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

8/31/2015 This week was Fabulous!!!!

 Hi Everyone,

I’m alive =)  The hurricane really was no big deal. It didn’t hit very hard at least where I am and we saw no damage. We just had to stay in all day on Friday.

This week we continue to see lots of success. I’m especially excited about the 2 couples we are teaching. Ronald & Darla and Shaira & Manuel. Both couples plan on getting married in about 2 and half weeks and then Darla and Shaira want to be baptized. I am so happy =) The Lord is helping us so much!

We are also teaching a man named Jose. Jose has been searching for the gospel of Jesus Christ his whole life. Every time he learns a new principle he feels in his heart it is true. I am sooooooo excited for this month. I have never seen so many people with the desire to come unto Christ. I am so happy I can work here. I try to give all of myself to the work. 

I love you all!!!

Hermana Hansen

8/24/2015 Missionaries and the US Navy!!!

This week was really great. Tuesday was especially special. First, we had the privilege to translate for doctors from the US Navy who came as a part of a charitable organization. IT WAS AWESOME! I was assisting a nurse practitioner in a general medicine section. We were able to help people with all kinds of medical issues. It was an incredible, uplifting, humbling experience.

This was the second time that I was able to translate for doctors on my mission. This time it was a much larger scale. The US navy set up a clinic in a huge stadium. There were dentists, plastic surgeons, physical therapists, eye doctors, dietitians, mental health specialists, EVERYTHING. They did everything from helping people with back pain to surgeries! It was really awesome. Missionaries from the whole mission were assigned to go to help for all 10 days that the Navy was in the country. It was really cool to see the church work together with this.

In the evening, Hermana Lang and I were able to meet up with Ronald and Darla at the temple. We were able to teach them about the Plan of Salvation in the temple gardens. It was by far one of the coolest, most special, most spiritual lessons on my mission.  It was amazing to teach about the plan of salvation on the grounds of the very place where families can be made eternal. They were both very touched. They plan to be married in the next couple of weeks and Darla plans to be baptized soon after. I am so happy for them. 

We are continuing to receive lots of support from the ward. All of our lessons have been accompanied by members!!!!! That is incredible. Each week we have more and more investigators in church. The ward assistance has gone up significantly. We and all of the members are very excited. The Lord is blessing us so much! 

Transfers are tomorrow, but Hermana Lang and I get to stay here together!! Phew! We are very excited to continue to work as hard as we can with the ward. I know that the Lord will continue to bless us and we will be guided to the people and families He has prepared for us to teach and invite to come unto Christ.

I love this work! I know it is the work of the Savior. I feel so very blessed to be a part of it. 

I love you all and hope you have a fabulous week!

Hermana Hansen

The boat that brought the US Navy doctors

and medical supplies.

US Navy Doctors and Nurses

One of the LDS Volunteers

Very happy to be a translator and NOT a doctor

My companion, Hermana Lang

Teaching on the temple grounds with

Ronald, Darla, Hermana Lang & Me!

Darla & Ronald

The Santo Domingo Temple

Platano maduro y batida de zapote

(ripe plantains, fried and a

whipped dominican fruit smoothie).

I Love Dominican Food!!!!

Journal Entry

Carrie sent us one of her journal entries and asked that we share her experience with all of you.

Caroline Hansen

Journal Entry

7/26/2015

A couple days ago I was privileged to do one of the most inspired contacts on my mission.  I had spent all day in the capital with a large group of missionaries who had to get their green cards.  I had been on an exchange with Hermana Barfuss because our companions didn’t need to get their green cards that day.  Afterwards we found a bus that would take us back to Almirante.  We got on a bus and had to sit in the very back row.  A couple minutes later a middle aged man got on the bus.  He looked exhausted from a long day at work.  He sat down next to me.  He was sweating a lot and looked like he didn’t want to be bothered, but I felt I should talk to him.  So I started up a conversation.  At first it was kind of slow.  But then I started to ask about his family.  He said he had a wife and 5 children, but they were older and only his wife and daughter lived with him.  He said it was hard because his family was so spread out.  I told him the story of when I was talking on the phone with my dad when I was at BYU and dad told me home was with him, not at BYU and I related that with how the earth really is not our home, but rather Heaven is with our Heavenly Father.  He really related to that story.  He said he had visited the church before, but had stopped going due to his work schedule.  I then felt prompted to show him my family pictures.  I showed him our family.  I then explained that right now my parents and Celeste live in Chicago.  Adriane & Mckay were in Iowa, my brother was in Portugal and I am in the DR.  But how we are happy and even though I miss them sometimes, I don’t worry.  I then showed him my parent’s wedding picture.  I explained to him that there are places called temples (and there is one here in the DR), where is found the power of God, to seal together husbands and wives, and parents and children, so that they can be together forever.  I said that my family is all over the world right now, but we have been sealed in the temple so I have peace and I feel close to them.  I testified that he too could have an eternal family, but that it would only come as he followed Christ.  The words that left my mouth were not mine.  They were the Lord’s words.  The spirit was so strong.  I felt a deep love and charity for this man I had just met.  We continued to talk for the next hour.  We both shared gospel truths that we know to be true.  The spirit was so thick.  His countenance changed.  He had been touched by the spirit and felt grand joy.  I testified that the things that he felt were not because of me, but were from the Lord.  He said he knew that, that I had just been the instrument the Lord sent to give him the message.  He also said he knew it was not a coincidence that he chose to sit in the very back of the bus that day, but rather it had been organized by God.  I told him he was right.  I took his information so that the missionaries could find and teach him.  It was hard to get off the bus and say goodbye to Alonzo Sandobal.  I told him it had been a great pleasure and as I walked away from the bus, he took his hand out and waved.  I am so very grateful to my Heavenly Father who let me participate in this sacred experience and who gave me the words that He knew would touch the heart of Hermano Alonzo Sandobal.  This man is prepared to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I know that as we are obedient and have faith in our Savior and the courage to follow the promptings of the Spirit we can be made an instrument in the hand of the Lord to touch the hearts of His children.  There really is no greater privilege.  I thank my Father every day that He has given me this opportunity to serve a mission and be a representative of His Son, Jesus Christ.  I know He loves me and all of His children.  Each and every one.  He allows us to bless the lives of each other.  I love Him.  I love His son, and I love being in His work.  Mosiah 8:18,  “Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings.”

Love, Hermana Hansen

8/17/2015 This was another fabulous week in the mission!

Hello Everyone,

Hermana Lang and I are seeing a lot of success in this area. We are finding people the Lord has prepared for us to teach.

We have felt in our hearts that the Lord has great plans for this area. As we have prayed for direction from Him, we have felt strongly that we should be including help from the ward members. Since the Lord wants us to work with the members of the church in Almirante, that’s what we are doing. Our planners are full of appointments with members so that we can coordinate our efforts in missionary work. The members are responding with a lot of excitement. They are amazing. They are so loving and generous, and take such good care of us. I am grateful to be in this area. I know that as we work together the Lord will guide us to the families that are ready to hear of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Ronald and Darla are continuing to progress. They have consistently been coming to church for the past month. They plan to be married at the end of this month and Darla plans to be baptized the beginning of September. I am excited for them. I can see in their eyes the change of heart they are both having.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. Jesus Christ is our Savior and as we have faith in Him and follow His example, our hearts and selves are changed for the better. No exceptions. I have seen it time and time again. In my own life and in the lives of those I love and serve. I love my Savior and am grateful and humbled by His infinite grace and watchful care. 

Tomorrow we will be able to teach a lesson outside the temple with Darla and Ronald! I can’t wait. I am grateful we have a temple so close by. Also tomorrow, we get to go translate for a group of English speaking doctors! I’m so excited.

I love you all!!!! Thank you for your examples, faith, prayers, and support

Hermana Hansen