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

Another 6 Weeks in Central and a Chosen Baptism

He aqui; mis hermanos amados....(Behold, my beloved brethern)

JAJA JK. I'm just so freaking happy right now...sorry not sorry...Because I'm in CENTRAL for at least one more transfer! That means I'm gonna have 6 MONTHS here... woohoo! 

Our area is growing and we are finally starting to see the fruits of our labors. Por ejemplo (for example).... Hermano J. GOT BAPTIZED YESTERDAY!!! A ton of members came, and it was a beautiful service. 

District Elders, Hermano G & J, Hermanas Juarez, Hansen & George 

Hermana George and Pres George met him this weekend. Hermana George even came down for the service and sang Mas Cerca Dios de Ti (Nearer My God to Thee) with us for the musical number! 

Hermana Hansen, Hermanos G & J, Hermana Juarez

Oh and Hermano G. baptized him! It was his first time baptizing someone, and he was so nervous that he messed up...and Hermano J. got baptized 4 times. But, it's all good!

Hermano J. was ESCOGIDO (chosen) I'm telling you. The Lord prepared him so much and we were able to come in at a time in his life right when he needed the gospel most.  It's amazing to be instruments in the hands of God. 

But let me just give you all an example of how golden he is: When we taught him the law of chastity (he's a 22 year old living in Mexico so usually this doesn't go well), he just said, "Wow....que HERMOSO (that's beautiful)." We just like stared at him in shock and were like, "Pues...si. La mas hermoso en el mundo." (Yes, the most beautiful thing in the world)

 

He then pulled out his phone and read us a quote he had found on the internet. It was about love and waiting until you were married..or something..and how beautiful he thought it was. Haha it was so awesome because it just shows how much the Lord prepared him. 

Hmm...what else happened this week? We had an awesome multi zone conference with Elder Valenzuela of the seventy that was amazing.   We also had the opportunity to go the the temple with Elder Nava and Elder Johnson!

I'm telling you the temple session in Spanish is la mas hermosa cosa en el mundo la verdad (the most beautiful thing in the world for reals) If you don't speak Spanish I'm so sorry because it's way better than English!! 

Elders Johnson & Nava with Hermanas Hansen & Juarez in front of Tuxtla Gutierrez Temple

Another miracle of this week: We have a less active member and an investigator living in a union libre (not married)... (like everyone here in Chiapas. Marriage is a very uncommon thing) and we kind of ironed her with the law of chastity lesson but I'm telling you with MUCHO AMOR (lots of love). Because we really care about her and want her to live a better life. 

 
The spirit was so strong, and I know she listened to it because she came to church on Sunday with her boyfriend and talked to the bishop!! They are gonna get married in February and her boyfriend is gonna get baptized after that!! I know it was only through the Holy Ghost that she could feel God's love for her and feel the need to get married. IT'S SO AMAZING TO BE A PART OF THIS MARVELOUS WORK!!!! 

Lunch with Hermanas Hansen & Juarez and Elders Johnson & Nava

Love you all!!! 

Hermana Hansen

More Christmas Miracles and I'm a Mom!

Welp it's official! I'M A SINGLE MOM. 

Welcome to Central Daughter - The Best Area in the World!

What's weird is that my daughter is older than me and we look nothing alike. 

Nah Chiste...

But, my new companion is Hermana Juarez de Michoacan. She is amazing!! She probably doesn't need any training, because she definitely knows more gospel doctrine than me. But she is such a hard worker and I just love her!

She's also really healthy....she only eats like 2 tortillas during comida (meals) and I average.... let's just say a lot. Which is completely un-mexican of her if you ask me, but to each their own. 

My Spanish has improved so much just in this last week because I'm directing all the lessons...and talking with all of our investigators and members because Hermana Juarez doesn't know any of them. 

But really training has given me a lot of confidence in my Spanish. Four months ago, I literally didn't know anything...and now I'm living in Mexico...training a Mexican....and somehow getting by. My Spanish is nowhere near perfect but I really feel more confident now. 

I have a feeling I'm gonna learn a lot from Hermana Juarez! She is so amazing. I'm so happy that she's my companion! 

I miss Hermana Martinez. But, I'm sure she's doing great things in Tapachula. 

Hermana Martinez says goodbye to Mama C and G

So this week A. got baptized!! It was so amazing! His story is another miracle. Hermana Martinez and I found him through an inactive member....who we also found while contacting in la calle (the street). 

We invited him to church... he came... and lo and behold he came A SECOND TIME without us even inviting him! We didn't invite him because he doesn't live in our area, and we were gonna pass the reference on to the missionaries in his area. But, he said he felt something at church, and he really wanted to change his life for the better....so he came back.

 Last District Selfie

  Final Meal with District Hermanas

We got special permission from our zone leaders to teach him, and he didn't miss a week of church. He lives about 45 minutes away. But, he comes to church at 8 AM and comes to all of our activities... even cleaning the church! 

 

Seeing the light in eyes grow has been truly amazing. He went from a lost 19 year old kid to an amazing representative of Christ with such a strong testimony. He is so much happier now and his life has been blessed so much because of the church. I'm so happy to be a part of the start of his journey! 

I love you all and hope you continue to share the gift you have... the gospel with everyone around you especially during this holiday season. 

Cuídense mucho,

Hermana Hansen

Exchanges, a Lost Investigator and a Guera Squashing a Tortilla

Hola Hermosa Familia y Amigos!

Pues another week in Central! And man.... it was crazy! Started off with.... SURPRISE first intercambios (exchanges) with the Sister Training Leaders! I was way nervous for this because I thought I wouldn’t be able to communicate or understand the people without Hermana Martinez. 

 But if there’s one thing I learned durante esta intercambio is that YO PUEDO. I can do it! I was able to contact, understand, and communicate by myself! (Well, with Hermana Trad.)

 It was a great confidence booster and a great learning experience. I still have a long way to go, but I’m getting there. I worked in Teran with Hermana Trad.... and they have a FREAKING WASHING MACHINE. I honestly couldn’t believe it. I nearly cried and hugged it for about 4 minutes. Hermana Trad thought I was crazy. But, I think this crazy scene somehow made her trust me because after this she really started opening up to me.... 

Hermana Trad and Hansen on intercambios

 Most importantly...I also learned more how to trust in the Lord this week. Our miracle, amazing golden investigator, and more than that, a good friend, disappeared this week. Literally disappeared without a trace. She’s from Guatemala, and lives here in Tuxtla working with her two kids.

The District: Front row: Hermanas Salazar and Hansen. Middle: Hermanas Keaton and Martinez. Back: Elders Hernandez & Johnson (from her MTC district!).

She was my contact, so I have a special connection with her. She had been to church 3 times (she came BY HERSELF) and only needed 2 more until baptism. She wanted baptism so bad. She was so ready. She already had been changed by the gospel and wanted so badly to change more.

But, according to the niña we talked to, her mom is really sick. So she left on Friday afternoon to Guatemala.... por siempre (forever). She took all of her stuff. And she recently lost her phone, so we don’t have any way to contact her. She is literally lost to us.

This just broke my heart because she really is so ready. So willing to accept the gospel and I really saw a change in her. It was like losing a best friend! Hermana Martinez and I just stood there in shock and started crying in the street.

But it’s at times like these when I need to be confident that God has a plan for us. He is looking out for her. Somehow, she will find the gospel again in Guatemala. And she will continue on, and I’ll be able to see her in the Celestial Kingdom. I know God has a plan for her, and for some reason we just needed to be a part of that plan for one short month. 

But.... on the bright side we had a lot of fun helping Mami C. in the Dia de los Muertos celebrations! I’m a pro tortilla squasher and so I helped her with that... and it seriously attracted so many customers.

Making tortillas with Mama C..go guera go!

It was hilarious. I was the only white girl there.... nevertheless speaking Spanish and making quesadillas. I’m a true Mexican!!

Manzana.... its like Mexican apple coke and it's the best thing ever!

Love you all!!

Hermana Hansen

 La Guera y Mami C. unite and bring in TONS of customers for the 

Dia de los Muertos celebration!