And the Escogido of the day is....

I really can't believe it's already been a week since I wrote last.  When in missionary work, if you love the people and love what you're doing, the time flies.

Ok so Tuesday I kinda got hit by a ton of bricks during district and zone meeting.  They talked a lot about contacting and it really got me thinking about how I am put in my area for a reason, and my companion and I are the only ones who can bring the truth to this people right now.  So how else are they going to know unless we tell them? 

So we got to work.  Slowly but surely.  And literally every day this week we found someone with a story that has prepared them to hear the gospel.  Sadly a lot of them were not in our area, so we had to pass references.  But for real.  For example.... One girl we contacted lived in another area in an abandoned house with her husband.  She loves talking about Christ and about the gospel AND when we gave her a pamphlet with a picture of the Book of Mormon on the back she laughed and said... oh I already have this bible at my house!... WHAT? yeah, it had been left there by one of her great grandparents who previously owned the house, and she had read some of it! WHAAT?? Yeah.  Sadly we don't get to teach her but WOW!

Another example is yesterday we were searching for this other Escogido (chosen, elect) that we had contacted earlier this week.  We passed this sweet old lady on the street and my feet started slowing because I felt something when we passed her... So we turned around (basically chased her down) and started talking to her.  She lives alone in this pretty apartment and has a super strong testimony of the presence of God and Christ in her life, but no religion...! We helped her to her house and she invited us in to talk! She recognized that God had sent us to her and she thanked Him for it.  Ahhhh! I'm so excited to keep teaching her.

So basically... contacting is incredibly important because God is preparing people AND PUTTING THEM LITERALLY RIGHT IN YOUR PATH!  This doesn't just apply to missionary work.  There are people all around that need your help.  I invite you all, my loving family and friends, to open your mouths and your hearts to those around you.

I love you all so much!

Fun facts...

I live on a Street named Los Estados Unidos (The United States)

The gas they use for cars smells like Fireworks.

Their culturally traditional women are called cholitas and there are a ton still living the lifestyle here!

Don't count the days, make the days count!

~Hermana Madsen

{And here she is ON THE DAY AT THE VERY MINUTE that she typed this letter.  =)}

17 Milagros

So first off, we watched 17 Miracles last night and I cried through the entire thing because it is so powerful.  Even in Spanish! But also I saw at least 17 miracles in my life this week.  I don't have time to write all the little ones, but one of the biggest ones I will share...

So we had been helping one of our investigators look for a room to rent and on Tuesday we heard from the bishop's wife that she knew someone who had rooms for rent.  So we were planning on telling our investigator later that day.  But we were on our way to another appointment when we decided to street contact this girl with her baby in a stroller.  We started talking and she was walking around looking for a room to rent...!!!! So we told her we actually knew someone!  We took her over to that room and she met a bunch of members and the bishop.  Then we took her to some more rooms we knew of and got to know her some more.  Her name is Heidy and her baby is Benjamin!  

Even though we didn't find a room right then, we set a time to visit her, although it was during the day we were doing intercambios so I wouldn't be there!  But intercambios came and I saw about a million little miracles that day in the contacts we made, the lessons we taught, and in my studies.  When intercambios finished, I found out that my compañera hadn't been able to visit Heidy so I got to go with her the next day!

{intercambios = exchanges, or changing companions for the day}

It was a miracle that we got into the apartment complex she lives in and a miracle we found her room.  But we did!  And we started talking with her and playing with Benjamin.  She began to relate some really hard trials in her life to us, and we taught the Atonement, but she needed something else.  I got the impression to ask if she believed Christ performed miracles and if she believed He could perform miracles today, and she said yes.  She has a super strong testimony.  Then I had the impression to ask if we could pray together for a miracle, and it was somehow decided that I would offer the prayer...AHHH!!!! I  was freaking out because I still don't know the language very well and I had no clue what I was going to say but we knelt and I began my prayer.  I don't remember a lot of what I said but I asked that Heidy would be able to see miracles in her life and that we could be a miracle for her.  More than anything I remember the intense spirit that was in the room.  My heart was completely full of the spirit telling me what to ask for and how to say it.  Wow. Then after the prayer we introduced her to The Book of Mormon and gave her a copy (which was a miracle that my companion thought to bring a copy that morning). I know that she was put in our way so we could help her and be a miracle for her.  Also she was a miracle reminder to me of my purpose here.  I love being a missionary and I love Bolivia!




{I think this is their cook who makes them lunch - their main meal - every day}

Fun facts...

The doorways are shorter here so I feel like I have to watch my head!

They don't have a problem with personal hygiene here... if anything they use way too much cologne!

They don't have insulation in the walls so you can hear everything outside and it is super cold inside!

{Ha!  You can see why she thinks she needs to watch her head in doorways... tall & beautiful. =) }

Don't count the days, make the days count!

~ Hermana Madsen

Voy a Engordarme!

Nobody told me that I was sent to the area with the most food... but yeah everyone gives us food when we come over, and they serve GIANT lunches!

So every day was different this week, and every day counted!  Honestly most days started out without any success but we always found someone to share a message with!  

Ex 1) We were at a member's house with her investigating mom and we spent a lot of time talking about the new baby in their home and eating treats they gave us, but then when it was time to go, we were going to just leave without sharing anything.  So I stopped my companion and said even though it was late and close to the time we needed to be home, the Lord would bless us if we shared even something short.  So we did, and left a commitment with them to read the BOM and I really do think it was something they needed to hear.  AND we made it back to the house at exactly 9:30!

Ex 2) Friday it was raining so hard in the morning that the street was flooding so we didn't get out of the house until lunchtime, which I didn't feel great about. Then we walked to the other side of our area to meet two references, but we couldn't find either of their houses! The streets are wacko here so I understand, but seriously NEITHER! But then we went and met with Andrea, one of our investigators, and she had much less understanding than we thought, but in the end she agreed to a baptismal date!  Of course we are going to do everything we can to help her to prepare.  She is super special!

My teachers in the MTC said my purpose would change, but I didn't believe them.  I already knew why I was out on a mission, how could that change?  Well it does.  It changes all the time.

Alma 16:16 changed it this time... And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming—

My job, my calling out here is to prepare the minds of the descendants of Adam and Eve to accept Christ when He comes again.  To fully receive the message He will give.  I am out here to help prepare every person I can.  For everyone who reads this, I ask you to prepare yourselves by doing something every day to bring yourselves and your family closer to Christ.  God is real.  He answers prayers that are offered sincerely.  I testify of this with all my heart.

Fun Facts...

The big meal here is Lunch, not Dinner

Milk comes in bags!

Their couches are shorter because they have shorter legs so I am always super uncomfortable sitting down haha!

Don't count the days, make the days count!

~ Hermana Madsen

Bienvenida a Bolivia! The land of the Elect!

Wow! This week was a rollercoaster! I said goodbye to my CCM familia and traveled across the globe for approx. 33 hours...!  In the 3 days of traveling I got about 8 hours of sleep....!!  Then when we got to the Mission Home finally, we went to the Cristo which was super cool! And then that night we had a big meeting with the President and got to meet our companions!!!  Well... most of us did.  My companion got stuck in Sucre because of a storm.  So the first night I stayed with the STLs in their house that didn't have water... HAHA!  I was really happy. 


{the Bolivia Cristo is the largest in the world - larger than Rio}










{see the Cochabamba temple?}

Thursday I finally got to meet my companion after taking a flight out to Sucre where I am now serving! I really like it here! The weather is even more all over the place than Utah, and the streets are like those in San Fransisco... Hilly.  But so cool!  My companion is Hermana Cardoza from Peru.  She is awesome! Super obedient and super patient!  WOW.

That first night we got right into working with a visit to an amazing woman named Silveria.  She lives in the middle of nowhere and was cooking potato chips on her little gas stove.  I can´t even describe the crazy living conditions here.  And I don´t have a lot of pictures of them either, but basically super super poor but they don´t realize it!  They are content with what they have.  Anyway, Silveria is an investigator with a baptism date, and as soon as she started talking I was lost.  She spoke way fast and actually spoke real Spanish... like with an accent and everything! Ha! yeah... Then we visited Andrea who is amazing and so open to the gospel.

Friday I was feeling super good about the work and loving being a missionary!  Also I looooooooove the food!  Yes it is rice and potatoes and chicken, but it is dang good!  Also the juice here is AMAZING!  if anyone ever has the chance to try del Valle juice... do it!  I love it so much!  And the Bolivian chocolate brand Para Ti is tan ricooooo!

{the garbage truck stops, and everyone brings their trash? This is kind of awesome}

Saturday.  This was the hardest day I have experienced emotionally ever in my life.  I couldn't understand anyone, I experienced homesickness for the first time and it was not cool, I was scared of messing up, I couldn't stay awake because I still hadn't caught up from traveling, I wanted to go home, and I completely lost sight of my purpose being out here.

I prayed so hard for something to happen to remind me why I am out here, and then woke up in the same mood Sunday morning and didn't even make it through sacrament meeting without crying.  BUT THEN!!!! 180 spin around! Guess what? God answers prayers! Wow! We had three amazing lessons with amazing people who are ready for the gospel. I participated in every lesson and I could see the click in their eyes that I love to see!

Also... earlier in the day I was telling myself that the gift of tongues doesn't work to help you understand everything all of a sudden... turns out I was wrong.  I understood everything that every one of my investigators said.  WHAT???!!! Yeah.

I don´t have a lot of time but basically I love it here because every single person I have met has a light.  I know that so many people here are ready for the gospel.  As the title says... This is the land of the Elect that the scriptures talk about.  I just gotta get to work and bring the truth to these people.  I love teaching the gospel to those who haven´t heard it.  

I love Bolivia.  Sorry to everyone else, but I really do have the best mission in the world!

Fun facts of the week...

Bolivians greet each other and say goodbye with a kiss on the cheek.

There are dogs literally everywhere!!! 

The driving here is insane, the drivers often just honk before speeding through an intersection, and everyone takes taxis or trufis (busses).





Don't count the days, make the days count!

~ Hermana Madsen

I'm here!

We got to talk to Miranda on Tuesday during her layover in Florida.  It was so amazing to hear her voice, and experience her personality again.  =)



And Morgan holding the "speaker phone" for some of us.  =)



We got this fast email from Miranda on Wednesday when she arrived in Cochabamba, and then today when I got pictures from her mission president's wife, I realized it was a blog post:

I am here!  It is awesome and soooo my place.  ;)  What's it like?  Think Cozumel but without the beach bur so so amazing!  Love you all!  Pday is Monday!  Love, Hermana Madsen




{Pres. Mark Hansen and Sister Kathy Hansen}



And can I just give public thanks to a wonderful mother-in-law.  Carol works at the MTC, and was able to call Miranda into her office, bring her treats from us, and watch over her whole district.



What a wonderful, wonderful connection while she was there.  Thank you thank you thank you!!!