Week twelve.

Hello everyone!

I don't have much time to write today, since I'm in a little Cyber Cafe in Montevideo (the capitol) and need to catch a bus in under an hour.  But I wanted briefly to share some of the thoughts of Elder Walter F. Gonzalez of the Quorum of the Seventy, who spoke to our zone in a conference this last Saturday.  He spoke of the importance of immediately directing any need or concern in this life to our Savior Jesus Christ--He is the only one who knows how to meet every one of those needs.  He is the Living Water to the spiritually thirsty, the Bread of Life to the hungry, the Rock and Sure Foundation upon which to build a stable home, the Way and the Shepherd to the lost and wandering, the Friend to the lonely, the Judge of both the righteous and the sinner, the Light to those in darkness, and the Life of all the world in overcoming the effects of death.  I love Him so much and know that what Elder Gonzalez said is true--every problem we confront in this life can, in one way or another, be solved by the Lord, His Gospel, and His one true Church.

Elder Gonzalez went on to discuss ways in which we can better use the Book of Mormon and questions in our teaching--emulating the Savior's teaching style of referring to the scriptures and then asking soul-searching questions to the hearts (not merely the factual knowledge or mind) of those He loves.  Upon using such tools, he also counseled not to fear silence--I know that the silences and times of internal reflection or contemplation in our lives give room for the Holy Ghost, our constant companion, to teach and testify to a pondering soul in a far better way than could ever be accomplished without His divine aid.

I just finished signing my residency papers, so... I'm official!  Woot!

I love you all as my friends and family--I feel the Lord blessing me each day for your righteousness and prayers.  And though I may just be one weak missionary in the army of God, I'm doing my best to return the favor.

Elder Hansen