WEEK 12 – “Lord I Believe”
¡Hola Mi
Increíble Familia y Amigos!
¿Como estan
ustedes? Yo espero bien. Aquì en La Paz, Uruguay mucho sonrisas y amor para nos
mismos. Esta semana ha estuve diferente para nosotros. Translation: How are you all doing? I hope fine.
Here in La Paz , Uruguay
The reason I entitled my email to you all "Lord, I
believe" is because this week I have been focusing on this talk by Jeffrey
R. Holland (given in the 2013 April Conference). "Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief." First he states his
strengths and then his weaknesses. This has been beautiful and rewarding to try
and unwrap this concept in my brain. We first "hold the ground already
won" and then "hold fast to what we already know and stand strong
until additional knowledge comes".
For a while there I felt like I doubted in the Lord. I was
putting my trust in myself, or perhaps accepting it was "too hard",
and just going with yes was hard... I wasn’t sure what I was going to do about
that. Then this week I experinced incredible things within myself as I have
just prayed for help and prayed for faith. Or as Jeffery R. Holland says,
"What was once a tiny seed of belief for me has grown into the tree of
life, so if your faith is a little tested this or any season, I invite you to
lean on mine(!) I know this work is God’s very truth, and I know that only at
our peril would we allow doubt or devils to sway us form its paths. Hope on.
Journey on. Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first
and forever fan the flames of your faith, because all things are possible to
them that believe."
This past week I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the
“Oro Mission Reunion”. It was great to see everyone and great to have the
chance to converse with some (sadly there was no time for all). It was amazing
to actually be able to converse with them. I have two stories about this.
The first was in the ominbus (bus) ride over. It
was 6:00 in the morning (normally we arise at 6:30... lol esta
bien). And in the bus it was loud...there was awful (normal lol to some) music playing.
I had made a choice a few days prior that I was not going to give into the
temptaion of going with that kind of music any more or being drawn into it. I
was done with letting other music come into my head. This was a huge test and I
am glad I made a choice before this event occurred. I sat there with six other
missionaries. I am not sure what they did for the 2 hour bus ride, but by the
end I had gone through every possible thing I had memorized probably through
out all those years of Seminary :P ;) lol.
Such a feeling entered my heart. I felt the deep resonating
power of "We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us, and we
Love him. We will stand as witnesses of [thee] at all times, in all things, in
all places..." I think I may have repeated that one the most. I also felt
strongly the wonderful power behind "we believe in being honest,
true, chaste, benevolent... if there is anything virtuous, lovely,
or of good report or praiseworthy we seek after these things..." or the
part that says "we believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured
many things and hope to be able to endure all things." I felt
like I was a little crazy standing there muttering to myself... lol yet I
believed the Lord could help me if I did my part. I stated firmly in my mind
and somewhat out loud, “Lord, I believe”.
The second experience is when it came time to share
experiences about the mission with other Oros (missionaries). The Lord has
honestly been blessing me. In one of the Articles of Faith it says we believe
in the interpretation of tongues..." and in Doctrine and Covenants 47 (I
think), it states that to some it is given one gift and to some is given
another…and to some it is given the gift of the interpretation of tongues. I
have honestly experienced this kind of gift time and time again. I feel at
times that I have around 95% ability-- THROUGH THE LORD --to understand what is
going on around me.
As my peers speak and bare their testimonies of trials and
hardships, I feel the spirit so strongly and the spirit was felt in Spanish! It
was the coolest thing! By the time it was my turn (second to last) I was filled
with such Love for my companions in the field that I asked the Lord to help me to
please express it. He did. I was able to thank them and to express what experiences
I had had. I testified that one of the greatest blessings here in the mission
is the culture. The people here are ready for the gospel. This gospel changes
lives. I know and I feel so honored to be here and help the Lord with this part
of His vineyard that I am asked to tend for a season.
There is such power that comes from being around the other missionaries.
I love the support and the Love I feel. The quest I have taken on now is, “Do I
edify my companions” and “Do I try my best to live so that they feel my support
and that they know I love them?” There are trials and there are problems, yet I
know the Lord helps us and that if we are obedient and pray for strength the
Lord will help us in the noble work. I know I am meant to be a missionary. The
language comes stronger daily. Thank you for your prayers for your love and for
all that you do. The Lord sees your good works!
This week we were sick. This was not a good experience. But,
all is well now. I watched as we went from being exhausted, disconnected, and had
awful spirit…to being happy, devoted, and cheerful. How did such a change
occur? Well, we were paid a visit by President Armstrong, our mission president.
We each received a blessing and I can tell you that I felt such a power come
over our house, over my companions, and my heart. I know that priesthood power
is real and it changes lives and heals--it changed mine. I hope to always
desire to know what God desires me to know through one who is worthy.
I love you all! I care about you and know all is well!!
May God be with you!
Sincerely,
Hermana Hansen
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