Move Forward With Faith — Leslie Hancock Real Estate

Dear family and friends,

It’s hard to believe but our missionary service comes to an end in just 53 days. I’ve been feeling a little melancholy and anxious over several things I feel the need to do or finish prior to coming home. This week I reviewed the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the year and realized the time was slipping by and that there were some things that may not get done before our mission ends. We’ve stayed very busy and the Lord has filled our days with wonderful things that I could never have planned for, but were obviously more important. As I’ve struggled with these anxious feelings, I’ve found refuge at the temple. Just being on the temple grounds has a way of calming my spirit and if I can spend some time inside, I always receive valuable inspiration. The message that came to me yesterday was not to stress! The Lord knows what is important to me and I just need to exercise more faith, and move forward one day at a time. Through the enabling power of the atonement, Christ can help me accomplish those things that I so desperately want to do even when our time is short. He reminded me that great things have been accomplished one day at a time, and I have 53 days here and then a lifetime beyond! I am still writing my lists each day, but recognize that if I’m prayerful, God will direct our remaining days here, and ultimately the things that are most important will be the things that get done.

Today we served at the Brigham Young Winter home. I love sharing the story of those early pioneers who came to St. George on a cotton mission. They endured every kind of hardship you can imagine, but their faith and dedication was rewarded with the first completed temple in Utah. That temple sits right across the street from us today. I want so much to have this same faith and commitment of the early pioneers. I want to know that I too could leave my comfortable home and come to a barren desert and suffer all kinds of deprivations in response to a call from the Lord. Yes, Denny and I sold our home to come on a mission, but, it’s obviously so very different. These pioneers knew they would likely never return to their home and they suffered sickness, poverty and almost starvation. Following the Lord may involve some sacrifice, inconvenience or unpopularity but thankfully we’ve never been asked to do something hard like these early pioneers. At the same time I believe that the time may come when we will face a more challenging call from the Lord and hopefully we can all be ready.

This month has been a particularly patriotic one with both July 4th and…. Pioneer Day (a Utah holiday). The streets of St. George were lined with full size flags for both holidays. Wish I’d thought to take a picture! The young sister missionaries had a rare evening off to watch the fireworks and we ate watermelon and s’mores cooked in the oven. We’ve also been somewhat caught up in the election. I was reminded to read something by Harold B. Lee. He said, “Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite any trials or crises it may yet have to pass through.” So……. I am going to liftup my head, be positive, vote, and remember that the Lord is watching over this great land!

Leaving politics way behind…. our high this month was visiting our son, Michael, his wife Melissa and our 5 little grandkids in Texas. It was a fast 2 day trip so we could attend our granddaughter, Lily’s baptism. We felt so grateful to be given permission to attend this important milestone in her life. Lily looked like an angel in her white dress and her 10 year old big sister was a rock star as she confidently and brilliantly gave the talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It is a parent’s greatest joy to see your children trying hard to raise righteous and loving children. We are so excited to be able to attend our grandson, Charlie’s baptism as soon as we return. His 8th birthday was this month but he decided on his own that he wanted Nana and Papa there. We feel so grateful and loved!

Speaking of high, we have hit the highest temperatures we have personally felt here in St. George …..115 degrees! It is now that I am grateful for that air conditioning that chilled me all Spring long. During these summer days, you need to be strategic with your plans. The only time to exercise is before 7am and then it’s still 80 degrees! Car handles and steering wheels are hot… so gloves are helpful. If you’re going to do a Costco run, you need to bring a cooler. Ice melts in bottles in minutes so a Hydro Flask is the only way to go. A big thank you to our daughter, Rachael, for sending those! Amazingly we are ok with the heat. It’s easy to get dehydrated so I find myself getting a bit more tired but I still LOVE taking a late night walk and feeling the warm breeze and Denny loves to hop on the scooter and feel the wind in his hair. Darn those no helmet laws here in Utah!

The greatest high of all though is continuing to testify of Jesus Christ and his restored gospel. Denny and I have had some amazing experiences in our life, but there is nothing that compares to the pure joy that comes when you feel the Lord work through you as you bear your testimony to someone who is truly searching and ready for the gospel. I am reminded every day that it doesn’t matter what you know, but how you’ve prepared yourself. If I’ve approached my day in prayer and study, the Spirit truly works miracles.

I continue to write all of the posts for our Visitor Center Facebook page. My favorite post this month was of this little girl in pink staring at the Christus in the Visitor’s Center. Take a look above, it will warm your heart! And if you’d like to visit our site and see some of the other posts you can go to: https://www.facebook.com/StGeorgeVC If you do, please like those you do!

I hope all of you are happy and healthy. We love you and keep you in our prayers.

Leslie and Denny