Baptisms and Hamburgers...the only way to Celebrate

 

Shout out to Bethie because she got home from her mish in Hermosillo this week!! Sad that she's done cuz shes like MY INSPIRATION. But what's sadder is that I just figured out that I have less than 6 months left. NOOOOOO. I feel like I'm looking death in the eye and it's not even that close yet. What's good is that from swimming distance and fly all those years I learned that the final laps should be your fastest, even if it hurts, because everyone else starts dying out so than you can kick all their butts and win. So I guess it's time to start giving it even more and KICKING EVEN HARDER.

This week was a great week because we went to the beach for the 6 month multi-zone activity!! I saw my hija!! It was a blast. We were only allowed to get into our knees. But of course I somehow ended up losing my balance and falling, so I was shoulder deep for a half a second RIGHT IN FRONT OF PRESIDENT and the other zone...uggggg. That would happen to me. President just patted me on the shoulder and said, "Oh, Hermana Hansen, siempre el ejemplo...." (always the example) Ughhhh awkward. Whatever I'm over it.

Hermana and President George
 

Also.... we had 3 BAPTISMS!!!! Todos super escogidos.

So Hermano E and Hermana D's dad got baptized when he was 17. He moved, got married to a Catholic girl, and pretty much forgot about the church until now. Recently he got separated from his wife, moved back to Tapachula, and decided he needed to shape up. So he started coming back to church all on his own. Then his kids moved in with him and he started bringing them as well. So we started teaching them all.

The change we have seen in all 3 of them is truly amazing. Hermana D has always been super rebellious and disobedient, but we were able to see her change for the better poco un poco. At first, Hermano E did not want to get baptised. But after we taught him the plan of salvacion, he wanted to reach the celestial kingdom, and made the decision. It was a combined effort from all of the youth and the leaders in the ward as well. Before they were baptised they even went to youth conference and other devotionals!! The ward seriously helped them so much.

 

We were able to teach their dad and get him ready to receive the Aaronic priesthood. He received the priesthood on Sunday and baptised his kids on Thursday (Just happened to be my year mark on the mish.... also Elder Brass brought us Hambuergesas May. Baptisms and hamburgers... BEST way to celebrate)! It was such a special experience to see him be able to baptize his kids.

Our other baptism was Hermana D. So we got back from Tuxtla last week and saw that we had like a million missed calls from Hermano P. (He's the 1st counselor in charge of the ward... we don't have a bishop here either....) We met him at the church and he said, "Hermanas, I have another baptism for you." 

WHATTTT?? 

Hermana D. is a young women whom everyone thought was a member, but Hermano P. looked into it and her papers don't show up in any of the church files. So we went straight to her house. 

She said, "Yeah, I thought I got baptised in Honduras. But now that I think about it, I was only 7. I think I just received a blessing from the missionaries. Do you guys think I could get baptised this week? I need to be baptized to graduate seminary and receive my young women's medallion." 

Hahahaha! So the next day we did the baptism interview and of course she passed perfectly. The only thing we had to teach her was the word of wisdom (which she was already completing). 

Honestly, a year ago who would have thought that I would be living on the edge of the jungle in Tapachula, speaking Spanish like a gringa-chiapanecan, eating with my hands, sweating all day every day and not even caring, contacting people in rainstorms like it's no big deal, being a sister training leader, witnessing 3 baptisms.... and never wanting to go home to the states? (Well, maybe only for Zupas and carpet....;) ) I love this marvelous work.

Peace out cuates! See you in like 6 months. Unless I decide to stay here forever......

Hermana Hansen