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!

February 2nd 2015 Letter2

Letter TO Sister Harris:

Hello. I hope I get this out before  you get on the computer. I started to write last night but phone calls, etc interrupted. Was going to do it first thing this morning but I forgot I have an early meeting with KIA on Monday's. So here I am finally in the office. How are you and Sis Winchester doing? Everything here is good. Mom's garden is producing, the chickens are starting to lay and Speed has stuck "her" head out to check out the fresh stuff in the garden. Everything on the block is quiet. Can't remember if mom or I mentioned that Cathy and Dale across the street put their house up for sale. Other than that not much new in Yuma. Mom and I are still teaching Primary. Yesterday he EQ and HP took over Sharing time so the RS could have a special meeting on Visiting Teaching. I told the EQ President I'd give them 15 minutes before the whole thing collapsed. Actually they did pretty good an d made it all the way through with out any 6 year olds trying to hang each other with their ties. As always anxious to hear what';s going on. All is ok here. We think of you often and pray for you daily. Keep doing the great job you're doing and know we love you.

Have a good week. Dad

Letter FROM Sister Harris:

Sister Winchester and I are doing great! A lot better than last week. We are actually finding people this week!  we were doing the thing where we invite random people to be baptized, and so we found some apartments that i had always passed, but never knocked on and the guy in the first apartment we knocked on said "sure" to being baptized.  We went in and taught him the restoration and set a date for the 28th.  I'm not sure how solid he is, but it was a cool experience. The fam bam are going to get married on the 28th and hopefully we can get them baptized soon after that...I have no idea how to put together a wedding.  That family is going to give me gray hairs.  We found some trailers that we hadn't knocked on the other day...there was a reason for that.  They were all Hispanic and didn't speak English.  Its pretty funny.  I know how to say "Somos missionarias de la iglesia de JesuCristo De los santos de las ultimos dias y tenemos una mensaje de JesuCristo te interestante?"  Which is we are missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints and we have a message about Jesus Christ. Are you interested?...but that's all i know, so after I say that, they think I'm fluent in Spanish and then they just go off speaking Spanish and I cant understand them.  There was a couple of ladies who I communicated with pretty well though and was able to ask if we could come back...after I have practiced my Spanish. After we had gotten to a certain point in the trailer park though, there were dogs everywhere...scary dogs...who weren't on chains.  This one from across the park started running at us.  We thought for sure it had to be on a chain...it wasn't.  We almost took off the other direction, but then I remembered that you aren't supposed to do that, so I just stood my ground and mad dogged the dog.  After that we started back towards the car with the dog snarling at our heels the entire way...never go to a trailer park...ever.  So yeah  its been an interesting week.  Glad to hear that the church building back home is still standing haha.  I pray for y'all ever night too.  Love you!  

February 2nd 2015 Letter

Letter TO Sister Harris:

Dear Sister Harris

Just had another piece of cowboy cake. Wish we could share with you. It was very good.  We had a good week. Hope you did too.  We went to a concert at the casino.   I think we were the youngest ones there.  Hope your doing good with you new training responsibilitys. President Hanks emailed us and told us what a good missionary you are and that he knows you will be a good trainer.   We know that too. When will you know if you are being transfered?  Emmy was going to send the scriptures you asked for hoping they get there before you leave.  We think about you every day.  Keep up the good work. Share your testimony and it will grow and help those you share it with.  We pray for you and your companion-whatever her name is. Love you Mom

Letter FROM Sister Harris:

mmm Cowboy cake. I used to have that recipe memorized at one point.  What concert did y'all go to?  President Hanks emailed you? I know in about four weeks.  We get calls on the Saturday night before transfer meeting on Wednesday.  They tell us if we are staying or leaving, training or getting another calling, but that's all we know.  So I'll be in Cullman for sure for another 4 weeks. My companion is sister Winchester.  I must not have mentioned that haha...sorry. I pray for y'all every night too.  There is a member here who knows all about everyone back home because she loves asking about them.  She told me that she prays for y'all every night. It meant a lot.  I love these people here. Love you too!  Be good!