Test of Faith....Missionary Work Isn't Easy

I guess I'll start off this email on a good note and let you know that I broke the word of wisdom for the first time on my mission---with our VERY OWN ZONE LEADERS. What the heck? And it was given to us by a member! I plead the fact that I'm an American and I just drink what the members give me (probably should start being more careful). 

 Our little friend

Tepache is like fermented pineapple or something and although it doesn't have a lot of alcohol.... it apparently has a little bit. TRISTE LIDERES DE ZONA Y HERMANA WHO FED US THE DEVILS FERMENTED PINEAPPLE WATER. Ni modo, (either way) life goes on.

 Hermana Juarez teaches Hma Hansen how to curl her eyelashes with a spoon

This week after we committed an investigator to be baptized, as we were leaving he said, "Hermanas, solo una pregunta.....cuanto cuesta... el bautismo?" (Sisters, one question, how much does it cost to be baptized) JAJAJA! He wanted to know how much it cost! We just blinked at him and burst out laughing because nobody has ever asked us that!! We were laughing so hard we were barely able to gasp out, "GRATIS. GRATIS" (it's free) jejeje

Later as we were in the combi with the same investigator I thought it was time to get out, so I said (to the driver), "En la parada por favor"  (at the next stop please) only for the investigator to tell me that we still had two more stops. So I panicked and yelled,"CHISTE. BROMA". (joking, just kidding)

On another note I officially have less than a year on my mission....I go home the February 1, 2016.What is this?? Yeah enough of that. (Mama Hansen is excitedly marking her calendar!!!!)

So this week was a little difficult because our investigator who was supposed to get baptized on Saturday.... didn't. He's 81, blind in one eye and a miracle! We found him about a month ago outside his house one day and discovered that he was taught by the elders in this area about 2 years ago. He's been to church more than 5 times and was just super golden! So we've been teaching him and he's just the cutest thing ever. Whenever we sing for him he taps his chair to the beat and I literally die. 

Well, every investigator that's gonna get baptized ALWAYS has a faith test. ALWAYS. The week before baptism is when Satan works his hardest...because the last thing he wants is another baptism. Usually we are able to help our investigators pass this prueba de fe (test of faith)...but unfortunately Hermano A.....didn't pass. 

This Saturday, he wasn't feeling well. So we called up Elder Nava and Elder Giles to come give him a blessing. We went to his house at 4... the baptism was at 5. But, excuse after excuse came out. He said that he wanted to wait to get baptized...He wasn't ready...He wasn't feeling well.... 

Then the chick that's taking care of him came in with her niece and they start confusing him and everything. Luckily, here we have 4 servants of the Lord, and we start following the Spirit like there's no tomorrow. 

The spirit was so strong. There is no way they didn't feel it. But they all denied it. And Hermano A. made the decision not to be baptized that day. 

At the end the niece started bashing on us bien feo (very bad)...like saying he didn't know anything and we were obligating him or something (which she's wrong...he is ready....and we are only here to invite...not to obligate). But, ay it was just horrible. So we ended with a closing prayer and invited her to say it. It was horrible as well. Her eyelids were fluttering and she was practically yelling who knows what... a weird form of Padre Nuestro or something. I've honestly never felt so horrible in all my mission.

Afterwards we were... well a little bummed because Hermano A. is so ready, and we had so much faith that he was gonna get baptized! Like is our faith not valid or something?? But something that Elder Nava told me hit me hard, "At times its not our faith that's lacking... it's their faith."

It's true. Hermano A. had his prueba de fe (test of faith) and didn't pass. But I'm not letting this discourage me. We have recommitted him, and he's gonna get baptized this Saturday! He's so ready to follow Christ. Why isn't missionary work easy? Because the salvation of souls isn't easy. 

This work is amazing. And I'm excited to start a new week. Tomorrow could be the second coming, so I'm gonna work my hardest TODAY. 

Con Amor, 

Hermana Hansen

How Not to Budget Your Monthly Mission Money :-)

The life of a poor and unwise missionary.....

I imagine that all missionaries come to a point in their mission when they have literally 4 pesos to their name.... but usually people are wise and learn from their mistake the first time.... well this is my second time casi pesoless (almost moneyless) in the mission. 

Fool me once shame on you... fool me twice... shame on me. QUE PENA (what a shame). Ya, well, I'm not kidding I literally have 4 pesos right now. And we don't get our monthly money until next p-day! This happened one other time with Hermana Martinez.  But, it wasn't really our fault because we ended up having to pay for a new stove. 

This time it was just bad planning... I didn't take into account that as senior companion I have to pay for the light, got an eye infection, and my companion has this addiction where she has to buy a new pen at like every papeleria (stationary store) that we pass.

Also, we were lazy and took a lot of colectivos (buses / taxis). So now we are left moneyless for one week, with no money for combis (that means we will be walking a whole lot more), and only with oatmeal, water, hot sauce and a little bit of knock off nutella. Whatever, it's food We can survive. Triste Hermanas. (Sad Sisters)

But, not to worry, we are pro at casually getting members to feed us. For example, last night we went to the house of a less active. Just as we were about to leave, I asked for water, to which she of course replied yes. 

When she opened the fridge, it reminded her of the all natural mango smoothie she had just made, and asked if we wanted some. So we sat down, started to drink our smoothie. I noticed that we had to be back in our house in 5 minutes. So I said, "Oh look at the time! I didn't realize how late it was! Sorry Hermana, is there any way we could take our smoothies to go?" 

So of course she filled an entire tupperware full of smoothie, decided it was way too dark for us to be out walking alone, and since she just happens to be one of the 4 members in our ward who has a car, drove us to our house. Now we will have delicious mango smoothies for breakfast for 3 days!! Ah, the life of a missionary.

We have been working a lot with our recent convert, Hermano J. And he wants to serve a mission!! It's kind of the coolest thing ever, because he says he's been praying every night about whether he should serve a mission or not. 

So he was in our Principles del Evangelio clase (gospel principles class), and we asked what hymn everyone wanted to sing. He just typed in a random number, 169 or something. The hymn was about missionary work! It's called "Predicad al mundo" o algo asi (or something like that).  (english LDS hymn is "go forth with faith" #263)

He took that to be his answer!! He's now super stoked and wants to prepare to leave in a year! And he just got baptized last week! He is such a great example to me! The gospel really has changed his life.

So this week we had 103 people attend church. THAT'S RIGHT. 103. WE BROKE 100!!!!!!!! I'm the happiest girl in THE WORLD. Hermana Juarez and I also did really well with our numbers... which means we worked UN BUEN (a lot). We had the highest number of lessons we've ever had in a week, and just had a lot of success.

We are convinced its because we made a goal to try to be more obedient. It's not like we're disobedient... it's just little things. Like personal study for 5 min over the scheduled time...not completely following the spirit...leaving our house at 12:05 instead of 12. Little things.

But we've really been making an effort to be EXACTLY OBEDIENT. We are nowhere near perfect, but we are working on it. And I really can see how the Lord is blessing us. Imagine how much the Lord can bless us if we do EXACTLY what he says. 

Faith in action is obedience. I never realized that until I came on my mission. But the truth is every single commandment has a specific blessing that God is OBLIGATED to give us. He has to! It's a promise.

La verdad (the truth), when we keep his commandments we are actually more free than we would be if we don't, because the Lord is on our side. 

I challenge you all to find a commandment that you are struggling with, and work to be exactly obedient to this commandment. I PROMISE THE LORD WILL BLESS YOU UN BUEN (a lot). 

I love you all!!! 

Hermana Hansen

Enjoy more photos from Hermana Hansen's week...

Mama C will keep these cute Hermanas fed!

 

 Hermana Hansen sharing her CTR stickers she brought from the US

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