The Adventures of My Life

So, I made some sushi today. Yup, and it turned out pretty good. I really surprised myself! It looked something like this:

Also, on Saturday I ran in the 5K and I did pretty good for my 1st time!  I ran it in 27 minutes, 10.2 seconds.  All of the excitement really made me pumped up to run in more 5K's in the future!  So, I created a running schedule and then I might sign up for a 5K in Provo in 2 weeks!  Also, I will be singing a solo at a stake musical fireside...so exciting!!

It is amazing how excited I can get with something after being exposed to it for so short a period of time. I consider myself a very compulsive person. When I get excited about something, it’s all I can think about and it becomes a quick obsession. Some recent examples of this are 1)country swing dancing (although I’ve only been like three times), 2)my sudden interest in reading, 3)being part of choirs and 4)trying to become a handyman with an interest in tools, building and construction. But during our recent trip to Wyoming this past Easter holiday, I came to another conclusion. I decided that I wanted to stay in shape and due to the recent indulgence of easter candy and such, I wanted to lose some weight. I played with the idea of starting to run everyday. This idea turned into a reality, at least for now, as I have ran everyday this week with the exception of Tuesday. It started Monday, after we arrived home from Wyoming. It was way nice outside and I ran about a third of a mile just to start out. Tuesday was my lazy day but Wednesday, I ran 2 miles, huffing and puffing all the way. Yesterday (Thursday), I ran 3 miles and then went and played basketball at the church house for an hour and half. Needless to say, I was way sore this morning and decided not to go to work. So, after running for less than a week, I’m already running in a 5K tomorrow morning:

That’s right, I am one crazy, compulsive guy. I saw the sign at UVSC on Tuesday and I asked Scott if he wanted to run with me. He declined, because he doesn’t like running anymore, however his sister, Kristen, accepted the invitation. So…I hope I do well!

I have been in the “blogging” mode for quite a while now. I wasn’t able to figure out my username and password for a long time (due to the mission years), and now I just received them from Dad, who had been blogging it up with my “mission emails”. So, without further adew, I am now officially back into the blogging world! I will speak freely and help everyone appreciate the life that is mine! Go Tar Heels!

Well, here I am in the blessed land of Chapel Hill, NC writing my final e-mail home at the end of a long, great succesful mission.  I have been reflecting and I feel that I have faithfully served these last 2 years and I am proud of my efforts.  But as all good things must come to an end, my mission is now coming to an end.  I just have to survive the rest of this P-day, an activity at the church tonight, transfer meeting, last dinner and last testimony meeting tommorow and the flight home on Wednesday.  I have no doubt, as many say, my mission will feel like a big dream, but I feel that I have definately changed and that it was a great experience, of which I benefited from more than anything else I have done in my life.

My last week was great…I kept my eye on the prize and kept working, taught 25 lessons and did some good things.  Mario, Wendy and Gilberto continue to move along and hopefully Elder Holmes and his new missionary (yup, he’s training) will add on to the efforts.  I feel extremly grateful for having this opportunity to serve in this capacity and I look forward to sharing my experiences with each one of you..hopefully I will be a good example from now on!!

Sincerely and until next time (Wednesday for some of you!): Elder Michael Scott Hardy

PS:
FROM NOW ON, MY E-MAIL IS: michael@hardys.org

Well…for those of you who haven’t recieved an e-mail for a while (usually I only include the family and a few friends in the email), I am finishing up the mission here in Chapel Hill, NC.  I only have 1 week left…am scheduled to return June 20th.  I’ve already had a great day today as me and Elder Warnick actually went golfing with a member.  It was one of the coolest things that I have done on P-day (the other one was taking a tour of the RBC center in Raleigh).  We went to this one place called the Preserve at Jordan Lake….it is a 18-holer designed by golfer Davis Love.  It was very nice…we got a super good deal, and I was way rusty (not having golfed in 3 years!)  It was by far the toughest course I have ever played and even though I played horrible, I still had a blast.  Elder Warnick is way good as was also the member (I came in a distant 3rd place).

Well, the mission has went very well, I haved loved it so far…too bad it’s coming to an end (but I guess it had to sometime!).  I have had good success in all of my areas (Cary, Raleigh, Wilson, Henderson and know Chapel Hill).  I have had baptisms in all of my areas and it appears most of the converts are still doing good, some are still struggling, but I hope they are strengthend.  In my short time here in Chapel Hill (only 5 weeks so far), we haven’t had a baptism, but we opened the area and have a strong investigator, Mario, who came to church again and has already read 1st Nephi.  He is way cool and smart and really enjoys the church so far.  There are a couple more, Gilberto and Wendy, a couple from Guatamala, who are very excited (Gilberto’s sister is a member there), so we have high hopes for them.  The members here are great…I have scheduled some sweet dinners for the next week and I know this next week will be great…hopefully the best of my mission!

Thank you everyone for you support and I hope to see you soon!

Love ya,
Elder Hardy

As I have been thinking alot about home these last few weeks (given that I only have 3 weeks left now), I have came to the point that I am starting to feel a little nervous.  Let me tell you that every missionary dreams about when it’s time to come home.  It starts at the very beginning in the MTC and slowly builds up.  Now, the trick to the matter is actually putting those thoughts in the back of your mind and going to work.  I feel for the majority of my mission, I have been able to do that and even in the last few weeks, although it has been harder, I have still been able to push onward.  This last week, we had some good experiences.  We had 3 dinners in a row and got to know some really cool members.  We got some details on some people who are currently not active in church and we are trying our best to visit them.  We have a couple good investigators that we have found: Mario Alberto, who we had contacted a few weeks ago.  We had a great lesson with him, he read a pamphlet that we had left behind for his friend, so we gave him a Book of Mormon.  We had a great controversy, and before he left, he told us that he really liked being with us.  That sure feels good after most people avoid us like the plague.  We are also teaching a lady from El Salvador, Nohemy.  She has already read up to Chapter 10 of 1st nephi and actually went to church twice when she lived in El Salvador.  So, all of our work seems to be paying off and I am sure when i leave, there will be a lot to do for the new missionary.

The only bummer this week was the fact that we weren’t able to go to the Spanish Conference in Apex.  Basically all of the hispanic members in the mission went (including some of my baptisms and some members I knew very closely).  The rule was set forth that we were not able to go without bringing an investigator.  They also had told us that we were going to help but this last Tuesday, told us they didn’t need us and that in order to go, we would also have to bring an investigator.  Well, just being here 2 weeks, the task was inmensly difficult and we also had one, Mario Alberto, who was to go.  But we came up short, I even called Elder Yenchik the night before to see if we could still go and he said no.  So, we didn’t go and later found out that we were the only spanish companionship not to be there.  And there were quite a few who didn’t have investigators (thus, not paying attention to the rule).  This happened to upset Elder Holmes and I, as we had been obedient and in a sense, been punished to miss out on such a great and sweet experience.  Nothing was done to those that went without investigators, so a rule was set without any consequances enforced.  We are not looking for a punishment or anything but I feel I missed out on the chance to say good bye to everyone.  It was a bummer, but I do seriously thing that the blessings will come to us for being obedient.  I feel we did the right thing.

Well, thanks everyone!
Elder Hardy

Hey y’all..things are going well in Chapel Hill.  Still trying to get things done, although being in a new ward with so little time left…it is kind of difficult.  Especially since we are opening up spanish again in a ward that previously didn’t have spanish missionaries.  I am not quite sure that they know what to do with us.  So, we haven’t had any meals or exchanges, but that’s fine with me.  Really, I guess the bulk of what we are doing is trying to find more hispanic people…and there sure are a lot around here!  Riding the buses is also way cool…going around on the UNC campus.

I have enjoyed my new comp, Elder Holmes, he is way cool and funny and also chill.  We are getting along great.  Also last night, we went to “The Redeemer”, a combined choir and orchestra with a program centered on Christ.  It was way good and also got to see a couple people up north from Henderson (Bob, John and Beth).  It was way fun to see them and talk for a few minutes.  I had a good week and now only have 4 more to experience as a missionary and then after than….everything changes!

With Love,
Elder Hardy

Well…just talked with the Fam yesterday…it was great hearing from everyone…sounds like everyone is pretty much the same, but in different circunstances…but I really enjoyed it.  As you probably all have found out, I am in Chapel Hill now…and it is so sweet so far.  There weren’t any spanish missionaries here for a good 5 months and then they sent Elder Holmes (a way funny, good missionary) and me to open it up again.  We both had no idea of what was going down…but we are learning the area and meeting the people…and there are tons of hispanics.  We share the car everyone other day and we use the buses here alot.  They are free..and there are always a lot of interesting people on them.

One of the main reasons that I like Chapel Hill is that it is a college town.  University of North Carolina is located here…so it is a very happenin’ place.  The restarants here are great and the people are very diverse.  My last two areas were more like abandoned cities/ghetto area…so this is a great change.  I am enjoying life again and I guess I have an added bust for my last…5 weeks!!  It’s going to be awesome…hope everyone is takin’ care and I’ll see ya soon.

Elder Hardy

Well….the news is in.  I am officially being transferred out of Henderson.  It has been one long week.  On Tuesday, we had a spanish council in Raleigh…and that was awesome.  It was a good week, I got to say good-bye to a lot of people…all people I have grown to love…or have loved since the beginning!  It is hard saying good-bye.  But, the DL called us on Saturday night and told us that we are both being transferred (a “white-wash” in mission terms).  We couldn’t believe him at first, but we have realized that it is happening.  The sweet thing is that I have already found out where I am going…CHAPEL HILL: home of UNC!!  My companion is way sweet..I’m definately going to go out in style!  I love life right now…I feel like I have been set free!  I’ll be able to talk to some of you guys I hope this next Sunday.

Love,

Elder Hardy

Hey, sorry, already know that this will be a short letter.  Our baptism (Amber Fisher) canceled last week, her mom called the night before the baptismal interview, and told us that something had come up and that Amber needs to talk with the Branch President.  I have no idea what happened, but I am definately bummed about it.  Looks like I won’t have another baptism before leaving Henderson and hopefully I do leave this next week.  I am ready to finish my last 6 weeks hopefully in Raleigh.

Any questions or comments?
Elder Hardy