March 20, 2017 HALFWAY!

I got transferred about 2 weeks ago to a new area called PONTA GROSSA! I didn't expect to get transferred because I was in my first area for 6 months and in the second area for just 6 weeks! My companion, Sister Hulme, and I were transferred together to our new area Ala 2! 

 On the last day in Pinhais Centro we visited as many investigators as we could! 

  Jose's dog that loved me so much!

  Saying goodbye to some missionaries that would be staying in Curitiba!

 

 

The ward mission leader, Antonio, (Right) and his assistant Augusto! They helped us so much and are so great!

 

 

Oliveira Family! (Sorry it is a little dark)

 

Irma Angela and her daughter

 

 

 Ponta Grossa!!!

 

I love Ponta Grossa! This area is so pretty and the people here are amazing! I wore a cardigan yesterday so I think it will start cooling down soon! 

These past 10 days have been crazy! Since my companion and I are both new to the area we are a little lost with what to do and where to go, but it is already getting a lot better! The first week we didn't have a map, so we got lost a few times. The ward is so great and the people are so willing to help us here. 

Ponta Grossa is known for all of its hills, so the walking here is going to be a bit tougher but it's worth it because the people here are so great!  

We don't know very many people yet, but we did meet a family of recent converts that are so humble and so excited about the gospel. We have a baptism planned for one of the kids who wasn't baptized yet. They are a family of 8 in total which is rare in Brazil. 

I hope you all have a great week!

-Sister Hancock

March 6, 2017

Normally when you think of Carnival in Brazil you think of huge parties and lots of crazy things! But here in Pinhais it means that literally everyone will leave the town and you don't find anyone in their houses, and there will be nobody in the streets and nobody at church. From about Friday-Wednesday it was really challenging to find people in their homes! But it was still a great week! 

On Monday night we had family home evening with a family that we are teaching. They are such an incredible family! After the message we made cookies!!! They also had a dog who had 10 puppies!!! 

My last companion, Sister Muniz got her Visa about a month ago to go to her actual mission in FLORIDA FORT LAUDERDALE!!! I got to say goodbye to her on Tuesday morning at a meeting and then she flew to Florida that afternoon! 

We found a lot of great people to teach this week and we had a few super great lessons! 

One day this week we knocked on a door and a guy answered. Then a little puppy that was inside the gate walked up to my foot. I bent down and picked it up and then was like "Hi we are missionaries! Can we share a message?" (Holding the puppy...) He and his wife invited us in and we shared the incredible message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Another day we knocked on a door of an potential investigator that we had been trying to get a hold of. His mom came out and then ended up letting us in. She kept saying "Wow you are angels! You guys came here to help us?! How wonderful! How incredible!!!" 

We said a prayer and shared a short message.
I shared the scripture Matthew 11:28-30 

 28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

She has been going through some challenges and she told us that us being there had made her feel a little lighter. I could feel the spirit so strongly and a portion of the great love that Heavenly Father has for this woman. 

I testify that through Christ our burdens can be made lighter. I know that he loves each and everyone of you so much. Trust HIM! Don´t give up!!! If you are going through a difficult time in your life trust in Heavenly Father because he knows what he is doing. He gives us difficulties and weaknesses so that we will be able to come unto him and humble ourselves. I know that Christ lives and that he is always waiting with his arm outstretched to help lift us up when we are down. 

I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week!!! 

-Sister Hancock 

February 13, 2017

I am loving being here in Pinhais, Brasil. I am meeting so many amazing people and learning so much! 

Outside our apartment

We have a new mission schedule which is wonderful and gives us a little more flexibility! We wake up at 7:30, exercise, get ready, plan, personal study and then from 11 am - 10 pm we have an hour of lunch, then choose when to have 1 hour of companion study, 30 mins of language study and then the rest of the time we spend teaching lessons and finding people. 

Baptism of Jose do Espirito Santo!

He is so incredible! He said that he will help bring more people to church because he wants everyone to know about the church and how it can help our lives become better! 

Sister Hulme and I have been spending a lot of time knocking doors and are having lots of great, interesting and quite amusing experiences!  

One time we were talking with a lady and she asked where we were from. For some reason my mind went blank and my companion wasn't responding so I ended up saying ``Uhhhhmarrica...`` Then the lady with a confused look asked ``Ahh are you guys speaking brasileiro well?`` and I said ``Yes, I just forgot how to say America or Estados Unidos for a second.``

Another time we were talking with a women and asking if we could return and give a message. She said yes and so I asked ``Voce tem um dia que é bom para voce?`` (Do you have a day that is good for you?) and she said ``Obrigada! Voces tambem!`` (Thanks! You too!). She thought that I was saying that I hope she has a great day, and we didn't know how to respond to that, so we just ended up saying see you later and walking away. 

Another time a woman tried to slam the door on us but the door got stuck on the ground about half way... So that didn't work very well for her.

Mission Conference 

It is a great life!

``If we knew that God already had at least one person prepared to receive the gospel because of our efforts we would have more faith!!!``

I know that God is preparing people to learn about the Gospel and we can each share the gospel with everyone! We can pray for the desire to share the gospel and be good examples for everyone around us! There are people all around us who are searching but don´t know where to find it! 

January 30, 2017 - Transferred

I was transferred! Now I am in Pinhais Centro. My new companion is Sister Hulme. She is from Las Vegas and has about 4 months on the mission! 

 Sister Hulme and I

 

Here are some pictures from my last few days in my other area: Autodromo

 

 

Lunch at a member's house

 

Last day with my companion Sister Muniz! She got here visa and will be going to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida mission in 1 month!!!

 

On last Monday I started packing my bags because I had the feeling I would be transferred! On Tuesday night I finally got the call the I would be transferred!

Everyday in my new area it has poured and even with umbrellas we ended up getting soaked! 

We got SOAKED!

 

I LOVE my new area, the members, my investigators and my companion! 

My new companion Sister Hulme: 

``God loves us the way we are, but He refuses to leave us that way.`` 

I know that God loves us all so much and that he has a plan for each one of us. He sent us to the earth so the that we could learn and grow. Through our trials and difficulties we can learn to rely on our Savior and grow to be better each day! 

I love you all so much and hope y'all have a great week!!!

-Sister Hancock

January 9, 2017 - Happy New Year!

"Hello everybody! My name is Sister Muniz and I am a missionary! We have a special message for you and you and you and ALL of youuu!!! Now... LISTEN TO MY COMPANION! Speak companion speak!!!" 

My companion is waiting for her Visa to go to Florida and I have been trying to help her learn some more English. The phrases above are what she will yell on the streets!

I apologize for not writting the past few weeks! December 17th we had transfers, but I stayed in Pinhais again with my companion Sister Muniz! 

I won´t write too much, but here are a few things that have happened the past few weeks. 

We had a Christmas Devotional and the 4 of us that live in Autodromo ended up being the ONLY 4 people that didn't wear red. Every single person was dressed in red... except us. At one point President Hart said ``Wow you are all wearing the Color of Christmas!!! Red!.... Almost all of you are wearing red! Haha, there I was sitting in the middle of the crowd dressed in a teal shirt and a coral flowery skirt! The only thing red that I was wearing was my face from embarrassment! 

Mission Picture Curitiba Mission December 2016 

(Sister Emily Hancock - 8th from right, second row- borrowed a red jacket, I think - Emily's Mom)

The day after and for about a week and a half I was sick. The doctors have no idea what it was and each doctor said something different. So I still don´t know what it was... But at this point I am feeling 100% better! 

On Christmas I got to Skype my family! It was the best Christmas present! (Yes it was - Emily's Mom)

Gifts from the Members in Brazil

(Emily's package from home arrived several days after Christmas)

On New Years I was already sleepy at 10:30 but then got awoken by the fireworks. I looked out the window for about 5 minutes and then put in ear plugs and went back to sleep! 

We got soaked in the rain a few times this week. Three times we got caught in the rain, far from our house, without an umbrella!!!

This past week we got to go to the temple and it was incredible!!!

I am starting to forget English sometimes. Here 2 examples from the past few weeks. We were teaching a person who is from Haiti and he doesn't speak Portuguese but he does speak English a little! We were explaining the book of Mormon to him and I said... ``This page is an explication of the book`` then my companion said something and I say thinking... "Explication?... Explication?? that doesn't seem right..." then about an hour or so after the lesson we were walking on the street and I said "OHHH EXPLANATION!!!! Its not Explicate! It is Explain!!!"

Also sometime Sister Muniz will ask me how to pronounce a word and sometimes I can't remember so she has to ask another sister that arrived 4 weeks ago here in Brazil!

We are having lots of lessons and all of a sudden we have a ton of investigators! It is wonderful! It is wonderful to be able to see people change their lives and come closer to the Savior, Jesus Christ!!! 

I love you all!!! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and a great start to the year 2017!!!

-Sister Hancock

December 12, 2016

We had a Family Home Evening on Monday with the Bishop and his family and 2 of our investigators and their 3 year old son. It went really great! 

We shared a few short videos about Christmas and how we can get more into the Christmas Spirit. #SejaALuzDoMundo #LightTheWorld (Mormon.org) If you haven't already watched the videos be sure to watch them! They are great! Also, the church has a campaign 25 ways for 25 days to get into the Christmas Spirit. Each day has a topíc and then different ways that we can serve others, be a light, and get into the true spirit of Christmas! 

Merry Christmas!

-One day we received money for lunch and so we went to look for a really good restaurant that a member had taken us to before. Sister Muniz and I see it almost every single day when we are walking to visit people but every time we go to look for it to actually eat there, it disappears. We searched for quite a while and then finally found it! It is seriously the best Brazilian food ever! 

-We were having language study and we were teaching our companions english and then one Sister said "Wow this is something I thought I would never see, an American and a Canadian laughing at each other's accents!"

We had training with President Hart this week! If we are humble we are always looking to improve and we will accept that we won't be perfect. If we are humble, we will rely more on our Savior and the help that He will give us. We will be obedient because of our love for God not because we feel like we are obligated to do something. When we are obedient to the commandments God will give us the spiritual power that we need to face our daily challenges. 

Have a wonderful week! 

-Sister Hancock

December 5, 2016

This week was wonderful! I saw so many miracles! 

On pday we made Tacos!!!

We taught a lesson in the rain on Wednesday! I gave my umbrella to our investigator and we taught in the rain. Then on Sunday we left our umbrellas at home because it was really hot in the morning and there were not many clouds. As we were about to leave a lesson it started pouring, so we ended up walking to our next lesson in the cold rain!

We ate Doge Doce together on Friday!

This past Sunday we had 12 investigators at Church!!! It was super exciting! 

Valdecir

A few weeks ago I told a story about a man who showed up to sacrament meeting. 

On Sunday November 6th we were in Sacrament meeting and sitting at the front. A member came up and said there was a man at the back of the chapel that just showed up. We rushed back to sit and talk with him. He told us that the night before he had a dream that there were two girls that invited him to an activity but before he saw the location he woke up. The next morning he left his house to go for a walk, not knowing where he was going. He walked by the church and for some reason felt like he should enter. He walked in and sat at the back feeling a little sad and confused. At that moment we walked over and sat on either side of him. He started to cry and a little later said that when we sat next to him he felt that two angels sat next to him.... 

We talked with him that afternoon and learned more about his life. Then again on the next Wednesday. He was going through some personal problems. He wasnt really accepting our message. We decided to return the next day. He still didn´t accept our message and he didn't want to change. We continued visiting him almost everyday or so. About a week later he made the decision to change his life and follow what we were teaching him and the things that God had put into his life. After he made the decision to change and rely on the Savior he really started to progress. We set his baptism for 2 weeks later, December 3rd and he accepted! 

This past Saturday December 3rd, Valdecir was baptized! It was a really happy day! When he came up from the water he had a smile of pure joy on his face.

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to see him change his life through the help of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His gospel. I know this Gospel is true and that through Christ we can change our lives. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! 

Love, Sister Hancock