HELLLLLOOOOO VANCOUVER (Robin Williams voice)

Date: 07-31-2017
Companion: Sister Vanderplas (pronounce the "plas" like Claus in Santa Claus)
Area: Vancouver East Stake, Fairway Village Ward

I LOVED WOODLAND BUT HOLY COW HAVE I MISSED VANCOUVER!?!?

My cute cute companions name is sister Vanderplas. That's right. Sister Vanderplas. Ask her how many times I slaughtered her name before I finally said it right? Hahahah!

We've had such a fun time here in the Fairway Village ward! It's been way too much fun!

I think the biggest thing to note is that WE ARE ACTUALLY BIKING AROUND VANCOUVER. My legs hate me. Enough said.

So something that i thought was way cool was that on our first night here, sister V and I had made our way over to the ward mission leaders house and met with him. Then we tried biking our way home again and let me tell you, I am literally the most out of shape person alive. So we started walking our bikes and all I could think about was how it was this sisters first day in the field and how walking our bikes and everything had probably been pretty crappy for her, so I was praying that a miracle would happen. Just then this lady in a mini van drove past and was cheering us on! It was so fun! But wait, there's more. She flips a u turn and comes back and talks with us and tells us she'll give us a ride home! We threw our bikes in the back of the van and we were on our way.
When we got home it was about 9pm and our stake is doing something for missionary work where everyone in the stake prays when it hits 9pm, so we asked her if we could pray with her (she was a member from another area) and we knelt down in the middle of the road outside of our house and prayed. The spirit was so strong and it totally pumped us up to go out the next day and work hard!

Moral of the story is, small acts of kindness lead to big spiritual moments. The sister kept saying that she was sorry she couldn't do more, (and we had a hard time fitting the bikes in her van) and she kept apologizing for wasting our time, and to me, she had saved us! (Literally my legs feel like jello at this point, what the heck how do people bike for fun? Someone ask Preston and Jaden or Braxton to write a "how to" for me please.) But it was just this one small act of kindness, and I don't know if this lady will ever know how much she truly helped us.

My invitation: always follow promptings to do small acts of kindness, even if you feel like you might be annoying that person. Not only will it bring the spirit into their life because of your Christlike charity but you will also feel the spirit more because you are choosing to be Christlike.

I love you. God loves you. The two dogs I live with love you. Everyone loves you.

☀️FIND JOY☀️

1. Back with sister O'very so you know things are about to get Cray
2. Biking?
3. We know what fashion is
4. New mixtape coming 3038.
5. The two dogs I live with
6 & 7. Sister Vanderplas and I (': (I'm not crying it's just a twig in my eye)

Goodbye Woodland!!!

Date: 07-24-2017
Companion: Sister Bevan
Area: Longview Washington Stake, Woodland 1st Ward

Hoooooly cow!!! Life is getting real crazy here in the woodland 1st ward!

Well, we had a really awesome lesson with a woman named Molly who we've been trying to meet with for a really long time. She finally let us in and we taught her about the restoration, and it was really cool. This is one of the greatest things about being on a mission, but sometimes when you're in a lesson and you're on a roll and the spirit is there, it feels like you're not even talking, and it's God working through you and it's so amazing, it's the best feeling in the entire world. But we committed her to come to church the next day, and she was all for it, she was excited and said she would be there. The next day, she wasn't there and I'm not going to lie, I was pretty disappointed.

Looking back at the whole thing, it made me realize that sometimes God gives is things that will help us in the moment, but sometimes He has a different plan for you, and the one thing you were freaking out about or really stressing about doesn't even matter anymore.

I learned that I don't even have to freak out about Molly not coming to church anymore BECAUSE I'M BEING TRANSFERED. HOLY COW.

I'm going to the Vancouver East stake and it turns out that I'm training. Holy cow.

I know that when we rely on Heavenly Father that everything will be alright in the end. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each and everyone of us and I know that when we try to be in line with that plan that everything will work out in our favor and we will be comforted and fins happiness!

I'll let you all know my new address when I get it!

Remember to  ☀️FIND JOY☀️

-Sister Emma Hansen


1 And 2. District
3. Everything's gonna be alright

Do Chickens Have Large Talons?

Date: 07-17-2017
Companion: Sister Bevan
Area: Longview Washington Stake, Woodland 1st Ward

Hello hello hello! Right now I'm getting my hair cut by an 78 year old woman whom I love with all of my heart. So wish me luck. Pictures to come.

IT'S BEEN A PRETTY GREAT WEEK.

We did lots of service this week. It was way fun. I love service so much. I love being able to help someone, even if it's in the smallest ways.

Something that I've been thinking a lot about this week are talents. I'm not going to lie. I have the hardest time thinking of any talents that I have. I don't feel like I'm particularly good at any one thing. But we had a lesson this week where we read the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. It basically says that if we don't use our talents that we will lose them. Well if we can lose talents, that means we have to have them right? This week, I don't know why, but I've been having the strongest desire to play the piano. I don't even know why. I used to take piano lessons when I was younger. But I haven't played in years. Now all of the sudden I'm wanting to play all the time. I don't know if i could actually say my piano playing is a talent right now... (it sounds terrible and I'm pretty sure my companions ward are always bleeding) but, I have a testimony in growing those talents. It all goes along with your vision for yourself. ( I dont know if you can tell, but I'm obsessed with vision). Your talents will widely effect who you are and who you want to become. Figure out your talents so you can work with them and work them into your vision. The more you care for your talents, the more talents God will give you.

Another thing that I've been thinking about, is actually taking charge. Putting your plans into actions. If you want something, you have to do it. You can't just pray and hope that it happens. We were talking with our investigator, Tina, one time and she said "pray like God does everything, but then work like you do everything". Later our mission President said it in one of his emails to us and it was just a confirmation to me to work, and to be confident in what I am doing.

Funny story for everyone! We were heart attacking this lady who just had surgery in our ward. (in case anyone doesn't know, heart attacking is just cutting out hearts and putting them on someone's door and running away) well, the house that we went to had two OPEN WIDOWS in the front of the house, and we could see a man sitting inside but his back was turned to us. And we could see tons of dog toys outside so we knee they had a dog. So we snuck up to the door, stuck on all the hearts without being detected. As soon as we stuck the last heart on the door the DANG DOG STARTED BARKING! So we took off to the side of the house because we didn't want the guy inside to see us. Only apparently there was a CLIFF where we ran to. Needless to say there were minor battle wounds, but it the end, we came out victorious (and limping).

Remember to ☀️FIND JOY☀️

-Sister Emma Hansen


1. Sister Baxter cutting my hair while I was typing this email
2 & 3. Exchanges with Sister Stoker and Sister Lavaka


P.s. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM. I HOPE ALL THE TEXTS FROM EVERYONE I TALKED TO ON FRIDAY DIDN'T ANNOY YOU.

#RetweetIfYouAgree Where's my G.A. squad at?

Date: 07-10-2017
Companion: Sister Bevan
Area: Longview Washington Stake, Woodland 1st Ward

GOOOOOD MORNING BALTIMORE!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry about last week's email. I'm not actually sure if it sent out or not, but my email has been kind of funny the past couple of weeks and it doesn't always send the emails I have typed!

This week was SUCH A GOOD WEEK!

We got to go to the Temple on Wednesday and BOY do I miss the temple so much! It was crazy because as soon as we got there I was just over come with the spirit and I learned so much! If you haven't gone to the Temple recently, please do so.(:

We had an all day p-day on the 4th of July and we were able to go watch some fireworks and hang out with a lot of people! It was way too fun! The fireworks in washington are crazy. Especially in woodland! They echo off the canyons and it just sounds so cool! Dad, you'd LOVE the fireworks here.

Alright. I started over in my Book of Mormon studying. The other day I was reading 1 Nephi 4. And let me tell you. I think Nephi is the coolest person of my life. No joke. Well, besides Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. But anyway. So in the previous chapter, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi are all trying to get the gold plates from king Laban. Only king Laban is kind of scary and tries to kill Laman when he goes in for the plates. Laman and Lemuel are super mad and they start SMOTING (that one was for you mom) Sam and Nephi with sticks! An Angel of the Lord comes down and says "you act like I'm your mother or something. Stop smoting your brothers with sticks. Go and do" as soon as the angel leaves, Laman and Lemuel start getting mad again.

Even after an angel comes and tells them they can get the plates they doubt.

AND Nephi is 100% befuddled as to why they are so doubtful! This is where chapter 4 starts. Nephi starts into them by mentioning the story of Moses and the red sea, and how because Moses was righteous he was able to part the red sea and the Lord delivered them and helped them and they were able to escape.

And then Nephi says " Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken into you; wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians." (1 Nephi 4:3)

Or in other words "you've also seen an angel of the Lord. How in the heck are you doubting that we can get some plates from some guy?"

THIS IS SO COOL.

So often do we forget all of the things the Lord has done for us in the past and we get discouraged and start to lose hope and faith in what the Lord can do for us. 3 verses later Nephi says "And I was led by the spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." (1 Nephi 3:6).

Nephi has absolutely no idea how is he going to accomplish the things which the Lord needs him to do, but he is still looking at his brothers like they're crazy for having doubt! Which they are!

Brothers and sisters, I know that sometimes life is really scary and we're asked to do things that we think are impossible. But I promise that as you go through life, and ask yourself "wherefore can ye doubt?" Every time you start to feel like you can't do something, and as you remember the Lord in your life, that God will deliver you. And you will be able to get the plates from Laban. Just like Nephi could because of his faith.

I know that our Savior lives. I know He is watching us and helping us. I am so grateful that i have this knowledge and I have this opportunity to bring others to this knowledge. I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week! Sorry this was kind of a long email!

☀️FIND JOY☀️

- Sister Emma Hansen


1. Temple!!!!
2. What I'm trying to act like I feel
3. How I really feel

WOWEY WOW WOW IT'S THE 4TH ALREADY

Date: 07-07-2017
Companion: Sister Bevan
Area: Longview Washington Stake, Woodland 1st Ward

HELLO! It's July? What the heck? It still feels like January to me? Time is weird while you're on a mission.

It's been a ROLLERCOASTER this week! 

THE FIRST THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS JARED HOLY COW!!!! We haven't been able to find Jared for a long time, but his friend (Who's name is also Jared so everyone calls him big Jared and the other one (the one we found on the side of the road) little Jared) finally was home when we went over and we picked him up as a new investigator! It's been the craziest ride with him! Just keep praying for the Jareds! Hahah! It looks like we've lost little Jared at this point. BUT THERE'S STILL HOPE.

 
Steve came to the 4th of July breakfast this morning!!!!! Which is a HUGE step for him so I'm kind of freaking out. 

Something I've been thinking about a lot recently is how much God is really helping us through everything. And how sometimes we don't always see His hand in our lives. But I guarantee if you look around and think about everything that happens, you'll realize how involved He is. 

Another thing I've focused on is VISION. Boy am I glad for my trainer emphasizing this so much because I've grown to LOVE IT!!! 

There's a general conference talk by President Monson from April of 1972 called "Finishers wanted" I think I studied it 1000 times this week. He talks about making a path for yourself and working on that path. I'm a firm believer in the fact that if you don't know where you're going you'll run around in circles for forever and get NOWHERE. Please, if you have time, go read this talk and then pray, and then make a vision for yourself. Then work for it. I know that when we plan for God to be on our path with us, as well, and pray for His guidance in doing this, we cannot and will not be led astray! I love you all so much and I'm so grateful for the trials, miracles, visions, EVERYTHING that we get to experience in just this short part of the eternities. Have a fantastic week and remember to

☀️FIND JOY☀️

-Sister Emma Hansen

1. Investigator Arlene. I love her with all my heart
2. Family history booth our zone did in longview
3-7. Our district had a competition to see who could take the most PICTURES with animals. This is like 1/8 of what we got. Lol.
8. Jumping for Joy
9. So I messed up my jaw about a month ago, and now when I open it it goes sideways and won't open all the way and look how goofed I look in this pic I'm laughing so hard.

She took a holiday

Weird, we didn't get an email from Sister Hansen this week.  So, this is her mam posting . . .  I grew up where Sister Hansen is serving the Lord,  it's my home Stake and Mission.  4th of July is huge in our little town and since Pioneer Day is a Utah State holiday there is no splitting of the parades or fireworks shows.  It's huge, and the whole city turns up.  

There is a little lake in the middle of Longview, not a boating or swimming type lake.  More of a walk-and-see-the-beautiful-landscaping-enjoy-nature-kinda of lake.  On the 4th there are all types of booths where people sell all kinds of things, sort of a farmers/flea market type thing.  

The missionaries in Emma's area had a little booth about Family History at Lake Sacajawea, so of course my family all headed over to see her and harass the missionaries a little.  

Below are some of the pictures . . .  and yes, the Adair side of our family are vertically challenged.  I think I have the family record standing at 5'5" or on a good hair day 5'7".  My brother may be 5'6" or 5'7" but basically Emma and Bryce are giants compared to them, LOL.  Just for the record Emma is only 5'8". Sure looks like Sister Hansen was finding joy on the 4th.

She may have gotten emotional when she saw the fam

Sister Hansen & Grandma Adair

You can't go to the 4th celebration and not have 

an elephant ear

Sister Hansen, cousin Marley and DT 

Look at those people skills

Sister Hansen with her Adair cousins (only missing Cousin Tia) 

Logan, Sister Hansen, Trina, Zoe, Ryan, and 

Aunt Francine (behind Ryan)

Since is was missionary p-day (kind of a "free" day) Emma and her companion (Sister Bevan) were able to go visit with family for a little while before going back to the area where she is serving.  

Marley upset because missionaries are not 

allowed to let kids sit on their laps

Some fine "hammer" pants Emma purchased at the Lake.  

Sister Hansen & Sister Bevan having DT's famous artichoke dip 

These girls are crazy.  Love them!