Starting Journeys

Another amazing week for Elder Hoggan!

Angelina and Micheala Gimpl were baptized on Saturday, January 25, 2014. Preparations were made and the program was organized. Their confirmation took place on Sunday, January 26, 2014. They are off to a great start on their journey with the gospel in their lives. The ward has loved them, supported them, and integrated these sisters and their family. Now the Gimpl girls are preparing to go do baptisms for the dead in February!

Elder Hoggan had the most amazing schnitzel of his life! Sister Madei is an amazing cook and her meal could have been the missionaries last and greatest ever. Thoughts of dying happily when it was over came and went. The missionaries had to live to see the weekend with the Gimpl family.

Ioana is a referral from another area in the mission. She's struggling with getting to church. Ioana lives an hour drive away, doesn't have a car, and unable to afford money for a train ticket. Elder Hoggan knows that something will work out eventually.

An exchange took place in Neuotting. It is a very catholic area, but still a great place. Elder Hoggan is so grateful to serve in Rosenheim and sees the potential that is all around him.

Elders Hoggan and Smith are ready for another good week to come!

Living the Missionary Life

Many adventures, amazing things, and another awesome week for Elder Hoggan!

For FHE with a LA family, armor was made from cardboard and a lesson was given about putting on the armor of God. The children, ages 7 and 9, enjoyed learning about temptations and the need to be ready to fight against evil. Their father has fallen away from activity due to negative comments he has heard about the Church. Gradually, his heart is softening.

The Gimpl girls will be baptized this week! They are in the young women organization and have many friends at church.

Elders Hoggan and Smith got lost looking for Karl in Ruhpolding. That dorf is a big tourist area. Karl is a church headquarter referral. After hiking through some Alps, the Elders located his house which is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Karl has vacationed in Utah and that is where he was introduced to the Church. He's mostly curious about beliefs, principles, and doctrine.

Sch. Unterharer is a great cook! She fed the missionaries homemade Brazilian food. Very, very delicious! The church has helped her through hard times and has blessed her life. She is back to full activity in the Church.

Hu, from China, doesn't know about God's plan for us or Jesus Christ. This is all new for him. What a blessing to have the knowledge of our Heavenly Father, our elder brother, and the plan of salvation.

Elder Hoggan is still enjoying this gorgeous area and the beautiful country of Germany!

Ok, Only 2

Hallo! Hello! Elder Hoggan said goodbye to Elder Young and Elder Jerman last week. Elder Chapman was supposed to join Elders Smith and Hoggan, but President Miles called and informed them that there wouldn't be a threesome after all.

Each time the missionaries joke about what will happen, it does. For example, Elder Jerman did get transferred to Stuttgart. And now, two Elders are covering two areas. Next, they hope the future hears their joking about all of their investigators being baptized.

Ioana has moved into the same area as Elders Hoggan and Smith. She was to be baptized last Saturday, but was forced to move out of her home. These missionaries are looking forward to having this teaching opportunity.

A Book of Mormon was left with sisters from South America. They speak Portugese and are interested in attending church next week. Communicating was difficult, so a phone call was made to Sch. Unterharer and she bore her testimony to these sisters which was very powerful.

Hu, from China, was found while the Elders were walking home from church. His address and phone number had changed and contact was lost. They gave him a tour of the church building, set up a lesson for Saturday, and got his new phone number.

The Gimpl girls are doing well and are setting up their baptismal program.

GruB Sie! Servus!

One, Two, Three?

Elder Hoggan will now be serving with Elders Smith and Elder Chapman. The three of them will be running two areas. Rosenheim has had two sets of missionaries and will now be condensed into one companionship. Elder Young and Elder Jerman have been transferred. This change is inspired from God.

At a district meeting, the missionaries were asked to bring their favorite Book of Mormon story to share. Elder Hoggan chose the 2,000 Stripling Warriors. He enjoined understanding and noticing parts from others scripture stories that he hadn't thought of before. After that, everyone went to a Chinese buffet to celebrate their last district meeting together and say goodbye. Lunch was so good!

New Year's Eve was spent with the Familie Berka. They are a member family. Germans are so crazy! They know how to celebrate the New Year....Holy Cow! There were a ton of fireworks that were super loud and cool to video. The Rosenheim members are awesome!

Tagernsee is a really pretty part of Elder Hoggan's area. It is a lake surrounded by mountains. A LA lives there. He served his mission to Chile and is a cool guy who wants to joint teach.

Angelina and Michaela attended church Sunday with their mother and little sister. After, they discussed tithing, fasting, and the word of wisdom. Their baptismal date has been moved from January 11th to January 25th. They are still doing great and making progress.

Christmas Week!!!

Elder Hoggan's Christmas was AMAZING! GruB Euch!

But first, Pday (Monday), brought an appointment with Michaela and Angelina. These sisters were taught the ten commandments, the importance of praying, reading scriptures, and going to church. Elder Hoggan loves teaching the gospel so simply to children. They understand and have a desire to hear the truthfulness of our Savior's church.

Elders Hoggan, Young, Jerman, and Smith went caroling the next day. The train wouldn't be coming for hours, so they had fun getting weird looks while singing. Some people took pictures, some tried to give the missionaries money, and some pulled their cars close to listen. Elder Hoggan almost lost his voice, but the train eventually arrived and took these four to their destination at Familie Dzierzon.

Heilige Abend is the night before Christmas. Games were played, Luke 2 was read, and musical numbers were sung. This reminded Elder Hoggan of Christmas Eve parties and programs back home with loved ones. Traditions are cherished when distances keep us far from our family and friends.

The gift exchange that night revealed new notebooks for each missionary. They were much needed. After a nice meal, they all attended a Catholic mass where Familie Dzierzon's daughters were playing in an orchestra. A very interesting experience which strengthened Elder Hoggan's testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel.

The Elders enjoyed Christmas Day and their gifts. Ward members gave them a ton of candy and socks. Later, the missionaries went to a members home to play games, SKYPE, and eat.

It's been a tough week for missionary work due to the holidays, but Friday and Saturday flew by.

Saturday night, the ward pianist called for a substitute. She had tried everyone possible and then she chose to follow Elder Russell M. Nelson's counsel to "ask the missionaries. They can help you." Elder Hoggan played the piano Sunday! The opening song was Sweet Hour of Prayer! The sacrament hymn was While of These Emblems We Partake! Choose the Right was an intermediate hymn! God Be With You Til We Meet Again was the closing song. Way to go, Elder Hoggan! Your mom is so very proud of you!!

Elder Hoggan also taught an investigator at church that day on the Law of Chastity. Wow! Such a busy Sabbath. It went well, of course.

Hand washing clothes has been done by the Elders this week. Their washing machine is broken. How grateful they will be to have it working.

After New Years Day, transfer calls will be coming.

Frohe Weihnachten!

Elder Hoggan is experiencing an amazing time of year where important people matter in our lives. Christmas means more than gifts and shopping. This missionary is so thankful for this wonderful time and thankful for our Lord, Jesus Christ. Love is sent from far away Rosenheim to family and friends here at home.

A Christmas party was held as a zone and was a blast. President and Sister Miles attended, chimes were played, and the white elephant gift exchange was next. Rock, paper, scissors was how districts were chosen to select a gift from the giant pile. After a potluck lunch, traditions were shared and the spiritual meeting focused on Jesus Christ.

Angelina and Michaela are still doing well, Sister Unterharer's appointment was about focusing on Christ in Christmas, and Bavarian/German songs were sung to the elderly at a nursing home.

Sunday's sacrament meeting was filled with music from the ward choir. All of the missionaries took part and added their voices. Elder Hoggan's favorite was O Holy Night with two violins, two flutes, and the piano. That song was also the favorite one of Harold W. Chase, Elder Hoggan's great grandfather.

Elders Young and Hoggan will spend Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and December 26th with a member family. Skyping isn't that far away!