Hey hey everyone how's it been....? I'm alive and well, don't worry, it's been way too long and there's a lot to catch up on, so apologies in advance!!
Elizabeth was finally baptized!! I am super happy it finally worked out. Cesar and Elizabeth was supposed to be baptized with her. But a couple days before he brought up how he is still having issues with coffee and alcohol. He said he wanted to leave it behind him before he gets baptized, and we told him we completely understand and can help him.
The day before the baptism, Elizabeth shot us a text and expressed some worries that she didn't feel ready and wasn't sure. We went over to talk to her in person and she explained further. As I was sitting there, I felt a very strong impression to testify. I testified of God's love for them, and felt the spirit so strongly, I started tearing up, and Elizabeth and Cesar started tearing up as well. It was one of the most amazing and spiritual experiences I have ever had. After that she said that she felt that she was ready and it was right. Overall an amazing experience.
Then Sunday came around and we had the baptism after church. It was great overall!! We had everything done in Spanish even tho 90% of the people didn't speak Spanish lol. But it was all good, had some great talks and it was super spirit filled. I was also able to be the one to baptize her!! It was great and I talked with Elizabeth after and asked how she felt. She said that she felt super calm and peaceful.
After that we have really been focusing on her son Cristian. He speaks good English so my comp can help out a lot since he switched Spanish not too long ago. We plan on getting him baptized here in a couple weeks so we are excited for that.
Okay now flash forward to the Sunday and our bishop told us earlier that he wanted to meet with Elizabeth and get to know her because he had been out of town for like 2 months lol. So for second hour we took Elizabeth to his office and translated for them. He got to know her and then he said that he wanted to have the temple interview questions. We were super surprised but we got right to it and she passed with flying colors!! It was super amazing timing because that Saturday there was a ward temple trip and someone will be there to watch the kids and to give rides so it was absolutely amazing and a miracle!!!
So that weekend we got a ride for her and went to the temple with her!! When we got there she was in awe at how pretty and nice the temple was and instantly started taking pictures lol. (mom take this part out) *we talked with her and I was giving her a rundown of what was going to happen when she goes in because we won't be with her, and I talked to her about how she will go and get clothes and get changed to be baptized and she looked at us all scared and goes "I'm going to go into water??" and i say yeah like we explained earlier you are going to be baptized for people that have past. And she shyly goes behind the member we with with and explains. The member tells us that it was her time of the month and didn't want to go in water. We realized and made sure she was alright and we went in there and worked everything out. With the temple workers and a member. We ended up having her witness so she could go in the font room and help out even though she didn't go In the water. She then did confirmations.* (mom you can continue) After the temple she said she felt super calm and relaxed, and was having a super spiritual convo with the member in the car. Overall she had a really great experience and we hope to get her back real soon!!
That next Sunday we had a super great experience of having a missionary Sunday. Where almost everything that was done for sacrament was by missionaries. 3 of us gave talks and the other 3 did a musical number. It was overall a really incredible experience. I'm getting better and better with talks and I feel a ton more comfortable just speaking off bullet points. I'm becoming more and more like my dad each day, ha. It was a very spirit filled meeting and we had so many members say they were crying and we should do that every week, lol.
Transfers hit and I got moved to an area called River Side Park West. It's basically Fort Lauderdale but more inland. My new companion Elder Craft is finishing off his mission here, this is his last transfer, so I'm sending another one home so wish me luck lol. He's actually from American Fork which is crazy and he lives like 8 min from my house back home, which is wild!! We both white washed into this area and we got this area from 2 sisters that worked in the office. So there is literally like nobody in our area book. So we have been grinding trying to find new people to teach. We also have been trying super hard to meet all the members and get to know them.
General Conference was amazing!!! Elder Craft and I got the chance to watch it with some members at the church, and also with this Cuban family in their home and had some super good pizza after!! I've really come to appreciate General Conference so much more on the mission and realize how important and amazing it actually is!! Super sad to hear about president Nelson and Elder Holland, however I'm super grateful that we could hear from our prophet still!! Pensar Celestial!!
Already from arriving in this area, my Spanish has gotten a whole lot better. Elder Craft and I only speak in Spanish outside of the apartment, and his Spanish is great!! That and there's just so many more Latins, and we are in a Spanish ward which has helped so much!! This last Sunday we all had to introduce ourselves in sacrament and that's the third time I think I have been up there speaking Spanish, but it went great!!
Also the apartment we are living in is so so so bouge, the complex has a super nice gym, sauna, steam room, and more. It's been nice to have an actual gym and to get to work out. Me and an Elder I live with workout everyday. I'm cutting and he's bulking, eating a 2,500 calorie shake, lol.
We found and taught 2 guys named Jhon and Jose, we have gone over some basic principles but they seem pretty promising!! These last few days I have been on exchanges, and my comp said that he had a lesson going over the restoration with Jhon, and he said that everything made a ton of sense and that he believes it to be true. My comp started talking about baptism and Jhon said he would be completely down!! He came to church yesterday and there was a baptism after church that he also attended. He said he really really liked it. One problem is that he doesn't have a car which makes it difficult when they get baptized and continue coming because we need to find rides or someone to consistently give his transportation. But we are super excited. My comp and I need to pray for an official date to give him but that's something really amazing to look forward to!
A little update on the new ward, it's absolutely amazing!! First off it's kinda weird because we are ward sharing with 2 other companionships. Of which 1 pair of sisters from a different district, and one set of elders from a different zone. That's like unheard of lol so it's kinda weird but super fun. We met the Bishop, Elders Quorum President, and some really awesome lessons!! We get fed almost every single day by these members, they try really hard to take care of us missionaries which is such a blessing. They have sports that they play as a ward almost every week. We played some church ball the other day and that was super fun. It will be a great way to get connected to the members and to get some of our friends involved in the ward and to meet some people!! I'm really looking forward to getting to know this ward more and befriending them all!!
I have been going through a little bit of a rough spot in the mission, trying to work on motivation, looking on the bright side, learning patience, and trying my best in all that I do while having the best attitude. Something the mission does to you, is it drives you to your knees, and forces you to turn to your Father in heaven. Normally if you are going through something hard, you have your friends and your family right next to you to support you and help you out. However when you don't have that, you have your comp. And for the most part that's not enough, and forces you to turn to the Lord which I absolutely love. I have gained such an amazing relationship with my Heavenly Father and have grown so much. I have really gained a testimony of prayer and exercising faith, how God truly hears our prayer and helps us in our times of need. I bear witness of His love for me. He is truly there, ready and willing to bless us. No matter what we do and what we think, He will always be there with open arms ready to accept us. I love Him and his plan for me. I love how He loves us enough to give us living prophets to lead and guide us today. I love that He gives us peace and comfort through the Holy Spirit, and how we can feel His support and love in our daily lives.
ALSO I'M AN UNCLE!!!!! My brother Cam and Mel had their daughter Hadly!!! So crazy to think that I'm an Uncle, and I'm so excited to meet her after the mission!!
I have been super sick lately but I think I'm getting better, just been sitting in bed dying these past two days....
I pray for all of you, and I'm sorry for the break in emails, my mom is really good at getting on me lol. I'm actually going to have weeklies now, lol. Get ready for a picture haul!
Elder Harbs
