Ginger Ale, The Miracle Drug

Dec 9, 2013

Dear Family:

Hey there how are you?! :) (she is sounding Canadian J)  It's been a little chilly here but this last week was pretty crazy so we weren't outside a lot so it wasn't bad at all. Have I mentioned I'm glad I'm not driving? :)

Well this week was awesome...crazy...and had its ups and downs. First...zone conference...was awesome! It was an hour north from here. It was weird to be back in a country town. But it was beautiful. President gave a great instruction on repentance. I've been studying that for a while and it is amazing how it is such a great gift. Before my mission I looked at repentance in a sort of negative connotation. But in reality, repentance is a blessing that changes, enhances, and transforms us into the sons and daughters that we can become. It purifies us, lifts us, and strengthens us. Without it we would never be truly converted to the gospel and it would be so much harder to live the gospel and share it with others. Our Mission Mom gave a really great lesson on the birth and life of our Savior for Christmas. I'll always remember near the end how I just felt so much gratitude for our Savior. And I'll always remember how I felt His love for me.

Then...we got a surprise visitor this last Saturday...Elder (name) from the presidency of the Seventy! So it has been quite the spiritually crazy week! About half our mission met and we got to hear from him. We also got to hear from (name) from the Seventy who was actually a stake president here in Ontario before he became a Seventy. (He was released at the stake conference that I went to when I hadn’t been in the missionfield very long.)

So I learned a LOT. And it's just so cool to hear from someone who meets with Pres. Monson and the Twelve on a weekly basis.

A few things I learned were:

1) It is such a PRIVILEGE and OPPORTUNITY to serve a mission; I'm so LUCKY to be here. And I shouldn't take for granted the time that I have to serve the Lord. I need to make the most of the time that I have here. Sometimes as you go along your mission, you are grateful but it just doesn't hit you what an amazing opportunity it is to be here. Last Saturday it HIT ME. 

2) Two things that influenced Pres Monson the most were 1) his calling as a bishop 2) his calling as a mission pres for the Canada Toronto mission. Elder (name) talked about how much his mission changed him and set a foundation for the rest of his life. Now I'm not saying I want the mission to make me a prophet. But I know that this sacred time I have here will set my foundation for the person that God wants me to become.

  

3) CHANGE is so so so so so important on a mission. Always strive to make changes to become a little better. Change doesn't happen all at once but is a process. 

4) The work is HASTENING brothers and sisters! Like really though! It was amazing to talk about the Work of Salvation and the change that has happened since last July. It is amazing. I'm so excited to be part of this historical opportunity. This is history! People are coming to Christ! And mission work has been such a focus! 

Then...since half of the mission was there I got to see a lot of familiar faces...including SISTER (NAME) (old comp)!!!! AHHHH I love her sosososososo much. We liked hugged and got crazy excited when we saw each other. But man it was so awesome to see her! Love her to death! We couldn't talk a lot but sounds like she's doing great in Toronto. And I also saw people from my old districts and zones. So it's way fun to see familiar faces. Because I love everyone just so much. The other missionaries here are my brothers and sisters...literally. haha. I just love everyone! :)

Okay yup. anyways investigators....

Well we are still finding. HOWEVER...we have seen some major miracles. So (name)...we saw her last week with a member. We taught her more about the 

Book of Mormon. I worried we were going nowhere with her because we just had to continue to repeat and repeat and repeat. We talked about her baptism and the importance of it.  She said the closing prayer. She stood up and said, "This where I'm supposed to go. My heart feels full! My heart is excited!"  She got her answer. It was amazing! It strengthened my testimony that God answers prayers. So she is working towards baptism next week!

So...because we haven't taught her a lot we are working hard with her! She came to church yesterday and she agreed to the Word of Wisdom. We are seeing her tonight with a ward member from (her country).  Then we have to teach her the rest before Friday. I'm a little nervous because family is against her meeting with us. So...we just have to trust in God that everything will work out. (Because it always does) We'll see what happens I guess but she is going to be baptized! it's amazing! :)  She is the sweetest lady ever! She is so cute! 

We had someone else come to church yesterday. It was really funny. I talked to him on the bus and he said, "So do you want my number or something?" And at first I thought he was just flirting with me so I was like, "Well, yeah do you want to hear our message about Jesus Christ?" And he said yes. So I got his number. We called him up a couple days ago. And THEN...he came to church yesterday. Unfortunately his English isn't the best. But he's awesome. And he has a family! So we are going to be teaching him tomorrow. Hope it all works out! He reminds me of (name), the girl from Congo that I was friends with in high school. So I'm so excited to teach him! Yay! 

So the work is starting to pick up here. Many miracles!

Transfer calls are this next Sunday. Yikes. 

And for Christmas I will be skyping you and then our whole mission is doing a read-a-thon. We are going to be reading the Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and four Gospels all day pretty much. It's going to be crazy but awesome!

Unfortunately the last two days have been a little rough. I picked up a flu bug. When I went home from the GA’s talk I got way sick. Then after church yesterday I still was feeling crummy so I stayed inside to get some rest. I HATE BEING SICK!!! It was the worst especially after hearing Elder (name)'s "your mission is precious" speech. yikes. It was not fun. But sleep and ginger ale does miracles. (It does.)

After a good 12 hours of sleep last night and a can of ginger ale I'm doing a lot better. I hope I don't get sick ANY MORE because I hate it. So I'm excited to get back to work this week. And I know that this week we are going to see some awesome miracles! Because you always do! 

I'm so grateful for you guys and am so grateful for this work. I love you all! Hope you are enjoying the holidays!

Sister Ogden

PDay at the Mall

"Weak Things Made Strong"

Dec 2, 2013

Dear family! 

Well...hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Thaks for all the updates, news, emails, everything. Dad: I'm glad you didn't die at Turkey Bowl. That sounds intense. Thanks for sending me the BYUH basketball roster. It's amazing how there are fewer and fewer players that I know on there. But I think that's awesome Makana and Brydgette and Dana are still there. I wonder what happened to Taylor Mann or Bri?

Okay okay lots of things to say:

First of all, splits went amazing. I had a really cool experience. First off, since we are still trying to find investigators we didn't have a lot of set appointments that day. But the sister training leader (name) and I went and worked hard. We got in a lot of doors...but the people would just then bash us or go on and on for 45 min about how they chose THEIR church. It was pretty crazy. It was a good lesson to make sure the people are actually interested in learning before going in their home. It was actually funny because one woman saw I had earrings on and then went on about how jewelry is of the devil and that I was NOT a servant of the Lord for wearing earrings. She got SUPER offended. Ooops. 

But...I had a great time with the sister training leader. If you don't remember I had my very first exchange with her way back in March when I was in (city) and I went with her in Hamilton. It was when I was really struggling. Really scared to talk to people. It was when my comp was really sick. It was one of the hardest times in my life. 

Last week as we were walking home she said, "Sister Ogden...I want you to take a look back at where you were when I first met you and where you are now. This has been the coolest exchange to see how much you've grown...When I first met you it was scary for you to talk to one person...and now you are on the bus being a contacting MACHINE. Look how far you've come!"  

It was so cool then to just take a step back and think about how far I HAVE come. I know that God does help us overcome our weaknesses and can turn those weaknesses into strengths. I'm so grateful I got transferred to Toronto...God has helped me change so much on my mission. He has helped me grow in ways I thought weren't possible. And I'm so grateful that God has the patience to help a little scared trainee missionary overcome her fears and weaknesses. I'm so grateful Christ has been walking side by side with me my entire mission. I've never been alone. And he has helped me climb over wall after wall after wall. This is His work...and I know that I wouldn't be here were it not for His help. I'm SOOOOO grateful for that. I just realized how grateful I am for what He's done for me as I've been out here.

  

Anyways..Thanksgiving was AWESOME. We ate at our ward mission leader's home. He came back from his mission in San Diego a couple years ago..and get this...he knows the missionaries from The District and he served in the same area they did afterwards. So he gives us the low down on all the missionaries and what they are doing now and how the investigators are. It's so crazy and funny! The food was superb. Like really. I love Thanksgiving! yay!

Zone conference is this Wednesday. I am so excited! Can't wait to tell you what I've learned!

Investigators? Well we are still trying to find people. 

But we had a breakthrough with (name). We taught her Restoration again. But...this time she GOT it! We went really slow...and then when we related the first vision the spirit just seemed to pour in the room. It was really powerful. And she said a prayer that was so sincere, asking God to help her know if she should be baptized again. It was really really neat. And it was a testimony to me on how important it is to teach to investigators’ needs and understanding. If they don't understand...if they don't feel the spirit...they won't want to learn more. She was supposed to come to church yesterday...but she didn't and we are still trying to figure out why. But she is so sweet I can't wait to keep helping her.

I'm so excited! We have some awesome potential investigators we are going to teach this next week so we'll see how it goes!

But we saw (names). They love us. They just pelt us with all these questions. They want to know if there is a God and if He answers prayers. It's been awesome to teach them. They are the cutest ever! They also couldn't make it to church but we'll try another week! 

As far as our new convert (name)...he's doing OK. He is so busy with life. So it's hard for him to make time to read the scriptures. But he's doing good. I know that he's happy he was able to be baptized. Actually...I had an AWESOME moment last week. Remember our Japanese convert (name) from Toronto? Well...he just received the priesthood. AND...he made the subway trip to our area and taught (new convert) about the priesthood with us!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't seen that guy in three months and I got to see him AND teach with him. You have no idea how happy and amazing that experience was. To hear HIS testimony. To hear him talk about the Book of Mormon. AHHH! It was amazing. I was so happy and I just love the people we work with here so much. I'm so grateful for that. 

Anyways...better go! But love you. Love the work. And I love my Heavenly Father. Something I've learned this past week is that you can still feel successful without having huge big numbers in your key indicators. We didn't have any investigators at church yesterday. But we committed 12 people to come last week...they just didn't come. So I feel like we are working hard here. I feel that even though we are still finding the elect, we feel our Savior's support and love...and I just LOVE being here. It's great! 

Have a great week guys! Keep the faith!

Sister Ogden

Much to Be Thankful For. Just Not the Weather.

Nov 25, 2013

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Hope you have a good one! And no they do not celebrate

American Thanksgiving here (obviously)....But...thanks to our ward mission leader (and us persuading him) WE ARE HAVING THANKSGIVING WITH HIM ON THURS! Yay! So that's two Thanksgivings I'm going to have this year. Obviously, it's not the same without the fam but it's going to great! And Mom, don't worry I will BE THERE NEXT YEAR! haha And tell the families hi for me and that I'm so grateful for all their support.

Today we are just relaxing and cleaning our house because we are going on an exchange tomorrow. I'll be staying here and my comp will be off to Etobicoke.

IT SNOWED for the first time! Winter is here! I'm a little nervous because it's getting COLD. And it's because of the wind. We get this really cold wind that blows in your face. My coat is good. My boots are good. I think I just need to layer up more on the colder days. But it isn't too bad yet. I'm just excited because it looks like a white Christmas! :) I hear it won't be too bad until January or February. And I am grateful because I'm in a bus area so I don't have to worry about driving in it! :)

I had something really sad happen the last week. I left my tri scriptures at a bus stop. Yup. And I went back to look for them and they were gone. So someone is enjoying Sister Ogden's scriptures. It STINKS! I had color coded them and everything and I had so many good scriptures and experiences with them. And so I've been using my comp's old scriptures. I feel like a part of me is lost! It's okay though I hope I can convert whoever has them. And...don't worry there's this recent convert from my friend who is sending their old tri to me, and it's in good condition! I just have to wait a few weeks.

Zone conference is next week. I am so excited! It's going to be awesome!

Okay to give you a quick update:

(Name) got confirmed by the bishop yesterday. It was very very great. The spirit was so strong. I know he has so much on his plate...like I said before-- two hours of sleep on weekdays. I know that he is going to get blessed for accepting the gospel and he is going to get extra help with the things he has to deal with. It's amazing to see how the priesthood works. The bishop doesn't know him very well...but he still said things that really related to the things that he needs to hear...as if he did know him. It's really cool to see the priesthood in action. The church is true brothers and sisters!

Well right now we are in REBUILD mode. We had a few baptisms and now it's time to find more of the prepared. It's hard sometimes, but at the same time it's fun! If there is something I've learned it's that this is God's work and He will place people in our path according to His will and time. We just need to be obedient and talk to everyone and we'll find those that are ready.  Just need to be patient. But we made a breakthrough with one investigator that we had. We taught her the restoration the first day and she completely did NOT understand it. Oops. So we tried again, and that time she understood a little more. And she told us that she'd come to our church! Saturday she called us and told us never mind, maybe next week, so we thought she wouldn't come. But, when we got off the bus on Sunday to go to ward council guess who we saw?! Crazy! We told her to come to church at 1 and she said she'd try.

And she came. 

And she had a great time at sacrament meeting. She told me that she knew "God was there." It was super neat. She kept nodding her head in agreement as the prayers and talks were given. It was a really good experience. So we are excited to continue to work with her.

Another excited thing is that we met (names) FINALLY!  After coming to church 3 times. We taught a Restoration lesson and it was great. The Lord has really prepared this family. They asked really good questions and are excited to read the Book of Mormon. They want to learn more before they are baptized, but they love the church and are excited to learn more. They are also going through some trials...but the gospel is going to bless them big time! I think great things are going to come out from them.

I can't believe it but it's official. I'm over my hump!  Nine months out… and nine more to go! I hope that I can do everything to make the most out of the rest of my mission. But I'm so grateful to be here. I can't believe a year ago I was waiting for my call to come!

I know that God is a very real person. He loves us and knows us by name. I know that He knows the people that we are working with. And He knows me. He has helped me every single day of my mission. I'm so grateful that He never leaves us on our own, but He is working side by side with us. Even though we are very far from being perfect, He still lets us help Him with His work.

I sometimes feel like the two year who tries to help her mom make cookies and ends up making it more complicated than if the mother had just made them by herself. But like the two year old I'm learning and growing. And at the same time I see my brothers and sisters growing here in this area. It's amazing. God's work won't fail; it's impossible.  And I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ, and I can't wait for this Christmas season. Love you so much family! Have a great Thanksgiving!

This Week Was Brought to you by the Letter 'P': (Piano Playing, Primary Program, and Priesthood Power.)

Nov. 18, 2013

Okay so......(Name) GOT BAPTIZED YESTERDAY! Yay! Man I definitely can say that the week of a baptism is very very stressful but very very awesome. A literal roller coaster. But it's always worth it in the end! It was so great!

He is so happy because he's been waiting for this for a while now. He is from (country) and I can't remember if I've told you but he has so many trials and challenges. He works nonstop - literally- and still praises God and longs to be closer to him. What an amazing example. He has such a great testimony. It's really funny because he was so prepared I hardly felt like we taught him anything. He never had any real problems or concerns. Crazy. And it was so cool to see how his cousin's example really affected him. We don't realize what our example can do to others. And this was a great example of how members can play such a big difference. 

It was great because we really involved the ward in the baptism. ...except we didn't have a pianist. So guess who played piano? Yup. moi. The sister who has only taken one piano lesson in her life. But I didn't completely fail. Other than the inexperienced pianist the baptism went really well.

I had a little bit of a nervous attack though...guess who showed up to our sacrament meeting? My mission president and his wife. I think my heart stopped for a good ten seconds or so. I love them so much and it was a great surprise to see them. I love my mission president and his wife. They are so great. And I seriously don't know how they do it. Especially with all the missionaries that are here. There are so many of us!

We didn't have eight come to church this time, but we had five. :) The (name) family (from (country)) came...and we still haven't gotten in to teach them! They LOVE church. But we are having some communication issues so we are having a hard time meeting them. HOPEFULLY this week. The wife told us they need to see us. Wish us luck! 

It was the primary program this last Sunday too! I LOVE PRIMARY PROGRAMS!!!!! The kids are the cutest. :) (Name) came and she did great! Yay! She sang a duet with a primary leader and she was so great. She loved it. I love her so much! We'll see what happens with her. This is where God comes into play. I know His timing is right and He knows what He is doing. He'll provide a way for her. We just need to be patient and accept that whatever happens, it will be okay.

Guess who came to church again? Our friend from (country).  And her daughter actually was able to be in the primary program. YAY!!!!! Super super happy for her!

As for the other people that came to church two weeks ago. We met with them but they just came to church to "check it out" and didn't have a lot of intent. :( Darn it. But I'm hoping that they felt the Spirit when we talked to them about our message and how this is the true church of Christ on the earth. Even though they may not come back, I hope they remember how they felt.

We had a breakthrough with (names). The elders quorum president and his councilor came over and gave her and her two young children priesthood blessings. They've been going through a rough time and have been facing a lot of trials. But, it just made me SOOOOO grateful for the priesthood. The spirit was so strong in the room. Tears were pouring down her cheeks as she expressed thanks. The blessings were beautiful. And the elders quorum president even gave her blessing in Spanish because he knew it.  Here was this sister in a home without a priesthood holder, and now she was able to feel that power in her home. I'm so grateful for the priesthood. I've definitely realized the blessings of having a priesthood holder in my home. I took that for granted as a child.  But even if right now I don't have Dad near me right now, there are still people around me that hold that same power. That can give and promise those same blessings. I am so grateful that God's power is still on the earth today. And it is manifested by the priesthood.

 

Well I'm excited for this next week. It's called "we need to find some more prepared investigators!" We've been finding a lot of investigators but then they drop off the face of the planet. So...we just need to be led to those that are ready to make those commitments!

I'm writing this from downtown. We're going to hang out with our district today here. It's going to be fun! :)

I'm so happy to be here. I love you all. And I am so grateful for the time I've been given to serve here. I LOVE Toronto. I know that God sent me here for a reason.

Blessings, blessings and more blessings

Nov. 12, 2013

Hello from Toronto. Man it is COLD. And there isn't even snow yet. My winter coat saves me so that is good. All I can do now is say "Bring it on Winter!" It's going to be fun. But I'm grateful I'm in the city....winter won't be too bad if I stay here. We'll see. And I'm grateful for the fireplace in our apartment.

(Name) is doing well. He is still super super busy but he came to church last Sunday. And he stayed to watch ANOTHER baptism. We were supposed to meet with him yesterday to discuss his baptism but he couldn't make it because of school. So we are meeting him tomorrow and then hopefully he will be baptized this Sunday. My concern is just he's busy. But he really wants to be baptized so I hope that will work out for him. He is so cool though. Every time we meet with him he is just so prepared. So far he has accepted EVERYTHING. And when his cousin comes to our lessons he throws down on him pretty good. haha. I'm excited for him.

(Name) WE MET HER FINALLY last week. She's doing okay. We had a really good Book of Mormon lesson with her so I'm hoping that she'll start reading it. Out of her family her daughter is the most solid. She came to church last Sunday and now she has a part in the primary program. She loves the children's Book of Mormon that we gave her.

(Names) are doing great. We took a member with us last week and it was awesome. The member gave some great ideas for FHE and teaching the gospel in the home. She should be getting a priesthood blessing by her husband this week. I know she will come back to church...it's just a manner of time. But her son loves us. He loves looking at lds.org/mormon.org and mormon messages. We gave him a children’s Book of Mormon too and he is browsing through it. It is awesome!

This last Sunday was crazy. Our mission has been focusing on church attendance as of late. So we've been inviting everyone to church. This last Sunday...God blessed us big time. Our companionship had 8 PEOPLE at church. I've never seen anything like it. (Names) came and then...two people came that we talked to on the street.

The first guy we talked to at a bus stop and invited him to church 2 weeks ago. Said "he'd think about it." Never came to church. Then last week I saw him on the bus and talked to him again. And the funny thing is...I failed as a missionary. I didn't say anything that was super spiritual. I just invited him to church again and told him to come and he wouldn't regret it. I went on with the week thinking that he wouldn't come because he didn't make any promises. Sunday two hours earlier he shows up and he starts watching the Spanish sacrament meeting. THEN...we were at a meeting but when we came back he was practicing WITH THE CHOIR. Oh boy. He stayed for the English sacrament meeting then had to leave. But still...that came out of NOWHERE.

Then I talked to the other guy on the bus on Friday. Invited him to church and got his number. He told me on the bus "he was busy" and that he wasn't sure he could make it. I texted him Sunday morning. And HE CAME. (well he actually went to the wrong church during the first hour but then we got him to our church for sunday school and priesthood. He liked it.) It is awesome!

And then...I forgot one last thing... Saturday I visited our Filipino friends. And I got my hair cut.

And I realized she cut a lot more than I expected. So my hair is chopped.
and it is AWESOME.

So I got my first missionary haircut. haha. But it is fun. I haven't had this short of hair for awhile. But it is nice for a little change. I actually like it a lot.  And they came to church too. :) :) :)

Blessings, blessings, and more blessings. It kinda scares me because I know a mission isn't supposed to be this easy and awesome all the time. So I'm nervous when things may not be rolling as they are now. But I am just so grateful for all that God has done here. He is hastening the work like crazy here. But honestly I can't say this is all because of me because it's not. I don't know why this is happening but I feel super blessed and super grateful. What a great few months it has been!

Anyways hope you have a good week. Love your letters. Love you. Love this work.

Sister Ogden

P.S. This quote was so so so great. I read it last week and it hit me so hard. I am so grateful for the Atonement. I don't know what my life would be like without it. This is from Pres Faust Oct 2001:

"We long for the ultimate blessing of the Atonement—to become one with Him, to be in His divine presence, to be called individually by name as He warmly welcomes us home with a radiant smile, beckoning us with open arms to be enfolded in His boundless love. ³⁶ How gloriously sublime this experience will be if we can feel worthy enough to be in His presence! The free gift of His great atoning sacrifice for each of us is the only way we can be exalted enough to stand before Him and see Him face-to-face. The overwhelming message of the Atonement is the perfect love the Savior has for each and all of us. It is a love which is full of mercy, patience, grace, equity, long-suffering, and, above all, forgiving.

The evil influence of Satan would destroy any hope we have in overcoming our mistakes. He would have us feel that we are lost and that there is no hope. In contrast, Jesus reaches down to us to lift us up. Through our repentance and the gift of the Atonement, we can prepare to be worthy to stand in His presence. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Satan wants us to not feel good enough. Christ wants us to feel worthy in His presence. It is up to us to decide where we want to be and how we want to feel. It is possible to feel worthy but only through the Atonement. This can't come any other way.