Santa Cruz, Soaps, and Sickness...January 6, 2014

Happy 2014 everyone! 

This week has been an interesting one for sure!

On Monday, we started off the week right by going to Sant Cruz and it was absolutely wonderful! I never thought I would be on the beach on Dec. 30th with no coat! It was a beautiful day! We went with Sister Millar and her dog, Pablo and we had a great time. Most perfect moment: Eating clam chowder out of bread bowls and watching the surfers on steamer row. It was a special high-tide day, so there were TONS of surfers there! So that was fun. It was also really good to be with a dog on the beach (:

There were some good moments this week. Our investigators are all pretty much the same, but they're progressing. One awkward moment: There's a less-active in the Los Altos ward and she's an elderly woman they call Babushka. Sister Young thought she was Russian, so we were going to go over and watch The Restoration with her in Russian. We found out as we're sitting in her apartment that she actually speaks Armenian and no English whatsoever. And of course, The Restoration doesn't come in Armenian. So it was a really awkward moment trying to decide what we were going to do. I noticed that she had a bunch of pictures of Christ in her apartment, so we both showed her our favorite pictures of Him and bore our testimonies. She didn't understand a word, but the Spirit was there amid the Armenian soap opera and Mexican cookies (She made us eat them..). She speaks almost no English, but toward the end of our visit, she comes and sits next to me on the couch and starts playing with my hair. Then she said, "Good baby." as she lovingly stroked my hair. It was weird, but endearing. So we left, having had no idea what just happened. haha.

This weekend, Sister Young and I have been deathly sick. On Friday night, we weren't feeling good, so we decided to get as much sleep as possible so we could be better by Saturday. Saturday rolled around and we were feeling even worse. We were quarantined in the apartment all day. It was torture. So we made plans to be better by Sunday. Sunday came and Sister Young was better, but I was even worse than I was on Saturday! So we missed all of church and were in the apartment for another full day. I'm still feeling sick, but I'm determined to email, dangit! Sunday was good, though because we asked the elders to come and give me a blessing and it was a really good blessing! It really helped me to be at peace and to not be discouraged by my sickness. So I'm feeling a little bit better and it's just good to be out of the apartment. Also, wonderful members brought us food both days, so I'm grateful. I'm hoping I'll be able to work this week!

We had a great New Years! We ate with the Fitzpatricks again on New Years Eve and we had a great time. We celebrated New Years at 9 because the elders are both from Pennsylvania and that's midnight there. So it was fun. New Years on a mission is a lot of fun!

I hope you all had a wonderful New Years and are doing well on your resolutions. One of my goals is to be more meek and to develop more humility. 

Love you all!

Sister Julie Catherine Harris

pictures 1-3-2014

Sister Harris and Sister Young at Santa Cruz

 

It's a Wonderful Life! December 30, 2013

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This week was a whirlwind to say the least! Christmas was amazing! We got to spend time with the Fitzpatricks (an awesome family in the Woodland Park ward) and we had really good food! I also got to see my adorable family, whom I love and miss very much! It was really good to see you guys and get to talk to you over Skype! Thanks so much for your support and testimonies. I get strength from them every day!

It was a wonderful Christmas season full of music and love. It was also kind of stressful because in our mission, every missionary has to get Preach my Gospel certified (meaning that every missionary has to role-play the 5 lessons to their DL, ZL, or STL and pass off certain points.) My zone has a goal to get everyone certified by the end of the year. For some reason, I was stressing out about it more than I had stressed about anything else on my mission. So I've been praying a lot for comfort and strength to be able to do it. On Saturday, we went on exchanges with our STL (Sister Bassett (:) and she gave me a pep-talk that really helped. So yesterday, we had a free hour and so did our District Leader. When I prayed about it, I was prompted to just open my mouth and I knew that God would help me. Again, I'm not sure why I was so torn up about it, but we met with the District Leader, I exercised all the faith and courage I had, and I passed them all off! All 5 of them! In one sitting! I know it was all the Lord's doing, because I could not have done that on my own. Miracle I tell you!

That experience made me come out of my funk and now I'm just rejoicing! Satan was working on me really hard this last week and I just told him that that's enough. So this weekend was fabulous!

So about our investigators. Mason has dropped his baptismal date and is moving to Colorado ):. So we're kind of sad about that, but we know that he'll get baptized eventually. Yvonne is doing really well and is absolutely loving the Book of Mormon. She can't get enough of it and she bears her testimony about it every time we go over! She is really prepared, so we're really excited for her. I have learned to love the people we're teaching and our area.

So, yes. Things are going really well here. And to make it all even better, we're going to the beach today with Sister Millar!! She's our very favorite kind of less-active and we love spending time with her. So that will be a lot of fun!

I love this work, and I know that Christ is my Savior. I know that God will provide for us when we exercise faith and trust in Him. I love the Gospel and I know that the church is true. I love all of you so much! Happy Holidays!

All my love, 

Sister Julie Catherine Harris 

 

 Sister Harris's new address is:

3480 Granada Ave. #286

Santa Clara, CA 95051

Merry Christmas! December 23, 2013

Merry Christmas everyone! 

This week has been pretty good! We've had some miracles!

Mason, one of our investigators, had the time of his life at the Monta Vista(YSA) ward last Sunday and when he came home, he said, "I'm a Mormon!" I always knew that was a great ward. (: 

When we met with him the next day, he said, "Guess what, sisters? I'm getting baptized!" We were so shocked and excited!! He just decided on his own that he was going to get baptized and he only needs our help to plan the service. So mark you calendars, everyone! 1/4/14 is the day! We're so excited!

Yvonne, one of our other investigators, has asked us to read to Book of Mormon with her every day. She said that she only understands it when the missionaries are there. So we've been reading with her and one night, she said, "You know, now is the time. What am I waiting for?" It was awesome. We haven't been able to get ahold of her recently, though. But we'll keep trying.

So things are going well. There have been some Christmas miracles and I'm really starting to feel the Christmas spirit! On Sunday, we went to two wards and got to see two incredible Christmas programs. I'm so blessed to be in this mission at this time! I also feel very blessed to have received so much love from all of you! Thank you all for being awesome! 

I want everyone to listen to David Archuleta's Christmas cd. It's soo good!

On Saturday, I got to go back to Saratoga to see Alisha's baptism. It was a really sweet experience and another way that I felt the Christmas spirit this week. It was good to be back there and see all of my people and to see Alisha so happy! I am so blessed!

This week, we went to visit a less-active member and she wasn't home. It turned out that her daughter, who is also less-active, was there. She let us in and she told us that she had just been listening to the radio while cleaning the house. All of the sudden, the radio had turned off by itself, and that's when she saw us coming up the driveway. She basically spilled to us about everything she was going through and we taught her a Christmas message and sang 'Love at Home' with her. As we left, she had tears in her eyes as she said, "Thank you." It made us feel so good! It's awesome how the Lord will put you in situations where you're needed. Even when they're really unexpected. 

I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!!

Much Love,

Sister Julie Catherine Harris

Down by the Bay... December 16, 2013

Hello everyone! You may have noticed that my new address is in Santa Clara again! Surprise! Here's the scoop. I'm serving in the Los Altos stake now, and I'm living in Santa Clara. We're covering three wards in the western half of the stake, so we don't live in our area. We cover Los Altos, Woodland Park, and Heritage Oaks...So that's all of Los Altos, Mountain View, and part of Sunnyvale. It's pretty weird to be back in this area, but I'm loving it!

Parts of our area sit right on the bay! So yes, I'm living the dream. Also, Google is here. No big deal or anything.

I love all the people I've met so far and the area is wonderful! My new companion is Sister Young and she's awesome! She's really tall, so we're quite the sight together; not to mention we both have really Mormon last names! (:

The work is going well here and I'm excited to see how I can improve this area! I'm doing well and loving the Christmas season here! We've been sharing a message about Mary with the people we visit; about how Mary had so much faith to accept her seemingly impossible assignment and then she praised the Lord! I think we can all follow her example of faith and humility. 

I really appreciate all of the packages and love I've been getting from you guys! The 12 days of Christmas is really boosting my spirits! 

Have you ever heard of the Creche exhibit in Palo Alto? I got to go to it twice because our area is so close! It is a beautiful display of nativity scenes from all over the world. look it up!

There is a lot of service to do here in Los Altos. The other day, we got to work on a full-on farm and we got to muck out an animal stall. Meaning that we got to shovel poop for 2 hours. Good thing I was wearing gumboots because I would not have gone in there otherwise! Gross! I didn't expect to turn country in California! 

Anyways, I absolutely love it here and I'm so excited for this new area! 

Love you all!

 

Sister Julie Catherine Harris

 

 

 

 

New address:

3480 Granada Ave. #286

Santa Clara CA 95051

Don't cry for me, Saratoga... December 9, 2013

Hello everyone! Surprise!

I'm getting transferred again. Far away this time. I'm a little bit nervous to leave my safe-haven of Saratoga, but kind of excited to see what my next area has in store for me. I'll find out tomorrow where I'm going and I'll let y'all know!
I really am going to miss it here. I love this stake and this zone and I know that my next area is going to be a lot different. Wherever I go will be where I'm needed!
This week was good. We've been spreading a lot of Christmas cheer and having a lot of fun! We're getting a lot of opportunities to use music and it's been really cool. I'm going to miss Sister Bassett terribly, but it's okay because we'll see each other again.
Our investigators are doing well. We went on exchanges the other day and I was with Sister Black. We went to go drop in on Shelby and found a miracle! The first time we met with Shelby, we committed her to give the gospel 100% for the next week. When I visited her with Sister Black, she wasn't able to meet with us, but we had a couple of minutes at the door and she told us that she had kept the commitment and that she had seen miracles this week! We're really excited about her. She's totally getting baptized!
Thanks for the packages! I really appreciate them a lot! Everything has been going well and I am loving every minute of my mission.
This transfer has been a good one and I've learned a lot. I've learned not to judge a book by its cover; yes, there are a lot of rich people in my area, but they are some of the most humble people I've ever met. I've learned that being a missionary isn't only from 10 to 9; it's all the time. People are always paying attention to the little things we do and the things we say. I've learned that the harder you work and the better you plan, the more miracles you will see. I've also learned that a mission is one, big awkward moment. But it's a happy moment!
I'm a third of the way through my mission and I'm realizing how short this experience will be. It will be a small moment, but one that will effect me my whole life. I love it!
Well I hope that you are all having a wonderful day and a wonderful Christmas season!
Love you all!
Sister Julie Catherine Harris   

JOY to the world... December 3, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Holidays everyone!

The wine is out, and Christmas is coming to Saratoga! Seriously though, it smells like wine here.

Thanksgiving was great! We had three dinners scheduled, but we only ended up having two. The first dinner was at the Lange's in the Los Gatos ward and it was sooo good! They have a huge, gorgeous house up in the mountains and she is an amazing cook! We ate far too much and then had to go to our second dinner. Our second was at a family's house in Campbell whose name I can't spell or pronounce. It was a little bit different than the dinner in Los Gatos, but still pretty good. Needless to say, we were stuffed. We rolled to District Meeting after both of our dinners and everyone there was just vegging out. haha! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Street contacting on black Friday was interesting but fun! We got 100 contacts in one night!

It's getting a little bit cold here, but it feels good! Last night we went contacting and we used the Joy to the World cards. NOBODY said no. It was amazing. Afterwards, we realized that our nametags were inside of our coats. We decided that that's why everyone was nice to us! It's funny what a difference the name tag makes.

Yesterday, we went to Monterey with all the sisters in the zone for p-day! It was so much fun! We got to take two of president's cars down and we got to see Pebble Beach golf course! We went on the 17-mile drive down the coast and it was beautiful! The water was so blue and the sand was perfect! We had a really fun time on the beach and we all grew closer together as sisters. Sister Bassett is the best STL ever (:. We saw so many beautiful places and it was just a really good way to spend p-day!

This week was great! It was a hard week for all the missionaries in the zone because everyone went out of town. So we got creative and did a lot of street contacting. We did a lot of good work and have been meeting a lot of great people! 

The Christmas season is approaching, and my cute area is even cuter with Christmas lights! We have some amazing things in the works for this Christmas season, including a sing-along with some elderly and shut-in people in our wards. It's going to be a really good way to spread Christmas cheer! I'm excited for Christmas and to see what Christmas miracles will happen!

Speaking of miracles, the mission has 32 baptisms THIS WEEK and next week, there will be 22. It's amazing how much the work is hastening here! There are so many prepared people everywhere and we're doing our best to find them!

I love my mission and I love all of the people in my area! I know that miracles are going to happen and I know that the Lord is mindful of EVERYONE in the Saratoga stake and in the world!

I love you all!

Sister Julie Catherine Harris


Yay for Monterrey! Sister Bassett and Sister Harris soakin' up the sun...