Banaue :)

  Kamusta y'all!

      This week was pretty eventful, though my roommate Sister Ward's week was even more exciting... She got bit by a kitten. And had to travel over an hour to Cauayan at 7pm just to get rabies shots... But she's fine, and she's got a story to go with it :)

      The most exciting thing though was that we got to go hiking in the Banaue rice terraces. It was super fun. But what was really cool was that it really isn't just a tourist spot. It's not just something made to look cool or impressive. It's really their way of life. What for us was a hiking trail was actually the path to someone's home or field. It's easy to forget just how much variety there is in the way people live. Culture and language is impacted by environment and history. Everyone is built by where and who they come from.

      One of my favorite things I get to teach people is that we are all a part of God's family. I might just be a weird Tagalog speaking foreigner, and they might wonder why I would ever walk around talking to everyone in their middle of nowhere farm town. But despite the differences in our language, culture, and appearance, we all come from the same place. Our identity as children of God means more than any other identity we assume in this life. Because our occupation might change, we may choose to adopt traditions other than those of our ancestors, but no matter who we are or where we go our eternal identity is certain. I know that knowledge of our relationship with Heavenly Father is one of the most precious things we can find in this life. It changes the way we see ourselves and each other, and it gives each of us a definite purpose and plan.

    Aganad y'all!

      Sister Harrison

Pics from her trip to Banaue from Facebook and Mission President's blogpost

Last four pictures sent from Julia

These rice terraces are famous around the world and since they happen to be in Julia's mission boundaries they take all departing missionaries to see them a month or so before they leave. If some of the scenery looks familiar it probably is.  It is where Thanos is sitting and looking over at the end of Infinity War. (if you don't know what I'm talking about you must not be a marvel fan:)

She also found out that she will be sitting right next to Sister Barnett on all three flights on her trip home. So she began her mission with Sister Barnett as her MTC companion and ending it with the same companion traveling home. I thought that was a very nice bookend for her mission.