But How Many Eyes Does She Have?

I freaking love Chiapas!

Mi Zinacantán amiga y yo (There are a bunch of different indigenous people here that live in the mountains, and come to the city to sell all of their stuff. They speak different dialects (she speaks Sotsil). This is the traditional clothing (casi $180)

OK, now to explain the title. 

We found an absolutely magical place in our area that we have never seen before. 

Que miedo (how scary)

We are the only missionaries in our incredibly large area. As it turns out, there are more houses above Colonial Popular that aren't really shown on the map. It's absolutely MAGICAL. It's seriously like a jungle.

 

 

Hermana Martinez says its a lot like Chenalhó (her area before...in the mountains...where the indigenous live.) They speak Sotsil, so yeah, she knows a little of an ancient Mayan dialect. NBD. Sadly, they don't send Americans there because there's a group of indigenous people that like to burn Americans alive. (No, I'm not joking. So you know....better not). But seriously it's nothing like the rest of our area.... city.

We found an absolutely magical part of our area. THIS IS NOT THE CITY.

So one of the little girls there... probably like 3 years old... walks up to us and just stares at me. The conversation went like this:

Niña: Why is her hair like that?

Hermana M: Because she's not from here

Me: Yep! I'm American!

Niña: Oh. But why is her skin like that?

Hermana M: It's different, huh? 

Niña: Yep. And why does she talk weird?

(We both try to contain our laughter to no avail)

Me: Because I speak English

Niña (looking shocked and confused, whispers to my companion): But how many eyes does she have?

Hermana M: Only 2! Like you!

Niña: Not 5?

Me laughing: No! Only two! Where do you see my other 3 eyes?

Niña: Que rara (how strange). Will she let me touch her hair?

(She then proceeded to stroke my hair). 

It was probably the funniest experience of my entire life. 

I had my first round of interviews with President George this week!!!

President & Sister George with Hermana Hansen on day of arrival at temple

Because we live in the city we got to go to the mission house.... which was the best because Mama George fed us chili and ice cream. 

President George seriously is so sweet... and the best ever. The first thing he says to me when I walk in is, "Hermana Hansen. You just look so beautiful and that blouse. Just so beautiful. It just brings out your skin. Wow. You remind me of my daughter. How beautiful!" Haha! 

Then he went on to say how much he loves all of the missionaries and hopes that we all feel at home here. He is the sweetest soul ever!! 

Hermana Hansen & Martinez on the pier in front of the Rio Grijalva

 

Clock tower at Chiapa de Corzo

 My Spanish is getting better! I can understand just about everything now (woohoo gift of tongues). But, speaking is still suuuuper difficult...although a lot better.

I gave a talk in church yesterday with only a post it note of scriptures I was gonna use and talked for like 15 or 20 minutes without notes! My grammar is still horrendos. But a bunch of the members said they could understand me! So that's good!


I'm getting to the point where I forget words in English, but don't know how to say it good in Spanish. So, I guess I'm just languageless.

 Hermanas Martinez & Hansen teaching Chiapan children the proper way to take a selfie.

But seriously I love Spanish. Love Mexico. Love Chiapas.....Love everything. I hope I can stay in central for at least one more transfer because we have quite a few people who are hoping to get baptised in December and I would love to see that.  

 This cross is bigger than the Jesus in Rio, Brazil. So you know, that's pretty legit.

LOVE YOU ALL!

Hermana Hansen

P-Day at Chiapa de Corzo

Hermana Hansen & Martinez recently spent part of their P-Day in Chiapa de Corzo, a historic town east of Tuxtla Gutierrez.  Here are a few photos from their time in the area. 

La Pila Fountain

the most epic photo of all time

Woodwork from Museo de la Laca

The Chiapa Pochota Tree

Santo Domingo Church

¡Miralo, Velo, Vos!

Never in my life did I expect to be serenaded by a Mexican man playing the guitar singing "Kiss Me" (actually in perfect English.... and very beautifully).... especially not on MY FREAKING MISSION. But yeah, that happened.

People in Chiapas are a bit crazy. We are convinced that's why they sent us here. 

Because we fit right in.

I also never thought I'd be discussing the gospel in a run-down bar at one in the afternoon with a slightly drunken Mexican lady bar tender and then leaving a blessing on her and the bar... in Mexico. But, the mission puts you in interesting situations.

English class with Hermana Martinez

I made an amazing discovery this week. The reason why I can understand perfectly some people and hardly understand anything with others is because SOME PEOPLE IN CHIAPAS USE VOSOTROS. VOS. WHAT THEY TOLD ME WAS COMPLETELY USELESS IN THE MTC UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO ARGENTINA OR SPAIN. 

 So Hermana Toleofoa y Hermano Ashby.... GRACIAS POR NADA. Hahahaha!

But, seriously. Chiapas is a lot like South America in many ways. It's so much different than the rest of Mexico (or so they tell me). But, Miralo Velo Vos is a phrase that is totally Chiapaneca because it like describes how these people talk. With horrible grammar, with Vos, and with accents in random places. The accent would be like this.... mirAHHHlo vEEEElo VOS (Haha not sure if that makes sense... but yeah). 

 Zona Mactamazura.... the biggest zone in the mission (the city zone) and also the zone with THE MOST HERMANAS.... AHHHH GIRL POWER

This was a really amazing week in Central. Muchos milagros (many miracles), and for the first time on my mission we completed the estandartes de excelencia (standards of excellence)!!! (Well...dry. Minus bautismo).
 BUT this is very exciting! I honestly feel like I gave it my all this week and enjoyed every minute of it. Missionary work is the most enjoyable when you work the hardest.

One of my favorite milagros this week was with one of our menos activos (less actives). He hasn't been to church in many, many years...and actually gave us a new investigator who is just so awesome. But, onto the milagro. So he has a lip ring. As missionaries we haven't said anything about it because... well agency...and he probably knows it's not right. We figured the best way to handle this was just to pray for him. 

So, we had a lesson with him and his friend this week, and he came without his lip piercing. His face was also so much brighter, and he was smiling a lot more. There really was a change in him! He told us that the other night he was praying, and he felt uncomfortable praying to God with this lip piercing. He felt like he should take it out and not wear it anymore. He also has been sleeping a lot better now that he prays and doesn't have nightmares.

That's praying with REAL INTENT. Padre Celestial told him to do something, and he LISTENED. Really such a blessing and such a miracle. He is so amazing and really working on being a worthy priesthood holder again. I know the church is true!! 

I love rebuilding this ward. The ward members are all so amazing, seriously. But there's so many inactivos y menos activos... it's insane. It's hard to retain our recent converts because the ward needs building up itself. But, that's the thing...missionary work is about bringing TODOS PERSONAS (everyone) a Jesucristo.

yes mom.... that is SHYLOH. SHYLOH'S GONE MEXICAN. SIS GROVER IS IN MY ZONE

Honestly, one of the most exciting moments is when a completely inactive person keeps a commitment and comes to church. We are all God's children, and we all need this gospel. Every day I'm more converted as I see all of these other people more converted.

Love you all!! 

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!