Hermana Hansen in Peru: AUGUST 15 2016 ANDAHUAYLASSS!!!

AUGUST 15 2016

Hooray for another beautiful sunny week in Abancaycito!

Alright here is the week in wrap. Tuesday we had divisions with the Hermanas in Andahuaylas. Andahuaylas is about 3 hours from Abancay...and not the most comfortable 3 hours. The trip to Andahuaylas is very very windy, and everyone told me that everyone throws up the whole drive...super duper :) We travel in a wee little 15 passanger van, while listening to Peru wino music the whole time. For those of you who know what that is, you understand just how rough that trip was. :) Anywho, I just prayed my little heart out, and I made it to and going home from Andahuaylas without throwing up. You may not all understand, but that really and honestly is quite the acomplishment.

The Hermanas are doing great, and sincerely trying to do Heavenly Fathers will. This week we were able to share a message with them about gratitude. During personal study last week, the thought came to me of a talk I had read at the beginning of my mission, that really changed my attitude.

"Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life, that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, Im suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we focus on being thankful in our circumstances, whatever they may be."

-Pres. Uchtdorf

Being grateful for "things" and being grateful in our situation, are very different. Learning to have a literal attitude of gratitude has truly helped me have an eternal perspective. It really has become my goal to have gratitude become a way of life, and not just a fleeting moment. Also, those who are grateful, are simply just more happy. And who doesnt want to be happy. :)

This Friday we had a super duper Family History activity with the whole district of Abancay. We had a really good turn out, and the Poulsens (the family history missionaries) came and helped us out. We had some really special experiences that night. We have a family, the Roman family, who are reactivating. The have the goal to go to the temple in November. They came to Family History night and were able to prepare many many family names to take to the temple. It was so special to see them light up every time they found a new family member to take to the temple. I know you all already know. But I love family history. I just love working in the Work of Salvation.

Last Sunday, we had fasted to be able to find a less active family, Family Lloclla. They are a family with so much potential, but we have not been able to find all of them together. Saturday we felt very strongly to pass by them, and sure enough we found just about every one in the family. We had an amazing little lesson, and the parents came to church yesterday. I am grateful for the chance we have to fast, and see miracles.

Sunday we had our conferencia de distrito with Presidente Herrera. We were all waiting in the church building for about an hour, waiting for the connection to work so that we could see the conference that was happening in the other church building. After two hours of waiting, Presidente Herrera ended up coming to our church building and doing another conference. He and his wife gave beautiful talks about how our faith helps us during times of trial, and what "praying with faith" really means.

Later that day, we had a lesson with a new less active. Her aunt is not a member, but was there and participating in the lesson. The spirit was so strong, as we all bore our testimonies of our Savior, and what the atonement meant to us. We were just about to end the lesson, when my companion and I both felt very strongly that we needed to end the lesson immediatly. I didnt understand why, we were all feeling the spirit so strong and nothing seemed strange at all. Then out of no where, her aunt began to speak, and deny everything that had just been said. Within two minutes the whole family was arguing and fighting and the spirit we had all been feeling was gone. Oh it broke my heart. We tried our best to calm everyone down, ended the lesson and left as soon as possible. We will just truly never ever be sorry if we follow the spirit.

"Strong faith in the Savior, is submissively accepting His will and timing in our lives, even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted."

-David A. Bednar

Truly having faith is trusting the God can do all things, according to HIS will. His plan is perfect. And I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows what, when, and why we need what we need.

I love you all very much. Have an amazing week! :)

Con Amor,

Hermana Hansen