Semana Dois


Well that week went by a lot faster, at first time felt so slow but now I kind of want it to slow back down again. It was definitely another crazy week. Elder Gordon and I learned a lot about what being zone leaders is like through trial and error. Honestly, being a good zone leader is mostly setting a good example, and we're plenty busy already. Portuguese is coming along at a decent pace, thanks to our wonderful teachers and district that has been great friends but help to keep us focused as well. I finally found an actual sized basketball at the courts today, so that was fun. The other Elders joked that I'm zone leader because of my basketball skills, definitely not true in the slightest, but it's a nice compliment, and it feels good to hoop again. Most of my most funny and crazy stories so far involve Elder Tafuna, an Elder in my hall who plays football (or played I guess) for the University of Utah. He used a paper towel and an iron to cook a hot pocket in one hand with one of his Portuguese books in the other hand, so that was pretty funny to walk in on. Another story (my favorite): Elder Gordon's belt was too long, almost reaching a belt loop but not quite, so he asked Elder Tafuna to rip a piece of this thick leather belt off so the belt wouldn't flap around. Elder Tafuna agreed and went to work while we laughed and told him we were kidding, and right after we said that he ripped a piece of the belt clean off. Definitely one of the craziest things I've ever seen, needless to say, our hall got pretty excited for a minute or so. The best part was that the belt was the perfect length after that, so props to Elder Tafuna, that man is insanely strong, but has a spirit just as strong. 



Alright, time to get more spiritual. I have been blessed being a zone leader, getting to have more meetings on Sunday and getting to know the members of my branch. We've had so many spiritual experiences here, the devotionals and "film night"(watching past devotionals) have been humbling and uplifting. The MTC has been preparing me very well, but I still have a long way to go. On Tuesday, the Quorum of the twelve apostles and the first presidency were still on campus, and I forgot my watch before our first class, so Elder Gordon and I went back to the residency hall to get it. We went a different way to get to class and when we got there, President Nelson had just pulled up to be dropped off right where we were. He got out and waved to the big crowds a ways away, and then waved and said hi to the small group of about 10 of us standing 10 feet away from him. I definitely stuttered saying hi back, because well, the prophet said hi to us! I could feel the spirit so strongly just being in his presence, he truly is a prophet of the Lord. I have been blessed to hear so many wonderful talks, lessons, and devotionals already and have already grown so much in my testimony and my ability to speak Portuguese. Through the Lord we are able to do all things, but only through him is that possible. 

Some words I've learned in Portuguese: a casa de banho= bathroom (yes I still need to work on my maturity), fofo=cute. The sisters in my district say foul beast when we say something dumb, it roughly translates to falta ferra I think. Desculpe= I'm sorry, and Eu nao se= I don't know. I use those two phrases quite a bit, still learning every day. 

Being at the MTC has been a tremendous blessing, I want to go serve the people of Angola, but I also don't want my time at the MTC to end, and I probably need to learn a lot more before I'm truly ready, especially in Portuguese. I invite you all to read the Book of Mormon every day, it has already blessed my life tremendously. T'chau for now!

Elder Madsen 


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