Here we are! The LAST letter from the mission field! Can you believe it? I feel like I need to have t shirts made that read: I survived the Transfer of 2017! Tuesday was a busy day! I have a hard time believing it was in this same week. At the end of the day we fed 75 missionaries! That will make your feet tired! We found out that a local sister will be doing the lunches for MLC and Transfer Day. Sister Chesnut will do the Transfer Day dinner at the Mission Home. We were told she would come on Transfer Day to see how it was done and to receive training. We had her in tears! Really it was because the sight of 29 brand new missionaries just touches your heart. Two missionaries coming from the Mexico MTC missed their connecting flight in California because of the earthquake and a late flight. They were supposed to be here at 11 am but didn’t arrive until 9pm. The two Temple Square sisters didn’t arrive until Wednesday morning and one poor Elder had lost his passport at the Provo MTC so he couldn’t fly, they put him on Amtrak by himself and he traveled all night. It was a crazy transfer day! Our replacement, Sister Giles was a witness to all of the craziness but I think she is still going to do the lunches. She helped in the kitchen on Transfer Day and we met with her on Wednesday (after we straightened the storage room and had everything ready) to give her a cookbook and the keys. She will do MLC on October 6 th . I know she will do great! I had 8 months of training from Sister Beutler, she had one insane day! It feels strange to hand over the keys but it was also good. I don’t know if I will believe that part is over until October 6th!
Friday we turned the rest of the “JustServe” materials over to the Penny’s. We had a little meeting at the mission office and then took them to meet Ellen at Kiwanis Bike. We had 4 missionaries serving right then and they liked seeing that. We also took them by the Nevada Literacy Center where we also have missionaries serving. Elder Hardman sent out the text that said the Zone Leaders will now report to the Pennys. We have done ourselves out of our jobs! There is no one to come and help with the wards though so that felt a little undone today as members asked if someone was coming to replace us. We finished off some names for the records on Saturday and turned everything into the ward clerks today.
We were able to go to 2 lessons this week. We have gone around and said a lot of good-byes. That is hard. We were asked to take a Lady that just moved here to church today. She was baptized two weeks ago. We only just met her but felt like we were telling her good-bye too! We will visit several more this week. I don’t like this part. When we went to tell Kathy good-bye she told us that she has lung cancer, and she’s never even smoked. Her son does. Poor Kathy.
We have given several “last” testimonies. We took around our final “Welcome to the Zone” treat. I mended my last clothing items. We’ve tried to do our best but I think you always think about the things you wish you had done better. We tried to tell Billie good-bye but she wouldn’t answer the phone and her son met us at the door and said she was sleeping. It makes us feel sad. We will go to dinner tomorrow night with the senior couples and President and Sister Chesnut. We will attend our final District meeting on Tuesday. I think I am going to have to show up at District meeting in Utah. I don’t know if I can live without it! How I will miss this sweet association with the missionaries. We had a special testimony given at the “Why I believe” fireside last week. Elder Werner was serving in the Truckee ward when he saw a young man carrying a guitar, being a guitar player he asked him what kind of instrument he had, that led to teaching this 26 year old the lessons and Elder Werner baptized him several months ago. Fast forward to Elder Werner serving in Sienna Vista where he received a referral for a man in the Single’s ward that was too old (31) for the Single’s Sisters to teach. When they contacted Daneil he had been befriended by a recent convert, Lex. You guessed it, Daneil was soon baptized by Lex, who was baptized by Elder Werner and they both had been taught by the same Elder. Elder Werner was able to hear these two testimonies two days before he left to go home. We have witnessed so many tender, sweet mercies on our mission. We are so grateful to have been a part of this. We love these missionaries! We have learned a lot.
Now we look forward to coming home. I hope it feels real by Thursday. I can’t stand too many more “lasts”!
The Gospel’s true and we love you!
Love,
Elder and Sister Hardman
p.s. It is apropos that Elder Hardman noticed one last bumper sticker this week. “Think, it’s not illegal yet”
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Monday, September 18, 2017
Letter #75
We had a special first and last this week. We didn’t bring any family names to do at the Temple because we didn’t know how much time we would have to do them but last Sunday Elder Hardman received a notice from Family Search that there was a name he could print and take to the Temple. We knew we were going with the Keystone Ward on Friday for Ward Temple Night so he was able to take this name for our last trip to the Reno Temple. We now have a family name with a Reno Temple stamp. That was a fun surprise.
We have started to say good-bye to those people that we won’t see again at church. We went to say good-bye to Brother Jameson, he is the man that came to tell the Sisters as they were weeding in his neighbor’s yard that he was a member. His records weren’t in the ward. Brother Jameson has never looked back at his old lifestyle. He made a change that day and continues to move forward in the Gospel. He is 79. We love Brother Jameson. We went to Judith and Mary’s. They are the fun ladies with the amazing Christmas house. Judith was upstairs working on Family History. We love these good ladies. I will miss seeing their home at Christmas time this year. I have never seen anything to compare. The Hardings had us over to their new home for a BBQ. They feel like they are settling in. Doug told us that he knows he will be baptized and will let us know when. We love the Hardings. It does start to feel weird when you know you are saying good-bye.
We spoke at Empty Nesters. It was fine, just a few friends were there. It was very informal and a nice evening. I think our speaking engagements are done.
We went to a different Mobile Harvest site last week. Our usual choice was full. This was way up north in Cold Springs. We went and it was full of Food Bank employees, that is usual! We soon figured out that a reporter was coming to interview and do a story on the Food Bank. It all made sense then. If you look on the Food Bank of Northern Nevada’s facebook page you can see us in the background. We have one more Mobile Panty this week and then we are done, that will make us sad. We have enjoyed helping at the Mobile Pantries.
We spent Thursday afternoon with Tondalaya. She finally had the infected tooth pulled. We went to pick her up and she had her dog with her. We tended the dog while she had the tooth pulled. We then waited 40 minutes to pick up a prescription. Not the most fun we’ve ever had but she wouldn’t have been able to get there without a ride.
We were able to go to 3 different lessons, always a great thing to do! I sewed five blankets for the Super Saturday Service Activity and fixed a Sister’s skirt that she ripped at District meeting. I think I can put my machine away now. We went to dinner, one last time, with the Hemmerts. They like to take us to new places to eat. This one was right beside the baseball stadium. It was a fun night. We told them we would find a fun place to go if they come and see us in Draper, they said it would have to wait a year. They are Self-Reliance Missionaries.
We have already started to cook for Tuesday. We made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies today. The real work starts tomorrow.
Our last full week starts tomorrow! The Gospel’s true and we love you!
Love,
Elder and Sister Hardman
We have started to say good-bye to those people that we won’t see again at church. We went to say good-bye to Brother Jameson, he is the man that came to tell the Sisters as they were weeding in his neighbor’s yard that he was a member. His records weren’t in the ward. Brother Jameson has never looked back at his old lifestyle. He made a change that day and continues to move forward in the Gospel. He is 79. We love Brother Jameson. We went to Judith and Mary’s. They are the fun ladies with the amazing Christmas house. Judith was upstairs working on Family History. We love these good ladies. I will miss seeing their home at Christmas time this year. I have never seen anything to compare. The Hardings had us over to their new home for a BBQ. They feel like they are settling in. Doug told us that he knows he will be baptized and will let us know when. We love the Hardings. It does start to feel weird when you know you are saying good-bye.
We spoke at Empty Nesters. It was fine, just a few friends were there. It was very informal and a nice evening. I think our speaking engagements are done.
We went to a different Mobile Harvest site last week. Our usual choice was full. This was way up north in Cold Springs. We went and it was full of Food Bank employees, that is usual! We soon figured out that a reporter was coming to interview and do a story on the Food Bank. It all made sense then. If you look on the Food Bank of Northern Nevada’s facebook page you can see us in the background. We have one more Mobile Panty this week and then we are done, that will make us sad. We have enjoyed helping at the Mobile Pantries.
We spent Thursday afternoon with Tondalaya. She finally had the infected tooth pulled. We went to pick her up and she had her dog with her. We tended the dog while she had the tooth pulled. We then waited 40 minutes to pick up a prescription. Not the most fun we’ve ever had but she wouldn’t have been able to get there without a ride.
We were able to go to 3 different lessons, always a great thing to do! I sewed five blankets for the Super Saturday Service Activity and fixed a Sister’s skirt that she ripped at District meeting. I think I can put my machine away now. We went to dinner, one last time, with the Hemmerts. They like to take us to new places to eat. This one was right beside the baseball stadium. It was a fun night. We told them we would find a fun place to go if they come and see us in Draper, they said it would have to wait a year. They are Self-Reliance Missionaries.
We have already started to cook for Tuesday. We made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies today. The real work starts tomorrow.
Our last full week starts tomorrow! The Gospel’s true and we love you!
Love,
Elder and Sister Hardman
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Letter #74
The talks are over! Hip, hip, hooray! I decided that it is hard to give the same talk twice and feel the same about it. If I ever have to do that again I will probably change it up. Elder Hardman is much better at adapting a talk but I write it all down and give that talk. Unlike missionaries that learn so much about how to give talks and prepare and talk about any subject at any time with little or no notice, I have not had that type of a mission and my “giving a talk” skills are no better than what I started with. I usually just feel relieved that it’s over. We still have to decide what we are saying tomorrow night for the Empty Nesters Family Home Evening.
We survived our last MLC. It was kind of a sad day. Sister Chesnut’s stepfather passed away suddenly that morning. She was in a fog. We thought we would be able to discuss some things before we do Transfer Day but it wasn’t the right time for it. I’m sure she will be gone this week for the funeral. They thought they had figured out who would take over the meals but it sounds like that isn’t going to work out so we will feel guilty leaving this on Sister Chesnut. It is a lot of work. It can be done in a different way and it will be just fine. Sister Beutler made beautiful homemade meals and I just followed her tradition but store-bought lasagna would be fine too. It will work out, just makes us feel like we are letting them down.
We had a Tuesday full of lessons again. Tuesday is becoming our favorite day because we are being invited to help teach on those days. We went with the Sisters after District meeting and then we took the Elders to two lessons at night. They like for us to pick them up and take them to these lessons because they are far away and if they ride with us they don’t use up their miles. We don’t feel used though, we are grateful for any excuse to go. We also went to a lesson later in the week with the other Elders. One of our Zone leaders went home before Transfer Day to start school so we only have 1 Zone Leader who is putting himself with different companionships for the next 2 weeks. He looks a little overwhelmed on his own. We certainly are feeling the impact of the next transfer, it will be a BIG one!
The numbers for Transfer Day were down. We were going to have 30 but one came back early and one isn’t coming at all but it is now up to 31, they are getting some Temple Square Sisters. We haven’t had Temple Square Sisters since we first arrived! There will be so many changes and they have had to close and open new apartments. A lot is going on right now but we realize that we will never really get to know these new missionaries. That is a weird feeling! Even President Chesnut had to tell everyone that it was our last MLC…. And they wonder why missionaries get trunky. Today was the only day we could have talked in September, next week is High Council Sunday and the next is Fast and Testimony again. We are going to feel like when you are pregnant and people keep ask why you haven’t had the baby yet. I’m sure they will think today was our last Sunday.
We went to the Penny’s setting apart with President Chesnut. We watched the balloons for three days but didn’t go to the park this year. One even landed in the Church parking lot. I don’t know if that was planned or not but it takes a crew to put away a big balloon. Keystone had a fun Super Saturday. We are signed up for 2 more Mobile Harvests. There are still things to do!
The Gospel’s true and we love you,
Love,
Elder and Sister Hardman
We survived our last MLC. It was kind of a sad day. Sister Chesnut’s stepfather passed away suddenly that morning. She was in a fog. We thought we would be able to discuss some things before we do Transfer Day but it wasn’t the right time for it. I’m sure she will be gone this week for the funeral. They thought they had figured out who would take over the meals but it sounds like that isn’t going to work out so we will feel guilty leaving this on Sister Chesnut. It is a lot of work. It can be done in a different way and it will be just fine. Sister Beutler made beautiful homemade meals and I just followed her tradition but store-bought lasagna would be fine too. It will work out, just makes us feel like we are letting them down.
We had a Tuesday full of lessons again. Tuesday is becoming our favorite day because we are being invited to help teach on those days. We went with the Sisters after District meeting and then we took the Elders to two lessons at night. They like for us to pick them up and take them to these lessons because they are far away and if they ride with us they don’t use up their miles. We don’t feel used though, we are grateful for any excuse to go. We also went to a lesson later in the week with the other Elders. One of our Zone leaders went home before Transfer Day to start school so we only have 1 Zone Leader who is putting himself with different companionships for the next 2 weeks. He looks a little overwhelmed on his own. We certainly are feeling the impact of the next transfer, it will be a BIG one!
The numbers for Transfer Day were down. We were going to have 30 but one came back early and one isn’t coming at all but it is now up to 31, they are getting some Temple Square Sisters. We haven’t had Temple Square Sisters since we first arrived! There will be so many changes and they have had to close and open new apartments. A lot is going on right now but we realize that we will never really get to know these new missionaries. That is a weird feeling! Even President Chesnut had to tell everyone that it was our last MLC…. And they wonder why missionaries get trunky. Today was the only day we could have talked in September, next week is High Council Sunday and the next is Fast and Testimony again. We are going to feel like when you are pregnant and people keep ask why you haven’t had the baby yet. I’m sure they will think today was our last Sunday.
We went to the Penny’s setting apart with President Chesnut. We watched the balloons for three days but didn’t go to the park this year. One even landed in the Church parking lot. I don’t know if that was planned or not but it takes a crew to put away a big balloon. Keystone had a fun Super Saturday. We are signed up for 2 more Mobile Harvests. There are still things to do!
The Gospel’s true and we love you,
Love,
Elder and Sister Hardman
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Letter #73
Last Zone Activity- They had a hike to the “N”. They have a mandatory zone activity once a transfer. Everyone is to attend, no excuses! They voted on going on a hike but had no idea of where to go. We have been around long enough to know where they can go that is something they can do in a few hours, includes everyone and they think it fun. The problem was the heat! The Arizona Sister said that in Arizona they were smart enough not to hike in the afternoon (in the heat). It was hot but there was a breeze and it was overcast, which made it bearable. We hiked part of the way but mostly we provided iced water bottles and sunscreen and took their picture.
Last Zone Leader “JustServe” training- We took our last Elders to lunch and did a “JustServe” training. It was the Fallon zone leaders. Elder Lyman was an A.P. but they often will go back out before they leave and serve somewhere else in the field. Elder Lyman is my favorite. He is friendly, upbeat and a great missionary but that isn’t why he is my favorite. When he was A.P. he would get up from every meal and be the first one to start cleaning up, he was always at the sink washing dishes and he made sure I was done or else he wasn’t done. No one else would notice, but I did. Elder Lyman is special. He will go home this transfer. Elder Torres is his companion and he is great too. I would imagine that serving with Elder Lyman teaches you many things. It was fun to treat them to lunch (and do a little training)
Last birthday in the mission field- That may be a good thing! Elder Hardman’s birthday was the busiest day of the week and made us feel old! It fell on Tuesday, District meeting so we bought an ice cream cake to celebrate at lunch time. We were asked to help with FOUR lessons that day. We had one with the Sisters that fell through but we went from one appointment to the next and didn’t get home until 9pm that night. We had a dinner of cereal and went to bed.
Last Doctor’s appointment- Elder Hardman had his last follow-up appointment for his kidney stones. He can now take all of his information home to his doctor there. He was told to drink a lot of water! We also have been filling out paper work to get insurance when we get home. There are a lot of things young missionaries don’t have to think about but we do.
Last meeting with Sister Wilson- And we met the Pennys. They are the local couple that are taking both ours and Sister Wilson’s assignment. I think we overwhelmed them but they will be great. They already serve once a week at the Bishop’s Storehouse. Brother Penny does all of the apartment inspections for the Reno zone (2 Stakes) I think they have callings in their ward and this is just an extra assignment. So much for being retired! We are going to their setting apart tomorrow and we will take them to several of the people we work with to introduce them but then they will take over all of the calling, training, texting, scheduling, follow-up and reporting. I don’t know why they were overwhelmed!
We hope it wasn’t our last contact with Tondalaya but we went on Saturday to give her a lesson. We had a good lesson but she asked us if it was a sin if she went to the nearby church because she can take her dog. She is a good lady. I know she felt the spirit when she was coming with us to church but with all of her troubles she has fallen into the “it’s not my fault, I’m the victim” mentality that we see a lot here. We also know it wasn’t the last time to knock doors, but I am looking forward to that day! One lady finally came to the door (we could hear her screaming at her dogs so we knew she was home and wouldn’t leave) and told us she didn’t want to talk to “you people”. I think she meant old people, no one likes to talk to old people.
We had our last Temple Preparation class. It was a good ending. We now hope that Brother Roe can have things work out so that he can go to the Temple.
We will do our last MLC meal this week. Elder Hardman asked Elder Lyman if he had a request and he said he didn’t care as long as I served my tomatillo dressing! Thanks Michelle, it’s your recipe but I take the credit for it! I don’t know if it goes with pasta but you can bet I will make it for Elder Lyman.
We are giving two Sacrament talks on Sunday and then today they asked us if we will do the Empty nesters Family Home Evening and tell about all of our great experiences. We smiled and said “Yes”, ugh! We went to dinner with the Halls on Friday, they are our neighbors and the wife isn’t a member but we really enjoy them. Brother Hall is in the bishopric and the Bishop is out of town so he called Brother Hall to ask him to go downtown and pay for a motel for a family that is passing through but can’t afford a room. Andi (the wife) said because he is retired and they know he is home that he is called all the time. How I admire her for her understanding and support of her husband, what a great example!
The weeks are filling up with last things to do! The Gospel’s true and we love you!
Love,
Elder and Sister Hardman
Last Zone Leader “JustServe” training- We took our last Elders to lunch and did a “JustServe” training. It was the Fallon zone leaders. Elder Lyman was an A.P. but they often will go back out before they leave and serve somewhere else in the field. Elder Lyman is my favorite. He is friendly, upbeat and a great missionary but that isn’t why he is my favorite. When he was A.P. he would get up from every meal and be the first one to start cleaning up, he was always at the sink washing dishes and he made sure I was done or else he wasn’t done. No one else would notice, but I did. Elder Lyman is special. He will go home this transfer. Elder Torres is his companion and he is great too. I would imagine that serving with Elder Lyman teaches you many things. It was fun to treat them to lunch (and do a little training)
Last birthday in the mission field- That may be a good thing! Elder Hardman’s birthday was the busiest day of the week and made us feel old! It fell on Tuesday, District meeting so we bought an ice cream cake to celebrate at lunch time. We were asked to help with FOUR lessons that day. We had one with the Sisters that fell through but we went from one appointment to the next and didn’t get home until 9pm that night. We had a dinner of cereal and went to bed.
Last Doctor’s appointment- Elder Hardman had his last follow-up appointment for his kidney stones. He can now take all of his information home to his doctor there. He was told to drink a lot of water! We also have been filling out paper work to get insurance when we get home. There are a lot of things young missionaries don’t have to think about but we do.
Last meeting with Sister Wilson- And we met the Pennys. They are the local couple that are taking both ours and Sister Wilson’s assignment. I think we overwhelmed them but they will be great. They already serve once a week at the Bishop’s Storehouse. Brother Penny does all of the apartment inspections for the Reno zone (2 Stakes) I think they have callings in their ward and this is just an extra assignment. So much for being retired! We are going to their setting apart tomorrow and we will take them to several of the people we work with to introduce them but then they will take over all of the calling, training, texting, scheduling, follow-up and reporting. I don’t know why they were overwhelmed!
We hope it wasn’t our last contact with Tondalaya but we went on Saturday to give her a lesson. We had a good lesson but she asked us if it was a sin if she went to the nearby church because she can take her dog. She is a good lady. I know she felt the spirit when she was coming with us to church but with all of her troubles she has fallen into the “it’s not my fault, I’m the victim” mentality that we see a lot here. We also know it wasn’t the last time to knock doors, but I am looking forward to that day! One lady finally came to the door (we could hear her screaming at her dogs so we knew she was home and wouldn’t leave) and told us she didn’t want to talk to “you people”. I think she meant old people, no one likes to talk to old people.
We had our last Temple Preparation class. It was a good ending. We now hope that Brother Roe can have things work out so that he can go to the Temple.
We will do our last MLC meal this week. Elder Hardman asked Elder Lyman if he had a request and he said he didn’t care as long as I served my tomatillo dressing! Thanks Michelle, it’s your recipe but I take the credit for it! I don’t know if it goes with pasta but you can bet I will make it for Elder Lyman.
We are giving two Sacrament talks on Sunday and then today they asked us if we will do the Empty nesters Family Home Evening and tell about all of our great experiences. We smiled and said “Yes”, ugh! We went to dinner with the Halls on Friday, they are our neighbors and the wife isn’t a member but we really enjoy them. Brother Hall is in the bishopric and the Bishop is out of town so he called Brother Hall to ask him to go downtown and pay for a motel for a family that is passing through but can’t afford a room. Andi (the wife) said because he is retired and they know he is home that he is called all the time. How I admire her for her understanding and support of her husband, what a great example!
The weeks are filling up with last things to do! The Gospel’s true and we love you!
Love,
Elder and Sister Hardman
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