And another week goes by. It's true, the mission in the field is far different than in the MTC. I'm still getting things down. I need to write down why it's different. But that'll go somewhere else. Life here continues on. Still getting fed, either by myself or my companion or by members. Earlier today I was eating what I thought was a pear at first. Looked just like it. But after the first bite that belief was quickly dispersed. It was a mango. Pretty good. But anyways. Things continue on here. I've more or less got my footing. Need to learn to talk to people better. Just the basic talking part. The language really isn't the barrier, just the actual conversation. It's coming. Talked to some nice people in the laundromat today, from Mexico. Had a good number or Hispanic members go to church. The problem now is keeping them there after Sacrament. Need to bar the doors or something. So we're working with less-actives a good amount, but we also teach some investigators. A work in progress, as always. Things have been good. Rode my bike a bit. It's more hilly here in Columbia. That's a bad thing, by the way. Not as bad as Nashville, but it's not nice. Throw it on the lowest gear possible and pedal away. Using a bike from one of the other missionaries who doesn't need it right now. It's good. Just need to keep going and keep putting more effort into things. Yup.
Gma - Opera. Nice. The good part about it is you had a good time. Well, and that you ate food. They're both good parts. Thank you for the history. It's good to know about ancestors. Not to lift yourself up in front of others but to remind you that there were others that did good things to, that stood for God. Lessons can be learned, for sure. Especially since family history is more personal.
Matt & Sam - I remember that Aunt Jeanne and Mom watched that one before I left. At least, I think it was Aunt Jeanne. I also remember that Grandma O watched it and Mom talked to her about it. I remember something about poop and food. Not what exactly, however. Probably for the better. Speaking of Easter egg hunts, there was a church here in Columbia that had an Easter egg hunt with 100,000 eggs hidden. Or so they said, so y'know. That's a bunch. A literal ton, perhaps. Interesting that you find out you have these allergies now rather than when you were young. You and Matt are such nice people to dentists. I am too, usually. Hopefully I'll change that. Hand and foot. An interesting game. But it is quite nice when you simply conquer and without doubt win.
Mom - I am indeed using Spanish. I am a Spanish missionary, of course. My comprehension is getting better. I can generally understand everything, or at least through context. Except for people from the islands, like Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic. They speak faster, cut of letters from words and pronounce a bit different. Then again I hear that in Argentina they speak super fast, use a ton of slang and sound a bit different. Thus it goes. House is a tough decision. We helped one of the English ward members move on Saturday. Oh my goodness. She was not ready to move. Boxes of junk piled up in every room, stuff lying everywhere, the garage filled with garbage. Bad enough I would almost just say to bulldoze the entire house and build a new one rather than clean it out. Terrible. Just don't get half as bad as it was and you'll be alright. That sounds like a fairly interesting MORP. Hopefully Kevin had something on under that wonderful gown. They're a bit scary. How in the world do you tear a calf muscle doing that? Oh Alex. I understand volleyball can be painful, but I was expecting broken ankles or a volleyball to the face, not the calf. Hopefully it heals quickly enough. Going through everything will be a good experience. It's good to cut back a bit. I like doing it every once in a while. Well, not that I've really had the opportunity lately, but y'know. I really want to read the talks. I haven't had the opportunity to really see them again or read them. But I hope. English and Spanish, so I can practice live translation. My companion did it for Sacrament this Sunday. Seems somewhat hard, but then I'll know I have rocking Spanish, when I can do it well.
You all are wonderful. Writing to me is a very nice thing to do. Thank you for doing it. Tell people I'm still alive if they're wondering. Running a little short on time, so I've got to finish. But it's good. Enjoy yourselves.
Love,
Your dearest elder,
Elder HansenFamily Letter 4/16/2012
Nick,
Dear Nick;
Dad and i went to the Arizona Opera this week, had a good time and ate too much. I wanted to brag about your heritage, you remember I told you about the Vaudois, well it turns out they received their scriptures from the missionaries of Antioch of Syria in the 120's AD. all the persecution they endured was because they would not give up their bible (specifically John1:7-8) and this is why the Catholics were so angry with them, they wanted these two verses out of the bible because they did not agree with 3 personages in the God Head. The reformation itself owes a lot to these Christians in the French (Italian) alps. they not only preserved , but they show to what lengths God would go to keep his promise. (Psalm 12:6-7). Many of the bibles now in use do not have 1John 5:7-8, that I am sure influenced so many of the Italians to accept the Gospel when Lorenzo Snow offered it. Anyway my great grandfather was one of the first to be baptized and my grandfather was only 6 when he walked from Piedmont Italy, over the Alps, and on to SLC with the first handcart company. You have a lot more special ancestors watching you than I do, but I really feel privileged to belong to this set of Christians. Hope you do too. LOVE YOU Grandma
Hey Nick,
Mom just had me watch a movie called The Help. Not bad, but now it's nearly my bedtime so I'm just gonna be quick and I'll save the plant description till next time. Here's some highlights of the past week or so. I made Matt go on an Easter egg hunt and search the house for his Easter basket. He officially thinks I'm nuts but he loves me anyways. I went and got some allergy testing done. Turns out I'm allergic to quite a few things but I just don't know what things. They've decided I need to get more extensive testing. Fun, I just love getting poked in the back lots of times. Matt and I both went to the dentist and provided them with some good business. Matt's been bellyaching for at least the past week that they screwed up somehow and he's going to need a root canal. We'll see. For a happy thought, Dad and I played Mom and Alex on hand and foot earlier today. We wasted them. Neither had even gotten into their feet or closed any piles. They refused to score it because they were gonna be so negative.
Matt and Sam
Hey Elder,
How is Tennessee this week? Using any Spanish? Dad and I decided to rent a 3br house. Can move in after May 1, we probably won't be in a hurry though. Dad wants to do it gradually and have Matt sleep there to appear occupied. Hope this is the right decision. We've gone back and forth on stuff all weekend. Looked at a lot of apartments, but it comes down to stuff. We just aren't ready to get rid of it. Alex has been busy with dance festival. The program is this Sat. He went to morp on Friday nite. She dressed him in a blue fur jacket and gave him a baseball had with styrofoam balls on top for eyes to be Cookie Monster. She went as the cookie. I brought home a patient gown for Kevin and he took his dad's walker and his date was his nurse. Sat. morning Alex took his ACT, a demoralizing experience. Saturday night he went to a cast party for beauty and the beast and was playing volleyball and came down on his leg. Not sure exactly what caused it, but my unofficial diagnosis is a torn calf muscle. Lots of pain. Some swelling. Don't think they can do much for it but let it heal. Of course it's his right leg so driving is a problem. I can't get him in to the Dr. til tomorrow. Oh well.
I went through the house and identified what I need to keep and what to get rid of. Also what still needs to be gone through and packed. Somehow I need to decide what/how much food storage to keep. The problem is where. It will be easier in a house, but there is still a pretty tight limit. It all seems overwhelming. Plus I'm working lots the next few days. Then next week I work Sunday-Tuesday and Weds. I'm off to SLC for women's conference with Jeanne.
Have started reading through conference talks. Really liked Elder Holland's talk. It's good to go through them. Have a good week. Love you lots, Mom
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