Ogden Mission Blog: February 2014

Monday, February 24, 2014

At Laaaast!! - February 24, 2014

Ruben and Alva Aguilar,
Darian and Megan

Gargoyles on Biltmore House

Biltmore House
Asheville, N.C.

Our mutual Valentine's gift, which we
found hanging on the wall of a roadside diner.

Beautiful inlay shell work.
Laurel is learning to play!

One of the many "Laurel" roads
she "owns". :)

Such beauty!

How can anyone doubt there is a
Supreme Creator?!

Giant glory!

She's in heaven!

Tired Elder Froelich

Pooped out District Leader Crestani

New floral stand built by Bro. Crawford;
new floral by Sister Ogden

Front door of Biltmore House

One of the better condition abandoned houses.

For the first time, we haven't written for two weeks! Our days (and nights) have been veeerryy busy lately. By the time Laurel could write, she was too tired to do it. Now we'll try to give an accounting of ourselves.

Due to several days of snow and ice here and rampant sickness, many appointments were cancelled week before last. Because of that, the Elders spent a lot of time with us. Elder Crestani and Laurel went out and played in the snow, building a missionary couple. It was great therapy for missing home. :)

The Elders perform in Church every few weeks, and all of us have taken up singing to people we visit, members and investigators. It brings the Spirit and softens hearts. The Elders usually have their guitars along to accompany.

We have spent a lot of time and miles running a few members to and fro around the countryside when they have no transportation. Hopefully this will decrease some soon. Not that we mind helping. Their circumstances are in flux right now.

Last week we were invited to spend Sunday night at the mission home with the other senior couples. We had a good time sharing and visiting, bowling on Monday (what a laugh!), and eating great food. It's rather like going home to mother to stay at the mission home with our President and his wife...very restorative and comforting.

We finally had someone call and ask to join the Addiction Recovery Program. We were so happy to finally have the chance to help someone! We hope he/she will see it through to completion and success. We know it can be very helpful.

We have had some great FHEs, Relief Society, wonderful meals (too many for our clothes to be happy :( ), and visits with unexpected people. JOY!!

A friend gave us two passes to tour the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville. We also had a free hotel stay coming to us, so we took advantage and used both. The Biltmore is the largest home in the U.S. with 250 rooms! The artistry and architecture is amazing. The gardens must be gorgeous in summer, but dead looking right now. However, the conservatory was enthralling for Laurel, as you might expect. She took dozens of pictures, which she says are for her enjoyment anyway, so it doesn't matter.

Ruben, whom we have been visiting with the Elders, was baptized on Saturday! What a joy!
His little family is now united in the gospel. They are so happy! His brother is still studying and meeting with the Elders. He is a thinker and must take his time.

Our part-time missionary program with the members is working well. Some of the men go out with the Elders occasionally to provide them transportation and accompany them in teaching. Six families are called to host new members, investigators, and less-active members in their homes for dinner and a review lesson. Those have been very successful thus far.

Many people here are so set in their traditions of the hills that it is hard to break into their lives. There is a poor welfare level of people who don't seem to desire change, but they are usually polite. Many, many broken-down houses, out buildings, and old mobile homes dot the landscape. There is no zoning law to clean them up, so the kudzu vines and trees take them over. We can't get used to that.

Well, have a great week! We will! God bless ya'll!! Love all ya'll!!
Elder & Sister Ogden

Like our missionary "couple"? They melted into funny
little dwarves in a few days.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Upsy-downsy Week - February 10, 2014

It's now been nearly two weeks that Elder Ogden has been restricted with a bad back episode. He's getting tired of it and wants it to go away. We hope it will soon.
Other than that and his humpity heart, both of us enjoy quite good health.

P-day last Monday was spent doing service in Robbinsville. The young Elders and I helped a couple who are renovating a decrepit 100-year-old building. They are turning it into a martial arts/Zumba/dance studio. (The judo etc. classes face the blank white wall, then the Zumba and dance classes turn the other direction and face the brightly painted wall. Good use of the same space.) We hauled wood, glass, garbage, washed walls, and painted for several hours. They didn't realize that one large section of an exterior wall was completely termite-ridden. A mistaken push opened a huge hole! The wood was so eaten up that it disintegrated in our hands. The ceiling was in tough shape as well. We hope they can save the building since they are buying it. (Lynn stayed home to nurse his back, so he studied much of the day.)

After that, we hurried home to clean up and fix dinner for guests. A Hispanic family came for dinner and a lesson. The mother is a member. The father and his brother are investigating. Elder Crestani taught a clever lesson on Sabbath Day observance using an ice cream sundae. He labeled several condiments such as mustard, Parmesan cheese, ketchup, relish with ideas of activities probably not appropriate for Sunday. He dumped these onto a bed of good ice cream. Of course, no one wanted to eat that. Then on a fresh dish of ice cream he added delicious things like caramel, chocolate, nuts, whipped cream, cherry. They represented good appropriate "sundae" activities. Everyone liked the lesson. We think they will remember it, too.

Our preparation days go like that, more often than not. We end up hustling through the house cleaning and laundry in the small increments of time available during the day. It's a dance!

We spent a good share of Tuesday serving at the Soup Kitchen. Many people come for a free hot meal. Our soups are famous, and people look forward to the Mormon day. This time, however, we served up a lasagna dinner. Stouffer's is our great friend! It was hilarious as several people complimented us on the best lasagna ever! LOL!

Later we attended the House Building Volunteers meeting, FHE, and dinner with the Dixons.
Dr. Dixon has been so kind to us. He has helped us several times with medical issues for Elder Ogden and our young Elder Hunt. At the restaurant he not only bought our dinner, he bought us the sign we love! (I wasn't born in Murphy, but I got here as soon as I could.)
Whew! Quite a day!

Wednesday was also very full traveling to/from Asheville for an all-day Zone Conference, followed with home teaching and Addiction Recovery class. The next few days were filled with appointments that fell through, one after. The Elders had the same bad fortune. We were all rather bummed. One appointment went well, finally! Elder Crestani and Elder Lynn taught a couple who nearly ran over Elder C. on his bike as their car ran out of gas right in front of him! No such thing as coincidences!

Sunday refilled our cup and prepared us for a new week. We fed the Elders and our young investigator, Hunter, and his girlfriend, Liz. Elder Ogden led a discussion with them that went very well. We are very encouraged for Hunter and really love him.

Our hearts are sorrowing for several who are in mourning today or who have serious troubles. We pray for all of them and you, whom we love. Keep your faith and hope!

Elder and Sister Ogden

Painting the Zumba wall

Make that line straight, Sister O.!

Christian symbol, in order:
Christ came down to earth,
Christ died for us,
Christ rose again,
Christ ascended to heaven,
Christ will come again.

Saying goodbye to Elder Lynn, our Zone Leader,
departing for home this week.

The Aguilar family playing the turtle game.

Elder Crestani, talented pianist and guitarist.
He's not really playing two guitars. He's
tuning Elder O's ukelele while holding
his guitar.

Elder Froelich, budding guitar talent

Lichens on a tree - interesting textures.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Groundhog Day - Feb. 2, 2014

Well, we don't know what the groundhog did in your area, but it was sunny in Murphy, so we're certain he saw his shadow. Yes, there is more snow forecast later this week. The temperatures drop to 0F then within a couple of days we are at 57F. Crazy! We don't know if it's winter or spring! The ground is so saturated with moisture that we even leave footprints in gravel!

We skipped writing last week since the previous post was already in the middle of the week before. Anyway, we are trying to get back on a sane schedule.

Once again two young sisters have been added to our District. They are stationed in Franklin, an hour's drive from Murphy. Our District covers seven counties, five in N.C. and two in Georgia. Two Elders are in Blairsville, GA. We all form a triangle covering a lot of distance. It's interesting the different contributions and effects of sisters, Elders, and couples in the mission field. We all are needed.

Ron Eberly, who works at the Food Pantry with us, has repeatedly invited us to visit his home. He lives back in the hills about 50 min. from us. We finally set up a date for lunch with him and his wife, Mary Jane. Of course, the day dawned snowy with icy roads. However, we were not deterred. We drove carefully and made our appointment on time. Ron and Mary Jane are gracious, warm people. We enjoyed a few hours of food, visiting, and fun. It was an honor to be invited and even invited back. We left them with a couple of special issue Ensigns and a Restoration pamphlet. We don't expect immediate results with most people when we give them such items, but they know we are missionaries and expect we will do something. At the very least we make new friends and answer a few questions.

Our young friend and investigator, Hunter, emailed us a list of 20 questions about the Church and our beliefs. We researched well and wrote up answers for him, as well as meeting personally to discuss them. What a great experience! Such opportunities help us build deep friendships with people here.

Last week brought a few inches of snow again, followed with freezing rain. The schools were cancelled for the entire week, even after the temperatures rose into the 50s! They just don't know how to deal with Utah weather in N.C. :) The Elders spent a lot of time at our home during those days. Their apartment isn't as warm as ours, and they get bored there. At our place we all play games, watch approved videos, cook together, and plan and study.

It's like family. <3

After many moons, Laurel finally was able to get her hair done. She was so happy, she came out dancing with a big smile! A good haircut does wonders for a woman!

The marvelous experience of our week was in a meeting on Saturday. It was broadcast to us from Knoxville. Elder L. Tom Perry presided with several members of the Seventy present. They taught Ward and Stake Councils how to be more effective in the missionary effort. We missionaries also got good ideas. Some of the great quotes of the day are as follows.

"Repentance isn't an overnight experience, neither is conversion." Elder Craig Zwick

"THIS CHURCH IS LEAD BY NO MAN! IT IS THE LORD'S CHURCH, AND HE IS THERE AT THE HEAD!" Elder L. Tom Perry (all caps to indicate his awesome booming voice)

"Leave time in your busy lives to let the Lord permeate your lives....Take time to open the scriptures, ponder and meditate." Elder L. Tom Perry

As Elder Perry concluded his remarks, he pronounced an apostolic blessing on all listening to him. It was so powerful that many of us felt as though electricity was flowing through us! We were moved to tears with the blessings promised and with the presence of the Holy Ghost. For the remainder of the day and indeed even today, we still feel the resonance of that amazing experience. We were so blessed! Testimony of the truth of the gospel reverberated through our whole being!

Today in Fast and Testimony Meeting that wonderful feeling continued as many bore testimony to those same truths and their effect in their lives. Every single person has some struggle to deal with, some burden to bear. Thankfully, the Lord is near to help buoy us up and lighten our load, if we let Him. We love Him!

Heavenly Father is our very loving parent. Jesus Christ is our kind brother, most of all our Redeemer who gave all for us. We are honored to be charged with teaching their word.

The gospel of Christ is true! It is here in its fulness as it was restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith. We are so very grateful for this testimony and desire to share it with you. Please share your testimony with someone else, too.

Love to ya'll!!