Haitian-ing the Work: April 5th, 2016 - Rain, Conference, and Goodbyes

Hello Family and Friends,

This was a very eventful week! On Tuesday, we had a major storm and the church building we were at in Wellington got struck by Lightning so that was cool. Nobody died so it wasn't too exciting. While we were knocking the storm picked up and dumped on us so we stood on some guy's porch for a half hour or so and waited for it to blow over but we were still very wet. On Wednesday we taught the guy that came to church last week and it turns out that he is pretty lame, which is unfortunate. Later that day we were knocking and it just so happened that we and the other elders chose the exact same street to knock so while they weren't looking, Elder Prince and I took the wheels off Elder Scutt's bike. That was pretty funny. :) This week we continued to teach Oscar, he has yet to receive his answer to whether or not he should be baptized but he said that he is going to work toward April 16th for a baptismal date. He came to the Sunday morning session of General Conference and he said that he enjoyed the talks. On Thursday we OYM'd a guy named Kendall who we talked to for around an hour. He was pretty high when we were talking to him and he thought that he was talking about very deep things but he was really just high and wasn't bringing any profound ideas to the table like he thought he was. Later that day we were knocking and knocked into an old white guy (weird for Belle Glade) and he was very condescending to us and called the Prophet a chicken and a coward.... So that didn't incite good feelings in our hearts, so we promptly bid him farewell and then 2 minutes later he chased us down the road to ask us more questions... He was a pretty misinformed individual. This weekend was General Conference which I enjoyed very much. We watched it on a projector at the church in our suits which was a new experience for me. Also, yesterday we found out that Elder Prince is transferring to Miami Shores Creole and the my new companion will be Elder Oldroyd, thus begins a new chapter of my mission.

Finally my last thought, one major theme I saw this conference was that of selfless service. From President Joseph Fielding Smith, "Service is the one thing required of every soul. He who will not serve his fellows is not fit to have place among them. Serving others is it's own reward." (The Way to Perfection pg. 218) Every person is required to serve others. This church is a church of service! In order for us to fully follow the example of Jesus Christ we must serve others! In Doctrine and Covenatns 107: 99-100 we read "Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence. He that is slothful shall not be counted worthy to stand, and he that learns not his duty and shows himself not approved shall not be counted worthy to stand. Even so. Amen." If we do not serve with all diligence we are not worthy for the blessing of Exaltation. President Joseph Fielding Smith continues by saying, "Here we prove ourselves through service as well as through obedience to the law of the Gospel. It is not sufficient that we be good, that is, that we do not violate the law, and only observe the regulations required of layman in the church. he that does nothing is good for nothing, and there should be no layman in the Church." (pg. 221-222)

It is our responsibility as members of the church to serve our fellowmen and as President Smith says, "Serving others is it's own reward."

I hope you all enjoyed conference and stay safe this week!

-- Love

Elder Hansen

Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission

Haitian-ing the Work