October 20, 2014

God is great, beer is bad, and people are crazy

Yea so there isn't really a story behind that subject, but I have been waiting for an opportunity to use that title. I decided today that I was just never going to have a week like that.

I'll start with responding to stuff: Wow lizzie has braces! She looks so grown up with those things! Why does she have to go and grow up while I'm gone? also that was like the first picture I've ever seen of the fire-pit. I was geeking out about that too. Oh wait I just remembered that we can go on to the churches "google earth" thingy and I totally saw a picture of the house while the pit was under construction. 

As far as life here in Terrebonne, things are great actually. This little Guatemalan guy named Is..., who works on a grass farm 6 months out of the year and spends the other 6 back home in Guatemala, does more missionary work than the three entire wards I've served in combined. And that's not knocking on the three wards. He has already asked us to come up to his place to teach the other south-American workers that he's been talking too. The guy doesn't even speak french or English! Luckily most of his friends do, so we are able to teach them. Most are only passingly interested, but one has turned into a real investigator. The man's faith is so incredible! It's unlike anything I've seen before. He honestly concerns himself with the salvation of every child of God he runs into. I hope one day hope to be like him. He is a one-man example of how "Hastening the Work" works. 

In other news we've had some decent success from calling old formers. That is our main source of new investigators right now as we start to get the ward up and running.

Elder S said something really special to me yesterday in companionship inventory. I may not have mentioned it before, but before my mission I was a coward. A bad one. I've had some serious spiritual experiences confirming it as one of my major weaknesses. Yesterday Elder S listed fearlessness as one of my good qualities. He cited an incident from that afternoon. We were passing by a less-active who we knew absolutely nothing about. His house was very out of the way and wasn't easy to find. It was shabby and I described it on first sight as a "man-cave." My intuition was right and it was messy and filled with beer bottles and definitely not the home of any women. We knocked on the front door and the dog started barking and we saw a guy moving around through the window but no one came. Elder S was ready to leave, but I was really irked that this man wouldn't answer his door. All we wanted was to help him! So instead I walked to the back door (with comp. in tow) and banged on that door. A large mid-twenties dude with a Mohawk answered the door. I calmly introduced us and chatted for a minute. He was going to leave soon, so we set an appointment for later this week to come back and visit him. Then we left.

Upon reflecting on this story I realized that I have changed. I've learned to face fear that I was not capable of overcoming before. The difference I think is the spirit. When I have the spirit, I am strong enough to do whatever he needs me to. I love my mission. I can't think of anything I needed more for my life than this. I'm so grateful to all who helped me get out here. 

The Atonement is real. I know it because it has healed me. My Savior has power to do all things, but all he wants is to see us happy. I know that as surely as I know anything else.

I love all of you!

Elder Hardy

October 13, 2014

egg on my face

Well I forgot to wish Mom and Lizzie happy Birthday despite secret reminders from Dad. At least the Atonement assures that Mom and Lizzie will be compensated in the world to come for all the pain and anguish my negligence caused them. I'm sorry guys. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me? Even though this is the seven times seventy first time? Happy birthday to you two, and also to Ronnie in case I forget.

This week was a big one personally, but a slow one for our area. We Didn't teach a lot of lessons or find a lot of potentials, but I feel like I've grown a lot. . I feel like my growth is accelerating.

I wasn't perfect this week, but I still feel I'm making progress. This feeling stems from what has happened to me this past weekend. At the wedding reception we briefly attended I was able to see a lot of members from the Dow's Lake ward. One of them, a recent convert of the Sisters, came and asked if we could take a walk around the building. We did so (don't worry Elder Spencer came along) and he confided a lot of his struggles to me. I had become one of the people he would confide in in Ottawa because I don't judge him or try to solve his problem right there for him. He talked about his struggles with the commandments and the destructive effect it has had on his testimony and his church attendance. His concerns weighed heavily on my soul. I couldn't stop thinking about him. All that night I couldn't sleep, so instead I prayed. When 6:30 came I was still praying. In the shower I prayed harder than I ever had before. I was asking the Lord to intervene on his behalf. I felt strongly that my sins were in the way of the Lord hearing my prayers. I made the decision there that I had been struggling to make for a very long time. I promised the Lord that I was done. I was willing, joyous even, to give up even my desire to sin if it would help my friend. I fasted Sunday along with some other missionaries that know him and it was a very spiritual fast for me. I've expended more spiritual energy over the last few days than I ever have before. I haven't seen the fruits of it for my friend, and I know I can't overrun his agency, but I've seen it's effect on me. Me and Elder S hit a rough patch as a companionship for a little bit, but were able to move past it. I was amazed at myself as I was able to let little digging comments directed at me slide without any return fire or even internal anger. Just a few weeks ago that sort of thing would have meant war to the knife. The Lord is strengthening me. I just feel so wonderful today. The difference in spirit is mind-blowing!

It's so cool to hear about Tanner's re-assignment. Elder S's family lives in the Fort Collins mission. Maybe he'll serve in his ward! 

I definitely don't recognize the dress Paige is wearing, but wow she looks so grown up. 

My birthday present to Ronnie can be found in the blue tubs containing my stuff in the basement. As long as he PROMISES to NEVER lose the boxes or installation codes or damage the CDs he can pull out, install, and play Age of Empires 3. I don't know if he even plays much video games anymore but it is the best I could muster as far as a gift.

I love you all so much! I can't wait for Christmas when I get to see your beautiful faces! Remember that faith is faith unless it is tested! Keep praying and keep searching for missionary opportunities and they will come. The Lord wants to give us these experiences. He just wants to be sure that we really want them.

Love: Elder Hardy the Elder (double pun/reference!!!)

p.s. Our ward mission plan has a goal of 102 baptisms by the end of 2015. I love our ward mission leader!

October 6, 2014

I looked really hard but I didn`t ever see him

As the subject suggests I looked for Tanner, but failed to locate him. I was sad he didn`t get to sing the solo part. He would have nailed it. Maybe he should start wearing hipster glasses so people notice that he`s good too.

My goodness how I loved General Conference! Each one has gotten better and better on my Mission. Before I didn`t really pay much attention (did I ever mention that I slept throught the announcement of the age change while at BYU?) but now I can`t wait for it every six months. Another crazy thing is that I`ve been in Canada for the past 3 now! I think they cheated and made the time between them shorter. By the way we watched the conference here at the Church building in the relief society room (in English. French was in the chapel). We invited and encouraged people to come, but only Sylvie (who doesn`t need an invitation) was there. 

Things are still good here. As we get to know the members things are getting complicated with the car. Last week both teams had dinners at far separated places at the same time 4 days in a row. We`re managing though. It is just using a lot of kilometers. 

I have to keep reminding myself that this isn`t YSA. I can`t just go on the street and be like ``hey wan`t to talk about God?`` and have about 1 third of the people say yes. Like I said our WML is fantastic. He gave us the challenge and assignment to visit every member in the ward and ask for not one, but THREE referrals from each of them! His aggressiveness and enthusiasm inspires me. His faith is 100% that we will receive referrals this way, and we feel it will work too. 

I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives. He lives, and while he lives I`ll sing. He lives, my prophet priest and King! 

Christ is the center of everything. I am beginning to realize this. Every doctrine I teach, every lesson I cover, should be centered on Christ`s atonement. What other Doctrine is there? What other reason would I have for preaching the Gospel? I`ve been studying how to link all the points in PMG back directly to the Atonement. The one I`m stuck on is Tithing. I can do it throught the concept of obedience, but that doesn`t specifically link Tithing to the Atonement. Any advice would be appreciated. 

I love you all so much!

Elder Hardy

September 29, 2014

Putting pens into our noses

I had to change the subject of this e-mail because the old title looked like it had a bad word when I glanced at it quickly.

Anyway the subject is reference to how well me and Elder S get along, with each other and with our roomates. I`ll put a picture at the end.

This week has been fun. Starting to figure things out. Mom asked if there had been other missionaries recently, yes if 12 weeks ago is recently. The area was only closed for two transfers. However the areas are different so it wasn`t simple to separate who teaches who with the sisters. The ward is cool as well. It`s about 1 third hispanic and has some very strong members. The bishop is barely 2 months into his calling and has a lot of energy. The ward mission leader, Frere H, is amazing. The man is so devoted to missionary work. He went to a meeting with Elder Carleson of the Seventy in Montreal where Elder Carlson demonstrated how to do member missionary work by role-playing contacting someone of the metro to talk about family-history and inviting them to an FHC (p.s. this meeting was intended primarily for investigators and less-actives!!). Brother H was so inspired that the next day he did the same thing to the mechanic working on his car. The guy had already done his genealogy and Brother H didn`t know where to go after that, but later thought of some ideas and recorded them in his ``missionary experience journal.`` Needless to say he has a lot of enthusiasm. He and the bishop are both brand new and pumped to get the ward involved in hastening the work. Me and Elder S feel that we were put here now to be part of the equation that causes Terrebonne to take off. Ward council has already given us names and we are already working on contacting them. 

Life is grand here. I`m feeling better that I have my whole mission. People keep complimenting my french (I guess I didn`t lose it) and my confidence is at an all-time high (and I mean in my life). Terrebonne will be the ``Golden Era`` of my mission. I can just feel it.

I love you all! My testimony is strengthened every day as I feel the spirit! Elder H came back to work on the apartment again today and he told us his conversion story. It was awesome and his testimony flooded the room with the spirit (and this was in a missionary apartment). I know the Savior loves us. There is no good gift he does not want to give us. All we need is the faith to ask him!

-Elder Hardy

p.s. Jeff, there's tons of nice young YSA girls in Ottawa that need a husband.

I realized I don't have the picture of us with pens in our noses, so I'll just sent a picture of me and my companion being serious.

September 22, 2014

super late

So we are running super late so I'll have to keep this letter shorter.

We're way behind because when we arrived in Terrebonne we were told that the apartment was damaged and we were going to spend our next few p-days fixing it. Today a senior Elder came from Montreal to help us and we scrubbed all the wax and stains off the kitchen floor with comet and then re-waxed it. Then we spent a while trying to replace one of the doorframes and doors that were destroyed by an angry Tahitian Elder a few months ago. We got the door on but not the trim. We still need to replace the other door, finish the first one, and paint most of the apartment. Should be fun enough. Next week we'll be prepared and have the e-mails done before he arrives, or at least leave ourselves enough time afterwards.

Other than that things are going well. We're opening the area and so we still have no idea what we're doing. That will change with time however. Elder S and I get along well. He's funny and relaxed, though very obedient (which rocks). It's funny because every time he sits in anything remotely comfy for more than five minutes he starts to fall asleep. We've spent the last few days mostly sorting paperwork and making plans and goals so he's nodded off a few times (I say this to be funny. It isn't so bad that it's a problem).

Also we have to share a car with our roommates and Elder D just had a very painful surgery so there are two consequences: they can't bike while we can, and we thus can't reach half our area two-thirds of the time. Whatever, we'll make it work. If President thinks we can handle it, then we can handle it. Otherwise one of Sherbrooke's two cars would be ours! 

I'm doing well. A little stressed, but not as stressed as it sounds like Jordan is. I managed to dodge the training bug, I'm the only senior companion in the district who isn't starting or finishing training. Almost the only one in the zone as well. 

I now that the Lord directs this work! I know it because I have lived it, and I know that God always keeps his promises. Whatever sins beset us, whatever lies and mistakes we have made, the Atonement of Jesus Christ can heal us if we let him. I know this because it has, is, and will continue forever to work for me.

I love you all! I'm sure interesting things happened this week (I didn't have time to more than skim the letter sorry).

Elder Hardy

P.s. Thanks for transferring the money. I needed it :)

September 15, 2014

Wow Paige is Peter Pan!!!!! I knew she was a little rascal! Hopefully she doesn't have to kiss Wendy or anything (that's a joke). Also Lizzie's team sounds like a machine! Hope the other girls don't cry too much (or their parents get too angry). Also totally don't recognize 99% of the non-family names that are mentioned in your letters. Shows how long I've been gone from the old home ward/stake.

So the big news is that I'm being transferred to Terrebonne (you can look it up. Then you'll know more about it than I do lol). It's apparently a suburb of Montreal just east of the river. It's completely french (yes!) and we should have a car (double yes!). My companion will be Elder S (never met him) and I'm senior by a few transfers. Also we're opening a new area there (there's already sisters there). Should be fun! I dodged a bullet too: neither district leader nor training like half the mission (actually more than half the mission).

The sad part is that I have to leave. I love the people here (and they all just came back) and will miss them. We hadn't had a dinner appointment this entire transfer until now. Tomorrow we have two. That's YSA life I guess lol (YSA has hooked me on text-speak sorry). Also there is definitely no Wendy's in Terrebonne so I'm sad about that. Elder Y owes me money so he's going to buy me my last baconator today for dinner.

The only possibly good thing about me leaving is that I made a grave mistake with our investigator. We had been discussing her concerns about the trinity and "poly-theism" (TTTHHHPPPBBBTTT!!!) and I waxed a bit too bold in denouncing the doctrine and the creeds that created it. I think I offended her (she's a very devote Catholic) when I said that it was "the doctrine of man clumsily imposed on God's scripture by the apostate shell of what was once God's church." Hopefully my leaving will help repair an otherwise-good relationship with the missionaries and the Church.

I learned a valuable lesson from that experience about respect and the line between bold (been working on being more bold) and being aggressive. I can confidently promise that I will never do that again.

Got to go know. I forgot to write President last week, so I had better actually write to him this week.

Love you all! 

Elder Hardy #1

p.s. my messenger bag broke (the strap) so I might need a bag of some kind. I'm going to try tape, then check the mission office's thrift store. I'll let you know if I need help :)

September 8, 2014

WAKE ME UP,  WHEN SEPTEMBER STARTS!

Hello family and friends and various other readers!

This was the first week of September and this place is hoppin'! "Frosh week," which I guess means freshman week, was this week and there were crazy parties everywhere. We're in the Chinese apartment, which is right by campus and is in a building full of students, so there have been a few parties above us. We haven't seen the start of the school year in terms of more investigators yet for two reasons: lots of lessons due to us being 3 areas, and not having any idea where to go to talk to people. We can't go on campus because it's illegal and we don't want to burn any bridges (it's happened in this area before), and the spot we always went to is under construction. We'll figure it out though :)

Was a good week for lessons as well. Taught quite a few people and are seeing some progress. Focused on juggling all the balls we got tossed. On Wednesday Elder Y will get his new companion, Elder M from france, and Elder L and I will go back to a duo. It will be sad to separate, and to not visit the Chinese people anymore, but we'll still see them around. On the other hand I'm tired of basically camping in another apartment and I miss my awesome bed. This Saturday is transfer calls as well so I might not get to sleep in it much longer.

Not a ton of writing this week, I've been a bit out of it. On Monday I decided I wanted to start working out again so I did 80 reps on the bench-press and the next few days I could barely move my arms. By the time it wore off on Friday I had a bad cold. Not my healthiest week, though it hasn't hindered my teaching I haven't had a lot of energy overall. Taking the vitamine C you sent me and hoping to feel better soon.

I know that the Savior is real, He loves us and His Atonement can help us. When we were baptized we covenanted to never forget that EVER! It's hard to remember him always but that's what the spirit is for.

I love you all!

Elder Hardy