Monica the Monkey

Here is Brett's email from 10/3/11:

First off, Conference was AMAZING!

I think that's all I need to say, Love you guys!

Hahahah, just kidding! This week was pretty amazing! On Tuesday I twisted my ankle pretty bad, but I feel pretty good now. I have a sick looking bruise around my ankle, so I feel like a man with my battle scar. That's right, who needs doctors when you have faith? Hahaha, I'm joking about not needing doctors, but I'm completely serious about the faith part. I know that with faith, anything is possible.

On Wednesday when we were out looking for new families to teach we found one! And they had a pet monkey! How crazy is that? I got to hold it and take a picture with it. My companion held it after me, and then Monica the Monkey left a nice smelly present for him. It was probably the funniest thing I have ever seen. The family was soooo embarassed, and we were laughing our heads off.

Our numbers weren't too great this week, and we got stood up a lot by our investigators, but I'm still loving every moment of it. Familia ________ has a baptismal date for the 29th of October. We've got to get them married by then, so that is going to be exciting. It'll be my first of many, or so I hear. It seems like no one here is married, but from what I hear its a long hard process to get married. The joke is that if you're married in Honduras, you're Mormon. I'm excited for them, they are golden.

Conference was amazing. I loved every minute of it, and Sunday Afternoon I was longing for more. I listened to it in English along with all the other Gringos (white people) because none of our investigators showed up. I was kinda upset, but the words of the Prophet/Apostles cheered me up. I felt like a lot of the talks were written just for me. The power and intensity and spirit was incredible. I only fell asleep once for about 10 seconds. My District Leader took great pleasure in slapping me in the face to wake me up. It was during the Saturday Afternoon Session when Elder Uchtdorf was speaking, and I really did listen to his talk.

We have a baptism planned this Saturday, and our goal for October is 15 souls. Its a big goal, but we are going to work hard and we are going to do it! Its crazy to think that I've been in Honduras for a whole month! I've been a missionary for 3 months! Ahhh! Its going by too fast! The bad news is that I've been told that it goes by even faster you're last 12 months. I love being here. I know that a mission brings more happiness than anything else in the world. There is nothing more satisfying that giving everything you've got to something greater than yourself.

Cool quote for you guys
"There is no growth in the comfort zone. There is no comfort in the growth zone"

Love you all
Elder Hansen