8/6

  This week has been super busy in the area.  Sometimes it feels like we don't have enough time to teach everyone.  Elder Gillette and I have been really working on not letting too many days pass between visits.  We almost never have scheduled appointments because the people always say "if you are passing by and we are here you can teach us."  I really haven't had too many scheduled appointments my whole mission and when we do there is a good chance the people forgot.  I can't complain thought because right now we have some good investigators.  

     Last P-day we bought a pack of colored pencils to give to our investigators so that they can mark things in the assignments we give them.  I don't care as much about what they mark and I do that they are reading.  This colored pencil tactic really works.  It is as if when we give them a Book of Mormon and a colored pencil of their choice they can't help but read.  It has been going really well so I think I'll continue it my whole mission.

     One cool lesson we had this week was with a 50-60 year old woman who just returned to her home in Balabac.  The lesson went so well.  It was as if she automatically believed everything we taught her.  At the end of the lesson we gave her her own Book of Mormon (along with a pencil).  She was so grateful for what we had taught her that she said that when she returns to Balabac she is going to share it with others.  Balabac is an island off the southern tip of Palawan and is technically part of my mission but there are no missionaries there because it's a little far and there are so many muslims there.  Anyway, it makes me really happy that I could share something that can mean so much to someone else.  Right now there are no full time missionaries in Balabac but the Book of Mormon is being shared there now.

     Another cool thing that happened this week because of the colored pencils is our one investigator, Aljan read his assignment and he prayed at the end of the lesson.  He may have also shed a few tears.  He still hasn't been to church but at least he is progressing.  I think he will accept the gospel some time but probably not while I'm here.

     Another day this last week while we were out we tried teaching a newer family but they were busy with their family business.   Their business is they run a small barbecue on the street in the afternoons and at night.  Because we came to them in the morning they were skewering stuff to get ready.  I think the specialty for that day was chicken intestines on sticks.  Because Elder Gillette and I wanted to have a cool experience we sat down and helped them skewer the intestines.  It was a little harder than it looked.  I'm not sure they appreciated our help too much but now at least they know we're friendly.  At these kind of barbecues they sell stuff like skewered intestines, fat, pork, chicken head on a stick, chicken foot on a stick, and some of those "eat first and then know what it is later".

That's pretty much all I remember from this week.  Thanks for the emails.
The church is different here than from Belize.  As missionaries we usually don't do much.  There is no translating or anything like that.  Rarely do we ever teach the lessons.  On a normal Sunday there are about 130 people in sacrament meeting.  Last May the branch became a ward.  We try to work with members but we haven't done any exchanges with them.  Elder Gillette is a good missionary.  He is obedient and nice.  He has been on his mission almost 6 months.  In this mission we don't really have senior companions.  I think it is better that way. 

     I'm excited that I will be home next summer to go up to Cooke city with you guys.\

Love, 

Elder Harkness

8/27

  I would have to say this week was probably the quickest week in my mission.  I can't believe it is p day again.  I have also been thinking about how this past week I have 10 months left on my entire mission.  It is so weird how the mission time passes.  It feels like I haven't been gone that long and that I still know you all as if I were back home last week. 

     This week has been another busy one.  We missionaries were invited by the bishop of our ward to give a lesson for a ward FHE on Saturday.  It went well and it was a nice change in schedule.  The FHE was on unity. We had a few volunteers come up an as teams of two they had to try moving a balloon in between their hips up to their cheeks without using their hands (I hope that makes sense.).  It was really funny to watch.  Another game was listing random items for the primary kids to get and return to the front an the first one to do it was the winner.  One of the things was to go grab their dad's hanky.  I thought "how do you know that all the dads have hankys?"  It turns out  everyone carries around hankys here.  I didn't notice that before.

     Earlier this week on an assignment from the sisters who are in desperate need of a new apartment we did a little "house hunters international" here in the area.  We spent the morning looking for different apartments and found one that was pretty good.

     A really good lesson we had this week was last night with the Grampa family.  We had a great FHE with them last Monday with them and everyone had a great time.  Last night we taught them the word of wisdom.  Brother Grampa has a bit of a problem with drinking and smoking and his wife doesn't like it.  He told us that hopefully he would be able to change his life.  That's when we knew it was the perfect time for the word of wisdom lesson.  It went well and we committed them to live it although Brother Grampa will most likely have some relapses.

     Things are winding down for this transfer and next p day will be my last in the area until I transfer to manila.  I am actually really excited to transfer even if it's to Manila because I have been in this area forever. 

--

Love, Elder Harkness

8/14

   This week we had interviews with the new mission president, President Fermanis.  We also had zone conference.  In my interview president asked me how long I have been on Palawan.  "9 transfers" I said.  He said that I will be going to Manila for sure this next transfer.  I can't complain though.  I will hit my year mark here about August 26.  I have been on Palawan longer than any other missionary here and there are about 60 of us.  He said there is still a chance that I might come back though.  He compares Palawan to the spirit world and Manila to the real world.  I think it will be fine though. 

     As for this week I have been a little bad with writing in my journal so it is a little hard for me to remember everything that happened.  Elder Gillette and I have been working really hard in the area and were able to get two investigators at church which is good for this area.  At zone conference I was able to talk with some of the elders in Quezon, my first area.  That area is still booming.  They had 23 investigators at church while my companion and my record while there was only 15 investigators at church in one Sunday.  I think it would be great to go back but foreigners aren't allowed to serve there anymore because of a terrorist group in southern Palawan that has gotten worse in the last 6 months.  The Quezon elders told me a family that I helped start teaching is now baptized.  It was the one family I wrote about way back I think in December about the wife who's dead mother told her that the true church would be the one that the first thing they talk about is God.  Its really cool because the first principle we taught them in our first visit was "God is our loving Heavenly Father".     

That is pretty much it for this week thanks for the emails.

Elder Harkness

7/30

  This last week was transfers and I am still in the area.  If things keep going this way my whole mission I will only have four areas.  It is okay though because it is missionary work wherever you are.  My new companion is Elder Gillette from Australia.  He is still new in the mission so it is still hard for him to speak and understand Tagalog well.  He speaks Tagalog with a bit of an Australian accent.  I actually really like it this way because it really helps me practice and exercise my Tagalog.  Elder Gillette is really nice and is also really obedient which is a relief. 

     I didn't get my new companion until Tuesday evening this week so I spent some time working in the other elders' area and one day a zone leader came and worked with me in my area.  When Elder Gillette first came to this area he had a really bad spider bite on his thigh that made it really hard for him to walk.  He said it felt like a screwdriver digging into his leg every time he walks.  We got him some antibiotics and they are working like a miracle.  In two days he was able to walk normal and we were able to walk at a fast pace again.

    

     In the area over the past few weeks we have been picking up lots of new investigators.  The trick is going back to them consistently.  Yesterday we had one of our new investigators show up at church.  His name is Michael Lorenso.  He is from and island off the southern tip of Palawan.  While we have been teaching him he has been really interested.  He tried to go to church last week but couldn't find a trike that would take him.  This week he made it.  We told lots of members that we had an investigator at church and the fellowshipping was really good.  I think Michael had a good experience and will come back next week.

     One cool experience that happened this week was while we were walking down a street I got a prompting to turn right and talk to some of the people in the houses on that street. I almost shrugged it off but realized I had better follow it.  We ended up finding a former investigator and also an address of someone who might be interested in our church.  I am so glad that I followed the prompting.

Love, Elder Harkness

7/24

This week went by really fast.  Transfers are here and Elder Arpon has finished his mission.  He was a hard worker and liked missionary work but at the same time it is great to have a change.  I will stay here in the area another transfer.  I'm not super area trunky but I have been here a really long time (since the beginning of February).   

     Last P-day we went to a beach in the area called pristine beach.  It was fun and there weren't many people.  We got a lot of cool pictures of us all.  During the week because it was my comanion's last week we had lots of dinner appointments with members and a few members took us out to dinner.  The bill was 1,400 pesos! I can live off less than that for a week.  The food was great though and it was really fun.

     One cool thing that happened this week was while we were out I saw a big spider spinning its web and I asked my companion if those are the kind the kids play with.  It was so he grabbed the spider and I put it in a little cardboard container and took it home. These spiders are big but they aren't venomous.  We were thinking of finding another spider and then having a spider fight, but I kind of got a little sick of having a spider and one of the elders told me I need to feed it and give it water which kind of makes it a pet now which aren't allowed.  I just threw it out the window and it probably now lives on the banana tree below our apartment.  I got some cool pictures.  I have now conquered my spider fear.

     One lesson we had this week was with the Lorenso family.  The father has really bad asthma and often has a hard time catching his breath.  There is also his wife and their 21 year old son.  They are really nice and like listening to us teach.  When we teach the mom says stuff like "oh I get it" and stuff like that.  They are really nice but will have to move along with all the other people that live in the houses under an unstable cliff that I mentioned in another email.

     Thats pretty much all for this week.

Love, Elder Harkness

Pictures:  At Pristine Beach.  Shell soup.  The "pet" spider.  Some delicious langka or jackfruit.

7/16

This week went by really fast.  Transfers are here and Elder Arpon has finished his mission.  He was a hard worker and liked missionary work but at the same time it is great to have a change.  I will stay here in the area another transfer.  I'm not super area trunky but I have been here a really long time (since the beginning of February).   

     Last P-day we went to a beach in the area called pristine beach.  It was fun and there weren't many people.  We got a lot of cool pictures of us all.  During the week because it was my comanion's last week we had lots of dinner appointments with members and a few members took us out to dinner.  The bill was 1,400 pesos! I can live off less than that for a week.  The food was great though and it was really fun.

     One cool thing that happened this week was while we were out I saw a big spider spinning its web and I asked my companion if those are the kind the kids play with.  It was so he grabbed the spider and I put it in a little cardboard container and took it home. These spiders are big but they aren't venomous.  We were thinking of finding another spider and then having a spider fight, but I kind of got a little sick of having a spider and one of the elders told me I need to feed it and give it water which kind of makes it a pet now which aren't allowed.  I just threw it out the window and it probably now lives on the banana tree below our apartment.  I got some cool pictures.  I have now conquered my spider fear.

     One lesson we had this week was with the Lorenso family.  The father has really bad asthma and often has a hard time catching his breath.  There is also his wife and their 21 year old son.  They are really nice and like listening to us teach.  When we teach the mom says stuff like "oh I get it" and stuff like that.  They are really nice but will have to move along with all the other people that live in the houses under an unstable cliff that I mentioned in another email.

     Thats pretty much all for this week.

Love, Elder Harkness

7/16

 This week went by really fast for me and everyone else in the apartment.  Before we knew it it was already Friday.  This email may be a little short because I forgot my journal and it is a little hard to remember everything without it. 

     This last week we had a good lesson with one of our new investigators, Sister Renalyn Grampa (yes it is just like the way we say grandpa). She has five kids and her husband works at a poultry place and is working a lot.  In one lesson we had this week she told us that she has searched a lot for the true church and that a lot of churches say that they are the true church.  We told her that she can know for herself that the things we have taught are true and that she doesn't just have to take our word for it.  I told her that none of the other religions that are saying that their church is true will tell her that she needs to come to know it for herself.  She and her family still hasn't been to church but it is a good start.  They live in a bamboo and wood house at the base of a cliff.  Last week a piece of the cliff fell off and landed close to their house and another piece looks like it will fall pretty soon still.

     For our other investgator, Aljan we were able to give him a cebuano book of mormon so he will understand better.  We weren't able to teach him this week.  When we are over there the whole family speaks cebuano.  It just sounds like tagalog that I can't understand.

     Last p day we went to the world war two place again where the American soldiers were burned. I saw an aerial picture from the war and noticed that it was my area.  It was cool to see how my area looked back 70 years ago.

     This week we also had the meet the president meeting.  We cleaned the church to make sure it was ready.  President Fermanis and his wife and their two teenagers came.  They had each of us missionaries stand up and tell the funniest story or experience we have had on our mission.  We were all laughing so hard.  I told the one I emailed last week about stepping into the canal and splashing a lady that was lighting her cigarette.  President Fermanis seems like he will be a great mission president. He seems a lot different from President Ostler.  I could tell they still have the culture shock and are unsure about everything.

     Last night I had a dream that I was home again.  It was so weird.  I wanted to feel the carpet and play the piano, look in the pantry, take a look at the dishwasher and washing machine and dryer, sit on a couch, drink clean water straight from the faucet, take a warm shower, use the garage door opener etc.  I know that I will never take these things for granted again.  I wish that you could all know how nice it is to have these things.

The mosquitoes aren't as bad here as they are in montana but there are some here and there.  The mosquitoes here are black and white striped and those are the ones that can carry dengue. 

      Meeting the president was good. He is a lot different from President Ostler he will let us listen to more music.  One thing that's different is that he wants us to read 10 pages a day of the book of mormon.  The first thing I thought when I saw him was "is the weight of the whole mission weighing on him?"  He just appears a lot different from president Ostler.  I think it will be good but I know he still has to get the hang of things.  He knows a lot about the history of the church and I can tell he has done a lot of reading in his life.

     Things are going good with my companion.  He isn't really trunky.  Transfers are next week

That is pretty much all for the week 

Love, Elder Harkness

     

7/9

This last week has been great with a few new investigators that seem promising.  We have been trying to teach a less active member and his nonmember wife and they actually showed up at church on Sunday.  We should definitely start teaching her.  I just hope they will keep coming every week and be available for us to teach them.   

     The other week our apartment door handle broke so we got a new one.  We had to get the key copied because there was only one.  We went to two different places that had key copier machines but none of them had matches for our key.  For a week an a half we had a string of floss attached to the key and the floss was discretely hanging out of a window so we all could get in.  we realized that we would probably have to go to someone who would file it by hand like we did last time.  Last time the keys worked but not super well.  When we went to this other key copier he was actually a lot better than the last one.  Instead of just using a file he used an electric saw thing and then filed it a little.   All of  the keys work okay so now we all have one.      We also did some exploring in the area this week.  We recently got tarpaulin area maps and we realized that a large part of what we thought was the sisters' area is actually part of ours.  This is pretty nice for us because we have a lot bigger area but it really stinks for the sisters because their area is pretty small now and they lost some of their investigators.

     Earlier this week my companion had to take an English test so we went to the senior couples' house.  They are Elder and Sister Porteous from Canada.  It was really great for me because while my companion was taking the test the senior couple was feeding me apples, crackers, and cheese, and gatorade.  

     On Thursday we had another lesson with our one investigator, Aljan.  He had read Lehi's dream and we talked about that.  He admitted to us that he felt something was missing in his life.  He also said he knows that what we are teaching him is good because of the member family he lives with.  He still hasn't been to church but I think he has a good chance of becoming more interested.

     One funny thing that happened this week was while we were out walking one night I was trying to text the zone leaders something when I stepped into a 1x1 foot canal full of the most disgusting black frothy water in the world.  It got all over my shoe and some on my pants.  I was so embarrassed because people around me noticed so I said to my companion  "Okay, lets go!"  What I didn't realize was that when I stepped into the black water it splashed onto a lady nearby who was trying to light her cigarette.  We apologized and we walked away.  It's one of those things that when you look back on it it is really funny.

     On Sunday there was a foreigner in church and we talked with him.  He is from Lehi, Utah and is here on military business.  He might be here for a few weeks.

My companion is doing alright.  It isn't anything huge.  We also get along alright.  We will all meet the new mission president this week when he comes.  The missionaries say he is really chill and has a New Zealand accent.  One funny thing is the philippinos can often speak English really well but it is hard for them to understand different accents in English.  One sister couldn't understand the new mission president. 

Palawan is really beautiful.  I have seen some great scenery especially the mountains that I send you pictures of.  It is even more beautiful up north in el nido but I won't be able to go there on my mission. 

Thanks for the emails mom.

Love,  Matthew

Thats pretty much everything from the week.

Elder Harkness

7/2

 We did a lot of finding this week in the area and found some new investigators.  We'll see if they progress at all. 

     Last week on p-day I did a bit of a food experiment.  Here they have a dessert called Biko.  It is basically just sweet sticky rice.  I tried making my own version of it last week by putting the rice in the cooker and adding sweetened condensed milk.  It actually turned out pretty good.

     Tuesday was another milestone on the mission.  On Tuesday I had exactly one year left on my mission.  

     This week we also did exchanges again and I worked in the other area.  We saw a fruit stand and I bought a watermelon that is yellow on the inside.  I think it tastes better than the red ones we have.

     Another day we had a fun service project in the other area.  We were weeding and clearing out a member's lot of land.  I thought it was really fun.  By the time we were done we had created a 4 foot wall of plants on one side of the lot.  We used sticks, rakes, hoes, and machetes to get it all done.  Afterwards the members fed us.

     We taught Aljan, one of our investigators about prayer and knowing that what we have taught is true.  He is living at the home of a member family so it is a good situation for us to teach him.  Unfortunately at the end of the lesson he thanked us for what we have taught him but he isn't really open about changing his religion because he is catholic.  It makes me a little mad when people just don't get it.  There are so many churches here in the philippines and none of them can compare to our church.  I have seen baptists, 7th day adventists, wesleyans, Jehovas witnesses, church of christ, iglesia ni cristo, etc.  Our church is the only church in the world that is organized from the top to the bottom.  The catholic church here can't even keep its incorrect doctrines straight.  If this church were not true I know that there is no possibility that there could be any other true or complete church.  If our investigators just knew this I don't think they could reject what we teach them.

     This week we also were able to contact a referral from  the sisters in the ward.  We were pretty lucky because we contacted them the day before the moved back to the area of the sisters that gave them to us.  I think this was a bit of divine help.  I'm sure the sisters will have a good time teaching them.  I always think it is fun trying to find people in the area.  Its kind of like an investigator treasure hunt.

--
We will meet the new mission president on the 12th when he comes to Palawan.  I see tourists here but only in certain areas.  There are hotels in my areas but and one resort but we don't go to those places a lot.  I met a guy from Russia who does tourism here.  The branch here is alright but the members don't work with us as much. 

Thanks for the email. I remembered it was yours and dad's anniversary this week.

Love,

Matthew

Love, Elder Harkness

6/25

Last Monday we had a dinner appointment with some members in our area.  It is a father, mother, and their teenage daughter.  Having dinner with them on Monday evenings is a pretty regular thing.  I really like it because almost always they serve huge fish that we completely devour.  I think one thing I will miss after my mission is all the sea fish.  There are so many different types and they taste pretty good.  They really don't taste fishy at all.  This last appointment they told us that their house was haunted by a ghost and then showed us a picture that the teenager had taken where in the first picture there is nothing in the background and in the second picture it looks like there is a ghost with black hair and is actually really creepy.  Sometimes the people here are so superstitious. We asked them if they had dedicated their home and they said they hadn't.  I told them they could dedicate it but they said they were fine and that the ghost was friendly. 

     Also last Monday in the morning we went to play basketball at the church.  When we were done we noticed a group of members from all around Palawan getting ready for a temple trip. When their meeting was over we went to see them.  I was really surprised to see two converts from my last area in Quezon.  They were on their way to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.  They were the two best investigators I have taught.  It was great to see them again because when I was transferred I never got a chance to say goodbye to anyone in the area.  We all got some pictures and then said goodbye.

     This week we also had a fun service project.  We weeded some and digged holes for fence posts.  At the beginning it was almost unbearably hot but we were pretty lucky when it started raining later on.  The rain was great to work in even though we got soaked.  The Philippinos wanted to take shelter because they know that if your head gets wet in the rain you will get sick.  The rest of the foreigners just kept working and got wet and guess what?  None of us got sick.  I guess that myth just got busted.

     We also had President Ostler's last zone conference with us this week.  It was a good meeting.  We talked about the new mission president.  He will be President Fermanis from New Zealand.  I have now spent one year with one mission president and have exactly one more year with the new one.  During the conference they showed some pictures from a recent convert trip to the temple.  I was surprised to see that about 1/3 of the pictures were of people I know from Quezon.  That area was really on fire.  I was so blessed to have gotten go be there when so much success was going on.

-- 

Love, Elder Harkness

Pictures:  1: part of the area.  2: I got a picture of a pet monkey while we were out.  3: A cool spider we saw while working.  These kind of spiders are really big but won't bite you. The little kids like to put two on a stick and have them fight.   4: The recent converts going on a trip to the temple.  I am a little sweaty because we had just finished playing basketball.

I actually didn't get transferred this transfer and am still in the area.  I expect I will be here two more transfers because my companion goes home after this transfer.  I am fine with staying in this area because it is big and we can try going to different areas when we get sick of old ones.   

     I'll be honest right now I'm not having a very good time as a missionary.  The investigators that we baptized never showed up to their confirmation and I am starting to feel like the guy just got baptized because the missionaries have been wanting him to for the past 7 or 8 months.  I feel like we probably just baptized him into less activity.  It makes me so mad when my companions want to baptize someone who I don't feel is completely ready or committed.  It makes me feel like I have no control.  They always say "just have faith" or "just trust them".  Also, another thing that drives me crazy is how the companion I am with right now isn't always obedient and then today when I opened my email from president one part was about how we are supposed to report all disobedience to him.  It just makes me so mad! It isn't worth making my life heck and have a companion that I have to stay with 24/7 angry with me just to report some dumb obedience to president.  Right now I am tired of everything and another year still seems like forever especially when I have to be with companions who have the potential to make my life a nightmare.  Sometimes I just want a break from missionary work but there really never is.

Sorry I am writing another email to you that is just venting.  Thanks for your emails.

Love Matthew

Missionary work is not always fun. Sometimes it's miserable to get up and have to go do it. That is an honest truth. I loved my mission but I felt that way fairly often. More especially when I had a hard companion. In those times you need to think about what you believe. We teach that the atonement can take away people's sins and carry their burdens. Sometimes as a missionary I needed to really decide if I believed that myself or not. Can Christ carry my burdens? It is necessary that you put whatever you are struggling with on the Lord. It requires faith to do that. You need to put your trust in him. If you are obedient and following the promptings of the spirit, then you are exactly where God wants you to be and have all of the tools that God wants you to have. You have talked about how some of the mission rules are dumb or not necessary. While this might be true, working without a willing heart will block you from the spirit's guidance and the comfort that you need to fight your battles.

 Having a disobedient companion can be hard. It limits your ability to do God's work. It is discouraging and makes you wonder why they can't just shape up and make it easy on both of you. In everything that you do, reach out to your companion in love. Even when you are trying to correct his behavior. I never felt good after loosing my temper with a companion. Good companions fight. Just not in the way you're thinking. What I mean by fight is that they discuss problems and work towards resolutions. Bad companions let a problem exist without doing anything. Be a good companion. Communicate how you are feeling with your companion. Let him know that you are discouraged or happy or not comfortable with how the lesson was taught. It is okay to take a minute and just talk with your companion. If they are not going to work with you then let a priesthood leader know. Your district leader, zone leader and mission president need to know the status of the relationship of your companionship. While I was a zone leader we had a missionary that became very disobedient and was wanting to go home. His companion confronted him. It wasn't resolved so he let the district leader know. The district leader let me know and all of us working together with the mission president and love for that missionary were able to correct the bad behavior and the missionary repented and finished his mission faithfully.  

All of this stuff is hard to do. I know that. But it's the right thing to do. I love you and want you to have a good mission. That's why I'm writing this email. You are a good person and will do well on your mission. You will be happy when you look back at what you were able to do in your time in the Philippines. Love, James

6/11

This week was really crazy and different but was good and ended in two great baptisms.  Out of all the weeks I have been on my mission this one had the least amount of proselyting.  On Tuesday we had Zone conference, Wednesday a service project and a baptismal interview that they never showed up to, Thursday two baptismal interviews that they showed up late to.  Friday another failed baptismal interview and we were running around trying to find them, Saturday we had the baptism.   

     It has actually been nice to do some different things this week rather than the usual proselyting every day and it was great to have the baptism on Saturday.  The man that we baptized has been an investigator for about 8 months and couldn't be baptized because he wasn't married.  We finally got them married a few weeks ago and they were coming to church so they were able to be baptized.  It was a great experience. After months of being taught I think I have seen a change in him and he seems like a happier nicer guy. 

     Also this week we had a broadcast from Salt Lake city.  Elder Bednar and a few others spoke.  One of the talks was really focused on obeying even if we don't know or understand the reason.  It was a great broadcast and missionaries from other areas stayed at our apartment because of how far they had to drive.  

     All in all this was a really fun successful week.

--

Love, Elder Harkness

6/4

   This week was a great week and we have been having some good success.  The guy that we got married the other week and his two daughters should be baptized this Saturday.  It has been a good project getting them married and everything because it has gotten ward members more involved with his conversion and in fellowshipping.  It will be good to have a baptism this Saturday because it is the last Saturday before transfers and I am expecting I will be transferred.   

     This week we also got to do a really fun service project. We painted a wall for an elememtary school and Elder Arpon and I cut grass.  They haven't quite invented the lawn mower yet here so we used machetes.  

 Although this week was really good for missionary work and everything this week also was a week of a few disasters.  Last Sunday in the evening it rained so hard.  In one part of my area there is a neighborhood that lives by the ocean right next to a cliff.  When it rained a big chunk of the cliff broke off and smashed a house killing four people.  Everyone in the area living next to the cliff has moved out and are in an evacuation center.  

     Another even bigger disaster that happened this week was a huge fire that destroyed a neighborhood in my area.  I don't think anyone was killed though but we did have a few investigators living there.  One of these investigators was a 79 year old man who was great to teach and he liked listening to us.  I felt really bad for him because his house was completely destroyed.  Everyone in this place has either moved or is living in a covered basketball court.

     

Pictures: 1  Our investigator the day before his house burned down.  Afterwards we were able to give him another book of mormon.

2  The damage from the fire.

3  Service project this week.

4  Weeding out grass

--

Love, Elder Harkness

5/28

I can't believe the trip to belize was a year ago.  It doesn't seem like a long time ago to me.   I am also excited for my year mark.  One year isn't forever like two years is.  I think it would be fun to work at Cooke city again after I return.  Honestly, I think James is going to be really bored this summer just himself.  I was never bored there because I had all the other cousins and had a great time doing hikes and canoeing but I think I would get bored and lonely by myself. 

Thanks for the email.  Also, could you see if you and dad could get my debit card figured out?  It stopped working.  I went to the website earlier but couldn't get it figured out.  Because of that I really don't have much computer time left at all.  Thanks

Love, Matthew

5/22

I never thought that I would ever be getting two people married but that is what we did yesterday. Our investigator on the left wearing the white shirt has been an investigator for a long time but isn't married to his wife so we finally scheduled a day and when to the Justice Hall and got them married.  Him and two of his kids will probably be baptized on June 10 if they come to church the next two weeks.

The missionares from the puerto princesa zone.  Our district became a stake recently and we had the first stake conference.  Elder Boen, and area seventy came and it was a great stake conference.

I think that on this point of my mission/life I can conquer almost any food.  Here I am eating the philippino delicacy, "Balut"  It is a fertilized duck egg and the duck inside is 17 days old.  It was so gross but I can't really say I've been to the philippines if I haven't tried balut.  It didn't taste to bad but there was definitely a duck inside and the texture was really gross.  All philippinos like it and they eat it with salt and vinegar.

This last week I went on exchanges with my district leader, Elder Rushton from Utah.  We had to do something awesome so we went and ordered this huge pizza and ate the entire thing just ourselves.  You can also see the near empty pitcher of fanta behind it.  It was a fun exchange and after we were completely stuffed from eating this pizza we were forced to eat more food given to us by some members for their daughter's 1st birthday.  I was stuffed.

This last week was pretty adventurous in the area.  We have been working a lot with finding less actives and part member families.  I think that is really the only way to do it.  It is so much easier to get a baptism if a member works with you or they have some connection to the church.  One day we were looking for an inactive member but couldn't find him.  The next day while we were out we stumbled upon him when we got invited to a birthday party dinner.  It is cool how we eventually find the people we are looking for.  We are now teaching his non-member wife.   

     We I had a good exchange this week with my district leader in my area.  We worked really hard and rewarded ourselves with a huge pizza and ate the entire thing.  It was pretty great and also pretty expensive.  I will have to wait until next month before trying something like that again.

     This last week our branch also became a ward The Puerto Princesa 1st ward.  Our new bishop is an Australian who lives here with his philippino wife.  He is the only white person in the whole ward.  He also doesn't speak tagalog.  Most people here are alright with English but there are some that don't speak it.  I don't know what he will do when he has to interview someone who doesn't speak English.  

     Recently the other elders in the appartment have been talking about how I have never eaten Balut, a philippino delicacy.  It is a fertilized duck egg with a real duck inside.  One night we were walking down the street when a balut vendor was riding his bike toward us.  My companion wanted to buy one.  The vendor was a less active member and I told him I would buy one if he came to church that Sunday.  Later that night we cracked open the balut and I gave it a try.  I just don't know why people eat that stuff.

--

Love, Elder Harkness

5/7

We had a Family Home evening with some members and ate this huge fish.   It was really good.

A giant fish head!  the members had already sold the rest of it.

Me with the other elders at the top of Bakers hill.

Last P day we went to a tourist spot called bakers hill.  There were a lot of statues and things to take pictures of.  There was also a really good bakery there.

This past week was transfers.  I am still in Puerto Princesa but have a new companion, Elder Arpon.  He only has three months left or two transfers.  That means either this will be my last transfer here or I will be here in this area for a long time.  Elder Arpon is from Leyte.  His language is warai warai.  One cool thing on my mission is that I have never had a companion who's native language was the same as another companion.  1st companion Bisaya, second companion Pangalatok,  Third companion, Ilocano, and now my fourth companion's native language is Warai Warai.  There are so many languages in the Philippines. 

    Because transfers were this week it was pretty long and lots of missionaries stayed over at our apartment which of course resulted in sleep deprivation.  One cool thing was two missionaries that were serving in Quezon, my first area were being transferred to Manila and I was able to follow up what has happened since I left.  The 22 year old sister that we baptized is still active in the church and wants to serve a mission.  Her 18 year old brother that was baptized the week after I left is now the young men's president and also wants to serve a mission.  The family with the mother and four girls that we baptized are still active as well.  I was really happy to find that the people we baptized in my first area are still active and going to church and that some of them may serve missions.  

     As for this area it is a lot more tough but we have been seeing some success.  Last Sunday some new investigators that we only taught once happened to show up at church and seemed to have a good experience.  Another investigator that we have been working on also showed up with his family.  We are working on getting him married.  I think we should be seeing some success in this area over the next few months.

       

--

Love, Elder Harkness

4/30

This is the fish head that another missionary made me eat.  He ate the other half.  It was like a super salty fishy chip.

An awesome sunset from the window while doing studdies.

We had a baptism this last Saturday.  The girl in the middle is the one we baptised.  Here mother is the one on the far left and the father is the one kneeling in the blue.  Here parents aren't members but the rest of the people in the picture are her extended family members who she always goes to church with.

Some kids were catching these sea critters in a bottle and it was pretty cool.  There's a jellyfish some squid, a long worm fish thing and some other really small fish.

Thanks mom.  Sorry this is late but I found out that skyping is next Monday (Sunday night in Provo) and I realize you guys will be in Korea.  I will still try to skype you guys.  It will be on monday morning because you are in Korea.  It would have been Sunday night in provo.  I realize that skyping might not work out this time and I won't be able to email you all again until it is time to skype.  If it all works out I will be skyping to you guys next Monday morning between 8:00 and 10:00.  It is okay if you guys can't Skype. 
This email will be really short because I don't have much time left.  This last week was really good.  We finally got a baptism in this area.  The first one in Months!!  Transfers are this week so I don't know if I will have a new companion, be transferred or stay the same. 

    Things are going alright in the area.  We got one investigator who doesn't believe in any religion after searching for years.  He told us if we can convince him that our church is true then he will join.  I told him that depends on you.  I really does.  As missionaries we can teach, bear testimony, and invite but if the investigator isn't willing to do anything nothing will happen.  Hopefully he will keep his commitments.

     The baptism last saturday was good.  My companion baptised our 8 year old investigator Kayla.  Afterwards we all had pizza.

--

Love, Elder Harkness

Love, Matthew

4/23

We cleaned up these streets

The view out our window.

This past week we have gotten a lot of new investigators.  I have found that in this area we have to work a little differently than I did in my last area.  This last week I told my companion that we were going to a certain area and we were going to knock on every single person's door.  There just aren't enough interested people here for us to walk until we see someone like in my last area.  It has proved effective and we got a lot of new investigators this week.  One of the investigators was an old man in his 80s.  He was really nice and we taught him a little bit about the plan of salvation.  We also gave him a plan of salvation pamphlet and when we came back to him and asked him about it he said "I don't have any problems with it."  Some other investigators we found are friendly but the worst is when you get to the end of the lesson and think they are golden investigators and then find out that the husband in a fisherman (they are gone too often to come to church enough times to be baptized).  The fishermen here go out on their boats for days to weeks.  One fisherman I talked to told me that the best fishing is down in Malaysia.  I asked him how long it takes to get to Malaysia and he said it takes a week (and that is traveling on one of those boats that I have sent pictures to you of). 

     This last week we also had interviews and zone conference which was great.  Interviews and zone conferences are always so motivational. 

     This Saturday we will have the baptism of our 8 year old investigator Kayla.  I am excited at last to have a baptism in this area after almost two transfers.  This area hasn't had a baptism in many months.   

--

Love, Elder Harkness

Hidden homes

 It was transfers this last week but Elder Paguigan and I are still companions.  That is pretty normal though.  Usually you are in an area for four transfers and have two companions there.  I expect to be here until July and get a new companion next transfer on May 3.  Today is another mile mark on my mission because today I have exactly one year and three months left.  

     Last week we found a lot of good new investigators.  In our area I have found that there are places where people live but they are kind of hidden.  For example, the access to five or more houses may only be a small pathway between houses and buildings that could be easily overlooked.  We found one of these places and found some good investigators inside. People are more willing to talk to a foreigner like me than if both missionaries are Philippinos.  It helps us get lessons because people want to hear me speak Tagalog because foreigners here almost never speak Tagalog even if they live here.    

      As for our investigators that we already have they are dong pretty much the same.  We will have a baptism for an 8 year old girl in the next few weeks and one for another once we get him married to his living partner.  I am exited to see the area progress in the next few months.

     Last Saturday when we were out working in the morning we had been able to get two lessons and were going to try to get another when we noticed the people in the streets were very distressed.  They were saying that there was a fire.  I could see a big cloud of black smoke rising and we decided it wasn't a good idea for us to go over there.  On Sunday we went to the area where the fire was.  There were about five houses that were completely burned down.  One of those houses was the one we would have gone to on Saturday if the fire hadn't happened.  When I think back, if we had gotten one less lesson on Saturday morning we would  have been at that house just in time for it to burn down.  I am glad we weren't there for that to happen.

     Sunday night we also had a good dinner with our branch president at his house.  People asked me questions about the United states like what we eat.  They were surprised when I told them that we don't eat the same thing every day like rice.

--

Love, Elder Harkness

We live on the second floor of this apartment.  It is a pretty nice apartment.

I took this picture out of the back of a trike.  The trikes you see are what we ride every day  to get places.

Dinner at our branch presidents house.  Spaghetti, rice, crabs, and pork.

Me at the apartment to go out on a pday.