Baptisms and a Move Call (Posted by mom)

This week, I was in a tri-panionship with none other than...... ELDER GLUCH (my friend from Orem)!! It was fun, really fun. He kept me company as I packed on the day before move call. We had a great time and it is a memory I want to keep forever.

Our two baptisms this week went really well. The 11 year old is so solid. As we were meeting with him in the days leading up to his baptism, we asked him why Joseph Smith is important, and he, with out hesitancy, said "Because of the Great Apostacy." He has an understanding. I know the spirit has really confirmed to him the truth of the gospel and helped him learn because he was willing to read and pray. When he was bearing his testimony after his baptism, he said: "I'm really afraid of water, but as I was about to be baptized, I felt that God was with me."

The other baptism, Jiang, arrived just as the meeting was ready to start. Satan was working on him, but he came anyway. What a great act of faith. He has really found the comfort that comes from the gospel. The Elder's Quorum President has befriended him.

Every one's experience is different, --from the 11 year old who was really excited to be baptized and overcame the fear of water, to the 35 year old who just broke up with his girlfriend and put his faith in God to the point that he was willing to accept the ordinance of baptism.

Oh how I love this work!! God is a gracious God. He loves his children and blesses them according to His tender mercies.

I am now in DoLiu and am a senior companion, I wasn't ready for that. I am very aware of my own weaknesses. The Holy Ghost is going to be our senior companion.

My Junior companion is great. He is fluent in Chinese. His mom is from taiwan and his dad is a former Taibei missionary. He is from Orem too and went to Mountian View. He loves the people and wants to help them know the chruch is true.

I testify that it is through Jesus Christ that we can be healed spiritually. (And physically, for that matter.) This is what want to share with people. This is a truth that can only be felt and understood by the power of the Holy Ghost. When this happens a light comes to the eyes, a smile to the face, and humility is instilled in the heart. That is what a mission is about.

I love all of you. Elder Spencer Harris

Rain (posted by mom)

I can't even explain the rain. It comes down so hard! Missionaries pray so hard that it won't rain Sunday mornings. On Sunday, I called all our investigators who agreed to come to church each 3 times. 2 made it. I'm really starting to learn the use of testifying and promising blessings, because people really need a reason to change their lives--especially if it means coming to church in a down-pour.

Zhang Jie Xin passed his baptismal interview. He has been brought to church 3 times by a member. He currently has no mode of transportation. We are pretty sure we can get him a bike from a previous missionary. He will be baptized this Saturday or the next.

I have to tell you of a crazy dream that wasn't a dream, but felt like it. We got a referral through our mission referral system, we called it up, and set up an appointment for the evening. This guy is sounding really golden right.

So we go over there in the pouring rain. There is a big fence around the building. A man walks up to the gate, and yells for someone to open the door for him. A lady comes out and opens the door, invites us in, then shuts the door. I look at the gate and there is a lock on the INSIDE!! OH NO WHERE ARE WE?!!!!

We go in, and it ends up being a sanitorium! I can't even describe my feeling. She calls up, and tells us to go to level 5. In my head I'm thinking, "What's level five?!!!" We go to the evevator and press the up button. A resident comes over to the elevator and starts compulsively pressing the up button and looking around like, "It's broken!" Any way, we get in the elevator and the lady keeps pressing level 2 and she still has a confused look like, "It's broken."

We get to level 2, she gets off. On Level two, there are about 3 people standing there with blank looks on their faces. The thought again comes to mind, "What's level 5?!"

We arrive. We are trying to find a Mr. Lin. I start asking around what people's names are. Many of their names are Mr. Lin...

We finally find the right person. He loves to read and his room is full of books. We start teaching, He is very smart. There are about 5 residents in there listening to the lesson... A lady comes in and starts talking really loud. She must be a church member. She is shouting things like, "I'm a mormon." "There was a sister that was so good go me." "I gave so much money to the church to help them build temples and church buildings." "Hosana!" Needless to say it was a very interesting teaching situation.

The work is going good. I love each of you. --Elder Spencer Harris

Temple, Baptism, and Hope (posted by mom)

Today we get to go to the temple! That is why I am here at 4:00 a.m. writing you this letter.

Brother Yang was baptized this past Saturday. It was such a good experience. He overcame smoking, and now he and his wife are both members. He is having a surgery today(something with his brain). We got special permission to visit him and his wife in the hospital yesterday. When we got there they had just finished talking to the doctor. They looked really sad. I guess it's pretty serious. I think God sent us to be there at that time to give them hope. The gospel brings so much hope. In my journal, I wrote, "We talked to them about the hope of the gospel." Then I remembered we didn't talk about hope at all, but that is what we saw in their eyes as we left the hospital. They had found hope and solace as we talked to them about the gospel!

This Saturday we have three more investigators that will be baptized. One is named Liang--he is one of the elect. One is Zhuang, I don't know what happened, but he really changed this past week. He became humble and his hesitancy about baptism has turned to excitement. The other is Xie(He is only 17 and needs parent permission -- He is not too sure he will get it. We are praying for him).

Well, time is short. The good news is... The gospel is true! It gives us hope and an eternal perspective. I love the gospel! Oh how we ought to live our lives according to the knowledge we've been given!

I love each and every one of you--300!! Elder Spencer Harris

Miscellaneous Topics (posted by his mom)

Thank you all for your prayers. I feel them, I really do. That is my testimony. I often have something happen followed by the feeling, that was in answer to a prayer.

We live in a big sky scraper. One day for exercise we ran to the top of our building, on the way we found a weight room! We made it to the 26 floor and the security guard was there. He let us go out on top to look around. Wow, it was cool, and it was really high.

We had zone conference this week. We always learn specific tools to use in teaching, planning, etc. This time we learned about helping people commit to obey God's commandments. We learned it is important to let investigators know that keeping certian commandments is hard but obedience will bring blessings. It works great; I have never quit smoking, but letting someone know I understand it is hard to quit gives them "face" and gives them a deeper resolve to stay with it.

Lately I have also learned that goal setting and planning are so important. Goal setting is actually an act of faith. It is also an act of repentance. Worthy, righteous goals and plans mixed with prayer allow us to utilize the Atonement and become who we need to be. I wish I had understood the power of goal setting a long time ago.

As far as investigators go right now, Yang will be baptized this Saturday, then the next week we hope to help Xie (a 17 year old), Liang (a man who quit all his word of wisdom habits in one day), and the Xu family. If they all keep progressing as they are now, what a day that will be!

Love you all!!!
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!

3 Baptisms & Stake Conference (posted by mom)

We had 3 baptisms on Friday. Brother and Sister Zhuang got baptized! Brother Zhuang is nearly 80 years old! He had to be baptized 2 times!!! I felt bad about that. The other was Sister Wu. They are all so good and so solid!

My companion and I found out we are staying together for another move call. I'm excited. We are getting organized and setting some good goals that will make us the companionship we weren't this last move call. We are focusing on teaching mostly.

This weekend was stake conference. Elder Watson came. He had all the youth in the stake stand up and told them the prophet loves them. I'm not sure if anyone else felt it, but I felt a wave come over the audiance, literally a wave. I felt the love the prophet has for these people. Think of the love God has for us!! I can't even immagine it!

I know this church is true. I'm so greatful for a merciful God. At stake conference I was suprised at how much I undersood! That's not me that's God! I'm so glad that I have the chance everyday to spread the good news!

I love you so much. Elder Spencer Harris

A Missionary Sunday (posted by mom)

The work is great. I'm learning and growing (but not as fast as I'd like). Consistancy is everything and I'm starting to learn that.

We are helping as many people as we can come unto Christ--that is our purpose. We had 12 investigators at church this week! WOW! I was shocked. Sunday is "Game Day" as my companion likes to say. The most stressful part of the week is when sacrament meeting ends. Everyone gets up--and we try to invite them to stay to the rest of the meetings, confirm them for next sunday, set up appointments, and introduce our investigators to people they need to meet. As we sing the closing hymn, I just pray the members will help us take care of all our investigators so we can get to each of them before they leave.

With all my love, Elder Spencer Harris (posted by his mother)

Conference and Finding Investigators

Dear Family,

I love you all so very much. Conference was great. It is a little different over here. We rest only 1 hour between sessions. I was excited because we had 9 people to church over conference weekend:

Lai __ --He is very golden. He said his mom will not be happy with him if he gets baptized. He's asked us about the opportunity to serve a mission (he is nearly to old to serve though.) He always comes to church! He is so willing to obey God's commandments! Lai __ is preparing to be baptized this Saturday.

Xu family --a golden family that was a member referral (sister-in-law + family) of the stake president of the gaoxiong stake where I lived when I was previously in Taiwan...small world huh? They are working toward baptism. I'm so glad they came to conference this week.

Wu family --a husband and wife who have really connected with the first councilor in the bishopric's family. The husband and wife both have health issues.(The first councilor is a great missionary, he carries around contact cards everywhere he goes.)

Hong __ --he is a long time investigator who seems to have become humble and now is willing to work toward meeting the requirements to enter that small and narrow gate that leads to eternal life--baptism.

The Zhuang family wasn't able to come, but they are still on the path toward baptism. The Mom has cancer and is living in the hospital this week for some treatment.

This past Thursday my companion and I only had a few appointments so we decided we would each try to break our personal records for adding investigators in one day. (That means they give us contact information, set up a date to meet, and set a baptismal goal.) My previous record was 14-- (I don't remember that, but that's what my companion said my record was). My companion's previous record was 17. That morning when we woke up it was raining HARD. We kept to our goal and went forth in faith and were successful. I added 16 and my companion added 27 -- together we added 43 New investigators! The Lord blessed us even in the rain. We also ran into 4-5 investigators and less active members, I know Heavenly Father blessed us to run into these people so that we could follow up with them and boost their testimony and desire. Also, on that day at lunch, we ran into an investigator whose phone had stopped working and he got a new phone and number (he lost our phone number). We were able to get his new number and have a small little lesson over lunch.

I love you all so much.
Elder Spencer Harris
--Posted by his mother

Chinese Memorial Day

Today we had a special activity. We went and helped clean graves for the Chinese memorial day. On this day the people Clean Graves (Sao Mu) worhsip (bai bai)and give food and money to their deceased ancestors. My conpanion and I cleaned up a whole area of the cemetary: swept the walks, pulled weeds, and cleaned the grave sites of those who don't have decendants. It was a fun service. The press came out and got some of it. We actually made a difference, it looked a lot better.

My companion and live at the mission storage appartment. We stay upstairs and the storage area is below on ground level. We have a big garage door for our front door, it's cool. I feel like we are leaving a base or something every time we head out. Since coming to TaiZhong, we haven't taken time on our preparation day to go grocery shopping so we have been eating oatmeal every morning. For our other meals we buy bian dangs on the street--they are a box lunch with rice, meat, and veggies. They cost less than $1.50 US and we can eat until we are full. It is a quick and convenient way to go.

I thought you might like to hear some rejections missionaries hear when going tracting:

No free time - - Mei3 you3 kong4
I'm busy - - Zai4 Mang2
I don't need it - - Bu4 xu2 yao4
I don't have use (for it)"--basically means no thanks - - Bu2 Yong4
Sometimes people invite us back to be nice but give us a fake number

The truth is none of these are good excuseses to avoid hearing the gospel; the good news!

There are many times I feel directed/prompted to do something and I get the distict impression that it is in answer to my prayers, and the prayers offered by family and friends back home. (it is sometimes a spiritual boost in the middle of the day, a prompting to talk to someone, a witness that something I read is true, and so on.)Thanks for your prayers in my behalf. I love you all so very much. Please keep the prayers coming and I'll keep praying for you too.

This week, we found out our baptismal candidate was already a member! I'm not sure what to think--I am happy he is a member though.

Currently we have an investigator named Brother Lai. He is in the Army--he is a big, strong guy, with a tender heart and a willingness to believe. We call to give him reminders and to follow-up like we do with our other investigators, but he is self motivated in coming to church, reading scriptures, and praying. (Missionaries call those behaviors "The Big Three" or "CPR"-Church attendance, Prayer, and Reading the scriptures.) I know if a person does these three things, God will direct their lives in the ways of righteousness. It is so easy to tell if an investigator has been reading and praying because they understand the doctrine. If they don't, they get confused about the simplest things pertaining to their salvation.

Thank you for the Conference Updates. I'm really excited. It seems as though the focus was families and parenthood--I think that's really good. In my last area there was a family that was previously really strong in the gospel, but all their children have fallen away from the church. We visited them a few times and they told us how proud they are of the freedom they gave their children. They did't set rules or teach them the gospel because they felt their children should learn things for themselves. I don't believe God ordained families so children could learn for themselves. I think parents have the responsibility to teach their children the gospel and show them the paths of truth. There is an eternal purpose to life and I'm happy that as a child I was directed down those paths of righteousness.

The church is true. I love you all, Elder Harris
posted by his mother

Personal Study Time in the Mountains

Guess what? I got to sing with Elder Gluch at Zone conference!! How crazy is that. Heavenly Father sure knows what He's doing. Four of us sang I'll go where you want me to go--I sang the alto line and there was no possible way I was going to mess that up. (There was only 3 notes.)

Dad asked me a question about learning everyday words like "potassium permanganate"--haha. No, not yet. But it made me think of zone conference President Hoer had to traslate for parts of the conference because no one else knew the words that were being said. He knew words like whale shark, plankton, and carbon monoxide poisoning. He is so smart! He is a master of the language!

Most recently I've been so amazed at the Savior and His role. I've been pondering on the meaning of always remembering the Savior--as we promise to do each Sunday when we partake of the sacrament. Every prophet's purpose, since the begining of time, is to testify of the Savior and His divine role. Every verse of scripture points to the Savior. Every ordinance in the law of Moses and every ordinance in the law introduced at the time of Christ's death points to the Savior--every jot and tittle. This insight is starting to change how I study and how I act. The words of Hymns and scriptures have taken on new meaning.

I just want to let each of you know that we have a Father in Heaven. This life is not "whatever" (sui bian), there is a plan. We are being looked out for. The way is prepared and we are not left comfortless.

This week, I wondered, "How can Christ know what it's like to sin and to have that loss of spirit?" I thought there was no way, Christ can't know how that feels. How can he help me in that case? How can he know how it feels to have the spirit withdraw? and in that case, how can I use the atonement to overcome that distance from God? However, my wonderings were very immature: On the cross, in the agony that he was put through at that time, the Father withdrew his spirit. In the Savior's hour of need, in his darkest hour, the Son of God--perfect and holy--suffered a a temporary spiritual death. He bridged the eternal divide. When we sin, and the sprit withdraws, Jesus Christ's atonement has covered that, and he can lift us from our fallen state and allow us to keep going. We can feel the arms of mercy extended to us and once again experience the blessings and joy of walking in the presence of God. How great is our Savior!

The scriptures often begin with the words, "And it came to pass". In Chinese it is written "Shiqing shi zhe yang de" -- the literal translation of that is, "Things are this way." I thought that was pretty cool.

Today for Preperation day my companion and I biked to the other end of our area, and hour + ride up the mountians. We got permission and had personal study up there. Biking up the mountian was really cool. I felt like I was in my zone. We decided that since we never go up that way that we'd take some time to spread the good news, so we took some of our Preparation Day to find the prepared. It was fun! As we tried to do as the Savior would do, we were lead to a less-active family that there was really no way of finding where they lived by their address; we were able to serve some people who had stuff fall out of their truck; and we were able to run into a former investigator on the street that my companion had just barely told me told me about.

Too many things seem to fall into place in missionary work. It can't all be coincidence. God directs this work.

(Jia you!) add oil - give your best.

With all my love,

Elder Spencer Harris
--posted by his mother

TaiZhong Dakeng Ward

The new ward is great! there are about 80 people who attend regularly. That is about 40 less than the Xihu ward. The members here in Taiwan really are so great! They fellowship like I've never seen anyone fellowship. I've learned that I wasn't a fellowshipper. That is changing and will continue to change. Even long time attenders can use fellowshipping--an arm around the back and a sincere "How are you doing?"

I'm so excited for general conference. We get conference a week late, so if you would be so kind as to give me some brief updates and highlights, that would be SO EXCITING! (I don't want all your notes though. :) )

Here in TaiZhong, I've noticed that there are a lot more sirnames. In xihu, a lot of the members were Chen or Yang, but here we have Zhuang and Qiu and Meng and all types of sirnames. Also, in TaiZhong, we are working with some people who are struggling with the commandments. It is way outside my comfort zone to help people overcome problems with the law of chasity and the word of wisdom, but I'm learning quickly. Boldness and holding to the firmness of the commandment are good ways to help people overcome these problems. I've noticed that placing faith in their ability and in the ability of the atonement help too. Inviting someone to do is a lot less effective than letting someone know that they can start obeying this moment, and that through prayer and the atonement they can overcome any challenge.

Two days ago, my companion and I really wanted to add a Week B investigator--that means getting them ready for baptism in 2 weeks. There are a few ways to do that, mostly prayer and calling/visiting former investigators. I think between my companion and my prayers and faith we were rewarded. I was riding my bike down the street and a man on a scooter called out to me and so I went to the side of the road to talk to him. I guess he has attended church many of times. For some reason he has just not been baptised. We set up the baptismal interview right then and he passed. His name is __ Zhang.

My new companion is great! He is worthy, obedient, and DILIGENT! I thought I was working so hard in my previous area... I guess not. I'm hoping I can set some good habits this move-call. He is so focused on our missionary purpose. Everything we do is pointed to helping people come unto Christ.

I'm teaching English again--the beginning class. It's scary because my Chinese is still beginner so a lot less can be communicated to a beginning class. If anyone has some fun games or songs, or ideas to teach beginning English, that would be great!

We are also teaching Mr.Zhang. He used to smoke a lot, and he's quit for 4 days--he has so much faith. There is another man Mr. Jie. His son died a while ago and he goes to this spot by a bridge everyday at 11 and 4 to remember his son. We often go to meet and talk to him at those times. I know he has the ability to obey the commandments, I'm just hoping that he will make the decision to DO IT.

I feel like I should still be new, but my companion expects a lot and it's really good for me to learn the ropes of self-motivation in the work, and it's teaching me to be a hard worker and to grow in important areas like the language and teaching and contacting.

I know this church is true. I'm so greatful for the opportunity to serve God for Two years. Two years seems so long and I often think of you all and miss you so much. My testimony is growing in the areas of work and faith--thanks to my companion. He is a worker and he is a pray-er and he has so much faith.

Please just tell everyone you see that I love them, and I'm so greatful for their love and support. Tell them that I'm loving the mission, the work is so good and it is divinely directed. My testimony is strengthening every day.

With Love, Elder Harris
--posted by his mother