Baptism, Hospital and Houston First

Hello!!

How is everyone doing?  I really don't even know where to start for this email. Quite frankly, this had to have been one of the craziest weeks ever. As I look back, I don't even remember off the top of my head. All I know is that I am in the hospital right now lying on a pullout writing this email. I hope I can fully express what happened this week to show how I got here haha.

Let me just start by saying that this rule change is AWESOME! I had a great time on Google Duo, calling home. Even got to catch one of Brik's at bat's. Love it!

Let's see... So this was the last week of my companion's mission, and wow was it eventful. We started off trekking in the mud to a trailer park. We walked about 1/4 mile on foot to get there, and when we got there, I had an impression to go knock a door. I don't know why, possibly was the horse in the back of their trailer but we did, and as we did we walked up to the door, and there taped on the door was one of our pass-a-long cards. We knocked and Josefina answered. She said she met with missionaries years ago and gladly accepted us back. Whoa. What a blessing. That was Tuesday. 

Funny experience: we found a borracho (drunk) circle, and Elder Carlson wanted to go talk to them. So we did, and I started to talk to this guy. I started talking about the Book of Mormon, then complimented him on his hat. He took it off and gave it to me, I refused, but he insisted. So instead of him giving me it, we made a trade, so I gave him a Book of Mormon. Good trade, it was a cool hat.

Wednesday we helped someone move. We moved a ton of stuff. Big furniture. Got a good workout in! Then that night we went over to prep Gabriela for her baptism. Love it! We got caught up talking about hers and Rafael's baptism. They haven't changed at all. Apparently Rafael liked to dance back then haha. They are the coolest family and I love them so much. I really am so grateful for the chance I have to teach them.

Thursday.... I GOT TO GO BACK TO Houston First!! Was a great day, I got to spend it with Elder Handy and Carlson because Elder Wilkinson had to go up to the doctor apparently. So yep! We had a good time, especially teaching with Elder Handy. We ping pong off each other STILL, just makes it so good. I love him, he's a great missionary. 

A few highlights, I got to see Edith, Michael, Jennifer, Anita, and the twin girls. Agh it was so good to see them. Edith is doing great. I am so happy to see her keep going to the Lord with all she has.

Saturday, we had Gabriela's baptism. It was such a spiritual experience. She shared her testimony and just teared up like crazy. The spirit was so strong. She is so prepared to be the greatest member ever. She reminds me of you mom. She is very kind and sweet, but sometimes she just does something that is SO funny. Just an amazing lady.

Sunday, Elder Wilkinson got sick. Threw up the whole night. Bad stomach aches. So I drove him to the hospital. Turns out he had appendicitis. So currently, here we are, in the hospital. He had his operation yesterday.

So I spent the last night in the hospital, no sleep haha. My new companion is Elder Christopherson. He's from Fresno, coming out here from Brazoria out in Bay City. He is awesome! 

Here we are moving him in!

Just going to leave a little spiritual thought. Have joy. God put us here so that we can have joy. Find and enjoy what comes from living the gospel. Happiness is not the same as joy. I've been blessed to for the majority of the time of my life be pretty happy. Only true joy comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ and giving your free will up to God. I've seen that joy increase even more, daily. 

D&C 19:39  Behold, canst thou read this without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness?

Read the Book of Mormon and rejoice, I promise you if you live what it teaches, you will have joy.

Elder Hansen

Brett

Green Smoothies, Sticky Notes and Interviews

Hey everyone, so today was a pretty fantastic week, like it was full of blessings. I think we need to start from the very beginning! :)

Tuesday: Here we started off with an exchange with Elder Ledezma!! He was my  first companion in the mission and we were back at it, talking to everyone possible. We had a great time, first door we knocked was a less active member who let us in and made us some beans and tortillas. Super fun! Only thing was that I saw a rat running around, and they did too, and didn't say anything about it, so that kind of was different haha. Anyways, we ended up having 5 lessons that day! The Houston fire was BACK! It was way fun!

Wednesday: Highlight was that we had the mock interview with Gabriela and she passed with flying colors. I have never seen anyone so prepared and ready to live the Gospel. Such a blessing she is and her family is for me. I feel such a special connection with them! 

We had a Colombian breakfast with an awesome family from there we are teaching.  

Thursday: District Counsel on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It was such a blessing to share what I learned in my study with those in my district. It was so nice. I could feel the Spirit so strongly, the grace of our Savior is what supports me, the more we use it, the more supported we feel.

Other elders snuck into our apartment and sticky noted it everywhere. 

Friday: This EARTH SHATTERING ANNOUNCEMENT by Pres Uchtorf rocked my world. WOOHOO!! I am so excited to call home every week on our preparation day! Not going to lie, I may have shouted for joy a few times. I mean, the next call was 3 months away, now it's in 3 days!

Oh yeah!  Green smoothies.  Not as good as yours though, Dad!

Saturday: We had a great day, starting off with a meeting with the ward counsel. We went through the entire records, and assigned families to the auxiliaries. Then we found Kimberly. Kimberly has had a rough past, but she said she truly wants to get closer to Jesus Christ. It was amazing. Then we played a little soccer with the kids on the streets.

Sunset in Missouri City.

Sunday: we got to take the sacrament and renew our covenants with our Heavenly Father. What a blessing that is for me. Then we went and visited 2 families named Martinez in the ward, and taught Kimberly again. She was very reserved, but the Spirit was so strong. Just want her to know she's a daughter of God. 

Monday: Here we are :))) 

Hope you all had a great week! My motto for the week was found in the Book of John 3:30. He must increase, so I must decrease. If we give all glory to our Heavenly Father and rejoice in him, we will be blessed even more. The way God works is simple. "If ye keep my commandments, I shall prosper you in the land”. 

Hope y'all can find some joy in helping Him increase! I know I have!

Love you all!

Elder Hansen

Temples, Drawings and HOARDERS!

Hellooooooo everybody, how are we doing this week?? 

Sounds like a lot of y'all have had a good week. (In case you haven't noticed, y'all is a thing here. Like for real for real, it just becomes a part of the vocab, it has entered mine haha) Sounds like a HIGHLIGHT week with Brik and Gracie both giving some awesome talks, and watching one of my best friends for years Annie Liu give her farewell talk to go serve a missing in the New York New York Mission Mandarin Speaking. That is so cool, and if it's anything like good ole Texas (area is probably not, but the work is always the same!!)  she is going to LOVE IT! It is a true blessing trying to help people grow closer to their Savior Jesus Christ, and this experience has helped me grow so much. 

We had some miracles this week. Quite honestly it was an incredibly slow week for finding, I wish we found more, and that part was kind of a tough pill to swallow. However, we were blessed in other aspects as well. We had the chance to set a baptismal date for Gabriela!! Rafael is still in the works, but Gabriela said that she could not wait any longer. The 23rd of February is the day and we cannot be any more excited than we are. Rafael is in full support. Also, kind of a shocker, we got to set another baptismal date for Gustavo. We call him an “eternigator” (eternal investigator of the church).  He’s from Mexico and we teach him every Saturday.  He is all in, and all ready. Bore his testimony on the Book of Mormon, the Restoration of the Gospel, and modern prophets. His baptism date is currently set for the 9th of March. Missouri City hasn't had a baptism in about a year, so I am super excited to see that change, and hope it does. In that respect, I am so grateful. They are both ready, and I think this is their time. To see the Lord work in their life is so cool. They have come so close to their Savior in such a little amount of time. I'm grateful to have been a part of a lot of these processes, and it never gets old. I love seeing the change so much. I find so much love in the process. 

We went over to Bishop's house, and he has the coolest family. The Cisneros are the best. Their little 6 year old daughter Natalie drew me a picture and now we have a secret handshake. Oh yeah, we're best friends haha.  You better believe that picture is up on my wall.  

Crazy highlights, yeah, as stated in the title, we were working with a HOARDER! We have been looking for service and goodness did this person need it. It was full of garbage. Like beyond. I'm sorry for ever having my room be dirty mom, I am a changed man. (You would really have a panic attack, Mom.) So we will be trying to clean out his 2 (yes 2) trailers filled with trash and his yard. I felt like I was on American Pickers. 

One of his 7 dogs found a rooster and apparently did what he had to do.  Don’t think he feeds his dogs.  

A 68 mustang is under the cardboard.  Just a gut feeling says that the Pickers would try to buy this baby off this guy. 

Yep.  Hoarders. 

 Also, we got to go to the temple and do a session. It truly is the house of the Lord. The peace inside is inexplicable. I hope everyone one day can go in. Here I am with my buddy Elder Haroldsen.  I’m lucky to have a good friend like him out here.  He’s from El Dorado Hills too which is great!

I have learned so much here on my mission in just a short 7 1/2 months. I am a true believer that by small and simple means that great things are brought to pass, or that weaknesses can be made strong, which are both two promises he makes us in Alma 37:6 and Ether 12:27. Quite honestly, I feel small out here. Literally speaking no, I tower above most of the Hispanic people here, but one of a team of thousands of missionaries, makes you feel small. Simple, yes, that is me, just ask my family or any other member of the ward of Missouri City or Houston 1. I'm pretty simple haha. And the most true part about it is weaknesses. I have so many of them. I see them, I know God does too, and feeling incompetent starts to fall in. But let me tell you something amazing that happens. Even with simplicity and feeling small...miracles happen. The Lord molds you to make them happen, I have seen GREAT things come to pass. Miracles. People changing their lives because of Christ.  People bettering their family because of Christ. People doing a complete 180. Weaknesses are always to be worked on, that's why God gave us them, but I have seen myself grow strong. Strong in the gospel as a disciple of Christ. His gospel is simple, keep his commandments and we will prosper. I'm all in for prospering. Mentally strong, after being yelled at, cursed at, or having the thousandth door slammed in my face. Well guess what, if it wasn't them, that means I am one more person closer to finding the one. The lost sheep that wants to come back. The one that is looking. I have seen the Lord complete those promises. Am I small, simple, and weak? Oh yeah. For sure. Every day. Yes. 100%. And proud of it. I'm proud of it because the Lord can complete those promises. It's a blessing to me to know that through all the weaknesses we have, he will mold us to do great things, if we just allow him to. That's his grace. If we attempt to get 1% better every day, just keep going, keep trying, his grace is sufficient. Follow his commandments and we will prosper!

Stay on the Lord's side, if we do, celestial blessings are a coming!

Elder Hansen

Brett

China, Hair and RINGS

Hola querida familia!! 

This was quite a week to say the least.  We had some interesting experiences, some experiences that I saw as blessings, and others that just seemed straight up weird! haha.  To start off, one of the cool things of being the Zone Leader's companion is that there are a bunch of exchanges always. So this week, we had the Chinese Elders with us and the Assistants.  Some funny experiences with them.  The Chinese Elders struggle finding people to teach around here.  So we went to this place where the Santillan family lived, and as we were walking around, Elder Gustafson saw a family from China inside a house.  He freaked out, super excited, because they never find someone like that.  Well we knocked the door.. knocked again..again...again... AND AGAIN hahaha.  He was so desperate to talk to them, but sadly they never came to the door.  It made me grateful that I am serving Spanish speaking, always plenty of people to talk to.  Especially this week, as it was Super Bowl Sunday, it was ONLY hispanics out.  (Go Rams)

Here I am with Hermano Rivas. He works for the Astros so he got a ring tier 3 from when they won the World Series. He actually gave me that hat. It was when the Dodgers made it to the WS in 2017 because he served Andrew Friedman ( the GM of the Dodgers) and the whole group in their suite.  He is a great man. 

Highlight for me this week was that we officially extended an invitation to Gabriela to be baptized and she accepted.  It was awesome!! She accepted, now we just have to figure out the day.  It was an incredibly spiritual experience.  Rafael said he isn't quite ready.  A highlight from that visit is when we were talking about eternal families.  That is one of the biggest blessings that we believe in.  We believe that through certain covenants and ordinances, families can live together forever.  It is such a huge blessing.  I can't wait to live with my family forever. Anyways, we talked about that a little bit, and then Gabriela and Rafael started arguing about how they wouldn't want to live with each other when they were way old.  It was so funny, I about died laughing.  Then, we brought in the scripture from Alma 40:23 that said "The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.".  After that, they high fived and celebrated a little bit, and especially Rafael was happy because he is pretty much bald.  It was so funny.  But it really is such an amazing family.  I love them so much.  I feel like they are a part of my family.  

We found this huge turkey while out this week.  

And someone was burning trash- so of course we had to take a picture.  hahah

Zone Conference!

We had an amazing Zone Conference as well.  The biggest thing that I took away from it was a math formula.  I know that sounds weird, but let me explain a little.  As disciples of Christ, we are always trying to reach his perfect example, even though we know we will never make it.  Well, we always think that we have to do MORE.  MORE prayer, MORE scripture study, MORE fasting, and then we will become as Christ is.  So Me+MORE=Christ.  That is such the recipe for failure.  It is actually the other way around.  If we let Christ in, if we try to live the way he lived, live according to his gospel, we will become MORE!  The formula for success is Me+Christ=MORE!  I have tried it, and know that it works.  I love the gospel so much, Christ is the best. To know I have a loving Savior who is also my older brother is such a blessing!!

I hope that you all have an AMAZING week, I will do my best over here as well.  Love you all, and if y'all ever need anything, let me know!!

Brett

Elder Hansen