So ya, that concert was a thing that our mission put on. The people that COULD sing sang in it, and so I was happy watching. :) haha but there was about 15-20 missionaries from our mission and they all got together throughout this transfer and practiced songs and stuff and then they performed it the 23rd in the middle of this plaza (or park) later in the evening. Then at the end me and a couple others handed out some balloons with little LED lights in them to some very fierce and grabby kids. and we all sang "the spirit of God" and released them into the sky. It was truly like iluminating the world. Seeing like 200-250 little lights go up into the black sky. It was way cool. I believe they put videos or a video on facebook. Under our mission name. So you can see it if you want I believe!

My Christmas was good. We woke up like normal and it was raining like CRAZY.... Like bad.... it rained all christmas eve night and christmas day like a down pour. We were wondering if they were going to cancel church or not. But they didnt luckly! in the morning we cooked AMERICAN pancakes. Elder Champion knows how to cook some good ones.... so we made those and went to church. there were 10 other people in sacrament meeting.... hahaha even some of our normal members didnt show up! So ya! that was Christmas! One to remember, and one to be thankful for! Also, thanks for the ties and watch! Holy cow, I was pumped to get those! I feel so Chetto! hahaha thanks a million. 

Other than that everything went great. This week was slow because everyone was too busy getting ready for the fiestas and stuff that they didnt want to talk. Lots of wine and beer was bought by the Argentines this Christmas let me tell ya.... haha but its all good. The weeks gone and over and we have a new one to go out and teach. So Im excited to get back to teaching people. 

Thanks for everything! Love you guys like crazy. I dont have too much to say about this week other than that we are expecting this week to be better! Love you guys!

Elder Hansen

PHOTOS:

How is everyone doing in this Christmas season?? with all of that snow!? Im doing great down here in sunny-vill. Im pretty sure Ive never experienced this much heat and humidity all at one time.... I leave during the day and come back for lunch in a few hours literally wet everywhere.... like I could probably wring out my stuff... hahaha I love it though!!! This week was great!

First I had an interview with president because it was our zones turn in the rotation and that went really good. I asked what I could do different or what I could improve in my area in presidents eyes. he just said to focus more on the less actives and take time to be there friends and easily motivate them to the church. Dont be pushy but just be yourself with them and love them. So we focused hard on that this week and we LOVED it. We got to know them so good and I have made some really good friends with the families here! We talked for a while just about my area and my role specifically. We talked about a lot of stuff like that and it went really well. He expressed his love and gave him a big bear hug. Really good.

Next, Im really excited to skype!!! 23! Ill have to check with Elder Champion to see what his family said. I might be able to let you know for sure tonight or at the latest in the morning tomorrow! 

We had a bit more success this week. We just pounded and pounded all week. I went on an exchange with my new Zone leader, Elder Knuth. and we found 2 new investigators and found our other ones that we hadnt been able to find!! We rearranged some baptism dates with them, so that was good. But my favorite part was finding Mierta... I was with Elder Knuth and we passed by in the night and she said that she couldnt talk but that she could the next morning. So we left her a BOM and 3 verses to read. we passed by in the morning again and talked with her.  and she came out with a big smile... She said that she had not only read what we left her but 3 more CHAPTERS.... hahaha we were stoked. In the verses we left it invited her to pray and ask God if these things are true. So I asked her if she prayed. She said yes, and that she was 100% sure that it was true. We were shocked again. We asked her what she read and she told us from memory... shocked again... hahaha so we answered her questions about the BOM and Moroni and stuff and then eased into Lesson 1 about the restoration. Well she started to love it. And then we get to the first vision (my all time favorite..) and I recited it and looked her in her eyes holding the picture of the 1st vision. She started to cry half way through it. And my comp and I were welling up a bit. We asked her about her feelings after and she cried more and said shes never heard of something more beautiful in her life. She said it was true. We finished the lesson with her and set up another appointment which is tomorrow!! so I am so excited to go back! Soo cool to have those experiences. Like the whole week before we had nothing but just doors slammed. But all of the sudden the smallest success turns all of our hard times away. I love it!!

I like that experience mom, I never thought of it that way, and will have this written down from here on out. Its so true. I love this mission and my comp and everything. Its really really hard at times but its those little tiny moments during the week that just make everything worth it.... Love you guys!! Ill talk to you on the 23rd!!! Ill let you know any other details if they come up so check the email!! love you all!

Elder Hansen

This week was good. Really slow and hard.... haha We had 3 baptismal dates and progressing investigators at the end of the transfer with Elder Jara. And now we cant even get a hold of them. One of the dates fell through because she didnt go to church yesterday. But we are still going to find her!! All of our investigators are at a stand still and its hard to find them. Also we are getting rejected a lot.... hahahaha but hey, we are trying!! We are working like crazy! One night while we were planning, I was looking at all of these pages of names of people that weve contacted in the past with Elder Jara. All of them are in a frustrating time and they are being difficult. I looked at Elder Champion and he looked at me and I said we are scrapping them and starting over! Wiping the slate and start building again! So weve got a lot of work on our hands this week! It will be good! Im excited! 

Elder Champion is way cool. He works hard, we joke around a lot. We have fun when we can and work hard when theres work to do. He is different than my other companions which is cool because I get to learn more!!! Hes a really cool guy. 

Not a whole lot new this week, just a constant grind trying to find people to teach. I got my haircut again, but the dude totally botched it hahaha oh well, what can you do. 

We found one lady at her house. she was a contact that we did. She answered the intercom thing and said she would come to the door in just a second. 5-10 minutes later we were thinking of leaving and then this older lady comes out really slowly with a walker. She seemed pretty happy overall. we got to talking and found out she has a bad cancer and has 1 more year to live the doctors told her. Also that her husband only has 6 months more to live. So talked more about the plan of salvation and then at the end gave her a BOM. She looked at it like it was 1 million dollars and asked how much it was? (we get that a lot). We said it was free and we wanted her to have it. She started to cry a little and took it and grabbed my hand and held it for like 2 minutes. She thanked us like crazy. We felt soooo good about this lady and set a time to go and pass by again this week. So we will see what happens!

Well family, this is it for this week. Thank you for those packages and for always writing me!! Love you all like crazy and hope that you always remember our savior in this time and give thanks! Love you and I will write next week!

Elder Hansen

This week was sooooooooo good. So many miracles its not even funny. First of all, yes, she feeds us every saturday and is a crazy, short, firey old woman. Abraham hasnt missed a sunday and I try to sit next to him as much as I can and joke with him. I love him so much! Investigators.... they are a little hard to pin down and have 

more than one lesson with them. They all say "oh yes, we are catholic but we respect and listen to all." Sometimes its only one lesson and other times they turn into progressing investigators. 

Elder Jara is fine now! I was able to give him a blessing... In spanish! My first one in spanish and I feel like it went good. It was really cool, you literally rely on the lord completely because you dont know all of the words in spanish to do it by yourself... really cool

Well we found 2 new investigators this week!! Or really, they found us. A lady stopped us in the street and started just pouring out her soul to us crying... we didnt know what to really know what to do. We set up an appointment for the next day with her and her husband. We passed by and she was really sick in the bed. She had taken a TON of medicine and it was probably not good.... So we gave her and her husband a blessing (he has really bad knees and cant walk really good.) and I anointed both. Really cool and spiritual. After we shared the lesson we wanted to share, and by the end of it the woman stopped us and said that she felt good. That she didnt feel sick at all. We branched off of that and used the spirit and finished the lesson. We set their baptism date for the 24th of December and they will be confirmed Christmas day. I hope and pray all works. After the closing prayer, we were about to leave and she kissed our hands. she was crying and thanked us over and over. It was really spirtual. We explained again the power of the priesthood and the spirit. Next thing you know they showed up to church! Everything went perfect!

TRANSFERS!!!

Elder Jara se va!! He left me! They were doing the conference calls and called us and said that he was going to be transferred! He is now currently in Quilmes as a zone leader! My new companion is Elder Champion. Hes from Oregon and he es un capo. Hes shorter than me, asian looking, and hes so cool. He speaks ENGLISH! hahaha Funny fact. All 3 of my companions this far have been the district leader... and for Elder Bean and Elder Jara it was their first time being district leader. So they go from training to district leader to zone leader right in a row... Elder Champion has been DL before and he is now currently in our district. Im learning so much with that its insane! haha

Another fun thing, we had service this week with Elder Jara in Punta lara! Its like a rainforest in some parts. So we left to help this investigator family clear a spot to lay a foundation for a house. We used this big reaper thing and took down trees and just cleared a big spot. It was way sweet!! haha I will send pictures when I get my package!! haha 

Lastly.... I. am. fat. hahahhaha If I did my math right, (which I did because Ive checked a billion times...) Ive gained about 20 pounds so far... hahahaha CRAP. Ive broken the 180 mark! hahaha these pantalones are a little bit tight.... haha no but its all good. Its so humid and we sweat so much that everyone says you lose a lot of weight from sweating a ton. So vamos a ver!!! hahaha Im trying to be careful a bit what I eat but its like choosing what donut is most healthy.... haha everything so bad for you but sooooo freaking good. Ive had almost no trouble with the food!

Lastly I want to share scriptures!! Alma 36:20-21 and 27. I love these, especially verse 27. God is so merciful and loves us more than we can imagine. I hope you like these! 

I love you guys! So proud to be a Hansen missionary!! Thank you for all of the emails and for the support! Love you all and will see you soon on Christmas!!!

Elder Hansen