Well Mother if I am honest I absolutely cannot wait to see you guys again! I love this country and I love the moments I have been able to experience here, but it is nothing compared to the fun and the memories we have made as a family! I truly have been able to come to love you all. I am way pumped to get to know you guys again. I have truly come to know what my role is in the family and it isn't much different than yours. We all just need to help each other, it really is that simple. I love you all and it truly has been an incredible testimony for me that my conversion will keep growing. I need to help others to do the same and continue to look for the help from those that are offering me help.
Its been awesome, but yeah. I made a video so I hope you all can see that! Have a good week! bye!
Sunday, October 22, 2017
October 9, 2017
Well Mom life is good! We had a few hard times with the rain and the storms. Part of the country is under water but not where I am living. A few people have passed away due to the water but we are okay.
Honestly life is good! Basically life is just moving forward. I still have a lot to learn and a lot of opportunists to be better and help others.
Mom are we going to be coming back here? If so when? I would love to know that! I bet it was way funny at the party with Ely and Kimmy! It will be fun to get to know her. Tell her that we have to have like a get to know you day where its her and I, Ely cant come. I love you all and hope you're doing okay! Have a good week!
Honestly life is good! Basically life is just moving forward. I still have a lot to learn and a lot of opportunists to be better and help others.
Mom are we going to be coming back here? If so when? I would love to know that! I bet it was way funny at the party with Ely and Kimmy! It will be fun to get to know her. Tell her that we have to have like a get to know you day where its her and I, Ely cant come. I love you all and hope you're doing okay! Have a good week!
October 2, 2017
Well we watched the Conference in Spanish at the church and I did not love having to watch it in Spanish, it gives me a huge headache! There were some incredible messages, I liked it a lot. I really loved Elder Rasband's talk and I always will. I feel that his words are pure and that is what I like.
I'm sorry to hear about Kelli's Dad. tell them that I love them.
Honestly I loved Henry B Eyring's talk about why we have faith in this church. I wrote down some of my thoughts after his talk and basically feel the reason I have faith and act the way I do is because God has promised me more than I have or will ever have. It takes faith to believe that this is true and the blessings will be there. I love this church. I love this gospel I testify that we truly are a family forever. I love it so much and I love this mission. I love all of you and know that you all hold a special place in my CORAZON! Have a good week! See you soon!
PS---Well that is crazy (Parker Goudie's mission call to Columbia). Everyone is getting so big< I remember seeing Parker in High School. Its weird how fast time goes by.
I'm sorry to hear about Kelli's Dad. tell them that I love them.
Honestly I loved Henry B Eyring's talk about why we have faith in this church. I wrote down some of my thoughts after his talk and basically feel the reason I have faith and act the way I do is because God has promised me more than I have or will ever have. It takes faith to believe that this is true and the blessings will be there. I love this church. I love this gospel I testify that we truly are a family forever. I love it so much and I love this mission. I love all of you and know that you all hold a special place in my CORAZON! Have a good week! See you soon!
PS---Well that is crazy (Parker Goudie's mission call to Columbia). Everyone is getting so big< I remember seeing Parker in High School. Its weird how fast time goes by.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
September 24,2017
Hey Mom, so I am alive! I got changed last Thursday and I am here in San Diego! I will die here! All the members expect a lot from me and so it will be fun to work out here.
I love you all but we didn't have time to write because there were a lot of problems with the Changes Bus.
Love you all have a good week!
I love you all but we didn't have time to write because there were a lot of problems with the Changes Bus.
Love you all have a good week!
September 18, 2017
Well everything sounds great! Honestly, I love hearing about the wedding stuff! My comps two sisters are going to get married soon as well, one on the 20th of December and the other on the 23th! STRESSFUL!
I asked Samson to tell me about some of his favorite families.
A family that I really care about?? Wow, the list could go on and on... Lets start with a few of the basics:
San Miguel:
Mauricio y Ileana- My Mom and Dad of the area, I love their kids and I loved every second of being with them. They were really loving and were willing to do Noches De Hogar with us. I love that family and I do want to visit them.
Familia Peña- They were really nice to me and loved watching me play soccer. There oldest son is in EL Salvador on his mission and he gets home next August, he is awesome!
Familia Flores- My last night in San Miguel the Dad who is now the Bishop looked at me and said, "Elder Hansgen, don't change who you are!" I love them so much and there oldest son is preparing to serve a mission as we write.
Paraiso:
Helen and Walter, they were inactive when I showed up and they had a really hard time just feeling the joy and happiness the gospel brings. Elder Tibbs and I worked with them a lot and when I call them every once in a while they are doing great! One of their sons just got baptized a few months ago, life is awesome!
Manuel and Marta, from El Salvador. He is an investigator still because a lot of paperwork problems. He has not been able to be married yet but when I left he thanked me for helping him understand "un libro tan maravilloso" the Book of Mormon.
La Loma:
Vanessa and Miguel- Converts that are inactive and it breaks my heart, but for me they will always be family! I love them to death! I actually only call her Mom! hahaha
Bishop Quesada- Stevie met him. I have never met someone so dedicated to loving everyone! I truly felt the Christlike attributes that he has developed. A very big example for me and I love him a lot.
Alejandro and Yessenia- This family was a straight up miracle with how fast they became converted. We met them and they were not married. We told them they needed to do that and in 2 weeks they were making that step. I love them and honestly it was a lot of fun because they pushed themselves really, really, really, hard to live the gospel. Yessenia has graduated from the Self-Reliance program and Alejandro is a part of the Elders Quorum Presidency. They are awesome!
Neily:
Rojas Familia- I love these people! They were inactive about 3 months ago and now the son is an ordained Teacher as of yesterday and the daughter is a Young Womens counselor as of yesterday! I love them so much and cant wait for you to meet them.
Mendoza Familia- The Branch President, I almost have the same time being in the mission as he does being a member and he has taken a huge leap of faith by being the Branch President. He doesn't understand a lot but I admire his faith in the calling.
It was really cool helping Pte. Mendoza out with interviews and putting in the callings (Rojas familia) in the computer and the church system. These are things that I will need to know for the future.
All in all the people of this country are crazy different than anything I have ever known. I love them to death though! I love this country and it has been a very big blessing and given me many memories. It is cool to have witnessed all the amazing things God has been able to do through our service as missionaries. I love these people and I know it is going to be so hard to say goodbye to this country. I hope I can come back often.
I love you all and hope you have a good week! BYE
I asked Samson to tell me about some of his favorite families.
A family that I really care about?? Wow, the list could go on and on... Lets start with a few of the basics:
San Miguel:
Mauricio y Ileana- My Mom and Dad of the area, I love their kids and I loved every second of being with them. They were really loving and were willing to do Noches De Hogar with us. I love that family and I do want to visit them.
Familia Peña- They were really nice to me and loved watching me play soccer. There oldest son is in EL Salvador on his mission and he gets home next August, he is awesome!
Familia Flores- My last night in San Miguel the Dad who is now the Bishop looked at me and said, "Elder Hansgen, don't change who you are!" I love them so much and there oldest son is preparing to serve a mission as we write.
Paraiso:
Helen and Walter, they were inactive when I showed up and they had a really hard time just feeling the joy and happiness the gospel brings. Elder Tibbs and I worked with them a lot and when I call them every once in a while they are doing great! One of their sons just got baptized a few months ago, life is awesome!
Manuel and Marta, from El Salvador. He is an investigator still because a lot of paperwork problems. He has not been able to be married yet but when I left he thanked me for helping him understand "un libro tan maravilloso" the Book of Mormon.
La Loma:
Vanessa and Miguel- Converts that are inactive and it breaks my heart, but for me they will always be family! I love them to death! I actually only call her Mom! hahaha
Bishop Quesada- Stevie met him. I have never met someone so dedicated to loving everyone! I truly felt the Christlike attributes that he has developed. A very big example for me and I love him a lot.
Alejandro and Yessenia- This family was a straight up miracle with how fast they became converted. We met them and they were not married. We told them they needed to do that and in 2 weeks they were making that step. I love them and honestly it was a lot of fun because they pushed themselves really, really, really, hard to live the gospel. Yessenia has graduated from the Self-Reliance program and Alejandro is a part of the Elders Quorum Presidency. They are awesome!
Neily:
Rojas Familia- I love these people! They were inactive about 3 months ago and now the son is an ordained Teacher as of yesterday and the daughter is a Young Womens counselor as of yesterday! I love them so much and cant wait for you to meet them.
Mendoza Familia- The Branch President, I almost have the same time being in the mission as he does being a member and he has taken a huge leap of faith by being the Branch President. He doesn't understand a lot but I admire his faith in the calling.
It was really cool helping Pte. Mendoza out with interviews and putting in the callings (Rojas familia) in the computer and the church system. These are things that I will need to know for the future.
All in all the people of this country are crazy different than anything I have ever known. I love them to death though! I love this country and it has been a very big blessing and given me many memories. It is cool to have witnessed all the amazing things God has been able to do through our service as missionaries. I love these people and I know it is going to be so hard to say goodbye to this country. I hope I can come back often.
I love you all and hope you have a good week! BYE
September 11, 2017
WEIRD, almost all of my friends are home!
Uhmmm, last week was really special! We started focusing on how we could have members be more connected, like a spider web but a lot cooler and with human bodies! We had the idea to make lunch with a lady and go and take it to someone else from the branch. It turns out they are like best of friends and they love each other. It was a sister who comes to church like 2 times a month. It was really cool to see how she got really excited again about the church and going to see her friend.
A funny story... Well I was in Canoas last week and this chubbier lady was helping me buy shoes for another missionary(that is why it looks like I spending so much money, other missionaries pay me back for getting them shoes) So, I was looking at shoes and then a shirt really caught my attention!!! #impulsebuy it's like the coolest looking shirt and I promise that not one Latin exists on the face of this earth that would wear it. It's like this blue swordfish fishing shirt. I asked her (the lady)if the shirt was good looking and she looked at me and said.. "you're good looking but the shirt isn't." I then paused for about 15 seconds and just said, "thank you." She then ran off because she was super embarrassed. Her face was bright red, it was really funny, ha ha ha! I bought two pairs of shoes for a missionary and he will be paying me on Friday.
Something that makes me tear up and get all sensitive? It happens mostly when I am teaching or when I am really frustrated. I want these members to get it and a lot of them just don't want to understand it. When I am teaching and I start talking about how many times I didn't take advantage of spiritual opportunities that I had available and now how badly I want them to have those experiences. Just like simple stuff, for instance no one here wants to go to EFY because they say "none of their friends are members" or "other people they like are not going." Its just simple stuff that I didn't do that I wish I would have. There are a lot of things that I want people to understand and it just stresses me out when I can see that they don't want to understand, they harden their hearts... sometimes it sucks!
Also, whenever I read one of your letters. It's crazy, I miss you guys so much, it's going to be sweet to see each other again.
Love you all and I hope you're doing okay. Have a good week!
Uhmmm, last week was really special! We started focusing on how we could have members be more connected, like a spider web but a lot cooler and with human bodies! We had the idea to make lunch with a lady and go and take it to someone else from the branch. It turns out they are like best of friends and they love each other. It was a sister who comes to church like 2 times a month. It was really cool to see how she got really excited again about the church and going to see her friend.
A funny story... Well I was in Canoas last week and this chubbier lady was helping me buy shoes for another missionary(that is why it looks like I spending so much money, other missionaries pay me back for getting them shoes) So, I was looking at shoes and then a shirt really caught my attention!!! #impulsebuy it's like the coolest looking shirt and I promise that not one Latin exists on the face of this earth that would wear it. It's like this blue swordfish fishing shirt. I asked her (the lady)if the shirt was good looking and she looked at me and said.. "you're good looking but the shirt isn't." I then paused for about 15 seconds and just said, "thank you." She then ran off because she was super embarrassed. Her face was bright red, it was really funny, ha ha ha! I bought two pairs of shoes for a missionary and he will be paying me on Friday.
Something that makes me tear up and get all sensitive? It happens mostly when I am teaching or when I am really frustrated. I want these members to get it and a lot of them just don't want to understand it. When I am teaching and I start talking about how many times I didn't take advantage of spiritual opportunities that I had available and now how badly I want them to have those experiences. Just like simple stuff, for instance no one here wants to go to EFY because they say "none of their friends are members" or "other people they like are not going." Its just simple stuff that I didn't do that I wish I would have. There are a lot of things that I want people to understand and it just stresses me out when I can see that they don't want to understand, they harden their hearts... sometimes it sucks!
Also, whenever I read one of your letters. It's crazy, I miss you guys so much, it's going to be sweet to see each other again.
Love you all and I hope you're doing okay. Have a good week!
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
September 4, 2017
Well this week was good. I got my flight plans so things are cool. We had a few people in church yesterday so things are going well. Have a good week I love you all!
August 24, 2017
Elder Hansgen wishes Mama Hench a Happy 50th Birthday! The lack of enthusiasm is crystal clear!
Monday, August 28, 2017
August 14, 2017
Well I would love to get some pictures of the wedding, my family, my friends, literally anyone! hahaha!
Monday- We went and played soccer on an open field and that was a good time. We had a good lesson with the recent convert who was baptized a few weeks ago and it was a good lesson.
Tuesday- We had District Meeting and then we had a few good lessons with a really great Family Home Evening. We went to a certain district Meeting because the missionaries there were having a few obedience problems so we had to go and CORTAR JUPAS: It was nice and now we have 2 new missionaries there so PROBLEM SOLVED! (we didn't do anything they just had changes)
Wednesday- A normal day. We had a few really good lessons and we went with a few teenagers to play soccer. They told us if we wake them up for church they will go. So that's what we did:)
Thursday- We went to San Jose at 3 in the morning! I WAS SO MAD BECAUSE I COULDN'T SLEEP! We went so we could go on divisions with the Assistants. It was a good time but we didn't leave the office until 5 so that was kind of 100% terrible, and tiring!
Friday- We had a lot of fun in the leadership meeting and I learned a lot of new things. Elder Lauaki Sablan is always a great person to see, he was my companion in the MTC, so its always great seeing him! haha!
Saturday- Another great day because we had English classes and then a Mothers day activity!
Sunday- Sundays are always stressful for me, you never know if there will be leadership there. This Sunday we had 7 investigators in church and 4 less actives and there were only 23 people there. Or in other words.. If the mission force was not present in the church there would have been 11 people there! It stresses me out so much down here because if we don't visit all of the members then they don't come to church but if we don't push ourselves to find new investigators and baptize our leaders get upset, its rough. But at the end of I am very happy with my efforts!
That was my week. I know this is the true church and I love every second of this hard mission. I am learning a ton!
I love you all and if Ely's countdown calculation is correct I will see you in 79 days.. LOL! Bye!
Monday- We went and played soccer on an open field and that was a good time. We had a good lesson with the recent convert who was baptized a few weeks ago and it was a good lesson.
Tuesday- We had District Meeting and then we had a few good lessons with a really great Family Home Evening. We went to a certain district Meeting because the missionaries there were having a few obedience problems so we had to go and CORTAR JUPAS: It was nice and now we have 2 new missionaries there so PROBLEM SOLVED! (we didn't do anything they just had changes)
Wednesday- A normal day. We had a few really good lessons and we went with a few teenagers to play soccer. They told us if we wake them up for church they will go. So that's what we did:)
Thursday- We went to San Jose at 3 in the morning! I WAS SO MAD BECAUSE I COULDN'T SLEEP! We went so we could go on divisions with the Assistants. It was a good time but we didn't leave the office until 5 so that was kind of 100% terrible, and tiring!
Friday- We had a lot of fun in the leadership meeting and I learned a lot of new things. Elder Lauaki Sablan is always a great person to see, he was my companion in the MTC, so its always great seeing him! haha!
Saturday- Another great day because we had English classes and then a Mothers day activity!
Sunday- Sundays are always stressful for me, you never know if there will be leadership there. This Sunday we had 7 investigators in church and 4 less actives and there were only 23 people there. Or in other words.. If the mission force was not present in the church there would have been 11 people there! It stresses me out so much down here because if we don't visit all of the members then they don't come to church but if we don't push ourselves to find new investigators and baptize our leaders get upset, its rough. But at the end of I am very happy with my efforts!
That was my week. I know this is the true church and I love every second of this hard mission. I am learning a ton!
I love you all and if Ely's countdown calculation is correct I will see you in 79 days.. LOL! Bye!
August 7, 2017
Well, today for P-day we went to Canoas and I bought a missionary a pair of shoes because I will be seeing him on Friday in San Jose for the leadership meeting so that was fun. Then an Investigator invited us to Chfrijo so that was an awesome lunch. Its my favorite Costa Rican meal. Its so freaking good! I would love to learn how to make it after the mission, it is pretty rare because the ingredients are expensive. Right now after we write our emails, we are going to play soccer in a place called La 22 de Octubre, it should be fun.
I might be having changes and might be going to my last area but honestly, who knows??
Here is a funny story, Monday night after a FHE we were walking back to the house when a car pulled up next to us and was driving along side of us. I turned to see who it was and it was an older women in her 30's or 40's. She looked at my comp and I and said kissing her fingers "RICOS" ask Ely what that means and how sexually appealing dos gringos are.
I am loving life and I really don't have much to say!I love you all and have a good week! BYEEEE!!
I might be having changes and might be going to my last area but honestly, who knows??
Here is a funny story, Monday night after a FHE we were walking back to the house when a car pulled up next to us and was driving along side of us. I turned to see who it was and it was an older women in her 30's or 40's. She looked at my comp and I and said kissing her fingers "RICOS" ask Ely what that means and how sexually appealing dos gringos are.
I am loving life and I really don't have much to say!I love you all and have a good week! BYEEEE!!
Monday, July 31, 2017
July 31, 2017
This week was incredible! We have been working so hard to help the members understand at least the basics of what this church requires of us. It has been a long, tough road but it was all worth it this last week. We had a bunch of people in church and its been a true blessing. So the Mission Leader in the Branch was inactive before we arrived and now he has been coming for like 3 months straight!! There was a baptism we had last week and we just put him 100% in charge. He had to call people to ask them to give talks and he had to be the one to set it all up. All we did was fill the font up with water. It was truly a blessing because we could see the light that he was feeling. It was awesome! We also have been working really hard with the Presidency so it has been nice to go on visits with the District President. The Branch President has not helped us yet but we plan to go out with him on Thursday. Honestly, being a missionary has mostly shown me how I want to be as a member after the mission. I don't know how it will be in Utah but it truly has been impossible to do any of the work with out the members here. They deserve so many of the blessings that have come from their hard work and dedication to the gospel.
We had a super, great P-day today.We went to some place called La Torre de Golfito today and it was awesome, it was a beautiful view and it was so fun being together as a Zone.
Love you all and I hope you're doing well! Have a good week!
Elder Sam Hansgen
We had a super, great P-day today.We went to some place called La Torre de Golfito today and it was awesome, it was a beautiful view and it was so fun being together as a Zone.
Love you all and I hope you're doing well! Have a good week!
Elder Sam Hansgen
July 24, 2017
Mom..... Life was crazy this last week! Mostly because everyone was really "butthurt" that the US kicked Costa Rica out from the Gold Cup in the states. No one wanted to talk to me, a lot of them know I play/love soccer. I had no idea that we had won, but on the other hand, "WOOOOO HOOOO UNITED STATES!!!!" "USHHHH LOS ESTADOS!!!!!!!"
(Elder Hansgen's answer to Mama Hench's concern for oral hygiene on the mish)
Honestly, Mother I brush my teeth a ton and I too am scared to go to the dentist, but it should be good. My teeth don't hurt or anything and I drink a ton of water, like literally a TON! I floss, well ok, I floss about 2 times a week! I will try to do better, I probably do have cavities but then again, I'm no dentist!
Well, what we have been doing is going to the Branch Presidents house and teaching him from the Manual about how to be a President. My companion was meeting with him while I was teaching the Primary about Prophets. The Branch President got mad at my companion and was asking him why we have we stopped visiting so many people. He said it was our fault that less people are coming to church. My companion looked at him and said, "what is it that you think we do?" The BP said that the missionaries have to find new investigators and keep the members coming. My comp read to him from the manual where it says that the Branch President has to do visits and set the example in every aspect. So, yes that is a good question, "why is there such small amount of people here?" It was the head chopping of the century, so we will see how that goes!
We have a very big blessing to have our agency but honestly I am tired. Being in such a weak branch is really challenging. I believe this been the hardest thing I have done in my mission, not going to lie about that!
I love you all and ! will see you in 3 months! Crazy huh? Have a good week!
(Elder Hansgen's answer to Mama Hench's concern for oral hygiene on the mish)
Honestly, Mother I brush my teeth a ton and I too am scared to go to the dentist, but it should be good. My teeth don't hurt or anything and I drink a ton of water, like literally a TON! I floss, well ok, I floss about 2 times a week! I will try to do better, I probably do have cavities but then again, I'm no dentist!
Well, what we have been doing is going to the Branch Presidents house and teaching him from the Manual about how to be a President. My companion was meeting with him while I was teaching the Primary about Prophets. The Branch President got mad at my companion and was asking him why we have we stopped visiting so many people. He said it was our fault that less people are coming to church. My companion looked at him and said, "what is it that you think we do?" The BP said that the missionaries have to find new investigators and keep the members coming. My comp read to him from the manual where it says that the Branch President has to do visits and set the example in every aspect. So, yes that is a good question, "why is there such small amount of people here?" It was the head chopping of the century, so we will see how that goes!
We have a very big blessing to have our agency but honestly I am tired. Being in such a weak branch is really challenging. I believe this been the hardest thing I have done in my mission, not going to lie about that!
I love you all and ! will see you in 3 months! Crazy huh? Have a good week!
July 17, 2017
Well, I guess I'm old now. ha ha. I told myself before the mission that when Walker got home "that's when I become old" and with the picture I received today it looks like I am old now. Walker looks good! I hope he is still loving life.
Well, I am so so so so so so so so jealous of you guys for being able to go to the temple! I miss the temple and I want to go to the Timpanogas temple first thing!
Something Happy: Well I am a missionary of the only truth so that's pretty freaking great! Honestly, I am just loving life. I have a great mission and a strong testimony. I know why I am here and I know that we are all here just to be happy. We have people treat us like crap but we just keep going! We are most likely going to have a baptism next week so that will be awesome! We had a Zone Conference last week and we just talked about the Book of Mormon the whole time so that was pretty freaking awesome, I love that book so much! While President Hayes was teaching us he would just yell a random name and have us teach a chapter of the Book of Mormon and then teach ONE principle of the gospel. He picked all the old people and I was picked to share so I read a few verses from Mormon 9 and shared that we need to first have faith that God can still perform miracles and then ask for them. It's just a simple principle that I like. It was a fun and uplifting conference!
Something Sad: Well last week a member who has been pushing himself to help us more was asked to give a talk and asked us to help him prepare it. So we went to the church and helped him write it all and he has a hard time reading so we had to help a lot more than what we had expected so we were with him for about 6 hours during the week helping him with his talk and he honestly had a really good talk ready to teach and share. We were excited to hear it. He was excited and told us he wanted to give more talks in the future so we were really excited! Then Sunday comes around and he didn't go to church and sent us a message and said. I don't want to give a talk, sorry. Now he is just ignoring our calls and everything. Not going to lie I just got so frustrated with him and I really couldn't believe that he would do something like that. I felt bad because in my mind we had wasted so much time helping him that we couldn't complete our other goals. I was just angry with him and I was angry at myself for putting so much time in a "lost cause" but now that I think about it he is just a little more prepared for when he does give a talk and he got to study the scriptures for about 6 hours during the week so that's always good!
Something you don't know about me: I love chubby people. I truly believe that they are happier, ha ha ha! I love them so much and I have a funny story and picture that goes with it! Chubby people are just more open. I think that's why I love Costa Rica women so much (the Christ like love) but they are sometimes a little overweight and they are like so fun to tease! Anyway there is a member that lives up in the cold mountains and her family is a little chubbier and they all look the same. Anyways she lived in New York and Canada for a long time but she only learned French. She's really cool! But one day, last week she was telling us all the places they have been and I said... "well you guys are just showing off how many places you have been!" Then she said, what I think is one of the funniest things I have heard in the longest time! She said... " oh yeah! We are like the Kardashians just the fat Latin version..." hahhhaahahahahah I laughed so hard because they just say things how they are and they don't really care.! I loved the joke so much I made them take a picture with me. They all said that I can go to Costa Rica and stay with them when ever I want to come back and visit! ha ha ha its going to be great!
Last week I saw a monkey and it got hit by a car! My comp tried to save it from the road and whipped it by its tail to get it off the road and then we watched a little baby monkey take his last breath, so sad!
Love you all and I will see you soon! But for now I need to keep working!! Have a good week!
Well, I am so so so so so so so so jealous of you guys for being able to go to the temple! I miss the temple and I want to go to the Timpanogas temple first thing!
Something Happy: Well I am a missionary of the only truth so that's pretty freaking great! Honestly, I am just loving life. I have a great mission and a strong testimony. I know why I am here and I know that we are all here just to be happy. We have people treat us like crap but we just keep going! We are most likely going to have a baptism next week so that will be awesome! We had a Zone Conference last week and we just talked about the Book of Mormon the whole time so that was pretty freaking awesome, I love that book so much! While President Hayes was teaching us he would just yell a random name and have us teach a chapter of the Book of Mormon and then teach ONE principle of the gospel. He picked all the old people and I was picked to share so I read a few verses from Mormon 9 and shared that we need to first have faith that God can still perform miracles and then ask for them. It's just a simple principle that I like. It was a fun and uplifting conference!
Something Sad: Well last week a member who has been pushing himself to help us more was asked to give a talk and asked us to help him prepare it. So we went to the church and helped him write it all and he has a hard time reading so we had to help a lot more than what we had expected so we were with him for about 6 hours during the week helping him with his talk and he honestly had a really good talk ready to teach and share. We were excited to hear it. He was excited and told us he wanted to give more talks in the future so we were really excited! Then Sunday comes around and he didn't go to church and sent us a message and said. I don't want to give a talk, sorry. Now he is just ignoring our calls and everything. Not going to lie I just got so frustrated with him and I really couldn't believe that he would do something like that. I felt bad because in my mind we had wasted so much time helping him that we couldn't complete our other goals. I was just angry with him and I was angry at myself for putting so much time in a "lost cause" but now that I think about it he is just a little more prepared for when he does give a talk and he got to study the scriptures for about 6 hours during the week so that's always good!
Something you don't know about me: I love chubby people. I truly believe that they are happier, ha ha ha! I love them so much and I have a funny story and picture that goes with it! Chubby people are just more open. I think that's why I love Costa Rica women so much (the Christ like love) but they are sometimes a little overweight and they are like so fun to tease! Anyway there is a member that lives up in the cold mountains and her family is a little chubbier and they all look the same. Anyways she lived in New York and Canada for a long time but she only learned French. She's really cool! But one day, last week she was telling us all the places they have been and I said... "well you guys are just showing off how many places you have been!" Then she said, what I think is one of the funniest things I have heard in the longest time! She said... " oh yeah! We are like the Kardashians just the fat Latin version..." hahhhaahahahahah I laughed so hard because they just say things how they are and they don't really care.! I loved the joke so much I made them take a picture with me. They all said that I can go to Costa Rica and stay with them when ever I want to come back and visit! ha ha ha its going to be great!
Last week I saw a monkey and it got hit by a car! My comp tried to save it from the road and whipped it by its tail to get it off the road and then we watched a little baby monkey take his last breath, so sad!
Love you all and I will see you soon! But for now I need to keep working!! Have a good week!
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
July 10, 2017
Apparently very excited about a recent shoe purchase, Sam's letter started like this:
"I GOT TWO FOR ONE AND NOW I HAVE SOME GREAT SHOES FOR AFTER THE MISSION, #BLESSED!"
Honestly, I am loving life. I have had a lot of trials and things I never thought I would go through during my entire mission but.. whats new.?! We are working really hard and it has been awesome to see the blessings.
I think the biggest blessing has been witnessing how endurance has been rewarding. The people I taught and got to see enter the waters of baptism are great. Some of them have a hard time with trials but they have always found their way back to the truth. Same with many of my family, we have all messed up and then somehow we feel the gentle light of truth and it over overpowers all the darkness we thought we were in. It has also been incredible to see how the truth will always prevail.
"Ely, your engagment/proposal es tuanis!.
Well yesterday we went to do "shut-ins." I have been begging one of the youth in our ward to go with us when we do it because I have always had that really, really, strong feeling to do so. He told us no for like 3 months because he was nervous to say the prayer. He finally came and it was awesome. We went to a sister in the ward, who everyone calls Abuela. She loves to be called Abuela, ha ha ha, she is awesome! She has a super strong testimony but cant go to church because no one takes care of her brother and her brother doesn't want to go. We don't want to give her the sacrament every week for two reasons. #1 We don't want her to depend on the church to get her the sacrament and #2 we want her to always feel the need to go to church. She tends to make excuses like she is too tired etc. We are super busy with all the other stuff we are doing so it is hard. So anyways, we went yesterday because she said that it has been too long since she has had the Sacrament. So that young man said okay I'll go, and his little brother tagged along. it was awesome! She gave us something to eat and it was an awesome experience as it usually is with the Abuela. The youth Jerson, got to say the prayer for the first time and his little brother gave her the bread and water, it was the BEST! We stayed there and talked to her for a sec and when we left both of them (the boys) said to us, "I LOVED THAT it was so great I felt the Spirit so strong!" I loved the way she looked when we showed up and the happiness that was on her face. It was so neat seeing how happy they were when they were doing their priesthood duty! I loved bringing the Sacrament to the "shut ins" back home. I really did like visiting the people and telling them like 900 times what my name was! I love the priesthood and I am really happy that God once again has restored it to the earth.
I love you all and have a good week!
"I GOT TWO FOR ONE AND NOW I HAVE SOME GREAT SHOES FOR AFTER THE MISSION, #BLESSED!"
Honestly, I am loving life. I have had a lot of trials and things I never thought I would go through during my entire mission but.. whats new.?! We are working really hard and it has been awesome to see the blessings.
I think the biggest blessing has been witnessing how endurance has been rewarding. The people I taught and got to see enter the waters of baptism are great. Some of them have a hard time with trials but they have always found their way back to the truth. Same with many of my family, we have all messed up and then somehow we feel the gentle light of truth and it over overpowers all the darkness we thought we were in. It has also been incredible to see how the truth will always prevail.
"Ely, your engagment/proposal es tuanis!.
Well yesterday we went to do "shut-ins." I have been begging one of the youth in our ward to go with us when we do it because I have always had that really, really, strong feeling to do so. He told us no for like 3 months because he was nervous to say the prayer. He finally came and it was awesome. We went to a sister in the ward, who everyone calls Abuela. She loves to be called Abuela, ha ha ha, she is awesome! She has a super strong testimony but cant go to church because no one takes care of her brother and her brother doesn't want to go. We don't want to give her the sacrament every week for two reasons. #1 We don't want her to depend on the church to get her the sacrament and #2 we want her to always feel the need to go to church. She tends to make excuses like she is too tired etc. We are super busy with all the other stuff we are doing so it is hard. So anyways, we went yesterday because she said that it has been too long since she has had the Sacrament. So that young man said okay I'll go, and his little brother tagged along. it was awesome! She gave us something to eat and it was an awesome experience as it usually is with the Abuela. The youth Jerson, got to say the prayer for the first time and his little brother gave her the bread and water, it was the BEST! We stayed there and talked to her for a sec and when we left both of them (the boys) said to us, "I LOVED THAT it was so great I felt the Spirit so strong!" I loved the way she looked when we showed up and the happiness that was on her face. It was so neat seeing how happy they were when they were doing their priesthood duty! I loved bringing the Sacrament to the "shut ins" back home. I really did like visiting the people and telling them like 900 times what my name was! I love the priesthood and I am really happy that God once again has restored it to the earth.
I love you all and have a good week!
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
July 3, 2017
This week!
Well my companion left me. I have a new companion and his name is Elder Porter from Dallas, Texas. He has 9 months in the mission so he is pretty new for me, hahaha! He was in La Loma, the area I was in before coming down south. He was in the other companionship. So when I came down here I didn't have anytime to say goodbye to anyone because its a very special case. Anyway I had to stay with him and his comp in La Loma so I got to say goodbye to a bunch of people! It was great! I am loving life and it truly has been great being here. With my last companion we focused on preparing the members to receive new investigators and teach them how to do stuff. So with my new companion and I we have been able to take advantage of that preparation and now we are ready to baptize like LOCOS: honestly we have some pretty cool investigators and it makes it fun to teach them. Its possible to have 5 or 6 confirmations in the next 2 months so I am really happy for that to happen.
So anyways, in this lovely little mission I am in we have permission to talk to converts on Monday! Almost all of them are doing great, a few of them have callings and a few of them have been inactive for a while and its been awesome to see how through my efforts of loving them even though I am not close to them that they still have a relationship with the truth. Words don't describe the power or love that I feel for the people that I have taught. It has truly been a gift being able to know them.
I love you all and hope you are all doing well!!
Well my companion left me. I have a new companion and his name is Elder Porter from Dallas, Texas. He has 9 months in the mission so he is pretty new for me, hahaha! He was in La Loma, the area I was in before coming down south. He was in the other companionship. So when I came down here I didn't have anytime to say goodbye to anyone because its a very special case. Anyway I had to stay with him and his comp in La Loma so I got to say goodbye to a bunch of people! It was great! I am loving life and it truly has been great being here. With my last companion we focused on preparing the members to receive new investigators and teach them how to do stuff. So with my new companion and I we have been able to take advantage of that preparation and now we are ready to baptize like LOCOS: honestly we have some pretty cool investigators and it makes it fun to teach them. Its possible to have 5 or 6 confirmations in the next 2 months so I am really happy for that to happen.
So anyways, in this lovely little mission I am in we have permission to talk to converts on Monday! Almost all of them are doing great, a few of them have callings and a few of them have been inactive for a while and its been awesome to see how through my efforts of loving them even though I am not close to them that they still have a relationship with the truth. Words don't describe the power or love that I feel for the people that I have taught. It has truly been a gift being able to know them.
I love you all and hope you are all doing well!!
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