Leaving the MTC

This week has gone by so fast! On Sunday during the sacrament meeting right after the sacrament the Branch President called on me and two Elders to give a talk. My heart was racing because I didn't really have anything prepared since I didn't think I was speaking haha. I talked about repentance and how grateful I am for the the opportunity that we have to be able to get on our knees and ask for forgiveness and try to be better everyday. It was good practice for the field.

Sunday night Tad A. Callister came and spoke. He talked about evidence why the Book of Mormon is true. Then Tuesday Elder Bednar came and spoke to us. It was the most amazing thing ever. He told us to not get in the way and stop focusing on ourselves and remember that this is the Lord's work. He also said "don't worry just go." Meaning not to worry if we're being the perfect missionary or if we're doing it right just to rely on the Lord. This was what I needed to hear. Just to forget myself and go to work.

On Thursday it was one of the Elders birthday so we made him a candygram with a piece of cardboard, medicinal tap, and candy from the little store here.

I leave early Monday morning for North Carolina. I'm feeling scared and nervous but also super excited to share the gospel. I'm so sad to leave my district and all the amazing people that I met here at the MTC. The MTC has been such an amazing experience and I have learned so much from just being here for 2 and a half weeks. My testimony and love for the gospel has grown tremendously. 

Love,
Sister Ogden

My district with one of our teachers, Brother Duston

Elder Christensen and I           Candygram for an Elder in our district

 

Final pictures with Sister Bishop, Sister Sorenson and Sister Arnold

Can't get the Ball over the Net

This week went by so fast!

Every exercise time we play volleyball. But most of the time my district is trying to help me to be a better volleyball player; since I can't even get the ball over the net. It's still fun though haha.

My district leader assigned my companion and I to teach the lesson this Sunday during district counsel. He said he felt inspired we should teach the lesson. Sister Bishop and I think it's because we asked too many questions about what we needed to do for the upcoming lesson. We also got asked to teach the lesson in Relief Society because they felt like we should teach. But after we told them we were teaching in district counsel they said we didn't have to. So thank goodness.

Sunday night all the new missionaries watched the "Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar. Seriously changed my whole perspective of missionary work and the type of missionary I want to be.

Elder and Sister Nielson from the Seventy came and spoke to us. It was amazing! They answered questions about missions. After the devotional we had a devotional review and all of us sisters were balling our eyes out. Leave it to the sisters to bawl our eyes out haha.

Love and miss you all

Sister Ogden

"Volleyball District Team"

Sister Sorenson & I trying to get a tan

District at the Temple

Sisters & Roomies

Best 4 Days Ever!

Hello! Wow these have been the longest and best four days ever! I have seen so many friends from school its been so fun. My companion is Sister Bishop she's from Arizona. She's also going to Raleigh, North Carolina. Our district consists of 4 sisters and 8 elders. We're all going to different places: New Mexico, Maryland, Virginia, Indiana, and Canada. They are seriously the best and we always have the best time.

Apparently they didn't realize my district was coming so we didn't have any teachers the first day but we finally had teachers on Thursday. One of our teachers, Sister Ellett, is from the Raleigh North Carolina mission.

We met our branch Thursday night and a sister in my branch went to Brighton and BYU Hawaii, Sister Johnson. The branch presidency is amazing and the best.

Sister Bishop and I have our first practice lesson and we have been planning for it a lot. I am super excited, nervous, and scared. It's been good being able to practice and learn how to teach better.

One of the sisters in my district is going to Indiana. I told her I lived there when I was younger and she said she did too. Come to find out we lived in Batesville, Indiana together and hung out when we were little kids. Small small world!

Love and miss y'all!

Sister Ogden

Me & my companion Sister Bishop

pointing out Raleigh, NC

Sister Ellett - who is from Raleigh, NC

Roommates: 

Sister Sorenson, 

Sister Arnold and 

Sister Bishop

Sister Sorenson (far left) & I attending

preschool together in Batesville, IN