Monday, January 14th, 2019

I am so glad it has been so sunny and nice there (in Seattle, WA where Avery and Esther currently live)! It was like that for a while here, and then it decided to wreck us with snow. 

This week was just overall super interesting. 

I went on exchanges this week. District Council went really well this week, as well. We got our zone sweaters and they are pretty sweet. They are like a maroon color.

Elder Harmon and Elder Bischoff were sick on Friday, when it started to snow pretty good. Elder Sickler and I went out and it was so fun. We went to the library in downtown KC, for an appointment, and the place was SO NICE. And huge. But then we saw a security guard and some dood get in a fight. Then some guy lit up a doobie not even halfway out the door. LOVE THAT PLACE.

On Saturday the fleet got grounded [due to snow], so we couldn't use the cars, so we just shoveled people's driveways. It was pretty fun and I enjoyed not just sitting there doing nothing. We also had a snowball fight and then I did a backflip off a pile of snow. It felt a lot cooler than it looked. There was a ton of snow, but they [city work crews] did a pretty decent job of cleaning it up, so the roads aren't bad. 

Elder Harmon has got some word that he should be going to Ecuador soon, like in 2 weeks-ish. I'm excited for him, but he is pretty nervous. I think he'll do really well out there. The members say that the food is amazing and that the people are really nice, but they'll rob you blind haha. It's gonna be a weird situation because they either transfer us both or I stay 5 transfers, which is a long time, but I'm hoping that I stay. I love this place and we have some really big things happening here.  

One thing I love about being in Independence is that I get to do more baptismal interviews. I got to have one with this guy who has a sweet handlebar mustache, but he has gone through a lot and it was just a good experience just to talk with him and hear someone who was in the pits at one point and now is about to make a covenant with God.

I have a quote, I will send it in a picture form, that has helped me when self-deprecating thoughts come. I like this quote [and wanted to share it].

Elder Ogden 

Monday, January 7th, 2019

The amazing Moreta Family baptism!

District Council at the Independence MO Visitor's Center

Some good ol' hood basketball - on the side of some ghetto church in the hood while on exchanges 

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This week was pretty FLIPPIN SWEET. The Moreta family was baptized this Saturday and then Manuel confirmed them on Sunday. Elder Harmon also got to baptize a girl name Natali from Mexico City. He was super nervous and when they both got into the font and she told him her full name, which was like 6 names, Elder Harmon just looked at me scared. It was kinda funny. But he did great. 6 people were confirmed on Sunday, which took a long time, but it was super cool to be a part of. Seeing Manuel with his family hit me pretty deep and idk just seeing the happiness of the plan God has for us. It's not a coincidence we are put in families with the Priesthood... it was touching though. 

I got to interview Natali for baptism and she has such a strong testimony. She is 13. Her brother Daniel, was baptized about 2 or 3 weeks ago. Their mom wants to be baptized, but she is living with a guy and they aren't married. But it's a tough situation. My eyes have been opened up to the tough situations they have to deal with being immigrants just to escape from poverty. Down there, you get a normal job at a factory or something and get paid the equivalant of 20 dollars a week. In order to simply make ends meet, a lot of them turn to drugs and other stuff. But they are an awesome family. 

We did exchanges on Wednesday and they were pretty crazy, but it was a fun day. We tracted a lot and saw a lot of crazy people.

We got to translate for the Moretas baptismal interviews and that was cool. I love those guys, man... they are the best. 

Hermana Vega, the lady who we gave a blessing to a couple weeks ago, passed away and we went to her funeral. It was a good service and it was amazing to see how calm Hermano Vega was. That man has got some faith. 

We had interviews with President and Sister Love on Saturday in the morning and they went well. Most of the time it's just Pres and I jokin around or something but this time he indoctrinated me. It was way nice. He talked about our divine identities as children of God and he told me some cool things. I love that guy. He talked about Moses 1 and how Satan calls him son of man. Then President said that, when that happens, we call satan a loser and ask him who he is and tell him to take a hike. 

This week was so busy but I don't remember garbage so, sorry for the short email. 

Today we went to the ghetto Walmart and it was more ghetto than usual. That was wack, but it was fun. 

Earlier this week it was like 17 degrees. Now it's like 65 and clear. I don't understand. But it is what it is. 

Right now I am reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish and I am in the Isaiah chapters. It's a little slower, but I'm getting some good stuff. But it's like putting my brain in a blender. In a good way. 

Elder Ogden

Monday, December 31st, 2018

I don't have much to report this week. On Christmas, we just street contacted and found a little success. Then I got a nasty sinus infection that knocked me OUT. I got some meds and on the way up so all good. I sound like a smoker. Debra from Detroit. 

Because of that, I read Saints in 3 days. I learned a lot. It was also cool to know the location of where stuff happened. I enjoyed the book...I learned a lot about the women who were part of the church when it was first starting. Amanda Smith was one who stuck out and she had to go through so much and I was thinking and realized that my mom is a lot like these women. Had to go through deep crap, but did it with faith. Thank you for the example, Mom. 

The highlight of my week was talking to [my familia]. That was so nice. Then I was thinking and I only have 1 more of those... Not trunky, I swear, but holy crap it is going by so fast. 

So yeah, this week kinda was a drag but it was a good one. We watched The Incredibles 2 because Sister Love said that all the missionaries could watch a Disney movie, if she approved it. AND IT WAS WAY GOOD... probably because I haven't seen a movie in 10 years. We watched it with the Torres family. I love that family. I want to come back and have [mi familia] meet all these people. Even if you don't speak spanish, they just give you stuff. Mostly food. They are so kind; I love these people. 

Manuel's family came to church and they loved it. They participated and everything. 

Tonight we have to be in the apartment by 7 o clock cause apparently the streets go nutz. So it'll be fun. 

Elder Ogden 

Monday, December 24th, 2018 and Christmas Day

Photos that Elder Ogden sent us from the week...there are some pretty talented artists in KC!

 Kansas City / Warrensburg / Independence South Zone Conference, Dec. 21, 2018

Elder Ogden and Elder Hale...both from the Tri serving in the same area! 

Elder Ogden sent gifts for each of us and it was beyond sweet! He asked us to open them with him on the video call on Christmas morning. We absolutely loved getting to see his handsome face and hear his wonderful voice. He is doing so well and we are so proud of him. Next Christmas we will all be together as a family! The Lord is good to us!

Monday, December 17th, 2018

HEY, GUESS WHAT? I'M STAYING IN SANTA FE. I FEEL SO BLESSED! I LOVE THIS PLACE... IT IS AMAZING HALLELUJAH. Also all the other guys [elders] in the apartment are staying too!  

I don't have a lot of time this week because we went to the temple, but the time we were assigned to go was in the middle of the day. I feel like I can't complain, cause I went to the temple, but we also have dinner in like 30 minutes and before that there was no time to email. So, in advance, I apoligoze for the sucky email. I got to see Elder Hamby today in the temple. He got transferred and is now with Elder Kuhre. 

This week we saw a super cool miracle. A couple appointments fell through, and so we were tracting. We saw this hispanic guy walk into his house and so we went up to it and knocked it. We talked for a bit and then he let us in. We showed the Ilumina tu fe [Light the Wolrd] video and then he started talking to us. He had spent 7 grand to get himself here and 15 grand to get his brother here from Guatemala, because that's kinda how the cartels role. But now his brother doesn't talk to him. With tears in his eyes, he started to describe that that's why he drinks. Then he said that he knew we were sent from God, because he was about to do the worst mistake of his life. He then showed us a pistol in his pocket and quite a few bullets. We talked a little bit more and then set up a return apt for the next day, Sunday. We went over yesterday and taught him and it was so cool to see how the Lord put us in the right direction by having appointments fall through. Pretty crazy though. 

We ate with this family this week whose first language is Mayan. MAYAN. Like the Mayas and the Aztecs type stuff. They are this really old couple and they are just the sweetest people ever. They made us these really good taquito things and holy schnikeys I about died.

We also had a lesson on Wed with this guy named Jose. We had contacted him the Wednesday before, but he was busy and told us to come back the following wednesday. Usually that means that they don't want it, but we did so anyways and he let us right in. He told us about how, in between then and the first time we talked to him, he had had surgery on his throat because he had some cancer there. He said when the doctor told him that, he immediately thought of us. We ended up teaching the restoration, and at the end, he said, holding back tears, "I believe everything you just said." It was awesome! The only problem is, he can't really read that well in spanish, so we are going to hand him off the the English elders. 

We had a chance, last week, to give a blessing to an older lady in the hospital. She is from Puerto Rico and has cancer, and the doctors have given her 1-3 weeks to live. Her kidneys were also dying out, only working at 40 percent. We got out go with the Elders Quorum president and give her a blessing. The next day, when we went to go give her the sacrament, the doctors had said that her kidneys were fully functioning at 100 percent miraculously. No, it didn't stop the cancer or anything like that, but it made it more comfortable for her. It was a huge testimony to me that Heavenly Father doesn't just only care about the big stuff, but the little stuff too. 

The branch did a little performance at the VC this week and it was awesome. Their Christmas traditions are awesome.

Oscar was confirmed on Sunday and it was awesome to be a part of that. 

Elder Ogden 

Monday, December 10th, 2018

 A sunset in KC

 Our District

 Oscar's Baptism

We did some street contacting and it was awesome. I love doing it. We have this goal as a mission to share the Light the World videos 20,000 times, so we have to show it 6 times a day. It has been fun and it is cool to see how creating a spiritual environment affects people. 

On Thursday we helped the ward out in this scavenger hunt activity thing. It was fun and a good opportunity to help the ward out. On Friday I got to go on exchanges with Elder Bischoff and we were in Santa Fe. It was super fun, I love that guy and we get along pretty well. 

Ok, so probably the best news of the week from this end, was that Oscar was baptized yesterday instead of Tuesday, cause he wanted to. He and another guy named Daniel were both baptized. I got to interview Daniel for Baptism and he is so funny. The only English phrase he knows is "Thank you I love you" and he just uses it at the funniest times. 

We have met with Oscar quite a bit this week. Because it was sort of sudden, we finished teaching him all the principles about 15 minutes before his baptismal interview. In the interview I got to translate and that was awesome. 

In the baptismal pictures, I have a jewfro. My hair was so flippin long. But I got a haircut today so we are aaaallll good. 

Manuel's family comes in this Sunday, and Thursday is also transfers, so I'm a bit nervous. I know the Lord will bless me and put me where he needs me, but at the same time I love this branch. It is my favorite. The people are awesome, and we are on the verge of some great things. Also, Manuel and I have become homies. 

This morning we went to that cool store again, The Bunker. It was fun and I got some gifts for some people.

Elder Ogden  

Monday, December 3rd, 2018

 The Burger 

 District Meeting

I loved the Christmas Devotional! At the Visitor's Center, I got to sing 2 songs. It wasn't too bad [singing], it was pretty fun sometimes. 

On Tuesday I went to this place on the Courthouse exchange in the Independence Square for Elder Earl's birthday (no, he doesn't live with us). It's this underground restaurant that is really good. I got a bacon Mac and cheese burger. Right after that we had this leadership meeting with the whole mission at the Visitor's Center. I went on exchanges with Elder Earl, the other district leader. During that meeting, I realized my stomach was not feeling that great. It started to make some weird noises. Closing Prayer ended, and I got up and booked it out of there, just plowing through groups of people. I made it out of the room and Elder Earl was at the doorway. Then they started singing Happy Birthday to him... But I couldn't wait any longer I was dying. Sheer pain. [Was the burger really worth it, Elder?!]

At that meeting I got to see Elder Hamby and Elder Richins. It was fun. 

We got to teach English this week. We met one of the sisters' investigators named Daniel and he is so funny. He knows 0 English except for 'Thank you I love you" and he says it so funny. He is such a good guy.

I love my companion. He is such a homie. He accidentally introduced himself as Elder Ogden on a door approach. We get along real well. He's so patient and just a true homie. 

On Sat I think I finally found a true love for the Book of Mormon, all it took was for me to read it in Spanish. I have had that prompting several times, but I think "I need to know it in English" or whatever, and I've seen as I have been reading it in Spanish, I am understanding it more and it is sticking and translating to me way more. I love it and I get giddy to read it. I have to read it. It's like coffee [so I am guessing]. I am a terrible grouch in the morning until I read it. [LOL]

Saturday was the Day of Service and so we volunteered at a place that was run by Habitat for Humanity called the REstore. It was pretty much just a discount Home Depot, but they store a ton of stuff in this old school from like 1938 that was for black kids [back in the day]. It was kind of a creepy place. But it was cool to serve.

Oscar, the man who will be baptized on the 11th, said yesterday in Gospel Principles class that he had found his "promise land", aka the church. He also, in front of everybody, said that we were his angels and cuidadores. That one meant a lot. He is such a good guy. He loves the story of Joseph Smith too, which is pretty special. 

Yesterday was fast Sunday. It was pretty good and we had some great testimonies. I love this branch. 

Elder Ogden 

Monday, November 26th, 2018

For Thanksgiving we went around and gave cookies to some members and wrote them some notes. Ward trust is a thing. 

We ended the night with 2 Thanksgiving dinners. I wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. Only of them was planned though. We ate with the Torres family and it was so much fun. They had all the food you could imagine too. So good. Then we played a little game of charades afterwards with them. I learned I should never, ever consider acting as a career. THEN we went to the Alcantaras, my boys. They had so much food and a lot of Dominicans there. So there was the 2nd one. Remember, after the first dinner I felt like I could never eat again. When I got home that night I looked pregnant. It was bad. Way bloated. 

Also, I TOOK A PICTURE OF MY TAG. Look at that, I actually took a picture. Confession, I did it this morning last second because I almost forgot... 

The snow has been a little ridiculous. We had about a half inch to an inch of ice on our car and then about 3-4 inches of snow. I have broken a snow shovel and an ice scraper. Also, in the apartment, I shower in our garage. We call it the prison shower, because it's all concrete and stuff and there's spiders. But you get to put your towel in the dryer so it's warm when you get out. But anyways it's freezing in there and it's killer. That was the point of me telling you that. 

We saw some real miracles this week, and the first one that comes to mind is Oscar. This guy was a referral from Salt Lake, and so we called him. After a couple days and a couple of attempts, he called us back, pretty much just saying "baptize me." We had a lesson with him and he is such a homie. He is from Mexico and is awesome. He just moved here and he said he got a new job and everything that was more stable so he could join this church. He was so ready to come to church, texting us and saying he was excited, and then it got cancelled [due to the snowstorm]. I felt so bad for the guy. BUT we have an appointment with him on Tuesday. 

This week I went to 5 Guys and heard Mikey's song [See You Again]. I appreciated the moment. 

We have been in the apartment quite a bit this week because we weren't allowed to drive, and so I learned some pretty dope yoyo tricks. Dang straight. Elder Harmon actually does it and it's pretty fun. It's one of those that doesn't just come back up. Sometimes, there can be knots along the string and so it will come back up at you. Absolutely terrifying. One day it clocked me straight in the nose and I though I broke it for half a second. I was ticked. But still, the thing is super fun. 

I feel like I'm at home in this branch. Like these are my people. My Spanish, and this is going to sound cocky, but is getting pretty good. I still have a long ways to go, but I feel like I have a solid grasp on it. But it's fun. 

There was also the Stake Christmas Devotional and Visitors Center Christmas lighting on Saturday. It was a lot of fun and I got to talk to a recent convert named Jorge. Then I got to talk to an investigator named David. He's a good dude. 

Elder Ogden 

Monday, November 19th, 2018

Today we got to go to downtown again and it was tons of fun. We went to Union Station, which used to be a giant train station, but now it is some fancy place. It looks like Grand Central Station in New York. It is crazy nice. But then we went to the Crown Center again, the crazy nice place with the Gucci sweater and stuff. This time we saw one for $1400.00. That's some dough. I bought a tie that was on sale. It is pretty nice. 

This week was pretty mellow I think. We have had some success with the family from Cuba, thanks to the branch. It has been awesome to see how much they are willing to reach out. The Elders Quorum President, the Relief Society President, The Branch President, and others have just stopped by, out of their own free will. The family is awesome and the dad came to the Elders Quorums no-girls-allowed Thanksgiving party and he loved it. Everyone was so welcoming. 

I have found a new method for gaining member trust with certain families, and it's pretty simple. I just eat their food, and when they offer seconds, I always say yes. Then they ask me if I'm trying to get fat. The answer is yes. 

We have choir practice in the mornings of Tues and Thurs at the Visitor Center because there is a Christmas program, on Dec 1 I think, and all the Elders in the Independence zones do it. I hate it. I hate singing. Half the songs don't even rhyme and are wicked choppy. But hey, it is what it is. 

The new Light the World videos are out and we are trying to show it, as a mission, 20,000 times, which means 6 times a day per companionship. It has been really cool. We shared it with this one lady named Misty and she started crying. She had been going through a lot of stuff and the video showed her where she needs to go. Pretty cool.

We did a lot of street contacting and have found a few gold mine streets with some nice people. We also got to do some service and eat this really good soup from Spain that had ham and chorizo and beans and tons of beans and stuff. It was way good. 

A kid from the branch is going to Brasil on his mission, so yesterday we went to his open house as our dinner. It was super fun and we got to talk with a lot go people. Manuel also received the Melchezidek Priesthood yesterday in stake conference. 

One night we had our dinner cancel and so we stayed at the apartment, so we took the other elders beds and put them in the garage. We set them up all nice and everything like that. It was funny. To us. 

The Zone Leaders have initiated this thing where every night a companionship answers like 30 questions or something like that and you have to do it in about 2 minutes and then you send it out to the entire zone. Attached is our video. 

We had Zone Conference this week and I gave a little talk and also was in a role play for Elder Hamby's training. It was fun and I love seeing all those guys. I love it.

I love you so much.

Elder Ogden 

November 12th, 2018

This week was a pretty good one and a strange one too. We had dinner, two days in a row. They are the sweetest people in the world. They are older and from Argentina and she makes really good food. We thought we had her for dinner on Wednesday, but it was Tuesday. Then she asked us who we had Monday, and we couldn't lie to her so, we told her nobody, and she said we had to come both days. BUT, since we had regional conference, the dinner calendar didn't get back to us so we didnt know. So we actually had 2 dinners Monday night. Both amazing food. We just cut our P day a little short, but it was fun. 

IT IS SNOWING HERE! 

This morning we had a snowball fight because we were locked out of the church. It was pretty fun. 

This week I also did exchanges with the Hill Park Elders. I got to be with Elder Felling for the day and it was so fun. I love that guy. He is the most interesting man in the world. He goes home next transfer.

On Saturday we had interviews with President Love and Sister Love. President Love calls floral ties "sissy ties" and so I always make a point to wear one around him and in turn, he roasts me about it. I love that man though.  

We had a lot of cool teaching opportunities this week. We found 4 more people. We have been finding like crazy. Also, Elder Harmon loves Pentatonix Christmas music, and contrary to Dad's rules {of no Christmas music until December}, that is what we're doing. It's snowing, so it means it's Christmas. 

We ran into this guy named Mauricio and he sorta Bible bashed, but in the nicest way possible. I mean he didn't bash, he just had a lot questions supported by the Bible. But it was fun and he was the nicest guy in the world.

This week I chose to lead the council on Finding, using the parable of the sewer. I learned, from Jesus the Christ, that it is called that because Galilean fields were planted by throwing grain against the wind. Some of them landed in the fertile, tilled soil. Others landed in the thorns. Others in the hard foot-troddened path of the farmers which was there because, well, they needed a path, etc. I loved the teaching style used by the Perfect Teacher and how relatable it was to the people he was teaching. 

Also, during Sacrament meeting, I was wondering why life was [sometimes so hard]. Then I got the impression, actually more of an enlightenment of understanding, that He is putting His children who He loves the most, through the "furnace of affliction." (The Lord loveth who he chasten)

Elder Ogden