Last One Fast One

Well this very well may be my last email home.... because next Monday I'll be in the mission home (I'll be heading down on Sunday night...one day early to register for classes at BYU...WHAT REAL WORLD?!) and then flying home on Thursday. 

I can't believe how fast time has passed. It's been hitting me little by little.... earlier today when we were cleaning the house I shouted, "THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL BE CLEANING A MEXICAN APARTMENT ON A PDAY SO I'D BETTER ENJOY IT." 

There have been a lot of outbursts like that lately....(all in Spanish of course...I'm just translating it for your benefit..haha). 

"THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL BE GOING TO BUY TORTILLAS FOR YOU HERMANA I. SO I'D BETTER ENJOY IT." 

"THIS IS THE LAST TIME YOU WILL BE PROSELYTING ON A SUNDAY WITH US HERMANO J. SO YOU'D BETTER ENJOY IT!" etc etc etc.

CHAFAAAAA. Ni modos. Not sure how I feel yet. Maybe I'll tell you next week.... if I end up writing that is...

Well I have really learned a lot these last few weeks in Teopisca with Hermana Arellano. Every missionary talks about their "trial period" on their mission... maybe a time when they weren't seeing baptisms or other things... but I honestly never felt that on my mission. Yes.... I've had trials. But I was able to see them all with an eternal perspective. I thought that maybe I would just pass my whole mission happily without this lame "trial period" that everyone talks about! 

Well I think God decided to wait until the very end to give me mine... so He could see if I would really stick it out and endure to the end of my mission. Not gonna lie. It's been hard.

Coming to Teopisca I expected to be like BOOM EXPLOSION BAPTIZE AND REACTIVATE EVERYONE. When I came I felt like I knew how to work the system, how to be guided by the Spirit, how to work my butt off... and mas que nada how to baptize. I had baptized every month of my mission until that point. Maybe Hermana Hansen was a little orgulloso okay? 

I honestly thought I knew exactly what to do to be a successful missionary. Until the weeks passed.... and the baptisms didn't come. So we worked harder, we practiced more, prayed more fervently, and fasted more. And there still weren't any baptisms. So we tried new tactics, tried to rely even more on God and the Holy Spirit... and the baptisms that we were sure would happen just kept falling through.

So I thought, "OK...time to be humble. Obviously God is trying to teach me something out of this. I know He will reward us for our efforts. He must just be saving the best for last!"

The best for lasting being.... Hermana M. Poco un poco... all of our investigators have been delaying their baptisms... but Hermana M. has stayed faithful. She has had a real desire and has really repented and made changes in her life. 

FINALLY came the day of her baptism. Saturday. Everything was ready. She passed the baptism interview with flying colors, had been showing faith by reading the Book of Mormon even though she has little education, she had repented.... and her baptismal service was waiting for her an hour away in San Cristobal.

We went to pick her up, and she wasn't there. The door was locked. So we called her, and she screened us. About 3 times. Then she completely blocked us and it went straight to voicemail. Frantically, we start walking towards the graveyard, where apparently she works on a ranch.... trying to find her. On the way, we find some members, who tell us that she's not working at the ranch.

 

So we called our district leader, who had the idea to call her from his phone. He called, she answered. She said that she would make her way back to her house. So we went back and waited .... but she never came. We tried calling again and she screened us. It was really terrible. I guess the feeling we had was just confusion and deception. We just love her so much. We didn't know where she was. We didn't know what to think. Why was she randomly was hiding from us? We had to call the branch president and cancel the baptism. And then we just had to go and work... go invite people to come to Christ... with all of these unanswered questions haunting us. 

Since it was still early, we went to the apartment for a bit, to do the training for my companion. We watched an episode from the District 2, which cheered us up a bit. Then we sucked it up and went to work. We ended up having a successful day, and started a fast for Hermana M. Later that night, we went to visit her. We found her bundled up in bed (because it was FREEZING). When we walked in, she wouldn't even look at us.

 

Actually.. she didn't make eye contact with us the whole visit. So we started normally, we sang a hymn with her and said the opening prayer.... and then we asked what happened with her baptism. She lowered her head even more, and was silent. After a few minutes... she silently started crying. So we sang more hymns and tried to ask her what was wrong. But she just sat there, not looking at us, silently crying for a good 30 minutes. 

After a while and a lot of questions, we finally coaxed it out of her that she had talked with her extended family the day before and they had told her 3 things. 

1. We were crazy

2. She was already baptized and didn't need another one 

3. They would never talk to her again if she was baptized in our church.

We are sure they said more things, but that's all she would tell us. So she was confused, and avoided us to avoid being baptized. We asked her if she still had a desire to be baptized and she told us she did. So we shared some things with her and our testimonies. But when we invited her to be baptized the next week she said she would have to think about it. She said she would come to church, but she didn't come. I think this has been the hardest for me because we love her so much and know it's God's will that she be baptized.She has such a desire to "turn a new page." But, people have their agency. And Satan is a hard worker. 

We have put our faith in the Lord. I know that if we rely completely on the Spirit, there is still hope that she can be baptized this week. It's my last week... time to see the miracles here in Teopisca.....

Jacob 5:71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.

As we say in swimming.... LAST ONE FAST ONE. 

Hermana Hansen

La vida real

No me recuerdo que pasó esta semana... Una semana de... milagros.... escogidos.... ooops I'm typing in Spanish huh? It's a rough life when you don't know English.

Well I'm in Tuxtla (home sweet home) again for super consejo!!! Partyyyy! I'm learning to hate 7-hour bus rides with a passion! But it's all good cuz for the first time since I left Tuxtla...I'm in a cyber zone with fast internet and CLIMA. (a/c)

 Really this week all we did was work, work, and MORE WORK.Our new zone leader is great! He is Elder Lemus. He's the old mission president's secretary and super awesome. It is his last transfer!! 

Zone Leaders, Elder Lemus & De Jesus and Hermanas Hansen and Ortega

Not anything TOO exciting to comment on. We found some adventista youth on their way to church hiding under a combi stop during a super chido rain storm. So we took the opportunity to teach them the restoration!

As we were singing La Oracion del Profeta, the storm took a new hit and suddenly flooded the side walk up to our knees and casi took us away with it (TRISTE SATANAS). But we just kept on singing!!! Haha. All in the day of the life of a missionary in Tapachula :) 

I don't have much to write this week... so I'll copy what I sent to my dear bro and sis and syd :) 

The mission is the best. 

It's the biggest GET OVER YOURSELF MAN moment you will ever have in your life. 

It's harder than anything I've ever done. Not only does it knock you out physically, but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. But I love it.

La vida real: 

The only time I've seen carpet is in the church. There is no AC anywhere... and if there is it's a little cool box thing (we have one in our room #blessed). There are usually no flush toilets. You have to flush it yourself with a bucket of water. We live on the edge of a jungle..... It's normal to live in a house of cement or dirt or wood walls with an alumnimum roof, bathroom outside, without a door.

There is no such thing as an ice machine. If people have ice it's because they froze it in a plastic bag or an old milk carton. They sell milk warm. We hardly ever eat with utensils, it's all in your hands and tortillas. I have eaten every single body part on a cow, pig, and chicken, including stomach, brain, and tongue. 

In Tuxtla, when it rains the sewers overflow. So we get to walk in knee deep sewer water. Some people believe in evil spirits, and they are real. Many people are Catholic and they worship Saints and the Virgin Mary and have altars with images and flowers and loved ones that have passed. 

 Bugs! Bugs! Bugs. Iguanas walk in the street. I see dogs starving in the street all day every day. There are not any rules about loud music or anything here. There are kids at stop lights who for two pesos will wash car windows, perform, throw fire, and sell fruit, walking from car to car. 

Teaching people is a whole different world. You can walk up to someone in the street and ask them for their name, direction, and phone number...and they will give it to you without asking why. You can also sing them a hymn (even if you can't sing). You can say a prayer in the middle of the street and it's no big deal.

 I SWEAT.  All the time. You learn not to care about how you look to other people. I love it. It's really hard for me to pick out the little things that are different from the US, because I'm so used to it. It's normal to me. It's gonna be hard to get used to the States!

I love you! I hope you are doing everything you can to prepare to serve a mish. Thanks for your example! 

SOY CHIAPENECA. CHIAPAS NOS UNE! 

Love you all,

Hermana Hansen

(Hermana Hansen has been unable to upload many of her photos for the past couple of weeks due to a virus on her memory card...this week we received a BONANZA of pictures! Here are a few!)

I'm His servant and I love it

It's been one of those "Like que paso esta semana?" kind of weeks. It's been full of 2 six-hour bus rides, planning meetings, 10 hours of conferences, frappozol, taco parties, selfies, iguanas en la calle, miracles, and much much more....

Like I can't even remember what happened.

We had the super consejo in Tuxtla on Tuesday. This meant Hermana Ortega and I spent all Monday afternoon in our old area, Central (where we were both born) visiting the members!! It was awesome! 

 Hermana I. and Family

We got to see Hermana I. and her family, Mama C., and some others! Everyone was so happy to see us, and they were all amazed at my Spanish (Not that it's amazing now. But since I was born there...I hardly spoke the language when they all knew me). It was super fun :) 

 Mama C and crew!

Tuesday was a game changer, because it was the LAST SUPER CONSEJO DE ELDER BRASS. And it was honestly the best super consejo I've been too. In this consejo, we give a report to the President and the assistants in front of all of the other zone and sister training leaders about our zone, what we improved on and what we need to improve. 

And....just as it turns out, our zone was the Zona Bautizadora and the Zona de Honor, which means we had the most baptisms and did the best overall. As we were giving our report about all we've done with the rescues and everything, the look on Presidentes face was the best! He was just so happy! 

 

Then we presented our plan on what we are going to improve upon...new investigators. We have a goal to have 2000 new investigaros this month. New investigators that are golden and that are going to improve and get baptised. We came up with a plan to do this. It's called SEGUIDME.

We ask the question to everyone, the missionaries, then the members, then the recent converts and less actives, and then the contacts in the street, "Que espera Jesucristo de usted?" It's an inspired question, which causes them to think. We then read with them 2 Nefi 31:10-11. If it's a contact we invite them to baptism in this moment. This plan has been given to us inspired by the Lord to help us find new investigators. 

 Hermana Baker and Hansen reunited as Sister Training Leaders in Tuxtla...

after being companions in the MTC one year ago

But something I've learned during my year as a missionary, is that it is NOT about the numbers. Yes,we strive to have high numbers. Of course, we want to be the best in everything we possibly can. But not for our own achievement or recognition. For HIM. 

Every person we contact, every person we help to baptism, is one of His children. It's a soul. As missionaries we help others reach their full potential through the atonement of Jesus Christ. A soul, a child of God, who then can help countless other children come unto Him. Return to Him. 

We are not doing our Seguidme Inictiative to be proud of what we've done as a zone. Or have the goal of 2000 new investigators for our own glory or achievement. It's because if we really do all this, think about all the souls we can help. That we can save. Our goals are high because salvation is high. And as we are all striving to reach them, as a zone, we become more like Him. Because he was completely focused on others, and he wanted the best for us. That's why He died for us. So if anyone doubts, or asks why we have these goals, remember it's for Him, not for us. 

Ether 12:4  Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety, hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

Love you all. I've got 6 months left to tear Chiapas apart and find every single person who wants to come unto Him. I'm His servant, and I love it.

Hermana Hansen

 Thanks Hayley & family for the package! You saved us from hunger!

Frappozol

Pizza at 8 AM!!