Yay for everything in life

Yay for Tavin going to Sapporo.  (I'll also apologize for changing my come home date on him.  He sounded kind of down about it.)  He'll do great and be very cold.  They are building a temple up there and the work sounds like it is on fire.  A member from this branch is actually serving up there.  His name is Takashima Naoto.  He has seen 11 baptisms in the 1 year and 3 months he has been out.  He goes home in September I think.  Maybe they will meet up when Elder Densley gets there.  Naoto was here when I was here last time but left since I have been gone.  He helped us out a ton like driving us around to lessons, members houses, even mission meetings all the way in Takamatsu.  He attended lessons with us, came to district meetings and other missionary conferences, he was at all of our activities, we have gone housing (tracting) together too.  He even made us meals when we were doing weekly planning a couple of times.  He sounds like he is tearing it up in Sapporo.  That would be so cool if he trained Tavin...

Anyway congrats to Tavin and Dallen once again for making the best decision of their lives.  They will both be fantastic.  

Things are going great here.  Tomorrow is transfer calls.  We had interviews this last week and President said that I will more likely than not be staying here.  Wether or not my companion Elder Novak transfers or not is really up in the air.  He is great elder and will go wherever the Lord needs him but he also really likes it here.  He will either stay and then be trainer here his final transfer after I go home or he will transfer to somewhere else for his final three months either as a zone leader or still as district leader with the possiblity of training that last transfer wherever he goes.  He was supposed to train but President was nice enough to send me down here instead of a new missionary.  :)

The work is still going at a steady rate.  Not much news but Tao, the Tanaka couple, and Kajino are all moving along toward baptism.  Tao is the only one with a date still but he still hasn't come to church due to his job.  They will all get baptized it is more of a matter as to when not if.

I guess that is it for this week.  Keep putting your shoulder to the wheel.  Everything is working together for your good so just keep it up.

Lots of love,

Corey

Change in Countdown

Corey will not be coming home on January 21st as planned.  Instead he will fly home on March 4.  He didn't extend.  Because his two years falls in between the two transfers he has the choice, and he wants to stay the later transfer.  52 days and counting...

Countdown...

Corey comes home in exactly one month from today!  Yay!

2 More Months!

Corey has a facebook, Elder Corey Hogewoning.  


Also, don't forget about the group, Elder Hogewoning, to stay updated with events to follow Corey's homecoming!  January 21, 2011 - 55 days!



Corey loves to get letters!  If you want, you can write him a message on facebook, and I'll send it to him when I e-mail him.


Thanks for all of your love, prayers, and support!  :)


I'll keep you posted on Corey's homecoming talk and other events!


-Christina

Another short one

Thanksgiving was lots of fun and we even had an investigator there.  His name is Hirayama-san.  He came to church last week after finding a flyer at his parents' house.  He is SO prepared.  He went to another church but thought there were a lot of things that weren't quite right so he was looking for another church.  He is so committed to living the gospel and getting baptized.  He met with us on Tuesday, Thursday, yesterday, and we have another lesson in a couple of minutes.

Brother Shota Tokunaga lives a 20 sec walk away from the church, was baptized earlier this year, comes to almost every activity, can often be found hanging around the office, and is set to go on a mission in about a year.

Anyway keep up the great work and have a fun holiday season!

Lots of love,
Corey

Hi. I know I can't believe I'm writing on the right day either.

Today a family is getting baptized here in the Kobe ward, the Matsumotos. The sisters taught them and the dad, mom, and oldest son are all getting baptized. Their other child is a 6 year-old(?) girl so she won't get baptized tonight. Family baptisms are the best and I am excited to attend.

In other news there isn't too much. We went bowling as a district on Monday. We split our last preparation day last Saturday so we could do something fun as a district on Monday since we have a different preparation day than all of them. Elder Maeda and I passed our driving test to get our Japanese driver's licenses. It was his 3rd time and my 2nd. I did so badly on my first try but this time there was no pressure because Elder Osaka already has a valid Japanese driver's licenses, Elder Maeda passed his test right before I did, and I won't probably need it for more than these last three weeks that I am probably going to be in the mission office. I really don't like my picture. I don't think I was allowed to smile but I didn't ask. Besides that I just look fat and weird. Anyway the bookmark is getting there and I'm still waiting on pictures from about half of the missionaries as far as the DVD goes.

Thanksgiving will be almost like the real thing since we're in the office and Costco is only about an hour away. I'll tell you how it goes.

Have a great week and keep up all the great work that all of you are doing.

Lots of love,
Corey

PS I got the last two letters from Dad including the one with the email from Kate Herrod (soon to be Sister Herrod).

PPS Love you mom.

This transfer is winding down to an end

I can't believe I have been in the mission office for a whole transfer now. It is crazy how time flies. I have a lot of things down but my to do list is still fairly long. With transfers coming up this week it is sure to be a busy one.
I have been so blessed to have my companion Elder Maeda. He is such a sweethart. I know that probably sounds kind of strange but he really has a huge heart and is as genuine as can be. He is so much fun to be around. He always tries his best and constantly wants to do better. He reminds me a lot of myself in the fact that he is really hard on himself when he messes up but that is a trait we are both trying to work on together. He was born in Japan. His dad is Japanese and his mom is third-generation Japanese American from Hawaii. They moved to Utah when he was 12 and his family still lives there. He went to the U and wants to be a doctor. He is fluent in both English and Japanese and sometimes I teach him a few Spanish words I can remember. We are helping each other grow a lot. His brother just left on a mission to Canada. I can't remember which mission, but it isn't the same one Sister Riley is in though.
It excites me to here everyone doing so well. I'm doing great too.
I can't thinks of much too write. I feel like I have gotten so used to everything that nothing seems too extraordinary anymore. For instance, I eat sushi about once a week or once every two weeks, but that has just become so normal. I feel badly I didn't write more about all of the new, exciting things when I got here. If you want to know about anything great or small let me know. I would be more than happy to write about it all. By the way, don't worry about asking the same question more than once because sometimes I forget.
You are all the best and I just want you to know how grateful I am to all of you. You are all pushing and cheering me on for which I am enternally grateful. Let's all keep it up. I love you so much. The gospel is true. It fixes lives and heals hearts. It is the only true and lasting joy in this earth. Christ is my Savior and has picked me up so many times when I have fallen down. This gospel was restored through Joseph Smith and it is all we need to feel lasting peace and happiness not only forever but in the here and now. You are all the greatest and just keep on keeping on

Lots of love,
Corey