Week 38 - A Ward in Siquirres!

Hey fam!

Well it's been a pretty crazy week. Kinda sad to say goodbye to La Loma, but I'm pumped to be back in Siquirres. The best part has been to see people's reactions when I tell them I'm back. To get to our house, we have to pass by our cooks house and when we were bringing our suitcases by, they came running out yelling "Hansel!" (yes hansel, like Hansel and Gretel, my official nickname by all Ticos haha). But on to the week.

So Monday we had changes and I got to head out and get to know a little more of the area. It's super weird because I've been to that area a lot before, I just have to figure it out again. 

Tuesday we worked just like normal. It felt super weird waking up there again and the whole day I felt like we were on divisions haha. It was Elder Macias's birthday and we had two visits back to back where they gave us more food and cake than we could eat.

Wednesday we got to go visit some of the recent converts that I had gotten to know pretty well and it was so fun to get to talk to them again and to see that they actually remembered me haha.

Thursday, got to know a few more of the investigators and a little more of the area.

Friday more of the same good stuff.

Saturday I went on divisions with Elder Hernandez for a baptismal interview and it was so fun to work with him again. We got to relive some of the glory days and visit some of the people who were baptized when I was here before. We stopped by Carlos and Lijia -- she wasn't home, but when Carlos opened the door, the biggest smile lit up his face. It just made me so happy to see him again and talk to him about his life and family and everything. I really want to go to the temple with them. Also with one of the families we visited, they had killed this huge snake and they let us take pictures with it haha, I'll try to get them for next week.

Sunday we had stake conference because they were going to divide the stake and make a new one just for Guapiles, Siquirres, and Limon. We were all pretty much expecting that, but then they announced that Siquirres is now going to be a ward! One of the best feelings in the world. We had been working super hard for that and I was a little bummed when I left because I didn't think I was going to get to see it, but here I am! God has a plan for everything, right?

Other than that it's been super fun this week. We go to the gym in the morning for exercise, which I hate because it's basically everyone's time to get after me for how skinny I am, but it's fun. Haha feeling super sore, but when I get home I'm gonna be huugggee. But love you fam! Hope you're all doing awesome!

Elder Hansen

Week 37 - Transferred back to Siquirres!

Hey Guys!

Well this week was pretty great. Got in some super good memories and really bonded with Elder Maldonado. I love the mission because in just a few short weeks you can become such good friends. But anyway into the highlights, or what I can remember.

On Monday we had pretty normal pday and when we went to go buy groceries we ran into the family from Meet the Mormons! Elder Adams has the picture but I´ll get it from him soon. But it was super cool and they were super nice. And then that same day Elder Adams got the movie in a package so we watched it and naturally freaked out when we saw them again haha.

Tuesday we had some awesome visits and all that good stuff.

Wednesday we had zone conference and that was super fun as always. But while we were there, President came and told us an Elder had passed away that morning. I didn´t know him all that well but he was Elder Duran´s cousin and I know that was tough for him. President was pretty shaken up but he really took control of everything and got us all inspired again. The man is just amazing.

[Click here for an article on the passing of Elder Magdaleno]

Thursday I went on divisions with Elder Olson again for more baptismal interviews. They ended up falling through, but it was fun to spend more time with him. I made the worst mistake of my mission though. So they have this little tiny toy suction cup thing and I found out it sticks to your face. So being the mature and grown-up missionary that I am, I stuck it to my forehead. And then forgot about it. And after about ten minutes it had left a fat purple mark right in the center of my forehead. And it´s still there as I´m typing this. 

Friday I got to suffer through a ton on comments about it. Eventually we had to go home and put a bandaid on it because it was drawing too much attention from people. One person asked me what it meant, as if it was some kind of religious symbol. Yeah. It was a long day haha

Saturday was a good day too, not too much happened but hey I´m loving it.

Sunday we had church and then went to the memorial service of the elder that passed away. It was a pretty sad service, his family was pretty shaken up, but they were really loving to all of us and just told us to keep moving forward. His companion came with us that night and I was really impressed by how well he was doing. He wasn´t sad or depressed, he was just hopeful for the future.

Oh and we had changes today. After just a short six weeks in La Loma, I´m taking off again for guess where?? haha Siquirres!! Got a call from President last night and he said he´s gonna send me back to Siquirres, this time as zone leader. Another one of the big surprises of my mission haha. The crazy part is that I´ll be companions with my old zone leader Elder Macias from Mexico, and I´ll be neighbors with Elder Hernandez and Elder Sandoval haha I had a feeling I was going to be heading back to Siquirres at some point in my mission, I just didn´t know how soon haha. But I´m excited, it's a lot of pressure, but it's gonna be a really good learning experience.

Well that´s about it but just want you guys to know I love you a ton and I hope you have an awesome week!

Elder Hansen

"Found a super cool button in a discount shop, didn´t buy it"

Week 36 - Temple trip and Pokemon

Hey Fam!

Well not too much happened this week. Had a super normal week but it was fun at the same time. Don't remember a whole lot but some of the highlights:

We got to go to the temple!!!! They gave us permission to take some recent converts to go do baptisms and it was the greatest temple trip I've ever been on. II was thinking about how many times I've heard people talk about how amazing the temple is and how strong of a spirit you can feel there and I've never fully appreciated it until I got here. Honestly it's the greatest blessing we have in this world. 

Also another cheesy moment. On Sunday I was sitting in church next to a few members just thinking and looking around at everyone there and I had this warmest feeling of peace come over me and I felt so happy to be there and to be a part of the church. I couldn't help but just smile and think about how grateful I was to be there. Good times haha.

Also Elder Olson had bought some Pokemon cards and brought them on divisions this week so I decided to give it a shot. Never thought I would be here playing Pokemon, but it was good finish to kinda a long week. 

Last night, we brought our mattresses to the zone leaders' house and had a sleepover. Not too exciting but for us it was fun haha everything is more fun as a missionary.

Well those are some quick updates of my week. Hope you liked it haha have a great week you guys! Love you so much!

Elder Hansen

Week 35 - First Week with President Hayes

Hey team!

Pretty crazy week this week haha. Monday was the official split of the mission. The new presidents arrived and President Wilkinson left and it was officially San Jose Costa Rica East and West. But other than that it doesn't feel too much different. I've spent all my mission on this side of the country so I don't feel too out of place unlike the missionaries who have spent most of their time in areas like Guanacaste or somewhere in the west. But anyway on to the week.

Monday was a pretty normal pday again.

Tuesday we had district meeting and then I went on divisions with Elder Nuñez, one of the zone leaders, while my comp and Elder Adams, the other zone leader went to go do a baptismal interview for us. 

Wednesday we got in a solid day of missionary work.

Thursday we had interviews with President Hayes. He started out by introducing us to his family and then teaching us a little about how to feel the spirit more in our lives. He was so fired up and just told us how excited he was to be there and how much he already loves us and it was impossible not to just love the guy the moment you met him. After interviews we had to go to the church and do another baptismal interview for the zone leaders and then finished it off by visiting some recent converts. 

Friday we had another great day of work.

Saturday we had two baptisms! "K" and her daughter "K". The story is actually really funny because when we first met "K" she had brought pastors from her church to try and convince "S", one of our recent converts, not to get baptized haha. She let us stop by to visit her though and one day we passed by "S" and "K" was outside talking to her. When we got closer she got really excited and said she had gotten an answer that the church was true and that she wanted to get baptized haha. She didn't miss a single Sunday after that and got baptized with her daughter this weekend. And the best part was that President and his family came! Apparently it was the first time in the history of the ward that a mission president has come to a baptism so the bishop was pretty fired up haha. President gave us all nice big hugs and said he's going to try to come to every baptism we have. He's a pretty busy guy so we'll see if he can, but it was so nice to hear. 

Sunday -- church was great, we had to go pick up some investigators and got there a little late and missed the confirmations of "K" and "K", but they seemed so happy and excited afterward. After church one of our families invited us for lunch and made some amazing pulled pork. I've missed that so much haha. After that we had another baptism, this time for the zone leaders. It ran a little late so we had to run over to make one last quick visit to "S" and her daughter and when we got there it was clear something bad had happened. They let us in and told us that one of her grandaughters was having some problems and wanted to commit suicide. I was feeling a little confused because everyone was yelling and it was hard to understand everything, but Elder Maldonado was a solid rock and calmed everyone down and started to speak with such authority and spirit that everyone could feel it. I've never seen someone exercise so much of the spirit to make an incredibly delicate situation, calm and spiritual. It was an amazing testimony to me of the power we hold as missionaries and priesthood holders. After that, we had to run home to drop off an extra mattress to a family who had been kicked out of their house and were going to sleep in the chapel. We gave the dad a blessing and then helped them get all set up for the night. It was one of the most spritually charged nights of my life. 

So all in all it was a really good week. Hope you all had a great week and that this week is even better! Love you guys!

Elder Hansen

PS: Some really cool birds we saw this week.

Week 34 - Last Mission Conference with President Wilkinson

Zone photo with President and Sister Wilkinson

Hey Fam!

So sorry I couldn't send off a big one last week, but it's been such a good last two weeks. Last week we had some of the most spiritual lessons I've ever been in where we challenged our investigators to pray in that moment and we promised them they would receive an answer and every single person that we challenged, got an answer. Also we had a baptism last week! Her name is Marcia and she's so funny and I love it. She knows some English and every once in a while, if her dogs are acting up she yells at them in English. Other than that not too much happened last week.

This week was just a blur. Monday we had pday and got to go have lunch with President.

Last mission conference before the mission split

Tuesday we had our last zone conference with President Wilkinson, one of the saddest but most powerful meetings I've ever been to. President and Sister Wilkinson both gave some amazing talks and got us super pumped up to get to work and go baptize the whole world, but then made us all cry when they talked about how much they loved us and how much they'll miss us. President gave us his 7 spiritual essentials which were 1. Prayer 2. Scripture study 3. Temple Attendance 4. Taking the Sacrament worthily 5. Tithing 6. Institute (thought of you mom haha) and 7. Our missionary goals for after the mission. He promised us that if we would set goals for each of these and stick to them, we would never go inactive and never lose our testimony. Then after the meeting, we all went up to give him and Sister Wilkinson a hug. I'm gonna miss them so much. Oh and they did tell us which mission we'll been in and I'll be in the East. happy now? haha

[Click here for an article about his new mission president, Randy Hayes, a religion professor at BYU-Idaho]

Wednesday we had zone conference and then had some great lessons that night. 

Thursday we had some awesome weekly planning and did some great missionary work.

Friday I went on divisions with Elder Olson again to do a baptismal interview which ended up falling through, but it was fun to get to spend some time with him.

Saturday I can't really remember, sorry I'll try to get better at this.

Sunday we had church and then after they gave us pizza and juice boxes for lunch which I enjoyed very much. In the 6 appointments we had, 5 of them gave us food so by the end of the day I was feeling a little sick haha, but we've decided to fast a few times a week so hopefully I'll get rid of this little gut I'm putting on haha.

But hey love you all so much! Hope you guys are doing so great and that everything is going your way. Enjoy the pictures!!

Elder Hansen

With Elder Duran (trainer)

Four Generations - with his "father, son, and grandson" (plus two other elders)

With Elder Stott

With Elder Lemon

Week 33 - Bautismo!

Reese didn't send his weekly email today, but did send us a few pictures, with captions:

"Bautismo!! Se llama Marcia! [Baptism - her name is Marcia]"

"Lunch at Price Smart (like Costco and basically the greatest thing ever)"

"Lunch at home, brought right to us"

Week 32 - First week in Desamparados

Hey team!

Well first week in La Loma and it was a blast. Didn't get stuck on a train like Maren, but I've got some good stories haha. So my area is actually called Desamparados. La Loma is the ward, and I work more in a little part called San Antonio. Sorry for the mix up haha but I love it so much. Our house is a lot smaller than in Siquirres, but it's next to a few tennis courts so I get to wake up to the sounds of a bunch of old guys trying to play tennis haha, but I love it though. I wanted to play but its about 40 bucks for one hour a week....so I'll stick to soccer I guess. We live right next to the chapel (which is about the size of the chapel at home) so we've been playing almost every morning. Elder Maldonado is one of the funniest guys I've met, we've been having such a good time, and the area is stacked with some really good investigators. But anyway, here goes.

Monday, said some final goodbyes and then took off for San Jose. Met my new comp, said goodbye to Elder Hernandez and then headed for our house. Dropped off my bags, went to write, and then went back to San Jose with the district to see some stuff. Got back to the house and unpacked a little and then headed out to work. Did some good visits, got a little lost, and then finally made it home.

Tuesday we did divisions and I went with Elder Olson to his area with one of the new missionaries who was just starting his mission. It was cool because that area is the same place where I spent my first day of my mission. Oh how time flies.

Wednesday got to work in my own area and we were doing great until we decided to go stop by an old investigator. When we got to the door, his dog came out and started barking at us. I'm used to that by now, so we just kept waiting for him to come out. After a few minutes, we decided to leave and his dog kept following us. I didn't think anything of it, until I felt it bite down on the back of my foot. It hung on for a solid ten seconds before I finally got it loose and it took off running. It didn't pierce through my shoes, but it left some solid teeth marks haha I've lost a lot of my love for dogs out here in the mission haha. 

Thursday I had to do divisions again to do some baptismal interviews for the zone leaders. Their area is basically straight hills which is brutal, but it was good to get to know the area a little more.

Friday was a normal day. Got to get out and work, but some guy passed us and in broken English yells "Hey my crazy boys!" Then we had a lesson that night and a self proclaimed pastor showed up and tried to out preach us. Yeah. Good try, haha. The worst part was that he took up a ton of time and we almost didn't get to play soccer that night, which was our last time, because we can't play during the week anymore. 

Saturday we had a wedding and a baptism, second week in a row. We helped one of the members make a dog house, which was an adventure. Also, this weekend was a big celebration for something, so naturally a bunch of people used it as an excuse to celebrate in their own way. While we were walking to an appointment, we had to pass through this little alley which leads to a bridge that connects to another part of our area. When we got closer, we saw a group of about 20 people standing and sitting around the entrance. Preparing ourselves for a nice dose of friendly persecution, we passed through with the usual calls and phrases I'm trying to not understand haha. When we got to the bridge though, we heard them start yelling and running down the hill, so we stepped aside and watched as all of them booked it out of there. One of them, as he was running, started to stumble and just ate it coming down the hill. He got right back up and started running again, but it was super funny haha when we got across the bridge, two motorcycle cops had shown up and were stopping some people. So kids, don't yell at the missionaries or you'll trip down a hill and get arrested. 

Sunday was a great day too. Got to know a lot of members and we had seven people in church. A new personal record. Did some great visits, but the best one by far was our last one. We showed up at his house and were planning on having a quick 15 minute lesson. We got through the teaching just fine and he accepted to say the last prayer. He got down on his knees and started to pray really quietly. Five minutes passed. Then 10. Then 15. Then 20. Then 25. Then 30. Then 35. After 40 minutes of praying he got up and thanked us for coming and we left. The longest prayer of my life haha. I was hoping he was going to have some super spiritual experience, but he just got up like everything was normal haha such a good night. 

So anyway, it's been a good week. Really excited for the next one. Love you guys! Hope everything is going great!

Elder Hansen