Who knew cleaning toilets was so great? (And he's off!!)

Saturday, July 28, 2018


Hola todos!!!

It's been an awesome week, and it's crazy to think that my time here at the MTC is almost finished. I hope you all are having a great week, I have loved hearing from you all. I know that Ben and Dad are everywhere right now, that is so awesome! I also scored on some packages this week, thanks family! Gracie, I got your message in Spanish, you are basically a Latina! So awesome, and you sent me all of my favorite foods too! I am definitely starting to become popular around here, because everyone knows that we have a stash of food in our room. It's so great! It has been so fun seeing all the pictures of all of the fun things that you all are doing, and getting letters hearing about it! I love hearing about it, and I'm so happy you all are having such a great time! Ben and Dad, those pictures from Georgia and New York are awesome! Dusty Baker as your coach?! So cool! 

So pretty much this week has been nuts! I've had an amazing time here at the MTC, and it's totally weird to think that we're about to leave! Crazy to think that I'm hopping on a flight to Houston on Monday at 8 in the morning!

So to start off the week, we had Pioneer day here in Utah. It was a really weird experience for everyone not from Utah, because here it is actually like a real holiday, and everyone gets the day off. It was so strange. There were fireworks, and it looked like there were all kinds of parties happening outside of the MTC windows, and all over Provo.  

We had service in the morning again. Another morning of cleaning toilets was great! We had a blast, it was actually pretty cool because the person who is in charge of it in the MTC Cleaning Department, who is supervising us, was from Fremont. Apparently he lived in the Irvington Ward for most of his life. Small world!

After that, we decided to go get breakfast in the lunch line, since we don't need to be dressed up to go get breakfast there. We have done this twice this week, and I always get cereal. However, I always seem to forget the spoon, so I've had to use the lid of my milk bottle as my spoon for like three times. I don't know what it is.

It has been a pretty crazy week for Elder Cogswell and me, because we received another 12 missionaries this week. All of them are Elders. Now we have 64 Elder in our Zone to go with 14 sisters. It's insane.  Here’s one example of how they’ve been keeping us busy.  The first night that the new missionaries came, they locked themselves out of their dorm room at 10 at night, so Elder Cogswell and I had to run to the front desk to go get them a key. It’s great! We have the biggest Zone in the MTC, or in all mtc's in the world!

I have to say one of the most fun things that I can do here at the MTC is my scripture study. It really gives me a lot of peace throughout the week and lets me really reflect on how I am progressing as a missionary and how I can be better. I am really trying to study the characteristics of Jesus Christ, because he is the perfect example for all of us, and that is our goal.  In the MTC I've learned so much about how this gospel is so simple. Basically, if we keep God's Commandments, and try to do what he tells us to do, we will have the opportunity to gain eternal life. 

The spirit has been super strong here this week, and I'm getting really excited to head out to Houston. We had our last full day of class yesterday, and it's weird to think that the time here is already over. It feels like it's just starting to fly by now. All the days are starting to blend together. I'm so grateful for all the time that I've had to spend here, to grow, and to learn. I honestly don't think I've ever smiled or laughed so much in my life. I need to be at the travel office at 4:45 in the morning on Monday morning, so you get to my flight at 9:30. Seems early, but I'll be too excited anyways. There are five people in my flight group, and I'm the only one Spanish-speaking, all the others are speaking English.

I love you all, I hope you all have an amazing week and find the joys in life. Make sure to look for all the Tender Mercies out there all around! That's something I really realized here! God loves us all, and we all have the opportunity to return with Him again!

You all are the best!

Brett

brett.hansen@myldsmail.net

1. Elder Cogswell was really feeling it!  (Might have been asleep. . . haha) 

2. Me and my milk cap spoon…😂

3.District shot with Hermana Southard, she was an AWESOME teacher.  One of the bosses over the Spanish language at the MTC.

4. Night shot of all the missionaries walking home after a full day of classes.

5. District shot with the favorite teacher!

6. My favorite teacher, Hermano Agyin. 

(This is Jen writing now!)  Today is my birthday and the best gift ever was talking on the phone early this morning to Brett!  He is beyond excited to be off to Houston with these four other great boys!  Made my day!  I might have cried a little.  😊

Week 5!! Can you believe it!

July 21, 2018  

Hola!!!!!

Hope you all are having an AWESOME week! First off, I know Ben's going to be having a crazy next few weeks! From Georgia, to EFY, to New York, and now that I just found out... Cary, NC to try out for Team USA!! That's so cool!! Such a proud older bro. Seemed like this week has kind of been not as hectic for the Hansen fam before all the extra busy-ness hits. Prayers are with you! Also happy to see Kalei, Hugo, and Mele had an awesome time in Missouri and got back safely. Also hearing that BG, Mo, and the Berryhills are having an incredible time on their trip to Greece, and that Grandee and Choka are having a great time on their trip as well. Also heard the Dodgers got Machado in a trade, go Blue!

Here has been great, I honestly have had the most amazing time at the MTC. We've had so many great experiences here, it's so crazy that I'm only going to be here for another 9 days. Yesterday was our district's 1 monthaversary. I'm really excited to be in Houston, but at the same time, am going to miss the MTC. The feeling being here is amazing and the Spirit is so strong. 

I am learning a lot of Spanish. I'm trying to suck up as much as I can, but at times my brain feels like it's going to explode. haha But, I don't have much more time here in the MTC, until I walk out into the Houston sun and realize that I don't know Spanish at all. But as of right now, I feel like my Spanish is getting a whole lot better. My companion is awesome, he is right out of high school too. Almost all of the missionaries in my district are out of high school, except for two.

I am trying out this voice recording to type my email for me. It is awesome, I get to write everything in about 5 minutes. So lucky to have a phone!  As I am saying this, Elder Mitchell is shaking his head at me, because he is going foreign, and doesn't have a phone.  Elder Mitchell is giving me the dirtiest look right now. I think he's jealous. (He can hear me say that!  haha) 

Trying to think about where to start, so I think we'll start with Paulina. So this past week was our final week teaching her. She is honestly the best. We taught her for 3 days, but the standout day that we taught was the last one, Thursday. We were teaching the Plan of Salvation. Honestly that's one of my most favorite parts of the Gospel. We have the opportunity to know where we came from, what the purpose of our plan is here, and what happens after our death what happens. Anyways, we taught her, and she started crying. Then when she started crying, I started crying, and Elder Cogswell started crying. Honestly the Spirit was so strong. She then said that she has been praying for a question, and she said that we just answered her prayer. It was so spiritual, and amazing, I just loved it. Those are the days that you will forever remember, and the days you work hard for. It makes it all worth it. She said that our message has changed her life, and we extended baptism, and she said that she wanted to. It was an amazing time we had teaching her, and an honor. God loves her so much and loves all of us too.

One thing that God has forever done is call prophets. We got to see President  Ballard speak, and he spoke about Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and the bond that they had. I know he's an apostle, called of God. When he was talking about the bond between the brothers, I was thinking about the bond between Ben and me. Joseph would talk to Hyrum about anything, and I feel the same with him. Can talk to him about everything. It was an amazing experience. How many times can you say you saw an apostle of God speak? It was Awesome!

So also, we got the Zone Leader book, and it has all the old missionaries from old district's going back a year, so Elder Cogswell and I looked through all the older people in Zone 25, and you wouldn't believe who I found. Apparently, one of my best friends, Chad Richards, was in this zone, like 6 months ago. Now he's serving in Argentina right now. Coolest thing EVER!  

I love you all, hope everything is so good back home!! You all are in my prayers!! The church is true!! 

Love you!!

Brett

Elder Brett Hansen

JUL30 TX-HOUS

2005 N 900 E Unit 152

Provo, UT 84602

Brett.Hansen@myldsmail.net

1. Our view out the class window   

2.  My friend, Elder Richards’ Zone 25 picture     

3. The District was cleaning our pores one evening thanks to Elder Allowitz’s package from his mom.  hahah     

4. Elder Cogswell, Me, and Paulina    

5. 1 monthaversary district picture

Holaaaaaa! :)

Holaaaaa!

Hope you all are having an AWESOME week!! Heard it has been a whirlwind back there. Ben, sososososo proud of you that you made the Area Codes team.  That's a huge deal and you are honestly going to have the greatest time ever. Also, since when did you all get a hoop next to the pool??  That's so awesome!! Thanks for the letters and emails and packages!! I honestly LOVE hearing what's going on in everyone's life.  HUGE thanks to the Kohn's, Grandee and Choka, and my Fam for sending some amazing packages.  Honestly, the food has been a lifesaver!!  Literally am so blessed to have the BEST family ever!!

The Spanish is getting better .  I felt like if I left the MTC right now, I could survive speaking Spanish out there.  I think I could get the message across, which is awesome!  I can teach the lessons too!! The sisters are a little bummed bc their Spanish isn't taking off, but a lot of the Elders are doing pretty well.  Teaching skills have gotten so much better in the little time here, it has really been a miracle.  I’ve tried to reevaluate every day and I’ve decided I’m not going to have any free time here at the MTC.  I’m always busy and if I have any free time I’m memorizing words.  I only have 2 weeks left here.  I’m trying to set big goals but I’m speaking so slow in Spanish.  I had an “English- fast” the other day where I spoke only in Spanish for an entire day.  And that was crazy. 

This week has, quite honestly been one of the best weeks that I have had in the MTC, if not the best!  Starting off with our TRC investigator, Paulina.  We taught her the first lesson, and started into the gospel of Christ, which is Faith, Repentance, Baptism by Immersion, and receiving the Holy Ghost.  She said she used to have a great relationship with God, then something happened, and all the sudden she felt like God had abandoned her.  Really sad, because we know that God NEVER ABANDONS US.    My purpose here is to help others "Come Unto Christ".  I think one thing I have learned is that we need to do the coming, He's just there waiting for us.  

  

So basically here’s our daily schedule:  We wake up at 630, get ready,  plan at 645-715, then we go eat at 7:15. Companionship study at 8-9. Class from 9-11:30, lunch at 11:30-12:15. Language study at 12:30-2:30. Exercise from 2:40-3:40.  Shower and prep from 3:40-4:10. Personal study from 4:10-5:10. Dinner from 5:15-5:50. Then class from 6-9. Come back home, write in journal, read more scripts then sleep at 1030. Everyday. hahaha

Tell Ben, Gracie and Brik never to take you doing laundry for granted. I've got a bunch to fold right now.

So apparently people are dropping like flies playing basketball here.  In my zone there has been like 3 sprained ankles from missionaries trying too hard. All in one week.  Don't know why, there's no hope for any of them in the NBA.  I've stayed off that court and just tried to stick to the weight room.  Way safer.

I loved hearing from Coach Corbs.  Thank you so much for sending that.  He is such an amazing person.  

OH and Elder Cogswell and I were made Zone Leaders two nights ago. We have an AWESOME district! We have a huge chunk of our zone leaving in the next few days, so that's kind of a bummer.  It's awesome though.  Crazy, because by Wednesday,  we are the oldest district here.  If that's not crazy, I don't know what is.  Time is flying here, feels like yesterday we were taking  pictures outside of the Provo temple getting ready to enter the MTC.  

I hope you all have a fantastic week!!!  I love you all!!  Church is true!!

Brett

Pictures:

1.  Saw Sister Tan, so we took a pic!  She’s doing awesome!

2.  Mom, Dad, Ben Grace and Brik . . . .  that package was gold, not going to lie!!

3.  Right before class. 

Happy 4th of July!

Holaaaaaa familia y amigos!!!!

Hope all of you had an awesome week, and a super fun 4th of July! Sounds like it was a lot of fun! Those 4th of July barbecues are the best!! Thanks to all of you for sending notes and packages! I LOVE reading notes, and since I have a phone, technology missionaries are allowed to open the notes and emails when they come in, not just on PDay.  I love hearing from you all, and hearing what's going on in your lives. Honestly, packages are like gold here in the MTC. When one person has a slip to go get one, everyone wants to know what's inside. So thank you soooo much! I've got the best family ever!  The pringles are like gone, and the mints are LIFESAVERS, no pun intended.  They're harsh on gum around here.  Brutal.

This week has been quite a crazy one, and if I've learned one thing, it's that I LOVE the MTC. I've already had such a good time here learning the gospel, learning how to teach it, as well as just simply laughing. I honestly don't think that I've smiled/laughed so much in a week's span. 

Our 4th of July, our zone watched a talk on Religious Freedom by Elder Rasband, and then got to go to the Windows or outside and watch the fireworks. Mom, you've always wanted to go see Stadium of Fire, and those are the fireworks we saw. Let me tell you, they did not disappoint. I bet it's even better in the stadium!

One really cool thing we do is what is called TRC, which stands for Teaching Resource Center. First time I heard about it I thought it stood for Teaching Recent Converts, but guess I was wrong, haha. So they assign everyone someone to teach, and you don't know if they're members or not. Elder Cogswell and I had Paulina. She's so nice, and she's been in the US for 6 months, living with her sister and trying to learn English. Basically we have to teach her the lessons. Honestly we've had such a good time teaching her, she's so nice. We got really lucky. Cool thing is that I learned I can share the gospel and get the message across in only Spanish no Spanglish, so that was huge!  

Apparently Elders Odeh and Thomas told me that I talked in Spanish in my sleep. Something about picante. Who knows what that means, hope that means I'm getting the language..

Ok so something funny happened yesterday.. So in the cafeteria, when I grab my utensils I put them in my shirt pocket. Well yesterday we had pizza, but it was my habit to grab them. So I basically walked out of the cafeteria with a knife and spoon in my pocket, and realized almost to my class at 6 that I still had it. Then, maestra said we were going to the cafeteria to identify things there. So I was pumped, I was going to get rid of it. Well, with a knife and spoon in my pocket, we try to open the door to the cafeteria, but it was all locked. Great. So when no one was looking, Elder Cogswell as my lookout, I shoved the knife and spoon under the door to the cafeteria. Evidence disposed. I honestly think Elder Cogswell didn't stop laughing for 45 minutes.

It's been a great week, full of laughs, and tears of joy, and I have loved every minute of it. Even right now doing laundry. This is such an amazing place that has an amazing spirit with amazing people trying their best to do an amazing work.  

Hope you all have a great week!!!!

Brett

Elder Brett Hansen

JUL30 TX-HOUS

2005 N 900 E Unit 152

Provo, UT 84602

Brett.Hansen@myldsmail.net

1.All of us enjoying cinnamon rolls after a Book of Mormon study with the District  

2. Elder Cogswell and I on the other side of a 1 way mirror.

3. The Provo Temple from our Class window       

4. Cogswell got a L shaped donut

5. My Larry the Cucumber drawing (Veggie Tales) before class

6. Pictures by my bed

Here we go!!

June 30, 2018

Email Numero Uno!!! Week 1

Hola familia!!!!

I hope you all are doing SO well. I've loved getting to hear from a lot of you this week through Dear Elder and emails. Thanks a million for all the support!! First, and most importantly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIK!!! Big 1-0 is a huge birthday! I hope you have an awesome day full of probably Boomers and Fortnite! Love you buddy!! Also, mom, the cinnamon rolls were DEVOURED. Everyone loved them and now everyone knows that I've got the best missionary mom ever! The Pringles too were so amazing, I got it yesterday and I'm breaking into them now. Gracie, thanks also for all the cookies! You know those snickerdoodles are my favorites. I loved seeing your note:). I hope everything is going so great back home, I love you guys!

So this week has been longer than usual, since last week we couldn't get a P-day. My district is a pilot program for a new way of teaching in the MTC. It's really crazy, they're pushing us super hard, but both Hermano Ghering and Hermana Southhard are awesome, and do a real good job teaching Spanish and the scriptures. We're in a room with a one way mirror, so other teachers can observe us. It's really strange, we feel like guinea pigs Since the 2nd day I've gotten here, I've prayed entirely in Spanish. The gift of tongues is so real. There is no way that could ever happen WITHOUT the Lord's help. 

When I showed up at the MTC I met my companion, Elder Cogswell. He's from a town called Denton, just a few minutes outside of Dallas, TX. He's a really fun guy to be around, and we laugh a lot. We've had an awesome time coming up with funny spanish phrases. Frescas frijoles, you know? 😁He played football in HS and has an awesome voice and is super good in music. It's so cool! The MTC is really great, I've never felt the Spirit so many times consecutively, while also laughing a lot. You find joy in the simplest things, like Taco Bell Tuesday's, and saying hi to the Mandarin speaking missionaries in Mandarin. Our zone is great, lots of quality people, majority from Utah. Our zone leaders are like Fred and Ted, one is super tall and the other super short, but one is going to play for BYU basketball after his mission. I'll let you guess which one haha. 

We had a blessing of getting to have all the new mission president get set apart this week. So President Guthrie and Sister Guthrie were here, and it was great! I got to talk with them almost everyday. They are so excited for Houston and took off yesterday morning. While the mission presidents were here, every member of the 12 apostles and presidency of the church was here. We ended up having a devotional, with ALL of the 12 present, while Elder Cook gave an amazing talk on relationships to strengthen during your mission. I sang in the choir during that devotional, and it felt like I was hit by a bus of the Spirit. Such a confirmation that these men are called of God to share and lead the Church.

We then got to watch a talk later on by Elder Bednar. HIGHLY recommend this talk. It was called the Character of Christ. It was talking about how we can't be just converted to the church, we need to be converted to Christ and his gospel.  By studying the life of Christ and his characteristics. I remember BG talking about him studying Christ's life in the New Testament especially. That's one thing that I'm working on. Exemplifying Christ. Alma 25:5-6. If you're converted to the Lord, not just the church, you won't fall away from reaching the ultimate goal.

We later had a morning we had to do service. Elder Cogswell and I were in charge of scrubbing toilets. You'd be surprised how clean the Elders toilets are, not going to lie. It was actually nice.

Oh also, every time we go to sleep, we hear a lot of banging upstairs. For the first bit we ignored it, but then after a few nights we asked what it was to the rest of the zone. Apparently the 4th floor is the Polynesian floor, and the play rugby up there until way late. Super crazy! Hahaha, it's been a great experience, I've never smiled so much!

I've loved hearing from all of you, I love you so much, and hope everything is great. Hearing about Mele's modeling gig is so awesome. I love hearing about all of your lives. Will forever love you all, and I am praying for you all... in Spanish of course. 

Hope you all have such an amazing week! Love hearing from you! The gospel and church is true!

Brett

Elder Brett Hansen

JUL30 TX-HOUS

2005 N 900 E Unit 152

Provo, UT 84602

Brett.Hansen@myldsmail.net

Pics below: The District in the elevator, 

me with Elders Cogswell, Odey, and Thomas, 

The Provo temple we went to this morning, 

Elder Sam Bennett, 

and then the District part 2