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

Week 69 - November 27, 2017 - Morgantown, West Virginia

Hey y'all!!! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving this week! It was a great Thanksgiving over here! HOLY COW I felt like a fat blob afterwards though. I guess that's usually how you feel after thanksgiving dinner - am I right or am I right? I'm right. Anyways, this week I found out that I'm officially leaving Morgantown, WV. I'm actually pretty bummed about leaving but I'm so grateful that I've had the chance to serve here. I've grown to love the people here and have grown to love the missionaries around me. I'm gonna miss Elder Prince but it's time for a new adventure! I'll find out where I'm going on Wednesday! I've learned a lot of lessons this week that I will cherish forever.

One of those lessons is that this work is truly the Lord's work. With the upcoming baptisms that I'll be missing next transfer, I've been a little down about missing them, not gonna lie. But I've come to the realization that it's not about ME. It's about THEM. It's about the people you serve and the progress THEY make in the gospel. Yes, I've grown from the experiences I've had but in all reality-it's about helping OTHERS. I'm so happy for all of God's children that are coming to KNOW the gospel and who are coming closer to their Savior, Jesus Christ. The church is so freaking true y'all. Haha!

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Tom. So he's still doing great; however, we had to push his baptismal date to December 16th. We're gonna be reviewing some things with him and then he should be good to go! He came to church again yesterday and even participated in sunday school! How dope is that? Haha! I'll tell y'all when I get the word that he's been baptized soon! Haha!

Sara. So we FINALLY got to teach her yesterday! She's now on date for December 16th too! She's so freaking prepared it's not even funny haha. I'll keep y'all updated on her as well :)

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

So this year's Christmas initiative is once again-LIGHTtheWORLD! There's another video this year about it on lds.org! The challenge this week is to SHARE that video with those around you! And do the challenges that are set for every day in December! :) We get to do it again! Freaking dope!

FUNNY MOMENT:

So on Thanksgiving day, we had what's called a "Turkey Bowl" in the morning. It's basically just a football game for those of you who don't know. You know who you are. Anyways, since it had been like 15 1/2 months since I've actually PLAYED football, I was SO SORE from playing the next morning. Elder Prince and I woke up the next morning and we both were just like "Ehhh...I hurt all over." Haha! Thanks football. Oh how I've missed ya.


Love y'all! I hope you guys have a good and safe week! "Keep on keepin' on!" - Abby Bird

"Perfect is not the destination. It's the journey!"

- Elder Noah Hanson

Tracting with Elder Cornwall

Turkey Bowl!

Too much Turkey!

Week 68 - November 20, 2017 - Morgantown, West Virginia

Whattup y'all!! Well this week was another good one! More so because we had a member of the Seventy come see us in Charleston!! Elder Foster came and spoke to all of us on Friday. He focused a lot on how there's a lot of missionaries that seem to not think they're good enough. He made it very clear to us what our purpose was as missionaries and that we are "fine just the way we are". It was something I really needed and I'm so grateful for it! But this principle applies to all of us as members of Christ's church. "As long as you are a little better than you were yesterday, that is enough." - Elder Ballard. Also, as a zone we matched ties/maroon attire to the mission tour! I love this zone!

Also, we are set for Thanksgiving. We are playing football then eating at a member's house. We are all set. Transfers are next week and there is a chance I could be moved. We'll see. It's soooooo cold here. I saw snow yesterday. 

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Tom. I freaking love this man. Haha! He's progressing very well! He came to church AGAIN yesterday and he LOVED it! His 
baptismal interview is this week on Saturday so please pray for him that he'll be able to pass with ease. Although, I'm not too worried about him. He's for sure ready!
Sara. So we haven't been able to contact her much this week. However, she texted us 
yesterday wanting to meet with us soon this 
week hopefully! So pray that we'll be able to teach her soon! She's FOR SURE ready haha!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

So in spirit of Thanksgiving being this week, I challenge all of y'all to WRITE DOWN all the things that you are truly grateful for! You can be as specific as you wanna be with it. Then 
afterwards, pray to your loving Heavenly 
Father and give Him a prayer of just thanks. 



Nothing but thanks. There's so much to be grateful for nowadays! 

FUNNY MOMENT:

So there was this man that Elder Prince and I visited this week and we couldn't help but notice that this man had a bunch of cigarettes everywhere and some beer cans (not opened) by the couch. But earlier he told us 
that he wasn't struggling with any of those things? So after the lesson, we walk outside and Elder Prince slips out... HAHaHahahaha! We just tossed them out later but it was hilarious! It's all good though. We're not in trouble with him. haha.

Anyways, I truly am so grateful for all of you. Your examples mean more than the world to me. Thank you to all who have supported me from the very beginning! Love you guys. Stay cool and stay safe :) HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2 Nephi 32: 8-9  
And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.  But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

- Elder Noah Hanson

Morgantown Zone

Noah and Elder Tippetts

Noah and Elder Hunsaker

Week 67 - November 13, 2017 - Morgantown, West Virginia

Ayyyy y'all!! Ok I honestly don't even know where to begin with this week. So much stuff happened and we experienced a lot of miracles as well! The work here is progressing very well and I'm more than hyped about it! Also, it's soooooo cold here. It's fine. My feet are always cold and I don't know how to handle it. Haha. It's whatever. Anyways!

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Tom. Okay he is awesome!! We had 2 amazing lessons with him this week and he's now on date for December 2nd! The day AFTER transfers. I really really hope I can witness his baptism at least. We'll have to see. But he came to church again yesterday so that was awesome!! Please continue praying for him and his progression!!

Sara. Okay really cool story. So she's been coming to church for like 10 years but her husband would never let her get baptized and she just didn't feel ready yet. But she went up to our Bishop and told him that she's ready to get baptized!! And so we talked with her yesterday and set her on date for baptism on December 2nd as well! So that would be two that I'd be missing if I got transferred sooooo yeah. But it was such a cool experience! She's very ready!

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

So I always say how EVERY MEMBER IS A MISSIONARY right? Well the challenge this week is to PRAY for an opportunity to share the gospel this week in some way, shape, or form! And when you get that opportunity, ACT! Do not be afraid to share the gospel with those around you because you never know who's ready! :)

FUNNY MOMENT:

So this week we had a service project thing for the whole community and we raked A LOT of leaves. Anyways, so I took the rake that I had and had a missionary take my picture with it as I jumped in the air so that it looked like I was riding a Harry Potter broom. It's a legit thing. I'll send the picture :) haha!

Love you guys so much! Stay awesome and have a good week :) 

Mosiah 3: 7-8

- Elder Noah Hanson

Joining the Sisters in Fairmont, WV for their baptism

Bowling with the Zone

Proud of our steak dinner

We made matching ties for the Zone

Volunteers for the WVU service day

Handsome rakers

Too many leaves

Harry Potter in WV?

Week 66 - November 6, 2017 - Morgantown, West Virginia

Hey y'all! Time for another one of my emails that you either get to read, skim through, or just read the funny moments! You know who you are and I love you anyway. This was a good week! Halloween was freaking crazy! I love Morgantown even more now. Hahaha! Tell ya more about it later but college kids are crayyyyyy.

ALSO, I have only 9 months left....what the actual heck?

We also went on hike to Cooper's Rock again today! It was really pretty with all the fall colors and stuff like that. We went with a whole bunch of missionaries! I'll send a bunch of pics or something.

UPDATE ON INVESTIGATORS:

Tom. So Tom is a new investigator we found this week. He's been taught by missionaries in the past. And when I say past i mean like 1964. He's 71 years old and LOVES the church. He even CAME to church yesterday!! Wahoo!! We're gonna see him tomorrow hopefully and also fun fact, today's his birthday! He's a great guy and so just pray for him and his progression! 

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK:

So now that the new conference edition of the Ensign is out, I invite you guys to read over the conference talks OR pick your favorite talk and review it! I've been reading some talks from it and I've learned even MORE things from them! 

FUNNY MOMENT:

So on Halloween night, we were going in for the evening (cuz dangerous place) and we drove by the heart of WVU campus. We looked to our right and saw two guys dressed up as freaking LDS MISSIONARIES walking into a club. I was just like...you're kidding me. Haha! It was pretty funny though, but, come on people!!

Love y'all! Stay safe and hope you guys have a great week :) thanks for everything! 

Alma 13: 24 
For behold, Angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive His word at the time of His coming in His glory.

- Elder Noah Hanson

WEST VIRGINIA!

Coopers Rock 

Coopers Rock

Working with the APs

Splits

Mason Dixon Line

Zone Conference

Elder Prince at Coopers Rock

HAHA

Coopers Rock

Scary Fog?

Model poses