So much LOVE! March 31, 2014

Hello everyone!

So it still hasn't completely hit me yet that conference is this weekend!! I'm so excited! Also, our zone gets to go to the temple tomorrow! This week is going to be great!

This last week was awesome. We have been seeing little miracles and little trials of faith. Things are going well and we met two new potential investigators! One is Amanda and she was a miracle. She's recently homeless and looking for a church to go to. She's a recovering addict and wants a new start and something spiritual in her life. Some mystery elders contacted her a little while ago and gave her a Book of Mormon with our names in it and our phone number. So we received a call from a borrowed phone the other day and she told us she was interested in learning more. She told us she lives behind In'n'Out and that she would love to meet us anytime. We felt that it was a great opportunity, so we went by the same day. We found her there and we talked with her for about half-an-hour. She is really down to earth and appreciated the company. I shared with her my favorite scripture and she loved it! She told me that I looked like her little sister, so she feels really comfortable with us. I'm so glad that we were able to meet her! Miracles!

Justo is progressing really well. He came to church yesterday for the first time and is committed to coming every Sunday. He was able to work out his schedule with his boss so that he could make it to church. He's praying about a baptismal date and wants it to be some time in April. We're so excited! I could see him being a future Elder's Quorum President! 

So yes, things are going well and I'm happy as a clam. I love my mission so much and it breaks my heart that I'm over halfway done. But at the same time, my mission has already laid such a good foundation for the rest of my life, so I'm excited to see what happens next. Being a missionary is the best thing in the world and I fully intend on being one the rest of my life. 

I love you all! 

Sister Julie Catherine Harris  

Joyous Exhaustion... and A Heart Full of Love. March 24, 2014

My companion, Sister Tuala, and me - Sister Garcia-Gomez is the creeper!

The District!

These are all the sisters in my zone!

from left to right: Sister Garcia-Gomez, Hermana Santidrian, Hermana Mehr, Sister Tuala, Sister Harris, and Sister Poznanski

Hello everyone! The reason I'm writing late today is because we had an awesome zone activity at Golfland where we played mini golf and went lazer tagging!! It was so much fun!

This week was an absolute miracle! Things are going really well! First of all, Justo is still really solid. He had to cancel our appointment because he had an emergency and had to pick up his kids. But he called us and told us that he really wants to set a baptismal date and that he wants to get work off on Sundays so that he can come to church every week. He's so committed! So this week, we have been praying for him to get Sunday off and we invited members to do so as well. Well, everyone, prayer works!

Justo texted us just this morning and said that he would be able to make it to church this Sunday!! We're so excited! He's really excited and he really loves the Gospel. 

I don't know if I have room to even tell all of the wonderful miracles we experienced this week. But we were able to teach a lot of lessons and meet a lot of people with great potential. The other day, we had an appointment with a less-active family and they were't home. It was a bummer, but luckily, there was another less-active family that lived in that same complex. So we tried them and they weren't home either. As we were walking back to the car, we saw an older woman sitting on her front porch and we both felt strongly that we should talk to her. We approached her and started a conversation; she was really friendly! We talked for awhile and she invited us back anytime! The Lord sent us to that particular apartment complex for a reason. He tends to do that. It's not always for the reason that we're expecting, but the Lord will always lead us to the best opportunities if we're faithful. 

We also got to visit one of my favorite less-actives named Asinate. She's Tongan and has three little Tongan children. They're adorable! While we were there, the little girl, Ola Mae was just running around while we were teaching. Then she looked at me and got really fascinated as she started walking toward me. She started touching my hair and playing with it. She loved my hair so much! It was flattering. haha.

Everything is going well and Sister Tuala and I are tearing it up here. We're working hard and seeing blessings from it. This week I was again reminded of how much I love it here. I really do know that I was sent here for a reason and that I truly am supposed to be here at this time. 

California is full of good people. I love all of the people that I serve as well as the people I serve with. You know when you feel like people have been placed in your life for a reason? That's how I feel about everyone here. It's so great! I was also reminded of how much I love this work. Yes, I'm tired ALL THE TIME. But I love it. There's nowhere else I'd rather be and nothing else I'd rather be doing. (:

So this week was awesome and we're going to continue on with the Lord's work. Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

I love all of you!

Sister Julie Catherine Harris

Happy St. Patrick's Day! March 17, 2014

Top of the morning to all of you! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This week was great! We got 3 new investigators! 

So I may have told you about Justo, the guy who contacted us in the park a couple of weeks ago? Well, he is very prepared to hear the Gospel! We taught him the message of the Restoration this week and he loved it. He told us that he really wants to have a relationship with his Heavenly Father and that he really needs a spiritual side to his life. We invited him to get baptized and he said yes!! When we gave him a Book of Mormon, he treated it like a treasure. He placed it gently down on the table and then just looked at it fondly for a little while. He said he's anxious to read it and pray about it. Miracles! We're really excited for him and he should be getting baptized here pretty soon.

Our other two investigators are two 13 year old girls. Their mother is less-active, so that's how we met them. They have been to girls camp and loved it so they want to go again. We're not positive just how interested they are; well, because they're 13 year-old girls. But they agreed to let us come back and to read the Book of Mormon! We're hoping that they feel the Spirit.

We got ahold of Yvonne! She had her thyroid surgery and is in recovery right now. She can't talk and can barely move, but her faith is incredible. She told us that this trial is really hard for her, but she knows it'll be for her good. Her testimony is so strong! She lays in bed all day, so she's been reading the Book of Mormon like crazy! The doctors told her that recovery could last up to a year, but between our faith and her fortitude, that won't happen. She's a strong woman and I know that the Lord will bless her.

Last night, we had a special St. Patrick's Day dinner with the Fitzpatricks! Clearly, they're Irish, so it was really fun. They had green mashed potatoes, corned beef, and cabbage! So yummy! I love all of the wonderful families in the wards that we cover. They are all so great and they make us feel at home. 

So basically, we're being so blessed over here in this tiny corner of the Lord's vineyard. He knows exactly what we need and he knows the people who need us. This last week there were 5 baptisms in our zone!! It has truly been a miracle to see the work hasten here. There has been a huge difference between the beginning of my mission and now. The work is hastening and it's happening FAST. It's not because I'm becoming a better missionary, although I try hard to improve every day. It's because there are people who need to hear the gospel. There are people here and everywhere that are perishing in unbelief. So let's all work together in this wonderful work! 

I love all of you and I hope that spring has found its way to Utah. It has definitely found its way here, allergies, asthma, and all. haha. 

I love you! Oute Alofa Ia te Oe!

Sister Julie Catherine Harris

Talofa from Los Altos! March 10, 2014



Sister Harris and Sister Tuala

Talofa! 

As you all know, Sister Young has been transferred and she will be missed. But I have a new companion now and her name is Sister Tuala. She's from Western Samoa and she's awesome! She's really chill and a really good missionary. I've been having to adjust a little bit because she's the opposite of Sister Young in every way, but it's been good.

The work is going really well. We got a new investigator this week! His name is Kellan and he's the grandson of an active member. We were in her home, teaching a lesson about missionary work and we challenged her to invite someone to hear about the gospel. She turned to her 11 year-old non-member grandson and said, "Kellan, would you like to learn more about the gospel?" He said yes and we taught him right there! We're going back this week. His family is less-active, so he and his brother were never baptized and never go to church. 

Donald is doing well. He loves the gospel, but we're not sure if he wants to convert. He loves his church and claims he's already been baptized. We'll keep trying. (:

I played the violin in church yesterday and it was awesome! It always feels so good to play out here and help people to feel the Spirit. We played a special arrangement of Nearer, My God, to Thee and it was beautiful. Brother Fitzpatrick recorded it, so I'll see if they can send it to you! It was awesome. 

I've been having a lot of fun with the missionaries in my zone. I love my roommates and all of the other wonderful missionaries here. Things are good.

Awkward moment of the week: We were contacting on Casto Street (downtown Mountain View) on Friday night so there were tons of people and the place was reeking of alcohol. I saw this group of college-age kids standing in a circle and they were clearly drunk. But hey, everyone needs the gospel, right? So I contacted them. The guy I gave the first card to not only put it in his mouth, but he ate it. He chewed and swallowed a mormon.org card. I tried so hard not to laugh as I talked to his friends, but it was so weird! 

Spiritual moment of the week: We visited this less-active that we've been trying to get ahold of for months! She finally answered her door and invited us in. She was really nice and loved visiting with us. When we were about to share a scripture with her, she said "just a sec." She ran into her room and pulled out her scriptures! She told us that they were her seminary scriptures and that she hadn't read them since then. She opened up to my favorite scripture and found that she had it marked. We read with her and had a really good discussion about enduring to the end. We said a prayer with her and afterwards, she said, "I really felt the Spirit." It was a really good visit and we really connected. I love missionary work!

How are things going at home? 

Oh and guess what: my 9 month mark is this week! Ah! 

Always remember that Jesus loves you!

Oute Alofa Ia te Oe!

Sister Julie Catherine Harris



Do I need to bring socks???? March 3, 2014

This week. I don't know what to say. I'll start off by saying that Sister Young is officially getting transferred. I'm really sad about that because we had so many good times and spiritual moments. But it's time for a new chapter in my mission. 

So yesterday, Yvonne got baptized!!! I don't think I have words to describe the experience! As a missionary, you think that you'll get used to that feeling, but you never do. It's powerful and amazing every time someone you love enters the waters of baptism. It was amazing with Yvonne because she has had so many struggles lately and so much opposition. But her testimony is so strong that she knew she had to do this and she followed through! 

It was a wonderful service. I was able to play the ukulele and sing with an elder in my zone and it was awesome. We sang Nearer, My God, to Thee and it did more good that I thought it did. After the baptism, non-members came up to me and told me that it was awesome; surprisingly, it opened up a lot of people. Music is amazing, folks. We got to be with Yvonne back in the dressing room after she was baptized and it was a sweet experience. She was speechless and sobbing for lack of words. All we could do was hug her and tell her how much we love her! It was honestly one of the best baptisms I've ever attended. Afterwards, she was talking to all of her sons and she challenged them all to read the Book of Mormon and to take the missionary lessons. She bore her testimony to her family and they all agreed to do it! That was definitely a miracle. 

The icing on the cake? The ward was phenomenal. They were all so good to her and she met a whole new family yesterday at church and at the baptism. It was an incredible experience that I'll never forget. 

There were a lot of investigators and non-members there, too so it was amazing!

The rest of the week is a blur compared to the baptism, but it was great. We've been working hard and it's been raining! 

Oh and Mom: I was able to testify to Yvonne about the gifts of the Spirit based on that letter you wrote me that one time. The one where you promised that I would be able to memorize things if I could learn everyone's names. She thought it was so inspiring that I can now memorize songs, scriptures, and names. So thanks! 

The week was great and this next week will be an adventure! I'll have a new companion and will continue to work hard! Life is good on the mission and I wouldn't trade even the worst days for anything. If any of you are even considering serving a mission, do it. You will never regret the wonderful experiences and happiness you'll feel on your mission. I love you all!

"Then with my waking thoughts, bright with my praise; out of my stony griefs, Bethel I'll raise. So by my woes to be Nearer, My God, to Thee; Nearer, My God, to Thee; Nearer to Thee."

Sister Julie Catherine Harris

Oh!

So the reason for the subject heading of my main letter:

Two hours before the baptism started, something very scary happened. We had just gotten finished setting everything up and filling up the font when we got a call from Yvonne. She sounds really run-down and tells us that she won't be able to make it to her baptism. I asked her why and she said slowly, "I've changed my mind." There was silence for probably a whole minute. Sister Young and I looked at each other and our hearts were not only broken, but strewn on the street and run over. It was a sad moment. Then on the phone, Yvonne says, "I'm just messin' wit y'all. Do I need to bring socks?" OH MY GOSH. We were irate. We started laughing so hard out of pure relief even though it was not a funny joke. When we saw Yvonne at the baptism, she started cracking up because she thinks she's hilarious. It was a cruel joke. haha. 

I love Yvonne. But we will get her back!

Just a funny story that I forgot to tell in my letter!

Love, Sister Harris