What precious thing isn't worth fighting for?

So, mom, I am going to send things home when I go on my next visa trip to Finland, and I already bought the soda can. Russians don't drink canned soda a lot, so it is a 7-up can. But it is written in Russian! I haven't found a matroshka doll (Those Russian dolls) nativity, or any for that matter, but I will still keep looking.

How many e-mails have I sent since I first entered Russia? I don't know...

So this week has been a very interesting week. We didn't have many meetings, and many people who we planned to meet with canceled on us. Just so you know, the stories you hear about missionary work, they are like oasis's. They are amazing and beautiful, but people don't realize that there are deserts inbetween. Sometimes, there are days, even weeks where little happens. That's okay, because the greater the desert, the greater the oasis at the end. So this e-mail isn't me being discouraged, but being realistic, because missions are hard. They are the hardest things you will ever face, but the reward far outweighs the struggle. What precious thing isn't worth fighting for?


Blini breakfast

So for Thanksgiving, we all went to the Mission President's house and had a feast. The food was so good, and there was everything that is in a regular American thanksgiving, such as the canned cranberries. It was never Thanksgiving to me without that can-shaped pile of mashed cranberries plopped on a plate.Thanks for the recipe for cranberry salsa, Mom! Other people actually had cranberry salsa before, but Elder Patton had never had it. Everone loved it, especially Elder Patton. President Gibbons shared scriptures about what he was grateful for, which was his wife. It just made me think about when I get married. I am already planning to serve a mission with my wife. I thought it would be so wonderful to serve in Novosibirsk again, except as a senior couple. Senior missionaries are there to show the example of people who live the gospel. They have a spirit of years of experience, trial, and faith. None of them speak Russian, but people can feel their powerful spirits. How would it be to serve with that kind of experience and spirit, as well as speaking the language? That would be amazing.

One meeting was a total flop. We got a call from a contact, and I had no idea who it was. He says he wants to meet, and of course missionaries pounce upon that like a pride of lions upon a gazelle. We go to meet this person in their office, which was a very big and beautiful. We get in, and it was an old contact that I remembered. I was a little confused, but then he sits us down, and this woman next to him starts talking to us, trying to sell us this juice product. So yeah, we fell into a marketing trap. This is actually common, as people invite us to their houses, and they only want to sell us their products. It's funny, but irritating sometimes. We told the saleswoman that we are missionaries, and that we will never do business with any company while on a mission, but she was persistant, trying to sell us this juice that is supposed to make your life better...yeah, we have a product like that, and it's free! It's called the Gospel! Want some? So we just politely left, saying thank you for your time. Things like that just add a little funny to your missionary life.

That coat that was in the picture, it is called a dublonka (doo-blonkah) It is really warm, and so you don't have to worry about me, Mom. I am toasty warm all the time. The socks and thermals are doing the trick, 

One of the most wonderful things about serving a mission, is that you get to make the most amazing of friends. You have a real concern for the people you teach, not just because this is a mission, to declare repentance to a people, but you are concerned for them because you love them. One of the greatest indicators of being a successful missionary is loving those you serve. Heavenly Father specifically calls each missionary to a place where they are needed to go, in order to find and help specific people. In a city of over 1 million, and being one of the biggest cities in the largest country in the world, there had to be a reason. I love these people, and I am so glad to serve them. We really are all children of God, and He loves us so much.

Read the Book of Mormon, because it is literally the word of God.

Pray every day, to receive the blessings from a loving Heavenly Father.

Keep the commandments, because that is the only way to live with happiness.

Love everyone, because we are all children of God.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)

Oh! and tell Britton congratulations for losing the tooth!

Follow the Spirit

Elder Patton and Elder Hoggan

Thank you for the recipe for cranberry salsa! I can't wait to share it with the other missionaries at our Thanksgiving feast.  Well, here is a picture of Elder Patton and I.  As you can tell, it isn't great--but think how bad the rest of them were, if this was the best picture!

So it is VERY cold in Novosibirsk right now. It is about -8 degrees Celsius every day, which is about 17 degrees in Fahrenheit. The picture of me in the coat is my new coat. Elder Patton and I were cleaning out all the old junk in our apartment, and we found these awesome coats! We thought they were seal, but they aren't. They are very warm, and very cool looking. I feel so Russian in it.

So we had Zone conference, and President Lawrence, and his wife spoke to us. I believe he is the member of the Seventy over the Europe East Area. His wife is very knowledgeable in the Old Testament and about the House of Israel. She talked about the people here are of the House of Israel, and that those of this house most likely taught the Gospel in the Premortal life in the war of Heaven. So that is why some people accept the gospel so readily, because they were taught it in the life before.  

President Lawrence talked to us about how to teach more effectively, especially in asking people to make commitments. It is so important to commit people, because that is the only way that they will exercise faith and know that the Gospel is true. How can someone have a testimony of the Book of Mormon if they don't read it? That is a commitment.

Sister Gibbons also talked to us, and she committed us to clean our apartments. Missionaries kind of leave things in apartments, and this clutter builds up. The Spirit can't reside in unholy temples, and it is the same with unclean apartments. It is very important to keep things clean. That is what you can teach the kids. The Holy Ghost can't be in a dirty room, so you need to clean it.

President Gibbons wanted some people to recite from memory the 42 points of doctrine from the lessons in Russian, and me and Sister Djurich were the ones who did it. It made me very happy because weeks ago President Gibbons asked me in an interview if I would memorize them, and I was able to recite them from memory at that same moment. He talked to us about being humble, and that God WILL help us with everything. It really helped me, because I was feeling that I had to do everything all on my own. We are never alone, and everything that happened definitely wasn't because of me.

The Zone Conference was very spiritual and exciting, and it really helped me. I was struggling just wondering what to do as such a young missionary in an area I don't really know, but I left feeling that all will be okay, and it is!

There is a member in Novosibirsk who knows how to dance really well, and he has been teaching me a Russian step dance. It is kinda like clogging, but without the shoes. So I hope that we can film it, so I can show it for all of you...It's pretty cool, if I have to say so myself.

Now I want to share the amazing miracle that happened this week. So in English club, we were teaching 2nd group, which I had never done in Novosibirsk. It was good, and I was talking to one of them who was entirely new to English Club. His name is Antone. We were talking for a long time afterwards, and then he had to leave. When he left, I immediately thought, "Why didn't I get his number?!" If you have a number, you have a potential investigator. If you don't have a number, then you might never find that person again...So I was angry at myself, and we helped clean up after English Club, and we went home on the metro. This was about 15 minutes after Antone left, and when we got on the train, Elder Patton pointed to a guy, and it was him! Elder Patton said to me, "It's fate! Get his number!" I went over and we were talking to him, but I didn't have enough time to get his number before his stop came up, and this stop wasn't ours. I thought, "Whatever! We are getting off!" So I drag Elder Patton off the metro, and we keep talking with him. We go outside, and he invites us to this cafe, and he bought us some juice, because we don't drink coffee, of course. We kept talking and we shared our message. He asked what made our church different than others, and we thought, "Yeah...we will tell you." So he was really interested, he gave us his number, and he asked us to call him the next day. So that was Thursday. I call him, and unfortunately he can't meet the rest of the week, but he says he will come to church. It is very rare that contacts come to church, but we called him every day, and he came to church! Besides that, Vova, from last week came to church as well, even though he worked till 8 in the morning! I thought to call him the night before church, and he said he was busy, but he would come to church, and he did!

This shows how important it is to follow the Spirit. If I didn't get off the train, we might have never gotten Anton's number, and he would have never come to church, and he would never know about the church.

I love this work, and the miracles that happen from diligent work and listening to the Spirit.

I love you all, and I wish you a happy Siberian Thanksgiving!

Be awesome, Be Faithful, Be thou an Example.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)

The Gospel Helps Families!

Sorry, but there will not be any pictures with this e-mail. Stay tuned...   I got my Christmas package, and thank you SO MUCH! I love you all so much, especially the pictures the grandkids drew and the photos you printed up. The grandkids are getting so BIG!   So this is the next edition of The SIBERIAN TIMES!!!

So, we had our first experience all on our own of navigating Novosibirsk. We were going to meet with a member, and I had never met her, or been to her apartment. We had a map, and planned how to get there. So after getting on a bus going the opposite direction, we finally got on a Маршуткa, which is a like a big van taxi thing going the right way. Then to find apartments, they go by the streets, which are all names, so you can't tell where a street would be by the name. Then once you are on the street, you have to look for the apartment building number. It is just in the area, and not necessarily in numerical order. Once you find the right apartment building, then you have to find the right door, which will go to their apartment. So an address in Russia looks kinda like this:
ул. Бориса Богаткова 105-36 

(This is not a real address, but the name is the street, the first number is the apartment building number, and the last is the apartment number.)

In the end, we were successful, and we met and gave her a spiritual thought and a blessing. The thought was given by Elder Patton, my awesome companion!

One day, we got a call from an unknown number. and just so you know, I LOVE talking to people on the phone! It is really fun, and I don't know why. This girl wanted to meet us at the branch building, and so we thought, "Awesome!" When we came to meet her, we found out that actually, all she wanted was to learn English, but she couldn't come to English Club. We had Elder Webb, and Elder Huffaker, who are senior elders, in the meeting. They said that she could learn English if she read the Book of Mormon in English and Russian. She agreed, and we gave her the books. She originally was going to meet with the Sister missionaries, so they are going to teach her. But this shows how powerful the Book of Mormon is. People who might not be looking for any Spiritual guidance WILL find it if they read the Book of Mormon. Reading the Book of Mormon changes people.

This week, we were going through some of the former investigators, and we found a man by the name of Вова (Vova). He has a wife Аня (Anya), and a son Илия (ilia, which is Elijah) After a couple days of phone tag, where we called him, planned a lesson, he canceled, and then he called us to meet, we finally met with them. I am so grateful for my companion, Elder Patton, because he is not afraid to talk, even if he doesn't know a word. He truly loves those he serves. So with the lesson with Вова and his family, we testified how the gospel helps families. The Spirit was very strong, and I knew how precious the gospel was to me, because when I have a family, I know what I will teach my children. The Gospel is the only form of parenting needed. They wanted us to come again, so I hope that we can meet with them more often, and share this wonderful message.

On Sunday, it was Fast Sunday, and it was testimony meeting. Брат Пётр (Brat, or Brother, Pyoter, or Peter) and his family went one by one and testified about the blessings of the temple. His son is the branch president, and he was just sealed to his wife this last week. How great is that blessing? Even the daughters, who were about 13 to 16 years old understood how special the temple is. They understand that family history is important, and they were exticed to do baptisms for the dead for their ancestors. It was a testimony to me about the power of the temple. The greatest blessings reside there.

My feelings have greatly changed about a mission. When I first entered the mission field, I was excited to serve a mission of course. Now that I am in the field, the feelings have grown deeper and more dear to me. I am not just excited to serve a mission. I now know that I could not afford to not serve a mission. Here on a mission, you gain an appreciation of the gospel in a way that you could never understand on your own. To see people who had no direction in their life, have no hope, and then teaching them the gospel, and you see their eyes light up, and they smile. They find that they have a divine heritage, and they are so happy. This ability to share it with others, I can't comprehend a greater blessing. To those who are debating about whether to serve a mission, ask Heavenly Father if you should serve a mission. He knows all, and He is ready to bless you in ways that you can't even comprehend. I can't even comprehend them. Please prepare yourselves for the greatest mission in your life.

I love you all

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)

Be worthy of a temple recommend.

Michael...you stud! Nice job. Do you remember I told you that you had to get married before I came home? Well, I just have to say молодец! (Nice Job in Russian) 

So Mom, there will be a thanksgiving feast, and everyone is told to bring a traditional dish, so could you send me the recipe for cranberry salsa? They actually have cranberries in Russia.

So what happened this week?...well that I have a new companion! Elder Patton. So I wish I could send you a picture, but if I remember, President Gibbons will send an e-mail with his picture. So he looks kinda like me... and pretty much he is the awesomest companion ever! He is from Ohio, and he is the oldest of 6 kids, while I am the youngest of 6 kids, go figure. He plays the violin, and the mission president is going to see if he can get a violin to share his talent with the people of Russia. He is also Italian, and he knows how to cook very well. How can you NOT like a companion that cooks? But really, we love all the same things, we love to sing, we love to read, he does gymnastics, and taught gymnastics! So he is so awesome! 

I actually love being a trainer. New missionaries have such an excitement that is contagious. That is what we need in our mission right now. Our district is young, but we have boldly taken the responsibilities. It is amazing to see how everything is working. I haven't even felt scared for anything. So just wait, and we are going to have really amazing things happen.

Last week was district conference, and there was a broadcast for all the members in Russia. It was a little sad, since they couldn't have it in English for us, so we had to listen to the broadcast in Russian. But what we heard was very powerful. President Utchdorf talked to these people, and all he talked to us was to keep the commandments, to be worthy for a temple recommend. He showed how the For the Strength of Youth wallet-sized pamphlets and temple recommends are similar sizes. If we follow these little things, then we will be protected from the adversary. A youth following the For the Strength of Youth will eventually be worthy to enter the temple. Though maybe people won't be able to go to the temple very often, we should always have a current temple recommend with us. I can't remember where I heard it, but a temple recommend means that we are worthy to enter the house of the Lord. If we have a recommend, then we are worthy and ready to live with the Lord. There is no greater preparation for the Second Coming than to be worthy of a temple recommend. 

He then told the young men to serve missions. That really struck home to me, because I know that my mission has blessed my life, and how the missions of my brothers and my Dad have blessed my life. These blessings of a mission will bring eternal blessings to their families. This is not just a message to the young men in Russia, but to all young men. Prepare yourselves now to serve a mission. I don't know how many times I have said this, but I can't think of any greater advice to young men. You have no idea what blessings missions give. You cannot afford to not serve a mission.

I don't know if Michael ever trained any missionaries while in Alaska, but I can't think of a greater calling in a mission. It is so wonderful to see this new missionary, and watch him succeed in talking to someone on the street, going through the day with excitement, and just full of energy. He really trains me. I feel a greater obligation to be a greater missionary so that he will see a good example. This desire to be a great missionary fills me with such hope and love for my companion and for the people we will be teaching.

One principle that Elder Patton taught me was the reason we pray in the name of Christ. Besides it being a commandment, Christ gave us His gospel, commanding us to live like He would. We are trying to be like Jesus. When we pray in Christ's name, we pray how Christ would pray. He prayed for others. Any other prayers not in the name of Christ are not accepted because they are from the desires of men.

We should focus on living our lives like Christ would, because that is happiness.

I love you all, and I am so excited.

God bless you all.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)