Week 16!

This has been the best week of my missionary life thus far! Everything I have been hoping, dreaming, working, praying, and striving for is coming true. Awhile ago I talked about recognizing and following the spirit-the gift we are given after baptism. The holy ghost (spirit-same thing) is the 3rd member of the godhead and works in congruence with God and Jesus Christ. The holy ghost comforts, guides, teaches, and warns us. When we live good lives we can be prompted as to everything we should do through different thoughts and feelings. We can learn and discern truth by the same power-we just feel something inside. For me, I feel happy and peaceful and something in my heart burns.

This week has been so wonderful because we have truly been led by the spirit in everything we do each day. Who we talk to, where we go, what we say, and who to help is all being directed by the holy ghost. It feels so right. Everything is just clicking and I love it!!! It is so humbling to know you are doing God's will. I know the lessons we teach are not ours, for the words we speak are straight from heaven. It is the strangest, best feeling ever. I am talking, but I know that everything I am saying is not from me. The words I utter are far too graceful, bold, and powerful. When I stop talking, I can hardly remember what I said. There is no way we could remember everything we need to say or understand exactly what these people need to hear. I truly feel like an instrument in the Lord's hands, for I know with certainty that all our success is His.

We are trying to do everything we know is right. We are opening our mouths and talking to EVERYONE, which has brought us great success. Heavenly Father has been placing so many remarkable people in our path it is unbelievable. We often look at each other in amazement at how good our God is.

Quick miracle story: The other day we were on our bikes and it was freezing outside. When we finally got to the neighbrohood we were looking for, I could hardly feel a thing. My toes were frozen to the bone! From being in the ocean and skiing in the mountains, I've had cold toes before, but they seriously felt worse than ever before. I wasn't going to saying anything because I am not a complainer, but it was bad We said a quick prayer and I had faith that Heavenly Father would provide a way for my toes to not fall off, for we were being obedient and working hard. Just 2 seconds after we opened our eyes from the prayer to start walking the sky bursted open and the sun came beaming down!! I was in shock!!! It had been overcast and cloudy all day long, and the moment we finished praying the sun came out! It was crazy! I knew Heavenly Father was watching out for us. He provided a miracle so we could keep working. I am so grateful for His love and compassion, and am so humbled to be serving Him. He is real people! I know it and I will never deny it.

I love being a missionary. I am finally feeling like a real one. I am grateful to have impressions and inspirations and thoughts from God to tell us what to do. It is so cool. I don't know how to describe it. But these feelings from the spirit are what brought me out to Mississippi and Alabama in the first place. I felt that serving a mission was right. I acted upon that thought and I can now say with certainty that I know this is where I need to be. I am so happy I can hardly contain it!

I love all y'all so much. Words can't describe how appreciative I am of each and every one of my friends, family members, and acquantainces. Thanks for your love and support and kind words, it means the world to me. Keep being good people, I am trying to be one myself!

Sister Ella Rae Madsen

i was looking for a basket to put on the back of my bike so i dont have to carry my bag on one shoulder....then i found this garage sale place and found this!!!! the old man wanted to sell it to me for $2, i said that was too steep so he gave it to me for a $1! hahah love bargaining! but then we bungied it on-extra 50 cents. i ended up giving him the $2.50 and a bom (said it was my fav book, it was a gift, worked that one! hahah) and taught him the restoration! rock on! then i bought some zip ties and secured it even more! i am obsessed with it!