WEEK #13

It has been somewhat of a crazy week here. First of all, I have officially finished a whole transfer in the field and am half way done with my training. It does not feel like I have been here for anywhere near 6 weeks though. Fuahhh, the mission really is so sick, its so hard at times, but the people you meet and the friendships you make are so worth it on its own. Well anyway, this transfer my companionship stayed the exact same since he is training me, but I was pretty happy cause Elder Moffitt is way chill. But our zone changed a ton so Im excited to meet all of these new people.

On Sunday morning we baptized a Peruana named Claudia, but as we walked into the church building Sunday morning we noticed we kinda flooded the whole place cause we thought somebody else was going to show up to turn off the water. So yeah it was kind of embarrassing, but we baptized the whole church too. Ahhh haha it was so bad. But the spirit was still there so strong for the baptism, she is definitely going to be a solid convert. And this is how missionaries get addicted to the work, there is such a good feeling.

Now for more of a depressing story. Somehow with only eating like one meal everyday, I have gained 10 pounds in the last month. Then we did the math and Im going to be over 300 lbs at my homecoming at the rate Im going haha. Argentine food really is just so good though.

Well rather than that this week was really just trying to search for new people. I dont know why but for some reason the whole mission is just struggling at finding new investigadors. Im sure its just a bad streak and a test, and we will find those escojidos ( chosen ones) that god has prepped for us as long as we keep working at it. 

 

We found some Peanut Butter which is a big deal in South America I guess  

 ¡RIOT! 

 

WEEK #12

Hmmmm, where to start with this week. No joke, all the days just run together. So, I dont know when things happen. The mish is so busy. Things are going great in some aspects, and not so great in others. Personally, with learning the language and culture and just things like that are going great. One thing though, I feel like an idiot every time I eat. Cause they get all the meat off the bone with a fork and a butter knife, and I can't really use my left hand when I eat so they all make fun of me saying "jaja yankee, elder moffitt ayadale" So, yeah they are just telling my comp. to help me or they just give me a weird look with everything haha Yeah, I can't really explain it (they eat fried chicken with a fork and knife... how are you supposed to do that?). I'm starting to communicate and participate more, sometimes I have no idea what they say still, or even what I just said. But thats the thing, it doesnt really matter what I just said cause the spirit testifies either way. But yeah, we are having hard times finding new people which is really the only bummer of the week. Nobody wants anything to with the Mormons, but thats alright, I'm sure its just a test of patience. Which is something I really don't have much of, one of my many flaws. So, this week was a lot of walking and contacting, trying to find the escojidos ( or chosen ones) that have been waiting for the message of the restored gospel. This transfer is already almost over which is nuts. I feel like I just barely arrived still. So, Elder Moffitt and I will be waiting on a call sometime during this next week to see if he gets transferred, which would be super sad. I don't know, it would just be weird to finish my training with somebody else. So, keep your fingers crossed for me please!

Oh, and sorry that I suck at taking pictures, I think I might still have one or two with my district or something. I will focus on having more next week, promise.

WEEK #11

Man, time really does fly in the mission field. I swear I was just writing like 2 days ago. And all my days kinda run together but yeah, I dont know. Finally had my first baptism and there really is no better feeling. My companion did the baptism and I did the confirmation. Which, by the way, I had to do in Spanish, in sacrament meeting, in front of the whole ward, but it went awesome; I think. I dont know, Spanish is just weird. No better feeling than seeing the change in your investigador, and I hope that I'll be able to see it as many times as possible over these next 2 years. But really, this girl, Valeria, started out just crazy. Piercing everywhere, drugs, and has really just been through like, it all. And as soon as she realized what this gospel could do for her and her family, she changed. She was really converted to the gospel. And now just accepted a call as the laurels president. 

Man, still struggling with the humidity and the language a bit though haha. I have definitely improved, but my most used word is still "¿como?" and "¿que?" cause sometimes they need to repeat it like 10 times before I really understand haha. I know or at least hope that it will come with time. Other than that, we are just trying to walk the streets and find the escojidos, because I know God has prepared people for us. They need the gospel in their lives.

 

Well, much love,

Elder Hansen

WEEK #10

Man, again stressing how blessing you all are to be living in the States, I have been craving a juicy burger with a Dr Pepper and they dont have either of those here! But really, this last week has been kind of crazy. First of all, our power went out the first half of the week. And we dont have a/c, only fans which dont work without power. So our pension was literally a sauna. Which leads to opening windows. Which leads to mosquitos and about 30 bites. So, that part kinda sucked. Oh, hahah and some of the people who also didnt have power thought it would help to go riot so they blocked traffic all night banging on garbage cans and stuff, I thought it was pretty funny. Im starting to gain a bit more confindence with everything as I learn the language, but I still really dont understand what they say, still. So, half the time they ask me a question I just stare at them and they never get their answer. But really, I'm so hyped to get the language down and just talk with EVERYBODY. Don't get me wrong, I make Argentina sound so bad, but honestly I have already met so many genuinely nice people that are always trying to help us. Its cool to see your love for your investigadors grow. Even though I dont understand half of what comes out of their mouths at time, I still feel their spirits and personalities. And you always walk out with a smile on your face as you see them start to change their lives for the better. Like the Mission is the weirdest thing on Earth; It's already been so hard, but I have already had some of the best feelings I have ever felt as well. Well, anyway all is well in Argentina! I should have a picture and story of a baptism next week!

Love, Elder Hansen

la capilla

Surgery on my tie, maybe my first time ever sewing.

WEEK #9

It's really not as relaxed on pday as you would hope cause you have so much prepping to do for the next week.... and asadas ( steak barbecue) and also some soccer. So because of that, I dont really have much time for typing today. Oh, and I forgot my SD card so no photos this week, but I'll send twice as many next week.

 This last week I learned a ton of just about anything. Culture, Spanish, Doctrine, the fact that you have to have a favorite futbol team (Either Boca or River but the correct choice was obviously Boca.) Just everything. Everything is great here, really different, but great. I had the chance to go on splits with an elder named Elder Rogers and teach in a villa. If you dont know what it is really, google villas in Argentina or something cause its nutz. But I was too scared to take out my camera. haha. It was kinda sketchy. It's really different from where I am at though, I'm in an area called Villa Crespo, which is right in the middle of the city. Some people consider it a rich area but in all honesty, I don't think there is anywhere in the states where the people have to live like this. So, really just know what a blessing we have of living and growing up in the states.
 I'm getting used to the Bidet, its kinda nice. lol. But life here is just completely different. Way too much to even begin to explain. Colectivos (Bus system) everywhere. Whole families live in tiny rooms. Oh, and taken houses is the translation for them, when people go into abandoned houses or buildings and just start living there for free so eventually you have 300 people in one building just cause it literally doesn't cost a dime, and it smells bad. But we taught in an abandoned school that had like 80 crazy little kids running around and just living in the halls, and they really don't even have a house, its just families lined up in the halls of this school, yet they are so happy still. It's really such a cool thing to see. Sorry, I suck at explaining things. haha. Hopefully, you will be hearing about a baptism in the next few weeks! My asada is about to start so I gotta go, but love and miss all you Americans!

Elder Hansen

WEEK #7/8 Officially in Argentina!

Wow, this week has been so crazy, I dont even know where to start! I finally made it to Argentina Tuesday morning and jumped straight into the work. Well tried to jump straight into the work but I literally dont understand a single thing anybody is saying to me. People joke around saying "thats not the language they taught me in the mtc" but I can honestly say this is a whole different language. lol. Yeah, it's testing my patience a little bit learning a new language. But, I made it. My mission pres. is so cool, on the first day I got there, we raced eachother on ripsticks and I don't think there is any other missionary that can say they beat their mission pres. in a ripstick race.

Argentina is so much different than the States. I could probably name more differences than similarities for sure. Their food is great, but dessert sucks. In my opinion, anyway. They like pan dulce which is basically like bread with nasty chewy fruit chunks in it. And their Flan makes me wanna throw up cause of the texture. And if they offer you soda, that means carbonated water, which is gross. But at every house they offer you coke too, which is definitely a positive. Coke is really like the only soda here and its huge, everybody has coke.

Hmmm, another difference.. No toilet paper, but they have another thing that kinda looks like a toilet that just sprays your butt with water and your good to go. Thats pretty cool.

Everybody has a dog. And when they take their dog out, they just take it out to the sidewalk. So there is dog crap everywhere!

If your American, your automatically super rich. So yeah, I've already had a guy offer all 7 of his daughters to marry me just cause I'm American. Weird, I really didnt know how to react.

Yeah, I dont know, it's super humbling being here. Like, we went and taught at a house that was maybe a little bigger than my room at home, with 7 people living in it! And there were holes all over in the walls and just so crowded. So be grateful for living in the states, cause you're really so blessed.

Ahhhhh, my comp. His name is Elder Moffitt. He's a white kid from St. George and he's literally helping me out so much. Well, he's basically doing all of it cause, like I said, I dont understand a word really. It's a  rare thing for me to understand a complete sentence and it kinda sucks.

Well, yeah hopefully I pick up everything soon. The mission might be the realest thing I have ever done. It's so difficult but I know it will also be the most rewarding.

 

 Love all of you.

Elder Hansen

Elder Cruz y yo

 

 

Home sweet home

 

 Mi compañero Elder Moffitt

 

 ¡Buenos Aires!

WEEK #6

It was a great week in the MTC! But I do have to say I'm pretty excited to be leaving in only 2 days. Things are finally starting to get real which is kinda nerve racking but I really am so pumped to start learning and teaching down in Argentina. Partly nervous cause I emailed Grant in Spanish and he typed back telling me I'm the biggest gringo, which isn't super encouraging. But I hope everybody had a good Christmas! Christmas was definitely a different experience for me, but I wouldn't say it was a bad experience either. wellll, it was alright lol. We got to hear from another general authority though, Russel M. Nelson! His talk was great and way encouraging for the mish field. I guess we are pretty blessed to have listened to 3 different apostles while here in the MTC. I also got to talk with the fam, which was fantastic, I really just missed their voices so much. And I get to call again at the airport so that's a bonus. I started packing and it's going to take a miracle to repack and make weight so everybody please pray for my packing.. Pleaaaasssseeee! It's weird how fast you become close with people too, it's going to be sad saying bye to some of my closest homies, but oh well I guess we can just chill after the mish too, right. Hopefully my emails start getting a little bit more eventful when I'm in the field haha sorry. Until next week in Argentina!

Much love, Elder Hansen

 

Number 1 homie Elder Peterson de Logan, Utah

 Christmas morning with the gang!