Walking Tall Before God...Always

Dear Family Mine!

      Thank you for the wonderful letters and for the great pictures! It looks like everyone is doing great. Also, as I have come to realize again and again, I have a beautiful family! You all really are the greatest blessing that God has given me to this point in my life. I love you so much. 

     This week was actually full of travel again--we were in Veliko Turnovo for exchanges, and I was actually on an exchange with my companion-to-be Elder Stakebig. It was sort of strange, but it was good as well. We got a head start! He is from Utah, a singer and an actor, so this should be a fairly musical transfer, which I am excited for. He has never been a Zone Leader before, so I will be the "experienced one" when it comes to those type of responsibilities; say a prayer for me--I will be needing it. We also went on Exchanges again in Varna, which made the whole week fly by in what seemed like about an hour and a half. 

      Mother; what a great chance to work with those young girls! Our Heavenly Father really does trust those who work with his youth the most--it is a sacred and holy responsibility to work with those who want to learn, who want to grow in knowledge and truth. You get to be like their second mother! (Or Леля as the Bulgarians would say--it means Aunt, but it basically is anyone who is that sort of figure in a child's life). About talking to people on trains or buses...it is the best way to earn the Spirit, and I have seen the blessings of it time and time again. It may not be comfortable to turn around and try to talk to the person behind you after the person next to you turned you down, but the Lord cannot NOT bless you for that sacrifice. One time we talked to people on the Train from Shumen to Sofia for 6 hours straight--at every depot, new people got into our compartment! Exhausting, but wonderful. Love you so much, have a great week!

      Father; back to the grindstone! I love you Dad, and am so grateful for all that you do for us, and for the example you set. And you even do it with a smile! That is one of my favorite things about you--your crazy laugh after you played a joke on someone...priceless! I love you Dad.

      Paige; that is probably a good choice--as I am sure you are finding out, this year is an important one school-wise! Keep working hard in School now, and I promise that it will open doors for you later, and you will be grateful. You are beautiful, I love you.

      Ronnie--good luck this weekend! Remember who you are, little brother, a bearer of the Aaronic Priesthood. Act like that with your friends, and I promise everything that is small and petty will eventually go into place. Read PMG, know that I love you!

       Lizzie; don't worry Sister--short people live longer! I love you little Sister, keep being so wonderful, and don't talk to any boys. At all. Except Ronnie. Talk to him a lot! 

     We had some technical difficulties, so not too much time today, but I just wanted to share a quick thought about walking tall. I think about all the people who are described as being such in the scriptures, and they really are people that we want to emulate. Walking tall does not mean being prideful, does not mean showing off how good or how "righteous" we are, but rather is a characteristic of our relationship with our Father in Heaven. It means walking without doubts or regrets, because we know that we have done all that the Lord has asked us to do, it means that we have nothing to hide, that we have nothing to shield, no secrets before the Lord. It means that we have been honest with him, and because of his Son, we do not have to shrink from his presence, or stoop down in a vain endeavor to avoid his piercing glaze. We know who we are, and we know that we have chosen to follow our Father in Heaven, so we have no shame. I know that as we do that, we will experience true happiness. Our Savior is the best example, who did ALL things that the Father required of him, with perfect obedience. 

     Let's walk tall! I love you all so much, have a great week!

Love,
 Elder Hardy

Pictures from Vladimir's camera

Elder Dahneke and I (and Noah!)