Week 82 - Elder Vasquez's birthday

Hey guys!!

Well congrats in advance Erik and Kelly for your wedding tomorrow! Super proud!

And super sorry that this is going to be short. A bunch of things came up and I gotta take off, but just know that I love you guys a ton and that you´re all the best and I love you guys so much! Have fun tomorrow! Also my week was great, I´ll tell you all about it next week I promise!!

Also today was Elder Vasquez's birthday so enjoy this picture of us at Johnny Rockets with President and Hermana Hayes!

Elder Hansen

Week 81 - Another volcano eruption

Hey guys!!

Hows my favorite family doing?

Well just so you all can stop worrying, we've survived the volcano eruption. I know it was the highlight of the dinner conversations, but you can all finally put those worries to rest. But I do feel kinda bummed, a volcano has now erupted close to me two times in my mission and I haven't seen any effects of it. Not even a little ash falling to get the blood pumping. 

But other than that, this week was awesome. We got a ton of work done and are getting to know the members a lot better and they're starting to kick it into gear. Little by little the ward is getting more involved in the work. It's really amazing to see the results of member missionary work. It just seems like everything goes better when the members are with us.

Yesterday we did divisions with the bishop and another member. Elder Vasquez went with the bishop and I went with Heber, one of the hardest workers in the ward. I haven't done divisions that many times in my mission and I always get super nervous because I want things to go perfectly. Most of the time it doesn't, so it's always stressed me out a little, but yesterday was an amazing experience. We went to go visit mostly less actives and recent converts and it turned into one of the best days I've had in a long time. We just had so much fun and the spirit was so strong in all of the lessons. We were both sad when we finally had to finish and say goodbye. Working with members and seeing the dedicated service they give has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my mission.

This week, Elder Greene and Hernandez wanted a haircut but didn't have much money so they put their lives in my hands and forced me to cut their hair. I was super nervous because I'd never done it for anyone else before, but they assured me it would be fine and they wouldn't hold it against me if I messed up. I did my best and I don't think it turned out too badly so I might just start up my own side haircutting business haha 

Also this week we went to go get Elder Vasquez's license so we could drive legally haha. Before we actually got in, he had to get a medical exam and, of course, there were a whole bunch of small places close by where you can get one pretty cheap (yeah.....), but it worked out fine and five hours later we were done! Seriously longest day of my life, but had some great conversations with the people waiting by me.

But anyway, hope you guys had a great week! Love you a ton!!

Elder Hansen

Week 80 - New Missionaries arrive

Hey team!!

Well this week was pretty normal, not too much to report. We spent most of it showing the area to Elder Vasquez and getting to know the area better. But we've been seeing a lot of great things this week. We've found a bunch of great new people and the members are really stepping up and giving us some awesome references. Elder Vasquez has a lot of energy and we're super pumped to work like crazy. We're also trying to think of things to do to get everyone in the mission pumped up about being a missionary and working their hearts out and picking up the work out here. We're doing ok, but we both know there's a lot more we can do.

As far as cool stories, I'm running a little dry this week, but I'll try to do better next week! And I kinda ran out of time this week, but next week will be better haha I promise! 

Love, 

Elder Hansen

[Ed. note: Some pictures from the mission Facebook page, showing the new missionaries from the MTC.]

Week 79 - Mother's Day Skype and transfer day

Hey guys!!

So good to see you all yesterday!! 

Well.... I don't have to ton to write today because we just talked yesterday haha but today was pretty cool. Today was changes so super stressful trying to make sure everyone got to their new areas ok and met up with their new companions and it was full of problems but in the end it all worked out great. For lunch we went to the mall close by and while standing in line, a guy comes up to us and asks if we're elders. He then told us that his son is serving a mission in Guatemala and he wanted to buy us lunch haha not wanting to be rude, we kindly accepted his offer and had a great talk with him. He's apparently not a member, but seeing how much his son has changed after joining the church and seeing him go on a mission has made him think about investigating the church and he wants to always support the missionaries when he can and we were in the right place at the right time haha Miracles!!!

New companion - Elder Vasquez

But anyway that's about all that's new. My new companion is Elder Vasquez from Guatemala, and he's awesome, we're gonna have so much fun haha for some reason we've both had the feeling that some day we were going to be companions and here we go! Hope you guys have a great week! Love you a ton!!

Elder Hansen

"Cool art exhibit - it looks like a tie fighter!"

[Ed. note: Some photos that Sister Hayes posted on Facebook, from the baptism on Saturday, and last week's zone conferences:]

Week 78 - First road trip and a nice surprise

Hey hey fam!!!

Well this week went by way too fast again, but I can actually remember a few things that happened which is a good start.

This week we started zone conferences in Zona Sur, the most southern part of the country. I was pumped to go because it was my first time down there and I've heard its just amazingly pretty. And I wasn't disappointed. A lot of it is still untouched jungle which means you see all kinds of animals and giant trees. 

I finally saw one of the giant iguanas that everyone talks about, but I didn't have my camera on so that little one I saw will have to do. I also checked off the stereotypical red and blue parrots and crocodiles off the bucket list, which means almost the only thing left is a monkey. 18 months and I haven't seen a single one. More than a little bummed not going to lie haha.

So anyway, Monday to Wednesday was pretty normal and then Thursday morning at 7 we left for Zona Sur. It's about a 7 hour trip so it gave us a lot of time to talk to President and Sister Hayes which was easily one of my favorite parts of the trip haha. On the way down we stopped by this bridge and checked out some crocodiles. They were all asleep, but looked so cool. 

We got down at about 3 to Puerto Jimenez, the little town where a group started in December, for the activity the elders down there were putting on which was really fun and was where, as I'm sure you've all seen by now, I ran into Bishop Zobrist haha one of the biggest surprises of my life. 

[Ed note - Duane Zobrist was the bishop of our ward in Pasadena when Jeanne and I were married. He later served in our stake presidency and then as a mission president in Brazil. He happened to be in Puerto Jimenez on a family fishing trip, and ran into Reese at the park]

After the activity we headed out to the group president's house to camp out there. We ended up on sleeping bags inside on the floor, but I was so tired I could've slept standing up haha.

Then on Saturday morning we had the zone conference and then headed back home. Another long trip, but it was just fun to road trip with the Hayes. 

Sunday we had church and then some really good visits that night, especially with the investigator who's getting baptized this week. He was super pumped up and bore his testimony to us about 5 times in the lesson about how sure he was that the church was true. He's going to be an amazing member. He brought 3 other friends with him to church that morning too -- just amazing how excited he is.

And that brings us to today. It's been a great past few weeks. This week I hit 18 months in the mission and, as I've said before at every other milestone, I have no idea how it's gone so fast. It's amazing to think about how much has past and everything I've been able to experience here and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I'm so grateful to be in such a beautiful country and get to know so many amazing people, and to do it as a missionary makes it so much better. Life's good. Love you guys a ton!! Talk to you Sunday!!

Elder Hansen