Blitz it

Sorry I didn't send an email last week! We had a crazy pday! We were up early and went to a beautiful place called sete cidades with the sister APs (they flew in Sunday night) then later we got ice cream with President (who flew in on Monday) and that was the end of pday! That night we had 8 sisters in our area! Mega blitz! I went on a division with one of our stls Sister Prado. She is from Ecuador and has the cutest accent when she speaks português! We go home together so it was fun to serve with her for a little bit. The next day we had conference for the island missionaries! I was glad it was separate because the island is truly different than any of the other areas I served in on the continent. After conference I got to go on a division with one of our sister APs Sister Nilson! I love her! She reminds me of Lizzie a lot. Really fun, hard working, faithful, sporty, and beautiful. We did good work together. Then on Wednesday I went out with the other sister AP Sister Hogge! She goes home this transfer so she was able to give me some good advice on enduring to the end! In the end everyone flew back to their respective areas leaving us with a ton of new potential, and new friends! It was awesome! And fun to feel a little less isolated for a few days. But once they were all gone we both realized how worn out we were! We had been trying to help all the other duplas find areas to work in where we hadn't already worked, and had done a bunch of exchanges (which are exhausting!). But thanks to our mega blitz our schedule was full for the rest of the week! In true island fashion, most of our appointments fell through, but it was fun to be busy running around!

Our friend Gustavo, the saxophone guy, left for France. We were so sad! But he said he should come back in March, so we are happy about that! And he said he would use this time to read the Book of Mormon! Yay!

That is about all from this week. It was a good, but long week. What is really freaking me out though is that this week is the last of this transfer and then next transfer is the last of my mission! It went so so fast! Really slow too, but really fast. We always joke that every day is an eternity, but every week is a day. And it's true! It's a funny feeling. I feel excited, nervous, and ready to go home. But also I feel so sad to leave this place and the people that I love. I have learned so much here on my mission. From the Portuguese, I have learned stubborn perseverance in the face of adversity. From the Brazilians I have learned that everyone, even strangers, are my family. From the Africans I have learned how to selflessly give all that I have. From the missionaries I have learned that serving the lord is a JOYFUL thing. From every companion I have learned something new about friendship and about my self. And from the Lord I have learned that I am loved and am enough.

I love my Savior! I am so grateful for the knowledge I have and the privilege and opportunity I have to share it with all who will listen. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Read it. Please.

I love you!

Sister Hardy

Some pics from our fun pday adventures and my giant bottle of diet coke. Lol