Why, hello! Ive never had water thrown on me! This whole Proposition 8 sure has hit a sore spot, eh? I got the ballot last week, then I spent a little time and did the best I could to be a good citizen! Man, I loved it! Halfway through, I caught myself wondering -- `I wonder which is the right answer?` And then I remembered -- `hey! Whichever I think is the right answer!` I definitely tried to remember the principles of the gospel in voting, but I thought it was just soo fun figuring things out for myself! Man, I love voting.
Well, it looks like you got my letter, Mom! Thats great! And really fast. Wow, less than a week! Sweet.
I also got the package the same time as the ballot. THANKS!!! OH MAN! IT WAS SO SWEET! Literally...sweet! I munched down on some candy corn...marveled at the air tight brick of hot cocoa...and drowned myself in conference talks (I like to call it: `My Own Personal Ensign`). Basically, that day was Christmas in disguise.
This past week has also been great for us with our investigators...just doing a lot to help them realize why we are meeting with them, and helping them see our motivation. Its funny how much people start to open up when you tell them that you just want them to be eternally happy.
Oh, I just realized this past week something cool about the sequence of the missionary lessons:
Lesson 1 -- The Restoration (WHAT our unique message is) Lesson 2 -- The Plan of Salvation (WHY it is important) Lesson 3/4 -- The Gospel of Jesus Christ / Commandments (HOW we reach that amazing goal of eternal life)
So, that mindset has made it really easy to see how to help those that we meet: WHAT or WHY or HOW. During District Meeting, one of the Zone Leaders gave instruction about helping potential investigators become real investigators (yeah, sorry for all the missionary vocab), and one of the things he said was: `Dont keep them in the dark!` That really hit me. A lot of times, we go into religious conversations with ulterior motives, when we should be telling people straight up why we talk about what we talk about. Okay, that probably sounded a little confusing, but it makes sense to me as a missionary. Its like saying: `we are teaching you so that you can live eternally with your family in happiness.` That is a great goal to have. And in order to do that, we need to follow the gospel and commandments. Its really all that simple.
I know that this gospel we have right now is the full, restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the same gospel that Christ taught. It is the same gospel that Moses taught. It is the same gospel that Adam was taught at the beginning of the world. It is the same gospel whereupon the world was created. The gospel isnt a part of our lives, it is our lives! The gospel is everything. The quicker we know that, the quicker we can achieve true happiness through the gospel. That is Truth.
Well, we spent another week totally wearing ourselves out for the Lord. My companion is so great about focusing on The Missionary Purpose -- Inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the Restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. OR: watashitachi no mokuteki wa hitobito ni Kirisuto no moto e kuru yo susumeru koto desu. Sono tame ni, watashitachi wa Iesu Kirisuto to Kirisuto no aganai wo shinjiru shinko, kuiaratame, baputesuma, seirei no tamamono wo ukeru koto, saigo made taeshinobu koto wo toushite, karera ga kaifuku sareta fukuin wo ukeirerareru yo tasukeru no desu.
Haha, I like Japanese. And I like you all. Thanks for your support. Especially you, Mom, and Dad. You are the bomb!!
Love,
Elder Hougu
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
20 October 2008
Hey Mom and Dad.
This past week was very...interesting! We did a lot lot of service. Thursday -- we taught English at an elementary school and boy, let me tell you, I have such a deeper profound appreciation for those teachers! I pretty much lost my voice... Friday -- we went with a day center for old ladies to a nearby zoo and pushed them around in their wheelchairs! It was sooo fun...we were able to be good examples. Saturday -- we went with the primary of our ward to one of our english class students`s house and picked sweet potatoes! And then later that day, we fetched loose balls for an electric wheelchair soccer tournament. That was cool! These were for severely handicapped people, but they were superstars for one great afternoon. Some of them were unable to move their arms or hands, so they controlled their chairs with their chins! And they had practiced a LOT, so it was a pretty intense competition. It helped me put things in perspective.
So yeah, I havent gotten my ballot yet...which is a little fishy, but we still need to check the mail today, so we`ll see! Im sure excited to vote!
We had an amazing lesson this past Saturday with a man named Ito. We met him when he was working (raking weeds in preparation for a new house), and we taught a lesson about the restoration on the spot. For a month or so, we really helped him nderstand the importance of prayer and the book of mormon, and then Saturday, we taught about the Plan of Salvation using the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was probably the clearest I have been able to teach it in Japanese. And it was probably the clearest I have been able to understand it. He understood all of it too, and we committed him to baptism. He wants it sooo bad. But, there are going to be some ough trials ahead: work on Sunday, tabacco addiction, and possible opposition from is wife. However, he has grown a testimony of the importance of these things, so I think it will only serve to strengthen that testimony as long as we help him through it. Basically, he is the closest I have ever met to a `kinjin`, or golden nvestigator. But, there are going to be some rough trials ahead, so please pray for him. (By the way, I dont think I will write that story to Mom in her email, so you could share it with whomever you think might want to know...)
But man, everyday, I come to appreciate you and Dad more and more. It truly is a ask keeping a place clean. It truly is a task figuring out what to eat and to keep a healthy balanced diet. It truly is a task `raising a kid.` Haha, yeah, as trainer, responsibilities of a parent seem to really come out. Even when your new missionary is a stud. Theres just some things that need to get done, and its up to the folks to do it. I know that now. I cant imagine what its like with little children! I kinda cringe thinking about it right now, but there will be a time and place for that. Haha.
Well, Im doing well here. Im really extremely tired, but its a good tired. If I werent, I think I might feel guilty that I wasnt working hard enough. So, we are doing good things here. Things are moving. Thank you for your support and all those years of raising a trouble maker like me! Haha.
You be sure to make today a good one, okay? :-)
~Elder Hogge
This past week was very...interesting! We did a lot lot of service. Thursday -- we taught English at an elementary school and boy, let me tell you, I have such a deeper profound appreciation for those teachers! I pretty much lost my voice... Friday -- we went with a day center for old ladies to a nearby zoo and pushed them around in their wheelchairs! It was sooo fun...we were able to be good examples. Saturday -- we went with the primary of our ward to one of our english class students`s house and picked sweet potatoes! And then later that day, we fetched loose balls for an electric wheelchair soccer tournament. That was cool! These were for severely handicapped people, but they were superstars for one great afternoon. Some of them were unable to move their arms or hands, so they controlled their chairs with their chins! And they had practiced a LOT, so it was a pretty intense competition. It helped me put things in perspective.
So yeah, I havent gotten my ballot yet...which is a little fishy, but we still need to check the mail today, so we`ll see! Im sure excited to vote!
We had an amazing lesson this past Saturday with a man named Ito. We met him when he was working (raking weeds in preparation for a new house), and we taught a lesson about the restoration on the spot. For a month or so, we really helped him nderstand the importance of prayer and the book of mormon, and then Saturday, we taught about the Plan of Salvation using the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was probably the clearest I have been able to teach it in Japanese. And it was probably the clearest I have been able to understand it. He understood all of it too, and we committed him to baptism. He wants it sooo bad. But, there are going to be some ough trials ahead: work on Sunday, tabacco addiction, and possible opposition from is wife. However, he has grown a testimony of the importance of these things, so I think it will only serve to strengthen that testimony as long as we help him through it. Basically, he is the closest I have ever met to a `kinjin`, or golden nvestigator. But, there are going to be some rough trials ahead, so please pray for him. (By the way, I dont think I will write that story to Mom in her email, so you could share it with whomever you think might want to know...)
But man, everyday, I come to appreciate you and Dad more and more. It truly is a ask keeping a place clean. It truly is a task figuring out what to eat and to keep a healthy balanced diet. It truly is a task `raising a kid.` Haha, yeah, as trainer, responsibilities of a parent seem to really come out. Even when your new missionary is a stud. Theres just some things that need to get done, and its up to the folks to do it. I know that now. I cant imagine what its like with little children! I kinda cringe thinking about it right now, but there will be a time and place for that. Haha.
Well, Im doing well here. Im really extremely tired, but its a good tired. If I werent, I think I might feel guilty that I wasnt working hard enough. So, we are doing good things here. Things are moving. Thank you for your support and all those years of raising a trouble maker like me! Haha.
You be sure to make today a good one, okay? :-)
~Elder Hogge
Monday, October 13, 2008
13 October 2008
Hey all! Im doing good here. We are really crammed for time, so Ill make this short.
Thanks for the couples of emails. It feels good to open the account and see something to read! :-D
Me and Elder Mourao are great. We were able to see General Conference in our Zone Leaders area this past Saturday and Sunday. I personally thought it was too short and didnt want it to stop. President Monson is the man! He just always says dont worry, have patience, help others, and be happy! :-) I was happy after each of his talks. Did you all hear the story he told about the elder learning spanish in the MTC? If not, I would like to recap: so, there was this one elder learning spanish in the MTC, and he thought it was too hard, so he fully decided to give up. It went all the way to the director at the MTC, and he gave President Monson a phone call asking what he should do. President Monson said `just stick him in the class for elders learning japanese for a day.` That following day, the director at the MTC called back president monson very early in the morning, and said `it worked! after being in the Japanese class for a couple hours, the elder had no doubts that he could learn spanish.` I laughed very hard. Japanese is tough --- straight from the prophets mouth! :-D
We dont have access to the conference talks until next months ensign, so if you wanted to throw a couple in...oh, elder clausse`s talk...president eyring and utchdorf`s talks from priesthood if you could...haha, thanks!
This week was good. We are still alive. We had softball this morning with the Hiroshima Stake, and I pitched a couple of complete games. It was pretty fun and awesome, but I know tomorrow will buuuuurn! This week, we have been able to see a couple of really cool small miracles, but I dont have time to really go into depth, but let me just tell you: we know we will have a baptism by the end of the transfer, although we dont know who it will be :-D we even have a date already set! Its way cooler working towards the date. So yeah, my little green bean is full of energy and faith, and we are oh so very similar. we are having lots of fun!! And his japanese is bomb for 2 weeks in japan. AWESOME!
Well, we need to go, so take care everyone!! :-)
Loves and stuffs,
Elder Hogge
Thanks for the couples of emails. It feels good to open the account and see something to read! :-D
Me and Elder Mourao are great. We were able to see General Conference in our Zone Leaders area this past Saturday and Sunday. I personally thought it was too short and didnt want it to stop. President Monson is the man! He just always says dont worry, have patience, help others, and be happy! :-) I was happy after each of his talks. Did you all hear the story he told about the elder learning spanish in the MTC? If not, I would like to recap: so, there was this one elder learning spanish in the MTC, and he thought it was too hard, so he fully decided to give up. It went all the way to the director at the MTC, and he gave President Monson a phone call asking what he should do. President Monson said `just stick him in the class for elders learning japanese for a day.` That following day, the director at the MTC called back president monson very early in the morning, and said `it worked! after being in the Japanese class for a couple hours, the elder had no doubts that he could learn spanish.` I laughed very hard. Japanese is tough --- straight from the prophets mouth! :-D
We dont have access to the conference talks until next months ensign, so if you wanted to throw a couple in...oh, elder clausse`s talk...president eyring and utchdorf`s talks from priesthood if you could...haha, thanks!
This week was good. We are still alive. We had softball this morning with the Hiroshima Stake, and I pitched a couple of complete games. It was pretty fun and awesome, but I know tomorrow will buuuuurn! This week, we have been able to see a couple of really cool small miracles, but I dont have time to really go into depth, but let me just tell you: we know we will have a baptism by the end of the transfer, although we dont know who it will be :-D we even have a date already set! Its way cooler working towards the date. So yeah, my little green bean is full of energy and faith, and we are oh so very similar. we are having lots of fun!! And his japanese is bomb for 2 weeks in japan. AWESOME!
Well, we need to go, so take care everyone!! :-)
Loves and stuffs,
Elder Hogge
Monday, October 6, 2008
6 October 2008
I hate computers. I just spent 40 minutes typing out this beautiful email, and the computer decided to log me out...Im a little frustrated because it was pretty much one of the most amazing emails i have ever written, so, please bear with me this week! :-)
Okay. So, things are going good here. We are working hard, and Hatsukaichi is wonderful. We have ocean on one side, and beautiful green Japanese mountains on the other, so we are working the middle! :-)
This past week brought a lot of change for me! We got transfer calls this last Wednesday, and Elder Packer left me! And guess what: I was called to be trainer and district leader! When, I first got the call, it blew my socks off! I had gone only one transfer as senior, and then I went straight to district leader and trainer! That is quite fast for this mission! So, i was very much overwhelmed at first, but now, im doing fine. My new companion is Elder Mourao. Yeah, hes Brazilian. Yeah, hes awesome! He was born in Brazil, and then moved to Utah when he was 11 years old. So, he English is perfectly American. And he is perfectly Utah Mormon! He went to Utah State for a year, and he wants to go into the Air Force, too. When I first met him, my first thought was Wow! Hes huge! 6 foot 4! I may be his trainer, but he could eat me for breakfast if I dont get up on time! Haha. Probably the coolest part about him is what he said in the first 5 minutes we were together: `I bleed blue.` Yeah, this is the start of a beautiful relationship! :-)
GO COUGS!!!!!
yeah, this has been the fastest year of my life.
and I like it.
Its really awesome hearing about the family! Mr. Reiswig stories bring back good memories...Hilary needs to send me a letter...Im her founding father and havent given her approval yet! Haha, go Hil!
Spence -- HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FROM ALL OF US TO YOU, WE WISH IT WERE OUR BIRTHDAY, SO WE COULD PARTY TOO. HEY! Yeah, Ill try and get something off to you. Was there anything you specifically wanted? I remember when I turned 16, one of the best things I did was get my patriarchal blessing the day before. If you dont have it yet, it would be a great thing to have! :-)
Well, Im tired of typing since this is the second big letter i've done...so...im off!
Wait, what does Mom and Dad prefer -- email or letter? I can do either...
Well, I love y`all and hope to hear from you soon! :-)
Elder Hogge
Okay. So, things are going good here. We are working hard, and Hatsukaichi is wonderful. We have ocean on one side, and beautiful green Japanese mountains on the other, so we are working the middle! :-)
This past week brought a lot of change for me! We got transfer calls this last Wednesday, and Elder Packer left me! And guess what: I was called to be trainer and district leader! When, I first got the call, it blew my socks off! I had gone only one transfer as senior, and then I went straight to district leader and trainer! That is quite fast for this mission! So, i was very much overwhelmed at first, but now, im doing fine. My new companion is Elder Mourao. Yeah, hes Brazilian. Yeah, hes awesome! He was born in Brazil, and then moved to Utah when he was 11 years old. So, he English is perfectly American. And he is perfectly Utah Mormon! He went to Utah State for a year, and he wants to go into the Air Force, too. When I first met him, my first thought was Wow! Hes huge! 6 foot 4! I may be his trainer, but he could eat me for breakfast if I dont get up on time! Haha. Probably the coolest part about him is what he said in the first 5 minutes we were together: `I bleed blue.` Yeah, this is the start of a beautiful relationship! :-)
GO COUGS!!!!!
yeah, this has been the fastest year of my life.
and I like it.
Its really awesome hearing about the family! Mr. Reiswig stories bring back good memories...Hilary needs to send me a letter...Im her founding father and havent given her approval yet! Haha, go Hil!
Spence -- HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FROM ALL OF US TO YOU, WE WISH IT WERE OUR BIRTHDAY, SO WE COULD PARTY TOO. HEY! Yeah, Ill try and get something off to you. Was there anything you specifically wanted? I remember when I turned 16, one of the best things I did was get my patriarchal blessing the day before. If you dont have it yet, it would be a great thing to have! :-)
Well, Im tired of typing since this is the second big letter i've done...so...im off!
Wait, what does Mom and Dad prefer -- email or letter? I can do either...
Well, I love y`all and hope to hear from you soon! :-)
Elder Hogge
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