Elder Hancock

Elder Hancock
September 16, 2012

Monday, October 28, 2013

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.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

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