Nos vemos en la selva

I've been dreading writing this letter all day because I just have so much I need to say and so little time and IT'S STRESSFUL! OKAY! I'M PANICKING.

Well goodbye to the city... cuz I'm headed to the jungle. 

Kidding I have no idea how much of a jungle it is...but it's on the border of Guatemala so you never know. I'm headed to Tapachula, Bonanza...my trainers old area...and with my big sister, Hermana Ortega! We are just following in our mother's footsteps haha. It's pretty cool cuz we get to be capacitadores together!! :) Let's just say..... HACE BASTANTE CALOR (it's very hot) and it's rainy season. I'm praying there's a few more mango piñas up there.

My big sister in the mission.. and my new comp!!! Hermana Ortega 

(we didn't even know we were going to be comps when we took the pic!! haha)

So it's kind of weird cuz I wasn't really expecting a change...and I haven't even been saying goodbye to any of our investigators or members. So today should be...interesting. 

I will miss this area. The ward is amazing, and I love the people here. I'm also gonna miss my comp a bunch. It's gonna be hard to say goodbye, but I guess we will see what the Lord has in store for me in Tapachula. 

This is a weird cambio because my mom (Hermana Martinez) goes home this week! That makes me sad and feel old. Also Hermana Hickman and Hermana Humphrey go home....the celebrity bloggers that I read before I came on the mish! So it's like an end of an epoca...and on with the next. Weird. I will miss them! They are all amazing missionaries.

 The best Zone Leaders!

Presidente is also closing a lot of areas because there is only one Elder coming in this transfer. Yep, ONE. And a bunch of Hermanas and Elders leaving. SO HERMANAS GET ON YOUR GAME AND SEND IN YOUR PAPERS SO YOU CAN GET CALLED TO CHIAPAS CUZ WE NEED YOU!!!!! The mission is shrinking pues!! 

So this week was USA's Independence Day and literally the best 4th of July I have ever had...weird because I wasn't even in the US. There weren't any fireworks or BBQ's...but we had two miracle baptisms. Really something we have been working for this whole cambio. Hermana J. and Hermanito P were baptized by their son and brother, Hermano S. 

 Best day of my life!

Hermano S has been a member for about 10 years. He got baptized when he was about 9 and is now preparing for a mission. Countless missionaries have passed through trying to teach his mom, but she never wanted to listen. Actually it seems like all the missionaries were scared of her (we were as well...but we didn't tell her). But poco un poco, she made a HUGE change.

Really it all started when we did service and made mole with her. Remember that story from a few weeks back? Yep, that's Hermana J. Poco un poco she started opening up to us, and we started to see her for who she really is. Instead of the Hermano S's scary mom who didn't want anything to do with the church...we saw her as a brave, strong woman. A single mom who has suffered a lot, but who wants nothing more than a good life for her kids...and to live with them for eternity. 

 

We knew she was really getting converted when she told us, "I don't care what the neighbors think, or who sees me enter that church. If God tells me to get baptized there, you better believe I will do it." 

And so she did. 

Honestly, I think a huge factor was the scary hospital incident last week with my companion. Hermana J. came running to the hospital in tears when she heard what happened. I think the incident really made her think about what is important in life, and that's what helped her make the decision to be baptized. 

  
I love her and her family so much. 

Voy a extrañar mis niños :( 

After 10 years of trying, it just took the right amount of love, service, and patience to get to her heart. I know Hermana Guarcax and I were here exactly for her, for this reason, to be used as instruments in God's hands and finally help her to the water's of baptism. 

Man, it's gonna be hard to leave them.

More than anything what I have learned from this experience is the gospel changes lives. It doesn't matter who you are or what the situation is, the cure for everything is applying the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to our lives.

Farewell Hermana Guarcax and Tuxtla Pimienta

Love you all.

Nos vemos en la selva (see you in the jungle).

Hermana Hansen

 

Last time wearing this dress cuz I gave it to Hermana J for her baptism present

Pizza on intercambios

 Zone conference!

 Called to serve in...Chiauaua!!!

You say coma, I say coma

Well I don't have a lot of super mega spiritual experiences to share this week because most of the week was spent in the mission home. Why, you ask? NBD.... my comp was just recovering from her coma.

Cuídense mucho! 

Love, Hermana Hansen

 

At Zone Conference...Yay! It's Hermana Baker...Hermana Hansen's comp from the MTC! 

OK BROMAS I GUESS I'LL EXPLAIN.

Super long story less long...my comp had a bad headache Wednesday. So, on our way home we decided to stop by Hermano P´s house to see if he had an Ibuprofen to give us. He didn't. But, he said he would order some from the pharmacy...and since my comp wasn't doing very well..we decided to wait. 

She has had headaches like this before, and it's usually due to the tension in her shoulders. So I started giving her a massage, which started to help...but then made the pressure in her head worse. I told her to lie down for a bit while we waited for the medicine to see if the pain would pass (I know, HORRIBLE idea. We should have kept her awake... anyone who has been to any sort of first aid training knows that. DON'T KILL ME LIFEGUARD FRIENDS)

So 9:30 comes around and she's still out. I decide to call our District Leader to tell him what's going on. Midway through the call my comp wakes up, fall of the couch and starts dry heaving. 

I yell, "CALL YOU BACK ELDER" and catch her as she falls. Suddenly she goes limp and stops breathing. 

I yell, "HERMANO P! SHE'S NOT BREATHING YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO TOUCH HER!" 

He then ninja throws her back on the couch and starts giving her compressions in her side (which didn't seem like a good idea to me). But, before I can stop him she starts breathing again and opens her eyes for a bit. 

I start yelling at Hermano P. (what I thought was in Spanish but apparently was in English...good thing he understands a bit of English) "TAKE HER TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW!"

 Hearts are melted as the rabbit casually appears in the middle of our lesson

So, Hermano P. fireman throws her over his shoulder and starts running out the door, calling for a taxi. One of the member neighbors sees us. We tell him we need to get to the hospital, and luckily he has a car so we get in, go a block, and run out of gas. By this time, all of the jóvenes who were playing fútbol at the church have run over. Some staring in shock, some trying to help. 

I yell at one of our members that she isn't breathing again and needs a priesthood blessing now. He panics and gives her a quick blessing along with another member. Miraculously it worked because as soon as the blessing ended she started vomiting again. 

By this time another member with a car had pulled up and a bunch of members awkwardly crowd surf her to the other car. I jump in the car and suddenly it's 'Fast and Furious 7' to the hospital. She stops breathing in the car again and I said a quick prayer and she started vomiting again.

 Mango píña.... only found in Chiapas and Oaxaca. our favorite fruit evs

 

We pull up to the hospital, get her in there...and when I get a chance to look around...I'm just like, "WHERE THE HECK ARE WE?" 

It's super sketchy, looks like the red cross from that tsunami movie. Then I realize that they have taken us not even to a real hospital, but A SKETCHY RED CROSS IN DOWNTOWN TUXTLA.  The doctor and the nurses casually walk over and give her oxygen and an IV, like no big deal. AND I'M JUST LIKE HURRY UP PEOPLE MY COMPANION IS DYING. So then they make everyone leave except me, and things turn from scary to slightly uncomfortable real fast. 

1. Everyone kept asking if we were in prayer...that this happens a lot when we are in fervent prayer in the church or something. Like they thought we were NUNS. 

2. A bunch of members had come and were waiting outside and wanted to see her. But there was only one person allowed, and I denied everyone who wanted to switch me out. NO WAY JOSE. SHE'S MY COMPANION.

3. I somehow lost all my stuff in the confusion. I couldn't call anyone and tell them where we were. Luckily, a member got a hold of the assistants to the President and told them to come over.

4. Apparently nobody knows how to act to the companion who´s companion is in a coma. Like, no one knows what to say. "Como esta su compañera Hermana Hansen?" "Pues quien sabe, está en una coma!" "Bueno pues...como esta usted Hermana Hansen?" "Como piense que estoy, mi compañera esta en una coma!" "Si verdad... como podemos ayudarle?" "PUES OREN." *awkward head nod and half smile* Yeah, it's awkward.

Finally Presidente George showed up with his wife and the asistentes, and they gave her a blessing. When they finished the blessing she smiled, a tear fell, and she shut her eyes (they had been open but non responsive) and she started breathing better. About a half hour later, she woke up. This is a testimony to me that the power of the priesthood and prayer is real. The first time in the car, she started breathing, the second time with my prayer, again she started breathing and vomiting, and the 3rd time with president is when she started to wake up. 

When she woke up, she said, "What? Why did you take me here if I was sleeping peacefully on Hermano P's couch?" 

I laughed and said, "Seriously Hermana? You don't remember anything? You've been in a coma for 3 hours." 

She didn't remember a thing! The only thing she remembered is that someone called her by her full name, and she felt peace, like she had been alone but someone was with her. 

We still don't really know what happened. The doctor said it was a combination of dehydration, stress, and high blood pressure. But after 2 days resting in the mission home she's a lot better! Presidente and his wife left the next day so we had a party with the mission house all to ourselves! (which consisted of listening to the Piano Guys CD, sleeping, and reading Liahonas)

That night Hermana George and I went to buy more medicine and dinner while my comp was sleeping, so we bonded. And the next day when she was taking us back to our area, she said, "Do you mind if we stop by the mall? I need a shopping buddy." Haha and we went shopping with her! 

(The worst part is a left my camera in Hermano P's house in all the confusion, and I don't have evidence of any of this! BUT I PROMISE IT ALL HAPPENED).

But through all of this something amazing happened! This week, after all the coma fun..we went to visit one of our investigators who has all of the asistencias, her sons a member! Hermana J. just needs to get a testimony and be baptized! She actually came to visit us when we were leaving the Red Cross. She was so worried when she heard! So Hermana J. said to us, "Wow, I guess you're willing to almost die so I'll get baptized huh?"

We laughed and said, "But really, Hermana! We would do anything to see you take this path in your life. And yes...we would really be willing to give our lives for this cause. Not because we want to have success on our missions...not because we want another statistic...but because we have this happiness! We love you so much that we want you to have it. We've been baptized, and have eternal families, and we would do anything for you to have the same."

Then her son, Hermano S. was able to bear his testimony. He told his mom how much he wanted to have an eternal family. It was a super spiritual moment. Even Hermana J, who has been closed off from the beginning..was crying. We are going to have a noche de hogar with them today, watch the restauracion video and have her pray and ask God if it's true. Praying that all goes well! I know that with God's help...she will be baptized on Saturday!

Love you all!

Hermana Hansen

A Marvelous Work!

FELIZ DÍA DE PADRE!!

It has been an interesting week to say the least.

First off.... WARNING: THE DOG REPELLER DOESN'T WORK. In fact I think it just makes mad dogs madder. And calls dogs. Because as always, we had an incident with the crazy missionary eating dog, but this time it broke through the barrier. Not so luckily I pulled out my nifty (cough cough SUPER CHAFA) dog repeller just in time..... to call out 2 more dogs that were inside the house.

Our missionary eating dog was constrained by a chain, but the 2 other dogs WERE NOT. And so I officially receive the award as "worst companion ever" or maybe better put... "Triste Gringa". Because I just stood there safely at the top of the stairs frantically pressing the button on the dumb dog repeller as the two smaller but equally as feisty dogs tried to eat my companion. Luckily my companion was wearing boots and was able to somehow avoid the teeth of the wild beastly things... just as one of the kids ran out and calmed them down. She's fine. Just has teeth marks in her boots and a dumb companion as evidence that it all went down. Word to the wise: DON'T TRUST SKETCHY DOG REPELLERS. THEY WONT DO YOU ANY GOOD IN YOUR TIME OF NEED. 

Second, as we were heading back to Tuxtla from intercambios with Chiapa de Corzo, we got caught up in terrible traffic from the triste maestros manifestaciones. Our taxista was like, "Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm heading back to Chiapa." 

We were like, "Uh no way. we have to get to Tuxtla and you said you take us there!" So he ditched us on the side of the freeway, telling us that we would only have to walk like 1 or 2 kilometros to get on the other side of the teacher bloquade. LIES. We walked for like 1 kilometro and we were like okay... we are nowhere close.

 Ditched on the side of the freeway because the maestos had blocked off the way to Tuxtla

So luckily we found a random combi headed to Tuxtla to take us. But with all the traffic, it took us 3 hours to get there!! It was so hot that we ended up giving out pamphlets to all the passengers to fan themselves (mwahaha missionaries in cada momento). Many of them started reading them because they were so bored and asking us questions. So we ended up teaching a lesson about the restoration to everyone in the combi. Woo! 

Now, for the miracles.

We had two baptisms this week!! Hermana P and Hermana R! Both were completely prepared and golden investigators with miraculous stories. I´m more and more amazed by just how much God prepares his children every day.

So, Hermana P. We found her about 3 weeks ago. Our zone leaders had set a goal and made us a promise that every companionship could help 4 people to the waters of baptism this transfer..if we all strived to be consecrated missionaries...and if we exercised all of our faith in the Lord and completely relied on Him. We took their promise to heart, and got to work. We started praying specifically for these miracles. We put our faith into action and dropped all of our investigators that weren't progressing...even though it was hard and we loved them. And, the most important, we strived to be exactly obedient.

 

So we did all of this, and randomly after sacrament meeting the Hermanas de Palmas come up to us super excited, "We have a super escogido reference for you!! She´s been to our ward 3 times but she lives in your area! And she wants to get baptized ASAP!!" And that's how we found Hermana P.

We visited her in her house the first time and immediately knew she was totally prepared. There were trials for her. Her step dad wouldn't allow us to visit her in the house because he doesn't believe in religion.

But, she was determined to learn more, so we ended up teaching her in the house of different members. She progressed so rapidly, she even started coming with us when we were proselyting. She even came to a district meeting with us! She always dressed up in her cute skirts or dresses (all totally modest) and so all the members thought she was a missionary!! They would ask, "Oh! So you´re in a trio now? Where are you from Hermana?" Haha it was super funny!!

Next, Hermana R. Along with all of this other stuff we started doing a BUNCH of service, and trying to gain the Bishop's confidence. I wrote about this story in another email, about how because we gained the bishop's confidence through service he presented her to us.

She also had a super fast and amazing conversion. We had a really powerful moment with her when we invited her to be baptized. The date was for last Monday (because it's the only day her husband doesn't work and she wanted him to be there). She was super scared to be baptized, so we invited her to kneel down with us, right then and there, and ask God what she should do. It was one of the most powerful prayers I have witnessed in my whole mission. So sincere we were all practically crying.

 When we asked her what she felt afterwards, she said, "Well, I honestly don't feel like I should get baptized Monday. I'll get baptized Saturday. Hopefully my husband can get work off." We were so happy! The power of praying in the moment really is amazing. 

The baptismal service was amazing. Both of them were crying almost the whole time. We sang "Daughter of a King". Haha it wasn't very good but the spirit was super strong. 

The next day when they were confirmed, the spirit was equally amazing. Hermana P's confirmation was more like a public patriarchal blessing...haha the Hermano giving it said that she should go on a mission two times! And said that she would be sealed in the temple. It was awesome. I really can see that these investigators have had a true conversion. Just like in Mosiah 5:5 "And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a neverending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God."

I'm not worried about them. These are converts that really will endure to the end, serve missions, and get sealed in the temple. I can feel it. And it's all because God prepared them. 

 Aún mas es que we miraculously were able to complete with the Normas de Excelencia. We tried something out this week that I honestly don't know if I've done my whole mission.... 20 contacts daily. Usually I just think of it as we need 140 contacts every week... it doesn't matter how we get there...even if it's 15 one day and 30 the next. But we really tried to get 20 every day this week.. and we saw miracles. According to Elder Diaz, there's a promise in this mission made by an apostle that if we contact 20 people every day we will have a baptism every week. So we did it. And we had not one baptism, but two, and miraculously 4 investigators in sacrament meeting. 

 

Sunday morning, we stopped by to pick up Mario and his son, only to find that he had gone to run an errand, which meant his son couldn't come either. As we were walking back, we found another investigator who was supposed to come with his two daughters drunk in the street (Seriously....worst part about being a missionary... is seeing the people you love and pray for fall back into addictions and bad habits.... heartbreaking). His friends then cat called at us as we walked past...triste borrachos. 

 
But, Hermana J. came!!!!! POR FIN. Unfortunately, her son was sick and couldn't come. So we walked in with 1 investigator instead of the 6 we had planned on. Luckily, Hermana A. showed up, along with a random joven who doesn't want to listen to us...but likes the church and has friends there so comes pretty frequently. But we still only had 3, and the meta is 4 por lo menos. I honestly had lost hope, like there was no way it could happen, and it really sucked because we had all of the other goals President had set. Then suddenly I look to my right, and there sits Hermana J´s dad!! He had come to church to surprise his son for Fathers Day! QUE GOZO LA VERDAD.

I now know more than ever without a doubt that when we try our hardest, God completes. D&C 82:10 "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." 

I know this promise is real and oh so true. Although we weren't perfect, we tried. We tried to be obedient. We tried to have as much faith as possible, and we contacted 20 people each day. And God completed with His promise.

God is a God of miracles, and I'm loving being a part of this marvelous work.... you should all be jealous you aren't here in Chiapas doing the same!!! ;)

Love,

Hermana Hansen

Delcious fruit!

 Best meal ever!

Full taxi in teacher protesting traffic on intercambios with Chiapa de Corzo... 

craziest elderes in our zone hahahah

 

Vi una Columna de Luz

This week was just full of Mexican adventures... from killing chickens to breaking into our own house... to teaching lessons on a sketchy roof watching the sunset as the druggies smoked weed a few floors down.

Ah, Chiapas. LO AMO.

Yep... I killed a chicken, then ate the chicken...during service for the Bishop's family. Unfortunately, due to nerves and lack of experience, I took like 15 seconds to kill the poor thing. It should only take like 3-5. But although it suffered, I repented by eating it with delicious mole, and promising to chicken souls everywhere that I will be braver next time and kill it fast.

 My chicken..and delicious mole

We also left our keys in our house... twice...which made for a whole lot of awkward adventures. We called Hermanito M., one of the members kids from down the street, and ended up sliding him through the bars in the window (it's a miracle his head fit through). He then retrieved the keys I left on the fridge. This happened Wednesday and Sunday. The first time it was funny, but the second time it was just awkward. NO MORE LEAVING THE KEYS IN THE HOUSE.

Breaking and Entering

I think possibly my favorite part about being a missionary is sharing the first vision. The mission is really the ONLY time that I will be able to share it, in Joseph´s very own words. (well I mean I could after as well....but people might find it kind of weird if randomly VI UNA COLUMNA DE LUZ MAS BRILLANTE QUE EL SOL. Yeah... mejor no.)

Baptism day!

 On intercambios, and with all of my companions, everyone does it differently. It's really beautiful to see how everyone shares it differently. I love it! But...some missionaries just rush through it like a memorized text and it's just like..WHAT NO! DO YOU NOT REALIZE THAT IS IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND SACRED MOMENT IN THIS DISPENSACION THAT WE ARE SHARING?! Ughhhhh seriously stabs my heart every time.

This cute Hermana got her mission call!

One thing that I learned in the MTC that I never have forgotten, is how the investigator should feel when we share the first vision. And man, when we share it like the sacred experience that it was, the spirit is so strong you could take a brick to it and the atmosphere wouldn't break. It's always the most amazing experience. I enjoy every time I get to share it because I know that my time here is short. 

I challenge you all to read the first vision, put yourself in Joseph's shoes, and let your testimony soar.

I love you all. I know this is the Church of Jesus Christ, restored through un joven humble enough to ask God in sincere prayer, and that we can all receive the same testimony through fervent and sincere prayer.

Hermana Hansen

If you've got a minute...watch Origin.. A beautiful message about 

finding truth..thru inspiration and prayer.

En Espanol

Enjoy more pics from Hermana Hansen's week!

 Feliz cumple Hermana Mec!!

Cake and a pizza party! 

Newly shined shoes (6 pesos... no idea why I haven't done that before!)

 Playing Basketball

 

Prepping the chickens for dinner