Missionary Work is Work...No Rest for the Weary

 

I wish I understood the weather here in Tuxtla. One day it's freaking cold.... (well... cold for the Mexicans...not for me) and the next day it's hotter than hades. The good news is I'm used to the humidity. I don't know when it happened, but I think it happened a while ago. I guess one day I stopped swimming through the air and started walking.

Temple visit with other Sisters serving in Tuxtla

Sorry for the weird metaphor, I just really miss swimming. But swimming's about the only thing I miss about my pre-mission life.... that and cheap chocolate. Good chocolate here is expensive. But it's fine cuz I'll trade Pozol for a Snickers bar any day.



CHIAPAS HAS MY HEART. I have no idea why. It's not like the city is especially beautiful or anything... I've heard other parts are beautiful, but I wouldn't know. But, I seriously love it so much I CAN'T EVEN STAND IT.

Needless to say, missionary work isn't all peaches and cream. Along with getting used to the humidity, you also get used to the extremely cool fact that you're living in Mexico. 

Missionary work is missionary work, no matter where you are, what language it's in. And sometimes, your golden family doesn't come to church...which means they can't be a part of our goal for 4 baptisms this transfer. 

The chorus of angels in our missionary Christmas program

And sometimes you walk miles to pick up an investigator for church only for her to say, "No puedo hoy, la verdad. Tenga un buen dia...... Dios bendiga." (I can't today, it's true.  Have a good day.  God bless.)

All the missionary trainers

And sometimes you feel like you're completely inadequate to be training a new companion at 3 months. And sometimes nobody will accept a baptism date, when you are sure they are going to.

But it's important to NEVER lose the animo (excitement). It's lo mas importante ( the most important thing). Like Nephi, in Helaman 10:4-5. We need to work UNWEARINGLY. Because the most important work is happening NOW. It's these people's SALVATION on our hands.

My companion is literally the best.... surprise papaya dish for breakfast. 
She knows how to do way more than my cereal and pancakes.

So no importa a mi (it doesn't matter to me) if you don't want to listen to my message or have Jesus Christ in your life, no importa (doesn't matter) if you're Catholic or Jehovah Witness. I'm coming to your house and I'm going to preach His gospel and baptize you and your four kids. Because families can live together FOREVER.

This Christmas time is not a time of rest. It's a time to work harder to bring my brethren to Christ. So we can all party in the Celestial Kingdom. 

Peace out homefries and FELIZ NAVIDAD (Merry Christmas).

Hermana Hansen

(A few pictures from the Tuxtla Gutierrez 
Missionary Christmas Program/Talent Show)

Traveling to Tuxtla

 Here are some pictures of Hermana Hansen's travels to Tuxtla Gutierrez last Monday.

Hermana Hansen and Elder Hunt got to travel in first class the first leg of the trip
(SLC to Atlanta)!

Hermana Hansen and her favorite MTC companion, Hermana Baker! These two were the only Hermanas traveling to Tuxtla...with bunches and bunches of Elders (I think like 20).

 Hermana Hansen wrote her testimony in a Book of Mormon and gave it to a gentleman she had been visiting with during their trip.

 So grateful these cute Hermanas had each other 
on this long trip to Tuxtla!!

Loading all these amazing missionaries luggage on top of the vans.

They have arrived! First few minutes on Mexican soil. Watch out Tuxtla!  
These Hermanas are coming for you!

 

Bienvenidos!!!!

 First glimpses of life in Tuxtla Gutierrez

Chiapas Unites Us!!

 

Arrival day included a trip to the Tuxtla Gutierrez temple

 

Hermana Hansen with President and Sister George!

  

Transfer time..... (at the mission home?)

 

 Goodbye for now to her fab MTC companion Hermana Baker

HOLA to her new official 'madre' in the mission, Hermana Martinez!

ADIOS USA. HOLA MEXICO... LAST P-DAY IN THE MTC

Funny things this week:

~We discovered the best kept secret at la CCM: NARNIA (AKA the pillow room)! It is a room entirely filled with pillows. Many know about it, but few can find it.

FOR NARNIA!!

~Elder Imlay's catchphrase that has rubbed off on the rest of us: "You could get kicked out for crap like that." (usually following an accidental shoulder touch, singing words to a non-religious song,  dancing, etc)

 ~PAGE 33: Whenever an Hermana talks to an Elder outside of our district or vice versa it's risky business...because our district will start throwing the white bible (Missionary Handbook) at that person (at rapid speed) and scream 'PAGE 33' (the page about flirting).

What is your favorite gym activity at the CCM?

1. Hermana-Futbol! We have a fun group of Hermanas who all play Futbol once a week (since we can't play with the Elders)!

No Hermanas allowed!!!

2. District Kickball!

El Chexidorians!

3. Doing yoga handstands and headstands with Hermana Bunderson while Hermana Baker runs around the field.

(I've also played volleyball, which is fun...but always crowded. Foursquare (which gets super intense), stationary bike, lifting weights...etc. All in those creepy bubbles!)

Wow, where do I begin? I mean I'm freaking leaving FOR MEXICO TOMORROW. It's insane! It's true what they say, the days feel like weeks...but, the weeks feel like days.

 And man! Time has FLOWN by!! I feel like I just got here, and yet I feel like I didn't live a life before the MTC. I feel like I've been dreaming or something. Then I woke up Thursday night. That's when it hit me that I was a missionary.

 Misty Mountains

It was the night of the BYU game and I saw tons of BYU fans walking towards the game. As I heard the game begin, and listened to the sounds of the game...it hit me that all of my college friends were probably there. It didn't upset me.... it just made me realize that life was going on around me. 


And if I wasn't on a mission I would be there with them. It was the weirdest feeling...not a feeling of longing or regret at all. I guess it's only a feeling a missionary would understand.

 Hermanas Baker & Hansen, with their teacher Hermana Toleafoa,  
Hermanas Bunderson & Steel

It's the feeling you get when you realize that life is moving on around you...people you love are experiencing life...experiencing their own lives...while you are experiencing a life dedicated to the Lord.


They are doing normal things peeps my age do... like go to football games. And then it hits you that when you get back, your sister will be getting ready for junior prom...and everyone around you will have lived a life without you for 18 months.

But you don't feel homesick, or sad, or even scared that this is your last week in the country you love and know. The feeling is different., because you realize the life you are living is the opposite of normal.

Hermana Hansen with her BYU buddy Elder Lindstrom

Dedicating 18 months of your life to serve the Lord, preaching the gospel every single day...no breaks...is far from normal. But, you don't feel regret or disappointment. What's weird is you don't even feel like your missing out on something, because you're not.


What you feel weird about, is that everyone else...everyone you love...is missing out on THIS. Being a missionary. You realize how much you have changed in the short six weeks you've been here.

As you serve the Lord every single day, you become more and more the person he wants you to be... at an insanely rapid pace.

And your friends and family back home aren't experiencing this rapid change. This mad rush to learn exactly who you are to God so you can find his children in only 18 months. And you wonder how other people are going about living normal lives...as you experience all of this.

And it's at this moment, as I am about to leave for Mexico, that I realized I am actually a missionary. That I get to do this for 18 months, and the change has only begun. What a blessing it is to find myself as I help others find God! I'm so grateful to be a part of the hastening of this work.

Hermanas Baker & Hansen,with teacher Hermano Ashby, & Hermanas Steele & Bunderson

The temple today was amazing. Not only because they played my favorite video with my old seminary teacher in it. But because I felt the spirit the strongest I've ever felt in the temple before.

It was so special because Hermana Toleafoa and Hermano Ashby came with us. (It took the Hermanas a long time to convince Hermano Ashby to come...but we wouldn't give up on him. He said he can tell we are missionaries because of that. haha) That was so special.

(I also saw my old seminary teacher who I love, Sister Savage, in the same session as me! That was so awesome!)

But, the best part was, as we were sitting in the celestial room, Hermano Ashby invited us to check up with the Lord. To talk to Him about how we did at the MTC, while we were here.

So I did. I prayed to God while I was in the Celestial room...and for the first time in a while...I felt like I was having a conversation with Him. I said, "Heavenly Father, I know my time is up here at the MTC. I feel like I did my best, but I know I could have done better."

I looked up right at this moment to see a huge painting of Christ looking at me. It was huge and magnificent. It's the one of Christ looking at you in all of his glory with open arms.

I felt the Spirit so strong! God was inviting me to come into the arms of His son, Jesus Christ, who knows exactly how I feel. I felt like he was saying, "You did well."

I looked down and prayed some more, and as I looked up at the picture again, I saw it in a different light. He was still inviting me into His loving arms, but He was also inviting me to give even more in Mexico. To do even better. To give over 100%. He was inviting me to do it with Him. I know that with Him, I can do that. 

My experience at the MTC has been nothing short of amazing. I've learned more about my divine potential, learned Spanish (kinda), and made friendships with missionaries, teachers, and investigators that I know will last a lifetime.

I'm so excited to go to Mexico! To think of all the Spanish I've learned (even though it sucks), in only six weeks is incredible. The gift of tongues is so real!! The only thing I wish I could have done better was HSI (habla su idioma=speak your language). I wish I would have worked harder on that.

But honestly, the experiences I have had here have changed my life forever. And I'm so excited to go to Mexico!!! 

I love you all! Thank you for everything.

 Thank you Aunt Jill and Mary!

Con Amor (Ultimo tiempo en el US)

Hermana Hansen