the one where the missionaries get quarantined (along with other places)

Oi pessoal! 

Well corona really wasn't a thing here... until it got here a few days ago. So got a bunch of food and now we're pretty much in quarantine. We were about to baptize Constantino, but then this corona thing happened, whyyyy. Constantino is still doing really awesome, but now we can only teach people by telephone, and we have to pay to do that, so it looks like we'll just be sitting inside all week not doing much. 








At least I'll get a lot of time to study now. Thankfully we still get to stay here in Angola for a while, so we'll see what happens. Honestly I'd prefer to stay here, and then be able to start doing the Lord's work here again when corona stops destroying the world, but whatever the Lord wants is what I need to accept. Sadly we don't have much to do, but hey, we always have running water (most houses here don't) so I'll take lots of hot shower in these next few weeks. Maybe I'll even learn how to cook a bit, but I think it might be better to not ruin the food storage we have. 


Last week was super awesome until the announcement a few days ago that we have to stay inside. Elder Gordon and I did a family night with some recent converts, we played "agua na cara", which is basically a made up game so the kids can throw water in our faces and buckets of water on us when we aren't looking. Playing that is always fun, but my favorite part is the messages we share. These members here are so awesome, they are so focused on doing the lord's work. We're still getting referrals to teach people from members, even though we're stuck inside. 


Spiritual thought for the week, in all these tough times, I started thinking about tough times in my life. One scripture that helped me a ton in a rough spot is found in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 24:12-16. In this chapter, the people of Alma are being held captive and have many burdens placed upon their backs. Not only that, but if they were found praying, they were to be killed. 


Mosiah 24
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did astrengthen them that they could bear up their bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with cpatience to all the will of the Lord.
16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.


I really love these verses, because these people showed their immense faith, and prayed in their hearts even when they couldn't out loud. The greatest teaching I got from this scripture is that the Lord allows difficult trials in this life, and if we call on him, he will help us through our trials. The people of Alma weren't delivered from their trials and freed from captivity immediately, until they had already showed their great faith and trust in God in enduring their trials. I know the  Lord will help us through our trials, but won't often just take them away. A lot of times we need the trials in our lives so that we can learn and grow, the Lord wants to help us, but he also wants to help us learn and to grow, our lives may not always be easy, but with the Lord's help we can get through any trial in our way joyfully. I invite you all to seek God in this difficult time, to look for peace from the source of all peace, our loving Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. 














Eu amo voces! Cuidem-se bem!

Elder Madsen

fletcher.madsen@missionary.org






















Here is a song that was the theme for the youth of our church in 2018 that teaches this Peace that comes through Christ :

The Beautiful Music of Peace in Christ

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/video/2018-01-0010-peace-in-christ?lang=eng  

Peace in Christ

There is peace in Christ
When we learn of Him
Feel the love He felt for us
When He bore our sins
Listen to His words
Let them come alive
If we know Him as He is
There is peace in Christ

He gives us hope
When hope is gone
He gives us strength
When we can't go on
He gives us shelter
In the storms of life
When there's no peace on earth
There is peace in Christ

There is peace in Christ
When we walk with him
Through the streets of Galilee to Jerusalem
Mend the broken hearts
Dry the tear-filled eyes
When we live the way He lives
There is peace in Christ
I know this to be true! There is Peace in Christ! I love you all! 
#HearHIM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbhOg6AS_QY

 John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

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