Week TEN!

Dear folks,

Well, Varela saw a beautiful chance of luck with the weather these last few days, but it was another rough week spiritually.

Do you want the bad news first, or the good news?  :)

It has been bright and sunny, or else cool and foggy, for almost two weeks!  That has been most exciting.  No need for a sweater at night, et cetera.  Furthermore, Elder Barber and I are getting along just great.  He is very passionate about dragons, muffins, and conservatism, so we're usually enjoying ourselves in at least 2/3 of our conversations... Haha.

Unfortunately, though, the work has been a little stagnant of late.  Our only really progressing investigator, Luz, asked us nicely to stop coming by to teach her, since she said she'd never agree with us about living prophets.  That was hard, and it means we're kind of starting from scratch again--but then, I've spent much of my time here doing that!  So all should be well.

The other tough thing was our church attendance--just six old sisters and us missionaries!  With the stake president's permission, we ran the branch this Sunday.  I hope it is the only time in my life that I have to direct music, conduct Sacrament meeting (and write an agenda for it!), offer prayers, give a talk, and bless and pass the Sacrament in the same three-hour bloc!  Not that I dislike any of those things, of course, but I prefer them in carefully measured quantities...
We're working hard though, and muffins are keeping our spirits up! (literally "raising" them for those select few out there in the audience who enjoy baking puns)  Cinnamon apple, chocolate coconut, brown sugar banana--you name it, we'll make it.  Elder Barber has opened up my mind to a glorious future of possibilities.

We have fasted several times while serving here, and it's really strengthened my testimony of the power of sacrifice--we give up just a little bit for God and He gives us so much in return.  The same principle applies for the ten percent we pay of our income and the little bit of my life I'm giving to the Lord serving here; it's really no sacrifice at all, because the blessings I have received for being here are already of far greater value than anything I've given up to be here.  And as with all sacrifices, like the Great Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the end result will always be well worth our meager efforts to reach them.

I love you all!  Stay strong in the faith and you will find the richest of treasures in your lives,

Elder Hansen