Baptism and Transfer

Ciao cari!

 Mi mancate! Sono proprio felice qua.

This week Marco was baptized!!! His wife and two kids were there and the room was completely packed. It was definitely one of the most rewarding moments of my entire mission. His wife is a member from Ecuador and she was the one who originally introduced him to the church. In one of the very first lessons we had, Marco promised his wife that they would get married in the temple.

 I'm eternally grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Marcos life and baptism!

 This last Saturday I got a new assignment from President Allen to be the new mission Clerk. I will be companions with Anziano Simmons (who is from the Laguna Niguel stake!!!) and together we are basically the nerds who deal with the mission cars, charts, finances etc. We work most of the day in the office while still working with the ward of Lodi, Milano. I hear they are a killer ward with awesome families. Its definitely a huge change to my normal missionary life but I really look forward to it.

 It is sad to be leaving this place!! I feel like whichever city I go to, I join a new family and make friends that I'll never forget. I'll miss it but I have a super good excuse now to come back and visit. I
sure learned a lot here and I had a great time with Anziano Bruggeman. In this city I've learned a lot about the importance of love. It is the most powerful tool to making this world a better place and helping others become happier. I really love you all and I'm enjoying everything I doing here.

 In the office our pdays are usually Saturdays but sometimes Wednesday.
My new address is:
Via Antonio Gramsci 13/2
20090 Opera MI
Italia

Snow!!!!

Selfie on the tram!

I drew a snow cat!

Snow!

January 18, 2017

Another week in such a great part of the world. This week it snowed which was super cool! also freezing cold. I've gotten like a hundred comments from people who laugh at how I'm from California and I'm here in the cold. It's honestly so great here despite the challenges. Very often we are lead to certain places and people at just the right moments. We are always able to find tender mercies, and that is because the work we are doing is true.

 On Thursday we traveled to Pordenone to do an exchange and help them out a bit. The next day we did another exchange with the elders from Vicenza which was a blast because that's when it dumped Snow!

 In Italy there are huge sales going on right now, so Anziano Bruggeman and I used that as an excuse to buy new Italian suits. They look great by the way. We will wear them tomorrow for our zone conference and take some pictures don't worry!

 I think it's so awesome how much I learn out here. I am so grateful I have chosen to serve a mission. Unfortunately some people think that missions make us miss out on life and waste time, but it's
sort of the opposite. I've done more, seen more, and learned more than I ever would have if I were to have stayed home. I'm grateful for every moment of it. This weekend, Marco is getting baptized! He has the best little family in the world. Him and his wife want to get married in the temple next year which makes me so insanely happy. I love you all.

Anziano Hogan

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!

Buon Anno!!

Ciao a Tutti!!

Hey Everyone!! It was so awesome to talk to some of my family on Christmas!

 

 

Venice at night

 This Christmas was the best one I have ever had!  We actually did finding on Christmas because we had an open morning after the one hour of church. We found two new people on the bus to Venice and on the way back as well. Later in the day we went to Fratello Max Frani's house to Skype the family and eat the BEST dinner ever. He taught us how to make a dessert that goes back 300 years ago. We also watched Hercules for Christmas!

Christmas Eve Diner!

 Transfers came this week and I'm staying with Anziano Bruggeman for another 6 weeks in Mestre-Venice! Super glad about that! We are working so hard together and we have a baptism coming up in January for Marco.

Last week we also did a couple exchanges with missionaries from Padova and Vicenza which was super great. After knocking on what seemed like 100 doors, a University student let us in and we shared the Christmas message! They want us to come back next week! Cool miracles have been happening around Christmas time! People's hearts really do open up a little bit during this time of year.

I say this Christmas was the best one I've ever had because I have basically been celebrating Christmas for the last year and a half, so when Christmas came I was so stoked!! It's never been so clear to me, the significance of the birth of Jesus Christ. We now have New Years too!! I hope everyone makes good goals, ones that you can actually keep. I'm so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I know Christmas is over but we can still be lights and examples of Him!

Buon Natale e Buon Capo D'Anno!

 Love you guys!!!

Making the 300 year old recipe of Calcionetti

 

The district!

 

 

Buon Natale a Tutti!

Buon Natale e Aguri a Tutti!!

 Che bellissima, questa stagione di Natale!

 Just a few more days and its Christmas! Holy moly we have gone so hard with the 2016 Christmas initiative, people seem to really love the #SiiUnaLuce video. Christmas time definitely does soften the hearts of people.

Amazing lunch we had in Venice with friends I taught English to last year

 Last week was yet another whirlwind as it always seems to be. We traveled to Modena for a mission conference that was held by Elder Johnson of the Seventy. He had me and Anziano Bruggeman get up and share some of the miracles we have seen in Mestre, specifically about meeting this man named Giovanni. The next day we drove to Verona, then Milano for another conference with Elder Johnson.

 Lots of traveling and conferences but so many great things I was able to take away and learn.



2nd conference in Milano

 

Half of mission conference

 

English class Christmas party

 

 Giovanni, whom we had met a few weeks ago, finally met with us last Wednesday night. He brought the Book of Mormon we had given to him, of which he had read 501 pages in just 2 weeks. As we told him our experiences of why we know it is a real, true book, he told us he felt the same way. He hugged us both at the end and thanked us for being testimonies of the Book of Mormon. Experiences like this, in my mission, have only come a few times, so I'm super grateful!

Venice today!

 Last night we had dinner at Fratello Massimiliano Franni's house. He is a professional pianist and the BYU music professor. It was one of the coolest experiences for me to meet with someone, whose music I actually have heard before! We are having Christmas dinner at his house so we are looking forward to that.

 I hope everyone enjoys this Christmas Sunday. Don't forget to take some time to sit back and read about our Savior Jesus Christ. He gave us a gift that exceeds any gift money or time could buy. He gave Himself for us, and hundreds of doors open for us if we love Him, and Follow Him. I've been able to learn and understand the power that comes from knowing that He lives, and Knowing that His church has been restored. This knowledge creates for us, the most secure foundation that could support anyone in any life crisis. I love you all, and I especially love my Savior Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!

 Love,

Anziano Hogan

My trainer and me from last year!

 

Anziano Josh Thomson

 

MOSTRA!  In Mestre downtown

 

The ward gave us food for Christmas!

 

Our ward loves us!!

 

Making Gnocchi

 

Making Gnocchi with our ward mission leader

Christmas is Close!

Buone Feste cari miei!

 

Zone Conference

I can't even tell you all how happy I am for this time of year. Last year's Christmas was awesome but this year is even more meaningful for me. Being in the mission for as long as I have has everything to do with it. I've been able to grow and learn so much about our Savior Jesus Christ in my time here in Italy. 

As usual, this week was a whirlwind of craziness. We had the Christmas Zone Conference last Thursday which went so well! Right after, we drove to Vicenza to do an exchange. We got to Christmas carol to the Anziani(Elderly) here in Mestre which was a blast! They all thought it was funny that the Anziani (us) were singing to the actual Anziani. It was so nice to share the spirit of Christmas with some of Venice's oldest seniors. 

 

We were so busy this week, we didn't even think about pictures...sorry!

 

I cant't get over how great the #SiiUnaLuce ( #SharetheLight ) Video is!! We walk the streets for hours each week trying to share this message with the people here. We have received so much positive feedback from it. I really like how it relates to all races, religions, and people, because this message isn't just for a select people, its for the WORLD. As far as I know, Italian is one of the only languages that translates (Share the Light) to (BE the Light). I thought that was so cool and I honestly like that more. Our actions towards others are usually what sparks the desire in a persons heart to be a Light as well. In 3 Nephi 12:16 it reads "Let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven". Show someone you love them by giving your time, efforts, and heart, or in other words, Be like the Savior. Have a great week, and don't forget why we celebrate!

 

Love all of you!!! 

 

-Anziano Willy Hogan 

Address for Christmas cards! 

Anziano Hogan

Via Cappuccina 19/F, 

30172 Mestre, 

Italia

Busy...busy...busy!

MY ADDRESS:

ANZIANO HOGAN

VIA CAPPUCCINA  19/F

30172 MESTRE, ITALIA

 

 

Hey Everyone!

Mestre Centro.  It may be smaller than all my other cities but it still is awesome!  I will get some Venice Christmas pictures to y'all soon!

 It has been such a CRAZY week here. With our new assignment here in Venezia-Mestre, Anziano Bruggeman and I are busier than at any point in our missions. For example, we spent 12 hours on trains these last 2 days and next week we travel to the far parts of the mission for a conference and a meeting. Tomorrow is our big Christmas Zone Conference and I'm super pumped for it! Busy as ever but I love it!

Pranzo (lunch) with Marco and his family minus one son.

 

# awkward missionary poses.  This is our friend Erica, who is moving back to England

 

Roland...the nicest member ever!

 I'm so happy it is finally December because people are now in that mindset of Christmas. Basically every free evening we have, we go downtown with a big speaker and show the #SiiUnaLuce(Be a light) Video, which always gets at lest a few people to stop. Something really amazing came out of showing the video. One night, a woman stopped and watched the video. Afterwards she asked us to come and share more of our message with her family. Well, we called her and she wasn't kidding so we visited her home last Saturday and taught her and 4 other kids. I honesty cant remember the last time something as awesome as this happened in my mission. They were pretty firm in their beliefs but they still listened to us so intently and asked tons of questions. We will see what happens.

Amazing burgers

 Last week we met with Marco, the Venetian chef, who is so eager to learn more and be baptized either by the end of this month or the beginning of the next. He is so awesome! He made us his special Carbonara which we agreed was the best Carbonara we have ever tasted. He has the most amazing family of a wife, 2 little boys and a crazy little dog.

A tree in Centro (Centro is downtown)

I hope you are all enjoying the holidays. Don't forget the reason why we celebrate, and WHO we are celebrating. Share with as many people as you can the #ShareTheLight video! We can make this world a better place, one act at a time. Love you all.

-Anziano Hogan


A church in Bergamo



 



Bergamo!