Second Week: Teaching Experience

You know you're a missionary when...
...you have 5 minutes and you feel like you are wasting time.
...you can feel Gods love for someone you are teaching.
...30 seconds late to personal study time is need enough to repent.
...you know what 'quiet dignity' means.
...you reference the Missionary Hand Book.
...you try to "convert" someone in your district to rasberry lemonade.
...mail is a BIG deal!
...things like PS, CS, WHB, 3CB, TA, TE, 1M, and PMG have real meaning.

Anyway, my companion, Elder Summerhays, and I had a special experience this past Saturday at our Teaching Appointment (TA). We had to contact some people in a room, then prepare and teach them a lesson. Nothing could have prepared me for the experience we had. Our goals going into the lesson were to 1. teach to needs, 2. teach for understanding, and 3. teach like we would have a gospel discussion like a friend. Also, in preparation, we talked about certain doctrines of lesson 1 so we could teach with unity. Up to that point we had had a not-so-good and semi-good teaching experience at the Teaching Evaluation Center (TE).

As we taught, we stuck to our goals. I felt the spirit, especially when I recited Jospeh Smith's First Vision. When an important question was asked, my companion gave the same answer I was going to give!

Afterward, we went to evaluate how it went. Brother Hodges told us that our lesson was one of the best lessons he has ever seen, if not the best! He's been here for 3 Years!! He said that one of the investigators (a girl named Cassi from China) was so effected by it that she asked Sister Tanner to go get our teaher so she could tell him that it was the most she has felt the spirit with the missionaries and that even though we had only met her, she felt like she could talk to us like we were her friends.

Little did we know, she was a real investigator! She has a baptismal date, and she had been meeting with Provo Mission Missionaries. I'm sure she has helped out at the MTC before too. It was truly a humbling experience to hear this! I'm so greatful for the tender mercies of the Lord!

Love you all!
Elder Spencer Harris

First Week

Hello Everyone,
wo shi chuanjaioshi (I am a missionary)

Someone told me that the first few days of the MTC are like trying to drink out of a firehose--overload, and that's exactly what it is. Language, teaching, schedules, plans, etc. I kept worring I was forgeting something or in the wrong place. We didn't have any classes on Sunday. It was nice to finally take a breath and soak everything in.

The spirit is so strong here! Many times daily I feel that burning in my heart that I previously would feel about once a week at a fireside or at church. That burning mostly comes when we talk about people who are serching for the truth. I know there are people out there who are willing to change their lives when they hear the truth; they just know not where to find it. I hope I can take every opportunity to share the gospel.

My mom said she wanted specifics so here is my try: We have a blue card that is our lives--really. We use it to eat, get into our dorm, log onto the computer, buy stuff, wash our laundry, etc.

My companion is Elder Summerhays from Sacramento. He's awesome! We have the same strong desire to share the gospel, and HE LOVES TO SING TOO! He is a music major though he's only gone to college for a bit. We are the only two Elders in room 211. It's nice and not nice. No one else to talk to, but twice the closet/desk space.

Our Zone leaders are awesome. Oh and my companion is District leader.

Wow...30 min sure goes by quick! Um I love you. Next week i'll tell more. Thank you for the letters. DearElder.com is a great way to send letters.

bye. loves
elder harris
Huang2 is my xing. (xing means name)

MTC Address

Elder Spencer Brian Harris
MTC Mailbox #130
TAIW-TCG 0128
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, UT 84604-1793

The Mission Begins

FAREWELL:
Thank you to all who came and supported Spencer last Sunday! We enjoyed having you there to share that wonderful day with us. We realize many of you came long distances....St. George, Cedar City, Ephriam, Logan, Nibley, Farmington, Bountiful, Riverton, etc. ....and had to wake up early to travel and make to our church by 9 am. Thank you! We feel blessed to have such wonderful family and friends who have been such a great influence on Spencer throughout the years. You are truly great.

ENTERING THE MTC:
We dropped Spencer off at the MTC at 1:00 p.m. on Wed. Nov. 11, 2009. He left with a big smile on his face; so excited to begin his mission. We are grateful for his enthusiasm to serve the Lord, but we also feel some emptyness in our home and in our hearts knowing we won't see him for two years.

We look forward to hearing from him regarding his first week in the MTC.