Killing Rats, a Baptism & Conference is like Christmas for Missionaries!

I'm really sorry if this email has no structure....I have so many thoughts and miracles and only have ten minutes to share it all..so here it goes.....

First off a funny story...

We were eating in one of our favorite (and most humble) members house, when suddenly we see this HUGE rat (like a foot long...no joke) trying to sneak some food out of the garbage. I just go wide eyed. 

The cute member looks at me, and says, "Es la rata, verdad? (it's a rat, right?)" 

 

I nod my head slowly. Before I know it, this tiny, cute lady pulls out a giant butcher knife from the cardboard wall behind her...and ninja chucks it at the rat. Unfortunately, she missed, but it was the funniest, scariest, most unexpected thing on my mission!!! She just casually pulled a huge knife out of the wall!!!

Hahaha we were laughing so hard and she said, "Ayyy hermanas lo siento! Es que yo tengo mucho miedo de ratas y solo quiere matar ella!!" Jajajajaja  (Ay sorry sisters!  It's just that I'm afraid of rats and I only want to murder them!!)

So many miracles this week.... Hermana L. got baptised!! Not with us, but in the Barrio Juarez, in the same Zone I used to be in. So what happened is Hermana L. is dating Hermano A., a guy in our ward. They are getting married in August, and want to get sealed next year. We have taught her all the lessons. Even though she doesn't live in our area, we got special permission from the zone leaders to baptize her... because they are getting married soon and she will just be coming to our ward anyway. 

But in Ward Council, the Sunday before her baptism, Bishop said she needed to be baptized in the ward where she lived. Since we already got permission from the zone leaders, I just wanted to disgregard what the bishop said and baptize her anyways.

 But Hermana Yorgason was determined to respect our priesthood authorities... and so while we were on intercambios a few weeks ago she had "the talk" with Hermana L. and told her that she needed to get baptized in her own ward. 

When I came back, I found out... and ayyyy I was so mad!!! I was like....Seriously?? We are the ones who have been teaching her....how can we just give a baptism away??? I prayed a lot, and tried to understand that this is God's will, not mine. But I was still a little uneasy about it. 

Then, we received word that Hermana L. no longer wanted to get baptized, and wasn't going to church in her own ward. I was even more upset. So we called her, and set up an appointment with her the following week. We came to the appointment, determined to teach her obedience and try to convince her to listen to the missionaries in Juarez. 

Well come to find out... it was all a ruse and a big suprise! She really had been meeting with the other Elders and going to church, and she had gotten baptized that day!!!!! She was a little upset at first, but she was determined to get baptized. So she didn't let a little hurt feelings stop her. It was all just a trick so us AND her boyfriend would be surprised!! 

I know that it was the right thing to do to pass the reference, respect our bishop, and have her get baptized in her own ward. We were also able to provide a miracle baptism for the Elders of Juarez (imagine...getting an investigator who has been to church 5 times and ready to be baptized placed in your path!). 

I now have an even stronger testimony that this really is God's work, not mine. I'm so grateful that God is watching out for us, and always humbling us and preparing our investigators. It really was a miracle!

Another Easter miracle....(or Conference miracle)...

We were walking to the church Sunday morning, when this random lady stopped us in the street. She asked, "Y de donde es ustedes guapas chicas?"  (where are you beautiful girls from?)

Jaja we said, "Estados unidos! Somos misionaras de esta iglesia en frente!!"  (United States, we are missionaries of this church right here in front of you)

She says, "Yes! I remember you, Hansen, you talked to me in a combi once! In fact, I was reading my bible in a park the other day, when a Mormon came up to me, asked me if I was looking for God, and invited me to General Conference. I was just on my way there! I'm looking for God in my life, can you guys help me?" 

We just stood there shocked. Turns out a super awesome lady in a ward just hangs out in the park all day and contacts people and invites them to church. (Talk about being a member missionary!) She had been praying that she would find someone prepared, who needed the gospel... and she found esta M. 

So, Hermana M came to General Conference, she loved it, and we invited her to be baptized. She said, "Yes, that's exactly what I'm looking for!" 

GENERAL CONFERENCE BRINGS MIRACLES. Christ was resurrected and atoned for us so miracles like this can happen.  Through His atoning sacrifice, people who are suffering can find peace. 

Conference was awesome. I watched Saturday's sessions in Spanish and Sunday's in English. Both days were amazing. Conference is like Christmas for missionaries. 

 

While watching confernece, Hermana Hansen saw our neighbor singing in the choir

LOVE YOU ALL!

Hermana Hansen

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

Kidney stones, Miracles and a Baptism!

 District Selfie

Take this as you will... but I found out this morning I do indeed have a kidney stone (which would explain the random pain I've been having in my back and abdomen). The worst was last night when I didn't know what was going on.  But, don't worry (mom)! Bishop came over at 3:30 am and brought his doctor bro...determined it was a kidney stone, bought me medicine at 4 am, and gave me a blessing. The worst of it has passed (according to the ultrasound guy). Now I just need to drink a lot of water and should be passing it today. Should be a party. PIEDRA FIESTA!

Hermanas Hansen and Yorgason with Hermana G 

We watched the General Women's Conference (in Espanol) on Saturday!! I could actually understand everything this time around which makes me SUPER excited for General Conference!! The best part was the random music video "The Family is of God" at the begining (which was totally creepily tender and I loved every minute of it). But it would have been better in Spanish.

Intercambios this week with Hermana Cavallo de Dominican Republic. She's even sassier than me, so we had a good time. Working with her I really am even more grateful for the life I have lived, the family and situation I grew up in. It also makes me so grateful for America (GO USA) and so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission. I have never seen anyone love the mission more than Hermana Cavallo. She truly is an inspiration!!!

My first time eating elote and I've been in Mexico for 8 months.... am I even Mexican??

So.... milagros, milagros (miracle, miracle)...

Hermano C. GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!!! He was like the last person you would expect to be escogido (chosen)...but he totally was. It just goes to show you never know who is ready to accept the gospel in their life. His conversion story is absolutely hermoso (beautiful). We assigned him to read Alma 36... which he ended up reading 3 times because it was an answer to his prayers.

 
He told us, "When I was younger, I would go around making fun of people who believed in God, and telling them not to believe in Him. I've felt super guilty ever since I accepted God in my life and started praying, feeling like He could never forgive me for what I did. It's been tormenting me all these years."

 Hermano C and Hermano J

"But then I learned about the Atonement, and I read Alma the Youngers story. When I read that chapter I felt a peace come over me, and I knew that I could repent. God had forgiven me, and I finally felt this burden lifted off my shoulders. If only one chapter in the Book of Mormon can make me feel this way... then this church is true. The Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. The atonement is real." 

'Nuff said. Hermano C. is the best. This church is true. There's no doubt about it. It's changing lives here in Pimienta and all over the world.

Elder Wixom (district leader), Elder Luna, Yo, Hermana Yorgason, Hermana Luis, y Hermana Cavallo

Love,
Hermana Hansen

Enjoy more photos from Hermana Hansen's week!

 Mom...Hermana Cavallo is modeling a bag.....that I need...for my birthday...because my bag totally sucks and I have back problems because of it..... (awesome that I wasted 100 dollars right??) She bought hers in Dominican Rep... for the equivalent of 18 dollars...It's the best thing in the world! Apparently they also sell them in the Mexico City Temple.... maybe you can look online and order me one? I really need it my back is killing me haha. and thats all I want for my birthday. :) LOVE YOU! (Hey readers of Hermana H's blog...has anyone seen a bag similar to this..or is anyone going to the Domincan Republic or Mexico City Temple anytime soon..haha)? Let Mama Hansen know! Sounds like Jordyn needs a new bag!)

 Onion...what????

The Lord's First Baptism During My Service!

Woohoo!!! First baptism!! Hermana I. has helped me feel so at home here. It's been a long process to help her accept the gospel (mostly the doing of Hermana Martinez and her missionary comp before me).  But watching her change of heart has been amazing.  I can testify that baptism really does change people.
 

 I love this!! (By the way, after this picture...I put my hair back up.. because the amount of cat calls I get triples when my hair is down. Plus, it's freaking hot.)
   
What is your typical daily schedule?



6:30am - wake up, exercise

7:00 -  get ready, eat 

8:00 -  personal study

9:00 -  comp study

10:00 -   language study

11:00 -   training

Noon - 2:00 pm - proselyte

2-3:00 -  eat with member

3-9:00 or 9:30 -  proselyte 

9:30 -10ish - plan

10ish - eat

10:30pm - sleep

What was your first Sunday in Tuxtla like?  How many members attend church?

About 60 members attend church....but nobody is on time.  We always are the first ones there.   The first Sunday only one new investigator came to church and 3 older ones.  But, the next Sunday we had 7 investigators at church!!   Also, I gave a talk.... in Spanish.... haha....about repentance!   It was scary but a ton of members came up to me and said my Spanish was very clear and very good.  But probably only because Hermana Martinez edited it for me..... hahahaha.   But yeah it was good!  We also teach a gospel doctrine class which is fun.

Have you had to use your Pet Parade Dog Repeller to fend off any stray dogs?

I haven't been carrying it with me but I probably should because the other day we had two perros (dogs) follow us for awhile... but yeah there are literally hundreds of dogs in the calle (street) but they are friendly unless you have food.  It's actually really sad.... Sav would cry (Hermana Hansen's sister) - lol.    

How are you feeling physically (adjusting to the food, headaches, shin splints, etc)?
 

Physically adjusting to the food I've been fine. Guess it was all that sushi, Indian and Thai food during college ha ha (thanks Tiff, Alicia and Andy!)  But once I drank some bad water (it was supposedly filtered... but no way) and yeah I was super sick for a week.  But, I was still able to work so that was good.  

I get headaches a lot I think because of the heat...but I drink a lot of water from a creepy filter that works fabulously that the MTC gave me so that's rad.  

I've only had to stay in one day and it's because when I woke up I couldn't move the upper left half of my body. No joke. It was all tense. I was able to finally move my arm but not my neck or head. It was just all tense. I think it's a combination from the stress from my bag and my tendonitis (Jordyn battled shoulder tendonitis during her swimming days).  So we called the doctor and my comp now has to give me massages with this creepy gel every night! hahahahaha.   

But yeah it was kind of horrible because I couldn't move -  but on the bright side I got to watch 17 miracles (and see Savanna Lewis die... which I sobbed during) and study the scriptures all day.  (Savanna is our neighbor who played a character in the movie)   My neck still hurts and I don't have full range of motion. But, I know what to do for it because of all my tendonitis probs and PT training so it's all good. But yeah, I'm glad my bag turns into a backpack!  

Did you get to watch General Conference? 

Yeah conference was fab! I got to watch the first session in Spanish....but didn't understand hardly anything. But, I got to watch the rest with English subtitles.