The Blessings of the Temple

This weekend our branch, after months of planning and preparing, had the opportunity to take a trip to the Spain Madrid temple. They had to leave friday night and drive all through the night to get there Saturday morning and stay all day at the temple and drive back that night in order to get home just in time to come to church. In that sacrament meeting, everyone was utterly exhausted, but every single person in that room who had gone to the temple had a glow of peace and joy. It was a testimony meeting this week, and as everyone bore their testimony of the temple and eternal families, the spirit filled the room. I am so grateful for temples. Even though I was not able to go with them, they brought tbe spirit of the temple back to Barreiro. I know that the temple is the house of the Lord here on earth, and within its walls I feel peacefup and safe, at one with the Lord. It is so amazing to know that soon there will be a temple here in Portugal! Sister Hoffman and I have been talking about it, and we know that the ancestors of the people here in Portugal are so excited and are praying for us to find their descendents. (For those who don't know, in temples we are given the incredible opportunity to perform saving ordinances, like baptism, by proxy for those who have already passed on, including our ancestors! They will then have the opportunity to accept these ordinances or not, according to their own agency. God loves all of His children so much and wants them all to have the opportunity to hear and accept His gospel during this life, and if not here, in the life after! If you have questions you can facebook message me and I'd love to help!) We have seen the effects of those prayers in our work as we use family history as a tool to invite others to learn about their family and how they can stay binded together after this life. I love the temple. I love the Lord. Sister Hardy out.

JK!! I have more to talk about! This was an AWESOME week in Portugal! It is starting to become spring and we see the proof of that in the flowers that are infesting all the cracks in the cobblestone and every patch of dirt, and in the sudden waterfalls of rain when you are trying to walk home from a meeting in a sweater and not very waterproof shoes! (We have definitely learned to be more prepared. I keep my umberella with me at all times. Which remindm me that i totally forgot it today, but tudo bem. It doesnt look like it will rain today.) The sundshine that fills the narrow streets of Barreiro makes my soul so happy. God has given us so much more than we deserve in this beautiful earth. The creation truly is a manifestation of Gods infinite love for us. We could be like moses but forever living in a wasteland, eating bread off the ground and hitting rocks to get water. But the crazy thing about the comparison is that that very situation was a manifestation of Gods love for His people too! We will literally always be in debt to our father. That is why I am here. I want to try and give back, even in the tiniest portion, the manna God has given me. 

The work goes forth! We are hoping to have a baptism this weekend and it is amazing to see the change that the gospel makes in the lives of Gods precious children. It is not easy, but we have seen so many miricles and i am so grateful for the many tools God has given us to hasten His work. We have phones now and i know that as we strive to be the master of these tools and use them the way God intended them to be used, we will see even more miracles!

I know the Savior lives!! I love his so much!! The Book of Mormon testifies of Him, I know it is true! I have drawn closer to Him as I have read His words and tbe Words of His prophets in the Book of Mormom. I know Christs church, the very same organization and the same authority that His church had when he was on the earth, has been restored. And how grateful I am.

Tchau Tchau! Beijinhos! ❤

Síster Hardy

Selfie with our snazzy new phones! Sorry i dont have more pictures! I will be better this week i promise!