Wednesday, February 11, 2009

CALLED TO SERVE....

Reasons it's hard to go...




Reasons we'll go anyway...



To share the Gospel of Jesus Christ...



...the teachings of the Book of Mormon...


...and the blessings of the Temple.


And because we know our family will be watched over while we are gone.


The icing on the cake...


We have been called to the England Birmingham Mission.

31 comments:

jayme said...

We are so excited for you! What a wonfderful
place to serve. We are going to England in
April, sorry we will miss you. We know you will enjoy England. Duane & Pamela Johnston

Unknown said...

Wow! Of course, if your mission has the Cotswolds you will be in heaven. My favorite villages in the world. Go paint, Judy! Wow, all of those historic early missionary sites too. We are thrilled. Ginna

lovenalagirl said...

I know how much this means to you. I'm so happy it's such a beautiful place - you're more than deserving. I wish you the best but will miss you!

Megan said...

What a great first post, mom!! You've already got it down. And now I know to bring the tissue every time I get on your blog.

We love you so much. I really believe this is the perfect place for you guys, wish it wasn't so far but we will love our visits.

Karly said...

Someone must really, really, really love you to send you to one of the most idyllic spots on earth! This makes it a wee bit easier to see you go, knowing that you will be in an incredibly beautiful environment, serving the
choice people of the England Birmingham Mission. And to think your ancesters trod the same ground you will tread. How rich is that?!
Congratulations, and Godspeed. Karly and Daryl

brianne said...

I'm glad to see you left off some of those other pictures. You know which ones...

Ernie Baird said...

Well, what a deal! What a blessing! Quite a bit better than Zimbabwe. Ginna and I love the Cotswolds. We lived right on the edge of them for three years. We would like to visit you in a year or two, but I'm sure you will be overwhelmed with offers to visit. You will be great missionaries.

Ernie

Margie said...

What a fabulous place to spend your first mission ~ Congratulations! We'll miss you terribly but our loss will be a blessing to the people of England. The Lord had to send His best to ensure they will enjoy having the Gospel in their lives! Judy, you'll love being in that Heaven-like place. Your artistic talents will go crazy and the historical atmosphere will bowl you over, especially knowing it's the land of your ancestors. You'll need a whole ship to carry home all the treasures you'll find and want to keep! It might be a great time to write and illustrate a book.
God bless and keep you in your travels.
Love, Margie and Don McGrath
PS Your family pictures are glorious!

marilyn said...

A special journey for special people!! It couldn't have been more hand picked for you, Judy!! We will miss you and yes,it makes it a little easier knowing the beauty (spiritually and physically)that you will experience in the next three years. God bless such a wonderful couple and opportunity of service...Love, Tom and Marilyn

Anonymous said...

WOW - we're really in that stage of life where we start sharing our "senior missionary" calls!!! Cool! What an amazing place to spend time and serve the Lord. Thank-you so much for including us in your good news - we will look forward to your updates, pics, etc.
Your family is growing! And soooooo beautiful!
Love, Becky and Richard Alvord

Anonymous said...

Hey Judy you've done super job on the blog. The family is looking great and please be sure to say hi to all of them when you get a chance. I was hoping you and Chuck would be coming to the southeast somwhere so we could get to see you guys but England is a nice draw too! Congratulations, I wonder if you'll have an ancient when you get back. You blog is now part of our "favorites" list. Oops ,I hope I pick the correct profile

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your call! Great family photos.

James Russell Allen said...

I blogged you from the office but I don't see it here so again - The place was just right for you Judy. We are so happy for you both. You'll make great missionaries. I called Danny and gave him your blog and his comments showed up. I need my grandkids around to help me with all this modern stuff. Love to you both and keep us posted. When do we get to come help you box up? Love, Jim and Shirlyn

Cameron Family said...

Yeah, I'm going to have to just leave a box of tissues next to the desk. We are so excited for you both, such a perfect place for you to serve the Lord. Dad will make the world's greatest Mission President, and those young men and women will be so lucky to have you both.

Great job on the blog mom, and it only took you a year and a half!

Michelle Brooksby said...

Our son Elder Brett Brooksby is in your mission. He has been serving since May of 2008. Congratulations on your call. I'm sure you'll be wonderful. You can read about Elder Brooksby's experiences here: http://elderbrooksby.blogspot.com.

Anonymous said...

We were excited to hear of your call to serve as Mission President in the England Birmingham Mission. Our son Elder Blake Wells is currently serving there. He will be coming home shortly after you arrive (we think his release date is 7/23). He has had wonderful experiences over in England and has loved sharing the gospel there. What a great sacrifice you are making to serve the Lord - you have a beautiful family with what looks like many precious grandchildren. We know they will be so very blessed by your service.
Thank you! Kyle & Shari Wells (Gilbert, Arizona)

www.Lori'sdream.blogspot.com said...

I am so excited for the two of you. I know what a big decision this was for you because I know how much your children and grandchildren mean to you. But what a great example you are setting for them and to those of us you leave behind. We all hope you grow through your experiences I'm sure you will share. The people of England are lucky to be getting you to serve them. They will love you as much as we do.
Love you,
Lori Lowder

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your call to the England Birmingham Mission. Our son Elder Andrew Gerber will be one of your missionaries, and been in the field since December 2, 2008. He is one of the few Chinese speaking elders and has had a wonderful experience; serving in Wales since he arrived. Good luck with your preparations!

Unknown said...

Welcome to 'This Sceptred Isle' of shires, squires, spires and castles of course! Some of the most beautiful are in your mission. I live in Northamptonshire 'The Rose of the Shires'. We used to be in your mission but were moved to the England London Mission a few years ago. You are in for a real treat. Enjoy!

Ruelinda said...

What a blessing for you to be called to the Birmingham Mission. We are so excited for you and your family. Our son Elder Alex Bearnson will be another one of your Missionaries for a short time as he is scheduled to come home Sept. 2nd. However.... He says often in his weekly emails he may never come home! He loves it sooo much! He loves the English and Welsh People, the Elders, and more than anything the Gospel he has grown the cherish. You are in for the experience of a lifetime! We wish you the best. You will be richly blessed.
Brad & Ruelinda Bearnson -Providence, Utah

Judy said...

Receiving these comments from missionaries and parents of missionaries in Birmingham has been so much fun. We really appreciate your enthusiasm and encouragement. We are SO excited to serve in this area, and to get to know these missionaries. To you parents, we also have sent sons on missions, and appreciate your for your sacrifice. Sincerely, Judy Ogden

Anonymous said...

Yeah, you're great, England is beautiful, blah, blah, blah...what about ME? Does anyone stop to consider ME? What am I going to do when my psychiatrist and spiritual adviser are across the ocean and not at my beck and call every time I have an emotional breakdown which is at least weekly? And what about my biannual visits to Bainbridge? I don't want to go there by myself and not have breakfast served to me in bed. I just don't understand why still no one gets that it's all about ME. But self-sacrificing person that I am, I give you all my love and support and I say to you Ogden kids, please call on me for anything at all you need during this time of abandonment. Love, Chris

Cori Shaw, MS, RD said...

That is a great post Aunt Judy! I am so excited for you guys.
Isn't my mom a real gem? I think so...

Anonymous said...

Our son is serving in the beautiful and blessed England, Birmingham Mission. It is so fun to see pictures of the two of you and your darling family. We are sure that they will be hard to leave behind...especially the cute grandchildren. But we too have faith that the Lord will bless them and you as you endeavor to do his bidding. Our son, Elder Jason Israelsen, will be in your watchful care until January of 2010. It will be a blessing in his life to have served under not one but two wonderful men, who will have an impact upon the rest of his life! Thanks again for your willingness and excitement in accepting this call! Love Steve and Annette Israelsen; Kaysville, Utah

Cameron Family said...

Aunt Chris you are so funny! I would be happy to go to Bainbridge with you. If you get me there, without my children, I will serve you breakfast in bed EVERY DAY!!!

Thanks for the support during our 3 year abandonment. We will surely call you in times of need. Alisa

Claudine Cable said...

Hi President & Sister Ogden, We are serving in your mission as CES missionaries in Cardiff, Wales. We love the Moffats and will miss them but we are also looking forward to serving with you. Your children and grandchildren are gorgeous and you will miss them, but you will be so busy with so many exciting things that you will not have time to mope. Please let us know at any time if we can do anything for you. We love our mission and especially our Institute students. They are amazing!

Judy said...

Brother and Sister Cable...we have heard many wonderful things about the two of you already, and look forward to meeting you and serving with you. My son-in-law found your blog early on, and we enjoyed reading it. What a fun and exciting work you have. There's nothing like helping young people to learn the gospel, and grow their testimonies. And what a beautiful place to be doing it in. Sincerely, Judy Ogden

Leland and Amy McKay said...

Our son, Elder Benson Reed McKay, is also serving in this mission. We've been wondering just lately when he would get a new mission president.
You will do a great job. These missionaries are so capable and this mission is great!
Congratulations.

Judy said...

No Payson is not a fun brother. And if you don`t know what I mean check out what is on my older post at my blog.

Anonymous said...

Hello President and Sister Ogden,
We too, have a son serving in the EBM, Elder Spencer Ricks. You may think that EBM stands for England Birmingham Mission but ask any missionary there and they will tell you that is stands for "Earth's Best Mission"! Thank you for your willingness to serve and for the love that you bring. My son loves President Moffet with his whole heart and will much miss him. But he will be able to get to know you for a few weeks at least. He will return home on July 22nd and yes he has a wonderful accent!! Thanks again for serving! We hope to be in your shoes someday! Glen and Valarie Ricks - Lindon, Utah

Nana Nancy and PaPa Jeff said...

President and Sister Ogden, we miss you already, in the wonderful town of Paradise Valley, PV Stake!!! Please keep in touch, you blessed those you served and now you are off on a mission... Our open house for you was so cozy and full of so much love, friendship and respect. God Speed.. We are all here should the children need anything! Keep posting Judy!
Hugs Nancy and Jeff Glazier