*CALLED TO SERVE*: 2009

Saturday, November 28, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL- Week 30

OH MY GOSH I ABOUT THREW THIS COMPUTER... I WROTE A HUGE EMAIL AND THEN IT JUST WENT POOF!!! AND IT WAS GONE!!! IM SO SORRY, I WISH I COULD HAVE REMEMBERED EVERYTHING I WROTE, BUT NOW THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE LAME AND SHORT CUZ I HAVE TO RE WRITE IT...GRRR!!! BUT I WILL HAVE TO SKIP THE UN IMPORTANT STUFF AND KINDA JUST GIVE YOU THE MEAT...LOL... WELL FIRST, WHITNEY, DRINK MILK...LOL.. AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT IM GOING TO KICK THAT KIDS BUTT WHEN I GET HOME...LOL... BUT ANYWAYS, SO SADLY OLLIE DOGGED US ON SATURDAY, AND I ABOUT FLIPPED OUT, I WAS SO UPSET. BUT IT OCCURED TO ME THAT MAYBE I WAS PUTTING THE LORDS WILL AHEAD OF MINE. I WAS TRYING TO DO WHAT I WANTED OVER WHAT THE LORD SEES NECESSARY AT THIS TIME! I HAVE TO SAY HEAVENLY FATHER HAS A VERY GOOD WAY OF HUMBLING YOU AS A MISSIONARY... ITS NOT LIKE " GOOD JOB DUMMY. " ITS LIKE A " HOLD ON A MINUTE AND THINK ABOUT THIS" :) I HAVE TO SAY, I NEVER KNEW YOU COULD BE SO CLOSE TO THE SPIRIT! AND I DEFFINETLY DO NOT LIKE IT WHEN HE LEAVES! CUZ IM NOT THE ONE CONVERTING PEOPLE, HE IS, IM AM SIMPLY ACTING AS A TEACHER AND A CONDUIT OF LIGHT THAT I WAS CALLED TO BE! IM SO HAPPY AND HONORED TO BE ABLE TO CALL MYSELF A DECIPLE OF CHRIST AND THAT HE HAS TRUSTED ME WITH A FRACTION OF HIS GREAT WORK! IM SO SORRY THIS IS LAME AND SHORT, BUT IM DOING THE BEST I CAN AFTER THIS DUMB COMPUTER DELETED MY EMAIL. BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, AND YES MOM, I GOT ALL MY WINTER STUFF AND ITS WORKING OUT GREAT. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND IM SO SORRY IM LAME AGAIN THIS WEEK, IM JUST NOT TO GREAT ON COMPUTERS...LOL.. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND REMEMBER TO STAY CLOSE TO THE LORD! I LOVE YOU ALL! OH AND TIFFANY AND NICOLE!.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! TEENAGERS!!!! BE WAITING FOR A LITTLE SOMETHIN IN THE MAIL FROM YOUR CANADIAN BROTHER! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! UNTIL NEXT WEEK! :)

LOVE,
ELDER OGEN

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 29

HEY HEY EH?

WELL, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT i'M ABOUT TO HIT THE 7 MONTH MARK!!! ITS GOING CRAZY FAST!!! BUT ANYWAYS, TO KIND A NSWER SOME QUESTIONS FIRST. AS FAR AS CHRISTMAS GOES, AS A MISSIONARY, I COULD ALWAYS USE TIES! :) AND ITS SWEET THAT THAT PRESIDENT ARCHIBALD IS NOT STRICT WHEN IT COMES TO TIE PATTERNS AND COLORS, AND SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE "CONSERVATIVE" LIKE SO ITS ALL GOOD...LOL. ANYWAYS, UM LETS SEE, OH SO I'M SUPER EXCITED, REMEMBER HOW I TOLD YOU ALL THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO DROP OLLIE? WELL WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO OFFICIALLY DROP HIM, I DECIDED TO TRY ONE LAST TIME AND I CALLED HIM AND HE ANSWERED HIS CELL PHONE!!! tHEN AFTER THAT IT WAS ALL GOOD. HE CAME TO CHURCH, AND WAS TELLING ME HE STILL WANTS TO BE BAPTIZED, HE HAS JUST BEEN SWAMPED BY SCHOOL, WORK AND FOOTBALL. PLUS HE IS A TEENAGER SO I CAN RELATE TO HIM NOT HAVING MISSIONARIES ON HIS TOP PRIORITY LIST...LOL BUT ANYWAYS, WE WILL BE EXTENDING A BAPTISMAL COMMITMENT TO HIM ON SATURDAY, AND I KNOW HE WILL ACCEPT IT...SO BE READY FOR SOME WAY GOOD NEWS NEXT WEEK! I'M GLAD YOU ALL ENJOYED THE PICTURES! AND YES MOM, I AM ENJOYING MYSELF. :) I'M HAVING TONS OF FUN BUT AT THE SAME TIME I'M STILL WORKING! :) BUT ANYWAYS THIS NEXT LITTLE BIT IS FROR WHITNEY...DRINK MILK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU WON'T BREAK YOUR FINGER EVERY YEAR IF YOU DID...LOL! SERIOUSLY ITS LIKE A QUOTA FOR YOU, OH ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN...CRACK! LOL...SOMEONE PUT HER IN A BUBBLE! BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU ROCKIN THE 70 AND PETEY!!! AND A CAPTAIN TOO! tHATS A PETERSEN IF I HAVE EVER SEEN ONE! bUT ANYWAYS, SAM SAYS YOU'RE ALL TRUCKIN UP TO VISIT THE U-TARDS SOON, THAT SHOULD BE FUN! SO LETS SEE. UM WHAT ELSE CAN I TELL YUO ALL. OH SO TOMORROW IS ZONE CONFERENCE AND I FIND OUT IF WE GET THE TRUCK OR NOT! I'M REALLY HOPING WE DO, CUZ IT WOULD MAKE THOSE ACCIDENTAL SPIN OUTS SO MUCH MORE FUN, PLUS IT HAS 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND I MIGHT JUST HAVE TO TO TEST IT OUT A BIT...LOL...DON'T WORRY MOM...I'LL SEND PICTURES! LOL. BUT REALLY I'LL BE CAREFUL, I PROMISE! MAYBE! DAVID WOULD DO THE SAME THING AND YOU KNOW IT! OH SO YOU ALL SHOULD SEE WHAT CANADIANS DO FOR FUN WHEN THE SNOW ON THE ROAD MELTS DURING THE DAY, THEN REFREEZES TO ICE AT NIGHT. WELL..THEY HOLD ON TO THE BUMPERS OF TRUCKS AND WELL SKI OFF THE BACK...I MIGHT HAVE TO TRY IT, BUT I WOULDN'T TELL YOU IF I DID THOUGH...LOL. I'M KIDDING, LIKE COURTNEY SAID, I'M ONLY PROTECTED SO MUCH ON MY MISSION. I FEEL I'M PROTECTED FROM THE WORLD, BTU NOT MY OWN STUPIDITY! ... LOL NO BUT REALL MOM, I'M NOT MEANING TO GIVE YOU AND DAD A HEART ATTACK. I'M BEING SAFE, I PROMISE! BUT ANYWAYS, AS FAR AS THE WORK GOES, WE HAVE 3 INVESTIGATORS RIGHT NOW, OLLIE OF COURSE ON HIS WAY TO BAPTISM, AND THE OTHER 2 ARE GETTING THERE! BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. AND I CAN'T DESCRIBE HOW STRONG THE SPIRIT IS WHEN I TEACH ABOUT ETERNAL FAMILIES, AND I TELL THE STORY OF US ALL EBING SEALTED TO THE TWINS! IT IS THE RECOGNITIONS OF THE SPIRIT THAT I COULD NEVER DENY! I KNOW THAT NOW IS THE TIME THAT HEAVENLY FATHER NEEDS ME MOST, AND I KNOW THAT I WAS CALELD FOR A REASON! I'M NEVER GIVING UP, PETERSEN'T AREN'T QUITTERS RIGHT? :) I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I CAN'T TAHNK YOU ENOUGH FOR ALL YOU DO FOR ME! YOU'RE ALL ON MY MIND AND IN MY PRAYERS EVERYDAY! I LOVE YOU ALL, BE STRONG AND RELY ON THE LORD!

LOVE,

ELDER OGEN

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 28

WOW, YOU WEREN'T KIDDING. FUN FUN WEEK EH? WELL WHAT KINDA OF PETERSEN EVENT WOULD IT BE IF SOMETHING DIDNT GO WRONG? :) BUT AS MUCH AS DAVID WILL HATE TO HEAR IT, IM STILL HIS BROTHER AND I HAVE TEASING RIGHTS NO MATTER HOW BAD THE PROBLEM....CHEVY IS BETTER!!! LOL... F. O. R. D. F.ound O.n R.oad D.ead.... SORRY, I HAD TOO. BUT REALLY IM SAD TO HEAR THAT ITS GOING TO BE THAT EXPENSIVE TO FIX. BUT THE LORD GIVES US OUR TRIALS, AS MUCH AS WE HATE THEM, IT HAPPENS, AND IT WHAT WE DO WITH THOSE TRIALS THAT SHOWS WHO WE ARE. BUT ANYWAYS, TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS, CUZ IM RUNNIN LOW ON TIME, I DID GET ALL I NEEDED FOR WINTER, I SHOULD BE PRETTY WARM, WELL THAT IS AS WARM AS I CAN GET...LOL BUT ILL LET YOU KNOW IF I NEED ANYTHING ELSE! AND MOM, I WONT TELL YOU ABOUT THE ACCIDENTAL, AND NOT SO ACCIDENTAL SPIN OUTS...LOL BUT DONT WORRY, IM DOING GOOD ON THE ICY ROADS. AND LUCKILY THE WEATHER IS PRETTY DECENT THIS WEEK, JUST A BIT COLD AND SOME RAIN. ANYWAYS, IM SUPER HAPPY TO HEAR ALL WAS FUN AT THE WEDDING! IM WAY SAD I MISSED IT, AND SATURDAY FOR ME WAS A BIT HARD, WE DID ALOT OF SERVICE, AND I COULDNT KEEP MY MIND FROM MAKING ME TRUNKY. BUT I KNOW THE LORD NEEDS ME NOW! BUT ANYWAYS, THIS WEEK WE GOT A NEW INVESTIGATOR. HER NAME IS SUSAN, SHE WAS A SELF REFFERAL AND SHE REQUESTED A MISSIONARY VISIT, SO WE ARE SHOOTING FOR THE STARS ON THIS ONE. :) BUT SADLY AS FAR AS OLLIE GOES, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DROP HIM CUZ WE HAVENT HAD ANY LESSONS WITH HIM FOR A LONG TIME. ITS SUCKS TO SEE SOMEONE SO CLOSE TO BAPTISM SLIP AND FALL AWAY. BUT IM NOT GIVING UP THAT EASILY, ILL LET YOU ALL KNOW HOW IT WENT. SO LETS SEE, WELL THIS PAST SUNDAY ELDER GREENWELL WAS SICK SO WE HAVE BEEN A LITTLE LIMITED ON GOIN OUT CUZ HE HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH CLOSE TO DEATH...LOL... BUT I HAVENT CAUGHT IT...YET...I HOPE. ANYWAYS, I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE AND MISS YOU SO MUCH, I WISH I COULD SIT FOR HOURS AND WRITE YOU ALL! BUT I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND I CANT WAIT FOR ALL THE PICTURES AND DETAILS ON THE WEDDING! :) STAY STRONG YOU GUYS AND REMEMBER HE IS LISTENING! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE,
ELDER OGEN
P.S. MOM... WORRYING IS LIKE A ROCKING CHAIR. IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO DO BUT DOESN'T GET YOU ANYWHERE! ...LOL

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 27

SO FIRST OFF, YES IT IS VERY COLD. YESTERDAY MORNING THE CAR SAID -17 AND WITH WIND CHILL IT WAS AT LEAST -23! WAY COLD. BUT WE GOT ALOT OF SNOW LAST NIGHT TOO, AND IT STILL HASN'T LET UP. BUT THE BAD THING IS UP HERE THEY ONLY PLOW THE MAIN ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. EVERYWHERE ELSE IS LEFT ALONE. BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO DRIVE ON THEM IF YOU WANT TO GET ANYWERE. AND LET ME TELL YOU, ICE ON THE ROAD IS SCARY STUFF, YOU CAN HIT THE BRAKES AND STILL SLIDE IF YOU DONT SLOW DOWN ENOUGH BEFORE THE STOP. BUT I GUESS THATS JUST CANADA FOR YOU! SO THE BURB GOT BUSTED INTO?! DANG CRAP HAPPENS WITH ME GONE! LOL... WE ALL KNOW THAT IF IT WERE ME THERE AT WAL MART WHEN IT HAPPENED I WOULD HAVE STRETCHED THE TRUTH AND CAME BACK SAYING I RAN THE GUY DOWN AND BEAT HIM UP AND THEN ON THE DRIVE HOME THE SUBURBAN WAS MISTAKEN FOR A STOLE ESCALADE...LOL.. WELL I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT EVERYTHING IS FALLING INTO PLACE FOR THIS WEEKEND! GOSH I CANT BELIEVE ITS HERE ALREADY. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD COME THIS FAST! AND TO THINK ALSO THAT I GET TO CALL YOU ALL IN 2 MONTHS! I REMEMBER THINKING THAT THE 7 MONTH STRETCH WAS GOING TO TAKE FOREVER! CRAZY! ANYWAYS, YES I AM WAY GLAD TO HAVE THE CAR BACK, AND YES PRESIDENT FOUND OUT WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THAT GAMBLING THING, A FEW GOT SENT HOME, BUT THERE WAS ABOUT 20 OR SO GUYS INVOLVED! IT WAS PRETTY BAD, PRESIDENT ARCHIBLAD IS PRETTY DISAPPOINTED. AND I CAN SEE WHY. BUT IM JUST GLAD THAT I WAS ABLE TO TEL PRES. THAT I WASNT INVOLED! PLUS, DO I SEEM LIKE THE KINDA GUY WHO WOULD WIN BIG AT ALL! LOL.. SO ANYWAYS. LETS SEE, WELL, IM SUPER STUFFED CUZ THESE LAST FEW DAYS WE HAVE BEEN INVITED OVER FORE LIKE 4 CANADIAN THANKSGIVING DINNERS AND LUNCH. AND OF COURSE I WENT TO THEM ALL! LOL... YOU KNOW ME! WHY HAVE ONE WHEN YOU CAN HAVE 4!!! I THINK I WILL ADOPT CANADIAN THANKSGIVING EVEN WHEN IM HOME! BUT WE PASS A CALENDER AROUND ON SUNDAYS TO GET FILLED FOR THE WEEK, AND WITH TWO WARDS WE SOMETIMES GET DUEL APPOINTMENTS. :) SO MOM NO WORRIES, IM GETTING FED JUST FINE. BUT LIKE I HAVE SAID BEFORE, I THINK YOU WOULD ALL BE SHOCKED AT HOW LITTLE I EAT NOW, AND I EVEN PASS UP DESSERTS.... WELL A FEW TIMES...LOL! BUT ALSO DONT THINK I DIDNT PLAY FOOTBALL YESTERDAY MORNING, ITS THANKSGIVING.... DUH! WE HAD A BIG ZONE GAME, AND WE HAVE A GUY IN OUR ZONE ELDER TAFA WHO WAS ON THE TONGAN NATIONAL RUGBY TEAM... OUCH IS ALL I CAN SAY TO DESCRIBE THAT GAME! LOL... BUT ANYWAYS. ALL IS GOOD HERE, AND IM SURE NOT ALL MY TOES ARE GOING TO FALL OFF IN THIS COLD! :) BUT I WANT YOU GUYS TO ALL KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND EVEN THOUGH THE WORK OUT HERE MIGHT NOT BE THE HIGHEST BAPTIZING OR THE MOST CONVERTS, IF I WALK AWAY HAVING HELPED ONE PERSON, ILL KNOW THAT IS WHAT I WAS MENT TO DO! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND IM THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR ME! I WOULD BE SO LOST ON THIS WORLD... OR AS SAM LIKE TO SAY, LOST IN THE SNOW... WITHOUGHT YOU ALL! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, AND I PRAY FOR YOU EVERY DAY. FREQUENTLY!!! :) TAKE CARE AND ENJOY THE NICE WEATHER FOR ME! I LOVE YOU!
LOVE,
ELDER OGEN

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 26

WELL... ARE YOU GUYS READY.... TRANSFERS?.... WELL IM STAYING HERE IN OKOTOKS! IM PRETTY EXCITED, ITS WHAT I WANTED TO HAPPEN! AND I'M STAYING WITH ELDER GREENWELL! WE ARE GETTING ALONG GREAT! I KNOW THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO LEARN SOMETHING FROM HIM, AND THERE IS SOMETHING AS A COMPANIONSHIP WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH! BUT IT WILL BE 6 MONTHS IN THIS ONE AREA, I LIKE LONGER AREAS! :) SPEAKING OF 6 MONTHS, I BURNT MY 6 MONTH MARK TIE THE OTHER DAY, DONT WORRY MOM IT WASNT A GOOD ONE, JUST A CRAP ONE I FOUND! :) BUT ANYWAYS, I HAVENT GOTTEN THE PACKAGE YET, BUT IM SURE ITS GOING TO BE BE HERE TODAY! SO ANYWAYS, LIKE I SAID, IT SNOWED ON SUNDAY MORNING! LIKE SIX INCHES! I KNOW ITS NOT A WHOLE LOT, BUT HEY IM FROM CALIFORNIA, UM ME AND SNOW ARE NOT THE BEST OF FRIENDS! EVERYONE HERE HAS LIKE THE SAME REACTION WHEN I SAY THAT I HAVENT HAD WINTER UP HERE YET.... "OH, YOUR GONNA DIE! " LOL... GEE THANKS FOR THE POSITIVE REENFORCEMENT! ANYWAYS SO CONFERENCE WAS AMAZING! ESPECIALLY WHEN JEFFERY R. HOLLAND FLOORED EVERYONE WITH HIS AMAZING TALK ON THE BOOK OF MORMON! I WAS JUST IN AMAZEMENT THROUGH HIS WHOLE TALK! IT BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES FROM WHEN HE SPOKE TO US IN THE MTC. HAHAHA I CAN SAY STUFF LIKE THAT NOW CUZ IM OVER THE 6 MONTH MARK...LOL.. SO, IM SORRY TO HEAR THAT THE KREEPIN CRUD IS GETTIN PASSED AROUND THE HOUSE, LEAVE IT TO WHITNEY TO GIVE PEOPLE HER CRAP...LOL.. SO ITS AWESOME TO HEAR THAT DAVID IS HOME FOR A BIT, AND MAKING BANK APPARENTLY! LOL... WELL LETS SEE, OH SO VERNA AND LEE WATCHED ALL FOUR SESSIONS AND IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR THEM! WE ACTUALLY WATCHED THE SUNDAY MORNING SESSION AT THEIR HOUSE, AND VERNA MADE US PROMISE TO COME IN OUR PJS...LOL.. AND WE DID, AND WE HAD HOT CHOCOLATE WHILE THE SNOW WAS FALLING OUTSIDE! IT WAS PRETTY COOL, WE HAD A FIRE GOING, AND GOT TO WATCH CONFERENCE! VERNA AND LEE ARE AMAZING PEOPLE, AND LEE TOLD US LAST NIGHT THAT THE DOUBTS HE HAD ABOUT THE CHURCH ARE COMPLETELY GONE WITH LISTENING TO CONFERENCE! ANYWAYS, SORRY THAT I DONT HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO WRITE ABOUT THIS WEEK, WE HAVE BEEN HELPING WITH ALOT OF SERVICE BEFORE THE WINTER COMES. BUT ANYWAYS, I WANT YOU GUYS TO ALL KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! TO LISTEN TO CONFERENCE AND HEAR THE WORDS MADE ME HAPPY TO KNOW THAT IM APART OF THIS RESTORED GOSPEL WERE I CAN BE WITH MY FAMILY FOREVER! YOU ALL MEAN THE WORLD TO ME! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! IM ALWAYS PRAYING FOR YOU!
LOVE,
ELDER OGEN

Friday, October 2, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 25-- SIX MONTH MARK

6 MONTHS ALREADY, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! I MEAN ITS NOT A WHOLE LOT, BUT ITS A WHOLE 1/4 OF MY MISSION GONE, NEVER TO RETURN. HOLY COW, I MEAN I KNEW ONE DAY I WOULD BE A MISSIONARY AND TICKING AWAY THE DAYS, BUT I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WOULD COME THIS FAST. OH MAN I REALLY CANT LET ONE DAY SLIP AWAY! AS SAM SAID, I NEED TO MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT. CRAZY EH, LITTLE LOGAN ALREADY PAST A BIG MARK OF HIS MISSION! ANYWAYS, WELL THE WORK HERE SEEMS TO HAVE HIT A WALL A BIT. WE DONT HAVE ANY NEW INVESTIGATORS, WE HAVE BEEN MOSTLY WORKING WITH LESS ACTIVES AND RECENT CONVERTS, WE CALL THEM " LARC'S" L.A.R.C, GET IT, ANYWAYS, SO THERE IS THE ONE LADY I TOLD YOU ABOUT, SHE HAS A BIT OF A HEAD INJURY, AND SHE IS NEVER PREDICTABLE IN WHAT SHE WILL SAY, SO WE HAVE BROUGHT HER BACK INTO FULL ACTIVITY, SHE EVEN WENT TO THE RELIEF SOCIETY BROADCAST. WELL, THIS LAST SUNDAY WAS FAST AND TESTIMONY MEETING, AND SHE GOT UP RIGHT AWAY AND I WAS A BIT NERVOUS IN WHAT SHE MIGHT SAY. BUT IT WAS AN AMAZING TESTIMONY, AND IT SET AN AMAZING SPIRIT ABOUT THE WHOLE CHAPEL FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING. BUT THE FUNNY PART IS WHEN SHE BASICALLY CALLED ME OUT OVER THE PULPIT. SHE SAID... " IF IT WERE NOT FOR THOSE TWO HANDSOME BOYS IN THE SUITS I WOULDNT BE HERE. BUT THAT DARN ELDER PETERSEN NEEDS TO SLOW DOWN WHEN HE PRAYS, HE SAY THE END SO FAST YOU CAN BARELY HEAR CHRIST'S NAME, SOME PEOPLE DONT EVEN KNOW HIM YET! " ... AND OF COURSE THE WARD LAUGHED, AND I HAD TO GO REDEEM MYSELF. SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THIS WARD FOR OVER 4 MONTHS NOW, THEY ALL KNOW ME PRETTY GOOD. BUT I GOT UP AND SAID. "APPARENTLY IM THE FAST TALKING MISSIONARY" LOL... SO IT WAS A REALLY GOOD MEETING. BUT BEFORE I FORGET, TRANSFERS ARE NEXT WEEK, SO THAT MEANS A TUESDAY P-DAY NEXT WEEK. SO PLEASE DONT FORGET. ITS CRAZY THE TRANSFER IS OVER. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO STAY IN OKOTOKS THO, SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WEEK. SO LETS SEE, UM ITS STARTING TO GET A BIT CHILLY, FIRT SNOW IS FORECASTED FOR THIS WEEKEND. CRAZY EH? I KNOW IM NOT READY FOR IT EITHER, BUT ILL LOOK FOR THE THINGS I STILL NEED FOR WINTER, AND I'LL FIND OUT HOW MUCH THEY COST THEN LET YOU KNOW. ANYWAYS, IM GLAD ALL IS GOING GOOD BACK HOME, AND HEARING THAT WHITNEY IS STILL TOUGH AS EVER. I HAVENT HEARD FROM THE TWINS IN A WHILE, THAT WOULD BE NICE. BUT ANYWAYS, OH MOM, VERNA, A.K.A. " MY CANADIAN MOTHER" (SHE CALLS HERSELF THAT TO ALL THE MISSIONARIES ...LOL... WANTS TO CALL YOU AND TALK TO YOU A BIT. SO SHE BASICALLY WANTS TO TELL YOU IM DOING WELL, AND WHAT I MEAN TO HER, SO BE READY AND BE READY TO BE ON THE PHONE FOR A GOOD CHUNK OF TIME. :) OH AND I HAVENT GOTTEN THE PACKAGE YET, BUT I MIGHT TODAY. ANYWAYS, I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH! NOTHING IN THIS WORLD CAN COME BETWEEN AN ETERNAL FAMILY, AND THE KNOWLEDGE I HAVE OF FAMILIES THROUGH THIS GOSPEL IS INDESCRIBABLE. I LOVE BEING ABLE TO SHARE MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TEMPLE AS A FAMILY WHEN WERE WERE SEALED TO THE TWINS WITH PEOPLE. IT BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES EVERY TIME, AND I GET A FRYING PAN IN THE FACE OF A RECOGNITION FROM THE HOLY GHOST THAT WHAT IM SAYING IS TRUE! I LOVE THE FACT THAT NOT ONLY AM I HELPING PEOPLE BECOME CONVERTED TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, BUT THAT IM ALSO MOVING FORWARD IN MY OWN CONTUNIED CONVERSION. THIS GOSPEL IS FOR EVERY ONE, AND I HAVE A STRONG TESTIMONY OF THAT! IM SO HAPPY AND HONORED TO HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE OF SERVING THE LORD AND THE PEOPLE OF CANADA! I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, AND I THINK AND PRAY FOR YOU ALL EACH DAY! PLEASE DONT FORGET THE TUESDAY PDAY NEXT WEEK! I LOVE YOU ALL! STAY STRONG, THE LORD IS ALWAY WATCHING OVER HIS FLOCK! AND IM SO HAPPY TO BE APART OF THE ONES WHO FIND HIS SCATTERED SHEEP! I LOVE YOU ALL!
LOVE, ELDER OGEN
P.S. HELP THE MISSIONARIES IN ELK GROVE! THEY NEED IT, WE ALL DO! :)

Sunday, September 27, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL- Week 24

HELLO FAM! WOW, SOUNDS LIKE A LOT IS GOING ON, YEP SAME OLD PETERSENS, ALWAYS RUNNING AROUND WITH STUFF TO DO! ANYWAYS, TO ANSWER MOST OF YOUR QUESTIONS, NO WE DONT HAVE THE CAR BACK YET, WE GET IT BACK ON THE 1ST OF OCTOBER, AND FOR NOW WE ARE RIDING THE BIKES EVERYDAY. THEY ARE LIKE A COMMUNAL SET OF BIKES FOR OUR ZONE FOR WHOEVER NEEDS THEM. AND LET ME TELL YOU BIKING OUT TO ACRAGES STINKS...LOL.. WE GET MEMBER RIDES SOMETIMES, BUT NOT ALWAYS. ITS LIKE ME RIDING FORM OUR HOUSE OUT TO WILTON SOME TIMES, NO JOKE. THATS BASICALLY HOW OKOTOKS IS. ELK GROVE AND WILTON, OKOTOKS AND DeWINTON. LIKE ITS FUNNY HOW PARTS OF TOWN AND THE ACREAGES REMIND ME OF HOME. OKOTOKS HAS A LITTLE " OLD TOWN" LIKE ELK GROVE, AND ITS FUNNY TO WALK DOWN CUZ IT KINDA LOOKS LIKE OURS. ANYWAYS, IVE ACTUALLY LOST ABOUT 8 POUNDS ON THOSE DANG BIKES. WE HAVE BEEN RIDING THEM FOR ALMOST A MONTH, AND ITS STARTING TO SHOW ON BOTH OF US, BUT HEY NO COMPLAINTS HERE! :) AND IM LIKING THE RIDING ACTUALLY, I JUMP CURBS AND HAVE GOTTEN PRETTY COMFORTABLE ON THEM AND DO RIDING WHEELIES FOR A FEW FEET AND IT GETS PEOPLES ATTENTION AND THEY LOOK AND SMILE AND SOMETIMES LAUGH CUZ IT LOOKS KINDA FUNNY TO SEE A GUY IN A SHIRT AND TIES DOING TRICKS ON A BIKE I GUESS.. AND I MIGHT DO THEM ON PURPOSE NOW...LOL... ITS BETTER TO MAKE PEOPLE LOOK AND SMILE THEN YELL AT US. LOL... SO ALL IS GOING GOOD, AND IM GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE TWINS ARE USING THE BUNK BEDS WE BUILT...LOL... FUN TIMES. AND SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT ENOUGH PORK TO LAST A WHILE TOO. LOL... I NEVER REALIZED HOW MUCH I PUT LOL IN MY LETTERS. I MUST BE HAVING TEXT SEPARATION ISSUES! :) BUT SO SINCE YOU'RE SENDING OUT THE PACKAGE, CAN YOU REMEMBER TO PUT AIR MAIL ON IT IF ITS NOT TOO EXPENSIVE, CUZ IT WILL TAKE LIKE A MONTH OR TWO BY GROUND. BUT NO WORRIES IF ITS ALREADY ON ITS WAY! :) SO LETS SEE, WELL ALL IS GOING GOOD OUT HERE, I THOUGHT OLLIE HAD LIKE FALLEN OFF THE EARTH, BUT HE JUST HAS BEEN GOING TO CHURCH AT A DIFFERENT TIME, AND HE STILL WANTS TO BE BAPTIZED, SO THAT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. I WISH WE COULD HOLD ON TO HIM LONG ENOUGH TO THROW HIM IN THE WATER THOUGH. HE IS LIKE TRYING TO CATCH A GREASED PIG...LOL... TUFF EH WHITNEY? :) BUT I KNOW THE LORD HAS PREPARED HIM, AND THAT HE HAS A PLAN FOR ALL OF US, AND HIS PLAN FOR OLLIE IS JUST TAKING A BIT OF TIME. OLLIE HAS BEEN PREPARED, AND I NEED TO BE SURE I AM PREPARED FOR HIM. IT CAN BE DISCOURAGING SOMETIMES, BUT I KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, IF I GIVE MY ALL AND PUSH UNTIL I HAVE TO CRAWL, CHRIST WILL PICK UP THE REST AND HELP ME TO ENDURE TO THE END. IM SO THANKFUL FOR THE KNOWLEDGE I HAVE OF THIS GOSPEL. I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD! I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW THANKFUL I AM TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE DRIVING FORCE YOU ALL GAVE ME TO ACCEPT THE HONOR IT IS TO BE CALLED AS A PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF CHRIST! NOTHING, AND I MEAN NOTHING, CAN STAND IN MY WAY WITH CHRIST AS MY CRUTCH TO LEAN ON WHEN TIMES GET HARD. I KNOW THAT HE HAS BEEN THERE BEFORE, AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING IN MY LIFE THAT HE HAS NOT FELT THE PAIN OF, AND THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD THINGS GET, THAT I WILL ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL! I LOVE THIS GOSPEL, AND I LOVE MY ETERNAL FAMILY! IM PRAYING FOR YOU ALL EACH AND EVERYDAY! YOU ALL MEAN THE WORLD TO ME AND MORE! I LOVE YOU!
LOVE, ELDER OGEN

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 23

HEY FAM! :)
I NEVER LOOKED AT TIME THE WAY I DO NOW, IT'S AS IF ITS MUCH, MUCH SHORTER NOW THEN IT WAS BEFORE. IT REALLY PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE FOR ME ON THE IMPORTANCE OF USING MY TIME WISELY AND SPENDING THESE TWO YEARS AS A PART OF GODS ARMY TO PUSH FORWARD THE WORK UNTIL I CAN'T PUSH ANY MORE! ITS CRAZY TO THINK OF HOW INVOLVED YOU BECOME WHEN YOUR SET APART AS A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST. HOW EMOTIONAL YOU GET WHEN YOU TEACH ABOUT HIS GOSPEL, AND HOW MUCH IT REALLY MEANS TO YOU. I TRULY KNOW THE MEANING OF THE "WANT" TO SHARE THE MESSAGE, BECAUSE OF ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS IT BRINGS TO ME IN MY LIFE! AND ALSO ALL THE AMAZING EXPERIENCES THE MISSION BRINGS. LIKE THIS PAST THURSDAY WE HAD A MISSION TOUR. ELDER KENT F. RICHARDS OF THE 2ND QUORUM OF THE 70 CAME AND SPOKE TO US. ITS WAS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT ONLY TEACHING BY FAITH, BUT ALSO OF LEARNING BY FAITH! IT WAS A WAY POWERFUL MEETING, AND SOMETHING I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER, IT HELPED ME TO REALIZE SOMETHINGS, AND PUT THINGS INTO BETTER PERSPECTIVE. BUT THE MOST AMAZING AND KIND OF TRIPPY EXPERIENCE WAS WHEN WE GOT TO ALL MEET AND SHAKE HIS HAND. HE WAS ASKING EVERYONE WHERE WE WERE FROM AND HOW OUR FAMILY WAS DOING AND STUFF LIKE THAT. HE ASKED WERE I WAS FROM, AND I TOLD HIM SACRAMENTO, CUZ ITS BETTER KNOWN THEN ELK GROVE. AND THEN HE ASKED HOW MY FAMILY IS DOING, AND I SAID, "STILL GROWING" AND YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HE SAID NEXT. HE STILL HAD MY HAND IN HIS GRIP, AND HE LOOKED ME STRAIGHT IN THE EYES AND SAID, " ELDER, IM SORRY YOUR MISSING THE WEDDING." AND THEN .... WELL... I STARTED CRYING. LOL.. IT DIDNT HIT ME AT THAT POINT THAT HE KNEW WITHOUT ME SAYING A WORD, BUT IT WAS THAT HE WAS SINCERELY AND TRULY SORRY FOR ME. THAT HE SOMEHOW KNEW HOW IMPORTANT AND HARD IT IS FOR ME TO MISS THE WEDDING. AND THEN AS I WALKED AWAY I WAS COMFORTED,BY THE THOUGHT OF THE OPPORTUNITY I HAD TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE WHO IS SO IN TUNE WITH THE SPIRIT! IT WAS A LITTLE CREEPY IN A WAY IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, BUT ITS NOT CREEPY AT ALL! IT WAS... WELL... AWESOME! THAT WAS A DAY FULL OF EMOTIONS THAT WERE COMING FROM ALL SIDES, BUT EACH AND EVERY ONE BUILT UP MY TESTIMONY! WOW, THAT IS SOMETHING I CAN NEVER FORGET. OH MOM, DONT WORRY ABOUT THE PICTURE SLEEVES IF YOU CANT FIND THEM, ITS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL. I CAN PROBABLY FIND SOME SOMEWHERE, BUT WHAT I WOULD APPRECIATE, IS SOME OF THOSE LIGHT BLUE ENVELOPES I GOT BEFORE I CAME OUT, THE ONES FROM STAPLES? PLEASE. THANKS! SO LETS SEE, WELL IM LOVING BEING SR. ITS A LOT EASIER WHEN YOU KIND OF GET TO MAKE THE DECISIONS, I MEAN WE BOTH TALK THINGS OUT, BUT UTIMATLY ITS WHAT I FEEL IS BEST FOR OUR COMPANIONSHIP. AND WE GOT BIKES THE OTHER DAY, AND LET ME TELL YOU. GOSH IM TIRED...LOL... I HIT THE PILLOW EVERY NIGHT AND PASS OUT. I REALIZE HOW SPOILED WE ARE WITH A CAR, BUT WE GET IT BACK SOON. ANYWAYS, LETS SEE, OH SO I TOLD YOU ALL ABOUT VERNA AND LEE, THE LESS ACTIVE COUPLE WE SEE ALL THE TIME, WELL THEY WERE BAPTIZED A YEAR AGO, AND THEY HAVE BEEN TO CHURCH ONLY ABOUT 4 TIMES. AND I HAVE BEEN ALMOST PLEADING WITH THEM TO COME AND THEN THIS LAST SUNDAY, AS WE WERE SINGING THE OPENING HYMN, VERNA PLOPS DOWN RIGHT NEXT TO ME!!! IT LITERALLY MADE MY DAY! ITS CRAZY HOW YOUR FEELINGS TOWARDS THE WORK AND THE PEOPLE YOU SERVE, REALLY TURN TO LOVE! WE ARE SEEING REAL PROGRESS WITH THEM, AND DAVID AND HIS WIFE SHOULD BE HOME NOW, SO WORK SHOULD BE GOING FORWARD CONTINUALLY! I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT MY TESTIMONY IS GROWING EACH AND EVERY DAY, AND I COULD NEVER DENY THE TRUTHFULNESS OF THIS GOSPEL! I WITNESS THE MIRACLES OF IT EVERYDAY! NOT ONLY HERE, BUT AT HOME AS WELL! I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH AND I LOVE HEARING OF ALL THAT HAPPENS AT HOME! IM SORRY I CANT BE THERE TO BE THE BIG BROTHER TO BEAT UP THE MEAN TEACHERS, BUT HEAVENLY FATHER AND JESUS NEED ME FIGHTING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIR TEAM RIGHT NOW! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND I CAN NEVER THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU GIVE ME AND HELPING ME TO SERVE A MISSION! STAY STRONG, AND REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS! I LOVE YOU!!!
LOVE,ELDER OGEN

Saturday, September 12, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 22

***Be sure you don't miss the post below with the latest pictures sent home by Elder Petersen***

HELLO EVERYONE,
SO FIRST OFF, I FEEL BAD, CUZ I DONT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO EMAIL DAVID, COURT AND STACY BACK, I MIGHT BUT IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHEN I GET DONE WRITING TO THE FAM! SO THE MYLDSMAIL.NET WAS HAVING TROUBLE FOR LIKE 30 TO 45 MINUTES TODAY. SO THATS WHY IM A LITTLE RUSHED FOR TIME, BUT I KNOW THAT EVERYONE GETS THIS EMAIL, SO IT WILL BE BEST TO JUST SEND THE BIG ONE FOR THIS WEEK. BUT I'LL TRY TO EMAIL THE GIRLS AND DAVID. BUT ANYWAYS, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS DAD, MY COMPANION HAS BEEN OUT FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS, AND NO WE ARENT CO-SR. AND IT IS DEFINETLY STARTING TO GET A BIT CHILLY OUT HERE...LOL. BUT I HAVE ACCUMULATED TWO NICE BIG WINTER JACKETS AND 2 NICE PAIRS OF GLOVES, SO ALL I'LL NEED TO GET IN A MONTH OR SO IS A BEENIE, SCARF AND SOME EAR MUFFS. BUT NO WORRIES YET. SO GET THIS GUYS, ITS PRETTY IRONIC. SO NOW THAT I FINALLY GOT TO DRIVE, AND BE FULL TIME DRIVER, I WAS LOVING IT, AND THEN I WANTED THE TRUCK SO WE CLEANED OUR CAR LIKE CRAZY FOR THE CAR AWARD. SO WE WERE GOING TO FIND OUT WHO WINS TOMORROW, BUT I THINK ITS OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR ME TO WIN NOW WITH OUT EVEN HAVING A CAR ANYMORE.... SO THE REASON I DONT HAVE A CAR ANYMORE, IS WELL... DID YOU KNOW THAT THE CHURCH DOESN'T APPRECIATE IT IF YOU JUMP THE MISSION CARS AND TEAR THE FRONT BUMBLER AND GRILL OFF? WELL THEY DONT... AND ITS A GOOD THING I DIDNT DO THAT...LOL... BUT REALLY, WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUT OF KILOMETERS WE CAN DRIVE EACH MONTH, AND ELDER WILSON WENT WAY OVER THAT, SO THEY CALCULATED IT OUT TO WHERE ELDER GREENWELL AND I HAVE TO WALK THE REST OF THE MONTH TO BREAK EVEN, BUT WE GET IT BACK IN OCTOBER. NO BIGGIE, IT JUST STINKS THAT AS SOON AS I GET TO DRIVE, IT GETS RIPPED AWAY FROM ME. BUT ITS EXERCISE, SO IM NOT COMPLAINING. SO ITS IS JUST A BIT IRONIC. ANYWAYS, THINGS ARE STILL TOUGH WITH OLLIE, I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY, BUT I KNOW THAT HEAVENLY FATHER IS LOOKING OVER HIM, AND HE WILL COME AROUND SOON. WE ALSO MIGHT HAVE A NEW INVESTIGATOR THAT THE OTHER GUYS IN MY DISTRICT FOUND, SO THAT WILL BE NICE TO HAVE A NEW FACE. AND DAVID, OUR OTHER INVESTIGATOR SHOULD BE BACK FROM HIS VACATION HERE IN A WEEK, SO THAT WILL BE GOOD, TO PICK THINGS BACK UP. GOSH, I NEVER THOUGHT LOOKING BACK THAT I WOULD GET SO EXCITED FOR MISSIONARY WORK, I KNOW THAT ADJUSTING TO MISSIONARY LIFE HELPS TOTALLY, AND KEEPING THE SPIRIT WITH YOU ALWAYS. BUT I JUST NEVER LOOKED AT IT THE WAY I DO KNOW. I COULD NEVER DOUBT THE THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE NOW! MY MISSION MEANS THE WORLD TO ME, AND EVEN THOUGH TIMES GET HARD, I KNOW THAT HEAVENLY FATHER DOESNT GIVE US THINGS HE KNOWS WE CANT ACCOMPLISH! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY, AND IF I COME HOME A LITTLE MISSIONARY AWKWARD, THATS OK, AT LEAST YOU'LL KNOW I WAS WORKIN HARD...LOL.. BUT REALLY, THE WORK IS HARD, BUT IT IS SO WORTH IT. JUST TO FEEL THE SPIRIT TESTIFY TO ME AS I TESTIFY OF WHAT I KNOW TO ANOTHER OF HEAVENLY FATHERS CHILDREN! I KNOW THIS CHURCH IS TRUE, AND I KNOW THAT I'M CALLED OF GOD TO FIND HIS LOST SHEEP! I LOVE THIS WORK. GUYS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND THAT IM ALWAYS PRAYING FOR YOU! SORRY THAT I CANT ANSWER EVERYONE TODAY, BUT I LOVE THE SUPPORT I GET FROM YOU ALL EACH AND EVERY DAY! KEEP 'EM COMIN', I'LL ANSWER! :) IM SO HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THAT HAPPENS, WITH ALL THE LITTLE ONES AND SCHOOL, AND SOCCER, AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND BABIES ON THE WAY AND THE BABIES EATING BRICK...LOL. POOR RYAN! BUT ANYWAYS I GOT TO RUN, SORRY ABOUT THE SHORT EMAIL THIS WEEK, BUT IT HAPPENS I GUESS. BUT THROUGH ALL THAT HAPPENS, KNOW THAT I LOVE AND PRAY FOR EACH ONE OF YOU EVERYDAY! NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK ME TO PRAY ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS, BECAUSE AS DAVID PUTS IT, MISSIONARIES ARE RIGHT UNDER THE GENERAL AUTHORITIES WHEN IT COMES TO ANSWERED PRAYERS...LOL.. WELL WE'LL SEE, EH? ANYWAYS, I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EACH WEDNESDAY! I CANT WAIT FOR THE PACKAGES, I THINK IM GOOD, WELL I CANT FIND ANY MELATONIN UP HERE, BUT THATS ABOUT IT. :) BUT I GOT TO RUN, I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! STAY STRONG, AND REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS!
LOVE,ELDER OGEN

Latest Pics

Here's the latest batch of photo's Elder Petersen sent home---in no particular order.
Some pictures have a comment or caption on the back-some don't. His captions will be in quotations. Get ready...you may "LOL" a lot...he sure did! :) Enjoy!

Our missionary...

"E. Eberly"

"GQ-ing in Okotoks" & "Okotok's View"

"Sheep River"

"My 'Petey Pop' LOL" & "My Makeshift Soda" (for those of you who don't know-he's given up soda since out in the field) & "The Making of..."

"E. Smith"

"Safety Officer Petersen"

"Parade help...we were blocking off traffic"

"Goodbye to Pridays" (Mission President & his wife)

"My MTC comp. at Zone Conference"

"My Flag"

"E. Dopp...LOL"

"Canada Day"

"E. Madsen burning his one year shirt"

"E. Smith. LOL"

"I was soaked from the rain storm" & "Don't ask...LOL"

"They are everywhere...LOL"

Verna & Lee

"The 'No Name' products are really No Name. LOL"

"My driver...E.Wilson"

"Foothills Zone"

"E. Wilson"

"E.Wilson, AKA Bubbls" & "E. Pearce"

"Goodbye to E. Stevenson"

"E. Snell & Holcombe"

"Black Diamond and Turner Valley"

"E.Stevenson 2 year suit burn. He's from Granite Bay, CA"

"E. Dickson and Smith" & "E. Stevenson & Whitt"

"Stampede Breakfast"

"Their REAL! LOL"

"Magnetic Silverware"

"TRANSFORMER!!!"

"Me and E. Barry"

"I WANT ONE!"

Hope you all enjoyed!!! We know he is having fun doing the Lord's work! :)

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 21

HELLO EVERYBODY!
I CANT BELIEVE ITS SEPTEMBER! AND THAT WHITNEY IS 16. YEAH I DONT THINK SHE IS ALOUD BE THAT OLD YET... AND TIFFANY AND NICOLE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL?? GOSH THIS IS CRAZY. OH AND DAVID IS OUT OFF THE HOUSE FOR GOOD, WELL THAT MIGHT BE A PLUS...LOL.. KIDDING. BUT ANYWAYS ITS HARD TO THINK THAT TIME IS JUST TRUCKIN ALONG. IM ALMOST 1/4 DONE WITH MY MISSION, AND ITS ONLY GOING FASTER AS TIME GOES ON. BUT IM WORKIN HARD TO USE EVERY MINUTE I CAN. BUT BEFORE I GET STARTED, MOM, ITS BEST TO SEND ANY MAIL WHATSOEVER TO THE MISSION OFFICE ADDRESS JUST SO IT'S SURE TO GET TO ME AND NOT SHOW UP AT THE MISSIONARY PAD AFTER I LEAVE IT, AND IT NEVER GETS TO ME. BUT ALSO, AIR MAIL IS BASICALLY WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO WITH MAIL AND PACKAGES, CUZ PACKAGES THAT DONT HAVE AIRMAIL CAN TAKE UP TO 3 MONTHS TO COME THROUGH. CRAZY EH? WELL ITS SAD BUT TRUE. ANYWAYS, SO I MUST SAY BEING SR. COMP DEFINITELY STRETCHES YOU AND FORCES YOU TO GROW. IT HAS BEEN A BIT STRESSFUL, BUT IM GETTING USED TO IT. ELDER GREEWELL IS MY NEW COMP. OUR INTERESTS ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. HE LIKES A LOT OF COMPUTER GAMES AND TECHNOLOGY STUFF AND HE TALKS ABOUT COMPUTER STUFF AND IM LOST, AND VICE VERSA WITH ME WHEN I TALK ABOUT FOOTBALL AND TRUCKS...LOL. BUT WE ARE FINDING COMMON GROUND. SO ABOUT MY "GATORS" :) WELL I GUESS OLLIE FELL OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH. I CALL HIM ALL THE TIME AND HE NEVER ANSWERS, HE WASNT AT CHURCH ON SUNDAY, IT HAS SCARED ME A BIT. HE IS SO CLOSE TO BAPTISM IT SCARES ME TO THINK HE MIGHT BE BACKING AWAY. BUT I HAVE FAITH THAT HE KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF IT AND WILL BE BAPTIZED WHEN IT IS HIS TIME! THE WORK IS TOUGH, OUR MISSION IS NOT SO "EASY" SO TO SPEAK WHEN IT COME TO BAPTISMAL NUMBERS, BUT ITS NOT ABOUT HOW MANY WE WANT TO BAPTIZE, ITS HOW MANY WE HAVE THAT IS IMPORTANT. THE WORTH OF A SINGLE SOUL IS GREAT IN THE EYES OF GOD! I KNOW THAT IS WORK MUST GO ON NO MATTER HOW HARD IT CAN BE! I KNOW I WAS SENT HERE FOR A REASON, AND IM WORKING TOWARDS IT EVERYDAY! SO LETS SEE, WHAT ELSE CAN I TELL YOU, OH SO WE HAD OUR INTERVIEWS YESTERDAY, AND OUR CAR INSPECTIONS, AND I MUST SAY, OUR CAR WAS SUPER SUPER CLEAN. SERIOUSLY WE SHINED THE ENGINE...LOL... WE HAVE A WAY GOOD CHANCE AT WINNING, AND IF WE DO IM SO TAKING THE TRUCK. BUT DONT WORRY I WONT LIFT A MISSION TRUCK AND PUT BIGGER TIRES ON IT. IT IS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE THOUGH, SO I CANT MAKE ANY PROMISES THERE...LOL WE DO HAVE A LOT OF OPEN FIELDS IN OKOTOKS...LOL... JUST KIDDING. I LOVE PRESIDENT ARCHIBALD. MOST MISSIONARIES SAY THEY FEAR THEIR MISSION PRESIDENT, BUT WHEN ITS ONE ON ONE INTERVIEWS, I FEEL SO AT EASE WITH HIM WHERE I KNOW THAT I CAN OPEN UP WITH ALL MY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, AND HE CAN GIVE ME THE ANSWERS I NEED OR WHERE I NEED TO TURN TO WITH HEAVENLY FATHER IN MY PRAYERS. AND SISTER ARCHIBALD, WELL, SHE IS TOTALLY LIKE A MOTHER TO ALL OF US OUT HERE. MOM DONT WORRY, NO ONE COULD EVER EVER EVER REPLACE YOU! BUT JUST KNOW IM IN GOOD HANDS, SHE HAS A BOY ON A MISSION RIGHT NOW TOO, SO SHE KNOWS HOW YOU FEEL! :) BUT I WANT YOU GUYS ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU! AND THAT MY MISSION IS TURNING ME INTO THE MAN I NEED AND WANT TO BE! MY TESTIMONY GROWS EACH DAY, AND GROWS EVEN AS I BEAR IT! I LOVE YOU GUYS, AND WILL BE ALWAYS FASTING AND PRAYING FOR YOU! YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME! I LOVE YOU!
LOVE ELDER OGEN
P.S. THERE SHOULD BE SOME MAIL FROM ME THERE IN A DAY OR SO.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 20

WELL TRANSFERS ARE HERE,ITS CRAZY HOW FAST THEY COME UP. SO THERE WAS A BIT OF A CHANGE.... ELDER WILSON IS BEING TRANSFERED, AND IM STAYING HERE. BUT IM WAY EXCITED, CUZ ILL BE SR. COMP AND DRIVER!!! MY NEW COMPANION IS ELDER GREENWELL, I HAVE NEVER MET HIM, BUT I'LL DEFFINETLY LET YOU KNOW HOW ITS GOING NEXT WEEK. BUT GOING SR. COMPANION WILL BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME, BUT IM READY FOR IT! :) ITS CRAZY HOW FAST TIME IS FLYING. TRANSFERS HAVE ONLY BEEN GOING FASTER AND FASTER SINCE I HAVE BEEN OUT. AND BEFORE I KNOW IT I WILL BE IN MY LAST ONE ABOUT TO COME HOME! ITS CRAZY. BUT WHAT IS WAY CRAZY IS WE HAVE 23 NEW MISSIONARIES COMING TO OUR MISSION TOMORROW. AND ONLY 8 ARE GOING HOME. SALT LAKE IS EXPANDING OUR MISSION GRADUALLY OVER THEN NEXT FEW MONTHS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE AT ABOUT 170 MISSIONARIES, AND BY JANUARY WE ARE GOING TO BE A BIT OVER 200. SO LOTS OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MISSIONARIES. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT. SO, WHITNEY DID AWESOME, AND IM GLAD TO HEAR THAT! AND THAT SHE DIDNT BREAK ANYTHING BY NOT PLAYING...LOL.. SO QUESTION, KURTIS IS STILL AT HOME? IF HE IS TELL HIM I WANT TO HEAR FROM HIM.:) ANYWAYS, HOW ARE THE GIRLS LIKING SCHOOL? IM SURE THEY ARENT LOVING IT, BUT I HAVE TO SAY, IT IS DEFFINETLY EASIER THEN HAVING TO BE AN ADULT. WHICH I'M NO WHERE NEAR. STILL JUST A KID. LOL... A FORMER MISSION PRESIDENT SAID IT LIKE BEING IN CHARGE OF 150 BOY SCOUTS, BUT THESE BOY SCOUTS HAVE CARS. VERY TRUE STATEMENT. SO LETS SEE, NOT MUCH HAS HAPPENED SINCE LAST WEDNESDAY, JUST WITH SHORT TIME IN BETWEEN P-DAYS, AND TRANSFERS, IT JUST HAS BEEN A BIT SLOW. BUT NO WORRIES IM STILL WORKIN HARD. WE DID GET TO GO VISIT ASHLEY, WE HAVEN'T SEEN HER SINCE SHE WAS BAPTIZED. SHE AND THE FAMILY SHE LIVES WITH MOVED AND HAPPEN TO BE IN THE OTHER MISSIONARIES WARD NOW, SO WE HAD TO GET PERMISSION TO GO SAY BYE JUST IN CASE ONE OF US LEFT. SO THAT WAS NICE TO SEE HER. WELL AS YOU CAN CAN PROBABLY GUESS, IT MAKES ME HAPPY TO KNOW YOUR STILL SEEING SAM AND HAVING HER COME OVER. :) AND I CANT BELIEVE THAT DAVID AND ASHLEY ARE ALMOST HITCHED...LOL.. CRAZY STUFF! OH, UM YOU ASKED IF I WAS STILL DROPPING WEIGHT, I HAVE HIT A BIT OF A FLAT LINE, AND HAVENT DROPPED LIKE I DID IN THE MTC, BUT IM NOT GAINING, IM HOPPING THE JUMP ROPE WILL HELP ME MORE ALONG THE WAY. BUT IM DEFINETLY LOSING STILL. MY CLOTHES ARE BIGGER ON ME, AND I HAD TO POKE A HOLE IN MY BELT. I DONT KNOW IF YOU CAN TELL VERY WELL IN MY PICTURES, BUT I HAVE LOST...LOL. ANYWAYS, LETS SEE, NOT A WHOLE LOT OF EXCITING STUFF THIS WEEK, JUST THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY! THE STUFF I FIND EXCITING IS DIFFERENT FROM MOST PEOPLE. LIKE WHO ELSE DO YOU KNOW WHO GETS SUPER EXCITED WHEN SOME ONE TAKES A BOOK OF MORMON FROM YOU? HAHAH. A MISSIONARY! BUT THATS OK, THATS WHAT IM HERE TO DO. BUT THE EXPERIENCES IM HAVING OUT HERE ARE AMAZING. THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS HAVING A BIT OF A HARD TIME AND AS I WAS PRAYING I GOT MY ANSWER. I WAS SAYING I FEEL SO LOST, BUT YET IM RIGHT WERE I NEED TO BE. AND THATS WHEN IT HIT ME. AT TIMES ITS HARD AND I WANT TO COME HOME, AND IT HURTS TO BE REJECTED. BUT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS I'M DOING WHAT IM SUPPOSE TO BE, AND THERE IS NO WHERE ELSE I SHOULD BE. I KNOW PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED, AND I KNOW HE IS LISTENING! I LOVE MY MISSION! AND I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH! YOU ALL MEAN SO MUCH TO ME! I COULD NEVER DO THIS WITHOUT YOU! I LOVE YOU!

LOVE,

ELDER OGEN

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 19

***Note from the editor- When I post Elder Petersen's emails, I try to fix typos here and there but I try not to detract from the "Logan-ness" of them. So, just so you mix the funny and randomness with the spiritual, wonderful, testimony building thoughts that he has, the spiritual messages of his emails will now be in BOLD lettering.***

SO BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING ELSE, TRANSFERS ARE NEXT WEEK, AND WE HAVE TUESDAY P-DAY, SO JUST REMEMBER THAT PLEASE(WHEN YOU EMAIL). SO GUYS, PLEASE DONT BE MAD, BUT MY PRACTICE ON SATURDAY (FOR SINGING IN CHURCH) DIDN'T HAPPEN CUZ OF AN INTERVIEW ELDER WILSON HAD WITH PRESIDENT ARCHIBALD, SO I HAD TO BE THERE TOO, BUT ANYWAYS. I WASNT ABLE TO RECORD IT, AND WE ALL KNOW WE DONT RECORD IN THE CHAPEL. SO IM SORRY! :( BUT DONT WORRY IT ALL WENT REALLY GOOD. AND ALSO, IT WONT BE THE LAST ONE I DO, WE HAVE MUSICAL NUMBERS EVERY ZONE CONFERENCE SO I'LL HAVE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO RECORD SOMETHING FOR YOU ALL. SPEAKING OF TAPES, HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN ABLE TO RECORD ONE AND SEND IT BACK YET? NOT TO SOUND NEEDY, BUT I WOULD SURE LOVE IT IF YOU GUYS DID! OH AND I HAVE A QUESTION, SO AS WE ALL KNOW THERE ARE THINGS HERE IN THE FROZEN NORTH THAT ARE NOT THE SAME IN THE STATES. SO I WAS WONDERING IF MAYBE YOU GUYS COULD SEND SOME AMERICAN OREOS... I KNOW IT SOUNDS WEIRD, AND I HATE TO ASK, BUT THE ONES UP HERE TASTE LIKE OREOS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT OPEN ON THE COUNTER FOR A WEEK...LOL AND SEEING THAT IN ABOUT A MONTH OR 2 IT WILL BE TOO COLD OUT SIDE TO RUN OR JOG, I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COLD SEND MY JUMP ROPE FROM FOOTBALL. OR ONE LIKE IT... YOU KNOW THE RED AND WHITE ONE? ANYWAYS, IF YOU COULD IT WOULD BE GREAT! SO THIS WEEK HAS BEEN GOOD, WE HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH DAVID, AND HE IS MOVING RIGHT ALONG, BUT WILL BE GONE FOR A BIT, SO IT IS ON HOLD RIGHT NOW. AND OLLIE, IT IS THE SAME STORY WITH HIM, HE HAS A HARD TIME KEEPING APPOINTMENTS. BUT HE IS GETTING BAPTIZED SOON, HE JUST NEEDS TO PICK A DATE... THAT IS IF WE CAN EVER SEE HIM...LOL WOW I CANT BELIEVE THAT WHIT IS A JR. AND THE TWINS ARE IN JR HIGH!!! WEIRD!!! BUT I KNOW THEY ARE ALL GOING TO DO GREAT! GOSH IT MAKES ME FEEL SO DANG OLD! AND CAN YOU GUYS BELIEVE THAT ITS ALMOST BEEN 5 MONTHS! HOLY CRAP IT'S STARTING TO FLY BY! HMM.. LETS SEE, SO MY BUDGETING IS GOING WELL, AS YO CAN SEE, FROM TIME TO TIME, I MIGHT GET A FEW THINGS FROM THE GAS STATION, BUT NO WHERE NEAR WHAT I WAS DOING. AND YOU WILL BE GETTING PICTURES SOON, I JUST HAVE TO WRITE ON THE BACKS OF THEM. OH THATS WHAT ELSE I WAS ASKIN ABOUT.... I CANT FIND THOSE PICTURE SLEEVES FOR BINDERS ANYWHERE, AND I AM STARTING TO ACCUMULATE PICTURES THAT I WANT TO PUT IN A BINDER, BUT ANYWAYS, I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT IM DOING JUST FINE! MY STUDIES ARE GOING GREAT. I NEVER KNEW THERE WAS SO MUCH TO LEARN FROM THE SCRIPTURES ALONE! THIS GOSPEL MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME AND I COULDN'T IMAGINE NOT BEING OUT HERE. I KNOW THAT ALL IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF WHILE I AM AWAY, AND I KNOW THAT THE LORD ANSWERS PRAYERS. HE MIGHT NOT ANSWER THEM RIGHT AWAY, BUT I KNOW THAT HE ANSWERS EVERY SINGLE PRAYER! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND I LOVE THE FACT KNOWING I HAVE AN ETERNAL FAMILY! EVEN IF I DIDNT GET TO PICK YOU GUYS! LOL... I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND I PRAY FOR YOU ALL EACH DAY! REMEMBER... TUESDAY P-DAY! :) I LOVE YOU!

LOVE ELDER OGEN

Monday, August 17, 2009

Faith in Every Footstep

So, if you read this last email from Logan, you'd have caught that he sang a solo in church yesterday. If any of you know him, you'd know that this seems very out of character for "Logan"...but apparently not for Elder Petersen...

...as his sister, who LOVES to sing, I am thrilled to think I may have a brother returning home with a new found love of singing that I can sing duets with! :)

Below is a video of the MTC choir in 2008, singing "Faith in Every Footstep", which is the song Elder Petersen sang yesterday in Sacrament meeting. Wish we could've been there to hear him, but we are hoping to receive a recorded tape version of a practice with his pianist soon. If there is a way to post it (and with Elder Petersen's permission) I will try and post it here on this blog.

FAITH IN EVERY FOOTSTEP

WEEKLY EMAIL-Week 18

SO BEFORE I GET STARTED, DAD I WANTED TO ASK IF I COULD US MY CARD TO DEVELOP PICTURES AND GET SOME HAIR GEL? ANYWAYS, SO, I WILL BE SINGING THIS SUNDAY IN CHURCH, I'LL BE SINGING "FAITH IN EVERY FOOTSTEP" ITS A WAY GOOD SONG, AND I'LL TRY TO RECORD IT AT PRACTICE THIS WEEK, CUZ I KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T IN THE CHAPEL! BUT ANYWAYS, I KNOW WHAT YOUR ALL THINKING, LOGAN SOLO... YEAH RIGHT! WELL I GUESS THAT I SOUNDED GOOD TO THE SISTER IN FRONT OF ME WHO IS OR USED TO BE THE WARD CHORISTER, SO SHE TOLD THE BISHOPRIC I WOULD BEFORE ASKING ME. SO THIS SHOULD BE FUN I GUESS...LOL... BUT IM SORRY MOM, I KNOW YOU WISHED I WOULD HAVE SANG IN CHURCH BEFORE, BUT LIKE DAD SAID, ITS AMAZING WHAT YOU END UP DOING ON THE MISSION. I CANT BELIEVE THAT THE GIRLS ARE ALL STARTING SCHOOL THIS WEEK...SUCKERS...LOL... IM KIDDING! :) WOW SUMMER IS FLYIN BY. WINTER IS LITERALLY AROUND THE CORNER HERE...LOL... SO WE WILL SEE HOW THAT GOES. ITS CRAZY HOW FAST TIME IS GOING! WOW I CANT BELIEVE THAT WHIT IS DOING SO WELL IN SOCCER! WELL I GUESS I CAN! :) SO UPDATES FOR YOU GUYS. SO LAST THURSDAY I ATE CRAP AND SLIPPED DOWN A HILL LIKE 10 FEET AFTER A RAIN STORM AND GOT WAY MUDDY... BUT I TOTALLY FORGOT MY CAMERA! LOL... ELDER WILSON COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING AT ME. SO IF PEOPLE DONT ALREADY STARE AT US ENOUGH, NOW ONE OF US WAS COVERED IN MUD. BUT DONT WORRY MOM, IT WASHED RIGHT OUT. :) SO IT WAS WAY FUNNY! SO OLLIE THE YOUNGER GUY WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH WENT TO EFY LAST WEEK AND HAD AN AMAZING TIME, AND IS GOING TO BE BAPTIZED! WE DONT HAVE A DATE YET, BUT HE IS DEFFINETLY GOING TO BE DUNKED HERE SOON! LOL... DAVID AND HIS WIFE ARE STILL TAKING THE LESSONS, BUT ARE NOT SO CLOSE TO BAPTISM... WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THEM TOMORROW, SO WE WILL SEE HOW THAT GOES! AS FOR THAT, NO NEW INVESTIGATORS THIS WEEK, BUT WE HAVE BEEN GETTING ALOT OF NEW TRAINING OUR NEW MISSION PRESIDENT FEELS INSPIRED TO GIVE US. SO THAT HAS BEEN GOOD. ITS CRAZY, TRANSFERS ARE ON THE 26 THIS MONTH, AND ITS GOING TO BE HERE SOONER THEN I KNOW. IM PRETTY SURE THAT IM STAYING HERE, AND ELDER WILSON WILL BE TRANSFERED. BY THE TIME TRANSFERS HIT HE WILL HAVE BEEN IN OKOTOKS FOR 6 MONTHS, AND ME FOR 3. THATS WEIRD TO THINK. OUT HERE WEEKS TURN ITO DAYS, AND MONTHS TURN INTO WEEKS! IT'S LIKE EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND IT'S SUNDAY...LOL... BUT IM NOT COMPLAINING! :) SO OTHER THEN THAT, NOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF EXCITING STUFF THIS WEEK! WE HAVE HAD SOME BETTER WEATHER, SO TODAY WE ARE GOING TO FISH CREEK PARK TO CATCH THE SUN WHILE ITS HERE! :) BUT I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT IM WORKIN MY BUTT OFF, AND I CANT BELIEVE HOW MUCH I LEARN EACH TIME I CRACK OPEN MY SCRIPTURES! I LOVE TO LEARN ABOUT THE GOSPEL AS I TEACH IT, AND I CANT IMAGINE NOT HAVING THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH THAT I HAVE! MY TESTIMONY HAS GROWN SO MUCH, AND IT WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO GET STRONGER! I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY, AND GIVING ALL THAT I HAVE TO CHRIST AND HIS WORK! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND I KEEP ALL OF YOU IN MY PRAYERS EVERY NIGHT AND DAY! AND I HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR DAVID TO SELL HIS TOYS! :) I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH, AND IM SO HAPPY TO KNOW THAT I HAVE AN ETERNAL FAMILY! YOU ALL MEAN THE WORLD TO ME AND I NOTHING CAN EVER COME BETWEEN OUR FAMILY! REMEMBER TO ALWAYS PRAY!

LOVE ELDER OGEN

Monday, August 10, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 17

SO GUYS JUST SO START OFF... MY "U" KEY IS MESSED UP, SO IF A WORD LOOKS WEIRD... ADD A "U". ANYWAYS. BEFORE I GET GOING, I WANTED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. SO FAR I HAVE HAD A CAR IN BOTH OF MY AREAS, AND THE SR. COMP. NORMALLY IS THE DRIVER 100% OF THE TIME. SO, IM STILL JUST SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT FOR NOW. AND MY STUDIES ARE GOING PRETTY GOOD. RIGHT NOW I HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE BOOK OF JOB A LOT. I REALIZE THAT FROM READING JOB THAT NO MATTER WHAT CRAP WE GET INTO IN OUR LIVES, THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND NEVER DOUBT THAT HE HAS A PLAN FOR ALL OF US, EVEN IF ITS A PLAN THAT MIGHT NOT ALWAYS MAKE US THE HAPPIEST. I MEAN JOB LOSES EVERYTHING, AND JUST KEEPS GETTING HIT WITH PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM, AND HE NEVER FOR ONE SECOND CURSES GOD OR LOSES FAITH. SORRY THAT WAS THE MISSIONARY COMING OUT... I JUST START TO GO OFF SOMETIMES, CUZ WHEN WE TALK SOMETIMES OUT HERE, YOU GET ALL EXCITED TALKING ABOUT SCRIPTURES...LOL SO ANYWAYS, MY HAND IS FEELING FINE,IT DOESNT HURT AT ALL ANYMORE SO IM GOOD. SO ON WITH THE WEEK, WELL IT WAS KINDA SLOW JUST CUZ WE HAD A TON OF MEETINGS. PLUS WE HAVE GOTTEN QUITE A BIT OF RAIN SO THAT ALWAYS SLOWS THINGS DOWN A BIT.... WOW A GUY JUST WALKED UP TO THE 4 OF US EMAILING JUST NOW AND SAID WE ARE GOING TO HELL...THAT WAS NICE OF HIM... GOSH YOU WONDER WHERE SOME PEOPLE GET OFF FEELING THEY NEED TO BE RUDE TO SOMEONE WHO IS DIFFERENT. WOW I JUST TAUGHT MYSELF A LESSON...LOL... IM A HYPOCRITE...LOL... ANYWAYS, WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH THE 3 PEOPLE I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT, AND WE HAVE AN APPT. WITH THEM ON FRIDAY,OR TOMORROW. ANYWAYS, ALL IS GOING GOOD HERE, SORRY I DONT HAVE MUCH TO TELL YOU, LIKE I SAID THIS WEEK IS A LITTLE SLOW SO FAR. BUT I WANT YOU GUYS TO ALL KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND THAT I PRAY FOR YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY AND NIGHT! OH AND I CANT BELIEVE THAT WHITNEY... WELL ACTUALLY I CAN BELIEVE IT, BUT THAT THEY WON THE WHOLE TOURNAMENT! THATS AWESOME! I KNOW WHITNEY WILL BE AND STILL IS A STAR IN SOCCER! AND IT WAS FUN TO HEAR OF THE FAMILY REUNION TOO! GOSH I CANT BELIEVE THAT WHEN I GO ON A MISSION THAT THEY DECIDE TO HAVE ONE...LOL... ANYWAYS! I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT ALL IS WELL, AND THAT I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! NOTHING CAN STOP ME FROM DOING THE LORDS WORK! REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS! I LOVE YOU!
LOVE
ELDER OGEN

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 16

WELL HELLO FAMILY. FIRST OFF, ALL IS GOING GOOD THIS WEEK. WE HAD OUR FIRST INTERVIEWS WITH PRESIDENT ARCHIBALD, AND IT WENT REALLY WELL. ITS AMAZING HOW YOU CAN TELL HE IS AN INSPIRED MAN. SO, TO ANSWER MOM'S QUESTIONS, YES ITS WARMING UP A BIT IT WAS ABOUT 34 OR 35 CELCIUS LAST WEEK WHICH IS LIKE 80'S OR 90'S IN FARENHEIT (IM NOT TOO SURE) BUT IT WONT LAST TOO LONG. AND YES WE ARE IN A CAR AREA RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A NEWER MALIBU, ITS PRETTY NICE. ANYWAYS, ABOUT THIS WEEK, FIRST ITS ALWAYS FUN TO HEAR HOW EVERYTHING IS GOING BACK HOME, AND ALL THE FUN INFO! BUT ITS CRAZY TO HEAR ABOUT CASEY GROW! IM SO PROUD OF THAT GUY! I WOULD LOVE TO SERVE WITH HIM ON THE MISSION! SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 3 INVESTIGATORS... "GATORS"... OLLIE WHO I TOLD YOU ABOUT LAST WEEK, RIGHT NOW HE IS AT EFY, WHICH WILL BE REALLY GOOD FOR HIM. AND THEN WE HAVE A COUPLE. WE JUST TAUGHT THEM YESTERDAY, AND EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING! WE BROUGHT ONE OF THE PRIEST AGE BOYS FROM OUR WARD WITH US AND IT REALLY HELPS TO BRING THE SPIRIT IN SO MUCH STRONGER! TO HAVE THE ADDED TESTIMONY OF A YOUNG GUY OF WHAT HE KNOWS TO BE TRUE IS AMAZING! SO I HAVE HAVE TO TELL YOU GUYS, I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A TESTIMONY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON, AND THE TRUTH OF IT. BUT THE OTHER DAY WHEN ELDER WILSON AND I WERE TEACHING A MEMBER LESSON, I ASKED THAT THEY CONTINUE TO READ AND PRAY ABOUT THE BOOK OF MORMON. AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, I SHOULD BE CONTINUING TO DO THE SAME. AND AFTER MY PRAYERS THE OTHER NIGHT AND ASKING, I HAD THE CLEAREST ANSWER IN MY LIFE! I WAS THINKING OF THE BOOK OF MORMON, AND HOW MUCH I LOVE TO READ AND STUDY IT, AND HOW MY PATRIARCHAL BLESSING SAYS I WILL HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO STUDY THE SCRIPTURES,THAT IS WHEN MY ANSWER CAME: IF IT WASN'T TRUE, I WOULDN'T CONTINUE TO READ AND STUDY IT! I KNOW THAT EVERY ONE RECEIVES ANSWERS DIFFERENTLY, AND I KNOW THAT MY TESTIMONY, IS NOW SO MUCH STRONGER OF THE TRUTH OF THE BOOK OF MORMON! I LOVE THIS GOSPEL, AND THE TRUTH OF IT WHICH I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT IN MY HEART TO BE TRUE! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND I CANT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU SHOW ME EACH AND EVERY DAY! YOU ALL MEAN THE WORLD TO ME, AND I LOVE THE THOUGHT OF KNOWING I HAVE AN ETERNAL FAMILY THAT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FROM ME! I LOVE THIS WORK, AND I LOVE MY MISSION! I COULDN'T IMAGINE NOT BEING OUT HERE! I LOVE YOU ALL! LOVE
ELDER OGEN

Thursday, July 23, 2009

WEEKLY EMAIL-WEEK 15

SO, THIS WEEK HAS BEEN A LITTLE WARM. BUT NOTHING CLOSE TO YOU GUYS. SO,ELDER WILSON AND I ARE WORKING WITH A YOUNGER GUY WHO MOST LIKELY WILL BE BAPTIZED. HE HAD A DATE SET A WHILE AGO, BUT HIS PARENTS SAID NO, BUT NOW HE IS 18 AND ITS HIS CHOICE. SO WE WILL HOPFULLY BE HAVING SUCCESS WITH HIM SOON. HIS NAME IS OLLIE! HE IS A WAY COOL GUY AND IS WAY BIG INTO FOOTBALL, BUT GOOD NEWS IS RIGHT NOW HE IS AT EFY WITH HIS FRIENDS, AND THAT IS WAY WAY GOOD! HE WILL HAVE AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE! SO THATS GOOD. OTHER THEN THAT ITS A BIT SLOW, WITH THE WARMER WEATHER, LIKE ALL OF OKOTOKS IS CAMPING OR ON VACATION.... OUR WARDS NUMBERS RIGHT NOW ARE LIKE CLOSE TO HALF WITH ALL THE MEMBERS ON VACATION...LOL.. BUT WE ARE STAYING BUSY ENOUGH! BUT SO YOU KNOW, I SHUT MY HAND IN THE CAR DOOR AND MIGHT HAVE BROKE IT IM NOT SURE, BUT AIRBORNE CLEARED IT RIGHT UP...LOL... IM KIDDING, I DID SHUT IT IN THE DOOR, BUT IT WAS JUST A BRUISE. SO NO WORRIES . ANYWAYS. I WANT YOU GUYS TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, AND IM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING GOOD BACK HOME. ALWAYS ON THE GO WITH SOCCER, PIG STUFF, AND EVERYTHING ELSE. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH, AND I PRAY FOR YOU EACH DAY. AND YES MOM I WROTE JOHNNY! :) I LOVE YOU ALL, AND IM SO HAPPY TO KNOW I HAVE AN ETERNAL FAMILY! REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS! I LOVE YOU GUYS!
LOVE,ELDER OGEN

Weekly Email-Week 14

I haven't been on the ball with this blog--this is last weeks email home. Also, to preface this email, Joey was one of the family dogs who had severe allergies and was given up to a home where he could be better taken care of. You'll get what I mean when you read ahead...

HEY THERE EVERYONE, FIRST OFF I'M NOT GOING TO LIE IT WAS HARD TO READ ABOUT JOEY , BUT I KNEW HE NEEDED TO BE HELPED! IM SORRY FOR ANY TROUBLE THAT I CAUSED ABOUT HIM, I WAS VERY SELFISH, CUZ AS YOU ALL KNOW I AM VERY ATTACHED TO MY PUPPIES! :) I KNOW WHAT YOU DID WAS THE BEST, AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME THE EMAILS BACK AND FORTH (from the new owner)! I KNOW HE IS DOING GOOD, AND IT CRACKED ME UP TO HEAR THAT LADY TALK ABOUT HOW HE SITS ON THE DESK AND BASICALLY SLEEPS ON TOP OF HER...LOL... SAME OLD STINKY JOEY! BUT THANK YOU, AND ALSO I ALWAYS COULD TELL MACIE FELT A LITTLE IN THE BACK, BUT I CANT WAIT TO BE AT HOME AGAIN WITH HER. WOW I FEEL LIKE A BABY, I CRIED ABOUT MY DOGS! LOL... ANYWAYS THANK YOU AGAIN! BUT ONTO MISSION NEWS, SO WE FOUND OUT TODAY HOW TRANSFERS ARE GOING, AND ELDER WILSON AND I ARE STAYING ANOTHER IN OKOTOKS TOGETHER! IT's A RELIEF CUZ I HAVE FOUND TRANSFERS TO BE A BIT STRESSFUL NOT KNOWING WhERE YOU MIGHT BE GOING OR WHO WITH, AND AFTER THIS TRANSFER I WILL PROBABLY STAY AND ELDER WILSON WILL GO! ITS CRAZY HOW FAST THIS TRANSFER WENT. AND ITS ONLY GOING TO GO FASTER! SO IM GLAD TO HEAR EVERY ONE had FUN THESE PAST WEEKS, AT GIRLS CAMP AND DAD GOING TO NEW MEXICO! SO, WE HAD A STAMPEDE BREAKFAST IN OKOTOKS ON SATURDAY, AND IT WAS AWESOME! I GOT TO PLAY A DRUM SOLO FOR THE CROWD OF PEOPLE THERE. I KNEW THE KID PLAYING THE DRUMS, AND HE CALLED ME UP OUT OF NOWHERE TO PLAY AND I HAVE TO SAY I WENT CRAZY AND PLAYED MY HEART OUT!!!LOL.. AND GET THIS, SO BROTHER CARL, A SUPER RICH RANCHER IN OUR WARD HERE BROUGHT HIS NEWEST TOY TO SHOW OFF, IT WAS THE BIG BLACK TRUCK FROM TRANSFORMERS, IRONHIDE! HE BOUGHT ONE OF SEVEN FROM PARAMOUNT PICTURES!!! I GOT PICTURES WITH IT AND LET ME TELL YOU I WAS FREAKING OUT I WAS SO EXCITED. WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET BROTHER CARL TO TAKE US FOR A RIDE. IT IS PRETTY MUCH THE COOLEST THING! BUTI STILL THINK J.P.'S BAPTISM ON SUNDAY TOPPED IT! IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME TO SUPPORT HIM! AND I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE JOY I FEEL WHEN I SEE THE SMILES OF PEOPLE AS THEY ARE LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER! I CANT IMAGINE DOING ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW BESIDES HELPING PEOPLE COME UNTO CHRIST! I CANT TELL YOU ALL ENOUGH HOW MUCH I LOVE AND APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR ME SO THAT I CAN BE OUT HERE DOING THE LORDS WORK! I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE SERVING THE PEOPLE OF OKOTOKS! YOU GUYS ALL MEAN THE WORD TO ME AND I CANT EXPLAIN IN WORDS THE JOY IT BRINGS TO MY HEART KNOWING I HAVE AN ETERNAL FAMILY! AS MUCH AS WE ALL GET ON EACH OTHERS NERVES...LOL YOUR ALL STUCK WITH ME FOREVER....HAHAHA! :) I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU AND I PRAY FOR YOU ALL EACH DAY! I CANT TELL YOU ENOUGHT THAT I LOVE YOU! REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS, AND HEAVENLY FATHER IS ALWAYS LISTENING! I LOVE YOU GUYS! LOVE,ELDER OGEN
P.S. ITS NOT GETTING WARMER HERE...:( lol

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Weekly Email-Week 13

HEY THERE EVERYONE! WOW, ITS CRAZY THATS IT JULY, I KNOW ITS ALREADY A WEEK OR SO IN, BUT TIME PASSES PRETTY FAST WHEN YOUR BUSY! BUT LIKE I SAID J.P.'S BAPTISM IS THIS SUNDAY AND IM PRETTY EXCITED FOR THAT! AND WE ARE STILL LIKE BOUNTY HUNTERS TRYING TO FIND SOME PEOPLE, BUT ITS PRETTY TOUGH CUZ EVERYONE IS EITHER CAMPING CUZ OF THE NICE WEATHER, OR OFF TO THE CALGARY SAMPEDE!ITS CRAZY HOW ON A NICE DAY, EVERYTHING IS LIKE DEAD...LOL.. CUZ EVERY ONE IS OFF DOING STUFF.. ANYWAYS, IM GLAD TO HEAR GIRLS CAMP WAS AWESOME AS ALWAYS. BUT ITS CRAZY TO THINK THAT I WASNT AROUND FOR THE 4TH, I HAVE TO SAY, IT DEFINETLY WASN'T THE SAME UP HERE...LOL... EVEN CANADA DAY,NO FIREWORKS OR ANYTHING. I MISS BEING A PYRO MANIAC ON THE 4TH... AND WATCHING ALL THE FIREWORKS FROM THE PARK. BUT IT WILL BE FASTER THEN WE KNOW IT WHEN I'LL BE HOME AGAIN SO I GOT TO KEEP IN GEAR AND STAY BUSY. SO WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY TODAY, OH YEAH, SO WE MET PRESIDENT ANS SISTER ARCHIBALDON MONDAY, I CAN TELL I'M REALLY GOING TO LIKE THEM! PRESIDENT AND SISTER PRIDAY WERE AWESOME, BUT I'M ALSO EXCITED TO GET TO KNOW THE ARCHIBALDS THROUGHOUT MY MISSION! OH AND YOU GUYS SHOULD READ THE LITTLE BIOGRAPHY ABOUT HIM AND HIS WIFE.HE OWNS LIKE 5 CAR DEALERSHIPS IN ST.GEORGE UTAH. ANYWAYS, HE IS A "TO THE POINT" KIND OF GUY, AND HE SAID HE WOULD RATHER WORK WITH US THEN HAVE TO BE OUR LEADER. AND I KNOW HE PROBABLY MEANS IT TOO! HE AND HIS WIFE ARE VERY SWEET, AND I KNOW THEY WILL DO AMAZING! I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THEY WERE CALLED OF GOD, AS I AM, TO SERVE AS MY MISSION PRESIDENT AND HIS WIFE! ITS GREAT TO KNOW THE THINGS WE DO ABOUT THE GOSPEL, AND HOW IT BLESSES OUR LIVES! I CANT IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT THIS GOSPEL! OH OK SO FUNNY STORY, SO ONE OF THE MISSIONARIES GOING HOME TOLD ME A MEMBER GOOGLED "CANADA CALGARY MISSION" AND I GUESS MY BLOG CAME UP AS A SITE TO VISIT...LOL... GREAT...LOL... PEOPLE WILL KNOW ME BEFORE I MEET THEM.:) BUT ITS NO BIGGIE. BUT I HAVE TO SAY ITS A SUPER SWEET BLOG, AND THAT WHOEVER THAT MISSIONARY IS ON IT IS SURE A GOOD LOOKING GUY! BUT GLAD TO HEAR ALL IS STILL GOOD AT HOME AND THAT EVERY ONE IS STAYING BUSY! I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW I KNOW IM DOING THE WORK HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS ME TO DO, AND THAT IM STANDING IN THE PLACE OF CHRIST DOING EXACTLY WHAT HE WOULD BE DOING! I CANT EXPRESS HOW HUMBLING IT IS TO BE HONORED TO CARRY HIS NAME AND BE ENTRUSTED WITH HIS PRIESTHOOD! I LOVE THIS WORK, AND I LOVE THE PEOPLE OF CANADA! BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART, AND THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS IN MY PRAYERS EACH WEEK! I CANT WAIT FOR THE DAY TO STAND AND SAY I AM A RETURNED MISSIONARY AND HOLD MY HEAD HIGH KNOWING I DID MY BEST! I LOVE YOU GUYS, AND THINK OF YOU EVERYDAY! REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS!
I LOVE YOU!
LOVE ELDER OGEN

Friday, July 3, 2009

I Love To See The Temple

I thought I would share this beautiful picture Logan drew and sent home of the Sacramento Temple. Between his poetry, sketches and magnetic personality, he's only talented guy. We are proud of him and the missionary he is becoming.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Weekly Email-Week 12

This email is a day earlier due to a closed library (a.k.a. no computer access to email) because of Canada Day tomorrow, July 1. I usually post Logan's email to our parents and the kids still at home on the blog--this email is only to Dad, because Mom and the girls are all at Girls Camp. It's really sweet to read the touching things a young missionary says to his father that I know had to make my Dad's heart melt. Such amazing men in our family---we are blessed. And now, Elder Petersen:

YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO KNOW WE HAVE A BAPTISM ON JULY 12! HIS NAME IS .P. AND HE IS A GREAT GUY! HE IS SUPER READY TO BE BAPTIZED, AND ALREADY KNOWS A TON ABOUT THE GOSPEL! ITS CRAZY, ITS LIKE WE TEACH HIM AND HE ALREADY KNOWS EVERYTHING! HE HAS A OT OF FRIENDS THAT ARE MEMBERS THAT HE HAS BEEN STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES WITH SO THAT HAS HELPED HIM ALOT! BUT OTHER THEN THAT THE WORK IS A LITTLE SLOW, BUT ITS NOT DEAD! :) WE ARE WORKING HARD WITH A OT OF LESS ACTIVE MEMBERS AS WELL! LIKE THAT COUPLE I TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK, BUT THEY ARENT GETTING AWAY FROM US JUST YET...LOL AND ELDER WILSON AND I ARE GETTING ALONG GREAT, AND WE ARE REALLY LEARNING HOW TO TEACH GREAT TOGETHER! HE IS BY FAR A COMPANION I WILL REMEMBER FOR MY LIFE! OH ALSO PRESIDENT AND SISTER PRIDAY ARE OFFICIALY ON THEIR WAY HOME! AND PRESIDENT AND SISTER ARCHEBALD ARE HERE NOW! WE HAD A SURPRISE FAREWELL FIRESIDE ON SUNDAY FOR THEM AND IT WAS AN AMAZING MEETING! THE SPIRIT FILLED THE ROOM LIKE YOU WOULDNT BELIEVE. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ONLY MY MISSION PRESIDENT FOR A SHORT TIME, HE STILL MADE ME A BETTER MISSIONARY! BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO PRESIDENT ARCHEBALD! I WANT YOU TO KNOW IM WORKING HARD OUT HERE. IM PREPARING NOW FOR THE STORIES I WILL TELL MY CHILDREN! :) DAD I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE EXAMPLE YOU ARE TO ME! I COULD NEVER HAVE DONE THIS WITHOUT YOU! I LOVE YOU DAD AND I MISS YOU ALL LIKE YOU WONT BELIEVE! BUT IM STAYING ON TRACK AND I CANT WAIT TO SEND PICTURES FROM THE BAPTISM! I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU! 3 DOWN 21 TO GO! :) I LOVE YOU POP!:) REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS, AND THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS IN MINE!

LOVE YOUR SON

ELDER OGEN

P.S. YOUR STILL MY HERO AND BEST FRIEND! :)

Friday, June 26, 2009

The past 3 months of pictures...

These are out of sequence. But there are too many to move around. He wrote captions on some of the pictures when he sent them, which I will put in quotations above the picture. I am going to caption those he sent without a description, as best I can.

Just being the Logan we all know and love.

"First off the plane."

"Presidency shot" (I'm pretty sure this is a joke.)

"To the mission home"

His bunk in Downtown Calgary.

"Everything has to say Canada on it...LOL"

"Monolopy Money...LOL" (I think he's saying here that Canadian money looks like monopoly money.

"Candy sorting service project...talk about temptation...LOL"

"Hide & Seek"

"Last shot for 2 years..." (Logan and Jonathan Carli- they've been friends since they were probably 5 or 6).

"My MTC Distric Homies: Elder Malagamalil, Me, Elder Hass. We all got to stay together in our first area."

"I'm so strong!"

Hoping for mail! :)

"Big eyes...he and I and Elder Hass all stayed together our first transfer." :)

"Elder Heder my trainer."

"I'm a good teacher! LOL"

"'Last Supper' OUr Last night in the MTC"

"Food Bank Service"

"California baby! :) It was my goal weight shirt...and I already fit into it...LOL...my XXL's are big on me now...LOL"

"Back...(of his name tag)...Got to stay true to the USA...(Don't worry I found it all ripped up)".

"Light Sabers! LOL"...This looks like his basement apartment in Downtown Calgary.

"My wall...I need a picture of Montana!" (Note from the editor--oops, this just reminded me I haven't sent him a picture of her. I need to get on that ASAP!)

"My district last night of class in the MTC. My teacher is Bro. Bradshaw. (No coat)".

"They stole our bikes"

I think Logan got a little spoiled in the MTC with all of his care packages!

"Me and Elder Lealoa. His Grandma is in Sam's Home Ward"

No caption on who the guy in the middle is (maybe someone else knows??)

Elk Grove Area Elders Petersen, Hogge and Carli.

Elder Petersen ,Elder Hogge and Elder Carli mapping out their mission.

Downtown Calgary-and his closet in his first area. They lived in the basement of a members house. (I think he sent a picture of his closet because of how clean it was- which, if you'd ever been in Logan's room at home, you'd know that this is a changed boy!)