Me acabé de despertar... oh... eso fue ayer

This week went by so fast that every morning I would get up and think, "Wait, didn't I just wake up?" And then I would remember "oh no, that was yesterday."

I learned a lot this week about the power of the Holy Ghost, and about loving everyone. 

My biggest experience with this was meeting a Jehovah's Witness. We were teaching a family, and right as we were talking about the importance of baptism, their older son arrived and asked to sit in. We of course said yes, even though we knew he has a religious background with the Jehovah's Witnesses. As we taught, he started asking questions that were off-topic and just wanted to invite us to contend. I had really prepared myself for this type of stand-off many times, but it had never come until this week. We were able to answer his questions without hesitation, without a fighting tone of voice, and with lots of inspired scriptures. But there came a point when he pulled out his bible and started challenging our knowledge, and that is when all of a sudden I felt a power come over me and strengthen my words. I felt the spirit as I told him directly that we were not there to contend, that we were there to invite everyone, and it depended on them if they would receive us or not. I felt such a great love for this young man who was trying to prove my testimony false. I don't know how, but I know this is how God feels towards all His lost sheep. He just wants them to come back to Him. This young Jehovah's Witness has the right ideas about finding this out by asking God, but he has grown a pride that has blinded him to think in the manner of men, and not the manner of God. I know that if he humbles himself in the future, God will make a great man of him.

 

Just like towards this young man, I have found a love for all the people I have met. They are all God's children and have something deep within them that is good. There is not one person whom I do not love. Even when they only have hate for me and God in their eyes. 

I love the mission, I love Bolivia!

Fun facts:

- The families very often only have a motorcycle to travel on here... so they fit the entire family on the motorcycle=) AND it's legal

- The phrase for saying "backup plan" in spanish is translated to "The reliable old woman"

Pampaku

{She gets to hang out at zone activities with Hna. Howell, one of her besties!!!}



{the "trufi"s they take when they're not walking}





Pampaku is one of the most interesting cultural things I have seen here in Cochabamba. They literally cook their food by burying it in the ground with burning bricks. It is awesome=) We got to eat it this week after doing service and it was pretty yummy too=) Totally worth the diarrhea afterwards=)

This week has been humbling and a week of learning. I learned that God prepares people to hear us. Multiple times God has shown me that through trials in other people's lives, they are more willing to hear the gospel. 

The first example is Sara. We talked to Sara when she was sitting on the side of the street. She seemed to be waiting for someone, but really she was contemplating the difficulties she was passing in her life. We talked with her, told her of God's love for her, and that He had NOT forgotten about her. She cried with us, and accepted our help as missionaries in her life.

The other example I have is Teresa. We knocked her door as one of the last efforts to contact on a street where nobody opened up to us. And as we began talking to her, she told us that her son had died and she wanted to know more about the life after death. When we asked her if she had a little time right then, she let us in!!!!! It was a miracle! We taught her all of the Plan of Salvation, and she had lots of awesome questions! God had really prepared her for us=)

I am humbled to be here in Bolivia, serving amazingly humble people. I am so grateful for all the prayers of faithful members for the missionaries. It is through your prayers that we are able to find people like Sara and Teresa! Thank you all! Love you!

Fun Fact:

- I have worn my watch in the same place my whole mission and have a huge tan line from it! Picture included=)​

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

~Hermana Madsen

Tenemos Mascotas =)

{baby frogs!  She used to catch these with the kids when we first moved into our house.  It looks like Hna Piguave can't really believe she's holding it. =)}


This week was super cool mainly because we had an incredible General Conference.

I just want to share my feelings about all that happened this past weekend. We sustained the new prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. I know he is a prophet of God. As he spoke, I could feel that truly he is the living mouthpiece of God on our earth. He is called by God to lead us and walk beside us. The thing that stuck out to me the most about the teachings of President Nelson were that everything is focused on love. Love for others, and love for God. I can tell that he sincerely has a love for the Savior, and a deep love for every person on this earth. If I were to ever meet him, I know I would be able to see the love in his eyes for everyone. I know this church is true, and i am happy to be out here bringing this truth to the people in Bolivia=)

Sorry my letter is short, but it is all true=)

Fun Facts:

- The title means "we have pets." It is because there is a family of birds who built their nest in our attic right above our kitchen and all their twigs and nastiness falls onto our kitchen counter from the attic hatch. We don't have the key to get them out. So we have pets now =)

- Here for Easter they bake a yummy cinnamon tasting bread with coconut named biscoche

 

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

~Hermana Madsen

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