week 76

Bula Re na noqu matavuvale!
Well we have had a very good week!! Don't worry about the shoes (Ashlee
thought it was disgusting he was wearing someone else shoes!)! These are
working well and I have no foot disease! haha Sounds like things are good!
That is crazy about the mission apps. That's awesome! Well...some news
here...I am getting transferred....I leave on a boat today at 4 to go back
to Vaunua Levu!! I have been called to be Zone Leader in Savusavu. One of,
if not the best places to be zone leader and my companion is Elder
Moaalii!!! My MTC comp! haha I am soooo stoked!!!! It's going to be sooo
fun! Savusavu is one of the tourist places in Fiji. I served in Seaqaqa on
that side of the island and now I am serving on the other side of the
island! That's not all. Being in Savusavu as Zone leader I also get to go to
Taveuni another island and to Rabi another island, who doesn't speak Fiji
and Rabi is where Elder Tremea is! Hahaha I am going island hopping!
YEAH!!!!!!! I am way stoked!!! We go by boats so it's going to be sick!!
Vilikesa, who was baptized Saturday SO happy, is from Savusavu  and I will
be going to his village a lot so I will meet his family and all. It's going
to be sweet!! I'm stoked! So yeah!! We had our district baptism Saturday. It
was a really good baptism! I am so happy that I got to baptize Vilikesa
before I left. He and the Tamavuas investigator didn't get confirmed though.
Day light savings changed and everyone forgot about it. We walked in an hour
late and a guy was speaking and I was sooo confused! But it's all good they
will do it next week. We had that devotional at the school as well and it
went really good!! The principal was very happy with it and they have been
getting a lot of positive feedback. So now the elders need to make sure to
go every now and then to the school and sit in the seminary class to be
around the students and answer questions. I am going to need to call and
check up on them to make sure they remember. I have been kind of the one
running it with the principal. We had 3 stations with a Q&A station. Elder
Gardner and I had the spiritual part of it, talking about who you can become
through the gospel and who you are. President Solomone (principal) really
enjoyed it. He said the spirit was very strong and especially the older
kids, it really got them thinking. The sisters did an iron rod object
activity. Leave all the object lessons to the sisters, ha I'm not creative!
It was awesome. WE had a missionary fireside last night as well in Wailoku
trying to help members share the gospel. We did some role plays and what not
and committed them to do this member missionary promise thing. It was pretty
good. Could have been better but it's all good. We also had a District
Leader meeting, it was awesome.  A lot of things with PMG and using it the
way it is used and to make more effective district meetings. They are to
train and to demonstrate things not just having a good spiritual meeting. I
wish I could be district leader to apply it more but even our trainings as
ZL's we will do it. I love PMG it is sooo good. Isa man! Not a whole lot to
write this week. I went to say bye to people and one of the coolest families
in the ward in Wailoku said I was the first elder to every say bye to them
before leaving...ha love them! I was surprised. I love Tamavua and Wailoku.
I have definitely made some very close friends here. A lot of them are all
going on missions so it will be a while but its ok. They are awesome! Off to
a new page and to go is hard but I am way excited! The Terry's are sooo
happy that I am back on that island again. I will get to see a lot of people
from Labasa and Seaqaqa again..so yeah..All is well here!! I love you all.
Share the gospel!! We are all called to a mission for our whole lives.
Mosiah 18:9... we promise to stand as witnesses in all places, in all times,
and all things...We have the pearl of great price....We must give
opportunities to others to receive it...Service! That was one question I
asked them at the fireside. What makes missionaries so happy? What is it
that makes them change into a better person! Its sharing the gospel! As we
serve others and share the gospel, we become better and we are happy! The
whole life of Christ was sharing the gospel and service! So let's go out
there Team Hansen and serve!! (boy...I sound soo cheesy right now!!!) You
guys get the message though!!) Vinaka Lloyd....over and out...I am going to
the ROCK! PEACE!!! Kalougata Tiko!!

Elder Hansen

week 75

Bula Family!! Sorry no pictures again this week!! Sorry!! I will take some

pictures of the area. Especially because I might get transferred. But things
are good here! We had a good week this week! Yeah we watched conference this
week. IT was bomb!!! I loved it!!! Jeffery R. Holland is the man!!! I
learned a lot of things from it! A lot on standing up for the
church...always being a witness and an example...Being a true
Christian...like Elder Hales talked about.  IT was awesome! We study 3 hours
a day, 1 hr. personal. I have been reading the Book of Mormon a lot lately.
I am in Alma 30. I will finish at least once in English. I am going to try
twice and once in Fijian. 1 hr comp study and 1 hr. Fijian. After I read the
Book of Mormon this time through, I am going to read D&C too. There is soo
much I want to finish, ha Jesus the Christ?? I still have a few hundred
pages in that one! Haha, I'm in like chapter 9.Yeah there are a few bike
areas. Tremea is doing good in Rabi, he likes it a lot. Vagarau is doing
really good too. I don't have the two sandals I came with...one pair I gave
away in Burewai and the other pair got stolen haha. I never wore sandals
until I came to Suva. I am using someone's.  I dont really know whose they
are. Our district meetings are every Tuesday. District is doing good. We
will be having a district baptism  this week!! ITs going to be really cool!
We have a big area. We dont even cover it all. We have 1300 kms per month.
In Burewai we had 2500 haha...Weight is still 200 but we have been playing
legit basketball a lot lately. Us 4 elders and some members. We go to the
school and play...it's awesome. Speaking of the school, we are doing a
devotional at the school tomorrow. The ward missionary leader is the
principal and we planned this. There are about 30 non members there and so
its going to be good. Our whole district will be taking part...3

stations...One iron rod thing....a movie clip and a question and answer

thing. I have pretty much planned a lot of it. Decided the theme is "Who you
are and who you can become". I really want to make it personal for the

students and knowing who they can become and what they can accomplish in the

gospel. It's going to be good! I'm excited. I also got a bag from the

solomone islands! Haha its cool! Its kind of small though...A member went

and got me one! Well thats about all! Good things are happening in the work!
Well have a good week!! If you guys want anything sent...Let me know!!!
Moce!

ELder Hansen

week 74

Hello from the rainy city of Suva! Man the weather has been wackin out

lately. How are things!? I am excited to watch conference! We are watching
it next week! I heard about the missionaries! haha That's crazy!! I am way

excited to watch/read it! Yeah my flexibility is doing a little better!

We've done a good job waking up early and working out...We have been going

to the school and playing basketball in the mornings or tough rugby

sometimes. 'Im working on it!! Yes, I do know the Tennis couple. They are in
charge of the institute YSA I think. They are really cool! He is way smart
in the scriptures! He will always test missionaries with games in the
scriptures. Next time you see Morgan tell her I say hi and to get her
address! Well this week was good. We have 2 more new investigators. It was
way slow and frustrating at the beginning of the week.  We would drive
around to all of these people and they would all be busy or they just want
to meet once a week but towards the end it got better. We didn't reach our
goals but keep on moving forward. We have been working with a less active
for the past few months and he finally came to church Sunday!! It was
awesome!! William Thaggard is his name. Before he just talked and talked but
never did anything but we have been very bold with him lately and just
teaching straight up and he came! We saw him in the evening and he was way
happy! So hopefully he can come next week too and make it consistent. Our

investigators are still doing good! We are planning the baptism for Vilikesa

on the 20th. Our whole district will have a baptism on that day so it will
be pretty cool. Remember Neimani? He is in Tamavua now and he's the man!! He
brought one of his friends to church two Sundays in a row and he is one of
the new investigators. We met together yesterday. It was cool teaching a
lesson with someone I baptized! So we are hoping for more lessons this week.
We are planning a devotional at the school this month. There are 30 non
members and the principal has put me in charge of it and President just said
yup you guys do it and let me know how it goes! Haha. So we are excited and

also we are doing one for the Wailoku ward to help missionaries know how to
share the gospel, we are doing some role plays and what not...That is next

week or two weeks from now. So its been going good! Elder Gardner is still
doing good! We are still working together and getting along great. My MTC
comps are doing good. They are both in Vanua Levu. They actually stay in the
same flat a few days of the week. They are doing really good! Sorry I bought
quite a few things today. I bought 2 more new sulus. Do you guys want me to
send you anything?? Let me know!! Next package you send, if you can send

some pop tarts and pixy stix! Haha boyy!!! Sunday lunch!! We ate at one of

th nicest houses Ive been too. The wife is from Hawaii but husband is
Fijian. We had lasagna and pasta and red velvet cake and all! It was

ridiculous!! It made it even worse when they turned on the TV in the other

room and guess what was on!? College football! Ohio St vs Nebraska! Haha I

was not in Fiji for a while that day it was weird! Well Thats about all I
have this week!! Let me know what you guys want! I am looking forward to
conference! OK moce mada!!

Elder Hansen

week 73

Bula Vinaka family!

How's it? This week was a very up and down week! Packages. No I'm good! I'll

probably think of something later but I don't have anything right now. Yeah

garments are so cheap here. I just bought new ones a few weeks ago. They are

like 1.80 for top and bottom. I am good! Vinaka! Elder Gardner is the man!!

He looks like and reminds of Jason Crawford man! Elder Tausiga trained him.

We are speaking Fijian a lot. He is not very confident in his teaching or

Fijian so I have been trying to give him as many opportunities to teach and

like all spiritual thoughts I make him do it. I teach him ways to teach

different things so he really likes just listening and watching he says but

I try to get him to do a lot. He's the man! We get along very well. Thursday

we spent 4 hours cleaning our flat haha. The senior couples in the office

bought us a mop and broom and stuff to finish so there's a big change from

where it was before! Much better!! Boy! We made homemade nachos the other

day!!! I bought a block of cheese and took it to an American family and they

shredded the cheese and bought some chips. I have no idea how to spell that

word...The type of chip we always use for it...but yeah that one! I felt

like I was home after church eating my usual snack! IT was delicious! I have

done better this week stretching too...I am so unflexible! It hurts to

stretch! So Class yesterday in Wailoku was interesting. Bishop and a high

council guy were in the ysa class. The teacher would ask a question and ask

of course the ysa ( it is for them). Then the High councilor would just go

off and talk about deep doctrine stuff and none of the ysa would talk and he

would kind of argue with Bishop and what not and it was just a rough class

and then Bishop just said...Please let the YSA talk. This is their class!!

Haha I learned a lot from that. Your words father to me one day before my

mission....I want to know deep stuff and you said...Faith, Repentance,

Baptism, Holy Ghost, and Endure to the End...Worry about that! Especially

for the ysa here...Simple things! As teachers, I have learned that you must

teach for understanding. That's how to be a good teacher. You can ask all

the doctrine but if not one understands it, it's pointless. There is a quote

in PMG something like a good teacher can take something so complicated like

the gospel and simplify it so a child can understand it. That's the

important thing...True doctrines understood, will change our behavior and

gain that knowledge. So yeah..Speaking of PMG, Dad look at ch 8 in PMG, the

chapter How to Use Time Wisely! haha.. We were also meeting with a less

active and he was talking about a scripture in 1 Corinthians I think. Talked

about how  a Woman can't speak or preach or something like that. He asked

me...You think that is right? You believe that? I just kind of smiled and

was like Do woman speak in church now? He said yes... then I said, if this

is the true church of Jesus Christ, then it must be ok now! haha I was just

thinking that we need to worry about the things that matter to us to receive

Eternal life you know...but yeah! I do feel I am converted...and that

Heavenly Father is in charge! All these things just make sense and I don't

second guess it! ITs just the truth! I love it! So yeah the bad part of this

week was that the baptism didn't go through! We saw him on Thursday and he

was set...He went to a funeral in the west last week and he forgot his

church clothes. We didn't know this until the day of the baptism. So Friday

morning he had this idea to go all the way out there to get it and then to

come back that night. Saturday morning, I just felt like we needed to go

check on him and the Spirit was right! He was not there! He was not back

yet! The truck got stuck on the bad roads and bad weather. He wasn't back

all of Sunday either...So I don't know! Disappointing! So we need to talk to

him and get things figured out. The good thing was we got 5 new

investigators this week! 3 of them want to be baptized! We have been praying

to find those prepared people and these 3 are definitely prepared!! Our goal

for this last quarter is 6 baptisms. I feel very confident that we will

achieve it! Wait...she needs to get divorced and then she will be set so we

are hoping that won't take long. I will probably be transferred before all

of them get baptized unfortunately but oh well. But one of those 3..Sami, he

is 21 years old. He started smoking marijuana in 5th grade...yaqona, bia,

tavako, all of that stuff, he was doing it. Last Monday, I just wanted an

Ice cream cone from McDonalds and so we got one, walked outside and just sat

there and like 1 minute later he comes and we start talking and he tells us

about his drugs and all that and his dream! He was way high at the time of

the dream. He and his sister were inside the house and there was a frog

there. His sister was telling him to get out because it was disgusting. The

frogs stomach was very big and swollen and so we picked it up and was just

looking at its stomach...he was amazed by it...Well the frog didn't pee for

3 days and that's why it was so big. He pressed on the stomach and the frog

peed and it went inside his mouth! hahaha gross!!! He was just spitting out

and it was nasty you know...Well he wakes up and was like what the heck was

that!!  So he prayed about it. He said the Lord told him...look at what you

are doing, all the drugs and what not...It's all disgusting just like the

frogs pee! Stop!! and from that day he hasn't had anything since!! Haha, can

you say the Lord works in mysterious ways!! He wants to go out with us and

just sit and listen to us. He came to church on Sunday and loved it!! He was

amazed by it!! He said the first few things that he loved....Discipline. He

was shocked that young people were sharing in sacrament and loved the

sharing in classes. He went home and immediately told us uncle that isn't a

member. He is going to institute with the YSA on Tuesday...He loves it! It

was awesome! He just wants to change his life. He said that at the beginning

of the year his friend died and he said that's how I am going to be the way

I am right now. He told himself that he would die in 2012. He wouldn't live.

Well we met and we shared a few things and then he said. What I said is

true...I am going to die this year...the end of my life is coming...but the

beginning of my new life is about start!  I thought that was way cool!! Old

life is going to die! and the new one will be born! So yeah it was sweet!! I

am excited! Good things are happening!! All is well here in Fiji! Oh yeah

the pictures was at a party...a 70th birthday party...one of the biggest

celebrations! This family is well off. They had a DJ a MC and all this

stuff! It was a party!!! Sooo much food!! The picture of the food...that was

only half of the tables. Things would be gone and then refill again...pig,

different kinds of chicken, fish, man so much food!! It was way fun!!

So yeah things are good!! Continue to do well!! Work hard and be the best at

whatever you are doing...do it the HANSEN WAY! Because the HANSEN way in the

LORDS way!! Moce!!

Elder Hansen

week 72

Hello my family....Hows it? Sounds like things are going good, same old eh?

Boy last week was soo busy! 19 new missionaries came in and I had to help
them their food and teach someone how to drive, take them places and man it
was hectic! We missed a lot of lessons from it but oh well it's all good. My
new companion is Elder Gardner from Enterprise, Utah. He's a cowboy! He is

the man! He is very humble and willing and works hard! He has only been out

for 4 months. I have decided I would be so game to just be companions with
new missionaries for the rest of my mission. He isnt very confident in
things. Fijian is one of them and kind of shy but we are working on that. I
am really trying my best to help him to be confident and learn lots of
Fijian. He is the man. District is doing good, the sisters have improved a

ton! They are doing very well! We went around with Elder Haiman and Elder
Cloud who came to the enlgish ward and we took them to investigators and

members and what not.  I know how it feels to white wash the area so I want

to help them as much as I can. Elder Haiman went to Riverton, he is good
friends with Dalton Gust.. Hes cool and Elder Cloud is a new missionary who

just came this week. We moved out of the nice flat so they could move in. We

moved down to Wailoku and it is nasty! Its like Seaqaqa all over again! It

smells like weed, the carpet in one room is all moldy...It's a bug fest ha!

So thursday we are planning a big cleaning day! Stomach is doing good, still

at 200lbs. There is a huge hill in Wailoku so we are going to start to
train. It's so big that we are just going to walk up it ha. I need to get
going! Work this week was pretty good. We got 2 new investigators. One of
them seems really good. I asked her "If you could ask God one question what

would it be?" Then she said, "why did my mom die?"  I gave her a plan of
salvation pamphlet and told her to read this and we are going to see her

today to talk about it. I'm excited! oh yeah guess what? Vilikesa (Billy) is

getting baptized this Saturday!! Yeah!!! Finally man! I am way excited! He

is the man!! We gave talks on Sunday too. It went well. I talked about who
we are. Who do we want to become. It went well I thought. So yeah sorry it's

kind of a short email! Its just been way busy with the new intake and
all...BUt yeah all is well! Oh yeah these pictures are my scripture covers.

This lady is the best in the whole pacific. She represents Fiji in the
pacific handcraft things. She is dang good!!! SO yeah....Well love you
all!!! Keep it real! Study the scriptures! GO to the temple! moce!

Elder Hansen

week 71

Bula Vinaka....

Man! I am sorry!! I am way late today...It has been soooo busy today! I have

had to help out with these 19 new missionaries and its been way busy! I am

exhausted!! Yes, 19 came today.  One of them I went to jr high with and
played football against. He went to Granger ha! Isa I heard about Cwood and
Utah. Haha that's funny. Isa Riverton, good times! Those were the days!
Well, this week was pretty good.  Alot of things I learned from Zone
Conference. The main theme was being fully committed. I also got this
article/talk called "The Fourth Missionary" by Lawrence Corbridge. I highly
recommend you go look it up! But yeah, this transfer was the biggest in Fiji
Suva mission history! I am not training unfortunately.  I was hoping to but
oh well! I just got a normal companion. His name is Elder Gardner, Tausiga
trained him. I hear he is a great kid so I'm excited. Elder Tremea is going
to Rabi! They speak Gilbertese there, he is way excited! I am in my 3rd
area, he is already in his 3rd area. Haha weird. So yeah, we will not be
serving in Tamavua 2 anymore either, the English ward. We will only be
Tamavua 1 and Wailoku so I think we will be moving to Wailoku and two elders
will come to Tamavua 2. Tamavua 1 just had their ward conference...It was
way good!! THey had 200 plus there. I think they are about to split. It made
one of our investigators be inspired to get closer to baptism. She really

enjoyed it, she said it inspired her to move and change her life for

good...Just to be done with everything. It was awesome. So we should have
her soon. Vilikesa also passed his interview this week!! The only thing is
that he had a court appearance, he is clear but has 2 years. If he does
anything bad he will then receive a sentence. But hopefully it will be ok,
President is checking up on it. Well now, I am going to share with you a lot
of things that I learned this week. Here it goes....First President did a

training on this question...Am I a righteous man? We talked about ways to

become a righteous man and what not so I was thinking about me and how I can
become a more righteous man. We got this version of love one another. I

actually have a few songs I think Bro Astin and Bro Voros would love for the

choir! As disciples we need to love one another.  Faith increases as our
righteousness increases. We talked about being proactive and passive. Being

passive, you let things affect you, but pro active, you can change things

that affect you, its up to you to go do it and change it. We are designed to
be active. There are 3 levels of commitment....First, I'll try...Second,
I'll do my best...Third I'll do what it takes..Which one do we say? We must
set our mind in the right place and not just avoid the bad things. We are
called to succeed. Elder Neal A Maxwell said "No one was foreordained to

fail." Read please...Matt 6:32-33 and Matt 16:24-25 and think about

commitment and we must give our all to the Lord, Law of Consecration. The

Lord says "Turn them all over to me, give yourself to me and I will make a
new of you in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you
myself, My will shall be your will, my heart shall me your heart."We are all

responible for the person that we become, the character we have. What is our

vision or plan for who we want to become? How can we change? Its not the

excuse, thats just who I am. (I have used that alot) We can and are always
changing. The greatest work and creation is us personally and our

character...You get what you want...We must want it from our heart...We will
truly get what we truly want...We are favored to become like the Savior, we

just need to apply His teachings. If you just let life flow, you will just
become someone in the middle, you will not reach your full potential. 1 Cor

13...If you have not charity, you are nothing...Charity is from the
heart...You can do good things that make you happy but if you dont want to

do it from the heart, it will not benefit you..doesn't matter if you do
those things or not...It must come from the heart. This man was holding up
the scriptures and saying these are of no value  to you if they do not get
inside you. You cant be forced to be spiritually changed. He cannot work on

what he does not have...We must give ourselves to Him...He cant have us
unless we give ourselves to Him..He wants all of us, not just some of us or

some of our time...he wants us completely! Its the easiest way to do things
the Lords way. At the end of this 4th missionary talk he says, Why would you

do all this stuff and not have it benefit you? He explains 4
missionaries...1 disobedient and sent home...2 disobedient but served

dishonorable 2 years..3 good missionary, but he thinks it's right so he

could do what he wanted to do...4 complete surrender to the Lord and the
work...Look it up!! So yeah I learned alot this week!! Sorry I am exhausted
and this computer is giving me a headache! So have a good week!! Love you
all!! Work hard and build your character! Law of Consecration from the
heart..Thats how we gain true happiness! Moce toka

Elder Hansen

week 70

Bula Vinaka saka!
Well first off, yes you guys are correct, I am trying to do a better job at
not showing my frustration...I am working on it! Forgive me my family! I
will continue to work hard at it....Ether 12:27...one day it will become a
strength! I am sitting here with Tausiga and he says hi to you guys. Well
unfortunutely the computer is not working again with pictures, I am still
trying though. We had the two baptisms though. Ha that was weird, my writing
just went to Korean ha. I didn't even teach them but they were awesome!I
love  them. One of them, Luisa just ran up and hugged me. Ha it was awesome.
They were both like 9 or 10. It was good. My stomach this week was whack!
Its ok now. I Just drank a lot of coke. I had coka like crazy!!! It was the
worse I have had in my mission. Tuesday I didnt eat at all, juice and coke.
It's all good now though. My eating is still weird, I just dont want to eat
or I cant eat a lot haha. Boy, we loaded up on neckties this week too, we
got like 15 new ties. We had a lot of fall throughs this week, it was very
slow but the good thing is that Vilikesa came to church this week. Very
happy about that. Tamavua 1st ward is getting ready to split this year. They
had about 150-160 at sacrament Sunday and 76 priesthood holders. They are
moving very well and Samabula has split 5 times already. Work is moving! We
talked with a less active the other day and she was asking where the church
was in Fiji and we were telling her and she was amazed, its good! So I was
talking with Sister Solomone and I asked her about how I could learn the
piano. I have decided a goal I want to have when I get home is to learn how
to play the piano. Also, I have turned into Dad. I was thinking about
Christmas and my birthday and when I get home how I just want to buy books!
Gospel books that is, no other kind. That's definitely something I have
gained in my mission, enjoying reading. I am sorry this is a pretty short
email. We are setting Vilikesa for the 22nd for his baptism. Zone conference
is tomorrow. I am excited for that. Transfers will be this week too. I will
probably train again, I am ok with that though. All is well though, I am
almost finished with 3 Nephi in my Fijian Book of Mormon. I am in Alma in
the English one. I'm also reading Our Search for Happiness. That book is
awesome! I love it..Hope all is well there! Well, I have decided to set my
goal and theme in my life to 3 Nephi 12:48....This is how I want to design
my life or work toward. I dont know how to explain it. I think about this
scripture a lot. It needs to be all of our goals. Well love you guys!! Have
a good week!! Moce
Elder Hansen