February 23 2014

All:

This week was a blast. So busy. The work is picking up in 3rd ward and it is fantastic. I can't believe how far a little prayer goes. 

So we have really been struggling with getting dinner appointments, which are so important, (FEED THE MISSIONARIES), and this past week we had an appointment every night and things have been on an incline ever since. The ward is more focused especially with this sweet activity the missionaries planned coming up on Saturday.(update on that later). Basically everything is going just great. 

Transfer news came in on Saturday morning and I got word that I will continue to be in 3rd ward. At first I was sad, not because I don't love my area, because I do with my entire heart, but because I wanted to see Malaysia, (selfish reasons), so I am STOKED that Heavenly Father really knew what I needed. I will be getting a new companion, Sister Lenhart, I meet her tomorrow and I am ecstatic, an update on that next week! :) I am sure it will be so great, there is something to love about everyone and I know that companionships are divinely inspired. 

I realized I don't talk much about my area in my weekly e-mails, so here it goes, we are really focusing in on part-member families and less-actives. I am actually really happy about this. The referrals from members are kind of at a standstill right now, and to go out contacting is almost a waste of time. I know that as we focus on the ward and who needs help there, to really strengthen all the members the referrals will flow naturally as they come to love the missionaries.

-Side note, i really challenge all of you to find one person for the missionaries to teach in the next couple of months, I am going to follow up. Do it prayerfully, but I know that Lord places prepared people in the path of members.-

So on Tuesday we were on splits, Sister Zhang was with the woodlands sisters so at 945 we went to pick her up after our appointment on the other side of the island. We were late but definitely in for a surprise when we got there. Haha. She had been bitten by a wild cat! Insane. So we spent the whole night in a sketch, like SUPER sketch clinic, so ridiculous, but it was a lot of fun! That didn't do it justice but the clinc was just creepy. Flickering lights, strange noises, doctors that don't speak english. Sister Zhang survived luckily and we went on our way at about 2 am to get to bed before a jam-packed day! 

There were lots of fun adventures this week and I am truly having the time of my life on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure! 

I love you and I miss you all!

Know that Heavenly Father is watching over you and waiting for you to come to him in prayer. He knows what you've been through and are currently going through, your thoughts, desires, and emotions. Prayer has been the biggest source of comfort for me right now on my mission throusands of miles away from my loved ones. I promise it can help you too! 

Sister Emma Lou Hansen