Long live all the mountains we moved, I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you.

Date: 06-19-2018
Companion: Sister Bevan
Area: Gresham Stake, Kelly Creek Ward

When I look back 2 years ago my life was completely different.

I didn't know I was going on a mission. I didn't know I was going to be leaving my family for a year and a half. I didn't know I would be pushed to my limits. I didn't know what hard was. I didn't know how many amazing and wonderful people are here in the PNW. I didn't know how many people would become my family. I didn't know how many friendships I would make. I didn't know I could love so deeply. I didn't know what the gospel Jesus Christ offers me. I didn't know my Savior.

There have been plenty of times in the past 2 years I have evaluated my life and have thought "What the heck is going on right now" "What am I doing?" "What's the point?" Like that one time when I was in the outskirts of woodland in a town called cougar and sister phillips and I knocked on a door and a bearded shirtless man answered the door and stared at us and screamed and we were so surprised we just screamed back so it was just the three of us staring at each other and screaming. Or the time I was in Portland and an man with a purple cape walked up to sister James and I and told us about light waves and somehow made it all the way down to how the Clackamas county Sheriffs department was apparently in "cahoots with the devil". Or another time when I was biking with Hermana Judkins while I had a concussion and had to stop every 10 minutes so I wouldn't pass out.

But there have been plenty of more times that I have been able to see the hand of God in my life, and the life of others. When Michael, after all he had gone through, finally was baptized. When Tim, after being taught for so long, finally came to church and realized how much it blessed the rest of his week because he'd gotten some spiritual rest. When Bonnie and Noe prayed for someone, ANYONE, to reach out and invite them to church and the same day a member walked over to their house and invited them to the primary program. When I was broken and didn't feel like I could go on any more, and while Sister Staker was in the shower, I dropped to my knees and said a prayer out loud and felt the strongest sense of someone hugging me.

I think the greatest reward that I have received though, wasn't something that just happened in a moment of time. As I've been studying the book of Mormon, and applying the principles of the gospel that Jesus Christ taught while He was here on the earth, there's been a gradual change that has come over me and I have felt Gods power in my life.

"Those who find a way to truly behold the Man find the doorway to life’s greatest joys and the balm to life’s most demanding despairs. So, when you are encompassed by sorrows and grief, behold the Man. When you feel lost or forgotten, behold the Man. When you are despairing, deserted, doubting, damaged, or defeated, behold the Man. He will comfort you. He will heal you and give meaning to your journey. He will pour out His Spirit and fill your heart with exceeding joy. He gives “power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” When we truly behold the Man, we learn of Him and seek to align our lives with Him. We repent and strive to refine our natures and daily grow a little closer to Him. We trust Him. We show our love for Him by keeping His commandments and by living up to our sacred covenants. In other words, we become His disciples."

I've learned what it means to "Behold the Man" or come unto Christ. I have felt the enabling power He gives to us because of His Atonement, and I have seen so many blessings. I have been able to find joy.☀️

-Sister Emma Hansen

P.S. if any of you are missionaries, please put my new email on your list! Jemmaade@yahoo.com

The Holy Trinity

Date: 06-12-2018
Companion: Sister Bevan
Area: Gresham Stake, Kelly Creek Ward

Wow. This week was a great week. I finally rained here again and I just cannot explain how much I love the rain. I don't know what I'm going to do when I don't have it all the time anymore!

I definitely ruined my shoes when I ran through a gigantic puddle. Okay. 2 gigantic puddles. In two different days. What can I say, I'm living my best life. I'm also mentally insane so it's basically a win win situation.

This week, our bishop texted us and told us about Trinity. Apparently bishop had ran into her while he was looking for a less active member. He talked with her and her mom for a little bit, and they said they would love to have the Missionaries over. Well, we went skipping our merry way over there and turns out my girl, Trinity got a little too lit that night and she had no memory of talking to bishop, but her mom had told her that she said we could come and then she was interested in hearing what "the guy" said that made her interested in meeting with us.

A couple of days later we sat and talked with her about the plan of Salvation and how the atonement of Jesus Christ allows us to fix mistakes we've made in our lives. That God doesn't leave us to fend for ourselves, but That He is constantly there. As tears poured down her face she told us she wanted to get out of her situation she was in right now and that she wanted a better relationship with God. She said she knew she was going to be pushed, but she knew it was what she needed.

This interaction with Trinity sums up how I feel about my mission. God has stretched me so much and changed me. There is absolutely no way I could have done anything that I have without the help of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice that he made for us. I am so grateful that I have been able to call upon His name whenever I was going through hard times. When I was broken, Christ was the one who could heal me. He will forever be there lifting me as I continue my way through life.

☀️FIND JOY☀️

- Sister Emma Hansen

500 Days of Rain

Date: 05-29-2018
Companion: Sister Bevan
Area: Gresham Stake, Kelly Creek Ward

Can I just say how much I love the Pacific northwest? I don't know if I've said it enough times so I'll say it again

I LOVE THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST!🌲

This week has been the week of weeks! Not because anything big physically happened. We didn't have some crazy story about someone walking up to us telling us they wanted to get baptized NOW.

But I did get to talk to a lot of people. I did get to see the sun this week. I got to clean a woman's house who had lots of living things in her sink that weren't supposed to be living there. I did get to go to church and partake of the sacrament and renew promises that we made with our Father in Heaven. I did get to take a nap during dinner. I did get to study the word of God and received so many answers to so many questions I had! Concerns, fears, doubts, anxiety. It was all taken away from me and I took the time to pray to my all knowing Father, and ask Him for guidance. I sincerely opened my Book of Mormon and other study material, and through them God spoke to me and calmed the stormy sea. Made the sun appear. GAVE ME JOY!

Mosiah chapter 1 talks all about the scriptures and how we would be lost without them. Verse 7 says:

"7 And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers."

I have a sure knowledge, that as we turn to God, by reading the scriptures, for help when we are lost that He will speak answers to our mind. And He'll help us to

☀️FIND JOY☀️

- Sister Emma Hansen

 

The Bevan Comp. Part 2

Date: 05-21-2018
Companion: Sister Bevan
Area: Gresham Stake, Kelly Creek Ward

Holy cow. I just love Oregon so much! Specifically, I just love Portland and Gresham so much. 

Something that has hit me super hard this week is that God is always aware of us, and He knows what we need when we need it, as well as what we can handle. But the best part is that when we can't handle something, He has promised He will always be there.

As I was leaving my last area and reflecting on what I wa supposed to learn while I was there, i realized that God was always with me. Even in the moments when it didn't seem like He was there, as I looked back, He was pulling me every step of the way. And He still is!

It's amazing to see how many people have such a strong faith in christ and when they are pointed in the right direction, you truly see their full potential and know that God has so much in store for them. This week I got to meet a man named John. John has had a crazy life, but His faith in Jesus Christ is incredible. John doesn't realize His potential and He tells us He takes God for granted all the time. Please pray for John that when we received an answer from God that He will act on that answer!

I love you all so much! Thank you for all of your prayers and your kind words!

-Sister Emma Hansen

☀️FIND JOY☀️


P.s. new address

1417 NE Hogan PL.
Gresham, OR. 97030


1. Tool shed
2. Hermana O'Barr
3. I GOT TO SEE RIRI FRENCH FRY.
4. the beevan comp. Pt. 2

Get out of my swamp

Date: 05-14-2018
Companion: Hermana O'Barr
Area: Vancouver East Stake, Prune Hill Ward

Has anyone ever seen those disgusting fountains that just looks like the swamp in shrek? Sister Schott has one of those in her back yard and sometimes I pretend like I'm going to drink it but then I think "mmmm, better not."

Moroni 7:11 "For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water" please don't drink out of the radioactive water. It will not bring you super powers like it says in all the movies, but it wiLL KILL YOU. IT'S NOT GOOD.

A good friend sent me an email that said "love leaves you with a good taste in your mouth at the end of the day. Guilt leaves you feeling like you are always one step behind, never doing enough, and bitter."

The fountain of good water is love. Remember to do everything out of love. I love you all so much!

-Sister Emma Hansen

☀️FIND JOY☀️

P.s. I'm getting transferred to Gresham.

Some Blessings

Date: 05-07-2018
Companion: Hermana O'Barr
Area: Vancouver East Stake, Prune Hill Ward

"Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come"
"An high priest of good things to come" elder holland. Oct 1999

I don't have much for ya except for that quote. Keep going. Look forward to Jesus Christ. He is the goodness in your life. I promise!

-Sister Emma Hansen

☀️FIND JOY☀️

Land of ports

Date: 04-30-2018
Companion: Hermana O'Barr
Area: Vancouver East Stake, Prune Hill Ward

The greatest blessing happened this week and I just have to talk about it because it made me so happy.

POTLAND POTLAND POTLAND!!!!! I GOT TO GO BACK!!!

Anyone remember the Barahona family? If not, no worries becAUSE I REMEMBER THEM AND THEY'RE THE BEST AND HOLY COW NO ONE UNDERSTANDS HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM AND THATS OKAY, I'LL JUST KEEP SHOUTING IT UNTIL EVERYONE KNOWS.

Okay, *flashback to January*
Bonnie, Noe, Tony, and Brian all go baptized and it was such a good and happy filled moment and I didn't think it could ever get better.

UNTIL THIS WEEK WHEN

Noe, now having the priesthood, was able to baptize his now 8 year old daughter and it was so good! The spirit was so strong and I was so happy that God let me be apart of this miracle! I love this family with all of my heart and I'm so so so happy because of them!

Something I've thought about a lot this week are things that hold us back. We all have something. Whether it's work, a video game, coffee, nicotine, energy drinks, SOMETHING. We all have it!

Matthew 4:18-22
Peter, Andrew, James, and John are all fishing. They're doing their job. They're doing something they want and something they think is very important. Until Christ asks them to follow Him. Their responses are immediate and powerful as they leave their nets and their father to go follow the Savior of the world.

So we all have our own nets. Something holding us back. And Jesus Christ is asking all of us to come follow Him. The question is, are you going to be like the apostles? Are you going to leave your nets to follow Him? Are you going to do it immediately? Or will you wait until you're done? Christ only asks us to follow Him because he knows it will make us happier than our nets now will make us. And sometimes it's really hard to give up our nets. It makes me think of the Lamanites in the book of Mormon who take an oath to not shed the blood of men anymore. So they buried their weapons(or nets) deep in the earth. And when they thought they needed them again they did not grab them again, because they'd made a promise with God that they would leave them. But God provided a way for them to survive, by their sons helpign and serving them. (Alma 24)

As we make a promise with God, that we will leave our nets, bury our weapons of war, God promises us in return that He will grant unto us our righteous desires. I'd you leave your coffee because you want to feel closer to God, then He'll help you. If you promise to slowly get off nicotine because you want your family to be whole again, He'll help you. If you want to stop playing video games because you actually want brain cells, God. Will. Help. You.

I know that God loves us and only wants what's best for us. I know that as we make that effort and show Him we're trying, we will have added strength given to us because of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

-Sister Emma Hansen

☀️FIND JOY☀️