Love ya lots!! Today, I can tell you that today was a pretty doggone good week. Lots of interesting things happened, we've seen a lot of blessings.
Josefina and Javier, they are my miracle every week. I know that the Lord guided us to knock their door. They are the most humble people ever. We taught the Word of Wisdom this week, and they both accepted to living it. Javier, little background, he has had a TOUGH life. He started smoking at the age of 7. It has been a part of his life, and now, in the past week he has only smoked once. He is committed to living it, and is getting much better. It is amazing how the Gospel changes lives.
There is an amazing quote that I love from President Packer in Preach My Gospel that says that a study of the gospel will change behavior quicker than a study on behavior. It's true. I've seen it with my own eyes and felt it personally in my heart. It is amazing! Gospel used to be some vague word for me but now, I have come to know that it is Faith in the Lord, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. It changes behavior and makes us disciples of Christ.
We had a cool encounter as we ran into a few nice nuns from India. You run into everyone here in Houston, honestly. It was a great conversation to get to know each others cultures and learn from them and what they do. I truly love to see people dedicated to our Father in Heaven. So I asked to take a picture. It made my night.
Also, I went back to "China!" Let me tell you, my Mandarin is getting better and better. I love it haha, I can introduce myself and say Jesus Christ now. We found another person to teach out there, so that is 3 for 3 on finding people on exchanges in China. It was GREAT! However, the coolest thing that I got to see was VICTOR!! He's Elder Handy's cousin who we taught for a few months back in H1. He's so cool! So many good old memories with him and Elder Handy. Turns out he actually works in maintenance for the Chinese Elders' apartment. It was SO Cool to see him again. We had a great time catching up!
This is Victor!
Also, I mention "Stars" in the title for two reasons. First off, if anyone has ever seen the Vandy logo, they know it's a star with a V in the middle. I am grateful to have the chance to go play baseball there after the mission, and what makes it even sweeter is... THEY'RE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES BOUND!!!!! I am so blessed to have a connection to the GREATEST SCHOOL AND PEOPLE EVER!! Coach Corbin and Brown and the crew are the greatest not only coaches, but people as well. I love them and the program a lot, and was SO pumped to hear them heading to the CWS!!
I also mention "Stars" because that's the Astros logo as well. On July 22, President announced in Zone Conference that Elder Bednar is coming to Houston, and is giving a special devotional. So we are invited to go and listen to this special witness of God speak to us, then later that night, he's going to go throw out the first pitch at the Astros game. And..... WE ARE SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!!! So I'm going to get to go to an Astros game! I am so excited! Being uplifted by an apostle and then going to a baseball game, sounds like a day straight from heaven.
This is where we work! Good ole trailer parks!
One of my most favorite families, the Meza family. Missing one, Charlie is out studying at Salt Lake City Business College.
This was a sad one. It was Elder Ledezma’s last Zone Conference. He was my very first companion and he goes home in 3 weeks.
As always, myself and the famous Elder Shelley. Every Zone Conference we take a selfie and I think he’s kinda liking this tradition. haha
I love this scripture that I read the other day. I love learning about the character of the Lord. In Ether 2, the Brother of Jared is preparing to leave by boat. He encounters some problems while building the boats. The first was steering, next was breathing, and the third was light. The Lord said he'd take care of the steering, then told him what to do as far as fresh air goes. Then, when the Brother of Jared asked the Lord about light, expecting an answer, He answered in verse 25 saying "What will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea? ". The Brother of Jared then meditated on it, then went to work, and made 16 stones, and asked the Lord to touch them, and he did, and they became a source of light. I feel like this applies to us EVERY DAY. The Lord sometimes asks us, how can he bless us so that we may have light. Light is knowledge, spiritual strength, and direction. A testimony I have is that specific plans bring specific blessings. The Brother of Jared had specific plans which brought specific blessings. I want to invite y'all to be specific in what you desire from your Heavenly Father, in your life. He wants to rain blessings upon you. He is ready to, he is just waiting for you to ask.
Love y'all so much and hope you have a great week!!
Elder Hansen
Brett
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