We have a whiteboard in our apartment where we write down our different workouts that we do, and one of them shows a cycle of exercises with "Repeat as Needed" written next to it. However, everyone who comes over thinks it says, "Repent as Needed." That isn't a bad motto, though, so we have kept it. "Repent as Needed."
I love the Hispanic community. We went out one evening to walk around apartment complexes and find people to teach, and we came across two Hispanic men grilling up some carne asada. We started talking, and one of them was from El Salvador! We had a great conversation and shared a scripture from the Book of Mormon. As we went to leave, they ask, "want a plate of food?" We readily agree, and they quickly went into the apartment and carried out a table and two chairs, two cans of soda, two water bottles, and then load up two plates about 6 inches high with carne asada. We ate and answered questions about what we do as missionaries, for how long, and whether we get paid. It was such a awesome experience. A couple of strangers just invite a couple of other strangers to eat. I think the world needs more people like that.
We had a phone call with someone we have gotten to know on Facebook. He told us he was so glad he talked to us because he used to always try to avoid us and said he would turn the other way when he saw us because, "I knew what was coming. Or at least, I thought I did." But he loved just hearing about how we read the Bible and are Christians too. We shared 3 Nephi 11:10-11, which talks about how Christ is the light of the world and came to the world to save us. He said, "That kind of struck a chord." Isn't it amazing how powerful the Book of Mormon is? It can touch people you've only met on Facebook and reach their hearts over the phone.
We had another great experience contacting in the same complex when we went up to a young man who was holding a bottle of alcohol and just going into the house. We asked if we could share a scripture, and he seemed hesitant, but when we said it would be brief, he agreed. He appeared to be a couple years older than us and was a big Hawaiian football player with a very soft voice. We introduced ourselves and got to know him and then shared a scripture about prayer. As he listened, he carefully set the bottle of alcohol down behind a pillar as if to hide it. We asked how prayer has impacted his life. He told us that he actually had not prayed in a long time. Mostly because he didn't know how. As he talked, you could just see that he was the sweetest guy ever. Just a huge teddy-bear. We said, "would you like us to teach you?" and taught him how to pray. We then prayed together. You could tell he was very touched. We gave him a Book of Mormon with the story of Enos. He smiled a lot after and shook each of our hands several times when we said good-bye. And I think that is missionary work. People. Special, almost sacred interactions like that that you don't get unless you are looking.
So, some crazy news this transfer. My Canadian companion, Elder Stewart, is heading down to Henderson. I'm staying, and the new assistant is . . . Elder Gastélum! He is one of my favorite missionaries ever. We have already been companions! We were zone leaders together and worked together on our online English broadcast and lots of other things. I am so excited to be with him again. We are keeping our English ward, but we are also picking up a Spanish ward called Desert Bloom! I am crazy excited to speak Spanish again. I met the branch president once because both wards meet in the same building, and he is from El Salvador.
So anyway. Great things are ahead!
'Til we meet,
Elder Harris
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