May 29th, 2016: Pebble in a River, Gospel Principles and Quentin L. Cook

Some of you might be wondering what "Pebble in a River" has to do with this week, I will tell you. To start off this week we got the air let out of our tires while we were teaching a lesson. We got back to the car and started driving away and something didn't feel right so we pulled over and the air was completely gone and we thought someone has slashed our tires. After we couldn't find any holes we drove really slow to a member’s house and parked for the night and then had to walk home from there. Luckily we were kind of close to our house. After filling the tires up with air we kept on doing our work. It's amazing how much people try to stop this work and try to do everything they can do to disrupt or stop it and all their efforts really are just a "pebble in a river" they don't really do much. The flood of the Gospel of Jesus Christ won't and cannot be stopped. It will roll forth to every corner of the earth and there is no power nor person that can stop it. This is the "work of all mighty God and it is to change the world" as Elder Holland puts it. Just like how people thought that killing Jesus would stop everything when in reality it only fulfilled the prophesies that had been prophesied. This work cannot be stopped because it is not the work of man, but the work of God on the Earth today.  

Another big thing that happened this week is my teaching style completely changed, no big deal but now it's a lot different. It wasn't anything I was doing wrong but now it is so much more personal and meaningful. In every lesson I teach now I've been really helping the investigators come to realize that we are here to change their lives for the better. We can give them the tools to change their life but they are the ones that have to pick it up and change their life. I have also been trying to help the investigators realize that they are sinning and that they need to change. A lot of the people here think that if they aren't breaking any of the Ten Commandments then they aren't sinning. Because they aren't married they can't commit adultery, because it doesn't say you can't drink Sakau, they really do have selective hearing to the max. The people we have met this week are really awesome and I hope that they will continue to progress and change their lives. Etwel is doing good and we had a great lesson with him and tried answering his questions. He has heard from a lot of churches and he knows that they all teach about the Gospel of Jesus Christ or rather their "understanding" of it. He noticed that we are the one church that claims authority from God to do this work and actually fulfil the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He asked us a question that I thought was really good. He asked why the first church after Jesus Christ, (Catholic) why God didn't give them authority to do baptism and things like that. We thought for a minute and the answer we gave was something along the lines of, what do you think people would have done if God tried giving them the Gospel in its fullness again. After they had just crucified that very Son of God, do you think the people would accept it at that time if they had just rejected Jesus Christ. He answered, well no that would be kind of stupid to just keep doing it and people keep rejecting it. We continued and talked about how God needed to prepare the world for the gospel so that when it would come back people would accept it. Etwel added in and told us how when White people first came to Pohnpei they rejected and even killed the first missionaries. Then after time people started to accept their message until today it's hard to find someone who doesn't believe in a church. As we were talking I could see the wheels turning in his head and how every answer we gave made sense. At the end I asked him from all that he has learned about this church is there is anything that is against what he believes. He told us that he has been thinking a lot about what we teach and has been reading and praying a lot and not once has he found anything that is in disagreement with the Bible, his beliefs and his feelings. He told us that he doesn't know for sure yet but from what he has learned this church really is the "fullness of the Gospel". Etwel really has come a long way and is working hard to find an answer. 
Defney is doing good, she comes to all the activities and comes to church every week. This area really is just getting better and better and the branch is getting better and better! Also we are getting a chapel! We got approved to build a chapel and now we are finalizing between two plots of land to start working! I'm so excited, even though I won't be in the area I think it really will help these people so much. I love you all and sorry for not emailing last week the internet cut out half way through but all good. Hope all is well back in the US of A. Love you all!
-Elder Hanson

May 8th, 2016: Mother's Day Skype & Baptism

This week was a good week with not one but two cherries on top. The first was that Dephney Johnathan got baptized on Saturday and it all went really well. This baptism was a lot more peaceful and less stressful. Everything went really, really well and we even had some investigators show up and had some other investigators from another area come. It was just a great peaceful and awesome event. I loved it so much. Dephney was so prepared and we worked through permission and helped her work towards baptism. I'm so grateful that she was baptized and that she made that decision to be baptized.
The second cherry was being able to talk to my family for Mother’s Day. I do feel bad for all the other missionaries in the world because I have the best family ever! It’s crazy how fast time flies and how fast people grow up. I feel like I Skyped last week and now I did it again. Seriously just hearing people’s voices again is the weirdest thing. I hope that I have a little bit of an accent by the next time so that it will be even weirder for my family.
So for this week I want to catch all of you up on our investigators. Our most progressing is the Joseph family. The father is the equivalent of the young men's president but he is really interested in learning. The only thing is that he is so set in just believing that we just need to have faith to be saved and that's it. He is so close to just getting over the hump and working towards baptism. His daughters however are awesome. Kimberli, his older daughter, Diana, the next oldest, then Percy, and Karaleena, all are super interested and Kimberli and Percy are on date for baptism. I think that we will start to try to focus on the daughters and work on him after they are baptized. Our next investigator is Etuel, pronounced (Edge-u-al). He is a really smart really cool 21 year old kid. He is married to one of our less active members and lives with her family who are also all members. We have been working with him and finally got him really hooked on the Book of Mormon. Earnest Daniel is an 8 year old who lives with our Unit Leader and he wants to be baptized. We have permission from his mother and they all want him to be baptized. However the mother is set on "I've been baptized Catholic so I will die Catholic". I know that as she sees her son be baptized that she will realize that this church is the only church that has priesthood authority from God. For now those are our most progressing, even though we have some others who are progressing as well. We have dropped a lot of people but have been doing a lot of finding and helping members. I am excited for this area, we are starting to become really good friends with the members and they are starting to come out and help us and do their own missionary work. I love my mission. I can't wait to see all of you again. It was awesome to see all of you and hear your voices. I love you all and miss you so much, but I know that these people will miss their families a lot more if they aren't sealed together. I hope that you don't take your family for granted and tell them you love them and show it every day. I love you all!

May 1st, 2016: Miracles of Faith

Like I have said in past emails, getting permission is hard sometimes to get people baptized. Last week and this week we made a plan to prepare our investigators for baptism even though they didn't have permission. We realized that even if they received permission to be baptized they weren't ready to be baptized. So this week we really worked hard with one of our investigators who hadn't gotten permission. We were kind of bummed that she didn't receive it by her baptismal date of Saturday but Sunday night she got permission! Sunday was really a fantastic day all around. The morning was hectic as usual but everything turned out being great. A member that we had given a blessing to bore her testimony and told us how grateful she was that we gave her a blessing and answered her prayers. She said her faith had slowly been dwindling and that she finally realized it and wanted to change. She had been praying for a couple days for a change of heart and something to help her faith. She decided that she would pray one last time before she gave up. As she poured out her heart in prayer and said Amen, in came Elder Hanson and Elder Woodland saying "Kaleleilie Maing!" She said that she knew it wasn't a coincidence that we were there at that time, then to add on to that when we asked if she needed help instead of telling us her whole story she felt like she needed to ask for a blessing. Again as I said amen, she said that the pain that had been in her back for the past couple months and the pain in her heart and her spirit was gone. For every Priesthood holder at home or wherever you are, do you realize the power in which you hold? You literally hold the badge, the authority, the rite, to the power of God. Not just power of man like electricity or an engine, but the power to move mountains, to change hearts, and to mend them together. God has appointed each and every one of us as leaders to the people of our lives, He has given us a gift that is to be shared to all people. The Priesthood is our whole message, it's the reason why this church is the TRUE church. The reason why it is the fullness of the Gospel. It's the cherry on top, the bonus fry at the end of the bag, and the power of God on the earth today. Do not take it for granted, once we do that we fall into things that may take it away. I love you all, though I can't physically hug or thank you, I pray for you all daily, I hope that you also pray daily. I hope that you HOPE, that you hope for a better day today, a better day tomorrow, that you show God your faith, work and serve others and God will help you. I love you all and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

General Conference!

Sorry for being late on this but General Conference was awesome. I know it happened a long time ago for all of you but because we wait till the Pohnpeian translation is done it takes a while. As we were listening to it I had two feelings. One of immense joy and feeling thankful for all the help and guidance that we had and two, feeling sad because of all the years that I had taken it for granted and not paid attention.
I think we have all been there when conference seems to just be dragging on and eventually the phones and tablets just magically appear out of our pockets and we start to "entertain" ourselves. I had fallen victim to "idleness" and I didn't feast upon the words of Christ. We read that when King David was idle one thing led to another until eventually he fell. A man that was born a King, someone to lead a nation to someone that couldn't even lead his own life.  I would like all of you to think of the relation between you and King David. We are born to be Kings and Queens, we are ROYALTY. All of the potential that King David had was gone in an instant.  However, it all started from one decision, or rather lack thereof. It started from idleness. In the scriptures we read that we need to be "anxiously engaged", and we need to "feast upon the words of Christ". Because the scriptures are the words of God, everything within them telling us to do or don't is a commandment. As we are sitting there playing on our tablets when Prophets and Apostles are trying to teach us we are disobeying a commandment, and therefore sinning. Though it may not be the biggest sin, "God cannot look upon sin in the smallest degree". I don't think a lot of times we realize or comprehend the importance of constantly learning and being willing to learn. I hope you all realize the potential life lessons we can learn and that you will all repent and start listening to conference in the car to work, school, or town. I hope you all never take for granted the words of Prophets and Apostles, because they are the words of God, our King, and our Father. I love you all and can't wait to see you all soon.
-Elder Hanson

April 17th, 2016: Getting Permission to Give People Heaven

This week was great lesson wise and we had a ton. All of our lessons were quick and powerful lessons and our investigators were asking lots of questions. I'm so grateful to be part of this mission and be the steward of this area of His vineyard. One thing that is a hard thing to overcome in this area is getting permission for people to get baptized. We have so many people that are so ready for baptism but because their parents are very against the church we can't baptize them. One road especially is very bipolar. We have about 12 people that want to be baptized in this one road that have cried and begged their parents to be baptized. They have such strong testimonies and they truly are prepared. Most are under 18 but the few that aren't have been told by their parents that if they are baptized they have to change their last name and move out. I would like to invite all of you to think about and realize what a blessing it is just to be baptized, to have the blessings that one has with baptism and realize the blessing that it is. There are probably millions of people in the world that would love to partake of the sacrament each week and have it be the saving ordinance that it is. As I have seen one of our investigators cry, and pour out her heart to her mother begging her mother to give her permission to be baptized, my heart just broke. I see the joy that we take nonchalantly and we don't realize the joy that comes from the fullness of the Gospel. Like I have said before, I'm so grateful to be born of goodly parents who support my decisions and have raised me to be the person I am. I am grateful for this perfect Gospel and for the perfect joy it brings. I would like all of you to think of all of the most spiritual experiences that you have all had. Think of a baptism of your child, friend, and spouse. Think of the birth of your first born child or think of when you read the Book of Mormon or prayed and felt the love of God in your heart. Think of all the joy that all these things have given you in your life. Now think if all but one of those things were taken away. If you only had a taste of the Spirit and you tasted it for just a short time. Think of how thirsty for it you would be and how much you would want to feel it again. That is what these people feel, but because of Satan’s firm grasp on other people they cannot receive that thirst quenching Spirit. Do not take the Spirit for granted. Do not take the Sacrament and your Baptism as something we are entitled to. They are blessings that God has graciously given us and has blessed us with a way to receive those blessings. Now think of your friends that have not yet felt the Spirit as you have, think of how much and what you know that could help them in their lives and how much their lives could change with even just the knowledge of where that precious baby came from. Do not be afraid to share the joy and blessings of this Gospel. That is when we become Disciples of Christ, when we give Christ to all those that thirst for happiness and let Him fill their well with the never ending waters of this Gospel. There can't be any negatives from an invitation, especially when that invitation is to be happy. Share the Happiness, share the love, and share the things that mean the most to you, just as God has shared with you His Great Plan and Blessings which flow from it. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Elder Hanson

April 10th, 2016: Baptism

This week we had our first baptism in this area. First I would like to say that there is a lot that happens behind the scenes that people don't realize to prepare for that. It was especially stressful because at the same time I was trying to prepare for the baptism I also have to continue to see our other investigators and help them work towards baptism. It was definitely a stressful week but it turned out wonderfully. At the beginning of the week I was a little bummed when our investigator chose my companion and I had been praying really hard to have my heart be softened and to feel the joy because we were helping a child of God progress towards Heaven. After a couple of days of me really trying to change and feel the miracles that were happening, God blessed me with another miracle. One of the member families that we teach in Pehleng told us about their daughter, Julia, who had turned 8 but wasn't baptized yet. We told them that we would talk to the Branch President and start working out a baptism. As we continued to talk I started talking to Julia and then we asked who they wanted to do the baptism, out of nowhere Julia chose me. I told her that her father would probably want to baptize her but he even insisted that I do it because they like to have missionaries baptize. Of this I testify, if we show God that we want to change, if we pray to him with a broken heart asking for help he will answer our prayers. I had asked Him to help me soften my heart so I could feel the joy of baptism. He did just that and on top of that He blessed me with my own soul that I could save. I testify that God will always answer our prayers. It may not be the answer that we see with our mortal eyes, it will be the answer God knows will bless us far more than our answer. At the baptism I was stressed because I was in charge of everything, but as soon as I put on the white clothes, that is when my heart broke. When I realized just how truly amazing our Heavenly Father is and the blessing He had given me. Then when I saw Julia it burst open with the Spirit. God blesses us far more than we realize. As I stood in the font, and lifted my arm to the square, I looked up to Heaven and said a quick "thank you". Though I will never be able to repay my Father in Heaven, I can use the blessings that He gives me. Baptisms are supposed to change the person being baptized but I never realized how much they change the person performing the ordinance. I realize now why Lehi said the fruit was desirable above all other things. This Gospel, is that fruit, it is the perfect Love of God and it is perfect and restored to the Earth today. Those of you who have ever stood in water, raised your arm to the square and said, "having been commissioned of Jesus Christ" I ask you are you commissioned today, this hour, this minute. Are you the servant that your Father needs? The father your family needs, the mother your children need? If not, pray for a change of heart, pray for help to know "what lack I yet" and be willing to change. I love this Gospel and all that is included. I hope you all strengthen that sacred bond between yourself and your Heavenly Father. If it is strong, reinforce it, so that no matter what life throws at you it will be strong and unwavering. I love you all. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

April 3rd, 2016: A Baptism in the New Area

This coming week will be our first baptism in this area. When we first came into this area we didn't have much to work with but now this area is looking up. If all goes as planned we will have a baptism every week in April. I don't know if I could ask for a better birthday present. This week we really helped Johnny prepare for baptism. We are reviewing everything with him and helping him prepare. It was a cool experience to have him tell us about when he told his Mother and Sister. His Mother lives in America and is a member. He is actually the last person in his family to be baptized and he was always the most disobedient and always got in trouble. He told us that when he skyped his Mom she started crying and told him how she was so glad he finally let God into his life. Even though he is a 40 year old man she said, how she was glad that "her little boy is coming home". It was actually really cool to see him tell us about that because before we met him he had done a lot of things that he regrets. Just like Andero, he had taken the wrong road so many times he finally realized the right road. What was even more cool was when he got to skype his sister, who is from this area, who I also got to meet in Guam when I went to train, and is now serving in Guam. She also cried when he called and she told him that he had to come give us a big hug because she wasn't there. It's cool to see the "black sheep" of the family come home and to help him "become white as snow". It's amazing to see the power of the atonement working in the lives of our investigators and to see them change for the better. I'm so grateful to be able to come to this mission and to help my brother and sisters return back to our ETERNAL HOME. One thing that has really helped our members to help us out is to help them realize that we will come and go, but they will stay in the area till they die. We are not there to lead the work but to help them with THEIR work. I promise you that if you want a safe, Holy place to raise your children, and you show it through your missionary efforts, God will give you the peace and comfort you want and need. The world is a sick place, and we have the cure. It only makes sense that we share it with all those who want it or even with those who might not realize they need it. I know I didn't comprehend the greatness of this Gospel until I saw it work on my investigators. Now I realize, that the Gospel is the cure to every illness and sorrow of this life. It is the antidote for fear, sorrow, pain, and fatigue. It helps us keep going and know our goal. So I would ask you, what is your end goal? How do you plan on getting there? And, are you working towards it now? If not, start NOW.
Elder Hanson

March 27th, 2016: Goodly Parents, Friends and People

No sadly this week we didn't have a baptism but we now have 5 people on date that are actually working towards it. Johnny is our closest investigator and he never ceases to amaze me. The last couple Sundays he has been helping his neighbors out with a fundraising barbecue, not for any special reason, just so they can have more money. It has been something I was going to talk about in the next lesson or two but when we went to teach him the other day he told us that he realized that Sunday is the Lords day and that he needs to rest and remember all that Jesus did for us and "give the day to God". It seriously made me so happy when he said that because he truly is feeling the Spirit to the point where we don't really have to do anything, we really are his guides. Also this week we met with an investigator in Paleng area, who was preparing for baptism before the sisters moved out and is so ready. We had one lesson with her and realized that she really could get baptized this week. We just have to get permission from her mother which is the hard part of a lot of investigators. I am so grateful for all the things that are happening in this area. It truly is a manifestation of exact obedience. Even today on our way to town to email, we saw a tree that fell in the road that we had to drive around. Instead of just driving past we pulled over and moved it out of the way. Then five minutes later a car was broken down in the middle of the road. We pulled over to help them as well and helped them change a tire and push their car to the side of the road. As we were helping them the people were whispering how we were really nice and how "I haven't seen missionaries like this before". It was really cool to hear that and it was a tender mercy. I also thought of how missionaries do things like that all the time, but maybe people were "blind" and couldn't see the good, or didn't want to see the good. It was another testament that the Spirit takes the truth "unto" the hearts of men, not "into". That has always been a hard thing for me, to know what will help these people in their lives, us willing to and ready to give it, but them rejecting it. I know that one day, everyone will know, and will not be able to deny that Jesus is the Christ. That God the Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and that through him THEY restored the Fullness of the Gospel. I'm so grateful that I was born in the truth and that I didn't have to go looking for answers. I hope that we all realize the blessings of the Lord, even simple ones like "being born of goodly parents". I'm so very grateful for my Earthly and Heavenly Parents. I'm eager for the day when all we be revealed, the veil will be lifted and all will be clear. Then Faith becomes Fact, Barriers of belief become windows of wonder, the fog of the world becomes clear as day. Until that day, we must "press on in the work of the Lord". Of that I fully intend to do till the day I die. I hope you all will choose now, what you want from this life, if nice cars and big houses are necessary, or a family that will make it through the great and last day, TOGETHER. I'm glad I was born of "goodly parents" and of goodly friends. I hope that I have been a goodly friend and son to all of you. I know I am not perfect, but I can be perfect at trying. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen