NEW AREA IS AWESOME!!

Well hello dear family!

How is everybody doing? It sounds like everybody is doing great,
except for poor little Drake and Raegan. I hope that all is going
well with everybody though.

So my new area is awesome. Yesterday Elder Moultrie and I had a
baptism. His name is Willy. He's a great young kid. His Mom was
baptized about a month ago. We went to go and see him last night
after his baptism and everything, and he was just glowing and said
that he felt good. He's a very shy kid, but he came out of it a lot
yesterday and it was fun to see. I'll send some pictures.
It's been kind of hot this past week, except for yesterday and today,
and I love being back out on my bike. I really do love riding my
bike. Elder Moultrie and I have fun on them. We live a nice town
home right now. Do I feel like I'm in the country? Uh... I wouldn't
necesarily say that but I do feel like we're way more out in the open.
About midway this month we are going to be heading down to Key Largo.
It's going to be really fun I'm excited. Speaking of if I feel like
I live in the country, last Monday on Preparation Day we went to a
Western Ware store, and holy cow it was awesome. I was looking at the
boots and cowboy hats and belt buckles, and just going crazy in that
store. I thought, "I'm home!" It was an awesome time.

The ward here is doing pretty good. It's kind of fun but interesting
having both Spanish and English. It's kind of hard to explain how
it's done, but there are headset translators that everybody that
doesn't know both languages wear. It's fun being able to know both
languages. Our investigators still love church. The Spirit still
touches them, and I love it that that happens.

Well family I don't have much time. Just know that I love you all so
very much, and that I am doing great. I love you. Take care, have a
great week, and be careful in all things. Lucky! Snow! That's
awesome that you finally got a big storm. Have fun in and with it,
but please be careful driving in it.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

Baptism of Willy

Where in Flordia is ELDER??

Hello my dear family!

How is everything going? It sounds like everybody is doing good,
except for maybe Big D recovering from Strep. But, I'm really happy
to hear that a new precious little baby boy is going to be born into
our family. What a blessing! That reminds me of something that
happened yesterday. We were out knocking doors and we knocked into
this family that let us in. It was a couple with their two little
twin granddaughters. The Grandma was sitting on the floor feeding
these little girls that were almost 1 year old. When we looked at
these two little girls, one of them just looked up at us and just
smiled and it was so precious. A little while later they both looked
at us and just smiled. It was so cute I loved it. It made me feel so
good.

Ok, so where am I? I am in the second farthest South, next to Key West

area in the whole mission. I'm in Homestead West. It's a fun
little area. I feel like I am in the "Idaho" of Florida. There's a
lot of Strawberry and Corn fields. It's so fun down here. I know
that I'm supposed to be down here. We are on bike down here in this
area too. We teach both English and Spanish down here. Our ward is a
bilingual ward. They have translator head sets and one guy who
translates. We sing in Spanish and in English, and the speakers every
week are either Spanish or English. It's quite interesting, but it's
good. Our investigator loved church this week. The Spirit is still
there even though translation is done and people have head sets on. I
love it. It's a lot of fun down here. The weather has been kind of
hot but kind of nice too, so bike riding has been pretty good. Key
Largo is part of our area as well. We're going to be going down there
about mid March to go see some people. We'll either get a ride down
there from a member, or take the bus. We'll see. To get here to this
area we had to take a little bus ride from our Zone Leaders' area
which is just a little farther North, down to here and then the other
Elders that we live with picked us up. We live with Elder Edwards and
Elder Rugg. They're great and fun Elders.
My companion is Elder Moultrie from West Point, Utah. He's an awesome
Elder, and we have some baptisms lined up and ready to go this coming
week and for the week after. The people for the week after are some
people that Elder Moultrie and I found our very first day together.
It was so fun.

However, having said that I love it so much down here, I still miss my
last area. I think about the people if not everyday I think. But, I
know that they're an eternal part of me and I will see them again. I
am keeping things in my journal, not every day, but I am doing my best
now to keep things in my journal so that I can remember them.

My health is doing just fine. I can't really think of anything that I
need you to send me. I just need somebody to send me a letter this
week because I need to renew my library card now that I'm in a
different county, and I need to show some kind of proof of address.
So I'm looking forward to a letter this week.

Mother, Aunt Sharon be careful going down to St. George. Give the
little girl a big hug for me. The baby not Kaitlin lol. But, you can
give Kaitlin and Jordan a big hug from me.

Don't worry about sending these letters to my MTC teacher for now
because I don't have his address on me. I'll try to remember to bring
his address so that you can, but don't worry about it too much.

Well family, that catches you up for this week on the life of Elder
Hardman right now. He's doing good, don't worry. But I love you all
so very much and ask for your safety everyday. Take care, and have a
great week.
I love you!

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

another Transfer & Elder is leaving?!?!

Hola Querida Familia!

How is everybody doing? It sounds that everyone is doing great and I'm
happy about that. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA! I love you! Thank you for
everything that you do for me!

Well, like you said Mother, change is good. I'm leaving. I'm getting
transferred. I'm super sad about it. I called a recent convert last night
to tell her and she said something sad. She said, "But you're the only one
that I can talk to." I love this area and the people, but I know that I
have to go. It's the Lord's will. I'm super sad to leave Elder Kata, we
get along and work together so great, and the entire District, but all is
going to be good. I don't know where I am going yet or who I am going to
be with, but I will for sure let you know in next weeks E-mail. Transfer
meeting is tomorrow morning and there I will find out. All is well.

The weather down here has been pretty nice as of lately. Last week when we
went off road biking, which was a blast by the way, it was nice and fresh
and cool with a nice breeze coming through. I'll send a picture or two of
the biking adventure. We all had so much fun. We fell and laughed and had
a great time. It didn't even matter that we fell, we were just having a
good time. It was a good stress reliever too. There was one time where I
was riding along and the track took me between a couple of rocks and my
tire slipped and my bike did too and so I was going down. I caught myself
and as I was going to stop to get my balance, my foot hit my bike seat and
sent me more unbalanced but lucky I fully caught myself because if I
hadn't, I would have went right into the drink. I was right along side the
lake that was there and definitely would have went in. It was a blast and
we all had a great time. Don't worry Mother I'll be careful.

I can't believe that Jacob got married! I couldn't believe it when I heard
it! Who did he get married to? That's so crazy!

It sounds like Landon is ready to get off and working hard on the mission.
He is going to love it. I'm super excited for him. He's going to be a
great missionary and the people of Alabama and his companions are going to
love him so much.

Hey I have a question. How is Andrew Elmer doing? Also, do you still send
my e-mails to Brother McCord, one of my MTC teachers?

That's an awesome experience that you had meeting that gal Mother. We must
always remember that we all knew each other before this life and when we
meet in such a sacred place or a sacred setting, it's easier for us to
realize that and recognize each other. It's a great experience. I feel
that way every time I get to a new area and meet the members and
investigators that are already there, and also when we start teaching
people and sometimes meet them for the first time.

Well family I need to go. I love you all so much! Take care during this
week and have a good week. Be careful and good in all things that you do
and stay away from temptation. I love you all so much and take care. Be
careful in all things.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

The District

Teeter Totter on my bike!

The UP'S and DOWN'S of a mission

Hello Family!

How is everybody doing? It sounds like all are doing well and that
everything is going pretty good. I'm happy to hear that. All is well for
me too. This week has been a pretty good week. The weather here has been
really nice. It has been a little chilly for the past few days, but it
has been nice and I haven't complained one little bit. That's crazy that
Emily was here in Ft. Lauderdale. I'm not too far from Ft. Lauderdale
right now.

This week was a little bit harder of a week for Elder Kata and I as far as
finding spanish people. For some reason, we just couldn't find the
neighborhoods and places where they live for a couple of days. But, we
have now found a couple of places to go and our investigator pool is
growing a lot. This last week we went to go and teach one of the families
that we blessed the week before. We taught her about the Sacrament and the
Atonement of Jesus Christ and invited them to church. They were so excited
to come to church. They didn't come though because one works on Sundays,
but she is asking her boss if she can get it off, and the others I'm not
sure why. Maybe no ride or something I don't know, but we're going to find
out. Every time that we see them though, they are so excited to see us,
especially one of them in particular. After the blessing we asked her how
she felt, she said that she felt happy with a big smile on her face. When
we taught her of the Sacrament and the Atonement, we asked her if those are
feelings, the ones that she felt from the blessing, are something that she
would like to have always. She said that would be amazing. We testified
that as she witnessed the *ordinance* of the Sacrament, she would feel
those feelings. Next time we meet with her we are going to invite her and
all of them to be baptized. A very sweet family.

To answer your question Mother of how people react when we ask if we can
come in and bless their home, it really varies from person to person. Some
are so excited and let us in without hesitation and the Spirit is really
strong, others let us in because it's something from God, but it's not too
important for them that we're there(I don't know if that makes sense),
others say no because they already have their religion and various other
reasons. But right off the bat we invite the Spirit by testifying of who
we are representing and why we are there. You can feel the difference in
homes as you go.

Go and rescue The Gilmore Family. They need spiritual nourishment. Go and
give it to them.

Today for Preparation Day we are going to a park to do some off road
biking. It's going to be a lot of fun, and supposedly there's a lot of
wild life there so we'll see. It's going to be a lot of fun though. We've
been having some fun Preparation Days lately playing volleyball and
things. Speaking of Preparation Day, if you can hardly believe it, next
week are transfers again so I won't be e-mailing until Tuesday. This
transfer has gone by fast, and I hope so much to stay in this area.

Well family just know that I am doing well. I love you all so much and I
thank you all so much for your prayers on my behalf. Know that I pray for
you. Take care and have a good week and be careful in all things that you
do.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK

Hello my dear family!

How is everybody doing? It sounds like everybody is doing fine. HAPPY
BIRTHDAY GRANDPA! HAPPY FUTURE BIRTHDAY GRANDMA! I love you!
Me, I am doing great. It has been such a good week, and a lot has been
accomplished this week. This week as a District and with the Zone Leaders
we set a goal to give 50 blessings. We all worked so hard to reach this
goal. One of the areas in the District got the highest number of blessings
ever given in that area since we started blessing people's homes. These
Elders worked so hard and they deserve so much. We came out at the end of
the week with 49 blessings! That is huge! Everybody worked so hard! My
area as well I think experienced one of, if not the higest number of
blessings given. The Lord really blessed us this week in helping us find
these people to bless them. I felt a sense of excitement come over myself
and come over the District. It was something indescribable, but I could
not be prouder of the missionaries who are in my District. I love them all
so much. Kind of an indirect blessing that I have seen from working
towards this goal as well is how the relationships between the missionaries
in each companionship has grown, and how our relationship as a District as
a whole has grown so much too. This was such a good week and I love
missionary work.

I'm glad and happy to hear that you got my package. I'm so happy to hear
that you enjoyed it. First off, explanation on everything. Those CD's
that I sent home: we moved out of our old apartment and into a new one,
and as we were cleaning things out and moving, I came across a box that had
been there since I got there. It was filled with these CDs and more. So I
picked a few out and sent them home because I can't listen to them here.
The sand I got at Christmas time as part of a white elephant that we were
doing. A Sister who was in my District before Christmas, but got
transferred, I guess picked that sand and did that. It was pretty cool.
The pennies that I sent home, that were in my shoe, were one a really old
penny which I just thought it was cool how old it was, and the other like a
Canadian penny or something. I just thought that it was cool.

That is a choice experience being able to meet that lady that Sister Tyson
and Sister Briggs found and taught. That is so special. It sounds like
you had a very spiritual week as well this week Mother. I know that what
you were feeling about how The Lord was preparing you for something that
day was true. Remember how in the Scriptures He says, "I will go before
thy face." He always goes before our face. That's something that is a
huge reality that I have seen on the mission. The Lord goes before our
faces.
Thank you so much as well for sharing me about Drake's prayer. That really
touched my heart, and I too agree that all of these kids' parents are
raising them up so good and teaching them such great things.

I'm so happy to hear that Kaitlin and Jordan had their little girl. That's
so precious. She sounds like a big little girl though lol.

So funny story this week. As we were knocking doors the other day looking
for people who will let us bless them, we were walking from one house to
the next and I was looking at the ground while walking. We were at a
trailer park and a lot of these trailers have a little metal awning that
covers some of the windows on these trailers. And as I was walking and
looking down, BAM! I smacked the old noggin right on one of those things.
Haha just absolutely plastered my head on that thing. It gave me like an
instant goose egg and that part of my head, basically right at my hairline
on my forehead, went purple and you could see the lines of that metal
awning. "A lot of pain nothing to worry about." (Movie quote). No but it
went down quick and everything, nothing to worry about. My companion and I
were laughing so hard. My companion thought that somebody stuck their hand
out the window and hit me haha. It was a good time. That's what I get for
looking at the ground while walking.

Well family, that basically does it for this week. Thank you all so much
for your prayers, and your love on my behalf. I feel of it everyday. I
love you all so much, and take care this week. Be careful in all things
that you do and while driving. Take care.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

Moved apartments...lower level!!

Dear Family,

What a great week it has been. It has kind of been an eventful week, but in a good way. This week we moved apartments. We moved in the same complex just into a different apartment on the bottom floor instead of the 3rd floor. It's sweet having a bottom apartment! We started moving on Tuesday. Tuesday in the morning we had our District Training. After the District Training we had lunch together as a District. It was really nice to be able to do that. But after we got done eating, my stomach turned for the worst. I got a pretty bad little bug in my stomach. It went away Thursday morning though. It wasn't too bad that it kept me down, but it kept me from eating, which probably isn't too bad of a thing for me. So I'm over that and all is well. I feel good and am ready to go. I have been doing really good this week.

So the weather has been kind of warm here. Not too extreme, but enough where it bugs me a little bit. Not too bad though can't complain. As of right now I am still in car.

I will get that package out today. As we were moving I found a few other things that I am going to send home. Just some clothes and things like that. So I'll get that out today since it's Preparation day. so hopefully you will get it soon. Preparation Days are nice. We usually go and play a sport of something. Last week and today we are playing volleyball on a sand court that's close to our apartment. It's a lot of fun. Elder Kata and I and our District, which consists of a companionship of Elders and one of Sisters, and the Zone leaders, whom we live with, go and play. It's a lot of fun and we all have a good time together. We write letters after and do things that we need to do so that we can focus during the week wholey upon the work of The Lord. Then at 5:45 we are out the door working again. It's nice.

It's really fun being a District Leader. I have an awesome District. We are working hard on setting and achieving goals as a District. This week we were so close to achieving the goals that we had this week to bless 36 homes and set 6 new Baptismal dates as a District. We were so close, but we'll achieve it. I love it because every week I prepare a training for the District. I love these trainings they help me, and all of us grow and learn how to invite others to come unto Christ.

I'm so happy to hear that Uncle Kit is doing so good and that he is up and running and exercising. Tell him to be careful. That makes me so happy to know how he is doing. I'm greatful for the protection that has been put over him.

Elder Kata and I had such a great experience yesterday. Two Saturdays ago, a day after that leadership training, we went to a less-actives house and taught her about the ordinance of the Sacrament. She came the next day to church. This week she also came to church for Stake Conference, and about the Conference got over she came up to us and said, "You'll never believe it. You remember how you told us about the blessings for coming to church. Well, this week we received a great blessing. After church last Sunday we went home and that afternoon we got a call." She then went on to tell us of the great blessing that her Grandson, who lives with her, received which was such a blessing to both of them. She was so happy and just had a great change of countenance in her. It was a great blessing and miracle for Elder Kata and I to receive.

So Mother I got your letter and I'm so happy about that experience that you had. I've been thinking, I think that I want to go to that Branch when I get back. That was a beautiful experience that you had Mother, and yes, that is what I do. That is what we do as missionaries. Now I think you can see how rewarding it is for us, even though we face a lot of rejection, it is so beautiful and sweet to see these people coming unto the fold of God, and makes everything so worth it especially when you can tell that these people know. It's a beautiful blessing to see in the eyes of others.

Well family, take care. Know that I am doing great. Take care in all things and be careful in all things. I love you all so much.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

DISTRICT LEADER

Well hello my family!

Well I'm glad that we're on the same page this week knowing when I was going to e-mail and everything lol. Yeah sorry about that last week I really thought that we were going to be e-mailing on Tuesday instead of Monday because of the holiday, but President Anderson didn't want it that way so we changed. No worries, it's all good. Thank you so much for relaying that message to Sister Martinez. She called me without wasting any time and told me. Thank you for that, and I too am glad and greatful that she did that for us and that blessing.

Happy late Birthday Garett! Happy Birthday Kenley! Wow, I can't believe that she is 3 already. I was just holding her.

Sorry Mother I have not gotten your letter in the mail yet, but I'll keep a look out for it and respond to it when I can. I'm glad that you've been able to attend other ward conferences. That's a great blessing.

Wow what a huge blessing that it about that check from Kroger! I'm so happy about that! Thank you for taking care of that! I have not sent the package yet because I don't have any money in my account in order to do so. If you could put that in today that would be great so that I can get that sent out today or at least soon. Thank you!

That's cool that you saw Coral Springs on TV, and that Sister Kinikini watches Law and Order. Haha that's awesome. The ward here is doing really good. I love this ward so much. I'm just sticking on Spanish now, now that I don't work in Portugese anymore. I'm thinking about trying to learn Tongan, but we'll have to see about that. Elder Kata is awesome.

So this last Friday we had a leadership training in the mission where a couple of leaders from the missionary department came. By the way I'm District Leader so that's why I was able to go. This training changed my life. The urgency for baptism is real and is nothing to be put off. The Sacrament has become more sacred to me because I now recognize the importance of it. One of the leaders said, "It's not the knowledge that's important, it's the recognition of the importance." (Something along those lines I don't have my notes with me to tell you the direct quote). It has changed my life and my mission. As I sat in Sacrament meeting yesterday I was really pondering on the things of the Sacrament. What a great blessing it is! We remember the sacrifice that Jesus Christ has made for us during this time. Remember, "no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God." So what's the relation between that scripture and the sacrament?

Well family just know that all is going well for me and I am doing great. It has been a great week, and things are getting a lot better and I am feeling better. Take care during this week and I'll talk to you soon. Be careful driving in the snow. I love you all so much!

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

New Companion Elder Kata!

Dear Family,

Well hello everybody! Surprise that I am writing to you today, I thought
that I would be writing on Tuesday but apparently not. Mother thank you so
much for sending me that message through the mission office about Uncle
Kit. That gave me so much relief you don't even know.

My new companion's name is Elder Kata from Tonga. He came directly from
Tonga learning English and Spanish. He received his call in Spanish and
speaks it great, and he speaks English great as well. He's super awesome I
love him so much. He is a great companion and a hard worker. We are
working hard together and will continue to do so.

I will try to get that package out today Mother so that I can send it to
you and Daddy. Sorry it's taking me so long. Have you put the money into
my bank account so that I can send it home? I need more money in my bank
account please. Thank you! I have a couple of things that I want to order
from store.lds.org that cost 5 bucks a piece. Please and thank you!

Elder Machado came back to Florida today to get his bike and everything.
It was so good seeing him again. He has the address to the house and your
phone number Mother and will be coming to visit you soon.

Well family just know that I am doing great and enjoying life. Please each
of you take care driving in the snow. I love you all so much! Be careful
in all things.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

A Good WEEK

Well Hello my Family!

How is everybody doing? It sounds like everybody is doing good and I'm
glad to hear that. How is Carson feeling? Poor little guy. I hope all is
going well with him. I am doing great. It has been a great past couple of
days. I have learned so much this week. The weather has been getting
warmer, but it has stayed nice, around 75-77 degrees this week. It has
been really nice. However, I love the snow. I miss the snow. I'm glad
that you finally got some lol.

I'm sorry, I think I forgot to tell you last week that this week is
transfers so I wasn't going to e-mail until today. I don't remember if I
told you all or not, if I didn't, I'm sorry. So I am staying here in
Lauderhill East...YES!!! I'm so excited I love this ward so much. But,
Elder Perrotti is leaving. I don't know where he is going yet, but I'll
let you know next week. I may not write until Tuesday next week either
because of Martin Luther King Day, I don't know though. So we'll see.
Just know that if I don't, I'm ok.

Alright Pa, I'm officially jealous that you made ham and beans this week.
You have no idea how good that sounds to me right now lol. Wow when you
said that I was like, "oh wow I haven't thought about those for a while."
I can almost taste them. You get feeling better from your vericose vein to
Pa alright? Y'all come back now ya hear?

I will hopefully be sending you that package this week. If you could
please put some money on to my back account I would greatly appreciate
that. Thank you! I love you!

Oh man I really hope that everything goes well with Uncle Kit. Please let
me know how it goes and what they are going to do. I will continue to pray
for him and that all will go well. I'm glad that he is reading The Book of
Mormon and is at peace. The Book of Mormon brings so much peace in to our
lives. I'm so greatful for it. It really touches me that he wants to
share that with Grandma. Tell Grandma to pray before she reads, then read,
then pray again after she reads and she will feel the Spirit of God touch
her heart. As she reads, tell her to look and ponder and see how that
helps her strengthen her Faith in Jesus Christ. Tell her to apply the
teachings into her life. (1 Nephi 19:23-24)

I'm so glad and happy that you are working in the primary again! Little
kids are such a strength to me. There are some so cute kids here in this
ward and every time that I see them I just feel happy and peaceful. We all
need to become like little children. They're so excited to learn. They
feel the truth and know it when they hear it. I love little kids.

Well family I am going to be sending home some more pictures right now so I
need to go so that I can do that in time. I love you all so very much and
know that I am ok and doing great. I'm excited for Dallas to be coming
home this coming week. Take care all of you, and be careful driving in the
snow. I love you so much.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

"44"

I held a RACCOON!!

Elder Perrotti on a COLD NIGHT!!

This is ME!!

http://mormon.org/me/795V/

HAPPY NEW YEARS

Happy New Years!

You all want to know what I did on new years eve? We had to be in the
apartment by 8:00 pm, an hour or so earlier than normal, we planned for the
next day, I drank a bottle of white grape sparkling cider, brushed my
teeth, said a prayer, and went to bed. It felt great! I woke up the next
morning thinking, "I feel like a new man." (name that movie). It was so
nice to be able to sleep a little bit more. There were fireworks going off
aparently, but I didn't hear a single one. I was out like a light. I
didn't complain one little bit.

So how is everybody doing? It sounds like everybody is doing good and I'm
glad to hear that, except for maybe my poor puppy dog. Aw poor little
buddy that story makes me laugh too but it makes me sad too. I don't have
a clue what happened that made him fall and end up down there. Poor little
buddy.

Thank you so much for my birthday! I loved it! I had a really good
birthday. In the morning I opened my package, then we studied, then we
went and did some service for a ward member. I got cut up so bad doing
that service. She had a plant that was super shart that we had to do alot
of digging around and taking out some plants. It was still fun though.
Then, as you know, Sister Martinez came to visit me and brought my a ton of
good food. She brought me Baliadas, Fritanga, and Croquetas. All spanish
food and it was SO good. I wasn't surprised to see her because she text me
in the morning wishing me happy birthday and wanting to bring me something
for my birthday. I was surprised that she remembered my birthday
though. I'm glad that she e-mailed you and asked you too. They are a
great family and I love them very much. Thank you very much for sending me
that letter that she sent to you. It was just a nice day of work. Also
later that night we went to the chapel for a meeting and one of the ward
members, the Calevoso family, gave me a new pair of pants and a pie for my
birthday. They are so sweet and I love them so much. They are such a
great family and they truly mean a lot to me.

Elder Chinchilla is a missionary that I lived with for 2 transfers down
when I was in Hialeah. That's how he knows Sister Martinez as well. He's
a great and funny missionary from Costa Rica that I love a lot.
Landon Hancuff going to Alabama! That's so cool! Man I am so excited for
him, he is going to absolutely love serving! Is his call in English or
Spanish? I'm so happy too that Eric Kinikini is preparing to go on a
mission as well! I'm so happy to hear that Afui is doing so good. I would
like to hear from him. I wrote him a letter a long time ago, but didn't
get any response. I'm hoping that I sent it to the right mission and the
right address. Will you please give Sister Kinikini my address so that she
can give it to Afui so that he can write me please? Thank you so much!

So things are going really good here in the mission and here in the area
for Elder Perrotti and I. We have been finding some great people to be
teaching and are working very hard to help them come unto Christ. We have
learned alot this week. Everything is settling down more and I am doing
better. I have felt better since talking about it.

GO UTES!!! That's super cool that they were the only PAC 12 team to win
their bowl game! I was starting to wonder when their game was and
everything.

So the weather right now is a little cold and I am loving it. I made my
little can of snow the other day, and man do I miss snow. It was so cool
to see "snow" again. Haha it was a fun time. That little can even came
with a little white shovel! It was the coolest thing. I've got a picture
of it that I'll send home.

Well family know that I am doing well and I am so very greatful for your
support. Thank you for everything that you do for me. I love you all so
much, and take care this week in everything that you do.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

Snow on my Birthday!!

Elder Perrotti & Elder Hardman eating Churrasco

The District

BIG 21...*i'll be home next birthday*

Well Hello My family!

How is everybody doing? It sounds like everybody is doing good when I
talked to you all. It was so good to hear from all of you, and I am so
happy that I was able to. It was a fun Christmas Day, especially being
able to talk to you. That was so much fun using SKYPE! It was really nice
being able to see your faces and actually talk to you. It wasn't hard or
anything, it was super good to be able to see your faces. Thank you Mother
and Father for doing those 3-way calls too so that I could talk to all of
my siblings. That meant a lot.

Yeah I too cannot believe that I am going to be 21 years old tomorrow.
It's also weird to think that it's my birthday again in the mission field.
I look back saying..."It feels like it was just a year ago I was doing
this." Haha just joking you Mother. But really I can't believe that I can
look back a year ago and say, I was in the mission field a year ago on my
birthday. I still remember who I was with and what we did. I was with
Elder Sepulveda in West Palm Beach and it was Preparation Day and when we
left the apartment at night, Elder Sepulveda took me to a Chinese
Restaurant and we met a member there with his son who was not a member. We
also went to the Vilorio's house and they had a cake for me. Wow crazy
that I can remember that lol.

It was fun yesterday going fishing. We didn't catch anything but hey, my
worst day of fishing beats my best day at work (except for missionary work
I think but you all know what I mean). We then went and taught a lesson
and then went for another Brazilian barbecue for Elder Machado because he
is leaving. I talked to him and he said that he can come and visit you
guys and that he is going to. I'll give him our address today before he
leaves tonight. I'm going to miss him a lot. It's really super weird to
see a missionary leaving and going home and finishing his mission. It's
giving me a chance to reflect back on my mission and think about it and
what I need to continue to do.

Well family this is going to be short because I've got something that I
need to do here on the computer. Just know that I am safe and well and
well taken care of. I thank you all so very much and love you each all so
very much individually. Please take care and have a great week, and be
careful in all things that you do especially driving in the snow.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

Sister Martinez *JD's Mission MOM* drove up to wish this cute Elder a Happy Birthday..it was a surprise for him! We sure do Love Sister Martinez for loving him! This is a letter she sent Momma Karon with the Pictures.

Its was my pleasure sister Hardman. He was very happy see us again. He is very special for me, as I told you. His area is almost 35 minutes from Hialeah.
He look so happy, really I never saw him sad or angry, he is smiling all the time or doing jokes, huging his companions, he is really funny !! I was talking with his companion about him, and he said that your son is very nice, funny and... and...and he can't found the exactly word for describe your son, and then he said: he is so sweet, with a little emotion.
You know sister hardman, here in the 2 wards that your son served, ALL the members love him, all !! you are so blessed with a son that have a special touch to love others. When we have talking to him, my cell phone rang and I saw that was Elder Chinchilla (missionaries father) then I pass my phone to Elder hardman, and they was laughing and talk and talk suddenly your son stop to talk and just was listening, Elder Chinchilla was singing for him the Happy Birthday song. Your son was emotional and say aawww tanks Elder Chinchilla. I felt great that my sons missionaries call me and show me their love but I felt more great that he called me in the right time to talk with Elder Hardman, he says; it was a great gift too.
I told him that we went to celebrate his birthday, because the next birthday he will be at his house with his family and he look me and says; yes, is true, but I will miss you a lot.
He is so sweet.

Love,

Sister Martinez

Merry Christmas *next one I'll be home*

Well hello my family!

Merry Christmas everybody! How is everybody doing on this beautiful
sunny, but cool morning? Oh wait, that's here in Florida, lol, just
kidding. It sounds like everybody is doing great, and I am so happy to
hear that! Is everybody just stoked for Christmas?! I am! I haven't
gotten my packages yet, but that's because they are holding them in the
mission office until mission conference this coming Thursday, so I will
pick them up then. I'm super excited to get them!
I will be calling home on Sunday between 2-5 pm my time. so 12-3 your
time. We're not really sure when or how yet either. We haven't found a
member who has SKYPE yet, but we are working on it so we'll see. I wrote
down your number Dad for SKYPE so, we'll see. Either way, I'll be calling
home. Sorry that I can't tell you more for sure or exact when or how, but
at least you got that right. lol.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG D!!! I'm really sorry brother that I didn't get you a
card or anything. I feel super bad.

It sounds like the Hardman Christmas party was super fun. I'm glad that
you all got together and did that. That would have been super cool to see
the nativity acted out by all of you. I saw one get acted out this last
Friday when we had our ward Christmas party here. It was a super good
party. And guess what? Yeah, we had to sing. The five of us prepared a
couple of musical numbers and we sang it. We sang, "Cantan Santos Angeles"
(Sorry I don't remember what it's called in English, and "Hark! The Herald
Angels Sing" in Spanish as well. It was kind of fun. Then this week at
Mission Conference, we have to sing again. I don't know why they keep on
insisting for me to embarass myself, but hey what do you do? LoL. Who
knows, maybe I'll end up in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir one day.
Ha...right! I'm glad that Mom and Dad got to go and see that concert. I'm
sure that it was beautiful. I am loving and appreciating The Mormon
Tabernacle Choir more and more each and every day. That's all that we can
listen to, but I have loved it.

Well family honestly, I don't have too much to write about this week,
especially since we are going to be talking together on this Sunday. Take
care each and every one of you individually though, and I love you so
much. Be careful in everything and driving in the snow.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

SKYPE for Christmas

Hello my family!

How is everybody doing? It sounds like everybody is doing good and that
everything is going well, and I am glad to hear that. So this week has
been a really good week. More details later on. The weather here is
sunny, a little cloudy and sprinkly today, but it is good. Does it look
like Christmas? For me, no. But, I can still feel Christmas coming. I do
miss the cold though. I miss the snow lol. All is good though here in
Sunny South Florida.

Thank you so much for the package with decorations and ties! It was super
cool and I'm excited to get everything put up and done. It will be cool to
see the whole thing put up. Speaking of packages, the razor heads that I
need are Gillette fusion Proglide. Thank you for making sure of that!
Also, one other thing if it's at all possible. A new white tie for
baptisms would be great. I accidentally wrote on mine with a pen and can't
get it off. Thank you so very much!

The mission is progressing a lot. As you know, the First Presidency felt
inspired to extend our mission boundaries, therefore we gained some
missionaries that we currently serving in the Orlando Florida mission.
That's where my two companions came from. It has been really fun to have
them bring the stuff that they knew from their mission and bring it here to
combine them. It has been a very good change and has helped us all grow so
very much. It's been kind of fun learning Portugese. I can understand
mostly all of it so far, but I need to learn how to actually speak it. I
feel like I'm at the beginning of my mission again lol. But having said
that, I'm so happy to be learning a third language. I think that that is
such a cool blessing given to me. I look forward to learning it more and
actually speaking it now.

So it's fun living with all of these Elders. As you know there are 5 of
us. We are working hard to keep the apartment clean. I think that you all
would be so proud of me and my cleaning abilities now. I sometimes amaze
myself lol. But yeah there are challenges living with all of us, but it is
good. It helps us grow so much and we learn a lot from each other. We
learn about the Gospel, and also life lessons as well.

As far as sending anything in specific for my companions, I can't really
think of anything. They are both doing really good, and Elder Machado goes
home 3 days after Christmas on my birthday, so I don't think there's really
anything, but I'll let you know if there is. On that, is there anything in
specific that any of you want so that I can send it to you? Please let me
know, I'm willing to get what I can so don't be shy.

For the Christmas call we can use SKYPE if you would like to. I'm going to
talk to one of the members that we are having a Family Home Evening with
tonight with one of our investigators if he has it and if I can use it on
Christmas day. Let me know if that's what you want to do and have a way to
do it, and if not I'll just call Dad's phone. What time I will be calling,
I don't know. I only have 30-35 minutes this year though. I don't really
know why so short, but rules are rules and you do it and follow them
because your leaders told you and know what's best.

That's super cool that you got to go the The Forgotten Carols this last
week! I love that play. Of course I remember a lot about it, I've seen it
quite a few times and love it each and every time.

I want to share with you a couple of experiences that we had this week:
We were Harvesting mainly looking for Portugese people, but then we
knocked on the door of a Spanish man named Carlos. He let us right in
without any hesitation or guff. We explained to him our purpose in being
therea dn we knelt down and gave the blessing. He had explained before the
blessing that he is divorced and has a little 9 year old girl who was with
her Mom at that time. After the blessing we asked him how he felt and he
said that sometimes one feels alone and that that blessing helped him feel
better. We then explained how God knows him and loves him and knew that he
felt a little weak at that time and a little alone, so that is why he sent
us to him. We then went back yesterday to visit him and taught him. He
accepted the Restoration fairly well. It was a great experience for us.

Also, another really amazing experience that we had was we were coming to
the end of the night and not knowing where to go. We then looked and found
a person on the ward list that we weren't sure who she was, whether she was
active or not, and she lived close to where we were so we decided to go and
find her house. We got to her house and knocked on the door, and the
people said that we had the wrong house, so she probably moved. We then
gave them the Harvesting approach and asked to come in, and they said yes.
They gathered the whole family around. My companions and I thought that it
was going to be an awkward blessing at first, but then during the blessing
we felt the Spirit come in very strong. We asked them how they felt after
the blessing, and they said very calm and tranquil and good. As we were
leaving, the lady who was laying on the couch told us, "I really wasn't
feeling good when you guys came, I had just gotten home from work and I was
tired and not feeling good to the point where I don't think I could have
gotten up. I thought to myself, these guys just woke me up. But now, I
feel great." She said all of this with a smile on her face and laughing of
happiness standing and happy. The blessing healed her by helping her
feel the Spirit. It was such a great experience. We walked out with such
big grins on our faces, because it was a good time. We felt very close to
them.

Well family I love you all so very much individually. Please all of you
take care, and be careful in all things that you are doing this week in
your busy schedules and in all of your travelings.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

Learning Portugese with New Elders

Hello there my family!

How is everybody doing? It sounds like everybody is doing great and
enjoying some great family time together! That is amazing and I love to
hear that. I love nothing more than seeing a family united together loving
each other, and people feeling that love that comes from that unity. Let
me explain myself a little bit more. Yesterday we had a baptism of a
sister of a member here. You all know her story because I wrote to you
about it last week. Last night after the baptism and everything, we went
over to their house. As we walked in, there was family and friends all
gathered around playing cards and laughing and having a great time. Diana,
the one that got baptized, said that she felt like it was a one week
party. As I looked at Diana's sister, I could just tell the happiness and
joy and gladness that she was feeling inside because her sister just got
baptized. Diana's niece came up to me in church and said, "Elder, I almost
started crying in class." I said, "Why what did they talk about?" She
said, "We were talking about Eternal Families."
Wow now that I am reflecting on this, it makes me so happy. That family is
becoming complete. What a beautiful experience it is. I can't describe
what I am feeling about this right now.

Ok so transfer information. You're never going to guess what happened. I
can still hardly believe it. As you know, I stayed here in Lauderhill.
Lets just say my language study went from 1 hour of Spanish to a half hour
of Spanish and a half hour of Portugese. I am in a trio now with two
portugese Elders. They speak English too though. It is kind of fun, but I
can't believe it. It's fun learning portugese. It's pretty similar to
Spanish. I can understand for the most part what they are saying when they
speak portugese. So, now there are 5 of us in the apartment. My
companions are great though. Their names are Elder Perrotti from
Brazil(pronounced Pihotchi) and Elder Machado from Utah, but who's family
is from Brazil. It's super fun and they are great Elders. They came from
the new zone that we received from the Orlando mission.
We live with the Zone Leaders, Elder Reece and Elder White. Elder White
came from the Orlando mission too. They are two great Elders. Elder Reece
is finishing his mission after this transfer. Oh as well Elder Machado is
finishing his mission in a few weeks, on my birthday to be exact.
But we are still driving a car, but we are going to have to get out on our
bikes a lot more this transfer too because we have to go kind of far to
find the Portugese, so we can't go over on our miles that we are alotted.
It will be super good though.
The ward here in Lauderhill is super good. They are amazing. The members
here love doing missionary work and are helping us out so much to continue
forward the work of God here in this ward. It's been a great ward to serve
in. They take such good care of us missionaries too. I'll send them your
thanks for that.
We only serve in one ward per area. The wards and stakes are so much
different here. Our ward boundaries here are probably about the boundaries
of our stakes there in Utah. My area that I am in, and our ward, is super
big. I'll have to take a picture of our map and show you the size. I'll
just say this, West Palm Beach where I was at the beginning, is a part of
this stake. Yeah, it's big. But it is super good. I love this stake and
we have a great Stake President working with us too. He likes to go out
with us on exchanges. I don't speak too much in the wards, mostly just
giving and bearing testimony. The sacrament meeting is time for the
members to get up and speak. It is really good.

The weather here has been great. Windows rolled down in the car, feeling a
nice cool breeze. It has been great to feel. That's crazy that you had
that wind storm come through. I bet you were really sad Daddy that the
power at work went out. Darn it! Haha NOT!

I wasn't able to watch the First Presidencies Christmas Devotional
yesterday, but we are going to watch it with one of our investigators and
his family. They are a part member family.

Tell Landon that I am so proud of him serving a mission and that it is the
best thing that he is going to do right now. Tell him that I hope that he
gets called here to the great Florida Ft. Lauderdale Mission. That would
be amazing, and he would be a great asset to this Mission! He already will
be a great asset to whatever mission he goes to, because he is called by
God to go there.

Elder Diaz is a missionary that I was serving with in Miami Lakes. We
lived in the same apartment together. He is a super funny kid. And yes,
he is quite short. I felt like a giant around him haha. He is a great kid
though. I'm glad that Sister Martinez sent you that picture. Write her
back and tell her that I love her and I'm greatful for her and her family.
I received a letter from her daughter last week. Let her know that I got
it.

Well family I've got to go. I love you all each individually so very much,
more than you can know. Take care, have a great week, and be careful in
all things that you do and driving to all places that you go and all of
your travelings. Enjoy "The Forgotten Carols" with Beth! That will be a
great experience for her, and let her know that I say hi and that I told
her to listen to her feelings as she goes. I love you all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISAAC!!! I love you little guy!

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman

Staying in Lauderhill East

Well Hello there my family!

How is everybody doing? It sounds like you all are doing so good, and I am
so glad to hear that. It sounds like you all had such a great Thanksgiving
weekend! I did too! And yes, I ate, and I ate, and I ate some more. We
had 3 dinner appointments that day, and I went out of the first one that
started at 1:00 pm just absolutely rolling. Then right after that we went
to another one, and I bearly got everything down. Then right after that
one, we went to another one. At the third one I was about to die. I got a
plate and started eating and I had an empanada in my hand just looking at
it and trying to play it off that I was full by talking to others and
Brother Reyes looked at us and said, "Elders, are you ok? Did you eat
somewhere else?" Elder Flores and I both looked at each other and shook
our heads, "yes." He said, "Elders don't feel bad if your full, don't eat,
we'll wrap you up some and take it to go." I put my empanada down and
said, "Thank you." Haha it was a pretty amuzing experience. I took
pictures of me after each meal, but forgot my camera so maybe I'll send you
those pictures next week. And no, I didn't get to kill my turkeys this
year lol.

I will be staying here in Lauderhill East!!! I'm super excited!!! Elder
Flores however is leaving. I don't know where he is going yet, but I will
tell you next week when we find out. I'm so happy to be staying though.
We have a baptism coming up this weekend. I want to share with you a
little bit of our experience with her, this is what I wrote to President
Anderson regarding her (her name is Diane who is getting baptized this
weekend): She is truly an indirect blessing that Elder Flores and I
received through our changing our ways to become more in line with God's
will through Harvesting an hour a day, and diligently talking to everyone.
She is the sister of one of the members in the ward. She has attended
church for a very long time off and on with her sister, and has even met
with the missionaries before and has never accepted getting baptized.
Three weeks ago this member family invited us to dinner on Sunday and Diana
was there. After we got done eating, we sat down and started talking about
Christmas. We testified much about Christ, and felt that we needed to
invite her to be baptized. She accepted with not even a question. This
last Sunday we went over again to teach her and we asked her how she felt
about her baptism and she said, "Good." We then went over the baptismal
interview questions with her and after she got up and said, "Wow, I'm kind
of excited," with a huge grin on her face. Her sister in turn started
crying, and it was such a great and powerful moment.
It was probably one of the most powerful moments I've had on my mission. I
loved it and felt that she was one who I was sent here to help and to get
to know.

As far as things for Christmas, I live with 3 other Elders, so there's 4 of
us in total. I'm really excited to get those Christmas Decorations! Also
with my shoes, my Rockports have been the ones that have worn out the
fastest and the worst but my Florsheims have stayed in perfect tact, and I
wear them just as often as I do my Rockports. I usually switch off
everyday. But they have been really good shoes. It's mainly the souls on
the Rockports that don't last very long. They were starting to ware down
when I was in the MTC. And also yes, I do need a belt, maybe even 2. I'm
so sorry that I'm so rough on clothes, I don't get it lol. I have always
been that way. I'll try to do better.

We are teaching another man named Tomy. He is the coolest guy ever. He
actually took us fishing last week. He has seen many miracles this week
because we have been teaching him more, and he is coming to church and
doing so good. His wife is a member and some of the kids, but he is not a
member yet. He is doing so good though. He's the Dad of Paolo, the cute
little kid that I sent the picture home a few weeks ago with him with my
tie and plaque on. I just wanted to tell you a little bit about what
people we are teaching.

Well family that about catches you up for this week and gives you a little
run down on what's coming up this week for me. I hope that all is going
well with and for each and every one of you, and know that I love you all
so much. Please take care, have a great week, and be careful in all things
that you do and going to all places that you go.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Uncle
Elder Hardman