Another Great Week at the Rock Pile - 04/23/12

Sounds like things are going well.

So this week was pretty freaking AWESOME! We had a baptism this Saturday, and it was pretty amazing. Everyone could feel the spirit pretty strong. We sang a special musical number, "Be Still My Soul," and it had a couple people in tears, which I hope were tears of joy. I also had the privilege of giving a talk in Sacrament meeting, and it went really, really well. I used the same talk that I used in Cerro Grande, but I tweaked it a little, and it was pretty powerful. I almost cried up there, but you guys know me, I don´t have any emotions, so I just swallowed it up and kept on going. But yeah, it was good for me, I needed the extra boost.

Thursday we had interviews with President, and that was also another memorable experience. I went in expecting to receive correction, which is good. I was ready and willing for him to, as we say here in the mish, shave me up. Turns out the entire interview was basically him telling me that the Lord is pleased with what I´m doing and that I have a very bright future ahead of me. He showed me a few tips, and told me that it has been an honor to work with me. I´m trying to keep it sacred because it's between me, him, and the Lord, so I won´t give you guys too many details.   Just know that I left feeling very humble and grateful that the Lord is pleased with my work. I know that we have to dedicate our lives. We can´t just dedicate a few hours.  It has to be all or nothing. I´ve been reading alot in Preach My Gospel, and holy cow, its amazing.  I feel like I was such a stupid punk for putting it off to the side thinking that I didn´t need it. President Flores only used PMG as references during our interview. Also I read Our Heritage, which is about the history of the Church. I think we can all learn from the examples of those who came before us.

This week was good. I hope that the Lord with continue to bless us with miracles. Jesus lives, God loves you, and prayer works.

Elder Hansen

Making Something out of Nothing - 04/16/12

Here is the latest:

Howdy Ya'll!

So this week was really cool. We saw a pretty big miracle in our area. So first off, this area hasn´t had any success in over a year. The members don´t trust the Elders, and the Elders weren´t working correctly. Basically, long story short, no baptisms in over a year, no progressing investigators, no excitement. Me and Elder L were called to basically make something out of nothing.

We came in super humble and prayerful. We´ve been praying to find the people that are ready to hear our message. We received a reference from one of the members. Turns out her husband, Eliazer, isn´t a member. (not for long!) He received the Elders earlier, but told them that he couldn´t be baptized because he didn´t believe in modern day prophets, LDM, and being baptized 2 times. We taught it simply and with a huge focus in the Holy Ghost and the purpose it plays in our lives as a guide of the truth. We taught the principle of Moroni 10 for about a week.  No, I´m not exaggerating, and this past Thursday it played off. We were in Ward Counsel, and my comp turns to me and saws ¨We've got to go see Eliazer¨. I said Are you CRAZY? The bishop is talking and its raining cats and dogs! But I felt it too, so we went. Turns out he received his answer to his prayers. He said about 3 or 4 words and broke down crying. Holy cow, it was pretty amazing. Everyone could feel the spirit in that room. Now he knows.

So this Saturday we have a baptism. We´re singing a special musical number with the other Elders, we´re going to have refreshments and everything. I think this is the most planning I´ve put into a baptism, and I like it! I feel bad that I didn´t do stuff like this before, but I guess that's life, continual progression.

Other than that, life is pretty normal. Teaching, preaching, knocking doors, etc. I love you guys a ton. Prayer works!

Elder Hansen

Birthday Bash - 04/09/12

Sounds like things are going well:

Hey guys! Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I´m feeling pretty good right now.

My birthday was pretty cool. We invited over some Elders and threw a little party. We started off the festivities with singing Happy Birthday, followed by smashing eggs on my head. Its a Latino thing apparently, and its pretty funny, but super messy-stinky. After that we beat a piñata until the candy came out. That was pretty hilarious, and Elder Archibald got a good video of it, so I´m hoping to bum a copy off of him and send it to you guys. After that we ate ¨cake¨. We forgot to buy one, so we made one out of bread and peanut butter. Yummy! So another part of Latino culture is that the birthday boy gets to eat part of the cake without using his hands, and then they shove your face into the cake. It was pretty funny, and I had a good laugh. All in all, it was a fantastic birthday, and I´m grateful to be where I am.

As far as missionary work goes, we´re seeing miracles everyday. For a ward that hasn´t had any baptisms in a year and is ¨dead¨, we sure are proving them wrong. When I say we, I mean me, my comp and the Holy Ghost. The ward is helping us tremendously, and yesterday we brought two families to church. I know that if we have faith and work our butts off, success comes. Believe baby! It works!

I love you guys a ton. I miss you and pray for you, and I hope everything is going great. Take care!

Elder Hansen

Pile of Rocks - 04/02/12

Another year older and another new area to open.

Wow, I'm old. I'm going to be 20. That's freaking crazy!

So I got my new area and my new comp this past Wednesday. I´m currently serving in Pedregal B, or Pile of Rocks. Woo hoo! It's a rock, Dad! My comp´s name is Elder Luna. That makes 2 Elder Lunas that have been my companion. I think its pretty funny, but I know it's inspired. We are opening an area, which is always fun. It's a first for both of us, so we weren´t entirely sure what we were/are doing, but we are being guided by the Spirit, and that's all that matters.

This area is about as inner city as it gets. We´re right next to the airport, and the pilots here are nuts! Some times I feel like the roof is going to rip off the house. This area has had some problems. Bad missionaries, a change in bishopric, and other things have happened here, and so there hasn´t been a baptism since March 11, 2011. That's extremely uncommon, and we´re hoping to change the story around here. We've got tons of energy and faith, so we know that we´re going to have a lot of success here.

Conference was amazing. I'm stoked to read the talks over and over again.

"If we want to do what we haven´t done we need to try things we haven´t done."

That quote sounds cooler in Spanish, but I like it alot.

I love you all. Missionary work rocks!

Elder Hansen