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
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)
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