Update from Elder Hansen

11/24/2014

Howdy. This week was super good and stuff. We had a crazy week. Breakdown time.

Monday- We had a mini MLC (mission leadership council) in the mission office (which they just renovated woot) about a new church initiative to help people come unto Christ. It is called, "He is the Gift," and you'll probably hear more about it soonish.

Tuesday- We woke up early, and caught a ride down to Waco for a district meeting (like 2-3 hours). It was Elder Hepworth's (my old companion's) meeting, so that was really fun. After that, I went on exchange with Elder Melville. It was really cool to be in such a small town. They serve in an english branch haha, so there are very little members period, not to mention spanish members.

 Elder Cook, Hansen, Hepworth, and Melville

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Wednesday- They picked me up at 8:00 A.M., and from hillsboro we drove even further south all the way to Kileen. Haha, it was like a St. George trip. We were in Kileen for about 30 minutes, and then we drove all the way home to Euless. It was super weird to be in the car for that long haha, it's been since that one time I went to San Francisco. We drove by Baylor's stadium on the way home it was way cool. 

Baylor!

Thursday- We had interviews with President Ames. We got to the church a little bit before 8:00 A.M., and then we didn't leave until about 8:00 P.M.. We were giving trainings and whatnot during interviews, and then after interviews, President trained all of the ward mission leaders in our stake, and invited us to help. It was pretty cool, but a super long day at the church.

Friday- We did weekly planning instead of on Thursday because of interviews. Jose called us, and told us he needed help to grab the cake because he was scared it would tip over haha. Long story short, there was tons of traffic and it took forever to get the cake, so we got to the wedding a little bit late. Bishop married them in the church, and then right after we went into the ward thanksgiving party haha. NOBODY parties like the Hurst 3rd ward. Hahaha, it was so crazy. They even played Pitbull haha, Everyone was dancing and having a good time, and like 200-300 people got to meet Jose and Erica, so that was awesome.  Best. Ward Party. Ever.

Estephanie (their daughter) and the Cake

 

Saturday- I went on an exchange with Elder Saaga, originally from Hawaii, but he lived in saratoga springs right next to the hot pots/lehi bridge for like 5 years. We drove up to Roanoke to visit a member, and he was super funny. He was way worried because he was teaching the gospel principles class on the milenium, and the sisters have an investigator who is a Jehovah's Witness. Haha. 

Sunday- Normal day. The bishopbrick (not even going to try to spell that right) feeds all 10 missionaries in the church every Sunday, so that is always awesome. 

It was a good week all in all. 

Love,

Cole
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Things are Heating up in Texas

So this week, I probably made one of the worst analogies in missionary history. I was on an exchange (luckily), and we were teaching this family about the Plan of Salvation. There is this grandma like 60-70, senile as ever, a Mom around 40ish, two girls like 17 and 14 and then a little 12-13 year old kid. I was talking about agency and consequences, and the family was not really understanding, so I thought hey, just make up an analogy real quick, then they'll understand. So, I proceeded to make up this little gem: "We all have agency, for example, I could take off my shirt right now. But there are always consequences, like you would probably ask me to leave, right?" It was just dead silent, the Grandma and mom were just staring at me expectantly, one of the girls almost left the room, the mom muttered something about how it was really hot in there and she wouldn't mind, it was just bad. Hahaha, it was so bad. 

Other than that, I had a sweet week. We talked to 106 people this week. Haha, we set a goal of how many people to talk to, and we hit 106, it was way cool. We had investigators at church again, and our district was the top district in the mission for this week, we had an awesome week!

Haha, that is great that you went to Dinner with the Udy's mom and dad. I don't really know what I did to make YMAD people remember me, probably just the same Cole things as usual haha. That is way cool about Mom and Dad's anniversary too. 

That is way sad about Brandon's mom. I guess like Dad said, we are really blessed to know what goes down after this life, and that we can see our loved ones once again. It is pretty awesome to know that, and be able to teach other people about it as well.

Whelp, that's it for this week. Love you all.

Love,

Cole

Updates from Cole

Merry Christmas

Hey guys, so, to explain everything- Yes, I have gotten/am getting/ will get everything you sent to the old apartment, it just takes a little more time. I have gotten a few packages and whatnot, but I haven't opened anything yet because I am waiting for Christmas. I'll call home arounds like 10-11ish here time, somewhere in there to the home phone. We had a cool mission conference. This email is gonna be shorty cuz I'll talk to y'all on Wednesday. I had a great week and everything is going cool. I like the car and whatnot. I feel bad because y'all never told me who I had for Christmas, so I didn't get anyone anything. That sounds like a pretty well done work by Samson, but I could do way better... Anyway, sounds like you all had a fun week making Christmas cinnamon rolls. All the kids wrote me saying how much they were all jealous that I didn't have to do it, but I actually liked doing that always haha. 

TALK TO YOU ON WEDNESDAY,

Role

Happy New Year

Hey guys, happy New Year (in 2 days). Haha things stay pretty fresh up here, fresher than a white pair of teeth out the orthodontist. I'm so fresh I don't have to fold my laundry. The week was pretty good, we went caroling on Christmas day. The rest of the week was just pretty normal, I dunno haha, it's all the same. Haha, I guess my letters sound depressing or something? I dunno, I just giggle my way around all day. That is preetty sweet about Jamaica though, but you shouldn't go without me. Haha. How is Jordo doing? Haha he sounds like the same old Jordan though haha. But that printer thing is super cool, and I have had some great ideas so far hehehe... Thanks again for everything, love you guys so much!

Love,

Cole

A letter from Leena to Coleman:

“Coleman, what did you get for Christmas?  And I LOVE you!  Thanks for the Monster High doll.  It’s fun to play with.  Do you miss me so much?  I lost a tooth and the Fairy gave me a silver dollar and 2 quarters.  I miss you very much dear Coleman.  Dear Coleman, do you know how to bike ride over there?  And Coleman, do you know something new?  Tell me what you look at.  A farm, or a pig?  What does the butterfly look like?  What did you name her?  Dear Coleman, you miss Mom and Dad right?  I am sick and I have an ear infection.  Love, Leena” 

Coleman’s response to Leena:

Leena,

I got a printer thingy and some pjs and some candies and stuffs. Love you too and you are welcome, I picked that doll out special just for you (because it looked like you). Stop loosing teeth you crazy girl how are you supposed to eat? Leena guess what? (What Coleman?) I can ride my bike and I don't even have to hold on with my hands (Wow you're so cool Coleman!). I look at another dude all day, me and my friend drive in a car and look at cows with big horns. The butterfly is still in his cocoon. His name is Heimlich (like from bug's life). Haha, sometimes I miss mom and dad hahaha, jk all the time. Don't get sick Leen, feel better.

Love,

Cole

#shoutouts from Cole

Ok, ok so yes I did get mad at Cole for not writing very much last week, so that is why he formatted the letter this way (love him!!): 

Alright, so Mom got on me for not being a good enough writer, but the problem is I just don't have that much time. So real quick, I get a little less than 1 hour to email, and write to the President and a whole bunch of other stuff, so really no time at all. I guess the best thing is, if you are really mad at me, I won't get in trouble for like 2 more years. Sorry my letters are pretty LAME, but I do my best.

I cook kinda, I make eggs for breakfast and rice and mac and cheese and easy stuff, but I don't think there is a ton of time for a full meal or somesing. The best thing I ate was probably I made some really great mac and cheese, or McDonalds has some new stuff on the dollar menu, so that was good. I try to write details in here, but I don't even have details yet ha ha, I have only been here for 2 weeks and I haven't even met all of our investigators. We are working with this family I knocked into on my first day and they have already been to church twice, which is pretty crazy. 

#shoutout time-

#shoutout to Dad- We have a couple promising investigators, but we have had real trouble getting a hold of people this week. The apartment is fine, ha ha a little dumpy, even for a missionary apartment, but it is whatever. I went on exchanges the other day and got to stay at a sweet apartment that the other elders have. The ward is pretty cool, but we have 6 missionaries in the ward so every thing needs to be split 3 ways. We pretty much only tract, but we are trying to ask for more referrals and whatnot lately. I usually approach in English, and if people say they don't speak English I feel way cool and say "oh that's ok because we speak Spanish. We're the Missionaries..." But in Spanish and stuff. The fishing sounds sweet! I'm still pretty butthurt that you took Nate and Dalton hunting without me.

#shoutout to Mom- You're mad at me. ha ha. I try to give details but the real thing is that I don't know anything yet. Last P-day we played basketball all day, and I have no Idea what this one will be like. We are teaching a few people, but like I said, we are having trouble with them actually being there. 

#shoutout to Nate- You salty sea-dog, I haven't heard from you in like a month. 

#shoutout to Liza- You didn't write me either last week, so don't blame me, blame yourself. I heard you are doing way good at track and young womaning, so good job at those. But way good job at track, jump high and stuff!

#shoutout to Dalton- Denton is pretty cool. Literally, it is kinda cold. What is the Saint's record, I also don't believe the Jets won. I also heard you're starting basketball, win some games and stuff!

#shoutout to Leena- Hey you little stinker! I haven't heard from you in forever, what the Heck! I guess you're making friends at school, be nice to them. Also give em wet willies and stuff. 

Whellp, that is all I have for this week. I am learning Spanish well, I feel like I learn a ton of new stuff everyday, but I don't know anything. Sometimes when things get really awkward in a lesson or conversation I can pretend like I don't understand and so that is good. Love you all and all that mischief! 

Love, 

Cole

Cole's First Week In Texas

So first off, I didn't call in Mexico because I was pretty pooped and I didn't really want to talk that much. Jk, I needed some weird Mexican credit card to do it so I couldn't, and also I got trapped talking to a group of Spanish nuns. When I got into America, there was simply no time to call, so there is my explanation.

Haha, I am pretty sure that you guys no more about Denton than I do. I have a ward, and there are 3 groups of Spanish missionaries that go to that ward, I have just me and Elder Long in the Apartment. Elder Long is a baller, and a super great missionary. We actually don't teach English Tuesday nights, but we might start soonish. The bike is sweet, I love hittin taking it off some sweet jumps and that kind of mischief. Sometimes its hard when I have diarrhea and bumpy roads, but I manage. Just kidding, I don't have either of those things, I am in America. 

We have been doing a lot of tracting and finding new investigators, so that is cool. We knock doors, and if they're English, we teach in English, and if Spanish, we teach in Spanish, so that is cool. 

For Halloween, we went to a ward trunk or treat thing and helped out, so that was really weird. Denton is a biking area, so no cars #yolo. Biking is kinda hard, but I like it a lot. We eat with members a little, and then we have just been eating whatever is left in the apartment from the last elders. 

So at the Airport, I didn't even have time to get food, so I haven't had any fast food yet. I have placed a couple of Book of Mormons, and pretty much I just try my best.

Love, 

Cole