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.