Christmas Message for North Ogden 1st Ward Sacrament Meeting

Good morning family and friends! I am so excited about this Christmas season. A time when we can celebrate Christ and all that He has done for us. Our mission has been extended the invitation, by our mission President, to study the life of Christ before Christmas comes. As I've been reading there's been a couple of things that have struck me. One of my favorite stories I've read so far is in Matthew Chapter 14. Before any miracle is performed, Jesus sets such an amazing example to me. At the beginning of the chapter, we find out that John the Baptist has been put to death. When Jesus Christ finds out about this it sounds like He's pretty devastated. He departs from the crowd and tries to go to a place where he can be alone, only the crowd follows him. And instead of Him turning them away and telling them He wants to be alone to talk to His father, He welcomes them and feeds them. This is where he performs the miracle of feeding the 5 thousand with the fish and loaves of bread. His actions have forever changed me.

I've been in a biking area for about 4 and 1/2 months now. And let's just say, I didn't think i was that fit before the mission, and I definitely know now that I am not fit at all! Haha! Every day we get on these bikes to ride them up a long hill to get to the rest of our area and boy do my legs burn! About a month ago while i was being my crazy stupid self, I fell and hit my head and received a concussion. (Sister Hansen plus dancing while ice skating doesn't equal anything good haha!). Ever since then I've had a pretty good headache combined with some sweet nausea. Now lets just say, we have a lot of bike time and during this time I often think to myself. Lots of times I complain and get angry about having to ride a bike when I don't feel good.

Last week we went to a lesson. We've had a bit of a problem with one of the leaders in the ward, but this lesson was at his house. There were 2 times while being at his house that I felt a little bit attacked, and frustrated with the situation.

But then, as we sat there teaching the plan of salvation, we started talking about the Atonement that Jesus Christ performed on our behalf. And immediately i was filled with the spirit. Lots of things hit me at once.

The first thing was that, Jesus Christ in Matthew 14, had every reason to send the people away. He could have told them to leave because he wanted to be alone and mourn the death of His friend. But He didn't. He kept working. He made sure everyone was taken care of. He pressed forward. He stuck to God's plan. And he did this exact same thing on a greater level in the Garden of Gethsemane when he suffered for all of our sins, and sorrows, and pains. He asked His father if He could not do it! If there was another way! But when there wasn't, He followed through on what He was sent here to do.

If Jesus Christ can do all of that, and continue on still, Then I can continue riding my bike. I can continue working and trying my best even through some of the pain. I can continue testifying even when I'm not in the most pleasing situation.

The second thing that hit me is that Jesus Christ loves us so much. I cannot figure out how to put into words how much he loves us. But, in the garden He felt every single thing, every person on the earth, at anytime on the earth has ever felt, but He felt it all at once. And He did this because He loved us. There is no other driving force that would allow Him to continue that. Not because He knew He had to be obedient. Not because He didn't have a choice. But because He loves us. And He knows exactly what I am going through. He knows exactly what a single mother is going through. He knows exactly how someone being evicted from their house a month before Christmas feels. He knows how the missionary who lost both his parents while on his mission and returned to serve anyway feels. He knows how the woman struggling to ask for a priesthood blessing because she doesn't have a priesthood holder in her home feels. He knows how the addict who is struggling to make life better feels.

Because He knows all of these things, He knows exactly what we need to feel better. And that is the Reason He came to this earth. That is the Reason we celebrate Christmas. Is because of Him And the good news that we have that we are not alone. And that we can find joy, no matter the situation we're in.

As I sat in this lesson and testified of all of this, I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face. I know that this gospel is true. I know Christ has me in this situation right now for a reason. I know that biking and feeling sick and being frustrated with people is nothing compared to what others are feeling, but I know that Jesus Christ doesn't care that it's a small thing. He knows it's hard for me and because of that He will help me get through it. In fact He will help me enjoy it. And He can do the same for anyone, for YOU, if you just open your heart to him.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

HAPPY in happy valley!

Date: 12-18-2017
Companion: Sister James
Area: Portland Stake, Sunnyside Ward

Hello everyone! Sorry there was no email last week! We had our Christmas zone conference!

But this week has been crazy with miracles and with the spirit!

My boots have become completely shredded. And don't get me wrong, I'm not about the whole "look perfect and cute" thing, I could honestly not care less about what I look like at the moment but my boots are my favorite thing in the entire world and the entire bottom of the shoe was coming off. I WAS SO ANGRY. So I tried to use super glue and let me tell you. Super glue does not work. It works for a little bit, until you are riding your bike and your companions dress gets caught in the bike so you have to slam on the brake and then the whole bottom of your show rips off but you're about 7 miles from the apartment and have an appointment in 10 minutes. Lol. That was fun.

But then, a dear friend gave me some shoe glue.

And let me tell you about this glorious shoe glue. I literally spread that stuff like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and BAM. The shoe has been intact for 2 weeks now. It has withheld many miles of walking and biking. It has withheld much tribulation in the wilderness.

Why am I freaking out about this? Because it was definitely a tender mercy.

But also because shoe glue is like the gospel of Jesus Christ. It brings us many blessings. There are lots of other things in our life that we think could help us. And things that could temporarily make us happy, but the only thing that can bring us true and lasting happiness in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because it is what he has asked. And when we do what he asks then he is able to bless us.

ALSO please pray for Bonnie and Noe (pronounced like no way). Their family (3 other kids) are preparing for baptism and they could use your prayers.

I love you all! Thank you for the Christmas gifts and notes!❤

☀️FIND JOY☀️
- Sister Emma Hansen

1. Life of sister Hansen
2. I held a frog the other day. It's good luck.
3. HAPPY 11 MONTHS
4. Lake village homies reunited(': 

#keepportlandweird

Date: 12-04-2017
Companion: Sister James
Area: Portland Stake, Sunnyside Ward

I FREAKING LOVE IT HERE.
Sorry for my language.

Sorry that I didn't write an email last week! Everything was real crazy, and I didn't have time to write anything!

I got transferred to the Sunnyside ward in Portland. And it's literally so much fun! The first day we were here we pulled around the corner and this guy was in a pikachu costume with no pants on. #KeepPortlandWeird. my new companion is Sister James and we've already had too much fun for one transfer and it hasn't even been a week yet.

I'm still in a biking area and I cannot for the life of me, understand why my last area was a car share, and this area is a full biking. This area is HUGE. and has so many hills. If y'all thought I complained a lot about biking in my last area get ready for THE STORM. Speaking of the storm, it's like -27474 degrees here and we're getting into winter so it's SOGGY. #pray4sunnyside

THE LIGHT THE WORLD SEASON IS UPON US AND I CANNOT EXPLAIN TO ANYONE HOW EXCITED I AM!
If you don't know what I'm talking about please go to Mormon.org and watch the #LIGHTtheWORLD video. It's about spreading Jesus Christ's light to all of his children by serving everyone! There's a different service every day leading up to Christmas. During these services, I've seen lots of tender mercies from the Lord and I'm super grateful for it. The first day, we decided to give out Christmas ornaments to everyone we saw. At first when we decided to do this I felt super stupid about it. But I decided to try it anyway. The first person we tried to give them to told us no and walked away. Lol. But the more people we talked to the more we have away. We gave them out as we were walking to someone's apartment. Turns out the person who we were looking for wasn't there but Angela was. She actually had friends who were LDS and she was down to meet with us and learn more. I think God answers our prayers in ways that we don't always understand. That if we show Him we're trying, He will bring us success because we are trying to do Him will. The other thing we did was give out free hot chocolate and I think I lot of people were skeptical at first, but as we talked with more and more people you could see the light appear in their eyes and it was so much fun to be able to help God.

Also the enabling power of the atonement is real and we only had to ride bikes twice since I've been here, and I know God is watching out for me because I'm a weakling and can't do anything. But it's okay because God helps those who need help.

Also, there's this little girl who is the daughter of a less active member we teach and she calls us the misserionies and I think that's the nicest name I've ever been called on my mission and it's so much fun here.

Brothers and Sisters GOD IS SO REAL. He answers prayers! Even if He waits a while to do it. He might wait because He wants you to remember His mercy, but He does answer prayers! I'm so grateful for Him and His kindness and His love for all of us! Please spread that love this Christmas season. Remember every one is someone's child. Even Gods child.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCHHHHHHH!!!!


☀️FIND JOY☀️

- Sister Hansen

P.S. New Address:
8800 SE Causey Loop. #K203
Happy Valley, OR 97086-8527


1&2: the end of lake village homies😢
3. I ❤ the samaniegos
4. Brb just had to change a bike tire
5. COOL FRIENDS WERE REUNITED FOR 2.5 SECONDS
6 and 7. SISTER JAMES IS THE BOMB

Another Ones Bites the Dust

Date: 11-20-2017
Companion: Hermana Judkins
Area: Vancouver East Stake, Fairway Village Ward

HELLO EVERYONE!

Lots happened this week! We biked a lot and my entire body hurts! But! As we were coming into an apartment complex I recognized a worker there who was a member from my first ward I asked him who we should go to. He gave us a sarcastic answer and laughed. We knocked a door, looking for someone who didn't answer. The member comes walking around the corner again and tells us about someone there who used to take the lessons. They weren't in our areabook so we decided to stop by and SIG-LINDA IS DOWN!!!! She totally wants to learn more! Please pray for her!

All I can say is that I have the strongest testimony in our Savior Jesus Christ. We had an opportunity finally sit and have a lesson with someone and teach them about the plan of salvation. I know that Jesus Christ loves us all. I know that He wants to help us as much as possible. Just let Him in!

I hope y'all have a great thanksgiving.

P.s. don't ride your bike with a flat tire. It's not fun. It makes it a lot harder. And your legs feel like jelly.

P.s.s. Hermana is a pal and I love her but she goes home on Monday this has got to stop I swear.

P.p.s. I don't have anything else to say except

☀️FIND JOY☀️