Email received 09-24-12

Hi Mom and Family,

Today was good.  We went over to a member's house and washed our clothes while we did our studies.  Then we went home and laid around for a while until we went shopping.  After shopping we went and got my hair cut.  It was really long.  Then we went home and here we are.  I know REAL EXCITING!!!

This week was a really good week.  I got sick again this week.  We are sure it is from the food we ate at a member's house.  It was fish.  I really did not feel good for a few days.  I have been kind of light headed for the past few days with an off and on headache.  I don't know why.  It is super weird to me.  But that's alright.  I am feeling good now. 

We have been having more success.  We have been teaching families that I really hope will get baptized.  One of those families is the same family I talked about a few weeks ago with the little boy that has cancer.  It makes me sad because the mom and the dad are not married and they have to get divorced before baptism.  The dad is Jehovah's Witness and doesn't want anything to do with the church.  The mom knows its true.  She told us this is the change she wants for her family but her husband doesn't like it.  It makes me really sad.  But that's alright.  We told her if she really wants to be baptized the Lord will provide a way. 

I need to be patient and have faith that the Lord will provide a way for me.  I have been trying so hard to be a tool in the Lord's hand and be the best Missionary I can Possibly be.  It is really hard sometimes.  You get down and discouraged and that is how Satan wants us to feel.  It is hard, but through Christ it is possible.  Without Christ it would be impossible.  I have to remember why I am here.  Remember the Lives that have changed because the Lord used me as a tool in His hands.  It all comes down to faith in Him. 

Yesterday we were teaching the Gospel Principle class and we taught about faith.  It really got me thinking about why faith is so important.  Without faith we would have no Gospel.  Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the Gospel.  If we have the faith we can Move mountains.  But the most important part of our faith is action.  Without acting on our faith our faith will not grow.  It really made me think about my Faith a lot.  I know that I must put all I can into the Lord.  Because our Heavenly Father Hears us and loves us so much and wants His children to make it back to him.  Being here in Mexico and seeing so many sad situations and heard so many heart-breaking stories is hard, but I have witnessed the faith that came out of those trials.  It makes me so happy to see these people go through trials, putting all of their heart and Faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  That is why I am here.  To bring the joy, the happiness, the peace that comes through the Gospel.  I have seen it in my own life.  I feel it.  The only way we can truly have these things is through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There is no other way.  It is only through the Gospel can we have our eternal families.  I love you all so much.

Always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Ps.  Some Peanut butter would be nice... And Homemade Strawberry Jam!  I love you Mom, with all my heart. 

Email received 09-17-12

Hi Mom and Family,

First off, I want you all to know how much I love you.  I had a hard week this week and Mom, that email you just sent today is exactly what I needed.  I have been having a hard time wondering if I have done enough.  I have been struggling all week to know that my Father in Heaven, my Savior, and my family were proud of me.  This is exactly what I needed.  Thank you. 

I got sick this week.  It was just a cold, but it is always hard to work when you are even a little bit sick.  We got really wet a few nights ago when it started raining super hard.  It was cold that day so it didn't feel too great.  Saturday was 15 de Septiembre (Mexico's Independence Day).  It was really dangerous that day.  There were lots of fireworks going off.  It was cool.  We were supposed to be back in the house at 8:30 but that didn't happen.  We didn't get home until 9:00. 

We have been having a hard time finding people that want to listen.  It has really been a trial but we are not losing faith.  It really is hard seeing people that don't want to listen to the life changing message that we have for them. 

I love it here.  The people are amazing.  We ate with a family yesterday that really humbled me.  Their dad was baptized not too long ago but has to skip church a lot to work (very common here).  He has a daughter that has been sick for a while.  We gave her a blessing.  It really was a heart-softening experience for me because they were a really poor family and did not have very much money.  But the father's faith and his humility really astounded me. 

We also met a man yesterday who was baptized not too long ago either.  He came to our ward for the first time.  He still needs to be confirmed.  He told us why he joined the church.  His daughter has cancer.  They found out not very long ago.  She has it in her brain.  The man told us she was terminal.  She has two more months to live.  He told us that after he found out she has cancer, he thought long and hard about his life.  He thought about what was going to happen to him after death.  The next week, he walked in to church and the missionaries found him and baptized him.  This story really touched me. 

The Lord is preparing people for me.  I have seen it.  The joy of the Gospel blesses families.  The joy and the light that floods into their eyes IS the fullness of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  There is no way of denying something so pure and sweet when you see something like this.  Complete Transformations.  Lives changed forever.  No other thing could and WILL EVER do that.  Only Christ our Savior and Redeemer and His Gospel can do that.  Because that is why we are here.  To gain a body and find happiness, TRUE happiness.  That can only come through the Gospel.  I see that in my life when I compare who I was more than a year ago, to who I am now.  I promise you that I was not happy.  But I know that Because of Christ and His Atonement, I am happy.  I am at peace.  I feel His love every day.  Yes it is hard.  Life is hard.  But we can be happy and be going through trials at the same time.  But this is only possible through Christ.  I love you all thank you.

Always and Forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Ps.  Eli,  Thank you.  I think about you every single day.  You help me.  I miss you but I work hard because of you.  I love you with all my heart.  Thank you.

Mom, these pictures are not too great, but I figure Fred can photoshop them and zoom in on my face, maybe.  I love you.

Email received 09/10/12

Hola Family!!!!!

I am so happy to hear about Spencer.  I can't believe he went in to the MTC so soon.  Argentina has been having some hard times with VISAs.  There is an elder in my Zone that is from here and he is here waiting to go to Argentina.  But it's alright.  Whatever happens is what the Lord wants.  Just today I was thinking about Mason and how I know a friend that is in his same mission and I was thinking if they knew each other.  Well I guess they do.  That is so awesome that they know each other.  Elder Burningham is awesome.   

This week has been really awesome.  We had a baptism yesterday.  This whole week we have been trying to get her to be baptized because she knows its true.  Her husband was baptized just the week before but she told us every single day that she wasn't ready.  We fasted that she would make the decision to be baptized.  On Friday we had a really powerful lesson.  I shared my favorite scripture and said that if she had a desire to follow Christ and build her foundation on Christ that she will get baptized.  I told her that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ she will do this, and that all she needs to have is faith.  Because when you act on your faith your faith grows.  She was studying with the Jehovah's Witnesses and to be baptized in that church you have to basically memorize the bible.  She was baptized yesterday. 

I have a cool story to tell.  Yesterday we found this lady.  We walked in through the door and the Spirit hit me like a ton of bricks.  I saw this little boy about four-years-old sitting on the chair.  His head was shaved and I knew he had cancer.  Right then, the lady said he had cancer.  I could barely keep myself from crying.  But the weird thing is that it feels like I have seen them before or something.  But I knew that I have to baptize her and her family.  When I saw her I just knew how much she needed this.  How much she needs to know that if she has faith in Christ and relies on Him that her burdens will be made light.  I just know how much it will bless her family to know that whenever she needs, it they will be able to have the Priesthood in their home to bless this little boy.  It is hard when you see someone that is sad and you know they are sad because you can see it in their face but they blatantly shut the door.  It makes me so sad.  But really it is this kind of love that makes me go forward, ecause I know how much the Gospel will bless them.  

Thinking about faith a lot.  Faith is so powerful.  I would not be here sitting in this seat writing this email without faith.  And I have to hold on to that faith because my faith in Christ is how I keep going everyday.  To be honest, it is really hard sometimes.  But by having faith in my Savior, Jesus Christ, I rely on him.  I am comforted.  I have felt that comfort; I know that feeling.  It is something we all need.  If we have faith we can move mountains.  I love you all so much.  

Always and forever

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

P.S.  I need AAA's.  Oh, bad news: my watch broke yesterday.  I was handing my watch and my ring to Elder Romay because I don't baptize with it on, and it dropped, and the glass inside broke.  I am really sorry.  I had to buy a new one.  It is the same style, and not expensive (98 pesos = like less than $9.00).  Sorry.  I love you Mom.  Thank you for being so patient with me all these years.  I know all those fervent prayers were answered.  Thank you.  Because of the Savior I am here.  I know your fervent sincere prayers, pleading with the Lord to help me, were answered because of your faith.  Mosiah 27:14 I love you Mom.  I think of you and the family every day.

Email received 09/03/12

Dear Hancock Family,

This week was such an awesome week.  The last week of the change is always the hardest week.  But we got a lot of contacts and lessons.  We worked so hard this change.  We always want to make every day better. 

I gave my first blessing a few days ago.  That was amazing.  I have never felt the power of God flow out of me like that.  It was so amazing and powerful.  We baptized two brothers of Mitzy and Brisa.  They are the two girls that I baptized with Elder Sylvestre my first change.  Me and Elder Johnson had to wake up at 5am to go fill up the font because we had to baptize them early in the morning.  Mitzy and Brisa bore their testimonies in Sacrament meeting yesterday.  They both cried.  They made me cry because they said that we changed their lives of an entire family.  Those two girls have the strongest testimonies I have ever seen in 13 -14 year olds.  It made me so happy

We got calls on Saturday.  Transfer day.  I am now in Aquiles Serdan in Cameronas.  I am in DF.  One of the only zones in DF.  Camerones is a colony in DF.  I don't know my address.  Elder Johnson stayed in Cantera. My new Companion is Elder Romey.  He is from Veracruz.  He has a year in the mission.  He is so awesome. 

I had to say goodbye to all the families yesterday.  That was so hard.  I wanted to go, but I wanted to stay because of the families.  I was with the Family Espinosa Gallardo (Mizty's and Brisa's family).  What Patricia said to me made me cry.  She told me that because of us bringing her family the Gospel, her family is happy.  I baptized all of her kids.  She and her husband can't get baptized because they are not married, and they can't get married because they have to get divorced, and getting a divorce in Mexico is hard.  She told me a story about her husband.  Her husband really likes to drink.  He isn't an alcoholic but he loves his alcohol.  He really likes the Gospel but he doesn't want to give up drinking.  She told me a story about her husband.  They were at a birthday party and the family were all drinking.  One of the brothers of Jorge offered him a drink but he turned it down.  He said he saw how happy his family was and that he wasn't going to drink.  He said that when he is baptized he will be worthy for a whole year so he can be sealed together with his family.  Patricia told me as tears were streaming down her face that we brought an entire family back to Heavenly Father.  An entire family back into the fold of God.  She told me that we shine.  At that moment I knew exactly why I was there.  I told her that because she is happy and her family is happy I am happy.  All of this has made me so happy.  She also told me that Edgar and Nathan, the boys we baptized, want to have wives and children so that they can bring them into the Gospel.    Mitzy put her testimony and a picture of the baptism in the Liahona for the month of December.  So when December comes, go buy one.  English ones are not common in the States but try to buy one.

When I went to see the Prado family (Pedro and Irene) I shared my last words with them.  I shared my favorite scripture with them.  I told them that if they build their foundations on Christ they will not fall.  That if they rely on him they will not fall.  If they try their hardest everyday to stay on the path and to keep growing and keep pushing forward they will live together forever.  The Spirit was so strong.  I love them so much. 

One thing I have definitely learned is love.  Some of the families I have baptized have gone through a lot.  Life is hard.  It is that straight.  Life is hard.  I have gone through hard times in my mission so far.  Sometimes it feels like we can do nothing more so we just give up.  No!!!  FALSO!!!  Lies of Satan.  He wants us to think that.  We all fall at times.  But it is at that point when we make the decision to give up, or to rely on Christ and keep going.  Rely on Him.  I have felt Him.  I have felt peace and calmness in myself and a voice saying everything will be ok.  He is the Rock.  He is the Foundation.  if we build ourselves on Christ we will not fall.  It is a promise.  It is a Fact.  It is never too late.  He loves us.  No matter who we are.  He loves us.  He wants us to make it back to him.  I love you all.  Thank you.

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Facts about Elder Hancock:  Wake up at 6:00; workout until 7:00; out of the house by 10:30; get back to the house 9-9:30.  I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, eggs, (why are eggs so expensive right now?)  cereal.

Email received 08/27/12

Hi Mom and Family,

Well this week was an interesting week.  Elder Johnson and I got robbed on Tuesday.  It caught me and Elder Johnson off guard.  We were walking down the road to our house around 9:00 and a scooter pulls up and a young kid gets off.  They were no older than 20-21 years old.  They came to us and pulled a gun on us.  At first we thought they were joking because we get harassed all the time here.  So we thought they were kidding around with us until they pulled the gun on us.  We knew the gun was real because of the sound it made when he cocked it.  So we gave him the one peso Elder Johnson had in his money pouch.  Then we started giving him our bags, but he didn't take anything except the one peso Elder Johnson had and ran off and got back on the scooter.  This all happened within like 45 seconds or a minute.  But we were still kind of in shock over what just happened.  We walked away saying, "We were just robbed!"  It was kind of funny because they went through all that work to get one peso, not even a peso.  It was like 70 centivos.  Not even a penny in $$$$. (I'm forgetting how to spell.)  So, yeah, that was an adventure.  

Then on Thursday we got lost trying to find a doctor's place for Elder Johnson.  But we got lost because the Assistants didn't give us an address that we could give to someone to help us find it.  So we ended up walking in the wrong direction.  We eventually got there but it was really interesting.  

I had my first adventure with food.  We were eating at a carnita place (carnitas are soooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!!)  but when they brought us the food they told us the meat wasn't "pure" meat.  We had no idea what that meant until we bit down on the taco.  It was like crunchy, chewy, soft, gristley, all rolled into one bite.  It was super interesting. We had NO idea what we were eating until someone told us none "pure" meat means it is every part of the pig all chopped up and put on a tortilla.  Lets just say it was really hard to get it down.  So that was super interesting.  

I might have also told you all this one but we ate at a member's house a few weeks ago and she is really poor.   As we ate, we started to see a TON of cockroaches crawling on the walls where we were eating.  We call experiences like those good "Journal" experiences.  I didn't get sick though so that is good.  

Speaking of sick, I got sick Friday.  I woke up throwing up.  It wasn't good.  So all Saturday I didn't feel good.  We didn't work that day.  I felt super bad because I wasn't working.  But we made up for it yesterday.  We worked super hard yesterday to make up for Saturday and Thursday.  

I  confirmed my first person yesterday.  I confirmed Isabel.  We baptized Jose Lewis and Isabel last week.  But it was super scary confirming her because it was my first time.  Its also really tough in Spanish.  

I was reading in Alma 42 and 43 and 44 and 45 today.  It is the start of the war chapters in the Book of Mormon.  It is so amazing to read of the brilliant faith that Moroni had.  Because they all knew if they had the faith and they were doing what was right they would have Heavenly Father on their side.  And they fought for they right reasons, too. because they were fighting for their Families, their religion, their homes, their fallen brothers.  They never fought for anything else, just for the things that were so dear to them.  I compare that to us being robbed on Tuesday.  I look at that as a miracle.  They took nothing other than the peso, yet they held a gun to us.  I know that if I am doing what is right and I am doing all I can to be a worthy Representative of the Lord, Jesus Christ, then we will have angels on our right side and on our left side keeping us safe.  Yes things do happen.  But I am bought back to rememberance of a scripture: "Perfect love casteth out all fear."  Moroni 8:16.  It always brings me back to my family.  I am always thinking of you all and thinking about how I want to make all of you proud because I am bearing the name "Hancock" and "Jesus Christ".  These two names are my biggest motivators.  I always try to love the people.  Even the people that rob us, because with the love of Christ all is possible.  It is love that makes the work go forward.  Love.  Love with all that you have.  Have a love for the Lord.  Have Love for every person you meet.  Because if you show them your love they will see the light of Christ in you.  My biggest goal is to reflect the love of Christ to all people.  I love you all.  With all of my heart.  

LOVE,

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Ps.  We climbed this mountain this morning and took these pictures.  All the white things are houses.  All the Buildings in the background is DF.

How tall is the giant Cristo in Rio?

Email received 08/20/12

Hey Family,

This week went really well, but, Elder Johnson is still sick.  We are now thinking he has some kind of parasite.  So we are going to have to go to the doctors today. 

I had my first Confrencia de la Zona this week.  It went really well.  President Villarreal is going to be an apostle some day.  He is such a powerful man.  One of the Zone leaders talked about how on our tags we have three names.  The name of the Church, Christ's name, and the names of our families.  We are literally representatives of these people.  He said we always need to be thinking about these names and how they want us to represent them.  It was a really cool experience.  I really can't wait for the next one. 

I had my first... food that I really didn't know what part I was eating.  We went to eat carnitas (AMAZiNG!!!!!)  and we sat down and they brought us the tacos.  They said the meat wasn't puro.  It wasn't all just the pure meat on the pig.  It was everything.  It tasted good but the thing that got me was biting down and feeling something really crunchy and then chewy and  then soft.  Yeah that was a...good experience. 

We had two baptisms yesterday.  They are an amazing couple.  We just found them while we were contacting some random street.  It was a miracle that we found them.   The light in their eyes truly is amazing. 

Jesus had a relapse this week.  He has been out of a job and has been fasting and praying really hard to find a job.  He found this job that was perfect.  But he didn't get the job because he has a tattoo on his hand.  So he went and got drunk.  We went over there and he started talking to us and just broke down and cried.  Because of the guilt and shame he had.  At that moment we said it was ok.  We all fall en veses.  We all fall at times.  That in those times we fall and have trials is when we need to have faith to  pick ourselves up and keep going.  That we need to ask in "mighty prayer and supplication" for the Lord to forgive us.  We told him that his faith can be strengthened in this trial.  He has so much faith in Christ.  This week I kept thinking about that experience.  How bad Satan wants us to feel like we have to give up because our sins are too great.  No sin is too big. 

I know, I know that if we lay our burdens, our afflictions, at the feet of the Savior he will carry us.  That if we pour out our souls, our hearts to Him when it feels like our souls are on fire, I know that Christ will forgive us.  We need to enter into our own Gethsemane.  When we repent we must humble ourselves.  To the point where we are wrestling with our souls in mortal anguish for the sins we commit.  It doesn't matter how big or small that sin is.  And we must not procrastinate the day of our repentance, because "this is the time for men to prepare to meet God."  I know what sin does to us.  it makes us feel worthless.  I have been there.  I have seen the Darkness.  I have seen the Light.  I know how it feels, the mortal anguish sin causes us.  Satan does not want us to make it.  But I testify with all the fervency of my heart,  IT IS WORTH IT!!!!!!  I have felt the arms of the Savior wrap around me as I have fallen on my knees and begged,  PLEADED for forgiveness.  It came.  It comes through our humility.  The Savior is there.  I have felt Him.  I know.  Oh remember, remember, Christ is our rock.  Christ is our foundation. 

I love you all.  Thank you for your prayers and encouraging words.  I think of  you all every single day.  My love for my family and my Savior and all people is my driving force.  Thank you.

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Ps.  Did you get my pictures last week?

Email received 08/13/12

Hi Mom and Family,

Well this week was really good.  We had a lot of things happen.  We had three bautismos yesterday.  A family.  Nothing makes me more happy than to change the hearts of an entire family.  The dad, Jesus, had a really bad drinking problem.  We have been trying for weeks to get him to stop drinking.  But every time we went over there he was drunk.  He had so many problems with his wife and his family.  When we started teaching him two weeks ago he was on the edge of moving out and getting a divorce from his wife.  As we were teaching him, the Spirit filled the room.  It was like a thick kind of air, but as that happened I  promised him with the power of the Spirit that was in the room that if he waited two weeks to move out and took two weeks to change, REALLY change his life, that the gospel will give him and his family so much happiness that they didn't know was there.  Two weeks later he and his wife, Ivone, and his ten year old son,  Jesus Alan, were baptized.  

Elder Johnson got sick again.  He asked me to baptize all three.  After the baptism, the light and the love and the peace and the joy that I saw in each one of their eyes was all worth it for me, knowing that I was used as an instrument in the hands of the Lord in bringing an entire family to the arms of the Savior and Eternal happiness.  I am telling you right now, there is no better feeling.  

The past few weeks have been kind of hard. On Saturday, I got really upset after a contact with this guy.  People here really like to try to bible bash with us (especially T.J.  or J.W.).  This guy was explaining what faith was to us, and I was telling him that faith was two parts: a belief and action.  Without action you can't have faith.  Your faith decreases.  But he started telling me that I had no faith.  And then he was saying stuff in Spanish that I didn't understand.  And then he said that if I had the faith I would have been able to defend myself.  So we said that we were representatives of Jesus Christ sent here to preach His Gospel and that we were not going to fight with him and we walked away.  After, Elder Johnson told me that I did really well but he was just taking advantage of us.  It was really crazy.  

As I was feeling really upset I remembered the chapter of the book of Mormon I read.  Alma 23 I think ... can't remember exactly.  Ammon is talking about all the success they had.  And at first, when they were teaching, they were spit upon, beaten, mocked, everything.  As they were about to turn back and give up because they were depressed, the Lord said be patient in your afflictions and go back to the city and teach the people.  That's what they did.  Even when they went back the same thing happened to them.  This time they were thrown into prison.  But they were patient in their suffering, while they were starving to death.   

And then when Ammon came to free them they preached again unto them.  But this time they had success.  They had so much that thousands of Lamanites were baptized and converted.  Not just to baptism, but for Eternity.  So much so that they refused to take up arms against their brothers.   Because they had so much faith in the Lord, they knew that if they died they would be welcomed with open arms.  Thats what happened.  The Anti-Nephi-Lehis died as the Lamanite army fell upon them.  But because of this, thousands of Lamanite hearts were softened and converted.  These chapters struck me to the very core.

It was so amazing because I was looking back at this chapter and remembered the faith diligence and patience the Sons of Mosiah had.  Then I remembered Christ.  He is with me.  He is lifting me when I am down in the depths of sorrow.  I have faith and I know that Jesus Christ knows exactly how we feel.  He is there.  I have felt the healing power of the Atonement.  I have felt his love surround me like a warm blanket when all of the feeling in my body has gone.  Have faith.  Have faith.  It is according to your faith.  When you ever, EVER get down, remember Him.  Pour out your heart to Him.  He will be there.  I know.  I KNOW.  I have seen the power of the Atonement change people's lives.  Don't EVER forget Him.  Because He never forgot you when He took upon your pains afflictions sorrows and sins everything in the Garden of Gethsemane.  His arms are out stretched towards you.  He is always there, no matter who you are, or what you have done.  He is pleading with you to come to Him, to humble yourselves to Him and to pour out your hearts to Him, whether it be sins or sorrows.  He is begging for you to come to Him.  

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

Elder Hancock

Helaman 5:12

Ps.  I got your email, Mom.  These are some pictures we took on top of a big hill in our area.  You can see all of DF.  Elder Johnson is the tall skinny one in the red shirt.