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

The things unwritten

Hello dear family,

Well I've been thinking about what I'm going to write home all week.... but not in a trunky way hahah and I don't know, so here it goes! 

The truth is that sometimes things happen that are just so spiritual. And that's how I feel about this week. It was a sacred week. And there really just aren't any words to tell you about it. All that I can really say is that God really is a God of miracles. And that he loves his children and keeps his promises. How sad I am to think that the spirit that I have come to know and love as being a full time missionary will only be mine for a few more weeks. But I have lived some incredible things as a missionary. I have seen things that I never really imagined. 

It is amazing how you can knock on a door not knowing anything about what's behind it and in a few short weeks have so much love there in your heart for that family. Love that doesn't just come from my heart but from the Lord. 

In fin, Sunday the closing hymn was Cuenta tus bendiciones- and I was sitting there with the Ochoa family in the side bench and Hna Medina was sitting behind me with the Diaz family. And I just got really emotional. The Lord knows us and is helping us to be our best selves. He wants all of his children to be part of the House of Israel. And that is why I am serving a mission. 

There are so many amazing things about missionary work. And this week we had interviews with the good President Archibald. He just asked me if I was glad I had served a mission. and the answer is yes. I am so glad. It has changed me. And it will continue to change everything about who I am. 

So have a great week! look at the details--the Lord is in them, and he always keeps his promises to us when we are faithful!  I love you guys!!

love, 

Hermana Degn

p.s. on a lighter note hahah selfies of the week! #SOTW

walking in our area! los dos! even though one is where we walk everyday and the other is walking where the rich live... hahaha we also joke there that it's like we are in another country cause it is nothing like Perù hahah #truestory

Pizza, anyone? January 12, 2013

So last week we went and had a pizza eating competition. What a horrible idea. asú. I ate 10 slices. and just about died. oh my gosh it was so much pizza. hahah but I feel like I really represented. also yeah our district is huge! but I love them. our district is THE BEST. these next few weeks are going to be sooo stellar! 

Anyways, we also celebrated the birthday of Hna Lizet! and then they all went to Lima and didn't come to church so we're going to get them baptized the 24 asú que dolor de cabeza. but we do love them a lot. Also we are the WORST because we bought a cake with coffee flavored frosting! hahah oh man I died. So we scraped all the frosting off... some things just don't go our way. I mean the lady told us it was manjar.... but now we know why it was the cheapest...... hahah good memories...... 

Also, Jonatan's grandma died this week and he couldn't come to church because he had to go to the funeral... so we are going to work like ninjas this week to get all our investigators in church come Sunday morning. 

We also found an awesome family! The Rey family. oh man they are sooo awesome! In our first lesson we watched the video Gracias a él. and oh man the spirit was sooo strong. Their oldest son came to church and Sunday afternoon we taught them about the restauración. It was awesome. The dad Hector, is so interesting and always asks us things like well if i'm catholic how do I become Mormon? haha it's the best- 

Anyways, the Lord really blessed us and our district this week! There are good things coming up! haha love this work! we are still going full! 

les quiero!! 

hermana degn