The world out there is messed up‏

Elder Bliss and I had a really sad experience this week. Elder Bliss, myself, and our exchange, Brother Evans, went to go an try to contact a part-member family in hopes of inviting them back to church and to hear the missionary lessons. They weren't there but there were some people in the yard next to us. so Elder Bliss called over to them and we began to talk to a girl, in her 20's about the church. She had gone to church when she was younger and said she didn't agree with some of our doctrine. We inquired of her what specific points in hopes of clearing them up. We were talking for a while about various things, trying to explain our beliefs and practices when Elder Bliss began teaching about the apostasy and the restoration. This woman's husband come over while Elder Bliss was teaching about the events leading up to the First Vision and began listening. He then started to tear down our beliefs and testimonies using all sorts of arguments not uncommon in Anti-literature. After he finish he told us that he "didn't appreciate" us trying to lead his wife's soul to hell. He said he would have rather come out and seen us raping his wife, than what he saw us doing.

My heart hurt after that.

I was talking to my district leader Elder Lybbert that night and I asked him why the world was so messed up that he would rather us rape his wife than talk to her about the Church. He told me that the time of the Second Coming was close and that satan is working hard. That is why it's so important that we are doing what we are doing. I felt like Nephi crying to the Lord on top of a tower because of the wickedness of his people.

"Oh. that i could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that i could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord - "Yea, If my days could have been in those days then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren."But behold I am consigned that these are my days, and that my soul shall be filled with sorrow because of this the wickedness of my brethren." (Helaman 7:7-9)

The world really is in a mess.

I've grown to love the people here and I ask that you would pray with me for the people here in Tucson, across the mission, and around the world. Pray for their welfare and then go and do what you can to help bring the Atonement of the Savior to your friends and family. This world needs the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the only way the world will ever know peace.

Elder Andrew Harris

Andy with Elder Bliss

Andy with his second companion, Elder Bliss. The picture was taken by Jim & Debbie Nicodemus. Jim is the ward mission leader in Andy's first area.

Tracting Isn't Worthless!‏

This week Elder Bliss and I had a cool experience tracting. We were praying seeking for inspiration on which street to tract and Elder Bliss felt prompted to tract a street called Newton. We were about 6 or 7 houses down when we saw a man working on his car outside his home. We went up to talk to him and he just said "Look guys I really don't want to talk to you." We paused for a second, and he then started to tell us about his son who recently passed away. He was about our age and was a Jehovah's Witness and so he went out knocking on peoples doors just like we did. The image of us was too much for him as the memory of his son was still very tender. We went in with the plan of salvation about death and the resurrection. As we were teaching his wife, Myra, and daughter, Itzal, came out and were listening. We asked if we could come back and teach them more later and the wife wanted us to come back to teach he daughter and answer her questions. The wife, though a christian, couldn't really exlain what happens after we die, and he daughter had alot of questions.

We went back the following evening and taught them both the entire plan of salvation. The husband wasn't willing to join us. Elder Bliss went back a few nights later to teach the Restoration, while I was teaching Kurt. They believe that it's true but we found out the they were going to mexico and wouldn't be back until school started back up again. So Elder Bliss showed them Mormon.org and encouraged them to attend church in Mexico and to continue reading from the Book of Mormon. We cannot wait until they get back!

So tracting isn't completely worthless Other than that nothing really new is happening.

Kurt is still doing awesome, and this transfer is almost over. I'll find out next Monday night after e-mails if I'm going anywhere. I'll have Bro Nicodemus e-mail you if I'm shipping out.

Love you all!

Elder Andrew Harris

Working smart?

Hey everybody! first off, sorry I havn't been writing anyone, I've run out of stamps. I'll get some next week though and start writing you all back. Anyways this past week has been a rough one. Elder Bliss and I have been working really hard but not much has been coming of it. So we're re-thinking and we're going to start working smart.... or at least we think that it's the smart way... we'll see I guess.

This morning Elder Bliss and I went hiking and did our studies in the mountains. The attached pictures are where we went. Those ugly red beetles were hanging out where we decided to stop for our studies and Elder Bliss had one crawling up the back of his neck. It was pretty awesome.

Kurt is doing awesome right now. He is so ready to be baptized and we're excited for him. Now we just have to keep him going and strong until the 27th. It's sad that his date is for the 27th because transfers are on the 22nd so I could be gone by then... keep your fingers crossed. Hope you all are having a wonderful week. Talk to you next week!

Elder Andrew Harris

Sad times‏

So this last week had a lot of sad moments but some good ones as well. Jeff Tysoe, one of investigators with a baptism date for the 20th, officially moved out of the ward. He's still going to be baptized but... still sad to see him go. Jesse Rice, another of our baptism dates for the 20th as well, is living with his girlfriend and since they aren't ready to get married and won't move out, that date had to be cancelled. We're still teaching him but we have to wait for him to be baptized.

And then the saddest moment yet, yesterday a less-active member that I met my 2nd or 3rd day in the field, and have been working with and seeing about once a week since then informed me that she had requested to have her name removed from the records of the church. I almost started to cry. She is a normally emotional woman and she talked about it like she was talking about throwing away some old clothes or something. I tried to convince her other wise but she had made up her mind.

Now that thats out of the way, time for some good news. Kurt came to church and loved it and is still set on the 27th of June for his baptism. Stephen Sumner, another less active that we've been working with for about a month now, came to church and is back on track to full fellowship and soon the preisthood. He's got to give up smoking first but he's working on that as well. And then we set a baptism date with Kate Schell. Kate has been taught by missionaries forever. She wants to be baptized but just never keeps commitments. So if we can get he to keep her commitments, especially coming to church, she will be able to have those blessings.

Other than that, it's hot here and Church is still true.

Love you all and love your letters.

Elder Andrew Harris

5/26/09 Letter

Hey everybody! First off I would like to give a special thanks to all of our friends and family who have served or who are currently serving in the armed forces. I would especially like to thank my friends Andrew Horrocks for his service in the Marine Corps and my friends Jeff Weaver and Spencer Dom for their service in the Army. We truly are blessed to live in this country and be able to worship and live freely and protected. We wouldn't have these freedoms without the brave service of the men and women in the armed forces.

Next on the list - the work. Right now Elder Bliss and I are working with 3 people who are progressing towards baptism and will hopefully be setting a couple more baptism dates in the coming week. The three people we are working with now are Jeff T, Kurt W, and Jesse R. Jeff grew up in Safford, or mini Utah, and when we first met him, called himself a dry (unbaptized) mormon. He has taken the lessons so many times he remembers the flipcharts. He finally decided that he needed to be baptized and so he is progressing towards the 20th of June. Jesse is also working towards the 20th of June. He is a recovered narcotics addict who has a great testimony of Christ. He now helps other addicts overcome their problems. Finally Kurt was introduced to the church by his friend. He has been searching for "Clarity in his life" and is finding it in the church. He plans on being baptized on the 27th of June. It's been great to see the progress of these people as the gospel is changing their lives. Please keep them in their prayers.

Finally I would ask that you keep Elder Bliss in you prayers. He is struggling with the work and sometimes has feelings that he cannot continue in the work. I refuse to let any of my companions go home without doing all I can to keep them here, so all the prayers you can offer on his behafe would be appreciated.

I love you all very much and wish you all the best in what ever you are doing.

Elder Andrew Harris

I'm still here!‏

Hey everybody. So another transfer has come and gone and I'm still here in Tucson Arizona, in the Coronado and Casas Adobes wards.

My new companion's name is Elder Bliss (I've already called him Elder Bl-urt a couple of times) and he came over here from just down the road. We've been in the same district since we got here. Thats right, we both got here at the same time. We weren't in the same MTC district but we were there at the same time. We're both pretty young and still trying to figure things out.

They made me Senior Companion (probably just for the purpose that I know the streets) and it's been crazy. Elder Burt made it look so easy but it's a lot harder than I thought. Right now Elder Bliss and I are teaching a few people that are pretty solid and should be setting some baptism dates here soon.

Funny story... The other day while Elder Bliss and I were out tracting we started walking up to a guy to talk to him. When he saw us, he yelled at us, "Get your cultish religion off my property!" We turned to go and so Elder Bliss called out to him "Have a nice day sir". His response was priceless. He yelled back at us "I'll be having a better day than you! I won't be burning in Hell!" We got a good laugh out of that one and it's now on the quote board in our apartment.

Hope everything is going well with finals and such going on. Love you all! Talk to you soon!

Elder Harris