Week 58--Garden Park, Georgetown, Guyana

Week 4--Elder Christensen

Hello family,

 I forgot to mention that last week, there was an earthquake near Trinidad or Venezuela or something like that. Anyways, last Tuesday, I was on an exchange with Elder Lewis, and we were just sitting outside eating some food that an investigator had given us. Then, someone from behind me started shaking my chair, so that's when I decided to look behind me. That's when I figured out that the earth was shaking my chair. Elder Lewis turned to me and asked what we should do. The tremor wasn't that bad at all, so I just kept eating my food. I felt safe. Meanwhile, this lady next to us was freaking out. We felt the tremor for a few minutes, and then it stopped. No damage anywhere. Nothing like some entertainment while you eat if you ask me.

 This past week was a good one. We had our zone conference with President and Sister Baird, and we also got to watch two broadcasts on Saturday of President Nelson speak to the Caribbean. It was so cool.

  We are doing great in Garden Park. We had a good week, and we were able to meet quite a few new people. We were glad to have good contacting time every day, and we are going to continue that so that we can continue to meet more and more new people.

  Elder Christensen is doing really well. We are working in unity together, and Elder Christensen is really liking the area here. He's been getting more and more familiar with it, and it really is fun working with him.

  I have a testimony of our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. It was really amazing to be able to attend two broadcasts on Saturday when he spoke to the Caribbean. It was a spiritual experience for me, especially to hear him talking about the gathering of Israel. I loved that he said he "jumps out of his bed" every morning because of the excitement for the work that the Lord has prepared for this time. I know that this work at this time is so important, and I'm so grateful to be able to be an instrument in the Lord's hands in this portion of his vineyard.

  A spiritual experience that I had this week was when we were teaching Akeela. We were talking with her about reading the Book of Mormon, and she said that seeing her aunt, Sister Nichola, who is a recent convert, read every day, inspires her to also read every day. That was just a simple spiritual experience for me of the impact of leading by example. Because of Sister Nichola's testimony, it inspires Akeela to follow her and also do the right thing and develop her own testimony. I'm so grateful for that. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it is the word of God.

 It's good to hear that you did great on your first football game, Payton! The video worked, too. Also, I forgot to wish you a happy birthday last week, Cooper, but Happy Birthday you big man. Happy Birthday to Payton too this Saturday! I can't believe you're going to be 17. You have the same birthday as my branch president and his first counselor hear, so that's cool.

 I love all of you so much. Grace, hi there punkin. Have a great week everyone!

Love,

 Elder Hanni

Elder and Sister Odair are so great to post pictures of Josh on Facebook.  The pictures below are from the Diamond District Meeting.

Week 57--Garden Park, Georgetown, Guyana

Week 3--Elder Christensen

Hello family,

 We are working hard here in Garden Park. We are excited that some of our newer investigators are starting to come to church. We have started to schedule in contacting time for an hour every day, and that has been really good. I just hope and pray that we may be able to keep our teaching pool at a moderate size. I really love teaching the people here in Garden Park. It just makes me really happy to be able to work here.

  Elder Christensen is doing great. I love working with him. He is very sensitive to the Spirit, and I know that the Lord is using him to not only teach me but also bless the lives of these people here in Garden Park. He is doing very well with adjusting to the work.

  I have a testimony of the power of repentance and the gospel principle of change. I was able to interview someone for baptism for the first time, and it was such an amazing experience. That person taught me so much about repentance and the peace that she feels through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that His Atonement is infinite, and I know that there would be no way to make it through this life without Him. I was pondering King Benjamin's words in Mosiah 2:20-26, and I know that the Lord's love for us is eternal. All he requires of us is to keep His commandments for which He doth immediately bless us. We are forever indebted to Him for all that He has done for us.

  A spiritual experience I had this week was in teaching a mother and her three daughters. They came to church for the first time last week, and the first thing the mom said was that she loved coming to church. That lesson, we had planned to talk about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, but as we started following up with them on their prayers about the Book of Mormon, we knew that we needed to invite them to be baptized because both the mom and her 11 year old daughter had received a witness that the Book of Mormon is true. When we invited the mom to be baptized, she was a little hesitant because she is very involved in her church, but she does want to continue to learn and to pray. Then, we turned and started talking to the daughter, and she just smiled as we invited her to be baptized. She was feeling the Spirit, and she said yes. I'm grateful that the Spirit can guide us to teach what they need to here.

It's good to hear that everyone started school this week. Is there even a dress code? Wait, mom, you're working at a music studio? That's so sweet!

I hope this next week is a great one for all of you! I love you so much!

Love,

 Elder Hanni

I sent a picture of the mom and her three girls. The two little ones are adorable, and the youngest one sings Moana for us sometimes.

Week 56--Garden Park, Georgetown, Guyana

Week 2--Elder Christensen

Hello family,

 Well, it's been a pretty awesome week. I've really enjoyed it, and it is really fun to be with Elder Christensen.

  We had a great week here in Garden Park. We were excited to be able to put two more people on a baptismal date this past week. We were also excited because we were able to have a few of our newer investigators attend church yesterday, so it was good to see those investigators start progressing a little bit more.

   Elder Christensen is a great companion. I really enjoy being with him. This week, he has gotten a lot better at teaching the doctrine in the Restoration. He is doing so well with studies and proselyting. It's just a joy to see him continually learning and growing. It is really amazing to see the love he has for these people.

   I have a testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon. As I have been in Alma, I am always so blown away by the words of Alma and Amulek from chapters 32 to 42. I know that Alma's invitation for all to "come and partake," (Alma 42:27) is the Savior's invitation to us. I know that the words written in this book were written by prophets inspired of God.

   A spiritual experience I had yesterday was when we had lessons with Abiola and then Kwesi and Sheniza. For some reason, we did not feel like we needed to teach them what we had planned for them, and I wasn't really sure what we needed to talk with them about, so I simply opened my Book of Mormon, and what was so amazing is that as I did that, the Spirit was able to direct me to flip to the exact right pages to share the scriptures that the Lord needed us to share with those of his choice children last night. It was amazing, and the Spirit was so strong, and it wasn't because of me at all. I know that the Lord is mindful of every people, and I love being an instrument in His hands. One of the scriptures that we ended up sharing with them, I think is appropriate to share at this time. "Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name. Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land. Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen." (Alma 26:35-37) I know that I can't do this on my own. The Lord is in charge, and this is His work.

 Payton, Grace, and Cooper, I'll be praying for you this week as you start school. It will be good. Just make sure to read the Book of Mormon every day, and it will carry you through the day.

Love,
  Elder Hanni

A nice dog laying on a bench. 

 

One of my recent converts in the branch and his dad.