WEEK 16 -- "BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN MUCH"

WEEK 16 – “Because I Have Been Given Much”

Hello Dearest Family & Friends!

I am so grateful for your letters and photos! LOVE YOU! SO many beautiful smiles and so many awesome moments shared, thank you so much!! It was so great to see my friends photos too!

This week has been very successful. My companion and I are working hard and for the most part we are on the same page. My Spanish grows daily and I feel like we are really connecting with the ward. There are over 700 members here in La Paz, Uruguay, but not all are attending church. Part of our mission this week (and probably for a long time afterwards) will be to reactivate members. We are doing what we can to help them remember their true testimonies of Jesus Christ, to strengthen these testimonies, and to help them see what a difference it makes to attend and partake of the Sacrament and to enjoy the blessings of gospel. 

My companion, Hermana Calderon, is a good teacher and she has many strengths, and we are learning to work out our differences. Lately she has been letting my take the lead in our teachings & lessons! We have finally accepted that we are really quite different people in our personalities, but we can still learn things from one another. 

This scripture came to my mind a lot this week, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:32)

Each day I feel that I understand the vision of this mission more and I understand what I am supposed to be doing. By chance we went to the temple this week with our investigators. The mission President gave a great lesson about the temple and the plan of salvation. It was so wonderful to step onto the temple grounds. I was able to leave the burdens of the world behind, there were no temptations, and I felt whole and eternal. It was a wonderful feeling.

Afterwards I had the opportunity to converse with President Armstrong. We talked about the problems I was having with my companion. He gave me a whole new perspective. I even felt self-centered part way through our discussion and asked for his forgiveness for my short-sided views. Afterwards I talked and shared some things with a wonderful Hermana here in Uruguay, Hermana Marz. She commented to me about me being stronger and that is why I was given someone who needs my strength. That was also a new way of thinking about it and working through it.

Yaninia is progressing!!! Her baptism is this Friday!! She is getting baptized in our “zone wide baptism”. This is where all the missionaries gather with those who are ready for baptism and we all do a service together!! This time we have 18 who are ready! It will be a night to remember. I can hardly wait to see them ALL IN WHITE!!! :D How wonderful! The Lord is in this work!  I love it here in Uruguay!

Sincerely,

Hermana Kaitlyn Hansen

WEEK 15 -- "PRECIOUS SAVIOR, DEAR REDEEMER"

WEEK 15 – “Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer”

Hello Dearest Family & Friends!

Wow what a week!! So much has happened and I hope I can adequately describe the events. Some tears have been shed and hugs exchanged as the announcement was made that our dear Mission President Armstrong will be leaving the mission due to the health of his wife. We found out after I wrote to you last week and now the news has really set in.

At first I was in denial and shock. I didn´t know how to take this, nor how it would affect my mission. My companion began to fuss and talk about how she couldn´t “do” her mission without President Armstrong. He really has worked with her a lot and I know that there are few concerning issues that have come to the surface since I have been her companion, but her actions helped me choose quickly which side I was going to be on with all of this --complaining or understanding. It was still painful to come to terms with the words, "The Lord’s will be done" and I have cried about it, but I know the Lord does things as they need to be done—in His time and in His way. 

The Mission President and his wife mean so much to me. I remember the first time I met them. They greeted us as we got off the plane and their looks of reassurance and welcome hearts to our wonderful mission were exactly what I needed. I knew I would be loved by them and that I could grow in this atmosphere of security and peace. During my first night in Uruguay I was getting ready for bed and had a feeling to go into the living room and there was Hermana Armstrong. I felt like I wanted to be near her.

I listened to what she was saying and the direction she was giving to the other elders for the following day. It was wonderful to just be in her presence. A scripture comes to mind as I look back on that experience, "Did not our hearts burn within us as [she] did sit and talk with us and share scriptures with us?" (Luke 24). I feel so honored to know them and to have experiences with them that I will hold and treasure. Our new Mission President is President Newsome. His trainer in the mission field was President Armstrong!! Cool, eh? They both served in Uruguay, Montevideo Mission. 

Things have really progressed here in La Paz, Uruguay. I am grateful for this. The Lord really helps us and directs us if we live worthy of having the Holy Ghost as our companion. We have one girl who is so ready for baptism and she will be baptized on the 22 of June! Her name is Yaninia (Sh-nine-ah). She is 17 and wow what a great girl she is! Our ward was really accepting of her and I know the Lord lead us to find her. We have also encountered four more potential baptisms by the end of June! May the Lord guide us and help us with these investigators. He “Knows” them—He really knows them! We only know them for but a small moment and we are here to serve them & help them find Him.

We have yet a new companion here with us in our little family of La Paz --lol. Hermana Phillips has yet a new oro to train!! Hermana Spradlin left for the other mission this last week and we have a wonderful new addition to our home, Hermana Hatch. NOW GET THIS—Ha! Ha! I honestly am amazed by this. While I went to school at BYU-Idaho she was my neighbor in Lamprecht Hall during spring semester!! Can you believe what a small world it is?! It is so cool! The more we have talked, the more I have realized how she really is a great person and someone I can see myself being friends with for a long time. 

Today (P-day) we have spent time getting to know one another in casual-awesome way! Karina, you know how we have laughed and got into the horoscope things, well :P haha she is born in January, so “naturally” we are getting along, both being Aquarius’s and all. :) Karina, I don´t know if you were praying for me to find a bosom friend, but I think this girl might be that “gold” I have been hoping for and waiting patiently for. How fun!! I love Hermana Janessa Hatch. We both admitted that the semester we met was not a good time in our lives and that we are grateful to get to know the more experienced and mission selves that we are today!! The Lord is so good to us!! :D I feel so blessed!

I have had a lot of time to ponder this week. We have a lot of investigators that are biblically astute! I have been trying to read the bible every day and to get more familiar with it. Any way, I felt prompted in a charla (lesson) the other day to share about the history of the Bible from the background I have studied. It was wonderful to find words come to my head--words I didn´t think I knew-- and explain how the whole history of the world was involved in preparing the people to receive the Book of Mormon as a companion and another testament of the Bible and Jesus Christ. I went on to explain how the religious world was ready for the Restoration.

This experience more deeply solidified my testimony and I have a greater love and understanding for the saints who lived during the times of the New Testament and for the sacrifice made by my ancestors—and all the pioneers and Joseph Smith. How incredible this gospel is. How great is our purpose. How wonderful the Glory of God is!

Samuel Merrill shared a scripture with me that I would like to share with you. Alma 26:16 "Therefore, let us glory, yea we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his longsuffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." What a beautiful scripture this is.

Kaleb, you said something that I like a lot with your comments about kicking against the pricks—in Acts 9:5 where it mentions this, Saul was learning that his actions were harming himself more than anyone else. When we fight against what is right, we hurt ourselves the most. I too have learned that it is important to heed the promptings of your conscience and as it says in the quote at Mt. Vernon “conscience is a part of heaven to guide us". This is SO TRUE! I love this and thanks for sharing your wisdom little bro!! <3

I love this work. Hopefully the lessons will go well this week! And may God be with you. He is here beside me, my Precious Savior, Dear Redeemer (see Doctrine and Covenants 84:88). Love it!

Sincerely,

Hermana Hansen

WEEK 14 -- "NEARER MY GOD TO THEE"

WEEK 14 – “Nearer My God To Thee”

To my awesome Family and Friends!

You guys are seriously the best! I have felt your prayers and your love in my life so much this week and I hope that I continue to grow in gratitude daily. The power and reality of this gospel is so beautiful and divinely inspiring. I feel honored to be serving full-time and blessed to catch glimpses of the divine in moments when I least expect it. 

This week I feel as if I have grown in a beautiful new way. I feel like the Lord has heard and answered my prayers. 

While studying one morning I was thinking about my companion. She has been experiencing difficulties with her health. I was thinking about how she looks different than her photos of when she first arrived. I was thinking. This caused me to ponder on who I am going to be in the future and what I may look like? Who will I be, or represent, in the photos one year from now?

I am no longer so much like the bright-eyed & naive girl that I was while living in Utah. And actually the person and perspective I have now is preferred over that girl. I am grateful for the changes that have already happened and that will continue to happen. I am grateful for the opportunities that are now at my finger tips—opportunities that were not there when I was living my every day life in Utah. It is reminding me that by serving a mission, and having the opportunity to experience another culture and people, I am becoming more than I could have become if I hadn´t served. 

In a recent conference with the other missionaries, we were asked a question in context with the Plan of Salvation. What is our motive or goal here on this earth? My first thought was to live and do what I need to, to return and live with God. Then I realized that it is more than this. It is to become something so much more than we could have become without this experience. It is a chance to prove ourselves, to rely even more fully upon the Lord. It is an opportunity to become more like our beloved Heavenly Father. We lived in His presence and we knew, and know, that if we desire to progress it is through this mortal life. It is up to each of us to live, to learn, and to become more than we could have ever done alone.

I testify that we are not alone in this mortal journey. I feel the angels and the hand of God guiding our paths, helping me (us).  It is helping us to find those ready for the gospel. We do our part and God has promised to do His. This work is beautiful. It is life changing! I know that I will never be the same because of it. I know that with or without this name tag on my chest that I am a daughter of God, a representative of Jesus Christ, a member of this church, and a true servant of the Lord. I am not perfect. I have flaws. I thank God, my family, and my friends for your love and forgiveness. We are all in this together. We are trying to overcome the adversary together. 

What a beautiful and glorious foundation I have received in my life. I am so grateful to be born into a family where the gospel was fully apart of my life. Where knowledge and talents were fostered and encouraged to be expressed. We learned freely. The countless hours of support, aide, and the many precious family memories are incredibly valuable to me and I find myself more grateful than ever for them while serving on my mission. I am who I am because of this gospel, because of my education, and because of all the things my dearest wonderful family has done for me!

My cup runneth over. There was a moment recently when I felt so much gratitude for my blessings, enough to overwhelm me and make me cry for a few minutes.  I also had a pang of sorrow for my cello this week when a viola soloist entered the chapel this past Sunday. Oh how I miss my cello!! I miss our times together and the timbre of the ringing strings! I miss the vibrations against my chest and the unifying calm of the divine sounds. Thank you Mom and Dad for the opportunity to learn such a incredible instrument!!

God lives and loves us!! May we all draw nearer to our God is my prayer and may God be with you where ever you may be!

Sincerely,

Hermana Hansen

WEEK 13 -- GOD SENT AN ANGEL TO WATCH OVER ME

WEEK 13—“That God Sent an Angel to Watch Over Me”

Dear Dearest Family & Friends!

Honestly I would not have it any other way, you guys inspire and uplift me every week. I feel so honored to know such great people and to feel of your love. Honestly you guys are the greatest!

This week has presented a whole lot of new challenges. We have a new addition to our little house. She is an oro, a new sister missionary, and she was in the MTC for only 4 weeks, but “WOW!” Her spanish is good! This is probably because her mom is a Spanish teacher and she has spoken it for 8 years already. LOL Still, I am amazed at her language skills and have tried not to get down on myself for still not knowing the language very well. She really is such a sweet girl and I see so many similarities in the both of us. At first I was trying to relate in every possible way with her and then I decided to just be my own person and not compare and she then began to try and relate with me in every possible way. This has been interesting. I am trying my best to love her and not compare our different missionary experiences—it is best this way.

This week we had two awesome activities! A fiesta with Kiko and an outdoor service project. The first, the fiesta with Kiko…LOL he is CRAZY! I invite you all to look him up on Youtube. My companion, Herman Calderon, says that Kiko is identical to the original Juan Carlos  and he is a member of the church. He agreed to come and throw a party for us! It was great fun and I was pretty embarrassed when he called on me to be a part of his act. Before I knew it I was puffing my cheeks up and sticking out my tongue… BAHAHA! My companions died laughing. I did too, even though my face was tomato red. But, we gained a lot of references from that party and we had a lot of positive experiences with non-members! Another bonus is that we unified our ward more with this fiesta!

The other service project was helping an elementary school with gravel, some yard work, and taking down trees. Seriously! I helped take down a tree mom! Lol. I loved the hard labor. My body wasn’t use to it, and haha I feel like someone hit my entire body with a baseball bat, but its all a good kind of pain. I really enjoy hard labor, being outside, and serving. My companion dislikes the country side and labor in general. And yes, she has agreed to walk for hours on end in the mission routes we are assigned and yet she really is such a city girl and doesn’t like to get her hands dirty. I have found I am more of a “lets get dirty and get things done” kind of girl. It is nice just to work and give of yourself in service. There are reflective moments for thought and it is stress reliever too because you can concentrate on something other than your normal thoughts. I really enjoyed this experience!

I have been reading the words of Elder Ballard in his book, "Our Search for Happiness". What a great book. It talks a lot about the fundamentals of our gospel and how to see our gospel through new eyes. I have found much to ponder on and powerful person revelation has come through gleaning from the knowledge of his words. I feel such a desire to change and to grow. It has also blessed me with an added desire and urgency to read and apply the scriptures more in my life. 

Time for the little philosophical me... lol I have really been pondering the 6 weeks here in the mission field (and the 13 since I left home). To be honest, I am not really enjoying the "stressed-out, emotional, exhausted" Kaitlyn that has come out to play too many times. The rawness of my “true character” has unfolded in this very challenging environment and there is no hiding my true self here in the mission field. I am an open book and have found the person that I truly am when all is said, tested, and done is a good person, yet I have so many flaws. The rawness of the things I don’t really want to admit, or look at in myself, like perhaps not being as kind as I could be, where my thoughts really focus on, and/or am I selfless or selfish? I am taking a closer look and I feel a bit boiled down—in a raw sate, or as Ustice commented in “The Voyage of the Dawntreader”, with each paw slash from Aslan I began to feel more raw and more real. But the good thing is that the root of the problem is more evident and I know that I can only go up from here.

Mom! I received your package! As I read your words and the thoughtfully picked out card I cannot help but cry. Tears came to my eyes before I finished reading it. Oh, the emotional love and tenderness I have for you, dearest mother! Oh how I LOVE YOU. I had this song that Sis. Broyles had us memorize back when I was 12 that came to my mind after reading your letter & looking through my package, "She stood by my cradle through long sleepless nights. She taught me to live with the Lord by my side...and because of my mother I still believe, that God sent an angel to watch over me". You have been a central part of every part of my life. The place that you have in my heart, my prayers, my life--cannot be described. I love you dearest mother, forever and for always.

May God protect and provide for you all. He is here! I feel him so strongly around me and I know He loves me, even though I am not perfect. I love the hope that comes through understanding and embracing the atonement of Christ.

Good luck on your adventures back east (in DC)!! "Wise men still seek him!" :P lol.  Thank you so much for sharing with me the things that are happening at home. Sounds like great adventures are happening! Please send photos :) in emails!! They are way fun to receive news from home.

I love you all,

Hermana Hansen

WEEK 12 -- LORD I BELIEVE

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 we are getting lot of smiles and we love them. This week was different for us. We have been sick and well. Mom, lets just say I wish I could have called you for advice a few times :P. There were a few emotional problems that occurred yet all is good now. 

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

WEEK 11

WEEK 11

¡Hola mi capo familia y amigos!

¿Comò andan? (How goes it) lol. It was so great to see you all yesterday! I feel so blessed! A part of me thinks it was a dream! I am grateful I got to talk to you yesterday and also grateful to write a few things that have happened…because surprisingly enough, much has changed since I talked to you. 

I am no longer am being trained by Hermana Phillips. She is with a “Corto Plaza” sister which is a girl who comes in and serves a "mission" for “x” amount of time that we need her. She represents the church and she has arrived today! Her name is Hermana Florencia Laurito! What a sweetheart! She seriously looks and acts just like Holly Welch. Honestly I feel so blessed. And well, my new trainer is Hermana Calderòn from Peru.

The Lord has answered many of my prayers! I asked for a new trainer, to understand how to help this one push me harder in the language, or for someone new. The Lord still has allowed me to keep Hermana Phillips close though, yet have a HUGE Spanish push! Yeah! :D I am honestly really happy. I am a little worried about the whole zero English understanding thing, yet I know and have faith the Lord will help me over come this fear! I talked with my district leader about all these new things. He said, "Wow! Hermana Hansen, the Lord is preparing you for something great! There are so many new things you are experiencing in such a short amount of time". I feel a peace inside that he is right.

I had an epiphany the other day about Satan. I think one of the greatest verifications that our church is true is because there is honestly the MOST opposition against our church. The theory is still forming, yet I was thinking about how when the pioneers experienced all the hardship and how Joseph Smith defended the faith with his life. He gave everything. Satan took everything he could, yet still this church is thriving! Still this church grows, changes lives, and proclaims in every aspect the way we follow without ceasing our Savior Jesus Christ. 

There has to be opposition in all things! If there wasn`t, then we could not discern between right and wrong, truth and error. I think there was someone in General Conference that said to acknowledge the darkness, but not to dwell there. I feel such opposition yet, you are right mom, there are so many more people on the right side, and we have the three strong one’s that matter the most on this side--God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. I know and testify that Satan is real, yet "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phillipians 4:13).

This past week...I hope to not ever be the source again of a week like this past week... We did not give it 100% and I am ashamed to report really no success either. I have really learned how companion’s attitudes (including myself) make or break a day. I truly am gaining a testimony about personal attitude and the effects of how stress can really change a companionship. I know that if we are each coming to God, and we choose to set differences aside, the coming weeks are going to as the Uruguayian’s say "Vamos Arriba!" = going up, gaining, growing lol :) 

I am excited for this new companionship and know that it will be a whole new challenge though too. Yet I am ready to apply what these last few weeks have taught me and continue to grow, continue to pray, and continue to walk the path that leads closer to my Savior.

Another challenge right now is just overcoming the effects of yesterday. lol I loved seeing you all yet it was indeed hard. You all seriously looked so wonderful. I loved hearing your laughs, seeing your smiles, crying with your tears. :) May we always remember the love that was shared and God be with you till we meet again!

Love you!

Hermana Hansen

WEEK 10

WEEK 10

Hola Familia y Amigos!!! 

It is honestly so amazing with how fast this week has flown by! I hope that the same feeling will come as this week passes, because as you know NEXT WEEK is Mother´s day!! ¿ Enserio? It is so great to hear from you dearest family and friends. I really do feel your prayers and I pray for your successes daily! Mom WAY TO BE!! I admire your strength with the new cleanse you are on. I tell people often how much I admire and love my family. Sometimes this is how we relate to people we talk to on the street. I find myself talking about my mother-daughter relationship often and I find such strength in the wonderful parents that raised me! Thank you for giving me so many opportunities to grow, to prepare, and to encourage my faith to grow. This has given me strength in order to overcome the obstacles I face! 

Lately new challenges have come into my life and slowly, yet surely, I have found strength in the Lord by turning to Him.  It is not stable yet, but like a mustard seed, I desire for my faith to become a grand tree in the Lord someday. It is amazing and discouraging with how fast hard work can be undone. Like building a tapestry…lots of hours weaving back-n-forth, and yet with one snip of the scissors it can all be gone, ripped, torn, and never the same. It is the same with words. They can be sharp, and if used unwisely can make or break a relationship. This has happened while I have been learning a new language, sure I make mistakes and I attempt to speak what I know, and for the most part conquer the challenges at hand. But I do have an English speaking trainer and that can be difficult too.

Have we become too sloppy and laidback with our language that we have forgotten how to master the main form of communication within ourselves? Do we throw things out just to be saying them? Or do we weigh their individual and intrinsic value and make a difference by the words we choose? I feel that those who master their tongue--the written and spoken-- will find a freedom that I have not yet mastered. However, I have this feeling that if mastered it will bring a great freedom and happiness. May our words reflect the perfect example of Christ as each day we strive to become more like Him. Here is a mental quote I tell myself to help me remember this: J "Who we are--words describe us, actions define us, thoughts create us."

It is never the same day twice here! It gets pretty hard to continually "roll with the punches" and when you finally stop rolling, you find yourself battered and bruised. It is frustrating really. After so much hard work it is difficult to be so physically exhausted, mentally drained, emotionally misunderstood, and spiritually imbalanced. My goal is to figure how to create a balance here in the Mission field.

I have such a new found testimony of Prayer! I know the Lord cares about the one. He calms the raging tempests of our hearts and minds. The condescension of Christ and what He did for us is a testimony to me that He knows me and He cares about my well being. I know that through prayer, an earnest desire, and exercising faith in the Lord, He will help me, he will lift me, and he will encourage me in all my righteous efforts. 

I am so grateful, muchas agradasida, for the help I have been given from Him so far, especially with the challenge of, “Can I really do this?" After asking this I was prompted to read my patriarchal blessing. There was this one sentence that stood out above the rest, it reads (I feel comfortable sharing this J) "I bless you to welcome service in the Kingdom, and not shrink from it". That’s it. I have been shrinking.  Everything is new here. There is nothing similar. I am not really feeling like the same me anymore... but I feel like this is all for the better!! :D

I have found my prayers becoming more sincere and the Lord taking my heart and helping me, probably more than I deserve. SUCH strength comes through the Lord! I know that the Lord will not give me anything that I am not able to overcome without His aid. "If a small sparrow cannot fall without his notice and neither can a great nation rise without his aid", then I know He is aware. I like to think that the great nation could be this great missionary work we are doing. It is rising quickly and we all get to "catch the wave" and rise with the new challenges and embrace the blessings. I know I am meant for something great. The Lord is preparing me. I just need to learn to see things as the Lord sees them!

All my love family!

Hermana Hansen