Goals and Councils

Семейството ми!
      Не съм ви писал на Български отдавна! Този език е много хубав, ако сте забелязали. Аз си го обичам. I love you all so much! Thank you for the wonderful letters--it is always so great to hear your going-ons and doings. Thank you for being such wonderful examples and always seeking to do good. 
       This week was really wonderful, and inspiring--we had Mission Council again, and it was one of the more lively ones that I think I have ever attended. We set some very high goals for baptism, and I really have been feeling the Lord spurring me on to greater urgency and faith as we have been seeking the Lord's guidance and assistance in meeting such goals. I really have gained such a great appreciation and love for goals serving as a missionary--they really are the driving force behind the actions of successful people. Is it not our Heavenly Goal of returning to live in God's presence that encourages us to act in faith and live commandments, and is it not namely that consistent exercise of faith that then turns obedience from a step of faith into a choice couched and settled in sure Gospel knowledge of the meaning, purpose of those same commandments that we may not have understood at the beginning? Setting goals and making plans is not just a process invented of men, of that I am sure. All in all, the week was wonderful, with many opportunities to teach, and to go on exchanges with the Elders from Varna--I was with a missionary that I had been on exchanges with 9 months ago when he was a new missionary, and it was a lot of fun to see how he has grown and become an even greater servant of Christ than he was before. A rewarding week.
      Mother; we did find some new people to teach! We were walking down the street, and we said hello to a large man sitting at a Cafe table, and he beckoned us over, and we had a lesson with him on the spot, and have had another chance to teach his since then. He was a Muslim until a year ago when he had some dramatic spiritual experiences, and he became a Christian (he also looks like a Samoan lineman for BYU, but that is neither here nor there). In Sofia other missionaries teach English, and I sang in church a few weeks ago, but not recently. About Mother's Day, we are not quite sure yet, but I will let you know by next Monday--we will get it worked out, though it might have to be on Monday. We will see! As a side note, this week you have been doing laundry Bulgarian Style! This last week our washer broke as well, so the clothes came out SOPPING wet and sudsy, so drying was a 2 day experience in patience, but we got a new washer the other day, so all is well. Dryers...strange stuff.
        Father; that sounds like a great service project! We do that sometimes as we walk along the streets. Also, thank you for that great advice Father--it really is true about it being a cause to sprint, not to lament. Here in Sofia, planes fly over all the time, and when I served here the first time (almost a year ago...) I was talking to a departing missionary who had served here for his last few months, and I asked him whether it was hard with the constant reminder of air travel all the time. His response was enlightening (though i've probably exaggerated by the many times I have told it); "that airplane sound to me is like a whip cracking, telling me to work harder!". That statement only becomes truer and truer as time goes by. *Crack!*
          Rees; Get in the Zone, the Auto Zone! Allow me a quick missionary related joke; do you think if you work there for long enough, you will become the Zone Leader? I love you brother!
          Paige; you look so good soloing! Whatever happens, happens--this is what always comforts me about these kind of situations "well, I may not have achieved such and such award or accomplished such and such task, but at least I know the Book of Mormon is true!" I love you little Sister--you are beautiful. (And I think you'll make it!).
         Ronnie; glad to hear that the operation went well. You always have been the most accident-prone for whatever reason. Maybe it is just nature trying to bring balance--you were born to handsome for your own good! I love you little Brother.
        Lizzie; it sounds like you are doing wonderful! You need to teach me some of your moves--the Bulgarians usually do a pretty good job of showing me up when it comes to Soccer Balls. I love you so much little Sister!
       I know that this Gospel is true, and that Holy Ghost will guide us as we take a little time to listen. Pondering time is precious time. I am so grateful that we have a Heavenly Father who cares enough to not just give us guidelines and then leave us to our own devices, but who will guide us each individually in living his Principles, and becoming that which he wants us to become. I love you all so much, have a great week!
With Love,
Elder Hardy




Hello!

Лъвов Мост...You can read the translation. Sort of a central place in our area.


I love taking pictures from the Apartment window...


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