Week 77 - Airplane "crash" activity

Hey fam!!

Well biggest news from this week is that Elder Morales and I are official pilots. (see pictures, it's a plane not a tent btw)

This week was pretty normal until we got to the weekend. We had a ward activity on Saturday about the Plan of Salvation which went pretty well, but not as many people came as we were hoping. We had to get up at 6 to start building the plane that was going to "crash" and from there the passengers would pass through each kingdom of glory to see where they want to end up. We were thinking it would take about two, three hours max to set up, but by 4 pm, we were scrambling to get it all set up haha. The ward mission leader and his buddy helped us out a lot and the other elders, Elder Greene and Elder Hernandez, came through for us. We made the frame out of bamboo and bent the thinner pieces to make the arch which turned out to be a lot harder than we thought because the bamboo had dried out and some of the pieces broke when we bent them. But we finally got them set up right and got the fabric over the frame and it started looking pretty good haha at about 6:30 and we had a decent turnout, and everyone that came seemed super excited haha.

Other than that, we've been teaching an investigator these last two weeks who has been one of the fastest progressing investigators I've ever seen. He was a JW for 20 years, knows the scriptures better than both of us, and has investigated a lot of other churches, but in the last two weeks he's made a complete change. He had read the Book of Mormon a few years ago, trying to prove it wrong, but a few weeks ago he started reading to see if it really could be true. While reading, he felt an undoubtable impression that it was true and contacted one of his member friends, who put him in contact with us and the past few weeks he's been eating up everything we have to teach him. When we first started we went into more detail than ever explaining all about the restoration and the whole lesson he was comparing scriptures we shared with other ones he had read, basically teaching himself the whole lesson haha he started reading like crazy in the Book of Mormon and has come the last 2 weeks to church and says that he feels like he's finally found home. Last week, we were a little worried about how he would accept the whole Jehovah is Jesus thing, because in one of his prayers he said, "oh God, Jehovah..." so we came into lesson 2 a little anxious about that. But when it came up, he said, "well obviously they're the same person" and went on to share the scriptures he had found that proved it. Such a big relief, but basically it's just been another testimony for me of the power of the Book of Mormon. The people that read with an honest intent and a real desire to know, are always given an answer and that answer is always a resounding "YES". This book has the power to change lives and answer even the hardest questions. 

Today was the monthly check for the new missionaries to see how they've been doing and answer questions, but for most of us it's our chance to pig out on fresh hamburgers and hot dogs and ice cream from President haha. Needless to say, I was very satisfied at lunch today. But it was a really good meeting, the new missionaries are the best. They come with so much energy and faith and its contagious.

"Teaching yoga to the new missionaries"

But life's going great out here. The summer is finally over and the rain is coming back so I'll have to bust out the umbrella again. Super bummed, its been a nice 5 month break from pouring rain haha. But anyway, love you guys a ton!! have an awesome week! Talk to you soon!!

Elder Hansen

"Learned to play the didgeridoo"

"I bought Vanilla Ice. He wasn't very expensive."

Week 76 - Crazy busy

Hey guys!!

Sorry I don't have a lot of time to write this week, but I just wanted to say that I love you all and that everything is going great out here! We've been crazy busy and these weeks are going by waayyy too fast, even faster than before which is terrifying. It's been a good week though but this week should be interesting because President and Sister Hayes are taking off for Guatemala which means he's leaving us in charge...... I'm just hoping nothing goes wrong. 

But I love you guys a ton! Have an awesome week!

Elder Hansen

Week 75 - Driving on foreign soil

Hey guys!!

How's my favorite family doing?

Life's been great this past week. It's been a lot of running around, but it's been super fun. Everyday is a new adventure. Also this week I knocked one thing off my bucket list and got to drive on foreign soil. I felt super nervous, but it actually went pretty well given the fact that we hit rush hour traffic in a country where traffic laws almost don't exist and had a GPS that was on a mission to get us lost haha but it felt so good to get behind the wheel again. Not sure how many times I'll get to drive so we made the most of it.

Also, on Sunday, President had some friends in town and one of the kids is preparing for his mission so he came out with us to do some visits that night. It was so much fun because he didn't speak all that much Spanish but we taught him to say that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true and so we would teach the most of the lesson and then give him his chance to testify and even though it wasn't much, it was sincere and it touched a lot of hearts that night. And when it comes down to it, that's what a testimony is all about. It doesn't have to be an eloquent or well formed speech to be powerful. It can be as little as one sentence, but if it comes from the heart, it has the power to reach anyone.

But I gotta cut it a little short because we gotta take off. Just know I love you guys a ton! Hope you're all doing great! Enjoy the pictures!!

Elder Hansen

Week 74 - New missionaries, the temple, and General Conference!

Hey guys!!

Well another super fast week. This one was a little bit slower than the rest just because everything was new, but it still left me wondering how in the world it went by so fast. It was a good week because Elder Adams, the outgoing AP, was with us until Friday and it gave me a chance to spend some time with my buddy from my time in La Loma. He gave me some really good advice on what he learned and how to help the missionaries which really helped me feel more comfortable and get started better. And having a temple trip and conference this week have been such a blessing to help in the adjustment. Had so many questions answered and fears calmed going to the temple and then watching conference. And unlike my previous two conferences (both of which were in Siquirres, in case anyone had forgotten haha), I got to watch all 5 sessions in English and my own little room with Elder Greene, my buddy from Limon. So all in all it was a great week.

On Tuesday morning I got thrown right into the new assignment, waking up at 3:00 am to get to the airport to pick up the new gringo missionaries. We ended up waiting until about noon until their flight got in and they got through customs and then we took them to the temple, headed back to the office and they got sent out to work. We then headed back to the area and had a few more visits.

Wednesday was almost the same because we had to get up at 3 again to go pick up the new latin missionaries and take them to the temple and back to the office. Needless to say, by the time 10:30 rolled around, I was dead haha.

With Elder Morales and Elder Adams

Thursday we had to go meet the new senior couple that was coming into to help with the housing in the mission. They set up a super formal lunch and we were all blown away. President was super pumped up and the new couple was pretty impressed. (wait until they find out we just have pizza and water for leadership council haha) but they seem super nice and they're going to help us out a ton.

Friday we had to get up early again to head over to the temple. We had a great session at 7 am and then got back to the area around 11, said goodbye to Elder Adams and went to go enjoy pday, which we did by sleeping haha.

Saturday, conference!! Without a doubt one of the best conferences I have ever seen. Priesthood session was spectacular, Brother Owen's talk really spoke to me, and of course President Nelson's talk was fantastic. 

Sunday was another great day of conference. I can't wait to print off all the talks and go to town studying. 

And then today was awesome because to welcome me to the office, we went with the Secretaries to Johnny Rockets for lunch. Got a massive burger and an Oreo shake so obviously I was as happy as can be. It was even topped off by a trio of very unenthusiastic waiters singing happy birthday to the table next to us. I haven't seen people so bored singing happy birthday before haha. 

But anyway, Love you guys a ton! I'm doing great. Loving life out here. It's been a little crazy, but crazy is more fun right?

Elder Hansen