Dallas Letter 10/24/16

Hello,

   

So we received transfer calls and I am leaving Menifee! I am going to Moreno Valley (Valley View ward). Sister Nielson is my new companion and we came in together. Here are some picture to describe what happened this week. Love you all!

Picture Description:

So the Ward Halloween party was this week and I was Anna from Frozen. Brother Bigelow (ward mission leader) was the elf on the self. The couple we are with are the Gomez in who we are teaching Tony the firefighter the lessons. Brooke was baptized yesterday and it gave me a chance to say good bye to the Davis family. The boy next to Sister Keith is Rueben in whom is getting baptized on Nov. 6

Dallas Letter 10/17/16 - OK, Sort of a Letter

I love you guys! 

Dallas Letter 10/10/16

Hey,

This week we had the amazing opportunity to have President and Sister Mullen come out with us for a lesson with Rueben. It was cool to see President and Sister Mullen meet the Davis family in whom I have writing to them about since the beginning. 

We also had to take our car to the car shop and I was able to see David Barnett! David is the Dad of Grant who was my first baptism in Wildomar! We were able to catch up on the last six months since I left Wildomar before he had to go back to work. Truly a tender mercy. 

Then yesterday we were able to have four investigators come to church! James received the Holy Ghost yesterday and it was cool to listen on what Heavenly Father wanted James to know in his blessing. God is blessing us in our area in so many ways and I am grateful that today is Canada Thanksgiving so I can give Him extra thanks. I am planning on getting a pumpkin pie to celebrate. Sorry that the email was short but must of what happen this week was a lot of teaching and meetings.    

Love 

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter 10/3/16

Hey,

Like last week to many things happened so I will day by day:

Tues- We were given an investigator's name Brooke who is on date for Oct. 16! The reason we were given her was that she is to young to be baptized in the YSA ward and her mom is interested in taking the lessons! We taught her a lesson and she reminds me of Brooke from varsity soccer. I am excited to help her prepare for her baptism!

Wed- We were able to finally meet with Gary after he has been suffering with the plague (Flu). We were teaching about faith but the spirit taught him that he need to work on faith through prayers. God gives us the spirit to teach us exactly what we must do. Then we had only 15 minutes to teach half of the Restoration and invite Ruben (Irma's son) to be baptized on Oct 23 which he said YES! Since I have been craving s'mores, the Zrofsky's made a s'more casserole for our lesson. 

Thurs-  Then for exchanges, Sister Fabian came to my area for the whole day. I always forget that some sisters have never ridden on a bike with a skirt until they are trying to figure how to operate the bike and not flash the world. I have been on bike for so long that it is so natural. We were able to pick up Tony and put him on date for Nov. 6!  When we got to Tony's house, his table looked like the picture Aysha sent me of all the pistol's. One of the main things that I learned from Sister Fabian was to give thanks for the small things of life. 

Sat- General Conference! I love the Saturday Afternoon session because it taught me many things that I could do better as a missionary. Then Sister Wells took us out for dinner at Red Robbin. 

Sun-  Besides General Conference, James baptism was today! It is always amazing to see our investigators in white ready to enter into the waters. Sara (James wife) has been looking forward to this day for so long and it finally came true. I am so excited to see them all dressed up in white for the temple to be sealed! Lets just say I got teary for a bit.

Love you guys so much!

Love 

Sister Ogden   

Dallas Letter 9/26/16

Hey,

There have been so many things that happened this week that I will have to go day by day:

Tues-  It rained hard all day which was a new experience for Sister Keith. For me it brought many memories from last year of biking in the rain. Thank goodness I bought new tires because I may have slipped on the wet concrete.

Wed-  We had Multi-zones (a huge meeting) with President & Sister Mullen on how we can be better missionaries. My favorite training by President was how we need to be obedient to receive the Spirit and to be obedient to the Spirit afterwards we feel his promptings. Sister Lineback, Sister Young, and Sister Pielstick were all there at the meeting which allowed us to take a picture of us together again after a year of entering the MTC! I look up to them all and felt honored to start this amazing adventure with them. (we even recreated the of the first pictures we took at the MTC.) We taught James the Word of Wisdom on Monday and he told us that he has gone cold turkey! He even threw out his can of dip while driving home on the freeway because he gave in.

Thurs-  First exchange as an STL! I went to Riverside to be with Sister Willis for a day. I may be on the exchange to help the Sister's be better missionaries but they also teach me. I learned so much on the exchange about how much my teaching has changed and that there is power to having courage to do this work. The work is not easy but we must have a "powerful faith and a positive  attitude" (President Mullen). That is one of the things that we focused on during the exchange.

Fri-  I have made it a year of being a missionary! It was cool to see how much I have changed since I entered the MTC. Then Sister Keith and I were blessed to finally meet Rueben who is the last of the Davis family we have not met. He has been a ghost to me for the past 6 months because he loves his dominion upstairs. We were able to share the Because He lives video and talk about the many changes in his family because of the Gopsel. The number one thing that Rueben has noticed is that there is more peace at home. The Gospel brings peace and Rueben was willing to take the lesson because the changed he has seen! I love the Davis family so much and I am excited to help this family to be together forever!

Sat-  We had Women's General Conference which I love President Uchtdorf's talk on faith. I loved how much it applied to missionary work and how to have "powerful faith". 

I am so excited for General Conference! I have been getting ready by reading a conference talk each day. I read this today and thought that I should share it. "However far we may wander from the path, the Savior invites us to return and walk with Him. This invitation to walk with Jesus Christ is an invitation to accompany Him to Gethsemane and from Gethsemane to Calvary and from Calvary to the Garden Tomb. It is an invitation to observe and apply His great atoning sacrifice, whose reach is as individual as it is infinite. It is an invitation to repent, to draw upon His cleansing power, and to grasp His loving, outstretched arms. It is an invitation to be at peace (Bishop W. Christopher Waddell). I love that we all meet Christ in the Garden and onward because that is how Christ is best able to help us. 

Love 

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter 9/12/16 - A New Responsability

Hello,

   

This week was completely crazy. I received a call from the AP's that I was invite to MLC  (Mission Leadership Council) and latter found out that I will be called to be a Sister Training Leader. MLC is meeting where President Mullen, Sister Mullen, and the AP's gives us training on how we are to help the Sisters of our zones fulfill their duty as missionaries. I learned so much but I do not have my notes with me since Sister Keith and I had to move into new apartments. Sister Keith and I are still together for another transfer but with my new calling it's going to change the schedule a bit. I am the first STL leader that is still on bike! I am excited for my new calling and I know it will be a growing experience for me. 

 

Love 

Sister Ogden

****************

Mom and Dad,

I am excited for the new adventure of my calling but I am scared. I have always looked up to the STL's  and to be one is scary. A Sister Training Leader responsibly is this:  

"Your acceptance of this assignment requires that you teach by example, as well as by precept and by supervising your own area in an exemplary manner, thus making it a working model of your effectiveness. This example should be reflected in the results of your missionary activities as you proselyte in your own area, striving to baptize regularly, thus retaining your proselyting skills and setting an example for all sister missionaries. You will also have the opportunity to communicate and train the sisters here at the California Riverside Mission so that they can become models of effective proselyting and that they might also baptize regularly. Remember that as a Sister Training Leader you should always avoid being diverted from these basic duties by administrative details. The most important thing you can do as an SisterTraining Leader is to be an effective proselyting, baptizing missionary" (President Mullen letter to me).

I am going to be trained by Sister Burris who is the most amazing missionary and STL ever! That is a huge tender mercy for me since I need all the help I can get. I just pray that I can help the Sister's reach their full potential as many have helped me.

Love 

Sister Ogden  

Note: 

At home we received a letter from the mission President notifying us that Dallas has received a new calling. The same letter was sent to our Stake President and Bishop who both sent us an email.  I will include all three here.

From Mission President to us (family)

Dear Brother and Sister Ogden,

It is indeed a honor to advise you that Sister Ogden has been assigned to serve on the Mission Leadership Council as Sister Training Leader for the California Riverside Mission. Her achievements during her mission have identified her as an outstanding young leader and mark her will for further leadership in the Lord's Kingdom. You can certainly be proud of all that she has achieved during her missionary service.

May I personally thank you for providing such excellent training and preparation for your daughter. I would deem it a privilege to have the opportunity to meet you sometime in the future and express my gratitude for all that you have done to prepare such an outstanding young woman.

May the Lord's richest blessings be yours as you continue your support of the Lord's work.

Sincerely,

John H. Mullen, PresidentCalifornia Riverside Mission

From our Stake President

Brother and Sister Ogden,

You may have received news of this already, but in case you hadn't I wanted to pass it along to you.  Congratulations to you both and to your wonderful daughter for her faithful service.  She is clearly one whom the Lord trusts and is making a large impact in the lives of those she serves.  I, too, am grateful for your support and guidance that you have provided your wonderful daughter.

May you continue to receive the blessings from her service.

Warm regards,

Scott Kelley

From Bishop Wilson

David/Terri,
I was so happy to receive this email from Dallas' mission president today. I don’t know if the parents are also sent a letter or not but wanted to send this note just in case you didn’t get it.
What an amazing missionary she is. Now, the Lord has entrusted her to teach others how to serve and testify as well as continue serving and sharing the message of the Savior and the Restored Gospel with the people of the California Riverside mission.

Thank you for teaching her and helping her develop into the wonderful faith-filled woman that she is.

Love you guys,
Rob

Dallas Letter 9/6/16

Hello,

   

This week has been packed of crazy and amazing experiences. My Birthday was a normal missionary day except that I was able to drive and had an amazing dinner with the Hughes. There is a curse that when it's your birthday everything falls apart (investigators, emotionally, or physically) but that was not the case for me. The Hughes gave me a beautiful pair of ear rings for by birthday! Thank you so much for my Birthday package. I just got it a couple of hours ago. 

   

We are teaching a man name James Zrofsky who is the only non member in his family! He agreed to baptism and said the closing prayer. His prayer was so sincere that it made all of us cry especially his wife Sara. Prayer is a powerful tool that God gives us freely. Then Gary was confirmed this Sunday and even invited a friend to come to Church. The only thing was that he invited a return RM! He is practicing to be a member missionary. David Davis bared his testimony for the first time this Sunday during Sacrament meeting which touched me so hard. There just something about hearing your recent convert bare his testimony that hits right to your soul.

Love 

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter 8/29/16

Hello,

   

The main focus of this email is on Gary. The reason was that we had the opportunity to celebrate his birthday and his baptism! For his Birthday, we had a birthday cake that Sister Wells bought and we set it up in his front yard. It was fun to sing to him and then shared a short message on the Book of Mormon while eating cake. The funniest part of the lesson was that sprinklers came on and covered us in water. I was the one  that was closer to the sprinklers, so I was completely soaked! 

   

Gary's baptism was amazing! He was looking so forward to his baptism that when he was baptized, He threw both of his arms up in triumph. He texted this to us after the baptism: "When that time comes and Heavenly Father calls me to join Him, I'm gonna pray and ask if I could meet you there when that time arrives.  You've made me a very happy man. I can't thank you enough. I will do all that I can to be the best Mormon I can be and make you proud of me" (Gary Bitterolf).

   

To help Gary prepare himself for his baptism he asked us what it means to "liken" the scriptures. We read a chapter with him from the Book of Mormon to show that each verse can apply to him right now. I was able to apply that lesson into my life yesterday by finding the scripture in 2 Nephi 29:8  "Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also."\

Sister Keith is from Canada and I am from USA which allows us to bare testimonies of "two nations". 

Love 

Sister Ogden

\

Dallas Letter 8/22/16

Hello,

    

It was a very hot week which made being on a bike very fun. I got to swim in sunscreen everyday and said many prayers for Sister Keith to survive. We had to take many breaks since the heat did not settle very well with her even though I am the redhead. Besides finding [new investigators] we went to the Redlands temple and gave Gary a surprise! 

   

Every time I go to the temple, I feel my soul be refilled to go out and do His work. Missionary work is draining because we share our testimony with everyone we talk to, we leave part of our soul with them. I needed a refill so that I could handout more for the next 3 months! 

   

For Gary's surprise, we bought him some fruit herbal tea which made him very emotional. His Birthday isn't until this Tuesday but he really needed a cheer up that day. Plus the only tea he had was full of spices which reminded him of Halloween. Gary is a big teddy bear which makes it so much fun to teach him. He has his interview this Sunday and is all ready for his baptism on August 28!

Love

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter 8/19/16

Hello,

Sorry that the email is be late but today is our Pday since we are going to the temple latter on! I AM SO EXCITED! I will try to tell you about last week but it's a blur....

   

For exchanges I went to Spanish Land in Perris with with Sister Babb. I learned that I could do better in my studies to prepare for my investigators. Sister Babb always finds a scripture for each one of them everyday. I have applied that and there has been two miracles with Gary. Gary loves his coffee and cigarettes but is willing to give that up for Christ. I gave him the two scriptures of 3 Nephi 27:13-14 and Philippians 4:13 which has helped him prepare for his baptism on August 28!

   

Gary is so elect! Sister Willis and I met Gary on the street right after he suffered two heart attacks. He was so sad and sickly when we first met him that it fills me with joy to see him so happy. I could only imagine how God feels for Gary.  

   

Then Sister Keith and I had so much fun at one of our dinners last week by playing Pie Face. It is a game where you have to pick a number to decided either you will be hit in the face with whip cream or not. Well I got all the bad luck and got hit with whip cream 6 times in a row. I wish I could send you the video but Sister Keith and I got ab's after laughing so hard.

   

I just want to end by saying thank you for your love and support! I feel it everyday and I hope you feel mine. Each of you have effected my life and now that effect is helping others in the Riverside Mission. The Davis family keep giving us texts of gratitude which reminds me that I must do the same for you! I love you guys and miss ya! 

Love 

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter 8/8/16

Hi,

   

There has been many tender mercies this week besides the baptism. The first one that happened was that we had smores for dessert after one of our dinners this week. I told Sister Keith that I really wanted smores and God answered my small prayer. Then I am grateful that I was able to last 10 months without being sunburned til this past Saturday. The back of my neck and arms are burnt.  At least my face was not. That would have been terrible to go to the baptism all sunburned.

Sister Keith is an amazing missionary! She is from Ottawa, Ontario Canada which she is greatly proud of. She acts like a proud Texan but for Canada. This week was her first time biking in a skirt which is a true accomplishment! Her last area was Hemet Valle Vista which was my first area out on the mission!  

   

David's baptism was beautiful and like last time, I had to speak on baptism again. I used the 2 Nephi 31:10 to tell David that he is answering the call "Follow thou me". He cried because I told him of the many times he answered the call by:

• Telling Sister Petersen and I that Irma was home in the evenings.
• He allowed us to teach his family and let them investigate the Church first.
• Then surprising Sister Willis and I by joining the lesson on the 10 commandments, Law of Chastity, Word of Wisdom, and Tithing right before the girls baptism.
•  Accepting the baptismal date of August 7!
• Then today entering into the waters of baptism! 

We even had one of our investigator's Julio come to David's baptism! Today we received a text from David and I wanted to share it with you. "Good Morning Sisters, I just wanted to thank you all for the amazing job you did yesterday for my baptism. I woke up today in such a great mood. I owe it all to you lovely sisters for knocking on our door. Thank you so much. Brother Davis" (Brother David Davis). I am grateful that I was able to knock on the Davis' door.  Not because it led us to baptisms but because they have changed me for the better.     

Love Ya

Sister Ogden   

Dallas Letter 8/1/16

Hello,

 
I first want to announce that today is the start of a new transfer and I am staying here! YES! However Sister Willis is leaving and my new companion is Sister Kieth. All I know is that she is from Canada and that this will be here first time on bike.

 
This week we were able to do service at the Orange Empire Railway Museum by making a volcanic seed pools. We made piles of dirt into volcanoes and planted seeds in them while making the hole into a pool. Super fun!      

 
David is all ready for his baptism this Sunday! He has been reading all the pamphlets we have given him so that he could be ready for his interview last week. He is so funny.  He even got to be a missionary at his work because his coworkers spied on him studying and even took the time to read with him. 

 
This Saturday, I totally felt like a hippie because we taught Gary on the grass by the lake again and I wore a flowery shirt. Then halfway through our lesson on the Plan of Salvation, a random lady joined in our circle with her dog. She interrupted us and  talked about how we need to center our lives on Him and asked me if I would pray for her right now. I did and once I finished the prayer, she left with her dog. Super weird! Gary came to church and loved it even though he left his glasses at home and couldn't read anything.

 
Spiritual thought of the week was on the Atonement. I love the Atonement and how it gives me the ability to become better. I definitely cannot do missionary work or anything without Christ. I love Elder Holland talk about missionary work and the Atonement which I highly suggest you listen to it. You guys should do it for FHE!

Family Note: We did listen it Elder Holland's and it was amazing!

Love Ya 

Sister Ogden  

Last time with Sister Willis (look like from the 90's)

Davis family door

Transfer Call Treat

Sister Young and I at the service with our volcano 

Dallas Letter 7/25/16

Hello everyone,

   

To start this week, we had multi-zones. The main theme of the meeting was on faith and how by improving our faith, we improve our service. I loved the training from President Mullen on how to have Faith to Baptize Converts by doing three main steps:

1. Rely on the Lord
      •Pray frequently personally & as companions
      •Ask for the enabling power
2. Exercise faith
      •Ask for help from others
      •Ask for blessings
3. Invite the spirit
      •Seek the Comforter
      •Respond to the promptings

It was also a sad multi-zone because Sister Roberts gave her going home testimony. Between Sister Roberts and the others, I let go a couple of tears. Sister Roberts has truly helped me to start this amazing journey and taught me how to share my testimony with others. I am eternally grateful for her example.

   

We picked up a new investigator named Gary. He reminds me of Uncle Troy a lot (look at the picture)! It was the most interesting Restoration lesson because we sat in the shade by the one lake in Menifee. It was such a new experience, that had to get a picture of our lesson. 

   

Then yesterday, the Davis family received the Holy Ghost! All of them wore their white dresses again which was cute. David told us this week "that he was grateful that we knocked on his door" which really hit me hard. As a missionary, I have knocked on many doors to either receive no answer or be told that they are not interested. So to hear him say thank you for something I do everyday was a surprise. It's a good thing I like surprises! 

   

President Uchtdorf – “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.”

Love 

Sister Ogden

Zone Meeting 

President Mullen

Dallas Letter 7/18/16

Hey,

   

This week was full of many blessings but the most important one was the Baptism. Irma, Aleah, Breanna, and Sarah were so beautiful in their white suits and after in their white dresses. I cried with David (the dad) while seeing them baptized. I truly felt the joy mentioned in DC 18: 15-16! I am eternally grateful that God allowed me to meet and teach the Davis family.  As you already know, I had to give the talk on baptism which was scary even though I teach it everyday. I swear that there is something in the microphone that sends fear into to your mind. Next week I will send my talk to you guys.

Love ya

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter 7/11/16

Hello,

    

To put words for this week is super hard but it was one of those week's where everything fell into our laps. We were able to find five investigators and that we were able to get everything ready for the baptisms this Sunday. The Davis family are so excited and asked me to speak at the baptism! It was a testimony builder for me to see them go into their interviews and come out glowing with joy. Once you are willing to change and come unto Christ, the light of Christ will grow more and more within you and shine to others! I have seen the change and I am not the only person that see it. David (the dad) told us that he wants to learn more because he sees the change in his family for the better. I hope that I also am able to shine the Light of Christ to everyone like the Davis family.

(the picture is of me sleeping when I was sick, Sister Willis like to mess with me when I am dead)

Love  ya

Sister Ogden