October 10, 2016 Sick... :(

This past week was sadly pretty uneventful because I was sick from about Tuesday night-Saturday!

On Monday our district leader bought us PIZZA!!! Our District this transfer is just the 4 of us sisters and 2 Elders. It was seriously the best pizza I have ever had in my life! 

Tuesday we taught lots and lots of people! 

Wednesday we had district meeting in the morning and we went a little bit early and made buruacas, a banana milkshake and brought a cake that we made, because the Elders had bought us Pizza. 

One Elder said, "All the pictures I have of our district we are always surrounded by lots of food."

Since I was sick this week we had to stay in our house for a few days. I was able to catch up on lots of sleeps, general conference (which I downloaded in English), and scripture study, but it wasn't super fun to stay inside all day! 

On Friday we finally left the house and taught 6 people. On Saturday we had to stay in our house again and then on Sunday I was completely back to normal! 

I had some time this week to watch some of General Conference again. I really loved Elder Uchtdorf's talk in Women´s conference!

Faith is powerful, but no matter how much faith we have it can't violate another persons agency or we can't force our will on God. We don´t always know why things happen or why certain prayers go unanswered, but in the end ALL things will make sense. Trust that God loves you perfectly. I know that God loves all of us and "all things will work together for those who love God." 

Love y"all! Thanks for the emails and support! 

-Sister Hancock

Attachments area

October 3, 2016 General Conference

This week was wonderful! It really is such a blessing to teach and serve the people here in Brazil Curitiba.

One day we were at lunch and the member told us to eat more, like they always do, and so I got up and got more food. Then I sat down and was eating and the lady came over and dumped a huge piece of chicken on my plate! I was already full and I had already gotten seconds. I was the only one that she gave more food to and I had to eat super fast so that I wasn't still eating 10 minutes after everyone else was done. 

 

On Thursday a sister got a call and the Elder said that Elder Holland would be coming tomorrow. Obviously he was joking because General Conference was this weekend but Sister Ferreira got excited and said "I need to dye my hair," and then Sister Pereira said, "I need to repent." The contrast between these two priorities was really funny! We didn't have a conference with Elder Holland, but on Friday we did have a conference with President Hart. 

During the conference we talked a lot about the training program and how we can be better missionaries! As missionaries we need to work with all of our heart, might, mind and strength! A great missionary gives their heart completely to go through hard, diligent work and then God will return blessings of spiritual power and strength. 

One evening we were walking home and I said "Vamos fazer buracos!" instead of  "vamos fazer buruacas," So I accidentally said LETS MAKE HOLES!!! instead of pancakes! 

For conference weekend we brought 2 investigators. One of them came on Saturday afternoon and the other came to the other three! The investigator that came to Saturday morning really enjoyed it. He came on his own to both of the Sunday sessions. We talked to him after the Sunday sessions and asked him about it. He said that he has never enjoyed going to church, but for some reason he really likes coming to the LDS church. He said he has always been anxious, but when he comes to church and when we are at his house teaching him he feels calm and peaceful! It is incredible to see him changing his life and his true desire to feast upon the word of God. 

Conference this weekend was wonderful! We watched all of the sessions in Portugues at the stake center, but I was able to understand almost everything. On Sunday the four of us wore our coral dresses that a lady in another ward made for us. A lot of people asked us if we were going to be singing in the choir today. One person asked if this was our new uniform. It was really funny to see everyone's reaction of the 4 of us walking around in the same style dress. Normally every Sunday we color coordinate but this Sunday it was the exact same dress.  

I loved all of the talks and one the really stood out to me was Elder Bednar. 

How can we better come to know the Savior? We must exercise faith, followH im, serve Him and believe in Him. Can you follow Him and have faith in Him but not believe in Him and His promises? Some people think that the blessings of the Atonement only apply to others, But the amazing thing is that the blessings are for every single person! He is talking about YOU! Believe in Him and in His promises. Believe that we can be made clean and pure through the Atonement. Believe that we can overcome literally every challenge in life. If we put our trust in the Savior, He will lift us up and strengthen us through our trials. We will have more peace and more joy in life. I know that Jesus Christ died for EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US! I know that He was resurrected and He lives. Because He lives we can be cleansed from sin and live with Him and our Heavenly Father again. He sacrificed for you.

 

Eu sei que Jesus Cristo nos ama e que ele é o Salvador e Redentor do mundo. Eu sei que a Expiação aplica a todos nos. Eu sei que Jesus Cristo vive e nos precisamos ter fé nele e acreditar com todo poder, mente, forca e coração.  

I love y'all! Have a wonderful week! 

-Sister Hancock

September 26, 2016

This week was wonderful! We didn't have much time to knock on doors and look for people because all of our days were packed with lessons! This week we decided to focus on the 20 people we have that are investigating. All of them are at different stages. Once we decided to concentrate on these 20 people the members gave us a contact at almost every lunch this week! It is wonderful because we are starting to work more with the members!!!

Now that it is officially spring here the amora trees are starting to ripen. It is a fruit tree that has little berries similar to blackberries! As we walked from one lesson to another we found a lot of trees! So now when we are hungry we know where to find free food! One day we carried a little container and filled it up with berries! 

One day we went to teach a family the plan of Salvation! It was a super great lesson and the spirit was really strong. The family who has two boys (11 and 1) and one girl (7) The lesson went really well and the kids had lots of questions! And we used our little cut out plan of salvation and they loved it! The boy said "your Portugues has improved since last week!" Then, when the 7 year old offered to say the closing prayer, in her prayer she said "thank you that the sisters have not given up on us, because we haven't gone to church yet." It was the sweetest thing! 

One day we went to lunch and there was another couple there. The members always say ``Eat more Sisters!`` and usually I do. That day I was the only one who ended up getting more food and the guy said ``we will only invite Sister Hancock to lunch at our house because she is the only one who knows how to eat!

This week was great! General Conference is this weekend! Take the time to prepare to listen to the words of the prophets and apostles!!! Think of questions you want answered! I know that as you listen to conference your questions will get answered and you will get guidance you need to face the challenges of life! I will get to watch it in Portugues so I might not catch everything... But I can´t wait!!!

All is well for me here! I love your emails and thank you for your support!

Love you all!

-Sister Hancock

September 19, 2016

This week was great! We got to meet with President Hart twice this week!!! On Tuesday we had a meeting with him and all of the 12 trainers/trainees. President is trying to introduce the training program that all missions are supposed to use because the president before him didn't use it. So basically nobody in the mission actually knows how to train or be trained. He is using us as his guinea pigs to help him figure out how to use the program because we are his first group.

We have been teaching Sister Sousa random phrases in English. On Tuesday she told President the two phrases she knows "you are not the boss of me" and "you are so cute." He laughed and said ``when I said every missionary should learn English on their mission I meant more about the gospel!``  

On Sunday night he invited the 4 of us sisters and 2 Elders to his house to help him more about the 12 weeks training and what we did in the CTM, because he has a group of 16 missionaries coming on Tuesday! We helped him and then got to eat ice cream with him and his family! President said that when Sister Sousa said that he wasn't the boss he almost sent her home to show her who is boss (100% joking). Then he told her to tell all the phrases she knows to Sister Hart. She said she learned a phrase about the Gospel! "Do you want to be my plan of salvation?"

 

Other highlights from this week:

-One of the days it looked like it was going to rain and then as we were walking to our house to get umbrellas it just starting pouring. `CORRE SISTER!``. We ran to our house but we got soaking wet. 

-Every night we read the scriptures together. One night we read with the other 2 sisters that live in our house. I read in Portugues, S. Ferreira read in English, S. Sousa read in Spanish and S. Pereira read in French. We took turns each reading a verse and it was really cool! 

-Sister Pereira´s Birthday was on Friday. All week we had been saying how her birthday was on Friday and then when her birthday came we all pretended to forget and then threw a surprise party for her that night! We made a cake and couscous and blew up balloons! 

 

 

-On Saturday we started to teach an English class for anyone that wants to learn. One girl learned to say "don't ask me," and then she said that whenever we asked her a question. 

-I have already finished one transfer! The 4 of us are staying in this area for at least the next 6 weeks because we are still being trained. 

I love you all! I know that this church is true and that God loves and knows each one of us more than we can comprehend! 

-Sister Hancock

September 12, 2016

This week we were able to visit a lot of people! Of the 15 people that I said we had to visit last week, 6 of them agreed to come to church and 4 of them actually ended up coming. We do not have a car and the 4 people each live in different houses that are not close to each other. So to actually get them all to the church was difficult. We went and got two of them and then walked to church with them and then left them with the other sisters, left again to get the other two and then walked again with them back to church! Lots of walking! But it is all worth it because we got them to church!!! 

One day we walked about 4 miles... actually more like 10. We walked all the way to one side of the border (of the area) to meet with one of our investigators and then had a meeting on the opposite side with another investigator! A LOT OF WALKING!!! But, like I said before, I don´t mind all the walking when we are actually able to meet with the people here! 

 

The best parts of my day usually revolve around food. Everyday the members feed us, but if we don't have a lunch appointment we go back to our house and make couscous. Wednesday we had a zone conference and then after we had lunch with the Mission President that seriously was the best food I have ever had. Then that night we had a ward activity... with more food. Thursday we have our weekly free hamburger at Doge Doce. Friday there was a wedding for someone in the ward (more food). 

On Saturday morning we had the opportunity to take one of our recent converts, Antonio, to the grounds of the Curitiba Temple. It was wonderful and the Spirit was so strong even on the outside of the temple. 

On Saturday night we went to visit a member and she gave us this Christmas flavored soup, and they had a ukulele that they let me play!!! We always have the best conversations with them and their family is so strong and the spirit is so strong in their house. The husband said "I want people to come to my house and feel something different than what they feel right outside the gate. We always try to make sure the spirit is here in our home."

``Even though we may feel lost in the midst of our current circumstances. God promises the hope of his light - He promises to iluminate the way before us and show us the way out of darkness`` -Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Love you all! 

Have a wonderful week!

-Sister Hancock

September 5, 2016

Ola pessoas! 

I don´t have a lot to say this week. The week went by really quickly! I can´t believe I have already been on my mission for two months!!! 

This week we had a lot of lessons fall through but the lessons we were able to have went great. We have been able to keep meeting with our 4 recent converts and they are all doing wonderfully. This next week we have about 15 people that we plan to meet with and then will hopefully find even more! 

Everyday I find more scriptures that I love! 

Doctrine and Covenants 121:7, 122:7, 123:17

``My son, peace be unto thy soul, thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment....that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good, hold thy way.. for God shall be with you forever and ever... let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power!``

Eu amo vocês, and I love to hear from you! 

Have a great week! 

-Sister Hancock 

August 29, 2016 A lot of miracles!

I witnessed a lot of miracles this past week! 

One day we were walking around knocking doors and we passed a lady on a bike who we found out was a member. We asked her if any of her neighbors would want to hear more about the gospel. She said no, and right then one of her neighbors walked by and she asked if the neighbor wanted to hear a message from the missionaries! She accepted and so we walked with her to her house and shared the message of the restoration of the gospel. 

On Saturday we had THREE baptisms! Wesley, Brian, and Rubens.

Wesley (9), Lives with his grandma, Eliane, who recently decided to come back to the church after many years. They live in a house with other family members who are all members. We have been teaching Eliane and Wesley together and they are great! 

Brian (14), has an Aunt and Uncle in another ward. He has been going to church, mutual and reading the Livro de Mormon. He was really ready to get baptized but his Dad was not sure if he wanted Brian to be baptized. Last Sunday it was pouring rain and Brian still got up and came to church. His Dad´s heart was softened when he saw Brian´s dedication and that he really wanted this. When it rains at least a quarter of the members don´t come to church.

 

Rubens (22), the nephew of the bishop. He has a strong spirit and testimony and was really ready to get baptized. 

We met a woman named Edith this week and she came to church with us. When we taught Edith we were getting to know her and she was saying that she had been out of a job and looking for quite a while. We taught her about the Sabbath Day and putting God first in her life. We were talking about putting God in first place and that if she did God would bless her and He would help her find a job. She recognized that she needed to do this and she accepted the invite to come to church with us. On Sunday when we picked her she told us that the day that we visited her she got a phone call from a friend who said there was a job opening at her work. She told us that when she got the call she had been thinking about the things we had said. It was truly a miracle! 

P-Day :)