Life on the flip side

It has been one year since returning from my mission in Denver, Colorado.  I would also say that it has been a rough year, but it has also been a year of blessings pouring from above. I have been able to see God's hand time and time again in my life. I still can say, "I know He lives."

 I feel as if all return missionaries should have a handbook--and no, not like the scriptures, but a "Here's what to do when" book.  On my mission, I felt like I had all the answers and I felt that I could do anything.  Coming home, I had that same mentality.  However, the Lord has humbled me over and over.  These past twelve months, He has taught me that things happen in His time and in His way--but the blessings that we so desire WILL come if we are true and faithful. He does not tell us when those blessings will come, but He does promise us that we can be happy.

Most of you know that this year has been a time of challenges that I did not anticipate. Throughout every setback, I have been able to feel the Lord's love and peace. The Savior truly has the ability to heal the broken hearted and the power to raise the heads that hang down. I have seen this regularly. How wonderful is it to know that the son of the most powerful being loves us more than we could imagine and that He came to Earth to mend our souls when we have fallen.  He truly loves us. This I know! I feel it everyday.

While experiencing trials, often times we shake our fists at God and ask Him, "Why? Why me? Why did You choose me to experience this? I just don't understand." I have felt to ask those same questions, but again and again, I am humbled and I remember Hugh B. Brown's experience with his currant bush. We must remember that Heavenly Father is the Gardener. He knows what He wants us to be. He loves us enough to hurt us, to cut us down so that we can grow into something more wonderful and beautiful than we can imagine ourselves to be.
Remembering this has helped me to see the bigger picture. While going through trials and difficult times, it is so hard to see the light at the end. But I think that's why we have the scriptures or the temple.  Those blessings help us to keep an eternal perspective.

Although I am not set apart as a full time missionary anymore and even though I don't feel the Savior's guidance in my life as much I did in Denver, I still KNOW that Jesus Christ is there for me. I know that He is by my side--He is on my left hand and on my right.  He has fulfilled His role as the Second Comforter during these past months in my life as I have struggled. No fact, science, or opinion can change the experiences I have had, nor can they change my feelings. These things I know.

Regardless of my knowledge about these things, I still slip up. I have definitely not been as best as I can be. I am so imperfect and I realize that more and more everyday. I will never be perfect in this life. I have so so much to learn. I am so undeserving of His love. However, even with my flaws and my mistakes, I know, without a doubt, that He knows me, He hears me, He loves me. The most quoted and well known scripture throughout Christianity demonstrates just how much our Father in Heaven loves each person that has walked this Earth:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

It does not matter how far we've gone astray or how antagonistic we have behaved toward God. It doesn't matter if we feel like we have sinned beyond repair. It doesn't matter how vile we feel we have been. Our pasts do not matter, what matters to Him is our future. With Jesus Christ, we can be healed. We can become clean from our mistakes.
Tis the season to remember Him and that He lives! Because of him, guilt becomes peace, regret becomes relief, despair becomes hope. Because of Him, I can be happy. He suffered so that we might not have to. He died so that we can live again. He did the impossible.  He came to ransom us from sin. Our Father in Heaven loved us enough to ask His Son to do that--all so that we can live together after this life with those we love most.

Remember He is the Gift.

He is the best gift of Christmas. #rememberHim

8 December 2014. Last entry from the field: Is this real life?

This is my last email. Very surreal. I could update you all on what has been happening here in my area, but I'm not going to. My heart it full with gratitude towards the blessings that Heavenly Father has given me these last 17+ months. I don't even know what to say. I have learned so much. I have learned that eternal happiness, enduring happiness comes only from living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nothing in this life matters unless we have a relationship with our Savior and His Father and Our Father. I think that is the most important thing that a very proud and stubborn girl could learn-who's in charge, or I guess I could say Who's in charge. 

I want you all to know that I know that this gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know this because out here I've had to search more than I have ever searched to come to know for myself that this is true. I know that The Lord is very much aware of us. He hears our prayers. He knows us. Just as a parent can recognize his/her child's cry, our Father in Heaven knows and hears our cries. He loves us! I want to shout it from the roof tops here in Denver.  I've had all too many experiences that are evidence of God's love for us--my companion and I just happen to be at the right place at the right time when we had no intention of being where we were. That is the Lord's hand. I know it. I have felt it. 

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that without a doubt in my mind. I know it. It has brought me closer to my Heavenly King more than any other book. I know it is scripture. I know that any who desire to know and read from its pages will gain a witness of its truth and divinity. I know this. 

This gospel is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is at the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This work will continue on with or without us because it's true. These things I know! Which way do you face? If we do not face The Lord than we cannot obtain that full measure of happiness He has promised us if we live faithfully. 

I give my witness to you all that He lives! I love you and am grateful for your love and support. 

-Sister Johanna Hardy

24 Nov - 30 Nov

My first week in Parker. Parker doesn't look anything like the parts of Colorado I've served in. In Parker, it looks like a mini Utah. It's more hilly here and more country like. And there are tons of members! People fight over who gets to house the missionaries. Well ,not really fight, but there are waiting lists. Also, this place is like crazy safe. It's great because we can tract anywhere at anytime! 

Anyways, this week, we had a ton of meetings, but it was good. Something that Parker does differently from the other stakes I've served in is they train their missionaries weekly. So a member of the stake presidency comes and gives a training to the missionaries every tuesday. Cool, huh? The ward here in Clarke Farms is amazing when it comes to missionary work. All of the baptisms here are because of great members who fellowship and love their neighbors enough to share the gospel. It is incredible. I am learning so much about how to be a member missionary while I am here. 

Once a week, the sisters teach this group of students from Asia English. On Friday was my first time and we did a game where the students are given a letter and a category and they have to come up with as many words that fit that category and start with that particular letter. It was a blast. But the coolest part was when we began teaching them the Plan of Salvation. Their english isn't the best, but the Spirit teaches and touches in every language. It was a testimony builder to me. There were a few students who were really engaged and were trying to process what they were hearing. It was wonderful! 

Also, I have an amazing story to share, but it will have to wait until next week because I am almost all out of time.

I love this gospel. I know it is true. I have come to understand my Savior more in these last seventeen months than I knew was possible. The Savior's Atonement has become more and more real to me. I'm going to make a plug here for the new short christmas video called "He is the Gift." It's about three minutes long and you can find it on christmas.mormon.org. It shows the real meaning of Christmas. The first gift of Christmas is Christ. 

I love you all! 

Love, Sister Hardy 

Pictures from Aurora. 

1. Patrick and his wife! He will be getting baptized on Saturday! 

2. Dave!!! He is getting baptized on the 12th! And I got permission to go :D

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

10 Nov -16 Nov: SNOW.

This week I froze! But it was so good because it got us in to a lot more doors!

Example, we finally got to see Darshelle again! It was such a tender mercy! We taught her the Restoration, even though she has already heard it and it was wonderful. The Spirit was there. It was cool to see the light that came into her eyes. She is an amazing person. We will be seeing her tonight and we are so excited! She has accepted baptism! Woot woot!

Remember Dave? Well, he is STILL reading and he kind of gets frustrated because he doesn't really understand what he reads. But, he is praying and on Tuesday when we saw him, we were teaching him all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End). Well, we talked about repentance and baptism. As we began talking about baptism, he chirped up and said, "I have a question. Can a person be baptized into a different church?"

In my head, I'm thinking, "HALLELUJAH!"

We answer him by explaining how we only need baptism once IF it's performed by the Priesthood authority. He nods and we see a light turn on in his head and we know that's our cue. We then invite him to be baptized and he tells us that he has been thinking about it and wants to know what he needs to do to get baptized! At this point, my spirit is dancing.

AND! He came to church. Awww yeah.

We had a neat experience this week. We were teaching a recent convert. She has had some very negative feedback from some of her family after joining and it has been causing her to doubt her testimony. She is not even sure if God exists. I've never talked about it in my emails, but at the very beginning of my mission, I questioned my testimony--BIG TIME. I even doubted that God existed. I was struggling hard core. I had to do some soul searching and I finally received my answer to which I know with more of a surety that I have ever known that God is real and that He truly is our Heavenly Father. How would I have been able to help this poor girl unless I had been there myself? Truly the Lord loves His children. He allows certain people to come into our lives to help us and also for us to help.

I love you all! The church is true! Jesus Christ is truly our Savior. These things I know.

Love you! Sister Hardy

AND THEN THERE WAS SNOW. Saturday afternoon. We got stuck going up this hill. We have this TINY car. We had to turn around and go another way because we couldn't make it!

I forgot how easily I freeze! 

My last zone conference. WEIRD!

PUPPIES! "My favorite animal is puppies." 

3 Nov - 9 Nov 2014: DAVE!

As always, this past week was wonderful. We always enjoy our weeks as missionaries! Some are more rough than others, but this week was great!

On Tuesday, I met Angelica! She is in her early twenties and she is the bees knees. She told us that she is seeking to have a relationship with God because she knows that is what will help her. She has so much faith! She expressed that she had gone down a bad road and that now she wants to straighten up her life and live her life with God. We shared the Restoration with her and we asked her what her thoughts were and she said that it is possible that it could be true. I think she said something along the lines of "With God anything is possible." Holler. Anyways, we are SO excited about teaching her!

Then we saw Dave! Remember Dave? Guess what? He smiled like four times while we saw him this past week! He's been reading from the Book of Mormon and of course, like all missionaries, we were STOKED about that! He told us that he still doesn't understand it and we have reassured him that he will come to understand. ALSO. He came to the Ward Chili Cook-off which was delicious and I seriously wish we could have one of those every week. Anyways, he wasn't able to come to church because he absolutely had to sign some paper work for his grave. I didn't realize that people buy their graves and such before they die. I can dig it :). Like my pun?

Wednesday, we had the chance to help with a missionary activity with the youth. We taught the youth how to teach the first lesson in Preach My Gospel. We had to teach them in 15 minutes how to teach it. It was a lot of fun. Then they practiced teaching the elders after we taught them what to teach. We told them that they needed to start with a prayer, teach the doctrine, leave a commitment, and end with a prayer. We also encouraged them to invite those they taught to be baptized. Apparently only a few actually did it! Hahaha! I wish I had more of an idea of what missionary work was like before I came out. I was always so dumbfounded when I went out with the sisters!

Later in the week, one of the women we are teaching texted us and asked if we could come over that night. Luckily, we were able to arrange something so we could make it to Marissa's. She expressed her concern about life and we shared with her the importance of reading from the Book of Mormon and why and how it will help her. We will be seeing her tonight and I have faith that she read!

I love this gospel. There were some verses in the Doctrine and Covenants that I read this week that really resonated with me.

Doctrine and Covenants 101 :35-36

 35 And all they who suffer persecution‍ for my name, and endure in faith, though they are called to lay down their lives for my sake‍ yet shall they partake of all this glory. 36 Wherefore, fear not‍ even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy‍ is full.
In this life our joy will not be full, but in the next, with Jesus Christ, we will have a fullness of joy if we endure in faith!
Love you all!
Sister Hardy

Enjoying a lovely evening at a restaurant! We had a gift card. 

Week of 27 October - 2 November 2014: Work! Work! Work!

Oh my goodness! This week has been a week full of fun and craziness! So many miracles have happened.

For example, Sister Harker and I were driving down the road and we see this man waiting for the bus on Sable Ave.  We pull over and run up and go talk to him. His name is Rommy. He told us that he had only been in Aurora for a couple of days and that he was very spiritual. He rejected us, but it wasn't too bad. We went back to the car and went to the place where we were going to contact people that missionaries had met in the past. We go there and about an hour later, we realize that the phone is gone. Said a prayer. We knew exactly where to go--the bus stop where we met Rommy. We get there and it's not on the ground and no one is around us and so just as we were about to leave, this man comes out of one of the apartments and asks if we lost a phone. We told him that we had and he said that he had called the bishop to pick it up and that he was on his way! How did he know to call him? Miracle.

Also, after several visits, Dave finally read from the Book of Mormon! Hallelujah! Also, another person that we are teaching, Jodon, has been reading from the Book of Mormon nearly everyday and praying everyday! AND. We are also teaching Jodon's brother, Patrick, and he is still excited and ready to be baptized! When we have taught him the commandments, like tithing, we invite him to keep those specific commandments, and he has hesitated, but every time he has accepted. He understands that the decision he is making to be baptized isn't of small significance, but rather of great importance.

Something else that happened this week was we met Vanessa. I was on exchanges in a different area (which was a bummer because this incredible thing happened!) with Sister Bird. Anyways. We knock on this door and meet this young girl, Vanessa. We talk with her for a little bit and Sister Bird really needs to use the restroom (missionary problems), so she asks if she can use Vanessa's and she invites us into her home. Well, turns out that Vanessa had company, a family from Ghana was visiting her family. When Sister Bird comes out of the bathroom, a man calls for us to come to him, Steven. He asks us to sit and we pray with him. He then asks us what message we have to share with him. We begin to share the starting points of the Restoration of the gospel. Steven then asks if he can share something with us and opens to John 14. He reads most of the chapter and puts emphasis on verses twenty six and twenty seven:

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

He tells us that he recognized us as servants of the Lord because of the name that we bear on our nametags. He says that we were sent to him and his family from God. He knew that because of the name that we bear! How incredible is that!!

As missionaries, we really represent Jesus Christ. Just as if He were on the Earth, we are doing what He would be doing--teaching, ministering, bring peace.

Truly the Lord loves us! He allowed us to have such an amazing experience with Steven and his wife, Chosen. Miracles.

The Gospel is true. I know this.

I love you all!

Sister Hardy

Look at that beautiful Colorado sky! 

Getting gas at a really really old gas station in the heart of Aurora! 

20 October - 26 October 2014: Sable.

We have had so much fun this week! Missionary work is so much fun. A lot of missionaries forget that helping other to come unto Christ is actually fun! I love it! As President Mendenhall says, "If you aren't smilin', then you don't have the gospel!" Great words to live by.

I met a lot of amazing people this week! On Monday night, we met with Marissa (Ma-ree-suh). Turns out we came at the perfect time. She was super stressed and having family issues and she just broke down.

However, I think the greatest miracle came when we met Darshelle. She had been given a copy of the Book of Mormon a couple months ago and Sister Harker went to follow-up before I got there. Turns out Darshelle has been reading bits and pieces of the Book of Mormon since she was given it. She is in 2 Nephi right now! How amazing is that? She told us that she knows she needs to come closer to God.  We asked her why she invited us in and she told us that she needs what we have. We invited her to be baptized and to that she said, "Well, I've been baptized _____ and ______, so why not Mormon?!" We didn't have time to explain the priesthood authority, but we will be doing that this week!

We also met with this young woman, Ley-lonni. She is incredible! She is 15 and she just was baptized! She has such a strong testimony of the gospel. We invited her to read from a chapter in Alma about the Savior's Atonement. Later that night, while Sister Harker and I were preparing for bed, she texted us and told us that she had read the chapter and that she loved it! No recent convert I have every taught in the time I have been here in Colorado has done that! Holy macaroni. She is the bees knees, I'm telling you! She is going to be an amazing missionary--if she decides to serve!

We met this really cool guy this week, Adee. He is in the medical field of and very intelligent and very religious. He kind of wanted to bash with us, but it was so cool because we didn't bash! At the beginning of my mission, I totally would have wanted to bash, but I didn't have any desire to bash. We explained to him that if he wants to learn about what we believe that we will gladly share with him, but when contention comes into the picture, we will need to withdraw ourselves. Discussions are good. Arguments are bad. He was very accepting of our response. I was so happy. Also, he was a pretty cool guy--he speaks French!

This week so many other amazing things happened: we took a picture with this guy and this woman walking her dogs, we invited someone to stop smoking after knowing him for 30 seconds, and we able to see a man begin to understand why our message is so important (Dave). I'll talk more about him later.

If I had to choose one thing my mission has taught me it would be that God's love truly is real. Yesterday during sacrament meeting, we sang "Reverently and Meekly Now" (hymn 185). Some of the words read, "Think of me, thou ransomed one; think what I for thee have done. With my blood that dripped like rain, sweat in agony of pain, with my body on the tree I have ransomed even thee."

The Savior has paid the ultimate price for us. Sin is our captor and Christ has paid the ransom for us to be released.

In the last verse of the hymn it reads, "At the throne I intercede; For thee ever do I plead. I have loved thee as thy friend, with a love that cannot end."

The Savior lives and loves us so much. He pleads our cause before the Father. He makes salvation possible. His love cannot end. The Savior lives!

I love you all!

Sister Hardy

Alex and Ramona! 

So long Bible Park~ Hello Aurora

 My beloved Sister P! She always comes out with us. SO FUNNY.

 This pretty much sums up my Denver South zone family. Goofy

A LOT of really bizarre, crazy, random things happened this week that have given Sister Packer and I a good laugh (most of the time).

So many miracles have happened his week. First off. Sister Packer and I were dropping off thank you notes to families in the ward for dinner, participating in Wendy's baptism, etc. Well, our new idea for finding was to knock the apartments or houses around those that we dropped notes off to. Tuesday began it all. We dropped off a note and began to knock on the apartments around. We knocked two floors and only one person answered. Not interested. We decided to knock another floor and the first door we knock in, we are welcomed in like royalty. They (a couple and their daughter--Mo and Hodam, their daughter Fatima--sit us down and give us these cute little croissant things and then they bring out drinks for us and chocolates. NO ONE has ever done that for us, granted they don't need to, but it was incredible. We began teaching this family and they really wanted to compare their beliefs with ours, but we began to teach them the first discussion as best as we could and they were fascinated by the Book of Mormon. They were especially fascinated by the fact that we have a copy in their native language. Holler to the gospel for being universal.

Another miracle that happened was while we were on exchanges! I was with dear Sister Francis (who actually served back in Thornton--there's no place like Thornton!) in Bible Park and we were trying to contact some people, which wasn't working out. We talked to this one woman who was super not interested in what we had to say, super nice cute old lady (too many adjectives). We knocked on a few doors--nothing. We saw this woman who was wearing a "I'd rather be in Utah" shirt and so of course, Sister Francis and I start wondering if she has seen missionaries before. Well, we approach her and begin chatting with her, Kelly. Turns out the elders up in Aurora were teaching her about three months ago, but then she moved to Florida for three months and came back and is staying in our area for the time being. MIRACLES HAPPEN (I think I should just title every weekly entry that). Anyways, we got her number and set up a time to see her. I'll let you know how that goes!

Then! This woman that Sister McKenzie (like 4 transfers ago) and I found on exchanges got baptized! Imagine that. That was so cool to see her enter the waters of baptism. She was so ready. Really quickly; here's how we found her. We were looking through former investigator teaching records and found Shelia. WELL. We decide to go see her (I'm just following Sister McKenzie around downtown at the time). We get to the building and it's one of those where you need to get buzzed in--well, we are first trying to figure out which one is her's because there were only first initials and last names on the mailboxes and they said which apartment number--I hope you are following. Anyways, we are trying to figure it out when this woman comes through with her dog and sees us and our name badges and says, "I think you're looking for me." To which we respond, "Are you Shelia?" It was her and she was elect at first sight. AMAZING.

Now here is some humor. We had a bug problem in our apartment this past week--so we have spent the past three days cleaning, bagging clothes, washing clothes, drying EVERYTHING (pillows, blankets, jackets, etc.). Well, we washed our bedding and I threw it all in the dryer. Okay, so I stuffed it full. I didn't want to take so much time doing laundry. Anyways, the dryer got way to hot and burnt a whole through Sister Packer's comforter--whether it caught on fire, whether it just melted the material, we don't know. But I patched it up (it was a softball sized hole). I felt so silly. It looks silly, but at least she can still use it.

And. This next week will be my last in Mount Denver. On Monday the twentieth, I will be heading to the Sable ward in Mighty Aurora. I am excited and sad to leave this place.

I love you all so much. Something that Heavenly Father keeps reminding me about is just how much He really loves His children. He knows each person's struggles and pains--but more than that He loved us enough to let His son suffer, bleed, and die for us. This gospel is true. I know it. I love all of you so so much. Remember that our Father in Heaven will not forsake us. One of our zone leaders this week talked about how we are created to be champions--over sin, over sorrow, over mortality. Remember the champion within.

 

 

 

MOUNT DENVER. There are only five sisters in the zone. When all the missionaries try to get a picture, it's pandemonium. Imagine 20 cameras on self timers all going at different times. Yes. That's it.

I love you!

Sister Hardy

Week of 13 October -19 October 2014: Mighty AURORA ‏           

MY NEW COMPANION. Sister Harker! Yes, Sister Harker and Sister Hardy. It's been making me stumble a wee bit.

My adventures in Aurora actually started Saturday! We exchanged prior to Monday because we could! Also I was a wee bit anxious to get here. Long goodbyes are painful. IT WAS SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE to Bible Park! Really really hard. I totally cried. However, I am happy and ready to hit the ground running here in Aurora. Note: I have been wanting to serve in Aurora sense I the first three months on my mission. I came here for exchanges with one of the craziest sisters and fell in LOVE with this place. Again, miracles happen. Now I am here to stay! Also, my companion is Sister Harker. She is from Canadia. Oh, sorry Canada, eh? She is pretty cool.

Reasons why Sister Harker is cool:

1. She likes to have a fan on at night for NOISE. We are totally kindred spirits.

2. She loves MUSIC--even the corny EFY music we can listen to out here.

3. She loves the Lord. (She came out on a mission because the Lord told her to! and she followed through!)

4. SHE LOVES PANDA EXPRESS.

As you can see, we are going to get along great this transfer. But, really I love her enthusiasm for the work. She is a hard worker and she truly is so humble. I am so excited that I have the chance to be her companion!

OH! AND. I am no longer a Sister Training Leader. So you know what that means?! MORE TIME. We have some awesome things planned this week!

This past week was amazing. We were able to see a lot of people and do amazing things. One of which was to invite, invite, INVITE people to enter the waters of baptism. We were trained on the importance of baptism in one of our meetings and we were challenged to invite as many people to be baptized as we could. So Sister Packer and I did. The miracles that happened because of that invitation were astronomical. Okay, not really, but they are THAT amazing.

First, we had an appointment with a friend of Bernard's (he was baptized back in July), Aminah. Aminah is 21--my age, which is crazy! She also has the sweetest little baby boy, EJ. Well, we began to teach Aminah and she didn't seem to be listening. But we taught her about how God loves her so much and how she truly can make a change in her life because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We BOTH felt like we needed to invite her to be baptized. My thoughts: "We can't invite her to be baptized! She doesn't even know why it's important!" However, I pushed those thoughts aside and followed my heart and we invited her to be baptized! Her response, "I've been wanting to be baptized for a long time now. I think that's exactly what I need right now in my life." What the what?! Seriously. I thought my jaw was going to hit the floor I was so stunned.

Second, we were late for dinner, but we saw this woman outside playing with her dog. I thought to myself, "Should we go talk to her?" Sister Packer said a prayer when we parked and in her prayer she said, "Heavenly Father, please help us to know if we need to go talk to that woman." So we went and talked to her. Obviously we needed to do that. We introduce ourselves and she tells us that she served as a missionary for her church in Kenya years ago to help with the humanitarian effort. Super cool. We talked to her for a little bit about that and we asked if we could come back and talk with her more. We got her number and yes, we then invited her to be baptized! She told us that she has already been baptized, but that she is willing to talk to us about what baptism means for us. WOWZA.

That night we invited someone else and he was kind of like "Eh. Whatever." which was better than a slammed door, but then a couple days later, we met with this woman, Kelly. We invited her to be baptized, too! And you know what she said? "I would LOVE to get baptized." Have I told you all about how much I love being a missionary?

This week during my studies, I was pondering, I guess, and I was really worried about what the new transfer would hold. I was pretty nervous because I was in Bible Park for 6 months (roughly) and I was SUPER comfortable there. But I saw a quote that I had totally forgotten about and it had been a long time since I read it.

"When is situations of stress we wonder if there is any more of us to give. We can be comforted to know that God, who knows us perfectly, placed us here to succeed. No one was ever foreordained to fail." - Elder Neal A Maxwell

I may have been a bit scared or nervous, but I am not here in Aurora to fail, but to succeed. I am so excited to be here and to watch the Lord continue to hasten His work. This gospel is so true. I know it. I love it. Everyone here in Aurora is thirsting for something--some of those people are knowingly thirsting for the gospel and others don't know what their lives are lacking. I am so excited for all the miracles that will happen here in the Sable ward.

I love you all so very much!!! Heavenly Father lives and loves you!

Love, Sister Hardy

"...My joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God."

  Butter beer. Harry Potter :)

 

 

 

 

Love this family!



Wowza. This week went by SUPER fast.

We had some super cool miracles. First. Sister Packer and I were trying to see a former investigator for our appointment, Ryan. Well, we knock on his door and he isn't home. BUMMED. I was super excited to see him! Anyways, Sister Packer and I have this feeling that we need to go see his friend, Rani--who just so happens to be a member of the church. Well, so we go see Rani because we feel like we need to (and I really didn't want to because I felt that we would be spending our time better else where). Anyways, Rani and her mother are home and we ask them if we can help them in any way. They decline our offer, but Irene (Rani's mom) says, "There is a woman in apt 307. Her name is Brianna and she is looking for a church to go to." WHOA. At this point I'm feeling like David after the dentist, "Is this real life?" We leave and quickly go to see Brianna and talk to her (thankfully she was home! ) AND set up an appointment. We see her on Friday AND she is asking all the right questions and SO OPEN. Miracles. Miracles. Miracles. We couldn't even teach all of the first lesson because she had SO many things to say and questions to ask. IT WAS AMAZING.

Another experience: we were leaving our dinner appointment and we were walking back to the car when we passed a less active member's door. We kept walking and finally, we turned around submitting to the prompting that we were given--we felt that we needed to go back and knock on her door. We go back and knock on her door. While we are waiting for someone to answer, Sister Packer turns to me and tells me that we have knocked on this door before and that Maya, the woman we were looking for, doesn't live there. Sure enough this older woman answers the door and we apologize but offer to say a prayer with her. She accepts and INVITES US IN. Oh yes. We say a prayer with her and we were super STOKED.

Then later in the week, we went on exchanges. I was with Sister Grossman in the YSA ward in the stake. Our eight o'clock appointment cancelled and we were bummed because that is the all time hardest appointment to fill. Anyways, we being trying to find some former investigators and NO ONE is home and/or they don't live there anymore. We are about to go knock on another door when we see this young family in the parking lot running around and having some fun. We approach them and learn that they are from Egypt and just recently moved here. We talk to the wife, Hanaa, while the husband runs around with their little boy. Well, we basically explain why our message is so different from other churches. We talk about prophets and the Restoration a wee bit. We ask if we can come back and talk to her more and she accepts! We will be seeing her family tomorrow night. Miracles happen!

Also. Side note. Sister Packer and I have been listening to this amazing talk! From Mafia to Mormon or something like that. IT IS INCREDIBLE.

The Gospel is true. Jesus lives! He loves us and He is the light of the world. He is the reason we have and find happiness every day.

Love you all! Sister Hardy

 

 Guess who I got to see!!! SISTER HANSHAW

 

 

 

 

exchanges

1. WENDY GOT BAPTIZED! The two little boys are Brian and CP.

2. You know how I love children!

Hi all!

This week was great! We had an AMAZING week. We had the chance to see the movie--yes, A MOVIE--"Meet the Mormons." It was SO GOOD. If any of you have questions about members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you should totally watch this movie. It goes through the lives of six families and they share how our unique message has shaped their lives and why they keep with it. INCREDIBLE.

If you haven't seen the pictures yet, you should look really quickly because WENDY GOT BAPTIZED! Isn't that awesome? She was so ready! When we saw her on Saturday, she told us that when she went to starbucks she didn't get coffee! Aw yeah. We were so proud. Wendy was just GLOWING when she got out of the font. It was incredible. Wendy really understands why her baptism was so important. She understood that her baptism meant she was making a covenant (a two-way, binding promise with God). She was SO ready.

I think the best thing about seeing someone enter the waters of baptism is seeing the change that has taken place. They have a greater light. It's incredible.

Seeing people enter into the waters of baptism helps me remember the missionaries who taught me, my baptism, and my conversion. It helps me remember the happiness that was brought to my family.  We made room for the Lord to bless us and we have been filled time and time again with the blessings that the gospel has brought to our lives. My life has forever been changed. "And whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he" (Proverbs 16:20).

If you have any questions why we pursue sharing our message so strongly, you should listen to this talk give yesterday by one of the apostles of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch/2014/10?lang=eng&vid=3822608486001&cid=10

Elder David A. Bednar shared with the world yesterday as to why we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints feel so inclined to share our message with the world. He tells a story of two of his sons. They were outside playing and the younger was scratched up for a little one and needed some tender love and care. The older took the younger inside and washed his brother's arm, put some soothing cream on it, and placed bandages all up and down the boy's arm. The younger brother, when his elder brother was finished, took the bandages and the creme outside with him to help all his friends. I totally butchered the story, but watch it, read it, listen to it, whatever! It all makes sense as to why we freely share our message with those around us. (As you can tell, I loved General Conference! If you haven't watched it, no time is better than now!).

This gospel is true. It has changed me. It can change you!

I love you all!

Sister Hardy

"...My joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things..." (Alma 26:11-12)

Week of September 8th and Week of 15 Following the Spirit‏

This week has been incredible!!! Sister Packer and I with our zone and our mission fasted this week---over 200 missionaries with our mission president and his wife! I received so much strength! We fasted because Elder Larry R Lawrence of the second quorum of the seventy came to our mission! It was intense. He called me to repentance! (Not me specifically, but I definitely have a different mindset about things--look for the picture! Ain't he cute?!) We talked about the necessary things we must do to hasten the work AND his wife even spoke to us about the elect--those who are prepared and ready for the Gospel. ANDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD guess what Sister Packer and I fasted about? THOSE EXACT THINGS. Crazy, eh? President Mendenhall always says, "God does not do random." There is not a doubt in my mind that Heavenly Father touched our hearts because of the desires we have to hasten the work! I have LEARNED SOOOOO MUCH! It is awesome. Oh and Elder Lawrence interviewed me and Sister Packer. CRAZYYYYYYYY.

Well. On to the rest of my week. We were able to have interviews this week with President and Sister Mendenhall. The Mendenhalls do things a little differently. We are interviewed by BOTH of them as opposed to just the president and it's really cool! It's super cool. President Mendenhall challenged me to pray with just gratitude prayers. I tried it out and man I stumbled and stumbled. There would be SO many times, embarrassingly enough, where I would ask for a certain blessing and have to go back and say, "Wait! No! I mean..." Note: ASKING FOR BLESSINGS FROM HEAVENLY FATHER IS NOT A BAD THING. President Mendenhall was not saying that. He didn't even insinuate it, but it helped me realize something that I already knew: I cannot do this by myself. For example, I didn't just say, "I am thankful for our ability to teach Wendy," but instead, "I am thankful for the blessings that you have brought to Wendy and to the Spirit that I know she will feel as she reads for the Book of Mormon." I seriously was mind boggled at how much I need help. I didn't realize how much I really truly ask for until I accepted President's challenge and followed through on it. Man. I love this Gospel.

Something Sister Packer and I did this week was make applesauce for a couple in the ward! They needed a few extra hands (they have two apple trees in their yard and a pear tree and a plum tree and so we were greatly needed to help!) and so we gladly volunteered and we had a blast! Sister Packer and I went home with three containers full of homemade applesauce, a dozen apples, kale chips, and later, they made apple cake for us. Service really brings a happy heart.

So. About Wendy. We saw her twice this week and invited her to come to church, and she didn't. We were so sad! Especially since it was the primary program and the spirit was super strong--WE HAD SOOOOOO MANY PEOPLE THERE (I felt like I was back home in Canandaigua ward). Anyways, we were uber sad and we stopped by her place and talked to her and taught her once again--differently than we have, Elder Lawrence Corbridge from the seventy teaches that investigators need to hear things seven different times, seven different ways until they REALLY get it. Something that was really amazing was that we could see the wheels turning in Wendy's mind as we explained the importance of church, prayer, and reading from the Book of Mormon. Note: we the missionaries DO NOT CONVERT PEOPLE. The Spirit does. Anyways, we felt that we needed to again invite her to prepare for baptism and we invited her for the first Sunday in October and she said, "Yeah, I'll be ready by then!" Boom shot. Follow the Spirit, kids. Oh and stay in school.

To end off our week, we had dinner with this family from Mexico--they are INCREDIBLE. Brother M is incredible. He always teases us and he looks like Gavino! Gavino from my first area! He is so awesome! Anyways, while we were there we asked about their missionary work and the three M girls talked about their experiences and it was so wonderful to see their testimonies of the gospel and how they have influenced their friends. Side note: Kenia has a friend named Alma Younger. YES. It's true. And Alma isn't a member of the church. Super cool. We then asked them who of their neighbors could we go and say a prayer with and they gave us a family to go see in their neighborhood! It was awesome. Their neighbors weren't interested, but that doesn't matter. It's the invitation that does.

This gospel is true. It's incredible. No matter the difficulties in the mission my testimony remains strong and becomes stronger and stronger each day. I love this work! I love the Lord! I love you all!

Love, Sister Hardy

 

 Elder Larry R Lawrence

 

 

 

Somebody sent us flowers! Hahahha! Kidding. We were tracting and we saw these and took a picture

 with them :D

 

 

I got to see Sister Holiday!!!

And, Sister Reynold, oh I miss her accent!

 

 

 

 

Week of 15 Sept through 21 Sept 2014: Following the Spirit ‏           

 



Firstly. Can you believe it is almost October? We were in Safeway (a grocery store here) and I was amazed that there is Halloween candy out already! I didn't buy any though :)

This week has been an incredible week of following the Spirit. There were so many times this week where Sister Packer and I had made plans and the Spirit told us otherwise.

Example one. On Tuesday around 7:30pm, we were tracting (knocking doors) and trying to find some people to teach. Well, no one answered the door who was the least bit interested. We get a phone call and it's our 8pm appointment cancelling--which is probably the worst time for someone to cancel, but it happens. Well, me being me and my companion being Sister Packer, we REALLY need to use the restroom--See, mom! I am drinking enough water :). Anyways, because no one is letting us in, we need to find somewhere. We get in the car and start driving to a recent convert's home, but then, a thought comes for us to go see a sister in the ward who is much closer. We call her and she's home and says we can come over. We get there and she is distraught. She had just had a fight with her daughter and is so upset. Talk about a miracle! We saw a prayer with her and end up teaching a lesson. The spirit was so STRONG.

Example two: We had an appointment with a potential, Jose' that we had met contacting at this one apartment complex. Anyways, he wasn't home. So we wanted to see a former that lives in that same area. Well. We go over there and we meet this woman, Betsy. She tells us that Maranda (the former investigator) doesn't live there anymore. Betsy begins to tell us all of these horrible things that are going on in her life: bed bugs (she had to trash her mattresses), landlord lost her rent check, she has an infection, and her dad just passed away. Shoot dang. She begins to cry and we invite her to learn more about what we share with people and she accepts. We set up a time to come back and when we do, Sister Packer asks Betsy if she is ready to change. Betsy, without hesitation, says "Yes." Thank you, Heavenly Father!

Example three: Last night it was raining, cold, and it was dark outside. We were going to try to contact a couple of potential investigators, but it was way too dark and it wasn't right. Anyways, we try this former investigator, Ryan. AND HE'S HOME and like SUPER happy to see us! He invites us in (there was a less active sister there!) and we set up a time to come back and it was lovely. SO HAPPY.

I love you all! The gospel has been restored and I know that Jesus lives!

Love you!

Sister Hardy



 

Week of 2 September - 7 Sept 2014‏

Welllllllll! I have a new companion! Her name is SISTER PACKER! Yes, she is related to the hilarious Packer family back in Thornton. Love her to pieces. Sister Hanshaw is now in Brighton and I am still in Bible Park. Going on 6 months--woot woot! This place is amazing! And I am so loving it :D.

My last week with Sister Hanshaw went by SO FAST. We had a LOT of fun (and some crazy) things happen. We went to a museum on P-day and there were some members of the Littleton stake there! And then we got free cookies from another member when we went out for lunch. For example, we went on exchanges with some Sisters in the stake and we were meeting up to exchange back--I was in Greenwood village for the night with Sister Wily. Anywho, Sister Hanshaw and I got locked out of the car after 9pm. IT WAS HORRIBLE. Luckily, the Greenwood village sisters were still there and we sat in their car and waited for the magic door unlocker to come save us! YAY!

We met this amazing woman from England, Betty, and she has the coolest accent--she made me miss my dear Sister Reynolds! Well Betty hasn't been to church in years and so we began teaching her the missionary lessons. It was very interesting to see how necessary this gospel is in order to find TRUE happiness. Side note, she has a dog named Hillary and that dog does NOT like me. She growled at me like the entire lesson. I'd reach for my scriptures and she would bark and bark. Is it bad that I thought it was so comical?

OH! And Bruce got baptized! He is such a sweet man. He really has such a big heart and he calls us his family. SO PRECIOUS. Bruce has been a breeze to teach. He gave up coffee like it was __________. He is so amazing! He really was so prepared--such a beautiful soul.

Honestly, I can't remember the rest of the week, so I will give you a rundown about what happened last night after transfers. SO. S Packer and I were driving down the street and we feel this prompting to stop this guy (blue shirt) who was walking on the sidewalk, so we find a place to park in a nearby plaza and walk really quickly to try and catch up with him. Well, he is walking WAY too fast. The only way Sister Packer and I are going to catch up with him is to run. And we see this other guy (black shirt) and we try to start talking to him, but he's not interested, so we ask each other, "Should we chase that man(blue shirt)?" Immediately, I think, "No, that would be creepy." And then the Atonement pops into my head and I say, "You know what?! He needs this!" And then we chased the guy down the street. Yep. His name is Ben and his best friend is a member of the church and he said that he doesn't have any intentions on changing his religion, BUT we got his number and he said we could meet up. Isn't that awesome!?

AND THEN. Right after, we had down on our plans to go see a recent convert (we didn't have a set appointment) and it just didn't feel right. We felt that we needed to go see a woman, T, who hasn't been coming to church consistently. So we go over there and it wasn't a good time, but we set up another time. Anyways, Sister Packer suggests that we try to find out where this other woman lives that we saw before we saw T. So we try to see where she could have gone into with no luck, but then we see a man changing a tire! We go and introduce ourselves and he tells us his name is Silver and he is from Honduras. Anyways, we start teaching him about the Restoration and he asks us a whole bunch of super awesome questions AND we have an appointment with him later this week!

Follow promptings. They know the way.

I love this gospel more and more everyday! I love my mission! I love being a missionary! I love seeing the change that happens in others, but I have loved seeing the change that my mission has brought about in me!

I love you all!

Sister Hardy

We had a sisters meeting for the missionaries in the stake! I love them so much!

One HUGE thing I have learned in the last 14 months is that the older I get, the more the time flies. Seriously, I feel like summer just started yesterday, and now it is September! Holy cannoli! Note to reader: enjoy EVERY day.

Now for my weekly report. Alright. SO. Sister Packer and I were trying to find people to teach and we were at this apartment complex trying to see this woman, but she wasn't home. Well, we knocked on this other door because I had seen an investigator there some months earlier. There was an answer and the woman was actually someone that the sisters taught once before very briefly, so that turned into just casual conversation. We decided to leave, but when we were on our way to the car we heard some voices coming from an apartment on the third floor of the building and so we made our way up there, thinking it was a prompting, and miracle! A family from the Middle East answered the door and let us say a prayer of peace over their home. The daughter who let us in told us that they believe in Christ as more than a prophet--well, at least that's what we gathered from the conversation. She had a pretty awesome and thick accent. (Seriously. I LOVE being a missionary. You meet so many people from different walks of life!) She told us that we were welcome to come back and you know we jumped on that offer. The problem is that she works 2 jobs, so it might be a bit crazy to get a time to stop by. But if it's meant to be, it will be!

We also had an amazing miracle on Tuesday. We stopped by a referral and taught this potential investigator from Ethiopia, Sonia. She had some awesome questions about the Book of Mormon. She was really confused as to why we have the Book of Mormon and so we shared with her the reasons behind another volume of scripture and we were horrible missionaries and didn't have a copy on us, so we had to bring her a copy the next day. Well, we knocked on Sonia's door with the Book of Mormon and her face just lit up and she was SO excited. She was so thankful for it. Sonia made it seem like we were giving her gold! When she reads it, she will come to know that we are giving her something far beyond the price of gold.

On Sunday, we had the opportunity to visit with an older couple in the ward. The wife has had her cancer come back FOUR times and this past week she found out it came back again! (There is a word for that, but I can't think of it). Anyways, we went over to comfort and to invite the spirit into their homes. The husband said that she would enjoy it. Well, as we talked with her I was touched at the faith that both she and her husband have. Although cancer has been at the door for the past several years, we were all reminded of what the Savior has done for each of us. He has suffered, bled, and died. He has lived out lives. He knows our circumstances and the reality of our trials--because He has lived them. I know that He lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ. This knowledge has changed me more than I can say!

I love you all! Remember to brush your teeth and say your prayers!

Alma 7:11-13

Sister Hardy