January 30th, 2011

Hello again everyone!

I presume that you had a fantastic week and that all went according to plan!

 

So as most of you all know, I got a new companion this week. It was one crazy week, and it seemed unbelievably long. I was so surprised when it was only friday for it felt like sunday. I do believe that the reason for this was because of transfers. So late wednesday night, Elder Gammell and I drove 3 hours to get to New Glasgow. Here we stayed the night and enjoyed the company of the zone leaders. So Elder Redford and I (he just recently went home.) left around noon to drive down to Halifax, (about a 2 hour drive at best.) to where we arrived at the mission home. I saw the President and his wife, and about 30 other Elders. It was a packed day. I met so many other Elders that it was literaly a shock! I grabbed Elder Turner and we were braving the bad roads to get back to Cape Breton. The roads ended up taking us out of the drive so we spent another night in New Glasgow. The next morning we ventured out around ten and made it to wonderful Cape Breton around two o'clock. It was a really long road trip! But, it was intense to be back at the mission home already, sincie I have been out only a transfer!

 

So on a very tiny side note, after we I left emailing for home and my weekly letter, it was apparent to Elder Gammell and I that we would go and try to find some cheap ties. So I found this beautiful Cape Breton tartan (their scottish plaid color) tie! It is so amazing! So now I offically with call myself a Cape Bretoner because of this purchase! :P

 

On tuesday we did our little display here at the local collage. It was a good day and we got a lot of numbers. But one thing that seemed to really help was when Alison (our newest convert) came into the picture. She played missionary. As I sat there and noticed how much better our display was when she was around bringing her friends to us. So that made everyone else see the importance of it. When friends invite friends to do something that they feel is right, and pour their heart of the truthfulness of it and bear witness to that friend that it is true, then the Spirit comes and blesses that person, as long as your self. I believe that in D&C 100 verse 5 through the end of that chapter it says that Spirit will come in that very moment and that every second that you need it. So again, it was truly an eye opener! 

 

     So on Sunday Byron and Kimi came to church. It was soo amazing! We didn't get the chance to see Byron at all this week because of transfers and his work, but we called him and invited him and he shows up!! It was good to see him, it was like seeing a long distance friend all over again! I was glad. He enjoyed church, as always, and his questions are becmong really good!!

    With Kimi we read the 7th chapter of 1st nephi and in verse 12 it basically says that through God we can do all things. So we asked Kimi if he believed that he could do that and he said sure. A tad hesitant on his response we offered him an expierment. I said that if he prays for help before he studies and before his test that the Lord will help him. It was an intense promise. Still is. So I'm not sure where this will end up or anything like that but I know that with the Lords help we can do all things. So give a prayer for Kimi.

    Ben continues to progress. He is slowly reading the Book of Mormon and throughly thinking it out. So we are waiting for his answer and doing the best that we can in order for him to get that answer.

 

One major highlight of this week had to do with the two branches here in our area. The North Sydney branch and the Sydney branch will combine to make it one. I do believe that is is the Lord's way. Some people were a little hesitant and maybe a little nervous, but I believe that this is the start of a beautiful and miraclous experience with this branch. I am excited for it because it will beneifit the entire area! Why I bring this is up is that change will indeed happen. But, if we trust in the Lord as this new branch did, they will know of the surety of the thing, and that it is the Lords will.

 

    So my question for you this week, is how can you build more a trust in Jesus Christ? I know that your challenges, concerns, are all so varied. And it is impossiable for one, such as I, to know them. SO who does know all those concerns, problems, sad times, or challenges? Exactly, Jesus Christ. So put your trust in him! Just through it in and rely on  that! I can promise you that he will never let you down. Only ourselves can do that, so that is why we mustn't do that! Jesus even said "Be not afraid; Only believe." (Mark 5:36) It was so grateful to see that in our little branch, to see that trust in the Lord and what he is doing. The Lords eye is indeed on Cape Breton, and I am so happy to be witnessing and being here in these times.

 

Again, I am so happy for you and your constant support. I know that may so reduntant and everything inbetween, but my heart is so happy for you and your care. I hope that the blessings of the Lord will be with you this week and that it may be magnified within you and through you.

 

-Elder Morgan Hardy.

 

 

Transfer 1; complete!

Hmmm....the snow has finally seemed to show his face. It just appeared over night, but to be honest, it is a very fun adventure! You kinda play a game to see how long you can last in the cold knocking doors! Its soo much fun! You have to keep it fun or else the snow will get you down! Yesterday though, was pretty cool. The snow was blowing just a bit to where we called it "snow dust". So it was magical and cold at the same time but it made the day better. :D

 

So a whole transfer of my mission is complete! Crazy to think that I have spent 6 weeks in Sydney and oh, how the time as passed! One transfer down and something like 16 more to go...the mission is not that long...odd...but yes, not that long at all. :D Skyler has only about 8 or so months left and it feels like he just left, and here am I in Cape Breton and a whole transfer just flew by. I barely had time to say hello! :D

 

On a sad note, my companion and trainer, Elder Gammell, leaves Sydney and is becoming the new zone leader in a town called New Glassgcow. It is sad to see him go, but for the short space that I knew him we have acomplished so much! So my new companion, whom I will meet later this week, is an Elder Turner. He is from West Virginia and is a pretty awesome Elder from what I have heard. :D But, Elder Gammell will be my new zone leader so I will see him quite often, and therefore, am blessed! SO we will travel to the zone leaders apartment, drop off Elder Gammell and pick up Elder Turner. SO new companion, new adventures, heck, here comes another adventure!

 

And to one of my bestest friends ever, Richard Stowe, congrats on your mission call! I am so excited for you! Be the best that you can be! I'm proud of you!

 

This week was a really fast week. Like I said before it just seemed to stop by, say hello, then leave just as quick as it came!

     Byron - The vet, is coming a long and making sure that this is the true church. He is taking his time, which is good because we want him to know that for sure, and even came to church on sunday! He asked a lot of questions and really enjoyed the expeirence!

     Ben - we had a lot of lessons this week and is really intrigued. He is praying for his answer and we are as well. :D But he is coming so great, he came to church again, and I think he felt very comfortable and had great chats with the members! He is schelduled to be baptized the Febuary 5th, 2011. Intense huh? :D

 

So that is pretty much the highlights of this week. We were very busy running around and knocking a lot of doors and meeting a lot of people! Apparently, a lot of Cape Bretoners travel to Florida for the winter. We knocked into this couple who will be leaving for Florida in a couple of days and were eargly excited! So hey, another fun fact about Cape Breton!

 

I do not have much to tell you this week. This week went by so fast that you could hardly take it in! Our old zone leader, Elder Redford, is leaving to head home this week. I got to chat with him and to be honest, he seems old compared to me! He said that I am a very young missionary and that I am blessed to be a young missionary. We traded ties and signed them. The brotherhood of missionaries is a very special thing, ;D its awesome the bonds that you create here in the mission!

 

My thoughts this week were on so many things and my thoughts right now are so varied, Elder Gammell and I have a lot to do before he leaves so that is where my mind rests for now. I read this scripture this past week that has helped me. It is so simple and so poetic that you cannot but repeat it in your mind when things, good or bad, happen. But it is in the Book of Jacob, 6th chapter, 12th verse; and it states:

 

"O be wise; what can I say more?"

 

Beautiful isn't it? So I guess my message for this week is to be wise with the things that we do. Be wise for the descisions we make. God gave us this agency to hopefully be for our benefit. And to whatever descision that we make their is a consequence or a reward, right? So hence, we should choose the latter part of that; and choose the rewards. For one of the biggest descisions that I have made so far on my mission to whether I should serve one or not. And if I hadn't, well, I'm not sure where I would, but I wouldn't have gotten to meet Byron or Ben, and that is very sad. For as missionaries we teach this gospel, then they choose whether to accept it or not. We cannot make them do it, we can only help. So thus, be wise, what can I say more?

 

It is a blessing that you reached this part of my emails. :D I love you all so much!

 

-Elder Morgan Hardy

 

2 month mark!

Kinda funny huh? Today is my two month mark! Woot! Only 22 more to go!

Oh, the glad tidings of a young missionary!

 

But again, how are you? I am doing so well, this week seems to have been a longer week than it seems or well, to what it usually has been! But, it has been a week where you live and learn. And to also to roll with the punches!

 

You are not going to believe what the highlight of this week was. After I finished emailing last week, we went out to lunch at a place called Harvey's. The guy that took our order noticed the name tags and we started talking to him. He asked us to come and visit him. But here is the catch, ready? This man, Chris, is a Baptist minister. He wanted to meet with us and to dicuss what we believed in. So on wednesday we headed over to his baptist church. His church, his playground. Joy. I was so nervous. Lets be honest, a young missionary hasn't been out for two months or anything and suddenly he is thrown into this man's office and discussing religion. We sat down had a nice chat and we taught the first lesson. After we were finished, he said his piece. He said that, in order to gain salvation, we just have to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. He went on about it and we emphasised the Book of Mormon. Ironicaly, he is obessed with the hymn "How firm a foundation." So we gave him a copy. In all he was a nice guy. We returned to to get our cd's back and he came up with some bible scriptures to bash on our religion. But then again, Chris is a very nice guy.

 

So when you, as a missionary, get to baptize someone you must also re-teach them the lessons again after the baptism just to make sure that they have it down. So Elder Gammell and I went to re-teach the Brewsters. Now, I don't know if I have mentioned them in my previous letters, but these kind people got baptized in October, had us over for Christmas dinner, and has accompanied us to many lessons with our investigators. So thus, we see them a lot have been become great friends. So we went over to the house to teach them the ten commandments. We got to the commandment about "no graven images" and Brother Brewster asked us about the cross. We explained that we believed in the Living christ and that the cross symbolized his death. He asked us if we had a cross in our homes back in Utah. We replied no. He said "okay." and got up from the chair and raced into the bedroom. We heard what seemed like screw being pulled out from the wall. He was taking down the cross right there! His wife was freaking out because the cross was a gift from the kids a long time ago, but he didn't care and he was willing to do whatever Christ and Thomas S Monson would have him do. How passionate that night was! How amazing that was! See, that was truly a conversion! It was a night to be remembered I assure you!

 

So, besides that we went to Glace Bay again, aw, perfect. The lunch on the ocean again. Again, another simple highlight of the week. Just thought that I should let you know!

 

But after our appointment with Chris, I thought how could it be that easy? Just pray and accept Christ as your Savior and that is it? I thought about it and Elder Gammell showed me this talk that Jefferey R. Holland gave to the mission presidents, some time ago, but it answered my question. Elder Holland goes and says "Every missionary asks; 'Why isn't the work easier? We have angels and miracles and it is the truth so why don't people just run to the font?!"' My first answer was agency, the right to choose, but I was wrong. He goes on to say that it is not easy because "salvation is not a cheap expierience." He keeps going and explains that how could it be easy for us when it wasn't easy for Savior, so how can we expect it to be easy for us. It was powerful. The mission isn't easy. It never will be, people will not flood to the font to be baptized. Life in general is never easy, how could it be? We must expect it to be hard, we must rely on the atonement of Jesus Christ, daily. For it wasn't easy for Jesus Christ in Gestheme why in the world would it be easy for us? For in D&C 19 "which caused I, God the greatest of all, to suffer because of pain and to bleed at every pour." The atonement of Jesus Christ is real, it is amazing. Now, I don't mean to be all preachy or what not, I mean for my emails to be fun and exciting, but that message this week made me want to be better than I have ever been. (a talk that Elder Eyring did in 1989, adressed that line) It made me want to push harder than I have ever pushed. So, it is my humbliest prayer, that we become better than we have ever been. I'm sure that we have had moments when we want to be better, my moment was this week hearing Elder Holland and Elder Eyring speak.

We all have those moments. I know, because I have had. Salvation is not a cheap expierence, we must have that strength to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ uncessingly.

 

So again, know that I maybe a tad preachy this week, but seeing Chris and hearing that just made that fire (the good spirit fire) burn within me. Thats what was important to me. So excuse me, but that is from the heart. So again, my emails will be fun, but when you have that burning desire in you, how could you not share it with everyone?

 

I love you all so much and pray that your week will be a great week for you all!

Make a moment this week! :D

 

-Elder Morgan Hardy

 

"Again, we meet around the board..."

Bwhaha! "Again, we meet around the board..." :D

 

Another week come and gone. But now that I am thinking about it, it seems like forever since I lasted communicated with you. But nevertheless, I am here and love that you are reading this! It gives me hope!

 

Okay, I shall begin with one of the greatest sights I have seen on my mission. We went to a city called Glace Bay on wednesday. It is about 16k's from Sydney but we went to find someone to teach! We got to the main street of the town and right before me was the Atlantic Oceon. It was amazing! You could stare at if all day! So my companion seeing my interest in such scenery, parked the car on the street nearest the oceon and we went knocking while looking at the water. Lunch soon followed and we pulled up right to the beach and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in car looking at the oceon. I was just so happy to be looking at something that was so amazing. Just seeing those blue waters brightened the entire week for me! It was probably the most memroable lunch I have ever had.

 

So unbeknowest to most of you, well since I am a missionary I must be honest, I had this terriable tooth ache in mouth that lasted for a week and half. So I called the missionary mom, Sister Simpson, who in turn told me to head straight to the denist. They took me as an emergency (this I liked very much :D ) and sat me in with Dr. McDonald. She took and x-ray and helped me out! Apparently, where my toothache was, was a small tiny cavitiy. And the pain was caused my tooth plague. SO I got instructed on how to brush my teeth and she gave me this toothpaste to help strengthen my teeth. :D What an adventure! My teeth feel like a million bucks! Woot!

 

So the next day, friday, we travelled to Port Hawkesberry for interviews with President Simpson. We got mail and he conducted the interviews. While the other Elders and I talked and chatted with Sister Simpson. This was so much fun! I got my yearly family calender from Grandma (Thank you! Love you!) and Sister Simpson took that and went through it. It reached August where our family picture is and she saw my darling sister Kenzie. Hmmm....here goes the Kenzie drama again! She said "OH! She is gorgeous! So beautiful! Hey Elders (the other elders that are working in sydney) come take a look at his sister! She's cute!" Hahahahaha! Ironic huh?! Its silly! Now when I see other missionaries they will ask me about it because news in the mission travels fast. :D :D HAHAHA! Its soo funny!

 

So the snow is coming down on sydney. We had a lot yesterday. And apparently there is more to follow on wednesday! I was hoping that it would never come, but hey, what do you do right?

 

-Kimi is coming a long great! The other Elders in Sydney are had a baptism this week and this greatly excited Kimi! He is way excited and hopefully a baptism will follow!

-Byron came to chuch this sunday and is steadily reading the Book of Mormon. He seemed to really like church was just getting invovled! Good things to come no doubt!

-Ben. He is a new investigater and is a memebers son. He is really interested. Came also the that baptism and he was just fascinated by it!

I love these people! They are coming unto Christ and it is beautiful!

 

So Alison ( the other elders new member; the one that got baptized) was way excited to be baptized and during that baptism I just kept thinking about my own baptism. It was 11 years ago. I remember just getting into the water, Seth Dove already baptized and shivering in the cold, I got "dunked" but one of my toes came up. So thus, I had to do it again. I don't remember much. But I remember. I encourage all of you to remember why you joined the church, what it means to you. I have been doing this a lot lately and now that I think of it, it means everything to me. It means my family, my hopes, and it means memories that I will cherish. I see Alison get baptized, and she was glowing afterward. She will never forget that day as long as she lives. It is my earnest prayer, that we do not forget our own baptism. Remember how important it was and how pivotal it means in your life. I know that if you do, you will smile. You will smile and be happy. I didn't see how much that baptism mean't to me, until I saw Alison getting baptized. Because that day, eleven years ago, changed my life forever and for the better.

 

Again, I know that it is a very simple thought, but it will inspire you to become more. I know that if you do this, the Lord will shower his blessing for abundtly upon you. I love you, I respect you, and I enjoy your company. For you reading my letters is one of the greatest blessing I have on this little 2 year adventure!

 

Sending some Canadian love,

 

-Elder Morgan Hardy.

 

1-3-11

"How's it going, buddy?"

 

That is probably the line that we hear most when we approach people to talk with them about the Gospel. The people here of Cape Breton are always saying "buddy" or "By". They mean the same thing but some people say it so fast that it is hard to understand!  But in all awesomeness that people of Canada are so friendly and very polite.

 

One thing that is odd is everything is so expensive up here sometimes. A liter of Milk (Oh yes, milk goes by liters and gas goes by liters as well. We have to fill up our second day here and I saw the price $1.15, I thinking that it was gallons was like "Holy COW!" But no, it was liters. Silly me. :D) So liter of milk costs about 3 to 4 bucks. So we have to budget well and do all that we can to save! We manage well, and no mom, I am not starving! :P

 

So my preperation day got changed to be on mondays now. SO expect to hear from me and my brother on the same day, so mondays will be Hardy filled! :P So expect nothing else. :D

 

So my new years eve is rather funny one. We had to be in our apartment by 6. So we had little time to go and preach the gospel. So we just decided to jet out and try to get in as much time as we can. People weren't really excited that we were coming around that day. They just seemed like it was a bother...but we did meet people we seemed very interested and that I am truly garteful for. So we we went around and did the best that we could do. So when 6 arrived we headed back to the apartment. So just relaxed and I drew a couple of pictures and just enjoyed the night. It was tad weird to be sitting in the apartment doing nothing. Odd. But the night was good and we were in bed promptly at 10:30. Woot! Then we welcomed in the New Year with our heads on our pillows. The next day, no body was out on the roads. It felt like a sunday back in Utah. No one was out. :D

 

Later, last wedensday, we had probably the most spiritual experience I have had on my mission. We were teaching Kimi (chinese student) and he asked about the Baptismal questions. We pulled them out and the first one is "Do you believe that God is your loving heavenly father?" Now, Kimi is from China, and he knew nothing about God til we met him 3 weeks ago. He was unsure. I pulled the "O RELIABLE" scripture; Moroni 10:3-5. That scripture always comes in handy. Always. We told him to ask in faith if God was there. Then the 3 of us (Elder Gammell, Brother Brewster, and I) bore powerful testimonies about how each of us knew God individually and how he has changed our lifes. The Spirit was there. Kimi told us that he utterly loved us for being his friend. He even asked if we could all be friends forever. That line, soldified how much a mission means to the missionary. You meet people on this mission, who will change your heart and your life. You will meet people that will become your friends for eternity. I am so glad to be serving this mission; I met this person, whom I probably would have never met, but now that I have, I am truly blessed for it. That is what the mission and the Gospel is all about. D & C section 18 verse 15 states "And if it so be that you should labor all your  days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" The joy I have from meeting Kimi and our other investigators that are my friends, estounds me! A friend for life! That is why being a missionary is the happiest calling on this earth!

 

So future missionaries, prepare to meet friends on your mission. Because when you have those hard days where nothing seems to be going your way, you think of your friends that you taught and baptized, and then everything turns around. Everyone can be a friend. So love on another and do all that you can to be that friend.

So everyone, go out and meet new people. Or why not meet some old friends! People are put into our lifes for a reason, so why not try to find out that reason?

 

I love you all so much! Thank you for all that you guys do. I am so blessed to have known all of you. I truly do mean that. Thank you so much. I couldn't have done it without you. Again, may the Lord bless you this year in 2011; so make it one year to remember!

 

With love and missionary wisdom; (...good one Morgan---hand five to self---)

 

-Elder Morgan Hardy.