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!
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!
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