Week 34 - Atacames - Faster and Faster

Espero que todo esta bien con todos y ¡que disfrutarán su primero día de primavera!

We had some interesting things happen this week. We were in a lesson with an investigator that is really open to asking questions and really wants to learn of our church. She is usually really Catholic, but there was something about us that she decided to let us in (which she usually doesn't do with missionaries of other churches). Her kids have noticed that as well and so they've asked her a few questions: some about the Book of Mormon and some about us. The funniest and most interesting was if my companion and I were gay. We informed her that we weren't and that we had only known each other for four weeks. She understood that it was more for our security because they do the same thing in her work. It was a question I can't say I was ready for.

My companion and I have agreed that when someone tells us that their friends don't want to listen to us, we have a desire to share with their friends. We stopped by a friend of one of our investigators, and they truly didn't want to listen to us. They didn't even talk to us. But, it turns out that it actually wasn't that right person. We had a good laugh over that.

We tried to wear our suits yesterday for Branch Conference. It was the worst thing we could've done. With our church only being an extention, we don't have air conditioning, just fans blowing. It was not a great time.

Whenever we find someone that doesn't want to listen, we usually say we are going to give a charla franka. I like it better to say we are going to give a Jeffery R. Holland. Basically a charla franka is that we are going to leave them and explain the blessings they'll miss. I like a JRH because we do all of the same things, but with love like him. 

I pray that you all will have a good week and look for the funny things. Love you all!

--Elder Ogden--

Me and my new haircut

Demonstrating my tan line and my new haircut 

And Purple tongue

Since we don't take pictures much, I have to take weird random ones. Enjoy!

Week 33 - Atacames - The Things I Still Don't Know

Mis familiares y amigos, ¡les amo!

This week I realized, and learned, a lot and hope I can share some of this knowledge with you in this brief email. The first is personal to this area more than anything. In 2016, there was a massive earthquake (7.2 if I understand correctly) here in the coast. I hear about it almost every day. We always pass by cracked buildings and sometimes the remnants of buildings, but I never understood how devestating it was until we talked with a future investigator yesterday. She was telling us how her faith had grown in God and our Savior. She said that the walls of her house had almost fallen on her and her (at this time) four kids and that water had damaged everything in their house. She told us this story as we sat in a makeshift one-roomed house. She then showed us the remnants of her house just outside of where we were teaching her. She also pleaded to us to have the Book of Mormon. This earthquake really tested a lot of people and a lot of people, thankfully, were able to come out on top. I feel this is why many people are open about our lessons and message. 

We also had a very hesitant yet persistent investigator. He wanted to know why he should trust young adults such as ourselves. He wanted to know of our life stories. My companion and I both shared stories of how we fell a little from the church and, at a point in our lives, attended because our parents, families, friends, etc. were attending. However, we both testified of the power of the Book of Mormon and shared what we know. It was a very powerful lesson.

The last thing is in my reading of the great, inspired book, Jesus the Christ. I have just finished the part about the Atonement and death of Jesus Christ. He really did die for our sins. He knows exactly what we are going through. He experience pain, suffering, and (the one tool of Satan that is hard for me to fight through) the dreaded "If". However tragic and agonizing his mortal ministry was, I testify that He Lives. He is the Christ resurrected and we can receive this same blessing. I know he is guiding his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, through called prophets. I hope all of you can look to Him, have faith in and on Him, and watch and prepare for the day of his coming when we all can be reunited as friends and family.

I love you all and pray that this week will be a spiritually filled week!

--Elder Ogden--

Yes. There is a KFC here in Ecuador. I felt at home as it is just like fast food. My companion didn't like coleslaw (ensalada de cole).

My weird gift I got in a sweet a bought. Hey, that rhymed. 

Week 32 - Atacames - Why does this keep happening!?!?

We had another baptism this last Saturday! It was awesome. It was the man, Julio Martinez is his name, that got married my first week here in the coast. He is such an awesome guy and is truly converted to the gospel. He was sharing his testimony and how he met the missionaries. I want to share it with you all. He said that he had been through some tough times and confusion in his life. He decided to pray and ask God to send servants of the Lord to his house. That's when he heard the knock and saw a Gringo and a Latino in white shirts standing outside of his door. As soon as he heard the knock, he said his soul was filled with an immense joy. It was a very sweet, spiritual testimony. I hope that, as members, we are expecting and making miracles as with this brother of ours.

I also learned the meaning of Ether 12:27, turning weaknesses into strengths. Many of you can recall that I like music. Correction, love music. It is my passion. I'm sure some of you won't be surprised to hear that I'll have random songs come into my head that doesn't help focus on the work of the Lord. Also, I have had ideas of songs I can make after my mission, that doesn't help either. However, I saw the promise of Mormon (written in Ether) be fulfilled this week. I was presenting myself to an investigator that my companion and his companion before had already been teaching. I mentioned that my passion is music and she asked if I can sing. I said yes, knowing not very good. She than asked me to sing for her. Luckily, me and my companion had our hymn books in our bags. We sang to her Nearer My God to Thee. I realized that music has become a weakness of mine in the mission field. However, God helped me turn it into a strength. She then mentioned to us that she also likes to sing and she actually tried to sing with us. It was amazing. Use your talents for good!

Now, to answer the title of this email. Many of you might remember a time when I had food poisioning in the MTC. Well, that same sickness decided to hit me hard this last week, during our conferences. I'm all good now, but that sickness is a nightmare. Another reason for this title is that I ran into another Gringo missionary. I believe that is the 8th time I've talked to a gringo missionary and the 20th time I have talked to a gringo in general. It was one of the better ones I've had. He asked some questions and I, paciently and calmly, replied using scriptures. He understood my answers and we now respect the other. It was a good lesson for me to learn: look at others as Children of God and the scriptures can teach better than we can.

I love you all and hope you all are enjoying to cold! Due to rain these past few days it has been chillier and it has felt great!

--Elder Ogden--

Our Baptism

Our Branch

Just Because

Week 31 - Atacames - ¡Semana Una en la Costa!

This week has been great as I am getting to see more of Ecuador. It has been absolutely beautiful the views we get to see, the people we get to meet, and the heat we experience. Everyone is so open to the message here, just we need to work on getting people married. 

To tell a little more about my area. We have a part of Atacames and a small town next to it called Tonsupa. Our sector is basically this long highway that has little streets shooting out from it. We get close to, but not close enough, to the beach. As missionaries we can't enter, but today we played beach volleyball. The majority of people here are African Americans which has been fun getting to talk with them about different beliefs. We take a bus even more than we did in Cotacachi, so we'll see how money goes!

For more about my companion. My companion is a really awesome guy and missionary. He is 23 years old and has already completed some years in a university. He lived just South of Guayaquil here in Ecuador. He is very humble and diligent which has helped me out to be humble and diligent. He also sings very well. I just have to remember to talk with him after my mission :). 

I was told before I came that the coast is like a new world and it really is. The people, the food, the streets, the night-life, the missionary work. I'm going to have to change a lot of things so I can adjust to the needs of people here, but I have a companion that will help me out!

Love you all! I know you all will want pictures, but due to people that think gringos are rich, I won't be taking it with me everywhere. Enjoy the snow!

--Elder Ogden--

FROM SHANE'S EMAIL:
SO we can be on the beach, like today, but we don't get close to the water. I just look at how beautiful it is and think, only a year and a half more! There are more options of fish if we eat out, but I can't say that we will eat fish here a lot. We are still being fed every day, just not as many potatoes as Cotacachi. My elbow made a huge breakthrough, I can extend it completely! I still can't put real heavy weight on it without it hurting, but I'm glad to see improvement. We are still using an internet cafe, but it has air conditioning! We share Atacames with the Hermanas. They have the majority of Atacames and we have the entrance of the city. The district is actually quite big. There are five or six companionships in just our district. Our zone is all on the coast. For that reason, we are practically sealed off from the rest of the mission and will only see the same 26 people for my time here, probably 6 months. Probably. 

My Last day in Cotacachi

Me and my companion

The marriage of one of our investigadors (he's getting married this upcoming Saturday!)

The General view of our house

The Beach. Only 17 more months

Here's a little information from questions Shane had asked:  SO we can be on the beach, like today, but we don't get close to the water. I just look at how beautiful it is and think, only a year and a half more! There is more options of fish, if we eat out, but I can't say that we will eat fish here a lot. We are still being fed everyday, just not as much potatos as Cotacachi. My elbow made a huge breakthrough, I can extend it completely! I still can't put real heavy weight on it without it hurting, but I'm glad to see improvement. We are still using an internet cafe, but it has air conditioning! We share Atacames with the Hermanas. They have the majority of Atacames and we have the entrance of the city. The district as actually quite big. There are five or six companionships in just our district. Our zone is all of the coast. For that reason, we are practically sealed off from the rest of the mission and will only see the same 26 people for my time here, probably 6 months. Probably. 

Week 30 - Atacames - Goodbye Cotacachi, Hello Coast!

We have received our changes and I am here in the coast of Ecuador! I am, and was, so excited for this huge change. It is crazy hot and humid here and I love it. We took a bus here into Atacames (our sector) and you could see the ocean just over the houses. So cool! My new companion is Elder Garces from Ecuador! He lives over by Guayaquil and just finished his training. I'm excited to learn from another trainee how other trainers teach.

But back to Cotacachi. We had a very slow week, as in not a lot of work. But, it is all good and that is how some weeks just go. 

But of course, I have to tell some good stories. The first was all in one day. We were traveling by bus to a family we eat lunch with. The bus suddenly stopped and everyone got up to see. I don't know why human nature is so nosey, but I had to stand up and see as well. Turns out, there were a bunch of trees that got destroyed and they were all over the road. I think it may have been the rain, but we ended up having to take an alternate route to the house. It was interesting and I had never seen that before in Cotacachi.

The other was in the same day. Once we were done eating lunch, we received a call that one of the members needed the church open to go and clean it. We had to almost run back, because it is about an hour's walk; downhill. We went as quickly as we could go to get back. We got there, opened up the doors, and decided to help them out until our appointment that we actually were going to have in the church. As we entered the sacrament room, we noticed that one of the windows on the door to enter the room from the outside was broken. To this day, we still have no idea why or how it was broken. You could tell someone, or thing, hit it from the center. Half of the glass was shattered on the ground inside and half was still in place but also shattered. Also something I had never seen before, and that includes that states. And so, President decided I was bad luck I guess.

But probably not. I hope that everyone is doing great and that you are enjoying the snow everyone has told me about as I am enjoying to heat and humidity. Love you all!

--Elder Ogden--

When I asked Stanley about his arm and possibly going back to verify there's not a break and also wishing him Happy Valentine's Day, this is what he responded with:

It is getting better every day. I have those thoughts every now and then, but I have the x-rays to show that nothing is broken. I think it may just be a little longer until it is 100%. I bought three tennis balls and practiced my recorder. I was with my two loves on Valentine's Day.

Week 29 - Cotacachi - Not as exciting week

Happy Carnaval. I hope all of you are enjoying to outdoors and doing stuff. I know we certainly have enjoyed our chess.

For an update on my arm, all is well, somewhat. I have ended my ten days, but I still can't extend my arm all the way and can't lift heavy things. I think it might be a while before my arm will be like it was before. But, I'll just have to make due.

We had companion exchanges and I went with my district leader, Elder Jensen. He actually is the same age as I am and we have a lot of the same interests. It was fun to talk with him and find out more about him. I think I did okay for the report he has to give!

This week we haven't had quite the success, if any. However, with a goal to baptize thousands, we know it won't be an easy task and that Satan will do anything to stop us from reaching that goal. We are continuing to learn more, especially these three days, and trying to become better missionaries.

Well, back to the jail! Love you all!

--Elder Ogden--

Our new sweatshirt for our district. It is a district of only Elders so Men In White "MIW"

A comparison and how large it was. This was taken the day after the accident. Not right now.

Week 28 - Cotacachi - Love y'all

Just to clarify, I love you all

I start out that way because I need to tell you all something I should have mentioned this last week. The only thing is, I ran out of time. All my loving friends and family will probably not understand how I could not mention this, but, that is the life of a missionary! We were playing soccer this last Monday and all was going pretty well. I did, however, get tripped up from behind and ended up falling down (many will recognize the name floor burn. same in soccer). I don't know why, but I ended up locking up my left arm and heard a slight pop. I instantly got really worried and didn't want to get up. I called our mission nurses and they said to just take some ibuprofen and put ice on it. I did that that night and the following morning. We were out contacting when I looked down at my arm and noticed it all was swollen up. My companion, being the loving companion he is, told me I should call them again. I was informed that they would call a clinic to see if they could look at it. It ended up getting set up for Wednesday. We went to Ibarra, a neighboring town, and met with a doctor. He asked me a few questions and moved my arm a bit (which hurt a lot). He then told me to get an X-Ray just to make sure that nothing was wrong with my bones. I got the X-Ray, returned to his office, and he studied the pictures. I have to say I got really worried as we looked back and forth at these two scans for two minutes. He then informed me that everything is fine and that it is just inflamed. He gave me instructions (one to not move my arm for ten days. I'm on day 4) and we went on our way. I have learned how to write, cook, clean, wash dishes, and study all with my right hand. For those that don't know, I'm left handed. It has been an interesting week. Just to clarify, yes there is still some pain now and then, but EVERYTHING IS FINE. I'm doing okay and we are continuing to work.

This last Sunday happened to be the elections here. It was interesting to hear how different politics and the voting systems are compared to the States. Sí won, whatever that means. 

This next weekend will be more interesting as we will be in a three day lock-in. Ecuador has a festival called carnaval (like carnival). Everyone just throws water balloons and put flour in everyone's hair. For our protection, we will be in our house Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. I believe that we will be able to write this next week. If not, I'm not dead. Wish us luck as we exercise, study, and play chess during these 72 hours. 

Love you all and hope you all have a good week!

--Elder Ogden--