November 17, 2014

Things here are great. It was a warm day yesterday! But it just started raining a lot (I'll send a video!) and they say it will be record COLD here this week! The humidity is a KILLER! It is way colder here than Utah. But there's not much snow. weird, right?

This past week we have been working to find those who will really listen and apply our message. I am so tired of trying to teach people who are only half committed. Only those who truly have a broken heart and a contrite spirit will make it to the water. And that's what we want anyways, I have tried so hard to prepare my investigators for a lifetime commitment, Not just for a few weeks and then go less-active right after baptism. Kelly was one of those who are committed! She really wants to raise her baby girl up in the gospel and have an eternal family! Her husband is making progress too. He just got the M priesthood and blessed their baby. He also baptized and confirmed Kelly this weekend. What a wonderful feeling it is to know that we helped a family take steps towards the temple! I cant wait to hear about when they go to be sealed a year from now. We were so blessed to be able to work with them.

I gave a training in our Zone Training Meeting this week. I love being a Sister Training Leader because I love giving trainings! Its a great opportunity to learn more things to apply for myself. And I truly feel like a vessel for the Lord, that He can speak through me to help the other missionaries. I also love giving trainings because I can conduct a discussion, whereas a talk is just all me. I dont like that as much. I wish I could interact more with the congregation. But that would not be conducive to the Spirit! Haha. 

Be safe and Be smart! Be where you can feel the Spirit. I love you so much!

-Sis M

October 27, 2014

This week was awesome! We started teaching this Muslim guy. I cant pronounce his first name, so we call him "Brother Abdalla" :) It is so different to teach someone who doesn't already have a solid background belief in Jesus Christ! But I just love teaching him! His sweet wife comes in and sits with us wearing her wrap thing (I totally forgot what its called! It covers her from head to toe.. what's that called again?). They just moved here from Sudan a year ago. Brother Abdalla is the only one who knows English, they speak Arabic to each other. They have such a sweet, precious family! I have loved teaching them because it strengthens my testimony of how much we need Jesus Christ! He has to be the Son of God, he wasn't just a prophet or a good man. I know that he was chosen to come to the earth to perform the Atonement for us. And having complete access to that atonement is the only way that we can ever be in God's presence again! We are so lucky to have the full gospel of Jesus Christ. We access His atonement through faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. If we miss one of those steps we cannot make it!

Also this week we attended another Holiness Baptist church. Its called "Heaven-Bound Ministries". Its a little church in a one room trailer that one of our investigators attends. They just formed that church, they didn't like what their pastor was preaching so they broke off and made a new church! The new pastor gave a good sermon on Mark 8. But there was a little false doctrine that I recognized. I was also surprised to find that I couldn't feel the Spirit. I am so grateful that we have the full gospel!

I am wishing you the best week yet! I love you!

-Sister Madsen

Sept 8

The field is WHITE in Douglas! (D&C:4) Literally. The cotton is ready to harvest! And we have a beautiful family on date for baptism at the end of the month :) Plus a sweet little boy wants to be baptized, his parents aren't members. So his grandma has been bringing him to church and we're teaching him the lessons too. He should be baptized on the 27th as well! 

This past week has been great! We've been challenging the people we are working with to take a step of faith and come to church with a question in mind for God to answer. Any question! This church is based on revelation and I know God will answer any question they have! Heidi and her girls took our challenge and they all receive answers their first time at church! I just love the gospel, I have never been so happy in my life! Probably because I have never kept the commandments so closely in my life. I know there is power in keeping the commandments! Mosiah 2:41

Today we are going to a mexican restaurant for my bday with the elders. Its my favorite, it is authentic! Georgia has NO good mexican, except for this place! 

Love you so much! Stay blessed!

-Sis M

August 25, 2014

Brittany got baptized this week! It was such a wonderful and special service. She really wanted her grandpa to give the opening prayer, he is a baptist preacher. Boy, that prayer was awesome! Haha.

The 

 ​rest of the ​

program was very spiritual and afterwards Brittany got up and gave her testimony. It was so sweet and pure, she talked about how the water felt different to her from normal shower or pool water, and how she knows she made the right decision. Afterwards we had cookies and punch :) It was great!

One day last week we hit a slump in our time. It was really hot and the middle of the afternoon, but with no one home we had no other choice but to start knocking on doors. I admit I wasn't as excited as I should have been to do it, but I knew that it was the best use of our time. The first house we went to already had people outside, I was prepared to attempt a small conversation and ask for referrals, yet was surprised to realize that the lady outside really wanted to hear our message! She gathered her daughters together and they ate up everything we taught them about the Restoration! They asked such wonderful and inspired questions, and the feedback/answers they gave us were so spot-on. They truly understood the message we were teaching, they felt and recognized the Spirit, and they really want to be baptized. It was the ideal lesson that missionaries dream about! We left them with a Book of Mormon, the mom told us the she was so excited to read it! We hope and pray that this family will be protected from opposition so that we can continue to teach them.

You are glorious! Be safe, and be smart!

LOVES!

-Sister M

August 18, 2014

WOW. What a wonderful week we had! We were blessed with so many beautiful opportunities!

Friday we had interviews with President Cottle. I had this brilliant idea to invite him and Sister Cottle to our lesson with Brittany! It was such a great idea! We asked them at interviews, and then about an hour later... we were nearly having a nervous break down! Haha, but the lesson was awesome! We taught Brittany about the symbolism in Lehi's dream. The spirit was very strong and we were able to teach well. Sister Cottle said that Brittany is the best prepared investigator that they have seen yet! It was humbling, I am so blessed to be able to help her be baptized. 

This weekend Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the quorum of the 12 Apostles came to speak to the Tifton Stake. He called a new stake presidency. It is beautiful to me how smoothly we can transition between leaders. Here in the south a new church leader will result in many changes and opinions, even in the formation of new churches! But in Christ's church, we know who is the Head so it does

 ​ ​

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 t matter to us who he calls to be His representative. It shouldn't matter. I am so grateful to be a part of His restored church with its awesome organization!

I got to shake Elder Oaks hand twice! One of the High council members had an interview with him Saturday, he said the he was going to give Elder Oaks a picture of us. We thought he was kidding...but he wasn't! So now Elder Oaks has a picture of us, our signatures on the back of it. He said he wanted to meet us, so Brother Keanon took us up to the stand and introduced us to him after Saturday night's meeting. And then the next morning he came around and shook all the missionaries hands in the choir. That was so cool! And I was surprised to see how well he got around, for being 82 years old. He was hopping up and down the stand and maneuvering through the crowd, he shook at least every single person's hand who was in the chapel, and I know he shook more than that later. It was so neat to see him go 'one by one' to each person. He taught me a lot about representing the Savior. 

​Here are some of my notes from his talks, his focus was on helping the stake become better member missionaries:​

"As your understanding of the Atonement grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase." ~ Preach My Gospel pg 2

How to be member missionaries-

- Talk about religion. Find ways to relate subjects to the gospel

- Bear testimony. "I know that God answers prayers", testimonies are best when they are short and simple!

- Give reading material. Ex, Mormon.org, or a Book of Mormon

- Invite others to church. They will never be offended by an invitation.

The way to measure your success as a missionary is not by whether or not someone comes to church or joins it, but we must measure success by 'whether or not we asked'. People will not change unless they are invited to do so. It is up to us to provide that invitation, and be there for them should they accept it! "The Lord's plan has us doing something. So we can become something !"

Matthew 7:26 "And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:"

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15

"Lovest thou me? ..Feed my sheep." John 21:17

Here is some other highlights that President Cottle talked about in his letter:

"Elder Oaks taught many things during his time in Douglas. One that I thought I would relate to you came from the general session on Sunday Morning. The principle taught was that revelation comes to us from TWO sources, and not just one. To demonstrate, he asked me to come to the pulpit and asked that I bring one of our missionaries with me. Not knowing what we would be asked to say or do, on the spur of the moment, I asked Elder Stewart, one of our Tifton Zone Leaders, to come to the front with me. Elder Oaks simply used us to show that one avenue of revelation was what he called the Priesthood line of revelation. Direction from the Savior to his Prophet, to a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, is given to the Mission President who in turn gives that same counsel and revelation to his missionaries. He taught that this Priesthood channel was the same for every member through their Stake President, Bishop, Quorum President, RS President, and to the individual. The other source, he indicated, is the revelation that comes directly from Heaven through the Holy Ghost. He called it the personal channel of revelation. Then he taught this VERY "revealing" doctrine that unless one is "in line" with the revelation that comes in the Priesthood channel that we would not be ready, or worthy, to receive the revelation that would come from the personal channel. Obviously, the Holy Ghost can and does testify to truth and inspire people everywhere to do what is right, but that personal revelation would come to those who were first receiving revelation as it comes from the Priesthood channel. "

Elder Oaks quoted Elder Eyring: "The more you know Jesus, the more you will trust Him." and Elder Maxwell: "We are completely safe to submit to Him who is all Surpreme."

We must entirely submit our minds to the Lord, are we holding on to anything that prevents us from knowing Him?

The faithful will see the face of the Savior!

We are excited for Brittany's baptism this Saturday :)

I love teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

-Sister Karely Madsen

August 11

This week has been great! Sister Chidester and I made it through

another transfer and we're still serving together! She is a great

companion. She is very patient and accepting of others, including

myself. We have lots of fun together! I am very happy to be serving

with her because we teach very well together.

Currently we are so blessed to have lots of people to teach! Some of

our favorites are a beautiful family with lots of foster children, a

new bride, and a sweet couple with brand new twin babies! The field is

white here in Douglas, GA. Literally.. the cotton fields are starting

to bloom!

The next few days hold lots of excitement for our little town and our

band of missionaries. Elder Dallin H. Oaks will bless us with an

appearance this weekend. They are changing the Tifton Stake

Presidency, and everyone will be traveling to the Douglas building to

hear the Apostle speak. They've been talking about it for months! We

have been worried about how we will manage to get there early enough

for a seat, but this morning we just found out that we will get to be

a part of a special missionary choir for the conference! What a

blessing! President Cottle will conduct the choir, of course. He is

very good at it. We will be singing High on the Mountain Top, and This

is the Christ! I love those songs :)

The Zone Leaders also asked me to arrange a musical number with some

elders for Zone Training Meeting this week. I'm so nervous, I think

they will be singing "I Believe in Christ". I have to come up with

piano accompaniment for it. Wish me luck! Even better, pray for me!

Haha.

Lately I have been thinking more about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I think about it a lot, because that is what we teach everything

around; but I want to be better at applying it to myself. Just last

night we were visiting with a sweet member who is battling

fibromyalgia. She is in such terrible pain all the time, and life

obstacles are being put in her way on top of it all. But I know she

has a great understanding of the Atonement and a personal relationship

with Christ because of the incredible love she has for others and the

sweet spirit that is about her!

I cant wait for the day that I can meet my Redeemer!

Here are my favorite scriptures:

D&C 19: 16-19
16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they
might not suffer if they would repent;
 17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;
 18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all,to
tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer
both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup,
and shrink—
 19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook andfinished my
preparations unto the children of men.

D&C 45: 3-5
 3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading
your cause before him—
 4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no
sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which
was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be
glorified;
 5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name,
that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.

I know Heavenly Father loves me, and that he loves you too! I hope
that you have a wonderful week!
-Sister Karely Madsen

July 21

This week has been great. I really really love Douglas! The people are

as sweet as the peaches and my companion, Sister Chidester, is

awesome!

Last week we found a few more investigators and reconnected with some

former investigators. We also got a few referrals from members, that

was great! Our best investigators are always the ones who have a

friend or family member in the ward. One sister wants us to start

teaching her grandson, and another YSA girl is leaving on a mission in

a couple weeks. She has been introducing all her nonmember family to

us. We are teaching her aunt tonight at the church. I think she would

really love LDS once she gets past the "we dont speak in tongues like

that" and the stillness of the sacrament meeting. She is holiness

baptist. 

We are teaching a sweet lady named Fannie. She is 90 years old. She

still cooks and cleans her house. Sometimes she has nurses come by

that help with groceries, but she said they steal from her a lot so

its risky for her to let them in much. We read her the Book of Mormon,

she says she understands it, but when we ask her questions her answers

prove otherwise. But, she loves it when we read to her, so we keep

going once a week or so. We are helping prepare her for the spirit

world I guess. I was asking her about her youth and she said she only

went to school through 5th grade, then she had to work in the fields

and keep house. I forget that all the civil rights stuff happened in

the prime of her lifetime. I wonder if she ever thought she would have

two white girls sitting on her sofa having 'bible study'. I think she

was uncomfortable when I asked if I could fix her supper for her.

Please pray that I dont get sick! We have been going to Brittany's

house a lot because she was on date for baptism this Saturday. She and

her husband, and the whole farm got sick. Its a bad flu virus. We dont

want to spread it around Douglas. But if there's an epidemic, then we

know to blame Some guy named Chauncey who works on the farm with them.

We had to move Brittany's date to later in August because she hasn't

made it to church for awhile. She was on the verge of tears when we

told her because she was so excited. I was really sad too. But it will

be better this way, now she understands the importance of church

attendance and staying active after her baptism. Please pray for her

too.

Last week we were going to see a member and one girl stepped out of

her apartment for literally 10 seconds. She was about to go inside but

we asked if she wanted a picture of Christ. She said yes and we asked

her if she was 'very religious'? She said no. We asked if she would

like to be; she said 'yes!' and let us right in. We taught her the 1st

lesson and put her on date for baptism in August. We are the Georgia

Macon Miracles Mission :)

-Sis M