June 8, 2008 in Sendai

We've had a busy Sunday: study, eat, pray, dress and be out by 9:00. Our Ward meets at 10:00 with about 160 members in attendance. When the meetings finished at 1 p.m., there was a 45 minute interlude while they filled the font and we had a baptismal service for a family of 4 people. The whole ward stayed for the service that included many parts on the program including thoughts and music from the ones being baptized. When it was over, the ward gave the family flowers and other items and everyone greeted them over an extended period of time.

Missionaries from other areas near by brought their investigators so that they could witness the baptism.

We have a district missionary meeting each week so when the building emptied enough that we could, our meeting was held for another 90 minutes with the 7 young elders and sisters in attendance. We're now home so it is time to send some additional pictures that I didn't get sent before.

Interesting part first! This is our shower and tub. The tub is about 20 inches square and 20 inches tall. The hot water heater sits at the end with the shower head attached. To take a shower, you light the water heater, stand on the floor next to the tub, hold the shower head and lather up. Neither of us has had enough courage to get into the tiny deep tub. When finished, the hot water is turned off since it's expensive to leave it on all the time.

By Japanese standards, our apartment is spacious. It's about the size of the apartment that we had in Rexburg. We have two bedrooms so you can come to stay with us. We have a queen bed that is almost a large as the room. There is a spare bed tipped up against the wall in the other bedroom so that we can use the second bedroom for hanging our clothes.

The kitchen has its own water heater that sits above the sink. When you push the large white button at the bottom, it sends warm water into the sink. By pushing the button again it turns off both the water and the heater. You will note that our stove does not have an oven so when you come - no cake! We do have a small toaster oven and a microwave.

The living room is big enough for a couch, chair, oil stove, bookcase, and table for the computer. The printer sits in the corner on the fuel tank for the oil stove. The outside view shows our apartment on the front left corner of the first floor. We like our apartment. It's very comfortable this time of year but we may have other thoughts when winter comes. There is no insulation and we were told by the Karlinsey's that on a winter night the bedrooms have little heat and the shower water systm can freeze. We're not complaining and if Evan told stories about living conditions during his mission, this would be a palace; at least we don't have rodents.

We are really enjoying our time here, but are ready for sleep each evening. In the next blog I'll talk about the mission office and life here. I'll also send one about the language and how we're progressing. We love you and hope that all is going well.

Love, Mom and Dad

Senda Mission 6-7-08

We've been here 2 weeks and are starting to feel more comfortable. This is the view of the street in front of the mission home and office. It's wide and not heavily traveled since it dead-ends in about 4 blocks. We've been out for a few morning walks to get acquainted with the neighborhood.

In the distance is the Pacific Ocean, with this view overlooking the south east side of Sendai. We are about 1000 feet above sea level.

This is the rainy season, so I took these pictures on one of few sunny days that we've seen.

We are greatly enjoying our experiences here, trying to get to know the 80 missionaries, the Japanese languare, our office assignments, and our way around town. We've been hopelessly lost on two different occasions.

Here's the vehicle that gets us lost. You'll note that the steering wheel is on the wrong side. This car "likes" narrow roads, streets without any signs (which is almost all of the ones in Sendai), and foreign drivers who don't know what they are doing.

The mission home is the white building on the left, the mission office is the next one behind the hedge. The back of our apartment is on the right. There is a concrete block wall behind the shrubs that is 4 blocks high. I can go over it without difficulty, making it about 50 or 60 steps to the mission office. Hansen Shimai can't do it in a skirt so going around triples the distance. That's still not far except when it's raining. Our lunch break is over. I'll put more pictures in the next blog. Love Dad and Mom.

Hey guys. Benjamin and I were jumping on the trampoline on Monday night, and my knee hit his nose very hard. There was a little blood, but we didn't think anything was wrong. My mom took him to the doctor on Monday, and the doctor told them to go see a specialist because it was broken. Now he has to go back on Monday to see if he needs to have surgery for them to set it. If you look at the picture (I couldn't figure out how to turn it the right way) his nose is swollen.

From Sendai, Sunday, June 1, 2008

We have been trying to send you some pictures on the blog, but apparently the website from the office doesn't allow that. So, we'll send them as soon as we can
get on our own computer. We still haven't been able to get it connected. Hopefully we'll be able to sometime this week.
We are doing well. We shared our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting today in Japanese. They were very simple, but several people thanked us for doing it in Japanese. The ward is warm and friendly and we really love being here.
Eric, thanks very much for your kind comments and spiritual thought. It means a lot to us. We are small and simple, but hopefully we'll be able to do what the Lord would have us do here.
We had a very busy week. This past week was transfer week and here they call it "hotel week." That's because we have missionaries coming in from the MTC in Provo, the JMTC in Tokyo, and the missionaries who are going home. There are lots of transfers, so I spent much of the week helping to process all the paper work and helping Sister Miyashita with the food. It was exciting to see the missionaries. In Japan, there are alot more sisters who go on missions than in the States. We got two new sister missionaries and three elders. The sisters and one of the elders are from Japan and the other two new elders were from Utah and Colorado. We also got a new AP, so there are three right now. That is because Elder Ijichi (AP) will be going home next transfer, so they are training Elder Gross.
We enjoyed a neat testimony meeting--as we are two of the new missionaries--and we also get to have a devotional with Pres. & Sister Miyashita and the APs and office elders about 3 days a week. Most of it is in Japanese, so Elder Bradley sort of translates for us. I think he doesn't realize that we don't understand much!
We'll close for now. Know that we know that this is the work of the Lord and His hand in very much in it. He can make much out of little and it is a great work! WE love you all and look forward to hearing from you.
Love,
Mom & Dad (Grandpa & Grandma--Elder and Sister Hansen)

Choices & Consequences

A thought from President Hinckley's Stand a Little Taller (May 20th)

I read this on Monday or Tuesday after dad and mom left for Japan. It reads:

"Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you." Moses 6:33

Pres. Hinckley then adds: "Have you ever looked at a great farm gate that opens and closes? If you look at the hinge, it moves ever so little. Just a little movement of that hinge creates tremendous consequences out on the perimeter. That is the way it is with our lives. It is the little decisions that make the great differences in our lives."

As I read this, I felt that this was a tender mercy of the Lord to me. I had felt impressed to share at home evening on Sunday before you left, Alma 37:6-7 about how the Lord accomplishes great things through small and simple means. This was a confirmation to me of that prompting and the importance of our everyday decisions and choices (usually the small and simple ones like a prompting to share a testimony or go visit someone or to smile at someone and speak in broken Japanese :) or to speak kindly to your spouse when you are frustrated or tired).

Mom & Dad, as a family, we are so proud of your willingness to choose to serve the Lord this day and every day for the next 18 months. When times are difficult, think of the farm gate swinging on the far end; it may seem like you are not moving much, but the gate at the other end is moving a lot. We are praying for your success and know the Lord will bless you as He knows what is expedient for you.

Love,

Eric

Elder & Sister Hansen - MTC

"Oh How Lovely was the morning!" The MTC was a marvelous experience and here are a few pictures that share a few of our experiences.

We spent some time in the referral center taking calls. Mom got two referrals! I only got a lady who's accent was so heavy that I couldn't understand. We didn't have the camera with us so I went back and took a picture of some young Elders. When the phone rings you put on your head set, answer the phone, thank them for calling, listen to their needs, share your testimony, and arrange for a visit from the local missionaries.

There were 5 sets of missionaries going to various offices - California, Missouri, Ukrane, and Japan. We spent the second week together and became well acquainted.

The two weeks were filled with giving investigator discussions, great devotionals, language training, Sunday meetings, MTC food, wonderful instructors, and lots of new friends.

Now, unlike Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball who stood in the back of the wagon when they were almost too sick to stand, we too are ready to depart early tomorrow morning.

At present our floor is covered with filled suitcases awaiting a last minute check and then like Brigham and Heber, we shout "Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah for Israel," and then be off for a 15-hour journey to Sendai. We won't get into our apartment until the evening of May 30, so we're not sure what our communications will be for the coming few days.

We love you and are greatful for this exciting opportunity.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Viewer Discretion Advised

As many of you know, Ashley had quite an adventure while Janny and I were in Indiana. She tried a triple back-flip off the monkey bars and didn't quite stick the landing. We thought you might want to see the pictures. Ash was very tough and brave! She was told that all the boys come into the office bawling when they break their arms. Ash was smiling!

View at your own risk (especially pic #3).

#1 - Ashley after getting cast

#2 Ashley's x-ray

#3 Ashley's arm right after the accident