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)