Great Week(s)

 

Ciao Family and Friends!

Things continue to go pretty well for us here and we honestly are seeing lots of cool blessings. Thankfully this week was pretty mellow because we didn't have to travel for trainings or for other
miscellaneous things. We were able to focus so much more on our work, and lots of good came out of it.

Back of the boat bus

 We are trying to make this city turn into something big again. Years ago the missionary work was basically flourishing and with time and whatever the reasons may have been, its been a bit tough. We have been wanting to get a bigger English class so we ordered 5000 English class flyers that the mission office helped us design, and in just 5 days we have passed out about 700. I heard that the last time missionaries did this big of an English Class invitavate, the class size quadrupled. I'm sure it will help our missionary work out a ton so I guess we will see! Its all about being creative and doing work.

Ponte Rialto Venice

 Last Friday a cool thing happened after we had passed out a ton of flyers. We were about to head home to make calls but we felt like we should hop on a tram instead. Because of that we met two people who wanted to meet with us again. One of them is from Nigeria, and he said that he and his family would love to come to church. Super cool!

Venice sun set

 So, I wanted to share something I had reflected on a lot this week. We always teach others to be like Christ who was perfect right? Well how can we be perfect if we are far from it, being imperfect beings. Well the definition of perfect isn't just "without flaw", it is also "complete". What it really comes down to, as far as striving to be perfect, is we have to always ask ourselves if what we are doing is helping us feel complete as a person. I've definitely seen that when I am doing something wrong, I feel like a part of me is missing. So the more perfect we are striving to be, the more whole or complete we should feel. This gospel is meant for us to become happier and more successful. I am so insanely grateful for being a tool in this work.

 
It is real and it is true. Have a super awesome week!


WILLY'S LETTER FROM JANUARY 4, 2017

Venice on a boat

 

BUON ANNO!!

This marks my first email of 2017 woahhh. Seriously an awesome week we had here, just like most weeks. The days leading up to New Years were a bit slow because people must have been preparing for the big celebration. However, we still did work! On New Year's Eve we did a display in Mestre downtown which got us a couple numbers.

Murano

 As for our celebration, Anziano Bruggeman and I went to our ward New Years party and then got home around nine. We played some games and then watched the fireworks and crazy people lighting off M80s in the street. At 12am we hear Katy Perry "Roar" blasting in Mestre downtown haha.

 On Monday we drove to Verona, then to Milano for a leadership conference which was super sweet. We just discussed how we could improve the mission. On Tuesday we did 2 conferences for the Zone; one in Mestre and the other in Pordenone. All went well and everybody seemed to love it.
Today we walked around Venice and then took a boat to Murano, which is famous for its glass. I found a few cats there so I think we will be going back soon haha.

Mission Counsil

 

 In our conferences, we have been talking about how we can become better and more effective missionaries. Our mission president always says that when we do things with our hearts, we will always find success. There is a secret to success in this life, and luckily I am able to discover what that is while serving here in Italy. Love is the key, and when we put it towards the things we do and the people we serve, so much will come out of it. Jesus Christ was the perfect example of this love. I love you all and I seriously love being a missionary up here in Northern Italy. I wouldn't trade it for
anything. Have the best first week of this year!

I found a cat on the island of Murano!!  It's name is Mimi

 

The cat was so chubby!!!

 Love, Anziano Willy Hogan

Ps. If you are nice enough to send me a package, send it to my mission
home address. Letters are totally fine to be sent to the city I am
currently serving in. Love you ALL!