July 14, 2014

Family and Friends!
    What I know is that the Savior is always there. D&C 84:88. Sister Hobbs reminded us that there also are other angels from the other side helping us along. Was also taught that lesson a couple of weeks ago. Our new mission president's wife told us that there are more with us than there are against us. Hope you all are doing well! And remember who is always by your side. 
    Something I learned today is that the Savior is the one who helps us become more than we are. Mormon tells his son Moroni, "I am but a man and I have but the strength of a man.." I know I feel that everyday. But I have also felt the strength that Christ offers to each of us. We are all more than just a man and can be perfected through Him. Sister Russell taught the sisters in a mlc meeting we had and she said this, "Remember not just who you are, but WHO you have always been." Right now we may just have the strength of a man but through the power of the Atonement we can be so much more. We can become who we have always been. That is what these people we are teaching desire to be. Some have forgotten but we are trying our best to remind them. We are teaching an amazing couple right now, Karisa and Doug. Doug is a member of the church and working on coming back and Karisa is a non member. They are working on getting married and have seen their faith grow each week. Doug has such a strong desire to do what is right. He has seen that his own strength isn't enough. that there is more. More that he can have. We had a lesson with them this past week and Doug was touched by the thought that was given that he could baptize Karisa. What a special spirit that brought into the room. To see tears in his eyes that he could do such a special thing. He knows lots of changes are ahead but he knows that through Christ he can do hard things. So excited for their future and what the gospel will bring to them and what it will do for them. I just imagine them in white and going to the temple together. I know that day will come and oh I can't wait. 

Love you all!!

Sister Hancock

July 7, 2014

It is amazing the things you learn in a week. I know that Heavenly Father has blessed us in ways that I am so grateful for. One example of that was the other day we were contacting people and not having great success but we decided to do the names on the relief society list. Earlier that day we put a mark by the sister we felt impressed to see. We started with the ones Sister Olson and I both felt to see. The first one we went to was a miracle! She let us in and had a great lesson with her about baptism and the sacrament! She hasn't been to church in 17 years and was baptized 20 years ago. She said we can come back this week! Heavenly Father brings us low, so he can lift us a little higher. 

Our 4 of July consisted of missionary work:) Creswell is the place to be on the 4 and so many people were here from other places. We watched part of the parade with a less active family and then headed over to see another less active and just talking to people along the way. Had lunch at our wml house and dinner at the bishops! After bishops house we headed home to do weekly plannning at 7. Tried to watch some of the fireworks through our bedroom window ha. The high school and elementary is right behind our house where the fireworks were.

Love you!

June 30, 2014

Family And Friends!

  Hope all is well in West Weber! Sister Olson and I love Creswel so much! The people are great here! There are people ready for the gospel and others not so much, but they will come around :) In the Creswel Ward there is a special part member family. The husband is the non-member and his name is James. His wife and kids are members and active. They all attend church together as a family. James has gotten so strong in the gospel that the past couple of times he has bore his testimony. He is golden and all he needs to do is to get wet. We are working with one of his fellow shippers and how we can help James make that step to be baptized. This fellow shipper family, and Sister Olson and I have been praying for James and for the right opportunity for this member to have a heart to heart with James. That day came last Sunday and it was a miracle! James didn't decide yet but he needed the words that this brother said to him. We are excited to see what is ahead with this family. We will keep you updated what happens next. But the point of this story is that the members are so important in the role of conversion of an investigator. James needed this member's testimony and love more than anything. In this area I have grown such a strong testimony of member missionary work! YOU members make a difference. YOU are the key and what these dear brothers and sisters need. At times the missionaries may be the missing piece but the members are that piece too. This is part of a talk from President Uchtdorf that I would like to share. This is how important each of YOU are in The Work of Salvation. 

"Now, take a moment right now and look at the people around you. Some may be your leaders, friends, or family members. Others you may have never met before. Nevertheless, everyone you see around you—in this meeting or at any other place, today or at any other time—was valiant in the premortal world. That unassuming and ordinary-looking person sitting next to you may have been one of the great figures you loved and admired in the sphere of spirits. You may have been such a role model yourself!

Of one thing you can be certain: every person you see—no matter the race, religion, political beliefs, body type, or appearance—is family. The young woman you look at has the same Heavenly Father as you, and she left His loving presence just as you did, eager to come to this earth and live so that she could one day return to Him.  However, she might feel alone, just as you sometimes do. She may even occasionally forget the purpose of her journey. Please remind her through your words and your actions that she is not alone. We are here to help each other.

Life can be difficult, and it can harden hearts to the point where certain people seem unreachable. Some may be filled with anger. Others may mock and ridicule those who believe in a loving God. But consider this: though they do not remember, they too at one time yearned to return to their Father in Heaven.

It is not your responsibility to convert anyone. That is the work of the Holy Ghost. Your task is to share your beliefs and to not be afraid. Be a friend to all, but never compromise your standards. Stand true to your convictions and faith. Stand tall, because you are a daughter of God, and He stands with you!"

We can all help Heavenly Father bring them home. Love you all!! 

Love,
Sister Hancock

June 23, 2014

So glad to hear that you got that picture! That seriously is like a missionaries dream to sing with the Nashville Tribute band. We had a lot of non members come and less active people were there as well. One of them who came is our progressing investigator Karisa and her less active boyfriend Doug and his twin girls. So glad that they came and came to church yesterday. Grateful that this past thursday the departing missionaries in july and august were able to attend the temple one last time with President and Sister Young. It was a special experience. So grateful for them. They will be living the mission this saturday, so I hope you and Dad and whoever else can support them at their homecoming. 

June 22, 2014

Hey Hancock Family-

Your daughter got to sing with these guys last night. It was an awesome experience;) we also just had them over for dinner. She is an sweet sister! 

Love The Pratt Family;)

June 16, 2014

Family and Friends!!

Hope everyone is going well! Things here in Creswell Oregon are awesome! My companion Sister Olson and I sure love this cute lil town. We are seeing miracles everyday! 

This past Wednesday we were able to attend a Relief Society activity and meet some of the wonderful sisters in the ward. They each came with 3 of their favorite things and just things that they enjoy doing. One of the sisters favorite things was her scriptures with her name badge clipped on them. She was a missionary some time ago and made me think of the talk by Elder Anderson, "It's a Miracle." He says, "Brothers and sisters, as surely as the Lord has inspired more missionaries to serve, He is also awakening the minds and opening the hearts of more good and honest people to receive His missionaries. You already know them or will know them. They are in your family and live in your neighborhood. They walk past you on the street, sit by you in school, and connect with you online. You too are an important part of this unfolding miracle.

If you’re not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart—painted, as Paul said, “not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God” (2 Corinthians 3:3). And returned missionaries, find your old missionary tag. Don’t wear it, but put it where you can see it. The Lord needs you now more than ever to be an instrument in His hands. All of us have a contribution to make to this miracle." 

Some of you, like one of the Relief Society members here, have your name tag where you can see it everyday. That reminder of the experiences you had on your mission. To remind you of the people you helped bring to the gospel. Each of you, whether you are a returned missionary or not can have your own name tag written on your hearts. As you do, Elder Anderson gives us a promise as we pray. He says,"Pray to your Heavenly Father. This is His sacred work. He will guide you in what to do. He will open doors, remove roadblocks, and help you over come obstacles. The Lord declared, “The voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, … and none shall stay them.” I testify that “the voice of the Lord [shall be] unto the ends of the earth,that all that will hear may hear.”³³ It’s a miracle. It is a miracle. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." This week you can invite others to "come and see." Love you all so much!! 

Love, 

Sister Hancock

Prayer List: Jeff and Hannah, Lisa and Dusty, Larson's, Coles, Burgens, Cheyann

June 9, 2014

We are all settled in in Creswell. It sure is a cute lil town. Love everything about it. There are about 5000 people here and they are great! My companion's name is Sister Olson and I love her to death! She is from South Dakota and grew up on a farm and ranch. So we get along pretty well:) Oh and we are the same height! ha and there hasn't been sister missionaries in this area for over 20 years. Everyone is excited we are here and we are too.

 This past Saturday we were walking and met some great potential families that we are going to start teaching. It feels so good to find those that are ready and have an open heart. Love for you and dad to pray that we will be led to more families. It is a goal that we have for this month as a mission. It is all focused on finding, and uniting families. 

"You will one day stand aside and look at your difficult times, and you will realize that He was always there beside you." President Monson. 

Hope you have a wonderful week. :)