12 - 23 / Days Left, 30 Merry Christmas!

Not too much happening this week other then, all that Christmas brings to Temple Square.  But I'm doing good. I love Sister Vasi sooooo much, she keeps me going and working hard. I'm really grateful for that. 

All is well over here, just working everyday as hard so we can and getting lots of work done. 

We had Zone Conference this past week and it was super powerful. I learned a lot. At the end we had a testimony meeting and we were suppose to share an experience where we felt the spirit undeniable in our lives. As the Sisters got up and shared their experiences I was just filled with the spirit and had vivid flashbacks of my whole entire mission and the times where I've felt the spirit so strongly. It really helped me to see how much I've been able to experience and to see that I've truly been an instrument in the Lord's hands at certain points over the past 18 months. I can't even express how grateful I am for the lessons I've been able to learn while serving. It's changed me 100% & I never want to move backwards, I just want to keep going forward.  

This gospel means everything to me. I've been able to realize and see how important it is to put God first in everything we do. That's something I'm excited to apply for the rest of my life. 

I love you all & hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!! 

Yes, we really did.

xoxoxo, 

Sister Hansen

12 - 16 / Days Left, 37 Two PDays for the Price of One

I have too much time to catch up on since I haven't had a pday for 2 weeks. 

Let me just do the most important events:

Jerrica's Endowment:

I don't know if you remember Jerrica. But she is a Less Active that I taught with Sister Asay. She found her in the beginning of her misson and has been helping her ever since. On 12.13.14 she went through the Temple!!! YAYYY. I was so grateful that she invited me to go. It's truly amazing to see the changes people can make when they decide to fully follow God and His will for them in their lives.

Jerica's Endowment.

Sister Vasi:

I have the best companion in the whole universe. I don't even know what to say. Honestly she's an angel sent from above. She is so hard working and just loves everything and everyone. Not a single person walks by that she doesn't stop and say hello to and asks how their day is going! She truly is a consecrated missionary and she's helped me to become better just in the last week I've spent with her. I LOVE HER SO MUCH. I'm glad she's my companion in my last transfer cause she keeps me going :)

Sister Vasi and I.  Beehive House Christmas Tree

Carlos:

Carlos is doing sooooo amazing. He has started his mission papers and is 80% done. He will turn them in soon and is planning to leave on his mission this summer. So Mom & Dad, I will be going to his farewell!!

Ben:

Yesterday Ben celebrated his 1 year of Baptism! He actually gave a talk in church and we were allowed to go! I loved it. It's so neat to see all that he's learned over the past year and how much he truly loves the gospel and is converted to it.

Christmas Dinner:

Last night Sister Vasi & I, and Sister Tiritilli and Sister Weidmann got to go to the Moore's house for a Christmas Dinner. They are actually the secretaries in our mission, so I don't know how we lucked out and got to go to their house, but it was THE BEST. We ate such yummy food and played with their grand kids and told funny Christmas stories. We even had those popper things with the goodies inside that we have at the Johns every Christmas Eve. I would send pics but Elder Moore has them still. So maybe next week.

Beehive House:

I'm serving in the Beehive House again! & I think I love it even more this time. I forget what a privilege it is to serve there. It's helped my testimony sooo much. Just being in a prophet's home and taking people through it has made the gospel more real to me in my life. Sister Vasi is really good about helping us have spiritual tours there instead of just being like,... "This is the office, and blah blah blah here's the facts."  Like I said, she's an amazing missionary, so I'm happy to be serving in Brigham Young's home with her. 

I think that's about all the biggest things I can think of that have happened over the past 2 weeks. The biggest lesson I've learned is that when we follow the Lord's will with what ever it is, he blesses us once we've made it through the challenge or trial. Being Sister Jarrett's companion was truly one of the hardest parts of my mission. But I can say that I did try my hardest and that I learned SO much. Now she's home & I have no idea what's going on with her, but I'm just working SO hard, like harder than ever with Sister Vasi & it's the greatest.

I love you all! 

Sister Hansen 

Temple Square beauties!1

12 - 4 / Days left, 49 Familia y Amigos

Hello everyone! Another week has just flown by. 

Lots of fun stuff happened this week. We've found so many new AWESOME investigators! Yayyyyyyy. So much better then the Sahara Desert I told you about last week.

David is on date for December 20th... we're praying that he will stop smoking

Heather is on date for January 3rd. She's an amazing new investigator we found on chat this week. She is super sweet & loves going to church. She told us all about how her life has been blessed since she's decided to put God first. Sister Marsh, well Mindy now, taught with us as a member present. OMGoodness, I miss her sooo much, but it was fun to teach with her again.

There's lots of other really great people that I'm excited to help also.

The Christmas Lights are as crazy as ever. So many people, I don't even know what to do with myself half the time. President Poulsen had a brilliant idea to have us carol for like an hour a few nights a week. ITS MY FAVORITE! It's so fun & the people LOVE IT. I just want to quote elf every single time, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear," but I restrain myself, haha.

Anyways, I don't know what else to talk about. Transfers are this week. YIPPPIIIIIIIIEEE.

New start :) ahhh. I can't tell you how refreshing it will be for me.

I'm not sure when my next p.day will be. So hopefully I'll have one next week... If not, sorry Mom!

I love you all.

And just because I have 6 weeks left does not mean you can't send me letters. I haven't gotten anything for ages. Nate's the only one who writes me, and he's all the way in Chili!

Sister Hansen

11 - 28 / Days Left, 55 Week of Events

It's been a pretty eventful week so let me just take on great event at a time:

DEPARTING TALK & CRAZINESS:

So much happened today. Let’s start with first things first. I gave my departing talk in church, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014.  It actually went really well. I spoke with Sister Asay, Gee, Khoa, & Yeung. Everyone gave me the nicest compliments all day on the things I shared. That was really sweet! 

It’s also Carlos’ 1 year mark of being a member of the church. Wow, I am so grateful for his strength in the gospel and everything that he’s learned & accomplished. He told me today that he’s turning in his mission papers by late January/early February! Which means I can be on skype!  And, he’s also applying to BYU-I so he can go after his mission. AMAZING. 

As far as current investigators go, I feel like I’m in the Sahara Desert. All the good potentials won’t answer their phones & David our investigator on date has started drinking & smoking again, didn’t even go to church because he was hung over! Today was also weekly planning. So that means companionship inventory. S. Jarrett basically said that she didn’t care about anything anymore that she’s checked out. She thinks that because we don’t have anyone progressing and nothing perfect happening for us that nothing matters anymore so she’ll just continue to go through the motions these last 2 weeks of her mission. She completely contradicts herself by saying the only thing she cares about is God and that she loves him. I think if you truly love God you do His work in His way, with your whole heart, mind, might & strength just like he’s asked us to.  

Since Sis. Jarrett has to have weekly meetings with  President Poulsen, I asked her if she was sharing how she's feeling with him. She responded that she hasn't.  The one good thing in this situation, is that I have learned that living obediently to the gospel is also trusting in the people He has called to fulfill certain callings.  If we love God and truly have a broken heart and contrite spirit, we are always open to change, in the name of progression, so we must trust those he’s called to help us do that. He’s called President to guide us when we need direction & when we’re stuck, not being able to figure out how to move forward & become better. 

I asked her what we could do to be better & to finish the transfer strong. Her answer was, “Keep trying & doing what we’re doing.” 

I said, “Isn’t that what we have been doing?"….

"Yes"....

"And where has that gotten us so far?” 

Then S. Tiritilli kind of pitched in a comment since she was sitting right there. She said “The definition of someone insane is when you keep doing what you've always done expecting different results” AMEN! It doesn’t matter how much we want to be better, how much we want to serve God until we are actually willing to do something about it. You simply cannot say one thing and do another. What a challenge it is to be trying to work this way.  I’m not here to endure this transfer & say every day, that’s okay only 17 days left, 16 days left all the way down to 0! I just want to do Gods work in His way. That’s what I’m here for & that’s what I promised Him I would do.

DIRKMAATS VISIT: 

Well Nate's family came to the square this week! President Poulsen let me take them on a tour. It was fun to see them. I was SOOO happy, you can only imagine :) Check out the pics:

THANKSGIVING:

We got to go to a families house for Dinner. We went to the Rasband family in Bountiful. They were super nice & it was yummy. My stomach has been realllly bothering me lately, so I didn't eat that much & didn't have dessert or anything. I hope it gets better soon cause I've been nauseous and had no appetite for like a week now.


The Christmas Lights turn on tonight! That should be fun.


They changed the whole entire North Visitors Center. It looks AWESOME! We are freaking out about it cause it's been the same exact thing for the past 16 months!


Everyone go to Mormon.org/Christmas and watch He is the Gift. It's an amazing new video the church put out for Christams! They've done soooo much work on it. I could go on and on telling you about it.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Hansen

P.S. (This is Mom -- don't think Emily knew, at the time of this writing, that older brother Blake's employer, Sansom Media was the company commissioned to produce He Is The Gift.  So Blake was very involved with the production and his sweet girlfriend Emily and her cute bulldog, June, are in one of the beginning scenes, haha. Who knew!?)

11 - 21 / Day 63

It’s been another week full of challenges and lessons to try and learn.

I forgot to share last week that I was able to meet Myriam (who was baptized last January). She was visiting Salt Lake City & of course stopped by Temple Square to meet me. She’s sooooo sweet. Wrote me the most tender card. She’s thinking about serving a mission! Wooohooo. Talked to her bishop about it and everything.

Carlos was able to participate in the Cultural Celebration for the dedication of the Phoenix AZ Temple. His brother Ricardo (the one he baptized) even got a high five from President Monson. Pretty cool!

From my journal on Sunday:

I got to attend John’s baptism. Sister Marsh & I met him together our first time in the Swahili ward. He’s so sweet & awesome. I was very grateful to be able to go and see my Swahili family again! I always LOVE it there. Every time I see someone enter the waters of baptism my heart feels so peaceful. President said as John was lifted out of the water “That’s a happy sound.”  It just strengthens my testimony in the priesthood and the power that is held in the Church. 

I truly do know that we have the authority to baptize in the way that is approved by God. I know Heavenly Father is so proud of John and his decision to enter in the waters of baptism to become a member of Gods true church here on earth. The spirit was ever so present as he made this essential step.  Sister Burton gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and at the end she read a letter Peter (John's friend that is serving a mission now) wrote to John. It made my eyes get all watery. The love that is in that ward is so strong. Peter bore his testimony about how much God loved John and how grateful he was that John decided to be baptized. He talked about how he has never regretted the decision he’s made to be baptized with Gods authority. I was so grateful that President also came to the baptism, I thought that was really sweet of him to take out time from his busy day to come and support John. He truly does care for his Sisters so much and always goes out of his way to make sure we know it and to make sure we know that he’s proud of the work we’re doing.

We also got to attend Savior of The World. I love that production so much. If any of you have the opportunity to go, you should. It builds my testimony on the Savior every time as it teaches us of the most monumental times of his life, his birth & resurrection. It is literally like living scripture. It touches on so many principles of the gospel, obedience, love, service. I am grateful to be a disciple of my Savior Jesus Christ.

For Relief Society this week Clayton Christensen came and spoke to us. If you don’t know who that is. So check this out:  In 2011 in a poll of thousands of executives, consultants and business school professors, Christensen was named as the most influential business thinker in the world. He’s also the author of “The Power of Everyday Missionaries” (great book, highly recommend it!). Anyways, as you can see it was an amazing privilege to have him come speak to us. Another evidence of how much President Poulsen LOVES us (he’s got the hook ups). He spoke to us about how important it is for a society to have religion at it's base because then everything falls into place. He also talked about how essential the Book of Mormon is in answering our investigators questions! The spirit was soooo strong and it was a really good meeting. His wife also spoke and something she said really hit me "I am grateful to have married someone who never left the mission field" because Brother Christensen is so missionary centered in every thing he does. That's definitely a goal for me!

I mentioned that there was some “awfuls” to my week. Well, without getting into too much detail and sharing too much personal information. Things have been more than tough with Sister Jarrett. She’s struggling REALLY bad with depression and some other issues. I’ll be totally honest, it’s really hard for me. Negativity and pessimism is like the DEVIL to me. Those truly are the tools he uses against us. I’m learning that those things over take everything, literally consume you. Really they do… our thoughts, our desires, and when those things are affected it goes into our actions. So I’m just trying to do what I can with trying to teach her obedience out of love for our Savior not just because “we’re supposed to”. And trying to give her crazy motivation since she only has 3 weeks left of her mission.  I found a quote the other day and it really resonated with me 

“On this mortal journey we must never think that our choices affect only us.” –Larry S. Kacher. 

Especially as a missionary when you’re surrounded by someone 24/7 except in the shower (that’s celestial time for sure). I know that I’m never supposed to let someone else determine my happiness, but it’s hard to just go about missionary work on your own when your companion is on their own planet. So like I said, learning and growing every day. Sister Hansen doesn't have patience for irrational thinking and actions! Haha. Trying to learn it though.

There’s my week full of Lovelies and Awfuls. At least I’m still always able to see things I’m thankful for. Let’s all remember what great blessings we’ve been given this week with Thanksgiving coming up… even though I know we all go through some awfuls every once in a while there’s ALWAYS something to be thankful for.

Love you all,

Sister Hansen

11 - 13 / Day 70 Weekly Hellos

Alright Alright... 

Nothing too exciting happened this week. Just the same ol' same ol'.  

After some major health challenges with Sister Jarrett, things are slowing improving, I'm grateful for that. The missionary work is just going right along.  We have a few people on date and a few meeting with local missionaries now. So all is well. 

We're prepping for our crazzzyy Christmas season over here. I AM SO EXCITED. But also scared cause the second those Christmas lights turn on time is going to fly. I remember how fast it went by last year. 

I'm excited for this Sunday, I get to go back to the Swahili ward for John's baptism. Someone Sister Marsh & I met when we were together. 

Oh, and I so want to share about Carlos this week.  He emailed me the SWEETEST email this week... I just have to share part of it cause it melted me little heart! 

"You are almost done with your mission! I seriously I am sooo happy, yet sad that you are done! Hopefully we can still be friends and still talk to each other after your mission! It weird, to be honest, we are good friends while you are still serving your mission. Most missionaries don't talk to the people they convert afterwords. I am the lucky one! Anyways, I am about to turn 1 year being a Mormon. Man, thats crazy. I didn't know the church could change my life. I still remember talking to you for the first time! Now that was funny.I1 year of ups and downs. Only been 1 year and I still do my best to help the church and the people around me! 

I am so grateful for you teaching me a year ago, and know we are friends still!  If I could I would have let you baptize me. You called nearly every single day and taught me so much and never gave up on me even if I was sorta of challenging person to teach! I learned so much from you and I still do! Its awesome what you experience and go through.  You deserve an award.  I got to know a good amount of missionaries during this past year and you beat every single one of them. Thanks so much for inspiring me and helping me understand the gospel. You aren't just a missionary, I know,  but a good friend. You always have something to teach me. Thanks for that."

Sincerely,

Carlos

This, my friends, is why I am so grateful for the choice I have made to come serve my Savior. What great joy & lasting happiness it has brought to my life to help in God's work & help bring his children back to him. It's emails like those that make every trial, every struggle, every complicated companion totally worth it! I just continue to pray that I will be able to find more souls like Carlos' that are more than prepared to receive this wonderful gospel. That I will be guided by the spirit to know what to say to those that I speak with! 

Tomorrow is also a year since the first day I met Ben. Wow... how much the Lord has done for Ben & Carlos this past year & for me as well.

I love you all... let us all remember the things that we are thankful for this Thanksgiving season.

Have a wonderful week everyone! 

Sister Hansen

Pictures....

Pretty Fall Leaves!

10 - 30 / Day 84 I'm Back!

Well 2 pdays in one week... this is interesting! 

I didn't think I would have much to share since I just emailed, but I was wrong. 

This morning we had a desk assignment.  I was sitting there, and I had this random thought "Something great is going to happen today." 10 minutes later some Sisters texted me and told me that Ben was here. He came to introduce his cute new girlfriend Megan to me. Well, of course he asked to see Gods Plan with her.  I don't know if you remember the other week what happens when I watch Gods Plan with him, but it's a TOTAL tear jerker for sure. 

The gospel just means so much to him, and he can't help but get emotional every time he watches it. I wish I could express in words how amazing this kid is and how GREAT the talks we have are. Words just can't express, especially over an email. But what I've learned is that when we put the Lord first, we truly are blessed. In tremendous ways! I know that I was suppose to come on a mission so that I could meet Ben.  He says that if it weren't for me he wouldn't have been baptized. Well that just made me cry my eyes out!  I truly cannot express how much serving a mission has meant to me. I am so eternally grateful for the experiences I've been able to have so far, I'm even grateful for the trying times because that's when I've learned the most. 

I love being a missionary SO MUCH. And let me just tell you how amazing it's been to be out of the office! I loved serving there, but there is nothing like just being a regular missionary and that's all you have to do. I caught myself thinking yesterday "okay, what do I need to get done today. Who's schedule do we need to fix. What report do we need to start working on!" Then I realized... Sister Hansen you don't have to do ANY of that. All you have to do is focus on the work.  Focus on those you're teaching.  Focus on your testimony. It's the BEST :) I think I'm just on FIRE to work & work & teach & teach.  I think I spent as much time on the square yesterday as I did the whole entire time I was in the office combined. haha. People probably thought I was so weird cause I was just soooo happpppyyy. Anyways, I'm done rambling now. 

Until next time! 

xoxo 

love you all 

Sister Hansen

10 - 27 / Day 87 Rough Week

Here goes today.

This week has just been full of challenges and trials to be completely honest. I'm learning how to count my blessings more than I count my "disasters"! It's a work in progress that's for sure.

One thing I'm grateful for is the opportunity to serve as a regular missionary. I think that's where the real heart of the mission is. Just working your hardest every second of the day & having nothing else to accomplish but your missionary purpose. Not to say that working in the office was a bad thing, I loved it & learned so much from it. But I know that all I want to do in these next 12 weeks is WORK work & WORK.

I have always talked about going home with no regrets! So with that in mind I know I need to just take advantage of every second I have left. Don't worry though, I will take one day out a time. It's all about daily diligence. I think of Mosiah 4:27

"And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order."

I am trying so hard to keep my life in order with the things that the Lord expects.

Also, my new companion starting Wednesday is Sister Jarrett from Hawaii. She's in her last 6 weeks so this should be interesting. I'm praying & praying that we can just work hard & not really talk about home too much.

I love you all,
Sister Hansen

P.S. Even with a rough week, we sure found some funny spots!

Companionship Study ... aka Companionship Snuggle While watching "The District."

Dying Laughing

Our Favorite Movie, "The District."

This is what we do Every night!

10 - 20 / Day 94 The Time is Accelerating

I don't know where to begin... as usual, right?!

How about I start with this, I went to check my mail box this morning and in it I found our departure paperwork to fill out. I wanted to rip it all up and scream, "NO I won't even LOOK at that!" hahah.

This week has been busy, nothing to too exciting happened. I'll share one cool experience though...

Ben (recent convert) texted us on Tuesday morning saying he had a friend he wanted to bring to the square for us to teach. Where do I begin....  His friend Johnny is so sweet and open to guidance and goodness. He grew up in the Presbyterian church in North Carolina, but goes to school at the U now and is trying to make right and good decisions in his life. He came to Utah for the first time 2 years ago, visited Temple Square and felt something so different here.  It was a super long lesson, so I don’t even know how to include it all in one little journal entry,  but the spirit was super strong the whole time. We started our lesson just sitting on the couches and getting to know him. He really wants to make the right decision in his life and get on a better path. We took him to the NVC basement and taught him about Prophets, The Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith. He had a lot of great questions! Ben gets soooo excited while sharing about the Gospel and loves Johnny a lot, it’s pretty cute actually.  

After talking for a while in the basement and answering some of the questions he had, we took him to see Gods plan. Alright, let’s just say there was NO way I was getting out of the presentation without bawling.  Just a side note, this was the first time I’ve been through God's Plan with Ben since the first time one year ago which was when he knew he was supposed to get baptized. The spirit was so strong and touched Johnny’s heart a lot. He sees so much goodness in the church and is sincerely interested in coming to know if it’s true.  Listening to Ben at the end bear his testimony and tell him his conversion story, literally made me want to cry my eyes out.  I tried my hardest to compose myself, oh my let me just say… that was a hard one for me. Haha. It is the neatest thing to see someone who’s been through so much bring a close friend of his to us to teach and to help. I hope more than anything that we can help his friend Johnny find goodness and light in the teachings of Jesus Christ as he learns more about the things that we believe. I just LOVE being a missionary and I don’t know how I’m ever going to enter back into the normal world. I feel so protected and happy cause I’m just consumed by the spirit every day. So many good things to come these next few months in the field! I'm just continuing to learn and grow.

We had President's interviews this week. That was nice :) I love President sooooo much. Our new transfers start next Wednesday so this week we're going to be in the office again 24/7 making schedules and getting everything ready. I'm pretty sure I'm going to train for my last 2 transfers. We'll see. I'll know in a few days what's happening. I'll be excited if that happens, but also a little nervous. It has it's pro's & con's for sure.

I love you all.

Sister Hansen

PS.  David Archuletta's Fireside Pic:

10 - 13 / Day 101 A Week of Surprises!

Here's to an amazing week at Temple Square! :)

Our Asian visitors are so super interested in EVERYTHING. Quite hilarious!

Tuesday October 7th:

We were busy with office things most of our day. After lots of work we got to call Myriam. Remember her? She was baptized back in January. She's finally doing good again after being less active for a while. She really loved Conference and is actually talking about serving a mission again. We will have to see what happens there. I'm really happy for her! She's been studying her Book of Mormon everyday again!

We’ve gotten some new investigators this week too. All people we’ve met here in Temple Square, which is awesome!


Wednesday October 8th:

It’s been an interesting day today. We literally spent 4 hours straight in our office changing things in everyone’s schedule because President wants the Sisters to be spending more time in the Teaching Centers (phone centers). Our brains were literally fried after changing everything. While in Guest Services (where we book tours) we did a little Conference Catch up since calls were slow. I love watching Conference! There was a lot of powerful messages. The sick bug that’s been floating around the mission has finally caught me! My throat feels like its going to burst! We’re also getting forced to get flu shots. Umm, heck no! At least I’m sick so that will post pone mine a little while. I don’t understand the point of flu shots… let me just go get a painful shot that’s going to make me get sick so I don’t get the flu?  What?  I don’t know if any of your remember, but I got the flu BAD in Fresno, and we were forced to get flu shots last year. Yeah, that shot was pointless! haha. I’m just a li'l biased to flu shots, but I will be obedient and get one I suppose.

Thought I'd share -- This is a report we worked really hard on.  It shows the massive amount of visitors that come to Temple Square.  (This is just the organized tours.)

Thursday October 9th:

Oh happy day! Every time we’ve had Map desk assignment this transfer we’ve seen a miracle and talked to awesome people. We got 2 new investigators from Puerto Rico. Their friends with them were nice also. I talked to Luis, who was really impressed with everything he heard & saw during their visit.  He said, “ You people are so happy.   You can just see it.  I’ve never seen anything like it.”  They all took Books of Mormon & I gave Luis our number. I really hope he calls! I LOVE sincere people.  We got his friend's, Myrna & Rafael’s number. Gosh dang it for my mother not teaching my Spanish! The square was beautiful weather today too! We had planned to do office stuff, but just couldn’t because we wanted to enjoy the outside & talk to people. I can’t believe we start week 5 on Monday. I’m nervous to see what will happen next transfer. I’ve had the best companions since I’ve been back. I assume it will just continue, at least that’s my hope!

Friday October 10th:

Where to begin. Today was hilarious & super busy. First Ben came to the square. He was going through a pretty rough time & basically ignored me for like a month! Now he’s back on track though. We decided to have weekly visits. We’ll see if he keeps his word there. He set 6 steps to success to help him. 

1. Read the Scriptures 

2. Pray daily 

3. Monthly Temple Visits 

4. Apply what he’s learning 

5. Include God in his choices 

6. Look for blessings! 

I think we should ALL apply these 6 steps to success. 

Then we met with Jerrica.  She’s a returned member Sister Asay taught. She’s soo funny & is preparing to go to the Temple. After her lesson, I found out that Jenna (my like bff/mother who is a Temple Square RM) brought two Nigerian ladies to the square for us to meet & take around. Oh my, they were literally hilarious!! First of all they literally took pictures of EVERYTHING & thought Jenna was famous because she’s so gosh dang pretty. We shared a few things with them, then they wanted to take just about a thousand pics. So we did and instead of saying, “Cheese” they told us to say “JESUS!” Then while Pauline took pictures of Ene sitting by the Christus, she said “JESUS, Save Us!!!” hahah. No way right now.  Reverence right out the window. Before leaving, Jenna sang "Amazing Grace."  They LOVED it & made us all join in at the end. Yup, def people were looking… 2 missionaries, Jenna, & 2 Nigerians singing Amazing Grace in the middle of the square. What an interesting day. I’m getting sicker and sicker by the day, but whatevs. Dumb colds.

Saturday October 11th:

It’s amazing what a cure sleeping is. I woke up feeling like junk today so I slept till 9:45! I was feeling a ton better, the rest of the day we just had a normal day of missionary things. By the end of the day it’s sooo hard for me to focus and study. Having fun roomates doesn’t help either. We get super distracted by each other. Sister Ferguson & I lost it, had a laughing attack for a good 30 minutes. Everything was funny. We were talking about how fat we’ve gotten & were just making the best jokes EVER. I need to quarantine myself to my room when I get home so we can actually study & not distract each other. It was a good stress reliever though. I will repent!

Sunday October 12th:

What a spoiled mission we have. David Archuleta came & performed for us. It was more of a fireside setting though, kinda like Q & A. He talked about experiences he had on his mission and everything that he’s done in his life to get through trials. A sister asked him what’s the most important thing that’s helped him keep his spirituality up since he’s been home. He said attending the Temple weekly. He told a story about how when he was on tour he made a commitment to Heavenly Father that no matter where he was or how busy he would go to the Temple every week. That’s pretty awesome to me. I thought about this same goal for myself after the mission and then thought to myself “woah, that might be hard” yeah right! It’s totally possible. It just comes down to how committed you are. He sang a few songs, they were all amazing. His voice was UNREAL. I wish he would have sung a little more though. But with his stories and stuff there wasn’t much time at the end since every zone got to take picture with him & actually meet him & what not. Pics coming soon! Haha. Anyways it was just a really cool experience to hear him bear such strong testimony about what’s helped him in this life. He’s so committed to the Gospel & so above the things of the world. Doesn’t want to go back to the “FAME WORLD” because he doesn’t want to feel like “A chicken running around with it’s head cut off” in his own words! Haha.


Today is Sister Asay's 22nd Birthday. I told Heavenly Father that I knew he had a sense of humor & that while we were doing grocery shopping today, he should make the song 22 by T-swift come on. haha! We'll see what happens there. I remember when that song was sooo cool before I came on a mission... probs is super lame now. But we keep holdin' on! hahaha.

I love you all! Thanks for putting up with me and reading my emails.

100 days left... I wore black today cause I'm in mourning. :( 

Love,
Sister Hansen


OHH!  P.S! (Sandra got her patriarchal blessing on Sunday. I am so excited to hear how it went for her. Yayyy.

I also forgot to tell you all about meeting President Utchdorf in the Tabernacle the day before Conference. We were in there just standing by the door and in walks President Utchdorf with his freinds visiting from Germany. He talked with us for a few minutes and then shook our hands. It was super neat. Second time meeting him... Check! haha)

10 - 6 / Day 108 Conference!

It's been a crazy week here in Temple Square. Conference time is the best. So many people to talk to 

:)

It was weird seeing so many people I knew though, you love it and hate it all at the same time. After Conference was over the square was just dead and it made us want to cry! haha. The buziness and hustle and bustle is so fun, everyone is always so so happy. Last night after Conference we got to watch Meet The Mormons. It's such a good movie. I hope everyone goes to see it when it comes out in Theaters this week. 

http://meetthemormons.com/#/filter-all/page-1

Here's the preview link! 

My mind is cloudy today so I don't know what to share. Just know I'm doing good & super tired! 

I'm looking forward to reading all the Conference talks. That's the one down fall of being a Sister missionary on Temple Square during conference, you don't get to watch it. But talking to everyone is always really awesome. I can't believe next Conference I won't be here. That kind of breaks my heart a little bit. It will never be the same, that's for sure. 

Love you all! 

Have a wonderful week. 

Sister Hansen

9 - 29 / Day 115 Summer Come Back to Me!

I am so not ready for cold rainy weather yet. I guess I just really don't want to accept that it's Fall already. 

It's been another good week though. We had lots of meetings and things to get done, but I learned a ton.

Tuesday: 

We had Mission Leadership Counsel with all the District Leaders and Zone Leaders we talked about our purpose and the things we can do to be better focused missionaries, centered on our purpose. Sister Asay & I had to give a training on dress and grooming. That was fun :) haha. 

After MLC Sister Asay & I ate lunch and talked about all the things we've learned while serving. I love being with her again. It's really neat to see how much we've both grown and how much we've learned over the past 14 months. 

I saw Ric for the first time in forever. He went to he Temple and did Baptisms! So amazing. He looked great and was just so happy. It's powerful to see the influence of the Gospel in people lives when they are humble enough to accept it and change.

Wednesday: 

I really don't understand how the days go by so fast. There really isn't enough hours in the day to accomplish all the tasks at hand. We spent 1/2 the day in our office working on the yearly report for Cyd Mcbride and working on scheduling things that are happening in the mission this week. Sister Asay & I have made a goal to find someone to teach or talk to every morning when we're opening all the buildings. Since we never find time to go on the square. It's been going pretty good actually. We got a few people to keep in contact with. They haven't emailed back yet, and some we can't call till their home from vacation. We met the sweetest couple from South Africa though. I loved them!

Thursday: 

We had a really cool Relief Society. The managing director for Public Affairs over the whole church came and spoke to us! It was really neat. He talked about his conversion and how we can help people who have strong views against the church (cough cough antis... conference prep right there). I learned a lot about presentism, how people try to teach things against the church take a 21st century view of things and force them to be the same for old historic times. We can't apply today's views and traditions to another earlier time. It's like Halloween... 50 years down the road people might look and be like what the heck were those people thinking dressing up like witches. They must have followed witchcraft. When really little kids are just having fun pretending. People have tried to do this with Joseph Smith and I think that's why there are some many "crazy things" out there about him. Anyways... it was just a cool little lesson I learned. Hadn't really thought about it that way before.

Friday: 

We had MLC again with just the Zone Leaders. President gave some really cool trainings on how to prioritize our time and on the things we should focus our time and attention on.

Saturday: 

We got to attend the General Women's Conference. It was amazing. I loved it so much. Jean A Steven and President Utchdorf's talks were my fav. Don't really have time to go into details about all the things I learned but it strengthened my testimony for sure. I really have learned from serving a mission how to Live the Gospel joyful!

Sunday: 

We went to Music in the Spoken Word, it was such a powerful program this week. The spirit was unreal. Sister Oscarson the General Young Women's President sat in front of us. After we talked to her for a few minutes. She is just so sweet. She hugged us like 3 times each and took pictures with us and send she wanted to send them to our moms. So Mom... be checking your email!!!!! haha. 

Sister Oscarson is true to her word.  The very next day this, and a few other pics found there way to my email with a sweet note. (Yvette : )

Then later in the day we went to the Swahili ward again for a

baptism! Kelly & Jeeduh got baptized. We taught their family a few times on the square with the Elders and their 2 oldest kids finally are baptized :) YAY. The spirit there is always so sweet. The branch just loves each other so much. We even got to sing a song in Swahili with their Mom after they were baptized. haha. Yeah I only learned it for like literally 2 minutes... probs slaughtered that one but owell :) It was still fun. haha. 

It was the best thing ever to be with Sister Marsh again for a few hours! I've missed her so much. She stoke the sweetest note in my journal when I wasn't looking. I found it when I got home at the end of the night and it made me bawl my eyes out. I'm going to miss her even more when she's gone. I literally can't accept that she's leaving in a month. I love her a lot, we have truly become best friends. So many blessings come from serving the Lord. I could write a book. It's been a great week. The Lord is truly answering my prayers. My testimony of fasting has also been strengthened this week, I've received a lot of comfort and direction from it this week. 

I am really excited for General Conference coming up. Looking forward to hearing the words of the Prophet and Apostles. I truly know that they are called of God and that they hold his authority and power. I hope you are all as excited as I am and are preparing to receive revelation. I promise if you prepare yourself you will be uplifted and taught by their words!

We get to attend the Sunday PM session. Look for me on the screen ;) hahaha not.

I love you all! 

Have a fantastic week. 

Sister Hansen

9 - 22 / Day 122 Just Another Week

Hey Everyone! Yvette here. : )  I made a correction to Emily's now counting-down day count!  She has been given a release date of Jan 21, 2015.  That shaved 20 Days off the count we were working with.  So as of today, Sept 22, 2014, Emily will be released to travel home in 122 days.  Oh my goodness.  Too much to do!

Email time!

Can I just tell you how sick of looking at a computer screen I am!?! Office work hasn't slowed down in the slightest bit. We've been working on fixing Sisters schedules all week and just a bunch of other things. We also had to start a yearly report for Cyd Mcbride who's the head manager over all the big tours that happen here in Temple Square. It's a lot of work. I couldn't even begin to describe all that goes into it. We literally have to report EVERYTHING for every month in every single language. haha. 

Sister Asay has been super awesome though. Just jumped right in and helps with everything! I love her so much. I feel so blessed and grateful to have this time to spend as companions with her again. I've already learned a ton from her and it hasn't even been a week yet. We are just the best of friends. It's fun when people ask where we're from and one answers "I'm from Dallas... well she's from Dallas too," and then people are like "woahh, how did you get that lucky?" haha. I really don't know how I got so lucky. It was so cute when she found out I was her companion. We went to pick her up at the airport and Sister Tiritilli went in to find her. I decided I would hide in the trunk so she couldn't see anyone in the car. When they came out Sistter Tiritilli said... "Hey hurry, go open the trunk" and Sister Asay was like, "what? whyy?" Sister Tiritilli was like "'Cause your companion is in it." So she opens it and starts crying and hugging me before I could even get out! hahahaha. I felt so loved :) 

Despite all the office work we had to do we still had a really good week, and I learned some important lessons! We got to attend a session of the Re-dedication of the Ogden Temple. The spirit was so strong and taught me some very valuable things. I just pondered on how grateful I am to have made covenants with my Father in Heaven that protect me and assure me that I can someday make it back to him. I realized more than ever that that is the reason why I'm on a mission. To help bring souls back to him, to help his children learn of the promises they need to make, that will bring them protection in this life. I could go on about all the things I've learned. It was a super neat experience. 

Carlos also got his patriarchal blessing this week!!! It was great to talk to him about his experience. It's moments like those that I am so grateful for this gospel. Because I can see how much it changes the lives of those who except it. Carlos just beams with the spirit and others can see and feel it. I know he will be a successful missionary some day! 

That's about it for this week. Wish me luck with the list of things I have to accomplish this week! & pray for my vision to come back. haha. We've been on the computer so much I honestly can't see anymore. I woke up this morning and everything was blurry and it hasn't gotten better either. I'm not even exaggerating like I normally do, hahah. I legit can hardly even focus on the words I'm typing right now cause they're all a blur. Hope there's not too many spelling errors! 

LOVE YOU ALL 

Get excited for Conference... it's coming so soon & I'm soooo excited. Last Conference as a Temple Square Missionary! I'm going out with a bang! 

xoxo, 

Sister Hansen

9 - 15 / Day 149 Work Work Work

This week has FLOWN by. It's been super busy for us with lots going on. 

Journal:

  This day has been incredible!  First of all it is President’s birthday today! Sister Poulsen asked if we would go with her to Costco to pick up cakes and ice cream for President and all the sisters.  We, of course, said yes, but first went to TC for a little bit.  I contacted 2 more of the referrals that Peter gave us and it was so fun.  They are so prepared as always, and I wanted to give Peter a chance to talk with them and share with them his testimony and say goodbye to them before he leaves.  We called Danisa one of his cousins and they talked for a little bit, and it was so sweet.  Little African kids were singing in the background and Danisa was so so happy and excited for Peter to serve the Lord.  He told Peter that he wants to take the discussions, but he would like to not only have us call them but would like to have missionaries come visit him.  Man!  

Peter was so cute afterwards.  We were just talking to him and he said, “I didn’t know that I couldn’t hold babies, now I am sad, I hold babies in church every Sunday.” Okayyyy stop! Then we talked a little bit because he did not know that we are ALWAYS on Temple Square and never leave and he said, “That is so cool that you get to serve so close to a temple every single day.” Peter is the most sincere boy I have ever met.  It is the day before he goes into the MTC, and he is just like teaching all of his friends with us on the phone, and teaching a mission prep class tonight.  He told us that we could call him that whole day, and he would help us whenever we needed him.  He said, “Its ok I don’t need to rush, I just want to help my Africans.”  The cutest African I have ever seen.  

Then we went to Costco.  Sister Poulsen was so cute.  I learned a lot about her and President.  They are so fun.  They love Lake Powell and they have horses, and they just have lots of fun trips and things and toys that they use all the time.  When we got there the cakes were not finished, so we just walked around and waited.  We obviously went by the Blend Tec guy and he made us green ice cream, then we walked past these 2 guys who were advertising honey butters. They were delicious.  Then we saw Sister Poulsen getting ice cream so we told her hey you need to stop by and try this honey butter….ya we sold her on that!  She bought 2 of them! J hahha we got everything and came back to Temple Square and then we had to set up for the party.  We cut all the cakes and put all the pieces on plates.  It took us forever!  We were sweating we were so hot cutting the cakes for like a solid hour.  We all surprised President and were all down here singing happy birthday to him!  He is the sweetest man.  I love him so much.  It has been such a blessing to serve so close with him and get to know him on a more personal level.  We also had our last district meeting today.  NO way I cannot believe that it is already the end of the transfer…eww!  But the whole day I was just looking forward to Peter’s setting apart. 

We drove to the chapel and they were having mission prep.  They invited us in and it was kind of interesting, but I really liked it a lot! They had everyone there share with each other how they got to the point they are now in their spiritual journeys.  Peter shared such a tender testimony.  He talked about how rough it was when he was in refugee camps in Uganda and how he felt so blessed that he ended up in America.  He knew when he got here that he needed God more in his life.  He said that he was taught by 2 missionaries; 1 from the US and 1 from Fiji and how he knew that he needed to be baptized.  He didn’t have a strong testimony yet, but knew that in his heart he should.  

Then he became less active and didn’t go to church, but one day got impressions from the Holy Ghost that he needed to go back to church so he did.  He continued to go every week and his testimony grew and then his stake president, President Degraph started asking him if he would want to serve a mission and he was only in high school, but he knew it was right and so he met with him a lot and he helped him prepare to serve his mission and now it is the time to actually go.  

Sister Marsh and I both shared our testimonies of how we got to serve a mission and how our mission has blessed us.  Sister Burton shared her testimony after us and she told us how her mission that she served in New Zealand has changed her life forever and how she knew that she needed to serve again.  The spirit was so strong and already I started to cry.  I knew I was doomed for his actual blessing.  I was reflecting the whole time on how blessed I have been to serve a mission.  How the mission has completely changed me.  I will never move backwards, I want to continue forward. My heart is so full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to serve Him and for letting this change my life so much. 

   We talked for a little bit outside before we went into President Degraph’s office.  He gave some counsel to Peter first.  He read from D&C 4 and how missionary work is that marvelous work that he is about to be a part of.  That he will work on those Christ like attributes his entire mission and strive to follow in the footsteps of his Savior.  He gave him 3 pieces of advice.

1.       Work hard

2.       Be obedient

3.       Love the Lord

   He then asked Peter to bear his testimony before he set him apart.  Peter bore the sweetest testimony.  He talked more about how hard life was in Uganda in refugee camps for 13 years.  How he would go 3 or 4 days without eating sometimes and how he never imagined or believed that he could ever be in America and be where he is right now.  His friends all told him he was a “Chicken with his head cut off” and that he was doing the wrong thing, he didn’t have a testimony at that time but he knew in his heart that he needed to be baptized and be in the church.  He said he knows how much God loves him, and that he answers his prayers.  He said that Heavenly Father has ALWAYS answered his prayers no matter what.  “I believe the church is true.  I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that the BOM is true.”  So sweet…just cried the whole time. 

After his setting apart,  we had to say goodbye and then we went in the car and just cried.  We talked about it for the whole car ride home.  Peter is such a sweet kid.  When he speaks or shares his testimony it is so pure and close to his heart you can tell that he does not even know how to express himself.  He was raised in such humble circumstances that he TRULY is grateful and so thankful for all the things that he has in his life.  The gospel means everything to him.  Sister Marsh and I talked about how the African people are so sincere and grateful because that is how they were raised…They are taught and brought up to be so humble and grateful for everything.  It is incredible to be around them.  I just want to be around him all the time. 

   This was an incredible experience for me! It has made me reflect on my own setting apart and all the things I’ve been able to experience while serving the Lord. Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for the choice I made to come on a mission!!!!

After this whole long day lots has happened. We’ve been working on getting everything ready for Transfers this Wednesday. We literally haven’t left our office for 4 days! 7:30am-9pm just staring at the computer screen. Lets just say I’m an Excel Master now J We had to make schedules for every companionship in the whole mission and just a million other things I don’t even know how to explain. It was hard knowing everyone's companions before they did. Because they bother you all the time and obviously you can’t say anything! But everyone found out this morning at Transfer conference who their companions are so the pressures off now. Haha.

I am so excited to serve again with Sister Asay! I couldn’t have asked for a better companion in the MTC & I’m soo excited to learn again from her. YAY J I am a lucky lucky girl

I love you all sooo much.

 Have a wonderful week

Sister Hansen

P.S. I'm super sad to leave Sister Marsh though. I've learned so much from her it's ridiculous. She's been such a good example to me of how to truly LOVE your investigators and all the Sisters in the mission. They other night we got kind of stressed out with all that's going on and for some reason we thought that we were mad at each other. So we had personal study instead of companion study (bad idea we know) because we were just annoyed, then planned super fast and went right to bed at like 9pm.

 I just layed there and started crying thinking Sister Marsh wouldn't even hear me until I heard her nose start to sniffle too. Then I built up the courage and just said "are you crying" and in a shaking voice she replied "noo". We both started crying even harder and just opened up to each other that we were just stressed out and annoyed with ourselves not actually mad at each other. Sister Marsh said "To be honest, I'm just so sad I'm not going to be your companion anymore" Then I just started crying even harder! haha. 

I ended up moving down to her bed and we just layed there and cried! haha so dramatic. We couldn't help but laugh. We decided we were just DONE with our bunk beds. So at like 10pm we took our beds off and threw them on the floor right next to each other! hahaha. We've loved it for the past 4 days. It's the BEST. We can just talk and be like right next to each other. Just living it up the last few days we have together. I'm excited for her to train next transfer though. She's going to do GREAT. & then in 6 weeks I'm going to have to say bye to her cause she's going home! LAME! 

9 - 8 / Day 156 This Week Was N I C E

My time is super short this week.  So, I'm just popping in to say Helloo!

It's just been another super crazy busy week. Peter our friend who we use to teach all our Africans with is leaving on his mission this week! We are going to miss him soooo much. He gave us a million referrals this week all from Uganda! We've talked to them all already & they're soooo great. We called Kafemu with Peter this morning and he said he wanted to get baptized and serve a mission just like Peter after he shared his conversion story with him. So cool. The work is just hastening more & more. I am grateful to be a part of it. We are so happy that we get to go to Peter's setting apart tomorrow.  He invited us to it.  So sweet. 

That's just about the high lights of our week I guess. The work is great. We love our Africans sooooooooo much. Jamah wants to serve a mission too! 

LOVE YOU ALL

Sister Hansen

I was so happy to see all my family on Sunday though! I'm so spoiled to be in this mission where they can just come find me. :) 

Aunt Julie is just THE BEST!