I've come full circle--back to where I started-in Aberdeen

Well I should know a lot about the place I’m going because I’m going to Bridge of Dawn in Aberdeen, so I started where I might end. 

For once I know my new companion and his name is Elder Benson!  I met him in Belfast and I’m pretty excited because we got along really well. 

Elder Rogers will be staying in Cumbernauld with Elder Winder and I don’t really know anything about him. 

I’m really good, I’m just excited to have Elder Benson as a comp.  I knew that I was going to be moving because a lot of things always happen with your investigators right when you move. Billy is doing amazing and wanted to go see James's baptism on Saturday... Oh yeah and James, a young man in the ward finally got the ‘ok’ to get baptized by his Mom so we have taught him a bunch this week, and the recent reactivated girl in the ward will be going on a mission now, and the ward has been just amazing.  It’s going to suck to leave but I’m kind of excited, but it’s kind-a lame that I’m going back to another area that I have already been again.  Haha, but it will be good.

Teaching, snow, letter from Bryson's

We are getting moves call on Sunday night and I'm pretty sure that I'll be moving. We weren't able to meet with all of our investigators this week but we were able to really work with helping members know what to do and say when they are asked about what they believe.  We are also helping a member that has been less active for a long time and is now coming back.  So we are helping by teaching her the missionary lessons and it's really good to see someone grow and learn and regain a lot of what they have forgotten. Usually it's kind of hard to explain the feeling of the Holy Ghost but she explained how it was just knowing, and so she already knew what it was, and all the feelings that the gospel with give you.  She also explained that she is just happier since she has been back. It's been snowing pretty much all week so it's been pretty cool, especially since it's the first time Elder Rogers has ever seen snow.

A letter from the Bryson's!:

"Hello There Big Irish Son

Hope you are not to cold and you are being looked after J

To say we miss you is an understatement I know it may not seem like it cause I have not been in touch but I do miss you and your counsel .  I am struggling a bit but Russell is doing so well. He passed sacrament last Sunday and Sunday just passed and the Bishop had a word and told him he would soon be blessing the Sacrament.  The first Sunday he passed it, I was sitting in church and was proud beyond  words and cried my eyes out.  Russell has also been asked by his Mum to confirm our Great Nephew who is getting Baptised up in Derry so he asked the Bishop if that would be ok and he gave him his blessing so , as long as the Bishop up in Derry says it is ok then he is good to go.  All these things that Russell is doing is also a credit to you and the work you did with us and without you we would never have got this far, even though I am finding it tough I know I am closer to where I need to be and without your spirit and prayers and counsel I would be wandering in a very dark place, I will be forever grateful. 

Carter is fine and he got a part time job in a brill American BBQ place in Ballyhackamore and he loves it, will you keep him in your prayers as he is finding it tough going in College, thank you pet. 

I am in work at the moment so have to be quick I must mail our other son to let him know.  Thank you for always being there and never forget we are always here for you.

Our Love and Prayers

Your Irish Mum and Dad xoxoxoxox"

Catch-up to the New Year

January 12, 2015

Ha! No I haven’t seen any clogging yet.  I don’t think I ever will because they don’t really do that here but I’ll look out for it. They are having Burns night in a couple weeks and that’s going to be cool because I’m going to try to wear my kilt as much as I can.  

Yeah, every once in a while I see people playing bagpipe music and I’m pretty sure it’s my favorite instrument at the moment.

Bridy hasn’t come to church yet and we weren’t able to meet with her this week because she had to go to a funeral.

Billy is doing really well but we know we are just going to have to work with him really slow because we realize just how much we ask people to do when they aren’t used to it, especially to people that aren’t that social in the first place. 

This week wasn’t too bad, nothing too crazy has happened.  We got to meet with a lot of members and it’s just been really good and fun. We are hopefully going to be teaching a couple of member’s friends this next week and I can’t wait. I also just see all the time how lucky I am to have the understanding that I do.  I know the purpose of life and that’s pretty cool. 

I’m not to sure what to update you on because it’s been pretty much the usual this week. I’m lovin Elder Rogers and we are freezing but having a blast.

I love you too, Mom!

The Scotland Sport P-Day

     
     January 5, 2015!:

We were able to get lessons with Bridy, Billy and Margaret this week and they were all really good. We taught Bridy and just pretty much read with her and she committed to coming to church in the next couple weeks.  Billy is a really good person.  When we were teaching he explained how he’s really starting to like all that we teach him and he knows how good everything is that we teach him. I’m not totally sure what to do with Margaret because she is really good but she doesn’t really want to change or commit to anything because her family pressers her too much into staying Catholic. 

Another cool thing is that we are starting to teach a member in the ward because she was less active for a long time and wants to get a better understanding of the basics. So, things are going well.  We have a good amount of really good people to teach.

Today we are going to a golf range with some other Elders and Sisters, so that should be pretty fun. Things are just keeping on and I’m doing really well and I’m so happy with how good Dad is doing. ​

Bro. Cattel drew pictures of Elder Rogers and I

December 29, 2014

It was great talking to you all on Christmas! 

Boxing Day was great.  We went to a member’s house and watched Frozen and ate pizza and got haircuts and it was just a lot of fun. For New Year's Eve we aren’t out past 6:00 because there will be a lot of interesting people out.  We are going to the Foots on New Year’s but I’m not sure other than that. 

It was a really good Christmas. It was just weird to not be always busy or doing something, but it was a good way to rest for a couple days to get back into things. We didn’t get to meet with too many people throughout the week just because everyone was busy with Christmas but that was expected. 

It was amazing to get to Skype all of you and get to see Dad bald. Now it’s getting colder and colder so that should be fun for the next couple months.

                            

December 22, 2014

My new companion, Elder Rogers? Oh man, he’s great! I love this kid.  He’s been out about 9 months.  Even though he’s from Australia, he doesn’t really have an accent.  He’s super smart with computers and has a really calm personality like me, so it’s really cool.  We do well working together, pretty much the same as always.  We just talk to a lot of people.

This week Elder Bates is going to Inverness and I almost got to see Elder Simpson passing through Glasgow but I just missed him.   We went to the ward activity just a couple hours after Elder Rogers got in and it was a munch and mingle with Santa.  Then we went to what they call a "panto" and it’s a pantomime and it was about Aladdin and pretty much it was just a kids play but it was actually really good.  We got to have fun with a lot of members and a ton of less-actives came out and we got to talk a lot with them, it was great! I’m just super excited for Christmas!   Today we are going down to Airdrie to pick up my packages and I’ll try to see how long I will last with not opening them haha. I love you and I will see you soon!

Christmas Corn

Elder H.

December 15, 2014

I'm getting a new comp named Elder Rogers on Wednesday.  All I know is he's from Australia and that he's coming from Edinburgh. Elder Bates is going to Inverness, so all the way up north. Yesterday we went to the Christmas Truce that the church put on and a it was really good just seeing peace happen for two fighting people. We have been passing out a lot of "He is the Gift" cards that the church is working on. 

It snowed a little this week and it was pretty cool, it just stuck a little, but it's been really cold.  They have called it a "weather bomb".  

The work is getting harder because people don't really want to talk to us and open their doors when it's freezing outside but... we just keep doing it. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We went to FIVE GUYS On Opening Day in Scotland!

Heroes

I am so thankful that Dad is doing so well, I was thinking about how many heroes of ancient times in the Book of Mormon, like Alma and Nephi and captain Moroni and just how great these people are and just how I have learned so much from them.  I also thought about how God is the same yesterday, today, and forever so there must be people that are like that today and Dad is someone that I will always see as my hero.  I haven’t learned so much from any other man, save it be the Savior.  I also was thinking about John 3: 16 and how that Dad is also doing the same thing. He loves the people of Scotland and Ireland (even though he doesn’t know them) and me so much, that he is willing to give me up for two years especially at this hard time.  All I have to say is, “Thy will be done!" 

This week was pretty good.  We were able to see Bridy and talk a long time about a lot of good things that I think over time will bring her closer.  She is still very active in her church and hasn’t said anything about leaving her position.  We went to also see Billy and it was really good.  We had Sister McFedrein, his cousin over with us to help teach and I can tell that he really likes what we teach.  He isn’t really good at reading and I told him that I could relate to him before my mission because I had a struggle but now I have no problem at all, it’s pretty amazing.  He also said how everything we were telling him sounded really familiar and it all made sense and I just said we don’t really teach people, we just remind people what they have forgotten.   I love you! and I know that God loves us and cares about us.

Love, Elder Hanson 

We keep em done

Hmm, Looks like they have a wee leak

Christmas is Coming!

This week was gooood. 

We had most of our appointments on Friday but that was also the day of zone interview training and we all got to have interviews with El Presidonte and that was pretty good.  There was not too much out of the norm, so we weren't able to see too many people. 

Yeah, it's pretty freezing over here but at least its clear, I think it's a lot colder than last year. There's no snow yet but they say there will be a lot coming. I don't really care too much about getting snail mail or not. Actually I got a package from Margaret and Joy (members from Belfast) and it was a bunch of American candy for Halloween. 

So actually for Thanksgiving Elder Bates and I made a feast! I made a whole chicken and a bunch of other things.  We didn't have enough cash to buy a turkey, but it was pretty good! 

Now it's December! So we set up a little Christmas tree that we found in a closet and now the Christmas music is starting! 

Merry Christmas!

P-Day.  Now Let the Christmas Music Begin!
I'm in Awe of anything that can play Christmas Music.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!