Hey Family,

Happy Boys day and cinco de majo. Not really sure where to start with this week. Been really thinking about our Savior this week like usual like a missionary does, because with out him we really cant do anything. with the secret out that i am going home soon, elders are always telling me how i need to see Batman, both spidermans and ironm and stuff like that. It really makes me laugh, because maybe they dont realize that we are in the middle of a "superhero" movie. The lord is the best super hero ever. i have seen his hand daily, and then some. He is working miracles and really saving lives. So really i am blessed to be apart of it. This week i finished the lords playbook for the 5 time on my mission, all out april is over. Its been a blessing to sit down and again read it, i read slow but it was a blessing to read it as a story and really still feel its power. i hope you all found some time to read it. share with me your thoughts. 

Monday was a blessing of a day, Pday was slow but we had lunch with one of our invesitgators named Dorian. we teach him english but always tie the gospel into it. that was fun the blessing was we found one of my old invesitagtors named Jasmin,yall remember her? She came up to me and said hi in the mall. It was so cool to see her, she isnt interested still but she is heading back to denmark so i feel as if the missionaries there who speak her language can really help her. it was cool then we felt so pumped up ready to find. we recieved some crazy energy after pday and we went out and it was good. we met one super cool girl named ania. she listend and we taught her about Joseph Smith, she really liked it. she was studing and says that she is busy but took a book and said call monday meaning tonight i will call her, then right after her. We met Aneta and Mateusz. They were a couple who live in Toruń which is maybe 45 minutes outisde of bydgoszcz but we have members that live there. but we talked and they listened. it was so cool. we will call them after their tests and go out and visit them. Man we took adavantage of that energy and had a great night. marek our b date is still on course for 24 of may. he flaked once this week but came to church and he has been taught everything but the law of chasitiy which is usually the 1st commandment i teach but just how it worked out i guess. But he is loving church, and doing good. leszek our member has been doing a good job helping us, he is so cool.Me and him are really close, he reminds me alot of Raymond. So we are always teasing each other and yeah its fun being around him. he is rock of  a member. Friday was amazing. My final zone confrence, and it was incredible. we talked about how when we contact ( for those who forgot what that is...its when you walk on the street and talk to EVERYONE.) but we need to talk about baptism. it was power ful and really its been working. it was sad it was my last but the spirit was there and it was a good last one. the APS stayed at our apartment, meaning Vernon came over. Its funny becasue, me and him have been good friends but not way way close, like i am with Tingey Baranowski or Weir from my group. But this transfer he has been calling me and we have been doing this and that for president and we then end up talking for like 15 minutes. we have gotten really close and its funny because we are the only ones from our group flying to salt lake. i would call him one of my best friends out here on the mission, it was so good to see him. he is such a good missionary. Sunday church was good also i called my buddy down in warsaw 2 branch Tadeusz, that recent convert me and hubbard got close with? yeah that fool is engaged and getting married in the temple in august. Dang i was so happy. i call and he is like sorry Bracie harris meaning brother harris. I didnt tell you. But come to find out its the girl eh was fliritng with in the branch.i used to tease him for it but sure enough. cool huh? he was really excited to talk so that was great.

Sunday though we decieded to visit Robert. I was so nervous and wasnt sure what to do if he answered the door. sure enough he answers oh cześć harris. we then walk outside. it was awkward, and really i was lost for words. we talked and he looks lost. he is different but it was so good to see him. he doesnt really like our church but wants to meet in the chapel on tuesday. so i will let you all know how it goes. please pray for him. But that is just and example of the lords hand.its everywhere. i love my savior. I dont get to many amazing teaching stories but the experiences i have are most sacred for me because they are for me. il ove you all happy mothers day and i will talk to you all later :)

Love

Elder Harris

Hey Family,

Happy Boys day and cinco de majo. Not really sure where to start with this week. Been really thinking about our Savior this week like usual like a missionary does, because with out him we really cant do anything. with the secret out that i am going home soon, elders are always telling me how i need to see Batman, both spidermans and ironm and stuff like that. It really makes me laugh, because maybe they dont realize that we are in the middle of a "superhero" movie. The lord is the best super hero ever. i have seen his hand daily, and then some. He is working miracles and really saving lives. So really i am blessed to be apart of it. This week i finished the lords playbook for the 5 time on my mission, all out april is over. Its been a blessing to sit down and again read it, i read slow but it was a blessing to read it as a story and really still feel its power. i hope you all found some time to read it. share with me your thoughts. 

Monday was a blessing of a day, Pday was slow but we had lunch with one of our invesitgators named Dorian. we teach him english but always tie the gospel into it. that was fun the blessing was we found one of my old invesitagtors named Jasmin,yall remember her? She came up to me and said hi in the mall. It was so cool to see her, she isnt interested still but she is heading back to denmark so i feel as if the missionaries there who speak her language can really help her. it was cool then we felt so pumped up ready to find. we recieved some crazy energy after pday and we went out and it was good. we met one super cool girl named ania. she listend and we taught her about Joseph Smith, she really liked it. she was studing and says that she is busy but took a book and said call monday meaning tonight i will call her, then right after her. We met Aneta and Mateusz. They were a couple who live in Toruń which is maybe 45 minutes outisde of bydgoszcz but we have members that live there. but we talked and they listened. it was so cool. we will call them after their tests and go out and visit them. Man we took adavantage of that energy and had a great night. marek our b date is still on course for 24 of may. he flaked once this week but came to church and he has been taught everything but the law of chasitiy which is usually the 1st commandment i teach but just how it worked out i guess. But he is loving church, and doing good. leszek our member has been doing a good job helping us, he is so cool.Me and him are really close, he reminds me alot of Raymond. So we are always teasing each other and yeah its fun being around him. he is rock of  a member. Friday was amazing. My final zone confrence, and it was incredible. we talked about how when we contact ( for those who forgot what that is...its when you walk on the street and talk to EVERYONE.) but we need to talk about baptism. it was power ful and really its been working. it was sad it was my last but the spirit was there and it was a good last one. the APS stayed at our apartment, meaning Vernon came over. Its funny becasue, me and him have been good friends but not way way close, like i am with Tingey Baranowski or Weir from my group. But this transfer he has been calling me and we have been doing this and that for president and we then end up talking for like 15 minutes. we have gotten really close and its funny because we are the only ones from our group flying to salt lake. i would call him one of my best friends out here on the mission, it was so good to see him. he is such a good missionary. Sunday church was good also i called my buddy down in warsaw 2 branch Tadeusz, that recent convert me and hubbard got close with? yeah that fool is engaged and getting married in the temple in august. Dang i was so happy. i call and he is like sorry Bracie harris meaning brother harris. I didnt tell you. But come to find out its the girl eh was fliritng with in the branch.i used to tease him for it but sure enough. cool huh? he was really excited to talk so that was great.

Sunday though we decieded to visit Robert. I was so nervous and wasnt sure what to do if he answered the door. sure enough he answers oh cześć harris. we then walk outside. it was awkward, and really i was lost for words. we talked and he looks lost. he is different but it was so good to see him. he doesnt really like our church but wants to meet in the chapel on tuesday. so i will let you all know how it goes. please pray for him. But that is just and example of the lords hand.its everywhere. i love my savior. I dont get to many amazing teaching stories but the experiences i have are most sacred for me because they are for me. il ove you all happy mothers day and i will talk to you all later :)

Love

Elder Harris

Rodzino,

So we are starting off the new transfer just like that. And honestly couldnt be more excited. I am lucky because my former companion Elder Swicegood is zone leader here in Bydgoszcz so i will get to see him alot, he is actually on exchange as we speak. Look at the little boy go. But last week was busy we were every where. Helping sisters go here and elders go there. Its was insane, but cool at the same time, love helping people. Its already been way fun being back with the Stumpf, we taught english together the first night he was here and yeah nothing has changed. we are still that dynamic duo as President Edgren said when we first got "teamed up." Thursday though was cool, President Egren came into Bydgoszcz to do temple interviews. So he took us out to lunch and we through down a bunch of pizza at pizza hut. I love that place miss the chicken alfredo but the pizza is still good.  Its always a blessing to be around president. He also imformed us that a members husband was planning on getting baptized...So when i got home called Branch President Zalewski and sure enough, Sebastian who is the husband of Oktawia,she is the branch presidents daughter. he is getting baptized. President Edgren says we don t need to teach him everything because he has been paying tithing and coming to church and all activies for like 7 years... so i intervied him on friday acutally new alot, and bore testimony to me of the book of mormon. so i asked him what changed.. because its a little weird that all of the sudden you want to be baptized. he explained how the example of his wife through their time dating and marrage how she was strong on everything and finally after talking and praying he new it was time. really cool experience. He was baptized yesterday, only family went but president zalewski said it was awesome. So i am happy that a family is getting closer and closer thanks to the gospel. Easter here wasnt normal, we spent an hour together as a district to watch bible videos and we talked about what felt, and it was powerful. Super special. I am so grateful for our savior...what he does for us, what he did, and what he will do...its amazing. everything that i was able to do meaning sports, work, be with family is all thanks to him. Its interesting Elder Eyring once said that he is our captian. I am blessed to have been called to this all star team. With the lord leading us we cant loose. I just want to say to all who are thinking of missions, to go...and if your not sure its for you...pray and then go. I promise its for you. But hey i know this is all true. I am doing so good, i am glad you all are doing good. you all be safe love you and miss you all.

Love
Elder Harris

Rodzina.....

So to to start off it was funny, i was on exchange with the Great Red Elder Kotter, and we were meeting with a recent convert in our branch named Wojtek. Super cool guy. He was baptzed maybe 4 months ago, but we asked him is story come to find out he recieved an flyer from Elders Vernon, and Allen, they were on exchange after i left. And so he has the flyer, then went home and was watching TV, he was watching South Park, and they were of course talking about Mormons and he liked the episode and loved at the end how God or something was like I am sorry SR but it was the mormons who were correct. so he goes oh i met them, went online and reffered himself, now he is a member. Cool story eh? crazy how south park is "advertisment." but yes this week was super good. It at times got a little hard but i am truely blessed to have the siblings that i do because when it gets hard all i have to do is think of them and i know what i am doing is worth it. So Kelly Aj Nicole Rylie Bubba Peyton, and Jordyn i love you all to death! but back to The exchange it was super fun sorry i forgot to take a pic so before Kotter leaves on wednesday to Lublin to be Branch President i will take one, oh yeah Elder Swicegood is getting exchanged out but only to the other apartment to be zone leader and i get to stay and be with my big ol german buddy! Elder Stumpf!! crazy to think he will be my last companion...only 9 more weeks....flip. But my exchange with Kotter was super fun, we did so good we talked to people like crazy and passed out a lot of books. Also we met with one of their investigators named Laslo he is from Hungary, but he speaks really bad Polish but understandable...its funny for example, To say i am saying is "myślę" but he says "myślim" which means nothing but he just guesses and its funny, he even makes up words so talking with him is like uh.....Kotter is a great missionary though such a spaz but loves the work he is way into healthy thinks we createad a diet and it involves smoothies. We made them like they were going out of style! so i may come back nice and thin...or they may turn into milkshakes...wish me luck. But wednesday was crazy. Elders Jespersen and Żeleźniak called me to say good bye. they were going into the mission home on thursday and wanted to say bye. Crazy to think they are home. i remember being in Gdańsk with Elder and Sister Myler ;) and Elder Myler my first or second day was like oh my gosh Elder Sorn is home...and he was like freaking out Elder Myler style, now i understand why thats weird. It was good to talk to them. Thursday we met with Marek, and he accepted a baptismal date for the 17 of may. We are way exctied but he didnt come to church is a catholic and they dont really believe in going to church every sunday or atleast the polish ones dont so he was like yeah didnt want to come today. So we need to help him undertstand the importance of church. he loved confrence so, he has the potencial, just needs to act on it more. 

Reading the Book of Mormon is such a blessing, even if its 1 verse to maybe 15 minutes, it is such a blessing, i hope all of you who are reading this will take some time to read it, i promies you all have time, you if you dont have time then you need to make time or look at what you do all day and figure out how you can get from the comptur emailing me, to reading, it will bring you so much comfort that the daily trials you have will not seem so big.

Nothing really more to say. I hope you all have a good easter. remember that i love you all and i pray for you all, sorry the letter is lame but hey Cześć Wam!

Z Miłością

Starszy Shawn Michał Harris

Umiłowana Rodzino,

Can we say 100 points to Confrence this weekend? Dang Wasnt able to watch all of it but saw most of it and it was so inspiriing. i loved Elder Hollands talk about standing up for what we believe. yes we need to be nice still but i love that he is telling us to do so, because we cant be push overs. But Elder Bednars was super good, Eryings, ANdersons And even Bishop stevensons was good, and Elder Zvicks i think...Yeah thats it. But it was so good. we spent the whole weekend watching it mostly. Because saturday night is when Saturday morning session is, and then we finsh them off sunday. We all day sunday spent the time at the Kagele house. they made us food and it was a blast always is with them. I hope they understand how amazing they are how much we appriciate them. They do so much for us. But Saturday we went and tried to visit robert...yeah he wasnt home...it sucks that i cant get a hold of him. Not sure whats going on with him but would really like to see him, and try and help him. I know that fool has a testimony i have seen the change it gave him and i know it will bless his new boy! But of course you have downs in life, but there is ALWAYS more ups, you just need to find them. Friday was hard no one listened but me and swicegood stayed positive, towards the end of the nigh walking home we see a young girl, so we stop her. She tells us that she used to read the Bible a lot but nothing seemed to speak to her enough. So she just moved on. we bore testimony about the Book of Mormon and well she accpeted a time to meet and we will be meeting with her tonight. She is cool her name is marta and she was a blessing in our day. So things are going good. Our investigator Marek is making progress. He came to Confrence at the chapel and really liked it. He said he liked the sharp words from Elder Holland, and the Eyring talk was money! we talked to him about baptizm this week and we will see how he feels now. He wasnt ready he wanted to read more, but we will see. He is super nice and really sincre. Always is reading and is trying. just praying, which is my favorite thing so should be simple to teach him that again. Things here are going good though cant complain. The ALL OUT APRIL is super hard becasuse i am terrible at reading...but it has been amazing none the less. ALso on tuesday had zone training and had interviews with president. I love talking to him, we talked about the rest of my mission and what i expect. Its crazy final transfer call this week and its my final transfer. i am so grateful for this mission, this gospel. It truely is true and for everyone. I encourage all who are thinking to serve missions to do it. Its worth it. every second of the pain and hard times, i promise you all will love it. But i know this church is true the book of mormon is inspired and you all should read it. I love you guys and miss you guys!

Miłego tygodnia!

Z Wielką Miłością 

Starszy Harris

 pic is of me Swicegood, White and Odyseuś a member here in Bydgoszcz, we all wore our split ties!

Rodzina i Przyjaciele,

So i have been informed that there is a super funny Kevin James movie out called Here comes the boom? i hear it came out maybe a year ago but is funny. is that true? but anyways what a week. To start off the week it was a little rough prosyliting on the streets this week. alot of people in Poland either are JDUBs or Catholic or hate God and have recently been reading stuff on science. And its been frustrating because, all they want to do is sit there and argue about this and that and how science proves jesus false and everytime i go uh...science and history have stated that they traced evidences of things that happened in jersulamen back when jesus was here. but they go uh...i never read that i dont believe its true, so i got ah ha! so read this book to find out if its true and they just leave. I have aruging and hate feeling like i am forcing people, but hey its the work and i love it! Me and Elder Swicegood on thursday since we had nothing planned decided to take the day off and go see a movie...haha just kidding, we did what is called an English Fast. its where you speak polish the entire day. we didnt do the entire day but whenever we were outside we did nothing but polish and it was so fun. it was good for him, he is such a hard working missionary i am way lucky to be seriving with him. but now to the weekend maybe my mom has already posted pics of the weekend from sisters Kageles blog but this weekend was fun. We started off doing a sports saturday. of course only one member shows up the kageles oldest daughter and one investigator. but they came so we played a little touch football, and i taught everyone how to play a really simple touch rugby. it was fun. elder white is the only other athletic one who was playing so it made it interesting. Elder Kotter being the love able spaz that he is was loving rugby so i converted one person to rugby on my mission. But then we had the humbling oppurtunity to serve. Sister Kagele helps out with some program that helps serve people not really sure but she had the missionaries a little while ago help out and they asked for us again. so we went to this house, this family was given this place for free by the state but the state didnt remodel it or anything. it wasnt even live in able. it was bad. so we went and helped out did some dry way took part of the wall out and yeah it was cool. they were so grateful but the father told us that we were like angels. It was cool to see a quick diffrence. But my highlight of saturday had to have been the phone call from Krzysztof in sosnowiec. He was baptized! i wasnt able to attend but Elder Hubbard and Anderson taught him and he was baptized. Krzysztof called me and we talked and he bore his powerful testimony of the atonement and the book of mormon and told me how grateful he is for me. It was so cool. His entire process is the definition of the atonement. the lord blesses the ones who are ready. then sunday in church we had fast sunday. i got up and bore my testimony and i always get nervous speaking, that i told the congregation that "Mój Dziadek jest Prorokiem..." meaning my Dzia Dzia is a prophet, but i wanted to say that "Mój Dziadek jest Polakiem..." meaning that my Diza Dzia is polish...yeah super funny but then i fixed it saying that all of us are prophets over ourselves but as members of the church we should follow the phrophet over all of us and thats Thomas s Monson. Yeah its 21 months later and still make polish mistakes. hard language. hahaha but it was a good laugh.then after sacrament meeting me and swicegood taught the young men and womens class becaus their teacher wasnt there. It was so hard they just sat there and looked at their phones...so sorry to all my leaders for being a punk back in the day. but it went well. We met with a man named Marek. he is a funny guy. he sits there and listens but always trys to finish my sentances so i looked at him and was like marek we are much be best friends because your finishing my sentances...he starts laughing and he is really liking what we are teaching. will met with him on tuesday and will extend a date to be baptized. so pray for that. then we did culture night. we went to the kageles house and made polish food and then watched 17 Miracles. Have yall seen it yet?? If not repent and go see it. Its so amazing, i love how during all the hard times they dont pray for it to go away but for a way to go through it. faith is so important. weather it be true or not, faith brings people happyness and a understanding of things. the lord really does love us, watches over us and wont let us fall, he is our foundation. Build on the rock of the lord and be a wise man, i love you all and hope you all are doing good. I pray for you and miss you all. Love yall!

Love

Elder Harris

Drodzy Rodzina i Przyjaciele,

Been reading the Księga Mormona (Book of Mormon) in Polish from cover to cover to try something new and tell you what its not only true in Polish it teaches me something new. For starters its written simply, just like the gospel is. Its simple. The lord knows that life is hard but he gaves us a plan that supports us, and is easy to know. But i read 2 Nefi 9:42...knock and it shall be opened up to you? yall know what i am talking about? its written many times. But every time it is written it uses the word Kołatać in Polish. which is a staropolskie słowo (old polish word) which they used when knocking on castle doors. you had to knock hard on them you know. but it means to knock hard or to bang. Brought a whole new meaning to it. when we pray we need to pray more. He hears us but do we really want it? when its cold outside and you want to get inside what do you do? Knock till you get an answer. like with Prayers you need to knock and knock until they are answered. Me and Elder Swicegood used that to work hard this week. We met with some Active members to try and get close to them. Met with My polish Grandma Anna Wilk and she is always nice but we met with you 9 year old grand son who is just like AJ cutest little guy ever. So we had fun and it was cool to teach. Also we met with Andrzej Wencel. He is a stud member. He speaks perfect english so we taught in english. it was hard not going to lie. but to be honest his testimony is so strong it was cool to see. this week also we were able to find 3 new investigators one being a way cool story. We contacted Józef on the street didnt really want to talk about Jesus and stuff but we gave him some SHORT BOLD STATEMENTS OF TRUTH and he then 1 hour later called saying he was thinking about what we said and that he wants to meet. it was cool! the work is going foreward. sorry not much time today but i love you all so much i pray for you and miss you all! i know this church is true and that faimiles are number 1

Love
Elder Harris

Elder Harris and Elder Swicegood

Hey happy green day everyone!

Nothing new or exciting going on here. The weather for the most part was starting to get really nice. we were pulling out sweaters and cardagins it was nice. This week was really fun, we started off with being in a three some for like 8 hours on monday. because of exchanges and what not, but it was pday so not a big deal. we had a member want to go get this juice with us. Its like fresh stuff way healthy i guess. So we go and well it was really really good. any fruit you want! I got strawberry peach ( of course ) and orange. it was good. but what really opened my eyes is what it means to this members to take missionaries out. Her name is Kasia, the one who was way exctied when i came back and gave me hug. But she and her husband where taught by Gudnason, Tiner and my boy Weir. Their story is so cool but long. But they really dont have money. And so she took us out and paid, she wouldnt let us pay her back but what was humbling was to see how much that meant to here. She told me she had been saving money so she could take us out because she is so grateful for us. Amazing, can we say true meaning of christmas. She wanted to do something for us, i dont know maybe i am not explaining very well but it was humbling to see how much a giving a gift meant to some one. Straight up makes me think of our message of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. he did it for us because he wanted to. But yeah tuesday though had some potiental. We had the whole day set up with meetings from last weeks contacting, but everyone flaked ahhhh it was so hard. Wednesday was busy running around babysitting missionaries and what not. but really it still turned out good. Thursday we had a meeting with Franciszek one of my old investiagators from a year ago. it was such a good lesson. we taught him about the spirit, and how we can recgonize it better. he is going to continue to read but will be on vacation for a bout 2 weeks so we will see what happens. Friday was fun we did a game night, i was the jenga champion but unfortunatly only a couple members came but it was still really fun. we have a member here named Leszek Szymański and he is so funny he always is talking  about movies and i have seen some of them so he is like oh Elder Harris we are very similar and so he really likes me. He actually is the one who helped with Robert and Baptzed him. ON that note nothing from Robert cant get him to answer. keep praying but one day i will see him again. But the game night went really well. Saturday we were blessed to go to Toruń and visit the Skurzyńscy family. they are a straight up huge polish mormon family. cant really get more mormon then them its so cool. they like 8 kids and they are so much fun to hang out with. they live far away so never get attention from members or anything but have such strong testimonys. so its always good to visit them. but to finish off the week it was sunday. I love this branch. Its my favorite branch in poland. Sitting there in Sacrament meeting trying to figure out what needs to be done to build this branch. Here in Poland we are still in Baby stages of the church. like we have 40 on average in church and this is a big branch in poland. and its mostly polish of course we got the kageles but besides them its all polish its cool to see. But besides that that was my week. Love this mission love you all be safe and talk to you later!

Love

Elder Harris

Cześć Ludziom,

I can honestly say that Bydgoszcz is the greatest city in Poland. I love it here. yesterday at church Kasia and Sławek came to church they missed last week ( my "homecoming" ) because they had work. But Kasia comes into the chapel and yells...Mój Synuś! ( my son! ) just like Diza Dzia calls us haha but then she gave me a huge hug. Hahah yeah lets not tell anyone...haha but it was funny, Church was incredible though, its so humbling to see the Polish Members get up and give powerful talks on the atonement, on the restoration and bare a powerful testimony about this church. There is only about 1000 of them and maybe 300 active but they all love it. Its a blessing to be here. And honestly to see how awesome Bydgoszcz is ran and its all polish people besides the Kageles who are just as awesome. So cool. but i am enjoying being back here. We sat up a meeting with one of my old invesitagators named Franciszek, the old man who once had a baptismal date. yall remember him? then meeting went really really well, he understands all that we have to say even he agrees witih it, just dosent have faith in tithing. But as well all know its something that we have to try first. He even is doing a little missionary work himself. He has a college student living with him who is a devoted catholic and he is always arguing with Franciszek for meeting with us and Franciszek is this little inoccent man. So he goes here read this book and then we cant talk about religion. So he gave his book to his "roommate" cool huh? So hopefully we can get him over the tithing hump and over the swimming pool walls into the water. So saturday was interesting. We started off our morning by waking up at the normal time but we get this call at like 7 to help the american family translate for the docotor because the husband JIm had a horrible ear infetion, so we went to the ER and well i got to translate. It was fun, Of course the wife Kelley is making fun of him and taking pics but yeah it was interesting way to start the day. Also dont know if you guys know but Pigeons are everywhere here in Poland and they have a target on Elder Swicegood. that fool has been pooped on twice since being with me. Next time i see one near me i may zniszczyć it. but not even the best part of the day, we have been contacting for like 6 hours at this point ( thats what we do all the time ) and well someone stopped a young girl named Klara. She was so interested and even set up with us for tuesday so we got a new investigator. BOOM! this week has been really long with finding. Nothing to much going on here. Its slow right now but picking up. we had a really good zone confrence on tuesday but its sad that i am the oldest one in my zone. it was a huge awakening. really this mission is amamzing and dont want it to end have learned so much, and really cant imagine life with out it. My testimony of prayer has grown so much being out here. I have seen blessings and answers from my prayers thanks to you guys. Prayer works, the holy ghost is the way we feel spiritual throughts and our answers. The book of mormon is the word of God. reading is enough evidence of it. Like Elder Holland say no good man would write that book unless he be called of God. i know Joseph Smith was called by God at a young age, like it says in the scriptures come unto me like a little child. he called a young man who  was humble like a child and restorted this gospel. I love you all and miss you all. I work hard everyday because i know your all cheering for me on the sidelines. you all have been here for me and i thank you for it!

Love

Elder Harris

Witam Was Wszystkich,

 Well hey everyone, pics are on another email. But its so amazing to be back home in Bydgoszcz, i can honestly say i would be completly fine being in Bydgoszcz the rest of my mission. Church was really cool, was able to get up and bare my testimony, usuallly before church we have time to talk with the members but we were busy in a branch council, and we ended late so no one relly noticed me until i got up. but as i was baring my testimony i see like 85 percent of the branch smile and recongize me. Renata Adams mom the 12 year old who got baptized that i taugth brought me this big old tie with flowers on it and sewed a heart on the back that says Witamy w Bydgoszczy Siostra Renata i Aduś meaninng welcome to bydgoszcz sister renata and adam. so that was cool she wanted to get me flowers but boys dont like flowers so she got me a tie, how sweet! But to this week, It was sad leaving Kato, we did dinner at Adrians house this branch president, he is a gypsy he is the one with me in the red shirt. we had pierogi and just spent some time with him, he was really sad to see me leave again. it was hard man thinks are starting to hurt when you leave, you really get close to these little branches and its hard to leave them. I will for sure always be in contact with him. Also did the final meeting with Krzysztoff, the pic makes him and his mom look scary but they are not sometimes poles dont smile haha. But it was a really good lesson, Maria his mom didnt like it, she wished me a thousand things. in poland well in polish you wish people things all the time so during new years its a pain because its like a contest to see who can wish the most and well Maria won it was like a 5 minute wishing session no joke. but they are cool and krzysztoff is doing so good. he will be baptized. also Elder Hubbard is with Elder Anderson so Elder Hubbard transfered early and he came on monday so i got to see him again so that was the coolest thing ever! love that kid. Elder Anderson is a stud though, they will do so good together. But wednesday i had a 7 hour train ride, it was brutal but i read about moses in exoudus. so i get some good bible reading time in. also we did instytute when i got to bydgoszcz so it was cool seeing ewa and kellely and all them again they were so exctied to see me. it was a cool homecoming i guess you could say. Pretty much all week we were moving and really really busy with all that. the new apartment is super nice. But we did lots of calls. the coolest thing ever. ROBERT answered the phone and set up with us! i am so excited. Presdient told me that i have less active work to do here and well my goal is to get Robert back. Thanks everyone for your prayers. I know that he has a testimony he wrote it in my book of mormon i just need to love him back to rememberence and allow the spirit to really sink in again. The spriit has been a big thing on my mission that i have really wanted to get closer to. Wilth out the spirit the work wont go on. you can really feel it anywear. I have a talk next sunday on the holy spirit and studying it has been a blessing. Its cool to see how his power can change lives. well yall i love yall and miss ya but have a good week and will email at you later!

Love

Elder Harris

Pic's

 Shawn and Adrian ( He is American that lives over there and is Branch President ) 

 Shawn's new apartment. Nice if I do say so myself.

 Some tie a lady made for him. Her name is Renata

 Elder Hubbard

 Shawn and Elder Anderson

 Pot Roast that Elder Swicegood made

 Shawn, Krzysztoff and his Mom

 Rafał, 1st counsler in the branch presidency

This saying mean's I love you

 

Well to be honest...i forgot my planner, so this email could be short but i will try and remember all that went on. I guess i could start with this, that i am going back to Zion! Going back to Bydgoszcz! Święta Krowa! But i am really really sad to leave Kato. Last year when i was hear was some of the funnest but hardest times on my mission and really was where i grew the most. Then going back again was just awesome, Adrian on sunday the Branch President and the coolest member in Poland, gave a powerful talk on sunday and then all of the sudden goes well as you all know Elder Lanham has left, and Elder Harris is leaving as well, he served well for us and he will be missed, so i am a little chocking up at this point, and then he goes i invite him up to bare his testimony....Dang it Adrian. But i get up and not going to lie almost lost it. Kato really is a special place and really cant explain the love i have for it, it was an honour to serve here...twice! But about this week. so we are still working with Krzysztoff, the one who we helped stop drinking. we one tuesday sat and really talked about the Book of Mormon and he looks at us and says well i cant say its not true, it makes me feel closer to Jesus. So Krzysztoff what does that mean? He looks at me and says its gotta be true. We then talk about how in sports in order to get better you need to practice, but you need to have somthing to practice for. so he agreed to a date...March 29. It was awesome, we talk daily on the phone and he says he knows for sure the church is true and he will be baptized on the 29th. unfourtunatly, i will not be here, but his progression has beent he most humbling this of my mission. Wow i am so gratefu for the church and realy the understanding it brings me. I know the church is true. Love you all and will talk to you all later!

 

Love

Elder Harris

 

 What shoes look like after 20 months of wearing

 Się ma Rodzino!

So to start off on sunday Elder Anderson helps Sister Hutchinson the senior couple teach primary always during 2nd hour, and then as of yesterday he will teach 3rd hour and being his companion i have to be in there with him. So we go in and usually its one kid named Natan and he is quiet and really good but one of the members brought his two grandkids, and well lets just say that i may have gone a little poza BIałą Biblią. They were so loud and crazy holy cow. they kept running in and out of the room. its really just the older one he yells and likes to play swords, and the little brother is really shy and quiet and just follows him. During the lesson the little brother starts crying and i am like whats wrong dude, i want my Grandpa so i let him and just my luck shut the door on his foot...yeah doesnt like me know. then we do a coloring game...not smart and they are trying to use the whiteboard marker on the wall, the older one is. and so i am watching him and the older one is doing good. but he wants to be funny and fake writting on the wall so i get it and throw it out the window, and so he leaves and is like whatever but then i look at the little brother ( the one i shut the door on his foot.) yeah he looks at me with this really sad crying face and goes...i waited and it was going to be my turn soon... then he starts to run off and cry...yeah Elder Harris is the greatest primary teacher ever. So that was fun and exciting. So now that you all know how horrible i am i will tell you my week! Monday we had pday but also we stayed for family home evening to help translate which was fun, we talked about Prophets and famous sayings. unfourtunatly only one member showed up, but we all made it fun. Tuesday we had zone training in Kraków, it was really good, with transfers coming up it could be the last time i see Elder Raines and Żeleźniak till i get home or until Elder Żeliźniak comes to the states. they were the aps when i was a zone leader with Tingey and we hung out with them all the time. So i got a potential one last pic with them. they go home in 2 months meaning one transfer and i am next crazy. but moving on to best topics. we were able to use what we learned in Zone training  while teaching Asia and Piotrek, our family we found. we really focused on the book of mormon, and the authority. It went really good. we read 3rd nephi 11 with them because they had questions about it and taught about the Book or Mormon and they got it. They then committed to read as a family. we met with them again on friday but just asia. it was powerful. we sat down and she has her questions about what the chapter means, and we helped her understand it. we went over the 3rd lesson which is my favorite the gospel of jesus christ. and she told us that she feals better while we met and when we leave. I know she feals the spirit. I know she felt it during that lesson becuase i did. we invited her when she finds out to be baptized and she said yes. no date yet but it was a good lesson. Krzysztoff now. we had one lesson with him and it went good. he is reading so fast already through alma in 3 weeks, and stil hasnt drank. he also told us that he called up his sister who he hasnt had contact with in years and they talked and they met up this weekend. he said it went good but missed church because he lot his keys and couldnt get to his house. we talked for like 30 minutes on the phone about the book of mormon and what does it mean if its true and, it was amazing. He wants to be baptzied we just need to set up a date and he wants to finish the book of mormon first. i love being able to talk to people on the phone. And that phone call really was amazing, even through the phone you can feel the spirit working through you. we met with tomek again to help with his english and he opened up to us about the book of mormon we talked for like a half hou and he is slowly getting interested. so thats way cool. and to end the week, we had dinner with the hutchinsons because she got called as the relif society president, so she wanted to go visit Daria. so we go and wow. it was a diffrent atomsphere than last time. she was grateful we came but really just didnt want to come back. we bore testimony and left. gave her letters from Bokinsky and Vernon and she was really really excited. But it hurt seeing that cute family in those sercumstances. There house is small and really old and has wires on the walls and just not pretty. Humbling everytime i go in there and i see her kids faces. Familes really are the best, i love mine. The weather is getting really good its sunnish here in beautiful Katowice and Sosnowiec. Grateful for the sun, grateful for the lords hand in this work i see it everyday. I love you all and have a good week!

 

Love

Elder Harris

 

Shawn finally got our Christmas Package. 2 months later.

Witajcie Rodzino!

This week has been really really interesting, awesome none the less. But i ahve done lots of thinking. The beginning of the week i was really thinking about Leadership and what that means. it continued through the week and what do you know it ended with a fireside about leadership. Elder Jensen who is a senior couple in warsaw 2 and the branch president as you can tell from my last transfer letters has really turned Warsaw 2 around. they in about the last 6 months last year went from 45 in scarment meeting to about 90 something. in six months they doulbed the branch, not all are recent converts we only had about 4 or 5, but it was less active work. so he came down here to Kato to have a fireside to help the members understand what he did. it was so good. he narrowed it down to 3 points of a good leader.1 Love the people you serve. 2 be humble, not only to listen to your leader, could be a mission president, the lord or a coach, but be humble to those you lead. 3 have a vision. This week as i was thinking about leadership i was looking back on what experiences i have had prior to this day. the big one that comes to mind was my role on my rugby team. be patience i hope this makes sense to you all. Being a scrum half you have a really cool job. you are the leader of the big forewards or the 8 biggest guys on the one field. yes little me. i stand behind them on defenese and order them where to go, who to attack and if people need to be in or out of the ruck. i call the foreward plays and i communicate with the fly half to see whats going on out there with the backs. when controling the forewards, if they dont do what you say its your fault for two reasons. one they either didnt hear you or they dont trust you and being big forewards they just want to go smash someone. you need to earn their trust. as you lead in a mission or in life you need to gain their trusts, by being humble enough to really let them have a say. doesnt mean you dont make decisions but if someone on your team has an idea be humble to listen. And if they cant hear you, speak up always not just when its easy to speak up. and when you do speak up make sure its what is best, study the scriputures the play book, look at what your working with on the field, and look at the invesitiagtor as a person not a state. earn your trust by love the ones you serve. Being humble is hard, but understand that the lord gives you all you have can help with that. In Rugby as well as a missionary, my companion is the eight man. he can literrally save my life on the field. he can make it so no one touches me and when we work together we can do some damage in a good way ;) the lord gives us tools and people to help us grow, use them be humble, and then have the desire have the goal. let your team know. i hope that made sense but really its helped me this week as we prepared for a great week. monday was great. usually we stay and help with the branch family home evening, but we decieded to go trakting. we get to one of the doors and we say how we have a message about eternal families and out runs this little three year old to see who is at the door. me being me and having been raised around little kids my whole life, was like ah a little girl hi whats your name. i have a little sister your age, then turned to the mom and said i am glad you have a family, can we share this message with you? and she let us in. we talked then set up and meet again and re set up. to this point not reading and is studying with the j dubs but her husband is now interested, and they are really liking what we are teaching. boom a family. First time on my mission me and my comp are teaching a family. its been going well but need to invite the spirit more. then of course we met with Krzysztoff our little former drunk who still hasnt drank in like 3 weeks! he is still really sick and cant leave the house but is reading and finally understands what we are doing and said he would be baptized after he comes to church and reads  a little more. so really the blessings are coming. also found a guy through english who we are teaching name tomek! so we have a really good teaching pool! Things are starting to pick up. One other thing we have been able to do this week is service. we helped adrian paint his bosses office. so we were busy this week. I am loving the work, starting to see the spirit work more and more. as we teach i see how our job isnt to convince them that their faith is false or that ours is true, we cant do that, one its rude and two thats the work of the Holy Ghost. we just invite and its a privelidge to do it here in zion, here in Poland. Everyone love everyone this week! Happy Valentines day! Enjoy yourselves! Trzymajcie Się!

 

Z Miłością

 

Starszy Shawn Mykel Harris

 Elder Tiner last dinner before going home from his mission 

Dzień Dobry Wszystkim,

Patience, that is a word that i have been thinking about for most of my mission if not all of it. Lets be honest i am not really a patient person, i cant sit and watch a Raiders game without analyzing it or getting upset. ( now other team fans of which i wont name understand now ) In football or rugby the other team scores on me its the end of the world and i get made which can be okay but that is besides the point. I drove really fast and really was dumb. But i have wanted to become of patient person because i dont want my wife to hate me becasue i flip out every 26 seconds you know? So i have been working on it. This transfer has been the biggest eye opener ever. We dont only need to have patience with situations that may upset us or even have to hury around everywhere, also got to be patient with the plan. the work is rather slow here and we have all week been on the streets for an average of 6 to 7 hours a day finding. its been hard but really good at the same time. I get to show the lord what i really am. who i really am. But besides all of that this week has been a great one, cant really complain about anything i am on the best team in the world and we are winning. Monday as you all know we went to Austwichwicz or however you spell it and it was really good, good to see. But tuesday we had a good district meeting, its so nice when your district participates because personally i hate lectures so why should i give one right? but the district likes talking as well so we make it work! we also had dinner with the branch president which is the missionary best friend Adrian. He is a stud. We talked about the less actives and what really to do with them and we gave me great feed back. Sunday i followed up with him and we then talked about how he was doing. he is 24 years old and has to deal with a whole branch its crazy how strong he is. He testimony is an example because he has nothing here in poland but he understands that he has all he needs. he told me that i am one of his favorite missionaries. What he doesnt understand is he is loved by every missionary who knows his name. ask any Poland warsaw missionary and they will tell you that Adrian Urban is a stud. Also this week had daily contact and two meetings with Krzystof. He is doing good but found out that he is really sick. the doctor even said that he cant go walk out on his balcony he needs to stay inside, he isnt contagaious its just the fall that he had 4 months ago and he is going throught alchole withdrawls hard core i have never seen this before. but we talked and he is really liking everything but his mom is the strongest catholic lady in the world every question i ask i get this answer no matter the question. Bez Boga nic nie robimy, ufaj Panu Bogu i on nas będzie nas kochał.( with out God we cant do anything trust God and he will love us.) Thats great Maria but what does the commadment dont kill people mean to you, and she repeats. its funny but really cant go anywere with them cant really be bold because they dont comprehend really good that we are not catholic we are a different church but boy do they love when we come over. Krzysztof, is a good man who when is healthy will be baptized he doesnt like the catholic church or the jdubs and understands but not enought to progress so we will see what happens with him. funny story really quick Elder Anderson really likes Beef Jerky which is hard to find in this country and when you find it its really pricy. but he wanted to make homemade so i was like sweet lets do it. but our stove doesnt stay open by itself so he tied a string to one of the cabinet doors and yeah it worked and tasted really good. but picture is in the other email it was so redneck it was awesome. but also the coolest thing happened on friday. well good and bad. first we finally got let in to see Daria the recent convert, who was baptized when i was first here by Bokinsky and vernon. she has been ignoring us for awhile but stopped by at  her house. first time i have seen her in a while. But she wasnt home, but her husband let us in. we talked and come to find out he is cleaning up. not drinking still smoking but he is wokring and they are getting a long. We then sit and wait in the house and their kids are home and it was the cutest thing playing with little Nadia. She is so cute and so i got a pic of her with me. But then Daria comes home and she walks in and was excited to see me, she remembered me. And to be honest she looked way healthy and like a cute little mormon mom you would see in utah i was so excited to see her. then we talk and she doesnt want to come back. she is telling us how she has been talking to someone and she is having a hard time believing that we are only blessed when we go  to church because life is getting good for her, but its not like God forgets us when we dont follow the commandments we just miss out on others. i explained that God loves her no matter what and always listens, but has given us ways to feel his love more in our lives. She is cool and said we can set up later again but yeah it was hard. Thats when patience comes in. I have been praying for her since i got here. I wanted to get her back, and finally i have a shot and cant do it. But its all according to Gods plan, like everything in this life. Cool to think thats its all planned out just got to be humble learn and choose. wybierz sprawiedliwość! naprzód do zwycięstwa! ( choose the right, foreward to victory ) Looking foreward to a good week. Also this week just found out some insane news, But President Dieter F Uchtdorf on June 15 will be visting our mission. My last sunday, i am so excited and feel lucky it will be my first time have a chance to met an apostle. Good way to go out yeah? anyways have a good week love you all and talk to you later!

 

Kocham Was!

 

Elder Harris

Pic's

 Snowing in Poland 

                                                                Austwichiz Camp

 Elder Anderson and Elder Harris

 Firing Wall