Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Solo Hazlo

Hola familia y amigos!


This week...was weird. Evidently the first week of the transfer is always weird/long, which was so true this past week.

So I had a piece of advice given to me by one of the members this week. This member has nicknamed me "La Chicita" (which is unfortunate, but not as unfortunate as La Grandita or La Grandota.) Anyway, we were eating dinner with her, and she told me that I better not grow any taller or I'll never be able to find a boyfriend. Also, a few days later, I was having a conversation with Sister Arnold about one of my nerdy obsessions, and I had one of my "I'm never getting married because I'm so nerdy moments." So between the nerd and the height, I'mma be a loner forever.

Oh my lanta. Guys! Being a missionary is the best! Especially in the CDSM! We get to find out about all sorts of really cool things that the church is doing before they get made public. THERE IS A CHRISTMAS INITIATIVE! :) I am so, so excited for this! #ShareTheGift <-y'all are gonna want to be using that after November 28. After November 28, y'all are also gonna wanna check out this sick website: christmas.mormon.org ! I can't express to you how excited I am! Really! It's going to be so amazing. Get ready!

We learned about the Christmas Initiative in our zone meeting on Saturday. After that, we went into a room that was decorated for Christmas, there were lights everywhere, and pictures of Christ, and a tree, and man. The Spirit in that room was STRONG. We had a testimony meeting in there. And it was powerful.

Oh here's a story for you! Sister Arnold and I have been teaching this one man, and he's really nice really open. Loves talking to us. Well the other day, we went to stop by his house, and he wasn't home. BUT, his wife was home. His wife is a Jehovah's Witness. She's been reading his copy of the Book of Mormon. And she wants us to come teach her, because she wants to learn more. What the?! This is the second Jehovah Witness we've found to teach this week. Crazy things are happening in Denver 1st North. But it's great.

I was reading in the Book of Mormon this morning, in Alma. And I found this one verse (I can't think of where it is right off the top of my head...) that's talking about how it is a privilege to serve the Lord. Serving a mission is by far the greatest privilege I've ever had! It's the hardest, most exhausting thing I've ever done (seriously, the dark circles under my eyes are RIDICULOUS). But it's the happiest I have ever been. I love this opportunity to serve the Lord for 18 months, 18 months of my life completely dedicated to Him. And it is by far the greatest privilege.

I know with every fiber of my being that this Church is The Church of Jesus Christ restored on the Earth today. I know that Joseph Smith was called to be the prophet of the restoration, to translate the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God! I'm so grateful for this opportunity I have to share this message, and to learn more and more every day.
I miss all of you immensely, and I love you even more!

Sister Stoeltzing and I wearing our matching shirts on our last day together. 

Con amor,
Hermana Sherilyn Harper

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

My Face Kinda Hurts...



Ah, friends and family,

It has been another week. Crazy. Also, I've survived an entire transfer! What?! Two of the Elders in my District are being transferred and have been called as Zone Leaders! And one of the Sisters is going home. The good news is: Sister Arnold and I get to stay! And Sister Adair is going to be training, so I won't be the baby anymore. :) 

So, here's the thing. I don't actually remember a lot of what happened this week..again. But I kind of have a legitimate excuse this week. I had a little incident this morning. I was cleaning our bathroom, and I passed out and hit my face and head really hard. So. I basically have a really killer headache and am having a really hard time concentrating today. And basically, that's what happened. That's my excuse and I am sticking to it! But, if y'all wanted to pray for me that I won't be in so much pain that'd be cool. (And I can't believe that I'm saying y'all now. This is all Elder Cabas's fault.) 

Yesterday was a good Sunday though! We are teaching this one lady named Angelica, and guys. She's amazing. I love her so much! So, her husband is a member (evidently not active really) but Angelica and her kids are not members. But they all came to church yesterday! (Which meant that we had FOUR investigators at church!) It was amazing. And Elder Cabas and Elder Bang had two baptisms yesterday, so we went to that as well. Baptisms are ridiculously beautiful. 

Sister Arnold and I have the worst car. It was snowing this week, and we almost got in a wreck the first day. (Wreck = we almost hit a parked car, hahaha.) (Also, I will have all of you know that I was not driving, Sister Arnold was.) Anyway, it's the worst. When we stop driving, the heat stops working. The fans keep blowing air, but it's freezing cold. SO basically, we would die if we got stranded. And our tire pressure keeps going down. It was fine this morning. But we have to keep an eye on it. 

We had this crazy little thing called Sisters Conference this week. Basically, it was two hours of hearing about how awesome we are. Okay, not really. But it was really cheesy. Think cheesy relief society and multiply it by at least 7. It was pretty good though. Lots of good things got said. :) 

My District <3
Also, fun fact: I have read the Book of Mormon 2.5 times this transfer. :) So happy.


Okay, I hope all is well with you wherever you are! I love and miss you all SO MUCH! 

Con amor,

Hermana Sherilyn Harper 

Friday, November 14, 2014

My Name is Hope

Familia y amigos,

This week. Well. It was a great week. But I don't actually remember a lot of what happened...probably because I am obscenely exhausted.


Last Monday, Sister Arnold decorated our apartment for Christmas.. Which, you know, I'm not super excited about, because it's not past Thanksgiving. But such is life. Our apartment is all festive and whatnot. So that's that.

On Tuesday we had Zone Conference, the Zuni Sisters sang and then two random elders sang with us. Everyone said that it sounded good. So that was fun. Zone Conference itself was good. I learned a lot of good stuff. :)


On Wednesday we went to the temple! Because we go the first Wednesday of every month when we're serving in the metro area. So I'm super glad I'm serving here right now so that I can go to the temple. The Denver temple is BEAUTIFUL. I love it so much. Then Sister Arnold and I went to Deseret Book afterwards, which is always fun.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are all really a blur. Missionary life. One night though, we came home and our apartment complex smelled like weed. So that's fun.


Sunday though. Man, Sunday was a good day! We had an investigator come to church! :) Carolina. The sisters here have been teaching her for a bit before I got here, and evidently she was super set in her ways. Didn't want to ever give up her Saints. BUT. We taught her this past week, and she's been reading in the Book of Mormon and she said the closing prayer, and it was such a beautiful prayer. And then she came to church yesterday. :) She's progressing so well, and I am so, so happy! She's so amazing! Also, the Elders in our area handed off one of their investigators to us (because she's a 19 year old girl), but the four of us went to teach her yesterday. Guys. This girl is so solid! She's reading, and praying, and she knows that what we're saying is true. She is GOLDEN. I am so excited to see her progress. I LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT WE TEACH!


Denver, Colorado. What a great place to be.

One thing that I've decided is really important for you all to know is that: I've been speaking in a British accent for a few days now. Sister Arnold and I decided on Friday that we should do companionship inventory in a British accent, because she HATES comp. inventory. So we decided if we did it in a British accent it would be a whole lot less painful for her. So, then somehow we ended up deciding that we would speak in a British accent for a week. And it's been fun.


Also, I'm sure you're wondering about the subject line. And I now inform you that it is really mostly an inside joke between the Zuni District. There's this song called My Name Is Hope, and it's really, really dramatic and funny. So great. But there's this really great piano/violin/flute instrumental in the middle of it. Basically, we all make videos of ourselves playing air instruments to this part. It's really funny, and now I realize that it sounds really dumb. But missionaries have to get creative to keep life interesting, okay?

This is the last week of the transfers! That's crazy. President told us at Zone Conference that he doesn't know what's going to happen to our district. So I'm nervous. Because this district is so great. I love it so much. But all shall be well. Zuni District will always be great.

I hope everyone is having a great week, continues to have a great week, and is so happy! Also reading their scriptures all the time. :) The Book of Mormon is the best.

I love and miss all of you obscene amounts!

Con amor,
Hermana Sherilyn Harper

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Grandita

Mis queridos familia y amigos,
Espero que todo esta bien con ustedes. :)
All is so great in Colorado. I say every week how much I love it here, but man...I really love it here. So much. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now! (I would like for all of my CCM friends to be here with me...but they're all off doing work, and I'm ridiculously proud of all of them.)
I hope everyone had an excellent Halloween! We didn't teach a single lesson on Halloween. But all is well! We had a nice ward party. Ward Parties with the Hispanics are crazy. Basically, there is no time limit with them. But it was a lot of fun. The Zuni District had a booth called Donut on a String. And basically, we just tie a donut on a string, stand on a chair, and make the little kids try to eat the donut without their hands. It's pretty funny to watch. And everyone loves donuts.
Oh! I went on exchanges this week. I stayed in the Spanish speaking area, and Sister Hancock, who speaks no Spanish at all, came to be with me. Basically, it was the longest and most stressful day of my life. I sprained my ankle the day before, so that was fun. Basically, we did two hours of service, and then we did a lot of tracting. And I got to practice my Spanish. A lot. And it was hard. But I felt so much more comfortable and confident. And I still am not good at Spanish. But I know that the gift of tongues is real, and that is the only reason I was able to do so well on that day. I'm really thankful that I had that opportunity!
I feel like since I mentioned the sprained ankle, I owe some sort of explanation. Basically...I don't know how to walk. And I fell off the sidewalk and rolled my ankle. Sister Arnold thought it was hilarious. (She was also concerned about me, and helped me out..and we got ice for it, and all was fine.)
I had so much that I was going to say in this email and I can't remember what any of it was. So I'm really sorry, bear with my scattered thoughts.
I got invited to a wedding this week! My lovely investigator Lucero is getting married, and she wants Sister Arnold and I to be there. Basically, S. Arnold and I are beyond ecstatic, because 1) she's getting MARRIED and we didn't tell her anything about getting married and 2) we get to go to a wedding! So much happy.

I'm getting really sick of how dang tall I am. It's a problem. Because all of the hispanics are these short little people. And everyone without fail, tells me how tall I am. Sister Arnold has informed me that my new nickname is Grandita, because I get called that. A lot. Being tall. Is. A. Problem. And everyone always says, "Oh, I wish I was taller!" Well, you know what? You probably don't wish that actually, because everyone just makes you feel like a freak. End of rant.
The sisters in my district get to sing at Zone Conference on Tuesday. And because it's November, we're singing a Christmas song... (Sister Arnold REALLY loves Christmas music.) So, I think that'll be pretty funny. Also, I have to sing at Sister's Conference next week I think? I am that missionary who sings at everything, I guess. I'm really grateful for the opportunity I have to share my talents. :)
Okay, one last thing. I want to tell you all about my Saturday! Sister Arnold and I taught a lesson every single hour! We had two appointments fall through, but we found other people to teach instead. It was so beautiful! And it was really just one great lesson after another great lesson. It was really so amazing.

I love being a missionary so much! I'm so blessed to have this opportunity to share this amazing message. The Book of Mormon is the most beautiful, and most true book. It has changed my life, and I love watching how it is changing the lives of others.
I hope all is well with all of you. Never forget how much I love you, and how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you. You're never alone!
Con mucho, mucho amor!
Hermana Sherilyn Harper