MY HANDS WERE NUMB AND RED AND COLD

This week feels like it has been forever long. But here we go. I went to church on Sunday and that was sooooo good. The spirit was so strong:) It was a regional Stake conference, but the best part of this week was District meeting which was held by Elder Stock and Wade!! Probably the best District meeting that I have had on my mission. Great missionaries that's for sure.

Ok now on to the real stuff...
Wednesday we had exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders in Manteca let me just say THIS WAS SO HARD. Exchanges are hard. But we always leave learning A LOT! We literally did finding THE WHOLE TIME. IN THE RAIN. WE WERE SO COLD. MY HANDS WERE NUMB AND RED AND COLD. I was so bitter about it and I was literally praying THE whole time. We were getting no success and people were not being SUPER nice to us. I prayed that we would just run into someone or knock on someone's door that would be nice to us, it was already like 8:30 at night and just reminding you, raining and cold and dark and cold and raining. I literally prayed "Prove me wrong that we could find someone". We knock on this door at 8:40 or so and a man opened the door that was not interested but he had Mormon friends and he was asking us a lot of questions. Let me tell you this man was the answer to my prayer, he was so kind and get this... when we left he asked if he could leave us a prayer. This prayer was literally exactly what I needed and it was one of the best experiences for me. I am very grateful.

SOAKED!

I am VERY sad because both my necklaces (Bird and Bike) BROKE! What the heck I was ticked. The bike must have broke when we were biking or something because I could only find the chain, the bike was GONE. I was so sad.

Sister Bustos and me with the STL's

In Presidents letter this last week, I read it at a time when it was very relevant to me. Here is the last paragraph Take it as you will but it really touched my heart...
"So whenever our heart is heavy or troubled and life seems over-burdened by worldly distractions, difficult companions, discouraging news from home, or disappointment resulting from investigators not keeping commitments or following guidance given by the Holy Ghost, may we never weary in serving the Savior. With even greater determination, let us “never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls” (Alma 37:34). Further, we must always remember that “Jesus never will forsake us…He will leave us never, never…so look upward in joy and take hold of His hand; He will lead (us) to heights that are new.”

One of our investigators is actually moving on Tuesday. He still has a desire to be taught and to be baptized it just won't be us teaching him. We wish him good luck in the new place though.

Until Next week! Love you all so much!
Sister Hansen

Email me at: anhansen@myldsmail.net
OR write me a letter!
Sister Allison Hansen
California Modesto Mission
4300 Dale Road
Modesto, CA 95356

R.I.P. to the Tracy Elders

First week without the Elders in the ward AND taking on their area. WOW BUSY BUSY BUSY. So far so good, we are still alive so that's good. 

Not much has happened this week so sorry it is sort of boring. Thursday we had District meeting with the new District. GUESS WHO IS MY NEW DISTRICT LEADER?? Elder Mutchie from my graduating class! Except they are in Oakland because his companion got a collapsed lung so he actually had surgery yesterday and is doing so well. The doctor said it is amazing, he healed so quick that it looks like he didn't even have surgery. MIRACLES BABY! Being a missionary is so flippin awesome. 

Our investigator is doing very well. We had a member come with us to teach the Law of Chastity and he REALLY understands it. It was an awesome lesson and we felt very uplifted as we left, except he can TALKKKK, I'll just leave it at that. 

Me, happy to be up at 6:30 a.m.

Also I challenge all of you to read "Finding Joy in the Journey". President Monson talks about a guy in Prisoner of War and he had 25 words to send home. He didn't mention anything about being safe or being alive, he talked about the things that are important to him, he mentioned mission, temple marriage, and education and other things. My challenge to you all is to write 25 words talking about WHO YOU ARE. I would LOVE to hear back from you **whether it be hand written or in an email.** p.s. LOVE LETTERS

My 25 words:

Life is about joy, happiness, gratitude, and fun. Smile oft, say "I love you" Believe in Christ, pray more, pursue what makes you most happy. 

Love you all!

The rain was SOOO much fun!

This has been a LONG week. Let's start from the beginning Tuesday we had a lesson with Justin, and Sister Palmer actually came because she was doing her "Stop in's" that day and we were on the list.

Transfers were this week and we were NERVOUS! But good news we are BOTH staying in Tracy! BUUUTTT the Elders that we were sharing the ward with us are both getting transferred and are not getting replaced. We have the WHOLE Tracy area to ourselves and I am TERRIFIED. I thought that the area was big now, well it just doubled in size. I am so sad that the Elders are leaving, they were so awesome and the ward loved them. This will be good for us though. We gained three new investigators through them and so we will be busy busy busy. Please send prayers our way.

Samuel the Lamanite?

The rain was SOOO much fun, I went through like four outfits in two days because they were completely soaked. Wouldn't change anything. Sister Bustos and I are excited to keep learning and growing together. We are so pumped.

Before tracting in the rain

After tracking in the rain

We very much enjoyed the Broadcast of President Monson's funeral. He truly did live a life worth emulating and he has been an amazing example to all the Latter Day saints. He lived "A Legacy of Love and Service". I LOVE THIS MAN but I am so happy that he is with his wonderful wife.

I hope everyone is doing swell. I LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Hansen


Email me at: anhansen@myldsmail.net

Teaching discussions in my sleep

First off, Justin did not get baptized this last week, in his interview they decided that a little more time would be best. These guys (elders/district leaders/missionaries) are such inspired guys we appreciate them very much. Justin is doing VERY well and is still progressing towards baptism. It will happen he just needs a little more time. Sorry to get everyone all excited! 

Rainy Days. LITERALLY SOAKED

HAPPY NEW YEARS! We were lucky enough to be inside at 7:30 that night so we didn't have to get hit by drunk drivers, or blown up by fireworks... Very Grateful. I had a HUGE migraine that night, like while we were studying that night I had to turn off all the lights because my head was on fire. But everything was great, I actually got a ton of sleep that night like 10+ hours, very nice and I felt good the next morning so that was good. 

Sister Bustos trying to stay dry.

For the past couple weeks I have been sleep talking and sleep walking... not only that but I have been teaching missionary discussions in my sleep, LITERALLY WALKING AROUND THE ROOM KNOCKING ON DOORS. (I know this because my sweet companion told me so) Pretty funny just thought I would share. 

Last week my subject was strong, but my email was... terrible. (Sorry about that). Let me explain. In a district meeting Elder Hacking (District Leader) explained to us that we needed to "Wake Up". This lesson HIT ME SO HARD, and made me realize that I needed to wake up and start my mission, live the Gospel to its fullest, EMBRACE Christ. He told us that a lot of people think of themselves as a five gallon bucket trying to get as full as they could. "In reality we are the ocean, how many five gallon buckets can we put into the ocean without it overflowing?" The answer is we don't know... obviously, but it gave us a mental picture of HOW MUCH potential our Heavenly Father has in us. If only we could see a little glimpse of that. I was brought back to a thought, My wonderful trainer Sister Valgardson used to pray that we could "be the missionaries that thou knowest we can become." Heavenly Father knows, our job is to work hard enough to reach that. I invite all of us to recognize what keeps us asleep, what wakes us up, and what are we going to do about it? "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Sister Bustos and me

It was Stake Conference this last weekend and Elder Auna of the 70 was presiding. He spoke with such authority and power, but with such simplicity. He was an amazing man. Things that touched my heart...

-Instruct 

-Inspire 

-Invite to act

-As disciples of Jesus Christ, what can we do to improve how we "instruct and edify each other" in the Savior's way?

-Simplicity

"The Savior is the master of simplicity, the devil is the master of complexity."

- The Holy Ghost..

1) Teaches us

2) Brings to remembrance what we have learned

My goal in this life is to do what President Monson has simply said, "They live lives worth emulating"

Have an amazing week! Love you all!

Sister Hansen

anhansen@myldsmail.net

JUSTIN IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!

This week has been amazing and has gone by so quick. It is hard to believe that Christmas was last week and I talked to my family... but this week has gone by so quick.

Me and Sister Bustos just chillin'

JUSTIN IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!! We had a lesson with him the other day and we were planning on inviting him to be baptized but then he said "I want to get baptized, how do I do that?" We were so excited. So this Saturday we are going to be holding my first baptism, and I could not be more ecstatic. We have been teaching him every single day and have been seeing him twice a day whether it be to read the Book of Mormon with him or to just check up on him (Word of Wisdom help). He is so receptive of everything that we are saying and is excited about his life after baptism. I hope for the best for him and am excited to keep working with him. 

The Zone Christmas picture

I am so sorry that i am so bad at emailing now. There is just so much to do on preparation days. 

Sister Hansen

anhansen@myldsmail.net

California Modesto Mission

Sister Allison Hansen

4300 Dale Rd.

Modesto, CA 95356