This week was wonderful! We got to work a little more in our area as things in the office settled down, and I got to know my place and responsibilities as secretary pretty well too. Then, the holidays were great! Both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we went to a different family of American members who work down here in the embassy and live in the very high-end homes of Carrasco, the richest neighborhood in the country. So with a barbecue and a roast ham joyfully inhaled, we were able to remember the States a little, even though the ninety-degree weather was quite bizarre for that day of the year. The night of the 24th, fireworks lit up the entire city--it was a gorgeous display that put the 4th of July to shame-- even our downstairs neighbors had purchased what seemed like industrial-scale explosives and were happily launching them into the skies. Pictures attached. Best of all, though, was talking with my family. They're the best! We had a great time.
I have noticed that the people who live here don't seem very happy; they're very abrupt and impatient in the way they interact with others, and they don't know even their next-door neighbors. It has reinforced my testimony that the riches of this world will not and cannot bring us happiness. Only the rich knowledge of the eternities and the priceless blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are capable of redeeming us--that is, purchasing us from the bonds of sin and misery and providing us with the blessed joys that will last and make life worth each precious moment.
I love you and hope you've had a wonderful Christmas. May your New Year bring reflection and plans for progression,
Elder Hansen
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