My first week in Honduras and I love it!

Hola Famalia!

AH! Today could not have come any faster, but I have so much to tell you! First off my entire travel experience to Honduras was just fine. All of my bags got here just fine and I even got to talk to mom and dad while I was in the airport which was such a blessing for me. Well where to even begin!! When I arrived in the airport in Tegucigalpa President Fortuna and his wife were there to greet us and then took us to get some dinner. They are so kind and I can already tell that one day when I can understand what they are saying to me I will love them even more! In my interview I think President could tell that I was pretty nervous so in English, for my sake, he promised me that I would be able to start understanding the language very soon, BUT he said that I must have muchas patience with myself and speak to everyone in as much Espanol as I can. If that's all it's going to take, then I'm all in!

Also, when I got here I got to meet both of the Hermanas that I had been told to watch out for. Hermana Larsen and Hermana Wagner. They are both so sweet and kind and I got pictures with both of them!

It is so green and beautiful here, but also so so hot and humid. I constantly feel like I've got a nice layer of sweat covering my whole self and I feel that way, because I probably do! The third day of me being here in Honduras we had Cambios (or exchanges) and I got my companion! Her name is Hermana Casiano and she looks very Latina, but is actually from Mesa, AZ. Her parents are both from Mexico so she learned Spanish before she came here. She has been so wonderfulo to me and helps with my Spanish all the time. Luckily for me she is so patient with me and answers all of my greenie missionary questions. She is AMAZING!

Me y Hrma. Caiano are opening a new area in Marcala. We had to take a 4 hour bus ride from the main city to get to our area. It is way up in the mountains! It is definitely a very humble area. Our casa is actually quite a bit bigger than I thought it was going to be, but it was absolutely filthy when we got here. Today we are planning on sweeping and cleaning and making it possible for us to move our stuff out of our suitcases, but it's definitely going to need a lot of work.

So yesterday me and hmna Casiano trekked for over an hour up the side of this mountain through all these trees and even through a barbed wire fence to make it to an appointment we had made a day or two earlier. It took us over an hour to get up there, but it was so worth it! WE got there and the dad was gone, but we got to teach his wife and 2 of his sons. It was an incredible lesson!! And I can't wait to go back on Wednesday to teach them more. Here it is customary for everyone to greet and say goodbye with a handshake (or hug) and then a cheek to cheek kiss. So as we were saying goodbye to this familia the mom gave us a hug and kiss and before I could do anything about it so did the son! AHH!! It was so against the missionary rules!! But, there was nothing I could do about it! Hrma Casiano told me that sometimes people take you by surprise like that, but she promised me that since it wasn't intentional that I would be just fine, ha ha!

Well a little more about my casa! It doesn't have any running water, but we have a big cement water pila right outside our front door. So every time we need to wash our hands or flush the toilet or shower we get to haul in a nice big bucket of cold water. But, usually for our showers we get to heat up one pot of water to add to our bucket so it's not quite so cold. I love it here so much and I'm so excited to find more people that the Lord has prepared for us here in Marcala! I love you all so much and keep you in my prayers every night!

Much Love,

Hermana Hansen

Brooklyn with Presidente & Hermana Fortuna in Honduras!

One of me and all the boys from my district and the district that just left us!

My last week in the Mexico City CCM!

Hola!

 

So I'm going to apologize upfront for my e-mails getting progressively shorter each week, but not a lot can change here in the CCM! It is so crazy that I have approximately 4 days left here in the CCM, but I won't know for sure until I get my flight plans tonight or tomorrow! I am so so excited for this next adventure! Now it's time for the adventure of the week... I got the lovely opportunity to go the Mexico dentist, because my retainer popped off the back of my teeth my first week here. First off, the drive to the dentist lasted about 45 min. and it was the CRAZIEST 45 min. of my life! The little nurse guy that took me drove so fast and everyone drives so close to each other while they are weaving in and out of each other like crazy people! After the drive the Hermano that took me asked me if I would like to learn how to drive in his country. He was really funny!

This week my district (11A) and another district in my branch (11C) got to sing the EFY medley (In Spanish) at the Sunday devotional. It was really spiritual and a lot of the audience was in tears afterwards. The leaders thought it was so good that they made us stay after devotional so they could record it and use the audio for other presentations! Which is amazing, because if anyone had heard us at our first couple of practices they would not have let us preform. But, we practiced and practiced and definitely came a long way from then! It was an awesome experience and I loved it.

Later that same night, I had to say goodbye to the district in my branch that we had gotten really close to. As we were singing Para siempre Dios esté con Vos (God be with you til we meet again) we were all crying and it was a rough night, but the girls stayed in our casa until really late and then left so they could catch their bus to the airport at 2 o clock that morning. I was sad to see them go, but 18 months/24 months isn't that long, right?! Anyway, that night we all realized that that would by my district in a week which is so crazy!

As I said this e-mail is real short, but before I end it I want to share 5 things I've learned since being here:

1. Last service day I learned the proper way to fold fitted sheets (which will be a lifetime skill)

2. I've learned the most efficient way to clean a cafeteria tile floor with a bucket of soap water, a broom, and a squeegee.

3. Hard work is worth more than intellect

4. Obedience is key!

5. God is ALWAYS aware of his children (don't forget it!)

 

I love being here with all my heart, but I am so ready to meet the people of Honduras and learn to love them with all of my heart too! The church is true!

 

Love,

Hermana Hansen

Also, here is another beautiful sky picture - just for your enjoyment!

My one month mark!

Hola, familia y amigos!

Today is my 1 month mark of being out! Whooo! It's pretty crazy isn't it! Well this morning I got to go to the Mexico City Temple with my district! Technically we didn't get to go inside the temple, because it's still closed. But, we did get to go to the Visitor Center and it was amazing! This Visitor Center is the most interactive and technologically advanced Visitor Center in the whole world so needless to say, it was pretty cool! After our tour they gave us about a half an hour to take pictures and go to the little bookstore which was also kinda fun. Even as we were driving to the temple I was able to see that in the CCM they definitely keep us in a bubble. The campus here is so beautiful and well kept and then when you get out into the city it's as if you have entered a whole new world. Traffic is crazy! And the huge buses drive so close to each other. It definitely gives you a little rush as you're driving through town. And then you pull up and see the temple and it is so unique and so beautiful! Well, I'll make sure and attach some temple pictures with this e-mail.

The weeks here seem to fly by faster and faster the longer I'm here! We thought we were going to get our flight plans today, but unfortunately we didn't. But I should be leaving in a little less than 2 weeks! Whenever I think about this it just blows my mind, because I always feel like I could be doing better. But I know that the Lord will help me learn what I need to before I leave the CCM. I'm sorry my e-mail is so short, but the days here are starting to blur by. I'm learning so much every day and the spirit here is just incredible! One topic that they always teach is Obedience. Obedience is so, so important. We even teach our Investigators that Obedience is the first law of heaven. My companion and I strive every day to be as obedient as we can even when others around us are not. I've come to learn that as we are obedient the Lord blesses us with strength in our weaknesses. I love you all so much!

 

Much Love,

Hermana Hansen