Feliz ano Novo! (plus, metas)
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| Fletcher video chatting at the internet cafe draws local interest Note the minecraft t shirt- even in africa! |
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| See no evil, hear no evil, do no evil monkey carving that an elder gave me |
Happy New
Year Everybody! This past week was more of the same, eating with members a
lot, resting a bit, and then lots of walking to go and teach people. On New
Year’s Eve, Elder Lima and I got to the top of our apartment building and took
some pictures.(at the bottom) Even on New Year’s Eve there wasn't too much celebrating or
lights, but it was still really cool to get that few of the city.
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These members in Patriota have
been such a blessing, and I'm not just talking about the food. We received a
few referrals recently that we've been able to teach, and our members brought
them to church! Not just that, but we had other members bring a couple friends
to church that we haven't started teaching yet. Lots of miracles, being able to
teach with these members and hear their testimonies is so inspiring. Many members
in our ward are converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints, and they all love sharing the restored gospel with others to
spread the happiness that they found just a few years ago.
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| Elders excited to eat duck |
On Saturday it rained a lot,
which in Angola, basically means the city shuts down, but not the Lord's work!
After we walked through tons of mud to go teach one of our referrals, John, we
tried going back another way, but got stuck because the roads had become
rivers. Some people walked by and egged us on to jump over this giant river of
a road, so of course we did. I actually surprised myself by how easily I made
it, but some of the sand gave way when Elder Lima jumped so he was a little bit
dirtier. My favorite part of that experience was the lesson we had after with
Francisco. Francisco has been going through some rough times, and we promised
him that reading the Book of Mormon would help him find peace and happiness. In
just over 2 weeks he's already read almost all of 1st and 2nd Nephi! The best
part of that lesson was seeing how much happier he looks, he says that now he
has to read at least some of the Book of Mormon before bed every night, it is
so amazing to see it change his life in front of us.
In church on Sunday, we
talked a lot about the new year and how in the Church we will be studying the
Book of Mormon with the Come Follow Me manual. Last year was the New Testament
in the Bible. We talked about the great opportunity we have this year to have Come
Follow Me as a guide to reading the Book of Mormon and how studying will bless
our lives. Our teacher had all 4 missionaries in our ward stand up and then we
talked about what the members can see in our eyes and what we could see in
theirs. That made me think about how back in Spokane, many times we had
feelings to talk to certain people, and they ended up already being members. I
can almost always recognize members of Christ's church because of the light in
their eyes and the happiness and joy they carry with themselves. Being a
missionary isn't about baptizing people, it's about bringing them joy. I invite
all of you this year to focus on what brings you the most joy
in your life, I know for me that is Jesus
Christ, and studying the
Book of Mormon every day. I know as we come unto Christ, he will take away
all the pains and sufferings in our lives and replace them with joy. Have a
good week and a joyful year!
Amo Voces!
Elder Madsen
“The word
of God, as found in the scriptures, in the words of living prophets, and in
personal revelation, has the power to fortify the Saints and arm them with the
Spirit so they can resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this
life.”
President Benson
“From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation.” (2 Tim. 3:14–15;
“This book of the law shall not depart
out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou
mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then
thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
(Josh. 1:8; italics added.)
The Lord was not promising Joshua material wealth and
fame, but that his life would prosper in righteousness and that he would have
success in that which matters most in life, namely the quest to find true joy.
(See 2 Ne. 2:25.)
“the word [has] a great tendency to
lead people to do that which [is] just—yea, it [has] more powerful effect upon the minds of the people
than the sword, or anything else, which [has] happened unto them.” (Alma 31:5.)
Like Alma, I say unto you, “It [is] expedient that [you]
should try the virtue of the word of God” (Alma 31:5).5
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| Great views from the top of our apartment building |
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| The Penthouse apartment in our building with a hot tub=posh! To be clear NOT our apartment, although ours is really nice. |
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