WEEK 1

Week 1

Hola Mi Familia y Mi Amigos!

It was wonderful to see your wonderful emails in my inbox when I opened it up today. We have been working so hard and I feel the spirit so strongly. To be honest I feel like we have hardly any time to think about you guys. They work us from sun up to sun down. Mis compañeros and I are learning much spanish!! It is incredible the teachers we have. 

Forimanti (yes dad he is from italy!) is really a sweet guy and just got back from his mission 4 months ago. We are his first class. We learn about the gospel and how to teach investegators. Then there is Moronico! Crazy hard core teacher who whips us into shape faster then whipped cream :P lol.

My COMPANIONS! they are amazing girls. I feel so blessed to have them in my life! I love how they are always there for me and how they help and strengthen my life. Hermana West is REALLY strong in spanish and has been helping Hermana Coles and I speak better as time goes on. We have had a total of 4 investegator lessons, literally teaching the gospel to a teacher pretending to be a ligitament investagator. I am so grateful to have these two incredible sisters by my side. 

There are 10 of us Americanos in the Aáron district. We are all so strong in so many ways. I look around at each companionship and I know that they are meant to be there. Each has a strong testimony, excellent comments, and phenominal commitment. We all feel on fire to be here and it is the 8th day! 

The C.C.M is incredible! The mission President is intense and well rounded. He has much knowledge of the scriptures. It is incredible to me how the Lord knows exactly who I need in my life. I have never heard someone pray for me as President Openshaw did for me on the first day here. I feel inspired and each day I grow closer to the Savior and closer to learning spanish. 

The schedule they have here has really helped me! I feel uplifted and inspired. Monday was hard day for me. The language seemed like a huge bolder crushing me...I think i know how atlas feels. Spanish is hard. Yet I know with time i will get it. This past Sunday was fast sunday! As a district we all fasted for the gift of touges. I can tell you the spirit was incredible. Words cannot describe the unity we have and the power in purpose. Our teacher Morinco after the prayer was said starting it had a little tear in his eye. This was unlike him and we know he felt our unity!

Thank you so much for your update from home. Mom there are so many things you wrote! I don´t think i got to all of it. we only have thirty mintues to write you. Kaleb your words were great!! I love it here! I am getting to know so many people!! The Latinas are incredible and they really have come to be my hermanas. 

Please keep your emails breif. you know me, i will feel you in on much! I love you all so much!!

Sincerely, 

Hermana Kaitlyn Hansen

Leaving the Nest! Flying to Uruguay!

Hello Dear Family & Friends!
    Thank you for all your support and for the encouragement you have given me for my mission.  I can't believe that it is here already!  Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 marks the day that I leave the comforts of my family nest at home to go and serve, love, and teach the amazing people of Uruguay!  I love the gospel of Jesus Christ with all my heart.  I am honored and humbled to represent the Savior in serving as a missionary in Uruguay.  I hope to share of His great light and love again and again!  This is it!  Argentina! Uruguay! Here I come!
     Here are some pics from my Open House and at the airport--more pics still to come. I have such an awesome family and amazing friends! You have all done so much for me.  I thank you so very much!

Happy Times! Three days before leaving for Argentina MTC!

Tired Open House Helpers

Crazy Friends at Open House

Awesome Friends at Open House

Kaitlyn & Karina at Airport --6:30 am

Newly set apart Sister Hansen & Pres. Carpenter

Hermana Hansen & Her Mamacita

Be Your Own Kind Of Beautiful

Lately I have been thinking. Life is a journey that is made better through the grace of God, excellent friends and family, and your own personal choice and attitude. The more I grow up, the more I realize that the place you come from doesn't really matter. What matters more is that you know where you are going and to know without a doubt that you are not alone!

I strongly believe that there needs to be more love in this world. That kind of brotherly love, where we take care of one another. I think everyone honestly just needs to feel they are loved. To know they have a friend. To be comfortable, secure, and learn to see the beautiful them that has always been there.

A kind word is never forgotten. In reverse a mean, rude, insensitive, ignorant type words are remembered and soon opinion and judgements are formed on both ends. Should we not speak kindly of one another? How about towards each other? Each of us is beautiful, special, and incredible! Kind words spring from kind thoughts. Lately I have been thinking about what sort of thoughts am I thinking about others? I would like kindness to begin with me.

I think inner beauty is worth more than a handsome face. I truly believe everyone is beautiful.

Like the beauty of discovering a new soul, a new story, a new personality, a new perspective. Perhaps with different or similar passions, dislikes, and experiences as you! I love people. They offer so much with so little effort. I love it when people are just themselves and no one else--yes flaws and all! I am starting to figure out who I am; which I am beginning to realize is a life long process. I am starting to figure out how to shine brightly by just being me, and no one else!

Each one of us is a child of God with infinite potential. Each of us is loved of God and we all need to feel of His love. Our capacity to love is endless. Honestly try it, you will never run out of love. I think it is  a personal choice to let that action become regular and to not be afraid to give of our time and personality. We all need love. We all need to know that we are worth something. To me, you are beautiful, talented, amazing, good, and worthy of love. This is my challenge to Be My Own Kind of BEAUTIFUL!

Dreams

Lately I feel as if my idea of a dream is changing. That there is a lot more to a dream than just "a wish your heart makes" (Cinderella). That it is the idea that you can change. To take a leap of faith, to not just sit stagnate in your life because it make sense. But to grow, to express, to reach. I feel as if my idea of a dream has changed into reaching that complete me. It is like changing from being a caterpillar to a butterfly. It is up to me to make that choice. To choose to get into a "cocoon" of sorts, to not be content with the life you have, but with the life you could have if you left the light of the Lord shine in your life. In  2 Corinthians 4:6 it reads,

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of knowledge of the glory of God int he face of Jesus Christ."

I hope to one day be my "butterfly" self. To face a new way of thinking, of life, of  beauty, and letting my wings take flight. I hope to reach everything that God has in store for me, that he may shine the light through me. I came across this video the other day. I loved it. I have to remind myself that "what we are is more important than what we've been, and what we can become is more important than we are".

Please feel free to watch this video, its kinda long (22:00) so make time, it is inspirational!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98KAEif3bI

Puddles to Peaks

I am so happy. Why? Because I just accomplished my first semester and pass/excelled in all my classes! I am grateful to now know--I can do hard things! College. It is difficult, (no duh) but it is different for every person. We go through different trials and problems. We have different room mates then our neighbors do. We also have a lot of different "why me moments". Like I got super sick with Broncitis and a sinus infection and then got my finger cut open. I was in the Health Care center way too much this last semester.

There is also a feeling of change in my life. I feel great. Like I have so much in front of me. I feel like my next mountain is right in front of me. My dad told me, don't stop and make puddles at the bottom, (he meant crying...). Get on your hiking boots and hike. Work for it! See you at the top sweetie!" I love that. He has been through these mountains. He is now encouraging me on wards and up wards. I see my next mountain. Here. I. Come. =]

The Weaver and Why not's

My friend once said, "Dear Lord, Why me?" She then felt the words, "Why not". Things happen, whether good or bad and we ask why? When it comes to trials and tribulations we ask why yet it is not till after the tempest is done raging that we look back and realize just how far we have come. Through the Lords hands "nothing is impossible".

Growing up my mother allowed us to expand our active minds on things that were most edifying. They create so much of who I am. She presented us with a poem that I know I shall always remember. It is entitled, "The Weaver" by Benjamin Malachi Franklin. It reads:

My life is but a weaving between my Lord and Me,
I cannot see the colors he worketh steadily
Oft times he weaveth sorrow and I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper, and I the under-side.

Not till the looms are silent and the shuttles cease to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.
His dark threads are as needful in the Weavers skillful hands
As His threads of golds and silver in the patter He has planned.

He knows what we are going through and lately I have found the need to praise His name through it all. For it is His merciful hand that sustains me in this mortal journey.

I have a new dream. To look at people the way the Lord of Heaven and Earth does. I have a desire to be an example and say "Thy will O' Lord be done".

Free to Be Me

Today was one of the best days. Even though I was running all over campus and not really having any time to rest or think about anything else but the task at hand. Yet the whole day I felt like me! I truly feel like because I focused on the right things Heavenly Father blessed me this day. It was a beautiful bright day, the sun was warming and the wind less violent, and I truly felt confident as I went about my day. Not only that but I pushed my "loosen up button" (as my mom calls it) and enjoyed giggling and being structurally random (if there is such a thing). Today was an all around good day.

A smile from up above :) carried me through the day!
It was not challenge to sing, dance, and pray.
I am me, it is who God wants me to be.
Open all your doors,
who knows what way God will take you.
Perhaps over a rainbow or through purple moors.
Yet I have found this day,
that my trust in God will remain and stay.

Poetry on the spot, it is within my thoughts :) I do hope a day may come your way, in which you can sing, dance, and pray! Let yourself be you! For if you aren't, then who will be?