I got a quick question for you all. Are you happy? If not, how can I help you change that? When we were given life, and the blessings of this life it was to find joy.
For us to be filled with happiness and to overcome the challenges of life. That does not mean that there are no trials. In fact, I feel grateful for the trials I have faced. Without them, I don´t think I would know what it means to feel relieved or to understand what happiness really is.
Right now I want you to take a minute. Look who is around you. Do you love them? Now, think about what you´re doing. Who are you doing it for? Most of you will answer yes to the first question. The second, I am imagining that many answered that they are doing it for someone else.
Now, take a second and think about your favorite memory, or your favorite activity. Do you have something? I would hope so.
As a missionary, I have the opportunity every day to wake up and to serve my lost brothers and sisters. I get to put on a name tag that says I am a representative of Jesus Christ. Then I normally take a minute and ask myself, why am I going to go out today with a smile? Why do I do it?
It´s a simple answer. I have been grown up with a message that has brought peace to an aching heart. A message that has given my life meaning. I do it to bring happiness to others. To be able to help a hurting soul. For the blessing of my own family, and my future family. I smile because it´s a message about the joy of this life and the one to come.
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This week I had us working in our Area Book. I put down about 10 to 15 names a day of people that we were going to visit. We easily visited over 60 and we also contacted. It was a difficult thing. Because most of the people we contacted didn´t give us their time or weren´t home. It was a tough week emotionally as well. My companion and I haven´t gotten along too well and it was very hard on me. I actually got to the point of calling my President. He came and talked with me. I told about the week I had, and about the relationship with my companion. He came with his heart open and inspired words and he brought me peace.
I took that moment to think about my happiness. I have realized that sometimes the mind can work hard on us.
However, when we put away the natural reaction that we have to worry and to be discouraged we start to see the blessings and amazing people we have in this life. I have been able to overcome this week's challenges of rejection and lack of unity and to be able to find happiness.
I challenge you all, that this week you can be a little happier and remember that all is not lost, and that I love you and that our God and Savior love you!
Have a great week.
-Elder Harmon
MTC
Monday, March 26, 2018
Monday, March 19, 2018
E-mail (Dated: 3/19/18) WILL I SEE MY LOVED ONES AGAIN? YES!
I´ve left one beloved area and am now entering into the next. I have gotten to know so many wonderful people and I have been able to witness so many changes of the heart. I feel very content at this moment. I feel I have had plenty of great and marvelous moments in my 7 1/2 months in Cimatario. Thes feelings of gratitude have made it a whole lot easier to move to a new area though part of my heart will always remain there.
On Saturday evening I received news that I would be leaving and be taken to Celaya and receive Elder Wheelwright from Idaho. I will continue my leadership position at District leader.
As I said goodbye to those that I have learned to know and to love, I had many of them ask me, will we see you again?
Then last week, I received a sweet message from my mom that my aunt Claudia who I cherish and love had passed away. Then I asked myself, will I see her again?
As I took a minute to stop and to think about these two experiences I made this analogy. As a missionary, our job is to teach others that we are spirit brothers and sisters and that it is Gods great plan that we can return to live with him. THAT WE WILL ALL MEET AGAIN.
So my answer to both of these scenarios of leaving others or being left behind is a shouted cry of love and belief, YES! Because I believe in this restored gospel. I believe that families are eternal and I believe that we will rise. How? Is what one might ask. The answer is BECAUSE HE HAS RISEN.
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My time is Cimatario has ended, but I am off to my next challenge. I accept it with an open heart and with feet ready to start walking, and with a testimony steadfast in the Lord and in my Father and his plan.
I was able to baptize Blanca, and the service was amazing. She was excitingly nervous. The talks, ordinance, testimonies and the combination of it all were spectacular. She was so happy and just very humble and grateful to be there. What was amazing is that her family all came and almost all are not members except for two of her cousins, which she, nor we knew that were members. They afterward were able to bear a strong, fullhearted testimony of the changes the gospel has brought to their lives. All I can say it that it was amazing. Blanca was probably the hardest person for me to say goodbye to, but like I have been saying. We will all return to see each other again, whether in this life or in the next.
Remember that changes and difficulties in this life are not meant to hurt us, nor to make things unbearable. They are to mold us and to help us move forward and progress.
I love you all and hope you had a great week. This week try and think of something that is hard for you. Then think of how you can learn from it, and push onward.
- Elder Brandon Harmon
Also, I heard the area is pretty dangerous, so prayers! But I´m not worried! But love you!
On Saturday evening I received news that I would be leaving and be taken to Celaya and receive Elder Wheelwright from Idaho. I will continue my leadership position at District leader.
As I said goodbye to those that I have learned to know and to love, I had many of them ask me, will we see you again?
Then last week, I received a sweet message from my mom that my aunt Claudia who I cherish and love had passed away. Then I asked myself, will I see her again?
As I took a minute to stop and to think about these two experiences I made this analogy. As a missionary, our job is to teach others that we are spirit brothers and sisters and that it is Gods great plan that we can return to live with him. THAT WE WILL ALL MEET AGAIN.
So my answer to both of these scenarios of leaving others or being left behind is a shouted cry of love and belief, YES! Because I believe in this restored gospel. I believe that families are eternal and I believe that we will rise. How? Is what one might ask. The answer is BECAUSE HE HAS RISEN.
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My time is Cimatario has ended, but I am off to my next challenge. I accept it with an open heart and with feet ready to start walking, and with a testimony steadfast in the Lord and in my Father and his plan.
I was able to baptize Blanca, and the service was amazing. She was excitingly nervous. The talks, ordinance, testimonies and the combination of it all were spectacular. She was so happy and just very humble and grateful to be there. What was amazing is that her family all came and almost all are not members except for two of her cousins, which she, nor we knew that were members. They afterward were able to bear a strong, fullhearted testimony of the changes the gospel has brought to their lives. All I can say it that it was amazing. Blanca was probably the hardest person for me to say goodbye to, but like I have been saying. We will all return to see each other again, whether in this life or in the next.
Remember that changes and difficulties in this life are not meant to hurt us, nor to make things unbearable. They are to mold us and to help us move forward and progress.
I love you all and hope you had a great week. This week try and think of something that is hard for you. Then think of how you can learn from it, and push onward.
- Elder Brandon Harmon
Also, I heard the area is pretty dangerous, so prayers! But I´m not worried! But love you!
Monday, March 12, 2018
E-mail (Dated: 3/12/18) BROKEN THINGS CAN MEND. IS THERE TIME?
The moment my companion and I met we had an instant connection in the spirit. We were able to teach with a clarity and spirit as if we had already been companions for two transfers. When it came to our personal lives we were one of the same, but as many know, that can be a difficult thing. For weeks we struggled with getting along. Not thinking that we´d ever have the friendship or brotherhood that I hoped as his companion and trainer I decided to pray. I spent days, weeks, praying that I could change this. Now, I can tell you that we get along great, and I consider him a great friend. I had to realize that I was at fault in some things, I had to put in the effort and have a sincere heart.
Why do I mention this? It´s because there is always something that needs fixing. Something that we need to do to mend. How do we know what it is? Well, that´s usually something we can figure out on our own. If not, that is why our father in heaven has given us the power to PRAYER. The things we fight, the things that hurt, and the things we desire, these are things our father would like to hear. He doesn´t want us to suffer, and he definitely doesn´t want us to feel broken.
My mom shared a quote by Jefferey R Holland that says;
Broken minds can mend, just the way broken bones and broken hearts are mended.
I´d like to relate the healing process to a broken zipper.
All you need as your materials is a pair of pliers. (The Atonement)
Now, let´s begin with the process.
1. Remove Stopper / Remove your Pride.
2. Remove Zipper Pull / Remove your Fear.
3. Adjust the Zipper Pull / Change To Be Better
4. Put Back the Zipper Pull / Say And Do What Needs To Be Done
5. Put Back the Tooth / Move Forward
The steps can vary and that's okay because we are all individuals and different people. However, it should end the same. The broken thing is put back into place and is mended. As they say with broken things after they are fixed, not only is it better but it is stronger too.
I challenge you all this week to mend something that has been damaged and to fix it. The second coming is close, we do not know when, but we need to prepare. Show unto others your patience and love and things will change.
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I have been working a lot this week to visit some families I haven't seen in awhile. Victoria seems to be doing well with her family. I also Blanca and Ivan are prepared to be baptized this weekend and we have their interviews on Thursday. It's going to be a fantastic experience and I'm so amazed by how far they have come. I ask that you can keep them in your prayers. We are doing well here! The next week I should be in my new area and with new information on what is happening.
I love you all!
Elder Harmon
Why do I mention this? It´s because there is always something that needs fixing. Something that we need to do to mend. How do we know what it is? Well, that´s usually something we can figure out on our own. If not, that is why our father in heaven has given us the power to PRAYER. The things we fight, the things that hurt, and the things we desire, these are things our father would like to hear. He doesn´t want us to suffer, and he definitely doesn´t want us to feel broken.
My mom shared a quote by Jefferey R Holland that says;
Broken minds can mend, just the way broken bones and broken hearts are mended.
I´d like to relate the healing process to a broken zipper.
All you need as your materials is a pair of pliers. (The Atonement)
Now, let´s begin with the process.
1. Remove Stopper / Remove your Pride.
2. Remove Zipper Pull / Remove your Fear.
3. Adjust the Zipper Pull / Change To Be Better
4. Put Back the Zipper Pull / Say And Do What Needs To Be Done
5. Put Back the Tooth / Move Forward
The steps can vary and that's okay because we are all individuals and different people. However, it should end the same. The broken thing is put back into place and is mended. As they say with broken things after they are fixed, not only is it better but it is stronger too.
I challenge you all this week to mend something that has been damaged and to fix it. The second coming is close, we do not know when, but we need to prepare. Show unto others your patience and love and things will change.
.................................................................................................................
I have been working a lot this week to visit some families I haven't seen in awhile. Victoria seems to be doing well with her family. I also Blanca and Ivan are prepared to be baptized this weekend and we have their interviews on Thursday. It's going to be a fantastic experience and I'm so amazed by how far they have come. I ask that you can keep them in your prayers. We are doing well here! The next week I should be in my new area and with new information on what is happening.
I love you all!
Elder Harmon
Monday, March 5, 2018
E-mail (Dated: 3/5/18) TRIALS BY FAITH AND THE WORLD - ARE THEY CONNECTED?
For a couple weeks I have been watching my investigators. For a while, they have been accepting us. Weekly they tell us they´d like to go to church. Normally, they accept their baptism dates. At the beginning the progress is great. Then after a while, it seems to slow to a stop, or the opposite, that they decide to take action. This is a little like each of us.
Life hits us with things we didn´t expect or things that are a little strange. Sometimes we are hit and we face it with all we got and accept the challenge by opening up our minds. Then, there are those moments where the burden seems too much and we decide to stop trying.
There will always be moments that we have something new. There will always be things we can´t see. Challenges, doubts, and light, and happiness.
What is it that we can do? Well firstly, it´s a personal thing. It starts with you. Choose to do something about it. Take a leap of faith.
As for those on the outside. Pushing someone beyond their own means isn´t going to help, it´s them that have to do that. What will is being there. Helping, caring, and love.
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This week we finally got Blanca to church again. One of her reasons for not going is spiritual doubts as well as her personal life trials. The two are connected. We had to talk about the connection between our spirituality and the physical and temporal. They are the same. We put her on a trial of her faith this week by getting to church. When we saw her there at 8 am, that put a smile across my face.
We also visited some other investigators. We are just working to help them get to church. But they are wonderful.
Carlos and his family invited me to their home for my birthday because it was his sons as well on the 3rd! We celebrated and also, Gustavo invited us to go and enjoy some dessert with them. They took good care of me.
I thank you all for the birthday wishes and I hope you all feel my love. Sorry I didn´t share much about the week. I´ll try to get better!
Elder Harmon!
Life hits us with things we didn´t expect or things that are a little strange. Sometimes we are hit and we face it with all we got and accept the challenge by opening up our minds. Then, there are those moments where the burden seems too much and we decide to stop trying.
There will always be moments that we have something new. There will always be things we can´t see. Challenges, doubts, and light, and happiness.
What is it that we can do? Well firstly, it´s a personal thing. It starts with you. Choose to do something about it. Take a leap of faith.
As for those on the outside. Pushing someone beyond their own means isn´t going to help, it´s them that have to do that. What will is being there. Helping, caring, and love.
--------------------------
This week we finally got Blanca to church again. One of her reasons for not going is spiritual doubts as well as her personal life trials. The two are connected. We had to talk about the connection between our spirituality and the physical and temporal. They are the same. We put her on a trial of her faith this week by getting to church. When we saw her there at 8 am, that put a smile across my face.
We also visited some other investigators. We are just working to help them get to church. But they are wonderful.
Carlos and his family invited me to their home for my birthday because it was his sons as well on the 3rd! We celebrated and also, Gustavo invited us to go and enjoy some dessert with them. They took good care of me.
I thank you all for the birthday wishes and I hope you all feel my love. Sorry I didn´t share much about the week. I´ll try to get better!
Elder Harmon!
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