Week 2: "The days are like weeks and the weeks are like days"

The days are like weeks, and the weeks are like days - that´s a saying that I am starting to become familiar with. 

As for how my day to day life is - we wake up at 6:30 (somehow) and are ready by 7:15 (ish), have breakfast, have personal study, language study with our teacher, coaching with our teacher - Our morning teacher is Hermano Lara, but we´ve also had a few other teachers because Hno Lara´s wife is expecting a baby soon and he has to leave sometimes. Anyway, we have companion study, we role play and talk about what we will teach our investigators Sometimes we teach in the morning. We have lunch, then TALL (technology assisted language learning) which really is helpful but we´re all just trying not to fall asleep sometimes. Then we have more study, then we go to gym (love it every day, getting better at volleyball and ultimate frisbee) and then we have daily planning, some more time to study for teaching, and then we have dinner. The food here is pretty good - Tuesday nights are pizza, which is the best. Then we have night classes or a devotional, personal time, and then bed at 10:30. 

So that´s a day in the life right now.

Mexico is beautiful, not as hot as I thought it would be. Or as humid. It´s really nice. I really like the CCM, it´s so well-kept up. (¿Se pronuncian la "se se eme," si?)

Ok, now for some experiences this week. 

       Last week I mentioned I was a bit sick. It never got very bad, but one thing that really helped was receiving a priesthood blessing from some of the elders in my district. It really was very comforting, and I know that Heavenly Father is aware of me, and every one of us. I felt strengthened throughout the next few days, even if I wasn´t over being sick yet. I also think it was a good thing that elders could use the priesthood that they hold. I was also blessed with a companion who helped me keep on top of staying hydrated and who always made sure I was doing alright. 

       My companion, Hermana Cook, is from Orange County California. Her mother is a nurse, and she seems to have inherited some of her characteristics. :) I look up to her a lot. Not all of her family supports her going on a mission, but she really is converted to the gospel and what she knows. She´s also a big Lord of the Rings and Avatar the Last Airbender fan, so that´s awesome. We are learning a lot about studying, learning and teaching together. It´s still challenging but we learn from our mistakes and we´re willing to change our approach, which makes a big difference, I think.

       I am growing to love all the members of my district - I don´t have a picture of all of us yet, but it will come, I promise!

 

        We watched a devotional on Tuesday about preparing for conference, and he helped us in how we need to take notes. He pointed out that we all have to find our own pattern. Heavenly Father works in patterns. But this was a pattern that has always helped him, and I am going to try this weekend: during the talk, write down the doctrine/principle, the invitation (make it personal) and the promised blessing. It´s good to have questions, and important to be willing to act on the answer. 

He also pointed out that they aren`t assigned topics, which I knew. He said "They don`t say to us, Ok, Elder Bednar and Elder Ballard, you speak on conversion. Elder Holland, you light it up."

We´ve heard several devotionals by Elder Bednar, and I love how he jokes with the missionaries, and inspires us to forget about ourselves and get to work. 

I hope the Womens´ Broadcast was good, I will get to watch it this Saturday while the Elders watch the priesthood session. 

 

Spanish is coming along. It´s a lot of learning it in the context of the gospel. A lot of studying you just have to learn to do on your own. But that´s good. And it´s also important help others along their way, too. I know that I receive help every day. Our teachers were good to remind us that we were called to speak in the Spanish language. My companion and I have made more of an effort to speak it, but in the casa we relax more. We shared our pictures or our families with each other and everyone always says what a good-looking family i have, and they are right! 

I love you all! keep me posted on things happening in your lives!

Bryan and Annette, thanks for your gift before I left - the scripture tabs have helped a lot!

Dad, I promise I did not completely forget about your birthday, I just remembered at all the wrong times. So, happy Birthday!

Thanks mom and dad, and everyone, for all the help and support you have given me!

One more quote, from Elder Maxwell. "Without the character of Christ, there would have been no Atonement." I have loved learning more about the character of Christ. When we would turn in, he turns out. That´s not something that we can do on our own, but with the Atonement and the power of God, all things are possible. 

Love, Hermana Hogge (a name which is even harder for Spanish speakers to say, I´ve learned  :)

Week 1: The Adventure Begins!

I made it to P-day! Let us all take this moment to celebrate that :)

Thanks everyone for sharing your week with me! Please continue to keep me updated. One of the good words of advice I´ve received while being here is to include my you in my mission experience. That came from a devotional given by Elder Ballard on Tuesday at the Provo MTC: 

       I´ve learned some important lessons and made memories already. Mi companion Hermana Cook is awesome, we´ve really been able to work and learn together. I love her. The other sisters that share our room, Hermana Singer and Hermana Dean, are also really great. We get a little too silly sometimes, but their company has made all the difference. My district is great, almost like a family away from family. 

Hermana Dean, Hermana Singer, Hermana Cook, Hermana Hogge

Hermanas Walker, Morgan, Singer, Dean, Cook, and Hogge!

      On Friday, Hermana Cook and I had the opportunity to teach our first "investigator" named Pedro. I was so nervous (they wanted me to teach already?!) but we have since taught four lessons and thing are going well. Our first two lessons, we did our best, but we didn´t really know what we were doing. Then we watched a devotional on Sunday that was given by Elder Bednar a while ago, I think it´s called "Becoming a Preach My Gospel Missionary"  I´m pretty sure it changed my mission. One of the main lessons I learned from it was that teaching is more than talking and telling. He also quoted 1 Corinthians 2: 1 - 5. Part of that says: " And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not wiht excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God . . . That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

       Of course, the lessons here at the CCM are not in English. It´s difficutl when you want to say something but can´t find the words, but I know that the Spirit can - and has- helped me when I open my mouth. THat was another thing I learned form Elder Bednar. You have to open your mouth First. 

I could use more practice with that, but I at least have some experience now.

       We will get to go to the visiter´s center at the temple, but the temple itself is closed for renovation. I´m so happy that you all got to go to the Ogden Temple dedication, and I´m glad that it was a great experience for you. 

Anyway, today´s been interesting because I´ve been a bit sick, but I´ve been blessed to have a supportive companion and all the medicine and help I need. 

It´s weird to be in our little bubble and remember that we´re in Mexico. But it has been beautiful here. and so much fun - how many times do I get to say I played a game of ultimate frisbee with my district in the middle of Mexico City? It was really fun. 

Thank you all so much for helping me get to this point. I have felt of you love and prayers for me. And I´ve felt God´s love and I know that He is there for each and every one of us. 

At the end of Elder Bednar´s talk he said "I wish I could take you all by the hand, pull you close and say ´You can do this. He will help you.´"  I live by those words. I know they are true. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the path for all of us to gain experience and return to our Heavenly Father, having done all that He required of us here. 

I love you all! 

Love, 

Hermana Hogge

Goodbye America, Hello Mexico MTC!

First, I'd like to thank everyone who was able to come to Jessica's farewell. It turned out to be a great success and Jessica said she "couldn't have asked for a better day!" Her talk on the Atonement of our Savior was amazing. Proof that she is very prepared to be teaching others through example and testimony. She is going to be such a great missionary! 

Last night, we were able to have one last meal as a family. Unfortunately Bryan couldn't make it, but it was still amazing to sit down as a family and have one last dinner together before Jessica left. After the dinner, we drove to the church where Jessica was set apart as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Her blessing was beautiful and full of so many blessings! The spirit in that room was so strong. Her picture was added to the collage of Kaysville Stake Missionaries on the Stake Center wall. Officially Hermana Hogge! 

This morning at 3:45 a.m., our family gathered for family prayer. Jessy hugged a sleepy Allison and Miles goodbye and Mom, Dad, Jessica and I drove to the airport. We got her all checked in and ready to go. It was good to see she wouldn't be alone as many other families said their goodbyes around us. We gave her lots of hugs, watched her go through security, up the escalator and out of sight. 

We were so pleased to receive a text from a stranger in the Dallas Texas Airport. She was a member of the church and saw the missionaries. She took the missionaries picture and sent it to all of their families to let them know they were safe! Her next step would be Mexico City! 

This evening, we received Hermana Hogge's first email: 

"Today was an adventure in itself, and I am really glad to have the airport over with. And it was nice of that woman in Dallas to take a picture and send it, she was sitting next to some of the other sisters on our flight. So far, the best thing has been the people - the people that I traveled to the MTC with, and the couple that I sat next to on the way to Mexico. I had to fill out this form to get through customs, but the form that they handed out on the plane was all in Spanish! They were all out of English ones! But the couple next to me could speak a little English, and helped me get through it. 

The MTC is really nice, I already like it a lot. My P-day will be Thursday while I am here, just so you know. I have not met my companion yet, but her name is Hermana Cook. Looking forward to keeping you all updated on all that goes on. 

Give everyone my love!

Hermana Hogge" 

For those of you wishing to email or mail Jessica while she is in the MTC, here is her info: 

jessica.hogge@myldsmail.net

Sister Jessica Ann Hogge

28/10/2014 4A

Carretera Tenayuca-Chalmita #828

Colonia Zona Escolar, Gustavo A. Madero

07230 Mexico, Distrito Federal

Mexico

Thank you all again for your love and support for Jessy! We are so excited for her adventure and can't wait to hear from her each week. Keep her in your thoughts and prayers as she begins to learn the Spanish language. :) Adios! 

Called to serve in....Tegucigalpa, Honduras!!!

Welcome to Sister/Hermana Jessica Hogge's mission blog!

We, as a family, are SO EXCITED for Jessica's new upcoming adventures! We are so proud of her decision to serve our Father in Heaven and spread the gospel to those waiting for her in Tegucigalpa! Jessica is to report to the Mexico MTC on September 17th....our dad's birthday! (Happy Birthday Dad!)












We want to keep everyone in the loop the very best we can! I (Jessica's very favorite oldest sister, Annette) will be posting pictures, emails, stories, and testimonies sent to us from Jessica while she serves the Lord in Honduras.

A little about Honduras:

Honduras, in the north-central part of Central America, has a Caribbean as well as a Pacific coastline. Guatemala is to the west, El Salvador to the south, and Nicaragua to the east. The second-largest country in Central America, Honduras is slightly larger than Tennessee. Generally mountainous, the country is marked by fertile plateaus, river valleys, and narrow coastal plains.

Honduras Flag

We hope that everyone can make it to Jessica's farewell on September 14th at 11:00 at our church. We  are so grateful to be blessed by her sweet, amazing spirit and are excited to share her with the Honduran people. Check back here at this blog every few weeks to receive updates on Hermana Jessica Hogge's Honduras Adventures!