I am coming home April 3!

(любовь or Loo-bow-v means love in Russian...sorry for the confusion)

Dear Family,

With this new news, Mom, you probably will be jumping for joy. Because of logistical problems with the oncoming missionaries, my release date is set for April 3. President Gibbons came to the conclusion that it is too difficult to situate all the missionaries if they stay longer than planned, so all missionaries that had a chance to lengthen their release date are just going on the earlier date. It was a very somber call for me, because 4 months was short enough, and now it is a month shorter. I can almost count the weeks left on my hands, which scares even more. I guess it just gives me even greater resolve to work harder, since I even have less time. 

This could also end up being something good for Bryson, because I could give him some one-on-one tutoring in the Russian language, so he can blow the other missionaries out of the MTC. That is one plus I thought about with this change in my call.

With New Years, we just stayed in our apartment. We went to bed about 10:30, as given by the missionary handbook, but we woke up to the fireworks at midnight. They were setting off fireworks right outside the apartment building.  It was cool, but loud, and I was really tired.

We are still trying to find new investigators. One person who has real promise is Mixail. He is about forty years old. I can't remember if I told you about him, but he was unsure about the existence of God, because of all the bad that is in the world. I shared with him 2 Nephi 2:11 about the necessity of opposition.  He agreed to meet. He had already started reading the Book of Mormon, and he agreed to meet even more, and he even prayed at the end of the lesson, even though he had never prayed in his life. He promised to come to church, but then he got really sick. We are just keeping in contact with him, just waiting until he feels better. It is still the holidays here in Russia. They celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January, so people are still away on trips or busy with exams. 

Sunday was fast Sunday, which is always special. I remember sometimes the pauses between testimonies back at my ward, and I have never experienced that here. Even here in Novokuznetsk, though the members are few, the spirit of their testimonies is strong. I bore my testimony about how the gospel is happiness, and I shared 2 Nephi 2:25. The purpose of life is to be happy, and that is only through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nikolai bore his testimony as well, about how his conversion to the gospel has changed everything for the better. He knows the Book of Mormon is true. He has found happiness, he has found friends, especially his friend Elder Hoggan. It just made my heart warm in that meeting.

I love you all and I pray for the best for all of you.  See you REALLY soon!

Elder Hoggan