The final countdown

Starting an email is the hardest part, and no matter how many I have written, they never get any easier. So I guess I'll just jump right in! 

Last Monday we had a fun chill pday. We took a bus over to Ribeira grande and ate pizza and went to the beach with the elders. The waves were ENORMOUS! I had dreams about tsunamis that night. Lol. 

Tuesday we had the last district counsel of the transfer. We knew elder Miranda was leaving the island after his 4 transfers, so we had a big breakfast all together with French toast bread pudding, juice, and cornbread. Kinda a weird breakfast, but it was yummy! We have had a good time together, and we will miss Elder Miranda, our fearless leader. But Élder Pullan will take his place as our fearless leader this transfer so all is well. And Elder Miranda is off to fearlessly lead a zone. So proud of them! 

Later this week we went to visit a less active family and it turns out that the Carters had visited only an hour before! They fed us one of the premade meals Sister Carter had made them. It was a nice visit though, and she said she wants to teach us how to make bolo lêvedo, the most amazing thing ever! I accept! 

Right after we left their house we looked at the phone and we have a text from Presidente that reads "Sister Hardy. Pode ligar?" he wanted me to call him is what that means. So I did and turns out we are receiving way more missionaries than are leaving so he needs a few people to leave early and he was asking if I would be willing to leave three weeks earlier than planned! I immediately felt peace and after chatting with my parents and saying a prayer, I knew that I have served a full time mission and three weeks won't change that, especially if it will help the mission out. So I will be headed state side on March 18! What! That was the big news from this week.

In other news we have been visiting all the members giving them cute temple handouts with temple prep checklists and temple shaped sugar cookies and we are almost done! We visited a lot of people this week and it has been neat to hear about people's love for the temple and to share my own testimony! I love the temple! 

Anyway, I am staying here on the island until the end of my mission with sweet Sister Noble, so I am excited! 

A cool scripture I read this week for ya:

2 Corinthians 4 :8-10, 17 

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

I love verse 10. As witnesses of Christ, we will face opposition, and life will not be easy. But the suffering makes room for the light of Christ to fill us with hope and joy!!! I am so grateful for my Savior. I love Him. 

Have a great week! 

Sister Hardy

(funny story: at church we were going around saying our first and last names as part of the Sunday school lesson and when it came to me I confidently said "Sister Hardy" I quickly realized my mistake, but it was so funny! Sister Hardy is truly who I am now. Paige doesn't feel like my name anymore! Crazy stuff.)

Pics:

-we took a little ice cream break, even though it isn't all that warm out

-we had fun this pday as a district and took a cute polaroid!

-I asked a kid to draw me and this was the result! I look great!