Insights and Events in the Life of Elder Harps: Woche 26

So this week was very different. We received some devastating news.

Last Wednesday night President Boyer told us that both of Elder Clarke's parents died in a plane accident. He has an older sister who is getting married next month and a 17 year old sister and 16 year old brother. He went home this last week to mourn with his family and be there for the funeral. He is making sure everything is in order, but he's coming back out into the mission field early this Sunday morning. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

This week I spent with our Zone Leaders in Offenbach, and we managed Langen as best we could from a distance. We all are very sorry for Elder Clarke, but we also tried really hard to work diligently this week because there isn't anything we can do to help at the moment. It was a really good week.

Rare picture of us contacting.

We worked our tails off and it was really great. It was a lot of work trying to manage two areas, but I called and canceled as many appointments as possible and then we went to the rest. We spent a lot of time outside street contacting as appointments fell through and we saw a lot of success. On Friday, we found a bunch of people pretty evenly spread through the day, which taught us that we need to be constantly looking or we would have missed them. But the next day we spent 4 hours contacting in the sun and found nobody until the last hour. Which also taught us that we can't give up simply because we aren't seeing results. Sometimes the Lord tests our patience and endurance before he blesses us. We worked flipping hard,and we learned a ton.

We also split while in our awkward tri-companionship thing so we had a Companionship that was Elder Allan from Offenbach, me from Langen, and Elder Robinson from Frankfurt. It was a little weird. Also way fun to reconnect with Elder Robinson from the MTC. He was one of my companions for part of it. Way way fun.

I hit my 6 month mark on Tuesday. That was weird. Very very weird. The last 6 months have literally evaporated.

Also Elder Ault and I got kissed this week. By a very smelly and scruffy Bulgarian man. He said "AYYYYYE" then ran over and shook our hands, then kissed us on the cheek. His hands were sticky. And then after he didn't let go of my hand and asked me for 2 Euro. Fortunately we escaped after and got on our bus. That was one for the books.

Also we had Zonenkonferenz which was awesome. It was focused on finding people and I learned a ton. I love Zone Conferences. They are way fun and way enlightening/inspiring. Got a lot of new ideas I want to try and apply to be better at finding people.

This week's thought is a scripture that has really helped me in my attempts to better myself. It comes from the Book of Alma. Chapter 5 is Alma speaking to the members of the church. Verse 14 reads:

"14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"

This is Alma talking to the already existing members. He's talking to all people who claim to follow Jesus Christ.

I sometimes get complacent. Never consciously, but sometimes I feel like "alright I'm good". I usually don't notice, but when I read this, and it says "Have ye received his image in your countenances?" it always makes me think. When people see me, when they see my actions, words, and otherwise interact with me, do they see Jesus Christ in me? Can they tell that I am his discipline? Am I patient like he is? Do I love like he does? Am I kind in all things? Do I serve? Am I living my life the way Christ would live it? Have I received his image in my countenance? When people see me, do they see the Savior working through me?

I always realize that even though I may be doing well, I can do better. I can work more to become more as He is. This scripture always helps me reevaluate my progress and be honest with myself.

That's my invitation this week is to really reflect on whether or not you have received His image in your countenance. Pick something to work on to become more like Jesus Christ. Work on it this week

I love you all. Please pray for Elder Clarke and his family. Have a great week.

~Elder Harps