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| Elder Hoggan and Elder Nichols |
On the other side, be prepared for
the cold. It is getting below 30 Celsius, which is about the same in Fahrenheit.
Just below 20 degrees, and the rest is all the same: cold. My new Shopka is
really warm, and now I just have to worry about frostbite on my face. Don't
worry, Bryson, this is the fun part of serving in Russia. At least it is not in
Siberia...Many are called but few are frozen... The other picture is our
apartment building front door on the inside. It is that cold. I am so
grateful for the sleeping bag that you had me pack with me. I am never cold at
night thanks to that.
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| ice on the INSIDE of apartment door |
Also, Mom, it WAS in fact a
counselor of the General Relief Society Presidency. They came to give a training course about
relief society and primary, and I was one of the office elders to help conduct
the meetings. We had a lunch with them, and I told her where I was from, and
she remembered Pres. Peterson. She promised to pass a hello from me. So that is
the story. I think I talked about it in a previous letter, but I can't
remember.
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| New Shopka hat |
This has been a pretty solemn week,
as Sister Sanford left for home. Despite the fact she only served here in
Novokuznetsk for a month, she made such a difference to the work, and the
members will miss her terribly. In a district meeting, she gave a very
interesting piece of advice. "Everything hard now will stay hard, so you
might as well work on it." It is so true, especially in the missionary
field. Contacting people never gets easier, speaking the language never gets
easier, even waking up at 6:30 every morning never gets easier. Every time I do
it it is hard, just as hard as my first time. What changes is the desire and
will. Over time, I have seen that it is better to just go and do, rather than
think and delay. Sometimes, you just need to act immediately, or it is too
late. Don't decide whether or not to talk to someone about the gospel, just go
and do. This goes as well with things after the mission, and I thought about
what I would do now to prepare for the future. There are many skills needed,
such as talking to strangers, conducting meetings, and giving lectures, are
just a few things that are practiced on a mission. I want to do all I can now,
so that I am used to doing such hard things later, my will becomes stronger,
and I can do it even better the next time.
We had a zone conference this last
week, and with it new transfers. I am going to be staying in Novokuznetsk with
Elder Nichols, but I am now going to be the district leader. Remember that I
was district leader in Barnaul? I guess that Heavenly Father wants me to learn
a little bit more before I finish my mission. It is strange to think that there
have been only four transfers in my entire mission where I did not have a
leadership position, be it trainer, district leader, or office elder. I feel
like the least qualified to perform in any of these offices, but Heavenly
Father thinks otherwise. It is difficult for me to be a leader, maybe because I
expect so much out of myself. I just want to share the gospel with as many
people as possible, but I have my weaknesses, and I sin in my desire, to quote
from Alma. You just have to be satisfied with what you have been doing, and
pray to Heavenly Father that your work is approved by Him.
In Zone Conference, we were talking
about the symbolism of the birth of Jesus Christ. President Gibbons is a man of
vision and wisdom. He is rich in the knowledge of the gospel, and in the
symbolism of God. He makes you think in ways that I have never thought
possible. The signs of the Baby Christ are so much deeper to me than before.
What are swaddling clothes? What is so significant of a manger? The angel said
to the shepherds that they would be a sign unto them. In the Greek text,
swaddling clothes was a word for fabric that notified of royalty, such as the
Scottish tartan. So Christ was in a way wearing the royal robes of King David,
as HE was heir to the kingdom. What was a manger, but a feedbox for the Oxen.
Oxen are very symbolic in the scriptures, for sacrificing, for the baptismal
font in the temples, and the symbol of the tribe of Ephraim. The prophecy of
the gathering of Israel was that those of the tribe of Ephraim would go to the
edges of the earth, and push with their horns the children of Israel together.
The feedbox is important as well, for isn't Christ the "Bread of
Life"? Isn't He the one who provided nourishment for the thousands? As
before, He is the source of nourishment for a weary soul, draped in the robes
of divine royalty, and with His servants herding the children of Israel
together. It could even apply to us, I thought. When we make special covenants
in the temple, we are given special garments, as if cloth symbolizing our
divine royalty as children of the Most High God. We are supported by our divine
heritage, like the oxen support the baptismal font. We are of the House of
Israel, and we have a role to gather the lost children. We are sources of
nourishment for these weary souls. People come to us, asking for the Bread of
Life, which is only through Christ Jesus, whose name we missionaries proudly
wear.
Now it is difficult for us to meet
our investigators, especially since the holidays are coming. People are busy
enough on a regular day, but now Christmas and New Year's really mess things
up. We haven't been able to meet our previous investigators this week, and we
are trying to find new ones every day. We will be having a fireside, so to
speak, about the Book of Mormon this Saturday, and we hope to have many people
attending.
I love you all, and I pray for your
safety. I hope that at this hectic time, you can remember the One who we all
love, and adore, and give our praise to. May we strive to strengthen our
relationship with Jesus Christ, our Savior, at the time when we celebrate His
birth. I know He was born on this earth. I know that He walked amongst the
people, taught them, healed them, organized His Church, and He suffered for us.
Not only our sins did He suffer, but every single moment of our existence did
He suffer. Every single pain and hardship he went through. When we can't go any
more, He carries us the rest of the way. When I felt like I couldn't go any
more, He is always there to carry me in His arms, let me rest for a little bit,
but then sets me down. Why can't I stay in His arms? They are so warm and safe.
He needs me to find others to let Him carry them, and He knows that I can do
this. Despite all of my trials and weaknesses, He knows that I can do this. I
know this with my entire heart, which is full of joy and gratitude for my
Savior.
Elder Hoggan
(P.S. Due to changes in missionary schedules, my release
date has been changed to April 3. President Gibbons has given us permission to
let us determine if we want it to stay that way, or leave as originally planned
May 1. I just found out about this, and I am still not fully sure what Heavenly
Father needs me to do. I will be praying, and I ask for your prayers. We will
find out about Skype, and then e-mail you before the end of this week. We just
need to coordinate with the branch president, since that is the only computer
available to do Skype.)
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