Week 29: Consider the Lilies of the Field

(May 30, 2016)

Ok so many funny things. 

I forgot to tell you guys this. A couple weeks ago I was at the doctors office. The nurse man comes in and he's like "Ok so tell me where it hurts" and I just pointed to my heart and said, "right here" all serious. And he starts making all these notes on his chart and I just busted out laughing!! Hahahahaha I refuse to be serious.

This week was..... sicky! I was sick almost every day this week unfortunately. So not a ton happened. I realized that a lot of people don't know what wheat or gluten means. We texted the members who were feeding us on Monday night and said, "Hey just a reminder, Sister Harmon is allergic to wheat and sugar and happiness. Thanks!" And we got to dinner and the mom is like, "Ok! So I made pasta and bread. Those aren't wheat and stuff right?"I was like WAIT WUT you are April foolsing me right now. So my goal is to ed-u-ma-cate. It was hilarious though. 

OK GUESS WHAT?! This week we had a special guest with us...... **drum roollllll**** Sister Wilson!! President Wilson's spouse, wife, eternal companion, the works. She had us over for lunch and then she spent the afternoon with us. It was SO MUCH FUN!! She is so chill and I learned so much. At first we were like, "Are we in trouble", but she said that she wants to spend time with all the sisters before they go home in a month. I can't believe President and Sister Wilson go home in a month! So cray. 

So I was reading in 3 Nephi 13, the climax of the Book of Mormon basically. I came across verse 28, which reads "Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin." I didn't really think anything of it at first, but then I thought about it. lolz. 

Think about what a lily looks like. It's tall, shoots straight up, and blooms a super big and beautiful flower that's super noticeable and stands out. They don't grow close to the ground and hide either. I thought, 'why would Jesus tell people to look at the lilies?' Because he wants us to grow like that too. He doesn't want us to go back and forth between CTR and CTW (wrong), he wants us to shoot straight up and reach our full potential. In order for lilies to bloom they need good soil, water, and sunlight. We need that too, but spiritually. In Bakersfield, it's SUPER HOT. If you don't water your plants every day and a day of 108 degrees comes your plants will probs wilt. For us, we will have times in our lives where the hot days come- sometimes we can check the weather and see that they're coming and sometimes they come unexpected. If we haven't been watered every day, we might wilt. So WATER YOURSELVES AND READ YOUR SCRIPTURES AND PRAY EVERY DAY DANGIT.

Anyways, that's my spiritual thought for you. Hope you all keep it sassy and classy.

--

Sister Harmon

Week 28: Weekly Email: What it Is, What it Do

(May 23, 2016)

Hey you guyyyyyyssss!!!!!!

Ok so. This weekend was stake conference!! President and Sister Wilson spoke and it was emotion festival cuz they are leaving IN A MONTH!! What the heck!! So sad. Stake conference was so great. I had all these realizations and spiritual insights and then I realized that I left all my notes in the car!! But one thing I remember is that I want to focus on being more grateful. We may not be able to change our circumstances, what's going on, etc. But we can ALWAYS focus on what Heavenly Father has blessed us with cuz we so BLESSED. It can change how we FEEL about our circumstances and help us change our outlook. There is always something to be grateful for. 

I can't remember anything. I am literally 80 years old. Oh yeah! At distric meeting I had to give a talk on personal study- the benefit of giving talks is that you always learn the most! I realized that out of all the things I get to take home and continue to do after the mish, it's my personal study. The patterns I set how will be the patterns that happen after my mission. personal study is the key to having a successful, happy, and spiritual day, even if the day is total crap and doomed from the start! 

Ok y'all are beautiful and I CAN'T BELIEVE JENNA GRADUATED SEMINARY WHAT IS LIFE I AM SO OLD. For real I have never felt more old in my whole life. 

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

--

Sister Harmon

Week 27: A Short Lil' Email

(May 16, 2016)

Hello my eternal family!!!

Ok that was sups cheesy but for real. Do you even know how lucky we are all to have the gospel. It's kind of ridiculous to look at the statistics. We are all so blessed. And we need to share it with everyone. 

I don't have a ton to say this week, but I do have to say that I am grateful for Jesus Christ. He is literally the rock of my life right now and I couldn't get through a day without him by my side. We are teaching some awesome people right now and one of them has cancer. She is such a sweetheart and always makes us homemade AMAZING mexican food. We were teaching her son at one point and we are probs going to start teaching him again. He is such a dork haha. He told us that he was dating his girlfriend and he said, "Babe if you love me you'll run into this wall". AND SHE DID. Then his mom was saying that he had a ton of chores to do and so I said, "Gino if you love your mom you'll clean the pool. Gino if you love your mom you'll wash the car." and then he says to me, "Sister Harmon if you love Jesus you'll run into that wall", and I said, "lead by example then!" It was so funny. He has a ton of potential and he really wants to find truth. We ask him questions and he LITERALLY explains the apostasy and need for prophets and he doesn't even realize it. It's amazing.

Also TRANSFERS. I'm staying in Stockdale!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited to keep serving in this ward. I feel like everyone in this ward are my best friends. I love it. I'll also be staying with Sister Bigler another transfer! 

Anyways I love you all. Please read your scriptures every day. It is more important than sleep, eating, work, play. For reals. Wish I would have figured that out earlier. K  bye!!

--

Sister Harmon

Week 26: My Family!!

(May 9, 2016)

Oh my goodness yesterday was so so so so so so AWESOME!!! Seriously better than Christmas. You are all so attractive and beautiful and it was so much fun talking to you. I miss you all so much!

I feel like I have nothing too exciting to share about this week. We have been doing a lot of service every week and I am loving. We usually get about 10 hours/ week and I really enjoy it. We are doing service for our investigator, Norma. She has stage 4 breast cancer and she's been like that for 3 years. Unheard of. She has so much faith. And she is the sweetest person on the planet. She fed us legit mexican food and i DIED it was amazing.

I literally have nothing cool to say. I said it all in skype! I love you guys so much. Thank you for all your support and for being there for me. I hope you all have a wonderful week and that you stay healthy and happy. Love you all so much!!

--

Sister Harmon

Week 25: OK What The Heck?! Miracles!!

May 2, 2016

This week was... awesome.

kkkkk. So this week we had exchanges with our STL's! And guess who my new STL'S are?!?! SISTER BRYAN AND SISTER KING!! Sister Bryan was my STL in Bishop and she knows the Gundersen's! And sister King is my Gramma #eternalfamilies OH MY GOSH IT WAS THE BEST EXCHANGE EVER. Seriously it was exactly what Sister Bigler and I needed to get pumped up for our area again. 

Sister Bryan and I were at an appointment with an investigator, and the member with us had brought cookies. We knocked on the door like a thousand times, and there were lights on and people were home- we could hear them yappin!! So at the top of my lungs I start singing, "I BELONG TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS!!!!!!!!! I KNOW WHO I AM! I KNOW GOD'S PLAN! I'LL FOOOOOOOLLLLLOWWWW HIM IN FAIIIITTTHHH!!!!" and then all the lights in the house went off and it got all quiet. We were weeping it was so funny. 

Ugh so many stories can't even handle it. 

BUT WAIT IT GETS BETTER. 

So after planning day we were going to see a referral. We go see this guy and he is super weird and not interested. Aight. So then we start walking down the street (mobile home park AKA the promised land) and I feel like we should turn on this street. We turn and there is no one there. All of a sudden, straight from heaven, this guy starts walking towards us. We start teaching him and BAM he's on board to be baptized. We came back the next day to the house # he gave us and whadayaknow, he doesn't answer the door or the phone. Bummer. We texted him too. THEN the next day he texts us and says that he gave us the wrong address and wanted to meet with us!!! WAIT WHAT?! So we go see him but he's sleepin. WAKE UP AND HEAR THE GOSPEL DUDE! So we decide to drop in on Sunday and we see him and he's like "Hey!! Come on in!!" Ok good sign good sign. We go in and he says, "Yeah I'm so sorry I didn't get your calls, I got a new phone and I was totally going to come to church but I didn't realize it was Sunday! Thanks so much for being patient with me. I'll be honest.. I've done a lot of bad things. But I wanna get closer to God." Ok first off sir did anyone ever tell you that YOU ARE GOLDEN?!!?! Ugh amazing. We have a lesson with him tonight. When we left last night we were like, "Would you mind praying before we leave?" And he kinda starts talking with some nervous excuses but we pierced his soul with our spiritual eyes and he was like "Ok never mind I'll pray". Lolz.

OK AND THEN.

On Friday we had 20 minutes until din dins. We decided to go to this house that was on our planner. Didn't know who lived there or anything. Turns out IT'S A PART MEMBER FAMILY THAT IS NOT ON THE RECORDS OK STOP IT RIGHT NOW!! Ugh we died. We came back the next day, read scriptures together, and invited them to the ward chili cook-off. THEN THEY CAME. and THEN THEY CAME TO CHURCH WHAT IS LYFE RIGHT NOW I CAN'T EVEN HANDLE THIS RIGHT MEOW. 

Oh also Sister Bigler and were judges for the ward chili cook-off. Meaning we had to eat every single cobler and chili. WHY. What's even more hilarious is Sister Porter kept going on about how her chili is going to win, and it turns out that we voted hers the "scariest chili" award. LOLZ!!! She still loves us though. 

kkkkkk later!!

--

Sister Harmon

Week 24: If You're Sicky and You Know it, Raise Your Hand

(April 25, 2016)

I have had some crazy dreams.

 

Last night I had a dream that we were all hanging out with Mitt Romney and Obama. Every time I tried to talk to Obama I kept mimicking him and impersonating his voice. Lolz. 

BUT the other dream I had was that our apartment was on fire and we had to escape super quick. I had only a few seconds to grab anything and the only thing I grabbed were my scriptures. I know it sounds like a super dumb dream but it really made me realize how much I love the scriptures. They are seriously the best things ever!!!! We are so lucky to have them!! Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, D&C, and lest we forget the Pearl of Great Price. This is sad to say, but I have never every appreciated or read the scriptures like I do on my mission. The song "Scripture power keeps me safe from sin... The power that I get each time I read." It's so true!!! It really does arm you with power from dat nasty fat Satan. He's so fat. He's so nasty.

Also, I just read the Pearl of Great Price for the first time and OH MY STARS UH-MAZING. We were in Gospel Doctrine and the subject was "study the scriptures" and they asked people to make comments about each book of scripture. They got to Pearl of Great Price and I raised my hand and basically shouted, "Oh. My. GOSH. Book of Moses- AWESOME. Book of Abraham- AWESOME. Joseph Smith-Matthew- HOLY COW. Joseph Smith history- SO SO GOOD!!!" Then our ward mission leader said, "Tell us how you really feel!" It was so funny. Giggles.

Anyways my point of this rant is to say that I truly know that the scriptures can bless you in every aspect of your life. If you're struggling with temptation and sin, READ THE SCRIPTURES. If you are feelin down and in the dumps, READ THE SCRIPTURES. If you hate your life and everyone else, READ THE SCRIPTURES. They really do help. 

Well nothing exciting happened this week. We were sick most of the week and it was wonderful to stare at the walls and contemplate life's greatest questions. OH MY GOSH ALSO I STARTED READING JESUS THE CHRIST AND PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE it is so so so so good. I know for sure I would have never touched it before I had gone on my mission. Definitely wasn't ready. But holy cow. Give it a try if you haven't. It is INCREDIBLE. 

Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk all y'all keep it real and count your blessings. Talk to you next week!

--

Sister Harmon

Week 23: Scripture Power Keeps Me Safe From Sin!!!

(April 18, 2016)

kkkkkkkkkkk good week!!!!

I HAD A MIGHTY CHANGE OF HEART!! I am trying so hard to be happy even though everyone we talk to can be..... not as happy! And everything is so much better. Also, lesson learned: specific prayers= specific blessings. Food for thought!!!

Ok so President Wilson has church in our building, so we leave notes on his car alllll the time. He loves it. Yesterday I sent him this: 

" Confucius say: 

President who does not transfer Sister Harmon for President's last transfer shall be blessed tenfold, both temporally and spiritually, and shall reap the harvest thereof." 

And then he texted us and said: 

"I got your note. I refer you to D&C 8:10. I do so in the spirit of fun!" 

Then we replied and said:

"Hahahaha! We refer you to 1 Nephi 3:7. We do so in the spirit of obedience!" 

Then he said:

"That's my kids!!"

It was the greatest!! 

We have been doing a lot of service this week for a family in our ward. They haven't been to church in years, and it's amazing to see how service can really touch people and help them feel Christ's love. Literally the service was not that hard (tearing down wallpaper and WE GOT TO WEAR PANTS) and it's a ton of fun, and the whole family has been so emotional at us coming over and helping. You really don't know the good that you do. I have realized that I want to be more service-oriented in my normal non-missionary life. We don't have to go to Kenya and build houses to do meaningful service. There are people close by that need a smile, a listening ear, and uplifting words. 

MIRACLE (among many): We were trying to figure out how to spend our night cuz plans kinda fell through( mission life) and I felt like we should go see this part member family. As we were driving (it was dusk) we passed this lady that we had talked to once and she was watering her lawn. We kept driving and I kept feeling that that was our purpose and she was who we needed to see. Her name is Alma. I KNOW RIGHT. We got to talk to her and now we are going back on Friday to see her! The Lord works in mysterious ways I tell ya what.

Kkk this is a super quick email but I just want all of you to know that I am so so so so grateful that I get to be doing missionary work right now. 

kk peace!! 

--

Sister Harmon

Week 22: Today is My Birthday - Surprizzle!!!

(April 11, 2016)

TODAY I have been out 5 months. Cinco!!! So crazzyy.

This week involved 2 trips to Urgent Care. So fun!! An infection and a fever. I got the infection (of course) and Sis. Bigler got the fever. So there was a lot of time to sit and stare at the walls and ponder life's greatest questions. But we did have some awesome things happen this week. 

First, there were miracles. 

On Saturday we were tracting and trying to find our purpose in the area. We only had 20 minutes before we had to leave and we prayed that we'd be able to find someone. There was a house down the street that had a captain america rock formation on the house and Sister Bigler was like, "ooooo let's go there!!" I had already knocked it but I didn't shoot down the idea. We go knock on the door and a guy comes out and says, "Hi Sisters". We just looked at each other like wait wut. He said, "You just caught me at a really crazy time. I just hung up the phone and I found out my grandfather passed away. I am a member and I haven't been to church in over 2 years." CRAZY RIGHT?! Not an accident for sure. We talked for a while and he said that he was already planning on coming to church on Sunday. He came to church the next day and we had a lesson at a member's house, and he said, "You don't know how much coming to my door blessed me. I had already decided to come back to church and everything this Sunday, but seeing you there and talking to me showed me that Heavenly Father still loves me and is looking out for me". It was pretty amazing. 

Alyssa got confirmed yesterday!!! She is SO CUTE oh my goodness. She got up and bore her testimony too!!! I was shocked because she is so shy. She nailed it. I love the Stockdale ward so SO SO MUCH. I totally feel at home. 

Also I learned how to make jam!!!! WIFE MATERIAL just kidding I'm on a mission!!! 

K I love you all so so much!!! President Monson's message in conference was so amazing 

It has been said that the door of history turns on small hinges, and so do people’s lives. The choices we make determine our destiny.

Isn't that so true. There are so many choices that can alter day to day lives but also our futures. I have seen how people stop doing the little things- meaningful pray and scripture study, which leads to less church attendance and then leads to satan having more control on them and GUESS WHAT IT'S NOT GOOD!!! So just keep doing the little things!!!!! 

KKK see ya peace and blessings!! 

--

Sister Harmon

Week 21: Merry Christmas - I Mean Conference!!

(April 4, 2016)

kkkkkk this was literally the BEST CONFERENCE EVER.

They say it's like Christmas when you watch conference as a missionary and I just have to say that it is. I weeped my way through the Sunday morning session. And there were no tissues, but many salty tears rolling down my face.

ALYSSA GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!! K that is 3 people in one transfer. This is so crazy. Literally a miracle!! It was a wonderful baptism and the whole ward came to support. Super awesome. Alyssa is so cute. She's 10 but she is the height of a 6 year old. She tiny!! 

Conference. Oh my goodness. I felt like a spiritual twinkie afterward. But the great thing is that the Lord will take you as you are and mold you into something less fatty and bigger and better. I loved it. Elder Christoffersen's talk on fatherhood GOT ME RIGHT IN THE FEELS. It was so good. Also Elder Cook's. Also Elder Holland and his MEME oh my goodness amazing. 

Last night we had a lesson with our investigator, Jacob. Every time I say Jacob I think of the testaments when Pahoran's like "Jaaaaacob Jacccooobb" like the biggest creepster mcgee in the ancient Americas. Anyways, Jaaacob. we had an awesome lesson with him last night and we were teaching and we were explaining that this is Christ's church and asked him to be baptized when he knows that it's true. He was so sincere in answering and he said yes. It was just so dang sweet and it was so touching. We have been trying to teach him for a while and I think now is his time. Whether he likes it or not!! ;) Jkjkjk #agency

TRANSFERS AWOEFJ;SLKDFJ;AFKSDLIWEJLJ;FAL

Annnnnddddddddd.

Definitely staying in the same area with the same Sister Bigler! I am super happy about it. The other sisters in our district are both leaving because they are closing their area! So so sad. They will be soo missed. So now we are the only sisters in the district again just like in Bishop! Speaking of, an elder who was with me when I was in Bishop is going to be in my district now and I'm just like MY FAMBALY WE ARE FAMBALY I am so exciiiiitteeed.

Anyways. das all I got for y'all. Conference was so good. I can't wait to get back to the temple. I miss it so much!!!! And the provo city center temple looks so gorgeous. I bet it's amazing inside!!! 

Kkkk Oh my gosh, also a member spent 300 DOLLARS on groceries for us and----------------------------OK I'm BACK, I FLAT-LINED THERE.  Literally what a blessing.  God loves us every one!!!

--

Sister Harmon

                                                       Love These Amazing Sisters!!

Week 20: Alyssa is Getting Baptized!!!!

(March 28, 2016)

You heard me!!

This has required a lot of.... patience. But it's happening!!! Alyssa, our 10 year old investigator, will be getting baptized right after the second session of conference on Saturday. Her mom is a reactivated member. I love them!! Ayssa is so cute. She's a girl scout and when we asked her why she wants to get baptized her answer was, "Because I want to live with God again." THAT'S RIGHT!

I cannot speak Spanish. We went over to Aliya, our recent convert's house on Saturday. She was telling us all about how she went to Justin Bieber's concert and was sitting on the front row. I KNOW RIGHT. Anyways her little cousin is Hispanic and so I started saying, "How do I say this in Spanish??" I wanted to know how to say 'kittens are so cute and little" and when I repeated what he said in Spanish apparently I said, "the small cat has red eyes". LOLZ. 

We watched Women's Conference at the stake center on Saturday. It actually made me homesick!! I was wondering if you were at the conference center watching and secretly hoping I'd see your faces in the audience. But unfortunately there's always a billion people there. Oh well. It was an amazing session. 

Our investigator Don came to a baptism with us on Friday. He is doing so great. He has told us 5 times now that he knows it's true and he loves the church. He took his family to catholic mass because that's the only church his wife would go to. "I know there is some spirituality in their somewhere! I'm gonna find it!" He says about his wife. That's the missing piece in this equation. Don's wife. She is suuper not for Mormonism and or religion really. We give him all these homework assignments and he's like, "I keep doing all your assignments and I keep reading and I'll keep doing everything!" He is so great!!!!! We wanted to promise him blessings from getting baptized, but rather than just spouting them off we decided to send him on a scripture chase and find all the promised blessings himself and let DUH SCRIPTURES TESTIFY OF THE TRUTH IF YA KNOW WHATA I'M SAYIN!!!! He doesn't know it yet but he is going to get baptized April 30. It's going to happen.

We are getting free groceries this week. What a blessing considering I have 4 dollars in my bank account. Somehow everything seems to always work out. 

Easter was really good this year. It was great to not have any distractions with bunnys and eggs and CHOCOLATE. It was just pure Atonement. 

Also yesterday at Easter dinner at Bishop's their grandchild comes up to me and says, "This is my Heavenly Father shirt!? LOLZ  I don't even know!! 

Also I was at Aliya's and her gramma was making LEGIT MEXICAN FOODS and she speaks 100% Spanish. I wanted some cheese and I asked her, "Donde estas los quesos?" They all just laughed at me. LOLZ. I tried. 

Kk byyyyyyeee!

--

Sister Harmon