Well
first things first Fan Club. This week is transfers week, and I am sure
you are all dying to know the verdict. Well... Sister Roach and I are
staying together another 6 weeks! You know, at first I was a little
disappointed. Just because I have already been here 4 and a half months
and I really thought that it was my time to leave. But I was excited to
spend some more time with Sister Roach, because honestly I just love
her. But as the weekend continued I began to just realize how much work
that my Heavenly Father still needs me to do in Klamath Falls. I saw so
many miracles, and I know that I say that all the time, but I am telling
you the miracles never stop when it comes to missionary work! This next
6 weeks is going to be the time that the Klamath Falls 3rd ward
baptizes, and I know that is true (:
Lets start with the beginning of the week! We woke up really early Tuesday Morning, 3:30
to be exact and drove to Medford and then went all the way to Bandon,
THE COAST! We had our last Mission Leadership Council (MLC) with
President Russell. Basically it was the best meeting that I have been
to, because obviously we were able to sit on the beach while learning
about the gospel, HOW MUCH BETTER CAN IT GET! But it was so much fun. We
first started at the little Branch Building that Bandon has and we were
able to talk about some concerns happening in the mission. Then after
we ate lunch we went to the beach and we had an awesome object lesson
with a kite. We learned about how we as the leaders of the mission need
to help our fellow missionaries soar to new heights. Then President
Russell talked about how we are the watchmen on the towers, and we are
the ones that are going to be able to help our missionaries to safety.
To me the whole meeting just showed me that it means a lot to be in
Mission leadership. And to be a missionary at all! It is a sacred trust
that our Heavenly Father has given us to be able to share his message
and love and happiness with his children. And we need to try our hardest
to do our very best! I am so grateful for our wonderful leaders in our
mission. It is very strange to me that the next Mission Leadership
Council that I will be in is with President Orton.... ahhh time is going
so fast!
On Wednesday....
it rained! And I felt like the "drought" we were having in Oregon was
over hahaha. Really it has been super hot here in Klamath and I think
that I have just gotten used to the winter weather. But it was so nice
to have that rain just for the day!
We
had an awesome lesson with our on date Vic this week! We met him at the
church instead of going to his house and we were able to have Bishop
Phair come to the lesson as well. And of course Sister Burton, because
well we needed a woman! But it was so good. We started out by just
talking about 2 Nephi 31 because that was the chapter that we invited
him to read and he shared his thoughts and it turned out to be more of a
group discussion which I love! And he truly shared his testimony on
just wanting to be truly converted before baptism. And we talked about
how that is great and we want that too, but he will never be perfect
before baptism. And we think that was something that he had been a
little confused on. There is a difference between conversion and
perfection. It was so great to have Bishop there. We talked about the
importance of church and talked about the reasons why he hasn't been
coming to church. And at one point we asked him what his thoughts were
and he responded with saying something like "Well, it means something
when 4 people are here just to tell me that I am lazy and need to get my
butt to church". We all laughed and explained that we knew that is
where he would get is answer! So we committed him to come to church on SUNDAY!
So just the other day I was asking Sister Roach if she had ever gotten a referral from Mormon.org,
and she said no not really I don't think. And then, this week, when I
finally got my ipad set up we got and email from none other then Mormon.org!
His name is Edward and we called him and had a mini lesson over the
phone. He has been doing some investigating and he would like his own
copy of the Book of Mormon! So we have a lesson with him tonight!!!! He
sounds super promising!
We
had splits this week and I was able to go with Sister Teeples, our Ward
Mission Leaders Wife. And I felt prompted to go and see this less
active who we have gone and seen quite a few times and we have always
had nice visits with her. Well we went and saw her again and if was very
inspired because it had been a rough day. It was the 3 year anniversary
of her husband passing away. We were able to leave a nice message with
her that left her with peace and she said that she is going to come back
to church as soon as she can. I love being able to see the spirit work
in the Lord work!
Oh
my goodness Fan Club. Okay. So we had yet another lesson with Camiel
this week. The spirit was so strong. She told us that she is going
through a lot right now and that the only comfort and she has been able
to receive is when she is reading from the Book of Mormon. HOW COOL IS
THAT! She had a lot of questions with 2 Nephi 31 that we left her. She
was wondering what the difference was between baptism of water and fire.
She then had questions about the difference between the baptism when
she was a baby and the baptism that she could receive now. When we were
able to explain to her that God is her Loving Heavenly Father, she was
in tears. She knows that God sent us to her in a time that she needed
us. We taught the whole restoration and we invited her to pray about
everything that we taught her for herself. The spirit was strong and she
could feel it, we explained what that feeling was and how she can feel
that all the time. The only struggle that she has is a big one. She has
severe anxiety. We asked if we could bring a member with us next time we
come and she said she wasn't ready for that quiet yet. I am even
surprised that she is letting us come back as much as she is. She is a
strong woman. And I know for a surety that she will be baptized one day.
It will just take her time. We set a goal with her for August 12th. WE LOVE CAMIEL!
With
all the good times in missionary work there are always going to be
lows. This week there was a baptism for a investigator in 1st ward that
Sister Roach and I so badly wanted to go to. But we knew the only way we
could go is if one of our investigators would come. So we invited
everyone, and one of our investigators told us that they were going to
be there. We texted them multiple times that day and they kept saying
they were going to be there. Then, as we were waiting in the hallway for
them, they never showed up and we began to hear the ward start the
baptism. Our hearts broke. We still don't know why they didn't show up
and I am sure there is a reason. It just makes me remember that
sometimes we have to hit those hard times to feel the good times.
Because sure that was hard. But so many great things happened after
that! our Heavenly Father still loves us and wants us to do our best! So
that is exactly what we did!
Alright
so one of those miracles was the same night as the baptism we got a
call from our former investigator John. Some of you might remember John
and Tyanne. They were the couple that their biggest thing was they
needed to get married to get baptized. And we dropped them for a little
bit just to give them some space. That was about two weeks ago. Well
John calls us and tells us that he and Tyanne broke up and that she is
going back to Indiana and that he wants to start new in his life. We
were his #homegirls, for a few minutes there and let him vent. But then
we asked him why he called us. And he said that he knew we would be able
to listen and that we can help him start new! What the WHAT! JOHN! We
were freaking out. But we had to hang up the phone because we had a
mission wide conference call. So we told John that we would call him and
talk to him more about it later. He said that he has been so grateful
for the things that we have helped him with so far and that he knows
that this is the road he needs to take. TALK ABOUT A CHANGE OF HEART!
Okay
so another miracle. We have been trying to get Vic to church for WEEKS.
And this week in his lesson we committed him. So we were planning on
seeing him there. At one point we were walking around the church and we
thought we saw his truck outside so we were trying to see if it was his
and Bishop saw us and laughed and motioned us down the hallway, HE
CAME!!!!! Excitement filled my body and it was just so epic. You know,
sometimes I am scared to bring investigators to Fast & Testimony
meeting, because you never know what you are going to get. But the whole
meeting was focused on parenting which is EXACTLY what Vic needed. He
even shed a couple of tears during it. Seriously, the spirit is awesome.
This is what missionaries LIVE for. Well we had texted the Gospel
Principles teacher and told her we had an investigator... she didn't
come to church. Well no fear, Sister Roach and I taught the class
instead! We taught probably the best Plan of Salvation lesson that I
have ever taught. I know the spirit took over. And Vic was even able to
bear his testimony to the class!!! He is so ready, and I am so grateful
for the opportunity I have to teach him. He stayed all 3 hours and it
was EPIC!
One
last miracles, last week the Zone made the goal for every companionship
to find 10 investigators. Well yesterday morning we had found 4
investigators for the week. Which isn't bad, but it wasn't our goal! So
we just fasted (fast Sunday)
and prayed to find those people. We found 6 new investigators before
DINNER. Wow. God is so GOOD. In the end our zone has 8 companionships
and we found 81 new investigators. Seriously the best week in the
Transfer. KLAMATH FALLS ZONE IS ON FIRE!!!!
The
thought that I wanted to leave with all of you today came to me as I
was studying Preach my Gospel this week. It had to do with Joseph Smith
History 1:11-13, when Joseph Smith is seeking his answers to his
questions and read James 1:5-6. We all know this story so I won't go too
much into it, but as I was answering a few questions in my study
journal about the incident, a question came to my mind, "What knowledge
and truths have you been given in your life because Joseph Smith sought
out answers?" So I wish to invite everyone to think of that for
themselves. I know that I wouldn't be where I am in my life, with the
knowledge that I have because Joseph Smith asked of God. I know that God
the Father and his Son Jesus Christ live and that they love us so much.
I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that it was only brought to
us after Joseph Smith was able to pray to our Heavenly Father. I know
that we have a living day prophet on the earth today, and his name is
Thomas S Monson. I know that the priesthood power of God has been
restored again on the earth. I know that we can receive answers to our
prayers, and that God hasn't stopped talking to his children. So many
other things go into the knowledge that we have received that I could go
on for awhile. But I am grateful that a 14 year old boy had a question,
and look and see how is studying and seeking for an answer has changed
all of our lives for the better! I know the gospel is true and I am
grateful for the opportunity I have to study and teach it everyday of my
mission!
Well
Fan Club, I hope you are all excited that I am staying in Klamath Falls
another transfer because I am getting pretty pumped! President Russell
told Sister Roach and I last night that we are doing such great work
down here that he just cant separate us! And that his is excited to see
what this transfer will bring!!! And basically, the whole ward is just
in shock that they got what they wished for, so they are pretty excited
too! I am so grateful to be an instrument in the Lords hands in his
vineyard! More miracles to come next week! I hope you all have a
fabulous week and stay safe!!! Love you all!!
Work Hard.
---Remember who you are and who God EXPECTS you to become---
Love, Your Favorite Sister Missionary,
Sister Harrison 
️
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