Thank you so much for the wonderful letter, and the wonderful pictures as well! I am glad to see that there is snow--there is nothing like Christmas with a dusting of white. There is no snow here, but the wind has picked up! I am doing great, and had a great Thanksgiving--we were in Sofia for a lot of the week for some extra training for Elder Wilson (and for us trainers as well), but we were able to get back to Varna just in time Thursday evening to eat Thanksgiving Dinner with a half-Russian half-American family, and there was more than enough food to go around! It was a good time--I will get some pictures, and see if I can't send them to you next week. I am so grateful for so many things...I will talk about that later.
This week, in Sofia we were on exhanges with the Assistants to the President, but we had a chance to teach one of the (now) former investigators that I worked with in Sofia--we were talking with her about how we can recognize when God is speaking to us, and how to know how he guides us, and at one point in the conversation, Elder Kanuchion and I both reached for the Book of Mormon at the same time, and, without talking about it, simultaneously opened up to Moroni 7:16-17. We both looked at each other a little bit surprisedly, but then we smiled and moved forward. The Holy Ghost DOES bring back to our remembrance what we have studied before, and if we have prepared, he will prompt us to teach in the Lord's way. It was a neat experience!
Mother; the shops are definitely getting into the Holiday spirit! They put up Christmas lights all around the whole town, so we are excited for that as well. They aren't really playing that much Christmas music as far as I know, but we also don't really spend that much time in stores, so it could very well be! They are very into Christmas, and have Santa Claus and Christmas Eve and a lot of those things--they also have some interesting traditions as well--I can't remember all the details at the moment though, so I will write them later. Thank you Mom, for all the hard work you put into Thanksgiving every year--it really is such a huge blessing to have that time together as a family. I am grateful for you Mom!
Father; thank you so much for including those pictures and stories about your Father--I feel so blessed to be one of his Grandsons, and I am so grateful for the example that he set. Thank you so much for sharing those, Dad, they really do mean a LOT to me. We had the activity about Family History this week, and it just fills me with wonder, awe, and indescribable gratitude just to think about those who came before me, who have helped so much in shaping who I am, and have done so much just by setting such a meaningful example of faith! You are that kind of Father, Father, and I can only hope to become one such in the future. I am grateful for you, Father!
Jordan! I am grateful for you because of your laugh, and your smile, and your willingness to be silly, and your willingness to put up with your goofy younger siblings, and so many other things that I cannot count, but I am grateful for you!
Rees! I am so grateful for your faithful example, and also for your gift with words--I love your poetry, I love the way to talk, and I just love being around you. Thank you for being there to listen to me, and to be dumb with me from time to time. I am thankful for you!
Paige; I love you so much! I am grateful for you because of your sweetness and for your wonderful personality--I have never met another person like you, little Archaeologist, Architect, Eco-Friendly singing Sister of mine! I am grateful for the love that I feel from you. I love you, and am thankful for you!
Ronnie; I am thankful for your patience with me, and your sincere desires--I think about the most sincere people that I know, and you are right up there at the top little brother. I am grateful for your good desires, and for your kind-nature with those around you. I am grateful for you little brother!
Lizzie; I am grateful for so many things about you, but I am so grateful for your dilligence! You have always been such a good example of doing the right thing consistently, because you simply know that it is the right thing. I am grateful for your smile, your hugs, and for the radiance that you have in your countenance. I am grateful for you!
I am sure you have seen a thousand more inspiring messages about gratitude recently than I could give you in an Email, but I want you to know that I have a testimony of gratitude! It really does bring us happiness, regardless of our circumstances.
This week, as I was reading and studying, I came across a great verse in 2 Nephi 18:6, talking about how the people of Israel refused the waters of Shiloh (see John 9:6-7), or in other words, The Savior and his power, and chose to seek after worldly power to solve their problems. At the end of so many stories that we read about in the Scriptures, Church History, and in our own lives, the Lord is simply trying to teach us that we must rely on Him, and if we do, we will overcome, we will truly be happy. I have been thinking about that a lot recently, and about what the Lord has been trying to teach me in that regard as of late. I know that if we can simply leave our pride at the door (and not just outwardly, but inwardly, down to our very core), and choose to do it the Lord's way, we will not only find true peace and happiness, but will find success. Of that I am certain. I love you all so much, have a great week!
I don't have a good picture of myself right now, and it is sort of dark where we are emailing, so I will take a good one this week, and be sure to send it to you next week--is that too late? I am so sorry! I will send the best one I have, though it may be a bit old! Maybe you could use the baptism one? I will send another next week, but that is the best I have for now. Sorry!
Love,
Elder Hardy
