Jan. 2, 2012 (About one week after he left)
Wow, I don't know what I got myself into! HA!! These past 3 days have been very hard and over whelming. The first day seemed like 3 days and these last 3 days have seemed like a week :)
Last night we met with our mission branch president and he told us to get all of our negative thoughts that we have about being homesick and missing the family and focus it all on studying, to help us learn our lessons on how to teach.
Learning Spanish has been crazy, I have never studied so much in my life, seriously, hours upon hours. But I already know a short prayer and testimony.
Jan. 7, 2012
I can honestly say "this is one of the most hardest, spiritual experience I have ever had." And wow I have been learning so much. The years of Spanish I have taken in my life are nothing compared to how much I already know now in these 2 weeks. It just shows that "with the Lord, anything is possible."
Jan. 20, 2012
I miss seeing Moroni everyday, he left for Canada on Wednesday. But now I finally realize that I am here by myself and Sariah and him are actually out doing work. It's so crazy because thats all we do here is practice teaching and learning Spanish. I just want to be out there already like those guys.
I am starting to understand 70-80% of conversations now in Spanish, but still having a hard time conjugating the sentences correctly.
Tell everyone to write me now while I still have time to write letters back. I think I will be able to respond faster now then when I get in the field because I don't know how the mail will be in Mexico.
Feb. 1, 2012
Do you know what our purpose is as a missionary? To me, and to everyone else as well, know that you don't have to be set apart as a missionary out in the field, to be on a mission, because everybody and anybody can fulfill this purpose. It is to "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring until the end."
I believe everything happens for a reason. We are all called to be missionaries at this time in our lives and we need to start with our families. Families come first no matter what always and forever. We are sent here to make and have families and strive our best to make it back to our Heavenly Father and live together with our families for all eternity.
There are three key things that we must do to know the truth for ourselves about the gospel, church and every other question we have in life. They are: to pray, read the scriptures, and go to church. And if we do all 3 of these things I promise you that we will have our answers to the questions we have.
I have a short parable (story) to help those understand the importance of church. (Before you read this say a small prayer asking that the spirit be with you to help you understand this message. Really soak it in if you lack church attendance.....now pray!) ............
It's about a story of sharing our thanks and gratitude to Jesus and our Heavenly Father by just attending church. It begins in a poor third world country, where there had been an epidemic outbreak that kills everyone who comes into contact with the disease. There has yet to be a cure and the disease is spreading quickly and you just heard it has reached the US. SO a huge announcement has been sent out that everyone needs to have their blood checked to see if they have the correct blood to help with the cure. So you and your 3 year old daughter go get checked. You go to the hospital and you go 1st, the doctor comes back with your results and says sorry, your blood isn't the correct kind. Then your daughter has hers checked and the results come back, the doctor is smiling so happily as he tells you the news, your daughters blood is a perfect match!! But, his faced changed to a more serious look as he tells you that in order to have this cure they are going to need all of your daughters blood since she is so small being so young. He hands you a consent form and says they need to know ASAP. You have such a huge decision, the biggest ever in your life. You pray and ask what to do...would you do it? Knowing that your daughter is so innocent and pure, shows you nothing but love, and it is her blood that is needed to save the world. You make the decision, and in return you are promised to have a day of remembrance for her and you for the tremendous sacrifice you had to endure. And when that day comes, the day you were promised to have thanks, you go to the huge auditorium where they are holding the ceremony for you. You have hopes of seeing thousands of people with millions watching through broadcasting around the world. As you enter you break down in sorrow and tears for there are none but a few. For everyone had forgotten or just didn't know, why would they, they were saved and on living life again.
Now isn't that the same for church attendance? Why doesn't everyone strive to go to church and remember what our savior, brother, our redeemer, has done for us? If it were not for Him and our Heavenly Father giving us his only begotten pure and innocent son to die for us, we would not have been saved. Why can't we remember Him and show our thanks and gratitude for what he went through? Its only a couple of hours, just one day a week. My love for my savior, my brother, my redeemer has become more real and stronger than I could have ever imagined I have to continue to endure in my studies and learn the language the best I can. For I have been called to serve, to love, to share the gospel with the people in Mexico. To invite them to come unto Christ, to help them remember what he has done for us, so they can love him and share their thanks and gratitude for him as well, so we can all be saved and return in his presence once more.
Brother Jarom Harlan's name tag, OFFICIAL missionary status!
Jarom and his companion standing outside the Provo Temple.
Moroni and Jarom pointing out on the map where they are serving their missions.
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Sariah has been doing great. We do not hear from her as much. She has having difficulties learning Spanish after receiving no training but was adjusting. Last we heard (Jan 28) she was being sent further up North from her current position so she will no longer be Spanish speaking. Still in Texas. She has already baptized 5 people into the church in her first 5 weeks.
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Moroni is now in Canada. He is on an island. He has only been there a short time and has been spending his time adjusting to his new surroundings. We have only received quick emails from him. We did get to speak to him on the phone for a quick min as he was getting on the airplane to leave to Canada. We could tell from his voice he has grown into a young man. He will do great as a missionary and we can't wait to hear the stories he will be sharing with us.
Moroni showing us where he is serving his mission.
sariah.harlan@myldsmail.net
moroni.harlan@myldsmail.net
