Week 29!

Easter was a sacred experience. It was probably one of the hardest and best days of my entire life. I learned so much more about what Christ really did and about how our Heavenly Father feels about each of us.

After church we went to visit Bernita and Tyrone, the lovely family we are teaching who didn’t show up to church!! Disheartened Bernita said the boys-big Tyrone and lil Tyrone- had essentially given up. This may sound dramatic, but I've never felt pain like I did the moment those words rang in my ears. Sister Bryant and I have invested countless hours of study, prayers, pondering, discussion, and bike riding into this family. They have felt the spirit and know what we are teaching is true. It was a miracle how we found them and it just doesn't feel right to let them slip away.

Extremely disheartened, we left. We pulled over and Sister Bryant said a prayer. Almost immediately the spirit flooded into our little car and we both started crying. We were so overwhelmed with stress and disappointment, yet it felt like Heavenly Father was right there with us. We were filled to the brim with love and comfort.

This experience helped me learn that Jesus Christ really does know exactly how we feel. He suffered in the garden of Gethsemane to be able to succor us (Alma 7:11-13). Just as we were deeply saddened by this families actions, God is sad when we ignore Him in our lives. I know God loves us more than we can fathom, for I feel deeper, more genuine love for the people of Mississippi than I ever knew possible.  

Life is SO hard, but we can all move forward in faith! I love you all!

Sister Madsen

 cutting sarahs hair! so fun!

 SO MANY LEAVES.

 I'm short. She's tall.

 tree loving.

 the Corinth, Mississippi sister missionaries. party.

 easter with the beautiful mathesen family!

 Catherine! :)

 trying to spice up these historical monuments!!!

 oh boy-typical sister missionaries in our ugly running shoes and bball shorts...yikes! never thought I would see the day! hahha

 a real lifNATURE!!!!!!!!! so gorgeous!! I love rivers and trees and green! this world is so beautiful! and the spring here is so lovely canon from the civil war.

 NATURE!!!!!!!!! so gorgeous!! I love rivers and trees and green! this world is so beautiful! and the spring here is so lovely!

civil war museum! I am wearing a confederate soldier outfit. it was very eye opening to see the film and sites, we really are SO lucky to live in a free country. and it didn't come easily!!

Week 28!

       On Wednesday sister Bryant and I were biking and all of our plans fell through. Instead of logically filling up the time with different activities we decided to pray and figure our what God wanted us to do. As sister Bryant was praying in the middle of the ghetto the words, "lil' Chicago" kept ringing in my head. I tried to ignore it but couldn't. lil Chicago is a restaurant that is not in the safest part of town. We were far away and were not hungry. Nevertheless, we decided to follow the prompting in faith.

       We made it there safely and nothing was new. Just the typical smells of southern fried food and greasy fingers. Besides the workers there was only one old man there. We started talking and he poured out his soul. He told us how his wife is in the hospital and how the past year have been very challenging. We listened with genuine interest and our hearts began to fill with love and compassion for this man. Our eyes all filled with tears as we told him God sent us there to meet him. We assured him Heavenly Father is proud of him for being such a faithful husband. With tears streaming down his cheeks his whispered, "this is evidence that God is real. Wow. You came all the way from California to meet me."

      I honestly can't remember much of what was said, but I will never forget the love I felt. I saw this man as heavenly father does. I admired him. I looked up to him. I heard his story and could not help but feel his burdens. God needed someone to comfort and uplift his disheartened child, and i'm humbled sister Bryant and I were able to run this simple errand. 

I know we can all be Gods little angels when we listen to promptings and give simple acts of love to all around us. So just go and be nice! Yay!

Sister Madsen

"watch us grow" hahha there are probably like 10 people who live here. Got to love the country!

The mayor man bought Sister Bryant and I t-shirts and lunch from the oldest running drug store in the state of Mississippi! such a kind man!

i made one of those rice pillow things to heat up in the microwave...hahah! i made it with a sock and then the glove was just a hilarious addition. his name is rico suave and we hold hands. #imbasicallyanunn

this one is for you dad-we are now teaching a lady who works at waffle house!!

Robert Watson, a recent convert who bought us drumsticks! He is so precious and hilarious with those white sunglasses!

Week 27!

I have officially been a missionary for 6 months, can you believe it?!?!!! I am already 1/3 of the way done, which is slightly depressing, but I'll smile at the opportunity rather than crying that its flying by. I've reflected and pondered the last 6 months of my life...what have I learned? how have I changed? Words can't express the depth of my experiences out here in Alabama and Mississippi, but I have learned for myself that I am nothing. I know faith and humility are essential to the Lord's work. With just a year left, I know what I need to focus on now: LOVE.

 

I am a representative of Jesus Christ. He was filled with perfect love, so I should be too. I have set a goal to read the entire Book of Mormon in 6 weeks because it is Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and through its pages we can come to know Him. I feel God enlightening my mind and heart every morning when I study. I am filled with new knowledge and insights which make me even more excited to go outside and share the truth!!!!!!!

 

Christ's greatest commandments are taught in the Bible and Book of Mormon. 1. Love God. 2. Love your neighbor.

 

As our modern day prophet Thomas S. Monson counseled us yesterday, I have resolved to be more full of love. As I look at the people around me everyday my heart grows bigger and deeper. I see these people as children of God. We are all on the same journey back to our loving Heavenly Father. We all need the same resources and tools to get there, found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know the truth and my heart burns to share it with everyone. I am not just a "religious" girl. I have been blessed with the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and I know the unmatchable blessings that flow from it. I know it brings lasting happiness and joy and peace and purpose and understanding. I want people to feel what I am talking about.

 

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I fought for Him before this earth when we all learned God's plan for us, and I will fight for Him now. I am here to wake people from the clouds of darkness Satan encircles us with. I am here to help people see and feel and remember the light and love of their Savior. He knows each of us personally. He cares for our individual needs. I love my Savior. I love being a missionary more than words can ever express.

 

Keep the faith my friends, you are not alone.

Sister Ella Rae Madsen

 the hermanas and us watching general conference at church! the missionaries were the only ones there saturday....hahhah party! 

welcome to the south my dear friends! we've got morris on the left who has a giant freezer full of meat and is a strong baptist and bonnie on the right, our newly reactivated member who quit smoking! so proud! 

oh ya, forgot to mention the confederate flag hat! what is going on with my life?!!! #mississippi #thisisreal

Meaghan and Rheannon, our precious little friends who came to watch conference!

Week 26!

Yesterday Sister Bryant and I rode our bikes to visit the same family I talked about last week-mom Bernita, dad Tyrone, 18 yo son Tyrone, 15 yo Brooklyn, and 14 yo Quantavis. When we got there all the boys were shirtless shooting hoops in the warm Mississippi sunshine. Sister Bryant showed them her game and then we gathered the family and went inside to teach them.

We reviewed the restoration with them to see if they understood. We asked a few questions and the father began teaching his sons. He taught about prophets, apostasy, Joseph Smith, and the restoration of the priesthood. We focused on the priesthood and they all grasped it perfectly. The young sons understand we are the only church with the authority to baptize and they said "y'all are the 'real deal'". We testified of how priesthood blesses families. I shared an experience from my junior year in high school: One night before finals I was stressed out and I began to hyperventilate/cry uncontrollably. In this moment of distress my dad came over, laid his hands on my head and gave me a priesthood blessing. The instant he finished I opened my eyes and was completely calm. My anxiety attack had ceased and I was filled with peace. I knew the priesthood was the power of God.

We asked the 3 boys where they saw themselves in 20 years-they all expressed the desire to have families, a home, and a job. We told them the decisions they make today will determine who they are for the rest of their lives. The dad Tyrone testified to his sons that they have to choose who they want to please-God or the world. He helped them understand that $ and material things and drugs and mischief are not worth it. I added my witness-in high school I had high standards, but I chose God over the "worldly" ways. I am not willing to give up what I have-a happy family, peace, purpose, love, joy-for anything the world has to offer.

The spirit was evident as we helped the family see how they can be strengthened by the priesthood. We filled their souls with a "brightness of hope" (2 Nephi 31:20) only the gospel can bring. They were all excited and anxiously asked, "well how do we go about getting the priesthood?!" We read a scripture answering their question and they realized they needed to be baptized. We set a goal for the entire family of 5 beautiful black people to be baptized on April 19.

That was an incredible moment. We could all feel God's love. I know the priesthood-the authority men hold to act in the name of God-is real. I know it blesses families. I am inexpressibly grateful for the priesthood in my life.

Wow I just can't get over how wonderful life is!!!! I LOVE being a missionary!!

Sister Ella Rae Madsen

 just out on farm with a real barn!!! no big deal in the south! loving it!

 holding a baby lamb!!!! so precious!!

sister bryant and i! :)

Week 25!

A couple weeks ago we met a beautiful black couple in their 40s who invited us to come over and teach them. We went to see them Saturday and the whole family was gathered together in the living room. The mom Bernita told us the youngest son Brooklyn (15) was a little nervous about us because we ride bikes and are Mormon. She warned us that it would be hard to "reach him". As we sat with the family we asked Brooklyn what he thought was strange. He laughed and said, "well I'm scared of her voice!" as he pointed to me. HAHAH! I told him it was ok, everyone thinks it is weird! He continued, "the other day when y'all were here talking to my parents you were talking really slow and it was like y'all were in a trance". 

That was a profound and special and hilarious moment. The "trance" Brooklyn was referring to was the power in the room as we taught his parents truth. Sister Bryant gracefully helped identify that "strange" feeling as the spirit. As missionaries we are set apart to literally say what Christ would if He was personally in Corinth, Mississippi. When he said he felt something different when we came into their home, Sister Bryant and I knew we were doing our job. We are representatives of Jesus Christ on the Lord's errands. This is His work, not ours. Nothing I do as a missionary will change people, it is 100% the spirit of God which softens, molds, and changes hearts. 

We bore our testimonies and shared the feelings of our hearts. As soon as we stopped talking Brooklyn said, "I like your voice now". They recognized the spirit and felt God's love for the first time. The whole family is now praying daily, reading the Book of Mormon, and coming to church. It was amazing to help them see the "brightness of hope" (2 Nephi 31:20) we offer as missionaries. People can change. Families can grow closer together. The happiness we radiate is strictly because of God, and it is available to ALL.

I love being a missionary. I love seeing people become something new. I love being chastened and changing, because this life is all about improvement. May we be better tomorrow than we are today is my prayer!

Love always,

Sister Ella Rae Madsen :)

ALSO...hilarious story: we were riding our bikes this week and my tires are super skinny and I was super pumped just riding along and not paying attention when all of a sudden my front tire dropped into a drainage grate (you know with the slits?) and I FLEW OVER MY HANDLEBARS! hahhahahha that has never happened to me before! it was kind of fun! hahah k not really but it was a miracle bc I was ok! it is a super busy road and no cars hit me! and I only got a few scrapes on my hands and a bruise on my crotch...awkward placing I know!

 Lauren George :) She was baptized last year and is leaving on a mission this year! whoo hoo!

 Reunion with Lauren George (a member in Alabama who surprised us) and Sister Haws (my lovely last companion)!!!! YAY!

 Some of my lovely fellow sister missionaries!!

 Sister Bryant and I at the Birmingham, Alabama temple! SO wonderful!

 Sister Stevens and I! She is one of the hilarious sassy 22 yo Spanish speaking missionaries I live with. Love her!

 Sister Bryant and I with Sarah in her baptism outfit! :)

 Sarah and I after her baptism! Her scarf says "I love Jesus" all over it, what a gem.

Sarah and her hilariously wonderful siblings!! They were saying "praise the lord! hallelujah! thank you jesus! amen!" throughout the whole baptismal service. It was classic! I love the south!