Week 30!

      A week ago we went to Tupelo to have an activity with all 48 missionaries in the surrounding Tupelo areas. we went outside around 2 to play kickball when president hanks called us all inside. he told us there were tornado warnings and we needed to stay inside. it seemed ridiculous because it was perfect weather outside-blue sky, warm weather, not a cloud in the sky. even though we couldn't see any sign of danger, we trusted our mission president and followed his counsel. before we knew it the storm hit. as we gathered in the chapel of the church building the doors flung open and the lights started flickering. the power went out and we found ourselves in a pitch black room. 48 simple kids aged 18-25 who have left there families to serve the lord in Mississippi were all together at this precise moment. we looked through the windows and all we saw was green, thick, hazy air. texts started coming in from friends in the area saying "tornado just hit in tupelo. it is by the mall." "get inside. i see the tornado. are you safe?" etc etc we all got down on our knees and offered a prayer to our father in heaven. we began singing songs to drown out the tumultuos noises all around us. despite the reality of chaos and danger we remained calm. we later found out the tornado formed directly above our church building and touched down a block away from us. we were all perfectly safe!! what a MIRACLE.

 

After reflecting on this I've realized a few things.

1. Just as we heeded to President Hanks counsel to come inside when there was no apparent danger, we must trust Heavenly Father and follow his counsel. I didn't understand why we had to come inside and frankly I didn't want to, but I had faith enough to obey. This is parallel to heeding the counsel of our prophet and apostles. They are watchmen on the towers, they speak for God and warn us of danger. I know I must follow them to be kept spiritually and physically safe.

 

2. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. There is no way 85,000 teenage kids would leave their families for 18 months to 2 years if it wasn't. We leave the comfort and fun of college and friends. We go to random places around the world, learn new languages, wake up at 6:30am, and be with the same person 24-7. Our lives have literally changed because of the gospel and we want to share this joy with others. Sitting in the pitch black room with 48 dedicated, faithful, selfless, loving, determined, knowledgable, righteous kids was a moment in life I will never forget. I'm humbled and grateful to be on the Lord's team, wow.

 

3. Just as I thought I was completely safe outside, the devil leads us to believe we are justified in making little mistakes. "It is ok to drink or party or have sex because everyone is doing it. It is ok to steal a pack of gum or lie a little here or there." This is simply NOT true. There are 2 forces in the world-good and evil. Every time we make a good choice, we become more like Jesus Christ. Every time we make a bad choice, we become more like Satan. The devil flatters, deceives and blinds us, leading us to believe their is no danger in the choices we make. We learn in the Book of Mormon that Satan carefully leads us into destruction. Speaking of our day it is said he "shall rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good...he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell" (2 Nephi 28:20-22). Of course it is easier to live life without a belief in God, because then you can do whatever you want! You wouldn't worry about the consequences of your choices.

 

       But I want everyone to know I know there is a God. I know  Satan is real. There is opposition in all things-light/dark, hot/cold, happy/sad-without it there would be no purpose in our existence. I am grateful to know these things because it gets me up every morning. I know I am on God's side and I am here to fight, no matter what the devil can throw at me. The work I am now engaged in is real. I feel and see God's love, power, and miracles everyday. Of this I am indescribably grateful.

 

      Even though I sound serious and bold right now....it is just because these things are true! I am Ella and I want everyone to be happy! It breaks my heart to see the world clouded and confused by the deceptions of the devil. I just pray and plead that all of our eyes may be opened a little wider to the reality of our Heavenly Father. I want y'all to know I love you and pray for you. I really don't know who reads this, but whoever you are, you are awesome!!! God loves you and you can be happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Sister Madsen

It is SO green here! I love it so much!!!!

just taking my dinner on the road! yummy veggies!! we got to go to tupelo for stake conference where elder teh of the 70 was there! he spoke in general conference and is such a nice man! loved getting to meet him!!

at tupelo stake conference with tracy! her first time at church with us and she loved it!!! this is exactly what she has been praying for! so great! 

oh tracy! she is a hoot and a half! love her! 

she came to dinner with us at a members home after stake conference! i love these southern people, they are so gracious! and her hat says "jesus paid it all". YES! so great :)

wearing normal clothes in the grocery store...what!!! so fun! 

i am such a hyper child! i have so much energy! as clearly evidenced here, i still get into "ella" moods! whoo hooo! hahah

doing service in the beautiful place of selmer, tennessee!!!!! YAAYY for NATURE! 

dinner at bonnies to discuss missionary work!!! remember how she was the lady we found smoking a cigarette on a bench in the freezing january weather?!? well guess what....she is fully active and her calling/responsibility in the church is to coordinate members coming to teach with us missionaries!!!! BEST THING OF MY LIFE! from cigs to service yall, change is real! 

ya so natural disasters are real. 

all the mormons in the surrounding tupelo areas have been in tupelo this week doing service! cutting trees and moving them all to the street corners! this is the 6 missionaries who serve in corinth! 

SO MANY DOWN TREES! literally everywhere. 

this was some manual labor y'all. working glasses on. chainsaws. tractors. you name it. 

wow it was crazy seeing homes completely destroyed and chaos everywhere. so sad for these people. :(

Cathy and Alicia got baptized yesterday!!! SO wonderful! This is the mom we randomly met at New China Buffet who had taken all the lessons from missionaries a year ago in Indiana, was looking for a mormon church, but didnt know they had one in corinth! she lives 30 min away but happened to be in corinth that day. we noticed her staring at our tags so we started talking to her...look where that led! miracles people, they are REAL!

Sister Cartwrite and Sister Plunk :) Some of my favorite old(er) ladies in the ward who come out and teach with us all the time! Sister Plunk on the right is 73...you would never know! She has the energy of a teenager! Love it!!!