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

Dallas Letter 7/5/16

Hey,

   
This week has been full of many different adventures. The first adventure was that both Sister Willis and I were in lock down for two days because we were sick. Luckily it was one day for me and not two. We were able to watch a lot of church movies those two days.  My favorite was Praise to the Man. Then the City of Menifee had their fourth of July fireworks and parade early which made it difficult to get anywhere even on bike. We had to walk in part of the parade which some of the members saw us and cheered "Sister Missionaries"! Then yesterday, as a zone we played chair soccer, had a watermelon contest, and we watched again the fireworks. In chair soccer I creamed everyone and even spent some time juggling. I got up to 28!  

  
The Davis family is progressing so much! They are excited for their baptism on July 17 and they are changing for the better. That is my favorite part of missionary work because I can see the light of Christ coming into their lives more fully. David (Dad of Davis family) is now willing to take the lessons after sitting in the last lesson. The last lesson was on the 10 Commandments with Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, and Tithing/ Fast offerings which the whole family including David committed to live it. This family has been so prepared and I am just lucky that God wants me to be part of this process.

Scripture: Mormon 5:21 "the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them" (them being investigators)

Love 

Sister Ogden 

Dallas Letter 6/27/16

Hello everyone,

   Update on Sister Willis! She is from Wyoming and she has been out six months. Yikes, I am the senior companion in age and being in the area. Sister Willis is a nerd like me on books and movies but she is not athletic. So biking with her has been fun. Speaking about bikes my bike thinks it's dying! It's nothing major just my kick stand keeps getting loose and touching my tire. So as of right now I am stand free! 

   The Davis family is doing amazing and they have accepted the baptismal date of July 24 but will soon change it to the 17th. The twins are going to girls camp which will be awesome!   We were able to find three new investigators who are Max, Chris, and Wayne. Max is a 11 year old boy who is part of a really less active family that we are working with. He is excited to be baptized but only in September since his younger brother will turn 8. Oh well, there is a lot of work to be done. Chris and Wayne were a referral from the Spanish Elders. After the lesson they said the we could come back and that the video was "so dope", meaning awesome. I think, based on the comment, that we really have to teach the Word of Wisdom. There is always clues that we as missionaries always seem to find to know how to help people. 

   The main lesson that I have learned this week is that God prepares us for the challenges we face. God does not put us here to fail but to succeed! He has helped me this week to overcome bike problems, changing of dates, and taking over the area. If you are struggling with anything stop and take it to the Lord and He will help.

Love ya

Sister Ogden

Dad,

Can I just say thank you. The spiritual thought in your email is what I needed. This week has been rough because the Davis family keeps moving their date because of a wedding or that the brother they want to baptize them will be gone. Remember that God loves you and Christ goes before you.  The perfect love of Christ casteth out all fear.  Be bold and fearless and the Lord will bless you.  I need to remember and have faith. Both you and Mom always seem to know what to say to give me strength, comfort, or guidance. I love to see that goatee back even though it was gone for good reason.

Love 

Sister Ogden

This are Grahams from Ireland! Super cool Irish dinner with them

Action biking with Sister Willis

Not action for me but for her