Okay so I know I missed the last couple weeks, but you gotta hear me out. 2 weeks ago I didn't have a lot of time and I was also feeling a little lazy! I'll update all of you guys on these 3 weeks now so don't worry. And also last week, you gotta understand, I typed out the longest email of my life to catch everyone up and apologize, but when I went to add pictures THE EMAIL GOT DELETED FOR SOME REASON. So I was just not having it after that. So now here we are so let's get to it!!
A tonnnn has happened, just to start off.... HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! We had a ton of fun on new years, we had a ward party that started at 7... My bad, supposed to start at 7 lol. Nobody showed up to the party, not the dj, not the members, not the bishop, not the food, literally nobody until 8:30. Latin time is just different lol. It was a ton of fun though waiting Elder Anderson and I were just jamming out to music with the Zone Leaders, I learned how to do the Salsa correctly lol. It was a ton of fun and then everyone started to show up. They showed up so late that we didn't really have time to do anything because we had to be home at 9, so we basically had to grab food and leave which was kind of lame. It was fun though because we went home and were having ice cream and watching all the fireworks outside. Reminded me a ton of home which was fun!!
After that it was just smooth sailing, not a ton of progress on people because they keep not showing up but we are trying our best. We had a couple more lessons with Evelyn and Giovanis, which went super well!! The spirit is so strong with them!! We also had another lesson with them a couple days ago, and they gave us some cheesecake and juice. They are seriously the sweetest people. When we were talking, we mentioned baptism again and Giovanis told us that he is totally down to be baptized!! So we are going to get a date down coming up here pretty soon which is exciting. The one problem is getting them to church which has been a struggle. But overall we are making good progress!!
Transfers came.... And I didn't have a second thought about staying with Elder Anderson. Until I looked at the sheet and I got assigned a new trainer which I was heartbroken about. Elder Anderson and I grew so close and I loved being his comp. But I was also excited to see what the Lord has in store for me.... Which is a lot! This past week has been the toughest for me so far, just lots of struggles with language, motivation, homesickness, and just good things in general. I love my new trainer to death, however there are quite a bit of things we do differently so we are just trying to figure it out. Talking to my family has definitely been the biggest blessing for me because no matter how hard it gets they seem to always get me hyped and happy. So now I'm doing good and trying to look on the bright side of everything. The ending of the week ended a lot better so it wasn't all bad don't worry!!
Exchanges happened this last week too which was super fun!!! I went with Elder Greenig which was absolutely amazing!! It's so fun to hear Creole lessons and meet a bunch of Haitians. It's so crazy to hear that and be like "wow someone literally understands this language", feel the same way about Spanish if I'm being honest lol. In the words of my brother, they are just a bunch of talking heads and I don't get a thing lol. Overall the exchange went super well, we had tons of fun with lots of lessons and worked really hard!!
Spanish is coming... It's hard to see my progress sometimes, because all it takes is for me to hear one person from Cuba to remember that I know hardly anything lol. It's hard in Florida because I'm hearing people from 20 different countries with different accents and sayings and ways of speaking that it's like a new language every time. That has the been the biggest struggle, for example I walk into church and talk to an Hermano from Chile, and turn around and talk to someone from Guatemala, then Colombia, it's so hard for me to understand certain countries which is a little discouraging but I know I'll get there eventually!!
Lessons have been going better, I've had a lot of studying happen in 2 Nephi. And I have been reading some awesome verses!! One scripture that stood out to me this week was in chapter 29, verse 15-16. It talks about enduring to the end. It says:
"15 And I heard a voice from the Father, saying: Yea, the words of my Beloved are true and faithful. He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved. 16 And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved."
This is so important because he's talking about enduring through the example of Jesus Christ. By following his example of baptism, and by developing christ like attributes and becoming more like him through scripture study, growing out testimony, and holding strong to the iron rod will we be saved. I testify that it is true, I don't like the word "endure" because at least to me it sounds like your surviving through it, and it's a struggle. However, when we live the gospel of Jesus Christ, yes it can be hard sometimes, but the amount of blessings, and love, peace, comfort, and joy is incomparable to any worldly thing. So I testify and have felt that if we love, live, and enjoy the gospel of Jesus Christ, we will be blessed tremendously!!
I love you all so much and hope all is well!!!
I'll for sure catch y'all next week, peace out
Elder Harbertson
