We Are Called To Be Bold: A Thrill of Hope...The Weary World Rejoices

Guys. December first.

AND THE HERMANA HARKINS CHRISTMAS BEAST IS UNLEASHED!

I know that it doesn't have too much to do with missionary work, but I just wanted to describe to you all how awesome we are making Christmas in our little pension here in Chile. In my house, we always decorate the day after Thanksgiving. And I would not allow it to be any other way here. My mom sent the biggest missionary Christmas package ever that included a box entitled (Open the day after Thanksgiving). Ok, cute Christmas banners, ornaments, Christmas paper straws, tall Christmas socks, chocolate covered Christmas pretzels, drawn pictures from the kidletts...better believe we put on the Motab Christmas cd and decorated our tree and wallowed in the Christmas of it all! We bought a Chilean fruit cake and hot chocolate...it. is. CHRISTMASTIME.

Ok, now onto the work of Salvation :)

We had an AWESOME experience with a new investigator this last week; we were walking down the street after having an appointment fall through, and we saw a woman outside watering her garden and we started to talk to her. She was really nice and pretty receptive, and she let us in to share a message with her. Upon sitting down, we asked her if there was anyone else in the house, that our message is for families and we would like to share it with her whole family. She called her 21 year old daughter down to join us. And we were very surprised to find Nicole. Nicole is a girl that we contacted about a month ago that wanted so much for us to come and teach her, but she just moved here and didn't remember her address. She had given us her phone number, but it didn't work. The three of us were very surprised and pleased to find each other. It is so great how things work out like that!

And the best part was when we started talking with them to get to know them and what they believe, and Nicole said "But tell us, what do YOU believe?" I just LOVE that question. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. We shared with them the message of the Restoration, and they were both excited- EXCITED!- to read the Book of Mormon and pray and accept an invitation to be baptized. I love when we find these people that are ready for the gospel. Many times, we find people that are receptive, that are kind enough to accept us in their homes, or that only want to obtain more knowledge...but they don't have intentions of changing. It is the best ever when we find the people that are looking for that missing part of their life and then we come, just in the nick of time, and your testimony is strengthened of how God is in the details of our lives and OH MY GOODNESS THE GOSPEL IS JUST SO TRUE!

We also shared a touching moment with a less active family that hasn't come to church in about 6 months. They have a few excuses, and we are working on strengthening their testimonies to help their desire to return. We invited their 12 year old son to give the opening prayer, and he was eager to do so. And it was one of the most tender prayers ever, mostly because he gave so much thanks for the Atonement of Christ. When he finished, we praised him for the sincerity and spirit of his prayer, and he told us "That's just how my mom taught me how to pray, so that's how I always do it."

Well, you better believe that that brought tears to our eyes. Especially for his mom. In that instant, we changed our lesson plan from The Doctrine of Christ to Alma 56:47-48. You know, the 2,000 stripling warriors, and the knowledge that they had in the faith of their mothers. You better believe that those mothers "let their faith show" (Elder Nelson, General Conference, April 2014), and that they did all that they could to give their sons an example of how to trust in God. I love how the family is in the center of God's plan, because it is always just the thing to touch people's hearts. The gospel is so simple yet so essential, and when we are living the gospel, we touch people. This little 12 year old boy touched our hearts with a simple but honest prayer, and it gave us missionaries the perfect opportunity to testify to his parents of the importance of their example of letting their faith show.

I just love the gospel. It is SO true.

Another great experience we had was with another inactive sister that we are working with. We wanted to really focus in on the Book of Mormon with her and help her get a head start on reading it daily. We got to her house and asked her where she was in her reading, and she bashfully replied with "1 Nephi 1." So we read it with her and simply talked about it, what we understood and how we felt that we could apply it in our lives. She ended up sharing an amazing experience that she had a few weeks ago...

She was outside pruning her bushes and a companionship of Jehovah's Witnesses came up and started talking to her. She was kind, but was direct in telling them that she is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (she even said the whole title! That's somethin!). They began asking her all sorts of questions, mostly about Joseph Smith and The Book of Mormon. She answered them all calmly and adequately, explaining that he translated the plates of brass, that he restored the church, and that we worship God. They had tried to tell her that it was impossible that Joseph Smith could have received revelation from God to restore the gospel, and started going on a whole rant of the ordeal.

But she was firm and steady in standing up to them and saying that "I KNOW that The Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God, and nothing you say can sway me. I know that the restoration of the gospel was inspired of God, and that if we accept the restoration, we accept God. And I ACCEPT Him."

Um, WOW. Alma 17:2-3. Alma 4:19. Talk about power and authority in the testimony of the members of the church! We were so impressed in that moment, and praised her for how she handled the situation; some would have ranted and raved and made a scene, happy to have a chance to "prove their point", but she did just the right thing...she shared simple testimony of the things that SHE KNOWS. And she did it was such simplicity, yet such preciseness, that she literally left them speechless. May we all share our testimonies! With the whole world! AAAH THE CHURCH IS JUST SO TRUE!

Well y'all, that was my week. We are doing well here in Chile. So be bold, stay rad, do what you do, and let your light so shine. (light=testimony)

Hermana Harkins

The box and my planner open to the day after Thanksgiving :)

Our feast

Me and my comp in our Christmas socks...and of course I have my filthy animal shirt!

Christmas Christmas :)

Our tree...we put some paper straws on paper clips and cute cardboard swirlies out of...drumroll...toilet paper rolls. We are so eco friendly. And that is a mexican doll on top, courtesy of hna McQuinn's friend serving in Mexico. We. Rock.