Adjusting to the mission life in Cali...

So So So….

The week has been good, we have had quite a bit of work and what not to do so that’s been good, but we also had quite a bit of fall-throughs which I will have to get used to.

The last couple of weeks I have been in East Oakland which is supposed to be the most ghetto part, but my new area will be West Oakland and I’ll go there tomorrow.  My new comp is a pretty sweet black kid from Missouri.  He served in the Samoan ward here for a little while so he knows the Poly ways a little, so that’s good, I’m stoked for that. But ya I don't really know what to talk about, the last couple weeks have just been kinda weird. I didn't get too comfortable because I knew I would be leaving soon.

I found out that Pita’s parents are temple workers here but I really don't have a way of contacting them unless I serve in their ward.  But… I don't know which ward they are in, so we'll see how that goes.

But I’ll have more to tell you next week, until then.

Peace and blessings,

Elder Hanke

Sounds like he’s still working to get in the groove of things; hopefully next week he has more to report on in his new area with his new companion…. But all is good.

Just a reminder…. if you’ll recall from a couple of letters a few months back, Pita is Garrett’s “best friend in Labasa”.  Garrett became very good friends with Pita while in his last area in Fiji, he is the guy that Garrett wanted to go in to business with.  J Garrett was in touch with Pita a few times while he was home in Logan, and found out right before he left that Pita’s parents live in the Oakland/San Fran area, so hopefully he can track them down one of these days.   He had a lot of fun stories to tell about Pita and his wife and kids… definitely had a lot of love for them and really misses them. 

Wanted to post this picture of Elder Hanke and Kyndra at the airport on the day he flew out to California.

 Hope everyone is doing well… love to you all…

The Mission, Part Two...

Pres. and Sister Wade with Elder Hanke - Oakland, CA 4/16/2012



Well, Elder Hanke is back in the saddle after six weeks of time off.  Seems strange to be back on the blog, so I can only imagine how strange it seems for him to be back out, starting over, in a completely new area.  We emailed back and forth a bit today, so not a lot to post, but we did get the letter from the Mission President last Friday saying he arrived safely, along with the always-appreciated picture. 

Thanks to everyone for your love and support while getting Garrett through the last several weeks. He is doing great, will be on the blood thinner meds for the next year while he’s in California, with occasional lab tests to check his INR level.  We are so grateful that he is healthy and was able to go back out for the second half of his mission.

Well, I’m getting back to the ways of a missionary, there’s a big difference.  I finally feel the way I did before in Fiji and I understand why I'm here, and that “myself” doesn't matter anymore, so honestly Mom, it’s all fine.  Actually it’s better than fine, we had some sweet lessons the last few days and I'm getting back into it so it’s all chill.

I’m in a 3-some until transfers come in, then I'll find out my real area and that should be on like this Saturday or something. But it’s good, I’m in probably the most ghetto parts of Oakland, ha. Lots of streets we just don't go down past dark because it’s way too sketchy, ha, but I’m getting used to that as well.

My companions are good, ha, they are younger than me on the mish.  One has been out for 8 months and one for 3, so it’s kinda funny.  We just teach anyone who wants English, but mostly blacks cuz that’s what is mostly out here.

If you send letters and stuff to the mission home then they forward it to us, so use that address. 

(See updated address on the left.)  :)