Momma.
So I'm trying not to freak out that I can't be there to see Katie when she gets home. Please give her a hug for me. I miss her. So much. It will be two years and two months by the time we see each other.
Sick: So I'm still a sickling but I feel loads better. Despite being sick we still were able to have a good week. We picked up a few new investigators and as a result of mighty prayers on our part we've received TONS of referrals. It's awesome! We're busy busy busy. And we love love love it.
Baptism: We had a baptism on Saturday. It was for the little 8 year old boy that I was asking advice for a few months ago who is terrified of water. He finally made it into the waters of baptism! From the second he stepped into the water he was plugging his nose with one hand and gripping Elder G's hand with the other. But he made it and came out of the water with a huge smile on his face. My heart absolutely melted. It was the sweetest thing. The spirit was so strong. Man, this church is true.
S and A: Sister F and I are both heartbroken. Neither S nor A came to church. We did everything we could to get them there. But in the end it comes down to their agency. They spirit was so strong in the lesson I wrote home about last week and I know they both felt something undeniable. As heartbreaking and discouraging as it is, I feel at peace knowing that we did everything that we could.
I can't believe how fast my mission has flown by. Everyone always told me it would but I never gave it any thought. After this transfer I only have 2 transfers left. Woah. It just makes me want to work that much harder knowing I only have until September.
Testimony: I know with all my heart that this church is true. It took me a while to figure it out for myself. But I'm so forever grateful that I finally did because I've never been happier. I've never thought less about myself, I've never been so tired, and I've never been rejected as much as I have been on my mission. But I have also never been so happy. I have never felt like this before. I wish I could make you all understand. But I can't. You just have to figure it out for yourselves. I promise you'll never find more joy anywhere else. That's a big promise and I'm sticking to it.
I love you
love, mads
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Miracles, drain problems and bronchitis
Momma!
I really can't believe that kate get's home in 9 days. I feel kind of sad. Not sad...just.. I want to be there. I miss her a lot.
Please please send so many pictures!
Miracles: We went to visit a member (A) last night who hasn't be active for probably a year. We sat down and started talking and got on the topic of why she doesn't come to church. She said she had been offended and that it was better that she didn't go to church at all than to go and be offended again. Obviously our next step was to explain to her the purpose of church and the reason why we go to church. As we started to talk the door opened and another lady (S) walked in that I had never met before but knew she wasn't a member. We introduced ourselves and she sat down as we went on with our lesson. As A went on about how she was offended S looked at her like she was being a silly child and said, "I'm not a member of your church, but being offended shouldn't keep you from going to church!" They both listened intently as Sister F bore a powerful testimony in her broken Armenian. And then we both talked about the importance of church and the sacrament. I thought the answer would be no but I decided to give it a shot anyway and asked A if she would commit to coming to just Sacrament meeting each week to take the sacrament. SHe looked at us and quietly said,"Yes, I know that's what I need to do." My heart melted. THe spirit was so strong Sister F and both agreed that we could almost physically feel it. We then asked if we could pray before we left and S asked us if we would pray for her relative. She had tears in her eyes as she asked. I closed the meeting with prayer asking God to bless her sick relative. We said amen and S was still crying. We asked if she would like us to visit her some time. I've never heard a quicker 'yes' during my whole mission. We gave her a second pamphlet to read before our next visit. She took it and pressed it to her heart. Sister F and I left feeling like we weighed nothing at all.
Drain problems and best elders: So starting last Sunday anytime we ran our kitchen sink all of this stuff in our pipes (food, mystery things) would come up our shower drain. It was super gross. We have absolutely the best elders ever and so they came over and tried to fix it (they didn't, to much of both our frustrations). But the best part of it was that they were singing the entire time. We stood outside our appartment the entire time (missionary rules) while they tried to fix our drain. I wish we could send videos home because we have the most darling video of them singing wilst plumbing.
Bronchitis: Ain't nobody got time for that!- So starting last Monday I was really not feeling well. Tuesday I was coughing like no one's business. Wednesday I had no voice and I had gotten no sleep. I kept feeling and sounding worse and worse so like a good missionary I called the Mission President's wife and soon found out that I have bronchitis. They gave me antibiotics. I didn't even think bronchitis was a thing. But turns out it is a very real thing. Unpleasant thing too. I feel mostly bad for sister F that she gets to listen to me hack up my lungs evey 5 minutes all day long.
I love you!!
-mads
I really can't believe that kate get's home in 9 days. I feel kind of sad. Not sad...just.. I want to be there. I miss her a lot.
Please please send so many pictures!
Miracles: We went to visit a member (A) last night who hasn't be active for probably a year. We sat down and started talking and got on the topic of why she doesn't come to church. She said she had been offended and that it was better that she didn't go to church at all than to go and be offended again. Obviously our next step was to explain to her the purpose of church and the reason why we go to church. As we started to talk the door opened and another lady (S) walked in that I had never met before but knew she wasn't a member. We introduced ourselves and she sat down as we went on with our lesson. As A went on about how she was offended S looked at her like she was being a silly child and said, "I'm not a member of your church, but being offended shouldn't keep you from going to church!" They both listened intently as Sister F bore a powerful testimony in her broken Armenian. And then we both talked about the importance of church and the sacrament. I thought the answer would be no but I decided to give it a shot anyway and asked A if she would commit to coming to just Sacrament meeting each week to take the sacrament. SHe looked at us and quietly said,"Yes, I know that's what I need to do." My heart melted. THe spirit was so strong Sister F and both agreed that we could almost physically feel it. We then asked if we could pray before we left and S asked us if we would pray for her relative. She had tears in her eyes as she asked. I closed the meeting with prayer asking God to bless her sick relative. We said amen and S was still crying. We asked if she would like us to visit her some time. I've never heard a quicker 'yes' during my whole mission. We gave her a second pamphlet to read before our next visit. She took it and pressed it to her heart. Sister F and I left feeling like we weighed nothing at all.
Drain problems and best elders: So starting last Sunday anytime we ran our kitchen sink all of this stuff in our pipes (food, mystery things) would come up our shower drain. It was super gross. We have absolutely the best elders ever and so they came over and tried to fix it (they didn't, to much of both our frustrations). But the best part of it was that they were singing the entire time. We stood outside our appartment the entire time (missionary rules) while they tried to fix our drain. I wish we could send videos home because we have the most darling video of them singing wilst plumbing.
Bronchitis: Ain't nobody got time for that!- So starting last Monday I was really not feeling well. Tuesday I was coughing like no one's business. Wednesday I had no voice and I had gotten no sleep. I kept feeling and sounding worse and worse so like a good missionary I called the Mission President's wife and soon found out that I have bronchitis. They gave me antibiotics. I didn't even think bronchitis was a thing. But turns out it is a very real thing. Unpleasant thing too. I feel mostly bad for sister F that she gets to listen to me hack up my lungs evey 5 minutes all day long.
I love you!!
-mads
After we cleaned it!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Back in Charentsavan!
Transfers:
So we had real life transfers on Friday. And drum roll.....I'm back in Charentsavan!!! I'm so happy! It's a little bit like we're white washing it though because I was in Ajabnyak for 2 and a half weeks and there were no sisters at all in Char for that time. So now we're back here with a clean board doing lots of finding and visiting members. I can't wait till we're able to get things picked up here. It's slow work right now but I know we have so many miracles waiting for us in the upcoming 3 months.
Adorable Companion:
I have a brand new companion from Hawaii. She is absolutely the cutest thing I've ever seen. She is so brave and really puts herself outside of her comfort zone. She is already such a great missionary. Because of that I've spent a lot of time on my knees lately. It's hard not to feel really inadequate when you feel so much love for someone. I know that with the Lord's help I'll be able to be what He needs me to be. I love her so much and I know this transfer is about to be awsome!
Same Page:
Sister F and I are pretty much always on the same wave-length. It's great. We were going to one last appointment before we had to be in for the night when we came accross A. We chatted with her while we walked for a minute until we had to split ways. Sister F and I didn't communicate this until after but we both had such heavy hearts as we watched her walk away and thought if we see her again that it would be meant to be. Our next appointment wasn't home so we started to make our way home when we saw A again. We both got really excited and kind of jogged to catch up to her. She told us she would love it if we came over sometime! We' haven't made it over there yet but we're both so excited that the spirit worked with us both.
Testimony:
I love this gospel with all my heart. I know it is true. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't positive about that. Call me crazy, but there is no other thing that I would rather be doing right now than walking down these freezing, slippery streets here in Armenia trying to share the most important message there is.
I love my family and I love the indescribable joy that I get from this gospel. I've never been happier. The church is true. I promise.
Love,
Sister Mads
So we had real life transfers on Friday. And drum roll.....I'm back in Charentsavan!!! I'm so happy! It's a little bit like we're white washing it though because I was in Ajabnyak for 2 and a half weeks and there were no sisters at all in Char for that time. So now we're back here with a clean board doing lots of finding and visiting members. I can't wait till we're able to get things picked up here. It's slow work right now but I know we have so many miracles waiting for us in the upcoming 3 months.
Adorable Companion:
I have a brand new companion from Hawaii. She is absolutely the cutest thing I've ever seen. She is so brave and really puts herself outside of her comfort zone. She is already such a great missionary. Because of that I've spent a lot of time on my knees lately. It's hard not to feel really inadequate when you feel so much love for someone. I know that with the Lord's help I'll be able to be what He needs me to be. I love her so much and I know this transfer is about to be awsome!
Same Page:
Sister F and I are pretty much always on the same wave-length. It's great. We were going to one last appointment before we had to be in for the night when we came accross A. We chatted with her while we walked for a minute until we had to split ways. Sister F and I didn't communicate this until after but we both had such heavy hearts as we watched her walk away and thought if we see her again that it would be meant to be. Our next appointment wasn't home so we started to make our way home when we saw A again. We both got really excited and kind of jogged to catch up to her. She told us she would love it if we came over sometime! We' haven't made it over there yet but we're both so excited that the spirit worked with us both.
Testimony:
I love this gospel with all my heart. I know it is true. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't positive about that. Call me crazy, but there is no other thing that I would rather be doing right now than walking down these freezing, slippery streets here in Armenia trying to share the most important message there is.
I love my family and I love the indescribable joy that I get from this gospel. I've never been happier. The church is true. I promise.
Love,
Sister Mads
Monday, January 5, 2015
Happy New Year from Armenia!
Momma,
Sister T and I have really had a blast together these past 2 weeks. It's been a busy and crazy 2 weeks but it was awesome. We did a lot of New Years partying :) The city is still really intimidating but it's not as bad as I thought. But transfers are in a few days and from the sounds of it I'll be heading back to Charentsavan! I'm trying to not to get my hopes up...but we'll find out Tuesday night. It's a little bittersweet because in the 2 weeks that I've been here I've really fallen in love with the members and our investigators! There's no winning with transfers. It's always hard. But if I do get to go back to Char I'll be so happy.
New Years Parties and Pounds: Armenians love to party!! They party harder than anyone I've ever met. And they know how to too! New Years in Armenia is the biggest holiday of the year. It is CRAZY here. Everything shuts down. Everything. They all buy tons and tons of food and just eat and dance and party until January 13th. And they wont let you sit it out. I've never danced so hard or ate so much in my entire life. Let's just say I gained a few....:)
I'm also the lamest companion ever. I'm the only missionary who didn't stay up for midnight fireworks (which was apparently so insane) so Sister T had to celebrate alone. :( I fell asleep at 10:00.
I don't really have a whole lot else to talk about. Everyday I wake up and do the same thing so sometimes it's hard to think of things to email home. But just know that I'm loving every minute of everyday and that there's nowhere else in the world that I'd rather be. I'm in an awesome country doing the Lord's work. What else is there? This is great!
I hope you all make and reach some awesome goals this year. Remember: Moroni 10:23 Everything is possible through the Lord.
Go get 'em!
Mads
Sister T and I have really had a blast together these past 2 weeks. It's been a busy and crazy 2 weeks but it was awesome. We did a lot of New Years partying :) The city is still really intimidating but it's not as bad as I thought. But transfers are in a few days and from the sounds of it I'll be heading back to Charentsavan! I'm trying to not to get my hopes up...but we'll find out Tuesday night. It's a little bittersweet because in the 2 weeks that I've been here I've really fallen in love with the members and our investigators! There's no winning with transfers. It's always hard. But if I do get to go back to Char I'll be so happy.
New Years Parties and Pounds: Armenians love to party!! They party harder than anyone I've ever met. And they know how to too! New Years in Armenia is the biggest holiday of the year. It is CRAZY here. Everything shuts down. Everything. They all buy tons and tons of food and just eat and dance and party until January 13th. And they wont let you sit it out. I've never danced so hard or ate so much in my entire life. Let's just say I gained a few....:)
I'm also the lamest companion ever. I'm the only missionary who didn't stay up for midnight fireworks (which was apparently so insane) so Sister T had to celebrate alone. :( I fell asleep at 10:00.
I don't really have a whole lot else to talk about. Everyday I wake up and do the same thing so sometimes it's hard to think of things to email home. But just know that I'm loving every minute of everyday and that there's nowhere else in the world that I'd rather be. I'm in an awesome country doing the Lord's work. What else is there? This is great!
I hope you all make and reach some awesome goals this year. Remember: Moroni 10:23 Everything is possible through the Lord.
Go get 'em!
Mads
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)