Tuesday, March 28, 2017

"Tot ziens Bonaire, hallo Curacao!" "Tot ziens Curacao, hallo Trinidad (voor een paar dagen)!" "Ach, bijna naar Suriname toe!"

Hello everyone!

Unfortunately, I don't have very much time today since yesterday the library was closed and today I had to fly so I'm now at the mission office in Trinidad emailing fast so we can make it to a meeting on time!

However, I do want to share something cool I heard in a talk on Sunday; Brother Statie told the story of a man went to go get his car filled up. He went to the service station to fill up and then as he was driving away it stopped working, he was very confused since he had just gotten it filled. It turns out that they put diesel into but instead it needed gasoline! The truck's engine had been changed to use gasoline but a sticker on the side, indicating that it used diesel fuel, had not been removed. Brother Statie compared this to people who are changed by the Atonement and become members but their outward appearance, like the truck, is different than what it actually runs on. I thought it was a cool talk.

I like flying, people are really funny when they travel. This time was a lot better, last time I had to wear orange Nike flip-flops as I went through the Curacao airport. This time, I felt like a pro!

That's all I have time for today, sorry but next week will be better!

Stay tuned for Episode VI- Return of the Hardy!

Title Translation:

"Goodbye Bonaire, Curacao hello!" "Goodbye Curacao, hello Trinidad (a few days)!" "Oh, almost to Suriname"






Wednesday, March 22, 2017

"Moeten we een foto maken?" "Als je wil mij niet vergeten!" "Maak het wel!"

Good afternoon!

This week was pretty crazy! Elder Munoz and I were on exchange together this week because our companions had to fly to Aruba for exchanges; something that always happens to us when we're together is: we get rained on and we run into Mormons! This past group was a mix of Utah and Texas.

I got to go teaching with him but it's kind of hard since I don't speak Spanish or Papumento! We did, however, go by a woman from Curacao so she could speak both; Elder Munoz and I taught pretty well together considering when we switched off, we switched languages! We also got to go by this couple, Thomas and Christina. I've taught them a few times and they're awesome. We talked about prophets and the priesthood a bit and from the little Spanish I do know, Thomas explained it very well! At the end of the lesson, they were trying to teach me some Spanish! Thomas wanted to give us a bag full of coca-cola cans since his boss gave him a ton of it and he doesn't like the taste. He handed me the bag and I held it in my hand and pretended that it was too heavy so I acted like I dropped it for a sec. I got them pretty bad and we all had a good laugh afterwards.

Elder Burr and I have started contacting in Kralendijk, we've ran into a lot of Surinamers in other parts of the island and ironically enough, the first person we talk to is a Surinamer named Andy! We talked with him and he seemed really interested in hearing more about our message but he needed to go back to his work and pick up something, so he said we could ride with him in truck as he drove and we talked. I love Surinamers. It was really cool telling him about the Book of Mormon, we asked questions about prayer, his experience with God and church. He accepted a Book of Mormon and we made an appointment to go back! That was one of my more interesting experiences, when he walked inside his work we were talking each other like, "Wow, we're sitting inside his truck, contacting him. Cool!"

We also did some service for Sister Carti, she had us move junk for her and clear out weeds and bushes using machetes and a hoe. As we started moving stuff in one area, I heard a cat meowing a lot, really loud too! Eventually, it turned into an adventure of trying to catch this cat to Sister Mens who worked at the Animal Shelter here in Bonaire. We tried everything we could but the kitty was too fast! We eventually left it in this really bushy area and Sister Mens said she would swing down in a few hours. She told us later that she caught the cat, apparently Brother Mens was contemplating keeping it!

I also got my transfer call this week, I'll be heading back to Suriname to serve in Wanica (central)! I'll be leaving Bonaire next tuesday but I'll have fly first to Trinidad to pick up my visa and then to Suriname, so I'll get there on the 30th.

"That's what this mission is, crazy!" -President Egbert

Well that was my week, I hope you had a fantastic one yourself!
Have a wonderful day and love life!


Lobi,
Elder Hardy


Attached: Gari, De Mens Familie, Gari and I, the sky on fire













Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Zone Conference in the ABC Islands

 Zone Conference in the ABC islands was held 10 March, 2017. Aruba was not able to join us in person, but was able through modern technology participate in our conference. We love these missionaries and what a blessing it is to get together for a spiritual and physical "feast". I promise some of these picture will make you smile! Enjoy!

 Elder Sarmiento, Elder Munoz, Elder Hardy and Elder Burr


President and Sister Egbert. Oh how we love these two... We all benefit from their love, knowledge, vision, leadership and ability to make each missionary feel valued and loved.

President Egbert and Elder Hardy