Well, it's been a week full of incredible blessings! I feel like the Lord is really aware of the people that we are teaching and I'm amazed to see the changes that have come into people's lives this past week. We really are being blessed in our area.
This last week we had an amazing experience with Marco and Stephanie, some new investigators I think I told you about last week. we had a lesson with them on monday night, with an awesome young couple in our ward. They planned an FHE for them and we talked about families and how to strengthen our families. Marco and Stephanie loved it. After the lesson, Marco turned to us and said, "I've been thinking and I want to be baptized." He told us of how much he's seen a difference in his life and he said that this was the path he wanted to take. Stephanie wasn't quite sure yet, but she said that she really loved what she saw so far about the church. we were amazed by how fast they have been able to realize the hand of the Lord in their lives! Two days later we had a lesson with Stephanie. We talked about babtism and the reasons behind it because we knew she had a lot of questions. At first the lessons was a little crazy. Her little boy was crying and we it was a little harder to teach, but the cute couple that came with us, really helped us to calm the baby down and focus on Stephanie. She opened up to us and told us about her feelings about everything. She told us that she had seen a huge difference in her life since she has been introduced to the church. She began to tell us of all these incredible miracles that have happened just in the past 2 weeks. She told us she's had problems with depression, but since she met us, she has been so happy. Before she has been so depressed she doesn't want to eat, but she doesn't feel that anymore. She feels like she is loved and that someone cares about her. She also told us that her family has been so much closer. There are other miracles that she's seen, but I know how sacred they are to her, so I don't know if I should share them. But there is no doubt in my mind that she has seen the hand of the Lord reaching out to her in her life. As she told of her experiences, the Spirit filled me and I felt such a deep love for her in her heart. I was reminded of the reality of God's infinite love for us and His willingness to reach out to help us all. I couldn't help but just cry for the last 20 minutes of the lesson. I was a mess, but I couldn't help it. It was the most spiritual experience of my mission so far! Her and her husband plan to get baptized on the 9th of July. I know that they were led to us and that we were sent to help them. I love this family with all my heart and am so greatful for the chance to bring them to Christ.
One interesting thing that I have realized is that when things go wrong, you always know that something incredible is just around the corner. The day before the lesson with Stephanie, we had a really hard day where nothing went the way we'd planned. Our lessons fell through and felt like it was a very unproductive day. We were super discouraged, but the next day we had that amazing lesson. Sometimes Satan tries to discourage us just when our greatest opportunities are there, so that for some reason we miss those chances, but we must always be positive because God always has something wonderful in store for us!
This week we also had Beto's baptism. It was amazing! I tried to add pictures to this email, but the computer I'm on wouldn't let me, so I'll have to try again next week. He was so ready and so excited to be baptized. He just had a glow about him. The whole program for the babtism went super well and there were so many people there! And, for all of you that know how hard it is for me to sing in front of people, I'll have you know that I sang a solo. I didn't do perfectly, but I did it. Beto really wanted me to, and I'd do anything for him, even be humiliated in front of 50 people. After his baptism, they had him come up to the front. He thanked everyone for being there and then he turned to Hermana Norton and I with tears in his eyes and thanked us for being patient with him. He is such a sweetheart! I am so happy for him and for his family! Already he is an amazing member of the ward. Just yesterday he was commenting and answering questions in gospel principles and sharing his testimony. I can't believe the change that has come over him and the light I see about him. The Lord truly is powerful and changes hearts everyday!
We also had many other miracles happen this week. We see the Lord's hand truly in all of our investigators and we see their desires to come closer to Him and to really do what He would have them do. I love people and I love feeling this love for them. I love being a missionary! I know that my Redeemer lives and that He cares about each and every one of us. He is leading us all on the path that we need to be on, whether we can see that or not. But we are so quick to forget that. It's so easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of life and to forget to look for God in our lives, but He is there and He cares. I promise and I know that that is true.
love,
Hermana Anneli Hansen
Monday, June 27, 2011
I'm growing
Wow! It's been an incredible week. This week I have seen a lot of opportunities for me to grow spiritually and to learn. The Lord truly knows that I have things to learn and BOY is He teaching me. But I'm grateful for it. I feel like this whole transfer so far has been a transfer of refining and that through it all, the Lord is stretching me and blessing me too. I'm learning a lot about what it means to be a true representative of Christ and to give my ALL to God. I have a long way to go, but I know that as I work a little on this every day the Lord will strengthen me and my weaknesses will become my strengths.
First of all, let me tell you about Gabby's baptism. It was actually on the 11th, but because of all the amazing miracles from last week, I totally forgot to put it in the last email. It was awesome to see Gabby baptized. She was so ready and had planned out her baptism program to perfection, but of course, a few things didn't go as planned, but the whole time she was smiling and so happy. The Spirit was there so stong and it was awesome to see her parents support, even though they don't really agree with her decision. They were so cute and it was so fun to meet them. She just beamed as she was baptized and the next day when she was confirmed. I am so grateful for her willingness and desire to be baptized. I am so grateful to have been a small part of that process. Yeah for Gabby!
This week we were worried about a lot of the people we are teaching and what their desires really are-if they really are serious about this all or not. So we went into our lessons with a desire to figure out where they were at. It was interesting to see how the Lord has prepared each of them. It turns out that each one of them have had a lot of special experiences lately that have actually led them to have more of a desire to change their lives for God. I have one story in particular to share. One lady that we are teaching has a boyfriend that does not want to get married to her. She has tried asking him about it and we've even tried to talk with him about it, but he's super scared of commitment. The funny thing is that this couple has been together already for 15 years and they have two beautiful little girls together. Basically, they are already committed. So we've been praying that he will have a desire to marry her so that she can be baptized. This week when we visited her, she told us that their youngest daughter needs some surgery and in order to get help with that, they need to be married. Also, if they are married, this couple will be able to get papers to be legal in the United States. So now there is a lot more pressure on this guy to get married. We see this as a huge miracle and we know that the Lord is answering our prayers so that this wonderful woman can be baptized and be blessed by the gospel.
Also this week we had stake conference for the Tempe Stake. It was really so good for me. I was so spiritually chastened and rejuvinated. In the adult session of stake conference on Saturday night, the stake president, Pres. Clegg showed the stake a clip from a talk to Elder Holland gave in the MTC. In the talk, he spoke of the experience that happened to the disciples, namely Peter, in John 21. In this chapter, it is after Christ's death and resurrection and He has already appeared to them a few times. The disciples are now going back to their former work of fisherman. They fish all day, but do not catch anything. By the end of the night, Christ appears to them and says to cast their nets on the other side. They do and their nets are filled to the brims. When he realizes that it is Christ, Peter runs to Him. After this experience, Christ is talking to him and he says, Peter, lovest thou me more than these (meaning the fish)? And Peter says, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus answers by saying , Feed My Lambs. This happens 2 more times and by the third time, Peter, more sincere than ever, again answers, Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love thee. And the Lord says again, Feed My Sheep. Elder Holland goes on to talk about that experience. After Christ's life and this great journey He had with the apostles, the last thing He wants them to do is to go back to their former lives of fisherman. So He appears again to them and teaches them, that if they truly love Him, they will continue on in this jouney of discipleship and apostleship. Elder Holland pointed out that our callings that we have now are not just a 2 year or a 1 and a half year call. They are forever calls. This call is a call to change, to become like the Savior, and to never look back. That hit me so hard. I need to look at this position and the things that I am learning right now as a call to love the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strengh (D&C 4:2) and to never look back. That is my new goal. To put aside the old and to look to God who is the "high priest of good things to come." Then will my mission truly become a sacred experience. I love the Lord so much that I am willing to do that and to change my life forever. I am going to let this mission change me for good. I have much, much to learn and here is the time to learn it.
Well, I hope that you all are having a wonderful day. I hope that you all had a great time with your families for Fathers Day. Families are so important and I am so grateful for good priesthood holders and the difference they make in our lives. Thank you!
Con Amor,
Hermana Anneli Hansen
First of all, let me tell you about Gabby's baptism. It was actually on the 11th, but because of all the amazing miracles from last week, I totally forgot to put it in the last email. It was awesome to see Gabby baptized. She was so ready and had planned out her baptism program to perfection, but of course, a few things didn't go as planned, but the whole time she was smiling and so happy. The Spirit was there so stong and it was awesome to see her parents support, even though they don't really agree with her decision. They were so cute and it was so fun to meet them. She just beamed as she was baptized and the next day when she was confirmed. I am so grateful for her willingness and desire to be baptized. I am so grateful to have been a small part of that process. Yeah for Gabby!
This week we were worried about a lot of the people we are teaching and what their desires really are-if they really are serious about this all or not. So we went into our lessons with a desire to figure out where they were at. It was interesting to see how the Lord has prepared each of them. It turns out that each one of them have had a lot of special experiences lately that have actually led them to have more of a desire to change their lives for God. I have one story in particular to share. One lady that we are teaching has a boyfriend that does not want to get married to her. She has tried asking him about it and we've even tried to talk with him about it, but he's super scared of commitment. The funny thing is that this couple has been together already for 15 years and they have two beautiful little girls together. Basically, they are already committed. So we've been praying that he will have a desire to marry her so that she can be baptized. This week when we visited her, she told us that their youngest daughter needs some surgery and in order to get help with that, they need to be married. Also, if they are married, this couple will be able to get papers to be legal in the United States. So now there is a lot more pressure on this guy to get married. We see this as a huge miracle and we know that the Lord is answering our prayers so that this wonderful woman can be baptized and be blessed by the gospel.
Also this week we had stake conference for the Tempe Stake. It was really so good for me. I was so spiritually chastened and rejuvinated. In the adult session of stake conference on Saturday night, the stake president, Pres. Clegg showed the stake a clip from a talk to Elder Holland gave in the MTC. In the talk, he spoke of the experience that happened to the disciples, namely Peter, in John 21. In this chapter, it is after Christ's death and resurrection and He has already appeared to them a few times. The disciples are now going back to their former work of fisherman. They fish all day, but do not catch anything. By the end of the night, Christ appears to them and says to cast their nets on the other side. They do and their nets are filled to the brims. When he realizes that it is Christ, Peter runs to Him. After this experience, Christ is talking to him and he says, Peter, lovest thou me more than these (meaning the fish)? And Peter says, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus answers by saying , Feed My Lambs. This happens 2 more times and by the third time, Peter, more sincere than ever, again answers, Lord, thou knowest all things. Thou knowest that I love thee. And the Lord says again, Feed My Sheep. Elder Holland goes on to talk about that experience. After Christ's life and this great journey He had with the apostles, the last thing He wants them to do is to go back to their former lives of fisherman. So He appears again to them and teaches them, that if they truly love Him, they will continue on in this jouney of discipleship and apostleship. Elder Holland pointed out that our callings that we have now are not just a 2 year or a 1 and a half year call. They are forever calls. This call is a call to change, to become like the Savior, and to never look back. That hit me so hard. I need to look at this position and the things that I am learning right now as a call to love the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strengh (D&C 4:2) and to never look back. That is my new goal. To put aside the old and to look to God who is the "high priest of good things to come." Then will my mission truly become a sacred experience. I love the Lord so much that I am willing to do that and to change my life forever. I am going to let this mission change me for good. I have much, much to learn and here is the time to learn it.
Well, I hope that you all are having a wonderful day. I hope that you all had a great time with your families for Fathers Day. Families are so important and I am so grateful for good priesthood holders and the difference they make in our lives. Thank you!
Con Amor,
Hermana Anneli Hansen
Monday, June 13, 2011
Miracles this Week
Wow! This week has been so wonderful! There truly have been so many little miracles and blessings. I feel like I've grown so much this week from these experiences and can see the hand of the Lord in all that I am doing. First of all, I am would just like to say that I am grateful for trials. I am grateful for these growing pains that we have in life and the chance to stretch myself and grow in order to become closer to the Savior and also in order to "forget myself and go to work". When I first got here to Arizona, my mission president, President Howes told us that each missionary has his/her own capacity and all that matters is that they try their best and the Lord will love them and bless them and their work for their efforts. There's no doubt that I have noticed that as I've been here in Tempe. I can see that I have many weaknesses and I am not strong in a lot of areas, but I truly am trying my best and through it, I can feel myself grow and progress. I can see the Lord's hand in the work and I can feel love for these people and the love of the Lord for me and for my efforts.
Let me tell you just a few of the miracles that happened this week. We had a lesson on wednesday with Beto, our little friend that has known for a while that he needs to be baptized, but something has held him back. He told us last week, that he would pray about a date for baptism, but when we got to his house that night, he hadn't prayed. So we talked a little bit about that and had a really good lesson, but ultimately we weren't sure what to do to help him. I love him and his family so much and we have grown pretty close to them over that past few weeks, so we feel very comfortable talking to Beto. He loves to joke around with us and started joking about his baptism and somehow we started planning the program for the baptism, but still we had no date. It was so silly! He knew he was going to get baptized, but still he would not tell us when. So we started talking about a potential date for his baptism. We asked him which date he thought might work for him and he became very serious. With the help of his wife, they chose a date that they
thought might be good, the 25th of June. Hermana Norton, the wise little missionary that she is, asked him if he wanted to pray right then and there about that date. We weren't sure if he'd actually do it, but we started getting up from our chairs to kneel and slowly, but surely, he came too. His wife ran and got the kids because she knew this would be an awesome experience. Once we were all together, Beto said the prayer. It was the most beautiful, sincere prayer. He humbly told the Lord that he wanted to follow him and keep the commandments and asked for himself if he should be baptized on the 25th of June. The Spirit was so strong and as the prayer finished and we all looked up, we were all crying. Then they all pulled each other into a big hug. That was one of the most incredible experiences that I've ever had. To see the effect the Savior and the gospel can have on someone to change their lives completely is so beautiful! Beto's wife, who is a member, was so happy! They are going to be a forever family! They are already talking about going to the Salt Lake Temple next year to be sealed before their son leaves on his mission. I am so content...
That was only the beginning of the miracles that came from this week. We also had a family that came to church this week after the first lesson. For hispanics, it's a big deal to get them to come to church after just one lesson, so we were very pleasantly surprised. They are super sweet people and I think they enjoyed most of church. It was a little overwhelming for them, partly because our ward mission leader attacked them by asking them about being baptized. We just pray that they still are interested. We have a lesson tonight, so we'll see how that goes.
Also, another kind of silly miracles happened. We have this awesome family, Maria and Juan, that we've been trying to teach for a few weeks, but have failed to actually teach them anything because everytime we go over to their house, they talk and talk and talk and talk. We never have a chance to get in more then a word at a time because they love to tell us stories of how much Jesus Christ has helped them through their lives. We love hearing their stories so much, but also wanted to share the message we had with them. Also, they tend to feed us a lot when we go over to their house and we'd already eaten that night and were so stuffed. So as we went into the lesson, we prayed that they would speak less so we could have the opportunity to teach and that they wouldn't feed us. One of the silliest sounding prayers that I can remember, but it worked! When we got to their apartment, they were sitting their watching a soccer game, but as we sat down to talk to them, they turned the TV off and told us that they had realized that they hadn't given us the opportunity to share our message yet and they wanted to hear. It was incredible! And we had an awesome lesson with them and they listened enough so that we could teach them. They were super interested in the Book of Mormon and they are excited to learn more about Jesus Christ. What a miracle! And they didn't offer us any food too, which is almost an even bigger miracle! From that I learned that God cares about us and wants to answer even the silliest prayers. He knows how important this work is and he cares about Maria and Juan a lot. So cool!
This week we also had an awesome mission training and I learned a lot about love and about being lovingly bold, which is something I really need to work on (especially the 'bold' part). I felt the Spirit so strong and was just so grateful to be able to be with the other missionaries. There really is a such a strength when we're all together and I learn so much from each of them. This training will continue every friday for the rest of the month, so I'm excited for the blessing of getting to learn and grow more from them.
Well, I don't have a lot of time left, but there are many miracles I've seen this week. I know that the Lord lives and truly loves us. I know that He is there and cares about the things going on in our lives, more than we even realize. This week, Hermana Norton recieved a copy of the by Mark Mabry of staged photographs from Christ's visit to the Americas. Looking at them is a spiritual experience in itself. He did a wonderful job of depicting the love and power of the Savior in our lives.
love,
Hermana Anneli Hansen
Let me tell you just a few of the miracles that happened this week. We had a lesson on wednesday with Beto, our little friend that has known for a while that he needs to be baptized, but something has held him back. He told us last week, that he would pray about a date for baptism, but when we got to his house that night, he hadn't prayed. So we talked a little bit about that and had a really good lesson, but ultimately we weren't sure what to do to help him. I love him and his family so much and we have grown pretty close to them over that past few weeks, so we feel very comfortable talking to Beto. He loves to joke around with us and started joking about his baptism and somehow we started planning the program for the baptism, but still we had no date. It was so silly! He knew he was going to get baptized, but still he would not tell us when. So we started talking about a potential date for his baptism. We asked him which date he thought might work for him and he became very serious. With the help of his wife, they chose a date that they
thought might be good, the 25th of June. Hermana Norton, the wise little missionary that she is, asked him if he wanted to pray right then and there about that date. We weren't sure if he'd actually do it, but we started getting up from our chairs to kneel and slowly, but surely, he came too. His wife ran and got the kids because she knew this would be an awesome experience. Once we were all together, Beto said the prayer. It was the most beautiful, sincere prayer. He humbly told the Lord that he wanted to follow him and keep the commandments and asked for himself if he should be baptized on the 25th of June. The Spirit was so strong and as the prayer finished and we all looked up, we were all crying. Then they all pulled each other into a big hug. That was one of the most incredible experiences that I've ever had. To see the effect the Savior and the gospel can have on someone to change their lives completely is so beautiful! Beto's wife, who is a member, was so happy! They are going to be a forever family! They are already talking about going to the Salt Lake Temple next year to be sealed before their son leaves on his mission. I am so content...
That was only the beginning of the miracles that came from this week. We also had a family that came to church this week after the first lesson. For hispanics, it's a big deal to get them to come to church after just one lesson, so we were very pleasantly surprised. They are super sweet people and I think they enjoyed most of church. It was a little overwhelming for them, partly because our ward mission leader attacked them by asking them about being baptized. We just pray that they still are interested. We have a lesson tonight, so we'll see how that goes.
Also, another kind of silly miracles happened. We have this awesome family, Maria and Juan, that we've been trying to teach for a few weeks, but have failed to actually teach them anything because everytime we go over to their house, they talk and talk and talk and talk. We never have a chance to get in more then a word at a time because they love to tell us stories of how much Jesus Christ has helped them through their lives. We love hearing their stories so much, but also wanted to share the message we had with them. Also, they tend to feed us a lot when we go over to their house and we'd already eaten that night and were so stuffed. So as we went into the lesson, we prayed that they would speak less so we could have the opportunity to teach and that they wouldn't feed us. One of the silliest sounding prayers that I can remember, but it worked! When we got to their apartment, they were sitting their watching a soccer game, but as we sat down to talk to them, they turned the TV off and told us that they had realized that they hadn't given us the opportunity to share our message yet and they wanted to hear. It was incredible! And we had an awesome lesson with them and they listened enough so that we could teach them. They were super interested in the Book of Mormon and they are excited to learn more about Jesus Christ. What a miracle! And they didn't offer us any food too, which is almost an even bigger miracle! From that I learned that God cares about us and wants to answer even the silliest prayers. He knows how important this work is and he cares about Maria and Juan a lot. So cool!
This week we also had an awesome mission training and I learned a lot about love and about being lovingly bold, which is something I really need to work on (especially the 'bold' part). I felt the Spirit so strong and was just so grateful to be able to be with the other missionaries. There really is a such a strength when we're all together and I learn so much from each of them. This training will continue every friday for the rest of the month, so I'm excited for the blessing of getting to learn and grow more from them.
Well, I don't have a lot of time left, but there are many miracles I've seen this week. I know that the Lord lives and truly loves us. I know that He is there and cares about the things going on in our lives, more than we even realize. This week, Hermana Norton recieved a copy of the by Mark Mabry of staged photographs from Christ's visit to the Americas. Looking at them is a spiritual experience in itself. He did a wonderful job of depicting the love and power of the Savior in our lives.
love,
Hermana Anneli Hansen
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Regaining Confidence
Hello all. It's been a super good and crazy week! We have had a lot of success and a lot of unexpected changes. We got two new elders to share our spanish ward with us: Elder Cuthberson and Burgos. They are super good elders and we're excited to have them with us. Elder Burgos is hispanic, so the ward adores him. But there is a catch to these elders: they were called as assistants to the president (APs). Now in the mission we have 4 APs and they are two of them. For the majority of the transfer they will be travelling all over the mission to give trainings and such, so we won't have their help much. It's a little scary because Hermana Norton and I will have to do a lot of the work ourselves, but it's a good chance for us, especially me, to learn and grow in my capacities. I'm excited!
Also this week I have recieved a lot of needed encouragement from people at home. For what ever reason I've had 3 or 4 people write to me about not worrying and about being confident in both myself and in the Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you! As we've gotten these two new elders in our ward, and they speak spanish perfectly by the way, and still having the awesome example of Hermana Norton, I've felt pretty self-consious. I feel like all of my confidence has left. This morning I actually was able to study confidence and how I can have greater confidence in myself and in the Savior. I know that as I try to do my best, but also to REALLY RELY on the Savior and forget about my worries about being perfect, the Lord will work through me and my personality to reach others. I know I don't have to be perfect, but sometimes I trick myself into thinking that I do. Thank you all for the needed encouragement this week.
This week we taught so many lessons! We were able to teach so many people and to help a lot of our investigators come to Christ more and more. I have been learning to be more bold too. Hermana Norton is helping me with that and to realize that there is a difference between being bold and overbearing, as it says in Alma. I've been trying to be more bold and I have felt the Lord's encouragement and happiness as I've tried to be better. Many of our investigators have showed us a sincere desire to learn about Christ and to follow Him by being baptized when they know from the Spirit that this is true. We are so grateful for the Lord's help this week!
We have been teaching one man, Beto, for a while. I don't know if I've written about him before, but he is married to a member and has been off and on with the discussions for about a year. He knows that he needs to be baptized, but somethings have been holding him back. One of them was that he hadn't read the Book of Mormon before. We have been working with him on that for weeks and weeks and this week, he finally read. And he actually enjoyed it! And he wanted to read more. So for our lesson we read 3 chapters in the Book of Mormon and showed him how to use the footnotes to learn more about what he's reading. He's a smart man and he loved it! Then we asked him about what he was thinking about baptism. Miraculously he told us that he wanted to be baptized and commited to praying for a date that he should be baptized this month! Wonderful! After that lesson we were on cloud nine and had a little party on the ride back to our apartment that night! We were so excited!
One funny thing that has been happening to us lately is that we've had a few different people ask if Sister Norton is my mom. :( So sad! We can't figure it out, but it's always been older people that have asked us that, so we hope the reason is just that their eye-sight is lacking a little. Poor Hermana Norton!
We were blessed so much this week and I know that this is where the Lord would have me be without a doubt. I love the people so much and I've felt that I have known some of them before this life. I know that I need to help them. I know that I can help them as I rely on the Lord and be myself. I was reflecting this week on how my short life has been so far and how different it has been than I have planned. I am so grateful for this chance and for the way my life is going. There really is no other place I would rather be and I am so glad God knows better and cares enough to tell me what He would have me do with my life. Being a missionary is like Heaven!
Have a good week and everyone in Utah, be safe! I'm not sure how serious the warning about flooding is, but I'm worried and nervous! I'll be praying for you!
Con Amor,
Hermana Hansen
Also this week I have recieved a lot of needed encouragement from people at home. For what ever reason I've had 3 or 4 people write to me about not worrying and about being confident in both myself and in the Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you! As we've gotten these two new elders in our ward, and they speak spanish perfectly by the way, and still having the awesome example of Hermana Norton, I've felt pretty self-consious. I feel like all of my confidence has left. This morning I actually was able to study confidence and how I can have greater confidence in myself and in the Savior. I know that as I try to do my best, but also to REALLY RELY on the Savior and forget about my worries about being perfect, the Lord will work through me and my personality to reach others. I know I don't have to be perfect, but sometimes I trick myself into thinking that I do. Thank you all for the needed encouragement this week.
This week we taught so many lessons! We were able to teach so many people and to help a lot of our investigators come to Christ more and more. I have been learning to be more bold too. Hermana Norton is helping me with that and to realize that there is a difference between being bold and overbearing, as it says in Alma. I've been trying to be more bold and I have felt the Lord's encouragement and happiness as I've tried to be better. Many of our investigators have showed us a sincere desire to learn about Christ and to follow Him by being baptized when they know from the Spirit that this is true. We are so grateful for the Lord's help this week!
We have been teaching one man, Beto, for a while. I don't know if I've written about him before, but he is married to a member and has been off and on with the discussions for about a year. He knows that he needs to be baptized, but somethings have been holding him back. One of them was that he hadn't read the Book of Mormon before. We have been working with him on that for weeks and weeks and this week, he finally read. And he actually enjoyed it! And he wanted to read more. So for our lesson we read 3 chapters in the Book of Mormon and showed him how to use the footnotes to learn more about what he's reading. He's a smart man and he loved it! Then we asked him about what he was thinking about baptism. Miraculously he told us that he wanted to be baptized and commited to praying for a date that he should be baptized this month! Wonderful! After that lesson we were on cloud nine and had a little party on the ride back to our apartment that night! We were so excited!
One funny thing that has been happening to us lately is that we've had a few different people ask if Sister Norton is my mom. :( So sad! We can't figure it out, but it's always been older people that have asked us that, so we hope the reason is just that their eye-sight is lacking a little. Poor Hermana Norton!
We were blessed so much this week and I know that this is where the Lord would have me be without a doubt. I love the people so much and I've felt that I have known some of them before this life. I know that I need to help them. I know that I can help them as I rely on the Lord and be myself. I was reflecting this week on how my short life has been so far and how different it has been than I have planned. I am so grateful for this chance and for the way my life is going. There really is no other place I would rather be and I am so glad God knows better and cares enough to tell me what He would have me do with my life. Being a missionary is like Heaven!
Have a good week and everyone in Utah, be safe! I'm not sure how serious the warning about flooding is, but I'm worried and nervous! I'll be praying for you!
Con Amor,
Hermana Hansen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)