plaques? My dad. He is a gem. But yeah, it made me smile as I walked down the street with the monsters and princesses as a real like missionary, just as I had dressed up to be when I was 8 or 9. Speaking of Marcy...I GOT TWO LETTERS FROM MARCY THIS WEEK!!! Oh Marcy, you delight me so. You are such a peach. Thank you for sacrificing sketchbook paper and paycheck money on stamps to write me. It made me so giddy!
So this last Monday, Hna Ortiz and I went on an adventure to the CCM! She has a problem with her back and the doctor needed to look at it. So I got to act as translator, since the doctor doesn't speak Spanish very well. Halfway through, he asked me how much time I had in the field, and I told him 3 weeks. He told me my Spanish was very good for 3 weeks, the fact that I could translate for a doctor appointment meant I was doing well. Yay :) Also, we got to stop in at the distribution center to get some essentials, and I got an English hymnal for 1mil, or $2. It is now my new favorite thing to study! It is marked up like scriptures! I LOVE THE HYMNS! I do have a question...what is the definition of fetter? It is in a few hymns, and is not defined in the bible dictionary, which is the only English dictionary I have. HA. Please and thank you :)
Also this week, I made Peruvian food with my comp for a family we are working with. The mom is a member, but her husband and two kids are not. We thought about trying to teach them the lessons, but decided that it would be better to be friends before trying to talk about the gospel. So we made them a delicious meal (which yes, I did help with! Who would have thought, right? Peruvian food!), shared a little thought, and this week are going to help paint their house. Not all of missionary work is teaching lessons and baptizing people ya know!
Funny story. We were at a lunch appointment at a member's house with the other 4 Elders in our ward, who we work with a lot so we are all pretty good pals after this one month. The members were poking fun at us greenies about being young, since both the Elder greenies are 18. I said that I am 20, but I was trying to be funny and contribute to the joke, since I could actually understand it (ha), and they all started laughing, which, ya know, is good. Then E. Baumman imitates me: "Yo tengo viente añoooooos!" I kid you not, it was exactly the same as the "I'm almost ninteeeeeeeeen" moment with Shyla. I. Was. Dying. Beautiful moments, really.
This week, I want to bear my testimony; I know that after the difficult moments come the amazing, heart lifting moments. I had a tough 10 minutes after lunch this Sunday. The frustration of not understanding and difficulty of communication got to me, and a few tears were shed. I told Hna Ortiz that I felt like a bad comp, like a waste of space in Chile (which, when you think about it, the fact that I could say THAT in Spanish should have turned my mood around, but none the less, this is how the story went). She comforted me, and suggested we go visit a member we know is in need of comfort. Really, all i wanted to do was go back home. BUT, I am a missionary, and missionaries work, and they keep going, even after crying in the street!
So we went and visited this sister, and Hna Ortiz prompted me to give the scripture and spiritual thought. So I shared Mosiah 24:14-15, and shared a story about how it helped me in the CCM. This seems small, but it was a scripture and story that I had never shared in Spanish, I was going totally off of what I was feeling that this dear sister needed the most. And I was able to do it all in Spanish.
Then, this morning, we had personal study together as a zone, something we do every pday. We all share something about our reading after the hour of study, and again, I shared it completely in Spanish, and a scripture I had never shared before. I know! These are small things! But with these small things, I am given strength to keep going, to keep trying, to keep doing my best to be a good missionary. Because I am HERE, right now in Chile, and I am Hermana Harkins, and I have a testimony that I have just gotta share with everyone! I know that after the bad comes the good, comes the testimony builders. I know this church is TRUE! I love you all, stay Bold, till next week!
Hermana Harkins
Monday, October 28, 2013
I have been in Chile for 2 months TODAY! Que es este?!
I have committed a couple dogs to baptism. I have a lot of practice saying "¿Seguir el ejemplo de Jesucristo y ser bautizado?" Now if any of our TEN investigators would see how much their lives would be blessed by baptism...I am fired up and ready to go :)
In other news...this week rocked! Fun fact about Chile...they don't have trash cans for trash day. They have big wire baskets hanging on the outside of their gates, and they tie up all their little trash bags and put them in the basket and the trash man picks it up that way. So. Weird. But I'm sure they think its weird that we have huge bins of trash hanging out in our garages for a whole week, so I wont judge. I love Chile. I realize I say this a lot. But can you really blame me? ;)
This week, we had lots of great experiences with teaching. I have 3 stories to share. The first and second are about Pedro, a 33 year old living with his parents. He was a referral from the Elders, and we were all pumped up and ready to teach him the first lesson about the restoration and the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith...and then about 2 minutes after the prayer, Hna. Ortiz and I both had the impression to shift to faith. Pedro hadn't even said anything, he was just listening. But I took out my Restoration pamphlet and felt so strongly that it was not the topic he needed. I looked at Hna. Ortiz and knew she was feeling the same thing. So we gave a little intro to the B.O.M. and then taught Alma 32, el semilla de fe. The seed of faith. Turns out that he has no faith in Christ...so talking about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wont have any effect on him until he has faith, no? The Spirit. It is so amazing.
The second story is also about Pedro, our second visit with him. We found out that he speaks a good amount of English, which ROCKS for me because I can talk in Spanglish and he will understand me. So we followed up on the commitments we had talked about previously, bearing testimony and discussing scriptures, and for the first time since I have been on my mission, I was able to really get serious and invite someone to do something, and have them really understand my testimony about it. I asked him to pray with one specific question or problem in mind, just one. We taught him the simple way to pray - thank God for his blessings, ask for guidance, and talk to God. To talk to him like we talk to our best friends. Because he is our Heavenly Father! He WANTS to hear about our day, the things that made us happy and the things that were frustrating and nerve wracking and heart wrenching. All this I was able to say in Spanglish. We will see if he did it this week :)
The third is a story for the books, seriously. We have an investigator, Doris, who is 76 years old. She is a total sweetheart, and when we met her, she was very interested in listening to the discussions. Cool! Awesome! So we taught her the first lesson this week, and Hna. Ortiz invited her to read Moroni 10 and pray to know of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Doris said she would. Hna. Ortiz nudges me, mouths "bautismo" and nods. So I said "Y si usted recibe una respuesta el Libro de Mormon es verdad, seguir el ejemplo de Jesucristo y ser bautizado?" And if you receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true, etc.? She stared a moment, and told us that she did not want to be crucified as Christ was.
WHAT?!
Baptism by immersion was taught immediately haha being a missionary is the best.
Let's see, more good moments...we were visiting inactive members, and at one house, they were making sausage. As in grounding it and pressing it into the plastic. So we helped! I have pictures! I will try and send them!
We were at a members house for lunch early in the week, and they, being the mom and her 19 year old daughter, commented on my necklace, how they liked it. A birdcage with a pajarito...little bird. We stopped at their house on Friday to talk about the ward, since the mom is the YW pres, and they had a gift for me...earrings! Birdcages with little pajaritos in them! Delightful!
I was reading F. Enzio Busche this week, as always, and noticed that he and Emmy are totally on the same wave length. He says "Be not so concerned with what you do, but DO WHAT YOU DO with all your heart, might, mind and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction."
So Wednesdays rock, because they are District and Zone meetings.And in these meetings, that is when we receive letters. And this week, I got THREE LETTERS!! Whooooa I am feeling the love :) they were all sent to me when I was in the CCM, but still. I got them exactly when I needed them. Special shout out to my girl Katie Miller. I love you, darling! Lets go to Paris and eat all the macaroons, yes? Yes. Mom, still haven't received your package, but I will be going to the CCM tomorrow, and will ask the mail people.
Why are you going to the CCM, you ask?
Well, my comp has an infection in her arm, and has gotten so bad that the medical staff for our mission suggested we go to the main mission medical office, which is the the CCM. So not only do we get to go and be in the CCM and say hi to teachers and friends, but we get to go TO THE TEMPLE! Hello, prayers are answered! I am so EXCITED! So I will give a package update next email, sorry I don't have better news on the subject. Really, my week was so great. I love being a missionary, I love being in Chile, I love wearing Jesus Christ's name over my heart every day. This church is true. Love you all. Do what you do. Be bold. Ciauo!
Hermana Harkins
In other news...this week rocked! Fun fact about Chile...they don't have trash cans for trash day. They have big wire baskets hanging on the outside of their gates, and they tie up all their little trash bags and put them in the basket and the trash man picks it up that way. So. Weird. But I'm sure they think its weird that we have huge bins of trash hanging out in our garages for a whole week, so I wont judge. I love Chile. I realize I say this a lot. But can you really blame me? ;)
This week, we had lots of great experiences with teaching. I have 3 stories to share. The first and second are about Pedro, a 33 year old living with his parents. He was a referral from the Elders, and we were all pumped up and ready to teach him the first lesson about the restoration and the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith...and then about 2 minutes after the prayer, Hna. Ortiz and I both had the impression to shift to faith. Pedro hadn't even said anything, he was just listening. But I took out my Restoration pamphlet and felt so strongly that it was not the topic he needed. I looked at Hna. Ortiz and knew she was feeling the same thing. So we gave a little intro to the B.O.M. and then taught Alma 32, el semilla de fe. The seed of faith. Turns out that he has no faith in Christ...so talking about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wont have any effect on him until he has faith, no? The Spirit. It is so amazing.
The second story is also about Pedro, our second visit with him. We found out that he speaks a good amount of English, which ROCKS for me because I can talk in Spanglish and he will understand me. So we followed up on the commitments we had talked about previously, bearing testimony and discussing scriptures, and for the first time since I have been on my mission, I was able to really get serious and invite someone to do something, and have them really understand my testimony about it. I asked him to pray with one specific question or problem in mind, just one. We taught him the simple way to pray - thank God for his blessings, ask for guidance, and talk to God. To talk to him like we talk to our best friends. Because he is our Heavenly Father! He WANTS to hear about our day, the things that made us happy and the things that were frustrating and nerve wracking and heart wrenching. All this I was able to say in Spanglish. We will see if he did it this week :)
The third is a story for the books, seriously. We have an investigator, Doris, who is 76 years old. She is a total sweetheart, and when we met her, she was very interested in listening to the discussions. Cool! Awesome! So we taught her the first lesson this week, and Hna. Ortiz invited her to read Moroni 10 and pray to know of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Doris said she would. Hna. Ortiz nudges me, mouths "bautismo" and nods. So I said "Y si usted recibe una respuesta el Libro de Mormon es verdad, seguir el ejemplo de Jesucristo y ser bautizado?" And if you receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true, etc.? She stared a moment, and told us that she did not want to be crucified as Christ was.
WHAT?!
Baptism by immersion was taught immediately haha being a missionary is the best.
Let's see, more good moments...we were visiting inactive members, and at one house, they were making sausage. As in grounding it and pressing it into the plastic. So we helped! I have pictures! I will try and send them!
We were at a members house for lunch early in the week, and they, being the mom and her 19 year old daughter, commented on my necklace, how they liked it. A birdcage with a pajarito...little bird. We stopped at their house on Friday to talk about the ward, since the mom is the YW pres, and they had a gift for me...earrings! Birdcages with little pajaritos in them! Delightful!
I was reading F. Enzio Busche this week, as always, and noticed that he and Emmy are totally on the same wave length. He says "Be not so concerned with what you do, but DO WHAT YOU DO with all your heart, might, mind and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction."
So Wednesdays rock, because they are District and Zone meetings.And in these meetings, that is when we receive letters. And this week, I got THREE LETTERS!! Whooooa I am feeling the love :) they were all sent to me when I was in the CCM, but still. I got them exactly when I needed them. Special shout out to my girl Katie Miller. I love you, darling! Lets go to Paris and eat all the macaroons, yes? Yes. Mom, still haven't received your package, but I will be going to the CCM tomorrow, and will ask the mail people.
Why are you going to the CCM, you ask?
Well, my comp has an infection in her arm, and has gotten so bad that the medical staff for our mission suggested we go to the main mission medical office, which is the the CCM. So not only do we get to go and be in the CCM and say hi to teachers and friends, but we get to go TO THE TEMPLE! Hello, prayers are answered! I am so EXCITED! So I will give a package update next email, sorry I don't have better news on the subject. Really, my week was so great. I love being a missionary, I love being in Chile, I love wearing Jesus Christ's name over my heart every day. This church is true. Love you all. Do what you do. Be bold. Ciauo!
Hermana Harkins
Monday, October 21, 2013
Coming to you from an Internet Cafe. I must be a missionary!
Wow, what a week! I wish that I had some exciting stories to tell you, but alas, no lessons taught, no people committed to baptisms, and our two investigators ditched us three times this week. It makes me sad, not because we lost numbers, but because I know how much our message will bless them, and when I get so excited to share it with them, it hurts my heart when they discreetly tell us that they just aren't interested.
BUT
Still had a great week! Come on, how could I not. I am a missionary, I am in Chile, I am talking all day about the Gospel! My favorite thing! Despite the disappointments, I still have my greenie spirit and energy. Proud to be a greenie. In fact, this week we had a Greenie Meeting. Received some more training, and I got to see all my friends from the CCM. Hermana Mittelsteadt and I about attacked each other, and we all had a fine time exchanging stories about how no one can understand us, and yet, we are all ecstatic and crazy to talk to everyone who will listen! It is beautiful! Afterward, on the bus ride back to our area (since the meeting was in the city about 30 minutes away), it was like conference time on trax. So many missionaries on that bus! IT WAS RAD.
In the greenie meeting, we received some pretty exciting news. ELDER HOLLAND is coming on November 13th to talk to all the Santiago missionaries! The North, South, East and West mission will all get to be in the same building with him! I have been obsessing over E. Holland for the past three years. Just finished the book of Alma and I have been telling all my friends that Alma the younger reminds me of E. Holland, and I will get to meet him, shake his hand, maybe get a PICTURE with him, and then listen to him talk to us Santiago missionaries, a message just for us. I. Am. So. Blessed. So excited! I am MEANT to be in Chile!
We had a great experience while contacting this week. We had just been totally dissed by an older man about being woman AND missionaries, double whammy, and I took up fresh courage (because our God will never us forsake) and right after the mean man, we sat on the front steps of a house with this woman who had just found out that her son has the same cancer that her husband died of. She has literally crying on my shoulder. Hello. Plan of Salvation. Testimony. Prayer, right there on the porch. No appointment, but she has our number and the memory of the experience. I love being a missionary.
Also this week, I found out that our zone is singing Battle Hymn of the Republic in a big mission meeting this coming Sunday, and in the arrangement there is a quartet and I get to be the Soprano! I love how many times I have been given the opportunity to bear my testimony through song. I'm really excited for it. Wish I could send a recording, but I cant send videos with myldsmail. Darn it!
This Sunday in my ward we had the primary program, always the best Sacrament meetings. Whats funny in our ward is that no one plays the piano, so last week, we sang all the hymns a capella. This week, the director found someone who knew how to play the violin, so we sang the hymns with a violin. I thought of Mitchell. I'm sure it would have inspired him ;) And then with the primary program, they sang all the great classic songs. All 8 primary members! I thought of Chuck Nielson when they sang I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I always do. And every time I have sung alone or for a special musical number, I think of Dad, for making me love music. And Rita Schroeder, for giving me the beginning of a confident singing voice. I am so blessed with people who have helped build my testimony throughout my life, what more could I do to repay them than to serve a mission?
So this week, I had a bit of a rough patch on Thursday. The language is tough, I have a hard time communicating with practically everyone, and it got to my heart, and sometimes you just have to let the tears come. But then, the words "Gird up your loins, fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake. And soon we ll have this tale to tell...all is well, all is well." Talk about the spirit telling me exactly what I needed to hear! Because once you let the tears come, you pick yourself up and you keep going. And you take up fresh courage and when all is said and done, you will have many, many good stories and experiences that you can treasure up for the rest of your life.
I know this church is TRUE. How could it not be. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all, Be bold siempre!
Hermana Harkins
BUT
Still had a great week! Come on, how could I not. I am a missionary, I am in Chile, I am talking all day about the Gospel! My favorite thing! Despite the disappointments, I still have my greenie spirit and energy. Proud to be a greenie. In fact, this week we had a Greenie Meeting. Received some more training, and I got to see all my friends from the CCM. Hermana Mittelsteadt and I about attacked each other, and we all had a fine time exchanging stories about how no one can understand us, and yet, we are all ecstatic and crazy to talk to everyone who will listen! It is beautiful! Afterward, on the bus ride back to our area (since the meeting was in the city about 30 minutes away), it was like conference time on trax. So many missionaries on that bus! IT WAS RAD.
In the greenie meeting, we received some pretty exciting news. ELDER HOLLAND is coming on November 13th to talk to all the Santiago missionaries! The North, South, East and West mission will all get to be in the same building with him! I have been obsessing over E. Holland for the past three years. Just finished the book of Alma and I have been telling all my friends that Alma the younger reminds me of E. Holland, and I will get to meet him, shake his hand, maybe get a PICTURE with him, and then listen to him talk to us Santiago missionaries, a message just for us. I. Am. So. Blessed. So excited! I am MEANT to be in Chile!
We had a great experience while contacting this week. We had just been totally dissed by an older man about being woman AND missionaries, double whammy, and I took up fresh courage (because our God will never us forsake) and right after the mean man, we sat on the front steps of a house with this woman who had just found out that her son has the same cancer that her husband died of. She has literally crying on my shoulder. Hello. Plan of Salvation. Testimony. Prayer, right there on the porch. No appointment, but she has our number and the memory of the experience. I love being a missionary.
Also this week, I found out that our zone is singing Battle Hymn of the Republic in a big mission meeting this coming Sunday, and in the arrangement there is a quartet and I get to be the Soprano! I love how many times I have been given the opportunity to bear my testimony through song. I'm really excited for it. Wish I could send a recording, but I cant send videos with myldsmail. Darn it!
This Sunday in my ward we had the primary program, always the best Sacrament meetings. Whats funny in our ward is that no one plays the piano, so last week, we sang all the hymns a capella. This week, the director found someone who knew how to play the violin, so we sang the hymns with a violin. I thought of Mitchell. I'm sure it would have inspired him ;) And then with the primary program, they sang all the great classic songs. All 8 primary members! I thought of Chuck Nielson when they sang I know my Heavenly Father loves me. I always do. And every time I have sung alone or for a special musical number, I think of Dad, for making me love music. And Rita Schroeder, for giving me the beginning of a confident singing voice. I am so blessed with people who have helped build my testimony throughout my life, what more could I do to repay them than to serve a mission?
So this week, I had a bit of a rough patch on Thursday. The language is tough, I have a hard time communicating with practically everyone, and it got to my heart, and sometimes you just have to let the tears come. But then, the words "Gird up your loins, fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake. And soon we ll have this tale to tell...all is well, all is well." Talk about the spirit telling me exactly what I needed to hear! Because once you let the tears come, you pick yourself up and you keep going. And you take up fresh courage and when all is said and done, you will have many, many good stories and experiences that you can treasure up for the rest of your life.
I know this church is TRUE. How could it not be. There is no doubt in my mind that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all, Be bold siempre!
Hermana Harkins
Monday, October 14, 2013
PRIMERO SEMANA EN EL CAMPO WHAAAAAT
I do NOT even know where to begin, so I am glad that i have
my mom's questions as a guide! WOW what an adventure I have embarked on!
1. We walk everywhere. Everywhere! After my first 5 days of proselyting (no clue how that is spelled), my legs burn, my feet are blistered,
and I have discovered I have more shades than white and pale. That's right,
folks. Ashlynne Harkins is TAN. Woot. I love that we walk everywhere! More time
to admire the area and enjoy the weather. Which is gorgeous, btw. Sun always.
Love it.
2. My companion's name is Hermana Ortiz. She is 26, from
Peru, speaks a little English but not enough for a full fledged conversation.
She is a ROCKIN missionary! She will talk to literally everyone, which is so
good for me. Everything about her is a blessing; I literally have no choice but
to improve upon and speak in Spanish, and we talk to everyone! Its
beautiful! Contacting is my favorite. Talking to people in the park, on the
street, on the metro. Favorite. Seriously. Our house is small, but there are
only 4 Hermanas living in it, so it is just right. A kitchen with all utilities
except a dishwasher, and a washer! Hallelujah! But we hang our clothes to dry.
Gotta get a little authentic somewhere ;)
3. I have had mostly yogurt and fruit haha the deal is that
we have lunch at members houses, since it is the biggest meal of the day in
Chile. Every day so far I have had chicken and rice. But OH MY GOODNESS they
give us so much food! Its insane! We start out with a soup, then a salad plate
that contains avocado, eggs, beets, salad, potato salad...then the chicken and
rice then fruit for dessert and I have never eaten so much food IN my life. I haven't had dinner once since arriving in the field. Its insane!
4. Wake up at 7:30. Work out till 8:00. From 8 to 9 get
ready, shower, breakfast, etc. 9 to 10 personal study; I am in the process of
reading the B.O.M. out loud in Spanish with a pencil in my mouth, to help with
the pronunciation. Win win! 10 to 11 companion study. Since I am a greenie,
from 11 to 12:30 is additional language and missionary training study. 1:30 is
lunch at a members house. 3:00 to 9:30 is proselyting time! The best time of
the day! 9:30 head back to the house, 10 to 10:30 plan for tomorrow, 10:30 to
11:30 personal time, prayers and lights out at 11:30.
5. My Spanish, while still meager, has grown a lot in the
past week. Like I mentioned, there really is no choice but to improve, which is
great! Flash cards are my favorite. Flash cards for dayysssss (that's for
Camilla ;) )
6. Love my area and the way I get to start out my mission.
We are in Cinco de Abril in Maipu, Chile. (pronounced my poo. Thaaaaaats
riiiiiiiiiight.)
It's a white wash, which means that our area hasn't had
missionaries for a while, about a year and a half. So we are doing a lot of
contacting inactive members and recently baptized who have fallen off the ship.
I seriously love it! Because of my meager Spanish, I pray and testify a lot
when doing this. I am so blessed to pray upwards of 20 to 25 times A DAY. All
the houses are the colors of Josephs coat, graffiti everywhere (I use certain graffiti as landmarks of where we are in the sector. WOW, right?!). Everything
is gated, so we stand at the gate and say "en voz alto"
"HALLO!" Instead of knocking on doors. So FUN.
7. We have two official investigators that we got while
contacting. One is Paula, a 17 year old girl who is a total sweetheart, and
Marisole, a 20 year old girl we found when trying to find inactive members. Her
mom, who has the same name, was baptized 3 years ago, but died 7 months ago. We
talked with her at the gate for about 20 minutes, she invited us in and we taught her about the plan of Salvation, and we
have an poointment with her this week! I love this work!
Ok, now for my own scattered thoughts without questions to
give me guidance!
1. I would compare my sector to Daybreak meets Escondido flower
streets, then multiply it by 5 in terms of ghetto. Super colorful, pretty sketchy, but not so much that I am nervous walking home at night. Does that
even make sense?
2. They have this thing here called paparillana. Its a
loaded hot dog. And it is delicious. Oh my goodness. Also, the empanadas ROCK.
BE jealous, my friends. Be jealous.
3. Friday, we were walking down a residential street, and
there was a soccer game playing in everyone's houses. It was the afternoon, so everyone's windows were open because it is so hot, and Hermana Ortiz and I could
follow the game as we walked down the street. The best was when a goal was
made...everyone simultaneously cheers, and we can hear it all! So we cheer too.
Vive Chile!
4. The people here are so kind, and for the most part, very
open to listening to our message. We haven't been rejected yet. Sure, not
everyone invites us back or talks for long, but they always listen. They talk
CRAZY fast, so I have a hard time understanding them right now, but I always
know how to testify of the gospel. I guess that's a pretty good thing to know ;)
5. So conference ROCKED. Mom, if you could send an English
copy, that would be delightful. BTW, haven't received the package yet, but that
is probably because it was sent to the CCM. If I were you, I'd send that blessed
Christmas package now, and to the address that was emailed to you last week. At
least there's no mail strike! But anyways, conference, it was ALL amazing! Be an
exclamation point missionary. Christ like attributes. The importance of covenants and the sacrament. And literally no better way to prepare for the
field spiritually. Like ed week! Woohoo!
6. I have spiritual, uplifting experiences literally every
day. I can't wait for the day when there is time enough to share them. This is
hard, some days are harder than others. But always, there is a blessing received and a tender mercy to be acknowledged. And I am acquiring Jesus feet.
What a fantastic Christ like attribute to have! The feet of a disciple, a
missionary, of someone who publishes good tidings of good
Mosiah 15:14
And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
(Mosiah. Best book in
the B.O.M.)
Guys, I am so happy I am here, in Chile, serving a mission.
I know this is probably the excitement and some sort of honeymoon phase, but
everything about being a missionary brings me such joy. The aching feet,
blazing sun, rapid Spanish. The kind people, colorful atmosphere, TEACHING THE
GOSPEL...everything about this is good and right and I KNOW THIS CHURCH IS
TRUE! I love you all, stay awesome, be bold!
Hermana Harkins
Hermana Harkins
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| Last day at the mansion -Al Contera, matchy matchy! |
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| Pointing to my mission |
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| Thanks for the shirt, Elder Harkins (my service shirt) |
.JPG) |
| I am tan - WHAAAT |
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| Me on our street |
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| Lunch today, Peruvian! |
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