Kumusa Pamilya!

I have my flight plans!!!!!!!! I leave for the Philippines March 31. Which means I can call you from the airport that night!!!!! I will be able to call sometime between 6:30 and 11:00 So be sure to have the whole family home then!!! I cant wait to speak with you. Oh and make sure grandma is there. I've been thinking about her lately and I miss her. So I wont arrive in the Philippines until June 2 11:30 am. SUUUCH A LOONG FLIGHT!!! I’m sooo excited. My mission president emailed me and said that I will be taking another flight from Manila to Naga, on a small plane so my bags can only way 33 pounds!!!!!! I have no idea what I am going to part with. These next 2 days I am going to try to decide, and hopefully get enough stuff to send home by Wednesday so I can give it to sis. LeCates. If you could tell her I will come to her in the orientation room and hand it to her (where we met last time) That would be awesome!!!!

Well its been another awesome week in the MTC. I became good friends with Elder San Ramon from Naga. He is serving in the Ogden Utah mission. (Funny, we kind of switch spots) He's real neat, I like speaking Tagalog with him. He told sister Cluff and I that he sent home a picture of us, and his family and the ward over there is excited to meet us. The other day he came up and gave me a picture of us, and gave me some referral cards of some of his family who aren’t members. I was immediately grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing this elder to gain trust in me and my companion and give referrals to the people he loves. I keep the picture of us in my binder to remind me that is people like Elder San Ramon who is trusting me with their family, and I need to do all I can to be prepared to help those precious souls. I haven’t even met Elder San Ramons family yet, but I already love them. I know this experience will keep me motivated my entire mission, because I have people counting on me. Whether its the Filipino members with family, people in Heaven, or God. I have so much responsibility to keep the spirit with me, be sharp with the scriptures, prepare well, and work hard so that I can help Gods Children find him.

My mission is so wonderful. I love every moment of it. I cannot wait to help people gain a testimony that Christ lives. I remember last summer when I had to decide for myself why I believe what I claim to say I do. , I turned to the scriptures for answers. I was ashamed that I didn’t know the scriptures all too well. Of coarse I had taken seminary and studied them before, yet I felt inadequate. I had always felt that the gospel was true, yet It bothered me that I couldn’t explain how or why. At that moment was the first time I actually picked up the book of Mormon to know for myself of its validity. It took me 2 months to finish it. There were some days when I could barely put the book down, if it wasn’t for school and work. I didn’t have to wait to finish the book to know of its truthfulness though. Countless times I witnessed those words screaming the testimony of Christ, and giving me purpose to my life. After I finished the book of Mormon, I dedicated my life to learning more about the gospel. Here in the MTC, I started reading the New Testament and I am pages away from being done! Thrilled about that. Its been neat learning more and more.

The church is true. It is the only one that contains Christ’s fullness.

Sis han

 Sister Cluff & Sister Hancock

The Filipino Elders

Missionaries that will be serving in the Philippine Naga

mission with Sister Hancock

Kumusta po kayo!

Pamilya,
I am so happy. Life is beautiful. Honestly, choosing to go on a mission was the best decision I have ever made in my entire life. I learn so much each day its incredible. Knowledge about the gospel of Christ is so important. "we cannot be saved by ignorance." We must seek to understand the gospel, because in reality that is why we are here on the Earth. To prove to God that you will follow his commandments, and accept the gospel. One thing that has strengthened my testimony this past week, was when I was reading in the new testament. I am constantly overwhelmed by how many times Jesus refers to God as his Father, he will tell the people he sent him, etc. In the first 16 chapters of John alone, Christ references His Father 138 times. Can’t you tell that he actually meant it? I blows my mind that philosophies of men could corrupt that precious truth, that God and Jesus are different beings. I am grateful I can bring the truth and reality to People, so they can obtain a closer relationship to God and Jesus.
Last Tuesday we had Elder Holland come talk to us! It was incredible. He spoke for an hour and a half about how important missionary work is. He explained that this is spiritual medical school, and just like how no one would trust an unskilled doctor, we need to prepare ourselves as much as we can so that God could entrust us with people that he has been preparing for us. If he is able to move people into our lives for us to help, who says he wouldn’t move people out of our path if we are not prepared enough? I ended up taking 6 pages of notes that night. I have never felt so much power come from a man before. WE are NOT living our live for some fairy tale. For a lie to deceive others. Joseph Smith helped open up so many wonderful things in Christ’s Gospel.
So I got to Host this week. Which means I got to take around all the new missionaries and help them to their rooms and classes. It was so fun. My companion sang in relief Society yesterday. She did amazing. I think I got a slight feeling of what its like to be a parent. I was so proud of her and I wanted her to do so well. We sure have a great relationship. Many leaders and presidency members have come to ask us how we do it, and how come we are so close, (try to get advice for some of the other companionships that aren’t doing so well) and I honestly think its because We truly care for one another. We trust each other. We listen and serve each other as best as we can. If there is any problem we resolve it immediately, and we are willing to admit we are wrong. I love it. She’s one of my best friends. My district is awesome as well. We sure have bonded. we gained 3 missionaries from the older district, they had to stay in the MTC longer because they got hurt and had to get surgery their last week. Its amazing how much the adversary tries everything to hold missionaries back, even if it is physically. I look up to this one Elder so much. Elder Yardley only has one arm, but he never misses a beat in life. He was converted, and adopted when we was sixteen, he was born without an arm because his mother smoked. His real father just got out of prison. He told me that he loves his real parents and his foster (and now) actual parents so much. He tore something in his only shoulder, and may have to get surgery. He finds out today. He is the most positive person I have ever met. He even jokes around about his arm. At lunch he really wanted this elders dessert, so he said "Ill trade ya my right arm for it" and then he was like "come on!! do you know how much that means to me???!" Too funny.
SO I gave another talk on Sunday. They said that that never happens, because in a district there are about 30 people and for about 5 Sundays, 2 missionaries talk. And to be honest, being that I already talked, I did not think that I would have to talk again, so I didn’t write a talk. When they called my name I had about 30 seconds on the way up to the pulpit to think what I wanted to say about prayer. It was great though, I love speaking. The Tagalog just came to me it was awesome.
Anywya,
Mahal kita,
paalam.
Sister Han

Kumusta Pamilya!

Hey! Life in the MTC is great! Thank you so much for the package. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. Sorry to say that I don’t have a refrigerator...so the sushi was a bit of a challenge. That package brought a lot of humor into the day. I got the package later that evening, so I tried to refrigerate the sushi by hanging it outside my window by a hanger. Sad to say all the ice melted inside, so wet sushi doesn’t smell that great. Any way. Today was awesome I went back to the temple and did initiatory. I’m glad I could rehear all the wonderful blessings and things that are promised. Hey dad thanks so much for the letter about Adam and Eve. It made me understand the 2nd lesson on the plan of salvation much more. Mtc life is awesome. I particularly like Sunday nights because you get to watch a church movie with thousands of immature elders. If you want to know if a movie is cheesy or not, come to the Mtc. You'll hear a woot and a holler out of every mouth if a pioneer kisses another pioneer or a Nephite tells another girl Nephite that he knows her name. Its a good laugh.
I got 2 new teachers. which is odd because usually you have the same 2 teachers all mtc long. Both my teachers were quitting. I was nervous at first, but its been a blessing. the two new teachers are awesome. They strictly talk to us in Tagalog so we are hanging onto every word trying to see what they said.
we have 14 sisters in my zone now. which is amazing. 14 sisters and like 26 elders. A new district came in so were no longer the young ones. Jillyn came in also but she is in a different zone than me. after you've been here for 3 weeks you have to start writing a talk in Tagalog each Sunday, and then the branch president will randomly pick people to give it. I struggled last Sunday writing my talk, and I was astonished at my progress when I sat down to write my talk this Sunday. I cant even feel the progress, but it was amazing to see that difference. Oh yeah. and the branch president called me to talk Sunday. I knew he would though. And I loved every minute of it. I spoke about the book of Mormon. An elder in the younger district came up and said he appreciated my talk, I think it was probably because I gave hope that it is possible to learn the language. The older districts leave soon. I’m sure these next couple Sundays the talks we'll be just from them.
Mom, One of my old roommates had foot fungus...and now I think my kasama has it. Its there any foot spray that kills fungus? .
Sorry no time and I got to go now. But your all great thanks for the support.

Sis Han