Hey,
WOOOOO I cannot wait for the package. And it should be just in time. We have a transfer coming up in 3 weeks and since I have been in Betongolo for 4 months now I am about ready to be moving. I am thinking that I could go province again. We will see how that goes. One can only hope. I really cant wait to see more of Madagascar. I love the ward that I am in but I am really getting tired of all the fighting and all of the drama. There are two girls in particular that just make eachothers lives miserable. Ugh. I would never be able to be a bishop. Well I gave a talk yesterday and talked on Charity. I talked about how charity is more than giving to the poor but to not talk bad about others and if you are offended to get over it and to forgive. Haha everybody that didnt need to learn anything from the talk said that it was great. they said that is was one of the best talks they have ever heard. Infact they said that I am not a vazaha but that I am Malagasy. Haha but the people that needed to llearn from it didnt have very much to say about the talk. Haha oh well. So cool story, I ran into one of my old investigators that had moved suddenly from my first area. I was doing zone leader splits and found her. when she saw me she started crying and kissed my hand. It was the wierdest thing ever, but it was really cool at the same time. I also have found this less active family that was baptised in 1998 but they have not prayed in 5 years. I am trying to get them back to lchurch but it is turning out to be alot harder than I origionaly thought.
But things are going good here. I told dad happy fathers day. It is also the independence day this weekend so I am not sure how many times will be taught, but hey there will always be next week. I love you all and miss you. Wow can you believe we are down to the home stretch now; there is only like 6 months left. That is so crazy to me. Well I love you a ton. I will let you know when the packages get here. Thank you so much. I am very excited to get them.
Thanks,
Love,
Elder Madsen
to dad:
Hey,
HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!! you old fart. Are you still breathing without a little tube? haha jk; haha oh man Josh is starting to sound like he is becoming more and moe like me. Ha not telling you about things until the minute of. I hope that he had fun though. I wouldnt sweat it too much he will have another concert so... ya life goes on. Speaking of which though, it has been about a months since ***** has even cared to send me so much as a fart my way. Haha but I am not too worried about it. Haha I will have you know that I am pretty sure I will know how to shave. I think..... But also speaking of which I might need to pull out 20 dollars from the bank account to get this thing called a vango vango. But how is everything goingg at home though. How is mom holding up. I am way excitedd for the package. Haha I will wait by the mailbox every day. And by mail box I mean the little stump that a man normaly waits by reading everybodys mail. Things are going good here. No one has been home because of fathers day and pentacost day....which is wierd because none of them even know what pentacost is it is just an excuse for them to go and get drunk. Also this sat and sund is the countries indepencance day. That should be fun. I dont think we will be able to teach any times at all.
Haha so I gave a talk last sunday. The ward has been having problems about everybody gossiping about everybody and just being completely horrible to eachother. In particular two girls. So I gave a talk on charity and how it is more than just giving food to the poor but it means you dont talk bad about other people and if you are offended you choose to forgive them. I talked about how being offended is a choice and also a sin. Haha all the people that didnt need to hear the talk said it was the best talk that they have ever heard. They told me that I wasnt a vazaha but a malagasy. Haha but the two girls that needed to hear it didnt have too much to say about it. haha I hope the guilt eats away at them. Well other than that things are going very well. YOu can start to see a lump now on my belly where the baby is. Oh boy.
Love ya,
Elder Madsen
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
letters for the week
the blog that he is talking about in his letters is http://crazytsblog.blogspot.com if you would like to check it out you are welcome to see.
Hey,
Thanks for getting everyone to write me. I really enjoyed the email. I sure do miss all of you. I cant believe how fast the mission is going, and also how fast life is going. I really enjoyed watching your slide show of all the pictures. It definately took me down memory lane. I definately see why scrapbooks are so meaningful. I sure do miss how simple life used to be. I remembered so much just looking at those pictures. Like trips to park city, or those springs, or sleeping on the tramp with kc, or our old clubhouse. I sometimes I wish that I could go back to how things were back then. Back when life was simple. I Sure do miss all of you. This year I noticed that all I wanted was my family for my birthday. I dont need any present or anything like that. Man I sure do miss you all. Things are going really good though. I am really loving my area and also being Zone Leader. I am trying to do as good of a job as I can. So today we are having a barb q for my birthday. It should be pretty fun. We are going to make cheeseburgers. One of the Elders actually made me ice cream. haha yay. That should be cool. Our muslim girl that we teach actually got me a very cool gift. It is a picture frame with preserved butterflies in it that are only found here in madagascar. I really like it. I just hope that I can get it home. God gave me a great birthday present as well. We had 4 baptisms and 4 brand new people to church this sunday. WOOOO that was way cool. I really hope that we can keep things going here in the ward. We had 193 people to church yesterday. That is the most that I have ever seen here. I was so happy to see all the people there. But we got some new missionaries in. They are all pretty cool. I really enjoy seeing the new missionaries come in. See the excitement on their faces and their desires to serve. Thank you so much for looking into the loan for me. Please tell me if you need any more help or info with that. I really appreciate all that you did for it though. Thanks. And dont worry about the package you are not a crappy mom. You have a full time job. I am suprised that you actually have time to write me every singe week. All I want for my birthday is updated pictures of all of you. That would be awesome. I love pictures more than anything in the world.
Well I better go.
I love you,
Elder Madsen
Hey,
Thanks for getting everyone to write me. I really enjoyed the email. I sure do miss all of you. I cant believe how fast the mission is going, and also how fast life is going. I really enjoyed watching your slide show of all the pictures. It definately took me down memory lane. I definately see why scrapbooks are so meaningful. I sure do miss how simple life used to be. I remembered so much just looking at those pictures. Like trips to park city, or those springs, or sleeping on the tramp with kc, or our old clubhouse. I sometimes I wish that I could go back to how things were back then. Back when life was simple. I Sure do miss all of you. This year I noticed that all I wanted was my family for my birthday. I dont need any present or anything like that. Man I sure do miss you all. Things are going really good though. I am really loving my area and also being Zone Leader. I am trying to do as good of a job as I can. So today we are having a barb q for my birthday. It should be pretty fun. We are going to make cheeseburgers. One of the Elders actually made me ice cream. haha yay. That should be cool. Our muslim girl that we teach actually got me a very cool gift. It is a picture frame with preserved butterflies in it that are only found here in madagascar. I really like it. I just hope that I can get it home. God gave me a great birthday present as well. We had 4 baptisms and 4 brand new people to church this sunday. WOOOO that was way cool. I really hope that we can keep things going here in the ward. We had 193 people to church yesterday. That is the most that I have ever seen here. I was so happy to see all the people there. But we got some new missionaries in. They are all pretty cool. I really enjoy seeing the new missionaries come in. See the excitement on their faces and their desires to serve. Thank you so much for looking into the loan for me. Please tell me if you need any more help or info with that. I really appreciate all that you did for it though. Thanks. And dont worry about the package you are not a crappy mom. You have a full time job. I am suprised that you actually have time to write me every singe week. All I want for my birthday is updated pictures of all of you. That would be awesome. I love pictures more than anything in the world.
Well I better go.
I love you,
Elder Madsen
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The latest video dad sent
One of the things that Jeff likes to do is send a video he has found and share it with Bug. This is a special song that Grandpa Madsen used to sing to us and has memories that are amazing.
updated the blog FINALLY
Ok so there are a bunch of letters from the last couple of months now here on the blog that I have neglected. I will try to figure out pictures missing this week and update them as well.
Some of the emails are a bit down as you will notice. ********, is going through some struggles that are affecting the family pretty strongly and he has found out about some of it during these emails. It has been a struggle for him and for all..but, that is part of a mission, satan needs to attack where ever he can to try and bring down his work... This family will win the fight though!!!! We will stomp him to the ground and learn and grow as best we can each and every day.
Thanks to all of those supporting and helping us through the trials, happiness and excitement of a missionary dedicated to serve the Lord.
We love you Bug,
Tia Ko Be
Mom
mandrakisay Ny fianikavianstika
Some of the emails are a bit down as you will notice. ********, is going through some struggles that are affecting the family pretty strongly and he has found out about some of it during these emails. It has been a struggle for him and for all..but, that is part of a mission, satan needs to attack where ever he can to try and bring down his work... This family will win the fight though!!!! We will stomp him to the ground and learn and grow as best we can each and every day.
Thanks to all of those supporting and helping us through the trials, happiness and excitement of a missionary dedicated to serve the Lord.
We love you Bug,
Tia Ko Be
Mom
mandrakisay Ny fianikavianstika
letter from 4/11/2011
Hey,
Sigh,oh ***. But she did right me this week, she seemed alot happier andto be doing alot better. I hope that she is doing good. Things are going great here. We had a baptism of 5 last Sat. Internet is slow so I will send picturesnext week. I am really loving my area though. It is not as beautiful as Mahajanga, but it is great in its own way. Plus it is going very very good right now. Just last week we had 5 brand new investigators come to church. I am so excited for this area. Things are definately being carried by the hand of the Lord. Well also I did get a change that happened; I got a new companion and they split my area into two areas, because it was just so big and our schedual was too full. I am training a new Elder that just barely got here, his name is Elder ****. He says feel free to look up his mom on Missionary mom or whatever you crazy ladies are doing now days. It might help her get over some stress. That is if you remember what it was like for you when I just got over here. Haha so ya. YOu can be a missionary too right now. He is very cool. He is from SLC and he has a ton of guts. His first night with me I just told him to bear testimony and not to get too stressed, but if he wanted to to feel free to cut in and try to teach what ever he wanted. Well he taught alot. I was very impressed. Also I taught him a new way to teach about prophets and he took it and taught it perfectly that night in a time. I am very impressed with his drive. he will definately make a geat missionary. I have also just been put as Distric Leader. I hope that that goes good. Haha Yikes. But ya things are going good. We got 8 new elders here. They are all very cool, and all seem very motivated. I am also just shocked at how well the area is going. We set 6 more baptism dates this last week. Things are going great . I filled up my second memory card and am working on the 3rd now. Woo. I am not sure if there is anything I need, but a package, and more Black socks, and pictures of christ and alot of the temple to give to people and CTR rings. Other than that I think that I am good. And of course more pictures of the family. I love that more than anything. But Ya things are going great. I have actually not even tried to use my card since south africa so I am not sure if it works or not. I have not needed to use it. Things are going great. I read one of the conference talks and wow it is really good. I was way impressed. We get to watch conference this weekend so I am way excited. Hopefully it will help our investigators get some answers to some prayers. Things are going great here though. Tell everyone that I said hi.
Love Ya,
Elder Madsen
Sigh,oh ***. But she did right me this week, she seemed alot happier andto be doing alot better. I hope that she is doing good. Things are going great here. We had a baptism of 5 last Sat. Internet is slow so I will send picturesnext week. I am really loving my area though. It is not as beautiful as Mahajanga, but it is great in its own way. Plus it is going very very good right now. Just last week we had 5 brand new investigators come to church. I am so excited for this area. Things are definately being carried by the hand of the Lord. Well also I did get a change that happened; I got a new companion and they split my area into two areas, because it was just so big and our schedual was too full. I am training a new Elder that just barely got here, his name is Elder ****. He says feel free to look up his mom on Missionary mom or whatever you crazy ladies are doing now days. It might help her get over some stress. That is if you remember what it was like for you when I just got over here. Haha so ya. YOu can be a missionary too right now. He is very cool. He is from SLC and he has a ton of guts. His first night with me I just told him to bear testimony and not to get too stressed, but if he wanted to to feel free to cut in and try to teach what ever he wanted. Well he taught alot. I was very impressed. Also I taught him a new way to teach about prophets and he took it and taught it perfectly that night in a time. I am very impressed with his drive. he will definately make a geat missionary. I have also just been put as Distric Leader. I hope that that goes good. Haha Yikes. But ya things are going good. We got 8 new elders here. They are all very cool, and all seem very motivated. I am also just shocked at how well the area is going. We set 6 more baptism dates this last week. Things are going great . I filled up my second memory card and am working on the 3rd now. Woo. I am not sure if there is anything I need, but a package, and more Black socks, and pictures of christ and alot of the temple to give to people and CTR rings. Other than that I think that I am good. And of course more pictures of the family. I love that more than anything. But Ya things are going great. I have actually not even tried to use my card since south africa so I am not sure if it works or not. I have not needed to use it. Things are going great. I read one of the conference talks and wow it is really good. I was way impressed. We get to watch conference this weekend so I am way excited. Hopefully it will help our investigators get some answers to some prayers. Things are going great here though. Tell everyone that I said hi.
Love Ya,
Elder Madsen
letter from 4/18/2011 to dad
Dad,
Tell that guy not only yes, but Heck Yes I will take the job. I will try everything that I can to get into the UofU. Holy cow that is just the break that I was looking for. I love SUU but there is no jobs down there. If God gives you a blessing like that then you HAVE to take it. I will look into what I have to do to get accepted into the UofU. I think that I will have to take the ACT again to try and get a better score. But holy cow that job sounds amazing. If the servers really make that much money, I think that I would be interested in starting there as soon as I get home and start making some money then for school. That would even pay for all of the gas too. HOLY POO that is a blessing from God. Yes yes yes, I will transfer schools to get a job like that to help me through school. PLus it will let me be closer to home to which is something that I was worried about. Still ask mom to call SUU and figure stuff out like that just in case, there is no point in burning any bridges too soon. But if that guy is serious, I think that I would be an idiot to not take that offer. Esspecially if the economy is as bad as I am hearing it is. That guy sounds like a way cool guy. How did you get so much on his good side? It sounds like he really likes you and mom for all that he is doing for you all. Dont get on his bad side before I get home. Haha. But seriously dont screw that up. Haha I am sad to hear that Josh and Kassi are so boring. Haha in malagasy they call people like that Bodifotsy Lena. Which means a wet blanket. Hahahaha. If you think about it it makes sense. A wet blanket is a big party pooper. Haha. Things are going really good in my area. We had a baptism of 5 last Sat and we are having another baptism of 5 on this Sat. The work is going really good. We are definately seeing the hand of the Lord in our area right now. Haha it was crazy we went into a time last night of a family of 5. The father will never learn with us, and he doesnt really want anything to do with the church. Well they havent been doing their commitments and so I was planning on giving them a drop talk for the time. Well one thing lead to another, and I ended up setting bap dates with all of them including the dad. haha it was really crazy definately the hand of the Lord in that one. But things are great. My kid is way cool. He fixes up old cars just like you. He says he has never missed a cache valley cruising in his life. haha he also has his own pin striping buisness. I am sapposed to give you the website to check out his work. I still havent seen it, so you will have to tell me if it is any cool. The website is http://scottysstripes.blogspot.com So ya, you should let me know if it is anything worth checking out. Well I hope things are going good. Tell that man yes yes yes and a thousand times yes. Save me the spot and I will take it in a heartbeat.
But ya, love your guts,
Elder Madsen
Tell that guy not only yes, but Heck Yes I will take the job. I will try everything that I can to get into the UofU. Holy cow that is just the break that I was looking for. I love SUU but there is no jobs down there. If God gives you a blessing like that then you HAVE to take it. I will look into what I have to do to get accepted into the UofU. I think that I will have to take the ACT again to try and get a better score. But holy cow that job sounds amazing. If the servers really make that much money, I think that I would be interested in starting there as soon as I get home and start making some money then for school. That would even pay for all of the gas too. HOLY POO that is a blessing from God. Yes yes yes, I will transfer schools to get a job like that to help me through school. PLus it will let me be closer to home to which is something that I was worried about. Still ask mom to call SUU and figure stuff out like that just in case, there is no point in burning any bridges too soon. But if that guy is serious, I think that I would be an idiot to not take that offer. Esspecially if the economy is as bad as I am hearing it is. That guy sounds like a way cool guy. How did you get so much on his good side? It sounds like he really likes you and mom for all that he is doing for you all. Dont get on his bad side before I get home. Haha. But seriously dont screw that up. Haha I am sad to hear that Josh and Kassi are so boring. Haha in malagasy they call people like that Bodifotsy Lena. Which means a wet blanket. Hahahaha. If you think about it it makes sense. A wet blanket is a big party pooper. Haha. Things are going really good in my area. We had a baptism of 5 last Sat and we are having another baptism of 5 on this Sat. The work is going really good. We are definately seeing the hand of the Lord in our area right now. Haha it was crazy we went into a time last night of a family of 5. The father will never learn with us, and he doesnt really want anything to do with the church. Well they havent been doing their commitments and so I was planning on giving them a drop talk for the time. Well one thing lead to another, and I ended up setting bap dates with all of them including the dad. haha it was really crazy definately the hand of the Lord in that one. But things are great. My kid is way cool. He fixes up old cars just like you. He says he has never missed a cache valley cruising in his life. haha he also has his own pin striping buisness. I am sapposed to give you the website to check out his work. I still havent seen it, so you will have to tell me if it is any cool. The website is http://scottysstripes.blogspot.com So ya, you should let me know if it is anything worth checking out. Well I hope things are going good. Tell that man yes yes yes and a thousand times yes. Save me the spot and I will take it in a heartbeat.
But ya, love your guts,
Elder Madsen
week of 4/18/2011
Hey,
How are you doing? I am doing very very good. Things are going great with the area. My kid is way cool. He is a great missionary and a very hard worker. And I kicked his butt in Monopoly last night. haha. I still got it. But he is very cool. I have been very blessed my entire mission for my companions and for my areas. Haha so you are reading *************blog. haha how is that? Haha ya... he is ........ cool. Ha no he is a good Elder. He has definately come a long way on his mission which is way cool to see the change in people. Including myself. I am completely embarressed when I think about some of the stupid things that I would do before the mission or when I first came into country. haha, but that is what makes the growth so cool. If you cant learn to laugh at yourself then something is wrong.
So holy cow, if that guy is serious about the job, tell him I say yes yes yes a thousand times yes. I will transfer to the UofU if I have to I dont care. I can start looking into that when I get home, but if he is serious, then I would love to start as soon as I get home. I think that even driving there every day, if the pay is really that much, I could still make some good money. Holy cow that is a blessing from God, and I think that I would be an idiot for not taking it. Plus the U of U is alot closer to home than SUU. Esspecially since listening to conference last week, I dont think that I am going to be doing very much goofing around when I get home, but I got to start looking into the next chapter of my life. Wow that was wierd to say. . . . and very frightening. But I trust in the prophet and know that I cant sit a procrastinate on things like that. But man I am scared as poo to date, let alone look for a wife. I feel way too young. But I think that when I get home, I got to get going on school and find a job, and yes Mar. . . doing that other stuff that the prophet says to do but I am too scared to say it. Haha if you are catching those insignuations. But ya change of subject please. So yes please tell him that I would be extremely interested into transferring schools if he is serious about giving me the job. However I would not feel comfortable transfering if he doesnt mean it. But please still call SUU and find out about scholarships. There is no use in buring bridges before we even get there. We better keep all of our options open at the moment. But if you do have some free time maybe you and dad could send me some info on the surrounding schools and on their pre med programs, and also on the admmittance requirements. I think that I will have to take the ACT again in order to get some scholarships. or to even get in, but I am not sure. I would look myself but we are not sapposed to be surfing the internet and I am really pushing the obedience right now, because I need as much help from the lord as I can get. But ya I would love you forever if you could do that for me.
That is true that we have a very strange family, but I would have it no other way. Even the prophets of old had disfunctional families. Conference was amazing. I dont know if you have hear or listened to the Sunday afternoon session but there is a talk that is about teaching to be and not to do. But wow I think that was Gods message to our family. There was a quote in it that I loved. It was talking about difficult children, and how they actually help our own testimonies, and help us to achieve godliness. He said, I think that we need that difficult child more than they need us. If definately opened my eyes up. But I know that is true. Things are hard, but wow look at the growth that you and dad have made in this last year. YOu are both so much stronger in the gospel. SO much wiser in the gosple. So much more, because of the hardships you have gone through. I know that that is a blessing from God. I know that it is to help you and dad to continue to grow. I reccomend the talk if you have not heard it, but I also encourage you to take a second look to it. I was very touched with the talk. Just like Elder Holland says, if we listen with the spirit we will always see Gods personal message for us, every single conference. how true that is. how blessed are we to have a prophet of the Lord to give us personal 101. I loved conference; but it was too short. I want more. haha I was so sad when it was over.
So we have an investigator that has a little seven year old daughter that is blind. Well I noticed that the little girl is not just blind but that her eyes are buldging out. So I started to ask around and it was crazy how the Lord prepared the way. I found a doctor that works with the Lions Club that would see her for free, and also a school that would teach her for free. Looking back, I am not quite sure how I found it. But I must say it was the greatest blessing to see the tears in the mothers eyes as the school told her that they would teach the girl for free, and would help her learn how to function on her own and to learn how to read and become a normal person. The doctors was not a fun trip though. It was definately a head ache, but we did get the girl looked at. She has water that is filling in her eyes, and she needs to get a surgery that will remove the water. I think that the church might help us with this poor little girl, but I am not sure. But ya, that is what I did this week. That and conference. Also it was way cool, we had 21 investigators come to conference yesterday. I was so happy. The Lord is definately guiding this work here. It is not my work, but it is his. But man it is going by quick.
Well love your guts,
Elder Madsen
How are you doing? I am doing very very good. Things are going great with the area. My kid is way cool. He is a great missionary and a very hard worker. And I kicked his butt in Monopoly last night. haha. I still got it. But he is very cool. I have been very blessed my entire mission for my companions and for my areas. Haha so you are reading *************blog. haha how is that? Haha ya... he is ........ cool. Ha no he is a good Elder. He has definately come a long way on his mission which is way cool to see the change in people. Including myself. I am completely embarressed when I think about some of the stupid things that I would do before the mission or when I first came into country. haha, but that is what makes the growth so cool. If you cant learn to laugh at yourself then something is wrong.
So holy cow, if that guy is serious about the job, tell him I say yes yes yes a thousand times yes. I will transfer to the UofU if I have to I dont care. I can start looking into that when I get home, but if he is serious, then I would love to start as soon as I get home. I think that even driving there every day, if the pay is really that much, I could still make some good money. Holy cow that is a blessing from God, and I think that I would be an idiot for not taking it. Plus the U of U is alot closer to home than SUU. Esspecially since listening to conference last week, I dont think that I am going to be doing very much goofing around when I get home, but I got to start looking into the next chapter of my life. Wow that was wierd to say. . . . and very frightening. But I trust in the prophet and know that I cant sit a procrastinate on things like that. But man I am scared as poo to date, let alone look for a wife. I feel way too young. But I think that when I get home, I got to get going on school and find a job, and yes Mar. . . doing that other stuff that the prophet says to do but I am too scared to say it. Haha if you are catching those insignuations. But ya change of subject please. So yes please tell him that I would be extremely interested into transferring schools if he is serious about giving me the job. However I would not feel comfortable transfering if he doesnt mean it. But please still call SUU and find out about scholarships. There is no use in buring bridges before we even get there. We better keep all of our options open at the moment. But if you do have some free time maybe you and dad could send me some info on the surrounding schools and on their pre med programs, and also on the admmittance requirements. I think that I will have to take the ACT again in order to get some scholarships. or to even get in, but I am not sure. I would look myself but we are not sapposed to be surfing the internet and I am really pushing the obedience right now, because I need as much help from the lord as I can get. But ya I would love you forever if you could do that for me.
That is true that we have a very strange family, but I would have it no other way. Even the prophets of old had disfunctional families. Conference was amazing. I dont know if you have hear or listened to the Sunday afternoon session but there is a talk that is about teaching to be and not to do. But wow I think that was Gods message to our family. There was a quote in it that I loved. It was talking about difficult children, and how they actually help our own testimonies, and help us to achieve godliness. He said, I think that we need that difficult child more than they need us. If definately opened my eyes up. But I know that is true. Things are hard, but wow look at the growth that you and dad have made in this last year. YOu are both so much stronger in the gospel. SO much wiser in the gosple. So much more, because of the hardships you have gone through. I know that that is a blessing from God. I know that it is to help you and dad to continue to grow. I reccomend the talk if you have not heard it, but I also encourage you to take a second look to it. I was very touched with the talk. Just like Elder Holland says, if we listen with the spirit we will always see Gods personal message for us, every single conference. how true that is. how blessed are we to have a prophet of the Lord to give us personal 101. I loved conference; but it was too short. I want more. haha I was so sad when it was over.
So we have an investigator that has a little seven year old daughter that is blind. Well I noticed that the little girl is not just blind but that her eyes are buldging out. So I started to ask around and it was crazy how the Lord prepared the way. I found a doctor that works with the Lions Club that would see her for free, and also a school that would teach her for free. Looking back, I am not quite sure how I found it. But I must say it was the greatest blessing to see the tears in the mothers eyes as the school told her that they would teach the girl for free, and would help her learn how to function on her own and to learn how to read and become a normal person. The doctors was not a fun trip though. It was definately a head ache, but we did get the girl looked at. She has water that is filling in her eyes, and she needs to get a surgery that will remove the water. I think that the church might help us with this poor little girl, but I am not sure. But ya, that is what I did this week. That and conference. Also it was way cool, we had 21 investigators come to conference yesterday. I was so happy. The Lord is definately guiding this work here. It is not my work, but it is his. But man it is going by quick.
Well love your guts,
Elder Madsen
letter from May 16, 2011
Hey,
How are you doing? Ya dad gave me the update of ****. Where is she even staying now? I heard that she got kicked out of Bonnie and Clydes? So where is she at? I cant believe all that happened. Did she take mumu with her? Or is mumu still at the house? I hope that she is going to be able to find her way. This is way hard to see, but I cant imagine how hard is it for you. I hope that you are doing ok. I have been having some wierd feelings all week. They started about friday so it makes alot of sense now that I hear about all that is going on. I hope you are still doing ok. You are such a strong person. I admire your strength and you patience. I dont think that I would be able to be as strong as you are. I really do miss you all. This has been a harder week for me. Just because I couldnt stop thinking about all of you. It is wierd. I know that I am almost done; but for some reason I have been really wanting to see you all this week. I hope that I can get back to focusing on the mission again though. Haha the time sure does go by alot faster that way. I really think that **** moving out will be a blessing for you all though. I think that it will help Josh and Kassi and you and dad as well. I know that God is still watching over all of you. Just be strong, and trust him. He will guide you through this. Dont worry she will be ok. I think that this is what she needs in order to wake up. Once she is on her own, then she will see how much more difficult it is too pay for everything and to take care of everything. I just pray she will wake up. Man this sucks so bad. IN her emails she just says that she is as happy as can be. It sucks that she moved out right before her birthday. I am alittle scared for her, but I trust in the Lord. I know that he will guide her.
Well enough of that!!! We had a baptism last sat. It was pretty nice. I quite enjoyed it. Also we set four bapdates yesterday. I was so happy. It is cool to see the change in people as they accept the gospel. I know that the church is true. It changes people and makes them into something glorious. I cant wait to see how this ward goes. We have another Baptism on the 28th and then on the 4rth and the 11th of June, so that will be really cool to see. Yesterday at church we had 30 investigators come. Wow it was way cool. I was so humbled to see that. I am so greatful for the Lord in my life. I am so greatful for the change that I have seen in my life and in my character. I am also greatful for the love that he has shown to my family. I am so happy to see the growth in you and dad and nanan and trevor and in Josh and Kassi. I know that God is with you and helping you. I am so greatful to have you as a mom. I was just thinking about how we would get Jamba juices together, or those days when we would just snooze in your bed. I really want you to know how thankful I am for you. YOu are such a good example to me. And I want to appologize for all the times that I causeedyou grief of doubted you or went against what you had said. I hope that you will forgive me for the brat that I was. I am so sorry. I hope that I can make it up to you.
Love,
Elder Madsen
How are you doing? Ya dad gave me the update of ****. Where is she even staying now? I heard that she got kicked out of Bonnie and Clydes? So where is she at? I cant believe all that happened. Did she take mumu with her? Or is mumu still at the house? I hope that she is going to be able to find her way. This is way hard to see, but I cant imagine how hard is it for you. I hope that you are doing ok. I have been having some wierd feelings all week. They started about friday so it makes alot of sense now that I hear about all that is going on. I hope you are still doing ok. You are such a strong person. I admire your strength and you patience. I dont think that I would be able to be as strong as you are. I really do miss you all. This has been a harder week for me. Just because I couldnt stop thinking about all of you. It is wierd. I know that I am almost done; but for some reason I have been really wanting to see you all this week. I hope that I can get back to focusing on the mission again though. Haha the time sure does go by alot faster that way. I really think that **** moving out will be a blessing for you all though. I think that it will help Josh and Kassi and you and dad as well. I know that God is still watching over all of you. Just be strong, and trust him. He will guide you through this. Dont worry she will be ok. I think that this is what she needs in order to wake up. Once she is on her own, then she will see how much more difficult it is too pay for everything and to take care of everything. I just pray she will wake up. Man this sucks so bad. IN her emails she just says that she is as happy as can be. It sucks that she moved out right before her birthday. I am alittle scared for her, but I trust in the Lord. I know that he will guide her.
Well enough of that!!! We had a baptism last sat. It was pretty nice. I quite enjoyed it. Also we set four bapdates yesterday. I was so happy. It is cool to see the change in people as they accept the gospel. I know that the church is true. It changes people and makes them into something glorious. I cant wait to see how this ward goes. We have another Baptism on the 28th and then on the 4rth and the 11th of June, so that will be really cool to see. Yesterday at church we had 30 investigators come. Wow it was way cool. I was so humbled to see that. I am so greatful for the Lord in my life. I am so greatful for the change that I have seen in my life and in my character. I am also greatful for the love that he has shown to my family. I am so happy to see the growth in you and dad and nanan and trevor and in Josh and Kassi. I know that God is with you and helping you. I am so greatful to have you as a mom. I was just thinking about how we would get Jamba juices together, or those days when we would just snooze in your bed. I really want you to know how thankful I am for you. YOu are such a good example to me. And I want to appologize for all the times that I causeedyou grief of doubted you or went against what you had said. I hope that you will forgive me for the brat that I was. I am so sorry. I hope that I can make it up to you.
Love,
Elder Madsen
letter from May 23, 2011
Hey,
I am glad that you made it ok, and that your surgery went good. Haha with all that stress it sounds like San Diego will do you some good. That sounds like it would be a fun trip. I am sorry I have sinned I wrote *** back, but I told the APs and they told me good job. So .... sorry. But it did make my day. I hope that things are going better. I have just been really worried that ** didnt have a place to stay. That is why I was worried. But if she has got a roof over her head and some food then I guess that she will be ok. It has been really hard, but things are still going good. I am used to being DL that is not really hard at all. I just do baptism interviews and hold meeting once a week. So ya not too big of a thing. But it is fun. Things are going very good in my ward. There are 6 people getting baptised this Sat. They all passed their interviews last week. So that is good. Ugh there has been a ton of drama in the ward between two girls. That has not been fun. They both help us, so we hear about both sides of the story. ALl I can say is people get caught up on the smallest stupidest things. It is really not worth it at all. I wish some people could just forgive and forget. THat would definately make life a heck of alot easier. THat is for sure.
So there will be a transfer in two weeks. I do not know if I will be leaving or if I will be staying. But I am excited to see what happens. I love my ward, but I have been in the capital for almost a year now. I would really like to go and see province again. BUt hey we will see what the Lord wants. So my favorite family is going to get baptised on the 4 of June. I am so excited. They are getting their marriage done this week.
Plus one of the kids that we are teaching is going to be getting baptised this week as well. His name is ***. He is about 19 and he is way cool. HE has completely stop smoking in just two weeks and he was smoking 2 packs a day before. It is really cool to see the growth in people because of the church. It is crazy I was looking at *** the other day. The kid that we baptised last April. He used to be such a lazy kid. Now he is asking us every day if he can help. It is almost annoying he wants to help so much. But it is so good; I love to see that change in people. I know that this church is true. Only in this church do you see such a growth and change in the lives of the people that are seeking to be closer to Christ. The gospel always brings change to people who have a contrite heart. I constantly pray that I can continue to be changed and shaped by the Lord; I want to become something beautiful in his eyes. I am still someone who has mistakes and weaknesses. And it makes me sad at how I must disapoint him sometimes. But I pray that someday I can become what he wants me to be. I hope that I can be shaped by him. Let us all be shaped by our savior. It is never easy, but when we allow him to shape us through our trials and our weaknesses, then we can become something great.
Love you,
Elder Madsen
I am glad that you made it ok, and that your surgery went good. Haha with all that stress it sounds like San Diego will do you some good. That sounds like it would be a fun trip. I am sorry I have sinned I wrote *** back, but I told the APs and they told me good job. So .... sorry. But it did make my day. I hope that things are going better. I have just been really worried that ** didnt have a place to stay. That is why I was worried. But if she has got a roof over her head and some food then I guess that she will be ok. It has been really hard, but things are still going good. I am used to being DL that is not really hard at all. I just do baptism interviews and hold meeting once a week. So ya not too big of a thing. But it is fun. Things are going very good in my ward. There are 6 people getting baptised this Sat. They all passed their interviews last week. So that is good. Ugh there has been a ton of drama in the ward between two girls. That has not been fun. They both help us, so we hear about both sides of the story. ALl I can say is people get caught up on the smallest stupidest things. It is really not worth it at all. I wish some people could just forgive and forget. THat would definately make life a heck of alot easier. THat is for sure.
So there will be a transfer in two weeks. I do not know if I will be leaving or if I will be staying. But I am excited to see what happens. I love my ward, but I have been in the capital for almost a year now. I would really like to go and see province again. BUt hey we will see what the Lord wants. So my favorite family is going to get baptised on the 4 of June. I am so excited. They are getting their marriage done this week.
Plus one of the kids that we are teaching is going to be getting baptised this week as well. His name is ***. He is about 19 and he is way cool. HE has completely stop smoking in just two weeks and he was smoking 2 packs a day before. It is really cool to see the growth in people because of the church. It is crazy I was looking at *** the other day. The kid that we baptised last April. He used to be such a lazy kid. Now he is asking us every day if he can help. It is almost annoying he wants to help so much. But it is so good; I love to see that change in people. I know that this church is true. Only in this church do you see such a growth and change in the lives of the people that are seeking to be closer to Christ. The gospel always brings change to people who have a contrite heart. I constantly pray that I can continue to be changed and shaped by the Lord; I want to become something beautiful in his eyes. I am still someone who has mistakes and weaknesses. And it makes me sad at how I must disapoint him sometimes. But I pray that someday I can become what he wants me to be. I hope that I can be shaped by him. Let us all be shaped by our savior. It is never easy, but when we allow him to shape us through our trials and our weaknesses, then we can become something great.
Love you,
Elder Madsen
letter from May 30, 2011
Hey,
Man, I wish that I had your strength. I honestly dont know how you do it. I just feel so inadaquate some days but you have so much strength and courage. I hope that I can be half as strong of a parent as you when I get kids. I am sorry that California wasnt the funnest. If you ever take me, trust me, I will make it fun. Hahaha oh you can count on that. We could do Disneyland together. I will go on the Winney the Poo ride with you if you promise to hold my hand during the scary parts. Haha. Well at least ** is seeing that the people who she thought "loved her for who she was" isnt quite what she thought. I know that she will come back. Dont worry. It just takes time.
Lets just focus on the good. Number one, I got permission to write ***. WOOOO!!! Number two, we had a baptism last sat. There Were 6 people that got baptised. It was such a beautiful baptism. One of the boys was named ***. He is 17, I feel like he is my special project. Haha He used to smoke 2 pacs of cigarettes a day, but He gave it all up so that he could be baptised. I have just been reflecting on the gospel and seeing how it changes someone who is bound by an addiction like the ciggarettes and changes him into someone that is going around with the missionaries to help them teach before they are even baptised. I was wondering what it is that makes that change. Then I saw in Mosiah 5 verse 2. The spirit. That is what brings that change of heart. We are being changed by the Lord and by his hand. That is what brings us closer to him. We need to be transformed by his hand. That is what this life is for.
One thing that touched me the other day, I was reading in Jesus the Christ about the ressurection. It talked about when Mary discovered that the Savior wasnt there. She sat and she wept. It was very touching to read about her love for the savior. He was then taken from her and killed. Well the one thing that she had left to remember him by was his body, but then that too was taken from her, and she sat there staring into an empty tomb. Angels came and asked her, Why seek the living among the dead. He is not here. It made me think of the picture that I gave you almost a year and a half ago. Even with angels there she was distraught because her whole life was falling apart. It made me think of you. All the things that are happening in your life. You might feel like Mary; Like everything is gone. But there came a man who asked, Why weepest thou? She then precedes to ask where his body is, but then he says something that is the most touching. He calls her by name. The saviour loves you. You are not alone. He is not gone, but the master is still there. Even if you feel that your life is falling apart, but it is not all lost. Through the Saviour we will all find Salvation. We will recieve repentence. I know this to be true. So now that you look up at that picture on the wall maybe it can take on a new meaning for you. Instead of thinking of me, maybe you can see the joy that comes from the ressurection. And know that *** will be ok.
So this week I went to a leadership training and we watched a video from Jefferey R Holland. I loved it. He was addressing the fact that so many missionaries were going home and going inactive. He said that something is wrong with that. He then told of the last chapter in the book of John. Where Peter had gone back to fishing. He didnt know what else to do, so he went to what he did before he met Christ. That was fishing. Well when the saviour came he asked. Do you love me? He asked it three times. Each time Peter said yes but the savior said. Feed my sheep. If we love the savior then we need to show it. He did not say follow me for just two years when he said follow me he meant follow me forever. It really opened my eyes. My mission is not for two years it is forever. I cannot go back to a life I lived before, but I need to follow him. I cannot go back to old cds or old habits, but continue to grow. The mission is just the start of my life in the gospel. I am excited to see what the future holds for me.
Well I love you,
Elder Madsen
Man, I wish that I had your strength. I honestly dont know how you do it. I just feel so inadaquate some days but you have so much strength and courage. I hope that I can be half as strong of a parent as you when I get kids. I am sorry that California wasnt the funnest. If you ever take me, trust me, I will make it fun. Hahaha oh you can count on that. We could do Disneyland together. I will go on the Winney the Poo ride with you if you promise to hold my hand during the scary parts. Haha. Well at least ** is seeing that the people who she thought "loved her for who she was" isnt quite what she thought. I know that she will come back. Dont worry. It just takes time.
Lets just focus on the good. Number one, I got permission to write ***. WOOOO!!! Number two, we had a baptism last sat. There Were 6 people that got baptised. It was such a beautiful baptism. One of the boys was named ***. He is 17, I feel like he is my special project. Haha He used to smoke 2 pacs of cigarettes a day, but He gave it all up so that he could be baptised. I have just been reflecting on the gospel and seeing how it changes someone who is bound by an addiction like the ciggarettes and changes him into someone that is going around with the missionaries to help them teach before they are even baptised. I was wondering what it is that makes that change. Then I saw in Mosiah 5 verse 2. The spirit. That is what brings that change of heart. We are being changed by the Lord and by his hand. That is what brings us closer to him. We need to be transformed by his hand. That is what this life is for.
One thing that touched me the other day, I was reading in Jesus the Christ about the ressurection. It talked about when Mary discovered that the Savior wasnt there. She sat and she wept. It was very touching to read about her love for the savior. He was then taken from her and killed. Well the one thing that she had left to remember him by was his body, but then that too was taken from her, and she sat there staring into an empty tomb. Angels came and asked her, Why seek the living among the dead. He is not here. It made me think of the picture that I gave you almost a year and a half ago. Even with angels there she was distraught because her whole life was falling apart. It made me think of you. All the things that are happening in your life. You might feel like Mary; Like everything is gone. But there came a man who asked, Why weepest thou? She then precedes to ask where his body is, but then he says something that is the most touching. He calls her by name. The saviour loves you. You are not alone. He is not gone, but the master is still there. Even if you feel that your life is falling apart, but it is not all lost. Through the Saviour we will all find Salvation. We will recieve repentence. I know this to be true. So now that you look up at that picture on the wall maybe it can take on a new meaning for you. Instead of thinking of me, maybe you can see the joy that comes from the ressurection. And know that *** will be ok.
So this week I went to a leadership training and we watched a video from Jefferey R Holland. I loved it. He was addressing the fact that so many missionaries were going home and going inactive. He said that something is wrong with that. He then told of the last chapter in the book of John. Where Peter had gone back to fishing. He didnt know what else to do, so he went to what he did before he met Christ. That was fishing. Well when the saviour came he asked. Do you love me? He asked it three times. Each time Peter said yes but the savior said. Feed my sheep. If we love the savior then we need to show it. He did not say follow me for just two years when he said follow me he meant follow me forever. It really opened my eyes. My mission is not for two years it is forever. I cannot go back to a life I lived before, but I need to follow him. I cannot go back to old cds or old habits, but continue to grow. The mission is just the start of my life in the gospel. I am excited to see what the future holds for me.
Well I love you,
Elder Madsen
Letter this week..June 6th 2011
Hey,
How is everything going? I am glad that you are feeling better. I loved the pictures from san diego. Man the kids are getting big. They are no longer little kids anymore that is for sure. Wow it is wierd at how fast they are growing. I hope that you are doing good though. How is ** doing this week. Is she still at home or did she move our again?
So I got an email from the fed loans that says that my payment is 7 days past due. Do you know if you could contact them and see if they can extend it again. Do they know that I am still in madagascar? I was wondering if you could check on that for me. It just warns me about my credit score. I was wondering if you could help me out with that. The file is in the trash on my email. I can forward it to you. if you would like. I will forward it to you and dad. I would try to take care off it but I am not quite sure of what I would need to do to extend that. But yabus. Just let me know if you need any more information on that. Ugh sometimes I wish I never would have gone to school before the mission. It is such a hassel some times.
Well things are going good. I have just been made the Zone Leader for the North half of the capital. I was very nervous when I was told this, but I think that it will be ok. I am slowly getting a grasp of things. Because of all of our baptisms recently we are now out of investigators. They half almost all been baptise. Haha so we are doing a ton of finding right now. I am hoping that we will be able to find alot of people this week. Man, this ward though has alot of drama. Manly between girls fighting. But because of it some of our people has stopped helping us; It is such a hassel. I wish that people would not get upset or offended at stupid little things and try to focus on the good. When people allow themselves to get upset they lose focus of what the real important things are. ***made a comment the other day that was really interesting. He said it is our choice to be offended, and it is actually a sin to allow ourselves to be offended. Esspecially when nothing negative was intented. I am hoping that we can figure everything out about it.
So I was noticing the change in one of our investigators the other day. his name is ***. he is about 14 years old. When he was baptised his mom was pretty much forcing him to come to church every single week. You could tell that he really didnt want to be there, but his mom was making him. Well he just got the priesthood about one month ago. I saw the mom and his sister come in for church yesterday and noticed that ***** was not with him. I was worried wondering where he was. Well when the sacriment came I noticed that it was him that passed the sacriment to me. I noticed that for the last three weeks. he has not only passed the sacriment, but he has been coming early to church by himself every week just so he can have the opportunity to serve. I was humbled at the change that I saw in him. He changed from being forced to come to church every week, to him leading his family to church as an example. I am so excited to see the change in my own life when I get home. It was really wierd Elder **** went home this week. He was my trainer in country. It was so wierd to see him leave. I am starting to see really how little time I have left before I come home. It scares me to death. I really have only one or two more areas left. Wow that is crazy.
Well tell any of the girls at your work....if they are cute..... that they are allowed to write me. I have not really gotten any letters from anyone. They can also send packages if they want. My birthday is this sunday. Crazy huh? I will be 21 woa. That is so wierd. I cant believe that. I am starting to get old.
Well I will forward that one email that I got. If you know anything that I need to do let me know. But I love you. Look forward to hearing from you next week.
Love,
Elder Madsen
How is everything going? I am glad that you are feeling better. I loved the pictures from san diego. Man the kids are getting big. They are no longer little kids anymore that is for sure. Wow it is wierd at how fast they are growing. I hope that you are doing good though. How is ** doing this week. Is she still at home or did she move our again?
So I got an email from the fed loans that says that my payment is 7 days past due. Do you know if you could contact them and see if they can extend it again. Do they know that I am still in madagascar? I was wondering if you could check on that for me. It just warns me about my credit score. I was wondering if you could help me out with that. The file is in the trash on my email. I can forward it to you. if you would like. I will forward it to you and dad. I would try to take care off it but I am not quite sure of what I would need to do to extend that. But yabus. Just let me know if you need any more information on that. Ugh sometimes I wish I never would have gone to school before the mission. It is such a hassel some times.
Well things are going good. I have just been made the Zone Leader for the North half of the capital. I was very nervous when I was told this, but I think that it will be ok. I am slowly getting a grasp of things. Because of all of our baptisms recently we are now out of investigators. They half almost all been baptise. Haha so we are doing a ton of finding right now. I am hoping that we will be able to find alot of people this week. Man, this ward though has alot of drama. Manly between girls fighting. But because of it some of our people has stopped helping us; It is such a hassel. I wish that people would not get upset or offended at stupid little things and try to focus on the good. When people allow themselves to get upset they lose focus of what the real important things are. ***made a comment the other day that was really interesting. He said it is our choice to be offended, and it is actually a sin to allow ourselves to be offended. Esspecially when nothing negative was intented. I am hoping that we can figure everything out about it.
So I was noticing the change in one of our investigators the other day. his name is ***. he is about 14 years old. When he was baptised his mom was pretty much forcing him to come to church every single week. You could tell that he really didnt want to be there, but his mom was making him. Well he just got the priesthood about one month ago. I saw the mom and his sister come in for church yesterday and noticed that ***** was not with him. I was worried wondering where he was. Well when the sacriment came I noticed that it was him that passed the sacriment to me. I noticed that for the last three weeks. he has not only passed the sacriment, but he has been coming early to church by himself every week just so he can have the opportunity to serve. I was humbled at the change that I saw in him. He changed from being forced to come to church every week, to him leading his family to church as an example. I am so excited to see the change in my own life when I get home. It was really wierd Elder **** went home this week. He was my trainer in country. It was so wierd to see him leave. I am starting to see really how little time I have left before I come home. It scares me to death. I really have only one or two more areas left. Wow that is crazy.
Well tell any of the girls at your work....if they are cute..... that they are allowed to write me. I have not really gotten any letters from anyone. They can also send packages if they want. My birthday is this sunday. Crazy huh? I will be 21 woa. That is so wierd. I cant believe that. I am starting to get old.
Well I will forward that one email that I got. If you know anything that I need to do let me know. But I love you. Look forward to hearing from you next week.
Love,
Elder Madsen
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