What a week :p

Hello everyone!  

This week has been pretty good.  I can't believe it's already the last week of the transfer...man how it goes by fast.

Today I would like to express my gratitude for the letters that I have been receiving.  On Thursday I received the letter that Grandma handwrote to me, and it was such a blessing.  When she said that she was writing it in the front room of the Wayne County house, I visualized the room and pictured myself there, it was really nice and peaceful.  As always, I am thankful for the letters that I got from Mom and Dad.  Mom, thank you for the talk that you sent me.  I LOVE it when I get talks in the mail.  It really helped me out a lot.  I liked the part that Elder Holland said that missionary work isn't easy because salvation never was easy.  It was awesome.  Dad, thank you for your letter as well.  It was awesome to get a letter from Ashley too!  Thank you all so much!

On New Year's Day, we went out to dinner with a member.  We went to a Chinese restaurant.  (Have I ever told you how much I love Chinese???) There must have been something in the food, because Elder Navarrete got really sick that night.  He went to bed really early, which was odd, so I went and watched a DVD.  When I finished, I went and said my prayers and went to bed.  About 15 minutes later, he sat up and stood still for about 15 seconds, and then he bolted for the bathroom.  He threw up ALL OVER HIS BATHROOM.  He was feeling too weak to clean it up that night, so we closed the door and let it sit... :)  The next morning he still wasn't feeling well and slept for the whole day.  We have two bathrooms, but meanwhile, the smell was starting to make me sick, so I asked him if he was well enough to clean it up.  He said he was feeling really weak.

So I cleaned up his puke.  Probably the most charitable thing I'll do on my mission.  *Picture attached.  :D

Yeah, that was an adventure....three cheers for latex gloves.

On a more serious note, we went on companionship exchanges this week as well.  We did some service for a less-active lady in the ward, and she was so grateful that we came to help her.  She started crying as soon as she opened up the door and saw us there.  I can honestly say that I felt the Savior's love for her at that exact moment.  We helped her carry some boxes to her garage, moved a desk, and re-strung some lights in her backyard.  She bought us pizza, and he opened up the scriptures and read her some good verses.  She, again, started crying and told us that she really needed this experience.  She said that she knows that the Church is true, and she said she would go the next day.  Yesterday she came to church!  When she heard the testimonies, I could just tell that everything was sinking in.  I got up to bear my testimony, and again, she started crying!  She asked for a priesthood blessing after sacrament meeting and she cried after it was over.  She personally thanked us for all of the support and encouragement she received.  I can honestly say that that was a time that I felt truly happy.  When I stopped worrying about myself and looked outwards, just to help her, I forgot about myself in the process and felt Christlike love for her.

I'm thankful for testimonies, and for the power that they bring.  There is nothing more powerful than a testimony that is confirmed by the power of the Holy Ghost.  A testimony is really the only thing that we possess that truly defines us.  Never hesitate to share testimonies, because we know of the power they bring.  

This church is true without a doubt.  As a member in our ward says, "If the Church isn't true, then there's no cows in Texas!"  I love you all.  I'm excited for this full calender year of missionary service that is before me.  Thank you so much for all the support and letters!

Elder Harper