The Siberian Messenger: Have faith and be healed when we come unto Christ.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Have faith and be healed when we come unto Christ.

Dear family,

My knowledge of the gospel is expanding so much! Sorry about not e-mailing yesterday. They changed our schedules, so now my P-Day is Wednesday. The combination to the lock in my room is 22-25-0. Also, thanks for the journal, but it wasn't the correct one. The journal I hoped for is bigger, about the size of a regular book, and is filled with notes from devotionals and institute classes. I did get your Easter package, and I thank you, but I need to say DON'T send me any toys or gag stuff. In the MTC they don't allow me to have stuff like this, and they want us to put away anything like it. About my water bottle, only the lid part broke. where the spout is, the plastic connector pieces broke off. If that makes it any easier, but if it's too expensive to buy a new one, that's okay. What you can send me are drawings from the grandkids. I love the pictures from the kids and the story Britton wrote, too. I love them all.

If it could be possible, send vocal music. I have a bunch of piano arrangements, but nothing to sing. I don't really have time to sit at a piano and play, but I do have time to sing. We have very talented people in our branch. Look on LDS.org and see what they have. I just need vocal music. One song in particular I would love is Come See the Light. It is on my iTunes. Greatest song ever. If you could find it, I would be so grateful. I have really missed music here. There is just no time to play the piano whenever I want to. I hope to be able to find time since as Branch Music Coordinator I need to prepare music, even specialty numbers.

I have really been blessed this week. Since last I wrote, TWO apostles came to talk, Elder Richard G. Scott and Dallin H. Oaks. Elder Richard G. Scott even bestowed upon us an apostalic blessing of the gift of tongues, so I think I WILL learn the language eventually. The humility and patience I need right now is for my companion. He struggles with the language, and is reluctant to give much effort when we teach. He has an amazing spirit, and I KNOW that he can do this. He just needs to have faith in himself. I have been praying for humility and patience so that I can help myself and my companion, and things are improving, however slow it might be. I know that apostles are true messengers of God. I love them so much! I have grown a lot these past few days and I am beginning to realize how crucial it is that I am here to prepare myself to preach the gospel to others. Other people's salvation is at stake here! Like Dallin H. Oaks said, we are to prepare ourslves to be in His service.

On the lighter side, at the beginning of last week we were given permission to not have to wear suit coats. This entire week has been so cold and wet, and it even snowed yesterday. Talk about irony!

I have a request. Could you please send me a copy of the story of that book, The Ten Virgins? Just make photo copies. I love the story, and I want to remind myself how I can fill my lamp with oil. Then I can teach others how to fill their lamps. For the SD card, I think about 4 gigs would be the maximum. If you have any questions, ask Michael, because he would know what I would need.

For Easter Sunday, I was reading about the woman who had a disease of the blood for twelve years. She had enough faith to be healed just by touching Jesus' clothes. Who could have such faith? I love what Jesus Christ did afterwards. He knew that he helped heal somebody, and he could have just went his way, but he wanted to find the woman and congratulate her on her strong faith. I hope that we all could have such faith and be healed when we come unto Christ. I just have to say I love it here. I love being seperated from wordly things, just having to focus on spiritual things. It doesn't mean I don't miss anyone here, because I do, but wordly distractions just don't matter anymore. Be faithful! The gospel means more than it ever has before.

I know God lives.

He is our literal father in heaven.

I know Jesus Christ is our Savior.

He died for the sins of the world.

He died for my sins.

I know that we can obtain eternal life if we prove ourselves faithful.

Tell the grandchildren that I know this.

Love, Your Siberian Messenger, Elder Hoggan

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Elder Hoggan's Companions

Elder Yurkivanis (Lithuania) 03/21/2013 to 04/03/2013
Elder Nichols (Lindon, UT) 12/2012 - 03/21/2013
Elder Dawson 10/2012 - 11/2012
Elder Harper: 07/04/2012 to 10/2012
Elder Duncan (Roosevelt, UT): 03/15/2012 to 07/03/2012
Elder Ortner (Israel & Florida): 01/22/2012 to 03/08/2012
Elder Patton (Ohio): 11/7/2011 to 01/22/2012
Elder Voronkov (Moscow, Russia): 09/13/2011 to 11/06/2011
Elder Terry (St. George, UT): 08/01/11 to 09/12/2011
Elder Washburn (Chicago, IL): 06/23/11 to 07/31/11
Elder Fitzgerald (Pleasant Grove, UT): 04/06/11 to 06/22/11

Who Are You, Boy?

Poem to Missionaries from Russian Convert, circa 2000

Who are you boy? For a boy you are journeyed to this land of ours, this land where I've endured my days. And felt oppression kill my soul and force me into some tight mold. And teach me that I should not hope unless I care to smell the smoke of dreams that the Red Army tamed.

Who are you boy, from this land of plenty, teaching God, if there is any. You have all; we have none. Do you know what that feels like, son? And yet, you ask me to believe in something that I cannot see; some force you say will bring me joy. Do you know what that feels like, boy? Where you're from, faith is free, but it has a price for me. When I have pain, I have my bottle. Hurt dies quick when you down it with Vodka. That's enough to warm my soul. I work, I sleep, the days go by--I'm waiting for the day I die. You don't understand this place. You say believe, obey, have faith, live life well, serve and give. Here in Russia, we just live.

Who are you, boy? Why did you come? To save a soul who once was numb. To teach a wretched, hateful, man who cursed your help, refused your hand. I thought that we were worlds apart. So how is it that you knew my heart? A fraction my age, you calmed my rage; mercy paid my generous wage. I should have been left behind. It is hard to love my kind. Hope in your heart, power in your hands, why did you come to this distant land? I know now, it was for me. The Red Curtain fell, but I was not free. Until a boy from nations away brought me my Lord, I bless the day. He led me to weep at my Master's feet, the American boy I met on the street--new and naive, still in his teens, with a message to bring the world to its knees. I thought that the truth would come from another--I did not know this boy was my brother.