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

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

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

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