Gap

There is a gap in our archives spanning April 2009-November 2009.

Until further notice when these letters can be traced and brought here, here is a brief run down of events:

Jamie's missionary daughter returned from her full-time mission in Moscow, Russia in July 2009. Jamie's second son received a mission call to Denver, Colorado, Spanish speaking.
Jamie's missionary (and oldest) son returned from his full-time mission in Leon, Mexico in September 2009.
Two weeks later, Jamie's second son "D" left on his mission to Colorado in October 2009.
While "D" was in the Missionary Training Center, his best friend was killed in a car accident returning to school after Thanksgiving break.

The weekly letters spanning this time period will be shared as soon as possible. Until that time, we will proceed.


-Melissa

3-31-09 Girls Camp Workshop - Part 2

Here is PART 2 of my Workshop at Girls Camp,



Next I went over respect for your parents. I told two stories from the life of Jesus. One from when he was 12 and his family went to Jerusalem for Passover. 1

Joseph and Mary were already on their way back home, when they discovered that Jesus was missing. After 3 days searching, they finally found him in the Temple with the wise and learned men, “hearing them, and asking them questions”. 2 

Mary went to him and asked “son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” Then Jesus answered, “how is it that thou sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” What followed is very telling, it says that “he was subject to them”. He accepted the discipline and whatever reprimand or punishment that was given to him. In Hebrews 5:8 it says, “though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience…”. This was the Son of God, the Creator of the world! He had the right to be doing what ever he felt He should be doing! But He was also the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the very One who had given the Commandments to Moses, including, “thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land”. 

What was true 2,000 years ago is even more true today, you don’t go anywhere without telling your parents where you are going, and what time you will be back. Mothers are the official designated worriers of the world. It’s in their job description. So if they always know where you are and what you are doing, they don’t worry as much! Plus you have someone to answer to, instead of just running wild in the wind. I asked them, ”why does Heavenly Father (or your earthly parents) give us commandments (or rules)”? “Is He trying to confine you or “cramp your style”? Or keep you in prison, not allowing you to have your freedom, or keep you from having fun?” One girl finally gave the right answer, “He wants us to be happy”. “That’s right” I said. He wants you to be happy. The choices we make [to live the Commandments, including “honor thy father and thy mother”, or not follow them], and the friends we keep [that will encourage us to live the commandments, not tempt us to break them], will help us to be happy, or cause us indescribable pain and sorrow. How much freedom do you really have, if you wake up in the morning craving a cigarette, and not being able to think of anything else because your addiction to nicotine. Does it put a cramp in your lifestyle to wake up with a splitting headache and “hangover”, because you got drunk the night before. If it feels like you are in prison now with all the restrictions your parents put on you, just wait ‘til you land in real prison or the county jail and are charged with vehicular manslaughter, because you killed someone while driving under the influence of smoking pot. How much fun is it, to walk out of the doctor’s office knowing that you are pregnant & have AIDS! You may say, “well I would never do any of those things”. But once you start down that slippery slope of breaking the “little commandments”, it does not take long (especially under peer pressure) to end up breaking “The Big Ones”! Once you sneak out at night to be with “friends”, or lie to your parents about which movie that you are actually going to see when they drop you off at the theater (the “R” rated one instead of Walt Disney), or texting under your covers late into the night when your phone curfew is 9:00 PM… It is amazing how quickly it goes to secret boyfriends, breaking the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity.

Your parents love you, more than you can ever know, until you have to walk in their shoes, and see through their eyes. Someday when you are a mother yourself, you will understand all this stuff that I am telling you. Until then, have faith that I am giving it to you straight, and follow the counsel of your parents & Church Leaders, especially the Prophet, and your Bishop. Their headlights shine down the dark road a lot farther than does your vision. They can see things that you cannot, and keep you from danger that you would have never expected, if you will honor them, and obey them to the letter. In some cases, if you do not follow their counsel, it will mean the difference between life, health, a loving family & good friends, or not living long enough and having the good health to actually become a mother someday. But in all cases, your obedience will mean the difference between true and lasting happiness, or great sorrow.

The next story was the first recorded miracle performed by Jesus. He was at a wedding feast in Cana. Some speculate that it may have been his own wedding, or at the very least a close family member (perhaps one of his siblings), because His mother Mary, appears to be the one in charge. She approaches Jesus and announces, “they have no wine”. Jesus knew what she was implying, and questioned her, “woman what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come”. 3

 He had not yet started his Mission, or whatever his reasoning, he did not want to perform the miracle that his mother was asking Him to do (at least not yet). Mary appears to ignore her Son’s refusal, and turns to the servants, and matter-of-factly states, ”whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (or in other words, no matter how crazy it sounds, DO IT!). 4

Then she leaves, not allowing any rebuttal from her son. Even though He (for whatever reasons) was unwilling to acquiesce to her request, and His initial reluctance to accommodate her, He told the servants to “Fill the waterpots with water” (as there were 6 large stone waterpots after the manner of the purifying of the Jews). After the servants had filled the pots to the brim, Jesus told them to “Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast”, and they bare it. The governor said to the bridegroom, “thou hast kept the good wine until now”. The water had been turned to wine.

I learn at least two lessons from this story. First, never argue with a woman in charge of a wedding feast. Whatever she asks, just do it! Secondly, that Jesus honored his mother’s request of him, even though it was something He did not want to do. So I now pose the question,… if Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of heaven & earth showed respect and honored his mother (again, especially since it was something that he did not want to do), how much more so, do we need to honor and obey “our mothers” (and fathers) [even if it is something that we do not want to do]?

[TO BE CONTINUED]

I’ve got to run for now. 

All my love, Jamie

1. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/2?lang=eng

2. https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/young-jesus-teaches-in-the-temple?lang=eng

3. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/2?lang=eng

4. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-10-023-jesus-turns-water-into-wine?lang=eng

Girl's Camp Workshop - Part 1

Dear Family,

This was a copy of a letter that I sent to my kids, answering some of their questions and tidbits of info, then PART 1 of my workshop that I gave up at Girls Camp. This is actually a compilation of the two sessions of the workshop given, as I felt impressed to say different things to each group, with maybe 50% of the material was given to both groups. I thought it best to break it up rather than send a book in one email.

Jamie

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3-31-09 [PART 1]

Dear Elder & Sister Hansen and all my kids,

Elder Hansen, these baptismal interviews that you are giving, will be good practice for when you are a Bishop someday. Also your sister’s plaque scripture is:

Alma 26:30 – “And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.”

Sister Hansen, this is from Mark P:

Hey Jamie, you may want Katrina to understand that it really doesn’t matter which day you set aside to worship Heavenly Father, so long as you make it the Lords day. IE: when the early saints did it on Thursday and even today as the saints in Israel go to church on Sat., Matthew Cowley gave quite a discourse on that subject while he was in the Islands as a Mission President
Have A Great Day!!

Mark P.



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[and these are my added words to those of Bro. P] Also in Rev. 1:10 it refers to “the Lord’s Day” (the first day of the week is meant), and references to it’s weekly observance are found in 1Cor. 16:2, & Acts 20:7 “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread”, an obvious pattern is set, that the early Saints met to honor the Savior’s resurrection (on Sunday, the first day of the week) and partake of the Sacrament. This was in obvious distinction from the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday), or the seventh day of the week.

But it all really comes down to gaining a testimony of modern revelation, and a Prophet on the earth today. In the D&C Sec. 59:9 -12, speaking about Sunday, it tells us that “…this is a day… to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions…on this, the Lord’s day, thou shalt offer thine oblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High…”

As Mark mentions above, what is most important is to set aside one day a week to honor the Lord. In Saudi Arabia they hold church services on Friday, because that is their Sabbath, in Israel it is held on Saturday, but for the rest of the world in countries that do not mandate what day that you observe religious meetings, our modern Prophets have dedicated Sunday as The Lord’s Day.

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Before too much more time goes by (and the mind clouds), I wanted to share about the workshop that I did up at Girls Camp. It was on “Respect” (that was the topic that the Stake YW Leaders gave me). I had two different sessions, and I gave each group what the spirit told me to. So they were both separate lessons (maybe only 50% overlapping content), and this writing is a compilation of both talks. I started with respect for yourself, and your body. Our bodies are Temples of God. Body piercing, tattoos, scars caused by rubbings or cutting/slashing, are all offenses to God.

Obeying the Law of Chastity also shows respect for your Temple, as well as the other person that you have strong feelings for. Any sexually intimate relations outside of the bonds of marriage, is deviant behavior in God’s eyes. Whether it is fornication, adultery, heterosexual, homosexual, or masturbation, it is all an offense to our Temple, and to our Heavenly Father. The only proper use of the powers of creation, are within the sacred bonds of marriage, between a man and a woman.

From a personal insight,… if you do not have the self mastery, internal fortitude, and self control to live the law of chastity and abstain from improper relations before marriage, you will not be able to have the discipline to control the lustful desires and practice fidelity after marriage without major repentance and help from the Lord. If you engage in premarital relations, you are training your future spouse to cheat on you! You are telling them it is OK NOT TO HAVE LIMITS, that it is OK to satisfy your lustful desires, to get whatever you want, and not have to wait. If there are no limits before marriage, why should you have limits after? They will want to keep feeding whatever lustful desires they see, and will show no allegiance to you, because you taught them to be that way!

Most of the time if you do not remain virtuous, they will not marry you anyway, they got what they wanted and will drop you as soon as you do not give them what they want anymore. Even if they do marry you, they will rarely remain faithful to you, again because you have trained them not to have standards.

[PART 2 will be coming soon]

Love, Jamie

Blooms & Things

3-23-09

Dear Elder & Sister Hansen and all my kids,

I wanted to mention before too much more time goes by, that 3 to 4 weeks ago as I was eating the last of my tomatoes, red bell peppers, and even 2 cucumbers from my little greenhouse outside my office at work. All the almond orchards were in full bloom[like white clouds], as were our daffodils [solid yellow; white outer/yellow center; white outer/orange center; & yellow outer/orange center], narcissus [white or yellow miniature daffodil-like , highly fragrant], flowering pear [white], some iris [purple], and some of the flowering plum (purple leaf plum)[pink], and flowering quince [red bushes], saucer magnolia [white; white/pink; & white/purple], rosemary [blue], azalea, camellia, & rhododendron bushes [rainbow of colors] followed by apricots [white], plum/prune orchards [white], peach/nectarine orchards [pink to rose to magenta]. Right now we have the Dutch Iris [white/yellow], freesias [rainbow of colors with a fragrance of sweet pea/lemon], primrose [red/yellow & pink/red], stock [white to pink, purple or red with an “old spice” fragrance], columbine [red/yellow], grape hyacinth [purple], impatiens [white], lilac [purple – Grand-mom Wallwork’s favorite flower with wonderful fragrance], fruiting pear [white], & strawberry [white].

Next will come the sweet peas [your mothers favorite – white to pink, purple, burgundy, & red], wisteria [lavender – with sweet pea fragrance], roses [rainbow of colors], iris [lavender & yellow], apple [pink/white], gladiola [rainbow of colors], and osmanthus (sweet olive)[with tiny white, but powerful apricot jam fragrance flowers], fruiting quince [pink], and citrus [white to cream flowers with powerful fragrance]; finishing off with gardenia [white – with extreme pungent sweet fragrance], crape myrtle [rainbow of colors] and all the foothill and mountain wildflowers.


BYU basket ball lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Texas A & M (2nd year in a row to the same team) (Your buddy Jackson E made BYU’s first basket of the game, a 3 pointer). 1

Men’s Volleyball is ranked at least 8th in the country, and just beat Long Beach State two days in a row, both times it went to 5 games (all were close, including 28 – 30 & 30 – 28 games the first day, and 29 – 31, 33 – 35, & 15-13 games in the second day). Before that BYU lost to the No. 1 team CSU Northridge, two days in a row, 3 game sets each time (all games close – 3 of the 6 were 28 - 30 scores). They play UCLA this Fri & Sat.


We have full bud break (leafing out) in the vineyard, as the cycle starts all over again. I look forward to watching the miracle of this vineyard, and the Lord working through us to fulfill his plans.

Love always your fellow laborer, Jamie

1. http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=294000002

Farm Manager's conference

Mon. Mar.2, 2009

Dear Elder & Sister Hansen and all my children,

Last week we had our annual Farm Manager Conference, except this year we had it in Boise Idaho (way to go, Idaho). Actually it was in (or near) Caldwell Idaho (40 min. away), with our hotel being in between in Nampa Idaho, 20 min. away. I was told it was in the Treasure Valley (I would have thought that it would all be the Snake River Valley, but not so). I flew from Fresno to San Francisco, our turbo prop plane flew right over the farm (our raisin vineyard), and just alongside Hwy 99 all the way up past Modesto before turning west to the Bay Area. I saw the two High Schools at Madera, and I waved and said “hello D, J, & M." Then the Pilot Truck Stop, County Landfill, Chowchilla including the High school and my parent’s house; then Jessup’s Dairy & the land Schuh Bros. farmed where I worked as a teenager, etc.

My flight was late, and I literally ran from gate 11 to the gate 71, where they were calling my name, but as it was, there was still a short line, waiting to board the jet, so I did not hold them up at all. After we took off and curved around heading NE, I had a beautiful view of the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, Alcatraz, The Golden Gate Bridge, Oakland and San Francisco. The Oakland Temple was on the other side of the plane. [On the way home, as we took off at night from SF airport going to "Fresberg", our plane banked and made a beeline for the Oakland Temple – shinning like “a beacon on the hill”. It really was being used by that pilot as his beacon, guiding his (our) course. If an airline pilot uses our Temple to chart his course, oh how much the more do we need to set our course by its guiding light that it gives to us, and to the whole world!] Then over all the patchwork of farmland of the Sacramento Valley, and over the Sierra’s to the Desert of Nevada, SE Oregon, & SW Idaho. I saw the Football Stadium at Boise State, but the (Blue) “Smurf Turf” was covered up (otherwise geese & ducks think it’s water, and try to land on it, creating terrible flop-flop-flop-wap crash landings for the previously unwary water fowl).

Once I landed in Boise, I was wondering if there was a shuttle to the Fairfield Inn at Nampa, or if I was going to have to take a Taxi,… when I see this guy waving at me, and I recognize him as Steve B, the Farm Manager for the Caldwell Orchard (he has cherries, apricots, peaches & apples). He was there to pick up myself & Reed R from Hurricane Utah (apricots & peaches). Steve’s son is a recently returned missionary in the Calif. Santa Rosa Mission, and later when I talked with him, I found out that he knew Elder (Jordan) H very well, and they were in the same Zone together, and good friends. He said he was a good worker. He is also engaged to be married. ...
  John N from Medford Oregon (pears), and Bruce L from Ogden Utah (peaches) both drove to the Conf. All the HQ guys, Martin O (my immediate boss) and Brent C (head of all Welfare Farms) also drove. When I first started with the Church farms, there were at least 18 – 20 orchards & vineyards. Now we are down to 5, and we have increased the production on those 5 farms, to the point that we now out produce what the 20 farms used to do (except for the oranges that we used to have in So. Cal., and concord grapes that they used to have in Utah). But in recent months, the demand on our Welfare Projects and Bishop’s Storehouse have increased in total needs 30%, with the demand for peaches up 125%. So the Church bought some additional land near the Caldwell Orchard, so it is over twice the size now. Some of the new acreage has plums on it, and alfalfa. They will mainly be planting peaches and pears. Plus it also included an existing packing shed. Steve B is going to have his hands full, with all those crops. I think that I have it bad with only one crop (raisins), and the pressures of a little over a month of harvest from late Aug. to early Oct. But Steve B will start in early May with the first of monthly hay cuttings, then start in the cherries and then go right into the apricots, next comes plums, then peaches, then pears and finishing off with apples! And all the while overseeing the packing shed t’ boot! He will be in a constant harvest mode from May through October, what a grind on the Manager and members as well.

The Church has a hiring freeze in place (except in Welfare), and we all have been asked to cut back on expenses, to “do more with less”. But with the current situation in our national economy, the over all needs for Welfare are going up. Our Church leaders are preparing for whatever the future holds. They are asking us to increase our production!

On one hand the Church is gaining huge favor in PR all over the world for all of our Humanitarian efforts, and support and cleanup following natural disasters. But on the other hand there are those who will always hate us, and will try to do all they can to thwart the work (including our Welfare Farms). Brent C told us about a wheat farm with giant storage silos, in Oregon. The Church was in court facing charges of tax evasion on this farm. The government people could not believe that we had all these giant silos full of wheat, and not making any money off of it! We tried in vain to convince them, that we were storing it for time of need, and then we would give it away directly to the poor and needy, or make bread and other products from it, and GIVE that to the poor and needy (the unemployed as well as disaster victims etc.). We did not receive one penny for that wheat in compensation. That as a Church and “Non-Profit Organization” we should not have to pay taxes on the value of something that we were storing, to give away!

 Finally the head prosecuting attorney picked up the large “swearing-in Bible”, and shook it at them and said, “you show me one place in here where it talks about storing grain!” The Judge looks down at the prosecuting attorney, shakes his head in disgust at the arrogance & ignorance of this alleged attorney and states “I can’t believe you just said that!” Then the Judge lifts up his hand to Brent C and silently motions for him to come get that Bible. From that very Bible, Brent C reads to the whole courtroom the account in the Book of Genesis how Joseph interprets the Pharaoh’s dream, and how he stored grain in the 7 years of plenty, to be measured out in the 7 years of famine. He also told them about the Book of Ruth, where Boaz left the corners of the field for the poor, and the widows & orphans to glean, as commanded by Moses. Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi were widows and had great kindness shown them by Boaz. Brent told the courtroom, that God has commanded his people though the ages to care for the poor and needy, and that we were trying to follow that command today. We made no money whatsoever from that wheat! We just wanted to be able to give it away! Needless to say, we won the case, and did not have to pay taxes on the value of the wheat in storage for welfare purposes. [“No unhallowed hand…”]


May “The Master of the Vineyard” keep you all in his watchful care.
 Love always, Jamie

Training Companions

2-13-09

Dear Elder & Sister Hansen and all my children,

Both of my Missionaries are training new Missionaries right now. It reminded me of the fact that except for a day or two at a time (as a hold over until an opening could be worked to get them to their official trainer), [or on trade offs for a few hours at a time] with a few brand new Elders that I worked with, I did not train a fresh from the MTC Elder on a long term basis. But starting out in the Payneham Ward, as the East Zone Leader, I had at least 8 companions during the remainder of my mission as a 2nd time trainer, ether because they had an attitude problem, or their first Companion was a jerk to them or did not set the right example for them, or they had a self worth complex (partly because they had a jerk for a first companion). And 4 of the 8 of these Elders, Pres. W told me, that he was sending them to me as a last resort, and if I could not do anything with them, he was “going to send them home”. As it turned out, only one of them was sent home (Elder H, a really great guy), and it was found out that he had a medical problem, but after medical help he was able to honorably serve the rest of his mission in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission, and got to meet one of the Assistants there – Elder H (Cousin Mark), and was thrilled to meet my cousin.

Another of my companions that had been given to me as a last resort (in fact, Pres W told me “his very life was at stake”, depending on what happens in the next two weeks – he told the Elder that he would give him two weeks to straighten things out, or he was going to send him home). This was partly because he had come on his mission for the wrong reason (his girlfriend told him that she would not marry him, unless he was a “Returned Missionary”), and again, he had a first companion/trainer that was less than stellar. After a couple of days of trying to motivate him, I felt I was a failure, and pleaded with the Lord to show me how to “convert” him to proselytizing. My attempts to win him over included taking him around to meet all of our investigators, a dozen or more, which he really enjoyed (as his previous companionship did not have any serious ones). But it was really hard to get him to find the connection between the investigators we had because we had been obedient to mission rules, worked our tails off knocking doors, doing community service, and priming members for referrals. As we first put forth the effort and faith that there was somebody here we were supposed to find, God blessed us with people to teach. Then as the members saw how hard we worked and how effective that we were in teaching, they entrusted us with even more people to teach. Then as we started Baptizing, those new converts provided us with a whole new pool of investigators that just had a dominoes effect, and got the steam roller going strong! But again it first came from Faith, Obedience & Hard Work (or as the Aussies would say “Hard Yuckka”, aboriginal word for hard work). My new Comp. especially bonded with Joan (mom) and Jodi (9 yr old daughter) B, who had just been baptized the week before, and now we were working with the husband/dad – Arthur. But even after all this he had a hard time with tracting & street contacting.

After a few days of what seemed like dragging him around, and being frustrated at his frustration, I was saying my evening prayers and had a feeling. So the next morning we got in the car (all our Mission cars were old mustard colored Toyota Corola’s, except the White Mission Van – a 12 or 15 passenger, and the large, maroon Mission Pres. Yank Tank ), and as we drove past the road we should have turned on (to go to the area that we were tracting), my Comp. who had been in a very sullen mood, suddenly seemed concerned, and asked, “where are we going?” I replied, “Oh, just for a little ride”. To which he sat up and almost looked gleeful. We drove up into the Adelaide Hills (Still in our Zone boundaries) to a Park, a Wilderness Area, with really nice water falls (at least a quarter the height of our own Yosemite Falls). We walked a ways from the falls, to a spot where we could look out through a wedge in the mountains a see a large portion of the suburban area of Adelaide below us. It reminded me of the V/M Ranches up in Coarsegold, except instead of oaks, digger pines and chaparral (Manzanita etc); we had gum trees (Eucalyptus), wattle and scrub. I told the Elder that, I did not care why he came on a mission. What I cared about at this point was, what happens now! He needed to find out why he is here. I told him that I had been wrong, that I kept asking the Lord, “what do I need to do to help you?” So I did everything I could to help show you the way, what you needed to do. I did everything in my power to help you. Then last night I had the very strong impression that I was totally wrong in thinking that I had even a splinter of hope of helping you! This has very little to do with you and me, but it has everything to do with you and The Man Upstairs. You’ve gotta be right with “Him” first, and then together we can work out the rest! So, I’m going to leave you right here, and I’ll be just over there a ways, so we can still see each other, but we will not be able to hear each other pray. One of two things is going to happen here Elder, either you are going to have a confirmation from the Lord that this is what you are supposed to be doing, and then you have the personal commitment to put your whole heart and soul into this work, or I’m taking you to Pres. W, to send you home. I know that he told me to give you 2 weeks, but 2 weeks more, or 2 months more is not going to change a thing, unless you know in your heart who you are really serving here! He asked “how long are we going to be here?” “As long as it takes”, I responded. “But we have appointments tonight” he reminded me. “Then we will contact them after we get back, apologize and reschedule” I countered. I then continued, I may not be fully communicating here, but again, we are not leaving here until you have a witness from God as to who you are, why you are here right now in this mission, with me and the other people you have and will have contact with, and most importantly, who it is that you are here to represent. If we have to do the Enos thing, and stay here all night,…we will. If it takes 3 days to get your answer, I’m willing to do that. But when we leave this mountain, I want you to have an answer one way, or another…either dive in 100%, or GO HOME! Now I want you to consider a few things; I want you to think about the Bs, how you instantly bonded with them. How do you want them to remember you, as the Elder that quit? Or do you want to help teach Arthur (the dad) and be involved with his Baptism? I know if you go home now, your family will still love you, and accept you back (as well they should). But will you be able to face them? Then what about your girlfriend? If she is worth her salt, she will not marry you. Would you even feel worthy to ask her to make a commitment to you, when you don’t keep your commitments? This is your very life here, Elder. If you quit now, you will never finish anything you try to do the rest of your life. But if you gain a conversion and finish this mission, you will have the tools to finish anything you set out to do in life. All of these are temporal concerns. Very important concerns, but the greatest thing that I want you to think about is, the time that Jesus spent in Gethsemane, and on Calvary suffering and dying for you; And ask yourself, “has ANYTHING you have faced thus far on your mission, even COME CLOSE TO WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR YOU?!!?” When you compare what he did for you, what is the big deal in having a few doors slammed in your face, or having people speak rudely to you, or even threaten you or throw things at you? And because he did what he did for you, there should be nothing that he could ask of you, that you would not be willing to give, even, the offering of your own life. “So you tell me when you are ready”


I then walked 80 to 100 yards off to where we could still see each other, but could not hear each other unless we yelled. I then knelt down, and began to pray. Weighed down with the extreme pressure that I felt was on my shoulders for the very life of this young man, I pleaded with my Heavenly Father, to bless this young Elder, to help him have a witness of “His” Son, and to be fully committed to this great work. I prayed for our investigators, for my family, for my own worthiness, and many other things. I paused and looked to see if my companion was still there,…he was. I looked again to the wedge in the mountain and part of the city sprawled out before me. I then had a very strong impression that my grandfather, James Alfred Hansen (who had passed away about 7 years before), was standing right there beside me, and I could hear his voice telling me, “they are out there, waiting for the Gospel, they are ready, when you are ready!” I felt the presence of others there also, including my [maternal] grandfather William August Hinze (who passed away over 8 years before). I was powerfully reminded that we have a lot of loved ones pulling for us, on both sides of the veil. My Friend Don Handly had died in a car accident aprox 2 years before, and I had felt his presence many times, and felt that he was a Guardian Angel of sorts. But it became very clear to me that, we are not alone, that there are MANY who watch over us, and that the Temple Keys of Sealing power, as well as truly being Brothers and Sisters in the Gospel are Eternal, and that Angels truly do go before us to prepare the way. We are being watched over and protected, that there is a tremendous work going forth, on the other side of the veil that would dwarf the efforts on this side. They are preparing the relatives and ancestors of those being taught on this, the mortal side of this great work. Other great things were felt and opened to view.


After 2 to 3 hours, my companion came to me with red swollen eyes, his whole countenance was changed. There was a combination of humility, joy, recognition of what the Savior had done for him, and a deep resolve to do what ever he needed to do, to be a full disciple of the Man from Galilee. He said he was “ready to go to work”. From that time on this young missionary was a hard worker and ally in the companionship, not a drag or dead weight.

The next Sunday, Arthur B came to church and that night he came to a Discussion put on by the Assistants, that included the Joseph Smith Story, The Book of Mormon coming forth, priesthood restoration, the major commandments (morality, tithing, Word of Wisdom, Sabbath Day observance, etc.), and then a challenge to be baptized. We then went into a classroom and the 3 of us all knelt down together and I asked Arthur if he would ask God if he should get baptized (as we filled the font with water before we started the discussion). “I can not be baptized” he stated with sorrow in his voice. “I smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, and I drink coffee & tea, and I drink beer! I’ve tried to stop before and I can’t!” I then asked him, “did Moses part the Red Sea by himself, or did he have help?” He nodded his head and acknowledged that “He had help”. I then asked “do you think God could help you stop those things, and give you strength to do what ever else that He needs you to do, and prepare you to be with your family forever?” “Yes, I know he can.” “Then will you ask him, if you should be baptized, and to bless you to be able to stop these bad habits?” I then bowed my head in anticipation of his prayer. It was silent for a long time, maybe even 4 or 5 min. But I kept my head bowed, and eyes closed, and arms folded. I prayed fervently that Arthur would answer the challenge to pray, because I had great faith, that if he actually prayed, God would answer him with an unmistakable witness. Finally he started the prayer, and asked Heavenly Father if he should be baptized. Then there was a brief pause and next a moment of a powerful feeling, a confirmation from the Holy Ghost, and that he should be baptized, and then with a quivering voice choked with emotion, he continued, “will you please bless me to stop all these bad habits, so that I can be with my family forever!” He ended the prayer, and as I looked up at him, he had tears running down his cheeks.

We got Arthur and my young companion, dressed in white and baptized him that very night. The Confirmation took place immediately afterward, and as I pronounced the blessing part, Arthur was promised that the very sight or smell of tobacco, tea, coffee or alcohol would make him violently sick. That he would be able to take his wife and daughter to the temple to be sealed.

Monday morning when Arthur went to work, all of his workers that smoked, he made them go outside, as their boss was sick, and throwing up. They were all shocked, Friday when they last saw their boss, he was a smokin’, drinkin’ man. Now the very sight or smell of tobacco, tea, coffee, or beer made him throw up. The next time that I saw Arthur, he told me what had happened at work, and told me “Elder Hansen, that was a cruel blessing [curse] that you put on me!” I reminded him that it was not me that gave the blessing, I was merely acting as the voice. But he dearly thanked me just the same.

The B family later became the first family Sealed in the Sydney Temple when it was dedicated. There were other couples being Sealed (initial marriages) simultaneously, but they were the first family sealed.

I know God has a plan and reason for every person, and every association and contact that they have with others. I believe that the series of events just relayed were as much for that young Elder, as they were for the Bs. As he witnessed for himself, the mighty rushing winds, as well as the still small voice, of what the Holy Spirit could do in his life, as well as Arthur B. President W had told us early on, that “there is no problem a missionary has [outside of morality transgressions], that can’t be fixed by having a baptism!” All of a sudden things that seemed so pressing before hand, are pushed to the back burner after a baptism. Within a matter of days this new Elder had seen with his own eyes, and felt with his own heart, his very own conversion to the work, and his very first baptism of his mission. He saw the glorious miracle of a family being united in Gospel living. He saw a husband and father being home with his family, rather than going to the pub every night. 

This what the Church is all about.

May God watch over and protect all of you. 

Love Jamie

Lost Phone

1-27-09

Dear Elder & Sister Hansen and all my kids,

I spoke in the Fresno Stake YSA Ward on Sun (25th) morning (the one Brent L attends, and cousin Robbie H & Curtis A were also there – !...), and gave my annual fireside in Kerman that evening (at Bro. Don E’s home). Among other things I told them about an event that happened at the farm a couple of seasons ago. It was during “suckering time” (which technically speaking should be called “DE-Suckering”), and I was spraying for powdery mildew (which is potentially the biggest reason for crop loss in vineyards, as it makes the crop rot on the vine). At this time of year I have discing, irrigation (depending on gophers and teething coyote pups, I will spend up to 4 hours per day splicing hoses to repair the bite marks), berm sprays to kill weeds (as the drip water breaks down the pre-emergence that we put down after pruning to keep weed seeds from germinating, so I have to do “touch up” sprays later on to catch the escapees), and the foliar sprays to keep fungus from starting (which needs to be preventative sprays to keep ahead of it, or you suffer huge losses, or even complete crop failure). At these times, I sometimes will spend 2 or 3 days in a row at the farm without coming home, and get 2 to 4 hours of sleep per day (when I’m falling asleep on the tractor, I will take a cat nap and then get driving again), because I have so much to do and only a certain window of time to do it in, or we will loose crop. All of this has to be dove tailed in with volunteers coming to do suckering (as it is against the law for me to be spraying or dusting while I have workers in the field – even if they are at the other end of the field, plus some of the chemicals have up to a 3 day re-entry interval even for something as completely safe as sulfur dust (but it does make your eyes burn).

I had just finished mixing up a load of fungicide spray in the big 500 gal. spray rig, when I get a phone call from a man who had been there the day before with his Ward to do the suckering. He had lost his new Blackberry cell phone (one of those real skinny ones with internet service and very expensive). He had looked everywhere, and felt that the only place it could be was out at the farm (it must have fallen out of his pocket as he bent over to do the work at the farm). He needed it desperately for his occupation. He asked me if I could go look for it, and gave me his phone number, so I could listen for the ring tone, which was classical music. I did not have the heart to tell him all the pressure that I was under, that I was going to have to spray all night as it was. But since he lived so far away in one of the outlying Stakes, and he and his fellow Ward members have been so faithful in coming to work, I could not say no, and I agreed to go look for him.

I had to leave the tractor running to keep the agitation in the tank going or the material would settle, and clog up the system. I went and got the Honda Quad out of the shed, as I thought it might be faster to drive up and down the rows fairly quickly to see if it might just be laying on the ground in plain sight. Then after I made the 4 passes on the Honda quickly looking, I would then walk the rows and every so often call to listen for classical music. Just before I started the Honda, I knelt and said a prayer.

“Heavenly Father, thou knowest the pressure that I am working under right now with all that I need to do, and this dear brother that has been so faithful at serving in Thy vineyard, please help guide me to this phone, not only to find it,… but please help me find it as fast as possible, to help this dear Brother and so I can get back to my other work” (one of the other factors pressing was that it would be dark in another hour). As I finished my prayer, and rode the Honda to the rows they had worked on, I was just about to head down the first row when, I felt the distinct impression to CALL NOW! OK, great! It must be here real close. So I turned off the motorcycle (to hear better) and made the call, fully expecting to hear Beethoven’s 5th, … But, nothing happened! I did not hear anything but a gentle breeze and birds, and the low hum of the tractor in the distance keeping the tank mix agitated (reminding me that I was burning up diesel, and the urgency to find this phone as soon as I could). I was stunned, as I had felt the impression to stop and “CALL NOW” so strong, I totally expected to hear classical music (or “Baroque” or whatever Beethoven’s music era was called), that the phone was going to be right here! Then after a moment of bewilderment and pause, I mounted the Quad again and started down the row. I had not gone ten vines, when the impression came again, “CALL NOW”! So I stopped, excited that maybe the phone was down in a gopher hole or something, and now I was right over the top of it, and would now hear it faintly. But as I again made the call,… nothing!

I could not believe it! I knew what I had felt! Why would the Lord tell me to stop and call, only to have nothing happen!?! (At least nothing that I could see or hear!) It was perplexing to me, to have that Spirit that I had long since come to trust and rely on, now seemingly leave me wanting. I offered another prayer, and apologized for my lack of faith, and questioning, and again pleaded for His help and guidance. I got back on the Honda and started a third time down the row, and again within a few seconds the impression came again, “CALL NOW”. I thought maybe with all the time that had elapsed and the calls made, maybe the battery is getting low, and only now will I be able to hear it, as the ring tone will be so faint. As I stopped the engine and made the call,… again with full expectation of hearing Beethoven’s 5th, … silence. I looked up to the sky, with a questioning eye, and asked “Are you sure about this?” I immediately repented of my lapse, and then stated “I do not know why Thou wouldst be testing me this way, and I long ago learned to follow Thy voice, and I’m not about to stop now. I pledge to continue to follow the Holy Spirit, no matter how pointless it may seem to my mortal ways”. I then again hopped on the Honda, and started once more down the row. Again after a few seconds the impression to stop and “call”, I looked up and in humility confirmed, “I do not understand what is going on here or why, but I will obey”.

It got to the point where I felt as Adam felt when the Angel asked him “why he was offering Sacrifice”? And he replied, “I know not, save the Lord commanded me.” I did not know why I was doing this, except that the Lord was commanding it, and I obeyed. This procedure continued a total of 8 to 10 times, until as I was about make another call, my phone rang instead, and I could see by the caller ID that it was the very number that I had been trying to call. I was totally surprised and answered as if it were the guy who originally called me, but it was the driver of the car pool, of the Brothers that had been there the day before. I looked around to see where he was, and asked him if he were in the vineyard. He answered “no”, that he was at his home. “But, then how did you get his phone?” “Well, it was a funny thing, I was on my way home from work (in the same car he had driven to the farm the day before), and I heard this music…” He went on to tell me that his business is only about 5 min. away from his house, and heard the ringing come and go at least twice, so when he got home, he started looking for where the music was coming from. He could not find it right away because it had lodged itself down in a crack of the back seat (when the owner of the phone had climbed into the back seat, it must have fallen out of his pocket and gone down into that crack). It took awhile to locate the general area that the sound was coming from, because he could only look when he heard the music playing, and would have to wait periodically for the music to resume again to keep looking (for me to stop, and make another call). He said that the phone was so tight and deep in the crack that he would never have found it until they sold the car for junk parts, and somebody dismantled and took out the seat to switch it to another car. So if I had not called when I did (instead of riding the quad down all the rows first to visually look for the phone, and then later walking the rows to periodically call and listen for the ring tone), he would have already gotten home and gone in the house and not heard my first call (and after some time the battery would have gone dead and they would have never found it). Then, if I had not kept calling, even when it seemed so silly to keep calling so soon, as I felt that I had not gone far enough to make any difference in listening for the ring tone in the vineyard, he would not have been able to locate the phone deep in the crack, by shoving his hand down in there fishing for the phone trying to follow where the music was coming from.

I testify to you that, God our Heavenly Father does hear and answer the heartfelt prayer of faith, from any and all of His children. It often will not be in ways that you expected, and sometimes it may not seem as though anything is happening at all. But I promise you that He will not abandon you, that he does watch over you and hears your every prayer. 

Love always, your fellow servant, Jamie

Mike & Sully

1-26-09

Dear Elder & Sister Hansen, and all my away children,

We had a great Sacrament Meeting yesterday. Little Matthew D spoke first, and he was part stand up comic, and part common sense/spirituality that was far beyond his young years. He spoke about his favorite Conf. talk from Elder Worthlin, and gave several football analogy’s. [This is the same 4’10” little Matthew that in the “Turkey Bowl” flag football games would go up against Mark H and Ryan P, and other comparatively huge men, and snarl at them, make contorted faces, shake his fists, and try to make intimidating sounds like, “GRRRRRRRRR!!!, GRRRRRRRRR!!!” You would be laughing so hard that he would then run past you to sack the quarterback (pull his flag).]

He told about the most recent game on New Year’s Day, it was tied up 27 to 27, and on one of the final plays of the game Daniel H had caught what appeared to be the winning touchdown. Everyone thought that Daniel had caught the ball, and his team mates were already wildly celebrating the apparent victory. But Daniel H told everyone that the ball touched the ground first, and therefore it was an incomplete pass. So instead the game ended in a 27 all tie. Matthew was really moved by this gesture, that Daniel chose to be honest and not win [tie] the game, rather than lie and win. No one would have been the wiser, had he just kept his mouth shut. Matthew stated that “Daniel was a true hero” in his eyes. It would not surprise me to see his picture in 25 to 30 years from now in the center of the “Ensign” magazine Conf. editions (with all the other General Authorities).

Kit B also spoke and gave a powerful message. So confident and articulate, and it is quite apparent that she has had some good training and has a great handle on life.

Bro. Randy A was the High Council speaker, and among other things, he told about Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot of US Airlines passenger jet flight 1549, that had to do an emergency crash landing in the Hudson River, after some birds got sucked into its engines shortly after take off. 1 As the plane was going down, with the potential panic that could have presented its self, the passengers & crew heard the calm, cool, collected voice of the Captain telling them to “brace for impact”. It was so soothing, so assuring, that it made it almost seem like a drill, rather than the life and death peril they faced. The former fighter pilot then very smoothly landed the jet on the frigid waters of the Hudson River, as though he had done it a thousand times before (he probably had in flight simulators, and had while still in the military performed at least one other emergency crash landing). Video recording and eye witnesses confirmed that the well trained crew had the doors opened within 30 seconds, and had all passengers out and in lifeboats within 5 min. There was no frantic mad dash or stampede trampling victims underfoot. Everything was orderly, calm, yet surprisingly quick. There were reports of the passengers and crew making sure that a woman with a small child was placed ahead of themselves, to make sure that she had priority in getting out. Also the only major injury of a woman who broke both of her legs (because of her poor positioning in her seat belt at impact), was assisted by passengers and crew to get her out of the plane (again ahead of themselves). Captain “Sully” then went through the plane himself from head to tail twice, to make sure that everyone was off the plane, and then stood on the wing directing the final loading of all the passengers and crew, before he himself as the last one entered the life raft.

Within 10 min. of the crash, a nearby ferry boat had diverted its course to come to the rescue and then joined by other rescue boats that arrived had all the survivors picked up after only 15 min. from when the plane originally went down. The crews of these rescue boats immediately wrapped the survivors in blankets or removed their own coats to cover them and keep them warm (they also gave them warm/hot drinks to help warm them up). Later when the pilot, crew, and rescue boat personnel were being praised with titles of heroic, courageous, and bravery under extreme circumstances; to a person, they all down played those honors and said they were “just doing their job”.

[As a side note to this, while all the news media were giving credit to Captain “Sully” for saving the lives of the 155 passengers in the expertly executed crash landing and evacuation; Captain “Sully” was quietly, behind the scenes contacting the library to inform them that the book he had checked out a few days before was lost/water damaged in the plane crash, and he offered to buy them a new one as a replacement.2 As if anybody in the whole world would have worried about that book at this point, with everything else that had just occurred,… but Captain “Sully” knew it. He considered that his own personal honor was at stake here. He was responsible for that book, and he was going to make it right. Plus the only way we knew about this incident, was because the library informed the news media. They also said that privacy laws prohibited them from giving the title of the book, but they could release the subject matter of the book, which was “personal ethics”. I think that about says it all.]

Always remember that the true mark of “character” is, doing the right thing when no one else is looking.

Until next time, all my love, Jamie

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Airways_Flight_1549

2. http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11611495

Robert Frost

Dear Family,
This was my latest to my kids away,
Jamie



1-08-09
Dear Elder & Sister Hansen and all my kids away,
Except for harvest, this is one of the busiest times of the year for me. A lot to get done in a month window of time (layering, pruning, stake & trellis repair, wrapping & tying canes, raking off berms, and cutting off stumps). But I did have some things to share real quick;
This was the poem that Elder Hansen requested:

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by: Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of the easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

From "You Come Too", 1916

I tried to find a quote from Pres Benson about “this generation must be prepared to meet God”, but I could not find it. I found 20 places where he stated, “prepare to meet God”, but none where he had that phrase connected with “this generation must”.

I do not know if any body said it yet, but [Your brother, "D"] was selected to the "First Team All League Defense" at Linebacker. Which is quite an honor.

Sister Hansen, your letters seem more and more to resemble the latest edition of a "Mission Impossible" episode, with all your dealings with (and ditching of) the police/military. It makes our prayers for all our missionaries that much more intense!

FYI, they just combined the Oakhurst & Coarsegold Wards, and called the new one the "Yosemite Ward". Bishops M & H were released and the new Bishop is Kyle W.

I love you all, & we pray for you constantly.

Jamie

Harvest Emails & Christmas Program

22-Dec-2008

Dear Elder & Sister Hansen, and all my kids away,

To start off, here is a series of emails to all of the Priesthood leaders in the Eight Stakes, then a request for clarification from (your mother), and a response from one of the High Councilors from the Fresno East Stake, and my response to them concerning the huge loss of crop that we experienced.

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Jamie Hansen 

 Dear Stake Presidencies, High Councilors, Bishoprics etc.,

            I just got final notice from the packer (SUN-MAID), of our totals. We have 326,704 lbs of "meeting grade fruit", which equals 163.352 tons for the 2008 harvest. This is approximately 100,000 lbs or 50 tons less than our potential. Judging by Tray Counts & Sugar Readings (comparing them with previous years), we should have had a record setting crop somewhere in the range of 420,000 to 430,000 lbs (210 to 215 tons) [The old record was 208 tons in 2003 harvest].
          There are many mitigating circumstances leading to this HUGE loss, and no way to sugar coat it, or diplomatically in my reports to the General Welfare Committee and the Prophet in Salt Lake, or in my prayers to the Lord at the end of the day, say it any other way than, it was mostly caused by our failure to roll the raisins up (especially in the sandy areas) in a timely manner, and they became over dried.
                                                          Jamie Hansen

      ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Subject: Re: 2008 Harvest Weight Finals - 18-Dec-08

Jamie,

              Please translate this for me. Does this mean we lost 1/4 of our crop, because we did not come and roll the raisins when we were asked to come? So, they got too dry? After all the hard work? This is very sad.
Susan 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------           

Susan,

               Yes, we lost almost ¼ of our crop because we did not roll it up in time, and it over dried.

Jamie

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jamie,

              I do not remember the circumstances surrounding the issue of not getting the rolling done on time. I think we may want to develop a SWAT team to take care of emergency situations when they occur. I am pretty sure that we may not have responded correctly to the need. I think the problem was and is more on the Stake level than a Farm Management problem. I do not know exactly what or how to handle the need; I will make it a matter of prayer and see what understanding I can receive.
Richard M

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Richard et al,
                         Your Stake for the most part was no more than 2 or 3 days late in the Sandy areas on some rows; As was the case for most of the Stakes/Wards in the northern half (2nd week of picking) of the vineyard. But 2 or 3 days added up. I would say a majority of the rows were done late in all Stakes (for the sandy areas). Then we also had a communication problem in getting people to roll the right areas first. As some workers would come and roll whole rows, when it would be better to do two half rows of the upper sandy soil, than one complete row; or would start rolling up on a row that was picked last (when it should have been rolled last). Adding to that, if people did "creative rolling" instead of the way we asked them to roll, and had parts of the roll left exposed instead of fully enclosed, then those bundles continued to dry out. This was especially intensified in the southern half (1st week of picking), because of the higher temperatures, plus some rows were a full week or more late in rolling the raisins (more intense heat and longer duration of exposure). In many cases the amount of man power initially sent out from a Ward was sufficient to do the sandy areas, they just needed to work on the right rows and in the right areas of the row. Then the rest of the rows (and heavier soil areas) could have been done by the follow up crews with minimal over drying. [Again this is using the exact same man hours, just using them more efficiently – in the right areas first, we would have had an additional 25 to 30 tons of meeting grade fruit.]
                           
 Jamie

           We had a Great Christmas program with a musical presentation that was composed and directed by Sister M who put her heart and soul into it, and it showed in her face as she conducted the choir and numbers (which included two flute players – Megan F and Paige P, and Floyd F on the cello. These instrumental parts added so much to the feel and atmosphere of the numbers, and made it that much more special, it truly brought the Spirit into the meeting; especially Bro. F on the cello, his music in and of itself is so pure and soothing, but added to that, knowing him – the man behind the bow and strings, and his life is one of never ending, selfless service to others; His humility and testimony show through in his mesmerizing music like a brilliant light in a darkened world, he is making an offering to the Lord of his talent, and it is his gift to the Christ Child, and to all the rest of us, the yearnings of his soul played out in melodic form, complimenting his gifts of other talents and labors of love).

         It was interspersed with 3 talks by Reggie A (his time as a Missionary showed in the power and depth of his testimony of the Savior), Bishop B (who told of the Christmas story itself and his wise insights), and then the concluding speaker was Sister Karen B who gave one of the most touching Christmas talks ever. Among other things, she told of her parents with 9 children, and limited means. On one hand having a baby in diapers and on the other trying to furnish their brother to serve a mission, in the dead of winter without a dryer; And one morning waking up to a new dryer wrapped in a bow on the front porch. Then a few days later a cab delivered from an anonymous donor new clothes and supplies for their missionary. She told that how on one hand her parents felt humiliated and embarrassed that others felt the need to give them things, but on the other hand a great sense of gratitude and feeling of love from those who cared for them so much to do this for them.

          There were many times that day that tears brimmed in my eyes and dripped down my cheeks, and at times was so choked up by the message of the words and feeling of the music, that I could not sing, but the tank about ran out during Sister B’s talk.

          May each of you feel the presence of the Savior at this special time of the year.  

Jamie