March 20, 2017 - "...but his hand is stretched out still."

Hello family, 

We had a whirlwind of a week here in the FFLM! To start off, last P-day we played some sports and I cut my hair, which has apparently, unbeknownst to me, been the cause of grief across the nation. So that happened and then, on Monday we went out with President Valcin our Branch President and all our appointments fell through... To give you the overview of the week, we had 15 scheduled lesson's and only taught one.... So we were stood up 14 times which is higher than average.

On Tuesday, we had Zone Conference which was super boss. We are making a big push to hit our goal of 100 baptisms in #TheRiseoftheFFLM for April, it's finna be dope! We all signed a Florida State Flag to commit to the goal. (Elder Hansen didn't realize it at the time, but he made the front page of the Mission Newsletter! It was a fun surprise for us to receive this email message and photo from the Mission Secretary, "I thought you would enjoy seeing photos of your fine son at Zone Conference yesterday. He is signing the mission flag, pledging his diligent effort towards April baptisms." Sister Burdick.) 

On Wednesday, I went on exchange with Elder Burton, one of the Greenies and we had a good time knocking. Then for mutual we went out contacting Less-Actives with the young men. As we were waiting for everyone to get there we played some 4 on 4 Pros-ball with some of the young men and we blew there minds with our skills. The Three-Master lives on... :)

On Thursday, we helped a white family move and we were the only ones to show up and it took like 4 hours... we were tired after that. Then all our appointments fell through again so we visited some less-active members and gave them blessings because they are sick.

On Friday, our appt. fell through (shocker) so we took some time to tape our bumper back on because it keeps falling off. After that we gave a comp study to the Palm Beach North Sisters on Charity and Selflessness. Then we ate with the Jean-Robert family and then we knocked some more doors and found a family! Gertude and her family have been looking for a Church since they left Haiti... 8-years ago. They seem pretty cool.

Then on Saturday, we knocked doors and then went to another Haitian party which was lit. Food, Haitian music, dancing, the works... The best part though is that half the people there were non-members so we are hoping to get some new investigators out of it!

On Sunday, we had to teach primary and that was an adventure! Then for singing time your's truly was the pianist (for reals this time). That was about it for the week.

My last thought, "Alas, many stay at arms length from Him whose arm is outstretched" -Neal A. Maxwell

Sometimes we blame God for being far away when it is actually us who refuses to grasp the outstretched hand of the Savior!

-- Love 

Elder Hansen

Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission

Haitian-ing the Work

Teaching Primary and playing the piano in the Haitian Branch

This little cutie is Junior Exalus :)

Another Haitian Party, this one is to celebrate the Relief Society

Signing the mission flag 

The entire Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission 

March 13, 2017 - "That's a Clown Question (irrelevant)"

Hello y'all

This was a very busy yet fun week. To start off we had Zone Training and that was pretty great. We introduced "March Madness" into the Palm Beach Zone and the goal is to get 2,500 quality contacts in order to hit our Baptismal goal of 25. So for 3-4 days each week two companionships go head to head in order to see who can get the most contacts and the companionship that does gets a point and at the end of the month the companionship with the most points gets lunch on the Zone Leaders aka Elder Jean-Louis and I... It has been going pretty well. So far, we have 492 quality contacts between the 13 companionships so we are well on our way to 2,500! 

After Zone Training I went on exchange with one of the "Greenies" Elder Hantz, a convert from Hawaii (No, he was white if you are asking) he is a super cool guy and we went super hard contacting people. Then the next day we exchanged back and then we went out to go finding. Funniest part of the day (the clown question part) was the last door where this crazy Haitian guy was "proving" to us out of his French bible that the Catholic Church is the only church mentioned in the bible by name. In case anyone of you have had your faith shaken by this, the Catholic church was not mentioned in the Bible, but we had a very entertaining discussion with him. :)

The next day we went on exchange with Elder Rackham and Lantor. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings together and they brought out a magical timer that counted up to 15 minutes and then told us our food was free, so that was miraculous! On the exchange we knocked doors for a solid 4 hours and found a couple peeps and then we went to help out with the Movie Night their ward was having. On Saturday we exchanged back and then went to Ward Council and then got fed by one of the members and then went to a very extravagant Haitian Party and that was fun. Then I went on Exchange again with Elder Rackham, this time was so I could do a baptismal interview for them on Sunday morning. I had to stay and go to their church and during sacrament meeting Bryce Harper the famous MLB player showed up, so that was pretty cool. There was also a talk given in Farsi by an Iranian Family.

That was about it for the week. My last thought, "A youngster was assigned by his father to see to the moving of a large rock. He tugged and pushed, and he lifted and struggled without avail. Some friends were enlisted, but together they could not move it. Reluctantly he reported to his father that he could not budge the rock.

“Have you done all you could?” asked the father.

“Yes,” said the little boy.

“Have you tried everything?” persisted the father.

“Yes,” said the boy. “I’ve tried everything.”

“No, son, you haven’t,” said his dad. “You haven’t asked me.”

Why do so many of us, “heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ,” fail to go to him, to keep in touch with our Father? He is anxious to help. But he wants us to learn our need for him, to open the door to him."
-Marion D. Hanks (Joy Through Christ, April 1972)

Sometimes we forget that our Father in Heaven has promised us divine heavenly help when we ask for it. We forget that we are never unworthy to pray. We let our own pride get in the way of the divine assistance awaiting us from a loving Heavenly Father who is waiting to help us.

--Love

Elder Hansen

Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission

Haitian-ing the Work

Palm Beach Zone Training

At the Haitian Party

That's quite the fancy party! 

Reenacting the Waters of Mormon painting

March 6, 2017 - Tons of 'Tisms

Well, there's lots of Baptism news from the Land of Florida this week!

First off, last week, my "eternigator" Adline from back in Miami Shores was able to get divorced from her previous husband and then married to her current husband and then she was baptized last weekend!!! Super awesome!!! Also we were able to have a baptism of own here in the Linton Branch! Natacha and Christlie got baptized on Saturday and it was amazing! We are super excited! Also in our Zone we have 6 greenies so we will be teaching all the youngling's what the FFLM is about!

We had Mission Leadership Conference this week and we have been prepping Zone Training ever since, so that has been exhausting. But, we saw a miracle this week. We found Joe and we taught him the Restoration and when he said the closing prayer he told us, in his own Haitian way, that he felt the Spirit! So that is super cool!

Okay, my last thought, in a increasingly sickening secular society the promise of happiness is tantalizingly out of reach. As children of Heavenly Parents we have been created to have joy, and that is a search here in this life, but just as satan, the creator of all lies, our modern society who follows him makes the same empty promises of "true happiness". Whether it is cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, worshiping celebrities, celebrating fornication, etc. the things that society offers us in actuality bring misery in contrast to the happiness that the morals and principles of the gospel bring that our society fights against. The only way to find true happiness is through the divinely created Plan of Happiness. As we follow the example of the Savior and assimilate his characteristics we become happier. For every virtue there is a vice. Impatience brings unhappiness were as patience brings perspective and happiness. It is the same with all Christlike Attributes...love conquers lust, charity conquers hate, diligence conquers laziness, the list goes on and on. 

If we follow the trends of the world and believe in the empty promises of pleasure, we will become as miserable as the being that created them. However, as we strive to become like our Savior Jesus Christ, we will obtain the same happiness that He and our Heavenly Father have.

-- Love

Elder Hansen
Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission
Haitian-ing the Work

Elder Hansen, Branch Pres. Valcin, Chrislie, Natacha and Elder Jean-Louis

Elder Stevenson, Adline and the kids, and Elder Bissereth

Elder Hansen taught and baptized her kids, Jeffery and Lili, the little guy isn't 8 yet :)

Elder Hansen with Chrislie and Christo

The new ZL duo

We had a visit from the recently returned Elder Brown

February 28, 2017 - The 'Bromance' has been Broken

Hello Friends, Family, and close associates

Well, I am sad to report that the Bromance between me and Elder Christensen has been broken and he will be transferring to the area of Ft. Myers, Creole. HOWEVER! I will now be serving with Elder Jean Louis which brings the number of my companions that are Haitian up to...FIVE!!!!! So I'm pretty excited yet sad at the same time....

So, I will tell you how our week went... On Wednesday I went on Exchange with Elder Toews (Taves) into Deepside (the AP's area) and we had a blast. I was able to see Elder Ajayi at their ward correlation since they are serving in the same ward. So that was pretty exciting! Then on Thursday we did some exchanging back and then knocked and taught an English Class. On Friday, I went on Exchange with Elder Ward and he is super hilarious! We had a good time. Then on Saturday we exchanged back again and went to a baptism in the English ward and we made our monthly stake missionary report. After that Elder Christensen had to play the piano for the Haitian Choir Practice. I was the only white person singing in the choir, so that was pretty fun! Then we had our early stake meeting on Sunday and we had some peeps (investigators) come to church. Yesterday was Pros-Monday and it was pretty unproductive except we taught a member present lesson to Natacha and Chrislie. It was really great, the member we took was our Branch Pres. and he answered all of her questions, we just sat back and enjoyed the show!  Then we had transfer calls and found out above transfer information. That was about it for the week, pretty nominal. ;)

For my last thought, I'll share this quote from Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "Discouragement is not the absence of adequacy but rather the absence of courage."

I hope you all have a great week

-- Love

Elder Hansen 
Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission

Haitian-ing the Work

The new comp Elder Jean-Louis from Boston

He's from Elder Murat's home ward!

Sister Adamson's funeral

Ratchet Rachel, the poor crashed up mission car

A mission tradition... drinking dragons which are a laxative?

He doesn't know why they do this...

February 21, 2017 - If I were "Sister Hansen" I would be Going Home!

Greetings Everyone!

I hope that you all had a great week! Mine was definitely eventful!

Because of the recent crackdown on *Plagiarism, I will be citing the references used in my email today. (*a few weeks ago Elder Christensen wrote the email letter that Matthew sent to us. We called him on it when Elder Chirstensen's Dad posted Elder Christensen's letter on facebook and they were virtually the same. Busted!)

"...Here's the update with our gators. Peter is working 2 jobs right now and it SUPER busy. So he wants to get baptized, but he also wants to settle down into his new schedule and stuff because he just barely got both of these jobs. So he told us he wants to wait until March to continue the lessons. So that was a little disappointing but he'll get baptized, hopefully next month sometime!" (Christensen, 2017)

Peter is, like he said, "super busy" and it is difficult to contact him because he is always working. He has been taught everything and just needs to buckle down and get baptized!

Also we are teaching, "Sylvan [who] was set to be baptized this upcoming weekend, but we taught him the Word of Wisdom and he has a problem with drinking coffee. He agrees he needs to stop but it's super hard for him, so we're working with him on that. He'll definitely get baptized as well because he wants to SUPER BAD, but we're just helping him quit coffee. But as soon as he does, he can get baptized! (Christensen, 2017)

Correction to the above statement, this past Tuesday I went on exchange with Elder Hancock and he is a super cool guy, he also speaks no creole, so we went and taught Sylvan and I taught him about the Word off Wisdom and the Law of Chastity, solo. He accepted it well but as before said, has a problem with drinking coffee. 

Also on that same exchange we taught "... Natacha and Chrislie, and they are doing awesome!! They picked their own baptismal date for March 4th, and they are progressing super well. They've been to church tons of times now. We just need to continue teaching them the lessons this and next week, and they'll be ready! Super cool family." 

For Valentines day we didn't do anything special and I can't even remember what happened, BUT Friday was a special day, it was my "Six Months to Sexy" day so to celebrate I went to Texas Roadhouse with Elder Rackham, from the MTC (so he was celebrating too!) and we had a great time!

Then on Friday I went on Exchange with Elder Hassell and we biked all over the place.....

Then the super exciting stuff happened, I will let Elder Christensen Explain, "As well, Elder Hansen and I got in a car accident this week! Woohoo!!!! Hahaha, really though, we did. We got rear ended on the freeway! Apparently, there was a tire in the road, so about 4 cars in front of us people slammed on their brakes. So the 4 cars behind them, including us, slammed on the brakes and everything was all good - we were at a full stop. And then the mini van behind us didn't slam on their brakes and hit us pretty stinkin hard. Wrecked the back of our car, and the front of the lady's car as well. Everyone was ok though! Elder Hansen got a little whiplash and had a headache the rest of the day, but that was the extent of our injuries. So we called the police and they came and figured it all out and such. And yes mom, I was driving. So now the back of our car is super wrecked, and the mission doesn't have another car to trade with." (2017)

So that happened, the good news is that we are okay!

Then yesterday, Super Fun, we had a Zone wide exchange where everyone was with a different companion! So hopefully everyone enjoyed that!

My last thought, "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God." (Moroni 7:13)

So it's pretty easy, if you what you are doing is drawing you closer to God, then what you are doing is Good!

-- Love

Elder Hansen

Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission

Haitian-ing the Work

The damage to the car. It's already rusted :(

Celebrating "six months to sexy"... these two only have six months left!

(CopyRight, Elder Dax Parker Rackham Photography)

Elder Hansen's Saturday waffles, yum!

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

We's Gangstas

The Dream Team Zone

Elder Hansen's Saturday Waffles

Five pies in the face! Nice hat!

Pied by the Zone

Post pie faux hawks

Elder Rackham getting in on the fun!

February 6, 2017 - Happy Ground Hog Day!

Hello Family, 

Let me catch you up on what happened this week. I left my journal at home so I have to go off memory so this will be interesting...

On Tuesday we had Zone Conference where they explained in more detail the changes that have taken place with the missionary schedule. They are interesting and will take a while to get used to. After the conference we did something.... but I forgot what is was... On Wednesday we visited Peter and he is getting ready for his baptism on the 12th. He reads 3 to 4 chapters a day which is awesome! So he will be getting baptized this week! We have a bunch of people that we are teaching but were unable to meet with them.... Natacha and Chrislie and Sylvan all came to church and they really NEED TO BE BAPTIZED!!! AHHHHHHH!!! Okay, sorry I needed to vent my frustration... :)

Anyway, this week we spent a lot of time preparing Zone Training and hopefully it turns out. On Friday, I went on Exchange with Elder Petry and we had way too much fun together. :) Also we did a competition over the last 2 weeks for whoever got 10 New Investigators got to "pie" us in the face sooo.... 5 companionships did it.... so they will be pie-ing us later today at a zone activity.

Anyway, my last thought... 

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2017/02/young-adults/finding-peace-in-imperfection?lang=eng

Read this article, it is great!

-- Love!

Elder Hansen

Florida, Fort Lauderdale Mission
Haitian-ing the Work

"FOhawks?"

I'm trying to fit in with the Haitians...

Our Zone activity invitation

Happy Ground Hog day!