Week 17.

Hello World!!!!!

 

I am just loving life down here in Mississippi!!! I never imagined in 1 million years I would be LIVING in this crazy state, but I would not want to be anywhere else!!!

 

What I am learning out here is that life is hard. People i meet and engage with everyday have heartaches and sorrows. they are depressed. they are lost. i find it deeply amusing and humbling that i, ella, have been led out here to help these people. i am a 19 yo girl who has always lived a happy, peaceful, positive life. now i am thrown into mississippi, which is the most depressed and most poor of all the 50 states. what i am realizing is that people need a source of help that is bigger than themselves. they are so low that a smile or laugh wont change a thing. but what i do get to bring these people is the answer they did not even know they were looking for-the gospel of jesus christ.

 

this week sister schwendiman and i biked in the 22 degree weather to try and meet a sweet old lady who used to meet with the boy missionaries 2 year ago. we had no clue what to expect we had no clue what to expect but when we showed up on her doorstep she gladly welcomed us in. She said she had been waiting for us to come! She happened to open the BoM and read just a few days earlier and wanted to review what she had learned. She opened up to Helaman 5, a chapter reference that had been scribbled down on a mormon.org card by Elders years ago. She said that chapter spoke exactly to her. in fact, she was scared of this book because she didn't understand how it was so perfect. We helped her understand that was because the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and He knows her perfectly. we read verse 12 "INSERT THE VERSE" she said the world is crazy and she is lost. we helped her understand that the guilt weighing her down can be lifted through the atonement of jesus christ bc he has felt all our pain. through baptism she can be washed clean and the guilt can be completely washed away. and how the peace and love she felt at that very moment could be hers forever if she was baptized bc you receive the gift of the hg. her heart was touched and she knew it was time to let go of uit, fear, and anguish. she needed to build a foundation on JC and follow God bc satan is way too powerful. helaman 5 also so happened to be the 1 chapter sister schendi had studied that very same morning! it was crazy and such a miracle. I am grateful the Elders 2 years ago were prompted to mark that chapter down. i am grateful we went to check up on her. i am grateful that god is leading and guiding us to his lost sheep, and that we can bring them the peace they are starving for.

 

i add my solemn witness to that of our dear friend who let us in that freezing night in mississippi, that i know the bom is the word of god. i know christ lived and died for us. i know heavenly father lives and loves us. i know the gospel of JC has power to heal broken souls. i see the eyes of those lost and confused  light up with a glimmer of hope when they hear the truth and feel it in their hearts. i know the bom can comfort anyone who picks it up. i know struggles truly make us stronger, if we endure them well and turn to christ. i am grateful for the privilege and opportunity to be out here serving a mission. i wouldnt want to be anywhere else, for i am becoming who i need to be through the good, the bad, and the miraculous. 

 

may we keep our heads up and take one step forward!!!

Sister Ella Rae Madsen 

 stray dog we found biking home-we called the owner and gave him back!

 lynn and i in 2 of her wigs!!!! (this is the lady who was a former investgator) LOVE HER! in her kneelin prayer she prayd in gratitude for the "book of joseph smith" i was cracking up it was so tender and sincere and precious!

 most southern meal of mylife!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we ate at this precious red barn and thee couple that owned it was the definition of southern hospitality! they wouldnt stop bringingg out more food for us to sample! i felt SO sick after all that fried unhaelthy craziness!!!!!

HILARIOUS sign at the boys and girls club!!! totally good info! yet so classic and funny!