Oct 14

Buenos Dias,

This last week was definitely a little strange, as you probably already know since we didn't take our preparation day until Friday. Now, two days later we have preparation day again. Luckily for all of you I didn't write about Monday through Friday on Friday so you get an entire week's worth of email today instead of just two days worth. :)

Monday was a good day, but very long as we didn't get to take Preparation day. We did a lot of contacting, and then went to a Noche de Hogar with the the R family. They are so wonderful! On Monday they made us vegetables for dinner, and Hna R made a peanut butter sandwich especially for me. I just love her. She always hugs me SO tight, and it makes me feel so loved.

Tuesday we had cena with the R family (they fed me amazing cheese tortillas!). When we got there Hna R was feeling sick, but she insisted that we stay and eat with them anyway. Her granddaughter was playing doctor and giving her a checkup, so she gave me a check up to. I checked out okay, but she gave me a shot just in case. :)

Wednesday we had ZONE CONFERENCE!!!!!! Elder Kopishke of the seventy came, and it was AMAZING!!!! He talked about a lot of things, but my favorite part was at the beginning when he had us all write down the questions that we had and to think about those during the conference. Even though he didn't necessarily talk about all of my questions I still got lots of answers to them. It was also a good day because I got to do a musical number. Elder Fuller from my district played the piano, and Elder Linford (who was in my district last transfer) sang with me. We sang a version of How Great Thou Art that I've had forever (although we translated it to Spanish) and it was so beautiful! I absolutely love the way that music lets me express the feelings I have for the Lord and for the Gospel more fully than anything else. There are just some things that can't be said with words alone. That night we were also able to meet with Hna C again and make a mission plan for the Relief Society.

Thursday was also a good day. It was weekly planning, but we tried something a little different in that we went contacting for a couple of hours after studies and then came back to do weekly planning. I think it actually helped us concentrate better. The best part ... we finished planning in 3 hours exactly! That night we had dinner with the N family in our area. They are such a sweet family, and it was fun to talk with them and encourage them to do missionary work just by using the Proclamation to the World. We talked about how it blesses their family, and they can share it with other families to help them receive those blessings to.

Friday was the temple! It was so good to be able to do a session again. I love remembering those promises and blessings that come from the temple! It was also great because Hna R came with us. It's been a really long time since she was able to go to the temple, and it was great to be able to be there with her and help her remember how everything works, and watch her renew the Spirit that comes from our temple covenants.

Saturday one of the other sets of Hnas in our district had a baptism that we were able to go to. It was a couple that have been investigating for quite a while, and it was so special for me to watch them be baptized because my mind was still on the temple, and it is so exciting to think that in a year they will be able to enter the temple and be sealed together for eternity! Before and after we did some contacting, and tried to teach a lesson to N. Unfortunately she decided that she doesn't have time to listen to our message right now, and asked us not to come by anymore. That was kind of hard for us, but I know that eventually it will be the right time for her to accept the gospel in her life.

Sunday we had the Primary Program at church, and it was so cute! I was playing the hymns for the meeting so we got to sit right up front and watch all their faces as they sang, and gave their scriptures. I love the primary songs, and it's always so fun to hear the kids sing as loud as they can even when they're not 100% sure what the words are. We were also able to talk a little bit about missionary work in relief society and share the mission plan we created with Hna C. I know the Hnas are so excited to be able to help with the missionary work and with a more clear goal they are going to do miracles!

Anyway, all it all it was a good week. I love doing missionary work and being able to work with so many good members of the church, talk with so many good people who aren't members of the church, and share my testimony with everyone. I know that the church is true! I know that the Book of Mormon is true! I know that God is our Heavenly Father and that He loves each and every one of his children so much!

Love,

Hna Marin Hardy