Finally pictures...

Dear Family, Friends, and whoever might be reading this NEW EDITION OF THE SIBERIAN MESSENGER!!!

I actually wasn't entirely truthful about why I didn't send pictures. Yes, there is a problem with viruses, but the real reason is because I accidentally left my camera in Novosibirsk in our hurry to catch our train. But don't worry, I have it now, so the pictures are a little outdated. I will send more.

One picture is of me and our Branch Presidency at the MTC. The names from left to right is Bro. Mansfield, Cranney, and Childs. They were really awesome, especially Bro. Childs who was such a help to me at the MTC. I was really blessed.

The picture of me and the short elder is Elder Mantell, who is from London. I thought Dad would like to see him, and he is going to Yekaterinburg, Russia. The only foreigner in our branch.

The metallic-wirey building is the Moscow airport. That was my 1st look of Russia. Cool, huh?

The building that says something like MEBEL is a furniture store.

Russia is a bunch of apartments, and the picture of the apartment was a favorite of mine, because of the fancy design.

The orangish old-fashioned building looked pretty, so there you go.

The other old-fashioned building is actually a train station. It was cool as well.

The building with a chicken and POCTNK'C That is "Rostik's", which is Russian KFC.

Then there is a picture of our district, and our teachers Bro. Savage and Sis. Kuznetzova. Interestingly, Kuznetzova is a name meaning "smith" just like Novokuznetsk, which means "new blacksmith. The magic wand I made, because she really likes Tinker Bell, and I was bored one P-day.

The picture of a lot of elders is all the elders that left that week.

The other pictures will be on other e-mails.

So for what happened this week, our investigator, Pavil, came to church, which is a BIG plus. I also gave a talk that day about the role of families in the gospel. I did a pretty nice job. We will keep teaching him, and I really hope that he will accept baptism. He is really interested in our message, and is amazed how the Bible supports our message.

There is a man by the name of Dima, who was in the hospital. We came by and I annointed him for the blessing. I did it in Russian as well. He knew the elders for years, and this experience has him examining what we are teaching, whether or not the gospel is true. The next day, he called about how much better he felt, which shows the power of the Priesthood. I felt the power as I laid my hands on his head. He wasn't healed immediately, but I knew that he was going to be okay. That's the beauty of this gospel, we are speaking another language, but the spirit and power are still there.

Also, Elder Washburn and I held a fast on Sunday in order to get more help to find people to become investigators. The next day, we celebrated Uri Ivanovich's 74th birthday "Den Rozhdeneeyeh". An inactive member, Aleksi, came by and wanted to talk with us. He wanted to read the Book of Mormon with us and come to church. It was really cool. We really hope that he will come back to full activity. We just don't find people to baptize, but bring inactive members back to the gospel.

English club is so much fun, and I make a lot of friends. Every Tuesday and Thurday, we hold the club. At the end, we have story time translated by a member of the club, and then if people want to stay, we have a spiritual thought to tell of our purpose as missionaries. I shared a message of family, and how they are such a blessing to me. That families should teach their children to do good. I testified that families could be together forever.

I wish I could write more, but I need time to send pictures.

I love you my family and friends!

The gospel is true.

Miracles do happen.

Prayer works.

Elder Hoggan (Siberian Messenger)

P.S. Mom, how are the Ridgeway's doing? I just been thinking about my work here as a missionary, and I thought of them. Have the missionaries gone to their place? Either way, have them go over to their house (make sure their member friends are there as well) and tell them that Elder Hoggan sent them there to share an important message. The same message I am giving to the people of Russia, and that he wants them to hear it. It was just a thought.