Week 4 - Best Week Ever

Hola Familia!

I don't have too much time to write today, we've got a huge day lined up for Thanksgiving so we had to get up early to do laundry and email. We thought if we got up at like 5:30 then there would be open washing machines, but they were already all full. Why do we have so many morning people here?

This week was by far the best one I've had here. Dad, I found out one of my teachers was in Dr. Swenson's class when I came with you, so we talked about that for a while. Then we taught some really really good lessons and we're really bonding as a 10 missionary zone. I love them so much. I met some more missionaries going to Costa Rica!!!!!!!!! I was so excited haha and then I met one of the teachers who had served in Costa Rica! So I just can't wait anymore. I want to be there right now.

Elder Jonas

The other district left on Monday, which was a lot harder than the last time. I had gotten to know those guys so much more and they were some of my best friends here. Our room was always a lot more calm than the other ones so some of them would come in and just spend time in our room. Elder Jonas was a really good story teller so he would come in most nights and tell us a story about Elder Rowe or some made up character and I have honestly never laughed harder than I did every night he came in. I miss that kid.

On Tuesday, we went to dinner like normal and we sat down and saw all these people running over to the TVs and talking really loudly, which is actually kinda normal, but they seemed extra excited today. I didn't really think much else until they moved away and I saw it was a message for the Tuesday Night Devotional. And it was Dallin H. Oaks!! We all got so excited haha. We ate as fast as we could and then ran back to get in line early and there were already people there at like 5:30 for the 7:00 devotional haha. We got decent seats but it was just amazing to see him and hear him speak to us. He shared a really simple analogy, but one that I ate up. He talked about being an instrument in the hands of the Lord and related that to being a pen. The Lord uses us to deliver his message and the ink is our gospel knowledge and testimony. We're on His schedule and we can't deny Him because it's P-day or because we're tired. I wrote in big letters on my paper to BE A PEN. It really struck me and I just love that analogy. 

One of our investigators committed to be baptized!!! It was the most rewarding feeling. The Spirit was so incredibly strong and I just wanted to hug him. 

Oh also on Tuesday, I had the first warm shower in over a week haha. It was a great way to wake up in the morning with a brisk and refreshing shower, but I was so happy to finally have warm water again haha.

WEDNESDAY. BEST DAY. Definitely at the MTC and one of the top ten in my life. We had a really good training meeting for the zone leaders helping with the service project today and then I got to go be a guest investigator for the other class and their teacher had me play a 9 year-old and it was the easiest thing because all I had to do was be myself haha. Their teacher told me to get bored really easily and always get distracted so I did my best and it was just so much fun haha. We had some extra time after lunch, so we did some personal study and then spent time as a zone just talking and bonding and trying not to think about the fact that in 2 weeks we'll all be gone. For our night class, we practiced door and street approaches and I was really surprised how comfortable I felt doing it. Then we practiced just getting to know people and not trying to share our message or anything right away, but just meeting people. I loved just talking and listening and having normal conversations with people. It came really easily to me and I'm so grateful for that. After class, we had a zone prayer. I had the spiritual thought and I bore my testimony about losing ourselves in the work. I started talking and then the Spirit took over and it was so strong in the room it was like a wave just crashing over me. I almost started crying, but I managed to hold it in so I'm still good. Then we went back to the rooms and one of the Italian Elders on our floor had this huge parade-like balloon or something. I'm not sure what it was but it was massive. We were messing around with that for a while and then Elder Walker threw it down the hallway and it popped on the wall and made the loudest noise so like men, we all scattered and ran back to our rooms to hide haha. It was the perfect end to that night because we just sat there and laughed and laughed for probably 10 minutes. But it was just an amazing day.

Today is going to be special too. We've got a GA devotional at 9:30 and they won't tell us who it is so I can't wait. And then we have thanksgiving lunch and then the service project and then the thanksgiving program and then we're watching a movie tonight which I have a sneaking suspicion is Meet the Mormons, but stay tuned.

Anyway, I love you all so much. I love being a missionary and I love being here. Thank you again for all the support and I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving.

Elder Hansen