it is so amazing to have this perfect family! I feel so much love. especially this week because I got packages from mom, the muirheads, hargadons, chloe Johnson, kramers, and $ from mariedda, and letters from the greassles, Julie, kate hargie, and a handful of other people. WOW GOD IS SOOOOOOOO GOOD and we have perfect lives!!! I am so humbled and grateful and full of love! y'all are the best ever.
I love y'all deeply, more than you know. I miss you all very very much. but this is exactly where I need to be. keep living those good lives!!!!!!!!
XOXO ella rae
Wednesday night we biked to the library and began locking up our bikes. Just as we did so, we saw a man drive up who had a flat tire. We quickly approached him and asked if we could do anything to help. He said no, but we got to talking. He was speaking slowly, but we listened intently. We showed our genuine love for him as our fellow brother. As the conversation continued, we learned that he had met Sister Senior and Sister Seville (other missionaries) back in the summer. We talked about life and were able to pivot to the gospel and teach the restoration, right there in the snow. We got his number, gave him a restoration pamphlet, and told him we owed him a Book of Mormon. The next day during planning Sister Schwendiman had the inspired thought to call him and set up an appointment. I was a little hesitant, but we did. Words can't possibly describe that phone call. It was perfect. It was everything a missionary ever dreams of hearing. He said, "I know this is something real because y'all wouldn't be out here in these conditions if it weren't. I have been lost in my life and I don't want to mislead my family. We are going to church right now, but I want to know where I really belong. A lot of these churches are just about traditions, and I don't think traditions get you into heaven." He wished he had met up with the other sisters, but never got around to it. He realized getting a flat tire and running into us was a sign from God that he needed to do something about. He said, "I am really interested. I talked to my family about meeting y'all last night. I can't wait to read the Book of Mormon and learn more." We set up an appointment to teach the family-husband, wife, and 4 kids!
What I learned: 1. We must listen with love. Often times I get caught up in the gung-ho missionary mode and forget that these people are people! We must connect with them, build trust, and tailor our message to their needs. Otherwise we will just be throwing words at them. 2. Follow up promptly! It hadn't even been 24 hours when we called Ray Hood back, but our encounter was fresh in his mind and he was able to remember the spirit. Because of this, he was eager to set up an appointment. 3. God has a perfect plan for each of our lives. His view is infinitely larger than ours, but it all works together for our good. Ray needed to meet the previous Sisters and get a flat tire 7 months later, and we needed to be at the library at that very moment.
God is so good. Miracles are real. I love this work and am excited for the new adventures that lie ahead!
Sister Madsen
We made homemade rolls the other day. BEST. THING. EVER.
also, sorry these emails are spread out. we just got back from lunch with the former mayor of corinth!!!!! IT WAS AWESOME! He was mayor for 16 years and he is THE MAN. He is seriously the perfect connection because he knows everyone! he bought us lunch at the cutest, most local precious southern restaraunt ever!!!! i am obsessed with this small town! we just go in there and talk with everyone! the owners were so friendly and kind and we were just chatting it up with everyone adn there dog! it was SO rad!!! awwwww everyone wanted to know who we were and what we are doing. the cutest owner lady is super stylish and she was loving that the mayor took us to lunch so she took a pic of schwendi and i and said, "we have a fb page. do you mind if i post this picture to it?" um NO we dont, PLEASE POST IT! so check out fillmore burgers in corinth, ms. hopefully you can find smoething. but seriously, pics of the mormon missionaries on there site! hollaaaaa i was talking to the nice couple next to me at the bar stools and they were super interested in what we were doing. cnoversation was hopping and they said we should go meet this man named barry, bc he is a minister and does tons of community outreach! they said they would lvoe our help! this is my dream come true! We need to get involved in the community so people know mormons are normal and servicable!!!!! WHIPPEEE cant tell you how stoked i am! but the mayor man, jerry, said he would take us to go meet him! connections on connectinos! he can put in a good word for us! boom life is good!
so the story of how we met the mayor is even cooler!!!! the other day in companionship study schwendi told me she prayed for heavenly fathers help to know how she could get out and work in the snow bc her boots were letting water in whenever she walked. she said "god blessed me with the idea to wrap my feet in plastic bags then put them in my boots!" hahah love her. but i wouldnt let her do that so she borrowed my combat boots. we got on the bikes and rode away.
we biked past a shoe store and both felt prompted to check it out. we locked up the bikes, prayed, and went it. and the kindest man ever was working there. he said he had been working there since he was a teen! He gave schwendi a FREE PAIR OF BOOTS! first of all, the prayer was answered. second of all, the kind man was JERRY THE MAYOR! love it! i asked how to clean my cream boots and he said "I will do it for you. LEave them here and pick them up tomorrow!" I let him serve me. sure enough we went back the next day and he had them cleaned and scrubbed and polished waiting for me! we made him some cookies :) and that is when he invited us to go to lunch. so this morning we called him up and made it happen!
sorry that was so long, but i love it!
todd and carina-precious couple who were a member referral and are getting baptized!!!!!!!! LOVE THEM! they have a sweet 2 year old daughter and live in Tennessee!!
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