ITS THE MOST SOUTHERN TIME OF YEAR!!

Well the mountain has peaked. We are on the downside. Wow. That was
quick. In 1 year to the day I will be stepping off of the plane.
Geeeeeez. That's weird but hey what ever.

So Monday we played some dodgeball and stuff. Ate some taco smell. Ya
know the normal stuff. I really couldn't do much because of my knee so
I learned how to play Jurassic park on the piano instead. Later that
night we went to eat dinner at a member who lives like 45 mins away so
they picked us up and it was mad tasty. Good steak. Good ole wengel
family. Their daughters are super cute and one of em is named lolo. 😱
but it was a good Monday none the less.

Tuesday was a lot of driving around trying to find people who were on
the Referal list which we found most of them so that was pretty good.
Really other than that nothing much happened. Just come boring but I
mean it's OK. Later on we went to the second counselor's house and we
ate Hawaiian haystacks I had never had those before. That or I haven't
remembered having those. We then got a text from Josh saying that you
wanted to move his baptismal date we were a little surprised because
he seemed really solid so we asked if we could come over and see him
but he was kind of busy that night so didn't end up happening but we
were going to see him the next night anyways because we were having
dinner with him and his girlfriend so but we were still a little
concerned.

Wednesday was a lot of the same we visited some less active members
just before Thanksgiving and we also went looking for members that
were less active and we found a few and we ended up getting a few
referrals from some people that were "believers" and it was pretty
cool and so we're going to see them this upcoming week and we actually
found some person who is interested in the Gospel that lives right
underneath another investigator so that was pretty cool. We then had
dinner with Josh and his girlfriend at this really good Asian
restaurant well it was more thai but it was good and we managed to
solve Josh's concerns about baptism and he still wants to be baptized
he just want to make wants to make sure that it's the right decision
and that he has a testimony of it before he jumps into the wonders of
baptism which is actually really cool because he recognizes what it is
and how important it is. After that we went right next-door and there
was a pet shop so we saw a little lemur thing and we sauce and some
lizards and some snakes, Some guinea pigs, some hamsters, some
hedgehogs, and also some ferrets. I would totally own a ferret if they
didn't stink.

Thursday was Thanksgiving I was pretty fun deep-fried turkey which was
totally Southern and totally absolutely delicious we played a little
bit of football which was pretty fun and we also had district meeting
later that night and everyone just kind of brought treats and it was
just fun it was is really just a Tonna fun we really enjoyed it and
then we drove Elder back home and ya. Good thanksgiving.

Friday was weekly planning and we didn't have a car so it's just kind
of boring and nothing extremely eventful happened so I'm not going to
talk to much about this so yeah.

Saturday was a normal day we went around and saw a few less actives we
went and saw T I who is a recent convert and he's Chinese and she's
super cool he told us about how he used to be a communist but now is a
Mormon now and it was just kind of a funny story. He's prolly one of
my favorite people. Later that night we went to dinner at a recent
converts house and I had stuffed cabbage and that was by far the
weirdest thing I have ever ate on my mission or in Palm Bay. It wasn't
too bad but it wasn't good either just cabbage and meat and rice.

Sunday was a good day I enjoyed it everyone is really friendly and we
got a ton of meals signed up since it's the holidays and just overall
was a really good Sunday I enjoyed it and felt like I learned a lot
and we had an investigator there so that was really cool so other than
that it was a good Sabbath. Later that night we ate French toast and a
members house and got attacked by three little girls who are in sane
and must have a diet consisting of maple syrup and chocolate milk and
pixie sticks because they are literally that insane and I feel so bad
for their parents because these little girls are just crazy psychos
but yeah that was Sunday.

That was my week is pretty good I hit my one-year mark this week on
Thursday so I'm kind of excited for that and then I'll just start the
downhill slide as they say but looking forward this week and let's
see what happens love you.

Elder Hanson

Transfers and a bike accident

It's a brand new transfer. A brand new companion. Quite the experience
I would say.

So Monday was the victory run pday. Played some sports. Got nailed in
the face. Good stuff really. We then went around and taught som
people. Went to a buffet at like 8 at night. Got home at like 10.
Because why the heck not. That was pretty fun

So we got a ride to transfer and that pretty fun. Then sent elder
Ostler off to minneola in the leesburg zone. The bad side. He lives
right next to Vaughn. Poor kid. After he found out he came up hugged
me and said pray for me. I FELT SOOOO BAD! Poor kid. He just keeps
getting the shaft on his mission. Oh well. So I got elder husbands as
the new comp. he's got 3 weeks left so I'm babysitting basically
keeping him busy. So I don't know what'll happen to me.

Wednesday we went to work and did some good work. Stopped at a music
store so elder husbands could buy a harmonica because I converted him.
And then we biked to dinner and I got in my very first bike accident.
My foot slipped off of my brand new aluminum pedals and lost balance
and down I went. Actually I walked away with a scratch and a sprained
knee. Fun stuff. So I hobbled for the rest of the week. No biggie. I'm
better now.

So Thursday I woke up and my knee killed! So I called the nurse and I
had to sink 50 bucks into some crutches and couldn't work. Gah it
sucked. But oh well.

Friday we planned. I hate planning. It so boring. Just man it was
stupid. Every week. Blahgh.

Saturday we taught but I was still super restricted and I was on so
many pain pills so I worked and then went and took a nap. Man that was
a needed nap. It felt good.

Sunday was pretty good. I was pretty much good just a little bit a pain.

Sorry not as interesting. Little difficult to do stuff when the dog
don't hunt. But luv ya.

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The dreaded tiwi

Howdy howdy folks. A nutter week has gone by and well some news.
Transfer news came around and drum roll.....I am staying! I'm actually
relieved. I just sure hope that I don't get a crappy companion. I seem
to get a lot of those. In other news the weather has actually started
to cool down. To like the low 80s high 70s. Supposedly were going to
get a cold front. Like 50s. Look at me. I'm an Idaho kid saying that
50 degrees is cold. What's wrong with me!?but heads up I put on more
pictures due to popular demand

So Monday was good. I ate some Taco Bell. Uhhhhh yea. I mean nothing
too exciting. We played ultimate dodgeball and I got hit in the face
really hard and then the arm really hard and I got bruised so I kinda
decided after that no more of that for the day so I just sent some
emails. Emailed penfold. Emailed you guys. Emailed president berry
that kinda thing. Yeaaaaa.

Tuesday we worked pretty hard. Saw a lot of people. Went into a circle
area where there's gang violence. That kinda thing. Goooood stuff. We
also just kinda cleaned stuff and I got sick off Ostler going "when I
get transfered..." That kinda thing can get pretty old pretty quick. I
was honestly getting kinda annoyed with him this past last week. Like
packing before he's even got the call just rant.rant. Rant. Rant.
Rant. Good stuff.

So Wednesday I got to wake up at 430 in the morning for a zone
conference. En route we got lost. Stupid gps. We also got the
wonderful opportunity to get Tiwi. Tiwi is the whole black box
philosophy. Except more compact and I also have to swipe a card every
time I want to drive. Man there is no trust. I checks speed, turns,
stops, rpm, and where we are at every moment. Always watching
wizowski. Alwaaaaays watching.

Thursday I was suuuuper tired. The whole waking up at 430 thing will
do that to you. I worked some and then I just need some sleep so I
later took a nap. It was really nice.

Friday was planning so nothin major happened. We didn't have the car
so nothing really happened.

Saturday was normal but we got fed a good ole fashioned thanksgiving
dinner. It was goooood. No one has signed up for thanksgiving yet.
What the heck?! If I don't get fed I'm going to a steak house. Plain n
simple.

Sunday we had an actual mission concert with Marvin Goldstein and
Vanessa joy. It was fun but I wished it kinda had a little bit more
substance besides a bunch of songs that I have never heard. But
whatever. So we got home a little late but it's all good.

So yea sorry this email isn't as extensive kinda a meeting fuuuuuull
of meetings. But luv ah.

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Guinea pig gator chili! ( just kidding)

So 11 months. Huh. You never really thing that you will ever get this
far in your mission. But man when it comes it's comes up and slaps you
in the face. It's hard to believe that I was enjoying my las month a
year ago and on the 29th I start the infamous downhill slide. (Ps the
29th of 2016 is my return date). But aside from that good ole
sentimental crap I have had one of the most bizarre and craziest weeks
of my mission. So join me for a story won't ya.

Monday was probably one of the most craziest, funniest, longest pday's
that I have had while serving. So to begin I got the opportunity to
wake up at 430 in the morning. Why? Cuz I had to go pick up other
elders and buy ice cream. Why? Cuz I was going to the beach. That's
right I finally got the legendary beach Pday. Man it has been a long
time coming. Some missionaries don't even get the beach pday but I
did. So I got the chance to watch the sunrise on the beautiful
indialantic beach off of the island of Florida. I got to eat ice cream
while doing that. I got to play ultimate frisbee, build a sandcastle,
try to defend said sand castle from waves, avoided the waves because
Satan lives in the water, buried a sister, realized that there was
sand literally everywhere. Generally going to the beach was fun.
Caught some sand crabs. Touched a jelly fish. I mean it was just
awesome. Afterwards we went to a diner and ate some super good
breakfast. Man it was good. After that we went and hung out with a
bunch of other missionaries. To say the least I was really worn out at
the end of everything. Like I was just exhausted. I literally at the
end of the day biked home, took a shower, and passed out on my bed at
9:30. It was just killer.

Tuesday was a pretty good day. For the most part we were still
recouping from the day before and a lot of our appointments cancelled
so were scrambling for a bit. But it all worked out in the end.

Wednesday was just kinda like bizarre. So we were going to go help a
family with her two teenage boys with there preach my gospel study.
Kinda doing a mini missionary prep thing. So like an hour and a half
before we were going to bike there we get a text asking if we can come
over asap because a Guinea pig died and needed to be taken care of. So
being the kind gents we are we went early. En route I very narrowly
avoided getting hit by a car, had an attractive girl wink at me by the
college campus, broke my bike pedal and almost got hit again. I think
it's safe to say that I have little to no faith in Florida drivers or
my bike anymore. So we make it and we disassemble to cage and dig like
a 3 foot deep hole which in Florida is no challenge whatsoever. So we
put the little feller in there and just kinda stood there and had a
moment of silence. Then one of the kids pipes up. I hated that stupid
thing. That was like one of the highlights of my day. I about died but
kept my cool. So we did that and had our lesson and it was about lunch
time and were over by the college campus and we had three choices for
lunch. A pizza place, an Indian restaurant, and 7/11. So first of
Indian is out of the question so naturally we mosey on over to the
pizza place. We open the door and...bar. Not the best image. So I
can't got to the pizza place and I ain't gunna eat Indian food while
biking so 7/11. I can honestly say that it was pretty good. I actually
enjoyed it. It was a nice hot meal for the cheap. So I mean faith in
7/11 has gone up and it was already pretty high since I knew they had
slurpees and Arizona on tap. So We got to meet with our gator josh
after him being out of town for a week. So a little bit about josh. So
we had an experience when we had to go to church early to drop the
elders tucker and Mortensen  off so that they could make it to a
branch meeting in barefoot bay. It was a blessing in disguise. As we
sat in the foyer we were approached by a member with her boyfriend who
flat out said that he wanted to take the lessons and learn more about
the church. Josh is now through the first three lessons and has a
baptism date. He has also went from saying "if he gets baptized..." To
"when he gets baptized". Josh is ready to be baptized and is
incredibly solid. He's a legend! He is the coolest gator I have ever
taught and he cooks for us and like wow. He's good at it too. Like
steak. And burgers. Gah he's so cool. Later that night Stephen our
good bud took us out to eat at crack barrel (cuz it's so good) and we
ate n talked and moseyed around the store because you just can't not
do that. And I see a jaw harp and a harmonica for sale. So ya know
what I did I picked em up. One because you don't here many people say
that they have a jaw harp and two I need something musical to do
because I miss music. So after I picked those up Ostler picked up a
recorder and ya know what Stephan bought em for us. Stinker. Though I
do enjoy it. After that we biked on over to Eric a less active (who is
now active I might add) to teach and just talk with him. Turns out he
raps and he's Purty guud at it.

Thursday I had my doctors appointment. That was fun. Not really. I
hated it. A lot. A lot a lot. But I survived and also found that I
feel like a nascar driver on the turnpikes. Elder Ostler also fell
asleep so it was me and the road again. That's always been peaceful
for me. Later that night I finally got to try a food that I have
always wanted to try while serving in Florida. Alligator. I was so
happy when they said they were frying up alligator. And I can say that
I really do enjoy Alligator. It was a little bit tougher because it
was the jowls so it was a little bit chewer. I don't think elder
Ostler was that into it but I loved it. I had seconds. Also found
where to buy gator souvenirs so heads up. Christmas is coming.

Friday we had district meeting and chick fil a afterwards which was
the first time I've had chick fil a in oh I don't know 8 months so it
was a happy reunion. We planned and not a lot of exciting things
happened that day.

So Saturday there was a big ole stake activity and it was a pretty
good. I got roped into being a chili judge. I judge 21 chilies. I
rated them on smell,thickness,color, and after taste. And for heat,
appearance, best meat and non meat, and uniqueness. I'll tell you what
I had a few really good chilies, some mediocre chilies, and some
really really really bad chilies. The best was either a gator chili or
a bbq meats chili. By far the worst was one with doctor pepper in it.
It was spicy yes but holy cow it was bad. It was also made by my ward
mission leader and it won most unique. Mainly because it was bad and
we remembered it. While I was judging there was a big old rain storm
and everyone got pretty soaked but not me cuz I was inside. So side
note. With eating 21 different chilies. They tend to make you not feel
so good. And also well gas. Oh mercy the gas.

Sunday there was the primary program for the ward and I can honestly
say it was the most favorite I have ever seen primarily because I've
gotten to know these little kids and their families and I also think
that they are all adorable. Man I am a sucker. Especially for those
little girls. They actually come up to me just because they know that
I most likely have candy. Women. They getcha.

So this week was a lot more exciting. I get to go buy new bike pedals
and insoles for my shoes cuz man they are worn down also it's a nice
little gift for myself. I'll stay safe and try not to get hit this
week. Love ya!

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Happy Helloween

So the title really shares my feelings for the famous day of
halloween. And that isn't the usual sentiment that I have. This
Halloween was just the worst but we will get to that later.

So Monday was pretty good. We had like 2/3rds of the zone with us and
we did games and such. It was pretty fun. Then yea.

Tuesday was pretty sub standard.

Wednesday was pretty good and it was also pretty sub standard

Thursday we had district meeting and it was pretty normal. Not really
anything has happened this week. Except for Halloween but we'll get
too that.

Friday. We just planned and junk and well that was. Normal. We also
had the good ole trunk or treat. I bought some candy to give and the
children enjoyed and I saw quite a few cute children who dressed up
and they were adorable. And then I went on exchanges.

HELLOWEEN!!! YEAAAAA! So here why it was hell. So normally ya know
biking 10 miles ain't uncommon. 20 that's a little rare. 30? WHO IN
THE H*LL BIKEs 30  MILES IN ONE DAY. ME. I DO. Oh man it sucked. In
the heat. Trying to find specific people. Oh man. I was dead. Just
blah. It suckeeeed. So much. But I survived. I went to bed early. Like
9. I slept for 10 hours. Straight. Like a log. Didn't even stir. Thank
goodness for daylight savings.

Sunday I was still just tired n crap and hungry.

So sorry that it was a short email. Nuttin really happened.

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