Elder Stanley Ogden - Called To Serve

Friday, July 6, 2018

Ibarra - Zone Conference El Campo

Monday, July 2, 2018

Week 47 - Ibarra - Hijo de mis Padres

Howdy ya'll! Hope everyone is ready for Fourth of July celebrations. I know we are!

This week has been full of traveling, which isn't great having a brand new sector. I thankfully was able to get to everywhere safely. It started with a full day of travels on Monday (Atacames to Esmeraldes to Quito to Otavalo to Ibarra) and then having to travel to Quito for a District Leader training. A lot of traveling means a lot of tiredness.

Now some more information I know that most of you are wanting. First about Ibarra. It is in the area we call el Campo, but it is more city than anything. It has been super awesome going out and finding and meeting some people who are very interested. We are also right on the Imbabura volcano. So, it is a lot of climbing up and not much climbing down until the end of the day. But, what is probably the best part is how willing the members are to help us out. We have at least two lessons with members every day and we found even more members want to help us out. We are super excited for that! Now, more about my companion. My companion, Elder Porlles, is from Lima, Peru. He is a convert to the church and was baptized about three years ago. However, despite the limited membership time, he knows a lot about scriptures and doctrine. I am very anxious to work with him and learn from him.

The title of this email comes from a lesson we had the other day. I was on splits with our Mission Leader and we were teaching a part-member family, where the father has just rejoined the church and his wife is learning more. We found out last week that they really enjoy the thought of an eternal family. I was sharing about my thoughts and feelings about how awesome it is to know that we can live with our family forever, when I started to cry. I guess I really am the son of my parents (some of you will understand that. Others...just take my word for it). It wasn't a bad thing, but I know I received a reaffirmation that families really can be together forever, through Heavely Father's plan and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I love you all and hope you have a fun, and safe, Independence Day!

--Elder Ogden--

1 Nefi 4:7 "No obstante, seguí adelante"

Elder Johnson's parents were picking him up and sent us this picture of Stanley with their son:

Here are some pictures from District Leader Training:

Monday, June 25, 2018

Week 46 - Ibarra - Cambios Sin Decir Nada

Hello friend and family. I don't think I mentioned this this last week, but we were supposed to get changes Saturday. So, I am currently writing from Ibarra!!! I am so excited to be out in el Campo again. I might even get an opportunity to go and visit Cotacachi. I'm sad to leave Atacames. the people there are awesome! We were helping a lot of families to make plans to get married, but I know Elder Sangay will do some good work there. My new companion is Elder Porlles (pronunced pore-jes). He seems like an awesome guy and I'm excited to start working with him.

So, I have found a pretty big temptation for me here in Ecuador, soccer. It is extremely hard for me to not watch soccer. We end up hearing about everything, but it is something I am striving to work on :). Wish me luck!

We were able to have an appointment in one of the huge hotels by Tonsupa (called Hotel Playa Azul). While we were waiting for the father to show up, we ended up playing pass the ball with his kids. It was very enjoyable and I think the kids were a little bit more open to us afterward. We also met another kid from another family who wanted to rob us. He wasn't going to harm us or anything; it was just funny.

I heard two great quotes from just normal members during this week. One is of a man who was a Marine for Ecuador. He was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time some years ago and now is stuck in a wheelchair until he recovers. We eat lunch with him Fridays and we asked how he was and he said, "Mejor que ayer, menos que mañana." Being translated "Better than yesterday, worse than tomorrow." It was an interesting statement but my companion and I liked it. The other is from yesterday. We were meeting with a less-active member with our branch presidency and some soon-to-be missionaries. The less-active member was talking about how the Book of Mormon is a guide for life and the "Mormon" culture. He said that it always felt like a family and like we were unified. His quote is, "Orgulloso ser Mormon." Translation, "Proud to be Mormon." He said because of how closely knit the church is, he felt proud to be called a Mormon.

I hope that you all are proud to be who you are, because, as taught by my grandparents (and yes I listen to the song) "Only You. You. There's no one else that's just like you. You were sent here from on high to do something with your life. Something that no one else can do. Only you." I also hope that all you have good yesterdays, great todays, and best tomorrows. Love you all so much!

--Elder Ogden--

1 Nefi 4:7 "No obstante, seguí adelante"

2nd Email: I forgot something

I almost forgot, I'm now a District Leader. That's all!

Our district. "here's a picture from four different angles" (Some of you might get that)

I'm not spitting it out, they didn't give me a spoon.

My Companions 6 month

The awesome Hermano. We say it's our first presidency picture.

Monday, June 18, 2018

Week 45 - Atacames - No le creo

This week we saw this huge rainbow, probably one of the biggest I have seen. It also just so happened that we saw the beginning of a second rainbow as well. From what my companion told me, rainbows are not very common here. However, my companion stated that he even saw the beginning of a third rainbow. I don't know what a double rainbow means, but a triple rainbow would be awesome.

We had an awesome experience of going and teaching in one of the huge hotels we have here. The guy was a reference from a member and he works/lives in the Hotel Playa Azul. It was pretty cool. I did see a tennis court and thought about asking to see if we could play on it.

Also, I found that not only do I look like I am thirty-two, but that I look like a police officer. We were walking back from a lesson with some members when this group of kids walk by. We heard them whispering "policía, policía". The sisters thought it was pretty funny. I wanted to look back and say, I'm not a police officer, I'm FBI. But, I decided it was better not to. It is probably very different for people here to see a tall white guy walking around town that can understand (and speak) spanish.

Yesterday, we were able to get the Ensigns (here Liahonas) from the General Conference talks this last March/April. I am so excited to read the talks again from this last great and spiritually filled conference. I also have enjoyed reading more about our prophet Russel M. Nelson. He is an amazing man, who it spiritually strong and very positive. I love him and am excited to learn from the teachings God is wanting us to hear. I'm so very greatful for the prophets and apostles we have on the earth. We have the ability to know exactly what we should do from fifteen amazing men. I hope that you can also listen to these inspired talks given to us.

I love you all. Crazy that June is just about to end (because we are already past the middle). Hope everyone enjoys the summer weather, hot dogs, hamburgers...

Speaking of, I forgot a lot of American food and am tired of eating almost the same food every day (for almost a year. crazy right?). If you want to share with me your favorite food (preferably that doesn't take long to cook and doesn't have a lot of ingredients) I would appreciate that. I just need help remembering.

With love,

--Elder Ogden--

1 Nefi 4:7 "No obstante, seguí adelante"

I forgot to mention this, we almost burned down our house. Funny story, maybe for another time.

This is the food we made before, and after, almost burning down our house.

A cool penny shot, not sure how I did it.

Me in a hamaca

Someone but the part that should be inside outside. Whoops.

When you have a fever and want it to break

Our Branch activity (we aren't in it but that is our branch. Not everyone)

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Atacames - Zone Conference

ZONE CONFERENCE

Monday, June 4, 2018

Week 44 - Atacames - Así es la Misión

We finally saw an iguana! I wasn't able to get a picture of it, because it was too fast, but it was long. We have heard that there are a lot here in the coast, but it was the first that we have seen.

We came to find out that I look like I'm 32. I don't understand how, or why, but many people are surprised when I tell them that I am only 19 years old. However a lot of people here also look a lot older here. We have had many contacts that a young lady answers, we ask her age, and she tells us 14/15. We usually walk away and discuss that we thought she was 18/19. Maybe that is what people think when they see us.

We had two conferences this week. One Zone Conference (for the mission) and one Stake Conference. It was two very uplifting and edifying days. We, as a companionship, learned a lot about what we need to do better and how we need to better help out our investigators. We learned about the importance of the Book of Mormon and the Sabbath Day. It is very important for us to remember that the Book of Mormon, as stated by Joseph Smith, "Is the most correct book than any other book and anyone can come close to God by following its precepts than any other book in the world." Must be important to read if it is the most correct book in the world, right?

As I have continued reading the Book of Mormon, I am right in the middle of Alma the younger's council (if that isn't spelled right, it has been 10 months) to his sons. I have found many same teachings within these chapters (Alma 36-41). If you would like to read them, you can also see many examples and teachings we should live by: more purity, learning, retaining a remission of our sins. I am sure you will learn just as much, or more, as I learned while reading these teachings from a father to his sons.

I love you all! I hope you can enjoy the summer and the activities that are associated with. Take care this week!

--Elder Ogden--

1 Nefi 4:7 "No obstante, seguí adelante"