Week 31: My Beautiful Butterfly

       My beautiful butterfly is Sister Bryant. When she became my companion 3 months ago it was like I had my first child-for she came straight from the missionary training center-innocent and ready to learn. I was responsible for showing her the ropes of our crazy missionary life and teaching her everything she needs to know. It has been the hardest thing I've ever done, yet the most rewarding!! I am so proud of who she has become and I love her so much!

       I'm grateful I've been able to see her innocence, feel her love, and watch her struggle, learn, improve, change, grow, and develop. Now I better understand how my parents, and more importantly, God feels about each of us. He wants so badly for us to do what is right. He wants us to humble ourselves and become more like His son. He sees the big picture and has all wisdom, yet He can't just "knock it into us". We all have agency and take time to change. I'm so grateful Heavenly Father has unconditional love, pure patience, and an eternal perspective, for without it we would be nothing! My eyes are opened wider everyday and I am so grateful He never gives up on us. As I trainer I have learned to love, be patient, and trust in the Lord.

      We found out Saturday night that we are both leaving Corinth, Mississippi. It is a bittersweet time y'all. This is the place where I've truly become a missionary and I will forever be grateful for these memories. Now I am ready to get a new companion in a new area with new people and places and experiences! I am not scared because I know I will go where the Lord needs me to be. I love being a missionary and I can truly say that I have never been HAPPIER than I am right now! Life is so good! I love y'all so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxo Sister Ella Rae Madsen

sweetest little member sister carson! she lives far far away but still comes out and teaches with us all the time! love her!

I love Sister Bryant and am going to miss her SO darn much!

this is hilarious and SO awkward. I wanted someone to get in this pic with me bc the background is SO gorgeous, but they just handed me the yippy dog. lol. this is at our bishops house-he has 4 ponds a million animals and such a beautiful home! love it!

here is the beautiful pond without my disturbing face/outfit/dog in it.

Mormon helping hands!!! we all went to tupelo to help with clean up again! so fun!

 we are a hoot and a half around each other. seriously she caught my ella craziness.

 and was doing cartwheels before her baptism. side note-she is 46. hahahha love her!

 TRACY GOT BAPTIZED!!! We met her 2 weeks ago, such a miracle

 all the missionaries with tracy after her baptism! so spiritual and beautiful and awesome and inspiring! oh boy is it cool to see people literally CHANGE THEIR LIFE!

the fox family :)