September 22, 2015 - MTC Hump Day!

Sa K ap fèt? (What is going on?) 

This week has been pretty crazy... The days here are long and the weeks fly by! It feels like P-day was just yesterday! Anywho, to all those who were unaware, last Wednesday was Paula Day (Grandma Hansen's birthday) and I definitely celebrated with some cinnamon bears and Earth, Wind and Fire, also on that note for the people that aren't as observant as someone who looks at a planner every half hour or so, yesterday was the 21st night of September.  PC, pretty cool.

Today we got to go to the temple like we do every P-day and we get to eat real food at the Temple Cafeteria! it's Amazing!  So last Wednesday we had TRC (I'm not sure exactly what it means) but we got to teach some native Haitians and Holy Cannoli! They taught me the wrong language! I'm only jokin, their accents are super cool but we have a lot to learn still. A little bit about Haitians, they eat a boat load of beans... (Matthew hates beans) they blend them up with oil and pour them over rice. They also have deep fried plantains and papaya juice (but not together) its apparently delicious. They are mainly Christian and their independence day is January 1st and it's more of a... screw-the-French day (Pardon my french). Anyway, their big holiday is their flag day on May 16th and that's their big party day!

On Thursday we had an English fast (?) which lasted about 4 hours and then we got too hungry for communication, but it was still good. Elder Petry and I are not only teaching lessons without notes we are teaching without a set plan at all, we just go in with questions and teach to our investigators needs and it's pretty awesome. We are progressing in the language phenomenally well.

Oh I forgot to tell you, I was 100% better on... like Thursday or something like that, but yeah, the whole district is totally healthy. If you want to know what my district is like, they are 18 and 19 year-olds... and they are expected to study all day. I'll leave the rest to your imagination.  This week was bad for losing stuff, someone took my spray bottle and my body wash out of the bathroom so that was pretty nice of them.

Last Tuesday Bishop Gerald Caussè spoke to us and he was amazing! He taught about being a bold missionary and not being afraid to teach the gospel.  On Friday we had "BIG ARM FRIDAY" with Elder Baldobinos and I could barely raise my arms the next day, but it was good, we had a lot of fun.

Our investigator Bellott committed to a baptismal date this week which we were pumped for and we are working with him to be ready for October 2nd. Our other investigator Manfred is progressing great but threw a word of wisdom problem curveball at us and Elder Petry and I had to wing a lesson but it turned out great and we are working with him to be ready by October 2nd as well. 

Elder Maurino and Elder Rackham are struggling because they told Manfred that his baptism in the Catholic church was meaningless and that's....... bad. So Frè (Brother) Chandler dedicated a whole lesson to the Importance of the Priesthood and how to explain that to investigators. The Power of God and the power and authority of the priesthood is the ability to forgive sin. We can only be forgiven of sin through PRIESTHOOD ordinances! We receive a remission of our sins after baptism BY THE PRIESTHOOD, and we renew those covenants by partaking of the sacrament which is administered BY THE PRIESTHOOD. Priesthood is power given from God for us to forgive those who are repentant and humble. Basically, for the 5.8 or so million people in my mission that aren't members of the church the only way for them to have access to the power of the Atonement is through the 150 or so missionaries in Ft. Lauderdale. That's quite the responsibility!

On Sunday Elder Petry and I taught in priesthood and we taught concerning the sacrament and totally used my talk from when I spoke with Brother Brasher, it was PD, pretty dope.  Then that night for devotional, we had Lloyd Newel come and we had MTC and the Spoken Word. It was pretty dang sweet, I was in a choir of over 1000 and there are only 2400 missionaries here right now. We sang hymns and he spoke, just like on Music and the Spoken Word with the MTC (Mormon Tabernacle Choir). We sang "Redeemer of Israel" and "How Firm a Foundation" and he taught about overcoming fear through power love and a sound mind. It was an AWESOME devotional. I figured Grandma and Grandpa would be pretty jealous ;)  After our devotional, the second counselor in our branch presidency, Brother Markham came up to our Residence and taught us about Jacob 5 and the allegory of the Olive Tree.  Since he owns a vineyard in Provo, he brought his grape juice and it was sooooo delicious!

Yesterday I finished marking up the Book of Mormon again so I guess today I get to restart.  Here are 2 scriptures I like:

2 Nephi 26:24

24 He (Christ) doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him.  Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

Every commandment, every trial, every blessing, everything that Christ has ever done has been for the benefit of man. He doesn't give commandment for fun, he gives us commandments to bring us peace and joy and to keep us safe.

And please put this on my Missionary Plaque:

2 Nephi 2:6-8

6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

 7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

 8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy,and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

M' konnen ke Jezikri se sovè de mond la, ak sèl atrave li, nou kapab retounen viv avek Papa nou ki nan syel la anko. Nou konnen levanjil vre, donk se tre enpotan ke nou di lot moun konsèrnan jan yo ap kapab gen lavi lentenel.

I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and only through him we can return to live with our Father in heaven. We know the true gospel so it is very important that we tell others how they can gain have Eternal life.

I hope you are all doing well, and until next week.

-- N'ap wè de an (We saw two of?)

Elder Hansen

Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission

Haitian-ing the Work (Love this!)

Haitian-ing the Work!  The inspiration for the name of the blog!  He signed his letter with this today and I just love it!  I think Matthew drew this.  It's the sign outside their classroom.

P-Day is Temple day!

Elders Hansen, Petry, Jackson (yes he's 7' 2"), Nelson, Rackham, & Maurino

"When will my reflection show who I am inside?" - Mulan

The District at the Provo Temple

With Elder Huang

Matthew got to see his best buddy Dallin, Elder Chugg, before he left for Fiji!

Facebook message from Dallin's mom after Matthew sent her this photo:

Elder Hansen just sent me a picture of him and Elder Chugg before Elder Chugg left for the airport to head to Fiji. Rakelle Hansen you and Steve have a fantastic son and I am so grateful that not only are our boys great friends but they were able to see each other in the MTC!

Matthew finished his scripture marking project today!

He started after the Isaiah chapters so he had to go back and finish those. :)

Enjoying some grape juice from Brother Markham, Second Counselor in the Branch Presidency

Parker colored this Pikachu and sent it to Matthew.  It's now hanging on the board in their classroom.  Parker couldn't be more proud! He emailed Matthew today to remind him to take Pikachu with him went he leaves for Florida!