As happy as any man could reasonably be.

6/16/14

Hi. I honestly can't remember what I have talked about and what I haven't talked about anymore. So I'm sorry if this is repetitive. I was reading through my journal the other day and I wrote the exact same story down like three different times and thought it was the first time I had written it every time. Yup. Definitely have lost it. Anyways. This week was good! We were everywhere except our area. That was insane. On Friday I had my last ever visa trip. The last time I will ever grace the exotic country of Latvia. Haha. Our MTC district was reunited and it was the greatest. I love all of them so much and it was crazy to see how much we had changed after a year in Russia. They are all doing so much good, making such a difference here. It's so weird that was probably the last time we will all be together in Russia. I got thinking this week about missions and about how lucky we are to have this time to just do good. I had a district leader once, probably the best missionary I have ever known. At district meeting he read some of the letters from his great-great grandpa who had served a mission in the pacific islands. His name was Obinadi Olsen. And when he served a mission he was married with children. He left them for three years to serve a mission among people he didn't know. Three years. His third Christmas in the field he was reflecting on his mission and on his opportunity to be a missionary on Christmas and he said, "I am as happy as any man could reasonably be." And that has stuck with me my whole mission. Here is this man who is married, has three children, probably a comfortable home and he is saying he is as happy as any man could reasonably be when he is away from all of that? That is the power of missionary work. That is the power of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The last couple of weeks I have been trying to learn more about the Atonement and how that it is not only something we use when we sin, but something that can strengthen us everyday. The Atonement allows us to do things we could not do by ourselves. And I think the more we learn about that, the more we come to accept the Atonement in our lives the more we want to share that knowledge. The more we want others to know of Jesus Christ. It's like Lehi when he partakes of the fruit and then he is just compelled to share it. I have not made it that far yet. But I am trying. And I have felt that happiness, I have been as happy as any man could reasonably be on my mission. I am so grateful for this time. I love you all and hope you have the best of weeks. Love, Sister Harris