Greetings family and friends! Happy Belated Birthday Dad!!
This week has been an absolute whirlwind. It has been heart-breaking but fabulous and full of miracles!
On Valentine's Day, we were supposed to have a baptism. We had planned for Yvonne to get baptized on that day. I have never tried so hard in my life to get ahold of someone. The entire week of the baptism, she wouldn't answer her phone or door and she would never call us back. I'll be honest, we probably spent a total of 5 hours throughout the week trying to contact her. So we weren't able to get an interview with her and she wasn't baptized. It makes me really sad that she still hasn't gotten back to us because we know that something's wrong, we just don't know what.
On February 13, we were running around, trying to find Yvonne, dealing with angry ward leaders asking about the baptism, and trying to work hard at the same time. It was a really rough day for us, but in the midst of it, we saw a miracle. Around 3 or 4, we made the final decision that there would be no baptism the next day. Then we went contacting and we were really dejected and upset. We contacted a man named Donald sitting on a bench and ended up teaching him the first lesson! Not only that, but he told us that he really wanted to come to church with us! Sunday comes and Donald walks in halfway through Sacrament meeting and ends up staying all three hours! He loved it and is looking forward to hearing more of the lessons. It was truly a miracle and I know that the Lord will bless us when we press forward in the midst of hardship.
Valentine's Day was sorely underestimated. As a missionary, you think it'll just be a regular day; it was as bad as Christmas Eve. NO ONE answered their doors after 6 and contacting was terrible!! So advice to all you future missionaries: prepare yourselves for Valentine's Day.
Other than Yvonne not getting baptized, it was a great week. Sister Young and I have been seeing a lot of success and growth in our area due to faith and obedience! We have been able to teach a lesson on the street every day this week! That's a miracle considering the way things are in this area. So we've been greatly blessed this week and we hope that we will continue to be blessed. Yesterday for p-day, we got to go to Capitola and Pacific Grove with Sister Fitzpatrick. It was absolutely beautiful! For all you beach-goers, winter time is the best time to go to the beach. It was gorgeous and we had a wonderful time. It was much needed considering the way our week went. So now I feel rejuvinated and even more excited for the work!
I'll send pictures when I can; I've been meaning to send Dad a birthday letter, but all of my p-days have been busy so it'll be late. Sorry!
I love all of you guys and I hope you are all being blessed as much as I am! I can feel the influence of your love and prayers and I appreciate them so much!
Love, Sister Julie Catherine Harris
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