"Cia" Hansen

This week has been a week of little miracles. While walking along a street, I asked my companions if one of them had contacted any contacts close by because our appointments had fallen through. They found a contact of a woman who lived on the street and when her son answered the door, he said his name is "Nefi Moroni". Bahaha, we found a family of inactive members who gave us their address! We taught them a lesson and quickly found out some of the reasons why they hadn't gone to church. We picked them up Sunday morning and walked to church, where they were welcomed and greeted by our little branch. They attended the baptism that we had on Sunday and her son attended a priesthood meeting, and today the mother is going with us to teach some investigators! I feel so blessed for being put in her path and seeing her come back so quickly to church after so many years. The church really does feel like a home and when they remember that, they want to return back.

Also, Hermana Rosa was baptized on Sunday! Her mother was baptized with her children a couple of weeks ago and now she could finally be baptized, also. That is the 6th member of their family that I have seen  baptized in the last two months! And with G and A this Sunday, it will be a total of 8. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this family. G and A have four children, J D(who has already been baptized) and three more. Their youngest daughter is still learning how to talk because I think she just turned 2. She knows a few words and always calls me, "Cia." I thought she was just confusing me with my old companion, Hermana G and so I continued on helping her learn how to say "Hansen". But then on Sunday, after I made her repeat "Hansen" about ten times, and then when I asked my name, she still said, "Cia." So I asked her mom, G "Why does L J still think my name is G?" And she laughed and said, "She's not calling you 'Cia', she's calling you 'Tia'". (English translation: "Aunt".) It would be impossible not to miss my family when I'm here in Guatemala, but it would be impossible to have a desire to leave my new family here to go back home. We are still super busy preparing for the wedding of G and A on Saturday but everything is falling into place and it should be a beautiful little ceremony, I can't wait!

And for those reading my blog and preparing for a mission. BUY A BACKPACK! I know they are not attractive to be carrying around all day but the Spanish scriptures are bigger than English and your back will kill you if you don't invest in a good backpack. I have bought a total of 4 different "backpacks" from Guatemala but they aren't as sufficient as going to Costco and buying a good one. Also, don't invest a lot of money in clothes. There are "pacas" here and sometimes we buy skirts for about 2 dollars, way cheaper then the DownEast 30 dollar skirts. But do buy a lot of church socks to go under your shoes, and when you tell your mom you thinks you have enough, believe her when she says you don't...bring many, many pairs because they get lost even easier in Guatemala than the states.

We have been teaching a new woman and her three children, and they attended church the first time on Sunday! When we had a "movie night" with the Restoration, and afterwards, she asked, "Where can I buy that DVD?" We are very excited to be in this area and I am loving every day, even when the days are a little tough. I love Guatemala and I love my mission and I love this message and I love the opportunity I have to share it, hasta luego!

Hermana Hansen

Conference, a wedding, and wearing tails of pigs

I'm sorry for not being able to write last week. Our mission was asked to write a story about one of the people that we have taught and the challenges they went through to send to President Eyring. And my story was picked to send to him! I had to put in more specific detail and dates and he will be reading the story of J soon! :)

This week was AMAZING! It's so weird to think about how exactly a year ago, my life changed with the knowledge that I was now able to go on a mission sooner than I had anticipated. This last year has been the best one of my life. G and A had a super rough week and on Saturday, G told us that she no longer wanted to marry A and told me about the problems they were having. I told her, "Before you make that decision, go to general conference in the morning and listen. It might not be the words they use, but you will be able to receive an answer on what the Lord wants for your family." Their family was early Sunday, in the Antigua chapel, 30 minutes away, to hear conference. A was wearing a tie that he had probably saved up money and bought for conference.

When we passed for them in the night, we asked them what they thought about conference and if they had received answers. G paused and said, "I learned this morning that Satan just wants to destroy my family. But there is now nothing that can stop me from returning to my Heavenly Father...with my family...and with A as my husband. I will marry him." And then A said, "After hearing the way that President Monson talked about his wife......I will marry G and I will be baptized." It was my favorite night that I have ever had in my life, thinking that on October 19, they will be married. And on October 19, 2014, they will be able to enter the temple and make an even more important promise to keep their family together forever. Weeks earlier, during Sunday school, we were using the gospel principles book to talk about baptism. I looked down at G's book to see a splattered candle drop on the page talking about the baptismal covenant. I can't imagine when or which night she was reading the book past dark with a candle, but it is safe to imply that she has been ready for baptism for a long time.

On a funny note, G also thinks "pig tails" is the funniest and weirdest way to explain a style of hair. English really is funny in Spanish, but wearing "tails of pigs" as your hair is just weird.

On another note, I love my mission. I love my life. I love Guatemala. I love the people here. And I love my Savior who has allowed me to be here.

Just pictures

Sara did not have enough time to write a  letter today but she did send some pictures. She is loving her mission right now and loves her two new companions.

"helping" hermana Gladys collect lena. THAT WOOD IS SUPER HEAVY. Never offer to help them carry it because it will hurt your neck and back for days. And they will be stronger than you, no matter how old or weak they look

Walking to district meeting this morning. - Antigua -

Pepian Soup

I LOVE MY TWO NEW COMPANIONS!!! They are so willing to work and love the people already and are so patient in learning their Spanish. The first day they arrived, we went to go visit the family of Gladys. We entered the dirt garage where they live and I saw her sitting on the ground with a pot of water in between her legs, and something light brown. I quickly found out what it was when I realized her roosters weren't tied up to a post anymore....she was plucking off the feathers of her dead rooster! I asked why she was doing it and she simply said, "The dog killed them...so now I'm making pepian soup." Haha welcome to Guatemala.

Hermana Maria is still super strong after her baptism, despite the challenges she is having (Sara says she is has family problems and very poor, every time it rains her house falls apart) . But every time I ask how she is doing, she replies, "I am very grateful for my Padre Celestial and this gospel." She really is an example of how a person with nothing economically, can have everything they need through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I don't have much time to write but I know this church is true. Even though I am in a different country, this is feeling more and more like home as the people are feeling more and more like family. Have a good week!

It's TWINS!

So tomorrow is the reunion of transfers (I think she is thinking in spanish and confusing words here - - - she means to say transfer meeting) and....I will be receiving two new missionaries to train! Hermana Ri is leaving the area to finish her training with another missionary and I am staying here (probably for another 3 months to train them for the 12 weeks). The mission is like a mini-life, I asked one of my friends here how her training was, since she was in a threesome. She told me how I really need to focus on loving them individually so they don't compare themselves. I feel like I'm having twins haha.

A funny story of the week: we had a lesson and you know how some people have bear skins as rugs or deer heads on their walls? Well...this guy had a squirrel pinned to his wall...and when I questioned about it, he told me, "Well, this is called a squirrel. They live in woods and have sharp teeth and bushy tails. They are pretty rare because they came from a group of rats that started climbing trees and jumping. Then they got bigger arms and evolutionized to be squirrels. So this is one of those evolutionized rats." I guess they don't see too many squirrels down here because everybody else in the room thought his explanation was very interesting and normal...hmmmm.

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M.H. - Grandma      C.H - grand daughter  M. H. Grandson

We also had three baptisms on Sunday! The grandma of S and J D, (S and JD were baptised several weeks ago) and two of their cousins. The grandma was probably one of the most stubborn people I have ever met but over time, she really changed. She told us, "The church of Jesus Christ should hav

people like Jesus Christ. My church doesn't have people visit others and they don't have very much love. But you guys are here, away from your families to help us. So I'm going to start going to your church because I have a feeling that maybe it is the true church of Jesus Christ." After attending for a few Sundays, she realized that this really is the true church of Christ and she was baptized this Sunday. I love my work here and I love seeing the change that the gospel of Christ brings in people's lives.

We saw this parade for independence day, Sept 15, on the way to the baptism on Sunday. Our church attendance was very, very low because there were parades ALLLLL day.

Mini natural disasters

This week seemed like the week of mini natural disasters! The rain here has been CRAZY and sometimes we have to walk mid-calf through the streets to get to our next appointments. I have never seen it rain so hard in my life, and even though I love rain, I was very happy to hear that the rainy season usually ends in October. There was also an earthquake on Friday, but all is fine. I remember how my parents taught me to run to a door frame, away from things that would fall. But the people here run out of their houses and huddle together in a family hug. It wasn't a very bad earthquake but with the sirens and dogs and people in the streets, it was a little hard for my companion because it reminded her of the earthquakes in Honduras.

This last week has been a little hard but when we had our district meeting this morning, one of the missionaries said the prayer and said something that stuck out to me. She said, "Thank you for all of our blessings and challenges." It was a very good reminder how every challenge is to strengthen us and to prepare us for what is to come. This mission has probably attacked every single weakness I have but I am so grateful for all the blessings I have received, and the lessons I have learned through these dificult times. And at the end of every week, I am so grateful that I have another week to be here. Love you all!

Hermana hansen

tallest when on your knees :)

A special family!!! here is G with her sister, S (the one who was baptized this last week). Here are some of her kids and some of the kids of G

JD was baptized on Sunday! He is the son of G and A, the special family that we have been teaching. His parents need to wait until November to get married and baptized but JD made the decision to be baptized now. Here he is with his cousins and brother

TEMPLE TRIP - happy day!

I love this picture Sara  sent - look at these little faces looking up to Hermana Hansen

We had two baptisms on Sunday! For JD, the son of G and for her sister, S. S has been taking lessons from the missionaries and was considered an “eternal investigator” because she always loves to learn but never keeps commitments…until the past month. She is now very strong in her decisión to follow Christ, as well as her nephew, JD. When I asked him how he felt after his baptism, he said, “The wáter was cold…but I felt really good, like I’m a little kid again.”

Another miracle was when we passed by J's house (the man we baptized) to teach him another principle of the góspel. When we got to his house, I asked him how his lecture was with the Book of Mormon because he always has questions on the chapters he reads during the week. He told us, “I actually haven’t read that much because I’ve been memorizing something…” When I asked what it was, he brought me his Book of Mormon and opened it up to Moroni, chapter 4 and 5; the Sacrament prayers. After days of memorizing these scriptures, we were able to see him kneel down in our humble chapel and say the prayer to bless the sacrament. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so tall as when he was on his knees, with the privilege and authority to bless the sacrament. I truly love being a missionary here. I love this gospel and I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the only medio through which we can truly repent and return with honor.

p.s. My new favorite investigator is the lead singer in a Mariachi band! He attended the church this past Sunday and loved everything about it. His wife passed away and he has had a lot of problems in his life, but he has a lot of faith in Jesus Christ and he has made many changes in his life to change to follow him.

p.s.s. I got a package form the Garry family!!! As well as dearelders from Paige, Cole, Dallin, Catherine, Jared, Grandma and letters from Terri Lamp, Annie, President Hixson and Austin Nathan. Thank you all so much, getting mail is the best here, I feel like I've had many Christmases these last few months