My Very Own P.O. BOX

Hello my loved ones! I miss you already, I really do. I miss Seattle too, but things are going well. It was pretty hard Saturday and early Sunday, I didn't think I was gonna make it, I was feeling so lonesome for home, but once I drove around Bethel on Sunday night I was already feeling better. I was really praying that the Lord would remind me why I'm here and renew my love for the people and the region, and He did! I still miss everyone terribly, but I'm not longer feeling depressed at all, I know the Lord has good things for me here. I'm excited to start working as a nurse, I got my ID Badge today and it said "Alessandra Hansen, Registered Nurse" pretty great huh? The picture is pretty funny, I wish that I had a way to send you a pic of it, but i don't have the cord to hook my camera up to they computer... sad story huh... i'll do my best to remedy that soon.

And then, Praise the Lord guess what I found out today?! I have an apartment ready for me on Wednesday! Now no one can tell me that, that's not a miracle! I wasn't suppose to have an apt. ready for me until the end of December and then my wonderful manager called them to ask if they had somewhere to house me until then and they said they had a permanent place for me now! I couldn't believe it! I just feel so blessed! God is so good and so faithful, I know that, that apartment opened up only through prayers! So thank you so much- all of you that have been praying- especially my SeaTac Bible Study! So I will be staying with my manager until Wed. She says that they're gonna throw me a "pounding" party when I move in. She's from Texas and I guess it's a tradition down there. They bring you things to fill your pantry. You know how I like a good party so this should be fun. :)

I'll have a bed provided for me and a fridge but that's about it. Necie (my manager and surrogate aunt) thought they furnished it for me, so i didn't bring anything up, but it turns out that they changed that policy. She said "don't worry about it sugar, we'll take care of it". So her and Terry (Necie's neighbor, and my roomate from last summer) are already planning on how they'll deck out my house. We have some tricks up our sleeve, which may include some tricky maneuvering and then we'll look at garage sales as well. I don't know how you have garage sales when it's this cold out but I guess they do.

I also have decided that I need to get a car. I didn't think that I would but everyone advises that I do and the longer i'm here to more i realize that it's a good idea. It's too cold to walk (at least for me- i'm a wimp when it comes to cold i found out- Necie says i'll get used to it) and snow-mobiles are almost as expensive as a car! Also even though gas is really expensive (about $5) you only have to fill up like every 2 weeks, and insurance actually isn't so bad up here either. So pray that God leads me to just the right car, either here in Bethel or something in seattle that can be shipped up. Preferably something that I can stuff a bunch of little kids in and drive to church!

I now have remembered how wonderful and beautiful the kids are here! I haven't gotten to hold any yet and kiss their round cheeks like I would like but hopefully real soon. I've given and received lots of smiles though! I'm excited to start teaching Sunday School at the church. Necie says that she will do her best to work out my schedule so that I can help with the church as much as possible. Hopefully me and one of the other nurses (my friend Charly) can switch off weeks so that it's somewhat consistent for the kids.

Everyone here has been so wonderful. I arrived in Bethel on Sunday night and everyone was just so welcoming. When people found out that I was sure where I'd be living, I had multiple offers of a place to stay, even with people I had just met. People here just want to take care of me- I must have a look about me that says "I'm a city girl, all alone and without her family for the first time". :) So yeah I just feel so very very blessed.

As my title says I am now the proud owner of my very own P.O. BOX! I am so thrilled about this! I'm not sure why it makes me so happy but it really does. I'll send you all the number in an email- I don't really want any weirdos getting it and sending me weird mail or something, mostly because then I might have to change the number and I really would be sad about that because I really love my number and really love the position of my box, it's so perfect! I really think I should name my box. Do y'all have any suggestions for his name? So if any of you have the inclination to send me some mail I would love it, because I know that I will be so very sad every time i check him and he's empty. I'll have to sign up for some catalogs or something just in case.

Oh and just to update you all on the husband status... Two pharmacists have been suggested to me by Terry (she's very against doctors, dentists and teachers for various reasons), I've been offered someone's son but it turns out he's gay, another son but he's currently married and then while at a restaurant yesterday the waitress wanted to set me up with her brother-in-law (she asked from across the room how old I was and if i was single, it was pretty humorous). Oh and you can't forget the 60 year old man at lunch today that gave me his phone number and said that if I got bored he would take me out on the snow-mobile. hahaha. I'm sure he was just being a friendly Alaskan, but still i thought it was funny- i don't think i'll call. : ) The odds are good but the goods are odd.

Oh one more thing! One of my favorite things from today was that I met a guy who invited me to come and play football with him and his friends! I was so excited! I guess they play two-hand touch, and flag when possible. Girls and guys both play, he said it was 40%girls/60%guys last time. I had so much fun playing football this summer that I was so happy to be able to play again. My friends this summer got me ready for playing out here. Let me just give a little shout out to HSM! I'm not sure how well I'll do in the snow but I'm excited to try. He also told me that basketball starts in the end of December, so I'm excited about that too! Sigh... praise the Lord for His magnificent provision!

Oh wait last thing, I found out that for my orientation I'll be working on night shift, which has it's pros and cons. I'll be working 7 days on and 7 days off at 12 hours shifts. That's kinda the con but the pro is that I can use my week off to come home for Christmas. Well technically I'm not sure if it will actually be Christmas week but it will be close. My mom said that we can make it Christmas whenever I can come. Isn't she so sweet. So i'll be home in December at some-point. Can't wait to see you all!

Alright I'll go now, I need to go to the grocery store and this has gotten ridiculously long!
Adios - i miss speaking Spanish and having Spanish speakers around me- I haven't found any yet.