Dear Family and Friends,
It´s been raining here in Diriamba - and that means mud. And also rainbows. Literally and figuratively speaking.
Here are the mud moments:
- Angela didn´t get baptized this week. I probably shouldn´t explain all the details because this is going on the internet. But the good news is that repentance is the second principle of the gospel, and we´ll all be learning a lot about how to apply that in the next two weeks as we continue to prepare for her baptism!
- Two other baptismal candidates for this Saturday no longer want to receive us or keep their commitments.
- I wore out another pair of shoes to the point that they`re no longer wearable.
Here are the rainbows:
- Luis Ivan´s divorce should be completed today! We had some more adventures in the alcaldía (Nicaraguan city hall?) searching dusty books of divorce records and so forth. Now all should be ready for his wedding and baptism this Saturday!
- I was desperately tired one night as we walked home one night and was dreading the thought of washing my other pair of very muddy shoes. We walked into the house and started up the stairs when our landlady says, ¨Your shoes are on the landing. I washed them for you.¨ Oh, I could have kissed that angelic Catholic lady! It was the perfect service. And then she did it again last night!
- We heard that our investigator Mirella was in the hospital, and the hospital is in our area, so we went to see her. Nicaraguan hospitals are such an adventure... we walked around and looked for her, but she had already left. We went to her house while it was raining, and she was obviously touched that we had made the effort to cross the slippery, muddy path to get there and also that we had tried to visit in the hospital. She paid better attention than ever before as we taught another part of the restoration. I definitely felt the Spirit!
- I`ve been working on lesson plans about the five most common doubts of investigators here in Nicaragua (a little booklet our mission gave us at the last multi-zone) and have been learning and applying a lot! I would suggest this exercise to anyone who wants to strengthen their testimony: make a list of doubts that you or someone else might have about the gospel, then center your scripture study around solving those doubts. Lesson plans are the best!!
- I never mentioned this before, but during the entirety of this transfer I`ve been struggling with lingering chikungunya pain in my feet, hands, and knees. It was unbearable in the mornings and got better later in the day. My knees especially were suffering all day long. But this week, the pain has diminished to the point that I almost don´t feel it! A HUGE blessing!
- Did divisions with Hna. Boulton, one of the sister training leaders. Since the STLs are in our district, it makes divisions SO easy - no travel, no sleeping in someone else´s bed! I had fun working with her and taking a break from my own investigator stresses to work in someone else´s area for a day.
- We had some sacred experiences with Angela this week. She has borne her testimony to us and continues to read the Book of Mormon daily. I am learning SO much about the Savior´s Atonement and His perfect love for us. Salvation is not easy, but it´s worth it!
Time is up, but I hope you know that I know the gospel is true. It is meant to be applied, not just studied or heard. Don´t forget to pray, to read, to repent, and to give an accounting to the Lord every night! I promise He will bless you with increased confidence in your testimony. He will help you to change.
I love you!
-Hermana Hansen
Photos:
Celebrating Hna. Tadeo´s 18 months! I promise I`m not actually biting that elder´s head in the funny photo, it just looks like it.
Will you still love me if my legs look like this? :)
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