11/09/2015

I am not going to try to explain how I feel right now because I wouldn't be able to. Too many emotions to express.

This is my last week in the mission. I will continue to strive each day to give all of my heart, might, mind and strength to the Lord and His work. Not just through this week, but forever. I thank my Heavenly Father for His goodness and mercy, and for the many, many blessings He has given me. My heart is filled with gratitude for my mission. It truly has been the best 18 months =)

This past week was really great! Yesterday we got to translate for doctors wayyyy out in the countryside. It was quite a muddy hike making it out to the clinic.

We are teaching a really awesome man. His name is Nielson. We found him while we were visiting a member named Franklin. Franklin is really special. He has to use a wheel chair and has a speech disability, but he has so much knowledge about the gospel and is the happiest man I have ever met. If we all sang hymns with such enthusiasm as Franklin, the world would be a lot happier.

The first time we met Nielson we asked him if he would wheel Franklin to church because Franklin hasn't had someone to take him for a long time. He lives a good ways a way so that's a pretty big commitment. Ever since he has brought Franklin to church, he says he feels in his heart our message is true. He has a lot of faith. He plans to be baptized at the end of this month.

I love you all very much! Have a great week!

Hermana Hansen

Photos from our day translating for doctors

11/2/2015

So I don't know if I've ever told you guys but I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY.

This past Sunday I was really reminded of that. I had been fasting. Our district was fasting to be guided to those prepared to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. I also decided to dedicate my fast as a fast of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for my mission. As I did that, Sunday in church I had this overwhelming feeling of love for this work, for this country, for the people, and for my mission. 

I love it. I cannot describe how much I love it. There is nothing better than being in the service of the Lord.

I love you all!!!

Hermana Hansen

10/26/2015

This week was another great week. Today we traveled far far far out into the countryside and explored some really cool caves. We got really muddy. haha. It was fun to go hiking. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera cord so pictures will have to wait until next week.

Being a missionary is something really special. I was reading a conference talk the other day by President Russell M. Nelson called "Ask the Missionaries, They Can Help You," (at least I believe that would be the English translation). It reminded me that being a missionary is a sacred privilege.  I can't quite express how blessed I feel to have the opportunity to serve as a full time missionary. 

I have been remembering why I decided to serve a mission. I am serving a mission because I have witnessed the joy, fulfillment and peace the gospel, and specifically the atonement has had on my life and on my family. I truly want others to have those same blessings. There is nothing better than being in the service of the Lord no matter what phase of our lives we are in or what calling we may have.

This week we taught a really special women. This past year she lost her brother due to a tragic accident. We taught her about the plan of salvation and how she can be together with her brother and family again and forever. At the end of the lesson we asked if we could set another appointment with her. She said Saturday would work because that is when her mom would be there. She wanted us to share the same message with her mom so that she too could find peace and healing. That is what we do when the Spirit touches our hearts and the Savior begins to heal us. We have a deep desire to share it with others. "When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren," Luke 22:32

I love you all!!!! I invite each of you this week to find ways to share blessings you have with others. As you do, you will see God using you to bless others and He will also bless you abundantly.

Hermana Hansen

10/19/2015 No Photos :-(

This week was great. It was a week of just pure missionary work. No extra meetings, no exchanges just proselyting. It was awesome.  Also, I love Hermana Quezada. She is an incredible sister.  I love Dominican culture.

Yesterday we spent all afternoon with the new branch president and his wife and visited people. They are incredible. I realized how quickly we have gotten to know Monte Plata, and I love it here.

This morning I had a really cool study about covenants. Specifically how the covenants we make to the Lord can help us in our service to Him. I was thinking about obedience. Sometimes we obey because we fear the consequence or we want blessings. It is better to obey because we love whom we serve. I thought about the love that has grown for my parents since I have been on my mission and how much I desire to serve them. I am striving to develop that type of love for my Heavenly Father--obey not because I believe it is my duty, but simply because I love Him. I do love Him and His work and His children.

Love 

Hermana Hansen

10/12/2015 No Time to Write!!!

I had an awesome week. My new companion is Hermana Quezada. She is from the Dominican Republic. She is awesome and I am so excited to be working with her! She arrived to the mission last week, but is already a fantastic missionary!

I have no time to write, but this week was awesome! We taught a woman I had felt inspired to contact. Hermana Quezada very boldly invited her to be baptized. Leidi said that she knew we were sent from God because just the night before she had decided she needed to be baptized. I know this is the Lords work. I feel privileged that He uses us to be instruments in His hands.

I love you all!!!

Hermana Hansen

Hermana Quezada

10/5/2015 SO MUCH TRAVEL & LOTS OF PHOTOS!!!!

This was another great week.

Hermana Lang is going home tomorrow so we had lots of meetings. We live a good 3 hours away from the office so there was a lot of time in the guagua (bus) and waiting in the office. But then we had GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!! WOOHOOO!! I loved it. I loved the theme of self improvement. When we ask our Heavenly Father what we can do to improve, He will guide us. AND when we listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost we will see miracles. 

I love this work. I know it is the work of the Lord. When we trust in Him and follow the commandments He can use us to bless the lives of others.

We are helping a really special family right now. Olga and Yoel and there two kids Ashli and Christian. Their lives are changing as they put into practice the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that can be true for all of us.

I love you all!!!!!!! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!

Love, 

Hermana Hansen

El Campo, the countryside

Amalia, The best ward mission leader!

Hainamosa Zone

Sweet family of Elias y Maria, minus Jesus and Elias

Chelsi, so CUTE!!

Juan and Elibel

Olga & Yoel with children Ashli & Christian

Olga

Fritos & Pasta, My favorite

Ashli

Companions

Christian

Ashli

Ramon

District Hainamosa

Sister Zone leaders of the Hainamosa Zone

Hermana Valdez

Hermana Anderson

Training Leaders

Familia Cabrera

Familia Ascensio

Esmeralda

Hermana Lang, 3 years a convert celebration!!

Mi compa, Hermana Lang

Hermana Lang is going home.  I will miss her.

9/28/2015 Monte Plata

This week was great. I am loving it here in Monte Plata. I love being in the campo (country). The branch here is struggling a lot, and the attendance is A LOT lower than it should be. We are focusing on visiting the members and helping them come to church. The stake leaders are helping us significantly. This branch has a long way to go but I know with lots of love and work and faith the Lord can work miracles. I am excited to keep working here. 

Sorry I can’t send more pictures today. My computer freaks out when I plug in my camera. 

Also Vilma and Tiffany from the family Compres were baptized!!!! I am so happy! I am sad that I couldn’t go because I was too far away but am so happy that Vilma and Tiffani and the whole family were able to take this step. 

I love you all sooooo much! I am reminded every day that the Lord is watching out for us. He loves us so very much and when we have faith and we seek Him He will work miracles in our lives. That I know to be true. I love you all so much!!!

Hermana Hansen

Familia Compres with Hermana Fife

Vilma and Tiffani were baptized and

Miguel is going to church every week!

9/21/2015 Surprise!!!

Well the Lord needed Hermana Lang and I in another part of His vineyard.  We were sent together from Almirante and came to Monte Plata. 

I was not expecting this transfer at all. It was REALLY hard to leave Almirante. We have seen SO much progress in this area. When we got here there was very little missionary work, but the Lord blessed us very much. I pray the work keeps progressing in Almirante and keeps working with these incredible members BUT more than anything I want to do the Lords will AND Monte Plata is AWESOME!!!!

We got to Monte Plata yesterday. I'm back to the campo, the countryside. There are mountains!!! I love the campo. It's so chill, and the people are super open, too. I'm excited to work here. The branch is really small. The church attendance is 15. I'm excited to help the work grow here. I feel really blessed to have a new area where I can meet and help more of Gods children! 

Yesterday at church, Jose made an awesome comment. He said obedience should be about love. He said that Christ was the best example of this. He died for us not out of fear or because he felt pressured by others, but because He loved His Father. He said we should do the same. I agree. Jose plans to be baptized very soon. 

I love you all! Have a great week.

Hermana Hansen

Apartment in Almirante

Me with Ana, Banyery, Elibel & Marianeli

Hermana Lang, Bishop Sanchez and his son Moises

Me & Hermana Lang

with Carla, the Young Women's President

Hermana Lang & Me with Familia Mejia

Gevar Mejia-What a cutie!

Our Ward Mission Leader, Hermano Soriano

Me with Jose Diaz

Saying goodbye to Hermana Greenstreet

Me & Mi Compa, Hermana Lang

Hermana Perez

I'm back in the Campo!!!!

9/14/2015 Another Week In Paradise

This week we had a mission conference. It was really cool. I always love moments where I get to learn from President and Hermana Corbitt.  They are so inspired. This time we talked about faith in Christ and believing in the promises that the Lord has made us. As representatives of Jesus Christ we have the promise that we can help people feel the Spirit. I am committed to trusting more in that promise. 

I see the Lords hand in my life everyday. I am grateful for His watchful care and His mercy.

We are continuing to work a lot with Darla, Shaira, and Jose. They each have their own trials and obstacles, but I know that as they show faith in Christ they will be able to overcome them. They are each children of God and I know He loves them because I can feel His love for them.

I hope you all have a great week!!!!!

Love you,

Hermana Hansen

9/7/2015 This week was great!!!

On Wednesday we got to go to the temple. I love the temple. Every time I go I learn so much about God's love for His children and am reminded that the temple is the House of the Lord. I also know that through Gods power families can be sealed together forever. 

I want to tell you about two very special investigators. 

The first one is Shaira. Shaira is the spouse of a member named Manuel who has recently started coming back to church. Shaira is so awesome! From day one she said she wanted to learn about the Book of Mormon because she knew that by reading the Book of Mormon she would be able to know that our message is true. She also says that she wants an eternal family. Two Sundays ago in sacrament meeting they talked about families. She immediately thought how much her neighbor would love to know what she learned! She went home and told her neighbor everything about it and invited her to listen to our message. She also plans to be baptized this month. This past visit we were about to leave so we knelt down with them to say a prayer. Shaira said, "Heavenly Father help me know if this is the truth, I believe it is, but please confirm it in my heart." Shaira has such faith!!! When she said that prayer I immediately thought of James 1:5-6 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and ubraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

We are also working a lot with Jose. One of our first days here in Almirante we were walking around trying to make a map of our area when Hermana Lang felt impressed to talk with Jose. We stopped to talk with him but as we walked up his steps we accidentally scared his 3 year old grandson who screamed at the top of his lungs, oops. We asked him if we could come back and he said yes. With the many many people we talked with those first few weeks we almost forgot to go back, but a couple weeks later we were looking through our list of contacts and thought we should visit him. We went by and we did not regret it. Jose has been waiting his whole life for the gospel. He says that he has visited lots of churches but he has never felt what he has felt when he listens to the message we share. He reads the Book of Mormon every day and all the material we give him. He is trying to soak up as much as he can. He is a man who truly is hungering and thirsting after righteousness. I am so blessed to teach these incredible sons and daughters of God. 

Love 

Hermana Hansen

The largest COCK ROACH I have ever seen!!!!

Hermana Lang & I

Hermanas y Elders

Temple Hainamosa Zone