Gratitude

5/20/14

Hello! Hope you all had an amazing, terrific, uplifting, exciting week! I'm excited to write to you today! 

So as you know yesterday was Victoria Day...a ​holiday to celebrate Queen Victoria. I don't know what people usually do for Victoria Day...they light fireworks sometimes. But one thing I do know is that HOCKEY IS STILL BIG HERE. Like I'm getting sick of hearing how we are knocking on doors during hockey games! There is never a break from hockey here!

Yesterday was a Day of Service for us. Lately we've been serving a lot of people..We've been especially helping a less active family with their yard, as well as a few members’​yards who aren't physically well. We've been seeing good things from service here and it makes me happy! 

Like...the one less active family we've been serving has become really close to us. It's a part member family, and the wife is a member. It was awesome because a few weeks before​, her husband's parents were there and they were asking questions about our church. We gave them a Book of Mormon (actually Annie it was one that had YOUR testimony on it) and the dad accepted. We thought we wouldn't see them again. WRONG! Last week we saw them AGAIN. And we felt really strongly​ impressed to watch The Restoration Video....so we asked and they said we could and we watched it! It was really good! You COULD NOT DENY the Spirit. Both of them said they liked it. And they want another movie night this week. So we'll see....Seeds are being planted!

THEN...yesterday we were serving a member who has fibromyalgia (can’t sp?) and so we were helping her out and her brother-in-law was there. He wanted to "talk religion" with us. He was pretty brutal with this member when she first joined the church. He was pretty respectful to us. But we had a good talk. He mentioned a few things but we were able to be led to know what to say. You know​,​ I don't know EVERYTHING in the world...but I'm so grateful God gave us the Book of Mormon to be that witness that His Gospel is restored. Everything we believe about the Restoration lies on the Book of ​Mormon; it's true or it isn't. And many, including myself have come to know that it is TRUE. And we can't deny it! It's amazing how any concern can be resolved through that book.(And that ​guy hasn't read it yet)  I'm so grateful for it. I hope that he remembers ​our conversation and he takes it to heart one day.

Updates on people! 

So on a sad note...(investigator) is struggling. Didn't come to church without even telling us! Yesterday we had a really intense lesson because he just isn't progressing...he told us some struggles he's having. So that's good​ he is being honest with us now. But we reset some expectations and we're going to try to help him out. We'll see what happens. It's breaking our hearts though...I'm mean my comp has known him since January and so it's really hard. 

But...moving on to better things...we are teaching someone new! He was found downtown. We had a first lesson with him last weekend. It was probably one of the weirdest lessons ever. We were teaching him in this kitchen that he shares with other tenants. And all of a sudden there's this guy that comes in who has a long beard...is tall....and he's white but he sounds Jamaican. In the middle of our lesson he was like, "Are you spiritual?" Then he started mumbling about "women power" and then he starts SINGING! We just sit there for like five min so awkwardly and didn't know what to do. Then he left...then he came back like two more times and then he did the same thing. Oh man. But anyways...it was an interesting lesson. haha. 

BUT despite the weird lesson he came to church! This guy has made a bunch of changes in his life. He used to be pretty wild...got in a lot of trouble...but a car accident really changed everything. He said that the last ten years he's been getting his life back in order. He's a sweet guy. He read from the Book of Mormon a little which we were so happy about! So we'll see what happens. 

My favorite part with him was in church. After sacrament meeting we were talking to him outside in the hall and all of a sudden a branch member comes up. "Hey there! How are you?"

"I'm Good..."

"Do You remember me?"

"hmmmm....no?"

"I'm a police officer"

Then our investigator's face changed. "Oh. Oh oh yeah...." he starts getting all embarrassed. 

 Apparently he had gotten in trouble with the member in the past. Small world. It was pretty ironic....and it was just really funny. But the member was nice to him and said it was good that he was there. So yeah...

Anyways last thing I'll share is we were on our way walking to the hospital to see (investigator). There was this woman gardening...and we are supposed to talk to EVERYONE. We offer service to people but they usually reject us. Well...I was just like, "I'll just ask and then we'll be on our way..." I wasn't expecting anything. But when we did she said, "How much do you pay?" And we said FREE! So we ended up gardening for this poor woman who just found out her husband has three months to live. She's not in good health either...she got in a car wreck that has left her with a really bad back. So we were so happy to help! It was one of those moments I felt that God had placed us in a path of someone who needed us. We helped her out big time and her neighbors came and talked to us. Afterwards we wanted to invite her to learn about the gospel. But before we could do that she told us she wasn't religious at all....we felt we needed to not push ​it ​on her. I hope that in the future months missionaries can help her and come back and try again though. But hopefully our service has softened her heart a little more. 

Well I best be going but I love you all. I'm so grateful to be here. And although there are stressful moments, there are moments that I wouldn't give up for the world here! I love the little miracles that happen every day. I am so grateful for prayer...and I felt like a lot of my prayers have been answered as of recent. Lately it's been hitting me how indebted I am to my God for all that He's given me. I'm trying to finish the Book of Mormon ​again before I end my mission and I'm in Mosiah now and I love King Benjamin's words about gratitude. Even if we were righteous all of our lives....we still couldn't repay God for all that He has given and done for us. What are we doing to show that appreciation? 

Anyways have a good week!

With love, 

Sister Ogden 

Viva Las Hermanas!

Rough Happens. Note to Self: This Isn't MY Work; It's God's.

May 12, 2014

Hello family! (as a precaution this is going to be a mushy gushy letter. So sorry!)

Well it was so great to see your beautiful faces yesterday! Thanks for the chat! Some things never change (like Scout barking at the door) But it was great to hear from you all! I'm glad I could see Dad's muscles. I'm glad I could answer all of Mom's questions. I'm glad I could tell Morg to go to institute. And I'm glad (but a little weirded out) that Annie's looking all grown up. So crazy! I can never ever ever thank you enough for being the greatest family in the world. I'm SO grateful for you all and your love and support. I hope you know I couldn't do what I do without you. 

And thanks for being such a loyal emailer! Not every missionary can say they have parents that support them and love them for what they are doing. Sometimes I don't know what I ever did to deserve this. :) But I love you and sorry again for the mushiness.

I don't know what to write about because I kinda told you everything that happened this week. But I guess for those who weren't able to skype with us​, I'll just briefly give the low down. 

We went over the baptism interview questions for (investigator) last week. The next day we came over and she just told us straight​ up that her beliefs are different from ours and that she cannot be baptized anymore. We did NOT see that coming. We didn't even know what to say. We asked her what beliefs were giving her a hard time and she gave a few...but we quickly testified and resolved them. Still she doesn't want to be baptized...and we feel there's another reason she's not telling us about. It literally broke my heart in a bizillion pieces. It's so sad when you think someone is ready to take that covenant of baptism....and you are so happy for all the changes they are making...and you work so hard....and then all of a sudden it crashes and burns. I love her so much and it was so hard to not cry during our last meeting. But you just have to have faith that in the future missionaries may help her again....you can never say never. I know Heavenly Father loves her and I know that I was supposed to cross paths with her for a reason. I'll always be grateful for knowing her. 

On a brighter note...(investigator) is getting MARRIED at OUR CHURCH now! Super super super stoked! I'm so happy that she still wants to be baptized in our church. Oh I love her so much! It was her birthday last week so my comp and I pitched in and bought her a shirt. haha. Hopefully she liked it. She came to church ON HER OWN on MOTHER'S DAY yesterday. Oh she is amazing! I love her so much! 

And after a drought of finding investigators...we finally found a few more on Saturday! We found them through kajiji (it's Canada's craigslist) As missionaries we advertise church materials on there...like free Book of Mormons, Bibles, etc. So this one woman requested a Bible. So we met up with her and gave her a Bible and we also were able to sit down somewhere and share with her the restoration. We haven't taught the Restoration FOREVER it seems like. And it was so awesome! I love the message we share. I know it's true. And whenever we open our mouths to share it the spirit is there! The woman's boyfriend came and sat with us as well. They had great questions. We'll be seeing her sometime this week so we'll see how it goes! She's so cool!  ​(*Sadly, this woman texted her while she was writing this email and said we're not interested; don't come anymore.)​

This week was a little on the rough side...but I know that the hard days that we go through make us stronger. And hard days also are some of God's greatest teaching moments. I've learned A LOT this week. Lessons about how we are only in control of SO MUCH and how we have to leave things to the Lord...as everything was happening I kept reminding myself, "This isn't MY work...it's HIS...and I have to trust in Him that everything will work out according to HIS will and not MINE..." I also learned the importance of celebrating the small victories...even if they are small. I've learned that in times of trial or need we can learn a lot about who the Savior and our Heavenly Father are and what they had to go through for me. 

Although the week was rough it ended in an awesome way! Loved talking and seeing the family! I'm excited for the new week and what it will bring. It's going to be awesome!   I love you all so much! Hope you have an awesome week as well! 

Sister Ogden 

God's In This... I Know He Is.

5/5/14

Happy May!  That's awesome you got to hear Elder Ballard! Canada ​Toronto Mission represents!

 ​ 

Speaking of which I forgot to mention a really cool thing here. Some members here can recall talking to and meeting with Pres Monson when he was mission president here! Last week we were at a member's home and they showed this picture. And it was the two of them getting married....and guess who was right by their side who performed their marriage? President Monson! It is so cool to meet people who knew the prophet as a mission president! You get to hear all these stories and it's awesome! 

Well this week was pretty good! It was crazy busy! 

(Investigator) is looking to baptism this Sunday! We gave her the stop smoking workshop last week and so now she is trying to be smoke free this week so she can be baptized this Sunday. (talk about cutting it close!) So I'm pretty much biting my fingernails off because it's going to be a close call. If she even lays a finger on a ​cigarette and smokes once we'll push it back another week. Sigh...but I know God is going to help her. We've been fasting and praying and trying so hard....She came to church yesterday again and she's just so amazing! We downloaded the scriptures on her phone and she was just so excited to have them on her phone! But whatever happens, it's going to be okay. God's in this. I know He is. We're going over for dinner tonight so I'm excited about that. 

This week we helped (name) move (she moved a few doors down the street) which was EXHAUSTING because it was just us and her. Luckily some ward members came and helped with the heavier stuff later on that evening. ​Unfortu​nately​, (name) is just not doing well at all​ -  for the time being so he's pretty much dropped ​out ​just due to his sickness and not being able to meet with us. So Saturday we did a do or drop with (name). We taught about the doctrine of baptism and either she was going to accept or we were going to have to take a break. IT WAS AMAZING! We read the scriptures to her and she believed us. Concerns were being ​resolved. The Holy Ghost was THERE. It was really really cool. It taught me the importance of the scriptures. The scriptures really are powerful tools and teachers. There is power behind them! Anyways by the end of the lesson she agreed to be baptized AND stop smoking. We were doing a happy dance all the way home!!! ...then...we went over yesterday. And then she threw a tantrum because she was never ever ever ever going to stop drinking tea. She just kept going on and on ​about how the word of wisdom is not a commandment and how ​God loves her no matter what she does​,​ so why change. It was really heart wrenching. So...she's going to pray about it...and in three days she's going to tell us if she's going to do it or not. So we'll see what happens I guess. 

(Investigator) is doing great! We had dinner with them yesterday and they came to church for the second time in a row! YAY! 

Anyways other than that things are going alright here! We are still struggling with finding new investigators. But we know that as long as we do all we can...God will lead us to those who are ready! This area has ​definitely taught me a lot about patience but I'm grateful for it. 

I'm so grateful for prayer, the scriptures, and the priesthood. I know that this is the restored church of Christ. I know that this is God's work and it is rolling forth. I know that the Atonement is real...because of it I feel the Lord's strength each and every day I'm out here. I know His love is infinite and eternal. Things happen that we don't understand why...but we know that if we stay faithful it will all work out in the end.

I love you all so much! May God bless and protect you this week!

Sister Ogden  

New dress (Thanks Gma!)

"God Hath Not Given Us The Spirit of Fear..."

April 28, 2014

Wow what a crazy week! Hope you all had a good week and all! It's so warm here finally: I am LOVIN it! Yay! No more snow!!!! 

I've been reading this talk about being a Preach My Gospel Missionary that is AMAZING! I love it! It's "Becoming a Preach my Gospel Missionary" by Elder Bednar from June 2011. You should read it just saying.  

Still keeping Grandpa and Grandma in my prayers. I LOVE Grandma's grad pics...they are so awesome! I'm proud of ya Grandma!  

Okay so for the week...(investigator)...I love that woman! She is so wonderful! She received a priesthood blessing earlier this week and it was AWESOME! Really amazing promises and blessings. I just love the priesthood because you feel the spirit so strongly....and you just know your investigators are feeling it too. BUT...on Friday we visited her and asked how the smoking was going...and she said it was really really hard. It's harder than it was when she first quit. (Darn it Satan!) We told her why it's so hard...and so we are moving to plan B which is to do a Stop Smoking Workshop this Wednesday and move her baptism date back. She came to church yesterday for the second time and she had a good time. 

(Investigator)...is amazing as always. (I think everyone is amazing haha) She's brought up a lot of concerns...how she doesn't feel ready and feels like she has a far way to go. But we love her and she is so sincere. She's been reading and praying but hasn't had "The Answer" come yet....but we know it will in God's way and time. But they CAME TO CHURCH yesterday. YAY! We were so happy to see them. And the Branch President introduced himself to them. (Name) has been reading the Book of Mormon with the concerns that are on his mind and last time we met he shared with us a scripture that answered a part of his concern. It was so cool to see how the Book of Mormon works in answering prayers and concerns. The power of the Book of Mormon is SO REAL. 

(Investigator) is doing great...but he's been having a hard time reading and praying every day. He isn't an "avid reader" so sometimes he loses focus and pretty much is disinterested in reading so much. BUT we are going to keep trying. We've been trying to break down chapters for him to read and trying to "liken" more scriptures to him but it's a process. 

(Investigators): Oh man. I don't know what to say. So pretty much he is just so down and is giving up...which is understandable because he's dying...but he's going through a hard time. But it's hard because you see someone suffering and you just don't know how to help them. I know the gospel will help him...but he's losing faith/hope. It's hard to see him go through that. He told us he was reading/praying which shows that he hasn't COMPLETELY give up but we'll see what happens.  (Investigator) came to church yesterday! If there's one word to describe her it's a "fireball." She was excited to be at church and to learn. 

This last weekend we went and served a less active sister whose husband is not a member. From serving her and helping her clean up and do yard work for her, we've really gotten to know her and her husband. They've come out and told us they might make it to church sometime. From serving them I've learned the power that comes from service. When we serve and let someone know that they are loved, it opens many many doors. We still need to address concerns, but we'll see what happens. 

I'm so grateful for this gospel. It means so much to me. In a study this last week I was reminded how "God hath not given us the spirit of fear..." Especially at the start of the week I read about how there are so many references in the scriptures where the Lord tells us to "fear not." I know that feelings of fear do not come from God. He loves us so much! One of my favorite scriptures that has meant a lot to me is D & C: 6:33-37. I hope that you can continue to feel the Lord's love and care for you and are reminded to "Be not afraid"

Anyways family...I'm curious: have you been reading Preach my Gospel? We're inviting other families in the branch to study it...so I’m wondering if you are too? 

Hope you have a good week! 

Sister Ogden  

Here's the Doctrine & Covenants scripture:

 33 ^aFear not to do ^bgood, my sons, for whatsoever ye ^csow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow ^dgood ye shall also reap good for your ^ereward.

 34 Therefore, fear not, little ^aflock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are ^bbuilt upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

 35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and ^asin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.

 36 ^aLook unto me in every ^bthought; ^cdoubt not, fear not.

 37 ^aBehold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the ^bnails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall ^cinherit the ^dkingdom of heaven. Amen.

The Miracle of the Atonement

April 22, 2014

Well hiya! It's funny because every week when email day comes I am reminded: "I have a family who loves me!!!!" Thanks for all your love and support. You do all make me feel loved! 

This week was so crazy. No surprise there. It's funny because you really don't know what to expect in a week on a mission. All you know is that there are bound to be really good things that happen...and some not-so-good things happen. Take this last week for instance:

Bad things: First (investigator)...she didn't really like church. She and the recent convert who became less active found church boring. (Keep in mind they are 15/16 yrs old....Annie I wish you were here to be their friend!) So they told us when we came that they want to go to a different Christian church because they had friends that went there. :( We testified of the restoration and told them to ask God which church they should go to like Joseph Smith did. It's sad because the people at our church really did reach out to them...but I don't know what will happen. Crossing my fingers they give it another chance.

Then earlier that day...we called (investigator). We asked him when we could meet with him and he told us he didn't want to meet anymore. Told us he was going to another church...and that he would call us if he was interested again. That threw me off...he had such a great time at church. People involved him...he was loving it...and now all of a sudden he blows us off?!  hmmm...somehow I feel like I don't have the entire story here. Oh well...I just have to keep reminding myself that God has his own time for everyone!

Good things: (Investigator) is out of the hospital! YAY! He still is in a lot of pain. But he is happy to be out.  But our first lesson with he and his wife together was a bit of a trainwreck. It was intense. 

After that lesson we dropped by to see them a few days later. AND IT WAS A MIRACLE because he was home and we had a member with us and so we were able to teach him alone. It was crazy. First we were teaching him about the priesthood...but to be honest I just wasn't feeling that it was something he needed at the moment. So after we taught him a little bit we just started asking questions about his life...about his fears...And it was really really cool because then the Spirit became really strong. He is dying. And he is so scared because it is painful and it is dragging on. We testified that what we would be sharing with him could help him feel peace though he was dying. He even started to shed a few tears. It was pretty emotional. He really wanted to come to church...but Sunday he wasn't in good shape so he couldn't come. We invited him to read Alma 40 and he did....and I think it helped him. He didn't say much but he said it was good. 

His wife is not convinced that the priesthood is a man's responsibility. She thinks women and men should have it and it can be passed on via ways other than laying on of hands. I'm learning a lot about the Bible because of her. 

(Investigator) is AMAZING!!!! She's getting baptized! So excited! Her big hill to climb now is quitting smoking...she started when she was 11 and has been doing it her whole life. But she told us she's willing to give up smoking in order to be baptized. Isn't that amazing that someone is so willing to give up a big part of her life? I love that woman so much! Like really! She's going to be getting a priesthood blessing tomorrow. 

(Investigators) are doing alright. One of the highlights of last week is that she told us how much she LOVES reading the Book of Mormon. She said, "I just feel so much better when I read it!" AHHH! SHE'S BECOMING CONVERTED! She's on 1 Nephi 16. I'm so proud of her! But...her husband is going through a hard time.  Last week he kinda broke down and told us how heavy a burden he feels. We invited him to go talk to our branch president and he told us he would. It's so hard to see people like that go through pain. I KNOW the Atonement can heal him but he needs to take that leap of faith.  He's carried these burdens for years now and it's gotten to the point where he is tired. I really hope that he can hand those burdens to the Lord. I love this family so much! 

Everything else is going well here. We are now trying to find more people to teach as well as to continue helping the people we are teaching progress. By the way we went to the island last Saturday. That was so crazy. Man the more I'm here the more I realize that I am in the COUNTRY. On the Island there are farms everywhere and I saw my first "crop duster" planes. It's so funny thinking about how a year ago I was in Toronto... a bustling city and now I'm here in this quiet place. Anyway...we went and dropped by to see all these people and thanks to Easter Weekend NO ONE WAS HOME!!!! It was so sad because we traveled all the way out there to find that no one was home. :( It was sad. But it was pretty. Maybe next time we'll hit it right.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter! Every day I feel like I come to love the Savior more and more and more. Before my mission I thought I knew about Christ and the Atonement. WRONG! I don't think I'll ever understand it completely but it's so amazing to see the Atonement work and change people. I'm so grateful for His Resurrection. How amazing is it to KNOW that we will live again. I'm so grateful for this.... During Easter I thought about Grandma R, Grandpa F, Great Grandma R, Grandpa L, and all those who I have known who have passed on. I remembered what they looked like at their viewings...and it was amazing to think about what they will look like when I see them when we are all resurrected beings. Our bodies will not look like hollow shells but they will be PERFECTED! Isn't that amazing?!

I'm so grateful for each and every one of you. I love you so much! Thanks for being amazing! I'm excited to be here with my comp for another 6 weeks. Good things are happening and hopefully they will continue to happen! :) 

With love,

Sister Ogden 

Walking and Walking and Walking the Walk

4/14/14

HELLLLLLO FAMILY! Wow this is going to be a long email...I can feel it. Man so much is happening. I'm so pumped! First of all...thanks for the birthday posts and shoutouts and stuff! Means a lot to me! (I'm glad I still have people that haven't forgotten me) haha. No but really! Thanks again....

AND THANKS FAMILY FOR THE PACKAGES!!!! I opened my birthday package and I wish you could have seen my face. I have not been so happy to receive CLOTHES in my entire life! I tried all of them on and they fit well so don't worry about exchanging cause they all worked! YAY! So thanks a million!

My birthday was great! Last Monday we went to Dairy Queen and then went bowling. And guess who won both games? That's right! That was pretty fun...we were like the only people in the bowling alley. Then on Tuesday (my real birthday), we went and had lunch at the Elders Quorum President's house. It was very nice of them! Then we went and saw (investigator) at the hospital. That was something that was good...but at the same time it's really depressing. He is pretty much giving up and he's just in a lot of physical pain and it's really sad when you know that he's probably not going to live for much longer. We did some dropbys that day and then we went to the (member family's) for dinner. Oh man oh man they had decorations and everything! The CAFE RIO SALAD SHE MADE WAS AMAZING!!!!! I looooooooooved it. My craving has been satisfied! It was a few members and (investigator). After dinner and cake...we got to watch the Testaments with everybody. So it was great! I forgot to mention my sweet comp gave me a cake too! So all in all it was a good day!

   

Cakes!

   

Party!

Gifts!

Bday Fun!

 Which leads me to the next item of business...I NEED TO GET HEALTHIER TOO! Like take today's menu so far for instance: Apple Jacks cereal, a McFlurry, some chocolate strawberries, and mac and cheese. ...hahaha. We have so much CAKE,and CHOCOLATE I don't know what to do with it! I love it but I need to be a little more...not crazy. ha. So I need to take the Ogden Health Challenge...So here's the plan: You get healthier over there...I'll get healthier over here and then we'll all be awesome by august! Deal? Deal!

This past week I've learned two important lessons: One is that I'm so grateful for cars. And two, I'm so grateful for the missionaries who served long ago who didn't have cars and I respect them. Like really though. So...long story short the sisters that served here previous to us ran into a sign and ruined the bumper. BUT...the car place couldn't get the car in until 2 months later...So WE have to pay the price! It's been FIVE DAYS! It was going to be two days but because we drove in the car for a few extra months more damage took place and so they had to order even more parts! This city is not like Toronto where you can just hop on a bus...We have two options: hitch a ride from a member or walk. It's been quite the experience walking...like we keep feeling like those old time missionaries who just walked everywhere. On the upside...the weather has been GORGEOUS! Like I love it...it's PERFECT and SUNNY and AWESOME so no complaints. I can't believe spring is here and the snow is finally gone! It's sometimes too good to be true! Anyways then we get to talk to more people than ever before...and it's always fun to do that! We've met some good people and it's been fun! Last Saturday we couldn't get a ride from anyone so we walked 1 1/2 hrs from our home to downtown which was pretty exciting. So you weren't the only ones hiking this weekend family! I have a nice big blister on my heel that's pretty nasty. My comp's pretty grossed out about it but I don't care. I need to duct tape it! haha.

BUT...despite the fact we didn't have a car....we had MIRACLES!!!!! We had THREE investigators at church this past Sunday! YAY! The first two were two new investigators.....  One was a teenage girl. It may take some time but that's okay! She is so cool! I love teaching her because it reminds me of young women's and how much I loved it!  We need to help these teenagers receive testimonies of their own! I'm excited! Three teenage girls came to church yesterday and they seemed to like it.

Then...(investigator) came to church. So on my birthday we had appointments fall through so we were doing dropbys. We decided to drop by formers...My comp asked me what name stood out and his did. So we went and saw him. He opens the door...tells us he's considering coming back to the Church and learning again and told us to come back on Friday. SO...we did...He is awesome! He really wants to find the "true church" He's visited a lot of different churches and he wants to find truth. He does have a smoking problem so that's going to be fun. But he has intent...and I LOVE it when we meet people who are searching! He used to be an alcoholic but he's overcome that. But he is such a nice guy! Has a baptism date!

Then....(wait for it...) (investigator) CAME TO CHURCH!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! We have tried so hard to get her to church...and she came yesterday! WE WERE SO HAPPY! And she was too! She's so excited for her baptism...she's starting to invite friends and everything! Ah I'm so excited for her! Now for the hard part...helping her quit smoking... She knows already she needs to stop...so now we need to help her. But God's going to help her I know He is.

I had a really cool experience yesterday. All week we hadn't been able to get a hold of (investigator). We were nervous that we would have to drop her. But we finally reached her last Saturday and we saw her on Sunday. Since it was SUPPOSED to be a short visit we planned on just sharing an Easter Message. At the end...I bore testimony that one day we all would see the resurrected Lord...and then I started to get a little emotional... then she was starting to get emotional. Then she opened up to us about problems she was having...fears she was feeling...and just how hopeless everything seemed. When you see people struggling, it just breaks your heart! But my comp and I talked to her and related to her that there IS hope. It was cool because although I can't compare it to her experiences...I was reminded of on the first part of my mission where - I am going to be honest here - I felt despair and hopelessness. I felt unworthy...ugly and unloved...BUT I was able to get over it.. .and I remember words that my mission president and his wife said to me to help me get over it. And two days before we saw (this investigator), I was looking at my old journal AND FOUND notes that I had taken about overcoming the negative thoughts that the adversary wants us to think and believe. It was cool because I could give her words of comfort and advice that I learned when I felt hopeless... That answered one of the questions I have had my entire mission of why it was SO hard in the beginning of my mission for me? Why did I have to struggle so much? One of the reasons might be because I could help people like her have hope and I would understand at least a little bit where they were coming from. It was so amazing...and it was a great lesson to me that the hard times are necessary for they shape us into people that can influence and help others.

I'm so excited for Easter this Sunday! My thoughts and prayers are that you will focus on Christ and your personal relationship with Him. I know that He lives. I've come to know Him more on my mission and I hope I can continue to get to know Him more. I'm so grateful for the miracle of His sacrifice and Resurrection. I love the atonement....I know it's real and everlasting.

AHHH! I don't have time to write you what I wanted to about what I learned in PMG (Preach My Gospel) but I'll direct you to a quote... It's on pg 156 it's under "Talk with Everyone" and the sentences start with "As" and then it ends with "recognize opportunities." I know that if we LOOK and PRAY for opportunities to serve and teach gospel truths those opportunities will be given to us. It's easy to get frazzled running everywhere from day to day life. But if we stop and prayerfully look for missionary moments and service opportunities they WILL be given to us. It all starts with prayer my friends! Well I love you! And I love it here! I love this gospel so much and I am so grateful for it! Have a good week!

  

Listening With Love

4/8/14

It's a bright, sunny day here in Ontario. When I was watching the temple grounds during conference, I was just like, "It's so GREEN there!" Everything here is brown and muddy.... But one day it'll be like that. I'm enjoying each week because it's getting warmer. YES!! :) Spring is here! :)

I'm glad you enjoyed conference. Quoting my district leader, "Conference is like the Super Bowl out here on your mission." I loved it. I don't know if I have a favorite talk, BUT....Elder Scott's, Pres. Uchtdorf's, and Elder Bednar's talks stood out to me. I loved how conference talked a lot about loving others and the atonement. I also loved how speakers talked about standing up for what we believe in, even when it's not the "popular" thing to do. There are SO many ways to implement what you learn at conference, it's crazy. I hope that from conference I can love others more abundantly, appreciate and utilize the atonement, and be more grateful for my life. After conference...as I was pondering what was said, I just felt an overwhelming feeling of love from my Heavenly Father. It was a sweet reminder that despite weaknesses and imperfections, God still loves me and is willing to help me overcome them. 

That is SO funny about Stephen Layton meeting Dad's cousin on his mission! Sounds like he's quite the missionary down south. And congrats to Paige! I'm excited to see her at BYU! :) 

Okay well...last week was another week of miracles. 

We found a new investigator. The Elders Quorum President here is actually a medical professional. He gave us a call last week and told us to go visit this former patient of his who was struggling. That very night an appointment fell through so we decided to go drop by. She let us in and we taught her a very powerful plan of salvation. She is going through some really tough situations.  It broke my heart to see how broken this woman was. But my comp and I felt God's love for her SO much. As we testified of God's love and plan for her, she got pretty emotional....and you could feel the spirit SO strong. I am SO grateful for the plan of salvation. It, along with the atonement of Christ, can carry us through our deepest trials and sorrows. When I meet people that go through things that I can't even imagine what it would be like, I always remind myself that it's God who knows her inside and out...and He knows how to help her.  She accepted baptism but because of her circumstances and situation it might take longer. 

(Investigator) came to conference! Yes! He came to all four sessions of it too. He seemed to enjoy conference...it was hard for him to focus during the entire thing...but when Pres Monson spoke he was FULLY ENGAGED. And after he spoke (investigator) said, "I think I connected to Pres Monson more than the other speakers." YES! 

(A different investigator) came to a part of conference...the Sunday morn session...but she is not doing well physically so she left after Elder Ballard’s talk...but I'm grateful she saw Elder Uchdorf's talk on gratitude. She's had it HARD. And i mean HARD. So I think she needed that. We are going to see her today and see how she is. 

Last week we decided to pay (name) a visit in the hospital. We were both a little nervous because we've only met him once. But we came in and it was really really touching. Here's this guy who told us part of his life story. His life also hasn't been the best. He's in this bed..his stomach is completely bloated...and he's practically dying but we talked to him. He doesn't have friends...and his wife calls him occasionally but that's it. No one visits him or anything...not even his family. It's sad. So for us to come and visit with him meant a lot to him I think. He believes in God and Christ...he's actually read the Book of Mormon before and met with missionaries before. But I don't know what happened. We just talked to him about life...We saw him yesterday and he actually seemed to be doing better and it looks like he will be released hopefully mid week. But they still have to drain fluid out of his system every week/few days. His liver has completely failed him so his life is slowly slipping away. We testified of what we learned at conference...about God's plan and the atonement... and our conversations are super deep. It's super cool. It meant a lot to me visiting him at the hospital because it also reminded me of Grandpa...and although I can't visit him in Utah...I can visit those who are suffering here in Canada and help them. It was pretty neat. 

(Another investigator) was so set on conference but her health keeps holding her back from actually coming. It's frustrating. We'll have to see how we can help get her to church. Other than that everything is good with her. She loves the gospel and Jesus Christ. 

After a week we also saw (investigator)! YAY! And the miracle this week is that after weeks of telling her to read the Book of Mormon....she read 1 Nephi 2 and 3 on her own! And she marked scriptures and understood the basics and everything!!!! YAY! She was out of town yesterday but she told us she'd tune in to conference. We'll see how she liked it!

Well...tomorrow I'll be 21....wow...birthdays on the mission are WEIRD because it does not feel like it's been a year since I was at Sister (name)'s house in (diff city) having my birthday there. Tomorrow I will be enjoying dinner at the (member's) house....cafe rio! Yay..I have been craving that for the longest time!!!!  :) (thanks for sending the recipe) Today for preparation day we are going to bowl! I'm still deciding who we want to visit and teach tomorrow and all so next week I'll let you know what else I did. 

Well family thanks for being so great! I love you all! I hope you know that. Every night in my prayers I thank our Heavenly Father for giving me you guys. I can't go a day without being grateful for you! And I'm grateful to be serving here in Canada. These last few weeks have been good...but yesterday I had a "wake up call" that I need to be MORE GRATEFUL for this wonderful opportunity to serve my brothers and sisters here. Yes, missions are HARD. But I'm so grateful for how my mission has changed others' lives as well as mine....and I hope that I can continue to change lives and continue to change my life. Not every woman can say they've served a mission when they were 19 years old. I'm so grateful I came to earth at THIS time....what an exciting time to be here! :) 

....so from Elder Ballard's talk he mentioned we should be talking about Preach My Gospel more. So I'll end with one of my favorite quotes by Jeffrey R. Holland (pg 185)

"More important than speaking is listening. These people are not lifeless objects disguised as a baptismal statistic. They are children of God, our brothers and sisters, and they need what we have. Be genuine. Reach out sincerely. Ask these friends what matters most to them. What do they cherish, and what do they hold dear? And then listen. If the setting is right, you might ask what their fears are, what they yearn for, or what they feel is missing in their lives. I promise you that something in what they say will always highlight a truth of the gospel about which you can bear testimony and about which you can then offer more...If we listen with love we won't need to worry what to say. It will be given to us-by the spirit and by our friend."

Sometimes...we feel nervous about HOW to bring up the gospel to family/friends...but if we really listen and prayerfully look for opportunities to bear our testimony, we will know what to say. I KNOW this is so true...The times where I've been so worried about WHAT to say were much harder than the times where I listened to people and didn't worry as much about what I would sound like...Let's treat people: less actives, non members, ANYONE, as people...not anything else. 

LOVE YOU!

SISTER OGDEN :)

At the Lake

(Spring... where are you?)