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Family Mine,

Thank you so much for the update--I really love reading about you! I hope you know that I love you all so very much. I have so many things to say, so many stories to tell, so much gratitude to express...it really is just unreal. Thank you for being so diligent about sharing your experiences, about sharing your testimonies, about keeping me "in the loop" as the kids say now days. 

This week was wonderful and tough, and the last two days have been busy beyond all imagining, but so full of the Spirit. Yesterday at church was a mess, but a wonderful, spiritual mess at that. 

Sitting at the edge gives you an interesting perspective--I ponder on how, next week, the members will still come to church, missionaries will keep going out to seek the elect, new missionaries will come to fill the shoes of those departing, other missionaries will step into leadership, some will succeed this coming transfer in ways they have never imagined, some will have a transfer of trials, and come out the stronger...eternity is such an interesting concept, one that is natural to our spirits, but so foreign to our natural, weak, fallen minds, clouded by a veil of forgetfulness, enshrouded with the mists of darkness of Lehi's dream. Endings are simply beginnings disguised by the fog of a forgetful and short-sighted world, beginnings are simply the back half of a forgotten ending. 

Sorry, waxed a little philosophical there--it is a habit of old people, after all :).

I know that this Gospel is true. I am sure of it. There is a God in Heaven, who loves us, and is our Father. Jesus Christ is His Son, chosen, ordained, and then successful in saving us from a necessary evil. The Holy Ghost is the testator of their Holy Nature--he is our constant guide, our surest source of pure knowledge, and one of the few guests who will neither refuse an invitation to stay as long as he is welcome, but leave the moment that he is no longer invited. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that Joseph Smith is a prophet. There is nothing that can convince me otherwise. I KNOW that this church is true. I love you SO much, and am looking forward to seeing you, to holding you close, and to telling it to you with my words.

LOVE,

Elder Hardy

The two Sofia Districts!

Goof Balls!

"Explosive Things come in Small Packages"

Family Mine!

     Thank you so much for the wonderful letter! I love the image of Dad sitting with his girls learning how to knit...how simply happiness can be attained, by what "small and simple means." It sounds like there isn't a part of the Northwest to not have been tread on (or imminently WILL be tread on) by a member of the Hardy family. AND ALEX! Woah! He is going to love it, and do wonderful things. It just reminds me of Max and I joking in Sophomore Humanities about opening North Korea together. Good times. Give my love to the little blond ones--people sure do some changing over the course of two years!

       This week has been a really good week--from teaching in the Mini-MTC (two days of additional training for missionaries in their first 6 weeks--this time we just had 3 Sisters in the group, and it was interesting how significantly different the atmosphere and training were as opposed to when there are a couple Elders mixed in there. Funny stuff), to being on exchanges with the Elders here in Sofia ( I was with Elder Wilson, my trainee, and then also Elder Silveria, the English/Brazilian), to a CRAZY but amazing day on Saturday (we left the apartment at 1030, and besides a literally 5-minute lunch, we did not return until 925 that evening--so tired, but such a good feeling!), I have loved this week. We have been blessed so much this week, it is staggering. I have just been so filled with gratitude this week for the opportunity to serve a mission--throughout the week, and last night especially, I have struggled to fall asleep just from just laying there, thinking and praying about my mission so far, about current issues in our area and the mission, and what lies ahead. The Lord really is merciful to his children--it has been such a blessing to be so busy and constantly occupied with teaching Kalyan, and preparing him for his baptism. I have been praying for the Lord to really help me to stay lazer-focused, and he has answered my prayer in more ways than one through the last few weeks and months. I cannot express the feelings of my heart of love and gratitude and amazement, pure wonderment that I have been so blessed throughout my life. Every time I just take a second to think, it just blows me away! I am sure that at times I forget, and do not act in a way fitting for the blessings and opportunities that I have received, but in those moments, I am filled with a burning desire to give everything that I have and am to the Lord and to his children, in an honest, though surely insignificant effort to fulfill the duties and responsibilities I accepted before this life. I LOVE being a missionary, but more importantly, I realize more and more that I simply am learning to LOVE being a disciple of Christ. I have a lot of path to walk, but I am so grateful I at least know where the path is.

       Also this week, we played basketball with some Turkish guys who grew up their whole lives in Germany, so thus spoke mostly German (and mostly swore at us in German), but spoke some English too--we were significantly better at basketball then they were, but I wouldn't want to meet them on a dark street corner--they were LARGE. Hearts of gold however--we'll see if they are willing to read the Book of Mormon.

        I want to make this week the most explosive of my life--one of our investigators passed his baptismal interview yesterday, and is looking really good for his baptism this coming weekend--a HUGE blessing! Pray that he will continue to read the Book of Mormon this week, and that there will be no hiccups. We will be teaching him a lot this week, and hopefully some other people with potential we found in this past week. Lay it all on the line, leave it all on the court!

       Dad, I hope that you don't get too lost--just be sure you are somewhere that you can get GPS reception on your phone...за всеки случай. I am sure it will be a great experience--I will always be grateful for scout leaders that were willing to go out with us and teach us important life lessons. Thank you for being that man, Dad! Thank you for praying for our investigators--I feel the strength of your prayers. I love you so much, have a great week!

       Mom; it sounds like you had a fun experience with planning--maybe I am just a Missionary, but that sounds like some of the Member-Present Lessons I have planned during my Mission--lots of time on the phone, and the lesson gets rained out! Heavenly Father knows perfectly how to test us and mold us, that is sure. Thank you for letting me know about Sarah and Brandon--Grandpa wrote me a letter about it a few weeks ago. I know that God has a plan for us, I know it. They all look so great a cute! Love you so much Mother!

        On a more serious note, I have one request. I know that after a certain date that Paige is counting down to, we are going to be really busy, but I would really appreciate it if sometime that week, we could just take a day, just the family, without any going anywhere to just get together and really catch up, to share with one another our experiences that we have had over the last few years, to share how we have grown and changed. I want to share my experiences with you while they are fresh, for they are of incalculable worth to me. I know we will have a thousand things to do, but would that be possible? I feel that it is important. Sometimes, as hard as I try, emails just don't get the job done.

      Paige; hey, guess what? Bleh. I love you! I hope you know that I look up to you spiritually (if not physically), and am proud of who you are and who you are becoming. I love you!

       Ron; nice muscles! You are really going to enjoy Jazz Choir Camp--those are some of my very favorite experiences, and I know that you will enjoy them as well. Learn to sing from Mr. Socks--he really is one of the best musical instructors you will likely ever rub shoulders with. I love you Brother!

      Lizzie; you go! I could use some of your soccer skills here--we don't really play all that much, but when we do, I think of you. I love you so much little Sister!

I love you, have a great week!

Love,

Elder Hardy

Some great български Баби!

This one is for Mom. Bulgaria at a glance!

Pictures in Plovdiv

Elder Hall-Brown and the Three Dwarfs!

"Let the Holy Spirit Guide..."

Family Mine!

     Thank you for the wonderful letter! It sounds like Summer is in full swing. I am so glad to hear that the Hardys have moved into the neighborhood! I love them so much, and now they are only a bike-ride away. Give them my love. It is strange to hear about Max and Jacob's Homecoming talks--I still remember clear as day when I got the picture of the two of them posing together in the Mexico MTC...time sure flies. When I imagined the cousin-jamboree going on, my heart simply filled with joy. Heaven on earth is best experienced in the relationships found in the family unit. I feel blessed beyond words to be part of our family. Blessed beyond words. I love you all so much.

       This week was a great week--there were no trainings or other such events, but we had a chance to go on a couple exchanges, which is always fun and enlightening--I was with Elder Hall-Brown from...several southern states (he is really tall--a дълго момче as the Bulgarians might say), and Elder Irvin from Bountiful. I love working with other missionaries--it is a blessing to hear their testimonies and experience their faith! We also had some great chances to teach our progressing investigator this week--it is amazing how the Spirit brings people close to each other--I barely know his for a month, and he feels like my 3rd brother. This Sunday he delayed his vacation so that he could come to church and get ready for his baptism. I just don't have words. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father, who sends his Spirit to teach the principles we can't to inspire the commitment we can't demand, to stir hearts that are out of our reach. He is the Lord of All, I know it.

      This week we also had another amazing experience; at the beginning of the transfer, we went to a far corner of our area to street teach in the area, one rarely visited by the missionaries. While we were there, we felt that we would have more success if we came back and tried to do some "service tracting", knocking around to see if there was any service we could do. During Zone Conferences, Elder Abbott again felt that same prompting, so this week we made time on Saturday and headed out there in our "Helping Hands" shirts to try and find someone to help. Then, the miracles started. On the bus to the area, we had a great conversation with a young couple, and were able to testify of the reality of the Plan of Salvation. After knocking quite a few doors in the area with little success, we passed by one house, and saw a woman disappearing around the corner--we yelled after her, and she didn't come out, but her husband did! After a nice conversation, he invited us in, and it turns out that his wife is not only VERY interested in reading the Book of Mormon, but we also will be able to go out to help them dig some plumbing canals for their house this week. AN AMAZING BLESSING! I know that the Lord prompted us to go out there, he guided us to their house, and gave us the right words to say to open their door and their hearts. The Holy Ghost is real.

     Mother; you did it! There is nothing like a sore body to motivate one to exercise more diligently. I sure love High- Adventures; being out in nature is a great blessing, and a chance to feel close to Heavenly Father and his creations. It sure is strange how a Ward can change in just less than two years, however--looking at the picture of the Young Women in the Ward, I think I recognized three of them--that is including one sister and one neighbor! Maybe they have just changed, but still. Time is a weird thing. I love you so much Mother, you are a wonderful example to me!

      Father; Mr. Miagi (Karate Kid)  has got nothing on the whole fertilizer-bag-conditioning program! I love it! That is definitely something that the young men don't appreciate--outside of the practice rides for the Mount Rainier bike trip, I don't think I ever even considered getting in shape for a High Adventure, and I did just fine. You set a good example. I love you Father, have a great week!

      Rees--Hey, I love you. I talked with 4-5 people in French this week on the Metro (tourists), and the more I try to talk, the more comes back. Also, there is an African Guy in the branch who sings the Hymns in French, and whenever I sit by him, I sing them in French, and realize how much I have forgotten! Have a great week.

       Paige--is it weird to be one of the "big girls" in Young Women now? I am sure all the dancing made the High Adventure a whole lot easier. I know that after "Hairspray", sweating my brains out night after night, I felt a lot more fit! I love you little Sister!

     Ronnie; I see we are having a similar experience! I had to play for Priesthood quite a few times as well. Treasure it! It is nice to have stimulation besides Mom to get good at the piano. (P.S. It'll pay off when you serve your mission here in Bulgaria!). I love you little Brother!

     Lizzie; so many cousins! I can just imagine you leading them in all sorts of games and mischief! I love you so much Elizabeth, I hope you know that!

      You are all wonderful, have a great week!

Love,

Elder Hardy

Elder Abbott described in one photo--that is the wrapper of an ice-cream bar.