Elder Cody Harris: It's Pretty Black & White

The mission is great. It truly is. I love being a missionary and learning and having stuggles and as my favorite song goes "Mountains to Climb". We always have these mountains to overcome and I know that it's a long road to discipleship, and I have a long way to go. I feel the more that I try to be obedient, do the things I should and strive to have the spirit with me that's when I feel the Favior nearest to me. I absolutely love it! The spirit is the greatest thing ever and I would do anything to have it with me all the time.

It really is the goal, for me as a missionary, and as for members of the church - to loose ourselves in the work. I've really been trying to do that and now I finally understand how. :)

As for this past week, we did work!

Monday: We had our p-day as normal and then had a great family home evening with a part member family. We started off by talking about how we are all in the Hands of God like we read in Mormon 6 or 7 or 8 - I can't remember and before we knew it we were talking about how we shouldn't worship idols. And yes, Maria is an idol. (The wife is Catholic) But anyways - it was great! We felt the spirit and it's just a great time to be alive!

Tuesday: We had district meeting and just I gave a little training. I talked on the importance of teaching to the needs of the investigators. Conversion isn't a math equation. We can't expect to go in, teach the 5 lessons and expect them to be baptized. It's just not how it works! The only true converter is the spirit, and the only way that we can get the spirit is by living worthily of it. God's rules aren't that hard to understand. All you have to do is choose the right and you will be blessed! You choose the wrong and you don't receive blessings. It's pretty black and white.

At district meeting I felt impressed that we should have a testimony meeting. And you wouldn't believe the spirit that accompanied us in this meeting. I would have to say, one of the highlights of the mission. Hearing 5 other Elders bare their testimonies on the reality of Jesus Christ. That we know He lives, and called a living prophet to lead and guide us. It was powerful.

Wednesday: We had the opportunity to have interviews with President Heyman. I love every chance I get to talk to him and he's seriously the man! I shared with him my thoughts of when I didn't act on a prompting and he shared a similar experience that was very humbling for both of us and also taught me a lot about who I want to be.

No matter what, I'm learning to trust in the spirit. In those feelings that say "Hey, what about this door?" And even when people aren't home, I feel fine and the spirit burns inside me because I know I'm doing what the Lord wants me to do! (It happened a few times on Thursday.) Presient is a truly a great man and always makes me want to be a better missionary.

Thursday: We saw little miracles! :) In the morning we had planned to visit a family that gave us a reference to visit a lady but we could never get in contact with her. So when we stopped by the house of a member, and the woman we were looking for was there! So we sat down and got to talking about what we do and ended up inviting her to be baptized! It was a great morning!

In the afternoon we had a lesson with a lady named Claudia. She hasn't had much religious guidance in her life and now we're trying to show her how she can have that guidance in her life. We had a good lesson with her! :)

Friday: We did exchanges. I went our with Elder Vega and worked in Fontana. We found a few people and then in the afternoon her told me about this other little city in our area! It called Bartolome de las Cases. Basically, it's where the Lamanites live. We worked out there all afternoon. It's a little "colonia" with about 2000 people who speak Toba. There is also a little chapel out there that's awesome and it's literally a beacon to the people that live there.

It was just a great, spirit filled day. I've never been able to feel the spirit like we did there. The Lamanite people are truly blessed. They may not have many worldly posessions, but they have a spirit about them that in undeniable.

Saturday: It was cold! It rained and for once it was kinda chilly here! But we worked as normal and had some great lessons.

Sunday: We saw miracles upon miracles! We had 3 investigators attend church which means we had 18 people there! We couldn't believe it ourselves! I also had to give a talk so I decided to talk on the power of a testimony and why it's important to have a testimony. As missionaries we get to bare our tesimony every day. But how often do the rest of you? I read the testimony of Joseph Smith in JSH 1:24-26 (I think) and I love where it says some thing like "I could not deny it, because I knew it, and the Lord knew it".

I talked about those great men who "sealed their testimonies with their blood". Abinidi, Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ. It was super powerful to talk about these great men who literally died for what they believed in.

I was cool thinking back on it and for once I didn't feel like I had to worry about conjugation or the right words. I just spoke and it made sense. The Lord definately helped me our on that one.

In the afternoon we stumbled across this lady named Manuela. She was anxious to read, pray and go to church after we shared a lesson with her. It was funny because we asked her if we coudl talk to her to 5 or 10 minutes and ended up talking for abou 45. She is super prepared and we invited her to be baptized!! She's awesome!!

But that there was my week - one of the quicker weeks of the mission. I can't believe how fast time is going. I love every minute of it!

Love you all, I pray for you, and thank you for all the support you give me.

Spread the Faith!

Elder Harris

PS - I got a call today telling me that my "HUMUNGOUS" package arrived so I'll get in on Monday when I go to Resistencia. I also probably won't be emailing but will send you one sometime next week.

Here are some pictures from our Christmas Party in Resistencia and some other pics from Villa.