Week Forty-Eight and Forty-Nine

Forty-Nine:

"This week was filled with ups, downs, and tons of individual growth! I´ll start with the sweet first-

we had another baptism! Another soul for christ. his name is John Lennon.... really!! he went to church last week and explianed to us that he had been previously involved with the church and really wanted to become part of this work... how easy is that?! its incredible how god´s eleites are manifesting themselves here in rio. anyways the lessons went great, his only trouble was recieving an answer that everything we were teaching was ture. He felt it, but just didn´t know it! So i invited him to pray in that very moment to see if it was true, and promised him he would get the answer he was looking for! he started to pray, saying the words,´´please let me know father if this work is true...`` huge pause. the spirit was palpable. he then spoke, saying with an uncertain voice´´i felt something... someone touched me!`` we were not alone in that room. I felt impressed to tell him members of his family on the other side of the veil are waiting for him to be baptised, and how theyre doing everything they can within eternal laws to help you! i explained vicarious odrinances and how as a member he could bless his heritage with saving convenants. he was pretty blown away, and insisted on being baptised! his member girlfriend came out from rio(shes actaully from my first area, Nilópolis!!) and was tearfully astonished in John´s progress. With plans to serve a mission, she´ll wait for him as he touches the lives of thousands! Im that confident in him, he is a spiritual giant in a wavering world.

The new Sisters in Itatiaia are doing absolute work. Theyre Champions!! Sister Gordons form Arizona and Sister Ribeiro is from Curitiba; theyre working great together! we helped them settle in to their new area this week, im really gonna miss serving in this part of the kingdom. the members are so golden!! theyre ready for them with meny refrences lunch appoinments and family nights scheduled. i know jealousy is a sin but im full of it!!

But as i said, this week wasnt the easiest. as a companionship, we had an inspired goal to have four baptisms this month. we felt short of that goal, meaning that someone that could have been baptised, wasn´t. We worked extremely hard this week trying to achieve that goal, but everything fell through. we fasted, prayed and put our ALL into the work this week. Our golden family Débora and Fernando haven´t been living up to all that i expected, and we were forced to cut many other precious investigators. it was hard to accept that because of a fault on my effort, someone is still lost looking for the truth. Im truely looking for repentance, but for now the hardest part is accepting the lords will and continuing firm in the work. God has a plan for every one of us, i just hope to be a purer vessel so i can aline myself with that plan. im really searching for the spirits guidance, that way i can know with an assurity that im doing my part!

Spiritual message- MORÔNI 7!!! ive really been studying the relationship and importance of faith, hope and charity. go and read it to see what im talking about!! i learned and grew a ton!!

Forty Eight:

TRANSFERS!!! but we´re staying for once... five more weeks with Élder Meeks! Really loving this companionship, hes a HUGE thinker which helps a lot with the work, and makes for a good conversation as well! we´re all ready to continue strong with the work.

good news- Itatiaia has missionaries now! a sister companionship is arriving here tomorrow, im really excited to work with them! I havent had any connection with the sisters here in the mission untill now, so it should throw a new dinamic on things! Im sooo happy for the saints in Itatiaia, they´re really needing the blessings that come through respresentatives of Christ. it would have been nice to open up the area, but its all according to the will of the lord; they have my full support! im excited to see how many baptisms will come from their efforts.

speaking of baptisms, we had a baptism!!! Simão took that step of faith, it was such an incredible event! it was so incredible of see that after these few months, all of the family has entered into the water. Simão was asked up stand up in front of the congregation during sacrament meeting and bear his testimony, we has incredilby nervous beforehand, but we promised him that bearing his testimony would not only help his own testimony grow, but the testimonies of eveyone present as well! it was so powerful to hear the conviction in his voice as he testified of Christ´s ressurection, Josephs validity and the book of mormon´s fullness of truth. Ive never seen an investigator so prepared! he´s a great example to me, he´s overcome so many obstacles for these blessings!

We´re really gonna have to run if we want to get Débora and Fernando to be baptised this week. Theyre more than ready, theyre just never home! Work work work. how lame! but hopefully you´ll hear the good news next week!

Thanks a ton to everyone who took up the book of mormon challenge this week, i was really surpised by the amount of responses, as well as the revelations within them!! For those who didnt have a chance, the teacher i still accepting late homework :P

Im soooo happy being a servant of Christ. i feel so... usefull! ive been blessed beyond all measure with these baptisms here in Resende. Two solid families with plans to be sealed in the temple, this is what this work is all about!! Im not sure if ive been quite worthy of all of these blessings, but im humbled by them and am grateful to be part of this great work! Im so glad to be here for at least one more tansfer, many miracles are ahead!! Vamos para a Vitória!!!!!!

Élder Hansen"

Week Forty-Seven

"emergency transfer.... DE NOVO?! our mission pres. must have been so excited about the temple announcement that he felt it necessary to switch everyone up in the middle of the transfer. My Argentinian is gone, along with my dreams of learning some spanish... yo estoy mucho triste!!!! i really was upset about it though, Élder D Ferreyra was a great comp. But luckily im still here in Resende, and ive got an american with me! breaking the 5 companion steak of south americans. His names Élder Meeks(Élder Mansa em Português), and the title fits the description: he´s really meek!!! He´s from St Charles, IL!!! He´s been through Naperville a few times so that was cool to hear! He´s a really great guy though. we work hard and play hard, its great to have a comp from the red white and blue for a change!!


This week was amazing. Im still on a ´´temple high,`` and its contagious!! We´ve had tons of sucesses this week-

Simão- is getting ready to be baptised!! He´s got some big goals in front of him week, he has some things he´s got to straighten out but ive never seen anyone with such faith!! Im really excited for the baptism, after baptizing his mom and sister(Iracele and Maria Luisa), we´ll have completed the family! Sure theres no dad in the picture, buit they´re a strong family unit who are praparing for the temple already! Miracles happen through families. 

Octávio- a miralce contact!! I contacted him in the street with Élder S Santos in the street about a month back. He´s a 15 yr old kid who doesnt believe in god but showed huge interest in our message. only he live in another area so i passed the reference hoping the other elders would pick it up where i left off... well last week he showed up at general conference!!  He ended up assisting the two sunday sessions and a replay of the preisthood meeting, at the end he asked what he could do to be a missionary!!!! turns out the other elders ´´forgot`` about the reference, but at least we were able to regain contact with him! Hes been going to all of the activities and i hear the lessons are going well... i just wish i could be more involved!! He truely is an eleite though and im so excited for him!!

Débora and Fernando- One of the greatest couples i´ve ever met! Fernandos a lot like ben, hes great looking, loves a joke, and works well with his hands. Débora is an angel, very supportive and together they´re a dream team! Only in their early 30´s, they just moved o resende taking a step of faith to look for work. they miraculously found two jobs in the first 3 days! then they ran into us, and just happens to be that they were looking actively for another church to attend. looks like God blesses the faithfull!! Theyre gobbling up the lessons and loved sacrament meeting. they even took pictures in front of the church, telling us they plan on coming back every week!! We have a baptism date set for them, all we gotta do is follow up! i LOVE working with families, they´re the foundation of temples!!!!!

Scpritural challenge- everyone thats reading this, read chapter of the book of mormon this week, and then write me to let me know what you learned, felt, and thought about it!!!!!"

-Elder Kelland Hansen

Week Forty-Six

"April 6th, 2013

This date will go down as one of the most significant and happiest days of my life. On Saturday, my dream, my focus, my goal, and my only humble but faithful wish was granted. Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and Prophet, Seer, and Revelator on the earth today announced the construction of a Tample here in Rio de Janeiro.

Words cannot describe the emotions that were felt that day. When announced, the best way that i can describe what happened is like this- everyone exploded!! Revence was unfortunately thrown out the window as everyone assissting the General Conference jumped to thier feet. The spirit of God was poured onto us as we laughed, cired, hugged and kissed; celebrating together and praising god in union. No film, no poet, and no explanation from man could have described the elevated atmosphere, because thats what it truely was; elevated! Ive never felt such powerful emotion in my life, because it didnt come form me, it was a direct gift from god.

I mark it as one of the greatest days because im starting to understand the importance of temples. The Saints here understand its importance as well! A temple is lilterally a house of the Lord. He abides in them physically as well as his Holy Spirit. Saving Ordinances done in the temple do just what they imply; SAVE!! Save us from the darkness here on earth and help us prepare to return to God. We may save others as well through Vicarious works and missionary efforts. I know that to be true, and my testimony stands along with thousands of other saints here in rio.

It means so much to me that God sees fit to bless the saints here with these blessings. I have been so blessed by his love!! i feel as if every prayer, every step, contact, every lesson, every rejection and every sucess over this past year has meant something. rejections are hard; literally being spit upon and casted out with threatenings of murder is not an easy thing to recieve, but as Jeffery R. Holland said,´´It was NEVER east for Christ, why should it be easy for us as his servants?`` Every step has been hard. But i have grwon so much from it. Every effort of mine here in rio has gone towards something so much bigger than me; a joint effort of member and missionary to place a house of the Lord here in this part of Zion. Thousands will be saved. Thats what temples do. Im just so grateful to have been a part of the work required. Im humbled to know that the Lord blesses his servants. I never could have counted the hardships ive come across down here, but i´ll NEVER be able to count the blessings ive recieved!!!!

The work, however is just beginning. Now is the time to redouble the efforts. Already the Lord is quickening the work here. Flávia was baptised!! And what a special reunion that was. the youth welcomed her with arms of love. the room was filled to the brim with attendants. Shes such a special Child of God. Her funny personality and Charisma will be a great addition to the ward. many more ´´eleites`` and revealing themselves at this time, theres not enough room to recieve these blessings from my most merciful and loving God!!

In short, my overall reaction to the announcement was peace. I cried without shame as i rejoiced with these saints. Quintin L Cook hit it right on the nail in his talk. peace can be found in this world, we just have to create it!! I feel so much peace in this moment, knowing that God is our heavenly father and that he has a perfect and infinite love for me. Im so glad i get to share this love with others!!! I John 3:11-our message is love... share it with everyone!

Spiritual Thought- my sister asked me some pretty good questions so I thought my answers will suffice for this week!

1) Why do you think its so important to know about and have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel?

its important to have a testimony of the restauration of the gospel because besides the atonement of Christ, it is the most important event that has ever taken place on the face and in the history of the earth. What good is the atonement if we have no knowledge of it? Christ clarified that knowledge to all of his special witnesses, the prophets, including Joseph Smith! God revealing himself and his son to Joseph Smith not only clears up a thousand years of discussion about the doctrine of the Trinity, but testifies as well that our god is still a loving god. He didnt just love his disciples in Jerusalem, but loves each and every one of us. Through Joseph Smith, Christ revealed true doctrine of salvation. He talked with god face to face as did moses, reminding the world that the lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Sacred ordinances were restored, through temples we can save EVERYONE that has not had the chance to hear the words of Christ. Shouldn´t that be important to know? I think so! :)

2)How has this knowledge effected investigators you have taught?

This knoweldge of the Restauration has had a huge impact on the people ive come in contact with down here in Rio. It has brightened the hope, knowlegde and faith within all the hearts that are willing to recieve the words of Christ. It has bettered the lives of many who already had faith in Christ, the knowledge and faith we have give a sturdy foundation to the unstable faith of other Christians. This isn´t just another church with another doctine. This is CHRISTS church with CHRISTS name and CHRISTS doctrine(and then people say we aren´t Christians....). Having knowledge and being part of The Church of Jesus Christ brings all the blessings promised by god to his children, including Imortallity and eternal life! Like dad worte in his last letter to me, the resauration is,´´like a font of sorely needed waters to distressed travelers on the face of the earth. They are parched, wanting for relief, but not for liquids but for Living Waters.``people want to know about that God still loves them they just dont know how to figure out!! We are the meesangers of the restauration, and when we share our knowledge, faith is increased, knowledge is expanded, lives are turned around, families are united and the god blesses beyond measure!!"

-Elder Kelland Hansen

Week Forty-Five

"Emergency Transfers!! These keep on catching me off guard. Élder S. Santos got shipped out to Juiz de Fora(which just happens to be a future mission so i dont know if i´ll be seeing him for a while...) but in return Im here with my new comp... Élder Ferryra! An Argentinian! He´s actually from my group(meaning we arrived here in Rio at the same time), so i know him really well! When i was in Nilópolis he was in the neighboring city Nova Iguaçu, so we did splits almost every week!

Im really excited about my work with Élder Ferryra. Apparently he was having some companionship problems which surpirsed me because i think he´s an excellent missionary(it was probably one of those brazilian/argentinian feuds, the poor argentinian missionaries get bashed on a lot here). He´s a workaholic and probably the most humble missionary on the mission. oh and he´s teaching me spanish too, yo estoy aprendiendo muchas cosas en español! He gave me a fresh copy of Preach my Gospel in spanish and im going to grab a spanish book of Mormon the next time im in rio... whatchu know bout speaking three languages?!

One reason we´re working together though is because next transfer they´re putting in missionaries in the Itatiaia branch!! SOOO excitedd! i really hope i get to open the area up, its absoultely beuatiful there and the members are always so loving. Itatiaia is really needing missionaries, they´ve been passing references like crazy to show our mission president that theyre ready for us. its all up to the will of the Lord, but if get to open up the area i´ll the luckiest missionary out here! but in the meantime we´re really working with the members to get to know the area, members, and small numbers of potential investigators better, miracles are just ready to happen here!

uunfortunately we only had only three days of the week to work in our area because of the emergancy transfer, so we´re having to revisit a lot of our investigators. we held an ´´open house`` with some members at the chapel the day after we got back... what a huge sucess!!! i knocked out almost all my number records(175 contacts, 14 lessons with member, 10 new investigators and 4 new families... all in one day!). It felt great to get that Hansen work ethic pumping through me after three days of travel, and we´ve made up for all the days we lost through working with members and raw diligence.... hurah for Israel!

Quick update on investigators-
Flávia- wan´t baptised because of our lack of follow up this week. I felt pretty bad about it, but on the other hand, its hard to follow up when we´re not in the area! But the good news is that we marked the date for this sunday, it´ll be good for her because its planned in between the conference sessions, so there´ll be a lot of support from the ward!

Leila and Lana- cant remember if i´ve talked about them, but they are mother and daughter who´ve been attending church for about a month now. Theyre ready to be baptised, we just to get around to the invite! Its not like me to leave an investigator with at least a goal to be baptised, baptism is a sacred convenant and not to be ignored while teaching! the only barrier is theyre relationship with one another. theyre not very good at communicating as a family so we´re constantly teaching them how to get along, but we need to focus on the Doctrine of Christ! its the answer to all problems. hopefully they´ll be baptised at the conference as well!

Luisa- a great new investigator we picked up this week! A reference and friend of a member, Luisa is a very Spiritually receptive woman who questions EVERYTHING, like Thomas Jefferson, she questions with boldness!! My comp and i felt inspired that we were not to teach the restauration in our first contact with her, and that she was needing to hear something else. We began by teaching the Plan of Salvation, to reveal that she has some deep doubts about everything christianity has taught her. With the spirit beside us, we were able to carefully explain how God´s plan of love is real. She questioned us at every corner, but the spirit was so strong that her doubts were satisfied and her fears were calmed through his gentle caress. She´s progressing quickly and is such a blessing to teach! it was probably one of the most spiritul lessons ive had on the mission so far.

i absolutely love the plan of salvation! By far my favorite lesson, it explains the WHY of missionary work. If it weren´t for the plan of happiness there would be no need for Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, the Bible or even religion for that matter! The Plan of Salvation gives us hope for something better, and gives me great drive as a missionary to do more!! More contacts. More lessons. More baptisms. More people coming to Christ!!!!


PS happy easter everyone! i hope everyone gets to watch general conference, even if you´re not a member! the words of the prophet are for EVERYONE, not just members of the church.... invite all of your friends to attend!!"

-Elder Kelland Hansen