First, off for this Blog..I hope and wished Everyone had an amazing and loving Christmas!! I know I did, there was not a minute of it that I did not appreciate being around my family on such a special Holiday! Second, I Wish and Hope everyone will bring in the New Year surrounded by your friends and loved ones. If you are going to set a New Years goal, I would ask of you to set a New Years goal of coming closer to our Heavenly Father as well!! For I promise you, that if you stirve to be more like Chirst and care for others more than you already do, that you will be A WHOLE LOT HAPPIER in your lives.. =) ELE! (Everbody Love Everybody)
So just one more day left here in Nebraska with my family and friends. Wow, is all I can say for how this year has changed my life and how fast it went. =) If someone where to tell me last year, at this time. That in a year you will be a completely different person ( meaning of my old habbits and lifestyle), you will have a whole new outcome on the meaning of life and you will be worthy and ready to serve a 24 month mission in Mexico. I would have told them they are crazy and would have not belived them for a second. But I am very loved, happy and blessed of where I am in my life today, I could not be any happier!! =) I have to thank and show my love for all my friends and family who gave and showed me the support, for if it was not for them, I would not be leaving for this amazing new lifetime/changing experience tomorrow! Also I am very sorry for the friends I have missed to say goodbye to you are not forgotten in my heart, I love each and every1 of you. I think and pray about all of you hoping one day you can feel the joy and happiness I feel today!! Here are the Address's to my younger Sister and my Brother's Missions as well if you want to keep in touch with us...I hope if you have any questions or just want to talk about anything, know that we will be here for you! =)
Being in the mtc has been a wonderful experience for me, i now know why they call it the "missionary training center" as soon as you walk in you can feel the power of the holy spirit. my teachers were training me to do the Lord's work. it was a challenge having to be up out of bed by 6:30, i love my sleep and having to be in bed by 10:30. i think that was the most difficult for me not napping when i wanted to. naps soon disappeared, i didnt get the chance to have one the whole time i was there. but it prepared me because i havent had the chance nor the time to nap since ive been on the field. There was so much to learn while i was at the MTC and i still am learning. But the spirit there was incredible, i remember walking into the Sunday Devotional for my first time and being on top of the stairs and looking down at hundreds, thousands of missionaries going all over the world, learning just as me and the hymns they were singing, it was like an ocean wave of spirituality that just rushed over me. it was a feeling of love and peace that i cant really describe it was a joy that i want to share. it definitely got me excited to be there. it went by way too fast, i made close friends and we helped each other, i got the chance to see lots of my friends from byu though it was kind of hard knowing that my social life is completely over. lol well for 18 months. but it made me smile when they all said "Wow! i cant believe YOU are serving!.. and being like Wow!..Sar.. i mean Sister Harlan you are glowing" i knew that i was representing jesus christ because i was never complimented before of glowing, though not really glowing just having the Light of Christ in me, trying to represent him and share his love. what an honor and blessing to be doing what i am doing. i soon learned that i am here for multiple reasons. and i am still learning to why i am here. After the MTC i left for Albuquerque New Mexico, i was excited to teach the Natives in the area, i felt that teaching my people was the reason i was called to the states and not foreign but as soon as i got here my mission president informed me that through prayers the Lord wants me to go to Socorro Texas, spanish speaking. I'm thinking "yayy!!.. Espanol!" but i forgot that i didnt get the 9 weeks of training like other spanish missionaries, i was 3 weeks English speaking. So now i am here, outside of my window is Juarez Mexico, yes i know the stories from the news, the #1 killing city in this part of the world. though that doesnt scare me, what scares me is knowing that i can't share my message my reason of being here in this area. i pray for the gift of tongues to come quicker!, i know through faith i will learn the language, i have already met so many amazing families who dont have much to give but are always giving. what a beautiful work i am doing, i can only ask if you want to help to pray that i will receive the promised blessing of the gift of tongues. so i can do what i am here for to serve. i love my Lord and Savior and he loves all of those who are reading this.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
1 week left here in Nebraska...also Christmas!!
I am soo sorry, for not being up on my blogging!! I knew I would be horrible at this, haha...but yea 1 week left now..Wow time has been flying by!! But I'm finally getting closer to having everything ready and prepared for this new experience. And I'm still very sad that I haven't been able to spend the time I wanted with my friends, I know there are some who I probably won't even get to say good bye too, but gas these days still suck and driving everywhere to see people, ha it adds up! So for the friends I haven't or missed the opportunity to visit again I'm sorry, but always remember I love ya and I will not forget ya, lets just keep in touch! =)
It is also almost Christmas. I am soo glad that I will be able to spend Christmas with my family and friends and the ones I love this coming weekend. It is the time of the year to be surrounded by the ones you love and care about the most, to share that happiness and joy that the Holiday brings us. I got a letter from my sister Sariah today. It always brings a smile to my face when I hear from her, she told me not to forget the true meaning of Christmas. Its not about the gifts or the family gatherings, although those are a plus. =) But its the time of the year we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. Christ-mas or in other words "More Christ!" For he gave us the greatest gift of all, the gift of the Atonement. Without the Atonement there would be no joy, love, eternal family, happiness. My brother in Heaven has cared so much for us that he died for us, to feel every pain, sickness, heartache, weakness, mistake and trial. Without him being born there would be no hope for any of us. He gave me the opportunity to have a loving family who makes a million mistakes but yet we can be pure, again. He still is the there for us, always. We need to follow his example, and show our love towards him, for there will never be enough to pay the debt. So this Christmas take a moment to thank him, pray to our Heavenly Father and thank him for sending his only begotten son. To me thats the real reason for Christmas!! =)
It is also almost Christmas. I am soo glad that I will be able to spend Christmas with my family and friends and the ones I love this coming weekend. It is the time of the year to be surrounded by the ones you love and care about the most, to share that happiness and joy that the Holiday brings us. I got a letter from my sister Sariah today. It always brings a smile to my face when I hear from her, she told me not to forget the true meaning of Christmas. Its not about the gifts or the family gatherings, although those are a plus. =) But its the time of the year we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. Christ-mas or in other words "More Christ!" For he gave us the greatest gift of all, the gift of the Atonement. Without the Atonement there would be no joy, love, eternal family, happiness. My brother in Heaven has cared so much for us that he died for us, to feel every pain, sickness, heartache, weakness, mistake and trial. Without him being born there would be no hope for any of us. He gave me the opportunity to have a loving family who makes a million mistakes but yet we can be pure, again. He still is the there for us, always. We need to follow his example, and show our love towards him, for there will never be enough to pay the debt. So this Christmas take a moment to thank him, pray to our Heavenly Father and thank him for sending his only begotten son. To me thats the real reason for Christmas!! =)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Gotta start my goodbyes
So Im sorry but I am still really new to this..I think people usually update their blogs everyday ha..And today I have gotten my first email from mys sister Sariah who is in the MTC for her 1st full week and as I knew it she said she loves every minute of it, even though its overwhelming..lol..but yea I officially have 19 days left here in Nebraska and WoW time is flying by...I know that I have a lot of friends that I want to see before I leave and since there is one of my old best friends wedding this Saturday maybe I'll begin my good byes than! ha =( ...But other than that I've been spending the past couple of days with my little brother Mosiah and his little family. I love my little niece so much as if she was my own, every minute I get with to be with her is a blessing for me..I've been with her almost ever day of her 1st year here on this earth..I am very thankful for my Brother and his wife to let me live with for the time I did, while attending school at WSC and within that year was the best time ever bonding with her and I know for a fact that shes going to be the hardest to say good bye too!! But I know that she will be in very good hands because her parents are amazing! =)..but if people can leave any comments on how I can cope with leaving my niece and not feeling so heart broken when I do, I would very much appreciate it! thanks..and have a Blessed Weekend!!
Alexis and I at her parents wedding this summer!
Last years Thanksgiving with only 4 of my bros and sisters and the youngest 4 at that! =)
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Almost time for a New Experience and new Beginning!
I am winding down on just weeks now, before I will be departing of my Full-time 24 month Misison for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in the "Leon, Mexico Mission". And since I am going to be away from all social media the whole time I decided I wanted to start a blog for those who want to hear about my adventures and experiences while on my mission! I wont be doing it personally so I will be leaving all of this up to my family to be filling this in for everyone to see, since I will be writing them hand written letters or emails only.
(a little bit about me)
Its time for a new adventure in my life. It seems to me like I have been selfish for the past 5 yrs and not truely enjoying life as I should, I was that guy for a long time who travled alot and was out searching for the partys and the girls thinking that was the meaning of my life to just go out and do whatever I wanted. I'm sure it was because I was caught up in all the so-called reality tv and media, that puts out an example of people who are living that lifestyle making it seem like fun and thats the way life is suppose to be. But it wasn't until I almost hit rock bottom, when I finally realized I needed to change my lifestyle. I wasn't going anywhere with my life, I was stuck in a rut with school and my day to day jobs just weren't doing it for me. So one night about a year ago I got down and prayed for some answers hoping that our heavenly father hadn't forgotten about me. And one day soon after while I was visiting with my brother and his wife we got a knock at the door, from a man whom we had never met before, but knew he only met good; because he was a member of the same church that we grew up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The message he brought to us that night changed my life for the best, made me realize there was alot more in life than the way I was living. That there is a plan set for us, and thats why we are here on this earth today in these latter-days, I always knew there was a purpose for me being here but I just forgot and I knew I needed to change for the better. And ever since than I have completely changed my way of life, my actions, my way of thinking and am very thankful for it. For which it has brought me to my decision to serve others and to go on a mission for my lord, my savior, my heavenly father!
-Not only that but I think its amazing and going to be such a blessing for my family to not only have me serving on a mission but my younger sister and brother will be serving one as well, my sister will be in the Albuquerque NM mission and one of my younger brothers will be serving his the exact same time as us in Vancouver Canada! =)
(a little bit about me)
Its time for a new adventure in my life. It seems to me like I have been selfish for the past 5 yrs and not truely enjoying life as I should, I was that guy for a long time who travled alot and was out searching for the partys and the girls thinking that was the meaning of my life to just go out and do whatever I wanted. I'm sure it was because I was caught up in all the so-called reality tv and media, that puts out an example of people who are living that lifestyle making it seem like fun and thats the way life is suppose to be. But it wasn't until I almost hit rock bottom, when I finally realized I needed to change my lifestyle. I wasn't going anywhere with my life, I was stuck in a rut with school and my day to day jobs just weren't doing it for me. So one night about a year ago I got down and prayed for some answers hoping that our heavenly father hadn't forgotten about me. And one day soon after while I was visiting with my brother and his wife we got a knock at the door, from a man whom we had never met before, but knew he only met good; because he was a member of the same church that we grew up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The message he brought to us that night changed my life for the best, made me realize there was alot more in life than the way I was living. That there is a plan set for us, and thats why we are here on this earth today in these latter-days, I always knew there was a purpose for me being here but I just forgot and I knew I needed to change for the better. And ever since than I have completely changed my way of life, my actions, my way of thinking and am very thankful for it. For which it has brought me to my decision to serve others and to go on a mission for my lord, my savior, my heavenly father!
-Not only that but I think its amazing and going to be such a blessing for my family to not only have me serving on a mission but my younger sister and brother will be serving one as well, my sister will be in the Albuquerque NM mission and one of my younger brothers will be serving his the exact same time as us in Vancouver Canada! =)
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