“The time of Hastening the Lord’s work is now.” – Elder Russell M. Nelson

Friday, December 4, 2015

November 30, 2015 - Haitian-ing the Work with my Haitian Companion

Sak ap fet neg? (What's made those guys? Umm... Google Translate isn't helping much here. Maybe it's "What's happening guys?"

So this was about the oddest week of my mission. It started out with us going to transfer meeting, everyone is always super excited to see where they are going and who their companion is going to be. So Elder Becker became a Zone Leader in Palm Beach! That's cool for him. :)  My new companion is Elder Murat! (Pronounced Mira) and he's a Haitian! He is awesome and we are going to do great things here in Hollywood!

But that is not the odd part, Thanksgiving morning we dropped Elder Murat off at the airport so that he could go home! So nuts! He got to go home for Thanksgiving so that he could renew his Visa. Since he was gone for a day and a half doing who knows what in Boston, I became a Zone Leader for 36 hours! I had to be one of the youngest Zone Leaders ever! Just Kidding, I was in a trio with the Zone Leaders until Elder Murat got back.

On Thanksgiving we Dropped off my Comp at the airport and then went and played in the ward Turkey Bowl in which I threw 4 touchdowns to the other team and 4 other interceptions. Pretty dang awesome. After that we went to the ward Thanksgiving party and ate a very odd combination of food... Then we went out to go proselyte and knocked into a giant Haitian party with 40+ people. Story time, so this family, we ask if we can say a prayer with them and they accept. I ask them if they are from Haiti and they say, "wi" so I look for my fluent companion and *Gasp* he's in Boston! So it falls on me to speak to them.... So I do the normal conversation stuff, then say the prayer and get a hug from a Haitian Mamie. Then, this is the kicker, they ask if we have eaten, and I say that we just did and then they ask if we would like more, and I said (in creole) "What do you have? Rice and Chicken?", the next thing I know the house explodes in laughter and the Zone Leaders and I are sitting at the table with Giant Plates of Food! It was a fun experience but I was sooo full!

So the next day I get my Companion back and we got out and finally started working our area. Right now we are teaching Jacques Leon who is a Haitian, in a part member family, and he is definitely getting baptized! The only problem is that he is taking lessons from the Jehovah Witnesses as well, but that's not a big deal because they got nothing on us. He came to church on Sunday and enjoyed it. He recognizes the spirit which is awesome. Yesterday I was the only white person in Creole class... so that's pretty awesome.

That's basically it for the week, so just a quick last thought.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:10).
Thus, we sing:
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, …
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

We can find strength in Jesus Christ through his atonement for us. Because he suffered all the pains and afflictions we will ever experience, he can succor us if we humble ourselves and come unto him.

I hope that you all have an enjoyable start to your December and whenever you think that it is too cold, just be glad that I'm warm ;)

-- m renmen nou tout, pa bliye li (I love you all, do not forget it!)
Elder Hansen
Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission

Haitian-ing the Work

Elders Nielsen, Hansen, Murat, and Vancott

Elder Murat from Haiti and Boston

Chillin' in the car (literally)

The Elders in their apartment. We love that the Halloween banner is still on the wall at the end of  November, and that two of the Elders aren't wearing socks!  Matthew hates bare feet and was the sock police here at home.  That makes us smile :)

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