JAQUE

November 18, 2019

Feliz dia!!! 

"Jaque" is the spanish word for "check" when you're playing chess. I learned that this week because we had a ward game night this week and I beat my companion 3 times! I still got game even after having not played for 18 months ;). Here's my update of this roller coaster of a week: 

I'll start with the down part of my week... We had exchanges (you switch companions with one of your sister training leaders for a day). Our STLs are English speaking sisters and they came up and did exchanges in our area this past week. Let's just say... it wasn't the best exchange. We left the day feeling condescended and upset by some of the comments our STLs made. After they left we still had 2 more lessons to teach that night and we were all in a bad mood. We pulled up to our first lesson and just prayed for the spirit and that we could let go of our anger. Then we got out of the car and we all just hugged each other for like 5 minutes and cried hahaha. It was a good stress relief. The lesson went pretty well. 

The second lesson was even more amazing. BACKSTORY: There was a night last week that everything seemed to have fallen through and we had to re-evaluate our plans. I said a silent prayer and asked Heavenly Father where He wanted us to go. The name "Salvador" popped into my head. There was a guy we met named Salvador like over a month ago - it was a really fast interaction, he was working on his car and he said to come back later and we gave him a card. Anyways, that night we decided to go and knock on his door. We ended up meeting his wife, Laura. She was busy that night so we rescheduled. Ok so fast forward and we are at the appointment we set. We were mentally and emotionally exhausted, so we decided that we would share a really quick spiritual thought with her, get a return appointment, and go home and finish our studies for the last hour of the night because we were DONE! To our surprise, we stayed from 7:30PM-9:00PM because the lesson went SO WELL. She is a teacher at the Spanish Immersion school - born in Mexico but grew up in the US so she is fluent in both languages (still only talks to us in Spanish so we can practice which is nice). She went to college!!! She might be one of the very first people I've taught that's gone to college. She started out the conversation just by talking about Christ and how much He's helped her in her life. She told a story about a teacher in her school that was very condescending and rude to her - it made her feel really bad. But she then talked about how she knows that she is a daughter of God and she may have just been having a bad day and she was able to forgive her with the help of Christ. I literally started crying as she told the story and thanked her, because I seriously needed to hear that after having a bad day. I told her about the exchange and as I opened up I literally felt this healing power from the Holy Ghost came over me and my feelings of anger were just replaced with love. It was amazing. After we talked for awhile, she started asking about our church and our beliefs. We shared the Restoration with her, and her mind was blown!! She kept saying, "I've never heard this before!!!" Then she asked what happens after this life, so we taught the Plan of Salvation! She was just so blown away about how much of it made sense! The whole time we talked to her I was just thinking... this is a future relief society president. She was just so put together and loving and I just needed that lesson that night. I know that the Spirit truly guided us there. 

Ok this story will blow your mind... it blew mine. So earlier this week we had a super powerful lesson with Jose and Annette. We had a lesson about baptism and the spirit was soooo strong! She told us she knows the church and the Book of Mormon are true. She was still a bit hesitant and said she would pray about being baptized. During the lesson I had this impression that I needed to ask Jose if he wanted to meet with the bishop (he's a less active member). I wasn't really sure how to bring it up, but at the end of the lesson Jose actually brought it up to us! He was like, "I need some direction in my life, is there someone I can talk to?" We helped him set up an appointment for Saturday. Both him and Annette went to talk to the bishop, and about halfway through the interview, the bishop called to us and asked us to come in. Bishop says, "So... Annette just told me she wants to get baptized.... tomorrow." I was like... "TOMORROW!?!" I almost fell out of my seat. After gathering ourselves a little bit we realized it would probably be best to have the baptism next Saturday because we haven't taught her like any of the commandments yet and she needs to be interviewed first haha. She agreed!!! She told me she wants to get baptized before I leave!!! I was so shocked! Later, Jose told us that Annette had actually already decided that she wanted to get baptized a while ago but didn't know how to tell us. It truly was inspired that we helped them meet with Bishop!! So cool how the Spirit has been working lately!!! And I am so excited for her baptism. That is just like the cherry on top of my mission experience. I am so happy!!!

Last quick miracle. Last week we ran into this guy in a trailer park. We talked to him for a second and he said, "Me and my wife are actually trying to find a church!" We gave him our card, got his information, texted him and said we hoped to see him there, and HIS WHOLE FAMILY CAME! That never happens! It was so exciting.

I think this is my last email ever... Tengo que despedirme...!!!! I know this church is true and I am so thankful for the chance I have had to serve a mission. I used to have a lot of anxiety about going home and adjusting to normal life again. But lately I have realized that I don't have to be afraid. I love what it says in the new missionary handbook: "Prepare yourself now to continue your life as a disciple of Jesus Christ and as a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when you return home and as you fulfill your life’s mission." A full-time mission has just been a small step in my life mission. I will miss my mission and all the amazing experiences I've had. I will miss the amazing people and relationships I've created here (luckily we have technology so I can stay in touch). But luckily I know that this is only the beginning. I will be a missionary forever! 

Love you!
-Hermana Hansen 

1. Us eating pan from Boris when we got to see him!

2. A selfie with a cute family we are teaching. That's the little boy that gave me a giant hug after his prayer last week

3-5: This is us painting at a member's house for p-day today! \

6: Me after beating my companion in chess with Annette and Jose :) 

dos semanas más... !!!!

November 13, 2019

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!

It's been a great week and a half. Time has gone by way too rápido... I go home 2 weeks from today! The reason my P-day is today is because we went down to Omaha to go to the temple with all the departing missionaries, we ate lunch at President Ence's and had a testimony meeting! It doesn't feel real...! 

This week we saw a couple of special tender mercies. There was one day I was kind of in a bad mood, I felt liked we had been wasting time, we were super off schedule and I just wanted to keep moving. But of course when we finally left to go out and work we had to go get gas. I thought, "of course, yet another set back." But right as I thought that, I had another thought. "Go about doing good." That's my goal I set for the transfer. Just because we had to stop and get gas doesn't mean we are wasting time, I can just as well share the gospel here as anywhere else! So we went inside and I shared a pass-a-long card with the guy working up front. A couple hours we get a text and it's from none other than... Carey the gas station guy! We had a little conversation and we asked if he wanted to strengthen his relationship with Christ and he said yes!!! So even when nothing seems to be going as planned, just go about doing good anyway and there will be people around you that need you. There's a reason for every delay in life! We just need to open our eyes and watch the opportunities around us and God will present them to us. 

Lately it's been a struggle for us to find new people to teach. But our mission President promised us if we used the "YES list" (a document that helps us ask for referrals and work with members) we would find people to teach and people to baptize. My companion Hermana Phelps was so awesome and got us really excited about that promise so we got to work. We ended up finding 5 new people to teach!!! 3 of them in one day. There was one man that we taught and got a return appointment with who didn't seem particularly interested the first time. But we said we would come back the next day and teach his wife too! When we came back, he told us to come back later because his wife wasn't home yet. The day went on and we totally forgot about it. At almost the end of the night, I realized forgot we needed to go back!!! We were sure he wouldn't be interested based on our last visit but we decided to call him and just see if he answered. To our surprise he answered and told us to come over!!! We taught him and his wife, and turns out he had read a ton in the Book of Mormon since our visit the day before!!! We had an AMAZING lesson and they are so prepared. It taught me that we can never judge a person based off our first impression. 

Yesterday we were teaching this awesome lady from Guatemala named Miriam. At the end of the lesson, her 8 year old son Diego said he wanted to say the prayer. He said the most adORABLE prayer, and right before he said amen, he suddenly put his arms around me and just hug attacked me!!!! Then he says "aaaamen" and just doesn't let go for like a whole minute!!! It was the cutest moment of my whole mission. I'll forever cherish that moment. I felt this immense love for that little boy. I know God loves him so much.

I have absolutely loved my mission. I can't believe it comes to an end so soon. But I have had experiences that will last me a lifetime. I've seen the hand of God so many times in this short 18 month period, and I will cherish these memories forever. I'm thankful to know that even though in a few short weeks, even though I won't have the badge anymore, I will still be a disciple of Jesus Christ. That won't change.

I'll end with this quote a member sent us from Jeffrey R Holland. It helped me a lot as I've been a little nervous and stressed about what my future holds for me... I hope it helps you too.

"You are all a little anxious about your future, but I implore you not to be overly anxious. God has a plan for you, and the best thing you can do is trust Him and keep moving! If you will persevere throughout your life and be true to what you stand for, I promise you your future will unfold as God intended it. It will be very bright indeed." 

I love you all!! 

-Hermana Hansen

p.s. sorry I didn't get the chance to respond to anyone today! No time!! 

Pics:

1. The best shrine you ever did see (Roberto's)

2: Me bundled up for the snow

3: South Dakota sunsets

4-5: Jumping for joy to get to share the gospel in the snow :) 

6: ROBERTO SHOWED UP TO CHURCH IN A SUIT it was adorable so here's  a picture 

7-8: At the temple with the Ences/Hermana Iverson :) 

9: I got to see BORIS!!! Blessed  

Don't worry be happy. Hakuna Matata

November 4, 2019

Hola familia y amigos!!!

THIS WAS THE BEST WEEK OF MY LIFE. I know I've said that a lot but it gets better every time I say that. My subject comes from a hispanic member in our ward. He says it all the time. Read it in a Spanish accent and it will make you smile. Spoiler alert: ROBERTO GOT BAPTIZED! Best day ever. I'll talk a little bit about it later. Here are the highlights of my week:

We got blessed

We were knocking around this trailer park, and we saw one with Christmas lights so naturally we knocked it (sign that a hispanic lives there). This Hindu lady let us right in!!! She told us that it was the Diwali Festival that day (festival of lights). We talked a little about religion and Christianity and we gave her our card and pamphlet, but before she let us leave she said "I need to bless you!" She painted this beautiful sparkly mark in the middle of our foreheads and then fed us this DELICIOUS Indian food. We kept the "blessing" on our foreheads all day haha it was the best thing ever!! Oh, also the cute little hindu grandma gave us all $5!!! We truly were blessed haha. I love being a missionary because you get to see SO many cultures. And everyone is so nice!! She invited us to come back next year! Pictures attached! 

Zone Conference

We had Zone Conference this week and it was good for many reasons. It was my LAST ZONE CONFERENCE so that was a little sad. I got to bear my testimony as one of the missionaries that are leaving. It felt so good to bear my testimony because it made me realize that I really have given my all to my mission and I have been so happy throughout the past year and a half. I mean sometimes were harder than others, but through the hard times I was able to grasp onto the Atonement of Jesus Christ and He helped me grow and come out stronger every single time. Time has flown so fast. We also did a musical numbers with all the Hermanas present at Zone Conference and we sang in Spanish. Good day. We watched the new Light the World video about Christ's birth (it probably won't come out for all to see until December) but it was AMAZING it made me bawl my eyes out. It was really special to see a beautiful depiction of the wise men kneeling down and worshiping a baby. Not just any baby, the Savior of the World. Our Redeemer came here in the most humbling circumstances, so innocent and pure, to grow up and mature in the ways of Heavenly Father and learn that His eternal purpose and identity was to come and atone for the sins and sufferings of all mankind. I love and am so thankful for Jesus Christ in my life. I would be so lost and alone and so far gone without him. Think about where you would be without the Savior in your life and say a little prayer of gratitude for what He's done for you. And if you're not using His Atonement to your fullest capacity, start now. It's worth the repentance process, I promise. 

CHANGE

A huge theme I've seen this week is change. Roberto just keeps expressing to us day after day how much he has changed and how happy he is. Our other most progressing person, Annette, also expressed that to us this week. She is so sick with cancer and has so many complications. We taught her the plan of Salvation this week and asked what differences she's seen in her life since we started meeting with her/since she's been going to church. She told us that before she was so angry all the time, and now she is just so happy. It's because she is CHANGING! She is accepting the gospel and acting on pure faith. She smiles so much. She smiles despite her pain, despite the fact that her very close aunt just died, and despite the fact that she is very alone. She is happy because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Shouldn't we all be??

Bautismo!!

The night before Roberto's baptism we went over to teach him his very last lesson. We rolled up to his apartment at 8:00 and he was standing outside waiting for us. He then explained to us that his roommate invited his friends over so we couldn't go inside... and we'd have to have a lesson OUTSIDE in the FREEZING COLD. Literally 32 degrees and windy. But we did it. The things you do for the gospel man. Haha. Roberto's baptism went SO SMOOTHLY and he bore the sweetest testimony afterward. He talked about how the first time we met him he was smoking. He struggled with being an alcoholic and he's had a super rough past. But ever since we started working with him, he's given up all of these things. He allowed Christ to take off his metaphorical backpack and he feels free. This week he visited his friend that just got out of prison. He said his friend barely even recognized Roberto because he's changed so much!!! He got confirmed on Sunday and bore his testimony in Sacrament meeting. He was accepted with open arms into our little Spanish group and I am sooo happy I got to be part of his conversion (even though this is only the beginning)! 

Best chili judge you ever did see

To finish off the week we had a chili cook off for our ward party. They asked if we'd be the judges!!! I ate 17 different kinds of chili. Hahaha. Needless to say I see chili very differently now. Some of those things were NASTY but some were so delicious. That's all I am going to say about that haha.

Love you all!!! Just so you know my P-day will be on Wednesday next week so I won't be able to talk on Monday! <3

-Hermana Hansen 

Pictures:

1-2: Some silly little pictures we took at the church

3: Roberto's baptism

4-5: Zone Conference 

6-7: Diwali day festival!!!