Monday, September 15th, 2008 - Jon Arrives in Nashville

We received our first letter from Jon since he has been in Nashville. He has been in Tennessee for one week. He loves being out in the mission field and is already working hard. After leaving the MTC, he boarded the plane with one stop in Atlanta and then arrived in Tennessee in the afternoon. Jon had high hopes to try to talk to and convert every person on his flight to Nashville but he soon realized that everyone he was sitting next to was already LDS. During a layover in Atlanta, he tried to talk to others about the gospel but found that most were Methodist or Baptist and were not interested. Welcome to the South!

When he arrived in Tennessee, he was greeted by his mission president and the president's assistants. They seemed very excited to be receiving a new batch of "greenies". Jon was assigned to Hendersonville, TN (pronounced Hendersonvul) and his trainer is Elder Geohagan ( pronounced Go-Hagan). When he arrived in his new area he and his companion went strait to do street contacts. Jon first contact went something like this:

Elder Hansen: Hi there!
Man at Krogers: Hi.
Elder Hansen: I want to talk to you.
Man: Oh really?
Elder Hansen: Yes really. I have a message for you here from Jesus Christ.
"Next thing I knew he was in the car and gone."

Things weren't all bad that first day. Jon said that they received a baptismal committment.

It sounds like Jon will be biking a lot in this area but they will also have some use of a car. We already warned people in Tennessee to stay off of the sidewalk!

Jon says, "I LOVE the area and am working really hard."

Here are some picture Jon sent this week:

Jon's MTC District

Jon's MTC companion, Elder Doggins

Jon's new companion, Elder Geohagan

Monday, September 9, 2008 - Jon Leaves for Nashville

Jon went to the airport today. Mom and Dad received a phone call at 5:15 am from Jon telling them he had arrived at the airport and was waiting for his flight. They talked for about an hour. Jon sounded very upbeat and excited to get into the mission field. He says that he hasn't been homesick at all because he has been so busy. He enjoyed his time in the MTC but he is ready to be out in Tennessee. He was excited to meet his mission president and his new companion. It sounds like he made it onto the plane just fine. We are anxiously awaiting word from Tennessee!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - The Second Letter

We received Jon's second letter. It sounds like he is having a great time in the MTC. This week Jon had the oppotunity to teach the first and second lessons from "Preach My Gospel" at the Training Resource Center. This is a place where you get to practice teaching from "Preach My Gospel" to volunteers. Jon said, "it is so great, even if it is just practice, to be able to tell these people just how happy this gospel has made you, and promise them the same blessings. I love this work!"

Life in the MTC is great but it can get a little monotonous. One of the ways to break things up is to go to the Referal Center to take orders and confirm deliveries of Books of Mormon and other church media. Jon has seen some great miracles performed there while talking on the phone with people about the church. He was able to set up 2 missionary visits, commit 5 people to go to church and send a few Book of Mormons out. His district really enjoys there time at the Referal Center.

Jon has really enjoyed being the district leader. It gives him an opportunity to serve and he has seen some spiritual growth in those he is serving.

Jon says, "I'm loving the work and I love the gospel. It is True."

Jon leaves for Nashville in less than a week. The next letter will be from Tennessee. YEEEEEEHAAAAAAAA!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - The First Week

Jon had his first preparation day (P-Day). He is loving his time in the MTC. He says they spend a lot of time praying and reading the scriptures which he has grown to love. The Elders in his district are all going to the Nashville, Tennessee mission. They are Elder Nelson, Elder Capener, Elder Doggins, Elder Lindstrom, Elder Wadsworth, Elder Austin, Elder Parlogean, Elder Wagner, Elder Mick, Elder Clark and Elder Prettyman. He is still getting along with his companion, Elder Doggins, and he seems to be the perfect compliment to Jon: "tall, dark, and quiet."

Jon says life in the MTC is going well. He was glad that he had the opportunity to read, study, and memorize scriptures from the "Preach My Gospel" manuel before he entered the MTC. He says you can really tell a difference in those missionaries who had prepared in advance. They can spend more time working on their testimonies.

Jon had a great faith promoting experience this week. In his own words Jon says, "two days ago at gym we went outside to play kick ball (we hope he means soccer). One of the Elder's in my district lost his room key. We stopped the game and frantically looked for the elusive key. But we could not find it anywhere. I knelt down in the field and said a quick silent prayer that the Lord would help us find his key. And when I said AMEN I looked down right at the bottom of my knees and I had knelt right over the key. I know that may sound stupid, but it was a big faith promoter."

Jon asks that we remember the missionaries in our prayers. He says the work is true and he loves being a missionary. Keep up the good work Jon!