Hey, news from Barnaul! First of all, President Gibbons received word on Friday, that the First Presidency has approved the plan for a giant district for our mission, and by March, the entire mission will change into one big district, preparing it to become a stake! We are right on target towards a stake, and many wonderful things are happening.
Barnaul is south of Novosibirsk, and it is pretty cold. Don't worry, I haven't frozen solid...yet... It has gotten about -30 degrees in Celcius, which I don't know in Farenheit...except that it is cold. Really, it is fun to me being in a really cold place. It isn't uncomfortable to me, because I have such a warm coat, hat, scarf, and mittens! You need a scarf in Siberia. It is a must.
We took a bus for about 4 hours, and in the process I lost my nametag! AAHHH! The worst thing was that I lost my other nametag a few days before. It wasn't the best way to start a mission, but that's okay. I fortunately have the ones that I wore in the MTC, but just my last name isn't in Russian. Whatever, it's a nice finding technique.
Elder Ortner, my new companion, is an awesome missionary. He is very quiet, compared to me, but he is very sincere. You can tell he teaches by the Spirit, because you feel it. He is actually a convert to the church three years ago. He was born in Israel, but grew up in Florida. It is very interesting, because I have never really met someone from Israel. His testimony is strong, and he is so caring of other people. He makes sure that everyone is happy and that nothing is amiss. There is only one other companionship in Barnaul, and they are Elder Smith and Elder Petersen. They are a transfer younger than me, and Elder Ortner has served a year and a half, with half of it in Barnaul.
Sometime in February, there will be a senior couple, who are LEGEND in this mission. They have served five missions, three of them were in Barnaul. They are going to serve again! I believe their names are the Holmes, and the branch is really excited to see them again. Wow, to serve 5 missions.
Well, we have a LOT to do here, in Barnaul. First, we have an investigator who should shortly be baptized next month! Her name is Yulia, and she is a very sweet person. She recently got a job, and called us to make sure exactly how to pay tithing, which is really cool! I will keep you informed as the time draws closer.
We have also met with a lot of inactive members, with individual concerns. One such member has been a member for years, almost as long as the mission has been opened. He met with mission presidents in Moscow, and other prominent church leaders, and was even sealed in the temple. This goes to show you that you are never safe from inactivity. Everyone must check themselves every day to determine the status of their faith. Satan is always attacking us, and we can not afford to let up our guard. Fortunately, even if we fall, we can always get up, and start with a clean slate. That is the miracle of forgiveness of the Atonement.
The branch is awesome, here! The music director, Elena, is a professional piano player, and a classically trained vocalist. She plans what is known as a Salon, where people perform music, and read verses from famous writers...I hope to be able to perform something at this Salon, as the current theme is Opera. I have heard that is is a very effective tool to find people, and I can't wait to see it. The Branch President, President Klavakin, is amazing. He really understands his calling, and his purpose as a branch president. We have a branch Mission leader, Artur, who is amazing. His testimony is strong, and he knows what needs to happen for the branch to grow. The branch is really good, and even a branch member returned from a mission when I entered. His name is Denic, and he is really cool. There is a member, Makcim, who is preparing right now to serve a mission. Pretty much it is amazing to see the constant growth, and function of the church, as leaders work together, missionaries return home, and others prepare. The work of the Lord never stops for anything!
I hope to be a great influence here. I hope to be able to look at my mission experience, and not have any regrets. I want my service to be acceptable to the Lord, as this is His work, and we are merely the tools. "Can the axe boast in his strength?" We have no right to take claim on the success in our lives, because they are really because of our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and their love for us. Everything good in my life, I can tie to them. They are the direct sources of all good in this world.
We recently met with some people who had differing views about the gospel. They didn't believe that we lived with God before this life, that we will not have a body when we are resurrected, and that we don't need another testament of Christ. I have thought about this, and how the most simple of truths give me so much happiness. We lived with our Heavenly Father before this life! How wonderful is that knowledge that we talked with our Father, and He loved us, and we loved Him? How wonderful is it to know that we will be resurrected, having a body that will not suffer pain or affliction, being able to live with God again in perfect happiness? How wonderful is it that we have more words of Christ, that we can learn more about Him, learn more how to live closer to Him, and know better how to return to Him? They said that the Bible was enough, and that they weren't "hungry" anymore...Why not be more greedy for the word of God? I cannot fathom why it would be "enough" to just read one book. We have thousands of volumes of the words of prophets, though the Bible, Book of Mormon, the words of Prophets in this day, and why not rejoice for all of the words of Christ? That I think is the attitude we need to take to such truths. They are precious, and we should LIVE them!
It is difficult to see people not at once accept the gospel. I just think, "Here is knowledge that you are loved by a God who knows exactly what you are going through! He cries with you in times of trial, and he rejoices in your successes! He is there to comfort you and help you with all of your decisions in life. This knowledge helps you understand why things happen! Why won't you accept it?" We cannot force people to believe, but only invite. The most wonderful thing is that Heavenly Father is preparing people to receive the message. They might not receive it the first time, but there will always be another chance. He loves His children. That I know.
I know that this gospel is true, and that Christ lives. He suffered for us, so that we don not have to suffer eternally, but to rejoice eternally with Him and our loving Heavenly Father. I know Joseph Smith saw God the Father, and His son Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, that they are words of Christ. I know that we have the power and authority to perform the necessary ordinances in order to be saved. My family is eternal, and death is not even close to the end. This is true.
Love,
Elder Hoggan ( The Siberian Messenger)
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