Survived my 1st Week in the Field!

Wow, I can't believe it's been almost 3 weeks.  I survived my first full week "out in the field", and you haven't gotten a call saying I'm coming home yet!!! Ha ha.  I was called to the Simi Valley 5th ward.  It's a very affluent area, or so I was told, ha ha.  But really, the homes are huge, it's a little intimidating and everyone is blonde! So here was my week.

Tuesday:  I met my companion.  Her name is Sister Maure.  She's from Texas, but was raised in Mexico until she was 12.  We are sharing the apt with the Hermana's.  In order to help them learn Spanish, we speak mostly Spanish.  It's awesome.  So, our bishop and his wife picked us up , we went to eat, then moved in.  We are the first Sister Missionaries in Simi Valley in 15 + years.  Everyone is soooo excited to have us, it's amazing.  We were white washed in.  Usually a new companion is transferred with one that's been in the area so they know all the ropes, but when you're white washed, you are both new to the area.  Since we are both new and the first sisters they're calling it a "PINK-WASH"… It's been challenging because the Elder's didn't keep the area book updated, so we have been trying to figure it all out!

Wednesday:  Wake-up at 6am.  PUKE!  I will never complain about being up for work at 8 or school at 9 ever again.  Today was my first day knocking on doors.  My trainer said I was really good at relating to people and a natural teacher, she is just being nice I think.  It was AWFUL.  I never thought I would be one of those annoying people that knock on doors.  When they say "no", I want to say ok, have a nice day, but my companion is trying to teach me to be persistent and stay focused.  I guess I ask too much about them and not about the gospel!  Oops.  Annoying people is hard work!  That night we ate at a members home (by the way, we get fed every night.  We have to turn people down sometimes.  So no worries about me losing weight)  Anyway, the sister made the best GLUTEN free dessert.  I was in heaven!

Thursday:  Zone and District meeting.  So much fun.  I have the best district.  Then more knocking and we met with the ward mission leader to figure out who was who.  This ward is amazing at missionary work.  We have lists of people.  Mostly part member families and less active families, which means less knocking. Whooo!  I have really learned to love the people.  It's probably not always correct, but I like learning and getting to know them before we start right in with the restoration.  We have lots of goals, which sometimes discourages me.  There's also a ton of rules I did not know about.  Humility and obedience, 2 of the hardest lessons for me to learn.  I have been doing great with them both, although it hasn't been easy.

Friday:  More knocking.  There is a guy we see that reminds me of someone at home.  He has 2 girlfriends.  One in KS, who is LDS and homeless, that's why he is meeting with us, and one who lives in CO.  He is awesome.  

Saturday:  Stake Conference.  President Castro spoke.  He is very strict and soft spoken, but he knows each of us by name.  You can feel the love they have for us.  Sister Castro is amazing too.  I respect them so much that it makes it easier to follow the crazy rules.  The first thing my companion said to me is, "I am 100% obedient".  We are all human and we all will fall short, so I strive for 110% obedience, then when I fall short, I am at 100%.  It was at that moment that I knew I was in trouble!

Sunday:  Stake Conference was awesome.  It was a broadcast with President Eyring speaking.  He spoke about PIMA, AZ.  It was weird because we still knock on Sundays.  We work all day, so no Sunday naps………….

I have seen the miracles and blessings that obedience has brought.  I really do love it.  It's not always easy and there are times where I feel like I am doing it all wrong, but nobody said it was easy.  Each day I learn something new.  The people are amazing.  There's so much love.  I miss everyone at home!  But  I 100% believe this decision is blessing my family as much as it is me, and those who I am serving.  Someone gave a talk and said, "You are serving the Lord's people, so he is taking care of my people."

Our mission motto is:

In the Great California Mission we:

1-Baptize

2-Obey with exactness

3-Seek to be trusted more than loved

4-Teach with power and authority

Please everyone write and don't forget about me!!!!!!!!

Love you, Sister Hancock