Enjoy Your Joys

Hey guys, as always it's pretty great to hear what's goin on in the real world, and I love to see pictures and whatnot. So, some quick announcements- I got moved to a new area- long story short, we had to be moved because some stuff came up. I'm still in Denton, still in the same Spanish ward, but my area is different and all the investigators and all that mischief. Here's my new address- 

3232 N. Locust   #1521

Denton, Texas 76207

Anyway, we have 2 bathrooms in this apartment, so it is just beautiful, also we have a car, so it isn't too bad of a change, even though I liked the bikes, I definitely can't complain. We're still teaching Maria and her family, so at least that is the same.

Monday- In the morning, woke up and the Zone Leaders called and told me that I would be staying in my area with Elder Long, so I wrote that to you last week. Then, we rode our bikes over to the church and watched dumb church movies for p-day, it was kinda crappy but whatever. Then, we went out and did some missionary stuff. At night, we went home and planned and everything, when the Zone Leaders called us at like 9:45 and told us that we would be changing areas on Wednesday. We were pretty sad and whatnot, because we basically rebuilt this area from nothing and now we had to go somewhere else.

Tuesday- It was pretty weird to go and work in an area that isn't going to be ours, but we did it just the same, giggled around all day and taught some lessons, then packed everything that night.

Wednesday- Woke up, studied, then rode our bikes to the church, got our car, went back to our apartment, grabbed all our stuff, drove to the new apartment, and dropped it all off. Then, before unpacking or anything, we got back in the car and went to work. 

Thursday- still we're just tryin ta find where everything is and whatnot, it is a huge area. Basically, the whole city of Denton is split in half, and those are the two bike areas, and then we have everything else in the stake, just a massive area. 

Friday- we went to a missionary meeting, just fun as always, then we did studies until dinner. We went out and taught this lady, who liked us a lot, so after we talked for a little, she asked if we wanted some tamales. Of course we said yes, and she gave them to us and they were super delicious.

Saturday- We had to get some stuff on the car fixed (sister missionaries had it before us...) and so we went to pep boys for like the whole day, then more missionary stuff after that.

Sunday- Church and studies until dinner, then we were asked to usher for the stakes "Evening of Christmas Joys." So, we stood at the door, and told people to enjoy their joys. Then, we sat down, and listened to everything. It was pretty great, this stake is super official. They have an official stake Brass Ensemble and whatnot.

Anywhey- so for Christmas, I can call you guys on the phone for like 30 mins. I'll probably call mom at like 11 or 12ish (here time) if that is ok. If not, tell me what to do/who to call. So yep, that was my week, pretty weird. Thanks for the packages, but I got the one for the gifts to little kids, and I would feel way too much like a pedophile giving toys to little kids and I'm too scared of that, so I don't know what to do with those. 

Love,

Cole

Makin My Momma Proud

This week I listed some questions in my letter to Coleman and told him a story that I heard at General Relief Society Meeting, so his letter responds to some of those things.  

Hey Famdamily,

This week was good. The saying here is that the Days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. I definitely feel that way, the days are long but i cant believe it is P-Day already. It is so crazy. Here we go

1. Still no diarrhea. I actually took some stool softener pills on a dare, but i am still regular as ever.

2. The best food was these things i called chicken circles. Pretty self descriptive. The worst meal was some mystery meat, and we got there late so there was nothing else to eat. I was digging around in there and i found some hair, a ton of gristle, ligaments, veins, and literally leaves from outside were in the meat. So that was gross. Most of the time there is cereal stations so if the food looks gross i eat cereal and fruit. A lot of fruit. I have had a banana with almost every meal, a ton of apples, and they have a pear apple hybrid that is pretty good.

3. The Spanish is good. I can pray and bear my testimony fluently. I speak a lot of Spanish during the day, like 60% of the time. It is hard but i think i am learning fast. I know a lot more than i did when i left, so that is cool. The best advice i have heard is not to get frustrated at how much i don't know, but to be happy about how much I've learned.

4. I try to speak as much Spanish as i can, but if i don't know the word or how to say it, i will talk English.

5. My comp is... frustrating. We are all learning together, but i am used to learning fast and screwing around after that but now i kinda have to help my comp learn. We are "teaching" investigators that are our teachers. Sometimes my companion will start talking and he doesn't know that much Spanish so he will say things like "jesus crist played for our sins" or something and i have to hold in a laugh. I kept a timer of the amount of time i spent waiting for him in one day and it was 55 minutes and 8 seconds. In one day. so that was hard, patience i guess i don't know.

6. Megan is great, i talk to her all the time, and i see McKenzie Maxfield a lot too so that is great.

7. there is not a whole lot more to take pictures of.. every day is the same haha but i will send all the ones i can

8. No, the mail here is way slow, i guess it takes like 2-3 weeks for a letter and 5-6 for a package to get down here, but I'm emailing some people.

9. Yeah, it is pretty fun most of the time. Learning Spanish is fun sometimes, and my district is pretty cool. Nothing like the ol crew back home, but better than some of the other ones I've seen. Nobody really gets my sense of humor here... so that sucks. but most of the time it is great.

That mountain story is true haha, i am used to going up and then down and then up, instead of going slow with the rest of the people. I freaking miss hiking, and the mountains, and nature so bad. I miss chaos, everything here is so structured. But whenever I think it is hard and it sucks and its just way too sweaty or i hate these stupid clothes, i can always feel that this is where i am supposed to be. I do miss alone Cole time though. That is hard to have a companion. 

My district are mostly 18 year old guys, straight out of high school. It is super weird to say this, but i fell like i am way more mature than them haha, never thought i would say that. My throat always kinda hurts because i am not used to having to talk so much haha.  

Mom, you're getting old haha. don't worry, it happens though. That's sad about Dads aunt. All i want to do out here is make my momma proud haha. I love and miss everyone in the family, and also everyone else. Well, I'm off to go do the lords work.

Love,

Cole  (These photos are of the beautiful Mexico CCM)

First Letter

Hey mom, we just got into the CCM in Mexico. I am safe and sound and really sweaty. I slept all the way into Fort Worth, ate a bagel( like a BOSS!!) then flew into Mexico. I slept on that plane too haha. When we got into mexico, the bus driver grabbed me and a few other guys and we loaded up all the luggage onto the back of the buss. It was a way cool bus ride, Mexico City reminds me of Salt Lake kinda, except if there was 20 million more people and everyone was homeless and there was no plan whatsoever when they were building it. Also everyting is in spanish. Even the keyboard look ññññññ haha. Anyway, I´ve got to go meet my companion, his name is Jesse Bart Jorgansen, and see my room. Hold down the fort for me. 13 hours down, 6,000,000,000 to go!

Love,

Elder Hansen

On Tue, Sep 17, 2013 at 2:11 PM, Hansens <hkhansen@comcast.net> wrote:

Elder Hansen,

We said goodbye to you this morning and it was so hard.  It left a little bit of a hole in my heart.  I want you to know that I could not let you go for two years if I did not have a testimony of the gospel.  I am so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice for us!  (I went right into missionary mode – didn’t I?)  When we got home after a few tears from me (of course!), Liza Dalton and Dad (yes Dad, wow!) Nate said, “this sucks already”.  You are such a big part of our family Cole.  Make us proud by giving everything you can to the Lord for the next two years.  You can do this!  You have so much to give.  I loved in your setting apart blessing President Clark said you have a whole part of you to give that you don’t even know yet!  Write us often and tell us all the funny, cool and great things you are doing.  I love you!  xoxomom