Haitian-ing the Work: February 13, 2017 - "Elder Christensen, will you be my Valentine?"

His response,"ehh... maybe... I'll let you know tomorrow?" So, I guess we will see. I'll have to update you next week!

Things are going splendidly here in Boynton Beach! This week we had a super cool Zone Activity where each District was a team and we had several "Minute to Win It" games. It was super fun I will send you some pictures. Then, as reported last week, we got pied in the face 5 times a each! So that was exciting! Then as a result of an Emergency Transfer, we have a brand new DL in the middle of the transfer, so after the activity I exchanged with Elder Brown into the Boca Rio Area. It is the area for the Portuguese Branch so I was able to learn some Portuguese, which was exciting for me. On the Exchange we taught a guy named Nicolas with a member named Nicolas and it turns out that the investigator Nicolas is gay... so that was interesting. He is a super nice guy! He made us a Papaya Juice Shake thing.

Anyway, the next day I gave Elder Brown as much info as I could about being a District Leader and then we "peaced out" and went to District Training/ Interviews with President up in the Palm Beach District! So that was exciting. Then we went and taught Sylvan about some of the Commandments and found out that he is moving so that will be an adventure... Then we spent the rest of the day planning and preparing Zone Training.

Then on Wednesday, we had 2 more District Trainings mixed with Interviews and afterwards we pounded out the rest of Zone Training and then role-played it. Usually when we have Zone Training we go to Mission Leadership Council where in we receive training from President Richardson and the Assistants but this month they let us create our own Zone Training so we started from scratch and went from there.

On Thursday we presented Zone Training to the Zone and to start off after everyone accounted for their areas, we turned out the lights, had a mini discoball going, a speaker playing "Call of the Champions" by the Mormon Tabernacle choir, and someone holding a spotlight on the door as I announced Elder Christensen and Myself as if we were Professional Basketball players and we ran into the room dressed as Basketball players over our Proselyting Clothes and everyone was pumped out of their minds and then we handed out "Dream Team" headbands to everyone. So that was the start and then we trained on the importance of unity and how we can be more unified as a zone. I got to use a bee analogy about unity, so that was good. Then we had a short intermission where we changed and then gave a training on the Strengthening and Enabling Power of the Atonement. Then to end we talked about how before we can access the Atonement how we have to have a testimony of the Fulness of the Gospel. Then we had the whole zone bear there testimonies and it was soooo powerful I can't even describe it. Definitely the best training I have ever given.

After that the week was pretty lame. We couldn't contact Peter until Saturday and it sufficeth me to say that he did not get baptized... However! We are still working with our people and THEY WILL GET BAPTIZED!!! It is just a matter of when!

My last thought is from our Zone Training, Elder Bednar said “Most of us clearly understand that the Atonement is for sinners. I am not so sure, however, that we know and understand that the Atonement is also for Saints—for good men and women who are obedient and worthy and conscientious and who are striving to become better and serve more faithfully... Brothers and sisters, the gospel of the Savior is not simply about avoiding bad in our lives; it also is essentially about doing and becoming good. And the Atonement provides help for us to overcome and avoid bad and to do and become good. There is help from the Savior for the entire journey of life—from bad to good to better and to change our very nature.” (2001, In the Strength of the Lord)

I testify that this is true!!! I wish that I could share this with everyone and I invite you all to watch this talk (https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/david-a-bednar_strength-lord/). I promise that if you do so that the Holy Ghost will help you to recognize something in your life that the Atonement can help you to overcome!

-- Enjoy Valentines Day!!!

Elder Hansen

Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission

Haitian-ing the Work