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
Monday, January 21, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
31 December 2007
12/31/07
Dear Family,
Well, that’s another week. Pretty crazy. Time flies, but not. It’s weird. I can’t believe last week was Christmas. So much has happened since then. Yet, the weeks seem to fly. I guess the term “days are long, weeks are short” really applies. We are nearing the half way point of my first transfer in Japan. It has snowed a little bit here, but nothing really sticks. But still, IT’S THAT COLD! *shiver* The snow here is different from Utah. It’s soooo increadibly windy, and the humidity makes sure the cold goes straight to the bone. It’s wonderful. It does a lot to strengthen character and all that stuff.
Let’s see, well . . . everything is going. I learned that when the Japanese honk, it means “thank you for letting me pass.” It’s amazing how much respect there is around here. The customer truly is always right. A lot of the time, the store owners will literally stand in the entry to their store and welcome you and bow.
The food has been great. We eat lots of curry and my loving companion said he’s going to make some Thai curry someday. Thanks for introducing all that food to me Dad! I think I inherited your taste buds for it. We eat basically all vegetables when we cook. Make a noodle dish or just boil the veggies and dip them in ponzu sauce. My companion was a vegetarian for a couple years before the mission (he isn’t now) so he likes using tons of veggies which I don’t mind. We usually have lettuce, onions, a couple kinds of tasty mushrooms, and tofu with everything. The tofu isn’t all that bad, it just tastes like whatever you put it in. The texture is very much like jello, but I’m good with it.
The work is moving along. We don’t do too much finding because we teach many lessons. We have two awesome progressing investigators -- Sakimura and Kobayashi. Sakimura is a 22 year old guy who is pretty much awesome. He works a ton, and falls asleep a lot. Ha ha. He’s heard all the lessons, but he’s still working on getting baptized. He doesn’t live with his parents, but they don’t want him to get baptized, and he respects their decision. Since he is an only child, if he converts, their family line of Buddhism dies. It’s tough. Almost all Japanese say they’re Buddhists by tradition. It’s tough. But Sakimura really is awesome.
Kobayashi used to be homeless until Nakamura Kyodai (Brother Nakamura) took him in. Kobayashi is one of the nicest people I have ever met, and he is an amazing cook. He’s heard all of the lessons, and he is very spiritually sensitive, but he just doesn’t think he has the faith to let go of Buddhism. Even though he studies the scriptures harder than me and my companion combined!!!
Well, that’s just an update on things here. Hope y’all are puttin’ your shoulder to the wheel.
Love, Elder Hogge
P.S. Shogatsu (New Year) here is ridiculous! Everyone goes to the little Shinto AND Buddhist shrines and claps twice and calls that good for their worship all year. It’s funny how they are all festive a week late! They picked the wrong holiday to connect with their spirituality. Meh. They’ll figure it out.
Dear Family,
Well, that’s another week. Pretty crazy. Time flies, but not. It’s weird. I can’t believe last week was Christmas. So much has happened since then. Yet, the weeks seem to fly. I guess the term “days are long, weeks are short” really applies. We are nearing the half way point of my first transfer in Japan. It has snowed a little bit here, but nothing really sticks. But still, IT’S THAT COLD! *shiver* The snow here is different from Utah. It’s soooo increadibly windy, and the humidity makes sure the cold goes straight to the bone. It’s wonderful. It does a lot to strengthen character and all that stuff.
Let’s see, well . . . everything is going. I learned that when the Japanese honk, it means “thank you for letting me pass.” It’s amazing how much respect there is around here. The customer truly is always right. A lot of the time, the store owners will literally stand in the entry to their store and welcome you and bow.
The food has been great. We eat lots of curry and my loving companion said he’s going to make some Thai curry someday. Thanks for introducing all that food to me Dad! I think I inherited your taste buds for it. We eat basically all vegetables when we cook. Make a noodle dish or just boil the veggies and dip them in ponzu sauce. My companion was a vegetarian for a couple years before the mission (he isn’t now) so he likes using tons of veggies which I don’t mind. We usually have lettuce, onions, a couple kinds of tasty mushrooms, and tofu with everything. The tofu isn’t all that bad, it just tastes like whatever you put it in. The texture is very much like jello, but I’m good with it.
The work is moving along. We don’t do too much finding because we teach many lessons. We have two awesome progressing investigators -- Sakimura and Kobayashi. Sakimura is a 22 year old guy who is pretty much awesome. He works a ton, and falls asleep a lot. Ha ha. He’s heard all the lessons, but he’s still working on getting baptized. He doesn’t live with his parents, but they don’t want him to get baptized, and he respects their decision. Since he is an only child, if he converts, their family line of Buddhism dies. It’s tough. Almost all Japanese say they’re Buddhists by tradition. It’s tough. But Sakimura really is awesome.
Kobayashi used to be homeless until Nakamura Kyodai (Brother Nakamura) took him in. Kobayashi is one of the nicest people I have ever met, and he is an amazing cook. He’s heard all of the lessons, and he is very spiritually sensitive, but he just doesn’t think he has the faith to let go of Buddhism. Even though he studies the scriptures harder than me and my companion combined!!!
Well, that’s just an update on things here. Hope y’all are puttin’ your shoulder to the wheel.
Love, Elder Hogge
P.S. Shogatsu (New Year) here is ridiculous! Everyone goes to the little Shinto AND Buddhist shrines and claps twice and calls that good for their worship all year. It’s funny how they are all festive a week late! They picked the wrong holiday to connect with their spirituality. Meh. They’ll figure it out.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Joey's Address in Shimonoseki
45 Yamaguchi-Ken, Shimonoseki-Shi
Akineshin-Machi 7-4-#1101
Japan 751-0874
Akineshin-Machi 7-4-#1101
Japan 751-0874
17 December 2007
Dear Family,
How goes it? I'm in Japan. I arrived in my "bean" area: Shimonoseki, last Thursday. My trainer lived in Southern California and moved to Southern Oregon in middle school. His name is Elder McClure (Makura) and he also went to BYU for a year before coming out. He has been out here for about a year and a half, and it was a big surprise for him to turn trainer again.
So it's been fun jumping in. Shimonoseki is a very special place. We have lessons basically every night, which is way awesome for Japan. My first Sunday here, two men were baptized. It's pretty crazy! We have a very special situation here. A man named Nakamura Kyodai (Brother Nakamura) here was baptized just a couple months ago. He has taken a special interest in helping the homeless around the city. He is building a place called Samaria Home, and he invites homeless men to come and stay until they get on their feet and find a job. That's where we have been getting most of our referrals.
It's sooo awesome seeing the repentance process truly in action. The men who were just baptized were both members of Yakuza way back in the day. The kind of thing where you bring in the mission president for the baptismal interview. But knowing they have been through a lot makes the flipside here that much better!
Well, I haven't been able to get a bike here yet, so I have been riding a mamachari bike around. It's a 3-gear bike that is pretty much straight from the 80's. Hills are doing a lot to build my character!
Saturday, we rode a ton. If you pull up a map of the Shimonoseki area, we started in the middle of the peninsula in Shin-Shimonoseki, went pretty straight east to Chofu and went all the way around the peninsula with a strong ocean wind to the city west of Shin-Shimonoseki to Yasuoka. Pretty much a full afternoon.
We are doing fine here. Lots of lessons, tons of food from the members (big branch of almost 50!), no central heating, and nato that looks and tastes like boogers, and a sweet 11th story view of Shin-Shimonoseki with the Shinkansen bulleting by. I am very lucky and ready to go to work.
Always, Elder Hogge
083-257-1074
How goes it? I'm in Japan. I arrived in my "bean" area: Shimonoseki, last Thursday. My trainer lived in Southern California and moved to Southern Oregon in middle school. His name is Elder McClure (Makura) and he also went to BYU for a year before coming out. He has been out here for about a year and a half, and it was a big surprise for him to turn trainer again.
So it's been fun jumping in. Shimonoseki is a very special place. We have lessons basically every night, which is way awesome for Japan. My first Sunday here, two men were baptized. It's pretty crazy! We have a very special situation here. A man named Nakamura Kyodai (Brother Nakamura) here was baptized just a couple months ago. He has taken a special interest in helping the homeless around the city. He is building a place called Samaria Home, and he invites homeless men to come and stay until they get on their feet and find a job. That's where we have been getting most of our referrals.
It's sooo awesome seeing the repentance process truly in action. The men who were just baptized were both members of Yakuza way back in the day. The kind of thing where you bring in the mission president for the baptismal interview. But knowing they have been through a lot makes the flipside here that much better!
Well, I haven't been able to get a bike here yet, so I have been riding a mamachari bike around. It's a 3-gear bike that is pretty much straight from the 80's. Hills are doing a lot to build my character!
Saturday, we rode a ton. If you pull up a map of the Shimonoseki area, we started in the middle of the peninsula in Shin-Shimonoseki, went pretty straight east to Chofu and went all the way around the peninsula with a strong ocean wind to the city west of Shin-Shimonoseki to Yasuoka. Pretty much a full afternoon.
We are doing fine here. Lots of lessons, tons of food from the members (big branch of almost 50!), no central heating, and nato that looks and tastes like boogers, and a sweet 11th story view of Shin-Shimonoseki with the Shinkansen bulleting by. I am very lucky and ready to go to work.
Always, Elder Hogge
083-257-1074
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
13 December 2007
received via postal service
Dear Family:
I am really, really, really, really, really, really, really in Japan. I made it! I have really been pampered here with American food (Pizza Hut, Beef Stew, Chicken-Broccoli). And I just got my first transfer information. I'm headed to Shimonoseki. It is as far west as you can go on Honshu. I hear it has been a place of many miracles as of late. Maybe I will be able to teach . . . ?
Oh yeah, no email anywhere in Japan. Sorry! Don't worry. I will write every week. Just the snail way. And I will have 30 minutes for Christmas, your Christmas. So call after I call from 083-257-1074. Also, I got a chance to proselyte and I absolutely loved it!
Sincerely, Elder Hogge
P.S. My trainer is Elder McClure.
P.S.S. What time is good for you 12/25?
Dear Family:
I am really, really, really, really, really, really, really in Japan. I made it! I have really been pampered here with American food (Pizza Hut, Beef Stew, Chicken-Broccoli). And I just got my first transfer information. I'm headed to Shimonoseki. It is as far west as you can go on Honshu. I hear it has been a place of many miracles as of late. Maybe I will be able to teach . . . ?
Oh yeah, no email anywhere in Japan. Sorry! Don't worry. I will write every week. Just the snail way. And I will have 30 minutes for Christmas, your Christmas. So call after I call from 083-257-1074. Also, I got a chance to proselyte and I absolutely loved it!
Sincerely, Elder Hogge
P.S. My trainer is Elder McClure.
P.S.S. What time is good for you 12/25?
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
4 December 2007
Well, I have a foot out the door. I am very much ready to leave the nation. :-) This is my last week here at the MTC, and I am rearin to go out into the field!
So Friday, I finished 1st Nephi in Japanese. I didn't quite understand 100% of it, but I could definitely tell a big improvement in my reading pace and comprehension from the beginning. It truly is amazing how much progress all of us have made here in the MTC.
And even better news, I got my flight plans on Friday! I am way super way super way excited. My flight leaves from SLC at 6 AM next Monday. So I am getting a jump on the world! We get to report to the travel office at 3 AM. So we will see how that goes! I have a bit of a layover in Los Angeles from around 7 to 10 MST I think...I hope to get rid of a couple Book of Mormons
while I am at it!
So, in celebration of our receiving our flight plans, God decided to grace Provo with 2 inches of snow over Friday night, so we woke up to all white! It's a shame that I have really come to like snow. Odds are, I won't see any for the next two years. :-)
Well, I am thankful for everyone's thoughts and concerns, but this marks the last week I will receive Dear Elder, so say goodbye to that convenience! Haha, yeah, the last time I will receive any mail here in the MTC is around lunch on Saturday, so I am definitely headed out.
It is amazing how quickly time flew here at the MTC. If there is one thing I have learned here, (besides patience) it is how to plan and get myself in gear to work full time. I really like planning now. I have a testimony of it. When we plan, I know we are putting clay in the Lord's hands, so that He can know how to inspire us away to other things if need be. So, I am packing a lot today, so I don't know what I will be able to do in terms of letter writing. Just a caution to all...I don't know if I will send anything back, so we will see!
I liked the First Presidency devotional Sunday. It was a good treat. I can definitely feel Christmas, but surprisingly, I haven't missed being home to the max. It is odd to think that I am almost to the first of only two Christmases I will see on my mission! Time has absolutely flown. Well, I don't know quite what else to say for now, so I will say
TTFN, Ta Ta For Now!
~Elder Hogge
So Friday, I finished 1st Nephi in Japanese. I didn't quite understand 100% of it, but I could definitely tell a big improvement in my reading pace and comprehension from the beginning. It truly is amazing how much progress all of us have made here in the MTC.
And even better news, I got my flight plans on Friday! I am way super way super way excited. My flight leaves from SLC at 6 AM next Monday. So I am getting a jump on the world! We get to report to the travel office at 3 AM. So we will see how that goes! I have a bit of a layover in Los Angeles from around 7 to 10 MST I think...I hope to get rid of a couple Book of Mormons
while I am at it!
So, in celebration of our receiving our flight plans, God decided to grace Provo with 2 inches of snow over Friday night, so we woke up to all white! It's a shame that I have really come to like snow. Odds are, I won't see any for the next two years. :-)
Well, I am thankful for everyone's thoughts and concerns, but this marks the last week I will receive Dear Elder, so say goodbye to that convenience! Haha, yeah, the last time I will receive any mail here in the MTC is around lunch on Saturday, so I am definitely headed out.
It is amazing how quickly time flew here at the MTC. If there is one thing I have learned here, (besides patience) it is how to plan and get myself in gear to work full time. I really like planning now. I have a testimony of it. When we plan, I know we are putting clay in the Lord's hands, so that He can know how to inspire us away to other things if need be. So, I am packing a lot today, so I don't know what I will be able to do in terms of letter writing. Just a caution to all...I don't know if I will send anything back, so we will see!
I liked the First Presidency devotional Sunday. It was a good treat. I can definitely feel Christmas, but surprisingly, I haven't missed being home to the max. It is odd to think that I am almost to the first of only two Christmases I will see on my mission! Time has absolutely flown. Well, I don't know quite what else to say for now, so I will say
TTFN, Ta Ta For Now!
~Elder Hogge
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Joey's Japan Address
As we understand it, Joey will be leaving for Japan on December 10. His mailing address there will be:
Elder Joseph Wallace Hogge
1-11-26 Hikari-Machi
Higashi-Ku
Hiroshima-Shi
732-0052
Japan
Merry Christmas to everyone! Jeff
Elder Joseph Wallace Hogge
1-11-26 Hikari-Machi
Higashi-Ku
Hiroshima-Shi
732-0052
Japan
Merry Christmas to everyone! Jeff
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