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

12/15/13 Baptisms for Christmas!

All right so hello everyone!! Let me just start off by saying that this week was amazing!!! Even though at times as you are walking around its a million degrees you have a ton of people always saying hey joy and americano.......I have never done anything more rewarding than serving a mission. I had an amazing exprience this week where it just hit me, even though we had just got punted and we were now heading out to a really far area, the thought just hit me where I was so happy and I could just feel the spirit so much. It was a very amazing experience for me and I was very grateful for it. I know that our Father In Heaven knows our needs and will help us and give us strength when needed. So last saturday we had three investigators who passed their interview so we will now be having a baptism three days before Christmas!! White Christmas no??? yeah even though I won't see the brilliant snow that is just reflecting the wonderful sun, I will see three of God's Children with the biggest smiles on their faces and witness something even more beautiful than a fresh white Christmas. I'm not gonna lie,  at times I do miss the cold.......like I always say it is so hot here in the Philippines. We also have our awesome part member family who has now returned to church!!!! Four weeks in a row they have gone to church. And their kids will now be baptized on the 28th!!! Me and Elder Flores are definitely seeing the blessings of our hard work. I have never been happier to be serving. and I am also way excited to skype my family on Christmas!!! That will be absoluteley amazing!!! It has been seven months since I have talked to them!! But yeah that is about all that I have to report!!! I love you all

Happy Holidays!!

love Elder Hansen







 

First Group Email! 12/09/13

So Unker, (that would be Elder Unker) has been talking me into doing a weekly letter or something so that people know what I'm doing out here in the mission.....I'm not the best at expressing what is happening here but I will try my best. So last p day our whole zone went to a mall. Keep in mind its the Philippines, not America.  But we went to a mall and decided to go inside and Christmas carol because its December....in the Philippines, once its September that means it is now Christmas! It's the BER months octoBER novemBER.... which just means that it is kind of cold....but anyway we went caroling.  No one wanted to at first but once we all started singing it was actually way fun! I enjoyed it...the people gave us weird looks though...and some took our pictures so it was fun. But this week was good.  An Elder that was in my house in my first area just moved into this house so we get to be together again in the apartment.  He is way funny. We also decided to stop by a school that has a bunch of home made Christmas trees out front and we took some pics.  The people were a little shocked we were doing that but its okay....they wanted pictures too. The members are way nice here though and the work is so much better when they come along. We are trying to get them more excited about missionary work especally since we have some baptisms coming up we feel that they will be more excited to do missionary work. One of our families we teach is actually a PM family who went less active in 2008 they have now been to church 3 times and two of their kids will be baptized. Hopefully in December but if not the first Saturday in January.  The Mata family (mata means eye by the way in Tagalog) but they are way sweet! So that's about what is going on so far right now.....but yeah I hope you are all having a great holiday season! Love Elder Hansen

 Elder Hansen and some Missionaries apparently play basketball at 5:00am twice a week. So they made jerseys.  29 is Elder Hansen's baseball number from High School.  Staying in the spirit of the Gospel, his team are the Nephites!

Below:  This must be one of the homemade Christmas Trees that was in front of the school.  Oh to be wearing short sleeves at Christmas time!

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Update 12/02/13

Dear Family!!!!!!!!! Happy late Thanksgiving!!!!  I'm sure you had a great

Thanksgivbing with lots of food and what not!! I  took Elder Flores out to Pizza Hut for Thanksgiving hahaha it was soo good. I payed for him because he has never eaten there before. This email will just be a gratitude email.....

Thank you for the opportunity you gave me to be here on the mission. Thank you for the love you have shown me through out my entire life. Thank you for the support, advice, counsel, partys, baseball games, Lake Powell trips, going to Arizona, Cali, Georgi, New York etc.....Thank you for teaching me how to be the  person that I am today, with out you two in my life I would not be the person I am.   Heavenly Father gave me to you because he knew that you were the right parents for me and through your guidance I would be doing what I am doing now for the people in the Philippines. I want to thank you for taking me to church as a little kid and doing your best to keep me in the church. The changes you and dad made before I was born has now changed many life. If I wasn't a member of the church, if I didn't grow up in the church maybe Brother XXXX would not have been baptized...our decisions effect the eternities. Maybe if we were not sealed in the temple in 2009 I wouldn't be here right now and I would not have been able to help the people I have met so far. Maybe some of my friends would not be on missions at this time...so I want to thank you for all of the great decisions you have made in your lives. I am very thankful for my mission and all of the things that I have learned and how I'm am changing in my heart.  Look up the definition of repentence in the bible dictionary it is really a perfect definition. I have so far had a great time in my mission I have not only blessed the lives of others but I have been blessed by so many other people. All of the members I have met,  all of the investigators,  it really is an amazing opportunity!! I love you all so much and I am very excited to be able to speak with you whether it be on skype or phone! This week has been a great week but there is always more work to be done. One of my batch mates just got called to be a zone leader so that is way cool I'm way proud of him!!

I love you all so much! Dad I will read all of the references you have given me so I will write you a letter with my interpretation or insights about those scriptures, you are really the light in my life keep up the good work at home.  keep your testimony bright, remember we are always being watched so let your light so shine forth!!!!! I love you all love your son

Elder Hansen