A WEEK FROM TOMORROW!!!

Elder Petersen at a District Breakfast this week:

A little over a week people, and this guy will be back in the states! We absolutely cannot wait!

And with single digit days left- has hasn't slowed down the missionary work on bit! :)

WELL,

THIS IS GONNA BE A SHORT ONE, SORRY!

SO JUST YESTERDAY WAS MY VERY LAST SACRAMENT MEETING, LET ALONE MY LAST FAST AND TESTIMONY MEETING. SO I GOT UP AND BORE MY TESTIMONY AND YOU CAN GUESS I CRIED... NOT SOBBED LIKE I DID IN THE TEMPLE, BUT JUST A CHOKED UP WHIMPER...LOL. I NEVER THOUGHT THESE DAYS WOULD COME, AND AS MUCH AS I COUNT THEM DOWN AT TIMES, AND DREAMED OF THEM AS A GREENIE... SOME DAYS I WANT TO HIT RESET! I KNOW THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO SERVED A MISSION WILL KNOW WHAT YOUR MISSION MEANT TO YOU, BUT I DONT THINK YOU WILL EVER UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH MINE HAS DONE FOR ME! I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CALL MY OLD AREAS TO INVITE MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS TO MY MISSION FAREWELL, AND ITS SO NICE TO SEE THOSE WHO HAVE PROGRESSED, AND A BIT HARD TO HEAR ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVEN'T. BUT THE FEELING OF KNOWING THAT IM A DIFFERENT PERSON FOR THE BETTER THEN WHEN I LEFT HOME MAKES ME WHAT TO CRY. I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD BE THE PERSON I AM NOW. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE TO STAND ON MY OWN TWO FEET AND TESTIFY TO SOME ONE OF THE LIVING CHRIST! I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE THE ONE SOMEONE WOULD CALL TO HAVE A QUESTION ANSWERED ABOUT THE GOSPEL. AND THE GRATITUDE I FEEL TOWARDS MY FATHER IN HEAVEN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY CANNOT BE MATCHED! I HAVE LOVED AND WILL CONTINUE TO LOVE MY MISSION! I LOVE CANADA AND I WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR THE PEOPLE HERE! (EVEN IF THEY DO SOUND FUNNY WHEN THEY TALK...LOL)

I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW MUCH I TRULY LOVE YOU! YOU MEAN THE WORLD AND EVERYTHING TO ME. IT IS SO COOL TO HEAR ABOUT ALL MY BUDDIES GETTING HOME, AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE FOR NOW THE HAPPINESS THAT IS FELT (AND RELIEF FOR A MOM AND DAD THAT WE'RE ALIVE...LOL) WHEN A MISSIONARY WALKS OFF THE PLANE TO HUG THEIR FAMILY! THAT FEELING HAS BEEN A DREAM FOR A LONG TIME, AND NOW THAT ITS ONLY 10 DAYS AWAY, I CANNOT HELP BUT GET EXCITED! I LOVE YOU GUYS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT WORRY, ALL IS WELL, AND IM DOING WHAT I NEED AND WANT TO BE DOING! NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT MY TIME AS A MISSIONARY AND NOTHING CAN EVER CHANGE THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT THIS GOSPEL AND THE TRUTH IT BARES!

I LOVE YOU!

LOVE,

ELDER LOGAN NEIL PETERSEN

BAD Blog Administrator...

Admittedly, this blog administrator (slash older sister), has stunk at keeping up Elder Petersen's mission blog. But instead of boring you with a bunch of lame excuses, lets talk about more exciting things!

The major countdown is officially on- a little under 23 days to be exact. Holy moly.... so exciting. As his family, we can do nothing but talk of his return and get so excited to be reunited with our Logey boy.

However, as we communicate via email with our Elder, we realize while he is extremely excited, this boy...(ahem, MAN I should say), is really fearing the end of his mission. He has loved his mission so much and does not want this amazing journey of serving the Lord 24/7 to end. And as much as we all admire that, I think if he tried to stay, there would be a clan of us traipsing up to Canada to bring him back. We've missed him oh so much.

We cannot wait for all of the mission stories. Man, can Logan tell a story- this is an excerpt from a recent email : THE NEXT 4 WEEKS EMAILS ARE GONNA BE A BIT SHORTER JUST CUZ I WANT TO SAVE THE GOOD STUFF FOR WHEN I GET HOME, BUT ALSO I HAVE A FEW EMAILS I HAVE TO WRITE THE THE MISSION PRESIDENT AND THE ASSISTANTS ABOUT MYSELF AND DEPARTING FROM THE MISSION. SO THATS GONNA TAKE A BIT OF TIME. BUT IM NOT MAKING EXCUSES, ITS ALSO JUST THE THOUGHT OF ACTUALLY SEEING AND TALKING TO YOU IN PERSON IN A FEW WEEKS MAKES EMAILING SEEM WAY LESS EXCITING. PLUS I CAN EMBELLISH SO MUCH BETTER IN PERSON THEN OVER EMAIL...LOL. HAHAHA I'M KIDDING! OR AM I? :)

Honestly, if the stories aren't completely over the top and dramatic- I would be nervous that he's changed TOO much. :) Logan is our story teller and we love him for it.

He's going to miss the people of Canada immensely. He cares oh so much for the members there and SO much for the investigators he has worked with.

THESE LAST FEW WEEKS FOR ME HAVE BEEN AND ARE GOING TO BE WEIRD. I NEVER THOUGH I WOULD BE AT THIS POINT. AND TO ADD TO IT... I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE GOING AS FAST AS IT IS! I KNOW I AM BEING KIND OF REPETITIVE AS FAR AS MY EMAILS... BUT IT IS WHAT HAS BEEN ON MY MIND ALOT LATELY! I HAVE LOVED THIS OPPORTUNITY AND NOW IT IS COMING TO A CLOSE AND IT IS SCARING ME! I LOVE THIS WORK, AND I LOVE CANADA AND THE POEPLE HERE. AND THE TESTIMONY I HAVE GAINED OUT HERE IS ONE THAT I NEVER WOULD HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THE SUPPORT AND LOVE YOU HAVE SHOWN ME THESE PAST 2 YEARS. IT HAS HELPED ME THROUGH SOME OF MY DARKEST DAYS. I PROMISE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART, AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT HE LIVES AND THAT THIS IS HIS CHURCH HERE ON THE EARTH!

More than anything we have been blown away by the growth that we've seen in Elder Petersen. His testimony strengthens all of ours on a weekly basis. Here are some excerpts from recent emails:

I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW OF THE TESTIMONY THAT I HAVE GAINED.... I KNOW THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST AND THAT BECAUSE OF HIS EVERLASTING LOVE SHOWN BY HIS ATONING SACRIFICE, THE CHURCH WAS RESTORED BY THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH! A 14 YEAR OLD BOY HAD A QUESTION FOR THE GREAT BEING IN THE UNIVERSE AND IT WAS ANSWERED THROUGH DIVINE REVELATION! I KNOW HE SAW WHAT HE SAID HE SAW AND THAT BECAUSE OF THAT MIRACULOUS VISITATION OF GOD THE ETERNAL FATHER AND HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WE TOO CAN HAVE THE BLESSINGS OF HEAVEN HERE ON EARTH AND THE ETERNITIES TO COME! I HAVE NO IDEA WHO, WHERE OR HOW I WOULD BE WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS GOSPEL. BUT I KNOW I HAVE HAD THIS BLESSING GIVEN TO ME IN THIS LIFE FOR A REASON AND WHO AM I TO HOLD IF FROM ANYONE! I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. THE THOUGHT OF BEING LED BY THE TRUE LIVING PROPHET OF GOD BRINGS A SENSE OF COMFORT AND SECURITY THAT CANNOT BE FOUND ELSEWHERE! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU! DONT WORRY ABOUT ME, IM DOING JUST FINE!

Regarding being able to listen to Elder Christoffersen of the 12 Apostles that came to his mission:

SO BY SAYING THAT ELDER CHRISTOFFERSEN'S TALK WAS GOOD WOULD BE A CRAZY BIG UNDERSTATEMENT! I FEEL LIKE AT TIMES HE SPOKE RIGHT TO ME AND TO BE HONEST HE SAID SOME VERY SPECIFIC THINGS AS TO WHAT MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ABOUT. IT WAS A VERY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE FOR ME. BUT ONE OF THE COOLEST PARTS WAS WHEN HE SAID AT THE END " I BLESS YOU IN THE AUTHORITY OF MY CALLING...." IT WAS AMAZING THE THINGS THAT HE SAID AND THE FEELINGS OF THE SPIRIT THAT ACCOMPANIED THEM CANNOT BE EXPLAINED! BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES WE GOT TO ALL SHAKE HIS HAND AND TALK FOR A FEW SECONDS WITH HIM. BUT HE WAS THE 4TH APOSTLE I HAVE MET ON MY MISSION, AND ONE OF ABOUT 8 OR SO GENERAL AUTHORITIES. IT REALLY STRENGTHENS MY OWN PERSONAL TESTIMONY TO HEAR AN APOSTLE OF THE LORD TESTIFY OF THE TRUTHFULNESS AND REALITY OF THE LIVING CHRIST! I LOVE TO HEAR THE TESTIMONIES OF GENERAL AUTHORITIES, ESPECIALLY APOSTLES!

And another snippet of his testimony:

I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW STRONG MY TESTIMONY HAS GOTTEN AS I HAVE SERVED OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN! I CANNOT WAIT TO TELL YOU FACE TO FACE, BUT AS FOR NOW JUST KNOW THAT THIS GOSPEL HAS CHNAGED MY LIFE. FROM A BOY FOLLOWING THE TESTIMONIES OF HIS FAMILY, TO A MISSIONARY WHO CAN STAND ON HIS OWN FEET AND TESTIFY OF THE REALITY OF THE LIVING CHRIST! (WITH HIS HELP OF COURSE :) I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! YOU MEAN THE WORLD ANd SO MUCH MORE TO ME! IM SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU, BUT AS FOR NOW I STILL HAVE TIME LEFT THAT I NEED TO GIVE 100% TO THE LORD!

So he has about 22 days left- and I know he is giving at LEAST 100%, if not more. Please pray for Elder Petersen during this transitionary time- he is so excited to come home and start moving forward in his life as a member missionary in the real world, but as is with most returning missionaries, there is a sadness for leaving the mission. Pray that the Lord will help him give his all in these final days and that he will have a safe return home to us.

Thank you all for your continued love and support....

....and for your patience with the blog administrator. :)

Week of November 1st

BOO!!!..

WELL, HALLOWEEN IS NOT AS FUN WHEN YOU ARE A MISSIONARY, BUT I DID STILL CARVE A PUMPKIN! SO THATS ALL GOOD, OH AND WE ALSO WENT TO THE TRUNK-OR-TREAT AS SPARWOOD HILLBILLIES! I'LL HAVE TO SEND YOU THE PICTURE NEXT WEEK! BUT ANYWAYS IT WAS FUN! BUT LETS SEE, THIS WEEK WAS FUN AS USUAL SERVING WITH ELDER BASS! WE GET ALONG GREAT AND ARE ONLY INCHES AWAY FROM A FEW PEOPLE BEING BAPTIZED! OUR WARD OUT HERE IS HAVING A SPECIAL MISSIONARY FAST TOO AND THANKS TO OUR AWESOME WARD MISSION LEADER THE WARD IS GETTING THEIR BUTTS IN GEAR TO DO SOME MISSIONARY WORK AGAIN! I GUESS THE SPARWOOD WARD GOES THROUGH UPS AND DOWNS WITH MISSIONARY WORK! THEY HAD A HUGE RUN A FEW MONTHS BACK WHERE LIKE 4 PEOPLE WERE BAPTIZED WITHIN WEEKS, AND THEN GOT INTO A BIT OF A RUT. BUT THANKS TO BROTHER PINCHACK OUR WARD MISSION LEADER THEY HAVE NO ROOM FOR GETTING INTO THE RUT RIGHT NOW, ONLY ENOUGH ROOM TO CLIMB OUT OF IT! SO KEEP THEM IN YOUR PRAYERS TO BRING UP THE MEMBER WORK! AND I'LL TELL YOU GUYS THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT WE CAN DO AS MEMBERS, ASIDE FROM RAISE OUR FAMILIES, THEN TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL! I KNOW IT SOUNDS CLICHE BUT ITS TRUE! THE JOY THAT COMES FROM LIVING AND SHARING THE GOSPEL CANT BE MATCHED! ITS STARTING TO GET A BIT SCARY THAT TIME KEEPS TICKING. ITS EXCITING BUT SCARY! ONLY 5 MONTHS LEFT, AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WILL HAPPEN. ONLY THAT I KNOW IT CAN ONLY BE BETTER THEN THE PAST 19. BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS YOU LEARN SOMETHING EVERY DAY! WHETHER IT BE TO SAY "EH" AFTER EVERY QUESTION OR TO HITCH UP A DOG SLED TEAM, ITS GONNA HELP YOU FOR THE FUTURE.... IN CANADA AT LEAST! LOL... BUT IN ALL REALITY THIS HAS CHANGED MY ETERNAL NATURE AND WHO I THOUGH I WOULD BE ONE DAY. I NO LONGER THINK.... I KNOW WHAT I CAN BE, AND I NEED TO HAVE THE SELF DISCIPLINE AND MOTIVATION TO GET THERE. AND I KNOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT MISTAKES I MAKE OR SHORTCOMINGS I HAVE, THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST IS THERE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE. SPEAKING OF THE ATONEMENT, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH GOSPEL PRINCIPLES YESTERDAY, AND WE HAVE A WAY GOOD CLASS... ANYWAYS. I CHOSE TO TEACH THE ATONEMENT.... ITS ALWAYS GOOD FOR A FEW TEARS! :) BUT WE HAD MARIAH RAASCH THERE, ONE OF OUR INVESTIGATORS. SHE IS 18 AND HAS BEEN SHOWING REAL INTEREST IN THE CHURCH AGAIN AND MORE SO IN WHAT THE RESTORED GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST CAN DO FOR HER AND HER FAMILY! BUT ANYWAYS... SHE WAS THERE AND I PUT HER ON THE SPOT IN THE CLASS AND ASKED HER WHAT THE ATONEMENT MEANS TO HER IN HER LIFE AND SHE SAYS.... " CAN YOU ASK SOME ONE ELSE? " CUZ LATER SHE HIT ME IN THE SHOULDER AND SAID, "YOU WERE MAKING ME CRY IN THAT CLASS AND I DIDN'T WANT TO CRY WHEN I ANSWERED THAT QUESTION!" I GUESS THATS A GOOD ENOUGH EXCUSE EH? LOL. BUT ANYWAYS. I LOVER SERVING IN SPARWOOD, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE ALOT OF GOOD TALKS WITH INVESTIGATORS AND A LOT HAVE HELPED ME TO LEARN THINGS ABOUT MY OWN LIFE! THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING RIDE FOR ME, AND IM EXCITED TO SEE WHAT LOOPS AND TURNS COME AROUND THE CORNER... BUT YOU ALL KNOW ME... NO MATTER WHAT THIS "ROLLER COASTER" OF A MISSION THROWS AT ME... IM STILL GONNA MAKE A STUPID FACE FOR THE CAMERA AT THE END! :) I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH AND I CANT WAIT TO HEAR ABOUT ALL THE FUN STUFF NEXT WEEK! KNOW THAT YOUR ALL IN MY PRAYERS ALWAYS! AND ALL THE SPECIFIC THINGS WE TALK ABOUT ARE TOO! WORK HARD, PLAY SMART AND LOVE LIKE CRAZY! I LOVE YOU GUYS!

LOVE

ELDER LOGAN PETERSEN

Week of Oct. 25th email

(In response to Logan's younger sister Whitney taking first place with her marketing team at FFA Nationals)" FIRST OFF I GOTTA SAY I KNEW IT WOULD HAPPEN! THAT IS SO AWESOME THAT SHE AND HER TEAM TOOK THE TITLE. LEAVE IT TO A PETERSEN TO GO BIG OR GO HOME! :) BUT HONESTLY IM WAY PROUD OF HER! SO LET ME SEE WHAT CAN I TELL YOU ALL? WELL TRANSFERS HAVE PASSED AND LIKE I SAID I HAVE A NEW COMPANION. HIS NAME IS ELDER RYAN BASS FROM GET THIS.... OKOTOKS! LOL... I SERVED IN HIS WARD AND TOOK HIM ON SPLITS BEFORE HIS MISSION. HE IS WAITING ON HIS VISA TO GO TO PITTSBURG, SO AS FOR NOW HE AND I ARE SERVING TOGETHER. HE IS A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART... RED NECK WANNA-BE, LOVES COUNTRY MUSIC, 4X4 AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN! SO NEEDLESS TO SAY WE ARE GETTING ALONG GREAT! AND ON TOP OF THAT WE HAVE A MILLION AND A HALF THINGS TO DO OUT HERE! ITS LIKE AS SOON AS HE CAME INTO THE AREA THAT EVERYTHING WAS THAT MUCH MORE APPARENT. IT WAS A LITTLE SAD THAT ALL THE PEOPLE WE WERE AND STILL ARE WORKING WITH FROM LAST TRANSFER DIDNT GET BAPTIZED, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE ON THE PATH THEY JUST HAVE A FEW BIG HURDLES TO JUMP... SO IF YOU COULD PLEASE KEEP THEM IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT! WELL YOU GUYS HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT WITH MY ANKLE, YEAH IT HURTS A BIT AND IS SORE EVERY MORNING, BUT IM WALKING JUST FINE, AND TAKING IT EASY ON P-DAY STUFF. BUT IM PRETTY EXCITED CUZ WE ARE PLAYIN HOCKEY TODAY.... NOTHING LIKE CANADA EH? BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GONNA HAVE THE FIRST SNOW IN SPARWOOD THIS WEEK... ALL THE MOUNTAINS ARE GETTING WHITE CAPS, BUT ITS NOT STICKING MUCH. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND PRAYING FOR NO SNOW IN CANADA THIS WINTER, I WOULD NOT ARGUE....LOL BUT ANYWAYS... LIVING TRUE TO THE PETERSEN NAME, I HAD A TALK THIS LAST SUNDAY AND I CRIED A BIT, NOT FULL ON BLUBBERING, BUT JUST CHOKED UP A BIT.... I DONT THINK I REALIZE HOW MUCH MY TESTIMONY REALLY MEANS TO ME UNTIL I BEAR IT OUT LOUD. I HAVE ALWAYS KNOW THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL, BUT IT JUST MEANS SOMETHING TOTALY DIFFERENT NOW! ITS MORE OF A SURE KNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS ALL TRUE INSTEAD OF A HOPE FOR IT TO BE! GRANTED I DONT KNOW EVERYTHING AND I NEVER WILL BUT WHAT I DO KNOW ALLOWS ME TO KNOW THAT IT ALL IS TRUE BY ASSOCIATION! IT IS EITHER THE WORLD GREATEST LIE AND FAIRYTALE EVER TOLD OR IT IS 100% TRUTH, THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND! AND I CAN TELL YOU... ITS NO FAIRYTALE! I LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY I HAVE HAD SO FAR IN 19 MONTHS TO SHARE WHAT I KNOW AND CHANGE A FEW PEOPLES LIVES! YEAH I HAVENT BAPTIZED ALL OF CANADA AND YEAH IM NOT A "HIGH BAPTIZING" MISSIONARY AS FAR AS OUR MISSION IS CONCERNED BUT I KNOW THAT FATHER IN HEAVEN HAS A PLAN FOR ME AND I'M FOLLOWING IT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY! I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN I STEP OFF THAT PLANE IN 5 OR SO MONTHS THAT I HAVE LOVED EVERY SECOND OF MY MISSION. YES TIMES HAVE BEEN HARD AND CAN GET ME DOWN, BUT IT IS ALL EXPERIENCE TO BENEFIT MY LIFE AND THOSE I SERVE! I LOVE YOU!!!

LOVE

ELDER LOGAN PETERSEN

In the process of updating...

Attention: The author of this blog would like to apologize to Elder Petersen himself, as well as to any that may have had an interest in checking this blog the past year. The author, also known as Logan's older sister, got side tracked by pregnancy, a new born and all that comes a long with a baby. Which is why this blog was neglected for nearly a year.

I just sat this week and started going through all of Logan's emails and copying and pasting them (and editing for spelling, because well, Logan is a GREAT missionary, handsome man, funny as all get out, and just a sweetheart, but let's be honest, the kid won't win any spelling bee's in his lifetime), and after a few hours of work, I've gone back to see that they have been lost into the deep abyss of cyber space, never to be found again.

AHHH... I hate that. So, I still have plans to back date, update this blog. Like, since last December. However, until then, I wanted to give you all an update on my brother currently.

He is serving in beautiful British Columbia, Canada right now.

Our slimmed down missionary can often be found trapsing through the woods with his companion coming home from appointments, or making out with Bucks in his backyard...

No, seriously. This happened. Logan has always been quite the story teller, and upon reading this story, I must admit there was a sliver of doubt as to the exact validity of this story. But, the proof is in the pudding---or should I say cracker, that my crazy brother put into his mouth and fed to a huge BUCK! My dad posted this picture on his Facebook with this heading, "Logan's Kissing Booth- Cost, 1 Buck!".

He also busted an ankle playing basketball...he says its twisted...it looks a little more than that to me. Join us in praying for a speedy recovery, for Elder Petersen!

He was serving with Elder Evans until this morning, when he was transferred to be a trainer! Yay, Elder Evan's . Logan's new companion is Elder Bass, and he's excited to get to know him and have his help in the area, because according to Logan, "IM EXCITED TO STAY HERE CUZ OF ALL THE WORK WE STILL HAVE TO DO! NO BAPTISMS JUST YET, BUT WE HAVE A FLOOD OF THEM TO COME!"

We are grateful for his testimony weekly! Here is an excerpt from today, "KNOW THAT YOU GUYS MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH ABOUT ETERNAL FAMILES IN OUR GOSPEL PRINCIPLES CLASS THIS SUNDAY AND OF COURSE I CRIED A BIT WHEN I TALKED ABOUT YOU GUYS, I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU! I CANT BELIEVE THAT IM ONLY 5 1/2 MONTHS AWAY FROM SEEING YOU ALL AGAIN, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH THIS OPPORTUNITY I HAVE TO SERVE HAS CHANGED ME AND HOW IT HAS SHAPED THE REST OF MY LIFE! I KNOW THE LORD CALLS US IN OUR WEAKNESS SO THAT WE CAN FIND THE STRENGTH WE NEED TO LIFT OURSELVES, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THOSE WE SERVE! I CANT EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE WHAT THIS MISSION HAS DONE FOR MY LIFE AND THE LIFE I WILL HAVE LATER! YES, WE SOMETIMES FIND OURSELVES IN A LOW SPOT OR A RUT, BUT ONLY TO LEARN FROM THAT EXPERIENCE AND ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE LIFTED BY THE LORD BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO HIS WILL! I KNOW THIS IS THE TRUTH! THERE IS NO ONE ASIDE FROM HIM WHO REDEEMED US THAT CAN HELP US REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL OF PERFECTION IN THE ETERNITIES TO COME! I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND CANNOT WAIT TO SEE MY ETERNAL FAMILY AGAIN!"

We love and miss our missionary! We are all so incredibly proud of him and all the progress he's made. Especially in the last few months, he's matured into a wise and focused man and we are lucky to have him in our life!

Here are a few more pictures he sent the past few weeks...

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

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