Happy Father's Day! (sorry it's late!)

Hey Everyone,

Sorry I forgot to wish all the fathers Happy Father's Day last p-day! But I hope it was a great day! I think Father's Day and Mother's Day are weird days on the mission, but it was a good Father's Day here. We had stake conference, which was awesome! It was my first stake conference on the mission! We got to hear President and Sister Gee speak, which of course was awesome! Probably the last time I'll hear them speak. Then we had a 70, Elder Lynn G. Robbins. He's awesome! He speaks spanish, and we had a special session in spanish just for the branch before the general session started. I'm pretty sure I heard him speak while I was at the MTC. Anyway, he spoke on love and obedience. It was great! He talked about how we can't fall in and out of love. Pure love doesn't seek her own, in other words is not selfish. I heard a quote from one of the missionaries here saying that charity is the never-ending search for someone else's happiness. I love that! It's so true! In marriage, he said that each spouse needs to be constantly putting the other before himself. That is how marriages are successful. I wish you could have been there to hear everything he said. It was wonderful!

The rest of Sunday we spent tracting! :/ I'm not going to lie, I don't like to tract. But we did it for like 3 hours. We tracted this apt complex that was virtually all hispanics, which was awesome! We found some potentials! We were sweating SO badly! That is where the two pools were, and yes we were coveting them. The funny/ironic thing is that Hermana Xiques and I never really went swimming back home, even though we live right by the beach. She doesn't know how to swim, and I can barely swim enough to save my life. But now that we can't go swimming and it's like 95-100 degrees, we wish we could. Haha! Somehow Heavenly Father continues to give me the strength to endure the heat! And this is still nothing, at least from what I've heard. It has been way hot here, but only like 2 more months of summer!

I just wanted to clarify a couple things from previous e-mails. One, I'm not disappointed to be staying here in the north. It probably sounded that way. But it's just funny when transfers come because for us spanish sisters there are only two choices, here or in the south. I think I'll stay here in the north a couple more transfers, and I think before I'm done I'll probably return to the south. But I loved it in the south. Yeah, I miss it there, but I love it here too! So honestly, I'm happy to be here, and when/if I go back to the south I'll be happy to be there again.

Two, I said something like Miguel's baptism was easy. I shouldn't have said it like that. Because it wasn't me that prepared him. It was Heavenly Father. I was simply the instrument in His hands. But I guess I feel like it just happened fast, and it surprised me. Because I feel like there are so many people we've taught way longer and they still aren't baptized. But Miguel was prepared and ready and willing to enter into and make this covenant. He was and still is humble and teachable. That is why he was able to be baptized, and for that I'm grateful.

Maria Pena isn't getting baptized. She was an investigator in the south. She was supposed to get baptized this coming Friday, but she left again for Mexico. Her mom is sick, so we're not sure when she'll be back. But I have a feeling she will be baptized!

Oh, I forgot to tell y'all...last time we played soccer, which was exactly 2 weeks ago, I sprained my big toe. I decided to be aggressive and take on a member, which he is really good! I wanted to take the ball, but I failed. In the process, he kicked and or stepped on my toe. It hurt, but I played on it. I went home and iced it, then that night it turned purple. The next day it was more purple. Everyone was telling me it was broken. It hurt pretty badly the day after. I finally called Sister Gee and went to urgent care just to make sure it wasn't broken. Sure enough, it was only a sprain. It still hurts a little, but it's not discolored. We're playing soccer today, and the APs and the south spanish elders are coming up. I'm way excited! I love playing soccer! I think every time I play I love it a little bit more!

I feel like the work here is starting to pick up. I feel like we have found some new people to teach, and I'm excited. I have realized what joy I have as I teach the people the gospel of Jesus Christ. If I could just teach 24/7 I'd be so happy! But we still have to tract and try to find. But I feel like Heavenly Father is blessing us and putting people in our path!

I love you all! I hope you're having a wonderful summer! The Gee's will leave in about a week! Sad, but I look forward to meeting the Taylor's!

Love,

Hermana Christina Hogewoning

pics of flooding

sunk car on 4th

Ann Arbor and 4th St. and me
5th St-you can look at the curb to see how flooded it is, look where the curb disappears

flooding and halfway!!!!

Hey Everyone,

Guess what!?!? Don Chepe FINALLY got baptized this past Saturday night! Yay! And I got to go to the south and see it. We showed up late, but we made it in time for the ordinance. I can't tell you the joy I felt as I saw him in white, then as he was baptized! I felt SO happy! I feel like I've been waiting for that practically since I got here in November! I'm so happy! His son wasn't able to be there, but I'm so glad that he's baptized!

Also, Miguel was confirmed this past Sunday! And he was wearing a white shirt, tie, and slacks! He looked so nice! And he was smiling and glowing all day! He used to come to church in jeans and a shirt, but he's making the change! And it's so cool to watch someone learn and grow in the church. Especially when we start teaching someone and invite them to church. We tell them to come as they are, even if they don't have a skirt or a white shirt and tie. But then to see someone change! It's so rewarding!

MORE good news! I just found out from Sister Tucker on Saturday that Maria Pena has a baptismal date for June 25! I don't have time to remind you of who she is in full detail, but she was the one we went to contact and was like, no I'm not interested, then like 5 minutes later asked if we could come back the next day! I'm SO excited! I love her, and I am SO excited that she will be getting baptized!

So I'm sure some of you have heard about the flooding/rain here in Oklahoma. It's true, but we haven't been completely flooded. It started raining and thundering after I went to bed Sunday night, and it continued all night long until like 11am yesterday morning. And the rain was coming down HARD! It wouldn't stop! Then it was off and on all day yesterday. We got a call that the cars were grounded because 3 freeways had been shut down due to flooding! I told Hermana Xiques that this would NEVER happen in Cali because we are prepared for when it rains this hard. Here, the drainage system isn't that great. In fact, Elder Bell and Elder Whipple said that at their apt complex it was flooded up to Elder Whipple's knees!

We decided to walk to our appt with Ligia yesterday. (She's the one we biked to a few weeks ago. She's a less active.) On our way there, we saw two streets. One completely flooded with a car sunk/flooded, and another that was just partially flooded. We also saw a dead turtle. Which when we came upon it, Hermana Xiques screamed so loud and grabbed my arm. It was funny! It was dead, but it looked like something had started nibbling on it, so it wasn't the prettiest thing. And it was a medium sized turtle!

Luckily, Adriana showed up while we were visiting with her mom and she gave us a ride home. We were both so dead from the walk. In fact, today my body feels so weak! I feel so pathetic and out of shape! We also walked to church on Sunday and back, which it's only 2 miles one way. So we walked about 4 or 5 miles on Sunday and 3 or 4 yesterday, and my body isn't too happy. But I'll be good in a couple days!

So, I'm just barely past my halfway mark, and it's so weird to me! I can't believe I've been gone 9 months! I'm excited that I still have 9 months left to continue to learn, grow, change, and progress. But I can't believe how fast time has gone! And it continues to fly! I can't believe June is halfway over already! I've had such awesome experiences being here in Oklahoma! I still wake up sometimes feeling like I'm living a dream, like it's not real that I'm a missionary. But I know that I won't be a missionary forever. One day my tag will have to come off, so I am trying to enjoy every moment!

President and Sister Gee go home soon! That is also unbelievable to me! I wish they could stay, and I will miss them so much! But I'm grateful that I've been able to know them so well!

I'm enjoying my new district! It's so weird to have Elder Mortensen back. He has definitely changed a lot, but in good ways! He's so funny! And Elder Bell, our district leader, is awesome! He plays the piano, which means I won't have to play at district meeting. I love playing, but I'm just not very good because I haven't really practiced. I think I've played the piano more on the mission than I have in years! He also likes to cook, and he's from Apple Valley, CA. He served in my area before sisters were put here. Actually, he and Elder Carpenter were the ones who tracted into Miguel last August. Anyway, this is his third time serving in this branch, and he thinks he'll probably die here, seeing as he goes home in two transfers.

I love you all so much! Keep being missionaries and sharing the gospel! I know that there are people around us who are ready to receive. Pray and talk with everyone, and I promise you will know what to say and how to say it!

I didn't hear from Corey this week. He has transfers next week I believe. And the Hiroshima Mission will close at the end of the month.

Love,

Hermana Christina Hogewoning

Miguel got baptized!!!!

Hey Everyone,

So we did have a baptism this past Sunday! So exciting! I feel like I didn't do much, but really Sister Xiques and I pretty much taught him everything. The sisters before had a hard time finding him home, and he left for Virginia for a while. Actually, he was found by elders last summer, I think they tracted into him. Anyway, I'm excited he got baptized. He'll be confirmed next Sunday, and possibly ordained a priest as well!

Just fyi I meant to give y'all my new address when I moved up here to the north, but I never did. It is:

Hermana Christina Hogewoning

3806 Ann Arbor Avenue #4

Oklahoma City, OK 73122

We got transfer calls last night, and guess what??? I'm staying! What a surprise! But there are a lot of changes! Elder Bass, district leader, is leaving for Enid, and Elder Mortensen (yes, he FINALLY gets to leave his first area in the south, and yes, he and I have already served together) is coming in his place to be companions with Elder Linford. Elder Romero is leaving for Blackwell, and Elder Bell is coming in his place to be comps with Elder Whipple. Elder Bell will also be our new district leader. I've met Elder Bell, but I don't really know him, so I'm excited to get to know him. We are also getting a new zone leader. Elder Kleinman, one of the current ZLs, is leaving to serve his last transfer as district leader in Norman, and Elder Norman is coming to be ZL with Elder Call. Elder Norman was my ZL in the south for just over 2 transfers, and he's awesome! I'm excited to serve with him again. There are a bunch of others moving, but I'm probably boring you all to death. Sorry!

Oh, we're only getting one new missionary today, Sister Davey. Actually, my grandma (Grandma Dee) told me about her when she first got her call because she is from her ward. She will be serving in the south. So, if I was in the south still, I would be living in the same apt complex as her. But I'm not. But I'm sure I'll get to meet her some day!

Corey is well. He, like I with the Gee's, is sad to see the Isa's go at the end of the month, the Hiroshima mission's last day is June 27. He didn't have a baptism on the 30th, but they're still working with her.

It is way hot here! Well, I shouldn't complain because apparently this is nothing. I'm getting used to waking up sticky and hot, taking a shower and being clean and fresh for like two seconds, and then being hot all day long. It's great! Someone told us July 4 is when it really gets hot and when it gets WAY humid. I'm just really glad I only have one summer here!

We're going to play indoor soccer today, and I'm WAY excited. Transfers are tomorrow! Crazy!

President & Sister Gee came with us on Saturday to visit a less active, Maria Bucher. It was a touching experience! I wish I could be the missionary President Gee is. He is amazing! The way he shows his love for the people is amazing. I hope that I can learn to be more like that. I love the people, but sometimes I feel like I struggle showing it. I'm going to remember that day forever.

Oh, I just found out that Don Chepe is getting baptized this Saturday! Hopefully, it actually holds and goes through. Pray that it will!

We're working hard and trying to find more people to teach. I feel like Miguel getting baptized was too easy, but then again he was my first baptism. I pray that we can find the people who are ready to receive!

I love you all! Thanks for everything!

Love,

Hermana Christina Hogewoning

district/baptism of Miguel pics

district pic from last district mtg. of the transfer - Elder Romero, Elder Bass, Elder Linford, Elder Whipple, Hermana Xiques, and me

Miguel's Baptism on Sunday - Hno. DeLeon (uncle of Haiden Pop, who I was teaching in the south, and also recent convert, was baptized a little less than a year ago), Hermana Xiques, Miguel, and me

what I tried to eat

A member gave us patas de pollo-chicken feet. I tried it, but thought I was going to die!

Happy June!

Hey Everyone,

I can't believe it's June! This is just so weird that the year is almost halfway over! Time really is flying by for me! I am nearing my halfway mark, and it's not real to me! It definitely feels like summer though! It's been like 95 for the last week, and when we tract or even when we're just going in between the car and houses, I can feel the beads of sweat dripping down my back. Sunday I walked into church, and I took off my backpack and Hna. Xiques said my back was completely wet. I felt a little embarrassed, but there wasn't really anything I could do. I'm just grateful that the summer will eventually be over. And 95 is nothing! It's only going to get hotter and more humid! But honestly I am enjoying the warmth, although it makes me miss the cold and the snow just a little.

I feel like nothing new is going on. Miguel is still set for being baptized on June 6. We finished teaching him everything this past Sunday. He just needs to be interviewed. He's very excited, and we are too! He came to church on Sunday.

We are continuing to find new investigators and we find awesome people for the english sisters and elders to teach. Sometimes I wish we could teach them because they seem SO golden, but we get to teach all of these amazing spanish families.

We're going to Watonga to teach the Reza family tonight. Two of their daughters, Yolanda (Erica's daughter) & Liliana (Mari's daughter), are going to girls' camp this week. We're WAY excited for them. I kind of wish I was in young women's again so I could go with them. Man, I LOVED going to girls' camp. I guess you could say I'm a little jealous of them. I just hope they all the other girls will fellowship them and that they'll make new friends. I also hope they any imperfections of the leaders and the girls will be overlooked, and that this will be a good experience for them. There have been a lot of problems with getting girls' camp settled, mainly in the branch. The biggest thing being that the branch doesn't have a leader going. But it'll hopefully be okay. (Also, just a note in case some of you were wondering, the girls speak spanish and english, but their parents only speak spanish. That is the case with most we teach. The parents speak spanish, but the kids speak both. A lot of the time, the children actually understand english better.)

Maria Martinez... The elders were able to give Sonya, Maria, and Jose blessings last week. It was a neat experience. The spirit was so strong, and I know they felt that. Sonya was also so calm. She's 2 and has down-syndrome. She never lets anyone touch her head, even to do her hair. But Elder Bass layed his hands on her head, and she didn't even move. I know Maria saw that and realized that there is something different about the blessing Elder Bass gave her daughter. I have such a strong testimony of priesthood blessings! And yet every time I witness one, I still am amazed at how the priesthood works and how much Heavenly Father loves us. I'm grateful for the elders and their worthiness and willingness to exercise the priesthood. We found out yesterday that Sonya had to go to the hospital. I'm not really sure how serious it is, but I hope everything will be okay. I love this family. I really feel like Sonya will be what will bring her family to the church. I feel like that is why Sonya was born into this family with down-syndrome, to help her family be ready and willing to accept the gospel. Because like Maria said, every member of their family is completely healthy.

We also had interviews with President Gee last week. I wished I could have talked to him longer. It made me a little sad to think that was my last interview with him. I have seriously grown to love him so much. When I got to the mission, I really didn't want to be close to my mission president. But as I've asked for help and let him into my life he has truly been a blessing to me as a missionary here in Oklahoma. I'm so grateful for him and all he does for me and for all of the missionaries in this mission. With President Taylor coming, President and Sister Gee are to have no contact with any of the missionaries still here in the mission until they finish their missions. I look forward to going to their house next year in Sugar City, Idaho (right next to Rexburg, Sis. Gee said that it's like a 10-15 drive from their house to BYU-I).

I am so grateful that I am a citizen of the United States. I didn't really realize how blessed I am, and I still think I take it for granted. But there are so many members and investigators that we know who don't have papers to be here, and it makes me so sad. This came up in church, during 3rd hour combined RS/Priesthood, and I just am so grateful for what I have.

That's it for today! I love you all so much! I really do think of you guys and miss you! But the mission is wonderful! It's shaping me into the person Heavenly Father needs me to be!

Again, I didn't hear from Corey, but I'm sure all is well in Japan.

Love,

Hermana Christina Hogewoning