This and That

Keeping in Touch

Hansen epistles brighten up a gray, rainy day.


News from home is always great news.  Thanks to everyone, for notes, letters, videos, blogs, e-mail, text messages. You are the best.  We are busy, so are not exactly lonely, but it helps us know all is well at home when we hear from you; then we don't worry.

Georgia Pines

As you know we have been out in the country on our finding expeditions.  There are still many people listed who may have moved away years ago.  No one seems to know them, so it is a bit of an adventure  to see what we can piece together.  It must be a little like looking for lost ancestors in Family search. 

As we travel through Lauren County, we can't help but notice the Georgia Pine harvest and replanting that is a constant in our rural areas.  We thought we would share some of it with you.   This is the closest we get to any sight-seeing, or historical landmarks.

You have to look hard to see these little trees.
The seedlings are only 8 to 10 inches when they are planted.

It takes years for the little trees to get this tall

We will have to come back in 20 years if we want to see
the tiny trees become a woods like this.

Supporting our Members

Lollie Jean and Glenda

Our sweet friend Lollie Jean is in a nursing home.  She was very ill when her only sister passed away a few weeks ago so was not able to brave the wind at the cemetery.  She is often lamenting sadly that she didn't even get to go to her  sister's funeral.  Recently we discovered that one of the ladies attending had been able to record the graveside service on her cell, so she came with us to visit Lollie and share the funeral message.  I wish I could have captured the look on her face as she listened to the short service.  It was such a tiny thing; yet it seems to have brought so much comfort and a little closure.

Harrison Family Graveyard, Montrose, GA

This is the little family graveyard.  Later, we picked up Carolyn who is the daughter-in-law of the deceased.  She has beginning alzheimers and sometimes can't keep track of the days.  She had missed meetings on this day, so we went to check on her, and share the messages from Sacrament Meeting. We spent a special Sunday afternoon with her as she talked about her family and memories raising her family here in Montrose.

We then took dinner to a single man who is developmentally delayed.  He lives alone in a small trailer, and has not been feeling well this week.  He goes everywhere by bike, which is a challenge as he has had knee surgery recently.  It is fun for us to share Sunday dinner with someone who appreciates it as much as he does.

We spent the evening with Marylee and Robert - one of the newly reactivated couples who went to the Temple with us last fall.  We see them "sort of" at church, but she teaches Primary now, and I attend the new member class during Sunday School.  Mostly, we wave a finger at them in passing.  We wanted them to know that they are still important and thought of.  

While we were there, the home teachers came.  They were so excited as they have not had home teachers for many years.  Their problem with inactivity was that they had moved a few times, and no one ever came to look for them or care where they were, so this was an important visit, even though they are long past their previous mind set, and are contributing members now.

Senior Missionaries 

New Mission President 

Idaho, Twin Falls Mission

Remember our friends Elder and Sister Curtis?  We know them best out of all the Senior Couples serving in our mission - which means we have seen them three times over the past 8 months.  We are too far away so we don't have much contact with the other Seniors.  The Curtis' are from Tremonton, UT and were scheduled to be here until the end of November, so I'm sure this call was a surprise for them too.  They will be wonderful Mission leaders.  Several young elders and sisters in our District have served in their area and were really excited - confirming that they would make an outstanding Mission Couple to shepherd and lead the Young Elders and Sisters in their care.  Elder Curtis has to have shoulder surgery before they report, so it looks like they will be leaving us soon.  We will miss them.