MAY 2 2016 HERMANA HAMSTER?..."YA Casi..."

MAY 2 2016

Alright here is the break down for the week. 

A few weeks ago we had our zone conference, and we put the goal as a mission, to have a noche blanca 28 of May.  Meaning that we putting all of our dates for our baptisms that day!  I think its going to be something really special!  This week, 4 people accepted the 28 of May for their baptism!!!! HAPPINESS!!  We had a first lesson with Carla, a jovencita  (a young girl) of 18 years.  She had been assisting before, but because of school and work, she slowly stopped coming, and we couldn’t find her.  So we had to drop her. Anywho, she just showed up one day, and said that she wanted to be baptized! Fine by me.  We asked her why she wanted to be baptized, and then her eyes filled with tears.  She said she had never felt so loved in her entire life, then when she was in the church.  She is so prepared, and honestly just a cutie patootie. I love her so much!  THEN, yesterday we had a lesson with my favorite little family, Zayda Beto, and Mayumi. We talked about eternal families. This wasnt the first time I had talked about forever families, but for whatever reason this time was just so special.  I was fighting back tears the whole time, as we sat there in their humble home, of a dirt floor, and dirt walls, and testified to them that it was possible for them to be together forever.  It was in that moment that I was reminded really why I had left my family for 18 months.  To help other families understand that they too can be together forever.  Their baptism will also be May 28th.  

This week we traveled to Urcos again to look for less actives.  We were able to find 2 less actives, for the first time in 2 years.  This Sunday, the attendance in Urcos had risen again.  We are hoping and praying that Urcos can become a rama again and the end of this year.  Mi wawita (theres your quechua for the day)  Hermana Bayona, was super sick this week. So we were inside for a few days.  BUT, our Heavenly Father is so good to us, and we really were able to see so many miracles this week. Also, I had my lunch out of a giant jungle leaf this week. And it was delicious. 

Well to keep you all updated, I still love Peru, and I still love every single crazy day of my mission. I love you all! Gracias por todo!!

Con Amor, 

Hermana Hansen

EATING OUT OF A JUNGLE LEAF--AND IT WAS DELICIOUS!

JUST PLAYING ON A FEW SKETCHY PERUVIAN PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT...

MY HERMANA BAYONA

PDAY --EXPLORING

CAVE HUNTING..

APRIL 25 2016 HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

APRI; 25 2016 Hey Everyone! Sorry this is going to be a little short, but the sun decided to come out for the first time in a while, and so we are going to make the most of our sunny P Day in Cusco! This week was amazing. Sometimes I don't feel like I deserve the blessings I am receiving. We had our second lesson with Wendy!! She is the jovencita that came to the church looking for the missionaries to teach her. We were talking about our Father in Heaven, and how we are literally His sons and daughters, while we were talking she let out a little gasp and said, wow....this feels so good. It feels too good to hear that!! Ugh I can't tell you how much I love being a missionary. I love seeing the spirit touch the hearts of His children. Its a beautiful thing to witness people come to know their Father in Heaven. We invited Beto, the husband of Zayda, to baptism this week. He said of course! And then asked if we could visit his family more times during the week. They all came to church this Sunday. I love that family so much! ALSO! Craziest thing. We were teaching these two women when I first got here, Vilma and Marleni. They were way awesome . But then they moved to Quillabamban. Hermana Celan and I were super bummed. Any who , I walk out of Principios de Evangelio, and who do I find waiting outside....Vilma and Marleni! What!!! I honestly couldn't believe it! After all this time, and they just showed up at church like nothing had happened. Happy Happy Days!! Anywhosies I hope you are all doing fantastic! I love being a missionary, and I love the people I get to serve. Thank you all for everything! Con Amor, Hermana Hansen

APRIL 18 2016 YOU PUT ICE CREAM IN SODA??

APRIL 18 2016
Buenos Tardes a Todos!!

Ahhh. Another beautiful, cold, productive week in San Jeronimo.  So I am not usually one to feel the cold here, I mean come on, I'm from Idaho.  When I first got here, everyone looked at my like I was crazy without a sweater or anything. I told them where I'm from its reeeaaallly cold. Anywho, this week we headed up to our pensions house, and I was decked out in my gloves, hat, sweater and all.  The husband of our pension says, Hey! I thought you said you were from Idaho! 

.........yup. I'm mas peruvian then Idahoan. Never thought I would see the day. 

This week, we met with a new investigator, Dionisio.  We contacted him a while back, and he told us that he had alot of questions for us, and wanted to see if we had answers. When we first started in on the lesson he just went full out asking us questions left and right, more then anything just trying to cause contention with us.  We were praying so hard during that lesson, just to soften his heart a little, so that he would listen to us. Finally he calmed down and gave us the chance to share a little.  By the end we were laughing and having a good ol time.  He didn't want to have us come back to talk to him about the gospel, but said we could come back anytime to chat.  I remember the last thing my grandpa said to me before I left for the mission, he said, Not everyone is going to want to listen to you, but you can be everyones friend.   I thought of that as we left that cita.  Sure, in the end he didn't want to listen to us, or accept our message. But we left being friends. And sometimes that's just enough. 

This week we recieved two really awesome referencias. One of them is Luis.  One of our citas had just fallen through and we were looking through our agenda of who to visit next, when one of the members called us.  He said that a man had just passed by the church asking to see the missionaries. (Fun Fact.  A good portion of the people here believe that the mormon missionaries live in the church) Anywho, he left his adress and number and asked that the missionaries visit him. With a cita fallen through, we decided to go look for him.  We were looking around for his house when we hear, Hermanas! A very large peruvian man with a very large mustache came running up to us.  He introduced himself and  explained to us that he has been less active all his life.  He now has two teenage kids, and wants them to recieve the lessons and be baptized.  He told us what an impact going to church as a youth had made on him, and that he wanted the same for his kids.  I am still amazed every day by how our Heavenly Father works. Its amazing.

Another fun fact. Rootbeer floats do not exsist here. In fact the very idea of mixing soda and ice cream just freaks them out.  We made Coca Cola floats this week, and lets just say I had myself a real good laugh.  I love Peru. 

Hebrews 11:40 JST    God having provided some better things for them through their sufferings for without sufferings they could not be made perfect. 

Remember, our trials, if we let them, can purify us and put us on the path to become more like our Savior. CHOOSE to become like the Savior, because the other option is to just suffer. And that doesnt seem like a good deal to me. 

I really truly truly love you all. Gracias por TODO!! Sending love from Cusco.

Con Amor, 

Hermana Hansen


                                                               AFTER 15 MINUTES OF RAIN

                                                         I LOVE MY GIRLS SO MUCH

                                                             HERMANO PROFIRIO AND ANGIE

ANGIE AND I LIKE TO PLAY DRESS UP

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DINA!! ITS ALSO NOT A PERUVIAN BIRTHDAY WITHOUT A CAKE IN YOUR FACE!

3 GENERATIONS!  ABUELA, MAMA, Y HIJIA

SAYING GOODBYE TO MAMA---HERMANA COOPER

APRIL 11 2016 TIME TO BREAK OUT TWO LLAMA SWEATER

APRIL 11 2016

Hola Familia y Amigos!

Cusco has taken a turn, and we are now entering the cold season.  Llama socks and 2 llama sweaters have become a must.
Yippee skippy another great week to be a missionary.  Last Monday, we were walking back to our house at night.  We saw a woman on the side of the road with her two little kids and a large table.  We felt that we should stop and talk to her.  We introduced ourselves, and long story short, she was kind but didnt really want anything to do with our message.  As we turned to leave, she asked us if we would pray for her.  We said of course, and as I gave her a hug to leave, she started to cry.  She broke down to us, and explained her situation. We carried her table for her, and talked with her until we got to her house.  As we went to leave, she said, Thank you for showing me that there still is a God.  Oh my heart filled with so much love for this young mom.  We truly do not know who is out there, waiting for a little miracle.  I am so grateful that there is a God. And that He is a God of little and big miracles.

We had a great lesson with Sida and her daughter.  We started talking a little bit more about her mom, and the trial that was for her.  We then asked her, if she believed that she would see her mom again.  She was quiet for a minute, and then said, I really dont know.  How grateful I was in that moment to be able to testify to her that she really will see her again. That families can, and are meant to be forever.    Also! We had a super duper lesson with Hermano Porfilio and his family.  We talked very seriously with them about their goals about marrige.  Oh the spirit was so strong.  I love seeing people talking these first little steps of faith.  

Quote of the Day, 

It is by giving it away freely, that it becomes yours.    Boyd K. Packer

It really is too true.  Love, forgiveness, patience...We need to learn to give it away freely.  We dont have to earn the love of our Father in Heaven. Neither should our brothers and sisters have to earn it from us.

Con Amor, 

Hermana Hansen

                                                            DIVISIONES CON HERMANA MINAYA

MY BEAUTIFUL CUSCO

APRIL 4 2016 IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

April 4 2016

Hey Everyone!

Well its truly the most wonderful time of the year! General Conference!! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. 

Ok, heres amy week in a wrap.  Tuesday.  We found two new amazing less active members. One of them Mila, just simply wants to put her life back together. And she knows the only way  she can do it, is coming back to church.  In our first lesson, she asked where she could buy a

 book of mormon, hymn book, and get the liahona.  So awesome to meet someone so ready and willing to change. 

Wednesday, we traveled to Urcos.  With these last changes, and the taking out of the missionaries, Urcos (about 45 min outside of Cusco) is now in our sector.  We went to talk with the leaders about a plan to continue the work there.  The attendance used to be about 40, and has recently dropped down to 15.  I think between and the Elders and us, we will try to visit them twice a week.  The people there are so humble and wonderful. Im really excited to start working over there as well. 

Friday I lost my agenda. Literally, every missionaries worst nightmare.  And of course Saturday and Sunday....GENERAL CONFERENCE!! Ugh.  It fills my heart with so much joy to listen to the Lords chosen servants. What beautiful messages were given. ALSO!  4 new temples! When they announced the second temple that will be built in Lima, the whole church building errupted with cheers, and gasps. It was kinda beautiful.  I love seeing the work moving foward here in Peru.  The saints here are amazing and strong. What a beautiful time to be living our lives here on the Earth. 

I was really touched by President Monsons message.  He reminded us that, Decisions will Determine our Destiny.  After he said that, I had a flash back moment, to the Twin Falls Idaho Temple Dedication.  There, as a 12 year old little beehive girl, I sat there and listened to President Thomas S. Monson say those same words...Decisions Determine Destiny.  In that moment, I had no idea what my life had in store for me, or what decisions I would make.  But now, years later, I look back and think about all those decisions I made, little or big. But those decisions eventually led me to my mission. My scrawny little 12 year old self had no idea what my future had in store. But wow, I am so so grateful for those decisions I made, that led me to this point. I truly know that those words are true.

ALSO! This week...(Drum Rolll....) I hit 9 months in the mission field! (ooooooh were half waaayy theeerree....)  That doesnt seem right at all. Not one bit.  

I hope you all have a wonderful and fantastic week.  Thank you all again for your support and prayers. They mean more to me then you will every know!  

'You can have what you want, or you can have something better'

          Elder Holland. 

I love you all!

Con Amor,

Hermana Hansen

                                                        WELCOME TO ENGLISH CLASS

                                                  JUST A CUTE LITTLE LLAMA HAT :)

                                         GENERAL CONFERENCE WITH THE HIJITA

LOOK WHO I RAN INTO AT CONFERENCE RIGHT IN CUSCO PERU ???? :)

BOB, LESLIE TREVINO,   AUNIE , AND KATRINA BELL

THAT HUG SURE FELT GREAT!!

MARCH 28 2018 I KNOW MY REDEEMER LIVES!!

March 28 2016

AHH I have 100 things to write about today. Alright here we go. 

Wednesday we had a little zone activity.  The zone leaders walked us up to one of the killer hills in Cusco.  They explained to us that we needed to get to the top of the hill, but we had to do it with carrying our companions.  We could take turns carrying each other, but we couldn't move forward without one or the other on the back of the other.  I took a minute and looked at my solid 5 foot Peruvian companion...and realized that I would be hiking the whole thing with her on my back. Good stuff. But hey we made it! All the way to the stinkin top.  And ah the view was so worth it.  At the top we talked a little bit about how sometimes we need to struggle to be able to enjoy the journey.  That in the end, trials just make life sweeter. I love that principle.

We had some really great lessons this week, with some awesome families.  One of them the mom only speaks quechwa, and the dad can speak spanish mas o menos. I decided to crack a joke with the little quechwa that I know. Lets just say it was a hit.  They loved it.  More then anything I think they were just laughing at the gringa that was trying to speak quechwa.  Pero no importa, they loved it. Mission accomplished. 

We were introduced to the most PERRRFECT family ever.  Beto y Sida, and their three little kids.  Sidas mom had been a member, however Sida didnt want anything to do with the church. About 5 months ago her mom passed away.  We had 2 lessons with them, and we were able to see that they are so prepared.  They came to church this Sunday and really liked it!  Yippee Skippy. :)  We had another family history session with our less active member Edgar.  At the end, he told us about a dream he had had the other night.  He decided that he really wanted to know that what he was doing was good and valid.  So he prayed and asked to have a confirmation of the family history work that he was doing. That night he had a dream that he was in a really clean river with lots and lots of fish.  And he was in the middle of the river fishing, catching fish by the bucket loads.  He woke up and said that without a doubt that was his confirmation.  He has come to church twice now, for the first time in years.  I love family history.  

The Womens Conference! Hope you all were able to watch it.  I loved the themes of love, and service.  I thought alot about the example of the mirror and the window.  If we have mirror in front of us, it's impossible to see those around us. Only ourselves.  I thought about those things that were "mirrors" to me.  My cellphone, the TV and all my other selfish desires.  I became so incredibly grateful for the chance the mission has given me, to rid myself of all the mirrors in my life, and use a window to love and serve others.  

So yesterday was Easter!  I love Easter SOOO much, and I realized that the people here really have no idea what Easter is...it kinda bummed me out.  Also side note, I tried explaining to someone what the Easter Bunny was the other day, and it kinda just came out creepy and weird.  Anywho, so for Semana Santa, they have the tradition of eating the 12 plates of food.  This is not a joke when I say they literally eat 12 plates of food.  I'm not sure how it was possible but it was done.  Sunday we had a big 2 Zone activity in Cusco.  We had stations set up in the church, with missionaries explaining about Family History, Easter, The Plan of Salvation, and so on.  The other missionaries went out and contacted with the new Easter video.  It really turned out to be such a success.  We ended up with a TON of references, the majority of them being families.  

I really have loved this week so much! The time that we have to remember our Savior and His sacrifice for us.  

Mosiah 16:7-9 "And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.  But there IS a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.  He is the LIGHT and the LIFE of the world, yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened, yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."

Nothing nothing NOTHING, brings me more happiness then that.  I want you all to know that I know that our Savior suffered, bleed, and died for each one of us.  He was crucified, and layed in a tomb. And on the third day, He rose from the dead.  I know He lives. I know that with all of my heart. I know that He guides His church today.  And I love this short time that I have to share with others, the knowlege that I have, of the Plan of Salvation.  That there is life and hope after this earthly life.  That one day, we will see our family, friends, and those we love so much once again.  What a beautiful message of hope we have. I love my Savior.  And I will be forever grateful for what He did for us.  

Well I truly love you all. Hope you had a FABULOUS Easter weekend, and hope you have an even better Conference weekened!! Hooray!!  #5days

Con Amor, 

Hermana Hansen

EASTER PACKAGE FROM HOME!

March 14 2016 MOTHERHOOD ISN'T TOO BAD! :)

March 14 2016

Well I made it through my first week as a mother! She seems to still be alive, so yeah feeling acomplished this week :)

My companion is Hermana Bayona from Chosica Lima.  She says the change from Lima to Cusco is pretty drastic. Poor girl is freezing all the time. It doesn't help either that she hasn't an ounce of fat on her. This week we had one of our classic Cusco down pours.  She just about got washed away. We will just plaster on a few llama sweaters. :) But wow she's just a darling  sweet little Peruvian  She came in with a huge desire to get right to work, and work hard. Which is all I ask, so Im a happy Momma.  This week we had interviews with President in our houses.  Not going to lie, it was a little weird having President sit on my bed and give me an interview...but hey I love interviews with Presidente!  They really come in the time that I need them.  SOOOOOO grateful for President and Hermana Harbertson.  

One of our older investigators showed up at church this Sunday! AH I was SOOOO happy!  Little miracles.  We haven't been able to teach him for awhile because he works outside of Cusco.  I have been super sad about it because we had had some great lessons with him and was ready to progress!  But wow he just showed up this Sunday like nothing had happend. Hadn't skipped a beat.  I have heard many times that miracles happen while you are training. I can definatly see why they say that.  

Random Side Note:  I just want to apologize that I cant spell to save my life in these emails. I couldnt spell before my mission....and now...ugh its a true struggle. 

Also....  There are an outrageous amount of spiders in our house.  One of which was in my bed last night.  Those of you who knew me before the mission, know that I HATE killing spiders, and that I had the habit of just putting a cup on top of them and wait for someone else to kill them.  I hope you are all very proud of me in knowing that I have become an expert spider killer...well any large weird peruvian insect killer for that matter.  #blessingsofthemission.

"Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those obsessed with themselves, the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others." 

Gordon B. Hinckley

I cannot tell you all how true that really is.  I really have never been so happy in my entire life. And sometimes I have wondered why?  Having fleas in your bed 90% of the time and being chased by dogs all day may not sound ideal.  I am missing birthdays, babys being born, friends being married, being with my family.  My feet are burned black from the sun and lets me honest eating rice twice a day isnt doing me any favors. BUT IM SO HAPPY!  Why? Because I am learning to love my Savior, and in turn learning to love others.  And that just brings happiness. Its simple people.... it truly is. 

I love you all VERY VERY much.  Thank you all for everything! You are in my thoughts and prayers. Keep on Keeping on. 

Con Amor,

Hermana Hansen

ALSO Happy Birthday shout out to KATIE!!

                                                 SAYING GOOD BYE TO MY DEAR HERMANA FRAME

                                                        MEET MY HIJA!!   HERMANA BAYONA!

RAINING RAINING AND RAINING

HERMANA MORRIS AND OUR DAUGHTERS

                                                 OUR 1ST NIGHT CONTACTING IN THE PLAZA DE ARMAS

I HELPED KILL A GUINE PIG...I'M GETTING SO USED TO PERU IT'S RIDICULOUS....