Un Cambio en la Clima

So first off, all of a sudden it is winter and I am wearing my winter coat.  But then some days are like up in the 80s.  As is Sucre.

Also, something changed inside of me this week; I realized how weak I am.  Not in a bad way, in a very good way! I realized I am not the missionary I should be or that I can be.  I realized some of the goals of my mission were selfish and that this mission is not about my progress or how others view me.  This is about the people I am serving. 

One thing I had in mind before I came is looking 5 feet in front of me.  This week to me that meant focusing on the people right in front of me like my companion, my investigators, and the people that are placed right in my path. When I focused on that, all of a sudden we had so much success. 

Hermana Cardoza and I were able to grow so much closer as a companionship this week, and we set some goals that are going to make us so much better and more obedient missionaries.  And through that we saw some incredible things.  

First, the story of Limber.  He was introduced to the church a while ago and was attending institute, but didn't have any of the lessons.  He found us during some of our meetings and basically asked to be baptized.   So we visited him in the house of a member and set a baptismal date for 2 weeks and now we are teaching him everything super fast for his baptism.

Second, we were walking to go visit a contact, when a man sitting on the side of the road called out to us.  We started talking to him, and he said he had seen people like us in pairs, one white one latino, and always super friendly.  He had always been curious but never had been inclined to ask who they were.  As we talked, he was very curious about our religion and about the second coming of Christ.  I felt strongly that I should give him a Book of Mormon right there, which we don't normally do. I found out later that my companion had the same impression. He lives in Argentina, so sadly we won't be able to teach him, but it is so cool the miracles that happen to missionaries.

These and many other amazing experiences have helped me grow so much this week.  I am learning more the importance of being obedient and being focused.  I chose to come out on a mission for a reason, and I am finding more reasons every day to stay out here.




{getting desperate - street contacting the wild dogs}


{looks like they don't want to listen, either =(  }


{This photo bomb pic was so much better than the sterile nice ones that followed without this sister in them. =) }

I love my mission!!

Fun facts:
- For Easter here in Bolivia they make 12 dishes! I only had the opportunity to taste 3.  Arroz con leche, papas rellenas, and umintas.

- Also I was offered beer for the first time in my life this week! woot!

{And this one is that moving day, helping the woman move to another apartment; loading her things onto this trailer-looking thing with Hermana Baltran on exchanges}

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

~Hermana Madsen