July 1

Buenos Dias!!!

So this week has been very long...(aka lot's of meetings) Monday was preparation day and we had a zone activity with our new zone. Elder Garland (who was in my district my first transfer) is one of our zone leaders now and it's great! Elder Romero is also awesome! The best part of the activity was that our district surprised Hna Allen with a cake for her birthday that day. I had been trying to figure out how to do it, but since she's with me 24/7, is a part of all phone calls, and reads every text message that kind of makes surprised impossible. The cake was tres leches, and they did a Hispanic tradition where they had her take a bite out of the corner of the cake (just with her mouth not a fork) then two sisters pushed her face into the cake. I'll attach a picture or two of that. :)

I had no idea they were going to do it or I totally would have warned her. She was a good sport about it though, and I helped her wash it off in the bathroom. I tried the cake because Elder Ellsworth made me, and it was actually pretty good. I don't know if I'd eat a whole piece of it, but I certainly didn't die. (I'm not sure why he decided to take a picture...)

Tuesday we had a new missionary training, which was GREAT! I really do love trainings by President Hall. You just leave so inspired to be a better missionary and be more exactly obedient and work harder. After that training we had an interview with Obispo Cortez with all the new missionaries and we talked about his vision for the ward and how we could help. I'm really excited to be able to work more effectively with the members of our ward, and to help the menos activos come back to church. I know I've seen the blessings in my life from activity in the church (reading and praying daily, attending Sunday meetings, and doing/receiving Visiting and Home teaching). I am excited to help others see and recognize these in their lives as well.

Wednesday we did weekly planning and visited some potentials. Then we had a companionship study with the Hermana Training Leaders, which was wonderful. I love having them so close (they live in the same building as us) because whenever I don't have any idea what to do we can ask! It makes being a trainer a little less scary.

Thursday we had a multi zone conference of all the zones that now form the New (version 2.0) California San Fernando mission (at that point it was only about half the mission). It was an amazing conference, and we are all very excited to see how amazing version 2.0 will be! We're focusing a lot on exact obedience, and seeing miracles come from that. It is amazing how much you can learn about obedience even when you're already being obedient. (Speaking of obedience ... turns out missionaries are not allowed to use backpacks even on bikes. Mama would you be willing to look around for small shoulder bag/scripture case bags that I could maybe use. It would need to be big enough to fit 2 paperback copies of the Book of Mormon in Spanish. Elder Ellsworth uses a bag from the brand 'Companion' that works really well for him. If you just email me pictures I'll let you know what looks like it'll work best. I haven't figured out how to work it on bike yet, but I will eventually.)

Friday we had District Meeting, and an exchange. I got to stay in our area with Hna Redondo (she's from Columbia) and we contacted so many people! A lot of them even set up return appointments for us to come back and teach! It was also nice because we finally talked to E----n again who we haven’t been able to contact for almost 3 weeks. We set up an appointment to go back and teach her the restoration.

Saturday we finished up the exchanges and Hna Redondo gave me a whole bunch of ideas about how to work better with the members and how to plan so I feel like it's really effective. Then we got together as a district and started to combine our knowledge about the ward on our ward lists so that we can all have the most updated information and can start to give it to Obispo Cortez to add to the computers. After that we visited a few more potentials, and tried to contact a referral. We were on our way to visit a member and waiting at a streetlight when we ran into a man who asked questions about our church, but he had a way of standing uncomfortably close to Hna Allen while he talked to her so I slowly inched my bike in between them so he had to step back a little. Unfortunately that just meant he moved over to talk to and stand really close to me. Luckily the light changed pretty soon after that so he crossed, but we decided to go back the other way and contact a different member.

Sunday was church, and we also had an appointment with H----y which was great! Hno and Hna G----n came with us, and it was so good to have their added testimonies. H----y hasn't read the Book of Mormon on his own yet, but we read the introduction with him and emphasized the necessity of reading and praying to find out for himself. I have really gained such a testimony of the necessity of action since I've been on my mission. It is absolutely impossible to gain a testimony unless you DO something. That includes for missionaries. It's impossible to gain a testimony of obedience unless you are obedient. It's impossible to gain a testimony of the importance of working with members until you actually work with the members.

I love being a missionary!!! I love being on bike!!! I love being a trainer!!! I love Hna Allen!!! I love the gospel, and I love sharing it!! This truly is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I am learning so much. I would encourage all of you to seek out those opportunities to serve and share and be an example. Any little thing you can do to move the kingdom of God forward will bring such great blessings into your lives. Who do you know who's a less active member? Which of your friends might be willing to watch the Restoration at your house? Who in your ward or in your neighborhood needs some help with their lawn, just had a new baby, is new, is lonely, or any one of tons of other things you could do to help? Mama always says that Charlie and I are "setting the world on fire and burning brighter than the sun". I love the analogy, but we cannot do it alone! Each of you can burn brightly with the light of the Son in your eyes. I'd love to hear about your experiences!

 

Love,

Hna Marin Hardy