My beautiful missionary...Hermana Degn

Hi, this is Hannah's mom.  I have been updating Hannah's blog while she has been serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Lima, Peru.  I don't typically write any of my own thoughts, but I just wanted to leave a last little message.

I am so full of thoughts and emotions as I anticipate Hannah's return.  Hannah's service as a full time missionary has been such a great blessing for our family.  I know Hannah has also been so blessed.  I have seen such beautiful growth in her testimony.  Her President asked if she was glad she served a mission and her answer was wholeheartedly, "YES!"  The quote from President Ezra Taft Benson keeps coming to my mind, "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can.  He can deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, and pour out peace."  I know this statement to be true and I am so proud of Hannah for turning her life over to God and serving him so valiantly over the last year and a half.

If there is anyone reading this who may be contemplating serving a mission I would say "DO IT!"  Hannah has loved it.  It has been hard, uplifting and rewarding.  I know she is a better person because of her mission.

I love Hermana Degn and I love the way she has grown to love the people of Peru.  They will be in our hearts forever.  I am proud she will return with honor for a mission well served.

last email...

Right so this might be it for me. I don't know if next Monday I'll write or not. But the other truth is that I just have no idea what to say asi que........ 

Here's what happened last week. Ronaldo got baptized!!!! It was a miracle! It was so cute! His mom got baptized about a year ago and she has been going strong at church again this last few months. So we were able to help her son get baptized! He's nine and it was a pretty special day. Afterwards when he got up to bear his testimony he was just crying and the spirit was so strong. It was so great. 

Then yeah, the family Diaz are going to get baptized this week. They are also a really really special family. I am really excited that I will get to be here for it.

Anyways, we are still working really hard here. and having as much fun as we possibly can to make the most of the last days that I have left here as a missionary. 

It all just feels really really surreal. That's the truth. I can't believe it will be over soon. But I guess it will feel more real this week.

so I will see you soon. that's weird.

I love you all. 

Goodbye Peru...

La Familia Ochoa--January 26, 2015

So we had a great week. We celebrated Hermana Medina's 20th birthday. and the Ochoas got baptized. This family is seriously something else. They are sooo special and we have been through soo much with them. It was such a great day. They went through a lot of hard things this last week but at the end they made it through and it was so awesome to be there with them. I really just love them sooo much. Also this week Xiomara--their oldest daughter-- started living with them again and is going to get baptized the 14th. and Mario will baptize her. Man the gospel really is just the coolest thing. I sure do love it. 

After they got baptized when they got up to bear their testimonies ahhhh the spirit was sooo strong. They have such strong testimonies. I really just love and admire them sooo much. I have sooo much love for them. They truly have become a part of my family.

Anyways, in other news the Diaz family are progressing so well. We are protecting them like little babies so that everything keeps going well so they can get baptized the 7th. but so far so good. They are really just a huge tender mercy from the Lord. Things are really advancing here. I feel so blessed to serving here in Mirarmar. Our ward is the best. It is so incredible to see how much the Lord trusts us to watch over his children. This work is oh so sweet. 

Have a good week! love you all! 

Hermana Degn 

also here's a good laugh. Dad you know those motos that you sent pictures of last week? well hno mario drives one of those here (it's his job) so we all went to the church this week together for their baptisimal interviews. Well we were NINE people all crammed into that moto! Mario, Mauricio, Lizeth, Xiomara, Maryann, Margorie, Mario, Hna Medina, me, and the dog, Deyner. hahah it was a riot. And we are not very smaill people haha. When we got to the church we all started filling out and the look of complete shock on elder sarria's face was so priceless jajajaja it was soo funny. also i'm sure it's also very illegal. But hey who needs a mini van when you have a moto jaja #thegoodlife