My angels round about you to bear you up

The most exciting thing that happened this week was that I finally almost got bit by a dog! I have never really had a problem with dogs, and I have always trusted that God will keep me safe. And it has always worked. Dogs have never bothered me. But yesterday we were walking by a house and a dog started barking at us, but like usual I just kept walking. Then it started chasing me and baring its teeth and got within 1 foot of me. I would usually take off my bag, and use it to protect me, but my bag was tied in a knot around my waist and I couldn't get it off. So I reached out to hit it, and happened to grab its tooth and yanked its head to the side. Then it started going for my comp, but she had taken out her water bottle and chased it off, threatening it! I had so much adrenaline for the next 5 minutes.

But because of this experience I know for sure that God sends us angels to protect us and guide us. I was not afraid of getting bitten because I know God protects His missionaries=)

Also I have just seen the hand of the Lord in so many peoples lives recently. Especially in instances in which we show up right in times when it is obvious that people need us. 

I know I have angels and I know I am protected =)

Fun Facts:

- I tried CHEESE flavored icecream today! It was actually super yummy. @emilylund we have to learn how to make it=)

- I recently realized that there are no squirrells here in Bolivia. Nor are there deer. Just stray dogs and cats and LOTS of flies=)

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

~Hermana Madsen

The Lord works in mysterious ways

The Lord works in mysterious ways.

Example 1: Fasting.

Who would have thought that purposely starving yourself for 24 hours would bring blessings? God did. He commands us to "fast and pray oft" so we can receive the blessings we need. This week my comp and I taught one of our investigators to fast, and started a special fast with her for her family. Not only did we see blessings in her family during this week, we also saw miracles in missionary work. During the 24 hours we fasted, we were blessed with many new people to teach. Some we were led to, others came right up to us and asked if we could visit them. God is amazing.

Example 2: Appointments that fall through

Here in Bolivia the majority of people we go to visit aren't there when they say they'll be, or they say they are "too busy." But I have found that when we plan to be somewhere, it is because God needs us there, and He will put people right where we can find them. One example is when we went with some members to visit a farm-woman late at night in a darker part of our area. She said she was too busy and shut us down. So, taking advantage of the company of the members, we asked them to introduce us to an interested family. When we knocked on the door, they let us right in, we taught the first lesson, and they believed all of it. This happened at least 2 more times during the week: that we ended up right where we needed to be, because somebody else rejected us.

Example 3: Hardships

"...the Lord doth chasten His people with many afflictions..." If we do not follow God's path, He will chasten us. There is a young woman and her mother in our ward that got hit by a bus on their motorcycle. Miraculously they both lived. Now the daughter realizes how much she had fallen away from the church, and now she regrets it a ton. She realizes that God sent her this trial to bring her back. After living through a close-to-death experience, she has a renewed desire to serve a mission, and bring the gospel truth to everyone. She just has to recover from the accident, and she says she is sending in her papers=) God knows how much everyone can handle=)

I know that God works in many mysterious ways, and I am willing to be that mysterious way. 

Love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

FUN FACTS:

- Today is Father's day again in Bolivia! So happy Father's Day Daddy! I love you so much and respect you so much for how great of a father you are to me=)

- Today I also met a sister missionary that came from my home stake!!!! Hermana Curtis!! The world is so small=)

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

~Hermana Madsen

I'm running out of subject headings...

Well last night we received transfers and we are staying together, Hermana Piguave and me, to finish up her training.  But lots of changes in the mission are happening. Including Hermana Pastillo, one of the best friends I have had ever, is going home! She is finishing her mission and starting her real life again. It'll be hard to not be able to call her or see her on P-days, but like it says in a Spanish hymn,"If we keep our faith in The Great God, we will see each other [in a future]."  I am holding on to that promise =)

Also, this week we had Zone Conference. And like always, the president blew my mind with his knowledge and understanding of the gospel, and his wisdom in all aspects of life. Something he shared with us is about obedience. That God is happy when we sacrifice, but He is much more pleased when we obey. President pulled this out of a story in the Bible, in which an army was commanded to go take over the flocks of their enemies, and kill all of the animals. But the chief captain took the best of the flocks and herds home to sacrifice them to God. When he returned, he was reprimanded for his disobedience to direct orders from God to kill them ALL. 

President emphasized that sometimes as missionaries, or as members, we think that if we sacrifice a little bit of obedience to make life convenient, that God will accept it. But "The Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance." He told us that those who are obedient will naturally make sacrifices, but sacrifice doesn't replace obedience. I am still trying to really figure out what that means, but in the mean time I will just apply it to my life the best I can. =)

If y'all didn't know, the scriptures are amazing. I have received so much knowledge and wisdom from them and am so grateful to God for helping me understand them. I testify that they were all written by inspired prophets of God. I know they are the word of God, because I have felt the spirit of truth testify very clearly to my heart that it is true. Maybe some of you have a hard time reading the scriptures and taking away a lesson.  I DID TOO. But I have learned that these holy records of ancient times, as well as modern, have the power to change lives. I promise you all that if you read any of the standard works (Bible, Book of Mormon, D&C, Pearl of Great Price) with the intent to learn, God will reveal to you His mysteries, and help each of you understand more about who you really are. I leave these things with you, testifying from the other side of the world, that Christ lives and communicates with us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Fun Facts:

- I was in La Cancha (the central market) today and saw a girl peeing in a bag because they don't have bathrooms inside hahaha.

- All the schools here are religious schools. For example in a Catholic School, they have their normal classes, and then religion class where they learn the Catholic prayers and then talk about other religions.

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

~Hermana Madsen

There's always gonna be another mountain...

There are ups and downs on the mission. The biggest up is finding people like Byron and feeling such a special spirit from people like him. But the biggest down is when the adversary works hard. This week we saw the effects of the adversary tear down a strong testimony. Byron had some doubts come into his mind, and decided he wasn't ready for baptism. As the traveler he is, he packed up all his things, came by our house to say goodbye and then disappeared. Even a strong testimony can be broken if we don't have our lives in line with God's will. Satan never stops working and will tear us down if we let him.

But just because one investigator lost his testimony, I won't let it make me stop working.

I love it out here, and I love meeting people who you can just tell they are chosen=) We met another lady this week named Brishelen. She is amazing, and is so open to hear about the gospel. She is so humble and willing to change. When we told her that she would have to stop selling her bread on Sundays to keep the sabbath day holy, she said "Yeah, i think i will test it out. You say I will be blessed, so I will try out your words."

My companion and I are doing great, we are progressing together, and I am excited to have another transfer with her to learn even more!

Love you all!

Fun facts:

- my companion used the "hole bathroom" for the first time in her life this week.

- Some advice from a wise Latino dad: when you are deciding to marry someone or not, go watch them play soccer because that is where the natural man comes out and you can see the real him..... They get really into soccer... I admit it is kinda scary haha!

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

~Hermana Madsen