Haitian-ing the Work: November 2016

So, that about sums up my new companion, haha just kidding! His name is Elder Ariotti and he is from Bountiful (the T is silent) Utah and he is 2 transfers older than I am. He is 6'6" and yeah, I'm not so I guess we are going to look like a father son team.

Anyway, for the week last P-Day we went Golfing with Brother Lowry for Elder Smith's last P-day, we had a good time and golfing is super relaxing! Especially when you are golfing with people that aren't very good, haha. :) The next day we went and dropped Elder Smith off to head on home and then I picked up Elder Ariotti! (not literally, I can't do that...) Then we took the 2 hour car ride back to Ft. Myers on the "everything looks the same" highway through the Everglades. When we got back we had english class and then went on splits with the High Priests. Then we had 2 District Trainings on Thursday and got to know the Zone a little bit and then we had a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG planning session to know how to better help our Zone. After that we saw some peeps and then drove down to Cypress Grove to stay the night before MLC (mission leadership counsel) the next day! So the next morning we had MLC and it was supa dope! And after MLC Elder Toews, who is now the new AP (because Elder VanCott went home), came on a shadow exchange with us and we taught a good lesson, then a bad lesson, then a good lesson so I guess we need to work on consistency!

Then on Saturday we helped out with a "Family Discovery Day", it was kind of a flop but I ate like 10 hotdogs so that was exciting! Then we did some sort of missionary work but I'm not 100% sure of which kind... On Sunday we had church and this crazy lady bore her testimony which was hilarious. The hilarity was increased as I tried to translate this big black lady's "testimony on Wednesday" into Creole. After church we had 2 meal appointments and got super full, then we planned some training for tomorrow!

So, those were the highlights of the week, unfortunately we didn't do a whole lot of regular missionary work but we will turn it around next week!

Time for my last thought, I didn't spend a whole lot of time studying this week but I did give a comp study this week while driving to Ft. Lauderdale so I will share one scripture with you,

"Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of all things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old." (Jacob 4:13)

When we rely on what we learn from the Spirit we will never go astray and we will be able to keep a proper perspective in making our decisions!

Well, enjoy the election, I'll find out sometime who lost but I have a feeling it is going to be us. ;)

-- Love

Elder Hansen

Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission

Haitian-ing the Work

Elder Hansen's new comp, Elder Ariotti, only 8 inches taller!

He's from Bountiful, Utah where mom grew up.

It's a small world!

This is the prettier part of the monotonously flat 2 hour drive through the Everglades.

Matthew attempting to turn himself into a prince?

Or is the frog a Princess?

To explain the title of my email, when a missionary finishes his mission he "dies" and his companion at the time "kills" him (sends him home). Elder Smith "killed" my "Father", Elder Becker, and now Elder Smith is going home so I am "killing" him and Viola My title :)

So anyway, this week was Boss with a capital B! We did a lot but because of poor time management skills and procrastination on my end you will again receive just the tip of the iceberg of my week. So this week we had a Boss joint zone activity which was cool. To give you some back story, our mission goal for baptisms is 100 (for this month), we haven't hit 100 baptisms since March of 2014, so the big push this month was the hunt for 100. So with lots of extenuating circumstances including a hurricane at the end of last week we only had 51 baptisms with one week left to baptize. We had 51 potentials to be baptized in the mission so we were running around all over trying to not let anyone drop off. That was nuts! What ended up happening is that this week we baptized 35 people as a mission which is super awesome! But that only puts us at 86 which unfortunately is a touch less than 100, but we have the next few months to come and we are going to do it!

This week we baptized Michelle and Tifarel! (pictures below) And it was super awesome! I baptized my first white person so I guess I am now no longer "racist"! Which is a good improvement I'm told.

This weekend we had some craziness with Trunk-or-treats and Halloween and stuff. If you want the real funny stories you can read my journal when I come home. :)

So that was the week in a nutshell, if you took out the majority of the nut in the actual shell, just leaving a fragmented mess of shell and nut, but that is how you get info from Elder Hansen!

My ultimate thought, from President Uchtdorf, "Each time a hope is fulfilled, it creates confidence and leads to greater hope. I can think of many instances in my life where I learned firsthand the power of hope. I well remember the days in my childhood encompassed by the horrors and despair of a world war, the lack of educational opportunities, life-threatening health issues during youth, and the challenging and discouraging economic experiences as a refugee. The example of our mother, even in the worst of times, to move forward and put faith and hope into action, not just worrying or wishful thinking, sustained our family and me and gave confidence that present circumstances would give way to future blessings.

I know from these experiences that it is the gospel of Jesus Christ and our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that strengthen faith, offer a bright hope, and lead us to charity.

Hope sustains us through despair. Hope teaches that there is reason to rejoice even when all seems dark around us.

With Jeremiah I proclaim, “Blessed is the man … whose hope the Lord is.”

With Joel I testify, “The Lord [is] the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”

With Nephi I declare: “Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

This is the quality of hope we must cherish and develop. Such a mature hope comes in and through our Savior Jesus Christ, for “every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as [the Savior] is pure.”

The Lord has given us a reassuring message of hope: “Fear not, little flock.” God will wait with “open arms to receive” those who give away their sins and continue in faith, hope, and charity.

And to all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in.

Never surrender.

Never allow despair to overcome your spirit.

Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart.

Of this I testify and leave you my blessing in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

May we always find hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can overcome any and all situations we find ourselves in, because He descended below them all that he may lift us"

-- Love

Elder Hansen

Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission

Haitian-ing the Work