Happy Tuesday morning!!
We had the opportunity to have a visit from Elder Don R. Clarke from the quorum of the seventy yesterday. So they switched our preparation day to today. I've officially been transferred to the city of Sylmar, CA. This is part of the San Fernando 2nd Spanish ward. I love it here. And my companion is super awesome. Her name is Hna Tavoian from Idaho. She's been on her mission for 6 months. She actually came out with my last companion, Hna Whetten.
We've had such amazing experiences this week. I literally cannot believe how many miracles we've had and I've been stunned at how strongly the spirit has been directing us.
The very first night in the area we met a girl named M...... She is amazing!! She had actually met with missionaries 2 years ago. She had even accepted baptism but then shortly moved to Mexico and lost contact with the missionaries. Then somehow the elders met her mom and she gave the elders her contact information. We went over and it was so great. She is so prepared for the gospel. We talked with her about the Restoration and she felt the truth of that message and when we talked with her about baptism she accepted. I'm so excited to continue meeting with her and her mom said that we can visit with her as well.
The following day, Wednesday, we had returned home after a lesson that had fallen through to finish our studies when not 15 minutes later we got a call from a former referrral, J........ He said to us, "I'm at the church building and I have a couple of hours. Can you visit with me?" We were slightly apprehensive but we told him we would be there. We show up and who else should be there but the bishop. It was a huge miracle for us. Initially J...... told us that he wasn't really interested in changing religions because he grew up Catholic but as we taught about the restoration he really started to light up and be open to it. And when we invited him to be baptised he said YES!!
When we were receiving instruction from Elder Clarke I had the name of a member family pop into my head. I really felt that we should go ask them for a referral. And later on in the conference their name popped into my head again. But I looked at our schedule after the conference and we literally had no time. Every hour was filled with an appointment. Then after the conference we called two of the appointments and they told us that they needed to cancel because they had to take care of some problems. Initially that was disheartening because we had the thought "oh great now we have to replan our whole night." Then we realized that this opened up the possibility of being able to go visit the member family. So we grabbed something quick to eat and then made our way over to their house. It seriously was one of the most spiritual experiences of my whole mission. We shared with them our experience of feeling prompted to come visit with them and they were a little shocked but willing to visit with us. We had the husband offer a kneeling prayer to know who was prepared and as we talked it turned out the he and his wife had the same two names pop into their heads. And then their daughter thought of two more people who could benefit from the gospel. I know that one of those four people is why the spirit so strongly prompted us to visit the member family. One or all of them is prepared to receive the gospel and we just have to do our part to help them. From this and many other expereinces I know that the spirit will direct us to those that need the gospel. This time of year is the perfect time to share the gospel because we are giving the greatest gift of the true gospel. I know that often it can be scary to invite a friend to listen to the missionaries or to give the name of our friend to the missionaries. But no matter what happens it is always worth it. I know that as you pray to know who is prepared the Lord will make it known to you. And maybe if the missionaries are paying attention they will knock your door because they have been instructed to do so by the Lord, just like we were. Will you accept the challenge to pray to know who of your friends is ready for the gospel??
I know that God is aware of the needs of our friends and us. He loves us. And I know that He sent His son Jesus Christ so that we can be saved. I hope that this year we can truly come to understand Christmas more than just enjoy it.
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Hansen
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