Losing Myself In This Great Work

pretty insane, im in the Wilmington 2nd ward now.. So i proselyte in downtown Wilmington.. its pretty intense, you'll hear gunshots, smell weed, walk up to people rollin blunts, get cursed at by people, and guess what..? i absolutely love it! we work in the rural, poverty stricken areas. its a smaller version of Philadelphia, but its still huge. but ive never felt the desire to work so hard. my comp and i, have absolutely killed ourselves, and when we go to bed at night, yea we're exhausted but i actually look forward to the next day and get back to work! the secret to missionary work, is to work! to give it all your effort and sacrifice everything you have! thats the formula for a successful mission, and it makes me happy to see other people happy. and people have actually ran up to us wanting a book of mormon, and wanting to be taught, because we're "serving the Lord, and spreadin the word." it is so amazing. our number totals have already doubled since that i was in West Pittston, and we're only half way done with the week! i love it. i contemplated myself what was the difference to my happiness and success already to West Pittston, my first area, and the first thing came to mind was the area. No, it wasnt the area, or the people,... it was me. all along it was just me, and my attitude thats changed and my desire to give it my all to serve. to "serve with all [my] heart, might, mind, and strength." D&C 4. i love it. i dont even think about home. no more home sickness. no more doubts or worries. ive put myself in the Lords hands, im losing myself in this great work. mom dont be worried about me. thank you for all of your prayers, they've definately helped. i know that this is Christs church on earth, and it is our job to expound this great message of the restored gospel wherever opportunities arise. with no doubt in my mind do i know that Joseph Smith was called of God to be a prophet. i love all of you, take care, and i'll write you some experiences in a letter. -Elder Harris

Mom's note: Corey's in Wilmington, Delaware, not to be confused with Wilmington, North Carolina where we have previously lived.

Sister's Love

Dear Corey,
I love you. I pray for you every night. I miss you. I want you to come back soon but I know you're doing good on your mission. I hope you are having fun. I hope you have a good mission and talk good to people. I pray for you so you will be happy. And I hope you have a good time.
Love Gabby

Dear Corey,
Sometimes when I think about you, it makes me want to cry. But then I'll think about the reason why you are gone. I know you are doing the right thing by serving, now I can't wait for my mission. Oh and Gabby really does pray for you every night. I love you Corey, can't wait to hear from you again.
Love Riley

Tongues Be Loosed

hey mom, glad that you received my card...we'd had alot of teaching appointments, and then bam we have nothing going on. last week we had nearly 200 contacts to new people, and not one new investigator. yesterday though we went out tracting nearly all day and we have 2 new ones now. pretty cool. its hard though.. i am wiped out by the end of the day. anyways about comp exchanges, i went on some with the zone leaders, it was so cool.. i was asking one of them how can we just have our ''tongues be loosed", and we were walking to an app, and some lady was just sittin on her porch, reading the Bible. i said hello and then thats all i remember, i taught her nearly all of the first lesson and i know i was under the influence of the Spirit. any question she had i answered swiftly and boldly.. i know she felt the Spirit. we gave her a BoM and committed her to read and pray about it and Joseph Smith. i dont even remember what i had done or said, but the feeling was amazing. anyways, it was so good to talk to you guys, i cant wait for christmas, i love you guys so much! oh this weekend is when the priesthood was restored in the Susquehanna river, pretty sick, im going to be fasting that day! well, love ya guys, take care! -Elder Harris

(Mom's note: Corey was living in West Pittston, near Wilkes-Barre, up the street from the Susquehanna River, about 40 miles south of where the Aaronic Priesthood was restored in 1829.) See D&C 13. Church history map.