1st Transfers


Another week come and gone. These weeks are really starting to fly by. I guess that's what happens when you're tired all the time from biking everywhere up hills. If someone could study my sleep patterns, I think we could find the secret to time travel. 

This zone has been so awesome. Luckily Elder Smith and I are staying here, so we'll get to keep working with our awesome ward and investigators. Lots of the Elders and Sisters in our zone are staying too, so that's pretty cool. It'll take a lot for any zone or district to top the ones I had at the MTC, but I've made some good friends already. 

Remember when I said Elder Smith and I were getting really busy? Well... we're scheduled out to be busy most days with 3 or 4 lessons, but most times maybe one or two of them happen. I know that's what I signed up for as a missionary, but it's still disappointing to witness people not understanding how important this is and how the gospel could bless their lives, even if they aren't completely turning us away. 
 
Don't worry though, we've still had plenty of success. Dale is trucking along, he told us that he wanted to meet with us to learn what we believe originally, but after he read the very first chapter of the Book of Mormon, he knew that it was true. We were also able to put Will on date for baptism in November. Will is an amazing man and has had quite the unique life but has made some big changes in his life and has already seen how much better it has become. He told us as he has followed God's plan for him and not his own, everything has finally started to all work out at once. 

Some funny stories: One night when it was dark outside, Elder Smith and I were biking home when out of the darkness some homeless man started running at us and calling us to come back. He said: "I'm blind! I've been looking for you two!" Which really cracked me up, although I kind of thought he was going to threaten us or something. We ended up talking to him for a bit, and he told us: "I just wanna praise the Lord!" Apparently, he's talked to some other Elders before. It was a funny experience, but a little sad because I want to be able to teach him, but it might be hard to at this point and time. 

Spiritual thought: I've been thinking a lot about Mosiah 2:41, which says: 
41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and ahappy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are bblessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out cfaithful to the end they are received into dheaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

I thought about this scripture when Elder Smith and I were able to identify some members of our church in public just by their countenances. People living and loving the gospel truly have the light of Christ in their eyes. Being able to see the change in our investigators has been amazing, especially seeing how Dale and Will are such changed people. They seem so much happier and have changed their lives for the better. I hope others around me are able to see that light in me, and I wanted to challenge you all to bring that light into your lives as well. I know that this church is true, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored, and it blesses and changes lives. 

T'chau for now! Eu ammo voces!

Fletcher.madsen@missionary.org
https://fletchermadsen.blogspot.com/




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