Transfers 1/19/14

Week...Well I don't even know

So yeah last week was transfer week.  I got a new companion,  his name is Elder Urcia.  He actually came from a different mission when our mission split. But he is really nice.  He is from Cagayan Valley area so he speaks Illocano.  But the past few days have been really great actually even though we didnt have inv. at church the week was fairly successful. I just really hope that we will stay to see the fruit of our labors again. Hopefully we can find some great new and progressing investigators.   This week has been a challenging week as well just getting a new companion and what not. I just don't like adjusting,  like at all. But I'm very excted for this transfer because I love this area and I want to help it grow so much. On Sunday though,  me and Elder Urcia show up to church like 45 min before and the branch president isn't there yet....he ended up showing up at like 850.  Good thing we actually didn't have inv.  show up or they would have been like what is this church they arent even on time to meetings.....so hopefully the members will adjust to being in the morning now!! I've noticed that time seems to go by so fast if you just put your head down and just always think about the  work.  When you start thinking about home time goes by so slow...........but so far time is flying by for me....hey I'm less than a month away from a year!!!! That just blows my mind.  I don't really have much else to say this week except for the fact that I miss American food so bad.......hahaha

 

Love  Elder Hansen

 

(Mom's note)

Even I can detect some homesickness there!  You have to be mentally tough to serve a mission.  Things do not always go your way, Investigators don't line up to be baptized, and then there is the mix of missing home and family.  What is amazing though is that I will dwell on how he is feeling all week, and he will plow right through it.  It is also a lesson in patience and courage for family at home!

01/13/14 "Another Day In Paradise!"

( Today is One month away from Elder Hansen's One Year Mark!)

Alright so I'm very excited about this week!!!! This past week was a great week for me and my companion Elder Flores! The one thing I want to start out with is the fact that the Lord is here to bear us up especially when we are doing the right. Like I expressed last week I was pretty frustrated with myself and the area...so I kind of looked back on some things that I could do better.  I thought about how I could change my attitude or force myself to change my thougths to positive ones and just put my head down and got back to work and didnt think about the last week. The most amazing things can happen when you do that! This entire week was just great. I had a blast we had a lot of people working with us we are  finding some new investigators to teach (slowly but surely) and my attitude was way better. I can promise you that as you just always put the Lord's work first, what is important for us to do for HIM first,  everything will be okay. I experienced that this week and I am very grateful for that experience.

So yesterday we were working and we actually had some of the SA's even join us from the other branch. As we were out working we stopped by a less active's house way up in the mountains,  bukid area where like there isn't electricity and what not to share a quick message.  But before that I noticed a man,  his neighboor was outside. They told me that he was an English speaker so I went to talk to him. Turns out he is from Virginia and is living here with his family and has been here for the past five years. It was the most random place for me to run into this guy but it was all good. He knows all about "The Mormons" because as soon as I said I was from Utah he knew exactly what religion it was...it made me laugh. But he was a nice guy. And he told us that we could come back and teach him and his family if we wanted to. Other than that I don't have much to share exept one or two scriptures that one of the area presidency shared with us on Sunday.

 In the two scriptures that I will share you will learn the difference or how more effective the Scriptures and the Holy Ghost are compared to the sword. In Alma20:21-23 King Lamoni's father is at the point of sword of Ammon.  He realizes that Ammon is about to slay him so he pleads to Ammon that he is willing to give up half of his kingdom. Now think about that he was willing to give up half of his kingdom just to have his life spared. But if we jump to Alma 22:15 we will learn that the King after he had heard of the things which Aaron had expounded the king said unto him "what shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I WILL GIVE UP ALL THAT I POSSESS, yeah I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

That is one thing that I learned last Sunday and it really hit me hard how powerful this gospel really is. People are willing to give up their kingdoms just to know God. I love what I'm doing

Love Elder Hansen

New Year Email 01/06/14

ummm so its all ready 2014??? I feel like I just left last February? So that just blows my mind how fast time goes by. I would like to testify of what Koa said in his email that the Filipinos go crazy on Christmas and New Years!!! (Kyle, Koa and Riley are all friends who vacationed their senior year in Manila with Kyle's family.  Now they have all been called as missionaries there, but in different missions!)  but like Kyle said I'm also in a small area so there isn't like the crazy ones that Koa saw. But this week has been okay. I think going through our curfew days and what not the work was just really frustrating. Its like we didn't get much done we were working but we got punted a lot and just there wasn't much progression. So thats life as a missionary.  Sometimes you are super frustrated it can be very frustrating when people don't want to listen or don't act upon what you are teaching them. I just want to force them sometimes but that would take away their agency. But I had a great holiday I'm ready to get the new year underway get my head down and just get working. The mission for me is more enjoyable when your just working hard, the holidays make this difficult for the work. Most likely
Elder Flores will be transfering he has been here for six months but transfer day is still like two weeks away.  But yeah I've been here for three,  he's been here for six,  so im guessing he will transfer. Sometimes Elders get area trunky and it drives me crazy so hopefully I can keep him busy before he leaves. I'm very excited for the new year to start up now and I can't believe I'm like a month away from a year in the mission!!!!!! ano ba iyon???? time goes way to fast...its scary, it was also so nice to talk to my family last Monday it was so refreshing to actually hear their voices. But yeah thats about it for me love you all have a great week\

love Elder Hansen

12/27/13

So Christmas is now over.....so that's how fast time goes by? So the thing about the Philippines is that during holidays like Christmas and New Years we have a curfew so what that means is that at six pm we have to be inside..>>>so its kind of lame. I don't know if it is like that in the states or in other countries but it is here....so basically what I did for Christmas was open up my presents that my momma sent me and then we went to our branch Christmas party, it was way fun! Just kind of having a good time with the members, I'm not going to lie though Christmas isn't the same if you don't have snow.... but all in all I had a great Christmas. Here in the Phils we are basically a day ahead of all of you people back at home so what my plan was is to skype home on Thursday morning or Christmas night there. But turns out that our internet back at the house was all jacked up so I wasn't able to skype home. That was pretty hard to deal with mentally, seeing my family for a second and then they were gone and I couldn't get it back. But at least I was able to talk to them earlier today!! Other than that the work was a little slower this week.  Me and Elder Flores will be focusing a lot on finding and earning some referrals from  the members. Its way more effective than street contacting. Oh and if anyone at home has some referrals for me (if you know what I'm talking about) feel free to give me their emails....ahaha just kidding that's a ways away still. Oh and one last thing....I accidently shocked myself with my Tazer again.....right after I was done praying.....freak Tazers hurt!! haha but yeah that was my week here are the pics from our baptism a couple of weeks ago.Oh and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! (Hopefully I can get the pictures to download, they can get corrupted in the transfer)

This is Elder Hansen with the Branch President's daughter...

Merry Christmas! 12/22/13

Just an update!  Our computer crashed about every 3-4 minutes trying to Skype with Riley on Christmas night!  We finally decided to call him on 12/29/13 instead.  That phone call was amazing!  We talked for an hour and I recorded most of it! He sounded happy other than being on curfew for Christmas and New Years because it can be dangerous out and about!  Update, after having a Century Link tech come out and after we replaced all of our modem and cables, 2 days later it crashed again!  It is working momentarily right now and they are coming out tomorrow!  I hate computers! Can't live with them can't live without them!

So here is Riley's email right before Christmas!

 

Merry CHRISTmas! sooooo maligayang pasko! sooooooo wow two years ago to this day me k finn and koa and curtis were chillin here in the philippines.......shopping and sweet malls buying people beats and basketball jerseys jet skiiing in the ocean ect.....even though that was all fun what im doing right now is a lot more fulfilling. You don't realize the true meaning of Christmas until you get out and experience it for yourself. And me being in such a calling as a missionary I have that exact opportunity. A little kid once explained what the meaning of love is..."love is when someone says your name just a little different, and you know your name is safe in their mouth." So for me I apply that to my life right now as I share my testimony that Jesus is the Christ and that he lives guiding this church and the people therein to salvation. As I share His sacred name to others I protect his name his name is safe in my mouth, His name has my love wrapped around it just like his atonement encompasses all of us. The meaning of Christmas is so much more than getting gifts and being happy its giving you love and friendship to all of those who are in need. Feeding the hungry clothing the naked housing the homeless. We are disciples of Christ and Children of God. I know that this is the true church and I know that this season is a very special season for us all to enjoy with our families and others. please keep the spirit of Christ with you throughout these holidays. 

So this week was amazing we had our Christmas party which was way fun and the food was great, and we also got to watch the Polar Express!!!! so much better than what kyle watched....hhahahaha but yeah so that was a blast and then to top off a great week we had two baptisms on Saturday!! which really did come with some trials, even up to the very hour of their baptism. the lola wasnt even able to be baptized because her heart is messed up and she cant walk. So Satan is definitely trying to mess with the work but it didnt stop us!! We stayed focused and we just went the exta mile to help them and we saw the blessings. So another fun thing that I did was I bought a super high powered Tazer/flashlight!! hahah I'm not sure if they are illegal in America but they are way fun!! It shines so far so thats a blessng of being in the philippines. (mom i was kidding about the illegal part) and the last fun thing that happend to me was I got a nice little fever.....one night i actually got up to 103 degrees! But dont worry mom and don't email Sister Monahan because im fine!! but yeah that is about it for the week!! i just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!! 

love Elder (thor) Hansen

Missionary Christmas Card 12/15/13

I sent this out to the friends I have who have missionaries out there in the field.  Someone sent it to me and I love it...

This Year for Christmas
I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Claus. My decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because... This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.
I've reread November's Ensign. Felt strength come from His words.
Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,…This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I wonder how those Laminate mothers, gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion, their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton.
For two years we will pray for him, I'm giving Christ my son.
I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard, His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand… This year, I'm giving Him my son.
Past gifts have lost their glitter; I think I finally understand
Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make.   This year... I'm giving Christ my son.
I know there's One who understands, the sacrifice I'm making.
Who knows the gift I willingly give, the toll it will be taking.
For He has done it all before Greater love - there could be none.
For years ago God gave to me, His only begotten son.
The hands I washed, the hands I held, the hands I taught to pray;
Now knock on doors to find the ones who will listen to what he'll say.
Because I know Christ needs him, until all the gathering's done,
My gift has taken years to make.  This year...I'm giving Christ my son.

Author Unknown