email received 01/14/13

Hi family!!!!

I opened up my Christmas package a few days ago.  AWESOME.  The Letters of coarse made my day.  But so did the Chocolate and the Peanut Butter and Jam.  I am going to try to make it last a while.  Well longer than a week.  Haha just kidding.  At least two months.  I loved the Batman jet thing and the legos.  And the Toy Story and Star Wars thing.  (good move Buddy Eli)  Yeah sweet. 

So I am super glad that Mom is doing better after her blood transfusion.  That picture of me in front of that wall really touched me in a deep way.  You all know that I loved to give blood before my mission.  But the reason why is really mainly because of Eli.  And now because of Mom.  That there really are people that need the blood and organs and stuff and so that is what it reminded me of.  But also of Christ.  It was a Catholic thing that I was standing in front of but it really does have an amazing message.  Where it says "a blood donor saved my life",  Christ knows exactly how we feel.  He bled from every pore because the pain he felt was so great.  That really he gave his blood for us.  Without Christ and the Atonement it is impossible. 

It is really nice to know that you all are doing well.  Well I am really sorry about my email last week.  It was super weak.  It has a great story behind it.  Last week after I got here from Tejupilco I played soccer with the whole Zone.  (It was really fun by the way)  After we came and Emailed.  During this time I started to feel really bad.  Light headed and sick to my stomach.  We went to WalMart after to buy some food.  I thought it was just because my body needed food because I had not eaten anything that day and I just had some cookies to eat the night before because we gave all our food away to Roberto and Anayeli.  But while we were at WalMart I felt like I had to puke.  And as we were running to the bathroom I puked in the middle of WalMart.  Yeah one of my worst fears came to life.  But after we went home and slept for a bit.  After we went out to see the Bishop to meet him and stuff.  I puked there too.  At least this time it was in a toilet.  We tried working after that but I did not feel too good.  We went home after that and I laid down and slept.  While I slept Elder Tattersal (My new companion) called Hermana Villarreal.  She told him all of the things I needed to do.   When I woke up it was like 10:00 at night.  He had told me that the Zone leaders were on there way over to give me a shot.  Because Elder McCallister was an EMT before his mission and knew how to give me a certain kind of shot.  Well they got there and he was like "well Elder I have to give you a shot in the Butt."  Yep fear number two came to life.  Getting poked in the butt....by a man.  Yeah this week was pretty awesome.  Thanks to the shot I feel great now.  The day after that I still had a fever but I was not throwing up.  We still don't know why I got sick.  I am pretty sure it wasn't food but Quien Sabe. 

My new Companion Elder Tattersal is kind of a pain but is really great.  He has six months in the Mission.  He is from Arizona.  But its kind of been hard this week with him.  I found out this week that he doesn't want to work.  And so animating him has been hard.  But he is really funny. 

On Saturday we found this man that told us a story that really touched me.  He told us a story about a man that was a drunk and did a lot of bad things.  He abused his wife and his kids and all of that kind of stuff.  It was super sad.  After that he told us that amidst all of his wrong doings he and his wife found out that his 12 year old son had cancer.  After months and months of hardship and pain and doctor after doctor.  Even the best doctors from the United States came.  But no one could do anything for him.  One night after a long dose of therapy the little boy knew he was going to die.  And the little boy said that it was ok for Heavenly Father to take him.  But he asked that He would take care of his family, that He would change the heart of his dad.  Later that night he passed away.  The grief and pain was there but it changed his father.  He stopped all the wrong things he was doing.  That sweet little prayer changed the life of his father.  He later told us that that little boy was his son. 

This story touched my heart deeply.  The fact that his Little sweet prayer changed the heart of his father.  I pondered and pondered deeply about this story.  This Little boy had a love and charity that is so hard to find these days.  It is true.  Love and Charity.  Without these things we are nothing.  This Little boy is an example to me of Christ Like love.  Even while writhing in pain he was focused on his family.  That last thought he had while in his mortal body was focused on his family.  Just like Christ and his last words.  "Forgive them Father.  For they know not what to do."  I love this story.  For me it tells me what the Pure love of Christ really is.  I ask you to let every action you make be focused on love.  I know without a doubt that if we strive to do this.  If we strive to let our actions be driven by love for the remainder of our lives we will find ourselves in the Celestial Kingdom with our family.  Let this story touch you.  Let it sink down to the very depths of your hearts.  Like it did with mine.  Remember Christ and his last words his last actions driven by love.  I love you all so much.  Thank you for the love and support.

Always and forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Ps.  Mom can you send me the Lyrics to Come thou Fount?  and put it in the email I love you

email received 01/07/13

Hi mom

This week was an awesome week.  On New Years eve we went to Toluca to celebrate.  We went and played soccer for a little bit.  And then we went inside and wached a few movies.  We watched the new Madegascar movie and a movie called the Ultiment Gift.  They were really good.  The Ultimo Gift was such an inspireing movie.  I have seen that movie before my mission and I loved it.  After we ate a ton.  It was a really good time.  I couldnt sleep that night because there was a lot of parties going on and loud music and fireworks and stuff.  

We have really been blessed this week.  We have been working so hard to baptize.  This last week we worked so hard.  And on saterday we baptized a mom and her daughter.  Brenda and Yoselyn.  They are such a special little family.  We asked brenda if she would be baptized on saterday but she said no at first.  Then she told us that she felt something in her stomach and her chest.  She said a wave of peace swept over her and she said she would be baptized.  Two days later she was.  It was such a special experience for us.  And in turn it was such a special day.  Yoselyn had her birthday that same day too.  So we went out and bought a cake.  It was such a miricle.  The Lord blessed us.  We are so 

thankful for that.

We had changes today.  It was a big surprise for us.  Elder Machen and I both left Tejupilco.  I am now back in DF in a place called Chapultapec.  It is such a change.  I really didnt want to leave Tejupilco.  Really because of the faimilies there.  We never got to baptize Roberto and Anayeli.  we were super sad about that.  It was such a hard task to leave that family.  Anayeli is not working right now and Roberto does not have a job.  And so right now they litterally dont have anything.  But we went out saterday night and bought them food.  And we gave them food left over from our house.  But they  are going to be just fine.  They have such a desire to be baptized.  The Lord will bless them for that.  Sorry this isnt very long.  I cant consentrate very well and am not feeling to good.  All is well here.  I am doing great.  I love you all so much.  Thank you for all that you do.  You all are my drive.  

Always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

ps.  I need money  and i got those packages

pl

email received 12/31/12

Hi family,


Well We are writing super early today so sorry about that.  We are going to Toluca at 11:30 and there is a lot of stuff we have to do before then.  So yeah sorry about that.  It was so good to hear from you all last week.  It made me so happy to hear you all.  I am really happy to hear that you all are doing fine and well.  I really love and appreciate the love and support that I get from you all. 

This week was awesome .  Elder Machen and I worked so hard this past week.  This past week we have a few cool stories.  We received a reference from one of our investigators.  We went by and talked to him for a bit.  He told us that we was studying  with the Jehovah's Witnesses.  So we decided to teach the Restoration.  It was such a powerful lesson.  The Spirit was there so strong.  It was like you could like float on clouds.  It was like a thick heavy fog.  That you can't see.  But when we recited the First vision we knew without a doubt that he was feeling the Spirit.  He told us after that that he felt something wash over him.  From his head down to his toes.  He then told us that the picture that we were holding of Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appearing to him, at first he only saw white where Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were  but then as we recited the first vision he saw them come into the picture slowly .  He described it as someone taking away the blind fold from his eyes.  He said that he had never felt anything like that in his entire life.  It was such an amazing experience. 

Yesterday we had one of our investigators go to church, Brenda.  It really was a miracle.  She said she was going to try to go.  But she went yesterday.  She really has such a desire to follow Christ.  She has a drinking problem, but through Christ nothing is impossible.  We are going to interview her on Wednesday so that she can be baptized on Sunday with her daughter. 

Last night we visited Roberto.  He was alone.  Anayeli and their kids, Jason and Madaline, were gone eating dinner with the family of Anayeli.  He was super sad.  He doesn't have a job and the last job that he had won't give him a month of pay that he earned.  Their money situation is getting worse and worse.  We told him that he needs to be baptized.  That through this covenant the Lord will bless him.  He has been doing everything he can.  And he is doing everything he needs to.  Praying with his family and  personally.  Reading the Book of Mormon everyday. Everything but baptism.  We told him that this will bless his life so much.  They can't get baptized because Anayeli needs to get divorced.  But she is afraid to talk to her mother in law.  So Roberto suggested that we go with her this morning to talk to her ex mother in law.  We felt really good about that so that is exactly what we are going to do. 

I love you all so much.  I am so grateful for you all. 

Thank you.

Always and forever

Elder Hancock
Helaman 5:12

Email received 12/24/12

Dear family.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cant believe it is Christmas already!!!!!  Sorry I cant write a whole lot because we are going to Toluca for Navidad and its like two and a half hours away.  But I love you all and I will talk to you all tomorrow.  9-1 your time.  

Always and Forever

Elder Hancock.

Helaman 5:12

Email received 12/17/12

Dear Family,

I guess we missed each other today.  We are not having p-day today for some reason.  Tomorrow we are having a meeting with President Villarreal.  There is a rumor going around that Tejupilco is receiving two temporals from Peru.  So Elder Machen and I might become Fathers.  SO that is really kind of a crazy thought.  That is why I am emailing so early today.  Sorry.  

Next week we are going to Toluca for Christmas.  There is where we will call home.  But they have not told us any details about how we will call.  So honestly I dont know how it will work.  Sacrament yesterday was awesome.  First the bishop spoke about the power of fasting.  It really was an amazing talk about what fasting can do and what kind of blessings we can receive from it.  After one of the counselors of the Bishop spoke about the birth of Jesus Christ.  He spoke about the star being a symbol that Christ is the light of the world that is so dark and lost.  Than he compared it to the two stars that came knocking on his door that changed his life.  He bore a fervent testimony about missionaries being a light and a star for others.  It was a very touching talk.  And than The stake president talked about the atonement of Jesus Christ.  That was such a powerful talk.  Sacrament meeting yesterday was so awesome.  

This week was a good week.  We have been having a hard time this week finding people to teach.  We had a mother and daughter that were going to be baptized yesterday that are having difficulties with each other and dont want to get baptized. So that was hard because we can do nothing to help them.  Especially if they are not doing anything to know these things for themselves.  We have been really finding so many miracles.  We found a woman named Brenda last week.  She told us that she had been taught by the first missionaries that came to Tejupilco.  She really wants to be baptized.  So that is really awesome.  But she didnt come to church yesterday so that was really disappointing.  I ate a chili in one bite this week.  Probably the spiciest thing I have ever eaten in my life.  It was awesome.  I am turning more and more Mexican everyday.  VIVA MEXICO!! VIVA!  

We have been teaching this family that is so amazing!  Roberto and Anayeli.   They have a 2 year old boy named Jason and a 1 year old little girl named Madaline.  They want to be baptized so bad but Anayeli needs to get divorced first.  Her husband left her 6 years ago and went to the United States.  It was a super sad situation.  He left her with two small little babies.  The difficult thing is that the divorce might take a while if her husband says he doesnt want a divorce.  It will be really easy if he says yes.  His mom that lives here in Tejupilco will just have to sign for him. So that was kind of difficult.  

Someone told Elder Machen and I what happened on Friday (He is referring to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connectticut).  That is so sad to me.  It really breaks my heart.  What would make someone do that.  If people just loved each other this would never happen.  It is so sad.  But that just means that its getting closer and closer.  I was thinking yesterday about how much my Mission has changed my life so far.  It is so amazing to see the kind of person that the Lord is making me.  I know without a doubt that this church is true.  Seeing the ways that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has changed people's lives.  How much peace and joy that comes through this Gospel.  I am so grateful to be a part of this Gospel.  I am so grateful for this chance that I have to bring this Gospel to others who are so lost and trying to find the truth that the Gospel brings.  I know how happy this Gospel has made me and others.  It is the greatest thing to know the happiness that the Gospel brings.  I love you all so much.  

 Always and forever,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 12/10/12

Hey Family!!!

Those spiders are BIG!!!  They cant stop laughing because I am always freaked out by them.  Its snowing?  Wow I miss the snow!  It is super hot right now.  I keep forgetting it is Christmas. Although I am reminded with all of the Christmas things.  I am so happy to hear that everything is good.  

This week has been really good for Elder Machen and I.  A lot of miracles.  But yesterday we were supposed to have two baptisms yesterday but they fell.  The girl we were supposed to baptize was sick and was not able to leave.  Her mom had to stay with her.  But they went to the little pharmacy yesterday and wasnt there when we went to pick them up.  It is ok though we have faith that they will want to be baptized next week.  

My District leader told me earlier this week that I am going to be doing all of the interviews for his baptisms.  It got me super nervous because it is a big responsibility.  But its ok.  I am actually really excited.  We went out to a tiny pueblo like an hour away.  It was really humbling to see the way they live out there.  Some of the houses dont have power.  They difference in the way of life and the way people live just in a matter of one hour.  Our bishop told us last night that they are going to be building a church out here at the start of the year.  All of the members are getting excited.  

We have been teaching a single mom Named Osbelia.  She was interviewed for baptism this past week.  In the middle of the interview her ex husband showed up and started to get upset that Elder Morales was in a room with her alone.  He started to get mad so Elder Morales had to leave and finish the interview the next day.  She told us she couldnt get baptized yesterday and that she will have to wait a week.  She told us that she couldnt get baptized because she has to look for a new house for her and her three little kids because she is afraid of her ex husband.  So that is a really scary situation.  So we are really praying that her husband cant find her.

Last monday night we had a miracle.  We had stopped by the house of someone we contacted on the street (We didnt contact her she contacted us.  She asked us who we were and what we do.)  So we stopped by an she answers the door.  She invites us in and Her husband was standing behind the door.  There names are Roberto and Anayeli.  He told us that he felt really bad.  And that he really needed our help.  He told us he knew who we were.  He said he had been taught by the missionaries like ten years ago in Texas.  His whole family was baptized except him.  He has had such hard life.  He was put in jail for six months for something he didnt do.  After that his wife left him with two little kids.  After that his family stopped talking to him.  He came back here to Tejupilco and Met Anayeli.  They are such a sweet family.  We fell in love with that little family the first time we saw them.  Roberto said he wants to be baptized as soon as possible.  He wants to change his life around so bad.  All he wants is the best for him and his family.  This really humbled me.  Seeing him in his situation.  That first night with them the Spirit was there so strong.  It is so  amazing for me to see the Atonement change someone in just a week.  The presence of the Gospel instituted into a family oh so troubled.  Seeing him and his family really touched me.  I know without a doubt that Anayeli contacted us for a reason.  Heavenly Father really wanted us to find that family.  I love you all so much.  Thank you.

Always and forever 

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Email received 12-03-12

Hola Family!!!!

Elder Machan is awesome!  He is from El Paso.  He says he goes to the Ciudad Juarez.  Really crazy right.  He says that the youth cant go sometimes because it is so dangerous.  It was rated the most dangerous city in the world a few years ago.  And no he doesnt have a texan accent.  He went to BYU before his mission.  I have no idea what we are doing for Christmas.  I dont think they tell us until like the week before I have no idea.  I dont think that Tejupilco is the farthest area in the Mission.  I think I that it is like in the middle in mission.  I honestly have no idea where we are.  It is actually funny.  Not exactly where we are.  Did you look it up on google earth?  It is such a cool area.  Diferant.  We see our Zone like every few weeks i think.  I am not sure.  But We have not seen them yet.  It is just Elder Machan and I and our District leader and his companion in this area.  It is way cool.  the Distance wont affect anything on mail.  It all goes to the zone and we get it when we have our Juntas on tusdays.  The only problem is is that we only go a few times a change.  But thats alright. 

Well this week was a chalangeing one and diferent.  We started the Nuevo Enfoce this week.  It is somting that will change the mission and missionary work but for us the only problem is is that we had a hard time getting the refrerences.  It will take time for the mind set to change but its all good.  We went this week with old investigators and it didnt work to well.  There are a lot of streets here that dont have names.  And so in turn it is really hard to find these people if they dont have an adress.  

So we cleaned our house today.  It was SO gross.  Elder Morales and Elder Rosas helped us.  But it took us just about all day to clean.  But now it is so nice.  Before there were bugs everywhere.  SPIDERS!!!  tuesday night we were walking up the stairs to go to bed and at the top of the stairs on the wall was a scorpion.  It was super startaling.  We didnt know what to do but we had to kill it.  So that was a really comforting thought of having a scorpion in the house right before bed  It was actually kind of funny expireience. I am just not used to those.  

Being with Elder Machen is awesome.  We only speak spanish.  And because of that my spanis is getting so much better.  We worked so hard this week to find people to teach.  We found this mom with three little kids that is really sweet.  her husband is in the United States working I think.  We started teaching her this week.  She seems really animated about the church.  But we brought her to church yesterday.  i dont think I have ever been so stressed out at work yesterday.  It was really bad.  There isnt a church building here in Tejupilco.  We meat in a casa de oracion.  And so fitiing 40 people in a little room is really tough.  But it is really stressful for missionaries when investigators dont feel anything at church.  So that was the only frustrateing thing about yesterday.  It was super awesome but church was hard because it was really hard to feel the spirit.  

Yesterday we found one of our investigators home.  His name is Roberto.  He is an amazing man but he has a lot of problems.  He is around 60 and has 15 children with 6 or 7 diferant wives.  Yesterday he told us that his 16 child was born.  His new girlfriend is like 25 and his situation is bad.  He told us yesterday about growing up in a comunity with bad things.  Drug cartels and things like that.  He has had such a hard life.  But we taught such a powerful lesson yesterday.  It was really such a beautiful thing to see what the spirit of the Lord does to people.  I could litterally see a change in his heart and a desire to follow Christ.  There is no bigger joy in this world than to see the joy and happiness the gosspel brings.  Because truly being on my mission has made me see that we cannot be happy without the gosspel.  It has changed me as a person.  Seeing the changes in my life have been amazing.  Without the gosspel it would have been impossible.  I love you all so much.  

Always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

we saw these spiders yesterday..  They are HUGE.  There are like five around where this is.  They sit on like 5 foot in diamiter webs .  they have to almost be as big as a base ball!!!