Week 73 - December 26, 2017 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Whattup y'all! So I know Christmas was yesterday but Merry Christmas! I hope all of you guys had a wonderful Christmas! I sure did! It was fun to skype my family and get to know how things are going back home. You guys mean a lot to me! Thank you for making this Christmas one for the books! Thank you to everyone for the Christmas gifts. You guys went all out! Also, crazy thought of the week: 2018 is in less than a week! What the actual heck? 

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Larry. So we had to take him off date for baptism this week because he has to do a lot of stuff financial-wise before he can keep other commitments. But we're still seeing him and he's doing great! He's come to church 3 weeks in a row now! Just keep praying for him. He's excited about the gospel!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

So on the mission, you keep track of how many new investigators you get, investigators at church you get, etc. And there are some people that think NUMBERS is what defines success as a missionary. It's not. Yes numbers are important, but not as important as the amount of spiritual experiences with other people you have as a missionary. My challenge to you this week is to keep track of how many spiritual experiences you have with yourself, other people, at church, etc. And continue to do that throughout the year of 2018. That is what's gonna make you truly happy as you grow from these spiritual experiences. Hopefully that made sense. Haha!

FUNNY MOMENT:

So remember how I used to keep track of quotes from my companions? Yeah I still do that. I've been doing them ever since I was with Elder Howe. Here is one from Elder Garrett this week:

"Wanna know what's cool about this area? You can text (801) numbers and the church won't think anything of it." Hahaha. Hopefully you guys get that one.

Love you guys! I hope you have a great week and a Happy New Year!! "Keep on keepin' on!" - Abby Bird.

"Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me. Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me."

- Elder Noah Hanson

Skyping the Fam!

Skype

All of the great missionaries at leadership conference

Noah and Elder Prince

Elder Wilson

Driving with the missionaries

Noah's new hat!

On splits

Week 72 - December 18, 2017 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Heyyyyy y'all! K wait, hold up. It's already Christmas next week?? Guys, what even is time? It's crazy to think that 2018 is almost here. Y'all have any new years resolutions? You don't have to answer now because I don't either. But we'll see next week haha! 

So we had zone conference this past week and it was incredible. We learned a lot about how we as members of the church of Jesus Christ, celebrate the "Christmas Story" year round. Christ's life on earth IS the Christmas story. Yes, His birth has a huge significance to it, but the whole reason it has its significance is because of His mortal ministry on earth. His atonement. The establishment of His church. The fact that He lives. THAT is the Christmas story that we not only celebrate in December, but year round.

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Larry. He came to church again! He's still progressing towards his baptismas date on January 6th! He's got a lot of financial problems right now though so please pray for him and his progression. He's a great guy that wants to learn the gospel and loves it. 

Barbara. So a miracle happened. So we learned at zone conference how to promise investigators the reasons for coming to church (which is to take the sacrament) and testify what it means to us. So Barbara has depression and she's never been very lively when we've taught her in the past. But when we testified to her about coming to church, she instantly perked up. She was laughing and smiling and enjoying her time talking to us. She offered us hot chocolate at the end and ah man it was great! She couldn't come to church this Sunday cuz she was out of town but she wants to come next week! Wahhoo! Miracles are real y'all.

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

Write down what part of the "Christmas Story" that you like the most and what means the most to you. Then afterwards, SHARE it with someone on Christmas DAY! Just to remind everyone what the true meaning of Christmas really is!

FUNNY MOMENT:

Hahaha okay so get this. So we're on exchanges with the AP's right? Well, while we were messing around in the evening hours, Elder Garrett was climbing up a wall in the apartment and he as soon as he put pressure on his foot against the wall, he put a hole in the wall. HAHA. I'm laughing about this because now everyone calls him Spider Man. We'll fix it don't worry but it was just the greatest thing ever. Haha!

Anyways, Merry Christmas guys! Y'all mean so much to me. Thanks for your love and support. Have a great week and stay safe :) We'll Skype on Christmas! Can't wait!

Mosiah 14

- Elder Noah Hanson

Happier photo

Christmas Card options

Noah with Elder Kent

Noah and Elder Kent

Week 71 - December 11, 2017 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Heyyy y'all! What a great/cold week it has been! Guess what?? We had 5 less-active members and 3 investigators show up to church yesterday! It was truly a miracle! Apparently, missionaries had been trying to work with these people for a while and we saw them this week and they all came to church! Heck yeah! I'm already loving it here in Buena Vista, Virginia! Also, I'm realizing more and more that I use "!" way too much at the end of my sentences...! Haha!

I really hope y'all are taking advantage of this LIGHTtheWORLD initiative. Every day in December is another great way to serve Heavenly Father's children and become more like Christ in the process. There's a reason the church is doing it again this year! It's truly a blessing to be a part of it. We will be having a big Zone conference this week too.

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Larry. So I finally met him this week and he's so cool! He was one of the investigators that came to church yesterday! His biggest issue right now is the fact that he's not married and he needs to clear up some stuff with the law. We had to push his baptismal date to January 6th so please pray that he'll be able to make that date! He's very very ready for the gospel!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

Continue to do the LightTheWorld challenge. I promise that even the smallest bit of service can make a huge impact on those around you!

FUNNY MOMENT:

So last week we had dinner with a member couple, the Thompsons. So anyways, at the end of the dinner appointment, Sister Thompson gives us her phone number so that we can call her about....something. Flash forward to Thursday when we were weekly planning. Elder Garrett and I found her number in our planners and we both just stared at each other for a solid minute trying to figure out WHY we freaking got her number. Then we both started laughing really hard cuz we didn't know what to do. So still to this day we don't know why we have her number. So pray for us to remember what she told us. haha Lolz.

Anyways, love you guys! I hope you guys have a good week and stay safe :) thanks for everything! 14 days till Christmas!!

Alma 13: 24

- Elder Noah Hanson

Fun Missionaries

Exciting study time

Snow in Buena Vista

Gretna Elders

Week 70 - December 4, 2017 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Whatttuuuuppp y'all! First things first, my new address is:

2754 Maple Ave. apt #E20 
Buena Vista, Virginia 24416 

Okay so like I told you last week, I got transferred! I'm now in Buena Vista, VA as a zone leader! Also known as "Mini Provo, Utah". Literally there are so many Mormons here it's crazy! I remember the very first night we went shopping at Walmart and like 15 people said "Hey elders" to us. Like what the heck?? It's gonna take some getting used to haha! But I love it here already! My new companion's name is Elder Garrett! He's awesome! He's been put like 9 months. He's from Idaho/Montana. He said he's moved like 10 times so I don't know where he actually lives haha! He's great and we get along really well! This zone has 14 companionships so its a huge zone. The ward is great and pretty big. The roads are wider in Virginia haha. Its pretty still here too. We play basketball every morning for exercise and its great.

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Larry. So the missionaries had been working with him for a while before I got here. He's on date for December 23rd! He just needs to get married to his girlfriend Lory (who is also an investigator). We'll see what happens with them this week! :)

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

The challenge this week is to please continue doing each of the challenges that are found in the LIGHTtheWORLD initiative! How is it going so far?? :)

FUNNY MOMENT:

So like I said before, there's so many Mormons here it's insane! The other day, we were walking and these people started coming up to us yelling "hey missionaries!". In my head I'm thinking, "Oh great here we go again. Another bash". But nope. They come up to us and start talking about their missions in England haha! Yeahhhh it's gonna take a while to get used to being famous here.

Anyways, love y'all! Stay safe and stay warm! It's getting freaking cold now! Have a great week :)

"If you are a little better than you were yesterday, then that is enough." - Elder Bednar

- Elder Noah Hanson

Elder Garrett - Polar Bear?

On my way to Buena Vista

Noah and Elder Garrett

Merry Christmas

Morgantown Members