Pics from Mount Graham

Butter my butt and call me a biscuit, look what happened!‏

We worship a God of Miracles!

This last week Elder Clark and I were abundantly blessed. We found so many investigators and many of them are truly prepared for the gospel. The first is a family that has been coming to church since August. Lorie (mom) was baptized a long time ago and recently decided to come back to church. She has been bringing her two daughters with her, Lexi (15) and Kiana (14). A neighbor finally asked them if they were ready for the lessons and Lorie said yes. We went over on Friday and were able to teach Lexi and Kiana. Kiana(Key-ah-na) has a date for March 6th. Lexi is being a little more difficult. She is definitely more in tune with the spirit than Kiana but, she doesn't want to be baptized. Her dad, who died about 5 years ago was Catholic and so she is bound and determined to stay Catholic. When we went over to teach the first lesson her mom called her down and after making a scene and leaving, she came back, and left, and came back. Her mom told her to stay or leave and she decided to stay. During the lesson she was involved and her boyfriend even called twice but instead of taking it she stayed and listened. I asked her to pray and ask God if she should be baptized. She said that if God told her she would do it. I asked her again last night if she prayed and she said no. I asked her why not, she said because she didn't want to be baptized. The spirit is working on her though and soon enough she will be baptized also.

On Sunday Elder Clark and I decided to fast an extra fast for the new investigators we were finding and also to continue to help us find more. After church we got a call from Sister Herrin, a part member, letting us know that her step-son wanted to get baptized! We went over to teach Jesse and committed him for baptism on the 20th of March. We had tried to teach his father Gary but he had been resistant. I asked him again about baptism but he said no. We went over last night and with his son's good example he wants to be baptized with him! It was such exciting news. He was asking us about the temple and when he could go to that and be apart of that. We have 2 more dates right now also.

James is a kid we met on the side of the road. We taught him and committed him for baptism there on his porch. We haven't seen him since but we're not giving up on him.

The last investigator's name is Andy.... yeah weird... He lives with a member and is going through a divorce right now. His friend called us and wanted us to come over and teach him. Andy grew up going to seminary and stuff but the time never presented itself for him to be baptized. Now the time is right and he is preparing for the 13th of March!

We found a few more that didn't accept dates but we're gonna keep on working with them. It was an incredible week.

To finish it off, yesterday we went up to Mount Graham (about 9000 elevation) and played in the snow. It was so nice. Snow up to your knees but warm enough out for shorts and t-shirts. After playing in the snow Elder Clark and I took our shoes and socks off (because they were soaked) and it wasn't even cold on our feet. It was awesome. Elder Torres is from the Philippines and has never seen snow before. We built a snow man which I then tackled. It was a lot of fun.

Love you all~

Elder Harris

Change to the Tucson Mission

With the creation of the new St. George Mission, some of the other missions have been realigned, including the Arizona Tucson Mission.

I don't know the specifics of the change but it appears to have taken the eastern most part of New Mexico and the El Paso, Texas areas away from the mission and included it in the Albuquerque Mission. I'm sure that if the Las Cruces area is no longer part of his mission, Andy will be sad but at least he was able to serve there before the change.

Super Bowl Sunday

Hey everybody!

Nothing too exciting happened this week.

Elder Clark and I are still trudging through the refiners fire as we search under rocks for investigators. We started teaching a lady named Robin this last week but the next day she dropped us. It was sad. The first lesson we had with her was very spiritual and she said that she believed that Joseph Smith was a prophet (we had her pray right then and there). The next day though she told us that she was tossing and turning all night and that she had an uneasy feeling all night. We tried to convince her that it was satan but she wouldn't listen :( We'll still be going by once or twice a week to teach her a little here and there but she won't be too big of a focus.

The Super Bowl last night was a pain in the neck.... nobody wanted to answer their doors :(

Also this last week, Bro Palmer invited us to come and teach the Seminary at Safford High. It was a way fun experience and we got to know the youth in our wards alot more.

Anyways, I love you all! Hope life is treating you well!

Elder Harris

One More Baptism:) - No More Investigators:(

This last Saturday was Chris's baptism and it was an amazing one! I got to baptize Chris and it was a way spiritual service.

Unfortunately with Chris' baptism Elder Clark and I are now out of investigators. Our days are now spent talking to everyone we can, pouring over old records trying to find new investigators. The Lord is going to provide us with miracles but it's still kind of a bummer.

This morning the Seminary teacher called us and invited us to come and kick off Missionary Week in his classes. We're super excited to do it. I miss Seminary so much, it was the best. Not to mention that the youth are amazing here, bringing Billy and Julie into the church, and we're hoping to start teaching a few more youth soon! It's kind of funny that a good chunk of my baptisms so far have been youth baptisms.

Well, I hope that all is going well with you all at home. I love you all and we'll talk to you next week!

~Elder Harris

Chris' Baptism

Elder Clark and I went hiking this morning. We found this old car in the desert . . .

. . . and finally caught a glimpse of the temple. I still haven't been out to see it, yet. :(

This is a mailbox in our area. We ride by it almost every day, and I couldn't resist!!

New companion!‏ - Training Again

Elder Vongsawad unfortunately has left. He went to my old area in Las Cruces.... jerk! and my new companion.... Elder Clark! I'm training again! He's so cool. He's from Draper, lives about 5 min away from the temple and he's a stud. Doesn't really need to be trained, he should be training right now. Future AP I'm sure!

Billy and Julie were baptized yesterday, so that was awesome! It was a great service. Billy also asked me to confirm him. It was way kool. I love seeing the change in people when they accept and live the gospel in their lives. Billy and Julie were both great kids before but they are so much better now and they smile a lot bigger too!

So I'll be here in Safford at least until next transfers, I'm hoping they keep me here for 2 transfers more after that so that I can be here for the dedication. It's coming closer and closer and we're see such great miracles from it. I'm so excited to be serving here in the Gila Valley. It's been a great experience!

I can't believe that Thursday marks One Year
It's going by way too fast.

Well I love you all so much!

~Elder Harris

What a week!‏

Hey everybody! This last week was a great week!

Austin Peeler moved up his baptism date because he has a wrestling tournament that he qualified for and so he'll be in Tempe this weekend. It was a great baptism and his father was able to baptise him and give him the Aaronic priesthood. His father is a priest has been less-active for a long time and about a month ago he was drinking and chewing. The Gospel has really changed his life!

Billy and Julie are on track for this weekend and Chris is doing good staying away from the cigarettes. He just needs to stay smoke free and he's all set for the 30th.

The District is doing amazing and so far we've seen 3 people baptized and we'll have 4 this weekend and 2 more next weekend. One short of our standard of excellence but we're already on track for about 5 in february. We have the dates for 11 but 6 of them are kind of shakey. We're going to get it though.

We are see such amazing miracles here.