Conner's second email - August 30th, 2023

Hola!

I know it hasn't been a week yet lol but like I said in the last email since my preparation day was changed to Wednesday my emails will come out on Wednesdays now, and then when I'm actually out in the field in October my emails will come out on Mondays, then from then on no changes.

Crazy I've been here a whole week now. The new group of missionaries got here yesterday and it was funny that they all seemed so much younger than us when they're literally the same age.

I got a cold over the weekend, it was absolutely miserable on Saturday but each day since I've done better and better. I'm not sick to my stomach or anything, just my nose. I've been able to make it through each day alright even with being sick and I was still able to participate so I didn't have to miss anything.

Everyone is doing so much better at Spanish, it's great to see people's improvements. Elder Nelson and I had a cool discussion with a guy from Idaho who was already fluent in Spanish because he actually lived in the Dominican Republic for two years in high school, so he was in a three week program instead of a six week one here at the CCM, as a sort of practice we shared a scriptural message with him and it actually went really well, we did the whole thing in Spanish and we were following along great. Apparently this week will be like 100% learning Spanish grammar so that's pretty cool

We've also had a few devotionals (where we listen to a talk) and then afterwards we discussed it as a district. It was great to hear everyone's takes on the talks, and it's always fun to have some district bonding. We felt the Spirit very strongly in the discussions.

We also went to the Mexico City Temple this morning, it's absolutely beautiful, it's designed to look like an Aztec building of sorts and it's really awesome. We go every Wednesday while we're at the CCM, so that's exciting. It's an hour drive from the CCM and we had to get up at 6 AM instead of 6:30 to make it to the buses by 7:15. I went to bed a little earlier though so I'm not too tired, though the cold still lingering doesn't help a whole lot. I'm writing this email while on the bus back, and the city is so cool to drive around. We almost saw a couple accidents lol but this guy did a crazy parallel park it was actually impressive

Also I was asked to play piano on Sunday, only got through one week before being asked, which is fine lol I like playing at church, but Elder Nelson was asked to be the chorister and he knows literally nothing about music so I've had to teach him how to lead. We've still got the rest of the week to practice though so we chillin

We've also got a couple fire nicknames for some of the guys in the district, Elder Moore is Elder Más and Elder Walpole is Elder Brick Walpole after his crazy performance in basketball

Also my district got totally destroyed in volleyball yesterday during gym time and that was pretty sad, but we'll bounce back today for sure

And I lost my water bottle like three times in the last week but I was able to find it each time so it's all good

One of our two showers was stinking up like crazy, we literally could not use it for like three days until we figured out if we turned on the fan and let the water run for like five minutes the smell goes away. Which is a good thing, we went to reception a couple times about it and nobody's come yet, and four to a single shower is a bit hard.

Little spiritual thought since I didn't do one last week lol

I came across D&C Section 132:8 during personal study time on Sunday, it says:

"Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion."

I know that if anyone has any questions about anything in the gospel, we can always ask Heavenly Father in prayer. The gospel is simple, not complicated; orderly, not a huge mess, and this scripture helps me remember that.

Some pictures!

A lot from the drive to the temple, then some at the temple, and a full moon last night

Ok see you guys next week

Hasta semana

Elder Hanson

August 26, 2023 - First email

 Hola!

My first email from the Mexico City MTC! I got here on Tuesday and it's been pretty wild but also really fun.

The food's been good for the most part, and my district (group of missionaries we hang out with most of the time for classes and junk) is a really good group. No surprise they're mostly from Utah lol. We've all been getting along well and it's not hard to see they all really want to be here.

It's been crazy seeing everyone's improvement in Spanish already, I've been learning a lot, too. Our teachers are also really cool!

The mountains around the city are really awesome, they have such colorful houses on them. It's a lot greener than it is in Utah, and it's pretty crazy how huge the city is. The houses are built along the sides of the mountains and cover the hills.

The weather has also been insanely good because of recent rainstorms.

Starting next week I'll be doing my emails on Wednesdays because our preparation day is changing. Once I'm out in the field in October pday is on Monday.

Some pictures!

A couple group photos, the view from behind our house, a parrot, and the flags at night

Taking Conner to the Mexico CCM (MTC)

We took Conner to the CCM in Mexico City

At the Orlando airport

In the plane ready for take off

In the plane

At the Mexico City airport waiting in line at Customs

At the Mexico City airport waiting in line at Customs

In the Uber, on our way to the CCM

Saying goodbye for two years

 

Sunday meeting with the MTC President and Monday, last day of Home MTC

On Sunday we watched the MTC President and his wife speak to us and tell us about the MTC experience. In Mexico it is called CCM instead of MTC because it is in Spanish, Centro de Capacitacion Misional.

On Monday, we went for a bike ride and then he had a half day of classes. It was his last day of Home MTC

Doing companion study on Monday.

Saturday Preparation Day

Saturday was Conner's Preparation Day, so we took him to eat at a Mexican Restaurant to celebrate that he was ready to go to the Mexico CCM  (MTC). Parker, Katie and Katie's brother are here visiting.

 

Fourth and Fifth day of Home MTC

On Thursday we rode our bikes (we didn't take a picture) and he had his 4th day of Home MTC

On Friday we went to the gym and then he had his 5th day of Home MTC

Friday, 5th day of Home MTC

God's love

Have we ever had any of these thoughts?

1. I am doing terrible

2. I will never be perfect

3. I can't do anything right

4. I am a loser

5. I am not living up to what I am supposed to be

6. I am not good enough

7. I am so inadequate

In Romans 1 Paul opened his epistle by greeting the church members and calling them "Beloved of God who are called to be Saints."  Paul said that their faith was spoken of throughout the world, and that without ceasing he mentioned them always in his prayers. He spent much of his epistle correcting false ideas and flawed behaviors that these members had but he first assured these new Christian converts that God loved them. I love that he first said that to them because how many times we feel discouraged and struggle to feel God's love or feel like becoming a Saint is out of reach. It is important that when we seek correction or give correction we start with "you are doing really good, let's work on this" which is what Paul was emphasizing "you are doing good things, don't be discouraged." Saints in Greek means "holy one or one set apart." It is helpful when we are discouraged to think that God loves us, that we are His children, that we are Saints that we have been set apart to fulfill a mission on earth. In Romans 7:24 and 25 Paul says: 24-Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  25-I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.  

Paul is saying "The natural man is an enemy to God. I know I'm wretched. I know that I have a propensity to want to sin, but I myself am going to serve God."

Those words are very important, even though I am not perfect, I am trying to be by obeying God's commandments and doing all I can to follow Jesus Christ. I will make mistakes but if I repent and go back to the path, I will be forgiven through the atonement of Jesus Christ. In John 15:9-10 it says: 9- As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10-If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. Elder D. Todd Christofferson said: God will always love us, but He cannot save us in our sins....Repentance, then, is His gift to us, purchased at a very dear price...To abide in God’s love in this sense means to submit fully to His will. It means to accept His correction when needed, “for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.”²¹ It means to love and serve one another as Jesus has loved and served us.²² It means to learn “to abide the law of a celestial kingdom” so that we can “abide a celestial glory.”²³ For Him to be able to make of us what we can become, our Heavenly Father pleads with us to yield “to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and [put] off the natural man and [become] a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and [become] as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”

Second and third day of Home MTC

On the second day of Home MTC we went for a walk and rode the bikes. (Tuesday, August 15th)

On the third day of Home MTC we rode the bikes. (Wednesday, August 16th) 

 

First day of Home MTC for Conner

Monday, August 14th was Conner's first day of his two year mission. He started at Home MTC for a week. We went for a walk in the morning and then he started his training. 

Last night's walk

Brent and I went for a walk yesterday and the sky was so orange!! Very pretty.

Conner is now Elder Hanson

Conner was set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was an amazing day and we are very proud of Conner. He will be a great missionary.

Brad, Josh, Drew, me, Conner, Brent, Aleks and Shari

Martin, Lucy and Conner

President of the Florida Orlando Mission President Schmeil and Sister Schmeil

The Hansons, President Scherer (Orlando South Stake) and Conner's friend Michael Remington

Conner's friends at the Lake Reams Ward. Elder Tyson Preese, Elder Ruben Wentzel and Elder Conner Hanson. We went to hear Ruben's talk.

Conner's friend Jeff Howell also spoke on the same Sunday but we couldn't go but we went to his house to say goodbye.

Gage Stewart, Conner, Josh, Blake Thompson and Drew

 

The Bradys also spoke and Brent and Conner went to their Ward to hear them speak prior to going to our Ward.