Week 42

Sister Sheffer and I had a lovely miracle this week!!! We were trying to find a trailer park, got lost, and ended up in this random neighborhood. We had a good feeling about it and decided to knock on doors!

 

We found a cute home, knocked, and met Loretta, a sweet 64 year old lady with gray hair and pajamas. We offered to say a prayer with her and she said no thanks. We continued in conversation and learned she grew up in Watsonville, California!!! WHAT! Totally bonded. Then she told us she didn't go to church, but her husband is a Mormon!!! Double what!!!!

 

Long story short, they invited us over for dinner and we had the best night ever!! Her husband Jim was baptized at 13 when missionaries knocked on his families door, but fell away in his 20s. Jim is a hilarious, joke-cracking old man, but as he reflected on his experience of reading/praying about The Book of Mormon, he choked up. He knows it's true! He felt the sweet spirit he has been missing for 40 years. He gratefully said, "I know God sent y'all here because I haven't had missionaries knock on my door in the 40 years I've been away. I've always seen them on the street, and one time I even tried to chase em' down but couldn't catch em'!" In agreeance, Loretta exclaimed, "we just started talking about how we need to get back into church. I've never been baptized and I need to be."

 

What in the world?!?!? We get lost, knock on a random door, meet a lady who grew up in Watsonville (in perspective, I've only met 1 other person from California the entire 10 months I've been in the south), AND whose husband is a mormon!

 

Now if you want to hear this story and think God ain't real, I am so sorry! Because this was a STRAIGHT UP MIRACLE!! I love my life!!!

 

Love always,

Sister Ella Rae Madsen

exchanges with the Gadsden sisters!!!! most delicious lunch ever!!!!!!!! I love my life!

we got to be the judges for this super fun iron chef night at church it attalla! I love exchanges!

my companion can play the piano upside down....no big deal!!! she is so great!!!!!!

just out on the town! such a sweaty day!!! hahha