AUGUST 5 2015 PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA! A VERY GOOD DAY!

AUG 5  2015

Dear Family and Friends!

First of all, explaination for the email title:  We asked Presedente if we could go to Papa Johns for our p-day...and he said YES!  There may or may not have been a few tears.  It was beautiful.  

Yet again, another week has come and gone. Nothing too crazy or exciting to report back to you all....except for the fact that this is my last week in the CCM!!!!! AHHHH! When did this happen? I really cant believe my time here is just about up. 

This week we were able to listen to a LIVE devo from the Provo MTC! It doesnt happen very often so we were super stoked. Even better, we got to listen to Elder Nelson. My love and appreciation for our prophet and the quorum of the twelve has grown so much while being here. For devotionals, we sing 'Called to Serve' as our opening hymn. It was so neat knowing that in that moment, there were missionaries in the Peru, Provo, and MTCs all over the world singing 'Called to Serve.' I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful it is to be a missionary in this time. 

I have truly loved my time here in the CCM and will hold it special forever.  I came here expecting to learn the language, and try to learn to love the large amount of rice I consume, but I did not come expecting the change that would happen within me.  In 'Our Search for Happiness' it says, 'After the spirit of Christ enters our hearts, and souls, we can never be the same.'  Its so true!  If we allow it, and embrace it, it can change us for forever.  

Im sorry this email will be a little shorter, but I spent a little extra time reading emails from my wonderful support group back home.  But I just want you all to know that I LOVE this! My spanish is still outstandingly rough, and I have a lot to learn, but Im ready to put what I have learned in these past 6 weeks to use.  Im ready to go work harder then I ever have before.  Thank you all for your love and support!! Hope you all have an amazing week!! Talk to you next week from CUSCO!

Love, Hermana Hansen 

THIS FLOWER LITERALLY LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A DR SUESS BOOK

JULY 29 2015 HELLO FROM SUNNY LIMA

JULY 29  2015

Hola Everyone!!

Happy dia de independecia de Peru!!  These Peruvians know how to eat when it comes to holidays. We were for sure spoiled for lunch.  Like im not sure if I can go back to American food after that.  Anywhoo this week was just a blur. 

First off, sundays in the CCM are the best.  Just a spiritual high all day long.  AND we got to watch 17 Miracles and Meet the Mormons!! Best sunday evvaaa!! Last saturday we got a little taste of the mission field world.  All I know is that the spanish I heard outside the CCM, and the spanish I am learning in the CCM are not the same...But ya know its all good.  Our district went to the Lima East mission, Chiclacyo.  It was Hermana Morris, me, a lima east missionary, two latina missionaries, and a member....so really it was a small gang of missionaries.  When we knocked on a door, the rest of us would hide on the sides of the house until they let us in.  Then we bamboozled them with all of us haha. Kinda funny.  The first door we knocked on was a little Peruvian grandma (my corazon just cant handle them. too cute.) who was less active.  She looked like she had been crying and just sad.  We asked her how her day was and she just started to cry.  She then continued to tell us about her daughter who just passed away about 3 months ago, leaving behind a small family that was now living with her.  My heart literally shattered.  I sat there and listened to her story and how much pain she was feeling.  I wanted more  then anything to have her feel peace and comfort.  It was so frusterating not being able to talk and tell her my testimony of eternal families the way I wanted to.  But I mustered up what little spanish I could and

bore a little testimoney of what I knew.  I have a testimony of the power of the holy ghost.  If we try, exercise a little faith, and open our mouths,the spirit will be there. 

Thank you all again for you love and suppport! I feel it all the way over here in Peru.  I love you all, and I love being a missionary.  Have a fantastic week!

Love, Hermana Hansen

Fun Facts: I have been singing Christmas music all week. I love Christmas!

Craving of the week: Captain Crunch

                                                  BEAUTIFUL LIMA TEMPLE

JUST CATCHING SOME LIMA SUN RAYS :)

JULY 22 2015 "OH WE'RE HALF WAY THERE"

JULY 22 2015

Anyone name that song?! The thing about never hearing music anymore is that the randomest weirdest songs pop into my head now.  Funny stuff sometimes.  Anywho, another week come and gone!  And now I have made it to my half way mark in the CCM!! Time is such a weird concept here.  It feels like a lifetime ago that I wasnt a missionary, but at the same time I just got here! I think I say that in every email but I just cant get over it. 

This week we had TRC.  For all that dont know what that is, TRC is when we teach a pretend investigator, usually a volunteer from somewhere.  This is different from our other lessons because they are brand new faces and we dont recieve background information about them before hand.  So like a tracting experince.  It went really well! Im starting to be able to just talk with the investigators instead of recite memorized scentences.  Hna Morris and I teach really well together.  Seriously the luckest Hermana ever!   Speaking of tracting, we go proselyting this saturday with Lima East/South missionaires this saturday!! WHHAAT! Way nervous. way excited.  Its time to put my wittle baby bit of spanish to the test. 

We went to the temple for the last time time. (sad crying face)  I serioulsy LOVE going to the temple.  Its going to be closed for the next little while so I dont think i will have the chance to go again before I leave. Kinda a bummer, but today was beautiful.  I remember thinking that the cutest thing in the entire world was seeing the cute little grandmas in the temple. I was wrong. The CUTEST thing in the entire world is seeing cute little PERUVIAN grandmas in the temple.  Like I die every time.  I just want to hug all of them.  I sat by one today in the temple.  Half way through the session, I look over and she is passed out, head back, and snoring SO loud.  All of the missionaries were trying so hard not to laugh. But honestly it was really loud. I loved it.  On Pdays we get to walk around Lima and shop around.  We were talking about how "MIssion Field Sick" we get every time we get out of the CCM. But its all good. 3 more weeks :)  This week we had an awesome lesson with our mock investigator Ana.  Hna Morris and I had a great Plan of Salvation lesson planned.  We asked her if she had kept her commitment of praying and asking of Joseph Smith was a true prophet.  She said no, and that she felt weird praying. It was like the 3rd time she didnt follow through her commitment.  Right after I had the strongest feeling so just ask her to pray with us right then.  I asked her if she would, and explained that we were there if she needed help.  She gave the most heartfelt little prayer.  One of times that I have felt the spirit the strongest.  The investigators may not be real, but the spirit is still the same.  We are truly just tools for the spirit to work through.  All our job is, is to listen.        Welp, I still love the CCM! Learning more then I ever thought I could in 3 weeks.  Thank you all for your emails! You all rock. Have a fantastic week!    Love, Hermana Hansen

When is it ever a good idea to name a cracker this?

We have to learn this language??

                                           Pretty hardcore hermanas. We play to win. Siempre.

Seriously love this girl

My best little buddies

JULY 15 2015 ONE SPECIAL TENDER MERCY!!

July 15  2015

Hello Friends and Family!

First of all, shout out to all of you.  Thank you SO much for all of your love and support and kind words.  It means the world and I love hearing from you! So pretty much every week is the same in the CCM, but at the same time I feel like so much happens.  But I will try to remember some high lights.  We were able to watch Elder Packers Funeral over broadcast. It was so special, and maybe hoperfully some of you were able to watch it.  Talk about a man who completely dedicated his life to the Savior and his teachings.  So here in Lima, its almost 100% over cast, foggy, and what not. But this week it has been totally sunny!! We layed out in the sun and got some sweet missionary tan lines during companion study. We even got to see a sun set and the stars at night! Its the little things :)  For the past little while, during physical activity, we played volley ball with the Latinas.  They liked to play with us because they like to make fun of us and renact what we do.  And from what they show us, we may not be the most graceful volleyball players. Oh well. But we have gotten so close with the Latina hermanas!! They love to teach us spanish while we eat, and then we teach them English.  They have the biggest heats.  Its kinda a bummer, they only stay in the CCM for two weeks, then they head out. So we had to say a few sad goodbyes, but no worries, a new fresh batch of missionaries are coming in today! Also, we play soccer Every. Day. I may be actually decent by the time I leave the CCM! I have to be able to show all the little niños my skills.  So thats the goal!  Again all the latins just laugh at all the tall white girls trying to play.  Esta bien.

Sooo now I am officially an intermedio! The time here is going by so fast. At first, I was worried that the CCM would be forever.  But I can see that time is going to go by too fast.  I seriously LOVE my district, companion, and teachers.  We have all grown so close these past couple weeks. 

Ok. so story time.  I had totally forgotten that Shane was one of the missionaries interviewed for the MTC stress video.  I had been really struggling last week.  Just feeling like I was not accomplishing what I wanted and for sure not where I wanted to be as far as the language.  Just honestly really frazzled and stressed.  I had been praying so hard to feel peace about where I was and that I could get a handle on things.  Well we watched a video about stress as a district. And lo and behold, Shane pops up on the screen, talking to me about stress.  My job just dropped and I blurted out, uhhh thats my brother!! Everyone just freaked out.  And the thing was he told me exactly what I needed to hear.  Just like it was only me and him and he was giving me a little pep talk. Of course I just cried. I am sooo grateful for little tender mercies like that.  Also, shout out to Shane for the little pep talk. Youre awesome and I love you. 

Well all I can say is I love being a missionary! I expected the changes in culture, people, schedule,ect. as i entered the mission field. But I really wasnt expecting the change that would happen within myself.  I love learning spansih, I love learning more about the simple beautiful truths of the gospel, and I just simply love what Im doing. I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Love,

Hermana Hansen

JULY 8 2015 MY VERY FIRST EMAIL!!!

JULY 8 2015
MY VERY FIRST EMAIL!

Hola Everyone!!

Wow.... All I can really say is wow. First of all I still cant figure out this key board so I apologize that this may not make any sense.  Our plane ride was great! We met up with about 32 other missionaries, all going to Peru, and a few going to Bolivia.  At some point we all started singing called to serve on the plane.  I guess thats just what you do when you are a missionary!  On my first plane ride, I sat by a nice couple on their way to some sort of religious conference.  They started asking alot of questions, and by the end of it, I had taught them the whole word of wisdom. We shared some scriptures together and had a nice little chat.   On the plane ride to Lima, I sat next to the tinest Peruivian grandma ever...i wanted to keep her. But she was seriously the nicest, and told me all about Cusco. The first day in the CCM was literally the craziest thing I have ever experinced.  My companion is Hna Morris from Nevada.  We actually had a class together at BYUI together! Niether of us knew we were even going on missions. We were super stoked, seriously LOVE her.  There are 5 of us total going to Cusco, 4 sisters and 1 Elder.  Also, can I say my district is literally the BEST! its only been a week, and i feel like i have known these people for forever.  People are truly put into our lives for a reason! Anywho, the first day we just did orientation all day and learned more about the CCM.  We also had our first and last lesson in English. Oof. The next day was go time.  I had no idea what anyone was saying. At all. Like all day. But guess what, later that night we were planning our first lesson!! what?! que en el mundo??? Super stressful. I was terrified. My companion speaks pretty good spanish, so that helped a ton.  Going into our first lesson with our mock investigator, I was so scared.  I had one day of spanish behind me, and I was about to go attempt to teach this person something about the gospel.  Then i remembered what my family had told me before i left, "you dont know everything but you know enough.  My companion and I went in there and bore our testimony of what little spanish we knew. One of my few times I had felt the spirit so strong.  I was forced to testify about the basics, and simple truths that i knew.  Sometimes simple is better.  A week in, and i have taught 3 lessons, and asked someone to be baptized! Whoop whoop!  Spanish is still crazy hard for me.  But I am learning a little more each day, and gaining more confidence.  I really am so grateful for the opportunity I have to study the beautiful simple truths of the gospel and testify about them every day.  For the Fourth of July, we ate hamburgers and french fries!!! We were soo stoked.  After rice and potatoes 3 times a day, we were all really happy to have a change.  Rice and potatoes 3 times a day is no exaggeration either.  Lovin the insane carb Peru diet.  This week we also did interpools, y migracions.  Both of which consisted of long lines and craziness. As a district it is one of our goals to try to hand out a Book of Mormon anytime we leave the CCM (which is not very often...so when we do, its like Christmas morning.) At interpools, we were standing in line, and started talking to a few of the people around us.  By the time we left we had given away 3 Books of Mormon.  Peruvians and seriously the best!  They just love to talk to you and love to hear what you have to say.  Right before we left, one of the ladies ran up to the Elders and gave him the biggest hug.  (his reaction was priceless) and then gave him her lunch.  She graciously thanked him for the book of mormon and the message we all shared.  They are so humble and gracious here.  In one of our devotionals, the speaker asked us what we were going to give on our missions.  In my head, I thought about well, my time, my talents, my love, yada yada yada.  Then she got really serious and said No. We give everything on our missions.  I want to be able to come home and say i literally gave everything for 18 months.  Today we were able to go to the temple!! I think we will be able to go every p day, which is so awesome.  It was exactly what I needed after a long hectic but awesome week in the CCM.  This really is hard. Spanish is hard.  Im tired....alot, and I eat rice and potatoes every day. But I have never been so happy in my entire life.  The spirit is always so strong in the CCM.  I have had to rely on my Savior more this week then I ever have in my entire life.  I love putting on my  name tag every morning, and knowing that I get to be a representative of Jesus Christ.  I know this email is wayyy all over  the place, and I promise I will get better at writing.  Thank you all for your love and prayers this week, I have for sure felt them.  I hope you all had a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!! Hopefully you lit off some fireworks for me :) ALSO! happy birthday shout of to Becky and Emy!! Love you both sooooo much!! I love you all and i love being a missionary!! Talk to you next week!

Love, Hna Hansen