Miracles (posted by mom)

I love this work, I know it is directed by God and as long as we are striving to do his will, he will allow us to be in the right place at the right time.

We have certainly seen many blessings here in Gangshan. This past week while we were at the church meeting with a recent convert, one of our investigators saw us and came in. He had a changed heart. We were able to bear testimony of baptism and help him resolve to read scriptures, pray, and come to church. He accepted the goal, and we sent him on his way.

We were shocked when the next day while meeting with a recent convert, another investigators passing by stopped in and sat down with us. I care about this investigator and until now, has not been willing to take the next steps toward baptism. We shared with him a scripture about how 'the Spirit will not continue to strive with man' and encouraged him to set a baptismal goal and keep the word of wisdom while the spirit was still striving with him. He accepted the goal and set up a baptismal interview, and now he is on track to be baptized.

Among our recent converts is a Liu family. The Liu mom finished the Book of Mormon about a week ago! We set a goal with them to go to the temple in a year to be sealed for time and all eternity. We are really excited for their family! They have two daughters and one grandson who are still not members. One of their daughters and their grandson live in our area. They are both busy, but one of my biggest desires right now is to help them accept the gospel and allow their new found family tradition bless future generations for eternity.

We are working hard, and seeing many blessings! Love, Elder Harris

Baptisms and Miracles (posted by mom)

We celebrated two baptisms this past weekend. Because the chapel is under construction, we held them at the bishop's house in a pop-up font. The same, special feeling prevailed as we sang the opening hymn. As I introduced our investigators who were being baptized, my heart was filled with gratitude. One of them has made more sincere changes in his life than anyone else I've known. I was really excited for him to make this covenant with God. At his baptism there was a light in his eyes and a certain smile that I have never seen before. I think I felt a little of what God feels when His children choose to repent.

Yesterday we fasted for Brother Lin. The commitment we gave him was to stay for all three hours of church. Regardless of having much excuse to leave, he stayed the entire time.

Since being on my mission I feel like every time the alarm goes off in the morning, another miracle begins.

Two short stories in particular have increased my faith and have displayed the Lord's blessings in the work we are doing.

One was in my first move call, I prayed daily that I could find and baptize someone, and help them accept this gospel message. In the end, I found two people who were baptized in the same move call. I was so new to the work and I truly felt God heard and answered my prayers. I felt He knew me personally and he knew the people we baptized. God is mindful of us and daily takes care of us; He provides our needs and righteous desires.

Another story was when me and my second companion, decided we would break our personal record for adding investigators in one day and collectively break our companionship record. When we woke up the next day, it was raining. I had heard a lot of things about adding fewer people in the rain, but we prayed and had a firm resolve that we could do it. We went out and challenged EVERYONE we saw to hear the gospel and accept baptism. At the end of the day when we were counting numbers, my companion had crushed his personal record but I was short 2 adds of breaking my record. I was heart broken, but then a thought came to my mind--"reach in your rain coat pocket". I had forgotten about 3 adds that I had put there to protect them from the rain. God had truely blessed me and I was able to add more investigators on a rainy day than I had ever done before that time.

I love missionary work and see miracles every day.
Thank you for all your prayers. Love, Elder Harris

Daily Miracles (posted by mom)

This past week has been a blessing week! Each day we come in the door and say, wow, today had even more miracles than yesterday. One of the biggest miracles was the Xu family made the decision to be baptized. They will be baptized next weekend!! They are so good. I feel like we haven't even helped them. I feel like they got themselves to baptism and the cool part is they've really taken ownership of their new life!!

Life is great right now. If I were to tell you anything about recently, it would be that I'm so excited about my new study journal. It's helping me learn so much!!!

With love, Elder Spencer Harris!