Letter from 12/17/2014

Zone Christmas conference Tuesday 12/16/2014 with her companion  

Went to a place called la calle del sol which has lots of stores, and there´s a really old La Sirena supermarket there. This is the concrete outside. Mermaids! 

Pic from 12/10/2014

The power went out at the internet cafe Hermana B was at, so she didn't get to write much.  Here is the picture of her little Christmas tree that we sent her last year.

Letter from 12/3/2014

Haha okay, I will practice my very best self control and wait it out, then. I imagine that it will be easy with the way time is flying. I have to go soon, so I will be brief... 

I had one of the investigators of the elders´ tell me that she wanted me to be the one to baptize her, but that the elders had told her that it doesn´t work that way. haha. It was so sweet, though. Also, I was the music leader in the primary presentation last week and it turned out great! It´s amazing what nerves can do to a normally distracted and talkative bunch of kids. They even watched me to know when to stand up! So cute. Anyway, I´m here in Santiago now and so excited to be a sister leader with Hermana Navas, from Honduras. I think it´s going to be a total blast. I´m excited to serve other sisters and learn so much, as well as humbled to be assigned to this position. I totally cried like a baby when I found out (in the house, thank goodness) due to shock and feelings of inadequacy, but I´m looking forward with an eye of hope and optimism. I´m learning to trust more and more in the Lord day by day. I love you all and think of you frequently!! Stay safe in this winter season and spend lots of time with your loved ones. I hope you find time and space in your heart for those who may otherwise go forgotten this holiday season. Turn out and serve!! Love you all!!

Hermana HARDEN

Letter from 11/26/2014

I got your package, mom! Thank you so much for all of the goodies and pics and fun things. :) I also got a package from Alicia LaDue- thanks, Alicia! I look forward to meeting you in April!
Things have been pretty rainy in Tamboril this week. I'm sure it will continue on throughout these "winter" months. Speaking of the coming months, I am a little anxious about transfers. They're next Wednesday and Sister Buchanan is done with her training. I feel like these transfers went by crazy fast, and I only have 3 left. It's so weird, and I try not to think about it. haha. I've been gone for so long that I have basically forgotten everything I once knew. For example: I mentioned to my companion that the movie Jenga used to scare me as a kid. She was like, "You mean... Jumanji?" hahahahaha. I just about died laughing at myself.
On Monday we went to visit an elderly widowed sister who had been sick. We got there and found her alone- she needed help getting into bed. We helped her and quickly learned that she had fallen the night before and woke up still on the ground the next day!! We ended up staying with her and more members came until finally someone could take her to the hospital. We sang hymns and I told stories while she laid in bed. I told her that I wish she could have met Dad. I know that Dad could have made her laugh. I was thinking about him a lot as we kept her company. It was an interesting experience. It made me think about the scripture in James: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Dad is such a good example of that to me.
I was reading in Alma 30 this week about Korihor. His story makes me think about the counsel we received at conference to seek personal confirming revelation. We have to be wary of following the philosophies of men- even those who seem just so convincing.
After having read that passage of scripture, I watched The Testaments and bawled like a big baby so predictably at the end. But it was cool because they use a lot of parts from the Book of Mormon in the story and parts of the fictional characters. Have you guys seen Meet the Mormons?
Anyway, I am bummed that I won't be there tomorrow to eat delicious food until I no longer have the capacity, but maybe we can reenact the Thanksgiving dinner in the spring... haha. Anyway I love you all so much and think about you more than you know! Talk to you soon!!

Hermana Harden

Note from 11/19/2014

Helloooooo!!

This week... we received the Liahona that has all of the General Conference talks. It´s like heaven. haha. I also recovered the flashdrive, shoes and comb that I ¨lost¨ last Wednesday. My companion and I discovered a hidden neighborhood this week as well, and we are excited to contact it! We have been having pretty consistent opportunities to do service for others as well, which I just love. I basically am a cleaning machine, and now that it is Christmas time (yes, already) in the DR, we will have tons of opportunities to help people do their huge annual cleaning. I was listening to The Nutcracker as I cleaned our own house today, which was funny because my comp has seen it a few times and was doing some of the dance moves.  hehe. Today we also had a zone activity and we were GOING to watch Frozen but then we couldn´t get access to a tv at the church.  I was so close to getting to see it!! Oh well.  I can´t think of much more to say other than that I was reading in John about the Savior washing the apostles´ feet, and it really moved me. The conversation He has with Peter is a powerful lesson about the Atonement and repentance for me. I miss and love you all and think of you often! I hope you are enjoying this grateful season and making the most of every day!!

Love, Hermana Harden

Week of 11/12/2014

WHAT IS NEW... hmmm... It´s always so hard to think of what might interest you all...

My companion and I got a puppy.

Just kidding, it belongs to the people on the first floor, but she is so cute and waits at the bottom of the stairs for us every morning and comes running every night. :) I named her Batdog. You´ll see why. haha. (I look like a crazy person in the pic because it was totally dark and the flash was blinding. haha.)

I got some awesome Halloween cards from the Boone YSA! I sent them a letter in reply today, so hopefully they will get it soon. I also sent a letter to Lauren Coontz last week. It´s coming, Lauren!!!

I have taken up eating chocolate bulk cereal which is made of powdered swords, like Peanut Butter Crunch. haha. It´s not quite as damaging on the gums though.

Please just keep praying for us and the work here in Mission Santiago. I believe that we will be able to see even more progress, very soon.

Here´s a last scripture that I recently memorized: ¨Elevad hacia mi todo pensamiento. No dudéis, no temáis. Mirad las heridas que trespasaron mi costado, y también las marcas de los clavos en mis manos y pies. Sed fieles; guardad mis mandamientos y heredaréis el reino de los cielos. Amén.¨

Cookies for whoever emails me back with the reference!

I love you all and wish you an EXCELLENT week!!

Letter from 10222014

Well it´s transfer day here in Mission Santiago. My daughter, Hermana Buchanan, and I are still here together! We´re pretty pleased. A ton of my mission friends are leaving though. Hermana Pierre, Elder Torres, Elder Mendoza, Hermana Veras (my trainer), Hermana Navas (one of my Sister Leaders) and Elder Castro, the dance instructor. haha. I am actually kind of sad to know that they´re headed out and I may not see them again in person... ever. That´s the cool/hard part about serving a mission... I have friends from all over the world... but it might be hard to stay and touch and maintain those friendships. Thank goodness for facebook, though. :) Assuming that is still the big deal when I come home. lol. Some fun transfer news is that Hermana De La Cruz is still in Moca! I´ll probably see her this transfer. Also Hermana Parker (my Texas twin) and Hermana Bates (my first comp here in Tamboril) are now training! Did I tell you that Hermana Parker opened an area in Samaná?? Look it up... you will be so excited for her. :)

Well, this last week, we were supposed to have another baptism, but we think his mom doesn´t want him to be baptized. We were kind of bummed, but we´re not giving up. :)

In my studies, I have been focusing on the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. I love studying church history... I will probably go hide in a hole somewhere when I get home and just read the History of the Church. I might take breaks to watch pioneer movies. haha. In the Book of Mormon today, I was reading in Alma about Ammon. That story is written like a movie. I would love to make a church video (HBO series? lol) adaptation of the Book of Mormon. What drama one senses as Ammon asks Lamoni, ¨What wilt thou that I should do for thee, O king?¨ The guy just sits there looking at him for an hour! I think I would convert that into about 2 minutes of screen time, that way the viewers get all antsy. Or if it were like those bible videos, about 30 seconds. I sure would love to be a part of that project, though. In this day and age, I just want to help everyone realize how REAL the scriptures are. We´ll see where that mountain wind blows me when I get home. :)

Well that´s the latest and greatest! I hope you are all having an amazing week. Don´t forget to go back and study those conference talks! Enjoy the cool weather for me!!

Hermana Harden

Letter from 10152014

The forces that be are working against me. I was just typing a lengthy letter and it DELETED ITSELF. It didn´t even exist in drafts... I guess the universe doesn´t want you all to know what I´m up to. haha.

This last week included interviews with President (TURKEY BURGERS and CARROT CAKE), our newbie-trainer 5 week meeting (BREAKFAST BURRITOS and PIZZA), and a baptism!!! Here is a pic of us with our convert. It was a special service- we watched the 19 minute version of The Restoration.

Things are going well here... it´s rainy and somehow my body knows that it´s fall (in spite of no change at all in temperature) and I got an ugly cold... but I´m getting better. Just a bit of a sore throat.

I can tell that I am changing... beyond the long blonde hair, waking up before the alarm, receiving less mosquito bites, cooking Dominican food, cleaning like a Dominican.... I read and study my scriptures in Spanish exclusively, I have more patience, I can make small talk and do it forever (thanks, Dad)... just to start. I feel different. Time is flying... I can´t believe my first transfer with Hermana Buchanan is coming to an end. I´m just trying to take it week by week, day by day, and do the most with what little time I have left.

Here´s a beautiful beam shooting up beyond the mountains early one morning.

Didn´t even comb my hair beforehand. ;) 

Well, I sure hate to cut it short, but I have to go already. We can blame it all on myldsmail. haha. But I love you all so much and I pray for you daily. Stay strong and choose the right! Re-watch conference!! All my love <3 o:p="">

Hermana Harden

Letter from 10/8/2014

Letter from 10/8/2014 -- I´m just sitting here downloading the women´s session and some conference music for my flashdrive. We saw the womens´conference in spanish.  Things are all good here. I did some laundry today. It´s been a calm day in Tamboril. I´m currently wearing an exercise top with a skirt... desperate times call for desperate measures. haha. I loved seeing that still of Josh in the choir. I´m going to download the priesthood session if at all possible. It was taking too long today, though. I loved conference. I felt like I was hearing a voice of warning, though, as I heard so many testify about sustaining the prophet and seeking a confirming witness. It kind of made me wonder what´s going on out there in the outside world... But I loved conference. I loved too that they had some of the speakers give their talks in their native tongue! I was watching with a bunch of gringos and we switched it to spanish again for the spanish talks.  I could even understand part of what the one guy was saying in portuguese! Super cool. In other news...
My companion says I am turning into Dad because I talk a lot with everyone... haha. We have a friend who is in the hospital... he had a seizure. His name is José if you want to keep him in your prayers. I´m reading Clayton Christensen´s book about being an everyday missionary. go read it! Hermana Harden

Note from 10012014

Well, here we go... we got home late from Santiago - hoping for a more calm pday next week. Things have just been hectic. But good! I love you so much, mom. <333 p="">

Please send lots of love and hugs to the boys. 

Note from 9/24/2014 --

One big happy mission family... hermana de la cruz is the aunt of my daughter, so HER daughter (Hermana Belvis) is also mine´s cousin. Then there is my mom, Hermana Veras, and her other daughter, my sister, Hermana Allen. This was at a zone conference with President Cornish. That guy is so stinking funny.  Look at this special agenda cover I made today (for Josh). Have a great day at class. 

MISSIONARY SIBLINGS UNITE!!!

Note from 9/17/2014 --

 She didn't have time to write a general letter, she is doing really well and is training a new companion - Hermana Buchanon from Wyoming. Here is a pic.

09/10/2014

Hello there! It looks like you guys had a lot of fun at the football game! I love getting photos, so feel free to keep them coming. :)) It seems like you guys are SO very busy. But when I think about it, we´re crazy busy too. Things are going really well with our investigators. AND my newbie companion is here- Hermana Buchanan from Wyoming!! She is toooootally awesome and hilarious. We have a lot in common. Adventures will surely ensue.  I am still majorly slacking in photos to send, so I will repent and take lots this week. One of our investigators is planning on getting baptized this weekend, so we are hoping all goes to plan! I guess that´s the latest and greatest, but you will hear from me soon, and the email will be more action packed... hopefully. haha. I love you all!! Have a great week!

Hermana Harden

09/03/2014

Hello, world...

Things are good and toasty here in Tamboril! I have found out from walking around this little pueblo that tobacco smells like grape koolaid. Which makes my stomach hurt.  I guess that´s life in the cigar capital. Hermana Bates and I have been making lots of jokes and doing silly things lately. Like playing Excalibur with a chopping knife and a pineapple.  We went to the store today and they had the good bread again for the first time in like 3 weeks. Last time, I looked for a worker and took him to the bread aisle, showed him the empty shelf and was like ¿POR QÚE? haha. But things are going well. I went in to an interview with President today and he was like, ¨Are you willing to trade a new sister?¨ And I was like... trade... new sister... what? Then I realized he said TRAIN. haha. So I´m gonna train starting a week from now. I will miss Hermana Bates a LOT. I know she will really miss Tamboril. It really is a great place. By the way, I wore my Adventure Time watch to the interview. I call it my business watch.  Buuut that´s about the latest and greatest of what´s going on here! I was working on my Spanish review workbook the other day and was pretty impressed with myself and my knowledge. I´m still working on it, though. Please pray for me in the coming weeks! I know it will be an adventure, I´m just wondering when I will find time to sleep.  haha. Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Hardennnn

Letter 8/20/2014

Letter 8/20/2013 -- I am SO GLAD that the house sold!! I have been praying fervently for that to work out! That is a big relief. I am also so amazed that you guys are already up there in Banner Elk, exploring the sites! Not to mention that school has started... I have a feeling that you and Dad might get roped into getting that Scouting program going... just saying. haha. If you think about it, send me pics as you get the house all sorted out and furnished. I can´t wait to see it all lived-in looking.  That´s so cool about the boys and their MacBook homework. I´ve been thinking that I will probably go Mac next time, myself. Then they can help me. haha.

Things are going well here in Tamboril- my companion and I are having lots of fun and really good lessons.  I have set a goal for myself to read all of the standard works before I go home, starting now.  We went to the doctor today to check out Hermana Bates´s ankle. She had chikungunya a month or two ago, and it leaves you with joint pain, for up to a year or two in some cases. She´s really active though, so I think it will work itself out in a couple of months. We also went to the store in Santiago, since we were there. It was nice to be able to buy normal things... that is, if you consider a gallon of yogurt to be normal. haha.

This week really flew by for me, so I don´t have any new pictures, but I will repent and send something interesting next week.  We were supposed to go to Nagua today, up to a beach near Samaná. (There are whales in Samaná!) We will now be going on the 3rd of next month, but Moca went today. I miss some of my friends from my old zone, but Hermana De La Cruz still calls me from time to time to tell me how crazy everyone is behaving. haha. It´s so cool to make friends with people from all over the world. I´m glad things like Facebook exist, so we can keep in touch after, too. Not to mention keeping in touch with investigators and converts. I´m so grateful for technology. 

Well, I guess that´s it for big news from the DR, but I hope you are all having an excellent week! Another report is coming soon!!

Hermana Harden 

Letter 8/13/2014

Mission: accomplished.  Man, I miss you. I got the boxes! Both of them. The purple watch you got me matches my companion´s! She has it in teal, so now we are wonder twins.  A recent convert gave us these avocados. There is one more, but as you can see, I had my hands full. haha. I thought of a tagline for this picture- Avocado season... it´s kind of a big deal. lol. People have been gifting us SO many avocados. We don´t even know what to do with them. I made guac and I use it on my egg sandwiches. It´s actually awesome. Pic of that coming later. Here is a picture of Señor Nutella Banana Face. Here is the delicious sandwich. The mustard is very necessary. I like it with swiss cheese.  The cup there has starfruit juice in it. De-lish! Anyway, things are going well here in Tamboril. I realized that I only have 5 transfers left, so that made me feel weird. Oh, here´s something funny/cool: Two people in the last week have told me that I sound like I´m Argentinian. Isn´t that weird?? One of them told me that if she wasn´t looking at me, she wouldn´t know that I´m American. I took that as a quirky compliment.  Aug 13
Here is yesterday´s lunch. Eating *healthy* cough, cough... haha. A lot of oil went into that meal. The spinach was kind of bitter, but I felt a little better about myself after eating it. haha. And this is Sister Bates! My spud of a companion, get it? haha. Ohhhh sense of humor... where have you gone... haha.Want to know why we felt the need to eat healthy? I´ll show you why... haha. THIS was the magical ice cream we went to go eat after I wrote last week. It´s at a supermarket in Santiago. I ABOUT DIED AND WENT TO THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM right then and there.  We are already saving up for round two. :)) I had a double scoop cone with mint chocolate chip and caramel with chocolate. Divine is the word my mouth learned that day.  Here is the other half of the flavors. AND the guy was like: ¨Do you want to do some taste tests?¨ I bet he gets a lot of girls.  Anyway, long story short is that Hermana Bates and I are having a good old time.  We have some investigators who already know a LOT of doctrinal truths that most people don´t know. It is SO cool to teach them. Also it´s hot today in Tamboril... but that is more normal than not.  I hope all of you are having a great week, thanks for all of your love, support and emails!! Stay true to the faith!!

Letter from 8/6/2014

Wow! I am SO EXCITED that everything is working out how you wanted!! Well, maybe not EXACTLY, but YAY NORTH CAROLINA!!! I am so pumped. :) Well, I am also nervous because what do you mean, Texas isn´t home anymore?? Haha. Do I tell people that I´m from Texas still? I´m going to go with yes. Wow, I am so excited for you guys. I will be praying a lot a lot a lot for the house to sell and for everything to go smoothly, but obviously Heavenly Father is already blessing you with answers to your prayers, so I´m not too worried. :) I wish I had been there with all of the family last weekend, but I was off not teaching english because no one came to English class... :( We´ll have to announce it this Sunday.

Here´s something cool about last Wednesday, my first day in Tamboril- we went to a dinner with a BUNCH OF AMERICANS. Aww yeah. haha. There´s an organization called H.E.F.Y., or Humanitarian Experiences for Youth. They were there at a member´s house to eat some traditional Dominican food (espaghetis y pastelón) and learn how to play dominoes. :) It was fun, and the counselors were both RMs, so it was cool to talk to them.

I love my companion, Hermana Bates!! She is so much fun and I learn so much from her every day. Yesterday we had a zone conference with my old zone, so I got to see lots of friends. My old comp is doing great. :) President and Sister Douglas taught us some easy family home evening games in one part of the conference and did so by example. One word: hil.ar.i.ous. hahaha. Anyway, I am really enjoying Tamboril- lots of people gift us platanos and rulos and guayabas and aguacates. :) It actually reminds me of Texas in a weird way. I like it a lot. The people are super nice here as well. The other day we were coming home from a family home evening and Sister Bates and I started full-on RUNNING to make it to the door at 9:30 exactly. haha. We are having a lot of fun.

Anyway, I better go! It´s not a lot today, but that´s because lots of friends wrote, which is happy. :) I will get back to all of you soon, I promise! Sister Bates and I have an appointment with some mint chocolate chip ice cream. We plan to be punctual. haha. All my love!!

Hermana Harden

Letter from 7/30/2014

I DID get transferred. I am in Tamboril! I am the senior companion now, to my new comp Hermana Bates. She´s from Idaho and really sweet. :) (Mom -- Is she new?) She´s not brand new, her companion before me was her trainer. I am what you would call her step-mom in mission talk. haha. I´m a little closer to Santiago. Tamboril is supposedly the cigar capital of the world. Fun fact. haha. 

(Mom -- What’s the area like?)  It´s hard to say, still. I just got to the house this afternoon, which is a third level apartment again and in good condition. Yay!!! haha. It seems more like Mao than Moca, I think I can safely say.

(Her comments about pictures that I sent her from North Carolina and our potential move.)  Wow, it´s so incredibly beautiful there! It´s funny, it reminds me of the Lake Eden mysteries! I hope everything works out in a very clear, content kind of way. It sounds like the house is getting closer and closer to selling. Try not to stress out too much!  Changes are always stressful. I am learning a lot about how to cope with stress here in the mission. Especially now that I am the experienced/responsible one in the companionship. haha. I am so excited that you are so close to getting a plan set! I will be excited to tell everyone I know what´s going on at home. :)

Here is a photo of myself and the other missionaries who were in Moca with me. Hna De La Cruz, at my side is Elder Castro from Peru and at his side is Elder Vazquez who is headed back to Mexico. He´s done with his mission!

Fun fact: Elder Castro is an accomplished dancer/ dance instructor. I have not seen any proof, however. haha.

Anyway, like I mentioned, I am here in Tamboril! It´s a little crazy that I am already in a new area, but hey! That´s the mission for you. I am excited to be here and a little nervous. I can´t believe how fast time is passing me by. I´m trying to make the most of every day and every opportunity. I´m still working on my cooking skillz too. Haha. Here is the evidence, which resembles cottage pie. (It is cottage pie.) haha.

Tuesday (yesterday) was my last English class in Moca. I was just getting some new adorable students, which makes me super sad. We had been talking about cooking verbs and vocab, so we made the chocolate oatmeal cookies you sent. It was the best good-bye party ever. I´m actually incredibly grateful for my teaching experience in Moca. Also for the support of the elders, who always came to keep the kids in order and participated. Although I have already been dropped in a new area (like a newborn giraffe) I will cherish the important lessons and moments I was blessed with in Moca. Here are some of my most loyal and sweet students from English class. They actually came from the other chapel in Moca... one of the elders told me that I was stealing his students. haha.

Ruth, Mayelin y Madelin

Anyway, it´s about time for me to sign off already, but I will be keeping all of the family and my friends in my prayers. Please keep me in yours! There are a lot of missionaries with chikungunya, but they´re all getting over it just fine. I´m sticking with my repellent and I´ll be putting up my mosquito net tonight. haha. My greatest concerns now are the shift to ¨dying¨ missionary and all of the responsibilities that come with that. Time to get humble. haha. Missing you all and thinking of you often!

Hermana Harden

Letter week of 7/23/2014

I just googled Banner Elk and nearly died from the gorgeous vistas that I beheld. I mean, WOW. haha. I don´t have too terribly much too report.

The sun is getting hotter every day. I am so sure. haha.

I tried coconut water this week! I don´t like it at all. lol. I´m not too surprised, but at least my suspìcions have been confirmed. To me, it just tasted like bad milk mixed with water. You can add sugar, but then it just tastes like sugar. meh. I also found out today that NONI grows here! Yeah, that horrible tasting super healthy stuff. They sell it super cheap, my companion says. I am SO going to get on that and liquify me some noni. It´s super ugly, by the way. It looks like a little alien baby. :D

Tomorrow it will be our turn to interview with President Douglas. (dun, dun, dun.) Transfers will be unveiled on Tuesday, so I may write Wednesday or Thursday of next week. I think this qualifies as the derpiest letter ever, but I am totes brain dead. I usually feel that way after reading about your lives and everything on p-day... I´ll try to do much better and make an outline for next week. haha. It is guaranteed to be more exciting!! Just know how very much I love you guys. (SO MUCH.) I´m doing great, and it sounds like you are too. :) Until transfers!!

Hermana Harden

WOW! Things are really moving along for you guys! *wipes away a happy tear* haha. That is SO exciting! I am on pins and needles, waiting to hear about Josh, the house, the job, the family, todo... :)

Here is a photo of me eating carambola... or.... STARFRUIT. It is truly the star of all fruits. I just love this stuff. You eat it like you would eat an apple. I eat one spear at a time, but there´s almost nothing left when you´re done. Here is also a picture of the milk I bought today. I paid one peso more for each one because this brand has soccer jerseys on the carton. Here, Spain and England are featured. haha.

Letter from 7/16/2014

THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS....

I am now a professional powerpoint presenter and project pitcher. Soon to be professional talk-giver. Bishop called last night and asked me to speak in this Sunday´s special Book of Mormon themed sacrament meeting. I´m going to talk about the history of the book in 10 minutes. Cake, right? haha. I´m going to have to practice, because those ten minutes will turn into twenty, easily. lol. Last night we had a meeting with the leaders of the auxilliary organizations in our ward and one of the elders was like NO, YOU TELL THEM ABOUT THE TALENT SHOW even though they called on him to explain it. The good news is that they ate it up and now we´re going to have a Book of Mormon talent show and everyone is excited. 

We´re in Santiago today, and we will be going to a store called Bravo today which is fancy and has tons of stuff that is hard to find here. I will try not to spend bookoo bucks in this joint. haha. We heard a rumor that there is an aquarium inside. I´ll take pics if it´s true.  I bought taco sauce earlier in the week, and now it´s like we have Taco Bell in our kitchen. haha. I´m still not really eating meat, but I have plans to buy some ground beef this week. I´m also thinking about trying almond butter, because it is way better for you than peanut butter, apparently. It´s expensive, though. I´m going to try to budget it in, but we´ll see. haha. Ohhh this cooking thing is not the cheapest stress reliever, but it sure is delicious. I´m working on being a better penny pincher. It makes me think of Joanna.  Hi, Joanna! haha.

Anyway, I don´t have too much more to report! The sun is stronger these days and I just keep getting tanner... at least where my skin is exposed. Ohhh the tan lines. haha. Well... there is hunger happening between my companion and I. We´ve gotta go. I love you all and keep praying for you!!

All my lovin´,
Hermana Harden

Letter from 7/9/2014

Wow, you guys really are party animals!! I´m glad you had such a great time in Vegas. It sounds like you really made the most of it. :)) That´s so weird to me that you guys are making all kinds of changes to the house! Even weirder that I won´t see it, but I guess that´s just how things go when you´re a missionary. haha. I´m still anxious to find out where you all will be headed after the house sells. I´m also excited to find out all of Josh´s mission details. I wish it was possible for us to serve in the same mission. I´m sure he doesn´t, though. haha. But let´s see about that news, shall we?

EHEM. Today is my halfway mark in the mission. Tomorrow I will be officially over the hill! :) I sometimes wonder if time is flying by for all of you just as it is for me. My companion and I made chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies (from the mix you sent, mom) to celebrate. And we ate at McDonald´s, but that has kind of lost its appeal and excitement. haha. It´s more expensive here than in the states! Besides, since I have taken up cooking as a sort of stress relief activity, I can make more zazzy meals in my own kitchen.

One of my favorite go-to side dishes is what I call 50/50 mangu. Take equal parts green plantains and sweet plantains, peel them and boil them. Drain the water, then mash. Add a little cold water and butter to taste. An optional twist is to top it off with red onions sauteed in lime juice or vinegar. Que rico!! :) I learned that dish from my companion, who learned it from her companion before me, who learned it from the companion before her. Talk about traditions. haha.
I eat a lot of eggs... also we make tons of juice. I love oatmeal juice. You just stick some plain rolled oats in water (I´d go with Quaker) in the fridge, then after a couple of hours you blend it and pour it through a fine strainer. Add some sugar or stevia to taste and you´re all set! Some great variations are adding a little fresh lime juice or passionfruit (chinola) juice. So good!
The other day, we made pasta with the elders... I foolishly listened to my companion who told me I should make TWO BAGS of penne pasta. hahaha. There was food for like a family of ten! I topped the penne with cheese and bacon. Bacon in pasta is now a must. lol. I also made legit garlic bread- having crushed my own garlic and chopped fresh parsley. It was good, but I won´t add so much parsley next time... that herb bites back!

I´m gonna break this letter up with photos of the delicious food we made. Here is the pasta with garlic bread and 50/50 mangu with onion and fried eggs.

Anyway, I had a really awesome experience this week. I got a letter with a Utah return address, and I was like GREAT NOW WHO´S GETTING MARRIED. haha. But it was actually from...... Sister Bramwell!! The sister missionary who taught Grandma Lou and Grandpa Bud slash former mission president´s wife of this very mission!! How amazing and emotional it was to read her personal account of their conversion and her experience teaching them... my own family history and gospel legacy right before my eyes. She told me about her life, how she and her husband were called to serve here in the DR, and how her own granddaughter served in Denton! What a special blessing and sweet tender mercy it was to receive that special letter, I have thought so much about the family in this week, especially with it being the week of our Independence Day. I thought about where I was a year ago, mission call received and relaxing in Red River with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and even more extended family. It has been a very special week, indeed.

Here are the predictably perfect cookies and my nails that I decorated to match yours, mom. :)

Well, I suppose there really isn´t too much more to add!! Things are going well. The mission is turning out to be a very important and unique experience for me, and I am ever so grateful for the effect it is having and ever will have on my life. I so strongly encourage all to share their testimonies freely casually with those that surround you. You will never know a sweeter experience than inviting someone to come unto Christ and witnessing them accept that very invitation. I hope you all have an excellent week!

Hermana Harden

Scripture of the week: 2 Nephi 26:14-16

The cookies all ready to eat and myself-- a photo from this very afternoon!

Letter from 7/2/2014

THA NEWS

We are melting.

I spent a lot of money in La Sirena today.

Still drinking chocolate milk.

Cockroaches are wily and shameless.

I found a purple skirt in the house. I washed it and I love it. Which is good, because my blue skirt has two giant holes in it now... rebar problems...

We (the four missionaries of the ward) are going to eat a delicous italian lunch tomorrow. I am the brains of the operation, but everyone has to contribute dinero y esfuerza. :)

English class still a success... we even have a new investigator thanks to it!

HAPPY EARLY INDEPENDENCE DAY!! I have plans to celebrate with red beans on rice. :D

As I talked with President Douglas this week, I expressed how frustrated I find myself with the lack of ability to just DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS CORRECTLY. He shared with me Paul´s words to the Romans in chapter 7:

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

I could relate instantly with Paul. I sometimes still wonder why on earth this has to be such a difficulty in my human experience, but I know that Heavenly Father knows and understands. Anyway, it´s already time to go... what´s up with that? But I love you all and think about you very often. All my love and Dominican slang...

Hermana Harden :))

P.S. Here´s a recent photo of my companion and me.

Letter from 6/25/2014

This week in Mission Santiago:

A zone conference took place the Friday after transfers, much to the surprise and delight of the missionaries... all of Santiago- half of the mission- was in attendance. Former zone leader of Navarrete, Elder Gifford is now assistant to the president. In an interview with your favorite reporter, Elder Gifford confessed to already having nearly wrecked the AP truck. Nearby listeners did not understand, for he was speaking English, but had they understood, they would have sympathized. Dominican driving is not easy. Elder Gifford gave a talk about being more like Christ to obtain the power of heaven. He was followed by the stunning and hilarious Sister Douglas, who spoke about the importance of gratitude. As it turns out, gratitude can add more years to your life than refraining from smoking. Experts still advise that you do not smoke. This reporter and her companion are now keeping their journals of gratitude with diligence. After lunch, President Douglas asked select missionaries to bear their testimonies. This was expected, as all who were called on are in their last transfer of the mission... except one. The last one. ME. o.o Hearing my name was like being struck in the heart by lightning.

Yeah, I bore my testimony in front of 115 missionaries and the mission president.

In other news, my arm was asleep when I woke up today, and I accidently punched myself in the nose.

The salvation of Moca is in my prickly hands. Moca has yet to comment on the situation.

Also... I am eating much less meat these days. I learned that when you eat animal fat, your body absorbs more toxins. Booo. Also that your brain is 80% water. Fact.

In the way of spirituality... I have been particularly drawn in by family history this week. It really is the coolest thing ever in the history of history. Because it IS history. I was reading Alma´s counsels to his sons, specifically Helaman, this week. It was so powerful to me. I have decided (tentatively) that I will write a book for my descendants. Because they will never be permitted to read my journals ever ever ever. haha. But in all seriousness, I get so absorbed when we start talking about pioneer saints throughout the world and their legacies. I love love love it.

Also: Mom, remember how you found out you are a kinesthetic learner? Turns out you might feel the Spirit more in the same manner. Check this out. Helping Children Recognize the Holy Ghost

Anyway, I hope you all have a spectacular week!!!

Hermana Harden

Letter from 6/18/2014

Helloooooo!!!!! I am still here in Moca... today was transfers. Wow, time is FLYING BY these days!!! Let me think about what´s new...

I sang with the ward mission leader on Sunday, at the dramatic request of the bishop. haha. He invited me into his office with his two counselors and the ward mission leader and delivered a speech about my talents, then proposed that we sing Un Pobre Forastero, or A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief, in sacrament meeting. We said yes, and that was that. haha. It went really well. It´s really neat, the difference music can make in terms of inviting the Spirit. I received lots of kind words and compliments from the members. Super grateful for that experience.

English class is going well! My favorite students are a brother and sister, who are about 8 and 6, I want to say. They start to panic when I start to erase something from the chalkboard. It´s hilarious. They are members of my favorite family in Moca. I will try to get a picture to send soon.

On Monday, my companion went to Puerto Plata with another companionship. There were american dentists there (friends of the Douglas family). I stayed in the mission home because I had no desire to pay lots of money and travel long distances. haha. They dropped me off early, and President let me in. He had no shoes on and was in khakies, an unbuttoned polo, and bed head. haha. He gave me free reign of the house, including the computer... which may or may not have been a test, but I didn´t use it anyway. haha. I started to pick up where I had left off in Jesus the Christ, but the doctrine became too deep and I had to meditate. President walked by as I was half sleeping on the sofa and asked me if I was studying hard. lol. Then my wildest dreams came true. I spent the day as Sister Douglas´s companion! We went shopping and bought mosquito nets for all of the missionaries, as well as food for the newbies and those who go home tomorrow. It was a long four hours, but Sister Douglas bought me Subway, because she is number one. haha. It was also her birthday! That will be a special memory, I think. Afterward, I started making pancakes and President helped me out. He is a pancake pro. Pretty sure that is a universal dad skill. Way fun.

I am addicted to chocolate milk. Bet you didn´t see that coming. haha. There is a cocoa powder here called Sobrino, which is delicious and full of sugar. Add that to lactose-free milk, and BAM! I am putty in your hands. haha.

I read lots of really great articles in some old Liahonas this week. One had a great quote: ¨Friends are people who make it easier to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.¨ I loved that. I want to be the best friend that I can be. I challenge each of you to do the same! I hope this is a great week for each and every one of you. I love you!!

Hermana Harden