November 13, 2013 ~ Goiania Brazil Mission, Uberlandia ~ Week 41

Dear Family,

TRANSFERRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha I was finally transferred after 6 and a half months in Rio Verde. I was so so sad when I got transferred! I loved the people in Rio Verde so much. I will miss everyone I taught and baptized more than anything. The Assistant to the President called me and was like, "Do you know why I'm calling Elder Hanson? Because I just wanted to tell you that I love you."  I said, "Love you! Goodnight!" And then hung up. Hahaha He called me like a half an hour later and was like, "Just kidding! You're being transferred!" They all know that I've been in Rio Verde for like, my entire life. I was so mad and super sad :(.

I was transferred to this huge city called, Uberlandia (oober-lan-gee-a). It's seriously so big! I'm surprised that it doesn't have it's own mission. It' has a population of 800,000, while Goiania's population is 1,300,000. The ward that I'm working in is called Ala Aurora (Aurora ward). I've only been to the church here one time. But the people here seem really great! The only thing that's a tiny bit frustrating is that Sacrament Meeting is first and not last here. Makes it a tiny bit more difficult to get people there at 9 am, but it'll be fine.

My new companion is AWESOME! I seriously love him so much! I'm still Senior Companion but he is an awesome missionary and probably will be a senior companion soon. His name is Elder Loureiro, and he's from Curitiba, Brazil, but his family is currently living in the a different city in Brazil called Santa Catarina. A lot of people think that I'm from Santa Catarina because there's a ton of white people with blonde hair haha that live there. There's a lot of German descendants who live there, so everyone thinks I'm German. Anyway, Elder Loureiro is great. He's been on his mission for about 7 months, but he is well trained and it seems like he's been out for 18 months. I think we'll get along well. Elder Thomas and I really became great friends and so I was really sad to say goodbye to him. But, I'm excited to be here in Uberlandia! Also, Elder Wallace (a missionary from my district in the MTC) is in my zone here in the city, and so it's nice to see him and talk to him every once in a while.

Nothing much happened this week because we were hardly in our area at all. We went to Goiania to have a conference with President Costa (a member of the seventy). It was so good! I seriously loved it so much. And I realized at the end of the conference that I understood everything that President Costa said! Haha So that was a confirmation to me that I'm solid with the language. Anyway, he said many things that I'm going to apply in my work here in the field. That's the reason why I didn't email on Monday, because we were in the conference with him on that day. I'm seriously loving my mission! I'm realizing that everything is always better when you’'re positive. This past week I have been reflecting on my mission and analyzing everything I could do better and what I'm not doing...always room for improvement! I'm working as hard as possible to bring this wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ to these people. I've decided to forget myself and just completely devote my time, talents, and love to others. I want to be worthy to always have The Holy Ghost with me. I'm very grateful for this amazing Truth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

There is this new American Elder who arrived in the mission this week. He and his companion live with us. He's super stressed out and so I've tried to do everything I can to help him. He's struggling with the language and not understanding anything. Also, he got extremely sick this week. His stomach started hurting like crazy and it spread to his back. They don't know what's wrong with him, but he'll be going to a better hospital sometime this week. Pray for him because he's so stressed out about it. I feel so bad!!! I didn't get sick, but I remember how hard it was when I first came to Brazil, with my Trainer and everything, so I want to help him out the best way I can.

Also, I think I need to get new pants haha. My suit pants barely stay on me and I don't want to get them altered because it costs money :'( but maybe I'll have to do that haha because it's getting scary. People are telling me that I finally have a neck lol. I'll have a better letter next week because more things will happen I'm sure haha. I'll send some pictures next week because this computer is super slow with the pictures. Desculpe. Love you guys so much! I hope everything is going well with you guys....thinking about you ALL...all the time! Tchau!

November 4, 2013 ~ Goiania Brazil Mission, Rio Verde ~ Week 40

Dear Family,

This week was so good!!! We had another two batismos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We baptized this kid Matheus, who we've been teaching for awhile. We actually had his baptismal date set for next week, because the rule was that people under 16 years old had to go to church 4 times before they could be baptized. But the rule changed last week and he had already gone 3 times, so we were really happy he was baptized this week! The youth in our branch are amazing! They are always so welcoming to every moca (young women) or rapaz (young men) and they are always making friends with them, so it's really easy to get the youth investigators integrated into the branch here! Matheus has so many friends already and he's been going to seminary now for forever. It's awesome that he has such good support from the youth!

Colin and Matheus

We also Baptized Zito's son, Wangrisson!! I think I told you about Zito's last week? Not sure, but we have been teaching him and he is GOLDEN. I love Zito so much! He's always bringing new people to church every week and he's not even baptized yet! He brought his son, Wangrisson to church a couple of times and he really liked church, so he was baptized! He hasn't been as integrated with the youth because he hasn't gone to seminary yet, but he's been making friends at church and so everything will work out with that. We also invited Zito to be legally married so he can get baptized and he accepted! They still have to wait until the end of November to get officially married though. It's such a miracle and he has such a desire to be a part of Jesus Christ Gospel. I'm so excited for him! His wife is not as interested as he is, but she went to church this week and she also brought her sister with her! So hopefully we'll be able to baptize them all! Seria excelente!

Colin, Wangrisson and Elder Thomas

I'm so afraid that I'm going to get transferred though. Today is when we're going to find out if we got transferred or not, and I'm so scared! I want to be here so bad for Zito's wedding and his baptism! Also, remember Habyta's mom? She and her boyfriend are trying everything they can to get married so they can get baptized as well. They're super firm in the Church and they come to church every time, so I would be so sad if I wasn't able to baptize them. They're planning on getting married sometime in a January, so I don't know, but I really want to be here for them as well.

Everything is going so much better! Now that it's getting better, I want to stay in Rio Verde forever haha. Elder Thomas and I are building a strong companionship and are really good friends. But I'm pretty sure I'm going to be transferred, if not today, then for sure the next transfer. No one stays in an area for longer than 6 months! I want to stay so bad! The people here are so receptive to our message and I just love the Brazilian people to death. We love teaching them because they are pretty accepting to everything we throw at them. It's super hard work but it's all worth it in the end.

Rio Verde

I'm not even worried about my Portuguese anymore. A lot of people here think that I'm from the Southern part of Brazil (because there's a lot of white people there) and they say that I don't really have an accent anymore! Which means a lot to me because a few American missionaries, who have been out for almost two years, still have trouble with Brazilians understanding them. I don't have a problem with this anymore, everyone understands me now haha!

Anyway, I laughed when I saw Noah in the SLENDERMAN costume haha. SO OBSESSED! Love you guys! Ate a semana que vem! Tchau!!! Beijo! :/

Elder Hanson

October 28, 2013 ~ Goiania Brazil Mission, Rio Verde ~ Week 39

Dear Family,

This week was so much better!!!!!!!!!!! Everything just seemed to go so much better this week, it was crazy. WE BAPTIZED VERONICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy Cow! I'm so happy about it too! She wasn't sure if she wanted to be baptized this week, but then on Wednesday, we fasted for her, and we passed by her house (which is at the end of the freaking world in our area haha) and she just straight up said that she wanted to be baptized on Saturday! Elder Santos, my district leader, said that his baptismal interview with her was crazy good as well.  Elder Santos said that she knew everything and even taught him some stuff too haha. But our members in our branch just do not love to go to the missionaries baptisms, it's just not what they do. I literally called every single member of the branch to go to her baptism and literally only 6 members showed up. Even the Branch President has only come to maybe 2 of our baptism the whole time I've been here. But at least she got baptized! She has changed so much too! She even invited her neighbor to come to church with her yesterday and he came! Haha Elder Santos said to me that The Lord was preparing her for this Gospel and so she's an Elect person. Which is really true!! I've never seen any investigator as prepared as she was for their baptism. It was Awesome!!!

Colin and Veronica

Colin, Veronica and Elder Thomas

Elder Thomas, Colin and Veronica and other Elders from Colin's District in Rio Verde

I'm not really sure why the writing style changed all of the sudden lol, but it's not changing back. This computer is straight retarded. Veradiane, Veronica's sister, came to church yesterday as well! We had 7 investigators at church yesterday! This was a blessing really from The Lord because we didn't have the greatest luck finding a ton of people this week. The most investigators I've ever had come to church was 8 so I was really happy with our blessings yesterday.

Things are going really smoothly with Elder Thomas this week. I really love him and we are working well together. We had a weekly planning so we had companionship inventory, which went really great. I think we can have much success together in bringing souls to Christ.

So weird that it's already Halloween! Brazil doesn't celebrate Halloween. They celebrate O Dia das Bruxas (which means day of the witches lol), but I don't think it's on October 31st. Not even sure if this area of Brazil celebrates it. Everyday just seems to be the same, weather wise. There's no change in seasons at all which is something I miss so much! It's almost winter back home! That blows my mind haha. 

Nothing else much happened this week. I'm just glad that things are getting better. Love you guys so much!!!!!!!!!!! Tchau!

Elder Hanson

October, 2013 ~ Goiania Brazil Mission, Rio Verde ~ Letter from Mission President, David Kuceki

Dear Hanson Family,

Thank you for preparing such an obedient missionary. He is a great missionary and an excellent young man. It is with pleasure that we inform you that your missionary was called to the ranks of the missionaries most faithful and trusted in the Brazil Goiania Mission. ELDER HANSON will be serving as a trainer in the POPULAR area in the city of a Rio Verde, Goias. Trainers teach through example how to plan, find, and teach investigators and how to work with the local church leaders and members. All this in order to train the new missionaries. We know that he will fulfill this responsibility with the same amount of faith and diligence that he has demonstrated in the other calling and responsibilities that he was given throughout his mission.
Once again, thank you. You have a marvelous missionary. We love him and know that The Lord loves him. We will continue to take care of him. Please continue to communicate with him. Letters are very important to every full-time missionary. He is under the watch of The Lord.

Sincerely,

David Kuceki
Mission President

October 21, 2013 ~ Goiania Brazil Mission, Rio Verde ~ Week 38

Dear Family,

This week was a big improvement from last week and the weeks before haha!!!!!!! Everything just seemed to go so much better. We're gradually improving with getting our investigators to church. My companion and I are becoming really good friends :)! Please keep praying for our success!

Noah is huge!!! I saw the picture you sent and my mind is completely blown! What the fudge??? How tall is he now? That's crazy. Is he taller than Erik? It looks like he is taller, by the picture lol.

The beliefs of some Brazilians are sometimes unique haha. This week we were teaching these two sisters and we were talking about the Prophets and everything...then randomly they start telling us about a story. One night they we're looking at the stars in the sky and they saw Jesus's Face in the stars so now they know for a fact what Jesus looks like and they are sticking to this story. It really did strengthen their faith in Christ though, so I just respected their story. One of the sisters is a 22 year old girl and she lives with her sister, who is 23. It's crazy to me how interested they are in the church. It's Awesome!!! The older sister ALWAYS reads what we ask her to, but she needs to come to Church.  Veronica is good to come to church and is interested in Jesus Christ Church, and her sister seems super interested as well. Thankfully Veronica is strong and she told us that she prayed about being Baptized and she committed to keep all the Lord's commandments. She's been coming to church so she will be baptized this Saturday!!!!! Pray for her por favor! And for Veradiane as well!

This week we were blessed to find this guy to teach. At first, he didn't seem super interested in our message, but he said that he would go to church. So we stopped at his house a few days later and he said he had kept all the commitments we asked of him and he already received an answer that this Church is true after he prayed and asked Heavenly Father! I was so happy haha!!! So we invited him to be baptized and he accepted :) BUT we found out that his marriage contract prevents him from being baptized for the moment :( So dumb!!!!!! He married legally, but it's like this weird contract thing for only two years (I guess it was cheaper to get married this way lol/but not lol). So yeah, it prevents him from being baptized until he marries her legally. My guess is that about 80 percent of the people here just cohabit. It's so AWFUL and it's so frustrating when we find Brazilians who are really interested in the Church and then we find out they're not legally married.

Answering dad's question about the gates in front of all the houses here, it's so weird! I'm still not used to the gates at every single house. We either have to clap at the gates, or we just knock on the gate really hard. They say that they have them so they don't get robbed!

This past month has been hard for me. Not having any success this month and seeing other Elders have so much success is frustrating to me because I'm so obedient and I always try to do all the right things. It makes me feel like a failure sometimes. But we had this meeting with President Kuceki. He talked about a million different things and so I'm feeling a lot better now about everything....I am trying my hardest everyday and then I realized that I was doing everything right and that I need to try even harder. Then leave the rest up to The Lord. I'm not sure what else I can really do haha.

Love you guys! Thank you so much for the packages that you're sending me! I hope everything is going well with you guys. Love you! Tchau!

Elder Hanson

October 14, 2013 ~ Goiania Brazil Mission, Rio Verde ~ Week 37

Querida Familia,

This week was better than last week. It seems like the mission just gets harder and harder, but the weird thing is that I love it! My companion and I are getting along really great. I'm just trying to teach him everything that will help him as a missionary. Like, there was this one guy that we taught this week that is really knowledegable on the bible and everything. He told us, after we invited him to go to church, that he does not believe in organized religion. People like this, that do not want to go to church, we never return to because there are other people who are willing to go to church and we have to find those Elect people. Everyone has told me to study Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel because it talks about the Attributes of Christ. So I've studied that a bit more this week. Hopefully trying to be more like Christ will help me be a better trainer.

Colin and Elder Thomas

We were super blessed this week. There were Elders in another area in Rio Verde that were teaching these two girls, Veronica and Veradiane (they had set a baptism date too) but the girls moved to our area a few days ago. So now we are teaching them. They're really interested in the church and they are about 23 years old. They always read the Book of Mormon and the other pamphlets we give them and they've been keeping their commitments as well.  We will continue to help them understand the importance of keeping all the Lord's commandments. On Sunday, we passed by their house and Veronica and her mom were ready to go, but Veradiane was gone out looking for her mom thinking she was not home. We could not get a hold of her so she missed church but Veronica and her mom went to church. We will work things out though.

I don't really have much else to say, so I'll tell you something funny/ not funny about Brazil. The dogs get treated like less than the dust of the earth haha. We'll be teaching a lesson with a family and they will be super nice to us and then the dog starts making noise and they yell at them. The only word the dogs know is "Sai!" which means "leave!". I feel bad for the dogs sometimes. We always laugh about why people even have dogs if they hate them so much haha. Elder Lee loves to cook, and the people always make different types of meat for us. He asks them what type of meat it is and they always say "E carne" which means it's meat haha. But what kind of meat, we don't know????

Thank you for all of your prayers. I'm still waiting for your packages. I think you guys sent about 5, but I have not seen them yet. Hopefully soon. Love you guys!

Elder Hanson

October 7, 2013 ~ Goiania Brazil Mission, Rio Verde ~ Week 36

Dear Family,

Wellllllll, this week wasn't my favorite week of all time hahahahahaha.

I missed two sessions of General Conference. YES, TWO Sessions of Conference. So I literally have no ideas the new stats in the Church. Haha I'm so butthurt you guys don't even understand. I feel like I completely sinned and that I have to repent even though I didn't do anything wrong. We went to the first Saturday session, which is the one I enjoyed the most because we brought our investigator named Jose Carlos to that session. The other session I attended was the Sunday morning session yesterday and I couldn't even enjoy it because I was stressing out so bad about my investigators. It was awful! I literally couldn't tell you what happened during that session, besides President Monson's talk. His talk was by far my favorite! When he started talking about his wife and everything about her, I had tears in my eyes, and I've never cried over a talk in my life haha. Then I was thinking about all the hardships that I'm having on my mission, sometimes I feel so alone, and then he talked about how the Savior will NEVER leave you and I just felt the Spirit so strong, and teared up again haha. Besides that, I'm going to have to print the rest of the Conference talks off the internet :(.

The reason I missed the second afternoon Saturday session was because the rule of the mission is that if you don't have investigators at that session, you can't watch it. So we didn't watch that session :'(. The reason that we missed the afternoon session of conference yesterday was because My companion got super sick. He told me after the first session that he was feeling sick and so we started back home, and then he said that he was going to throw up, and he threw up on the side of the street :/. I felt so bad! I think what he has is food poisoning, because he doesn't feel like he has the flu or anything. I called President and Sister Kuceki, but they couldn't answer because they were at Conference.....so it was a just a big mess with who would be at Conference with my investigators. I'm still stressing out of my mind about it lol.

We did find many people this week who were LEGALLY married! Nobody is legally married, so we were so happy during the week. But then, as always, people just won't go to church! They always say that they're going to go until Sunday and something retarded gets in the way, so frustrating.

I really like my new companion! He's completely obedient, which I'm super happy about and he studies hard and everything. One thing that I've learned on my mission is to have unity in every companionship or you won't have success. So I'm just trying my best with everything. I'm his trainer so I try to teach him things that they don't teach in the MTC. I wish my trainer would have cared to teach me. I'm really just trying my best to help him with everything.

I really am loving my mission! I just read through my email and realize how negative it was but I truly LOVE IT! This week just sucked so hard haha. I'll try to be more positive in my other emails hahaha.

We're still trying to find new people. Guys, please pray that we may be able to find the people who are prepared to hear The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that we may be able to bring people to Church.

Love you guys! Tchau!

Elder Hanson