Dallas Letter 2/15/16

Dad,

So we are starting a new transfer and I am still in the same area with Sister Greeff. I get to kill her off her mission which is weird because when she leaves I hit my 6 month mark. I don't feel that I have been out as long as I have and I do not think that I am an almost 5 month missionary.  Maybe a 3 month but not 5. Another scary thing that happened was that I am the driver! It is scary because in my head I am like what is this wheel in front of me and how do I drive? However it is somewhat of a blessing because I get to learn the area better but we will see how I will do.

Thanks for helping the Urgent Care office lady. It was weird to give her number and see her talk to you. I resisted the urge to jump over the counter to rip to phone from her to talk to you but I was able to control myself. It was funny because that night I received your packaged. Thanks for the Jerky because it made a very rough day a little brighter. So the reason I was at urgent care was that I had an ear and sinus infection! Yeah but now I have Ab's of steel from blowing my nose so many times (not really)! 

 Dad, what is a funny story that you have not told me from your mission that is funny but very spiritual? Ever since being out I have wondered more about yours and mom's experience on the mission. I  was able to go to Spanish land again for exchanges! I was finally able to be part of a Spanish lesson that when Hermana Rasmussen said testify about a certain thing, I did so. I did not really understand what had been said but it was cool to just testify what I know to be true and hear it in Spanish! I guess whatever I said touched the ladies heart because she started to cry. I learned how to say a prayer in Spanish but I left my notes at home so that I could spell it correctly.   

Love you so much and you are my ROCK STAR DAD!!!!

Love Sister Ogden  

Dallas Letter 2/8/16

Dear Mom
This week has been a blur but I was able to learn a very important lesson. I went to Spanish land again for exchanges which was awesome! I was able to be in a couple of lessons that I could only follow a small amount but I was still expected to still teach. Hermana Ramussen would tell me what to testify that is what I did. It was so cool to hear my testimony on the Atonement in Spanish! The main key was really relying on the spirit to know what they needed to hear.

Aysha
You are so beautiful! I am sorry that you had one of those games that made you want to talk to me. I miss those yell, cry, or talks that we would have after a rough game but I know that you are strong enough that you don't need me. Me on the other hand needed you! If you do need to release or talk about something just email to me. I will try to do my best but its different not being there.  On a spiritual note, there is one person that can be there for me when you do have those days. It is the Savior and you know what He knows better than I do on how to help you. Keep Him close to you Aysha and never leave Him!

LOVE YOU # 22

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter 2/1/16

Family,

This has been so crazy that if you ask me what happened in the beginning of last week it is a blur. But this week we were on FIRE and were able to pick four new investigators. One of them was truly a tender mercy, miracle, or anything that is called good! Maryanne was a referral that we were able to contact this Saturday before we had to turn in. Beside her wanting us to come back, there is two things you need to know about her. First is that she is a NINJA! Since her house had been recently broken into, she came around the house  to spook us by asking why are we there. It didn't help that she was wearing all black. Then after sharing the video with her she mentioned that she had a dog. Of course as a dog lover I asked what bred it was. This is the best part! She has a wolf hybrid!!! My dream dog! Her dog is 87% wolf and husky and he was gorgeous. She let him loose from another room so there was a wolf running straight for me. Scary but cool! 

Grant Barnett was baptized yesterday! (MY FIRST BAPTISM!!)  Grant was baptized by his Dad which

Grant's Baptism

was a true honor to see! The spirit was so strong and there was so many people. President Crippen who is a counselor for President Mullen came with a lot of missionaries who have taught Grants parents. The service was beautiful and the talks were awesome. While Grant and his dad was changing, Sister Greeff and I shared the Restoration! I was so scared because there was not only many people there but also missionaries. With many heart felt prayers I was able to have courage to speak. It was amazing and a true testimony builder.

Earlier this week was full of meetings about our purpose as missionaries. We are to love the Lord and our investigators! That is the only way we can do this great work! As a missionary you meet so many people but God gives a glimpse of His love so that I can help them the way He would like. Charity = love + sacrifice!

LOVE YOU GUYS

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter 1/18/16

Dear Family,

This week has been full of ups and downs but the ups are worth mentioning. The one constant miracle throughout the week is that we were not eaten by dogs. There was many gates that were open with means looking at dogs who what to eat us. Since being out on the mission I have met two types of dogs, mean killer dogs to the complete opposite of angel dogs. There has been many small prayers as we race walked by the open gates.

Another somewhat up this week was that we went to Urgent Care. Sister Greeff toe was hurting her so the mission nurse sent us to check it out. Possibly Sister Greeff might have arthritis in her toe. Being there for three hours reminded me of last transfer adventure with Sister Roberts. Apparently, my history of medical trips with my companions proves it is now the curse that I endure with whoever is my companion.  We have to go back again to do some blood test to see whats going on. She hates needles to the point she has to strangle my hands, but at least she does not pass out (colton). We may have to go back for a check up on my hand.

The highlight of this past week was that one of our investigators is preparing to be baptized! His name is Grant Barnett who reminds me of Colton. He loves video games which makes me grateful that I do know a little bit about video games and that I am a small nerd myself. It is awesome to feel the spirit work with those who are striving to follow the Savior. 

Dad, I know how much you wanted me to go to Peru for my mission but I was able to taste somewhat of being in Peru. I was able to see llamas on the mission! 

I love you all and miss you dearly but may the light of Christ be in your lives! My favorite scripture this week is
Psalms 27:1. This scripture was wake up call for me because sometimes my fear overcomes my courage but faith is all that is needed.

Love

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter 1/12/16

Dad,

I loved your email! That is awesome that you guys were able to go out and shoot deer. Tell everyone congrats but tell Aysha that her shooting skills were waiting for the scrimmage. Sage sounds like a handful like myself  (plus I think you got her because she somewhat has my coloring and you miss me).

For transfers it was hard to leave but I know that I am needed in Wildomar. God calls each of us as missionaries to a certain job, either we are sowers or reapers in the Lord's Vineyard. So based on how things are rolling I am called to be a sower. For David and Davida I was and if thy do get baptized I will be able to go even if I am on the other side of the mission but lucky I live only about 45 minutes away. President actually encourages us to go to be an extra support to them on their decision. I pray that David and Davida will accept and willing to pay the price to turn unto Him. Only time will tell! I know that your talk was amazing and I wish I could hear but also help with it. I love you and are grateful for all the things you have taught me. It is good to read that all the things I am doing will touch the lives of thousands. Some days I feel that all I do is not enough to affect them. Maybe the smile I give will make it a lot easier for the next Sister or Elder who comes after me.

LOVE YOU

Sister Ogden

Aysha,

I am glad that you thought Aunt Pat funeral was beautiful and clam. That is the thing about death it is not the end like most people believe but it's the beginning! It is the next step that we have to take to be closer to our Heavenly Father and Christ. Just being out on the mission, I have seen many who don't have this hope that we have knowing the Plan of Salvation. I hope that being part of this has helped your testimony about the Plan of Salvation because for me a couple of states away it has. Read 2 Nephi 22:2 to know how I feel about the Plan of Salvation. 

...

LOVE YOU

Sister Ogden

Mom and Dad,

I am glad that the funeral was beautiful and that many great experience come from it like the temple and sharing memories of her. I know that Aunt Pat is doing great and that she was so ready for the next step of the Plan of Salvation. I hope that being part of this has helped your testimony about the Plan of Salvation because for me even a couple of states away it has. Read 2 Nephi 22:2 to know how I feel about the Plan of Salvation.

Dad your talk is amazing for how short of a time that you had. I wish that I could have been there or at least helped you but you don't need me. Mom I love your spiritual thought because this past week has been full of reading about repentance for our mission tour.  That is why yesterday, rather than having a P-day, we had a conference with Elder Hamula of the Seventy. It was amazing!!! 

It was such an honor to shake is hand, and to give his wife a big hug!  He reiterated to us our purpose as missionaries: To cleanse people through baptism so they can return to the presence of our Father in Heaven and stay there. It was such an honor to shake is hand, and to give his wife a big hug! So it was funny Mom that your spiritual thought was about the relationship between first principles of the gospel, faith- repentance vs Christ like attributes because that is what we discussed for 8 hours yesterday. You both should read Elder Anderson talk about "Repent... That I May Heal You" which taught me more about repentance and how it is a way for us to "return" into His loving embrace (3 Nephi 9:14).

This past week has been fun with 4 days of heavy rain. I was finally able to go tracking and wear the rain boots! It was interesting but it was a touching experience when some of the people who answer the door would asked why were we out in the rain. I love that question because we were able to tell them about our message which always followed with the normal answer of no but one said after saying no that we show true devotion. So cool!

I love Sister Greeff! She is a mixture of Paisley and Aysha craziness which makes the work fun! I hope that I will finish her last three months of her mission because I love her so much. There is so much work that needs to be done here in Wildomar. Some of the investigators dropped were replaced with new potentials from tracking in the rain storm. I love rain storms! Most of the ward is less actives which means a lot of work in the ward as well but I love it all. It is weird to be in a car but it was wonderful when the rain came. I am still biking with a somewhat cheap version of a stand still bike which is great.

A member made this for me - I Love It!

LOVE YOU BOTH

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter 1/4/16

Hey Family,

Sorry that I was not able to write much last week because of transfers. So Sister Roberts and I was doubled out of our area, so Sunday/ Monday was full of packing. Sunday was so hard for me to say goodbye to everyone but what hurt the most is saying goodbye to David, Davida, and Lisa. They balled their eyes out and told us that we have changed their lives. I told them that they have also changed mine. I love them so much and will miss them! I am now in Lake Elsinore in the Wildomar Ward and my new companion is Sister Greeff which sounds like grief! She is from West Valley Utah and she has been out for 15 months (we are the complete opposites on the mission time line).

"I AM GOING ON A ADVENTURE!!!!" (Guess what movie that came out of?)

This week has been crazy because we were both doubled into this area with nothing but our bags and the keys to our car/ apartment. The elders before us did not organize or clean after themselves and it made our life more interesting this week. Our first day here we got attacked by dogs but we survived with no harm! It was actually funny because before the attack, we were talking about our scary dog experiences we have had on the mission. This week Sister Greeff also got the plague which made it challenging but worth the challenge. We picked up a new investigator while walking named David. I guess I seem to find David's alot.  He was fishing which made it easy to talk to him about fish and about Christ. Thanks Dad for teaching me the ropes or may I say the fish strings of fishing! Later this week I was able to go out with another Sister who is not under the plague to teach David the Restoration. The lesson went amazing and he wants to be baptized! 

 

Through all the challenges of not knowing the area it has been an adventure and I LOVE IT! Adventures seem to come in many forms, some bigger than other but they all do and carry one thing with them and its learning. I have learned so much and I can't wait to continue to learn on my adventure here in the mission but especially in Wildomar.

Love y'all

Sister Ogden

Dallas Letter - Dec 21

Family,

   This week has been an interesting one. On Wednesday, we helped at Salvation Army with organizing all the gifts to be given out to those they have chosen to help. It was awesome to serve but it was especially nice to wear jeans!!! Sometimes we beg the members if they need help with anything active so that we can wear pants! Then at night we went caroling with the Foutz family in their Jeep. It was cold but we were all warped in sleeping bags while listening to Peter Hollins new song "Mary Did You Know" (look it up and listen to it 20 times as if I was there)

Making A Gingerbread House

   Then Saturday was filled with miracles! It started with (for the first time) being criticized on everything I said to a potential investigator about Our Savior.  He told me many times that I am not awake and do not know Jesus Christ which could have easily turned into an argument.  However, the Spirit said to me to just bare your testimony of Jesus Christ and leave.  The only thing that was amazing about the experience was that I beared probably the most heartfelt testimony of Jesus Christ. Even though he still wanted to argue, I was grateful to give him my testimony for Christmas!

This week has been hard to see David so after talking with the potential we stopped by. We shared the Christmas video with him and his mom Lisa. It touched both of their hearts but especially Lisa. She started by saying that when we come to teach David and Davida she has been listening in the kitchen and has been wanting to ask us some questions! IT'S A MIRACLE!!!! She asked about baptism and about the Sacrament which latter lead to her beautiful testimony of the Sacrament. As I said it's been an interesting week!

Gingerbread Results

I finally received the St. Nick package! It came at the right time for me since again for week 3 the plague still reins in our apartment. I am able to go out with Sister Turner but we still have to stay in most of the time to be missionary nurses. I just want to kiss St. Nick and his Elf's for the gifts. The decoration made our apartment feel like Christmas but also lighten up the mood that has been looming since the plague started. Lets just say St. Nick knows me so well to know how to cheer me up! 

  LOVE YOU GUYS AND SEE YOU ON CHRISTMAS!!!

love

Sister Ogden