October 21, 2013

Dearest family and friends,

This week was awesome! 

Sounds like (and looks like from Mom's pictures) that baby Louisa is doing great!! She looks so little and cute and squishy!! I cant wait to meet her. Mom says she's got a lot of Hogge resemblance, but she just looks like a cute little squishy thing to me haha. I've never been good at distinguishing features. I'm glad Mom enjoys being the go-to helper.

I dont know if all of you know, but I'm (hopefully) going to be going into the Mechanical Engineering program at BYU. My trusted advisers (aka sarah joe and dad) have really helped me get to this decision. It was such a cool revelatory experience. I did a lot of praying asking Heavenly Father to just tell me what I should go into, but then I realized that he gave me agency for a reason!! He wants me to do what I want to do. And I felt the sweet assurance that he would be at my side for all righteous and intelligent desires. Whether he lets me stay this course, or veers me to a different direction once I get into it, i know not. but I know that he truly is guiding me based on what I want to do. Its so cool!!

this week was stake conference!! i got to hear some amazing talks on certain topics that have really been on my mind. For instance, ever since Elder Soares gave his talk at general conference, I've been intrigued with the concept of meekness. I love everything about meekness!! And I came to realize in a talk at stake conference how meek I wasn't. Haha kind of funny but it was a nice awakening. I find that sometimes (especially when driving) I am not as meek as I could be. But I have been doing studies on this principle. Something else I learned at stake conference from the stake president, President Hartman, is what being a peacemaker truly means. I realize now that the phrase "blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God" means a lot more that I thought it meant. (Thats the great thing about the mission!! I realize how much I dont know and it makes me desirous to learn more!!) He spoke of punishment and why God punishes us. Its not because God is retaliating. That was never the purpose for punishment. But we punish out of retaliation because we still have some of the natural man inside of us. I learned that godly punishment is His way of teaching us that "wickedness never was happiness". I know that on the mission I am learning principles that will bless me for the rest of forever.

As for investigators, we haven't been able to see fernando and karla for a while :( in fact, most of our investigators have been MIA. Its super weird cuz... where do they all go?? but they just arent around... ever. But life and the mission goes on. One of our solid investigators right now is roberto. We have been able to meet with him for the past three saturdays in a row (which is pretty unusual here). But he is really interested in learning more. He is kind of a passive investigator at this point, but we really hope to open his eyes to a sense of what he can truly accomplish as a son of God. This week we will be visiting a lot of members. Helping strengthen their resolve to share the gospel in any mean possible.  Also on tuesday I'll be going through the temple with all the departing missionaries and president. Sooooo im pretty pumped for that. yay!

Everything is going great. I'm looking forward to everything that this week has to offer.Thank you all for the love and support you send my way. you all are GREAT!!!

Love, Elder Hogge

P.s. The entire mission is getting ipads and iphones November 11th

October 14, 2013

Family and Friends,

Seems like this flash mob video has gone somewhat viral. Good stuff eh? It was even better in person ;) I'm glad so many people are seeing that this is how we share the gospel with these wonderful New Yorkers. This has got to be one of the most interesting missions in the world :) For all those that haven't seen it I'll post it to my timeline. I hope you can all share this video on your facebook to help friends and family (member and non member alike) see how great it is to be in the Lord's work. 

This week was really great. We have been able to do a lot of good teaching. We really reached out to the less actives in the branch. Elder Pincock and I were able to visit with some nice members that have long since been out of the church. I have really learned what the difference is between conversion and testimony here in New York. We've also been able to meet up with some investigators this week. We taught a good amount of lessons, but the tricky thing is really help these investigators progress well. Being in such a tiny branch, the active members are very willing, but there are very few that are usually free to come out with us and be friends with these great investigators. But our branch president, President Krueger, has been wonderful for us. He is really energizing the work here and is being diligent in helping the members understand their responsibilities.

My birthday was great!! We mostly just worked, but I felt the love of all of you on wednesday even though we are so far away. There's no better way to spend a birthday than laboring in the work of the Lord. The following day the senior couple, the Jorgensens, made a nice chocolate cake for me. It was delicious!! Mom, my favorite part about my entire birthday was opening my gift from you. I was stunned at how beautiful that tie is!! I cant wait to wear it when you and dad and willie come to New York and we can do a session in the temple. That tie in an instant jumped up to my favorite tie. thank you so much!! :) Oh, and I would love to speak in our ward on the 10th! Please tell brother Watkins that I accept!!

Well my friends and family, I know I dont have a ton to say but my heart is just bursting with joy and happiness!! I'm excited for these next few weeks and all that is in store for me. Thank you so much for all the support and love you send my way. Love you!!

Love, Elder Hogge

October 7, 2013

Family and Friends,

 

Wasn't conference AMAZING?????? Oh man there is just something about the mission that fuels your desire to wring every bit of inspiration and knowledge out of conference. I am so glad I have gained this love for g-con on the mission (not that I didn't love it before) and it will certainly aid me for the rest of my life. I learned a lot of fantastic things and I am so privileged to have had the companionship of the Holy Ghost whispering to me all I can do to improve. I hope you all got out of conference as much as I! (Exclamation Point!)

 

As for another exclamation point..... HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY LOUISA!! I got soooo happy when I saw the picture of Papa Joe, Mama Ju, and Baby Louisa on facebook! It was quite the surprise :) That girl looks like a darling. (judging by one of joey's posts I saw, she is already ruining shirts!!) I cant wait to meet that girl... along with the all-grown-up Trudy too! 2 years sure does a lot.

 

This week was really good. Elder Pincock is doing great!!! He is feeling super good and pumped about the mission now. I am so glad that I have been able to be an example to him. To me, there really is nothing like being a strong positive influence on the life of someone else. We truly enjoy working together and I hope that he can retain this attitude throughout his entire mission. OOH! We had a funny conversation this week. We were talking about the west coast, and his family used to live there. So naturally I asked him, what part? And he replied, "something like Monticello.... Mondasillo... something like that." It clicked in my mind and I screamed "MENDOCINO1?!?!?!??!!!!?!?"...... getting an odd look from him, he nodded in agreement. I went on to tell how much I love that place and how we visit every year. Not very many people in the world know where it is so that truly surprised me. he never lived there but his family did before he was born. (mom, I heard you talked to sister pincock! this could sure be a topic of conversation between you two)

 

As for the rest of the week. Everything is going along just swell. We are still trying to grow our teaching pool. President Krueger is being a saint working with us. We met with him to come up with combined missionary-branch goals for this next quarter. Though I wont be here for all of it, I know that working through the branch will offer the greatest blessings. We are coming up with specific plans we can do to fulfill the goals we have set. Fernando and Karla are doing well, we hope to meet with them more frequently this week. We will be doing some family nights with part member and less active families this week so hopefully we will see some cool stuff come into fruition.

 

I love you all so much!! Your support is astoundingly strengthening in my life. I hope you all have a fantastic week!!

 

Love, Elder Hogge

October 1, 2013

Family and Friends,

 

Happy October!!! Oh how I love this blessed month. Behind December, I'd have to say it is my favorite :) I can't believe that this is the last month of the mission. Though my time may be winding down, I feel pumped and ready to go!!

 

I saw the video the Robby made of the EG ward missionaries. It was so cool!! I can't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with the other missionaries in the ward. It's so awesome to see how we have all grown up together, and how wonderful the choices are that we are making. I can't wait to meet up with all of them and share our experiences. Thanks Robby!!

 

Its weird to think that all my baby nieces and nephew are all growing up so much. I know I've seen pictures of them getting bigger, but in my mind I still think of them as the little tykes that they were. My last memory of trudy was still being in the womb!! Two years does a lot haha. Mom, I still have that email that you sent about Alice trying to dial me up to talk to me. That was possibly my favorite email I got my entire mission!

 

Riverhead is doing great. We are working with Fernando and Karla. We watched the John Tanner video with them. I love that movie so much!! It is such a strong example of sacrifice and consecration. We also read the story of the widow that fed the prophet with her last portion, thinking she and her son were going to die. I love how both of these stories show that the Lord really will provide if we are willing to sacrifice. Our investigators are praying about the sacrifice that they would have to make to be baptized. We will be having another lesson with them this week.

 

I am becoming very close with our branch president, President Krueger. He is such a patient and enduring man. We have had great opportunities to help him and the branch out over the past couple weeks and through that we have formed a great relationship. I really feel like we have his complete trust and that is doing wonders for us. I love being here!!!

 

Well, this week has been great. There are some slow times, but Elder Pincock and I are really motivated to keep on chuggin. All your wonderful support back home keeps me going strong. Thanks for everything!! I hope you all have a fantastic week!!

 

Love, Elder Hogge

September 23, 2013

Family and Friends,

 

Yup, Riverhead. Tuesday at transfer meetings I received the call to serve there. I was so thrilled and humbled to be able to return to this beloved area. And I have received very warm welcomes from the members here. Nearly all of them had astonished looks on their faces when they saw me once more. Because I came here so long ago, nearly a year and a half ago, they all believed I had already returned home. What an amusing surprise to all of them when they realized I would be back here for one more transfer.

 

My companion is Elder Pincock. He is from Blackfoot, Idaho. He is such an awesome companion!!! We have a lot of fun together and we are working very diligently. He has had a few struggles in the mission thusfar, but we are doing great together. This is his second transfer out in the field, so I am finishing training him. One of my main objectives over this next few weeks is to put Elder Pincock in a position to really make this branch flourish. Seeing as how I dont have too long and chances are he could be here well into next year, I really want to help him get acquainted with the area well enough to work miracles here!

 

I've been able to reconnect with a few people that I taught over a year ago. One of the families being Fernando and Karla. I'm not sure if you remember them, but last year Elder Lunt and I found them and started working with them. Since that point they have become one of my most favorite families in the entire mission! We stopped by there place a couple nights ago and when Fernando answered the door he just about passed out from surprise. It was so wonderful being able to see them again. They are still going through a really tough situation. Because of some weird complexities of the law, if they get married then it will take them practically forever to become legal. But I guess Fernando has a chance to become legal a lot sooner. So that is why they are waiting. It's tough to see, and I just wish they would get married now, no matter the earthly consequence, but it is their choice to make. When I left Riverhead the first time, Karla was very pregnant. Now, they have a very rambunxious little one year old girl!!! It just amazes me how much changes in one year. I will hardly recognize my own nieces and nephew!!

 

Overall, it is a thrill being back here. It will not be easy, but I am so lucky to be serving with these wonderful people! My goal is to inspire a sense of urgency in the members here so that they find no excuse for fulfilling their missionary duties. "When all is said and done, if the world is going to be saved, we have to do it." (Church News)

As you can all tell, I am very excited!! This final stretch is when runners push their hardest, and I plan on doing no different. Thank you for all the love and support I feel. It really drives me to do the very best I can. Have a great week!!

 

Love, Elder Hogue

September 16, 2013

Family and Friends,

 

This week just flew by!! I can't believe it.

 

Mom and Dad, I am jealous that you were able to go to the "Noche de Hispanidad" without me. Over here in New York, the multi-cultural Hispanic night is a big big hit. Last year in Bushwick we had over 250 people attend. It is a great missionary opportunity for the members. I was also jealous of all the great food you got to eat without me. Tamales, atole, ceviche, horchata, enchiladas... man that just makes my mouth water. I remember before the mission how worried I was about being called Spanish speaking because I would have to eat all this weird Spanish food that I assumed I wouldn't like. Now just the thought of having to leave it all behind really makes me sad to the stomach.

 

As some of you might have seen on Facebook, I was tagged in a photo of me standing under a booth that said "Meet the Mormons in Queens". Well in Woodside every summer there is a street fair and the church bought a plot to put up a booth. That happened last Saturday. We had pictures of Christ, all the service we've provided to the community and during Sandy, and a big canvas in back that said "Family is _____." We had people in the street fair come into the booth and sign the canvas with what family means to them. It was a great opportunity to get out of obscurity in the community. We met a lot of great people and had good discussions with them.

 

Speaking of Facebook, it is going well. President wants us on for an hour each day. It is at times difficult to fill the hour with meaningful activity but we are reconnecting with less actives and non members. There was a really cool experience that happened last week actually. One of my friends from BYU facebooked me and told me that she had a brother that was living in my area!! He hadn't been to church for a while, and she was excited at the prospect of us going and visiting him. I was able to contact him and set up an appointment for last Saturday. Unfortunately we had a leadership meeting so I wasn't able to go visit him, but the English elders stopped by and visited for a little while. The next day (yesterday) he came to the singles branch!! So we are already seeing how facebook will be a real strength to the work. If any of you ever have anyone that would be interested in chatting with me on facebook or skyping to learn more about what we believe, please let me know. We have nothing to lose!!

 

I got an interesting call last Friday. President informed me that I will not be in Woodside next transfer. He also informed me that I will not be a Zone Leader anymore. He is giving me a special assignment to be with a young missionary that has had some rough patches so far in the mission. We will be blinded in (lingo for both of us going into a different pool together) and Prez said that we will be out in the "country". Now anyone who knows New York south mission geography would also know that there are but a few places in the entire mission that could be considered "country". Turns out Riverhead is one of them. Could it be???? I am thrilled at the prospect of returning for my last transfer. We shall see tomorrow. (and I will be updating my "current location" on facebook to wherever I move so you will most likely know a lot sooner than next Monday)

 

I cant believe my mission is coming so close to an end. Six rapid weeks await me. I am so excited!!!! I know that this work is real and that through the atonement of Christ all men may be healed from sin and affliction! Love you all!!

 

Love, Elder Hogge

September 9, 2013

Shout out to JOE HOGGE!! WOOT WOOT!! Happy birthday big bro!! You are basically an old geyser now hehe. Anyways....

 

Family and friends,

 

Wow. This week has been something else. Definitely one of the craziest, most spiritual, different weeks I have ever had in the mission.

 

Sounds like all is well back home. I loved mom's email. She always fills me with so much joy due to her love for helping others understand the gospel. I'm glad everything is going well with Isabel. Its great to have good fellowshippers, but good friends are what these returning members truly need. And I can see that mom plays that role for her.

(mom, as for the package:quarters, burts bees chap stick, beef jerky, oreos and whatever else your heart desires... or feels that my heart would desire haha)

 

I couldn't help but notice on facebook that a certain brunette sister of mine got signed by a literary agent or something like that? I dont think I truly understand what that means, but it sounds pretty darn cool haha. When do I get to read that book sarah??

 

This is the last week of the transfer. I have a small feeling that I might have to get packing for next transfer, but knowing how good I am at guessing these sort of things I'm probably wrong. So with that logic I could probably safely say that I am staying haha. (obviously I have no idea) But I would absolutely love to finish my mission here with elder heagren. He and this area have been so good for me.

 

So about this past week. Each month we have a meeting called Zone Training Meeting (ZTM). Because we are the zone leaders, we get to prepare these ZTMs for the zone. Its one of my favorite meetings in the mission. Usually these meetings are derived from what president teaches us zone leaders in the prior week's mission leadership counsel. And we got to teach on the Atonement. Oh boy was that an experience. I've noticed that usually the best insight comes not from those giving the workshop, but all the others participating. This workshop was a spiritual feast! Elder Heagren and I helped everyone get a 360 degree view on the Atonement. Thats what prez had taught us. So as we were talking about how they felt about the atonement, we could feel the spirit enter the room. As we dug further into how Mary, mother of Jesus, must've felt, emotions stirred. Then as we spoke of how Christ and even Heavenly Father felt everyone's hearts in the room just completely melted. There were very few dry eyes in the room (darn allergies haha). This experience gave me such greater appreciation for what our Lord has done for us. I will forever have a better outlook on what the atonement means to me and to others.

 

As September comes to an end, so does the three month baptismal goal of our district. Lets just say we have a ways to go. Our wonderful District Leader Elder Rogers comissioned a fast for the past sunday that we may receive divine help to accomplish this promise we have made to the Lord. Basically, I know that fasting works!! In previous weeks, our district has averaged maybe 1 or 2 investigators at church. Last sunday, 7 nonmembers came to church, 2 being people that had come on there own. One was a lady named Norma. Apparently, she has a friend in Argentina that told her that she should go to church. So she found the closest one and came here!! That was no coincidence that it happend on our day of fast. Our lovely sisters will be teaching her.

 

I have seen such great miracles on the mission. I cant believe I only have little over a transfer left. This has been so good for me.

 

I love you all. Hope your week is fantastic!!

 

Love, Elder Hogge