YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

November 12, 2013

Hi everyone.....

THIS WEEK WAS AWESOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEE. We got the familia R down into the water!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!! So great. I will tell more about that story a little bit later. We were the most successful district in the mission this week and so we are going to have district meeting with President in his house and he will be giving us lunch!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOOO STOKEDDDDDDDD. Great week. Very blessed.

I liked what you told me mom about how God loves us no matter what we do. I totally believe that. But I do believe that as we are obedient and as we do all we can in our hands to do all we can, we are more blessed. I feel like if we do everything that we can do that is actually within our hands, we will be blessed. Maybe I can't control the amout of baptisms that I have in the mission but I can control how dilligent I am and how obedient I am. I can control how blessed I am too. I love that about our Heavenly Father. He always will bless us according to our obedience and dilligence. Not according to our success. He controls our success and knows what our numbers are going to be before we even came to this earth. We have our agency and we can choose for ourselves what we want to do, but let's just do it the right way and let's be blessed! LOVE IT!!

Well we had a scare with the familia R this weekend haha. Baptisms are just not allowed to go smoothly haha. Satan is a rascal. The lady totally started her period on Saturday night and I was like "are you freaking serious????" COME ON MAN!!!!!! But we went to their house in the morning on Sunday and talked to her and gave her a blessing and then once we got them in the church, I knew it was done. I've learned a lot about how Satan works in the mission. He always starts by trying to get us to doubt the things we know. Like President Uchtdorf said, "Doubt your doubts, don't doubt your faith!" LOVE IT!!!

One of the most blessed weeks in the mission. I now know why me and Elder Hintze are still together. We are seeing a lot of out little puzzle pieces come together nicely and it loooks like we are going to see the fruits of our work together. He is a great companion and a great missionary. He really just gets it done and I love it. Good to be in white this Sunday together.

I love this Gospel. It's the best thing in the world. I am so thankful to have been born into it and have known it all my life. Awesome leaders that helped me do the things I needed to. Awesome bishops that helped me get it on track and get my butt out here. Awesome friends that always lifted me up and helped me be a good dude. Awesome parents that always helped me keep it on track. An awesome little brother that is always watching over me as I am obedient. That's why I'm obedient, because if I'm not, Gabe can't be with me as much as I need him. I love you all!!! Thanks for everything you have done for me and what you still do for me!!!!

Oh puchica la boo me pego como loooooccccccooooooooooooo

March 26, 2013

Hello everyone....

First the question of the week from mom.... Where do you send your emails from? We have to go to another city to send them because there aren't internet cafes in my area! That's pretty awesome. Please ask questions!! It jogs my memory and I can write a little bit more and not just ramble on.

This week was another frustrating one in this change. Not really so much because of my companion but for the lack of success that we had. It was really weird for us to have baptisms 2 weeks in a row! That hasn't happened until now in this area in the whole time. My companion is still annoying but I've learned to handle that... I just burst off walking really fast and then he can't catch up to me and then he has to catch his breath, I've found that uit's a pretty good way to get him to be quiet and give myself a little bit of peace. One thing that makes me more mad than anything is when people give us food and the people don't eat or finish the food. We went to have dinner with a member family with a single mother and my companion did't eat all the food because he ''doesn't like vegatables.'' The killer is that this food was ABSOLUTELY COVERED in cilantro, and if you know me, you know I hate cilantro! But I ate it becuase this family literally has nothing at all, literally nothing! Afterr the dinner I told my companion, ''Never ever ever again leave food on the table with a family that has nothing like that again. If it happens again I'll call President.'' Then he got all butt hurt but now at least he eats all the food. One thing that's hard about him too is that at the end of the month he has no money because he just spends it all at the beginning of the month and so when we need to go somewhere or do something, I have to pay for him. I'm just thankful for my mom and the way she taught me to be with my money and now that I have such a good knowledge of how to work with my money and write literally everything down, I always end the month with enough money to get through and have extra because mom always taught me about my money. And I'm not a retard and living off of instant ''tang'' for the last week of the month.

This week I got hit really really hard with THE BOO!!!! NOOOOOOOOO hahahaha I've been thinking all week... ''Now i know how that dude in ''Dumb and Dumber felt when harry gave him the laxatives and he was going crazy in the bathroom at thaty girls house...'' that's how I feel right now hahahahah it seriuosly sucks so dang bad. It's a hard one to work through because in a city like this there aren't bathrooms anywhere haha so I just have to be really strong...

Yesterday we found an iguana in the house that was running around and causing a lot of racket. So me and my companion decided to block off all of the exits and we trapped it and just killed it and we took it to a family and they ate it!!1 It was so awesome! Now I have found in the house and exterminated frogs, rats, mice, bats and now an iguana!! WHOOOO

 ''Hopefully the members will fellowship Arnulfo so that he stays in the church.'' That's what dad said to me and all I have to say is... This guy fellowships himself!!!!! He's literally the perfect person to be around because he just comes to church and sits with a different person every week. It's so funny to watch him because he just seems like someone that has been a member all his life. One of the biggest problems is that the members don't do anything to help our converts or our investigators, but this guy is totally automatic! This week he thought we started at 10 and we were sitting there in sacrament meeting waiting for him to show up so that he could recieve the Holy Ghost. But he never showed up in sacrament"! Then sure enough he came rolling in at 10 with his bike ready to be conferred. I told him that we already started and the sacrament meeting was ever and he was so pissed. You should have seen the look in his eyes hahaha It was so funny! Love this guy!!

Joseph Smith might just be my idol. I can hardly watch his movie without crying. The first vision is something that I really hold dear because it is something that just has a different Spirit to it. You can read the words in Joseph Smith History and just know that it happened. One thing about the First Vision is that even when we're teaching a family that couldn't care less and isn't paying attention or anything at all and thre are kids running around and freakin out, when we start to say the words of Jose smith, The Spirit enters and we can just see everything calm down, the kids stop making noise, the people start to pay attention and the Spirit is there. It is so amazing. 

I'm trying really hard to just keep myself focused on this area, it's a little hard because I don't know if I will have a change or not. I'm just trying to think about it like I'm not going to have a change. I'm super stoked because next week i can email anyone I want!!! Whoo!!!! I better have like 6 emails at least this week! and not counting the ones from the mission home!!! ;)

Just trying to keep my head up and do what I do and work hard and walk fast. I love you all and I'm so thankful for the support that each and every one of you give me! I hope you all have a great week!!!

Love Elder Hanson /:

WHOOOOO ARNULFO MA BOI Wedding and baptism!!!!! (Boda y baptismo)

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH you literally have no idea how happy I am!!!!!! Literalmente ustedes no tienen ninguna idea de como feliz estoy!!!!!

WHOOOOOOO WHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

March 19, 2013

WHOOOOOOO WHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone.

First I go to answer the questions...mom in the package can you send me some 5 blade razors?? They don't sell anything other than 2 blade because no one grows facial hair haha

1. Companion. Tell me what he is like. My companion is really nice and loves to talk...aka never ever ever ever ever ever shuts up. We can only have lessons for up to 45 minutes and sometimes I just have to cut him off while he's talking and end the lesson. He is just super annoying and overbearing haha.  Does it bother him that he isn't the senior? Yes haha. Because of this he has no respect for me. He wants to move up the chain but he isn't gonna do it any time soon.  Does he have special needs of any sort? I really wish he did so that there could be some kind of explanation for the behavior. He also chews like a freaking llama. I can't handle that. They will invite us over to have dinner and he's over there mascando como un freaking coche!  Give me someone to compare him to. let me think about that one and I'll get back to you. 

2.  How's your cook?  Give me another idea of what you eat everyday, ok? Well she is literally absolutely terrible hahahahaha the food is so bad and after 5 months of eating the same hot soup every day, I've gotten sick of it. I've just heard that after the coast everything is downhill from there! I pretty much just eat hot soup and weird stuff that she cooks. Most of the time I just ask her if she can make me eggs and beans and nothing else and she can't even hardly do that haha.

Okay there are your answers!!!!  One of the members went on a little vacation and brought me back a little bag to send to you mom. I thought it was the sweetest thing ever that she did. I'm gonna just keep is until I can send it to you like the bracelet that I have for Natalie. I had a really good week and I'm about to tell you the secret to my success haha.....

ATTITUDE!!!!!!!! Attitude literally changes every single thing in this whole life. I don't think that a single thing changed with me and my companion but my attitude changed and I just found some patience deep down inside of me haha and we had a really really awesome week and worked together really well. I just tried to be a little more there for him always and just tried to have the confidence that he wasn't going to ruin everything every time he talked haha.

I think I had the best moment of my mission this Sunday with the baptism of Arnulfo Lima. It was so amazing to finally get it done after all this time that I'd been with him and to get it done before I leave the area. We had the wedding on Saturday and everything went so so good haha we had a ton of members there and it was really good to see that for once the branch could show some support. One Sunday I had the opportunity to baptize Ma Boi Arnulfo Lima. There is literally nothing esle that compares to helping someone open the door to heaven in such a special way. I LOVED IT!!!!!!

I can email everyone in 2 weeks but that doesn't mean that I will have time to email everyone.  Please still email me if you can, and look at the blog to read my letters if I can't respond.  My boi colin got his visa and his in Brasil right now killin it and not understanding anything at all! Don't worry I've been there! haha

I'm having a good time and not letting my circumstances take control of me, I'm taking control of them! Lovin life out here in the mission and am happy to hear that Natalie finally got something from me hahahaha 3 YEARS LATER!!!!! I love you all and am so thankful for everything that you're all doing for me!!!!! Have a great week!!

Much love, Elder Hanson

Alligator & Virgin Guadalupe Towel

Alligator

Virgin Guadelupe Towel

This place is crazy!!

March 13, 2013

Hi everyone.

This week was CRAZY!!!! We didn't teach a ton and all of that good stuff but we were still working super hard and absolutlely killing it. We had a conference today with President Brough and I talked to him after just to talk about some stuff that's going on with me and my companion and they he told me that it looks like he might have to leave me and my companion together in Sipacate for another change. As much as I hope that doesn't have to happen, if it happens, I know that there's a reason. I can't say that I wasn't looking forward to a little bit of a change in scenery in 3 weeks but if it's not going to happen then I just need to buck up and get it done. There's a reason for every single thing that happens to us in our lives. And there's a good reason for what I'm having to do right now.

It was so weird to know that Dad was in Nicaragua this weekend haha. SO WEIRD!!! I could have hopped on a bus for 3 hours and been right up to him. The picture of the Chickys killed me because right before coming to internet, I ate some Chikys hahaah. So cool that you could go to church down there, it's so much different but I like it because it reminds us that we are all going to church because we know it's true, not because a bunch of other people go. I see that a lot down here, people don't go to church because someone has offended them in some way and they don't want to see that person in the church. I hate that beccause that's not a good reason to lose your salvation! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!!!!! It's so sick to see that Ben is going to Peru!! SPANISH BABY!!! And so awesome to see that Doug Hintze and My Boi Cody Sorenson got called to this mission! They're going to get down here and realize what it really means to work hard and walk fast. Other missionaries in the rest of the world have no no no no idea what that means!!! I know Cody really well and same with Doug and they will be just fine down here! The Haack attack has to wait till August??? I'll have almost exactly a year and he'll just be starting? QUE LOCO!! But everything is on the Lord's time!

I'm still struggling a lot with my companion and getting used to someone that is really arrogant and doesn't want to listen to me haha. With Elder Diaz he always listened to me and my ideas even though I was new and I didn't know anything. Now that I am Senior comp and don't have very much time, my companion doesn't have the respect for me and doesn't really listen to me and so that's really hard for me but I'm going to have to get used to all types of people and it will be even that much better when I can actually choose my own companion (wife) for good! It's a little hard but I know that I can handle it! I hope... haha

We baptized two young men this Sunday and that was so dang awesome! The best thing is that these two guys I know for a fact will always stay active in the church. Edgar Camey is 17 and lookes like he is 10 years old but I remember the first day that we contacted him in a bus about 3 months ago and really didn't give any thought to it but know I know that it is all the will of the Lord how things turn out! Ramiro Monzon was just awesome from the start. He's 21 years old and just wanted to change a bunch of stuff in his life and he just did it. He loves the Book of Mormon and takes it to work and reads it every day during lunch. It's cool to see in such a young man that he has the desire to do that. The thing that I'm loving the most right now, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE WEDDING OF ARNULFO LIMA AND HIS BAPTISM THIS WEEKEND!!!! AHHHHHHH I'm freaking out for this haha and am so dang excited. I've been working with him for so long and I love this man with all my whole entire being haha I'm so stoked for this!

I had a good week and pretty much all ]I can do through all of the advirsity is just kill it and work really hard and forget about everything. Thank you for everything you guys do for me and I hope that you have a great week this week! Mom you can send me whatever you want! Just make sure it will fit my stupid arms through all the growth that I will have in the mission!! I love you mom pray for you every day!!! 

Love you so much!!!!

Elder Hanson

BOOM Here comes the BOOM LOL

March 5, 2013

Hi everyone.

Well this week was a pretty interesting one!! First of all, I found out today that starting April 1, I can email any person that I want!!! WHOOOO YEAH lol. My boi Colly wolly got temporarily reassigned and is gonna kill it in Billings Montana. Tole me that he was pretty bugged at first but he got over it! Haha it was a good week over all and I'm really trying just to last out this change haha.

Well with my companion, it's still pretty dang frustrating and I'm having a hard time adjusting myself to his way of being. He just has literally every characteristic that gets on my nerves, even one that would get on Gabe's nerves, which is chew like a freaking CAMEL!!! But I actually like that one because it always reminds me of Gabe. He's always trying to give it to me hard and tell me after lessons what I should do and what i shouldn't do, then in the night I call my district leader and tell him what happened and everything is all good and that I should continue what I'm doing haha it's actually kind of funny. I'm trying really hard to keep the patience and just be loving and care about him but it isn't easy. He hardly ever stops talkikng and expects me to listen to him but then when I talk, he doesn't listen. One time we were in comp study and I was trying to tell him something pretty important and he freaking fell asleep! I was like HUHHH?? But I'm literally dragging him by my coat tails and running all about and teaching like crazy because I don't want to lose the trust that President has in me. Working hard is literally all we can do and the blessings are coming!

This week in Sacrament meeting we had a miracle. 12 investigators that came to church!!! WHAT?? 12??? Oh yeah baby!! It was so amazing! We also put in 2 dates for baptisms that are sure to happen this Sunday! Edgar Camey and Ramiro Monson! This guy Edgar is 17 years old and has the most awesome desire to go to church. On Sunday he told us that he had to go dig a huge hole and had to work, but he got up at 5 in the morning to go get his work done and then he came to church and loved it. He told us that he didn't want us to look at him bad if he missed a sunday and then wanted to be baptized the next! How awesome it is to see that there really are people that are prepared! With Ramiro, everything has literally fallen right into place with him. He also had work on Sunday and couldn't come the first couple weeks, but he asked permission and got work off and has come these last 2 Sundays and he has a really strong testimony. He brings his Book of Mormon to work and reads during lunch and takes a bunch of crap from this one guy and he just says to them to go away because he knows it's true and it's what he needs to be doing. With Arnulfo! I love this man so much and always have. I made a promise to myself that I would do everything possible to baptize him before I left this area. He almost has all his papers to get married and is still coming to church and teaching the lessons there haha He is so dang AWESOME! All we need is the wedding and then the baptism!! Everything is coming along good because we're working so dang hard.

Something that is crazy! With the making of this new mission in Coban Guatemala, we are recieving a new zone and losing two of ours that we have now. There is a posibility that I could change missions depending on where I am in like June when they split everything. That would be so dang weird. All the missionaries that are in these two zones would go and join up with the South Mission. I'm hoping that doesn't happen to me but that would be where the Lord wants me.

I loving doing the Lord's work. It's hard, yeah for sure, but we're getting it done. I'm trying to leave everything behind me and just lose myself and I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job of it. Grandpa H is always in my prayers. It's weird that dad is going to be so close to me! WHATTTTTTT???? I'm happy to be where I am and in this position of leadership that I have. I'm thankful for all the support of you guys and all that you do for me! I love you all so much!

Elder Herson (Hanson)

HERE WE GO!

February 26, 2013

HI EVERYONE

1.  Where is your companion from?

 My companion is from Honduras again but he is from a part of the Capital Tegucigalpa

2.  Does he speak English? 

Yeah he speaks a little bit but I prefer to talk in Spanish with him haha because sometimes I just get annoyed and don't have the patience. By the way, mom thanks for the lack of patience hahaha JK

3.  Are you getting a new mission leader now that the old one left on a mission? 

Well the thing is that before he left there were three people that had the Priesthood that lived in the area, Me, Elder Diaz and Fabricio. Now we just have two missionaries haha. There isn't active priesthood here in the area other than us two

4.  What are the fun things you do on P day? 

On P day there really isn't anything to do because we have to go about two hours out of our area to but all of our stuff for the week. Normally we just sit in the house and rest because there literally isn't anything to do here haha. But it isn't that bad really, it's nice to rest and write some letters if we have time.

5.  Feet totally healed?

No not totally. I'm starting to get little ingrown toenails hahahaha I just don't know when the madness will stop!!!!!!!!! But it's not that bad and I know it's only for the heat that I have so many stupid little problems.

6.  Anything else you would like in your package? Items that you can't get there, that you are craving?

I don't really know. There really isn't anything where I am at so anything is good. The airheads were Heavenly haha I loved those, even though I was supposed to give them to the kids... But whatever is good, I'm good! And I won't get it for a while!

Well this week was a tough one to say the least haha. It is so so so so weird to have a new companion that is literally nothing like the one that I just had. Elder Diaz was just totally chill and down to do anything and was totally obedient and just loved life and being in the mission. Now my companion is literally just the opposite. That's all I have to say about that...

So sweet that Diondra is getting out there!!! WHOO!!! There is a missionary in the mission right now from Australia and he is so sick! She will be so great! I got some really good letters this week and that made me super happy. I got a letter from Natalie that was the best thing ever! She sent me little pictures of us and all the fun stuff that we did together! LOVED IT. I also go a letter from Nicolle and that was funny to hear the difference between my mission and her mission. She mentioned metal sink and my heart sunk just like it was made of metal hahaha METAL SINK??? I want a metal sink hahaha. Also I love the letters from Dave and his family. The funny stories always cheer me up. I needed some serious cheering up this week haha.

Our investigators are coming along pretty well. We're trying to get all the papers for Arnulfo so that he can get married. The dude is on fire! He comes to church and practically teaches the Principals of the Gospel class hahah he's so awesome! We also have a kid named Ramiro Monson and he's 21. We've been teaching him for a little while and this week he got work off especially for church and is working to get it all off so he can come every sunday. STUD! We found an old man with his grandkids that had already went to church a bunch of times and they all want to be baaptized but he is going out of town for a little bit. I hope that one happens!!! But everything is woring out right now because I am really really trying to be super obedient so that I can have success in this change so I can show to my Heavenly Father that I can be trusted with this responsibility in the mission.

I'm really trying hard to learn two lessons. First is the Attitude and second is patience. I find that when my attitude is super good, my day is super good. We can take that lesson and apply it to every single day in our lives! With patience, I'm trying really hard to just keep it all in during the day and then pour it out into my journal and the pray it all out to my Heavenly Father. I love to pray. I'm literally always in constant communication with my Father in Heaven because I know that he really listens to what we have to say and it is important to him. I love my Heavenly Father so much.

I hope everyone has a great week and that eeryone can kill it! I guess Parker is going to Peru this week or something because his visa came in!! Super stoked for him. Chris Bednar couldn't get his visa to Mexico and got reassigned to Salt Lake.... ouchhhhh But the Lord has a reason to do everything.  I love you all so much and am so thankful for all the support!

Much love, Elder Hanson!

Cool bracelets I found

Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan

CRAZY WEEK!!!!!

February 20, 2013

Hi everyone.

This week was CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tha sucks to hear about the split of the ward but I know and am finding out more and more that the Lord has a plan in everything. It's going to be really weird without a million people in the church when I get home. But who knows lol? 

First of all!! WE FINALLY HAD A BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!! Maria got dunked! But it wasn't easy haha. She got sick the night before the baptism and couldn't come to church because she had to go to another city to get some special medicine and none of her family had any idea when she would get home. So there goes the baptism at 2 o'clock. But we didn't lose the hope! We returned to the house like 6 times and finally she was there around like 5. She told us that she still wanted to do it, so we took her and went to find a bus that could take us to the next city to take us to the baptismal font. There was no one!!!!! But after that we found some guy that could take us, so that was all good. We got to the other church and everything was ready to go! I baptized her, but let me tell you, it was not easy!! She didn't understand that she had to go all the way under the water. So after the 5th time, she finally went down!! I said the words right and everything but she just refused to go under. The last time I just basically took her feet out from under her and threw her under and there it was! It was a crazy experience but it was really good. I had been praying for a baptism really really hard so that we could have one before Elder Diaz left. I know that it happened because we worked super super hard and I was literally praying really hard. It was a miracle!! Abdias....well he decided to move to another city and go live there! Whoo!!! Haha I have no idea what people are thinking! And with Arnulfo! We taught him and he came to church and loves the church and wants to be baptized still. We just need to get his papers so that we can have someone marry them!! And then it's a baptism for sure, if he doesn't leave again...but it's all going good with the investigators!

Well with changes....of course Elder Diaz went to a different place, Chimaltenango, and there he is district leader. Our district leader called us a couple days before the changes and told us that yeah we did have changes and that both of us had interviews. WHAT?? haha only leaders have interviews and I had no idea what was going on! So we left the house on monday at 4 in the morning to get to the Cap for the interviews. I was really nervous, first of all to have a new companion, second of all to have an interview for who in the heck knows what, then to literally be left with this whole area in my hands because Elder Diaz left and our ward mission leader went on his mission today! I had no idea what was going on... I talked to President Brough and I am now Senion Companion to an Elder that has a year and a half in the mission, named Elder Ucles! What in the heck haha now I have a companion with a not great reputation and a whole area to lead haha. I seriously have no iead! I'm really stressed out haha. But I know that I have this calling for a reason and that I'm supposed to help someone in this change, whether it be me or my companion, I don't know, but we'll find out!! President Brough told me that this is really weird and hardly ever happens haha my second Companion and I'm senior! SABER!! hahaha But it's going to be good and I will be able to do it.

I'm glad to hear that everything is going good at home. I had a great Valentine's Day with Elder Diaz and we killed it listening to church music and working in the work of the Lord!!! BOOM!!! haha Well everything is going good for now. Excited for Jarom and B-town! I love you guys! thanks for all the support always!!

Love Elder Hanson <3

HAYYYYYYYYY

February 13, 2013

HAYYYYYYYYYY

This week was one of the best that we've had here. We taught like 55 lessons haha. Pretty much we just ran all over the city and just killed it! The best thing though that we did was put the date for the baptism this week for Maria! LOVE IT!!!!! Yess!!!!!! I've been praying and fasting like crazy so that we can have this baptism before Elder Diaz leaves. I know that the Lord is answering my prayers and is aware of what I want. The difference in this case is that I have been praying for Elder Diaz so that he can have this baptism before this change. He's itching to get out haha, but we've still got some work to do in this week to make sure that this baptism happens!!!

One thing that we did this week that was freaking awesome.... We went to the city San Lucas and went and saw the Lake Atitlan! That's where Alma baptized 204 people in one day in the Waters of Mormon. It was really cool to go and see a place like that with all that historic significance. The water and the things all around it just make it so dang cool. It really is such a cool and spiritual place. I have a ton of pictures but I couldn't send them this time so I'll send them next week! They are really cool. Maybe a once in a lifetime thing that I got to do yesterday!

The return of Arnulfo!!!!! Hahahaha este chambonsito!!!! He came back this week and we went to visit him this week and he was working haha. I want to go and talk to him so bad and just see what's going on with him and see if we have another potential baptism! We're working with Abdias and seeing is he can get his school changed and that's looking like it's going to happen! Super stoked for that! I'm really trying hard to work hard and be obedient so that these things can come to pass.

The mail system sucks way bad, trust me, I know. But everything that I have sent out will get there eventually and everything that yu guys send, I'll get it hopefully before my time to go home comes haha. I'm still writing a certain person every week so don't worry they will get there! Happy valentine's to everyone! My Number 1 Valentine, MY MOM, and my Number 1a valentine.... CHODE ..... Just kidding haha you know who you are LOL ;)

Not really much happened this week but the next time that I email, I'll probably have a new companion.... haha I don't know how I feel about that haha. My spanish is really coming along well. Lots of people don't believe me when I tell them that I only have almost 6 Months haha. I know that I'm really blessed to be able to pick it up quickly and be able to help theese people faster. I'M LOVIN' IT!!!!!!! Have a great week! I love you all!!!!

Love, Elder Hanson 3

Za Nigua

February 6, 2013

HEYYYYYYYY YOUUU GUYSSSSSS

First of all don't ask me what Za nigua means, because I have no idea at all... Neither does my companion hahaha. My district leader just always yells it. 

I'm still lovin' the packages and the stuff that you guys sent me! It really gave me a little boost in the temporal side of things. I'm still enjoying it and I'm still learning a lot from Elder Diaz and jsut hoping that we can have a baptism before he gets changed. I can see the frustration a little bit with him sometimes because he's not used to this happening haha. I'm really praying hard for a miracle for him. I have emailed Colin a couple of times and just to say something, The nickname ''Chode'' can't even escape him in the MTC! You seriously have no idea how proud I am! He says that the language is way weird and that the Spanish that he took in school is really messing him up haha. Also that the time is going by really really fast for him! It's crazy how the time flies out here.

This week we reencountered Abdias in the street and he has been reading and praying like crazy and is changing his schedule of school so that he can be able to go to church and be baptized!!! WHOO!!! That won't happen for a couple more weeks but I'm really hoping for that and praying like crazy. Also we have this little hermanita that is looking at having her baptism on the 17th. She has gone to church a bunch of times before and has always had the desire to be baptized but she hasn't been able to talk to the missionaries for a while. She came to church this week and loved it! She says that she's ready to do it on the 17th and I'm really hoping it can happen because that's right before Elder Diaz would leave. We're working really hard with her because she doesn't really understand way quick, but understanding isn't the requirement, it's to have a desire to do it!!

One of my baptisms, Maribel, She was pregnant and this week she lost her baby...she only had like 10 more days until he was due. It was really hard to see them in the pain that I've felt. I remember walking into the room and just feeling like ''I recognize this feeling.'' It's so hard because even now I have no idea what to say to people that go through these things. I just try to say what I can and it's even harder in Spanish. But we had a lesson with the family last night and she wanted to know where the babies go when they die and of course we read Moroni 8. It was a really spiritual lesson and I know that Gabe was there helping me to be able to say the words that I needed to say to this family. Things happen for a reason. And our Heavenly Father knows why. He knows why Gabe had to go a year and a half ago and he knows exactly why I'm here right now. It's amazing to know that we have a Heavenly Father that loves us and is aware of us in every single situation. I love this Gospel and I'm so happy to be a missionary and serving me Heavenly Father. I LOVE YOU ALL and am so thankful for everything you're doing for me.

Elder Hanson 3

LOL

January 30, 2013

Hey everyone!!!!!!!!

This week we actually had a pretty good one! I was really frustrated for most of it with my Spanish and our investigators. But looking back on it, it was really good.

Yesterday I got my stuff!!!! Finally!!  I'm lovin it! I got letters, The package from mom and dad, From jane and Steve (the amazing picture of Gabriel), Also a package from Natalie, Joel and Sheila. Let's just say that it was a really happy late Christmas! Haha MOM the pillowcases that you made are so dang sweet! Also my companion loves the stuff that you guys gave him! He is now drowned in talks from General Conference that he can hardly understand... hahah but he doesn't care. I also love right now to have my patriarchal blessing! I read it this morning and I just felt the Spirit so dang strong! Thank you so much everyone for everything! I loved it for sure!!!

We had a big meeting with President Brough in the Capital yesterday and that was awesome as usual. I know that he is called specifically of God to guide us and help us with everything here. He talked a lot about the hope. That is something that I have been lacking a little bit bit I'm really working hard to get that back. I notice that when I just keep my head up and keep walking, I feel the best and the days go by so dang fast. 

We're still not having hardly anyone in the church. But we're still working really hard with the investigators that we do have. Josue left and we have no no no no idea where he is haha. Another lady that wanted to be baptized got in a huge fight with her husband and moved and we have no idea where! What the heck is happening here is Sipacate???? hahaha But it's all good. All we can do is work!

Right now in Sipa there is a huge carnival that is going on in all of the streets! There are rides and all that cool stuff. Tons of people that just sit in the streets all day and sell random stuff! It's crazy! These people do that for their jobs. Just travel from city to city in Guatemala selling stuff and staying in that one city. We've talked to a lot of them and hardly any of them have real houses and I just am thinking how hard that kind of life would be. We are so blessed!!

I'm having a lot of fun still here. I'm trying to keep my head up and work really really hard and just be obedient. President Brough told us something yesterday. He said that we may not see the results of our work and obedience right now in the mission but those blessings will come for sure. Later in our lives with our future families. I'm a firm believer that what I'm doing right now will bless my future family. I love being here and speaking Spanish haha. The language is coming along but it's far from perfect. I'm a little nervous for changes because we're getting a ton of missionaries in this change, Which means that I might have to train. I will do it if I'm called but I'm a little nervous haha.

It's sad to hear about Grandma M but I know that she's happy to be where she is with Gabe and Grandpa M. She lived an amazing life! 89 years old! That's so amazing!

I love you guys so much! Thank you so much for everything that you do for me and also everything that you guys sent me! Keep praying for me and my companion, we need it haha. Have a great week everyone and I will talk to you soon! The time is going so fast!!!!!!

Love, Elder Hanson 3

WHOOOOOOOO

January 22, 2013

Hey everyone.

This week was another solid week! We're feeling a lot better about everything and we found a couple people that are ready to be dunked!! Hopefully... haha. But everything is going really well. It's still really hot and now we have to make the permanent switch to bucket showers. Instead of only like 4 days out of the week we get to take bucket showers every day! Now I know I'm in the same Guatemala as dad was. By the way, I promise that it wasn't me that broke the shower...

We found this guy named Josue Hernandez and he is a freakin stud! We have a date for him for the 3rd of February and that one is actually looking good. When we find a person that can actually understand what we're talking about, it's really really exciting. Also we found a lady that had already went to chruch a bunch of times named Hilda Colindres and she is really sweet haha she's so funny and is always saying swear words in Spanish and that's always quite funny. Rightnow those are the two people that we are really focusing ourselves in. With Abdias, he gained his testimony but can't be baptized because he has school every single Sunday and can't come to church. So if we baptized him, it wouldn't be that good because he'd just be inactive. But things are looking up right now.

We had the opportunity to go to the city and listen to Elder Christofferson this week. First of all, he speaks perfect Spanish. It was so dang amazing!!!! We had all of the mission south and all of Central and also all the north mission! It was freaking packed!!! He walked into the room and immedietely the whole Spirit of the room changed. I don't know how people that have come in contact with GA's can not just feel the Spirit and want to be baptized! It's just something different with them. They are really called of God and have seen and done things that we can't even dream of. He talked about repentance and how important it is to our message. Because that's really what we're doing right now. Teaching the world how to repent and come unto Christ through the Atonement. It was really so amazing and such a huge spiritual boost for all of us. 

I've been writing to Chris almost every week! That stud muffin. And my boi Colly Wolly! Ready to kill it tomorrow!!!!! I hope that everything will turn out good for my little chodemiester. LOL. I can't wait for Lars either! You guys better let me know where the heck he is going!! Man it's crazy how things change and how things just stay completely the same. Like Gus, still getting grounded from Xbox every other week and then getting it back again just like it's Christmas day all over again! Pilas este cuate!!!

Well I'm loving it right now. I'm lucky to be in such a great mission with such a great President and great missionaries. I have no idea what I'm gonna do when changes come haha I just try not to think about it. We still have about a month until that comes. But everything is good for the moment! I love you all and thank you so much for the support that you all give me. I always have you in my prayers!!

Much love, Elder Hanson <3

HEYYYYYY

January 15, 2013

HEYYYYYYYYY

First of all WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH THIS WEEK??????? at least my boi colly wolly is going to get out on his mission!!! This last week was a straight up struggle! We didn't have the baptism of Abdias because this chambone dropped out literally 10 minutes before church. Also all of our other investigators that had dates for their baptisms dropped out on us. It's getting really frustrating. All i can do is keep my head up and try and find people that will be able to understand the importance of this message.

So proud of my boi Colin for getting out there and gettin it done!! YEAYH BABY!! I know he'll totally kill it out there. Bummer that he has to go the MTC in provo for now. What the heck is going on with the Visas to other countries?? No one can get these freaking things!!! That's got to be really frustrating. I didn't need a visa to come here because here we can stay on our passport for 2 years. CALIDAD. All we can do through all these changes and challenges is keep our head up and never ever ever lose the faith. It says in Eter that if we lose the faith WE ARE NOTHING YO. Just gotta keep your head up like my boi 2pac always said. But seriously, we always have to have the faith. Love the joke of Colin by the way.

Here's the story with Abdias...We had his interview on Friday night and he didn't pass and had to talk to President Brough. That never ever happens. So the next day we had to have the interview by phone with President and everything went good with that. He passed and seemed really excited for his baptism the next day. All he told us was that he was going to visit his aunt that night and talk to her about everything that was going to happen. We didn't see anything to worry about. The next day, Sunday, we called him and I asked him if he was ready. He replied in English ''I'¡m not ready'' I was like ''WHAT??????'' I guess he talked to his aunt that night and she told him a bunch of crap about everything and that all the stuff in the church isn't true and it's a bunch of lies and so he didn't want any more after that. That was soooooooooo frustrating. Me and my companion were pretty dang mad and frustrated and bugged after that. But like I said, we always need to maintain the faith. We just needed to calm down and say a prayer. We had a couple investigators in Sacrament Meeting but right now we're not looking at anyone that we're going to be able to baptize in this month.

The question for our investigators this week was, ''Do you want to be baptized? Yes or no?'' If they answered no (which all did), Adios que le vaya bien. or in other words we just dropped them. Because we know that for every person that we don't baptize, there is someone else that is ready for the Gospel.

We had splits this week with other missionaries and I stayed in Sipacate with the district leader and my companion went to the other area. All I can say about that is I have no idea what I'm going to do when i have to get a new companion haha. But that time will come and it will be weird for a minute but it will all end up good.

We have an awesome opportunity this week to get to hear from Elder Cristofferson in the Capitol! Normally the coast doesn't get to go because it's so dang far but this time we do! WHOOOOO! That will be a big spiritual boost for the whole entire mission. On the 29 is the zone conference when I'll get my stuff (hopefully). I guess the package from the family and the backpack are in the office right now. One of the sister companionships went there and she told me that she saw it haha but who knows when I'll get it. LOL...not! 

But everything is going good here. I know that I'm always going to have problems and challenges with the people here but we just need to keep our heads up and keep working. There are always people that are looking for the truth but just don't know where to find it until we knock on the door, or gate or cement wall haha. I love you all!! Thanks for all the support!!!!!

Love, Elder Hanson

January 8, 2013

HOOOOOOOLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAA

1.  How is your testimony growing? Yeah I really feel like it is. I love teaching and helping people. Or should I say, trying to help people haha but yeah i love to study the Book Of Mormon every single morning and i get a lot out of the that usually.
2.  Do you feel like you get a lot out of your study time? Yeah if I really focus myself I can get a lot out of it. I love the Book of Mormon and reading about the awesome prophets. Lots of times when I read, I feel the spirit so dang strong! The words in this book are so so so powerful!
3.  Is it true you can't go in the water? Yeah it´s true. We can´t even like dip our toes in the water haha it´s pretty wild but it is probably something really good for our safety. 
4.  Please tell me you got my Christmas package by now... NOPE hahahaha I will probably get it on the 29 of this month when we have our zone conference, If i´m lucky haha but it´s all good. I´ll get it eventually.
5. We just got your package.....WHOOOOO FINALLY!!! It´s some pretty cool stuff and I thought you guys would like it. I don´t know what you´ll use it all for but whatever it´s cool to have at the house!

Whoo!!! We didn´t have a baptism this week haha but that is okay because it would have been really forced and the kid wouldn´t have gone to church after. We can´t just baptize for numbers out here. We went to visit this kid like 6 different times this week and it takes about an hour to get to his house, and that´s if we don´t teach anything to anyone. So it was a really big waste of time and a ton of money! We found the kid one day in the street and we told him to come to his house with us and he just darted off running. This was the moment when we realized that he wasn´t a really good option for a baptism haha. 

We have a baptism planned for this week and that one is going to be sure. He is named Abdias De Leon and he is 16 years old. He is freaking awesome!! He came up to us in the street one day and wanted us to visit him. We went to look for him and we couldn´t find him. We were really disappointed with that. He found us again in the street! We talked and went to his house and talked to him and right off the bat he wanted to get dunked baby!!! We´ve worked really hard to have a baptism and I really believe that this was a blessing straight from Dios that this kid just fell right in our laps,... TWICE!!! WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

I really had a good week and we taught like freaking animals. 40 lessons!!! That´s insane. No one does that. No one. My spanish is gettting better and better every day. I am loving to speak it and get better at it. I´m really grateful for the opportunity i have to be here learning such an awesome skill. I know that´s not why i´m here but it´s a good perk haha. I love just listening to people and seeing the progress that i´ve made. I love being here!

My companion completed 1 year this week and to celebrate we bought a cake with ice cream!! hahaha and then for dinner we had Cup and Noodles!!!! WHOO!!!! So lucky we are! He says that it´s really so crazy how fast the time flies. I believe him too. It seriously just seems like yesterday I was packing my bags with mom and getting ready to go. I really am so grateful to be here helping people. And I can´t wait to do more!!! I love you all and can't wait to hear from you!!

Until next week,

Elder GOOOOPPPPPPSSSSSS HANSON

Happy New Year!

Feliz Ano Nuevo

Did Arnulfo ever come home?

Arnulfo is no where to be found!!!!!!! what the fetch haha but we're really working hard with his son and that kid has a good desire but he is always working haha. We have a baptism planned for this week with this patoho that is 10 years old and his parents are less actives. That's gonna be good. We have a goal of 5 baptisms this month and we're gonna freaking do it!!!!!


Do you ever go to the beach at all?
We want to one of these p days but we never have time to do it. All we would do there is play freaking soccer and everyone that knows me knows that i can't do anything with my feet. I'm like a freaking dork wad with my feet haha


Have you gone fishing yet? 
No we haven't gone fishing but we have kicked frogs in the street and killed a couple chickens each. Actually for Christmas dinner i ate a chicken that i killed with a member. Needless to say it was one of the grossest things i've ever eaten. Not only because of the taste but just for the knowledge that i killed this thing. It was so weird haha


Is your Spanish comprehension improving?  
One thing that I have noticed with my Spanish is that when i learn something i remember it way better now. Like if someone teaches me a word I can usually remember it. That's something that is really helping me.


Do you have the boo constantly? 
No actually not very much at all. We can't eat out of the street para nada so it's just in the house and fruit and with the cocinera. There are these things that we can eat from this restaurant in our area called Gringas and it's funny because that is the food and also it's a white girl haha so i always say, ''yo quiero mi Gringa'' and it has a nice sneaky double meaning. I'm just really funny like that i guess...

Well Christmas was good and the best part was talking with you guys.  I got a little homesick right after but all was good with it after. We had a pretty fun day that day but didn't teach much on Christmas eve or Christmas day because no one was in the house. They were all in the playa!! But we had fun anyway. 

I am SO FREAKING JEALOUS of Les Mis. I knew it would be amazing. With the Hobbit i didn't expect the greatness of the trilogy. But still I am jealous haha. 

I don't really have a lot of stuff to tell you. We're always working really really hard and walking like crazy. My feet are really a lot better. I hardly notice them anymore. I gave a blessing today in Spanish and it was hard. I was pretty scared to do it at first but after I put my hands on his head everything was good! I actually gave a pretty good blessing in Spanish and I was pretty pleased with myself.

I'm glad you guys had a great Christmas! That sounds so fun all the stuff that we do every year. It's crazy that it's already the New Year! I can't believe that it was a whole year ago that we were in the house with colly wolly, Chris and fat nat doing literally nothing! ''It's in the Bible blank blank'' hahahahaha Guess  who!!!!! Freak so great! The time goes by so fast when we are working hard and teaching a lot. We are really working hard on trying to find people that are going to recieve the gospel and it's not working quite yet! But very soon!!!!! We are always having fun though. Last night we bought a whole ice cream cake and we are going to start off the new year with a nice bang with this delicious beaut!

Let me know when you guys get stuff. Freaking mail down here sucks so bad. I've sent like 10 letters out but i don't think any have gotten there. I haven't gotten the package or anything else from anyone but that will probably get to me around the middle of this month when we have zone conference. It's hard to be disconnected but it's probably something good for me. 

I will send pictures to you guys next week because right now I'm not on a computer that i can send them! I love you so so so much! always praying for you guys! I hope all is well and i know it is! Let me know how everything is! I love to hear from all of you. 

Much love,

Elder Hanson