the graffiti says "read books"
that's the view from our cute little kitchen
Sorry my last couple of emails have been so preachy and weenieish. I am the wooorst. But that's okay because repentance is real am I right. But here are some fun facts to start off this email that will be legendary among men:
1. People who think they want hats from Russia have never tried the kit kats here. (Or the snickers...or the white chocolate twixes...or the bread...hehhhh)
2. Percentage of tiny Russian children who speak better Russian than me: 100%. Also, bc they have more snow than sidewalks,
3. Weenie is not a word that really translates into Russian. Also, they have a word that expresses shock that kind of sounds like zoo-ee-mama so basically life is great.
also, proof that I CAN cook okay
But really, this week was so happy. Lots of happy random things happened--like McDonalds
mcdonalds in Russia because when else will i ever do that again.
hahahah never in my wildest dreams did i think i would do that but look. here we are.
or the barbeque thing we had Saturday
sometimes when you live in Siberia you walk into the woods and have
ward barbecues in the winter...it's a casual thing.
and whatever else--and I want to tell you all about everything always, buuut a few cool things I learned include the following...
First, Heavenly Father loves us as we are and wants us to be happy and confident in what He's given us. He wants us to be humble but He also wants us to know that He has given us our talents for a reason! I know the people we are today are enough to do the work He wants us to do today. I know I know I know. So carry on and be happy, eh? (Nacho voice)
friendly reminder that in the words of President Uchtdorf, "you can do it now!" Heavenly Father
called us as we are right now to do whatever work He wants us to be. And it is sweet.
ahhhhh NO TIME. But just know that the Lord lives and loves each of us. One time this week we missed our bus
cool art above the metro station (10+ points if you started humming a song when you read that)
blurry photo taken on the metro
and it was late and we were cold and tired and thought it was a bummer.
(it was SO COLD that day and we were outside for a long time and pretty much no one wanted to hear what we had to say but it was actually one of the happiest nights ever. i dunno. it's just that this work literally is such a happy one. [The picture has been cropped to protect her companion's identity])
But we ended up meeting this miracle of a girl who had all these questions for us and believed everything we said. We got an investigator, but more importantly, we answered HER prayers. I have seen His love for me and His children here (who, by the way, are seriously the sincerest and most good-hearted people in the whole world maybe) every day in some way or another, whether it be Him showing me that I am enough through how someone treated me or me showing someone else through something I do that the Lord loves them. The point is, we are constantly answering people's prayers through our actions and seeing His love through theirs, even when we don't realize it. That's beautiful. So just live with that hope this week. Seek opportunities to serve but also know that no effort is ever wasted. And that's the happiest.
it's pretty in Berdsk
buuut it's prettier in Akadem. that's on the sidewalk
outside our house. note the snow on the sides!
DANG IT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT CHARITY. But a few conferences ago--the same one where Uchtdorf talked about forget me nots--Sister Beck gave a talk on charity and said this: "the true measure of our ministry is not the perfection of our statistics but the depth of our charity." So carry on on that this week. It's wonderful and it's enough. Love really is the answer for most of the questions in my heart. All of them, actually.
I love you all so much! Miss you heaps but pray for you always always always.
and lastly, a mirror selfie to verify that it is, indeed, sis. anela hansen
p.s. dad thanks for the hat i stole from you. i use it all the time
and now all of russia knows of your swag. loves
Love,
Sister Hansen
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