June 4, 2012

The hills are alive, with the sound of Cambios! (Changes!)

Ha ha that’s right, Changes! Well, Elder Leiva went super far away now, in Jinotepe.... ja ja. Not in my old area but the one right next to it. And my new companion is...

Elder Erick Emerson Gomez Bamaca!!

He is so PILAS! (Strong!) He actually only has 4 months in the mission. And he is eighteen. But he is already a Zone Leader and is a really good guy. I am so grateful to have him in these last changes. Maybe Presidente was worried I was going to get trunky or something. Ha ha.

Hey and guess what?! I’m a Grandpa! That’s right, my son Elder Batz is training this change! I am so happy. He is also a District leader.

So my comp is from Guatemala City, really close to the temple. His Dad is from El Salvador and is a Beauty Salon technician. And apparently, very successful at it too. His mom owns a beauty salon in their house. He has 7 brothers and sisters and his 3 older brothers have served missions. One was in the MTC with him as a teacher ha ha.

Awesome! Summer is already here! But I thought you always had to watch Sound of Music in the Spring Mom? Sounds cool that you are going to have dinner with the Woodruffs on Thursday.

Good luck Emily with Girls State! You ought to try to be President and then put a bunch of ridiculous rules and make everyone buy you a soda every day or something. Ha ha.

Wow! Austin is married and Hayden is getting back from the Mish! Hey can you send me next time a list of all the get home dates and emails of all the guys?

The week was Excellent! Yes we had several investigadores in Church on Sunday. 2 families and an older man (his wife couldn’t come this week).

Well Saturday was awesome. We had a lesson with a Super Beautiful family. I think I have already mentioned them. But this time we put a baptismal goal with them for the 16th!!! I know they can do it. Pray for them too! They couldn’t come yesterday but they are still really positive, just need to keep it up with not drinking coffee and keep reading and praying about the book of Mormon to receive an answer.

The Zone is doing GREAT! We had Zone Conference on Friday. We taught and had an activity about Unity. We talked about our achievements from the last month, our goals for this month and how we are going to do it.

For PDay today, we did not do much. But the office asked me to fix up a program for them in excel for the weekly and monthly numbers we have to report and it has taken a lot of time.

Sounds great that you have some more time to golf and work in the yard this year, Dad.

Mom, patience and diligence are part of the work. But you should invite a familia over to the house so you can be a Familia Amulek. Ha ha. Be bold and follow the direction of the Spirit.

Well Alexis, if you sell cookies. Buy me a few boxes for me. Ha ha I hope everything goes well.

Good Luck Emily!

Ah! You are already running the city Mayor Hannah! Will you let me live there when I get back?

Feliz Verano!!! (Happy Summer!!!)

I love you all,

Elder Hardy

ps I love you

April 23, 2012

Hey Family!

I had a Good week! And yes I had Changes. So I am in a new area. And it’s super "lejos" (far away) from where I was. Ha ha I am in San Marcos! (It’s about 15-20 minutes away from Jinotepe! Ha ha). But it is really sweet here. It’s close to Jinotepe in climate so it is still a lot cooler than Managua.

You will never believe who my new compañero is… ELDER LEIVA!!!  Ha ha ha well I guess it wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened. But yeah Elder Leiva is my comp again! You know, Elder Leiva who was my "padrastro" (second comp) in Boaco.  So that is neat. We are going to be able to continue strengthening our relationship and keep teaching one another. It will be great.

Unfortunately, I am not a trainer anymore. But guess who went with my kid, Elder Batz. None other than Elder Checketts (the former AP). He is a good friend and they are going to do great together.

But other news is that now I am a Zone Leader. Ha ha yeah with Elder Leiva. It will be a great opportunity to keep learning and serving. My Zone seems pretty great.

And the ward here is Super Awesome! Members are already helping us a ton. This Sunday we brought three families to church (well, with one of the families the Dad and his son came in the morning and later for an activity in the Stake the mom and the son came). And one of them was a family we had met just the day before with the help of a cool, super "pilas" member.

The Bishop and the Ward Mission Leader are super animated and are helping out un montón (a lot). I think it is going to be a great area to finish up my mission.

We taught lots of people this week. Before leaving Jinotepe, Elder Batz and I found 2 really neat families. And they told me that one already came to church Sunday. So I am kind of jealous of that.

Also, here in San Marcos there is an area called "Fatima" that the missionaries have just barely started visiting. And the field is very "white" there. Two of the new families that came to church Sunday were from Fatima.

Well, my favorite thing this week, besides being with my comp Elder Leiva again and getting the opportunity to work here in San Marcos, would probably have to be talking to Agustin and Maria before leaving Jinotepe.

Because they have set the goal to go be sealed in the temple next year and wanted me to come with them when they do it. Well I don’t know if it will be possible but it would be pretty neat.

Well, I still don’t want to make it official. But I am pretty sure I want to stay here the last week. There are a lot of reasons but I will tell you for sure next week. Because I still want to consult the Lord a little bit more and tomorrow is the Leader Council and I am going to tell the President my decision there.

Sounds like everyone is doing great!

Good work Dad. Good luck with the Young Men’s Video.

Good work too Mom. You are quite the "Party Thrower." I bet your party was awesome.

Thanks Emily!!! And good work with the dancing. Keep it up with the school too! I luh you.

Ha ha ha thanks Hannah. Well I want to go to the Zoo here too. You watch out for who you are dancing with. Remind them that I am coming home in 4 months. p.s I love you.

Gracias,

con Cariño,

Elder Hardy

p.s. I love you.

April 16, 2012

Dear Family!

Oh, well sounds like we have been having opposites in the weather this week! It has been... hot here!

Wish them luck to Hannah and Emily for their Ballet Performances.

Do we use that Object Lesson Book you sent? Ha ha Yeah! Me and my comp. call it the "Apostasy Book". Just because it isn’t in the Missionary Library. But we use it when we are planning for a lesson and we want to have an object lesson. First, we try to think of Ideas for a while and if we can’t think of one we say, "take out the apostasy book!" and we find one there. 

We have already used some, like the one using "Goo" (Corn starch goo) to show that when you work with your testimony it stays strong and firm. But if you let it sit for just a little, it starts to run through your fingers. I used it in a District meeting about our testimonies and the Book of Mormon (the kids... I mean missionaries loved it). And my comp. and I used it in a Noche de Fortificación of the Ward.

What did I do for my Birthday? Well, not tooo much. Thursday we worked the whole day like normal. I want to take my comp out to eat today before it’s too late. And I bought myself a Coool Gift. (the hammock). We´ll see how I am able to send it home.

Well, I still don’t know if I have changes this week. But I guess it is very likely.

Our one family did not get baptized this week. They couldn’t come to church enough times still. Yesterday, something happened with the land lord of their house and they had to stay there to talk to her so that they don’t lose the house. 

But if I go, I know Elder Batz will do a great job helping them. He will have to send us photos when they get baptized. 

But this week a future missionary got baptized! Manuel got baptized!!!

Elder Nelson, a returned missionary that has become friends with him these last few weeks was the one that baptized him. The Baptismal service was pretty good. The hymns were a little slow, but Members came to support him and everything.

So, in the actually baptism, after the prayer, Elder Nelson began to submerge Manuel in the water, but Manuel wasn’t able to plug his nose very well and ended up taking in a bunch of water. But at least he went all the way under. I think he tried to hold it in until he got to the bathroom but then he started coughing and everything like he had almost drowned. 

I was joking with him after and told him it was because he had to clean himself inside and out. He is 19 and would be a great missionary. I hope everything works out so that he can go.

We had a lesson with Agustin and Maria and they are Super Excited to go to the Temple next year! Last night we had a pretty "awesome" experience with a New Family we found.

Hannah asked if I have seen any crocodiles. Hmmm. Sorry Hannah, no. Do they have crocodiles here?

Ok, thanks for the updates. Good luck with the Party! Didn’t busy season already end?

Congratulations EMILY on the ACT! That’s Awesome!

Good luck on the CRTs Hannah!

And about the coming home the week of the 13th. Well, I am going to do what you said, Dad. I guess it is a big decision. Maybe you guys could pray too so that everything works out miraculously like it has many times in my school and education. Thanks Mom for all your help, you have always helped so much with my school. But don’t worry; one day when you are old it will pay off! ha ha ha.

Love,

Elder Hardy

Ps. I love you.

April 9, 2012

¡¡¡Gracias!!!

Well, I guess this week I am going to have 21 years. But it sure doesn`t feel like it. Ha ha ha I feel the same age as I entered the MTC. I just might have a little bit less hair on my head... ha ha ha

But thanks for the birthday cake Mom!

Easter was great. Even though here it is a little different. The Easter Bunny didn´t hide me an Easter basket this year. For the Ward, the program was the same, but the talks were good, focused on Jesus Christ and his Atonement. It is always the most important thing to remember.

Thanks for the Birthday money! Well, I think I kind of already spent a lot of it. But it is apparently for the most tuanis Hamaca EVER! I actually got it right now! Thanks to a pilas sister in the Ward that was going to Masaya and agreed to bring the Hamaca as well. But, we dropped it off in the house really fast before coming here to write so I still haven’t taken a picture...

Well, I don’t have anything special planned for my Birthday. I was thinking about taking my comp. out to dinner. But now that I am thinking about it I think the Sister Julia might do something when we go to dinner there so I think I will go with my comp. Friday.

Our families are Good.  Saida and Jose Luis couldn´t come this Sunday. :(  But they are still very positive. The only thing is that they will have to be baptized after I go now.

We baptized a family in the district!!! And a nice older Sister named Rosita. Ha ha she said I was "muy simpatico y guapo" (very nice and handsome). The Dad is named Fran. He was to complete a family and he asked me if I would baptize him. We were able to help a little bit to help him get to baptism.

I bear my testimony that I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. I know that my loving Heavenly Father sent his Son to the world with a mission. And that mission was to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, through an Atonement.

I know that Jesus Christ in his love for each of us suffered the pains and price of sin and death. And has broken the chains of death both spiritual and mortal through his perfect life and obedience and through his resurrection.

My testimony in the Atonement of Jesus Christ has strengthened in the last two years. I have been able to feel the power of the Atonement in my own life, and I have seen it work in the lives of others.

One of the ways my testimony of the Atonement has strengthened the most is through studying of it and Jesus Christ in the Scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. If each one of us can diligently study and pray about the mission of Jesus Christ (the Atonement) we will not only strengthen our "faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement" but we will also feel the blessings of the Atonement (most important part of the plan) applied in our lives.

I bear my testimony that I know Jesus Christ Lives, that he love us, and that through his Atoning Sacrifice we will return to live with him as a Family. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thanks for the updates everyone!  Good luck with work dad! Yes, you can still call me Jonny Honey mom... Elder Jonny Honey.

I Love You,

Elder Hardy

ps I love you

April 2, 2012

¡Feliz Semana Santa!

Happy Easter!

I don’t know if you guys remember from last year but Easter week is called Holy Week. And depending on your religion, you participate in activities during the week. The most common are the Catholic traditions. They carry a cross around the city every Friday for a month before Semana Santa and every day during this week has a specific activity of the life of Christ assigned to it.

It would be interesting to look up, I don’t remember the name assigned to each day. But the most common thing for everyone is to go to the beach! (Supposedly it’s the hottest week in the year). Too bad the missionaries won’t be participating in the cultural traditions of Nicaragua.

But Conference was great wasn’t it!?!

I got to watch all the sessions. Most of them I watched in English. But I watched the Priesthood session in Español because we came together with a couple of investigators and I didn’t want to just leave them.

From the Priesthood session my favorite phrase was from President Monson: Haz tu Deber, haz tu mejor, deja el resto al Señor. (Do your duty, do your best, leave the rest to the Lord.)  I liked that because I would like to be a good leader and fulfill my duty, but things never go perfectly so I just have to do my best and confide in the Lord for the rest.

But my favorite talks always seem to be from Elder Holland. I guess I just like his very direct, "machete" style. But this conference I received much revelation and I was also very pleased because various investigators came and had inspired leaders of the church talk about exactly what they needed to hear.

It was a great week. A couple issues with the District but in the end everything will be ok. I guess we could work on our unity. But we had a fun activity today for Pday with the whole mission that helped everyone have a little fun and relax.

We were going to go to the Vulcan Masaya (Masaya Volcano) but they closed the Volcano today, so first we went to see the Caterina Laguna. It was pretty. But not much to do for a missionary at a laguna. But I bought a cool Nicaraguan bag because I told myself I need to buy more souvenirs.

Mirador de Catarina, Laguna de Apoyo, Nicaragua

Fotos de la Carcel (Photos of the Prison)

Oh, and because all the mission was there, I talked to my comp. Elder Gaytan, who is in Masaya and gave him the down payment for a really nice Hammock. I told him to get one of the big ones (for like 2 or 3 people) and to make the colors like the Nicaraguan flag. He said I could put letters on it so I told him to put Hardy, and on the other side Nicaragua (so we don’t forgot from where it came).

This week was the best because with the most positive family we are teaching we invited them to be baptized and they accepted. For the 21st of April. The only problem is that I am probably going to get transferred before that. But it was a neat spiritual experience we had with them last night. We taught them the lesson of the Restoration.

But it was hard. Because their two year old little girl Emily, decided to be a big distraction this time. (Normally she is really sweet and shy) But this time she was running around throwing things on the ground and bugging her mom and dad ha ha. I think she was just tired.

So, as we struggled to have the spirit and their attention throughout the lesson we testified to them of the love of God and of the restoration through the prophet José Smith. After testifying, my companion asked the Dad if he would ponder about these things and ask his Heavenly Father in the name of Christ if José Smith was a Prophet.

We sat there for what felt like a long time but he didn’t answer. My companion repeated him the question and we waited for what felt like forever but he didn’t respond. I then explained to him again what it would mean to his family to know if these things were true and explained again how he could know through prayer.

Then I asked again, "¿Orará para saber si José Smith fue un profeta verdadero?" (“Will you pray to know if Joseph Smith was a true prophet?") This time he replied, with a strong, "NO". We were a little bit astounded by his answer, because they have been very positive and during the entire lesson they seemed to have understood and liked the message.

But we weren´t discouraged. I asked him, "¿Que le impediría orar y preguntar a Dios si José Smith fue un profeta de Dios?" (“What would prevent him to pray and ask God if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God?”)

And after thinking for a second he said, "No creo que debería preguntar a Dios, si ya sé que José Smith fue un profeta." (“I do not think I should ask God, if I already know that Joseph Smith was a prophet.”)

Ha ha ha, well after he said that all the tenseness left the room and me and my comp smiled and said, Well that’s great! We then continued to explain to them that they can still pray and ask their Father in Heaven to strengthen their faith and testimonies and help them to follow Jesus Christ. We then invited them to be baptized the 21st of April and they accepted.

That is so amazing to hear that Aunt Annette is going through the temple next week!

Ha ha ha NO! I have not gotten any Trunky Papers. But Mom, I think with the way the changes are going to fall I am going to come home with everyone the Thursday of the week of Aug. 18th. Is that going to be a problem? Do you think someone can go to my classes the first two or three days?

I remember the snow caves dad! And I remember that mine and Jordan Stewarts was beautiful! But as we were making it, Jordan was scraping away at the ceiling to make it higher and right as I said, "I don’t think we should go any higher..." The cave collapsed ha ha.

Thanks for the spiritual thoughts about conference Mom and Dad. It was great. And it had lots of advice and blessings for the family.

I have had a lot of faith building experiences in the mission, Alexis. But I would have to say that normally the best for me are the answered prayers. Especially a few that have been answered through the fruits of the Holy Ghost. How would you build faith in investigators? Through WORKS. Anybody here can listen to someone talk about Christ for an hour. But not everyone ACTS upon what they hear. Those that read, pray and come to church progress and receive a REAL Conversion. Those who don’t, stay in the same condition they are in for the rest of their lives. Unless one day they Work their faith and Act.

I love you all,

Have a Happy Easter & Spring Break!

Elder Hardy

ps I love you!

March 26, 2012

Dear Familia,

Elders Tonga, Hardy, Woodruff & Brough

Mission Conference, Granada 2012

My week was AWESOME! And sounds like your week too. I think it is great that you guys are going good on the Book of Mormon goal. 

This week was so great because we have another super escogida familia (chosen family) that came to church yesterday. They remind me of the family of Everardo and Daisy in Bluefields. So they came with us to Church and we had fast and testimony meeting. It was the best Fast and Testimony meeting I have ever had! It was very spiritual. 

A new investigator that our friend Agustin brought to church even went up to the pulpit and some of what she said was, I have been searching in many churches for my whole life and today, is the first time I have felt the spirit like this in church, I feel like this is the correct church and I hope that I might be able to join it one day. Wow! 

Also, a really sincere Mom went up with her baby and shared her testimony about how the Gospel changed her life and about her eternal family now. It was very touching, and I think the family that came to church felt the spirit too. 

We are going to watch General Conference about as close as you can if you aren’t living in Utah ha ha. Across the street. Our Ward attends in the Stake Center across the street from the house and this Saturday and Sunday everyone from the Stake is going there. 

Sounds like a great Birthday gift, thanks family. I will be sure to fulfill the three birthday money requirements, it will be great. I will even see if I have any connections in Masaya for a cool hammock. 

Bishop asked about the Missionary Journal. Ok, in my email to President, I asked him if he has the Diary format saved on the computer and if he would send it to me. If so, I will send it to you guys (Dad will have to translate). If not, I will take a photo of each page and send it to you guys next week. 

The point of the diary is that the family that has the Journal finds, befriends and baptizes a family each year. So these 10 families every week fill out the dairy of their missionary experiences and the families that they have contacted and that they are working with. 

Well, it starts off on the first page with all the Ward Mission Goals for the year (very important that all the members can know the goals, or why would we make them) like baptisms, retention and church attendance. Then it has two pages with a place to put the photo of the families they have helped baptize and their names. Then it has a couple of lessons that we are teaching to the missionary families. About how to do Member Missionary Work. Then it has lined pages to put their missionary experiences and progress of investigators. I will have to try to send it to you guys next week. 

Sounds like everything is going good. I will have to send photos next week. 

I am very proud of my Member Missionary family. 

Alexis, we don’t have a temple in Nicaragua. But my first impressions of the Temple were great. I feel like I was prepared and that I was able appreciate at least the covenants I was making. But obviously a lot went over my head. I can’t wait to go back to the temple and receive more revelation. 

Love, 

Elder Hardy & Elder Batz 

Elder Hardy 

ps I love you 

Sorry the power went out and I lost a bit. I am just signing on now to send the draft. 

Love you!!!

March 19, 2012

Happy Spring!!!

Hey Mom, I don´t know if I have ever told you but thanks for all the thought you put in sending me an email every week. Even the cool photos made out of text are really cool. Where do you find those? 

Ha ha well no, I did not see any of the fresh water sharks. I guess I didn’t get close enough to the water. I was going to send you photos today... but I actually lent my camera to some recent converts... but I am sure it will come back. Ha ha. 

Elder Nick Sessions? No, no nos invitaron a los cambios porque... 

just realized I was writing in Spanish. 

No I haven’t met him yet, but we have a conference activity in Granada this Wednesday and I will see him there. It is with the whole mission. 

Elder Gochnour already came back? No way. Sounds like he had a good mission. 

This week we continued to work hard. But the good news is that we took a good time in our weekly planning figuring out how we could work better. Not harder, because we already have that down, but work more effectively to be able to find the people and families that God has waiting for us. We made several plans and goals, lots having to do with Member Missionary Work. 

Last week they also changed the Ward Bishopric. The new Bishop and one of the counselors are returned missionaries and they are all pilas. We met with them yesterday in the house of the Bishop to start off with a good page for the relationship between the missionaries and the ward leaders. 

We had some plans and ideas and we are going to present them to the ward council next Sunday. We went to the Bishop first so he has a head start and will be able to support us. One of the plans is from the mission. It is the "Missionary Journal." 

Bishop Arevalo is going to pick 10 of the most pilas families in our ward and we are going to give each one a really cool pamphlet/journal that they have to fill out. The idea is that they pick a family that they know who are not members and they are going to help them throughout the year. The goal is that each family baptizes a family each year. 

We had an interesting Stake Conference this Sunday, it was actually with all of Central America. We listened to President Packer, and President Clayton of the Seventy and a few more in a conference from Salt Lake City to all Central America by satellite. They had some very good consejos for the members. 

We found three new, positive families this week. One, the husband has been a member for 12 years (since he was 16) but hadn’t talked to the missionaries in two years, and his wife is Catholic. We watched “Together Forever” with them and the Dad was a little emotional. He came yesterday to church and we want to help him and his wife so that they can go to the temple. 

For PDay today, we left the house and 11:00 am after studies and went to get our hair cut. The Doctor stopped us before leaving the house and wanted to talk to us. She said that the electric bill has gone up a lot ever since we started to iron our own shirts in the house. So we decided we are going to look for a sister to do the laundry for us. 

Then we left the house. I bought a bag of freshly sliced mango in the park on the way to the barbershop (so I could have something to snack on as we waited). After cutting our hair, we went to eat lunch at our lunch appointment. And we put an appointment to meet with Stephany (a daughter of the family where we eat) and a friend of hers that she wanted to introduce to the missionaries for tomorrow at 4 pm. 

And we came here to write. Ha ha. After, my companion wants to buy some shorts for the activity this Wednesday and I am going to buy a couple of white shirts. 

No baptisms this week. But the goal for April is Two Families. 

Hannah asked if we have Spring here in Nicaragua? Ha ha it is always Spring in Nicaragua!!! Well, that’s not true. But I would say the closest to Spring is right after the dry season. When it starts to rain again is when the ground explodes with plants and it is very green. I will take a photo of a cool flower! 

Ah man, you gave me a bad bracket dad! Thanks for the journal entries. Love you. 

Thanks for the spiritual thought and awesome idea about the Patriarchal Blessing mom. I am going to do it tomorrow in my personal study. Sounds like the activity is going to be awesome mom! I Love you. 

Wait, I thought you already left school Alexis. What are you schooling? Who is this new guy again? Love you. 

Good luck in the last night of Concert Emily!!! I luh you. 

Sound like you are doing Great Hannah! I Love you. 

I want you all to remember the goal that you guys made! ... I hope you guys are already half way through the Book of Mormon as a family! 

I love you all, 

Elder Hardy 

ps I love you

March 12, 2012

Hey Family! 

Hey, I’m sorry! But I don’t have much time today. We went to El Lago de Nicaragua with the District/Zone today and it is late. 

El Lago de Nicaragua

(Sue’s note: El Lago de Nicaragua is the largest lake in Central America and home to the Bullshark, the only fresh water shark in the world!! Pics from the net) 

El Tiburón 

I saw the photos of Elder Woodruff in the hospital with his jaw. Poor guy. I sent him an email and told him to smile. Ha ha. 

Elder Batz is Awesome and the Best. The best thing I would say is that he is very patient with me. He has not received his Greenie Package! But we await the green ties anxiously. :) 

It is Fresco (brisk) here in Jinotepe at night. But it is still pretty hot here too in the day. It was more fresco a couple of months ago. But my comp says it is Way hot here. (He comes from the mountainous area of Guatamala. Where you have to wear a coat in the night outside.) 

Our work is Really Great this last change. We have two Sacerdocios who are really positive for this month. One is named Porfilio (I already told you about him) And he will be a great leader in the church). 

We have a couple of families really chosen. But there have been some weeds growing by the wheat and we are working on that. But we had a very spiritual experience with a new family this weekend. 

We were talking about the Plan of Salvation and I felt like there was something when we talked about it and I asked her if she had someone close in the family that had died recently and it was her sister and we were able to share about where we go after this life and share experiences and testify. It was great! 

Ok I have to go. 

I Love you all, 

Elder Hardy

March 5, 2012

Hey Dad, 

Thanks for sending the email. I am sorry to hear that everyone has been sick. It´s funny because this weekend I got hit with the "Chitarro" (I´m thinking that pretty much means the common cold). Ha ha I was fine. I was able to deal with it but it was a little annoying in all of our lessons Friday and Saturday with a super runny, stuffy nose. 

Ha ha Friday I bought a huge handkerchief and filled it with moco (mucus) every time I had the chance in order to be able to teach. The worst was that this Sunday was fast Sunday and the choir director didn’t come on time so they called me up to direct the hymns. Ha ha I was feeling pretty light headed trying to sing loud and keep everyone on time with the hymns. 

Hey that is awesome to hear that Jordan was ordained a Priest. ¿How many young men do you have Dad? (Priests, Teachers, Deacons). Maybe you could send a few extra Priests over here to help me out. 

That is neat that the Young Men are excited about planning Spiritual Activities like going to the Temple, sharing the Gospel and helping others in their conversion. It is pretty much the best way to help your own conversion and spiritual progression. Sounds like you’re doing a good job, Dad. 

FELICIDADES to Emily and Hannah for their Piano Recitals. They need to come here and play the hymns Sundays. Like I said, this Sunday, I directed the Hymns and Elder Muzo "played" the piano. But it is computerized and Elder Muzo just has to touch a key every beat to play. And so he got ahead in the opening hymn and didn’t know how to slow down to get back with the congregation and the stress almost killed me (remember I was sick and empty stomached too). I could use you guys! 

Hey we got a package! It was the little one for Valentine’s Day! Thank you so much, the tie is very artistic. The cartas (cards) were great, Happy Valentine’s Day! (haha, a month later!) 

Ha ha ha no no no. It wasn’t a bug in the pictures I last sent. I sent 2 pictures. You have to see what the difference is in between the two pictures (of the PLANT) ha ha. Try to see the difference before you read the answer: 

There is a really cool weed here in Jinotepe. The leaves are all spread out and sticking out. BUT if you touch it, it MOVES really fast and HIDES its leaves and shrinks. Ha ha so I tried to show it in a picture of before and after. 

(Sue's note: This plant is called the 

Mimosa pudica: The Sensitive Plant)

We had a GREAT lesson last week. We are teaching a Sacerdocio who is really Pilas. His name is Porfilio. He has come to Church now for three weeks straight. The thing is, is he is really evangelico. Which is great because he is going to be one of my most pilas converts because he has so much Zeal for the gospel. 

We have been teaching him a few times these last weeks but it is tuff to go through the lessons because he likes to talk about the gospel so much. But we decided we needed to teach him the entire restauracion before Sunday. But we were actually pretty nervous because we weren’t sure how he would react to the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith as a prophet, because he is so dedicated to the Bible. 

But we prepared ourselves and practiced and Saturday in the Night, we went to his house. And we gave one of the best lessons I have had in the Mish. (and my comp. said the best lesson he has had of the Restauration in his mission ha ha). 

It actually almost surprised me how he accepted immediately that Joseph Smith was the prophet that started the dispensation of the fullness of times (we focused on Gospel Dispensations, Apostasies and the Priesthood). And that the Book of Mormon, as a fruit of the restoration and the key of our religion could be true and he accepted to study and pray without delay. It was Amazing. 

Sacrament yesterday was excellent. I actually am a little nervous every first Sunday of the month as I show up with Investigadores. Because you never know what might be said up there when people start to share their testimonies ha ha. 

Sometimes investigadores can think bad with a great testimony, but that was focused much on Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and start thinking that Joseph Smith is our God and that the Book of Mormon is our Bible. (One of the reasons that it was very important to share with Porfilio the Restauration before Sunday). 

And the testimonies were great. I especially felt the spirit when I had the opportunity to share mine. The best part was that Porfilio stayed for all the meetings and said he had felt the spirit very strongly in Church today. 

Thank you for the updates and the questions, I have to go already! 

Feel better Mom! 

Love you all, 

Elder Hardy 

ps. I love you. 

pps Good Luck Emily with all that dancing!

February 27, 2012

Dearest Royal Family, 

(Sue's note: Not sure what we are looking at.

Is it "la cucaracha"? See below)

Ha ha wow, that is Awesome! 21st Great-Grandson of King Edward III. Hey, if you trace your lineage to a royal line or two you can pretty much trace it back to Adam can’t you? Ha ha I think that is kind of cheating but I think that is really neat. Thanks. 

That is such a sweet photo of when you guys got married in the Temple. I am going to print it off today to share with people. 

Well, this week no baptisms. But a miracle can always happen. Sometimes investigators that are ready to be baptized fall from the sky. 

We are teaching a couple of families now. One is named Georgina and Francisco. Georgina came to an activity of the Stake Saturday. The activity was about the Plan of Salvation and was titled "A Trip to Heaven." She said she was a little bored waiting to go through the course (each step of the Plan of Salvation had its own room and a ward assigned to do it) but that she liked it in the end. She said she especially didn't want to go to the spirit prison or the Telestial Glory. Ha ha she said it scared her and her kid. 

I actually don’t know what they did, my comp and I could never go through, we were busy making sure everything went smoothly. I just know that one little girl left with her mom crying (good thing the mom is an active member). 

Yesterday we had a spiritual experience as we were in the street. We have been behind on our goal of finding new families to be able to teach, so Saturday night we made the goal to go crazy Sunday contacting new families in addition to doing all of our scheduled appointments after Church. 

We started the day off good because we contacted two families before even going to Church! And in the afternoon, we were hurrying to an appointment to the which we were already late when we passed by a man and a woman standing in front of a really big, deep hole in front of their house. 

We passed by the hole in a rush but I felt prompted to go back and talk to the man. It was easy to start the conversation, I told him I thought that was a pretty cool looking hole in front of his house ha ha ha. And that I always liked digging holes ha ha ha. But it turns out that the man and woman were neighbors. 

He lived next door with his wife and his three sons. (One is already married too). So I asked him if we could introduce ourselves to his wife too. Turns out they had received the charlas from the sister missionaries 10 years ago. But they moved to here and lost contact. So we are going to pass by this week and teach him and his son’s families. 

So... if the Spirit prompted me or I just really like holes, it’s the same thing. I have found that following the Spirit many times is just when you receive a prompting in your mind or heart to do a good thing, and you do that good thing. Like talking about holes with the intent to invite a family to come unto Christ. 

We usually try to help our male converts receive the Aaronic Priesthood the following Sunday. And then they have to prepare for some time to receive the Higher Priesthood. 

Hannah asked if I have ever been to the big lake to see the sharks. No! Never been to the big lake. But I have seen lots of Snakes! 

I think that is Asombroso that Jordan Harris got baptized Saturday. Tell Cooper congratulations from me too on his first baptism. The elbow of Yamileth, my first baptism, stuck out too ha ha. Dad, seems like you´ve got a couple of great future missionaries there (including Jordan) better keep it up with them so that they are good to go. 

Sounds like you are giving great lessons Dad, keep up the good work. Hey, make sure all your young men have a Preach my Gospel. I should send you a list of scriptures they should all try and memorize as quorums that help in the mission! Love you Dad. 

Ward Party! Good luck Mom. Hey tomorrow we are having the big "Night of Fortification" where all the different groups in the ward are going to come to the Church. And this month we even invited President Monestel! He and his wife are going to give the lesson, and President is going to meet an hour before with all the Priesthood to talk to them too. Pray that everyone shows up!!! Love you Mom. 

Alexis... no, nobody has ever proposed to any missionary here. The missionaries usually have to help all the families get married before they can get baptized. And the thing is, I was blessed with brown eyes. Here, everybody has brown eyes too and they go crazy for the missionaries with "cat eyes" (colored eyes). Especially blue. Love you Alexis. 

Hey good luck with Dance Concert and Piano Emily! I luh You! 

Wow Hannah, great job with your Amelia Earhart report, and good luck with your performance as Cinderella! I hope you guys are videotaping all of the performances the family does so I can see them later. Like the "Mixed up Fairy Tales" Love you. 

Love, 

Elder Hardy 

p.s I love you