Massive Updates

February 11

Hey :)

Firstly, I would like to thank all those who sent Christmas cards and greetings.

Who:

The Granite South Stake

The Sego Lily Ward

Reynolds Family

Henrickson Family

Addison Walter

Herd Family

Rich Family

Roberts Family

Roger and Carol

Tippetts Family

Lars y Lori

Sirrine Family

and Cathy and Jerry

Please pass along my thanks and appreciation for the thought, cards, and love.

Maria came to church and it seems like she´ll be good to go for her baptism.  We´re helping several recent converts.  There is the cute little old lady Albertina, Olga-the immigrant from the Dominican Republic who cooks delicious huge quantities of food, and the family Garcia-Cid with there three kids, Martin(11) Cristobal(9), and Vale(7).  They remind me a lot of us older kids.  Martin is more "parenty," cristo is creative, and they both tease Vale a lot :)  Cristo got baptized recently and the mom is recently reactivated.  We´re working on befriending the father as well.

Some impactful spiritual thoughts that I got from listening to the funeral recording of my Bestafar:

He who can´t sacrifice pleasure at the shrine of duty will never write success upon the closing pages of history

Mor:  If there is room in the heart, there´s room in the home

Paige: 12 Apaulsens

Psalm 127:2-4

Hymn 254- True to the Faith

2 Timothy 4:6-8-  I loved this scripture and cried reflecting on the life of Bestafar.


Thanks for the Spirit that everyone brought to the funeral proceedings.


Our teaching pool is a little weak right now, so no, there is no one else that is particularly progressing.  My district is us, a pair from Valle Azapa, a place really flaite(gangsta) and the district leader.  We eat lunch with the members and eat once(supper) and breakfast in the house.  It´s just the two of us holed up there in our apartment.  We were planning to climb the hill last week, but now are going to do it in the coming weeks when we can organize well and involve the ward. 

I appreciate the love and support that you have given me throughout my mission.  Your letters of life, and prayers of faith have buoyed my spirit and given light and perspective to my service.  I appreciate the understanding and positivity towards my work, dedication, and decisions.  It is because of you that I´m here, and I´m looking forward to the day we meet again...

God is real.  His love is tangible.  Life is a journey.  We are imperfect.  Our Father cares for us even when we take wrong turns.  We are here to progress to eternal joy.  But it come in drops of sunlight and toe-steps of faith towards the believed halls of salvation.  We are young, reckless, and all at once divine.  We must take responsibility for our choices, and use them to learn our purpose and potential.

I hope that you see the god inside, and feel the love of Him that watches over all.  And grasp the import of life and it´s challenges and joys.

Tu Misionero

Elder Parry Harrison

February 4

Hey :)

Maria is progressing.  We had a wonderful lesson with her on Saturday.  We´re just reviewing what the past Elders taught them. 

This week is short.

I just sent off a multi-paragraph to a cousin and it took up the bulk of my time.  Sufficith to say that I love you, pray for you, know the church is true, loved my mission, enjoy my companion, spent today in the center going through the persas and ferias looking and buying recuerdos.

Until we meet again

Tu misionero

Elder Parry Harrison

January 28

Hey :)

First off, responding to a couple of questions:

I was touched listening to the recording of Bestafar´s funeral.  It made me laugh and cry all at the same time :) 

We had a funny experience this last week.  Walking down a street at about 8:00 in the evening we hear a good ole´ racket going on inside a house.  We stop and try to figure what´s going on.  Suddenly a pair of women leave and calmly start walking down the street.  The sound pauses then starts again.  The we look around the corner of the house and spot a 20-something climbing up and out of the house through the corrugated metal roof.  He jumps down the wall and falls on his back.  Then jumping up he goes down the street in front of the women.  Then, an elderly man jumps out in front of the guy and whacks him across the back with a piece of metal.  It was to flexible to do any damage and just looked comical.  At this point it was more than obvious that the guy was high because when he trying to give a combo (Chilean punch) his just fell down again.  By then the whole brood of women from the house had come out, they pick him up and yelling take him down the street.  It was an interesting slice of Chilean life.

After talking to a friend about some doubts he was having about the church, its history, and what God required of us, I was thrown into reflection on testimony, spiritual light, faith, and bases of life.  I think that the majority of Mormon youth are sheltered from the world, the reality of the gospel, and the goodness that exists in other beliefs.  This frequently causes a crisis when they come out of the bubble that is our culture and lifestyle and are whacked upside the head with the intense and off-putting difference between what they believed and had been taught, and the stark, logical reality of the world.  They struggle though the criticisms of peers, media, "erudites"(smart people), and the inner weakness. 

I know that there is a crisis in action.  There are mass numbers of people, particularly youth, going inactive in the face of the world´s logical and tempting lifestyle.  We can not let generations become lost in faithlessness and lose the true happiness that comes from the Gospel (note not the church).

As Elder Russell Nelson said once after someone told him after Conference that they really enjoyed his talk, "Wait, you Enjoyed it?  My objective was not to Entertain you.  My purpose was to make you want to change.  To feel a little bad.  To hear the Spirit and act" [Significant literary editing taken to the quote b/c I don´t remember how it went :)]

Tu Misionero

Elder Parry Harrison

Thoughts of Bestefar and Two Weeks of Updates

January 14

Hello,

This week is tinged with sad reflections on the passing of Bestafar (Grandpa).  Fortunately I had the chance to talk with him briefly this Christmas when I Skyped home.  He was a wonderful man.  He led his family in righteous optimism, faithfulness, hope, hard work and surety.  His desire to have 12 children miraculously happened, and in the process he changed to an Israel-like patriarch.  His influence permeates the countless posterity and friends whose lives he touched through his service, guidance, and example.  He made good on the commandment to love others as yourself and to teach your children righteous principles that they may govern themselves. 

A man who could have lost himself in the difficult and time-consuming personal roofing business, always spent time with his cherished family.  I have heard many tales of trips taken in summers, of family vacations, of concerts and recitals.  He was the perfect companion of Bestamor, a wonderful, active woman who passed on ahead.  While she was always busy planning another activity or taking care of the kids and their busy lives, he was always supportive and must have attended 100´s of recitals, plays, sport games, mission farewells, and other events in his years as father and grandfather. 

He was an example to me of how a gentleman should be.  I never heard him raise his voice (though with 12 kids in a motor home I´m sure he did a couple of times :).  I always saw him treat people with respect and patience. He had style, poise, and a depth of personality that was magnetic. He maintained a strong testimony of God and his love towards us.  I had the privilege of receiving a letter from him just over a year ago.  In it he compliments my service and testifies of the need of scriptures and their positive influence in his life.  While his loss is felt in his grand posterity and circle of influence, we know that his pain has seceded.  And, now he is resting with his beloved Carol and two younger sons. 

I had changes today.  I left Elder Licea in Compañia and am now in Cerro Colorado in Renca.  Elder Licea was great.  A good friend, a good missionary, and a good laugh.  We got along great and he´ll have a successful mission ahead of him.  My companion is an Argentine named Elder Robustelli.  He´s got almost a year in the mission.  I´ll miss Compañia so much.  I loved the ward, the sector, and the converts that I was privileged to have there.  When I left most of the ward gave me heartfelt goodbyes.  It feels good to know that they appreciate the work and love that I put in there.  I left many best friends there. But, changes must happen, and I´m looking forward to the new area.  It appears to be similar to Conchalí 14- my second area.  It is situated between the hills of Renca and Colorado.  The hills are dry mounds of rocks with spindly trees poking out.  The most difficult part of Chilean environment is the sun.  It feels like we´re ants below a magnifying glass.  There is very little protection from the rays in this part of the world.  So while the actual temperature is not-kill me, the permanent tanning bed above makes some days INSOPORTABLE.

I´m going to be spend more time focused on writing worthwhile letters home, if you promise to do the same ;)

Tu Misionero

Elder Parry Harrison

January 21, 2013

Hey :)

Two of my thoughts:


We are not given permission to judge only to distinguish between good and evil.  God only can judge.  We should only distinguish between that which is good for us, and that which harms us. 

Why I don´t write so much about the mission itself:  All have experimented or understand more or less, what it is.  I want to chronicle my learning, observations, and growth.  Not, the day to day going-ons.

I almost exclusively quote from the prophets when I give talks because my word is Not scripture.  My word has very little  power.

Now, about the last week.  I enjoy my companion a lot.  He´s easy to get along with, and is a great missionary who is obedient and diligent out of love not obligation.  He´s got a year and is from Mar de Plata Argentina.  He´s an identical twin and his brother is serving in the mission Viña del Mar. 

I like the sector.  It reminds me a lot of my second, Conchalí.  It´s certainly much more flaite than the center.  Madre commented that it seems more rural and desert like.  Haha, that´s all of the mission.  We are, here, stationed just below two large cerros(hills).  Cerro Colorado and Cerro Renca.  We´re planning on climbing Cerro Renca soon.  The ward is small and a little dysfunctional but the people are very loving.  We have a great Colombian lady whose progressing towards her baptisms.  She and her partner(less active member) have listened to the missionaries a lot.  They recently got married and now she´s very optimistic about being baptized.  Small note- there is an epidemic of members living out of wedlock.

Thanks so much for  your letters and support

Tu misionero

Elder Parry Harrison

Christmas Cheer

"Hey :)

Last week I had the amazing opportunity to literally baptize my first person.  Her name is Antonieta.  She`s 52, and a wonderful person. The Christmas was wonderful. I loved cooking up my feast, and sharing the night with those who would be alone.  The chance to talk to the family was wonderful as well. I hope that you all passed a wonderful Holiday and that your hearts were full of gratitude and joy. I would like to leave a gift of a scripture in Mosiah 3:5-11,13,17.  Also, I would leave my testimony of the Savior and His love towards us. I know He lives and influences us through His Light and Spirit. I know that while many denominations have partial light of Christ, His Fullness is found in the Restored Church.  I love you and appreciate your support and testimony.  Remember that God loves you and watches over your every step.

Tu Misionero
Elder Parry Harrison"