MAY SHOWERS

 

It's been raining A LOT here. And it's putting a "damp"er on my mood. Not really, but I miss the SUN! Hopefully "the sun will come out tomorrow". Haha oh, how I miss musicals!

Nonetheless, the work is GREAT. We've had the most lessons this week than we've had the entire two transfers I've been here! So let me tell you about them:

 

1) Barbara and Randy Walls - They were former investigators who were a referral from a member (who has since moved out of the ward). They have two teenage sons and they both work for the FBI! She is actually in the Weapons of Mass Destruction Department. CRAZY. Anyways, we've had a few conversations with them in the past, but never an actual lesson - until last Wednesday! The husband LOVES to talk, and yet isn't quite ready to find out for himself if the gospel is true. Barbara, on the other hand, is definitely prepared. She believes that there HAS to be a reason for why all the Mormons she's met in her life are all happy and successful! Haha so we're excited to keep teaching them. Pray that the lessons will continue and that Randy will open up!

 

2) Linda - Linda is from China, but moved to America 20 years ago. She's also a former investigator that we picked up. She has two daughters, one is 8 years old and the other is 17. She's very curious about what makes the LDS church different from other Christian religions. We had a lesson on Saturday morning, but she is a BUSY woman. And didn't schedule another appointment until NEXT Saturday. Ugh. We invited her to pray and read to come to know if the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. Pray for her too! Her husband may be the one holding her back, so we hope that he will open up as well.

 

3) Ravi Kiran - Oh man, what a cool guy! He is in his 20's and is from INDIA! Yes. He moved to America 7 years ago for schooling. He got his Master's in Computer Science two years ago and has lived in DC ever since, working for MicroStratgies. He had MANY questions about the Book of Mormon. But we answered all of them THROUGH the Book of Mormon. Love when that happens. He converted to Christianity when he came to America - he was formally Hindu (along with all of his family)! So it's amazing that he has found Christ and knows Him to be the Savior of the world. He is ALSO a busy man, but we hope to meet with him soon and that he continues to read the Book of Mormon!

What an amazing blessing that we got to teach this many lessons this week! Our mission is currently having a "re-build" of the mission - in that we are being more bold than EVER with our teaching and committing. I can see the blessings already! Another cool experience that we had was going to the Temple Visitor Center with Glen and Jessica! YES! I was SERIOUSLY stoked because I had never set foot on the temple grounds yet. BEAUTIFUL. The night we went (Friday) couldn't have been more clear or had better weather. Anyways, we watched "Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration" in this GIANT theatre that they have in the Center. They felt the Spirit. Jessica (a less-active) came out with tears in her eyes. She has such a testimony of prophets and Glen actually had a lot of great questions. SADLY, they didn't come to church yesterday. Jessica is just not a fan and we can't figure out why! It makes me sad to know that she's so freely giving of her testimony, but doesn't like coming to church. We hope to invite President Riggs, our mission president, to our next lesson and find out what the root of her issue is. Should be powerful! I'm excited for Glen though - slowly, but surely he is growing to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ!

A scripture I found today: 1 Corinthians 10:13

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

It's so amazing to know that God will NOT tempt us beyond what we can handle. Remember - He is a LOVING God. He's not looking to push your buttons, but to help you grow. I'm so grateful for my Heavenly Father and that he knows me better than I will EVER know myself. I've definitely come to gain a stronger testimony of that while out here on my mission.

LOVE YOU ALL! And thank you for all your prayers on my and my investigators behalf. It means the WORLD to me and I KNOW without a doubt that they work. So thank you :)

Loves,

Sister Hansen