Dear Family,
The last week has been quite enjoyable. I have had several opportunities and experiences that I would like to share with you, but first I will answer your questions.
It looks like you think or have found out somewhere that the international driver license will work here for a few days. I am still in the dark on that subject, but since you keep talking about rental cars I am assuming that it works. That only makes sense anyway. It looks like the GPSs work here too including which exit to take on roundabouts. It is also looking more and more appealing to have a car available. Just make sure to practice your reaction time as well as your Spanish. As far as I know there is a bus that goes up to near the mission home, but it really would be a whole lot easier with a GPS. It will be nice to at least spend the night at the mission home with my group and have that experience with them.
I am feeling mostly better, just a little stuffy at times, but less and less as time goes on. It looks like Elder Benson is getting what I had most recently. Hopefully he will be over it in a few days.
We heard from Juan last night and it looks like he has moved to another apartment in our area. We have an appointment with him tomorrow, so we can talk about baptism again and see if we can set a new date. Fernando is still doing well. I do not know if I mentioned that he had read fifteen chapters of First Nephi between our first two appointments and was sorry that he had not read more. He is seeking a testmony, and he is doing it in the right place. We taught him about the Spirit last time, and will be seeing him again on Monday. Please also include the Bustamante family and Wilma Brisenyo in your prayers this week. The sisters are teaching them, but I am in charge of their baptismal interviews and really want them to make it to baptism this week. Thanks for keeping concerned.
I did receive my package two Fridays ago, and my card is now in my wallet so you can activate it. I forgot to mention it last week. Thank you so much for the cake mix, cheese powder and especially the birthday cards. It was good to read something Cami had written and see what a nice sister in law she is. I am sorry to hear that Wes will not be around when I get home, and am praying for his safe return as soon as conveniently possible.
Zone conference was wonderful. The Spirit was quite strong as we heard people testify while practicing contacts. Sister Wall and Sister Hardcastle, from my same district, were the example sisters because of how good they are at contacting. The most noticeable thing in everyone that demonstrated techniques was their testimony and the Spirit it brought. More evidence of the necessity of the Spirit in converstion. The musical number also brought the Spirit, even if it did not sound quite like the BYU Singers recording I got the music from. We plan to record it in the next District meeting. The district worked really hard on it, and the results showed in the Spirit we felt as we sang. There are eight of us right now. Two sisters are going home in a week and a half, but we have been told that they will be replaced in spite of the reduction in missionaries. The third and ninth wards are doing what they need to be doing.
The reason I sent a card for Brother Dowling is that he has been sending me copies of the ward newsletter each month. I thought it was very nice of him.
Okay, I think that addresses all your questions. Thanks for mentioning me in the Farnsworth Connection; I do not have much more to report on besides what I have been sending you each week. Now for a few neat experiences.
On Friday I went on exchanges with Elder Burningham again. It was enjoyable as always. We spent the whole day in a town outside of Madrid called Majadahonda. Have fun pronouncing that one. The focus of the 9th ward and its missionaries is to reopen a branch there. It takes a long time to get to Aluche for those who live there, so for that reason alone a number of members who live there do not go. So we went by a few members to tell them about how there will soon be a branch and that within a few weeks there will be Sacrament meeting there. Our appointments included one Gibby Family from the United States. They are here on assignment by the US Military. I did not understand his job description that well, but from what Elder Burningham told me he trains armies. He also told me he graduated from West point. That piqued my curiosity. So I asked Brother Gibby about it, and he said that both he and his wife had graduated from West Point. I told them that my brother had also graduated there, in 2006. They said that they were there teaching that year and asked his name, and when I said Ogden they said they knew Wes. So greetings, Wes, from the Gibby family in Spain. They were very, very nice and gave us a great taste of America. They have six children.
On a darker side, I saw a pickpocketer on the Metro on the way home from Zone conference. I got suspicious when I saw how he kept his hands under the ends of his long, white scarf, which he brought close to a man and his pockets. I watched him closely as he moved around the crowded Metro car. We came to our stop but I kept my eyes on the man and my arm holding my wallet in my suit jacket. He even checked the outermost velcro pocket in Elder Benson's backpack. When he saw me looking at him he stopped, reached into his pocket and put a toothpick in his mouth. I told the Metro guards about him, and they went to warn or report the problem. The next time I will probably start yelling Ladron like the Spaniards do. That is another reason it would be nicer to have a car here. Pickpockets target tourists. At any rate you will have to make sure that you keep your attention on your belongings any time we are in public. In this case, at least, my paranoia has served me well.
To avoid closing on a dark note, here is my testimony.
I know that God lives and that He, as our Eternal Father, is very concerned about the things we choose to do, think and say. He is concerned about who we become, and He is constantly urging us to do what is right, through His prophets and through His Spìrit. His angels are round about us, bearing us up when we feel down. I know that Jesus Christ is with us in every moment, suffering what we suffer and lighting our lives with His love. The Holy Ghost is our constant companion as we live worthy of His companionship, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest gift we can receive in this stage of our lives.
I love you all and pray for your protection and good.
Love,
Elder Jonathan David Ogden
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