August 20, 2012

Dear Family,

This was the last and very best week of the mission (As every week of the mission should be). One of the most beautiful families that I was able to teach here in the mission entered the waters of Baptism Saturday and yesterday they received the Holy Ghost and were confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Several Miracles occurred in order for that to happen and Heavenly Father was very merciful and loving to allow all the miracles to occur before I had to leave from this land.

The family Alvarez Tiffer (Rodolfo, Tania, Rodolfo and Marcelo) was the family and I will try to send photos but it looks like this computer does not recognize my camera card. But I guess you will be able to see them soon anyway.

The Baptismal Service was Awesome. Half the ward showed up and some had to sit in the hall because they didn’t fit. Everyone was soo excited to hear that the family was going to be baptized. Even the Mission President and his family came and participated in the service. (We arrived a little late with the family for a few reasons)

But once we got there and the family put on white clothes everything went great. They decided that they wanted my companion Elder Gomez to baptize Tania and Rodolfo jr., and that I would baptize Rodolfo sr. and Marcelo.

Sunday in the morning they arrived early to have an interview as a family with the bishop and were the first ones sitting in church. For the confirmation the Second Councilor confirmed Rodolfo, the Bishop confirmed Tania, Elder Gomez confirmed Rodolfo jr. and I had the opportunity to perform the confirmation ordinance for Marcelo. It was an amazing feeling I felt as I did it.

The Bishop after the baptismal service came up to me and said that the last speaker for the next day had flaked and asked if I could take his place. I was very pleased to be able to address the members of the San Marcos Ward (old and very new members) about the Blessings of making and keeping Covenants. I also had the opportunity to share my testimony in front of the whole ward.

Well, I still have a few more lessons to teach... But the last one yesterday was to the family of Omar and Juana and their son Oscar. They are a very special family to me but have not been able to be baptized because of some paper issues for their marriage. Poor little Oscar was crying when we sang "God be with you till we meet again". The brother Omar calls me "El Padrino" ("The Godfather" in English) ha ha because we have been able to help and council them in the trials they have had. He made me a key chain out of a cool old Nicaraguan Coin with Sandino on it. It is pretty sweet.

Today we will have the last lesson with the Family Alvarez Tiffer :( in their Family Home Evening.

Pretty much the most important thing to me now is to bear my testimony as many times as a can while I am still a set apart representative of Jesus Christ and his Church.

I have really missed Mom's Sunday Pot Roast. I have missed mashed potatoes too. But if it is going to be way too late Thursday night, I don’t know. I don’t know what time we are actually going to be in the house. So you guys can decide if we should eat the first dinner late Thursday night or Friday.

You know what I have searched endlessly for here and never found...? (You will think it is weird): A bagel. I’m not even sure how to spell it any more. But it is bread that has a hole like a donut but is for breakfast and you eat it with cream cheese. (I remember it being especially delicious if you heat it up in the microwave). Other classics snacks are great!

Well, I don’t know how much you have all changed... My comp. was telling me that when his brothers came back from the mission EVERYTHING was way different. He said that lots of important things that happened (like his dog died) they didn’t tell him so he wouldn’t get unfocused in the mission. Nothing crazy has happened right? Nobody has lost any limbs or anything like that right? I know Emily and Hannah have probably grown up a ton. Ha ha it might help to make a sign saying "The Hardy Family".

I love you so much Family.

It is sad to have to leave the new members of the family here,

But they will always be in my heart.

And it´s time to give you guys a hug again.

Love,

Elder Hardy

ps. I love you!!!!!

pps. By special request (and by right) Mom gets the first hug. Then everyone else has to come in on the hug at the SAME time to be fair.

ppps. Good luck in College MOM!!!!!

May 28, 2012

Hey Family,

I hope you have had a good Memorial Day. We had the baptism of a sister and her three children!

Sounds like you have had a really cool week. How did you guys get in touch with a foreign exchange student from China? I hope Bingo Bango Bongo was fun today. Who won? Hannah again? I’m thinking she is a little big now for the bonus points. When I get back, you guys are going to have to give the bonus points to me! Ha ha. 

Sounds like you guys had a great Hardy Family Reunion! They turned great great great grandpa's house into a Walgreens?!!! Ha ha. 

You asked about Zone meetings? At least one time a month we have a Zone Conference. Those are always fun and it gives me a chance to teach all our new missionaries and get everyone excited and motivated to keep working hard. Sometimes we do activities as a Zone on our PDays. 

My comp. and I have just started doing new meetings called "Zone Council Meeting." We talk with our District Leaders, help them on things (like how to do a good baptismal interview… nobody ever taught me, I had to learn the hard way) and help them make their own goals and plans for the month for their District. We need to travel a lot more to our Districts to work at least with the District Leaders and maybe a couple companionships that need help. The next change we plan on doing divisions at least once a week. 

Oh boy, we have been busy this week. We are working with 9 families. Even though a couple we still need to give more follow up. But some of the best lessons have been with a good family. They have been around the missionaries for Many Years. Almost all of the family are members, but some have not been able to progress with the missionaries. But now things are different in San Marcos ha ha. 

Saturday in the night we had our first "real" lesson with them. It was Great! We taught to them the Restoration, (even though I’m sure they have heard it lots of times) and we watched the short film of the Restoration. 

After we bore our testimonies to them, we answered their very good questions and taught them how to know (prayer). We then invited them to be baptized and they accepted (on the condition of receiving and answer to their prayers). Then we presented them the Book of Mormon. And we taught them how it would help them receive the answer to their prayers. 

It was cool because the mom got all excited because that same day her sister who is a member shared her testimony too. Perfect timing (or inspired timing). The dad was sick and in the house for a couple of days and loves to read. Yesterday, in the night we had an appointment with them too. We taught them the principle of the Word of Wisdom and had a great time getting the whole family to commit themselves to follow the commandment. 

We also taught the son a little bit better the lesson from the day before because he wasn’t there and he goes to an Evangelica church. But he was really positive. He is going to be such a great missionary. 

We plan every night and morning what we are going to do for the day. But I don’t think in the whole mission I have had a day were my plans were completed "perfectly." That doesn't take away anything from the importance of planning every day. It just means that we do our best to plan the time of the Lord our best and then during the day if there is something that He decides that we should do, well I guess you just got to do it. 

So: Do your best to plan it out asking for inspiration from the Lord. Then do your best to prepare everything needed asking for help from the Lord. Then do your best to get it done asking for strength from the Lord. Then do your best to handle changes asking for guidance from the Lord. 

Ha ha ha hmm. The most useful thing I brought me on the mission? CTR rings. Ha ha ha they are great! For baptisms, marriages, even for a surprise gift when you show up to the house of a member and they say, "Elders! Thank you for coming to my son’s birthday party!" (even though you had no idea) ha ha. 

But there are lots of things. Grandma Weiler´s medicine kit WAS great. Not so much for me but for all of my comps. I think I probably used like two bandages ha ha but it was well used throughout the mission healing sick comps. The sewing kit, even better. I have great news. I have repaired various shirts and pants, it was a little rough at first figuring out how to do it but the latest rips and tears have come out good as new! 

You know what I wish I would have brought? A good pillow. I found and bought a pillow in my first area but I left it there thinking of the next missionary that would come. But even though last year the mission provided new pillows to every missionary’s house. It seems that I go to my new area always stuffing sweatshirts and stuff into my pillow bag to sleep... who knows what happens to all of the pillows. 

The best buy I have made in the mission? Ha ha an awesome alarm clock with the bells on top that rings in the morning. Ha ha it is probably the cheapest thing a missionary has bought in Nicaragua but I love it. 

So I am running out of time. But Dad for your talk, I would like to help but I’m not too sure what to say. 

Say hi to everyone in the ward for me. Thank them for the love and the support they have given me. For the things you can see and the things you can’t. Even every time they have thought and prayed for me or for all the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ has helped me so much. I have no doubt of that. 

The mission has been the most wonderful experience of my life, with the Holy Ghost and the message of the restored Gospel, I have had the privilege of being an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring many of his sons and daughters to Christ and the truth. The joy that sharing the gospel has brought to me has been amazing and everyone there in the ward who has helped influence my life for good or helped someone else come closer to Christ should feel that joy too. 

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. My testimony in the Son of God and in the restored Gospel has been greatly strengthened in the service of the Lord. And my faith and trust in the Love of my Heavenly Father has become unbreakable. I truly do know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that the importance of sharing this message with the rest of our brothers and sisters is the most important work in which we can be engaged. 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Love you, 

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

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!!!

August 22, 2011

Hey Everybody!

Breakfast

Yeah, Bluefields is pretty neat. But I am not even there right now. We had to leave this morning in the morning to start the trek to the Salt Lake... I mean to Managua haha. We have a multizone activity tomorrow so today we are sleeping in Juigalpa.

We had to/got to take a panga today on the Hidden River. Ha ha a panga is a little boat. But before you get too excited about it like I did, a panga is not one of those cool river boats with the big fan on back that pushes it. It is just a little boat with a motor on back like normal. I would send photos right now of the trip but I didn’t bring the cord to here. But the boat reminded me of the boats on the Jungle Ride in Disneyland ha ha. Almost exactly, except it goes a lot faster... and there were no hippos. But I did see a tortoise.

The boat ride was two hours long. Very exciting in the beginning but then I looked at my watch and only 8 minutes had passed. Ha ha and when we landed in Rama, we got on a bus for a 3 hour bus ride to Juigalpa, standing, because it was super packed. (We passed St. Thomas too so you should put it on my map).

But we finally got here, I ate a big hamburger and we are good to go again. Tomorrow in the morning, we go to Managua, and then we come back to Juigalpa to sleep the night, and do the whole thing over again to get back to home base in Bluefields.

Elder Gaitan came the change after me, so he completes 1 year the 20th of September. Ha ha no, this time he is not the DL. I am Senior Companion. But I think it is co-senior. I have photos, but they are in my camera.

There are four Elders in Bluefields, one pair for each Branch. The other Elders are Elder Jimenez (DL) and Elder Lopez. In my Zone I’m not sure. I am in Zone Juigalpa again if you couldn’t tell, but they have changed the areas a lot so I don’t know how many there are now. We have a District Meeting every Friday in Bluefields and I think Zone Conferences that we are invited to are very few.

The El Salvador Temple dedication was poderosa, and very asombroso (powerful and awesome). It was broadcasted via satellite to the Chapel in Bluefields. Ha ha President Eyring was funny in the Corner Stone Ceremony but nobody understood him, because he doesn’t speak Spanish. But the dedication was great.

Our house is the nicest I have been in so far. Three rooms, a living room and a kitchen. We live there with the other companionship, and we rent the whole house so a family doesn’t live there.

Big Beetle

Ha ha well, Hannah, I have never actually gotten to go to any ports, or beaches. But the houses are cool. Lots of them are on stilts and look a lot like the house in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland.

My other suitcase? Ha ha ha, good question Emily, I would like to know that too... No, the office took it to keep it there. But now that I am going to return to Bluefields by land.../sea, maybe I will see if I can take it. Whenever someone needs something I say, "Oh, I have... oh wait, that stayed in the other suitcase."

Thank you so much for sending the clips of the float. Very nice, thanks mom.

Hey, the updates sound great family.

Good luck with the new roommates Alexis. Tell me what’s going on and I will give you tips on the roommate situation. The mission is the MTC for life.

Good luck with school Emily. The IB program sounds great. Sounds like you are going to one up me. I never got to do IB.

I would like to give an appreciation to all of my friends and all the missionaries that are serving in Europe. Ha ha, today in the bus, when finally enough people had left in order to be able to sit down, I sat down in the back of the bus where there were three chelas (white girls). I started to talk to them and it turns out they were from Barcelona.

And after getting to know them a little, of course we started to talk about el evangelio. Well, they were very nice, but they responded in a way different than any other person I have talked to here in Nicaragua. They didn’t believe in God, and were quite closed on the subject. But I stayed positive and we shared with them, and in the end offered a pamphlet on the Restoration and on Joseph Smith.

Ha ha but to be short, in talking to them, I understood that the rest of their country and Europe in general responds the same way. Ha ha so respect to all my buddies Elders serving it out there on the other side, I hope they keep up the good work and stay positive.

I would like to share my testimony this time first, about the love the Lord has for us. I have seen His love in many, many different ways in the short year I have served here in Nicaragua. And the way I am going to focus on right now is how He has strengthened me.

Of course, the love of the Lord that I have seen as the Gospel has blessed families and people is the greatest. But how He has helped me with my propia debilidades (own weaknesses) is something I would like to show gratitude for in this opportunity.

What has become one of my favorite scriptures se encuentra en Éter 12:27-28, que dice, "y si los hombres vienen a mí, les mostraré su debilidad. Doy a los hombres debilidad para que sean humildes; y basta mi gracia a todos los hombres que se humillan ante mí; porque si se humillan ante mí, y tienen fe en mí, enonces haré que las cosas débiles sean fuertes para ellos. ...y les mostraré que la fe, la esperanza y la caridad conducen a mí, la fuente de toda rectitud."

Ether 12:27-28:

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.

I testify that the Lord loves us. And for that He has given us trial and weakness so that we can humble ourselves and come unto Him. I also testify that He has given me plenty weaknesses because He loves me. In this year, the mission has really helped me discover my weaknesses and has helped me to come to the Lord, and the Lord has helped me humble myself. Now I’m not saying I’m humble, saying I’m humble would be a little bit ironic to say. But He has certainly helped me change a lot, and is helping me change my weaknesses to strengths.

So I promise you all, that if you come to Him, he will help. When you have a problem, if you take the time to kneel, and talk to Him about it, with humility, He will help. Forget about the problems other people have when you do it, He says He will help show you your weaknesses, so you can change yourself. If we humble ourselves to the will of the Lord, all the problems in the world don’t matter, because if you are in line with His will it will all work out.

So I invite everyone to kneel in prayer tonight, and ask the Lord what weakness He would like you to fix in yourself so you can be more like Him. And when you do it, it’s one of the best feelings you can get. I bear my testimony that this is true. That the Lord Jesus Christ loves us and is just waiting on the other side of the door for us to let Him into our hearts and change us.

I bear my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I don’t know if I told you all, but this last change I finished reading the Libro de Mormón with my other companion Elder Moreno. We read it in less than a month, reading everyday without failing. And I testify that the promise contained in the Book, to read it and ask if it is true, doesn’t have a coupon limit per person. It doesn’t say the first time you read it. It means every time you read it. So read it. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the kingdom of God on the earth. And that the Gospel blesses families.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love You,

Elder Hardy

Ps. I love you

April 25, 2011

Happy Easter!!!

I hope everyone had a great Easter day yesterday and remembered why we celebrate Easter. I am not even really sure why there is an Easter Bunny. If you start talking about an Easter BUNNY that hides EGGS for kids to hunt here, everyone looks at you like you are crazy ha ha.

I had a good Easter day yesterday. Church was normal. We have two really positive families that said there were going to go to church yesterday but things came up. We didn’t do a special Easter Sunday church program or anything which is too bad. But my compañero gave a good talk about the Expiación (Atonement).

The best part of the day was after church when we did divisions with the whole Ward Council like we planned. They even made sandwiches to eat before we left. I left with the President of the Quorum of Elders. He is a really awesome guy. He is a little older and we went to the farthest, hardest part of the area (Cañon) to visit families that haven’t been coming to church. He didn’t complain at all, but I could tell he was getting pretty tired. We then met up with my companion at the house of his brother and they invited us to stay to eat dinner.

We talked a lot, they have lived much more exciting lives than me. They were in the Revolution and the Earthquake and everything. Lots of cool stories. But the week in all has been very normal, except there have been less people on the streets. But more dads are home on vacation too.

Yesterday, when I went to a Family´s house deep in the Cañon, after we talked with them and we dedicated their house and everything they asked if I would like to try Guatusa. I told them I didn’t have the foggiest idea what that was but I would love to. Everyone tried to explain it to me and tried to compare it with other animal names I have never heard of. In the end all I understood was that they caught it in the jungle the day before.

They gave me a couple pieces, like a leg and some ribs and it was pretty good. It was small and tasted a little gamey and in the end I figured it was something like rabbit. Later that night I had my Comp explain to me what it is. Ha ha not that it is too crazy what I ate, but I figure if you search Guatusa on Google images you’ll see what it is.

Guatusa: Rodent of Unusual Size

When I show the photo book you guys made for me everyone tells me that I used to be a lot fatter. But no, I haven’t been sick. We went in to Pali and they have one of those put in a quarter (Cordoba) to weigh yourself scales. So I tried it and thought I would come out weighing more. But it said 171 pounds. Ah, so I have lost at least 15 pounds. But I haven’t ever been sick.

And I clear my plate at every meal (even if we have 3 dinners offered to us in one day). I even found Centrium Vitamins that I am taking in the morning. I have intelligently concluded that I need to pick up my exercise program in the morning.

What I would really like is a neat card with my Priesthood lineage on it. That would be great when we get talking sometimes about who has authority. Also, how big is Utah and its population, (and how much bigger than Nicaragua).



Tarantula



It would be neat to hear from my missionary buddies. I don’t know what the rule is for them and writing back an email from me. It might be better to send a letter (ha ha for Christmas). If you could send me their addresses that would be nice.

Me encantaría compartir un poco de mí testimonio de la Expiación de Jesucristo con Ustedes. Especialmente a este tiempo del año cuando tienen la oportunidad enfocar sus vidas occupadas un poco más en la vida de Jesucristo.

Yo sé que Dios nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial cuando presentó su grande plan de felicidad con nosotros, necesitabamos alguien de nuestros hermanos que tendría tan amor sufrir por todo lo demas. Éste fue Jehová. Él vino a la tierra en el medio de los tiempos cumplir su propósito.

Él se bautizó, nos enseñó el camino y dio el ejemplo para nosotros vivir y tratar unos a otros. Él hizo milagros, sanó a los enfermos y estableció su Iglesia aquí en la tierra. Luego, se humilló antes Su Padre y tomó sobre sí los pecados, dolores y sufrimientos de cada uno de nosotros. Él pues, dio su vida en la Cruz para que no solo podemos limpiar nuestros pecados pero ademas podemos vivir.

Y El vive. Resucitó al vencer la muerte fisicál, tan como espíritual. Que todos que creen en él puedan regresar vivir con nuestro Padre. He visto el milagro de la Expiación en mí propia vida y he tenido la oportunidad ver este milagro en las vidas de las familias y personas aquí en Nicaragua.

Mí testimonio inquebrantable es que Jesus el Cristo es mí Salvador y que mediante mí fe en Él, el arrepentimiento, las ordinanzas sagradas que Él estableció por mí y mí perseverando hasta el fin, voy a regresar con Él y mí familia en la Vida Eterna.

Invito a todos Ustedes compartir sus testimonios de la Expiación de Jesucristo con sus familias y amigos esta semana despues Easter. Y les digo estas cosas en el Nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.

(I would love to share some of my testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ with you. Especially this time of year when given the opportunity to focus our lives, occupied a little more on the life of Jesus Christ.

I know that God our loving Father in Heaven when he presented his great plan of happiness with us, we needed someone of our brothers who would so love to suffer for everything else. This was the Lord. He came to earth in the midst of the years to fulfill His purpose.

He was baptized, taught us the way and set the example for us to live and treat each other. He performed miracles, healed the sick and established His church here on earth. Then, He humbled before His Father and took upon Himself the sins, pains and sufferings of every one of us. He then gave his life on the Cross so that we can not only wash away our sins but also we can live.

And He lives. Rose to conquer death physically, then spiritually so that all who believe in Him can return to live with our Father. I've seen the miracle of the Atonement in my life and have had the opportunity to see this miracle in the lives of families and people here in Nicaragua.

My unwavering testimony that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that through my faith in Him, repentance, the holy ordinances which He established for me and if I persevere to the end, I will return to Him and my family in the Everlasting Life.

I invite you all to share your testimonies of the Atonement of Jesus Christ with your families and friends this week after Easter. And I say these things in Jesus' name, Amen).

Les amo, (I love you),

Elder Hardy

March 28, 2011

Querida Familia,

Hey, I am doing great!

This Friday we baptized Jorge. While we only baptized him, his family are already members so we completed a family and now they can prepare to be sealed in the temple. The family is great.

We had a surprise for his baptism. He is old friends with the Second Counselor of the Stake so we arranged for him to come and perform the baptism. What was great is the Second Counselor has a truck ha ha so we went with him to pick up Jorge. He was great, him and his family were all ready, waiting on the curb and they didn’t even know we were coming to pick them up in a truck.

My new ward is great. I am friends with the Bishopric and the Ward leaders. They called a new Ward Mission Leader yesterday and we are super excited to get working with him, he is poderoso (powerful).

The food is great. We make our own breakfast, Jamón and Queso (Ham and Cheese) Sandwich for me. And we eat Lunch and Dinner in the house we live in. The familia cooks well, usually a meat with Rice and Beans on the side.

Well, today we ate something interesting. I would tell you what it is but I don’t know. She asked us this morning if we wanted to try a different part of a chicken. I said sure! It wasn’t too bad, I asked the familia what it was called and they told me some name I can’t remember. Then I asked what part of the chicken it is... and they told me they weren’t sure either.

Last night we taught a new family of ours. We actually found them because a couple of weeks ago we passed a gordito (chubby) kid and said hi to him and were nice to him. Then this week, we found him at a friend’s house one night. He asked us if we wanted to meet his Mom. So he took us to her and we contacted her in the park outside their house.

Then as we finished talking to her, her partner came out and called to us, ¨Alright, come in Elders!¨ Turns out he is an inactive member who was baptized 7 years ago in Puerto Cabezas (other side of Nicaragua). We talked to them, and he taught his wife the first lesson. Ha ha we mostly listened.

At the end, he gave a very powerful testimony that he knows this is the True Church, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and José Smith was a true prophet. He told us that he has been wanting to come back to church and fix his life for about 6 years now.

The most Faith Promoting part for me is how powerful his testimony is, even though he has messed up a lot in his life the past few years, he can still fix it. He can change, repent, and help his family be eternal. He knows it, and is coming to Church this week to start.

That’s one of the best parts about the Mission. Sure, baptizing is all fun and good (and crucial for someone’s salvation), but it´s the changes you get to see happen to people and their families, preparing for and being baptized. As well as with people who are already members and are wrestling to get back on track. That’s what I like, the following the example of Jesus Christ part.

Hannah, I haven’t bought a baseball mitt yet. The thing is everyone plays Baseball on Sundays. It’s kind of an Arch Enemy really.

My favorite PDay game, hmmm well in Boaco we would always play Fútbol. But here we haven’t really played too many games. I washed my clothes, cleaned the house, showered with a 3 liter bottle of water, writing my family, eating,... really it is all fun to me.

You are right, I should think of something special to do with my comp. next PDay. It will be the second to last PDay of the Change. Ahh.

Ha ha, Alexis, Ward Missionary?! That´s great! But I don’t know why you should be nervous. Listen, all the people you are going to be assigned to visit are less active members that are your age. The most important thing you can do is listen, you should be able to relate to them and put yourself in their shoes easy. Listen, figure out what they need, how the Gospel answers it, and tell them.

And when you get nervous, or don’t know what to say, that is the easiest part. Just bear your testimony, about what you are talking about, about the Book of Mormon, the Prophet José Smith and your Savior Jesucristo.

And since you don’t have full time mission rules, if you have to flirt a little with their brother to get them both to come to church... ha ha just kidding.

Good to hear the Duck is content, Emily. I’m glad to hear he is growing fast (fattening up) he should be ready just in time for Thanksgiving :) Great with Dance. Math = Greater Light and Knowledge you will have to learn one day to get to the Top.

Ha ha good look with the Robin role, Hannah, that is so great. Love you too Oompa Lumpa.

Love you all, say hi to the Duck.

Elder Hardy

March 14, 2011

Hola!


Volcán Momotombo - Leon, Nicaragua.

It is 1297 meters high and 4500 years old.

Last night I saw the Volcano in Leon! We visited a family about the furthest you can walk in the Cañon (canyon) and they live on top of the valley. It is pretty big, but I’m not sure if I saw any smoke coming out.

Is it already leprechaun time? I don’t have a green tie.

My compañero’s full name is Gustavo David Valenzuela Martinez. He has a great story he tells to people who try to make the excuse that they can´t come to church because they have to stay home to watch the house because it’s not secure.

He tells them at his house, when they go to church, if they even want to lock the front door they have to lock it from the inside by putting the dresser in front of it. And then they leave out the back door that they can´t lock anyway. And he lives in a fairly dangerous part of San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Ha ha that takes away a few excuses from some people. He also worked in a hotel there before coming to the mission. And he would always get back from working Saturday at 2 in the morning Sunday.

He tells people it took a lot to get up and get to church every Sunday early before 9 with his Mom and Brother who are members. But he bears his testimony about the blessings of going to Church and sanctifying the Sabbath Day and how with sacrifice comes blessings.

We have another companionship in the ward but they live in a nice big 6 room house by themselves. Ha ha I should have taken photos but our room is a little smaller. But the family we live with is awesome.

The living conditions are just fine, our bathroom is great. And I even think the water is a little less cold here in the morning.

Right now our most progressing family is the family of Edwardo and Ana. They are great and have already been to church two times and are preparing to be baptized the 26th. Really the only thing that makes them not ready to be baptized is the word of wisdom. But they have a great desire to change and follow the example of Jesucristo and that is what´s important.

Yesterday, we taught a lesson with Edwardo and Ana and we brought a really great member named Humbert, (he is the Elders Quorum President) who has a testimony that helped them with their desafios (challenges).

So during the lesson it was really powerful and the hermano shared a very spiritual testimony. Then testifying to them was great, and bearing my testimony about the Savior and how he suffered the Atonement so he could help us overcome all the desafios in our lives and that they could overcome theirs and be born again through the covenant of Baptism by someone possessing the authority of God.

Hey, it is great to hear that Elder Gardner is alright in Japón. We heard about it Friday night when we visited a family watching the Nicaraguan News. That is terrible, but nothing happened here in Nicaragua. Then the next day we got a bunch of questions about if it meant the end of the world was here.

Thanks for the maps of Monte Fresco! And yeah, I figured the Restaurante Casa Mía Pizzeria was pretty good. Every night when we walk back to our house the parking lot is packed with fachenta cars and there are a bunch of gringos eating. I am planning on taking my comp there for something special. After we baptize a family or after his 1st year mark or both.

I bet it was a great talk Dad. I bore my testimony in Fast and Testimony meeting last week. And at the end I said everyone needs to have a Sonrisa Mormona (Mormon smile). They liked that. Thanks for the spiritual thought. It’s funny how all of it applies to the mission too ha ha.

Good luck with the float Mom. Remember, to be a good engineer you build it safe and reliable. To be a great engineer you build it the simplest and cheapest too. Ha ha

Thanks for telling me about how your dating is going Alexis... Love you too.

Good luck with the Dance Concert Emily!!! I Love You.

Hannah, what does a chase down mean? I want a photo and detailed explanation of the feasibility of your leprechaun trap Hannah. P.s I love you.

Love You,

Elder Hardy

P.S. You may ask why I sent the photo of my thumb and a peculiar dime. Well, I am going to start sending a money a week for Hannah to see the money of Nicaragua.

This week’s specimen is the Diez Centavos (10 cents) and is totally and utterly useless. Poor guy. He gets thrown on the ground after you walk out of a super market (because they are the only ones that use them). It’s not even metallic like the other coins. Which I will talk about next time on... What’s that money!?!?

January 17, 2011

¡Buenas Americanos!

I think that would be really neat if you sent a Jesus El Cristo to Elder Coj. I think that would mean a lot to him, especially with a photo of the family and testimony. I´m sure he will be really grateful and all the Latinos will want to have me as their companion because my family sends the best packages.

Yes, changes were Wednesday! I am still in Boaco! And my podraste (father in law) se llama Elder Leiva. He is super nice and a hard worker, which is most important. He is from Guatemala too and guess what... He speaks English!!! Almost perfectly. He doesn’t think so but he worked in a call center for Verizon answering the tonto (silly) questions we call to ask from the States.

I already have lots of funny stories about that. First of all, their office is in "Miami" haha. Outsourcing... So they have memorized streets and stuff like that in Miami when people ask. One of the calls he has received fairly often is someone calls and says their phone isn’t working. So he starts to go through the procedure which starts with holding the red phone button for three seconds. And “Oh hey! It’s working, Thanks!” ha ha.

Ha ha I still haven’t heard about the choir plans for Mission Conference. I hope I get to do it. The conference is on Thursday I think, so we will see. I can’t wait! I didn’t know Elder Christofferson could speak Spanish.

Yes!!! I got Aunt Jenny’s package. One of the best packages ever!!! I picked it up during changes so I will be sure to share a little of the spoils with Elder Leiva. The picture and cards were the best of course. I can’t tell you how happy I was to get a photo of them. The contact solution came perfectly on time, I am just about to run out of the one I have.

The other treats are the best of the best. My favorite kind of cereal, Frosted Mini Wheats. I don’t know how they knew that. Licorice, Snickers, oh the Twixes! And a big pack of Beef Jerky. It tastes so good. A pack of beef jerky is a big deal to missionaries. The Goldfish are as good as it gets for snacking during studying. I need to write a nice email to them saying thanks. They are the Best.

Families we are teaching. Well, I don’t know where to start. We have been finding a lot of new families to teach. The familia Gonzales are a really new family of ours. The husband works in Palí (the grocery store) and he has a wife and a really cute little girl. We taught the first lesson to them and it was really great, I gave the first vision lesson and the spirit was there.

At the end of our first lesson we asked them if they would be baptized on the 12th of Feb. They said yes. We look forward to teaching them again. The only problem is he works all day in Palí on Sunday. But we bore our testimonies about the importance of the Sabbath day and going to church and I told him to talk to his chief and tell him he wants to switch his day off to Sunday.

My biggest surprise about the mission so far is how much help I have been given to communicate with the people. I guess it isn’t really a surprise that the Lord has helped me so he can bring people to Him. But it has been a really amazing experience to watch the miracles in my life and then the miracles in the lives of the people here in Nicaragua.

No, Hannah, I haven’t seen any jungle snakes. But lots and lots of spiders. We went to this really cool waterfall today for Pday and guess what... Monkeys! Real live wild ones right above our heads in the big trees. The best part is when I started making monkey sounds at them and they went Crazy! It got so loud because they were all hooting.

Ah, I need to go now. Today the email was really short. We had to leave the waterfall early because we got a call from the ZLs that said we need to go to Juigalpa because tomorrow Elder Leiva (the new DL in Boaco) needs to go to Managua for a DL conference.

I love you all, thanks for the updates and spiritual thought,

Elder Hardy

January 10, 2011

iHola Familia!

It’s funny that you say you wouldn’t mind some Nicaragua warmth & sunshine, because today it is all cloudy and has been raining. But it’s still really humid!

Hmm my favorite food... gallo pinto ha ha (just kidding). But I really don’t think it is that bad when it’s not too dry. When I change to somewhere like Managua is when I am going to get sick of it. (Gallo pinto is their rice and bean dish). 

No, my favorite food might have to be the fried plantains. They are pretty good when they get a little caramelized on the outside. That and a fresh banana con leche shake, Beto puts cinnamon and caramel syrup in it too.

And of course the pupusas (corn torillas filled with cheese, meat, beans & spices). You guys should try doing an El Salvador Day and make pupusas for dinner along with the plantains, banana con leche and gallo pinto!

I’m afraid have not received Jenny´s package yet. Either the ZL´s have it or hopefully I will get it Wednesday when we go to Managua for changes. I am pretty excited though. Tell them thanks for me.

Changes are this Wednesday. But I really shouldn’t say "when we go to changes" because we haven’t found out who is changing yet. But we are going to find out tonight! Not that I am excited to change.

Nicaraguan toys, Hannah? Excellent question. Well, a really cheap toy that you always see the kids on the street playing with are called Clackers. Ha ha and that is about all they do. They are these two balls connected together with a string. And you put the middle of the string in between your fingers and move your hand up and down until the balls hit above and below your hand and make this really loud clacking noise. Ha ha its actually harder than it looks.

What else... they like playing with cheap fireworks. Oh and we see them playing street baseball all the time. I have seen them play with all kinds of balls too. Including bottle caps. And of course fútbol.

Today we played fútbol in the little park on a cement basketball court. It was really fun and all the chebalos flocked to watch and we even let some of them play. Ha ha there was this gordito on my team (little chubby kid) and he was actually pretty good.

Oh and hey, in this server (internet café) they have a Wii and an Xbox 360, which you never see. And they are some guys my age playing on them and they are terrible! Hannah, you could probably beat all the kids in Nicaragua at Mario Kart. Or any other game for that matter!

I can’t wait to get the special package. I think it is really nice of everyone who helped out. But oh boy, something I would really like in it. I don’t know, I have forgotten about the things I don’t have. You all know better than me now. Anything from the states is really nice.

I know it sounds typical but corbatas (ties) are always good. They are like currency down here with the other missionaries.

Oh! Which reminds me. Ha ha to Jenny, Jim and my Cousins. The tie you guys gave me the day of my farewell (The really awesome vibrant violet/purple one with stripes and paisley)… all the other missionaries want it. They keep trying to convince me to trade them for it (for two or even three of theirs). But I keep saying no, I can’t trade it. Elder Bailey even stole it once. But Elder Mejia gifted it back to me in a present for Christmas ha ha.

Something else that I could use is tricks to show to all the kids. The kids in families love a good magic trick. But I still don’t know/have too many. Treats and snacks that are different from the States always taste really good.

Something Elder Coj really wants is a Jesus the Christ in Spanish. He has been begging me for mine but I really like it. I guess changes are Wednesday but he wants me to give him one the next change when we see each other. Really anything you put in a package is really special and appreciated.

To Stevie: congratulations on the mission in Uruguay. Ahora que ha ayudado las personas en Uruguay obtener la salvación, necesita encontrar su propio Exaltación. Jaja. ¡Buena Suerte!

This week I would like to share a message for all of the families. And it is about having Noches de Hogar (Family Home Evening). I am afraid I may have taken for granted Family Home Evening at times before the mission. But my testimony about the blessing of Family Home Evening, Family Scripture Study and Family Prayers has become very strong in the short time I have had here in the mission (well it feels short. It has been going by so fast).

I am not going to write any stories or anything but I have seen the wonderful effect on families and the blessings that have come from doing these things. And how not sharing the gospel in your own family every Monday and every day, and sharing your love with your family everyday gives room for disastrous effects to take place. I’m not sure if that makes sense. But please make sure to always have family home evening with the whole family.

And I am sure it seems hard at times but reading the scriptures daily as a family (even if it means waking up early (they do it here in Nicaragua, trust me you can do it) will give countless blessings to the family and your day is just going to be better.

And there is not an easier way to show your love to God and to your family than kneeling down every night before bed and giving thanks to your Heavenly Father for your family and the wonderful blessings in your lives.

Please try your hardest to always do these things. Because God doesn´t ask us to do something without making sure there is a way to do it. So if we try our hardest to do His Will, it is always going to work out.

I can testify of that, and write these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you and thank you so much for your support and love. It blesses me every day here in the mission.

Elder Hardy

January 3, 2011

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Hey, my New Year’s was awesome. One of the coolest. Yes, we blew up a Muñeco (burning dummy). And it is officially my new, New Year’s Eve Tradition now. I am going to do it every year when I get back and hopefully next year too. It might be a little harder to find those kinds of fireworks ha ha... But don’t worry, I didn’t light any. I am sending a photo of the Muñecos, well, minus the head on the baby ha ha.

My week was OK. We are teaching the Mendez Jarquin family. They are pretty Catholic. Their Dad died a couple years ago which is pretty sad but I bore my testimony to them about the Plan of Salvation and how they can be with him again. We are going to teach them more about the Plan of Salvation next time.

We are running low on positive investigator families. We are focusing on trying to strengthen the ward. We need their help with references too.

The Rama (Branch) changed the Presidency this week. President Dias is now Hermano Dias. He has been serving hard for 10 years as the President of the Rama of Boaco. Sunday, the new President was called. President Moreno, previously known by me as Hermano Pio. He is a really great man. He is a hard worker, has a really powerful testimony and is incredibly humble. He will be great and will help the Rama grow and strengthen a lot.

Still don’t know who is getting transferred. They are supposed to tell us the night before which will be the 11th. That means Cambios (changes) are on the 12th. It is very likely that I will get a new companion whether I leave or stay. I think it is very rare to have your Dad (the missionary that trains you) for three changes.

I am really hoping that I get to stay. Elder Coj will have been here for 4 1/2 months which is pretty long. I love it here in little Boaco and want to stay for as long as I can to see it grow. And yes, Elder Coj has been an awesome compañero. I think we have helped each other out a lot. There is always a reason that you have each companion I am sure of that.

A great story this week was when we went with our new President to teach our new converts, Hermanos Roberto y Yamileth and announce our new President (I’m sure it seems like I talk about them a lot). Well, we have been worried about them because it has been hard for them to come to church.

But when we announced President Moreno to them they got really excited and started giving him all sorts of suggestions and advice and things we need to do better (Hermana Yamileth has a pretty strong personality).

Well in the end, they started saying how they are going to help out and support him and come to church. After the lesson, President Moreno shared his testimony too and it was really humble and powerful. That’s why I am so excited about him and know he is going to be a great aid to this area to get it going again.

Hannah, you asked about dogs? Well, first there are dogs everywhere. It’s crazy but every street has a couple. And yes, they have gotten mad at me a couple times. I don’t know why, maybe I smell different or something. Oh but Elder Coj is convinced it is because they can sense fear and then they get all excited and defensive. It’s not my fault I don’t want rabies.

I have only really been chased once. Ha ha and it’s not a very good story, because of a little punk Chihuahua whiner dog... When I turned around it stopped, looked up at me and ran away. Ha ha and every time I would turn my back to it, it would start chasing me again. Little chicken.

But a better story is with this big black dog that we were walking past. He was acting normal and calm but for some reason I was like, "watch out Elder Coj" and scooted us to the side a little more. And right then he freaked out. I slid my back pack off and started swinging it at him until we got past him. But his teeth were scary looking. That is the day I decided to buy a sling shot.

That was really awesome of the Woodruff family to send a Christmas package to you guys. They are really nice and their son is great.

I am missing the week break after Christmas to play games and goof off all day. Too bad it is already over! Hey, tell Rob I want a personalized golf ball for when I get back too. Oh! and I was looking forward to Tron Legacy so much ha ha.

That is so awesome that Kylie, Bryanna, Carly and Jamo stopped by. If they ever read this I say thanks! That is pretty cool of them to still remember me. I wish Carly luck with London!

Love you all,

Elder Hardy



Oh P.S. Emily! I attached a picture of this

cute little girl named Emily too!