We all have a safety line, which is the Holy Ghost

Dear family and friends:
This next transfer will probably be the most interesting one ever. The call has come, and I will be staying in Novosibirsk, and I will be training a new missionary fresh from the MTC. That's right, my fourth transfer, and I am training. But that's not all. The other elders are one transfer younger than me, and they are all training new missionaries. The sisters are only a couple of transfers older than me, but pretty much all of the new missionaries will be trained by fresh-out-of-training missionaries. I have no idea what my new companion's name is, what he looks like, or anything about him.
So mom, you will probably need to pray that we will not get lost. I am just joking, because all will be alright. This is a call from the Lord, not even from President Gibbons. I know that it is, and if we work hard, amazing things will happen. This will be a great time for Novosibirsk.

On Tuesday, we had a Halloween Party for English Club. We had games, language activities, and lots of food. We had root beer, which doesn't exist in Russia, Hot Dogs, which actually DO exist in Russia. A Lot of people came, and it was really fun! I was in charge of bobbing for apples, and we had donuts on a string, bingo, jeopardy, and Elder Huffaker did his lasso stuff. Everyone loves his cowboy stuff.

On Friday, I went on exchanges with Elder Walker, who is one transfer younger than me, and a soon-to-be trainer as well. We taught a recent convert how to hold onto the iron rod, or stay stay faithful through diligent study and prayer. He told us how he would carry scriptures in his  pocket so that he could study during breaks in his work. He found time to study. This just goes to show that anyone can find time for daily study. Heavenly Father gave us the scriptures for our benefit. We need to read them. I know that I couldn't teach people if I didn't have my personal study every day.

On Saturday, there were three baptisms: Banya, and a mother Olga with her son Daniel. They are in another branch in Novosibirsk, in a place known as Sniggery. It's about an hour away from the center of the mission. But seeing these people making these covenants to serve the Lord, keep his commandments, and take upon themselves His name, it made me so happy. I hope that I can do a lot of good for this area when I am in charge of it...whoah...

And now for the weather...snow, and cold. Right now it is below freezing. It is October, and right now I am thinking about Christmas. We have even been listening to Christmas Motab sometimes! It is so crazy how quickly things changed. It just seemed like yesterday, we were going about in short sleeves, because it was so hot, and now we are walking around like Eskimos. Don't worry, though, I am warm, as I have found a scarf and gloves. Laura, thanks for the earmuffs, they are awesome! I hope to be able to send you pictures in other e-mails. Russia is very beautiful in the snow. It's fun to bundle up, and to go walking around in the cold. Russian coats are so elegant, and they are just like in the movies.

In my personal studies, I have been memorizing scriptures, both in English and Russian. I have just recently memorized D & C 4 in Russian. It took me about two days. That just shows how the Lord blesses His missionaries with the gift of tongues. I highly recommend you to take Elder Scott's counsel to memorize scriptures, because they are really helpful in a trying time. I have learned so much in the language, and I have only been a missionary for about 5 months...wow, five months have passed already. It is scary how fast this mission has gone by.

I have this parable about missionary work. Missionary work is like riding on a roller coaster, and you aren't sitting down. You are hanging on for dear life on the bars. You have three choices: you can let go which spells disaster, you can hold on and just be screaming, or you can enjoy the ride. Missionary work is crazy, with unexpected loop-the-loops (such as training your 4th transfer) and you just have to enjoy the ride. You have to be so obedient, and have a great desire to love and serve these people. That is the only way to be successful as a missionary. Don't worry, though you are holding on for dear life, if you are faithful, you are completely safe. You have a safety line, which is the Holy Ghost. Why would Heavenly Father abandon us on a dangerous journey alone with nothing? He loves us so much, and He is always there to help us in times of need.

I ask for your prayers to be with us all, for this will be an interesting transfer.
I am excited to show my faithfulness to the Lord.
I am ready to work the hardest I have ever worked.
Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)

P.S.  I LOVED all the Halloween costumes!  The wolfman, the minions, Strawberry Shortcake, the ninja, Rapunzel, the witch, the skunk, the monkey and Nemo--they were all great!!

Home Teaching and Family Home Evening

So, Mom, I would LOVE gummy bears! Also, Kool-Aid. The people here don't know about kool-aid, which is sad. So I want to share of the joys of kool-aid with people. Gummy bears are not to be found as well, and I miss them.

So how is everybody? I am really excited about the work that is happening here. Things are growing very fast, just getting closer to the stake. This week, we haven't really had a lot of lessons, but we have been doing great work.

President Gibbons has received revelation that what missionaries need to focus on is Home Teaching, and Famiy Home Evening. These are so important, I had no idea how important they are. We are to meet with inactive members, with members of the priesthood, and to help them fulfill these duties. Right now, there really isn't a Home Teaching Program, and in order for there to be a stake, there needs to be at least 80% Home Teaching...Just think...a stake can't be formed without home teaching. That shows how important it is. It is literally a priesthood duty. Those who hold the priesthood covenanted with God to visit the members and nourish them with the word of God.

Our focus this week was to find inactive members, and we met with Boris. He is a friend of the Branch President, who is a returned missionary and recently married. His family accepted the gospel when he was about 6, so he is one of the pioneers of this gospel in Russia. He is amazing, and he helped so much.

Also, one of Elder Voronkov's friends, Maxim, came to Novosibirsk. He lives here, and he is going to serve in Samara. He plays the saxophone, sings, and plays the piano. He is really good, and he is really strong in the gospel. For English club, he and Elder Voronkov played "I Need Thee Every Hour". It was really cool. He plays jazz, which is awesome too.

Yesterday, we met with Inna, and her husband Yevgenni. Inna is a member, very strong, and Yevgenni isn't. She is very talkative, while he is more reserved and quiet. She is so excited about the gospel, and she talked a lot for us. It was great to see, because we committed both of them to read the Book of Mormon and pray together. When we talked about prayer, I shared the story of when Britton couldn't get on the train before the doors closed, and then Porter said, "We need to pray for Britton to be save and be found." That was a great testimony to them about how important it is to teach children truth, and the importance of prayer. They don't have children yet, but they want to have a family, and they want to raise them to be good people. He prayed for us at the end, which is always an amazing step.

So, this transfer was a week longer, and we will receive transfer calls this week, so stay tuned. I have no idea what will happen, if I will stay in Novosibirsk, or go to another city. Whatever happens, I am excited. This work is going forth quickly.

I wish I could type more, but this keyboard is sticky, and hard to type on. I only can type about 15 words a minute. 

But I love you all.

Pray for the stake.

Pray that we can re-activate the inactive members.

Pray that we will find those who are ready to accept the gospel.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)

Family Home Evening is so important!

Dear family and friends:

This will probably be the most important e-mail I have ever sent, and so I want to save the most important thing for last.

First, on Monday we had Family Home Meeting at one of our member's apartment. We had two investigators there, Lana and Sergei. They are a couple, soon to be married. We talked about the Word of Wisdom, and the father of the family (the member) testified how he was able to overcome smoking and drinking through prayer. A missionary committed him to see if God would help him or not to follow this commandment, and he did. His family has been sealed in the temple, and his son is waiting to be sealed with his wife in the temple. Just so you know, Family Home Evening is probably the most important thing you can give your family. It is a commandment to have Family Home Evening. It almost brought me to tears to see this family, so strong in the gospel, because they regularly had Family Home Evening. They cherished this time together. So any family that is reading this blog, have Family Home Evening!

Also, I had my first splits this week. During a transfer, our District Leader plans splits in order to train and work with every elder in his district. His name is Elder Bonous (Banoose), and he is awesome! I have never met anyone else that loves reading books, singing, musicals, and dancing like him! Yeah, he was in Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, and Children of Eden, like me! No he wasn't at my school, but he did those musicals in high school, and Children of Eden at BYU. I really appreciated that training, and I hope to take what he taught me and become an even better missionary.

Another amazing thing, there was a baptism this week! His name is Pavel, and he is in his late 20's, black hair in a ponytail, and he is taller than me! Elder Stewart, who is about 5ft 4in baptized him, and it completely worked! He was a really great guy, and he is already preparing to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. It is amazing that missionaries are finding these people, who have been prepared by the hand of God to accept this message. In Novosibirsk, they actually have a font, instead of a sauna like in Novokuznetsk.

That Sunday, the Branch President asked me to bear my testimony about my family. I of course told them about how I have 10 nieces and nephews, and that got a big laugh. Then I told them about how all the men in my family had served missions, and how I saw what great blessings they received from their missions even today, that I knew I wanted to serve a mission. I also talked about how we are sealed as a family for time and all eternity, and that I receive blessings from that even today. I was so grateful for those blessings, that my family is forever. That is why I am in Russia right now, so that all of these people can be sealed to their families, and eventually we will all be sealed together, as one giant family. These people are literally my brothers and sisters, and I love them all.

We also have started a choir. Sister Webb, one of the senior missionaries, is making a choir with all of the members in Novosibirsk.  We had practice and though only about 12 people came, it was very fun. Also, there was one choir member who actually knows how to step dance...almost like clogging! He taught me a few steps, and we talked about how maybe we could do a dance for a talent show, if I don't get transferred. I don't know right now, but we will see. 

Now for the most amazing news ever. I have known about it for a few weeks, and I think now I am going to share it... Ever since being in the MTC, I felt that I was being prepared to be a part of something big that would happen in Russia. I had no idea what it was, but I knew that it was going to be big. President Gibbons has prayed about this for a while, and no one can hide the excitement about what is going to happen here...We are going to have a stake in Novosibirsk. A Stake in Siberia. Just think about that for a few moments. It may seem small to people in Utah, since our cities have multiple stakes, but in Siberia right now, no one has the authority to distribute keys for the leadership positions in this mission. Only the mission president can. With a stake, they will have a stake president, a patriarch, wards, bishops, all of that. This Siberian Stake is not just a fantasy, but will become a reality. The Mission President sees that this stake will be built and established before many of us leave to go home. That is what I have been prepared for, to help build a stake here in Novosibirsk, Russia. Every time I think about it, it just makes my heart race with excitement!

So what I ask from you people reading this blog, is to pray for us that we may find people to build this stake. We need to have about 99 active tithe-paying Melchizedek priesthood holders, and 5 wards in order to build a stake. Please pray for these people. Please pray that we will be able to build this stake. My dream right now is to see this stake established before I leave. I could think of no greater honor, than to say I helped build a stake in Siberia.

That is the big news. A Siberian Stake!

Please pray for us.

I love you all.

I love this mission.

This gospel is undoubtedly true.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian, Stake-Building, Messenger)

Conference was completely awesome!

Dear Mom, Dad, and Family:

I hope that you can get these pictures that I am sending. We found another Internet club, but it is not hugely better. Libraries are by far the best.

So Mom, I got your package last week, the Christmas package. So whatever you did for that package worked. Maybe send that other package...? Don't worry about the Christmas package, I only opened a few things, such as the candy. The presents and gingerbread stuff are put away for Christmas. I don't want to go crazy about Christmas JUST yet.

So Conference was completely awesome, and I just have to say to all people. These are the Prophets, Seers, and Revelators of God. Their words are His words. It is in good wisdom to follow their counsel. I have learned a lot from Conference about how to be a greater missionary. I was so excited to hear their words, because I knew that they would help me.

What is there to say?

Oh, there is one investigator, who is pretty much on the fence. They need to have that testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon before they can fall on the right side of the fence. This person has been coming to church, Family Home Evening, Firesides, and even all sessions of Conference. This person follows all the commandments, but one...Baptism. Since we have been meeting with this person, We have committed every time to read the Book of Mormon, (and this person is willing to meet whenever) but they have not. They have read the fullness of the Book of Mormon already, but has either not received a testimony that it is true, or is not willing to admit they have received an answer.

That is one of the hardest things to see in missionary work..someone that is so close to eternal happiness, but they have to take the plunge. We can't even push them off the diving board, but just wait at the bottom and root for them.

Other meetings...hmmm...well we had one meeting with a contact. He invited us over to his house, and it was pouring rain and freezing cold wind that day. He bought ice cream for us, and we ate ice cream with tea at his apartment...It makes no sense, I know, but why argue about free food?

 

While Elder Voronkov was in a meeting about our areas, I went with Elder Sperry and Elder Topham and went contacting. On our return, we met an American! This never happens! It was funny because we asked, "Do you speak English?" "Yes" "How much do you know?" "I know pretty much a lot." We realized he didn't have an accent, and we got talking...he is from Wisconsin, and he teaches English in a University next to the branch building. What are the odds? He had to leave, so we weren't able to talk a lot.

Well, this work is awesome, and I am loving these people. I love being a missionary. Parents:  I know you are planning to serve a mission and I hope you are preparing to do so.  All older members of the church need to take the council from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. We NEED senior missionaries. There is no greater blessing to these people.

I don't have any more time, but I love you all. I pray for you and I hope you pray for these people.

This is the true Church of Jesus Christ.

This work will go Miraculously, Magnificently, and Energetically.

Elder Hoggan (Siberian Messenger)

President Gibbons is a man of power, called of God.

Hey, subscribers of the Siberian Messenger!

I have been really blessed thus far in my mission experience thus far in my mission. The Mission President, President Gibbons, I testify that he is called of God to be our mission president.

He has gotten rid of everything that is not Preach my Gospel and the Missionary Handbook. He has completely transformed the mission and things are awesome! What amazes me, is that when he interviews people, he has never used a translator. He is learning Russian, so that he can serve in Russian. It is difficult, and it humbles me that this man, who has so many things to do is willing to learn this language. Every time I talk to him, I feel his love for me, and it makes me more excited about this mission. He is going to do the most amazing things for Novosibirsk.

I wish that I could show pictures, we are still trying to figure that out. Novosibirsk in the fall is beautiful. There are many trees and the leaves are beautiful. It has been very cool, but not very cold. I have been happy and healthy all this time.

I haven't seen conference yet, but next Sat. and Sun. we will be able to see conference.

I had a "missionary moment" that is common in every mission. You just can't be a missionary without burning something when you are cooking. We were making cookies, and Russian ovens don't have specific temperature measurements. We put the cookies in and went in the other room. Seven minutes later, I get this feeling, "What about our cookies?" I run into the kitchen to see smoke pouring out of the oven. We hastily try to get all the smoke out of the apartment, and we look at the cookies. They are charcoal. Don't worry, there was no damage, and we are okay. It was just an interesting adventure,

Did I ever tell you that Elder Voronkov is a vegetarian? Well, he is, and it is interesting to see him cook. He uses sour cream in everything! When he was making salad, he cut up the vegetables, and poured a bunch of sour cream with it. To me, salad is a lot of leafy vegetables with a small drizzle of dressing, not soaking in sour cream, so it was kinda strange to me. I have found a compromise, which I put it on slices of bread, and it is quite tasty.

Elder Newenschwander (however his name is spelled) from the Quorum of the Seventy, came to Novosibirsk to give patriarchal blessings. He is German, but he can speak really good Russian. It is amazing to see the different tribes that are in Novosibirsk. Some people are actually from the tribe of Ephraim, which amazed me. I am excited to be able to help find all the tribes of Israel here in Novosibirsk.  Elder Newenschwander also talked about setting up the church in Russia twenty years ago and how frustrating that was.  He talked about how we all have to remember that this is the Lord's church and He is in charge.  We just have to do our best with our stewardship and the Lord will do the rest.

President Gibbons and his wife sat in one of our lessons, and he helped teach, in his limited knowledge of Russian, and his Spirit is powerful. It was amazing. I could actually feel his power. I hope that I can have that power when I teach. That is the power that senior couples have in missionary work. Their testimony is of years of trials and faith. I am just a kid, with little experience, but I have a testimony.

President Gibbons testified in sacrament meeting about the miracle of the loaves and fishes. He said, "I only have one loaf, and no fish. How can I feed the multitude?" Through Jesus Christ, despite us being "one" person, we can feed the multitude and all will be filled. That was a real faith builder, because I saw President Gibbons as a man of power, but he felt that he was weak. But he knew that through Christ, he could serve, and I know that I can, too.

There was a fireside, which we attended, and I translated for Elder and Sister Huffaker. Just think, I have been out here for 4 months, and I can translate. Maybe not perfectly, but I can. It was fun, hard, and a real testimony builder to me. I don't know how I could do that  with my lack of training, but I know God is constantly helping us.

In closing, God bless you all.

Please pray for the people here in the Novosibirsk mission.

Please pray for the missionaries.

This gospel is true.

I love you all.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)