It was just your average Thursday, and everything was just hunky-dory as Elder Hardy and Elder Christensen sat down for their companionship study, business as usual. They were just getting ready to close, when the phone began to buzz on the table. In the course of about a 5 minute telephone call, it went from a regular companionship study to one that I won't forget for a long time. I'm going to Bulgaria. How about that?
As much joy and excitement as that gives me, it also comes with a twinge of regret and sadness--things were really beginning to pick up here in the Louisville Ward, and there are some individuals truly seeking, truly on the brink of embracing the joy and peace of the Gospel. We had our first real lesson with Messina and her Mother on Saturday, and it went extremely well--they are stoked about reading the Book of Mormon, her Mother was WAY into the discussion (probably more than Messina honestly), and they were touched by the spirit of the Christmas program on Sunday. We are more than excited for their progression. Members have been inviting their friends like mad, and we have several exciting potential investigators. I guess that is the way life works--the time that you get called away is at the point where you finally are not ready to leave. Again, as always, I know that the Lord has a plan for me, and that if I need to be in Bulgaria now, then that is where I will go. If Messina and her Mother need to be guided the rest of the way by another, I have full trust the Lord will take care of them. How I pray that they will be taken care of!
Sounds like it was a good week back at home (Wow, only one concert! That's practically vacation!). It sounds like there are some awesome things going on in the Ward, and that you had a great Christmas Program--I sang in ours as well, and it went great. There were a lot of people that brought their friends and relatives, so there was a little extra pressure on the performers, but it went wonderful--there are some extremely talented musicians in this ward. Brother Fanger (an awesome missionary in his own right), gave a wonderful talk that tied it all together. So great!
I wrote all of you guys letters for your Christmas presents (seeing as it might be a while before I can use a reliable postal service again); I hope you enjoy them--if you can bear with the corniness (you'll see), I hope you feel the love that I have for all of you. Of all the places to spend ones first Christmas away from home, there is nowhere else that I would rather be, there is nothing else that I would rather be doing, but I will still be thinking of you. It looks like the nursing home escapade went well as usual, and those cookies look delicious. I hope the Christmas Adam party goes well also--say hello to everyone for me.
All in all, this has been a very good week, up and down, in and out, from peaks to valleys, from riverbeds to majestic skies (sorry for all the nature talk today--it is gorgeous outside). From the despair of one of the less-active members we're working with re-deciding that he wants nothing to do with the Church (after telling us the exact opposite last week), to the soaring joy of seeing Messina and her Mother in Church, from the excitement of getting the long awaited news to the realization that it means I have to leave these wonderful people...needless to say stability of emotions does not really happen for a missionary on a regular week, much less one such as this.
This week, I have been reading in the beginning of the Book of Mormon, about Nephi and his ordeal in the wilderness, and I have really gained even more respect for Nephi and who he was. He was a man of high standards, that always stuck to what the Lord asked him to do, no matter what those around him said. He followed in faith, and he acted with power and assurance brought on by honest seeking. Of all the lessons that Nephi exemplifies and explains however, the most prominent and oft repeated seems to be his absolute trust in the absolute power of the Lord, and the unshakeable affirmation that if we keep his commandments, we will not fail (See 1 Nephi 3:7...and pretty much the rest of first Nephi). I know that as we develop that trust and faith in the commandments of the Lord through the repeated keeping of them, we can have that same power and assurance that Nephi had, we can be guided as Nephi was, we can help others as Nephi did. Obedience really does bring blessings!
Sorry my thoughts have been scattered today--usually I am more organized. I wish you all a Merry Christmas, and hope that we all remember Christ in this crazy season.
Much love,
Elder Hardy
P.S. I should be able to get on at 8:00 (9:00 our time). I am excited to see all your faces!
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| That Colorado sunrise... |
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