Two Gringas in Mexico

Hermana Hansen with her new GRINGA companion,  Hermana Yorgason

Yep, you read it right! My new companion is a gringa from Provo, Utah. She's almost 6 foot, blonde, and about to die (she's leaving after this transfer.... :() But even though she's dying mission wise...she is definitely not dying ANIMO (excitement) wise. She is THE HAPPIEST missionary I've ever met and tiene un BUEN de ganas a trabajar (she has a lot of desire to work). She's the best.

Hermana Yorgason decorated my desk..."Welcome to Pimienta the best area in Chiapas"

It's so weird to have a gringa companion... I hope it doesn't halt my Spanish progress because sometimes we get talking and before we know it we moved onto Spanglish and sometimes full on English! We don't even realize it!! But, we are working on it... jaja.

That awesome moment when members of your ward take you to a marimba restaurant for lunch

I'm already learning UN BUEN de su ejemplo (a ton from her example) , and I'm remembering how fun it is to be a missionary!!
 

And being a capacitadora (sister training leader) isn't as scary as I thought it would be... it's actually super fun!! So far I like it even better than training (but we haven't had any intercambios (exchanges) yet so we will see...). Even though it's a lot of work and pressure it really is just a beautiful job. I get the opportunity to work with, and help, and learn from, and love all the hermanas in my zone. It's awesome!

Also, our zone leaders are Elder Brass (who was an assistente to the mission president) and Elder Carreon (who is my same generation). We get to work with them a lot, and they are super funny and bien chido (very cool) as well!! It's gonna be a fun transfer.

SO my area. It's called Pimienta. My area is tiny.... like 8 blocks. We can walk the whole thing at a slow pace in like less than 15 min. We have an AWESOME bishop, an AMAZING ward mission leader, and UN BUEN de ayuda (a ton of help) from the ward.

Like, we are all a team. Just how it should be! I totally miss all the members in Central. But, the members here are ABSOLUTELY AMAZING as well. I've already found a new mission mom, Hermana C!! 

So some funny stories from this week....

I got electrocuted. Bad extension cord. Don't worry, I'm fine, my arm just tingled for a few hours. I felt like the kid from Moonrise Kingdom (maybe only Katie will get that reference....) 

 Hermano P. beat us in an arm wrestle with one finger!

Some joven told me that if we procreated our children would have beautiful eyes. I just blinked at him and Hermana Yorgason responded, "Guess we will be teaching you next about eternal families." jajajaja

I'm attempting to learn two native ancient dialects that people speak here, Centahl and Sotsil. People usually just laugh when I attempt. Ho on ish Ouish Hansen!!!!

YEP I'm with an American....

That's all for now... LOVE YOU ALL... TENGA UN BONITA DIA (have a beautiful day)

Hermana Hansen

Pictures from Hermana Hansen's last day in Central

 One last selfie with Hermanas Hansen, Cook & Juarez

Recipes!

With my bestie, Hermana N., who is getting married in APRIL

Farewell for now Hermana Juarez & Central

Strange Happenings

I'm 76 percent sure that the title of this email is the name of song on the "Lord of the Rings" soundtrack.

So this was a week of miracles, casi (almost) miracles, an apostle, roof top parties and strange happenings. 

Hermanas Cook, Juarez and Hansen..having a roof top fiesta

We had two investigators almost get baptized. Yes.... almost. One was literally on the top stair of the baptismal font, dipping his toe in the water. That's how close he got.

Hermanas Hansen and Juarez with Elders Nava and Giles

And the other was just on the other end of the phone.

So Hermanito A, Hermana V´s son, watched his mom get baptized. Just as he was about to walk into to Elder Giles`s loving, priesthood-ready-to-baptize-arms, he freaked out and started crying. Apparently, he has a fear of water that nobody knew about. I guess he had a bad experience when he was a kid and didn't remember about his almost drowning experience until literally moments before his own baptism. 

 Elder Giles´ almost baptism.... pobrecito jiji..

Despite the endless coaxing from Elder Giles and his mom, and a ton of fervent prayer from Hermana Juarez and I...he was too scared to get baptized. Pobrecito (poor thing). I guess we will try again next week. (When I'm not here...of course).

The other (missed baptism) was an investigator named Hermana B. Her boyfriend is a famous singer (and a recently activated again member). She hasn't even had all of the lessons yet, but started asking some random guy at church on Sunday how to pay her tithing. Hopelessly in love? Or escogido (chosen)? You decide.

 District Selfie

But the chiste (catch) is our zone leaders gave us a promise that if we made a list of people who could potentially get baptized and prayed, the Lord would indicate to us who could be baptized for that same weekend. 

Hermanas with recently baptized Hermano A.

We did the challenge, felt Hermana B. would be baptized, called her up on the phone...only to find out that her and her boyfriend had recently broken up. Not to worry, she still wanted to be baptized! But she wanted her boyfriend to be the one to do it. 

Hermana V...she has two kids on a mission...and is gonna get baptized soon! Without me... sobs

Long story short, we talked with her boyfriend, convinced him to help us out and baptize Hermana B. Everything was going perfectly, until he called us telling us he had a gig that night and couldn't come. Also, he and Hermana B. had gotten back together...and they wanted to wait a couple weeks for her to be baptized. 

Saying good byes to  Mama C and her son, Hermano G

Sigh. She is so ready! And it was so close I could smell the slightly chlorinated water of the baptismal  font. We were a little bummed because this seems to always happen to me and Hermana Juarez.... casi milagros...(almost miracles) but we decided it could be for our casi obediencia (almost obedience).

On a scale of 10, we are an almost perfect 9 on obedience. Maybe that's our problem. Also the Lord just likes to test our faith, so we can be ready for the bigger stuff. I need to learn to have faith in His timing... not mine. 

Elder Oaks came this week and it was freaking awesome. People always say that when an apostle of God walks into the room the spirit just hits them in a big wave. I didn't believe it honestly... but it's totally true. It was totally amazing. 

Final District Picture

It's so amazing that we have apostles in actualidad (present), just like the apostles in antiguedad (past). He gave us counsel that I will use for the rest of my life!

Well.... now for one of the strangest happenings. We got cambios (changes) this morning... and it looks like I'm still a city girl...cuz I'll be staying in Tuxtla! Although I will be in a different zone called Grijalva. It's  about 20 min away from Central (via taxi). I thought I was done with the city life and was ready to get down to the jungle (since I've ruined all my shoes in sewer water anyways)...but it's all good!

 

My farewell party...our favorite tacos!

I´ll be starting there as a freaking Capacitadora!! (a sister training leader). Um.....what? I´m not sure what Presidente George is thinking... I have no idea how I'm going to help and train all of the Hermanas in this new zone along with keeping up my own work.... with only 7 months experience.

Our favorite taco maker

But I guess the Lord knows what he's doing, and though I'm sort of freaking out...I'm excited to get to work. There's a ton of work in this new stake. Pile that on with working with of all of the Hermanas in my Zone...and there will be no time to rest! Haha not that there was time for that anyway. But, I guess I'm ready for the challenge. 

 Doing laundry with this roof-top view rocks!

I'm sad to be leaving Central... my home .I grew up here and I'll miss all the members and my converts, but I know it's time to move on.

 Shout out to Mama C and all those in Central for taking such good care of our Hermana! Gracias!!

Les amo mucho!!! 

Hermana Hansen

 

 Moving to a new apartment....Elder Giles and Elder Nava rode on top of all of this! hahahah

  We bought Hermana Garcia a cake because she goes home this week

It's true. I'm Mexican.

So you know you're a Mexican: when you actually start to like and somewhat even crave  Mexican chocolate that you hated when you arrived; when you put chile on everything (even fruit); when you can eat from a taco stand in the street and it doesn't even phase you; when you can't eat a meal without a tortilla; when jaywalking across a busy street in the middle of the day doesn't even bother you because there's no such thing as crosswalks; and when you don't even notice the bugs in every single house that grossed you out when you arrived. Welcome to Mexico. Miralo vos (watch out), because this guera is officially a Mexican.

 Hermana Salazar from Sonora and Hermanas Hansen & Juarez

This week was awesome because we had a multi-zone activity on Tuesday!! Which means I got to see a bunch of my friends from other zones, and I got to wear PANTS. Which was only cool until about 1 pm when I was blazing hot, uncomfortable, and wishing I had on my airy skirt to keep me cool and feel the breeze on my legs.

Hermanas Hansen and Coronado

All in all, I learned that skirts are way better than pants (triste (sad) missionary brainwashing.... whoever thought I'd say that?) The only thing pants are good for is for doing headstands. So, I did a lot of them. Unfortunately, I don't have any photo evidence because I was doing them spontaneously....but just know I'm practicing (just for you Hermana Bunderson!)

Remember the head standing Hermanas during those good old MTC days?

During our activity, we went to the zoo, played futbol on blazing hot turf, and watched 'Meet the Mormons' (in Spanish of course) which was freaking awesome!!

Hermanas Allen, Hansen & Juliana

When David Archuleta sang the favorite song of every missionary in the world at the end (Glorious), Hemana Juarez and I about died...and then we realized he was singing in Spanish and we both screamed and I dropped my camera. It was super awkward, and I'm pretty sure Presidente George along with all the elders who were sitting behind us were just shaking their heads. Hahaha. OHHHH GLORIOSO ES.

So I had a weird experience yesterday that really made me think about being a consecrated missionary, and how Satan tries to get us at the littlest things...because he knows we are smart enough to avoid the big and obvious ones.

 Hermana Hansen, President and Hermana George, Hermanas Coronado & Juliana

 Por ejemplo (for example)....yesterday we were teaching a new investigator. In the house right in front of us, they were watching MOCKINGJAY. I saw a flash of J-Laws face, went pale, and about died. To resist the temptation (because I could see the TV through the window literally right next to the head of our investigator), I stood next to our investigator across from my companion and turned my back to the window with the TV.

Hermana Dansie from Idaho

The lesson went great. As I was inviting her to pray, I turned a bit to look at her...and right behind her I caught another glimpse of FREAKING PEETA STRANGLING KATNISS! I hurriedly turned my back again and composed myself quickly. But, it didn't matter...woof the spirit was gone.

Luckily the spirit was still with her. She prayed great and no pasa nada (nothing happened). But, it really made me think about all the tiny things that Satan puts in our path to try to distract us.

As missionaries, there is two things that are our downfall. Disanimo (discouragement), and distractions. Mexico is full of the world. Billboards, music in the streets, media, just everything. And it's literally impossible to avoid every single form of worldly media when living in Mexico.  But we can do things to keep us focused, to keep us from getting distracted. It's one thing to live in Mexico... and another to live of Mexico. 

 We (Mama & Papa Hansen) enjoy reading Elder Portlock's blog...they thought it would be funny to get a picture together...since Hermana H's parents are his "blog stalkers".

But, Satan tries to get us with the smallest things. He knows I'm a Hunger Games freak, and tried to get me. Even though the small glimpse of the movie was unintentional, it was enough to drive the spirit away and distract me for a small second. Distract me, as I'm teaching someone how to communicate with God. With their Father in Heaven. This is the LAST THING that He wants. And if we are not careful... not just as missionaries but as people in general, that's how he can get us.

 Hermana Hansen saw her cousin from Idaho at the multi-zone activity

So that's my goal for this week...to be a more consecrated missionary. To completely focus myself in the work, in these children of His that he's entrusted me with. In this world, it's easy to get distracted. But, if we do things to constantly have the spirit with us and guide us, we can conquer Satan.

LES AMO MUCHISIMO.

Hermana Hansen

Letter Love!!

Thanks Petal!

Hermana Juarez's first letter in the mission (Thanks Beckham)

More Photos from Hermana Hansen's Week

 

 La Hermanas de mi generation!

 

 At the Zoo

 So funny story. Right after we took this pic the freaking cat thing swiped me!! You can see it's paw moving in the pic! It was awesome.

Futbol squad... enjoying bolis after playing a hard game on the flaming turf.

 Making our own weights out of sand....because we are poor and fat!

 

Making Potato Chips!!

 Fried Bananas I hope you are all jealous

Hermanas Being Healthy