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

December 2, 2013

¡Vamoarriba Uruguay! ¡Soy Celeste!

  So a few weeks ago I bought a baseball cap that finally decided between the two rival soccer teams here, Peñarol and Nacional-- soy Manya, that is Peñarol.   I was very pleased to hear fireworks  and uncontrolled screaming when we won a key game this week .  The culture here is so crazy  :)

 I also ate ostrich egg this week!!  It's really good--I thought it tasted a little more rich and flavorful than from the chicken, and it is the equivalent of about a dozen eggs!   That was fun too.  Now that I've checked that, capibara, blood sausage, hairy pig skin,  tripe (cow intestines), and a few other  foods unique to the Uruguay, I can confidently say  there's little left here I haven't tasted :)

  Unfortunately, though, Sandra 's leg problems worsened and she was in the hospital having surgery all weekend; then, Hilaria's husband told her he didn't want her visiting other churches.  We weren't able to have any progressing investigators in church for the fourth week in a row... But thankfully, my companion and  I get along so well that it has been fairly easy to keep one another in good spirits and work hard looking for other prepared people as well  as helping those we've found to resolve their difficulties.  With the additional support from the branch's members lately, we're sure to find someone soon   who is prepared to be baptized.

   I know there are opportunities to serve all around us--the branch helped a member of our area with the bridge in front of her house so she would be able to leave and attend church in her wheelchair, and she came!  Sometimes the only thing standing in the way of a person's spiritual progress is a temporal challenge that can be solved with an act of service.  I want to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ, who "went about doing good" in all of His earthly ministry.

I love you,

 Elder Hansen

The Latest.

I really apologize for how far behind I've gotten. Here are McKay's latest letters in order from most recent to least recent! Sorry, I'll try to stay on top of it from now on!

11-25-13
Good afternoon, my dear brothers and sisters.

 :) How's it going?  Around Thursday I started feeling better so everything's peachy again (I've picked up the habit of saying peachy in the mission because in Spanish "pichi" means hobo.  So I'm just pichi :).

  We've got two really awesome investigators who are progressing-- Sandra, who had read the entire Book of Mormon before and is now leaving off smoking to be able to be baptized, and Hilaria, who has known good Church members her whole life and is now starting to read and pray in her own free time thanks to their help.  Unfortunately, both of them canceled last minute our plans to help them get to church yesterday, and neither was able to attend.  But if we work hard together for the next few weeks, we just might be able to arrange some Christmas miracle baptisms!

  I've felt such a change coming over my desires as I've spent more time out here in the mission-- I feel less and less often the temptation to think about books or music or movies from before, and more and more the need to plan for success in the area, progress for investigators and district members, and changes in my personal actions to be more obedient.  I know that's something the Lord has done for me that I could never have achieved on my own, and I'm very grateful for it.  I know that the very touch of the light of Christ in our lives often manifests itself in that way, a pure power or influence for good.  I hope everyone we teach can come to feel the same way and improve even better and faster than we are trying diligently to do!

I love you!

Elder Hansen

11-18-13
¿Todo tranqui?
It’s great to be writing you again! This week was a roller coaster. We found two really awesome investigators, Sandra and Silvia, who had had very positive contact with the Church in the past. Sandra even committed to be baptized on the 7th of December!  We'll be praying a lot and helping them to progress toward worthy goals these next few weeks, and thankfully, so will our branch members. Those were the only lessons we've been able to have with members present for weeks-- it's been difficult to count on branch support when there are so few consistently active attenders here and all have busy schedules. But thanks to an excellent district conference yesterday in which our mission president spoke of the need to know the missionaries and investigators by name and face, we're hoping to be able to turn things around by making personal visits to the members' homes and practicing sharing the Gospel with neighbors, friends, et cetera.
The unfortunate swing of the week was I got pretty sick.  I worked anyway but I was kind of a zombie on the streets. (I’m referring to my slow pace and staggering gait; No worries--I didn't have open wounds or a desire to feed on human flesh!)
I doubt I fostered much confidence in the people who saw me…haha.
But this morning as I was slumped in my chair trying to get motivated to start P-Day, a sudden surge of energy came over me. I don't know how else to describe it; I still felt a little weak and queasy, but somehow had just the strength I needed to do everything I needed to. It was a very real witness that I am supported by the power of prayers offered by people like you all over the world.  I'm so thankful for the infinite sacrifices made by the Saints that uphold us. I know there is a real force (faith and prayers) that buoys us up, and I'm very grateful for it.
So I think all will be well soon!
Thanks for everything,
Elder Hansen
Santa would look weird down here in that bulky red suit now that it's getting hotter and hotter... haha.


11-11-13
Good morning, America!
So, I'm now with my sixth companion after just seven transfers--I guess no one can put up with me for very long at a time. :)  But Elder Martínez is awesome!! He and I have always gotten along really well and wanted to be companions, even though we knew it was uncommon to be paired up with someone from the same batch of missionaries; and wouldn't you know it…verily, it came to pass.
We're excited to get working with members-- our branch president is very motivated, and we're working on having family home evenings with the members and bringing investigators to allow for positive, uplifting experiences.  Things should be looking up soon!
I'm sending home a flash drive with all my pictures from the whole mission on it (No worries I copied all the conference talks off of it first.)  Kylie can then post at will any of those six hundred some-odd photos.  It just takes way too long to load them individually on these slow computers... sorry for the wait, but it will be a fun little Christmas bonus!
Today on the bus, I spoke with a woman named Margarita who looks very much like my Grandma Marsha Hansen. We talked for an hour about her relationship with God and some of her life experiences.  She lives far out in the rural interior of Uruguay and only very rarely comes to the city to make purchases.  She said she distinctly remembered the only other time in her life (more than forty years ago!) in which she had had contact with missionaries. It made me realize that we can have a dramatic influence on people even in the short moments we have together and be positive examples.  It reminded me of the mantra my missionary preparation class teacher, President Christensen, often repeated, "You as missionaries may very well be the closest thing to the Savior that these people will meet in their lifetimes."  That's a frightening prospect, but also a beautiful opportunity, privilege, and responsibility. I hope to do a better job of it every day.
Love you!
Elder Hansen


11-4-13
Hey Folks,
This week has been really busy--because of some sick members of the zone we weren't able to do our exchanges earlier in the transfer and I ended up travelling the district most of the week!  I feel like I haven't even been in my area since I last talked with you all.
Well, the transfers came in last night, and... My new companion is one of my best friends in the mission!  He's a Mexican named Elder Martínez who arrived in the same group as I did--he was actually my district leader in the MTC.  Really great guy.  And my current companion Elder Morris is going to the Brazilian border to one of the three areas in our mission that is actually in Brazil.  So he should have fun too.  :)
My zone leader taught me a lot this week about how to teach the Gospel with simplicity and love.  We need to sound professional, but we can't be formal and eloquent and expect the importance of our message to get across unless we are direct, sincere, and powerful in testifying as missionaries. I have come to appreciate so much the counsel of my leaders, even when it comes in the form of initially unpleasant correction.
Have a great week.
Love,
Elder Hansen


10-28-13
It's getting nice and warm and will soon be hot.  Stays light until eight thirty at night…pretty weird. We eat lots and lots of mashed potatoes. They're almost as common as rice and noodles.
Good afternoon! (It's weird to think people don't actually say that in the states because "Buenas Tardes" is so common here.)
This week was unfortunately uneventful. Our district had a real struggle helping motivate investigators to attend church. I already feel like I've walked all the same streets and knocked all the same doors in Sarandí several times because it's so small. But after a great game of soccer this morning, I think we're all feeling enthused about the work again. We've got a family night scheduled with our branch president tonight in the home of some less active members, so the week should start off well. (It’s the first time he has been able to accompany us to a lesson since I've been here--he's really busy since he works two jobs.),
This transfer we've placed a very strong emphasis on planning; it's difficult to show the Lord our desires to be diligent without having a constant destination and a definite purpose.  So we've tried hard to look forward to meaningful activities in every moment of the day to be quickly walking and working toward. It's helped me to see how much more we can accomplish in our lives when we carefully look at the steps we will need to take to reach our goals. Even things like our prayers and studies can be thoughtfully pondered upon before launching into them headlong: if we aim for a certain end to our spiritual experiences (a question answered, a testimony strengthened, et cetera) it is far more likely we reach that joyful finish. So I'm trying hard to push myself and correct my earlier tendency to start things without thinking through what was really needed.
I love you all.  Thank you for your support and prayers,
Elder Hansen

Week Twenty-seven.

Hey!

  This was the week of the infamous anual tempest, the Santa Rosa.  We have heard in hushed tones and whispers, almost certainly accompanied by a shiver of dread, for months now... seven uninterrupted days of relentless rain and a downpour of pure evil which would cause even the most weather-hardened missionary to tuck his tail between his legs and plead for an ounce of warmth or hope from any neighbor brave or merciful enough to open the door to him.

  Ok, so it wasn't actually that bad.  :)  It came late this year so the actual storm wasn't so rough.  It rained all week, which was gloomy, but our habit of yelling "Whoo!" and thrusting our umbrellas (I'm on my third for the mission) triumphantly up at the skies each time lightning strikes has kept the motivation levels high and a pair of smiles on our faces.  Because of the torrential attack from on high, we only had 18 people (instead of our usual 50ish) in church on Sunday, but I was struck by how that was the exact number of Maximum turnout to the chapel in my old area, Varela.  We're very blessed here.

  Florencia's mom, Lorena, accepted a baptismal date for the 13th of October!  Her husband José is a little more skeptical and hesitant, but he told us it wasn't because he didn't want to join the Church, but rather because he wanted to be able to commit 100%, without allowing old weaknesses like his trouble with the Word of Wisdom to come back and tempt him after his baptism.  We'll be working with both of them to help them access the changing and impelling force of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  In time I know that family will come to be a strong source of good in this world.

  I've been really pushing myself to be obedient in my thoughts and desires as well as my actions, to be converted into a true disciple and representative of Jesus Christ and demonstrate the depth of my testimony in Him.  It isn't easy.  But it is ever so rewarding, fulfilling, and worth the effort.  I know that the Gospel of Christ is true and that as we take the necessary steps to come unto our Savior, making and keeping sacred covenants, we can be saved and eternally happy together.

  I love you all,

  Elder Hansen

Week Twenty-six.

September 9, 2013

Hello hello!

GREAT WEEK!  First, Elder Zeballos, a Chilean from the First Quorum of the Seventy visited and we talked about a little bit of everything-- I especially loved how questions I had had for the longest time about random Gospel topics were answered by the Spirit as I carefully listened.  He especially stressed the importance of finding complete families to teach.  Speaking of which...

Florencia´s whole family came to Church this Sunday!  Even her dad, José, who had been a little hesitant before.  It was such a joy to see them all sitting together in Sacrament Meeting.

In addition, another very promising investigator of ours, 18 year old Jorge (or "Lolo" as his whole family inexplicably calls him) has been coming to Church too.  He moved here to live with his sister, a very faithful member, and to turn his life around.  He's eager to be baptized.

Elder Alder signed his residency papers today-- we went to the huge central bus station in the city called Tres Cruces.  It's such a tourist trap haha.  And even busier than the airport...

Lots of love!  I know that the Lord answers prayers and responds to our individual doubts.  And sometimes it's waiting and searching for those responses that teaches me the most.

Elder Hansen

Week Twenty-five.

Mis queridos,

  How's things and stuff?  This week was what we call in Spanish "ahí" or "más o menos"; we really enjoyed it but didn't see as much success as we would have liked.  It's tough to spend weeks like this one where we only teach around twenty lessons even though we're trying every day.  It reminds me of the slower pace of little Varela, my first area.  Hopefully the warm weather will draw people out of their homes to be trapped--I mean, taught :)--in the streets.

  The good things, though?  Lorena, Florencia's mom, came to church for the third time in a row!  She said she had spoken with missionaries almost thirteen years ago and taken the lessons then, and that at that time she didn't feel ready or comfortable committing to be baptized.  But now, she says, lots has changed and she wants to try preparing herself again!  And better yet, her husband has also been taking the lessons with us and asking really good questions, even though he hasn't come to church since the day of Florencia's baptism.  He said he had a dream the other night in which we as the missionaries had told him he needed to stop smoking and he's trying to leave off now: without us having as much as mentioned the Word of Wisdom to him (we taught him the importance of that commandment later, of course)!  It's really evident that the Spirit is inviting him to do that which is good and uplifts and edifies.

  We have a couple other really promising investigators.  As always, the classic Uruguayan problem is that we are literally the last priority on people's lists--if we have a time set up to pass by and teach a lesson, and anything else arises (like their dog needs to go for a walk or they run out of milk and go to the store), they drop everything and stand up the missionaries.  It's kind of frustrating.  Elder Griffin, my trainer, used to say, "One of the hardest things to do in Uruguay is to find a really promising new investigator and have a strong, spiritual lesson with him or her.  But the Very Hardest thing to do here is find that same person again and teach them a second time."  haha... I wish that were less true...

  But I know that it's nothing personal against the missionaries, much less against the Lord--the people of Uruguay are really wonderful and accepting.  I come to love them more every day; I know I'll have a hard time leaving this branch when I finally do.  Our other really powerful experience this week was meeting our new mission president (a Fortune 500 businessman from Florida) and his wife.  They are incredible and stressed the importance of developing that sincere love for people.  I realized how much I need to improve.  "At the end of the day," said Sister Newsome, "We will not be judged by which areas or callings or jobs we served in, rather by how well we have loved our spiritual brothers and sisters who surround us."

  Thank you for always having showed that love toward me,

  Elder Hansen

Week Twenty-four!

Hello, hello!

Busy but exciting week--- FLORENCIA GOT BAPTIZED!!!  Pictures attached.  Not a lot of time today but the excitement of the moment speaks for itself, methinks.  Love and prayers your way,

Elder Hansen

Week Twenty-three.

¿Qué tal?  ¿Cómo andan?

We had another pretty good week!  We were finally able to meet Florencia's parents and they are on board for her baptism this Sunday!  Her mother may even want to be baptized herself, which is exciting.  Some other investigators have also begun to progress, among them an investigator named Mario who's been investigating the Church for five years (You'd think he would have made a decision one way or the other by now!).  During companionship study one morning, we felt impressed to share a specific scripture about baptism and the Spirit with him later that night.  When we showed up to his house, he had felt prompted to read that same passage, Acts chapter 2, and told us all about it and what he'd read!  It was a very touching experience, and helped us to see how often our lives are guided by the Holy Ghost as righteous members of the Lord's kingdom here on the earth-- oftentimes without even realizing that it's happening.  I know the Gift of the Holy Ghost that I received when I was baptized is real, and as we each strive to live worthily, we entitle ourselves to blessings of guidance, revelation, comfort, and protection.  I love the knowledge that a divine being can be at our side as we teach and testify; He can even be our constant companion if we keep the commandments at all times as we covenanted with our Heavenly Father to do.  I'm eager to allow others the opportunity to live with the assurance of that same eternal power-- as we strive as a companionship to do so, we will be able to fulfill part of our missionary purpose in "Inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through... receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end."

Six months ago, I was set apart as a missionary and spent a long, sleepless night, anxious before a long, sleepless flight.  My time here and the effort and other sacrifices put toward my missionary service are well worth the while-- I learn and grow every day, and I'm trying my hardest to help others do the same.

With love,

Elder Hansen

Week Twenty-two.

¡Buenos días!

This week flew by!  I feel like I was just sitting down at the computer a couple days ago.  We saw some exciting progress though--one of our investigators, a twelve-year-old girl named Florencia whose grandparents are members of the Church, is getting very close to being baptized.  She even spoke up in the adults' Gospel Doctrine class yesterday, then bore her testimony in Sacrament Meeting!  We're just trying to win the support of her parents (her mom would also like to be baptized but has a very busy work schedule that makes progress slow) when we finally meet them for the first time this week.  Within a couple of months, we could have a whole new family in church!

Elder Alder is what we call in the mission a ''capo.''  It's like a stud--someone who's really impressive, powerful, and prepared.  He went on an exchange in our area with the district leader this week, and showed him around the (rather large) area just fine, even finding a new investigator in the process!  I'm moved by the progress I've seen in my little Orito (greenie :).

As we see our list of investigators growing by the day and our help from branch members going through the roof, I feel humbled and grateful to my loving Heavenly Father for rewarding us for our little display of diligence the last few weeks.  We are ever in His debt--the blessings showered upon us in His service are far greater than the sacrifices we make to attain them.  I feel my love for the people here, my knowledge of Scripture, my ability to communicate in the Spanish language, and my worthiness and ability as a servant of Jesus Christ growing, expanding, and improving.  Life is better every day; after many tribulations come the blessings (D and C 54:10; 121:7-8; 1 Peter 5:10).  I know that the happiness I feel is also a result of the prayers offered on my behalf--thank you all!  

May the Lord bless each of  you in return for your efforts is my prayer for you,

Elder Hansen

P.S.  Just because the prayers worked doesn't mean you get to stop just yet!  Keep up the good work ;) Let's make this just one time among many, eh?  Love you!

Week Twenty-one.

Good morning, America!

This has been a pretty fantastic week--we've done a lot of work with incomplete (part-member) families and the weather was randomly warm and sunny for like four days in a row.  The branch here is finally getting excited to get involved in the missionary efforts, giving us references of people to visit and coming with us to teach lessons.  I gave a talk this Sunday about responding spiritually to Jesus' instruction, "Feed my sheep" instead of just feeding missionaries.  I told them I would trade in my lunch for help in our proselyting and finding situations :) so we'll see whether I starve next week from getting too much member participation... haha.  Well we had a good few days, is the general idea of things.  So I'm going to close up and try to send some pictures.

Lots of love,

Elder Hansen

Bridge over the Olimar river in 33

The business complex near our house in Prosperidad

Montevideo Temple

Same thing as before. But at night. 3.68 times as cool. :)

Week Twenty.

A soggy hello to the lot of you!

This week has been pretty cold, pretty wet, and pretty great.  An investigator of ours we've been working with since I arrived in the area, Ezekiel, finally came to church!  It was really gratifying and more than made up for the dismally drizzly day.  In addition, we've been able to contact several former investigators in the area who had been very near to baptism in the past and now view the idea of giving it another go with gusto.  We're excited!

I've also done some things I never expected this week-- for the first and hopefully last time, I mopped a ceiling (with bleach to remove mold that has been there since before I have), microwaved my socks (to dry them after a few days when nothing else does), and worn six layers of long-sleeved clothes at the same time!  Trouble is, it's not any warmer inside the house than out (forty degrees this morning, for example).  You just have to bundle up and pray to hold the frostbite at bay!  :)  haha it's a load of fun.

We're both feeling really confident about the work and progress here in Prosperidad.  Stay tuned for next week's episode...

Thanks for the support and for keeping in touch!

Elder Hansen

A picture of me and my mission president and his wife for the last time before they take off.  I forgot to mention in the letter that we had interviews with him and he told me I should be an attourney... I don't know whether that's supposed to be a good thing, haha. ;)

Week Nineteen.

Hey howdy!

This was a busy week!  We had transfers (everyone here calls them "changes" which I think sounds funny and pubescent, but if I ever use that word without thinking at least you'll know what I meant to say), and I met my new "oro"--"golden" new missionary, my little greenie Elder Alder!  Say that ten times fast, right?  At least it's easy for everyone here to pronounce--basically just Elder twice.  Whereas my name gives them some trouble.  The closest help we've been able to give people so far to say my name is "you know, like Hansel (Hansen) and Gretl," which seems to work pretty well for an only-slightly-distorted last name.

Anyway, Elder Alder-- a native of Boise, Idaho, Elder Caden Alder also attended BYU before the mission, speaks Spanish with a surprisingly good accent for having so little time out in the field, and sings like a bird.  His favorite is Michael Bublé--but Elder Alder makes Bublé sound like an amateur.  He has a really impressive voice.

Well, this week was the first of the real winter.  I think I've said that a few times now but this time I hope I'm right.  When you start seeing your breath indoors, you start to wonder just how much colder it can get... haha.

I haven't got a lot of time today, but I was really glad to see some progress this week with inactive members--some are beginning to come to church and have some youth that were never baptized before their parents inactivated.  We hope to see some great movement along the strait and narrow for them in the weeks to come.

I have begun a study of church history, chronologically, this week.  I'm reading the Doctrine and Covenants in the order and timing they were received, alongside the Joseph Smith History and the book Our Heritage.  It has confirmed and reconfirmed my testimony that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restored Church of Jesus Christ for this dispensation, and that he received the Priesthood authority from God.  I was able to exercise that same Priesthood this week by giving blessings to a couple of sickly members (in Spanish--yikes!).  I felt its power, and know that it is not mine, but rather Heavenly Father's, and that He acts through chosen servants to guide and direct us today, and to bless us with His love.  How great are our privileges as disciples of the Lord.

Christ lives and loves us.  We can live forever as perfectly happy families through Him.  May we each take more steps toward Him as He ever invites us,

Elder Hansen

Week Eighteen.

Hello, to the miscellany of family and friends out there who willingly subject themselves to the bore of reading my letters from time to time.  The few.  The proud.  The Young Elder Hansen Advocates of America (YEHAA! Like a cowboy).  I salute you and thank you for your support.  :)

This has been a great week.  This Sunday we were able to view a retransmission of the missionary broadcast--it really helped the members feel excited about the work here in the Prosperity branch.

Then last night the Zone Leaders called to tell us about transfers--''The doctor called,'' says my companion after hanging up the phone.  ''Congratulations.  You're pregnant.'' After a fit of histeric laughter I asked him what on earth he meant.  It turns out that a trainer on the mission is sometimes referred to as ''Dad'' and the trainee (new missionary, greenie or ''Oro'' as they call them here) is the ''Son.''  So, when Elder Trejo told me I was expecting, he really meant that I'll be having a baby missionay to train this next transfer. That's a pretty overwhelming prospect!  But I'm excited.

We don't have a lot of time this week because we're getting Elder Trejo packed and ready to head out.  But I'll let you know all about my new companion next week!

With love,

Elder Hansen

Week Seventeen.

Hey folks!

This week has been busy and exciting!  There has been a really big emphasis in the mission placed on "talking with everyone"-- that means people we pass in the streets, on the bus, even while getting haircuts today!  It has been really powerful to see the effect that initiative has had on our productivity as missionaries-- we were able to find eleven new investigators this week!

We had a great branch council meeting this week and are eagerly looking forward to more member participation in the weeks to come.  We have been fed SO much--I'm afraid I'm getting just a little chubby from eating too much guiso (it's stew, the most common food here). :)

Unfortunately, President Armstrong held his last mission conference this week.  We'll really miss him-- he is such an example of divine guidance and exact obedience to his missionaries.  But his words were really touching, and he promised us that the general authorities work by inspiration in the reassignment of mission presidents.

And I believe him.  We eagerly anticipate President Newsome at the end of this month.

I have learned lately that the Lord gives us more and more each time we express gratitude to him.  I have felt my thanks yielding additional blessings each day as I strive to notice the Lord's hand in all things.  We have truly been given so much, and in comparison, very little is asked of us.  When we have been promised even more to come, shall we not receive happily every word of scripture, commandment, counsel, and correction?  I'm far from perfect, but realizing that is the first chance I have to begin to improve.

You are in my prayers.  Thank you all for yours.  They are powerful and sustaining.

With love,

Elder Hansen