Drop, T, Throw!

Family Mine!

      This week has been a wonderful week--we had new Missionaries coming in, and one of them actually Visa-waited in the Las Vegas West Mission with who else but...one of Elder Alley's former companions! That was a fun little connection (apparently Elder Alley made a large positive impression on this Elder, so Elder Jones (the one who visa waited) had heard all about him). Our world is a small, funny place.

       This week on Saturday, we had a chance to teach that young man that I sent you a picture of how to play baseball, and it was a blast--I felt like I was back in Summer Camp at Northwood! He really had a great time, and we have been able to work with him a lot more about getting ready for a mission lately, which has been a real blessing--the Lord really does work by small and simple means.

        I am so grateful that the Lord let me come on a Mission--everyday that I am here I feel my desires changing, my will being strengthened, edges of my character being sanded off (hopefully the bad ones, and not the good ones). This week, as we were working with a few members, we got into a discussion that I have had too many times on my Mission--"I would like to [insert aspect of Gospel living], but I just don't have time! Once I clear up my problem with [insert trial / hardship of some kind], I will start doing that again." I really have come to gain a testimony that, no matter what our problem, concern or hardship, the answer is always to increase our faithfulness, to rely MORE fully on his power, not to draw ourselves away from his power through our choices. I have yet to go through similar trials to those of these wonderful members, and I don't pretend to know perfectly their circumstances, but it is my prayer that when I find myself in that moment, I will have the courage and faith to practice what the Spirit has been preaching to me this week.

        Mother; thank you for all the work that you have put into, and continue putting into helping me get started in College--I will send you a separate email about the classes (just so you don't have to dig through this one), but I just want to let you know how grateful I am to have such a talented, intelligent Mother. This week we got 5 from the MTC (they are all so great!), and we didn't do any traveling. This morning I learned the word пълзя, which means to crawl--I probably would have understood it in context, but now I can use it! There are so many words like that at this point...now I just get to move them from the foggy cloud of half-knowing them, to really knowing them. I love you so much!

        Father; thank you for being such a great example! I really have gained a testimony of that statement (I think by Elder Bendar?) that a Mission is not the best two years OF your life, but really FOR your life. I love you so much, thank you for sending me pictures--I love seeing your faces and smiles and hearing about your adventures.

        Paige; talk about a last second night-mare! What a serious blessing that the other guy could fill in--otherwise you would be stuck doing it! Question; you have your own Kayak? Whoa. Is that a consequence of AFY? I love you so much, and am so proud of you!

       Ron--we ran into a guy who is competitor in the World's Strongest Man competition (huge, HUGE Muslim man. Very kind-hearted individual), and when I told him I used to lift weights but didn't really get that large, he just said to me "meat, you need to eat more meat!". Take it from him, little brother, not from me. Make sure to be aware of what company you fall into, and remember always who you are--there is no social circle worth entering for which the entry price is your standards, or the worthiness necessary to have true Priesthood Power. Those things are the price of entry into a MUCH more joyful association, i.e. with Heavenly Father. I love you little big brother!

      Lizzie, you look great! In that second picture, you look like a full-blown teenager! I hope you know that I love you so much, and am so grateful for your example. I love you.

       The Church is true, the Book of Mormon is the word of God! We are truly led today by Prophets, Seers and Revelators--if you want to read more about what that means, try Mosiah 8. Very enlightening chapter. I love you all so much!

With a smile,

Elder Hardy

A Department store in Center.

Basketball! But Yogurt first.

The old city of Serdika, and a nice Mosque in the background--this is smack dab in the middle of Sofia, basically inside of a Metro stop.

Re: BYU Class Schedule Ideas

Thank you so much for putting this all together! I looked them all over, and prayed about it (this is when I am glad that I can email in the Mission Office, and not in the Computer Cafe!), and really feel like I know what I want to do.

I think that taking Bulgarian 330, Math 112, Chemistry 111, and Book of Mormon will give me a good foundation, then I want to take the Men's Chorus (half to keep my foot in the Music door, half because it will be super fun), The STDEV 272 will keep my foot in the Medicine Door and I am sure will be really interesting, without a huge commitment, and I think Social Dance would be a blast (and useful for other, unspecified non-academic goals...). I think 15 Credits will be a good start--I really want to make sure I can spend time getting my brain back around the Chemistry, which will probably mean a lot of time in the Library, but I think it will be good to not have too many new curve-balls coming at me from Physics. So, to sum it up;

Bulgarian 330     (3)

Chemistry 111    (4)

Math 112           (4)

Book of Mormon (2)

STDEV 272        (1)

Men's Chorus      (.5)

Social Dance       (.5)

I really feel good about that--thank you again so much for the work you put into that. I love you so much, have a great week!

Elder Hardy

On Mon, May 30, 2016 at 8:51 AM, Ronald Hardy <rjhardy8@gmail.com> wrote:

Elder Hardy,

I know you don't really want to talk too much about this, but we need to do a little planning.  I will be able to register you for classes next Monday evening.  (you have so many AP credits, you got the earliest registration time for Freshman).  I looked at the suggested schedule of classes for a Biochem major and the list of classes that you tested out of.  Here is a suggested schedule (with some questions or things to think about):

Fall 2016

Bulgarian 330   3 credits  (this is the entry course for Bulgarian RM's - you can then get credit by examination for Bulgarian 101, 102, 201, 211R.  They don't have a Bulgarian minor, but you can get a certificate of fluency from the university)

Chemistry 111  4 credits (this is the entry level Chemistry class for Chemistry and Biochem majors.  The series is Chem 111, 112 and 113 (113 is the lab).  There is a little "simpler" series for non-majors which is Chem 105, 106, 107.  That is actually the route I went, because I got started on the series late.  You will be fine in Chem 111)

Math 112  4 credits  (This is Calculus.  You tested out of this course with your AP test.  But I think you will be happier to take it again.  Totally up to you.)

Book of Mormon  2 credits

So far that is 13 credits.  Full time students take between 12 and 18 credits.  Your Dad and I usually took between 16 and 18 credits.  BUT those 4 credit classes are going to meet every day and will most likely have daily homework.   Here are some other classes to consider:

Men's Chorus  0.5 credits  (although this class is only 0.5 credits, I think they meet almost every day.  So, while it's not a hard class, it does take up some time.  I think you would love it!!)

STDEV 272  1 credit  (this is a "student development" class that meets once a week.  Preview of medical practice with lectures by doctors; overview of required courses; application process; recommended extracurricular opportunities.)  I think Max might be taking this class.

Physics 121  3 credits  (this is your beginning physics class.  The map doesn't have you staring the physics series until your sophomore year, but you are so far ahead with your GE credits, that you could get it started either this fall or winter semester if you wanted.)

So, you can take those 13 credits and then add Men's Chorus and the STDEV class and be up to 14.5.  This might be a good number of credits to start with (especially with the choir and those homework heavy classes).  Max may be taking a Social Dance class - we could sign you up for one of those as well (probably 0.5 credits).  Or you could skip the STDEV class and take Men's Chorus and Physics for 16.5 credits.  That would be a pretty full academic schedule:  calculus, physics, chemistry and bulgarian and religion.

Let me know what you are thinking.  Are there any other classes you want to know more about?  I know it's hard since you don't know what to expect.  I think any of these choices are totally doable - you are a great student!

I love you!

mom