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.