Snakebit by the service bug

Oi gente!

I know it's been a while since I've sent an email, but don't worry, I'm doing fine. 

With quarantine still going on, we haven't been able to do much(not even playing basketball at the church buildings sadly), but things have opened up enough so that we can do service. We help out at a food bank, and have been able to help members in our ward move in, and were able to help an older lady paint her backyard deck. I'm definitely a much better mover than painter, but it's an awesome feeling to be able to help out anyway we can.

One day, we were doing service for a member of the church in our ward, helping him clean up a trail on his property, when we saw a rattlesnake.

I don't know how big those things are supposed to be, but this one was about 3 feet long and sounded angry. The member had a shovel so he was able to cut off the snake's head. Even though the head was cut off, the snake's body kept moving for more than half an hour afterwards, it was really cool but also creepy. I think seeing a rattlesnake is all the proof I need to say I've lived in Colorado.



Speaking of service, some of my favorite scriptures are about service or stories of service. In Mosiah 2:17 in the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin states:  "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God".

On our local Facebook page to share more about Christ, one of our weekly themes was joy. I love the joy of doing service for others, being able to help someone else that needs it is always a wonderful feeling. I know that as we serve others, we will find true happiness, lifting others spirits and in turn, our own.

I invite you to watch these two videos(links below). One of a prophet teaching the importance of serving others and in turn serving God and the second of a missionary going to teach his enemies and asking to be the King's servant.   As you watch  invite you to have a prayer in your heart to know who and how you can be the Lord's hands today, tomorrow and every day.  I testify He will guide your thoughts and if you choose to act on the promptings from the Holy Ghost He will give you the great opportunity to bless others and in turn bring them and you closer to the Savior Jesus Christ! I LOVE you all! May the Lord's love dwell in your hearts!



Eu amo vocês! 

Elder Madsen 

Many of the pictures are from a hike we took at a beautiful state park. God's creations are so glorious!



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