On May 15th, after attending the Bismarck North Dakota seminary graduation, we said, “We must record this wonderful event and the feelings we have on this precious moment.” Along with that statement we also promised to write an update of our mission. Now, a month later we find ourselves regretting our lack of resolve, but are determined to report on the many blessings we have witnessed over the past three months.
Seminary graduation was a momentous event for us. It marked the culmination of the past 8 ½ months. During those months we had visited each seminary class multiple times, had listened to lessons of the Book of Mormon given by different teachers, and had felt the Spirit bear testimony of the truthfulness of the doctrines we were learning. Of the 58 Early Morning Seminary students who started the course in late August, 47 (81%) had completed the year with 80% or higher attendance. 1,107 classes had been held throughout the stake by 7 different teachers. Of the few (6) who had started the Home Study program, four had completed the course and three graduated. Ten of these students, both Home Study and Early Morning, had memorized all 25 Scripture Mastery scriptures, 14 of the students had read consecutively for 250 days, and over 30 had completed the reading of the Book of Mormon. The list of accomplishments, both teachers and students, goes on and on. In the graduation we honored 10 students who graduated but we also had the opportunity to acknowledge all who had excelled. We measure success in many different ways and we were so pleased to see approximately 80 people in attendance at the graduation. (May we remind you that the Bismarck Stake covers ½ of the State of North Dakota and some of those people had driven 4 hours to be there.) The entire Stake Presidency we seated on the stand and of our 10 teachers, 9 were present. We were so very pleased with all who came and showed their support. A dinner was held immediately afterwards, prepared by our High Council Advisor and his wife. Not only did we breathe a sigh of relief when all was concluded but we felt an overwhelming spirit of gratitude. We have been blessed beyond description over these past 9 months. We thank our Heavenly Father for the privilege to serve on this mission and for the choice blessing of knowing the wonderful members of the Bismarck Stake.
Spring in North Dakota came late in May and seemed to have lasted all of one week. One day the trees seemed to burst forth in blossoms and the next week the blossoms were gone and the green leaves were in their places. The planting of the vast acreage of land in North Dakota still is in the process. We are blessed to have had much rain, but the fields have been too wet to work. Still, as one looks over the landscape all that can be seen is GREEN. If you could see this land you might think that it was a million acre golf course. It is spectacular. Because of its vastness, it is impossible to capture with the lens of a camera, but nevertheless, we will post a few pictures that you can open and view. We are again overcome with gratitude to be in such a beautiful country.
We have enjoyed the Canadian Geese which have been nesting in the Dakotas, along with pelicans and multiple species of ducks and other water fowl. We saw the pelicans last year but did not know what they were. These birds are bright white and can be seen at a distance, and their flight is also identified by their formations. But our greatest joys have been the geese and their new goslings. In Minot there is a large, beautiful park, called Oak Park. There have been a number of Canadian Geese who have occupied the park, even as the snows began to melt. Now these geese, collectively, have scores of babies that they are watching after. The goslings are growing so fast and this past week we saw that the larger goslings are starting to get feathers. We will post another picture of these birds. On Sunday we saw a wild turkey with 6 or 7 chicks running across the road. We slowed to a stop so that mother and chicks were safe. We can now say that we have seen one more unique sighting. We consider these experiences as ‘Tender Mercies’ from the heavens above.
This past weekend we had a visit from Gary and Barbara Sollee. They wanted to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary and choose to come to North Dakota to celebrate it with us. We cannot describe the perfect weekend that we had because words are not adequate. But we can say that we saw and did many wonderful things together. On that list was a night at the Bismarck Temple, an afternoon at the Cannonball Pow Wow (a town on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation), and Sunday meetings at Fort Yates. The Sollee’s met our Temple Presidency, who were so gracious to them and who went out of their way to make them feel welcome. At the Pow Wow in Cannonball we saw and met a number of members of the Ft. Yates Branch. The Grand Entry was exciting as we listened to the drums and chants from the various singers. The dancers, of all ages, were dressed in beautiful outfits and we once again witnessed the pride of the Native People. It was exciting! On Sunday the Sollee’s met a number of members and some who are investigating the church. We saw how easily Gary and Barbara fit into the conversations and activities. We acknowledge that they are prepared to go on a mission and will do a wonderful job when, in a few years, they will be able to serve. We were very happy that when we ate with the members, following the meetings, the main course was Buffalo. We love buffalo meat and we were hoping that our Branch President would bring some. Oh how we love these native people and we were so happy to have the Sollee’s meet and talk with them. We were so thankful to have a few days with our former bishop and his wonderful wife. And even though we were sad to say goodbye we know that it will just be a few months before we will see them again.
Regarding our work in the Ft. Yates Branch and the support of the McLaughlin Branch, we have seen much success here of late. For the first year that we served here we never knew where the Baptismal Font was located. It is actually located under the floor in the Primary Room, which requires that two or three panels be removed to expose it. Since December we have witnessed 5 baptisms from Ft. Yates and 4 from McLaughlin in that font. We are so thankful for this success and we thank our Heavenly Father that we can be a small part of it. Our elders have worked hard over the time we have served here and now have witnessed a harvest. We continue to pray that this success will continue.
With a lull in our schedule we have taken on the responsibility to help keep the stake center and the beautiful temple grounds free of weeds. “A flower out of place is a weed.” We usually work in the early morning hours, 6:30 am to about 8:30 am, when the air is calm and the sounds are subdued. This service gives us a chance to get the gardening desires out of our system and we so enjoy the results of our labor. Being that the Bismarck Temple is a small temple, there are no employees connected to it. That means that there are no janitors, gardeners and mechanics. All the cleaning inside and out is performed by temple patrons and the temple presidency. So, if we see a weed in the flower beds, we pull it out. This year’s gardening started on Memorial Day when we, the members, under the supervision of the temple presidency, planted the many beautiful flowers that surround the temple. We were assigned, along with the presidency, to take care of a large circular flower bed in back of the temple. (We actually don’t know where the back of the temple is but we assume that it is opposite the front.) Five of us removed the encroaching weeds, prepared the soil and then planted numerous flats of flowers. The following days our stiff and aching muscle reminded us how many times we had bent over, but our joy was full as we look at the garden’s beauty. We do wish, however, that the weather would warm up so that we can see these flowers grow. Like most of the country, we have had a cold spring and even though summer starts in less than a week, we have not seen the warm weather. We hope it comes soon.
Many of you have asked our children when we are returning from our mission. We are serving a 23 month mission and that will put us back in Highlands Ranch the first of January, 2001. We are not anxious to shorten it in any way.
Love to all of you. Yes, even though we love our mission we do miss you and look for the time we can be with you again.
Elder and Sister Harris
