Week 55--Garden Park, Georgetown, Guyana

Week 1--Elder Christensen

Hello family,

 This week has been pretty amazing. I got my new companion, Elder Christensen on Friday. He's fresh from the MTC, so it's pretty fun. I get to show him the ropes and train him and everything! He's from Salt Lake City, UT. He's already a great missionary, and I'm excited to work with him.

 We are doing great in Garden Park. We were really glad to be able to have eight of our investigators come to church. Right now, we are working on quite a few of our newer investigators. There are a lot on the brink of starting to come to church, so we're just trying to figure out which ones are really committed and which ones are not.

 Elder Christensen is a great missionary. It is really fun to be able to show him around everything here in Guyana. He is doing really well adjusting to everything, and it's really cool to see the relationships he is already developing with our investigators. I'm already enjoying the input he has for this area. So far he is doing great for his first few days. He has faith in the promises of the Lord.

 I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. As we went by to see Kwesi and Sheniza this week, and as we followed up with them on their Book of Mormon reading, it was so amazing to see that the verses we left with Kwesi were always able to help him to build his testimony in something he is struggling on. Sister Sheniza was also able to get some counsel from the Lord in the place that she read. I do know that the Book of Mormon is one of the greatest sources for personal revelation, not only for us, but also for the people we teach.

 A spiritual experience I had this week was in teaching Brother Beresford. I've been really trying to make my prayers better and more effective, and I've studied a lot of things in the scriptures and Preach My Gospel to try and improve. When we went to see Brother Beresford this week, we read Mosiah 24 with him in the Book of Mormon, and when we asked him what he learned, he started talking about the prayers that Alma's people offered, and it was exactly what I needed to hear. He said, "Pray out to God wholeheartedly and listen keenly and attentively, and you will hear God answer you, and everything will be all right. You can speak the smallest, and He will hear you, but you need to open your ears to hear Him." I know that what Brother Beresford said is true, and I know that the Holy Ghost spoke through him to me to help me in my time of need. It's incredible what the Lord can teach us if we just listen.

I'm really glad that Ellie's surgery went well. It sounds like everyone's getting busy with sports and getting ready for school, so that's pretty exciting. I want all of you to know that I love you and that I pray for you every day. Have a great week.

Love,
 Elder Hanni

Father and Son!! 

Week 54--Garden Park, Georgetown, Guyana

Week 18--Elder Ortega

Hello family,

 So, we got our transfer calls. Elder Ortega is leaving, and he's going to be with Elder Fisher. I get to stay here in Garden Park, and I super excited for that! I don't know who my new companion is yet because I'm training a brand new missionary, and he probably leaves the MTC today. I've never had a new missionary with me before, but I'm sure it will be great. I'm excited for this opportunity! I'll be with Elder Ortega until Friday, and then I'll get my new companion, so it should be a fun week!
 I finally got to meet President and Sister Baird last weekend and on last Monday. They are really cool. President Baird is pretty hilarious. I'm excited to have him be my second mission president.

 We are doing well in Garden Park. Something we have been focusing on more now that we strive to have ten interactions a day is finding families. We have been really excited to be finding some families in our contact area, and we are trying to meet everyone we can and invite them to join those that we teach.

  I have really enjoyed being with Elder Ortega the past three transfers. He has been able to teach me so much and help me to become better as a missionary and as a person. I'm excited for the opportunity to be with a new missionary and to hear his input and work together with him to make this area even better.

  I have a testimony of following up with people. We meet so many people here, and sometimes it feels like we can't go and see all of them, but I do know that making that effort to follow up with someone shows them that you really care about them and that you're here for them. It also helps us as missionaries to truly understand the needs and desires of those of Heavenly Father's children that we serve.
  A spiritual experience I had this week was in teaching the granddaughter of a member who lives in our branch. First of all, she gave us the referral for her granddaughter by pointing to her and saying, "Baptize her!" That was a nice way to receive the referral. As we've gone by to teach her granddaughter, it has been a spiritual experience for me to see the support of the grandmother as we have been teaching. The grandmother is very patient when her granddaughter doesn't understand, and she carefully and lovingly explains things to her. It is so wonderful to have that kind of support when teaching an investigator, and it really helps me to feel the Spirit.

 I'm excited that Payton and Grace got to sign up for classes. Those sound like really cool classes. Also, the basement looks like it's coming along pretty well. I hope Ellie's surgery goes well today. I hope your week is amazing, and I love all of you so much!

Love,
 Elder Hanni

PS- I found a horse with some nice bangs, Mom! I thought you would like it. My bangs aren't as nice as his, but I might as well send this other picture too.

Week 53--Garden Park, Georgetown, Guyana

Week 17--Elder Ortega

Hello family,

 I had a great week this week. It went by really fast, but it also felt long just because we were doing so many things. I loved it, though.

 Garden Park is doing so great. We had a great week here, and we really enjoyed being able to focus on the needs of Kwesi and Sheniza and the extended family. We have also been able to find two new families to teach, one in our contact area, and one as a referral. I love it when the Lord leads us to families. It's just fun being able to teach them together.

  Elder Ortega and I are doing great. No problems. We just are really enjoying being in this area, and we love the people that we are able to teach here. We continue doing our best to help each other become better. This week is the last week of the transfer, so we should find out at some point about transfers. This is my third transfer with Elder Ortega, so we're pretty sure that he's going somewhere else, but you never know. We could stay for a fourth transfer. I'll let you know what happens next week.

  I have a testimony of the priesthood keys held by branch presidents. As we were trying to help Kwesi and Sheniza and their whole family this week, we were not sure how we could possibly resolve contention among them regarding marriage and baptism, so we felt that prompting to call our branch president. He gave up his night that night to go over to that family with us, and he handled everything so well. I truly felt that the Lord was guiding him in what to do and say as he ministered to those under his stewardship. I am so grateful for priesthood keys given to the Lord's chosen servants.
  A spiritual experience I had this week was on Sunday. We were finally able to see a certain investigator again for the first time in about three and a half weeks because of the events surrounding the death of her brother at the beginning of July. It turns out that the next lesson we were on with her was the Spirit World, and the commitment we had left with her in the Book of Mormon the last time was Alma 40:11-14, and so she was able to read about where her brother was at right now, and we also talked about it with her. She said, "This lesson was left for a reason. It was God's plan." I know that the Lord works in mysterious ways and that he personally knows our investigators and that he guides us to specifically meet their needs even when we don't fully realize it.

 I'm excited that you guys get to work on the house and the basement. Those walls look pretty good, Payton. Keep up the good work. Tell Ellie not to get any more kidney stones for me. Cooper, I can't believe you're already strong enough to push a lawn mower. Congrats! Grace, I just think that your performance went really well (You too Payton). It really was marvelous. Couldn't tell you what it was about, but I just know it was good.

 I love all of you. Have a good week!

Love,
 Elder Hanni

The pictures below were taken from Facebook and are from the most recent Georgetown West Coast Zone Conference.  We love it when the Senior couple past pictures of our favorite missionary.