It's Me Again MTC 2-23-2012

Yay!  Do I sound happy?  Because I'm happy, but not quite that happy! .  Hopefully that emoticon goes through.  It was pleasing unto me the moment I looked upon its countenance.

It's crazy that another week has went by already.  Very quick.  Everything's well on this front.  No one left or entered the MTC in our zone, so life as zone leader was smooth sailing.  Next week we might have some people though.  It's cool to have new people.  I do have to get better at teaching and Spanish.  My Spanish is doing quite fine.  I can understand about 80 percent of what our teachers say and 70 percent of what natives say.  So when I get down to Argentina it'll be around 50 percent for the first little while I'm sure.  We taught our "professional actor" investigator for a second time yesterday.  He's from Spain, so he talks in vosotros form and has a lisp sometimes.  That doesn't really bother me so much, though I sure won't be talking back to him in vosotros form.  One, he's only a single person.  Two, I understand it but can't very well speak it.  The beauty of context.  Gotta love it.  But he's like a Spanish philosopher.  In English it would be really cool to talk to him.  We could share thoughts, talk ideas a bit, use scriptures easily.  In Spanish I don't have that background yet, so it is tough.  We're going to have to study hard for the next lesson.  I'm thinking I know what we can focus on though.  Good experience, even if it is slightly unrealistic, but that's because I'm pretty good at picking things up. 

Matt & Sam - I was going to start out this letter to you two with the words "Blast it, tell me what kind of plants!" However, I read the last part of what you wrote and it pacified me.  Like a baby.  Still, hopefully you're skipping out on the boganvilla.  Though I can trim those very skillfully.  I'm not sure how to spell it, though.  I've only ever seen the word once, and I remember it kind of baffled me because it wasn't quite what I'd always thought it was.  There's probably a "u" in there, or some other nonsense.  I expect the correct spelling sent at some time.  A quick google away for you connected people.  I wish I could see Wicked.  It is one of the three big musicals I think are the best.  Or have heard.  Wicked, Phantom and Les Mis.  Since I've seen Les Mis and heard Phantom I'm more or less placated on those two.  Hopefully placated means what I think.  But I haven't even heard the music from Wicked.  It'll be a to-do.  And oh Sara Anne.  Marie.  Or something like that.  You should get better.  For some reason I wrote "And oh" on my rough draft paper.  Yes, a rough draft is important.  I don't read much hear but the scriptures and Preach My Gospel.  So even plant descriptions would be cool.  In fact, especially plant descriptions.  Like seriously, I want them.  I also want to know why I put like there.  Must be the California companion.

Matt - I really want to know where the word Wingapo is from.  It sounds so familiar.  Incredibly so.  I've mulled over it at least 5 minutes.  Maybe four, to be truthful.  After I focus on it for more than a minute my mind just kind of blanks.  So I've thought about it at least four times.  I also never really saw those Star Wars episodes.  In fact, I remember the Thumb Wars version of it better.  And this might seem somewhat disjointed, but Goku brought it about.  I wish I could fly.  8 miles is good.  For the first time in years, like five of them, I ran an entire mile just for running.  Timed.  My first mile was 6:40.  Paltry, I know, but I plan on improving it.  10 laps around the track.  I want to feel the sun.  I feel sun-deprived here, what with all the snow and cloudy sky.  Give me some heat.  But it does feel nice on occasion.  And that fact about poop, I'll use it sometime.  With so many elders I'm sure there'll be an opportunity.  And that chimney event is exciting.  But what exactly happened?  And did you record it with your fancy phone?  Not that I can see it, but the thought counts.  It was a very fun story to read.  And that birthday thing with that kid...

Alex - Yeah, you had a birthday.  I remembered it, several weeks ago.  I forgot to remind you of it though.  So happy belated birthday.  It was on the third, exactly twenty days ago.  And about standing, you should learn to appreciate it.  Here, I am sitting like 13 hours a day.  Or more, on occasion.  And no, that doesn't count sleeping.  It takes some tolerance.  And my mission won't have bikes.  Sad, but don't need to do maintenance on them which is good.  Alex, I am his towel, as much as I tried to avoid it.  You're not quite large enough to fill the role.  So a kleenex you must be.  I would say napkin as well, but you're not well dressed enough.  Napkins need some serious class. 

Dad - A quality thing...  I dun know 'bout that.

Mom - Exciting.  Three days.  It'll be interesting when I can take a day off again.  I don't think I'll look at it the same ever again, because P days sure are still busy.  And one of the benefits of being a missionary is that you teach a bunch, a bunch of crunch, a munch of bunch of crunch.  But a lot.  So you just learn how to do things.  What goes where, what would work best.  And since the Spirit is guiding you'll realize when you've done something well that you could possibly use again or etcetera etcetera.  I would also ask for Bryce's address another thyme, because I haven't received a letter back from him.  So either he's lazy or spiteful, or I have the wrong address.  I doubt the spiteful, lazy is plausible, but address is most convenient.  You could even ask his parents if it's changed recently to be sure.  It's nice you're getting things prepped and condensed.  And that bridge.  I hope you'll feel embarrassed.  Supergluing things in your mouth.  Crazy.  It's also nice to know Jaron's and Rebecca's calls.  Jaron is english speaking, I assume.  And don't you dare put that I'll leave any time but that week.  In fact, I should leave before Wednesday, which is when the new missionaries get in.  Although, even if it did get extended they'd just ship me to a different mission for a transfer or something so.  That's what's happening to the Mexico missionaries.  Lotsa problems there.  Thoughts on those chapters will come.  They are good.  The chapters, hopefully the thoughts.

Ty - Kind of funny.  Coincidentally, there's another Nicholas Hansen in our zone.  And of all the letters that would get misdirected, it was this one.  He said he enjoyed it.  And of course you would be the one to do that.  Alex probably would, in a different way.  Matt's a wild card, but probably no.  I wouldn't, in all likelihood.  Nice work, however.  Ah, dumbbells.  Nice to have.  I need to get some workouts down here.  It's too easy to chill and play basketball the whole time.  I want to rewire something.  Apparently someone got a small fridge in here once, but the plug didn't work. But someone rewired it with paper clips.  Clever.  I would love to write more, but I am out of time.  Very sad.  I wanted to cry, by the way, when I read those last few paragraphs.  Oh goodness.  Please, no more of that.  Ugh.

Love,

Elder Hansen

Letter from the Family Feb 21, 2012

To: Elder Nicholas Bassett Hansen 
From: Matt (The best one) and Sam (The favorite one) 
We are still alive even if you believed otherwise from our lack of skillful writing last week. Sorry to disappoint you. In the past couple of weeks we continued planting plants around the pool and in the front flowerbed. We went and saw the musical "Wicked" with Carl and Jerah Seggie (yes we still associate with relatives with weird last names.) We also took Sam to the Urgent Care because her asthma has been acting up (apparently it's a bad thing when the doctor can't hear you breathing even when he's using a stethoscope) and now she gets to go see a pulmonologist, which she is very excited to go and do :-p The heater on our house broke too so we borrowed space heaters from your parents for a few days until it was fixed, Sam was afraid she might die of hypothermia ;-) Well good luck until next time. If you're lucky and we are ambitious we will give you full text descriptions of the plants we are planting.  

Wingapo Nicholas! 
I have returned. And like Luke Skywalker and Goku after their training I am exponentially stronger and my senses have become super acute. Anyways, I went hiking about 8 miles today. It was nice, but I was imagining the scenery being jungle for most of the time. We gots us some good weather down here in the homeland, but no doubt it'll start cooking soon enough.  I have been learning all kinds of fun things in my Microbiology course. For instance, about 1/3 of your poop is microorganisms. 1/3rd Nick! And about 3 pounds of the average person is microorganisms. I wonder if you'll get any awesome diseases.... I have been staying rather busy during the week with school and PayPal, and now I've been working my old job on the side to be nice, but it's taking up time I need to be studying or doing things at home so I'll have to cut down on that nonsense. Oh, and a fun story for you! Matt the Pretender was making rather large fires in our fireplace and our chimney starting making funn
 y noises. It was like EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIII<WBR><WBR><WBR><WBR><WBR><WBR>IRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKK, UUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRR, squeak squeak. And we went outside and there were multitudes of fiery sparks exiting the chimney, not unlike a sparkler. So we threw water on it and the house got all smoky. Luckily nothing burned down, but it sure did make for an exciting game night. Also, I know Alex had a birthday recently, but I'm pretty sure everyone is wrong about his age. I'm almost positive he just turned 17. Be righteous! 
Matthew 

Praying for you, proud of you, and love you. It's a quality thing.... 
Dad 
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My  dearest little brother:    
Here I am about to graduate high school...Pretty crazy stuff. This week has been the most demanding I think I have ever had. Regionals requires sitting in a chair and standing whenever you sing which is all the time.  So lotsa standing. and beauty and the beast is a lot of dancing remembering and that stuff in general. I guess its just been really freakin tiring. Goodluck as a missionary. I know that most of your day is going to be riding your bike and walking long distances but i believe that you might just find it worth it. And apparently I am matts new 'towel'   in your absence. i told him he could be my napkin, and he then told me he would use me as his kleenex. Jacked up right? I took it so far as to let him know that he could be my toilet paper if needs be. Basically Life rolls on. the musical isn't this Wednesday but the one after it. Don;t tell ne ti break a leg because i tried that already... IT ENDED UP HURTING MY BIG TOE... --- not meant to be caps but it still wo
 rks because i am ANGRY about it!!!! Until next time giant man of valor and spirit! Take luck, and care for it.  
-The Short One.  

Hi Nick, 
So, I returned from Idaho and worked 3 days straight.  Then went to Sunday school and taught my part of the lesson.  It was ok.  People say they like our lessons.  I'm not sure I'm doing as well as I could though.  I don't get enough discussion going.  I guess I need to ask better questions.  Our next lesson in 3 weeks will be the last 4 chapters of 2nd Nephi  if you have any inspired input for us.  Been working on Sam's quilt - the one that I mostly had done and realized I had messed up and unpicked lots of and am now putting back together.  I am also going through the boxes of fabric and deciding what to save, ironing it and cutting them into strips and squares for later use.  I should be able to condense my fabric that way.  My bridge in my mouth fell out again.  I had superglued it earlier in December.  But now I made an appointment with Bro. Driggs office.  It will be weird to see him as a dentist.  Weirder to have Sheila cleaning my teeth.  Oh well.   
Did we tell you that Jaron Ellingson is going to North Carolina and Rebecca is going to Guatemala.  No news on Mitch Loar.  I understand his papers are in.  Brad Whiting gave his talk yesterday.  He enters the MTC the day you are supposed to leave.  If your visa doesn't come by then, maybe you'll see him... 
Oh, yes mail back the temple names.  I'm glad you were able to get them done.  I think that was your only question.  Have a good week.  Love you lots, Mom 

YUP! MTC Feb 16, 2012

I am still alive.  Yup.  Things are going well.  Last night we introduced a new district to the MTC - gave them the lowdown.  They're advanced, so they'll be leaving a week before me.  Drats.  But I'll survive.  Every day or so we teach either our teachers roleplaying as investigators or "professional" investigators, more or less, that we teach.  Finally, my companion and I have achieved baptismal dates from both of our teachers as investigators.  Don't be thinking that's a pathetic achievement.  We're the first in our class since the others in our district moved to advanced in the first and second week.  Now we just have to follow up with really good lessons.  What really helps is that we're rocking some awesome planning before we teach.  Guided, of course, by the Holy Ghost.  It's nice when things just work.  It snowed a good amount here earlier this week.  It was pretty consistent.  It's mostly gone now.

 

One thing about the MTC that's both cool and a bummer is that some of the talks given here are MTC-only.  The first week we were here we listened to a re-broadcast of an older one from 4 or so years ago that was way cool.  He stuck it to the elders and challenged them for perfect obedience.  And Elder Bednar just gave one at Christmas here that rocked.  About the character of Christ.  If you can watch it you really should.  It was good.  And on a separate note, we had that Argentina meeting I talked about last week earlier today.  It was good.  The consulate, a nice lady, answered random questions we asked her insofar as she could, because she's not a member and doesn't really know much about missions.  Then we signed the magical paper we fingerprinted last week and went on our way.  I'm quite hopeful we'll get our visas on time, but she did say they were very understaffed at the consul place.  4 people left and no one has replaced them so far.  Too bad.  It'll work out.

 

Alexander - I wish I could see the musical.  One of the things I enjoyed most at high school was watching the musicals.  The plays were occasionally funny, one acts didn't float my boat, but the musicals were always good.  I think it's super weird you could sing 9 different songs and get completely different ratings on them.  Either you sing well or no, yes?  Do your homework, also.  I feel kind of dumb because so many of the elders in my district graduated from high school with a bunch of college credit.  Like one graduated high school with an associate's degree.  I still have the best ACT score though.  So what now.

 

Dad - Profound.  Thanks for the prayers.  And you know, there isn't a better time than the present to become better at something you're not big on.  While you have the chance to be a letter-writer.  It only comes every once in a while.

 

Mom - Reed's Dairy is good.  We get ice cream from the BYU Creamery here, sometimes, like Sundays or other days.  I don't often get it, so I don't know exactly when.  When I do get it, it's good though.  If you were wondering also, I think the best food here is the gyro.  It doesn't seem weirdly greasy or unhealthy, and tastes good.  I don't know why in the world you would ever wonder that, but there it is.  It's nice things are going well for you.  You're lucky you can visit your mom but I can't visit mine.  I can't wait for my nice long flight, also.  2 weeks or so and I'll have my itinerary.  And also, nice job on the lesson.  Pre-pre-planning.  Next time you'll have to send me what lesson you'll be teaching so I can add my input, or at least send you things you can choose at your digression.  Disgression.  Who knows.

 

Ty - Middle child disease.  Interesting.  And working with a lack of information is annoying.  Bother bother.  One of our "investigators" would not tell us what was bothering so he could focus.  He would tinker with his phone and just give half-hearted meh.  We even asked good questions, nothing offensive, but also that would help us help him.  But it went well enough.  We got a baptismal date from him, after all.  It was a good learning experience.  I'm learning to make much better questions here.  What to ask investigators, what to ask in personal study.  Occasionally, those are even the same thing.  Who woulda thunk it.  It's nice to get answers.  I have yet to actually perform baptisms, also.  It makes me sad, especially because I can't do them here.  I repeat, it saddens me.  Separately, I will miss tennis to a certain degree.  They'll have basketball and soccer in Argentina, and probably even some tennis.  But I have doubts that I'll get to play it.  But who knows.  On another separate note, it'll be good when I get home and I can go on good dates.  I know everyone in the family will read that line and guffaw, because that's what you'll do.  But it's true.  Way to be industrious.  I originally wrote that for you re-learning or learning for the first time how to solder and doing it, but it applies to the date too.  It'll be hard to learn the piano on your own, but I give you chops, or cheers, or whatever in the world that phrase is.  Blast, I can't remember it.  Nyeh.  Duets are fun.  They make good piano sound great.  Or perhaps more applicable, a mediocre pianist sound good.  Sorry if that seemed somewhat rude.  It seems so now.  But I'll leave it because sometimes the truth is hard.  Yup, I still feel bad.  Hope your talk goes well.  It sure should, because you put effort into preparing it.  Preparing lessons and talks and things is one thing I could have done far better at before my mission.  I've got it down better now.  And about Aelx, I agree with your whatever it's called.  Conjecture, guess, theory, foretelling.  Minus the last one.  I doubt I would see it as Alex rearranged if I hadn't seen it or done it myself.  And no, I'm not the tallest elder in our zone.  There's another elder who's 6'10".  One of my goals is to never let him dunk on me while I'm guarding him.  So far, so good.  And thus it will continue.

 

I love reading letters from family.  I was doing so, reviewing the letters from Sunday and Monday, when I realized how great it is you're all good people.  Your letters aren't negative, you're doing things, you're actually sending me an email.  It's nice.  It must be tough for people who don't have support from good people to join the Church and remain active.  And I would be able to tell if your letters were getting negative.  I've got my discernment abilities.  And also, I don't mean to sound like those who didn't send me an email this week aren't good people.  But it is nice to get one from everyone.  Also, can you resend me Bryce's address?  I'm not sure if he got my letter because he hasn't replied.  Just so ya know.

 

Love you all,

Elder Hansen

Yup Still Here - MTC Feb. 9, 2012

Well, MTC life is going swell.  Teaching our 2 teachers as investigators, plus 1 other guy who is a "real" investigator, but who is an actor.  But he's good.  We just started teaching him this week.  My companion, Elder Nilsen, and I are the new zone leaders for our zone here.  It's not a big deal at the MTC - we meet the new missionaries coming in, tell them the rules, and go to meetings.  But it should be good.  I really like our district, and also the whole zone is pretty good.  Also, those going to Argentina had a meeting with visa agents today.  Maybe that was their official title.  Today all it was was fingerprinting us and signing something.  But next week, we'll be meeting with the actual consulate.  Those who were supposed to leave on Feb. 20th won't be able to leave then, but will have to wait for when we leave.  We, however, should be able to leave at our appointed time, March 12th or roundabouts.  They were saying it's so weird with the whole visa thing right now because one of the consulate people was reassigned, so they've been under-staffed there.  Whatevs.


Mom - Sorry I didn't reply, but my mind works in mysterious ways.  I did receive your package, along with the contacts.  I got the contacts days before the letter you sent saying I would be getting them.  So that's taken care of.  I appreciate the rice krispie treats.  And pistachios.  And gummy worms.  I haven't actually gotten into either the pistachios or the gummy worms yet, but that's for the better.  The paddle thing broke.  So then I played with just the ball.  But then the light broke, so now I just have a sphere that is slightly bouncy and acts somewhat like a gyroscope.  I'm thinking I might crack it open to see if I can just play with the light.  It might be too much entertainment for me to handle though.  On a separate note, Alex should be thanking you hourly for tricking out his dance.  It sounded wonderful.  The food sounded good too.  It's also nice that it all seemed to come together without much hassle.  And very much enjoy grandma's, up in Idaho.  It's a bit gloomy here right now, a bit cold.  But really not bad.  Things are starting to bloom, as well.  It should make the temple walk much prettier.

Alex - All in all, you seem to be having a relatively good time.  What in the world was up with the "Hey Bryce" beginning though.  I wrote Bryce but it might not have gotten there because I haven't heard back in a month.  I'll probably have to do that again.  I enjoyed your little testimony thing.  Good writing, too.  Mostly.  It reminded me of one of the parts of the MTC that I absolutely love.  Perhaps the most.  Every Tuesday night we have a devotional.  On Sundays we have a fireside, which is similar.  But the special thing about Tuesday is two things.  First, the speakers are generally higher up in the church.  If apostles are speaking, it'll be on a Tuesday.  Second, afterwards we meet with our district, occasionally a member of the branch presidency, and all go around sharing what we learned from the devotional.  I always liken it to instruments.  If we're good instruments, you can get a pretty sweet solo going on.  But as you add in different types, the music becomes more complex, more varied, and to me, generally more pleasing.  I always love symphonies.  As missionaries, we're all instruments.  If we're being the best we can be, we'll be playing a good tune.  If we are all being the best we can be, it can invite the Spirit to speak through us.  When we are able to bear our testimonies and speak about the devotionals, you can have love for those you serve with.  It's a good thing.  It makes me want to let other people know about it so they can do the same thing.  And hey, that's what I'll be doing.  Speak (not) of the devil!

Ty - Your letter was interesting.  I liked Tron when we watched it at our house on the projector.  It doesn't exactly have a complicated plot, but I don't really pay attention to the plot as I'm watching movies.  Not a first time analyzer.  But I feel your point.  Idle is bad.  I've been reviewing my study notebook I started before my mission which has part of preparing my sacrament talk.  One of the things about idleness I just read that I remember liking is that it is a seedbed for mischief, a hollow filling of being active.  I get what you're saying about being idle.  I understand what you're saying about decisions.  When you look at it, it's quite obvious that it's the truth.  We won't be going into the past.  And about cooking for them.  That is plain weird.  I don't know if I could quite take it.  An exercise in charity, to cook for those people in my mind.  But as long as you like em, it's alright.  And your letter, it wasn't boring.  Perhaps a bit random in some aspects, but that is often the opposite of boring.

By the way, whoever might read this, I write out names and respond to people who have written, but I know you'll read it all.  It's no fun if I take the time to write everything and you only read the one to you.  Beyond that, things are going well.  I missed out on the temple today because of the meeting, which was too bad.  Next week the meeting is a bit earlier, so I might still have time to do initiatories.  You still need to tell me what to do with the temple names I have, mother dearest.  Life is good.  Teaching investigators in Spanish is hard because you sound dumb alot, or just don't know what to say.  Half the time you have to remember what to say in English, then try to translate it.  Plus, you have to be listening to everything that is said, by your companion, yourself, the investigator.  The Spirit.  It'll get better.  Random fact, I'm sleeping on the top bunk now.  Exciting.  So far I haven't really needed anything.  And as of this writing, that still holds.  So you don't have to worry.  If I really wanted to get fat, it would be easy.  Somewhat slower than it could be, but I could gain 15 pounds in 5 weeks.  I won't though.  That wouldn't end up well.  Anyways, have a wonderful time doing whatever it is you do.  I really think Alex should spell his name like this "Aelx" sometimes.  Maybe that could be his Starcraft/game name.  Dig it.

Until next, with love,

Elder Hansen


Letter from the Family Feb 7, 2012

Hey Bryce & Nick!!!! 
I know it has been a while since I have written you but I blame kevin somewhat. 
How have you been doing? Everything coming along? 
Anywho here are a couple of my thoughts and experiences of late. 
Men strive to achieve greatness. They toil with challenges and wrestle with opposition to reach the point in time where their fellow man, peers, friends, and family will cheer for them. To reach that one moment. Not every second is worth the same amount. The secret of life then is to make that second happen in the next second of Life. 

I turned 18 yesterday. And it was the best day of my life. I had so many friends wish me luck for this next year. They are happy for me, that I am alive. Yesterday was planned out by myself invariably weeks in advance. Not the having the birthday part, but the church's formal dance happened on the same day. I am the kind of guy who wants to help my friends, and my brothers. 
I go out of my way to do that because I want to have someone to stand with when victory comes. Victory is best spent in good company. I had a large group. I made sure all of my friends had asked someone. We had 10 couples for dinner and 13 couples in the group overall. I was lucky enough to go with the wonderful Mary Jarman. The theme was 'I See The Light' from Tangled. It was a night I won't forget. My life has been blessed beyond comparison. I have the best everything. The best friends, family, leaders, teachers... Everyone around me encourages me to greatness, and I will achieve it someday. The Lord has saved my life, a debt that take a life in return to repay. I testify of the scriptures. 
I know that God is real. Look around and you will see beauty everywhere. Even in hard times you will see it. Chaos couldn't have created this. There is order and life all around us. If you will give your all to the Lord he will give you what you need, and he might just show you how much that is, and then give you more than you can fathom. In a year from now approximately I will be headed out on a 2 year mission to serve God. Why do I pay for this mission, give up two of the vital years of my life to meet strangers and testify of what I believe? Because I believe that leaving my friends and family for two years to help others spend it with their family for eternity is a just cause. I know that this church is true. There is a spirit that you may feel somewhere else. The spirit isn't limited to a building on the corner off Lindsey and Pueblo but it is a gift that you may receive as a constant companion when you live right and by the right authority. I believe everything happens 
 for a reason and even at my young age I look back on my short past and can see that my mistakes have led me to where I am now typing here in my bedroom on my old laptop. I do not regret anything I have done in life. I acknowledge that there has been trash that has polluted my past. But instead of carrying it with me I have thrown it away. I believe in the atonement with my entire being. And I know life is a gift that we are meant to enjoy. And I am doing so in the best ways possible. I have a solid testimony that will have its storms beat on it, but I am sure that it will hold because I have centered it and built it on a sure foundation. I believe in the best part of someone. Good luck to you as you go on with your journey. Enjoy life.    

Hi Nick, 

I made the mistake of not getting everyone writing on Sunday, and I went to work and they never wrote.  Never fear, we all still think of you and love you. 

Bill & Jeanne were here over the weekend.  Cade came down on Saturday too.  He bought himself a handgun. 

For mormon prom, Sam & I decorated.  We made hearts to hang down from the hooks around the family room.   Moved all the furniture to the dining room and moved the dining room table to the family room.  We also used the big round table.  There were 9 couples.  For table decorations, we went to Ikea and found these long skinny shallow plates.  We filled them with water and a few mini carnation heads (red) and floated candles in them.  We also put candles all around the shelf and fireplace hearth.  Yeah, it worked.  I bought the white square dishes from Sam's club and broke out the new silverware.  It looked amazing.  Lots of compliments.  The meal came together and my part was done. 

Otherwise we just played lots of games.  It was a good weekend.  Went by too fast. 

Dad and I are flying up to Idaho to see Grandma O on Thursday.  Dad will fly home on Sunday, but I will be there until the next Thursday.  Looking forward to seeing my mom and the rest of the fam, and having some down time.  




 

MTC February 2, 2012 Another day in the neighborhood

Ah, another week.  I'll start with Tuesday.  On Tuesday, Elder Nelson and Elder Ballard came with their retinue of the Seventy and other such offices.  It was for the 50th anniversary of the MTC.  They mainly talked about the history of missionary work, and living up to it.  Elder Nelson gave a dedicatory prayer on five of the buildings here.  As much as I enjoy listening to the apostles and such, it is most definitely afterwards, when we have the district meeting to all review what we enjoyed most from the talks, that I enjoy the most.  Hearing the same talks from 16 different points of view, in this case, since we had 2 combined districts, is when you get to hear lots of different views that are cool to hear and think about.  Our district is down to 9 now.  We had 2 elders go to advanced, and 1 just left to the Dominican Republic MTC.  I'm kinda jealous, because the food there is said to be awesome, and they can play ping pong during gym.  Very jealous.  So we have 8 elders and 1 hermana left, all leaving on March 12th, or thereabouts.  I took the names I had left to the temple today.  All 8 were done, endowed.  Do you want me to send you them, or something like that?  And either way, life is happening here.  It's good.

Matt and Sam - Duplo's huh.  I remember playing with them, but I was at an age where I didn't know names.  And by the time I could remember, I didn't have anyone to teach them about.  I just remember them as big Legos.  And if all the little kids get nametags, can you get one too?  Nametags are fun.  What'll you be planting around the pool?  Little magical bushes?  Cursed boganvia?  That, I realize I didn't spell right.  It's such a bad plant I didn't even try to learn how to spell it's name.  And I'll need more than a name, likely.  A written description of the plant is nice.

Alex - I wrote that essay at midnight.  Or later, the night before it was due.  Bryce did the same thing.  Piece of cake.  And I could have done much better.  About your injuries, you get so lucky.  Almost cutting your foot asunder, falling from trees, etc etc.  I almost with you had cut your foot so I could say my brother cut his foot asunder.  I'll have to look up how to say that in Spanish.  I know you're not invincible, however, because you cut yourself with your own machete.  Hah.  The axe isn't quite so sharp as it was in the beginning, either.  But it is surprisingly resilient.

Dad - Regretfully, the Dear Elder from which I read your email converts all the font into Times New Roman.  Or possibly Arial.  Probably Times New Roman.  And one thing I hope I'll have is excellent meetings when I get back to regular church.  I didn't have as many of those as I'd like before.

Mom - Oh, the choices real people have to make.  I'm not exactly envious at this point of actually having to make choices that matter.  But I'll get over that.  I think you know what you're doing.  And by the way, the most home-like meal I've had so far here is ham and au gratin potatoes.  It's just a good combo.  It wasn't as good as it at home, but it wasn't bad.  And I'm sad I couldn't use such high class silverware.  Ah, Fry's.  Send them my love, by using those coupons to purchase goods.

Matt - That's an interesting thought.  A 20 foot worm inside of you.  The title "hook"worm doesn't sound all that pleasing either.  I don't think I'll have to worry as much about worms as 85 percent of the other South American missions.  And I do have a missionary daily planner.  As such, I use it daily.  I like it.  It helps me focus better, as well as an easy place to put goals, daily ones.  It interests me, this RM planner.  Sounds fairly legit.  And about the Zebra pens.  I have one blue one.  I almost thought I had a red, but I left that one there because it ran out of ink.  I've been testing out the several several different varieties of pens at the store here.  I'm thinking a fine point one for the scriptures, and then something else for other things.  Like a Zebra, which I have.  However, I've been writing in my journal with a pen called the Pilot Razor Point.  It looks like it's from the '90s, with it's plastic case that has that undertone of glitter.  I found it at home or somewhere.  I like it for my journal because it writes a bit heavier than the Zebra but doesn't just pour out of the tip like gel point pens or so many other ball points I've tried here.  Using the right pen is a very delicate art.  Regretfully, it's floundering from near ink depletion, so I'll have to replace it soon.  It'll be quite the journey.  And that cloning idea- it's pretty good.  But would you make the clone smarter or dumber than me?  There's a fine balance.  And I would have loved to tell my fellow elders I make a wonderful hand towel, but the first week my food decided to use my suit as a towel.  It's not like I ever dumped food all over myself or anything so foolish, but sleeve dips, falling food, etc, can happen.  I got my first suit dry cleaned though.  And memorizing all the scriptures?  Crazy.  Loco, as the elder behind me just said in a different context.  The branch president, or something like that, President Tyler, said that he memorizes scriptures, remembers them, by the experiences they're associated with.  And he has a scripture for basically every situation.  A lot of good experiences.  Hopefully I can have quite a few as well.

I don't like Matt more than you all, just because I wrote more.  Just thought I'd throw that out there.  I'm thinking about erasing it.  Tell Grandma her letter was greatly appreciated.  Time is done.  I'm going negative.

With love,

Elder Hansen

Letter from the Family Jan 30, 2012

Hey Nick,  
They told ,me I needed to start the letter this time..  Just so you know, Matt is convinced that must have had a very deprived childhood since you don't know what Duplos are.  To correct your ignorance, Duplos are the big version of legos that are meant for the younger age kids.   
Matt and Dad finished putting our bedframe together.  We hauled it to my house so we can sand and stain it.  I picked a Red Mahogany stain so it'll be darker with a red tint.  I'm pleased to share that Matt didn't shoot himself with any more nails, just the one in his finger.   
We were busy with Nursery again today.  One of the little boys was trying to figure out how to strangle Matt with his own tie and another one kept trying to drive his car up my dress.  Our lesson was about how we should all be like sheep so Jesus can be our shepherd.  Then we colored a sheep and glued cotton balls to it.  It got a little crazy when we got out the cars during playtime and a couple fights broke out about who gets which car.  They were also busy pulling kids out so they could take pictures of each one for the bishop and primary.  I guess they've decided that each kid needs a name tag to wear so everyone knows their name.  It sounds like a couple kids got lost with the old nursery leaders.   
Not much else to report.  We're still picking lemons and we're getting ready to plant all the area around the pool.  Matt's pretty much finished with the sprinkler stuff and it's supposed to be getting warm enough that we shouldn't have to worry about frost killing the plants.   
Until next time, 
Matt and Sam 


To my Brother:  
Hello nicholas. How is it going? Thats nice. So guess what. I was in my senior English class the other day and i was reading reflective Essays and i came across Bryce's And yours It was titled 'Fireside Relflections'. You dog! I never knew you could write! It was well done. Life rolls along here like normal. Oh and i have a crazy experience to tell ya about. I decided that I would go to dad and tell him to have me do something last Saturday. He had me clean up and chop wood and all that fun stuff.so i had the sharp axe, you know the one ty likes, and i was destroying wood pieces left and right and then there is the big piece that is taking forever! i was swinging that axe as hard as i could and it wasn't working. I swung it again and it glanced off the log and right at my foot. It hit my left foot full force, and kinda bounced off. It didn't cut the shoe. It didn't go in my foot. I was somewhat shocked as i was left wondering what had happened. I felt the tip of the axe and 
 it was just as sharp as the day you and ty bought it. I came in and told mom what happened, and she said' You must be livin' right.'. I thought about that and realized that i was living right. I was doing everything i should be. Its a real blessing i am not hurt worse than i am. I had kevin and parker over and we pulled off a 30 minute notice movie night and it was really fun. Like it was a blast. I went outside and looked at the house and thought about life and realized how blessed i am. Basically pretty cool stuff. On another note i am still rallying the troops, or other guys in my group of friends, to ask the girls to the dance. They are joining my group like crazy. All will work out in the end. Life is great. Just wanted you to know that its great that your out there because the lord is really sending blessings to me here because of your service. Thanks bro.  
Peace: Alex Da Hansen.  


Nicholas, 
I'm writing in  a wide sized font to make you think of this as a voluminous email from me. I think you surpassed my total quantity of letters home on your first email. 
We had an excellent three meetings at church today and your mother and I even taught one of them. People like your mom more, but they put up with me when she teaches. 
Your emails have made me very happy. The effort you have been making and expressions you have shared confirm to me that you understand what the Lord expects of you and your testimony. 
Matt suppose to write later so I don't want to use up all the ink. 
Love, 
Dad 

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Hi Nick, 

I love reading your e-mails.  Thursday is now one of my favorite days because your e-mails come then.  I'm so happy you are doing so well in the MTC.  Your spiritual development makes me want to try harder to be become better.   

I had a doctor approach me with a job offer to do education at his mini hospital for their staff one day a week.  I went to the interview and they tried to sell themselves to me - I didn't even need to give them my resume.  I think I could probably name my own salary (within reason of course).  It's an attractive offer.  It would be fun to develop education for them.  They don't have any plan in place and I would really enjoy that type of teaching.  However, I just haven't felt really positive about it.  Then yesterday in church, Bishop Lindblom talked about President Uchtdorf's talk on simplifying things and focusing on what matter's most.  I realize that as nice as the money would be, I need to focus on my spiritual relationships.  I need to spend time with Alex and my other family members.  I need to simplify my life and not make it busier.  It all became so clear, and I now can see myself turning down the offer.   

Not much else to tell.  Jeanne and Bill will be coming to visit this weekend.  Alex has Mormon Prom and his group continues to grow.  I'm feeding them before the dinner, but it shouldn't be too difficult.  Roast pork, twice baked potatoes, cheese-garlic biscuits, salad and when they get back from prom, chocolate cobbler with ice cream.  Not too time intensive and pretty easy.  I told him I'm not unpacking the china though.  Maybe it's time to get new dishes...  I am breaking out the new silverware.   

You're still getting lots of offers from Fry's.  Glad they don't know you have left.  Some good coupons in this last batch. 

Dad actually offered to play Carcassone with me the other night.  His idea.  I was shocked.  We played without the farmers.  Definitely easier to score.  He beat me by 2 points.  Next time I'll have to do the farmers.  He says he doesn't know how to play them and I can win that way.  We'll see...   

Have a good week.  I still have 2 glasses on the top shelf in the kitchen.  Maybe they'll stay there until we move...  Love you, Mom 

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Stupendous. That's my word today. In espanol es 'estupendo'. I'm enjoying my Monday without work or school. I do need to study about microbes and parasites though. I've learned all about pinworm, tapeworm, hookworm, roundworm, etc. Some of those bad boys can grow up to 20+ feet long - in your gut! I don't remember if you have been issued one yet, but you will be getting an awesome missionary day planner. It really is a fantastic planner. Which is why I have ordered an RM planner. Pretty much the same thing, except RM style. So far it's working beautifully. I get more done with a plan and a regular place to write do my to do list and thoughts. By the way, let me know if you remembered to bring any Zebra pens with you. If not I'll make sure they make it into a package for you. You probably read what mom said about us still having two glasses left up on the ledge thing above the fridge. What she didn't mention is that we intend to put them in an incubator and let the microbial c
 ultures grow. We will then use that to clone you and once again have someone to do dishes and such. Plus I'll have a towel around when I need one. I hope you are being of service to your fellow missionaries. Let them know you make an excellent towel, just not so much for shower use. More of a hand towel for the cafeteria.  
Hope all is well in MTC land and if it isn't stick with it anyways. I expect you to come home with the scriptures memorized. All of them.  

Kefel' 
El escribidor mysterio