Training: Sister Leite (Sister "Milk")

Dear Mom and Dad,

    So I`m training...my new companion is Sister Leite (or in English, Sister Milk). She`s from Para, which is way up in the north of Brasil; Missao Brasil Belem).  So far, she`s great. She served a mini mission or two before she got here....7 months worth of mini mission, which means she knows a few things already. We`ve found new investigators together and have been teaching the first lesson alot. She turns 22 in November so she`s a bit older than me, but that okay. Something that I`ve noticed about my companions so far is that they all like pink and makeup...just something I noticed.

    I had my first transfer meeting too. I didn`t go last time I was transferred because my area was so far from the mission office...But it was great. Those of us who trained stayed close to the mission office for 2 days. The new missionaries arrived on Tuesday, I think the American Missionaries arrived on Wednesday. Anyway, I'm short on time...I'm trying to help my new companion with photos. Talk to you all next week. Love you!

Sister Hoggan

Transfers!

Dear Mom and Dad,

     So....transfers! And...I'm not going anywhere. But, that doesn't mean that people aren't coming to me! I'm going to be a trainer. I don't know who I will train yet, we find out tomorrow. Arriving tomorrow are 12 elders, 6 Brasilian sisters, and 4 American sisters. I don't know if any of the elders are from my district in the MTC, but I know that the sisters are not. We have 2 sisters still on visa wait in the New York, New York South Mission. My companion was transferred to a new area and she is going to train too. There are 3 duplas of sisters in our zone and starting tomorrow, they will all be training. Ahhh! It´s going to be awesome.

     Congratulations to Aunt Kris and Uncle Pat, give them big hugs for me, ok? I like the name Georgia, I think its pretty adorable. And to Ben and Monica... I was telling people during transfer meeting at the bus station that I was going to find out if it was a boy or a girl today. The office elders told me to pass the news along when I know, they want to know too. I am going to be an auntie again!!

     This week was a bit stressful. My companion was really anxious for transfers. She`s been in the area for 4 months and had a feeling that she was going to leave, but really didn't want to because it is her first and only area so far. Its always hard to say goodbye.

      The work is great. I'm really excited to train. And, I'm really excited to hear about all of your great missionary experiences. My family is seriously the best. Keep up the great work, I am so proud of you all.

With much love,

Sister Hoggan

Seriously, she finds out tomorrow?

Dear Mom and Dad,

     Sorry, this email is going to be a bit short....the keyboard I`m using doesn`t like me very much.

     I can`t believe that Monica finds out tomorrow if Audrey is going to have a brother or a sister, the injustice. Actually it`s ok, I´ll look forward to hearing about it next week. Just don`t forget to tell me ok?

     This week is the last of this transfer, I have no idea what will happen. Mostly likely I will stay in this area, but you never really know. The Lord does though.

     We had 4 investigators come to church with us yesterday, it was great! We had a mother and her daughter and 2 brothers. They all seemed to like it a lot. I also heard a great analogy explaining the fullness of the gospel this week. If you know something about Brasilians it will make more sense to you....Following Jesus Christ is like eating rice and beans. If you eat rice and beans you feel satisfied, but if you eat them every day you lack essential nutrients. The Church is not only rice and beans, it`s all of the other nutrients too. When you eat just rice and beans you feel somewhat satisfied, but to feel truly satisfied, you need more. The are many places where we can eat rice and beans, but all of the spiritual nutrients--along with the rice and beans--are only found in the Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church of Jesus Christ is on the earth!

     I hope you all have a great week. Ben, Alena, and Nic too, don`t go crazy with all the things you have to do, ok? I love you guys. And Monica and Katie too! Have a great week.

Mom, good luck with the cast. Take a few pictures for me?

Love you,

Sister Hoggan

General Conference Passes so fast when you're in the Mission Field

Dear Mom and Dad,

     This week again had its hard moments, but they were outweighed by the  joyful ones. Conference was amazing, was it not? I watched the 4 main sessions in English. I did not get a chance to watch the Relief Society broadcast yet, but that ok. There were 4 Americans in my zone, 2 elders and 2 sisters, watching together on a computer in what I think was the library or the clerks office? I'm not really sure. I loved how much they talked about missionary work....he he he. We all did. When they talked about the missionaries being equally yoked in the hastening of the work as the members I thought about the experiences you have been sharing about sharing the gospel with those who live near us. You rock! Keep up the good work. I also liked how much they talked about families. The Lord truly does have a plan for our families and his purpose is for us to live together eternally. 

     It was mostly just the missionaries at the stake center because most of the members were watching on the internet at home. As long as people are listening to the prophet, that`s all that matters. We had a young girl who`s about to turn 15 come to conference with us. She`s investigating the church. She stayed for both sessions...we were about 20 minutes by bus from home so we all stayed at the stake center from 1-7 o`clock. That`s a lot of hours for someone to stay at church, but she loved it and even took some notes. I wasn`t able to watch with her because I was in the other room watching in English, but my companion said she loved it. 

     We had zone conference this week with Presidente Brum. He gave a great training on how faith leads to miracles. For the work to move forward as intended we all need to have faith. And how do we show our faith? By acting. The Lord knows we truly want his help when we work hard for it. It`s like Sister Carole M Stephens quoted in the Saturday morning session....you receive no witness until after the trial of faith. 

     Thanks for your uplifting words and experiences to help me through my trial of faith, and for sharing with me trials of faith that you have passed through. I know the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the Earth. And we can all know it, if we read the Book of Mormon and then ask God if it is true. Other people can tell us it is true, but we will only know of a surety if we ask our Heavenly Father...he has all the answers.

      Keep sharing the gospel like you already area. And congrats to our neighbors on their exercise feats. Pretty soon they`ll be playing water polo. It`s entirely possible, just saying. 

I love you both, 

Say hello to everyone for me...

Sister Hoggan

P.S. I caught the part about Agnes Hoggan and told all the other Americans about it.

People, LISTEN to us!

September 30, 2013

 

Dear Mom and Dad, 

    This week was great, a bit challenging, but great. We got a letter from President this past week, talking about how we can improve the work here in our mission. We`ve been struggling a bit as a mission to help people receive the gospel. We are also short about 30 American missionaries because they do not yet have documents (visas). We`ve had a few mini-missionaries, called and set apart to serve as part of our mission for a transfer or 2 before they serve their own calls. We had one here in our zone, he`s awesome. 

 

    We`ve found a few people to teach, but they don't understand what we say...not that they don't want to, but they really don't understand what I say. Its super confusing, and super frustrating. I believe that I'm doing my part, I really do, but it really seems like people don't want to receive the wonderful message we bring. Arrgghh.

    Mostly, I'm just a bit frustrated at the moment. I'm fine, I really am. My companion is wonderful and we had great divisions this week working with our Sister Training Leaders.

    I know that the gospel is true and I know that the Lord loves me and has a plan for me. I know that I have a purpose here in this city. 

    Thank you for sharing your adventures from home with me...mom, seriously? How do you manage at work with cast? Get better soon, ok? Your missionaries experiences are awesome.

Love you tons, 

Sister Hoggan

Its Almost General Conference!

September 23, 2013

Dear Mom and Dad,

     Your letters were wonderful (and Alena`s too!), thanks a bunch. It sounds like things are going really well at home. I love hearing about the adventures you have...give the Alum Rock Ward a hug for me. That`s really sad that that happened to their building. [The LDS chapel at White & Patt is undergoing seismic retrofitting of the entire roof. Part of the roof was left uncovered during Saturday's downpour, which has done terrific damage to the chapel. The two wards that meet there are temporarily relocated to another building, likely for months.] And poor piano! Speaking of pianos, guess who plays the piano during Sacrament meeting? I do, and its actually a piano this time, not an organ, which is wonderful.

    One of the best parts of the week was yesterday (I love Sundays, church is seriously amazing). The bishop called my companion and I out of Relief Society and said....that he had forgotten to assign people to give talks in church. He felt sooooo bad. He asked if I would be willing to speaking for 5 minutes on whatever I wanted. Would I be willing, YES! I was so excited to speak, even without much notice. There is no sarcasm here whatsoever. I was stoked. I read from Matthew 24 about the signs of the last days and how that gospel will be preached one last time before the coming of the Lord and then about Moroni and the title of Liberty. I knew I wanted to share the 2 scriptures but was not quite sure how they tied together. I was the first to talk....I read both scriptures and talked about war. That we are in these last days and it seems like only bad things happen in the world, but we can't dessistir [quit]. I explained to the ward that we are in a spiritual war against Satan, we are fighting for the souls of men. We need to raise a spiritual standard of Liberty and fight for the souls of our brothers and sisters and the way we do that is through....Missionary Work! Our ward mission leader spoke after me (same idea, 10 minutes on whatever you want) and he talked about missionary work within the church, which is home and visiting teaching, and helping our less active brothers and sisters. How incredible it was to me, that, without planning, our talks focused on such similar topics. It was truly inspired. 

    Dad, I'm glad you are catching up on everything...this is good. Say hello to Henderson for me; I hope the cookies turn out great. Keep up the great work, I love you both.

Com amor, 

Sister Hoggan

Oh, P.S. for Mom. Technology-wise they have us using a cell phone, that about it.

[Note from Sister Hoggan's dad: General Conference is a semi-annual gathering (either virtual or in person) of members and friends of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where we are taught by living prophets and apostles, and other leaders of the Church. Music is provided by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and other special choirs. It is inspiring, instructive, encouraging, and a spiritual feast. You are invited to watch and listen to Conference too! Streaming video is available live online at LDS.org, and is available after-the-fact as well. Conference will be Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6. Prepare to be inspired!]

When you wish you knew sign language...

September 16, 2013

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thanks for sharing your gospel sharing moments with me. I love hearing about them...Mom, I did look at your profile. I like it a lot. Basically, you love the beach and you love the Lord; its a great combination.

I'm liking it a lot here in Franca Seminario. Its definitely different than Penapolis, its a lot bigger. We were walking in the street this week and passed a few men taking a break from constructing a home. I didn't think much of it, but I felt like we should go back and talk to them, so we did. One actually worked there and there other was homeless and just talking to them. The second asked us--who is Joseph Smith? What a great question. We crossed the street where there was a bench.  We sat down and talked to him for a few minutes.  He had been drinking, so we kept it short. We didn't answer his question, but rather taught him that he is a child of God and got him to pray. I then took the water bottle from my backpack and traded him for his three bottles of alcohol. He was reluctant at first, but we traded. After praying with him, we walked down the street and emptied them into the garbage. We invited him to meet us the next day...same bat time, same bat channel. We had a meeting with the elders the next day, so they joined us in teaching him the 10 commandments.

We have been contacting as many people as we can this week to find people to teach. We have found a few and continue to work because I know that if I do my part, the Lord will bless me. I love it here. The work is hard, but sweet. It really is the work of souls.

Its really exciting to hear about the young women of our stake leaving on missions. You rock! Where has Keely Lu been called to serve?

Have a great week, family of mine. I know Tutu's birthday has already past, but darling Tutu of mine, I know you tend to celebrate birthday months rather than days or even weeks, so....

PARABEMS para voce, nesta data querido, muitos felicidades, muitos anos de vida! (its the Brasilian birthday song).

Love you lots!

Sister Hoggan