7 January 2008

Dear Family,

How is it going? I hope you all enjoy receiving my letters because I have started to really enjoy writing them! Happy New Years! I hope your celebration was fun. We went to a couple of jinjas (Shinto/Buddhist shrines) and watched people do the ceremonial “prayer” for Shogatsu. We really wanted to take pictures of people in kimono, but it was somewhat of a cold day, so everyone was wrapped in coats.

I have found that using time effectively is super important. When I first came out, I thought we were going to go door-to-door for hours. However, my trainer planned very different activities that I didn’t think were necessarily missionary work at the time. We have done a lot of activities in visiting investigators and members and really helping to strengthen them. Our time is spent much more effectively that way. Granted, I know the importance of getting out and finding, but it is through the members that referrals and church membership can really explode. It is much more effective when a friend asks you to hear the gospel than two American strangers. Remember family (especially Hilary, Spencer, and even Bradford) friends respond much nicer to friends than strangers (missionaries) in hearing the gospel. Make yourselves more valuable to the Lord and the work by inviting your friends to come unto Christ and see what has made our family so happy.

Well, I finally got my Christmas packages this week. They have been trying to deliver, but we have never been home, so we really had to coordinate that. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Hogge for the steki (stylish) new pen and pencil! They will be put to good use. And thank you Grandma and Grandpa Buck and Ladybug for the Christmas goodies, even if they were a little late!

Missionary work in Shimonoseki has been booming. We are going to challenge Kobayashi and Sakimura to accept baptism tonight -- way exciting. On the 1st, we went out and worked with Nakamura Kyodai (Brother) and searched for people for his Samaria Home for homeless people. I thought we weren’t supposed to proselyte to homeless people, but our mission president specifically told us to go and search. So we went out on the 1st and we invited a nice older man named Shigeta-san to Samaria Home. He came, and since he has found a place to live, he has accepted the lessons and even come to church. He really is a nice man, but you can tell that he has been through a lot. He is obviously an ex-member of Yakuza, and he only has 8 1/2 fingers. He was born with only 4 on his right hand, and he had half of his pinky chopped off when he left Yakuza. I hear that is really common. But now, he is just the nicest and genki-est (happy/spirited) old man ever. And he is a very good artist. He drew a really sweet dragon for us, but he’s not finished yet.

Me and my companion have decided that the people of Samaria Home are the most interesting people we may ever encounter. We spend a lot of time with Brother Nakamura and strengthening the Samaria Home gang. Last Saturday, we had a group “lesson” at the Samaria Home office about the Good Samaritan and charity. Since these people have no experience with Christianity, we like to teach about things in the Bible and connect them to the Book of Mormon. So we also read Moroni 7:15, and then ended with John 14:15. It was good. We even had the District President come and doseki for us. His name is Fujinaka Kuicho (President) and he is one of the strongest members I ever met. He only has three fingers (middle-pinky) on his right hand from a childhood accident, so when he and Shigeta-san shook hands, I realized there were only 7 fingers in that handshake! Haha, it’s awesome.

So yeah, how are things? I would like an update! Haha. I also had a couple questions: Dad, how was your trainer like? What kind of experience was it? Also, how is my dearly beloved Paul? I heard he had his reattachment surgery on the 2nd. It’s awesome that he got Wentao to church!! Yeah, also, can y’all make sure to use my Shimonoseki address? I’m pretty sure the mission office is tired of forwarding stuff. Also, thank you so much for your letter, dad. I think that when I focus on myself and think that I am the only one who has experienced this, I get down. Remembering that I am really not alone in this work is important. It’s just my pride that lets me think that.

Oh yeah, I met the rest of my zone this week at zone conference. They’re all young and awesome. About half my zone is younger than 5 transfers. We went to an Indian Restaurant and I had super good seafood curry. I have also realized that I really want to learn how to play sitar.

Well, my time draws to a close. I hope everyone is diggin’ life! I love you all sooooooo much! I miss you all! Take care and be safe!

Always,

Elder Hogge