The Final Page

Well, here I am. Tomorrow I leave Elizabeth and go to the Mission Home with all the other departing missionaries. Wednesday I will be on a plane to San Diego. This week has been so surreal. 

Last Monday was our Statue of Liberty trip for all the missionaries going home. I had seen Lady Liberty from Ellis Island many times, but this was my first time seeing her up close. She's huge! 

Tuesday was my last exchange. I was here in Elizabeth with Sister Anderson. At the end of the exchange we got pizza because I'm going to miss Jersey Pizza! 

Thursday was cleaning and packing day, so I got almost all of my packing done, which has made the past few days a lot easier because I haven't had much other time to pack. 

Friday was really cool. Elder David Evans, who used to be Executive Director of the Church's Missionary Department (in other words, he was in charge of everything missionary related for the whole Church) came and spoke to us. The meeting was really long but I learned a lot. He talked a lot about how when we teach people the Gospel, we are so quick to teach them faith and baptism, but we usually gloss over the whole Repentance step that  comes in between the two. He said a lot of things and I know I learned more but it is all written in my notebook that is already packed away.. whoops! 

Friday night Pedro surprised us and told us that a member was taking him to the temple Saturday morning! We knew he was going to the temple soon and we wanted to come with him, but we didn't know it was THAT soon! Usually we have to work with recent converts to get them to the temple, but I guess this time the ward just planned everything without even telling us. So I scrambled to tell Sister Ivie (who is serving nearby in Perth Amboy), get permission from President for us to go, and make the necessary arrangements. So it was all super last-minute but it was the perfect way to end my mission. Early Saturday morning Sister Ivie and I went with Pedro and a few members to the Manhattan Temple and we got to watch Pedro do baptisms for the dead. It was amazing and definitely one of the highlights of my mission. I thought about how perfect the timing was-- Sister Ivie and I contacted him on the street my second night in Elizabeth, we taught him, he got baptized shortly after Sister Nielsen got here, and then I got to go to the temple with him the last weekend of my mission. God is so good, and I have been so blessed to see the change in Pedro and so many others!

 

With Pedro at Manhattan Temple - Perfect way to end my mission

 

Yesterday was my last day of church here. It felt weird knowing that the next time I go to church it will be in English. I don't know how I will handle that... I don't know if I even know the sacramental prayers and the hymns in English anymore haha.

Saying goodbye to recent convert Rosa

I am so grateful for my mission and everything I have learned. It really does feel like I'm leaving home all over again. I have so much love for so many of the people here, and I don't know when I will see them again. The mission is the best thing I have ever done. I have had ups and downs, I've laughed, I've cried, and I've loved more than I ever thought I could. This scripture pretty much sums up my feelings-

Enos 1:26- "And I saw that I must soon go down to [California], having been wrought upon by the power of God that I must preach and prophesy unto this people, and declare the word according to the truth which is in Christ. And I have declared it in all my days, and have rejoiced in it above that of the world."

 

I know that the message I've been preaching for the past 18 months is true. I have felt the Holy Ghost lead me and help me countless times. I have learned what it truly means to rely on Christ and His Atonement. I have seen countless miracles and I feel truly blessed to have been able to play a small part in helping further the work of the Lord in this part of His vineyard. I know that God loveth his children, I know Christ is our Savior, I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and that the Book of Mormon truly is Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

For the last time,

<3 Hermana Hannah Harris

New Jersey Morristown Mission 

June 25, 2014 - December 16th, 2015

Statue of Liberty Trip - December 7, 2015

I think I'm funny

 

 

 On the Ferry

 The Great Hall at Ellis Island ... the room all immigrants had to pass through

 The big flag at Ellis Island was at half mast

  The size of her ear

 The view from the pedestal

 The other side from the pedestal

 Standing on the pedestal looking up into the statue

 My favorite picture from the trip

There she is!

Union City Goodbyes

I Heart NJ

Wow this week was crazy busy and exhausting but absolutely wonderful! I feel like I've been running on borrowed energy all week because there hasn't been any chance to slow down and breathe!

 

Tuesday we had a rehearsal in the morning for the fireside, then we had Zone Meeting, then we all had lunch, then Sister Nielsen had to practice for a coupe special musical numbers while I had my departing interview with President Taggart. I got to talk to him for half an hour about what I've learned on my mission and what my plans are for the future. It felt a little weird talking to him about things other than missionary work, but I learned a lot and got some really good advice. 

 

Wednesday was the temple trip for all the missionaries going home! We met at the Newark chapel and then drove with the Taggarts to the Manhattan Temple. It was so cool being at the temple with the Taggarts and the Spirit was really strong. Afterwards, we ate lunch in Central Park! I took lots of pictures but won't get a chance to send them today because of the Statue of Liberty trip. 

 

From Thursday to Friday we had an exchange with Sisters Poh and Morgan. For the exchange I was here in Elizabeth with Sister Morgan, who's only been in the mission for 3 weeks. 

 

Saturday was super busy. Sister Nielsen and a past companion of hers went to the temple super early in the morning with a recent convert of theirs. Afterwards we went straight to Ellis Island for my last time volunteering there. I'm going to miss being able to help people from all over the world find their ancestors at Ellis Island. Later, Saturday night we had a movie night activity with the ward. We watched The Lamb of God  and we had spent the past few weeks inviting everyone we could to this activity. A lot of less-active members came and a lot of people brought refreshments so it was great! Afterwards we gave everyone copies of the DVD because we had a ton of them.

 

Sunday was amazing. Pedro was confirmed during sacrament meeting and received the priesthood later that day. Sister Nielsen and I sang Noche de Luz (Silent Night) in a quartet with two other people from the ward during sacrament meeting as well. 

 

After church we had to be in Newark at 4pm to practice for the Christmas fireside. This fireside was put in by all the Spanish missionaries in the mission, and investigators and members from all over Jersey came. People gradually arrived while we were practicing, and the fireside started at 6. There were a ton of songs sung by a choir of all the missionaries, as well as a lot of special musical numbers. Sister Nielsen has the voice of an angel and sang a solo of La Primera Navidad (The First Noel) and also sang Santa la Noche (Oh Holy Night) in a trio with two other sisters and they were amazing. In between songs, there were a few narrators  who narrated the story of the birth of Christ and read from the scriptures. In my part I got to speak about the prophets that had prophesied of the coming of Christ. At the end of the program, six missionaries from six different countries bore their testimonies of Christ. The fireside concluded with the missionary choir singing Silent Night and the audience joining us on the third verse. It was so cool to be up there singing about the birth of Christ and to be able to look out at the audience and see so many people I know and love from my three areas. The Spirit was so strong and it was honestly probably one of the most joyful moments of my life. I love New Jersey and I love Christmas and I love being a missionary, so this was just about the best thing ever. 

 

After the fireside I got to see and talk to a lot of the people from my old areas who came. I saw so many of the members I love from Union City, including recent convert Emilio, who received the Melchizedek Priesthood yesterday and is going to go through the temple for the first time on Saturday! It was so great to see that he is still strong in the church a year after I was giving him the new member lessons. I also got to see the Guerras, a couple who came up all the way from my old area in Toms River! This fireside was the perfect conclusion to my mission and chance to see the people I've come to love one last time before I return to the other side of the country. 

 

I am so incredibly grateful that the Lord sent me here to New Jersey. I have fallen in love with the huge crowded cities, the cute seaside towns, and everything in between. I've taught people in big nice houses, out on the streets, and in tiny cramped apartments. I've met people from around 70 countries, with every imaginable background and from every walk of life. I've come to feel the love Christ has for each of them. I've seen countless miracles and have felt the Spirit work through me so many times. I will cherish this last week I have left.

 

<3 Hermana Harris