The More the Merrier!

Family Mine!

     Thank you so much for the wonderful letter! It really looks like things are going well. I have a lot of things to say this week, and not very much time to write them in! I love you all so much.

      This week was a crazy one--it started out with us going to Veliko Turnovo to do a baptismal interview...only to have her not show up to the interview. We then scheduled another one with her for the next day, to which again she was unable to attend. It was a little bit disheartening, but it was good to be there with the Elders in Turnovo during that time, because if it was hard for us, it was an even larger disappointment for them as well. She is still great, but she just needs a little bit time to be sure! We then rushed back to Varna to go on exchanges with the Varna Elders, which was great--We had a neat experience; one of Elder Davries's goals was to follow the Spirit to know with whom we need to talk to, and we made a goal that he would tell me, verbally, every time he got that feeling. As the day went on and we did it several times, he decided that we needed to talk with an older man. Despite hesitations about choosing an 80 year old over different candidates coming by, we stopped and talked to him, but he was not interested at all--after about 5 minutes of trying to withdraw from the conversation about Libian Bridge Building, we finally succeeded, turned around, and almost ran into a young couple just coming out of their store on a coffee break. We had a great conversation with them, and set up a lesson. If we had not talked to that Old Man, we would have walked right on by before they came out on their break. What a blessing! After the exchange, we got ready for Kremena's baptism--she quit coffee! It was such a miracle to see that answer to prayer. However, the opposition wasn't over (and actually still isn't...)--though her Husband is fine with her joining the Church, he is very hesitant about any documents, which led to some headaches the morning of the baptism, that were resolved only with the help of the wonderful 2nd Councillor in the Branch Presidency, and lots of frantic prayer. At the end of the day however, she was baptized and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. She really is wonderful, but keep praying for her--there is still more thorny path for us to walk, but we know that with faith, we can make it. 

       In OTHER news (so much news!), transfer calls were this Saturday, and Elder Stakebake and I are staying together as the Zone Leaders in the Third Zone, but (to our great surprise), we are going to have the unique opportunity of training at the same time! We will be in a triple companionship, with a new Elder from the MTC. I can say with confidence that that was not what I was expecting, but it truly will be a unique and wonderful experience. Both Elder Stakebake and I are excited. 

       Mother; Thank you so much for the pictures! It is so great to see your faces, and to be able to show them to the Branch Members and such. Thank you so much!  in terms of a package, whatever you feel. just maybe without the gum--we are asked to not chew gum in public, so I usually end up giving it away. Thank you so much for it though! In terms of suits, it is fairly easy as I understand, I just haven't made time for it yet though. I will for sure though! I love you so much, Mother!

     Dad; I love you so much! Thank you for the pictures and for your example!

      Paige; are you in choir leadership? Fancy. I love you so much, little Sister. It is ALWAYS better to follow the Spirit, as opposed to our own judgement. I would have stayed home with you! Keep on, little Sister.

     Ronnie! Happy Birthday, little Brother. I just want to start out by telling you how proud I am of you, who you were, are, and what you are becoming. You really are such a great example not only to me, but to those around you. I have WAY to many memories with you to say that I have picked the most appropriate, but here goes nothing! I think one of my favorite memories is of you when you were a lot littler, when we still lived on Wilson Way--I remember coming into the kitchen, and seeing you with your little hands in the sugar container, just loading up a piece of bread with white sugar--a carbohydrate overload! It was a picture in my mind that I will never forget. Also, remember to never slip and bump your head...because Ronnie's not dead! I hope you know that I think the world of you little brother, and will ALWAYS be proud to be counted as you Brother. Listen to Dad, he knows his stuff, love Lizzie, tickle Paige for me. Love your Mother. Ronnie, you truly are one of a kind, and for that I will always love you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

   Lizzie--that really is a great pumpkin! I am thoroughly impressed. I love you little Sister! 

      No more time, but I just want to bear my testimony--I am so grateful for serving a mission, for what it has taught me about repentance--there really is no other way to become more like our Savior, without passing through it's gates. I love you all so much, have a great week!

Love,

Elder Hardy

She did it! There are still some issues to be overcome, so please keep praying for Kremena, but I am so grateful for your prayers on behalf of her!

Life on the Highway!

Family Mine,

     Thank you for the wonderful letter! It looks like things are doing great at home. I always love to hear about your comings and goings. Always remember what a blessing it is to be a family! There is no better place to feel the Spirit, there is no better place to grow, there is no better place to have meaningful enjoyment. Happy Birthday to Ronnie! More about that later. 

     This week was one full of travel, but also full of wonderful blessings! On Tuesday I traveled to Ruse to be on exchanges with Elder Duncan (which was wonderful!), then right from there Elder Stakebake and I met up in Veliko Turnovo to do exchanges with the Elders there! We got back into Varna Friday night, exhausted, but excited. The next day, a wonderful young man, who had been being taught by the other Missionaries in Varna, but with whom I had made friends with in Church (he is studying chemistry!) asked me to baptize him; it was a little bit of a surprise, but a happy one! It was a great experience, and it was wonderful to see his face, to see the Spirit and cleanliness that radiated in them. What a blessing it is that our Heavenly Father has given us, to be able to be born again, every Sunday if we choose, if we are desiring! We are also preparing for the baptism of our wonderful investigator this Saturday! Please keep praying that she will be able to resist the desire to drink coffee. A long, great week.

      Mother; we usually do spend at least a part of our week traveling--not every week, but because there are 4 other cities in our Zone, we do have to travel at least 4 times for exchanges, not including baptismal interviews of people that are taught by the District Leader in any given city. We are VERY acquainted with Bulgarian buses and trains! They serve in Varna, Stara Zagora, Sofia, Plovdiv and Sliven. They are wonderful! The dishes that you ate are called Shopska Salad (the cucumber, pepper, tomato), the casserole thing is called Мусика, and the rolls with the feta are called мелинки, and the feta cheese is called сирене. I think the other thing is called a кашкавалка, but they make them in a lot of different ways, so I am not sure. I love you so much, Mother. Thank you for being such a faithful Mother in Zion. I will always be grateful! Also, your package got here! I should have it by tomorrow. Thank you so much!

      Father, thank you so much for all that you do. We gave Branch Council a go this week, and I couldn't help but think of the Ward Councils that you have. I hope ours become a little bit more like yours, but we are making progress! I really do love the members here--they are so strong, so full of faith. I love you Dad, have a great week!

      Paige, I feel your pain about AP History! It is something that you will discover more and more as you continue in your education--there comes a point where studying really makes the difference--those that read the textbook are those that really get a good, deep understanding of the topics, and those who don't survive with the surface material, but lecture alone doesn't suffice to cover the depth and breadth of the topic. I am grateful for the study skills that we learn from studying the Gospel--it takes effort to truly study a topic, but I promise it will make the whole class more meaningful and even fun, when you know what is going on. You can do it, ask for the Lord's help not only to succeed, but to have fun while doing it. I love you so much little Sister! Who is you teacher, by the way?

      RONNIE! I don't have the sufficient time today to do your birthday wish justice--I will think about it this week and then write it next week. I love you so much, little Brother. Seek for the things that bring lasting joy and progression, and I promise you that you will never regret it. I promise you that, for I have seen it in my own life, and especially in the lives of not only people that we work with, but also in the lives of other Missionaries. I love you little Brother!

      Lizzie; I love you little Sister! I think you are sweet enough to just go as yourself for Halloween, and you would be the sweetest thing in that building, but that is my personal opinion. I love you little Sister.

       This week I have really been pondering the true meaning of humility--I sometimes take things so seriously, especially when it comes to how missionary work should be done, that I forget the importance of working together, listening to the advice of a companion. This week I really have been trying hard to do things OUR way, not just My way, and being honest...it has been hard from time time. Shamefully difficult, actually. I bear my testimony, however, that we have had the Spirit powerfully however, because we truly have had UNITY, not just agreeance or partnership. What a blessing! In relationships with those we love, we must always be willing to yield to the other, and ESPECIALLY to the Spirit. As we give our will to the Father, he makes more of us than we can ourselves. A great, tough principle! I love it. I love you so much, have a great week!

With Love, 

Elder Hardy

Baptism! He truly is great!

Come Listen to a (dubbed) Prophet's Voice!

Family Mine!

       Thank you so much for the wonderful letter! It really sounds like everything is going great, and that life moves on at it's regular rapid pace. Thank you for the pictures and for the love. You are really all so great! 

        This week was really great, as usual! We were on exchanges for the beginning of the week with the missionaries from Shumen, we had the opportunity to teach Bulgarian at a Conference for the Senior Couples in the Mission held here in Varna, which was really fun (I could only think of Grandma and Grandpa Madsen, and Grandma B). We taught about counting, which was fun--it seems so strange to see them struggle, and even stranger to remember that 8 months or so ago, I was just the same. How time flies. After that, Conference was really wonderful--I really could understand it well this time, and the talks were just what I needed to hear, on so many accounts. There is no way that these men are not prophets and Apostles, no way that they were not inspired of the Holy Ghost to speak those words on those topics. What a blessing, what a blessing. One of our wonderful investigators came with her daughter to the Saturday morning and Sunday Morning Sessions, and her little daughter (with a little help from one of the Senior Missionaries) was quiet enough that she really got to listen to some of the talks. She is so excited to get baptized, but just needs some help gathering the strength to quit drinking coffee. Prays on her behalf would be very appreciated--she truly is a wonderful daughter of God.

      Mother; Things are great! I love you so much, just so you know. People do grow pumpkins here, but they are not orange...they are gray, and they have extremely thick rinds, unsuitable for carving (apparently), and there is not really any harvest celebration that I know of. We will be having a Halloween Celebration as a Branch however! It should be fun. That looks like a fun car! I am glad sad to see the old CRV go, but such is life I guess. Also, I love you so much, have a great week!

     Father; thank you for the pictures! There is a Sister in our Ward who is a nurse by profession, but a comedian on the side (not really, but she is funny enough to be one), who asks me how your work is going every time I see her. I usually say something about it being joyful. She is an older lady, who is in charge of the Primary, and loves children. It is so neat to see how she just lights up around little children. Thank you for doing what you do! I love you Dad.

     Paige; wow! You look so good. I love you little Sister--I hope you saw why I love the Stake Dance so much more than any School Dances that I ever attended. There is always more happiness and joy in righteousness, little Sister. I liked the talk about the Barrier and the Sharks...let us always have our binoculars at the ready!

     Ronnie, it really looks like you have a great group of friends--always keep them close, and always remember to always be inviting all to join in. The Savior was always inclusive, as opposed to the opposite, and we should always do our best to follow his example. Also, bravo for scoring the touchdowns! I love you little Brother.

      Lizzie! I am sorry that it is a little bit later, but I want to share my birthday memory! There are so many, but I think some of my favorite memories are of your great family Home Evening Lessons. I don't remember if I have said it before, but I still have that little Red Piece of Paper with the motto of that one Submarine Pilot who sailed under Antarctica, and always carried three sayings in his pocket. I remember how you taught us so well from the scriptures and from the words of the living prophets, even though you were so little! You always have been a wonderful, smiling presence in my life, from the day that you were born. I love you so much little Sister, you really are one of a kind, and I hope that you don't ever become any other way! 

       Just a quick thought about love--I was so struck not only by Elder Holland's talk about motherly love, but just by the love and care that truly radiated in the Eyes of the General Authorities and Auxiliary leaders. Love really is the key to all of our relationships--if we can truly learn to "see other people through the eyes of their parents, their Heavenly Parents", as one of the new Aposltes said. It truly will change how we live and how we act. I need to work on that, and I am excited to apply other things as well. I love you so much, have a great week!

With a smile,

Elder Hardy

Take a Step Back

Dear Family Mine!

      Thank you for the wonderful letter! It sounds like a great, great week! I really cannot express how much being a missionary has helped me to realize even deeper and deeper what a blessing the Gospel has been to our Family, and how much of a difference living the Gospel makes, even when it is difficult. The Lord blesses and prospers those who follow his commandments, those who loose their life in his service. I am so grateful that I can be a missionary, that I can give this time to him. There is nothing more important not only for our eternal destiny, but also for the happiness and success of our lives in this life. Stick to it, stick to it, that is all we need to do, and it will turn out. Of that I am sure. This week in Mission Leadership Council, President Barclay bore a powerful testimony about how if we, as missionaries think our testimonies and faith in our Savior are solid now, that we have no idea what another 40 years of living the Gospel will do. He reminded us that we are still just starting out, fledglings, just stretching our wings, learning to rely on the Lord. It was a powerful experience to feel the Spirit as he bore his testimony of the Savior. He is really a great example to us, to me. 

      This week was a great one in some ways, and tough in others--our wonderful investigator is really looking good to get baptized on the 24th of October, and we are extremely excited for her. Also, we uncovered that her husband (kind, but not interested) may not be into the Gospel, but he IS into Ping-pong...by small and simple means, are great things brought to pass. That is all I have to say about that. We had a lot of lessons fall through, and we traveled quite a bit for exchanges in Burgas, but no worries. I have been praying for more humility lately, so it is only to be expected. However, I have definitely been feeling more humble lately, so (as usual), our gracious Heavenly Father knows best!

     Mother; the package would come to Sofia, so I don't know yet, but I should find out by at least next preparation day. Thank you so much, whether it is there or not! There are not really any pine trees, but the weather has gotten got a little bit cooler, and it is very beautiful here. This really is an amazingly beautiful country, in so many ways. Ponderizing sounds neat! I am not sure how they will translate that word into Bulgarian, but I will give a try for sure--it sounds like a great idea. Thank you so much for all that you do for us, Mother. I love you so much!

     Father; just to double check--you are getting lots of pictures of Ronnie scoring these touchdowns, correct? It sounds like you had a great time down there in Salt Lake. Do you remember when we went? President Monson wiggled his ears. I will remember that forever! I love you so much, Father, have a great week!

      Paige; I am proud of you for making that choice! Seminary really is something that we need to get everything we can from--it will give you a base of scriptural knowledge for the rest of your life. I am sorry that I did not set a better example! You will do great, I love you!

      Ronnie; superstar! I am so proud of you little brother. Always remember that the Lord has given us every talent that we possess, and we should always be seeking to use them for the benefit of others, for their spiritual and physical well being (though I don't think a stiff-arm or two is out of place!). I love you so much little Brother--always remember that you are a bearer of the Holy Priesthood of God--that is the most important team you will ever be a part of. I love you!

     Lizzie; whenever I tell people that plays Футбол, they are quite surprised, but pleased that their beloved game has "leaked across the pond." You are great, keep being friends with all those around you, even the other players on the other team. I love you so much! I will write you about your birthday more next week, when I have a little more time--I want to do it justice! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

     Not a lot of time, but I just want to share a quick story--we showed a young man that we met of the street the Church Building late one night, and after he left, a friend of the church was coming towards the building, and heard them talking, just absolutely in wonder at what they were feeling, why they (the young man and his girlfriend) were feeling so good, why they felt so bright and happy inside. The Holy Ghost is real, and it stays with us when we follow the Path of our Savior. Happiness is a fruit of the Spirit--if you are not happy, seek the spirit. I promise that it will bring you up faster than any other influence. I love you all so much!

With a smile,

Elder Hardy 

Sorry that I have to be so quick! We are doing a FH activity in the branch, and we have been asked to collect stories. If you have any, could you send just a few my way? Thank you so much! 

I love you!

Elder Hardy