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
Monday, November 25, 2013
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
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