Happy Mother's Day Skype

Dear family, and other loved ones:

It was so wonderful to see all of you! I love you all, and I hope for your health, safety, and happiness. I especially want to give a shout out to Sarah Barrett, and I can't wait to see the little girl. (I told you that I like the Russian name Tatiana, or Tanya for short, right?) So, mom probably has written down all things that I said yesterday on my blog, but there might be some that I didn't say before. Let's see... We helped a sister move into another apartment, and it was really fun. There were so many people, and it was awesome to see all the support. There was about 14 people there, and it took about two hours to take all the stuff out of the apartment, and then put it in the truck, and then put in the new apartment. It was awesome.

The next service project that we did, we cleaned up all the dead plants in this park area near the new branch building, and it was so wonderful. Many people asked me, "Where did you get such strength to pull up weeds and trim branches?" I guess it was thanks to a wonderful Dad, who made me to work in the garden all the time, even when I hated it. Thanks Dad! It was so much fun, and the pile of plants was huge! Afterwards, we actually got to go on a tour of the new branch building, which hopefully will be done in a month. I wish I took pictures. It is going to look better than the church buildings there in Utah!

So on the 9th of May, if you read my email about a year ago, is Victory Day, or  День Победы (Dyen Pah-bed-ee) It is when Germany surrendered. This is a big holiday, and usually missionaries weren't allowed to go out in public. Not this year! President Gibbons told us that we should still do missionary work, but we weren't allowed to go to any city centers or parades, which was sad, but sensible. We went outside and talked to a lot of people. Where we were, there were few people, and all the stores were forbidden to sell any alcohol. They really wanted to make sure everything was under control and family friendly. So there were no scary incidents. It was just a usual day for the life of a missionary.
So on Sunday, none of our investigators came to church, Zina was sick, and Tanya and Alekcei couldn't make it. All of our meetings fell through. I have to ask those who served missions. Was that common? Would you set up a meeting with someone, and then try to follow up the next day, and they wouldn't answer the phone? I would like to hear the responses, and the things you would do when that happened.

We tried setting up meetings with others, but with no such luck. We went outside, and just waited to see where the Lord would take us. We ended up in an apartment complex, tried talking to people, nothing. Then we tried trakting an apartment building, nothing. Then we were about to leave, and then we went back, and saw these people moving. We went over to help, and they were amazed that Americans would come to help for nothing at all. We struck a friendship as we helped them move, and they tried to pay us, but we refused. We gave brochures, and they even tried to pay for them as well. We just planted some good seeds, and I hope that they will be willing to meet with missionaries, when they remember that they had some random help from them.

I love you all, and I pray for you. I pray that all will be well (Mom, tell Bishop Bell and his family that I am thinking about them, and I am praying for them. Bishop Bell is an amazing Bishop. Tell him that from me.)
Elder Hoggan The Siberian Messenger

I just realized that Andrei Kirilenko is Russian!

Well, hello my lovely family!

(Just so you know, mom, I don't know how well the Skype will work out. The Holmes said that skype on their computer shuts down if they use video. We asked the branch secretary about using it, and the internet isn't working there either. We will figure something out, and it will definitely be on that date.) The weather here has been crazy! Just a few days ago, we were walking around in short-sleeved shirts, and today, we are wearing suits and coats! What is the weather like in Utah? It has been so long that I totally forgot what it was like. Please tell me.

Also, I was sort of hoping that you were planning to go to England with me as like a coming home present, since we went to Yellowstone before Andrew left on his mission, Mexico before Michael left, and we didn't even go to Chuck E. Cheese before I left. (I hope that gets a good laugh) Whatever. I'm here in Russia, and that beats all of the rest, including Chuck E. Cheese.

What interesting things have we done this week? Well, there was a huge windstorm that blew down a fence nearby the apartment we live. It made me think when our fence broke from the mudslide, and we thought it was a tornado. We came back that evening, and people were already fixing it back up.

We have had a lot of interesting conversations with people on the street. Whenever we ask people if they are religious, or if they believe in God, 95% of people say yes, because they were baptized in the Orthodox church, and they show the cross they wear. Then I usually say one of two things: "How did you know for yourself that God lives?", or "What does baptism mean to you?" This really takes people off guard. With the first question, they usually tell about how their grandma went to church, (They always say Бабушка--Babooshka to mean their grandmother, or just any old lady on the street. It's almost like another race of people.) or that they were taught to read the Bible. I still haven't heard someone give a specific moment as to how they knew God to live, or that the Bible is the word of God. Then it opens up to a testimony how I came to know. I know, because I prayed to God about it. I specifically asked whether or not this gospel is true, and I received a specific answer that it is indeed true. The next question, "What does baptism mean to you?", proves a similar point. Some people really don't know what it means, just that it is necessary. One of our investigators, Andrei, even said he didn't know what it meant to him. Then I say how baptism is a very sacred and wonderful ordinance that we covenant with God to follow his commandments, always be representatives of Jesus Christ, or be examples of Him, always remember what Christ did for us, and then God promises that His Spirit, or the Holy Ghost will be with us always. To guide, direct, and comfort us. People are really taken aback, and it really strikes true to them. That is one thing that I have really come to know about this gospel which we share. We just don't say these things because they are good, but we know them to be true. We KNOW them to be true. It is a knowledge obtained by faith, and once we receive that answer from God, we then know for ourselves. One man said that maybe what I said was true, but I said "I know it to be true, because I prayed to Heavenly Father about it, and He gave me the answer that it is true." No one can deny that sort of testimony. Well, we also had a meeting with our investigator, Andrei, and we talked about the Plan of Salvation. He actually said that he agreed with some of the parts, but he wasn't sure if he believed the rest. He believed that there was life after death, but he didn't really know what would be. We asked him to read the Book of Mormon, and then pray to God if it is true. He said that he might. Then we met with a recent convert Dasha. We talked about commandments and why we follow them.  I made this comparison on the spot. Say that there are two books on a table, and I read one. I only focus on reading one, even if I want to read the other one. It is like focusing on work, school, or something. It may be a wonderful thing that helps a lot, but without picking up the other book (maybe it is the scriptures) We cannot grow in knowledge. We are stuck, because we depleted our choices. That is like with addictions. We are stuck reading one book, and we can't read another. Another meeting we had was with Igor. He is a really nice man that works in the guard shack in the parking lot of the apartment complex that the Holmes live in. One time, he stops us and asks us what we are doing. He sees us so many times, he was curious. We told him we were missionaries, and that we wanted to talk to him about the restored gospel. So later in the week, we met with him again, and shared more about the restoration. We haven't met with him more recently, but I really hope we can. It reminds me when I was serving in Novosibirsk and teaching Pavel in the apartment, sitting on the floor on old pieces of wallpaper. You teach people in the most interesting of places. Today, we actually did some service, as one of the members was moving to a new apartment. A good number of members came, and it took us about two hours to move from one apartment to the other. It was really good, and we are going to clean around the new branch building tomorrow for service. We hope to move to the new building in the middle of June. Another man we talked to actually watches the Jazz, and he loves them! He was interested when we said we were from Utah. I had never heard anyone hear talk about the Utah Jazz, and I just realized that Andrei Kirilenko is Russian...I can't believe I didn't get that. I just am really happy to be a missionary. There are no greater blessings in life that serving God, and this is just another time to show my gratitude to him for all that He has done for me.
I love you all, and hope to see you on Mother's Day!
Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)

I just love you all!

Congratulations to Michael and Rachelle

Dear Family, How I love you all!
First of all, Поздравлаю! (Poz-dra-vlay-you) That means
Congratulations in Russian. I am so proud of you, Michael and Rachelle for making this sacred covenant with the Lord. I know that it was the right decision, and many will be blessed for your decision. Just these last few weeks I have been thinking about the Plan of Salvation, and how it is taking place in our lives right now. These three stages in life are so critical, birth, marriage, and death. All of them are so necessary in the plan of Heavenly Father. Just hearing the news of these things has strengthened my testimony of this great plan of happiness. We were born here, to receive a body, be tested, and show our faithfulness to Heavenly Father. We receive the ordinances of salvation to bind us to our loved ones for eternity. Death is just a stage, so that we can be resurrected and return to live with our Heavenly Father, and with our families. I am so grateful for the saving ordinances of the temple. I know that this new spirit is an eternal part of our family, being born in the covenant. My brother's wife is now part of it as well, making that sacred sealing covenant. I know that my uncle is not lost. He is still part of this family. I am not sad, but so grateful for Heavenly Father's mercy and love to us.

This last week, we have talked to a lot of people of the muslim faith. These people come from places like Kazhakstan, and Ajer Baijan (The last one I have no idea how to spell, or even where it is.) They are very nice, and I really respect their beliefs. They are really devout to being faithful, making right choices, and serving to others. They believe in the Holy Ghost, which I never knew, and they also believe in the Bible. If I understood correctly, the Koran is the bible with writings added by Muhammad. It is definitely true that every single person has a piece of truth in them, and we hope to acknowledge that truth they have, and then expound and add even further, so that their truth becomes even more, to becoming full.

One man, who we met with, did not believe that we were Christians, because we don't celebrate Christian holidays. There are a lot of holidays in the Orthodox faith, and on that particular day, it is when the people pay their respects to their deceased ancestors. He said it was our biggest mistake. We just testified that we knew this gospel is true, that it his His church. He was a little taken aback by our testimonies, but wasn't willing to meet again, and he left. It just shows that no one can deny a testimony given in the Spirit. I have talked to a lot of people, asking how they knew it was true, and they say that their grandma believed, or they were taught to read the Bible when they were young. That is wonderful, but I could never get a concrete answer how they knew it was true. I would always testify that I prayed to God, and asked if it was true, and he would answer. That is the beauty of our message. We help others know from God, for themselves, that the Gospel is true. We can't prove anything, but God will prove it, because He loves us.

We met with a man named Andre, who came to English a couple times. He speaks very good English, and we talked about the restoration. He made a report about our faith for a class, and his girlfriend studying in Arizona met some members of the church who actually served in Barnaul! He said that maybe it was a sign. He has faith in prayer, and that they can be answered. He also talked about how every religion reads the Bible differently. We explained the Apostacy, and about the Book of Mormon. When I showed the book, he asked if he could see it, and we happily gave him the book. He wants to meet again, and we plan to teach him the Plan of Salvation. He believes that man was here to perfect himself, gain knowledge, which is exactly what we believe.

The branch had a branch family home evening, and the Branch President's wife made this movie about family history, and the blessings of it. It was very well done, and everyone loved it. This was a sign to us that we need to use family history as a finding activity. It is a perfect tool to teach people how to use family history, and the reasons we do it. It was spiritual, and informative. I was very impressed, and we hope to use this tool to find new people to teach about the church, and why we do family history. The end of branch family home evening was a talent portion, and all the missionaries sang Army of Helaman in Russian. The members liked it so much, they demanded us to sing it for sacrament meeting the next day. Everyone loved it, and it was really fun to sing. Being out over a year, it is amazing what I understand now, and what I didn't understand when I came here at the very beginning. The gift of tongues is literally a gift from God, and it has helped me strengthen my testimony that this gospel is true.

I love you all, and I pray for you. I know you pray for me. This gospel is so true. I am so grateful for the blessings that I receive every day thanks to the fact that I am a member of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is truly His church, again restored upon the earth.

To Michael and Rachelle, I love you, and I congratulate you! Cherish each other, and I know that God will bless you. It is weird, now that I am the only bachelor in the family. Well, I still have a little less
than a year to worry about that.
I love you all!

Elder Hoggan, The Siberian Messenger

P.S. We will be skyping on the 13th of May here about 6:30 in the morning, so I don't know exactly when that will be in your neck of the woods.

The covenants that seal us for eternity are real.

Dear Family
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! Lilly is such a beautiful baby. Lilly is such a beautiful name as well. (That is actually a name here in Russia (Лилия- or Lilia)  It is wonderful to see these new spirits enter into the world, and see how close eternity is. The veil is very thin, and our families really do rejoice for us. I have felt sometimes that my ancestors have rejoiced when I have made the right decisions. These covenants that seal us for eternity are real, and though I am far away from you, I still feel close, and when I pray, I feel even closer. I have felt your prayers from time to time, and I know of your love for me. I also want to point out that Laura and Zack were also the witness couple when I took out my endowments. Maybe they can be the witness couple when my fiancee takes out hers. But that isn't for a LONG time, so let's just get on with the work here. :)

So what happened this week? First of all, Russian weather decided to pull a joke on us. I have told you it was getting warmer outside; well that didn't last too long. The weather took a turn for the cold, and it even snowed this Saturday. It was about twenty degrees Celcius on Monday, and was below freezing by Thursday. It is still cold. It just made us laugh, as it reminded me of the weather back at home. I forget if weather changed like that in Utah. I think it did. I have been in Russia for a long time. We are really trying to find new investigators, and so we have been meeting with recent converts and less-active members of the church, in order to strengthen them, and also to obtain any referrals. No immediate success yet, but I know that God will bless us for our efforts and labours. Hey, Michael, do you know any good finding activities that you did in Alaska? I am always open for new ideas. We are going to try having a group lesson, like what we did in Novokyznetsk. That was pretty successful, and we got some pretty good investigators from that effort.  Also this week, I went on splits with Elder Rich. As a district leader, I am required to work with every missionary in my district for about 24 hours every transfer, in order to teach them, and to check on the work in other parts of the city. I had already served with Elder Smith for about a week, so I already knew he was working right. I have been blessed with an amazing district, and they are all hard workers. Elder Rich is not afraid to speak to people. He really has a strong testimony of the Restored Gospel, and his fire is catching. We were contacting in a different part of the city, and we did get lost for a while. Thankfully, I brought a map with me, and we were able to navigate back to the branch to meet the other elders.

This week actually has been a pretty difficult week for me. Anyone that has served a mission probably understands. We were working very hard, and there wasn't the success that should have come because of it. It can be very downing, and I couldn't understand why things were like that.  In that moment, I could have just dwelled and tried to nurse my wounds myself, but that is when I turned to Heavenly Father for guidance. Whenever you feel down, hopless even, never close yourself off from divine help. In turning to Heavenly Father in prayer and through priesthood blessings, I was able to release all my frustrations, pains, stresses, fears, sadnesses, and even anger.  He took those away from me, and left me with peace, love, and even joy. He literally healed me. I know that He can heal any wounds, thanks to the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It was through Him i received my Balm of Gilead. God loves, us, and understands us.  He is always there to help you.

"Fear not, little flock, for I am with you."  I love you all, and I pray for the health and safety of little Lilly. I pray for the comfort of the family during this trying time with Uncle Doug. I pray for the blessings of heaven to be with you all. I pray for the blessings of heaven to be with Michael and Rachelle, and I welcome her into our family.  I pray, because I know He hears me, and He hears all of His children.
I love you all,
Elder Hoggan The Siberian Messenger

The only real safety is in the family.

Hey, sorry for the lack of letter last week, but now you will have a big fat letter, sent with love. First of all, we had a Baptism! Maria is the newest member of the branch. It was very amazing, and very spiritual. As the districtleader, I conducted the interview, and was I scared. This is a serious decision, and I didn't know if I was qualified to do what I thought was the duty of a bishop or someone else. Then in the interview, I felt like Christ was interviewing her, and I was just the mouth piece. I felt the Spirit testify that she was indeed prepared to make that covenant with God in the waters of baptism. The other elders were teaching her, so they would organize the service, but Elder Smith left for Finland, so we had to organize everything. It was a very stressful week, but it was all worth it for the ordinance.
Last week, I went on splits with the Zone Leaders, and I learned many things from them. First of all, I learned that Heavenly Father uses everything about you for missionary work. We were talking to this man, and he was interested since Elder Blake, my companion for the day, played basketball, which his son liked. Then he told us how his son wants to go to Scotland. Interested, I said how my ancestors are
Scottish. He went crazy and said something along the lines of...OHHHHH, give me your number! We were happy to exchange contact information. What this goes to show that God does indeed send His missionaries to where they need to go, even on a split with Zone Leaders. From Novosibirsk to Barnaul is about 4 hours by bus, and it was very hot on the bus and uncomfortable.Now the weather has become warmer. We don't wear coats anymore, and it is starting to dry up. It is strange. We don't clean our shoes from mud or snow anymore, but dust them off. I am starting to break out my short-sleeved shirts, and I still sweat. I forgot that Siberia can be hot, too! It is great that we don't have to wear coats anymore. The worst thing is that busses and other transportation still have on the heaters, with a bunch of bodies, we sweat a lot. I can't see how Russians don't sweat! They are still wearing winter coats, and I am dying in my suit coat.

We have begun meeting with members, and seeing if they know others with whom we could share the gospel. No immediate success, but then I get a call from Brother Klavakin about a referral. He met with a very successful businessman, and we met with his daughter. She was very nice, and we shared the message of the Restoration, and gave her a Book of Mormon. Then the branch president called me to give me two more contacts! The branch has their own website, and people visit it, and there is a place where people can ask for the missionaries to visit. We will contact them today, and maybe have new investigators.

Also this week was conference. We watched conference at the Holmes, while members watched it at the branch and at their homes. I really saw how this conference has focused on families, and the duties of the priesthood. There was not one talk about missionary work, if you were paying attention. Why is that? Because every boy knows that it is his duty to serve a mission, and they have been repeating it over and over. Do your duty, serve a mission. Do your duty, do your home teaching. Do your duty, magnify your calling. Do your duty, preside over your family in righteousness.

About family, I see how important it is more than ever. Every single talk in conference made mention about families. In a world of decaying values, the only real safety is in the family. I have seen that all ofthe problems in this world are rooted in the lack of family. Family Home Evening is not just a good thing, but necessary. We teach our children the gospel, so that they understand and can apply the gospel in their lives. Do our children know that they can receive answers to prayers? Do they know that Jesus Christ atoned for our sins? Do they know the Book of Mormon is true for themselves? That is the responsibility that we all have. Teach your children, because they are an heritage unto the Lord.

I love you all, and I love my family especially. I am grateful for your example, and I hope that all is well with all of you.
Elder Hoggan
The Siberain Messenger

I am so sorry, Mom! My e-mail to you was just deleted! I thought it would automatically save it in a draft, but it didn't! I don't have a lot of time to write, and I just feel so bad. We are only allowed to use e-mail for an hour, so I can't write more. I will fill you in next week. I just wanted to say how important family has been to me. President Gibbons really wants us to focus on teaching families, to get the strength needed in the branches. We have had some really good conversations with families, and how the gospel blesses them. I know for a fact my life is better, because you taught me the gospel. I have been giving out Family-Proclamaion to the world, and I know what the First Presidency said is true. We cannot receive any lasting happiness in this life or in the next without our families. What else? We taught this member family, Kovtini, and they are a really amazing family. They have wonderful children, and we just had a great time talking, and we shared a spiritual thought about how the gospel blesses families. We commended them for teaching their children, because we knew that the blessings from the gospel are endless.
We went on splits with the Zone Leaders, and it was a blast! These elders have very fun personalities, they are laid back, chill, and just everyone talks to them. They are really hard workers, and I just say surfer personality because Elder Carr IS a surfer. I love working with other missionaries, and learning how to do missionary work better, because I for one am not perfect.
I love you all, and I am sorry for the short e-mail. I will write an especially long one next week, full of spiritual experiences.
Elder Hoggan

New Area Authority Seventy: Yuri Gushin!

Dear Family

First of all, I wanted to say...YAY! I just recently heard that in conference, there is a new member of the Area Authority Seventy, named Yuri Gushin, who is from Novosibirsk! I served in his branch, and he is an amazing member. You have no idea how I reacted when we went over to a member's house for home teaching and they told us the news. This is just another step closer to having a stake. I hope you got to see him. Now there is a Russian Seventy, next there will be a Russian Apostle!

Well, what happened this week? Oh wait, I was in Novosibirsk again! Just so you know, I am leaving for Novosibirsk today to go on splits with the Zone Leaders. That will be my fourth time going to Novosibirsk since this transfer started. The work of a missionary never stops!
We had trainership meeting, and it was amazing. President Gibbons compared the building of the Salt Lake Temple to the building of the stake here in Siberia. it took 39 years to build the outside. That is like the building of the foundation, or the building of the district. The prophet challenged the people to finish the temple within a year, and they did! President Gibbons firmly believes that there will be a stake here in Siberia, and that it could happen within a year. I want to see the formation of this stake, and I might even ask for an extension to my mission in order to see it. I know it is not my choice, for it is the Lord's will, but that is how I feel about it.
President Gibbons continued about our duties as leaders to receive revelation. We need to be 100% worthy and in tune to receive that crucial revelation. I have never really realized how powerful revelation is. As a district leader, I have definitely received guidance, and it is amazing. The hand of God is literally directing this work, and I have seen it.
We have a new investigator, and his name is Oleg. He was actually taught by the missionaries a while ago, and for some reason they stopped. He has a wife and daughter, and he is a manager for a coal mine. He loves the Book of Mormon, and he has come to church a few times. He is such a nice guy, and we hope to meet with his family. We invited them to church, but they were unable to attend. I really hope that they will accept the gospel, as our branch desperately needs families.
Being here in Siberia, where the church is so young in its growth, I have seen the necessity of programs such as Family Home Evening, and Home and Visiting Teaching. If we fulfilled these callings to the full potential, there would be fewer less active and inactive members of the church. These programs are to save souls, which is our duty.
I hope to start a finding activity, to find families. The church really wants missionaries to use family history to find new investigators, and I had some ideas. We don't have a family history center in Russia, but we could hold a seminar. People here are really interested in their ancestry. I am planning to set up booths on the street, and inviting people to learn more about family history, and about the websites that the church owns. Did you know that you can index Russian documents? Returned missionaries are doing that, and what would be a greater use of time that to help index documents? I really want to get involved in that when I return...in a year's time.
Four days, and I will have been a missionary for a year. Wow how time flies. I can't believe what I have learned and experienced here. There is no greater experience for your life than a mission. I have learned things that I could never learn by myself. I have seen the hand of God literally guide and direct my life. I have seen people change their lives, and how much more wonderful and full their lives are thanks to the gospel. This is literally the work of God. I have literally had a feeling, and when I acted upon it, miracles happened! I have discovered that we are in the company of prophets and disciples. In a way, missionaries are prophets, and their service is their dispensation. President Gibbons called me a "boy prophet" much like Joseph Smith, called to build His kingdom in the far reaches of Siberia. I don't know how this work could be accomplished by someone as young as me, unless God was with him.
God lives, and His Son Jesus Christ is our Savior. There is no other power upon the earth that we can be forgiven of our mistakes and sins. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ DID reveal themselves to Joseph Smith. The Book of Mormon is literally the word of God. This gospel is true, and I could never deny it. Families will be together forever. Death has no power upon us. I can't wait until we can all meet together again, to live in an eternal family in eternal happiness. My job right now is to try to get as many people as I can to return with me. Please stay faithful to this gospel, because life is nothing without family, and family is everything in the gospel.
I love you all, this gospel is true.
Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)
Старейшина Хогган (Сибирский Посланник)

Siberian Winter