The Van Man.

Dear Family and Friends,

When you say "you're coming home soon" it's technically true, but not really. I always think 

"Hey, do you want a piece of candy?"
"Yeah sure."
"Ok, you can have it in 8 weeks."
"......"
So it's really not that soon when you put it into perspective. 

Anyway, to answer a question asked last week, I probably spend about 50% of my time proselyting in my own area, 30% in some other area, and 20% doing other stuff (meetings and whatnot). I think I just tend to write more about the 20% because it is new/ different. 

So we had a pretty good week. Here is the photo diary:

We found a headset in the apartment, and Elder Ray is pretty proud of it. He wears it all the time hahaha. 

Selfies 4 dayz. 

So on Monday we were playing ultimate frisbee in the gym of the church. Long story short, Elder Ray banged his face on the door and split his eyebrow. No stitches though, so that was good. He's still seducin'.

We drove out to Weatherford in the Van. As we were driving, it started to rain so hard. Haha it was nuts. You might recognize these fools. I served with all 4 of them (one was for a week and a half). 

This is McDonald's in Texas.

The Van Man.

​All of my friends are going home and it is wierd. I'm still truckin along out here. This friday we had board day with President, and we did the whole spanish part of the mission. I got a sneak peak at my new companion/ area and it was really cool. The only thing is, last night President told me that he had some impressions and that a lot of things have changed. Haha, so who knows. I'll be happy with whatever happens this next transfer. Next week y'all will know! 

Texas Forever!

Love,

Cole

My Fingers Say Euless Spanish A

Hey y'all.

This week was real good. Elder Hagen and Elder Beckert (the one from Oaxaca) left, and they both went out to the boonies haha. Elder Ray is here and he's super chill and we've had a good time. We have tons of ideas about little things here and there throughout the mission, so we'll see if we can change 'em up. 

Looks  like mom and dad had tons of fun! Haha, Speaking of mom, I can call sometime between 3 and 3:30 here time, (2 and 2:30 there time) if that works?

We have had lots of good stuff happen. check out somm pickshaaas-

Typical missionary closet haha. 

Elder Ray and I. So sour.

Elder Petersen (remember him?) went home this week.

Elder Hagen-dags

Elder Ostlund went home too. 

My fingers say Euless Spanish A.

Love,

Cole
​

Busy Little Worker Bee

Hi Family and others. We had a good, busy week. Instead of q&a, I'm going weekly breakdown #switchinitup. Mostly because it'll answer all of your questions and more. 

Monday- After email, we went and played basketball. It was nice and hot in the gym, so I got all red and sweaty like the good old days. I love basketball. 

Tuesday- In the morning, we borrowed one of the mission vehicles that has unlimited miles, and drove to Stephenville. It was like 2 hours away. Long drives are about 2.9% as much fun on the mission. But, I got to be with mijo, Elder Tanner again. We went to go do service at this christian food pantry place, and ended up tying barbed-wire crosses for 3 hours haha. The good news is, I got to take home the three barbed wire crosses of Calvary + an extra bonus barbed wire crown of thorns! Haha, I feel really weird having these bad boys in the apartment. 

​ Wednesday- They came and picked us up, then I hopped in and drove. Only problem, we had to make a "quick" pit stop in Weatherford (1 hour away), so that took all day. Good news is, Chik fil a in Weatherford was giving out free ice cream lemonade things, so that made it worth it.

Thursday- We drove down to Arlington, and started an exchange there. It was sweet. I had an awesome day in Arlington. I would love to serve there one day haha, it is ballin. 

Friday- We had MLC. It was a good one. Basically, we just need to actually do all the things we talk about. We're moving forward, but slowly and the mission needs a mad jump start. Nothing like a (not so) new sheriff in town to give everyone a kick in the pants.  After MLC, we went to this mission choir concert that took all night. We had 0 seconds of proselyting time today.

Saturday- We watched conference with the Mejias. I watched Saturday morning conference with them in October too, so it was really fun, and kinda weird, After, Danny (the 20 year old) took us to Golden Corral between sessions. We watched the second session in the church, and in between we typed up a report-thingy. Priesthood was awesome as usual. Again, 0 seconds of proselyting time. 

Sunday- There was a "special easter service" in the Colleyville stake, and elder Hagen was in the choir. We went and there was a cool service, and then at the very end Glen Beck (yes, that glen beck) got up to talk. Hahaha, he was so crazy. He was shouting, and slamming the pulpit and doing all sorts of mormon no-nos haha. He did everything short of swearing over the pulpit. It was so crazy and awesome haha. Then we watched conference at the church, the awesome members of the bishopbrik (no chance of spelling that right) fed us in between, and we watched the last one with Eduardo (the investigator who works in the strip club). Haha, I also watched conference with him in October, so it was just a weird cycle. At night, we finally got out and taught. It was good to just teach someone after 2 days of nothing. 

Monday (today)- We taught the Tongan familes friends again. So here is the situation. The Tongan mother works at a hotel, and speaks about 70% english. Her freind/coworker lives in Dallas, and she speaks about 60% english (she's from Mexico). So they somehow became super good friends and now the friend wants to learn about the church. So her and her roommate (who speaks 3% english) come all the way to euless to listen to us. The tongan mother wants them to go to the tongan ward because she wants to be there with them. Hahaha, they speak very little english, much less tongan. And they live outside of the mission #MESSY. But it's chill, they're solid investigators.  We want to send them to Dallas, but have you ever tried to tell a tongan mother no? It's not easy. But the awesome tongans took us out to lunch. Haha, they took us out to a buffet and told us Kai k mate (spelled wrong). That means "eat till you die." Haha, it's an expression in tongan. 

I hope that answered all questions. I got the green package and the easter package haha. Thank you so much! Haha, I was laughing because I was starting my "6 months to sexy" diet, but I think it's officially over. We've got Zone Conference this week. I'm pretty excited. 

Love,

Cole

Downtown Fart Worth

The Nasty sink (but pretty cool style) at the christian food pantry.

Do I spy a giant Jesus Flag? Yep. Texas Forever.

And a spit bubble. 

Cole out.

​

Q&A

What up? Let's hit the Q and A. 

So – how is it to be back in Euless?      It is awesome. On Wednesday (the first day back) it was way rough, all of our appointments cancelled, and it just seemed like the area up and died after I left. But, Thursday was such an awesome day. I got to go see some of my favorite members, the Quevedos. They're the ones that took the box home for me. 

I am wondering if you are still in the same apartment you were in last time? If so, you said you cleaned it real good before you left, so hoping it was all cleaned out!     Same apartment, but it wasn't super clean. Haha, I'm working on it. It'll be surgical pretty soon here. 

How is everything going with Elder Hagen?     It's pretty good. we're working together really well and teaching and whatnot. This should be a good transfer.  

Where is he from?     Glendora, California.

How long has he been out?      He came out 6 weeks after me. 

How is the work going?      Really good. We're still teaching a couple awesome investigators from the last time I was here. 

Did you finish your Book of Mormon challenge? What did you learn by reading it in such a short time?       Still working on it. I have until April 18th. I'm almost done with Alma. It is awesome. I swear the Big Man keeps putting new stuff in there every time I read it.  

Do you like being back with Truck?     YES.

Is it still named Truck?     Yes. 

What is Elder Hagen like?      He's a good guy. He came out when he was 18. He is very helpful, and always wants to help with whatever I'm doing. He is a great missionary. Very sincere, and kind. Has a real positive attitude. 

Do you have an established teaching pool in this area?      Probably on the medium to low side of what I would like to have, ideally. We are working on it, but we have some real solid people and some mediums. 

Will you be teaching any of the people with who you were working when you were in Euless before?      Yes, woot woot. It's great. There are some real ballers out here. 

Got to go, sorry for the late email. We had a rare P-day meeting that ended up lasting for 4 hours. But, as a result, we're going to put a map of mexico and central america and south america in all of the new missionary binders. Elder Hagen and I are making a "culture guide" that is going to go in there too. It is going to be so awesome haha.

Whelp, time to go. Hansen out.

Love,

Cole

Sister Mission- COMPLETE.

Hey so tomorrow I turn 18 months old out here, and Wednesday I finish my sister mission. Haha, it's pretty weird because I feel about half done right now. Also, transfers are here, and it's a good one this time. President called on Tuesday, and he told Elder Leavitt he was going to train a new missionary, and then he said, "Elder Hansen, you are going to go really far away." Haha, I'm going back to Euless, aka my last area, aka the area closest to my current area. It'll be super good though I'm excited to work with the pack over there. More q&a-

So please tell me about some of the people you contacted this week- President asked us to go on a 2 day exchange with some elders, so I was with a new missionary for the 2 days here in Bedford. One day, all of our appointments canceled, so we were just walking around this apartment complex talking to people. We saw this guy with a huge laundry basket on his shoulder, and I contacted him. He just kept walking, so we started to walk with him. We walked and talked all the way into the laundromat, and ended up teaching him a lesson and leaving a book of mormon. That was a good one. 

What was your funniest experience? -  Not really that funny, but one of the elders asked "who are the 5 women named in the book of mormon?" and I guessed sariah, abish, and isabel pretty fast, but I almost couldn't get mary(the mother of Jesus) or eve. Ok, that wasn't funny at all. Haha, anywhey... 

What was your weirdest experience? - Not too weird. Ok really not weird at all, just awesome. So we went to this taco shack in the middle of po-dunk, nowhere texas, and I got a brisket burrito and it was sooo good. Hahaha, tex-mex at it's finest. Texas Forever. 

Did you eat at member’s homes this week? We got dinner from members tueday, wednesday, thursday, and Sunday. They always cook real good. This week was a mix between real mexican food made by a mexican lady, and american food (also made by a mexican lady haha). 

And the bonus question from Dad - How are you? - I'm doin real good. I've been here in this ward for a real long time, but I like it a lot. I'm looking forward to this transfer (and truck) and my new comp Elder Hagen. Haha, I'm in the 4th quarter now, so it's all good (not trunky I promise).

Love,

Cole

Texas Forever