Crazy Fun Week

This last week we had dinner with the Andreasons 5 out of the 7 days of the week. A few weeks ago when we were passing around a new dinner calendar, I saw President Andreason (1st counselor in Stake Presidency) up on the stand and took the calendar up to him because I hadn't eaten dinner with him the 3 months I had been here. To our suprise he signed up for a whole week. He informed us that we'd be having grilled cheese and Tomato soup all week. We talked to his wife and she said, "If that's what he said thats what we'll do!" Our first night they spared us with a good Sunday ham and funeral potatoes. I spilled my second helping all over my pants trying to cut my ham while my plate was hanging half way off the table. The next night when we had the tomato soup and grilled cheese, they put a rubber mat under my bowl so it wouldn't slide and outfitted me with an apron just in case. The next night we had tomato soup and grilled cheese again but that was the last night. I loved going over to the Andreasons, it felt just like home.

We just had some changes here in the district. Because they closed Truth or Consequences and put spanish elders in Hatch (Chile captial of the World!) They put Hatch in the spanish district and put Alamagordo in our district. Interestingly enough in Alamagordo is Elder Lybbert, my first District Leader. It's kind of weird being his District Leader now. But I'm way excited to get to go on exchanges with him again. I'm going to Alamagordo tonight so that should be a lot of fun.

As for the work, we're waiting on word if Israel can be baptized this weekend or not. I'm not sure how much I've told you but I'll give a brief summary. Israel is 17 and is awesome. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people and was charged with a felony. As such he has been on probation and as a rule can't be baptized until he is off parole or has 1st Presidency aproval. He originally would be off probation if he paid a fine and waited until the end of September. We found him work and he was able to pay the fine but his probation officer changed and now we're not sure if he will get off in a couple of days. If so, he'll be getting baptized in between sessions of conference on Sunday. If not probably not for another month at least...:( We're praying hard for him and we would appreciate your prayers on his behalf as well.

Love you all and hope all is well back home

Elder Andrew Harris

(8 months already!?!?!?!?!?!)

Busy Day‏

Hey mom and dad, not too much time today.

Not a whole lot to report other than I'm still here in Las Cruces and probably will be until mid December, late January... Elder Vermillion is still my companion.

A member here wants to start a New Mexico division of the Temple Riders and wants info. Dad, his name is Randy Andreason

Also if the next time any package comes this way if you could throw a couple of rolls of magic tape in that would be awesome. Elder Vermillion and I have had a couple of scrapes from bike accidents... don't worry nothing too big :)

Love you guys

Elder Harris

Weekly Update

Hey Everybody!

Any BYU football fans out there? Well yesterday in one of our wards we had a new Elder's Quorom presidency set apart and the President it Jesse Sowards, former kicker for BYU. I don't know who he is but I thought maybe you might.

Anyways, so this week we got a referral for a man who visited Temple Square and asked for a copy of the Book of Mormon. We visited him and he is way kool. He's a Messianic Jew, which means he believes that Jesus Christ is the Messiah but he doesn't believe in Christianity... yeah, he's way kool though. He'll be baptized but when we invited him to set a date he told us that his decision to be baptized into a church is like getting married to God and he didn't think a month was a long enough courtship with God. The biggest downside is that his job has him traveling all over the place and so we really can't sit down and meet with him too often.

Israel is also doing really well, so is his grandmother Marcy. Israel is set to be baptized this coming Saturday and Marcy coming up on the 10th of October. We're really excited for them.

But with the passing of time comes transfers again. Tonight we're going to be getting calls and find out whos going and who's staying. It's hard to say whether I'll go or stay. I've been here for 3 months and my companion 4 1/2, which would say that I'm going, but my companions last transfer is this next one so he could stay, and I go, or we both could stay... who knows. We'll find out soon.


Well I love you all and I'll talk to you next week.

Elder Andrew Harris

Another Transfer Come and Gone‏

Hey everybody-

This last week was definitly an interesting one. I got to spend a couple of days in the tiny town of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. It's alot different that working in a big city but the gospel is true no matter where you go.

The transfer is coming to an end and we should be getting transfer calls this coming monday. I'm pretty sure I'll be staying here in Las Cruces, and I hope so, because we have a couple of investigators who should be getting baptized in the first couple of weeks after transfers. But if I go, I go. What ever happens the Lord is in it.

Not a whole lot to report this week. Things are moving forward as usual and there is nothing better than being a missionary.

Love you all, thanks for all the letters, sorry I can't get back to you but the missionaries in Las Cruces love basketball so we usually spend a good 3 hours playing every P-day. Doesn't leave much time to write back but I'll get there. See ya next week!

A cool recipe a member gave us: Cake Balls!Bake a cake, turn it into crumbs. mix in can of frosting. roll into balls. cover with melting chocolate and then chill. They are delicious!

The blazing challenge was rediculous but well worth it. I have my shirt hanging up in my room, so I can see it when I go to sleep. I'm leaning more towards green but I do like red. Chilies are probably the best peppers ever!

Elder Andrew Harris

My Stomach Hurts

So we just came from Buffalo Wild Wings, where Elder Elton and I did the "Blazin Challenge!" 12 wings dipped in their blazin' sauce which is made from jabenaros and chayenne pepper from India. I did it in about 4:45. Elder Elton did it in about 2:30. To win the challenge you have to do it in under 6 min. It was rediculously hot. I was crying the whole time and my mouth is still burning. I'm not going to be feeling well tonight :( I got a shirt though. They were out of anything but smalls so i really can't wear it, but oh well, it was worth it.

Being a District Leader is ok, training other missionaries is kind of wierd considering I'm younger than them all and I am standing up in front of people and teaching them. The Assistants asked me to do a training for Zone Training this coming Wednesday. It's about making sure our investigators pray, and pray correctly. I'm kind of nervious about it because about 22 missionaries are going to be there but it shouldn't be too bad.

Finally we have an investigator named Israel. I think I've talked to you about him before. He's 17 and he is doing awesome. He is all set to be baptized, we are just having to wait for him to be done with his Juvenille Probation deal. He has to pay a fine and wait until October :(. He's a good kid, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong crowd. We're excited for his baptism! (I just hope I don't get transfered before then.)

Well I love you lots and we'll talk to you all next week.

Elder Andrew Harris

PS. I have Blazin' Sauce on my white shirt :(

Mon 8/24/09

Hey Everybody!

We had a pretty good week this last week. We started teaching Christina Davis. She was a former investigator and also Bishop Davis's sister-in-law. Bishop Davis's brother, Bill, had his name removed from the records of the church because he wasn't living the standards. They were taught a while back but Bill "held her back". Bill has started making changes in his life now and things are moving forward. Christina had a great time at church and made a few friends. The biggest problem is that they work crazy hours and so we can only teach them Wed - Sat and then see them at church.

Israel is also progressing well in preparation for his baptism. He's opening up a little more but is still way shy. We're very excited for him.

Nothing else to really report. I'm going on exchanges with another missionary in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico tomorrow so that should be a fun time. The place is as po-dunk as it sounds.

Love you all

Elder Harris


***These are pictures from last weeks trip to White Sands National Monument. The missionaries are from the Las Cruces and Alamogordo areas. (Not sure who took the pic)

Andy's failed attempt at doing a flip over Elder Hubbard. Apparently he still enjoys sand jumping from all of our trips to Moab (he flips like me though)

Hey guys‏

Hey everybody. Sorry for the short letter last week. The guy next to me was looking at some inappropriate stuff and I wanted to get out of there as soon as I could.

Unfortunately this is also going to be a short letter. We went out to White Sands National Monument today for P-day (I'll send you pictures next week) and we're running short on time.

Love you all lots.

Miracles are happening here in Las Cruces

Love you lots

Elder Andrew Harris