Thank you so much for the wonderful letter! I am very glad to hear that you are all safe and sound, that no trees fell on anyone that I love (or anyone at all, hopefully!), and that we learned a great lesson about emergency preparedness--we loose water here about 3-4 times a week here (for the last 4-5 weeks or so because they are doing a HUGE reconstruction of the water system in Varna), and it really has made me appreciate how good it feel to be prepared, and how much of a let down it is to NOT be. Also, we talked about the Second Coming in Gospel Principles, so it was a full sweep from the Spirit about thinking ahead. I think of all the things that serving as a Missionary has taught me, that is one of the most salient. Be Prepared!
This week was good--we were on exchanges with the Elders from Ruse, but I was here in Varna. This week we had the chance to talk to a (now) less-active member, and to hear his conversion story--he went from church to church, has read the Bible over and over, has read the Koran and the Talmuda, and practiced most Eastern Religions for at least a little bit, but when he came to the Church, he just said that it felt so right, he simply knew that it was the place that he had been searching for, the place that God wanted him to end up at. However, after a couple of years, he fell out of the everyday habits, and (in his own words) fell into "hibernation" as a member (I was sorely tempted to give him Elder Ukedorf's talk about Sleeping through the Restoration, but maybe a little later). It was great to be able to help him come back to the basics, and he said a great closing prayer. Small and Simple things! It was a great week.
Mother; we were invited to Thanksgiving at the home of a half-American half-Russian Family that recently moved to live here in Varna, but we might be on a bus back from Sofia, so we'll see--it might be some cashews and banitza on the bus this year, but for that we can still be thankful! Thank you in advance for sending the package! Elder Stakebake decorated the apartment for Christmas last week, and we even sang some Christmas Songs in church yesterday (more because the first speaker went really short, but still), so we are excited. Church yesterday was a blast--we had probably 9-10 nonmembers there, including people from Algeria, Sweden, Germany, and even Bulgaria--It was a full house! It was great fun. Love you so much!
Father; that paragraph above was my first attempt--I will try to improve! Also, I was reading some of your poems this week, and they are so good, I think I am going to try and translate a few of them into Bulgarian to share with some members. I love you so much!
Paige; Every picture, you look more and more grown up. Crazy. I love you so much, share your smile with those around you! I have been thinking a lot about social pressure this week...it is a decision to live the Gospel, and it is a choice to be different. I promise you that making that choice (though I think you already have), will bring you 1000% more happiness, no matter what those around you say. Stick to those who share your standards, and love the brains out of those who don't. Read For the Strength of Youth, and live what is in it, and you will be strong in a way that no one around you is, because you will be full of the Holy Ghost, you will truly be walking tall before your Father in Heaven. I love you so much! Ronnie, Lizzie, all that goes for you as well!
Ronnie; Camp-out! Have a good time with those young men, love and serve them--what a blessing to be part of a priesthood quorum! The young men here really don't have that chance--it is such a blessing. I love you little brother!
Lizzie; I love you, little Sister! Keep loving your big brothers and sisters, and your friends as well. Listen to Paige, she is a great guide, and I know that you'll be happy. I love you!
So many thoughts this week...I have been thinking about how we can work more closely with our Branch Leaders this week, and it really has made an impression on me one, how vital it is for us to come together as ONE as Saints, in all the phases of service, but also how vital it is to really CARE about the service that we give. Do we truly, honestly, deep in our Hearts, care about those who are part of our Ward Family? Do we think about them on days other than Sunday? Do we pray for them sincerely, not just because we think that we should? Does it sting us when we see empty pews in Sacrament Meeting, not because we just want full pews, but because we know the blessings missed by those for whom our heart burns? Have WE tasted of the fruit ourselves? When was the last time that we truly felt the Spirit burn in our hearts? Those are the feelings that will truly lead us to be dedicated servants of the Lord, and that without hypocrisy, and without guile. I need to care more, I need to love more, because, while it opens our heart for more hurt, it unlocks our heart to the greatest joy. The Savior, who suffered all, truly has the greatest capacity to love, because his heart was the most open to be hurt. May we love those around us and serve more sincerely (and I as well!). I love you all so much, have a great week!
With a smile,
Elder Hardy
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