Ogden Mission Blog: Week 7

Last Sunday we enjoyed our first real Southern meal--fried okra, fried pork, mashed potatoes swimming in melted butter, corn-on-the-cob, fresh tomatoes, cake. Bro. & Sis. Frady have a small 10-acre farm with goats, dogs, cat, chickens, stream, and a 1/2-acre garden. He is a convert of only two months, and what a great guy! He became interested in the Church due to the amazing woman he was dating. They have been married just six months. It is wonderful interacting with him and others in the Gospel Principles class.

We visited quite a few less-active members this week. We called them, too, on Saturday to re-invite them to Church on Sunday. One actually came! Others promised to come next week, but we'll see. At least we made contacts where none had been made for a very long time, thanks to the friendship of banana bread! Returning to Church is a step, of course, but so important in helping them find happiness and a way to work through their problems. We
more and more feel the sadness in our hearts for all these people who seem lost or wandering, unaware of what God really has for them, our brothers and sisters.

We have practiced our Church tour and are ready to begin. We have designed the tour around the pictures in the church. In a twenty-minute tour of our little building we teach very succinctly the story of the restoration, of the plan of salvation, of apostles and prophets, baptism, priesthood, women in the Church, Young Women, Primary, and family history and temples. The tour culminates in the chapel with a visual testimony about the Savior and the sacrament, accompanied by sacred music. We are anxious to use this tool to acquaint people with the Church and the gospel.

We miss everyone, but the busier we are, the better. This is a wonderful experience and a relationship-building one for us together and with our Father in Heaven. We appreciate the prayers offered for us. Thank you all!