Finals Week

Guten Tag meine Lieben,

Time is flying for Elder Hoggan. It is close to the end! This coming week will be Steve's last full one in Germany! He will serve with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength :) Things are so great in Waiblingen and full of good things!

While street contacting, the Elders met a man who looked like Santa Claus except he was smoking and said that his name was Adam. He didn't have any time to meet, but would meet them later in front of store the next day. Adam was a no show, but on the way there, a man from Berlin was lost with no idea where he was.

Missionaries without ipads always have a map! This guy had been to Salt Lake before, had received the missionaries one time many years ago at his home, and has a Book of Mormon. Elders Hoggan and Samuelson helped him get where he needed to go and enjoyed the walk with him. His impression of the church is good right now.

Karlheinz was visited on Wednesday. He had been sick for a few days, but was now back on his feet and doing well. Another meeting will be on Saturday.

Thursday was cool, because Elder Patrick Kearon of the Seventy for Mission Tour spoke. The Elders had to take an ICE train to Munich for two hours to listen to Sister Kohler, President Kohler, and Elder Kearon. Different topics were shared, but the main one was how we always have the decision to choose.

It's always up to us to decided how we will react to situations. We can choose to love talking to people on the street or we can choose to hate it. We can choose to be happy missionaries or we can choose to be miserable. It is always our choice! This applies to all of us. Steve is applying this to all he does.

Obedience was mentioned and how regret comes from disobedience and regret never comes from obedience. When we make right choices, we won't have to worry about regretting things. 

A picture was taken at lunch time with Elders Stuart, Mickelson, Jensen, and Hoggan.They all are serving in the Alpine German-Speaking Mission and went to Sky View High School together. It was great to talk with them and catch up. Lunch was good, too.

Steve's zone had to catch a train and hurried out during the closing hymn to rush to the train station. Somehow, they were able to get there in under 10 minutes and get on the train. It was a great ride home, too.

Elders Hoggan and Samuelson met with a LA sister on Friday. She's in her 70's and doesn't have any faith. She almost has the desire to believe, but isn't letting the desire work in her. The missionaries will continue to help her.

Karlheinz met the Elders and his awesome Bishop at the church. He was given the sacrament and taught the importance of it.  This enabled Karlheinz the chance to renew his baptismal covenants.

A cool appointment with Herr Boden took place on Saturday night. He's been busy the last few weeks, but enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies (Aunt Pam's recipe) that the Elders baked just for him. Their lesson went well on faith and repentance. Herr Boden didn't know that he was allowed to pray out loud as a non-member. Now he knows that he can pray in front of others and is grateful for this basic blessing that he was taught.

Herr Boden is doing really well and won't be baptized before Steve leaves Germany, but he is on his way.

This was an amazing week and Elder Hoggan knows that next week will be another one to remember!