Thanks for the wonderful letter! It is great to hear about all the goings on--man, it seems like the last Broadway Night was about a million years ago...missionary life does funny things to a person. It sounds like you are all doing great, however, which I am glad to hear.
Mom, so many questions! I will do my best. Usually when we meet people on the street, we do our best to get their phone number, and then we set up a time that we can meet them, usually at the Church building. It sometimes is tough to find times that work because most people have very involved work schedules, but we do our best to keep up on people. It is very helpful when people are honest about their desire to hear from us (or lack thereof), and don't make us play cat-and-mouse with them. There are a lot of Christians in our city (the majority of people identify themselves as "Pravoslav," or Orthodox), but most don't go to church (like in America). Shumen is a fairly small, quiet (which is funny, because "Shumen" literally means "loud") city compared with some other places missionaries are, so one doesn't run into too many people with out-there ideas. It is a nice little city. Hope that answered them, and good luck with the Half-Marathon--you guys can do it! I love you so much.
Dad, that is so wonderful that Jordan came to church! It is so true that we really have no idea how the Lord is preparing people to hear the Gospel, to change their minds and their hearts. It truly is His work--we just have to keep doing our best with diligence! I love you, and am so grateful for the example that you are to me in every way, the life that you lead that lights the path for mine.
Paige, you go, little sister. No sickness can stop you! I am sure you were absolutely stunning. I am glad to hear that you got far enough ahead to not have to worry about Finals. That's the way to do it, without a doubt. What did you write you paper on for Humanities? I am interested. I love you, and think you are one of a kind (because you are!). Keep it up!
Ronnie! I saw a picture of you hanging out with the "LDS Middle School Group"--you are a huge man! You are probably already taller than I am. Keep up the good work on stage, and on the court. Always remember that the many skills and talents that you have been blessed with work best when paired with humility and kindness--if you have those two, it makes all the other talents all the more worthwhile and meaningful, I promise. I think you are an awesome guy, and I love you.
Lizzie, keep on reading--it will do you good! I smile to myself when I think of you, curled up on in the reading nook or somewhere cozy, plowing through page after page after page. I love you with all my heart, and cannot think of you without smiling. Keep up being wonderful!
This week was a good one and a tough one--after getting so pumped up last week and champing at the bit to start achieving those high goals we set for ourselves, the Lord saw fit to give us a little bit of chastening. Appointment after appointment fell through, we couldn't make contact with our investigators to save our life, the weather turned rainy (turning all the people on the street back inside), Georgi slid backwards in his Word of Wisdom progression...needless to say, we felt like we fought uphill against the wind all week, just to survive. However, it is truly in the times of testing that you grow the most. It makes one rely more on the Lord, call to him more fervently in prayer, depend on his strength more, and recognize his miracles more fully. This morning, during personal study, I was reading in the Book of Mormon, and one verse stood out to me in a way that it never has before; in 3 Nephi 20:1, Jesus Christ commands his new disciples to stop praying, but to "not cease to pray in their heart," a sentiment oft repeated in the scriptures. However, as I pondered it, I started to realize the importance of that injunction, especially as a missionary. If we want to do the Lord's work correctly, we need to do it his way. If we want to do it his way, we need to know what that way is. If we want to know what that way is, what better way to find out than to ask? In every moment, we should be listening for how the Lord wants us to do his work, to bring his children home to him.
Dearest family, I want you to know that I know that this Gospel is worth it, that this church is true, that the Lord truly does have a plan for us. It is vital, absolutely vital, that we become personally converted to the doctrines and principles and ordinances of Jesus Christ, that we know of their veracity by the power of the Holy Ghost, understand what that witness leads us to do, strive with all our might to always be found doing that. TRUE conversion to the Restored Gospel will protect us from the many forces that will try to pull us away, and there are many. We must know it deeply, we must know it individually, we must try it out, we must view the results, and recognize their goodness. I know that if we do these things, we will be happy.
I love you so much!
довиждане!
Старейшина Харди
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