Big changes are happening.

Dear Family:

Well, big changes are happening to the mission, and I won't be a part of them. This last transfer will be only two weeks long, to synchronize with the flood of missionaries. Elder Nichols is going on a big trip. He is going to Omsk, and in a few months...Kazakhstan! I was so jealous when President Gibbons called him. I so wanted to serve there, but it is the will of the Lord. I am going to be serving Elder Yurkivanis, who is from Lithuania...(His name is said Yer-kuh-vane-iss) I got to meet him at Zone Conference, and he is a really cool elder, and it will be fun to spend my last few weeks with him.

The weather has been crazy as well, with periods of melting warm, with freezing cold. The snow melts into huge puddles, only to be frozen solid the next day. It is crazy, and we slip around everywhere. The picture is in front of a store, and they put wooden bridges that were frozen to the ground. That is solid ice around me...

Another surprise was my good friend Sergei from Novosibirsk. He came to Novokuznetsk in order to see his wife who just gave birth to a baby girl. So we congratulated him. It made me smile, because family is so wonderful, and I could tell that he was happy.

Zone conference was very somber for me, as it was the last time seeing all of the missionaries. It is tradition for the soon to be leaving elders to bear their testimonies. I remember in past conferences hearing the older missionaries bearing their testimonies, and I never even thought that it was going to be me. As I was bearing my testimony of the gospel, I just thought, "This is the end. All of my work as a missionary is coming to an end." It was very somber, and I guess the final step towards the end. I have been dreading the end, but now I am in...maybe shock...or I am resigned to reality.  I am going home. There is nothing I can do about it, but I can leave on a high note.



Pres. and Sister Gibbons

Our investigators are progressing very well, but unfortunately, we feel they won't be ready before I go home. Vacili's brother recently passed away, and with moving to a new apartment, funeral arrangements, and other things, it is just not the right time, but he wants to be baptized, which is the most important thing.

Vladimir is going to be busy for the next few weeks as well, and he lives over an hour away from us, making it really difficult to meet with him. He is reading the Book of Mormon, and he wants to meet, but work doesn't allow it. No matter, he has desire, he has faith, and all will be done in the time of the Lord.

What was really wonderful was that our investigators Artyom and Maxim came to church for the first time yesterday. They really enjoyed the services, and the spirit was especially strong in that meeting. Elder Bowler, Nichols, and Sister Sowards spoke, as they are leaving, Elder Bowler to America and Sister Sowards to Novosibirsk. After services, we had refreshments to celebrate the birthdate of the Relief Society. The Relief Society is probably the strongest organizations that I know. I even see here, the few number of sisters coming together to help one another, and to gather necessary supplies such as clothes and food for those in need. It is amazing.

My last days will be as follows: A train to Novosibirsk probably Monday night or Tuesday morning, arriving either Tuesday morning or afternoon. He will interview us, and then we spend the night at the mission home. The next morning, we will get on the plane to Moscow, and transfer to wherever is next.

No matter what happens in life, Heavenly Father is aware of it, and is in full power. He will not let anything go wrong. He loves us so much, and He has a special wonderful plan for each one of us. I know that. I have seen the changes that the Gospel has made for me, as well as for other people. Only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ is this possible. There is no other way. I know that this church is the only true church. It is Christ's church, and He is the head of it. Joseph Smith was the prophet of the Restoration. We now have a living prophet on the earth. All this I know, because of the Book of Mormon. It is the physical evidence of the truth. I know it is true with all my heart. I love you all.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)