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)