Thoughts and comments.........I hope they help.

Hey Family,
Thank you for the info. Your right....is that a fact or opinion? fact! I love how we always had to ask you that, Dad. I am actually realizing that the mission isn't as hard as I was making it. My companion Elder Pantoja is really funny and exactly what I need in this moment. He loves to be with the members....and not teach things....it drives me nuts sometimes. I have been a missionary robot for so long it was hard to really talk and socialize with people about things other than lesson 1,2,3, etc. ha ha. BUT I LOVE IT!!! The truth is my teaching is improving a lot when I teach more as advice to my friend than to an investigator.


Mexican Border Culture Class:
In the area of Tijuana Mexico there is a diverse range of culture based upon the attractive opportunities of being close to the border. People come from all over Mexico and also from other countries to either cross to the United States or take part in business opportunities. There is the extremely rich and also the extremely poor. This clash of different lifestyles and culture creates what we know as a "melting pot". :) I still remember that term!


Religion:
Everyone usually was, is, or was born Catholic. Recently, the Pope visited Mexico and there was a huge celebration. As I was checking out my groceries one P-day I saw a picture of him decked out in a giant sombrero. The Catholics are huge believers in the Virgin of Guadalupe. They have shrines, bumper stickers, and even widely known pharmices based on her.
There is also a big group with the name of "Christians". To be called Christian usually has the meaning of a religion such as Mormons or Catholics. The "Christians" are usually famous for the sanctions and other demonstrations of a marvelous nature. It gets a little difficult as we explain to people that yes we are Christians but no we aren't "Christians".
The other really big one is The Jehovah Witnesses. They are the only ones that really proselyte like we do and usually travel as families knocking doors in the morning and the only ones with Umbrellas for the sun. They are very similar to us as far as proselyting goes and have to explain that no we are not "the witnesses". One day I suggested to Elder Rico, another missionary on divisions, that we should contact every person in the street with an umbrella. ha ha. 


Well that's all I got for you guys. Love you all.
Elder Hanson

Wow! One year gone...

Hi Fam,
So this week in Mexicali we really started to feel the heat. There is a joke going around in the mission that all the bad missionaries get sent to Mexicali to be ironed out....by the SUN!!! We have found some really cool people and I am really starting to enjoy job. I was thinking about what it will be like in one year when I can't do this anymore and it really helps me to focus on the work. Mom and Dad, if I can get approved and and have the desire do you think that it would be alright to get an extension?
One of our investigators Miguel is awesome and really progressing. I had high hopes for him as he accepted all the commitments and invitations that we extended. He was going to be baptized last week but he is scared to get baptized without the approval of his wife who is really catholic. We are fasting and praying that this week he can be baptized.
I love you guys,
Elder Curtis Hanson

Dear Family,

I am getting along.=) My companion is really great and is helping me become better. He is finishing up his mission and only has 4 months left. crazy. I am also getting ready to cross a big bridge with completing one year in the mission on the 20th so we will probably throw a little party with some members.

I have also learned something really cool in my mission, how to study really efficiently. Right now I am trying to memorize a synopsis of basically every chapter in the Book of Mormon. It sounds intense when I say it in one sentence but it will actually take up to 6 weeks or more to complete. I just finished week one with 1 Nefi. I am really diving into the scriptures and finding all sorts of stuff out. I also studied about the Old testament. If you want you can ask me a question =) We have an investigator who only believes in the Old Testament and doesnt believe in Jesus Christ.

Well I will see you next week and love you so much!

Elder Hanson

GENERAL CONFERENCE POWER!!!!!!

Hi Family,

So I was really excited for the conference this weekend and I loved it!!! The spirit is so strong and it is amazing to use as a conversion tool. We had an investigator not only show up at conference but also give us a ride as we were hurrying to the stake center on our tired bikes. He pulled over and stated "running a little late aren't you" as we piled in a was grateful that God hears prayers from missionaries running late on bikes. We had planned on a ride but you have to be willing to pay the price if your investment failed and we were paying the price.

We showed up with him at the conference where we all sat together. In the mission, Genereal Conference has had a lot more meaning for me. I realized this as I explained that the men who were going to talk were prophets and apostles of the Lord just like in the bible. It was then that it really hit me how blessed we are to hear from them formally two times a year when this man has been on a search for Christ and God most of his life. He has studied with Jehovas Witnesses, was born catholic, and studied with his friends. The majority of the Christian world only uses the bible in there quest for Celestial Happiness. This man was no exeption and as we watched I realized the grand importance and opportunity we have to learn of God's Plan of Happiness and also to live it through not only other revealed scripture but also the words of modern revelation from God. As we left I invited him to pray to know the truth of what he heard. He responded that he already knew it was true. He said that you can just feel those things as he gently motioned with his hand to his heart.

We were blessed to be born with so much knowledge of all the questions of the soul and spiritual hunger. Let your light so shine! An example I use in my teaching sometimes is the question: if you take an english class but never speak why did you take the class? Being born in such a rich abundance of Gospel knowlege I feel is not only Godly aproval but a Godly responsability to learn and to live all the blessings of the gospel and to share it with others. Be an example. Fulfill your responsability. Recieve the blessings. Bless lives.

Will you do it?

You can do it and God will help you as you seek him. Like mom said it's through Christ that we truely grow. These things I share in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder Hanson

Just Another Manic Monday!

Hello Family,

So the awesome news from this week is that my spanish is pretty awesome and I am learning a ton. We are finding some great people that are really prepared for our message I just hope that I will have the information and everything to really help them to make this change in their lives. To be honest, the mission is pretty crazy. I dont have much time but guess what!? I AM 20!!! Weird.

Love you guys,

Elder Hanson

WOW!

This week has been awesome. I am really enjoying the time that I have with Elder Coreas and being in Villas de Rey. The ward is incredible, its like walking into a well lubricated machine and the first week or so you kind of bump into people as you try to get used to how efficient and awesome they are. This ward is the most effective and mission active ward that I have seen im my mission. Its probably because of our awesome Ward Mission Leader.

Right now our problem is finding people to teach. They are there but we just aren´t having to much success. In the past I have noticed that the greatest happiness in baptism and the more secure they are to continue being active is if they are friends or family to people that are members. This week we are really going to take it to the Family Mission plan. I am hoping to visit families and give them a plan to contact there family and friends to give them a piece of the wonderful gospel that they enjoy every week.

As for me. I am really getting an upload on everything that I should have learned along time ago. This week I studied the books of Moses....AWESOME!!! I loved them and was amazed with how great it all was. It has the convenents of God to us as his children and part of the 12 tribes of Israel. The promises and blessings change lives. I am so grateful that I am of one of the tribes of Israel and I am grateful to know of my obligations as part of that tribe.

I am going to give you all a challenge this week.

• First, start with a prayer asking earnestly for understanding,
• read the blessing that was given from God to Abraham, the grandfather of Israel,
• then locate what tribe of Israel you are part of
• and if you dont have a patriarchal blessing talk with your Bishop,
• think about what this relationship that you have with Abraham has to do with your relationship with God and all the blessings you can have,
• then read the blessing given to your specific tribe and reflect upon the significance for you
• that you can find in Genesis or probably in the Bible Dictionary in English
• End with a prayer
• Can say thank you
• Ask for more understanding
• Etc.

If you do those things a new light and idea of your eternal purpose and destiny will come into your life and the spirit will testify to your heart in such a way that you will feel that it is true. Soak it in and find out what your purpose is.

LOVE YOU ALL

Elder Hanson

Kickin' A Rock

Hey Fam,
So my sector is really awesome and big. Right now we are in the
process of finding people. When I showed up we didn't have much
information in the Area Book and we had to start from something else.
Luckily, we had some missionaries in the past do a car wash or
something and recieved a lot of references that they never contacted
and as we cleaned up a little bit we found them (thanks mom for
teaching me how to clean up my room). We tried contacting a lot of
them with little success but God works in mysterious ways and we are
starting to find a lot of people in the way to finding the references.
I am really trying to be a better missionary that also works with the
numbers. I am really good at being a robot with how I calculate
numbers and analyze the lessons and things. I am now trying to apply
charity to the mix and am so glad that the instructions for Charity is
just praying for it (Moroni 7). It really makes a world of a
difference when you have charity, the other option isn't so great.
My companion is teaching me a lot. He is from Salvador and from a
pretty rough part of town. We have a lot of different views from one
another which helps me to see my faults and to find the better
solution. I am his second companion which is sometimes hard because
one becomes acustomed to their first companion and the change is
sometimes difficult. I really hope that I can help him become a better
missionary.
So my area is big and unorganized with a lot of different names. It
was a bit of a challenge for me but with the help of Google maps and a
couple different maps we have placed a big map of our sector on the
wall and a program for locating the different side streets and what
not.
I am learning and growing. I remember when I was walking home from
church one Sunday in Utah and kicking a little rock. I had the
distinct impression that I was that little rock. The rock wasn't very
pretty and was really rough small and rather ugly but as I kicked the
small little rock I had such a profound love for it and even when it
left the side walk I would search in the grass until I found it and
put it back on the cement. I made sure that that little rock made it
all the way home and I am sure that with all the kicking I did it
probable felt pretty beaten up but I was only doing the best thing for
the little rock. I feel that God has that kind of love for us. We
aren't even close to perfect and we leave our little path so many
times it's not even funny but he will always search for us and help us
reach our heavenly home.
So remember when you feel beaten up and kicked around that it's only
leading you back to your heavenly home and it's a lot better than
being lost in the grass and lost to God. Life is hard sometimes
especially when you can't see every reason why but we should all
strive to gain the eternal perspective and also help those people who
don't have a clue to know why they feel kicked around at times. Pray
for the opportunity to give a little knowledge to a darkened mind.
I love you guys,
Elder Curtis Hanson