Week 63

Hi Everyone,

Well this week went by pretty quick and it was pretty eventful! The past two weeks have been the hottest days in Aruba since they started keeping track of the weather here in Aruba! So It’s been SUPER HOT.

Also I am trying to get an extension and immigration just changed their policy so it makes it super difficult and I am not able to go to Trinidad yet because of legal reasons so that’s been a whole big mess we have been trying to figure out this week.

I absolutely love Papiamento. It’s so frustratingly simple but it’s tough because it borrows words from English, Spanish and Dutch. Mostly Spanish, then English, and a little Dutch and I'm to the point where I can understand well enough to say oh hey what does that Dutch word you just used mean? but you have to be on your toes because they throw in English and Spanish words into the middle of the sentence but the grammar is so different that you really have to put a lot of it together in your head, but it’s coming along great

Also something weird happened and knocked out the power in the entire island! It was super weird and it made me trunky for the DR when the power would always go out! They got it turned back on over the course of the day but down here in San Nicolas it wasn't back on for a while!

Also something weird that happened is that yesterday it rained super hard! Streets were flooding, traffic was backed up, the airport ceiling caved in and everything! It rained super hard but the weirdest part was that it was only on the north side of the island! Down here in San Nicolas we were on our bikes all day and not a single drop fell down! It was pretty weird!

Yes we taught the Jamaican and her daughter and we are going back tomorrow to teach them about the book of Mormon! And the guy from the bus was there but something came up and he was busy so we are going there this Thursday.

Also while we were out contacting we met a lady who was a member! She was one of the first 3 members baptized in Aruba, but moved back to Holland for 20 something  years and moved back in December, but has been in the hospital ever since. She just got out two weeks ago and was thrilled to see us! Definitely a miracle that the Lord put us there to find her! She was at church and said it was so good to be back home!

I love it here! Today has been cloudy all day which is nice, but it’s SUPER humid. Oh, also to answer your question, no, I don't have any smarties left....

Love you all!

Elder Harsh

Week 62

Hi Everyone,

Well another week is over and it’s been a good one!

We went out searching for a house of a guy that we met on the street last week and while we were looking for it we accidently knocked on the door of the wrong house! It was kinda tough because I had forgotten what the lady looked like so I kinda thought it was her until a little further into the conversation I figured out that she had no idea who we were! So we capitalized on the opportunity and asked to share a message! But, with the whole misunderstanding I forgot to tell her the name of the church that we are from....so after sharing a little bit we asked her what it would mean to her if the true church of Jesus Christ was here on the earth today. She said "oh, I know it is, it’s the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Saints or something like that" She is from Jamaica so she was speaking English and after she said that I was shocked and E Carrillo was confused because he didn't understand. Haha. But turns she comes from a VERY catholic family but her sister is a member in the US and her mom got baptized before she died and sent a letter to her talking about how great and true everything is, and she said that she felt it was true! The only reason she didn't ask her sister for more details is because she said that she didn't want the sister thinking that she was asking questions to make fun of her church.

 I testified of the truthfulness of what she felt and we went on to explain about the Holy Ghost and it was such a powerful lesson! She is living with her 19 year old daughter and we are going back to teach them tomorrow! It’s incredible to me how the Lord prepares his people and if we are on his errand he will put us in the right spot when we need to be there.

It’s been great hearing about all these missionaries coming home and having some of my buddies from the mission leave for home.  But it makes me realize I'm not a newbie anymore! I only have 10 months left and it feels like just yesterday I was hitting 10 months! Time flies out here and it makes me want to take advantage of every moment! This week after interviews with President we took a bus home and I sat by this really angry looking black guy. I really wanted to talk to him, but it  was obvious he wasn't in the mood for anything I had to say so I just asked him if I could practice my Papiamento with him. After asking some questions about his job and family the conversation turned to me and I had the opportunity to do what we do best and testify! I was very proud that I was able to stay afloat with my Papiamento and we got off the bus with a return visit scheduled for this Thursday! It was a great experience when I could really feel the Lord working through me and the funny part was my friend was having to deal with a crazy Dominican Pentecostal lady that whole bus ride. We got off and I told him about the visit and he handed me three little booklets of apostasy. I love the mission. Hope all is good back home!

Also some tourists from Utah came to church! We saw them on the road and they pulled over and talked to us and I guess out of habit I invited them to church and they came! It was really fun to get to know them! One couple was from Orem and the other was from Brigham! They didn't know grandma, but they did know Sheila Benson! She’s part of the family, right? Aunt Sheila has a nice ring to it. Anyways their names were Bryan and Cindy Jeppsen from Mannaway(Mantua) Utah. And the other guys were from Orem.

Also I got my package from the Yuyez family and I have been enjoying putting the smarties into my brand new pockets all week :) If all goes well we will be getting bikes this Wednesday, but we won’t be able to use them because this week Juan David is coming on a Mini Mission with us! It’s where he comes and lives with us and lives all the mission rules and learns what it’s like to work like a missionary! I am really looking forward to that and to celebrate that we bought pizza and wings :)

 It’s been a good day. 

Love, Elder Harsh

                             Tourists from Utah taking pictures of the Elders

Week 61

Hi everyone!

Well this week was good but we had to walk a TON because we didn't have bikes. I never thought I would miss my bike but man, we have walked more in the past week than the other elders who have the car have walked in the past month! haha but I am really jealous you guys are going down to Moab! I love that place.

Today we went to go buy a new camera for E Carrillo because he dropped his in the ocean and so we got to walk around the downtown tourist area which was fun. It’s really different from down in San Nicolaas! We are kind of in the ghetto of Aruba. But hopefully we will be getting new bikes this week.

We are also getting close with an investigator named Victor. He is Dominican and has a ton of faith and wants to change but struggles with the word of wisdom. He is very motivated to stop and says he can feel a difference in his spirituality when he does and doesn't drink. So we are working really hard with him on that. We are calling him every day at 4 when he gets off work to help him and so far it’s working!

Also this week we had a funny thing happen. We were walking and we saw a Dutch lady waiting for the bus, and so we started talking to her and she was really friendly and really interested in our message. We talked to her for a minute longer but we were in a hurry and so we asked her for her address so we could come by later. She told us that the bus probably isn't going to come so she will just show us because it was really close. I ask her what number and right as she was about to tell me the bus passes by and this 50 year old lady in a dress starts sprinting after the bus yelling stop. The bus stops and she gets on and that’s the last we ever saw of her- dangit!!! haha. But I will never forget the view of this 50 year old lady sprinting her hardest yelling after this bus! hahaha.

Oh my goodness I forgot to tell you that this week Vaquero blessed the sacrament!! I got special permission to call him and I talked with him and he is doing so well!! I miss him so much but he is doing so well! Just wanted to let you know :)

Also this week Sister Hanson (an American who lives here) offered to give us haircuts because my hair still looked awful from when that Dominican guy cut it! I guess she just took pity on us but they also gave us dinner and it was great. Bro Hanson coined the Phrase "the difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is two weeks, unless you are E Harsh, then its two months!" I didn't think it was funny but whatever.

Have a good week.

Love, 

Elder Harsh

Week 60

Hi Everyone,

Man! Conference weekend was great!! I had so many questions answered that I didn't even know I had!! And yes we had a few investigators at conference! We had it in English and Spanish so I was with the English people and E Carrillo was with the Spanish ones. Conference was perfect for them. There was a few times where I wanted to stand up and yell "are you hearing this?! This is what you need!!" But I kept quiet and we all felt the spirit very strong.

Also this week somebody went through our gate behind our house and cut the lock on our bikes and stole them....so lots of walking :/ The mission is getting us new bikes, but they are being sent from Trinidad, so it might be a while. We got to drive one day while E. Atkinson was off Island so that was nice. It was good to be driving again but it made me miss Rex. I'm glad you got to meet the Yuyez family! They are great! Also, Sis. Yuyez is a really REALLY good cook :) She’s the best!

 Also I maybe need pants... my shirts are fine for now but my pants are starting to get holes in them so maybe you could send a few more pants? If not, you can send them in a few weeks when I am in Trinidad. But what I really need is smarties. Lots of smarties. The pants are optional but I really do need smarties...

Anyways love you tons mommy!!

Elder Harsh

This is the Yuyez family from Aruba.  They came for General conference.  He is a Branch President in Aruba.  They are very nice people and it was fun to meet them!  They are going to take a package back for Blake.  J