March 16 2014

I will be out 4 months this week. That is insane to me. Time seems to be at a stand still till I really think that I have been here for 1/3 of a year. Crazy.

This week was packed with lessons. We have really been focusing on the less-actives in our ward and it has been a major blessing for us. One of the sisters we meet with in the ward, is just the sweetest person in the entire world, not only that though but she is a stellar missionary. We had 3 appointments with her in the past 2 weeks and every time she brings a new friend, and makes us lunch. 

As many of you know during the mission you get an hour of personal study every morning and I have been devoting my time to really learn who my Heavenly Father is. Who is God to me? It's something I have always kind of struggled with, but never took the time to learn about it. I am still trying to learn more, but as I have focused on that relationship and who he is to me, I have a lot more confidence in who I am and why I am here. This life is seriously rough, sometimes I wonder why we picked to come here and go through what we do, but then I remember who God is. It doesn't seem so crazy to me anymore. 

That has been basically all this week. I have been busy as but it's been great. 

I love you and miss you all,

Sister Hansen

March 9 2014

This week was slow. In the beginning of the week it was frustrating, all the appointments fell through and we just couldn't think of anything to do. Haha then sadly Sister Lenhart got sick. So we were in for a couple days. But during those couple days I had some of the best moments on my mission. I got a lot of free time to study from the scriptures, and can I just say this church is so true, Joseph Smith is the most amazing person ever and a definite prophet of God. I was able to read all of D&C as well as the Pearl of Great Price and especially Joseph Smith History. I am obsessed with the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Obsessed! There is a promise in the beginning of the Book of Mormon that states if you believe in the Book of Mormon you will believe that Jospeh is a Prophet, Jesus Christ is our Savior and basically that all your wildest dreams will come true. THIS IS TRUE. Since I have made scripture study a priority, especially from the Book of Mormon. My testimony is a rock. I teach with the spirit more. I trust in the Lord more. And I know with a doubt in my mind that Christ is my Savior and preformed the Atonement for me. 

I can't stress that enough.

One other thing that happened was McDelivery. It's a horrible thing. And I can't believe we did it. If they ever made McDonalds delivery in the states, Haha I couldn't even imagine. Bad things would happen.

Honestly this week was a really good one. Slow but good. 

I am starting to be sad about how quickly time is flying out here. The days are slow but the weeks are sooo fast.

Love and miss you all,

Sister Lou

March 2 2014

This week was insane everyone!

It was transfers like I said last week and I have never seen so many miracles in my mission!

First I will tell you about my new companion. Her name is Sister Lenhart, and I am obsessed with her. She is a rockstar. She got into Singapore on Tuesday from KL and this week has been a breeze with her. I was so nervous to get a new companion since this is like my area, I am the one who knows the people and knows how to get places. I was a stress ball. I had no reason to be though, she is honestly stellar and this transfer is going to be amazing, I am stoked. 

Haha so I talked about one of my investigators before, his name is Alberto and I love him to death, but he is just a big stress ball...all the time...no matter what. Sister Wynn and I had been struggling to know what to teach him and how to help him out. It was on my mind continuously. So I had talked about him a lot to Sister Lenhart our first couple days together and told her I didn't have a clue what to teach him, and I wasn't even sure if we should continue to teach him. We prayed about it and decided the topic of Faith would be a good one.I mean let's be honest who doesn't need more faith? So we get to his lesson we talk and eat and it's finally time to actually teach him. Well, THE LESSON WAS PERFECT. Everything clicked for him. We read Alma 32 with him, and all the questions he brought up to us before we read from the Book of Mormon were answered while we were reading. It was just crazy and a huge answer to my prayers. Like Sister Lenhart doesn't even know. It's crazy, he's finally progressing, he finally read out loud in front of people from the BOM, and he committed to pray the way we do. Both are GIGANTIC breakthroughs! :) We were on a spiritual high after the lesson. 

This week we had our ward activity, the Mini MTC i told you about. How to train members to be missionaries. Something Filipino's don't really need to much help to do, but it never hurts to give a reminder right? It was so much fun. We had a pretty sweet relay organized by the YSA, and 3 other stations, on about how to reactivate members, one about how to pass out a BOM, and the one done by the missionaries, about recognizing windows of opportunity to share the gospel. After the stations President Mains addressed the members and they were all loving it, and the next day in fast and testimony meeting they all bore their testimonies about the activity. It was awesome and exactly what our goal was! 

Something even more amazing that happened because of the Activity was that I was able to see one of our ward members Sister Erica. We met with her 3 times (once a week) my first 3 weeks in the field, and I grew super attached to her, I really admire and love her. We had a lesson with her Christmas Eve and then she told us she wanted a break from meeting with the missionaries, we hadn't seen her since, she didn't come to church and wouldn't sms us anymore. I was literally heart-broken. On Saturday though I felt like I should specifically invite her to our ward activity, and she replied! She came and she seemed so happy, much more than before. After the activity we had a dinner and I was able to sit down with her and have a one-on-one talk. It was perfect exactly what I needed and her as well. I was able to know why she didn't want to continue meeting with us and what has been going on the past 2 months in her life. Basically it was another prayer answered. By the end of our conversation we were friends again and now she wants us to come and visit her again! I have never been more happy on my mission. It was my favorite conversation of my entire life and one of the happiest moments as well.

As many of you know I wanted to get transferred pretty bad. Not because I didn't love my ward, but for selfish reasons. I was actually praying to go. When I got news that I was staying, I'm not going to lie I was a little disappointed. But this week I realized the Lord really did answer my prayers, but he just answered my unselfish ones which is so much better! I am so stoked for this upcoming transfer and I know it will be an adventure! 

I am so happy and my heart is full this week. I am glad to hear all is well in Arizona and Idaho and with everyone! 

Love you and miss you all,

Sister Hansen

P.S.

don't forget the work would be impossible for missionaries if it wasn't for the members. Pray for people to introduce, feed the missionaries, and please pray for them. Trust me it helps!