Settling in...MTC Week #2

семейсвото ми!

      Hello and greetings from the MTC! It was so nice to hear from you guys, and I love getting those blessed brown-cloaked envelopes every so often--great idea Mother! I hope you guys are having a marvelous vacation, and that all your plans work out. I hope those snazzy pants see you through! Tell Ronnie that he is doing a marvelous work and a wonder on the O-line, tell him to say hello to Miss. Phillips and Mrs. Ediger for me, and tell the rest of the family I love them a lot!

     Thank you so much for all the wonderful letters and packages--it's a rush to look in the mailbox and see that half-sheet that tells you a package is waiting. I am doing great; however, I realized I forgot my key-ring consecrated oil carrier (it's on my keys, if those are still intact). Thank you so much!

     Though I have tried and tried, I have come to the conclusion that my camera will not work at the MTC at least--it is a struggle even for those with SD cards, so schmucks like me are downright hopeless. I don't know if it's necessarily worth it to send a whole new camera, considering it very well might work in Bulgaria, but it is a thought. I'll try to get some photos from my district to send to you, but everyone is hit and miss, so I, unfortunately, can promise nothing. I am so sorry!

     In other news, I am beginning to acclimate to the MTC--our schedule is a little disjointed always, but we manage to end up where we need to be, when we need to be there, so life is good. The food is plentiful, gym-time four square is intense (but not too intense, I promise. We are good missionaries!), our calves are getting super toned (our residence is the farthest from everything, on the top (4th) floor, and our classroom is also on the top floor--stairs are my arch-nemesis) and the Bulgarian studies are going...pretty well. I truly do feel the Lord magnifying me as I work hard; I am married to my flashcards--I feel naked without them attached to my belt. However much I study, though, there would be no way for me to be able to get a sufficient grasp on this language in a measly 9 weeks without a serious assist from the Lord. I'll find words that I studied two days before floating into my head during lessons, and know it is the power of the Holy Ghost. Now, that being said, please don't get any bloated ideas about my speaking prowess--communication is still more difficult than paddling upstream the Mississippi without any oars in a half-sunk canoe, but the blessing is that communication does happen (when it needs to), and I still feel the spirit when I testify, broken Bulgarian or not. THAT is the gift of tongues. 

    Miscellaneously, just found out that I get to host next week (it seem weird that I am that old in the MTC already!), I got to sing in the Choir this Tuesday (a serious accomplishment, involving careful planning and the ability to not get crushed in large swarms of suits wishing to partake), and the old Bulgarian district is staying for an unplanned Week 10 because their visas haven't come through yet (so hard!), and I enjoy pickles on my burgers. Discovered that in a real way this week.

     I love you all so much, family, and I am so grateful for the great family that we have--keep doing the basics, because they truly are the way to happiness, revelation, and the Holy Ghost. I have been focusing on having the spirit with me, and I have been realizing that the way we do that, is to always be found doing activities and thinking thoughts that invite the spirit. Read PMG chapter 4! 

обичам те много, аз знам че бог е нашия небесен отец!

стаpейшина Hardy

First Week at the MTC...добре!

Dear Family,

    

     Wow...what a week it has been. So much, so fast, so great. It started out with a good meal, and a very quick tour around the important parts of campus, then it was right to drilling the Bulgarian alphabet--I am glad I studied before I came! On the first night we had a neat devotional called People and Purpose; basically, it was a room full of missionaries (maybe 70 or 80) working as one companionship to teach an investigator with a problem, trying to get to know that investigator, trying to understand the person before you begin teaching. I stood up in the first class rotation, and offered what I thought was a great response, full of doctrine and testimony. After I finished, she swiftly rebuked me, told me she hadn't understood a word I said, and that I should just sit back down. I was more than a little humbled. It was a good welcome to the MTC--it only took a few hours for me to start learning to become a better missionary! 

     My zone is the best--we are all serving in the Eastern Europe, Adriatic North and South areas
(i.e Slovenia, Czeck Republic, Poland, Turkey (one Elder), Bulgaria, Macedonia (one Elder), Serbia, Croatia, and countries in that area). They are all quality missionaries, though we are few (mostly owing to the fact that two large districts left for Poland Monday, reducing our zone by half), we are mighty. We have a good time together. My district--4 Bulgarians (one solo sister), and one Macedonian (Elder Rigby)-- is superb, and I love them all. They are all from Utah, except Elder Rigby, who is from Tuscon. My companion, Elder Taylor, is a great guy (as I said before). He was big into student council and that sort of thing, so he is great with people, and he also worked as a CNA before he came, so every morning his bed-making skills put us all seriously to shame. It's wonderful though--the MTC is an interesting place. For those who want it to be, it can be a life changing, skill-developing, testimony nurturing growth zone. For those who don't, it can be a boring place full of semi-unstructured study time. I pity those people who do not take advantage. 

     We went to LA on Tuesday, which was draining, but a good experience. We caught a ride with a bunch of Elders going to Philly and Georgia (I thought of you Father dearest!), at the enjoyable hour of 4:00 AM. It was just us new Bulgarians in LA though (the four of us), but we got to the consulate, charmed the Bulgarian customs ladies with our rudimentary Bulgarian skills, and then proceeded to sit in the airport for eight and a half hours. Lots of study time! Elder Taylor got the neat opportunity to teach a Chinese lady who was just coming off a tour of Temple Square practically the first three discussions (and to give her a pamphlet and a pass-along card), and Cectpa Thatcher saw an old friend on the tarmac of LAX, so it was a good day.

     I have taught, in the first week, 3 lessons in only Bulgarian. I say "taught," but struggle would be a more appropriate term. The language is tough, but coming. I know the Lord called me, and I know he will not let me fail if I am diligent. It really is a pretty language. I can't wait to be able to express all of my feelings to those I teach--in the lessons, I feel like I am trying to swim upstream with my arms tied to my sides and both eyes closed. However, the honest truth is that the spirit is the teacher not I, and the best thing I can do for my investigators in not to become fluent in Bulgarian (though that would certainly help), but to live worthily enough to bring the spirit "unto their hearts" so that they may feel, know, and act on the promptings of the spirit drawing them closer to Christ. That's my purpose! The language will come, the language will come. 

     I really have felt conversion grow in just the seven (eight?) days that I have been here--I have so much to learn, not only in the language, but in how to discern the needs of investigators, how to feel the promptings of the spirit at all times, how to serve without thinking, how to lead with love in a Christ-like way (I got assigned to be a district leader for three--I think I already said that), and so much more. I read Ether 12:23-27, and it truly is my byword when it come to learning Bulgarian. I have been humbled by the language, and I am grateful for that. I love it though!

      I love you all so much, hope I answered all of your questions Mom, and am sorry I didn't write to you individually family--I am still trying to get the timing figured out! The Church is true, Christ is our Savior, we can live together forever.  

обичам те!

Elder Hardy

Hello from the MTC!

Hey, just wanted to let you know that I arrived safe and sound--only a few escapades before the drop off, but I am here, I am safe, I am eating, and I love missionary work, so life is looking really nice right now. I feel super dobre! (No Cyrillic keyboard, sorry!). 

     My district is awesome; I am companions with Elder Taylor, a missionary from Cedar Hills, Utah. He is a great guy and has a great spirit about him. He got a ton of Hi-Chews today, but I was not tempted--I am still scarred from my Hi-Chew overdose on the plane back from Peru. There is one other companionship in my district, and a solo sister (two other Bulgarian Elders, the Bulgarian sister, and a Macedonian learning Bulgarian because it is the closest to Macedonian). We get along great! Also, I was just made District Leader, but we all rotate on three week shifts, so pretty much the whole district will get a chance to serve. 

     The MTC is great, crazy, and busy. Also crazy. Did I mention busy? But most of all, it is spiritual paradise--if you sincerely want to feel the spirit here, it doesn't take long before your heart starts thumping and your bosom starts burning. I love it. 

     Just a short letter, but my P-Day isn't until next Thursday, so it will be a while before the first REAL letter. Also, I go to LA on Tuesday next to get my Visa. It sounds like it should be fine. 

     I love you, and I love the Savior, and I love the spirit. We should always be guided by it. The first two days have been nuts, but I look forward to every nutty moment. 

All my love,

Elder Hardy

Off to the MTC!