A Solid District

Hey Guys

All is well here in Denton. I have been doing good here, settling in to this new transfer and duties and whatnot (hehe... I said duties). On Tuesday, I gave my first district meeting. It went well I think. It is pretty cool, this is one of the only all-Spanish districts in the mission, so I got to do the whole thing in Spanish. It went well. Elders Tanner and Hepworth are doing good. We are starting to learn how this companionship is going to work and all that good stuff. In the District it is my trio, 2 other elders, and some sister trainer leaders (it means they are way good missionaries), so we are a solid district. 

Haha, Liza sent me pictures from prom haha. She is soo tall and I always forget haha. Haha. Ol' Greg is awesome. Liza can't let down the Hansen Family Legacy now. 

All is well here, we are doing well. I got to go down to Hurst for a follow up meeting with all the District Leaders and it was super cool. This week, we get to go back again for a Spanish Conference with all the Spanish missionaries in the mission, so I am way excited for that. 

Have a good week!

Love,

Cole

Things are the same . . .

Hey guys. So on Tuesday we went to go pick up our new missionaries. At the start of the meeting, President pulled Elder Hepworth and I aside, and told us that a missionary had gone home from the MTC, and so we would be training in a trio in the same area. I am a little bummed to still be in a trio, I was really excited to be 1 on 1 with a new missionary, but it's all good. Elder Hepworth and I have tons of fun together and whatnot. Our new missionary is named Elder Tanner, he is 6 foot 6, from Utah, kinda shy, and loves basketball. Remind you of anyone? Hahaha. He isn't that much like Skyler, sadly, but he's a good kid. In the mission lingo, Hepworth and I are his "gay dads," so we've gotta train him up right. 

On Easter we didn't do anything too special. We have been in contact with my second mom a lot, and we got to teach her Sunday. She is super down to do everything we invite her to do, and is becoming more and more prepared. 

Sounds like spring break was pretty fun, it looks like y'all had a real ball haha. I remember last years spring break, and the years before haha, and it is so different now. Every holiday is pretty much the same, except mother's day and Christmas haha. It is good to be able to just focus on other people, and how to help them receive the gospel. 

My address is still the same, 

3232 N. Locust

#1521

Denton, Texas 76207

I am in the exact same area, actually haha, so pretty much everything is the same. 

Whelp, I love y'all and hope you are all doing alright! Have a good week!

Love,

Cole

#called2swerve

Hi guys. We've had a good week. We got our transfer calls this week, and I am going to be staying in Denton. I'm pretty excited to be here again, I love the area and the ward here is amazing.

President called us on Tuesday and I will be staying in Denton! I am super excited! I will be training a new missionary! It is going to be a super fun transfer! I will probably be staying in Denton for the next 3 months, so that makes the first 9 months of my mission here in Denton.

Haha, so one time we taught these guys outside and at the end of the lesson we asked them to say a prayer. He bowed his head, and started praying to us haha. It was funny, but also pretty sad to see that this 40ish year old man who had no idea how to pray, or who to pray too. I guess that is why I'm here. 

We taught this white family, they actually flagged us down and asked us who we were, so that was pretty sweet. Then, we taught them, and they actually understood the authority, and the fact of the apostasy. It was amazing. Haha, that was probably the only time in my mission that someone has understood the reality of the great apostasy, and they are an English family. 

Sounds like y'all are gonna have a good time on spring break. Haha, the picture of Liza and all her friends looks like trouble. I heard the final 4 was here in Arlington. Fort Worth Mission Represent! Haha #called2swerve

Love,

Cole

**Here are some pic's from Sister Ames Blog:

Introducing our new Trainers!  They will be training the newest arriving missionaries.  In the Instructions for Trainers it reads:

 “The responsibility to train a new missionary is a sacred trust from your mission president and from the Lord. A missionary’s first companion has a profound, lasting influence on the development of the missionary’s attitudes, habits, and ability to fulfill his or her purpose.”

Colembre De La Luz Sin Ropa Pelotas Frias - aka Cole

Conference was pretty sick. We watched it at the stake center. I think that my favorite talks were Oaks in preisthood where he laid it down on keys and whatnot, Stephenson about the Olympics, and Bednar. Also, when Holland testified it was da bomb - he was raging. It was awesome.

 So funny story, there was a tornado that hit North Denton and Krum this week. Everyone is fine, but I completed my mission goal to see one haha. It was so crazy! No missionaries got hurt and I don't think anyone died, but it was an insane storm. Softball sized hail, rivers instead of roads, and tornado winds haha, it was so cool!

That video of Leena is so freakin cute haha, I am so lucky to have the cutest little sister ever (Sorry Liza)! 

Pretty much everyone we work with is kinda the same. they are learning a ton, but nobody is really progressing. Also, there is a new mission rule that I can't send y'all any names of investigators or members, so there you are. 

With the scriptures, I think maybe hold off for a bit. Transfers are coming up in a weekish, and I have an inkling I won't be in Denton anymore. But we'll see, I could stay here and be here for 7 1/2 months. Who knows?

The pictures were awesome this week. Haha, keep em comin'. Love Y'all!

Love,

Colembre De La Luz Sin Ropa Pelotas Frias (I have finally decided on a Spanish name)

A man, a plan, a canal; Panama

Hey guys, what's up? This week was really good. We have been having a lot of fun in the trio, but also we have been working harder, and seeing some fruits. It has been an awesome transfer so far.

So we had a huge bummer this week. There were these three investigators Janet(18), Carlos(14), and Juan(15) that were scheduled to be baptized on Saturday. They were interviewed on Thursday night, and all passed and were ready to go. Then, Saturday morning, a few hours before the baptism, they called and said it was a no-go. They told us their father didn't think they were ready. We went over and talked with the father (it was the first time because he was always working), and he basically said no. We talked with Janet and Juan and Carlos a little more, and Carlos said that he didn't feel ready at this time. That was a huge bummer. They are super cool kids, haha the two guys love me because I dunked after soccer one day. It was a bummer though. 

Conference is this week and I'm pretty excited. It'll be my second conference out here. They should match up with my 6 month marks more or less, so that's a good way of keeping track haha. 

Anywhey, Dad is right, it is tough to communicate with 1 letter per week, but no big. Here are some answers-

I can't order the new scriptures. It says "processor error" or something every time. I can't figure it out haha. I'll try again this week though. 

I can't figure out the bike computer either. Again, more info next week.

Yadira's daughter had her baby this week, so we haven't seen them since Sunday. Hopefully we get to see them soon. 

I talked to SLCC, and basically the only thing they could do was give me a D in the class and give me a diploma, so I took it. I am super bummed about that, but I couldn't do anything else... Either way, be on the lookout for the diploma one of these days. 

Here are some pictures of my comps- Elder Munoz reminds me of a Mexican Easton haha, and Hepworth is just super funny, I can't even describe him. We have a ton of fun, but sometimes it's hard to be the one to say lets get back to work, especially because they've been out here for longer. Anywhey, hope all is well!

Love,

Coal

Elder Hepworth, Elder Hansen, Elder Munoz

 Love our Missionaries!

Hepworth

 Munoz

Munoz Asleep

A Good Week

Hey guys,

We had a really good week. It turns out we got the car back on tuesday instead of friday or saturday, so we have been driving for the last few days. It is really nice not to have to bike around in such a massive area.

 I called SLCC and they didn't answer this week, so I'll let y'all know about it next Monday.  That is pretty sick that Liza got into surg tech haha, puts a little pressure on dalton and leena though ha. 

The Family that I said was like my mom did end up coming to church. I finally got around to sending some pictures too- Here are some of Elder Henderson, the huge hairball we pulled out of the tub, the car, and some other things I forgot already. 

Love y'all

Cole

 Hairball - Gross!!

 15 Degrees - Cole's Photo Face

 Cole's 2nd Mom in the Mission (A family he is teaching!)

 Elder Hansen and Elder Henderson

 The Sister Missionaries Crashed the Car!

Three Bikes on One Ford Focus

Six Months!

Aunque no me escribeiron, todavia les quiero. 

Thank y'all so much for the St. Patrick's Day package! Haha, it's always nice to get some candy and celebrate. It was great because today is my 6 month mark as well, so I got to double celebrate by streaking through the Library this morning with nothing but some green bead necklaces on!

We took the car in for repairs this week, so we have been on bikes in our huge area, and it's kinda hard. I bought a magnet for the bike computer, but I can't figure it out, it wont register or anything. Maybe it's an operator error though... Anywhey, we bike like 15-20 miles a day. Good stuff. 

We've been riding around in a trio and it's been pretty fun. I got the call from the office and I'm gonna call SLCC later today. I'll let y'all know what goes down.

So I have been teaching this family for like 2-3 months now, and they are super cool. The mom's name is Yadira, and she is almost like another Mom to me (almost). They are awesome, but they have only come to church once. On Sunday morning, we rode our bikes like 5 miles to her house to wake her up, and she came to the door and said they'd be there. Then they didn't show up. I was pretty upset to say the least. 

Love Y'all and hope you're doing good and all that good stuff!

Love,

Cole