Monday, August 29, 2016

Letter #20

This was a fun week with our second zone conference. We were able to attend all of the training. On our first zone conference we were in charge of the lunch so we missed most of the training. It was fun to be a part of everything. We really enjoyed zone conference.

I have talked a lot about MoD’s so I thought it would be a good time to share why we enjoy receiving our nightly MoD’s. Our new sister missionary in the zone told how she was wondering what seeing “Miracles” even meant. It was talked about at the MTC and then when she arrived in Reno she really started to wonder if what everyone was talking about was really a miracle. She bore a sweet testimony of how she has come to realize what a miracle is and how missionaries recognize them. She said she now knows that they see miracles every day. I thought I would share a few MoD’s.

MoD! We got to be missionaries today and we get to do it again tomorrow!

MoD!! The atheist lady that we met a couple weeks ago called us today and asked us to come back!! Also Sisters Muhlestein and Monsivais saw a raccoon for the first time in their lives today!

MoD! We had 7 hours of church today!

MoD! The dad of a LA, part-member family sat in on the lesson and bore his testimony and it was awesome!

MoD! We biked today and didn’t die or get sunburns! Also we had 2 people let us into their houses while we were tracting!

MoD! We saw Elder Gamble at the temple with our investigator who is getting baptized next weekend!

MoD! We were able to help some young women come out of their shells with the shower dance and taught them about missionary work at Mutual.

MoD! We were able to find 3 solid potentials today!

MoD! We had a referral who we were trying to contact and they actually contacted us and set up an appointment with us!

MoD! We had a LA who went through the steps of repentance by visiting the Bishop and then stayed for all three hours of church!

MoD! We were able to receive a prompting to stop by this random lady and she said she had been having impressions that she needs to go back to church and recognized that we were another impression!

MoD! I got to finish out my mission for the Savior with the best missionaries in the best zone ever!

MoD! We had a lesson at the Institute and had planned for 2 male members to come with us. One member didn’t show up so we couldn’t go inside. But then! Another member of the ward just so happened to be walking by, playing some game on his phone. He was down to be present for the lesson. It was an awesome lesson!

MoD! We got to have yummy waffles and eggs for dinner!

MoD! The Elder that taught Sister Balbuena’s family before they were baptized visited our ward today and he got to hear her speak about her conversion story in Sacrament Meeting!! (Sister Balbuena is from the Philippines. She has been a member for 5 years)

MoD!! A former investigator talked to her granddaughter about how she hasn’t seen her sisters (us) in a long time and then we showed up a couple of hours later! God knows us!

We love reading these every night from the different companionships but the miracle we see every day are these Missionaries. Let me tell you about one of them. Sister Gali (pronounced Nali) is from Samoa. She joined the church three years ago and by her own admission, promptly went inactive. Her Uncle has sons that have served missions. Sister Gali is the youngest of five girls, so when her Uncle told her she needed to serve a mission she wasn’t even sure what he was talking about but knew that he was right. She was surprised to receive a call to America because she only knew three English words, “Hi”, “Bye” and “No”. She tells how she still only knew about that much when she left the MTC. The Chesnuts told us that she had come just before they came last year and the President leaving said, “Good luck with that one. She doesn’t know any English. It will be a miracle if she stays!” Well, she stayed. She tells how she couldn’t help with discussions and didn’t know what people were saying so she would randomly blurt out her testimony, whether it was appropriate or not. She giggles about that now. At the end of last year she found out that the uncle who was instrumental in getting her on a mission, died. Sister Gali was heart-broken but she stayed. In June (she can tell you the exact date) she found out that her father had died. She felt like she needed to go home. She asked if she could call her mom. Her mom asked her, “Do you love me?” “Do you want to be happy the rest of your life?”, “Then you need to stay on your mission”. Sister Gali stayed. We love Sister Gali. Elder Hardman lovingly calls her (not to her face) his pitbull. Sister Gali is only about 4’ 10” but she is solid. She is loved by everyone. She is a walking miracle and we are honored to serve with her. She will be going home this transfer. These missionaries are our miracles every day.

I hope you will think about and recognize the miracles you see every day. Our lives are so blessed.

We had a fun couple of days with Shalene and Garrett this week. We went to the car museum, walked on the Riverwalk and went to Virginia City. I still wanted to get in their car when they were leaving but not as badly as I wanted to when Lori came, so I guess I’m making progress!

We love our family. We appreciate all of your love and support. The Gospel’s true and we love you!

Love,
Elder and Sister Hardman

Sign on business door….
“We’re always here, unless we’re gone”

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