Milagros de Navidad!

Dec 17, 2018

Hola Familia y Amigos!!!

Prophecies Fulfilled:
"And it shall come to pass that the Lord God shall commence his work among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth." (2 Nephi 30:8) 

This prophecy really came true for us this week. I have almost been in Worthington, Minnesota for 6 months now, and it really hit me this week how diverse this area is. We taught lessons in 5 different languages this week!!!! Lao, Karen (pronounced like Korin), Spanish, English, and I even got to do a little ASL this week!!!! Of course I don't speak Lao and Korin, but there is a less active Lao family that we visit and use Google translate to communicate and show videos that they have in Lao. And we phone-called the Karen Elders in our mission to help with a Karen family that we met! We got an ASL referral that is in a different area in Iowa, and we sent a video to her in ASL introducing ourselves. 

Zone Conference:

This week we had Christmas Zone conference and it really was such a faith builder and the motivation that we needed to work even harder and have more faith. We also had a talent show in our Zone and Hermana Esplin and I performed a spoof song that we called "I'll Make a Missionary Out of You" (instead of "I'll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan). It was so fun! I'll try to send the video if it works. 

Discouragement and Miracles:

The work here has definitely slowed down since I was here in the summer. There was a point that we were teaching so many people I couldn't even keep track. Now we could count them on one hand. We officially stopped teaching Dora because she had completely stopped keeping all of her commitments and started to dodge our appointments and hasn't been at church in weeks. When we stopped teaching her I was so sad. She was doing so well, and I just didn't understand what happened. But I know that the Lord has timing, and that it just isn't her time right now. People also just haven't been accepting return appointments or showing interest. We were pretty discouraged at the beginning of the week, but our discouragement didn't last long. 

Miracle 1: 

On Thursday we went to try a less active member named Ferdinand who lives in Windom. He lives in a locked apartment and his buzzer wasn't working. We knocked on the glass, and an old man told us he couldn't let us in because we didn't live there. We were about to leave, when another old man came by and opened the door for us and said, "Come on in!" Miracle. We went to his apartment and a girl answered and let us right in. She told us that Ferdinand moved, but she was his ex-girlfriend and she was a member!!! Apparently she moved here a few months ago from Washington and got baptized 2 years ago. She told us she wanted to come to church so we got a ride for her!!! We were so thankful that we were able to find a lost sheep. She is so sweet!

Miracle 2:

On Saturday morning we woke up, did our studies, prayed a LOT, and went to WORK. We car fasted for almost 4 hours. We knocked door after door. As we were knocking, a big Ford truck pulls up and I kid you not, SANTA CLAUS get out and comes up to us! He said, "I saw you guys working out here and had to come with you a Merry Christmas!!!" And he gave us candy canes and thanked us for the work we do!!!! We were so happy we literally almost cried tears of joy. We gave him a light the world card too. Yeah that's right, we just might convert Santa Claus!!!! 

Miracle 3:

We kept knocking doors and a cute Guatemalan family let us right in. They fed us a huge dinner of mole (kind of like beans and chicken) and were SO kind. It fills my heart to know there are people out there kind enough to let strangers into their house and feed them. We were able to teach them and get a return appointment! Such humble and amazing people. 

Miracle 4:

On Sunday morning we gathered to have Spanish Sacrament meeting, and it was about 15 minutes after the meeting should have started and NO one had showed up that only spoke Spanish. We wondered if we should just cancel the meeting and go join the English sacrament meeting. But one of the members said, "Let's just start the meeting just in case people show up." We started the meeting, and about 15 minutes later 10 Spanish speakers showed up all at once. No one cared that they were late, we were just SO filled with joy that they came. The meeting was so spirit-filled. What an amazing day!

I really learned that when we have faith, discouragement disappears, and miracles happen. The Lord's hand is with us in every moment, we just have to look for it! Sorry this email is so long, I just had so much to say! I love you ALL so much and am so thankful for your support and love!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Hansen  

Pictures:

1-2: Zone conference with the Hermanas! So nice to be reunited with every companion I've ever had all at once. I love them SO MUCH!

3: Santa Claus!!!!

4: Christmas Party with Sonia

5: Church with Alexis!