Miracles on Miracles

First week [of this transfer] down! I can honestly say that the mission is going too fast. Weeks keep getting shorter, months fly by, and transfers feel puny. I have had quite the emotions this week as well... insanely happy, hyper, mellow, exhausted, high energy, discouraged to the point I literally wanted to go home, then like 3 hours later saying "Man I just love being a missionary". My poor companion has just seen it all. But I love her, she's so patient and chill.

This past week we have been catching up on contacting referrals. Every single morning we have been pulling up the map and biking all around town to houses of referrals. Honestly it has been really fun, and I seriously love biking so it's great.

I CAN'T REALLY SAY A LOT MORE BECAUSE ALL WE DID WAS CONTACTING!

Oh here is something... The other night our appointment fell through, and I had a ton of energy, so we decided to just bike around and street contacted for a while. Well then I had a prompting to go try "M"-- an investigator of ours that we haven't seen for a hot second. We passed by his house and someone was working on a car in front. We stopped and asked if he knew if "M" was there. He told us that he was waiting for him as well, but that he should be back shortly. Well we didn't just want to wait around so we talked to this man for a short moment and kept moving forward. Then we see some ward members driving and we knew their house was super close so we decided to race them. I am proud to say that we won. We talked to them for a bit then left back where we came from, and guess who we ran into? You betcha, it was "M". We invited him to church, got his phone number, and set up a return appointment. Miracles on miracles.

To answer some questions:
My birthday was great. We didn't really have a little party but we did play volleyball which was exactly what I wanted for my birthday.

Our investigator has a date for baptism on June 30th!

The work is wonderful, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, but here. Love you all and don't forget "Ye shall find the truth and the truth shall make you free."

Love,
Sister Hansen

TRANSFERS

Honestly this is so wild. I seriously cannot even believe all the changes that were made this transfer. PRACTICALLY EVERYONE TRANSFERED. Except a few obviously. Sister Petersen and I are staying here in Modesto over the 8th and 10th ward. Sister Eliason is leaving us, and going to Manteca! She really will be missed.

My Birthday Celebration!

A cake a member made for me!

I have had the struggle on Mondays with emailing. There is seriously so much that happens but then I just can't put it in words, because it is just too much. But I will say this, our investigator is doing GREAT! She is so prepared, so smart, and really taking in the lessons and now her husband is sparking as well. He has been coming to activities and he came to church and he has built up so much fellowship and loves the people in the church. It is just a matter of time with him as well.

We got asked to lead a training and so we got a little creative.
Scripture Jeopardy
​

In the 10th ward we just started teaching a Brother and his son. The lesson went really well and so we are going to keep teaching them and yeah!

My awesome district!

Sorry transfer days don't have a lot of time, but know that we took the best district pictures ever. I am going to miss a lot of people. But wow. I am really overwhelmed.

Love you!
Sister Hansen

A GREAT FAMILY!

Happy Mother's Day!

NOTE FROM MOM: Loved talking to Sister Hansen on Mother's Day. She is happy, healthy, LOVING being a missionary and still a barrel of FUN! We had a great conversation with her 

and we talked so much on Sunday that there wasn't really any more information for her to 

write about on Monday. So instead of a letter, we'll put up a bunch of pictures that we took 

and some that she sent today:

SISTER HANSEN: Sorry no group email because I don't really have much to say,

 but I will send pictures!

MOM: I told the girls to go and have some sister time.
It's obvious they are happy to see each other!

Sister Hansen did mention something about the fact that
she may or may not have done a back flip on this
trampoline in a dress...I know where I'm placing my bets :)

 

Allison serving her companion.         

The word Establish

HELLO HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING??

Second M IS ON DATE FOR BAPTISM!! Yaaaayyy! She called us last week and asked us to come over because she needed to tell us something. We were so nervous, we thought she was going to drop us for sure. We went over to her house and sat down. Right away she said "I picked a day to be baptized!" We all freaked out! She is so prepared, and ready for this gospel. People literally just think she is a visiter. She comments in class, she raises her hand when we sustain people, SHE READS CONFERENCE TALKS WE DIDN'T EVEN TELL HER TO READ. Like this lady is amazing. She has already had wonderful experiences with the spirit, and to top it all off her child is the cutest.

We have another investigator who has so much desire to learn and grow and help his family recognize the blessings of the Gospel. His name is A. Hopefully he will be on date soon. Just talking to him you can just feel his sweet spirit.

Lately I have been studying and the word Establish or established. It has been popping up a lot. I decided to kinda dive into it. The definition to this word is: "Settled securely and unconditionally." "Shown to be valid beyond reasonable doubt." Really cool, I loved these. I thought to myself that Christ ESTABLISHED his church. It is perfect. It is set. We just need to live it. I was reading in Jesus the Christ this last week and came across this AWESOME quote...
"My doctrine is not mine,
but his that sent me.
If any man will do his will,
he shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God,
or whatever I speak of myself."

Now... Alma 26:6
"Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called."

A trip to the Doctor for a weird infection in my hand, but I'm A okay now.

A couple weeks ago I was able to finish a paperback Book of Mormon and marked all the references to Christ. It was so awesome to see just how much He is a part of our life. Even when we may miss it, He is there. Let me just say I loved that so much but I have a HUGE attachment to my quad. Happy to be back into the old routine of studying, but I recommend you try this! It is really interesting.

LOVE YOU!

Love,
Sister Hansen

It was quite a busy week...(so, short letter)

Alright here we go. So Monday - Tuesday was EXCHANGES. I have officially hit every zone in the mission now. Goal accomplished. Houghson is so cute. LIterally the cutest little town. Exchanges were great. We had a lesson with one of their Investigators that has a baptismal date and she is AWESOME. Wow so cool. The house there was tiny so fitting five people in that little house was... fun and hot and exciting and small and yeah. Twas a good day.

My temple socks!

Wednesday was Zone Conference!! Literally this day is my favorite day in the mission. When all the missionaries get to come together and council and just be together. Wow so much fun. It was quite a uplifting experience. President Palmer was very concerned about our safety and our well being. It was just so good. Then after Zone Conference we had a meeting with our investigator, Monica. She is amazing. We met with her and she told us how much she loved these two conference talks. She sent them to her friends and everything. WE DIDN'T EVEN TELL HER TO. She is so amazing. She is so excited about coming to church and she has this adorable son. His name is Liam. She is amazing.

It was quite a busy week. But I don't have time to write it all down. So sorry! Hope you all have a wonderful week!

LOVE,
SISTER HANSEN

I honestly cannot even title this email

Let me start from the beginning of the week...
Monday the weather was wild. It down poured then it was beautiful weather, "Blue skies and SUNSHINE!", then it hailed, then it was "Blue skies and SUNSHINE!" then the whole parking lot at the church was just steaming... it was quite scary, then it rained some more. Crazy. We went to help someone at their house and before we went in, there was a pile of snow at the bottom of their gutter. Obviously we took a picture.

Some Utah boys who are in Modesto working summer sales.
They stopped to say HELLO when they saw the sister missionaries!

Happy Birthday to Sister Eliason. We had such a good missionary day! I guess we should have more birthdays around here because we were able to meet with two of our investigators in 8th ward and have lessons with them, we got lunch and can't forget the ice cream.

Sister Peterson and me playing with snakes.

Then Miss Halie Goulding. Man I love her. She was able to come to our District meeting and share an awesome mission experience/training with us about the atonement. (if only our district was reverent). I don't know why, but this girl like loved me, we barely even know each other. I have only seen her twice, but we were like besties. She is so cute, she left right after District meeting to go to Utah for her sisters wedding then she is headed out for BYU-I for school. She was literally home from her mission for less than a week... remind me not to do that. Wow. I need a little more time with my family. Like wow.

We got a really solid referral from Head Quarters. His name is J.S. He started chatting with missionaries online and he ordered himself a Book of Mormon and Bible and told us he had already been looking through it. He told us that he just wants to find the Lord. Although he has great faith he wants to expand his faith and come to know Christ even more. When we called him, he sounded really young and we were sorta bummed because we would have to pass it on to the YSA Elders but we asked him his age and he said 15! So we have to get parents permission but we were so impressed with this 15 year old boy looking for the truth... sounds familiar.

HOLY COW. JENNY MAY! This crazy lady gave us a call this last week and told us she would be moving into the ward and that she may need some help moving in. We told her we would love to help and oddly enough Sister Palmer called that day and said she wanted to have lunch with us, we told her about the situation and Sister Palmer (mission president's wife) said "GREAT! I'll come!" This lady is an angel and she is hilarious. The May family is AMAZING. They told us they haven't been to church in a while but told us that they would like to be fully active again. THEY WILL BE. Sister Eliason spoke in church and they come strolling in! Very exciting.

LOVE MODESTO clean up crew (aka missionaries!)

#L❤veModesto was this week! This is a giant service project thing that the whole community gets together and spreads throughout Modesto to pick up garbage help build stuff and just make Modesto a better place. There was a TON of people there. IT WAS SO FUN! Sister Petersen, Eliason, and I as well as Elder Longman, Beus, Andersen, and Pasikala we all went to Agnes Baptist school and did yard work and some other stuff. Seriously so much fun.

Have a great week!
Sister Hansen

CHIN UP AND CHARGE THE MOUNTAIN

WHAT. A. WEEK.

Alright people, this week was wild. everything about it, and I honestly can't even believe it has only been a week. We are so overwhelmed with all the work we have to organize between the 8th ward and the 10th ward. We have been so busy with moving in and organizing dinners and all that other stuff. Just when I thought I was going to have a break down because of all the stress, Sunday came.

My new companions: Sister Peterson, Sister Eliason and Me!

For all those who have been on missions Sundays are a day that we, as missionaries, all look forward too. To sit and listen to the prelude music, sing hymns with the congregation and the people we love, partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants with our Heavenly Father, listen to the speakers and be spiritually fed with wonderful news and further knowledge about this wonderful Gospel we have been privileged to be a part of. Well, this particular Sunday was very stand out. In Ward Council we had a very nice discussion about how to prevent abuse in the homes. It amazed me that the church is time and time again taking the bigger step, what a good look we must have to cover this and be so concerned about the Family. I was reading a Conference talk from April 2013 (We can do that now with smartphones ❤😍) A talk by Elder L. Whitney Clayton he said "Humility means that both husbands and wives seek to bless, help, and lift each other, putting the other first in every decision." This is only one of many references that apostles and prophets and not to mention our Father above have mentioned about families and the respect we should have for each other at all times. May we all "Cleave" unto this Gospel and families and not let go.

Sister Eliason and me sporting our awesome helmets!

Whoops went on a tangent... anyways back to church. So there was a missionary homecoming this last week and she honestly changed my mission, and my life. She spoke about her mission in a way that was just amazing to me. She cherished the miracles that she was able to take part of and expressed her appreciation for the spirit directing her to decide to go on a mission, if she wouldn't have listened she wouldn't have been able to take part in anything that she cherished so dearly. It made me think, "That is what I want". She also talked about the Atonement like I have never heard and it just opened a whole new eye to the gift that we have been given. Wow, she was amazing.

The rest of church was wild because we had to go to both wards, ward councils and so forth. BUSY BUSY BUSY.

I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity to serve. I have been very blessed.

Met up with one of my favorite families from my first area. Love these people!

Sister Hansen

VERY HAPPY TEARS PEOPLE.

I am so overwhelmed with everything I have to cover today. But guess what? The internet is down at the church, so I have to use my phone which is not fun. Next week hopefully I will be able to tell you more...

So here are some main points for this week...Sister Rose is a strong individual and God put us together for a reason, it was no coincidence. God has a plan for each of us and he has a heck of a plan for Sister Rose. We love her very very much.

Conference was AMAZING! And wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. So many changes. But one of my favorite parts they saved for last! New temples! LAYTON UTAH. SAY WHHAAATTTTT! I wish my reaction was on video. I was all sitting back on the couch then he said that and I shot up faster then I ever have, gasped and then started to cry... very happy tears might I add. VERY HAPPY TEARS PEOPLE.

No more visiting teaching? I'm almost a little bummed about this, but I know it is Gods will. I remember in Tracy when Bishop Hendricks talked to Sister Bustos and I in one of our meetings. He said "a visiting teacher will be one of if not the most important calling of your life. Please preform faithfully." I appreciated that so much and at that moment I committed to be a faithful visiting teacher when I returned home from my mission. And now I will minister to whomever I am assigned. These are souls we are talking about, treat them with so much care, just as the Savior would.

Sorry for the short email... But I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Really random pictures this week... oops

Also very foggy morning.I don't know if I have told you guys this but we have been playing frisbee every morning and I have been teaching them how to throw a frisbee. They are killing it!

Sister Hansen

10 seconds of Courage!

How is everyone doing? First off I want to apologize to those of you who email me and I don't get back to you. Here are my bad reasonings behind it... 1)There are a lot of things happening and needing to happen on Mondays. 2)I cannot focus enough to email for very long. 3)Bored of being on the computers for too long.... So now that I have cleared that up lets get on to this very exciting week!

I GOT TO HOLD A BIRD: Pretty cool experience because the owner was like, "Wow she was so good with You! Your so confident with her!" So pretty much I'm a bird whisperer.

We had exchanges! GUESS WHO IS MY SISTER TRAINING LEADER!? YUP SISTER BUSTOS! We got there and then we were assigned to our sister training leaders. Sister Rose went with Sister Bird. Sister Turinetti and I went with Sister Bustos! The exchange was awesome, so many experiences were brought to pass. Sister Bustos has grown so much and she is such an amazing missionary. She realizes that missionaries do awkward things and she just does all she can to spread the word. We actually talked to this guy that was just so shocked that we were there and that we stopped and were willing to answer his questions. After we talked with him for 45 min. and showed him a video about the Atonement he accepted that we could come back. Quite an amazing experience. Thanks Sister Bustos :)

Sister Turinetti, Sister Bustos, Me!

Awesome Yosemite mural on Yosemite Ave.

Ok I am running out of time yet again, but let me tell you about an experience I had this last week. So just a reminder... we have technology. Ok so the other night we were going to visit this referral that was given to us a while back. This would be the second time we had contacted her, the first time we saw her she answered the door and told us that she was going through a really rough time and that her husband had just passed away. She told us to come back on a Friday evening. Well the following Friday evening we tried her and there was no answer. So the other day we tried her again (this is maybe like a week and a half later). Well her daughter answered the door and told us pretty much the same thing, but that her mom wanted us to text her in advance. So we got her number and since then we have texted her. We said that we didn't want to pressure her into meeting with us but that we had a message that could really help her. We attached the #BecauseofHim video.

But guess what? That wasn't even the good part. As we left her house that night, there was this group of high school kids that were messing around in the cold-a-sac. First off let me tell you that talking to youth on the street is something we are counseled not to do, just because of legal complexities. Anyway, so Sister Turinetti and Sister Rose were updating the record of this referral and I had a REALLY strong prompting that we needed to go talk to those kids and share the same video with them. I told my companions "Hey!10 seconds of Courage. We are gonna go share the video with those kids." Well we walked up to them, actually I looked back and realized that I had walked so quickly that I was the only one that was ready to talk to them. Anyway I said "HEY we are missionaries and we are out sharing a video, we were wondering if we could share it with you all as well?" One kid YELLED at his friends and said "Hey we are watching a video" They were a little weird about it, you know, cause they are in high school, but then they were like super into the video. When it got over the spirit was so strong and they just started asking questions and stuff and we were able to testify about the restoration and the Book of Mormon and stuff. It was honestly amazing. I was so very grateful for that opportunity. "10 seconds of courage" is now our companionship motto. You never know whose life you can change.

Talk about "puppy dog eyes!"

Grateful for the amazing opportunities that are placed in front of me every single day to testify and share the gospel.

Don't forget! Missionaries are always grateful for letters! To be honest, if you want a personal response I am more likely to do it in a letter.

LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Hansen

Raindrops keep falling on my head

SURPRISE! I'M ON FACEBOOK! Don't worry I can't believe it either. I can say that I don't love to be updated like all the time about everyone's life sooo for the most part I have been unfriending and hiding posts:) I have mostly missionaries on my feed which is VERY uplifting and I hope it stays like that forever. Cleaning out my facebook was... interesting. Super weird seeing all these OLD pictures and stuff. While we were all going through that and hiding stuff and stuff Sister Rose pulls up a pre-picture... with me in it. CRAZY.

Elder Pope. Knew of him but never talked to him. We were biking home from church and he honks and sticks his head out the window. Then comes and says hello. He has been home for like 3 months and came back to tour the mission with his parents!

Also that day at Zone Conference I saw my 5th Cousin, Elder Gifford! Haha everytime we see each other he gives an remark like "Hey! Have you talked to Uncle Joe lately?" or "Hey Cuz!" Just silly stuff like that.

Still can't believe she is my companion!

So I don't have a lot of time/I don't have the patience to write an email :D but it rained QUITE a bit today. ​​I have a VIDEO of that. My jacket is still not water proof (sorry mom). But it was quite fun to play in the rain.

Doodles

Sorry for the lame email. Thanks for everything!

WOW! Time is flying by way too fast...8 months!!

This week has literally flown by. We are already on Week 3 of the Transfer.
The other day was extremely busy and we didn't have a dinner that night so Sister Mckinnon (the sweetest old lady in the whole world, she drives us around on Mondays and so forth) took us under her wing. We got to her house at like 7:00 and we were in SUCH a weird mood. We were exhausted, and almost falling asleep at the dinner table... We seriously thought that Sister Turinetti was going to fall asleep on her bike. We were DEAD.

A sister in the ward made us all aprons.
Me, Sister Turinetti, Sister Rose

Anyway... So HEY WE HAVE SMARTPHONES NOW! I cannot believe that this day has finally come, there has been so many rumors of the smartphones and how they are happening and what we are using them for and WHEN we were getting them. Finally we have received the smartphones. We have already been receiving online referrals and figuring out Gospel Library and so forth. It is such a blessing.

Church on Sunday was soooo amazing. Sacrament meeting was just so full of the spirit. Here is an analogy that I would LOVE to share... Compare the Atonement/Savior to a glow stick and a child. Imagine the child waving the glow stick around all dull and thinking how enjoyable it is. He has no idea what "fun" he is capable of having. His older brother takes the dull glow stick and cracks it and the child realizes what he has been missing. The glow stick shines and the child is so thrilled. Once it was broken then it could glow.

I GOT TO PET A HORSE!!

Not exactly the story and I probably slaughtered it buuuutt it helped me understand why hard things happen to good people. Trials come because "once [we] are broken [we] are able to glow." What an amazing knowledge we have of a loving Heavenly Father who is willing to watch us go through hard trials. But he knows the growth that will come from it.

Quinton L. Cook once said "The test of greatness is the way One meets the eternal Everyday."
A couple other things I studied that touched my heart...
President Gordon B. Hinckley has reminded us, "We are here to assist our Father in His work and His glory, 'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses 1:39)"
"Behold, the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way:" (Alma 22:4)

Hope everyone has an amazing week!

Love, Sister Hansen