Poway Spanish!

Hey everybody! It's been a crazy 7 days since the last time you heard from me. 

To start, we had 3 baptisms! Joselouis, Joselouis, and Angel. It was an amazing experience to participate in that and know I've helped them come closer to Christ. The next day they were confirmed members of the church. Then I was able to sing in sacrament meeting with all the other missionaries and after give my first talk as a missionary. It was a nerve racking yet fun experience. We went caroling that same night and it was super fun. 

But, as the title of the email might hint at, I wont be seeing much of San Ysidro any more. I've been transferred to the Poway Spanish area. Which is as big as the Annaheim mission itself. It's sad to go. But I had a wonderful time in San Ysidro and learned a lot. I'm excited to see more of the mission and continue to grow. 

Elder Nate Hanna

THIS IS A PERSONAL EMAIL SENT DIRECTLY TO  ME (MOM)

Hey mom. I'm very, very sad to tell you, but i wont be getting to spend Christmas in San Ysidro. I've been transferred to Poway, the most northern part of the mission. My trainer is staying for his fifth transfer and greenie breaking an elder that came in from mexico with me. It's really really hard. I had to give something called a step talk at our district meeting after we got the transfer doc and I completely lost it in the middle of the talk. I could hardly talk because I was crying. I know God has a need for me in Poway, but I really wanted to stay. So bad. It's going to be a lonely Christmas. 

But this week wasn't all bad. We had three baptisms and I performed one of them. Jose Louis, Jose Louis, and Angel. It went really well. Then the next day they were confirmed and i, with all the other missionaries, performed a musical number in sacrament. Then I gave my first talk in Spanish. And I had to talk more than I planned for because the two sister missionaries that spoke with me had only planned for five minutes like I had, and I was last. But I guess I did really well. I had one lady tell me I am a powerful speaker and that she understood me super well unlike the others. And someone else asked if I spoke Spanish before I came to the mission. Then we went caroling and made really good visits. Sadly, I wont be here for the Torres family's baptisms. But I know Elder Parkinson will take care of them. 

My new companion will be elder Dudley. I know nothing about him but Sister Williams, the sister from Queen Creek, has served with him and says he's awesome. 

Wish me luck and say lots of prayers for me. I'm gonna need it this week. 

Elder Nate Hanna

Miracles!

Hey everyone! It has been a wonderful week here in sunny San Diego! Even though it actually hasn't been to sunny. We have gotten A LOT of rain this week. My companions shoes are still wet from Thursday. It has been awesome to have a change in weather. I miss the rain of Mexico City.

But on to the miracles. We had been really struggling with the Torres family in knowing how to help them understand they were ready. Then they told us last week that they were ready after we read out of Mosiah with them. I have told you this. Tonight we are going over to set a certain date with them. But this last Sunday, we again taught for the last two hours of church. And the three people we taught then want to get baptized this Saturday! We may have FIVE people get baptized this week! It's been such a miracle! We have been praying for Heavenly Father to lead us to those that are ready, and he has brought them to us! There is nothing that brings me more joy in this work than feeling that my works have helped someones faith in Christ grow, no matter to what degree that may be.

I love you all and invite you to visit LightTheWorld.org this week and view the "Light your Community" video for this week. Find a way to give as He gave this week by lighting your community. I promise as you do so, you will feel the Saviors love in your life this Christmas.

Merry Christmas! 

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Heyyy everybody! I have some wonderful news! Do you remember that one family I was telling you about? The Torres family? They are ready! They have told us that they feel ready for baptism! I'm so so excited for them! We had dinner with them Sunday night and Octavio told us he feels it's time! We are so stoked for them! We are going to talk to them Thursday and get all the details planned out for what works best for them! It's the best Christmas gift ever!

We have also had many service opportunities the last few days! We were walking down the street by Las Americas, a pretty popular mall down here, and we heard a weird sound, and when I looked to where it was coming from, I saw someone with a flat tire pulling into the mall. So I was like, hey elder, let's go help. We ended up changing their tire for them. It was a mother with her son from TJ! What are the odds we were right there? We were supposed to be meeting a less active member but they weren't home! Then that! It was so cool to see the lord using us to serve others when they most need it!

We also had a fun service project with the ward. We went and cleaned Imperial beach for two ours. It was super fun to spend time with the ward and give back to this awesome community.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season! If you haven't already seen it yet, head to lighttheworld.org today and watch this weeks video on lighting the world! Light the World This Christmas | Mormon.org

I love you all!

PICTURES: In the Spanish ward, that is our picture for the 12th article of faith. 

I'm Grateful For...

Hey everyone! What I am grateful for this holiday season is one, our Savior Jesus Christ who gave everything so that we could one day return to live with our loving Heavenly Father. He is the reason I am a missionary, so I can show him that I appreciate His sacrifice for me and so that I can share this message with others. I am also grateful for all the love and support I receive from all of you back home. Each and every one of you has shaped my life in some form so that I am here in California, doing the work of the lord. For that, I am deeply grateful and will always be so.

My email this week is simple. As the Christmas season has arrived, I invite each of you to love a little more, and to give a lot back. This season of giving is a wonderful opportunity for us to remember Jesus Christ, and to honor him. The best way to do that, is to love like He did, and to give like He did. 

Matthew 25:40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

I invite each of you to go to LightTheWorld.org this week and find ways to serve and to be a light for the world. I love you all. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey everyone! Happy Thanksgiving! It's been another good week here in San Ysidro! We have a new sister in the ward, Sister Christley, she just finished training and is in her second area! 

We went over and met with the Torres family. Unfortunately, we did not set them on date, but that is OKAY. They just want a little more time to align themselves more with the baptismal requirements. They are super awesome. Also, their 19 year old son Stephen came to church this week! So it will be super cool to start teaching! 

If I haven't mentioned English connect yet, it's a class we help teach, helping people learn English. But if I've learned anything, they have a really hard time with the word beach. And it's really hard to help them realize that they HAVE to pronounce that one right. 

Anyways, have a wonderful holiday everyone. I love you all! 

Elder Nate Hanna

PHOTO: BIENVENIDOS A CALIFORNIA!!!!!

Transfer Tuesday

Hey everybody! Another week down in San Ysidro and one transfer done! I've been blessed with leadership, a great ward, and wonderful new friends, some who are from just up the street at home. I could not have asked for better support in my first area. 

I had my first transfer document come out yesterday. It was kind of a tough day, two new, but good friends are leaving. One, sister Meza, a Mormon Batallion sister is done with her out bound, and Elder Towne, our district leader, from Gilbert, is going to another district in the zone. But the good thing is, the sister from Queen Creek stayed, Sister Williams, she's awesome, and of course I'm still with my trainer. With that, we also found out a new rule that's affecting the whole west coast, we can't eat with members anymore during the week. We have to be done with dinner by 5 and do "finding" from 5-7. 

In other news, there is a lot of unrest at the border, which I live on. Trump has ordered troops at the crossing because of that caravan. I literally just drove by as I'm writing this and I saw them. Also we went on a hike yesterday morning to have one last fun thing with the district, and we saw two runners. They came out of the bushes and dove back in on the other side of the rode. It's wild out here. 

To end on a good note, we sadly couldn't have our weekly meeting with the Torres family last week, but we will be seeing them Thursday and are going to find out the best date for their baptisms! I am so excited for these wonderful people to enter the waters of baptism and begin their journey back to our Father in Heaven. Although the trials of the life of a missionary are often overwhelming, there have only been a few other times in my life when I have felt the joy that guiding others to our Savior Jesus Christ brings me. 

I love you all! 

I'm 19!

Hey everyone! Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes! I may be far from home but i felt the love! 

I had a good birthday, we went out and worked as normal, but because it was halloween, we had to be off the streets by six. So we all got together as a district + another pair of sisters and carved pumpkins and played games. 

The highlight of the week was that the Torres family came to a baptism finally! They are so awesome and were going to try and plan their baptism this week! Im so excited to see them begin their journey back to our heavenly father! 

Today for Pday we went to the temple and it was so good to be back in the house of the lord! 

I love you all and hope you have an awesome week!

Elder Nate Hanna

I love being a missionary!

This week has flown by again! Elder Parkinson and I are getting closer and closer everyday! I love having him as my trainer! When President Stubbs said I was getting one of the best the mission has to offer, he wasnt kidding! 

The big thing for this week is the Torres family! They are an older couple who my companion was teaching before I got here, but I love them! They have changed their lives already! The sweet spirit I feel when I'm around them is amazing! They are ready and wanting to be baptized, they just want to see a baptism first, which will happen this week! So when we see them Thursday we may very well plan their baptismal service with them! 

I love being a missionary guys! You have no idea how fun and exciting it is! I love you all! 

Also, this is us at the "punkin patch". 

Elder Nate Hanna

Zone Conference

Beach Day!

Hey everyone! This weeks email is going to be short. 

This week has flown by! We have an older couple that has committed to baptism! They only want to see a baptism before their own. They are so amazing! They come to church every week and have completely changed their lives already! Missionary work is so awesome! I love being out here and serving the people! 

Today for pday my district went on a hike to the beach! It was sooo cool! I found my first sand dollar and got really close to the border! I love my district! Three of us are from the valley! One from Gilbert, Elder Town, and one from Queen Creek, Hermana Williams! 

One of my favorite things we do here is called English connect. It's an extra step in the self reliance program if you don't know English. As missionaries (there are 6 of us in the ward) we help teach English. It's an opportunity to get to know the ward members better and for us to connect in a trial we share. That being learning a new language.

I love you all and hope you have a good week!

Elder Nate Hanna

His companion Elder Parkinson

Heyoooo

Hey everyone! Another week has gone by here in San Ysidro! It's been a good week! Last week I expressed concern about the language, and don't get me wrong that is still very much a concern, but I've noticed more and more that I'm able to follow the conversation and its general direction easier and easier as well as pick up on more words and phrases. 

I had my first normal Sunday here with the ward and it was really cool! My companion and I had to help pass the sacrament and I learned for the first time just how much the youth look up to missionaries. My first time ever meeting some of these kids and they were asking me where they should go and what they should do. I'm here thinking I don't know I'm in your ward! But it was a cool experience and I'm excited to get to know these young men and work with them over the next few transfers! We also had a general authority in our sacrament meeting! Sister Craig from the Young Women's general presidency! She spoke on learning the language of the spirit, and how, just like a language like Spanishv(she served a mission in south america), we have to constantly practice the language of the spirit if you want to develop and keep it. 

We taught Elizabeth the plan of salvation this week AND she accepted a baptismal invitation! I'm so stoked and cant wait to keep working with her and helping her get ready for that! 

I also met lupita and Octavio Torres this week. They are an older couple who have been coming to church and we meet with them Thursday! Hopefully Octavio will have received his answer just like lupita! 

That's all the excitement for this week! I love and miss you all! 

Elder Nate Hanna

The real week one!

Hey everyone! I am in sunny San Diego! 

Well El Centro...

Just kidding! I'm in a town called San Ysidro! I live a mile from Tiajuana! Everyone here speaks Spanish... except me. It's very very hard to understand even a little of what the native speakers are saying. I've gotten better as the week has gone on. But it's still very little. I can understand my companion almost completely though which is good. 

Speaking of my companion his name is Elder Parkinson. And man I scored with a trainer. I love the guy! He's taught me so much in just the last week! I've also been told by President Stubbs that he's as good as a missionary as they have to offer! His Spanish makes up for the lack thereof by me and he's really focused on helping me do the best I can with what I have and building on it. 

I'd like to share my first real teaching opportunity. We are teaching this women Elizabeth. Her English is great but we teach in Spanish because it's her native tongue and it helps her understand better and also feel closer to home. We've taught twice but I didn't say much the first time. But the second lesson we taught about the restoration. I was able to give an account of the first vision. It was unreal. When I shared that and gave my testimony, I could feel something in the room change, and at that moment I knew why I am here in San Ysidro. On a mission. The joy I have felt here in just a week is incredible and I cant wait until I can speak this language and understand more so I can share this gospel to even more people. I hope everyone has had a good few weeks! I love you all! 

Elder Nate Hanna

I made it!

Hey I made it safe to San Diego everyone! Also, P-days are TUESDAY! So that will be the day I get to communicate with everyone! I love you all! 

Here's me with President and Sister Stubbs!

Elder Nate Hanna

Almost Out

To start, I want to let every one know that I spent all of Monday in the hospital...

Fortunately, I wasn't there for me. Unfortunately I was there because a member of our district, Elder Wilson had a stomach infection and was on an IV for three days. He is back in the CCM and well now which is great. It was a good change of pace to the everyday grind and I got to know Elder Wilson better and we shared some of our goals for life. I have a deep respect for not only the dedication he has to this work and also his ambitions for the future. 

We got to do promix two more times which I really enjoy! Elder Cespedes is a great guy and I always enjoy working with him. He's taught me a lot and I've made good friends with him and the rest of his district. 

I officially have less than a week before I head to the field. I'm so excited to actually become engaged in the work! I received an email from the mission and was informed I would be teaching the first night! Although I'm still super worried about the language I've gained some confidence since Ive been able to teach without a script. I know it'll  be hard but the lord will help me as I strive to be better. 

Elder Nate Hanna

Gift of Tongues

So it's been a good week here at the CCM. It's been normal, with classes from 8:30 in the morning to 9 at night. Tuesday we did something called promix. Me and one other member of our district (not my companion) are in a trio with a Latino companion so we are forced to speak Spanish. It was actually really fun! Obviously it was hard to communicate at times but it was one of the funnest times I've had here! Elder Cespedes was his name. He's from Bolivia and he's the nicest guy.

Another highlight of my week is my Spanish. I'm obviously not fluent but I've been able to say more and more each day! My teachers have said they are impressed by my growth and it really gives me confidence for the days ahead. The gift of tongues is a real thing and I've seen it working in my life so much in these last few weeks. 

Moroni 10:23 says And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.

I truly believe, especially since being in the CCM, we can do anything if we rely on Christ. 

Sorry I don't have much to say this week, they are all pretty much the same! Thanks again everyone for all the letters and support! You have no idea how much it helps! Until next week, I love you all!

No price is too great

It's been a good week here in the CCM. We went to the temple again on P-day and I bought another tie. This week has been tough as always but its been really good as well! 

To start, the gift of tongues is real! I'm not anywhere close to where I need to be, but I have improved so much in the last week! I understand more in class and am able to express what I want to teach and say way more in Spanish! 

My district is awesome! We've all become even better friends and it makes it so much easier to have 11 other people struggling and learning together. We've all seen the blessings that we've brought into each others life. 

One of the best parts of the week was all of your letters! You have no idea how much of a boost that is spiritually. There's nothing like letters of support and encouragement from you guys! I wish I could answer all of you individually but I only have an hour each week to email. I want each and every one of you to know I love you and am so grateful for the letters you all sent. 

And of course I've been indulged in the gospel 24/7. It's an amazing work that I'm involved in. We watched a video called "President, Why is this so hard?" By Elder Holland on Monday. What Elder Holland taught is this. Yes, the work we do is hard. It's frustrating, and even discouraging at times. Sometimes we even want to give up. But you have to ask yourself, did the Savior give up? When he was hurting, did he say I cant? What us missionaries are asked to do is hard, but it's nothing compared to what Christ suffered for us. 

President Bennet teaches that yes is yes. I said yes to God when he extended me this call. So I'm going to fulfill that call. 

I love all of you guys and pray for you daily!