The Siberian Messenger: Miracles do happen!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Miracles do happen!

Dear Family,

I just have to say that miracles do happen! I don't know what it is, but my companion and I are really starting to work so well together! Today we have TRC, which is when we start off with a situation where we must communicate in Russian with an "investigator" (it is a BYU student that knows Russian, last week we had Sister Kuznitsova's friend who helped convert her and prepare her for a mission!)...I can actually have a somewhat decent conversation in Russain right now! You never really realize how much the spirit helps you learn, but I could never learn Russian this fast on my own. I can repeat the Purpose as a Missionary and 1st vision all in Russian as well. It's amazing... Well, after the situation, we give a lesson in our native language, until next week where everything is in Russian...??!! How does that happen? Someone should somehow market the MTC language program, and bury Rosetta Stone in the dust! It's funny, but after every TRC, I come out with the biggest smile on my face. This gospel IS true. This IS a plan of happiness.

Well, to explain the average day at the MTC, I wake up about 6:00 and exercise right outside our "home" door. Then about 6:30 is when everyone wakes up. Then at 7:00 we have a daily planning session with our companions, where we plan what we study for the day. Then we have breakfast at 7:50. After that we usually have personal study time, where we have an hour to study anything. I like to start by reading the scriptures. I bought a journal where I write down my thoughts about scriptures that I read. The scriptures become so much more meaningful when you actually ponder them and think rather than just reading. Then we usually have class for about three hours. This is where we learn more about the Russian language and gospel principles. Then we have lunch at about 12:30. Then we have class again until about 5:30 when it is time for dinner. Then after dinner it's more class time until about 9:00. Then a group of us exercise until about 10:15 when it is quiet time and we have to be in our rooms, then it's lights off at 10:30. Sometime in the day we will have gym for about 50 minutes, companionship study for about an hour, and language study for an hour. Not a single minute is wasted. Then we have devotionals every Tuesday, and firesides and church movies every Sunday.

Testimony meeting was amazing. Everyone was able to speak in English, so that the spirit wouldn't be limited by struggling words. Our branch has such faith, and eveyone spoke about their personal conversions. I didn't bear my testimony, since I wanted the older missionaries to have a chance, because they will be gone this Monday. That day was probably one of the best for me since I have been here.

The only thing I know about Sister Kuznitsova's conversion story is that her whole family thinks she is crazy, and that she hasn't talked to them for a long time. She is an amazing person, with such a strong testimony. We have interviews with the teachers every week, and whenever I have a problem, she is so helpful!

I have actually been pranked this week. On Sunday, I entered the room for the night, and I see a note with a flower on the floor. I read it and it's a note to me, from a "secret admirer" wanting to meet me at the statues of the bicycling missionaries. I give a little smirk, then immediately crumble it up and throw it away. All the other elders were trying to make me go see who it is, but I was adamant about following the rules, which forbids any meetings with the opposite gender. Later, while I was studying, my companion whispers to me, "I'm your secret admirer." I turn around and gave him a death glare. It was pretty funny.

I can't really use my jump drive, since I can't use programs like that on this computer. Please send me an SD card so I can send you the pictures. Also, tell people to write me! I love receiving letters, and I want to know what's going on out there in "Babylon". (That's what we call the outside world) I'm sorry but my 30 minutes are up, tell the fam to send me drawings from the grandchildren. Those are my favorite, and I want to adon my dorm wall with them!

This gospel it true...It is SO true!

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.