So that is their names! I have been wondering about the Hamiltons, and been praying for them. I just couldn't remember their names. Could you send a message to them from Elder Hoggan, that he has been praying for them, and that he misses them? I am not sure if they remember me, but I remember them, and how I got to play the piano for their baptism. I still remember the first time the husband blessed the sacrament, and how special it was. I didn't fully realize HOW special it was until I got here on a mission. Please share this with them, and my testimony that I know with all my heart that this gospel is true, and that families can be sealed for time and all eternity. I desire the same blessings for them, and I will be praying for them.
Dear Family
What an interesting week! The weather is ever changing, and you can never know if you are going to be sweating in a short-sleeved shirt, or shivering in a coat. It makes me miss winter, where at least you knew that it will be cold every day. The days are getting brighter, and the sun shines about 4 in the morning. At least it FEELS like four in the morning. We had to put a towels over the window, so that we could get enough sleep, and not be woken up so early.
It is visa trip this Thursday, and we are flying from Barnaul to Moscow, and then to Finland, yet again! What makes me so excited this time, is that we will be able to go to the temple. I so miss the temple, and the peaceful feeling inside. I promise to go every chance I get to when I am home. I might even try every single day, so that I can always have those blessings in my life.
I am not sure about transfers yet. We haven't heard yet. I hope to stay in Barnaul. I have fallen in love with Barnaul, as I have in every single city I have served in. I think about when I was about to leave the MTC, and I already felt a love for the people, a people I had never even met! Now I see that being true. These people are amazing, and I love talking to them, and teaching them. I feel like I am home here, like I could have been born in Russia. For culture night, we went to this museum night. Every year, they have a museum night, where you can visit all the museums in the city with one ticket, and it goes on all night. Of course we didn't stay for the whole thing, but we saw some really cool things. My favorite was some dancers and singers. I hope to send you a video clip I made of them singing and dancing. it was packed there, and we almost had to push people out of the way. Then there was this guy playing the Balalaika. I am still searching for a Balalaika, Michael, and I expect you to play it just like that guy. It was crazy. At one point he played it with only one hand! I don't know how that is possible. I got a video clip of that as well. I will try to send it.
For a finding activity, we planned to have a group lesson, like we did in Novokuznetsk. It was successful there, but not so much here. A lot of members came to it, but none of our contacts came, and no one brought a friend there. We hope to try it again, but we asked the members to bring someone, be it a friend or family member to come and see. Actually, one contact, Ilia, came later to our lesson. We tried teaching him once, but it didn't work out, and then we invited him to family home evening, and he came, and had a great time. We are meeting with him today, hopefully. He is a cool guy, about 19 years old. We are also going to be starting English again, in about a month. The changes have been made to the program, and it is awesome. The area presidency was even amazed, and want to use the same program everywhere in that area. That is how cool our mission is. We made some amazing changes.
So you had stake conference, we had Zone conference. President Gibbons is such a spiritual man, I have no doubts that he is called of God to be the mission president. I can feel his Spirit, and his love. Just being near him gives me the desire to be better, to make him proud. I have never met such a person that has that kind of powerful love. He read a verse in D&C 121:33. "How long will rolling waters remain impure?" These are the waters of personal revelation, and they should be flowing pure and crystal. Why wouldn't they? Could sin be polluting them? Is there anger, or fear, or resentment, obstructing the flow? In missionary work, revelation is key. Without it, no one would be converted to the Gospel. Joseph Smith himself said that revelation is the key to salvation. We cannot be saved without revelation, both from prophets and individual revelation. What is the greatest challenge, is to constantly clean our fountains of water of pollutants, through repentance, in order so that revelation can flow freely. (That reminds me, could you send me some more music? Rob Gardner has a bunch of CD's, such as He is Jesus Christ, and Joseph Smith the Prophet and I would love to have them. Could you just send me the songs via email? It would be quicker and cheaper.) Then President Gibbons gave each of us a precious gift. The Book of Mormon has been retranslated in the Russian Language, and now is available in a triple combination. President Gibbons gave each of us a leather-bound copy of the new Book of Mormon in Russian. I cradled that book carefully in my hands, and felt the power of the words found inside it. This gift is the most precious ever. I have a goal to read the Russian Book of Mormon 12 times before I go home, once a month, and I read it every day. I feel my faith growing, and my understanding of the Gospel strengthen every single time I open that book. I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true. I love it with all my heart.
My challenge to all of you is to read the Book of Mormon with me. I have to read about 20 pages every day, in a foreign language, to read it in about a month. I have to find time during lunch, breakfast, before we sleep, and throughout the day in order to read the needed 20 pages. I don't say read it in a month, but reread it. When you are done, reread it again. You can never read the Book of Mormon without getting some new insight in it. I know this gospel is true. It has changed my heart, and it will change the hearts of all who apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ in their lives. He lives. His church has been restored. I know that with no doubt.
I love you all, and I pray for you all.
Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)
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