Moo moo here

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you felt like it would never end, but then it does and you look back and realize that it actually went pretty fast? That was this week. 

I love the island!!!! It is literally paradise. Though it is usually overcast and cloudy, you occasionally get these moments when the sun peaks through. And it doesn't matter where you are, it is always stunning! By the ocean with the sun rays hitting the water or among the green green hills dotted with cows and the sun shines and turns it into a scene from a picture book. Or lost in a maza of narrow streets and the sun fills the small space like a cup and you are dazzled with the beauty of the quaint, old, multi-colored buildings. I have served in some beautiful places on my mission. But we always spent our time in the less beautiful areas. I keep expecting to find one of those less beautiful areas here, but I don't think there is one! And the people! I love them! They are so quirky and fun. And it has been very humbling to feel again what I felt near the beginning of my mission, really having to exert myself to understand what people are saying, and some times not being able to.

 We visited a less active and her active husband this week and she was so sweet and sharp as a tack. Her husband we pretty quirky. He LOVES music, and he wishes there was more at our church (he said if he were a younger man he would become a Lutheran because he likes their music so much lol😂) and he told us all of his war stories, until finally I asked him if he had any happy memories! Apparently, he couldn't think of any, but he didn't seem to mind one bit. His accent though was the most difficult I have encountered so far. He spoke quickly and pronounced the words differently (for example: when he was saying "de noite" it sounded like "do noot" Sister Noble and I really struggled for a while to get what he was saying!) But they are a sweet couple. The husband comes to church on his motorcycle (he is 80 something years old!) but she is too sick to walk, and so next time we visit we are going to see if she has a desire to go to church and then find her a ride. 

On Monday night after pday we were just going to pass by some of the members we had in our app. See if they still lived there and such. One family was indicated as an active family, but we hadn't seen them at church so we decided to stop by to get to know them! They let us in and invite us to eat dinner with them! It was fun and we had a good time though, again with the accent, I couldn't understand what they were saying to each other because they were speaking quickly and all at once. When we were getting ready to leave the oldest daughter walked us to the door and there she let us know they they actually hadn't come to church in a year and told us why. She said we could come back to visit as well! It was surprising, but what a miracle! I think it was really good that we didn't already know they weren't coming to church and we had also felt like we should not leave a message for some reason, though as missionaries we always share a message. These two things helped them, I think, not feel like we were there to "get them back to church" or "make them feel guilty." I think if we had already known they weren't active or shared a message or anything they might have not wanted us to come back. Cool times! 

The next day we had no appointments and nothing to do after district counsel so we embarked into 6 straight hours of finding time. I could feel all the shudders coming from all you RMs out there hearing that. But bravely we went. Though we knew we may die or come home empty handed. We bravely went forth. And what miracles we saw! We knocked doors and talked to people on the street and we ended up finding 4-5 people to teach! (that doesn't sound like a lot I know. But it is. Especially for one day. Especially for an island!) we were thrilled! And a little confused. We didn't really think we had been doing anything quite good enough to deserve such blessings, and yet! Foreshadowing moment. We saw a man sitting on the steps of a huge church turned museum at the end of the road we were knocking and Sister Noble asks "do you think he would let us talk to him?" so we make a bee line to him, trying to not make it too obvious we were making a bee line to him. Sister Noble had a chocolate in her pocket and she had been wanting to do a contact all day with it (offering it and a pamphlet of the plan of salvation and asking them which they would pick and then talking about the fleeting joy of the candy in comparison to the eternal joy of the gospel. Pretty cute.) she presents him with the two options and he looks at her and tells her he doesn't like chocolate! She was so cute and said "well then I guess you are gonna have to choose the pamphlet then!" we end up sitting there on the steps talking to him for over 40 minutes about the restoration, faith, the plan of salvation. Anything. We let him lead the conversation and it was incredible. I'll tell you more about him later. 

Next day we were invited to a birthday party! She lived pretty far away so we could have asked the Carters for a ride, but we had time so we decided to walk instead. It was about an hour uphill but it was gorgeous and we were able to talk to some people! The party was fun too. She is a recent convert and she had planned her whole party, done all the decorations, made all the food, and invited all the guests. She wanted a party so she made it happen! It made me feel a little sad though. She has two kids and they didn't help and her best friends from the branch came late. We had considered coming a little late, but I imagined it would have a huge turn out and so it would be better if we got there on time. We did and I was so glad we did becuase most of the other guests came late. It would have been so sad to have the party start and for Lucia to only have her kids and her sister there when she had made enough food for an army and had been hoping to have all her friends there with her! 

We taught some other lessons throughout the week, but I felt the island spirit a little as people were hesitant to commit to anything. But we have a lot of hope! We had marked one appointment with a lady and when we showed up another lady answered the door and told us she was a member from a long time ago and asked, so sweetly, if she could come to church. We said "of course!!" then her friend came out and put out some mugs and a plate of cookies. And then the worst nightmare of any missionary, occurred. I was sitting there praying that she would bring out a pot of mint tea or something, but no. She brought out coffee. So we told her thank you, but we didn't drink coffee and could we have water instead. And she was not happy to hear that. She tried telling us that it was weak coffee, it wasn't strong coffee. But the more we refused and tried to explain the angrier she got until she was yelling at us saying the other missionaries that had visited her drank it and what kind of missionary from God would refuse the offering of someone and that God never said to not drink coffee and that she hated our religion because of all the rules and on and on and I don't know what came over me. I started to cry! It was so embarrassing! And so unlike me! On my mission I have really developed a thick skin to these kind of things and am usually able to keep cool and get me and my companion out of it. But this time, I just started to cry! But I think that was a miracle really because my companion pointed it out to the woman and she changed on the spot. Stopped yelling and asked if we would like some juice instead. So she got us some juice and we had a little conversation about the word of wisdom and then left. And on Sunday her friend, the member, was there waiting for us outside her door and we walked her to church. She is a sweet older lady, and it was cool because some of the older members recognized her and welcomed her back. 

Remember that guy we met in front of the church turned museum? He came to church!!!! We were told he was the first non member to visit the branch in over a month! And he liked it! We taught him afterwards with about three members. We had only invited one but they kept coming in asking if they could help! It was awesome! Though a little stressful trying to keep the lesson focused and simple. But Gustavo, the man, was so chill and I really think he felt the spirit though he clearly didn't feel comfortable sharing his feelings in front of the members. Afterwards we had a good conversation and it seemed like he really appreciated what we had shared with him! He is probably one of the coolest humans I have ever met. He is from Argentina, he was a rich professional tennis player in Brazil, but left that and started a school for the underprivileged kids learn to play tennis. (he was so funny. He said that at first he just didn't it because he wanted to make champions, but later on he realized that he loved helping people!) but he had to abandon that after her narrowly escaped being killed twice (I guess people weren't happy about him helping underprivileged kids have more opportunities?) so he moved to Europe, married a French woman, had two kids, then he and the woman didn't work out and he doesnt like France, so they divorced. He is a professional saxophonist and gets invited to perform and big theaters for rich people and he sells vintage saxophones so he is super rich. He says he sells one or two and then just travels anywhere he wants! He tries to stay in Europe to be close to his daughters though. Seems like he is a very loving father. But yeah he is just this attractive rich man who travels the world, doesn't have a fixed home, is good an everything he tries, and is it the middle of a spiritual awakening. Anyway. He's cool, we are hoping to teach him more!

I know Christ lives! He knows us individually and he will support us in our trials. He is our perfect example. I have been reading in the new testament and have been struck by his bravery and his strength and wisdom. The love that he has for his disciples and for the whole world. I love Him and am so grateful! I know this church is true! 

I love you all! 

Sister Hardy

PS. Fun fact. There is one cow for every person on this island!

As fotos

-we had several parties after 9h30 this week. A pancake party, and a PJ pizza party! We bought cow onsies! They are so fun! 

-I'll send more Pics in a separate email. 

Here are the pics of where we live. It is pretty messy right now, don't judge lol! And my onsie is probably the least flattering thing ever. Though yes, I have gained a lot weight. And yes, I am working on it. Lol. 

Also as you will notice my comp has an adorable photo collage on her wall while I don't. As I have gone through my mission I have become less and less motivated to put stuff on the wall... This time i don't think I'll put anything. I'm just gonna have to take it down anyway. Lol.