Hey family,

This is Last email I'll write in my mission. I finished my last day of work yesterday. This afternoon we will be entering the mission home. We will be receiving counsel and be in meetings until Wednesday morning. I will arrive in manila that morning, and be off to the temple. I cannot wait to enter the temple!!! It has been tooooo long since I've been back there.

This last Saturday we held a Baptism. Caroline Sumalde got Baptized. She is the investigator that I told you about, that got prompted to enter our church the morning of conference 6 months ago. She has an incredible testimony, and it touched all her family members that came to watch her baptism. I can only pray that her testimony will be the key to unlocking the door for her other family members to accept the gospel. Cezar also got baptized yesterday. What a special person he is. We met him about a month ago, he saw the change coming about his friend Angelo, and wanted that light he saw come about Angelo. He started attending our lessons with Angelo, and was converted quickly. Their story is incredible. Both were abandoned by their parents, and have been passed around from aunts and uncles, but never had a permanent home. Both were in awful addictions, and befriended each other due to their wild pasts. They both recognized their unhappiness, and decided to search somewhere else other than what the world to offer. It was tear jerking to see them talk about their past and awful experiences, then see a glow about them when they talk about their life now. I think God brought them together to support each other, and Angelo became the way that Cezar was introduced to the truth.

I don't really feel like I'm going home. I just want to keep working. I feel like this evening I'll just be going back out and sharing my testimony with my brothers and sisters here in Naga. It hasn't really hit me yet I guess. This has been the BEST experience of my life. I know God lead me to where I'm at in my life. One thing I learned is that a mission is not a sacrifice, but a privilege. I was privileged to be given the restored gospel at a young age, and It has been a privilege to share it with others.

Love you all, and I'll be seeing ya soon.

Sister Hancock

This past week has been a great one. Working super hard, and mixing it with obedience. In the past I mentioned that they is a Family in Naga waiting for the gospel, and I just gotta find them. Well, last Monday we found them! ay sa wakas. Last monday we got a referral from a member. There was a signal 3 hurricane outside, the streets started flooding, but sister and I were determined to get to this referral family. Businesses closed early and people started scampering off to their homes to prepare for the floods. We waited outside for a Jeepnee in rain and hurricane wind for 30 minutes. Finally a Jeenee came by and picked us up. Although a minute into the ride the storm got stronger and the driver decided not to continue the trip. He dropped us off, and we continued to wait outside. After 20 minutes, miraculously a van ( not normal public transportation) stopped and picked us up. They dropped us off at the top of the subdivision and we walked the rest of the way to our potential investigators house. We got to them an hour late, but he had a great lesson and they appreciated the visit even during hurricane weather. Then on the way home, a member who lived near by (who owns a car!!..rare) took us home. It was as if the way was paved for us to get to this golden family, but we just had to wait for the pavement to dry. We could have given up, finished work early and said, its impossible to work in this weather...but we didn't! We knew that the Lord would help us get to this family. It really proved to me that patience and faith pays off in times of trial and testing.
Love you all super so much.
Sister Hancock