How many drops of blood were spilled for me?

Dear Mom, Family and Friends:

This gospel is amazing. Yesterday we heard from Russel M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve. If you have been reading my letters, you would know that since coming to the MTC,  I have listened to 4 apostles, starting with Richard G. Scott, Dallin H. Oaks, Neil L. Anderson, and this one just recently. Before coming here, it was two whole months before any of the general authority came to speak at the MTC. I feel truly blessed, and I hope the new elders feel blessed to hear from an apostle in their first week here.

The new elders are really cool people. One of them, Elder Mantell, is from England, and another is from Sweden with a name I can't pronounce. This just shows how worldwide the church is. These elders have such great spirits, and they are going to do great things in Russia and Ukraine. It's weird to see them, and realize I was in their shoes 6 weeks ago. I remember looking at the more experienced elders and notice how old they look. I wonder what the new elders see in me. I hope to be a great example, so I have even greater resolve to do better.

Things between me and my companion are really going well. We are working together, we listen and communicate with each other. It's not perfect, but what companionship is perfect? The best thing to do is to love and serve them. My companion has such a great spirit, which I was reminded of last night. After the Tuesday devotional, we share thoughts, feelings, and testimonies of what was said. Elder Fitzgerald bore a powerful testimony, which everyone in our district commented on. I feel truly blessed.

Our district has gone through some difficult times. We all have gone through difficult things, more than what other missionaries have gone through. But as our Branch President Childs said about our district, we have a powerhouse district. Though we have problems, we are able to support each other and love each other. I love my district. God provides every means necessary to bless His children.

I love President Peterson, and I wish I could have heard his talk. Here at the MTC I am really understanding the Atonement, and what it means to me as a missionary and what it means to others. For the Tuesday devotional, I was in the choir and we sang "This is the Christ". One line goes "I read the words, the words he prayed while bearing sorrow in Gethsemane. I feel His love, the price He paid. How many drops of blood were spilled for me?" Aren't these such powerful words? I love this song. How many drops of blood were spilled for me? Those drops of blood paid the price for my sins, and enable me to become a better person, and become like Father. Of all the gifts given to us, The Atonement is the greatest. Not only can we be forgiven of our sins, but we can be endowed with power to resist the adversary, gain spiritual strength, and perform miracles. All of this and an infinite amount more all because of the Atonement. I love reading about it and teaching it, because I know it's true. Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane so that we would not have to suffer.

I DO feel the power of your prayers. I have begun to write down the promptings I receive, and recently, one came to me. The apostles are praying for us. Those who go to the temple are praying for us. Our families are praying for us. Our friends are praying for us. Our Father in Heaven is praying for us. 14 million people are praying for the missionaries. How powerful is that? And I can testify that those prayers are being heard and answered. I feel strength from these prayers.

I realize with this computer I can share things in Russian, so here's my testimony with a translation:

Я знаю что Бог живь.

Бог наш Небесний Отец.

Иисус Христос живь.

Иисус Христос наш Спаситель.

Ивангелие истина.

I know that God lives

God is our Father in Heaven

Jesus Christ lives

Jesus Christ is our Savior

The gospel is true

I wish I could write more, but I am out of time.

Love,

Elder Hoggan