Week 51: Good things come in twos!‏

BUENAS!

Wow, is it Monday already?   Here are the good things that are happening in my life!

-Marlon and Konny both got baptized!  Ah, it has been such a joy to see Marlon progress.  He stopped drinking, he feels happy, he goes to church faithfully on his own.  Konny was a miracle: she got baptized several years ago in Mexico but never was confirmed.  Now that she´s trying to get employment help from the church, she couldn´t find a membership record number and had to be re-baptized.  So they both got baptized on Saturday!

-Norma and Julio!  They´re our baptismal candidates for this week.  Norma needs to get married to Alberto, but we´re going to take care of that on Saturday before the baptism.  She made us dinner on Tuesday, woohoo!!!  And Julio!  He is about 50 years old and rather serious.  He sews for a living and uses one of those old metal machines with the foot pedal that goes back and forth.  Actually, there are a ton of those here.  Anyway, he has stopped smoking by substituting candy instead.  He reads his assignments!  And he prays for the attendance at church to be higher (you and me both, buddy!).

-Julisa and Braulio!  Julisa is 12 and Braulio is 10 (I think.)  They love us, and we always teach them with their homebound grandparents and their Catholic mother present.  The good news is that their mom has already given permission for them to be baptized.  They read all their pamphlets and are working on giving up coffee.

And the best news for last... We have a new mission leader!  And guess who it is?  MARIO!!!  Mario the miracle is now Mario the mission leader!  (Actually, his name is Alejandro, but he´s always been Mario to me.  Hermano Rocha, to be more correct.)  He officially has three months since his baptism and is still the most faithful, energetic, converted member I know.  Oh, I could write an entire email about that man.  He was at the church when Marlon arrived for his baptism, and when he heard that he was getting baptized that day, he breaks out in this huge grin, gives him a bear hug, puts his arm around his shoulder and walks him into the church.  ¨You´re making the best decision of your life!¨  With his help, we´re going to reactivate and baptize all of Pancasan!

Not sure what else to write... I got some type of throat infection that started on Friday and made swallowing super painful all day on Saturday, but it seems to be going away now.  Don´t worry, Mom!  ;)

Time is up!   I love you lots!  Thanks for your love, letters, advice, prayers, everything!

-Hermana Hansen

 -me with Cesar, Alison, and Diana before church

-the district at Ajua

Week 50: There is always hope!‏

Dear loved ones and liked ones,

This week was the long-awaited transfers week, and... I`m still in Pancasan 3!  Woohoo, Granada! Round 4, with the powerful companionship of Quezada and Hansen ``echando fuego`` as the missionaries always say.

Okay, I`m not going to lie, I was a little surprised and disappointed with the news.  I mean, I love Hermana Quezada, but I am in a bit of a rut with the area.  Obviously, I didn`t have changes BECAUSE I was hoping to have changes, so there`s a lot more I need to learn and more that I can give in this little part of the world!  Hna. Quezada and I decided that since there weren`t changes from the outside, we`re going to be making a lot of changes on the inside to make this the BEST change we`ve ever had!  And it`s already looking great, since we met our goal of more lessons with a member present and some miracles of this week!

-Miracle: On Sunday, we passed by for two different 12-year-old girls that we had contacted during the week who had said they would come to church.  Well, everyone tells us that they`re going to come to church, and most of them are lying.  :)  But when we knocked on Julisa`s door, she was ready and waiting for us.  Then we called Amy, and she said she would come meet us at the street.  We walked to church calmly with both of them, chatting happily, and they became best friends.  Then Julisa says, ``I was telling my grandma that I want to get baptized in the Mormon church.``  We`re like, ``Oh, that`s cool.  Do you want to get baptized on June 13th?``  Yep.  Amy wants to get baptized too.  And we got to church early, and President Russell was there, and it was just a happy moment all around.

-Miracle: Marlon (age 38) has come to church for the past eight weeks consecutively, but he couldn`t get baptized because he didn`t want to stop drinking.  Then he had a bike accident and nearly bit his tongue off, which made him unable to drink alcohol.  (Pretty sure I already told you this part of the story.)  Anyway, he was still hesitant to accept a baptismal date because he was baptized Catholic and is afraid that God will punish him if he`s baptized again.  We finally got him to commit, and he was progressing well toward the 30th of May, reading the Book of Mormon a little bit and coming to the ``Family Week`` activities in the ward.  Then one of the AP`s came to interview him and try to move his baptismal date up (I never understand why they like to do that, pero bueno...).  He got all freaked out and didn`t want to get baptized.  He came to church on Sunday and told us that he had met with his part of the deal, but he never wanted to get baptized so we couldn`t visit him anymore.  THEN our wonderful branch president started talking with him on the church steps (tender mercy: he couldn`t escape and go home because it was raining) and helped him to calm his fears.  Other wonderful members also talked with him for a little bit.  So then he comes to talk to us and asks all sheepishly, ``So, do you think, maybe, we could keep going?  If it`s okay with you, I want to get baptized on the 23rd (that`s this Saturday!!).``

Wow, I`m super out of time, but I know that God directs this work.  Sometimes He allows us to be tested to our very limits, but it is for our good.  

Ah, super quick:  1) I`ve had a few moments this week where I see things with my ``charity eyes`` as I have decided to call it.  It happens when I start to let the stress melt away and focus on the people instead of the numbers.  It`s easier to contact and talk to people and I feel more love and patience.  The weird thing is that I honestly feel that my vision changes, that it becomes more clear... I hope you don`t think I`m crazy, but I think that`s just what it feels like when Heavenly Father allows me to feel His love for his children for just a moment.

Read Alma 17-25 (Ammon and his brothers` missions) and notice how the Lord brings about His work.  There are SO many phases that I hadn`t realized before... member missionaries, references, former investigators... ah, the scriptures are so great!

SO much that I cannot even tell you all of it.  KNOW that I am happy (and happier than before) and that you have been answers to my prayers.  I feel your prayers!  I love you!

-Hermana Hansen

Sorry, I`m the worst and will not send pictures AGAIN.  Next week, pinky promise!

Week 49: Press Forward, Saints!‏

Here is last week`s email that didn`t send because of the attachment and the other district coming in to write.  So hooray!  Today you get a double email!

Dearest everyone,

I have NO time, but it`s okay because I talked to the most wonderful family in the world yesterday and you already know the big things!  Sorry to everyone else if you really wanted a weekly update. :)

Sorry for getting all trunky when we talked.  I`m usually in a better mood about everything, but Sundays are the hardest days.  We have two sacrament meetings to bring investigators to, which means about 3 hours in the sun listening to excuses of why people can`t come.  Just send me happy thoughts on Sundays, okay? :)

I was pondering this morning about weaknesses and imperfections.  I was all self-conscious about what I had said and how it may have been interpreted, so therefore... the pondering.  So here are my thoughts:

We`re all pretty imperfect people.  That`s a fact.  So what do we do about it?  Accept the fact and slide into a self-satisfied complacency, not doing anything to change and living far beneath our potential?  Or do we obsess over our imperfections and kill ourselves trying to fix them, becoming miserable and self-critical in the process?  The answer to me came in the form of a hymn: Press forward, saints, with steadfast faith in Christ.  With hope`s bright faith alight in heart and mind.  With love of God and love of all mankind.  Ponder each line of that!

Wow, I have zero time to tell you the details and the funnies and all the wonderful moments of this week.  I am learning and loving and changing and growing!  And yes, I am tired and 

Week 48: Wet

Hey, Everyone!

So, the subject line: wet.  I`ve been wet all week.  For the first few days, it was hot and even more humid than usual.  The air stopped moving, and we started sweated.  I literally dripped sweat for about three days.  Then on Friday, it POURED rain from about 7:30 until who knows what hour of the night.  The power went out.  Here`s my storm story:

We were in Miguel`s house teaching the law of chastity.  It had already been raining a little, but it started to really come down while we were with him.  We hurriedly closed with a prayer and went running like crazies down the street to Hna. Dorita`s house, because we couldn`t be alone with him inside his house (we had been teaching on the porch).  After almost an hour of rain pounding on the metal roof and us shouting hymns (Master, the Tempest is Raging), we had to start for home to arrive at 9:00.  We called every taxi`s number we had, but nobody answered.  Home is about six blocks from there, and you could hardly see, the rain was so thick.  We said a prayer that we would be able to find a taxi, said goodbye to Hna. Dorita, and ran (squealing) into the rain.  In that moment, a taxi miraculously passed right in front of the house and took us home!  We still got soaked in those few moments outside, but it was a miracle. :)

Miguel continues to be super amazing!  We had a hard time finding him again all this week, but the times we did get to meet with him, he was positive and is keeping the commandments.  He said yesterday, ``When you come visit me, I always feel so happy.  Why is that?`` Awww, Ensign moment!  We explained more about the Holy Ghost.  He`s getting baptized this Saturday!  And when we verified if he was going to come to church on Sunday, he said, ``Yep, I`m going to pass by for Marlon (another investigator we have) and we`re going to walk together at 1:30.``  Ah, makes my heart happy!

We`re still looking for new investigators.  Sometimes I let the heat get to me and we have zero energy, but we`re learning to let our spirits be stronger than our physical bodies.  And to be honest, I`m still human and I get frustrated and bored occasionally after walking the same streets for 17 weeks.  It`s all part of the learning process!

Oh, Milagros and Julio are progressing as well!  Milagros is about 30 years old and has a daughter who loved Primary the first time we went to church with them.  She`s started reading the Book of Mormon.  I LOVE when investigators read!!!  Julio is Milagros` father, and he almost didn`t come to church on Sunday, but we brought the taxi right in front of their door and didn`t give him much time to think twice about it.

Funny: A man passed by selling ceramic wall ornaments in the street, and his selling call was, ``I bring the sun, the moon, and the stars.`` And my companion and I died laughing as we pictured buying those giant things to teach the Plan of Salvation and whipping them out of our backpacks at the end of the lesson.  I think the heat and lack of sleep (it`s impossible to sleep when the power goes out and it`s deathly hot and you can`t turn on your fan) got to us a little and we were slightly slap-happy.

Okay, time to go.  I love you lots!  The gospel is true!

All my love,

Hermana Hansen

photos: Nightly planning by candlelight after getting soaked by the rain and having no power

Nicaraguan babies are adorable!  This chunker is the district president`s daughter.

Making pupusas with the zone!

Week 47: Careful what you pray for...‏

Dearest everyone,

Happy Monday!  Hope you`re all doing well and loving living the gospel!

I`m a little short on time, so here goes:

-I had a thought this week... Be careful what you pray for.  We prayed ALL WEEK LONG to find Miguel, our most positive investigator, and he seemed to have dropped off the face of the planet.  Then on Saturday, we finally found him for an appointment in the early afternoon and taught the Word of Wisdom (and he doesn`t have any issues with it because his kidneys have been bothering him lately and he can`t drink coffee, woohoo!).  After that lesson, we proceeded to run into him about four more times during the day.  God was just making up for all those fervent prayers... be careful what you pray for.

If you pray for patience, you will contact three devout Jehovah`s Witness couples in your search for families to teach, and they will contend with you about the Plan of Salvation.

If you pray for service opportunities, you will spend two hours hand-washing two giant barrels full of dirty clothes for a recent convert who had an emergency appendectomy.

If you are hungry and pray for Heavenly Father to provide some food, you will be gifted 19 mangos in one day.  Therefore, be careful what you pray for.

Hahaha, it`s been a good week.  Very trying, but that`s what makes us stronger!  It`s still hot.  Several of our investigators who had attendances at church have decided they don`t want to be baptized.  We`re dropping a bunch of people and searching for lots of new investigators.  But we also saw tender mercies of the Lord!  Most of them have to do with food, haha...

1) Hna. Melixza made us dinner!  The third time we`ve had dinner as a companionship, that is to say, in the last ten weeks.

2) Hno. Mario made us tuna sandwiches and gave us red soda at 8:30 on Sunday night when we were famished and exhausted.  And he came to church in a white shirt and tie and received the Aaronic priesthood!

3) Hno. Oscar has been great about accompanying us in our hopes to find Miguel at home.  He came with us four times this week and wasn`t even mad when we didn`t find him and had to return home in vain.

Anyway, time to finish.  I know that Heavenly Father knows and loves each of us.  I have felt His love in this week!  I hope you have too!

I LOVE YOU!

-Hermana Hansen

I hope these are the right pictures... Tan lines and mangos!

Week 46: No seas, pues, cual hàragan... la lucha es real‏

Dear Family and Friends,

Hey, how`s it going?  Actually, I already know that you`re all doing GREAT things, because you`ve sent me emails telling me so!  Thanks a million for your news, it makes me smile all week long.

Well, this week was... hot, as usual.  We did regular missionary things, and tried not to fall asleep or sweat to death from the heat. :)  But the best news...

Nohevia and Victoria got baptized!!  And it was the most beautiful baptismal service I`ve had on my mission.  The font was filled on time, Nohevia`s family and friends came, our ward mission leader and the other auxiliary leaders were present, those assigned to give talks came, my companion and I sang a special musical number, and there were refreshments.  Basically, it all happened like baptisms are supposed to happen, but sometimes the ideal is not reality in Nicaragua.  Oh, and one of our investigators who we had invited came, and Nohevia`s dad was there as well, who is not a member.  The Spirit was strong, and I know that these two recent converts can become faithful members of the church!

Anyway, it was a joy to see the change in Victoria especially this week.  She was still unsure of a lot of things due to some lies and weird rumors that her family had told her.  In the closing prayer of one of our lessons, she said, ``Help me to know that this is true, although I`m pretty sure it is.`` And thanks to some stellar fellowshipping by the new branch president`s wife and the relief society president, Victoria now feels at home in the church and like it`s her family.

Other happy moment:  Nohevia (who was SUPER prepared for her baptism) hugged us after her baptism with a huge smile and simply said, ``Thank you for everything!`` 

Well, I don`t have a lot of time.  There were a couple of funny moments... like when two investigators in a row in the street saw us walking and said, ``Hey, you didn`t come when you said you would!`` ... which was a lie, but it was still funny that it happened one and then the other as we finished setting another appointment with the first one.  There were a lot of super stressful moments, due to the fact that I`m still learning to love my leaders and their high numbers goals that sometimes stress me out of my mind.  But... we just need to trust in the Lord, pray hard, work hard, and study hard to feel better.  

The gospel is true!  If you haven`t reached perfection yet, try not to beat yourself up.  And don`t let anyone else beat you up for that either!  Heavenly Father knows EVERYTHING you think and feel and do, so just talk to Him and let Him help you.

I love you LOTS!  XXOOxoXoO

-Hermana Hansen

Photos:

1) Baptism!  Nohevia is the taller one, and Victoria is the one with cutie Rosemary in front.

2) Chocolate prizes from district meeting stand no chance against Granada`s heat

3) I`m finally legal!! Guess who got a residence card last Monday?

4) Snapshot of Granada!  Catholic cathedral, motorcycle, Toyota Corolla (one of about 35 that are constantly haunting me in the streets... such a great car!) and the touristy horse-drawn carriage that Granada is famous for.

5) Exotic fruit!  Guayaba

6) Exotic fruit!  Nispera

Week 45: We have a branch president!!!

Hello, all!

This week somehow felt eternal but also went by in the blink of an eye.  Let me tell you about it in positives, negatives, and funnies!

Positive:  One of the sister training leaders, Hermana Rivas, worked in trio with us on Tuesday!  I loved the way she kept the work fast-paced and invited everyone to be baptized.  Sometimes I hold back from extending the baptismal invitation if I don`t think they`re going to progress, but I have to remember that God is in charge and he knows which of His children are ready to accept the invitation to act.  So I can`t be afraid to invite people to baptism in a street contact!  Basically everyone accepts anyway, because that`s how Nicaragua works, haha.  The hard part is helping them progress and come to church.  Which leads me to my next positive...

Positive: CHURCH!  They called a branch president!  Pancasan has progressed from having only a branch secretary in January to now having half a branch presidency!  The negative is that we arrived after the sacrament because we were bringing investigators and President Russell was there, but still... Anyway, more positives: many of our investigators came to church, and several less-actives that we had visited this week as well.  Ah, my heart is so happy to see people I love at church!

Funny:  We went to explore el Fortìn, a part of our area that we had never been to before, to visit some less actives.  Wow, it was `` puro campo`` and so pretty!  I understand now why they don`t come to church; it`s like a 45 minute walk through super dusty shade-free roads and there is zero form of transportation other than bikes or horses.  Anyway, we contact this one house and a 20-something year old guy comes out and pulls out chairs, greets us cordially, and acts like he knew we were coming.  So we ask if he`s a member of the church, and he says he got baptized 15 years ago.  We start asking questions about his family, how he`s doing with reading the Book of Mormon, etc.  He answers that he hasn`t been to church lately for work.  We even read part of a chapter in the Book of Mormon and call him to repentance (with love).  As we`re leaving, we ask to meet his mom, who was cooking in the back, and we ask when she`s going to join us at church.  She answers, ``Which church? We`re Catholic.``  Turns out the baptism that the muchacho was referring to was his Catholic baptism.  They`re not members at all.  Oh, it was so hilariously awkward.  We invited them energetically to church, left quickly, and then died laughing on the forever long dirt road back to our regular area.

Negative:  Nohebia hasn`t talked to her mom yet about her baptism and postponed for next week so she can tell her with time to adjust to the idea.  Our zone leaders told us we lacked boldness for letting her change her date, but I love Nohebia and the Spirit told me it was the right thing to do.  Praying that all goes well with that when we visit her again tomorrow and that she can be baptized on Saturday.

Positive: We had a barbecue at the mission home today as a zone for being the most successful zone during the month of March.  We ate hamburgers and brownies with ice cream, played ping-pong and foosball, and watched Meet the Mormons.  Ah, it was so good!  And made me rather trunky, but I loved it!

Turns out there were a lot more positives than negatives.  Probably because it`s just more fun to tell you about the good things!  Know that I am learning and working and loving my mission.  There are so many hard moments, but I know I`m where I`m supposed to be and doing what I`m supposed to be doing!  Heavenly Father loves me and He loves all of you!

I love you too!

-Hermana Hansen

photos:  I got brave enough to cut my hair!  Ten months of sun damage and split ends finally motivated me to take action.  I look like a trout in my scared face photo, but everything turned out well with the exception of one awkward piece right in front that is half the size of the rest.  Oh well, nothing time won`t cure.

Sweet Hermana Dorita, who is one of my role models in this life.  She`s emaciated with diabetes and a multitude of other health problems, and basically all of her children are inactive and don`t do much to support her.  But she is fiesty and hilarious and never loses the faith!  She does all in her power to get to church on Sundays and pay her tithing.  I took this photo to send to her daughter who is on a mission in Brazil.  I hope she doesn`t get too alarmed with how skinny her mom is!