Week of 17 November - 23 November 2014: PARKER NATION

This week has been absolutely amazing! However, I am leaving AURORA! I am SO SO SO sad. Really the Sable ward has a HUGE piece of my heart and I won't lie--I was super bummed to hear I was getting transferred so quickly, but I know that the Lord has His reasons. I did what I needed to do in Sable and now, I have a mission here in the Clark Farms ward in Parker! OH! And. I AM IN A TRIO. Sister Bertagnole (Bert-an-no-lee) and Sister Moala (rhymes with Koala).  Sister B is from Virginia! EAST COASTERSSSSS. Sister Moala is from TONGA. Kolipoki!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is from "The Other Side of Heaven." 

Back to my week! First off, I discovered that I have a gluten allergy. STINKY. But! Luckily, the members are all very cooperative and supportive. However, gluten free bread is NOTHING like good ol' Granny Sycamore and much more expensive. Alas, the work continues.

So here's the scoop about Dave. On Tuesday, we had an appointment scheduled and had the ward mission leader and his wife (Mike and Sara) come with us. WELL. Tuesday just happened to be the day that we needed to teach the Word of Wisdom. We were freaking out--Dave chews tobacco and drinks coffee--needless to say we were a wee bit anxious. 

We get in there, sit down and we begin by teaching him about obedience to the commandments that our Heavenly Father has given. You know, we share the classic examples of how our parents give us rules so that we don't hurt ourselves (e.g. Mom and Dad are making breakfast and they tell us not to touch the hot stove. Do we listen? No. So we get burned. Same with our Heavenly Father. He gives us commandments so we don't get hurt.) We then proceed to teach him about the word of wisdom. We abstain from these things and we make sure to do these things, etc. All the while, I am eyeing him to see how he is reacting to what we are teaching him. We ask him how he feels about it and he looks a little perplexed and says, "It's going to be really hard. I mean, really hard. I've been chewing tobacco for thirty plus years." We then continue talking to him about the blessings that come from obedience and how keeping the word of wisdom is a qualification for baptism. The wheels begin turning in his head. We then ask, "Dave, will you live the word of wisdom?" Pausing, he nods and tells us that he will! We then ask if we can take all the things he has in his home so he won't be tempted. HE AGREES. We proceed to do the happy dance (in spirit) and take EVERYTHING. It was the best THING EVER. 

Oh! And as far as I know he hasn't chewed tobacco or drank or smoked anything since! Aww yeah!

Later in the week, we had the chance to go to a temple sealing! It was incredible. We had been meeting with this sister almost everyday for four weeks to prepare her to enter the temple! AND SHE MADE IT. It was so special to see those two in the sealing room at the Denver temple. I am so thankful that I know and understand that families can be forever. This knowledge is something that motivates me to be a bit me. It has changed me. Knowing that we have a place on earth that meets heaven means everything to me. It means that I have a loving Heavenly Father who wants me and everyone else to return to Him.

I love you all SOOOOO much. I have a ton of pictures to send, but I will send them next week hopefully. I love you! Remember: the Lord is in charge. 

Love, Sister Hardy