....
Thank you so much for the update--I really love reading about you! I hope you know that I love you all so very much. I have so many things to say, so many stories to tell, so much gratitude to express...it really is just unreal. Thank you for being so diligent about sharing your experiences, about sharing your testimonies, about keeping me "in the loop" as the kids say now days.
This week was wonderful and tough, and the last two days have been busy beyond all imagining, but so full of the Spirit. Yesterday at church was a mess, but a wonderful, spiritual mess at that.
Sitting at the edge gives you an interesting perspective--I ponder on how, next week, the members will still come to church, missionaries will keep going out to seek the elect, new missionaries will come to fill the shoes of those departing, other missionaries will step into leadership, some will succeed this coming transfer in ways they have never imagined, some will have a transfer of trials, and come out the stronger...eternity is such an interesting concept, one that is natural to our spirits, but so foreign to our natural, weak, fallen minds, clouded by a veil of forgetfulness, enshrouded with the mists of darkness of Lehi's dream. Endings are simply beginnings disguised by the fog of a forgetful and short-sighted world, beginnings are simply the back half of a forgotten ending.
Sorry, waxed a little philosophical there--it is a habit of old people, after all :).
I know that this Gospel is true. I am sure of it. There is a God in Heaven, who loves us, and is our Father. Jesus Christ is His Son, chosen, ordained, and then successful in saving us from a necessary evil. The Holy Ghost is the testator of their Holy Nature--he is our constant guide, our surest source of pure knowledge, and one of the few guests who will neither refuse an invitation to stay as long as he is welcome, but leave the moment that he is no longer invited. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that Joseph Smith is a prophet. There is nothing that can convince me otherwise. I KNOW that this church is true. I love you SO much, and am looking forward to seeing you, to holding you close, and to telling it to you with my words.
LOVE,
Elder Hardy
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| The two Sofia Districts! |
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| Goof Balls! |
"Explosive Things come in Small Packages"
Family Mine!
Thank you so much for the wonderful letter! I love the image of Dad sitting with his girls learning how to knit...how simply happiness can be attained, by what "small and simple means." It sounds like there isn't a part of the Northwest to not have been tread on (or imminently WILL be tread on) by a member of the Hardy family. AND ALEX! Woah! He is going to love it, and do wonderful things. It just reminds me of Max and I joking in Sophomore Humanities about opening North Korea together. Good times. Give my love to the little blond ones--people sure do some changing over the course of two years!
This week has been a really good week--from teaching in the Mini-MTC (two days of additional training for missionaries in their first 6 weeks--this time we just had 3 Sisters in the group, and it was interesting how significantly different the atmosphere and training were as opposed to when there are a couple Elders mixed in there. Funny stuff), to being on exchanges with the Elders here in Sofia ( I was with Elder Wilson, my trainee, and then also Elder Silveria, the English/Brazilian), to a CRAZY but amazing day on Saturday (we left the apartment at 1030, and besides a literally 5-minute lunch, we did not return until 925 that evening--so tired, but such a good feeling!), I have loved this week. We have been blessed so much this week, it is staggering. I have just been so filled with gratitude this week for the opportunity to serve a mission--throughout the week, and last night especially, I have struggled to fall asleep just from just laying there, thinking and praying about my mission so far, about current issues in our area and the mission, and what lies ahead. The Lord really is merciful to his children--it has been such a blessing to be so busy and constantly occupied with teaching Kalyan, and preparing him for his baptism. I have been praying for the Lord to really help me to stay lazer-focused, and he has answered my prayer in more ways than one through the last few weeks and months. I cannot express the feelings of my heart of love and gratitude and amazement, pure wonderment that I have been so blessed throughout my life. Every time I just take a second to think, it just blows me away! I am sure that at times I forget, and do not act in a way fitting for the blessings and opportunities that I have received, but in those moments, I am filled with a burning desire to give everything that I have and am to the Lord and to his children, in an honest, though surely insignificant effort to fulfill the duties and responsibilities I accepted before this life. I LOVE being a missionary, but more importantly, I realize more and more that I simply am learning to LOVE being a disciple of Christ. I have a lot of path to walk, but I am so grateful I at least know where the path is.
Also this week, we played basketball with some Turkish guys who grew up their whole lives in Germany, so thus spoke mostly German (and mostly swore at us in German), but spoke some English too--we were significantly better at basketball then they were, but I wouldn't want to meet them on a dark street corner--they were LARGE. Hearts of gold however--we'll see if they are willing to read the Book of Mormon.
I want to make this week the most explosive of my life--one of our investigators passed his baptismal interview yesterday, and is looking really good for his baptism this coming weekend--a HUGE blessing! Pray that he will continue to read the Book of Mormon this week, and that there will be no hiccups. We will be teaching him a lot this week, and hopefully some other people with potential we found in this past week. Lay it all on the line, leave it all on the court!
Dad, I hope that you don't get too lost--just be sure you are somewhere that you can get GPS reception on your phone...за всеки случай. I am sure it will be a great experience--I will always be grateful for scout leaders that were willing to go out with us and teach us important life lessons. Thank you for being that man, Dad! Thank you for praying for our investigators--I feel the strength of your prayers. I love you so much, have a great week!
Mom; it sounds like you had a fun experience with planning--maybe I am just a Missionary, but that sounds like some of the Member-Present Lessons I have planned during my Mission--lots of time on the phone, and the lesson gets rained out! Heavenly Father knows perfectly how to test us and mold us, that is sure. Thank you for letting me know about Sarah and Brandon--Grandpa wrote me a letter about it a few weeks ago. I know that God has a plan for us, I know it. They all look so great a cute! Love you so much Mother!
On a more serious note, I have one request. I know that after a certain date that Paige is counting down to, we are going to be really busy, but I would really appreciate it if sometime that week, we could just take a day, just the family, without any going anywhere to just get together and really catch up, to share with one another our experiences that we have had over the last few years, to share how we have grown and changed. I want to share my experiences with you while they are fresh, for they are of incalculable worth to me. I know we will have a thousand things to do, but would that be possible? I feel that it is important. Sometimes, as hard as I try, emails just don't get the job done.
Paige; hey, guess what? Bleh. I love you! I hope you know that I look up to you spiritually (if not physically), and am proud of who you are and who you are becoming. I love you!
Ron; nice muscles! You are really going to enjoy Jazz Choir Camp--those are some of my very favorite experiences, and I know that you will enjoy them as well. Learn to sing from Mr. Socks--he really is one of the best musical instructors you will likely ever rub shoulders with. I love you Brother!
Lizzie; you go! I could use some of your soccer skills here--we don't really play all that much, but when we do, I think of you. I love you so much little Sister!
I love you, have a great week!
Love,
Elder Hardy
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Some great български Баби!
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| This one is for Mom. Bulgaria at a glance! |
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Pictures in Plovdiv
Elder Hall-Brown and the Three Dwarfs!
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"Let the Holy Spirit Guide..."
Family Mine!
Thank you for the wonderful letter! It sounds like Summer is in full swing. I am so glad to hear that the Hardys have moved into the neighborhood! I love them so much, and now they are only a bike-ride away. Give them my love. It is strange to hear about Max and Jacob's Homecoming talks--I still remember clear as day when I got the picture of the two of them posing together in the Mexico MTC...time sure flies. When I imagined the cousin-jamboree going on, my heart simply filled with joy. Heaven on earth is best experienced in the relationships found in the family unit. I feel blessed beyond words to be part of our family. Blessed beyond words. I love you all so much.
This week was a great week--there were no trainings or other such events, but we had a chance to go on a couple exchanges, which is always fun and enlightening--I was with Elder Hall-Brown from...several southern states (he is really tall--a дълго момче as the Bulgarians might say), and Elder Irvin from Bountiful. I love working with other missionaries--it is a blessing to hear their testimonies and experience their faith! We also had some great chances to teach our progressing investigator this week--it is amazing how the Spirit brings people close to each other--I barely know his for a month, and he feels like my 3rd brother. This Sunday he delayed his vacation so that he could come to church and get ready for his baptism. I just don't have words. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father, who sends his Spirit to teach the principles we can't to inspire the commitment we can't demand, to stir hearts that are out of our reach. He is the Lord of All, I know it.
This week we also had another amazing experience; at the beginning of the transfer, we went to a far corner of our area to street teach in the area, one rarely visited by the missionaries. While we were there, we felt that we would have more success if we came back and tried to do some "service tracting", knocking around to see if there was any service we could do. During Zone Conferences, Elder Abbott again felt that same prompting, so this week we made time on Saturday and headed out there in our "Helping Hands" shirts to try and find someone to help. Then, the miracles started. On the bus to the area, we had a great conversation with a young couple, and were able to testify of the reality of the Plan of Salvation. After knocking quite a few doors in the area with little success, we passed by one house, and saw a woman disappearing around the corner--we yelled after her, and she didn't come out, but her husband did! After a nice conversation, he invited us in, and it turns out that his wife is not only VERY interested in reading the Book of Mormon, but we also will be able to go out to help them dig some plumbing canals for their house this week. AN AMAZING BLESSING! I know that the Lord prompted us to go out there, he guided us to their house, and gave us the right words to say to open their door and their hearts. The Holy Ghost is real.
Mother; you did it! There is nothing like a sore body to motivate one to exercise more diligently. I sure love High- Adventures; being out in nature is a great blessing, and a chance to feel close to Heavenly Father and his creations. It sure is strange how a Ward can change in just less than two years, however--looking at the picture of the Young Women in the Ward, I think I recognized three of them--that is including one sister and one neighbor! Maybe they have just changed, but still. Time is a weird thing. I love you so much Mother, you are a wonderful example to me!
Father; Mr. Miagi (Karate Kid) has got nothing on the whole fertilizer-bag-conditioning program! I love it! That is definitely something that the young men don't appreciate--outside of the practice rides for the Mount Rainier bike trip, I don't think I ever even considered getting in shape for a High Adventure, and I did just fine. You set a good example. I love you Father, have a great week!
Rees--Hey, I love you. I talked with 4-5 people in French this week on the Metro (tourists), and the more I try to talk, the more comes back. Also, there is an African Guy in the branch who sings the Hymns in French, and whenever I sit by him, I sing them in French, and realize how much I have forgotten! Have a great week.
Paige--is it weird to be one of the "big girls" in Young Women now? I am sure all the dancing made the High Adventure a whole lot easier. I know that after "Hairspray", sweating my brains out night after night, I felt a lot more fit! I love you little Sister!
Ronnie; I see we are having a similar experience! I had to play for Priesthood quite a few times as well. Treasure it! It is nice to have stimulation besides Mom to get good at the piano. (P.S. It'll pay off when you serve your mission here in Bulgaria!). I love you little Brother!
Lizzie; so many cousins! I can just imagine you leading them in all sorts of games and mischief! I love you so much Elizabeth, I hope you know that!
You are all wonderful, have a great week!
Love,
Elder Hardy
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| Elder Abbott described in one photo--that is the wrapper of an ice-cream bar. |
Prayer and Zone Conferences
Family Mine,
Thank you for that wonderful letter! Life sure is dynamic isn't it? I am glad that everyone got home safely from around the globe, that Jordan doesn't have malaria, that Rees is giving Handy-Manny a run for his money, that Paige is a Future-Ambassador, that Ronnie is discovering the wonderful maze of human relationship, and that Lizzie is being Lizzie! I love hearing from you all.
This week we had Zone Conferences, which were great--we taught about Focusing on the Key Indicators and how that helps us to fulfill our purpose, there was training about the Sabbath Day, Obedience and Trials, and President Barclay blew our socks off about prayer (as usual.) I really love those Missionary Meetings--if you think about all the times in your life, serving a full-time Mission has got to be one of the most condensed periods of spiritual knowledge of anyone's life. Great stuff. We were also on exchanges in Varna, and it was great to get to work again in that great City--good memories (and amazing weather!).
This week I really have felt close to the Lord as we have worked with our investigator--on Sunday morning I called him at 9:00 and he said that he was coming by 940, so we were excited. I was asked to play the piano for sacrament meeting, so I was sitting down early, warming up, but really just anticipating him showing up. 940 rolled by, 950 rolled by, 1000 rolled by, and I REALLY started to pray, just pleading with Heavenly Father to bring him to the building, to un-hedge his way. By the time the opening song and prayer had passed, my prayers had changed to pleas for understanding, for the strength to dispel the real bitterness which was condensing in my heart, to be able to understand his will and accept it. Then, just as my prayers were getting desperate, just as the young man who was baptized's confirmation finished, there he walked in, tie tied smartly, white shirt un-tucked, with a smile. My heart about burst with thanks, as it does even now as I write this letter. God lives. He DOES answer our prayers.
As I was reading in Mosiah 17 this week, another idea also hit me that I would like to share-- it stems from the 20th verse:
20 And now, when Abinadi had said these words, he fell, having suffered death by fire; yea, having been put to death because he would not deny the commandments of God, having sealed the truth of his words by his death.
Abinadi would not give up on his beliefs or on that what God had commanded him to say at ANY cost, even that of his own life. A little bit extreme, and certainly not an everyday or hopefully EVER experience for any of us, but there is a principle there that I feel is important. How much is our testimony worth to us? The more and more I have thought about it, in so many ways our BELIEF in something is in large part measurable by what we are willing to sacrifice because of that belief. I don't expect many, if any of us will be expected to give our life for our beliefs, but sometimes I feel we sell integrity to our beliefs at a much lower price. Do we believe enough to sacrifice the "popular approval" of others by dressing modestly? Do we believe enough to sacrifice status by standing up for "old fashioned" ways of thinking. Funnily enough, I think those sacrifices seem more frightening than that of Abinadi, if only because they hit a little bit closer to home. That hit me this week.
Mother; it sounds like I won't even recognize the Ward at this point! It should be fun. I love you so much. Can I get an absentee ballot to vote for you? You have my vote in any case!
Father; give Max and Jacob a big man-hug for me! I love them so much, and am excited to see how we have all changed. All I can think of is Alma 17:1-3. I love you so much, thank you for your example to me!
Jordan; welcome back! I love you so much, send me some of those Slide-show pictures!
Rees; I love you! You'll have to show me some of your skills (not that I am going to have money for a car anytime soon, but still!). I love you.
Paige; isn't it great when hard work pays off? I think that is one of the most satisfying things we can experience. I love you so much!
Ronnie; I would give you my humble suggestion to not pair off. I love you, and trust you. Have a great week!
Lizzie; I am sorry I don't have bigger variety of things to say to you Liz! I love you, and I hope that says it all. Have a great week.
I have the best family in the world, I hope you all know that. Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Hardy
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| A Bulgarian Train! |
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| Bulgaria! I think it is beautiful. |
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| One of the District Leaders here in Sofia had a baptism on Saturday--the young guy in the middle. He is a great young man! |
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| Elder Brady and I |
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| Elder Jones (who Visa waited in Max's Mission with one of Max's former companions). |
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| Elder Sharp--he's half Bulgarian. |
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Zone Conference!
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| More from youth conference! |
Hebrews 12:6-11
Family Mine!
What a letter! I love reading about your escapades and hearing about your faith. Isn't the Gospel just great? It influences everything that we bump into in our life. I am glad to hear about Paige and Ronnie going down to BYU--that will be an amazing experience for both of them.
This week has been great and very humbling. Elder Howard used to joke around that we should never pray for humility, because it was the quickest and easiest way to ensure a whole bunch of trials in the near future. I must have forgotten that, because I prayed for humility at the beginning of the week, and Heavenly Father certainly delivered.We had a fender bender in the car, which led to some experiences with red tape, which is always frustrating--in a word, I caused some inconvenience to people that I love and respect, which is never fun, but always humbling. I have felt acutely aware of my weaknesses this week. I am grateful for it though! I always feel the Spirit so much stronger, my prayers are more sincere, my reliance on the Savior is more urgent when I am humble (or humblED). I hope to be able to gain the ability to humble myself without TOO much help from Heavenly Father in the trial department, but I am willing to do whatever it takes. I am grateful for the Lord's plan to help us to become like him.
In other news, we had a great week teaching one of our investigators, and it really is a huge blessing to see his progress in the Gospel, and to see his hunger, literally hunger to come closer to his Father in Heaven. He really is reading the Book of Mormon, praying, and seeing real spiritual growth. Yesterday he agreed to quit smoking on Wednesday, and he just kept asking for more commandments, so he could "learn to avoid those darn sins!". I love teaching him, and feeling the stretching of my own Gospel knowledge and my powers of simple and clear explanation. I cannot express how blessed I feel to be able to be teaching him. Please pray for him!
Mom, I love hearing about your Young Women's lessons--I really am so grateful for wonderful Youth Leaders who took their callings seriously, who really cared about helping us youth to not only understand the doctrine, but to see it in our lives, to apply it day after day, to learn to love the Savior. I know I am a broken record, but the farther and farther I get into life, the more and more that I realize pretty much every good characteristic that I have is just a shadow of the way you and Dad live, and who you and Dad are. I love you so much, and am so grateful for you!
Dad, thank you for the letter! I am so glad to hear about your missionary experiences--Heavenly Father answers us in ways that we don't expect. As you were talking about testifying about the Restoration, I had the thought "man, I would love to be Dad's companion!". Then, I remembered--I was! Thank you for always being a good home-teacher. Love you so much!
Paige; you are going to be the most beautiful dancer there! I have had that same experience on the bike--that is one of the best feelings in the world, when you see that little inclination icon. You look fit enough to me in the picture. I love you so much!
Ronnie; with that sweatshirt and hair-do...watch out EFY! Go to all the classes, and listen closely--there really are some amazing teachers there at EFY, and it is a great chance to learn and grow spiritually. Look to serve those who are in your group, and you will have a great experience. Look for those who are sad, who are in need of a cool friend like you, who need someone to listen, someone to have a nice word for them. You are going to have a great time!
Lizzie; you look so adorable! That is an amazing show. Aren't you glad for such great and supportive parents? I love them a lot.
I sent a lot of pictures, so I am short on time, but I love you so much, you are wonderful!
Have a great week!
With Love,
Elder Hardy
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| (We were watching a lady's baggage at the Bus Station so she could run and buy a ticket...photo shoot time!) |
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| Here are photos that Sister Barclay (not President Sister Barclay, but her Sister in Law, who is serving here too) took at our recording session that I thought you might enjoy. We were recording some hymns in Bulgarian. Neat stuff. |
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| These are pictures from the Youth Conference that was held last week. They made me be Nephi when we acted out building the boat. I cannot escape it! |
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Elder Raisor, with whom Elder Taylor and I were in the MTC went home this past Saturday in order to start school on time; since Elder Taylor and I are both serving here in Sofia, we had a chance to snap some quick pictures! I will miss him, but he will be living in Provo, so I am sure we will be seeing each other.
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| I have spent SO much time on these busses...It's an interesting relationship! |
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| Tuna was on sale at Kaufland last Monday... |
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