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