dry humor + water bottles

hola family & friends 

It is HOT here in Houston. We are talking 85 degrees with 95% humidity! It made for lots of water and sympathy contacts throughout the week. "Why are y'all out in the heat?" makes for a great way to start talking with people! 

My new companion, Hermana Thomas is from West Jordan, Utah and she turned 20 on Monday! She went to BYU-I before the mish, but I forgave her and still love her lots. She's such a hard worker and has been taking the transition to mission life like a CHAMP. She also has the driest humor that makes me laugh so hard...

We are working with a less active family, the Morales Family. I had visited them about twice with Hermana Vikari, and right before she left we had the thought to teach them the plan of salvation and see if it would help them come back. We taught them on Tuesday, and their faces just lit up with excitement to be reminded of this wonderful plan that God has given us. The hermana is a recent convert of about 4 years, and she even ran into her room to grab a notebook and take notes!! So cute. It helped them feel the spirit again, and on Sunday, they were there, in dresses and white shirts. They loved it and can't wait to come back. 

Along with the Texas heat comes the random Texas rainstorms. And it's not just like rain, it's like POURING almost flooding rain! So we got caught in a few of those this week!! It made everything just a little more exciting!

I learned something this week with mija Hermana Thomas. It was a week full of learning, for the both of us. I was able to show her one of the ways to do missionary work, and although we worked as hard as we could, we didn't have the biggest results or numbers. And I realized that it's ok, because as long as you keep up the positive attitude, listen to the Spirit, and talk with EVERYONE, God is pleased with your work at the end of the day. And it's a great feeling. 

Also, this scripture touched me this week....Ammon says -
Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work. 

I hope everyday to be an instrument in God's hands to bring to pass His work and glory, and what a blessing we have to share this Gospel with others!!

Have a good week and thanks for all the support.

Xoxox

Hermana Hansen

first day together!!!

Harvey 2.0??

gorditas con mi bebé

the beginning of the end

Helllllllo from Houston!!

Crazy week, loving the work!! I'm super excited because I'm getting a brand new companion straight from the MTC! 

Just loving here in Broadway, and it was so hard to say bye to Hermana Vikari. It's been a FAST transfer and it's been full of learning👍❤

I'm learning so much as we are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission! We are reading the story about Amulek and Alma, and such powerful missionaries they were. It amazes me how they called down the powers of heaven and used the enabling power of the Atonement. They weren't alone in this work, and neither are we!!

Sorry I have a no time this week, just getting ready to have my "baby" haha...everyone have a good week and know that I love y'all!!

quote of the week--- "sometimes I wish the car hit my side...then I could be in the hospital sleeping". YES. A little old man got his car too close to our car this week while we were both moving!! And yes, my companion said that she wishes that the car had hit her, so she could be in the hospital sleeping. We are a bunch of tired missionaries. Haha we are good though, the damage wasn't bad!! Luckily we made it safely 🙃🙃

Xoxo

Hermana Hansen 

ice cream break

it's true

getting our car estimated.....yay

Damage not too bad

mother's day + miracles

Hey guys 👋👋

About 3 weeks ago we were talking with people in the street, as usual, and we were able to give a pass along card with this man. We don't remember doing it, but this morning during studies, we get a call, and it's him!!! He said that he wants to meet with us! How cool is it that he kept the card all this time and called US? Amazing. Well, we invited him to an FHE at the chapel yesterday. He got there and we talked for a bit outside in the parking lot, gave him a chapel tour, he stayed a played volleyball and loved it! When we talked about the baptismal font, he said that he would like very much to be baptized, and almost started to cry as we explained the sacrament. Then during volleyball the members just loved and welcomed him SO well. After, he sent us a message saying, "thank you hermanas, it was amazing. I already want to to meet Wednesday so we can meet again in the chapel." God really does compensate our efforts in sharing the Gospel.

I got to be back with my first comp here in Texas, Hermana Young, for the day on Saturday. It was SO much fun to teach with her again and realize how much we both have grown in the 6 months we've been apart! The mission is just the perfect time to grow and become better teachers, future parents, leaders in the church and overall disciples of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Also please keep Estephany in your prayers...she's going through so much and really needs the Gospel more than ever. She's so strong and has such a desire to learn, but is going through some stumbling blocks currently...

We were able to go to the Houston temple this week! And I was able to go through for a woman from Jalisco, México. It was an amazing experience, even if I did get a bloody nose 10 minutes before our session started. I know that the temple is the Lord's house, and that we can receive revelation from Him as we go more and more often. 

This morning I was reading in Mosiah 23, when Alma, the only convert of Abinadi, is talking to his people, and one of my favorite scriptures stuck out to me, verse 10 "Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth." Nearing the end of mission, I feel that the Lord has molded me, Emily Hansen, into an instrument in His hands throughout the course of my mission. It hasn't been easy, at any point, but it's been a beautiful ride. I know now, that we must pass through difficult times know truly KNOW JOY. And what an amazing feeling it is, to know at the end of the day, that the Lord is satisfied with what I did. 

Xoxo

Hermana Hansen

the beautiful Houston temple

Hermana Young

Happy Mother's Day, mom

I MADE THIS ALL. thanks Hermana Osotro

who lives in a pineapple under the sea??

being those people who eat elote in the car...

making jam & cross stitching

Hey guys!! 

Another amazing week has ended in Broadway! 

Ok so we are loving it here. We are killing it and get along SO well. Ah! It's amazing. I had an epiphany the other day....I love the mission. And you wanna know why? It's because I enjoy every part of it. Knocking doors, district meeting, lessons, progressing investigators, dinners with members, talking with people in the street and grocery store, baptisms, studies, being with a comp 24/7 and planning. I LOVE IT. And loving every part, all the way, is what makes it go by soooo fast! It's flying by and I cannot believe it! It was barely Monday! But, it's flying by because we are enjoying every part. Ps we speak 100% Spanish minus pday and it's awesome, we are learning so much!! We are so tired....but not letting it get to us!! Haha 

I think the mission is easier to enjoy and goes by a lot quicker when we fully understand our purpose as missionaries and love every part of the work!

Update on Estephany: she came to church yesterday and talked about how much she loves Relief Society! She just fits in, and in our lesson we had on Thursday, we asked her how she was feeling for her baptism on August 18th. She told us: "Well, I want to get baptized tomorrow. But it's not possible" aahhhh. Please pray that her divorce papers can be processed quickly and that she can be married to her bf, who is the member that introduced her to the church.

Well, to explain my subject, we did lots of service this week, which just happened to make us feel like the grandmas we are inside. We made strawberry jam with a 82 year old, and then did some casual cross stitching to help out the Relief Society, they are doing a tablecloth with all the hermanas names! 

So one of our appointments canceled this week, and so we were walking around this apartment complex, and started talking with this man that was outside. He did the usual look away and rush inside, but we caught him in time, starting talking with him, and he told us to come back in a few days! We met with him and his friend, both from Guatemala, which reminded me like crazy of all my guatemalteco amigos. Long story short, he had all the *golden questions* and is super excited to learn!  

We are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission, which means we read 8 pages per day. It's been an amazing experience being able to learning so much about how merciful and loving God is! Also, Nephi is so obedient and never delays a prompting from the Lord. This Gospel is so TRUE, and I love sharing it with the sweet people of Houston.

Xoxox

Hermana Hansen

service with hermana osorto

the things we find on the ground in Houston....