I'm an Old Green Weenie!

So, yeah, I'm old. According to a five year old little girl, and I'm a green weenie. According to my ward mission leader and our elder's quorum president. Bah. All cuz of those stupid hot dogs. We are teaching two families right now and it's wonderful! I love serving a mission and things are so great. Transfers are this week and I pray that Sister Hardman and I don't get transfered. I love her too much to get transferred. So, tomorrow, we find out. It's the great and dreadful day....*twilight zone music playing* I've never been more scared of the APs in my entire life. I was shocked to get transfered from Cochran, so hopefully I don't get transferred again...but knowing my luck, I probably will. BAH!!! But, it's all in the Lord's plan. But after being on my mission, I'm rethinking my career path. I still wanna major in Special Ed, but I'm actually thinking of going straight into counseling and being a counselor for abuse victims. Especially people who have been sexually abused. I'm really thinking like that is what the Lord has in store for me. But, I feel like that's what I need to do. Anyway, have to go.

I Be Speakin Southern!!!

**From an email sent Mar. 8**

Hey y'all and yee haw!

Ok, I am now speaking in a southern accent. I've really picked up on it down here. I love it. It makes me sound funky. Sometimes I'll say something and not even realize that it's southern term. For example: "That there church is down the skreet, past the barkin' dog." Yes, I know I'm weird.

Last week was a looooooong one. Enjoyable, but long. But on Tuesday, I got quite a shock to my system. It was about 11:00 in the morning and Sister Hardman and I were driving to one of our appointments, and our cell phone rings. Sister Hardman looks at it and says "It's President." And then she answers it. I hear the conversation and he's asking for me. Sister Hardman says "One second, let us pull over, because she's driving." And then President says, "No, just have her call me as soon as she can." Then Sister Hardman hangs up. So, naturally, I start freaking out. Why was the President calling me? At first, I thought it was something to do with my family. That something had happened. Why else would President want to talk to me? So, when we pull up to our appointment, we are a little early, so I call President Bowman. And he answered and I said "Hi, President, it's Sister Hoggard, how are you?" And then he says "I got up this morning and saw that it was raining, so I called to see how you were doing, because I knew this would be a hard day for you." (He knows that the rain makes me feel like crap because of my fibremylagia.) But isn't that sweet!? He called to see how I was, just because it was raining.

Our investigators are well....being a little.....well, I'll just put it this way, they are being very...."southern-ish." If you don't know what that means, ask Jeff. He'll tell you. I'm sure he remembers. One of our investigators is a man named Joseph. He used to meet with the elders. And now, we're meeting with him. He likes the sisters a lot. It's interesting. Sisters get into a lot more places because we don't look quite as intimidating as two young men in suits. Anyway, we're meeting with him again tonight to actually get a sit down lesson with him. His baptism is set for March 28th. Please pray for him. Another is this fifteen year old boy named Brandon. We're still waiting to make sure that it's ok with his parents that we meet with him. He's really sweet. We're also teaching a family. The grandmother used to be a member, but has been baptized into another church, so she'll probably be excommunicated soon unless she starts coming back. But her two grandsons, Caleb and Matthew haven't been baptized and they are baptismal age. So, hopefully, we'll get the go-ahead from their mom and we'll be able to teach them and get them baptized, cuz they both want to be baptized. The Patrick's haven't been able to meet with us. They've been really sick. Sister Patrick actually had to take Brother Patrick to the hospital on Friday. So pray that they'll get better and that their hearts will be softened. We were able to meet with two guys the other day that totally bashed us. We were meeting them at the church with a member couple to help us teach. Finally, the member had to step in and tell them to knock it off. She said that us sisters were good enough to meet with them and help answer their questions, but that we weren't here to be bashed. It was horrible. I cried the entire way home. It's horrible when someone can take something that I cherish and totally use it against me to rip me apart. I keep thinking of part of the song that Sister Hardman wrote: "I have tried to warn you, but my words have only grieved you. When we stand at judgment day, what would ye have me say? I reached out for you, but I could not retrieve you. Would you dare to tell me then, 'I don't believe you.'" I hope their hearts will be softened one day. It might have just been because his friend was a "preacher in training."

News from Milledgeville

**Edited from an email to the family on March 1**

Here's a howdy from Georgia! Things are well down here. I'm glad things are good back home. Our car has been giving us a lot of trouble. It doesn't start without a jump. I'm glad all is well back home and down in Mendoza.
Well, our teaching pool has picked up a bit. Thanks to all our tracting. We are teaching a couple named Kelly and Faye. Kelly used to meet with the Elders, but quit. So we went by to say "hi" and we were able to teach him some things. Faye is really quiet, but Kelly can really talk. He's only about Jeff's age....yeah....36, right? But, anyway, he and I have really connected. He is so spiritual and he and I can talk for hours about spiritual experiences. I know that he is one of the people that I promised I'd find in the premortal world. I can just feel it. I challenged him to baptism and he said he'd pray about it. So pray for him. Pray for the both of them.
Also, Julia. She's 81 years old. She used to meet with the other sisters before I got here. With Sister Anderson and Sister Jenson, I believe. She's been listening to the Book of Mormon on CD and Sister Hardman and I can see in her eyes that she knows it's true. Pray for her.

My companion is an amazing songwriter!!

Well, this week has been semi interesting. I've been trying to adjust to having a third companion. Especially one that is rather old....hmmm. It's been an adjustment, but if I've learned anything on my mission, it's how to adjust. Bah. I hate change. But missions are all about change!! Anyways, my compie is a songwriter. She wrote this amazing song. It's taken from Mormon, chapter 6. It's written from Mormon's point of view on how he watches his whole civilization be destroyed because of their wickedness. It also pulls at the heartstrings of anyone who has served a mission. Especially a mission where it's more of a hunting mission *cough* Europe and USA *cough* So here are the lyrics:

"O ye fair ones why,
Have ye turned away to die,
When your Savior stood with arms stretched to recieve you?
O ye fair sons and daughters,
How great has been your slaughter.
Why have ye let that Evil One deceive you,
That the Spirit, at last, was forced to leave you?

As your Captain and your friend,
I am with you till the end.
I have warned you, but my words have only grieved you.
When we stand at judgment day,
What would ye have me say?
I reached out for you,
But I could not retrieve you.
Would you dare to tell me then, "I don't believe you?"

O my soul is rent with pain,
For the anguish of your slain.
But ye are gone and cannot return."

The melody that goes with it is gorgeous. I love it. It is especially good for anyone who's served a mission and been rejected over and over....

We are teaching a couple of people right now. A man who called us up and wanted to meet with us. Not sure how solid he is though. He might just be looking for information. He has an open mind though, and doesn't bash. So that's good. We are also teaching a woman. She's wonderful and has met with missionaries before. So hopefully, we can get her baptized. Just keep them in your prayers.

I'm learning to speak with a Southern accent, which is fun, cuz I know it's gonna drive Maridy absolutely crazy when I come home. Hehehe.

I had an experience the last few days that reaffirmed my testimony on the priesthood. I was really sick on Saturday and Sister Hardman was trying to find someone to give me a blessing. Cuz our DL is an office elder and was at Zone Conference. So we called the bishop and one of his counselors and they gave me a beautiful blessing and I immediately felt better. I love being able to have the priesthood in our lives.

Anyways....Bye for now! Till next week!

Milledgeville....Second Week of Transfer!

I LOVE GEORGIA!!!! Things are really great down here! We had snow a last week...so that was fun. But everybody freaked out cuz they ain't used to it like we are. But it was rather frightening to drive in. Not to mention that a couple of days ago, I almost hit a deer. BAH! But anyways. Our teaching pool is rather dead. We were teaching a man, but he's kinda disappeared. He was just about to be interviewed for baptism as well.
We've been teaching two older black ladies. But we aren't sure how solid they are...so we'll see how things go. Pray for them! We've also been teaching a young man...probably in his late twenties. And he seems open. He was the one to call us and schedule an appointment...(That NEVER happens, by the way) So keep him in your prayers. I challenged him to pray about baptism for March 6. So we'll see what happens.
I love my mission. I'm learning so much and growing each and every day. I'm not the same person that I was when I left. I've grown spiritually and mentally. It's amazing how close you get to your Savior and your Father in Heaven when on a mission. It's wonderful. And being in the south is a different experience just as well. It's almost like a different culture down here. But I love the people of the south. They are so nice and genuine. And, boy, they know their bible. Probably more so than I do! But it's wonderful. Cuz they are close to our Savior and eventually, they will come to accept him and his gospel. The church is true and it is wonderful!!!

Milledgeville, Georgia

GREETINGS FROM MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA!!!!!!!! Fabulous. Only one transfer in Cochran and now I was shipped up north. But thats ok. I don't mind. Not really anyway.
Not a whole lot has been going on. I was homesick for Cochran last week, so that was no bueno. But oh well.
Church has been interesting. People always notice the missionaries. I feel like I'm on display. I now live in an apartment. It's much better than living with members. My new address is:
Sister Katie Hoggard
205 Ivey Drive #20
Milledgeville, Georgia 31061
But I will update this when I have more exciting news. The only real exciting thing that happened this week was that I got chewed out by a man. And got told that we follow a false religion and he chewed us out cuz we pray to God. We don't pray to Jesus and he told us that Mormons aren't allowed to worship Jesus. And that hit me hard so I said 'Sir? Where in our religion does it say that we're not allowed to worship Jesus?' And he totally sidestepped the question and said "I've studied it!" So, we didn't get into it. We just left.
My new companion is Sister Hardman. She's great. I love her a lot.
Not much to say.....so I'll update it later.

Transfer Week

Hey y'all!

So first order of business, I'm leaving Cochran...sad day. I'm really depressed about it. I'm probably going to Ridgeland, South Carolina cuz the sisters there have been together for 3 transfers and that's already way too long. So, send letters to the mission home. But Sister Hatfield got a call from President Bowman this morning saying that she's training again and that she's staying here, so that means I'm leaving. I don't wanna leave Cochran! I love Cochran! I love the people! *sigh* no bueno.

Well, on to happier news! Dixie has committed, and she is sooo baptized on February 13th. Which means that once she is baptized, then she'll reactivate her husband! YAY!!!
Last night, we started teaching a manwho been married to a member for 20 years and says he's been praying for 20 years to find out if the church is true. He's met with several different sets of missionariesand he says he's been waiting for his answer for 20 years. So we told him to start praying with real intent and we promised him that if he would, the Lord would answer him. He also has to promise to the Lord that he will do what He asks.

Some one else also didn't come to church, but we told him that he couldn't be baptized until he was off of parole, but he seemed okay with it. He's on parole for 4 years, and he can be baptized sooner, but it would need him coming to church and living the commandments for 6 months or longer and then he'd need First Presidency's approval. So keep these people in your prayers!

Sister Susan Caddell has mysteriously vanished.

OH! At zone conference, I was talking to this other sister and I told her that I wanted to major in Special Ed and she told me that she could tell just by looking at me that I would be a good special ed teacher cuz I don't get ruffled easily and that I stay calm easily, which is true to a point. But she told me her mom is a special ed teacher. This sister was Sister Hardman. She was really nice. She's a thespian too and an english major....so she and I would probably get along. :)

The church is so true! I love it. Everything about this gospel is incredible. I am so grateful for Joseph Smith. In 1820, a young boy walked into a grove of trees with a simple question, and came out with an answer that changed this entire world. When I tell people that this is a WORLDWIDE church and that I have a little brother that is serving in Argentina and Sister Hatfield has a little brother that is serving in South Korea and I have friends that have served in England, Russia, Brazil, Spain, Albania and all that, they are stunned how worldwide this church truly is. I'm so grateful for this wonderful gospel.