Merry Christmas

Merry (late) Christmas! I hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas! Isn't Christmas the best time of year?! I'm so grateful for this time of year where we can really focus on Christ!

Well a lot has happened these last 2 weeks... We had zone conference a few weeks ago and it was amazing. Seriously helped me so much especially during this Christmas season.

Something exciting that happened these last 2 weeks was...our washer broke. A ward member tried to help us fix it over the phone. We did what he told us to do and the water was draining from the washer. We didn't think much of it and we thought the washer was fixed. Apparently not, behind the washer there was a puddle of water. We were pulling the washer out so we could clean up the puddle when all of a sudden we heard a Snap! Water starting pouring everywhere!! We had pulled the hose out of the wall and all the water in the washer was all over the floor...I freaked out, because we are on the 3rd floor! Being missionaries we don't have a lot of stuff especially towels so we grabbed all the towels we could and some blankets to clean up all the water. I don't think I have ever been so stressed in my life, haha. When maintenance came, he was surprised that we had gotten all the water up so fast. I said "we were freaking out and had no clue what to do." The next day we got a new washer, and everything was great...so we thought. Christmas morning Sister Cobb went to do laundry and we found a puddle of water. We could not believe it. The next day we called maintenance to help us figure out what was wrong with our new washer. Turns out the cold water pipe was not screwed into the washer all the way. Well after a few weeks of not having a washer it finally works...hopefully. You're probably wondering why I am telling y'all this? I never knew a mission would teach me so much about things beyond the gospel...especially about a washer! I have definitely learned a lot about figuring out how to do things on my own, especially since I can't call my parents when there is a problem.

Anyway, we got a referral last week. She requested a Bible so we called her but she didn't answer so we left a message. She called back later but the phone rang for a second and then stopped. She kept requesting Bibles, no kidding she requested it like 3 times! We called her again a few days later. When we called she said "I thought ya'll were suppose to come yesterday afternoon!" I said "we are so sorry we were not aware of that, is there a time we could come by?" She said "tonight?" I was looking at our schedule and she said "you hesitated, come tomorrow morning." So we went the next morning. When we got there we gave her the Bible she requested and then we asked if she would be interested in the Book of Mormon. She was super hesitant but then said sure. I started to explain the Book of Mormon using the pictures that are in the book. Underneath the picture it has the scripture reference, well she looked at the reference and said "oh no that is different scripture, I am good with the Bible." I explained to her that it was another testament of Jesus Christ and it's not replacing the Bible. She wasn't satisfied with my explanation, and gave the Book of Mormon back to us and took the Bible...we'll keep trying!

We got a another referral Saturday night and had a short lesson yesterday. Oh my goodness gracious, Heavenly Father defiantly puts people in our paths for a reason. She had requested the Bible and the Book of Mormon because she wanted to draw closer to God. When we explained the Book of Mormon she was so excited to read it. The Spirit was so strong during the lesson. At the end of the lesson we invited her to church and she asked where the church was. We told her where it was and she said I have seen that church before. She said, "I have always wondered and wanted to go to that church but wasn't sure if I was welcomed." We said "everyone is welcome." It was so amazing, she's excited to go to church and I am so excited for her to come with us.

We asked Martin (he read the whole Book of Mormon) to be batpized and he said YES!! Super exciting although we aren't too sure if he heard what we were asking because we had to repeat the question, lol.

Transfers are this week and...I'm leaving Fayetteville. I am so sad to leave because Fayetteville, it is such and amazing place and the people are awesome. But I'm excited to see where I will be going next.

Love and miss y'all
Sister Ogden

District Photo

Christmas matching PJ's and Chocolate from England

Our New Washing Machine!

Bike week!

Book of Mormon Surprise

Hello,

Monday night we had dinner at a members. After dinner we were doing the dishes and the kids starting singing Mama Mia, so of course I had to join in and start singing! It was so much fun haha! Who knew doing dishes could be fun!

Friday Sister Cobb and I had a meeting with an investigator who we weren't sure if he was interested in continuing taking the lessons or not. So our plan was to have a "drop lesson" and stop teaching him sadly. When we got there he was so excited to see us. We weren't really sure why he was..haha. The first thing he said to us was "I stopped smoking completely and I read the Book of Mormon!" I seriously did not know what to say, I totally was not expecting that! We asked how far he read in the Book of Mormon and he said "I read all of it." I looked at Sister Cobb with amazement! I was so excited. We asked him what he thought and learned from the Book of Mormon and oh my goodness gracious I almost started to cry when he was talking about how much he learned and how he wanted to change his life! He said he wants to read the index now. The Book of Mormon is amazing! My testimony of the Book of Mormon has grown so much. It can help us in so many ways and is truly another testament of Jesus Christ.

Love and miss y'all!

Sister Ogden

Our washing machine broke so hauling our clothes to the laundry mat

Went to visit a less active member there was a sticky note on their door 

from the Sister Missionaries...it was a Year Old!!

Cutest Jesus Sign

Thanksgiving Pie

Not much happened this week, but here are just a few things:

We went to drop off a late Thanksgiving pie to someone we are teaching. The lady we're teaching wasn't home, so we left it with her sister, who said she would give it to her. Sister Cobb and I were a little hesitant because after we gave her the pie, she started to open the box! A couple of days later we stopped by and asked if she got the pie we had left her? She said, "my sister said y'all gave it to her, and she ate the whole thing right in front of me." Apparently the sister didn't think we would be coming back. While we were visiting with her, Sister Cobb said she saw the sister come out of her room; when she saw us she went back in her room and never came out again, lol. We had left a Book of Mormon with the sister when we left the pie. Clearly she was more interested in the pie, even though it wasn't for her! 

Someone that we have been teaching since the middle of September is finally reading and understanding the Book of Mormon!! When she told us she had started reading the Book of Mormon and that she was understanding it; I was so happy and excited. It made my week!

I hope y'all have an amazing week! Remember Light the World!!

Sister Ogden

Finally decorated our apartment 

Sweetest member from our ward

Chick-Fil-A is the best place on earth and their cookies are amazing!!! 

Making Appointments:

Happy December y'all!

It doesn't feel like winter because it's still pretty warm here in North Carolina...definently counting my blessings!

Light the world started this past Sunday and oh my goodness I am so excited. Everyone should sign up for the daily text reminders!

Sunday night we called a former investigator. We asked if she was interested in meeting with missionaries again, she said no thank you but then asked "where are y'all from?" We told her and then said but we're serving in Fayetteville right now. She said "what product are you selling?" I said "well we have the Book of Mormon and Bible we can give you for free, would you be interested?" She said "Yes," so we set up an appointment to meet with her this week! Looks like she's meeting with missionaries again, not sure if she realizes that!

Funny story... Earlier this week Sister Cobb and I called a less active member to see how they were doing, but had to leave a message. Last night they called back at midnight! When the phone rang I was dead asleep and didn't think before answering; we're not suppose to answer calls that late. When I answered I had a full on conversation with this less active while Sister Cobb was passed out. I clearly was half asleep because we aren't suppose to talk on the phone without our companion. So, yeah probably broke two mission rules last night my bad...but hey I set up an appointment! This morning when I was talking to Sister Cobb about what happened last night she had no clue and asked if we needed to set up an appointment... I told her I already did. We thought it was pretty funny.

I hope y'all have an amazing week!
Love and miss y'all,

Sister Ogden

Hosting Sister missionaries from our zone area