Hola Familia y Amigos!!!!!
This week was AMAZING! Although it was kind of slow, we still saw many mighty miracles. We did a lot of finding this week, and found a lot of people, but it's so hard to get return appointments these days. We'll get a return appointment and 95% of the time they cancel or they won't be home. The work keeps moving though! And we aren't getting discouraged. :)Some highlights this week though were that Dora came to church again!!!! It's her 3rd time in 4 weeks and we can tell she's really starting to feel comfortable there. She is getting very fellowshipped by Catalina (the one who gave her chili peppers last time), apparently Catalina took her to her house for cake after church so that was great news! WE LOVE MEMBER MISSIONARIES! Another highlight was that Moumouni (the father of our most recent convert family) gave the sacrament prayer for the first time this week and we helped them find their first names to take to the temple. They are growing so fast in the gospel! And they are missionaries too. They bring friends to church almost every single week. We love them so much.
I did a lot of reflecting this week and realized how much the mission has truly changed me. For example: for those that know me well, you know that I suffer from the common disease of FOMO (fear of missing out). I thought I had overcome that while being out on my mission, but oh boy was I wrong. We live right in the middle of downtown Worthington in a little hidden apartment. We woke up on Friday morning and saw a bunch of vender carts and food tents being set up. We didn't think much of it, we just thought the city was having their regular weekly farmers market! We even got to stop there during lunch and get some Chinese food. It was awesome! But little did we know, this was not just any farmers market. We woke up on Saturday morning and walked outside to exercise and saw bleachers and chairs lining the streets and like 100 more tents being set up. We found out that it was an annual Worthington holiday called "King Turkey Day." Strange right? I still have no idea what it is or why they celebrate it, but apparently it's a huge festival they do every year. Kind of like Summer Fest. We walked past all of the festivities and I felt sick to my stomach. I was SO JEALOUS that the whole city was going to be able to participate in King Turkey Day and I couldn't. The FOMO was real. I know, it sounds ridiculous, especially because I still don't even know why they celebrate it, but I was SAD!
After hearing about the parade that was happening, the food they were selling, and all of the exciting festivities that were happening, I said a silent prayer that my FOMO would go away. My companion and I were getting ready for the day when suddenly loud music started blasting outside, and a very loud announcer welcoming the city to King Turkey Day. We suddenly realized that there was no way we would be able to study with the craziness that was going on outside. We decided we would need to go to the church to study! As soon as we stepped outside again to go to the car, my FOMO suddenly vanished. The music was loud, the streets were crowded, and there was already garbage being piled up on the streets. I had a sudden realization that I did not want ANYTHING to do with the festival that was going on. This work is FAR more important than any festival, and I would much rather be helping others come closer to Christ than getting lost in the crowds at the party downtown. As soon as I stepped into the quiet, peaceful church I felt at home. I felt so safe and secure, and all of the distractions vanished. I realized that my calling is SO sacred, and I am right where I need to be in this point of time. :)
Another thing that made me realize how much I have changed on my mission is the energy and motivation I feel that I constantly have now (but of course, there are days that are harder than others). It has become easy for me to wake up without delay right at 6:30 every morning, and I actually LOVE exercising. But most importantly, having personal study with the scriptures for an hour every morning has absolutely changed my life. I NEED the scriptures. I literally have no idea how I functioned at home without reading them so fervently every day. I've realized that because of the 8 hours of sleep I get, the 30 minutes of exercise, and the hour of personal study I get each day have literally changed my life. I am happy, I am in tune with the spirit, I can actually recognize and receive personal revelation (although I am still learning how), I am motivated, I have energy, and just like President Monson promised, I feel heaven's help in my life stronger than ever before. But most importantly, I have become SO close to my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Him. He helps me get through every single day of my mission, and I know He will help me get through every single day for the rest of my life. For the past 2 weeks I've been working on a poem about Him. I'll attach it!
My invitation to you all is to do your absolute best to read the Book of Mormon every single day. It may seem like a sacrifice, but I promise you, it is so worth it.
I love you all so much!!!! Have an amazing week!!!
Con amor,
Hermana Hansen
Pictures:
1-2: The chinese food we got from one of the street venders on Friday!
3-4: Some of the chairs and bleachers we saw outside of our apartment on Saturday morning, before all of the chaos started!
5: Catalina and her grandkids!
6: This is the poem I wrote. Let me know what you think :)
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