Letter from 4/23/2014

You will never believe where we went this week.... THE TEMPLE!!! That´s right, we left the mission... que desobediente. hahaha. No, President gave us permission because there weren´t enough members at the last minute, and they were going to cancel the trip! But what a blessing. I went to a session in Spanish. Normally they give headphones in your native language, but we entered in at the last minute. We also went to the sealing of a family from our ward. They have a little boy and a little girl. How precious was that experience. I also saw some of my teachers from the CCM!! But... I forgot to take pictures with them. Haha. But it was SO fun to see them again. I was so happy to have the chance to catch up and joke around. I´ll definitely be facebooking them after the mission. (I even saw Hermano ¨gonna kill somebody¨ Nuñez!!) Haha.

Here is another pic of me in the caves, with a face! There were like three or four different faces like this. I sent a picture of me making kissy faces with one to Austin. Somebody make sure he uploads it. haha.

To get to the temple, we had to pass through Bonao (see pic). Bonao is SO green and SO beautiful. I fell in love with it. There were these bright green, lush valleys among the mountains, but I didn´t get a good pic. But wow.  The other pic is of me at some caves in the park across the street from the temple. How cool is that??

Anyway, we just passed through the semana santa here in the DR. This means habituelas con dulce... or sweet beans! It´s like a soupy pudding made out of liquified beans, sweetened condensed milk, powdered milk, cloves, cinnamon, batatas (I have no clue what the english equivalent of that is), and raisins. They are actually way good, but we ate them in about 10 different houses, so I think I´m good for a while. Haha. Anyway, I think that´s about all I have time for (unfortunately!) but we are supposedly going to Puerto Plata next week for a sister´s meeting. Gorgeous pics should follow!! I love you all, and apologize for lack of deep doctrinal insight, but I have been studying in Jesus the Christ and the Book of Mormon institute manual. I highly recommend them both.

Me with a pet bird of one of the members!

Here is a starter of me at the top of the monument in Santiago!

I love you all and hope you have an excellent week!!

Letter from 4/16/2014

Time to type like the wind... again! It sounds like you all are doing well, although really busy! I hope you have more time to relax, soon. Time is like a great big ball of timey-wimey stuff when you're a missionary. It sounds like you had a pretty decent week!! I received your package, so my week has been spectacular and snack-filled. Haha. Thank you SO much!!! This has been such a good week for us! Tiring, but good. We set a baptismal date with an investigator, and we're really close with five others. One investigator is named Aida, like the opera. She is such an interesting person! I love our lessons with her. She is a very careful thinker. She always has questions and some interesting knowledge to share. I'll definitely want to keep in touch with her when I leave this area. I feel the same way about so many others as well!

Two nights ago, I heard someone banging around in the kitchen... but when I called out, no one responded! I left our room with my companion to investigate... and you will never guess what I found.... a furry, flying friend!! Un murcielago!! A bat!!! Here attached is a photo. It was so cute! It's ears were twitching. I don't know why it was like that upside-down, but Hermana Hurtado put the bucket outside the window and he flew away, totally fine. How weird, right!? Ahhh I'm sorry for this short email, but we have sooo much to do in Santiago today. I will relate more stories and news next week! Oh, the bishop's other son has his mission call, to Nicaragua!

Have a wonderful week, and I love you so much!!

Hermana Harden

Letter from 4/9/2014

CONFERENCE WAS SO WONDERFUL. We missed the Relief Society session, and I watched the first session Saturday in spanish, but the rest I saw in real time in english!! What a mind-blowingly amazing weekend. An inactive member who works in the grocery store came after I invited him! As well as three investigators. It. Was. Awesome!

We have had more members coming to lessons with us, and let me just say that members are invaluable. They share their testimonies and without realizing it, share experiences that are so perfect for the investigators and less-actives we are teaching. Go out with the missionaries!!!

I´m having fun with Hermana Loarca. I almost cramped from laughing today. She told me that she is going to tell President that I´m always close and very mysterious. I hope she does. hahaha.

We had exchanges yesterday and we have interviews with President tomorrow. I am looking forward to talking with him. When we were in the mission home last week I was able to chat with him some. I also talked with a new sister who is struggling. President walked up to us and told us to have a long conversation and made us use his office. I was able to share some experiences and understanding that I have acquired here in the mission. I hope that she will choose to stick it out. Missions are hard, but SO very worth it.

Anyway, I love you all and miss you!!! I know it´s a short letter without interesting pictures, but we are here and alive! All is well. They changed our p-day Santiago this transfer, so it´s next week. La Sirena here I coooooome!! hahaha. Talk to you all soon!!