Letter #87: September 17, 2013

Dear Family, Friends, and Faithful Blog Stalkers.... er I mean Followers (Ha! Ha! TayTay that was for you),

This may or may not be my last e-mail home as a missionary....

The last couple days are going to be kind of nuts and I’m not really sure what is going to happen and if we will have to opportunity to write home.  Monday is the day that we get to go visit our converts!  Woot.  (My mamita, Hermana Jenny, is going to be my temporary companion!!!... I’m so excited!)... So, I thought I would make this e-mail as “farewelly’ as I can... (even though I’m sure most of you think that it is a “homecoming” that is coming up.... it really is more of a farewell for me....)

News Update = My companion is being sent home this Friday.  Her tumor is progressive and there is a slight chance that it could be the first stages of cancer... So yeah… We are both packing to come home.  The days of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I have NO idea where I will be, with whom I will be, or what I will be doing.... (It’s all so mysterious!!...Ha! Ha! Ha! JK...)

Even though the last week, my mission is not ending on how I planned... Actually, nothing of my mission has gone how I had always imagined or planned it… all is well :) 

My health situation/official verdict is that... I have anemia.  Yep, my blood just loves being crappy!... Ha! Ha!  I’m doing better with that.  I’ve been taking iron pills the past week and about 2 days ago, I started feeling better. (AKA,  no more dizzy-ness, tiredness, or vomiting... finally!)

Yesterday, we had zone conference.  My last official zone conference... weird...  It left me with two feelings...

1.  How sad I am to be leaving this work.... I seriously LOVE being a missionary!!  It has been the most rewarding, most gratifying, most spiritual, most hilarious, most scary, most crazy, hard, and ridiculous experience of my life!!!  I’m sad to say goodbye to it.....but

2.   I’m so excited to be a part of missionary work as a member!!!! I’m just experiencing sooo many mixed and crazy emotions right now.  I’m pretty sure that they are completely normal, they just make me a little crazy! Ha!

Ok guys, I have a favor to ask of you all... So, in my group of missionaries coming home there are lots of people, so when I get to the airport y´all have to be (first of all on time... I don’t want to be a loser like Brandon was... Ha! Ha! Ha! JK ! I LOVE YOU, BRANDON!!)  just SOOOOO happy to see me (definitely making a scene and what not), so that the whole airport knows that I’m the most loved!... Yeah! (Just kidding!  I don’t really care how you act, I’m going to be balling my eyes out either way...I just wanted to be funny... ;)

Anyway.....

I’m really excited to see you all!!  I’m pretty scared too... I’m scared and excited.  It will be good though. 

Hey, so remember that poem that I wrote in elementary school that won first place at the district/region reflections contest?  Well anyway, part of it came into my head the other day, but I couldn’t remember all of it, so I re-wrote what I couldn’t remember....

The theme of the contest was, Dr. Seuss’s, “Oh, The Places You´ll Go”.... My poem goes like this...

“Oh, The Places You´ll Go” by a girl named Sarah Hermansen

Oh the places you’ll go!

How you’ll be able to grow.

Though it may be hard at times,

Happy memories will ring like chimes.

Easy or not you’ll be there soon,

People you’ll meet while watching the moon!

Laughing happily all along the way,

And sometimes even crying to make it through the day...

Counting all your blessings,

Even when it’s hard.

Smiling through your wounds’ dressings, 

Yearning to explore beyond the backyard.

Over and over so many lessons to learn,

Unknown adventures waiting around every turn.

Living and thriving on just daily breath,

Looking and searching, sometimes mourning a death.

Giving it all you’ve got even though you still don’t know...

Oh the many more places you still have to go.....

It seemed fitting to share this with you all since the HUGE turning of a new page is about to happen in my life right now....

Well, here we are, at the end of this e-mail....

I LOVE YOU ALL SOOO MUCH!!!!

THANK YOU ALL SOOOOOO MUCH FOR YOU LOVE AND SUPPORT DURING MY MISSION!!!

I seriously CANNOT thank you all enough!!! What a crazy world it is that we live in... and what a great opportunity for growth!!  No wonder we all shouted for joy (“Special Lessons” by Elder Rasband in April 2012) when we heard of God’s plan and the opportunity that we would be given to come to earth!

I love Christ’s Gospel!!  I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only TRUE church of God.  It has Christ’s true doctrines, ordinances, and authority.

See you all soon!!

Love,

Hermana Hermansen

P.S. Brandon and Lindsy, congrats on being parents!!!!!  I’ve heard that we can only start to understand God’s love for us when we ourselves become parents, so enjoy that wonderful learning experience!!! I can’t wait to meet little Ryler!!! 

Here is a fun picture of Hermana Hermansen's new little nephew!  Isn't he cute?!?!?!

Letter #86: September 9, 2013

Fam Jam & Such,

So, as most of you now know, I was robbed... Yep, true story, but no worries, I’m totes fine.  I’m sort of dying (health wise), but that’s all good, too.  The doctor thinks that I have anemia (no biggie).  My companion has a 3-inch mass (most likely a benign tumor) in her pelvis.  The last situation is the most complicated… We’ve been going to Viña... A LOT lately... which takes up a lot of time... I have 2 weeks left in my mission and things are NOT going according to plan... The Lord is teaching me so much right now!!!

The strongest feeling that I am left with at the end of every day is just how overwhelming grateful I am that Heavenly Father has let me come on a mission... :)  I don’t feel like I have done much and the things that I have done could have probably been done better by someone else, but the opportunity that Heavenly Father has given me to better come to know His Son, Him, and myself is more than I will EVER be able to thank Him for!!!  His mercy and grace is infinite and amazing!!  I will never cease to marvel at His wonderful Gospel and His wonderful ways...

There is so much that I have yet to experience in life, but the experiences that I am having now and have had as a missionary have prepared me for the future and will forever be kept in my heart.  I LOVE this Gospel.  I LOVE Jesus Christ.  He is our King and He will come one day to reign in all His glory.  I will be among those who worship Him at His feet when He comes.  I will remain faithful to the end.  Of other details of my life I am not sure, but of THAT I am.  Things do NOT turn out as planned, but in the Hands of God, they turn out better than we can even imagine.  I am eternally grateful for EVERYTHING that has led me up this point in my life.  Every family member, every friend, every word of encouragement, every event.  I stand all amazed with President Monson when he said, “God is in the details of our lives.”  I know that those are true words spoken by a true prophet.  God is with us still and the greatest evidence of His love in these days is the Restoration of His Gospel.

I love you all SOOOOOOOOOO much!!  Thanks for all you love and support over the past year and a half (yes, last Saturday I officially hit 18 months)!!!  Family, you mean the world to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  LOVE YOU GUYS!!!  Can’t wait to see you soon!!!

Much Love,

Hermana Hermansen

Hermana Hermansen Returns Soon

Sarah will be flying home on Wednesday, September 25.  Our family will be meeting her at the airport and spending time with her that day and evening.  If you would like to see Sarah, please contact her on or after Thursday, September 26.  

We found out from the Bishop that Sarah will be giving her mission report on Sunday, October 13.  She will be speaking at 11:00 am in the Riverton 5th Ward Building located at 1855 West 13400 South Riverton, Utah 84065.  More details will follow via this blog and Facebook when Hermana Hermansen returns.

We are so excited for this girl to return home!

Letter #85: September 2, 2013

Summarized Update from Hermana Hermansen:

Hermana Hermansen wasn't able to write much today.  Due to her backpack being stolen (which included her mission debit card, her personal debit card, her Utah license, her Chilean ID, and some cash), she was mostly contacting the family to figure out the situation as to what she is going to do since she comes home so soon.  

Hermana Hermansen has also still be very sick.  This illness has lasted pretty much this entire transfer.  She is taking medication and the mission nurse is checking in with her often.  Any and all prayers for her would be much appreciated.

Letter #84: August 26, 2013

Fam Jam,

The weeks ARE flying by!!!  It’s crazy...

So this week was EXTRA weird!!!  I went to the doctor.... then, my companion went to the doctor...

I have low-blood pressure (98/57).  My companion has a hernia and will need surgery... it was my companion’s birthday... found out that her grandma died... ON her birthday...  Is this real life??

Oh yeah, P.S. the mail in Chile is on strike. (What?!?  Can they even do that?)  Anyway, no worries, we just got a quote from the mission president’s wife that says, “Everything will be OK in the end.... if it’s not OK, it’s not the end.”  That’s right; it’s NOT the end because I still have 4 weeks left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woot. Woot.

Anyway, I’m not feeling very “writey” today.... Let me answer your questions mama!

General Conference: so, I may be going to the Saturday morning session of general conference.... So, maybe we could just wait until my official homecoming until we do the brunch...Or we could do it Sunday with the family!!  Your call. 

Hmmn... I don’t really know what else to say...  Next week’s letter will be better!!

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!  

Take care!

-Hermana Hermansen

Letter #83: August 19, 2013

"Who doesn’t want to marry me???"

Dear FamJam,

Ok first of all, you have to know that I stole my subject title from Hermana Andreasen... She wrote it home one time (I’m not that witty and creative anymore...Spanish has killed my English wit!)  Second of all, how goes life for all? Everything sounds cool and fun and just classy.  Third, so as we all know (a little TOO well, family...hint, hint. a count-down-chain, really... Bahahahahah!  JK  I love you guys, I’m excited to see you all too!!)  I only have 5 weeks left here in Chile as a missionary...

The thought is still haunting to me, but I am finally coming to terms with it.  The reality of this all coming to an end is sinking in.  It’s interesting, though; that the Lord is still constantly teaching me important lessons, which is a pattern that I hope will follow me throughout my whole life.  I’ve been noticing and learning A LOT about the power of a positive attitude lately...

The situation that I am in right now (with our ward, my personal trials of being sick, etc. and other things) is less than ideal and has been weighing on my soul at times, but I have taken the firm determination to NOT let things get me down.  I still wake up everyday and strive to be obedient and do what I know the Lord wants me to do.  It’s amazing what a difference just accepting God’s will in my personal attitude has made.  I had obviously accepted God’s will physically (not just because I didn’t have any other options, but in my determination to work hard), but in my actually wanting to be here attitude. 

I was slightly saddened…and after a few difficult weeks, it was getting me down.  Within the past 2 weeks, I’ve decided that I really do want to be here.  That I really and sincerely do want what the Lord wants for me.... and let me tell you my friends how much lighter my burdens have gotten.  I am choosing to be happy... And things are NOT getting me down... :)  I love how merciful the Lord is to patiently teach us lesson after lesson.  Sometimes (or more like often times) it is the same lesson, just in a different form.   I’m grateful for His infinite love and patience with us, His imperfect children. 

Fourth, some hilarious events that happened this week while trying to lure in some lost sheep:

While contacting a lady at her house, a group of three men casually walk up and stop at the same house that we are at... After being rejected by the lady, she nicely thanks us for our message, but says that she is just not interested.  We just assume that the men are family or friends or something because they are waiting for us, but as we bid the lady adieu, one of the guys pulls out an FBI badge and says, “Now we are here to share a different message”... and we then quickly walked away... Ha! Ha!  So awkward...

While contacting another guy, he says that he will come to church if I marry him... (He looked about in his 50’s and had a beer in his hand...nasty!)

Some lady gave us a ride home from the field part of our area so we start contacting her... Turns out she’s a J.Dub... (Jehovah’s Witness) and can’t accept that the Book Of Mormon is true because “The Americas” didn’t exist 600 years before Christ... We explained = Well, maybe not the name, but this continent didn’t just magically fall out of the sky one day... she wasn’t convinced, nor would she accept the book after a few more persistent tries, but at least she was nice about and we got a free ride…score!

Interesting fact:  I STILL continue to get yelled at/ whistled at/ cat-called at/ proposed to everyday of my life...Multiple times a day even...I’m going to feel so ugly when I come home and guys DON’T yell things at me...sad.

Also, apparently, I’m from Germany, because my last name is 100% German and I look like a European porcelain doll, FYI.

Fifth, that’s all for this week!!  I love you guys sooooo much!!!  Have a great week!!  Enjoy missing me while you can because in 5 weeks you won’t be able to!! Ha. Ha.

Much love, 

Hermana Hermansen

P.S.  Same area.  Same companion.  What started in Quillota, ends in Quillota...

Letter #82: August 12, 2013

HOLA Familia!!!

How is everyone?  Thanks for the pics, Brandon!!  Looks like fun!!  And Lindsy is sooo cute!! I can’t wait to meet that little guy!  What is going to be his name? 

Well, this week was a little hard... So, I’ve been somewhat sick lately... I’ve been doing my best to ignore it, but this past week was rough…I felt dizzy and nauseous pretty much always (for the past 5 weeks or so) and sometimes it makes me throw up... which was the case last week...

The mission nurse gave me permission to rest and I have doctor’s appointment on the August 20^th.  Nothing too serious, so no worries, she thinks I have an inner ear problem…Ergo, maybe.  Work was slow this past week.  Nothing is worse than being sick on the mission!  I HATE being inside the pension during the day....

Anyway, I’m feeling weird about coming home so soon.... I’m still not looking forward to it, but I’m excited to see all you guys!!  We have transfers this week so it is possible that I get a new comp and/or area this Wednesday.  I’ll let you know next week, but my companion and I will both probably stay put...

Oh, we did ex-changes this past week and they were so much fun! I love learning from different missionaries! When we were together we totally saw a decapitated dog head in the street.  It was so nasty!  The body was nowhere in sight, but it looked like it had been ripped off…it was pretty fresh too… gross!  I almost took a picture, but then decided I’d rather NOT remember that one...

Interesting fact— last week in interviews, I forgot to mention that President Kahnlein told me that I have perfect Spanish.  A pretty good compliment if you ask me, but I still don’t believe it... I have lots of things that I could practice and do better, but it made me happy to hear that I’m not too shabby. :)

Anyway, I’m out of time!!  Have a good one all!!!  

LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT!!!

-Hermana Hermansen

Save the Date

We found out from the Bishop that Sarah will be giving her mission report on Sunday, October 13.  She will be speaking at 11:00 am in the Riverton 5th Ward Building located at 1855 West 13400 South Riverton, Utah 84065.  More details will follow via the blog and Facebook when Hermana Hermansen returns.

Letter #81: August 5, 2013

Hello Everyone,

Ok guys real quick!  Let me give a run down of how things have been going lately

Our area = really hard…I have never been in a ward in such a bad state... There are just weird things that go on between the members... and lots of gossip.  We have focused a lot on visiting the members, new converts, and less actives.  We started with 20 people coming to church and it was up to 40 yesterday.  Woohoo!

I’m pretty much the assigned chorister of the ward for sacrament meeting, which doesn’t sound that impressive until you remember that we don’t sing with a piano and the chorister has to sing to first few notes out loud solo so everyone can follow along.... Ha! Ha!  It’s fun.

Our area is part tiny neighborhoods and part HUGE fields.... (like farmers and such...) = kind of complicated to work around, but we do what we can...It’s been hard for me to be in Quillota again, but I am doing well. :)

Interviews last week were AWESOME!  Probably the best interview that I’ve had!  As my time is coming to an end I am just trying to enjoy everything that I can to its fullest!!! I have one major worry and that is, “How will I know if I’ve done everything that Heavenly Father expected or me?  Or if I learned all the things that He wanted me t learn?”  I’m scared to come back to the real world without having done all that was expected or desired by Him…or just letting Him down in any way......

How will I know? ... 

Anyway, I’m out of time for today... I will keep you guys updated with my flight itinerary as I get it....

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!

-Hermana Hermansen

Letter #80: July 29. 2013

Ok, guys my missionary Words of Wisdom are being postponed until next week because a miracle happened... I got my RAINBOW package!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVED it sooooo much and so I took some picture footage!! Enjoy! (I know that I sure did...)

Picture Update

Our family had a BBQ on the 24th of July and the grand-kids helped make a paper chain to count down the days until Hermana Hermansen returns.  Her official release date was September 24, 2013; however, she may be given the opportunity to extend her mission by a few weeks.  We will find out her exact return date in her next e-mail, as she had interviews with the Mission President this week.  We made a chain of 60 days....so the count down will start soon for us!

The Four Grand Kids

And the count down starts....

We also found some pictures of Hermana Hermanse on the Vina del Mar Mission Blog.  Enjoy!

Zone Conference

Hermana Andreasen and Hermana Hermansen

Letter #79: July 22, 2013

Family,

Well, hello there all.  This week was much better for me than the past two!  (Emotional-wise that is...) Things are going well.  My companion is fun!  We gave talks yesterday in sacrament meeting.  They went well I think... the 20 people that were present seemed to enjoy them… ;)  It’s funny/interesting how hard changes can be sometimes... but that is all part of the growing process. Without changes and difficulties we couldn’t have the essential growth that is necessary to continue progressing in this life.

We have interviews this week with the President and I am looking forward to them.  I will then be able to tell when exactly I will be coming home and if I can extend or not.  So, this week, I wrote down a list of some very important lessons that I have learned on my mission so far and I wanted to share it with you guys.  So these are like quotes/one-liners that either I made up myself or heard from others, but all are things that I have felt and learned deeply and personally... (a.k.a. here is a little bit of my heart out there on the line so no judging... Ha! Ha!)

Things Learned in a Far -Away Land Called Chile—

-A smart person learns from their mistakes, but a wise person learns from the mistakes of others.

-If you want to bring out the best in someone, love them.  And if you want to bring out the worst in someone, criticize them.

-It never gets easier, you just get stronger.

-When things get bad, don’t complain.... because then when things get worse, you’ll have something better to look back on.

-When tempted to whine, count your blessings instead.

-Don’t cry over spilt milk.

-Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

-Obedience plus effort = joy.

-We aren’t expected to be perfect, but we are expected to try.

-Recipe to any happy relationship = 1.  Mutual sacrifice 2.  Mutual forgiveness  3.  Laughter.

Well, there are a bunch more, but I am out of time so I will save them for next week!! Enjoy!!

Love you family!!

-Hermana Hermansen

P.S.  Here are pics.

Me and my companion on a bus

Our House

Getting lost in a field...what?

Oh hey, what time is it?...Oh wait, let me just check the tree...

Letter #78: July 15, 2013

My mom,

I am good.  :)  It’s been really interesting for me to be here..... I’m definitely learning A LOT and I am getting a chance to see how much I’ve grown over the past year... My companion is great!  Her mom might try to contact you!  Her name is Jennifer Taylor.  By the way, Rich Andreasen is Hermana Andreasen’s dad. :)

The Fourth of July sounds like it was fun!!  In all honesty, I kind of forgot that it was the fourth... I mean I know it was the “4^th”, but not of July.  Ha! Ha!  Holidays don’t exist as a missionary. Thanks for sending my package!!  I’m excited to get it.  I should be getting it this week!!  Your little vacation sounds fun!  I love Wolf Creek.  Cool about the couches too!

Hey, so I have some crappy information... So one of my suitcases broke pretty bad and I’m going to have to buy a new one..... Sorry...it actually wasn’t my fault...  My zone leader broke it on accident, but it was already half way broken to begin with...

I am happy.  We are working hard and I am learning lots!!  I love this work.  Our ward that we are opening is kind of difficult because there is a lot of drama and stuff going on, but we are working hard to overcome everything.  Church attendance is super low!!  We have like 20-30 that show up late to sacrament meeting... In Relief Society, there were 7 of us (including my companion, myself, the teacher, and the Relief Society President), but that’s better than last week... Last week Relief Society had 4 people (including me, my companion, the teacher, and the president).

It is kind of nice that I know my way around Quillota, but lots of memories and flashbacks keep entering into my head at random times... It’s just ironic, ya know?   I’ve seen some people from my old ward here, too, which has been nice and weird at the same time.  Found out that Felipe (one of my converts) is active!!  That was happy for me to hear.  :)  Anyway, don’t really have much to say today.  J

LOVE you LOTS!!!!!

-Hermana Hermansen

P.S. I think that was really nice what you said about the kind of missionary that you think that I am.  :)  And what dad said was nice, too!  Thanks!!