Not much has changed since last week, but I still figure some words
from home can be appreciated for a missionary. I have thought a lot
about the fact that I'm going soon. I am excited, but scared. When I
get back there may be nothing to come back to. I am enjoying life
thoroughly right now, but I know it won't be the same on my own. So I
guess I will enjoy it while I got it. I find myself watching the sun
rise and set and I just enjoy the show. Give the most skilled painter
in the world the best paint the best brushes the best paper, the best
motivation, and it still cannot match the beautiful scene that I see
twice daily. Anyway just my thoughts. Keep on keeping on bro.
-Alex
*****************
Nick,
So back home to the grind – at least a little. Spent the first part
of the week cleaning and doing laundry and cooking. I guess they
missed me a little at least. Monday I got the official offer from
MCC. It is a full-time job until May only. It may be converted to a
permanent position, the temporary position renewed or discontinued
altogether. Who knows? They seem hopeful that they will actually
receive 4 full-time positions. Hopefully I’ll be one of them. So,
this semester teaching clinicals only (which begins tomorrow at the
nursing lab on campus). Next semester teaching in the classroom also.
Not sure what I’ll be doing at the hospital after this semester. Not
sure where the money will all fall out either. Still seems like what
I need to be doing.
Had the missionaries drop by yesterday. Elder Flake from Tennesee,
and Elder Gomez from Argentina. Told them you had or were currently
spending time in both of their areas. Nice guys. Didn’t stay long
but left us with a prayer.
I’ve been called to be the “Provident Living” person – or the cannery
lady for a while. But I’ve been gone a lot and hadn’t even had time
to be set apart. Today we went in with Alex to be set apart for the
primary and the Bishop realized I hadn’t been set apart and did so.
Wow! I’m so continually amazed by this bishop. He remembers all
sorts of little details – is great at names, and gave me the most
comprehensive and flowing blessing I’ve had for a long time. I love
to be set apart. I love priesthood blessings. It makes me feel so
special. I’d like one every month or so. But I guess that’s not the
way it is supposed to be. I’m not sure how this calling is going to
work out with the anticipated busyness of my life. We’ll see.
Sam and Matt went to his family reunion this week. Their cars are
even less reliable than when you were here and they took my car. I
guess your dad was feeling their absence at the dinner table and
invited Tyler and Gina to dinner. Tyler is going to be going to ASU
for some specialized degree and they moved here last week. We played
a very unexciting game of Ticket to Ride. Alex kept playing just to
block me. Didn’t need to go that way – just random blocks. Very
annoying. Very. I didn’t even count my score. It was that bad.
Grandma called me yesterday and said that Marilyn Calder had invited
them and us to their cabin up north. I offered to take them up on
Weds. and home on Fri. I’ll take a good book, with my laptop and try
to work on my Dad’s life history some more.
Friday night Dad came home and did a little shopping on Craig’s List
and before the night was through, he had bought a newish washer and
dryer and armoire for the computer stuff. We had the computer stuff
on a tableish desk and it was cluttered and messy. Looks so much
better to have it enclosed.
Well, probably need to be getting my beauty sleep. Have to get up
early in the am. Love you a ton, Mom
Nick,
I am in need of pondering and a little action. If I did an excellent
job I could then send you a message of profound inspiration. Are you
inspired yet? Well know that I love you and am thankful for you. I've
been thinking that your mom has written the news.
Dad
FROM NICK:
Bum bum bum! This last week there was quite the amount of rain. It wasn't really a crazy amount, I guess. But it was just constant and persistent. The streets got super muddy and I got wet. Pretty exciting, if I do say. But Sunday payed off. It was perfect outside all day. Wonderful. Because of the rain it was a bit hard to talk to people around here. When it rains people stay in their houses and sleep. A little harder to work like that, but we make it through. So Sunday we did a lot of walking and talking with people, and it turned out wonderfully. It was really great. Regretfully, last night the water at our apartment building cut off, so we weren't able to shower or shave today. Thankfully, it is P day. We're hoping it comes back within today. But that is less important than the awesome visit we had to the temple! We went with an older gentleman who will be baptized and confirmed this Sunday, Oscar, and his son-in-law. It is good. They renovated it, but extensively the past two years. It went from 1600 sq feet to 2600, the baptistry was enlarged a bunch, and it is overall just better. It looks picture perfect. We went on a drizzly Tuesday morning, and we went on the tour with less than ten people in our little group. But last Saturday there were around 8000 people who visited, with an hour and a half long line. A good day. This week is the last week and we're hoping we can go one more time with another family we're teaching. Going through really impressed on me the importance of this work, the great blessing it is to do temple work as well. As missionaries we focus more on the living, but temple work is just as necessary to help those already passed on. Everyone we asked who had went to the temple, who wasn't a member, when asked which room was their favorite, where they felt something different, always said the celestial room. Pretty humbling to be part of this great work, I'd say.
Alex - Just as the excitement part overruns the scared part, it's good. Make sure the confidence part is in there as well. You might think you'll be coming back to nothing but I'll fix that when I get back. There'll be something. At least one decent game of Ultimate Frisbee. Glad you can enjoy the sunsets and sunrises so much. I'll need to try it sometime. Enjoyed your keep on keeping on sentence. Classy.
Mother Dearest - Good to know you're looking forward to this new opportunity. Happy to know you can find some pleasure in your work. Makes things better. Pretty funny, that the two missionaries are both from places I've been or that I'm at. The bishop of your ward sends out a weekly email to all the missionaries which I started getting a few weeks back, and he had mentioned last week there was an Argentine elder there. I forgot to ask about it. Next time you'll need to ask from which part of Argentina he is. And on that note, how well is his English? Nice you invited Tyler and Gina to dinner. Still nice he got married eventually too. Some specialized degree, huh. Sounds pretty special. Enjoy your little bit of thinking time when you take Grandma up there. Enjoy the newish washer and dryer that every Argentine elder envies.
Dad - That whole thing about doing more than just thinking, by acting. Pondering time is very important. Too many times I'll get back to the apartment and just bum around, but it is the time when I should be doing my daily review, my pondering to a large extent. I'll have to institute something similar when I get back. On a different note, would it be possible to get a few more pictures? Of the family, of whatever good thing you'd think I'd like to share with these nice Argentine people.
Family, you are great. I'll start writing even better because I've been slacking off the past few weeks. Gotta keep getting better. Enjoy your days, with their beautiful warmth. Until next week!
With love,
Elder Hansen
PS - Tell older brother Matt he needs to start shaping up and writing me. Mmmhmmm.
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