Address

Sister Kylie Dawn Hansen

Colorado Denver South Mission
999 East Tufts Ave.
Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Week 3 in CO - Jan 19, 2015

Hello Everyone! How are all of you? 

We had a fantastic week! I am super grateful that I got a ridiculously hardworking companion! Sister Smock is amazingly fantastic! 

Monday:
Mondays are P-days so they aren't incredibly packed with a ton of activities but last Monday was pretty full! We have amazing youth in my ward and two of them are leaving on missions soon. So we have set up this system where we gave the the folletos (pamphlets) for all of the first 3 lessons (The Restoration, Plan of Salvation, and Gospel of Jesus Christ) and each Monday night we teach it to them and then they practice teaching it to us. Throughout the week they study the lessons from Preach My Gospel and the folletos so that they are ready for each Monday night. It's makes for a really awesome FHE activity! 

Tuesday
After our studies we went to the animal shelter here and played with the cats and walked one of the dogs. It was fun but I learned the value of carrying a lint-roller everywhere you go! 
Then we went to talk to one of the coolest men on the planet who is going through a really rough time. My heart broke in a gazillion pieces while we were visiting with him. He is working on coming back to church and I loved seeing how strong he is. If I were in his shoes I don't think I would be handling things as well as he is. It goes to show that if we have faith that is solid in the Savior no matter what we can get through everything He calls us to pass through.
Then we did some tracting...but either no one was home or they looked through their peephole and saw who was on the other end. Yay for peepholes...just kidding I do not appreciate them as a missionary...they get in the way.
I also had COSTCO pizza for the first time..it is so good! That is like the only big store around here in our area...and members who have memberships are awesome! After dinner with this member family, we brought the daughter with us for a lesson we had with an investigator...(WHO IS ON DATE FOR BAPTISM ON FEBRUARY 15!!!!!!) She is so awesome! We talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it was such a powerful testimony to me that Jesus Christ really did prepare the way for us to follow.

Wednesday:
We went to the animal shelter again. We played with cats.
Then we went to an appointment with the sweetest old blind man ever! He was baptized last spring and he is huge into skiing. That concept was kinda hard for me to understand the first time but now it makes sense. We helped him with his computer because he couldn't figure out how to put it to sleep. By his computer he has the Bible in Braille...and we think our Bible is big. That one is like 10 volumes of like 1000 pages each. That's dedication! He tells the greatest stories but they take forever so our lessons are more like spiritual thoughts. We talked about faith in the Savior. Faith is a hard concept for some of us to understand but he gets it because that is how he has to live his entire life. Before we started talking about it, he thought that faith was something he really struggled with because past experiences have made it really hard for him to trust people. We talked about how the only person that we can really have 100% faith in is Jesus Christ. We can trust Him completely even though we can't see Him. We can see other people but they often let us down. But Christ never will.
We went to have dinner with an amazing family who has several little girls and the middle one reminds me so much of my youngest sister. She was even wearing  the same shirt that Jillian has. So that was really fun!
It was so amazing to see how much the Lord blesses us when we live the commandments. We went to see our investigator who is getting baptized. We read some chapters from the Book of Mormon and talked about a few of the commandments. I realized the the Lord doesn't give us these things because He thinks it is fun to tell us what to do but because He knows that as we obey them we will grow and change into the people He knows we can become.
Then we went to our 8pm member lesson and this couple is so awesome! They are a Spanish couple who moved here from Mexico and they have amazing stories of how they came into the church and how living the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses their lives.

Thursday:
Thursday was awesome! In the morning we went to translate for a Temple recommend interview and that was a truly powerful experience. It was with a mother who recently joined the Church a little over a year ago and she and her son are going through the Temple for the first time together before he leaves on his mission. It was a surreal experience.
We went to visit another investigator and she has the most adorable children ever. I say that about all children but it is true so that's all that matters!
We had dinner at our Bishop's house..I love food! It is a good thing the Lord has planned a half hour of exercise every morning...
Our next visit was with a young man who has been a member for about three weeks. He just got the Priesthood and his testimony is so inspiring. The young woman who is going on a mission helped us teach the lesson. She is going to be a fantastic missionary!
We watched "Finding Faith in Christ" with a recent convert who is preparing to go to the temple this year. I have never watched it in Spanish before but it was just as powerful! I know that we don't need to have seen Him to know that He is the Savior. We don't need to have been there to know that He did what He did. We didn't need to have seen Him be crucified to know that He died for us and that He lives again.Next, we went to see a referral and he is so nice. He is just a genuinely good man and he wants us to come talk to him evr now and then about spiritual stuff. He has talked to the missionaries in the past a ton and has read the Book of Mormon clear through and he has done this with almost every other  religion and he pulls parts from each of them to apply to his life.

Friday:
Weekly planning...takes forever! But it is great.
We went to visit some of the less -actives. We had a door-step lesson with the man who is having a really hard time. He is a Ute fan and knows that Sister Smock is a die-hard Cougar. So she borrowed my Ute shirt for the lesson to make him smile. And he did! Then he started crying during the lesson a couple of times and it felt awful. Imagine someone ripping your heart out and throwing it into the blender on the puree selection then sticking it back into the freezer to try to piece it together again. Yup that is what it felt like. But in the end it turned out a bit better. The sun rays could be seen through the clouds. I found a really cool scripture in 1 Nephi that talks about how the Lord chooses us in the furnace of affliction because that is how he helps us become better. Like a sword or a diamond we have to go through intense heat and pressure before we can reach our full potential.
We helped read ski wax so that our blind man could label them before he goes skiing. There is a first time for everything! He is fantastic!
Dinner was so good! The member who had us over makes amazing Mexican food and I ate little tacos filled with pieces of heaven and a hint of lime. 
Most of the other appointments we had fell through or cancelled on us so we went to see another of our recent converts and read Alma 32 with him. Then we tried to track down some of the former investigators in the area and had some luck and one of them answered the door. Answering the door is always nice. Now I know how the Kirby salesmen feel...

Saturday:
We had Sisters' Conference in the morning. That's fun. We had a break activity where we had to interpretive dance to hymns. I got "If You Could Hie to Kolob". I pray those stories never surface and everyone forgets about it rather quickly.
We went home and had lunch and stuff and tried to visit some people before dinner but that didn't happen because no one is ever home! But then we went to dinner with a recent convert. She made these enchilada things that completed my day of awesomeness. You make the homemade tortillas and then soak it in hot chili sauce that is boiling on the stove then put cheese slices, beans, meat, and lettuce and tomato. American food is utterly boring and flavorless. Just kidding but Mexican food is superior. Always.
Then we found some new Spanish investigators and it's super exciting!

Sunday:
Sundays are amazing. We had Spanish sacrament meeting so I led the music. And the talks were fantastic! We had 4 of our investigators at church and 2 of our less actives so that was sweet!!
And I saw the guy who plays Levi Savage in 17 Miracles. He is in our ward here. It through me for a loop mentally because his hair was a different color and he was in a suit and tie. But I had a mini mental freak out! I am stoked to officially meet him hopefully this next week.
We went to deliver some notes after church and then after training hour we went to dinner. And we had these meatballs straight from heaven because they were deer meat and some barbecue sauce that is directly from the celestial kingdom! The members here are so amazing
After dinner we went to visit some members and others who have kinda been having a rough week but less than half of them were home.
So we tracted out some of the houses and encountered some very not nice people who had no use for us or the message we share. We know who to send the next missionaries to!
We had our 8 pm memer lesson and I really love them because it helps us get to know everyone and helps us practice. For this one we had a less active young man who was with this member family. It was really cool because we could feel the power of the Restoration and how much the Lord loves us to help us always know the way to return to Him.

This week was another testimony to me of how much the Lord truly does for us when we keep His commandments. It was also very evident that we have to decide which side we want to be on because fence sitters never get anywhere. We have to determine whether or not we will go in with both feet. When we learn how to do this I know that it can change lives because I have started to see that.
I know that these things are true and that they really do help us to grow closer to our Savior.
 
Hermana Kylie D. Hansen

Week 2 in CO - Jan 12, 2015

Oh boy! Life is officially insane!

This week has been super crazy but also super awesome! We found a ton of new people to teach! Since the two of us are the only missionaries in this valley we have all of the Spanish and English people and everyone in between. One of my favorite people we found this week are a young couple who were just married a little over a year ago. They are local small town high school sweethearts and they are adorable. They remind me of a couple in Idaho just minus the Gospel. I am so excited to continue teaching them! Perks of being a greenie: I got to give a talk on Sunday, everyone asks me to say all of the prayers, and because of amazing teachers in Seminary, the lessons are easier and Scripture Mastery saves my life. If only these were the only consequences...

 President Brigham Young once said something to the effect of, " A testimony is grown stronger by the bearing of it than on the knees asking for it." I have seen this so many times this week as we try to take the invitation Christ extended to all of us, "Come, Follow Me," into the world. I have felt the power of Joseph Smith's words describing what he saw. I am so grateful for amazing MTC teachers who urged us to memorize those verses because when you know the words, the power of that surreal experience is manifest in my heart and in the hearts of all who will heed this great message. Elder Bednar came to our mission this week....And because we are over the mountains we didn't get to go but I am glad I got to hear him on Thanksgiving...made it somewhat bearable. I have discovered that authentic Mexican food is probably the best creation in existence! I have never had so many tamales in my life! But it is a price I am more than willing to pay...they are so good! And pico de gallo....aw man...I have discovered that food is a Sister's new man..and I am in love. There will never be another satisfactory substitute..for the next 16 months anyways. They feed us so well and now I know that cutting down our allotted driving miles was a revelation! A common saying in this mission is "Go big or go home. But don't go home big." Now I see why.... Earlier this week my companion and I reenacted a holy war...I will attach a picture and it will make sense...it was fun!

 This week I have gained a stronger testimony of how God gives us the things we go through so that we can relate to other people and how they feel. I was on exchanges in Glenwood and had an experience with someone there that made my heart ache but I knew that it would be okay in the end. I have felt the heartache that she felt in this situation and shared how I came to know that no one really knows how we feel entirely but the Savior of us all. And because Elder Holland fixes everything, one of his quotes from "None Were With Him" helped her in that moment. Moral of the story = memorize Elder Holland quotes. The quote is, "Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are...Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”

 I know that He lives and that He has restored His church on this earth and it is our job to help everyone return to His fold. What an amazing opportunity is that ?!?! And we can learn how to do it through the words of the prophets in the Bible, Book of Mormon and from the mouths of latter-day prophets of God. One of the apostles that came to the MTC told us that President Monson receives revelation for us each and every week and those revelations come to us through General Conference and the monthly Church magazines...I should probably start reading those.... May our God continue to bless you all and watch over you is my constant prayer,"

 With a lot of love,
 Hermana Kylie D. Hansen

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

First week in Colorado - Jan 5, 2015

Hey everyone! I am alive!
This past week was one of the most crazy weeks of my entire life! I will start with my last week at the MTC.
So we had such an amazing Christmas! Elder Nelson came and blew our minds. One of my favorite things that he said was, "Christ came to pay the price of the debt He didn't owe because we owed a debt that we could not pay."
I have never felt the truth of this more than I do now. In the last few weeks I have learned so much about the Atonement and how much we need it in our lives as I have needed to rely on Him to do everything. The common saying in the MTC is that it is a crash course for you to figure out your weaknesses. Boy is that the truth! 
The rest of the week was filled with more classes, finishing our Spanish textbook and packing. Of all of that I hated packing the most. A lot of people couldn't wait to get out of the MTC but honestly I really miss it! I miss the amazing people it brought into my life, the feeling that is so amazing and the greatest teachers in the world! 
Sunday was a very bittersweet day. It was filled with a ton of goodbyes and pictures and tears. I don't think I have sang "God Be With You 'Till We Meet Again" so many times in my entire life. It's so incredibly depressing! And yet it is filled with so much hope for the future. It reminds me of one of my favorite missionary scriptures Alma 17:13. 
But on the other hand, Sunday was one of the best days of my entire life. Guess why? DAVID ARCHULETA CAME TO THE MTC FOR OUR SUNDAY NIGHT DEVOTIONAL!!! I can't think of a better way to go out! My companion and I almost went nuts! He has such a strong testimony and at points he was crying and I am pretty sure every single Sister Missionary in the room was also. I almost died! 
When he got up to speak/sing he asked if anyone was going to Chile. Not a single person raised their hand. I don't think I have ever wanted my assignment to Chile back as much as I did in that moment! But hey He send us where He needs us.
Sunday night was so flipping sad! I hate crying in front of people but we all know that I am a huge softy. But I held it in pretty well so I was grateful.
Monday morning we got up at 2:30 AM and I bid farewell to my district and my amazing companion and left in a different bus. I would rather not discuss the ride to the airport because it is a memory that I wish not to revisit even though saying that made it happen..
I flew with an Elder going to my mission from Germany. He made Hannah look short. It was kinda ridiculous...but it was fun hearing him speak! 
Once we had checked in to the airport we headed to our gate and lo and behold I saw Hermana Mousley as she was boarding and it made me ridiculously happy to see her once more! 
Our flight was delayed for about an hour so we slept. 
I sat by a man who was really nice and also a member of the FLDS faith...needless to say it was an interesting plane ride but it was so nice to get to know him! 
Our flight was a whole  45 minutes.Then we landed, met the world's most amazing mission president and his wife and headed to the mission office. We had Cafe Rio and then did orientation. It was like the MTC all over again. We slept in that area that night awaiting transfers the next morning. But Colorado decided it would be a fantastic idea to have a huge snow storm so transfers were pushed to Thursday. We spent Tuesday studying all day and then on Wednesday we got to go out with some local missionaries for the day. That was fun but weird.
Thursday I boarded the Transfer train and headed across the mountains to my first area - Eagle Valley. Yup it is in the middle of nowhere but it is really pretty and there is only one companionship (us) in that area so we get the English and Spanish speakers we find. 
I know for a fact that there are no coincidences with God. He knows what He is doing and I witnessed that as I received my Trainer. She is from NY and also speaks French.. Hallelujah! She reminds me so much of Sister Rachel Thomas it is almost scary! So I love her even more.
The mission field feels like being thrown into the middle of Meadow Lake in ID. Why? Well because no one knows how deep that lake is so if you fall in you have no choice but to swim for your life. But imagine all you knew how to do was doggy paddle. Got that mental image? So yep its super fun... But honestly I love it and I know I am here for a reason. I don't know what it is yet or when I will find out but I know there is a purpose. 
I already love the people I have met here! They are so normal which is fantastic and they speak the Spanish I learned at the MTC (Best Two Years Reference) So I understand almost everything they say even though the majority of the time I am not quite sure how to respond. A lot of what I say is complete guess work but they seem to understand me. I know that the Savior is helping me and that He lives. I know that we have the fulness of His gospel on the earth today through the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Restoration. As one of His official representatives I invite all to come to Him. To learn of Him and to do those things that we have seen Him do and those things that He has asked of us. He loves each and every one  of you so very much and so do I. May we all try a little harder to emmulate His example and walk the path He cleared for us.
I leave these things with you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.


 Love all of you!
>Hermana Kylie D. Hansen

>She also said the her mail and packages would need to be sent to the mission office and that they would deliver stuff to her. The address is:
>Sister Kylie Dawn Hansen
Colorado Denver South Mission
999 East Tufts Ave.
Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Last week at MTC - Dec. 22, 2014


Well here it is. Its the last week before I head out to Colorado and I couldn't be more excited to get out there. I was really scared to be completely honest when we got our travel plans this week. i was like what the heck?! I haven't learned anything I can't go out there yet!! But I was blessed with the best teachers in the entire MTC and they helped us realize we were ready. We can now understand everyhting they say which blows my mind! And we speak Spanish for hours on end. Five weeks ago if you would have told me this would happen I would have thought you were insane but I know that through the Lord all things are possible.
Last week was crazy and my computer freaked out right before I sent the email so I didn't get to update you all so I will do my best to do it double duty today!
Last Sunday the BYU Men's choir came and THEY ARE SO GOOD!! Music is amazing! Especially the Spanish hymns but maybe I am just biased.....
Last Monday we moved out of where we were living and into a new appartment building. that was a really crazy day!  The rest of the week completely sucked to be perfectly honest!
The previous week was filled with medical emergency after another! One of my companions sliced her leg open...now I am down to only 1 tube of super glue and half a bottle of liquid bandage and very few bandaids...super fun! Good thing I am not squeemish! I felt like an er doctor...this is why I am going into poli-sci.....Anywho..then one of our roomates had a freak allergic reaction..thank goodness I have enough benadryl to last a life time and a half! So now I have been dubbed the medic for our zone....yay.....I made everyone promise not to get hurt until I replenish my supplies. 
But then it just went down hill from there. The amazing sister who had the reacton had to go home because she found out she has celiacs so that was terrible and sad but I know she will be back in a flash stronger than ever.
Because of that our trio was broken up and I am with her companion so that fun but sad all at the same time. 
Our teachers went home for the holidays so we had to get new ones but they are awesome too. That day was so sad each time we said goodbye to the two people who had helped us through the most difficult times at the CCM but its okay.
Yesterday changed my whole prospective about Christ and just how much He has done for us! Sister Burton came for Relief Society and blew my mind. She talked about how He was the greatest gift but how He is also the greatest gift giver. He gave us the Atonement and so much more completely free for us but it was the highest price of all for Him to pay. I loved her talk so much and my notebook is one of my greatest treasures now. We go through notebooks like crazy here form all of the notes and language study. I am pretty sure I ahve gone through more paper here than my entire Senior year!
Then last night we had Brother Heaton speak to us and his daughter who just got back form her mission 4 days ago! We learned so much that I wish I could tell you all but I don't have enough time :(
He was also talking about how we spend 18months-2 yrs serving and how some go back to who they used to be and he made us promise we wouldn't.
I wish I could share all of everything this time but I can't.
So I leave you with my testimony.
Yo sé que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y Redentor. Yo sé que la Iglesia es verdadera y que José Smith fue un profeta verdadero. Yo sé que, sin la Expiación no podíamos ser perdonados y limpio. 
Until next time I love you all!
Hermana Hansen





My view



Our zone


The BEST teacher EVER!