Hello!
Everything's kinduva a blur now. I'm not really keeping track of the
days - how long I've been out, how long I have left, etc. I'm content
enjoying the experiences I'm having here.
Every Monday night, we visit Sis. Booth. She lives in a mental health
care institution because she suffers from Schizophrenia and some other
disorders. She's a super sweet lady, and we love visiting with her.
She really needs it - she's sick of being locked up in there! She was
baptized when she was 19 when she lived in Manassas. She's been a
member for 7 years now. She's pretty sane for someone who's in a
mental hospital.
We visited her last Monday and had planned to teach the Restoration.
That kinda happened. We asked one of the facilitators if they could
unlock an office for us to chat, away from everyone else. To be
honest, Elder Johnson and I are a little skiddish entering the
fluorescent-lit hallways of the mental hospital. The walls, ceilings
and tile floors are all one terrifyingly normal eggshell white.
Patients shuffle past us muttering nonsense every time we go, and
there's usually a distant shout or two. We have a security escort to
and from Sis. Booth's room. Nothing's really going to happen to us, I
know we'll be fine in there, but still... Kinda creepy.
As soon as we start to visit with our friend, we see an African
American man standing outside the doorway (it's required to keep the
door open), waving at us madly. His name is Frank. He asks to join our
conversation, and Sis. Booth allows it.
Frank is funnier than that one Youtube video of the news reporter
smashing a large tub grapes with her feet, who falls over face first
and groans like an angry baboon for a solid 3 minutes. Funnier than
that. Frank will tell you exactly what is on his mind whenever there's
a silent second for him to interject. Usually what is on his mind
isn't 'PG.' I'll keep those moments to myself, for the sake of public
decency.
We tried to teach the Restoration, but whenever we'd try to ask an
inspired question, Frank would whisper, 'I used to think Abraham
Lincoln was, you know... Jesus Christ,' and, 'Do you guys know of any
good caves around here?' When he would speak, he'd lean toward us in
his chair, eyes wide open. It was hilarious!
Throughout the week, we struggled meeting with investigators in our
area. They've either moved away, disappeared, or they're on 'spiritual
vacation.' But that's alright, we know God will not keep his elect
children who are ready to hear the gospel from us if we are ready to
receive them. Because of that, we're doing all we can to prepare
ourselves to tell them what they need to hear by obedience.
Strangely enough, our earnest prayers to find new people, teach and
baptized were answered in another form: online proselyting. In 1 1/2
hours, we found 5 new investigators, and taught 4 member present
lessons! Elder Johnson and I were so busy talking with people, we had
to rope in members of the church from Utah, Virginia and Wyoming to
help us teach. It was so awesome!! I could totally see us teaching at
least 40 member present lessons a week.
I posted a picture on 4 different 'I love Jesus Christ,' groups I had
joined, and I got like 250 likes, comments, and 15 or so shares. And
counting!! With all those people, we just started to message them,
asking if they wanted to learn about Jesus Christ. We usually get a
1/3 success rate.
One of our investigators, Pynshi, lives in Nepal and really wants to
learn more about the church. She was stoked to tell us when she
ordered a copy of the Book of Mormon online!
We're teaching people from all over the world: the Philippines, India,
Africa, and Europe. It's so crazy! This is the future of missionary
work. Eventually, we'll be calling missions in Nepal, Bangladesh,
Dhaka, and Liberia, telling they have someone who's received all the
lessons, has a baptismal date, and just needs to find a font and a
priesthood holder.
Because of our online efforts, The Lord is rewarding us with success
in our own proselyting area. We've set up 8 appointments this week - 3
with investigators, 1 lesson is with a member family who's invited
their neighbors to hear the discussions, and there's a part member
family who's son (30s) wants to get baptized.
Miracles are cropping up left and right, and I'm confident it's
because of your prayers, and our preparation. The Lord is Hastening
His work, and He will labor alongside the diligent and faithful.
(Jacob 5 is a killer missionary chapter! Please read it!)
I love you all! Thank you so much for all of your prayers on my behalf
- I really do feel lifted up because of that.
Elder Hansen
Sent from my iPad
Everything's kinduva a blur now. I'm not really keeping track of the
days - how long I've been out, how long I have left, etc. I'm content
enjoying the experiences I'm having here.
Every Monday night, we visit Sis. Booth. She lives in a mental health
care institution because she suffers from Schizophrenia and some other
disorders. She's a super sweet lady, and we love visiting with her.
She really needs it - she's sick of being locked up in there! She was
baptized when she was 19 when she lived in Manassas. She's been a
member for 7 years now. She's pretty sane for someone who's in a
mental hospital.
We visited her last Monday and had planned to teach the Restoration.
That kinda happened. We asked one of the facilitators if they could
unlock an office for us to chat, away from everyone else. To be
honest, Elder Johnson and I are a little skiddish entering the
fluorescent-lit hallways of the mental hospital. The walls, ceilings
and tile floors are all one terrifyingly normal eggshell white.
Patients shuffle past us muttering nonsense every time we go, and
there's usually a distant shout or two. We have a security escort to
and from Sis. Booth's room. Nothing's really going to happen to us, I
know we'll be fine in there, but still... Kinda creepy.
As soon as we start to visit with our friend, we see an African
American man standing outside the doorway (it's required to keep the
door open), waving at us madly. His name is Frank. He asks to join our
conversation, and Sis. Booth allows it.
Frank is funnier than that one Youtube video of the news reporter
smashing a large tub grapes with her feet, who falls over face first
and groans like an angry baboon for a solid 3 minutes. Funnier than
that. Frank will tell you exactly what is on his mind whenever there's
a silent second for him to interject. Usually what is on his mind
isn't 'PG.' I'll keep those moments to myself, for the sake of public
decency.
We tried to teach the Restoration, but whenever we'd try to ask an
inspired question, Frank would whisper, 'I used to think Abraham
Lincoln was, you know... Jesus Christ,' and, 'Do you guys know of any
good caves around here?' When he would speak, he'd lean toward us in
his chair, eyes wide open. It was hilarious!
Throughout the week, we struggled meeting with investigators in our
area. They've either moved away, disappeared, or they're on 'spiritual
vacation.' But that's alright, we know God will not keep his elect
children who are ready to hear the gospel from us if we are ready to
receive them. Because of that, we're doing all we can to prepare
ourselves to tell them what they need to hear by obedience.
Strangely enough, our earnest prayers to find new people, teach and
baptized were answered in another form: online proselyting. In 1 1/2
hours, we found 5 new investigators, and taught 4 member present
lessons! Elder Johnson and I were so busy talking with people, we had
to rope in members of the church from Utah, Virginia and Wyoming to
help us teach. It was so awesome!! I could totally see us teaching at
least 40 member present lessons a week.
I posted a picture on 4 different 'I love Jesus Christ,' groups I had
joined, and I got like 250 likes, comments, and 15 or so shares. And
counting!! With all those people, we just started to message them,
asking if they wanted to learn about Jesus Christ. We usually get a
1/3 success rate.
One of our investigators, Pynshi, lives in Nepal and really wants to
learn more about the church. She was stoked to tell us when she
ordered a copy of the Book of Mormon online!
We're teaching people from all over the world: the Philippines, India,
Africa, and Europe. It's so crazy! This is the future of missionary
work. Eventually, we'll be calling missions in Nepal, Bangladesh,
Dhaka, and Liberia, telling they have someone who's received all the
lessons, has a baptismal date, and just needs to find a font and a
priesthood holder.
Because of our online efforts, The Lord is rewarding us with success
in our own proselyting area. We've set up 8 appointments this week - 3
with investigators, 1 lesson is with a member family who's invited
their neighbors to hear the discussions, and there's a part member
family who's son (30s) wants to get baptized.
Miracles are cropping up left and right, and I'm confident it's
because of your prayers, and our preparation. The Lord is Hastening
His work, and He will labor alongside the diligent and faithful.
(Jacob 5 is a killer missionary chapter! Please read it!)
I love you all! Thank you so much for all of your prayers on my behalf
- I really do feel lifted up because of that.
Elder Hansen
Sent from my iPad