Blessing the rains down in Africa (plus: baptisms!)


Blessing the rains down in Africa (plus: baptisms!)



It finally rained in Angola! And when it rains, it pours. People here freak out like people in Virginia freak out when it barely snows haha. Elder Lima and I were so glad last Tuesday when it finally rained, all our clothes got totally soaked, but we didn't care at all, we had way too much fun. 







I think our last Tuesday had enough stories for an entire weekly email, so I'll just tell a few. In the morning we had to jump from rock to rock to cross roads that had become rivers, that made me feel like a little kid again. Then we helped a family in our ward get water out of their front yard, afterwards they were filling a hole with blocks to stabilize their fence, so I got to smash some blocks with a hammer to throw in it, that was super fun. When we went back to our apartment later in the day, Elder Lima realized that he didn't have our keys with him, so we were a little nervous. I decided to pray, and then right after I prayed a security guard came out and let us into the complex, and then we found the keys, sitting in the doorknob! Elder Lima and I had a really long hard laugh about that, but it really showed me that God hears and answers all of prayers, even if it's just about finding some keys. At night it poured even more, everyone else was running home screaming but Elder Lima and I walked home laughing the whole way, rain feels pretty good when it's 90 degrees and humid every day. 


As missionaries in Angola, we don't talk to people, they talk to us! It's crazy, so different from serving in the United States. And all the police and security guards love us, pretty much anyone with a gun loves the missionaries, so that's comforting. Elder Lima and I teach lots of people, Wilson is someone we started to teach a few weeks ago. His friend Manuel brought him to church and then we started teaching him. He was having some health problems, so we were able to give him a priesthood blessing. Afterwards he said he felt much better, he's still coming to church and we asked him if he wanted to be baptized this Saturday, he said yes after praying about it! 

Elder Lima and I had two baptisms in our area this week! We called them rebaptisms because they were done improperly before, but now we're all good! Cintia and Nelo are amazing, often when we go to visit or teach them they're already reading the Book of Mormon. Elder Lima said when he arrived in Patriota (our area) he thought they were members of our church because they came every week. Well after being baptized and confirmed members, now they are! I was able to confirm Cintia a member of the church by the laying on of hands and give her the Gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is what is known in the scriptures as the baptism of the spirit, or baptism by fire. The Holy Ghost sanctifies and guides our thoughts and actions. It is described as a purifier, a comforter, and a testifier of God and Jesus Christ and a teacher of truth. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the proper priesthood authority, we can have the guidance of the spirit with us at all times if we are living worthily. 

On Sunday, our mission president, President Pinto, and his wife, Sister Pinto, came to our church services in our ward (congregation). They are so full of light and love. President Pinto met one of the people we're teaching for the first time and invited him over to his house for family home evening next week. Even though I can't understand a ton of what President Pinto says in Portuguese, I can always understand how I feel. He is physically a small man, but a spiritual giant. 

A scripture that really stood out to me this week: John 16:33
"These things I have spoken unto you; that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Through the atonement, the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, we can all have peace, hope, and joy in this life and in the life to come. I'm so blessed to be able to teach others and help them come closer to Christ. He loves and cares for all of us, no matter what we're going through.

If you have any questions about things I'm talking about, feel free to email me and ask about them, or better yet, find the missionaries in your area. I'm sure they'd love to talk to you.

Eu amo voces! T'chau!

Elder Madsen

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