WHAT THE GLADSOME TIDINGS BE

hiiiii loved ones!!

"Kok Tebe while we were walking to church yesterday"

This week was a crazy one with lots of service opportunities and goodness, but one of my favorite things that happened was this morning.  I was thinking about whether or not I'm the kind of missionary I want to be yet or the kind of missionary Heavenly Father wants me to be yet and yet again, I felt like the answer was no.  And as I was making a mental list of all the things I need to do to change or do better, I felt SO DANG OVERWHELMED.  I talked to Sister Waldie about it and she brought it all home by reminding me of the simple truths of the gospel.  She reminded me that we're here to seek to live more like Jesus Christ lived (background: yesterday we found out L's son is coming home from his mission and arrives at the airport at 5:30 tomorrow morning and we asked President for permission to go and he said something like, "YES!!  Rules and commandments are important but they are there to help us be more like the Savior" and we were really touched by that and found it pretty profound), and that I can and do seek to do that every day.  And then at the end of the day, we just reevaluate, repent, change as needed and work with the Lord to do what He needs to get done here.  She then said to stop worrying about all these other factors and to just be Anela Hansen.  To remember that Heavenly Father sees me as I am and knows what I need to do, and that only with Him and the Savior--not with other people or crazy expectations--will I become that person I can be.  Then she said, "remember that you're already doing a good job.  Take the time to thank Him for everything you already are and then ask Him to show you what you can become."  AND LIFE WAS GREAT.  

 "the photo of my hand was for dad.  This week we did a service project for this woman in our ward and we weeded for like 4 hours.  My allergies KILLED me that night and those were blisters that had died on my hands afterward but I loved it so much.  I love that kind of work and we were literally in the Huntsville of Kazakhstan and it was BEAUTIFUL there.  Sure love yous." 

Life got even better after I read President Uchtdorf's talk Of Regrets and Resolutions.

That talk is MONEY  And it's so true!  I know that as we follow those steps and really seek to make our faith real and personal, seek to love and serve and see and BE with others like the Savior would, and then choose to be happy TODAY, we will see miracles.  And even more, we will just be happy, good people that the Lord wants us to be.  And for the record, that's a pretty dang good thing to be.

Pretty much, the Lord has blessed me a lot, and this church is true.  I know that as we seek to apply the gospel, and especially to apply it outward, everything else works out because our Heavenly Father lives and loves us and our Savior already paid the price.  Life is a good wave.  And it's a happy one, too  

Last thing: yesterday we sang Lord I Would Follow Thee 

in church and the last verse in Russian made me cry.  In the last verse, like in English, it asks for the Savior's help to love others with the same strength He does us, but in the last lines it says this: 

Я смогу любить так сильно –

Я за Тобой пойду.

And that word "смогу" means that I WILL be able to.  and we just sang it and I cried, because I am that person.  I want to love like He does but I'm human and flawed and get in my own way of being able to love like that.  But I believe with all my heart that as we feel the Savior's love for us individually and seek to share that love with those around us, His strength overcomes ours and we are eventually able to do all He has asked of us.  He is the author and finisher of our faith and I know that with Him, we can do whatever He's asked us to.  Do what you can and He'll do the rest.  And all really is well.

I love you!  I pray for you and I am so grateful for you.  Have a wonderful day and have a bonfire and make someone's day okay.  Also be ready because CHRISTMAS SEASON IS COMING BOOYAH I CAN FEEL IT IN THE AIR HALFWAY THE WORLD AWAY BEST TIME OF THE YEAR (tom haverford voice)

ALL THE LOVE IN THE WORLD,

Sister Hansen

helllooo from the central eurasian mission what what

HELLO LOVED ONES!!

Maaaan, this week was a rollercoaster.  

Made me think of yous 

(Note: This is a painting of a cartoon my kids enjoyed watching together - lh)

This week I became a lot more familiar with some of the more frustrating aspects of missionary work and that was...a learning experience.  hahah.  but I learned something super wonderful that I wanted to share with you. 

Lately in the BOM I've been reading Mosiah and Alma and I seriously have been loving it.  The missionaries in those books were so powerful and did everything they did with so much love and faith and hope and humility and boldness, because they knew they were doing it with the Lord.  They had the authority of the calling and earned the power by how they chose to live before their God and I am constantly so inspired by their examples.  But this time when I read, I realized that when the Lord called Alma and the Sons of Mosiah to do the work, He told the usual--to preach repentance and faith in Jesus Christ to all--but also added to bear their afflictions with patience.  He said if they did those things, He would give them success.  And I was super struck by that.  The Lord realized that this group would be super successful, but not just because of what they taught--because of who they were.  Plus, last week, Dad sent me an email about being patient and assuming the best of people.  Loving them regardless of reasons to be frustrated with them.  It was all super inspiring and together, left an influence on me.

And then Heavenly Father, in His love and wisdom, gave me the opportunity to LIVE by these nice-sounding-in-principle principles.  OORAH!

Photo credit: Sis. Karin Carter (Thank you! xoxo)

Wednesday, we were suuuper frustrated because we had a lot to do and were running late and everything was not working out and we weren't even getting along with each other.  We were on the street walking somewhere and we were moving really fast and were just grumpy for every justifiable reason.  And then in this moment of indulgence (and y'all gotta remember, I love indulgence), the thought was like "be patient.  And show your patience by your attitude toward the situation." and then I saw a cute old lady in a cute dress and told her her dress was cute.  And kept saying hello to people.  And smiled.  AND IT ACTUALLY HELPED.  For real.  Not the situation very much, but how I felt.  And I really felt like the people in Mosiah 24:13-16.

"13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up theirburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

 16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."

It was a miracle!  And this attitude and seeking to change that in myself helped sooo much this week.  The Lord stepped in once I decided to get over myself and I am so grateful I got to see that.

Which brings me to this...THIS WEEK WAS A MIRACLE. For real.  It was a frustrating one in some ways but in lots of other ways, we have seen the Lord moving forth His work here.  Like the man we contacted on Friday who was willing to listen to a message about Jesus Christ and then ACTUALLY came to church when we invited him to the woman from Bishkek who'd met the church in Russia once and showed up at the building early on Sunday because she loves the doctrine and wants to feel that always to the woman that's been coming that asked us what she has to do to become a member to our investigators who have been making REAL PROGRESS in their hearts and just.  This is the work of the Lord.  And I am so so so so so grateful to be a part of it, even when I have to get a blood test in a scary hospital by myself. (results to come tomorrow) (oorah for visa renewals) (pray i don't have aids okay)  

tl;dr the best way to share the gospel is to be Christlike people.  because I know that every time we choose to act the way Christ would, in a big way or a little one, people FEEL that.  they feel His love and the reality of His existence in a way more powerful than words.  

I love you!!  i hope you all have a wonderful wonderful week. I love you and pray for you always. 

Love,

Sister Hansen

Photo credit: Sis. Karin Carter (Thank you, thank you!) 

hbd america miss u

ALRIGHT I HAVE NO TIME AND THIS IS THE WORST BECAUSE THIS WEEK WAS SO SO SO SO SO GOOD

but honestly, the most important thing I hope you all know and feel is that our Savior lives.  this is His church and His perfect love and Atonement are what make everything work.  He waits for every person with open arms and anything that's wrong in our lives is made right through Him.  He heals lives and hearts and people and it's the most beautiful message in the world.  how grateful i am it's true!!  He is the gift and He is the reason. (*please watch "Share the Gift" here*) 

okay. i actually have to go.  but just remember that "to love another person is to see the face of God."  get to it! we're all just on the same path back home.  and also, please eat some chick fil a and watch some fireworks for me. also hug my father because it was his birthday last week and i miss him.  and that is all.

sorry for the lameness and probably preachiness and uhhhha sjlkraseklr but i love you and pray and fast for you ALWAYS.  have a wonderful day, a wonderful week and keep on keeping on my loved ones.  read your scriptures and keep your dreams big.

love, 

sister hansen

So very grateful to Sis. Karin Carter for this photo. KZ

hahahahha.  for the fourth of july we'd bought these hot dogs that were the closest things to american hot dogs we've found here, and we were going to cook them at the church to eat with the missionaries to celebrate the 4th and the carter's bdays before music night (p.s. i have been using music more!!  we all have!!  woooo!) but we had a lesson and the fridge at the church isn't working right now so that was our cooling system. #americaninnovation

happiness and things

Not too much time this week but I just wanted to share a few things with you.

- First of all, when we show our faith in the Lord by just going and doing His work--instead of complaining about it or thinking about how hard it is or questioning the reality of His hand in our lives because we aren't seeing the fulfillment of blessings right away--He really does lift our burdens.  This week was kind of a hard one in terms of missionary work and after like 5 consecutive days of getting bailed on, we didn't really want to go contact or do anything in general and it was easy to complain and be a bum.  On Friday, it had kind of all come to a peak and we were frustrated and it was super easy to just want to wallow in it and complain and stuff and not go and talk to people that probably don't care about the gospel anyway.  But instead, we went and contacted.  AND IT WAS THE BEST.  People were super kind and interested and friendly and we met some quality people and had funny moments and all those good things and it was a blessing.  But the biggest blessing is that I felt the Lord's influence and help--His lightening of our burdens--and was assured again that He has not left us alone to do His work.  He's laboring in His vineyard with us, and when we do the things we can and should do with faith and love and hope, EVEN when we don't want to or think that they're too small to make a difference or anything, He steps in and rewards us for our faith.  He never leaves us comfortless and no matter how things are frustrating, He is the One we should look to.  Also, laughter.  That helps. :)

that sign says "be careful!  the dog is mean"...heh heh heh.

- Second, if we really want to be happy and be satisfied, the best thing we can do regardless of the place or circumstance is to seek to love and serve those around us.  Forget ourselves and try to see how we can lift the burdens of others.  In this sense, we will deepen our own testimonies and know our God better, but we will ALSO work real, genuine, important good in this world.  And hey, our world could use more of that.

 that's one of the monuments at panfilov.  soo beautiful there.

(To learn more about this statue, click here.)

You want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause, and bend your efforts to helping people. Cultivate a spirit of forgiveness in your heart against any who might have offended you. Look to the Lord and live, and work and lift and serve His sons and daughters. You will come to know happiness as you’ve never known it before. I don’t care how old you are, how young you are. You can lift people and help them. Heaven knows there are so very, very many people in this world who need help.  - President Gordon B. Hinckley

- lastly, I just have a testimony that the world, more than anything, needs the light of the gospel.  It's a scary place and it's confusing and it's easy to think that everything is going wrong, but I know that as long as we will cling to the Lord, remember to do the little things we can do with our whole hearts and just love those around us, we will see His hand in our lives.  I was studying about the Anti-Nephi-Lehies

the other day and I really think it changed my life.  They were so sure that God lived and that His hand in their lives was something so merciful and grand that they could never do anything to deserve it.  However, they took it one step further and did everything they could in order to show Him their gratitude.  They had so much faith and so much love and had been changed so sincerely, they would rather die than do anything that would potentially wrong their God.  And I want to be that kind of person.  I think you do too.  And sometimes it seems daunting.  But we can start as we are.  As a missionary trying to help people keep commitments, I KNOW that.  If we will continue to read our scriptures every day, meaningfully worship on Sundays and pray personally and as families, we will see the Lord's hand in our lives and continue to become the kind of people that can do His work--a work of love and patience and hope and light...aka the work the world needs right now--on this earth.  Even today.  

He is with us.  He loves us and He is aware of everything that happens.  Trust in Him!  Cling to that and just continue being happy and being good.  D&C 123:17  

" 17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully doall things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

All is well, loved ones.  All is well.

Love you all with my WHOLE DANG HEART,

Sister Hansen

comp photo from the longest day of the year!  right before we helped save a drunk man who was having seizures...day in the life.

the greats weren't great cause at birth they could paint, the greats were the greats cause they paint a lot

ALOHAAAA FAMILY!!  

First and foremost, HAPPY LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR!! (sang the "treat yoself" jingle like 12 times and no one understood.  Maybe was the saddest moment of the day.  BEST DAY OF THE YEAR) Thought of yous a lot and about what we were doing a year ago.  Baking in New Mexico

and falling in love with the world cup.  

Good times.  Seriously so grateful for you people at home, but I LOVE this gospel because it's perfect, and in Heavenly Father's perfect love He gave us a plan that has no ends--only beginnings.  And so we begin.  The best is yet to come :)

The trio: Sisters Johnson, Hansen and Waldie, KZ

For real though, this week I have learned so dang much about so dang much.  I learned that it's possible to clean a babushka's rug with a toilet brush and that sometimes the bus conductor WILL close the door and leave the station even if your body isn't all the way on the bus (and as a result, when the third member of your companionship comes up to laugh with you about it, the bus driver WILL slam on the brakes and cause your comp to fly into a woman and have the entire bus explode of laughter and only speak to you in very, very slow Russian) and that thunder is the best sound in the world and that the greats were the people that saw the opportunities in setbacks and that the Plan of Salvation is real and SO MUCH.  I think I'm learning a lot about happiness.  But one of my favorite lessons came in a few different parts.

the view from our gondola adventure! KZ

FIRST, one day I was having a midlife crisis (because sometimes that happens and apparently I have a very low life expectancy) and was thinking about how much I want to do with life and the improbability of it all and all that great stuff.  BUT then I read this talk by Joseph Wirthlin called The Abundant Life.

The Abundant Life, by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin 

(courtesy https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/the-abundant-life?lang=eng)

It seriously changed my life, I think.  It helped me remember that Heavenly Father loves us so much.  He wants us to be obedient and to be good and to follow Him and those are all so so so important.  But He also wants us to be HAPPY!  He wants to help us use those gifts and talents HE gave us and to pursue the passions that He put in every person.  It was super inspiring and helped me remember that we CAN do everything we dream of and that it CAN be done by living the gospel simultaneously.  One of my favorite quotes: "we are sons and daughters of an immortal, loving and all-powerful Father in Heaven.  We are created as much from the dust of eternity as we are from the dust of the earth." every person has a spark and God is the one that put it there.  He is anxious to help us and it's never too late to start.  And that's beautiful.

THEN, yesterday, we were contacting in Panfilov Park (met some super good people there.  Like this man who was a born again Christian.  He's a leader in his church and I don't think he understood that we wanted to teach him about a different church, but he just invited us to come to one of his meetings so we could testify to the youth there.  He saw our testimonies and loves the Savior so much, he just wants to do all he can to help other people know Him, too.  That was super humbling.  Good people really are everywhere, and even though this church is true, there's a lot to be learned by how people of other faiths live their lives.  The love is real, man.) and my favorite thing happened.  We were getting ready to leave and the sun was setting and it was beautiful and we saw this little old man playing accordion with a group of people around him.  One of those surrounding people happened to be someone that used to come to the english classes we teach and my comp recognized him and he started chatting and he GAVE THE BEST PEP TALK IN THE WORLD.  He's this ADORABLE man from Turkey and was talking about how he fell in love with accordion music and was like, "I saw this movie and felt in my heart that that's what I wanted to be.  My friends made fun of me and said I was too old but I said no!  I know my heart knows the notes and the rises and the falls.  It's already in my heart.  It's just my FINGERS that are lazy.  I have the soul of a musician.  I already know it all.  I just have to educate my fingers!  And everyone deserves to find love like this!" he was smiling so big and it was so sincere and I was like, you know what, THAT'S RIGHT.  My heart is right.  All of us already know what we love and how to do it.  We just gotta educate our fingers.  And if it's written on your heart, that already ain't no thang :)

tl;dr God lives and loves us, and His mercy and grace extend beyond anything we could ever imagine.  He's your Father and you're made of universe dust.  Go dance or something.

[the view from hiking kok tebe (which was an accident btdubs) (holla at that "trying to have a transition meeting with a friend from english" life)!  it reminded me of diamondhead]

Also, I am learning so much about love.  I used to think I was a loving person but the closer I've come to understanding the perfect love of the Father and of the Savior I realize that I actually know nothing.  But I'm starting to understand what it actually means to love people sincerely and how much work it is and what it means to live by that but especially, that it is everything.  HIS love is everything.  And that's something that never gets old. 

Lastly, this morning I was reading in Alma (remember when I said I wanted to finish the BOM before my six month mark?  ha.  ha ha ha.) and 19:22-23

" 22 Now, one of them, whose brother had been slain with the sword of Ammon, being exceedingly angry with Ammon, drew his sword and went forth that he might let it fall upon Ammon, to slay him; and as he lifted the sword to smite him, behold, he fell dead.

 23 Now we see that Ammon could not be slain, for theLord had said unto Mosiah, his father: I will spare him, and it shall be unto him according to thy faith—therefore, Mosiah trusted him unto the Lord."

reminded me of you and everyone there and every missionary family or person that has supported a missionary ever in the history of the world.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.  Thank you for your faith.  Thank you for your love.  This is the work of the Lord and it goes forth in His power, but I know that His hand in our lives is fueled by your faith and I am so so so very grateful.  So thank you.  You the real MVPS.

I love you so much.  I pray for you always and hope you are the happiest people in the world and know how important you are to our Heavenly Father.  He lives and loves you and knows what He's doing with you.  So carry on. :)

Sisters Johnson, Waldie and Hansen with Mission President's wife, Sis. Williams (KZ)

ALL MY LOVE,

Sister Hansen aka the human state of eyebrow emergency

"mormons...ah, like amish people, right?"

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO MY HOMIES IN AMERICA. (that's you, dad)

(you're all of my homies) (congratulations) also, happy happy birthday my dear cute Gampy :) I hope you watch Nacho Libre 

and spend time with the people you love and have a beautiful day.

Lots of things happened this week and there are SO MANY EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING IN THIS WORK (for real.  this is the work of the Lord.  this is His vineyard and His children that He knows exactly how to help them.  it is so so so interesting to see how undeniably His hand is in the lives of the people here.  also, i think KZ is probably the only place I know of where you can contact someone about religion and have them super passionately be like "no, I believe in my own God" and start defending their beliefs and then say "okay, have a good day" and have them change completely and wish blessings upon you and your families :) such good people.  really really.  and there's rain today so i guess I'm just trying to say that life is magical.) but probably the icing on the cake was our meeting with Elder Paul Pieper on Friday.  He's the man that first brought the church to KZ and he was visiting for a religious conference and got to speak to our branch on Friday.  It. was. amazing.  Seriously.  I was so humbled and energized in so so many ways, but I was especially touched by how personally he had worked with and for these people.  It was seriously a call to repentance for both us and the members about how we do the work of the Lord here, but it was so good.  And I know that it's possible.  I know that this is the Lord's church on the earth again today and that He's never forgotten about any of His children.  I know this is His work and because of that, it will go forth and we can see His hand manifest, even in our efforts that feel so small and meaningless.  I know our Savior lives and that we need Him, and I know His grace is the reason WE have reason to be the happiest and most hopeful people in the world.  And because I know, I am SO grateful to get to do something about it.  tl;dr I'm learning a lot about how to get over myself and how necessary that is.  But it is so good.  And so it goes.

kontik.  oh mahhh.  you kind of do a tim tam slam with them and they're bomb.  don't fret, your time is coming soon.

I love you people.  So much.  And I pray for and fast for and think about you and sometimes cry for you.  Thank you for your examples and influences and love and support and for just being the people you are.  This life is our chance to prepare to meet God!  And because Jesus Christ lives, that is a happy fact :) I love you!!  I love you I love you I love you.  The end.

 the dandelions in the mountains reminded me of dad

Sister Hansen

this is how we do

hello my droogs!

this week was an adventure, especially in terms of contacting.  for one, we met this girl on the street who is seriously GOLDEN.  her dad is from nigeria and moved to kazakh and she's a sprinter and is so cool and funny and real and everything with her just clicked.  we met her on wednesday and then she came to english the next day and also took a book of mormon and we had such a good chat with her and it was just so happy.  so real.  i love that.  and i really hope she wants to hear more.  for another, yesterday we contacted a woman who was super open and listened to like half the first lesson until we realized she was drunk.  hahahah.  we also contacted this man who was from england, and it was all super miraculous and he was so open and stoked to talk to us and proud that we were doing the work of the Lord...until he realized we were Mormons...and proceeded to tell us we were doing the work of the devil and to chew us out using swear words we can actually understand.  haha.  it was an adventure!  big ups to everyone serving in america.  maybe everyone here is muslim and super set in their religion, buuut they don't have a bunch of preset ideas about a book they've never tested or read so everything is okay.  y'all english speakers are champions.  lucky we live kazakhstan.  for real though, the people here are wonderful.  things on the street are always crazy and funny and weird, but they're also really great a lot of the times.  i'm so grateful we get to contact here!

the 3 heads of garlic, featuring Korean food

we also had our last meeting with President and Sister Williams this week before the mission splits.  it was actually super super good.  remind me to tell you allll about President when i get home.  he is such a good man.  he wants so badly to do the work of the Lord with everything he can.  he makes me laugh so hard though.  he's a little bit like chris traeger.

he gets us stoked on life and missionary work but more importantly, i know he's called of God and that he loves and receives revelation for us.  he also gave us each a super awkward bro hug yesterday.  good mission adventures all around.

we'd been at an activity at the church with an investigator that night and then we walked her home and it just happened to start downpouring. #life

yesterday was another miracle of a day but we'll have to talk about it another time.  mostly though, i'm learning so much about what it means to be a missionary and a leader and a follower of Christ in general, and i just have to say that i'm not perfect.  hahahah for real sometimes when i write home i feel so dumb because i really am learning so much and i want to share these things with you but also i don't know how to do it in a way that doesn't sound lame and preachy and ingenuine and also my social skills are diminishing.  life is hard.  but really everything is imperfect and so happy and i love and pray for you all always.  the church is true and Heavenly Father loves us and Jesus Christ is our Savior.  this church is His own church again on the earth and the thing i love the most about that is that no one just has to believe the words of the people around them.  they can know for themselves!  and i know that when we seek the Lord with a sincere heart and with willingness to give it a shot instead of just uprooting everything with doubt, we get answers.  and it's the best.

i love you!!  i pray for you!  i hope you enjoy otter pop season!  have a happy week!!

that sign says "i love you" :)

sister hansen

p.s. one time this week we hadn't opened the windows in our room yet and it's super hot and it was only 6:15am and all i'd done so far was pray and i was super sweaty.  oooorah!

p.p.s. *sister e (who we may or may not have tracked down a number for us so we could call before she goes home this week...) talking about how she speaks in english now (she doesn't speak english) because her comp doesn't speak russian* "my companion...her ears...sister, how you say?...her ears...are...died"

KAZAKHSTAN NEI