Following the Spirit - Elder Kolby Madsen

Written by Elder Kolby Madsen, serving in the Denmark Copenhagen Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Danish.

Elders Ogden and Madsen

Thanksgiving was great.  I ate so much it was crazy! And yes, American food through and through.  The only thing that I did not get was some great green bean casserole. No one can make it right. Sounds like you all had a great week in Arizona. I can’t believe that you were able to see Rob again, and he has 4 kids? I guess it has been a while since we saw him. That University of Arizona game sounds like it was way fun. I am way jealous. I haven’t seen a game in a while. It’s been since the super bowl almost a two years ago. Wow, weird realization.

This week was crazy and way fun. We were out of our area for about 3 days due to meeting and exchanges. We had this huge open house at the church, which did not go as well as planned, but it's all good. It happens.

To start off, we taught the Word of Wisdom to M** and she just loved it.  We related the whole thing to her twin daughters and really just put it into perspective. She felt strongly that it's good, and as of yesterday, no problems. It was great! She is defiantly going to stick to her baptism date, scheduled for the 13th of December. So great.

We also had S** in church yesterday.  He told us of the struggle that he has been having lately with fear of not being good enough and everything. We both felt prompted to ask him if he wanted a blessing.  It was way great. We gave him the blessing and it was just what he needed.  He came to church and he has been a ton happier since then. Following promptings of the Spirit has never let me down! Funny how that works. It was really intense because in the blessing that we gave S**, there were things said that neither of us has ever heard of before about S** and his family.  It was just a huge testimony builder on the power in the Spirit and how no matter what, as long and the Spirit is followed, the blessing is from God.  It's His blessing to them. It was a very humbling oplevelse (experience).

Elders Peterson, Madsen, Zalewski,
Elder Ogden, Søs Barret,Søs Hadfield

We had a couple opportunities to excises our faith this week. We went out knocking doors last night after a scheduled appointment. We said a prayer before we went knocking, asking in faith to know where are people who we can teach. We know there are people who God has prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel, so we asked Him to help us know where to go and what to say when we found them.

Right after that, we  felt prompted to call to one of our friends who we met on the street but have not taught yet. When we called they answered, and I knew they had moved because they told us that they were going to. They had told us that's why we could not come by, because they were going to be too busy with the move. So when they answered, I asked them how the move went they responded, "Well, it didn’t. We had problems and now we are moving tomorrow."

So we asked if they needed our help. They said yea, actually they had some people back out and were wondering what they were going to do! So we will be helping them later today with the finishing touches of their move. And we're so excited to be able to teach them this week. It's going to be great, plus I love service :)

Then right after that, we felt like we needed to call another friend who lives about an hour away. They'd requested a blessing a couple days prior from our bishop (they are friends).  We told him that we would be in the area and would love to come by and check up on him. He said sure, we can meet!  Then we went out an started knocking on doors.

Usually when we have these experiences where we get appointments set up right after we pray, we realize that’s what we were to do to find those who are ready. But we both still felt like there was more we could be doing, so we went out and knocked on three doors. Door three had a great lady named Ma**, and she had some questions about her recently new found faith in Christ. She was so excited!  We taught a lesson with a prayer and got a return appointment right there on the door step. The faith to find people who are prepared, through Christ, it happens. It’s great!! Then, unfortunately, we had to go home to get all the numbers for the zone figured out.

I had a really neat oplevelse this week with President Sederholm. This month, my temple recommend expires, so I had to get a new one. It was interesting going through the same questions that we ask others and that I have heard for the past 12 years, since I got baptized. The questions that we teach every single day. It was a way great oplevelse. While talking to him about Christ and my understanding of Him, the question "Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God’s son, the Savior and Redeemer of the world?" The thoughts of Him in my life især over the past couple years popped in my head. The times that I have felt Him most are the times when I have told others of the things I have learned about Him. When I have testified of who He is and what he has done for me and everyone. These things popped in my head and then the only words I could say the only...the only thing I could muster out was, "Yes."  And it is true, when I said it then, or now, or in the past or future. It's eternally true. He is my Savior.  He is the world’s Savior. He died for us, His brothers and sisters. Hate him or love him, he did it for us! Every single one of us. It was a very touching, spiritual experience, and it is true. He is the Gift!! #ShareTheGift

Love you!!

Med Kærlig Hilsen,

Ældste Madsen

Little Sister Called to Serve (November 24, 2014)

He is the Gift  (December 8, 2014)