week 61

What's good!? So guess what!? Melanie emailed me!!(Melanie was our cute
waitress at the restaurant in Manti. We gave her Shane's email) Haha I
haven't read it yet but YEAH!!! Well How is it? Man Keaton!! I was wondering
when he comes home. That's crazy! Dad you are becoming a big boy on that
bike! That's awesome! Yeah sorry it was short last week. It was crazy! We
didn't hit 30 this week. We had 23, we had a lot of fall throughs this week
but 30 is our goal for this week so hopefully we can keep getting it. We had
2 new investigators this week. We have been good at finding at least one
every week but the English ward is where we are having trouble finding new
investigators. It is an interesting situation though. It was a referral and
they are bomb investigators!! They are soo good...They want to change and
the things we have shared so far make a lot of sense but.....They are
"partners". Hint hint...They are girls and like 30-40 years old. Haha so I

need to talk to president to see what we need to do or how to approach it.

The member was like I need to warn you, they are gay. I was like uhhh okkk.
So I am not sure what the situation will be but yeah, they are way cool
though. I guess everyone points at them and doesn't talk to them in their
church and what not so the member was like they need to be loved too. So

we'll see! Work is doing good! We have some baptisms coming up in the next

couple weeks. Billy the soldier is doing awesome! We just need to get him to
come to church. He is almost done with the whole Book of Mormon. He loves
the Book of Mormon. So in the Fiji times last week, this author from Utah I
think, had this article about the church and Joseph Smith and all this. She
and her husband are returned missionaries and sealed in the temple. This
article was straight garbage! It even had a pic of garments in it too. It
was in the Fiji newspaper! That kind of stuff doesn't happen very often if
ever here in Fiji. So we have been hearing all this stuff about the article
and Billy actually asked us about it but luckily he didn't believe it. It
was dumb! I went on exchanges with the ZL's this past week too. I went with
Elder Seila, he is the best Fijian missionary and one of the best, period!
He is like 30 years old...He's the man! It was good going with him. I
learned a lot from him about teaching and what not. So that was good.
District is doing good, Sisters are fine now, I think. I was taking numbers
and they didn't have a good week so I was just trying to help them and what
not and one of them was like, You're the best!!! Haha She said I always help

them and inspire them so at least I am helping one person! We set our zone

and district goals for the year. I am not very good at goals but we are
doing it in a way that I think will help me a lot. I don't remember if I
told you about this or not but it's a sweet story! So this guy was about to

die and he said he had a dream that he was on an airplane and everyone on

the plane was in white. The attendant asked him if he had a passport and he

said no...then asked do you have a temple recommend? He said yes...the

attendant said That is your passport. It was soo sweet to hear and think
about that! Our temple recommend is like a passport to Heavenly Father. That
needs to be our goal is to always be able to hold a temple recommend. Just a
cool story, I might have told you before but yeah. I read the Liahona this

month and it was bomb! Two talks I really liked were about always being in

the middle and the one about plan A and plan B. We are always in the middle!
Forget about yesterday, don't worry about tomorrow, focus on today and be in
the middle and tomorrow will be ok. Just a ton of stuff from it! When plan A
doesn't work out, we at times, complain and ask why? we shouldn't complain

and keep our faith and live the gospel and plan B will work out! I highly
encourage you guys to read this months, it was awesome! Uhh what else?? Yeah

ha so we went to priesthood in Wailoku. I was like who is the teacher? Then
they said you are. I just laughed and we started then the guy goes, ok I'll
give the time to the elders for the lesson...haha that's how it is in Fiji!
It was good though. It was about the Immortality of the soul in the George
Albert Smith book. It was a really good lesson actually. SO yeah, so this is

the story of the week!! It happened last night and two pics of my finger and

the sulu are from what happened. So we go to see an investigator and they
have dogs. We pull up like normal and 2 dogs were barking..normal, nothing
new, so we started walking up the drive way and they were still barking and

then all of a sudden, 3-4 more dogs come around the corner at full speed
right at me! Fijian trick is you bend down like your grabbing a rock and

they will stop because they know you are going to throw a rock at them.
Well, this time it didn't work! They didn't stop! I tried twice and I was

like crap crap crap!! Hahaha I get owned by like 6 dogs!!! One dog jumped at
me and bit my sulu and ripped it and I just started running trying to get
them off me and I am looking forward at the dogs and running

backwards...next thing, WHACK!!!! I run directly into a car!!! The car alarm

goes off, they dogs get scared and run away...the people we were going to
see get all freaked out and come out and see that it is us...I walk back to
them and was like "Hey guys! How is it!? Haha like nothing happened! I look
down and my finger is covered in blood, from when I tried to get a rock and
I scrapped my finger...haha it was intense!!!! Tremea was just standing
there and he said the only thought that came to his head was "Crap crap crap

crap! Ok it's over! He just watched me get attacked! It was pretty funny and
intense!! It's all good though, just cut my finger off and we're good! haha

jk but yeah it was my favorite sulu that dog bit too! I was lucky they

didn't actually bite me. I was thinking what if I fell when I hit the car
haha that would have been bad! I hit the car hard man! It moved forward. I
felt like I was in football again! So yeah that was the crazy story of the
week. It was legit! Well, this one is a little longer this week! Work is going good! Hoping to see some baptisms in the next few weeks! All is well!
Love you all! Keep it real! Moce mada!

Elder Hansen

week 60

Family!! That is ridiculous about Cottonwood!!! I leave for 1-2 years and

looks what happened!!! That is crazy!!! That is sweet about the Melanie
girl! I am excited!! Way to do work my parents!! Keep doing it!(we gave our
cute waitress in Manti Shane's email. She was  adorable and may be coming to
BYU next year)  Well things here are good!! We had the busiest week of my

mission..by far!!!! But I will answer Dads questions first...We have us,

Nasinu Elders and Samabula Sisters. We had some girl drama this morning with
the sisters but it went up to President. Ha, that's the only catch about
being a DL, sisters who dont get along! Investigators...a lot!
Dinner...everyday, Mission Leader...not bad. We are trying to work with them
more and more. Car no truck unfortunately. It's very nice to have car! So

yeah, so my highest numbers of lessons in a week is 16 until this week!! We
had 30 lessons this week!! Absolutely crazy!! Soo many people to know who

they are and where they live in just one week! Luckily, we have had some
bomb members who go with us. One of them has only been a member for 6
months. Ha, he has keys to the chapel (first chapel in my mission by the
way) It is soo legit! In the Tamavua 1st ward and Wailoku,  you can just

feel and see the desire for missionary work and its awesome!! Tamavua 2nd

doesn't have that so we are trying to find some ways to fix it! We are
hoping for quite a few baptisms this month. We just need to get them to
church! So yeah it's been way busy! Plus with all the DL duties and all, its
been way busy! I like it though! An opportunity to learn! Especially time
management which I am not good at especially coming from my 2 past areas. My
studies were not very good this week. That was the down side. We had two
missionaries stay with us so we had to take them back and forth to places
they need to be. One is in the hospital from the Marshall Islands and one is
going home from New Caledonia. So that is something I am working on this

next week! So be on time for everything and effective studies! Tremea is
doing really well! He is improving every week! He has such a positive

attitude and wants to work! So we are just doing work! I am almost in single

digits! Too fast!!! No time to waste!!! Do work everyday!! oh yeah...we got

hit on biiiiggggg time!!!! These girls from Taveuni... thats where the
trouble girls are, we were teaching them and they hit on us bad!!! We
haven't been back! I am not going to say what they said! You should have
seen Tremea when I told him what they said. He didn't understand them.  Soo

funny!! Well all is well! Have fun! Do work!! Have adventures! Love you
all!! Moce mada!

Elder Hansen

week 59

Ni sa bula vinaka kemudou na noqu matavuvale!

That's crazy about Mike! That's soo crazy!! That's way sad man! I didn't get

way close with him but he was a way nice guy. Sorry the Jett pics haven't

happened yet, this week. It wasn't the greatest weather this week and we

need to do it on a clear sunny day! Dad, you are on your way to being a

whole new man with this fishing deal! haha I like though! Don't hurt MY

truck! haha Well we have had a very very interesting week my family! First I

forgot to tell you that we had zone conference last week...It was an ok one.

A few things I did like a lot though were about stewardship. Our role in

that and what we have stewardship over. Time also, which I will need to

master very very soon! I'll tell you in a minute.Time is money! If we had

extra money left over or just money period, you wouldn't waste it, would

you? NO! Same thing with time, we can't just waste it and when we have extra

time we need to find things productive to do! We talked about keeping recent

converts active and how Pres. Hinckley said the three things for a recent

convert...Friend, responsibility, and nourished by the good word of God. How

important these things are and how every single recent convert needs this.

We compared it how if a family had 3 kids and 2 of them died, we wouldn't

say...yeah!! I still have one!! No we would be devastated and what not.

That's how Heavenly Father is...he isn't happy when only some come back to

Him. He is devastated when some don't go back to Him and what not. It was

very good. The last section of PMG is about the commitment to stay active in

the church and I never really noticed or thought about it like that. No

wonder why it's the very last thing in PMG. Pres. Klingler did a training on

"Who do we think we are"?  and "Identity". It was really good. Identity

comes from your values and beliefs, then your attitude, then your actions,

and then that's the reality of who we are....It was very interesting to

think about that. It starts from our beliefs and values...In our beliefs and

values...the reality should be Christ is our identity...That's who we

are...We are disciples of Christ and everything we do, should be like Him.

It was pretty cool to think about. I also heard a sweet quote too. "Any two

people can do anything they want as long as one of them is Christ." BOOM!!

It was like the game 7 game winning grand slam! Haha, It was sweet when I

heard it. So yeah that was zone conference. My interview with President was

good too. It's always short! He did say though that he has always thought

our intake was special, being the first ones they met. Haha, yeah that's

right! So yeah...That's what the pics are from. So the week was ok this

week, for the first month. We average about 13 lessons every week. That's

pretty dang good for a walking area and starting from scratch. Every week we

have had soo many fall thru's where we could get 20 lessons a week. We have

found at least 1 or 2 new investigators each week. Two less actives that

haven't been to church for a long time came yesterday! I was soo happy man!

One of them I was just joking around with and like hey I'll see you Sunday

at church and she came! The other one, Elder Tremea and I wanted to start

working with but he came on his own and said he wants to start his mission

papers... ha it was way random! I don't know what changed but it's good! We

are going to really help him and work with him now. Oh yeah, at church

too...Sister Solomone, wife of the ward mission leader(Spiritual giant guy),

she gave a talk on Motherhood and laid it down hard!!! It was sooo bomb!! We

talked about fathers last week you know and this week she talked on Mothers.

It was sweet!!! She was like you know I don't except this saying that

everyone says.."Boys are just being boys". They are not just boys!!! They

are children of Heavenly Father and are soon to be or are priesthood

holders! It was soo sweet! Yeah fun fact! Soo this is the big news of the

week. Transfers came in this week...Both of us are still staying

here....Estill is now ZL is Suva...we have followed each other the whole

time, so its sweet. BUT... In Tremeas interview President said "I feel that

soon you will have so much work that you won't have time for it".  We were

like yeah that would be sweet! But never thought much of it. Well we now

know why he said that! We are now covering two more wards AND we have a car

AND I am now District Leader! Haha, I think at this moment, next to the

AP's, I am the busiest Elder in the mission! President asked me today if I

have ever taught 40 lessons in a week. I was like uhhh nope but I would sure

be happy to!!! So he said that our goal now is 40 lessons! No idea how we

are going to do it but we will do it!! There were two elders in Tamavua 1

(Fijian ward) and Wailoku (English ward) and they were doing really well! So

many investigators, they were averaging 19 a week. So we are white washing

again 2 more wards. We will have 3 wards and dinner up the ying yang and we

are going to be soooo busy!!! Talk about learning how to plan! It's going to

be nuts!! We just need to figure all this stuff out and try to make time the

most effective. I'm excited! Being district leader will be a good experience

except all the things the AP's don't have time for, they ask us, so its kind

lame but oh well! Ha like tonight, two elders from Kiribis are sleeping in

our flat for a couple days. So it's going to be insane for the first couple

weeks. So we gotta do as much work as we can! So I am excited, it will be

busy, but it was be fun! Wailoku is a way cool area too...more bush type and

some waterfalls, I guess there too. So we will see what happens! That's all

the news I have for you this week! Love you all!!

Vakaukauwa tiko! Keep going strong! Moce!

Elder Hansen

week 58

Whats crackin fam?? Just chillin here in downtown Suva, just ate and a
McDonalds ice cream cone...DELICIOUS! Man sounds very good there!! Running
for us didnt happen this week ha it rained almost everyday this week ha it
was a bummer. Dad the answer to the two questions...Testimony on a
scale.....Lets just put it this way...It has grown a whoooolllllleeeeeeeee
lot!!!! But we cant stop once we think we have a good one....we need to do
more and more to stregthen it! Thats what I am trying my best to do! But yes
it has grown a ton!! Things I am grateful for are all of you. Not going to
lie, I have never really been homesick but I am grateful for the things you
have done for me and taught me! I am also very grateful for scripture. Elder
Tremea and I always talk about how awesome they are! I love it! The list
goes on and on! I am grateful for the gospel and for Heavenly Father and
Jesus Christ. I studied Mosiah 2 the other day and verses 21 and 22 just
talk about how God gave us life, supports us, and just how much he loves us
and cares for us, Jesus Christ for the atonement, the gospel, and just every
little thing in the church. Verse 22 says "All he requires of us is to keep
his commandments" Sometimes we complicate things and something so complex
like the gospel of Jesus Christ but its so simple at the same time. That is
something of God and its perfect. That's all he wants from us to keep his
commandments. Then it says if we do, he will bless us and we will prosper in
the land. I have come to know how true Gods promises are. When he says he
will do something if we do something...He will do it. D&C 82:10...so simple!
I always think why the heck can't I just do that every single time!?  We
know that God will bless us if we do it, so why dont we do it?? We are
stopping ourselves from the blessings but we are human, we arent perfect,
but the gospel is! So yeah! I hope that satifies you pops. If not, I will
try again next week! We didnt get 20 lessons, we had 14, but we had soooo
many fall through! We had 2 days where we had like 5 lessons planned, only
one happened. One of the days, the one lesson was one we didnt even plan to
have. So I think we are easily get it. We only saw two of our investigators
too, everyone was busy all last week, it was lame! We got two new
investigators this week, so it's good! We have had 3 weeks in a row where we
have found at least 1 investigator. It's been good! One is Kesi, we actually
talked with her little 5 year old son, who was in a tree haha then she came
out and we just started talking and her dad is a member but goes to the
Methodist now. He is the only one and he went back because of family
troubles. Her mom passed away a few years ago and we talked with her about
the Plan of Salvation and she said because of what she heard, she can
finally feel like she can let her go. She said it was very very hard for the
family and they dont celebrate Mother's day, she hates it! Her brother
always drinks on it and what not. So she is a very nice and humble lady, she
said she likes to ask questions and I am soo happy! She asked some about The
Book of Mormon and she was very happy that we cleared things up because
obviously she only hears things from nonmembers. So I am excited to start
teaching her. Hopefully bring her dad back too. We also have one who is a
husband of a less active. I have just been joking/seriously talking with her
about coming to church. Every time I see her I say ok I'll see you at church
on Sunday!! Haha she just laughs. But yesterday she promised me that she
will come this week and then her husband wants to take lessons too! So this
is a good opportunity to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Bring her back and her
husband. I guess his family hates the church and what not so we need to help
him with that. Sister Songari, the mother in law, she told him, yeah that
door might be closed if you join, but the door in heaven is always open so I
think that helped him. I was thinking about him this morning and thought of
the scripture in John...The truth shall make you free. So we'll see what
happens! One of our investigators Billy, the soldier, he called us and asked
if we would help him with his family history and I was like what!? How did
you know about that? Of course we will help! So we went with him to the
Family History Center and met with the people there so it was good. We saw
him later in the week  but he was drinking. Haha haven't taught him about
that yet! We saw a former investigator who was so so so so close to being
baptized and we asked what happened and once again we saw the work of the
old missionaries. She just wanted to because people were nice to her. She
said that not once had she ever read The Book of Mormon or prayed about it!
Not Once!!!!! How the heck were you going to be baptized?  Something I have
learned, as much as I want people to be baptized, I will not do it until
they know!!! Because what happens a few months later? They stop going for
good! Happens too much!! So yeah we saw Russell that 8 year old who is
ridiculously smart. We went to say hi to his dad and he was with his friends
drinking and smoking and we just asked him..Is there anything we can do to
help you?? Then he tells us, yeah only if you come join me, with a cigarette
and a beer in his hand. We just started laughing because he knows too. It
was funny. We also were approached by this guy who was hammered!! He asked
us what the meaning of the word Bible was. Elder Tremea answers a collection
of books and what not. He goes nope! Just goes on and on and on...Then he
says Basic.instruction. before.leaving.earth. haha thats the meaning! I
guess its from some movie! He was like you guys dont know the Bible! This
and that and Tremea was gettting heated! I was like ok the day you are good,
we will talk, but were going! Haha. Oh yeah we talked yesterday too. We were
asked Saturday night. I was asked to talk about a good priesthood example as
a father. Obviously I dont have experience in this but I talked about Dad of
course and then Lehi and Jacob. Dad, you're the man!! A lot of people
complemented me on it, so it was good. The 1st counselor also gave the ward
a little spiritual smackdown! Haha, he is australian too so it was kind of
weird coming from a rich white guy to a bunch of poor Fijians but he was
like ok at 9:00 there were 27 people (church starts at 9) At 930-940, there
were almost 60! What are you guys doing besides worshiping God in the
morning? We all know what time church starts, we all know the drill..what
else are you doing? If it is school or work, you all are on time, but on
Sundays, always late? The "Fiji Time" excuse wont hold up at the judgement
day! Haha, I was like MAN!!  It's true though but I just hope no one took it
the wrong way. So yeah that was the week, I am really hoping we can see all
of our investigators this next week! The pics are from the Fiji Museum. Well
love you all!! Take it easy! Keep working hard! Be happy!! Moce mada!

Elder Hansen

week 57

First off sorry I am way late this week!! This is the bad thing about not

having a car because we are on other peoples time so I'm sorry!! Sounds like
things are going good my family. I weighed myself today and I was like 193.
Haha. Elder Tremea and I have set a goal to start running at least 3 days a
week and be serious about it. I am not worried about lifting because that
will come. I just need to get my legs in better shape and get my stomach
down! So we both will be doing work! I havnt run into Qaroya guy, but I
think I might know who his brother is. Ill keep my eye out. Well the work
here in Suva is doing good. Mom we are actually in one of the nicest areas
in Fiji. We just don't work that much in the nicer parts..too much money,

too greedy, not humble! haha Ill take some pics of some houses so you can

see. Elder Tremea and I are doing good. It was a weird week this week. We
thought it was a rough week then we did numbers and we met almost all of our
goals. It poured this week and we walked so it wasnt the greatest but we
easily could have beaten our goals, just a lot of fall through's. We got 2

more invesitgators this week, the mother of Kalesita, the 22 year old girl,

and a little boy Russell who is 8. His brother got baptized last year and

his parents were like yeah he just turned 8 he needs to be baptized ahaha
uhh yes we can do that for you! We will take you down with him too!! haha jk

We are working on the parent. So yeah we have about 6 investigators (not
enough) but now we can really get working. Like it says in PMG you cant do
any work if you dont have anyone to teach. So yeah we excited for this week.
Two of the investigators we are planning to commit to baptism. PMG tells us

to commit after the first lesson, not necessarily to a date, but to commit.

We feel when we commit them, we will really see where they are at and want
to go. A lot of people here just want to have a "Bible study" and dont quite
understand why we are here. We are here to baptize and we need to make sure
that they understand that. So We are excited. Elder Tremea is doing good. He
had "coka" alot this week. Haha our toilet is plugged now but hes a trooper!
We are still walking everywhere, or buses or taxis. In the district,
everyone pretty much walks, DLs and ZLs have a car and there might be one
area in the district that has a bike. We don't see the ZLs or APs often,
just pday and district meeting. President is good. I have only seen him once
since I have been here. He has been in Vanuatu finishing up things for the
mission split. He's been there for like a week. So yeah things are good. I
feel like we have been in this area for a couple months but its only been
like 3 weeks.  Elder Myer, the AP, was actually saying today that we are
doing good for how long we have been here and maybe just as good when there
were missionaries there. Our goal is 20 lessons a week. We had 11 last week
and if there had been no fall through's probably very close to 20. So that
is our goal. I have never had 20 lessons in a week in my mission but we will
get it going! Church is good. Man it has been empty though, compared to what
everyone says. It's like a branch. I am not sure if people are out of town
or what but we taught the YSA sunday school class. It was really good. We
talked about Alma 13 and like foreordained callings and how we need to
fulfill the things we agreed to in the pre earth life in this life. How we

were worthy to receive those callings and how we need to remain worthy of

these callings, by faith, repentance, doing good works, and what not and if
we do, we will "enter into His rest" or the fullness of His glory. So it was

really good lesson! There are a few elders preparing for missions and we

applied it a lot to missionary work. Oh yeah I forgot to mention last week
for lunch we ate deep fried fat. Literally, it was just fat and deep fried.
It was definitely the worst thing anyone could have eaten. Haha oh well, I
still downed it! Sunday in sacrament a man from the High Council was talking
about sustaining. It was a really good talk and a few things I was thinking
about. In the church, all the callings are given to the weak and simple (D&C
1) of the church, no paid or learned clergy. Why do we have such confidence

and feel everyone will succeed in their calling?? Pres. Boyd K. Packer
talked about how he felt inadequate to fulfill an assignment he had, how an
apostle of the Lord feels like that, shows us the we are all the same, and

that God is no respecter of persons. The church is carried by ordinary
members of the church. Also the 2nd Couselor in the Stake Presidency who is
in our ward talked about welfare and talked about how spiritual guidance
cant come from one who is spiritual weak. The poor and needy, temporal and
spiritual. How sometimes we forget the meaning of "needy". Not just the poor

who dont have much or what not, but people who have needs, whether temporal,

or spiritual. He talked about a "quorum" or a class, brother/sisterhood, and
a service unit. Two very good talks that I thought a lot about and learned a

lot from...It was sweet! Elder Tremea and I just talk non stop about gospel

things. We both want to learn as much as we can and what not, and a couple

times a week, at the end of the day, we have set a goal to study some

random/deep/awesome doctrine. I have started Jesus The Christ too. I am not

going to read the Bible front to back, maybe after the mission, but I want

to finish a couple books and then I am going to finish The Book of Mormon
again and then D&C. There is soo much to study!! I love it though! So yeah,
two quotes I found that I really liked "Yesterday, I was clever so I wanted
to change the world. Today, I am wise so I am changing myself" and  "An

error becomes a mistake when you fail to correct it." So I hope you guys can

learn something from these because I sure did! So Yup! That is the week! All

is well here in Suva, my english sucks, I only speak Fijian, my son is the
man, my stomach is full right now, and The Church is true, and I love it!
Read The Book of Mormon! Peace N Blessings!

Elder Hansen

Oh yeah I forgot!! We went to the temple Saturday too....AMAZING!!!! Enough
said!!

week 56

Bula Vinaka!

Boy the computers here are sooo much better!! My pics just downloaded in

like 10 second! It sounds like all is going well!! That's crazy about Josh

and Wong...Cecil would always say that fundraising won Timpview the

championships, ha it also won Wong something else I guess. Ha that's
interesting...That's sweet about Marcia! FYI Nache and I have decided we are

going to China sometime...I am really want to travel!!! So just be aware!

Things here in Tamavua are going good! We had a good week this week. It is a
very big change but I love it! I still haven't been in a legit chapel. This
ward meets at the LDS school. It's all good though. Work was good this week.
We should have had a lot more lessons but a lot of fall throughs. We still
had a good week though. OYM(open your mouth) was the best I've had in my
mission. We had 15 oym's and usually everyone is like 4 or 5. As a mission
it's something we have been trying to improve on and really something pretty
easy to do here. But yeah our goal is 3 every day and there is no reason why
we shouldn't have that, but I don't know it's weird!  I think we might have
had the most in the zone, but not sure. Dogs are crazy here!!! This area is

the area known for the meanest dogs and we saw it this week!! We almost got

attacked by 4 at one time. No one shuts their gates here so dogs just run
around and they were barking like crazy and one got ready to jump but there
is a Fijian trick! The dogs know very well and when you do it, they don't
chase you. You just bend down like you are picking up a rock and they will
stay there and not move, if they still come, then just throw a rock at it

and it will run away so we tried to get by 3 times and then we finally got

through the street! It was nuts! So yeah, how do you like the pics with the

tramp! We walked in the house and I about died!!! It was the coolest thing

ever!!! First tramp I have ever seen in Fiji let alone inside a house!!! It
was so dope! We had cake and ice cream and of course two of my favorite
things! So she now calls me Elder Ice Cream. Haha it was funny...So yeah,
the work was good this week. We came in pretty much fresh, no investigators
or anything, but this week we got 4 new investigators and all of them seem
pretty legit, so we are excited and just praying all works out...One guy
named Jute, he is in his thirties, but I think just kind of lost. He is a
way nice guy, but not married, doesn't have a job, just something missing
you know. So we are way happy to work with him and have a bomb member to
help him. Another, he actually came up to us and asked for us to come by and
talk to him. He is a soldier, he's been to Egypt and all over there. We were

explaining about our work and I just started talking about The Book of

Mormon and he said that is what he wants to read. He's heard of it before
and so we talked about it and read some parts of the intro (not in Fijian,
so it's nice using English) don't know why it's not Fijian, but anyway the

part where it talks about outlining the gospel and plan of salvation and
then tells men what they must do to gain peace and salvation and he just

nodded his head like yeah I like the sound of that. So he wants to read it
and so he seems really good. Another girl, 22, referral from the AP's, she's
really good too. Her mom is so so, and an Indian boy that was baptized about
a year ago but never got confirmed so we are starting again with him. So we
are excited for this week. I'll tell you what is starting to get on my
nerves though, hahaha. We go to talk to people and one of the first things
they say is, yeah we all pray and worship the same God, acting like we don't
and all that. I am just like yes you are right! I don't know if that makes
sense to you on email but yeah haha that's always their excuse talking about
authority or the EXACT church Jesus Christ set up. They always say well all
churches are the same just different names, same God. Sometimes when I feel
I explain it so clearly, but they just won't accept it, it's frustrating!
Haha oh well, we just keep on working!!! Fijian is still good. I always ask
if Elders before spoke Fijian and they said no. Almost every single lesson
we have had that people know Fijian, we have spoken Fijian, so it's good. I
am always speaking it to the members, oym in Fijian, everything in Fijian,
because I want Elder Tremea to be involved and hearing a lot of Fijian to
help him have the opportunities to speak it. No excuses, "English Area" they
are Fijian and they know Fijian! Elder Tremea is doing really good, he loves

teaching and loves doing work! I love it! We are getting a long very well

and I try to speak as much Fijian to him as possible and have him lead
things so he can learn it in Fijian and all that. He's awesome! So I still
haven't been able to watch conference but I have read a lot from the Liahona
and I read one this week that I loved. David A. Bednars talk about the
priesthood and how his father wasn't a member, but supported it all and
helped with scouts and all that stuff. So he asked his dad when he was going

to get baptized, then he said David, your church believes that the true

priesthood of god was restored, yeah? He said yes. If all these men have the

true priesthood of God, then why do they not fulfill their duties and act
the same as the men in my church? He goes on to talk about how the

priesthood holders need to act different. Not meaning to act better than
anyone but to act like we hold the priesthood of God...Examples to others,
service, fulfill their callings and the list goes on and I was thinking
about how that little thing of people not fulfilling their duties or things
like that stopped him from being baptized. He was later baptized but I was
thinking about that a lot. I see that a lot here in Fiji. This is  a
ridiculously religious country and people are soooo dedicated to their

churches and will walk and walk to church or to do something to help their

church but then there's others in this church who know the truth but are
lazy and don't fulfill their duties. Everyone else says that and says what
makes all of you so special? The priesthood of God is what makes us special
and if we don't use it or act the way we are supposed to, it won't help or
be special to anyone. So I thought that was awesome and definitely see it a

lot! So yeah that was my learning experience this week (one of them) The
week is good! Work is good and things are started to happen now, I love it!

Food is delicious! I am fat! I am happy!! Love you all! Have a great week!

Be an example of the believers!!! Moce!

Elder Hansen

week 55

Well in the language of Suva...Hello family! Hahaha funny joke..but
seriously! Well I have a lot of pics and man they loaded way fast!! Suva is
definitely a BIG change but it's awesome!! I have really enjoyed it! Well,
where to start?? First it is cold here! I got off the plane and man it was
cold and I have woken up and complained every morning that it is too cold!
The flat is the nicest flat in the mission! I have pics of it, nice leather
couches a full kitchen and all that...the pic of all my books! It is sweet!!
We have our own automatic gate! I forgot to take a pic though, my bad...I
opened up my suit case and all the clothes like my sandals were all moldy,
it was nasty!! I have been trying to get it all out but it's tough. I need
to go buy a new pillow and another bed sheet but no big deal! The first week
was crazy, ha both of us not knowing what to do or where to go. It was fun
though. My son...I had a brown son and now a white son, how sweet is that!
He is the man! He went to Syracuse high, with Elder Hill actually. Elder
Tremea is his name. His dad is Pres. Uchtdorfs bodyguard! haha He is
awesome.  We have a good relationship already and he is ready to work! I
like it! He doesn't get down if he messes up but just keeps learning and
going! Even though we are in an English ward, we have been trying to speak
as much Fijian as possible and I talk to him in Fijian, he barely knows what
I say but he is learning! BOY!!!Dinner is ridiculous!! Our fisrt dinner with
Bro. Solomone, our ward mission leader, who for once knows what the heck he
is doing! He was the old stake pres, he's the patriarch and the principal at
the LDS college. He is a spiritual giant! He is the man!! Their whole family
and another family, are the two most american families I have seen here ha
its crazy! But anyways back to my thing.  We had cheesy mashed potatoes,
lunch yesterday grilled cheese, we've had chicken wraps! This next month we
have dinner every single day! I love it! We have been challenging them each
dinner to give out something to their friends or someone. The members are
awesome!! They are always willing to help the elders and what not. There are
currently no investigators right now so we are starting from scratch. Two
months the area has been closed and the elders had quite a few baptisms but
the elders before weren't doing it the way they should have. They would give
people money for rides to church and barely teach them, just give them
answers to the baptism questions. So dad excuse my language, it was crap!!
So we are seeing the effects of it now because none of them are coming to
church since they left. Oh well, we are working to get the good ones! Thats
what Bro. Solomone told us, we want the good ones who want to be here and
know it's true. We have been hearing all about the work and those who know
what went on, knows its bad, but those who dont, think they were the best
elders. So we are going to get the good ones! Its been way good though. We
are walking everywhere or taxis or buses. It's a pretty big area but we'll
do work! We went to the college to work out this morning. We asked for the
key and every monday wednesday and friday we are going to lift. It's not big
at all, a bench rack, squat rack, a shoulder machine and some straight bars
but I am totally game! We get it for free so I am not complaining. I am sooo
out of shape!! Not good, so I am trying to slowly get back into it now. I
got locked in a unlocked door this week, too. haha, now tell me how that
works. It was weird so we had to take off the hinges and what not so that is
the pic with the door. So in the village i would just naturally sit on the
ground and we had dinner with this guy who actually served in Salt Lake
South mission.  It was cool we were talking about it and knows where we live
and all that but anyway, he said we were the first elders including natives,
to ever sit on the ground at his house haha it was funny. I am in an
"English ward" but I am still going to be Fijian. We gave talks on sunday
too that went really well...about commitment and tied in with tithing. It
was really good. I looked up JST Matt 16:27-29 and it hit home to me...we
should lose our life in this world to gain it to the next world. It explains
it very easily in that verse...much easier said than done, but that is our
goal for us to strive everyday! So yeah thats about all, I am happy, my son
is awesome, area is awesome, members, food, all is awesome!!! We are getting
to know the area a little better. I told President that we dont want to make
any excuses about not knowing where things are and that we are going to go
from day 1 so we are getting there. I am happy!! Thats why we are here..to
be happy!! Well thats about all. Ill be waiting for those shirts, I will
keep my eye open for a good place to take it! Love you all!! Take care and
have fun!! Moce!!

Elder Hansen