May 4, 2015

Semi-redundant phone calls

Well I totally didn't know until I read mom's e-mail that Mother's day was this next Sunday. I thought it was the week after. Oh well no biggie. We already planned where we are going to do it and stuff. I'm excited to see your faces too! Then I'll see them again a few weeks after that.

Things are going all right over here. I'm still sick, though through the week it wasn't too bad. It got bad again this last weekend and we had to leave church early.  Even during the week when we were working it was hard because I just didn't have any energy. Still chugging along though :)

I've got to keep this e-mail brief because we're running behind, but I'll shoot you another e-mail later this week to confirm what time we're calling. Also I received my flight plans. I don't quite get why it's so long. I told a member about my round-about itinerary and he whipped out his smart phone and in 5 minutes found a flight with one stop in Detroit, then direct to Spokane that would have gotten me home before noon. Same day and same Airline as well. Not that it matters though.

Remember that the Atonement is a power of healing, but also a power that enables us to overcome and move past our weaknesses. I know that because I've experienced it.

Love, Elder Hardy

April 27, 2015

in Sickness and in health

Sorry got to be quick this week. Don't have a lot of time. 

This week was good at first, then we got sick. We were in bed from Thursday through Sunday. We were able to get up long enough for this:

His name is David, and he's a child of record, but his Dad isn't a member (though he's one of the nicest and coolest men I've ever met and I want to be the kind of Dad he is). We're super tight with this family and David asked me to baptize him and Elder Hernandez to confirm him. It was a cool experience and a lot of people were there.

Then we went back to bed.

Not a lot of other news. Still a bit tired, but overall not near so sick. Next week the letter will be longer :)

Love you all a ton!

Elder Hardy

Just me and David:

April 20, 2015

another week another destiny, on this never ending road to Calvary

I'm not sure if I've used that subject already. It isn't really a reference to anything particular. I remembered how much I love that music yesterday and so I've been singing it. 

This week was slower, but it had its miracles. On Friday we met with M, a recent convert, and he had invited his neighbor, T, over to meet us. We had a first lesson and it went well. We set an appointment to help her paint her apartment and Mbrought her to church on Sunday! It was awesome! Also the Woman and her daughters who we visited last Sunday were at church as well! They slipped out after Sacrament meeting, but it was a big step for them! We're seeing them again tonight.

In other news I don't sleep much anymore; my mind just races and turns as I fight off thoughts of what will happen after the mission. Any advice on how to combat that would earn my undying love.

I was told my flight plans a while ago, but haven't received a copy of them yet. Should get them very soon. I know I'm leaving at 10a.m. and arriving like 11p.m. I've got layovers in New York and Salt Lake (don't ask me why).

Haven't received the package yet, but we're swinging by the mission office today so I should get it then. Can't think of anything else I'm supposed to answer.

I love you all!

Elder Hardy

April 13, 2015

Happy Belated Birthday to all the family whos' birthdays I forgot but who didn't forget mine

Thanks for the happy birthday wishes! My birthday yesterday was pretty normal, just a normal Sunday with the visits and the teaching and the missionary work. Had some cool miracles though. We brought along our ward's high councilor for a few hours and when we ran out of visits to make earlier than expected, I called up someone who came to my mind and visited a less-active sister and her mostly-active son. She was and emotional wreck and really needed a visit and a blessing, both of which we were able to provide to her great relief. Then, still having time, the High Councilor called up another name that came to his mind and we visited another less active sister I'd never met and her two daughters. Turns out both Sisters are less-active because of a huge fight that happened about 6 months ago and we were able to talk about it with the second sister and encourage her to put aside her pride and do what is best for her daughters. We gave all three blessings afterwards and set a return appointment. It was awesome. Also one of our recent converts knew that one of his neighbors was a former investigator and saw that her 14 year old son was falling into some bad stuff and the mother was panicking about it. He convinced her (correctly) that the church was exactly what he needs and brought them both to church and arranged himself to have them in his home this Friday so we can start teaching them. We're rather impressed and happy with Brother Bi right now. He just sees someone in dire spiritual need and just responds with firmness and love to guide them to the church (a.k.a the solution to their problem). That's the kind of person I want to be.

I only really told one person about my birthday, our investigator C. She had us over for dinner on Sunday and there was cake and she gave us chocolate and a card that she said not to open till I was gone. It had 20 bucks in it. I was quite upset, but I new if I went back she would never take the money back. Not really sure what to do with it now.

In other news I'm happy to hear that the garden is going well. Honest confession, totally psyched I didn't have to push the wheelbarrows full of dirt. Now I know I've grown up enough that I would have done it without complaint; but still a wheelbarrow not pushed is still a good wheelbarrow (lol).

Also Paige you can come cook for me and my companion here in Montreal. We'll pay you. Neither of us really likes to cook, so our meals are lame. Your steak looked better than anything I've ever produced (except this pizza I bought once. It was awesome. Buying counts as providing by the way)

Today we're going to the south shore to hang out with some Elders I'm really tight with from earlier on my mission. Kind of my birthday present to myself. Luckily the high counselor drove us around yesterday so we are doing great on klicks. 

I took a video rather than pictures of the cake and happy birthday song (on accident) and I can't send that over e-mail so we'll have to wait until my return to watch it together.

Transfer calls were Saturday. No changes for me and Elder Hernandez. No surprise. It's the next one I'm nervous for.

Love you all!

Elder Hardy

April 6, 2015

Ladies and Gentlemen, Elder Holland!

Wow Elder Holland can speak! I'm consistently blown away by his inspired orating skills. His wasn't the talk that touched me the most, but it impressed me the most for sure! My favorite was the last talk by Elder Uchtdorf about Grace and mercy. I really felt blessed and edified to have a subject that I have spent these two years studying and struggling to understand properly laid out and explained in a manner that made total sense to me. As unworthy as I may feel at times, the Lord's grace and mercy still are extended to me. 

The work is going ok here in Lasalle. Our teaching pool is low right now because 1). We dropped a number of the old investigators since they weren't interested in anything but our company 2). The people we've found more recently are flaking out like crazy 3). We're struggling to find new people. We aren't discouraged however, and we are still going hard. Our biggest goal is to use the many less-active and returning members we visit to find interested investigators. Why tract when we have a limitless fountain of less-actives to visit and find through? Even just talking to the people near the less active when going to and from the lesson is more effective than just tracting. We're optimistic even if things are slower right now than before.

I'm so amazed at how old all the little ones look! Mads is huge! Ruth and Lizzie are turning into pretty young ladies! Ronnie looks like a beach bum, and Paige looks like a hipster.

Now that I'm done passing judgment I just want you all to know that I love you a ton. The Lord lives, and directs everything from the spending of tithing money, to the words of his humblest (and therefore greatest) servant. I love you all, and Happy Birthday to Paige! Hope you all have a wonderful spring break!

Elder Hardy

March 30, 2015

discount the panic e-mail

So discount the paniced e-mail I sent earlier. I figured it out. I got in to register after some fervent praying. I had no trouble signing up for da classes and now it's done. We can adjust it if we need to, but I've got the classes I want registered for. Now I can stop worrying about it for the rest of my mission.

This week was both good and rough. We saw some miracles, but at the same time we struggled to teach like we were before. Part of it is that S is a member now so we aren't teaching member presents to her, but also we just need to find more real investigators. I've dropped some of the old people now that Elder B is gone. We love them, but they just don't have any interest in accepting the gospel, they just like the Elders. Our time can be much better served finding those who will receive our message, not just us. 

We had a miracle though yesterday. We shared the #Becausehelives video with a family returning to church. After Elder H asked them if they knew anyone who would benefit from our message. The daughter brought up her friend S. We asked what she could do to share the gospel with her. She said invite her over to meet you Elders. We said great, when? She said Thursday at 7p.m. Voila a referral and an opportunity to teach in a member's home. It was awesome to see that, when we really do ask for referrals from everyone, referrals come! The daughter is funny because it doesn't seem like a hard thing at all for her to invite her friend to meet us. Of course she wants to hear the gospel! It's awesome! (What's funny is she's like 25 and a single Mom, not a little girl like you were thinking lol). 

Anyway things are good here in Lasalle. 

To answer your questions Mom: My companion speaks all 3 languages, though only his spanish is perfect (his English is pretty much perfect too, he just lacks confidence in formal settings). We are back in our lonely little basement apartment. It's nice to be back. The car is ours 6 days out of 7. Saturdays the zone leaders claim it so they can visit west island. Thanks for the money. If you do send a package, I love cookies. Your cookies, and chips ahoy. I really don't need any non-edible things. It would just have to go into my suitcase in a couple of months and come back to Spokane. Wait actually shoe laces. I really need shoe laces. I've gone through like 5 sets of shoe laces on the shoes and I am procrastinating going back them full time (from boots) because they don't have shoe laces. :P

Lots of love!

Elder Hardy 

New Companion

The Plan of Salvation

March 23, 2015

Baptisms

So S was baptized this past Saturday (we weren't even close on spelling her name until we filled out the baptismal form) and it was awesome! People actually came to the baptism! The spirit was so strong it was amazing. I baptized her because the recent convert who worked so hard to fellowship her fell less-active about a week before her baptism. It was still a beautiful experience and she looked so happy the entire time.

Then Sunday morning before Church the assistants got a call from President saying that I was going to receive a companion. Not my greenie sadly, I have no idea what's going on with him. Instead President did an emergency transfer and is sending Elder H to me. He's from Mexico. I don't know him that well, but I'm excited just to have a companion again. President is driving him up from Ottawa tomorrow. Spending so much time trying to go it alone (so to speak, the Lord is there always) really taught me why the Lord sends us out two by two. The pressure of doing it all alone was incredible, and I felt like I couldn't get myself organized. Now I feel things will really take off in Lasalle. I'm excited.

I'm impressed with Ronnie and Paige's work ethic! Another play wow, they're relentless! They're going to drive you into the ground Mom! It sounds like everyone is having a blast though. I hope this next week is better for Dad. 

As for registering for classes I'm not stressed about it. Even though I think I know what I'm going to major in, I still will likely mostly just do generals so that I can get them done and not stress about it while I'm in the field. 

Next week when I'm back at the church computers I'll send a bunch of pictures. It's been a while since I did so, but I just don't feel comfortable doing it on these Library computers.

Lot's of love

Elder Hardy