Thanks again for the wonderful letters and pictures--it is always so wonderful to see your bright smiling faces! I am so glad to hear that things are going well and that Grandma and Grandpa are feeling better. Tell them I love them.
Mom, I am saddened as well to hear about the whole CYT fiasco--isn't it so funny how little is accurately known about what we believe? Every time I talk to people, it seems that I end up explaining to at least one disgruntled child of God that, believe it or not, we are Christian! No pagan worship included! It is so true that there is a lot of work to do, but when I reflect on that, I remember just whose work it is, and I don't worry quite so much--though to me it may seem quite improbable, if not impossible, that all will have the chance to hear the truth in its fullness, I then remember that with God nothing is impossible. Doesn't make it any easier to reason out, but I do know it to be true, so at least I don't have to worry about any more than doing my part. Isn't being on the Lord's team great? I love you Mom, and love to hear from you. Thanks for continuing to check up on my visa, and thank you for the wonderful Halloween package. I couldn't stop smiling.
Dad, thanks again for being worthy to receive that patriarchal direction for us, your children. We may be spread out, but it doesn't make you any less our Father! I love hearing from you, seeing your goofy smile, and feeling your spirit, though miles may separate us. I hope to become half the missionary you were, dear Father.
Paige, I was alarmed to hear that now that you have assumed the prestigious role of fearless senior leader of the Hardy children, you have become so overwhelmed with your duties that you were forced to neglect the more enjoyable of traditions such as pumpkin carving; however, my fears were alleviated when I saw your choice of pumpkin--the ghost pumpkin combined with the simple sharpie message combined for quite the artistic effect. Minimalism is so in! I love you Sister, keep being wonderful.
Ronnie, I am sure you stole more than just Candy with that outfit--those 7th grade girls didn't even stand a chance! Keep smiling, and keep remembering who you are--we needle you constantly about being so devilishly charming, but don't let that keep you from your priorities. I love you little Brother.
Lizzie, that is possible the most creative and wonderful costume that I have seen in a long time--only fitting for such a creative and wonderful little girl! I love you, and think the world of you. Don't grow up too fast!
This week was a good one, and a little bit strange--this Friday we had a trainers meeting up in Fort Collins, so we ended up carpooling with some Elders doing Second Transfer training. While this meant that we saved miles and had time to go out to lunch after our meeting (when theirs commenced), it meant that not a ton of missionary work went on that day, which was a bit of a downer (our curfew for Halloween was 6:00, so we barely had time to grab dinner and head home by the time we got back to Erie). On the plus side, they showed Meet the Mormons for all the new missionaries who had missed it, so I did get to see that. It was good--a good portrayal (if not perfect) of the diversity of those who follow the Savior, and certainly a spiritual pick-me-up.
The work here is difficult, but good--Elder Carstens and I have been working on coordinating closely with the Ward to find those families in our boundaries who are open to letting the missionaries into their homes, so that we can help them feel the spirit and desire to come back to the fold. So many people have so many forces pulling on them from so many different directions, and it is saddening to see how powerful those forces that pull away from the true Gospel are. Satan is good at what he does, he truly is. We need to always be doing the little things, always be improving! How true it is that if we are not actively striving to get closer to our Father in Heaven, we will begin to slide away. Always be reaching, always be improving! It isn't hard, it just takes diligence. Read, pray, ponder, repeat. And come to church! It will keep us safe, it will keep us safe.
We met a neat guy this week named Lee--we are hopeful that he will begin to read the Book of Mormon and feel it's spirit. He is going blind, but his attitude and trust in the Lord are amazing.
"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?" I love this work, and I love you. my family. We all need to be stretched in order to grow, and though it may be tough, it is always worth it. I know its a true principle, and as we stick to true principles, we will receive blessings.
I know this Gospel is true, and I love it. If we weren't ever tested, we couldn't ever become like our Father, and that is the goal. This is a happy Gospel, and I love seeing the joy that it brings to my life, your life, and the life of those around me.
Smiles from Colorado (where it rained for the first time today), and all my love. You are the best!
Elder Hardy
Sorry, just one!
Sorry, just one!
 |
| Sister Thatcher and I rendez-vous at Trainers meeting. I spoke Bulgarian to someone, and she didn't look dumbfounded! |
No comments:
Post a Comment