Haitian-ing the Work: December 19, 2016 - The Sun is Shining, the Grass is Green, The Orange and Palm Trees Sway.....

Merry Christmas to All! and To all a good..... Morning?

Alright, so we had a pretty crazy week as well! We had transfers on Wednesday - everyone drove to Fort Lauderdale and we met up and switched missionaries and cars and everything, and then we went to our areas and started working! Elder Christensen (my new comp) and I are white-washing (both new to the area) into the area so neither of us really know what we are doing, haha! It's been a good time though. The guys that left our area didn't leave us much to go off of because one of them became an AP, and the other went home. So we came in on Wednesday and figured stuff out.

Thursday and Friday were just normal work days so that was good. We're still trying to figure out our area and the whole zone, but it's been an adventure and I think we probably kinda know what's going on now, haha! On Friday, Elder Petry (the new AP) came on Exchange with us to make up for not leaving an area book and to give us some training as ZL's. It was the first missionary interaction that we have had since the MTC and needless to say, our Creole has improved (Elder Petry was Matthew's MTC companion).

When we came into the area, they did leave us a couple investigators. So right now we are teaching two pretty cool peeps names Shelly and Nicolson. Both of them came to church on Sunday and they are doing super good! Nicolson was actually a pretty awesome miracle - he referred himself on Mormon.org like 2 days before we got here to the area, and we went and saw him and he just wants to learn and come to church and change his life around. So that was super cool and an huge blessing from the Lord. Shelly has had missionaries teaching her for a couple months now and has been to church like 5 times. She is super cool too so hopefully we can get her baptized this transfer while we are here! She did come to church - actually walked there. It's not too far but most people don't just walk to church, so that was pretty awesome! Other than those two people all of our time has been spent getting to know the area and trying to find new people teach and baptize!! So pretty normal, haha. BUT, here is the best part about the whole thing. THEY'RE ALL HAITIANS!!!!!

THEN, we had church on Sunday at the Haitian branch - one of only three in America, and the only one here in Florida (The other two are in Boston). Literally everything was in Creole and it was just so amazing. Branch council, sacrament meeting, all of the classes, we didn't have to translate at all - it was SKRAIGHT HAITIAN. I just really can't even explain how fantastic it is. So yep, I love it here! Plus I get to eat Haitian food again all the time, like pretty much every day. Which is fantastic cause I love Haitian food. Also, the branch does not have a pianist, so looks like I will be playing the piano for Sacrament meeting the whole time I am here in the Branch. So that's good. That's pretty much everything that happened this week.

So here's a little about my comp. He's from Kaysville, Utah, and we have been on the mission pretty much the same amount of time. I've been around him a little before so we kinda knew each other. We've been having a great time the past couple days though - finna be a super good transfer. On Sunday night I saw Elder Becker, my other companion from Kaysville. He went home like 6 months ago, but he was back here visiting so it was cool to see him.

My last thought this week, "And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him..." (1 Nephi 10:17)

In this scripture Nephi teaches us 3 things about revelation and how to receive it. First, that revelation is received through the power of the Holy Ghost, and through Faith. In order to have the gift of the Holy Ghost we must have faith in Jesus Christ, which is followed by Repentance and leads to Baptism and only after Baptism can we receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Then after that we must have the desire to know the will of God in our lives and then we must diligently seek after it and search it out in our hearts and through prayer in order to obtain that revelation! So it is very simple, Faith, Desire and Diligence are the steps to receive Revelation! Thanks, Nephi!

Well, I hope that you all have a Jolly Christmas and enjoy your time with your families and remember, "That maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, perhaps Christmas means just a little bit more".

-- Jwaye Noel! (Merry Christmas!)

Elder Hansen

Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission