January 25, 2014

Buenas tardes,

  This week was pretty crazy because we're getting ready for transfers this Wednesday--with sad and unexpected news.  Due to some complications with his company in the States, President Newsome and his family will have to return to live there.

  I feel strange.  I expected to have one mission president when I came here.  Now I'll have three.  It will be a hard transition here in the offices after being so close to President for this change (or several changes for some of these guys).

  The good news?  Lucía will be baptized on the 18th of February!!  All of our prayers and efforts on her behalf will be happily answered rewarded.  The not-quite-so-good news?  The stake is reorganizing ward boundaries, and we probably won't be in Carrasco any more to see her through to the ordinance personally.  But the fact that she will become a member of the Church and move one step closer to her salvation already mean so much to me--it would be selfish of me to expect more from the Lord than to have participated in such a spiritually significant process of change for her and for us.

  Next transfer I'll be the office "travel agent"--in charge of flights for new and returning missionaries, visits from the Area Offices, et cetera.  It will be fun and new (not quite as routine as references, mail, and baptismal records this transfer) but I still feel sad to not have as much time as I would like to work in missionary efforts on the streets.  But I know that Heavenly Father is teaching me to improvise and think quickly and make decisions and be patient and be patient again here in the offices.  I will see the reasons why later on--for now, all I can expect is to act with faith.

I love you all,

Elder Hansen

January 18, 2014

Hey all,

Sorry I don't have too much time today.  It's been kind of a slow and sluggish day--heat comes in waves outside, and with the humidity the way it is, I feel like I'm swimming in slow-motion through the air.

But at least I'm running behind for a good reason!  The sisters in our ward had a baptism today--so we got there an hour ahead of time to fill up the font for them.  But the doors to the font were locked!  And the only key that existed to that lock?  Lost two weeks before by an Elder who today will go anonymous to save his pride.  So we had to break in--but how?  We tried jimmying the deadbolts with a knife and a credit card, unscrewing the handle--nothing.  So our zone leader climbs up through the ceiling in the women´s bathroom and drops down inside!  And I had to follow him because he forgot the knife.  Haha but we got it open and began to fill up the font--with frigid cold water (the heater wouldn't start).  So we frantically find some miscellaneous pots and pans and boil water on the stove to add to the icewater.  What an adventure!

But he got baptized.  That's what's important.  And I know it's worth any lengths we have to go to to do it.  It can happen even when things seem impossible-- when people´s hearts seem closed and locked.  The Lord will show us the way to help them accept Him into their lives.  It way be difficult for all of us.  But it will be worth it.

I love you,

Elder Hansen

January 11, 2014

Top o' the mornin',

  This was another spectacular week.  We are expanding our teaching pool a bunch (when I came here three weeks ago we had a grand total of one [1] investigator, and now we have eleven!), and have the world's best ward mission leader!  He's so willing to help us get members to go with us to each of the lessons we have set up, and has already gone out himself for several hours at a time this week.  In particular, our investigator Lucía is progressing toward baptism-- she found the missionaries herself, tracking them down in her car, and has been one step ahead of us ever since!  For example, we called her last night to talk about when to schedule her baptism and a lesson about the commandments (with mostly tithing in our minds), when before we could say a thing she suggested that she be baptized the same day we had thought and asked about how she was going to pay tithing as a member of the Church!!  It was incredible to see how she had been learning from the scriptures and from the Spirit.

  I felt the same thing this week when we were in a lesson this week with her.  She brought up a concern about how the Bible says not to add or take away from the things written in the book.  I felt prompted to share a scripture (3 Nephi 11: 40) and I didn't even remember what it said!  But as we read it together, we all realized that it referred to the doctrine of Christ--the same doctrine found in the Bible-- and it was that same doctrine which could not be taken away from nor added to.  It was touching to see that the Spirit could "teach [me] the truth of all things" (Moroni 10:5), or at least "bring all things to [my] remembrance (John 14:26)."

  I'm actually going to try to achieve a greater mastery of the scriptures this year, memorizing something each day--whether a passage or a reference--that I can apply to my life and to my teaching.  Then I'm going to try to base my studies around other peoples' questions and needs.  In addition, I want to do a much better job of writing in my journal daily.  So those are my new years goals!  I know that as we each set some meaningful spiritual goals and then make measurable plans to reach them and work on them, we can come day by day to be more like Jesus Christ.

Thank you for your prayers,

Elder Hansen

January 4, 2014

This was a great week!

New Years was at once a blast of an exciting night and a moment for deep spiritual reflection.  I came to realize that I have a great deal to improve and that here on the mission I've achieved considerable personal growth.  My studies, for example, are infinitely more meaningful than they were a year ago-- I have analyzed how I learn and organized my scripture marking system accordingly, use a journal to record and review revelation, and study according to needs (my own and those of others); each of those new habits has opened up a conduit for communication with Heaven.  I also notice that I'm much more of a self-starter, a decision-maker, and a problem-solver than ever before, though there's still a long way to go in each of those senses too.  And I'm happier.

But I think I haven't been taking as full advantage of my service as I should have been doing.  I can use this time to get into physical shape, learn to better manage time and resources, and further deepen my testimony of and conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  When the city lit up in beautiful lights and appeared to be on fire as the New Year was born, I wanted a change that dramatic and colorful to come over my own life.  I've committed to my Heavenly Father that I will make specific changes over the course of the next twelve months with the help of goals and plans.  I'm excited!

I hope the Lord will enter into each of your lives anew as 2014 yields many new opportunities, and hardships, and joys.  We must pass through all of them but ours is the decision of what we will learn and how we will grow from them.

Love,

Elder Hansen

December 28, 2013

Hey there,

  This week was wonderful!  We got to work a little more in our area as things in the office settled down, and I got to know my place and responsibilities as secretary pretty well too.  Then, the holidays were great!  Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we went to a different family of American members who work down here in the embassy and live in the very high-end homes of Carrasco, the richest neighborhood in the country.  So with a barbecue and a roast ham joyfully inhaled, we were able to remember the States a little, even though the ninety-degree weather was quite bizarre for that day of the year.  The night of the 24th, fireworks lit up the entire city--it was a gorgeous display that put the 4th of July to shame-- even our downstairs neighbors had purchased what seemed like industrial-scale explosives and were happily launching them into the skies.  Pictures attached.  Best of all, though, was talking with my family.  They're the best!  We had a great time.

  I have noticed that the people who live here don't seem very happy; they're very abrupt and impatient in the way they interact with others, and they don't know even their next-door neighbors.  It has reinforced my testimony that the riches of this world will not and cannot bring us happiness.  Only the rich knowledge of the eternities and the priceless blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are capable of redeeming us--that is, purchasing us from the bonds of sin and misery and providing us with the blessed joys that will last and make life worth each precious moment.

  I love you and hope you've had a wonderful Christmas.  May your New Year bring reflection and plans for progression,

  Elder Hansen

December 17, 2013

 I have news!  Transfers came in last night while I was on an exchange in an area two hours away because I got to Sarandí recently and didn't expect to be leaving, but... wouldn't you know it, I am!

     I'm going to the mission office to be a secretary--like the mission mailman/errand runner!  It's going to be so much fun because I'll be with lots of friends there; it's the only house of six in the mission, and will be considerably different than the isolated small-town houses of two that I'm used to!  I've heard we'll even have air conditioning.  Woot!  

     The name of the area is Carrasco A-- Carrasco is one of the richest areas in Montevideo, right in the middle of the big city.  The temple is even in our area!  It's going to be great being there these next few changes.  I will miss my Mexican companion Elder Martínez though.  He's one of my best friends.

     So... I don't know much yet about how Christmas will be down there-- I'll let you know on Saturday, which will be my new P-Day in the offices.  You can all keep writing Sundays, but the response will be a little delayed is all.

     I love you all!  Have a wonderful Christmas if I haven't already wished it to someone personally :)  

Adios!

Elder Hansen

December 9, 2013

Hot, hot, hot!  Merry Christmas!

We have been in 35 degree weather down here-- I have no idea what that is in Fahrenheit, but with humidity, it's nice and toasty!! And, strangely, even though I'm spending more time outside than ever before in my life each day, I'm tanning instead of burning!  Yippee!  :) but boy do I have funny collar and sleeve tan lines...

The "siesta"--afternoon nap--is a hard time of day.  From one in the afternoon until five, everyone is sleeping in their houses and bothered by us knocking their doors.  All the stores close.   The streets are dead.  It's pretty strange to be the only  people in sight.

It's been more than a month now that we haven't been able to get any investigators to church -- but thankfully, we're still feeling excited and motivated to work hard and we know that this will be the Sunday we change that unfortunate pattern.  I won't let this area turn into another Varela! (my first area where no one attended church for three months)! :) Thankfully, the members are getting more supportive each week.  One sister in the branch even told us this week that she was going to invite three of her friends to take the lessons in her home!  That's the most active role I've seen  a church member take in most of  my mission.

We  talked  with a seventy-year-old man  yesterday who  said he had been an atheist his whole life.  But as we shared our message and asked him searching questions, he began to feel something and accepted a second visit.  The Spirit is so powerful that it changes and softens hearts that have been closed for a lifetime by habits of unbelief.

So life is good.  I'm learning so much from the scriptures.  I love and appreciate them--I know that the Lord speaks with us through the mouths of prophets  today every bit as much as in the days of old.  I am so grateful for that knowledge.

Love you!

Elder Hansen