Week 64: Week Mirror

So friends!!! It's that time again....transfers!! I am leaving Huntsville after serving here for 3 months! It's always a little sad to leave the lovely people I meet but I am always really excited for change and new experiences!!!!!

 

I've reflected on the past 6 weeks, read study notes and journal entries, and wow!!! God teachs us soooo much!

 

I want to share a few precious nuggets of truth I've learned:

• balance-working hard vs. not doing more than you have strength (Mosiah 4:27)
• moderation-in eating (Christlike attribute of self discipline)
• grace-divine means of help or strength (2 Nephi 2:8)
• pray for strength to endure challenges, not change situations (1 Nephi 7:17, Mosiah 24:14-15)
• humility-I am nothing without the Lord (Mosiah 4:11-12)
• patience-with myself and others. we all have weakness. let go of the small things. (Mosiah 23:21)
• daily repentance-reviewing how I did each day. how can I improve tomorrow?
• leadership and sacrifice-putting others needs before my own. giving selflessly.
• family-how to have a successful one, aka with the gospel!
• perfectionism-there is only one Savior. I'm not Him. It's a process. "Lengthen your stride but don't split your crotch!"

 So that's my 6 week mirror! The scripture references are all from The Book of Mormon, you can find them on lds.org! I'm thankful to be out here learning and stretching and growing! Life is all about progress!! Love you all! Thanks for everything you continue to teach me!

 

Sister Ella Rae Madsen

our christian friends from the mall! hahha so fun!

exchanges gone wild!

the elders bought us smoothies because we won a friendly little competition with them.... :)

our christian friends from the mall! hahha so fun!

Week 63: Usher

After dinner on friday we were deciding where to tract (knock on doors). There is SO many places to go....so how does a girl decide?!? Looking at the map I had a very subtle idea/thought to go to Usher Rd. Sister Crandall randomly spun around and pointed to a place on the map. We were shocked to see her finger had landed on the exact same spot!!!!! We figured we must go there, so we did. 

The first door we knocked on we met a sweet lady named Sheryn, who let us in, probably only because it was freezing outside. The walls of her home were covered with crosses and a variety of religious quotes-wow, the faith of these southern folk still amazes me. We soon learned her mother is about to pass away, so she is struggling. We read from the Book of Mormon, when the prophet Alma is teaching the people about what happens to us after this life. The "righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow". When we die our spirits go to the spirit world, a place of learning and preparation. This brought great comfort to our dear friend Sheryn. We all held hands and prayed. When we opened our eyes Sheryn was crying, you could tell she was touched. She thanked us profusely and asked us not to leave quite yet...she ran back to the room and came back with 2 little metal heart charms. She clasped them in our hands and hugged us. What a tender mercy. 

We figured she was the reason God had inspired us to go to Usher Rd, but we kept knocking doors. Nothing too exciting was happening, and we were about ready to head home when we decided to knock one last door. A beautiful mom from Mexico and her sweet family let us in. They are looking for a church and want to get back with God. We taught them about the gospel, left them with a Book of Mormon, and are going back to visit this week. Of course it was another miracle, God just does not stop!

I know Heavenly Father is aware of each of us. Just like our dads, He wants the best for us. He knows when we are sad and need help. We could have gone anywhere in Huntsville, yet God knew Sheryn and the family needed us. I know God works through our weaknesses and inspires us. His marvelous work is not one of chances or quincidences. We are truly called by a prophet of God to share the truth we are all searching for. I've found it and I love it! 

Love from Alabama,

Sister Ella Rae Madsen

sister crandall wasnt feeling too good this week so i made her tea with essential oils in it!!! so yummy! thank you emily martin!!! :)

got to have a stranger pic of the week! our new bffs from walmart. of course. 

HAHAHAH! nice try! 

we love each other. and we are crazy together. 

sister crandall my loveee

Week 62: A Perfect Puzzle

    Two weeks ago I was with a different sister missionary in her area. We met a girl named Tylisha very briefly in a parking lot. Two days ago I was back with the same sister in her area, and she suggested we go see Tylisha! I agreed, so we biked a few miles in the rain until we got there. Sadly, she wasn't home.
 
    We decided to knock on her neighbors door. A man answered who handed off the responsibility of talking to us to his roommate, who clearly wasn't interested. He shut the door before we could say much. We walked away and began to cross the street when we heard a voice, "hey wait!" We looked back and noticed the girl speaking to us had come out of the house where we had just been denied.
 
    Confused and a little nervous (thinking she would yell at us or try to get us in trouble), we went back. This beautiful 24 yo black girl looked at us with hope and excitement in her eyes, like a little child about to open a present, and asked, "what time do your services start on sunday?" Appalled, we said, "11 am". She replied, "I will be there! I'm sorry my roommates didn't let you in. I'm actually a member of your church. I haven't been since I was a little girl but I know it's time for me to get back with God. There are 5 girls in my family, and my sister just passed away. I need it." We all felt our hearts burn within us and didn't really know what to say. It was one of those moments in life where everything is so beautiful and perfect that it's almost surreal. We said a prayer right there, in the middle of the pitch black parking lot.

   I am continually amazed at how perfect God's timing is. Before we met Tylisha we were in line at a store to buy some things, but had a thought that we needed to leave the items behind and go outside. Because we obeyed, we crossed Tylisha's path, right when she was going into a different store. If we were 30 seconds earlier or later, we wouldn't have met her. Because we did, we were led to someone who really needed us. God's timing is like a perfect puzzle. Every interaction and experience is woven together for our good. I am so grateful to be apart of it.

   I know God is real. He listens to us. He loves us. He answers prayers. He knows exactly how we feel and what we are going through. He sends us comfort. He sends us angels. I see that everyday and I love it.  
Love,

Sister Madsen

post mlc!! love these sisters!

 

zone training!! we put up these lights to set the mood. hahah

just biking over the busy road!!

 PatienTS is the key. Thank you Alabama for your awesome spelling!!! hahha

we saw this person running/waving his hands in random directions...it was hilarious! so we stopped to talk to him. he is training for college basketball in the rain! hahah so we taught him about the gospel and became friends.

 

you cant really see but we made elaborate haystacks when we got stuck inside for tornado warnings!! we were so mad we just wanted to go work! but we made the best of it!

trying to be artsy at church....hahha

 

our new skirts. thank you thrift store!! 

this picture is for Kate Hargie-look at how close we are!!! I am the same distance to Nashville as I am to Birmingham!!! love and miss you sistaaa!

a visual of our area. we are the little box on the bottom left corner! hahah love it!!!

a little quote board we wrote for zone training!

Week 61: Cute Boots to Christmas Dinner!

So it's been dumping rain here and poor Sister Crandall's feet have been sloshing in water in her old boots. On Christmas eve we were headed home from an exchange and saw a SuperTarget. We figured-perfect opportunity to find her some rainboots! As we were looking around we noticed a girl wearing cute boots, so we complimented them and asked where she got them. She ended up being the most kind, friendly, happiest girl ever!!! She is about to graduate from Auburn and is here for Christmas break. We explained how we aren't from here either, that we are missionaries who help people come closer to Christ. She was super fascinated by it all and told us her step sister is a mormon!! Megan (cute boots girl) grew up Catholic, but moved away from the traditions when she went to school. She tried out a few different churches-Methodist, Baptist-Presbyterian-trying to find one that was right. She ended up in a non denominational one. We explained how she was just like Joseph Smith-he too was searching for truth and church hopping. He was the means of restoring Christs gospel, which brought back lost truth and authority. She was super interested and agreed to meet up another time to discuss more.

 

A few hours later we were knocking doors, thinking about how we had no where to go on Christmas. We are in a big ward, so we were slightly confused why no one had signed up to feed us. hahah No later did we get a text, "Hey it's Megan! I just met y'all in Target and was wondering if you had somewhere to go for Christmas dinner?" WHAT!!!!!!!!!! Are you serious Heavenly Father?? Total miracle!!!!!!!! We told her no and she invited us over!!!

 

Despite the excitement we realized she lived in Madison, not Huntsville, so she would be outside our boundaries (which are super small-5 miles by 5 miles). Additionally, we our out of miles to drive on the car...so there was no way it would work. We asked for her address anyways and plugged it into the GPS. We looked down and realized it was exactly 1 mile from where we were standing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! awwww we were SO excited!!! That literally never happens!

 

So on Christmas we went to Megans home. We had the most memorable Christmas of my life-eating and visiting with her mom and their black neighbor who is a female pastor. We ate a delicious food and talked about the Lord for 3 hours. We shared experiences and testimonies and beliefs. We all sang Christmas songs as Tanishia, the black minister, led us in gospel singing.

 

It twas' a night I'll never forget. I learned God answers prayers, works in mysterious ways and watches out for His missionaries!! Miracles are real!!! I LOVE MY LIFE!

 

Enjoy your New Years Eve!

Love,

Sister Ella Rae Madsen

sister van dyke and i went biking....i said, "i hope it starts raining again!" and not even 10 seconds later it started to DOWN POUR!!! hahah we were soaked and had to go home to change! 

knocking away! we have such a blast together! i love siter crandall!!!

we had a lovely christmas eve with the larson family! look at these cute boys! 

this hat was too funny...i had to document the moment! it is badazzled "HOT"! hahhahah

I ATE CHITLINS! Aka pig intestines!!! When this preacher invited us in they were cookin them up....i asked if i came back in 3 hours if they would let me have some...they said yes! so i came back and ate them! 

we knocked on this preachers door on christmas eve! he wanted a picture. so precious.

 

our Christmas tree! we had a sleepover with some other sisters! yay! :)

side note-thanks to everyone who sent christmas cards! i love them!

 

thank you for the homemade scarf Sister Zitting! so cozy!

 

Sister Zitting's fancy tree! Literally the ornaments are bigger than my head! hahah love her! 

OUR PERFECT CHRISTMAS DINNER FAMILY. The pastor even gave me the scarf and bracelet I have on! So kind.

 

 

sister spencer and i met some girls while they were jumping their car-hahah so fun

Miss Jean, a big black lady, had us over for her "throwdown" meal! hahah This was only a tiy portion of the food she made!! She had 4 sweet potato pies, a huge peach cobbler, 4 cakes, cookies, chocolate...you name it! THE SOUTH IS SO GREAT!

Can you say leftovers??? 

Sister Crandall and I walking along highway 72 in the pitch black!!! hahah we had no other choice-her bike is at another missionaries apartment and we have no miles to drive! such a fun adventure!

Week 60: Disney is on Point

This week I had the opportunity to watch Frozen!!!! Now I understand why little girls used to call me Elsa, now they think I'm Anna! hahha love it! After watching that movie I realized the moral was profound-LOVE saves us. What a perfect time to think about love-for that is the spirit of Christmas! 

 

We know Christmas is about CHRIST...so what did He do? What did He teach us? Why does it matter?

 

1. Because "God so loved the world" (John 3:16), Jesus Christ came to earth to save us. He lived a perfect life, took on all our pains, died on the cross, and ultimately rose from the dead. Through this, we can all overcome our bad choices and return to His presence.

 

2. Christ taught us through His example and through His words. He was the most obedient, loving, hopeful, kind, thoughtful, patient, diligent, humble, knowledgable, and faithful being to walk the earth. He "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38) and helping others. We should do the same. The greatest commandments He gave are to love God and others. "His life was a legacy of love" (Thomas S. Monson, prophet, April 2014), and we should strive to follow it. 

 

3. This matters to me because I know why I'm here. I feel peace and happiness from doing what He asks. When I do good, I feel good! When I do bad, I feel bad. I know I can improve each day. I know I can be with my family forever. I can find answers to questions. I feel comfort when life gets tough. 

 

This Christmas season I am extremely grateful to be on a mission. This is the best gift I can give Jesus Christ and the best gift I've ever received! I LOVE IT! and all of you! 

 

Sister Ella Rae Madsen

mission christmas party!!! my ugly sweater had lights and sang! hahah so much fun! 

our zone leaders! whoo hooo!

look at this hat!!! just a random man we met outside while getting his mail! I love the south!!!

 exchanges!!! love these sisters!!!

my soul sister neufville. 

Merry Christmas Y'all!!!! Had this fun photobooth at our ward Christams party!! 

just your average day at walmart! i love making new friends! hahaha so fun! 

I found a California license plate with this sticker!!! a little taste of home! 

we love each other soooooooooooooo much!!! 

we bought each other $5 fleece cheetah leggings for christmas! hahhahahahha so comfy!

did you know enthusiasm directly translated from greek means "god in us"??? en=in. theos=god. So when we are happy we shine GODS LIGHT!

we had a super rad zone activity where we made smores and did some training on "keeping the fire burning!!!"

roasting mallows! glad the church didnt burn down! hahha 

  

so many lovely sisters in this mission!! 

ahhahahhaha biking in this weather is frightful! and so much fun! 

self timer is our favorite!