Supa Fresh‏

Supa Fresh: June 23rd, 2014

Hello Family and Friends,

How are you this week?

Elder Santa Cruz and I are doing great! I'm still trying to get over not having Elder Antonio with me, but this last week has been a blast. Elder Santa Cruz and I are doing WORK here in Olathe. Things should be turning around in the next couple of weeks.

Kansas, to quote Kramer from Seinfeld, is like "a sauna in here". It's as if you step outside and bam, sweat dripping down your forehead, sweat dripping down your arms, sweat dripping down your back! I don't like humidity. That's for sure. Maybe some people just can't wait for 18 year old Mormons to knock on there door just coated in perspiration.

We helped the Gomez family pick up a used refrigerator and for 3 hours sweated it out moving this thing in and out of trucks and houses and back and forth everywhere. But hey, that was three hours of Spanish practice. And then at one point we had to ask somebody to help us and that was in English, so who knew that my English skills would come in handy?

We're focusing on working with members this upcoming transfer. So if any of you have ideas on how to encourage and inspire members to do missionary work, don't be afraid to send them my way.

Oh and not only is my Spanish improving with Elder Santa Cruz, but he's also helping my teenage vocabulary with things like "supa fresh". So things are going well here in Zion.

Mucho amor,

Elder Hart

(Elder Santa Cruz and I with our chili dog protection at a member house)

My Spanish is Funky‏

My Spanish is Funky: June 16th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm so killed on time this week, but here's the rapid fire breakdown:

Elder Antonio got almost "emergency transferred" to little Mexico, Kaw River Ward, in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. I'm dying without him. It's been a tough couple days away from one of my best friends.

Upside, my new companion is Elder Santa Cruz (from Peru and Utah). We've served in the same ward back in my last area Riverview, so it's been an easy adjustment because we already know each other fairly well. That and now I've got to get rid of my Mexican accent and start speaking like a Peruvian. What can you do? I'm going to speak so funny in Spanish when I get home.

Things I've learned this week, some are repeats: God is great. The Church is true. Walking for days is the worst. The mission is the best. I love my family and friends. I am so blessed.

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

Worried About My Child

Worried About My Child: June 9th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was great! Nothing crazy new, but it was foggy one day this week. So scary! You couldn't see like ten feet in front of you. The picture doesn't do it justice. And that the pool right next to our apartment looks so refreshing on these scorching hot days.

We finally hit the bottom of our teaching pool this week. It's tough when almost every single person you've been working with for the past month drop you within in a week, but Elder Antonio and I have had so many other miracles, that it's made up for everything. I just wish we could teach so that Elder Antonio could practice his lessons. It's so funny how being a "Dad" (trainer) makes you so worried for your children.

Elder Antonio and I made it a focus to achieve our goals and worked nonstop. Come Sunday I was disappointed that we were short on some, but the Lord provides. We hit almost every single one and exceeded most by the end of the day. It was a fantastic way to end the week. I think last night was one of the most grateful prayers I've had on my mission that I was able to see that hand of the Lord in our service as missionaries here in Olathe, Kansas. Things are looking upwards. They always are.

Well it's bike week coming up again. So bring it on! My thighs are going to be huge after the mission, hope the ladies are ready for them.

--Elder "Thunder Thighs" Hart

Team Brown

Team Brown: June 2nd, 2014

Dearest Family and Friends,

This week was a great week in the service of the Lord! It was a little slow due to meetings, service projects, and constantly searching for the nearest public bathroom because of Elder Antonio's bowel problems, but we're working through it.

Saturday and Sunday was Stake Conference and it was the best! It was super fun being a part of "Team Brown: The Translators" and translating the meeting into Spanish. The messages were great and the Spirit was super strong.

We've received a ton of referrals from the Sisters in our area, but whenever we show up to follow up with the contact, they immediately reject us because they mistake us for some other missionaries or salesman. It's gotten so bad that Elder Antonio and I are to the point where we might go drag, throw on some skirts, hit the pavement, and fill our schedule with appointments. The things you'll do to teach people on your mission.

We've been working a lot lately with Part Member Families and oh how a beast they are. I just wish that the part of the family would convert already so that they can all go to the Temple already and be sealed for time and eternity. I love seeing how the example of the members in the family set the tone for the lessons and affect how the nonmembers, spouse, kids, dogs (there are Mormon dogs, they're the ones that don't bark when you come to the door) accept the message of the Gospel.

I'm learning a lot about being patient, having fun, and being grateful despite our circumstances. Thank you President Uchtdorf! His last talk at General Conference has made quite the impact on my life and I would encourage all of you to read it.

Hope you have a great week! Mucho amor,

Elder Hart

"Team Brown" and Elder Antonio and I before service at Farmstead

Temple, Tracting, and Volleyball‏

Temple, Tracting, and Volleyball: May 27th, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

Here's a quick snapshot of my week:

Tuesday we went to the Temple and had special training from President and Sister Keyes about the family and got to attend a session. #BonusTempleTrip! They taught about families being an eternal unit of God and they explained the reason behind the missionary age change was that Elders and Sisters could come home at the same age, 20, and eventually be focused on establishing families centered in the gospel. Good thing that doesn't apply to me because I'll be 19 when I get home (for three days at least)!

Saturday we had exchanges with the Zone Leaders and Elder Buehner and I reunited for the third time in our missions to be companions for a day. At this point, I'm sure we'll serve together for a whole transfer of time just from exchanges. It was incredible to tract all afternoon in their area, tract all evening, eat dinner, and then tract all night. The only upside was being with my best friend in the mission and almost collapsing from laughing too hard while, you guessed it, tracting.

Memorial Day was great! Instead of being trapped inside at the Stake Center playing volleyball, we were liberated to play volleyball outside at the park. Oh, Olathe has a tradition in the mission field that EVERY P-Day we play volleyball. Needless to say, I'm throwing it down like an Olympian, only 5'10 style.

Hope you all have a great week. Make it great! The Lord loves you and the Church is true!

Mucho amor,

Elder Hart

(Photos of "Buehner & Hart: Knocking at your Door" and Elder Antonio and me at the Kansas City Temple)

Don't You Dare Drown Me‏

Don't You Dare Drown Me: May 19th, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

How are you doing this week? This week was fantastic! It's always a highpoint in the service of the Lord when you see the fruit of your labors. This weekend was so spiritually awesome because both Litzayra and Luz were baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!  I was a little nervous to perform the baptisms in Spanish, afraid that I would mess up the words, but the Lord really helped me out and we got through it just fine. My favorite moment was when while performing Luz's baptism, her leg kicked up out of the water and we had to do the ordinance another time. Her laughing response to the redo, "Not it did not! Don't you dare drown me!"

Not much of any other update. I wish you could see how bow-legged Elder Antonio and I were after this week's episode of "Never Ending Hills: Olathe, Kansas". I did crash once from laughter when, while struggling to climb a hill with Elder Antonio, I heard him cry out behind me, in Spanish, "God help me!" Being Elder Antonio's companion has definitely been some of the most fun moments of my mission. I mean, I'm almost Mexican at this point--we're hanging Mexico's flag in our apartment, cooking chorizo, and taking siestas all throughout the day. (Kidding about that last one.) We do WORK out here.

Hope you all make it a great week!

Mucho amor!

--Elder Hart

Sweaty in Kansas‏

Sweaty in Kansas: May 12th, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

Christmas came again in the mission and I got to call home for Mother's day yesterday. Time flies by in the mission, the call seemed short, but what seemed shorter was the fact that I was calling home again so soon. Now if only Christmas would come again so that it wouldn't be so hot here!

This week was great! We had a miracle happen at a baptismal service in the ward over the weekend. Angel, a child in a member family was being baptized and we invited Luz to come. When she arrived she jokingly asked where her clothing for the baptism was. Laughing, we replied that all we had to do was call our Zone Leaders, have a quick interview and she would have the green light for baptism. She said not this quickly, but during the service she consistently leaned over and told me repeatedly that she felt "something". And then the miracle came during the confirmation of Angel. When I sat down again, Luz tapped me on the shoulder and said, "I felt something when you were all standing with your hands on Angel's head tell me that I should be baptized--like right now! I almost leaped over the glass and into the font while you were giving him the Gift of the Holy Ghost!" We talked some more after the baptism and she wants to move her baptismal date to this Saturday instead of the 31st! Miracles in the service of the Lord. Hopefully I'll be able to send home pictures next week of her and Litzayra at their baptism!

Other than that, we are trucking ahead! This week is bike week and so it's time to get SWEATY. Seriously, the weather here makes every hour of every day feel like it's noon in the middle of summer in a sauna. I don't think I like humidity that much. Make it a great week anyways!

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

My new address is:

15905 W. 127th St. Apt. 425

Olathe, Kansas 66062

P.s Elder Antonio are best friends! #MexicanMakeMeHolla

Recent Converts Making Recent Converts‏

Recent Converts Making Recent Converts: May 5th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

Transfers happened and my new son is Elder Antonio! My lineage now has some color in it! Elder Antonio is from New Jersey and Mexico City, Mexico. It's been his dream his whole life to be a missionary and I've loved being his companion these past few days. Not to mention the fact that Spanish learning is now 100000000X better than ever before. It's a wonderful relationship, I teach him English and he teaches me Español. Things are doing quite well here indeed.

Sadly, Elder Antonio's first few days in the field haven't been that eventful, but we have helped with three different moves, watched a house for a couple of hours, and been doing service out the wazzu so bring on them blessings! Bring them on! But the greatest highlight of the week was that I was able to return to the Riverview Ward in Kansas City on Friday to see one of the people, Daniel, that I taught get baptized. And who performed the ordinance? None other than my best friend of all time, Ivan! My recent converts are making recent converts!

One thing I've learned this week is that no effort is wasted. Everything we do, as missionaries and normal people, makes a difference. You never know what kind of impact you are going to have on people's lives and what will happen, but you just have to trust in the Lord that it will all work out in the end.

Hope you make it a great week!

Mucho amor,

Elder Hart

Also, we moved during transfers and I don't have our new address with me, so send any letters and packages to the Missouri Indepence Mission office at:

517 W. Walnut St.

Independence, MO 64050

O-Lay-Tha‏

O-Lay-Tha: April 28th, 2014

Hello Friends and Family!

Hope you all had a great week! This week was interesting. Something happened in Olathe and all the missionaries in our Zone have been sending us Spanish referrals from all of the people they tracted into and Elder Tillett and I can barely keep up! It's great to be busy.

We have Litzayra, a 9 year old girl from one the families in the ward, on date for May 17th and she's been coming to church to prepare. It's a million times different teaching little kids from adults, but I love it. Maybe it's because I still haven't grown up that much. Also, a wonderful woman, Luz is preparing for baptism on May 31st. She has such a tough life, but is overcoming it and "can't wait to have that Holy Ghost with [her] all the time". Things are looking great here in Olathe. (O-lay-tha, if any of you are curious)

Some highlights from the week: Elder Tillett and I worked in the Ice Cream Parlor at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead this week. Every week we do service there with other missionaries in the area. It felt almost like I was back in Alpine Pizza, minus the pizza of course. We taught Elder Quorum this week...in Spanish. Talk about the Gift of Tongues. Elder Tillett and I have seen miracles this week. Pray for the eyes to see what the Lord constantly gives you and you will be amazed.

Anyways, not much more time. My new companion arrives this Thursday so I expect to get those labors pains anytime soon, especially since Elder Tillett and I won't be companions anymore. Come on contractions! 

Mucho amor,

Elder Hart

I'm Preggers‏

I'm Preggers: April 21st, 2014

Hey Family and Friends,

This week was crazy and I'm dead for time because we have a ton of P-Day activities coming up. I was called as a trainer this week so looks like I'm pregnant and he's due in 9 days. This next transfer should be interesting, especially because he's an English called Elder and we're in a Spanish area so this should make for some miracles. Trust in the Lord. That's all you can do.

Happy Easter!

Mucho amor!

--Elder Hart

(Attached is a photo of Elder Tillett and I partying for Easter. He's my best friend!)

Oh, and also, because of transfers if you are going to send anything, please mail is the mission office at:

517 W. Walnut St.

Independence, MO 64050

Duck Vomit‏

Duck Vomit: April 14th, 2014

Hello Family and Friends!

How are you? Another week down in the books, here in Olathe, Kansas. It is currently snowing outside. What a surprise after a week full of sweating and short sleeve shirts!

Elder Tillett and I were so blessed this week. We found a couple of families (pure gold as missionaries) and have high hopes for the coming week! We have plans to set Rocio and Rene and their children on baptismal date this week. It's tricky because they are active Catholic (I know, I know it's the first time I've ever heard of this also.), but have been meeting with missionaries off and on for the past two years. We think they are ready for this next step, so pray for them.

Another highlight: a duck vomited on me while teaching a lesson. In the middle of one of our lessons with Luz, her daughter brought in her pet duck and in the midst of reading a scripture it proceeded to puke all over Elder Tillett's bag and my shoes. But have no fear, Luz still accepted to be baptized on May 31st, so a little spit up is worth it.

This week we had Zone Conference and President Keyes emphasized having an attitude of gratitude and finding happiness in our missions using President Uchtdorf's amazing General Conference talk. It was revelatory and surprisingly I needed it. I love being a missionary! I've learned that happiness is a choice and that with the gospel I've never been happier in my life. The Savior lives and loves each and every one of us.

Make it a great week.

Mucho amor,

Elder Hart

(Here are some pictures from Zone Conference with a Riverview District Reunion shot and tracting happiness)

No Availability on Mondays‏

No Availability on Mondays: April 7th, 2014

Hey Family and Friends!

Hope you had a great week! Elder Tillett and I sure did. General Conference was amazing! The Lord speaks through modern-prophets today. The Gospel has been restored! Nothing gets you more fired up to preach the Gospel than hearing Thomas S. Monson and other Witnesses of Christ pouring out a flood of revelation.

I'm seriously dying on time, so I'll quickly relate a funny experience from the week. After our effective plans fell through, Elder Tillett and I decided to go hunting for investigators in what I've dubbed, "Little Chihuahua, Mexico" in our area. During the heart pounding moments of knocking on doors and encountering little success, we spotted a target on the horizon (other side of the street). A young couple with a toddler darting between legs and a young baby in a stroller had just ended their family walk and were returning home to their apartment. Playing it cool, we strolled (dashed) over to their abode and tracted to our finest ability. Laura, the mother, loved everything we taught. God is our Heavenly Father. Check! The Gospel blesses Families. Even better! The Book of Mormon. Nothing but gold! Feeling on top of the world, like missionary work could never be this easy, I asked for a return appointment. Laura told us that the family could meet this Monday, but sadly our night was booked. We asked if there was another day. Then it all changed. Laura handed the copy of the Book of Mormon back and told us she wasn't interested anymore. We begged for another day, but before we knew it, she had closed the door and we were standing on the porch alone, unsure of how we went from the Narnia of a missionary work to getting rejected in .0001892 seconds. Then we kept going on. That's all you can do, I've learned. Little by little, just keep truckin' onwards and you'll find success eventually.

Thanks for your time. Make it a great week! Mucho amor!

--Elder Beau Hart

Kanas is Flat‏

Kanas is Flat: March 31st, 2014

Hey family and friends!

Things are going pretty dang well here in Olathe. There's a joke that if you stand on a ladder in Kansas you're above the tree line. It sure is flat here.

This week was solid! We found some new people to teach, had investigators at church, and District Meeting went fantastic. It was quite terrifying to "train" on missionary work and "teach" my District, but I think everything went well. We teach almost exclusively in Spanish so that is such a blessing! I love speaking this language so much and am so grateful to have the opportunity to preach in it. The two greatest things are definitely 1-the "how does this white boy know Spanish" look on people's faces and 2-when the Spirit testifies of what you taught, no matter how many mistakes you made and you see that in people's countenances.

My little german schnitzel boy, Elder Tillett, and I have big plans for the upcoming week--we're going to hit that pavement, on bikes now, (gotta lose that winter 10lbs somehow) and tear up the area. Have fun and have a great week! It's General Conference so don't miss out on the chance to hear a modern-day prophet!

Mucho amor,

Elder Hart

My new address:

Elder Beau Hart

1370 E. Meadow Ln.

Olathe, Kansas 66062

(Attached is a picture of me and Elder "Indeed" Tillett.)

From Mass Transit to Maseratis‏

From Mass Transit to Maseratis: March 24th, 2014

Well, family and friends, this week was transfers! And Elder Hart has been moved from Downtown Kansas City to.............

Olathe Kansas. Dun. Dun. Dun.

This has been a world of change. I went from people riding mass transit to church to people pulling up in Maseratis and Lambos left and right. It's been an adjustment to say the least. And on top of that I've been called as a District Leader so wish me luck because I have no clue what I'm doing.

Biggest bonus of the change has been my new companion Elder Tillett! He's from Heidelberg, Germany from a military base and he has the world's largest vocabulary. I need the Gift of Tongues just to understand him sometimes and he's speaking English!

Nothing new other than feeling blue from missing my old area, but that's expected. Olathe has some promise and hopefully I'll love it here as much as I did Riverview.

Have a great week!

Mucho amor,

--Elder Hart

Me and the Mission Buddies On ST P Day

Me and the Mission Buddies On ST P Day:  March 17th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends!

How are all of you doing this week?

This week has been just great in Riverview! Elder Grzan and I have seen so much progress in finding investigators. This next week should be full of appointments like none other. Another interesting thing here in Missouri is that if I haven't told you already, the weather is the weirdest on plant earth! We literally went from snowing last week to short sleeves and complaining about sweating. Man, but I do love the heat.

Elder Grzan and I went to the Kansas City Temple this week. Missionaries must be weird, because no one else on earth runs around their apartment the night before a temple trip screaming, "We're going tomorrow! We're going to the temple!" But all in all, it was a fantastic day that was much needed.

This week is transfers so don't mail me anything to my home address. I'll attach the address of the mission office at the end of my email so that they can forward anything you send to me onward. Transfers is going to be tough. I've had too many members ask if I'm leaving and last night the Espadas made a cake for me. I almost cried. I'm confident that I'm going to sob the whole time I'm packing my bags if I get a transfer call. It's crazy how attached you get to people out in the mission field. I didn't even cry when I left home--when I left parents that raised me for 18 years, but now I'm bawling over people I've known for six months. The mission is teaching me a lot about love. I've learned how much I love other people, those I teach and the members that I associate with, the love of my parents, family, and friends back home, but most importantly the love that Heavenly Father has for me and every child on this earth. Keep that in mind these next few days.

Make it a great week and have fun. Onward and upward.

Mucho amor!

--Elder Hart

Missouri Independence Mission

517 W. Walnut St.

Independence, MO 64050

(Kansas City Temple and my most favorite district on earth.)

Weekly E-mail

Weekly E-mail: March 10th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

Nothing much to report on this week. Sorry that that might seem I bit boring, but the work has really slowed down here in Kansas City. Elder Grzan and I are trying to find investigators, but nothing is panning out. We did do exchanges and I got to go with Elder Santa Cruz and learn a ton of Spanish. And guess what? He's from Utah! Utah homies unite! None of those annoying California Elders who constantly whine about the weather and say how much they miss Cali.

Ka Baw Say, the main investigator in my Burmese family has asked us to call him Brother Say from now on because he felt left out of the "group" or church. This guy is faithful. He has such a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and wants to join our church so badly that he comes to our ward for sacrament and then goes to his church an hour away for another couple hours. He can't leave his church right now because he translates all of the documents for the Koran community in the area and that's where they meet so we're working out the situation with our Bishop. You've got to work for the things you want, right?

I know that all I ever do is rant about Ivan, but yesterday he blessed the sacrament in church and this Thursday we have a temple trip planned so I am beyond excited! It's great to see success in missionary work and makes every missed appointment, every slammed door, and every day worth it.

Keep up the good work. Much amor.

--Elder Hart

(On Fridays, we were pink here in Kansas City. There's your Mean Girls tradition of the week)

ELDER HART!!!!‏

ELDER HART!!!!: March 3rd, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

Not much is new in Kansas City, all is good in the hood. Spring is here, which of course means 6 inches of "lets give people an excuse as to why they can't make it to church" wonderful snow. I'm not a big fan of Mother nature not respecting the Sabbath Day.

We helped our ward mission leader, Hermano Wong, this week. Can you tell that he's from Mexico? I love him beyond compare, even though he teaches me awful, awful, slang Spanish. I also had Taco Bell with my district for the first time in my life! Who new that I would experience so much new culture on my mission? Taco Bell is definitely my new favorite place to eat. My favorite quote from a less active this week in response to whether or not he was going to come to church, "I'll come when the pants fit." Not sure what that means, but I offered to buy him one size fits all sweats.

This week has been good to Elder Grzan and me. We've been teaching a lot and even some more in Spanish. We hit standards of excellence, we have amazing support from the ward, and we're striving to be as obedient as we can be, but nevertheless it seems like no one is progressing towards baptism. I know as missionary we talk about this a lot, but this is my purpose out here. My purpose is to invite other to come unto Christ and that path eventually leads to baptism. So it's easy to be discouraged when you feel that your efforts are not focused or bearing fruit. I guess at the end of the day all we can do is trust in the Lord and hope that things will be better--that the dawn will break and Gandalf will be there will 2,000 Rohirrim to save Helm's Deep. (There's your LoTR reference for the day.)

Mucho amor!

--Elder Hart

Another Week Here in KC‏

Another Week Here in KC: February 24th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope you made it a great week, because Elder Grzan and I did!

This week was interesting, but Elder Grzan and I made the most of it. Our miracle investigator, Amy called us and informed us that she has been caught up in Georgia because of work and will be there for the next month. Gotta love having trips ruin baptismal dates! I fear that this will become a plague for me for the rest of my mission sometimes. We have a lot of hope and faith in Amy. She is living with a member and going to church with her, so the gospel is still very much present in her life. I'll let you know when she returns and how everything goes, but she is still progressing towards baptism!

We've found a ton of new investigators this week and guess what, some of them are Spanish speaking! It's terrifyingly exciting to teach people that don't speak your native tongue. I love learning and hope that my language skills don't hinder the message of the Restoration. Our mission president always implores us to open our mouths and that the Lord will give you what to say. I always say a silent prayer walking into lessons that this promise will not only help me with the gospel, but that it might extend to Spanish as well.

Other highlights from the week. Yesterday we had three dinners, one with a member, one with a less active, and one with an investigator. I never knew that I might be tested this way physically on my mission, but I am definitely improving how much food I can keep down without vomiting. Oh, and one of our investigators gave me a guitar this week. I turned it down for three lessons and by the last one he said that if I didn't take it he wasn't going to continue meeting with us. #StatesideMissionProbs My apologies to all the missionaries in third world countries. I really truly do have it so hard here.

Attached is a picture of me and the guitar and the RLDS temple by the Stake Center that we meet at. It's always takes so long to explain to people that it isn't our temple. Ours is the one in Liberty with the Spirit surrounding it.

Make it a great week! Use your time wisely and have fun!

In the words of Elder James Kendell, "Praise Jesus!"

--Elder Hart

Another Week Here in KC‏

Another Week Here in KC: February 18th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope you are having a great week, because we are here in the beautiful (if you look at it in the right light) Kansas City! This week was a little slow, but we are working towards another baptism this Saturday with our investigator Amy--so what's not to be excited about?

A general authority and member of the 70, Elder Martino visited our mission and blew our minds with trainings. He is a man called from God and gave us divine direction here in the field. I might even go as far as to say that the ward who catered all of us missionaries was heavenly chosen because I can't even count how much food I ate that day.

Ivan was at the mini MTC hosted by the Independence Stake! We taught him some more lessons after his baptism and he committed to prepare to serve a full time mission in the future. It's exciting to see the seed planted in him and how much the gospel changes people.

This week marks my sixth month mark. I'm sure all missionaries say that, but it's crazy how fast the time goes, but it is a mind boggling thing. Keep on working hard back home and, for those of you, in the mission field. Don't give up. Trust in the Lord and have fun.

Mucho amor,

--Elder Hart

We're Changing Eternity‏

We're Changing Eternity: February 10th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends!

This week was great! We received 10 inches of snow which shut down Kansas City for days. Nobody knows how to drive here and it's a complete mess in the streets. It took snowplows a couple days to reach our house--gotta love making your companion walk because we don't let that stop us!

Big news of the hour, Ivan got baptized last Saturday and confirmed a member on Sunday. I will never forget this weekend. All of the hard work and day in and day out and now the fruits of the labor. Ivan is such a great kid and he's already preparing for leadership roles in the youth. I love him so much. I was so honored and even more nervous to perform both of the ordinances. He's going on to do great things. I never thought I would love somone so much after just know him for a couple months, but this relationship doesn't end when I get transferred, or when my mission's over, or when I die, it will last for all of eternity. We're changing eternity out here in the field. It's a great day to be a missionary indeed.

Thank you so much for all of your love and support. Have a happy Valentine's Day and stay safe.

I love you all so much!

--Elder Hart

Another Delay on the Road‏

Another Delay on the Road: February 3rd, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

How are all of you doing?

Kansas City is great! I'm so glad that the Chiefs never made it to the Super Bowl because I was already annoyed at how many people talked about it and I couldn't imagine if the Chiefs we're in the finals. Please pray for the missionaries in Denver and Seatle that they may recover any investigators that had been lost during this trying time of American revelry.

Bad news first: Ivan didn't get baptized on Saturday BECAUSE they're return from Mexico was full of flat tires, broken transmissions, and bribing Mexican police, so they didn't get back until the middle of the week and wanted some more time to calm down from the trip. The baptism, now a double with our miracle of an investigator, Amy Snow, is now going down this Saturday at 1 pm. I attach the hour to this one because 1-I'm losing sleep over this 2-This will happen this time! I'm so excited for them and have felt so blessed to see them progress so far and so fast in the gospel.

Good news: Nothing specific, other than the week was good, we had a little snowfall and THE CHURCH IS TRUE! What more could I ask for? Oh, we did have an amazing party at the Visitor's Center for Chinese New Year with a bunch of our investigators. Kabasey and my Burmese clan attended and loved every minute of it! Oh, and if I can brag, Elder Grzan and I tore it up this week with member present lessons and such. Basically, we're carrying Zone goal on our backs. So you can assume next week's email will be worse, because pride before the downfall right?

Thanks for all the letters and emails! I love guys so much!

Mucho amor,

Elder Hart

No Snow in January‏

No Snow in January: January 27th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends!

How are you this week?

Kansas is the weirdest place ever. We've met the craziest people ever. We've heard about power prayers, the Free Masons, Obama wire tapping all the houses, and just about everything in between. But in the end, I love it here. I love the people, the members, and the fact that it's January and there is no snow!

Sadly, I have to inform you that, "THE RETURN FROM MEXICO: AN IVAN R., STORY 2014 SPECTACOPALYPSE" did not occur this week, but should happen tomorrown. Although it is little time to prepare a baptismal service, Bishop is a-okay with Ivan getting baptized when he returns because of all the support he has in the ward and his family. All in all, we have a lot of people progressing and the work is picking up. It's still a great day to be a missionary!

We're starting to teach more in Spanish, which is great/the worst. I say this because I love to teach in a different language and fulfill my calling, but I also am keenly aware that my Spanish is not great for being this far out on my mission. I would love to blame the fact that we are still in the United States as the reason for this, but at the end of the day, it's still my responsibility to learn this language. I can do better. And that's my message this week I guess. Set goals and work hard. Have something to look forward to and work towards, even if it's as simple as being able to roll r's fluently. There is always room for improvement!

Thanks for all the letters and emails, just remember not to slack off on them because I'm a needy missionary.

Mucho amor,

--Elder Hart

My Previous Letter (Extended Edition)‏

My Previous Letter (Extended Edition) January 21st, 2014

Dear Family and Friends!

My library time was renewed for another hour! So, here's the down-low on the week.

Elder Grzan and I have been doing great. Companionship unity is at an all time high! I've learned to look past the flaming hot cheeto crumbs and the annoying Australian accent and just love him. We are having a great time (and sometimes I join in on the bad accent club while we're driving. My favorite one to do: angry Brooklyn mom.). Hope you are having a great week!

Riverview is doing just peachy. We have a couple of people on date for February and even more coming out of the woodwork. Last Saturday we had a miracle fall into our laps--a random temple worker who used to live in the ward hit us up on our tele with a reference and....it was a FAMILY! The fact that they live with a member (new to the ward and I haven't met him yet) and speak Spanish is just divine. We have a return appointment in a week so let's go ladies and gentlemen!

Also, this week marks what we've titled. "THE RETURN FROM MEXICO: AN IVAN R., STORY 2014 SPECTACOPALYPSE". If you can't tell I'm stoked for Ivan's return this week and his preparation for baptism on the 1st. It's a great day to be a missionary.

This week I've learned a ton about patience--patience for your companion, patience for the car to warm up in the mornings, patience after a rocky meal from a mexican family, patience for investigators, for people who blow cigarette smoke in your face, patience for members and for yourself. The Lord is patient with all of us and our imperfections. Being patient with others shows your love and care for them.

Thanks for all of the letters and emails. I love you all and hope this letter finds you in a good place. Know that I am fine and I will assume the same for you.

--Elder Hart

(I reattached the Burmese Clan at the Visitor's Center because I'm sure if it worked.)

Weekly E-mail

Weekly E-mail January 21st, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I don't have much time this week, but I would just like to let you know how I am doing. I know you have all been panicked because you didn't hear from me yesterday. (Yes, I know how you all wait on the edge of your seats every Monday for me letters because they are so extravagant and entertaining.) Anyways, here it is on Tuesday because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This week has been great! We have 4 people on date for the month of February. Elder Grzan and I have been teaching like the Second Coming is tomorrow and we're having a ton of success. Kansas City is warming up. Almost short sleeve weather here! Today marks five months in the mission field and I can't believe I've already been gone from home for that long. The mission is great. Stay obedient and you will be blessed! If I get another renewed time I will send another informative letter, if not, here it is. 

Mucho amor!

--Elder Hart

(Me and my burmese clan at the Visitor's center)

Things are picking up

Things are picking up:  January 13th, 2014

Hey Family and Friends!

Hope you are all having a great week. Things are looking up here in the Kansas City. The weather has been warming up and sometimes I don't have to wear a coat. This is the best. January, no snow, and it's about 50 degrees.

This week we've been focusing on finding new people to teach. President Keyes gave us some advice on "finding by the Spirit" and we've been hitting up less active members, part member families, and former investigators like crazy. And, all of our Spanish investigators are returning from Mexico from the holidays so we're picking up speed. We've had some success, but not as much as I would like. I just want things to be perfect and easy, but that's not what missionary work is. It wouldn't be called work, if it was easy.

Two more of the people we are teaching agreed to baptism. Amy, is a single mom and has "been led to the Church" in her own words. She's the sweetest lady and basically has been a Mormon for the past couple years, minus her smoking problem she says, which has "gone away" since she started meeting with us. MIRACLES! We're also teaching someone named Dallas, who looks like a younger version of Wiz Khalifa, the rap icon. It's the best! We've renamed him "Little Wiz" and he's progressing so fast it's mind blowing. He's been coming to church and wants to be baptized on the first of February also. Cross your fingers. (Well, actually just pray. Finger crossing does nothing.) Ivan is in Mexico for the next week and we had a great lesson with him and his member mom right before he left. He's still holding to his date of Feb. 1 and told us not to tell his sister on her mission that he's getting baptized because he wants it to be a surprise. I'm so excited! Missionary work is exhilarating!

My Spanish is coming along. We have three native speaking missionaries in our ward so that helps, but I'm not learning as fast as I would like. Any tips? My trainee got extremely sick yesterday with a cold and so not only am I a "dad" (trainer), but now I get to be a mom on my mission also. The things I never knew I would have to do.

Well if there's anything you would like to know about what's going on, let me know. I really don't know what to put into these emails anymore.

Have a fantastic week!

Mucho amor,

--Elder Hart

Weekly E-mail

Weekly E-mail January 6th 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

Hope you all are having a wonderful week! This past week has been super good to Elder Grzan and me. Things are looking up in the Riverview Ward! We're teaching so much more than before. Productivity is skyward bound.

Nothing super crazy or cool this week, just more lessons. We've met a couple other people who are interested in learning. One of them, Dallas, wants to be baptized and so we're helping him prepare for that. Ivan's baptismal date has been pushed back to February 1 because of a family vacation. It's been really frustrating to see him progress so fast and so quickly since I've met him and not be baptized. I mean, for crying out loud, he attends seminary now! And I know at times that I become preoccupied with numbers and "getting a baptism", so I have to slow down and say that this is his conversion and it will happen on his time. 

We've been meeting with a ton of less active members lately. Can I just ask all of you one thing? Please, never ever ever talk about the Free Masons, or the Illuminati, or any other government conspiracy with people? I have had my full of this craziness this past week and it just doesn't make sense. Sorry if that was a rant, but the gospel is so simple and you don't need to drag any of that garbage into it. Just don't do it. Focus on the basics (prayer, scripture study, and church) and don't worry about anything else.

I love you and hope that you are having the time of your lives. Don't waste away your time! Stay productive and use the gift of your time on earth to do something good.

Mucho amor, 

Elder Hart

Navidad and "the Office"‏

Hey Family and Friends!: December 30th, 2013

How are all of you?

This week as GREAT! Christmas was great! Seeing my family and hearing them was the greatest gift I got out here in the mission field. (Sidenote: that's saying something, because I did get a lot of Reese's candy for Christmas and that's pretty hard to beat.) It's good to know that you are all doing so great and having a great time.

Kansas City is still Kansas City. The work really slowed down over the Christmas season in terms of new investigators and lessons, but getting to carol to less active members and people that don't usually have a lot of outside world contact was totally worth it. It's still freezing here, but no snow so that's a blessing. The humidity is what's killer out here. It just feels like the cold "sticks" to you.

My companion that I'm training, Elder Grzan, is interesting to say the least. The easiest that I can put it is that he the closest person alive that is the same as Michael Scott from NBC's "The Office". For those of you that have seen the show, you know what I'm talking about. It's scary how much alike Elder Grzan and Michael Scott are. For those of you who haven't seen the show, it's impossible to articulate what he's like. I honestly don't know how to describe it, but sometimes I just stop and stare at him because I feel like life is going to cut to an interview take of me or him talking about each other and that we are actually in a mockumentary and millions of people are tuning in every Thursday to watch us.

I'm having a great time being a missionary out here serving the Lord. I miss everyone back home, but it's definitely been a growing experience to be here. One of the things I'm learning is that missionary work is tough, but salvation isn't cheap so I'm willing to share it with anyone no matter what it takes. If anyone has any advice on training or just being a missionary in general I'd love to hear it. I'm desperate for help. And sorry if this email is boring, but that would be because I'm a boring person.

Thanks for all the Christmas love and a Happy New Year to you all!

Mucho amor,

--Elder Hart

Attached is a picture of me in front of our house. Again, I'm pretty boring.

Fatherhood‏

Fatherhood: December 23rd, 2013

Dear Family and Friends!

How are you?

First off, I'm a daddy! (Missionary lingo for being a trainer and having a "son" or a trainee.) This has definitely been the most stressful week of missionary work so far in my life! I'm dying out here. We've been stranded since transfers because we can't drive the car due to technicalities. It's the worst. And the weather kept us inside most of the week so we've been slowly sinking into madness. My new trainee is named Elder Grzan. Yup, try explaining how that makes sense to Spanish speakers. Anyways, he's the nicest kid ever and super excited to work. And he snores! What more could I ask for? It's just like camping with my dad! I'm a little terrified that he might not like me because of my personality, but I guess that's payback for having such a hard time with my trainer initially. We will see how the week goes. Also, if anyone has any advice on how to train a missionary, let me know because I don't know how to be a missionary, let alone show someone else how to do it!

Anyways...not much to update on. Our ward received two more Elders so we are now totaled at 8 full time missionaries. It's just insane. They're are going to be miracles in Missouri this transfer. We received four inches of snow yesterday and all of Missouri is freaking out. They just have terrible plows and everything turns to ice immediately here. Big shoutout to Utah for teaching me how to handle all of this weather!

Don't forget to take family for granted this time of year. I'm so excited to speak to mine on Christmas!

Love you all!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

--Elder Hart

 

(Attached are me and my companion Elder Grzan and me and Elder Kolomalu before he got transferred.)

Missionary Munchies

Missionary Munchies: December 1st, 2013

Hey Family and Friends,

 

I titled this email as such because I am hungry all the time! I don't know why this past week I've been starving. It doesn't matter what time of the day, but I can just eat everything in sight. Maybe this means I'm growing? I'd like to hope so, but let's be real, I'm most likely going to be a good bit heftier in the upcoming photos.

 

I thought my Spanish was better than it actually is. I've been humbled. So this past week we had a Team Up (member from the ward came to a lesson with us, sorry about the missionary jargon) with our ward mission leader Hermano Wong--he's Mexican and Chinese, yes it makes me laugh too--and his two sons. After a successful lesson with our investigator, Ivan. The boys and Ivan got to talking about his cat and the conversation went roughly like this in my head because they were speaking very fast.

 

"I like your cat"--Carlos

"Oh his name is Margorito"--Ivan

"We have a cat at home, but he isn't as pretty as your cat"--Carlos

"Yes, I love my cat very much"--Ivan

 

But somehow lost in the translation was the fact that Ivan was giving them the cat. Before we were out the door, Margorito was boxed up in a crate and hauled to the car to sit on my lap as Hermano Wong drove us home. For a second, I thought that night I thought I was doing good and keeping up with the spanish speakers, but I was humbled as we drove back with the cat staring from the depths of the crate, reminding me how little I actually know.

 

Stay proactive in the gospel! The members are such an example to me out here. They never stop working and are so willing to help us with whatever we need--service projects, family home evenings, you name it. Don't get complacent. Reach out with the good news of the gospel to those all around you.

 

Anyways this is a long email, but we visited a less-active family, the Rodeens this week. Pulling up to a little house with a deer, gutted and skinned, from the tree made me feel like going home. Then we went into a house full of mounted animals and guns. Man, I miss Utah sometimes. Keep it up back home.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

--Elder Hart

 

(Attached is a picture of us and one of our investigators)

 

Also, if you are sending anything for Christmas, the address for the Mission Office is

 

 517 W Walnut

Independence, MO 64050

Constructing a Kingdom‏

Constructing a Kingdom‏: November 18th, 2013

What's up my beloved family and friends!

 

This week started off so well and then ended in kind of a bummer.

 

All week our appointments have been falling through. Everyone we are teaching is either getting sick or having to work overtime and can't meet with us.

 

Anyways, we have a pretty golden investigator named Ivan! He's 16 and his sister is leaving on her mission this week and he agreed to be baptized. He's so ready for the Gospel in his life that it makes me so excited! And he said he would teach me how to skateboard--double whammy!

 

We've been planning for the next year in the Riverview Ward and had some exciting meeetings. The mission council is solely comprised of Spanish speaking members and they just went off, speaking the spanish a million miles an hour. The jist: we're calling families in the ward to serve two month missions with us and to help us with team ups, and inviting people into their homes for the lessons and visiting people when we can't. It's exciting out here. They have such enthusiasm for the work! We're building the Lord's Kingdom out here!

 

I've been learning patience this past week. Missionary work is work. Sometimes I just want people to meet with us once and then BAM, let's get that water running. But everything is a progression, on the Lord's time. I'm being tested on this virtue, especially when Elder Verkler makes his disgusting asian lunches that stink up the apartment.

 

Thanks for all the letters and emails! I love hearing from you all!

 

Mucho amor,

 

Elder Hart

 

Attached is a picture of me and Elder Cortez at the zoo. Sorry, I didn't take anymore this week.

We Went to the Zoo!‏

We Went to the Zoo!‏: November 13th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

 

Missouri is just absolutely the best! I love it out here. The weather is just all over the place right now. Last week I thought I would sweat to death some of the days and now I'm layering on every article of clothing I own to stay warm. Have you ever seen a storm in the Missouri? Oh my. I thought it rained in Utah, but that's just a light sprinkle compared to the deluge mother nature pours out here when it storms in Kansas City. I can drive in the snow like a champ, but the rivers that people call streets when it rains here just terrify me.

 

We went to the Kansas City Zoo on Monday! It was the most fun thing I've done in a so much time. The missionaries in our zone are the absolute best people to hang out with. My favorite experience was when Nakita, the polar bear, cannon balled into the water right in front of us, spraying fountains of frozen water into the air. My favorite joke of the day, "Every creature shall hear the Word."

 

Church is such an enjoyable experience out here in the Riverview ward. We literally have people from every country and ever background coming together to worship Jesus Christ in His Church. It's such a uplifting experience to associate with these valiant saints out here. Man, I just love them so much.

 

The Lord is hastening his work. I love to hear about all of my friends getting mission calls and everyone's experiences back home. I love you all! I'm sorry if I'm not able to reply to all of your emails this week. We don't have that much time today, but I will get to them all next time.

 

I love you all so very much.

 

--Elder Hart

 

(Attached are pictures of my two best friends out here, Elder Stagg and Elder Kolomalu. And the last one is me (the most beautiful) and the other missionaries in the Riverview area. AND an elephant.)