(Hey, you wanted to know what to send me in a package?
Well, there is this amazing dictionary written by Kenneth Katzner. It is a
Russian-English Dictionary, and it is red. I would so love to have one. Other
missionaries have them, and they are an amazing help to understand Russian.)
WHAT?! I can't believe you are in England right now! Could you tell Andrew I Передал Привет (Pere-dal Pree-vyet, Said hello) from Elder Hoggan? I am so jealous right now, but also, not every person gets to be in the lovely Siberia!
Here's what happened this week in the life of a missionary in the heart of Siberia...
It is officially summer now. It is so hot, and here we are wearing shirts and ties. I forgot how hot it gets here. When you think of Siberia, you only think of cold, ice, and funny hats. That is only for about half of the year. The rest of the year is sweat, hot, and tired. We have fans going on in our apartment, and we are still sweating.
Last Monday, we went to these giant letters that spell Барнаул. Kind of like the Hollywood sign. We took some pictures, and I accidentally fell and twisted my ankle. It was foolish of me. Don't worry, I am just fine. Heavenly Father does indeed take care of His missionaries, especially when they do something foolish.
Our investigator Zina is doing fine. We talked about obedience, prayer, and scripture study with her. She completely understood why we have commandments. Heavenly Father gives them to us so we can live a better way of life, and live happier. She takes dance classes on Sundays, which inhibits her from coming to the other meetings at church. That is our next goal, to teach about the Sabbath Day.
With the beginning of a new transfer, our biggest goal is to visit all of the members in our area. There are about 31 families, or more like last names. We hope to do this in order to strengthen the less-active, and also to receive new contacts. We just barely started, so no referrals yet.
What is the greatest thing is the member Maxim. He just recently received his mission call. He is going to be serving in St. Petersburg, and he leaves for the Madrid MTC in October. People were so excited to hear, because it was a very long process, which I was a part of. What I just saw, is that though we will be losing a member, the blessings from someone serving a mission make up the difference. A missionary's service doesn't just bless his family, but his ward, stake, and pretty much the entire church. It reminded me when I received my call. How happy I was that I was finally going to become a servant of the Lord. I couldn't stop smiling.
I was grateful for this last Sunday, as it was Fast Sunday. We fasted that we can have new investigators, that we can be led by the Spirit, and that all of our finding efforts will be successful. I never really understood how to fast, until I came out here on a mission. It is really a sacred time. I just thought about why fasting is a commandment, though it is not a question in an interview. Neither is scripture study and prayer. I realized that these commandments are just as important and they are crucial for salvation. No one could enter into the celestial kingdom without prayer. It is impossible, because it is only through prayer we have faith, repent of our sins, and speak with our Heavenly Father. Without reading the scriptures, we are not strengthening our faith, and it is through the scriptures we can receive answers to our prayers. Fasting is the same way. Fasting is sacrificing, in this case food, in order to receive more light and truth. I understand that some people cannot fast due to health reasons, but they fast in different ways and their offering is acceptable to the Lord. I realized that these commandments, prayer, scripture study, and fasting are necessary for salvation. We could not receive light an truth, which we need in order to return to our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the opportunity to fast.
I just love you all so much, and I hope all is well with you. The gospel means everything to me. It gives me happiness in life, and hope for the next. I know that this gospel is true with all of my heart. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share it with these wonderful people. (I am grateful for your examples, Mom and Dad, of being missionaries, thank you so much.) I love you all.
Elder Hoggan The Siberian Messenger
WHAT?! I can't believe you are in England right now! Could you tell Andrew I Передал Привет (Pere-dal Pree-vyet, Said hello) from Elder Hoggan? I am so jealous right now, but also, not every person gets to be in the lovely Siberia!
Here's what happened this week in the life of a missionary in the heart of Siberia...
It is officially summer now. It is so hot, and here we are wearing shirts and ties. I forgot how hot it gets here. When you think of Siberia, you only think of cold, ice, and funny hats. That is only for about half of the year. The rest of the year is sweat, hot, and tired. We have fans going on in our apartment, and we are still sweating.
Last Monday, we went to these giant letters that spell Барнаул. Kind of like the Hollywood sign. We took some pictures, and I accidentally fell and twisted my ankle. It was foolish of me. Don't worry, I am just fine. Heavenly Father does indeed take care of His missionaries, especially when they do something foolish.
Our investigator Zina is doing fine. We talked about obedience, prayer, and scripture study with her. She completely understood why we have commandments. Heavenly Father gives them to us so we can live a better way of life, and live happier. She takes dance classes on Sundays, which inhibits her from coming to the other meetings at church. That is our next goal, to teach about the Sabbath Day.
With the beginning of a new transfer, our biggest goal is to visit all of the members in our area. There are about 31 families, or more like last names. We hope to do this in order to strengthen the less-active, and also to receive new contacts. We just barely started, so no referrals yet.
What is the greatest thing is the member Maxim. He just recently received his mission call. He is going to be serving in St. Petersburg, and he leaves for the Madrid MTC in October. People were so excited to hear, because it was a very long process, which I was a part of. What I just saw, is that though we will be losing a member, the blessings from someone serving a mission make up the difference. A missionary's service doesn't just bless his family, but his ward, stake, and pretty much the entire church. It reminded me when I received my call. How happy I was that I was finally going to become a servant of the Lord. I couldn't stop smiling.
I was grateful for this last Sunday, as it was Fast Sunday. We fasted that we can have new investigators, that we can be led by the Spirit, and that all of our finding efforts will be successful. I never really understood how to fast, until I came out here on a mission. It is really a sacred time. I just thought about why fasting is a commandment, though it is not a question in an interview. Neither is scripture study and prayer. I realized that these commandments are just as important and they are crucial for salvation. No one could enter into the celestial kingdom without prayer. It is impossible, because it is only through prayer we have faith, repent of our sins, and speak with our Heavenly Father. Without reading the scriptures, we are not strengthening our faith, and it is through the scriptures we can receive answers to our prayers. Fasting is the same way. Fasting is sacrificing, in this case food, in order to receive more light and truth. I understand that some people cannot fast due to health reasons, but they fast in different ways and their offering is acceptable to the Lord. I realized that these commandments, prayer, scripture study, and fasting are necessary for salvation. We could not receive light an truth, which we need in order to return to our Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the opportunity to fast.
I just love you all so much, and I hope all is well with you. The gospel means everything to me. It gives me happiness in life, and hope for the next. I know that this gospel is true with all of my heart. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share it with these wonderful people. (I am grateful for your examples, Mom and Dad, of being missionaries, thank you so much.) I love you all.
Elder Hoggan The Siberian Messenger
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