Back at it! (Terceira missao!)


Oi tudo mundo!

NOTE: If you missed me talking about the first half of my mission on zoom you can see it at:https://drive.google.com/open?id=1e5iUMc6rTik-SDj1N31IVnlXxU1H-b4_I start at 10:17, and you might have to download it

Yes it's happened, I'm now a missionary again, this time serving in the Colorado, Colorado Springs mission. I was so happy that I was able to spend some quality time with my family for the last 2 months, but I'm super grateful to have the chance to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to Gods children in yet another part of the world. My companion from the Mission Training Center told me he has a good friend from his congregation in California that is being reassigned to this same mission. Tender mercy of the Lord, I saw another missionary in the Dallas airport and he was also on my flight.  Guess who my companion was last night out of the 11 Elders that came in yesterday?  You guessed it Elder Gordon's friend from California. I know the Lord is so aware of each of us! My mom and I are were excited to find out that her brother (my uncle) and his family along with some of her friends are also in this mission.  The boundaries of my mission are just one block south from where she grew up and went to church. 


When I came home from Angola, I was really sad to leave, but I knew that this is the Lords plan. Being home allowed me to see how quickly it is to fall into old habits, that even if these habits aren't necessarily bad, there are so many this things we can do that would be more beneficial to ourselves and others. Thankfully I have good examples in my family, as well as other missionary friends that kept me on track. Not being able to serve and to teach was really a bummer at first for me, I felt that I lost my purpose a bit. After a few weeks I realized though that I could serve others even from the confinement of my house, and that not being a missionary didn't mean I couldn't have continued spiritual experiences. Being able to have daily scripture study with my family was so spiritually uplifting, being able to hear their insights and different thoughts and testimonies on different scriptures helped me so much.

I was sad to say goodbye to my family again, but I know that this is where the Lord wants me to be right now. Only a short year and I'll be back again! Being able to accept the Lord's will has been so tremendous in my life. All of us are going through struggles, maybe mentally more than ever, and that's why getting involved in the Lord's work is so important. Reading our scriptures, praying daily, and serving and reaching out to others can have such a big impact in the happiness we feel in our lives right now.

President Nelson said: "the JOY we feel has little to do with the CIRCUMSTANCES of our lives and EVERYTHING to do with the FOCUS of our lives."

He continued, "“Saints can be happy under every circumstance. … When the focus of our lives is on God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we CAN FEEL JOY regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. JOY COMES FROM HIM AND BECAUSE OF HIM. He is the source of all joy”


I know the Lord puts people on our path, we just need to be ready to answer the call. I expected that on my flights today (Monday) that I wouldn't sit next to anyone due to new policies, but lo and behold, I was on a very small plane coming to Colorado Springs. I sat by a really nice young man, (Nathan) who is a missionary himself of another faith. At first I wasn't sure how the conversation would go, but I stood up for my beliefs and answered his questions the best I could, and he accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, from me! I know that as we stand strong and firm in our testimonies, we can be examples to others and have more opportunities to help them and to bless their lives. I know that the Bible and Book of Mormon are true, and I am so glad that I will be able to teach and testify of them to so many more people. I leave my testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Eu amo cada um de voces! Fiquem bem!

 Elder Madsen




Fletcher and his new mission president and wife
         



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