Hey Everybody!
Sorry I wasn't able to write yesterday. We had a busy day because Elder Benner got transferred! He is now in Santa Cruz like 2 blocks from the beach and will probably be there for the rest of his mission. My new companion is Elder Fuller, and I really like him so far. He is a really good, hard working missionary. He is from Wisconsin most recently, but his dad is in the military so he moved all over. He is really great so far. Its been kind of hard for me because for some reason I haven't been able to learn my area very well yet, but I'm learning.
Kennan is doing great. He is going to fast this week for answers to his questions and is going to watch General Conference to seek them! Im really excited. We are going to watch the Sunday sessions with him at the bolz's house. I can't wait for that, its gonna be so cool! Then we will be going to the temple next week as a mission, and I am way excited for that! Well we have a ton of stuff to do today so I have to take off, but I would love to hear from you all soon. I love you all and hope you are well! Have a great day!
Love,
Elder Spencer Grant Harbold
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Do Whatever It Takes
Hey Everybody!
How are you all doing! Things are going pretty good here, pretty much the same old thing, except for the first time since I got here the weather has been really bad. It rained all last week and was windy and cloudy and cold and miserable. But thats all over now and we are back to warm sunny California weather. How is the weather in Utah? I heard it was snowing down there recently. I never thought I would say this, but I kinda miss the snow. And not just the snow, I miss Utah. Its not like I'm homesick or anything, but like at night and stuff I catch myself missing it.
Anyway, with Kennan, he is still doing really well. He has a strong Christian background. We talked about the Book of Mormon last week, and he said that one of the reasons that he really liked it was because the Jesus it talks about is the Jesus he knows. So thats good. He is excited for General Conference because he says that he would need to gain a testimony of living prophets if he is gonna get baptized. We will definitely tell him to have a few questions in his mind when he watches it. We have talked about baptism a few times, and he says that if he decides that its true then he will do whatever it takes to be baptized. He is almost done with the D & C now and is about to start the Pearl of Great Price. So ya, that's about all I have on him today.
We had apartment inspection this morning which we passed with flying colors. I was doing dishes early this morning before study, and I heard Mom's voice, "you have to scrub the WHOLE THING inside and out so that there couldn't possibly be anything on it." Thank you Mom and Dad for being such great parents and teaching me things like dishes and laundry. It has made life out here much easier.
So can you belive that I have been out almost 5 months already! Its crazy. It doesn't even seem close to that long. Its almost a quarter over already. If you really want to send me some stuff for my birthday, I gave some of my MoTab cd's to someone so if you could send the Praise to the Man and This is The Christ ones that would be awesome. My ankle brace would be good and some more mangos would be way sweet. Thank you for all that you do and all of your prayers and support. I appreciate it more than I can express! I love you all and hope to hear from you all soon!
Love,
Elder Spencer Grant Harbold
(Letter written 3/20/12)
How are you all doing! Things are going pretty good here, pretty much the same old thing, except for the first time since I got here the weather has been really bad. It rained all last week and was windy and cloudy and cold and miserable. But thats all over now and we are back to warm sunny California weather. How is the weather in Utah? I heard it was snowing down there recently. I never thought I would say this, but I kinda miss the snow. And not just the snow, I miss Utah. Its not like I'm homesick or anything, but like at night and stuff I catch myself missing it.
Anyway, with Kennan, he is still doing really well. He has a strong Christian background. We talked about the Book of Mormon last week, and he said that one of the reasons that he really liked it was because the Jesus it talks about is the Jesus he knows. So thats good. He is excited for General Conference because he says that he would need to gain a testimony of living prophets if he is gonna get baptized. We will definitely tell him to have a few questions in his mind when he watches it. We have talked about baptism a few times, and he says that if he decides that its true then he will do whatever it takes to be baptized. He is almost done with the D & C now and is about to start the Pearl of Great Price. So ya, that's about all I have on him today.
We had apartment inspection this morning which we passed with flying colors. I was doing dishes early this morning before study, and I heard Mom's voice, "you have to scrub the WHOLE THING inside and out so that there couldn't possibly be anything on it." Thank you Mom and Dad for being such great parents and teaching me things like dishes and laundry. It has made life out here much easier.
So can you belive that I have been out almost 5 months already! Its crazy. It doesn't even seem close to that long. Its almost a quarter over already. If you really want to send me some stuff for my birthday, I gave some of my MoTab cd's to someone so if you could send the Praise to the Man and This is The Christ ones that would be awesome. My ankle brace would be good and some more mangos would be way sweet. Thank you for all that you do and all of your prayers and support. I appreciate it more than I can express! I love you all and hope to hear from you all soon!
Love,
Elder Spencer Grant Harbold
(Letter written 3/20/12)
Visitors Center Trip
Hey Everybody!
So the meeting with Elder Perry was awesome! All the missionaries got to go and shake his hand and tell him where we are from and how long we have been out. He is such a funny man, during his talk, his phone rang. After a few rings he turns around and says, "that's not mine is it?" His wife nodded yes and he said, "Oh I hope its not President Packer!" Then he told us a story about when he was speaking in a ward once and his phone rang while he was speaking and he looked at it then tossed it to his wife who was sitting a few rows back and she caught it with one hand! And he was just kind of going over how advancement in the Quorum works and he says, "Elder Anderson is number 12 right now, but when one of us drops, which shouldn't be too long now, he will move up to number 11." It was super funny. Then he talked to us about working with the ward leaders, which was super awesome.
So on Saturday, we were able to go up to the Oakland Temple Visitors Center with Kennan. That was a super neat expirence and Kennan really enjoyed it. Things that he really liked were this one exhibit they had about all the service and things that the church has been doing and also a presentation about families and things. That was super awesome. We got to walk around the terrace on the temple and it was a really clear day so we could see San Francisco and the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges. We had a lesson with him at the Bolz's house (Brother Bolz is our Elders Quorum President and that's where I called from on Christmas. Kennan is really good friends with Sister Bolz because they have done musical theatre together). Afterwards he asked for a blessing because he has been hurt by some friends and he has just been having really malicious thoughts toward them and he really wanted help with that. But thats the kind of person that he is. He just really wants to love everyone, and if for whatever reason he dosn't love someone, he finds a way to make it happen. We brought up baptism again, and he said that he really wants to take his time and learn everything, finish the Doctrine and Covenants and the Peral of Great Price and everything like that. He says that he really loves everything about the church, but he really wants to have a strong testimony that its true, and I guess he doesn't feel like he does yet. But he is getting there, and I'm confident that he will feel comfortable with it soon.
I was sorry to hear about Sister Jorgensen's daughter, please send her my love. Well that's about all I have for today. I love you all and still really hope to hear from you all soon!
Love,
Elder Spencer Grant Harbold
(Letter written 3/13/12)
So the meeting with Elder Perry was awesome! All the missionaries got to go and shake his hand and tell him where we are from and how long we have been out. He is such a funny man, during his talk, his phone rang. After a few rings he turns around and says, "that's not mine is it?" His wife nodded yes and he said, "Oh I hope its not President Packer!" Then he told us a story about when he was speaking in a ward once and his phone rang while he was speaking and he looked at it then tossed it to his wife who was sitting a few rows back and she caught it with one hand! And he was just kind of going over how advancement in the Quorum works and he says, "Elder Anderson is number 12 right now, but when one of us drops, which shouldn't be too long now, he will move up to number 11." It was super funny. Then he talked to us about working with the ward leaders, which was super awesome.
So on Saturday, we were able to go up to the Oakland Temple Visitors Center with Kennan. That was a super neat expirence and Kennan really enjoyed it. Things that he really liked were this one exhibit they had about all the service and things that the church has been doing and also a presentation about families and things. That was super awesome. We got to walk around the terrace on the temple and it was a really clear day so we could see San Francisco and the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges. We had a lesson with him at the Bolz's house (Brother Bolz is our Elders Quorum President and that's where I called from on Christmas. Kennan is really good friends with Sister Bolz because they have done musical theatre together). Afterwards he asked for a blessing because he has been hurt by some friends and he has just been having really malicious thoughts toward them and he really wanted help with that. But thats the kind of person that he is. He just really wants to love everyone, and if for whatever reason he dosn't love someone, he finds a way to make it happen. We brought up baptism again, and he said that he really wants to take his time and learn everything, finish the Doctrine and Covenants and the Peral of Great Price and everything like that. He says that he really loves everything about the church, but he really wants to have a strong testimony that its true, and I guess he doesn't feel like he does yet. But he is getting there, and I'm confident that he will feel comfortable with it soon.
I was sorry to hear about Sister Jorgensen's daughter, please send her my love. Well that's about all I have for today. I love you all and still really hope to hear from you all soon!
Love,
Elder Spencer Grant Harbold
(Letter written 3/13/12)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Elder Perry is Coming!
Hey Everybody!
So to answer your question about email on Mondays, we have been
going on Tuesdays because the library that's in our area is closed for
remodeling, and the closest one is way out of our area and there just aren't enough hours in the day to spend an hour each way traveling since
we don't have the car on Mondays so we are just doing it on Tuesday for
now. I might get one on Mondays occasionally if the elders we share the
car with are willing to give us a ride.
Something awesome is
happening in about an hour today! Elder Perry is coming to speak to our
mission! I'm super excited to go and hear that. Its gonna be way cool. We aren't sure what he is going to talk about, but I'm sure it will be
awesome! When we met with Kennan last week we were just talking and
he asked us what he would need to change in his life in order to be
baptized! That was super awesome. We just talked about the word of
wisdom and he said well I like my morning coffee and my evening cocktail,
but if I decide this is true, I'll do what I need to! We are so excited
and I know that he really felt the spirit at church on Sunday so I
really think that when we invite him again to be baptized on Thursday he
will say yes and accept a date.
There is also some kind of bad
news. The less active lady we were meeting with, Linda was sick a couple
weeks ago and didn't come to church and was pretty upset when no body
called or anything to see where she was. We had stopped by the Saturday
before and we knew she was sick so we didn't try to find a ride for her
because she told us she wasn't coming. She doesn't remember us
stopping by and doesn't believe that we did so she is pretty upset and
dodging us now. Anyway, that's pretty much all I have for news this week, but I love you all and hope that you all are doing well! Hope to hear
from you all soon!
Love,
Elder Spencer Grant Harbold
P.S. Jeff went to the Ballet!!! What a wuss!!!!
(Letter written 3/6/12)
(Letter written 3/6/12)
Monday, March 12, 2012
Nothing new
Hey everybody!
Sorry I don't really have that much time to write today, but nothing
new is happening anyway. I went to the doctor and my ear was just
really plugged with a massive chunk of earwax that was shoved right up
into my eardrum. We haven't met with Kennan yet since my last email so
there is nothing new there except to tell you that he has been to church
every week for like 2 months and just loves it. Sorry for not
really having much to say today, but I will have more to write next
week. Thank you all and I love you!
Elder Spencer Grant Harbold
(written 2/28/12)
(written 2/28/12)
Kennan is just super awesome!
Hey Everybody!
Sorry that my headings aren't as creative as Greg's, I'm just kind
of boring that way. But I do have a lot to tell you. First off, things
with Kennan are going great! He is about half way through the Doctrine
and Covenants and loves it. I'm not sure exactly what his hang up is on
getting baptized. He says its that he doesn't really feel that he has
his own testimony about it all yet, but he even says that it is getting
close. I think it won't be too long before he decides to be baptized.
A little background on him, he is unmarried and has no kids. He is
about 30 and is an electronic engineer. He had "the brain cancer" as
he calls it. He finished chemo about 6 months ago and is now cancer
free. He is just super awesome, that's about all I can say about him.
So on Satruday morning when I woke up, my right ear was clogged
with ear wax, but when I started to clean it out it started to hurt
really bad so I called the Medical Advisor and I have a doctors
appointment today to find out if something is wrong or not. Its been
really annoying because I 'hear anything out of my right ear, and I
always have to ask people to repeat themselves. But I'm pretty sure its
nothing serious. Probablly the worst thing it could be is I ruptured my
eardrum, but it hasn't bled at all so I dont think its even that bad.
Sister Abrahms just wants me to go to the doctor just to be sure.
Mom, thank you so much for the packages you sent me, I got them on Wednesday and the mangos lasted clear till Sunday. But you just told me
that Joseph wore my shoes, you didn't tell me that he destroyed them. But
its okay, that's not really a big deal. The reason that I wanted them
is because there is a missionary in my district that doesn't have any
basketball shoe,s and he was looking for a cheap pair to buy so I just
gave him mine and asked you for my other ones. But thank you for that. I
love you all and hope you all are well!
Love,
Elder Spencer Grant Harbold
(written 2/21/12)
I'm a REAL missionary now!
Hey Everybody!
I hope you are all doing well! This week was pretty cool because
our zone goal was to have a "perfect week" (20 lessons and 140 street
contacts) and Elder Benner and I were able to get that done for the
first time since I came out. It was really cool that we were able to
do it since Elder Benner was really sick on Wednesday and the Medical Adviser told him to stay in bed so we spent the whole entire day in the
apartment. Elder Benner just slept and I studied all day, and we were
still able to get our goal which was pretty cool. Also Elder Benner is
our new District Leader, and I am no longer a trainee, I'm a REAL missionary
now! I was realizing that on Feb 2, it had been 3 months since I went
into the MTC. Its so weird, it doesn't feel like its been even close to
that long. I'm really enjoying the mission so far! And its gotten even
better since we started teaching Kennan. I'm pretty sure I've talked
about him before, but he is friends with our Elders Quorum President's
wife. He is super awesome! He has already finished the Book of
Mormon and the Lectures on Faith (which I haven't even read), and is now
reading The Doctrine and Covenants. He has been to church every week
since before New Years. He really just loves everything about the church
and everything we have been teaching him but is kind of hung up on the
"one true church" part of it. But he is definitely getting there, and I
am very confident he will be baptized soon. I am really excited because
he is my first real progressing investigator.
Anyway that's about all
that I have for today news wise, but there is a member in our ward named
John Blank who thinks he might have been in Dad's ward growing up. He
is about 5 or 6 years older than Dad but has siblings that would have
been his age. So dad if you know any Blanks from your ward in San Jose,
one of them may be in my ward. He was wondering what ward you were
in, was it the 3rd ward? Mom, if my ankle brace isn't in my blue
tote then I'm not sure where it might be. Maybe in the top drawer of my
dresser? But if you can't find it don't worry about it, I can do without.
And there isn't a knee brace. I'm not a wuss. Anyway, I hope you are
all doing well, especially you Joseph, and I will write a letter to you
if I can find time and remember to, but I would love to get a letter from
you! Anyway I love you all and hope to hear from you all soon!
Love,
Elder Spencer Grant Harbold
(written 2/14/12)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)