June 23

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Hola Querida Familia y Amigos!

This has been a truly amazing week!

Tuesday was transfers, and transfer meeting was a little weird. We thought I would be being transferred to bike (probably still here in Sylmar) and Hna Whetten would be staying here in Sylmar. However, as the meeting progressed we found out that Hna Whetten was being transferred out of the area all together! I did get transferred to Sylmar Bike area, so that was what we expected. Also... other exciting news... I'M TRAINING!!!! I didn't find out until after emails last Monday so sorry for all those who didn't find out until now. It's absolutely crazy that I'm training after 12 weeks and opening a new area and on bike, but I know that it's all in God's hands and he knows better than I do.

My new companion Hermana Allen is absolutely phenomenal! Her Spanish is great, and she has absolutely no fear of talking to people whether she understands them or not. We have done so much good work this week! It was a little crazy since we were also trying to split our area where parts of my old area (Sylmar Car) were going to four different areas. I spent all my free time for 4 days separating antiguos (previous investigators) and futuros (potential investigators) for everyone. There are still a few antiguos that I'm not sure if they're in our area or the car Hna's, but we'll be figuring that out over the next few days as we get to know our area. Then on Saturday I was finally able to unpack my suitcases. :) (Mama, I know that sounds crazy especially to you, but in my head splitting the area took precedence, and I still had to go to bed at 10:30. No all-nighters like you pull when we move.)

Since neither of us had bikes, Hna Allen and I were able to borrow a couple of bikes from the elder's in our district for the first couple of days. It was absolutely hilarious since Elder Ellsworth's bike was too big for Hna Allen, and I barely fit Elder Bowman's bike. It was also interesting learning to ride a bike in a skirt. Especially a man's bike with the higher crossbar. We figured it out though, and no one fell off, although I did fall over the bike and gouge my leg once. Luckily the sister of a member lived just down the block from where we were, and she have me some hydrogen peroxide cotton balls, and medical tape to patch myself up until we could get home. I warned everyone I was a klutz on a bike and no one believed me...(I now carry two different types of Band-aids, Neosporin, paper towels and water with me in my backpack all the time.)

Another funny story on the Elder's bikes. On Tuesday night (our first night together and our first night on bike) we still didn't have boundary changes so we didn't know for sure who's area Ada and Eddiberto (2 investigators who were in my old area) would be in. Elder Winward (our district leader) asked if Hna Allen and I would go to the appointment we had with them at 7:30 that night since I was the only one who knew them. I was a little leery since it was probably 3-4 miles from our apartment, but we said yes since I had no idea what that meant on a bike. Luckily on the way to the appointment was almost all downhill so it only took us about 35 minutes to get down there. We taught the lesson, and finally got out at about 8:40. Knowing we were supposed to be home by 9 and it was already pretty dark I was a little worried. Never the less we got on our bikes and started home. Then we both hear a loud clicking/grinding noise coming from Elder Ellsworth's bike that Hna Allen was riding. I didn't want anything to happen to my brand new companion, but I was also determined to get home so I had her switch bikes with me, and I rode the scary sounding bike. However, about 50 yards later I tried to shift gears, and with another loud clank the entire chain fell off. Needless to say we were not riding our bikes home... The Hna's don't have a bike rack on their car so we called them to come pick us up, then called Elder Winward to come get the bikes. The calling process itself was a real hassle because we were stuck on a random street corner in San Fernando, in the dark, and with really patchy cell service. Luckily there was a streetlight that we stood under to wait for the other missionaries so it really wasn't too sketchy. The elder's and hna's came eventually and it all worked out in the end. Elder Elsworth was able to fix his bike, but he also told us that he's pretty sure someone hijacked it/tried to steal it and that's what broke it. Personally I think it was a tender mercy of the Lord so that we didn't have to ride 3-4 miles uphill to get home.

Saturday we were able to buy our own bikes finally, but it was really weird for me to start riding a women’s bike. They really are put together differently, and it just feels strange. However, it's a lot easier to get on and off in a skirt. Elder Ellsworth (the resident bike expert) went with us to help us pick good bikes and make sure we got everything we needed. He's also going to do a bike basics training class or two to teach us how to maintain our bikes and survive on them. :) (The elders in our district really do take such good care of us Hna's.) Honestly I am so excited to be on bike! It is absolutely energizing, and every time we ride back up the hill to our apartment I feel like I've really accomplished something. It's also easier to just pull over and talk to random people on the street. (You really can't do that in a car.)

We're still trying to figure out how to be bike Hna's and open a new area, but we've started to figure it out. Really it can only go up from here! This week we plan on getting to know our area a little better, and finding the members that live in our area. I also had another miraculous experience this week with Spanish. I suddenly understand about 99% of what anyone says to me instead of the 75-80% I was getting right before transfers. It is truly a testimony to me that the Lord knows all of our needs and looks out for us. I still only got about 80% of the broadcast on Sunday (since it was all in Spanish because of some problems with our stake center), but it was pretty cool. These next two transfers are going to be 100% AMAZING!!! I am so grateful to be able to be a missionary in this exciting time and to be able to share the gospel with so many people. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and blesses the lives of all those who read it. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church of God again on the earth. I know that through Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End we can all return to live with our Father in Heaven again.

I love you all!!

Hna Marin Hardy

PS I'll try to send more pictures next time. The one in the tree is of the old district and the other is the district with all the new additions.