Hey Everybody!
This week has been pretty typical.
I forgot to mention last Monday that we had a zone conference and a new goal was announced. President told us that as he was driving down from Kumasi a little while ago, he mentioned to Sister Sabey that it was getting to the time when we need a new goal. So during the drive he began to ponder about what we could do and what the Lord would want us to do. The idea came pretty quick and he mentioned it to Sister Sabey who said simply that it was impossible. They discussed all the problems that would make this an impossible goal and by the time they were done talking he knew that this would be our goal. We started with baptizing a family, then a family and a future leader, then a family future leader and a referral. Then we had the Elias goal where we served the members for a transfer before we all reactivated a less active and baptized one of their referrals. That was my first goal and it was freaking tough. We then baptized a husband and wife family. After that we did the Football finding goal where we had to baptize someone found during a world cup football match and everyone entered into a covenant not to watch any football during the world cup. Then Elder Rogers came and last week we finished the Baptize a Recent convert referral and send a recent convert to the temple. Now we have 4 months to help one family be sealed in the temple.
Impossible? Yes, for us. But not for God. There is nothing sweeter then the sealing of husband and wife. The best part of these goals is that we have been able to experience everything that a missionary would call 'success'. Real success of course has nothing to do with the number of people we baptize or the position we obtain in the mission. In fact, in being a leader in the mission has nothing to do with the Lord trusting you. People who think this are complete idiots. President's son never was an assistant, zone leader, district leader, or even a trainer during his whole mission. God often calls those who need more help to be leaders. Sorry for venting but it feels good. Anyway even though it's not true success (true success is becoming more Christ-Like), it still is very sweet.
We have some good possibilities for the goal already and we already accomplished half of the goal which is to baptize a person who's family member is a member. Yep we did it with an eleven year old named Rachel. She was super smart and we had her baptized in a week after teaching her. It sucked though cause the guy who dunked her basically drowned her and we had to redo the baptism cause her arm didn't go under. She was so scared to go under but she sucked it up and did it. I felt so bad for her.
Did you like my letter Jeremy? If I remember correctly it wasn't about anything at all. It was just a bunch of random crap, some pictures and the story of Mr.Sprinkles. Sorry for my craziness but I like it.;) For example look to the pictures of what I did for Elder Darrow's girlfriend. He wanted us to send her something for her b-day so I went all out and added confetti, this robot, a stretchy monkey, and a b-day letter that was freaking good.
I tried to get you pictures on a disc but it failed again! It really sucks but there's nothing I can do. I've tried my best.
This week I'll be hitting the big old 17 months mark. I had a dream this week where Elder Lehr, Holmes, Akoki and I were in the Mission President's Office. Instead of President Sabey though it was President Thomas S. Monson. He was like our Dad and we were like small boys climbing all over him and rubbing his hair and stuff. As this was happening I all of a sudden became really really sad about having to leave Ghana. I thought of Sister Yaa, Brother Kennedy, Amos and his family, Emmanuel and his sister Juliet, and Porchia. I hated the idea of leaving them and I began to cry a bit. Everyone started to shuffle out one by one leaving me with the mission president who had morphed into President Hinkley who asked me what was on my mind. I told him and he invited me over to read a scripture with him. Gordon B. Hinkley was about to share his infinite wisdom with me when Elder Lamb bangs on our door and yells, "GOOD MORNING!!!" I had fallen asleep during personal study.
We went on Splits with Elder Akoki this week. It was cool and probably the last chance I'll have to proselyte with my father. All we did all day was talk about Asokwa and what we did there. Sorry for Elder Hadderlie. He goes home in May.
This week we recieved some missionaries from the Ivorian mission. Because of the war there, all the foreign missionaries were reassigned. I'm not sure how many came but I'm sure that would be difficult for them. I couldn't imagine teaching in French for however long then have to turn around and teach in English. It's not easy.
I never wrote that letter and never drew that Robot. I will try harder, I promise. Maybe you'll get a paper with all my messed up, unused thoughts written and drawn on it. You'll love it I promise!
Tell Jeremy to send his stuff already! I may not be in a situation where I can hear it for long.
218 days plus two.
Do you like my new hat?
I love you all!;)
Elder Harris
Won't you take this dance
This dance with me
Spinning
Come on
Dancing
Come on
Won't you take my hand
My hand with me
Dancing
Come on
Singing
Come on
Come on
Come to me
Spinning
Come on
Dancing
Come on
Dancing
Come on
Take off your mask
Singing
Come on
Your mask, kiss me
Spinning
Dancing
Spinning
Kissing
Singing
Come on
Come with me
Spinning
Come on
Dancing
Come on
Kissing
Come on, dance on my heart suit your feet
Come on
Singing
Come on
Dancing
Come on
Singing
Come on
Come on
Come to me
Spinning
Come on
Dancing
Come on
Kissing
Come on
Singing
Come on
Awwwww, come on
Come on
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Singing
You chocked the joy right out of me
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Singing
Singing
Singing
Singing
So joyous my mind make my heart sing
Powdered Wig Machine- Dessert Sessions
Elder Harris, Portia and Gordella
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
6 months plus 6 weeks to go!
Hey Family!
Today is the twenty-first day of February which marks the final 6 months of Elder Lehr's group which goes home 6 weeks before mine. Our time is coming.
This week has been pretty typical.
So I've decided that you were never meant to have more pictures on a Dvd because I've tried 2 or 3 times to copy and send them but it just won't work with any of the cruddy computers our members have here. I'll keep on trying though and here's some more for now.
I gave an instruction this week based on a talk by Elder Holland called The Tongue of Angels. It was all about staying positive. Elder Holland said something like: There was never a problem that was so bad that whining about it didn't make it worse. It's true about a lot of things especially mission. I've been in both of two positions. The first is when the hot sun is searing down on your head and all you can think to say is it's SOOOOOOOO HOT!!!! The second is when the sun is searing down your head and you thank the lord for every single second you have to do His work. I prefer the second because it just makes you happier! I wish I could feel it all the time but I'm working on it!
I had a dream this week that I was rushing to a Zone Conference, blasting Them Crooked Vultures in my red truck. I pulled into the Burbank mall parking lot where I used to park for work. I was by myself but still a missionary. I was in Burbank but I was still in Ghana. I got out of the truck and as I walked towards the mall I passed by Sister Sabey who was parked where my boss used to park. I was singing the Vultures song as I passed and she asked me if I had been listening to music. I just looked at her and didn't answer. Well Elder? I didn't answer. She then told me that I need to do better and I shook my head and walked off toward the mall, passing the Ap's in their van.
We don't have anybody to teach. It's weird because in Kumasi if you don't have anybody to teach you either contact or do nothing. Here you can actually build relationships with the member and visit them! It's pretty sweet cause when you serve them enough, eventually you are gonna get referrals and more often then not in this country those referrals will be serious. We just got two referrals which hopefully will be sweet. I just hope they speak english but that doesn't matter that much either cause when you have effective ward members, they will actually come out with you to visit the referral and translate the lesson. It's a good deal all around. Blessings for Referrals. Blessings for Members. Blessings for us. Sweet Delio.
Your package was sweet. Everytime someone has said something sweet or funny this week I've said something like, "Haha, that was pretty funny. Here take a stretchy monkey." My plan for the bouncy balls is to take them into the primary and take a sweet video of all hell breaking loose. The candy as always is sweet and now I have a new scent of deodorant! My favorite though was the pictures and I couldn't help but stare at my room. It was so different yet so inviting. I felt like I was being sucked into the picture and I just wanted to be there. Probably not a good thing but the effect went away after a day or so. I liked it a lot though. The red was perfect because that has basically become my favorite color beside maybe blue. I like blue but red can take over in certain moods. I guess It all depends on what I'm going for that day. For Example: Today is Monday. P-Day. Hmmm, I can't decide what color today would be. I guess that's a bad example sorry.
I MISS MUSIC SOOOOOO MUCH. AHHHHH it hurts. The motab you sent me was sweet. I used to have that album but I lost it. It is my favorite cause It's not the same old hymns. I liked the other one too.
I also miss playing the bass and playing with a band. I've been trying to write music my whole mission and so far I have one song that is finished and that is it! I just lack the ability to write a good riff that I like. Once I have the riff I can go off with lyrics. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I need James.
I'm gonna write you a letter this week and draw you a sweet robot!
I might go back to Old Navy. I was thinking about working there and at Best Buy (if it works, lol). If i work at Best buy, I guess they like transfers and that would be sweet in Provo. Best buy sounds more appealing but working with Jeremy would be more sweet cause I don't think we could ever be serious. That would be fun. Does he still work in the mornings? He told me he would send me some of his dismusic.
All right I need to Go. I love you all! Keep on trucking on. 6 months plus 6 weeks to go!
Elder Harris
Aka Scatterbrain
I might be wrong
I might be wrong
I could have sworn I saw a light
Coming on
I used to think
I used to think
There is no future left at all
I used to think
Open up, begin again
Let's go down the waterfall
Think about the good times and never look back
Never look back
What would I do?
What would I do?
If I did not have you?
Open up and let me in
Let's go down the waterfall
Have ourselves a good time
It's nothing at all
It's nothing at all
Nothing at all
Cry then begin again
Cry then begin again
I might be Wrong Radiohead
Today is the twenty-first day of February which marks the final 6 months of Elder Lehr's group which goes home 6 weeks before mine. Our time is coming.
This week has been pretty typical.
So I've decided that you were never meant to have more pictures on a Dvd because I've tried 2 or 3 times to copy and send them but it just won't work with any of the cruddy computers our members have here. I'll keep on trying though and here's some more for now.
I gave an instruction this week based on a talk by Elder Holland called The Tongue of Angels. It was all about staying positive. Elder Holland said something like: There was never a problem that was so bad that whining about it didn't make it worse. It's true about a lot of things especially mission. I've been in both of two positions. The first is when the hot sun is searing down on your head and all you can think to say is it's SOOOOOOOO HOT!!!! The second is when the sun is searing down your head and you thank the lord for every single second you have to do His work. I prefer the second because it just makes you happier! I wish I could feel it all the time but I'm working on it!
I had a dream this week that I was rushing to a Zone Conference, blasting Them Crooked Vultures in my red truck. I pulled into the Burbank mall parking lot where I used to park for work. I was by myself but still a missionary. I was in Burbank but I was still in Ghana. I got out of the truck and as I walked towards the mall I passed by Sister Sabey who was parked where my boss used to park. I was singing the Vultures song as I passed and she asked me if I had been listening to music. I just looked at her and didn't answer. Well Elder? I didn't answer. She then told me that I need to do better and I shook my head and walked off toward the mall, passing the Ap's in their van.
We don't have anybody to teach. It's weird because in Kumasi if you don't have anybody to teach you either contact or do nothing. Here you can actually build relationships with the member and visit them! It's pretty sweet cause when you serve them enough, eventually you are gonna get referrals and more often then not in this country those referrals will be serious. We just got two referrals which hopefully will be sweet. I just hope they speak english but that doesn't matter that much either cause when you have effective ward members, they will actually come out with you to visit the referral and translate the lesson. It's a good deal all around. Blessings for Referrals. Blessings for Members. Blessings for us. Sweet Delio.
Your package was sweet. Everytime someone has said something sweet or funny this week I've said something like, "Haha, that was pretty funny. Here take a stretchy monkey." My plan for the bouncy balls is to take them into the primary and take a sweet video of all hell breaking loose. The candy as always is sweet and now I have a new scent of deodorant! My favorite though was the pictures and I couldn't help but stare at my room. It was so different yet so inviting. I felt like I was being sucked into the picture and I just wanted to be there. Probably not a good thing but the effect went away after a day or so. I liked it a lot though. The red was perfect because that has basically become my favorite color beside maybe blue. I like blue but red can take over in certain moods. I guess It all depends on what I'm going for that day. For Example: Today is Monday. P-Day. Hmmm, I can't decide what color today would be. I guess that's a bad example sorry.
I MISS MUSIC SOOOOOO MUCH. AHHHHH it hurts. The motab you sent me was sweet. I used to have that album but I lost it. It is my favorite cause It's not the same old hymns. I liked the other one too.
I also miss playing the bass and playing with a band. I've been trying to write music my whole mission and so far I have one song that is finished and that is it! I just lack the ability to write a good riff that I like. Once I have the riff I can go off with lyrics. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I need James.
I'm gonna write you a letter this week and draw you a sweet robot!
I might go back to Old Navy. I was thinking about working there and at Best Buy (if it works, lol). If i work at Best buy, I guess they like transfers and that would be sweet in Provo. Best buy sounds more appealing but working with Jeremy would be more sweet cause I don't think we could ever be serious. That would be fun. Does he still work in the mornings? He told me he would send me some of his dismusic.
All right I need to Go. I love you all! Keep on trucking on. 6 months plus 6 weeks to go!
Elder Harris
Aka Scatterbrain
I might be wrong
I might be wrong
I could have sworn I saw a light
Coming on
I used to think
I used to think
There is no future left at all
I used to think
Open up, begin again
Let's go down the waterfall
Think about the good times and never look back
Never look back
What would I do?
What would I do?
If I did not have you?
Open up and let me in
Let's go down the waterfall
Have ourselves a good time
It's nothing at all
It's nothing at all
Nothing at all
Cry then begin again
Cry then begin again
I might be Wrong Radiohead
Monday, February 14, 2011
Hey Mom!
Today is Valentines Day and for the last time I don't have to worry about it all!
I got your package...Today! You sent it at the perfect time to get to me exactly when it was supposed too. Thank you so much!
That's sweet that Doug is coming down. I guess he already came and it's over now but I hope it was sweet. Tell him yesterday that I say hi.
The picture was of Me and Princess Porchia Gyan Peiterson and the little girl was Princess. They also have another brother named Prince and a smaller sister named Precious. They are sweet people that we visit pretty much everyday. The work we do down here can be considered slow by some but I don't think about it that way. We have a few investigators but not many. Most of what we do involves member and recent converts. I love it. I've never been in an area where the members are so sweet. We have about three investigators who should be progressing. One of them is named Edna. She's a pretty girl with a son who is about 2 years old. When I first got here I didn't think that she cared that much but after a couple lessons in the Book of Mormon, she is progressing small small. She promised to come to church next week so cross your fingers.
We went on splits with Elder Thompson our Zone Leader. It was the first time that I've been in a threesome with two other MT's. Only were we in the MTC together, we were in the same District and class. There was one point where one man was being really stubborn. He couldn't get it through his head that we aren't here to argue the bible with him. Nothing in the Bible will ever disprove or prove that the Book of Mormon is true. We each took turns bearing testimony that that sacred book is true. That it works together with the Bible to teach us the fullness of the Everlasting Gospel. I told him what I know to be true and that my testimony is something that can never be taken from me. We begged him to give it a chance. Give it time and patience. If he could put away his pride and read the book and then ask God if it is true then he too can have the knowledge that it is true. It was a frustrating conversation because he just couldn't get it, but I felt a peace come over me that what we were saying was true and I could never deny it.
Today we watched a documentary of Thomas S. Monson called On the Lord's Errand. It was really cool to see where the prophet came from. He is an extraordinary man and was prepared from the beginning to be the Lord's servant. If I'm ever called in to meet with an apostle or one of the first presidency, I'll know that life is gonna get a whole lot more difficult.
Well as always I'm enjoying myself. I'm gonna take the 40 minute ride back to Kojokrom to open my package. We have family home evening with some young adults tonight in the home of Michael Mensah, one of our ward missionaries. I love you all! Congrats on the tread mill. I think its cool that you can now hike in all the places you could never fly to;) I know sometimes I don't respond to everything but I hope you understand. Oh yeah, the weather here is much more humid but there is a nice breeze you don't get up north. The temperature is about the same though. I hope the rainy season starts soon!
I love you all!
Elder Harris
Today is Valentines Day and for the last time I don't have to worry about it all!
I got your package...Today! You sent it at the perfect time to get to me exactly when it was supposed too. Thank you so much!
That's sweet that Doug is coming down. I guess he already came and it's over now but I hope it was sweet. Tell him yesterday that I say hi.
The picture was of Me and Princess Porchia Gyan Peiterson and the little girl was Princess. They also have another brother named Prince and a smaller sister named Precious. They are sweet people that we visit pretty much everyday. The work we do down here can be considered slow by some but I don't think about it that way. We have a few investigators but not many. Most of what we do involves member and recent converts. I love it. I've never been in an area where the members are so sweet. We have about three investigators who should be progressing. One of them is named Edna. She's a pretty girl with a son who is about 2 years old. When I first got here I didn't think that she cared that much but after a couple lessons in the Book of Mormon, she is progressing small small. She promised to come to church next week so cross your fingers.
We went on splits with Elder Thompson our Zone Leader. It was the first time that I've been in a threesome with two other MT's. Only were we in the MTC together, we were in the same District and class. There was one point where one man was being really stubborn. He couldn't get it through his head that we aren't here to argue the bible with him. Nothing in the Bible will ever disprove or prove that the Book of Mormon is true. We each took turns bearing testimony that that sacred book is true. That it works together with the Bible to teach us the fullness of the Everlasting Gospel. I told him what I know to be true and that my testimony is something that can never be taken from me. We begged him to give it a chance. Give it time and patience. If he could put away his pride and read the book and then ask God if it is true then he too can have the knowledge that it is true. It was a frustrating conversation because he just couldn't get it, but I felt a peace come over me that what we were saying was true and I could never deny it.
Today we watched a documentary of Thomas S. Monson called On the Lord's Errand. It was really cool to see where the prophet came from. He is an extraordinary man and was prepared from the beginning to be the Lord's servant. If I'm ever called in to meet with an apostle or one of the first presidency, I'll know that life is gonna get a whole lot more difficult.
Well as always I'm enjoying myself. I'm gonna take the 40 minute ride back to Kojokrom to open my package. We have family home evening with some young adults tonight in the home of Michael Mensah, one of our ward missionaries. I love you all! Congrats on the tread mill. I think its cool that you can now hike in all the places you could never fly to;) I know sometimes I don't respond to everything but I hope you understand. Oh yeah, the weather here is much more humid but there is a nice breeze you don't get up north. The temperature is about the same though. I hope the rainy season starts soon!
I love you all!
Elder Harris
Monday, February 7, 2011
Dear Family!
Elder Darrow is now with Elder Holmes. I don't know him all that well but supposedly he is a super cool dude. He's enjoying with Holmes but I'm told they both goad each other into spending money alot.
It has been a pretty big change but only for the better. I'm in a really relaxed, semi village area. I haven't seen the ocean since I came but I can sense it in the air. There's also a sweet breeze that blows all day long. Elder Haderlie is my companion and he is from Wyoming. I really couldn't ask for a better companion.
Today we had a pretty boring P-day. We played volleyball for about twenty minutes and then went to a music shop.
Our baptism went all right except for the fact that nobody but missionaries came and one candidate didn't show up. Sister Portia was able to get baptized and confirmed though and it was sweet. She is only sixteen but she is really smart and I know she will be a valuable instrument in the lord's hands. I sent a picture of her.
I'm not gonna lie. This area is a little bit more boring then the last one. The highlight of the week besides the baptism was when Elder Dodd, Hadderlie and I taught the primary Popcorn popping on the Apricot Tree. We couldn't remember all the signs so we just made them up as we went. They loved it.
Emmanuel in Kumasi got baptized this week too. He's working on his sister Juliet but she will have a hard time leaving her singing disdang at her other churches. Elder Rogers will keep me updated.
There's a bunch of American's here in the cafe I'm at. I hope everybody doesn't sound like they do. They sound so stupid! Everyone of them!
Well I'm going to leave you with that for today. I miss you all. I miss murphy too. Thanks so much for the package!
Love Elder Harris
Come on, Come on
You think you drive me crazy, well
Come on, Come on
You and whose army
You and your cronies
Come on, Come on
Holy Roman empire
Come on if you think
Come on if you think
You can take us all
You can take us all
You and whose army
You and your cronies
You forget so easy
We ride tonight
We ride tonight
Ghost horses
Ghost horses
We ride tonight
We ride tonight
Ghost horses
Ghost horses
Ghost horses
You and Whose Army Radiohead
Elder Darrow is now with Elder Holmes. I don't know him all that well but supposedly he is a super cool dude. He's enjoying with Holmes but I'm told they both goad each other into spending money alot.
It has been a pretty big change but only for the better. I'm in a really relaxed, semi village area. I haven't seen the ocean since I came but I can sense it in the air. There's also a sweet breeze that blows all day long. Elder Haderlie is my companion and he is from Wyoming. I really couldn't ask for a better companion.
Today we had a pretty boring P-day. We played volleyball for about twenty minutes and then went to a music shop.
Our baptism went all right except for the fact that nobody but missionaries came and one candidate didn't show up. Sister Portia was able to get baptized and confirmed though and it was sweet. She is only sixteen but she is really smart and I know she will be a valuable instrument in the lord's hands. I sent a picture of her.
I'm not gonna lie. This area is a little bit more boring then the last one. The highlight of the week besides the baptism was when Elder Dodd, Hadderlie and I taught the primary Popcorn popping on the Apricot Tree. We couldn't remember all the signs so we just made them up as we went. They loved it.
Emmanuel in Kumasi got baptized this week too. He's working on his sister Juliet but she will have a hard time leaving her singing disdang at her other churches. Elder Rogers will keep me updated.
There's a bunch of American's here in the cafe I'm at. I hope everybody doesn't sound like they do. They sound so stupid! Everyone of them!
Well I'm going to leave you with that for today. I miss you all. I miss murphy too. Thanks so much for the package!
Love Elder Harris
Come on, Come on
You think you drive me crazy, well
Come on, Come on
You and whose army
You and your cronies
Come on, Come on
Holy Roman empire
Come on if you think
Come on if you think
You can take us all
You can take us all
You and whose army
You and your cronies
You forget so easy
We ride tonight
We ride tonight
Ghost horses
Ghost horses
We ride tonight
We ride tonight
Ghost horses
Ghost horses
Ghost horses
You and Whose Army Radiohead
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