Elder Tanner Hardy: February 2016

"Старата Песен на Нова Мелодия"

Семейството Ми!

Познайте какво? Аз много ви обичам и съм благодарен да ви бъда брат и син и внук и т.н.! Thank you so much for the wonderful letter and for your love and examples. It sounds like you have been crazy busy as usual, but always doing good things. So wonderful. Give Alex a big hug and a slap on the back for me! I am proud of him, and his achievements. I love him. Give my love to Sarah and Brandon and the kids--whenever I show the picture that I have of our family with theirs (in front of that brick wall), people always think that Mom and Sarah are my sisters! They get very confused when they see all those kids. I love them, they are adorable.

The title, in Bulgarain, means "the old song to a new tune," and they use it when something old is repeating itself, just in a slightly different way. To answer your question, dear Mother, transfers are tomorrow, and I am going back to Sofia to be a Zone Leader again, in the same apartment and everything, but I will be with Elder Strobel--he studied a year at Harvard at age 17 before going on his mission, and he was actually in the group of missionaries right before us at the MTC, so we already sort of know each other. I am excited--I hope the Lord puts some interested science geeks in path this Transfer! I am excited to be back in Sofia, but I really will miss Stara Zagora--I have come to love the members here so much, and truly feel at home here with them, so it is going to be really difficult to leave. I really have learned a lot about myself here, and it has been such a wonderful place. I love Stara Zagora. This weekend we had Branch Conference, so the group from Haskovo came up to Stara Zagora, President Barclay was here the whole weekend (we had lots of lessons with him, which was a blast), and we had 46 people in Sacrament--we didn't have enough chairs, so the pianist just had to sit on the bench the whole meeting. It was an amazing experience, and the Spirit was really very strong. Such a blessing!

We have had some amazing miracles in our area over the last few days (which is another reason that makes it tough to leave, but I know that Elder Raisor will take care of it!). We ran into an amazing man who truly loves his family above everything else, and has faith in Jesus Christ, and were able to get to know him and begin to teach him about the Plan of Salvation, and we were also able to find a woman who, after studying theology for 6 years, really has "wandered from east to west, searching the word of the Lord" and really has not been able to find it. As she was describing a spiritual experience she had, she said--"when this happened, it just felt like I could feel eternity all bundled up in my chest. It felt like family!". I really have never heard anyone describe the Holy Ghost as feeling like "family", but it really does make sense--the Holy Ghost bears witness to us of our Divine Nature, that transcendent truth, that we really are the children of God. A great week.

Mother; wrong notes? I don't think I've ever heard you play one in my whole life! The rest of those are innovative and creative color tones! I love you so much--isn't it funny how you can read the same things again and again, and truly recieve more knowledge every time? I love the scriptures, and I love you. Have a great week.

Father--that Priest Quorum looks wonderful! You are doing a great job with those boys. I am running a little short on time, so if I don't get a message to them this week, I will write them one next week for sure. Thank you for your good example to me! I love you so much.

Paige; you make a good feminist rebel! In Bulgarian, we would call you a бунтовничка (boon-TOV-ni-ch-ka)! I love you so much, keep singing.

Ronnie; looking good! I love you so much little brother. I hope you know that I think the world of you, and am so proud of all that you accomplish, but more importantly, of who you are. Keep striving to be a good priesthood holder, and I know that you will reap the blessings. I love you!

Lizzie; you take my breath away! You really are amazingly beautiful. I love you so much little sister!

I was reading in Jacob 3 this week (more wisdom from Jacob!), and I love his encouragement to us in verses 1 and 2 to be of a "firm mind"--to me that means not just meandering through our spiritual journey, but making the resolved decision to believe in Christ, and then sticking to it! We all have that choice before us, and we must all make it at one point or another. I love you all so much, have a great week!

Love,

Elder Hardy

(Grandpa Tonio! He is going to start passing the Sacrament in these coming weeks. I love him so much!)

Stara Zagora!

No more time!

"I Get knocked down, But I get back up again!"

Family Mine!

I love you so much! Thank you so much for the letter--it sounds like life is about as busy and wonderful as usual. Vocal Point at INB? Nice. Did you get to give out any copies of the Book of Mormon?

We traveled quite a bit during the middle of the week (Passport work and Zone Training), but still managed to get some good work done in our area. This week was all about learning from our mistakes--from learning about protecting personal documents (I "lost" my wallet with my Personal ID card and Missionary Funds card in it) to counting donations carefully, we made some classic mistakes this week. However, it was also a great lesson about God's Mercy--the passport office gave us no troubles, and besides a small fine, I will get my documents as if I hadn't lost them in the first place. After a little bit of tearing our hair out and some frantic prayers, we realized that we hadn't misplaced money, but the donor had simply done some bad addition on his form! All in all, it was a great lesson in the Lord's plan for our growth, encapsulated in a few separate incidents--he allows us to have the chance to make poor choices, and even allows us to go forward with them if we won't listen to his councils, but is ALWAYS willing to give us redemption, to give us a way to come back onto even ground, a little battered, but much wiser for the fall. I am so grateful for the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, and the opportunity that gives us to get back up, to give it another go. What a blessing!

Mom, that sounds like a great activity! How is Brother Toone doing? Give him my love. I am glad to hear that you have had a chance to practice--as a missionary, you end up throwing together a lot of musical numbers, sometime in the last second, and I have come to appreciate the power of someone like you who can sightread amazingly. In terms of the package, I will be happy with whatever you send me. If you could, I would like another 6 months of missionary service! I don't know if they sell that in Costco, but if they do, I am sure you would be able to find it. All jokes aside, I am really doing well, enjoying, learning, stretching, and trying desperately to not repeat the same mistakes. I love you so much!

Dad, last night, we were talking to one last man before we ran into our apartment for the night, and I said something like "I remember my Dad would always tell me...". After we finished the conversation, Elder Raisor mentioned sort of off-handedly "you seem to say that in every situation! What didn't your Dad teach you?", but it really caused me to think about how grateful I am for all that you have taught me. I love you!

Paige, I love you so much! Keep working hard--I hope you like the pictures of some ruins. Everytime I see them, I think of you!

Ronnie; nice hat! I hope that you have a good chance to serve in the Teachers Quorum--here, we teach adults about the duties of these offices that you are serving in right now--learn them well, serve faithfully, and take joy from it! I love you little Brother.

Lizzie; I am sure that you are going to bring down the house! Make sure and pray before you perform, and I am sure that it will all go great. I love you so much little Sister!

I know that the Savior lives, and that he truly loves us. I have been thinking a lot about Matthew 10:32--how often do we bear testimony of our Savior and our Brother? I think of a saying from Dad's book--"If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?". May we bear our testimony more frequently, through our voices, and also through our actions. I love you so much, have a great week!

Love,

Elder Hardy

For Mom

For Dad (it says "Midwife and Gynecology Center")

For Paige

For Paige (again!)

For Ronnie (It says "Hall for Wrestling")

For Lizzie (The Little boy is just a little younger than you!)

An Organ?

Family Mine!

This was a great week! It was pretty regular (translation: pretty extraordinary and amazing), filled with some great teaching experiences and the chance to attend a baptism! Elder Raisor taught a woman in Pazardjik, and we were able to go to Plovdiv yesterday to witness her baptism (there is not place to do the baptism down in Pazardjik, so they traveled up the Plovdiv). It really was a wonderful experience. In the middle of the service, as I was listening to one Sister from Plovdiv give a talk on the Holy Ghost, I was just so overwhelmed with love for the people here...what a blessing. It was a sweet experience. Also, Plovidv is the only other place in Bulgaria besides the Sofia Mission Home/Church building were the Church building is its own building, and actually looks like a real chapel. Also, there was an Organ! It was very weird to hear an actual organ again, but nice. All in all a great week.

Lots of miracles this week--after we got home from the baptism Saturday evening, we were headed out to visit a Less Active Member with whom we have never made any sort of contact, despite MANY tries. It "just so happened" (not really) that there was an older couple standing with the door to his entrance open, and they were very friendly, invited us in, and we happened to catch him just before he left for the night shift, were able to get an updated telephone number for him, and to have a good conversation. What a great blessing! It was just a testimony, again, of the Lord doing all the work, and us not really doing anything at all. That happens a lot!

Mother; I am excited to hear about Benton and Audrey! They will do great work! Tell Benton to learn some Bulgarian as well--there are a LOT of Bulgarians that live there! All jokes aside, it might actually help. I am excited for them. Valentine's day is celebrated here (it is actually a Christian Holiday in the first place, right-- Saint Valentine's Day), so the Sister's baked some sugar cookie hearts for after Sacrament Meeting yesterday, but that was about the extent of our celebration. I love those broadcasts! People will often ask us "what are you doing here?", and when Elder Nelson spoke to us last May, he encouraged us to say; "because I know the Book of Mormon is true!". It usually shocks people enough to get them interested. It is a fun transition. When it comes down to it, the Message of the Restoration is the answer to objections of every kind--if Joseph Smith is actually a Prophet (which he is), and the Book of Mormon is true, there are some pretty serious conclusions to be drawn from that. I love it, I love you!

Father, thank you for taking Mom out on a date! I am grateful for your example of always loving my Mother. The work is progressing well--we have seen a great increase in Sacrament Attendance over the last few weeks, and we have three investigators that are making good progress, are feeling the Spirit, and moving forward, so we are very excited! Thank you for your example of Missionary Work--the more I think about it, I realize that a Mission is just the introductory course to a lifetime of missionary work. It really does bring joy, that I know! I love you Father.

Paige; Boys? As long as they are named Seth, I am okay with it. I love you little sister! Keep singing your heart out, keep being a great example to your friends and to your siblings!

Ronnie; Sounds like a fun date! Just promise me you wont make that sort of plan with any girl! (After you turn 16, of course!). I love you so much little brother. It is the little choices about what you watch, what music you listen to, how you talk, who you are trying to please, that make all the difference. Big changes come from little choices, so make all the little right, and the change will be good. I love you!

Lizzie; one of the missionaries that I served with is from Missouri! I am glad that you are so good at being a friend--that really is the greatest form of Missionary work that we can do; showing true, Christ-like love for those around us. I love you!

2 Nephi 33:10. The words of the Book of Mormon really are the words of Christ, and those who are humbly seeking to be guided by him, will recognize them as such. As we seek his words, we will be shown the path that we need to follow. There really is no greater investment of time than an investment in our growth towards becoming like our Heavenly Father. I love you all so much, have a great week!

With Love,

Elder Hardy

We made Plates with scriptures on them!

Bulgarian Medicine

Family Mine!

No, I am not sick. This week was a great week, full of miracles and some really neat experiences. It just blows me away that I have been given such a great privilege to be a missionary, to be able to serve him. Anyway, it sounds like you had a great week as well! I am glad to hear that the play is going well, that everyone is strong and healthy (or at least headed that way! Love you Ronnie).

To explain the title. This week, we had the amazing opportunity to help out the Humanitarian Missionaries who serve here in Bulgaria (i.e. Translate for them--they are from Austria, and she speaks English, but he doesn't, so I translated from Bulgarian to English, and she from English to German for him. Interesting!) to go and do a tour of a Cancer Clinic, to identify ways that the Church could help out. It was eye-opening in a lot of ways, and a very good experience. We truly met some motivated, honest, hard-working Doctors and Nurses there, and also found some ways that we could help, which was wonderful. It truly filled me with a desire to be able to do more, to appreciate the blessing that Heavenly Father has given our family. We truly are so blessed!

This week, again, we had some wonderful miracles with the members of the Branch--this week, even though we didn't manage to meet with all the families we wanted to, the man for whom we sung came to English Discussions, and again mentioned how good and peaceful he feels whenever he is there in the Church, and we managed to make contact with two Less-Active Part-Member families, and to set up appointments for this week; even though we were just talking on the phone, somehow the conversations played out in such as way to allow us to win some small measure of trust or friendship in their heart, and opened their hearts for future visits. I know that was the hand of the Lord!

Father; thanks for the pictures! It really is great to see you all--I feel like I am right there in the action. I have said it once, but I will say it again--when did you all get so big? I am excited about the Russ and Carmen Hardys! That will be a blast--between the Brauns and the Hardys, we will probably spend more time on Center lane than on Boulder Park lane! What a blessing. Father, thanks for all that you do for us, and for the advice, as always. Love you so much!

Mother; thank you so much for getting that all figured out with the housing! I am sure that whoever those two other guys are, we will have a great time with them--it will be a good opportunity to be exposed to different groups of friends, instead of just being with people that we already know. What a blessing! I am glad to hear about the Birthday lunches--it really is such a big thing, to offer genuine friendship and love to our brothers and sister, members of the church or not. I am sure that it makes a positive difference in their life! In terns of the birthday box, I have just finished the Raisins, and I would love a few of those pictures of Christ--I am sure that the members would love them (and I might like one as well!). As always, letters are the very best, and ties are always fun. Thank you so much, I love you so much!

Paige--Wow! You look amazing in that picture. I am sure that you sang like an angel. Keep singing, memorize the hymns--it will help you if you decide to go on a mission! I love you so much.

Ronnie; Bronchitis? Who has time for Bronchitis? Not that Student Body President-Star tailback-singing wonder of mine! I am glad to hear that you are feeling better. Being sick is no fun. I love you so much!

Lizzie, you are so big! I love you so much, and appreciate your smile. I love you!

Not much more time, I know that the Book of Mormon is true!

With love, Elder Hardy

Elder Hardy becomes one with природата!

A Summer Theatre up in the Park in Stara Zagora

Shake, Rattle and Roll!

Family Mine!

Wow, sounds like a very exciting week! I am so proud of all of you, and all that you do. I love you so much, and am grateful for your example and for your protection!

This week was a little bit...busy. We were in Sofia on Tuesday for passport work and interviews with President, Wednesday we were in Plovdiv for Zone Conference (so great!), and then we had to go down to Sliven to do get audited. The audit was actually a really neat experience, and really again built my testimony of not only the spiritual purposes of the Church, but also of the hard work that falls to the Branch Clerk. I have a lot more respect for Ray Davis and all the other clerks now! In other news, we learned that due to some other needs (again!), Elder Hazelhofer is being shifted to Pazardjik tomorrow, and my new companion will be good ol' Elder Raisor! We were companions almost a year ago in Shumen, only a few transfers from being in the MTC together. It should be a good experience, and I am excited to again serve with him. He is a great man.

This week we really have seen so many wonderful miracles...the Lord was taking special care to show Elder Hazelhofer that his hard work in this area has not been in vain. The Lord has truly opened so many doors to us that have been closed not only for the last six weeks, but for months and years on end--for example, with the recent convert woman, who was baptized, confirmed the next day and since then never set foot in the church, we have been able to have wonderful spiritual lessons in her home, and yesterday, for the first time in a long time, came to church! And not only did she come, but she came, stayed for both hours, and LOVED it! She was just glowing at the end of the meeting, the happiest I have ever seen her. It was a great testimony to me that, as missionaries, we don't really do anything other than doing our best to be worthy, and to be in the right place at the right time. We hardly did anything, but the Lord did much. What a miracle! Then, just last night, we left our member Fireside, and were going out to visit a less-active member who we have tried many many times to get in contact with. The Lord blessed not only with an open entrance to his block, but then an answer at his door, and then a slightly silly reason (by small and simple means!) to enter his house, and then an over-energetic and lively 7 year-old daughter to give a reason to sing songs from the Children's Hymnbook, which brought the Spirit, which allowed us to pray, and left this man, long years inactive, to say "you know, while we were singing and praying, I felt so warm and calm inside...I haven't felt that in a long time!". He has many barriers to hurdle, a long path of repentance to tread, but I know that with the Lord's help, it can happen! No person can convince me that the Lord is not in this work!

Yesterday, our second hour discussion about the Eastern Europe area goals was positively...miraculous. As we discussed how to apply these goals, so many members bore their testimonies, and the Spirit was so thick, one could have cut it with a knife. I know that these goals are inspired of the Lord, and that as we apply them, they will bring us great blessings!

All in all...life is great!

Mother; thank you so much for your hard work about getting the housing thing all lined up--that 4 with 4 plan sounds PERFECT! I hope that it all works out like we want, but if it doesn't, it just means that it worked out the way that it needed to! I am confident that the prayer and pondering that has gone into getting things lined up has not been in vain, and whatever happens, will be for good. Thank you for living worthy to go the Temple--I sure am looking forward to having the chance to go again! It really is such an unexplainanbly wonderful blessing to live so close to the Temple. Thank you for your protection! I love you so much.

Father; I love that picture! You look so confused to be by the pool! It gave me a good laugh. I am glad to hear that you got a little chance to catch your breath. When you were talking about sharing that pass-along card, it was another good reminder that we do not have to wear a badge to be missionaries! We talk to taxi drivers about the Gospel all the time here, but it doesn't have to end when the badge comes off! I love you so much Father, thank you for your good example.

PAIGE! Wow! You got a 94% on that AP Language Final! I am so proud of you--I remember how hard that test was, and how much stress it brought everyone in the class. I know how much studying it requires to get that good of a grade...I cannot express how happy and proud I am of you! I promise you that those habits of study will bless you your WHOLE life, not only temporally, but spiritually as well. He (or she) who can study effectively can gain knowledge, and knowledge is POWER, again, temporal and spiritual. Without it, we cannot be saved, even. I love you so much. About the cars, I am grateful. I know that the little bang-ups and bumper-ripping-off and so-on that I did taught me the true caution that is needed in driving. I would MUCH rather hear about you learning it that way--with cars, there are much worse ways to learn caution. I am so grateful that you are safe. I love you!

Ronnie; sick! In Bulgaria, that is considered the worst thing that can happen to a person--health is considered one of the most important, if not THE most important things a person can have. Good job on your finals as well (100%!), know that I love you, and ти пожелавам да оздравееш много бързо! However, if being sick means that I can grow 2 inches...

Lizzie: That little girl that I talked about a little while ago reminds me a lot of you when you were 7--very intelligent, very energetic! The only difference is that she cracks wit in a cute little Bulgarian voice, not an English one! I am so proud of you, and know that you are going to do great in your play! I love you little Sister.

So many thoughts. Last night as we were singing with this man, it again was driven so deep into my soul the power of righteous music. The change was so stark in both of their countenances after we had finished singing as opposed to the beginning. The music that we listens to not only has an effect on what we think about and ponder on, but has direct effects on our emotional state, and our spiritual sensitivity. The Hymns are gifts to us, to be used to remind us in the purest way, where we are from, and what we are doing here. We need to know them, love them, sing them, delight in them. Making the choice about what music we listen to may seem like such a small thing, but I promise you that if you will evaluate what you listen to, and decide to make a more conscious choice to listen only to that which lifts you up, you will notice a difference. In that I am sure. Music is such a gift!

I love you all so much, have a wonderful week!

Sent while humming (not crazily, Grandma!),

Elder Hardy

A Great Quote!

This quote was shared with us at Zone Conference, and I thought it was worth passing on:

“No man knows how bad he is until he has tried very hard to be GOOD. A silly idea is current that good people do not know what TEMPTATION means. This is an obvious LIE. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is; after all, you find out the strength of the German Army by fighting against it, and not by giving in. You find out the strength of a wind by walking against it, not by lying down. A man who gives in to temptation after 5 minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an HOUR later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They’ve always lived a sheltered life by always GIVING IN. We never find the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it, and CHRIST, because He was the only man who NEVER yielded to temptations, is also the only man who knows in full what temptation really means.”

- C.S Lewis

Let us be firm in resisting temptation!

Elder Hardy