Dear everyone,
Our mission got iPads! I'm typing on mine right now! It's wonderful.
We've scrapped the old planners, and everything (investigators
addresses, phone numbers, lessons, background information, ward lists,
less actives, etc.) will be updated into our mobile devices. Which
means we have the unique privilege to type in all of the information
found in our area books daily.
Everything will be so much more efficient once it's all been updated.
Immediately after teaching a lesson, we can pull out our tablets and
write down what happened. The hastening of the work is real, and it's
moving at a rapid pace!
This week we taught Addis. He's moving to California this Friday. It's
super sad, because we got to become his really good friend. He came to
church with us 3 times, and he was getting familiar with some of the
ward members. He was progressing really well. With every reading
assignment we gave him, he would read it 2 - 3 times. He was on date
for the 22nd of March, but he won't be in Alexandria to be baptized.
This last meeting we had with him, we showed the Restoration video. I
always feel the Spirit confirm to me that Joseph Smith is a prophet
whenever we watch it, especially when we watch it with investigators.
After the video, we bore our testimonies. I felt very peaceful, and my
mind was clear and focused. Addis told us he knows the Book of Mormon
is the word of God. It was awesome. I had a hard time holding back
tears. It was a powerful moment with the Spirit.
After the lesson, we ate Ethiopian food with Addis. He ordered us
something called Kitfu. More commonly known as raw beef. They gave us
a large plate stacked with ground up beef, and rolls of ingera (ingera
is a thin bread that's used in most Ethiopian meals). Addis warned us
that it was super spicy (Elder grow and I later agreed not to tell
Addis that we have had hotter Tabasco sauce). Elder grow and I had
fasted in preparation for this experience, so we could at least
stomach a few bites. I gagged a few times towards the end of the meal,
but I forced everything down. It actually didn't taste too bad at
first. Just the thought of eating Kitfu made me slow down.
Luckily, my companion pointed out that someone else in the restaurant
was eating an entire fried mysteryfish. Had he not, Addis wouldn't
have so quickly ordered one for us to eat. The waitresses hastily
slapped a crispy sea creature in front of us, anxious to see how the
timid Americans would react. We used our hands to dig into the scaly
sides of the fresh water fish. Surprisingly, it tasted really good. My
companion ate a bone and some fish brain, but besides the gooey
treasures found in the fish carcass, it wasn't half bad.
We were out tracting late one cold night. I was tired. I was a little
disappointed at the lack of success we've been seeing. We stopped and
said a prayer to be guided towards those that are elect. We continued
knocking. I really seached out in my mind and my heart what The Lord
wanted us to do. An image popped into my mind of us walking in the
street just outside the apartment building we were in. I immediately
went there. I had no idea what to do, but I kept walking. I turned to
the right, and a small African American woman with a thick gray jacket
stood at the curb. I felt prompted to speak to her. We had an awesome
discussion. We gave her a Book of Mormon. I told her that God lead us
to her, that we had just said a prayer to find her. It was really
cool. We got all of her information on the iPad and we were off on our
merry way.
I've loved learning how the Spirit works with me. I know that it's one
of our responsibilities while we're on this earth. I know that God
expects us to follow His guidance so that we can be a blessing to
those around us, even if we don't see e end result.
We had a funny experience while street contacting this week. Elder
Grow and I spoke to this old couple carrying in groceries. We offers
to help, but they denied it. We tried to get to know them, but they
just wanted to argue. They looked so gentle from far away!
The husband, with a gold-tooth filled mouth spat, "how many wives you got?"
I answered, "I'm not even married."
"Don't lie to me, how many wives you got!"
"I'm only 18 years old. I'm not even married!"
We left without a return appointment. But we did leave with a good laugh.
Church was awesome! I felt like every message given that day was
designed especially for me. The Spirit gave me lots of instruction on
how I can become a better person. The speakers that day gave talks
about how we sometimes look at our failures and dismiss the blessings
that we received along the way. That's something that I need to work
on. I often compare my efforts against that of others. That isn't
right. I should be comparing and evaluating myself, to see if I've
improved. I need to recognize the good things that God has given me,
and exhaust them.
love you, have a great week!
Peace from the east to the weast,
Elder Handsome Hansen.
Our mission got iPads! I'm typing on mine right now! It's wonderful.
We've scrapped the old planners, and everything (investigators
addresses, phone numbers, lessons, background information, ward lists,
less actives, etc.) will be updated into our mobile devices. Which
means we have the unique privilege to type in all of the information
found in our area books daily.
Everything will be so much more efficient once it's all been updated.
Immediately after teaching a lesson, we can pull out our tablets and
write down what happened. The hastening of the work is real, and it's
moving at a rapid pace!
This week we taught Addis. He's moving to California this Friday. It's
super sad, because we got to become his really good friend. He came to
church with us 3 times, and he was getting familiar with some of the
ward members. He was progressing really well. With every reading
assignment we gave him, he would read it 2 - 3 times. He was on date
for the 22nd of March, but he won't be in Alexandria to be baptized.
This last meeting we had with him, we showed the Restoration video. I
always feel the Spirit confirm to me that Joseph Smith is a prophet
whenever we watch it, especially when we watch it with investigators.
After the video, we bore our testimonies. I felt very peaceful, and my
mind was clear and focused. Addis told us he knows the Book of Mormon
is the word of God. It was awesome. I had a hard time holding back
tears. It was a powerful moment with the Spirit.
After the lesson, we ate Ethiopian food with Addis. He ordered us
something called Kitfu. More commonly known as raw beef. They gave us
a large plate stacked with ground up beef, and rolls of ingera (ingera
is a thin bread that's used in most Ethiopian meals). Addis warned us
that it was super spicy (Elder grow and I later agreed not to tell
Addis that we have had hotter Tabasco sauce). Elder grow and I had
fasted in preparation for this experience, so we could at least
stomach a few bites. I gagged a few times towards the end of the meal,
but I forced everything down. It actually didn't taste too bad at
first. Just the thought of eating Kitfu made me slow down.
Luckily, my companion pointed out that someone else in the restaurant
was eating an entire fried mysteryfish. Had he not, Addis wouldn't
have so quickly ordered one for us to eat. The waitresses hastily
slapped a crispy sea creature in front of us, anxious to see how the
timid Americans would react. We used our hands to dig into the scaly
sides of the fresh water fish. Surprisingly, it tasted really good. My
companion ate a bone and some fish brain, but besides the gooey
treasures found in the fish carcass, it wasn't half bad.
We were out tracting late one cold night. I was tired. I was a little
disappointed at the lack of success we've been seeing. We stopped and
said a prayer to be guided towards those that are elect. We continued
knocking. I really seached out in my mind and my heart what The Lord
wanted us to do. An image popped into my mind of us walking in the
street just outside the apartment building we were in. I immediately
went there. I had no idea what to do, but I kept walking. I turned to
the right, and a small African American woman with a thick gray jacket
stood at the curb. I felt prompted to speak to her. We had an awesome
discussion. We gave her a Book of Mormon. I told her that God lead us
to her, that we had just said a prayer to find her. It was really
cool. We got all of her information on the iPad and we were off on our
merry way.
I've loved learning how the Spirit works with me. I know that it's one
of our responsibilities while we're on this earth. I know that God
expects us to follow His guidance so that we can be a blessing to
those around us, even if we don't see e end result.
We had a funny experience while street contacting this week. Elder
Grow and I spoke to this old couple carrying in groceries. We offers
to help, but they denied it. We tried to get to know them, but they
just wanted to argue. They looked so gentle from far away!
The husband, with a gold-tooth filled mouth spat, "how many wives you got?"
I answered, "I'm not even married."
"Don't lie to me, how many wives you got!"
"I'm only 18 years old. I'm not even married!"
We left without a return appointment. But we did leave with a good laugh.
Church was awesome! I felt like every message given that day was
designed especially for me. The Spirit gave me lots of instruction on
how I can become a better person. The speakers that day gave talks
about how we sometimes look at our failures and dismiss the blessings
that we received along the way. That's something that I need to work
on. I often compare my efforts against that of others. That isn't
right. I should be comparing and evaluating myself, to see if I've
improved. I need to recognize the good things that God has given me,
and exhaust them.
love you, have a great week!
Peace from the east to the weast,
Elder Handsome Hansen.