8/14/2023 - Week Four - MTC to OCM

Hey guys, this is gonna be a long one so buckle up.

Over the past 2 weeks here, we've had the opportunity as a district to go to the Provo Temple and do all of the saving ordinances for our ancestors. We were able to do baptisms with our teacher Brother Gutke and we were able to do both Initiatory and Sealings with Brother Bradshaw. I really loved having both of them as teachers. Their personalities were polar opposites from each other, but they both brought the Spirit to their classes in incredible ways.

One of the more lighthearted moments from the MTC experience was the many hours of study we had to see who - from the Bible and Book of Mormon Good Guys (Prophets, Apostles, etc.) - would make the best starting 5 for a basketball team. After much discussion and some inputs from Brother Gutke we decided on a starting 5 with Jesus Christ at the Point Guard, David at the shooting guard, Moses at the small forward, Nephi at the Power Forward, and Captain Moroni at the Center. Russell M Nelson is the Head Coach and Heavenly Father is the General Manager and the Woman at the Well is the water boy. Solid lineup, pretty sure it's sacreligious, but it was a solid discussion (outside of class time, of course 🤥) you can ask me why we chose all of these people specifically, but it's too long of a discussion to send in the email.

One day in the MTC Elder Sainsbury and I were held back after class. I don't think I'm supposed to talk about why, but let's just say Elder Sainsbury got a little too heated in a discussion. I just think it's funny that we weren't held back because of me, but because of sweet and kind Elder Sainsbury (Mom, I hope you're proud it wasn't my fault).

Elder Sainsbury noticed that one of the water bottle filling stations near our classroom was decently close to 40000 water bottles saved, so the entire district worked together to try and get to 40k before we left. It was a grind and a lot of water to drink, but we made it during our last class with Bro Gutke which was super hype. I guess almost anything will get Missionaries in the MTC excited.

We had a devotional on Tuesday by President and Sister Pace of the Sunday School General Presidency. They both gave wonderful talks. Sister Pace spoke about the importance of scripture study and she went deep into the blessings there are for studying, feasting, and treasuries up the word and carving out time for it, such as: bringing us peace, comfort, and power, giving us divine protection, planting Jesus Christ in our hearts, etc. (I don't remember all the ones she mentioned). Elder Pace focused on how we can improve our prayers by kneeling to pray, praying audibly when applicable, being humble and meaningful with our prayers, and waiting after our prayers for an answer (because if you start talking to someone and then just walk away after talking at them and asking them for stuff that's kinda rude, ngl). He also mentioned a way that we can better implement prayers in our lessons which was really cool to hear.

During this last week there was a huge cold wiping its way through the MTC. I feel like at least a third of us here got it, and I sadly didn't beat those odds. I never got too sick, but it wasn't fun to be sick and still just going to class and trying not to cough or sneeze too much or on anyone else (Elder Ashmead take notes). I still have a lingering cough as of writing this which is kinda annoying.

A great quote from the MTC which was repeated often (definitely every day) is from the notebook of a random Elder talking about a Sister (in his district maybe?) "She wants me soooo bad and I don't know why." Just an overall weird thing to write down, but we thought it was funny and would just say it randomly to get a laugh. Good times.

Other than that not too much has happened in the MTC and Elder Sainsbury and I journeyed to the promised land of Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana (all three of which we were in or drove through on our first day). We stayed the night at the Mission President's Home, all 20 of us, where we were interviewed by President McGuire (among other things). It was crazy and we had a blast there and then early the next morning we went to a chapel to find out where everyone was headed. The verdict is... I'm starting in Cincinnati proper with Elder Carr as my trainer/dad in the mission!

Side note: President McGuire reminds me of Woody the Coroner from Psych and kinda looks like him too. He is more of a strict mission president though and that's a little tough.

The Cincinnati area isn't crazy big, but we live in a suburb called Norwood so it's kinda hard to get to the main city since we don't have a car (the Spanish Elders do though so I think President McGuire is choosing favorites). We haven't gone down to Cincy proper yet cuz we need to figure out the bus system here first. We've done a fair bit of biking (>20miles in 2 days) to surrounding suburbs and I've learned that Ohio is very hilly aka not good for biking. My legs are sore and I think I'm gonna fall apart pretty soon.

Elder Carr and I met the ward a little bit on Sunday and they're all very amazing. We already have someone on date for baptism on the 24th right now so we're rushing to make sure that we teach Doneshiah everything we need to so she can actually get baptized on that date. We had a lesson with her on Sunday and it went great! She is very accepting and really has that desire to learn the truth and actually puts in the effort to find it. We're all excited for the 24th.

The work here goes fast and we're trying to get to know the people well, but it takes time. All the hecklers here are super nice so instead of getting a lecture like I would in Idaho or Utah, the people are really chill about just saying no thank you or something like that. My favorite response we've gotten so far is a man who simply said "How's black Jesus treating you?" while we were biking. Kinda funny. I can imagine that people will get less and less friendly in the main city downtown area, but I won't know for sure until tomorrow.

I love y'all and I'll talk to ya next week.

-Elder Hansen

Pictures:

1. Sis Winget, an interesting pose from Elder Sainsbury, and me fighting to stay awake

2. Me carrying Elder Sainsbury who was pouting after losing a game of Foosball

3. Last night at the MTC

4. The map

5. Last class with Bro Bradshaw

6. Field time (they got wrecked by Elder Sainbury and I in spikeball)

7. Elevator pic, idk why

8. Bro Gutke, Elder Sainsbury, and Me

9. Bro Gutke and the squad at the temple