I am getting a little sentimental at this point in my mission because we are about to have transfers and because of the special change I had half way through my training I think they are kicking me out of Ribera Del Bosque.
I have really come to appreciate my companion. He is 24 years old and is an amazing example and makes it so I dont have to worry on making par but being even better.

In our small little branch we had testimony meeting and Missionary Work and Missionaries were a huge topic. We even had a sister get up and bare her testimony on the need to do more missionary work when she had previously told us that she was a little busy to try and do that. The Spirit aparently was working hard. I am so happy for my first little area and the experiences I have been able to have. Sorry I havent been telling you guys all the stories becuase I just need to write the basics. I will remember and tell you guys when I get back.

As far as Spanish goes I feel really good. I can really feel the Gift of tongues and I know that God wants me to speak Spanish, not only speak it but also be fluent.

Thanks and love you all!
Elder Hanson

Waterless, Waterless......like the Tijuana Missionaries are

Hey Fam!
So I have some news....I LOVE MY MISSION!!! The other day we were about to head back up the hill and to our apartment and as we walked down the road with privadas on both sides, the telephone wires with shoes hanging down from them, all the small side stores selling clothes and tacos, and all of it sillouhetted by an orange sun going down in the distance my mind screamed, I LOVE TIJUANA. I feel like Heavenly Father is giving me the rewards for the good job you guys did as parents in raising me. Thank you.
So I have decided that one of the things I want to do for my mission is completely get rid of the need for contacting in whatever area I am serving in. I hope to complete this goal through my effective organizing skills and I already have a lot of plans. One thing that I am asking if you could send me, Dad, is one of those red books that has all the different organizations and leaderships of the church and what they do. Besides being able to help people know what they should do I could also see what different powers they hold as far as in the church goes. I can then determine how to tweak it for the missionary work. Please hold of for another week if you can so I can hear from the President to see if I have the okay but let me know if its possible.
It was awesome to hear from the family and mom I am doing great, eating more or less well and awesome with the members, I am also skinny because of the sun, the walking, and my very large backpack for a missionary( I am contemplating buying another)
Thank you all!
Elder Hanson

Eva is baptized!

Hey Family!
Exciting news! I was able to see the baptizm of "my" first investigador that I helped all the way through the lessons and I think the conversion process she is awesome and I am so happy she is on the path and can enjoy the many fruits this gospel can lend her. She is a little older but is very lively and fun. She actually reminds me of someone that would be part of the Lewis family. Well I am out of time but here are some pictures.
Elder Hanson

These posts are from the last two weeks as I was on vacation and did not have access to a computer. Hope you all are having a happy day.

Oh, I commented to Curtis that we need him to put the English translation with the Spanish he uses - hopefully that will help those of us who don't speak Spanish!

¡HOLA FAMILIA!

Hey mom and Dad sorry we have had a bit of a hectic day and it was good to hear a little bit about the cruz and the questions are awesome! I do however need to go because I am out of time and needed to write the President a little more this week.
Crazy news is that I am getting a new companion tomorrow. Elder Perez is being sent to Mexicali, sad, but my new companion is Elder Martinez, I think, and he is hispanic but born in Estados Unidos (US). So he is fluent in both English and Spanish. He is supposedly amazing and is really about the rules so I expect to be getting a lot of work done which is great and exactly what Ribera Del Bosque needs.
I wanted to quickly bear my testimony of the basics. In a world that is filled with so many bad and good things we often forget to do those things that we need as Children of God, Heirs to the Kingdom. Remembering who we are and where we are going and what this life is all about is what makes meaning and significance for our very souls say that we are the children of God. Read, Ponder, and Pray! Then act upon the testimony you recieve! Suerte Mucho! (Luck Much) Sorry lots of spanish doesnt have a very good translation
Les Amo Mucho!
Elder Curtis Hanson

Losiento! (Sorry) for the Espanol

Hey Familia (Family),
I will try to write in english but it gets difficult when I have to go really fast. Meses means months and Rama is branch. We dont have a ward we have a branch in a ware house. Speaking of which if you guys have any ideas for what could be purchased or done to help with the reverbrating noise of the warehouse I would love your input. I am starting a budget with the mission money and putting aside money to help with the branch or ward I currently in so if you have any ideas please tell them to me! That would be awesome. I was thinking of hanging giant blankets on the walls and my companion had the idea of better speakers. Currently we have a karoke machine. For some reason its difficult to get investigators to come to church every week. ha ha. No, I think a major reason is that its difficult and people dont want to change.
Wow! thats awesome! Have fun in the Bahamas I have been researching places to go in Mexico and asking people and people say that Cables and Cancun are great but I will keep asking. Also I think that Tijuana is not the greatest vacation spot when I return. It will be a great experience if you guys want to visit but it isnt really a vacation spot. A lot of the other missionaries and citizens dont like but I do!

The Questions

1. Are you eating well? Do you fix most of your meals or do the members feed you and are you adjusting to Mexican food?

Yes usually the members feed us and the food is difficult at times ha ha. I got really sick one night because I think I ate Moleh on accident. There is plenty of food but there is also a lot of walking and a lot of sun. I have actually reached the smallest hole on my belt and may have to purchase another. I didnt even think I was out of shape before my mission!

2. Tell us what a typical missionary day is like and what a typical P-Day is like

Sorry, running out of time, Typical day

Wake up

Run or play soccer with the locales for a little

Return and shower

STUDY STUDY AND STUDY SPANISH

Prayer is in there too

Go proselyting

Lots of contacting and walking, lessons with investigadors, service, etc.

Return to the house

Plan tomorow

Area Book

FRee time, I usually study because I am new and need it, Plus I like it

I also am a big fan of organizing and I may be obsessed

Write in Journal

Go to bed

3. How far are you from the mission office? Did you get your recipe package yet?

We dont receive mail very often but I hope to get some today so I will see if your package is there. THANKS!

4. What is your branch/ward like? Where do you meet? How many members and what is the ratio of Priesthood holders to sisters?

See above

hasta luego!
Elder Curtis Hanson

Lisa's update

Dear Friends and Family -

I have slacked off once again on up-dating Curtis' blog. Please forgive me. Following are his two recent e-mails. I was struggling to get more information from him so I wrote his e-mail in a question format. He seemed to like this and responded with much more information than usual. Hope you find it interesting. Thanks again for your interest. Take care! Lisa