Family and Friends!!
Sorry for getting this email out so late. Libraries have the audacity of closing on a national holiday.
Mom and grandma, I got the packages!! Oh man what delicious goodness contained those cardboard boxes. Thank you so much. Mom, when I saw the mini tape measure I was super confused until I read your note. My beanie is nine inches tall and the brim is a hair more than two inches.
The missionary effort in Riverhead is going well. We were able to pick up some more investigators this week. But the really frustrating thing here is how often people work. So many people here work seven days a week. It makes the Work tough sometimes. It becomes especially hard to keep teaching people when they arent willing to give up work for other things. None of our investigators are progressing very much right now, but Elder Lunt and I plan to change that. Every aspect of missionary work depends on faith. Without faith, we lose the power of God. And that also entails following the enticings of the Holy Spirit. I've really come to realize how necessary the Holy Ghost is in all aspects of life. Without him, there is no divine direction and we cant find the true happiness the soul longs for. Preach My Gospel is absolutely amazing. I highly advise all of you to really study it. Yes, its for missionaries, but every member a missionary!! Please take the time to really study it and apply it in your lives.
I've realized how many excuses one can have for not being a hard working, diligent missionary. It's so easy to fall into the trap of excuses. But excuses kill faith, obedience, and success. The best missoinaries I've seen out here never give excuses. Those who work hard WILL be blessed by the Lord.
Ok.... I'm so sorry but I really gotta go. Since its not P-day we dont have much time. Dont let the length of this letter decieve. All is well, and I love all of you so much!!
Love, Elder Hogge
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Fantastic Finding Frenzy Finally Finished
Family and Friends,
What a week it has been. Elder Lunt and I have been working super hard and we have really seen the blessings of it.
Mom, I got the pictures. Little Jackjack is turnin into quite the stud! Looks like he is absolutely loving life.
Unfortunately, we havent been able to get into contact with Neli and Lucia over the past week. Hispanics work so much out here that sometimes its impossible to get a hold of them. But we will keep trying for sure. We met with the Jehova's Witnesses. They are absolutely not willing to change their beliefs. Its sad how limited their religion keeps them from knowing and understanding the truth but man has his agency. Though they are very nice people, we wont be returning.
Mom, sounds like you've been having fun with your gimpy arm. I'm glad all has been going well. I was hoping for a picture haha. I know that this surgery will really help you out in the long run. Please take your time with the beanies. There is absolutely no rush. I got in contact with Elder Warhurst and he said he wants a bright blue and bright orange one. I think neon would work. He doesnt go home for another year so no rush. As far as mine, I wear it with the brim down. Thank you for being so awesome and doin this :) As far as the package, just send it to the mission office. No worries there.
I'm so excited to hear that Taylor is getting back out there!!! He must be so pumped right now. I know that overcoming this challenge will definitely make him stronger in the mission field. And its so cool that Hil has been able to go to the Temple. What a blessing that is.
Well, like I mentioned, this week was awesome. Our zone has been doing something called a Finding Frenzy. Which means, try to get as many investigators as possible so that there is a wide pool to find people who will progress in the gospel. The mission standard for new investigators a week per companionship is 2-3, so we decided to bump that up to 5 per companionship in the zone. It seemed like like a daunting task, but we had a zone fast and we were all determined to work. This occured for the first two weeks of the transfer, so the past two weeks. The fantastic finding frenzy finally finished (ooh, alliteration) yesterday. The first week, Elder Lunt and I picked up four investigators, which isn't bad at all. But then this week, we really worked our hineys off and we pick up nine new investigators!! Thats more than three times the mission standard and double the zone goal. The Lord abundantly poured His blessings upon us. That has been one of the greatest miracles of the mission for me so far. Granted, we still gotta work hard keep people progressing, but now we have somethin to work with. We went with two investigators when I came to Riverhead, to about 15 people. I know the Lord has something special in store for us here.
So thats the scoop for this week. Pretty cool stuff has been happening here in Riverhead. The Lord is preparing people to hear His word and Elder Lunt and I are ready to harvest. We will see how all of this goes. But I have so much faith in what the Lord is willing to do for us. My spanish is coming along, and I know I am becoming more familiar with His gospel day by day. I love the mission so much and know that it will change my life for forever. I love you all and hope to hear from you soon!!
Love, Elder Hogge
Ill try to get some pics out next week. I was lazy with my picture taking this time around haha
What a week it has been. Elder Lunt and I have been working super hard and we have really seen the blessings of it.
Mom, I got the pictures. Little Jackjack is turnin into quite the stud! Looks like he is absolutely loving life.
Unfortunately, we havent been able to get into contact with Neli and Lucia over the past week. Hispanics work so much out here that sometimes its impossible to get a hold of them. But we will keep trying for sure. We met with the Jehova's Witnesses. They are absolutely not willing to change their beliefs. Its sad how limited their religion keeps them from knowing and understanding the truth but man has his agency. Though they are very nice people, we wont be returning.
Mom, sounds like you've been having fun with your gimpy arm. I'm glad all has been going well. I was hoping for a picture haha. I know that this surgery will really help you out in the long run. Please take your time with the beanies. There is absolutely no rush. I got in contact with Elder Warhurst and he said he wants a bright blue and bright orange one. I think neon would work. He doesnt go home for another year so no rush. As far as mine, I wear it with the brim down. Thank you for being so awesome and doin this :) As far as the package, just send it to the mission office. No worries there.
I'm so excited to hear that Taylor is getting back out there!!! He must be so pumped right now. I know that overcoming this challenge will definitely make him stronger in the mission field. And its so cool that Hil has been able to go to the Temple. What a blessing that is.
Well, like I mentioned, this week was awesome. Our zone has been doing something called a Finding Frenzy. Which means, try to get as many investigators as possible so that there is a wide pool to find people who will progress in the gospel. The mission standard for new investigators a week per companionship is 2-3, so we decided to bump that up to 5 per companionship in the zone. It seemed like like a daunting task, but we had a zone fast and we were all determined to work. This occured for the first two weeks of the transfer, so the past two weeks. The fantastic finding frenzy finally finished (ooh, alliteration) yesterday. The first week, Elder Lunt and I picked up four investigators, which isn't bad at all. But then this week, we really worked our hineys off and we pick up nine new investigators!! Thats more than three times the mission standard and double the zone goal. The Lord abundantly poured His blessings upon us. That has been one of the greatest miracles of the mission for me so far. Granted, we still gotta work hard keep people progressing, but now we have somethin to work with. We went with two investigators when I came to Riverhead, to about 15 people. I know the Lord has something special in store for us here.
So thats the scoop for this week. Pretty cool stuff has been happening here in Riverhead. The Lord is preparing people to hear His word and Elder Lunt and I are ready to harvest. We will see how all of this goes. But I have so much faith in what the Lord is willing to do for us. My spanish is coming along, and I know I am becoming more familiar with His gospel day by day. I love the mission so much and know that it will change my life for forever. I love you all and hope to hear from you soon!!
Love, Elder Hogge
Ill try to get some pics out next week. I was lazy with my picture taking this time around haha
Monday, May 14, 2012
Updates: The Chronicles of a Hogge on a Mission
Hello family and friends!!
Long time no speak, eh? It was so absolutely wonderful hearing all of your lovely voices. I was so happy yesterday! I still cant believe Hil is reporting to the MTC in three months!! Well ok, I can believe it, but I was so surprised!! She is going to have so much fun... It will be hard, but she will grow so much because of it. I'm so happy that she had the opportunity to go throught the temple. Actually, on the way here, we listened to the song "Mountain of the Lord" in the car (I think thats its name, ya know, the a capella one?). That was the first time I truly focused on the message. It gave me goosebumps haha. Its by far one of my favorite songs now. Hilary is going to grow so much! (maybe not physically, but definitely spiritually!) Sarah, now I do realize that I put exclamation points everywhere. They're just so much fun!!
I'm really glad you all enjoy my letters. I've actually taken a liking to writing them. I think when I know I'm not being graded on writing, it actually becomes fun haha. But I really do try to make them good cuz I know I got some avid readers back home hehe.
Mom I'm so happy to hear the operation went well. You've always been one to find that kind of stuff facinating so it dont surprise me in the least that you are anxious to see the incision. I remember when I went to get the endoscopy done. That was a crazy experience. I vividly remember being in the waiting room and the nurse coming in telling me they were ready to give me the other procedure as well. *Shudder* I'm glad that was all a mix up and I ended up not needing a colonoscopy. And really the only other part I remember is waking up half way throught the endoscopy and watching a poster melt off the wall. I was obviously on something haha. Mom, if you want you can send pictures attatched to your emails every week. I would love to get those kind of updates :D More loom hats would be fantastic. I dont remember what color Elder Warhurst would like but I can ask him this week. But as for me, would it be too much to ask for a bright yellow one for P-days? I just feel like it would be a happy beanie to have haha. Oh yeah... and I just offered Elder Lunt one as well (he said black and dark blue please :) ). I know that your hand aint doin so well so please dont try workin on them until you're comfortable. You da best mom! And pops, thank for always bein so helpful to me. You make my life so easy.
I'm super stoked for this week. As you know, we have some appointments set up. It's very rare that most appointments actually go through cuz people usually have a lot of stuff to do. But I believe we could get in about four new doors this week and that would be amazing. I'll let you know how all that goes in the next edition of "Updates: The Chronicles of a Hogge on a Mission." ( I still gotta work on the title for my emails haha) But this week will be super good. Both Elder Lunt and I are hard workers and thats exactly what this area needs. We hope to go to town (figuratively) on this area. We really hope to meet with Neli and Lucia tomorrow. They seemed very interested and I think this could really go somewhere. We got a couple more people that we can work on.
Oh yeah, I sang at a funeral on Saturday. A sister of one of the members in our branch passed away so the missionaries did a couple musical numbers. It was a pretty somber weekend, but having a knowledge of the truth really brings consolation in times like these.
I just want to tell you all that I absolutely LOVE this area. Riverhead has a special place in my heart already. I gotta work my bottom off here, but it is so rewarding. I love you all so very much. Its hard being away for so long, pero la mision vale la pena. Its worth it. These past six months have been the most growing time of my life. I know that this gospel is true and that it brings us the ultimate happiness from our Father in heaven.
Love, Elder Hogge
P.S. Here are some more pictures of bushwick. First one is of me and Hipolito. He is a really really old member that was baptized fourteen years ago. He's tiny haha. He cant attend church because he has had some severe operations done but we would visit him about once a week and play dominoes with him. The next is of me and Elder Warhurst. He is such a goofy, loving, towering elder. That transfer was so much fun. And then this is the New York skyline from out of a member's window. Cool huh?
Long time no speak, eh? It was so absolutely wonderful hearing all of your lovely voices. I was so happy yesterday! I still cant believe Hil is reporting to the MTC in three months!! Well ok, I can believe it, but I was so surprised!! She is going to have so much fun... It will be hard, but she will grow so much because of it. I'm so happy that she had the opportunity to go throught the temple. Actually, on the way here, we listened to the song "Mountain of the Lord" in the car (I think thats its name, ya know, the a capella one?). That was the first time I truly focused on the message. It gave me goosebumps haha. Its by far one of my favorite songs now. Hilary is going to grow so much! (maybe not physically, but definitely spiritually!) Sarah, now I do realize that I put exclamation points everywhere. They're just so much fun!!
I'm really glad you all enjoy my letters. I've actually taken a liking to writing them. I think when I know I'm not being graded on writing, it actually becomes fun haha. But I really do try to make them good cuz I know I got some avid readers back home hehe.
Mom I'm so happy to hear the operation went well. You've always been one to find that kind of stuff facinating so it dont surprise me in the least that you are anxious to see the incision. I remember when I went to get the endoscopy done. That was a crazy experience. I vividly remember being in the waiting room and the nurse coming in telling me they were ready to give me the other procedure as well. *Shudder* I'm glad that was all a mix up and I ended up not needing a colonoscopy. And really the only other part I remember is waking up half way throught the endoscopy and watching a poster melt off the wall. I was obviously on something haha. Mom, if you want you can send pictures attatched to your emails every week. I would love to get those kind of updates :D More loom hats would be fantastic. I dont remember what color Elder Warhurst would like but I can ask him this week. But as for me, would it be too much to ask for a bright yellow one for P-days? I just feel like it would be a happy beanie to have haha. Oh yeah... and I just offered Elder Lunt one as well (he said black and dark blue please :) ). I know that your hand aint doin so well so please dont try workin on them until you're comfortable. You da best mom! And pops, thank for always bein so helpful to me. You make my life so easy.
I'm super stoked for this week. As you know, we have some appointments set up. It's very rare that most appointments actually go through cuz people usually have a lot of stuff to do. But I believe we could get in about four new doors this week and that would be amazing. I'll let you know how all that goes in the next edition of "Updates: The Chronicles of a Hogge on a Mission." ( I still gotta work on the title for my emails haha) But this week will be super good. Both Elder Lunt and I are hard workers and thats exactly what this area needs. We hope to go to town (figuratively) on this area. We really hope to meet with Neli and Lucia tomorrow. They seemed very interested and I think this could really go somewhere. We got a couple more people that we can work on.
Oh yeah, I sang at a funeral on Saturday. A sister of one of the members in our branch passed away so the missionaries did a couple musical numbers. It was a pretty somber weekend, but having a knowledge of the truth really brings consolation in times like these.
I just want to tell you all that I absolutely LOVE this area. Riverhead has a special place in my heart already. I gotta work my bottom off here, but it is so rewarding. I love you all so very much. Its hard being away for so long, pero la mision vale la pena. Its worth it. These past six months have been the most growing time of my life. I know that this gospel is true and that it brings us the ultimate happiness from our Father in heaven.
Love, Elder Hogge
P.S. Here are some more pictures of bushwick. First one is of me and Hipolito. He is a really really old member that was baptized fourteen years ago. He's tiny haha. He cant attend church because he has had some severe operations done but we would visit him about once a week and play dominoes with him. The next is of me and Elder Warhurst. He is such a goofy, loving, towering elder. That transfer was so much fun. And then this is the New York skyline from out of a member's window. Cool huh?
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Family and Friends...
Sorry for the long wait but these past few days have been quite an adventure haha.
So, to answer right off, Angelo and Rosa did indeed get baptized :) The attatched file is of Elder Warhurst and me with Rosa, Angelo, and Andy (the five year old). Angelo asked me to baptize him so I was in the water on sunday. Cool, huh? Rosa asked a member in the branch to baptize her. Sunday was so much fun! They are doing really great and.....
And I am no longer in Bushwick! On Friday, Prez came to the Bushwick chapel to interview missionaries. He didn't call Elder Warhurst or me for an interview, but we were there for a meeting. During his interviews, he saw me and told me to come talk to him. So he and I spoke for a bit. Well, he told me that on Tuesday I would be transfered out to Riverhead!!! I could not believe it! He let me know that he was sending me out there because he needs some good hard workers in that area. So lemme tell ya a bit about Riverhead.
First off, it is not Bushwick. Not in the slightest. It is literally as different from Bushwick as the mission can get without going out to Bermuda. Bushwick is smack dab in the middle of the city and riverhead is the very last area of Long Island. We are in a car area. (And when I say we, I mean Elder Lunt and I. He is a very awesome missionary. He has been out for about a year and a half and he is the District Leader. A very hard worker and I love him so much already.) Elder Lunt is red dotted, which means he cannot drive. Which means I will always drive. Ok. I think I was the most stressed out I have ever been yesterday. Not because of the transfer, but because it was my first experience driving in New York traffic. All the drivers are CRAZY!! All of em!! Oh man that was torment. But eventually we got out of the city and made our way up to the Island. It is so gorgeous out here. It reminds me of the foothills of the Sacramento Area, except much greener and much wetter. I loved the city, but I am loving the island just as much.
So yeah, here I am in Riverhead. We live in a house.... thats right, a house. It's divided into three living spaces. There's us, the other Riverhead elders, and a hispanic family. But each of the three spaces is divided so its basically your own little section of the house. So we are having fun here. Today, I went to Walmart for the first time in over half a year. It was so cool.
The branch here is really small... Tiny in fact. From what I hear, at the start of sacrament meeting there will be an average of ten members there. So we get to work really hard here. Our area is HUGE though. By the time you reach the end of long island, it forks into the North Fork and South Fork. Us four Riverhead elders cover the entire North Fork and farther in as well. I still dont know much about the area, but I'm learnin :) I hope I get to be out here for a while.
So thats the update on the mission. Sorry it was so belated, but we had a lot of stuff happenin haha. Sounds like Hilary had a wonderful burfday. (by the way hil, Im confused about that email.... but ill take your word for it). I hope Bradfords allergies calm down a bit. Seems like that kid is always havin trouble haha. (By the way, Willie, I haven't gotten a letter from you in a while!) Mom, I'm excited that you get to head up that service project. By the way, if there were a chance I could get one or two of those beanies you made me that'd be great. Everyone loves the one I have and Elder Warhurst wondered if he could get one somehow haha. That green and blue beanie is one of my prized possessions, no joke. I wear it every night and p-day.
I'm excited for sunday. I've been so busy that I haven't had much time to think about it, but Mother's day is a lot closer than I remember haha. It's going to be fabulous.
I love you all so much. This mission has changed my life more than I could have ever imagined. I know my Father lives, and that Jesus is the Christ. We WILL be together forever because of the love of God. Talk to ya soon :)
Love, Elder Hogge
P.S. I sent pictures of my district in Bushwick, and of a cardinal. cool huh?
Sorry for the long wait but these past few days have been quite an adventure haha.
So, to answer right off, Angelo and Rosa did indeed get baptized :) The attatched file is of Elder Warhurst and me with Rosa, Angelo, and Andy (the five year old). Angelo asked me to baptize him so I was in the water on sunday. Cool, huh? Rosa asked a member in the branch to baptize her. Sunday was so much fun! They are doing really great and.....
And I am no longer in Bushwick! On Friday, Prez came to the Bushwick chapel to interview missionaries. He didn't call Elder Warhurst or me for an interview, but we were there for a meeting. During his interviews, he saw me and told me to come talk to him. So he and I spoke for a bit. Well, he told me that on Tuesday I would be transfered out to Riverhead!!! I could not believe it! He let me know that he was sending me out there because he needs some good hard workers in that area. So lemme tell ya a bit about Riverhead.
First off, it is not Bushwick. Not in the slightest. It is literally as different from Bushwick as the mission can get without going out to Bermuda. Bushwick is smack dab in the middle of the city and riverhead is the very last area of Long Island. We are in a car area. (And when I say we, I mean Elder Lunt and I. He is a very awesome missionary. He has been out for about a year and a half and he is the District Leader. A very hard worker and I love him so much already.) Elder Lunt is red dotted, which means he cannot drive. Which means I will always drive. Ok. I think I was the most stressed out I have ever been yesterday. Not because of the transfer, but because it was my first experience driving in New York traffic. All the drivers are CRAZY!! All of em!! Oh man that was torment. But eventually we got out of the city and made our way up to the Island. It is so gorgeous out here. It reminds me of the foothills of the Sacramento Area, except much greener and much wetter. I loved the city, but I am loving the island just as much.
So yeah, here I am in Riverhead. We live in a house.... thats right, a house. It's divided into three living spaces. There's us, the other Riverhead elders, and a hispanic family. But each of the three spaces is divided so its basically your own little section of the house. So we are having fun here. Today, I went to Walmart for the first time in over half a year. It was so cool.
The branch here is really small... Tiny in fact. From what I hear, at the start of sacrament meeting there will be an average of ten members there. So we get to work really hard here. Our area is HUGE though. By the time you reach the end of long island, it forks into the North Fork and South Fork. Us four Riverhead elders cover the entire North Fork and farther in as well. I still dont know much about the area, but I'm learnin :) I hope I get to be out here for a while.
So thats the update on the mission. Sorry it was so belated, but we had a lot of stuff happenin haha. Sounds like Hilary had a wonderful burfday. (by the way hil, Im confused about that email.... but ill take your word for it). I hope Bradfords allergies calm down a bit. Seems like that kid is always havin trouble haha. (By the way, Willie, I haven't gotten a letter from you in a while!) Mom, I'm excited that you get to head up that service project. By the way, if there were a chance I could get one or two of those beanies you made me that'd be great. Everyone loves the one I have and Elder Warhurst wondered if he could get one somehow haha. That green and blue beanie is one of my prized possessions, no joke. I wear it every night and p-day.
I'm excited for sunday. I've been so busy that I haven't had much time to think about it, but Mother's day is a lot closer than I remember haha. It's going to be fabulous.
I love you all so much. This mission has changed my life more than I could have ever imagined. I know my Father lives, and that Jesus is the Christ. We WILL be together forever because of the love of God. Talk to ya soon :)
Love, Elder Hogge
P.S. I sent pictures of my district in Bushwick, and of a cardinal. cool huh?
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