Reread your Patriarchal blessing!

Dear Family:

Being an office elder has been the most difficult thing that I have ever done. You are just reading the scriptures when you get a call from Elders in Kazakhstan that need us to check-in their flights in an hour's time. Then you get elders who need train tickets, passing information to branch presidents, filling out church records, and we haven't even started the next visa trip. The trip to Ukraine was too difficult, since there is only one flight from Novosibirsk, and on that day there was a huge fog which cancelled flights, delayed the missionaries, and it was just a mess. We are going back to Finland. It just makes our jobs so much easier.

Yeah, the most difficult thing about being an office elder is that it is very difficult to go out and teach. I bet it is easier in state-side missions because they don't have to juggle with visas, translating, and transportation across continents. There is so much for us to do, and then surprises spring up and we have to be in the office to help. So we would love to teach, but it is very hard to. We sometimes help with family home evenings, and with the Huffakers we lead groups in English, but besides that, it is very difficult to find time.

The only person that we could call an investigator is Gleb, who has come to church a few times. We spent some time talking to him after church and he had a lot of questions. He searched the internet and found a lot of information about our church. Pretty much every single question people come up with he gave, such as that Joseph Smith was a Mason, there were not Horses in America, and no one knew what a compass was at that time. Why don't we use wine in the sacrament, Joseph Smith making up the entire Book of Mormon, every single one. It was very frustrating, because we kept saying that the only way he could know it was true was to ask God, who is the most faithful source of information. He doesn't trust his feelings, and he doesn't believe that that is what you can call an answer. He is really nice, and he promised to come to church, and we didn't even ask him to come.

What else can I say? Well, the patriarch came! He is making rounds to all of the cities, giving people their patriarchal blessings. It is a really special time for these people. I never realized how wonderful a gift a patriarchal blessing is, and I encourage all of you to take your's seriously. It is Heavenly Father's blessing upon your head, and it will give you the guidance that everyone desires. In this world where everything is crazy and chaos, it is good to have a lighthouse to light the way.


Patriarch Rogers

Elder Probst and Harrison, the previous office elders, are going with him and they will be gone for about a couple of weeks. It is just Elder Harper and me, and we have no idea what we are doing. President Gibbons wanted us to come a week before the transfer to get training, but it kind of didn't happen, so me and Elder Harper are just learning as we are working. It is hard, but we are getting things done.

I hope that my letter isn't that boring, since most of my time is behind a computer, but I just have to say I appreciate your letters, your messages, and I especially love the film that you sent. I love the kids! Give them all a big hug from me. I love you all so much, and I wish the best for all of you. Stay faithful to the gospel, because it is everything.

Man from Greece

Elder Hoggan

(The Siberian Messenger)

What did I get myself into?

Dear Family.

What did I get myself into? Being an office elder is no easy trip. We have to make sure visas are exactly right, coordinate transportation, and housing for all the missionaries. The transfer starts this week, so we will be having a lot of missionaries transiting through and staying with us at the Palace. If you don't remember, the Palace is the largest apartment the mission owns. The office elders live in it, and it was bought to house all the missionaries as they transfer and go on visa trips. We had a real problem this week with missionaries going to Ukraine for Visa renewal. There is only a one one-way flight there, and there was a great fog that rolled in that delayed and cancelled flights. It was a nightmare. We most likely will not go to Ukraine again, so I am a little disappointed, since I won't be able to. It just will be a surprise where I will go to. Maybe Spain?

I wonder how it is for other office elders in other missions. Do they have to worry about visas all the time, and scheduling flights constantl?. Having Kazakhstan in our mission just adds even more fun stuff as well!

There are actually four office elders here at the moment, but that is because the old office elders are going with the Patriarch throughout the mission as he gives the members their Patriarchal blessings. Only once every year does the Patriarch come to give blessings. It is such a wonderful time for these members. I just think, how could an ordinary man just come to these complete strangers and give such blessings? They could not be made up. I know for a fact that my Patriarchal blessing was not just some nice words, but literally a blessing from my Heavenly Father. I know that the Patriarch is called of God.

It was leadership training this week, and we went to that as office elders. The thing that struck me the most was at the end. We had missionarieswho are serving from Kazakhstan, and they came to the training. We immediately welcomed them in with open arms. They are wonderful missionaries, and I am glad they are part of our mission. At the end, President Gibbons read the dedicatory prayer for Kazakhstan while we gathered outside. Elder Nelson dedicated the land, and he talked about that it was the people's time. I just felt the Spirit testify to me that it is time for these people, both in Kazakhstan and in Russia, to receive the gospel. It was like Joseph Smith praying in the grove. There were a few trees in the park where we stood, and the light was gentle, and the air was soft and warm. I think that whenever a great work of God starts out, there is a moment of great light. Moses saw Jehovah in a burning bush. The Brother of Jared brought stones that glowed to light their way, Lehi and his family was led by a pillar of fire at night, and the church was restored by a pillar of light. God is a God of Light. Light is understanding, knowledge, life, vision, warmth, hope. Light is always good. I am grateful for the Light of the Gospel in my life, as I serve my Heavenly Father, and see how the Light of the Gospel changes people's lives, and then the Light of Christ is evident in their eyes. We would all be in darkness without that light.

I love you all, and you are all lights in my life. I hope all is well with you. Всё Хорошо! (Vcyo ha-row-show) That is "Everything will be all right" And it will be, because God is our Heavenly Father, and He loves us so much!.

I pray for you, and I hope you pray not just for me, but for the people here in this blessed land.
Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)

Старейшина Хогган (Сибирский Посланник)

 Can you send a picture of your last (not current) companion?  Yep

Elder Duncan on far right, with Elder and Sister Holmes

     Send pictures of any of your culture days.   

We went to a museum, and I saw a lot of things. I wish I could send this film of a man playing a balalaika, but it is too big to send by e-mail. There were a lot of interesting things.

     Since we just got back from Europe and had some unusual foods, what are some foods that you've had that are unusual?

The weirdest foods that I have eaten...the thing that screams at me is Holladetz. It is a jello made from the congealed fat of pigs. They add chunks of meat and other parts of the pig, with some cilantro as well. It is disgusting! Also there is Cala, which is slices of lard. People like to eat it on slices of bread, and add some spices. There isn't really anything else that is disgusting. I love Russian food, and as you can tell from my pictures, I haven't starved. (I haven't changed weight ever since leaving the MTC.)

     Since we just celebrated the 4th of July here, share some historical things about Russia and/or your mission. Tell us how long your mission has been established and the history behind some of the cities in your mission.

This is a really hard question, because I regretfully don't know a whole lot. Siberia, as some might know, was a place for the criminals. There was a saying that if you send someone to Siberia, you won't see them again. Don't worry, I will return! There are many people that ask me if I thought that bears would just be walking around. I never even thought about that--I thought that would be more likely in Alaska. The first time I heard that was in Russia.I know that when missionaries first went to Barnaul to work, they were arrested. This mission is very young, with some cities only being open for about 5 years. Novokuznetsk was one of the youngest cities in our mission, and I hear that it is flourishing. Novosibirsk has the largest theaters in Russia. The architect was killed because he built the theater bigger than the Bolshoi theater in Moscow. I wish I learned more about the history of Russia, because the people here are wonderful. This mission opened up about the time I was born, 20 years ago. I almost feel that I was born into this mission.

 Tell us anything about the unique cultre of Russia.

People here are just ready to have guests over. They love having people over, and they always have to give you food. I really enjoy it. When people hear want to talk, they are ready to become fast friends. Shaking hands is very normal. Everyone just shakes hands with each other. Hugging is not forbidden, but very rare. It makes our job as missionaries very easy, since no one thinks it is strange to shake hands. Maybe shaking hands with a completely strange American wearing a nametag would change things.

  Tell us how the language is for you now.

The language is wonderful for me. I don't see it as a problem anymore.  It just comes to me. I have a goal of reading the Book of Mormon in Russian once every month, and I have read it twice already. The first time, it was just a read through. The second time, I underlined any words I didn't know and then looked them up. This third time, I am reading it out loud, and erasing any underlined words that I know now. It is about 20 pages of reading a day. I find time during personal study, language study, and a little in the morning and evening. It is amazing. Right now I can communicate, but I want to be fluent. I am now studying all my scriptures and Preach My Gospel in Russian. In the end, I don't think I will use English scriptures anymore.

-Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)
Старейшина Хогган (Сибирский Посланник)

Transferred to Novosibirsk

Well, right now I am writing this in the Novosibirsk office, Transfers Came! I am now going to be an office missionary with Elder Harper, so it is going to be really cool and amazing! Our repsonsibility is to coordinate travel, fnances, and other things so that the work of the Lord can go forth smoothly and legally. I guess the Lord wanted me to do more than just do an audit. I just heard about it on Tuesday, and I left the following Friday, so I was sad since I was unable to say goodbye to anyone in Barnaul, but I left a letter, saying how much I love them, and I will miss them. So now you can be flooded with pictures, and I have a LOT of them!

So we started English Club, which was pretty successful. The new program that we have is so wonderful, because we don't have to struggle to know what to discuss, because everything is planned for us. People really enjoyed the discussions. We talked about ourselves, and how to introduce ourselves, and how to introduce our families.

We didn't have many meetings this week, because we were so busy getting everything ready for English Club, and me leaving. We had one meeting with Zina, and we tried talking about repentance, and how we go about doing it, but we went off on different topics, but we got back to our purpose in the end. We invited her to be baptized, but she is unsure what her parents would think about it. I don't know yetwhat h as happened since then.

We had a culture night, gratefully before I left. We went to a dolphin show, and it was so much fun! I hope I can send some videos of what was there. It was in this giant inflatable dome, and a giant pool. It wasn't like Sea World, but it was still very fun.

Then I got here in Novosibirsk and met my new companion. Elder Harper is such a cool elder, and we are going to have a great time togetherf. We are really excited for our new callings, and our desires to further the work. He played football in high school, and he has a good singing voice as well. He is really kind to everyone, and easy to be friends with. I am so grateful to be his companion.

Well, though I am in Novosibirsk, I am in a different zone than I was in last time I served here. we go to a differnt branch, so I am glad to see new people, and be their friends. The branch here is so amazing, and the members have such strong testimonies. It was fast and testimony meeting, and all of the testimonies were so spiritual. The branch president, president Drachov, is such an amazing leader, and he just gives an aura of love. You can't but help to be his friend.

I am so glad that Briton got baptized! It is so wonderful to see those that I love take part in those ordinances that really do in fact save you. I wish to say some things to Britton. Now you have the Holy Ghost, and He will be your friend all the time if you do what is right. Try to listen to Him while you pray and read the scriptures, and He will help you know truth. The Gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest gifts in our lives, and I am so grateful for all the times He helped me. I ask you now to pray to Heavenly Father, and ask for help to prepare to serve a mission. There are later steps that you need to take, such as receiving the priesthood, but a goal you should strive for now is to serve our Heavenly Father. He loves you so much, and I love you so much. I pray that all of my nephews will serve missions, so that they can bless Heavenly Father's children everywhere. I love you such much.

So this will be a new adventure for me and a new chapter in my mission. I love my mission so much. Even when the times were hard, I would not go back. I have never regretted serving a mission. The delaying of work, school, family, and friends, they aren't worth anything to the blessingss of a mission. The blessings of a mission are worth more than the sacrifices. All of my sacrifice, all of my trials, have become the greatest blessings in my life. This gospel is true. One of my best friends here in the mission told me a very comforting phrase. There is no greater joy than to see that you are staying faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope that all of you will stay faithful to the Gospel because there is in fact no greater joy than this Gospel.

I love you all so much, and I pray for you.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)

 P.S.

Yeah, so Kazakhstan is part of our mission now, that is the change that affects us. And for a package, I would just love assorted candies, such as lifesaver mints, gummy bears, and other small candies--whatever you can find, because I can live without a package. Also, Did Kate and Corbin get their letter from me? I got Zack's back, because I forgot they moved...maybe give me their new address?