Missions aren't easy... June 2, 2014

Hello everyone!!

This week may or may not have been one of the most stressful weeks of my mission with nothing to show for it. It happens.

Taking over an area after 6 weeks isn't easy. But I guess you could say that missions in general aren't very easy. The Lord knows that we will go through difficult challenges, but does He make them easier? Not always. Most of the time He just makes us stronger.

That is something that I have noticed this week. This week my faith took a hit. Your whole mission people tell you that hard work and obedience bring miracles and my whole mission that has proved true. But then you have those weeks where you're doing your best and you're on your knees every morning and night and everything falls through and nothing seems to work out. It is times like that when the Lord is shaping and strengthening us to rise to the challenge. So I'm still rising. (: I know that great things are going to happen this transfer.

Enough with the complaining. Other than all of that, things are going well. We're trying our best with our investigators and others and trying to have a lot of faith. I cannot tell you how many referrals we have given to the Hermanas this week. Thanks to my Spanish-speaking companion! She's the best!

So I don't have a lot to tell y'all about this week, but I have been strengthened physically and spiritually. Between riding our bikes for miles every day and fast Sunday, I have been truly blessed. On Sunday I fasted for all of our investigators and also for my companion and myself(that we would be able to have the faith to see miracles). My testimony of fasting has been strengthened because I feel better already. I feel hopeful and ready for a new week. Come at me!

Even though this week was really rough, looking back, I can see the Lord's hand in it. I don't know the area and I don't know anyone here, yet somehow I was able to lead us around the area to people's houses and various places around town. I'm weak and have asthma but I was able to lead my companion up hills and across many miles. The Lord takes care of us. He won't make it easy, but it's not supposed to be easy. This week is going to be amazing; I can feel it. (:

I love all of you!

Sister Julie Catherine Harris

2 Ne. 31:20