Merry Christmas! 2014

Elder Hansen has been transferred to a new area, new companion and new assignment.

Dear Mom and Dad,

So yes I did receive your long letter mom and it was amazing!! Thank you so much for all the things you said to me! It really helped boost my spirits a lot. I was a little nervous to go and open an area but I'm here in Aguilar again haha so I will spend my second Christmas and new year in the same house! I went to the other branch though so I will get to know all of Aguilar before I go home! haha Its pretty funny that I'm back. We have 2 IBDS right now that we extended yesterday. Its a part member family! The Mendoza family and they are really nice! My companions name is Elder Raguin. He is from Occidental Minduro he does speak Tagalog. He is really nice and way diligent and excited to work! I won't have a hard time training him. Thank you as well for the advice on training him. It will help me alot. I just need to love the opportunity you know? I hope you have a great time at the lights and what not! That will be way fun visiting Temple square. I miss that place now...I used to complain about going there haha sorry. So if we are going to skype it will be like 11 am for me here I don't know what time at night that is for you. I don't really have the ability to figure that out but I think you can figure it out using computers and what not there ....but it will be Christmas night for you guys and the 26th for me here. I'm really excited to skype home for the last time but we are only alotted 45 min. but that doesn't matter cause I will be seeing you like a month after that...haha things are going good here and I'm not trunky at all. I don't plan on it either. I just pray for the help every day. I didn't make the fudge sorry mom. (I sent hime a fudge kit in his package) Dad, I loved that story about the choir hahahahahahahaha( Darinb and I went up to sing in sacrament meeting, when we thought it was the youth and leaders, turn.  The choir thought it was their turn, so Darin decided to just join them and fake it like he belonged!) you will sing a solo for my homecoming is that okay? haha I think that would be a really great way for you to feel the spirit even more in your life!Especially singing hymns!! Such an awesome idea! I hope you have the best Christmas ever even though I wont be home for it that doesn't matter. Just know that I am out serving the Lord and helping other people know the real reason why we have Christmas!! I'm excited to bless the lives of others here in Aguilar. I will just get on and email you guys before I make the skype call. That would work right? okay anyway I love you guys so much have a great holiday season\Love Elder Hansen

Group Email

So this will be a super long email....hah not. I'm sorry but I just hate emailing now. training is amazing and I love my comp. elder Raguin! he is way good at teaching and very diligent in the work. He still has the MTC spirit to help me through these last weeks!! anyways I love you all have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!!

I'm here in Aguilar 2b if any of you remember  a year ago I was in Aguilar 1st so I'm back in my same apartment for my last Christmas haha what a coincidence right? 

love, 

Elder Hansen

 

(We spoke to Elder Hansen Christmas night, which was December 26th for him, for about 45 minutes.  He had become sick from eating some bad food on Christmas Eve and spent Christmas Day sick at his stomach.  But he was feeling better when we talked to him and was getting ready to go to their branch Christmas party.  He was still smiling and happy!  I love that boy!)

 

 

12/15/14 6 weeks left!

Elder Hansen has written mostly personal emails this last couple weeks, so I have not shared them.  However, he is doing great and loving the mission.  He informed us that he is going to be released as an Assistant to President Monahan on December 19th and will become a trainer in a different area!  He has loved assisting  the President and working with the missionaries.  But he is very excited to welcome in  and train a new missionary.  He is also very excited to get out and teach and find again, more than he was able to as an assistant.  His time has been precious though under the direction of President Monahan and his wife.  I know he will miss them dearly.  He is very sad that his mission experience is coming to a close.

12/15/14


I will keep this really short. You all probably thought that me Elder Hansen was a barren missionary because I never trained, and now coming up on my last six weeks in the mission you were probably thinking that there is no way that he will train someone...well if you thought that way...you were wrong. haha I will be training for my last six weeks and im soooooo excited!! It will be an eye opener  given the circumstances I'm in right now. and it will be fun!!! Life is great here in Urdaneta!!

love,

Elder Hansen

 

 

 

(Excerpts from family letter)

 

 

 

Hey family thanks for the awesome pics that you sent of the Pearson party and what not. Dad I thought that what an amazing story that you shared about grandpa. I find it amazing how sometimes we just need to show our love to people and they will feel it. Its actually hard to focus on my email right now because we have to go pick up missionaries who are leaving the mission tomorrow morning. We have to pick them up by 7-8ish at night and their area is pretty far. So it should be a fun night haha. Yesterday we had a PM family go to church!! We were very excited for them. The father is a member who is less active and lives and works in America. We caught word that he came in to town for the holidays and decided to visit them. THEY WENT TO CHURCH! Now I know that isnt a baptism but its a step towards it and whenever investigators make those moves I'm happy!! haha M

I am still waiting on the letter....and im sorry you are still waiting on mine to you. i am just horrible at writing and to be honest dont have a ton of time. We can only write letters on Mondays and when our Monday is like today I won't be home until 10 or so at night....but the weeks are just cruising by. I can't believe that I only have six left in the mission. I'm going to spend those last weeks doing all that I can to help my trainee and to bless the area. (the harder you work, the more beautiful your wife is) hahaha I'm just kidding. I will be doing that because I love the Lord. My friends all seem to be doing good in their missions! it will be weird seeing them in the next months. the first one will be Nate... I love you guys so much. 

 

love, 

Elder Hansen

 

December 7, 

Dad thank you so much for the advice!! I need to read my blessing more often. So I got some crazy news !!!  For my last transfer in the mission President and the Lord want me to train!! So I will train a new missionary which is supposed to be 12 wks but I will train him for 5wks!! So I will be leaving the area I am in and wont be an assistant any more. Its totally fine with me because my batch Elder Uhi is coming in to take my place! It was exciting for me because I will get to work the full time that missionaries are supposed to for my last weeks. I koow the area im going to but I can't tell you yet....On Sunday we had an investigator come to church sister Jean xxxx! she is awesome. We also gave her an IBD for Jan. 10 I really feel that she will be ready for that date! Please pray for her and for her baptism. I will be here in Urdaneta until the 19th and then I go to my new area Dec. 19th.

 

Christmas is coming around the corner now and well so is januaray...the dreaded month.  But one of the most exciting times of my life as well.  A lot of missionaries are really excited to go home but for me, I really dont feel it. It doesn't hit me that I am close to going home. I feel the same drive to go and teach and do all that I can to help people that I felt when I was brand new. Anyway life is going good here and the storm is very far away from us here in pangasinan. We are safe here! haha Ilove you dad 

love, 

Elder Hansen


Christmas Conference 2014

 

Area Conference 2014 December

New Trainers!!!!

 Area Conference 2014 December

 

 

 

 

 

 

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12-01-2014

Dear Mom, Dad, Jordan, Alex,

so I just want to say i love you all! thank you mom and dad for the wonderful letters that you sent and also or the emails! Mom I'm sorry I am horrible at writing home. But I promise I'm taking pictures! This week was a little bit rough with getting investigators to progress. Sis xxxhad an IBD for Dec. 13 but we found out that she isnt married yet so she cant be baptized. We were pretty bummed about that. We found 11NI this week so we still have a lot of potential in the area. we love our ward members and we are thinking of ideas that we can do to help them out with the ward and the work here in urdaneta. Please pray for our ward here URD. 3rd ward. today is Dec. 01, 2014 we were talking with others a little earlier and they are just saying its crazy how fast 2014 has gone by. its like it went from 2013-2015. Missions help develop people into who they need to become. Well for me it has put me on the right path. I can see a bright future to be honest. I do get a little nervous thinking about work and school and the real world but I read my blessing the other day and it just said I need to put the Lord first and if I do that all will be well and I wont sacrifice anything. And when you have a mindset of serving the Lord and then doing other things there are no sacrifices. 

I am very thankful that the sisters stopped by our house. please tell them one missionary to another how much I appreciate their efforts.  I deal with people every day trying to help them come unto Christ and it can be difficult when people dont want to. It literally hurts you inside at times. We met an old man who his church doesnt have a name but Americans stop by his house and do bible study with him 2 a week and that is there religion. We told him that he is missing out on a lot of things in the bible and we want to help him understand those things but he is so blinded and shut off that he wouldnt even let us in the house. so being a bolder missionary we kindly told him that he isnt yet following Jesus Christ and left. haha butI literally felt sad for him because he is so far away from the truth. 

Dad- about some of our questions. we are asked to speak a lot and all the missionaries always expect us to know what to do and say. We visit other zones and what not but usually dont speak unless invited. We usually speak at training meetings like Train the Trainers, New Missionary Training, Missionary leadership council, quad zone conferences, zone interviews. those are a few but its really fun. Even though Ihave been speaking in front of a lot of people now I'm still not used to it. I still get nervouse sometimes.....but i would say im comfortable now.  Mom Dad do you have any advice for me for my last two months in the mission? Its weird to think that I'm coming home to be honest even though I love you all I'm going to miss my second home A TON..... this place is just beautiful the people have changed me forever. Anyways I love you all so much

love, 

Elder Hansen

--

ELDER HANSEN

URDANETA STAKE

URDANETA 3RD


 

So I don't want to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! Time is crazy fast and I dont like it. I'm exctied for Christmas but that is it ha. The week went well, we found a lot of new great investigators and are hoping they will progress! our IBD isnt married pala so were kind of disappointed about that but we will keep working with them it just takes faith! The mission is awesome I love the experiences that I have everyday! Keep the Philippines in your prayers! This is where the nicest people live and I can testify to that!

love Elder H

--

ELDER HANSEN

URDANETA STAKE

URDANETA 3RD

 

Elder Hansen and Elder Mahayahay

Sent from The Mission President :)

Titled Rats!

11/23/14 Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you all for everything you do for me! I cant imagine my life without all of you. especially my family. With the spirit of Thanksgiving I just figured I would thank all of you! Life here in the Philippines is really amazing. I'm so grateful I have had the chance to live and serve here for the past two or so years. The love you build for people when you serve them is the Christ like love we need to develop for all. As a missionary you develop that attitude to serve everyone. I think I really needed that in my life. I am finally coming to realize my real purpose in life and no its not just to be happy. One thing I am grateful for is being able to see the change in others. Even with my batch mates serving with them here in the Philippines I have really seen them grow spiritually and I'm very grateful for that. The mission is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and that we treat everyday like thanksgiving.

The mission and our area here in Urdaneta is doing really well! We got to do some exchanges but our exchanges are different than most missions. we bring the other companionship into our area and then split. So the sad thing is I don't get to see other parts of the mission. But the good part is that the work is going really well here! Sis. Rose Mary went to church again! Her Baptism is on Dec. 13th please pray for her and for her progression! We found a ton this week too and will be finding a lot this week so that the teaching pool will get bigger! Here in the computer shop I'm listening to these kids who are very blind to things spiritually speaking of course in Tagalog but using vulgar language and it just makes me irritated...I want to tell them nicely to (shut up) haha anyways Elder Mahayahay and I are doing great and the comp is going really well! I cannot believe this is the last week of November....time is way too fast here....anyways I love you all

love, 

Elder Hansen

Mom dont worry I got the package and we have all ready made a box of brownies! THEY WERE SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!! haha im waiting until christmas to do the fudge I bet its feezing there tho...and i dont want to go back to it...i will die! haha That is cool that Bingham won again! (we're the best) how did Mikey do?? Here life is going good most of my updates are on my group email. You get that right?? Also I cant believe that I'm down to 2 months...it cant be true...also I cant believe that I all ready have a scheduled talk!! But I will think and ponder about that. Life is going great here. Im literally having a blast every day and time goes by way too fast. Im sure life is going by really quickly there especailly with the holiday season in full force. before you know it it will be new years.... about the skype call. we can do it from dec. 22- dec. 26. 45mins is the max. The area is being a little bit more tight on the time but its okay cause I will see you guys like a month after that...haha anyways I'm doing great this eamil is for all of you!! Thanks so much for everything you are the best!!! and I hope you have a great thanksgiving!!! I know I will by serving the LORD. thanks again and I love you \l

love, 

Elder Hansen

11-16-14 New Investigators!

Thank you so much dad for the great letter! That is awesome to hear about your experience at church earlier today. Every Sunday can be a spiritual experience we just have to be open to it. I wasted a lot of Sundays at church back at home not really paying attention and just going because it was something I had to do. f you ever get the chance please tell President Philipoom that I love him and please also tell Bishop Carver the same. Yesterday at chruch while we were sitting in the sacrament hall waiting for church to begin we noticed that only one of our investigators was there. (we were excited about that but hoping for more) that was
Brother Ceasar, we have been teaching a lady who is from Tacloban. She was affected by the massive storm that came in last year. Her house was destroyed she was on top of a building with water up to her waist...so that shows how deep it the tide was and she was holding two little kids in her arms so they wouldnt drown. Anyways it was a great experience when we met her because she had met elders before and went to church before. It also just so happens that their neighbor here is also a member but they are kind of less active. So what we did is decided to make the members fellowshipers for sis. Rose.  Two Sundays ago we had planned with them that sis. Rose would go with them to church and none of them came...sis Rose was even ready to go but the members werent....then throughout this week we made sure the members were there at all the lessons. So I go back to where we were sitting in sacrament...we started singing the opening hymn and they wernt there yet but I decided to look back again...of course being ancy to see if they would come...and turns out they did!They even brought other members with them that are Less Active!! We gave an IBD to sis. Rose Mary last night for dec. 13. things are going pretty well here! I'm glad that Bingham killed Riverton!! haha is that bad to say?? nope!! haha I'm glad for Mickey! Tell the Greens Hi for me.   Tell mom that I love her and I'm excited for the other packages but the one has not come in yet. Also tell her how much I appreciate her and all that she does for me. oh you will notice that i withdrew a decent chunk of money last week .that is because i got two ingrowns removed haha but im doing good now and i dont think i will get them again for the rest of my mission. Time sure is a flying....I'm way excited for Preston! If you can tell him to email me. ( He is a baseball friend who has decided to serve a mission)

anyways the misssion life is doing great !!

love, 

Elder Hansen

11-09-14 New Companion Elder Mahayahay

Hey mom so transfer week was crazy!! We are always so busy running around the mission helping people out with different things and getting everyone ready for transfers. To be honest it takes a ton of time away from the work like 3 to 31/2 days total of no work! The time is going good my new comps name is Elder Mahayahay! He is really nice and is from Palawan which I like. It is a really beautiful area in the Philippines. That is really sad to hear about Lance but I  hope he can get back out soon. ( Lance played baseball with Riley in high school.  He was on a mission and began to lose his eyesight.  He had to come home and have surgery, but is all ready back in the mission field again, Yea!)  The work is going pretty well here we need to get finding some more. We werent able to get very many new Investigators this week but this next week will be a great one!! Funny story. we were able to teach brother Ceasars wife the other night who is pregnant, and was supposed to give birth in the next few days. but while we were there she wasnt really experiencing pain or dialating but i guess when we left she went into labor! I guess the baby was just waiting to hear our lovely voices before she came out. And another part is that the doctor told them that it was a guy....but a night later the dad was changing the diapers and he noticed that it wasnt a boy but it was a GIRL!!! hahaha how can the doc. even mess that up?

I'm doing really good here.  I was a little nervous to lead the area and to lead being an AP but I'm doing okay now! No problems. Another things is mom the one package came in the same day Elder Macabenta went home! But he was on the bus when we got to the office. haha oh well I will get it to him some other way. Life is going great and I love you all so much! Have a great week!

love elder Hansen

11-09-14
So this week was crazy fast especially getting the new missionaries settled in! haha They are so young! Its weird to see new missionaries come in and thinking that I was exactly like that. I have also seen some of the other missionaries come in and how much they have grown up in just a short time .Its weird to think about life. We are always new to something going to do something new new job new calling new friends new life but what doesnt change during all of that is our Savior. His gospel will always be the same and that is the truth. Truth never changes. No matter who we are the gospel is the same for everyone, and if we follow it we will be blessed. Life is good! I love the mission and i am growing up so much here. I feel like I'm a different person driven by different things. My life isn't focused on myself anymore. I'm focused on facing Jesus Christ. I love my Savior and I love this calling and I dont want to ever take the tag off.  It will always engraven in my heart! IM doing great thank you for all the prayers I really feel them

i love you all so much

love Elder Hansen

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ELDER HANSEN

URDANETA STAKE

URDANETA 3RD

 

10-13-14 and 10-28-1412 weeks left! Lots of Pictures!

 

 11/03/14

 

 

 

Yeah time goes by pretty quickly right? The holidays just seem to take so long to get here but when they are here they fly right by. Its all ready Nov. 3

My comp goes home tomorrow:( and then I start another fun week of bringing in the new missionaries!! haha It will be hectic on wed. we have like 25 coming in and 20 of them are elders and will all be staying at our house!! haha but its always fun. Right now I'm just stressing out at leading the work as an assistant. I'm basically the one who knows what to do with all things so I'm going to be the one accountable. It will be a really great learning experience!! That is crazy about the giants!! Didn't their ace throw 3 games that series?? That is way nuts!! The giants seem to win all the time. 

Mom

BETTY LOOKS ADORABLE! (That is our dog and I sent him a picture in her Halloween costume)  I'm sure Halloween was really fun!  The work isgoing great here! XXX went to church again so he is now a progressing Investigator which means he is reading going to church and keeping other commitments that we give him. Please continue to pray for him! Elder Macabenta goes home tomorrow but no the packages didn"t make it in time. (I sent Elder Hansen and Elder Macabenta Thanksgiving dinner in a box and a BYU t shirt for Elder Macabenta, but it didn't make it before he left ) he is most likely coming back here for Christmas to visit the mission so I will give it to him then. We will have a lot of time the next month to focus on the area! So I'm expecting to have a lot of success!! Pray for our leaders here in Urdaneta 3rd ward! Especially our bishop,  he is such a kind man.  Anyways things are going great here!!

I love you guys.

 have a great week

Love Elder Hansen

10/28/14

 

hello everyone,

sorry  I'm horrible at writing home. Its been like two weeks since Ive sent a decent email home to all of you. The weeek was a great week! I got to go to Manila! I also visited the temple there and it is amazing.  I just love the spirit at the temple, its been way too long since I have been to the temple and actually done a session. I miss being inside but this is worth it! This week we had some great lesson with our investigators. Brother xxx is way into the gospel and wants to learn more.  This week I get a new comp so we will see how that will go. I'm sure he will be amazing even though I dont know who yet . I know he will be a great companion. This coming up Sunday we have a special area broadcast. Elder Oaks is coming... announcements about the temple?? hopefully!@! If not that is fine too . It just depends on the Lord. anyways the week was great and we are expecting an even better one this week!

I love you all so much Love Elder Hansen

tinatamad ako magsulat sa inyo ngayon....masaya ang linggo namin!! tinatamad ako kaya nagtatagalog din ako...mas nahihirapan yata ako sa english kaysa sa tagalog.......mahal ko kayong lahat! ingat kayo lagi!!

nagmamahal, 

elder hansen!

larawan #1 kasama ko siya sa MTC!

elder aisea po!