The month started off with General Conference for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It fell on Easter Day which made it even more meaningful.
The sustaining held a special feeling about it as the different quorums in the Priesthood stood and were sustained. They went through all of the different areas, from Prophet, First Presidency, Apostles, Seven Quorums of the Seventy, Area Seventies, and General Officers, down through the members of the Melchizedek Priesthood, Aaronic Priesthood, and then the general congregation. We were to report to our Stake Presidents if we opposed any of the sustaining's.
Hot water Beach and below is a gold mine in Thames
It was a great two days of feasting upon the words of our leaders, with guidance from our dear Prophet Dallin H. Oaks.
Elder Henry B, Eyring, Pres. Dallin H. Oaks, Elder Todd D. Christofferson
With Jason being gone, Danica and her kids came and slept at Amie's, the night before Easter. We went to their house to color and decorate eggs and to get in some time with her kids.
On Easter Sunday we did our annual Hansen Family Easter picnic and hunt after the last session of General Conference on Easter Day. We had the Mallory's, Garrett's family, and the Hassell's (except Jason, who was out of town) here.
We had the kids make "Empty Tomb" rolls as part of their meal and after we ate, they decorated some paper eggs with stickers and played Easter Charades while the guys hid the eggs.
The kids found their eggs and redeemed them for their prizes. We finished up just in time for President Westwood, our Stake President, to come and set Dale and I apart for our mission.
Matt, and Garrett, joined in the circle with Pres. Westwood to set Dale apart and Dale joined in the circle with them to set me apart. Pres. Westwood gave each of us a nice blessing. I was glad that we could have some of the kids with us for this special event. We missed Nate & Diana, Andrew & Lindsay and their kids, and Jason, who were all out of the area.
The next day Elder & Sister Hansen finished loading up the trailer and headed to Heber City to start our 18-month mission there. On our way to Heber City, we had a dump truck spill out some gravel on the highway after going over a bump, and it made a crack in the windshield! That makes two repairs in 6 months!!
Luckily we were able to buy a windshield repair kit and the Wal-Mart in Heber City and got it fixed.
Elder Hansen fixing out windshield in the Heber City Cemetery (the only place we could find shade)
We arrived at the Heber City Fairgrounds "Cowboy Camp'" and got somewhat settled in our trailer. We met our neighbors, the Phillips (from Riverton, UT), and Dooleys (from Shelly, ID), as well as some other great people.
The trailers at the "Cowboy Camp" and our spot for the next 2 weeks.
We stayed in the "Cowboy Camp" for two weeks. During that time, we went to a local Stake Center Church building and attended the Heber Valley Camp Mission MTC (mountain training center). We had "Get to know You" activities, heard from our Mission Presidency: Pres. Pitcher, his wife, and his counselor, Pres. Wolsey, and his wife, and Pres. Richards and his wife. All wonderful people. We also heard from the Bennion's, the creators of making the "Theme Walk" happen at the Camp last year. Then we heard from all of the Zone Leaders in the mission and were later given our zone assignments. Elder Hansen and I will be serving in the Challenge Course zone. Elder & Sister Call are our Zone Leaders over the Challenge Course. There are seven other zones: Building Maintenance, Mountain Maintenance, Camp Hosts, Guest Services, The Theme Walk, Safety, and the Lake zones.
Left top: Pres. & Sis. Pitcher, Middle L Pres. & Sis. Woolsey, Sis. & Bro. Bennion
Left: Elder & Sis. Hansen w/ Sis. & Elder Henderson, friends of my cousin Leslie Tompson Rivers. Right: Pres. Richards with us.
Us with our Zone Leaders on the Challenge Course: Elder & Sis. Call, Right: Some of the couple in our Zone.
We also had teachers from the Provo MTC (Missionary Training Center) come and teach us a couple of days. Boy were they energetic and fun.
Teachers from the MTC teaching us at a Stake Center at in Heber City
After we had been taught by them, we were able to go to the Provo MTC for a devotional with the missionaries currently at the MTC, where Aaron T. Hall, a member of the Seventy talked to us. I really enjoyed his talk, and the Spirit was so strong as we sang the song "Called to Serve". I was deeply touched being among so many missionaries, young and old.
Elder Aaron T. Hall talking to all the missionaries at the MTC and Hever Valley Camp, Missionaries lining up to go in and some friends.
After two weeks at the "Cowboy Camp", we moved our mission up on the mountain and set up our "home away from home" for the next 6 months. We are staying in the Sunrise Camp and the mountain maintenance zone helped get us all settled in. It was a bit tricky because the space that was allotted for us was too narrow for our trailer, so they had to get creative, but they made it fit. We don't have much room to sit out and enjoy the outdoors by our trailer, but it will do.
It was kind of cute because all of those in the Safety zone and our leaders lined up along the roads to guide us where to go while wearing bright yellowish-green vests, waving flags, as we drove through the neighborhoods.
Getting ready to head to the mountain!
We did more training in our Zone where we learned to tie knots and learned the ways of the camp. Our P-Day fell on a Fri., so we headed back home to pick up the Razor ATV to use at the camp as well. We were able to meet for dinner with the Mallory's to celebrate Dale's 67th birthday! We ate at Texas Roadhouse and even got him on the saddle with all those around him singing "Happy Birthday to you"! Happy Birthday Elder Hansen!
After we got our course work done, we went on a few "Buggy" rides with some other missionaries. We are in a beautiful area, and I can't wait to see what it will look like when it's all green!!
We also played pickleball with a group of couples and played some games with couples from another group when we had some time to spare.
We got on the course and were able to try crossing on a swinging ladder, swinging logs, and other wires with ropes. It took some courage to get going, but once I got on the nest and rested up it got somewhat easier. I love going down the zip line the most, but you have to work the course to get there.
It got cold and was raining and snowing a couple of the days. We had a little blizzard while we were on the Big Swing, but that didn't stop us. A warm soak in a tub would have felt real good after that day, but we bundled up in the blankets to warm up in bed.
Elder Hansen was called to serve as the first counselor in the Heber Valley Camp Branch Elder's Quorum. He'll be working with Elder Davis, who is the President, and Elder Tim Hansen as the 2nd counselor. There are actually three Hansen couples in this mission, so we're known more as Elder and Sister D & D Hansen, so they know who you're talking about.
Sister & Elder Tim Hansen, Pres.& Sister Davis, Sister
& Elder Dale Hansen
The whole mission attended a Safety Training session, put on by Intermountain Healthcare emergency room personnel in the Heber Valley City hospital, as well as
learned about safety measures that are used while on the mountain.
Then more course work and time on other courses. To certify to work on a ropes course one needs 100+ hours. Elder Hansen and I, both got over 100 hours, and Dale's going for 200 hours to be certified to do rescues.
Some nights, we'd play games, a favorite of the camp is called "Marbles" and a group gets together almost weekly to play that. We were able to play cards while doing our wash with some couples as well.
Games with the Loose's and Boren's in the laundry room. Later Sis. ??? and Sis. Fitzgerald joined us for games
I celebrated my birthday by training on a new high adventure challenge course. Course 7 has a swinging pole you climb on then you cross on a cable and go down a zip line. It was a fun way to turn 66!! The view on this course is BEAUTIFUL!! You can look over the Timber Lake area and mountains. When we got done and cleaned up and Elder Hansen took me out to dinner at Galeano's Italian Restaurant. It was a very tasty meal and a nice way to end a busy day. Happy Birthday Me!!
The next day our whole Challenge Course Zone attended the Mt. Timpanogos Temple for an endowment session. After we met at Chuck-A-Rama for lunch. Then those that wanted went to Thanksgiving Point, in Lehi, for Tulip Days and to see the Light of the World Gardens. The statues in the Light of the World gardens were so life-like and showed so much emotion. There was an iron rod and a big and spacious building, along with the Tree of Life. It was a walk through Christ's life as well as Book of Mormon highlights that focused on Christs teachings. So cool!! It was a full day of inspiration.
The Challenge Course Zone at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple
At Thanksgiving Point in the Light of the Worlds Sculpture Garden area
In the picture to the right we are with our neighbors, The Murray's. They gave us a pass to get into see the Gardens because their daughter is a member of Thanksgiving Point. It pays to be nice neighbors doesn't it!?
Nate, Diana and Lili fit in a visit to the Orca Island and got in some trail running in the Mt. Constitution area. This was where we had our Hansen reunion last year. Such a pretty area.
Diana also got in a climb with her friend and hiked the Brothers Peak in the Olympic mountain range in Washington. They hiked up from sea level to 6,842 ft. Way to go gals!!
Matt had some fun at school with the kids. The kids raised money for the PTA so the principle wore a dinosaur costume and Matt wore this unicorn costume to live up to their promise to the kids.
Matt and Mazin passed the Hunter Safety program and are now certified to carry a gun. They can go hunting with Grandpa! Way to go!!
It's getting a lot warmer for Elder Mallory who's serving in Mexico. Here's some highlights from his letters: He's been working with a 10 yr. old boy who will be getting baptized. His whole family had stepped away from Church, and he is teaching them how to pray every night. He also got his aunt, who was visiting him when the Elders were there to say a prayer (who had stepped away from the Church as well). Her prayer brought in the Spirit and she cried.
They had 3 people go to Church and had a baptism. They are finding a lot of families that have kids that aren't baptized and are working with them. He said. "God is providing".
Andrew and Lindsay's crew took a trip to California and visited Lego Land and went camping in Arizona. I guess living in St. George has helped them acclimate to the warmer temperatures Looks like they all had a fun time!
Titan's taken up skateboarding and is improving his skills at the new skate park that's not too far from where they live. Andrew went to the skate park with him one night and tried it, he said that "it's a lot harder than it looks". Titan, you earned your dad's respect. He's looking good in that helmet!! Stay safe out there on that board!!
Arwyn had her 9th birthday! They hosted a friend party for her at their house. The neighborhood they live in has a fair amount of kids around her age, so it makes it easy to make new friends! Happy Birthday Arwyn! We love you!!
Garrett and Zandra's crew spent Easter week in New Zealand. They loved all the sights and the area. What a fun trip for them. I think I might put this one on my bucket list as a place to visit.
Some of the plates they visited: Cathedral cove
The Ackuland aquarium
Luke played soccer and Garrett was his coach. Luke also started playing flag football and is playing a LOT of baseball in their backyard to get ready for it next month.
Jorie's still doing front tucks on the floor, has her flick on the beam, flyaway on the bars and the Yurchenko on vault down in her gymnastics. She's got a lot of her level 6 skills down! Way to go Jorie!
She's sporting a new look with a smile that has a little glitter to it. She got braces and will be donning this look for a while. She's still cute as ever isn't she?
They got in another trip with the kids in at the end of the month into next month. They went to Hawaii and spent a week on the beaches, went to The Polynesian Cultural Center night show, and also got out on the water and did some deep-sea fishing with Garrett's buddy, Tanner Adams and his son, and father-in-law. Looks like it was a great time.
After Easter, for Spring Break, the Hassell's headed south to spend some time with Jason's family in St. George. They went to a fun farm that had activities for the kids, got in some fun at the Sand Dunes riding motorcycles, and checked out Gunlock Falls. They know how to pack in the fun don't they!!
Danica also entered a 1/2 marathon. Her first ever. Here's what she said on Facebook about it: My delusional self randomly decided to sign up for my first 1/2 marathon, the Zion Ultra Half Marathon. I thought that a trail race sounded like more fun than and it definitely was! And GEORGOUS! For only ever running 8 miles I was so stoked with my outcome! I even took 3rd place in my age group! I'm so happy to say that I can check this off my bucket list!
Way to go Danica!!
Where we've been living out of our area most of the month and will be for another 5 months, I won't be putting much about other news unless it's real big news because we don't have much time to check out all of that.
I'm closing this month's post with pictures of the area we are living in and seeing. It truly is amazing here on the mountain! We are loving it, even if it's cold and raining at times, it's been worth it.
