Email received 06/25/12 FIRST BAPTISMS

This week has been really crazy.  I have had a lot of cool things happen.  On Saturday, we went on splits with the zone.  I went with one of the zone leaders.  We taught a man we met while we were contacting.  He is so awesome.  I shared a scripture with him about faith and trials.  The Spirit was there so strong.  I really hope he gets baptized.

We walked a lot on Saturday.  OK, more than normal.  The zone leaders have two areas, so that really humbled me because I saw how hard they worked.  That made me want to work just as hard.  That night while I was with Elder Sanchez, we taught this young family that just had a baby.  The father wasn't older than 18.  In Mexico, that is really common.  He told us he had a "man cave".  We walked in there and there were so many bad pictures and photos.  Elder Sanchez told him he couldn't have the Spirit in his home and receive revelation for his family with these pictures hanging up.  The father gave us permission to tear them down.  And that's what we did.  We took all of those pictures and ripped them up.  It was such a cool experience to do that.  He told us he felt so much better having those pictures down.  

That same day, two elders from our zone were beat up,  twice,  by the same people,  within a matter of 20 minutes.  It was super crazy.  I feel so bad for them.  

Yesterday was probably the best day I have had in the field so far.  We baptized a family.  Jesus, Pilar, Edgar, and Viviana all got baptized.  That was such an amazing experience.  We have been teaching them since I have been in the field.  I really love that family.  The love and the joy that I saw in their faces made all my hard times here worth it.  I had the opportunity to baptize Edgar and Jesus.  I messed up, but that's alright.  Did I mention I threw up right before the baptism?  Yeah, I started to feel sick like two hours before that and I thought I just had a stomach ache but it just got worse.  I had been praying so hard that I would feel well enough to perform the baptism, but I threw up.  Then it was a miracle; I felt fine right after that.  But right after the baptism I felt sick again.  I am still not feeling good at all.  I feel super sick.  We are pretty sure I have food poisoning.  So I have to drink water and Gatorade for the next few days.  I cant eat food until tomorrow.  That's alright; I know the Lord is watching over me.  All of my pains and trials are worth it...  saving lives... saving families...  everything that I have gone through is worth it all.  

I love you all so much.  Remember to build your foundation on Christ.  I know that if you do you will not fall.

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

I attached pictures to this so I hope it worked.  We got one pic.  It is added top left.

Email received 6/18/12

June 18,2012

Hi Mom, 

Well you guessed it.  This week has been really hard.  Our area is called Cantera.  My companion's name is Elder Sylvestre.  He is from Arizona.  He has been in the mission for almost 22 months.  My Spanish is coming, but its still not very good.  I can kind of do a contact but my companion has to step in.

The weather here is beautiful.  It never gets hotter than 80 and never colder than 50.  But it rains just about everyday from June to November.  It rained super hard yesterday.  We were eating with a member after church when it started to rain really hard.  They gave us an umbrella to use.  It was like a river flowing down the streets.  By the time we got back to our apartment we were soaked.  My suit got all wet, but its ok.  I had to put my boots and rain coat on.  I now understand why we need those things.  My hymn book and my new Spanish scriptures got soaked yesterday.  I was super sad about that.  I am going to find some scripture cases for them. 

Our entire area is on a hill.  Mexico City is HUGE!!!!!!!  There are so many houses.  They are all made out of concrete.  Coming here has really opened my eyes to the humble situations of these people.  We have one of the wealthiest missions in Mexico City but it is still really bad.  I  am still trying to get used to all of the things here. 

We have had a hard time this week because we had no investigators.  The missionaries that were here before us left us with no one.  But yeah it has been hard.  We found a family of five that came to church yesterday.  We think they are going to be baptized next week.  We are really hoping because they are an amazing family.  We are supposed to have a baptism a week, which is possible.  Coming here has made me realize how important baptism really is.  President Villareal wants quantity and quality. 

So there is an Elder here in this mission that I went to school with.  His name is Jake Christopherson.  We had a few classes together.  That's pretty cool. 

I lost my name tag last week.  It makes me really sad.  I had stickers that I put on it that made it more meaningful.  But they are going to send me another one and I am going to find Star Wars and Toy Story stickers to put on it again because they remind me of Eli and of Home. 

Two years seems like a really long time but I am just trying to get used to everything.  I am exhausted every time I go to bed.  I guess that's a good thing.  I know the Lord is with me.  It has been hard but I try to think of the positives. 

All of the mail goes through the Mission home.  We get Dear Elders every Monday.  I think Monday is the only time we get mail.  I think the pouch system takes like 3 weeks or something like that.  I am not exactly sure.  But we can't receive mail directly. 

I am trying to get a handle on things.  It still feels overwhelming.  The Lord is with me every step of the way.  It makes my heart hurt when people openly reject the Gospel.  We contacted a lady last night while we were tracting.  She told us that she was a member and had gone through the temple but has fallen away because of certain things and now wants nothing to do with the church.  It makes me so sad.  We compared this to I Am Legend when, at the end of the movie, Will Smith is yelling ¨"Stop!  I can save you!!!  Let me help you!!"   But they don't listen.  That is what happens with some people.  It is really sad.  But that makes us work even harder.  I know I am here for a reason.  I know the Lord is with me.  There are people who are struggling, pleading to find something to fill that empty whole inside of them.  I can feel the presence of Grandpa and the whisperings of the Holy Ghost when I am down. 

I love you all.  I will send pictures next week.

Elder Hancock
Helaman 5 12

Email received 06/13/12

Hola, Mom,

Well, you're right about that whole drinking out of a fire hose kind of thing.  Its OK though.  My trainer, Elder Sylvestre(he is American) and I were assigned to open up a new area.  It is really crazy here.  The city is huge.  It's an endless sea of houses. 

We went tracting for the first time yesterday.  We met the bishop and some of the ward members.  The bishop's wife gave us food last night because we didn't have anything to eat all day.  It was soooo good.  We have no food in our apartment.  Our apartment is super small but we have a really nice view of the city.  We have permission to go shopping for food today and to email.  My p-day is on Monday and I will usually email in the morning. 

I am super excited to start working.  Even though I don't know half or most of the stuff anyone says, I will get better as time goes on.  I am doing really well.  I am feeling a little weird being here but I just have to get used to it.  I am trying so hard to do the best I can and to just focus on my work.  I know that the Lord will bless me.  I have no doubt about that.  My time here is precious, even though two years seems like forever and I miss you all so much. 

Yesterday I felt bad because I had no idea what I was doing. I felt so overwhelmed, but we watched a movie with a talk by Elder Holland.  He spoke about how we can't expect our missions to be easy.  He was like, "Do you think when Christ died it was easy for Him?  Do you think when He took upon himself every single person's sins it was easy for Him?  Do you think when He was spat upon, mocked, and had nails driven through His hands, wrists, and feet it was easy for him?  No."  Ever since then, I have just thought about that.  I owe everything to Him.  The least I can do is sacrifice two years dedicated to Him. 

I miss you all so much.  The language is tough.  My apartment is meager.  Adjusting is hard for me, but it's worth it.  Saving lives, bringing them unto Christ is worth all of my heart, because Christ suffered everything for every one of us personally.  It's hard, but I can do it.  I have my whole heart and faith in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  He is my rock.  He is my Savior.  He is my Redeemer,  Jesus Christ. 

I love you all so much.  I love the people here.  They are amazing.  You are all in my prayers.  You are my driving force.  You make me want to work as hard as I can because of your love for the Savior and for this Gospel.  I love you so much.

Always and forever,

Elder Michael Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Phone call 06/11/12 from the airport

Elder Hancock called this morning from the airport at about 8:30am.  He had forgotten to buy a phone card at the MTC bookstore last Saturday, so he thought he was out of luck to call home.  A nice gentleman at the airport offered to let him use his cell phone.  He spoke with us for almost 30 minutes.  

Mike was nervous, understanding that there would be a huge adjustment when he got to Mexico City.  He was very excited though.  He bore his testimony to us in Spanish.  Mom cried...  duh.  He said he really doesn't miss us much except for Eli.  He is happy about that. (So are we.)  

The flight was direct and non-stop from SLC to Benito Juarez International in Mexico City.  It was a 3.5 hour flight.  Mom tracked the flight on FlightAware... hehe.  She and Eli were able to watch the plane pass by the house due to FlightAware.  They waved and yelled.  AWESOME.  The flight arrived early and without incident.  Elder Hancock traveled with 4 missionaries from his own district and 5 missionaries from another district, including Elder Derek Miller, from our stake.  The airport is only about 20 minutes or so from the Mexico City West Mission home.  Vaya con Dios, Elder!

Email received 06/09/12

Hi Mom,

First off I want to thank you for the birthday gifts.  They made my day.  I loved the pictures!!  I love the ipod shuffle!!  Too bad I can't listen to it until I get into Mexico! 

Speaking of Mexico...I leave for the field on Monday...Well last week after we put our letters in the mail and got done emailing we got a note in the mail from the travel office saying we would go to the Mexican consulate on Monday.  So that right there meant we were leaving on time.  So yeah I should be calling later today with the details. 

But yeah, ummm, the spider you sent last week has been giving my companions some fun.  I have been scared to sleep at night for a solid week. 

Well in-field training was long, but good. 

We are going to the temple today.  Hermano Hardy's last day was on Thursday.  He isn't going to be teaching here anymore.  But because of that, he is going to the temple with us today.  I am super Excited.  Then, after we leave, in a few weeks, Hermana Baum is going to Bogata Colombia to teach English.  I told her that is where Dad went on his mission. 

This week I started reading 2 Nephi and I fell in love with Isaiah.  I have been getting Nervous this week because I am leaving on Monday.  But Hermana Baum read D&C 88 to me.  There will be angels round about me holding me up,  on my right side and on my left side. 

My faith being here in the MTC has grown astronomically.  It is so amazing to see how far someone can come.  I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father is there.  I Know without a doubt that Jesus Christ is holding me up.  There are things that have happened to me here in the MTC that are nothing short of Miracles.  I cannot wait to teach the Gospel.  The phrase, "Bringing Hope to a world that has Lost Hope.  Bringing Light to an ever Darkening world." has been going through my mind for the past couple weeks.  This is exactly what I am doing.  There are people who have lost hope.  Who can't see the light but are looking for something or someone to bring it to them to give them hope, peace, love in this world.  That amidst the fighting and killing and prideful World there is hope.  I believe with all my heart that God's power comes through love.  By love follows everything.  If people in this world came to a knowledge of what TRUE love is there wouldn't be a world like this one.  But that is what I think the Millenium is going to be like.  One of the biggest things I have learned from being here in the MTC is what TRUE love is, God-like love, loving someone you don't even know.  That has been a huge testimony-builder to me, even within a world that has lost hope, that has lost the light, that has lost Love.  There is hope.  There is light.  There is Love.  It is Him. The Lord.  The Redeemer.  The Savior.  He is Jesus Christ.  He is the Way.  He gave EVERYTHING for each and everyone of us.  Through Him life itself is possible. 

With all my love and with all my heart,

Always and forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Letters received 06/04/12 Eli's BD

This first letter was to Eli for his birthday.  It was written on stationery with zoo animals on the bottom (We wrote Friday that Eli was going to the zoo to attend a birthday party that day).  There are two rubbings of Elder Hancock's name tag on the front.  

Mike drew a picture on the back:  sun up in the corner, tree, house, person at the door accepting a Book of Mormon from two elders with name tags, one elder is bald and the other has sandy hair.  The caption above the house says,"This is me sharing the Gospel.  This can be you sharing the gospel.  I will bring happiness to people that need it.  I will be bringing happiness to people who have no hope.  The Church is true, Eli.  I love you so much."

Dear Eli,

I have been so blessed and happy that you send me letters!!  I keep every single one of them!! 

I cannot believe you are turning 4 YEARS OLD!!!!  What do you want for your birthday??  Maybe I could send you some candy!!  Sshhh!  Don't tell Mama!  You are such a good brother.  You are my best friend.  I hope you got that Star Wars light saber you asked for. 

Guess what!  Sister Dowman used to come on Sunday with stickers to put on the back of our name tags.  I saw a Buzz Lightyear one and got it before anyone else did because it reminds me of you every time I look at it.  Every day I think about you.  You are my inspiration.  I am always thinking about those silly little things you say.

Mom told me you were starting gymnastics!!  Can you do a back flip yet?  That would be so cool if you could.  Every single little letter and picture that you draw makes me so happy.  I love you so much!!!!  You are so awesome!!  Take care of Mom and Dad!!!!

Always and forever,
Your loving brother,
Elder Michael Boyd Hancock
Helaman 5:12

 
Dear Family,

Wow, I can't believe it is June already!  It is crazy that I have been here in the MTC for almost 8 (ocho) weeks!! 

My whole district got our travel plans this week.  But, I am pretty sure that we will be here for a little bit longer.  Only one elder out of our district will be leaving on time.  Elder Cornia (my new companion) is going to Merida, Mexico.  He and another district that is going to Mexico City North (Derek Miller's mission) went to the Mexican consulate in SLC just last week. 

We went to the travel office and asked if we had our visas, and they said no.  They said all of the missionaries that are going to Mexico have to go through the Mexican consolate in SLC before they get their visas.  Basically, every missionary who goes to Mexico has to sign papers at the consulate and then they get permission to enter the country.  We actually won't get our visas until we enter Mexico.  We just get a pass that says we have permission to enter the country.  We will find out what is going on this next week sometime since we are supposed to fly out on June 11th. 

I am getting really excited to enter the field.  I love it here so much, but I am ready to Serve the Lord.  Most likely, I will get reassigned.  That would be really cool.  The BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!!  That is what we like to say.

This week has been a crazy week.  We got 450 new missionaries on Wednesday.  There is one zone that got 48 new missionaries.  That is a ton!!  We probably barely have 30 or so in our entire zone.  Before, like two weeks ago, it was only 15.  Really crazy.

The Spirit I feel every day is so amazing.  An elder in our zone, Elder Birks, hurt his foot pretty bad.  We thought he broke it for awhile.  He went to the doctor that day, and they all said he broke it.  So, he set up an appointment for the next day to get another opinion.  He asked one of the elders that was leaving for the Peru MTC to give him a blessing.  It was such a powerful blessing.  We felt the Spirit so strong.  When Elder Birks woke up the next morning, he said his foot hurt differently.  He went to the doctor and they told him he just hurt the ligaments in his foot.  He was so happy to hear that, because he has been here for almost six weeks.  If he had to have surgery, he would have been stuck here for another six to seven weeks.  We all knew the blessing was a miracle.  We all got to see the powerful Priesthood in action.

I am so happy to be here as a missionary.  There is nothing better in this world.  I love you all so much.  You are all so supportive of me.  I know you all have sacrificed so much for me to be here.  I am, and will always be, grateful for that. 

I know the Lord loves me.  I know He loves you.  Each and every one of us.  He knew that people on this earth (His Children!!) would make mistakes.  He knowingly sent His beloved son to this earth to die for us.  He paid the ultimate price for us.  Going through my pains and struggles have made me stronger.  I wasn't going to go on a mission, but He sent me a BIG wake up call.  It was really hard to get back on track.  But I can say with all my heart, "VALE LA PENA!!"  IT IS WORTH IT!!!  It is through Christ that EVERYTHING is possible.  He is my Lord.  He is my Savior.  He is my Redeemer.  He is my Rock and my Foundation.  He is Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is begging, pleading for us to make it.  He loves us more than we will ever comprehend.  

I love you all so much.  Never give up hope.  Don't EVER lose faith in Jesus Christ.  I love you all.

Always and Forever,
Elder Hancock
Helaman 5:12

P.S.  I need some more stamps.
P.P.S.  Some muddy buddies sound nice :)
Watch for my phone call next week if I get my REAL travel plans.



This next letter was in the same envelope with Michael's letters.  It is from his best friend, Danny, who left the MTC for Peru this past Thursday.

Dear Hancock Family,

Thank you so much for the package!  My district loves you for the fresh bread and the candy. 

I don't see Mike a lot because we are both really busy, but it is nice to catch up with him for a couple minutes.  It is crazy that we are both serving missions!  When I get back, expect me to come over and hang out with Mike and talk about our mission stories, and we will probably be talking in Spanish!

Thanks for being my 2nd family.  You guys are awesome.  I can't wait to come back and visit again!

Elder Reimschiissel

Emails received 06/01/12

Hi Mom. 

I have a lot of news for you today.  Well first off, a ton of elders that were waiting for their visas that were going to Peru got their visas on Tuesday and left Wednesday morning.  Two elders from our district went with that group to Peru on Wednesday. 

So now there are 5 elders in my district.  Me, Elder McMillan, Elder Cornia (my new companion; the three of us are now in a trio.),  Elder Redd and Elder Herd.  It is a really exciting time for us because we got out travel plans yesterday.  We are super excited, but for the four of us going to Mexico City, none of us have our visa.  Elder Cornia went down to the Mexican Consolate and signed for his visa along with another district going to Mexico City North (Derek Miller's District).  SO we are probably going to get reassigned.  We should find out within the next week. 

So, Danny is gone.  He was one of those elders going to Peru that got their visas.  I am kind of sad but I am really happy for him.  He was supposed to leave Wednesday but missed his flight and so he left yesterday morning.  I took a picture with him; don't worry.  I didn't have an sd card so I went and bought a 2 gb.  I took pictures with him on Tuesday so I bought it then.  It wasn't very expensive.  It was like $4 with my discount in the book store. 

The beginning of the week was kind of hard for me.  Ok, well, the last couple days.  I haven't felt like I have been a very good teacher lately.  I went and talked to Hermano Hardy about it and he told me that I had such a strong testimony.  He said I have a way of talking directly to someone and really trying to show my love for them.  It was amazing.  He is such an amazing teacher. 

So on Sunday, Brother Dowman got released from our district and got reassigned to another district.  We are really sad about it. 

Well I have to go I will try to email you after the temple.

I love you so much.

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Hi, Mom,

I just got back from the temple.  It was really good.  We did initiatories.  I wanted to tell you I got my shots so feel free to pay.  Sorry.  I have a paper to send if you want it just let me know.  I love you so much.