Family :)
I am really excited to write today because of the beautiful experience that we were able to have today. It is actually the 28th of February. I have been quite busy this week until now so I have been unable to write. I'm glad that ti get to include in this letter the experience of Tevita's and Hola's baptism!
Their father's hear has been softened after many fasts and prayers on be half of him self and his sons. The twins were excited and looking forward to their baptism so it was a true blessing to them that their father was understanding of their desire to follow Christ. Remember that their dad used to be a member but is less active now due to things that occurred in the past. He still has his testimony of the gospel. He just lets some of his bad habits take priority. The blessings of the gospel and the promises from the prophets and apostles are incredible. They tell us that if we live and stay true to the gospel that we will receive all the blessings Heavenly Father has in store for us. I know this is why these twins needed the gospel so much in their lives. There will be a day when they together with their family will receive the blessings of the Father -- together. They have set the example and will make the difference. I'm excited about their fellow-shippers and how active the ward has been in helping them feel comfortable at church and all!
Their baptism service was beautify. They didn't have many clothes of their own, so one of their fellow-shippers grandma sewed them some skirts and polo t-shirts to wear to their baptism. They looked great! They were happy as they listened to their primary president teach them about the importance of baptism. The, afterwards, I had the opportunity to take them into the font and do the ordinance. It was beautiful! We had our ward mission leader give a short lesson about the Holy Ghost and had our bishop give closing remarks. It was beautiful! Wish you all could have seen it. It is crazy how so many people that have affected my life forever ... you will never have the opportunity to meet! Sometimes I wish I wasn't in Tonga on some little island so that you could meet all the people from my mission more easily!! It's alright. Maybe when I get home and tell you about everyone, you will be ablle to feel the love and impact they made on me!!
3/1/15
Crazy how time is flying!. It is already March. You will probably receive this in April or at least the end of March. We are nearing the close, but I want you to know how much I appreciate each one of you in my life and how much love you have rendered in my behalf and the sacrifices you have made for me. I am eternally grateful you all have been such a huge part of my mission!
The Savior lives. He loves every single one of us individually. He will always have his hand out stretched. We have a prophet and apostles to help guide us in these last days. We have the word of God translated by Joseph Smith who restored the gospel of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost and the power of God! I'm so happy to have this opportunity to share this message!
Kihi Kakai Katoupe!!
Love
Your Son/Brother
Blake Daniel Harmon
Our Family is ∞
Monday, February 23, 2015
Sunday, February 22, 2015
E-mail (Dated: 2/22/15)
Hey Everyone,
So glad to be able to say I feel so much better and have been able to engage in this beautiful work this week. I know I told you this past week that we anticipated on seeing two of our investigators enter the waters of baptism, but the adversary has been working very hard on the hearts of their parents. We have not given up, just some set backs....but nothing prayer and acts of faith can't fix. We are focusing on the positive and helping them continue to keep commitments and follow the footsteps of the Savior.
We have seen some awesome changes in our ward this week. We have gotten them very involved in the "inviting" processes. It has been fun to role play with them and see them have an increased desire to invite their neighbors and friends to listen to this beautiful message. We had lots of them get some of their friends to even to come to church, it was quite fun!!!!!
Me and Elder Bunting have actually been involving a lot of our efforts in the lives of less active members of the Koulo ward and some families in the Fangale'ounga branch. Success has been slow which is hard, especially as we continue to visit and teach these people and then right when you think you are helping them, they don't come to church or their commitment they made was broken. However, I have realized that there is no waste of time in this gospel when it comes to efforts of righteousness and seeking to do good in God's kingdom. Sometimes we do not see the fruits of our labors, but I know that God knows our efforts and knows our hearts.
After going to one of our less active families on and off for about a month, we hadn't felt like we have had much success. Then, just the other day they showed up to our house with a dog that they had killed for us to eat. It was awesome . . .because it truly helped us feel the impact of love that they have been able to feel from us. They expressed thanks for our efforts on their behalf. Afterwards we talked to our bishop and and he was so surprised that we have been able to teach and talk with this family the last few weeks. He said missionaries always get turned away when they have made attempts in the past. It was an awesome testimony builder that God softens and prepares the hearts of his people - even the less active!!!!
Things are well. I love you all so much!!!! Know I am thinking about you and praying for you everyday!
Love You!!!
MOM 'DUDE'
Brooklin SYST
So glad to be able to say I feel so much better and have been able to engage in this beautiful work this week. I know I told you this past week that we anticipated on seeing two of our investigators enter the waters of baptism, but the adversary has been working very hard on the hearts of their parents. We have not given up, just some set backs....but nothing prayer and acts of faith can't fix. We are focusing on the positive and helping them continue to keep commitments and follow the footsteps of the Savior.
We have seen some awesome changes in our ward this week. We have gotten them very involved in the "inviting" processes. It has been fun to role play with them and see them have an increased desire to invite their neighbors and friends to listen to this beautiful message. We had lots of them get some of their friends to even to come to church, it was quite fun!!!!!
Me and Elder Bunting have actually been involving a lot of our efforts in the lives of less active members of the Koulo ward and some families in the Fangale'ounga branch. Success has been slow which is hard, especially as we continue to visit and teach these people and then right when you think you are helping them, they don't come to church or their commitment they made was broken. However, I have realized that there is no waste of time in this gospel when it comes to efforts of righteousness and seeking to do good in God's kingdom. Sometimes we do not see the fruits of our labors, but I know that God knows our efforts and knows our hearts.
After going to one of our less active families on and off for about a month, we hadn't felt like we have had much success. Then, just the other day they showed up to our house with a dog that they had killed for us to eat. It was awesome . . .because it truly helped us feel the impact of love that they have been able to feel from us. They expressed thanks for our efforts on their behalf. Afterwards we talked to our bishop and and he was so surprised that we have been able to teach and talk with this family the last few weeks. He said missionaries always get turned away when they have made attempts in the past. It was an awesome testimony builder that God softens and prepares the hearts of his people - even the less active!!!!
Things are well. I love you all so much!!!! Know I am thinking about you and praying for you everyday!
Love You!!!
MOM 'DUDE'
Brooklin SYST
Monday, February 16, 2015
Hand Written Letter (Dated: 2/16/15) [#74 from Tonga]
Family!
What joy it brings me to be able to write to you today:) I have good news that my sickness has started to feel lots better! After e-mailing you on Feb 16, my companion took me to the hospital where they took my temperature and I was on ibuprofen at the time and my fever was 102. I was on fire. They told me that I needed to stay for the afternoon so they could take my temperature and wait for the doctor to come and take my blood. I had the couple missionaries, Elder and Sister Delong, invite me to go sleep in their extra bedroom at the mission quarter because they have air conditioning in their home. So, we stayed there for a little over 30 hours while I let my fever drop back down. I feel quite a bit better now. I would not say 100% but I am able to walk and do the work which I was called to do!!!
On Tuesday or Wednesday, the boat came and I received the birthday package from you all. It was very heart warming! Everything touched my heart. The book by Elder Holland is awesome! I loved loved loved the letters! The birthday cake and candles are awesome. We are going to save them for the 2nd of March (Bunting's Birthday!!) Thank you so much for all the big and little thoughts that you put into it. I thought it was great! It was also kinda fun. I received a bunch of letters from Mom and Dad. Some were from August, haha. 8 months ago! I was laughing very hard! It's cool to know that my parents have taken the time to write me weekly. It gives me a very strong sense of pride in my heart! I have a very deep appreciation and love for the dedication you all have made towards me in this time of my life!
I can not express how much strength you all have given me to do my best and to push through every trial that I am faced with. This week has been difficult for me while battling sickness. I though to myself, "Why am I going through these trial? Why is Heavenly Father allowing one of His faithful, obedient servants to suffer so much?" I soon found the answer while reading through my patriarchal blessing. It is short and simple. Heavenly Father needs me to understand fully the power of prayer. I was humbled. Heavenly Father knows me perfectly! I have been so incredibly amazed on my mission to see how he knows perfectly how I need to be shaped and become better. Something I struggle with once in a while is relying on my own strength. But, I don't need to do that. My Savior has already paid the price for all of us. Sometimes I am focused on the sins that Christ paid for us in Gethsemane and I forget that he also felt our sorrows, weaknesses, trials, disappointments, sickness, etc. The atonement covers so much more!
As I have learned how to rely more on prayer and communication with my Heavenly Father this week, I see why my patriarchal blessing focuses so much on understanding the power of prayer, because through it, we shall know all things which are important to us and through revelation we shall know what is important to our Heavenly Father and want is expected of us and through it all, we shall come to know more fully the atonement and our Savior.
I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that His arms are stretched out to all that seek Him and they close to none...even those that turn away from Him. His hand is stretched out still.
Your Brother & Son
Blake Daniel Harmon
Mom "Dude"
Love You
Ofa Atu
What joy it brings me to be able to write to you today:) I have good news that my sickness has started to feel lots better! After e-mailing you on Feb 16, my companion took me to the hospital where they took my temperature and I was on ibuprofen at the time and my fever was 102. I was on fire. They told me that I needed to stay for the afternoon so they could take my temperature and wait for the doctor to come and take my blood. I had the couple missionaries, Elder and Sister Delong, invite me to go sleep in their extra bedroom at the mission quarter because they have air conditioning in their home. So, we stayed there for a little over 30 hours while I let my fever drop back down. I feel quite a bit better now. I would not say 100% but I am able to walk and do the work which I was called to do!!!
On Tuesday or Wednesday, the boat came and I received the birthday package from you all. It was very heart warming! Everything touched my heart. The book by Elder Holland is awesome! I loved loved loved the letters! The birthday cake and candles are awesome. We are going to save them for the 2nd of March (Bunting's Birthday!!) Thank you so much for all the big and little thoughts that you put into it. I thought it was great! It was also kinda fun. I received a bunch of letters from Mom and Dad. Some were from August, haha. 8 months ago! I was laughing very hard! It's cool to know that my parents have taken the time to write me weekly. It gives me a very strong sense of pride in my heart! I have a very deep appreciation and love for the dedication you all have made towards me in this time of my life!
I can not express how much strength you all have given me to do my best and to push through every trial that I am faced with. This week has been difficult for me while battling sickness. I though to myself, "Why am I going through these trial? Why is Heavenly Father allowing one of His faithful, obedient servants to suffer so much?" I soon found the answer while reading through my patriarchal blessing. It is short and simple. Heavenly Father needs me to understand fully the power of prayer. I was humbled. Heavenly Father knows me perfectly! I have been so incredibly amazed on my mission to see how he knows perfectly how I need to be shaped and become better. Something I struggle with once in a while is relying on my own strength. But, I don't need to do that. My Savior has already paid the price for all of us. Sometimes I am focused on the sins that Christ paid for us in Gethsemane and I forget that he also felt our sorrows, weaknesses, trials, disappointments, sickness, etc. The atonement covers so much more!
As I have learned how to rely more on prayer and communication with my Heavenly Father this week, I see why my patriarchal blessing focuses so much on understanding the power of prayer, because through it, we shall know all things which are important to us and through revelation we shall know what is important to our Heavenly Father and want is expected of us and through it all, we shall come to know more fully the atonement and our Savior.
I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that His arms are stretched out to all that seek Him and they close to none...even those that turn away from Him. His hand is stretched out still.
Your Brother & Son
Blake Daniel Harmon
Mom "Dude"
Love You
Ofa Atu
Sunday, February 15, 2015
E-mail (Dated: 2/15/2015)
Hey loved ones,
There's no trial too tough, and in no trial are we ever alone. My week has been filled with some pretty amazing experiences and some pretty tough things physically and mentally.
I have had a lot of time to write you letters about it all, but I would like to give you a little update, and I hope that the letters you get are not to big of a repeat.
This week we have been able to teach the twins we have been working on for quite some time!!!! We have their baptismal date set for the end of this week. They have a pretty sad background. I described it in detail in a letter I sent home. We have some pretty high hopes for this family of theirs.
On my birthday we decided that we wanted to go out to a lot of the part member families and the less actives. Thing is with less actives in Tonga is that they probably don't know one thing about the church. They were just baptized along the way some how and ended up in the records. It is a good way to bring up conversations with a family. So, we were able to go to a family that is actually in the Church of Tonga. Once upon a time the father of the house was baptized. We found out at the age of 20 he decided to go to another church!!!! Crazy how he doesn't remember any of the doctrine from the church. Well while we were about to leave they told us how their daughter was possessed with the devil or evil spirits...... I don't really know how to say that in English. Well, they asked us to go home and pray for her, but me and my companion felt inspired by the Holy Ghost to tell them about the priesthood and how it has been restored to the earth and that we could bless their daughter with the authority given to us by Jesus Christ and we can cast those spirits out of her. We were then able to bless this girl and after the blessing she came back to herself and her personality and emotion came back to her body with tears in her eyes she told us Thank You. I know that Heavenly Father has work for us to do and we need to be ready when we are called upon.
So on another note, around 7 o'clock on February 14th I was driving and I felt my body over come with the chills and a fever quickly came upon my body. For the past 3 days I have been laying in bed. Our nurse told me that from working out in the sun all day Saturday re-triggered my fever. Man, it has been really rough. It is also 95 degrees here and 90 percent humidity. Our house is very humid with no air flow. Trying to get rid of a fever in that weather is hard hahahaha...... It's crazy that I have lost 15 pounds in the last couple weeks. I was hoping to come home around 210-215 but guess that isn't going to happen hahaha.....
Anyway, things are good. My sickness is feeling a little better today I have been out and about. I hope it continues to get better. It has just been rough the last few days....
So, on another note, I was just talking with Elder Bunting how its been 3 years since I rolled the truck on the 19th of February. Then, just today, I was backing up on a hill and I didn't see a car coming behind me. The other car didn't have a horn to warn me and it was in my blind spot since i was on a hill. I was going about 5 mph, but the car behind me was going about 20 and we smacked together. It took off my whole bumper and busted the frame and lights. Most likely totaled the car....... my weekend has been really rough.....I am really hoping that next week will have more ups than downs. I just feel like the adversary is working really hard on this little guy...
Good thing, President Tupou was really chill with it all. He just had me sign a little form, and they are just going to send us a new car next week, I just feel supper bad....but hey, things can only go up from here eh!!!!!!
I love you all, please don't worry. I don't tell you these things so you will worry. I tell you because I promised that I would tell you everything. The Lord is on our side..... trials make us stronger people!!!!
Love You All
Elder Harmon
Mom Dude
Brooklin Syst
There's no trial too tough, and in no trial are we ever alone. My week has been filled with some pretty amazing experiences and some pretty tough things physically and mentally.
I have had a lot of time to write you letters about it all, but I would like to give you a little update, and I hope that the letters you get are not to big of a repeat.
This week we have been able to teach the twins we have been working on for quite some time!!!! We have their baptismal date set for the end of this week. They have a pretty sad background. I described it in detail in a letter I sent home. We have some pretty high hopes for this family of theirs.
On my birthday we decided that we wanted to go out to a lot of the part member families and the less actives. Thing is with less actives in Tonga is that they probably don't know one thing about the church. They were just baptized along the way some how and ended up in the records. It is a good way to bring up conversations with a family. So, we were able to go to a family that is actually in the Church of Tonga. Once upon a time the father of the house was baptized. We found out at the age of 20 he decided to go to another church!!!! Crazy how he doesn't remember any of the doctrine from the church. Well while we were about to leave they told us how their daughter was possessed with the devil or evil spirits...... I don't really know how to say that in English. Well, they asked us to go home and pray for her, but me and my companion felt inspired by the Holy Ghost to tell them about the priesthood and how it has been restored to the earth and that we could bless their daughter with the authority given to us by Jesus Christ and we can cast those spirits out of her. We were then able to bless this girl and after the blessing she came back to herself and her personality and emotion came back to her body with tears in her eyes she told us Thank You. I know that Heavenly Father has work for us to do and we need to be ready when we are called upon.
So on another note, around 7 o'clock on February 14th I was driving and I felt my body over come with the chills and a fever quickly came upon my body. For the past 3 days I have been laying in bed. Our nurse told me that from working out in the sun all day Saturday re-triggered my fever. Man, it has been really rough. It is also 95 degrees here and 90 percent humidity. Our house is very humid with no air flow. Trying to get rid of a fever in that weather is hard hahahaha...... It's crazy that I have lost 15 pounds in the last couple weeks. I was hoping to come home around 210-215 but guess that isn't going to happen hahaha.....
Anyway, things are good. My sickness is feeling a little better today I have been out and about. I hope it continues to get better. It has just been rough the last few days....
So, on another note, I was just talking with Elder Bunting how its been 3 years since I rolled the truck on the 19th of February. Then, just today, I was backing up on a hill and I didn't see a car coming behind me. The other car didn't have a horn to warn me and it was in my blind spot since i was on a hill. I was going about 5 mph, but the car behind me was going about 20 and we smacked together. It took off my whole bumper and busted the frame and lights. Most likely totaled the car....... my weekend has been really rough.....I am really hoping that next week will have more ups than downs. I just feel like the adversary is working really hard on this little guy...
Good thing, President Tupou was really chill with it all. He just had me sign a little form, and they are just going to send us a new car next week, I just feel supper bad....but hey, things can only go up from here eh!!!!!!
I love you all, please don't worry. I don't tell you these things so you will worry. I tell you because I promised that I would tell you everything. The Lord is on our side..... trials make us stronger people!!!!
Love You All
Elder Harmon
Mom Dude
Brooklin Syst
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| Blake's Neighbors Made Him a Birthday Cake |
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Picture Post 2/10/2015
We just saw that Blake was tagged on a picture from the Tongan HEFY group that went to Tonga this past summer. Pretty cool!
Monday, February 9, 2015
Hand Written Letter (Dated: 2/9/2015) [#73 from Tonga]
Family,
So much to tell :) What a week full of miracles and blessings! So, to start off, we have begun to teach these two twins. Their names are Terita and Hola. They have a pretty sad background. They live in a little shack. They honestly wear the same clothes every single day. Their mom is in New Zealand and their dad is always gone...drinking Kava in Tonga. It's so hard to show up at their house and see their sad situation. We have been trying to figure out how to help these kids. We recently found out that their dad was a really strong member once upon a time. I guess he actually grew up in the church. WE recently have been working with him and we started teaching his two boys. We have a baptism date for them and their dad is planning to attend the baptism. We are hoping that it will help him remember the covenants that he made at baptism and that he is able to feel the spirit touch him and remember the blessing he received from the church. We re excited for this coming week. WE are excited to see the members be involved in helping us!
Yesterday, we had and experience that I will never forget. We were at a less active member's house. Actually, he had joined another church when he was 20 years old. Now he is in his late 40's. But, we have been going there every once in a while and sharing messages with their family. It has been really cool....This last time, while were there, they think that she might be possessed with evil spirits. In Tongan, they told us that the devil has control over her. So, they asked if we could pray for her. We mentioned to them that we could give her a blessing and cast ou those spirits. We told them that it ws the same way that Jesus gave a blessing and that it is the same power/priesthood. They were very excited and actually insisted on us blessing their daughter. We walked into the room and we could feel something was not right with their daughter. I was almost like she was not herself. I don't know here, but it was like someone took away her personality and any emotion.
After the blessing, tears were streaming down her face. I was like she came back. Definitely an intense experience and a huge testimony builder that God's authority is still on the earth today and we are able to be tools in his hands!
I'm so grateful to be worthy to have the priesthood to do what Christ would do if he were on the earth. So grateful for this incredible opportunity!
- Your Brother & Son
Elder Blake Daniel Harmon
We are Eternal!
So much to tell :) What a week full of miracles and blessings! So, to start off, we have begun to teach these two twins. Their names are Terita and Hola. They have a pretty sad background. They live in a little shack. They honestly wear the same clothes every single day. Their mom is in New Zealand and their dad is always gone...drinking Kava in Tonga. It's so hard to show up at their house and see their sad situation. We have been trying to figure out how to help these kids. We recently found out that their dad was a really strong member once upon a time. I guess he actually grew up in the church. WE recently have been working with him and we started teaching his two boys. We have a baptism date for them and their dad is planning to attend the baptism. We are hoping that it will help him remember the covenants that he made at baptism and that he is able to feel the spirit touch him and remember the blessing he received from the church. We re excited for this coming week. WE are excited to see the members be involved in helping us!
Yesterday, we had and experience that I will never forget. We were at a less active member's house. Actually, he had joined another church when he was 20 years old. Now he is in his late 40's. But, we have been going there every once in a while and sharing messages with their family. It has been really cool....This last time, while were there, they think that she might be possessed with evil spirits. In Tongan, they told us that the devil has control over her. So, they asked if we could pray for her. We mentioned to them that we could give her a blessing and cast ou those spirits. We told them that it ws the same way that Jesus gave a blessing and that it is the same power/priesthood. They were very excited and actually insisted on us blessing their daughter. We walked into the room and we could feel something was not right with their daughter. I was almost like she was not herself. I don't know here, but it was like someone took away her personality and any emotion.
After the blessing, tears were streaming down her face. I was like she came back. Definitely an intense experience and a huge testimony builder that God's authority is still on the earth today and we are able to be tools in his hands!
I'm so grateful to be worthy to have the priesthood to do what Christ would do if he were on the earth. So grateful for this incredible opportunity!
- Your Brother & Son
Elder Blake Daniel Harmon
We are Eternal!
Sunday, February 8, 2015
E-mail (Dated: 2/8/2015)
Part One
Hey family I just jumped online, sorry it took me so long, this was our only available time for the computers.... but I have over 32 heart felt emails from so many loved ones that have been keeping me in their prayers and fasting, and I know that you have been the source of letting people know I needed prayers in my behalf. I am so grateful!
I don't don't have time to respond to everyone that wrote me, but I love them and I am grateful to them. I would love it if you could tell them THANK YOU for me, and let them know that I am doing a lot better. I am not have not having many problems with my fever and my mission president is also well now..... I did go to the hospital/clinic for the for the night to have my blood tested and they found that my blood was not infected so that was good. This means that I did not need to have a blood transfusion. I have felt all the prayers and fasting and the Lord has blessed me.... Please let everyone know how grateful I am!!!
Your Son/Brother
Elder Harmon
Part Two
Hey Family how are you all??? Well things seem to be going pretty good for me and my companion out here in Ha'apai. This week we had an incredible meeting in Tonga (MLC) we were able to have some awesome opportunities to learn and to grow! The first half of the meeting we were able to have the opportunity of watch the new movie " MEET THE MORMONS"! What a life changing movie! The whole time I watched it, the only thing I could think about is how blessed we are to have been given so much. The gospel is such a blessing in everyone's lives. If the people would only let it inside......
I have been given so much in my life, I have been given a new view these last couple years and continually as the days go by. I know that we all have so much potential in the church to do so much good. We all have the opportunity to magnify our calling!!!!!!
OK, so the computer just said its shutting down in 5 minutes. I didn't know it had a timer on it???? Hahaha, just going to send this just in case! Hahaha, if it doesn't die I will keep typing in another email.
Just know all is good and we are beginning to see success in our area and are hopeful to see some amazing people walk into the waters of baptism these next few weeks!! Heavenly Father's timing is everything!!!!
Love you all!!!!
Part Three
OK, sorry there was a pause and then a play kinda moment...the computer died, but then it did just start right back up for me.
So, once we got back to Ha'apai, we have been able to see a lot of missionary work momentum in our wards. We have had some very successful family plans with people in our ward and they have been planning to work towards some of their own family members...cousins and such.
On Sunday me and my companion had the opportunity to give talks. The original topic of course is missionary work, but I wanted to get more depth with the members on thinking about what missionary work really is and why it is just important to them as it is to me....
So, I started to think about the reason I came on a mission. Going back to primary answers. I wanted everyone to have the same blessings that I have in the gospel, #1 being sealed to my family for eternity.....I thought about how many people here in Tonga are the only members in their families, There are so many part member families, and I talked about how we need to all start with the people in our own homes first. The prophet said the most important missionary work we will do is in the walls of our own home! Then I tied it into the temple in family history work. It was cool because we have been able to see lots of results lately from families working with family members... I am praying that after this week I will be able to tell you some incredible stories about these two twins we are going to begin teaching tonight!!!!! I love you all tons! You are all in my prayers!!!
Elder Harmon
mom dude
Brooklin SYST
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| Blake's Missionary Quarters on Koulo |
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| Hihifo |
Monday, February 2, 2015
Hand Written Letter (Dated: 2/2/2015) [#72 from Tonga]
Family,
We have had a pretty busy week. This Monday we went to Tongatapu (main island) so we could go to the MLC Conference. Thank goodness the plane was good this time! No problems! The first night I was still feeling very sick so the nurse took me to the doctor and the took my blood and they tested it for the Dengue Fever. the next day they called and said my blood is clear, but to just treat the fever. By Thursday I felt pretty good like it had mostly left my body. I want to say thank you for all the prayers and fasting and for putting my name in the temple. They truly helped me so much! I'm sorry if I worried you guys to death.
The meeting went really well. We got to see the move "Meet the Mormons!" I thought I was going to have to wait to get home to see it, but President Tupou wanted to show it to us for motivation. I am so proud to be part of God's kingdom and to have grown up with these amazing blessings!
The people in the movie inspired me to always want to magnify my calling. We as members of the church have such an opportunity given to us to make a difference. We do make a difference!
While this week has been good, it has also been quite difficult. Many of our appointments fell through and things seemed to simply not be working out. It will pay off though. Hard work always does. Whether it is now or later, we will see the blessings of our labors.
We have been working towards some families in our area on inviting some of their family members to be taught. Just yesterday, the fellow-shipper came to us and said that his cousin has said "yes" to having us come and teach them! So, tomorrow we have some good teachings setup!
We have baptismal dates that continue to get delayed. It has been the most frustrating thing. We are trying to get support from the investigator's family but the biggest problem is that we don't have any support from the ward itself!! We will make it...just takes fasting and lots of prayers.
My zone has actually been difficult since Swan, Freer and Berry left. The missionaries that switched them out are making things very difficult. We continually have to enforce rules. Trying to do everything with love has been my goal. I'm getting better everyday but still not perfect.
By the time you get this I will have spent 8 months in the Ha'apai islands. What a life changing experience it has been. I'm grateful for the call!
Your Brother/Son
Blake Daniel Harmon
Ofa Atu
We have had a pretty busy week. This Monday we went to Tongatapu (main island) so we could go to the MLC Conference. Thank goodness the plane was good this time! No problems! The first night I was still feeling very sick so the nurse took me to the doctor and the took my blood and they tested it for the Dengue Fever. the next day they called and said my blood is clear, but to just treat the fever. By Thursday I felt pretty good like it had mostly left my body. I want to say thank you for all the prayers and fasting and for putting my name in the temple. They truly helped me so much! I'm sorry if I worried you guys to death.
The meeting went really well. We got to see the move "Meet the Mormons!" I thought I was going to have to wait to get home to see it, but President Tupou wanted to show it to us for motivation. I am so proud to be part of God's kingdom and to have grown up with these amazing blessings!
The people in the movie inspired me to always want to magnify my calling. We as members of the church have such an opportunity given to us to make a difference. We do make a difference!
While this week has been good, it has also been quite difficult. Many of our appointments fell through and things seemed to simply not be working out. It will pay off though. Hard work always does. Whether it is now or later, we will see the blessings of our labors.
We have been working towards some families in our area on inviting some of their family members to be taught. Just yesterday, the fellow-shipper came to us and said that his cousin has said "yes" to having us come and teach them! So, tomorrow we have some good teachings setup!
We have baptismal dates that continue to get delayed. It has been the most frustrating thing. We are trying to get support from the investigator's family but the biggest problem is that we don't have any support from the ward itself!! We will make it...just takes fasting and lots of prayers.
My zone has actually been difficult since Swan, Freer and Berry left. The missionaries that switched them out are making things very difficult. We continually have to enforce rules. Trying to do everything with love has been my goal. I'm getting better everyday but still not perfect.
By the time you get this I will have spent 8 months in the Ha'apai islands. What a life changing experience it has been. I'm grateful for the call!
Your Brother/Son
Blake Daniel Harmon
Ofa Atu
Sunday, February 1, 2015
E-mail (Dated: 2/1/2015)
HEY MOM AND DAD!!!
I know that you might be in bed, but i was just letting you know that I am in Tongatapu right now, ( main island). I have a MLC meeting tomorrow.
I don't have a lot of time. I just wanted to tell you both I'm so grateful for your emails and your concerns, complements, updates and your heart along side with mine. It makes Mondays the best day ever to read loving comforting things from my parents. I have felt so much love today on email. I know the Lord is watching out and knows us and our breaking points.
So, I received a lot of love today. I had you both write me today. I had Megan Hoyt, Brooklin, Blake Hansen, Ryan Parry, SHAYDEN LUKER, Brian lunt. and every single e-mail was filled with love and concern for me and how much I mean to them in their lives.... this meant a lot to me!!!
This week has been very hard for me. I have the Dengue Fever which is a sickness from mosquitoes and it is very miserable. It has kept me bed ridden for this entire week. I also cannot sleep because of the nonstop pain in my legs. It has been a little better the last few days. But, I am going to the hospital this week and we will see is there is something they can help me with...
Please don't worry though....I'm going to be just fine. We all just have our trials and this has to be one of mine..... President Tupou also has the sickness... hahaha so I guess its just going around the islands.....
Know I love you!!!! I'm happy and things are well... Its a bummer to lose Swan to a transfer, but 5 months is a short time to be separated.....
We have a solid missionary replacing him, it should be very good!
Mom, 'DUDE"
P.S. - Mom I know you love me, but don't call the main office about my sickness. They are already on top of everything:) mwauh
I know that you might be in bed, but i was just letting you know that I am in Tongatapu right now, ( main island). I have a MLC meeting tomorrow.
I don't have a lot of time. I just wanted to tell you both I'm so grateful for your emails and your concerns, complements, updates and your heart along side with mine. It makes Mondays the best day ever to read loving comforting things from my parents. I have felt so much love today on email. I know the Lord is watching out and knows us and our breaking points.
So, I received a lot of love today. I had you both write me today. I had Megan Hoyt, Brooklin, Blake Hansen, Ryan Parry, SHAYDEN LUKER, Brian lunt. and every single e-mail was filled with love and concern for me and how much I mean to them in their lives.... this meant a lot to me!!!
This week has been very hard for me. I have the Dengue Fever which is a sickness from mosquitoes and it is very miserable. It has kept me bed ridden for this entire week. I also cannot sleep because of the nonstop pain in my legs. It has been a little better the last few days. But, I am going to the hospital this week and we will see is there is something they can help me with...
Please don't worry though....I'm going to be just fine. We all just have our trials and this has to be one of mine..... President Tupou also has the sickness... hahaha so I guess its just going around the islands.....
Know I love you!!!! I'm happy and things are well... Its a bummer to lose Swan to a transfer, but 5 months is a short time to be separated.....
We have a solid missionary replacing him, it should be very good!
Mom, 'DUDE"
P.S. - Mom I know you love me, but don't call the main office about my sickness. They are already on top of everything:) mwauh
Monday, January 26, 2015
Hand Written Letter (Dated: 1/26/15) [#71 from Tonga]
Family,
Hey my beautiful loved ones. It's a very joyful day for me to be able to write to you and update you on my life here in Tonga (Ha'apai). This week has been a very up and down week for us, but I would love to give you some of the "UPs" we were able to experience.
We just barely started to teach a new family. This family has a daughter that is preparing to serve in Boise, ID. She is the only member in her family. She has little or no support. It's also crazy that here family has no clue what the gospel is all about. They have never talked about it before so it was an awesome experience to be able to have the daughter (missionary) and here sister and her aunt and her mother and uncle join the lesson! I could see that the missionary was nervous for us to teach her family and if you think about it, she put a lot of trust in us to go forth and teach them. We had an awesome lesson with them. It was powerful to have their daughter there to bear witness as well.
Elder Bunting and I brought up the point that reassured this family. We stated that we would not be in Tonga if this message were not true and we also stated that their daughter would not be leaving them to preach in another country if she did not have the same conviction. We then wrapped up our lesson by talking about prayer and the Book of Mormon. We told them that just like their daughter had prayed to know if this church is true, and just like we had done, we promised them that they can do the same thing and that God will give them an answer! It was amazing to see their hope and anxious desire in our words. We will be teaching them this coming week. It has been fun to see members get involved in the work. We are planning on teaching three new investigators that have been invited by our members. I really enjoy my ward in Koulo. It is just very tough though.
Well, time is short. I love you all so much! I will write to you next week!
Your Brother and Son
Elder Blake Daniel Harmon
Mom "Dude"
Hey my beautiful loved ones. It's a very joyful day for me to be able to write to you and update you on my life here in Tonga (Ha'apai). This week has been a very up and down week for us, but I would love to give you some of the "UPs" we were able to experience.
We just barely started to teach a new family. This family has a daughter that is preparing to serve in Boise, ID. She is the only member in her family. She has little or no support. It's also crazy that here family has no clue what the gospel is all about. They have never talked about it before so it was an awesome experience to be able to have the daughter (missionary) and here sister and her aunt and her mother and uncle join the lesson! I could see that the missionary was nervous for us to teach her family and if you think about it, she put a lot of trust in us to go forth and teach them. We had an awesome lesson with them. It was powerful to have their daughter there to bear witness as well.
Elder Bunting and I brought up the point that reassured this family. We stated that we would not be in Tonga if this message were not true and we also stated that their daughter would not be leaving them to preach in another country if she did not have the same conviction. We then wrapped up our lesson by talking about prayer and the Book of Mormon. We told them that just like their daughter had prayed to know if this church is true, and just like we had done, we promised them that they can do the same thing and that God will give them an answer! It was amazing to see their hope and anxious desire in our words. We will be teaching them this coming week. It has been fun to see members get involved in the work. We are planning on teaching three new investigators that have been invited by our members. I really enjoy my ward in Koulo. It is just very tough though.
Well, time is short. I love you all so much! I will write to you next week!
Your Brother and Son
Elder Blake Daniel Harmon
Mom "Dude"
Sunday, January 25, 2015
E-mail (Dated: 1/25/2015)
Na'e to mahaki 'i homau feitu'u
Family and Friends,
This has been a very full week for Elder Bunting and I. Personally, I have been able to learn a lot and to gain much trust in the Lord. Sometimes, being a zone leader get really busy, really fast!!!! Sometimes we get so caught up being busy with something that is so pointless and something that should not even be on our priority list, that we forget why we are in such a hurry for it all in the first place...
My mountain to climb these last few weeks has been finding ways to love the elders I’m serving with. I need to both serve them and lead them, and at the same time focus on my responsibilities in my areas. I often reflect back to the words of my mission president. He said, “You are not here to serve the missionaries as a zone leader, you are here with the same purpose as they have and that is to Invite others unto Christ and do so by helping them and teaching them the restored gospel.
Time is short here as a missionary. If I have anything that I want to get across today, it is to not waste the Lord’s time. Hard work and having an eye single to our goal is such an important thing to learn and to apply to our daily lives. The Lord works with us and he is with us, but we must be diligent in our works for they are His. I would like to stress the message that an Area Seventy shared with the people of Ha'apai just yesterday. The message was that of “being prepared for a mission.” It ties in a lot with not wasting time.
I know this message may be hard to hear. I myself was not the most prepared missionary when I came out. Please learn from my mistake and take action! We must learn to become ready for the time that the Lord needs us. I was impressed while reading a letter from a very good friend of mine in Armenia. He talked about determination in this work and talked about how it comes down to how bad you want it. It is when we learn to sacrifice and act with diligence on our righteous desires that we earn a testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This is what I am talking about when I say we must be prepared and we must not waste time. We must strengthen our foundations and we must build our faith now upon the rock of our Redeemer. I want to issue you all a promise about the power of the Book of Mormon. When you read it every day and you come to know it, it will be a protection to you and help you prepare for the mission in which I know you all want to serve.
I hope you understand my point.
To wrap things up I want to share with you a little about my week.....
We were supposed to receive two new elders this week that were to replace Berry and Freer. However, the two boats we own both broke down the same day…..bad luck!!! So, we were not able to make it to Nomuka like we had planned!!!! We were pretty bummed about that.
We had a couple lessons with mama, and we invited her to be baptized but she said that she is unsure. We are keeping her in our prayers and are teaching her again tomorrow.....
We have an investigator that we have been working on for several months that finally came to church yesterday! We were thrilled! It is very cool seeing little tender mercies. We were able to set up new appointments with her!!!! All in all, things are a bit tough right now. But, that’s what makes it all worth it in the end...
Love You All
Elder Blake Daniel Harmon
SYST
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| Freer and Berry Leaving :( |
Monday, January 19, 2015
Hand Written Letter (Dated: 1/19/15) [#70 from Tonga]
Family:)
My heart is warm with the opportunity I have to be able to write to you and share with you some of the special moments of my week and some of the trials and learning experiences I have been able to go through.
It's been a very stressful week taking care of all of the transfers and get everybody moved around. We have had a lot of boat problems and delayed airplanes that have been making things more difficult than normal. On top of that, it has been difficult being sick. I have had some sickness that has kept me pretty bed ridden. I'm not really sure what it was, just know that it's over!! Haha, but there are lessons learned in everything we do. It's just a matter of whether we take the opportunities in life to learn and become better for it.
I'm amazed every week to see how much Heavenly Father is trying to teach. Sometimes I laugh and say to myself, "Am I so imperfect that I need to be taught so much?" But, these thoughts are quickly go away because I know exactly why I go through hard things. It is because there are attributes that God needs me to know and things that will help me specifically in the future. This goes for all of us. We need to be humble ourselves and ask God what he is trying to each us in all of our trials. It is only through Him that we can learn to become like Him. Our goal in life is to become perfect. The Savior did not come to the earth to save us all in our sin, but to save us from our sins.
There is one way and one way only that we can become perfected....we must learn of Him. Sometimes that means we must go through some of what he had to go through.....
I feel like I am preaching, but I just want you all to know that I am grateful fro my trials. I'm grateful for Jesus the Christ. I'm grateful for all He did for me! I know that because of Him, I can be comforted, I can find peach, I can find patience, He can teach me charity and love and that by listening to His teachings, little by little He can help me become like Him.
We currently are teaching a couple of investigators but seem to be struggling to figure out how to help these souls of Christ progress. We are having hard time finding ways to help them keep their commitments. We continue to follow-up. We continue to promise blessings. We continue to pray for them and fast for them. We teach them what they need to do. It is hard to keep the fire in my eyes when I don't see it glowing back in their eyes.
Maybe you all could give me some advice. It is just very hard because investigators in these areas are very rare and we don't seem to have any success with the ones that we have.
We will continue to help, invite, and pray always. We are doing well out here. I love my companion. We will be lifetime friends. He has been a true blessing to me in my life! I am sure he will always and continue to be. I love these people! Even though we have our frustrations, I love them still the same!
Love you all so much!
Elder Blake Daniel Harmon
Your Son and Brother for Eternity!
Ofa lahi Atu
My heart is warm with the opportunity I have to be able to write to you and share with you some of the special moments of my week and some of the trials and learning experiences I have been able to go through.
It's been a very stressful week taking care of all of the transfers and get everybody moved around. We have had a lot of boat problems and delayed airplanes that have been making things more difficult than normal. On top of that, it has been difficult being sick. I have had some sickness that has kept me pretty bed ridden. I'm not really sure what it was, just know that it's over!! Haha, but there are lessons learned in everything we do. It's just a matter of whether we take the opportunities in life to learn and become better for it.
I'm amazed every week to see how much Heavenly Father is trying to teach. Sometimes I laugh and say to myself, "Am I so imperfect that I need to be taught so much?" But, these thoughts are quickly go away because I know exactly why I go through hard things. It is because there are attributes that God needs me to know and things that will help me specifically in the future. This goes for all of us. We need to be humble ourselves and ask God what he is trying to each us in all of our trials. It is only through Him that we can learn to become like Him. Our goal in life is to become perfect. The Savior did not come to the earth to save us all in our sin, but to save us from our sins.
There is one way and one way only that we can become perfected....we must learn of Him. Sometimes that means we must go through some of what he had to go through.....
I feel like I am preaching, but I just want you all to know that I am grateful fro my trials. I'm grateful for Jesus the Christ. I'm grateful for all He did for me! I know that because of Him, I can be comforted, I can find peach, I can find patience, He can teach me charity and love and that by listening to His teachings, little by little He can help me become like Him.
We currently are teaching a couple of investigators but seem to be struggling to figure out how to help these souls of Christ progress. We are having hard time finding ways to help them keep their commitments. We continue to follow-up. We continue to promise blessings. We continue to pray for them and fast for them. We teach them what they need to do. It is hard to keep the fire in my eyes when I don't see it glowing back in their eyes.
Maybe you all could give me some advice. It is just very hard because investigators in these areas are very rare and we don't seem to have any success with the ones that we have.
We will continue to help, invite, and pray always. We are doing well out here. I love my companion. We will be lifetime friends. He has been a true blessing to me in my life! I am sure he will always and continue to be. I love these people! Even though we have our frustrations, I love them still the same!
Love you all so much!
Elder Blake Daniel Harmon
Your Son and Brother for Eternity!
Ofa lahi Atu
E-mail (Dated: 1/18/2015)
Wow, so we got a random call from the AP's yesterday telling us that they are giving us the transfers, then probably onTuesday everything will take place!!!!!! We found out that Elder Berry and Elder Freer are going to be going back to the main island!!!! SO Sad to see our buddies leave us, but it is only for a season. Elder Freer is a new zone leader with Elder Grant in my old zone back in Tongatapu!!! Elder Berry we are not quite so sure where his new area is at!!!! But we are excited for there new oppurtunities!!! We have two new Tongans from America come to work here in Ha'apai, and I'm very happy to say that im staying with Elders Bunting and Swan!!!! We love working together here in Ha'apai!!!!!
As for our area we have had some really good things happen this week!!! We have been working with Pxxx the boy I was telling you about a couple weeks ago. We have finally had the oppurtunity to reteach him. He has been able to get a really good handle on his smoking problem.... He has strong desire to quit and be baptized. We are exctied to see his progress and see his desires change to follow Christ!
We are working with a new girl named Mxxxxx as in LIGHT. She is awesome!!!!! We have enjoyed her. We are continuing to teach her tomorrow and want to commit her to baptism. She is 15 this year. She has alot of friends that are a really strong support to her. She has been able to keep our commitments and we can see her change with excitment:)
We have a really big zone conference with president on Tuesday, and afterwards all the changes will probably take place here in Ha'apai. so I guess we will just see.
We have had a lot of cool oppurtunities with our members this week to get close with them. Me and my companion are really enjoying our Koulo ward. I don't know if i told you about Fangale'ounga but we dont have a bishop there now or a ward mission leader or a 1st counselor. Our second counselor is the only one with the preisthood in that ward. Kinda sad for the members and hard for the work... but we are working on it. This week on Thursday we are going out to Nomuka for some firesides and training for the district presidents.
I love you all so much thankyou for all your support!!!
ELDER BLAKE DANIEL HARMON
MOM, DUDE
BROOKLIN SYST
Monday, January 12, 2015
Hand Written Letter (Dated: 1/12/15) [#69 from Tonga]
Hey my beautiful family :) I am excited to be able to tell you a few details on what is going on out here in Ha'apai. We have had a pretty good week! We have been getting quite a few new people to teach. It' s been hard to keep hold of the people we have been teaching. We have taught a few people from New Zealand and they have now returned home. It has been sad to see them leave and to lose them as investigators! Oh, my ADHD is kicking in, but I ran into someone out in Uiha when I was there and they are a family with a rugby player that lived in Sopu when I was there. To help you remember, he normally stayed in New Zealand, but he came back with his fiance from England! I just found out that she got baptized. My companion and I had taught her the lessons and committed her to baptism, but she left to New Zealand too quickly so we did not get to perform the ordinance. It was so awesome to see that she had followed through and had been baptized!!! I was told she is strong in the church and is doing very well! Haha, Tonga is such a small world. Every day I ask individuals if they know people from my old areas and they always tell me "yes"!! Crazy, crazy!!
So, as I was writing, I got a call from the assistants, and they told me that Bunting and I will be staying here another transfer!! We are actually really excited! It's amazing to be with a good companion! Bunting and I seem to complement each other really well. I always tell people that he "completes me" as a missionary, haha! I really enjoy this opportunity that God has given me!
Barry and Freer will be leaving us, so that is really sad. It's okay, and we only have so much longer anyway! We will be with them eventually back in the states. As for our zone, we still have Elder Swan!! So excited about that so I will probably be leaving here in March or April! So, I still have some really good time left here in Ha'apai! I'm excited because we have had some solid people we are working with! It's amazing to see the progression in our ward here the last few weeks! We have worked so hard to be able to get our members more involved! It was awesome to see people change. We have really focused on repenting, changing, and moving forward as a ward! We have actually been able to help our ward mission leader out with stopping his Kava drinking!! So, he has been doing tons better and it has changed the atmosphere for us here! He is so much more happy all the time and is more excited for the work!
Well, could be more excited to continue the work here in Ha'apai. Love you all so incredibly much! You all are incredible and I pray for you each and every day!! Remember that there is no fear when you have faith and your works match your faith!
Your son/brother
Elder Blake Daniel Harmon
We are Eternal!
Sunday, January 11, 2015
E-mail (Dated: 1/11/2015)
Hey everyone!!!
What an intense week this has been. Its funny we were joking around with a couple missionaries this week and they said, "Hey you two travel so much they might as well call you to the Quorum of the Seventy -- haha! We got a kick out of it. But we really are blessed to be able to have so many opportunities to be able to travel and teach and to share our testimony with so many people in rural areas. This week we took a plane to Tonga. We actually left just about 30 minutes after talking to you on the computer on p-day. We had a nice short flight to Tonga. There were also some plane difficulties but I went into detail in a letter for you. Pretty much we just didn't know if the landing gear would work or not hahaha. Tonga was really good. I got to see Elder Lao and Tuitavake and Tuakalao and Lavaka from the MTC and also Elder Crosby. Then, when I went to the Mission Leader ship meeting, I got to see Harris, Grant, and Deihl. So it was just like a being at a big family home evening!!! I have pictures, they are just back at the house because I forgot them...my bad...next week though!!!
Mom, Elder Patey is actually still in Vava'u and I have not had the opportunity to see him my whole mission. I was able meet Elder Mafi from Spanish Fork, His companion is Elder Jones from the MTC also!!!! I got to stay at Elder Talanoas, the kid I trained and that is the house I actually stayed in for the first two weeks of my mission waiting to go to Vava'u. So, the week was full of tender mercies. The whole meeting was actually on how to have meetings with our wards and stake counsels. It was really good I have been able to learn a lot from it!!!! After reading dad's email today about presenting and doing it with confidence, I realized why he is never nervous. It is because he reviews and reviews and practices and practices before hand. It's so important to always be prepared. Scouts isn't just for when you are younger it can help you out along the way in life.
We actually tried to come back here on a flight Wednesday but the engine blew on one of the planes so our flight was delayed!!!! So, it turns out we finally got back on Thursday. Right after the plane landed, we drove to the warf and we got on the boat and went out to Ha'afeva for a district meeting with all of the branch presidents and we did role plays with them. Then, we held a big fireside and we gave talks..... So, it has been a week sense I have been in my own ward. Yesterday, we had ward counsel and we gave a presentation that is helping the ward understand how we need to repent, change, and move on....
I Love You All So Much!!!
Your Are Always in My Heart!!!
MOM DUDE
Brooklin SYST
What an intense week this has been. Its funny we were joking around with a couple missionaries this week and they said, "Hey you two travel so much they might as well call you to the Quorum of the Seventy -- haha! We got a kick out of it. But we really are blessed to be able to have so many opportunities to be able to travel and teach and to share our testimony with so many people in rural areas. This week we took a plane to Tonga. We actually left just about 30 minutes after talking to you on the computer on p-day. We had a nice short flight to Tonga. There were also some plane difficulties but I went into detail in a letter for you. Pretty much we just didn't know if the landing gear would work or not hahaha. Tonga was really good. I got to see Elder Lao and Tuitavake and Tuakalao and Lavaka from the MTC and also Elder Crosby. Then, when I went to the Mission Leader ship meeting, I got to see Harris, Grant, and Deihl. So it was just like a being at a big family home evening!!! I have pictures, they are just back at the house because I forgot them...my bad...next week though!!!
Mom, Elder Patey is actually still in Vava'u and I have not had the opportunity to see him my whole mission. I was able meet Elder Mafi from Spanish Fork, His companion is Elder Jones from the MTC also!!!! I got to stay at Elder Talanoas, the kid I trained and that is the house I actually stayed in for the first two weeks of my mission waiting to go to Vava'u. So, the week was full of tender mercies. The whole meeting was actually on how to have meetings with our wards and stake counsels. It was really good I have been able to learn a lot from it!!!! After reading dad's email today about presenting and doing it with confidence, I realized why he is never nervous. It is because he reviews and reviews and practices and practices before hand. It's so important to always be prepared. Scouts isn't just for when you are younger it can help you out along the way in life.
We actually tried to come back here on a flight Wednesday but the engine blew on one of the planes so our flight was delayed!!!! So, it turns out we finally got back on Thursday. Right after the plane landed, we drove to the warf and we got on the boat and went out to Ha'afeva for a district meeting with all of the branch presidents and we did role plays with them. Then, we held a big fireside and we gave talks..... So, it has been a week sense I have been in my own ward. Yesterday, we had ward counsel and we gave a presentation that is helping the ward understand how we need to repent, change, and move on....
I Love You All So Much!!!
Your Are Always in My Heart!!!
MOM DUDE
Brooklin SYST
Monday, January 5, 2015
Hand Written Letter (Dated: 1/5/15) [#68 from Tonga]
Family:)
Wow, this has been an incredibly intense week. We have been through quite a lot! After we talked to you all on Monday, we jumped on a plan soon afterwards. We had some intense moments as we flew towards Tonga. Just a week before, me and my companion were talking about the Mormon message w/Elder Nielsen and the crashing plane. As the story goes, Elder Nielsen was on a plane when one of the engines blew and everyone on the plane freaked out and some people lost control of their emotions, but he was calm because he was ready to meet his Savior. My companion and I talked about this and asked each other how the other would act in this situation. We both concluded that we would both want to be calm and know that we are guiltless to meet our maker. While we were flying to Tonga, we were close to landing when the alarm went off in the plan and the landing gear would not come down. People on the plane freaked out but as it was going on, my companion and I looked at each other calm & knowing. The plane shook itself until the wheels finally popped out and we were able to land. I learned a very important lesson about always wanting to be ready to meet my Father in Heaven! How important is it that we constantly live in a way that we can be calm and ready to meet our maker.
We had a very good stay in Tonga and I as able to tell you a lot of detail about it in the last e-mail I sent! But, on Wednesday, when we were supposed to return to our area, we were surprised with more plane problems! It was pretty intense when the airport filled with police, fire trucks and even the army showed up with water tanks. I never thought I would see organization like this in Tonga :) As we tried to identify the problem, we soon saw a plane landing with one engine and only one moving propeller! Pretty intense. Good thing they had a good pilot to be able to land the plane! We later found out that it was a volcano eruption of ash that had affected their plane! Anyway, we made it back safely on Thursday to our area. They actually flew us out on a really early flight at 5AM.
Things are going amazingly well. We just got back from Ha'afeva where we were able to go out and teach some branch and district counsels and we were able to teach at some firesides with the first counselor and also President Tupou!
Grateful for these amazing opportunities that I am having and grateful to see the Lord's hand in all I do and am able to do!
Love you all so very much!
Your Son/Brother
Blake Daniel Harmon
Ofa lahi Atu
Wow, this has been an incredibly intense week. We have been through quite a lot! After we talked to you all on Monday, we jumped on a plan soon afterwards. We had some intense moments as we flew towards Tonga. Just a week before, me and my companion were talking about the Mormon message w/Elder Nielsen and the crashing plane. As the story goes, Elder Nielsen was on a plane when one of the engines blew and everyone on the plane freaked out and some people lost control of their emotions, but he was calm because he was ready to meet his Savior. My companion and I talked about this and asked each other how the other would act in this situation. We both concluded that we would both want to be calm and know that we are guiltless to meet our maker. While we were flying to Tonga, we were close to landing when the alarm went off in the plan and the landing gear would not come down. People on the plane freaked out but as it was going on, my companion and I looked at each other calm & knowing. The plane shook itself until the wheels finally popped out and we were able to land. I learned a very important lesson about always wanting to be ready to meet my Father in Heaven! How important is it that we constantly live in a way that we can be calm and ready to meet our maker.
We had a very good stay in Tonga and I as able to tell you a lot of detail about it in the last e-mail I sent! But, on Wednesday, when we were supposed to return to our area, we were surprised with more plane problems! It was pretty intense when the airport filled with police, fire trucks and even the army showed up with water tanks. I never thought I would see organization like this in Tonga :) As we tried to identify the problem, we soon saw a plane landing with one engine and only one moving propeller! Pretty intense. Good thing they had a good pilot to be able to land the plane! We later found out that it was a volcano eruption of ash that had affected their plane! Anyway, we made it back safely on Thursday to our area. They actually flew us out on a really early flight at 5AM.
Things are going amazingly well. We just got back from Ha'afeva where we were able to go out and teach some branch and district counsels and we were able to teach at some firesides with the first counselor and also President Tupou!
Grateful for these amazing opportunities that I am having and grateful to see the Lord's hand in all I do and am able to do!
Love you all so very much!
Your Son/Brother
Blake Daniel Harmon
Ofa lahi Atu
Sunday, January 4, 2015
E-mail (Dated: 1/4/2015)
Hey Everyone!!!!
Wow, what an incredible week!!!! For the past week I have been in Uiha with my companion!!! We finally got the opportunity to go teach our investigator out there!!! We totally thought she was suppose to be over 50 years old by the way they were talking about her and her husband, but when she walked in the room we noticed she is only 18 years old!!! She is very young haha her husband is actually only 17. Their story is actually really intense on how they ran away to Vava'u last year and they got married. I was a little nervous going into it because I thought it might be kinda hard seeing the way things have been in the past for them. But, as we taught her, we saw her faith and her determination to have a family and have them grow in the gospel. She wants to be a strong woman in her husband's life and she is wanting to be worthy for him in the temple.
We also had the opportunity to teach another boy that we found while we were there, his name is Kxxxx he is 16. He is hilarious. right when he walked in to the room when we met him he did the traditional kiss with us hahaha -- he is amazing!!! Haha, Bunting and I both had a really cool connection with them. I have pictures with them at the baptism but it was on a different camera (buntings) and it's at the house so I will send it next week. However, here is a picture of Bunting performing the baptismal ordinance!!! Anyway, I knew I would have little time when I got here, so I wrote a letter about lots of little details about our trip to Uiha and our teaching opportunities. I will be sending that today when I go to Tonga so hopefully gets to you in the next two weeks or so!!!!
The baptisms were incredible, so spiritual and you could see how committed these two are to their Heavenly Father in making their baptismal covenant!!! I'm excited because they both have good support of friends, family, and ward members. So it should be amazing!!!
I love you all so much! So goo to hear from you all in your emails, and all you sound amazing!!!!
MOM "DUDE"
BROOKLIN SYST
P.S
HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEEE YOU ALLL THISSS YEARRRR!!!!!
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Wow, what an incredible week!!!! For the past week I have been in Uiha with my companion!!! We finally got the opportunity to go teach our investigator out there!!! We totally thought she was suppose to be over 50 years old by the way they were talking about her and her husband, but when she walked in the room we noticed she is only 18 years old!!! She is very young haha her husband is actually only 17. Their story is actually really intense on how they ran away to Vava'u last year and they got married. I was a little nervous going into it because I thought it might be kinda hard seeing the way things have been in the past for them. But, as we taught her, we saw her faith and her determination to have a family and have them grow in the gospel. She wants to be a strong woman in her husband's life and she is wanting to be worthy for him in the temple.
We also had the opportunity to teach another boy that we found while we were there, his name is Kxxxx he is 16. He is hilarious. right when he walked in to the room when we met him he did the traditional kiss with us hahaha -- he is amazing!!! Haha, Bunting and I both had a really cool connection with them. I have pictures with them at the baptism but it was on a different camera (buntings) and it's at the house so I will send it next week. However, here is a picture of Bunting performing the baptismal ordinance!!! Anyway, I knew I would have little time when I got here, so I wrote a letter about lots of little details about our trip to Uiha and our teaching opportunities. I will be sending that today when I go to Tonga so hopefully gets to you in the next two weeks or so!!!!
The baptisms were incredible, so spiritual and you could see how committed these two are to their Heavenly Father in making their baptismal covenant!!! I'm excited because they both have good support of friends, family, and ward members. So it should be amazing!!!
I love you all so much! So goo to hear from you all in your emails, and all you sound amazing!!!!
MOM "DUDE"
BROOKLIN SYST
P.S
HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEEE YOU ALLL THISSS YEARRRR!!!!!
Monday, December 29, 2014
Hand Written Letter (Dated 12/29/2014) [#67 from Tonga, Last Letter of 2014]
Family,
I'm running low on time like crazy lately and haven't been able to sit down and write to you! I apologize! It's actually the 4th of January on a Sunday night here and I'm just barely getting the opportunity to write you something little :) It's actually pretty late, but I can't miss a week of sending you a letter! :) Also, we go to Tonga tomorrow so we will be sending these off to you!
This week has been full of blessings and amazing miracles. I know I will be mentioning them in the e-mail, but I will tell you a little about some of the funny details that I will probably leave out of my e-mail.
So, we have been in Uiha this whole last week. I don't know if I have told you too much about it before, but I'll do a little more explaining. It's a village with a ward, then there is another village with a branch called Felemen. The whole island is dusty. It reminds me of the sand dunes back home with no hills and the sand is all dirty! We showed up to our house and there is no electricity and no running water! Once again, the roof leaks water!! So, we were there for about 4 days. We showed up the first night and we taught Fiexxxx and Kavxxx! It was really cool having back to back lessons with people that were prepared to listen and to keep commitments. What most missionaries would call the gold investigators! We proceeded to teach the rest of the week and then Saturday came along! This is the day we planned to have the baptism and also the day we planned on the boat coming to get us and take us back to our island!
We woke up and the water was dripping on us and there was a nasty storm outside. It was pouring. You don't even see rain storms like these very often in the states! We were worried, but my companion with faith aid not one thing on this earth can stop Heavenly Father's work from hastening and progressing and that if this is what the Lord has in store....then we got on our knees and prayed that the storm would clear and we would be able to conduct the baptism! WE also needed desperately to get back to our house in Koulo. For one thing, we didn't bring extra pairs of garments or clothing and were disgustingly dirty. We also needed to get back to Tonga because boats can't drive here on Sunday!
In the meantime, my companion and I went out and mad the best we could out of the situation. We went outside and ran around in the rain! We were to our knees in water, no joke! We went and tried to figure things out with our members be we had no support! Finally, we got a call from the boat driver and he said that they were coming to get us! So, we got our stuff ready and we headed down to the boat dock. Were were absolutely soaked. Then all of the sudden, out pops the sun and the rain stops. Our 1st counselor said, "Grab your investigators! I will grab the bishop. Meet us at the dock in 10 minutes!" So, we ran to Feixxxx and Kaxxxx and got them ready. They were so excited we were the ones that got to do the baptism ordinance! We went down to the ocean and did a small service & literally, as my companion was performing the baptism, the boat came from around the corner!
God answers our prayers and this is his work not ours! He has all control! WE need to always choose to follow him and be worthy and to constantly have faith in him who is all powerful!
Love you!!!
Your Brother/Son
Blake Daniel Harmon
We Are Eternal
I'm running low on time like crazy lately and haven't been able to sit down and write to you! I apologize! It's actually the 4th of January on a Sunday night here and I'm just barely getting the opportunity to write you something little :) It's actually pretty late, but I can't miss a week of sending you a letter! :) Also, we go to Tonga tomorrow so we will be sending these off to you!
This week has been full of blessings and amazing miracles. I know I will be mentioning them in the e-mail, but I will tell you a little about some of the funny details that I will probably leave out of my e-mail.
So, we have been in Uiha this whole last week. I don't know if I have told you too much about it before, but I'll do a little more explaining. It's a village with a ward, then there is another village with a branch called Felemen. The whole island is dusty. It reminds me of the sand dunes back home with no hills and the sand is all dirty! We showed up to our house and there is no electricity and no running water! Once again, the roof leaks water!! So, we were there for about 4 days. We showed up the first night and we taught Fiexxxx and Kavxxx! It was really cool having back to back lessons with people that were prepared to listen and to keep commitments. What most missionaries would call the gold investigators! We proceeded to teach the rest of the week and then Saturday came along! This is the day we planned to have the baptism and also the day we planned on the boat coming to get us and take us back to our island!
We woke up and the water was dripping on us and there was a nasty storm outside. It was pouring. You don't even see rain storms like these very often in the states! We were worried, but my companion with faith aid not one thing on this earth can stop Heavenly Father's work from hastening and progressing and that if this is what the Lord has in store....then we got on our knees and prayed that the storm would clear and we would be able to conduct the baptism! WE also needed desperately to get back to our house in Koulo. For one thing, we didn't bring extra pairs of garments or clothing and were disgustingly dirty. We also needed to get back to Tonga because boats can't drive here on Sunday!
In the meantime, my companion and I went out and mad the best we could out of the situation. We went outside and ran around in the rain! We were to our knees in water, no joke! We went and tried to figure things out with our members be we had no support! Finally, we got a call from the boat driver and he said that they were coming to get us! So, we got our stuff ready and we headed down to the boat dock. Were were absolutely soaked. Then all of the sudden, out pops the sun and the rain stops. Our 1st counselor said, "Grab your investigators! I will grab the bishop. Meet us at the dock in 10 minutes!" So, we ran to Feixxxx and Kaxxxx and got them ready. They were so excited we were the ones that got to do the baptism ordinance! We went down to the ocean and did a small service & literally, as my companion was performing the baptism, the boat came from around the corner!
God answers our prayers and this is his work not ours! He has all control! WE need to always choose to follow him and be worthy and to constantly have faith in him who is all powerful!
Love you!!!
Your Brother/Son
Blake Daniel Harmon
We Are Eternal
Sunday, December 28, 2014
E-mail (Dated: 12/28/14)
Hey Family!!!
Wow it was awesome to be able to hear from all of you this week!!!! Even though I was able to get you pretty caught up, we had some things take place here that I would like to tell you about today.
I think I better start off with the bad news so that I can finish with the good news. Do you all remember the man that I taught over in Hihifo with Elder Hafoka on a companionship exchange? He was the man that talked in the fireside about preparing to enter the temple with his family. Well, we got a very sad call yesterday that he had been struggling with breathing last night and that he passed away as they rushed him to the hospital. It turns out that there was nobody at the hospital at the time. It is really sad to see someone so close to us as missionaries pass away so early on in life. I know that Heavenly Father looked at this man and said it was time for him to come home. Ever since he was baptized, he has been diligent in his priesthood responsibilities. I have never seen the gospel change someone's life in such an incredible way as I saw it change his. I know that it will be an incredible experience for his family to go to the temple to be sealed to their father and husband. I know he is waiting eagerly for those blessings and ordinances on the other side of the veil.
Let me change to a very positive note. We have begun to teach an incredible faithful son of our Heavenly Father, I have written a letter all about it. This young man's faith is taking him places that he could not go otherwise. If his works are as great, he will achieve much and conquer all. He is struggling with some addictions so we are working with him to conquer them through faith and through the spirit.
I love you all!!!!
Your Son, Elder Harmon
DUDE mom
SYST Brooklin
Wow it was awesome to be able to hear from all of you this week!!!! Even though I was able to get you pretty caught up, we had some things take place here that I would like to tell you about today.
I think I better start off with the bad news so that I can finish with the good news. Do you all remember the man that I taught over in Hihifo with Elder Hafoka on a companionship exchange? He was the man that talked in the fireside about preparing to enter the temple with his family. Well, we got a very sad call yesterday that he had been struggling with breathing last night and that he passed away as they rushed him to the hospital. It turns out that there was nobody at the hospital at the time. It is really sad to see someone so close to us as missionaries pass away so early on in life. I know that Heavenly Father looked at this man and said it was time for him to come home. Ever since he was baptized, he has been diligent in his priesthood responsibilities. I have never seen the gospel change someone's life in such an incredible way as I saw it change his. I know that it will be an incredible experience for his family to go to the temple to be sealed to their father and husband. I know he is waiting eagerly for those blessings and ordinances on the other side of the veil.
Let me change to a very positive note. We have begun to teach an incredible faithful son of our Heavenly Father, I have written a letter all about it. This young man's faith is taking him places that he could not go otherwise. If his works are as great, he will achieve much and conquer all. He is struggling with some addictions so we are working with him to conquer them through faith and through the spirit.
I love you all!!!!
Your Son, Elder Harmon
DUDE mom
SYST Brooklin
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