"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, Just Like the Ones I Used to Know"

Well SURPRISE I'M IN ENGLAND. Well not actually but I moved to Northern Ireland which is technically part of England. So, I am getting used to the Pound instead of the Euro. I got the call at about 10:00 on Wednesday night that I was leaving. Only they said that I was going down to Cork which is on the South side of the Island. So, I packed on Thursday and went around and said goodbye to people on Thursday so I could be ready to leave Friday Morning. Then I got a call from the Assistance at about 9:30 at night on Thursday saying change of plans I was heading up North to Coleraine. So, it was kind of a rat race for a couple of days but now I am up here in my new area. When I first got the call to leave I kinda had a sick feeling all day on Thursday I just didn't want to leave my area and I didn't really know anything about Cork. But then as soon as I got the Phone Call saying I was coming Up North it was funny it was like I was floating on a cloud I was so pumped and excited to come up here, the spirit was telling me this is where I need to be so that was cool. It was kind of a kick in the pants to move right before Christmas but I'm happy to be up here. It is freezing up here though. I am about to Freeze to death. When I went to go around to say goodbye to people, I went to say goodbye to Rose and Joe and that was hard. She cried for 45 minutes straight while we were there. She said, "How can they move you when I am getting ready for Baptism, I need you here to help me." I told her the other Elders would help her, but you know what a boob I am of course because she was crying, I started crying when they asked me to say a prayer before I left, and I about didn't get through it. She really wants me to Baptise her so when she gets ready, I might be able to go down and do that, we'll see. But I needed to get rid of my piece of crap companion I was about to lose it. Me and Elder Beckstead were about to kill him. I really miss Elder Beckstead but maybe we will get to serve together sometime.

Well, my new companion's name is Elder McMurray he is a nice guy from Maryland. He is a little weird but good. He plays the violin very well, like he could have gone professional, so it is a great sacrifice for him to be on a mission. But before he came, he practiced like 4 to 8 hours a day so that was kind of his life so he's a little weird because of that but a really nice guy. He's only been out 3 months so we're two pretty young missionaries together. But because it's a sacrifice to be here he works hard so that is good because I like to work hard and it's such a relief after my last companion. So, I think we should get a long pretty good.
I am in a branch now that has about 50 people come out on Sunday so that is a little different than having a pretty good-sized ward. But we have some good investigators that I am excited to work with and get to baptism hopefully. The Branch President, President Douglas, has been in New Zealand for 3 months so Elder McMurray only met him once before he left so he just got back and was at church on Sunday so we're both about on the same page with him so that will be good to work with him we are going over to his house tomorrow for dinner and to have a meeting with him about who we are working with and what we are doing so that will be good.
We also have an amazing Senior Couple that are in are area, Elder and Sister Eaglesham. They are Scottish and it took me a couple of days to understand them. They are the funniest little couple you would ever meet. Maybe it's their accents but everything that they say is funny. Sister Eaglesham is just a round little lady and Elder Eaglesham is a short Scotsman through and through so they will be fun to work with. They give us rides to church and firesides and everything like that. District meeting in Londonderry is about an hour away so we go to that with them.
Our area is really big though it has Colerain which is probably about the size of Snowflake and Taylor. And then we have Portrush and Portstewart which are two towns about the size of Taylor about 15 minutes away in different directions, which are both right on the ocean. So, we have a lot of work to do. But I could be wrong, but I think we are about the Northern Most Area in Ireland.
One cool experience this week was the Eagleshams put on a Christmas Fireside on Sunday night. It was a fireside where you have different groups and they go into different rooms and in each room, there are people dressed up pretending to be like John the Baptist, Peter, Mary, and so on and they tell their stories and ear their testimonies about Jesus Christ. They've done it in Taylor before. Anyways the person that was supposed to be Joseph Smith was sick so Sister Eaglesham asked a few hours before if I would do it. So, I studied up a little bit and was able to tell his story as if I were him and bear my testimony. It was a really cool experience. I could feel the Holy Ghost testifying to their hearts of the things I was saying, and it was amazing. It really strengthened my testimony about Joseph Smith. The Londonderry Elders brought an Investigator named Clare and when they asked her what her favorite part was, she said Joseph Smith. So, I think it was pretty good.
Well, I am sure I will have lots more exciting things to tell you next week. Zone Conference is next Thursday on the 18th so hopefully that will be good, and I will get Christmas packages. :).
Thanks for the letters this week Mom and Dad, Jamie and Grandma. The office lady sister Deweise said she sent 3 letters down to Cork because that's where I was supposed to be so hopefully I'll get those other letters sometime.
Thanks for the emails Tommy, Aunt Carla, Aunt Marsha, Aunt Pam, Aunt Kathy, Jamie and Sister Bigler.
It sounds like Cody is doing all right so hopefully he will have more success. I hope you guys are having fun in Vegas.
I Love and miss you all so much I am excited to talk to you in two weeks from tomorrow. YEAH.
LOVE YOU,
Elder Hancock