Thank you so much for the wonderful letter! It is always great to hear from you. I am so excited that we converted more Idaho Hardys to the Washington side! It will be really neat to be so near to them. Also, congratulations to Rebecca and Tyree! She really is beautiful, such a precious Spirit sent from our Father in Heaven. What a blessing. Give them my love. All in all, it sounds like a jam-packed, great week. I love you so much!
This week has been a good one for us as well--Elder Dahneke is great! It was quite comical when we figured out that in fact I HAD read his letters before I came out--it made me feel very young in the Mission, and him quite old. He really is a great man and a great missionary. Life is a little bit different here in Varna, but everything is great. We talk with lots of tourists (I might end up learning Russian by the end of the summer...not really, but still), people coming from the beach, the whole nine-yards. We have had some neat experiences, and we are working with a really neat family right now, so life is great (not that it isn't usually, but still!) It has been such a blessing to be able to sit before them and promise the blessings that the Gospel can bring to their family, because it not only brings me such joy to think about the joy that they will have, but also deepens my own testimony of these blessings that I so desperately want to have in my own family. Family is truly ordained of God!
Mother; the birthday lunch! I am so glad that you do that for our Ward--it is so true that just as our normal families need nurture and together time to be strong, the same is with our Ward families. What a blessing for our Ward! (And for those who seek delicious leftovers!) The Branch here in Varna is a lot smaller than that of Sofia, but much bigger than Shumen--the members truly are wonderful. Also, I actually went on-line with the Office Missionary Couple in Sofia before I left and ordered a new set of scriptures, so they are on their way--I will just pay for them out of my personal money--we are still not sure about the blessing, but they were going to look into that, and then get back to me, so I will let you know what comes out of that. I love you Mother!
Father; you look about as happy as a Grandpa in that picture with Areya! Thank you so much for your letters and for your encouragement--it really is true that the experiences that we have as we truly feel the guidance of the Holy Ghost are precious. It is something that we must always be aware of, we must always be seeking. President Barclay told us something that I hope to never forget-- "At the end of the day, there are fewer greater blessings than that of hearing the voice of the Lord in our life." So true! I love you Father.
Paige; the "Burb" will live on in our hearts, but she has been called to help others to create timeless memories now. Create some good ones in the new one! I love you Sister, have a great week!
Ronnie; I love you little brother--does Paige drive you around a lot now-days? I hope so. Take care of our Sisters for me. Read Preach My Gospel! I love you.
Lizzie; in the branch, there is a young boy who is 10 years old, and is very smart and funny--he reminds me of you! You look very grown up in those pictures. Always remember that I love you and care about you. Have a great week!
I really am sorry that I do not do a very good job of portraying every-day missionary life--it is harder than I thought to describe!
I just want to share a quick story; this week, we met with a really neat man, who throughout his life has gone through many difficult situations, but somehow despite his impossible circumstances, and to his own surprise, has truly built for him a successful and good life. As we talked to him, it struck me extremely sharply how as he talked about the things that he did that drew him out of the hole that he had found himself in, they were all, without exception, principles of truth, principles of God, things that we learn and understand through the restored Gospel--honesty, faith, determination, strong moral codes, etc. These principles, are eternal, whether we realize it are not. We have the great blessing of learning those things, and being able to know how to LIVE THEM, as we live the commandments that our Father has given us. As we have begun to teach him, it has been such a miracle as we have begun to see the connection between the success in his life, and these principles of God. I know, that as we keep the commandments, we will be blessed, that is an irrevocable FACT. I love this Gospel, I know that it is true. It may be hard, but as we live it, we will always be blessed, without exemption, without exclusion.
I love you so much, have a great week!
With love,
Elder Hardy
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