shane's homcoming

Shane's homecoming was a few weeks ago and he did a fantastic job! He spoke for 45 minutes! That would have never happened before his mission. He didn't even skip a beat!

After the meeting, we had a little luncheon for him. It was great to see family and friends!

Everyone is thrilled that Shane is home!

the airport

shane's home!!

Remember how I told you Shane was home?! Well it's TRUE!!

He came home last weekend and I am LOVING having him home!

We all went to the airport to greet him. It was the LONGEST car ride to the airport EVER! I seriously thought I was going to vomit...I think I actually did...in my mouth. 

AND! I was only hysterical for just a few minutes and then I gained my composure. 

Between myself and Shane's friend, Abbi, we took like 150 pictures.SO....I made some collages for you to enjoy!

This was the first thing he did when he got home! Straight to the fridge!

Shane is still the same Shane. It's so wonderful! When we first saw him he was like, "What's up guys?" Like we just barely saw him! The poor kid was freezing too! He wore his winter coat all weekend! And his feet! Oh my land! His feet were so gross! Don't worry my mom took him to get a pedicure this week!

It was so great to have both brothers together again. I love watching them interact. We stayed up til 1 am talking and laughing. I love loving it!

Can't wait for his homecoming this weekend!

sister terry's e-mail

Brother and Sister Hansen,

Well, we put Shane on the plane from Labasa to Suva on Wednesday, and he will be leaving Nadi tonight to begin his journey home. Before we left he asked if we would send some recent pictures we took because for some reason his camera wasn't working correctly.  So, as we promised him, I am sending them to you.  I may have to send in two batches because there are 18 of them.

We wanted to share with you, too how much we love your son.  He was an amazing missionary out here and is an amazing young man.  He was one of the best out here and was one of our greatest joys, too.  How we loved serving him as he served the Lord.  He came to our area shortly after we arrived and we fell in love with him immediately.  When he left the first time it was hard to say "good-bye" but we knew we would see him again in the mission field.  When he was sent back to Vanua Levu as a zone leader, we were so happy.  We were so proud of him, too!!

We really can't say enough good about him.  But, one thing we want to share with you is what an example he was to other elders when dealing with sister missionaries.  Most elders are so uncomfortable around them that they ignore them basically.  Not Elder Hansen.  One day we were having lunch in Savusavu after a meeting and we had made room for the sisters at our table but they decided to sit by themselves.  There was room at their table for elders to sit but none of them did.  Elder Hansen looked up and saw they were sitting by themselves and he went to sit with them, eating his lunch with them and talking to them with ease.  That said everything to me about the type of young man he was.  I was so proud of him that day, as I have been every day.  Some days there was just those special moments that made something stand out.

Thank you for sharing your son with this mission.  Everyone he knew was touched by him and his love for his Heavenly Father.  I have never heard anyone say anything negative about him.  The missionaries loved him and he was a great example for them.  As he makes his way home, I know there will be some sadness for him and maybe some apprehension, too.  But, he was ready to come home and ready to get on with his life.  He isn't sure what he should study in college but he'll get there.  We encouraged him to pursue what he loved and he will be great at whatever he chooses.  

We will keep in touch with him and will come to see him when we get home ourselves.  4+ months and we'll return to our life in the states.  We know Elder Hansen will always be a part of it.

Please give him our love when he gets home.  Tell him that he is missed here by everyone already.  And please tell him that he was an extraordinary missionary.  Congratulations on his return!!  We know how much you have missed him.

Love,

Sister Terry

blue crew testimony

Blue Crew:

Well my boys that was the fastest two years ever! It has been one amazing experience, one I never thought I was good enough for. I am not really a man of words, but just want to thank all of you for your examples and helping me get on the right track. I look back now and you guys were a big part of helping me getting on a mission. I am eternally grateful for all of you and know that we are all family and to let nothing stop our goals and dreams...The Blue Crew gang is the latter day army of Helaman. We obey with exactness, and listen to what our mothers say. We help each other, if one gets knocked down, the others pull him up. I was knocked down many times, but you guys were always there to bring me back up. I look up to every one of you and love you all very much. To all of the parents, I thank all of you for your support and encouragement. We wouldn’t be who we are if it wasn’t for all of our parents. I am excited to be back with you guys, even though most of you won’t even be there when I get back, but I guess I’ll wait! I know our Heavenly Father and our Savior lives. They know us and love us so much. They want the best for us and have given us the resources for us to be the best we can. I know this is the true Church of Jesus Christ. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that we have a living prophet today, even Thomas S. Monson. I love you all! My father always said he would never trade his membership in the Church for anything else in the world, now I understand what he means. Love you all! See you soon! Moce toka na noqu matavuvale lomani!

Elder Hansen 

week 104

Well Bula Vinaka my family! 

The time has come....Alot sooner than I thought! It’s been crazy thinking about my first week in Fiji and now...It’s weird! I dont really know what to write! Haha It’s definitely a bittersweet feeling! Its going to be nice to come home, but I am going to miss Fiji and the people so much! I am going to miss the calling that we hold as missionaries. That is one really cool thing, that everyone knows who you are and what you do. To be recognized as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is an honor. It is something that at times, I felt like I am not good enough for it, but the Lord has helped me in all of those times. He just wants us to be obedient, humble, and willing. He will qualify us. I still feel like the same retarded ole Shane, but theres definitely been a change. Like I have said before, serving in Fiji is not what I expected. Zajac and I were talking about it today, it’s going to be weird not going into a grocery store that just blasts music all the time. Haha it’s like a night club in the store!  Lots of things I am going to miss, but I really want to save money and come back sometime. But yeah I am excited to see you guys again. Things I have really missed...I can’t think of right now, I go into modes, right now I just want to eat Fijian food but I don’t know I’ll let you know. I’m sure I will call in LA and let you know but I will probably just go crash in bed haha.

Well this week was a good week. We did our two ZTMs on The Book of Mormon. It went well, pretty much all of the Taveuni elders were sick, so the energy wasnt the greatest but they still did well. We left on Wednesday to Taveuni and came back Friday morning. The Terrys went with us also. It was fun. Sis Terry isn’t excited for me to leave haha.  So yeah we pretty much drove all the way down the island and around the island. I think we were the first to ever do it. Zajac served there first and he has never heard of anyone doing what we did. I can tell you about that later. So yeah we did some good exchanges with the Elders in Vuna. Transfers just happened and we have opened another area in Taveuni. So a couple months ago around there were just 4 elders and then 6 and now there will be 8. Supposedly 20+ missionaries are coming in September. I have no idea where they will put them all. But yeah, so we got back and both really tired. We did some planning and went to visit people. We made cinnamon rolls on Saturday and Sunday. Zajac is a cook and likes to try things. They were way good! Today, we are having a farewell thing out in Vunivesi. I am stoked, it’s going to be a full feast!!!  Oh yeah one bad thing happened...My camera is messed up now. All of a sudden last week it just got messed up...no good! I have been taking pictures with Zajacs camera and putting them on my USB.  So I’ll have to buy a new camera when I get back.

Yesterday was my last Sunday obviously...honestly, it will be nice to go to a real chapel and be in classes and sacrament where people actually listen haha, but I will miss all the random things that happen, just dogs and chickens running around and what not.  You remember that member I told you about that likes to talk about Dinosaurs?? In Sunday school we were talking about the Sabbath day observance and he asked if it was ok to kill ants on Sunday....yes dead serious question.....feed animals was thrown in there somewhere. I have been truly humbled and grateful for the knowledge I have, even if it is not much! haha The church is still true! 

So yeah it’s been a good week. Tomorrow we will have a little party here in Savusavu, then Wednesday I fly to Suva, have last interview, temple,  and then Saturday night I think we fly out....So yeah, it’s crazy. Too fast! I am excited to go home, you know it’s just the next chapter in life, just whatever I do next, just do it the best I can. We learn from the past and improve for the future. Any idea what the Bishop wants me to talk on?? It’s going to be weird to speak again in church. That’s not my comfort place anymore! A real microphone, a real chapel, a ton of people, a ton of white people, carpet, thats all foreign to me!! It’s going to be way weird.

So whats the plan for next week? What do you guys want to do?? I don’t know what else to say right now...so I love you guys! Thank you very much for supporting me and paying for my mission! You guys are awesome! I am excited to hang out with you guys again! See you soon!!!

Elder Hansen