Another Crazy Week!

Dear Family.

It has just been a crazy week, and it is just going to be crazier, as I count the weeks down on one hand. *GULP* The assistants came to our city in order to see how the missionaries and branch is doing towards the goal of a stake. Elders Blake and Mckay are awesome Elders, and I am glad we worked together. Elder Mckay is actually a relative of President David O. Mckay, so of course he is amazing. I wish I could see the stake being formed, but I guess that Heavenly Father has something else in store for me.

First of all, the snow is finally melting! This is a major plus for us, as now we aren't freezing outside, but the minus is all of the mud everywhere. I have also gotten a little case of the sniffles, but I feel totally fine. It think it is just from the weather. It was wonderful to look out the window and see the bright sun, because you don't really see the sun in winter until about noon.

Unfortunately, there were very few meetings that we had with our investigators this week. You can never control if people will meet with you, but you just have to make do. I wish I could say more abour our investigators, but there is really not much difference since last week.

Vladimir, we met and taught the Plan of Salvation. The only question he had is where in the Bible it says we existed before this life. There is a verse in Jeremiah that easily answered that. He is doing really well, and he loves meeting with us, and he has incredible faith. We committed him to be baptized, and he commented about the seriousness of the committment. We agreed with him, and he said he wants to make sure that it is what he wants, and that it is needed. So we committed him to pray about it, whether or not he should be baptized.

Vacili came to church, which was a major plus. We planned a meeting with him that same evening, but he got a last-minute call and he couldn't meet. His involvement with the church is a major improvement than when I first taught him my first transfers in Novokuznetsk. He has been reading the Book of Mormon, a verse a day, so I know that commitment works.

In Sacrament meeting, a member gave a talk about service, and talked about the story of the Good Samaritan. I know very well the story, but she brought a new insight I never thought about before. The Good Samaritan did indeed serve the wounded man, but he did even more. This Samaritan didn't have everything the man was in need of, so the Samaritan gave his all. But when he gave his all, he didn't leave the man, but stayed by him and took him to receive even more. It is like giving your all and THEN some. I never thought about that. We are told to give our all, but we are also told to give our all, and THEN some. How can we give more than what we have? It is through the Savior. The Savior augments all that we do. Only through Him can we change into another person.

I gave the priesthood lesson, about righteousness, and we read and discussed the qualities of Christ in Preach My Gospel. I realized that only through becoming like Christ, we can become even more. We can become who we are meant to be, and who we want to be. I have seen how this gospel changes lives, and even changes hearts.



Artyom

If you remember Artyom, We actually met him on the street before he went to visit his parents, and I saw a completely different man than before. He was smiling. His eyes actually looked brighter, and he was even dressed up for the occasion, just adding to the whole picture. See included picture. Even though we haven't been able to meet with him, He has told us that he is reading the Book of Mormon, and praying every day. He is planning to ask Sundays off from work to come to church as well. I asked him, "Do you see these things helping?" And he replied, "After I met with you, and began believing in God, then I was led to find work, and I am starting to feel better, and I feel that God is giving me new direction and opportunity. It is helping."



Does God Know Me?

I love the other pictures. The one with the words in the snow is a contacting idea, when there is a free couple seconds. The question is, "Does God know me?" one of the questions of the soul in Preach My Gospel. We put an invitation in the snow, and hope that God will lead someone to find that invitation. I haven't seen any visible efforts, but I know that God has miraculous ways to lead His children to the truth.



"Tree of Life"

The final one is my personal favorite. I remember walking down the streets, and we saw this brightly colorful tree, with the white snow all around. We saw that this tree was made of plastic, and would light up. We went back to the tree that evening, and it was beautiful. It was like the tree of life in Lehi's dream. This gospel is definetly like the tree of life. It is a light through the darkness. It is fruit that satisfies hunger and quenches thirst, spiritual hunger and thirst. I am grateful to be a missionary, and be able to lead these wonderful people to the tree of life, which is the love of God. It is definitely the most wonderful gift I have ever received, and it just even grows every time I share it. I know that this gospel is true. I have felt my soul hunger, my spirit weak with thirst, and then I turned to the Lord. I turned to the Savior. He led me to green pastures by still waters. He led me to the tree of life, and I have tasted the sweetness of this Gospel.

I love you all, and I can't wait to see you in 5 weeks. Really this has been such a short time, and the last weeks are just going to be even faster. I want to work with all my might to make the greatest difference. The gospel is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)

P.S.  Also, tell Adam Bell I am praying for him, and I am so proud of him. He is making the best decision ever. He will never regret the decision