Week 53: Deeeeeeecember!!!

December 5, 2016

MERRRRYYYYY CHRISTMASSSSSSS time! 

I can't even believe that it's already here. It's sick, really. It doesn't feel like it's Christmas time. Probably because people are decorating palm trees and it was 65 degrees yesterday. Tender mercies. 

It was a crazy week of adventures, lemme tell ya. First off, we got to do some service at MARE. Mare is a horse-riding center for disabled children. It's adorable. But it's not adorable when you're shoveling poop in all the horse stalls. It's ok though, we had a lot of fun. The owner asks me, "Do you have experience with horses?" and I'm like "Oh tons!! I love horses!!" If riding a walking horse frozen with fear when I was 7 counts as a lot of experience then I'm golden. When I got in the first stall with a STALLION I realized they can smell my fear. No broken bones yet! 

This week was Sister Ryans birthday! We were on exchanges and another sister and I decided to get birthday and Christmas decorations from a few members and decorate our apartment like crazy. It was an answer to prayer last week: "Christmas decorations would be so awesome but I'm sightly broke." Isn't the Lord awesome? As a missionary, you don't need money; you just need prayer. 

Coolest miracle ever. So for the #LightTheWorld initiative, we decided that we are going to decorate people's doors who need some love and some light, and encourage people to spread the love and light too. Our amazing member friend Lavi (who I call Pocahantas because she is full of wisdom and knowledge but thinking back to the movie it was the creepy old lady who had all the wisdom but oh well) made everything for the doors and we've been going out a bunch this week. 

On our first night, we were in the magical Button Willow gas station where Lavi works and lives (I think I have realized that if I step foot in that gas station, some miracle is gonna happen). We'd been praying that the Lord will bring his people to us because Sister Ryan can't go out much right now. 

We got a text from a potential investigator saying, "I'm looking at four ways to commit suicide." And then right after that, our new investigator, John, walks in the door too. Sister Ryan talks to John, and I grab the phone and call this guy. 

I LOVE promptings- right before we walk in the gas station I got a feeling that I needed to go grab a Book of Mormon, just in case. Well I sure as heck needed that when I was on the phone with our friend. He was struggling so bad. Even though Christmas time is such a magical time of year, when you don't have a job, purpose, and you're already depressed, it just makes everything worse. That's where he was at. He didn't want to live anymore because he couldn't provide for his family and he didn't feel like a man. We talked for about 30 minutes on the phone and then I asked if we could come over and meet with him. He agreed and we zoomed over there. 

Before knocking, we secretly decorated his door and surprised him and his kids. It was so cool to see how an act of service and later a discussion about Jesus Christ and the Atonement could make someone go from wanting to commit suicide to finding a reason to live. We told him if he'd put God first and read and pray, miracles would happen. Last weekend he got a temporary job offer AND a random old friend gave him $250 bucks for gas to get to his new job. ALL BECAUSE OF THE LORD. So if you ever think someone might be struggling during Christmas time, they are. Reach out and spread the light.

Ooh, coolest thing ever! So yesterday Sister Ryan woke up suuuper sick. (That's not the cool part I'M NOT HEARTLESS.) We ended up not being able to go to church. We were in the apartment and I just keep getting this feeling, "Get out of the apartment and go for a drive." In my head I'm like uhhhh Sister Ryan is like dead on the floor, I can't drag her out to the car just to go for a drive. But the feeling kept coming, and one thing I have realized is that the spirit has a PhD and I am still at high school education level, so I'm like okay whatever, and I drag Sister Ryan in the car and we go for a drive. We came back and our apartment was completely in flames. Hahahaha just kidding! But later that night we were talking and Sister Ryan told me how that drive was an answer to a prayer she had the night before about something she was going through. GAH so cool. Also that day was the first time that someone has brought the sacrament to our house. It was so cool to have them come over and give us the sacrament, just for us two.  

Okee, well I hope you all have THE best week everrr. Are you doing the Light the World challenge? If you're not, REPENT AND DO IT. 

K byeeeeeeee!

--

Sister Harmon

Week 52: Turkey, NASA, and Covenants

November 28, 2016

This email is brought to you from EDWARDS NATIONAL AIR FORCE BASE. Aye aye cap'n. We literally just walked up to the NASA launch pads. IT WAS SO SICK. Also this email is long so if you don't read it, fine but you're missing out!

So one thing we are doing to help Sister Ryan get better- we are eating dinners at home so we can avoid any cross contamination for gluten. I've volunteered to domesticate myself and learn to cook like a real woman. For my first attempt, I decided we would have crockpot chicken and have tacos. A cup of water, some chicken, and some salsa. Easy. I threw it all in and was so proud of myself. About 10 minutes later, Sister Ryan came into the kitchen and said, "Umm... I don't know if you knew this or not... but that's not a crockpot... That's a rice cooker." I have a lot to learn. #blondemoments

So since sister Ryan's been not so good, we decided to ask to have the Lord bring the investigators to us! IT WORKED. We had a baptismal interview with Daniella at the park (you bet we all swung on the swings) and on our way home we felt like we needed to visit our members at the gas station. We start talking and this member named Lavi tells us all about her friend John who wants to read the entire Book of Mormon. Then 10 minutes later, who walks in? JOHN. Lavi was like, "Oh my goodness! John! You must have felt the holy spirit of God because we have been thinking about you and we have these two wonderful ladies here! Let's sit down and discuss!" And then Lavi full on invites him to baptism- and he said yes! It was amazing.

Then on our way home we were at this stop light in the MIDDLE OF NO WHERE and there is this cute little man waving roses at people trying to sell them. Our companionship theme is "one by one," so we pull over and cross this street with semis driving past with the intent to get a flower and baptize the man. We walk over and try to talk to him, but we quickly realize that he is un pocito English. And I do not have the gift of tongues. I'm like, "Oh! un pocito englesio? Ya ya! Mi mama y papa mucho mucho espanol but me no bueno! Hahaha! But we are missionaries from Jesu Christo dios!" Yeah I'm real fluent. He literally just looks at us with blank faces and wouldn't take our money. After a solid 2 minutes of trying to communicate and um GET A FLOWER MY GOODNESS, we finally left empty handed. It's moments like those when I'm positive that the Lord giggles at us sometimes.

The next day was Thanksgiving. We saw the same man on our drive and decided to spread some Thanksgiving cheer and buy some flowers since we had $5 this time. We park and I run over yelling, "HOLA!!!!" He just looks at us like "oh no, them again?" We go over and say, "Hola! Una flower? Money!" And try to hand him our money. He stares at it and says, "Dies?" And I think he's saying yes and so I say "Si! Si!!" And he just keeps looking at our pile of change and currency. Then he starts doing the single lady hand flip again. Finally Sister Ryan and I both realize that he means 10 dollars. WHY. We had a Spanish restoration pamphlet and I point and say, "La Restaracion de los el..." And just hand him the pamphlet. Then I had a card of Jesus and point and say, "Jesu Christo!!!" and give him the pamphlet. Then we left. It was hilarious. 

Oh my gosh also we were at dinner with the Porter's and their little grandson wanted to sit with me. After dinner he says, "Um, would you mind if I hold your hand?" It was DARLING.

Thanksgiving was the best Thanksgiving of ALL TIME. We had 3 dinners, and our last dinner of the night was at President Layton's house. It. Was. A. Dream. They had 8 missionaries over all gathered around the table, and we all got to basically bear testimony saying what we were grateful for. Then we all gathered around the piano, and a sister and I sang a duet, then I sang "How Great Thou Art", then I played for Sister Layton and her son. It was so magical, honestly.

Daniella got baptized on Saturday!! It was an awesome awesome day. To celebrate and to help create some family unity, we got the elders to come with us and we went out to magical Button Willow and played kickball at the park with the family. The one day it decided to rain like crazy, we decided to play kickball. It was AWESOME. Livin for da moments.

Sister Bigler and I got to reunite this weekend! A lady we taught named Leanne got cancer and almost passed away. We didn't' get to say goodbye to her, and then a few weeks ago she called us and said she was doing so much better and wanted to see us!! It was so so awesome to see her. She had a 10% chance of living but she's pullin through. Cancer is the worst. Miracles are real.

I'm going to invite each of you to take something very seriously, and that is the "Light of the World" Christmas initiative. Do something every day that Jesus would do. The more we have the mentality that every initiative and invitation the prophet gives applies directly to us, the more happiness we'll have in our lives. I testify.

k byyyyeeeee

-- 

Sister Harmon

 

 

 

 

Week 51: People of Walmart

November 21, 2016

Where do I even start with this week? How about we start with a huge LOL!!

First off I have a testimony that God hears and answers every prayer, no matter how small. We were about to leave our apartment on Saturday and in my prayer I literally said, "Also, it would be super nice if someone could pay for our groceries this week. Just sayin." And then this morning via the elders, a member wants to take us to Winco and PAY FOR OUR GROCERIES. 

I think this was honestly one of the craziest and most hilarious weeks of my life. Sister Ryan. Poor Sister Ryan is like physically completely falling apart. The great news is that we finally got a doctor appointment tomorrow... At Edwards Air force Base!!! I AM SO EXCITED I COULD DO THE SPLITS - but I'll hold off for another 6 months cuz I'm wearing a dress. We have mostly been living at Walmart and our apartment getting medicine and resting. But even though it was a slow week it was sooo crazy awesome. 

We have this ADORABLE little investigator named Daniella. She lives in ButtonWillow, which is a little town 30 minutes outside of Bakersfield. Ok. How do I even convey Button Willow to yall? I don't think I can. You're just gonna have to come see it for yourself. It is this super small town along I-5 on your way to Sacramento, and the only way I can help you get the idea of it is to picture a route 66 truck stop. I LOVE IT. There is a member out there who works at a truck stop. And also lives in it too!! It's amazing. We went this weekend to see them and I had one of the most powerful and amazing spiritual experiences of my LIFE out there. Some things are too special to share. Sorry. 

Some of my favorite quotes from the week: 

President Layton in an interview: "Why don't zebras get ulcers?" I still never figured out the answer.

Our ward mission leader is HILARIOUS. He's been checking up on Sister Ryan all week, and one time we hadn't answered him right away and he says, "Sisters! Did the gadianton robbers get you??" Oh my stars. 

This morning it's been drizzling, and when I say drizzling I mean barely sprinkling. He sends us this text this morning, "Sisters. It's a great rainy day today. Drive careful because the rest of us don't know how to handle this wet stuff. Hope you are writing many journal pages so someday in a session of General conference we can hear you speak inspiringly about enduring tough times on your mission. No joke." HAHAHA I cannot handle him sometimes. 

We were at Walmart this week, and we had to go down the hair care aisle and Sister Ryan was commenting on how we hardly ever have time for nice hair products, and she says, "Sometimes I just don't even feel like a girl anymore" and I asked "What do you mean?" And we both turn and look and there is a guy just staring at us like we are crazy. Oopsie! 

You know what's so awesome? That this is the Lord's work. We have had lots of little miracles this week, even though we couldn't go out much. It's so cool to see and is always a good reminder. 

I've been doing a lot of reading and studying about having a change of heart. Really wanting to change something about yourself long-term. We can do all we can to change our behavior, to stop doing something or to start doing something, but that will only get us so far until we go back to old habits. What we really need is the grace, mercy, and divine help that comes from one source and one source only, and that's Jesus Christ. Don't waste another minute tryna do it by yourself! Don't be stupid! Get glad- use the Atonement! 

We have three Thanksgivings planned. I'm going to die. 

Alright my little prancing peonies, have the best Monday ever, and the happiest Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving #2 on the mission. What is life? 

Okkkkk byyeeeee!

Also the video is of us surprising Omie now that I am back in Bakes. Spotlight on Omie: 

She is literally my soul sister. She's 76, a world war 2 survivor, and she is the funniest, sweetest, and most genuine person I know. She keeps giving me wedding gifts and I'm like "Omie!! I am a nun right now and I'm not even dating anyone!" And she's like "Well just in case I'm dead before your wedding take it!!" I love her. She calls us every morning at 6:43 am and tells us the drama with her kids and grandkids. It's a blessing.

--

Sister Harmon

Week 50: Back to Bakersfield!

November 14, 2017

OK THIS WAS THE CRAZIEST WEEK OF MY LIFE. Where to begin? 

We'll start in Tehachapi. Yep. You heard me. This week was a beautiful week in the Golden Hills Bear Valley area. We got to hear nothing about the election except who won the next morning. Craziness. Good thing we have a prophet - AM I RIGHT.

Wednesday night. It happened. We love to call and bother the AP's and all of a sudden at 10:00pm they were calling us. I was hoping they were going to tell us the news that we were finally getting iPads, but no.

****phone rings***

Me: "WUZ GUUD IN YO NEIGHBAHOOD?"

AP's: "Hey Harmon! Pack your bags, you're getting ET'ed." (Emergency Transferred)

Me: "I'm sorry, we're closed, but thanks for calling!"

AP's: "No for real you're getting emergency transferred."

WHAT?!?! 

Sister Daelemans and I were in complete shock. We sat there and just hugged each other and I sniffed her hair because I wouldn't be able to do that for a long, long time. Wanna hear the full story? SINCE YOU ASKED.

So there is another sister. One p-day they were all playing football. Homegurl... I mean... Homesister is focused and she ran to catch the ball and she caught it, but unfortunately she ran head on into a pole. I'm serious. She got a really bad concussion and she had to go home. So so sad. So they ET'd me down there. We had 2 days (thankfully) to say goodbye and absorb the beauties of life in Tehachapi. It's hilarious. I thought I would go crazy up in a small town but I was soo bummed to say goodbye.

There were 2 people that saying goodbye to was torture. HONG. Mike was out of town which broke my heart, but Hong. I love her so much. She even did a peace sign pic with me without me even asking. I felt like Lizzie McGuire "this is what dreams are made of" when Daelemans was snapping the pic. I told her to add me on facebook and she's like "REALLY?! My Amerreecan friend on Faceeebook in real life!!" How can you not love her.

This amazing part member family that we tracted into was tough to leave. We found them the very first day being here, and we have been getting close to them and having a lot of fun. This past Tuesday at FHE, the mom kept asking when transfers were and made us promise to let her know if we ever leave. And then a day later I had to leave. It was awful. We went over and she had GIFTS for us. She got these necklaces with our initials and the word "faith" in them, and then she says, "Because the first thing you taught us was faith." My heart literally melted. Honestly, I had no idea she was listening the first time we came over!!! It blew my mind. You really never know. She was totally crying when we said goodbye and it just broke my heart.

On Saturday morning we headed to Bakersfield, because ELDER BEDNAR IS COMINNGGGG TO TOWNNN. For real he came for a special mission conference. It. Was. INCREDIBLE. I can't even. Four hours of just sitting there trying to absorb everything like a lil' sponge. He asked us to read four of his talks to prepare, and Daelemans and I would play them on repeat in the car and it was so awesome. For two hours, he asked us to share what we learned and then we'd have a discussion. The next two hours, he did a Q & A and we got to ask questions. EEEEEEEE. I had been stewing on a question for a while so I got to ask it! This is what I asked him:

"Where is the sword of Laban?" 

HAHAHAHA JK LOLZ! 

Ok I really asked him:

"How do you approach your personal study and how do you maximize and utilize the time you have?" was the basis of the question.

Then he STARED INTO MY EYES AND TALKED TO ME FOR LIKE 3 SOLID MINUTES AND MY WHOLE NECK TURNED RED. He basically said that he always goes in with a question. And if you can't think of a question, pray and ask for a question that you can search for an answer. I KNOW RIGHT- mind-blowing. Among other awesome things, that's what he said. It was so cool.

Then I went to my new area. I am back in West Bakersfield again! I am in my old zone, but a different area. It's called the Snow ward. It feels like serious dejavu coming back. But it's all good. :)

SO YEAH. Also another thought that he talked about. People believe that the gospel works, that it's something you should do, that Jesus is perfect, and that what he has to say will help people. But a lot of people don't actually believe that it all applies to THEM. I know I've done that before. The fastest way to changing and being who you want to be is to take everything seriously and have the mentality that everything applies to you, because it does. My friend told me once that the commandments didn't apply to him, but they applied to everyone else. First off that's retarded...I mean illogical... and secondly that gets you nowhere fast. You have to believe Christ and believe that what he saying is meant for you.

Alright, peace and blessings. I'm back to 80 degree weather, right when Mom sent all my winter clothes to Tehachapi.  Haha whoops!

Also. Don't even know how this happened but my year mark came around last week. I know. We went with a former investigator, Susan, to "Bean Me Up Expresso" for street tacos to celebrate. Susan calls us "The sisters of mercy." It's incredible.

 

Lerve yer all!

-- 

Sister Harmon

Week 49: Companion B-days and Speeding

November 7, 2017

Okay so cool story. the second day of being here in Tehachapi, we knocked into this part member family's house that weren't on the list. We talked to the lady who was suuuper nice. Things went from us knocking on their door, to visiting, to trying to do family history work, to doing service twice, to them inviting us over for dinner and havin family home evening! It was awesome. They made us tri-tip and we taught the plan of salvation and played jenga. They loved it. You really never know what will happen to the people that you meet. We had no idea that we'd be able to have FHE with them, and now we are having Thanksgiving dinner with them, and she won't stop calling us by our first names. We are working on that one haha.

In what other time of life would I spend an afternoon sitting on the floor of a hoarder's home, covered in cat hair, sorting through old books and receiving financial advice from a former investigator? The mission is an amazing time of life.

Sister Daelemans birthday was this week! Mom was a little sneakmyster and mailed me party supplies. She let me wrap her like a mummy with streamers during comp study. A mission birthday she'll never forget.

So on Friday we had a zone meeting in Bakersfield, and then we had to go to get our car fixed in Bakes just down the street from the mission office. While our car was getting fixed, we decided to just walk 10 minutes to the mission office because I had to watch a video about driving safely, because apparently I speed too much, but it's not my fault that I inherited Grandma's lead foot!! (jk love you so much Grandma!) 

As we were walking we passed this homeless man sitting on the curb. We started talking to him and he said that he was in Vegas, got super drunk, and his 'friend' drove him to Bakersfield and dropped him off on the side of the road and abandoned him. SOME FRIEND! Anyway, we gave him a card and told him a little bit about the Jesus Christ  and then continued on our way. and then we realized we were clueless and we should have given him a Book of Mormon. So on our walk back to the shop he was still there, and we gave him a Book of Mormon and told him a little bit about it and how it could help him. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but for some reason it made me sooooo happy that we went back. Who knows, maybe years down the road he'll run into missionaries and he'll pull out his Book of Mormon that missionaries gave him when he was abandoned in the middle of Bakersfield. Ya never know.

Also, the two assistants to the President right now were both my zone leaders when I was in my last area. It is so much fun!!!! 

Something we do with our investigators, formers, potentials, and less-actives is we send a daily scripture text. it's my favorite thing. Here's Sunday's: 

"Alma 34:41

"Have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions."

Every single person in life will be given trials, challenges, and afflictions; including you and me. Why do these things happen to us? Most of the time we can't see the "why" when we are in the moment. We wonder how this trial could possibly be for our good, and how God could allow us to go through it. But as we move forward with a firm faith in Jesus Christ, relying on Him, giving Him our burden, and sincerely asking for strength and help, we can not only get through and overcome whatever the challenge, but later we'll look back with greater understanding, and even a thankful heart.""

AAAAAND THAT'S IT BYEEEEEEE

also a video of me trying to feed a horse - WHICH I CANNOT DO

--

Sister Harmon

  

 

Week 48: Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2016

Many things happened this week! 

K super cool moment this week. I was in personal study wondering what to study.  I decided to study the Atonement- I had prayed that what I learned I could use throughout the day. We started going to the addiction recovery meetings that the church has as a way of finding people to teach. We show up and there is only 2 other ladies there. We start talking, and the perfect opportunity to share what I learned from that morning came about. It was the coolest thing!! We all learned so much from each other. We all decided that the addiction recovery program should be called the weakness recovery program, cuz it is literally for everyone.

 

HAHA so we had a dinner this week with this cute older couple, and we show up and there are only two plates set. Hmm. They're like, "Ok, so we have to go to an appointment so we are just going to leave you here to enjoy dinner. You don't have to make converstaion for a whole hour. Enjoy!" And then they left!! It was amazing.

I learned something cool this week that might help you peepsy boos in ya lives. So ya know how if someone wants to get baptized, they can't just jump right into the font. They have to develop faith in Jesus Christ, which leads them to sincere repentance, which prepares them to make covenants and be forgiven of sins. Well after that, every Sunday we make those same covenants and get to have that same cleansing. But we can't just show up on Sunday and think "Ok, cleanse me, I'm here." The process is the same. We have 6 days to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and sincerely repent of our sins that week, and PREPARE to make those same covenants again on Sunday. So prepare! 

OH my gosh Hong and Mike. I cannot handle them. We go over and and we are teaching about how to prepare for baptism, and Sister D's like, "So to prepare for baptism you have faith, repent-" and Hong interrupts and looks at Mike and says, "You haf to repent to be baptize? Oh yew don repent you can't do dat. You can't get baptize." And he just looks at her, and Sister D and I are desperately trying to hold in our giggles but a few escaped. Mikes like, "Yeah I do repent." Hong- "No yew don I never see you repent." And we then tell her that you can repent privately and she's like "ohhhhh. Ok yew can get baptize." I CAN'T EVEN ANYMORE. 

ALSO so amazing. We knocked on this lady's door and she is like suuuper greek orthodox. She's like, "Have you ever heard of the greek orthodox church?" And I'm like, "Yes!!! I've seen my big fat greek wedding!" Lolz close enough, right? We ended up standing there for 45 minutes and she kept telling us alll these things about her religion and how our religion blah bah blah. She was super nice about it though. We were about to leave and she's like, "Keep in mind that Joseph Smith didn't know about the greek orthodox church" and as we got back in the car Sis D's like "Too bad Jesus didn't tell Joseph Smith about it when he APPEARED to him!" I was in tears. Later we were talking about it at home and she's like "well you're wrong and Jesus agrees with me!" I love her so much. 

Haha funniest thing ever. We had a lesson and we brought this member with us. The member shows up with a copy of the Ensign, and we are like hmm that is so weird but ok! We are teaching the lesson and this member has her Ensign like she is waiting to say something. There's a brief pause and she jumps in and proceeds to tell our investigator how much she just loves President Uchdorf and how handsome he is for literally like a solid minute, especially how good looking he is. Me and Sister D are both like "what on earth?" And then she gives the investigator an article to read from President Uchdorf. Hahahaha I don't even know anymore!

We went to a trunk or treat tri-ward activity. Sister Daelemans and I had spray painted cardboard peices, and we were going paint one "The Book of Mormon" and the other "the Holy Bible", and then the one time we needed dry weather for them to dry, it rained. its the thought that counts. 

Do y'all remember David Foster? He played basketball for the U and he was on all the billboards and he is sooo tall. HE'S IN OUR WARD. We show up to dinner and I'm like "I know you." We got a pic and he made me do the U sign in the pic, but don't worry, I bleed blue. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN K BYEEEE!!

--

Sister Harmon

Week 47: I Saw Two Foxes on Our Porch!!

October 24, 1026

So on last Sunday Tasha just walked into church, right? She isn't a member and she is interested in learning more. We made an appointment to come over on Tuesday at 1. We go over and knock, and nothing. There were multiple cars but no answer. We knocked, and knocked.. and knocked lol. We really wanted to teach her! We called and texted but nothing. So sad. We decided to stay on the street and knock the rest of the houses, but no success. 

On the way back to the car, we decided to go and knock one more time. She opened!! We went inside and started talking to her, and did some "How to begin teaching". We were planning on teaching the restoration, and I was kind of introducing the restoration a little bit. I got out the restoration pamphlet, and then all of a sudden Sister Daelemans starts talking about the plan of salvation. Whaaa?? So I get out the plan of salvation pamphlet and we taught the whole thing. It. Went. AMAZING. It was exactly what she needed to hear, and she was pretty emotional. After the lesson me and Sis D were talking and she was like, "Yeah I was kinda confused cuz you started talking about the plan of salvation" and I was like "wait what? I thought you were talking about the plan of salvation??" Turns out we were both confused and we both just started teaching the plan of salvation. Hahahahahah it was the spirit. 

Oh my goodness. Our investigators Mike and Hong. I LOVE THEM. So Hong is the one from China and Mike is her husband who looks like Cameron from Ferris Bueler's day off. Hong is such a crack-up. So we had prepped this whole lesson on how we were going to ask them the baptismal interview questions to see where they were at, and then read scriptures together about baptism since the scriptures really help them learn. Well none of that happened lolz. We followed up and asked them if they had watched the DVD "Finding Faith in Christ" that we gave them last week, and Hong says, "We watch it, and I jus don believe Jesus healed people with his hand or walk on water. I jus don believe." I'm just like wait what?! Last week she said she had so much faith! We ended up talking about faith the entire lesson. Where do I even start? 

That morning I was putting on a necklace when I had the feeling that I should wear my faith necklace that has a mustard seed on it. After like 3 times, I finally switched necklaces and put on my faith necklace. We ended up using it a lot to teach Hong that her faith was small like a seed, but it would grow if she kept reading and praying and trying to listen to the spirit. Hong is so hilarious. Our member who came with us was like in the middle of bearing her testimony and Hong interrupts her and goes, "OH MAH GUDNEESS, YU LOORK LAK DONALD TRUMPS WAHFE!" I was like trying not to cry tears of laughter. I cannot handle her. 

We were running around in circles with her. She went from, "I jus don believe he could touch pepo and heal dem" to "I jus have to have face (faith)" to "Yu have to expeerience it fo youself" to "I'm sorry I jus don believe it" to "I need to read and pray". Hahaha! It was awesome. What was cool though was we really weren't going around in circles because the spirit was totally there so it's all good. But I love them to pieces. 

HAHA also we were really trying to commit them both to read every single day for 10 minutes and to pray and ask questions and then to listen. Right after I ask her to do those things, she's like, "You would be a good saleswoman, you know how to sell", and then Mike is like, "Yeah, you would be really good at sales" and I'm just like I AM TRYING TO COMMIT YOU TO READ AND PRAY EVERY DAY JUST SAY YES. But they totally rock. Whenever we ask them to do something, they always do it. We committed them to live the word of wisdom and they said yes, and then the next Sunday they didn't come to church. We went over and Mike said that he's been so tired from not drinking coffee that he fell asleep for 3 hours during Sunday. HAHAHAHAHA I can't handle them. 

We had the primary program(s) today at church. The kids are absolutely hysterical. In the Golden Hills ward they sang "scripture power", and all the kids stood up and had their scripture and would raise their arm with them for every chorus. One kid every time would literally jump in the air, and as I looked closer he didn't even have scriptures, he had a hymn book. Haha!! He kept jumping and jumping and then he totally biffed it and fell. It was hilarious. 

K peace on streets✌

--

Sister Harmon

Week 46: Brethren and Sistern

May 17, 2016

WUZ GUUUUD. 

So its sooo foggy right now. We can't see anything!! And also it started raining. It's actually raining in California. I'm thinking "we're closed now right?" Good thing it's Pday!! The Lord knew I needed to be in California. I can't handle any kind of weather except sunshine. lolz

OK this week was full of miracles and jams and jellies!! First off, ELDER CARL B COOK OF THE 70 CAME FOR MISSION CONFERENCE. He's the one who gave the talk about callings in General Conference! It was AMAZING. My mind was blown and my mission has been changed forevs. Also, another sister and I got to sing a duet together at the conference! Twas fun. After the conference was over, Sister D and I went to the bathroom before leaving, and I walk out of the bathroom and guess who walks out too? The one and only, Elder Cook. There was no one else around. Perfect. "Ok, so I have a question for you!!!" "Sure, what it is?" "What was it like to speak in General Conference and was it terrifying?!!" Lol! He is so cool! We got to chat for a bit about the logistics of speaking in General Conference- I'm glad I'll probs never have to do that! 

Afterward I had to go to my old stomping grounds of the STOCKDALE KINGDOM! I had to get some addresses for the sisters that I never wrote down, and President let me visit some peeps!! I got to surprise my adopted daughter, our recent convert Aliya. I attached a vid of her reaction. Blessed. She went to the temple for the first time this weekend and my heart might explode all over the floor, stay tuned. 

OH MY GOSH THE BEST MIRACLE OF ALL. We went to Del Taco for dinner on our way home. I asked for 3 tacos, and when I looked inside my bag, THERE WERE FOUR TACOS. The Lord is in the details of our lives!!!!

We had a mirrraaaccllee yesterday. We have been sending messages up to Heaven as of late for some investigators. We were walking into Relief Society and I saw this lady about to come in from outside. I had this feeling twice that I should open the door for her and say hi. Okee. Then after relief society we went to the chapel to give the other sisters something, and I saw the lady who had walked in and I felt like I needed to go talk to her. So I went over and chatted with her- turns out she isn't a member of the Lord's church, and she is in our ward boundaries. I KNOW RIGHT?!?!?! Then later we had a few minutes before dinner, and there was a part member family we felt like we should go try and see. They didn't answer, but 2 doors later, a teen daughter and a dad opened. The dad wasn't interested, but we kept sharing and we shared about the Book of Mormon. I kid you not, the smile on that girls face got bigger and bigger the more we shared, and when we asked if she wanted to learn more she was like giddy and was like YES! WE gave her a copy of the good word and she was like beaming. So cool. We are gonna find out today if her mom is ok with her learning. 

Oh my goodness ok the cutest couple ever in our ward. Brother and Sister Lewis. They are older and they are literally marriage goals. We were at their house for dinner and a recent convert lesson with Sister Lang, and Sister Lewis is like, "I am so fat it's just ridiculous!! I can't stand it!" And Brother Lewis goes, "Sister Lewis it's just more to love." I CAN'T EVEN. 

A member is going to cut and color my hair for free. I am going to be a toe head forever. Horse tail update- Sister Dalemans is like, "You really should just chop your hair" and I'm like "GET THEE HENCE SATAN" ugh some people's children ya know? 

Also guess what's good ELDER BEDNAR IS COMING TO SPEAK TO THE MISSIONARIES IN A MONTH!!! I can't handle anything anymore. 

Alright peace!

Sister Harmon

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Week 45: Literally Though

October 10, 2016

OKOKOKOKOK LITERALLY SO MANY THINGS TO SAYYYYYY. 

I had a dream the other night that I was walking into Walmart without my comp and I sat down on a couch and started playing with all these small children, when all of a sudden ALL of the missionaries start filing in and I'm like oh crap I don't have a companion, so I try and hide on the couch, then PRESIDENT UCHDORF walks in and they start having a party, and I am like craaaap I don't have a companion, and THEN President and Sister Wilson are there and they are both just staring at me because I don't have a companion with me. I tried to run out of Walmart without anyone noticing and then I realized that they were having cake for President Uchdorf so I tried to sneak back in. Lolz! 

Some coo miracles: 

Last Pday we went to the Hindu Temple! It was in the middle of nowhere WITHIN the middle of nowhere. We get there and guess how many people were there?! None! Except these 2 terrifying dogs. I thought I loved dogs before my mission. It turns out that all dogs except my dog are Satan's spawn. We tried to get out of the car and they were going CRAAAZY at us and I was like nu uh I ain't losing these beautiful limbs to dis dawg, and we didn't come all this way for nothin. So we decided to pray and ask Heavenly Father to surround us with angels and help us be safe. Right as we said amen, I look at the two dogs and they are both just sitting there on their bums, super calm. We get out of the car and one of the dogs that was closest to us came right up to me and just walked next to me all calm the whole time, and then they left us alone. It was AWESOME. 

Also, our 2 investigators. Mike and Hong. Oh my heart. Hong is from China, and she says the most HILARIOUS things. One time she was like, "The reason Amereecans ah so much beega than China people is because they drink so much meelk!!" I'm like yep totally! Anyways last night we had a lesson and they were talking about how they weren't getting answers to their questions through prayer and Hong was struggling with having faith. So we suggested that we all kneel together and take a turn saying a prayer. Oh my goodness. I went first, then the member, then Sister Daelemans, then Mike. He started crying during his prayer. Then Hong. I was crying during her prayer. At the end we asked how they felt during the prayers, and Hong said, "I feel more confident and trust in God!" It was amazing. I love the LORD!

Oh my heavens. On Friday we went down to Bakes for ZTM and also to get an estimate on repairs from the stupid deer that rammed into us, and we stopped by the mission office. Sister Ball is the mission office secretary, and we were talking and the phone rang and I was like "Oh my gosh Sister Ball can I answer it?!" and I run over and grab the phone and say, "California Bakersfield mission office this is Sister Ball speaking!" And we all look at each other and are dying laughing because I forgot to say my name and I just handed her the phone. So then she's talking on the phone and I am sitting there trying to find a pen to write a note for someone, and I see a flower in a little pot and think 'a pen!' I grab it and then go to start writing and I look at the pen thinking, 'why is this pen so wet?' Then I realized its an actual flower. Sister Ball and I look at each other and she literally drops the phone and I drop to the ground and we are weeping tears of laughter. I love her. 

OK YOU KNOW THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU ARE TEACHING PEOPLE WITH YOUR COMPS AND YOU CAN LITERALLY FEEL A WATERFALL OF THE SPIRIT RUSHING THRU YO VEINS CUZ THE SPIRIT IS SO STRONG YA FEEL ME 

Tomorrow I hit 11 months. I don't even know anymore. 

Oh my goodness we all went to lunch at In-n-out on Friday and I made everyone wear hats and sing happy birthday to me. It was a blessing.

That moment when you are working out and you are so desperate for music that you turn on David Enchilada's Christmas CD but have to skip all the non-hyms #anythinghelps

Ok I have so many more things to say but I will just leave it at that. Peace and blessins. 

--

Sister Harmon

 

Week 44: Winter is Upon Us and I am Freezing!

October 3, 2016

I am wearing a beanie right now. I THOUGHT I GOT SENT TO CALIFORNIA. The Lord is testing me. 

OK SO MERRY CHRISTMAS... I MEAN CONFERENCE... WAS IT NOT AMAZING. I had no makeup after every session. I was such a mess. It was AMAZING. The Lord was like, "Sister Harmon (because I don't have a first name right now), our next speaker is going to be speaking directly to you, you beautiful woman" EVERY TIME. It was awesome.

So I absolutely love Tehachapi. It's quite an adventure. Sister Daelmans and I working our little tails off trying to tell people about Jesus. We have been having so much fun. Ok a few stories SINCE YOU ASKED NICELY. 

So last Pday we went to an Ostrich farm. I KNOW RIGHT. It was amazing. I was planning on riding it but they wouldn't let me. BUT it did bite my finger. I feel blessed.

So we decided to start praying every night for a member to text or call us with their friends who are ready to take the discussions. 3 DAYS LATER we get a text from a member, "Hey sisters, my friend just texted me and said she wants to take the lessons. It's super out of the blue but I thought I should let you know." Okay, is that not the Lord's hand or what?!  Her name is Mary and she is seriously the BOMB. We went over this morning to her house and we asked her to pray and in her prayer she says, "Lord please help my work to let me have Sundays off so I can come to church." YAS YAS YAS. I am so excited. 

We were talking to this guy this week and we somehow were talking about the 2nd coming and he's like, 

"Yeah, everyone's like 'Oh, I saw Jesus in my toast! I saw a cloud and Jesus was in it! I saw Jesus in my spaghetti!! I just don't buy that crap." and I said, 

"Yes, we do know that when Jesus comes again it will be in the flesh, and not in the form of spaghetti." 

I wasn't even trying to make a joke at all but we all started cracking up after I said it. Turns out he's not interested, but he learned something new. 

Oh, and then we got ANOTHER REFERRAL FOR A PREPARED SOUL. #specificprayers 

We went over to see this lady whose mom just passed away. We had this suuuper spiritual visit with her. We were planning on a quick 20 minute hello because she had to take a call, and then 2 hours later she was like, "You know I really wasn't expecting this tonight, but I'm so glad I met with you." Anyways, she wanted to show us this video about living life without regrets. It got me thinking a lot about a looot of things. There are 2 types of pain: 

- There is the pain of regret, of not doing something, or not becoming what you wanted to become. You look back on the past and there is pain because you didn't do what you wanted to or knew what you could. This pain can last a lifetime.

- The pain of getting outside your comfort zone, stretching, growing, and doing something hard. This pain only lasts for a short while until you reach your goal, and then after that there is pure satisfaction. 

It's really motivated me thinking about it in those terms. Either way, there is going to be some form of pain that we have to experience. But we can choose which pain. We can either have long-lasting pain because we didn't reach our potential, repent, and follow our dreams, or we can have temporary pain that comes from doing something hard, and then have pure happiness and joy because we accomplished our goal! 

Anyways, I'ma take the lesser pain. 

ALRIGHT BYEEEE!!

 

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Sister HarmonWintr