Email received 11/04/13

Hey Mom,

 

This week was an interesting week.  The last couple of days I was in bed sick.   I woke up in the middle of the night Friday and felt terrible.  Friday I spent all day in bed.  We had to go to get food and I ended up throwing up in the taxi on the way to the family's house.  It was interesting.  We had to walk like ten blocks back to the house covered in vomit.  It was interesting.  We took a good picture so I am hoping that you like it.  Yesterday we went to church.  

We baptized Sebastion again last night.  We made sure it was done right this time.  It was really good for him.  He has had so many problems.  His grandma is Susana.  His and Laura's mom is a drug addict and when they were really, really young she left them in the hands of their grandparents.  Their mom never goes to see them and they really don't know where she is.  Sebastion is 14 and Laura is 13.  They are really young but old enough to understand what happened to their mom.  Because of this, Sebastion has developed a type of character from this, I guess from hiding his feelings.  But he is starting to change, starting to develop relationships with some of the young men in the ward.  They have such bright futures.  A great plan, Father in Heaven has for them.  We are starting to get Sebastion and Jonothan ready to receive the Priesthood.  It will be a wonderful day when they receive the priesthood.  

Susana gave us the good news that she is going to marry her boyfriend Gerardo.  (He is more like her Husband.)  They have like 30 years or more together but they never got married.  Gerardo has been really closed to us and didn't want anything.  He is starting to open up.  The Lord works his miracles.  

We are going to have a really good week this week.  The Lord knows me and my struggles and trials.  To be honest the past month has been probably one of the Hardest that I have had my whole mission.  Everyone keeps telling me that your last 6 months are the hardest of the mission.  I can see that.  The Lord has a lot he wants me to learn.  I Love this gospel.  I know that this is how we will be happy.  I love you so much Mom. Thank you so much for everything you do, for the Love and support.  

Always And Forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

My pico de gallo I made today...  It turned out really good.  It reminds me of home.

And my puke stained shirt…

Email received 10/28/13

Dear Mother,

This week was such a good week.  Again struggling with my companion.  We just got a new Ward mission leader and so he is just getting started.  Saturday, we baptized Jonothan, Laura, and Sebastion.  Sunday we confirmed Jonothan and Laura... Sebastion no....We have to redo the ordinance tomorrow.  We found out Saturday AFTER the baptism when we were filling out the baptism forms that Sebastion's real name is Leonardo Sebastion.  So yes it was me that baptized him.  Lazy Elder Hancock forgot to do the forms before.  Its OK, he will just be really, REALLY clean. 

We had a young man help us baptize.  His name is Cassiel.  He is so amazing.  He is 18 years old but can't serve a full time mission because he has a really bad sickness that causes his organs to fail.  When he was like 14 I think he stopped taking his medicine and had to get a kidney transplant.  But he has such a strong testimony.  He is like a returned missionary.  He is also really smart.  He is a piano prodigy (I think) he is so amazing.  He comes with us all the time to do visits.  It is really hard for him sometimes because he gets tired really easily but he loves the work.  I love him.

We have seen the Lord working miracles in our area.  The people are ready.  We just need to find them.  I have to give all I have, all my efforts to find the people that are looking for the truth.  I love this gospel.  I love my mission.  I have changed so much.  I  know what is really important.  It is true.  There is no doubt.  It is our time right now to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ. 

I love you so much. Thank you so much for the love and support.

Always and Forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12 

P.S.  Candy.  You know what kind.  Peanut butter,  Jam, Face wash, CEREAL…  Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Lucky Charms.

Email received 10/21/13

My dearest Mother,

Mom, Thank you so much for your email.  It really made me feel so much better.  I have been struggling a little the past few weeks,  just trying to find out what the Lord wants me to learn.  Thank you so much.  I wish I could express to you how much it means to me.  You are always guided by the Spirit in what to say.  What I need to know.  Thank you so much.  Satan has been tempting me so much lately.  I have no idea why.  It has been really, really difficult but I really feel that the Lord is giving me the Strength that I need to resist the Temptations.

My new companion Elder Campos is a good missionary.  But it has been a little bit hard to be with him.  I feel he has started to get a little bit trunky which has been making it really hard on me.  He really likes music and talks about music a lot and sings worldly songs, which makes it really hard on me also.  It makes it really, really hard to work and concentrate when we are not focused on the Lords work.  So I don't really feel worthy to receive some of the blessings that we have received this week from the Lord. 

Jonothan, Sebastion, and Laura were all interviewed this past week and all accepted baptism for this Next Saturday.  They showed us the desire they have to be baptized.  Especially Jonothan.  He really has shown his desire to change, to follow the example of Jesus Christ.  It was a great blessing because his mom, Susana, has such a desire to be baptized but cannot because she is not married to her husband.  But her husband Gerardo did not want anything to do with the church.  He was to the point where he was really rude about it.  But they told us that he is going to the baptism Saturday.  It is a great step he has taken.  I am so grateful that the Lord has but that in his life.  It has been such a blessing to have this family in our lives. 

The Lord has been Blessing me so much.  I see his hand in my life every day.  Which has made my desire to bring the Gospel to the people grow so much.  I feel so blessed to have this desire to bring these people to Christ.  But it only comes through prayer and fasting.  I have no doubt that this church is true.  It has changed my life.  It has changed the way I think about the Plan that God has for us.

I love you so much.  Have a good week. 

Always and Forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 10/14/13

Hey Mom,

I have a new companion Elder Compos.  He is from Peru.  He has the same amount of time in the mission as I do.               

This week was another hard week.  We have been working so hard this last week. One of our investigators Jonothan was going to be baptized yesterday but Saturday night he went to a party and came home drunk.  It was really hard to here this from his mom Susana.  I talked to him Saturday night to get him ready for his interview.  He has such a great desire to change, to do what is right, but Satan has a strong hold on him.  At times we want to do what the Lord asks but at the same time it is so hard to break free from the tightening grip of Satan.

We have another 15-year-old investigator named Gema.  It has been such a different experience talking with her.  She is talking to us to find comfort in her life.  Her mom is really close to dying.  This past week her mom entered the hospital again.  She then left the hospital with the doctors saying there is nothing more they can do for them.  The Grandma of Gema told us that her mom does not want to live anymore.  It is so heartbreaking.  Gema has really suffered through so many things, the divorce of her parents and the thought of her mom dying at any point.  Being here in the mission and experiencing some things really has made me grow a lot.  Be more mature.  I really feel that the Lord has helped me to be more mature to handle a lot of things.  We were visiting a less active member that has a while being less active.  While we were talking with her, her husband, really drunk, walks in the door, telling us there is no point to live, that nothing matters anymore, that the next time we come by we will find him hanging by the balcony.  The things that some people have to live with...  The happiness they try to find in drugs, alcohol, sex or things like that are things that will drag them down.  The only way we can have eternal happiness is through our families that are centered and set and built on the gospel.  The only way we will have the happiness we are looking for is through keepings the Commandments of our Loving Heavenly Father.  It is not easy at times but it is worth it.  Really the pain and the struggle really is worth our eternal salvacion.

Friday morning a member from a different ward called us telling us that she had a friend that wants to be baptized.  Exactly like that.  We dropped some of the plans we had for that morning to meet this young adult named Karina.  When we met up with them we started talking and she told us that three weeks ago her friend Jaquelin gave her a Book of Mormon.  She is already in 3 Nephi 12.  This shocked us.  Really the Book of Mormon gave her this desire to talk to us, and more important to be baptized.  The Book of Mormon changes lives.  The Book of Mormon has changed my life.  I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed us with this new investigator.  The Lord has blessed me so much in my mission, the desire to keep his commandments, the desire to always do his will.  I am so grateful for his blessings.  

I love you so much.  Thank you for your love and support.

Always and Forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 10/07/13

Dear Mom,

This week was a hard week.  Satan has been working really hard against us.  We had 3 people getting ready for their baptisms on Sunday but we were not able to find them at all for the past few days.  They didn't go to conference.  We were really sad about that.  We have been working so hard but something happened and we don't know what.  We are trying so hard not to let Satan get to us.  He knows that we are doing so many great things for this ward and he is mad about that.  He does not want us to succeed.  We are putting all of our effort into this work.  

I have six months left to be a representative of Jesus Christ and to save souls in his name.  I have to give everything to him.  The Lord is mindful of me.  Just like what happened with Alma and the sons of Mosiah.  We are trying so hard.  The Lord is proud of our work that we have done.  We just have to keep going.  Just like what President Uchtdorf said in the Priesthood session, "It does not matter how many times we fall, it only matters how many times we get up."  This is exactly what we have to do.  Trust in the Lord that he may guide us.  I love you so much Mom.  I am so grateful for everything you have done for me.  Thank you so much.

Always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 09/30/13

Hey Mom,

I am so happy to hear that everything is going well.  I am really happy to hear about Grae and the Baby.

This last week was all right, but full of challenges.  Satan is putting so many trials in our way.  Elder Sulcary and I got in an argument last week in the night.  We were up talking about it for a while.  But it was really hard.  There are a lot of things that I have to learn. 

We are having a hard time with finding new people to teach and with bringing people to church.  But we are preparing a family for Baptism.  Jonothan, Sabastion, and Laura.  They are the child and grand children of Susana and Gerardo. But Gerardo wants nothing to do with the church.  Which makes it really hard on Susana who wants to be baptized so bad but can't because they are not married.  But she is such a testimony-builder to us as we see the love she has for her children and grandchildren.  She reminds me so much of you.  And Jonothan reminds me so much of Jarom.  It is so amazing to see what you do when you feel like you are teaching your family.  This is the way we need to be, to have a perfect love.  It is so amazing.  But we are getting there.  We are working really hard with reactivating members. 

This last week we had a meeting with our District.  I talked about giving everything we have, all of our efforts, EVERYTHING.  From this Wednesday I have 6 months left in my mission.  I can honestly tell you that I don't want it to end, but the last 6 months I will give everything that I have to my lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I love you so much Mom.  I am so grateful for you.

Always and Forever.

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 09/23/13

Hi Mom,

This week was such a great week.  We have been working so hard here.  The ward is still struggling a bit but we are super happy with the work that we are doing.  The Lord has blessed so much this week.  We feel so blessed.

Last week while we were waiting for the interviews with President Whitehead we were talking with the Assistants and they said something that impacted us all.  They said that the Mission Mexico City West is what the Area 70 Elder Johnson says the "Flag Ship" of Mexico.  We were talking about what a flagship is and they told us that In an Armada there is always a Ship at the Front leading the Armada.  It was so amazing to hear this because this is a mission that is so obedient and diligent.  What a blessing that I have received to be a missionary in this mission.  It is so wonderful to be part of this mission. 

But one of the things they said is that Mexico is one of the Pillars of the Church but also has so many inactive members.  Especially this Mission.  Alone our ward has 850 members.  700 of those members are inactive.  They said that saving these inactive members is just as important as baptizing new ones.  The importance of the Work of Salvacion is SAVEING the members.  Saving Gods Children.  The work of the Lord is quickening.  The world is getting worse and worse every day.  The Lord is pushing his work to go faster and faster.  We are in the middle of a time so important.  We need to take a minuet and realize the things that are going on.  Since October General Conference Last year when the Prophet announced the drop of ages of eligible missionaries the work of the Lord has seen so many drastic changes.  The Lord is depending on his children that HAVE the blessing of the Gospel to help his other children who do not have these blessings.  It is such a radical change but a prophecy that is being fulfilled in this very moment.  The work of the Lord will never come to a stop.  But really the time is coming for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to come.  The time Is know that We must do all we can to prepare ourselves and his children for His glorious Arrival.  

I talked in church yesterday.  I talked about testimonies.  I realized too much while I was writing this talk.  We all have testimonies.  Whether it is great or small.  But it is our responsibility to grow and to nourish our testimonies.  By the small things...  The small things are the most important.  Prayer, studying the scriptures, repenting and going to church to take the Sacrament.  These are things that are so small but they are things that are so essential.  Doing these things here in my mission has helped my testimony grow so much.  

I know that the church I true.  I have no doubt.  Like we say to all of our investigators, if you want to know, kneel down and ask your Heavenly Father if these things are true, if the Church is true.  I know that you will receive an answer.  He is there.  He loves us.  And so he will answer, through the Holy Ghost.

I love you all.  Have a great week.

Always and forever,

Elder Hancock

Email received 09/16/13

Dear Family,

It sounds like everything is going really well at home.  Keep up the good work.

Well this week was such an amazing week.  We had such amazing things happen.  We are teaching a family that is preparing for their baptism.  We are so happy for them.  One of the sons Jonothan is an inspiration for me.  Last week he told us that he was at a party with his friends.  He told us that all of the people were high and drunk (including the friends that gave him a ride).  He told us that he had a feeling that he should not be there, that it was something that he didn't want.  So he walked home at 2:00 am, in the streets of Mexico City.  The next day he found out that the friends he went to the party with got in a crash coming home from the party and got hurt pretty bad.  He told us that the Lord gave him that feeling to go home.  Thursday he told us that he had a dream Tuesday that two teenagers and Elder Sulcaray and I were at the door knocking looking for him, but he didn't answer.  Wednesday two Jovenes Adultos Solteros (young single adults), Elder Sulcaray, and I went to the house looking for Jonothan but nobody answered the door.  Thursday he told us this dream.  He realized that nobody answered the door in his dream because nobody was home.  He told us that the Lord is guiding him.  He told us that he knows the Church is true.  I know that the Lord guides us in our lives.  I feel it every day.  Even if we do not notice it he is.  He is doing all he can to keep us on the track.  

Today we went to have interviews with President Whitehead.  The things that the Assistants taught us impacted me.  The importance of the work we are doing.  They said the work we are now doing is equally important than the Restauracion of the Gospel.  I know that this is true.  I feel the work we are doing is so important.  I love you all so much thank you for the support.

Always and forever 

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 09/09/13

Hi Family,

It is great to hear that everything is going good at home.  

Well this week was a great and difficult week.  We have been having a bit of a hard time of all of our citas falling through and the members that were going to come with us to appointments were falling through too.  We are working so hard and working in the way of the Lord but these things are just so frustrating sometimes.  But I know that the Lord is testing our paciencia.  It has been a change for me but I am getting a hang of it.

I love my new companion Elder Sulcaray.  It is really fun to be around him and a really rich experience to work with him.  He has taught me so much.  I love working with him.  It is going to be a great change.  

But I really love my new area.  It is really different from Valle de Bravo but it is really great.  The ward needs a bit of help.  There are so many less active members.  If all of the members in our ward were active we would be able to create two new wards.  But I am so excited to really start helping all of these members.  Help these lost sheep come back to Christ.  

Saturday night we were praying really hard to visit one of these families that really need our help.  We went around looking for one of these families.  We were looking down a street for their apartment building.  We had never met this family before but we found their apartment.  We walked in side and shared Nephi 8 with them.  We invited them to church and they said that they would try their best.  They then told us why they didn't come to church.  We resolved their doubt and tried to help them.  After that they told us that they knew that they were missing something in their lives, that they were praying to find that peace and love and harmony again.  They told us that we were an answer to that prayer.  Elder Sulcaray and I looked at each other at the same time because he and I both felt that they were an answer to our prayer, that this family really needed our help.  It was such a faith building experience for me.  

I am so grateful for all the love and support that you give me.  I really feel your love every day.  I love you all.  

Always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 09/02/13

Dear Family,

It is so great to hear that you all are doing well.  It really makes me happy that you are all doing well in work and school, and camping sounds real relaxing.  

Well we had changes today.  And guess what...I left Valle de Bravo. Yes, it was very shocking for us.  We were all expecting that I was going to stay.  Nope.  Elder Medina and I both left, and they cleaned the area.  But we left the area in great hands, and so many good and faithful people.  It was really hard to say good-bye.  Pedro and Consepcion want us to baptize all of their daughters.  Two of their grand kids Fatima and Grecia were baptized yesterday.  Their moms still are not sure about it.  They are so amazing.  Actually right before we left their house one of the daughters of Pedro and Consepcion told us that they would get baptized when we come back to visit them.  It was funny but we don't want that at all.  We also left a great family in the hands of the other Elders.  The two teenagers Itzel and Uriel went to church.  They are going to get baptized.  They are such an amazing family.  I was so sad to leave all of these people.  But I will go wherever the Lord needs me.  

So now I am back in Camerones, a few minutes from Granjas (area before Valle de Bravo).  My new companion is from Peru.  His name is Elder Sulcary.  He has 7 months in the mission.  I am so excited to work with him.  He seems like such a hard worker.  

We got some news last Tuesday about new instructions that we have.  Before here in this mission investigadores only had to come to church twice, but now in the whole world I think that investigadores have to have 5 assistances.  But I am really excited about this.  The work of the Lord is being quickened.  The 5 assistances just means that they will stay active.  We are all so excited to work in the way of the Lord.  There is no other way we can have success.  Is just by doing it in the way of the Lord.  A lot of us thought that we would baptize less, but we thought for a minute and realized that we will baptize more.  Real Growth is what the Lord wants.  His work will never come to a stop.  It is such a miracle to see this happen, to really see lives change.  

It is really hard sometimes to do the Lords will.  When we do the things he wants us to do but fighting against him in our hearts will do us nothing.  So why don't we soften our hearts and do his will.  That is the only way we will ever get His great and Marvelous work done.  I love this work.  It has changed my life forever.  

Good luck this week.  Remember your Savior in your daily life.  I love you all.  Thank you for all you have done for me.

Always and Forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 08/26/13

Dear Family,

This week was such an amazing week.  We have received so many blessings.  The Branch here in Valle de Bravo has been struggling.  Last week we had 21 people in church.  But yesterday we had 47!!!!   UN MILAGRO!  There are a few things in the Branch we have to work out.  But one of the things that is such a miracle is that Elder Valero (president of the Branch) and Sister Valero are working miracles here in Valle de Bravo.  I am so blessed to be able to have the opportunity to work with them.  I have seen myself grow so much working with them.  

We have been teaching Viviana.  She is the Daughter of Pedro and Consepcion.  She has been in the middle of baptism and not baptism.  She was going to be baptized yesterday but it fell through.  We were wondering what to say to her but nothing came into mind.  But then she told us that she felt it.  She felt the spirit.  She told us last night that the more we teach her the more she has a desire to be baptized.  We were so happy to hear this.  That she really has a desire to get baptized, she and her daughters Fernanda and Fatima.  But her husband is a bit stubborn.  But we are going to work with him.  But we really saw this miracle come forth yesterday.

But this past week an amazing family was baptized.  They are a family of 5.  They are such a humble family.  I had the opportunity to get to know them.  They live like an hour away and told us they are going to go to church every week.  The best part is that even though they don't have too much money they see the blessings that will come from it.  We will work on starting a Grupo familiar out there so they don't have to come so far.  But we really saw the true desire that they had to be baptized.  I am so grateful for them and their testimonies.

I am so grateful for the blessings that we have seen from the Lord.  We have been working so hard to see these blessings.  

I love you all.  Think of the Lord always in every moment.  Pray in the morning and at night.  Read the Book of Mormon every day.  Love.  Love with every fiber in your hearts.  I love you all.  Try so hard to do these things.  By the small and simple things great things are brought to pass.  I love you all.  Good luck this week.  

Always and Forever 

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 08/19/13

Dear Family,

This week was such a good week.  The things we are seeing here in this Branch are so amazing.  But the assistance yesterday went down.  A lot.  It was really sad for us because we have been trying so hard to help the members come to church.  It is so difficult sometimes but we are so happy with the work we are doing.   

Yesterday Consepcion, the wife of Pedro, who we baptized last week, was baptized.  It was so beautiful.  She was so ready.  People that just see the blessings of the gospel just hop right in the font.  A few days before she was interviewed we talked about eternal families with them.  Consepcion started crying saying, "This is what I want for my family. "  The spirit was there so strong. She was asking us when we were going to end our missions because, in her words, "We want you there."    It was so amazing because we love them so much.

We are teaching their daughter with her two girls.  They were going to get baptized yesterday but her husband does not want her to.  It was really sad to hear that but we are going to talk to him to find out why.

I finished the Book of Mormon again on Saturday.  This time it hit me again.  My love and desire to read the Book of Mormon really has increased my testimony and has changed my life.  I prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true.  I can tell you with all of the surety of my heart that it is true.  I really know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true.  I have developed such a love and desire to read the Book of Mormon.  It really is the keystone to our church.  I urge you to read the Book of Mormon.  It gives us power to resist the temptations of Satan.  Just talking about it brings such joy and happiness to my heart. 

I love you all.  Thank you all for your love and support.

Always and Forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 08/12/13

Dear Mom,

This week was such a great week.  We have been working so hard trying to find the Lords children that are looking for the truth.  We have really been seeing the blessings of our fruits.  I am completely exhausted but I have never been so happy in my life.  The Lord really expects me to be the best I can be to do all I can to give everything to him.  The families we are teaching are so amazing. 

On Friday Pedro was baptized.  The baptism was amazing.  We did all we could to have members there to support him.  Not jus members went but his whole family.  The spirit was there so strong.  He is such a miracle.  The way we found him is complete proof that the Lord used us as instruments in his hands.  The first we of the change we were walking past his street and stopped and looked at it and we felt that we needed to contact the street.  We started contacting the street and door after door no one let us in.  But after a few doors we came to Pedro's house.  His wife answered the door and told us that her husband might be interested.  We went to his house a few days later (Saturday) we taught him and at first he had a few doubts about what we were teaching.  Then we cleared some things up.  We invited him to go to church.  The next day we showed up and he was baptized.  He was confirmed yesterday and received the Priesthood.  It was such a great day.  He really looks like a changed man.  His whole family was there yesterday.  His wife his daughter and his three grand kids.  It was such a great thing that they were there.  They are showing more and more interest.  I am so happy to see this family starting to recognize the blessings of the gospel.  There is no greater blessing.  I love it so much. 

Yesterday all of the members and us ate together at the church.  It was so great to feel the members' strong testimony.  Working in a branch is so much different than working in a ward.  I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to be here.  I have seen such a great change in the ward since I have been here. 

I have been struggling a bit lately to really discover my true potential.  I feel good with the work I do but I am not satisfied.  I feel that I may feel like this until I end my mission.  I have seen such change in me, the desire that I have to sacrifice my will for the Lord.  But in my heart not to hold on to things but let them go.  Wanting to let them go is the key, to do the will of the Lord because I want to.  I love this gospel so much.  I have NO doubt that it is true.  I have seen the importance this gospel has.  Every single thing in the world turns around the Saviors plan.  I know that we have to Endure.  Repent now.  Pray now.  Do the will of the Lord NOW:  I love you so much.

Always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5 12

Email received 08/05/13

Hey family,

This week was a really great week.  We are working so hard here in Valle de Bravo.  We struggled a little bit this week finding people to teach.  All that we have done is really reaping its rewards here.  The missionaries have only have 3 to 5 years in Valle de Bravo.  So here it is just a little branch.  It is so cool working with a little branch.  The Branch president is a Senior Missionary with his wife.  It is so great working with President and Sister Valero.  They are so nice to us.  But yesterday in sacrament there was a sister that was just baptized a few weeks ago that told us a story about people making fun of them and saying things when they walk by.  She told us that she was strong.  That no matter what happens that she will always stay strong.  For me this was a real testimony builder to me.  Not just to me but for all of us.  Satan is trying all he can to bring us down.  He is striking at the very heart of the weaknesses inside of us.  We have to do all we can to fight these temptations. 

We have been teaching a man named Pedro.  He went to church this past Sunday.  He was a miracle.  Saturday night we spent looking for him but he was not home.  Three times we climbed up looking for him.  But he was not there.  It was like 8:30 at night when we decided to look for him for the last time.  We found him the last time.  We talked with him and he expressed with us his desires to be baptized.  He told us that he couldn't get baptized yesterday because he had to work.  But he told us he wanted to be baptized this Friday.  He told us that He has spent his whole life looking for the truth from church to church and he said he knows and is convinced that this church is true.  This struck me off my feet.  Just how ready he is to be baptized.  How bad he wants it.  I am so grateful for this.  I am so grateful for the chance that I have to be here in this mission.  I love this gospel with all my heart.  I know that this church is true.  How blessed are we.  I love you all so much.  Thank you for the love and support.

Always and Forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email receive 07/29/13

HOLA FAMILIA

Mom I just want you to know that the Lord is so pleased with you and your work.  I know exactly how you feel.  I know that I have felt these same things in my mission.  

To listen to the spirit at times is a bit hard to tell when the spirit is talking with us.  But in the MTC our teacher Brother Hardy quoted Elder Bednar.  If we are doing the things we need to do, keeping the commandments, we will be an instrument in the Lord's hands.  If we have a good thought than we act on it.  

This week was so great.  I worked the hardest this week than I think I have my whole mission.  It was such a great week.  Our entire area is all hills.  But on Saturday afternoon I started to feel really sick.  I felt like I was about to pass out.  But we went to the branch president's house (which is a companionship of older missionaries, Elder and Sister Valero).  They said that I had heat stroke.  But they took care of me for a while.  Then I went home and took a good cold shower.  (They say to stand in a cold shower for 30 seconds kills the natural man.  I'm getting there.)  But today I feel perfect, really good.

But Yesterday was such a great day.  We went for people for church but no one was home.  We went to the church and the three investigators we went looking for were not there.  It was such a miracle.  And then we went looking for Josue the teenager that was going to get baptized after church was feeling sick so he didn't come.  But we went for him after church to see how he felt and he said he felt good and that he wanted to get baptized.  It was such a miracle.  At eight at night he got baptized.  The water was super cold but he was super happy.  He has gone through a lot.  But he seems really happy.  

The Lord has blessed me so much this week.  Helping me to give everything I have to him.  That is what I have to do, give everything to him.  I love you all so much.  Remember how much the Lord loves you.  

Always and Forever 

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 07/21/13

Hey Family,

It is so great to hear that you went to Idaho.  It is really great to hear that you all are doing well.  Mom, to answer to the question about coming down, I prefer that you don't.  The Church does not want that happening because we only have visas for 2 years and it could make it harder for the churches to get visas in the future.  I feel like it would be best if you don't.  But we will definitely come when I go home. 

Well this week was hard again.  Fernando does not want anything anymore.  We went over to his house to visit with him before we visit with his mom.  He opened up the window and yelled it through the window.  That he does not want anything to do with us.  That he wants to keep going in his sins.  That he doesn't want to repent.  That it is what makes him happy.  I was heart broken.  I was really upset about that.  We have been working so hard with him and everything.  We have been taking his cigarettes and flushing them down the toilet.  We took alcohol away from him.  We were heart broken to hear that all of this was gone to waste.  I really felt like that.  He really wanted to change.  He told us that he would to anything to change.  I was so upset about that but we did all that we could.  We can't make people listen or change.  I was mad that Satan got to him.  That he was listening to what Satan was telling him.  But his mom is so amazing.  I believe that we found Fernando for his mom.  His mom knows that the church is true.  She has no doubt.  We are so happy about the example she has shown all of her family and us.

But again we had three baptisms fall through yesterday.  But we are not getting down about that.  We did all that we could.  Worked as hard as we could.  And that's all that we can do. 

We had changes today.  Elder Sanchez and I left Granjas.  We didn't do our work to well so they have to have Sister Missionaries do the work we didn't do.  Just kidding.  But I am way down south in the Mission again.  I am in an area called Valle de Bravo.  It is like an hour from Tejupilco.  It is so SO beautiful.  It is a tourist attraction.  Look it up.  It is so great.  My new companion is Elder Medina.  He is such an awesome missionary.  He has 4 months in the mission.  It is so great.  I am so excited to work in this area, to work with this new district.  I am so excited, but a bit nervous.  But I have all of the confidence in the Lord.  We will do so much here.  But I can't stop praying.  I was reading in 3 Nephi 19 this past week and it hit me.  Christ is teaching his disciples to pray.  They pray and they pray and they pray, but with more and more fervency.  At the end they are filled with desire.  They start glowing like Christ.  It is something so simple.  But yet we take it for granted.  We must pray in every moment.  To help build our faith, strengthen our testimonies, and help us to fight off temptations from the Devil.  I am so grateful for my mission, for the chance that I have to change, to become more like our Heavenly Father.  That is our purpose in this life, to grow.  But we must do it through Christ.  He is my savior and redeemer.  He gave his life for us.  If we love him we will do his will.  At times we fight against his will.  When we fight we gain nothing.  Even if we do his will but without the Love and charity of doing it serves us nothing.  I love you all so much.  Remember your Savior Jesus Christ.  Pray in every moment.  I love you all.  Thank you for the love and support.

Always and Forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 07/15/13

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This past week was a bit of a struggle.  We did all the things we could.  We had 9 people who were going to get baptized yesterday but they all fell through except one.  She was a miracle, the mother of Fernando, Martha Elena.  She went to church alone yesterday.  Fernando drank on Saturday.  He was doing so well.  He hadn't drunk or smoked for a day, which was amazing for him.  But Saturday he fell.  He got really upset about it.  We went to visit him but we had to take his alcohol away.  At first he didn't want to do it but we kept insisting.  He was super happy we did it.  But yesterday he didn't want to go to church.  And they both Fernando and his mom had their baptismal date yesterday but Martha Elena got upset and dissanimated.  We talked with her.  She was baptized.  She later told us that she was baptized because the Zone leader that was talking with her said something exactly of what she dreamt.  She told us that she knew she was in the only true church.  It was such a blessing.  I love you so much.  Thank you for all of the things you all do for me.

Always and Forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5 12

Email received 07/08/2013

Hey Family,

Its great to hear that you all had rain.  That must feel really great.  I am really happy to hear that you all had a great time this Past 4 of July.

Well this past week was so amazing.  Yesterday was such an amazing day.  We FINALLY baptized Michelle yesterday.  It was such a beautiful service.  We are so so happy for her.  Her dad drove all the way from Veracruz to baptize her.  He found out Saturday in the Afternoon and drove all night to be there for her baptism.  We were blown away by his dedication for her.  She looks so happy.  But the only thing that was kind of a bummer was that her mom was mad the entire time.  Her mom is a member but she left the church.  We found out a few days ago that her mom was trying to get her to change her mind about being baptized.  She tried it all the way until she was in the water.  For Elder Sanchez and I it was evidence how hard Satan is working on us until the very end.  It is really actually kind of scary but we need to be careful and watch out always.  We can't let him in the door.  Ever.  Also Fernando came to church yesterday with his mom.  He was so happy to be there he really wants to change his life.  He is trying so hard to quit smoking and the things in his life that is impeding his baptism.  We were so happy to have him in church.  Another one of our investigators named Orlando came to church.  He wants to get baptized so badly.  It was so great to have all these things happen.  This is what we get.  After a long time of feeling like we were not having any success and working harder week after week finally we reap our reward.  I feel so so blessed.  My Heavenly Father has blessed me with the things that I need.  He has given me the strength and the confidence I need to bring about his glorious work.  I am so so grateful for those blessings. 

This past Thursday (4 of July) we had our first Zone Conference with our new mission president, President Whitehead.  It was so outstanding to listen to him.  We are so excited to be working with him.  He is going to do miracles for this mission.  He is from St. George.  He is or was Vice President in Dixie State.  In the conference he invited us to read Alma 37.  I read it and wow.  So many things just blew me away.  "Through small and simple things, great things are brought to pass."  I love this scripture because it really makes me think how important the small things are.  We were talking to Michelle about this on Friday and we were talking about if we do the small and simple things always we will really inherit the kingdom of God.  But also the big sins always start with something small and simple.  We have to always keep this in mind.  Perhaps the things we are doing may not be that bad.  Just small.  But little by little it will grow into something so big.  And at that point it will be so much harder to repent.  Or maybe we are NOT doing the small and simple things.  This might drag us down.  Little by little...  That is how Satan does it little by little.  We have to be careful.  We must always have our Foundations built on Christ.  We can never go wrong with Christ as our rock.  He will make us stronger.  Make our weaknesses become strong.  But only if we go to Him in humble prayer.  I love you all so much. 

Always and Forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Ether 12:27

Email received 07/01/2013

Dear Family,

Sounds like life is going good for you all.  While you all are enjoying a nice HOT summer I am enjoying a nice cool summer.  It doesn't get past 75 or 80 during the day.  In the morning it is actually quite cool.  It will be a big change for Grandma moving down to St George.  It will be really fun visiting her.

Well this past week was great.  President Villarreal went home on Thursday and President Whitehead took over.  We are all super excited to work with and to be lead and guided by President Whitehead.  The Mission has officially split.  Cantera (my first area) is not apart of Mexico City WEST. 

We worked so hard this past week.  Striving our hardest to find more people to teach.  Last week I lost my voice because we got soaked last Monday.  The rain was really cold but it felt great.  It was a lot of fun.  We have been teaching an 18 year old girl named Michelle.  Her dad and her mom are members but she isn't.  Its been kind of frustrating for us because she keeps putting off her baptism.  She waited a week the first time so that her mom could be there because she was in California for a few weeks.  This past week she said she wanted to wait for her best friend to get back from Monterrey.  She has such a desire to take this baptism.  She is reading the Book of Mormon also.  She told us that she was thinking about serving a mission.  She is just putting off her Baptism.  We noticed on Saturday that she is starting to have doubts put into her head.  Elder Sanchez and I started talking about this and We realized that the longer she waits the more time Satan has to put things in her brain.  She stops acting on her faith in being baptized.  I realized that Satan wants us to wait to make good decisions.  He wants us to put off the things that are good.  He wants us to say "tomorrow".  When we feel like we are putting off things that are good that will help us become more like Christ we need to stop and think for a moment to realize where these thought are coming from.  But we have faith that all will turn out good. 

Last week a man named Fernando stopped us on the street asking us if we could help him.  We wrote down his direction and visited him.  When we were with him he told us that he has a bad smoking problem and drinking problems.  He told us that he wants to get closer to God and repent for the things he has done in his life.  We were deeply touched by his sincerity and the desire to change.  We are praying for him so that he can change his life around.  It just happened to be at that exact moment that he was there that he was able to talk to us. 

Last Thursday I had a super weird dream.  The beginning start of the dream I was in present time in the mission.  With 14 months in the mission and everything.  Elder Sanchez was my companion.  But time flew super fast and I was in the car with you all.  9 months had passed and I was home.  It scared me a bit because of the feeling I had in my dream.  That I hadn't done all that I could have.  That I left something unfinished.  It was a weird because we were driving in the car down the street in front of the Elementary school.  But I just had that feeling.  I don't know if its normal or not to have a dream like that but it was the first time that it has happened to me so far in my mission. 

I love you all so much. 

Always and Forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 06/24/13

Hola Family,

I am really sorry again.  This will be short again.  This week was an amazing week.  We went to a conference yesterday for the New mission presidents but it was broadcast to the whole world.  it was amazing!!!  conference past there were 65,000 missionaries in the field as of yesterday we have 70,000 missionaries in the field  5,000 since April!!!!!!!!!!!  WOW!!!!!!!!!  We had the last conference with President Villarreal.  It was the best Zone conference I have ever had.  We are so sad to see him go.  He is such an amazing man  We love him so much.  But I have to go.  I love you all so much.  Hold fast to the Faith.  Keep your foundations on Christ.  I love you all.  Thank you all for the pictures and the letters!!!!!!!!!

Always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

PS. Mom - I got the Package thank you so much.   I love you.  Write me Before ten next week.  I will write in the morning next week.

Email received 06/17/13

Family,

  

This week was so great.  We worked so hard.  Elder Sanchez was telling me  that the area was struggling a bit.  We had the faith that we could change it.  We are.  We are changing.  We cant afford to listen to Satan.  Its all in our thoughts . We are working so hard.  I am so sorry but this will be really short.  We had a pretty strong earthquake on Sunday morning early.  We woke up and our apartment was shaking pretty bad.  It was pretty great.  Good story.  But I love you all so much.  I am doing really great.  Sorry next week will be longer.  I love you all so much.

always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Ps.  Mom,  Thank you so much for the email.  Thank you so much for those inspiring words.  I love you so much and am so grateful for you. 

Email received 06/10/13

Hey family,

It sounds like things there are going really well.  That makes me super excited to hear about the yard (not the houses).  It will be really nice to have the yard in.  I cant wait.  That makes me really sad to hear about Pappap and Granny.  Grandma emailed me her journal that she has been writing on the matter.  I will keep her in her prayers.

Well we had changes today.  We didn't get our calls until 4:00 pm yesterday afternoon.  It was kind of crazy.  I left Roma and am now in a place called Granjas.  Still in DF.  My new companion is Elder Sanchez.  He is from Chiapas and has 4 months in the mission.  He is an amazing missionary.  I am so excited to work with him.  Although on the other hand I am sad to not be with Elder Porter anymore.  He has made me such a better missionary and person.  He has really helped me become converted even more.  I have such a deep love for him and for all he has done for me.  For being an amazing example for me.  I really understand why President Villarreal put us together.  

Yesterday we met an ex missionary that went home last year.  We spent the night in Presidents house my first day in the Field.  He was there with his parents.  they are from Lehi.  It was so weird talking to them.  I went to school with their other son David.  He is friends with Derek.  I really need to write Derek.  He has been on my mind lately.  Anyway, it was really nice talking with them because they are such nice people.  The world isn't such a large place.  It actually seems quite small.  

We baptized a Joven named Angel yesterday.  His sisters are members but he just never wanted to be baptized.  He has gone to church with them almost every Sunday but just didn't want to.  So many Elders have talked with him but he really just didn't want to.  Elder Porter and I talked with him and he said he wanted to.  He just told us he wanted to.  It was such a miracle for us.  We had worked all week so hard but nothing really happened.  We have been teaching an amazing family  that had to go out of town this week but will get baptized next Sunday.  It is very difficult to keep working hard with a good attitude when nothing is happening the way it should.  We were so grateful for this divine blessing given to us by our loving Father in Heaven.  Yesterday was a great day.  But it was kind of hard saying goodbye to the people I have grown to love.  I have really seen myself grow in this way.  I used to hate change.  But I am getting more and more used to it.  I feel extremely blessed to have this weaknesses become strengths.  

My birthday was a bit hard.  We ate pancakes for breakfast.  But ended up just not the way I thought.  All of the citas that we had fell through.  We were cursed and yelled at by a drunk guy.  Just didn't happen the way I thought.  We were going to buy a cake but we procrastinated too long and it was too late by the time we came around to buy one.  Its alright.  Its not a big deal.  

I have really been struggling lately with feeling like I am not good enough to be here.  Or waiting for things that just are not coming.  Why it feels like I have not learned to changed as much as I thought I would by this point.  Why I feel like I am not having success as a missionary.  Wondering if I have to learn something that I feel like I have not learned yet.  Just little things. I am trying so hard to keep these thoughts out of my head but I just cant help it.  The only way to get over it is by going to the Lord in humble prayer.  It is so hard sometimes.  When all feels hopeless.  when it feels as if the world itself has come to a stop.  or it feels as if no one hears or understands.  The Lord does.  Our Heavenly Father knows exactly how we feel.  Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered for every single one of our afflictions.  We must remember.  We must apply the Atonement in our lives.  We must do the things that we know will strengthen us.  By this we will be strengthened and brought out of our trials and afflictions.  I know that He hears our prayers.  I know He will never leave us.  I know these things are true because I have felt it.  It have felt as if He is wrapping His arms around me.  There is no greater feeling or peace than this.  The comfort and counsel of Our Father through the Holy Ghost.  

I love your all very much.  Thank you for the love and support.

Always and Forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email with pics for Eli 06-03-13

This is for Eli for his birthday.  Please apologize that it is by email.  I don't have stamps but when I do I will send it to him later.

I love you so much mom.

Email received 06/03/13

HOLA MI FAMILIA!

It really sounds like you all are going to have such a fun summer.  I am really excited for all of you.  It also makes me SOOO happy to hear that Jovi was blessed yesterday! 

This week was a really interesting week.  We had five people that were supposed to be baptized yesterday but all of the dates fell and none of them went through.  Really it was hard but all week I was thinking of what Elder Porter told me.  I have really seen my self grow this past week in faith.  This whole week I was thinking of FAITH and even though none of these baptisms went through I know it's just a "trial of my Faith".  I am so grateful for this trial actually.  I have really seen what kind of potential I have and what I am capable of.  I think without this experience I would not have learned this.  So it is a testimony to me that we learn through our trials.  That is why we have them.  President Villarreal told us that we should be asking our Father in Heaven for more trials so that we can learn and grow.  I really know and feel that this is true.

The reason why 4 of these investigators didn't get baptized yesterday was because the mom got in a fistfight with the wife of one of his sons.  She told us that she did not feel well enough to get baptized.  When we were talking with them it was probably the most intense lessons of my life.  She was just so upset.  We felt so bad for her.  She had always had a problem with her daughter in law but it had never come down to fists.  We told her that Satan was trying to get her to be baptized.  When we let our guard down is when he strikes.  Especially when we are trying to do something that is so big like being baptized.  He is always trying to prevent us from progressing.  He is always trying to make us feel sad upset uncomfortable or that we are not worthy to pray or go to church.  We must not let us in.  We must do all we can to keep him out.  This family will get baptized next week.  They really want this peace in their lives.  I am so grateful for them. 

I love you all and I am so grateful for the things that you all do for me. 

  

Always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 05/27/13

Hey family,

Wow sounds like this past week was really great.  I am really sad to hear about (LOVED ONES).  I will pray for them. 

This week was such a great week.  We had so many miracles happen.  Gabriel the man I told you all about last week was baptized yesterday.  He has such a desire to follow Christ.  Being able to see this change in him is so amazing.  I am so very grateful for this. 

We have been teaching a daughter of a less active family.  She told us that she wanted to get baptized but nothing came out of it.  She said that she would get baptized for like three or four weeks now.  But it has not happened.  They were baptized two or three years ago but they have not been too church since their baptism.  Instead they got like 15 times a month to the Universal Church.  We talked with Elizabeth (the daughter) a few days ago and asked her if we could visit with her and she told us we couldn't because she was going to be at that church.  We have talked to a lot of people that go to that church and they all say that it is a true church because they do miracles.  We were really upset about this.  I will not say anything about other churches but this one really upsets me because we were trying to set a goal with the family to enter the temple.  The thing is that Satan can do miracles.  He will fool us with anything. He uses other churches to lure us away from the truth.  We must be so very careful.  It is very rarely that he flat out lies to us.  He can even trick us into feeling good about sinning.  The way we must avoid this is by doing the small and simple things.  Reading the Scriptures going to church praying are all things we must do to avoid these things in our life.

Elder Porter and I were talking last night.  I was telling him some doubts that I had.  He told me something that really changed my mission and my life.  He told me I need to LIVE the gospel of Christ.  We teach it every day:  Faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, Enduring to the End.  He was telling me that this gospel is a lifetime thing.  We are baptized once but we MUST take the sacrament EVERY week to be worthy to keep the spirit with us.  But when it is a process we can't just cant say the same person.  Enduring to the End means we can't go back to the person we were before.  We have to stay in constant motion.  It is the ONLY way we can become perfect.  I have been struggling a lot with thinking lies about myself, things that are not true.  Satan works his way into our lives with little thoughts about us.  Through doubting.  But if we doubt we cant have faith.  And when we do not have faith we cannot do the other things.  Without faith we will not be moved to Repent for the things we do wrong.  We must remember who we are:  Children of our Father in Heaven.  We cannot be trapped in the lie of saying that we are not good enough.  We are.  It is a flat out lie.  But we must go on.  We must Endure to the End and NEVER return to who we were.  I will NEVER return to who I was before my mission.  I am so grateful for this principal.   

Satan will always be attacking us but if we are built on the Rock of Jesus Christ WE WILL NOT FALL.

I love you all thank you for the prayers.

Always and Forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 05/20/13

Hola Family!!

Well my week was FABULOUS!!!

Not too much happened but it was great.  Working in the FABULOUS Work of the Lord.  It's so FABULOUS!  Elder Porter is FABULOUS!  I am learning new things from him every day.   We got news that the guy that owns our apartment is upping the Rent.  So the mission told us that we have to find a new one...In one week the funny thing is that we got the news three weeks ago.  Don't procrastinate.  Its bad.  I should have learned that in High School.

We are still having a little bit of trouble finding people to teach.  We are doing all we can to find them.  When we love we will have a greater desire to follow the Commandments of the Lord AND serve His glorious children. 

A few weeks ago we had a man named Gabriel walk up to us telling us that he heard things about the church and that people were saying how FABULOUS it would be to be baptized but he told us that he didn't want us to teach him at his house because his family is REALLY Christian and don't like us very much and so he said he would call us.  We waited two weeks for him to call us.  Last Monday around 4 he called us telling us that he really wanted to talk to us.  We went to where he was working and told us that he really wanted to be baptized.  He is such an amazing person.  Yesterday he went to church and is preparing for his baptism next week.  We are so excited for him. 

Yesterday we were looking for a man that we had been teaching.  But while we were knocking on his door two men came up to us.  One was so drunk he was just falling over into buckets of water.  The other was high but this man started talking to us.  He was telling me about his wife and three really young children.  He was telling us about he wants to change his life.  He was telling us about his problems and the first thing we told him to do was to stop the things he was doing.  It was super sad to me to see these two men like this.  He told me that he couldn't stop.  The Devil just has such power over us when we are doing these things.  But we can escape.  It is never to late for us.  He puts these lies into our heads to get us to stay down.  He then proceeded to tell us that he has faith in God that he loves him.  Which is so true.  But faith has two parts to believe and to act.  We must always act.  We must always repent.  But we are able to do it.  Christ paid for our sins.  So why should we suffer for them.  The feeling of freedom when we repent is the greatest feeling we could have.  I know I have felt it.  The Atonement is the greatest gift of all.  He is there.  He is waiting for us to come to him.  We cannot wait to repent.  We want the freedom now.

We just got back from interviews with the President.  It was so amazing but it was the Last one we would have with President Villarreal.  It was so amazing.  I am so grateful for him and how he has changed my life forever.  I love him so much.  But while we were waiting the Assistants were talking with us.  Elder Christoferson (I went to school with him) was telling us about the word MORE.  Being a missionary there is always MORE that we can do to be better missionaries but more important to be MORE like Christ.  If we are always doing MORE than we did yesterday to be more like Christ we are always progressing.  We must always do MORE to serve the people around us.  Just the way Christ did.  He is a perfect example for us.   We must always strive to do MORE.

I love you all so much I am so grateful for your love and support.

Always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 05/13/13

Dear Family,

Well I don't have to much to say because I already talked to you but I Just wanted to send a few pictures.  I want to let you all know how grateful I am for you how much I am grateful for your love and support.  I love you all so much.  I pray for you all every day.  I love you.  Have a good week and please remember your loving Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.  I love you all so much. 

Always and Forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 05/06/13

Hey Familia!  

¿Como Estáis?  Yep I feel super Spanish today.  I want to talk in Vosotros.  Cool.  Well it sounds like you all have had a few roller coaster rides the past few weeks.  I hope all is well.  The new baby.   I LOVE THE NEW NAME!!!!  Good work!!!  (If you held it A few weeks more you could have had a MAY baby!)  Op just kidding.  Its so wonderful to have this blessing in your life.  HEY maybe I will see her.  I will be calling on Sunday.  (I'm freaking out right now.  yes mom LED!!!!!)  Satan and his awful temptations WATCH OUT!!! HE WILL GET YA!!  Well anyway I will be calling at 4:00 MY time.  Will you make me a skype account?  We can only use skype to do it.  And send me instructions on how to use it.  I Think  that when you make an account you can add yourself as a friend.  

Well this week as great.  Elder Porter is AWESOME!!!  He is an amazing missionary.  We have been having a hard time finding people to teach.  Its been really great to have him as a companion though.  

Yesterday Elder Porter and I were walking down the street singing primary songs.  It was a really great until we actually thought about the Lyrics and what they really mean.  We thought about "I am a Child of God"  how profound it really is.  Probably the most popular song we sing in the Church probably has the most profound meaning behind it.  Yet I have NEVER thought about it like "yeah I am a Child of God.  This is the most important thing we could ever understand.  If we understand this principle we will do everything we can to enter and live with Him in His Kingdom.  We are children of a all knowing all powerful being.  And we can and inherit Everything He has.  We are His children. 

We found this man this past week that just contacted us on the street.  He had such a pain in his eyes to change his life.  He told us he lost everything.  He had a wife and kids and a job.  He expressed his desire to change.  The Love of Christ just swept over me.  Being in these situaciones is really hard sometimes.  Knowing for a part how Christ felt for us.  Just the desire to do all you can to help these people is incredible.  

We talked about love for a long time last night.  How it is the most important attribute of Christ we could have . Christ said the most important commandments we obey is to Love thy God with all thy heart, and love thy neighbor as thyself.  If we do these things we will do all we can to follow our savior.  I have learned that.  The more I love everyone before me I have more of a desire to serve my Father in Heaven.  I love you all.  More than anything.  Please don't forget your Heavenly Father.  

Always and Forever.

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Ps.  Mom I have been craving Brownies like CRAZY.  will YOU SEND ME SOME.  AND CHOCOLATE  AND LOVE       I LOVE YOU

Emaill received 04/29/13

Hey Family,

Well this week was a bit of a struggle.  I had a bit of a hard time with my companion.  It is really hard to work with him sometimes.  He is a really great missionary but he does not like to work much and so working hard and being diligent this past week was really hard.  But he has really taught me so much.  I really felt down this past week just trying so hard to do what's right is so hard sometimes especially when you are with someone that doesn't really want to do the things.  But Thursday morning my heart felt really heavy,  when all I wanted to do was just give up.  I prayed so hard to help me find something that would help me.  To strengthen me once again.  I was reading in Ether 12 that just blew me away.  Verse 27 answered my prayers.  It says that if we come to Christ the Lord will show us our weaknesses.  It says that He shows us our weaknesses so that we will humble ourselves before Him and if we are humbled before Him he will give unto us grace.  And if we are humble before Him and if we have faith in Him he will make our weaknesses our strengths.  It was something that strengthened me so much.  

We had changes today.  My new companion is Elder Porter.  He is really awesome he is from South Jordan.  He has 10 months in the Mission.  I stayed here in Roma.  In Zocalo.  The Center of Mexico City.  Its super cool I love it here.  I am super Excited to work with him.  We are going to have a lot of success this change.  

I am really sorry this is a short email.  I love you all thank you for everything. You all are in my prayers.

Always and Forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 04/22/13

Dear Family,

This week was really good week.  We worked so hard.  Elder Mendoza is a great missionary.  Its weird to think we are coming up on another change.  We are excited to see what happens with changes.  We don't know if I stay or Elder Mendoza stays.  But we are really anxious to find out what happens. 

There was an earthquake last night around 8:30.  We were walking down the street and we saw a lot of people outside of their house.  We were wandering what was going on than we heard a member from our ward call out to us and told us there was an earthquake happening.  We didn't feel anything until she said something.  It was super weird.  It was just an aftershock the epicenter was in Michoacan.  I think they said it was like a 5.7 or something we don't really know the details just that the Missionaries that are there had a good wakeup call.  Second tiny one in the past two weeks.  cool experience.

We had a miracle happen yesterday.  We were sitting in church with no investigators.  We had passed by with all of our investigadores but all of them were sleeping and didn't answer the door or were  not home.  I got to admit I was a little bit disappointed.  At the End of the meeting we had a man walk up to us and introduce us to his girlfriend Patricia.  He said that she was investigating the church and wanted to learn more.  We taught her just about everything in the church because she told us that she had a lot of doubts and questions.  we kept answering her questions and then she told us that she had had a really cool experience at conference two weeks ago.  She told us that she just kept having a feeling but she didn't know what it was.  We talked about baptism with her.  We invited her to be baptized she said yes but as soon as possible.  We were so happy that we had to restrain ourselves from leaping out of our chairs and shouting for joy.   that same day we taught her everything and was baptized.  that was her first time talking with the missionaries.  Not once in my mission so far has this happened to me.  It is something I am so grateful for.  I felt a bit bad this past week because we were working so hard but not having very much success.  When we do the things that we need to do to the Best of our ability the Lord will do his part.  We will be blessed.  Something very powerful I learned.  Proof to me that we have a loving Heavenly Father who does love us so much that He is begging for us to keep His commandments so that he can give us blessings.  But He will always do His part but us first must do ours. 

At times it is hard to keep the commandments.  But if we keep them we will enter the Kingdom of God.  If we do these simple things that we know we will have this blessing together as a family.  I love you all so much. 

Always and Forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

PS.  Mom I ran out of money.  Could you send me some more please?  I am really sorry.  I will do better.  I love you so much.

Email received 04/15/13

Hey family!!

Well this has been a really hard week for me.  Elder Ballesteros was special Changed last week.  We don't really know why.  the Assistants called us Monday night and told him he was going to Ciudad Hidalgo Michoacan.  Super weird.  He is from Morelia Michoacan which is like one hour from Ciudad Hidalgo.  But I got a knew companion Tuesday.  His name is Elder Mendoza.  He is from Ciudad Juarez up north and has 16 months in the mission.  But it has been really tough adjusting.  Really tiring and really frustrating at times.  We had an earthquake a few days ago.  It wasn't big at all.  We could feel it just a bit.  But if you were in any big building you could really feel it.

This past week I have been thinking a lot about patience.  How important it really is in our lives.  The longer I thought about it the more I realized how I don't have it.  How much I need to ask for help.  In James 1:5 it says that if we lack wisdom, we ask God to help us with that.  But not just wisdom but anything we need it will be given.  If there is something we lack in our lives we must ask our loving Heavenly Father to help us.  If we ask in faith and not doubting we will be blessed with that thing.  At times it is really difficult to live with the things that we felt.  But that is why we ask.    But we must not focus on the things that we felt.  But the things that we have.  Just like what Elder Holland said that we cannot focus on the faith that we do not have but the faith we do have.

We met with a family that just had their grandmother pass away last week.  Only the two daughters are members and the son and the mother are not.  Their mother cannot hear or talk.  The daughter that we were talking with told us why she joined the church.  She said that she had been going to church at the time for a year before her mom let her get baptized.  She said that when the missionaries were talking with her she wasn't sure about baptism.  They asked her if she had prayed to know it was true.  She said no.  They invited her to pray.  She said that she did it but nothing happened she said.  She told the missionaries that and they told her to pray again.  But more fervently with more of a desire and a longing to know.  She told us that that other time that she had prayed she got the sweet assurance of the truthfulness of the gospel. 

This story really might sound kind of normal but its true.  She had a desire to know.  The only way we will know for a surety is to pray.  To receive that witness that it is.  But we do not receive this answer on our time but on the time of our Father in Heaven.  But also the other thing very important is that we "receive no witness until the trial of our faith."  Every person member or investigator must come to this point.  We must ask in fervent prayer if this church is true.  It is the only way that we will know that it is true.  In this time that we live in it is hard.  But it is so much harder without this testimony.  The ONLY way to get through it is by having our foundations built upon Jesus Christ and his Gospel.  The world says otherwise but we must not listen. We must not forget who we are. Inside a world of darkness.  But always there will be this light.  Leading us through. We must know with our own testimonies that it is true.  It is true.  I love this gospel.  I love my Father in Heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for this chance that I have to spread and share this gospel.  I love you all so much.  Thank you for the love and support that you give me.

Always and Forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Ps.  Mom don't send me a camera.  it wont get to me.  Don't worry about it.  If I have more problems I will tell you and you can send me money or something but don't send me anything worth value.  Lots of candy and love sounds great!!  Peanut butter and Jam.  DELISOUS.  Oh and I am going to talk to you on mothers day.  I want to use skype this time.  I love you.  Hey how was your birth day?