Week 38 - Atacames - Dos Semana Carta :D

Lo siento muchísimo. This last week we had only thirty minutes to write, because we were late getting to the cyber. For that many of you did not receive a letter for this last week. My apologies. But, I am alive and am doing well. So this will be a much longer letter. Prepare yourself.

We had another baptism here! We helped Nixon Arce to make this important and sacred covenant with God. I had the great privilegde to baptize him. It was an interesting baptism. Due to the season that we are in, there isn't that much water that comes into the houses, or church buildings. Our Zone Leaders got there early to start filling up the font. However, after an hour and a half, there was barely enough water to cover the bottom. After fiddling with some more things, climbing onto the roof, and pushing buttons, we finally got the baptismal font filled up. I also had the honor of confirming Nixon a member and giving him the gift of the Holy Ghost. This was my first time I have ever given a confirmation, and honestly wasn't expecting it. It was a neat experience filling the Holy Ghost fill into my spirit and tell me what I needed to bless Nixon with. And yes, I followed the counsel of Pres. Nelson and blessed Nixon in the way priesthood holders should. Just incase anyone was wondering.

We also had a service the morning before the baptism. It was so awesome helping out the members with their project. We even got to play a little fútbol. However, if one looses monkey-in-the-middle, one has to dance. Due to rules of the mission, I informed them I would not be dancing. Guess I'll just be "forced" to come back to the coast.

Many people are very receptive here. We have been able to find many new people here with a lot of potential. But, of course, being obedient helps with that immensly. I know I have seen the blessings of when we are obedient and the consequences when we are not. That is one thing our mission wants to focus in from now on, being exactly obedient in the small things. Some small, but in reality major, things and praying and reading scriptures every day. If you aren't doing it, do it. That is when we invite revelation into our lives and can help better our families, wards, and communities. 

I had two experiences I want to share with you, one awesome and the other...well interesting. The first was during an appointment we had. The investigator we were with lives right next to the beach and, without a man older than 18, we teach outside. As we were teaching, our investigator looked out into the sea and exclaimed with enthusiams, Look! We looked and saw a dolphin (Nephi reference Chapters 11-19). It then appeared and disappeared again into the sea. It was a very cool thing to see, especially so close to us. The other was during our interviews with President Murphy. I don't know why, but he likes me to go first. I had gotten done when the Sister missionaries arrived. President had told us that the Sisters would need help bringing a microwave into their house. Since I was that first one to start, and finish, my interview, I would be the one to do it; during my companion's interview. It was the first, and probably the last, time I was alone with the Sister missionaries. We had President's permission, but I still felt pretty weird about it all. 

I hope you all have a great, safe week! If any of you are listening to the news of Ecuador, there are some crazy things going on. But, we are very safe here and I know that we are protected by the Lord. Love you all!

--Elder Ogden--

p.s. If you haven't been looking at the news of Ecuador, this isn't an invitation to start. It was just a help. :)

---No pictures this week. The computer wants to delete them all. Maybe next week!---

Week 37 - Atacames - Zone Conference

We did not receive an email this week, but pulled some pictures off of Facebook from zone conference that President Murphy posted that we thought you might like:

Week 36 - Atacames - Are We There?

Hello everybody! I hope you all had an excellent Easter and General Conference weekend.

I think I had the same reaction as many people have writtten to me. Wow. Just, wow. What a great time we live in! We are literally in the last days. I hope all of you could feel and see that. How I do love the Gospel and the way it can bless people. And I sure do love our prophet, Pres. Russell M. Nelson. I know he will never guide us in the wrong path. For the reason, we can truly see he is hastening His work. The second coming is even closer at hand. I hope and pray that we all might prepare, as the purpose of Ministring, to meet God. 

Everything has been great here. My companion, Elder Garces, got changed and is now in Ipiales, Colombia (part of our mission). It was very unexpected, but I'm grateful for the lessons I learned from him. I received Elder Sangay (San-guy). He is from Peru and just came our of his first twelve weeks. It will be another companion just out of his training, but it is usually them who have good, and new, ideas.

Love you all! Sorry that there won't be pictures, I don't have much time for the reason of waiting for my companion to get here. Take care!

--Elder Ogden--

(I had asked Stanley if it makes him homesick to hear about the family going-on's and if he would rather hear mostly spiritual uplifting messages instead.  I also told him how much I loved General Conference and my emotional, tender feelings during the solemn assembly as well as attending the Jordan River Temple Open House.  This is his response:)

There certainly was a special feeling as all the members, around the world, stood, looked at our prophet, and put our arm to the square as a physical representation of our love and devotion to his teachings. How I love the character he brings and the joy and excitement he has shown to advance the work here. The temple looks beautiful. We watched the World Report and got to see some videos on the inside. It looks amazing. I'm so excited for the new temples that were announced, and yes, even the new one in Utah. I loved that statement from Elder Renlund as well. 

As for your question. I'm sure it is different for every missionary, but I do enjoy hearing what everyone is doing. In a way, I feel that I'm not really missing out on anything because I am still connected to the family. I know my companion before was a little too focused on his life before the mission. However, I have an amazing family and amazing friends who helped me to focus on my mission, before my mission. I know that stood out to me more than anything this last change. I would love to receive more spiritual guidance from my mother and receive news of my siblings as well. Whichever is easiest for you!

Love you!

--Elder Ogden--

Week 35 - Atacames - El Espíritu de Confianza

This week we discovered more of Atacames/Tonsupa and met more people which has been great! We were out walking, trying to find houses in the middle of hotels, when we came to a path that was blocked off by a canal. We decided that we would walk to the beach and cross over that way rather than walking all the way back to the main road. However, upon our arrival to the beach, we realized that crossing by way of the beach would be harder than just crossing the canal. I've never see this before. There was an opening on the beach into which the ocean flowed into this canal. The canal was also heading towards the ocean. It was a very cool and interesting thing to see. Maybe I just needed to get out more before my mission.

I had the opportunity to play guitar! We came to an appointment we set up when the husband walked out. We hadn't actually met him, but we told him we talked to his wife and she said we could pass by at this time. He gladly welcomed us in. As we entered, I saw about four guitars that were hanging from the ceiling. We asked if he played and he said he was learning. He asked if we could play and my companion informed him that I could. He then passed it to me to play. I just strummed a little bit and handed it back to him. It was nice to play again. I'll have to learn some songs so that we can use it to invite the spirit just before a lesson. 

We also had something truly remarkable happen. We were out and about, contacting, and we must have had a spirit about us. With almost every contact, our new investigators shared some very personal events going on in their lives and asked for our help. We went to the best place to find comfort, the scriptures. It was really interesting and my companion and I talked about it as we walked from door to door. It was really nice to see that we are bringing something more to them that they may not have had before. But, more importantly, that they had enough confidence in us to a) tell us somethings personal and b) ask us for help. It was truly amazing and I hope we can continue to bring that into the lives of others. 

I love you all! I hope that during La Semana Santa, you can read and study about the last week of the Savior's life as we prepare to listen to a prophets voice. I find much comfort in Matt. 28:6. That is my testimony to all of you. Take good care this week!

--Elder Ogden--

Me and my companion with new ties from Christmas (yes, three months after)

Our invitation to you: Attend General Conference!

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