Letter #62: March 26, 2013

Hey Fam n´ Friends,

(Ha.  Sorry, I was trying to think of a funny way to start this, but there are only so many options left that I haven’t used...  Anyway...)

So, it seems like there a lot of questions to answer, so I will try and get those answered....  

Sorry, I’m bad a describing Chile and the work and people and stuff.  It’s just that everything seems so normal now and I’m always explaining the progress of our investigators and people we are working with, daily with my companion, with our Elder leaders, with the Bishop, with the ward mission leader, and members even, so when it’s time to write you guys, I forget to because it’s like “free time”.  Also, the progress and people are always changing so that gets complicated too....

Anyway... I’ll answer questions now and see what I can describe about Chile and such... Yes, I am still planning on coming home in September.  September 24th is my official finish date, more information to follow (what time and date exactly) as the time is nearer (like a few weeks before that date).  Yes, I am 2/3 (The number of how many of the people chose to follow Christ and come to earth!) of the way through with my mission.  (What? I’m a missionary, I have to make gospel connections in all that I do...) Crazy!  Never thought the day would come.  

I have only been in 2 different places.  There are like 13-14 zones and within each zone 3-4 districts.  Zones are usually stakes.  Districts are just a group of 3-4 pairs of missionaries in the same zone or stake.  Every pair of missionaries is designed to work in a specific ward.  So I’ve only been in 2 areas/zones/cities/stakes/wards.  (My first area = Quillota (name of city, zone, and stake), Ward= Troncal 1.  My second area = Villa Alemana (city name, but there are two zones here so my zone´s name is Villa Alemana Oeste or Huanhuali (what the stake is called), Ward= Villa Norte.)  Make sense?  It is possible that I will get to serve in Viña, Viña, but honestly, I have no idea.  I will probably only be in one more area, but once again, I have no idea. There are certain assigned areas where sisters can serve, so the options are more limited for sisters than for the elders.

I also have no idea what they are going to do with all the sisters since there are about 20 companionships of sisters in the mission and 23 new sisters are arriving the next transfer and then 25 new sisters are arriving the transfer after that.  I do still live in the same pension that I lived in with Hermana Ramos.  It’s really little, but sufficient.  :)  I’ll try and send pictures sometime.  

Weeks been going good!  We have a Zone Conference yesterday with the Mission President, so that’s why I didn’t write and why we are having our P-day today.  I am loving my companion right now!!  It’s just such a stress relief to not have culture differences in our relationship... For example, we don’t have to always be hugging and touching and it doesn’t offend either one of us :)

Anyway, I found that secret letter that dad put in my b-day package.  Good one, dad!  Ha! Ha!  It actually did make me laugh quite hard.... He asked about what we do on p-days and about the culture and country and members.

Well p-days are basically just like any other day... We wake up and exercise and study.  Then we come to the internet place.  Then we buy groceries.  Then we go back to the pension and clean or nap or write letters or do whatever (I usually make cookies to give to members & investigators, we have an oven, which is not come among the pensions so I’m taking advantage of being able to make other cookies besides no bakes). Then at 6 PM, we leave and do missionary work the rest of the night. They always go by way to fast and we never get everything done that we want to.

Our Mission President is pretty strict with activities, so we hardly ever have them... And when we do have permission to have them, we aren’t allowed to leave our area.... In the beginning of my mission with our other president, we did go to the beach once with my district.  It was cool!  I have seen the beach and the mountains.  The beach can be seen when we are in Viña and we can always see mountains.  It actually reminds me of Utah a lot in that aspect.  The mountains are of similar shape and size.  I don’t really know what to say specifically about the country or the people... Could you be more specific with those questions?

The people here are ridiculously lazy and laid back!!  The stores close every day from like noonish to 3 or 4 for lunch and they open late and stay up late.  Being on time is pretty much non-existent here....

Yeah i need more specific questions about the people and culture.... Let’s see, investigators..... We have 4 with baptismal dates for right now... They accepted them all pretty much within the last week or two.  If God provides a miracle, then we will be having a baptism this Sunday!!! That would be awesome!  His name is Jean and he pretty much used to be an atheist.   His heart has changed drastically in the past 2 weeks!!  It’s incredible to see the Lord working in him. You guys could pray for him if you want. :)  My companion and I are going to fast today for another investigator to help him quite smoking.  His baptismal date is May 4th.  He was smoking 20 cigarettes per day, but now he’s down to 10.  So he’s doing pretty good! (side note: SOOOO many people smoke here!!!! Worse than Las Vegas...pretty much everyone breaks the law of chastity too... so many young and single mothers and people cheating on other people or living together... nasty.)  

Anyway, that’s all I have time for!!! LOVE YOU ALL LOTS!!! Thanks for thinking about me and writing me and loving me!!!! Until next week!

-Hermana Hermansen 

P.S. Any news from Lyndsie???  Her pic was way cute!!

Letter #61: March 18, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

It is starting to get cold here in the mornings and nights, but still really hot and sunny during the day.  Hermana Ortega is not training right now.  I saw her 4 weeks ago on my B-day.  She is doing well.  Still miss her!!  I love my new companion!!  She´s hilarious!!!  The work is going good.  Ridiculously busy and I never have time for  anything!!  

So, I’m not quite sure what to write about today, but I’ve been having some important thoughts lately so I’ll try to get them out and explain them as best as my little hands typing on this Spanish keyboard will allow me. ;)

First off, I received a dearelder this past week with 2 letters from Rachel and one from Aunt Kristie.  They both touched my heart a little.  Rachel said something that I’ve definitely already known and realized, but it’s always nice to get an outsiders opinion because sometimes I feel like my view on certain things is very limited in the mission. She mentioned the changes that have been taking place in me and that she can see.  It’s funny because I always said that I wasn’t going to “change” on my mission (which she also mentioned to me).  As I look back upon saying that before my mission, I can plainly see the reason why I said that.  It arose from 2 main things. #1— Pride and #2— A misunderstanding of the word “change”.

Change is a natural process of life.  Everyone and everything is always changing.  We can either accept it or neglect it, but it is there.  Change is evident every day in our lives.  Everyday is different and therefore changes are taking place.  Sometimes it is hard to recognize the changes that take place and sometimes we just don’t want to.  If I would have stayed home, I would have continued changing.  But, I know with a plain assuredly that the changes that are taking place in me now are good changes and for the best.  No, my personality is not changing.  I’m still the same crazy, laughing, nerdy, weird, hippy, indie, “intellectual”, Harry-Potter-loving Sarah.  The essence of me has not changed, but what has changed is my perspective and understanding of life, people, ideas, eternal principles, God’s plan, Jesus Christ, and even myself.  And these things will continue to change until one day my will, will be perfectly in line with God’s.

This day is not likely to happen in this life.... We are all human and therefore it is impossible to be perfect, but really this life isn’t about being perfect; it is all about attaining perfection.  And that is why the gospel is so important.  We can only progress in this life by living the gospel principles and acquiring gospel knowledge.  And that is why it was prideful for me to say that I wouldn’t change on my mission because that is supposing that I knew more than God.  This is His plan and He has granted us this life so that we CAN grow and progress and change.... Anyway.... after years of rambling of what I’m sure makes little sense (because I’m a confusing person and often confuse myself within my own thought processes....ha!), I’ll get to the point, which is that I am incredibly and eternally grateful for my mission.

That night after reading the dearelder from Rachel, I spent some minutes in prayerful thought and came to the sudden realization that after the wondrous gifts of the Atonement and the Holy Ghost, my mission has been that greatest gift that God could have ever given me.  Not because I haven’t been “seriously so blessed” (Ha! Ha!  Rachel) with a wonderful home, family, friends, and country my ENTIRE life, but because my mission has helped/taught me to realized and appreciate ALL the gifts and blessings that I already have been given.  

Anyway, I loved what Aunt Kristie said, too!  Like I said earlier, your perspective on a few things is sometimes limited in the mission, and for me that is mainly because I have no idea what is going on back home and how people see and view me from the outside.  It’s nice to know that I can be influencing people for good even though I’m a million miles away and in an entirely different country, culture, and language... :) That really is all that I could ask for.  Just hoping that perhaps somewhere in the world there is maybe someone that I could help or influence for the better.  And that is what has been on my crazy mind lately.  :) 

Love,

Hermana Hermansen

P.S. Okey doke family, I have some quick business to address quickly....

Mom— Just got your e-mail and time is almost up!  Who did Zach marry???  Has anyone heard how Lyndsie is doing??  Is she alive??  

Please apologize to peeps because I’m horrible at responding to letters, but there simply is NO time!  That is actually stressing me out a little.... But I’m still working on letters home and a little tiny package.

The packages I have received have been BOMB!!!  I seriously feel sooooooo spoiled!!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!! 

Courtney—  I lol-ed sooooooooooooooooooo hard at the pics!!! LOVED THEM!!!! 

Mal— We’re totally going scream/vent/cry driving in your new car when I get home!!!               

I LOVE YOU ALL LOTS, LOTS, LOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Letter #60: March 11, 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

Everything is going well!  I am so happy with my companion! She is really funny and we get along great!!  I’m trying to do my best to be the companion/trainer that she needs and teach what and how she needs it.  We are both learning a lot together!!  She’s doing really well at getting everything down really fast (because everything is still so new for her) and I’m learning a ton of things that I can do better and refining my skills as a missionary and person. My Spanish is actually getting better because I am having to talk more and I can better see and realize the correct pronunciation of words and grammar.  I love this learning experience and the joy that comes from helping people come unto the gospel!!  

Let’s see, this week, in companion study, we studied The Restoration and How to Begin Teaching.  In my personal study, I’ve been reading and studying in Mosiah 12-15.  There was a scripture that I really like in Mosiah 13:28 and then I also found a quote by President Lorenzo Snow that goes along with that and he says something like “Everyone is dependent on Jesus Christ and without Him, the promises of the gospel couldn’t be accomplished.”  I just really like that because I LOVE anything pertaining to Christ and I love remembering His infinite love and sacrifice because that is really what motivates me in this work.

So last week at church, our entire bishopric was released and our ward mission leader (who was completely awesome and worked incredibly well with us) was called as second counselor, leaving us without a ward missionary leader... So yesterday in church there was no one to teach the gospel principles class (we have a separate class for gospel principles for new members and investigators), so that means that me and my companion got to teach it.... Ha! Ha!  We taught The Restoration because that was what we studied this week and it actually went fairly well... That was the first Sunday school class that I’ve EVER taught in my life and it was in Spanish.... Ha! Ha! Awesome.  (Actually, I probably teach better in Spanish than in English now....)

Anyway, everything is going well.  Time is going by fast now!  I’m getting excited for General Conference!!  I will be with my current companion for it and I can’t wait!  Tell Aunt Christie “a million thank you’s”!!!!!!  I seriously can’t believe that....  She way out did herself and I’m really thankful!!!!!!  Also, I had no idea that Zach was getting married... To whom?  That’s cool.  Tell him congrats!!  Courtney told me that Megan Boardman is engaged, too.  And way cool about Jordan’s call to Guatemala!!  He’s going to love it!!  Guatemala is gorgeous!!  I’ve seen pictures! I lived with a girl from Guatemala and she was way nice!!  I love her!!  Ricardo Arjona is a famous singer from Guatemala!  Tell Jordan congrats and to look up the music video “Fuiste Tú” by Ricardo Arjona!!!  That was filmed in Guatemala and shows a lot of the Guatemala City.  Tell everyone at the wedding that I love and miss them all!!!!  Have you heard anything about Lyndsie?  LOVE YOU!!!

Bye

-Hermana Hermansen

P.S.  When you send the next package, could you please include a copy of this coming General Conference Ensign?  And also a new CTR ring for Hermana Ramos (size 11)? 

Letter #59: March 4, 2013

Mama and Family,

Ok, so I got my package on my birthday!!!  The president changed how we did transfers this change because of all of the new missionaries that got here.  I told you that 17 new sisters arrived, right?  That is just a ridiculous amount all at once!!  Next transfer 23 new sisters come and then the next transfer 25 more new sisters come…. I honestly have no idea how they’re going to organize things!!

So anyway, my birthday was a fun day.  We had our transfers!!!  My new companion is named Hermana Anderson (Morgan Anderson).  She’s from Bountiful and she is 24.  I’m training and it’s actually really fun!!  It surprises me how much I’ve learned and how much I know... Ha! Ha!  She’s my first gringa companion so I get to speak some English!!!! I like that part.  :)

Anyway, I’m super happy that we are together!!  All of those hard times that I passed through on the mission are actually being to put to use as knowledge and advice that I can give her in case she passes through the same things.  She is way cute!! And she is really willing to learn!  She doesn’t speak Spanish very well, but she is learning fast!!

Here’s a pic of us:

P.S. Thanks for my birthday package!!!!  I LOVED IT!!!!  Especially the yellow scarf and the headband... as you can see.... :) I actually LOVED everything!!! I loved the sunshine theme!!

It’s sort of intimidating at times being the “lead” missionary, but it’s actually not as hard as I thought it would be.  I’m really enjoying it!  So I complete one year in the mission this week (in a few days).... Can’t believe it!!!  I’m really enjoying my time as a missionary, but I’m still excited to come home, too. :)  Anyway, my computer is being weird so I’m going to send this and if I get things figured out, I’ll write more.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

-Hermana Hermansen