Stay tuned--big things are happening in our mission!

I still haven't received the package, but maybe it's at the mission office. Mail goes to the mission office, and missionaries who are going into the city bring the mail and packages with them as they travel. It is cheaper and faster than sending them by mail. So I will probably have to wait until the end of this transfer, which will be this week, because I will be going to Finland to renew my visa.
For my Christmas package, I would just like family traditional Christmas goodies. You translate that to what you think it means, because I really don't know what I would want...wait, scratch that. I want LOTS of pictures, drawings, and stories from the family and kiddies. I miss getting drawings, and I still have every single one from the MTC...isn't it weird to think that I was there 3 months ago, and that I have been on a mission for 6 months?I DO want to know who I have for the Christmas Exchange. I would like to send something, and I still will send the soda nativity. It would be too hard to make a nativity set out of a vodka bottle, and I don't want to buy one. We stand out enough in our white shirts and ties, I don't want to give a wrong impression.

Here is the latest edition of the Siberian Times!!

Salon of Salvation

It is starting to get cold in Russia. It is about fall weather, so I am not dying of the cold...yet. It will be exciting when winter hits, and you have to bundle up. I haven't bought my coat yet, but today, I will. We have been looking around, viewing the selection, and I finally found my coat. With the fur...
This week I got my first haircut...and I am still alive. It is funny, because people in Russia rarely have short hair like the missionary style. The mullet is very in. I had to take my glasses off for my haircut, so I had no idea what my hair looked like. Afterwards, I put my glasses on, and had to tell the stylist I wanted it REALLY short. As you can tell from the pictures, it looks pretty good.

I have also been doing a new thing to study the language. I read the Book of Mormon in Russian, and any words I don't know, I underline and write the translation above. Then when I read it again and I remember the word, I can erase it. Yeah, I don't know a LOT of words.

This is the last week of the transfer, and I have no idea where the Lord will send me. I could be staying in Novokuznetsk, or I may be going to another city. I don't know, but I know BIG things are happening in our mission. Elder Sperry, the Zone Leader of Novokuznetsk, has received calls from President GIbbons about changes to our mission, and we aren't allowed to know what they are, until transfer calls this Friday, so stay put until then.
We found a new investigator by the name of Anatoli, who is an old professor of religion. He was a former investigator, who the missionaries lost contact with. We needed new investigators, so we browsed through the area book, and called him. He met with us, and he even came to institute! In the area book it said that the missionaries tried calling him, but they could never reach him. This was about two years ago. So I don't know what changed, but I am glad we found him. We had Brother Vladimir in on the lesson, and he later invited Anatoli to institute, all on his own accord. That is wonderful when members invite others to activities, instead of missionaries.
Brother Vladimir has become one of our greatest helps in the work. He is very good to explain and in a way interpret for us. I don't know why but Russian is easier to understand from members than it is from investigators. Maybe because they know our lack of understanding, and they dumb things down for us.
Brother Vladimir received his first call, to prepare the sacrament. He calls on people to bless and pass the sacrament, and he prepares the sacramental table. That is why I love this church. This is a church of activity. Everyone in this church is involved in some way in the building of the Kingdom of God. There is no one on the sidelines just lounging about. Everyone is doing their part. It is very important that new members receive callings, so they know that they are needed in the church, and that they can contribute.
With the baptism of Nikolai, he will be able to receive the Aaronic Priesthood next week. That is what will give the branch strength. Priesthood power is strength, and I can't wait for the time when I hear that these men, Brothers Vladimir and Nikolai, receive the Melchezidek priesthood. That is what gives this church such strength. This literal power and authority from God makes everything sturdy. That is why the priesthood is so important, and that men need to worthily hold it, to support the church, and the members.
We usually have Sports Night on Saturday, where we play with investigators, members of English club, and members. But with the change of the weather, we now have Game Night. This Saturday, we made origami, which was very fun. It is crazy to see what talents you have forgotten, and the Lord brings them to your remembrance. I forgot about my love for cooking, even the recipe for No-bake cookies. For some reason, I remember them, and I will use all of my talents to bring people to a knowledge of the gospel. I don't know how origami could do that, but I will try.

Did I ever tell you about Uri Ivanovich? He is the oldest member of the branch, and a recent convert. His mind was greatly affected by alcohol, so he has the understanding of a child. We have to remind him a couple times about when family home evening or church is. One thing he does without fail, is ask about this picture of Jesus Christ in his apartment every Sunday. Just out of the blue, he would say, " Можно вапрос? Почему Иисус Христос в моей Квартира?" I am not entirely sure about the proper grammar, but he says, "Can I ask a question, why is Jesus Christ in my apartment? All the members laugh, because every single Sunday he does this. I think Elder Washburn, now Trevor Washburn gave him that picture, but I can't remember.
It is like one of our investigators, Nikolai. This is a different one than the new member. He is very old, maybe as old as Uri Ivanovich. He doesn't work, but he sells apples on the side of the street. You see a lot of Babooshki and Dedooshki (Old ladies and Old men) sell produce from their gardens on the street. He is always concerned about his apples, and so we secretly nicknamed him Яблочний Человек or "Apple Man" Say anything about apples, and he goes on for ten minutes, about all his apples and how there are so many apples, and that all you need to do is wash them. Delicious! It makes us smile.
So that just covers all this week, and be in tune for some BIG news next week.
I love the work.
I love the people I teach
This gospel is true.
Elder Hoggan