Week 85 - March 19, 2018 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Hey y'all!! It's your boi. Alright first off, shout out to my number one fan--my mom! Happy Birthday mom!!! I sure am grateful for all the love and support you've given me. I wouldn't be here without you. Thank you for being the example of what a Christ-like person should be :) 

Everyone's having seizures here that Virginia lost in the first round of the NCAA tourney. haha. I have West Virginia going all the way! lolz.

The work is kinda slow with finding new people to teach. We have to heavily rely on the members. And they aren't doing a whole lot haha. It'll be ok though!


UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Brandon. So he's the dad of a part-member family that missionaries have been working with for a while! His main issue is Joseph Smith and his story of the restoration. He needs proof. But we told him on Thursday that even if we were all able to see the golden plates and read them in the language that they're in, we would still have to pray and ask God about it. That struck him. The spirit was pretty strong! We'll see what happens this week with him :)

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

The challenge this week is to specifically pray for the opportunity to be a missionary to someone else. And the first name that comes to your mind when you pray, write down that name and act on that prompting this week! You never know who is need of your testimony or service. Any small act of kindness can make a world of a difference!

FUNNY MOMENT:

So on Thursday after zone conference, I was putting away the tables and I could faintly hear the sound of a girl rapping. Like really fast rapping. I looked up to see who it was and it was a sister missionary in the zone named Sister Harris. She is the most innocent person I've ever met and she just randomly started rapping really fast and really good too! We're best buds now in case y'all are wondering. Anyways, I thought it was hilarious haha! 

I sure do love all of you! Y'all are amazing! "Keep on keepin' on!" - Abby Bird.

"And here we stand with hearts woven by your hand, using all we know to help bring the children of the Father home...we wanna thank you mom!" - M.O.M by Nashville Tribute Band

- Elder Noah Hanson

Elder Linford and Noah

The SVU Knight

Week 84 - March 12, 2018 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Whattup y'all! It's your boi. Okay first of all, it snowed here. Like why? I thought we were totally done with the snow and that I had persevered my last winter...nope. I was wrong. Oh whale. This too shall pass. But overall, things are going great over here in Buena Vista! We've been working a lot with the members here and they love it! The members here really have a desire to share the gospel and it's great to see :)

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Maurice. So we saw him again this week and he's doing pretty good overall! He was super tired during our lesson with him but he promised to sincerely pray about the Book of Mormon. And he said he's prayed about baptism and that he's still looking for his answer so we'll see how it goes this week! We're excited for him! Please continue to pray for him!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

Something that President Lindhardt mentioned last week at Mission Leadership Council.......he talked about how we each should, in prayer, ask Heavenly Father what He truly thinks of us. Because it's God's opinion that matters most right? So why not ask our loving Father in Heaven what he thinks of you and what your potential is. Also along with that, reading your patriarchal blessing is a great way to see what He thinks of you as well. It's good!

FUNNY MOMENT:

So one thing you gotta know about Elder Hadley is that he LOVES being healthy. And so he won't eat desserts at member's houses. Anyways, last night we were at a dinner appointment and they had these really hard cookies and chocolate ice cream for dessert. But Hadley won't eat it haha. So he kept giving the members different ideas of how I could eat the dessert. I ended up having 6 cookies and a ice cream sandwich and ice cream in like 10 minutes. I was dead. Ugh. Yay for sugar!

Well I love all of you! Keep being great and keep being examples. Have a good week!

"Think of the one thing you've always wanted. Find it in your mind's eye. And feel it in your heart." -Beauty and the Beast 
(a member mentioned this quote from the cartoon and I really like it so there you go haha)

- Elder Noah Hanson

Week 83 - March 5, 2018 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Ayyy y'all! First off, how the actual freak do I only have 5 months left?? They're not lying when they say the mission FLIES BY! It just gives me more motivation to do everything I can for the Lord and to serve others so LET'S GOOOOO. We had Zone Leader Conference this week. I love President Lindhart! 

A thought I've had this past week...We all understand that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for everyone right? No matter where we've been, or what we've done, we can feel the joy that comes through sincere repentance. And it's through our own PERSONAL repentance process that gives us that joy and satisfaction that we have PERSONALLY taken the time to achieve. Everyone is at a different place in their own repentance process. If you've ever seen anyone make a mistake in their life (which we all have), don't worry about it. You don't know where they are at personally with our Savior, Jesus Christ. He knows. He is aware. And all we have to be aware of is where WE are at with our Savior. 

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Maurice. So he's a new investigator we picked up this week! He's awesome! He's about 60 years old and has a freaking heart of gold! He loved the restoration lesson and we're going back on Wednesday! We also set him on date for baptism for April 21st! We're both pretty hyped for him. So please pray for him and his progression :) like I said, he's awesome!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

With Easter coming up soon, the challenge this week is to write down your own personal testimony of the risen Savior, Jesus Christ. How do you feel your relationship is with him? Are you aware of how much he loves you? How will you apply the Atonement more fully in your life?

FUNNY MOMENT:

Ok so this whole Donkey Kong thing has gotten out of control hahaha. So yesterday, we went to a YSA fireside (I don't serve in the YSA by the way) and I go to get refreshments (for obvious reasons) and this random YSA girl yells from across the room "HEY DONKEY KONG!". I just sat there dumbfounded. This girl, who I don't remember meeting, called me donkey kong. Might as well call me Elder Kong. 
Shout out to Elder Wilson.

I sure do love all of you! Thank you for everything and keep on keepin' on! Have a good one!

1 Nephi 10: 18-19

- Elder Noah Hanson

Zone Leaders conference

Elder Garrett at Transfers

Elder and Sister Taylor and Elder Garrett and Noah

Elder Garrett and Noah

Elder Howe and Noah

Elder Pitt and Noah

Elder Wilson and Noah

Week 82 - February 26, 2018 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Whattup y'all! It's your boi. So wow. This week was pretty crazy with transfers and all. But thankfully transfers went smoothly! So that's good! My new companion is Elder Hadley! He's from Mount Pleasant, Utah. He came out with me so he's been out for a long while now haha! I'm really excited to see what happens to Buena Vista this transfer. Elder Hadley and I have some great ideas on how to find more effectively and working with the members a lot more!! Stay tuned. Haha! Yeah so my release date should be August 11th. I haven't gotten anything for sure yet but that's what everyone is saying. You should get an email soon about it.

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Larry. So interesting moment. On Saturday we went by his house because he hasn't texted us at all this week and he came out the door and told us he might not be able to take the missionary discussions anymore. Here's why. So he can't afford to pay his child support and apparently that's been holding him back from getting baptized. We're gonna do more research on it and see if it's a legit reason why he can't get baptized. Just continue to pray for him that he'll come around and progress still!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

Is there anyone right now that you're not a big fan of? Anyone that you feel has treated you wrong? Well write down that person's name on a piece of paper and write down all the GOOD qualities of that person. Your love for the person will grow and your desire to forgive them will increase as well! And you will be a lot happier! I promise!

FUNNY MOMENT:

So we were at a dinner appointment last week and it was with a young married couple. The husband was talking about qualities that he liked in his wife and he turns to us and says "Alright, when you marry somebody, marry someone that CLEANS." And then his wife freaked out at him and I said, "I mean you don't HAVE to marry someone that cleans." And then the husband said, "Yeah you can also shoot yourself in the foot but you don't HAVE to." HAHAHA! I died!!

I sure do miss all of you! Stay safe and have a killer week and just keep on keepin' on!!

"Remember the spiritual foundations you have built." - Elder Ronald A. Rasband

- Elder Noah Hanson

Noah and the Bear

Natural Bridge with the peeps

Natural Bridge

Natural Bridge

Founders of Natural Bridge

King Kong!

Emailing with Elder Hadley

Natural Bridge

Week 81 - February 19, 2018 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Hey hey hey y'all!! Whale, it's that time again for transfers. We found out on Saturday that Elder Garrett is leaving. I'm gonna miss that kid. I've written down so many funny quotes from him. He probs hates me for that but I couldn't pass up the many opportunities he gave me. Also, with transfers, my whole zone got SLAUGHTERED. Every companionship except for one is changing. We have 13 companionship's. Holy cow. There's gonna be a lot of new missionaries at transfers!

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Sandra & Jake. So we weren't able to see them this week sadly. They were both sick and didn't want to get us sick haha! But we should be seeing them this week! Just pray that we get to see them this week so that they can continue to progress :)

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

The challenge this week for all of y'all is to write down the moment that made it clear to YOU that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. What event sparked that confirmation? Or was it a gradual pace? Write it down and share it with someone!

FUNNY MOMENT:

OK scary moment too. So we were driving to Walmart last Pday and Elder Garrett was driving. He was talking to everyone in the car and so I don't know how much he was paying attention haha. Anyways, we get to an intersection and the light is RED. We all yelled "Red! Red!" and he just kept going, not knowing what was going on and why we were all screaming "Red!". He blew the light. Hahaha it was pretty funny. Don't worry there was no cops around so it was legal ;). (The Lord watching over his missionaries)

I love all of you so much! Thank you for all the support and love you show me each week. I miss each and every one of you! Keep on keepin' on!

"One does not aspire to be a great missionary; rather, he aspires to be a servant." - Lawrence E. Corbridge

- Elder Noah Hanson

Our Mission statement

Exchanges in Lynchburg - Elders Degroff and Fullmer

Lynchburg Elders - Degroff and Fullmer

Week 80 - February 12, 2018 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Happy Valentine's Day y'all! Valentine's day as a missionary is weird but this one should be a good one. We have members feeding us that day because they feel bad for us probably hahaha. But it's all good! We could go around yelling at people that Jesus loves them...that's a good way to find potentials right? Right. It's been raining quite a bit haha so much that they said there's a "flood warning". So that's exciting. Haha! Lots of service opportunities coming up soon probably haha! It should be a good week :)

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Sandra (member) & Jake (investigator). They're both doing great! We've taught them the Plan of Salvation and Restoration this week and they are really coming along! We're really excited for them. We're planning on inviting Jake to be baptized this week so prayers for the both of them would be great! :)

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

In the spirit of Valentine's Day this week, the challenge to all of you is to express your love and appreciation to someone who has had a great influence on you. Someone who has blessed your life tremendously. Also, express your love to your Heavenly Father and tell him specifically what you're grateful for. 

FUNNY MOMENT:

So we were walking to a member's house for dinner and we walked by this house that had the number "2020" on it. I said to Elder Garrett, "Hey look! Kanye West for president!". He then says, "Agh man...if he becomes president, that will be the year I move to Europe." Hahahha! Sorry if you don't get that joke but for those of you that do, way to keep up with the times!

I sure do love all of you so much. Thank you for everything and keep on keepin' on! 

"Love is the defining characteristic of a disciple of Christ." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

- Elder Noah Hanson

fun with the district

Noah and Elder Olkjer

??

Week 79 - February 5, 2018 - Buena Vista, Virginia

Ayyy y'all!! Wow this week flew by! It sure was a great week. We had zone conference this week and it was incredible! President Lindhardt is a very inspired man! It's always good to see missionaries and get re-energized by the spirit. In preparation for zone conference, I had some missionaries help me make matching ties for the whole zone! It was great! Even President Lindhardt asked for one haha! The sisters matched us by wearing blue with their outfit. I freaking love my zone haha!


UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Sandra & Jake. So Sandra is an inactive member that we ran into and her husband, Jake, is a not a member. He'd been taught by missionaries in the past but he didn't like them because they were "too pushy". He told us that he liked us though because we're not pushy haha! They both have a HUGE desire to change their habits and come closer to God. So please pray for them and their progression!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

So this week, I've been able to witness people here give great acts of service to us missionaries. Like paying for our groceries, food, etc. It's been really heart warming to see such selfless acts of service. The challenge this week for all of y'all is to serve someone WILLINGLY. You have no idea how much it means to people when you serve them like Jesus Christ did to every single one of Heavenly Father's children. 

FUNNY MOMENT:

So a couple weeks ago, we realized we had extra Christmas cards to hand out to people. So what did we do? We sent them to random addresses in Hollywood and Ogden, Utah. Haha. But guess what?? The one in Ogden, Utah responded!! We are now good friends with them. They're an older couple and are active members of the church!! Heck yeah!!

Life is good guys. God is good. I love all of you and hope y'all have a great week!

"Whoever you are and whatever your past may be, remember this: It is not too late to make that same choice again and follow Him." - Robert D. Hales

- Elder Noah Hanson

Elder of Buena Vista Zone

Sisters of Buena Vista - Noah in the back haha

Buena Vista Zone

Buena Vista Zone

Fun!

Elder Willie and Noah

Emailing home!