Ogden Mission Blog: July 2014

Sunday, July 27, 2014

July 27, 2014 - Hot and Sticky Summer!

Greetings one and all (said with a very sticky voice)! Although the temperatures in N.C. are only in the eighties or low nineties, the 99% humidity makes it feel like it's 110F. ( Yucky!) We are ever so grateful for modern air conditioning! As we have been celebrating the sacrifice of our pioneer forefathers, we have thought of their suffering in long homespun clothing in similar circumstances. Of course, they experienced many other severe circumstances for which we honor and remember them.

Murphy Branch held a Pioneer Day celebration on July 26 at Rattler Ford campground near Robbinsville, N.C. The site is beautiful but over an hour's drive from the church. To our great delight, 62 people came with 11 non-members. This is a huge turnout for our small Branch. We enjoyed ample food, corn hole game, Bluegrass music, wading in the creek, and fun fellowship. A big group of us hiked afterwards into the Joyce Kilmer forest to see the giant tulip poplar trees that grow over 135 feet tall. They are magnificent! After we spread some 30 invitations across our three counties, we were so happy many came. Now we hope to extend those friendships into more teaching opportunities and active members.

On July 10 we met our new Mission President. The Griffins are from Plain City, UT near Ogden. They brought three of their children with them. What a sacrifice as well as an adventure for them all! We appreciate them and look forward to knowing them.

Temple Day for our Branch was a treat for us in July. President Caron and his wife (our Branch President) rode with us. We enjoyed our temple time so much. On the way home we stopped for a short while to allow the ladies a bit of shopping at an outlet mall. We also had a pleasant meal together. Sister Trouble (Pat Caron) and Sister Tag-Along (Sister Ogden) (their pet names for each other) really had a good time. The two husbands were patient and enduring. :)

We have sung the Dr. Seuss birthday song to many people out here. We believe they will remember us for that, at least. It always makes them laugh, so it's worth it. We celebrated
three of our good friends birthdays at once with dinner and corn hole at our house. Fun!

Our days continue to hold activities like serving at the Soup Kitchen, Food Pantry, moving people in and out, providing transportation, giving priesthood blessings, attending dinners and Family Home Evenings, teaching lessons, District and Zone meetings, cleaning the church, frequent exercise on the river walk, giving haircuts, and, and, and......
Life is good!

We know we are about the Lord's work. We know the gospel of Jesus Christ is restored and is within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We know our true happiness is found by obedience to God's laws, for therein is real freedom and peace.

We pray for all of you. We love all of you. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Elder and Sister Ogden

P.S. PLEASE PARDON ANY ODD ACCENTS TO WORDS IN OUR BLOG. GOOGLE IS DOING SOMETHING WEIRD TO US!!

Sound advice

An original Thomas Edison phonograph

Love a porch swing!

Wonderful "determined apostate" friend,
Oliver Johnson

Murphy District
Sis. Nelson, Sis. Wynne, Elder Watson, Ogdens,
Elder Gerig, Elder Larson, Elder Hagans

Dulcimer Fest at the John C. Campbell Folk School

Alesandro (visiting from Italy), Ken & Virginia Miller
Bluegrass trio (our Pioneer Day entertainment)

This poem by Joyce Kilmer was written
about the giant tulip poplars in the
forest later named for him.

No, it isn't a cd, but a very
unusual spider web.

Trying to measure the
girth of the giant tulip
poplar trees.

Taaall, awesome giants!

Tangled roots of a tulip poplar.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Happy July 4, 2014!!

Joyfully we celebrate our nation's birth today! Our country is not perfect, nor are its people, but God has blessed it beyond measure, for which we are forever grateful. Today the weather has been perfect, the temperatures perfect, the company perfect--so I guess it was a near perfect day. :) We tried to see the local parade, but we were seven minutes late for the start and missed the whole thing. Short parade! So we walked to the city park to check out the vendors and people and walked home along the river trail, stopping awhile to enjoy the peaceful day. Lovely!

Our days and weeks are pretty much the same lately, busy and fast. We attend meetings, drive A LOT, give rides, move people, teach lessons, enjoy food and more food, and throw in some fun along the way.

Lynn was interviewed by BYU Radio recently about his sports drink, XOJO. It presently is available only online, but the powder version will soon be in stores. Here's hoping it does some good for everyone. We like it, at least. :)

We were saddened this week to learn of the passing of two wonderful friends. Hugh DeHart and Ethel Grimes were part of our Provo ward for many years. They will be greatly missed here on earth, but they are welcome and busy in the next "room" for sure.

The wife of a recently reactivated member has consented to let us teach her. She is mild, friendly, and a sweet person. We are thankful for the opportunity and pray she will feel the truth of our message.

Last Sunday was missionary Sunday in our Branch. This is the policy every time there is a fifth Sunday in the month. Elder Gerig spoke on "No Effort Is Wasted", and Lynn spoke on how members and missionaries can work together. He asked three convert members to share how they had received the opportunity to learn about the Church. It was a great meeting!

A few of our friends from the Food Pantry gathered at one home in the mountains for lunch on Monday. We were served a shrimp gazpacho cold soup followed by an angel food cake filled with key lime pudding. OH MY GOODNESS!! It was marvelous! Can't wait to make it for our family! Each time we see these friends Lynn shares more of the gospel. Next visit he will ask if they would like us to teach them about the Church.

Another success in our Robbinsville FHE! Sister Lewis, a less-active member, finally agreed to let us bring her to the FHE. She hasn't had contact or been to church for many years. We hope this will be her bridge back to activity like it has been for some others.

Remember that "remember" is the most important word in the Book of Mormon. We must remember the covenants we have made with the Lord and keep them in order to receive His blessings. D&C 130:20,21 "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated---And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." This is true! We see evidence of it in our lives every day.

Love to all, each and every one of you!! <3

Elder and Sister Ogden