Hello my fellow Hogges. Or friends of the Hogges. Or people related to the Hogges. That reminds me, me and my companion had a little argument about this: how do the family relations work? I am clearly Aarons brother in law, but is Aaron my brother in law? How does that work?
Well, time flew and another week in paradise (aka Hatsukaichi) is gone. Me and Elder Packer are having the times of our lives! There are so many friends to be made, and many converts to be found! We can always sense the amazing amount of potential energy in this area, and so we are trying our hardest to use all of our talents, time, and resources to try and unlock that energy and get the work moving faster and faster!!!
I got the card from everyone...THANKS!!! Haha, I cant believe that one year has already passed...some would think that passing what is referred to as *hump day* would make me trunky and worry about home and all that, but it has actually had the reverse effect on me! Really really, I realized *hey, I only have a year left...I need to get crackin and work harder!!!* It was a good chance for me to look back upon what kind of effort I have been putting into the work up until now and feel the need to level up. So, thank you all for the reminder! I am definitely set on not just working harder, but smarter in using my God-given talents and dazzling smile to progress the work! Haha, I wont lie, Ive been all smiles here.
As for this week...specific things to report...definitely not as full as last week...oh yeah, I was able to go on an exchange with my District Leader up in Hamada. He is a Hawaiian. And his name is Elder Zukeran. The area is up north on the northern coast of Japan, and it was so wonderful! It took a 2 and a half hour bus ride just to get there, but I was able to have a wonderful conversation with a man who lived along the way who was just returning home from work in Sapporo (the way chilly northern island of Japan). Everyone in Hamada was nice. It had sort of a country-side feeling to it. I personally prefer that to city, but what can I do? Go where the Lord tells me to. So yeah, I guess there are a lot of cool beaches in Hamada, and that is where everyone goes to play at the ocean in the summer. Unfortunately, I was not able to see the ocean, but thats okay because we worked hard.
It is very interesting hearing about all the stuff surrounding Proposition 8. A broadcast from Salt Lake? That is pretty intense. I am very excited to vote!!!.
Well, I got Moms email, and Dads note. It really is kinda cool how fast information travels through the cyber world. Yeah, I was in a pretty anti-technology mood last week. If people want to email, they can. If it is a decision between emailing or not writing at all, please email. If it is a decision between emailing or writing a letter...I prefer the letter, but email is fine. Just be wary that I can only email family...
So yeah, the sky is blue and the church is true. I know it. I have experienced too many blessings from obedience to write it off as coincidence. The Lord gives us commandments and rules in order to find excuses to bless us. If we follow them, He immediately finds a way to help our lives. That is a true principle that I have put to the test, and found to be true. I heard recently that the reason that missionaries have a long white handbook full of rules is NOT because missionaries need rules. Missionaries need blessings and help. So, God gave us missionaries a way to receive TONS of blessings and help. I just hope everyone else can see rules in a positive light too! :-)
Well, my time is drawing near, so Ill let yall off and see ya next week!!!
Sincerely,
Elder the Hogge
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
22 September 2008
Hello everyone. Yeah, it`s me Elder Hogge in Japan. And yeah, this is an email. And no, I am not breaking any rules. The rules just changed. We can do email again.
Personally, I despise this whole computer-box thing. In fact, I wouldn`t have even decided to email, were it not for my guilty conscience concerning how Mom would feel if she knew that I could email, but didnt. So, here I am, in a nearby community center, plopping out an email on a RIDICULOUS Japanese keyboard...Theres like 10 more buttons on here and the enter button is all shaped weird...well, Im actually quite hungry right now, so Ill make this quick...
Dear Family, and Friends, and Whomever this may concern:
This week was sooo great. We had so much good happen for us here in the blessed land of Hatsukaichi. Last Monday night, we headed over to a potential investigators house. She is a filipino lady who is really nice, and we decided that it would be a good idea to meet the whole family too...so for that purpose, we set up a time to go over and introduce ourselves. We were a little scared that the husband would be like "Hey! What are you doing hanging out with my wife???" But oooooh contrair ---- after a couple minutes of light conversation, he says "yeah, Im a Mormon." ------------------- WHAT? Apparently, he got baptized like 30 years ago up in Sapporo, and then never went to church again. He is sooo way cool. That was a way good story because its all about finding...the right way! We made one filipino friend while we were knocking doors, and then she referred us to her filipino friend who invited us to meet her family who includes a less active! So, that was one of the sweetest miracles of this week. Oh, and we are going to a barbecue with them tomorrow. Should be fun! :-)
Can I just say that I feel so old? I wake up in the morning waaay sore, I just think "hey, this is only supposed to happen to old folks!" Seeing as Im no longer a teenager anymore, I guess this kind of thing was bound to happen.
Well, we also had a great Zone Conference this past week as well --- Elder Stevenson from the Area Presidency came! Oh man, it was soo good! Ill just quote the journal on this one: "I played prelude for like an hour. I felt the importance of having a vision and being committed to finding natural ways of talking to people. I wrote (in my notes at conference): `Let us be ourselves. The work is moving. We are friend-makers. Let us open our mouths. Let us make spiritual experiences for our investigators.` He spoke truths about missionary work."
So, for the rest of the week, we decided to really get out into the community and offer our services. We visited several community centers and a bunch of hospitals and we talked to people while we were waiting and it was just really really fun. We even went to the city hall and found out that there is a sweeet electric wheelchair soccer conference that they need volunteers for, so we talked to our Mission President, and he was ALL for it. He wanted to make sure that every missionary in the Hiroshima region came, and he even phoned Tokyo, and we are even going to be able to donate some wheelchairs if they need it. So, we were able to find a way sweet service opportunity, which equals a way sweet finding opportunity. Now THAT is missionary work.
So, we are lifting our vision, and spreading our reach to find in every opportunity that we have. We are also making tons of friends here. People always ask us, "Wow, you guys are working all the time!" But we always respond "no, its not really work because its all about making friends and having good conversations and helping people." Of course, you hear all the General Authorities say "the key to missionary work is WORK," but I think that you can make work so fun that it no longer has the negative connotation of "WORK." So, basically its just a matter of "playing hard" over here. :-) So yeah, Im happy. I hope everyone is too.
I know this is The Right Thing. This gospel. This lifestyle. This obedience. And I have grown a much deeper appreciation for my Savior. He really is MY Savior. But of course, he is YOUR Savior too. I am constantly amazed at how personal our Heavenly Father is and how well he knows each of us. Please, no one forget that!!!!!!
Well, I love y`all, and hope to hear from y`all soon.
Elder Hogge
P.S. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try NOT to send email. I DONT like email. I can only read it on Mondays and I cant print them out and they are only words on a screen...things in my hands feel soo much more real. (of course, everyone has their moral agency and can choose for themselves...) P.S.S. I wouldnt mind the folks using email. Whatever you think would be best for the situation. :-)
Personally, I despise this whole computer-box thing. In fact, I wouldn`t have even decided to email, were it not for my guilty conscience concerning how Mom would feel if she knew that I could email, but didnt. So, here I am, in a nearby community center, plopping out an email on a RIDICULOUS Japanese keyboard...Theres like 10 more buttons on here and the enter button is all shaped weird...well, Im actually quite hungry right now, so Ill make this quick...
Dear Family, and Friends, and Whomever this may concern:
This week was sooo great. We had so much good happen for us here in the blessed land of Hatsukaichi. Last Monday night, we headed over to a potential investigators house. She is a filipino lady who is really nice, and we decided that it would be a good idea to meet the whole family too...so for that purpose, we set up a time to go over and introduce ourselves. We were a little scared that the husband would be like "Hey! What are you doing hanging out with my wife???" But oooooh contrair ---- after a couple minutes of light conversation, he says "yeah, Im a Mormon." ------------------- WHAT? Apparently, he got baptized like 30 years ago up in Sapporo, and then never went to church again. He is sooo way cool. That was a way good story because its all about finding...the right way! We made one filipino friend while we were knocking doors, and then she referred us to her filipino friend who invited us to meet her family who includes a less active! So, that was one of the sweetest miracles of this week. Oh, and we are going to a barbecue with them tomorrow. Should be fun! :-)
Can I just say that I feel so old? I wake up in the morning waaay sore, I just think "hey, this is only supposed to happen to old folks!" Seeing as Im no longer a teenager anymore, I guess this kind of thing was bound to happen.
Well, we also had a great Zone Conference this past week as well --- Elder Stevenson from the Area Presidency came! Oh man, it was soo good! Ill just quote the journal on this one: "I played prelude for like an hour. I felt the importance of having a vision and being committed to finding natural ways of talking to people. I wrote (in my notes at conference): `Let us be ourselves. The work is moving. We are friend-makers. Let us open our mouths. Let us make spiritual experiences for our investigators.` He spoke truths about missionary work."
So, for the rest of the week, we decided to really get out into the community and offer our services. We visited several community centers and a bunch of hospitals and we talked to people while we were waiting and it was just really really fun. We even went to the city hall and found out that there is a sweeet electric wheelchair soccer conference that they need volunteers for, so we talked to our Mission President, and he was ALL for it. He wanted to make sure that every missionary in the Hiroshima region came, and he even phoned Tokyo, and we are even going to be able to donate some wheelchairs if they need it. So, we were able to find a way sweet service opportunity, which equals a way sweet finding opportunity. Now THAT is missionary work.
So, we are lifting our vision, and spreading our reach to find in every opportunity that we have. We are also making tons of friends here. People always ask us, "Wow, you guys are working all the time!" But we always respond "no, its not really work because its all about making friends and having good conversations and helping people." Of course, you hear all the General Authorities say "the key to missionary work is WORK," but I think that you can make work so fun that it no longer has the negative connotation of "WORK." So, basically its just a matter of "playing hard" over here. :-) So yeah, Im happy. I hope everyone is too.
I know this is The Right Thing. This gospel. This lifestyle. This obedience. And I have grown a much deeper appreciation for my Savior. He really is MY Savior. But of course, he is YOUR Savior too. I am constantly amazed at how personal our Heavenly Father is and how well he knows each of us. Please, no one forget that!!!!!!
Well, I love y`all, and hope to hear from y`all soon.
Elder Hogge
P.S. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try NOT to send email. I DONT like email. I can only read it on Mondays and I cant print them out and they are only words on a screen...things in my hands feel soo much more real. (of course, everyone has their moral agency and can choose for themselves...) P.S.S. I wouldnt mind the folks using email. Whatever you think would be best for the situation. :-)
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Letter from Sister Isa
Dear Joey Mission fans:
With the press of summer business and Mindy's return from her mission to Washington, D.C., I have fallen behind in transcribing Joey's letters from Japan. Sorry. But here is a letter (with pictures) that we received from Sister Isa, the wife of Joey's mission president.
Jeff
----------------
Dear Hogge Family,
Elder Hogge has become senior and been transferred to an area called Hatsukaichi. This area is very close to the mission home. It is only about 20 minutes away by train, so we still get to see him a lot. We miss him and his hard work here in the mission home though. His skills with a computer and in the Japanese language were very helpful. He was particularly helpful to our new secretary, Sister Webb. He has a great sense of humor, and he kept everyone laughing around here. He is working very hard in his new area, and we have already received compliments from the Stake President’s wife. He is also a very good piano player, so we enjoyed having him here at the mission home. Thank you for allowing us to work with your son here in Japan!
Sincerely,
Sister Isa
With the press of summer business and Mindy's return from her mission to Washington, D.C., I have fallen behind in transcribing Joey's letters from Japan. Sorry. But here is a letter (with pictures) that we received from Sister Isa, the wife of Joey's mission president.
Jeff
----------------
Dear Hogge Family,
Elder Hogge has become senior and been transferred to an area called Hatsukaichi. This area is very close to the mission home. It is only about 20 minutes away by train, so we still get to see him a lot. We miss him and his hard work here in the mission home though. His skills with a computer and in the Japanese language were very helpful. He was particularly helpful to our new secretary, Sister Webb. He has a great sense of humor, and he kept everyone laughing around here. He is working very hard in his new area, and we have already received compliments from the Stake President’s wife. He is also a very good piano player, so we enjoyed having him here at the mission home. Thank you for allowing us to work with your son here in Japan!
Sincerely,
Sister Isa
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