Week 50 - Transfers and a Ward Activity

Hey fam! 

Not too much to report this week. We had changes, but only two Elders left and one changed from Limon to Siquirres so it doesn't really count haha. But Elder Hernandez left which was a little sad. Gonna miss that kid. We had to go to his new area and drop off his suitcases while he went to San Jose, but it was nice to have a little adventure. Elder Ramirez served close to that area and some members helped us get them there and then took us out for lunch. They took us to a fish restaurant that was one of the most secluded places I've ever been, but it was the best fish I've had in a loooonnggg time, with some very crispy fries (you would've loved them Mom!). I'm just hoping that someday we'll get to go back.

Saying goodbye to Elder Hernandez

Miracle of the week! So with the changes this week, we lost basically all of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and we needed to have a ton of people in church and find a ton of people to hit our goals for the week and the month. I was feeling a little stressed out, but we said a few prayers and left Thursday with a ton a faith that we were going to find every family that lived in Siquirres. We came home that day with 2. And then Friday we came home with 4. Then on Saturday we had a ward activity, which went super well, but I'll get to that. The point is, that it killed a ton of time that day and we only found 2 new investigators. Which meant Sunday we needed to find at least 7. At 7:00 we had 1 haha. I was just hoping and praying for everything I had that we could find something. We kept walking and searching and we passed by our cook's house just to see if there was anyone there. She was a little busy, but told us to go contact a house nearby. When we got there they received us super well and we found 5 new investigators there. They also told us to contact the house next door, and there we found another 3. When we got home that day, I just felt so relieved to know that God is always watching and, even though we might not see it, He is always working to help us.

Our new contacting method

But about the activity. We had been planning it for about a month, but after some miscommunication, we ended up having to change a lot of things in the few days before, including what time it was going to start. It was supposed to start at 1, but nobody showed up until 2 and there was barely anyone there. We had planned to have 5 teams of 6 do 5 different games. When we started we had 1 haha. It was kinda a rough start because the Primary had an activity too and they ended right as we were starting so all the kids came running in and we had to calm them down and put them into teams and then other kids found the water balloons and then more people started to show up, but after about 10 minutes of organizing, everyone was in a team and in a game. Once everyone was doing something, it all started running a lot smoother and by the end it had turned into one of the best ward activities we've ever had. The members stepped up a lot and it was so fun to see people who in church look serious, dancing and cheering when their team won. I've never seen adults so excited to throw water balloons! It wasn't perfect, but it turned out well and they all said we need to have more activities like that. We're not that creative so who knows if we'll be able to think of more, but we'll see how it goes haha.

But anyway, hope you're all doing super great. Love you guys a ton!

Elder Hansen

Week 49 - A wedding and a baptism

Baptism of Yoser, Maricela, y Estrella

Hey fam!

Hope you're all doing great! This week was really really good. Everything worked out well for the wedding and baptism. We had a ton of support from the members which was a nice relief. Usually, we're running around all week getting everything set up, but this time all we had to do was bring the people and fill the font. The ward is really stepping it up. One of the best parts was that President Hayes and his wife came. They hit some traffic and we were worried they weren't going to make it, but luckily the baptism before the wedding was delayed so they were there for all of them. Everything is better when President comes.

The Wedding

So like usual this week was super fast. This transfer was unbelievably fast honestly. We don't have changes, but unfortunately, like I was expecting, Elder Hernandez is being transferred. But the good thing is that he's not leaving the stake so we'll see him for stake conference still. 

We finally got to move into our new house though which has made everything better. It's not that I didn't like living with four Elders in the house, it was just really crowded. We're still working on getting everything set up, but it's looking good. 

But anyway, it was a super good week. I'm just hoping we can keep it going. I'm super happy to still be with Elder Ramirez, it's gonna be a lot of fun. Hoping you guys are all doing awesome, love you a ton!

Talk to you soon!

Elder Hansen

Week 48 - General Conference and a Trip to the Beach

Hey guys!

Hope you're all doing really well!

Don't have a whole ton to write, just got back from the beach and I've forgotten a lot that happened this week, sorry.

This week was another fast one. I was talking to Elder Ramirez about how fast this whole change has gone by. It's already October!! Gotta be honest, it's scaring me how fast this is all happening. But I'm finally getting to that point where I feel old in the mission. And it doesn't really help that over half of the zone has less than 10 months in the mission haha. 

But anyway, on to the week!

So this week we were working like crazy the first few days to make up for the time we were going to lose this weekend. We had leadership council on Friday and the conference so we knew it was gonna be a rough week work-wise, but the Lord gave us a lot of chances to make up lost time and we managed to make the most of it.

Friday was great. Got to learn from President Hayes. Always incredible. The only bad part was on the way home, the bus that should only take 2 hours, hit traffic and was delayed 2 hours more. Such a long bus ride. 

Conference was really good! Kinda hard to get it in English, so I didn't get the full experience this time, but I still loved it. 

Well sorry that was a really boring email but hey at least it's something haha love you guys! I'll send some good pictures next week! 

Elder Hansen

Week 47 - Another trip to the Temple

Hey fam!

Well another super fast week and because of that I can't remember much from what happened, but it was still a good week, I remember that.

Highlights:

Temple!! It was so great to go to the temple again. President and Sister Hayes came with us and we had a little activity after and some really good food. The only bad part was that the night before we had gotten to San Jose a little late and by the time we got there, there weren't any beds left, so we spent the night camped out on the floor. Not the first time it's happened but it's never a good time haha. But all in all it was worth it to get to see the temple and help us get ready for general conference.

With current companion, Elder Ramirez

"Mi familia" - Elder Hernandez and Elder Sandoval (son and grandson)

Saturday was Elder Sandoval's birthday so we got invited to a few birthday dinners. Everyone goes all out for birthdays and it was so much fun. Got to go see Carlos and Lijia again, love them so much.

Elder Sandoval's birthday dinner with Carlos and Lijia

Present from Carlos and Lijia

Also, today we moved in with Elder Hernandez and Sandoval. We're just waiting for another house to open up so we're going to room with them for a few weeks. Gonna be fun. You should've seen how well we packed the truck. You would've been proud, Dad -- did it all in one trip.

Well, that's about it. September went by super fast, it's crazy that we're already at October. Super stoked for my second general conference in Siquirres haha it'll be a little lonely being the only gringo this time.

Love you guys so much! Have a great week!

Elder Hansen

"Pizza!"

"Dinner with Gerardo y Jeri"

"La Luna bien tuanis"

Week 46 - I love this place

Hey guys! 

Hope you're all doing awesome! This week was a really good one for us, really fast, but one of the best ones we've had. 

Started out the week pretty slow, Monday we only had two lessons, but one of them was a family home evening with a family of recent converts, which is always interesting haha.

Tuesday was pretty normal, had some great visits.

Wednesday was just about the same, really good day. Sorry, I'm not very good with details.

Thursday was great. Went on divisions with Elder Sandoval to do some baptismal interviews for the family they baptized this week. It was so much fun to spend some good time with him and visit Carlos and Lijia and Rafael. It's been so amazing to be so close to them again and actually get to visit them. Elder Hernandez and Sandoval moved into an apartment that has air conditioning and it almost killed me that night haha. It was supposed to turn off after about half an hour, but something happened and I woke up at about 3 a.m. almost dead from the cold haha the windows were all fogged up and all I had was a tiny blanket. Luckily I found the control and turned it off, but I've never been so cold in my life haha.

Jeikel, Joshua, y Didier

Friday was the miracle day. We had done divisions so that I could go do some interviews, but also so that Elder Hernandez could do one for us. It had fallen through on Thursday and wasn't looking good for Friday, but somehow they managed to find him and get it done. The best part was that on the way back, they ran into some kids that were supposed to have gotten baptized last week, but had left for Limon and we hadn't seen all week. They said they still wanted to get baptized so they did the interview, got their clothes ready, and our one baptism turned into 3. All four of us were running around like crazy all day to get everything ready, but it all turned out great. Elder Hernandez and Sandoval baptized a family of 4, one of the best families I've ever met, and we finished the week with 7 baptisms this week. Miracles upon miracles.

Saturday was super good too. We had a lesson with one of the families that's progressing the most. They have to get married and we had touched it before, but they never seemed too excited. A family of members came with us to the lesson and basically gave the whole lesson about why they should get married. It was perfect. They still didn't seem completely convinced, but we could tell they were thinking a lot about it. Really good day. Love Saturdays.

Sunday was special like always. We hadn't had as much time to invite people to church this week so I was a little worried, but the Lord blessed us a ton and almost everyone who had committed to come showed up. Also that night, we had another lesson with the same family from Saturday. They said they still felt a little nervous about it and weren't too sure, so I was feeling a little anxious about how we could help them to feel sure. I'm still not really sure how, but somehow as the lesson progressed they changes completely. By the end they had completely changed their opinion and are now planning on getting married Conference Weekend and baptized the week after that. I love them so so much.

But anyway, that was basically my week. I just feel so lucky to be here, I love this place. The people, the weather, the mission, everything is just so great. Love you guys so much! Have a great week! Enjoy the pictures!

Elder Hansen

Week 45 - Soccer and Trumpos

Hey guys!

Don't have a ton of time to write, but just wanted to let you all know that we're doing great out here! Today we played soccer on a turf field for the first time and it was so much more fun. It's a tiny little court but it has a net all around it and we went crazy. Limon against Siquirres. We lost, but it was a super good game. We've got another game in Limon on the beach next week so we'll see if we can't pull off the win.

In terms of missionary work, it's been going really well for us. Elder Ramirez is teaching me a ton. I hope I'll actually be with him for more than one change haha. 

So in one of the pictures I sent there's a yellow cone looking thing. They're called trumpos and they're huge here. Every kid and adult has one and on almost every corner there's a group playing with them. So naturally we sent some kids to go buy some for us haha. I'm getting pretty good, I can almost do it right. I'll send a video sometime haha.

Saturday morning we played soccer with some recent converts who had been talking trash all week. We beat them 16-11 but the best part was that they had said if we beat them, they'd buy us all some soda and, as you can see in the picture, they came through. They're talking about making a lot of changes for this week's game so we'll see what happens.

Last night we had a really good lesson with our favorite family, the one that showed up to church a few weeks ago. We had planned to teach about the Book of Mormon, but when we started, the dad asked us about why we don't drink coffee. I was a little anxious to teach it, but we tried to rely on the Spirit and teach clearly. By the end of the lesson, he, his wife, and their daughter had committed to drop coffee. When we asked if they thought it would be a problem, the mom just said if it was something God commanded, she would do it. Familia do oro. I'm supposed to be teaching them, but they're teaching me. Love them so much.

Well fam, love you a ton, have a super great week!

Elder Hansen

Week 44 - New companion Elder Ramirez

Hey fam!

How are you guys? We're doing great out here in Siquirres. It's been a little cooler this week which was the greatest. Last night I was cold enough to use my blanket AND turn off the fan! Pretty crraazzyyy haha. But this week was super crazy. We spent about 10 hours in buses this week which wasn't the best for the work or for my sleep schedule but we had some good times. 

Monday and Tuesday we ran around saying goodbye to everyone Elder Macias wanted to visit and tried to make sure he had everything packed up. 

Wednesday we left a 4:30 for San Jose and had the changes meeting. I picked up my new companion, Elder Ramirez and we were back in Siquirres by about 1:00. Elder Macias was made AP which is awesome because I'll still get to see him and talk to him every once in a while. After we got back we had district meeting and then went to get to know the area a little.

Thursday was a pretty normal day. Weekly planning was a blast as usual.

Friday we took off again for San Jose at 4:30 for leadership council. President Hayes went all out in his lesson, leaving us literally opened-mouthed. It's unreal how much he knows. When we got back, had a super good day of lessons.

Saturday, Elder Ramirez got permission to go baptize someone in Guapiles, his last area, who he had taught for the past few months. The only bad part was that the guy getting baptized was huge compared to Elder Ramirez, who is like up to my shoulder. He almost dropped him in the font trying to lift him back up, but made a nice save and it turned out fine haha.

Sunday was a great day like always. Had some super good lessons and three families came to church. We're seeing some really good progress out here. Can't wait to see the ward grow even more.

Well gotta take off but I love you guys a ton! Have a great week! Sorry I don't have pictures this week, but, like always, I'll try to do better haha

Love you guys!

Elder Hansen