I hope I will have made a difference.

Dear Family,

It is definitely now turning into the muddy season. Yesterday it was raining, which is the sign that spring is coming. I didn't even need to wear a hat! I hope to take a few more pictures, before all the snow melts.

Yes it has been very somber, as I have now entered the final month of my mission. It was a time of reflection this week, about my service as a missionary. It especially a reflective time, because I spent most of the week in Barnaul! As district leader, I need to go on exchanges with the Zone Leaders, who serve in Barnaul. It was supposed to only be a day, but problems with getting transportation made it so we stayed a few more days, leaving Monday evening for Barnaul, and leaving for Novokuznetsk Thursday night.

The biggest change in Barnaul was the branch building. Do you see how beautiful it is?! I have only seen that building as a skeleton, and see the final project was so amazing. Just looking at it, I felt a special spirit. People notice the new building, and we even just talked to people outside and invited them to come to church. Honestly, their branch is better than the one at home. It is so beautiful. I never realized how wonderful a blessing it is to have a real church building. All my time serving in Russia, our church services have been held in rented buildings, such as this old Salon we use here in Novokuznetsk. Despite that, you can still feel the same spirit. Seeing that building strengthened my testimony of how this church is living and growing.

Barnaul Branch

It was also a huge blessing to see all the members as well. Do you remember Yulia? Amazingly, it was the year anniversary of her baptism when we came, and we congratulated her. She is doing well, and was called to be a primary teacher. It was cool to see such a change in her, and I could definitely tell that thanks to the gift of the Holy Ghost, she has been changed for the better, into a better person. This change is real, and you can definitely see the difference.

Fun fact, on the 23rd of February, it is a holiday that was originally made to celebrate all who serve in the military, but then was changed to all men. Happy Men's Day! The sisters in the branch sang us songs, recited poems, and even made us a lunch in honor of men. It was really nice and fun. The paper flowers on the wall say, "С праздником"! (S-Praz-nee-kom) which means "Happy Holidays." So to all of you men out there, we honor you for all that you stand for in the name of manliness. Don't worry, Women's Day is March 8 so you ladies will get a turn as well.

Happy Holidays

Two of our investigators are doing great.  We were unable to meet with Vladimir while in Barnaul, so the other elders met with him, and he agreed to be baptized. He came to church, and he even bore his testimony about faith in God. He said that he knows that God has a plan for every person, and that nothing happens because of chance. He knows that faith brings blessings. I wish I could describe his faith, because it is so powerful.

Then Vacilli also came to church. This is his third time coming to church, which is more times than I have ever seen him since serving. A sister bore her testimony today about how at church she feels peace, joy, and rest from the troubles of the world. Vacilli turned to me, and said, "I agree with her. Only in this church do I feel peace of the soul.  “Nowhere else," I told him, "That is because the Holy Ghost is here, and He is testifying to you that it is true." We planned a meeting with him that evening, and he agreed to be baptized. We really didn't even have to commit him, we began talking about baptism, and he said, "I would like to be baptized." It was just a testimony to me that Heavenly Father knows when His children are ready. I have known Vacilli since the beginning, and I have just seen the changes since two years ago. Heavenly Father is always watching us, preparing us for when the time is right.

The last picture is another message that I etched into the snow-covered path right in front of the branch building in Barnaul. It says Бог жив (Bogh Zheev) Translation-"God Lives" I have been really into writing messages like that in the snow these past few weeks. "Trust in God, He loves you. Pray to God, He listens." Things like that. I saw many people walking by, and turning their heads to read those messages in the snow. The one I wrote on the path, people would go out of their way to not step on the words, even. I just saw that with a simple sentence, I was changing people's lives. Maybe they were not thinking about God at all that day, but those words, I believe, woke something within. I am not saying that these people immediately wanted to meet with us, and immediately wanted to be baptized.

"God Lives"

I read a quote by John Bytheway, about missionary work. He said, "An ordinary missionary brings things home, (Don't worry, I am still bringing gifts for you) An EXTRA-ordinary missionary leaves something behind...He leaves behind his testimony...He has the assurance that he has made a difference, leaving the place a little brighter than before." That is what I hope to be able to say at the end of all things, that I made a difference. That day, I made people's days a little brighter. I got them thinking about God. I even might have brought them one step closer to accepting the gospel. I have made a difference. I have left my testimony in snow, and I hope to leave it planted in the hearts of all those that I meet with.

God lives. He loves us. Jesus Christ is His Son, and our Savior. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is Holy Scripture-the Word of God. I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church, and Jesus Christ is the head. I know this with my heart and my soul.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)