07.20.15 Letter

For my birthday...can you send me the converse and baseball tee's and denim shirt that I left in Yuma?  Or perhaps a bicycle flash light to put on the front of my bike.  Mine got destroyed when it hit the freeway.  No flashlight makes for some interesting rides home at night. 

Sister Nuñez and I are still trying to figure things out.  We talk about it a lot haha. We are on different obedience levels I guess, but she's trying to do better. We haven't really taught many spanish people, but I'm getting ceviche next monday from a spanish member!  I got my bike repaired, but it has a really hard time shifting gears now.  That's alright though. Only 8 more months and then I promised Azavier he could have it. 

This week has been good though. We have still been doing a ton of finding.  We invited 100 people to be taught.  And it is SO hot, so we have to find ways besides tracting to talk to people. But we have found a few people with potential. 

07.13.2015 Letter

Hello! thank you for the pictures! haha all my missionary friends laughed at the one of Jacob. So chunky.  

I've been great!  Left Alex City on a great note.  The twins got baptized and I could tell that Ricky's self confidence and faith in the atonement really increased.  I love that place and I miss it a lot.  On the drive to Florence Sister Nelson called because Azavier lost it when I didn't show up and she thought letting him talk to me would calm him down...then I lost it.  I love that family so much.  I got to drive through Cullman though and stop and see some people.  When Mason and I saw each other we just ran and hugged each other.  Oops haha.  But I love that kid and his grandma.  I can't describe the love I have for these people. It really is something else.  

I like Florence so far.  It has been a Spanish area for a long time, but President is transitioning it to English, so I'm with a Spanish sister, well English Sister but she's here because she's from Chile and is fluent.  Sister Nuñez has been stressed out because we wrote each other before we became companions and so she doesn't want to do something to make me mad and not like her anymore haha.  We had to talk about that.  She's a funny kid. Florence is pretty big and it's a college town.  I've only ever been in smaller towns, so I'm nervous to be in such a big place, but Nuñez and I are having a party.  We are kind of starting over too because all of our investigators dropped us so finding!  

Nothing much else too crazy happened this week, besides the house fire across from our apartment on Saturday.  It was crazy.  We were driving back to the apartment and Sister Nuñez asked "is that house smoking?" and I look over and yup, smoke coming from the windows.  So I pull in really quick right outside the gates, tell Sister Nuñez to grab the phone, and run across the street.  There is a lady outside already on the phone and another guy and I ask if she was on the phone with 911.  she tells me yes and then proceeds to walk away.  the guy walks away too, so it's just me and Sister Nuñez out side of this burning house.  We didn't know if an ambulance was coming or not, but everyone who lived in the house just left us.  The ambulance came, but not before a good amount of damage was done.  It was the weirdest thing. 

I left my recorder at home, so I'll just have to write for today, but let me know if y'all need anything.  Love you! Be good. 

07.09.2015

Hey kids!  So I'm up in Florence with Nuñita.  Love this kid. She's so swag. Our address is 151 Gilbert Ct Apt G5

Florence, AL 35630. 

Be good. Love you!

07.06.2015

lol Brooklyn is sassy. They all sound so much older.  Thank you for the recordings. I love them!  Sounds like y'all had a lot of fun at your camps.   You will have to show me your experiments when I get home!  I recorded my week too, but I again left my cable at home, so I can't send it yet.  But I will in a few hours.  I love y'all! Be good! 

Also

This is what happens when you hear the tornado sirens in the middle of the night.

So many good things have happened recently.  I am so happy!  The Taylor girls got baptized! And despite brother ermer making things slightly toasty, it was amazing! I can see a whole new light in those girls and Ricky.  The whole family really.  It's amazing. I love that family.  I am going to miss Alex City a ton.  I was just sitting there during sacrament yesterday enjoying all the little quirks of this branch.  Elder Hamblin attempting to play the piano and everyone laughing when we sound terrible.  President Anderson being an awkward engineer and giving the branch business very slowly.  Jim's crazy deep doctrine. The little chapel that still looks like a baptist church.  But most of all the people.  Brother Foster, Eva, Jim, Rod, Dinesha and the kids.  Everybody.  I don't think anything can match Alex City in its crazy and adventure, and even though it was often frustrating, I've learned a lot from it, and I will miss it so much.  Every area and companion is for a reason.  The places where you have seen God's hand will always be special.  I can't wait to show you this crazy place.

I will totally help you with your business when I get back.  It's coming up fast.  We'll figure all that out at some point right?  

I don't know if we would get permission to go.  It's not next transfer, but the one after that, so there is a chance I wouldn't even be in Florence.  I'm still going to bring it up with President in my interviews this month.  

We never found the bum weenie's home.  I think he just kind of wonders. 

I forgot my recorder cable again, but I'll be able to send them in a few hours.  And if you could send me some Nashville Tribute Band music that would be awesome, but other than that don't worry about birfday stuff.  Just keep sending recordings/videos.  I love them. I love you kid!  Be good! 

06.15.2015

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/im-a-mormon/paris-thomas-loving-son-ping-pong-master-mormon

I don't know if y'all have ever seen this video, but this is Alabama. 

06.08.2015

Hello!  

The weather here has been up and down.  It is supposed to be rainy all week so it hasn't been too hot.  But I'm not sure which I prefer.  The allergies have been better.  I'm just taking allergy medicine everyday.  I have a ton that has been left by other sisters, so I should be good. I was taking it everyday, before I had that allergic reaction, so I'm not sure what it was.  Why won't David be able to get off work??  :/  Sounds like they had a fun week with David though.  Katelynn sent me a video with Jacob's old man face...so funny haha. Sorry about his foot.  I don't know how that would happen either.  Thank you for the prayers.  I'll need them this transfer...another transfer an AC...whoo who!  I'm trying to be optimistic about it.  I'll keep y'all in my prayers too.  Love you!  Thank you for the pictures!  Be good!

05.18.2015

Hello!  How is the Mower family this week?  Tell David I said thank you for helping me out with my drug problem yesterday.  Still have to figure out what I'm allergic to...probably a lot of things.  But thank you!  I'm not sure if Katelynn is there to have y'all listen to my recordings, so I'll send you the hard copy:

We were out tracting and a storm was rolling in.  I thought for sure we had a while before it hit, but everyone kept telling us to get in soon...didn't listen.  Hit when we were about a mile from the car.  Sister Nelson thought far enough to bring umbrellas, but they didn't really make much of a difference.  We got soaked.  

We had zone conference this week!  It was awesome as always.  President and Sister Hanks are great.  Love them! We went back to teach Alexis who we had met the week before, but told us that she didn't have time to talk to us that day because she was playing dominoes.  She is crazy. Like legitimately.  She has schizophrenia, but she wants God back in her life, so we are going to help her as much as we can.  Surprisingly I have taught a lot more people with schizophrenia than you would think. The last one we taught told us she believed it all, but didn't want to be baptized because she wasn't sure if it was the spirit or the voices in her head.  So we'll see how it goes with Alexis. AND THEN we went to see Montasia.  So we have Montasia, Lenasia, Amaze, and Amaze's sister standing all around us outside as they have just gotten off the bus.  Montasia wants to play a game and whoever wins gets a pamphlet. She won, but she gave everyone a pamphlet because "they all did a good job." So we have four girls standing around us with pamphlets. THEN this lady walks out of her house, sees this, and is like "all you girls, come over here."  Its the projects so everybody knows everybody, so the girls all run up to this lady.  She huddles them around her, says something to them, takes their pamphlets, turns around, and tells them to run home and hide before she turns back around.  All the other girls start running except for Montasia who walks back towards us, really upset.  I asked her what the lady said, and she says "she's racist, she told us not to talk to y'all"  So yeah the lady told all the girls that we teach not to talk to us and she was really embarrassed when she turned back around and Montasia was still standing next to us.  I was like "yeah we teach her and her mom...we were just standing outside for a second."  People sometimes. 

Gabe didn't end up getting baptized this weekend.  His parents put it off...again.  His dad is the same one that made it so that Devin and Angela's dad won't let them get baptized now.  Poor kid.  His parents are both members and he is already 10.  I pray that it won't keep getting pushed back.

We met another set of twins.  Octavius and Christavius.  They are the cutest ever!  We were walking down the street...before we got soaked, and Octavius calls out from his house "are y'all church people?"  We go over and start talking to him and Chris and all his cousins.  They didn't want us to leave haha.  We're going back to visit them and their parents today.  

It is coming up towards the end of the transfer.  We find out Saturday if I am leaving or staying for another transfer.  It's always a bitter sweet.  I would love to stay and continue to work with those people I have met and I know that Alex City is not done teaching me patience, as I am still working on being patient.  I'm not sure that I want it to finish though...I'll be in AC for another week for sure. 

Thank you for setting everything up for mother's day and helping me out so much.  Love you! Be good!

May 3rd. 2015

Content from Montgomery Alabama Stake Public Affairs FB page:

Young adults from all over the Montgomery, Alabama Stake and throughout the world met in various locations for the second ever LDS Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults (broadcast). Sisters Nelson, Harris, and Belyeu met together in Alex City, Alabama (pictured below). Sister Harris, a full-time LDS sister missionary, said that the devotional "was really good. The whole time, I was applying it to improving my teaching."

04.27.2015

Hello!

Things here are crazy too.  I wish I could show y'all the crazy that is this branch.  We had about 19 people at church this week.  lol I've got lots of friends who are also girls now.  I don't know why I didn't do that sooner.  So fun.  Also, We should keep the quote thing going haha.  I love quotes!

Katelynn sent me some pictures of the cabinets.  It looks good!  If you can wait 10 more months, I'll help you paint the house.  Tell James and Wendi I said hello!  I could totes live in their RV haha. Road trip!  What's going on with Vorjolo?  Are they going to be there to skype on Mother's day? I'll keep them in my prayers.

Awww Brooklyn.  I'm glad she still remembers me haha.

Here's what's been going on here :The two twin girls we are teaching asked if they could swim in the water after they were done haha.  They had a date for the 9th of next month, but a member of the branch told their dad not to let them get baptized until he was right with the church (the dad is very less active.)  So now he doesn't want them to get baptized anymore.  We spent three hours talking to him on Friday trying to resolve things, but he wouldn't have it.  He felt so bad, but he wants to get to a better place to be a better dad for the girls before they are baptized.  It was hard to hear, but cool too because there have been a few instances since I have been out that you can feel the spirit telling you so strongly that you are here for this person specifically.  I felt that with him and his girls.  I have a soft spot for part member/ less active families...still so frustrated with the branch.  The Elders kinda went off on them in their talks yesterday so that was good, but a lot of missionaries have done that in the past.  Doesn't seem to change anything.  We keep working hard despite that though.

We have been doing a lot of finding this week, and we have met a ton of really cool people.  We did meet a couple...interesting people though.  There was a family sitting outside that I walked up to talk to and as soon as I stepped into their yard, I knew it was a bad idea.  All the men were so drunk.  They start going off on us asking if Mormons are mentioned in the bible.  I'm trying to answer their questions, but they are drunk and not having it.  So we are trying to leave as I'm not about to deal with it, but even as we are leaving they are trying to start something.  I turn around as we're trying to walk away and shout "We're leaving. You're drunk." ...Sister Nelson and Sister Rogers tell me all the time that I need to be careful with being sassy to people...which I do.  But we're still alive!  We get home that day and I'm trying to say "I'm so tired of drunk people," but it comes out "I'm so drunk!" so that was funny.  Then a whole day of doors in our face and this one guy who thought we believed black people would serve us in heaven...nope.

BUT we have met really cool people this guy Warren who came up to us on the street and asked us if we were missionaries! We told him yes, and asked if we could come visit him. He told us yes! We found a woman named August.  She is a Single woman with a two year old son.  And we found a Hispanic family!  Some missionaries goals are to baptize a family on their mission, mine is to baptize a Mexican. So yeah a Mexican family.  The best of both worlds.  THEN we met a woman named Elizabeth. She is an older woman who studied with missionaries about 20 years ago. She had a baptismal date and everything, but had back surgery and her doctor told her that the baptism would be bad on her back...so she never got baptized. So We are going to go talk to her again tonight and see if maybe her desire to join the church is still there.  And then there's Synithia who I am really excited for.  She was so excited for us to come back and, get this, SHE'S MARRIED!  The best.

 Then, just had to throw this in there, we went to a college bible study class called BCM (they're crazy, but entertaining.)  It started with science and it was supposed to evolve into religion....that didn't go very well...but we did find out that the world was created on October 22nd at 6:00 p.m.  haha oh boy.

It's been a fun week though haha. We'll have to take a road trip out here one day so I can show y'all the crazy that is Alabama.  Tell everyone I miss them and am praying for them.  Love y'all! Be good!...kid.

Hello Parents!

Happy late birthday Dad!  Sorry there was no card or anything...but I have been out of money haha.   It's almost the end of the month though, so we're making it.  Oh boy. Haha that baptism sounds interesting.  I'm glad I can say that I haven't had one like that yet though..Although the two twin girls we are teaching asked if they could swim in the water after they were done.  They had a date for the 9th of next month, but a member of the branch told their dad not to let them get baptized until he was right with the church (the dad is very less active.)  So now he doesn't want them to get baptized anymore.  We spent three hours talking to him on Friday trying to resolve things, but he wouldn't have it.  He felt so bad, but he wants to get to a better place to be a better dad for the girls before they are baptized.  It was hard to hear, but cool too because there have been a few instances since I have been out that you can feel the spirit telling you so strongly that you are here for this person specifically.  I felt that with him and his girls.  I have a soft spot for part member/ less active families...still so frustrated with the branch.  The Elders kinda went off on them in their talks yesterday so that was good, but a lot of missionaries have done that in the past.  Doesn't seem to change anything.  We keep working hard despite that though. And you're right haha all God's children.   

We've had a few tornado warnings and everything, but everyone says that we don't get storms too bad down here.  It's all up north really.  Sister Rogers is up North in Guntersville and called me saying that they had to spend the night at a members house because of tornadoes, so that was scary, but nothing too bad yet.  Katelynn sent me some pictures of everything.  Are stairs a possibility then?  A tree house would be the best!  There are lots of trees here to build it in :)

We have been doing a lot of finding this week, and we have met a ton of really cool people.  We did meet a couple...interesting people though.  There was a family sitting outside that I walked up to talk to and as soon as I stepped into their yard, I knew it was a bad idea.  All the men were so drunk.  They start going off on us asking if Mormons are mentioned in the bible.  I'm trying to answer their questions, but they are drunk and not having it.  So we are trying to leave as I'm not about to deal with it, but even as we are leaving they are trying to start something.  I said something to them about being drunk as we are walking away...Sister Nelson and Sister Rogers tell me all the time that I need to be careful with being sassy to people...which I do.  We get home that day and I'm trying to say "I'm so tired of drunk people," but it comes out "I'm so drunk!" so that was funny.  Then a whole day of doors in our face and this one guy who thought we believed black people would serve us in heaven...nope. BUT we have met really cool people this guy Warren who came up to us on the street and asked us if we were missionaries! We told him yes, and asked if we could come visit him. He told us yes! We found a woman named August.  She is a Single woman with a two year old son.  And we found a Hispanic family!  Some missionaries goals are to baptize a family on their mission, mine is to baptize a Mexican. So yeah a Mexican family.  The best of both worlds.  THEN we met a woman named Elizabeth. She is an older woman who studied with missionaries about 20 years ago. She had a baptismal date and everything, but had back surgery and her doctor told her that the baptism would be bad on her back...so she never got baptized. So We are going to go talk to her again tonight and see if maybe her desire to join the church is still there.  And then there's Synithia who I am really excited for.  She was so excited for us to come back and, get this, SHE'S MARRIED!  The best. 

 Then, just had to throw this in there, we went to a college bible study class called BCM and they talked about some pretty fun stuff! It started with science and it was supposed to evolve into religion....that didnt go very well...but we did find out that the world was created on October 22nd at 6:00 p.m.  haha oh boy.  

 But yeah thats been my week.  So fun.  I'm pretty excited for this transfer.  Be good. Love y'all!

P.S.  Mothers day is in like 2 weeks!

On Sun, Apr 26, 2015 at 12:42 PM, Jeff Harris <lamarsue02@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hello Sister Harris

Sunday morning getting ready to leave for church. We have to go to Phoenix after Primary as I have a doctors appointment tomorrow in Tempe. Last night Israel Shelly and the kids came over for dinner. Luis bbq'd hamburgers and Michaela made a birthday cake. It was nice (and crazy). So now I've reached that milestone age and I feel it. The brother of one of our Primary students was baptized yesterday so I went to the baptism. Mom had to work. It was to say an interesting baptism. I guess some do enter the Kingdom kicking and screaming. (not literally, but almost). I though of you and some of the interesting people Missionaries get to deal with. Poor Brother Grabinger baptized him and he said the prayer wrong so had to redo it. The sister is is the little girl in our class that spends the entire time in class stacking and un stacking chairs. We keep a close eye on the weather ap on Roku. I  know it's not always accurate but it was calling for heavy storms hail and possible tornadoes. Hope it all missed you. We got a little rain here and are supposed to run into storms this afternoon on our way to Phoenix. I saw Katelynn's post yesterday that she did Pat's Run on the Trucks Only team again. I'm sure she's kept you up to speed with her world. Mom and I have been watching a show on Animal Plant about a guy who builds really cool tree houses. So we're trying to figure out where we can build a tree house to live in. Don't be surprised if when you get home you have to climb a rope to get in the house (just kidding - no rope climbing). Well it's time for us to go. Michaela and Luis are going to try and go. This will be rich, the kids are already crying. I think my tree house is going to be one bedroom.

Love you lots. Keep up the good work and remember they are all God's children. And the Church is True. Love Dad

04.20.2015

Hello!  Elder Madden! He is a good kid. Sister Hamblin and Rogers are so funny.  They love their missionaries haha.  Dry heat definitely has a new meaning for me...so sticky.  It has been rainy all week though so at least we have been wet all over instead of just sticky.  

Thank you again for getting taxes figured out for me.  And its still my size, but there is a thrift store that we found that has a ton of shirts that have worked, so don't worry about getting anything new.  I'll be in AC for at least another 6 weeks.  It has been a hard week.  Sister Rogers got transferred to Guntersville.  That's way up north. Further than Cullman.  I miss her a lot.  Sometimes you get companions who you know are inspired.  Sister Rogers and I were for sure.  We helped each other out a ton.  We had interviews with president this last week.  Sister Hanks gave me the option of calling Katelynn once a month so she wouldn't have to look at the computer so much.   I don't know if that would help or make things harder for us, but I have been praying about it.  

My new companion is Sister Nelson.  We are pretty different, but we are getting a lot done in the short time we have been together.  The father of the two twin girls we have been teaching, Angela and Devin, finally said they could get baptized.  They want to do it on mothers day.  There is a lot of progress with the other people we have been teaching too.  I'm excited for them!  It has been hard adjusting with Sister Rogers leaving, it always is when you leave a companion you connected really well with, but its nice to have a companion like that that I'm no sending home haha. She'll be here with me for the rest of my mission #perksoftraining

I Hope things are going well there.  As always let me know if there is anything I can do for anyone over there. Love you! Be good. 


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emmy friend!  Thank you for the Easter card and sugar crash off half off Easter candy! haha 

This week has been pretty hard with saying good bye to Sister Rogers and all.  I'm just glad I'm not sending one of my favorite companions home for once.  I do miss her a lot though.  THEN I had interviews with President and Sister Hanks the other day.  They gave me the option of calling Katelynn once a month so that she wouldnt have to strain her eyes on the phone or computer.  I need help deciding on that one though.  I'm not sure if it would help or not. I've been praying about it.  I get to skype/ call on Mothers day though!  Are mom and dad coming up there to celebrate that with you?  

We set a baptism date for Mothers day weekend for two twin girls we have been teaching and hopefully we are going to get a few others for that week end as well.  I'm sad that sister Rogers won't be here to see them, but soo glad they are finally happening.  Seems like everyone scheduled appointments with us today, so we dont have much time, but let me know if y'all need anything yeah? Love you! be good!

On Sun, Apr 19, 2015 at 11:54 PM, Jeff Harris <lamarsue02@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Sister Harris. Hello. Sunday night and mom is sitting across from me writing you in the kindle so I won't repeat what she's writing. We got nice emails from Sis Hamblin and Sis Rogers. They sound like nice moms. Grandma said that the Elder from her ward that you served with - can't think of his name - gave his homecoming talk today in her ward. He told her that you are a hard working Missionary. Everything here is good. GEtting hotter, but its a dry heat. I guess that has new meaning for you now. Anxious to hget your email tomorrow to learn about your week. We love you and pray for your success day and night. Love you lots. Dad

04.13.2015

...this is my companion

Good morning.  Everything with the car got resolved.  Still very frustrated with our ward mission leader.  He knows the rules...just doesn't care. The elders told us after ward that he had intended to have us all ride together in the first place, but when I wouldn't do it, he "check mated us into coming."  We had to break a few more rules and had the elders drive back to were it was and try jumping it again with better cables.  It worked...but two cars and only two elders...they just tailed each other the entire way back I guess.  All us missionaries sat down with him afterward and told him that the branch is never going to change unless the members change.  They can't seem to help but bring up deep doctrine at church ALL THE TIME.  They scare people away.  It is difficult, but hopefully this next transfer we will see change....Sister Rogers is getting transferred...and she's follow-up training!  I'm a proud cool aunt.  It sucks though.  She's a great kid and I'm going to miss her a lot.  She's worried that I might go off on Brother Ermer when she's not there to talk me down...which is a possibility.  Cullman got closed too.  It's been hard.  It's scary to think what will happen to the fam bam and everyone without sisters.   Stephanie and the girls didn't come this week, but a couple of twin girls we have been teaching, Devin and Angela, came with their dad who hasn't been to church in literally years.  That was really cool.  Its sad that Sister Rogers has to leave when we are getting so close to having some baptisms.  And tell dad I said sorry, but I didn't have time to write haha. Thank you for clarifying for me.   In other news its soooo humid.  No me gusta.  THEN Wednesday we were trying to find some place to tract and we decided on a street and went there and the Elders car was parked on the side of the road! So mad haha. We put these Jehovah Witness pass along cards all over it because someone had given them to us. It was funny because they called us and were like, "Someone attacked our car!" So we acted like we didn't know what they were talking about. Pranking Elders is the best thing.  Instead of tracting that street though we went across the high way and found a street we had never done! It was crazy! Every house besides like two let us in. This one guy we met was in the trees by his house and he kept yelling, "TIGER... SLOWPOKE!" Over and over. We went up to him after he came out of the trees and he told us he was trying to find his cats that ran away so he goes out everyday and yells, "TIGER... SLOWPOKE!" hahah he was crazy! He then starts at the beginning of the street telling us whether the person in the house is black or white. He is listing it off like.... "Black, Black, Black,Black, White, Black, Drug Dealers, Black, White." We are just standing there like, yaaa okay. We don't care what they are. haha. The whole time we were tracting he continued to drive by in his truck telling us the race of the person in the house we were going to knock on. Bless his heart. haha  Saturday was Prom here,and one of our investigators, Brad and Christy, their daughter was going. Christy texted us and was like, "Cheyenne is having her prom pictures at 4 if y'all want to come see her!" So we were like sure. We then roll up to PROM PICTURES. hahah So funny. Everyone was like what are you doing here. Christy is just like, "HEY GIRLS!!" So we awkwardly stand and watch while pictures are being taken. haha so funny. We mostly just played with the kids there and Slade, Christy's son. THEN we were tracting and we go to knock on a door and can hear that whoever is in there is speaking a different language. So we knock and the guy comes to the door and he is Asian. So we didn't know if he spoke English or not so Sister Rogers goes, "HEY! We are the missionaries!!" He waves hi. We stand and stare at him for like 30 seconds in silence. He then waves by and slowly closes the door. Sister Rogers and I proceed to lose it hahaha. So funny and so awkward.  The pictures worked.  Lol Jacob is so chubby.  I'm totes planning on going to April and Kyle's when I get home.  In 6 more weeks it will be 9 months.  Then we can hit Bama :)  lots of fishing holes here.  P.S. Can you tell that half of this I just steal from Sister Rogers and change the words a little bit? #lazy

April 6, 2015 Letter & Pictures

So many shenanigans in Alex City.  It has been said that this is the craziest/sassiest area in the mission by many.  HAPPY EASTER YESTERDAY! Conference was legit! We must make dalek conference a tradition when I return.  The Saturday session no one came to the building to watch it so it was just us and the Elders. We only have a key to the building and not the clerk's office so we couldn't get the TV out to watch it. We ended up all crowding around and watching it in the Family History Center. haha I love this place. After conference we went to visit one of our investigators, Stephanie, she has two girls Montasia and Lanasia. She is always saying, "I might surprise you and come to church." Which means yaaa.... I ain't coming. But during the Sunday morning session on conference there was an hour left and the door opens in the back of the chapel. It's Stephanie and the girls walking in.  The girls had already been to church before and this was Stephanie's first time. She came during some really good talks, so she really enjoyed it and said she will have to come next week to see what a normal Sunday is like. Love them.

THEN. Sunday, we were supposed to have a Potluck with the Elders cause no one invited either of us to dinner but that morning, our ward mission leader, calls us and is like don't make plans for tonight cause you're having dinner at my house. Sweet. BUT he gets to the church to pick us up...without his wife. So he can't give us a ride. So I tell him "we don't have enough gas or miles to get there."  "No, my wife will be really sad if you don't come. You have to be there."...so we bite the bullet and drive there on a quarter of a tank.  I didn't know that he lived in. the. middle. of. nowhere.  Turns out he lives 30 miles away.  We follow him out there thinking that we would have enough gas...nope.  We got there, but we needed to fill up to get back.  So I put the nearest gas station in the GPS...its ancient and closed.  Put in the next closest...doesn't exist.  We are legit in the middle of nowhere. So I face it that I'm never going to live this down and call the Elders to come save us. Sister Rogers thought we were going to die and I'll admit that I was kinda scared too.  So they show up and put gas in our car...then it wont start back up.  The battery died. So we try jumping it and.... Nothing. So now Big Blue is sitting in the middle of no where all alone and we have to get it towed somewhere today. We then had to break the rules and ride back with Brother Ermer cause ya.. he wasn't about to leave us out there and I was not about to stay out there. The Elders sat in the back of his truck and loved that so yes. That was Easter. 

But yeah its getting hot.  Can you ask mum and dad to send me some of the clothes I left?  Anything plain really.  I'll send them money to send it.  And Sister Rogers skim boards too!  She gets home 4.5 months after I do, so we should all go.  She reminds me of you too.  We have a good time.  I can't wait for you to meet all my companions that are a party...we are going to have a party all of us.  Anyways, be good, Love you!

Montasia and Lanasia

Us broken down taking selfies while the elders fix our car.

And now we have to walk because I don't fill up the car when it needs it...and Brother Ermer

Conference in AC.

And what we do in between sessions.

Uncle Fred. He is always sitting on his porch enjoying the weather. No matter what the weather is. He is crazy though hahaha. We always go talk with him and share scriptures and all that stuff. He used to be a Reverend. But one day we brought up the Book of Mormon. We asked him if he knew what it was and he said, "Ya it is about a different God." and we were like...mmmm. No. So we explained it a little. The next time we were in the area we said we would bring him one. So we did!

So frog eye is this small town that was basically founded on moon shine...

... and boiled peanuts.

The Tallapoosa river

The Tallapoosa river

04.06.2015 Pictures

March 30th 2015 Letter

Disclaimer:  Sister Harris answers questions from other letters, so some of this won't make sense to every reader... just keep reading until it does.  Enjoy!  :)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lol Oh April...I've told her about you...and that my mom doesn't have a facebook. She must have forgotten.  She (April) is the honorary ABM missionary.  She can't go on a mission, so she just goes out with the sisters ALL THE TIME.  She is leaving to Idaho tomorrow, so our member present lessons in the mission are going to disappear.  Side note.  Things I didn't know about missionaries... 1) they have miles limits on their cars 2) member present lessons are gold 3)...they have tiwis.  I'm going to do so much for the missionaries when I get home.  But yeah not old everyone else's mom just has a facebook and she becomes friends with them.  Her and Brundog and Lewy are all coming to Yuma in 11 months so you can meet them :)

We indeed got to watch the women's broadcast on Sunday...two crazy old recent convert ladies from the branch were there and we couldn't figure out how to fix the tv.  It sounded like a dalek.  One of the ladies kept telling me it was because it wasn't connected to the internet lol.  So yeah everyone sounded like a dalek the entire time. 

Haha I'll keep writing Dave.  I need to write everyone and their mom too.  Gah so much to do.  4) missions are busy as crap. 

OK so this week friend. We met a single mom and her 5 kids when sister Woodard was here. Yes 5 kids. They are my favorite. We lost contact for a while, with spring break and everything, but finally caught back up with them this last week.  We commit her and her 8 year old daughter to baptism.  We had been praying for a baptism for Sister Rogers and I to have together, but we had to get someone to church every Sunday before the end of the transfer because they have to come to church twice before they can get baptized.  We did all we could to get them to come to church this week, but alas...they were still out of town come Sunday morning.  I have never been more grateful in my mission that we had no investigators at church...branches man.  We all got together 3rd hour, well more like second and a half because church is only 2 hours long, but the topic of discussion?...Word of wisdom.  Normally this would be fine, unless you are in Alexander City where you either have the guy who is still smoking with a temple recommend or the lady who thinks eating white bread is breaking the word of wisdom.  I wish you could have been there kid.  It was hilarious.  Us and the Elders just lost it the entire time.  Sooo glad no one was there for that. Quote from this meeting:  "You have to be careful with herbal teas.  When I joined the church, I really missed my tea, but then I found ginseng tea.  It was great!  Until I found out it was loaded with female hormones."  Oh Alex City.  We have the craziest members in the entire mission apparently.  But yes pray for Denisha and Ashunti and Nicole and for us to be able to hang onto them in the midst of all the crazy. 

THEN oh boy hahaha.  There is this old abandoned house right next to the parking lot of the church building.  The Elder's got a media referral for the address of the house, but you have to like hike to get up to it as everything around it is so overgrown.  So all week we have all been trying to get to it.  Sister Rogers and I decide to try and go around the back of it because there is a slight trail off to the side.  This trail leads out to this open pasture type thing with just grass and no trees and abandoned refrigerators and junk with thick trees surrounding it all.  Its getting dark and we are already sketched out trying to get to this creepy house.  We start walking in the pasture towards the house and we hear somebody say "Hey!" We both look at each other and then look around to see where it came from.  Then I see a shirtless bearded hobo dude in the trees, turn to Rogdog, say "that's a dude!"  then we both proceed to book it out of there.  This is all going down while the elders just so happen to be riding their bikes up the street towards the church.  We get to the parking lot and are half laughing our heads off half freaking out.  We convince the elders to go contact the hobo guy....turns out it wasn't a hobo...just a tree and I need new glasses.  They won't let me live it down.  We still have no idea who said hey though. 

Other than that we have just been doing the same old thing.  Its hard not to think that we aren't working hard enough when people aren't progressing as much, but I just have to remember that Alex City is a branch and it's a bit different than Cullman.  Although apparently everyone in Cullman got dropped. Which sucks.  The fambam is struggling too, but they are trying to hold onto them.  Keep praying for the people here.  Be good. Love you kid! 

March 23rd 2015 - Pictures!

She wanted to take my "senior pictures" because I never had any

Add caption

We take legit pictures.  Also I like the second one as it is like mine and Lewy's...except I'm the Lewy

March 9, 2015 Letter

Alex City is great!  Definitely not Cullman, but that's unfair to Alex City.  Cullman will always be the place where I came to know my Savior.  It's sacred ground, and I miss it so much.  Alex City is definitely a different area though.  It is a branch, so there are only two hours of church and the chapel is the size of our living room.  There are black people too, which is weird as I just spent 6 months in an area where there were literally none.  I thought I couldn't remember names before, but this is going to be impossible.  The 3 Musketeers are still trying to figure out how to be 3 Musketeers when we are used to being duos, but its getting there.  I don't know why God keeps giving me such hard assignments.  First transfer was my first transfer so that was naturally hard, second transfer I kill my companion who became my best friend, then I killed another one, then I train, and now I am follow-up training after 6 months in my first area in a trio...I can't catch a break.  Its alright though because it is making me grow...or its punishment. I really don't know at this point.  Its crazy hard because Sister Rogers is great and I want to focus on training her, but I also have to make sure that Sister Woodard isn't left out...but I want to focus on training. Its rather annoying, but we all have fun together so that is good.

Michaela is going to work at pita pit?  Oh boy.  Is Selena still working there?  I'll be praying that everything goes ok with that.  And with everything else that is going on.  Let me know if y'all need anything.  Love you!

also I'll send my address again as I don't know if the last one was right. 216 A Colonial Way Alex City AL 35010

March 2, 2015

Good morning! 

I got your email.  Y'all probably already know as you are watching the weather here, but we got 9 inches of snow on Wednesday...and now I am sick.  I told everyone in my testimony at church yesterday that it doesn't snow where I am from so I never learned that cold + wet = sick.  So we went tracting in it as I thought it would be fun...it was!  We thought people would feel bad for us and let us in, which some people did, but there was one lady who said "I appreciate what you're doing, but I don't agree with your doctrine. I'm sure your boss will understand if you go inside. You're going to get sick."  then I told her that I thought it was fun as I am from Arizona.  She told us her daughter was living in Arizona and that she was going to take a picture of all the snow.  Then I told her, "you could take a picture of the two Mormon girls knocking on your door in the snow."  So she did.  Poor sister Winchester...I embarrass her a lot. Then we met a Hispanic lady who let us in and I taught her the restoration in Spanish so that was cool.  There definitely were some miscommunications, but we both understand enough to get the message across and schedule return appointments with her.  Then I realized there were holes in my shoes so we trekked over to the elders' who leave their door unlocked to steal their dryer and dry my socks.  They were home though, so we built a snowman together before going to play in the snow with Tucker, We started to walk home after that because they text us and told us to go inside for the day, but I nearly ate it in the snow and tore a muscle somewhere, so there were two sister missionaries limping down the street in the snow.  I can only imagine what a sight we were.  Then I broke our phone, so we had to use the elders to get transfer calls early. I am leaving and follow up training, and sister Winchester is staying.  I've known all transfer that I was leaving, but it has been hard to say goodbye to people.. I said goodbye to the Gaufins yesterday.  they are members, but we got really close.  I'm going to say goodbye to the fambam today.  That will be the hardest.  I know that they need someone new though, and whoever gets sent here will be good for them and the area.  I will be able to write on Wednesday to tell you where I am and my new address.  Love you! be good.

February 23rd 2015 Letter

Hello! Katelynn's birthday is one of the few that I do remember.  Hers and mom's.  I sent them both a card, but they will be late.  It would be nice to have a list of all the other birthday's perhaps haha as, for some reason, I have a harder time remembering those.  The weather here has indeed been cold and awful.  It snowed a little bit, but not too much.  The air is wet, so there is really no point in having layers as the cold just soaks through.  Its hard to keep warm out here, so people just stay inside...unless you're a missionary.  They were having black ice warnings the other day, so they called us and told us the cars were grounded.  I thought they told that to everyone, but it was just us apparently...its because I'm from Arizona.  This week was hard.  They always are, but Friday everything kinda went down hill for the fam bam.  We went early that morning to do some wedding stuff, but Scott still has his "demons" and long story short, the wedding has been put off until they can get things figured out.  Its hard when half the family is ready to get baptized, but there is one person holding them back.  So yeah the wedding wont happen while I am here, but I keep getting the quiet reassurance in my head that it will and eventually they will be sealed too.  Its just a longer road for them.  We got to have a heart to heart with Amie though so that was really cool.  The elders watched the kids at the church while we talked in the foyer and made fun of us when they come out and we are all crying haha.  girls.  Amie sure is prepared for this though.  Those kids too.  Scott is just a hard nut to crack.  I'm going to miss them a lot.  We had a really solid investigator that we handed over to the elders too.  I had the impression that if we did that, as he really looks up to elder shurtz, that we would be blessed with our other investigators...then all that stuff with the fam bam happens.  Not what I had in mind, but having the elders teach him will be a lot better for Marcus.  They only got to the part of the restoration that says God blessed us with families, and he said he wanted to be baptized.  He is a really good kid, but I feel like that is going to be a long road too.  The people we teach here all have things they have to overcome that take a lot of time, but ultimately it changes their lives.  haha Elder Madden!  Tell Grandma to tell Sister Madden that Sister Harris said that Elder Madden is a great missionary!  I will find out if I get transferred on Saturday.  I feel like I will be, but you never know.  Love you!

p.s. I got the valentines package and I got my big chocolate heart!  I thought it was just solid chocolate at first, but then i broke it open and it was peanut butter!  Its like y'all know me or something.

February 16, 2015

Family! I have received revelation!...well another sister told me about this and I thought it sounded like a good idea.  So, I am doing my personal progress again. And by again, I mean I am actually doing my personal progress.  I realize I am no longer in young women's and could probably get it done in a few weeks as I am on a mission, but I wanted to add to it by sharing emmaus experiences together.  Emmaus experiences are just small miracles or cool gospel experiences that you have.  They are called that because of the story with the deciples walking on the road to emmaus and Christ is walking with them and they don't realize it.  It's in John or Luke...can't remember where exactly.  Anyways, it is something I have started doing with the members here to get them excited about missionary work, but I thought we could do it as a family to record and so I can have some stories to share with people...and for personal progress. So questions: what are some experiences that have strengthened your testimony in tithing or just strengthened your faith? And for all the moms: what are the qualities a woman needs in order to teach children to have faith and base their decisions on gospel truths? Cool cool cool. Then I will share my cool stuff with you.  Probably at a time when I am on a computer instead of an iPad. Thank you! Love you! Be good.  Ps thank you for all the valentines goodies!

February 9th 2015 Letter

Letter TO Sister Harris:

Hello...

Before I forget mom just told me to tell you that she hit the big slide in Chutes and Ladders and Brooklyn beat her. We're in Phoenix because I have a drs appointment tomorrow. We've had a good visit. Dave and Rusty came over and Katelynn got her visitation with Rusty. Mom made cup cakes and the kids decorated them for Valentines Day. We're about to play Russian roulette with the cupcakes trying to remember who made which ones cuz they were licking them and sticking fingers in etc etc. -  Also talked to April a little while ago. It was Kyles Birthday today. They are having some struggles with things around the farm. The well is acting up and the refrigerator went out. Thank goodness it's been a relatively mild winter. The wood burning stove they put in the house has been working well - except they have to get up every two hours and put more wood in. Kyles's job is going ok so they are doing ok. Jacob Thomas Mower is getting big. His blessing is next week so we'll be coming back to Phoenix for that. Don't remember if I told you but Big Onion put in a bid to do the marketing at the Mazatzal Casino in Payson. If we get that we'd have to come up for that at least once a month. Mom and I are reading the book "Everyday Missionary". It's really good. Basically goes into depth of the President David O McKay statement "Every Member a Missionary." All of the blessings in ones family/life. So. We are anxious to hear how things are with you and Sister Winchester. More about the Fam-Bam. Have you heard from Sister Lewis? I went to the Mission web site and looked at the Christmas pictures again and saw the ones of your group doing a skit. Mom just blessed the cup cakes for a little extra protection. We'll be on the road tomorrow so won't get your email until late. We pray for your continued success. Keep us updated with any movement / transfers. We all love you lots and are proud of your progress. Love you Dad Mom and all.

Letter FROM Sister Harris:

Lol visitation.  Good job with Chutes and Ladders Brooklyn!  Sounds like its a party over there haha.  Glad to hear that everything is going ok with April and Kyle.  I worry about them.  I'll be praying everything goes will with the bid for The Casino too!  This week was up and down .  We had some really good days, but then some days where people we thought were solid would see us outside and not open the door.  Those are no fun.  This week is going to be better though.  Still trying to put together this wedding and keep everyone happy.  We did find a dress though.  We went over to help a lady who was getting ready to have heart surgery and she had some stuff she was giving away which included a wedding dress and some other stuff.  We didn't even tell her we were looking for one so that was an answer to prayer.  Sister Lewis and I talk a lot still.  She helps me adjust to training while I help her adjust to normal life again.  She is trying to plan a wedding too, so we are both stressing over weddings...just very different situations.  Sister Brunner got moved too so I don't get to see her anymore.  Its really sad having to leave people you get close to out here, but we write still too. Sorry there isn't much to report on this week, but next week will be more eventful I promise!  Be good. Love you!