March 17, 2009 - St. Patrick's Day

(Andy's letter was a day late because the local college library was closed because of spring break)


Hey everybody, thank you everyone for the letters that I’ve been getting. I really appreciate them. I’ll try to get back to everyone but, I’ve lost some addresses and I don’t have alot of time to write on P-day, but I’ll eventually get back to you all...I promise.
This last week was alot of fun.
I jammed the heck out of my thumb while playing basketball. One of the APs spiked the ball(and my thumb) when I was going up for a rebound. I have pictures but I left my camera at home, I’ll send ‘em later.
My District leader went on exchanges with Elder Burt this last week and so I went into his area with his companion Elder Bliss, Elder Bliss came out the same time that I did and so it was an ultimate Greenie exchange. We had alot of fun and got a lot accomplished, we even set a baptism date with a girl who has been an investigator for a year or so.
We had a super lesson at a member’s house on Friday. It was a lesson with about 12 youth, two of whom aren’t members. It was a really good lesson and we are hoping that the youth will continue to investigate.
As of right now Elder Burt and I only have two investigators and both have baptism dates.
Norm is wanting to push his back and he’s been avoiding us lately. Alot has been put on his plate and satan is working hard on him. It’s frustrating because Elder Burt and I can’t help because we can't get a hold of him.
Kathleen is solid. She is giving up both smoking and coffee and is feeling really good about baptism. Her date is set for the week before conference. Seeing the change in her from the first time I met her has been amazing. She is so much happier and is loving the gospel.
Not much else to report
The Church is True
Joseph Smith is a Prophet
The Book of Mormon is the word of God
And Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World

Love you all
keep in touch

Elder Harris

What a week.

Sent: Mon 3/09/09 2:49 PM

Hey everyone, this week has been mega crazy. We lost all but two of our investigators and now are on a huge finding frenzy.

This week Elder Burt and I woke up at 4:30 in the morning on Thursday so we could go and speak at a morning side at the local seminary. We spoke about the events leading up to our missions and what they could do to prepare for their missions in the future.

We also ran into an existentialist while tracting. He opened the door and was real excited to see us. We thought he had some sort of vision and would want to be baptized right away. Then he said "I've been preparing to talk to you guys for a long time." the conversation was kind of funny, most of it went right over Elder Burt's head, but funny enough, he almost got the guy to commit to praying.

I met a poor wayfaring man of grief this week as well. We had just been dropped and were heading back to our car to go and see another investigator when a man flagged us down. He asked us if we would pray for him to get home safely. He was heading way out of town and had been away from his family for a couple of months. He told us that he was a short a bus fare so I opened my wallet to see what I could give. I had exactly the amount he needed. At that moment a story popped into my head that Gary Wilde (a member of our ward) had once told me, about when he was working on a temple and a man asked him for money. Ask him to tell you the story, it's pretty kool. Anyways I gave him the money he needed, we prayed and parted ways.

Love you all tons, can't wait to hear from you next week.

Elder Harris

PS: How did the state basketball tournament go?

Under the Tucson Sun - March 2, 2009

Allright, So Elder Burt is from Idaho Falls, Idaho and has been
out for about 6 months. Like I said earlier he reminds me of
Doug and he's been a lot of fun.

It's been in the 90's all this week. In the mission we have two
seasons. Suit season and then summer season. The divider is
general conference. Since it's still suit season, we have to wear
our suits unless it's over 75 outside, except after 5 o'clock, and
on Sundays. Elder Burt complains alot coming from Idaho, this
is unbearable. Right now it feels alot like summer even though
it's only just past February.

We cover the Coronado and Casas Adobes wards. We are up in
the north western part of Tucson.

As for investigators we have 8 right now. Norm is an older
gentleman who is very religious and loves the church. He has
two sons, twins that are 9 and they love primary. Kathleen is
an older woman who left the Catholic church in the 70's. She
said that when she left she felt a weight lifted of of her shoulders
and that you shouldn't feel that way when you leave a church.
She loves the meetings and the spirit felt there. Both Norm and
Kathleen want to study the gospel more before making any
decisions about baptism, but both have baptismal dates set in
late March and are working towards that. We're teaching a
Marshalese family. Lee, Molly, and Maria. Lee and Maria are
married, and Molly is Maria's sister. They had a baptism date
but because they haven't been to church they lost it (you need
to attend sacrament meeting 3 times before you can be baptized.)
And then we have Herbert. He's originally from El Salvador and
is awesome. We haven't been able to have a formal sit down lesson
with him yet because of his work schedule but we're hopefully
going to set something up. Carl is investigating the church because
his fiance' is a member and likes everything but had a few concerns
that we're trying to work with. Finally we're working with a man
named Walter and he also has some concerns that we're trying to
get over. I'm really not supposed to go into details about our
investigators or their problems, sorry. Now on to some stories.

This one is for Viv and Jake. I walked up an escalator that was
temporarily stairs the other day.

Enos and Sam will like this one. I met a Druid while tracting the
other day. This guy was found by another druid on his deathbed.
He gave him a journal written in a druidic language and he
translated it and it gave him instruction on how to be a warrior
for Gaia. He is a protector and it is his job to end conflict, but only
that which he encounters, he doesn't actually seek it out. He told
us that there are only 13 of them in the world because whenever
there are more than that they get wiped out back down to 13. He
also said that Merlins staff that was just found was actually a druid
staff. His Girlfriend was also training to be Wicka. It was an
awesome contact. My favorite part was when he told us that he
still had 90 years left to live while smoking a cigarette.

While tracting at night in a less than friendly part of town, a car
stopped by us. The guy opened his door and yelled "Jesus Loves You!"
Oh and I got my first door shut in my face. Other than that it's
been a pretty normal week. The members here are awesome
and the food is great. Finally, someone get a hold of Melanie and
tell her to write me. She promised me frequent contact and I haven't
heard from her at all. Also, I need Todd's mailing address. And someone
get David to write me and tell me about the Conflux release. Also,
someone give Tami a Book of Mormon and tell her to read Mosiah 13:2-3.

Love you all. Talk to you next week.

Andy With Pres. & Sister Walker

We received a letter from Andy's mission president and included in the letter was a picture of Andy along with President and Sister Walker. After they met him at the airport, they took him to see the Mormon Battalion Monument in Tucson.

This week.‏ Mon 2/23/09

Hey everybody. I don't remember if I told you
or not but I'm guessing I didn't. P-days are
normally on Monday, except on transfer week,
then they are on Wednesday. I also forgot to
tell you to send all mail to the mission office
and they'll forward it on to me. The mission
office address is 1840 E River Road, Ste. 102,
Tucson, Arizona 85718, and that will be where
you send everything the entire time I'm out
here.  Be sure to send stuff priority mail so
they can forward it.

Well today is P-day and life is awesome. I'm
loving it here in Tucson. The people are awesome.
The ward missionary effort is less than
applaudable but Elder Burt and I are working
on a fireside to try and fire everyone up....
so, get involved with your ward missionaries.
Ideally members should be doing all the finding,
and missionaries, all the teaching. 1 out of
22 missionary contacts get baptized as opposed
to 1 out of 3, member referrals... So GET
INVOLVED!!! Not much more to report. Elder
Burt and I have 4 baptism dates scheduled and
2 more invites this week, but most of the work
was done before I got here. I was just there
when we asked them to be baptized. Not much else
to report. Working hard, loving the work, miss
you all, love to hear from you.


Elder Harris


PS I'm not doing the name that tune anymore
because I can't really remember any song lyrics
except hymns so... who got that first one besides
Katie?

First Area

Wed 2/18/09

So we got down here to Tucson and it's so nice
outside. The weather is perfect, which means
it's just going to get hotter. But all is well.
My companion's name is Elder Burt and he's a
shorter version of Doug. This is going to be fun.
I'm still inside of Tucson but in the North West
area. I have a teaching appointment already set
up for tonight and it's going to be awesome.
Don't know what else to tell you all. But be
happy and live life. I'm doing great.

Andy

My last e-mail...

Thu 2/12/09 7:41 AM

...from the laundry room of the MTC. While my
clothes are tumbling, I'm eating a nutritious
breakfast of chocolate milk and bananas(the
bananas here are really bad, you do a much
better job of picking them out mom... either
that or I'm just really unlucky about my selection.
I've got my finger's crossed that this one will be
good. I'll keep you posted.) and I'm humming the
Freeze Ray song along in my head. I've got only a
few days left here at the MTC and I'm excited to
get out into the field.

Thank you to everyone here for all the letters
and gifts that i've gotten. I appreciate it and love
you all very much. It might take me a while to
get back to some of you because I set a goal to be
finished with the Book of Mormon by the time I
leave on Tuesday and I'm still in the middle of Alma.
So depending on how far I get today will determine
if I have time to write anyone some letters.

The other day we had a tie swap in the residence.
Elder Faulkner brought a bunch of the ties that his
grandpa gave him. He actualy liked that really ugly
tie I brought... yeah you know the one I'm talking
about... the feathers. Anyways I traded it for a floral
tie that is only slightly more pleasing to the eye. That
was pretty much the highlight of the week.

The banana is half way decent, just in case you
were wondering.

Today we're going to the temple and this time I
hope I don't get lost.

Anyway, love you all.

Andy