Monday, December 28, 2015

Kerst avond, Kerst, 2e Kerst, en heel veel vreugde :)

Goede dag lieverds <3

this week has been so lovely. we have seen a lot of miracles and have visited a lot of members and investigators. The joy of Christmas is so great, especially to be a missionary during this season. It will be a little different next year when I'm not wearing a nametag, not having the mindset of finding people and testifying every single day. I don't want that to change though; I will still have Christ written on my heart and I can still testify and bring others to Christ even though I won't be an official representative of Christ. Missions don't really end, right? :(

Let's see...Tuesday we had District Meeting, then went and visited Sandra, an inactive member. She just found out she has cancer and she needs to have a surgery. She is really just not happy and it's so sad to see her depressed so we go over once or twice a week to cheer her up and share a message with her and always invite her to church, but she never comes. She is in a lot of pain so that doesn't help. well, we won't stop going over, even though every time we leave her house smelling like we smoked a joint or two (she lives with her friend who smokes) but we love them and smelling like smoke tends to be a thing as a missionary :) after that we biked over to Ikea where we had a lesson with our investigator named Micky. Micky is a hoot. He loves talking. He has been to church twice now, so he seems like he's really liking it and he has read all the way to the end of Alma in the Book of Mormon...so this appointment we taught him the rest of the Plan of Salvation, and when we got to the life on earth part we paused and asked how he felt about the steps we need to take in life in order to return to God (faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end) and he was like, "ja, ja, het klopt en ik ben er mee eens" (yeah that makes sense and I totally agree) and we were like...well how do you feel about getting baptized? do you feel you are ready? and bless his heart, we think we scared him because he seemed a little confused/freaked out but we both agree that it was needed so he knows why we are here, and why we meet with him! we taught him the rest of the lesson and it went well. We hope and pray that he comes to know the things that we teach him are true. I mean for Heaven sakes, he's almost done reading the book of mormon and he's come to church a few times and has made friends with the members. we'll get him. after that we went to a senior member christmas dinner at the church where we had indonesian/chinese take out and it was delicious and sister SC and I got volunteered to sing a christmas song while a member strummed the chords on his guitar. yay. 

On Wednesday we had another busy day, going from appointment to appointment, sharing christmas messages with members through singing "Stille nacht" (silent night) while sister stewart-chester played the guitar and they always love it. We visited 2 investigators, Anna and Piet. Both were great lessons. Anna has a handicapped daughter and she was there so we weren't able to get through the first lesson completely (she and we thought it would be a good idea to go through all the lessons again to prepare her more for baptism) she really wants to be baptized, she just has a problem with smoking and her boyfriend is living with her so we are praying and helping her see the importance of living these commandments from God. But she is really just the sweetest person ever. She is from Poland and has lived here for 15 years. I love her so much! Something I witnessed this week more than any week in my mission was the love that God has for His children. every person we visited this week is such a special child of God. and everyone on earth :) I sound like such a sister missionary...maybe it's because I AM ONE hahaha... "i just love everyone!" "i love all the cats in the world!" k anyways..

On thursday we spent some time in the morning to bake some lekkere dingen to bring around to our neighbors...we have been feeling like we need to get to know them better so we went around and tried...we didn't have much time though. we will still continue to try however. 

on Christmas day we visited Sandra again, and a few other members, then had a huge Christmas dinner at an older woman's house who is a member here in Groningen. she lives alone because her husband passed away a few years ago so she has the missionaries over every year. So she had us, the elders, and the senior couple over! we had a 5 course meal...it was delicious. Then we went back to the Romigs and skyped you guys! that was wonderful. I am so grateful for my family. I am so happy you support me and pray for me every day! I really feel those prayers. Thank you. Ik hou van jullie!!!!

The rest of the week went well, and Anna came to church for the special christmas program but she sat out in the hall because her daughter didn't want to go inside so i sat out there with her and talked with her. she really wants this. there are just a few things that need to be taken care of. The adversary is really working hard on her. Please pray that she will have more happiness in her life, especially through keeping her commitments we give her and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The work up here in Groningen has been amazing and the Lord is blessing us with miracles everyday. I love this work. I love being a missionary. every day is literally an adventure, and it's the best. 

I love you all! sorry for the super long email...i figured it was time to update you a little more on the people we are teaching here. Also we finally got ahold of Nasu. she was out of town for a few weeks and forgot her phone and then she came home and got the flu so we haven't been able to meet with her still but hopefully this week. 

Have a great week! There are miracles everyday. Satan wants us to think otherwise. By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. We are all human and we all have doubts. just remember to doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith (President Uchtdorf everyone).........and remember that WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM. even though Christmas is over, we can still celebrate Christ everyday. He was born and He was the perfect example for us. He died so we can LIVE. I know that. I have a testimony of that and it burns within me. I don't have any other desire than to share that will these people. Come unto Him and let Him CHANGE you. I love Him. I love my Savior. 

Zuster Harris out.
 




































 

Monday, December 21, 2015

Week 54

Hoi hoiiiiii

Hey loves, 
Not much time to write and not much to write maar....this week has been great (do I ever not say that...?) haha. Sadly a lot of our appointments fell through so we only had like...4. But anyways, they were super great because all 4 of them had a member present and those are always awesome. We are teaching a new investigator named Piet and he is...groovy. Lol. He's like 60 or so but he really loves making music. He also smokes a pipe but he's awesome. He's really soaked in all that we've taught him so far. He hasn't made it to church yet, but he calls every Sunday night to see how it went...super sweet guy. We tell him...why dontcha find out for yourself, jonge?? Haha he's cool. We also haven't heard from Nasu at all this week...she's getting baptized on the 9th of January. But we think it's because she had to out of town to take care of some legal stuff which is completely necessary and needed also to be baptized...so we hope that is what she is up to. We went all the way to her house for our appointment with her (she lives right next to the German border) and she wasn't there :( but it's ok because we got to visit a member who lives out there who just got her knee replaced. It was such a gezellige time by her house, singing hymns and feeding her 2 pigs. What a cutie, that Zuster Onnink. Let's see, what else....we went to a market on Saturday night and sang Christmas songs and handed out cards with the new Christmas video link on it (if y'all haven't seen that, watch it and share it. Super good). That was super cool, that market. It was lit up all Christmasy and what not with big sail boats with lights on them and Dutch people were actually happy for once! Haha jk they can be happy, but they were super glad and smiley op die avond. It was great.

Well, that about sums up our week, folks...

As far as skype goes: I will be skyping home around 10:30 Utah time so if you could all make plans to be there that'd be awesome (wes and family, Luke, char, Gret, Jen, mom, dad) I'm not quite sure how we're going to skype all at once, imma try to see if we can skype in a conference call. Dad, what is your skype name again? 

I'm looking forward to seeing your lovely faces in a few days! I hope you have a great week :) have a lovely Christmas! I know the Savior was born 2,015 years ago and He is our Brother, Redeemer, Advocate,  Savior, and Friend. I love Him and delight in His goodness and love. I hope you delight in it as well. I know He died for us, that we all may live again. 

Love you all!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Love, 

Zuster Harris :)










Tuesday, December 15, 2015

"Jezus maakt ons harten beter"

Goede morgen!!!!!!!!!!!! of avond......

well, I don't have much time to email but this week has been great. one of the highlights of this past week was our appointment with Nasu. We brought a member and his son with us to teach her and we taught her about tithing and fast offerings and it went well. But the brother who was with us sensed that there was something wrong with her and that she needed a priesthood blessing. he made sure that she had been taught about priesthood and she had and he offered to give her a blessing of confirmed, and she agreed happily. He gave her a blessing in broken english (she speaks english better than dutch) and it was so beautiful. the spirit was really strong and I asked her how she felt afterwards and she said peaceful. We moved her baptismal date to January 9th due to her doctor appointments that have been scheduled on sundays so she hasn't been to church enough. but she is still very positive and wants to get baptized. 

Let's see....last week we had zone conference. that was good, learned some cool new teaching methods. It was a good week, probably one of the busiest of my mission and I love it. a lot of people are wanting to learn more and we have a few good, solid investigators looking for truth. also transfer calls came on sunday and I get to stay with sister stewart-chester in groningen! I'm so happy, I love her. Happy we get to be together for christmas, new years and her birthday! She is a great missionary. Stoked to see what this next transfer brings!

well I have to go but know that I love you all and I am excited to skype you on Christmas! still don't know what time it will be because we are still looking for someone to let us come over for christmas...but it will work out :) hopefully i will be able to let you know next monday when we will skype. but for now, can you tell me your skype name? (dad) (and wes and kids if you won't be with mom or dad) 

There is a new christmas video that is WONDERFUL. Watch it and share it! Remember the reason for the season, and that Wise Men Still Seek Him. 

Veel liefs, 

Zuster Harris