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