Birthday Miracles

Hey everyone-

Wow, my birthday week was pretty amazing. First, I enjoyed exchanges to Ankang and was able to teach 2 really prepared people that the missionaries there have found (or rather have found them. That's usually how it works, haha). It was cool to see them light up as we talked about baptism. 

Thursday (the 27th) was a day that didn't have a lot going on, but then our friend (the one who owns the fruit stand and has a baptismal date set for the 20th of July) called us asking if we had time to help him out. He was moving and originally he was too polite to accept our help, but he wanted it done quickly because it was going to rain, so we went over there and helped him move some boxes from his old apartment to his truck and then over to his new house...which is right across the street from our apartment! That was super crazy. That also means he is right behind the church. He feels like that's probably a sign from heaven. Also all of that helped to soften his wife's heart toward us, I think. They are really busy with their fruit stand and it's especially hard on Sunday mornings since that's the most productive time for their business, but if there wasn't that standing in their way he would have no obstacles to getting baptized and his wife would have a lot of potential as well. So, we'll keep working towards a solution. He is still willing to come to sacrament meeting in spite of the sacrifice and he loves that. We were also worried he didn't have friends in the ward but then we invited him and a member couple to eat dinner with us for my birthday and they hit it off really well! Then we went to teach our other friend the next day and the member and the first friend were there chatting away. So we just taught both friends at once, and they both accepted the word of wisdom!

Also, Sean is getting baptized most likely next week. He's an awesome teenager that has been preparing for a while and his mom finally gave permission for him to be baptized. His first contact with the church was when he saw a chapel and thought the name of the church was pretty special. He went and checked it out online and became really interested and requested a Book of Mormon, and the rest is history. That was three years ago, and now he can get baptized! We're excited. The church is true. Have a great week!

Elder Ogden

Some pictures from Elder Ogden's P-day hiking adventure....