So Much Love

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak in church for the last time before I leave for Kentucky.  I was overwhelmed, stressed and anxious to give this talk because for the first time in my life, I did not write my talk out.  I wrote down some bullet points I wanted to speak on at 1am on Saturday night and prayed that the spirit would be with me as I spoke, not only in my homeward, but in my singles ward as well!

I was immensely blessed.  I was surrounded by many many family, friends and loved ones.  I was overjoyed at the love I felt from all of them as they sat in the congregation to support me.  The meeting was incredibly wonderful and spiritual.  The hymns were my three favorite hymns; I Know That My Redeemer Lives, I Stand All Amazed, and Called to Serve. The musical number was breathtakingly beautiful.  It also happened to be my favorite Christmas song, O Holy Night.  I was the last to speak, which I was grateful for, but at the same time I had a lot more I wanted to say! I was trying to hold myself together during the musical number, which I was successful at, but within the first 20 seconds of speaking, I fell apart.  The tears came, the spirit was strong and I said what I needed to say.  I had prepared a list of things I wanted to talk about, and they were all great things, but the spirit guided my thoughts and words in a different direction.  I do not remember one word of what I said, but I remember the sweet spirit I felt.  I felt love, comfort, joy, peace, desire to serve and so many more emotions.  I can't express how grateful I am for this gospel and the joy it brings me.  It is an incredible and wonderful feeling that I cannot wait to share with every single person I meet!!

Most of the gang, a lot left before the picture though!
Left to Right: Lenny M, Ally, M, Leanne L, Allison C, Janelle, Jeana S, Dennis M, Me, Grandma Barbe, Ashely, Samantha, Katie H, Paige S.

My Best Friend, Dennis.

2/3 of the Babesquad, Katie. Love her forever! 

She's been there from the beginning, Paige. 

Some of the greatest friends from Capo, Allison and Leanne.

These girls traveled from San Diego to hear me speak! Jeana and Janelle. 

After Church, Dennis, Ally, Lenny and I headed home because they had to get on the road back to Vegas.  We had a wonderful picnic lunch (Thank you Hallie), exchanged gifts, and said our goodbyes.  That was a difficult goodbye.  I love him so much and it will be tough to not see him for 1.5 years! We have practically been attached at the hip since January.  Serving the Lord is the greatest reason to be leaving though! As hard as goodbyes are, I was overcome with peace and joy knowing the decision I have made is the most correct for me at this point in my life.  I could not be more excited to go serve the people in Kentucky!!

I also spoke in my singles ward and it was an interesting talk also.  I was not nervous at all to speak.. I guess I wasted all of my nerves on the Mission Lake ward talk, but it was still a wonderful talk.  I got up there and delivered a similar talk to the one previous, but at the same time the spirit spoke to me and guided my thoughts and words.  It was a special time to share my love for everyone and everything and I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true! 

At 7pm that night, Leslie, my best friend, partner in crime, 1/3 of the babesquad was set apart as a full time Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It was incredible.  The spirit was so strong.  I was already an emotional wreck from the talks, saying goodbye and being on a spiritual high that I cried through the whole experience.  Leslie is an incredible person.  She is going to change the lives of so many people in Peru!! She has strengthened me so much and I am so grateful for her example.  I can't wait to hear about her Peruvian Adventures. The Blessing was so powerful and I know she will be safe and protected in Peru! I love you so much Hermana Goyzueta! 

The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  It is here on the Earth today.  We have a living prophet who leads and guides us.  We have missionaries around the world preaching the gospel to all those who want to hear it.  If I didn't wholeheartedly believe this, I would not be leaving my family, friends, education, EVERYTHING, to go tell it to the world.  This is true.  The book is blue.  I cannot wait to get out there myself! 

XOXO,

Sister Hannah

The Call. . . Dear Sister Hannah,

From I Am HIS Daughter:

The day is FINALLY HERE.

Today is the day I go home to open the envelope that holds the next 18 months of my life.  

WOW. 

So many emotions. 

I woke up and it was raining! I love the rain.  I love falling asleep to it, I love playing in it, I love every aspect of it.  I had to take a test before anything so I went and took my biology test.  I did well, 90%, and then came home and packed.  I still had so much time to kill.  I wasn't supposed to leave until 1:30pm.. it was only 11:30am.  Kristi, Ally and I decided to go to the temple to do baptisms.  When we got there, we were saddened to see that the baptistry was already closed because of the women's conference later tonight.  Bummer! We came back home and I wasted some more time, fixing my hair, getting ready to drive down to SLC and then I headed to Dennis's to get a blessing before I headed out.  The blessing was so powerful and he said things that I needed to hear.  I love blessings because of that.  I didn't tell him that I was struggling with accepting where ever I am called, but in the blessing he blessed me that I would have a confirmation that I would know I am going where I am going because I am supposed to be there.  I am so grateful for priesthood blessings and that Dennis lives his life in such a way where he can receive that specific revelation.  The time came when I had to get on the road and I said my goodbyes and headed out.  

I last all of about 15 minutes before it was a constant stream of tears down my face.  From about Rigby, ID all the way to Salt Lake City, UT it was happy tears and sad tears.  Excited tears and worried tears.  I went back and forth from "Oh my gosh!!! I am going on a mission!!!" to "oh my gosh.. I am going on a mission... holy cow."  I am ready to be off this emotional roller coaster to say the least!  (but I know I am not getting off any time soon...)  The entire drive down, I also kept having the feeling that I was going to South America... like I was seriously convinced. The car ride wasn't as long as I thought it would be, but it was as emotional as I thought it would be.  It poured all the way from Idaho Falls to Salt Lake.  Rainy roads + sobbing eyes wasn't the best combination, but I made it safely to the airport.  

I was flying JetBlue and so I already had my boarding pass, I wasn't checking any bags and I was hungry.  Straight to the security line I went.  I got through in about 5 minutes and then had a hour to kill before my flight took off.  I went and got PeiWei for dinner and ran into Brother and Sister Stapleton from the Saddleback YSA ward! I was excited to see a familiar face! Surprise, they were on my flight too! How awesome! 

The flight was the LONGEST flight of my life... like seriously all 100 minutes of it felt like eternity.  I was so so so excited to land and be picked up so I could run home and open my call! I was so close. SO CLOSE.  

My mom picked me up from the airport and I was anxious to get my booty home! She surprised me with the cutest presents.  She got me two sets of stationary for investigators, a scripture-a-day calendar and my very own set of mission scriptures, WITH my name engraved on them- Sister Madeline Hannah! I was and still am so excited for all of it! :) I love every single part! 

FINALLY, after hitting some traffic, I arrived home! 

OH MY GOSH. 

I have my call... in my very hands. 

THIS is so real.  

Where in the world?! Can't even contain my excitement.

I had to wait for everyone to get there and get Dennis on FaceTime.  I didn't want the most important people in my life to miss this!! 

It was finally finally finally time! 

The moment I have been waiting for since July 1st!

Finally time to open the envelope! 

I can't even believe this is happening to me right now. 

"Dear Sister Hannah:"

"You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

"You are assigned to labor in the Kentucky Louisville Mission." 

"Please report to the Provo MTC on January 7th, 2015.  Prepare to preach the gospel in the English Language."

 shock. JOY. relief.

I can't even believe this is real life! 

I am going to Kentucky!!! 

It's official. I am going to be a sister missionary! 

Opening my call was such a special experience.  The feelings of confirmation were real and strong.  Being surrounded by my family and closest friends was exactly what I needed! I am so grateful for all of those who were there with me. 

I am so thankful for all of these wonderful people in my life!  

• My mom & dad for all of the support that they have given me my entire life.
• My Aunt Ronnee, Declan, Dailee and Damon, even in their PJ's!
• Anne Chun, for being a second mom growing up.
• Leslie and Katie, the two best friends I could have ever asked for.  #babesquad
• Brother and Sister Christensen, the most amazing YW president I could have ever asked for and amazing husband. 
• Paige Sanford, Brother and Sister Sanford, for being there since the beginning of reactivation and helping me through so much! 
• My dear best friend, Dennis, and my sweet roommates Ally, Aggie and Estela.  I was able to FaceTime them in and was so grateful they were able to see me open my call and feel that sweet spirit too! :)
• Sadly, my brothers were at the homecoming dance, but I was able to share my good news with them when they got home! I am sad they missed it, but they know where my heart and testimony is! I love them dearly! 

mommacita

 babesquad

my amazing YW president, Sister Melanie Christensen

Paigey, been there for it all! 

my cute aunt and cousins! 

I could not have imagined this experience any other way.  I am so beyond excited to go and serve the people of Louisville in January! I am relived that my call is stateside and English speaking, but ultimately I would have gone wherever the Lord called me.  I know my call was assigned by Him, through prayer.  I cannot wait to get out there and serve! Here is to the best 18 months of my life! :) 

XOXO,

Sister Hannah