Updates

I have been waiting on some pictures to update on Elder Petersen, but keep forgetting to get them from my parents to scan in, so I thought I'd just update with some excerpts from his weekly emails (from most recent down to first email home.)

9th week-(funny in bold-neat story in blue)
HEY FAMILY, I WAS WRONG ABOUT TRANSFERS, SO FIRST I GUESS THE SET UP THAT PRESIDENT PRIDAY HAD GOT MESSED UP BECAUSE OF THE SWINE FLU THAT BROKE OUT AT THE MTC, SO OUR NEW MISSIONARIES ARE DELAYED 2 WEEKS. SO INSTEAD OF ME STAYING HERE WITH ELDER HEDER, I GO TO A CITY JUST 20 MINUTES SOUTH OF CALGARY CALLED OKATOKES WITH ELDER WILLSON. I HEAR HE IS A COOL GUY BUT IM SAD TO SAY, THAT IM GOING TO HAVE TO PUT BIG BLUE ( THE SUITCASE) OUT OF ITS MISERY. I GOT ANOTHER BIG ONE FOR FREE FROM ELDER HEDER, SO NO WORRIES THERE, BUT THAT BLUE ONE JUST RIPPED ON ALOT OF SEAMS, FROM BEING TOsSED AROUND IM GUESSING AT THE AIRPORT. OH AND ALSO I GOT A WINTEr PARKA FROM ANOTHER MISSIONARY HERE, ITS A NICE BILLABONG ONE! SO WHEN WINTER COMES I ONLY NEED TO GET BOOTS, GLOVES, A SCARF, AND A TUKE ( THATS WHAT THEY CALL BEENIES) LOL. BUT WINTER WONT BE HERe TILL TOMORROW...LOL JK. BUT I WOULDNT BE SURPRISED IF IT DID. SO ITS JUNE NOW AND WE OFFICALLY DONT HAVE TO WEAR SUIT COATS, SO ITS IS GETTING A LITTLE WARMER. BUT BEFORE I FORGET... HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!! DANG IM MISSING BIRTHDAY DINNERS ALREADY! BUT IM NOT GOING TO LIE EVERY DAY FEELS LIKE YOUR BIRTHDAY ON YOUR MISSION CUZ YOU GET DESSERT AFTER DINNER LIKE EVERY NIGHT..LOL.. ITS NOT A TREAT ANY MORE...LOL... BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I WOULD RATHER HAVE A BOWL OF FRUIT AFTER DINNER FOR DESSERT THEN ICE CREAM...LOL.. I KNOW WHAT YOUR ALL THINKING "WHO IS THIS AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH LOGAN?!?!?! FRUIT FOR DESSERT? YOUR CRAZY!" WELL ITS TRUE... BUT I HAVE TO TELL YOU GUYS THIS CRAZY EXPERIENCE I HAD ON FIRDAY! SO THERE IS A GUY IN OUR WARD WHO HAS BRAIN DAMAGE AND HE HAS SEISURES, AND WE ATE DINNER WITH HIM ON FRIDAY. HE HAS TO WEAR A HELMET CUZ HE SAID HE HAS LITTLE SEISURES AND FALLS, BUT HIS BIG ONES ARE NOT THAT COMMON. SO THROUGHOUT DINNER YOU COULD TELL HE WAS HAVVING LITTLE TINY SEISURES AND HE WAS SAYING THEY ARE NO BIGGIE I GUESS. BUT ALL THE SUDDEN A GLARE FROM THE SUN HIT HIS EYES AND HE STARTED HAVING A REALLY BAD SEISURE, AND I MEAN REALLY BAD, HE FELL OUT OF HIS CHAIR AND WAS GAGGING, SO I INSTANTLY THOUGHT OF THAT SCENE FROM GODS ARMY AND HAD ELDER HEDER GRAB A SPOON TO KEEP HIM FROM CHOKING ON HIS TOUNGE. AND I WAS SO GLAD I CARRY MY OIL WITH ME EVERYWHERE CUZ I TORE OFF HIS HELMET AND GAVE HIM A BLESSING! I COULDNT CHANCE HAVING ELDER HEDER HELP ME CUZ HE WAS HOLDING HIS TOUNGE, BUT I DONT KNOW WHERE THE WORDS I SAID CAME FROM! I DONT EVEN REMEMBER WHAT I SAD ENTIRELY, I WAS SO SCARED, BUT I FELT THAT WAS WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN. AND I FELT THE PROMPTING TO TELL HIS BODY TO STOP...AND IT DID!!! HE SIMPLY STOPPED THEN TOOK A DEEP BREATH AND LAYED THERE! I CANT TEEL YOU HOW MUCH MY TESTIMONY SHOT UP RIGHT THERE. AND I LOOKED AT ELDER HEDER AND HE JUST LOOKED AT ME AND SAID WOW. I CANT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE HADNT BEEN THERE! BUT THATS THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALY GAVE A BLESSING AND I KNOW IT HELPED ME AS IT DID SAMUEL! I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I HAVE A STRONG TRUE TESTIMONY OF THIS WORK AND THE PRIESTHOOD! I HAVE SEEN NOT ONLY HOW IT HAS BLESSED MY LIFE, BUT HOW I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BLESS OTHERS BY HOLDING THE PRIESTHOOD! I KNOW THIS CHURCH IS THE TRUE CHURCH ON THE EARTH! I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW IM SO BLESSED, AS ALL OF YOU ARE THAT I AM OUT HERE. AND I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY, MY LIFE IS IN THE LORDS HANDS, AND HE IS PROTECTING ME WHILE I DO HIS WORK! AND I KNOW HE ANSWERS MY PRAYES BY KEEPING ALL WHO I LOVE SAFE AND FAITHFUL! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I CANT WAIT TO KEEP COUNTING DOWN THE MONTHS WITH YOU ALL! 2 DOWN, 22 TO GO...LOL! BUT I LOVE YOU GUYS, AND REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS. YOU ARE ALWASY IN MY PRAYERS! I LOVE YOU! LOVE ELDER OGEN

8th week excerpts- HEY THERE EVERY ONE! WOW YOU ALL WERE BUSY THIS WEEK, WISH I COULD SAY THE SAME...NOT LOL. IM WORKING HARD BELIEVE ME! SO I HAVE TO TELL YOU GUYS, MY INVESTIGATOR POOL I S A LITTLE SHALLOW. I WISH IT WERE DEEP ENOUGH FOR A DIVING BOARD. HAHAHA LIKE THAT ONE? I TOTALLY JUST MADE IT UP...LOL BUT ANYWAYS, ITS HARD, WE HAVE A FEW GUYS STILL THAT ARE ON THE EDGE OF LETTING US START TO ACTUALLY TEACH, BUT WE FIND THEM NOT GIVING US SURE SET TIMES TO GET TO THEM, BROCK AND GUY ARE STILL PRETTY PROMISING LOOKING THOUGH! SO I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT! AS FAR AS BEING COMFORTABLE AND SLEEPING GOOD, I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE IT PRETTY GOOD. THAT GETTING A FULL 8 HOURS EVERY NIGHT IS NOT ANYTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT...AND IM FINDING THAT MY BODY IS LIKE... 6:30 AM WAKE UP AND 10:30 PM GO TO SLEEP.. LOL. SO ALL IS GOOD, AND YES MOM I WOULD TELL YOU IF ANY THING WAS WRONG, WELL MAYBE.. LOL IM KIDDING. BUT I'M HAPPY TO HEAR ALL IS GOING GOOD AT HOME AND THAT YOU ALL HAD FUN THIS WEEK! CAN YOU BELIEVE MY FIRST TRANSFER IS JUST ABOUT UP? IM SURE IM STAYING HERE IN THE 1ST WARD, BUT STILL ITS BEEN JUST ABOUT 2 MONTHS. IT FEEL'S FAST TO ME, I HOPE THE SAME FOR YOU ALL! ONLY 22 MONTHS LEFT TO GO RIGHT...LOL. BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH AND THAT I THINK AND PRAY FOR YOU EACH EVERY DAY! I CANT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU SHOW ME! I WISH I HAD MORE TIME TO WRITE, BUT THIS GUY NEXT TO ME WANTED TO KNOW WHY I WAS WRITING A BOOK OF AN E MAIL, SO I TALKED TO HIM TELLING WHY IM OUT HERE AND THAT E MAILS ARE MY WAY OF TALKING TO EVERY ONE AT HOME. BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH IT THINKING I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A MESSAGE TO HIM, BUT NOPE HE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE IT WHEN HE HEARD MORMON, AND HE GOT UP AND LEFT. SO, IM SORRY I WASTED MY PRECIOUS E MAIL TIME! BUT I PROMISE MORE NEXT WEEK! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! KEEP STRONG IN ALL THAT YOU DO AND REMEMBER YOU ARE NEVER ALONE! I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I LOVE THIS GOSPEL AND IM REALLY LEARNING A LOT ABOUT IT! I NEVER KNEW I COULD HAVE THIS MUCH KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE OF MY OWN STUDYING! I CANT WAIT TO TEACH ALL THAT I KNOW! I LOVE YOU ALL AND HOPE YOU KNOW I DON'T FEEL IM WASTING TIME OUT HERE! I KNOW THERE IS AT LEAST ONE PERSON WAITING FOR ME TO TEACH THEM! LOVE YOU GUYS! LOVE ELDER OGEN


7th week excerpts... (funny story in bold)HEY THERE EVERYONE! IM SO HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THATS GOING ON AT HOME! AND SERIOUSLY...102 0N SUNDAY?!?!?! NO FAIR!...LOL THE WEATHER HERE IS LIKE A 16 YEAR OLD GIRL. IT CANT MAKE UP ITS MIND...LOL THE OTHER DAY IT WAS 25 CELCIUS AND THAT WHEN WE GET TO TAKE OUR JAKETS OFF...THATS LIKE 70 DEGREES F. BUT TODAY IT ONLY 5 DEGREES CELCIUS...LOL OH BUT SOMETHING NEW FOR ME IS IN THE SUMMER MONTHS HERE IT DOESNT GET DARK UNTIL WAY LATE... THE SUN DOESNT GO DOWN TILL JUST BEFORE TEN NOW... SO WE GO TO BED WITH LIGHT COMING THROUGH THE WINDOW..LOL CRAZY HUH? IM HAPPY TO HEAR YOU ALL LIKE THE PICTURES I SENT! ITS PRETTY CHEAP TO PRINT THEM SO ILL JUST DO THAT WHEN EVER A GET A GOOD AMOUNT TO SEND. BUT OTHER THEN THAT JUST YOUR REGULAR MISSIONARY WORK. THEY GUY I TOLD YOU GUYS ABOUT LAST WEEK... BROCK... WELL GUESS WHAT.... HES GETTING BAPTIZED....JUST KIDDING... LOL WE STILL HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO CATCH HIM AT HOME, BUT THERE IS THIS OTHER GUY WHO HAS BEEN TAKING THE LESSONS THAT JUST MOVED TO OUR AREA, HIS MAN IS GUY BUT ITS PRENOUNCED LIKE GEE. BUT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OVER HIS TEACHING AND HE IS REALLY INTERESTED SO HE WILL MOST LIKELY BE MY FIRST BAPTIZM :)!!! I CANT WAIT! SO YOU GUYS WILL NEVER GUESS WHAT HAPPENED... SO ELDER HEDER AND I WERE WALKING JUST TRYING TO TALK TO PEOPLE AND THIS GUY WAS WALKING TOWARDS US SO I TRIED TO TALK TO HIM BUT HE SAID HE WAS BUSY. SO I ASKED IF WE COULD WALK WITH HIM FOR A BIT TO TALK...HAHAHA. YOU CANT OUT RUN MISSIONARIES ON FOOT..BUT SO WE WALKED FOR A MIN WITH HIM AND WE FOUND OUT HE WAS GOING TO THE MUSIC STORE DOWN THE ROAD, ITS LIKE SKIPS MUSIC, AND HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO LOOK AT DRUMS!!! I INSTANTLY BEGAN TALKING ABOUT DRUMS TELLING HIM I PLAY AND EVERYTHING, WE TALKED FOR A MIN ABOUT THEM THEN A WENT BACK TO ASKING IF HE WOULD TAKE A BOOK OF MORMON, HE SAID NO THANKS ALOT. SO I SAID TO HIM " ALRIGHT, ILL MAKE YOU A DEAL. IF I CAN BEAT YOU AT A DRUM OFF THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE BOOK AND LET US STOP BY YOU HOUSE SOME TIME." (I KNOW SHOT IN THE DARK RIGHT?) WELL HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID "YOUR ON!" SO WE GOT TO THE MUSIC SHOP AND I WISHED I HAD MY CAMARA SO ELDER HEDER COULD HAVE TAKEN A VIDEO. :) HE WAS PRETTY GOOD.. A FEW PEOPLE WERE WATCHING THEN SUDDENLY THE WHOLE STORE WAS...LOL...SO IT TURNS OUT HE IS GOOD, BUT I TOTALLY KICKED HIS BUTT. :) I DONT THINK HE EXPECTED A GUY IN A SUIT WITHA A TAG ON TO BEAT HIM. IT WAS SO NICE TO PLAY I WOULD HAVE STAYED THERE ALL DAY OF I COULD. BUT AFTER THAT HE TOOK THE BOOK AND GAVE US HIS PHONE NUMBER AND HIS NAME. TURNS OUT DEXTER ISNT REAL! HE GAVE US A FAKE NAME AND NUMBER! I GUESS I COULD HAVE GONE ABOUT TEACHING HIM A BETTER WAY...BUT I HAD FUN...LOL SO THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS... DONT MAKE BETS WITH INVESTIGATORS... HAHAHA! I REALLY CANT WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BE REALLY TRULY INTERESTED. I HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR GUY! BUT I WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW BESIDES THE FUNNY TIMES I HAVE I STILL AM WORKING HARD AND STUDYING MY BUTT OFF. I HAVE DEVELOPED WAYS THAT WORK GOOD FOR ME, FUN OBJECT LESSONS FOR DINNER APPTS. WAYS OF MARKING MY SCRIPTURES, AND LOADS OF OTHER STUFF ILL HAVE TO SHOW YOU ALL WHEN I GET HOME. :) OH AND REAL QUICK BEFORE IFINISH. SO I LOOKED AT MY BIG BLUE SUIT CASE THE OTHER DAY AND YOU CAN REALLY TELL THAT THING HAS BEEN TO KENTUCKY, BRAZIL AND NOW CANADA, BECAUSE GUESS WHAT? IT RIPPED AT THE ZIPPER SEAM. BUT DONT WORRY ELDER HEDER WAS TELLING ME HE HAS CLOSE TO NOTHING TO TAKE HOME CUZ HE MAILED A BIG HOCKEY BAG HOME ALREDY, SO HE IS GOING TO GIVE ME HIS BIG SUIT CASE. SO NO WORRIES JUST THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU KNOW THAT SUIT CASE HAS SEEN ITS LAST MISSION..LOL. SO LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH IT. I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH AND I MISS YOU MORE THEN YOU KNOW! THESE WEEKS REALLY DO PASS QUICKLY AND I DONT WANT TO MISS AN OPPERTUNITY OUT HERE! IN THE LONG RUN IT LOOKS LIKE I WILL NEVER HIT THAT 2 YEAR MARK, BUT IT GROWS CLOSER EVERYDAY AND FASTER THEN I THOUGHT. IM NEARING THE END OF MY FIRST TRANSFER. ITS CRAZY! I HAVE ALMOST BEEN GONE 2 MONTHS ALREADY. I LOVE YOU GUYS! KEEP STRONG IN ALL YOU DO! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS AND THAT THE SPIRIT IS ALWAYS WITH YOU! I LOVE YOU ALL AND YOUR IN MY PRAYERS! LOVE ELDER OGEN

6th week excerpts-
HEY THEY'RE FAMILY! FIRST I WANTED TO START OFF TELLING YOU HOW HAPPY IT MADE ME TO TALK TO YOU ALL ON MOTHERS DAY! :) IT IS KINDA HARD TO GO FROM HAVING A CELL PHONE CALLING WHO EVER I WANTED WHEN EVER I WANTED AND TEXTING AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF, TO TWO PHONE CALLS A YEAR AND AN EMAIL ONCE A WEEK...LOL. BUT IM GETTING USED TO IT, I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO THE TIMES I DO GET. I PRAY FOR YOU ALL INDIVIDUALLY EVERY NIGHT AND ITS REALLY MAKING MY TESTIMONY GROW! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! SOO YOU WILL ALL BE GLAD TO HEAR I QUITE POSSIBLY HAVE FOUND MY FIRST REAL INVESTIGATOR! HIS NAME IS BROCK AND IS A YOUNGER GUY IN HIS TWENTIES. HE WAS A MISSIONARY REFERRAL WE VISTED YESTERDAY. WE WERE IN MEMBER SPLITS SO I AND A MEMBER WENT TO FOLLOW UP ON THE REFERRAL. AND IT TURNS OUT HE HAS READ SOME OF THE BOOK OF MORMON HE WAS GIVEN AND WANTS TO HEAR MORE THIS WEEK! UNFORTUNATELY I CAUGHT HIM AS HE WAS LEAVING LAST NIGHT BUT WANTS US TO COME BACK THIS WEEK TO TALK TO HIM!!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED THET MADE ME! I REALLY REALLY HOPE THIS GOES SOMEWHERE! I WILL HAVE LOADS OF STORIES FOR YOU GUYS WHEN WE START TEACHING HIM! THERE WAS SOME OTHER REFERRALS THAT DIDNT GO ANYWHERE, BUT ONE OTHER THAT COULD TURN INTO SOMETHING WITH A GIRL NAMED NIKKI, I DIDNT MEET HER BUT THE GUY SHE LIVES WITH SAID SHE HAS BEEN WAITING TO HEAR FROM US! WOW YESTERDAY WAS GREAT! :) OTHER THEN THAT JUST REGULAR MISSIONARY WORK, TRACKING, GQ'ING, AND FOLLOW UPS. BUT NOT ALOT OF SUCCESS! BUT IM NOT WASTING MY TIME I KNOW IT! I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW HAPPY I AM TO BE SERVING THE LORD! I KNOW HE IS ALWAYS AT MY SIDE AS I DO HIS WORK. AND I KNOW HE BLESSES NOT ONLY ME BUT ALL OF YOU AND THE SUPPORT YOU GIVE ME! WE HAVE A QUOTE WE RECITE IN THE MISSION BY BRUCE R. MC CONKIE ITS CALLED "MY MISSION COMISSION" AND IN IT TALKS ABOUT HOW MY AUTHORITY IS ABOVE THAT OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH AND THAT IM DOING AND SAYING THE THINGS THE LORD WOULD DO AND SAY IF HE WERE MINISTERING TO THE VERY PEOPLE HE SENT ME. I KNOW THAT TO BE SO TRUE! THAT IM HERE IN CANADA FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON! I DONT CARE HOW MANY PEOPLE I BAPTIZE! IF I WORK MY HARDEST AND DO ALL THAT I CAN AND ONLY BRING ONE PERSON OR A HUNDRED CLOSER TO CHRIST THEN I KNOW THAT IS WHAT I WAS SENT HERE FOR. I KNOW HEAVENLY FATHER HAS A PLAN FOR ALL OF US AND IM SO HAPPY TO BE CALLED ONE OF HIS WARRIORS IN THIS FINAL BATTLE! WITH THE SPIRIT AS MY ARMOR AND MY WORDS AS MY SWORD! I PROMISE TO YOU ALL IM DOING MY BEST AND WILL GIVE MY ALL TILL THE END! I LOVE YOU ALL AND WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS! IM SO HUMBLED TO KNOW THAT AS A MISSIONARY IM PRAYED FOR AS MUCH OR CLOSE TO THE PROPHET. I TRULY DO FEEL THOSE PRAYERS! REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS AND STAY CLOSE TO THE LORD! NEVER LET YOUR SCRIPTURES GET DUSTY! :) I DONT LET MINE. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN. :) LOVE ELDER OGEN


5th week excerpts-
(FUNNY STORY IN BOLD) HEY FAM! LUCKILY HERE ITS STARTING TO WARM UP A LITTLE. WE GET THESE WEIRD WEATHER THINGS HERE CALLD CHINOOKS, ITS LIKE THIS OCEAN BREEZE THAT COMES OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND WARMS UP THE WEATHER LIKE 20 DEGREES..ITS CRAZY. SOON IT WILL BE WARM ENOUGH HERE WHERE WE DONT HAVE TO WEAR OUR JACKETS. IM LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT! SO THINGS HERE ARE GREAT, STILL A LITTLE SLOW, BUT IT WILL DEFINITELY BE PICKING UP NEXT WEEK CUZ WE GOT A LOT OF NEW REFFERALS YESTERDAY. ONE THING I HAVE TO TELL YOU GUYS, IS MISSIONARIES ARE TEACHERS, NOT FINDERS. WE NEED TO HARVEST MORE THEN WE PLANT! PLANTING THE SEEDS ARE GOOD BUT ITS NOT OUR MAIN JOB! I KNOW YOU ARE ALL TRYING YOUR BEST TO HELP THE MISSIONARIES OUT AT HOME. SO MISSION LIFE IS PRETTY BOOT CAMP-ISH. SAME THING EVERY DAY, DONT GET ME WRONG, I LIKE IT. WAKE UP, WORK OUT, GET READY, PERSONAL STUDY, COMP STUDY, PLAN, THEN ITS OUT THE DOOR. IM GONNA BE LOST WHEN I GET HOME..LOL I'LL BE WAKING UP AND NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO TILL I GET A JOB..LOL BUT THATS A LITTLE WAYS AWAY:) MY MISSION IS CRAZY I ALREADY HAVE HAD SOME FUNNY EXPERIENCES. ONE WE GET MONEY IN OUR ACCOUNTS ON THE 30TH OF EVERY MONTH, AND THE 30TH OF APRIL WAS THE DAY AFTER P-DAY, SO WE HAD TO SHOP AFTER P-DAY, THATS ONE BROKEN RULE, AND TUE WE DID SOME SERVICE THAT THURSDAY AND WENT SHOPPING IN OUR STREET CLOTHS CUZ IT WAS CONVIENENT, THATS TWO BROKEN RULES, AND THREE I FORGOT MY TAG WHEN WE WENT OUT IN OUT STREET CLOTHES, THATS THREE BROKEN RULES. SO THEY WERENT THAT BAD OF RULES TO BREAK, IT WAS JUST A NECCESITY TO SHOP CUZ WE HAD NO FOOD, BUT GUESS WHO HAPPENS TO BE AT THE STORE AS WE ARE CHECKING OUT? YEP MY MISSION PRESIDENT! IM PRETTY SURE I PEEDED MY PANTS WHEN I SAW HIM. LOL. HE WASNT MAD, HE TOTALLY WAS COOL WITH IT CUZ HE REALIZED THE SITUATION, BUT I WAS SO SCARED. BUT I CAN STILL PULL THE INNOCENT GREENIE CARD.LOL. SO ITS ALL GOOD! :) MAN I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA GET IN SO MUCH TROUBLE, BUT PRESIDENT PRIDAY IS THE NICEST GUY EVER! BUT THATS THE LAST TIME I EVER JUST SKIP ON THE STUPID LITTLE RULES, CUZ I SWEAR HE CAN SEE RIGHT INTO YOUR SOUL...LOL. SO THATS THE STORY FOR THIS WEEK..LOL BUT I WILL HAVE MUCH MORE TO COME, ONES ABOUT ACTUAL MISSIONARY WORK I PROMISE..:) IM GLAD TO HEAR ALL IS WELL AT HOME AND CANT WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL ON SUNDAY! I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW MY TESTIMONY IS REALLY GROWING AND I HAVE A NEW LOVE FOR THIS GOSPEL! YOU ALL MEAN THE WORLD TO ME AND I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! IM DOING MY BEST I PROMISE, AND I THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT! I LOVE YOU GUYS! KEEP STRONG IN THE FAITH AND PRAYERS! LOVE,ELDER OGEN


4th week excerpts... WOW WHERE TO START? WELL FIRST OFF MY TRAINER IS A GREAT GUY ELDER HEDER.. ITS PROUNCED LIKE HEATER BUT WITH A D...LOL. BUT LIKE I SAID LAST WEEK HE IS A GOOD GUY WE ARE GETTING ALONG GREAT. WE ARE IN THE CALGARY 1STWARD AND WE HAVE A CHEVY MALIBU. THE WHOLE MISSION IS CHEVY'S! THATS THE WAY TO GO! NO AVALANCHES THO. THEY ARE THE MALIBUS AND THE COLORADOS LIKE SAM'S BROTHERS TRUCK. ALL THE CARS ARE NEW THO SO THEY ARE GREAT. THE WARD IS GREAT. WE HAVE A DINNER EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK, AND YES MOM IM EATING WAY GOOD. LIKE I SAID IM CUTTING BACK SO IM EVEN REFUSING SOME FOOD...LOL. BUT I LOVE BEING OUT HERE ITS GREAT. RIGHT NOW WE DONT HAVE ANY FOR SURE INVESTIGATORS BUT WE ARE HAVING SOME MEMBERS BRING SOME INTERESTED FRIENDS WE CAN TALK TO. I CANT WAIT TO GET SOME ONE REALLY EXCITED. WELL ELDER HEDER HAS TIL JULY AND LIKE I SAID LAST WEEK I MIGHT BE WITH HIM TILL HE "DIES"BUT HE HAS 7 BAPTISMS AND I TOLD HIM HE SHOULD HAVE A SOLID 10 TO GO HOME WITH, SO THATS OUR LONG TERM GOAL. BRING 3 MORE PEOPLE UNTO CHRIST BEFOR HE GOES HOME. THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE. :) BUT OTHER THEN THAT ITS IS STILL PRETTY COLD HERE. SO MUCH FOR SPRING RIGHT NOW. ITS ABOUT -3 CELCIUS ALL DAY WITH SNOW WHICH IS ABOUT 26 DEGREES. BUT IM ALREADY GETTING USED TO IT. THE HIGHS RIGHT NOW IS LIKE THE WINTER LOWS IN ELK GROVE...LOL. SO BRING ON THE -40 WINTER. OH YEAH AND IN THE TAPE I SENT HOME I TALKED ABOUT ELDER HOLLAND VISITING THE MTC! OH MY GOSH IT WAS AMAZING! WE SAW A WHOLE NEW SIDE OF AN APOSTLE. HE IS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT MISSIONARY WORK. I TOOK LIKE 5 PAGES OF NOTES I WILL KEEP FOREVER SO I CAN GIVE YOU ALL THE DETAILS WHEN I GET HOME. BUT HIS TALK CHANGED MY VIEW OF A MISSION FOR THE BETTER. MOM IM DOING JUST FINE I'M STAYING WARM AND THE MEMBERS WE LIVE WITH ARE GREAT. YOU WOULD LIKE THEM. SHE IS A MOTHER OF A FEW MISSIONARIES SO SHE SAID SHE KNOWS HOW YOU FEEL. :) ALL IS WELL HERE. I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW I LOVE YOU ALLSO MUCH! THAT MY OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE A MISSION IS A BLESSING NOT ONLY MY LIFE BUT YOURS AS WELL! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING! KEEP THE EMAILS AND LETTERS COMMING! YOU ALL MEAN THE WORLD TO ME! I LOVE YOU! LOVE ELDER OGEN

3rd week excerpts (now in Calgary)... HEY FAMILY. WELL I'M IN CALGARY! WEDNESDAYS ARE P-DAYS SO YOU KNOW. WE FOUND OUT LAST NIGHT WHILE STAYING IN THE MISSION HOME WHERE OUR FIRST AREAS WILL BE AND OUR TRAINERS. MY AREA IS 1ST WARD IN DOWNTOWN CALGARY! AND MY TRAINER IS ELDER HEEDER! HE IS A PRETTY COOL GUY! HE GOES HOME IN JULY SO I MIGHT BEWITH HIM TILL HE "DIES" LOL. BUT I GUESS WHEN YOU GET YOUR TRAINER THEY CALL HIM YOUR DAD I GUESS...LOL. BUT ALL IS GOOD IT'S A LITTLE CHILLY HERE! OH AND THE PLANE WE FLEW IN ON WAS SO FREAKIN SMALL, AND THE GUY I SAT NEXT TO FELL ASLEEP SO I GUESS IM BORING:) BUT IM EXCITED TO GET WORKING. IM SO GLAD TO HEAR ALL IS GOOD AT HOME. AND THAT THOSE LITTLE BABIES ARE FEELING BETTER. IT WAS SO NICE TO BE ABLE TO HEAR AND TALK TO YOU ALL YESTERDAY, OH AND I GET TO CALL IN ANOTHER 3 WEEKS,THEN A HUGE 7 MONTH SPAN...LOL. IT WILL BE GREAT THOUGH. I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL THE E-MAILS AND LETTERS, I DON'T HAVE A TIME LIMIT FOR E-MAIL SO I CAN REALLY TALK AND NOT JUST SPEED WRITE LIKE THE MTC. OH AND LETTERS, THEY ASK THAT EVERYTHING BE SENT TO THE MISSION OFFICE BECAUSE OF THE WIDE SPREAD OUT AREAS IF ELDERS GET IT SENT TO WHERE THEY LIVE IT COULD GET THERE AFTER YOU LEAVE THEN YOU WOULD NEVER GET IT. AND IN SOME AREAS IT TAKES A LITTLE EXTRA TIME FOR THEM TO GET IT TO YOU. BUT ALL IS GOOD JUST KEEP IT COMING AND I WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING! IM SO EXCITED TO GET OUT AND START WORKING.I WANT TO TELL YOU ALL HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU AND THAT IM SO THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR ME! I KNOW I'M WHERE I NEED TO BE AND THAT THE LORD IS WATCHING OVER YOU AND ME ALL AT HOME! THE BLESSINGS FROM THIS MISSION WILL BE INDESCRIBABLE! THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR LOVE! REMEMBER TO PRAY ALWAYS! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! LOVE ELDER OGEN

2nd week excerpts... WELL LIKE YOU ALL SAID, I DONT HAVE MUCH TIME (for emailing) WHILE IM HERE IN THE MTC. I WISH I COULD GO THROUGH AND ANSWER EACH QUESTION AND EVERY COMMENT. BUT UNTIL I GET INTO CANADA NEXT WEEK I ONLY HAVE 30 MIN AND THAT INCLUDES READING TOO. BUT THE MTC IS A GREAT EXPERIENCE, I LOVE THE SPIRIT HERE. BUT IM NOT GOING TO LIE, I REALLY WANT TO GET OUT THERE. IM TIRED OF SITTING IN CLASS...LOL. I WISH I COULD WRITE EVERY ONE BACK PERSONALLY, BUT DAD WILL JUST HAVE TO FORWARD FROM WORK. I CANT TELL YOU ALL HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU! YOUR SUPPORT AND LOVE REALLY HELPS. I REALLY WISH I COULD TYPE FASTER AND READ FASTER. LOL I WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT! KEEP THE LETTERS COMING. I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH! PRAY ALWAYS!

Excerpts from his 1st email home from the MTC- ...THINGS ARE GOOD HERE, MY COMPANION IS ELDER GARDNER FROM BEAR RIVER CITY UTAH. WE LOOK LIKE WE COULD BE COUSINS...LOL... THE FOOD HERE ISNT BAD, I GOT THE DEAR ELDER LETTERS LAST NIGHT. IT WAS SO NICE TO HERE FROM HOME. I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING IS THE RIGHT THING. I LOVE YOU ALL VERY MUCH. PLEASE KEEP ME IN YOUR PRAYERS. I KNOW FOR ME THIS MISSION WILL BLOW BY. MY DAYS ARE FULL AND JAM PACKED WITH LITTLE DOWN TIME, YOU ALL KNOW THAT.:) BUT I ASK THAT YOU ALL KEEP BUSY, AND TAKE THE CHALLENGE ASKED OF YOU AT THE MTC. I KNOW YOU WILL. CONFERENCE WAS GREAT. IM NOT USED TO SITTING IN A HARD CHAIR IN A SUIT FOR ALL THE SESSIONS BUT IM GLAD I DID. D AD IM SURE YOU CAUGHT IN PRIESTHOOD MEETING, I THINK IT WAS PRIESTHOOD, PRESIDENT MONSON TALK ABOUT CALGARY? ALL OF US GOING TO CALGARY WERE SMILING WHEN HE SAID THAT. DAD I COULDN'T HELP BUT TO HAVE YOU ON MY MIND THROUGH OUT ALL OF PRIESTHOOD MEETING. THE LITTLE TRADITION WE HAD REALLY MEANS A LOT TO ME, AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME WITHOUT YOU THERE TO SIT NEXT TO ME. IT WAS HARD FOR ME AND I KNOW FOR YOU. WE HAD A CHANCE TO WATCH "JOSEPH SMITH- THE RESTORATION" WOW! WATCH IT PLEASE! I CANT WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL! I LOVE YOU!...


We love our missionary and are so proud of his progress in two short months. We know he is doing and will continue to do amazing things through the Spirit of the Lord. We will try to keep updates on his blog with his weekly emails and plan to upload some of the pictures he's sent home as soon as possible.