Regan April 6, 2009

Well this past week has been so amazing. After Finding out that I was going to be a district leader I made every change that I could possibly make to be more exact obedient and be a better example for those whom I am serving.

It has been amazing to see with that bit of dedication and using the enabling power of the atonement to make those changes that so much has come from it. I have been able to see more of the power and strength that I have been given to resist temptation and how much easier it has been to be even more obedient.

This past week we have had some really great companion studies out of preach my gospel. We were studying in recognizing the spirit and did the activity which allows how to better understand where to go, what to do, what to say, how to use the Book of Mormon with those we teach, and also how to better adjust to their needs.

It was amazing to see the power in all of the scriptures and how well it enabled us to have the best planning session for the next week that we have had. His hand is in everything and with putting our hands in his we are drawn to all that he wants and desires for us .

We have had some amazing member present lessons this week and all of those who have received our prayers have been strengthened and they are getting better physically and spiritually.

Wow!!! I don't even know how to express or where to begin on how amazing Conference was. I could of not asked for better direction than what was given. I loved all the talks and will be studying them just as President Monson as Directed us to. I am ready to Ponder the messages that are contained within and apply them into my life with all diligence.

I hope that all of you enjoyed the marvellous talks and received the inspiration that you had been seeking for. I know that I received those things that I have been pondering on for my district and also for all of those we are teaching and will find. There is not greater Message than that of the Restoration. We all need to continue as was directed yesterday to share this gospel to all of those who are around and about us.

Thanks for the letters and the e-mails they are great.

Love You

Elder Regan Hansen

march 31 2009

Hello family,
It sounds like you all had a pretty good week and things are quite well. This week went pretty well we were able to render a lot of service. Right now we are building a game park fence in Brother Billy Vanheardens backyard and it is truly something fun for me to relieve some of the stresses of missionary work. I do get frustrated sometimes because the guy does not know how to build a fence. Something that I am learning with him is complete patience, when he doesn't know what he is doing. This week is transfer week, me and Elder Marshall will see if we stay together another transfer. Here in the next few months our mission is going to see a lot of change. Because the shortage of missionaries in the world our mission will drop down to less than 100 missionaries. When Elder Marshall's group of missionaries leave there will be no incoming missionaries for the next 6 months or next 4 transfers, only departing missionaries. It just simply means that there will be no biking areas and the areas that we are in are going to be huge. Right now the area that we are in is big enough it is probably the size of half of Utah valley. So anyways big changes are happening in the mission in the next six months. Well today will be a short letter but I look forward to general conference and also the game drive that we are going on today with the senior couples. We will be going to Inquenqeze and see the big 5 that they have. Sorry I would write some more but we have to go. Well Have a good week and be sure to write more in your emails they're looking a little skimpy. love you all

Elder Tyler Hansen

Regan March 30, 2009

Everything has been going really well this past week.

I don't have to much time today because we received a call from a ward member and we have to give a blessing here very shortly. I am grateful for this opportunity that I will be able to exercise the Priesthood power that the Lord has given me the Privilege to hold. I know that it will perform those miracles and help everyone one who desires to receive the blessings from the Priesthood.

This past week it slowed down because of rain, rain, rain... We were still able to find those of who we had planned on and the spirit has been attending so strong at each and every lesson that we have had this week. We taught Jeffrey and Kiera the Restoration this past Wednesday and it had the most strongest spirit our of any other lesson that I have ever been apart of.

We all kneeled down in prayer at the end and the spirit brought me to have such sweet tears for these 2 special children of our Heavenly Father. They have received the knowledge of thy gracious spirit and will continue to learn and progress through his help.

If you could keep Sister Parson's in your prayers that would be great. There was some complication after a surgery that she had and it would be great for her and her family to be in our prayers.

Thank you for all of the love and support you show to me and for the love the Savior gives to me from all of you.

Love You

Elder Regan Hansen

march 24 2009

well hello family,
It is good to here from you and all the new changes that are happening. Dad I hope all is well with your back you will have to tell me what your new job is. It is good that you guys were able to experience the witness of an Apostle and feel of Elder Jefferey R. Hollands spirit. He sends a powerful message and I truly look forward to conference in the next couple of weeks, they mean a lot more on a mission than back at home. I hope that I can be able to hear something that will help benefit me and also the investigators that we invite to come. This week we were able to go out to the town of Butterworth which is a very dirty town but once you get into the outskirts/farmlands they show some pride in there town. I will show you some pictures of the town, I don't have any inside the town but some of the outskirts. We only go out to Butterworth once or twice every transfer which is every six weeks and meet with the Bakitcha family. We really didn't get to teach anyone out there but gave Tata Bakitcha a blessing since his foot was swollen. Butterworth is about an hour and a half away from Beacon Bay but the bishop likes us to go out there to see that all is well with the Bakitchas since they are basically the only members in the whole town. We went fellow shipping with Sepocacula who just received the Aaronic Priesthood and visited some of his family. This transfer is winding to an end, me and my companion requested to President that we stay together another transfer, but we will see what happens. Elder Marshall has a lot of knowledge of the gospel and this next transfer will be his last on his mission. We have quite a few progressing investigators now and this next transfer we may have quite a few baptisms depending on there commitments. We were able also to give a lot of service this week with me and my companion putting in about 30 service hours a week which is really good for South Africa and Beacon Bay since the country is accustomed to beggars. Thanks for the emails and if you would please send some pictures of back home since I realized that I came out here with no pictures. It sounds like things are starting to warm up It will be interesting to experience my first winter here in South Africa since the nights now are starting to get a little bit cold which I like. Thank you for the support I pray for you all the time and look forward to a package.
love
Elder Tyler Hansen

Regan March 23, 2009

I hope all is well and the snow should soon be fading away quickly. It has started to warm up here and has been quite consistent at about 75 degrees now. The Humidity has not picked up a ton yet but it will be very soon so I'm not to excited about it.

This past week had its up and downs but all and all it was good. On Tuesday we went to visit all the new move-ins south of the Highway. We were able to leave cards with them but many of them were not available at the time. We looked at the end of the day and we bike 17 miles.

On Wednesday we basically did the same thing but in the north part our area. We were able to talk with a couple of Move ins and visited some member as we were out and about. We traveled 20 miles and I felt so exhausted that I slept really well.

Thursday we planned so we got a bit of a break from riding but by the end of the day we were playing basketball with the sisters, investigators, and members that join us in some fun.

We traveled a lot today because we had a lot of referrals but we did not see much come from those things. I have learned this week on how to have Patient perseverance.

I was thinking that this week had almost been bombed because we had not found any new "gators." On Saturday we decided that we would go out and tract an area with a ton of townhouses. We found 3 new investigators and found many more potential that we were not able to set appointments up with.

I have been able to see that having patience and persevering through hard times that seem as if you are not accomplishing anything are truly a blessing. It allowed me to understand better how we need to be dependent on our Heavenly Father. Through the great gift of the Holy Spirit we are able to receive a greater hope and hope for those things of the future. With Hope we can always be prepared for out destiny but we will never fully comprehend how great it will be as we enjoy the Fullness of times with our Father and Saviour.

Love You

Elder Regan Hansen

march 16 2009

Hello
Hey dad when did you get a new job you never told me? It sounds like everything is going well though. I enjoy my companion he makes everyday an adventure and he is about ready to go home, so he is quite trunky. We had zone workshops and interviews this week, me and my companion made the request to stay together another transfer since this transfer is almost finished. We will see if we stay together but I hope I do because I really like this ward and the people in the area of Gonubie. I love being by the ocean and trackting by the ocean, just makes missionary work a lot more fun. This week was stake conference and we all gathered together in Mdansane Enu 2 chapel. It was a full chapel but it would be great to see another chapel full with all the area of East London and Mdansane. In Cape Town if everyone was active there there would be enough for 9 stakes and probably even a temple there. But there is only one stake in Cape Town as well as one in Port Elizabeth and also East London. There are two branches in the country of Namibia. I look forward to this week and the few people that are progressing especially the Howe family I think the focus in our area would be finding new progressing investigators. We have a lot of investigators but a lot of them are not progressing at all and its more of just a social hour when your with them, rather than us teaching them. The white people that you see in the picture are the Africans people which contains most of our ward. There are also some from Britain and very few from Scotland but the majority are the Africans which is a the language of Dutch and German and they are a harder people to talk to, that will let us into there house I think a lot because of the apartate in 1994 but they are good people. Thanks for the emails each week they help to encourage me, but I love you all.
Elder Tyler Hansen

Regan March 16, 2009

So I was able to see the pictures that Uncle Steve posted from Tyler. I am glad to see the happiness and Joy he is having just like I am in serving the Lord in such a great calling.
This past week has had it's ups and downs but we were still able to accomplish all the things that we desired . We also had Zone Conference this past week and it just continues to inspire us more and more.

We watched a Movie that is on a church DVD called "Ensign to the Nation". It showed those people who had done so much Contribution for the church not only on the continent but for others. One that really stuck out to me was a Brother from Nigeria if I remember right. He had contacted the church after stumbling across a pamphlet in his home. He received a Book of Mormon but they told him that there were no missionaries in the Continent of Africa.
He taught many of his friends and Families of the is new found truth that he had the opportunity to envelop himself in. He was patient and went through almost 15 years of Long-suffering before the first missionaries. After his pleading prayers and dedicated service to the Lord he was able to be further blessed by the Gospel and receive the ordinances that he desired so much to have.

I have personally applied in my life to have much supplication with the Lord through prayer. I have begun more recently to always rely on the Spirit in my prayers. I have noticed that those blessing's that the Lord desires to bless me with have come more abundantly because of my willingness to rely on the spirit as I Pray.

I spent a bit of time this week on my knees with the lord pleading for direction on how we should help our Investigators achieve their full potential while learning the gospel. With every opportunity I had to supplicate I received such strong feelings of peace and guidance to better myself as a missionary with my own commitments and also those with our Investigators.

I know that the Power Of Prayer with the Guidance of the Holy Ghost can open many new doors for personal revelation and blessings that will continually grant us with peace, joy, goodness, and other fruits of the spirit that enable us to be guided.

Thanks for the support and the great emails.

Love You

Elder Regan Hansen

Regan March 14, 2009

Elder Mortensen and Elder Hansen Looks like they are ready to rumble as the Sons of Heleman

Looks like a nice Place For a Vacation Next year.

We received a package from Elder Regan Hansen today, It had Old letters and Stuff from the Last 6 months of his mission that he felt that he no longer wanted to carry around. We received a disk of Pictures so I will post a few of them here so we can all share.

Paul Hansen

Regan March 9, 2009

Well this week has been great.

I found out on Tuesday night that a little girl in the ward was being baptized on Saturday and she wanted me to baptize her. She is in a part member family and we are hoping to work with them and bring their family closer together.

We did not have the Opportunity to teach Misty this week. She has been in Gainesville and the Hospital because of the tumor that she has in her liver. I have prayed that she will be blessed and overcome this trial and I have only had peace in my heart.

We talked with Jeffrey and Kiera this week. After their vacation we were finally able to set up a time to talk with them. I found out that Jeffrey was excommunicated 13 years ago but wants to come back. His girlfriend Kiera has heard a lot about the church from him and has been begging him to reach us for the past few months. She was really excited to read the Book of Mormon. We will be teaching them tomorrow.

We received a lot of referrals this week from Salt Lake and we were able to deliver all of them very quickly. We set up an appointment with one of them but she wasn't there. We stopped and talked to a few people that were around her complex and found Stephan. He is a really cool guy and is interested in what we have offered him.

We taught Suzin this week. We taught her The plan of Salvation and it went real well. At the end of the lesson we kneeled down in prayer to show her how to pray. She was a little bit reluctant but she said she would pray after we left. I felt the need to commit her to baptism and she said yes. We are shooting for March 28. She wasn't able to attend church yesterday so we are hoping to have it then. If you could Keep her in your prayers that would be great.

The spirit has been so strong since the baptism. I felt such love from our Saviour after I had performed the ordinance. She was so happy after and it just made me so joyful. I know that with the work that we are doing at this time that we can all feel the joy and satisfaction as we invite all our friends and families to come unto Christ.

Thank you and I love all of You

Elder Regan Hansen

March 9, 2009

Dear Family
It sounds neat that Elder Holland is speaking in Stake conference he is a very bold and powerful speaker. I enjoy the spirit that he brings from listening to him especially on a mission. Listening to the prophets on a mission is somehow more meaning to me. This last week though was a great week, we were able to get in contact with Elray Duplaci who is always gone on business in Joburg. We have an appointment with her tonight at 7 and she says she just has some questions about the Book of Mormon to clarify with her. She kind of wears the pants in the family so if she gains that personal testimony for herself it will make a big influence on her husband and her family. I am really excited for the next couple of transfers the way it is looking now we are going to have 2 or more baptisms depending on if our progressing investigators keep to there commitments. Since Elder Marshall has just one transfer left we are going to make a request that we stay in the area for another transfer in which I really hope happens. I really enjoy the ward and the members we have a lot of support from the members even though our area is so spread across the valley. This week we also met with the Howe family another one of our progressing investigators who lives out in sunrise on sea a very beautiful African village. I don't think the area has had a lot of missionaries out there before so there is a lot of potential especially from the people that we have met with. Val Howe is an about 70 or so and he is an electrician for the casinos here is East London but with his latest heart problems he is really more interested in the message that we share and he was saying how he is kind of lost in the wilderness right now. They go to the Lutheran church but I think they don't really know why they go like it says in the bible they search for the truth but they know not where to find it. So that is the boat that they are in. Hettie Howe is the sweetest lady and she will do anything for anyone at anytime. She is mainly the one who we converse with but they both have a deep interest in genealogy work so we are planning to give them a lesson on family history work. This family I am greatly excited for ,They had missionaries visit them before and they didn't take the message really into heart. Since we met with Valentine and the complications that they are having, the gospel is sparking a deeper interest in their lives. They love to tell us about their grandparents, parents, great grandparents and if they know what we know it will bring a miracle to them and their family. It sounds like things are warming up back home, I am not excited for this winter because is starting to get darker now in East London in the mornings and in the evenings. It gets light at about 7 and gets dark at about 5. Then again I enjoy the cooler temperatures. Have a good week, I love you very much. Track ting this week here we go.

Elder Tyler Hansen

Regan March 2, 2009

Hey everybody I hope that your past week has been filled with the Love and Joy that our Saviour has for you.

This past week has been full of Miracles, as was last week. Those who we found have heard our message and have continued to want to hear more about it. I have been able to see how these families and individuals have been blessed through their diligence in following the commitments that we have asked them to Keep.

I am grateful to see that progress because it helps me understand that if they continue like they are they will be able to attend the temple before I leave.

We have found 4 new investigators this past week and the work has been phenomenal. We have been talking to a part member family and we will be teaching the Husband tomorrow about the temple and the blessing that come for attending. We are hoping through this that he will want to be baptized and continue to work towards with his family to be sealed together for time and all eternity.

We called Jeffrey on Thursday and will be teaching him on Wednesday with his girlfriend. He is from SLC and really has a desire to learn. We also decided that riding our bikes in the rain would bring us some fruit if we were diligent in what we had planned. We delivered a Book of Mormon to Dianne and will be teaching her about it on Wednesday.

Misty has been progressing real well but we recently found out that she has a tumor in her liver and has to go to a Hospital in Jacksonville. We have been able to comfort her with the message that we have and she expresses how great she feels the spirit as we come and testify of truth to her. If you could keep her in your prayers that would be awesome.

With my fast that I had yesterday I was blessed with a better understanding of patience and the strength that is within it boundaries. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to strive to continue my progress of obtaining more fully the Christ Like Attributes that will make me out to be a better disciple of our Saviour.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a great talk on "Developing Christlike Attributes" and I know that with the direction of his message that it has brought me into a new understanding of how I can better achieve to strengthen myself and to become one in Unity with our Father In Heaven, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost to fulfill the path that he has chosen for me to accomplish.

Love You and thanks for the support

Elder Regan Hansen

Feb 23, 2009

hello,
This week has been extremely busy and things are going to be a big change for me. On Saturday we picked up Elder Marshall from the airport. He flew in from Fish Hoek which is in the bottom part of the Cape Town zone. He has been on his mission for 21 months. He will probably finish his mission in the East London zone. I am excited to learn from him and the experiences that he has had. This week I started driving the car. They put me on a 30 day probation so I will drive the car a little bit for the next month. I received the package as well it looked beautiful and thanks for everything, I am surprised some of the stuff stayed in tact for traveling all the way across the world. Elder Marshall got two packages as well of food he is a good guy he is very smart. He is from Texas, he is a big guy and an only child in his family. Right now I learning how to act with a new companion he is a lot different than Elder Sheasby but I look forward to the things that I get to learn from him. I just need to learn to be myself and be confident in myself. My trainer is a good missionary and set the pace for me. He is going to Port Elizabeth and going to be a zone leader there. This last week we spent a lot of time making a movie for his sister who is getting married in Australia so this week wasn't the most productive but it was good to get his film done for his sister. Thanks for all the support this week will be very interesting we have 1 investigator with a baptismal date but he is just to much into the world. He is always busy and is extremely hard to set appointments with. We have two others who are progressing as well, Mama Tillie and Zinkhle. Mama Tillie has a lot of questions and Zinkhle swears a lot, sometimes I am afraid to bring him to church because he might start swearing in priesthood meeting but he is a good man. Thanks for the package it is very well appreciated. It sounds like you guys are just having a lot of fun. For this transfer I need to set some goals of just loving the people and not get to stressed. I have learned that when you over stress yourself is when you cant learn and confuse yourself and you don't enjoy life. I miss the cold weather, it is hot here all year round and the only difference between summer and winter is the light change. It is gets dark really early in the winter. Thanks for everything I hope to send you some pictures soon I pray for you always and love you very much.
love
Tyler Hansen

Regan February 23, 2009

Well this week I will have to let you Know about the past 2. I have made sure that I have plenty of time to get it all in. These past weeks since we had our fast on the First Sunday of February have been the best success in my mission.

We have been able to see so many miracles around the mission and here in Crestview. I have been able to Tract on many doors and share the Beautiful message of the Restoration. The spirit that is always present with the Restoration has just continued and continued to Increase. We have been able to find in just the past 2 weeks 7 new investigators.

As we have been able to teach them I have grown so much. We have been able to have member at many of the lessons and they always bring something new and exciting to the Lesson. Deven might know them because they are Brother Don and Sister Donna Sanders who served with him. We have been able to teach important truths through the spirit that have allowed these sweet people that I love so much to receive a witness of there own and also strengthen my Testimony.
This past Monday we went and taught Misty the Message of the Restoration and her Daughter Masen was right by her side listening. When the end of the lesson came we asked if she would like to Kneel in Prayer with us to know that what we have taught her is true and to act upon it by learning more with this. We were able to Set and example for her to Follow and she said the most beautiful prayer. With the faith that she has she received her answer with the feeling of Goodness from the Holy Ghost.

At the End of the lesson she asked us to give her and her daughter a blessing to overcome things that are standing in her way. With that great power that has been restored we were able to perform such sacred miracles that blessed her. She has been able to overcome her depression and she longs to continue to learn of the message that we have.

I know that if we all follow the example of Prayer that we to can find and Know of the people in our lives that we should Invite to hear this Beautiful Message. I know that through pleading prayers with a broken heart and a contrite spirit that I have been able to see success here on my mission. I know that we can all receive our own witnesses to strengthen our Testimonies and our Families and continue to build up the Kingdom that our Redeemer asks of Us.

I Love You all

Elder Regan Hansen

Feb 18 2009

hello,
Thanks for the messages once again, It sounds like Grandma Warrens funeral went well and that you had a good week. My week was pretty good this week Elder Diphala crashed his bike into a wall, so We spent a lot of time at the hospital this week watching over him. He cracked his helmet and almost broke his cheek bone. It was one of the worst bike accidents I've seen. He is fine now with the power of the priesthood and being able to heal quickly. I have learned a lot about there hospitals, I hope I never have to go to one because they are not the cleanest facilities and you might get aids or something. This week is transfer week and I get a new companion on Thursday his name is Elder Marshall he is from Texas, and I guess that he is a pretty big guy who played football for Texas. We had a wonderful zone conference this week. It was a three zone conference and there where about 50 elders. Elder Michael Watson of the seventy was in town touring the mission, his hometown is in Spring City and he was a secretary for the Quorum Of The Twelve for 38years and has served under the last 7 prophets. He is great guy and we have something in common, he was also peppered by a shotgun when he was younger. He shared the story of him and his brother pheasant hunting and his brother shot and peppered him and hit him in his legs and a bb went into his cheek. He shared the bb that went into his cheek they were able to remove. The bb's in his legs they never found it would cause to much damage to retrieve them. He shared how the temple garments stopped the bb's from penetrated into his legs and how there was no holes in his garments when he took his garments off. I just thought it was a miracle how the temple garments not only protect you spiritually but also physically as well as a shield and a protector. He is a great speaker and has a lot of knowledge of the gospel, it was great to receive some insight from him and be spiritually uplifted. I am going to miss my trainer, he has taught me a lot but this transfer will really be a learning experience for me. I tried looking for the ensign this week, We don't receive any ensigns because the amount of money it costs to have them sent out. I would like you to please send out that ensign about testimony and hopefully it will help me. Please send the general conference ensigns when you get them so I can go over the talks. I hope you all have a good week and its good to here from you all and the things that are going on.
love
Elder Tyler Hansen

feb 11 2009

Dear Family,
Thank you for what you have written dad, I think the things that you have said will really help me. As I have thought a lot about things I have thought how a change is really a process and not just an overnight process to change from one person to another. I look back at the few months that I have been here and how much more knowledge and wisdom I have than what I had when I had come out. I have also come to realize what a mission is really about, that I didn't realize before, and just how it is up to myself to make it as fun or as boring as I would like it to be, and to also teach the way that is best for me. I strive everyday to do my best. I look at the words line upon line precept upon precept and I realize that everything has an order. This week I really felt joy we were able to get a couple of investigators out to church that we have been trying to get out since I have been here. It was kind of fun we had a carpool to the church since we cant pickup investigators. Our one investigator Zinkle Jamela called us just before we were going to his house and said that he had a dead battery in his car and so we jumped started him and was able to get him to church. It is just interesting some of the obstacles that you have to overcome to help someone get somewhere. I think that Mama Tillie and Zinkle really enjoyed it and felt the spirit in the meetings that they attended. Sheena our other teenage investigator wasn't able to come but I think it will just take some time for her. Her mom is a very large influence in her life and also her older brother. Thank you for the things that you write to me each week, it helps me to get over my week and the hard days but things are coming along well. We have been sharing the family mission plan a lot to the members in our area and I think things will really progress in the area. One member that we meet with last week has already shared the Book of Mormon to two other people so the family mission plan will really help move the area along. We are going to try to share it with a few other families this week before the transfer ends so it will help a lot. thanks for the love and support
Elder Tyler Hansen

hello. I just read some of things that went on during the week It makes me sad that grandma warren died when I heard that I started crying but I think it just helps me to gain a stronger testimony of the plan of salvation and how this life is not the end. I appreciate the life that grandma lived and the heritage that she has. Mom when you sent the letter it sounds like it must of been a rough week and rough for the Money family as well. I am very excited for Jordan and the lives that he will touch in Brazil. I am just grateful for the gospel and for Christ making it possible for us to live eternally as families.
love Tyler

Regan February 9, 2008

I heard about Great Grandma Warren and all I can say is it brings me comfort knowing that she has returned to Great Grandpa and together they will be able to live eternally and continue to grow together more than we can imagine. We have much to be thankful for because of the example she was and the Charity that she showed for us all. I am thankful for the great Knowledge of the Plan of Salvation and knowing that she has achieved so much in being a diligent disciple of our Father in Heaven.

This week my companion went on a trade-off after District Meeting and Elder Manning came here for a couple of Days. As we planned that night we felt that we should go tracting on Wednesday morning. I kept wondering why because that is not a great time to tract. Through our diligence we found Ashley and Stephanie and were able to teach them about the Restoration.

We had a hectic day when we helped move a Sister and her Family to Alabama. We had to load a 26 foot truck and come to find out she had a whole storage unit full of stuff. Thankfully the Truck was perfect and we were able to pack it all up.

That day I felt that we had done the best missionary work through service that I have done. Some of her children are not members so we were able to talk with them. They were thankful for what we had to offer and hopefully they will continue to seek the word through the Missionaries in Enterprise.

I hope Everyone is doing well. Congrats Jordan you are going to Have a Blast serving in Brazil and doing what the Lord wants you to do.

Love You All

Elder Regan Hansen

Feb 2 2009

Hey thanks for sending those pictures they look really good. This week was ok but for the most part it is tough things just aren't coming as good as I like. Thanks dad for giving me the advice I think it will work a lot better for me to study topics and make my study time more productive. If there is any other helpful hints just let me know, but I think the way you do it will help me. This week we had zone workshops it was good to see President Probst and the love he has for the missionaries and the missionary work. This week we able to do a lot of trackting and we were able to bring out Xwisha who is a member and he can speak Xosa so it was alot better for us instead of us trying to speak english to them. The Afrikaans people are harsh though they don't really have a lot of respect. It is always nice to speak to someone that is accepting and feel of there spirit and the love they have for the missionaries. A lot of people think that we are Jehovah's Witnesses we knocked on this one door and this big man walks out with a cigar in one hand and just very cranky but it makes things always interesting when you tract an area. I just hope I can gain more confidence in talking to people. We have a rough area and I don't know what it really is but we haven't had a baptism in the area since last march but the ward mission leader gave some advice to the district that may help move the missionary work forward. We hope that the ward/family mission plan can help bring those into the gospel. Everyday is an adventure though sometimes a rough adventure I just have to remember the good things that come from it. Thanks for everything!
love Elder Tyler Hansen

Regan February 2, 2009

Well this week has been a trial of our faith. We started out the week with district meeting on Tuesday. We had to travel about 30 miles with the sister to Defuniak Springs. We played a game called the missionary game and it was as close to a missionary game as I have ever seen.
We invited one of our investigators to Basketball this week. Kane came with us and we were able to fellowship him into the ward. We set up an appointment the next day but we found a surprise waiting for us. We are not sure if he did it or if his friends who don't like us did it. Unfortunately we found the Book of Mormon discarded and burned.

ON Saturday we started a mission wide fast that went great. We had the fast for us to be more prepared servants to find those who are searching for the gospel for them to find us. The members across the mission joined in also for there own strength to open there mouths and invite.

When the fast began I received my witness that the fast was what we should be doing and it strengthened me. That night we picked out around 24 less active families for the ward to fellowship in and I know that success will begin to show.

The following Sunday we had testimony meeting and it was powerful. I have never received so many witnesses of truth and the strength that came from all those who bore there testimonies. There was such a sweet spirit there and it continued through all of the classes. We went and visited a less active family before we ended the mission wide fast and they had referrals waiting there for us. We began to see miracles happening right before our eyes. We ended the fast that night and spent the rest of the night at a members house.

I know that through the Power of Fasting and Prayer that miracles will continue to happen and we can receive our own personal revelation and strength to overcome any obstacle in our way. I know that through this fast that this mission will continue to bring forth many fruits of our labors. Through the love of our Heavenly Father and his direction we will find and teach those who need the Gospel.

Love You

Elder Regan Hansen

Regan January 26, 2009

Well this week has been slowed down a bit because of the rain. We have had so much more support from the member this past week since Elder Costa came and talked to us.

We talked with Marty this past week and he is still struggling with his smoking addiction. We had a powerful lesson and watched Finding Faith In Christ with him. We showed him the miracles that Christ performed while he was performing his earthly ministry. We asked him if he would like a blessing since we to hold that same priesthood authority that Jesus Christ has. We found out that he is not ready yet and we will hope that he will be sometime in the near future. He is really into poker and that is basically what he does for a living.

We tracted into Alex this week and talked to him on his doorstep for about an hour. We taught a brief lesson on the Restoration and he had many questions concerning our belief of the Godhead. We answered it the best we could but he was still not totally satisfied. We are going to talk to him within the next few days and answer it more fully.

We were able to study the scriptures and Conference Talks. Through fasting and prayer we have been able to bring out simple and precious truths that we are going to share with him. We found out after we talked to him that he is a Minister at his own Church but he still wants to know and learn new truth.

We talked to Kane last night and found out that he has not been reading in the Book Of Mormon. We committed him again and this time he seems willing and ready to read and pray. We told him we would ask him some questions about it so he really is going to take it seriously now. Hopefully in the next few weeks we can commit him to baptism and strengthen him and his Family.

I know that through Fasting and Meaningful Prayer that we can receive answers that we are diligently seeking for. I have seen the power behind it and it has once again opened my eyes to new truth and enabled me to teach with more Power and Authority. I encourage everyone that if they have a question or even need help with anything to submit to the Lord in Fasting and Prayer and you will receive guidance.

I love You all

Elder Regan Hansen

Jan 26 2009

hi family,
It sounds like everything is going well at home and your having a white snowy year. This week was kind of a rough week but I hope that it will get better this upcoming week. I just wish I could get more out of my scripture reading The Els family is doing ok we were able to give Sheena another blessing during the week. It looks like they might take her to Joburg hospital to find out exactly what is going on. The hospitals here in East London aren't the best from what I have seen especially the public hospitals, but I think that is a very good decision that they have made to take her to the Joburg hospital. I was able to receive the christmas letters that you sent to me and I also got the story that Josh had sent that is good to hear. Here in East London it has been extremely hot and humid this week During the winter they say that it snows on the tops of the mountains but not in valleys just a cold rain. Send some pictures of the puppies sometime and also some packages. Mom I hope you sent some some stuff. I'm just not to happy with the week and with the computer erasing my message that I typed but oh well. Have a great week, my thoughts and prayers are with you. love Elder T Hansen