Final Visa trip to Finland = tiring!!

Dear Family,

This has been an incredibly tiring week, as I have spent the last four days on transportation from Novokuznetsk to Novosibirsk to Moscow to Finland to Moscow to Novosibirsk and back to Novokuznetsk. This has been my final trip for a new visa, and by far the most tiring.  Because of new scheduling procedures, we left Saturday for Finland, and left the same day from Finland, getting into Novosibirsk early Sunday morning. We were unable to even leave the airport for anything. The entire procedure was very uncomfortable, and I am just glad that it is over. Because of that, we were unable to meet with all of our investigators. We just got off the train from Novosibirsk about 20 minutes ago.

Sunday, even though two of the three companionships were in a different city, proved to be the most successful Sunday ever since transferring to Novokuznetsk. Six investigators came to church, including a man named Yuri, who I only know because he called us. He came to church with his wife and little child, which was a major "wow" to me. He called me that day, asking about church, and it amazed me that he even came! I guess that I need to leave the country more often. J This just shows that we are not in control of this work. Heavenly Father is in complete control, and we are just channels for him to perform his wonders. It is not our efforts, but the Holy Ghost, the power of God working through us, that miracles happen.

Talking about testimonies, this testimony meeting was very special. One woman, who was recently baptized, bore her testimony of the importance of baptism. She told how she felt the love of Jesus Christ as she went into the water, and that feeling stayed with her for many days. She told of the joy and peace she felt, and how it was a testimony to her of the truthfulness of the gospel. Then this little girl came up, and bore a powerful testimony about the power of the scriptures. She said with confidence, "I find the answers to my prayers through the scriptures." Remember, this girl is about 10 years old, and she has such a testimony of the scriptures. I was taken aback at her faith, and even my faith was strengthened by her testimony. The greatest joy was to hear these little ones bear their testimonies of the gospel. They can even teach a missionary like me about the truthfulness of the gospel. The spirit was very present during the entire meeting.

 I was fortunate to attend sacrament meeting in Novosibirsk, at the branch I last served in. It was a huge surprise to many people for us to come, but it was like coming home after a long trip. There were so many smiles, and there was a special sense of love and belonging in the room. Lena, who is a member in Novokuznetsk, was in Novosibirsk as well, and we saw her in the branch as well. She fit right in, as if she was part of the branch all along. I felt so "belonged". I felt such joy, and I remember thinking, "This is only a piece of things yet to come." In the book of Abraham, as it depicts the account of Enoch, there is a prophecy of when the faithful saints will meet one another in that great day. There will be embracings, and tears shed, and I just felt a piece of that in that church meeting. It was hard for me to leave them after the meetings. There were tears shed, but what joys will be waiting for us in the eternities!

The greatest story I saved for the last. If you remember a couple weeks back, my good friend Artyom, was someone who had gone through a lot. Since then, we had been keeping in contact. He has such little money, he is unable to call us. We can call him at least, to give him support. We had a few times met with him on the street, and walked with him, and just talked with him. We saw him off at the bus station as he went in search for work, and walked the streets to give him comfort during this difficult time. He was recently divorced, has no job, no money, and no one to turn to. He even said, "I would love to read the Book of Mormon, meet with you, and come to church, but I am constantly worried about finding a job. I am so worried, I can't think of anything else." 

On Thursday, we called and met Artyom on the street. After a minute, we found out that he hadn't eaten in two days. I nearly burst into tears, and we offered to get him something to eat, which he refused. He just wanted someone to talk to. As we were walking, I noticed a difference in him. When we first met him, his face was unshaven, his hair messy, and his eyes were dark. He wouldn't even look me in the eyes. While we were walking, I noticed that he was clean shaven, his hair was combed, and his eyes were a little brighter. He would look me in the eyes from time to time. Just from our talking and building of a friendship, I saw a change in his countenance.

After a while, we went to the branch building to warm up. We shared some tea, and some bread that the other elders had left after a recent lunch. At this point, I asked Artyom if we could share a spiritual message. After a prayer, we began to talk about prayer. I opened up 3 Nephi 1, about Nephi praying in behalf of his people who would be killed if the sign of the Savior's birth did not come. One verse says, "Raise your head and be of good cheer." I testified that Heavenly Father knew his situation, and he was waiting for the right time to bless him. Before this time, Artyom had never prayed with us, and he was unsure if God really answered prayers. We encouraged him to pray, and at the end of the lesson, he gave such a simple and lovely prayer. He thanked Heavenly Father for the day he had, for the friends the missionaries, and then he asked if He would help him find work. I have never rememberd such a heartfelt prayer in my life.

Later that night, we got a text from Artyom. We call him, and the first thing he said was, "I found work." Immediately after meeting with us, he went to a potential job offering, and they hired him on the spot, asking him to work the next day. He was so excited, almost in tears as he told us, as was I. He said that he was going to do all he can to meet and come to church, and he was going to pray every day. It was a miracle, and nothing less. I told him, "Heavenly Father loves you, as do I."

Since then, we haven't met, but I am confident we will again. It was the greatest tender mercy of the Lord I had ever seen, and I was so grateful to be a part of it. I know that Heavenly Father blesses His children, that He loves us so much. I am so grateful for these opportunities to share the gospel. I have felt the love that God has for His children, and have felt such a love for these people. I was so grateful that we were there at the right time, to be a witness for the tender mercies of the Lord.

Things don't always work out in the beginning. Artyom went to many different places to find work, with no success. We may want blessings for ourselves or for others, and they don't come. More truthfully they don't come in the way we expect. God loves us, and He has prepared opportunities for people to receive His blessings. Don't feel down that things weren't successful the first time you try with no success. All things will work out. It doesn't matter how many times you fall, just that you get up every time.

Through this experience, I have gained a greater understanding of charity. I felt so ashamed after hearing his trials, and seeing how good I had it. I felt sick for eating ice cream, while someone I loved went without food. I pray that I will have more opportunities in the future to provide relief, both spiritually and physically to those in need. We are so blessed, and I am grateful that God has given me this opportunity to see a different aspect, to grow in charity.

I love you all, and I pray for your safety. Pray for those who don't have much. Pray to be filled with charity, the Pure Love of Christ. Not only pray for it, but search to be a help to others. Don't wait for opportunities to fall in your lap, but actively search for them. There is no greater joy than to serve. True love is shown by true service. I know this to be true.

Elder Hoggan and Elder Harrison

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)