What it is like housing here in Marugame

The Last Transfer (for real this time)

Well I am still here in Marugame but Elder Novak got transferred to Himeji.  My new companion is Elder Riley Kendrick from the suburbs of Toronto, Canada.  He is the oldest of 4 kids.  He has been here in Japan for about 6 months and is a very solid elder.  It is going to be a great 6 week sprint to the finish with him.

Church was really great.  We had three investigators their (Brother Kajino and Brother and Sister Tanaka).  We also got to go to branch council which was way awesome.  I really feel like a big part of the branch here in Marugame.

Other than transfers this week it was pretty low key.  Sorry this is so short and boring but I'm burning the CD with the pictures from the MTC up until transfer day last week.  It sounds like things are going well for all of you so just let me know what souveniers you want me to bring home.  Keep enjoying (not enduring) to the end and so will I.

Lots of love,
Corey

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